" ' 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. " How did you know I was here?"

* Gramps told me you were depressed. So I asked Professor Rowan if he saw you around here."

Ash turned to his back and looked up at the sun. " Our battle at Professor Oak's lab made me realize something."

Gary raised a brow. " And what's that?"

" Maybe..... Maybe I should give my pokemon to people who can take care of them better and become a lost person."

Gary stared at Ash, his confident demeanor faltering. “You’ve gotta be kidding me, Ash. You? A lost person? That’s not who you are.”

Ash didn’t look at him, his gaze fixed on the sunlight breaking through the leaves. “Maybe it’s who I’m becoming. I mean, what am I even doing? Running around collecting badges, saying I want to be a Pokémon Master... but what does that even mean anymore? Charizard’s training in the valley, Squirtle’s with the Squad, and Bulbasaur... he’s helping Professor Oak. They’re all doing great without me.”

Gary crossed his arms, his sharp eyes studying Ash. “Yeah, they’re doing great because of you. You raised them, trained them, and gave them the confidence to stand on their own. That’s not failure, Ash—that’s growth.”

Ash finally looked at Gary, his expression conflicted. “But what if Pikachu wants that too? What if I’m just holding him back from being... more?”

“Pika!” Pikachu protested, jumping onto Ash’s shoulder and nuzzling his cheek. The electric mouse’s expression was firm as if to say, Don’t be ridiculous.

Gary smirked. “See? Even Pikachu thinks you’re being dumb. Look, Ash, you’re not the type to give up—on anything or anyone. Not your Pokémon, not your friends, and definitely not yourself.”

Ash sighed, reaching up to scratch Pikachu’s ears. “It’s not that simple, Gary. Sometimes I feel like I’ve been chasing this dream so long, I don’t even know what it means anymore.”

Gary uncrossed his arms and sat down on the grass beside Ash. “Then maybe it’s time to redefine it. You’ve always been about the journey, right? Meeting new Pokémon, making friends, learning about yourself. Maybe being a Pokémon Master isn’t just about badges and battles. Maybe it’s about the bonds you’ve made along the way.”

Ash was silent for a long moment, mulling over Gary’s words. Finally, he asked, “Do you ever feel like... you’re not enough? Like no matter what you do, it’s never going to be good enough?”

Gary tilted his head, his tone softer than usual. “Yeah, I’ve felt that. Everyone does at some point. But you don’t let it stop you. You take that doubt and use it to push yourself further. That’s what makes you... well, you.”

Ash chuckled weakly. “You’re really laying it on thick, aren’t you?”

Gary grinned. “Hey, I didn’t come all this way to let you sit here feeling sorry for yourself. You’re Ash Ketchum, the guy who never backs down from a challenge. So stop moping and start acting like it.”

Ash smiled faintly, some of the weight lifting from his shoulders. “Thanks, Gary. I needed that.”

Gary stood, offering a hand to Ash. “Anytime, Ketchum. Now, how about we go see what Rowan’s got for us? He’s been working on some research about Legendary Pokémon. I figured that might get you fired up.”

Ash took Gary’s hand, pulling himself to his feet. “Legendary Pokémon, huh? Guess I can’t pass that up.”

“Atta boy,” Gary said, slapping Ash on the back. “Let’s go, before Pikachu shocks some sense into you.”

Ash laughed, Pikachu chiming in with a cheerful “Pika!” Together, they headed back toward the lab, the sun shining brightly overhead, and for the first time in a long while, Ash felt like he was ready to take on the world again.