"I'm such an idiot!" Ash exclaimed, dropping to the ground. "Not only did I work with him, I helped Team Rocket get strong Pokemon, and I did nothing in trying to rescue them!"
"Ash…". Cassie said caringly.
"No, this whole time I've been striving to be like Kazor, be a better trainer, help people and Pokemon, and I come to find out it's all a lie!" Ash shouted angrily. "This whole journey, it's just one big lie!" Ash said, throwing his jacket and hat to the ground, both soaked by the rainstorm already.
Rapidash whinnied as she grabbed Ash's jacket, while Pikachu grabbed his hat, neither sure what to do for their trainer.
Ash ran through the storm, his vision obscured from the storm and his tears, when he suddenly ran into something.
"What in the!?" The thing said turning around. "Heh, typical Ash, rushing to keep up." Gilbert laughed.
"I'm not in the mood Gilbert." Ash said.
"What else is new, you're never in the mood." Gilbert said. "If I were you…"
Ash stopped him by shoving him to the ground. "Well you aren't me, and you didn't mess up like I did!"
"Ash, what happened, it isn't your fault." Gilbert said, changing his tone.
"I had a mentor and he turned out to be insane! I've been helping Team Rocket without even realizing it!" Ash exclaimed.
"Okay, didn't know that, but you still aren't to blame." Gilbert said.
"My whole journey, trying to be the best, it's all a lie." Ash said angrily, only to get punched in the gut. "What was that for?!"
"One for shoving me, and two, to prove a point." Gilbert said as Ash got back up. "You got back up, you didn't try and sneak attack me, doesn't sound like a bad person to me."
"Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?" Ash asked.
"Because you need it, now let's do this, prove that you haven't wasted this journey." Gilbert said grabbing a Pokeball.
"Gilbert…". Ash said hesitantly.
"Battle me or accept you've wasted your time and run home." Gilbert said unmovingly.
"Fine." Ash said, holding up one of his Pokeballs.
"Blastoise come on out!"
"Pika!" Pikachu said, skidding to a stop between Ash and Blastoise.
"Just like old times, Blastoise use Skull Bash!"
Blastoise leapt forward with incredible strength and speed, heading straight for Pikachu.
"Pikachu dodge it with Quick Attack!"
Pikachu leapt out of the way just in time as Blastoise dug through the top layers of dirt coming to a stop.
"Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Blastoise use Dig!"
A burst of lightning shot at Blastoise as the large tortoise continued its journey underground, the mud absorbing the attack.
"Pikachu be ready!"
"Blastoise now!"
Gilbert's Blastoise shot out of the ground, sending Pikachu flying into the air.
"Pikachu use Thunder!"
"Blastoise use Hydro Pump!"
Electricity surrounded Pikachu as he began falling towards the ground, being sent back up by the jet stream of water. Pikachu finally landed on the ground very exhausted.
"Blastoise use Hydro Pump!"
"Pikachu use Mimic!"
Two blasts of water shot out of either of Blastoise's cannon, as a third shot back at them from Pikachu's mouth, pushing back and forth.
"Blastoise use Skull Bash!"
"Pikachu use Thunder!"
A burst of smoke, mud, and water shot out in every direction showing both of the starter Pokemon on the ground defeated.
"Raaaaa." Rapidash said, trotting up to Ash.
"Hey girl." Ash said. "I'm feeling a lot better now." Ash added, grabbing his jacket.
"Good to hear, listen, the gym leader here Blaine, he was big on the news last year. Coming out about all the unethical experiments he had been a part of thinking he was helping people. Well now he's making leaps and bounds in medicine, talk with him about what happened, he'll understand." Gilbert said.
"Thanks again Gilbert." Ash said.
"Don't mention it, next time we meet, we'll be bitter rivals again." Gilbert said, walking off.
"I guess I was wrong about him, maybe Gilbert has changed." Cassie said with a smile.
"I think he has." Ash added. "I really think this journey has changed him."
Back at the Team Rocket Head Quarters
"How is the project going?" Kazor asked.
"Cellular regeneration takes time, especially with an incomplete sample, I still don't know why you have us using only a third of it right now." Xia said with an annoyed tone.
"All in due time, all in due time Xia." Kazor said. Looking at the large test tube in front of him. A small body like shape growing inside of it.