Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Ash's check up

Ash’s sobs only grew louder as he buried his face deeper into Gary’s shoulder. His hands gripped tightly at the fabric of Gary's lab coat, as if trying to hold on to something, anything, to steady himself.

"I’m so stupid," Ash mumbled between gasps for air. "I always mess everything up. I’m a loser, Gary... you’re wasting your time with me. You shouldn’t even be here, helping me like this."

Gary’s expression shifted. His usual teasing smile faded, replaced with something much more serious. He gently but firmly pulled Ash back, just enough to look him in the eye. Ash’s face was red and streaked with tears, his eyes wide and filled with self-doubt.

"Ash, stop it," Gary said, his voice low but intense, like a warning. "You’re not a loser. And you’re definitely not dumb. You’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders for so long that you don’t even realize how strong you really are."

Ash sniffed and wiped his eyes, his face scrunching up in frustration. "But... I always mess up! I’ve done so many things wrong! You could be out doing so many better things than sitting here with me, taking care of me like I’m some kind of baby!"

Gary’s hand shot up, tapping Ash gently on the head. It wasn’t a hard tap, but it was enough to snap Ash out of his spiral, if only for a moment. "Ashy-boy," Gary said, a fire burning in his eyes, "You better listen to me right now. Calm down."

Ash blinked, momentarily stunned by the firmness in Gary’s voice. "What?"

Gary let out a sigh, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Take a deep breath, Ash. You’re freaking out, and that’s half the problem. Calm yourself down, alright?"

Ash hesitated, looking at Gary with wide eyes, but he knew his best friend wasn’t going to let him keep spiraling. Slowly, Ash took a shaky breath in, then let it out, trying to follow Gary’s words. It took a few moments before his breathing steadied, but Gary wasn’t done.

"Good," Gary said, his voice softer now but still carrying a bit of that authority. "Now listen, buddy... you're the last person who should ever call themselves a loser. You’re Ash Ketchum. The guy who never gives up, no matter what life throws at him. The guy who makes friends all over the world and stands up for what’s right. You’re incredible. But you’ve got to stop beating yourself up over stuff that doesn’t matter."

Ash wiped his nose, still feeling the weight of his own doubts, but Gary’s words were starting to sink in. "I just... I don’t know how to fix things sometimes," Ash admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like I’m letting everyone down."

Gary’s expression softened, and he gave Ash a gentle, reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. "Ash," he said softly, "You never let anyone down. You just... sometimes you get caught up in trying to fix everything, and you forget that it’s okay to not have all the answers. It’s okay to need help. It’s okay to have bad days."

Ash looked at Gary, his chest still tight but the anger he’d felt at himself beginning to melt away. "But I... I should be stronger. I should be better. I should—"

Gary shook his head, cutting him off. "No, Ash. You don’t have to be perfect. You never have to be perfect. You’ve been doing your best every single day, and that’s all anyone can ask for." He smiled warmly. "And as for me? I’m not going anywhere, buddy. Not now, not ever. I’m here because I want to be. I’m here because you’re worth it."

The sincerity in Gary’s voice left Ash speechless. For a moment, he just stared at him, trying to take in everything Gary was saying. His heart ached with a mix of gratitude and guilt, but at the same time, he felt lighter. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t a failure after all.

"Thanks, Gary," Ash whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

Gary smiled, a real smile this time, and ruffled Ash’s hair playfully. "You’re welcome, Ashy-boy. Now, let’s finish this check-up, alright? I don’t want to hear any more talk about being a loser from you." He gave Ash one last squeeze before standing up. "Ready?"

Ash nodded slowly, feeling a little more at ease now that the storm in his chest had calmed. "Yeah. Let’s do it."

Gary grabbed the stethoscope again and helped Ash get back into position, but this time, Ash was focused. He was still a little shaken, still unsure of himself in ways he couldn’t entirely explain, but for the first time in a while, he felt a glimmer of hope that maybe he wasn’t as lost as he thought.

Gary was right. It was okay to have bad days. And maybe, just maybe, with people like Gary by his side, he could start finding his way back.