"To protect the world from devastation."

To unite all peoples within our nation."

" To denounce the evils of truth and love."

" To extended out reach to the stars above."

" Jessie."

James."

" Team Rocket, blasting off at the speed of light."

" Surrender now or prepare to fight."

" Meowth! That's right!"

Pikachu stepped forward, but Ash picked him up.

" Pikachu, no. You're not gonna battle."

" Pika pi?"

" They want you, Pikachu. They want to take you and the other Pokemon away! I need you to go with Misty and Brock, got it?"

" Pika pi!" Pikachu said stubbornly.

" Go with them or get into your Poke ball. Your call."

Pikachu growled, but he went to Misty.

" I'm sorry, Pikachu. I just want to keep you safe." Ash said as he walked to scratch Pikachu.

" Pika- tchu!" Pikachu nuzzled his arm.

Ash turned to Brock and Oak. " You two round all the Pokemon up, take them inside the Observatory, and keep them safe."

Misty, Oak and Brock nodded, while Gary stood there. " What about me?"

Ash took a Poke ball out of his belt. " Charmander, I choose you!"

The orange lizard came out. " Charmander!"

Ash picked his Pokemon up and handed him to Gary. " Listen. Don't let Charmander see Team Rocket. He hates them."

" Then what should I do?" Gary asked as he took Charmander.

" Run in and wrap it in a blanket. Give it hot chocolate with loads of marshmallows.  If you have any ice cream, feed it to him with a spoon. And make sure he doesn't see the battle. Got it?"

Gary nodded. " What about you?"

" I've got Squirtle and Bulbasaur. I'll manage." He turned to Team Rocket. " Go!"

Gary nodded and ran in. " Stay safe, Ashy-boy." He muttered.

Ash smiled faintly. Then his face hardened, and he took out two Poke balls. " Bulbasaur, Squirtle, I choose you!"

The two came out.

" Bulba, saur!"

" Squirtle Squirtle."

Ash nodded. " We've got a battle. Squirtle, water gun! Bulbasaur, vine whip!"

" Wheezing , cutie, sludge attack!"

" Arbok, poison sting!" Jessie yelled.

But instead of directing it to the Pokemon, they went to Ash.

" AHHHHH!" Ash yelled as the thorns hit him and sludge blinded him. " WHERE IS EVERYONE?!"

" saur!" Bulbasaur stood protectively in front of Ash. Squirtle followed.

" Squirtle, water gun, again! Bulbasaur, razor leaf!"

The two nodded and executed the move, restraining the two pokemon on the other team.

" Yes!" Ash pumped his fist in the air.

Suddenly, Ash saw Beedrill zoom in.... AND HEAD DIRECTLY TO HIS POKEMON!

" NO!" he yelled, and dived to shield them.

" Come on, Charmander. Eat!" Gary was he held a spoon in front of the stubborn lizard's mouth. " Eat!"

" Char." Charmander looked away.

Gary groaned. " Look, would you please, please, please, PLEASE eat?!"

Charmander ignored.

Gary sighed. " Fine."

He put the spoon away and walked to the kitchen, returning with a warm mug of hot chocolate.

" Drink it. But it's hot."

Charmander slurped it all up. " Char!"

He then proceeded to scoot next to Gary and lean into his lap.

" Woah, woah, woah, what are you doing?!" Gary exclaimed.

" Char." The Pokemon replied, already half asleep.

Gary sputtered. " You cant just-"

But it was too late. The Charmander was already asleep.

Misty came into the room carrying Pikachu. " How is he?"

Gary sighed. " Sleeping."

" Ah." Misty sat across from Gary. " Can I ask you something?"

" Go ahead."

" Were you and Ash friends at one time?"

Gary looked confused. " What makes you think we aren't right now?"

" I dunno.... It's just... Last time I said your name to him he fell into depression. For five minutes."

Gary's eyebrows furrowed for a second. " That's just Ash being Ash. Dramatic as always."

Suddenly Oak yelled, " GARY! I NEED YOUR HELP!"

He stood up. " Would you look after Charmander for me? I have to go help my grandpa."

misty nodded, and Gary ran out the door and into another room.

Ash stumbled into the house, clutching his eye. " Ow...."

Then he looked at his snug Poke balls.

" I did what I had to do." He muttered.

He stumbled to the bathroom and closed it. Then he opened a cabinet.

" Okay.... Which one has medication again...?" Ash muttered as he went through Each cabinet, making quite a ruckus.

" Aha!" Ash stood up as he held the ointment proudly.

Then he heard a gasp. He turned to the door.

It was open.

He had forgotten to lock it!

And standing there, in the doorway, was Gary

Except he looked more concerned than cocky, his smirk  replaced by a concerned frown.

" Uh.... Hi, Gary." Ash said sheepishly.

Gary marched up to his room, holding Ash's hand firmly in his. He turned the knob, and pushed Ash in before locking the door.

" Sit." He said firmly as he pointed to his bed, which was neatly made.

" Uh.... Gary, it's fine." Ash said. " I can-"

" Ash Ketchum, sit on that bed right now."

Ash sighed in defeat and walked to Gary's bed and sat down. Gary walked to his drawer and pulled out his medicine kit.

" Let me guess." He said while he took the stuff out. " You saved your Pokemon?"

" How'd you guess?"

" Just call it a lucky one."

Ash sighed. " It's not a big deal, Gary."

" Not a big deal?" Gary asked sharply. " You're injured, Ashy. Injured."

Ash winced. " Since when did you care so much about me?" He muttered.

Gary paused and turned. " I always have, Ashy Boy."

Gary carefully took out the bandages, ointment, and some cotton swabs, his hands steady and precise. His movements were surprisingly gentle as he cleaned the gunk off Ash's face and dabbed the ointment over his injuries. Ash winced a little, but stayed still, watching Gary closely.

Despite Gary’s soft touch, his words had a sharper edge. "You know, Ash, you always pull this stunt. Throwing yourself in danger for your Pokémon without thinking twice about yourself. What if one day, you don’t get back up?"

Ash met Gary’s gaze but said nothing. His own thoughts echoed Gary's concerns, though he'd never admit it aloud. He couldn't shake the image of Beedrill diving towards Bulbasaur and Squirtle—he had acted on instinct.

"I had to protect them," Ash finally muttered, but the conviction in his voice wavered.

Gary stopped applying the bandage and looked at Ash seriously. "And who's protecting you, huh? You think your Pokémon will be okay if something happens to you? They need you, Ash. We all do."

Ash shifted uncomfortably. He wasn’t used to this side of Gary. The teasing rivalry was one thing, but this... genuine concern? It threw him off balance.

"You don’t get it, Gary," Ash replied, his tone defensively low. "I need to be there for them. It’s my responsibility."

"And it’s my responsibility to make sure you don't self-destruct," Gary countered, finishing up the last of the bandaging. "You think this whole 'hero complex' makes you strong? All it does is get you hurt, again and again. What good is that?"

Ash wanted to snap back, but the words caught in his throat. Gary was right, but that didn’t make it easier to swallow.

Gary, sensing Ash's silence, let out a frustrated sigh, but his touch remained gentle as he finished up. "You’ve always been stubborn, but I guess I wouldn’t have you any other way."

Ash smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "So you do care about me, huh?"

Gary scoffed, standing up and crossing his arms. "Don't let it go to your head, Ashy-boy. Just... try not to do something stupid next time, okay?"

Ash nodded slowly, still processing everything. As much as he hated to admit it, Gary’s words stung because they were true. Neither of them would admit it out loud, but the tension between rivalry and friendship had always been there, unspoken but strong.

Gary grabbed the medical kit and headed for the door, pausing just before stepping out. "Get some rest, Ash. I’ll handle things with Oak and the others. And next time, don’t be such an idiot."

Ash let out a small chuckle. "Thanks, Gary."

Without turning back, Gary gave a short nod. "Anytime, Ashy-boy." He left, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

Ash sat there for a moment, staring at the closed door, feeling the weight of Gary’s words sink in. He leaned back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, thoughts swirling in his head.

Maybe Gary was right. Maybe it was time he started thinking a little more about himself, too. But for now, he was just thankful for friends like Gary—ones who cared, even if they didn’t show it in the most obvious ways.

Downstairs, Misty stood by the window, peeking through the curtains as the smoke from the battle outside cleared. She smiled widely. "Wow, Ash's Pokémon really did it. Team Rocket is gone!"

Brock, who was standing beside her, nodded. "Yeah, those guys didn't stand a chance this time."

Just then, Gary came strolling down the stairs, hands stuffed casually in his pockets, his usual smirk replaced by something softer, almost proud. "Try Ash really did it," he said with a quiet confidence.

Professor Oak, who had been busy sorting through some equipment nearby, turned around, a confused look on his face. "What? Ash did what?"

Misty turned to him, still beaming. "Ash defeated Team Rocket, Professor! They’re gone, for now at least."

Oak furrowed his brow in disbelief. "Ash defeated them? On his own? That boy… He’s always surprising me."

Gary chuckled, leaning against the railing. "Yeah, well, don’t act too shocked. He might be reckless, but when it comes down to it, Ash knows how to handle things. I just gave him some pointers."

Misty raised an eyebrow. "Some pointers? It sounds like you’re taking a little credit there, Gary."

Gary shrugged, flashing his usual cocky grin. "Just stating facts, Misty. You know how it is."

Oak shook his head with a proud but concerned expression. "That boy has always had a heart bigger than his own safety. One day, it's going to catch up with him."

Gary’s smirk faded as he muttered under his breath, "That’s what I’m afraid of."

Misty noticed the shift in Gary's mood but decided not to press it further. "Well, whatever happened, Ash pulled through. And I’m sure Pikachu and the others are relieved too."

Brock, turning to Gary, asked, "How’s Charmander doing?"

Gary smiled faintly. "Charmander’s asleep. A little hot chocolate did the trick."

Misty grinned. "That’s cute. Looks like you’ve got a knack for taking care of Pokémon too, huh?"

Gary scoffed but didn’t deny it. "Yeah, well, somebody had to do it."

Oak smiled knowingly. "I think you all worked together in your own way. That’s what makes you all such a great team."

Or.....

Downstairs, Misty stood by the window, watching the scene outside with wide eyes. "Wow, Ash's Pokémon really did it. Team Rocket is gone!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with relief.

Professor Oak looked out as well, nodding. "Seems like Ash managed to fend them off," he said, impressed.

Just then, Gary walked down the stairs, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He didn’t say anything at first, his head lowered, his usual cocky demeanor nowhere in sight.

Misty turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Gary? What’s up?"

Gary stopped at the bottom of the stairs and sighed heavily. "Try Ash really did it," he muttered, his voice carrying both pride and frustration.

Professor Oak blinked, looking confused. "Wait, what? What do you mean, Gary?" he asked, turning to face him.

Everyone else looked at Gary, waiting for him to explain, but instead of his usual smirk, his face was tight with concern. When he finally lifted his head, they were all surprised by what they saw—Gary’s usual confidence was replaced by a mixture of frustration and deep worry.

His gaze swept across the room, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought. "Ash... he always does this. Putting himself in danger, never thinking about what happens to him."

Misty’s eyes widened as she realized what he meant. "Wait, is Ash hurt?"

Gary clenched his jaw, his frustration bubbling up again. "Not seriously. But he took a hit, and instead of taking care of himself, he was more worried about his Pokémon, as usual." His voice had an edge of bitterness, but underneath, the concern was unmistakable.

Professor Oak frowned. "That sounds like Ash… Always putting others first. But Gary, why are you so upset?"

Gary ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling with his emotions. "Because he keeps acting like he’s invincible. One of these days, he's gonna get himself seriously hurt, and no one will be there to save him. I can’t—" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "I can’t keep watching him do this."

Misty exchanged a glance with Brock, both of them taken aback by how deeply Gary seemed to care. Misty stepped forward, her voice softer now. "Gary, it’s okay. Ash will be fine, he always bounces back."

Gary let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, but for how long? He acts like he's got everything under control, but he doesn’t." His fists clenched at his sides. "I’ve known him my whole life, and no matter how many times he gets knocked down, he never learns to protect himself. It’s frustrating!"

Oak placed a gentle hand on Gary’s shoulder. "Gary, I understand you're worried about Ash. He’s reckless, yes, but he’s also strong. You need to trust him, just like he trusts you."

Gary met his grandfather’s eyes, the frustration slowly melting into something more vulnerable. "I do trust him, Gramps. That’s the problem. I trust him too much, and I know he’s gonna keep doing this. I just... I don’t want to see him get hurt."

The room fell into a thoughtful silence, everyone realizing just how much Gary’s usual bravado hid his deep concern for Ash.

Misty smiled gently. "I think Ash is lucky to have someone like you, Gary. Even if you don’t show it, he knows you’ve got his back."

Gary sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, don’t tell him that. Last thing I need is him thinking I’m going soft."

Brock chuckled. "Your secret’s safe with us."

Gary finally cracked a small, reluctant smile, though the worry still lingered in his eyes. "Good. Now, let’s just hope he doesn’t do something stupid again anytime soon."

Or

Meanwhile, downstairs, Misty stood by the window, her eyes wide as she looked out at the now-empty battlefield. “Wow, Ash’s Pokémon really did it. Team Rocket is gone!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with amazement.

Gary descended the stairs, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He wore an uncharacteristic frown, his gaze fixed on the ground. “Try again. *Ash* really did it,” he muttered quietly.

Professor Oak, who had been busy organizing some supplies, turned sharply at Gary’s words. “What do you mean by that, Gary?”

Misty and Brock exchanged confused glances as they all turned their attention toward Gary. His expression remained distant, his mind clearly racing with something far more serious than usual.

“Wait, what are you saying?” Brock asked, crossing his arms.

Gary stopped at the bottom of the stairs, sighing before raising his head. “Ash... he called his Pokémon in and fought Team Rocket *himself*,” Gary explained, his voice quieter than normal. “He took hits meant for his Pokémon. Got a black eye, scratches, the works. He shielded them instead of letting them get hurt.”

Everyone’s jaws dropped. Misty covered her mouth, shocked. Brock's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and even Professor Oak’s calm demeanor cracked.

“What?!” Oak gasped, his voice filled with concern. “Ash fought *alone* against Team Rocket?! Why didn’t he call for help?”

Gary’s gaze remained downcast as he replied, “You know Ash. He always throws himself into danger without thinking about his own safety.”

For a moment, there was silence as the gravity of what Gary said sank in. Ash had once again risked everything for his Pokémon, something they all knew he was willing to do—but this time, it was different. He had fought alone, without calling for backup or relying on anyone else.

Professor Oak shook his head, his voice laced with worry. “That boy... he’s too selfless for his own good.”

Misty nodded, still trying to process it all. “I mean, I know Ash is always determined, but... to go *that* far? Alone?”

Gary’s eyes flickered with frustration. “Yeah. Alone. Like he always does.”

Everyone fell silent again, absorbing the weight of what Ash had done. They knew he was a great trainer, but sometimes his courage bordered on recklessness.

Oak looked at Gary, concerned. “How is Ash now? Is he alright?”

Gary sighed, shaking his head slightly. “He’s... fine, I guess. But he’s exhausted. Took a beating, and not just physically.”

Misty clenched her fists. “We’ve got to make sure he doesn’t do something like this again. He can’t keep putting himself at risk like this.”

Brock nodded in agreement. “Next time, we have to be there for him. He doesn’t have to do everything alone.”

Professor Oak put a hand on his chin, deep in thought. “Indeed. Ash has a great heart, but he needs to learn that sometimes, leaning on others is part of being strong.”

As everyone stood there, processing the news, Gary remained quiet, still lost in thought. His concern for Ash ran deeper than any rivalry they had. Today had shown him just how much Ash was willing to sacrifice for those he cared about, and it left a bitter taste in Gary’s mouth—because as much as he wanted to admire that selflessness, he also knew it was dangerous.

After a moment, Gary finally spoke again, his voice soft but firm. “Ash may think he can take on the world alone... but he’s not alone. We’re all here for him.”

Everyone nodded in silent agreement. The bond they shared with Ash went far beyond battles and adventures. It was about friendship, and they were ready to step up and support him, whether Ash liked it or not.