" ' The world's a big place', huh?" Ash muttered under the large Oak tree behind Professor Rowan's laboratory. " ' So many Pokemon you don't even know about '."

" Pika?"

Ash looked at Pikachu. " Oh. I'm fine. But are you fine?"

Pikachu looked confused. " Pika?"

" Do you ever wish you were someone else's Pokemon?"

Pikachu blinked at Ash.

" I mean, someone who's like Gary. Smart, cocky. Doesn't do dumb things."

Pikachu still looked confused.

" Really?"

" Chuuu....?"

" I mean, Squirtle, Charizard and Bulbasaur have their own new life. You want a new life too?"

" Pika pi......?"

" Do you think I should give up with the badges?"

" Give up?" A voice asked. " That's a word I never thought I'd hear from you."

Ash looked up at the brown haired boy. " What? It's not like you care whether I quit, do you?"

The brown-haired boy smirked, leaning casually against the Oak tree. "Come on, Ash, don't sell me short. I care... a little. Besides, someone’s gotta be around to call you out when you start saying dumb stuff like that."

"Gary..." Ash muttered, narrowing his eyes. "What do you want?"

Gary Oak crossed his arms, an amused expression on his face. "Oh, nothing much. I just happened to be passing by and overheard you sulking under this tree. Thought I'd check if the 'Almighty Ash Ketchum' needed a pep talk."

"I'm not sulking," Ash shot back, crossing his own arms defensively. "I was just... thinking."

"Thinking about quitting, apparently," Gary said, raising an eyebrow. "That’s not like you, Ashy-boy. Did you lose another gym battle or something?"

Ash sighed, leaning back against the tree trunk. "No, I didn’t lose a battle. I just... I don’t know. It feels like everyone’s moving on—my old Pokémon, my friends, even my rivals. And here I am, still doing the same thing, still chasing the same dream. What if I’m just wasting my time?"

Gary was quiet for a moment, his smirk fading into something more thoughtful. "You’re not wasting your time," he said finally. "But you’re right about one thing: the world’s a big place, and there’s more to being a Pokémon Trainer than just collecting badges."

Ash frowned, looking up at Gary. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Gary shrugged. "It means maybe it’s time to think about why you’re doing all this in the first place. Are you chasing badges because you want to prove something to the world? Or are you doing it because it’s what you think you’re supposed to do?"

Ash didn’t answer right away. He glanced at Pikachu, who was watching him with a concerned expression. "I always thought becoming a Pokémon Master was my goal," Ash said quietly. "But now... I’m not so sure."

Gary smirked again, his usual cocky attitude returning. "Well, whatever you decide, just remember: giving up isn’t going to get you anywhere. And if you do decide to quit, I’ll be there to remind you that you’ll never beat me that way."

Ash rolled his eyes. "You’re so full of yourself, Gary."

"Hey, somebody’s gotta keep you on your toes," Gary replied with a wink. Then, more seriously, he added, "Look, Ash, you’ve got something most Trainers don’t—a bond with your Pokémon that’s stronger than anything else. That’s what makes you special, even if you don’t see it right now. Don’t throw that away just because you’re feeling lost."

Ash looked down at Pikachu, who gave him an encouraging "Pika pi!" A small smile tugged at Ash’s lips. "Thanks, Pikachu. And... thanks, Gary."

Gary waved a hand dismissively. "Don’t mention it. Just don’t expect me to go easy on you the next time we battle."

Ash stood up, his confidence slowly returning. "You’d better not, Gary, because when we battle, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got."

Gary chuckled. "That’s more like it, Ashy-boy. Now, go figure out what you really want, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll finally catch up to me."

As Gary walked away, Ash turned back to Pikachu, his resolve renewed. "You know what, buddy? Gary’s right. I don’t have to have all the answers right now. We’ll figure it out together, one step at a time."

"Pika pi!" Pikachu chirped, leaping onto Ash’s shoulder.

With a new sense of determination, Ash and Pikachu set off, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.