Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Ash's check up

Gary felt Ash trembling in his arms, his friend’s breath coming out in shaky sobs. He held him close, trying to offer comfort in any way he could. Ash’s words were barely coherent between his cries, the anxiety twisting him into knots.

"I... I don't know, Gary... What if I'm not cut out for this? What if I'm just... just a failure?" Ash whispered, his voice broken.

Gary’s heart ached at hearing his friend speak like that. It reminded him of all the times they had been through together. The times when Ash had doubted himself, the times when he felt like he wasn't enough. Gary could feel the tension in Ash’s body, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him.

"Kiddo," Gary murmured softly, his hand brushing through Ash’s hair, "don’t talk like that. You’re not a failure. You’ve never been one. You’re Ash Ketchum, and you’ve been through more than most people could handle. You’re strong."

Ash’s sobs only grew harder, though. He wanted to believe Gary, but the doubts were overwhelming. His mind kept spiraling, telling him he wasn’t enough—telling him he couldn’t live up to everyone’s expectations.

Gary wasn’t sure how long they had been sitting there, but the sound of Ash’s breathing was ragged, and he could feel the tears soaking into his own shirt. He couldn’t stand seeing his friend like this.

"Hey," Gary said gently, his voice a little firmer now, "look at me."

Ash’s face was buried in Gary’s shoulder, but Gary didn’t let up. He gently cupped Ash’s chin, lifting it so that their eyes met.

"Buddy," Gary said, his voice low but firm, "you’re not alone. I’m right here with you, always."

Ash’s eyes were red and swollen, but he still had that familiar sparkle in them—the one that Gary had known since they were kids. The one that was starting to fade under the weight of his fears.

"I-I’m scared, Gary," Ash whispered, his voice barely audible. "What if I can’t do this anymore? What if I let everyone down?"

Gary sighed, a pang of guilt hitting him. He had seen this before, when they were four. That time when Ash had been so overwhelmed by his fears and doubts that he had almost shut everyone out. Gary remembered sitting beside him, trying to convince him that he wasn’t alone. But this time, the situation felt different. Ash wasn’t just scared. He was spiraling, trapped in his own mind.

Gary glanced over his shoulder, his green eyes flashing for a moment. He reached for his Poké Ball, releasing Umbreon from it with a soft flash of light. The dark-type Pokémon padded over to Ash, nuzzling his leg in an attempt to offer some comfort.

Umbreon’s warm presence was a welcome distraction, but even that couldn’t calm Ash’s rapidly escalating emotions. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, his heartbeat echoing in his ears. Gary knew that if things didn’t settle soon, Ash’s anxiety would get the best of him.

"Umbreon, stay with him," Gary ordered softly, his voice steady as he stood up and walked to the counter. He glanced back at Ash, who was still crying, his hands clutching at the sleeves of Gary’s lab coat like a lifeline.

Gary reached into one of the cabinets and pulled out a small syringe with a mild sedative, his eyes flicking back to Ash one last time before he made his decision. He hated seeing Ash like this—vulnerable, afraid, unsure of himself. The sedative wasn’t the answer, but it would help calm him down long enough for Gary to get through to him.

With a sigh, Gary approached Ash, kneeling down beside him again. "Hey, buddy," he said gently, "I need you to listen to me for a second."

Ash barely looked up, his eyes glassy and unfocused. "G... Gary... I’m sorry. I’m just so scared... what if you don’t want to be my friend anymore?" Ash’s voice cracked, the doubt still consuming him.

Gary’s heart clenched as he slowly placed a hand on Ash’s trembling shoulder. "Ash," he whispered, "I will always be your friend. You’re stuck with me, buddy."

Ash’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, but Gary could see a small glimmer of hope forming in them. He knew his words had hit home, but Ash still needed more.

Gary took a deep breath, his voice dropping to a soft, calming tone. "Look, kiddo. I’m gonna give you something to help calm you down, alright? It’s not because I think you’re weak. It’s because I want you to feel better. Just a little bit."

Ash’s eyes widened slightly, his face still streaked with tears. He opened his mouth to protest, but Gary stopped him with a gentle, reassuring touch.

"It’s gonna be okay," Gary said, his voice warm and steady as he gently rubbed Ash’s back. "Just trust me."

Ash nodded weakly, still hesitant but too exhausted from his emotional storm to fight it. Gary carefully prepared the sedative and gently injected it into Ash’s arm, all while maintaining eye contact to help reassure him. Ash winced slightly, but the pain was fleeting.

Gary sat back down beside Ash and pulled him into another hug. Ash tensed at first, but then he leaned into Gary, finally letting his guard down. The sedative would take a few minutes to work, and Gary knew Ash needed all the comfort he could get in that time.

Gary wrapped his arms around Ash, holding him close, feeling his heart steady against his back. "You’re safe, buddy. I’m right here. You’re gonna be alright."

Ash’s breathing slowly began to even out, the tremors in his body fading as the sedative started to take effect. His tears had stopped, but he was still sniffling quietly against Gary’s chest.

Gary gently rocked him back and forth, humming a soft tune to help ease the tension. "You don’t ever have to go through this alone, Ash. Not ever."

Ash’s voice was small, barely audible, but Gary heard it clearly. "Thanks, Gary… I… I just don’t want to disappoint anyone."

Gary smiled softly. "You could never disappoint me, kiddo. You’re my best friend. You’re everything I need."

Ash’s eyes fluttered closed, and Gary held him a little tighter. They had been through so much together, and Gary wasn’t about to let anything tear them apart. Not today. Not ever.