" Come.... On ..... Waaaah!*

" There ya are! What's goin' on, Ash?"

" Team Rocket did this, and they got Pikachu!"

" Not for long!"

Ash sighed, recalling that day when he and Gary had saved the Silver Conference and Pikachu.

Now it felt like a distant memory.

Misty, Brock and Ash had parted ways

Gary had gone to the Sinnoh region to be a professor/ pokemon researcher.

And ash and Pikachu had nothing to do.

Ash sighed as he hung upside down from the couch. " Pikachu, what should we do?*

" Pikachu." Pikachu shrugged, and Ash sighed.

" Hey, remember that day when me and Gary sat together after a long time?"

" Chu?" Pikachu cocked its head

" That night? The one where I told him I'm gonna be Numero uno even if we are friends?"

" Pika pi." Pikachu nodded, and ash picked it up

" That was a long time ago." He sighed and turned the right way up. " I wish we had something to do."

His gaze drifted on the picture of Gary. " Wonder how he's doing. Hope he's working hard like always."

Then he picked up the frame that held the picture of the traveling trio.

Ash sighed. " I hope Brock's the best Pokemon Gym Leader ever."

" Chu!"

" Misty too."

" Pikachu."

Ash smiled. " You think so too, huh?"

Suddenly, his phone rang, and Ash picked it up. " Hello?"

" Ash, are you in Pallet?" Professor Oak's voice came through loud and clear

" Uh huh."

" Could you come up here? Gary and I need your help."

" I'm coming!"

Ash slid his phone in his pocket, grabbed his bag that stashed his original four Pokemon, and ran out, panting.

" Wonder what they need help with?* Ash muttered as he ran up the trail.

" Pika pi."

Ash turned to his best friend. " You know, I don't really know. I guess when Gary and I stopped being friends he... He got cocky. But at least we're friends again."

" Chu. Pikachu."

Ash nodded as he threw the gates open and ran up the stairs. " Looks peaceful enough. Then again, the Lab is never peaceful."

As soon as Ash opened the door and walked inside, a poke ball hit his head. He staggered back, and hit the door

Pain seeped through his head, and he clutched it. " Ow!" He winced.

Footsteps approached.

" Ash!" A young voice said. " Are you okay?"

Ash nodded as he clenched his teeth. " Y.... Yep."

Gary knelt down in front of him. " Come on. Let me see that bump. Then you can help."

He offered Ash a hand, and Ash took it.

Gary led Ash to his room and sat him down on his bed, then took out a first aid kit and started to rummage through it.

" So, uh.... Gary?"

" Yeah, buddy?"

" What's going on? Is it normal for people to be hit by poke balls?"

Gary took out a bandage and stood up, wrapping around Ash's head. " No, not really. One of the Pokemon I caught is going CRAZY! We tried to calm it down, but....." He hesitated. " It knocked the daylight out of Grandpa."

" He fainted."

" Mhm."

" Oh." He was quiet for a moment. " That's a dangerous Pokemon."

Gary nodded. " Yep, it sure is."

Then he ruffled his hair. " Okay, you're all set."

Ash caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. " I look like I got a concussion, Gary."

Gary rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as he leaned on the wall. * You could have."

" Yeah, but I never did!"

" Better same than sorry!"

Ash sighed. " I can't argue with that."

He stood up, and looked at Pikachu, who was eating a bottle of red.

Ash sighed. " Pikachu, quit eating the ketchup and help us!"

" Chuuuuuuuu."

" Pikachu......." Ash said in a warning voice

Pikachu sighed and stood up. Ash smiled and scooped him up, putting it on his shoulder.

" Come on, buddy. Let's see what this dangerous Pokemon is all about."

" What. Is. That?!" Ash exclaimed as he took Dexter out

" Gorebyss. A water Pokemon. Gorebyss is a dangerous Pokemon, And can use its tail to poison people. However, it is weak to lightning and grass types."

" Oh, sweet!" Ash cheered. " Pikachu, I choose you!"

" Chu!" Pikachu stepped forward.

Ash took a Pokeball out of his bag. " Bulbasaur, I cho-"

Suddenly, Gary held his arm firmly. " No, ash."

" What do you mean?!" He exclaimed. " Dexter just said-"

" I also have grass and lightning type, remember?"

Ash blinked. " Oh yeah."

Ash stood there, eyes wide as the Gorebyss thrashed around the lab, knocking over equipment and sending Pokéballs flying in all directions. Pikachu stood in front of him, sparks flying from its cheeks as it prepared to face the wild Water-type Pokémon. Gorebyss was unpredictable, its tail lashing out and whipping the air as if ready to strike at any moment.

"This is insane," Ash muttered, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He glanced at Gary, who was watching the scene unfold with a mixture of focus and concern. The Pokémon was far more dangerous than anything they had faced recently, and it showed no signs of calming down.

Gorebyss let out a piercing screech, knocking another Pokéball straight at Ash's head. He barely managed to duck in time, but it hit the top of his head before rolling away harmlessly, sending a jolt of dizziness through his body.

"Ash, you okay?" Gary called out, noticing the look of disorientation on Ash's face.

"I'm fine," Ash grunted, rubbing his head where the ball had grazed him. His vision blurred slightly, but he shook it off. He wasn't about to back down now-not when the Pokémon was causing this much havoc.

"Ash, seriously, take a break. You're starting to look like you've been through a blender," Gary said, stepping in closer. But Ash wasn't listening. His determination to help Gary and protect the lab outweighed the dizziness and the pain throbbing in his head.

"No way! We need to stop this thing before it destroys the entire lab," Ash said, shaking off Gary's concern. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt, now!"

"Pika...CHUUUU!" Pikachu unleashed a powerful surge of electricity, hitting Gorebyss directly. The room lit up as the electric charge rippled through the water-type, but instead of calming it down, it only seemed to make it angrier. Gorebyss flailed wildly, sending a torrent of water flying across the room, knocking Ash off balance.

"Ash!" Gary shouted, rushing forward to catch him before he hit the ground. But Ash pushed himself back up, panting as he steadied himself.

"I'm not... giving up," Ash said through gritted teeth. His vision was spinning, and his head pounded, but he couldn't stop. Not yet.

Gary's eyes narrowed. "Ash, you're pushing yourself too hard! This thing is relentless."

"I know," Ash replied, determination burning in his eyes. "But so am I."

Before Gary could argue further, Ash called out again. "Bulbasaur, now! Use Vine Whip to hold it down!"

Bulbasaur burst from its Pokéball, vines snapping out to grab Gorebyss. For a moment, it seemed like they had the upper hand as Bulbasaur's vines wrapped tightly around the Pokémon, but Gorebyss struggled fiercely, its tail lashing out once more and throwing a Pokéball that collided with Ash's head again.

Ash stumbled, his vision going dark for a split second. Gary grabbed him, pulling him out of the way just in time. "Ash, you're done. You can barely stand!"

But Ash shook his head, forcing himself to stay on his feet. "No... I can do this."

Gary looked at him, frustration and worry battling in his eyes. "You're going to get yourself seriously hurt!"

" I know."

He turned to his Pikachu. " Pikachu.... Thunderbolt, now!"

With a final surge of strength, Pikachu charged another Thunderbolt, this time combined with Bulbasaur's Vine Whip, and together, they managed to immobilize Gorebyss. The Pokémon let out a final screech before collapsing, weakened and subdued at last.

The lab fell into silence, the chaos finally over.

Ash swayed on his feet, the adrenaline fading fast. Gary was by his side in an instant, catching him as he stumbled.

"I told you," Gary muttered, helping Ash sit down. "You were going to get hurt."

Ash leaned back, exhaustion overtaking him, but he managed a weak grin. "Yeah, but we did it. Together."

Gary shook his head, though there was a small smile on his lips. "You're as stubborn as ever, Ashy-boy."

Ash closed his eyes, feeling the dizziness fade into the background as he leaned on his friend. "Thanks, Gary. For being there."

Gary sighed, wrapping an arm around Ash's shoulders. "Always, Ash. Always."