Ash shivered slightly as he thought about the ugly sick that has just kissed him.

" That was creepy." Ash said as the four walked back to the Pokemon Center.

Brock nodded. " At least we helped Santa.*

Misty giggles. " Yeah, that was fun."

But when they got to the Pokemon Center, all the lights were off

" Oh, no !" Brock exclaimed as they all ran to Nurse Joy, who looked freteful.

" What happened?" Misty asked

" Pika pi?"

Joy sighed. " I don't know."

Suddenly, Joy noticed something. " Brock, don't you have another person you live with?*

Brock's eyes widened. " Ash! But where on earth...."

His gaze drifted to the attic.

Suddenly, the power flickered on.

Joy gasped. " Wha.....?*

Misty let out a gasp. " He's gonna try to jumpstart the system!*

" But that's dangerous!*

Brock furrowed his brows as he glanced up at the attic. "Wait, you don’t think Ash is actually up there, do you?"

Brock immediately started moving toward the stairs. "If he’s trying to jumpstart the system by himself, we’ve gotta stop him before he gets hurt!"

Misty and Pikachu ran after him, their footsteps echoing in the dark hallway. “Ash can be reckless, but I don’t think he’d—” Misty began, but she stopped when they heard a faint buzzing sound coming from the attic.

“Oh no,” Misty muttered, fear creeping into her voice. “He would.”

They burst into the attic, and there was Ash, hunched over a generator with sparks flying from the wires. His face was illuminated by the flickering light, and he looked determined but nervous.

“Ash!” Brock shouted. “Stop! You’re gonna get yourself electrocuted!”

Ash looked up, startled, but kept fiddling with the wires. “I’m just trying to help! The power went out, and I figured—”

“Figured what?” Misty snapped, running up to him and yanking the wire out of his hands. “You’re going to fry yourself!”

Ash blinked, looking from Misty to Brock. “But I’ve done this before, remember? I thought I could fix it.”

Brock knelt down next to him, gently taking the wires from Misty. “Yeah, but this is more dangerous than you think, Ash. You can’t just go in without knowing how everything works. Let the professionals handle this.”

Ash sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I just wanted to help…”

Pikachu hopped up next to him, giving a sympathetic "Pika pi." Ash scratched Pikachu’s head absentmindedly, looking a little sheepish.

Misty softened, patting Ash on the back. “You don’t have to do everything yourself, Ash. We’re all in this together, okay?”

Ash smiled weakly. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Just then, Nurse Joy appeared at the attic door, her eyes wide with relief. “Oh, thank goodness you found him! The power’s back on, but next time let’s avoid the heroics, okay?”

Brock chuckled, patting Ash on the shoulder. “Leave the generators to the electricians, buddy.”

Ash grinned. “Okay, okay. I’ll stick to catching Pokémon.”

It was the middle of the night when the low hum of the air conditioner suddenly stopped. Ash stirred in his sleep, feeling a wave of heat settle over the room like a heavy blanket. Groggily, he opened his eyes and sat up in bed, wiping the sweat from his brow. The air was still, too still, and the familiar cool breeze that usually accompanied the Pokémon Center's air conditioning was nowhere to be felt.

Ash looked over at Pikachu, who was curled up beside him, ears twitching in discomfort from the sudden warmth. "Pikachu," Ash mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "The air conditioning's out again."

Pikachu gave a soft "Pika..." in agreement, shifting restlessly. Ash sighed, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and standing up. He glanced around the dimly lit room, everyone else fast asleep. Misty was sprawled on her bed, her hair tousled from tossing and turning, and Brock was snoring lightly, oblivious to the increasing heat.

Ash wiped his face again and stood up, figuring it wouldn't hurt to check out the problem. After all, he'd managed to tinker with enough things on his journey to know his way around basic repairs. How hard could fixing the air conditioning be?

He slipped quietly out of the room, careful not to wake anyone, and made his way down the hallway. The Pokémon Center was eerily silent at this time of night, the only sound being the soft padding of Ash's footsteps against the floor. The moonlight filtered through the windows, casting faint shadows along the walls as he walked.

Reaching the utility room, Ash opened the door with a soft creak. The space was cluttered with various tools and equipment, the hum of machines filling the air. He spotted the air conditioning unit in the corner, its small power light ominously off. Frowning, he crouched down next to it and examined the panel.

"Let's see..." he muttered to himself, reaching for the screwdriver that was conveniently sitting nearby. "It can't be that complicated, right?"

He unscrewed the front panel, revealing a mess of wires and circuits. Pikachu, who had followed him, jumped onto his shoulder and peered curiously at the jumble of components.

Ash squinted at the wires, trying to recall the last time he had seen something like this. He carefully poked at one of the loose wires with the screwdriver, and sparks crackled briefly in response. "Okay, maybe this is a little more complicated than I thought..." he admitted, but that didn’t deter him.

Ash gingerly began reconnecting some of the wires, his mind racing to piece together how the system might work. He knew the basic principles of how air conditioning worked—cool air was pumped through the building, keeping everything nice and chilled. But this tangle of wires was more complex than anything he had dealt with before.

As he worked, beads of sweat began to form on his forehead, both from the rising temperature and the pressure of not messing anything up. "Alright, I think this goes... here?" he mumbled as he reconnected a blue wire to a small terminal. Pikachu leaned forward, sniffing at the wires, but Ash gently pushed him back. "Careful, buddy. I don’t want to fry either of us."

Suddenly, a loud clank echoed from the unit, and Ash froze. Pikachu's ears shot up, and they both stared at the air conditioner for a moment, waiting for something to happen.

Nothing.

Ash exhaled in relief. "Okay, okay... no big deal." He continued his work, trying different combinations of wires. But as he reconnected another set, a sudden jolt of electricity surged through the panel, making the unit buzz loudly. "Whoa!" Ash yanked his hand back just in time, but the surge had knocked the whole system offline again.

"Great..." Ash sighed, rubbing his now tingling hand. He looked down at Pikachu. "Well, that didn’t go as planned."

Pikachu tilted his head, as if asking, "What now?"

Ash shook his head, leaning back against the wall. He had no clue how to fix this thing. Brock would probably know, but Ash didn’t want to wake him up in the middle of the night. And yet, as the room grew warmer, he realized it was either wake Brock up or risk the whole Pokémon Center turning into a sauna by morning.

"Guess I don’t have much of a choice," Ash grumbled. He stood up, closing the panel and grabbing the screwdriver. "Come on, Pikachu, let’s go get Brock."

Pikachu gave an understanding nod, and together they padded quietly back down the hallway.

Ash, feeling a surge of determination, paused mid step and turned to Pikachu with an idea. “Pikachu, go get Brock, okay? Hurry!” he whispered. Pikachu gave a firm nod, knowing this was important, and dashed off down the hallway.

Once Pikachu was out of sight, Ash snuck quietly up the stairs to the attic, his heart racing with excitement and nerves. The air up here was even warmer, and Ash could feel the stifling heat pressing down on him. He was determined to fix the AC, no matter what. The Pokémon Center couldn’t afford to lose it, especially with so many Pokémon relying on a comfortable environment.

Reaching the old, dusty attic, Ash spotted the main system’s wiring tucked away in a corner. "Alright, here goes nothing," he muttered, crouching down to examine the mess of cables once again. His mind raced, remembering everything he could about jump-starting machines from his previous adventures. He’d watched Brock do this kind of thing before, so he figured he could give it a shot.

Back in the room, Pikachu entered with a quick burst of speed, but as soon as he did, the air conditioner suddenly roared back to life—though not without a few concerning sparks flying from the panel Ash had been working on. The room cooled down almost instantly, but the buzzing sound was anything but reassuring.

Misty stirred awake, blinking groggily as she felt the cool air wash over her. "Brock, the air’s back on," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. But then her eyes widened. "Wait a minute... where’s Ash?"

Brock, now wide awake, glanced around in concern. "Oh no... he’s up there, isn’t he?"

They both heard a loud THUD from above.

Misty groaned. "He’s in the attic, isn’t he?"

Brock nodded with a sigh. "Yep, sounds like it."

Without another word, they both scrambled out of bed and rushed up the stairs, the sense of urgency growing with every step. When they reached the attic, they found Ash standing by the electrical box, looking a bit frazzled but otherwise okay. His hair was a little singed from the sparks, and his clothes were covered in dust, but he wore a sheepish grin.

Nurse Joy had also arrived, gasping when she saw the scene. "Ash! This is dangerous!" she scolded, rushing over to inspect the wiring and the system.

Ash, still panting slightly from the excitement, looked up at her with a determined expression. "I couldn’t let the Pokémon Center lose its AC unit, Nurse Joy. The Pokémon need it to stay comfortable!"

Joy softened, but she still shook her head, clearly torn between being upset and impressed. "While I appreciate your dedication, Ash, next time, please leave this to the professionals! You could’ve seriously hurt yourself."

Misty crossed her arms, looking both annoyed and relieved. "Honestly, Ash, what were you thinking?"

Brock sighed, but there was a small smile on his face. "Well, at least he got the AC working. But, yeah, maybe next time, don’t try to electrocute yourself?"

Ash chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess it wasn’t my best idea. But hey, the Pokémon are gonna be a lot more comfortable now, right?"

Nurse Joy shook her head with a mix of exasperation and fondness. "Just... promise me you won’t try something like this again without help, okay?"

Ash gave her a grin. "Promise!"

Brock lent him and hand and hoisted him up. " Let's hope nothing else happens." Brock muttered.

Two hours later, the lights were flickering.

Again.

Ash looked around.

No one.

He quickly ran up to the attic and sat down and inspected the wires.

They were cut

Ash sighed. He knew handing these by themselves were dangerous, but what choice did he have? He needed to get the center up and running.

He took a picture of Pikachu and Brock and Misty and him out of his pocket.

Then another with him and his mom.

And the last of him, Charmander, Pika, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Butterfree and Pigeotto.

He sighed. " Love you." He whispered. " I'm doing this for you."

He set them down, then picked up a wire and connected it with the other. He got a sudden jolt. He yelped, but kept quiet.

He did it again.

And again.

And again.

By this point he was panting. He couldn't go on much longer.

Thankfully, as he put the last wire together, the center returned to normal.

Meanwhile, down in the room, Misty and Brock had just woken up.

Joy had come to their room.

" Is Ash here?* She asked frantically.

Brock shook his head.

Then, the power came on

Brock and Misty shared a look. " Oh, no "

They ran up the stairs, and found messy duck taped wires, duck tape, And....

Ash.

Ash lay slumped against the wall, exhausted and slightly singed, with his hair sticking up from the countless electrical shocks he had endured. His chest rose and fell in slow, labored breaths, and his hands were still trembling from the strain of connecting the wires. Duck tape hung loosely off the walls, holding everything together just barely.

Misty knelt beside Ash, her voice thick with concern. “Ash, you’re an idiot, you know that?” she said, her words stern but full of worry. She gently touched his shoulder, shaking him slightly. “What were you thinking, doing all this by yourself?”

Ash stirred, his eyes barely fluttering open. “The... Center,” he mumbled weakly. “Had to keep it running... for the Pokémon.”

Brock was already checking Ash over for injuries, his medical instincts kicking in. “You could’ve seriously hurt yourself, Ash! Handling live wires like this? Not to mention the stress you put on your body!” His voice was firm, but his hands were careful and gentle as he looked Ash over.

Joy stood near the doorway, her hand covering her mouth as she looked at the mess of wires and the pictures that lay scattered beside Ash. She knelt down, picking up the one of Ash with his Pokémon. Her heart ached at the sight. “He did all this... for us, for the Center,” she whispered, her voice full of admiration and guilt.

Misty gently wiped some dust off Ash’s face, shaking her head. “You never think about yourself, do you?” She glanced over at Brock, her expression resolute. “Brock, we need to do something for him. He’s always the one helping us and everyone else. We owe him.”

Brock nodded, his face determined. “We’ll take care of him this time. He’s pushed himself too far.”

Joy looked up, her eyes shining with gratitude. “Ash is a hero. The Center... all the Pokémon... we’d be lost without him. But now it’s our turn to take care of him.”

They worked quickly. Brock carefully lifted Ash, with Misty’s help, and they gently brought him down from the attic, laying him on a soft cot in the main room of the Pokémon Center. Joy rushed to prepare some cooling compresses and brought out a few Potions, just in case. Pikachu, sensing that something was wrong, ran to Ash’s side, his big eyes filled with worry. “Pika pika...” he said softly, nuzzling against Ash’s cheek.

Ash, barely conscious, managed a small smile as he felt Pikachu by his side. “I’m okay, buddy... just... tired,” he whispered weakly.

Misty and Brock exchanged looks again. They had to figure out a way to repay Ash for all he had done. For now, though, they would make sure he rested and recovered.

Misty gently placed one of Ash’s pictures back into his hand—the one of him and his Pokémon team. “You’ll be back on your feet soon, Ash. We’ve got your back.”

That was the last thing Ash heard before he blacked out.

" Pika pi!"

Ash groaned as he opened an eye.

" Pikachu?* He whispered, his voice cracking.

Pikachu looked at him. " Pika!*

He sat up then looked at his arm.

And IV.

The dresses IV.

Ash froze.

Brock had just walked in. " How's he, Pika....."

He trailed off when he saw Ash staring at his hand.

" B..Brock?" Ash whispered. " Wh.. what's this?*

Brock’s face softened as he stepped closer, hearing the fear in Ash’s voice. “Hey, Ash, take it easy. You’ve been through a lot,” he said gently, grabbing his stethoscope. “It’s just an IV to help you recover.”

Ash’s breathing quickened, his eyes locked onto the tube. “But... needles...” he stammered, his voice shaky. He tried to move his arm, but Brock quickly placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t move too much,” Brock said soothingly, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I know you hate needles, but this is helping your body recover after all that electricity. It’s going to be okay, I promise.”

Ash’s wide eyes darted around the room, sweat forming on his forehead. Pikachu, sensing his trainer’s distress, hopped onto the bed and nuzzled his arm. “Pika pika,” Pikachu chirped softly, trying to calm him down.

Brock took out his stethoscope, placing it against Ash’s chest. “Let’s check your heart, okay? Breathe in... and out.”

Ash took slow, deep breaths, his heart still racing but beginning to calm. Brock listened carefully, nodding. “Your heart’s a bit fast, but that’s because you’re nervous. Just try to relax.”

Next, Brock checked Ash’s eyes, shining a light into them. “Follow the light,” he instructed, and Ash obediently did so, though his eyes kept flickering back toward the IV.

Finally, Brock tested Ash’s reflexes, tapping his knee gently. “Good reflexes,” he said with a small smile, but he could see Ash’s hands trembling.

Ash swallowed hard, glancing at the IV again. “How long do I have to have this?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Brock set down his tools and looked Ash in the eye. “Not too long, maybe just a few more hours. It’s helping to rehydrate you and get some nutrients back in your system after everything your body went through. I know it’s tough, but it’s important.”

Ash nodded slowly, though the fear was still evident in his eyes. “I... I don’t like this, Brock,” he admitted, his voice small.

“I know, Ash,” Brock replied softly. “But you’re strong, and we’re all here with you. You’re not alone in this. We’ll take care of you.”

Pikachu chirped again, “Pika Pi!” as if to agree, nuzzling Ash’s arm gently.

Ash let out a shaky breath, his gaze softening as he looked at Pikachu. “Thanks, buddy... and thanks, Brock.”

Brock smiled warmly. “No problem. You just focus on getting better, okay? We’ve got everything else covered.”

Suddenly, the door opened again, and Misty and Joy came through the door.

As soon as Misty saw Ash, she yelled, " ASH!*

Misty jumped onto the bed and hugged Ash tightly, tears streaming down her face. Ash felt a mix of surprise and warmth. He hadn’t expected her to be so upset, but seeing her like this made him realize how much his actions had worried everyone.

“Misty, don’t cry, please,” Ash whispered, gently patting her back. He shifted slightly, trying to ignore the discomfort from the IV in his arm. “Look at me. I’m alive. I’m talking to you. I’ll live, Misty.”

Misty pulled back slightly, her face still streaked with tears as she looked at him. “But Ash... this was different. You scared me, okay? You could’ve been seriously hurt.”

Ash gave her a small, reassuring smile. “And what do I keep telling you?”

Misty sniffled and wiped her eyes. “That you’ll be okay as long as we’re okay,” she replied softly, her voice trembling.

Ash nodded, his expression softening even more. “Exactly. But Misty, is this really so different? I mean, think about it. I’ve been through worse, and you’ve always been there, just like now.”

Misty shook her head, biting her lip. “But this time, you were alone up there! We didn’t know what was happening. You shouldn’t have done that by yourself.”

Ash smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I know it was risky, but I did it for you guys—for the Pokémon Center, for everyone here. And I knew, no matter what, you’d all be there for me after.”

Misty’s eyes welled up again, but this time, there was a small smile on her face. “You’re such an idiot sometimes, Ash...”

Ash chuckled softly, squeezing her shoulder. “Yeah, I know. But I’m your idiot.”

Nurse Joy stepped forward, her own face full of relief. “Ash, we’re all just glad you’re okay. But please, next time, let us handle the repairs. You’ve done more than enough.”

Ash gave a weak laugh, leaning back against the pillows. “Deal. I think I’ll leave the electrical stuff to the professionals from now on.”

Suddenly , Ash coughed, and Misty quickly leaned in, her eyes wide with concern. “Easy, Ash! Easy!” she urged, her voice laced with worry.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Ash reassured her, though he could feel the weariness settling in his bones. He attempted to sit up straighter, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness.

Brock, standing by the door with a stethoscope around his neck, glanced at the monitors displaying Ash’s vitals. “Yeah? That’s not what your vitals tell me,” he interjected, crossing his arms as he looked at Ash, concern etched on his face.

Misty hugged Ash even tighter, as if her embrace could somehow protect him from the weariness and discomfort. “You scared us so much, Ash. I don’t think I can handle seeing you like this again,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Ash managed a soft smile, trying to comfort her despite his own fatigue. “I’m okay, really. Just a little tired from everything, I guess.”

“Let me check you over again,” Brock said, stepping closer. He gently lifted Ash’s wrist to check his pulse, his brow furrowing. “You need to rest more. You pushed yourself too hard.”

Misty nodded in agreement, still holding onto Ash as if she feared he might disappear again. “You need to take it easy, Ash. We’re all here for you. Just promise us you’ll listen this time.”

“Okay, okay,” Ash relented, raising his hands in surrender. “I promise I’ll take it easy.” He looked at both of them, his heart swelling with gratitude for their concern. “But I’m not going to stop helping when I can.”

Brock smiled, shaking his head. “We wouldn’t expect you to. Just remember, we’re a team, and teams stick together—no matter what.”

“Yeah,” Misty added, giving Ash a softer squeeze. “Just don’t try to save the world all by yourself, okay?”

Ash chuckled lightly, the sound a little raspy. “I’ll keep that in mind, Misty.” He glanced at the IV in his arm. “But first, I think I need to deal with this.”

Misty nodded, her expression softening as she finally let go of him, a smile breaking through her earlier worry. “We’ll get through it together.”

Ash waved goodbye to Misty as she stepped out of the room, a soft smile still lingering on her face. He then turned to Pikachu, opening his arms wide. “C’mere, buddy,” he said with a grin.

Pikachu happily hopped into Ash’s embrace, snuggling against him. “Pika!” he chirped, nuzzling into Ash’s shoulder.

Ash chuckled softly. “ You’re my hero, you know that?” He gently stroked Pikachu’s fur, feeling the warmth and comfort radiating from his partner.

Pikachu looked up at Ash with bright, determined eyes. “Pika Pi!” he exclaimed, as if saying, “I’ll always be here for you!”

“You’re right,” Ash said, feeling a swell of emotion. “We make a pretty good team, don’t we?” He leaned back against the pillow, taking a moment to breathe and relax with Pikachu by his side.

Just then, Brock peeked back into the room, a clipboard in hand. “Hey, Ash, feeling any better?” he asked, glancing between Ash and Pikachu.

“Yeah, a little,” Ash replied, still holding Pikachu close. “Thanks to him, of course.”

Brock smiled. “Glad to hear it. Just remember to take it easy for a while. Nurse Joy is going to want to check on you again soon.”

“Yeah, I know,” Ash said with a light sigh.

“Good. I’ll check on Misty, too. She’s really worried about you,” Brock added before stepping back out, leaving Ash and Pikachu alone again.

With a playful nudge, Pikachu looked up at Ash. “Pika pi?”

Ash raised an eyebrow, curious. “What is it, Pikachu? You want to tell me what happened while I was out?”

Pikachu’s ears perked up as he began to recount the events in his own way, punctuating his story with enthusiastic gestures and little sounds, making Ash chuckle at his antics. Ash felt a warmth in his heart, knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he and Pikachu would face them together.

As the night deepened, an unexpected silence filled the Pokémon Center. Suddenly, the power flickered and then went out entirely, plunging the building into darkness. Ash sat up in bed, startled. “Pikachu, did you feel that?” he whispered, squinting into the void.

“Pika pi!” Pikachu replied, sensing the unease in the air.

“Come on, buddy. Let’s check it out,” Ash said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He felt a bit unsteady but managed to find his footing, leaning on the wall for support. “I think the attic might need a shock to get the power back on.”

Hobbling carefully, Ash made his way toward the staircase, with Pikachu following closely at his heels. They climbed the stairs slowly, Ash’s heart racing with both excitement and concern. “I hope it’s not another issue with the wiring,” he muttered, recalling his earlier adventures with the AC unit.

When they reached the attic door, Ash hesitated for a moment, then pushed it open. The dim moonlight illuminated the scattered tools and wires, remnants of his previous fix. “Looks like it’s time for another thunderbolt,” he said, determination shining in his eyes.

Pikachu nodded, ready for action. “Pika!”

“Okay, buddy. Thunderbolt, now!” Ash commanded, pointing toward the tangled mess of wires that had caused the outage.

Pikachu took a deep breath, electricity crackling around him. “Pika-CHUUU!” he cried, unleashing a powerful Thunderbolt that lit up the room with a brilliant flash.

The surge of electricity surged through the wires, and the lights flickered back on, illuminating the attic in a warm glow. Ash grinned, feeling a sense of accomplishment. “Yes! Great job, Pikachu!”

But just then, a loud crash echoed from below. Ash’s eyes widened in alarm. “What was that?!”

Pikachu’s ears perked up, and they both rushed back down the stairs to investigate, the initial excitement quickly giving way to concern. “Let’s go see what happened!” Ash urged, his heart racing once more as they sprinted toward the source of the noise.

Misty groaned, rubbing her head as she pushed herself up from the floor. “I’m fine, really. Just tripped over… something,” she said, glancing around the dimly lit room, trying to piece together what had happened.

Ash raised an eyebrow, leaning against the wall for support. “Uh… are you alright?”

Brock, who had been coming out of the treatment room, looked both surprised and slightly irritated. “What are you doing out of bed, Ash?” he asked, crossing his arms.

“Same as you,” Ash replied, giving him a lopsided grin.

Brock sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s my night shift, Ash. What were you doing?”

Ash shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. “Guess.”

“Pika Pika!” Pikachu chimed in, clearly excited to be part of the conversation.

“What was that, buddy?” Ash asked, chuckling. “The professor wants to know why I haven’t caught any more Pokémon?”

Brock raised an eyebrow, amused. “ wow."

Ash, though, was not happy. "Oh, well that’s just great! He’s gonna brag about Gary and make me all angry. And then I’m gonna want to catch more, but you’re never gonna let me.”

“It’s a harsh world,” Misty said, shaking her head with a hint of a smile.

Brock couldn’t help but laugh. “You really think Professor Oak is sitting around wondering why you haven’t caught more Pokémon? He’s probably too busy studying his own research or… I don’t know, writing a book on how to catch a Caterpie!”

Ash’s expression shifted from playful to contemplative. “You’re right… but still, it’s frustrating. I want to be the best Trainer. If Gary keeps catching more, I can’t let that slide!”

“Just focus on getting better first,” Brock said, his tone turning serious. “You know that’s more important right now.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Ash muttered, looking at the floor. “But I just feel so… behind.”

Misty, feeling empathetic, walked closer to him. “You’re not behind, Ash. You’ve done so much already! Plus, we’re all here to help you.”

“Yeah, don’t forget who helped you jumpstart the AC unit,” Brock added, grinning.

“Right, right,” Ash replied, a smile creeping back onto his face. “Thanks, you guys. Just… give me a little time. I’ll be back to my old self soon enough.”

“Good! Now, how about we get back to bed?” Misty suggested, glancing at Brock for support.

“Sounds good to me,” Brock agreed. “And maybe I can even help with some training techniques while you recover.”

Ash chuckled, finally feeling a sense of relief. “Alright, let’s go back. But you both better be ready for when I’m back in action!”

“Pika Pika!” Pikachu cheered, hopping excitedly in agreement as they made their way back down the hallway, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.