Just as Ash and his Pokemon stepped outside, Ash gasped

" Gary, you said there were other Pokemon, right?"

Gary nodded, confused. " Yeah."

" They just still be inside!" Ash exclaimed. " Pikachu, you guys stay here."

" Pika!"

" No, Pikachu. You have to stay out here. Do you understand?"

Pikachu and the other Pokemon reluctantly nodded.

Ash gave them a reassuring smile. " I'll be fine."

" Wait, Ash!" Misty called.

Ash turned, a bit annoyed. " What?"

" Stay safe. Please."

Ash nodded and turned, running back inside.

Gary blinked. " Welp, he's as reckless as ever. But I suppose today's an exception."

Brock watched as Misty paced around the sidewalk. " Don't worry. Ash'll save the Pokemon."

" It's not the Pokemon I'm worried about. It's the building."

" She's right." Gary said urgently. " It's Falling apart."

" We need to keep it up long enough so he can get out!" Brock said as he threw a Pokeball. " Onix come on out!"

" Misty calls on Starmie!"

" Arkinine, you too!" Gary commanded.

" Machoke..... Kingler.... Ryhorn.... And that mysterious pokemon. Though I doubt they kept it in here. Team Rocket's boss just have it. Wonder if it really is evil."

" Machoke." A small voice said.

" Huh?" Ash spun around.

He saw a blue limb stuck between two columns.

" Don't worry! I'll save you!" Ash yelped as he ran to one of the long columns and tried to push it up.

" Come on, come on....." He muttered, beads of sweat forming on his face.

Then, two vines grabbed the column from the back and pulled.

The column moved up, and the Machoke was able to free its leg.

Ash held up a Pokeball. " Machoke, return."

A red light swirled, And the Pokemon was captured.

" Thanks- Bulbasaur?!"

Bulbasaur looked proud. " Bulbasaur!*

" Bulbasaur! I told you to stay outside!" Ash scolded.

" Saur."

Ash sighed. " Well, I suppose you were a big help. So.... Thanks Bulbasaur."

" Saur!"

" Okay, one done, two more to go."

Suddenly, the ground begun to shake more violently.

" We have to hurry!" Ash yelped.

" What's... Taking.... Him... So... Long?" Gary groaned as he pushed the wall upright.

" I don't know but he'd better some out quick!" Brock replied, grunting.

" Togeeeeeeeeeee." Togepi chirped as she helped with Ash's other Pokemon.

" Squirtle!" Squirtle said as he released a strong jet of water on the wall

Pikachu helped Togepi keep it up.

And Pigeotto did a gust attack on it.

" Machoke.... Kingler.... Ryhorn... They're all here!" Ash exclaimed.

" Saur!"

Ash handed the three Pokeballs to Bulbasaur. " Go out and give these to the three."

" Saur?"

" I need to check something. Go, Bulbasaur."

Bulb-*

" GO!"

Bulbasaur hesitated for a moment but obeyed, gripping the three Poké Balls with its vines and hurrying toward the exit. Ash turned back, his eyes scanning the crumbling structure around him. 

“This place is going to collapse any second,” he muttered to himself. “But… there might be something else here. That mysterious Pokémon Gary mentioned…” 

Ash sprinted deeper into the ruins, dodging falling debris and jumping over broken beams. The sound of the structure groaning under its weight echoed through the halls. 

Meanwhile, outside, Brock, Misty, and Gary were doing everything they could to stabilize the building. 

“Onix, use Rock Tomb to reinforce the foundation!” Brock commanded. 

“Starmie, Water Gun to cool the overheated beams!” Misty added, her voice trembling with urgency. 

Gary’s Arcanine released a Flamethrower to fuse loose rubble together, creating makeshift walls. “We’re running out of time!” Gary shouted. 

Bulbasaur emerged, carrying the three Poké Balls. “Bulba! Saur!” it called out, delivering the balls to the trainers outside. 

Brock took them. “He got them out! That’s one less thing to worry about.” 

But Misty wasn’t reassured. “What about *Ash*?” she asked, her voice cracking. 

Inside, Ash reached what appeared to be a large steel cage, its bars bent and broken. He stopped in his tracks, staring at the creature within. It was a sleek, dark Pokémon with glowing red eyes. It growled lowly, its aura radiating power. 

“What… What are you?” Ash asked, stepping closer. 

The Pokémon growled again, but its gaze wasn’t hostile—it was cautious, almost frightened. 

“You don’t have to be scared,” Ash said gently. “I’m here to help.” 

The Pokémon took a step back, sparks of energy crackling around its body. 

“I promise,” Ash said, holding out his hand. “I won’t hurt you.” 

The ground suddenly shook violently, and part of the ceiling collapsed behind Ash. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the falling debris. 

“I don’t have much time!” Ash shouted. “Please, come with me!” 

The Pokémon hesitated, then let out a piercing cry. Ash reached for a  Poké Ball that he had picked up on his belt and held it out. The Pokémon didn’t resist as it was drawn inside. 

“I’ve got you,” Ash whispered, clutching the ball tightly. “Now we’ve got to get out of here!” 

Ash turned and sprinted back toward the exit. The walls were collapsing faster now, and the air was thick with dust. 

" Where is he?!" Misty exclaimed, worried.

Then the whole building fell.

But before it did, a Pokeball was flung outside.

Then the building fell.

The three people just stared

" Is he....?" Misty asked, worried.

Then, something moved.

And then a hand showed up.

" Ash?!" Misty exclaimed as she ran to the building's remains and started to uncover the bricks.

The hand pulled, and Ash's face came out, coughing violently.

Misty grabbed her boyfriend's hand and helped pull him out.

" Ash!" She yelled as she hugged the ten year old boy tightly.

Ash grinned as he hugged Misty back. " I'm here, Misty. I told you there was no need to worry."

Gary looked at Ash's bloody arms. " Yeah I don't think you should be too calm yourself."

The boys body was covered with injuries.

But hey

He didn't care

His girlfriend and Pokemon, on the other hand .....

...were in full panic mode. Misty pulled back from the hug, her eyes scanning Ash’s battered body. “Ash Ketchum! What were you thinking running in there like that? Look at you—you’re bleeding everywhere!”

“Pika pi!” Pikachu jumped into Ash’s arms, its eyes wide with worry.

“Guys, relax,” Ash said with a lopsided grin, his voice raspy from the dust and smoke. “I’m fine. I got the Pokémon out, didn’t I?”

Misty glared at him, her fists clenched. “Fine? Fine?! You’re covered in blood and you look like you’ve been through a blender! You’re lucky you didn’t get crushed in there!”

Gary stepped forward, arms crossed, his face a mix of irritation and begrudging admiration. “You’re a complete idiot, Ash. But I’ll admit—pulling off something like that takes guts. Now sit down before you pass out.”

Brock walked over, already pulling out a first aid kit. “Ash, you need to let me treat those wounds. You’re not invincible, you know.”

“Okay, okay,” Ash said, raising his hands in mock surrender before flinching from the pain. “But I’m telling you, I’m fine.”

As Brock carefully cleaned the cuts on Ash’s arms and face, Misty sat beside him, her expression softening. “Why do you always have to be so reckless, Ash?” she asked quietly.

Ash looked at her, his eyes gentle. “Because someone has to be. Those Pokémon needed help, and I couldn’t just leave them behind.”

Misty sighed, her worry still evident but tempered by understanding. “Just… try to remember that there are people and Pokémon out here who need you too, okay? You’re not alone in this.”

Ash nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I know, Misty. Thanks.”

Gary picked up the Poké Ball Ash had flung outside before the collapse and held it up, examining it. “So… what was in here, Ketchum? Some legendary beast, or just another Pokémon in need of saving?”

Ash’s expression turned serious. “It was something… different. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Pokémon like it before. It was dark, powerful, but it seemed… scared.”

Gary raised a brow. “Scared? That doesn’t sound like the kind of Pokémon Team Rocket’s boss would keep locked up.”

Ash shrugged. “Maybe it’s more than it seems. Either way, it’s safe now.”

Brock finished wrapping Ash’s arms and stood up. “Alright, you’re patched up, but you need to rest. No more heroics for today.”

Ash grinned. “No promises.”

Misty rolled her eyes but smiled. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

Ash shrugged. * It comes with the package."