" He could just tell us what he means, but Gary NEVER does that."

Gary heard and turned back, a mischievous glint in his eye. " I heard that!"

Ash laughed. " Loosen up!"

" I'll loosen up when YOU stop being Mr. Common Sense!" Gary threw his bag on the ground and chased Ash around the field, Goh and Oak watching.

" I'm gonna get you!" Gary called.

Ash turned and stuck his tongue out. " No you won't! I always beat you, remember?"

" That was when we were five!"

" Exactly! Five years ago!"

" A lot has changed since then, Ashy- Boy!"

Suddenly, a paper slipped out of Ash's pocket. His eyes widened, and he bolted to it, but Gary picked it up first.

" What's this?" He asked as he unfolded it.

" Don't!" Ash tried to run and get it, but Gary stopped him by putting a hand on his head, arm length apart.

" Dear Ash you're... not a good Pokemon trainer. You should give up of your dream." Gary said, each word slower than the last.

" What?!" Gog grabbed the letter and skimmed it. " Oh, my goodness!"

He looked up. " Ash, how long have you been getting these for?!"

No answer.

" Ash?" Gary looked behind him. " Ash!"

He walked, not seeing where he was stepping. He accidently knocked Ash's bag over. Letters began to spill out.

" Hey, guys, check this out!" He called.

Oak and Goh ran to him. " What is it?" Oak asked his grandson.

Gary showed them the letters. " He's been getting more than one." He said quietly. " It's been a while since he started receiving them."

Professor Oak's eyes widened. " Oh, the poor boy!"

Gary saw something on the ground. He walked over to it.

The small Poke ball half that cracked when he and Ash were trying to get the same ball.

Gary fished his out and put the two halves together.

Goh saw. " What is that?"

Gary chuckled as he recalled the memory. " One day, Ash and me were trying to fish Pokemon. We both got the same Poke ball, and we pulled and pulled, until it broke in half, the ball. Since then, me and Ash..... haven't been on the same page. Mainly because I might have had a tendency of hurting his feelings."

" But you guys are friends!" Goh pointed out.

Gary nodded. " We were best friends when we were young, then became enemies. But when I decided to take up research, we became friends again."

Gary pocketed the half of the Poké Ball, his mind still replaying the moment when he and Ash were kids, their friendship and rivalry intertwined. "I'll go find him," he said, determination in his voice.

Professor Oak, Goh, and Gary exchanged a silent look, concern lingering in their expressions. As Gary began to walk, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, casting an orange glow across the field.

He walked through the tall grass, scanning the area for any sign of Ash. His mind raced as he thought about the letters. Who would send something like that? Ash might seem unfazed most of the time, but deep down, those words had clearly been eating away at him.

Gary sighed, his steps slowing as he spotted a familiar silhouette sitting under a tree in the distance. Ash was hugging his knees, his hat pulled low over his face, lost in thought.

"Ash," Gary called, his voice soft but carrying through the quiet evening air.

Ash didn't move at first, but when Gary approached, he lifted his head slightly. "What do you want, Gary?" he asked, his voice tired, lacking its usual energy.

Gary sat down beside him, tossing his half of the Poké Ball lightly in his hand. "I found this," he said, holding it up so Ash could see.

Ash glanced at it briefly before turning his gaze back to the horizon. "Yeah... I remember."

Gary let out a small chuckle. "You always wanted to catch the best Pokémon, even back then. We fought over that Poké Ball like it was the most important thing in the world."

Ash didn't respond, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Gary continued, "We were kids. We both had big dreams. But somewhere along the way, we started butting heads, and I think... I let my ego get in the way of being a real friend."

Ash looked over at him, surprised by the sudden admission.

Gary sighed and leaned back against the tree. "And now I find out you've been getting those letters for who knows how long, and you didn't say anything."

Ash looked down, shrugging. "I didn't want to bother anyone. Besides, it's just someone's opinion."

"Maybe," Gary said, "but it still hurts, doesn't it?"

Ash didn't answer, but the silence was enough. Gary knew that even though Ash was one of the toughest trainers around, words like those could cut deep.

"Look, Ash," Gary said, his voice softer now. "I know I used to tease you a lot, and we've had our share of battles, but you're one of the best trainers I know. You never gave up, even when things got tough. That's something to be proud of."

Ash looked over, his eyes searching Gary's face for a moment before he finally sighed. "It's just... sometimes it feels like no matter what I do, someone's always going to think I'm not good enough. Like... maybe they're right."

Gary shook his head. "Ash, no one else gets to decide what you're capable of. Only you do." He paused, then smirked. "And come on, when has someone telling you not to do something ever stopped you?"

Ash finally let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Gary leaned forward, crossing his arms over his knees. "I don't know who's been sending those letters, but we'll figure it out. And in the meantime, remember this." He held up the half of the Poké Ball again. "You and I? We were always in this together. Whether we're rivals or friends, we push each other to be better. And you're better than whoever's trying to tear you down."

Ash smiled, feeling a weight lift off his chest. "Thanks, Gary."

Gary stood up and extended a hand. "Come on, let's head back. Professor Oak's probably worried sick, and Goh's probably sketching a map of the field trying to find us."

Ash laughed, grabbing Gary's hand and pulling himself up. "Yeah, let's go."

" He could just tell us what he means, but Gary NEVER does that."

Gary heard and turned back, a mischievous glint in his eye. " I heard that!"

Ash laughed. " Loosen up!"

" I'll loosen up when YOU stop being Mr. Common Sense!" Gary threw his bag on the ground and chased Ash around the field, Goh and Oak watching.

" I'm gonna get you!" Gary called.

Ash turned and stuck his tongue out. " No you won't! I always beat you, remember?"

" That was when we were five!"

" Exactly! Five years ago!"

" A lot has changed since then, Ashy- Boy!"

Suddenly, a paper slipped out of Ash's pocket. His eyes widened, and he bolted to it, but Gary picked it up first.

" What's this?" He asked as he unfolded it.

" Don't!" Ash tried to run and get it, but Gary stopped him by putting a hand on his head, arm length apart.

" Dear Ash you're... not a good Pokemon trainer. You should give up of your dream." Gary said, each word slower than the last.

" What?!" Gog grabbed the letter and skimmed it. " Oh, my goodness!"

He looked up. " Ash, how long have you been getting these for?!"

No answer.

" Ash?" Gary looked behind him. " Ash!"

He walked, not seeing where he was stepping. He accidently knocked Ash's bag over. Letters began to spill out.

" Hey, guys, check this out!" He called.

Oak and Goh ran to him. " What is it?" Oak asked his grandson.

Gary showed them the letters. " He's been getting more than one." He said quietly. " It's been a while since he started receiving them."

Professor Oak's eyes widened. " Oh, the poor boy!"

Gary saw something on the ground. He walked over to it.

The small Poke ball half that cracked when he and Ash were trying to get the same ball.

Gary fished his out and put the two halves together.

Goh saw. " What is that?"

Gary chuckled as he recalled the memory. " One day, Ash and me were trying to fish Pokemon. We both got the same Poke ball, and we pulled and pulled, until it broke in half, the ball. Since then, me and Ash..... haven't been on the same page. Mainly because I might have had a tendency of hurting his feelings."

" But you guys are friends!" Goh pointed out.

Gary nodded. " We were best friends when we were young, then became enemies. But when I decided to take up research, we became friends again."

Gary pocketed the half of the Poké Ball, his mind still replaying the moment when he and Ash were kids, their friendship and rivalry intertwined. "I'll go find him," he said, determination in his voice.

He took off running, glancing at the horizon as he ran. How could he not have noticed?

Now that he thought about it, Ash wasn't his usual self. He was more withdrawn and quiet, and at random times he would run off with excuses.

" This is bad..." He muttered.

He grabbed a tree branch and hoisted himself up.

Then he looked down.

Ash.

Gary's heart raced as he spotted Ash sitting beneath the tree, his knees drawn to his chest. For a moment, Gary hesitated, unsure of what to say. He knew that whatever was in those letters had clearly weighed heavily on his friend. As Gary jumped down from the tree, his landing startled Ash, who looked up with wide eyes.

"Ash," Gary started, his voice softer than usual. "Why didn’t you tell anyone about these letters?"

Ash quickly looked away, shrugging and hugging his knees tighter. "What was I supposed to say?" he mumbled, barely audible. "That someone thinks I’m a failure? That I should quit being a Pokémon Trainer?"

Gary knelt beside him, pulling out the half of the broken Poké Ball they had once fought over. "Remember this?" he asked, showing Ash the cracked sphere. "We both wanted this Poké Ball so bad when we were kids. We fought over it for what felt like forever."

Ash gave a half-smile, staring at the old relic from their childhood. "Yeah... we were stubborn."

"Still are," Gary added, nudging him lightly. "But we didn’t give up, did we? Just like you never give up when it comes to your dream of becoming a Pokémon Master."

Ash frowned, his hand idly brushing at the dirt. "Yeah, but... maybe they’re right. Maybe I’m not cut out for this. I’ve been at it for years, Gary. I’ve lost more battles than I can count. What if... I’m not as good as I thought?"

Gary sighed, leaning back against the tree trunk. "Ash, everyone loses sometimes. That’s part of being a Trainer, part of being a person. But if there’s one thing I know about you, it’s that you never give up, even when things get tough. And that’s what makes you a great Trainer."

Ash stayed silent, his gaze downcast.

Gary placed the broken Poké Ball halves back in his pocket and stood up, offering his hand to Ash. "Come on. Let’s get back to the others. We can deal with this together, just like we always do."

Ash hesitated for a moment before finally taking Gary’s hand and standing up. "Thanks, Gary," he muttered.

As they walked back toward the others, Gary glanced at Ash. "And for the record," Gary said with a smirk, "you’ve still got a lot to learn from me, Ashy-Boy."

Ash chuckled, the weight on his shoulders feeling just a little lighter. "Yeah, yeah. But I’ll still beat you in our next battle."

"We’ll see about that," Gary replied with a grin, the two friends walking side by side once again, their old rivalry reigniting in the way it always did—competitive, but never without the bond they shared as friends.

He could just tell us what he means, but Gary NEVER does that."

Gary heard and turned back, a mischievous glint in his eye. " I heard that!"

Ash laughed. " Loosen up!"

" I'll loosen up when YOU stop being Mr. Common Sense!" Gary threw his bag on the ground and chased Ash around the field, Goh and Oak watching.

" I'm gonna get you!" Gary called.

Ash turned and stuck his tongue out. " No you won't! I always beat you, remember?"

" That was when we were five!"

" Exactly! Five years ago!"

" A lot has changed since then, Ashy- Boy!"

Suddenly, a paper slipped out of Ash's pocket. His eyes widened, and he bolted to it, but Gary picked it up first.

" What's this?" He asked as he unfolded it.

" Don't!" Ash tried to run and get it, but Gary stopped him by putting a hand on his head, arm length apart.

" Dear Ash you're... not a good Pokemon trainer. You should give up of your dream." Gary said, each word slower than the last.

" What?!" Gog grabbed the letter and skimmed it. " Oh, my goodness!"

He looked up. " Ash, how long have you been getting these for?!"

No answer.

" Ash?" Gary looked behind him. " Ash!"

He walked, not seeing where he was stepping. He accidently knocked Ash's bag over. Letters began to spill out.

" Hey, guys, check this out!" He called.

Oak and Goh ran to him. " What is it?" Oak asked his grandson.

Gary showed them the letters. " He's been getting more than one." He said quietly. " It's been a while since he started receiving them."

Professor Oak's eyes widened. " Oh, the poor boy!"

Gary saw something on the ground. He walked over to it.

The small Poke ball half that cracked when he and Ash were trying to get the same ball.

Gary fished his out and put the two halves together.

Goh saw. " What is that?"

Gary chuckled as he recalled the memory. " One day, Ash and me were trying to fish Pokemon. We both got the same Poke ball, and we pulled and pulled, until it broke in half, the ball. Since then, me and Ash..... haven't been on the same page. Mainly because I might have had a tendency of hurting his feelings."

" But you guys are friends!" Goh pointed out.

Gary nodded. " We were best friends when we were young, then became enemies. But when I decided to take up research, we became friends again."

Gary pocketed the half of the Poké Ball, his mind still replaying the moment when he and Ash were kids, their friendship and rivalry intertwined. "I'll go find him," he said, determination in his voice.

He took off running, glancing at the horizon as he ran. How could he not have noticed?

Now that he thought about it, Ash wasn't his usual self. He was more withdrawn and quiet, and at random times he would run off with excuses.

" This is bad..." He muttered.

He grabbed a tree branch and hoisted himself up.

Then he looked down.

Ash.

He hopped down. " Ash?"

Ash looked up for a second and turned away. " What do you want?"

Gary sat next to him. He was silent for a moment before speaking. " Remember when we were little? How we were best friends?"

Ash didn't reply.

Gary continued, " then that one day we broke that Poke ball...." He hesitated before speaking. " I let my anger cloud my judgement."

Ash sniffed. Gary moved closer. " Ash, you're one of the best friends a guy could ask for. You're one of the stubbornest ( idk if that's a word) person I've ever met. And that's saying something."

Ash still didn't say anything.

" Ash, I want you to tell me the truth. How long have you been getting those letters?"

Ash didn't say anything. Then, without a second thought, he hugged Gary, burying his face in Gary's shoulder.

And Gary let him cry.

Gary’s breath caught in his throat as he felt Ash’s weight against him, his friend’s body trembling with suppressed sobs. It was rare to see Ash like this—so vulnerable, so raw—and it shook Gary to his core. He couldn’t remember the last time Ash had cried, let alone reached out for comfort like this.

Gary wrapped his arms around him, his usual smirk gone, replaced by a quiet seriousness. "It's okay, Ash," he said softly, his voice unusually gentle. "You don’t have to keep everything bottled up anymore."

Ash didn't respond verbally, but his grip tightened, as if holding on to Gary was the only thing keeping him grounded.

Gary thought back to all the times they had clashed—when his arrogance had pushed Ash away, when his need to prove himself had created a rivalry that overshadowed their friendship. And now, here they were, after years of being competitors, finally on the same side again.

The letters. That’s what had changed everything. Gary felt a wave of guilt wash over him. Ash had been suffering in silence, receiving those cruel, discouraging messages, and none of them had noticed. How long had he been carrying that weight alone?

After a long moment, Ash’s sobs began to subside, and he pulled back slightly, rubbing his eyes. "I didn’t want to bother anyone," Ash mumbled, his voice hoarse. "I thought... maybe they were right."

Gary frowned, shaking his head. "No, they’re not right. Not even close. You’re one of the strongest people I know, Ash." He pulled out the half of the broken Poké Ball again, holding it up between them. "Remember this? We may have gone through some rough patches, but you’re still my friend. And I’m not going to let anyone take that away from you."

Ash looked at the half Poké Ball, his expression softening as he recalled the memory. "I thought you hated me after that day," Ash admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Gary shook his head again, a sad smile on his face. "I was a dumb kid. I was jealous of how good you were and how determined you were. But I never hated you, Ash. I just didn’t know how to say I was sorry."

Ash wiped his face with the back of his hand, his tears slowing. "I don’t know why those letters got to me so much. I guess... I just wanted to prove them wrong. But the more I got, the harder it was to ignore."

Gary leaned back against the tree, glancing up at the sky. "We all have moments like that. Even the best of us doubt ourselves sometimes. But that doesn’t mean you should give up." He glanced sideways at Ash. "You’ve come too far to let a bunch of words on paper stop you now."

Ash stared at the ground, silent for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah... I guess you're right." He looked up at Gary, a faint smile forming on his face. "Thanks."

Gary grinned, standing up and offering Ash a hand. "C'mon, Ashy-boy. We’ve got work to do. Can’t let those letters stop you from being the Pokémon Master, right?"

Ash let out a weak chuckle, taking Gary’s hand and pulling himself up. "Right." He dusted himself off and looked out toward the horizon. "I’m not going to let them win."

Gary patted him on the back. "That’s the spirit."

He could just tell us what he means, but Gary NEVER does that."

Gary heard and turned back, a mischievous glint in his eye. " I heard that!"

Ash laughed. " Loosen up!"

" I'll loosen up when YOU stop being Mr. Common Sense!" Gary threw his bag on the ground and chased Ash around the field, Goh and Oak watching.

" I'm gonna get you!" Gary called.

Ash turned and stuck his tongue out. " No you won't! I always beat you, remember?"

" That was when we were five!"

" Exactly! Five years ago!"

" A lot has changed since then, Ashy- Boy!"

Suddenly, a paper slipped out of Ash's pocket. His eyes widened, and he bolted to it, but Gary picked it up first.

" What's this?" He asked as he unfolded it.

" Don't!" Ash tried to run and get it, but Gary stopped him by putting a hand on his head, arm length apart.

" Dear Ash you're... not a good Pokemon trainer. You should give up of your dream." Gary said, each word slower than the last.

" What?!" Gog grabbed the letter and skimmed it. " Oh, my goodness!"

He looked up. " Ash, how long have you been getting these for?!"

No answer.

" Ash?" Gary looked behind him. " Ash!"

He walked, not seeing where he was stepping. He accidently knocked Ash's bag over. Letters began to spill out.

" Hey, guys, check this out!" He called.

Oak and Goh ran to him. " What is it?" Oak asked his grandson.

Gary showed them the letters. " He's been getting more than one." He said quietly. " It's been a while since he started receiving them."

Professor Oak's eyes widened. " Oh, the poor boy!"

Gary saw something on the ground. He walked over to it.

The small Poke ball half that cracked when he and Ash were trying to get the same ball.

Gary fished his out and put the two halves together.

Goh saw. " What is that?"

Gary chuckled as he recalled the memory. " One day, Ash and me were trying to fish Pokemon. We both got the same Poke ball, and we pulled and pulled, until it broke in half, the ball. Since then, me and Ash..... haven't been on the same page. Mainly because I might have had a tendency of hurting his feelings."

" But you guys are friends!" Goh pointed out.

Gary nodded. " We were best friends when we were young, then became enemies. But when I decided to take up research, we became friends again."

Gary pocketed the half of the Poké Ball, his mind still replaying the moment when he and Ash were kids, their friendship and rivalry intertwined. "I'll go find him," he said, determination in his voice.

He took off running, glancing at the horizon as he ran. How could he not have noticed?

Now that he thought about it, Ash wasn't his usual self. He was more withdrawn and quiet, and at random times he would run off with excuses.

" This is bad..." He muttered.

He grabbed a tree branch and hoisted himself up.

Then he looked down.

Ash.

He hopped down. " Ash?"

Ash looked up for a second and turned away. " What do you want?"

Gary sat next to him. He was silent for a moment before speaking. " Remember when we were little? How we were best friends?"

Ash didn't reply.

Gary continued, " then that one day we broke that Poke ball...." He hesitated before speaking. " I let my anger cloud my judgement."

Ash sniffed. Gary moved closer. " Ash, you're one of the best friends a guy could ask for. You're one of the stubbornest ( idk if that's a word) person I've ever met. And that's saying something."

Ash still didn't say anything.

" Ash, I want you to tell me the truth. How long have you been getting those letters?"

Ash didn't say anything. Then, without a second thought, he hugged Gary, burying his face in Gary's shoulder.

And Gary let him cry.

" G... Gary.... Is it t... True?" Ash managed to say through tears.

Gary looked down at him. " What's true?"

" T... That.... I'm...not... Worthy.... Of being a pokemon master?"

Gary was taken aback. " What makes you think I'd know, or even say that to you?!"

Ash couldn't reply.

Gary held Ash firmly as his friend’s sobs became heavy, mixing with ragged coughs that seemed to catch in his throat. "Ash, take a deep breath," Gary said gently, softening his tone. "Breathe, okay? Just breathe."

Ash tried to follow Gary’s instructions, but his tears kept flowing, his body trembling with a mix of sadness and frustration. Slowly, he managed to take a shaky breath, calming the coughs, but the weight of everything still clung to him. Gary didn't let go, holding onto Ash, not as his rival, but as the best friend he once was—and maybe still was.

For the first time in a long time, Gary wasn’t the arrogant, self-assured rival. He was there, offering genuine comfort. Ash, who had always been the confident one, finally let himself be vulnerable.

“Why?” Ash mumbled, his voice hoarse from crying. “Why’d you decide to become friends again? I thought you hated me.”

Gary paused, the question hanging in the air between them. He sighed and leaned back slightly, giving Ash some space but not letting go completely. “Hate you? Ash, I never hated you.” Gary ran a hand through his hair, the memories of their rivalry flickering in his mind. “I... I was jealous. You always pushed yourself so hard, and even when things didn’t go your way, you kept going. You never gave up. You were... everything I thought I had to be, but I was too proud to admit it.”

Ash sniffed, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, his gaze still downcast. "But you were always better, Gary. You won more battles, had more Pokémon knowledge. Everyone said you were the genius.”

Gary shook his head. “Yeah, but being a ‘genius’ doesn’t mean everything. You... You have something that I couldn’t figure out for the longest time. Determination. You make friends with every Pokémon, no matter how tough the battle gets. That’s something no amount of knowledge can teach.”

Ash looked up, his eyes red and puffy from the tears. “But those letters... they said I’m not a good trainer. That I should just... give up.” His voice cracked at the last words, the pain still evident.

Gary’s face hardened. “Ash, listen to me. Those letters? They’re lies. They’re from someone who doesn’t understand what being a Pokémon Trainer is all about. You’ve come farther than anyone I know. You’ve beaten gym leaders, rival trainers, and even legends! And that’s not something someone who ‘isn’t worthy’ could do.”

Ash swallowed hard, his throat still tight, but he looked at Gary, searching for the sincerity in his words. “But... why now? Why are you saying this now?”

Gary sighed again, this time softer, and his expression was serious but kind. “Because I’ve been watching, Ash. Even if we weren’t close for a while, I’ve always known you were destined for something great. And maybe I wasn’t the best friend I should’ve been back then, but I’m here now. And I don’t want you to give up on yourself.”

For a moment, the two sat in silence, the wind rustling the trees above them. Ash’s grip on his emotions steadied, and the weight on his chest began to lighten, if only a little. He looked at Gary, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself a small smile.

“Thanks, Gary,” Ash said quietly. “I guess... I really needed to hear that.”

Gary smirked, his usual cocky attitude flashing through, but this time it was warmer, less competitive. “You’ve always needed me to set you straight, Ashy-boy.”

Ash chuckled, wiping the last of his tears away. “Yeah, maybe I did.”

Standing up, Gary offered Ash a hand. “Come on, let’s head back. Goh, Grandpa , and the others are probably wondering what’s taking us so long.”

Ash took Gary’s hand and stood up, feeling a bit lighter. As they started walking back toward the field, Ash glanced at Gary, a question still lingering in his mind.

“Gary,” Ash said after a moment, “do you really think... I can become a Pokémon Master?”

Gary stopped, turning to face Ash with a serious expression. “Ash, if anyone can do it, it’s you. You’ve got the heart, the determination, and the spirit. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Ash felt a warmth spread through him, a newfound confidence slowly building. “I won’t,”

He could just tell us what he means, but Gary NEVER does that."

Gary heard and turned back, a mischievous glint in his eye. " I heard that!"

Ash laughed. " Loosen up!"

" I'll loosen up when YOU stop being Mr. Common Sense!" Gary threw his bag on the ground and chased Ash around the field, Goh and Oak watching.

" I'm gonna get you!" Gary called.

Ash turned and stuck his tongue out. " No you won't! I always beat you, remember?"

" That was when we were five!"

" Exactly! Five years ago!"

" A lot has changed since then, Ashy- Boy!"

Suddenly, a paper slipped out of Ash's pocket. His eyes widened, and he bolted to it, but Gary picked it up first.

" What's this?" He asked as he unfolded it.

" Don't!" Ash tried to run and get it, but Gary stopped him by putting a hand on his head, arm length apart.

" Dear Ash you're... not a good Pokemon trainer. You should give up of your dream." Gary said, each word slower than the last.

" What?!" Gog grabbed the letter and skimmed it. " Oh, my goodness!"

He looked up. " Ash, how long have you been getting these for?!"

No answer.

" Ash?" Gary looked behind him. " Ash!"

He walked, not seeing where he was stepping. He accidently knocked Ash's bag over. Letters began to spill out.

" Hey, guys, check this out!" He called.

Oak and Goh ran to him. " What is it?" Oak asked his grandson.

Gary showed them the letters. " He's been getting more than one." He said quietly. " It's been a while since he started receiving them."

Professor Oak's eyes widened. " Oh, the poor boy!"

Gary saw something on the ground. He walked over to it.

The small Poke ball half that cracked when he and Ash were trying to get the same ball.

Gary fished his out and put the two halves together.

Goh saw. " What is that?"

Gary chuckled as he recalled the memory. " One day, Ash and me were trying to fish Pokemon. We both got the same Poke ball, and we pulled and pulled, until it broke in half, the ball. Since then, me and Ash..... haven't been on the same page. Mainly because I might have had a tendency of hurting his feelings."

" But you guys are friends!" Goh pointed out.

Gary nodded. " We were best friends when we were young, then became enemies. But when I decided to take up research, we became friends again."

Gary pocketed the half of the Poké Ball, his mind still replaying the moment when he and Ash were kids, their friendship and rivalry intertwined. "I'll go find him," he said, determination in his voice.

He took off running, glancing at the horizon as he ran. How could he not have noticed?

Now that he thought about it, Ash wasn't his usual self. He was more withdrawn and quiet, and at random times he would run off with excuses.

" This is bad..." He muttered.

He grabbed a tree branch and hoisted himself up.

Then he looked down.

Ash.

He hopped down. " Ash?" He asked, approaching his friend.

Ash wiped his eyes and looked up. " Yeah?*

Gary sat down next to him and opened his arms. " Come here, Ash."

Ash hesitated, but wrapped his arms around Gary and sobbed, biting his lip as he tried to stop.

Gary could feel the tremors through Ash's body. That just made Gary angry. Who would do such a thing?

Suddenly, the trees rustled. Goh and oak came.

" Is he....?" Goh asked.

Gary looked up. " He's.... In a mood." He replied, rubbing Ash's back.

Then Gary held Ash tighter, feeling the weight of his friend’s distress. Ash was never one to show vulnerability so easily, but this was different. The letters, the constant pressure, and the hurtful words had taken their toll.

"Who could send those letters, Ash?" Gary asked softly, trying to control the anger simmering inside him. He couldn’t believe that anyone would try to tear Ash down like this.

Ash sniffled, still not making eye contact. "I don’t know… I didn’t want anyone to worry."

Goh crouched down beside them, looking at the pile of letters still in his hands. "Ash, you should’ve told us. We’re your friends! No one should go through something like this alone."

Professor Oak, standing quietly nearby, nodded in agreement. "You’ve always had the heart of a true Pokémon Trainer, Ash. I’ve watched you grow since you were a boy, and no amount of letters can take away what you’ve accomplished."

Ash’s grip on Gary tightened as he tried to compose himself. "I just… I didn’t want anyone to think I wasn’t strong enough. What if they’re right? What if I’m not good enough?"

Gary shook his head, pulling back slightly so he could look Ash in the eyes. "Ashy-boy, you’re the strongest person I know. You never give up, no matter how hard it gets. You’ve beaten me more times than I care to admit." He cracked a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Ash chuckled weakly through his tears. "Yeah, but you always come back stronger too, Gary."

Gary grinned. "Exactly! And that’s what makes you a great trainer, Ash. Not the battles you win or lose, but the fact that you never stop pushing forward."

Goh nodded in agreement. "We all believe in you, Ash. No letter can take that away."

Oak stepped forward, his voice gentle but firm. "Ash, these letters don’t define you. You define yourself by how you respond to challenges, and you’ve always risen above them. We’ll figure out who’s behind this, but don’t let them steal your passion."

Ash wiped his eyes, his tears slowing as he absorbed their words. He looked at each of them, seeing the support and care in their faces. "Thanks, guys," he whispered. "I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that."

Gary clapped him on the shoulder. "That’s what friends are for, right?"

Ash smiled, finally feeling the weight lift off his shoulders. "Yeah… Friends."

He could just tell us what he means, but Gary NEVER does that."

Gary heard and turned back, a mischievous glint in his eye. " I heard that!"

Ash laughed. " Loosen up!"

" I'll loosen up when YOU stop being Mr. Common Sense!" Gary threw his bag on the ground and chased Ash around the field, Goh and Oak watching.

" I'm gonna get you!" Gary called.

Ash turned and stuck his tongue out. " No you won't! I always beat you, remember?"

" That was when we were five!"

" Exactly! Five years ago!"

" A lot has changed since then, Ashy- Boy!"

Suddenly, a paper slipped out of Ash's pocket. His eyes widened, and he bolted to it, but Gary picked it up first.

" What's this?" He asked as he unfolded it.

" Don't!" Ash tried to run and get it, but Gary stopped him by putting a hand on his head, arm length apart.

" Dear Ash you're... not a good Pokemon trainer. You should give up of your dream." Gary said, each word slower than the last.

" What?!" Gog grabbed the letter and skimmed it. " Oh, my goodness!"

He looked up. " Ash, how long have you been getting these for?!"

No answer.

" Ash?" Gary looked behind him. " Ash!"

He walked, not seeing where he was stepping. He accidently knocked Ash's bag over. Letters began to spill out.

" Hey, guys, check this out!" He called.

Oak and Goh ran to him. " What is it?" Oak asked his grandson.

Gary showed them the letters. " He's been getting more than one." He said quietly. " It's been a while since he started receiving them."

Professor Oak's eyes widened. " Oh, the poor boy!"

Gary saw something on the ground. He walked over to it.

The small Poke ball half that cracked when he and Ash were trying to get the same ball.

Gary fished his out and put the two halves together.

Goh saw. " What is that?"

Gary chuckled as he recalled the memory. " One day, Ash and me were trying to fish Pokemon. We both got the same Poke ball, and we pulled and pulled, until it broke in half, the ball. Since then, me and Ash..... haven't been on the same page. Mainly because I might have had a tendency of hurting his feelings."

" But you guys are friends!" Goh pointed out.

Gary nodded. " We were best friends when we were young, then became enemies. But when I decided to take up research, we became friends again."

Gary pocketed the half of the Poké Ball, his mind still replaying the moment when he and Ash were kids, their friendship and rivalry intertwined. "I'll go find him," he said, determination in his voice.

He took off running, glancing at the horizon as he ran. How could he not have noticed?

Now that he thought about it, Ash wasn't his usual self. He was more withdrawn and quiet, and at random times he would run off with excuses.

" This is bad..." He muttered.

He grabbed a tree branch and hoisted himself up.

Then he looked down.

Ash.

He hopped down. " Ash?" He asked, approaching his friend.

Ash wiped his eyes and looked up. " Yeah?*

Gary sat down next to him and opened his arms. " Come here, Ash."

Ash hesitated, but wrapped his arms around Gary and sobbed, biting his lip as he tried to stop.

Gary could feel the tremors through Ash's body. That just made Gary angry. Who would do such a thing?

Suddenly, the trees rustled. Goh and oak came.

" Is he....?" Goh asked.

Gary looked up. " He's.... Well, I haven't gotten any info out of him." He replied, rubbing Ash's back.

Ash looked up. " What info?"

Goh walked to Ash and sat down in front of him. " Ash, who did this?"

Ash looked away. " No one."

Gary gently lifted Ash’s chin, making him face him. "Come on, Ash. You know that’s not true. Who’s been sending these letters?"

Ash’s hands trembled as he avoided eye contact. "I don’t know," he muttered. "It doesn’t matter. I just… I thought maybe if I ignored it, it would stop."

Gary sighed, his frustration and concern mixing. "Ash, you can’t just ignore stuff like this. It’s eating you up inside, and you’re my friend. I care about you, okay?"

Goh and Professor Oak knelt beside them, listening quietly. Goh’s voice was soft as he spoke. "Ash, you’ve always been one of the strongest people I know. But even strong people need help sometimes. We’re your friends, let us help you."

Ash swallowed hard, tears still threatening to spill. "I don’t want to burden anyone. I didn’t want you guys to worry."

Gary shook his head, his voice firm. "You’re never a burden, Ash. We’ve been through so much together, and we’ve always had each other’s backs. That’s not going to change now."

Oak placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder. "Ash, you’ve done more for people and Pokémon than most ever dream of. But that doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone. Whoever wrote these letters is wrong. You’re an incredible trainer, and even more than that, you’re an amazing person."

Ash let out a shaky breath, his heart heavy. "But what if they’re right?" he whispered, his voice cracking. "What if I’m not good enough?"

Goh shook his head, leaning closer. "Ash, you’ve inspired me and so many others. You’ve faced down Legendary Pokémon, you’ve saved entire regions! None of this would have been possible if you weren’t good enough."

Gary smiled, ruffling Ash’s hair. "Besides, Ashy-Boy, you’re the one who’s always been a step ahead of me. I’ve spent years chasing you, trying to keep up. And trust me, you’re way more than good enough."

Ash’s lip quivered, but this time, the tears that fell weren’t out of sadness. He hugged Gary tighter, feeling the warmth of his friends around him. "Thanks, guys," he whispered. "I… I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Gary smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, you’d probably just get into even more trouble without me to save you."

Ash laughed softly, wiping his eyes. "Yeah, probably."

Professor Oak stood, brushing off his knees. "We’ll figure out who’s behind those letters, Ash. But for now, just know that we’re all here for you, no matter what."

Goh nodded, giving Ash a reassuring smile. "And next time you get a letter like that, don’t keep it to yourself. We’ve got your back."

Ash looked at his friends, his heart swelling with gratitude. "I won’t keep things to myself anymore. I promise."

Gary stood up, offering a hand to help Ash to his feet. "Good. Now, how about we head back? We’ve got a lot more to do, and we’re not letting any stupid letters slow us down."

Ash took Gary’s hand and stood, a small but genuine smile on his face. "Yeah, let’s go. I’ve got a world to keep exploring and Pokémon to meet."

He could just tell us what he means, but Gary NEVER does that."

Gary heard and turned back, a mischievous glint in his eye. " I heard that!"

Ash laughed. " Loosen up!"

" I'll loosen up when YOU stop being Mr. Common Sense!" Gary threw his bag on the ground and chased Ash around the field, Goh and Oak watching.

" I'm gonna get you!" Gary called.

Ash turned and stuck his tongue out. " No you won't! I always beat you, remember?"

" That was when we were five!"

" Exactly! Five years ago!"

" A lot has changed since then, Ashy- Boy!"

Suddenly, a paper slipped out of Ash's pocket. His eyes widened, and he bolted to it, but Gary picked it up first.

" What's this?" He asked as he unfolded it.

" Don't!" Ash tried to run and get it, but Gary stopped him by putting a hand on his head, arm length apart.

" Dear Ash you're... not a good Pokemon trainer. You should give up of your dream." Gary said, each word slower than the last.

" What?!" Gog grabbed the letter and skimmed it. " Oh, my goodness!"

He looked up. " Ash, how long have you been getting these for?!"

No answer.

" Ash?" Gary looked behind him. " Ash!"

He walked, not seeing where he was stepping. He accidently knocked Ash's bag over. Letters began to spill out.

" Hey, guys, check this out!" He called.

Oak and Goh ran to him. " What is it?" Oak asked his grandson.

Gary showed them the letters. " He's been getting more than one." He said quietly. " It's been a while since he started receiving them."

Professor Oak's eyes widened. " Oh, the poor boy!"

Gary saw something on the ground. He walked over to it.

The small Poke ball half that cracked when he and Ash were trying to get the same ball.

Gary fished his out and put the two halves together.

Goh saw. " What is that?"

Gary chuckled as he recalled the memory. " One day, Ash and me were trying to fish Pokemon. We both got the same Poke ball, and we pulled and pulled, until it broke in half, the ball. Since then, me and Ash..... haven't been on the same page. Mainly because I might have had a tendency of hurting his feelings."

" But you guys are friends!" Goh pointed out.

Gary nodded. " We were best friends when we were young, then became enemies. But when I decided to take up research, we became friends again."

Gary pocketed the half of the Poké Ball, his mind still replaying the moment when he and Ash were kids, their friendship and rivalry intertwined. "I'll go find him," he said, determination in his voice.

He took off running, glancing at the horizon as he ran. How could he not have noticed?

Now that he thought about it, Ash wasn't his usual self. He was more withdrawn and quiet, and at random times he would run off with excuses.

" This is bad..." He muttered.

He grabbed a tree branch and hoisted himself up.

Then he looked down.

Ash.

He hopped down. " Ash?" He asked, approaching his friend.

Ash wiped his eyes and looked up. " Yeah?*

" Ash, the letters. Who are the letters from?"

" No one." Ash looked away

Gary sat next to him. " Ash, I know that's not true."

Ash rubbed his eye. " I... It's fine."

" No, Ashy. It's not."

Gary's voice softened as he sat beside Ash, sensing the weight his friend was carrying. "Ash, it’s okay to talk about it. You don’t have to keep everything bottled up."

Ash sighed, clutching his hat tightly. "I just didn’t want anyone to worry. You’ve got your research, Goh has his own journey, and I didn’t want to bother anyone with...this."

Gary shook his head, giving Ash a gentle nudge. "You think we're not worried when you're not yourself? We've known each other since we were kids. I can tell when something’s bothering you."

Ash stayed quiet for a moment, staring at the ground. "I don’t even know who’s sending them," he finally admitted. "They started showing up after I won the World Coronation Series. At first, I thought they were just from someone jealous, but they kept coming. And the more I read them, the more...I don’t know. It just got to me."

Gary's fists clenched. "Someone's just trying to tear you down, Ash. Probably because they’re jealous of everything you’ve accomplished."

Ash nodded but didn’t seem convinced. "Maybe. But...what if they’re right? What if I’m not the trainer everyone thinks I am?"

Gary’s expression softened. "Ash, you’ve done more than any of us ever imagined. You’ve faced down Legendary Pokémon, taken on champions, and you never gave up. You’ve inspired people—heck, you've inspired me. And that’s not something anyone can take away from you, no matter what some anonymous jerk says."

Ash looked up at him, a bit of the weight lifting from his shoulders. "You think so?"

Gary smirked. "I know so. And if you’re ever doubting yourself, just remember that I’ll always be here to remind you of it."

Ash finally cracked a small smile. "Thanks, Gary."

Gary shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Don’t mention it. But if you’re still worried, we can figure out who’s sending those letters and put a stop to it. No one messes with my friend like that."

Ash nodded, feeling a bit lighter. "Yeah, we’ll figure it out together."

He could just tell us what he means, but Gary NEVER does that."

Gary heard and turned back, a mischievous glint in his eye. " I heard that!"

Ash laughed. " Loosen up!"

" I'll loosen up when YOU stop being Mr. Common Sense!" Gary threw his bag on the ground and chased Ash around the field, Goh and Oak watching.

" I'm gonna get you!" Gary called.

Ash turned and stuck his tongue out. " No you won't! I always beat you, remember?"

" That was when we were five!"

" Exactly! Five years ago!"

" A lot has changed since then, Ashy- Boy!"

Suddenly, a paper slipped out of Ash's pocket. His eyes widened, and he bolted to it, but Gary picked it up first.

" What's this?" He asked as he unfolded it.

" Don't!" Ash tried to run and get it, but Gary stopped him by putting a hand on his head, arm length apart.

" Dear Ash you're... not a good Pokemon trainer. You should give up of your dream." Gary said, each word slower than the last.

" What?!" Gog grabbed the letter and skimmed it. " Oh, my goodness!"

He looked up. " Ash, how long have you been getting these for?!"

No answer.

" Ash?" Gary looked behind him. " Ash!"

He walked, not seeing where he was stepping. He accidently knocked Ash's bag over. Letters began to spill out.

" Hey, guys, check this out!" He called.

Oak and Goh ran to him. " What is it?" Oak asked his grandson.

Gary showed them the letters. " He's been getting more than one." He said quietly. " It's been a while since he started receiving them."

Professor Oak's eyes widened. " Oh, the poor boy!"

Gary saw something on the ground. He walked over to it.

The small Poke ball half that cracked when he and Ash were trying to get the same ball.

Gary fished his out and put the two halves together.

Goh saw. " What is that?"

Gary chuckled as he recalled the memory. " One day, Ash and me were trying to fish Pokemon. We both got the same Poke ball, and we pulled and pulled, until it broke in half, the ball. Since then, me and Ash..... haven't been on the same page. Mainly because I might have had a tendency of hurting his feelings."

" But you guys are friends!" Goh pointed out.

Gary nodded. " We were best friends when we were young, then became enemies. But when I decided to take up research, we became friends again."

Gary pocketed the half of the Poké Ball, his mind still replaying the moment when he and Ash were kids, their friendship and rivalry intertwined. "I'll go find him," he said, determination in his voice.

He took off running, glancing at the horizon as he ran. How could he not have noticed?

Now that he thought about it, Ash wasn't his usual self. He was more withdrawn and quiet, and at random times he would run off with excuses.

" This is bad..." He muttered.

He grabbed a tree branch and hoisted himself up.

Then he looked down.

Ash.

He hopped down. " Ash?" He asked, approaching his friend.

Ash turned. " Yeah?"

Gary knelt down in front of Ash. " Ash Ketchum, tell me the truth. Who sent you these letters."

" No one " Ash muttered.

Gary wasn't convinced. " If it was nobody, you wouldn't have been sobbing, Ash. I know you too well.*

Gary stared at Ash, his frustration growing as he tried to piece together the puzzle. He knew Ash was keeping something from him, and it wasn’t just the letters. Ash had always been stubborn, but this was different. The usually bright and energetic trainer seemed weighed down, like he was carrying an invisible burden.

Just as Gary opened his mouth to press further, they heard footsteps approaching. Goh and Professor Oak appeared through the trees, both of them looking concerned.

Goh was the first to speak. "Gary? Did you find him?"

Gary nodded, glancing at Ash, who had turned away again. "Yeah, but something’s not right. Ash won’t tell me who’s been sending these letters. He says it’s 'no one,' but we both know that’s not true."

Goh knelt down next to Ash, his eyes scanning his friend’s face. "Ash, listen... You don’t have to handle this on your own. We’re your friends, okay? We’re in this together." His voice was calm and reassuring, but there was a firmness to it that showed he wouldn’t let Ash brush this off.

Ash didn’t respond right away. He just kept staring at the ground, his fingers curling and uncurling in the dirt. The silence was thick, uncomfortable. It wasn’t like Ash to stay quiet for so long.

Professor Oak, standing just a few steps away, watched the scene unfold. His face was filled with concern, the kind only someone who had known Ash for most of his life could show. He stepped closer, his voice gentle but authoritative. "Ash, I’ve watched you grow up from the moment you set out on your journey. You’ve overcome challenges most people can’t even imagine. But everyone needs support, even you. You don’t have to hide this from us."

Ash squeezed his eyes shut, his voice barely a whisper. "But… I don’t want you guys to worry."

Gary huffed in frustration. "Too late for that, Ash! We are worried, and not because you can’t handle things, but because you won’t let us in. You’re not alone, okay? We’ve always had each other’s backs, remember?"

Ash’s shoulders trembled slightly, and for a moment, it looked like he might stay silent again. But then, he finally spoke, his voice trembling. "It’s just… ever since I started getting those letters, I’ve been second-guessing myself. Every battle, every choice I make, it’s like those words are stuck in my head, telling me I’m not good enough. I thought if I ignored them, they’d stop. But they haven’t… and now I don’t know what to do."

Goh leaned in closer, his voice soft but insistent. "Ash, you’ve accomplished more than any of us. You’ve won countless battles, earned the respect of legendary Pokémon, and inspired so many people—including me. Whoever wrote those letters is wrong. You *are* a good trainer, the best I’ve ever seen. But more than that, you’re a good friend."

Gary nodded, his voice softening. "Yeah, Ash. Whoever this is, they don’t know you. They don’t know what you’re capable of. You’ve proven time and time again that you can handle anything. And even if you’re having doubts, we’re here to help. You don’t have to fight this battle alone."

Ash’s breathing was shaky, and for the first time in what felt like ages, he let out a long, tired sigh. His eyes were glossy with unshed tears, but he wiped them quickly, not wanting to break down completely. "I just didn’t want to bother anyone with it. I thought if I ignored it, I could prove them wrong on my own."

Professor Oak placed a reassuring hand on Ash’s shoulder. "It’s not about proving anything, Ash. It’s about knowing that you’re never alone in this. Whether it’s battling, research, or just dealing with life, you have people who care about you, who want to help you."

Goh reached out and squeezed Ash’s arm gently. "And we’re not going anywhere, Ash. We’ve got your back, no matter what."

Ash looked up, finally meeting their gazes. His voice was small, but there was a flicker of his usual determination behind it. "You guys… really don’t think I’m a bad trainer?"

Gary rolled his eyes playfully, trying to lighten the mood. "Ashy-Boy, I’ve been chasing you for years. If you were a bad trainer, do you think I’d waste my time trying to catch up?"

Ash let out a small laugh, wiping at his eyes again. "I guess not…"

Goh grinned. "And if you were a bad trainer, would you have beaten me in all those battles?"

Ash smiled a little more, his posture relaxing as the weight he had been carrying seemed to lift just a bit. "Thanks, guys. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Professor Oak smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the edges. "We’re a team, Ash. Always have been, always will be."

The four of them sat in silence for a moment, the tension in the air easing as Ash let himself breathe a little easier. For the first time in a long while, he didn’t feel so alone.

Gary stood up and offered Ash a hand. "Come on, let’s get out of here. We’ve got work to do, and I’m not letting you slack off just because of some dumb letters."

Ash took his hand, standing up with a newfound determination. "Right. I’ve got a lot of battles ahead, and I’m not letting anything stop me."

Goh clapped him on the back. "That’s the Ash I know!"

As they began to walk back toward the field, Ash looked at his friends and Professor Oak. He didn’t know who had sent those letters, but one thing was clear: with his friends by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next.