Pokemon Indigo League stories

A Claim to Flame

" Hey Gary are you okay? Why're you thinking about this stuff?"

" No reason. But that doesn't change the present. I'm gonna beat you, Ashy."

" Okay, now you sound more like Gary which can only mean one thing. You better get used to that number two spot because I'm gonna be Numero uno even if we are friends."

" Pika pi."

Suddenly, they heard whistling.

Familiar whistling.

The two boys groaned.

" Here comes your sister." Gary sighed.

" At least it's night, so no one's around to see."

As the familiar whistling grew louder, Ash and Gary braced themselves for the inevitable. Wisty strolled out of the shadows, hands in her pockets, grinning like she had just found her favorite pastime.

"Well, well, well," Wisty teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "If it isn’t my two favorite frenemies, having a heart-to-heart under the stars."

Gary groaned. "Wisty, it’s late. Can’t you just... you know... not?"

Ash rubbed his temple, already feeling the headache coming. "Please, Wisty, just leave us alone this time."

Wisty ignored their protests, sauntering up to them and looking between the two with that smirk that could only mean trouble. "Oh, come on. I was just thinking—if you two would stop being so stubborn and just admit that you’re best friends, maybe the world would be a better place. You might even get along for once!"

Ash and Gary exchanged horrified looks.

"Best friends?!" Gary sputtered, looking like he’d been hit by a Thunderbolt.

Ash shook his head furiously. "No way! We’re rivals!"

"Pika pi!" Pikachu added, sounding equally appalled by the suggestion.

Wisty waved them off, clearly not taking their reactions seriously. "Yeah, yeah, rivals. But you know what they say—rivalry is just friendship with extra spice. And besides, you two love each other. You’ve been through too much together to not have a bond." She paused dramatically, then added, "I mean, ten grandmas couldn’t even compete with the kind of bond you guys have!"

Ash and Gary almost collapsed where they stood.

"Ten grandmas?!" Ash repeated, blinking in disbelief. "What does that even mean?!"

Gary looked equally flabbergasted. "Wisty, do you even hear yourself right now?"

"Oh, I hear myself just fine," Wisty said, grinning from ear to ear. "And I’m pretty sure the whole world sees it except you two. So, how about we just skip all the denial and admit it? Best friends, practically brothers, probably soulmates. Come on, it’s cute!"

Both boys looked like they were going to faint from sheer embarrassment.

"W-we are not soulmates!" Gary stammered, his face flushing bright red. "Stop saying that!"

"Yeah, stop it, Wisty!" Ash added, equally flustered. "We’re not—this is crazy talk!"

But Wisty was unfazed, shrugging casually. "Hey, I’m just calling it like I see it. You two are practically made for each other. I mean, all that arguing? That’s just love in disguise."

Ash and Gary both paled, their energy completely drained from trying to argue with Wisty’s relentless teasing. Pikachu sighed, sensing his Trainer’s utter defeat.

Gary sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don’t know how you live with her, Ash."

Ash, now looking like he was about to collapse from exhaustion, shook his head. "I’m still trying to figure that out myself."

Wisty, clearly satisfied with her work, stretched and yawned. "Well, I think that’s enough emotional growth for one night. I’ll let you two lovebirds get back to your stargazing."

Before Ash or Gary could even think of a retort, Wisty gave them a playful wink and sauntered off, whistling that familiar tune as she disappeared into the night.

The two boys stood there in stunned silence for a long moment.

"She’s... she’s impossible," Gary finally muttered.

"Tell me about it," Ash replied, shaking his head. "I’m just glad no one else was here to hear that."

"Pika..." Pikachu sighed, clearly ready for the teasing to be over.

As they stood under the stars, trying to recover from Wisty’s whirlwind of chaos, Gary glanced over at Ash. "For the record, I’m still gonna beat you, Ashy-boy."

Ash grinned, the competitive spark back in his eyes. "We’ll see about that, Gary. But I’m still aiming for number one."