* Flashback ends*

Ash wasn't just angry at himself - he was sad.

Sad he has to leave his best friend.

Sad this was how they say goodbye.

Sad that..... He may never see Pikachu again.

He ran and cried, cutting into the forest and running far until he looked up and didn't recognize his surroundings.

He sniffed and his behind a tree, crying to himself. His baseball hat was low, casting a shadow on his eyes.

" I love you, Pikachu." He whispered.

" Ash?" Brock yelled. " Ash?"

" Ash where are you?" Misty cried.

Ash bit his lip. He didn't want counseling.

" Ash, what you said isn't true!" Brock yelled. " Leaving your Pokemon with its own isn't a good idea! Pikachu may not survive!"

Ash broke down again, not caring his sobs echoed through the whole forest

He heart footsteps.

" Ash! There you are!" Misty cried.

" Ash, what are you doing here?" Brock asked.

Ash's voice was barely a whisper as he sat with his back against the tree, his hands gripping the brim of his hat tightly. His heart ached with the weight of his decision, but he felt like he had no other choice.

"Doing what's right for Pikachu..." he muttered again, the words barely audible.

Brock and Misty exchanged a glance. They could hear the pain in his voice, the uncertainty and fear that had been building up for days. Brock crouched down next to him, his expression soft but firm.

"Ash," Brock began, "I know you want to do what's best for Pikachu. But abandoning him here, with no idea if he'll survive, isn't the answer."

Ash's shoulders shook, and he kept his hat pulled low to hide his tears. "I thought... this was the right thing to do... Pikachu deserves to be with his own kind. He'll be happier without me holding him back."

Misty knelt beside Ash, her voice gentle but urgent. "Ash, Pikachu loves you. You're not holding him back-you're his family. He doesn't want to be left behind."

Ash sniffled, struggling to hold back more tears. His whole body trembled as he tried to keep it together, but it was no use. "I don't want to say goodbye," he admitted, his voice breaking.

Brock sighed and placed a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Then don't. Pikachu doesn't want that either. He chose to be with you. You two have been through so much together-don't let one difficult moment tear you apart."

Ash's head dipped, the tears finally spilling down his cheeks again. "But I've been failing him, Brock. Every time something happens, it feels like I can't protect him anymore. Maybe he's better off without me."

Misty frowned and gently placed a hand on Ash's arm. "You're not failing him, Ash. You've always done everything in your power to protect Pikachu. But sometimes things happen that are out of our control. You just have to trust that, no matter what, you're strong enough to face it together."

Ash looked up for the first time, his tear-filled eyes meeting Misty's. There was a long silence between them, the weight of his emotions heavy in the air. Slowly, Ash wiped his tears with the back of his hand, but his face still showed the conflict inside.

"Do you really think Pikachu wants to stay with me?" Ash asked, his voice fragile.

Brock smiled softly. "I *know* he does. You're his best friend, Ash. He wouldn't trade you for anything."

Misty nodded. "You're not alone in this, Ash. We're here for you, and so is Pikachu."

Just then, the bushes rustled, and a familiar yellow figure emerged from the underbrush. Pikachu's ears perked up when he saw Ash, and without hesitation, he ran over, leaping into Ash's arms.

"Pika!" Pikachu cried, nuzzling Ash's face.

Ash's heart clenched as he held Pikachu close, burying his face in his soft fur. The tears came back, but this time they weren't just from sadness. They were from relief-relief that Pikachu was here, that his best friend didn't want to leave him.

"I'm sorry," Ash whispered, his voice muffled by Pikachu's fur. "I didn't want to leave you behind."

Pikachu pulled back slightly and gave Ash a determined look. "Pika-pi!" It was as if he was saying, I'm not going anywhere.

Ash nodded, finally allowing himself to smile through the tears. "Okay, buddy. We stick together. No more goodbyes."

Brock and Misty smiled, watching as Ash clung to Pikachu, the bond between them as strong as ever. The weight that had been sitting on Ash's shoulders seemed to lift, even just a little, as he finally let himself believe that he and Pikachu were meant to be together.

"Come on," Brock said, standing up and offering Ash a hand. "Let's head to the new city. We need to keep our pace."