Gary followed the faint sound of sniffles, weaving his way through the surreal grey space. The once-neutral setting seemed to shift around him, like a reflection of Ash's turmoil. As he got closer, he spotted Ash sitting beneath a phantom tree, clutching a piece of research paper against his chest, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
Gary froze for a moment, guilt washing over him. He hadn’t meant to push Ash this hard. But as he approached, his resolve hardened. If Ash needed him, he wouldn’t turn away.
He crouched down beside Ash and placed a tentative hand on his shoulder. "Ash," Gary said softly, his voice void of the earlier frustration. "Hey, buddy. Look at me."
Ash shook his head, burying his face further into the paper. "I can't do it, Gary. I just can't. No matter how hard I try, I fail... and everyone believes in me, but I keep letting them down."
Gary frowned, his heart twisting at the sight of his usually optimistic rival so broken. He sat down fully beside Ash, pulling the boy into a firm but gentle hug. "Ash, listen to me," Gary began, his tone calm yet unwavering. "It's okay to feel like this. It’s okay to cry, to feel heartbroken, even to doubt yourself sometimes. But don’t let this one loss erase everything you've accomplished."
Ash's sobs quieted slightly, though tears still streamed down his face. "But Brandon—he’s unbeatable. And I... I don’t know if I can keep facing him."
Gary leaned back, just enough to look Ash in the eyes. "You don’t have to figure it all out right now, Ash. Take a deep breath, regroup, and remind yourself why you started this journey in the first place. You’ve got more strength than you give yourself credit for. And if you ever forget that, remember this—" He gently tapped Ash's chest. "You’ve got the heart of a champion. That’s what makes you special, not just the battles you win."
Ash blinked up at Gary, his red-rimmed eyes filled with hesitation and hope. "You really think I can do it?"
Gary smirked, ruffling Ash's hair. "I know you can, Ashy-boy. You’ve already proven it a hundred times. So why stop now?"
Ash sniffed, a small smile finally breaking through his tears. He clung to Gary again, this time not out of despair but for the comfort he offered. "Thanks, Gary. I don’t know what I’d do without you."
Gary chuckled, hugging him back. "You’d probably still be drawing in the dirt. Come on, Ash. Let’s get out of this weird dream space and figure out your next move. You’ve got a Battle Pyramid to conquer."
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Gary followed the faint sound of sniffs, weaving through the grey void until he spotted Ash curled up near the base of a shadowy tree. Papers scattered around him, and his small frame shook with quiet sobs.
Gary sighed, his frustration melting away. "Oh, Ash..." he muttered.
He approached slowly, not wanting to startle him. "Ash?" he called gently.
