Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Unbeatable light of Seeing

" wow! Sounds like Gary's working hard too!"

Ash looked at the postcard and closed his eyes

When he opened them again, he was standing in a grey area with a boy wearing a lab coat and had spooky brown hair.

" Everything's cool. Just hang in there."

The figure turned, and Ash gasped

" Oh, Gary?"

" Hey, don't forget you managed to beat me." Gary looked away. " You're tellin me you're gonna hang it up over this?!"

When no one replied, Gary's eyes widened. " Wait, you're gonna hang it up over this?!"

He turned to Ash, who was sitting on the ground drawing in the dirt.

" Well I have no other-"

" YOU'RE GONNA HANG IT UP OVER THIS?!" Gary yelled.

Ash winced. " Easy Gary. No need to yell."

" Oh, there is a very good reason to yell, young man. And you had better start talking right. Now."

Gary took a deep breath, kneeling down to meet Ash at eye level. The tension in the air was palpable, but his voice softened—though still firm.

"Ash, listen to me. Losing isn't the end. It's part of the journey. You’ve been through worse and came out stronger every time. Remember when you lost to me? Did you give up then?"

Ash’s fingers paused mid-doodle in the dirt, but he didn’t answer.

Gary continued, his tone rising slightly. "No, you didn’t! You trained harder. You got better. And you beat me! That’s who you are, Ash! A fighter. Not some kid who quits when things get tough."

Ash looked down, his shoulders slumped. "But the Battle Pyramid… it’s different. Brandon's way too strong. I keep losing no matter what I do. Maybe I’m not cut out to be a Pokémon Master."

Gary’s eyes narrowed, and he grabbed Ash by the shoulders, shaking him lightly. "Oh, come on! Since when do you decide who you are based on one loss? You’ve faced legendaries, taken on the toughest trainers in the world, and inspired more people than you even realize! You’re Ash Ketchum! The kid who never gives up, remember?!"

Ash blinked, Gary’s words starting to sink in.

"Do you think Pikachu would give up on you because of a loss?" Gary asked pointedly. "Or Charizard? Or any of your Pokémon? They trust you because you never stop trying, no matter what. And you're just gonna quit? What are you gonna tell them?"

Ash’s lip quivered as he thought about Pikachu, who had given his all in the battle. He thought about his other Pokémon, who had fought by his side through thick and thin.

Gary stood up and crossed his arms. "If you’re really gonna quit, then fine. Go back to Pallet Town and tell Professor Oak, your mom, and everyone who believed in you that you’re done. But don’t expect me to sit here and feel sorry for you. You’re better than this, Ash."

He heard footsteps go away. When he turned to where Ash was sitting, he froze

Ash was gone.

He looked up to see a figure running.

Gary groaned. " Ash, get back here!"

But Ash didn't turn.

Gary sighed. Great. Now he had upset his poor Ashy Boy.

Amazing.

And WHERE was he supposed to find Ash?

By following the sniffs, of course.

Wait.... Sniffs?!

Gary followed the faint sound of sniffles through the surreal grey landscape, his boots crunching against the undefined terrain. The more he walked, the louder the sounds grew, until he spotted a small figure curled up under a large, leafless tree.

Ash sat with his knees pulled to his chest, tears streaming down his face as he clutched a notebook that seemed to shimmer with faint, ghostly light. Gary’s heart twisted at the sight. This wasn’t the confident, headstrong Ash he was used to—it was the vulnerable side that few ever got to see.

Gary crouched down, keeping his voice gentle but firm. “Ash. I didn’t mean to upset you, okay? I just... I don’t want to see you give up on something you love.”

Ash didn’t respond immediately. He wiped his eyes on his sleeve but kept clutching the notebook. Finally, in a broken voice, he said, “It’s not that simple, Gary. Everyone expects me to keep winning, to keep being... invincible. But I’m not. I’m just... tired.”

Gary sighed and sat down beside him, the ghostly tree casting faint shadows over both of them. “You’re right, you’re not invincible. No one is. Not me, not Grandpa, not even Brandon. But that’s not why people believe in you, Ash. They believe in you because you keep going, no matter what.”

Ash shook his head. “But what if I can’t anymore? What if I’ve already peaked?”

Gary reached out and pulled the notebook from Ash’s hands, flipping it open. Inside were sketches—rough but heartfelt—of Ash’s Pokémon, his friends, and scenes from his journey. The one he stopped on showed Pikachu battling valiantly against Brandon’s Registeel.

Gary held up the drawing. “You drew this, right? So, you remember how hard Pikachu fought for you. You’re not just a trainer, Ash. You’re their friend, their partner. They don’t care if you win or lose; they care that you try.”

Ash looked at the drawing, his lip trembling again. “But what if I let them down?”

Gary gave a small chuckle. “Ash, the only way you could ever let them down is if you stopped trying. They’d rather lose with you at their side than win without you. Trust me, I’ve been there.”

Ash finally looked up, his eyes red and puffy. “You really think so?”

Gary smiled and ruffled Ash’s hair. “I know so, Ashy Boy. And hey, if you’re still not convinced, I’ll stick around and help you figure it out. You’re not alone in this.”

Before Gary could react, Ash lunged forward, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug. The sudden gesture startled Gary, but he quickly relaxed and hugged him back.

“Thanks, Gary,” Ash mumbled, his voice muffled against Gary’s shoulder. “I needed that.”

Gary smirked, though his tone was warm. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t make a habit of hugging me every time you cry, okay? People might start talking.”

Ash gave a shaky laugh, and for the first time since the daydream began, the grey world seemed to brighten ever so slightly. The two sat there for a moment longer, the weight of the moment lingering in the silence.

Eventually, Ash pulled back, wiping his face. “Alright. I’ll keep going. But... will you really stick around? Just for a little while?”

Gary stood up and offered Ash his hand. “Of course. Someone’s gotta keep you from turning into a total crybaby, right?”

Ash grinned, taking Gary’s hand. Together, they walked away from the tree, the grey expanse starting to fade as the daydream began to end.