" Ash and friends, I called you here today because a special Professor is coming to Pallet."

Brock looked intrigued. " Really? What's her name? Is she pretty?"

Professor Oak gave him a weird look. " Her name is Professor Ivy-"

" Professor Ivytakini?" Ash scrambled as he cut the professor's sentence. " How nice! Uh.... Brock! Dinner's in half an hour! You go get started, and me and Misty will catch up."

Brock smirked. " You gonna tell him how you and Misty are official?"

" Yes, yes, we will! But hurry the dinner!" Misty yelled, blushing.

Brock put his hands up. " Sorry! I'll go get started!"

As soon as Brock left, the couple let out a sigh.

" What was that all about?" A smug voice asked.

Ash turned. " Gary!"

Gary smirked. " How's the puny Pokémon master doing?"

" Puny?!" Ash stepped towards Gary, but Misty stopped him.

" Ash, please. I know you and Gary might not get along, but we have more important things on schedule."

Ash nodded, then smirked. " Hey, Gary? Wanna know what I have you don't?"

Gary smirked. " I have everything, but sure, name it."

Ash put a hand on Misty. " I have a wife. Unlike you."

Misty blushed and looked up at Ash. " Oh... wow. I didn't think you actually meant it when you said you wanted to get married next week!"

The professor eyed them. " Would one of you explain what is going on?!"

" And how do you have a wife?!" Gary added.

Ash smirked. ' We-"

" Ash Kechum, please focus." Misty cut in.

" Sorry, Mist."

" It's okay, Ash."

Then she turned to Gary. " My handsome husband here was in the lake when he caught my bait. I reeled him in, and found him. And his Pokemon. He needed to take him to the center, so he stole my bike."

" I borrowed!" Ash argued.

Misty smirked. " Sure you did. Anyway, I was mad at him, and kept trailing him so he could give me my bike. But soon the bike because an excuse. I fell in love with him. He fell in love with me. And here we are."

" And what about Professor Ivy? Why did yoy scramble to cover her name?"

Ash and Misty glanced at each other, wide eyed. " How are we gonna do this?" Ash asked.

Misty sighed. " We'll just have to divert his attention. We can ask Tracy for help."

" Ask me for what help?" Tracy asked as he stepped in.

" You know who is coming tomorrow." Ash replied.

Tracy's eyes widened. " What, what?!"

Misty nodded. " He was almo-"

" WOULD ONE OF YOU PLEASE TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Gary yelled.

The trio stared at him.

" Misty, you say." Ash said.

" Why should I say? Tracy should!"

" I don't want to!"

" Well someone has to." Ash stated as he crossed his arms.

" Why don't all three of you?" Oak suggested.

Ash, Misty, and Tracy exchanged nervous glances, all clearly unsure of how to approach the situation. Professor Oak stood with his arms crossed, awaiting an explanation, while Gary leaned against a tree, still smirking, clearly enjoying the tension.

Ash sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Okay, okay... so, the thing is..."

"We, uh... we might have mentioned something about Professor Ivy before," Misty added, cutting in to try to explain.

Tracy jumped in, his voice higher-pitched than usual, "Brock kind of... has a history with her."

Professor Oak raised an eyebrow. "History? With Professor Ivy?"

Gary's smirk widened. "Oh, this I've got to hear."

Ash groaned. "It's not what you think! It's just... when we met Professor Ivy back on Valencia Island, Brock—well, Brock kind of, you know, stayed behind with her. It was a whole thing, and we don't like to talk about it much..."

Misty crossed her arms, trying to help Ash. "Let's just say things got weird after that. And when Brock came back... well, he wasn't the same."

"Yeah, he never could really talk about her again without... freezing up," Tracy added.

Professor Oak rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Ah, yes, I do remember Brock staying behind with Professor Ivy for quite some time. So that's why you scrambled when her name came up..."

Ash nodded quickly. "Yeah! We just didn't want Brock to, you know, freak out again. He's been doing great since he came back to Pallet, and we don't want to bring up old stuff that might upset him."

Gary rolled his eyes. "So, you're telling me Brock can't handle seeing Professor Ivy again? Wow, that's hilarious."

"Gary!" Misty snapped. "It's not funny! Brock's our friend, and we care about him. If he has a hard time seeing her again, we're going to make sure he's okay."

Ash nodded in agreement. "Exactly. That's why we wanted to handle this carefully. We weren't trying to hide anything from Professor Oak or you, Gary. We just want to be careful with Brock."

Professor Oak gave them a reassuring nod. "I understand now. It's admirable that you're looking out for your friend like this. We'll have to find a way to make sure the reunion isn't too overwhelming for him."

"Thanks, Professor," Ash said, relieved.

Gary snorted. "Still sounds like Brock's got some unresolved issues. But whatever, that's your problem."

"Gary, if you're not going to help, then maybe you should just leave," Misty said, glaring at him.

Gary shrugged. "Fine, I've got better things to do anyway. But this was amusing." He waved as he walked off, clearly not bothered by the tension he left behind.

As Gary disappeared from view, Professor Oak turned back to Ash, Misty, and Tracy. "Alright, then. I'll leave the planning up to you three. Just make sure Brock is prepared before Professor Ivy arrives."

Ash smiled. "We'll figure it out, Professor. Don't worry."

Misty crossed her arms, thinking. "We should probably tell Brock sooner rather than later. Maybe ease him into it."

Tracy nodded. "Yeah, and we can keep it casual, so it doesn't seem like a big deal."

Ash grinned. "Alright, team! Let's do this for Brock. We'll make sure everything goes smoothly."

As soon as they walked into the house, Brock was busy preparing dinner, humming to himself. Ash, Misty, and Tracy exchanged quick glances, knowing they had to be careful about the upcoming conversation.

Tracy, clearly distracted, started absentmindedly talking. "Man, it's been a while since I've seen Professor Ivy—"

The room froze.

Brock's hand, which had been stirring a pot of soup, stopped mid-motion. Slowly, his grip tightened around the spoon, his entire posture going rigid.

Ash's eyes went wide as he nudged Tracy, whispering harshly, "Tracy! What are you doing?!"

Misty gasped and covered her face with her hands. "Oh no..."

Tracy looked up, realizing what he'd just said. "Uh... I didn't mean..."

Brock slowly turned to face them, his eyes hollow and distant, as if a flood of memories had just come rushing back. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

"B-Brock?" Ash stammered, taking a cautious step forward. "Are you okay, buddy?"

Brock blinked a few times, then forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Ivy... you said Professor Ivy?"

Tracy swallowed hard. "Uh... yeah, but, um... what I meant was—"

Brock raised his hand, cutting Tracy off. "It's okay. I'm fine." But his voice was strained, clearly not okay at all.

Misty stepped forward, her tone soft and concerned. "Brock, we were going to tell you... she's coming to Pallet tomorrow."

Brock's spoon clattered to the floor.

"Tomorrow?" Brock repeated, his voice barely a whisper. His shoulders slumped, and he turned away from them, staring into the bubbling pot as if it could somehow give him the answers he needed.

Ash took a deep breath, then stepped closer to his friend. "Look, Brock. We weren't trying to hide it from you. We just didn't want to surprise you like this. We know things didn't exactly end well back in Valencia..."

Brock let out a bitter laugh. "Didn't end well? That's an understatement."

Tracy, looking guilty, chimed in, "We can handle it if you don't want to see her, Brock. We don't want you to be uncomfortable."

Brock sighed, his back still turned to them. "It's not about that... it's just..." He trailed off, as if unsure how to explain the whirlwind of emotions he was feeling.

Misty stepped beside him, gently putting a hand on his shoulder. "Brock, you don't have to face her if you're not ready. We're your friends, and we've got your back no matter what."

There was a long pause before Brock finally spoke. "I just... I don't know if I'm ready to deal with those memories again."

Ash gave him a supportive pat on the back. "You don't have to do it alone, Brock. We're here for you. Always."

Brock closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he tried to gather his thoughts. Finally, he nodded. "Thanks, guys. I'll... I'll think about it. But for now, let's just focus on dinner, okay?"

The tension in the room slowly dissipated, and the group silently agreed to give Brock some space. Even though they knew the next day would be difficult, they were ready to support their friend through whatever came next.

As the aroma of dinner filled the air, the group sat down, their minds still lingering on the upcoming reunion. None of them knew exactly how it would go, but they were certain of one thing—whatever happened, they would face it together.

Or this scenario

When they got home, group gathered in the living room, and Ash, Misty, and Tracy huddled together, trying to figure out how to handle the situation with Brock.

"We're going to have to distract him the whole day tomorrow," Ash whispered, glancing towards the kitchen where Brock was cleaning up. "There's no way he's ready to see Professor Ivy."

Misty nodded in agreement. "We can't let him just run into her. He'll fall apart. We have to come up with a plan."

Tracy, however, looked uncertain. "Are you sure about this, guys? What if lying makes things worse?"

Ash sighed. "I know, Tracy, but what other choice do we have? If he finds out she's here and sees her by accident, it'll be even worse. We need to keep him busy and keep his mind off of her."

Misty crossed her arms and frowned. "I don't like lying either, but Ash is right. Brock's been through a lot with Ivy. We're just trying to protect him."

Tracy still seemed hesitant. "But what if he finds out we lied? He'll be upset with us."

Ash shook his head. "I don't think he'll be mad. He'll understand that we were trying to help him. Right now, we need to be good friends and make sure he doesn't get hurt again."

Misty nodded firmly. "We'll tell him Ivy isn't coming, and we'll keep him busy all day. Maybe take him out of town for a little bit, so he doesn't run into her."

Tracy let out a sigh. "Okay, if you two are sure this is the right thing to do, I'm in."

Ash grinned. "Good. We'll make sure Brock has no idea Ivy's in Pallet Town. He won't know a thing."

Misty looked determined. "We just have to be careful not to slip up. One wrong word, and he'll figure it out."

Ash nodded. "We'll stick to the plan. Tomorrow, we'll get him out of here and keep him distracted."

As they finished their huddle, the three friends exchanged glances, hoping their plan would work. The next day would be tricky, but they were committed to protecting Brock, even if it meant bending the truth.

From the kitchen, Brock called out, "Hey, guys, what are you talking about over there?"

Ash, Misty, and Tracy froze for a moment before Ash quickly replied, "Oh, nothing! Just, uh... planning tomorrow's training!"

"Yeah!" Misty added. "We've got a big day ahead of us!"

Brock smiled, unaware of their real plan. "Sounds good. I could use a good distraction."

Ash and the others exchanged nervous glances but gave Brock reassuring smiles. Tomorrow, they would do everything they could to keep him away from Professor Ivy and protect their friend from the painful memories of the past.

I'm going with the second one

I like it better

The next morning started off relatively quiet, but everything changed when Professor Oak called the house.

"Hey, Ash! Misty! Tracy! Ivy's here!" Oak's voice boomed from the speaker of Ash's phone.

Ash, Misty, and Tracy froze instantly. Their hearts sank as they exchanged frantic looks. They knew Brock had overheard it too, because within seconds, he was crouched in the corner, shuddering. His face was pale, and he muttered to himself, "That name..."

Ash hurried over to Brock, concerned. "Are you okay, Brock?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Brock looked up, his eyes wide with anxiety. "No... definitely not."

Tracy, sensing the urgency of the situation, quickly chimed in, "Chill, Brock. We need to go to the market anyway. You know, to get food for the next few days." He smiled nervously, hoping it would distract Brock from his current panic.

Ash caught on quickly, flashing a thumbs-up to Misty behind Brock's back. She gave a determined nod, realizing their plan needed to go into action immediately.

"Yeah, Brock," Ash said, trying to sound casual. "We should go to the market. You always know what we need, and I definitely can't be trusted to do that without you!"

Misty stepped in, acting like everything was normal. "It'll be fun! We'll stock up on everything we need, maybe grab some lunch, and make a day out of it. You don't need to worry about... anything."

Brock, though still visibly shaken, nodded slowly. "I-I guess... I can help with that..."

Ash gave Misty and Tracy a quick look that said, "Operation Keep Brock Away from Ivy is a go!"

The three exchanged determined nods as they managed to coax Brock out of the house and towards town. As they walked, Tracy whispered to Ash, "We just have to keep him distracted. If he gets near Oak's lab or sees Ivy..."

"I know," Ash replied under his breath. "We'll keep him busy. He won't suspect a thing."

Meanwhile, Brock shuffled along with them, still muttering about "that name," while Ash, Misty, and Tracy kept up their cheerful, upbeat chatter, all the while praying they could keep Brock away from Ivy and the impending emotional disaster that was bound to happen if they failed.

As Ash, Misty, Brock, and Tracy walked through the market, everything seemed to be going according to plan—until Ash spotted Professor Oak and Professor Ivy standing by a stall, talking.

Ash's heart stopped. They're here!

Tracy immediately noticed too, his face turning pale. "Uh-oh..."

Without hesitation, Misty jumped into action. "Brock!" she called out, grabbing his arm. "I think we forgot the bread! Let's go grab some. You know how important it is for breakfast, right?"

Brock blinked and, still in his daze, nodded. "Bread... yeah, we need that."

As Misty hurriedly led Brock away in the opposite direction, Ash let out a sigh of relief, only to glance over and see Tracy trembling like a leaf. His face had gone from pale to as white as a sheet. "Good thing I'm not nervous!" Tracy tried to joke, but his hands were shaking so much that the coins in his pockets jingled loudly.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook as Tracy's trembling became more intense.

"Hey, Tracy, take it easy!" Ash hissed, grabbing Tracy by the shoulders to steady him. "If you freak out, we're doomed!"

Tracy took a deep breath, though his hands were still quivering. "I-I just didn't expect them to be here so soon!"

Ash glanced over to where Oak and Ivy were, still talking and completely oblivious to their panic. "Okay, just breathe. We've still got time. Let's stick to the plan and keep Brock as far away as possible."

"Yeah... yeah, you're right," Tracy muttered, still trembling but calming down a bit.

Misty, on the other hand, was doing her best to distract Brock. "So, what kind of bread should we get? White, wheat, maybe some rolls?"

Brock, still zoned out and muttering to himself about Ivy, didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. "Uh... whatever you think is best," he replied absentmindedly.

Misty glanced over her shoulder at Ash and Tracy, who were frantically trying to keep calm. "We can do this," she whispered to herself, hoping their distraction tactics would work long enough for Ivy to leave.

Suddenly ,Professor Ivy glanced in Brock's direction, and Ash and Tracy immediately sprang into action, dashing toward Brock to cover him up before Ivy could recognize him. They moved so fast, it almost seemed like they had practiced it beforehand.

In a split second, both boys threw themselves in front of Brock, waving their arms frantically as they blocked Ivy's view. Trying to act natural but failing miserably, they used high-pitched, exaggerated voices to distract her.

"Oh, hello, Professor Ivy!" Ash squeaked, his voice almost cracking from how high he tried to pitch it. "N-nothing to see over here, just shopping for some bread!"

"Yeah, nothing strange happening at all!" Tracy chimed in, his voice hitting an even higher pitch than Ash's, which caused a few heads to turn in the market. "Brock? Who's Brock? We don't know any Brock! Just us—two very normal people—buying bread!"

Ivy blinked, clearly confused. "Ash? Tracy? Are you two feeling okay?" she asked, taking a step forward. Her curious expression deepened as she tried to peer around them.

Ash, panicking, leaned even further forward, almost tipping over. "No, no, no! Don't worry about us! We're fine! Super fine! Just... busy with, uh... bread stuff!"

Tracy nervously nodded. "Bread is... very important! You know, for health and stuff!"

Misty, from a few steps away, caught on and started to drag Brock further into the bread aisle, whispering frantically, "Come on, Brock, we really need to focus on this bread!"

Brock, still out of it, blinked and looked down at her. "Bread... right. Bread is good..."

Ivy stared at the bizarre scene in front of her, bewildered. "Um... okay. Well, nice seeing you two," she said slowly, still trying to figure out what was going on.

Ash and Tracy exchanged relieved glances, their voices still way too high. "Yeah, great to see you! Bye now!" they chimed together, practically pushing Ivy away from Brock's view.

As soon as she turned to talk to Professor Oak again, both boys let out a deep sigh of relief.

"That was close," Ash whispered to Tracy.

"Too close," Tracy replied, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Meanwhile, Brock was none the wiser, still muttering about bread as Misty tried to keep him distracted.

As the group approached the pond, Ash could already see Professor Ivy sitting on a bench, sketching the serene landscape. The sight sent a wave of panic through him, and he quickly turned to Tracy.

"Tracy, can we come back another day?" Ash whispered urgently, hoping to retreat before Ivy noticed them.

But it was too late. Tracy's eyes were already wide with fear as he glanced at Ivy and then back at Ash. Before Ash could say another word, Tracy bolted, dashing back to the car faster than Ash had ever seen him move.

"Hurry up!" Tracy shouted over his shoulder, his voice filled with sheer panic. "I can't do this! I can't let her see me!"

Misty, looking perplexed, tried to catch up with Tracy. "Wait, where are you going?" she called out, but he was already racing ahead.

"Brock!" Ash exclaimed, realizing they had to keep Brock distracted while dealing with Tracy's newfound panic. "We need to follow him! He can't just leave us here!"

They sprinted after Tracy, who was already fumbling with the car door, trying to get it open. "Come on, come on!" he muttered, practically bouncing on his heels.

Misty managed to catch up with Ash, breathing heavily. "What's wrong with him?" she asked, glancing back at Ivy, who was still blissfully unaware of their chaotic retreat.

Ash shook his head. "I don't know, but we can't let Ivy see Brock or Tracy like this!"

Finally, they reached the car just as Tracy managed to get the door open. "Get in! We have to leave now!" he yelled, frantically waving them inside.

"Brock! Get in the car!" Ash shouted, scanning the area for their friend. When Brock finally jogged up, he looked a little confused but hopped into the back seat.

"What's going on?" Brock asked, still trying to catch his breath.

Ash and Misty exchanged worried glances. "Just get in!" Misty insisted, quickly shutting the door behind Brock.

As Tracy slammed his foot on the gas pedal, the car lurched forward. Ash glanced back at the pond, where Ivy was still sitting, completely unaware of the mayhem her presence had caused.

"We're never going to hear the end of this," Ash muttered as Tracy drove away at top speed, the adrenaline still pumping through all of them.

Ash's phone buzzed, and Professor Oak's name flashed on the screen. He quickly answered before anyone else could, already bracing for what was coming next.

"Ash, Professor—"

"Professor Oak, no need to talk in the third person!" Ash interrupted, his voice tinged with panic as he tried to think on his feet. "Listen, uh, we just heard that... there's this new ice cream place in town! It's amazing! You should totally check it out!"

Misty, overhearing the conversation, raised an eyebrow, but kept quiet, trusting Ash's improvisation skills for now.

Oak sounded confused. "Ice cream, you say?"

"Yeah!" Ash said, faking enthusiasm. "It's supposed to be the best in Pallet Town! You should cut the line and everything!"

Tracy looked up from the road. "Really?" he asked, eyes lighting up.

Ash turned to Tracy and whispered through gritted teeth, "Tracy, it was a fib!"

Tracy's expression dropped. "Oh..."

Meanwhile, Oak still sounded uncertain on the other end. "Well, that's quite something, Ash, but I was actually calling because Professor—"

"No need for all that professor talk!" Ash cut him off again, sweating nervously. "Just enjoy your ice cream break, okay? Bye!"

He quickly ended the call before Oak could say more, stuffing his phone into his pocket. Ash turned to Misty and Tracy, who were both looking at him with mixed expressions of concern and curiosity.

"That was close," Misty said, crossing her arms.

"Too close," Ash agreed. "We need to keep Brock as far from Oak and YKW as possible."

"Do you think Oak bought it?" Tracy asked, still slightly disappointed there was no real ice cream trip in their future.

Ash shrugged. "For now, yeah. But we need to keep moving and stay ahead of this. We can't let Brock find out YKW ks here."

Misty sighed, shaking her head. "Operation 'Keep Brock Away from YKW' is a lot harder than we thought."

"No kidding," Ash muttered, leading the group forward with renewed determination. "But we don't have any other choice."

Tracy had a bright idea, grinning as he turned to Ash and Misty. "Hey, since I was promised ice cream, why don't we head to that new ice cream place I've heard about? It'll give Brock some time away from... well, you know who."

Ash and Misty exchanged a glance, already feeling the weight of where this was headed.

"Uh... sure, but which ice cream place exactly?" Ash asked cautiously.

Tracy waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, just the one by the park. It's supposed to be really popular!"

Ash's face immediately dropped. "Wait... the park? Uh-oh."

Misty groaned. "Tracy, that's the one place Professor Oak and Professor Ivyairaty.or whatever might be at!"

Realizing what was happening, Tracy's face went pale. "Oh... well, too late now. Come on, we need to get Brock out of here before—"

But it was too late. As they approached the ice cream shop, they spotted none other than Professor Oak and Professor Ivy sitting at a table, casually enjoying their ice cream.

"Uh oh," Ash muttered, feeling his heart skip a beat. "Tracy, lead Brock away now!"

Tracy, already panicking, turned to Brock and said, "Hey, buddy, let's check out the other side of the park. There's, uh, a cool fountain!" He started nudging Brock away as fast as he could.

Meanwhile, Ash turned to Misty. "Misty, with me. We gotta go full couple act. Lovey-dovey and everything. They'll never look twice at us!"

Misty's eyes lit up with a smirk. "I love this plan." Without hesitation, she grabbed Ash's hand and leaned in closer to him.

Ash gulped but quickly played along, wrapping his arm around Misty. "Alright, time to sell it." He turned to Misty, giving her a soft smile. "Misty, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me." His voice oozed with sugary sweetness.

Misty beamed back at him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Oh, Ash, you're just so perfect!" she giggled, twirling her hair dramatically. They started walking slowly toward the ice cream shop, putting on their best 'love-struck couple' act.

Professor Oak glanced up briefly, but when he saw the 'lovey-dovey' display between Ash and Misty, he immediately looked away, slightly embarrassed. "Ah, young love," he muttered.

Professor Ivy raised an eyebrow. "Aren't those two your students?"

Oak just waved it off. "Let them be. Looks like they're... occupied."

Meanwhile, Ash and Misty, still holding hands and walking arm-in-arm, passed the ice cream shop without anyone batting an eye.

As soon as they were out of sight, Ash exhaled a huge sigh of relief. "That was too close."

Misty laughed, still leaning on Ash. "I have to admit, you're pretty good at this, Ash. Maybe we should pretend to be a couple more often." She winked playfully.

Ash turned bright red, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh, yeah... totally."

Tracy finally caught up with them, pulling Brock along, who looked utterly confused. "What's with all the rushing, guys? Where's this fountain?"

"Never mind the fountain," Ash said quickly. "We just need to... keep moving!"

"Right!" Misty added, still smirking. "The mission isn't over yet!"

As they were all crammed into the car, trying to make their escape, Ash's phone rang. It was Professor Oak. Ash hesitated, knowing exactly what was coming, but answered the call anyway.

"Uh... hello, Professor Oak?" Ash said, already wincing.

On the other end, Oak's voice came through, sounding slightly irritated. "Ash, explain. What was that just now?! Why did you and Misty act like you didn't even know me? And why were you acting... so, uh... affectionate?"

Ash gulped, trying to think of an excuse on the fly. "Oh, uh... well, you see, Professor, it's, um... part of a training exercise!"

"Training exercise?" Oak repeated, clearly unconvinced.

"Yeah!" Ash stammered. "You know, like... role-playing. You know how Pokémon Trainers sometimes have to, uh... blend into crowds and stuff? It's a new strategy! Misty and I were, um... practicing how to go unnoticed! You know, like... undercover work!"

Misty, sitting beside him, facepalmed but quickly nodded, playing along. "Right! We were... just blending in!" she added.

Oak was silent for a moment, clearly skeptical. "Blending in... by acting like a couple?"

"Exactly!" Ash said, nodding too enthusiastically. "It's all part of the... stealth technique!"

From the backseat, Tracy was trying not to burst out laughing while Brock remained blissfully unaware of the whole situation.

Finally, Oak sighed. "Alright, Ash. If you say so. But next time, don't leave me hanging like that."

Ash let out a huge sigh of relief. "You got it, Professor! Sorry about that!"

The call ended, and Ash slumped back into his seat, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Smooth," Misty muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes with a smile.

Ash grinned nervously. "Hey, at least he bought it... kind of."

As they sped down the road, Ash had his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror, trying to spot Professor Ivy and Professor Oak. "Alright, let's just get home and hide out there," Ash muttered, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Tracy, sitting in the back, was nervously glancing around. "Yeah, home sounds like a great idea. Let's just... drive far, far away from here."

Ash nodded. "Good idea. I—" But before Ash could finish his sentence, they rounded a corner and screeched to a halt. Right there, standing in front of Ash's house, were Professor Oak and Professor Ivy, looking right at them.

Ash's heart sank. "Uh... this is bad."

Without warning, Tracy panicked, diving into the front seat and landing squarely on Ash's lap. He stomped on the gas pedal, sending the car lurching forward at breakneck speed.

"Tracy, get off! You're heavy!" Ash shouted, struggling to see over Tracy as the car swerved wildly down the road.

"Ivy's still here! I'm not going back!" Tracy shouted in panic, his arms flailing.

Misty, sitting beside them, sighed and shook her head. "It's too late, Ash. We're caught," she said, gesturing to the backseat where Brock sat with his head down, looking utterly defeated.

Ash glanced back. Sure enough, Brock was there, staring out the window with a forlorn expression on his face. "Oh no, Brock..."

But before Ash could think about what to do, Tracy's foot slammed harder on the gas pedal, and the car picked up speed, hurtling toward an upcoming ramp. The road ahead stretched out in front of them, and Ash's eyes widened in horror as they approached the ramp at an alarming speed.

"Tracy, stop!" Ash shouted, trying to wrestle control of the wheel. But it was too late. The car hit the ramp, and with a sudden, jarring jolt, they were airborne.

"TRACY?!" Ash yelled in panic as the car shot into the sky.

While Ash was panicking, his grip tight on the steering wheel, and Misty was bracing herself in the passenger seat, Tracy remained calm. In fact, as the car sailed through the air, Tracy pulled out his sketchbook and a pencil. He casually began sketching the scene, as if this were a completely normal situation.

"Are you... drawing right now?!" Misty shouted at Tracy in disbelief.

"Yep," Tracy replied calmly, his pencil moving smoothly across the paper. "The angle of the car against the sky... it's perfect for capturing dynamic motion."

Ash, meanwhile, was still yelling in terror. "We're in the air! We're gonna crash! And you're sketching?!"

But Tracy, as if oblivious to the chaos around him, just kept sketching. The details of the landscape below them—trees, houses, and the glistening pond—appeared on his paper with perfect precision. He even captured the slight tilt of the car as they flew through the air, completely absorbed in his work.

As the car continued its wild trajectory through the sky, Misty rolled her eyes, her knuckles white from gripping the door handle. "Of course, this is happening," she muttered under her breath.

Ash, still struggling with the wheel, yelled, "Someone, help me land this thing!"

Just as they reached the peak of their airborne flight, the car began to descend. Gravity took hold, and the car nosedived toward the ground. Ash braced himself for impact, his heart racing as he saw the ground rushing up to meet them.

But Tracy, completely unfazed, calmly closed his sketchbook and looked up. "We're about to land."

" WE KNOW TRACY!" the couple yelled.

With a loud crash, the car hit the ground, bouncing a few times before skidding to a halt on the dirt road. Dust and debris flew up around them as the car finally came to a stop, all four passengers shaken but surprisingly unharmed.

Ash leaned back in his seat, his heart pounding. "That... was insane," he gasped.

Misty, her face pale, nodded in agreement. "Never again."

In the backseat, Brock finally stirred, still looking defeated but now slightly more aware of his surroundings. "Where are we?"

Ash sighed. "Nowhere good, Brock."

Tracy, meanwhile, was calmly flipping through his sketchbook, admiring his handiwork. "I think I got the perfect shot of that flight."

Ash turned to Tracy, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're unbelievable."

As the dust settled around the car, Ash's phone rang again. It was Professor Oak, and Ash could already sense the frustration on the other end. He exchanged a quick look with Misty and Tracy, then sighed.

"Misty, Tracy, with me," Ash said quickly, gesturing for them to follow. "Brock, you stay here."

Brock, still looking dazed and dejected, didn't respond. He simply slumped further into the backseat, lost in his own world of misery over Ivy.

Ash, Misty, and Tracy stepped out of the car, and Ash, anticipating the worst, quickly turned the speaker on his phone as they gathered around. The moment he did, Professor Oak's voice boomed through the speaker, practically yelling.

"ASH KETCHUM, WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?!" Professor Oak's voice was sharp and filled with frustration. "You've been avoiding me all day, and now you're speeding around like maniacs?! I demand an explanation!"

Ash winced and held the phone at arm's length as Oak's voice filled the air. "Uh... hi, Professor Oak," Ash said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "About that..."

Oak's voice interrupted him before he could even start. "And why did you hang up earlier? 'Go to an ice cream place'? Really? I've had just about enough of your antics! Professor Ivy was looking for you, and instead of acting like responsible adults, you're running away!"

Misty pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, while Tracy stood there, trembling a little as he realized they had been caught in the act.

Ash cleared his throat. "Well, you see, Professor Oak, uh... we were just trying to, uh... handle the situation, you know? In our way?"

Oak's voice grew sterner. "And by 'handling the situation,' you mean running off and jumping your car into the sky?!"

Misty muttered under her breath, "Nice job explaining, Ash..."

Tracy, unable to stay silent any longer, piped up, "It was my idea to go to the ice cream place, Professor. We thought it would, uh, calm Brock down. You know... distract him?"

Ash quickly nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Brock's been... um... not great, ever since the whole, uh, Professor Ivy thing."

Professor Oak let out a long, exasperated sigh on the other end. "I understand Brock's situation, but that doesn't mean you can just avoid the problem forever. Sooner or later, he's going to have to face it."

Ash glanced at Misty, who gave him a worried look. "Uh, yeah, we know, Professor. We just... thought today wasn't the best day for it."

Oak's voice softened just a little. "I understand you're trying to protect your friend, but you can't run from your problems forever, Ash. Ivy is here, and we need to handle this like adults. You need to talk to Brock, and he needs to face her, eventually."

Ash sighed, realizing Oak was right. "Yeah... I know, Professor."

Oak paused for a moment. "Good. Now, I expect all of you back here soon, and no more running away or reckless driving, understood?"

"Yes, Professor," they all replied in unison.

As the call ended, Ash pocketed his phone and turned to Misty and Tracy. "Well, that went about as well as I expected..."

Misty nodded. "Looks like we have no choice. Brock's going to have to face Professor Ivy sooner or later."

Tracy sighed heavily. "I just hope he can handle it when the time comes."

Ash glanced back at the car where Brock still sat, lost in thought. "We'll figure something out," he said, trying to sound optimistic. "But for now... we've got to get back."

When they arrived back at Professor Oak's lab, Ash quickly turned to Tracy with a serious expression. "Tracy, you take the car and get Brock out of here. Take him somewhere far—anywhere. Just keep him distracted."

Tracy blinked, still a bit shaken from the day's events. "Somewhere far? What are you two going to do?"

Ash gave him a determined look, grabbing Misty's hand. "Me and Misty... we're going full-on 'lovey-dovey formation.'"

Misty sighed, shaking her head but with a small smirk. "I can't believe we're doing this again."

Ash ignored her hesitation, turning back to Tracy. "Just act like you don't know anything about Professor Ivy being here. Keep Brock away at all costs, got it?"

Tracy nodded slowly, glancing back at Brock, who was still looking pretty down in the backseat. "Uh, sure, Ash. But... are you sure this plan's going to work?"

"Do we have any other choice?" Ash replied quickly. "It's either this, or we let Brock spiral when he sees Ivy."

Tracy sighed and muttered, "Alright, alright. I'll handle it."

Ash and Misty hopped out of the car while Tracy reluctantly slid into the driver's seat. As they watched the car drive off with a gloomy Brock in the back, Ash turned to Misty with a grin.

"Ready?" he asked, squeezing her hand.

Misty rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. "If you insist. Let's go 'distract' everyone."

Together, they walked back towards the lab, hand in hand, ready to execute "Operation Lovey-Dovey" once again.

Ash and Misty barged into the lab, hand in hand, ready to put on their best "lovey-dovey" act. Misty started off, playing her role perfectly, even if it made her cringe inside.

"Oh, Ash, isn't this just the most beautiful day?" Misty gushed, batting her eyelashes dramatically.

Ash cleared his throat, trying to suppress a snicker. "Totally, Misty. Just being with you makes every day perfect!" He grinned, though his smile trembled as he tried to keep a straight face.

Professor Oak and Professor Ivy both paused from their conversation and stared at the two of them, clearly confused. Ash and Misty were usually anything but like this, and their over-the-top performance wasn't exactly convincing.

Misty took it up a notch, throwing her arms around Ash's neck. "Oh, Ash, you're so sweet! You always know just what to say."

Ash's cheeks turned red as he awkwardly patted her on the back. "Heh, well, you know me, Misty. I'm just... that kind of guy."

Misty, trying to hold back her own laughter, added, "You know what would make this day even better? A nice, romantic walk by the pond, just the two of us!" She gave him a painfully forced wink.

Ash, trying to stay in character, nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, just the two of us. You know, we're so in love that we don't even notice anyone else around!" He nearly tripped over his words, glancing nervously at Professor Oak and Professor Ivy, who were still watching them with raised eyebrows.

Just when they thought they had Oak and Ivy distracted, Ash decided to go for the most ridiculous move yet. He grabbed a nearby broom, held it like a guitar, and began serenading Misty. "Misty, Misty, you're the best!" he sang off-key, twirling the broom awkwardly.

Misty's eyes widened, and it took everything in her not to burst out laughing. Instead, she clapped her hands together and pretended to swoon. "Oh, Ash, you're such a talented musician!" she said dramatically, though her voice wavered as she tried to keep a straight face.

As they continued their exaggerated performance, Ash and Misty exchanged quick glances, both on the verge of cracking. Misty whispered through clenched teeth, "I can't believe we're doing this."

Ash whispered back, "Just keep it together!"

Professor Oak finally broke the silence. "Ash, Misty... is something wrong with you two?"

Ash fumbled, dropping the broom. "Wrong? No, no! We're just, uh, expressing our undying love! Right, Misty?"

Misty, her face red from trying not to laugh, nodded vigorously. "Yep! Undying love! That's us!"

Professor Ivy raised an eyebrow. "Undying love, huh? Seems like quite a... show."

Just as they were about to lose their composure completely, Ash spotted Tracy driving back up, signaling they were almost in the clear. He shot Misty a desperate look. "Let's... uh... go for that romantic walk now, shall we?"

Misty quickly grabbed his arm, nodding. "Yes! Let's get out of here—uh, I mean, let's go enjoy the sunset, my dear Ash."

They both bolted for the door, barely holding back their laughter until they were safely outside.

Once they got outside and were far enough from Professor Oak and Ivy, Ash and Misty lost it. They burst out laughing so hard that Ash almost doubled over, clutching his stomach.

"Cute?" Ash wheezed between laughs. "I looked ridiculous! What was that broom thing I even did?!"

Misty could barely stand up straight as she gasped for air. "Oh my gosh!" she managed to say, wiping tears from her eyes. "You were so bad at it, I thought I was going to lose it! You holding that broom like a guitar? Peak comedy!"

Ash threw his hands up. "What was I supposed to do? I panicked! And your fake swooning? I thought you were gonna faint for real!"

Misty giggled, playfully shoving him. "You loved it! Admit it, I make you look good."

Ash leaned against the wall, still laughing. "Yeah, right! That whole 'oh, Ash, you're such a talented musician' bit? I thought Oak was gonna call the medics!"

Misty laughed so hard she snorted, which only made her laugh more. "I couldn't help it! Your singing was so bad, it was like you were trying to make us look crazy!"

Ash wiped his eyes, his face red from laughing. "I was trying to save us! You're the one who threw the whole 'romantic walk by the pond' thing in there. What was that?!"

Misty dramatically mimicked her earlier line, waving her arms. "Oh, Ash! Let's take a romantic walk by the pond! You, me, and absolutely nobody else!" She laughed so hard she had to grab his arm to steady herself.

Ash leaned against her, still giggling. "Yeah, because nothing says 'true love' like running away from Professors while pretending to be in the middle of a soap opera!"

Misty caught her breath, still chuckling. "Honestly, though, you were so cute trying to play it cool. That broom performance? Legendary."

Ash rolled his eyes, grinning. "Yeah, yeah. And you, 'I fell in love with him while he was stealing my bike!' Oh, please!" He imitated her, raising his voice in a mock romantic tone, making them both crack up all over again.

"I couldn't even keep a straight face when you grabbed that broom! I thought I was gonna pass out!" Misty said, giggling uncontrollably.

Ash smirked. "You almost did! And when Ivy gave us that weird look, I swear you were about to burst out laughing right there!"

Misty shook her head, still laughing. "Oh, Ash, that was a disaster. But seriously... you were adorable, and a total disaster at the same time!"

Ash snickered. "I aim to please!"

Misty leaned on his shoulder, catching her breath as they both shared one last laugh. "We are never doing that again."

Ash grinned. "Deal. But you know what? We make a pretty good team, even when we're ridiculously bad at pretending."

Misty smiled. "Yeah, but next time? Maybe leave the broom out of it."

They both burst out laughing again, as the sheer absurdity of their performance kept hitting them.

Just then, Oak walked up to them. " I believe two people are missing?"

" Who?" Misty asked.

" Tracy and Brock?"

Ash feigned innocence. " Pardon?"

" Tracy. The one who works with me?"

" Professor, I don't know what you're talking about. Misty, be a dear and call my mummy and tell her I'll be late for dinner."

Misty bit her lip as she took the phone. " Sure."

As soon as Misty ran into the forest to call "Mummy" (aka Tracy), she pressed the phone to her ear and said, "Tracy, where are you? Oak is starting to notice you're missing!"

Tracy's voice came through, oddly calm. "Uh, Misty? You might want to look up."

Misty furrowed her brow. "Why would I need to—" Then she looked up, and her eyes went wide. "Oh. Oh no."

The car was sailing through the air, gliding over the treetops like it had no business being there. From her angle, she could see Tracy sitting in the passenger seat, sketchpad in hand, while Brock in the backseat was in full freak-out mode. His hands were gripping the seatbelt so tightly, Misty was surprised it hadn't snapped yet.

Tracy, on the other hand, was completely unbothered. "Ahh, perfect view. Time to sketch," he muttered calmly as if the car wasn't currently soaring through the sky like a rocket.

Misty's jaw dropped. "Tracy! This is not the time to be sketching!"

Brock's panicked voice echoed in the background. "TRACY, WE'RE GONNA CRASH! GET THIS CAR DOWN!!" He was practically screaming, and Misty could hear the sheer terror in his voice.

Tracy, however, remained relaxed. "Hmm, nice shading on the clouds," he mumbled, clearly engrossed in his sketch.

Misty sighed deeply and muttered under her breath, "Why did I even ask? This is ridiculous." Then she yelled back into the phone, "Tracy! You need to land the car! NOW!"

Tracy casually glanced up from his drawing. "Oh, right. I suppose Brock wouldn't appreciate an aerial view right now."

"You think?!" Misty snapped.

At that exact moment, Ash and Professor Oak appeared at the forest's edge, standing next to Misty. Oak looked up and squinted. "Is that... my car... in the air?"

Ash's eyes went wide. "Tracy's sketching, again, isn't he?"

Misty nodded, exasperated. "Yeah, and Brock's about two seconds away from a heart attack."

Professor Oak rubbed his temples. "We are never letting Tracy drive again."

Ash just shook his head, muttering, "Not even a ramp is safe from Tracy."

From above, they heard Brock's frantic voice. "I DON'T WANT TO DIE SKETCHED IN A NOTEBOOK!"

Misty facepalmed. "This can't get any worse..."

Just when Misty thought things couldn't get any worse, the car suddenly veered upwards, rocketing even higher into the sky. Ash blinked in disbelief. "Uh... Misty?"

Misty, who had been ready to faint, glanced up, her legs wobbly. “Don’t... tell me they’re—”

Ash pointed to the car as it ascended further, past the clouds, heading straight into the atmosphere. "Yep. They’re going to space."

Misty nearly collapsed. “Space?! Are you kidding me?!”

From the car, Brock’s panicked scream echoed down to them, even from that high up. “TRACY!!! WE’RE NOT A SPACESHIP!!! GET THIS THING BACK TO EARTH!!!”

Tracy, of course, sounded as calm as ever over the phone, which Misty still had in her hand. “Huh, interesting... I’ve never sketched Earth from orbit before. This’ll be a new experience.”

Misty's eyes twitched. "TRACY! We’re going to need more than sketches if you guys implode!"

Meanwhile, Professor Oak looked up, his jaw hanging open. "My... my car…"

Ash rubbed his forehead, trying to think. “I’ve seen Pikachu do some shocking stuff, but this…?”

Up in the car, Brock was losing his mind. “I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR A TRIP TO SPACE! I JUST WANTED TO MAKE LUNCH! TRACY, PLEASE! WE’RE NOT A SATELLITE!”

Tracy, still calm and completely detached from reality, replied, “The stars are beautiful out here, Brock. Try to relax. I’ll get us down when I finish the shading.”

Ash looked at Misty, deadpan. "I swear, if Tracy's sketching when they meet an alien, I'm done."

Misty clutched her head. "Forget aliens, I’m worried Brock might pass out before they hit orbit."

Then, as if on cue, they heard Brock scream again, “TRACY! THE MOON’S GETTING BIGGER! DO SOMETHING!”

Misty groaned and muttered, "This has to be a nightmare."

Ash sighed. “We’re gonna need more than a Poké Ball to fix this mess.”

Or

But it did get worse.

Just as Misty was about to call Tracy again, the car suddenly rocketed higher—and then, unbelievably, into space.

Ash’s jaw dropped. “Uh... is that the car... leaving the atmosphere?”

Misty blinked, her face pale. “That... can’t be happening. Tell me I’m dreaming, Ash.”

Ash gulped. “I... think we just sent Brock and Tracy to space.”

They could hear Brock's panicked scream, faint but clear: “WE’RE IN SPACE?! THIS IS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR!”

Tracy’s calm voice followed, barely a hint of concern in it. “Interesting, I’ve never sketched a spaceship before.”

Misty staggered, nearly fainting, but Ash caught her just in time. “Whoa, Mist! Stay with me!”

Professor Oak was staring up in shock. “I’ve seen many things in my career, but this... This is something else.”

Ash tried to stay positive, even though this was beyond ridiculous. “Hey, Misty, don’t worry! Tracy’s great under pressure, and I’m sure he’ll figure out how to bring them back down. Besides, what’s the worst that can happen? They’ll just float around for a bit.”

Misty gave him a look. “You’re too optimistic, Ash.”

“Hey,” Ash grinned, trying to keep the mood light. “I’m just saying—if anyone can accidentally explore space and sketch it all, it’s Tracy. And if anyone can survive it... it’s Brock. He’s survived so much!”

Misty sighed, shaking her head. “You’re right... somehow, we’ll get through this.”

“That’s the spirit!” Ash encouraged her. “We’ve handled wild Pokémon battles, legendary encounters... we can handle this too. Even if it means rescuing them from space.”

Just then, Brock’s scream echoed again, “I DON’T WANT TO BE A SPACE SAILOR!”

Misty couldn’t help but laugh a little through the chaos. “Okay, okay... let’s figure this out before Brock has a real meltdown.”

“That’s the Misty I know!” Ash smiled. “We got this!”

I liked first so...

As Tracy calmly announced, "Oh, we're falling," Misty and Ash stood in the field below, binoculars pressed tightly to their faces, watching in disbelief.

The car, now plummeting back towards Earth, was in a free fall. Tracy, as calm as ever, was sitting there sketching away while Brock, seated next to him, was flailing and screaming like his life depended on it. “TRACY! WE'RE GONNA CRASH!! DO SOMETHING!!”

Ash and Misty exchanged wide-eyed glances.

"He's... he's sketching while falling from space," Misty muttered, her voice filled with disbelief.

Ash nodded, equally stunned. "I've seen a lot of crazy things... but this?"

Suddenly, Gary strolled over, hands in his pockets. “Hey, what’s all the commotion about?” he asked, casual as ever.

Without taking the binoculars from his face, Ash responded, "Oh, just Tracy and Brock falling from space in a flying car."

Gary blinked and tilted his head. "Come again?"

Misty handed him a second pair of binoculars. "Take a look."

Gary peered through them and saw the plummeting car, Tracy still calmly sketching, and Brock screaming his head off. “What... the...”

“Yeah,” Ash said, lowering his binoculars. “That’s exactly how we feel.”

Gary stared for a moment longer before handing the binoculars back. "You guys sure know how to get into weird situations."

Misty sighed, watching as the car grew closer to the ground. "You have no idea."

As the car rapidly approached Earth, Brock's voice could be heard screaming, "TRACY, I DON'T WANT MY LAST WORDS TO BE 'NICE SHADING!'"

And Tracy, still completely composed, remarked, "Don't worry, Brock. I've got plenty of pages left."

Ash slapped his forehead. "We’re gonna need a lot more than Nurse Joy after this."

Ash sprinted ahead, waving his arms wildly. "Misty! We need to catch them! Hurry!"

Misty blinked, incredulous. "Ash, how are we going to catch them?! They're falling from space! We’re not superheroes!"

Ash, undeterred, shouted back, "We just will! Trust me!"

Gary, running alongside them, looked even more bewildered. "Uh, should we not, like, think this through?! This seems like a really bad idea!"

Ash waved him off without breaking stride. "I already thought it through! We just gotta catch them!"

Up in the plummeting car, Brock was in full-on panic mode, screaming at the top of his lungs, "WE’RE GONNA DIE! WE’RE GONNA CRASH! TRACY, DO SOMETHING!"

Tracy, still completely calm, glanced over at him, sketchpad in hand. "Brock, do you mind if I sketch you? You have a very expressive face right now."

Brock's scream hit a new high pitch. "TRACY, THIS IS NOT THE TIME!"

Down on the ground, Misty was panting as she tried to keep up with Ash. "Ash, you can't just run and expect to catch them! We don't have wings!"

Gary rolled his eyes. "Yeah, maybe a trampoline or something would've been more logical?!"

Ash, filled with determination, yelled, "Trust me! When has anything logical ever stopped us before?!"

Misty muttered under her breath, “He’s lost it…” but still kept running.

As the car hurtled closer and closer, Brock’s screams grew louder, while Tracy began sketching the horizon. "Look at that beautiful descent. The angles, the motion—it’s really quite poetic."

Ash, Gary, and Misty, now barely 50 feet away from where the car would crash, looked up just as Brock let out one last desperate scream, "I DON’T WANT TO BE ART!"

Ash stretched out his arms in some ridiculous attempt to actually catch the falling car. "Don’t worry, Brock! We’ve got you!"

Misty facepalmed. "We’re doomed."

As the chaos unfolded, Tracy glanced at Brock, still calm despite the screaming. "Brock, you know there's a parachute in the back, right?"

Brock, mid-scream, froze for a moment and then exploded, "WHAT?!"

Down below, Ash, Misty, and Gary had stopped running and were now just staring at the phone in Ash's hand, their jaws practically on the ground.

Misty blinked, disbelief etched on her face. "Did he just say parachute?! This whole time?!"

Gary shook his head in amazement. "This is so typical."

Ash groaned, rubbing his face in frustration. "We just wanted to avoid Professor Ivy! How did it come to this?!"

Tracy's voice came back on the phone, calm as ever. "Oh, we're definitely going to die though. The parachute might slow us down a bit, but—"

Brock, now beyond panic, was frantically searching the backseat. "WHY DIDN'T YOU MENTION THE PARACHUTE EARLIER, TRACY?!"

Tracy shrugged, still sketching the falling scene in perfect detail. "I thought you'd want the full experience first. It's quite thrilling."

Brock’s voice cracked. "THRILLING?! THIS ISN’T A VACATION, IT'S A FREE FALL INTO OBLIVION!"

Ash was shaking his head. "We just didn’t want Brock to see Professor Ivy... Now he's literally falling from space."

Misty sighed. "Maybe we should’ve just let him see her and dealt with it like normal people."

Gary crossed his arms, smirking. "This is why you don't let Ash plan anything."

Ash's face turned red with frustration, his fist clenched as he stepped toward Gary. "You think you could've done better, huh?!"

Just as he was about to swing, Misty jumped in between them, grabbing his arm. "Ash, stop! This isn’t helping!"

Pikachu leaped onto Ash’s shoulder, "Pika, Pika!" it squeaked, shaking its head disapprovingly.

Squirtle, and Bulbasaur quickly surrounded Ash, all making noises to get his attention.

"Focus on the car, Ash!" Misty urged, pointing up to the sky where Tracy and Brock’s car was still hurtling toward the ground.

Ash huffed, still glaring at Gary. "Fine, but this isn’t over, Gary!"

Gary smirked, crossing his arms. "You’re lucky your little squad’s here to keep you in line, Ashy-boy."

Ignoring him, Ash turned to Misty. "What do we do? We can't just watch them fall to their doom!"

Misty nodded. "We need to figure out a way to help them now before they crash. Pikachu, any ideas?"

"Pika-chu!" Pikachu replied, determined but unsure how to help from the ground.

Gary sighed, tapping his foot. "Maybe instead of fighting, you could use one of your flying Pokémon to help? I mean, I would."

Ash blinked, realizing Gary had a point. "Wait... Charizard! Of course!"

He quickly grabbed Charizard's Pokéball, summoning it into the air. "Charizard, fly up and try to get them down safely!"

Charizard roared, spreading its wings wide before taking off into the sky.

Misty gave Ash a quick nod. "Good thinking, Ash!"

"Yeah," Ash muttered. "Now let's hope Charizard can get there in time..."

Meanwhile, Brock was still yelling from the falling car, Tracy calmly sketching every moment. "Oh, look, Charizard's coming. That'll be a nice addition to the drawing."

Brock, gripping his seat, shouted, "FORGET THE DRAWING! SAVE US!!"

As Charizard reached the car, it let out a massive burst of flame, accidentally smoking it instead of helping. The car spun in mid-air, wobbling uncontrollably, with Brock screaming even louder, while Tracy, still unfazed, continued sketching.

Gary crossed his arms, smirking. "Why am I not surprised? Charizard can’t do anything right with you around, Ash."

Ash’s face turned crimson, his body trembling with rage. His fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. "You—"

He stomped toward Gary, and through gritted teeth, he spat, "You always think you're better than everyone! Maybe if you actually helped instead of standing there like a smug—" Ash’s voice cracked as he unleashed some very strong words toward Gary, words that Misty hadn’t heard from him before.

Gary just raised an eyebrow, looking completely unaffected. "Temper, temper, Ashy-boy. You always lose your cool."

Misty stepped in again, pulling Ash back. "Ash! Stop it! This isn’t helping! We need to focus on getting Brock and Tracy down safely!"

Ash, still fuming, took a deep breath. "Fine. But this isn’t over, Gary."

Gary rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Ash. Just don’t mess up any more than you already have."

Ash growled under his breath, turning away from Gary to focus on the falling car. "Charizard, try again—but carefully this time!"

Charizard roared in acknowledgment, flying back up, now more cautious.

Misty sighed, giving Ash a concerned look. "Please, focus on getting them down, Ash. Let’s deal with Gary later."

Ash nodded, though his eyes still burned with frustration. "Yeah... you're right. We’ve gotta save them first."

As the car hit the ground with a loud thud, Tracy calmly stepped out, dusting off his clothes and examining his sketch with a detached look of satisfaction. Brock, on the other hand, was ecstatic to be on solid ground again, relief washing over him — that is, until he spotted Professor Ivy nearby. His face instantly paled, and he slumped down, muttering incoherently.

" Not her..."

Ash, however, had reached his boiling point. As he rubbed his temples, trying to process the chaos around him, his gaze landed on Professor Oak. He marched up to the elderly professor, and in an outburst of pent-up frustration, he snapped, "This is all your fault! You and your sweet bully of a fat grandson!" His voice escalated as he pointed an accusing finger at Gary, who was still standing off to the side with an indifferent expression.

Gary raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, clearly enjoying Ash's meltdown.

"If it weren’t for you," Ash continued, his tone darker than anyone had ever heard before, "none of this would’ve happened!"

In a shocking move, Ash reached into his belt and pulled out a knife. The suddenness of the act sent everyone into stunned silence, even Misty and Pikachu, who had never seen Ash this enraged before.

"Whoa, Ash! Calm down, buddy!" Brock shouted, alarmed, stepping toward him but hesitant to make any sudden movements.

Ash’s eyes locked onto Gary’s, burning with fury. "No! I’m tired of being bullied, of being treated like I’m nothing! Either you stop, and your grandfather repays me for all the trouble he’s caused, or..." He gestured menacingly with the knife. "You get it, Gary Oak. Which one is it?"

For the first time, Gary’s smirk faltered. The tone in Ash's voice, the dangerous look in his eyes — this was new. This wasn’t the Ash he was used to teasing.

"Ash!" Misty yelled, running up to him and grabbing his arm. "This isn’t you! Put the knife down!" She looked at him, wide-eyed and scared, pleading for him to calm down. "This isn't the way to handle it."

Even Pikachu, usually ready to back Ash up, looked nervous, its ears drooping as it called out softly, "Pika pi..."

Professor Oak stepped forward cautiously, his voice soft but firm. "Ash, please, let’s all calm down and talk this through. I never meant for things to get this far."

Ash’s grip on the knife tightened, his breathing heavy as his anger surged through him. But slowly, the sight of Misty's worried face and Pikachu’s concerned eyes seemed to pull him back. His knuckles loosened, and after a long, tense moment, he finally dropped the knife to the ground.

Gary, visibly shaken, let out a breath. "Ash... I didn’t know you felt that way."

Ash, still fuming but regaining control of himself, turned away. "You never did. But now you do."

Misty let out a relieved sigh, pulling Ash into a tight hug. "Thank you... for stopping."

Ash didn’t say anything, but he held onto Misty, feeling the weight of what had just happened sink in.

Gary, uncharacteristically quiet, gave a brief nod. "Maybe I’ve been a bit... harsh. I’ll lay off, Ash. You’ve got my word."

" You'd better!" Tracy yelled as he walked to the professor's grandson. " Ash has been nothing but nice. I don't want to hear another bad thing about him from you. Is that understood?"

Everyone nodded.

" Good. Now to cheer Brock...."