Return of the defeated (on hold)

Part 17

Back in the other clearing Ash and his pokemon had began to battle against each other not quite going full strength but hard enough to hurt one another. Ash squared off against Lucario, the two traded punches, kicks, and full body throws doing everything to take the other down. If someone were come upon the group training they would be upset or scared at the intensity they were going, but to Ash and his pokemon this was their life when they were training in the wild. Everyday it was all or nothing and without they may not have made it out of some rather precarious situations they had gotten into. Ash finally managed to get the upper hand against his aura partner and pin him to the ground, although it took just about all his skill to do so.

"Lucario you have definitely gotten better, I'm going to have to train harder or you might beat me next time." Ash panted with a grin as he pulled Lucario to his feet.

"I will win Master, just wait." Lucario replied breathing heavily as well but wore a confident smile.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead Ash smiled, "I look forward to that and stop with the master we are partners." Ash knew it was useless to say that but he still did every time. He looked around, he noticed the sun had came up and realized they needed to get back to camp. With a loud whistle all the pokemon came to a halt. "Ok everyone that's a wrap for today let's get back to camp and get ready for the day."

With that the group jogged back towards the campsite feeling accomplished with what they had done this morning. While he led the group back Ash was thinking of the morning's training and how everyone had done, he thought of different techniques they could try and of strategies they should implement. All those thoughts left his mind though once they entered the camp.

May was with her pokemon trianing for the next contest and she was training herself just as much. From watching Ash she had learned how to join in and not only train her pokemon but to help her train herself. Seeing May so focused and see the passion in her eyes made Ash stop in his tracks. It happened often to him, seeing her beauty even everyday still took his breath away and made his heart race. Ash's pokemon continued past him chuckling at their trainer as the went to May and her pokemon to help them train.

Pikachu just grinned and shook his head as he leapt onto Ash's before giving him a small electric shock. Snapping back to his senses Ash reached up and scratched Pikachu on the chin, "Thanks buddy."

"Pi pi pika." The yellow mouse replied.

"I was not drooling." Ash responded while wiping his chin to be safe. Pikachu began to laugh as he jumped down and ran towards Glaceon. Ash followed his best friend after shaking his head with a small grin. Once close enough he scooped May into his arms and twirled her in the the air making her giggle and give a surprise yelp.

"Hello beautiful." Ash said gently setting May back on her feet before lightly kissing her. "Looks like training is going good."

"Yes it is thank you." May said brightly, "How did yours go, and how early did you wake up? I didn't even feel you leave."

"It was good everyone pushed really hard today. I couldn't have asked for anything more." Ash said looking at his pokemon again. "I woke up about four this morning, back when we were out training that was about our usual time."

May thought for a second, "Wait Ash from what I seen last night how late you trained and how early you woke up, that means you were barely getting any sleep." May said looking a little worriedly at her boyfriend.