Brock was working at the Pokemon hospital when his phone rang, the ringtone buzzing through the room, sounding exactly like Misty.

Maybe that was because they recorded it.

Brock, it's Misty! Pick it up! Because either Ash is sick or hurt or something that b-

He sighed. When Misty called it was never a good sign.

He picked up, already knowing Ash has somehow injured himself. " Hello?"

" Brock, come to the park quick! Pikachu's injured, and Ash has a bloody face and leg!"

Brock shot up. " Coming!"

He ran to his flying car, hopped in with his tools, and zoomed off the Misty's location.

When he arrived, Misty was tapping her foot on the ground.

When she saw Brock get face lit up. " Brock!"

" What happened?" He asked, jumping out of the car.

" Gary."

Brock's eyes widened. " Wait, we're talking ab-"

" Ash's nemesis? Yes."

" What was he doing?!"

Then he paused and added, " and were there any girls?"

" Brock not now! He was going to crash into Pikachu but Ash lept and... Was the one who got hit."

" What was Gary in?"

" A car."

" Oh, NO! how badly injured are they?"

" Well, Pikachu has a few bruises, but it's ash I'm worried about. But he insists you look at Pikachu first."

Brock rushed through the reeds, his heart pounding in his chest as he made his way toward Ash. The sight that greeted him sent a chill down his spine. Ash was on the ground, a mess of dirt and blood, his face smeared with crimson streaks, and his leg twisted at an awkward angle. The panic in his eyes was palpable, but he was focused solely on his beloved Pokémon.

“Brock! Check on Pikachu!” Ash yelled again, his voice strained with urgency.

“Okay, okay!” Brock replied, shaking off the shock as he knelt beside Pikachu, who was huddled nearby, whimpering softly. The little electric mouse had bruises on its sides and looked dazed but was still trying to stand strong for Ash.

“Pikachu, buddy, let’s take a look,” Brock said, gently examining the Pokémon’s body. “Where does it hurt?”

“Pika…” Pikachu winced, attempting to stand but collapsing back onto its side.

Brock worked quickly, pulling out his medical supplies from his bag. “You’ll be okay. I’m here to help.” He began checking for broken bones and assessing Pikachu’s injuries, carefully palpating its sides and looking for any signs of internal damage.

Ash watched, worry etched across his features. “Is he going to be alright, Brock?” he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Brock didn’t look up, concentrating on Pikachu. “He has some bruising, but nothing seems broken. I’ll need to clean up those wounds and apply some bandages.”

“Just hurry!” Ash urged, trying to push himself up, but a wave of pain shot through him, causing him to groan.

“Easy, Ash! You need to lie still,” Brock said, glancing up at him. “You’re in bad shape. I’ll check you out right after Pikachu.”

“No, check him first!” Ash insisted, grimacing as he clutched his leg, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead. “Pikachu needs to be okay!”

Misty stepped closer, her eyes wide with concern. “Brock, we need to do something for Ash now! He looks worse than Pikachu!”

Brock took a deep breath, recognizing the urgency in Misty’s tone. “Alright, I’ll do both at the same time.” He motioned for Misty to help him. “Can you keep Pikachu calm while I look at Ash?”

“Sure! Just hang in there, Ash!” Misty said, kneeling beside Pikachu and gently stroking its head to comfort it.

Brock quickly turned his attention back to Ash. “Okay, Ash, I need to look at that leg and your face. Just hold on.” He knelt beside Ash, noticing the blood soaking through his clothes and the way his friend was trembling.

“Brock, I’m fine! Just worry about Pikachu!” Ash insisted, trying to push through the pain.

“Yeah, and I’m a Magikarp,” Brock said, rolling his eyes but unable to hide his concern. “You can’t just brush off an injury like this. You jumped in front of a car, Ash! I’m amazed you’re even conscious right now.”

Ash winced but managed a weak smile. “That’s just what trainers do for their Pokémon… right?”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be cautious,” Brock replied, carefully lifting Ash’s shirt to inspect the bruises forming on his side. “You’ve got a few nasty bruises here, and this cut on your forehead needs cleaning.”

Misty kept talking to Pikachu, who looked up at Ash with worried eyes. “Pikachu, you’re gonna be okay! Just focus on Ash; he needs you too!”

Brock reached for some antiseptic wipes and gauze, preparing to clean Ash’s wounds. “Ash, I’m going to need you to breathe through the pain while I clean this up. It might sting a bit.”

“Whatever, just do it,” Ash replied, gritting his teeth as Brock began to clean the cut on his forehead.

“Hang in there, buddy,” Brock said as he worked, his heart aching at the sight of his friend in so much pain. “You’re tougher than this.”

“I’ll be fine,” Ash mumbled, though the uncertainty in his voice betrayed his confidence.

After Brock finished cleaning Ash’s forehead, he turned his attention to the cut on his leg. “This is going to need a bandage,” he said, glancing back at Misty. “How’s Pikachu doing?”

“He’s still a bit shaky, but I think he’s okay. Just scared,” Misty replied, rubbing Pikachu’s back soothingly.

“Alright, let’s get this done,” Brock said, quickly wrapping the bandage around Ash’s leg. “Pikachu will be fine, and then we can focus on you.”

Ash winced as Brock secured the bandage. “I’m sorry, Pikachu. I didn’t mean to put you in danger,” he said, his voice filled with guilt.

“Pika…” Pikachu nuzzled against Ash, sending sparks of electricity through its fur as it tried to reassure him.

Brock finished up with Ash and took a step back, surveying his work. “You’ll both be okay, but you need to take it easy for a while,” he said, hoping his words would ease the tension in the air.

“Thanks, Brock,” Ash replied, feeling a sense of relief wash over him despite the pain.

Misty smiled gently, pride and gratitude shining in her eyes. “You really did a great job, Brock.”

Brock shrugged, his usual confidence returning. “Just doing my job, as always.”

“Now let’s get you both home,” Misty said, standing up and offering Ash a hand. “We can’t have our Pokémon in danger, especially with Gary around.”

“Yeah,” Ash muttered, glancing back at Pikachu, who was already trying to stand. “I promise I’ll be more careful next time.”

Brock nodded, helping Ash to his feet. “We’re all in this together, Ash. Just remember that.”

" Nurse Jo-" Brock started, but was quickly interrupted by his phone.

Brock, it's Misty! Pick it up! Because either Ash is sick o-

Brock's heart sank as he listened to Misty’s voice on the phone. He could hear the tension in her tone as he answered. “Misty, what happened?”

“Psyduck was outside and Gary came speeding by. Ash leapt in front of Psyduck to save him, but he got hit instead,” Misty explained, her voice shaky. “He’s really hurt this time, and he’s more worried about Psyduck than himself.”

Brock felt a surge of panic. “Is Ash okay? Where are you?”

“We’re at the park, again, but he’s bleeding and has some bad bruises from this morning, and they've been doubled! He’s really stubborn about getting checked out,” Misty said, her voice urgent.

“I’m on my way!” Brock said, already grabbing his medical kit. “Just stay with him!”

After hanging up, Brock sprinted to his flying car, his mind racing. He knew Ash’s tendency to downplay his injuries, but this time felt different. The thought of Ash putting himself in danger yet again made his heart race.

When Brock arrived at the park, he spotted Misty kneeling beside Ash, who was sitting against a tree, breathing heavily. Ash's shirt was torn, revealing bruises blooming across his torso, and a nasty cut marred his forehead.

“Brock! Thank goodness you’re here!” Misty exclaimed, relief flooding her voice as she rushed to meet him. “Ash is hurt really badly.”

Brock rushed over to Ash, who was looking at Psyduck with wide, worried eyes. “Psyduck, are you okay?” Ash asked, his voice strained.

“Yeah, just a little dazed,” Misty replied, patting Psyduck’s head reassuringly. “But Ash, you need to focus on yourself now.”

“Brock, I’m fine! I just need to make sure Psyduck is alright,” Ash insisted, attempting to get up but wincing in pain as he shifted his weight.

“Sit back down, Ash! You need to lie still,” Brock said firmly, kneeling next to him. “I’m here to help you, but you have to let me.”

Ash looked at Brock, his stubbornness faltering for a moment. “But Psyduck—”

“Will be fine,” Brock interrupted, pulling out antiseptic wipes from his medical kit. “Right now, I need to check you out first. We can take care of Psyduck after.”

Reluctantly, Ash nodded, sinking back against the tree. Brock began to clean the cut on Ash’s forehead, being careful not to hurt him more than necessary.

Misty watched anxiously, kneeling beside Psyduck, who was looking up at Ash with concern. “You really need to take care of yourself, Ash. You can’t help your Pokémon if you’re hurt,” she said softly.

“Yeah, I know…” Ash mumbled, glancing at Psyduck. “But it’s my fault he was in danger in the first place.”

“No, it’s not,” Misty said firmly. “You did the right thing. You’re a good trainer and friend, Ash. But you can’t be there for your Pokémon if you’re not taking care of yourself.”

Brock finished cleaning the cut and started wrapping it with gauze. “Misty’s right. You need to trust us to help you.”

Ash sighed, leaning his head back against the tree. “Okay, okay. Just... don’t tell my mom.”

“Too late!” Brock joked, trying to lighten the mood as he worked. “She’ll know the minute she sees those bruises.”

Ash couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle, despite the pain. “That’s not funny, Brock.”

After finishing with the cut, Brock turned his attention to the bruises forming on Ash’s torso. “You’ve got some nasty bruises here, Ash. Did you hit your side when you fell?”

“Just a little,” Ash replied, looking away. “I’ll be fine.”

Brock shot him a knowing look. “You need to stop lying to me. This looks pretty bad.” He pressed gently on Ash’s side, prompting a sharp intake of breath from him. “Does that hurt?”

“A little,” Ash admitted, gritting his teeth.

Misty frowned, feeling her heart ache for her friend. “Brock, can’t we do something to help him? He shouldn’t have to suffer like this.”

“I’m almost done,” Brock said, his focus unyielding. He applied more bandages to Ash’s bruises, ensuring everything was secure but not too tight. “There. You should start to feel a bit better soon. Just try to relax.”

As Brock finished up, Ash looked at Psyduck, who was now sitting upright and watching him with wide, worried eyes. “You’re okay, right, buddy?” he asked softly.

“Psy!” Psyduck replied, seemingly reassured that Ash was still there.

“See? You’re all good now,” Ash said, smiling faintly, though the pain was still evident in his eyes.

“Alright, Ash,” Brock said, finally sitting back and taking a deep breath. “Now that you’re patched up, we can check on Psyduck properly.”

“Thanks, Brock,” Ash said, his gratitude genuine. “I just… wanted to make sure I was being a good trainer.”

“You are, but being a good trainer means taking care of yourself, too,” Brock replied. “Now let’s make sure Psyduck gets the same care you did.”

Misty nodded, helping Psyduck to his feet. “Yeah, and then we can all rest. You’ve had a long day, Ash.”

Ash glanced at his friends, feeling a warm sense of comfort amidst the pain. “Alright, I’ll try,” he said softly. “But only if you promise not to let Gary get away with this.”

Brock chuckled, standing up. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure something out. Together.”

Brock was sitting at his desk, filling out paperwork in the Pokémon hospital when an unsettling silence blanketed the room. It was unusually quiet, and as he glanced around, a feeling of dread settled in his stomach.

Just as he began to wonder what could be going on, his phone rang, breaking the stillness.

Brock, it’s Misty—

Brock slammed the pen down and snatched the phone up, already knowing what was coming. “Let me guess. Ash injured himself AGAIN?”

“How’d you know?” Misty’s voice came through, tinged with urgency.

“Because it’s always Ash,” Brock replied, already grabbing his medical kit and racing toward his flying car. “How is he?”

“Well, his face was saved, thankfully. He had a rock lodged in his shoulder, but he’s worried about the Pokémon,” she said, her voice rushed.

“Of course he is,” Brock sighed, his mind racing. “He always puts them first. But what about his other injuries?”

Misty hesitated, and Brock could almost hear her biting her lip. “He’s got a few bruises and scrapes. It’s really bad this time, Brock. I don’t think he wants to admit how much pain he’s in.”

“I’m on my way,” Brock said, already picturing Ash’s stubborn face, refusing to acknowledge his own injuries while fretting over his Pokémon. “Just keep an eye on him until I get there.”

As Brock zoomed through the skies, his heart raced. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was one of Ash’s worst injuries yet. “Why does he have to be so reckless?” he muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on the steering wheel.

When he arrived at the scene, he found Misty crouched beside Ash, who was sitting on the ground, wincing as he cradled his shoulder. “Ash!” Brock exclaimed, jumping out of the car.

“Brock, check on the Pokémon!” Ash urged, his voice strained but determined.

“Hold on, buddy!” Brock said, rushing to his side. He took a quick look at Ash’s shoulder, noting the way the fabric of his shirt was torn, blood oozing from the wound. “First, we need to take care of you. You’re hurt.”

Ash shook his head stubbornly. “I’m fine! Just look at Pikachu!”

Brock glanced over to see Pikachu lying on the ground, looking dazed but otherwise okay. “He seems to be fine, but you don’t look good at all,” Brock insisted, kneeling next to Ash. “What happened?”

“Just a rockslide,” Ash mumbled, clearly trying to downplay the situation. “I jumped in front of Pikachu when the rocks fell. He didn’t get hurt, I swear!”

Misty sighed, running her fingers through her hair in frustration. “Ash, you have to stop doing that! You’re not invincible!”

“Yeah, well, someone had to save him!” Ash argued, but the pain in his voice was undeniable.

Brock gently examined Ash’s shoulder, careful to not cause any more discomfort. “This is serious, Ash. We need to get that rock out before it gets infected.”

“Do we have to?” Ash asked, his eyes wide with worry.

“Trust me, if you want to feel better, we have to,” Brock said firmly. “Just relax.”

Ash let out a small whimper as Brock carefully probed around the injury, but he didn’t pull away. “I just don’t want to let anyone down,” he murmured.

“You’re not letting anyone down by getting the help you need,” Brock reassured him. “In fact, you’ll be stronger for it. Plus, your Pokémon need you to be healthy.”

Ash nodded slightly, understanding the truth in Brock’s words, but the tension was still evident on his face. “Okay, let’s do this,” he said, determination creeping back into his voice.

Brock pulled out his medical kit, prepared to remove the rock and clean the wound. As he worked, he could see the way Ash was fighting back tears, the pain evident on his face.

“Just breathe, Ash. You’ve faced worse,” Brock encouraged, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yeah, like that time with Charizard…” Ash replied, his voice wavering slightly.

“Exactly,” Brock said with a small smile. “And look at you now. You’ve come a long way.”

Misty knelt beside them, holding Pikachu in her arms. “You’ll always be a hero to us, Ash. No matter what.”

With renewed resolve, Ash nodded as Brock carefully removed the rock, and he gritted his teeth against the pain. “I just want to make sure my Pokémon are always safe.”

“I know you do,” Brock said, applying antiseptic to the wound. “But remember, you can’t protect them if you’re not taking care of yourself.”

As Brock finished wrapping Ash’s shoulder, he glanced over at Misty, who was watching with concern. “He’s going to be okay,” Brock assured her, his tone lightening. “Just a little bruised, but nothing he can’t handle.”

Ash looked at his friends, feeling a mix of gratitude and exhaustion. “Thanks, guys,” he said softly. “For always being there.”

“Always,” Misty replied, smiling. “Now let’s get you and Pikachu checked out properly, shall we?”

B-

" What did he do now?*

" He... Uh..... Jumped from a cliff trying to save Togapi. And Psyduck. And Pikachu. The three Pokemon are fine, just have small bruises. Ash, on the other hand....."

" What?"

Misty sighed. " He broke his leg.*

Brock let out a sigh. " Oh. That's great. That's just so great! Who di-"

" Gary."

Brock sighed as he started the engine. " That Gary sure wants to injure Ash."

" Because he wants to be first."

" But you can't cheat!"

Brock could hear Misty shrug as Ash said, " don't worry, guys. Brock will look at you before he looks at me. He's gonna just leave me, don't worry about that."

Misty gasped. " Gotta go, Brock! Drive safe byeeeee!"

Brock sighed as he put the phone down. " Oh ash."

When he arrived, he saw three injured pokemon and one fretting Misty

But no Ash.

" Where is he?"

Misty looked up." Somewhere in the forest."

Brock's heart sank as he scanned the area for Ash. "Somewhere in the forest?" he repeated, trying to keep his voice steady despite the rising panic within him. "What do you mean?"

Misty's expression was a mix of worry and frustration. "He was trying to get to Togepi and Psyduck. I told him to stay put, but you know how he is." She gestured towards the Pokémon, who were looking up at Brock with wide, anxious eyes, their small injuries evident but manageable.

"Let me guess, he thought he could save the day again," Brock muttered, shaking his head. "I’ll go find him."

Misty nodded, clearly upset. "Just be careful, okay? He could be in worse shape than we realize."

As Brock made his way into the forest, the thick trees loomed overhead, casting shadows that added to the urgency of the situation. He called out, “Ash! Where are you?” His voice echoed, but all he heard in return were the rustling leaves and distant sounds of Pokémon.

After a few minutes of searching, he stumbled upon a small clearing and finally spotted Ash sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree. His leg was awkwardly positioned, and his face was scrunched up in pain. “Ash!” Brock rushed over, panic flooding through him.

“Hey, Brock,” Ash said weakly, forcing a smile despite the obvious agony he was in. “I was just... uh, taking a break.”

Brock knelt beside him, quickly assessing the situation. “Taking a break? More like pushing yourself too hard! What were you thinking?” He could see the way Ash’s leg was bent at an unnatural angle, and a wave of frustration washed over him. “You broke your leg, Ash!”

Ash winced. “I know, but Togepi and Psyduck needed help! I couldn’t just leave them!”

Brock took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. “You have to let us help you. You can’t keep sacrificing yourself for your Pokémon.”

“I just wanted to be strong,” Ash admitted, his voice breaking. “I don’t want to be the weak link.”

Misty arrived just in time to hear Ash’s confession. She knelt down beside Brock, concern etched on her face. “You’re not weak, Ash. You’re one of the strongest people I know. But even the strongest need help sometimes.”

Brock nodded, pulling out his medical kit. “Let’s get you taken care of first, then we’ll check on Togepi and Psyduck. They’ll be okay, but you need to focus on yourself.”

Ash looked down, a hint of guilt creeping into his expression. “I just thought... if I could save them, it would make up for all the times I messed up.”

Misty reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You don’t need to prove anything to us. We’re your friends, and we’re here for you, no matter what.”

Brock set to work, carefully examining Ash’s leg. “This is going to hurt a bit,” he warned, as he prepped to stabilize the fracture.

“Just do it,” Ash said, determination mingled with fear in his eyes.

Brock quickly wrapped Ash’s leg to immobilize it before applying a splint. “You’ve got to promise me you’ll take it easy from now on. We can’t have you getting hurt because you’re trying to be a hero.”

Ash nodded, biting his lip as Brock finished the bandaging. “I promise, just... don’t tell my mom, okay?”

Misty chuckled lightly, easing the tension. “Your secret is safe with us, Ash. But first, let’s get you back to the others so Brock can take care of your Pokémon.”

With some assistance from Misty, Brock helped Ash to his feet, careful to support him as they made their way back to the park. Each step was a reminder of the pain, but Ash gritted his teeth, determined not to show weakness.

Once back, Brock quickly checked on Togepi and Psyduck, relieved to find that their injuries were minor. “You guys are lucky,” he said, gently patting their heads. “But we need to keep an eye on Ash for a while.”

“Yeah, he’s the one who needs a lot of help,” Misty said with a playful roll of her eyes.

Ash chuckled softly, appreciating their camaraderie even as he felt the sting of embarrassment. “I guess I’ll just have to take it easy from now on,” he said, looking at his friends with gratitude. “Thanks for always being there for me.”

Brock smiled, knowing that despite Ash’s stubbornness, he would always have support. “Always, Ash. Now let’s get you comfortable and rest up.”

B-

* He sacrificed himself for pokemon?"

Misty sounded confused. " What no.*

" Oh. What happened?*

" Ash's leg isn't getting any better. Is it okay if we bring him there?*

" You don't need to ask! We literally live together!"

Five minutes later, Misty carefully helped Ash, who was hobbling on his injured leg, into Brock’s room. The walls were lined with shelves filled with medical supplies and books on Pokémon care, while a sturdy examination table sat in the center, ready for use.

“Just take it easy, Ash,” Misty urged, guiding him to the table. “Brock will take good care of you.”

“I’m fine, really,” Ash insisted, although the pain in his leg told a different story. He grimaced as he climbed onto the table, trying to shift his weight to avoid putting pressure on his injury.

Brock entered shortly after, his medical kit in hand. “Hey, you two. How’s it going?” He raised an eyebrow at Ash’s pale complexion. “Looks like you’re still in pain.”

“Just a little,” Ash replied, attempting a brave smile. “No big deal.”

Misty shot him a knowing look. “No big deal? You can barely walk!”

“Okay, okay,” Ash relented. “Maybe it’s a bit worse than I thought.”

Brock rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he began to examine Ash’s leg more thoroughly. “Let’s see what we’re working with here,” he said, gently probing the area around the splint. “You’re going to have to trust me on this, Ash.”

Ash nodded, trying to suppress a wince. “I do trust you, Brock. Just… it hurts.”

“I know,” Brock replied, focusing on his task. “But I need to be sure there’s no further damage.” He carefully unwrapped the bandaging to get a better look at the injury.

Misty watched anxiously, her arms crossed over her chest. “Is it looking any better?”

Brock examined the swelling and bruising. “It’s healing, but not as fast as I’d like. I think we need to get you an X-ray just to be safe.”

Ash frowned. “An X-ray? Do we have to? Can’t we just… I don’t know, wait it out?”

“No waiting this time,” Brock insisted, applying some cooling gel to the bruised area. “You’re not leaving this room until we’re sure it’s not more serious.”

“Fine,” Ash grumbled, but deep down he knew Brock was right. “I just hate feeling like a burden.”

“You’re not a burden,” Misty reassured him, gently resting a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve done so much for us and your Pokémon. Let us take care of you for once.”

Brock finished his examination and wrapped the leg back up. “I’ll arrange for an X-ray at the clinic. Until then, you need to rest and keep off that leg as much as possible.”

Ash sighed, feeling defeated but grateful. “Okay, I’ll rest. But I’m not going to stop training or helping my Pokémon. They need me.”

“We’ll work on a plan for that,” Brock said with a smile, packing his medical kit. “In the meantime, how about I check on Togepi and Psyduck while you relax?”

“Sure,” Ash replied, looking relieved. “Thanks, Brock.”

As Brock stepped out to tend to the Pokémon, Misty sat beside Ash, giving him a supportive smile. “You know, it’s okay to take a break. Even champions need to recharge.”

“I know,” Ash said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “I just… I want to be strong, you know? For my friends and my Pokémon.”

Misty chuckled softly. “You’re strong, Ash. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help.”

Ash looked at her, pondering her words. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am,” she said with a playful grin. “Now, let’s get you comfy.” She adjusted the pillow behind him and tucked a blanket around his legs.

“Thanks, Misty,” Ash said sincerely, a small smile breaking through his worried expression.

“Just promise me one thing,” she said, her tone serious. “Next time, don’t throw yourself into danger without thinking it through. We need you here, not just for the battles, but for us.”

“Deal,” Ash agreed, his heart warmed by her concern. “I’ll do my best.”

As the two friends settled into a comfortable silence, Brock returned with a tray of snacks. “I thought you might be hungry,” he said, setting it down in front of Ash. “And I brought some berries for you too, Misty.”

“Thanks, Brock!” Misty said, grabbing a handful of berries and sharing some with Ash. “Now eat up, and let’s get you healed so we can hit the road again!”