" So, now that you're Champion, just how long until you're a Pokemon master?"

Ash gasped as he saw rocks fall. " Go!" He exclaimed to his Pokemon. " Don't look back, just go!"

The Pokemon didn't seem like they were going to do it, so Ash made the hard decision.

He absorbed them all and threw them just as the rocks fell, blocking the trainer and Pokemon.

Pikachu was the first to come out of his ball. " What happened? Where am I?"

Then he looked around and saw rocks. He gasped and ran to them. " Ash!" He exclaimed. " Aaaash!"

Charmander came out of his ball and winced as he rubbed his head. * What happened? Where is Ash?"

Pikachu turned. " Behind there!" He exclaimed.

Charmander gasped. " There?!"

Pikachu nodded.

Charmander noticed the two other closed Pokeballs and ran to activate them. " Come on out!" He exclaimed.

Squirtle and Bulbasaur came out, looking shaken. " What happened?" Squirtle asked. " Where are we?"

" In the cave ash took us to!" Pikachu exclaimed. " And now Ash is stuck back there!"

Bulbasaur gasped. " He sacrificed himself.... To save us."

Charmander ran to the rocks. " Come on!" He exclaimed. " We'll be able to get him out of w-"

Suddenly, the cave began to tremble. Squirtle grabbed Pikachu and Bulbasaur Charmander using vine whip.

" We'll come back when we have help!"

" From who?" Pikachu asked desperately.

" Professor Oak!" Squirtle yelled as he and Charmander lept out of the cave entrance, then helped Bulbasaur and Pikachu out.

Pikachu sighed and nodded. " Yeah, I guess."

" Pikachu Pika!" Pikachu said while waving his arms

" Char! Mander!" Charmander waved his arms too.

" Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle Squirtle!!!" Squirtle took his gang glasses out.

" Saur! Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur waved his vines.

Ash! You have to help Ash!

He's stuck in a cave!

My good sir, please help our trainer! We are very worried!

Just help, you stupid old man!

Oak looked at the four Pokemon confused. " What?"

Pikachu sighed and slapped his head, then grabbed a pen and pencil and wrote in very messy handwriting, " Ash is stuck in a cave"

Oak raised a brow. " Uh... Sorry?"

Charmander burst into tears. Pikachu and Squirtle ran and hugged it, while Bulbasaur became all defensive.

" Wait.... Where's Ash?" Oak asked, confused.

Charmander just burst into more tears

Oak blinked. " Uh..... Ash is.... In a cemetery? He's dead?!"

Charmander looked up with wide eyes. " Char?"

" Pika!"

" Squirtle!"

Wait, what?!

No! That didn't happen!

" Charmander, please don't cry! Ash is fine!"

Gary turned and put his hand over his eyes as he glanced at the sky. " Well, Umbreon. We're making good timing."

" Umbreon!"

Gary scratched its head. " Yeah, you're right."

Suddenly, his phone rang. Gary glanced at it with a raised brow.

" Hey, Gramps. What's up."

" Gary, when did you last see Ash?"

" Two week ago. Why?"

Oak sighed. " Because Ash is currently trapped in a cave. Is what the Pokemon say."

Gary walked into his house's front door and just looked at the mess.

It was a disaster.

" What happened around here?" Gary mumbled.

Oak ran to him. " Oh, Gary, thank goodness you're here! The Pokemon are going crazy without Ash!"

" But what happened to him?"

Gary's brow furrowed as he took in the chaotic scene before him. Papers were scattered all over the floor, half-eaten food lay abandoned on the kitchen counter, and the furniture looked like it had been knocked around in a frenzy. It was clear that Oak had been struggling to control Ash's Pokémon, who were now pacing anxiously, their faces a mix of worry and fear.

"I told you, he's trapped in a cave!" Professor Oak replied, sounding exasperated. "The Pokémon came running back, and they're all insisting that he's stuck somewhere. I just... I don't know where the cave is!"

Gary's face darkened as he absorbed this information. "Okay, let's start from the beginning," he said, trying to remain calm as he bent down to Pikachu's level. "Pikachu, can you show me where the cave is?"

Pikachu's ears drooped, and he looked at the floor, rubbing his tiny paws together nervously. "Pika, pika..." he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He then looked up, eyes determined, and tugged on Gary's pants leg, urging him to follow.

Gary's jaw tightened, and he gave a firm nod. "Alright, Pikachu. Lead the way. We're going to get Ash out of there, I promise."

Professor Oak stepped forward and handed Gary a flashlight and some emergency supplies. "Be careful, Gary. We don't know what kind of condition Ash is in, or how dangerous the cave might be. Please... bring him back safely."

Gary nodded, his face set in grim determination. "I will, Gramps. Just keep these guys calm while I'm gone." He gestured to the Pokémon, who were now gathered around him with pleading eyes.

Charmander sniffled and wiped its eyes, while Squirtle put on its sunglasses with renewed determination. Bulbasaur wrapped a comforting vine around Pikachu, who looked up at Gary with hope in his eyes.

Gary turned to the door, his heart heavy with worry, and grabbed his backpack. "Come on, Umbreon. It's time to go save Ash."

Umbreon nodded, its rings glowing faintly in the dim light of the house. "Umbre!"

With Pikachu leading the way, they headed out into the dusk, leaving Oak to calm the remaining Pokémon who were watching them leave with anxious expressions.

The sun was beginning to set as Gary and Pikachu moved deeper into the dense forest. The trees towered above them, casting long shadows that made the path difficult to navigate. Gary's flashlight cut through the gloom, and Umbreon's rings cast an eerie glow as they trudged through the overgrown foliage.

"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu suddenly chirped, pointing ahead with his paw.

Gary looked up and saw a faint outline of rocks in the distance. "Is that it, Pikachu? Is that the cave?"

Pikachu nodded vigorously, a determined spark lighting up his eyes. "Pika!"

"Okay, let's move. We have to hurry before it gets too dark," Gary said, quickening his pace.

As they reached the entrance, Gary's heart sank. The cave entrance was partially blocked by a pile of rocks, some of which were far too large to move by hand. It was clear that the recent tremors had caused a partial collapse. He shone the flashlight inside, but the darkness swallowed the beam.

"Ash!" Gary shouted, his voice echoing through the cave.

There was no response.

Gary felt his stomach twist. He took a deep breath, trying to push away the rising panic. "Okay, okay... I need to find a way to get through this."

Umbreon sniffed at the rocks, then began to scratch at the loose dirt around them. Pikachu hopped up beside Gary, his tiny paws trying to help move the smaller stones.

Gary knelt down and began to dig with them. "I'm not giving up, Ash. Just hang in there."

Inside the cave, Ash was slumped against a rock wall, breathing heavily. His head throbbed, and dust covered his clothes. His fingers were scratched and bleeding from his attempts to shift the rocks, but he hadn't been able to budge the larger stones.

"Pikachu... Charmander... Squirtle... Bulbasaur..." he muttered weakly, his voice echoing off the cold stone. He knew they had gone to get help, but the darkness was pressing in, and his hope was starting to wane.

Suddenly, a faint light appeared from the entrance, a narrow beam piercing the suffocating darkness. Ash's eyes widened, and he struggled to sit up straighter.

"Is... is someone there?" he called out, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Ash!" came Gary's voice, strained but unmistakable. "Ash, I'm here! Just hold on! I'm going to get you out!"

Tears pricked the corners of Ash's eyes. "Gary... you found me..."

"Of course I did, you idiot," Gary shouted back, his voice shaking with emotion. "Now don't you dare pass out on me. I'm getting you out of this cave, no matter what."

With renewed determination, Gary pushed away the loose rocks as Umbreon and Pikachu clawed at the edges, the darkness slowly retreating in the wake of their combined efforts. The sound of shifting stones and labored breathing filled the air as Gary worked faster and harder, desperate to reach his friend.

And deep inside the cave, Ash's heart, which had been heavy with fear and doubt, began to beat a little stronger.

Gary's eyes went wide as he finally managed to clear a gap big enough to see inside the cave. There, slumped against the wall and covered in dust, was Ash. His clothes were torn, his face smeared with dirt, and his eyes looked exhausted but relieved.

"Ash!" Gary exclaimed, crawling through the narrow opening. "What the heck happened to you?"

Ash blinked, looking dazed and confused. "What?"

Gary's face was a mixture of relief and frustration. "I asked, what happened? Why are you trapped in here? And why did you try to block the entrance with rocks?!"

Ash rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, his eyes darting away from Gary's intense gaze. "Uh... well, I didn't exactly try to block the entrance. It kind of... just happened."

Gary stared at him, his expression incredulous. "It 'just happened'?! You're telling me you accidentally got yourself trapped in a cave?"

Ash shrugged, a weak smile tugging at his lips. "Pretty much, yeah. There was a rockslide, and I just... acted. I had to get Pikachu and the others out of the way, so I pushed them into their Pokéballs and threw them outside."

Gary's anger softened as he listened. "You... protected them, didn't you?" He sighed, shaking his head. "Only you, Ash. Only you would throw yourself into danger like that without a second thought."

Ash gave a small laugh, though it was clear he was exhausted. "Yeah, well... that's kind of my thing, right?"

Gary's lips twitched into a reluctant smile, and he stepped forward, holding out his hand. "Yeah, it is. Now come on, let's get you out of here before the whole cave decides to come down on us."

Ash reached up and grabbed Gary's hand, his grip shaky. As Gary pulled him to his feet, Ash swayed unsteadily, but Gary's arm quickly wrapped around his shoulder to support him.

"You look like you've been through a war," Gary said, his voice softer now, the concern clear in his eyes. "Can you walk?"

Ash nodded, though his legs trembled. "Yeah, I think so. Thanks, Gary."

Gary just shook his head with a sigh, giving Ash a light, playful shove. "Let's get out of here, you reckless idiot. You had everyone worried."

Ash's face softened, and he gave a nod. "Okay. Lead the way, partner."

With that, Gary and Ash, both leaning on each other for support, made their way out of the dark cave, Pikachu and Umbreon waiting anxiously at the entrance. As soon as they stepped into the light, Pikachu dashed forward and leapt onto Ash's shoulder, nuzzling his cheek with happy squeaks. Ash's face broke into a tired but genuine smile as he reached up to pet his best friend.

Gary glanced at the reunited pair, rolling his eyes but unable to hide the smile tugging at his lips. "Well, I guess I'm stuck with you, huh?"

Ash chuckled, his voice hoarse but filled with warmth. "Yeah, looks like it."