Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Ear Infection

“ Are you okay?”

Ash turned to see a brown haired boy with green eyes staring at him.

“ Yeah. I’m fine.’”

The person was unconvinced. He put his fingers around Ash’s neck. “ Swallow.” He instructed.

Ash looked at his friend. “ Gary…..”

“ Swallow.”

Ash sighed and complied. Gary applied a little pressure when he swallowed.

“ You’re not okay.”

Ash rubbed his eyes and tried to sit up, but Gary put a firm hand on his shoulder. “ No, Ash. Lie down.”

“ Bu-”

“ Ash, please.”

Ash sighed, defeated, and laid back down on the bed. Gary smiled a little.

“ Come on, buddy, cheer up. What did you expect after diving into a lake and saving a Vulpix?”

Ash didn’t reply, and Gary rubbed Ash’s shoulders before climbing back to the ground. “ Don’t move. I’m coming.”

The door opened, then closed. Ash groaned as another headache cme his way.

“ Pikachu Pi?”

“ Char?”

“ Saur, Bulbasaur?”

“ Squirtle?”

Ash looked over his railing and smiled tiredly at his four Pokemon. “ I’m fine, you guys. Come on, there’s plenty of room up here.”

His Pokemon did not hesitate to climb up and snuggle close to their owner. Ash smiled and buried his face into the blanket.

A few minutes later, the door opened and Ah’s bed moved.

Then, a hand gently grabbed Ash’s ear and stuck something into it. Ash’s eyes snapped open and he yelped.

“ Easy, Ashy. Easy.”

Ash took a deep breath and slowly let his air out as Gary peered inside his ear.

“ Just as I suspected.”

“ Huh?”

“ You have an ear infection.”

“ But how?!”

“ What do you THINK? Luckily, it can be easily cured.”

Ash opened a wary eye as he watched Gary dip a Q- tip into oil and looked at Ash. “ This might hurt, so here you go.”

Ash blinked as Gary gently took Ash’s hand. “ Squeeze my hand as much as you want, okay?”

Ash squeezed Gary’s hand, bracing himself. Gary moved carefully, tilting Ash’s head just a bit and gently placing the Q-tip with the oil in his ear. The sensation was strange—warm but a bit uncomfortable. Ash bit his lip, gripping Gary's hand tighter as the Q-tip reached the tender part of his ear.

"Almost done, Ash," Gary murmured, keeping his tone calm and reassuring. "Just a little longer, okay?"

Ash nodded, trying his best to stay still despite the discomfort. The oil was soothing, though it stung slightly. After a few more seconds, Gary withdrew the Q-tip and gave Ash’s shoulder a comforting pat.

"There we go," Gary said with a small smile, setting the Q-tip aside. "The oil should help ease the infection, but you’ll need to take it easy and keep your ear dry. No more lake dives, got it?"

Ash chuckled weakly, still holding Gary’s hand. "Yeah, yeah… guess I overdid it a little."

Gary raised an eyebrow. "A little? Ash, you jumped into freezing water to save that Vulpix. I know you'd do anything for a Pokémon, but you’ve got to take care of yourself too."

Ash looked down, feeling a bit sheepish. "I know… I just couldn’t leave it there." He smiled softly. "And besides, it worked out, right? Vulpix is safe."

Gary sighed but couldn’t help a small grin. "Yeah, it worked out, but only because you got lucky. Next time, at least try not to get sick in the process."

Ash grinned back. "No promises."

Gary shook his head, chuckling, and gave Ash’s shoulder another reassuring squeeze. "Alright, Mr. Hero. I’ll check on you in a few hours. Just rest and let that oil work."

As he got up to leave, Pikachu, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charizard huddled closer around Ash, each of them offering their own warmth and comfort. Ash’s eyes began to close, feeling grateful for both his Pokémon and for Gary, who always seemed to be there when he needed him most.

Just as Gary was heading out, he turned back, a soft smile on his face. "Get some sleep, Ash. I’ll see you soon."

Ash managed a small smile back. "Thanks, Gary. For everything."

With that, he closed his eyes, letting the warmth of his Pokémon and the comfort of his friend’s presence finally lull him into a restful sleep.