" Ash did it! He won!" Misty cheered.
" Ashy, Ashy, he's our man. If he can't do it, no one can!"
Gary rolled his eyes but smiled and crossed his arms.
Ash, though, didn't celebrate .INstead, he fell straight onto the ground.
" Ash!" Gary and Misty yelled as Gary climbed the stairs to get to Ash, whale Misty lowered the platform.
Brock ran to Ash's side and felt his pulse. " Its' faint, but it's her."
Gary looked at Ash in amazement. " He did that.... For a badge."
" Actually he did it to prove to you he was a Pokemon master."
Gary turned to Misty. " Really?"
Brock nodded. " Yep. He's always wanted to make you see him."
" But... I do see him! We were best friends when we were little!"
" Tell that to him."
Gary sighed and looked at Team Rocket. " He beat you. Now give him the badge.
" That's not how it works, kid." James sneered.
Misty clenched her fists as she stood. " Ash won fair and square. You have to!"
" Awwwww, it's the overprotective girlfriend." Meowth pped up.
Misty blushed. " G... girlfriend?!"
She looked at the aquamarine ring on her hand. " We're just friends. Really close friends. Besides, Ash doesn't like me."
Gary gave her a weird look. " Mi-"
" Give him the badge!" Brock yelled.
" No way!" Meowth said.
Gary lunged at the cat. " Give me that!" He yelled as he tried to grab the badge. Brock helped, while Wisty stayed atvAsh's side.
" Do I love him?" She muttered.
But as she watched Ash's unconscious face, she smiled faintly. " Yes, I love him."
Then she looked around. " Good. No one found out. And no one can find out."
Meanwhile, Gary had finally retrieved the badge and grabbed Brock's hand. " We have to get outta here!"
Misty picked Ash up, and Gary helped. Together, they helped Ash outside and ran.
Gary turned as he watched the Gym disappear. " That is one battle I  never want to remember.'
" That makes the three of us." Mity said.
" Agreed." Brock added.
Gary glanced around their surroundings. " We should get Ash to a hospital, quickly."
Brock had already pulled a map. " Well, the only hospital here is a Poemon one, and they're closed for today."
Misty sighed. " Well we have to get him somewhere."
Gary scratched his head. " Hey, how about-" HE stopped. " Nope, never mind. Bad idea."
Misty paced. " What abou- nah."
Gary looked at his unconscious friend. " Well we have to do something!"
" Uh........ what if we just let him heal on his own?" Brock suggested.
Gary and Misty shot him a look.
" Yeesh, sorry! It was just a suggestion!"
" A really bad one." Gary muttered.
Misty sighed. " Well we have to do something!"

Gary, Brock, and Misty stood in silence, tension heavy as they tried to think of a plan. Misty knelt by Ash, brushing his hair out of his face. "We can't just let him stay like this... What if he's really hurt?"

Gary frowned, pacing back and forth. "There has to be somewhere we can take him. What about one of those Pokémon Centers that are open all night?"

Brock nodded, looking thoughtful. "That's a good idea, but the nearest one is still miles away. And with Ash like this, we need to move fast."

Misty bit her lip, looking down at Ash's pale face. "We can't wait that long... Gary, can you carry him?"

Gary hesitated but then nodded. "Yeah, I'll manage." He crouched down, gently lifting Ash onto his back. "But we need to hurry. If he doesn't wake up soon—"

"I know," Misty said quietly, her voice trembling. "He has to be okay."

They began to move quickly through the darkened streets, their footsteps the only sound echoing in the silence of the night. Misty kept glancing over at Ash, worry etched into her features, while Brock led the way, checking the map for the quickest route.

After what felt like hours, they finally reached a small building with a faint red glow — the emergency Pokémon Center.

Gary rushed to the door and banged on it. "Open up! We need help!"

The door creaked open, and Nurse Joy stepped out, her eyes widening at the sight of Ash slumped over Gary's back. "Oh my goodness! Bring him in right away!"

They hurried inside, placing Ash on a nearby bed. Nurse Joy quickly checked his vitals. "He's exhausted, but he should be fine after some rest. He pushed himself too far."

Misty let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her. "Thank you."

Gary stood by Ash's side, watching him breathe steadily. "He really did it, didn't he? He proved it..."

Brock gave Gary a knowing look. "He did it for you, too. To show you he's the best."

Gary looked at Ash and smiled faintly. "Yeah... I guess he is."

Misty, still holding onto Ash's hand, whispered under her breath, "And he's mine... even if he doesn't know it yet."

Day turned to night, and night midnight.

As the clock ticked past midnight, the room was filled with a tense silence. The only sound was the steady beep of the heart monitor next to Ash's bed. Brock sat at a nearby desk, flipping through medical books and scribbling down notes. His brow was furrowed as he searched for anything that could help Ash recover faster, though the exhaustion in his eyes told a different story.

Gary paced the floor, his hands behind his back, muttering to himself. "He's always been reckless, but this...this is too much." His voice was low but filled with concern. Every few minutes, he glanced over at Ash, still unconscious, as if hoping to see him stir. "How could he do this...for a badge?"

Misty, sitting by Ash's side, held his hand tightly. She hadn't moved for hours, her eyes fixed on his peaceful face. "He didn't just do it for the badge, Gary," she whispered softly, though the room was so quiet that both Brock and Gary could hear her. "He did it for all of us. To prove he's more than what people see."

Gary stopped pacing and looked at Misty, surprised. "What do you mean?"

Misty blinked, her gaze never leaving Ash. "Ash always felt like he had something to prove, especially to you. You were his biggest rival... and his best friend. He wanted you to see that he's capable of being a Pokémon Master, not just the kid you grew up with."

Gary looked down, feeling a knot of guilt tighten in his chest. "I never meant for him to push himself this far..."

Brock closed his book and looked up. "Ash has always had a drive to be the best, but this time... it went too far." He sighed and stood up, walking over to them. "We just have to be here for him now. There's nothing more we can do but wait."

Misty nodded, her hand gently squeezing Ash's. "I'll stay by his side no matter what. He's always been there for me."

Gary turned away, staring out the window into the dark night. "Yeah... I guess we'll just have to wait." But in his heart, he wondered if they could have done something sooner to prevent this. The weight of their shared history pressed down on him, and he couldn't shake the guilt.

After all, as much as they were rivals, they were also friends.

As the first light of dawn filtered through the window, the atmosphere in the room remained tense. Despite the long night, none of them had slept. Their eyes were heavy, but their minds wouldn't allow rest. Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur paced back and forth restlessly, their little bodies reflecting the unease and worry that hung in the air.

Gary sat up from his seat, rubbing his eyes, and glanced over at Pikachu, who was aimlessly circling the room. For the third time, Gary quickly moved a chair to stop Pikachu from bumping into the wall. "Pikachu, watch it. I know you're worried, but you'll hurt yourself if you keep doing that."

Pikachu gave a weak "Pika..." in response, his ears drooping as he looked over at Ash. The bond between them was stronger than any human could understand, and the little Pokémon felt Ash's pain deeply.

Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur were no better, mindlessly pacing the room. Gary picked up a pillow and tossed it away as Bulbasaur almost knocked into it again. "Come on, guys, calm down. We're all worried, but we need to keep it together."

Misty glanced up from Ash's side, her eyes tired but filled with concern. "They can feel it, too. They know Ash is hurting, and they don't know how to help."

Brock sighed, standing up and stretching. "It's not easy for any of us, but the best thing we can do is wait. Nurse Joy said he just needs time." He looked over at the Pokémon, who still seemed lost in their own anxious circles.

Misty stroked Ash's hand softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ash... please wake up soon. Everyone needs you."

Pikachu jumped up on the bed and sat beside Misty, looking at Ash with wide, worried eyes. "Pika-pi..." he said softly, nudging Ash's arm gently, hoping for any sign of movement.

Gary leaned against the wall, folding his arms. "I hate this. We should be doing something, not just sitting around." His frustration was evident, but there was nothing else they could do. He looked at the others. "You guys go ahead and rest. I'll keep watch for now."

Misty shook her head. "No, I'm staying here with him. I'm not leaving his side."

Brock agreed, his voice calm but firm. "Neither am I. We're all in this together."

At exactly seven in the morning, the soft click of the door opening echoed through the silent room. Nurse Joy stepped in, her usual calm and professional demeanor faltering for just a moment as her eyes took in the scene before her.

The small Pokémon Center room was bathed in the gentle morning light, casting a soft glow over everything. Yet the scene itself was anything but peaceful. Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur were huddled together on the floor, their eyes heavy with exhaustion and their bodies slumped in a rare show of defeat. Pikachu's yellow fur was dull, a far cry from its usual electric energy, and Charmander's flame flickered low, a testament to the stress they had endured throughout the night. Squirtle's usually playful nature was nowhere to be seen, and Bulbasaur lay on his belly, his vines limp on the floor.

And then there were Ash's companions.

Misty sat in the chair closest to Ash's bed, her eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep. Her hand clutched his, her fingers entwined with his as if her touch alone could keep him tethered to consciousness. Her head rested on the edge of the bed, her fiery hair messy and tangled, but she didn't care. Every so often, she whispered something to Ash, her voice soft and low, filled with a desperation she hadn't even realized she was capable of. Her heart was heavy, and her mind raced with worry, replaying every moment of Ash's battle over and over, wondering if she could have stopped him before he pushed himself too far.

Brock was seated on the floor beside Misty, his back leaning against the wall, an open book on his lap. His usual calm, composed expression was gone, replaced with deep concern etched into every line of his face. His eyes flicked between Ash and the pages of the book, though by now, the words had blurred into meaningless text. He had spent the entire night searching through medical guides and treatment plans, hoping for something, anything that could help. But all he could do was wait, just like everyone else.

Gary, however, was perhaps the most restless. He stood by the window, pacing back and forth, his hands jammed into his pockets. His eyes were clouded with guilt and frustration. Every now and then, he would stop and look at Ash, biting his lip as if battling an internal storm. He had seen Ash collapse before, but this was different. This time, Ash had done it to prove something—to him. The weight of that realization bore down on Gary like a crushing weight, and the silence of the room only made it worse.

Gary's pacing was interrupted when Nurse Joy let out a quiet, concerned gasp.

"Oh dear..." Nurse Joy whispered, her voice barely audible, but it sliced through the silence like a knife. She stepped into the room, her soft pink hair bobbing slightly as she moved closer to Ash's bedside.

The others turned to look at her, their faces a mixture of hope and dread.

Nurse Joy's eyes scanned the scene, lingering on Ash's unconscious form. His pale face, normally full of life and determination, looked almost peaceful in its stillness, save for the thin sheen of sweat covering his brow. His chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, the only sign that he was still fighting, even in his sleep.

"You all stayed up all night?" Nurse Joy asked softly, though she already knew the answer. The exhaustion in their eyes, the slumped shoulders, the tense atmosphere—it told her everything she needed to know.

Misty nodded, her voice hoarse. "We couldn't leave him."

Nurse Joy sighed, her heart going out to them. She had seen this kind of devotion before, but it never failed to touch her deeply. She stepped closer to Ash, gently placing her hand on his forehead to check for any signs of fever.

"He's stable," she said quietly, a note of relief in her voice. "But he's still very weak. It's going to take time."

Misty's grip on Ash's hand tightened slightly. "But...he will wake up, right?"

Nurse Joy hesitated, her professional demeanor slipping for just a moment. "I believe he will. Ash is strong, stronger than most, but he pushed himself to his limit. Right now, his body just needs time to recover."

Gary finally stopped pacing, turning to face Nurse Joy. His voice was sharp, laced with frustration. "How much time? He's been out for hours."

Nurse Joy met his gaze, her expression calm but firm. "There's no set timeline for something like this. It could be hours, it could be days. But I promise you, he's in the best possible hands. What he needs now is rest."

Brock stood up slowly, stretching his stiff muscles. "We should let him rest then. But...what about us?"

Nurse Joy smiled gently, her tone softening. "You all need to rest too. You've been up all night, and I can see how much you care about Ash, but you're not doing yourselves any favors by exhausting yourselves. There's a resting area in the back. I can keep watch over Ash for a few hours."

Misty opened her mouth to protest, but Nurse Joy gave her a knowing look. "I promise, if there's any change in his condition, you'll be the first to know."

Misty reluctantly let go of Ash's hand and stood, her legs wobbly from fatigue. "I just don't want him to wake up alone."

Nurse Joy smiled warmly. "He won't be alone. I'll be here."

Gary, still visibly tense, finally let out a long sigh and nodded. "Fine. But if anything happens..."

"You'll be the first to know," Nurse Joy reassured him again.

With a reluctant sigh, they trooped to the bed and couches, Misty on the bed and boys on the couch. The Pokemon nestled with their trainer, and soon their exhaustion caught up with them.

They drifted off into a fitful sleep.

Thirty minutes later, Gary stirred from a restless sleep, his body aching from the uncomfortable position he had fallen into on the couch. His eyes blinked open, and for a moment, he was disoriented, the events of the last few hours slipping from his mind. But as his surroundings came into focus, the gravity of the situation returned, crashing down on him like a wave.

The Pokémon Center's resting area was dimly lit, the soft hum of the air conditioning the only sound that filled the room. Brock was seated on the far side, hunched over with his elbows on his knees, his hands tangled in his hair as if trying to physically pull answers from his own mind. His face was buried in his palms, and his usual composed demeanor was gone, replaced with an air of hopelessness and stress.

Misty, however, was sitting on the edge of her seat, staring blankly at the floor. Her hands were tightly clasped in her lap, her knuckles white from the pressure, and her eyes were swollen, rimmed with dark circles that showed she hadn't rested at all. There was something off about her posture, something tense and unnerving.

Gary rubbed the sleep from his eyes and frowned. Something was wrong. "What happened?" he asked, his voice thick with grogginess and concern.

Misty didn't immediately answer, and Gary felt a sense of dread creep over him. She remained silent, her gaze still fixated on the ground, her lips pressed into a thin line. Brock glanced at her, his fingers loosening slightly from his hair, but he didn't say anything either. His eyes held the same heavy sadness as Misty's, and that only made the knot in Gary's stomach tighten.

Gary's pulse quickened. "Misty? Brock?" His voice cracked with rising panic, but still, neither of them spoke. "What's going on?"

Finally, Misty drew in a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ash... he's been taken to the emergency room."

Gary froze. His heart stopped, and the room seemed to spin for a moment as the words settled in. "What?"

"He's been taken to the emergency room," Misty repeated, this time with a little more volume, but no less shakiness. Her voice wavered, and her hands shook slightly in her lap. "They... they had to rush him there. Nurse Joy said something changed with his condition."

Gary stared at her, his mind unable to process the words. It was like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind right out of him. His breath came out in short gasps as he blinked, trying to make sense of what Misty had just said.

"No... no, that can't be right," Gary muttered, shaking his head as if the action alone could erase the reality of the situation. His voice was thick with disbelief. "He was stable. Nurse Joy said he was stable."

"She said things can change," Brock said quietly from the corner, his voice heavy with the same weight of reality that Gary was trying so desperately to reject. "And they did."

Gary's head spun. The room suddenly felt too small, too quiet, and the walls seemed to close in around him. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat, trapped behind the rising tide of panic. His body went cold, and he blinked rapidly, his legs giving out beneath him.

With a soft thud, Gary collapsed to the floor, his mind blank as darkness quickly swallowed him whole.

Misty and Brock were too consumed by their own grief to immediately react. It wasn't until Misty heard the sound of Gary's body hitting the floor that she snapped out of her daze. She rushed to his side, her heart pounding in her chest. "Gary!" she called, her voice trembling as she shook him gently. "Gary, wake up!"

Brock, too, was shaken from his thoughts, quickly moving to kneel beside Gary. "He fainted," Brock muttered, his fingers pressing against Gary's wrist to check his pulse. "The shock must've been too much."

Misty bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at Gary's pale face. She knew how much Ash meant to him, how much history they had together. Seeing Gary break like this only made the reality of Ash's condition feel heavier, more unbearable. It was like the world around them was crumbling, and there was nothing they could do to stop it.

"We need to get him up," Brock said softly, but there was no urgency in his voice. Even he seemed too tired, too defeated to muster much energy. "He'll be okay. He just needs to come around."

Misty nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She shook Gary again, her voice more forceful this time. "Gary, wake up. Please."

It took a few moments, but Gary finally stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He blinked in confusion, disoriented once again, but this time, the weight of the situation hit him immediately. He sat up with a groan, rubbing his head.

"What... what happened?" Gary asked, his voice hoarse as he looked between Misty and Brock.

"You fainted," Brock explained softly. "The news about Ash... it was too much."

Gary frowned, his mind still foggy. But then the memory came rushing back, and the crushing weight returned. "Ash..." he whispered, his voice breaking. He looked at Misty, desperation in his eyes. "Is he...?"

"We don't know," Misty said, her voice cracking. "They're still with him in the emergency room."

Gary clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he fought back the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm him again. He couldn't faint again. He couldn't fall apart. Not now. Ash needed him.

They sat in silence for a few moments, the air thick with tension and worry. No one knew what to say. No words could change what was happening, no comfort could ease the fear gnawing at their hearts. They could only wait, and that was perhaps the worst part of all.

Thirty minutes later, Nurse Joy walked into the room, holding three bowls of food in her hands. She set them down firmly on the desk, her usual gentle demeanor replaced by a more forceful one. “You three need to eat,” she announced with a tone that left no room for argument.

Gary, lying face down on the bed, his arms and legs hanging limply off the edges, barely lifted his head. His eyes were half-closed, and his expression was one of utter exhaustion. “Pardon?” he mumbled, his voice hoarse from fatigue.

“Eat!” Nurse Joy repeated more firmly. “You three need to eat, or you won’t be able to take care of yourselves, let alone Ash.”

Misty, curled up on the couch with her knees tucked under her chin, turned her head slowly to look at Nurse Joy. Her eyes were glassy from a lack of sleep, and she felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on her chest. “With all due respect, ma’am,” she began softly, “we can’t—”

“Enough!” Nurse Joy snapped, startling all three of them. She had reached her limit, her concern for their well-being outweighing any patience she might have had. She marched toward the door, her heels clicking against the tile floor. “When I come back in ten minutes, I expect to see those bowls either half-full or empty!” And with that, she turned on her heel and stormed out, shutting the door firmly behind her.

For a moment, the room was filled with silence, broken only by the soft hum of the machines in the background. Misty and Brock exchanged a weary glance before reluctantly reaching for the plates. Even though their stomachs twisted in knots, they knew Nurse Joy was right. If they didn’t eat, they wouldn’t be able to help Ash when he needed them the most.

Brock took a bite of the food, chewing slowly, though it tasted like sawdust in his mouth. Misty poked at her plate, pushing the food around with her fork. Neither of them had the appetite for it, but they ate nonetheless.

Gary, however, remained still. He hadn’t moved from his position on the bed, his eyes staring blankly at the floor. His body felt heavy, too weighed down by exhaustion and worry to even consider eating. He glanced over at Squirtle, who was eyeing his bowl with a curious look, its small mouth twitching with interest.

“You take it,” Gary said in a weary tone, not bothering to lift his head. “I’m not hungry.”

Squirtle’s eyes lit up, and without hesitation, the tiny turtle Pokémon waddled over to Gary’s plate and began to devour the food eagerly. The other three Pokémon soon followed suit, each of them drawn to the food despite the tension in the room.

As Gary watched them eat, a pang of guilt settled in his chest. He knew he should be eating too, that he should be taking care of himself, but his mind was so clouded with worry for Ash that food was the last thing on his mind.

Misty, noticing that Gary hadn’t touched his food, looked over at him with concern. “Gary,” she said softly, “you really should eat something.”

Gary didn’t respond. He simply closed his eyes, the weight of everything pressing down on him once more.

In the corner, Brock sighed heavily, rubbing his temples as he forced down another bite. “We’ll be no good to Ash if we fall apart,” he muttered, though it sounded like he was trying to convince himself just as much as the others.

The room fell into silence again, save for the quiet munching of the Pokémon, who were blissfully unaware of the depth of their trainers' fears. The minutes stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity as they waited for news, clinging to whatever hope they could muster.

Ten minutes felt like both an eternity and an instant when Nurse Joy returned.

When Nurse Joy returned to the room, her expression softening as she approached the desk. She carefully gathered the plates from Misty and Brock, her eyes falling on Gary, who still hadn’t moved from his position on the bed. The sight of him lying there, utterly drained, made her sigh quietly.

She set the plates down for a moment and walked over to Gary, her heart heavy with concern. “Gary,” she said gently, “I know this is hard, but you can’t go on like this.”

Gary didn’t respond, his face half-buried in the pillow. His body remained still, as if the weight of the world had pinned him to the bed. Nurse Joy knelt down beside him, her voice soft but firm. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to help Ash when he needs you the most.”

His eyes fluttered open for a brief moment, filled with exhaustion and the raw emotions he had tried so hard to keep at bay. “I… I can’t,” he whispered hoarsely. “I can’t think about anything else… not until I know he’s okay.”

Nurse Joy sighed again, a mixture of sympathy and frustration tugging at her. She understood his pain, but she knew this was no way for any of them to cope. “None of this will help Ash,” she said softly. “If he wakes up and sees you like this… it won’t make things any better.”

Gary blinked slowly, her words sinking in, but he still couldn’t muster the strength to argue. He felt numb, overwhelmed by the helplessness of the situation. How could he possibly eat or sleep when his best friend was lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life?

Misty, still curled up on the couch, watched the scene unfold. She knew exactly how Gary felt—every fiber of her being was focused on Ash, her mind unable to settle on anything else. But Nurse Joy’s words rang true. If Ash woke up and saw them like this, it would only worry him more.

“Gary,” she said softly from across the room, her voice trembling slightly, “we all feel the same way. But we have to stay strong… for Ash.”

Gary let out a shaky breath, his fingers gripping the edge of the bed. He knew they were right. He just didn’t know how to find the strength to pull himself out of this fog of worry.

Nurse Joy, seeing the conflict in his eyes, stood up and placed a gentle hand on his back. “I’ll be back in a little while,” she said, her voice filled with understanding. “Try to rest, at least.”

With one last glance at the others, she picked up the plates and quietly left the room, the door clicking softly behind her.

Ten minutes later, a soft knock echoed through the quiet hospital room. Misty and Brock looked up, their tired eyes turning toward the door. It creaked open, and Tracy stepped inside, his face pale with worry. His eyes darted around the room, landing on each of them before finally resting on Gary.

"Is it true?!" Tracy asked, his voice thick with concern.

Gary, still lying on his stomach, his limbs dangling off the edge of the bed, barely lifted his head. He glanced at Tracy, his expression bleak and drained. Without much energy, he patted the spot next to him on the bed, motioning for Tracy to sit down. “Yeah,” Gary muttered, his voice low and hoarse, still wrapped in his mopey condition. “It’s true.”

Tracy hesitated for a second before crossing the room, his face etched with disbelief. He sat down beside Gary, the weight of the news clearly sinking in as he stared at the floor. “Ash…” Tracy whispered, unable to fully grasp the reality of what had happened.

Gary let out a tired sigh, his eyes heavy with fatigue and worry. “He’s in the emergency room now… we don’t know what’s going to happen,” he murmured, his voice almost hollow. The emotional weight of the situation was too much for him to handle, and all he could do was lie there, feeling the crushing sense of helplessness.

Tracy swallowed hard, his own shock settling in as he glanced at Misty and Brock, who both looked just as worn out. “How did this even happen?” Tracy asked softly, his voice trembling.

Misty, curled up on the couch, bit her lip as tears threatened to fall. “He pushed himself too far… again,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. “All for that battle. All to prove he was a Pokémon Master.”

Tracy’s eyes widened in shock. “He did this… for a badge?”

Gary nodded weakly, closing his eyes. “Not just for the badge. He wanted to prove himself… to me, to all of us.” His voice wavered as the weight of his own guilt began to settle in. “And now look at him…”

The room fell into a somber silence. Tracy, still trying to process everything, sat quietly beside Gary, unsure of what to say. He could feel the tension in the air, the shared pain between them all, but words felt empty in the face of something so serious.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Tracy placed a hand on Gary’s shoulder. “We’ll get through this,” he said softly, trying to offer some small comfort. “Ash… he’s strong. He’ll pull through.”

Gary didn’t respond, his mind clouded with too many doubts and fears. All he could do was hope Tracy was right.

When Nurse Joy entered the room, she stopped in her tracks, her heart sinking at the sight before her. Tracy, Gary, Misty, and Brock had somehow ended up in a tangled mess of limbs on the bed. Each of them seemed pinned down by the other, not moving, just lying there, staring blankly at the ceiling, their faces etched with deep exhaustion and fear.

The air in the room was heavy, filled with unspoken anxieties. Nurse Joy could see the worry weighing down on them, their bodies locked in place as if the weight of their thoughts was too much to bear. They weren’t speaking, but their expressions said everything—this was more than just physical exhaustion. This was the burden of waiting, of not knowing what might happen to Ash.

Misty's face was particularly pale, her brow furrowed as if her mind was lost in the darkest corners of fear. Every time her eyes blinked, the worst thoughts crept into her mind—what if Ash never woke up? What if they had pushed him too far? What if she never got to hear his voice or see him smile again?

Gary, lying on the far edge of the bed with one arm draped over his face, was in just as bad shape. His mind was tormented by guilt. He had pushed Ash, doubted him, made him feel like he had something to prove. And now, here they were—Ash fighting for his life, and Gary unable to shake the thought that it was all his fault. Every “what if” consumed him, and the more he thought about it, the more unbearable it became.

Tracy and Brock were no better. While their faces weren’t as visibly contorted by fear, they were still deep in thought, struggling to come to terms with the uncertainty that loomed over them. Every second felt like an eternity as they imagined all the things that could go wrong in the emergency room.

Nurse Joy sighed softly, the sound barely audible in the thick silence of the room. She didn’t want to disturb them, but she knew they couldn’t stay like this forever. Quietly, she walked over to the bed, her gentle steps breaking the stillness.

“You need to rest,” she said, her voice soft but firm as she placed a hand on the nearest shoulder—Brock’s. “I know you’re scared, but Ash is strong. You need to take care of yourselves if you want to be there for him when he wakes up.”

No one responded immediately. Their eyes remained fixed on the ceiling, their bodies still intertwined. It was as if they didn’t know how to move, paralyzed by the fear of what might happen next.

Gary finally let out a shaky breath, his voice barely above a whisper. “What if he doesn’t wake up?” The question hung in the air, the weight of it crashing down on everyone in the room.

Nurse Joy’s face softened as she looked at him, her heart breaking for the group. “Ash is a fighter. I’ve seen him pull through so much. You have to hold on to hope.”

Misty swallowed hard, her eyes welling up with unshed tears. “But what if… what if this time is different?” she whispered, her voice trembling as she voiced the fear that had been gnawing at her heart.

The room fell silent again, the worst thoughts swirling around them, each one darker than the last. But Nurse Joy knew she had to pull them out of this spiral. She couldn’t let them fall any further into despair.

“Don’t let the worst thoughts control you,” she said gently. “Ash needs you to stay strong.”

With those words, she quietly left the room, giving them space but hoping her message had reached them.

It did not.

Nurse Joy's words, though well-meaning, failed to penetrate the thick fog of despair that had settled over Gary, Misty, Brock, and Tracy. They remained tangled together on the bed, their faces still etched with worry, staring blankly into the void as their minds cycled through the worst possible scenarios.

Gary, his hand resting limply over his eyes, couldn’t stop the flood of guilt that kept rising within him. What if Ash never wakes up? What if he did this because of me? The questions gnawed at him, pulling him deeper into his own personal torment. He could feel every breath he took, but it felt shallow, like it wasn’t enough to relieve the crushing weight on his chest.

Misty, curled up tightly with her knees pulled to her chest, blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. She had always known Ash was brave, but this...this was different. She couldn’t stop picturing him lying motionless, unable to wake up. Her heart ached at the thought of never hearing him laugh again, or seeing that goofy grin that always made her smile, no matter what. Why did he have to prove himself? she thought, her mind screaming with regret. We all know he’s the best... I know.

Brock sat up slightly, his fingers still gripping his hair as he struggled to think of something, anything, that could give them hope. But even he, the most level-headed of the group, was at a loss. He had always been able to find a way through difficult times, to keep the others steady, but now... there was nothing he could do. No words of wisdom or practical advice that could ease the pain they were feeling.

Tracy, who had joined them later, was quieter than the rest, but his heart felt just as heavy. He looked over at his friends, seeing the fear in their eyes, and felt utterly powerless. His mind was clouded with thoughts of Ash’s battles, the risks he had taken, and the relentless determination he had shown. Now, all that strength seemed so fragile.

The room remained silent, save for the occasional shallow breath or faint rustle as someone shifted in the bed. The air was thick with their shared dread, none of them able to break free from the dark thoughts that clung to them like a heavy shadow. Even the Pokémon, who had been restless earlier, had settled into quiet worry, pacing around without making a sound.

Two hours later, the hospital room had transformed into a refuge of sorrow, with Gary, Misty, Brock, and Tracy each finding their own isolated corner to process the emotional turmoil they were experiencing.

Gary had sought solace in the small closet, the door slightly ajar but enough to shield him from the world outside. He hugged his knees tightly to his chest, trying to muffle his sobs. Tears streamed down his face as he thought of Ash, imagining his friend’s smile fading away. Why couldn’t I have been a better friend?he lamented silently, frustration and regret crashing over him like waves.

In the bathroom, Brock stood by the sink, staring at his reflection in the mirror, but the image looking back at him was a stranger. He splashed cold water on his face, hoping it would wash away the despair, but it only intensified the raw feelings welling up inside. As the tears slipped down his cheeks, he whispered to himself, “I should’ve been there for him. I should’ve...” He didn’t even finish the thought, letting the rest dissolve into a choked sob.

Misty had found a small cabinet in the room and squeezed herself inside, pulling the door closed behind her. Surrounded by darkness, she finally let her emotions out, her body shaking with quiet sobs. She pressed her palms against her mouth, stifling the sounds so no one outside would hear. I should have told him how I feel, she thought, her heart aching at the thought that she might never get the chance. Why didn’t I tell him?

Under the bed, Tracy lay curled up, his heart heavy in his chest. He could hear the faint sounds of Brock and Gary’s muffled cries and felt a surge of guilt wash over him. How did we get to this point? he wondered, the tears flowing freely down his face. Why couldn’t I protect him?

As Nurse Joy entered the room, her brow furrowed in confusion at the empty space. “Did they go out for a walk?” she mused, looking around for any sign of her young patients. But as she turned to leave, a glint of something caught her eye. She squinted, then froze as she noticed the tuft of black hair protruding from beneath the bed.

With a gentle approach, she knelt down, peering under the bed to find Tracy’s tear-streaked face. “Tracy?” she said softly, her voice filled with concern. “What are you doing under there?”

Tracy blinked back tears, embarrassment flooding his cheeks as he realized he’d been found. “Uh, just... hiding,” he stammered, his voice trembling.

Nurse Joy frowned, her heart breaking for the young trainers. “You don’t have to hide from me. I know this is a tough time for all of you.”

Just then, she noticed movement in the closet. She opened the door wider to see Gary’s tear-filled eyes staring back at her. “Oh, Gary,” she said softly. “You too?”

Before he could respond, the sound of the bathroom door creaking open revealed Brock, his eyes red and puffy. “I... I just needed a moment,” he managed to say, his voice cracking.

Misty’s muffled voice came from the cabinet, barely above a whisper. “Me too. I’m sorry.”

Nurse Joy sighed, realizing the extent of their pain. “You all need to talk about this. Bottling it up won’t help anyone, especially not Ash. He needs your strength right now.”

Gary walked out. " But how are we supposed to do that if he's the only reason we're happy?"

Misty peeked out of the cabinet. " What do you mean?"

" Think about it," Gary continued. " Somehow Ash met us, and became our friend. Somehow he made us feel better and special. Somehow he.... He was nice to all of us." He bit his lip.

Nurse Joy placed a gentle hand on Gary's shoulder, urging him to continue, her eyes filled with empathy. “You’re right. Ash has always been a light for everyone around him. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find strength in each other right now.”

Misty, still peeking from the cabinet, nodded slowly, absorbing Gary’s words. “But without him, it feels like... like there’s this big hole in our hearts,” she confessed, her voice trembling. “I can’t imagine what it would be like without him.”

Brock stepped forward, wiping away the remnants of his tears. “It’s true. He’s been there for all of us in ways we didn’t even realize. He’s always pushing us to be better, to strive for our dreams.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “But we can’t forget that we also have each other. We need to support one another, just like Ash has always supported us.”

Gary sighed, his brows furrowed in thought. “I know, but it feels impossible right now. I mean, how do we keep going when the one person who made everything brighter is... in there?” He gestured towards the emergency room doors, a mixture of fear and desperation in his eyes.

Misty finally emerged from the cabinet, stepping closer to Gary and Brock. “Maybe we start by remembering the things Ash taught us? The lessons he shared?” Her voice was steadier now, as if she was rallying her own spirit.

“Like how to fight for what we believe in,” Brock added. “Ash would want us to keep fighting, to keep believing in him.”

“Yeah,” Gary said, his voice gaining momentum. “He’s always believed in us, even when we didn’t believe in ourselves. If we’re going to honor him, we need to show that same belief.”

Nurse Joy smiled, her heart warming at the sight of their solidarity. “That’s the spirit. It’s okay to feel lost right now, but Ash wouldn’t want you to lose yourselves in the process. He’s counting on you to stay strong.”

“Let’s do it for him,” Misty said, her determination shining through her sadness. “Let’s support each other and remember the good times we had with him. We can’t give up.”

Gary took a deep breath, wiping his tears away with the back of his hand. “You’re right. We owe it to Ash to keep pushing forward. We can’t let his spirit fade just because he’s not here with us right now.”

Brock nodded in agreement, his resolve growing. “Exactly. We need to be there for him, even if it’s from a distance for now. We can wait for him to come back to us.”

The door to the emergency room swung open, and a nurse peeked her head out. “Nurse Joy, can you come in for a moment?”

Joy nodded, giving the group a reassuring smile before heading inside. “You all stay strong. I’ll be back in just a moment,” she said, her tone encouraging.

As the door closed behind her, an uneasy silence filled the room. Gary, Misty, and Brock exchanged glances, each one silently reinforcing their newfound resolve. They knew it would be a long road ahead, but together, they could find the strength to face whatever challenges lay in store.

Tracy, who had remained quiet until now, stepped forward. “We should remember the adventures we’ve had with Ash. All those moments where he made us laugh or inspired us to push our limits.”

“Yeah! Like when we battled Team Rocket together,” Misty exclaimed, a faint smile creeping onto her face. “Or that time he saved Pikachu from that flock of Spearow!”

“And the time he caught Charizard!” Gary added, his voice growing stronger. “We were all there cheering him on.”

Brock chuckled lightly, a warmth spreading in the pit of his stomach. “Or when he couldn’t catch a single Pokémon and we had to help him. He never gave up, even when he failed.”

As they shared memories of Ash, laughter began to replace the somber atmosphere. Each story reignited a sense of hope, reminding them of the bond they shared with their friend.

“Whatever happens next, we’ll face it together,” Gary said firmly, determination written across his face. “For Ash.”

Four hours later, the room was cloaked in darkness, illuminated only by the soft glow of the moon filtering through the windows. Gary, Misty, Brock, and Tracy had succumbed to exhaustion, their bodies finally giving in to sleep. The sound of their soft breathing filled the air, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions they had been grappling with all day.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Nurse Joy entered, her expression a mixture of warmth and urgency. “Wake up, everyone! You can see him now!”

The words jolted the friends from their slumber. Gary’s eyes shot open first, and he scrambled to sit up, his heart racing. “What? We can see Ash?”

Misty blinked in confusion as she rubbed her eyes, still tangled in her pajamas. “Did I hear that right? Ash is awake?”

Brock was already on his feet, pushing his unruly hair back. “No time to waste! Let’s go!”

Tracy, who had been sitting up in bed, sprang to his feet as well, his enthusiasm bubbling over. “This is it! Come on, guys!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, they all bolted from their makeshift sleeping spots, their pajamas and nightwear forgotten as they raced down the corridor towards the emergency room. Gary led the charge, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. They burst through the doors, gasping for breath, the sight before them causing all of their hearts to swell.

There, in the bed surrounded by machines and monitors, lay Ash, looking pale but very much alive. His eyes fluttered open, and a weak smile crept onto his face.

“Gary…” he croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.

In an instant, they all spoke at once, their words tumbling over each other in a chaotic rush. “Ash!” “You’re awake!” “We were so worried!” “You scared us!” “How do you feel?”

Gary and Misty moved in unison, rushing to either side of Ash’s bed. They threw their arms around him in a tight embrace, their relief palpable. “We thought we might lose you,” Misty murmured, her voice shaking with emotion.

Gary just hugged tighter. " It's you." He whispered. " It's really you!"

“I’m sorry I worried you,” Ash replied, his voice hoarse but filled with warmth. “I just—”

Brock and Tracy jumped up and down on the other side of the bed, their faces beaming with joy. “We knew you could pull through!” Brock exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over.

“Yeah! You’re the best, Ash!” Tracy added, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “You just had to show off, didn’t you?”

Ash chuckled weakly, the sound breaking through the tension that had filled the air. “You guys… I couldn’t have done it without you cheering me on.”

Misty pulled back slightly to look him in the eye. “Don’t you ever scare us like that again! You have to promise.”

“I promise,” Ash said, his sincerity evident.

Gary watched the exchange, a wide smile spreading across his face. “We all knew you’d pull through, Ash. You’re our Pokémon master! You’re not allowed to give up on us.”

Ash took a deep breath. “Thanks for being here, guys. I really needed you.”

“We’ll always be here,” Brock said firmly, his expression serious yet tender. “That’s what friends do.”

Tracy nodded enthusiastically. “We’re in this together, no matter what!”

Misty glanced around the room, her heart full as she took in the sight of her friends standing together, united. “You’re not just our friend, Ash. You’re family.”

Gary chimed in, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “And don’t forget who won the badge!”

Ash rolled his eyes playfully, still touched by their overwhelming support. “Right, right. Next time, let’s make sure it doesn’t end up like this.”

Hehe here is Gary

Gary Oak

The one and only Gary Oak

Hehe he is so scared

Hahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahaha haha

And he looks angry too

Then again he always looks angry