" wow! Sounds like Gary's working hard too!"

Ash looked at the postcard and closed his eyes

When he opened them again, he was standing in a grey area with a boy wearing a lab coat and had spooky brown hair.

" Everything's cool. Just hang in there."

The figure turned, and Ash gasped

" Oh, Gary?"

" Hey, don't forget you managed to beat me." Gary looked away. " You're tellin me you're gonna hang it up over this?!"

When no one replied, Gary's eyes widened. " Wait, you're gonna hang it up over this?!"

He turned to Ash, who was sitting on the ground drawing in the dirt.

" Well I have no other-"

" YOU'RE GONNA HANG IT UP OVER THIS?!" Gary yelled.

Ash winced. " Easy Gary. No need to yell."

" Oh, there is a very good reason to yell, young man. And you had better start talking right. Now."

Gary took a deep breath, kneeling down to meet Ash at eye level. The tension in the air was palpable, but his voice softened—though still firm.

"Ash, listen to me. Losing isn't the end. It's part of the journey. You’ve been through worse and came out stronger every time. Remember when you lost to me? Did you give up then?"

Ash’s fingers paused mid-doodle in the dirt, but he didn’t answer.

Gary continued, his tone rising slightly. "No, you didn’t! You trained harder. You got better. And you beat me! That’s who you are, Ash! A fighter. Not some kid who quits when things get tough."

Ash looked down, his shoulders slumped. "But the Battle Pyramid… it’s different. Brandon's way too strong. I keep losing no matter what I do. Maybe I’m not cut out to be a Pokémon Master."

Gary’s eyes narrowed, and he grabbed Ash by the shoulders, shaking him lightly. "Oh, come on! Since when do you decide who you are based on one loss? You’ve faced legendaries, taken on the toughest trainers in the world, and inspired more people than you even realize! You’re Ash Ketchum! The kid who never gives up, remember?!"

Ash blinked, Gary’s words starting to sink in.

"Do you think Pikachu would give up on you because of a loss?" Gary asked pointedly. "Or Charizard? Or any of your Pokémon? They trust you because you never stop trying, no matter what. And you're just gonna quit? What are you gonna tell them?"

Ash’s lip quivered as he thought about Pikachu, who had given his all in the battle. He thought about his other Pokémon, who had fought by his side through thick and thin.

Gary stood up and crossed his arms. "If you’re really gonna quit, then fine. Go back to Pallet Town and tell Professor Oak, your mom, and everyone who believed in you that you’re done. But don’t expect me to sit here and feel sorry for you. You’re better than this, Ash."

He heard footsteps go away. When he turned to where Ash was sitting, he froze

Ash was gone.

He looked up to see a figure running.

Gary groaned. " Ash, get back here!"

But Ash didn't turn.

Gary sighed. Great. Now he had upset his poor Ashy Boy.

Amazing.

And WHERE was he supposed to find Ash?

By following the sniffs, of course.

Wait.... Sniffs?!

Gary's ears perked up, catching the faint sound of muffled sniffling nearby. His frustration melted into concern as he followed the noise. He moved cautiously through the grey void, the sound growing louder with each step.

Finally, he found Ash curled up behind a strange, featureless rock. His hat was pulled low over his face, but the occasional sniff betrayed him.

Gary knelt down, his irritation replaced with a softer tone. "Ash… hey. I didn’t mean to go so hard on you back there."

Ash peeked out from under his hat, his eyes red and puffy. "I just… don’t know what to do, Gary. Every time I think I’m good enough, something like this happens, and it feels like I’ll never get there."

Gary sighed and sat down beside Ash, leaning back against the rock. "You think I haven’t felt the same way? You think every day as Professor Oak’s grandson was easy? Everyone always expected me to be the best, to know everything, to win all the time. But guess what? I didn’t. And it sucked."

Ash glanced at him, surprised. Gary never talked about stuff like this.

Gary continued, staring off into the void. "I’ve been where you are. Feeling like a failure, like I let everyone down. But you know what got me through it?"

Ash shook his head.

"My friends. My Pokémon. The people who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. And yeah, that includes you, Ashy Boy."

Ash blinked, his lips twitching into the faintest smile at the nickname.

Gary nudged him playfully. "You’re allowed to feel down sometimes. You’re human. But giving up? That’s not the Ash Ketchum I know. The Ash I know would wipe his tears, get back up, and figure out how to beat Brandon."

Ash stared at the ground, Gary’s words sinking in. Slowly, he wiped his eyes with his sleeve and took a deep breath. "You really think I can do it?"

Gary smirked. "I don’t think. I know. You’re Ash Ketchum, the most stubborn, determined kid I’ve ever met. And if anyone can take down Brandon, it’s you."

Ash stood up, his fists clenched with new determination. "Alright! No more feeling sorry for myself. I’m gonna train harder than ever and take Brandon down!"

Gary got up too, crossing his arms with a satisfied grin. "That’s the spirit. Now let’s get out of this weird place, huh?"

As the grey void began to dissolve, Ash felt a warm light surround him. When he opened his eyes, he was back in the real world, holding the postcard. A small smile crept onto his face as Gary’s words echoed in his mind.

"Thanks, Gary," he whispered. "I won’t let you down."