" Good. I don't have any time to be wasting on Ashy Loser Boy anyway! Hahahahahhaahahhaha!"

Ash opened his eyes. " He's right.... I can't quit because of this one loss."

He bolted out the door, yelling over his back, " DON'T WORRY! I'LL REPAY THEM ALL!"

Wisty observed with wide eyes. " Is this going to end well?" She asked Oak.

Oak shook his head. " No, not at all."

" Ash, wait!" Wisty cried as she ran through the forest. " Talk to me! What happened?!"

Ash ignored and ran faster, pulling his hat further down.

" Gary was right!"

" About what?!" Wisty asked desperately. 

" I AM Ashy loser boy!"

Wisty slowed for ten seconds, but then resumed running. " ASH I DON'T THINK HE-"

But Ash was gone.

And Wisty was left in the middle of the forest, alone.

" A- a-- ash?" She softly called. " Ash?"

She walked around, calling, " Ash! Where are you! Ash!"

Suddenly the bushes rustled. Wisty turned. 

" Ash?" She asked hopefully.

It was Professor Oak.

And May.

And Max.

And Brock.

" Wisty?" Oak said. " Are you okay?"

Wisty nodded. " I am now. But, Professor, you might consider calling Gary and .... oh, I don't know..... try to convince my brother he's not a loser?"

Oak's brows shot up. " What?"

Wisty sighed. " He had a daydream when you have him the letter. With Gary. Gary told him not to give up but then he disappeared and called Ash 'Loser Boy'."

" But doesn't Gary always call Ash that?" Max pointed out.

Wisty nodded. " He does. But Ash remembered that at a wrong time. He took Gary's words to heart this time. He lost, tried again, and lost."

Wisty paused. " I think he reacted so badly was because he imagined Gary calling him a loser."

May nodded. " That would explain that."

" But Ash said something about repaying us." Max piped up.

Wisty and Brock exchanged a look. " He said that.... when?"

" When he left to battle again."

Wisty gasped. " You don't think...."

" Ash thinks he's letting us down?!" Brock exclaimed.

Oak was dialing Gary's number. " Please pick up, Gary..." He muttered.

The phone rang for what felt like an eternity, each beep adding to Professor Oak's concern. Just as he was about to give up, the call connected with a click.

"Hello? Grandpa" Gary's voice came through, casual and unsuspecting. "What's up? Kind of in the middle of a study, but—"

Before Professor Oak could even get a word in, Wisty yanked the phone out of his hands, her eyes blazing with frustration.

"GARY OAK!" she yelled into the phone, her voice echoing through the quiet forest. "What the HECK is wrong with you?!"

Gary's voice on the other end immediately turned defensive. "Whoa, whoa, who is this? And what—"

"It's Wisty! Ash's little sister! And you—you—" she fumbled for the words, her frustration boiling over. "You called him a loser! AGAIN!"

There was a brief pause, the sound of Gary shuffling on the other end. "Wait, Wisty? What are you talking about? I call Ash 'Ashy-boy' all the time, it's just—"

"Not this time!" Wisty interrupted, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and fear. "You don't get it, do you? Ash is out there, running himself ragged because he thinks you actually meant it this time! He lost a battle, had some dumb daydream where you said it again, and now he thinks he's some kind of failure! He's pushing himself too hard, and it's all because of what you said!"

Gary fell silent for a moment, clearly taken aback by Wisty's outburst. "Wisty, I didn't—"

"I don't care if you didn't mean it! You don't get how much he looks up to you, do you?!" Wisty's voice cracked. "He thinks he's letting everyone down—me, Professor Oak, his friends. But most of all, he thinks he's letting you down!"

Gary's voice softened, guilt creeping in. "Wisty... I had no idea he took it that way. I just... it's always been a joke between us. I never thought—"

"Well, it's not funny anymore!" Wisty snapped, her grip tightening on the phone. "He's my brother, and he's running himself into the ground because of some stupid words you didn't even think about! You have to fix this, Gary! You're the only one who can make him see he's not a loser!"

There was a long, heavy pause on the other end of the line, and then Gary finally sighed. "Alright. You're right. I'll talk to him. Where is he now?"

Wisty looked up at Oak and Brock, her expression softening slightly now that she'd let out her frustration. "I don't know... but we need to find him before he burns himself out. Can you help us?"

Gary's voice, now filled with determination, came through the speaker. "Of course. I'll track him down. We'll fix this, Wisty. I promise."

Wisty exhaled, the tension easing just a little. "Good. Because if you don't, I'm coming after you next."

Gary chuckled weakly. "Noted."

The phone clicked off, and Wisty handed it back to Oak, who looked at her with a mix of surprise and admiration.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side," he said with a small smile.

Wisty folded her arms, her expression serious again. "I'm not kidding, Professor. We need to find Ash. Fast."

Brock stepped forward, his brow furrowed in concern. "Then let's not waste any more time. We need to make sure Ash knows we're all still behind him, no matter what."

The sky had taken on the pale hues of dusk when Gary Oak arrived, riding atop his Dodrio with his lab coat flapping in the breeze. The bird Pokémon’s three heads bobbed in rhythm, its legs blurring with speed as it dashed into the clearing where the group waited anxiously.

As soon as Dodrio skidded to a halt, Wisty was already on the move. She grabbed Gary’s arm with surprising strength, her face a mix of determination and urgency.

“COME ON, EVERYONE! NO TIME TO WASTE!” Wisty shouted, her voice piercing the stillness of the forest.

Gary barely had time to say, “Dodrio, return,” before the Pokémon disappeared in a flash of red light, and Wisty was pulling him along like a storm sweeping through.

Oak, Brock, May, and Max exchanged quick looks before sprinting to keep up with Wisty, who was already moving with purpose into the deeper part of the woods. The shadows grew longer as the last light of day began to slip away behind the horizon, casting the forest in an eerie twilight.

“Alright,” Wisty said breathlessly as they reached a fork in the path, letting go of Gary’s arm and spinning around to face the group. “We need to split up. Ash could be anywhere by now, and if we don’t find him soon, he’s going to run himself into the ground. We can’t let that happen.”

Gary nodded, still a bit winded from Dodrio’s ride and Wisty’s unexpected grip. “Good idea. We’ll cover more ground this way.”

“Max and I will head towards the river,” May suggested, pulling Max closer as he nodded in agreement.

“I’ll take the hills,” Brock added, already glancing at the jagged rocks looming in the distance.

Wisty’s eyes flicked over to Professor Oak and Gary. “You two, stick together and check the paths near the clearing. I’ll go deeper into the forest.”

Professor Oak looked hesitant. “Are you sure you should be going alone, Wisty? It’s getting darker, and—”

“I’ll be fine, Professor. I know these woods. Besides, Ash needs me,” Wisty replied firmly. “Let’s just focus on finding him.”

With that, they all took off in their separate directions, the crunch of leaves underfoot echoing in the cool, quiet air.

Wisty pushed through dense undergrowth, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the weight of the silence pressing down on her, the forest unusually still. She called out his name again and again, her voice echoing between the trees.

“Ash! ASH! Where are you?”

For a moment, something caught her eye—a shadowed figure slumped near a large boulder. Wisty’s heart skipped a beat, and she rushed over.

But he got closer, and disappointment washed over her. It was just a pile of rocks, shaped vaguely like a person sitting with their head bowed.

She kicked at one of the stones, frustration bubbling up inside her. “Come on, Ash... where are you?” she muttered, before taking off again into the woods.

Meanwhile, Gary and Professor Oak moved along a narrow path lined with tall, looming trees. Every so often, Gary would pause to scan the area, while Oak kept his eyes focused on the trail ahead.

“ASH!” Gary shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth. But the only response was the distant rustling of leaves.

They walked in silence for a while until Oak suddenly stopped, squinting into the distance. “Gary... do you see that?”

Gary followed his gaze, spotting what looked like a figure slumped against the side of a cliff.

“Could it be—?”

Both of them broke into a run, their hopes rising. But as they approached, the figure dissolved into nothing more than a jagged pile of rocks stacked against the cliff face, the shadows playing tricks on them.

Gary groaned. “Again? That’s the second time today.”

Professor Oak patted him on the shoulder. “We’ll find him, Gary. We just need to keep searching.”

On the other side of the woods, May and Max followed a narrow stream, calling out Ash’s name between the sounds of rushing water.

“ASH!” May’s voice cracked with worry, and Max echoed her calls, his face set in determination.

Suddenly, Max pointed ahead. “May! Look!”

There, by the edge of the river, was a silhouette—small, hunched over. May gasped and sprinted toward it, Max on her heels. But when they reached the spot, their hearts sank.

It was just another formation of rocks, this time a long, narrow boulder with several smaller stones stacked around it, creating the illusion of a figure.

May let out a frustrated sigh. “This is ridiculous! It’s like the forest is playing tricks on us.”

Max nodded solemnly. “Ash is out there somewhere, though. We just have to keep looking.”

Hours seemed to pass, and still, no sign of Ash. Wisty found herself near a clearing with an old oak tree standing tall in the center. She stopped to catch her breath, her chest heaving as she leaned against the trunk.

Just as she was about to call out again, a shape lying at the base of the tree caught her attention. Her heart leaped into her throat.

“Ash?” she whispered, taking a hesitant step forward.

But once again, it was just another pile of rocks, positioned in such a way that it seemed like someone was lying there.

Wisty’s eyes filled with tears of frustration. She was tired, scared, and angry—not just at Gary or herself, but at Ash too. “Where are you?” she whispered again, her voice cracking.

She heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Brock jogging toward her.

“Any luck?” he asked, already knowing the answer by the look on her face.

“No,” she muttered. “Just another... pile of rocks.”

Brock shook his head. “Same for me. Three times now, I’ve thought I found him, only for it to be a bunch of rocks. It’s like the forest is mocking us.”

Wisty clenched her fists. “He has to be somewhere... he wouldn’t just disappear.”

Brock placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “We’ll keep looking, Wisty. We’re not giving up.”

By the time everyone regrouped near the clearing, the sky had grown dark, and the moonlight cast eerie shadows through the trees. They had all encountered the same frustrating illusions—rocks that looked like Ash, only to dissolve into disappointment upon closer inspection.

“Five times,” Gary muttered, shaking his head. “I’ve been tricked by rocks five times today.”

“Same here,” May said with a tired sigh. “It’s like the forest is playing games with us.”

Wisty stood in the center of the group, her expression steely. “He’s still out there. I know he is.”

Professor Oak glanced around at the exhausted faces of the group. “Perhaps we should rest for the night and resume the search in the morning. We’ll cover more ground with clearer heads.”

Wisty shook her head, determined. “No. Ash is out there, and I’m not stopping until we find him.”

The group exchanged weary glances but nodded. None of them were willing to leave Ash alone in the darkness, not when they knew he was struggling.

And so, they pressed on into the night, their voices calling his name over and over, hoping that somewhere in the distance, Ash could hear them.

" AAAAAAASH?!" Wisty called. " AAAAASH!"

she turned to Eevie. " Flarion."

Eevie nodded and transported, lighting the path in the forest.

Oak glanced at his watch and his eyes nearly popped out. " Wisty, it's way past your bedtime."

" Or any of ours, for that matter." Gary added.

Wisty didn't even turn. " You all catch up on your sleep. I'll find ash."

She looked at her Sprigatito. " Snowy, let's go!"

" Wisty, wait!" Gary called, but Wisty was gone.

He turned to Oak. " We can't let her go alone, can we?*

Oak sighed and shook his head. " No. We can't."

So they took off running behind the young lady, who smiled. " Good."

Gary groaned. " I can't believe an eight year old girl is leading us through who knows where!!"

Wisty shot him a look. " You want to find your best friend or not?"

" Ashy? Ash! Where are you?!" Gary called.

" ASH KETCHUM WHERE ARE YOU?!" Wisty yelled through the empty forest.

Oak sighed as he crossed his arms. " This is taking longer than I thought. Maybe Ash isn't here."

Wisty shook her head. " He's here. I can feel it."

She took a deep breath. " Ash, listen to me! When Gary called you Loser Ashy Boy- whatever - he didn't think you would take it to heart! He didn't think you would daydream and talk to him! He didn't! Ash Ketchum, Gary has been your best friend since you two were little. When I was a baby, who was the first person other than mom and you to hold me? Who was the one to comfort you whenever you needed it besides me? Gary! He cares about you, Ash."

No response.

Wisty sighed. " Ash, I mean it!"

" Did you also forget the time we were rivals?" A voice muttered.

Wisty smirked. " Bingo."

She took off running through the forest. " Ash! Come on, be reasonable! It's late!"

" Its late for you, Wisty. Not me."

Wisty screetched to a stop at a clearing with loads of trees and bushes.

And in the middle?

Ash, huddled up.

Wisty sighed and walked to him, taking her straw hat off and firmly planting it on his head. " If Gary was your rival, would he come all the way from the Sinnoh region JUST to make sure you were okay?"

Ash didn't respond.

Wisty sighed dramatically. " You're so annoying."

Still nothing.

Wisty knelt down beside Ash, her eyes softening as she watched him. His face was buried in his arms, and his whole body looked tense, as if he had been holding himself together for too long. She took a deep breath and tried again, her voice more gentle this time.

"Ash," she whispered, "I get it. I really do. You think you messed up, or maybe that Gary doesn’t care. But that’s not true. He’s here. We’re all here, aren’t we? And it’s because we care about you. You’re not alone, Ash."

Ash still didn’t move. Wisty sat there for a moment, her Sprigatito circling around her legs. She gently reached out and placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder.

“You remember the time you beat Gary in the Johto League?” Wisty continued. “You two were at each other’s throats for years, but he still came back, didn’t he? Because rivals or not, Gary’s your friend. Always has been.”

From the trees, Gary finally caught up, panting heavily as he stumbled into the clearing. He froze when he saw Ash sitting there, and Wisty by his side. For a moment, Gary looked unsure, like he wasn’t sure how to approach Ash in this state. But then he squared his shoulders and walked over, his footsteps deliberate.

"Hey, Ash," Gary called out, his voice quieter than before.

Ash’s head moved slightly at the sound of Gary’s voice but remained buried in his arms. Gary sighed, sitting down beside him.

"Listen, Ash," Gary said softly, "I didn’t mean all that stuff I said back then. The ‘Loser Ashy Boy’ thing… it was just me being stupid. I thought that’s how we competed, how we pushed each other. But I didn’t realize how much it hurt you. I’m sorry, buddy. I really am."

There was a long silence between them. The night sounds of the forest filled the air—the rustling of leaves, the distant call of a Noctowl, the soft crackling of the fire from Eevie’s Flarion lighting up the clearing. Wisty remained quiet, sensing that Gary needed to be the one to break through.

Finally, Ash raised his head, though he still didn’t look at either of them. His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "I wasn’t good enough... I wasn’t strong enough to beat Leon. I thought... maybe you were right all along, Gary."

Gary blinked, caught off guard. "What? No, Ash, that’s not it at all. You’re the strongest person I know. You’ve done things no one else could do—winning leagues, taking down Team Rocket, all that stuff. Heck, I couldn’t even imagine battling someone like Leon. You did great."

Ash’s eyes were glistening in the dim light, his emotions raw. "But I lost."

"Everyone loses, Ash," Gary said, his voice steady. "That doesn’t make you weak. It just means you’re human. And knowing you, you’ll keep getting back up and fighting. That’s what you’ve always done."

Wisty leaned forward, nudging Ash lightly with her elbow. "And you know, it’s not just about winning or losing. It’s about who you are. You’re Ash Ketchum, the kid who never gives up, no matter how tough things get. That’s what we admire about you."

Ash finally looked up, his eyes meeting Wisty’s and then Gary’s. For a moment, he seemed to be weighing their words, his expression conflicted. But then, slowly, he gave a small nod.

Gary grinned, relieved. "See? That’s the Ash we know."

Wisty stood up and extended a hand to Ash. "Come on. Let’s get you back. We’ve been looking all over for you."

Ash hesitated but eventually reached out and took her hand, allowing her to pull him to his feet. He dusted off his pants, still looking a little shaken but more himself.

As they turned to leave the clearing, Gary gave Ash a friendly punch on the arm. "By the way, you still owe me a rematch for that Johto battle."

Ash smirked slightly, a glimmer of his old confidence returning. "You sure about that, Gary? I’m way better than I was back then."

Gary laughed, the tension finally breaking. "We’ll see about that."

Wisty smiled, watching the two of them banter as they walked back through the forest. She tugged her hat down over her head and glanced at Snowy, who meowed in approval.

"Looks like we found him after all," she whispered to herself.