A gust of cold air slipped through Ash's jacket as he walked, crunching lightly through the snow-covered streets.
The city had quieted down, most people having already gone home for the night. Streetlamps cast a golden glow over the sidewalks, their light flickering against the soft trickle of snow.
Up ahead, the ever-lively group of girls chatted away as they made their way to the performers' motel, ready to send off Serena and Aria for the night. The Showcase was again early tomorrow, and Aria was practically dragging Serena back to their motel to get some much-needed rest. There was no way she was letting her wake up late for a second time…
"That was such a fun night!" Dawn stretched her arms above her head, her breath visible in the cold air. "I think I might've eaten too much, though…"
"You definitely ate too much." Chloe affirmed with a smirk.
Serena giggled, before admitting, "That stop at the pastry shop after eating probably didn't help…"
"Hey!" Dawn shot back, grinning. "If you're gonna perform tomorrow, you're gonna need all the energy you can get."
Aria hummed in amusement, a bit behind the group of girls. "That's one way to justify it."
The conversation kept flowing, playful, lighthearted. Even Serena, who had been a little quieter after their dinner, was smiling. Ash could hear them, but their words felt distant, like background noise.
He lagged behind without meaning to. His hands rested in his pockets, head slightly lowered, though a faint smile lingered on his face. He told himself he was just tired, and figured a good night's sleep should do him some good…
"Woah! Look at that!"
Chloe's excited words made Ash lift his head back up, wondering what she had spotted. Chloe pointed to a row of televisions flickering behind a shop window nearby, their bright screens illuminating the dimly lit street.
The group stopped in front of the shop, observing curiously as a news report from today's theme performance seemed to be replaying.
"It was a spectacular first day at the Snowbelle City Showcase, and the performers truly gave it their all, despite the harsh weather onstage!"
The anchor's voice was crisp and enthusiastic, carrying through the speakers. The screen shifted to highlights from the competition—graceful Pokémon, dazzling moves, and the lively energy of the cheering crowd—before flickering back to a close-up of Serena's final performance.
Serena stiffened, her eyes widening at the sight of herself taking center stage. She hadn't expected to be front and center on the screen like that. Dawn nudged her excitedly, snapping her out of it and making her laugh, albeit a bit sheepishly.
"And of course, we can't forget performer Serena, who continues to impress since coming back from her Contest stints in Hoenn! Many are calling her one of the favorites to win it all tomorrow—"
Serena blinked, her face turning pink. "I-I wouldn't say that…"
Aria tilted her head, her smirk growing. "Well, it's good they think that way. But don't let it get to your head, okay?"
Serena pouted, crossing her arms. "I wasn't!"
Ash smiled at Serena and Aria's interaction. Of course, she'd be the favorite… With how amazing she was, and always had been…
The screen quickly flashed through a few more highlights before transitioning to a new segment, pulling Ash's attention.
And also making his stomach drop.
"Meanwhile, the Masters Eight tournament is fast approaching, and the excitement couldn't be higher! All eyes are on the world's strongest trainers, who will soon battle it out to determine the best of the best!"
Ash's eyes widened as footage from the final promotion battles played, including his own hard-fought match against Raihan.
Everyone turned to Ash, waiting for his reaction, but only Serena spoke up.
Her eyes flickered with excitement as she turned to him with a bright smile. "Ash! You're on TV too!"
A small chuckle was all Ash managed as a reaction before refocusing on the broadcast. Two well-dressed analysts sat at a sleek news desk, their expressions sharp and engaged. A banner at the bottom of the screen read: Masters Eight Analysis – Breaking Down the Competition.
The analyst briefly talked about statistics and data that Ash was sure he would never understand, before shifting their conversation to the competitors.
"Of course, one of the biggest names to watch is our very own Kalos Champion, Diantha. She's been an incredibly consistent force in the tournament, and from what we've gathered, she's taking this year's competition more seriously than ever."
"That's right. She even mentioned in a recent interview that she's seeking the strongest opponents to prepare for the battles ahead. It really speaks to how stacked this tournament is going to be!"
At the mention of Diantha, Chloe and Dawn's eyes lit up with interest, while Serena smiled knowingly. Ash, however, remained frozen to the screen.
Aria quirked an eyebrow, recalling that interview—she had actually been part of it—but didn't dwell on the thought for long.
"And then we've got Alain, another powerful contender from Kalos. He's been climbing the ranks ever since his big victory in the Lumiose Conference, and many expect him to be a major threat this time around."
"Absolutely. He's known for his aggressive battle style and remarkable Mega Evolution strategies. A lot of people think he could be a serious challenge even for some of the top-seeded trainers."
Dawn and Chloe exchanged curious glances, unfamiliar with Alain. Serena, on the other hand, instinctively glanced at Ash, a fond smile tugging at her lips as she recalled their history with Alain.
But his eyes didn't meet hers as she expected. Serena's smile faltered, noticing how Ash was completely fixed on the report on screen.
Ash's eyes stayed glued to the screen, oblivious to everything else. His chest felt tight, a restless energy stirring inside him. He felt like his brain was working overtime, trying to absorb every word spoken by the analyst. He figured it made sense for them to talk about Diantha and Alain, the two trainers from Kalos in the tournament… The bias was fair enough, he supposed…
"And speaking of trainers to watch, there's also the newest—and arguably most surprising—entrant in the Masters Eight…"
…Which is why he wasn't really ready for them to talk about him.
"Ash Ketchum, the reigning Alolan champion."
The screen flickered to an image of Ash in his battle stance, his Pikachu by his side. Chloe glanced over at Ash, noticing the way his shoulders seemed to tense as his name was called, causing her to worry a bit. Out of everyone, she understood his situation the most, and she could almost sense the tension creeping up on him.
Thankfully, Dawn is Dawn.
"You guys look funny in a serious battle stance." she quipped with a giggle, shattering the quiet instilled just like that.
"I-I don't do it on purpose!" Ash blurted out at Dawn in embarrassment. Even Pikachu squeaked in protest, puffing out his cheeks.
The group shared a laugh at their outburst, and even Ash smiled a little seeing the funny side of things. For a fleeting moment, it almost felt normal again.
Unfortunately, the funny mood instilled by Dawn's comment sank just as quickly as it lifted after the analysts' next comments.
"There's no doubt he's got talent, but this is completely new territory for him. He's never competed on a stage quite like this before, and some are wondering if his aggressive, unpredictable style can really hold up against the experience of the other competitors."
Ash's smile quickly dimmed, and he unintentionally bit his lip.
"Yeah, I mean, he's got incredible instincts, but this level of competition is a whole different beast. Sure, he won the Alola League, but every single other competitor has won MAJOR competitions! Big conferences, entire leagues! Not recent small competitions like the Alola league! Besides, Alola is not necessarily recognized for its battle prowess..."
…
It almost seemed like the wind carried the analyst's words away, but the weight of them lingered.
Dawn instinctively looked around, her chest tightening at the silence that followed.
Chloe had pressed her lips into a thin line, her fingers subtly fidgeting with her sleeve. Serena, on the other hand, hadn't moved an inch, her eyes locked on Ash with an unreadable expression.
Even Aria blinked, her lips parting slightly as if she couldn't believe what she'd just heard. Sure, she knew the competition was intense, but to belittle an entire region like that... especially when she'd heard Ash's name circulating around Kalos after he made it into the Masters Eight. Granted, she never knew whether the talk was positive or not, but hearing analysts tear him down like this wasn't what she expected.
The silence stretched for a good while, nobody really knowing what or how to react to that.
Eventually, Dawn had enough of it.
"Hey, what's with that!" Dawn exclaimed rather loudly, clearly offended on Ash's behalf. "What do they know!? All they do is sit at their desk and look pretty!"
Chloe tried to calm her down, though she didn't put much effort into it—because, really, Dawn had a point. The analysts seemed unnecessarily harsh. On a whole region as well? Come on!
Serena meanwhile, stayed silent.
She hadn't scoffed. Hadn't frowned. Hadn't even reacted to the analysts' words.
Because she was too busy watching Ash.
His shoulders had gone rigid, his usual easygoing expression wiped away. He wasn't laughing it off or making a confident remark like she would have expected. Instead, he just stared at the screen, unmoving.
Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, flicked his ears, sparks cracking from his cheeks, clearly a little irritated by the comments, as he should be. Serena didn't know much about Ash's attachment to Alola, but considering that's where he first won his only ever league competition, there was no way he would just brush that off.
Dawn was right—it was unfair. Those analysts had never seen Ash battle in person. Anyone who had would know just how incredible he was. Serena would be the first to remind them of that!
Not that she usually needed to. Ash had always let his battles speak for themselves. She'd seen him face impossible odds, push forward no matter what stood in his way, and silence any doubts with nothing but sheer determination.
But this… this was different.
Ash's expression hadn't changed. He simply stared into the shop window, unmoving. His fists weren't clenched. His posture wasn't slouched. There wasn't even a frown on his face.
And that's what unsettled her the most.
This wasn't frustration. It wasn't defiance.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
For the first time, Serena wondered if maybe, just maybe, he wasn't brushing off the doubts from others. That, instead of shaking them away like he always did, he was letting them sink in.
Then, just as the thought settled in her mind…
"Ash…"
Ash blinked. His fingers twitched slightly at his sides. Then, without missing a beat…
"Welp, guess we'll just have to show them what we're really about, right Pikachu?" He suddenly spoke up, as he turned to his partner with his usual smile.
Pikachu's ears flicked, and he tilted his head, letting out a soft, questioning chirp. Just moments ago, his trainer had been completely still, locked in place by the analysts' words...
Still, after a brief pause, Pikachu's eyes gleamed with determination, and he flashed a confident grin, eager to follow Ash's lead—no matter what.
Dawn meanwhile, crossed her arms with a huff. "Tch. As if you even need to prove anything to them."
"Right?" Chloe added, though her tone was more thoughtful. She glanced at Ash, but whatever was on her mind, she chose not to say.
Serena didn't say anything at first. She studied Ash for a second longer—his easy grin, the confidence in his voice—but then, with a small breath, she let it go.
"Definitely." she finally said, forcing a lightness to her tone, mustering up the courage to smile at Ash in support.
The group continued walking to the performers' motel, albeit a bit quieter. It didn't take long for them to reach their location. Serena and Aria stopped at the entrance to the motel, ready to say their goodbyes.
"Well, I guess this is where we part ways for today…" Aria started, seeing Serena a little hesitant. "We'll see you guys at the Showcase tomorrow, right?"
"Of course! We wouldn't miss it for anything!" Dawn affirmed with her usual chirpiness. "I know you're going to be great, Serena!"
"Thanks Dawn…" Serena said with a small chuckle, before turning to Chloe. "It was great to see you again Chloe, sorry I never told you about this."
Chloe smiled. "You can make it up to me by winning the Showcase tomorrow."
"I'll do my best, you can count on it." Serena matched Chloe's smile, before finally turning to Ash.
She hesitated in front of him, her words caught in her throat for a moment. There was so much she wanted to say—about how happy she was to see him, about how she'd thought of this moment for so long. But as she looked at him, that joy tangled with something else. He was smiling, but there was a flicker of something beneath it. Something she couldn't quite place, but it pulled at her chest nonetheless.
Thankfully, Ash broke the silence for her.
"I'll be rooting for you." He said, rather softly, but with conviction.
Serena smiled back, a very light hint of rosiness in her cheeks appearing. "I know you will…"
A small silence settled between them, and Serena could feel the words she hadn't said hang in the air. The things she wanted to share, the way she wanted to say just a little more... but before she could gather her thoughts, she found herself blurting out,
"I'll see you tomorrow… right?"
Her voice wavered slightly, the suddenness of her words causing another brief pause. She tried to keep her tone light, but the question lingered, almost as if she were seeking something more than just a casual goodbye.
Almost as if she was seeking a promise instead.
Ash blinked, as if surprised by the question, but quickly recovered with a reassuring smile.
"Of course." His tone was steady, his usual confidence coming back into place. "I'll be there."
Serena held his gaze for a moment longer, her heart pounding in her chest as a smile grew on her face. She wanted to believe that smile of his, wanted to believe nothing had changed—that things could go back to how they were tomorrow. But the way he'd gone quiet earlier, the way he'd flinched ever so slightly at the analysts' words, the way he'd been acting this whole day really... it gnawed at her.
She wanted to say more, to ask if he was okay, to tell him she was there if he ever needed her. But with Aria already pulling at her sleeve, it was clear their time had run out.
"Come on," Aria said gently, though there was a trace of knowing in her voice. "I don't want you to wake up late again…"
Serena lingered for just a second longer, her fingers curling slightly at her sides.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," she finally said with a soft chuckle, though the sound didn't quite feel as good as she had hoped. She stepped back, offering Ash and the others one final smile, a little softer than before, and waved as she turned to follow Aria into the motel.
The trio waved as Serena and Aria disappeared into the motel. The night felt a little quieter now, a little heavier too.
"Well, guess it's just us now," Dawn said with a small chuckle, trying to keep things light.
"Yeah," Ash said, his voice distant again. His eyes lingered on the door where Serena and Aria had just entered, before adding, "We should head back. Get some rest for tomorrow."
Chloe, who had stayed quiet, nodded without saying much. She noticed the shift in Ash's tone but didn't press him on it. Dawn seemed to pick up on it too, but neither of them knew what to say.
"Right," Dawn said after a pause. "Tomorrow's a big day, after all."
Ash nodded, a stiff smile briefly pulling at his lips. "Yeah… big day."
Without another word, the trio turned and started heading back to their hotel. The night air was still and cool, the sound of their footsteps the only thing breaking the quiet.
Eventually, Chloe and Dawn started chatting again, comparing the performances they had seen today with what they expected for tomorrow. Their voices were engaged, but lacked the same liveliness from earlier. Ash stayed in the comfort of his silence, his thoughts pulling him elsewhere again.
The day had been quite the roller coaster of emotions. Waking up late, going to see a Showcase after so long, the turmoil of thoughts about the Masters Eight, and, of course…
Serena.
Ash let out a quiet chuckle. Frankly, he still couldn't believe it. It had been so sudden, so unexpected—yet the feeling in his chest when he saw her onstage again, the way everything else seemed to blur the moment he noticed that familiar ribbon under the spotlights… It was something he couldn't put into words.
And yet, when the moments came to talk to her again, to reconnect, all he gave her was… that.
A reunion that should have been something to hold onto had turned into something frustratingly out of reach. He wasn't even sure if she noticed, but he did. He had been distant, stuck in his own head instead of just being himself with her. And now that it was over, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had let, and was letting, something meaningful slip through his fingers.
He sighed through his nose, shifting his gaze toward the pavement. That wasn't the Ash she remembered. That wasn't the Ash he wanted to be.
All because of that stupid tournament.
And, as if things weren't as bad enough as they were, that broadcast just had to make things worse…
Those analysts, sitting in their cushy seats, talking like they knew him, downplaying everything he had worked for, and, most irritating of all…
Dismissing the place that meant more to him than any trophy ever could.
Ash felt his grip on his jacket tighten.
He had laughed it off in front of the others, brushing it aside as some dumb opinions, but deep inside, the words stuck.
Alola wasn't a "soft" region. It wasn't some joke to brush off in favor of the so-called "real" leagues. It was where he became Champion. Where he had some of his most important battles, met some of his closest friends—where he grew.
And if people couldn't see that, then maybe he hadn't shown them enough.
A weight settled in his chest. This wasn't just about proving something to those analysts. Honestly, that was the least of it.
It was about proving something to himself.
His breath came out a little heavier, his fists clenching before he forced them to relax.
No. He wasn't going to sit here and dwell on this.
It didn't matter how "stuck" he was. It didn't matter if his training hadn't been going the way he wanted. None of it mattered anymore. He had to do better. He had to push himself harder.
Ash shook his head annoyingly, irritatingly.
He was being dumb about this whole thing. Why was he thinking about how he got to this point? What did it matter how he managed to get into this mess by himself? How he let things spiral like this?
It wasn't going to change anything.
Wasting time trying to figure out what was wrong, what was right, what was off, what was messing with his head… It was all just noise. Noise that had been holding him back when he needed to be moving forward.
He shouldn't be worrying about that… he couldn't afford to be worrying about that. He was running out of time.
Ash inhaled sharply, steadying himself. His emotions still twisted inside him, but he shoved them aside, forcing them into something useful. None of it mattered anymore. The Masters Eight was right in front of him.
He needed to shape up.
He had to shape up.
Right. Now.
A sudden burst of energy surged through him, as if his body refused to let him stay still any longer.
"I'm gonna go train," he said abruptly, breaking the silence.
Chloe and Dawn, mid-conversation, stopped in their tracks. They both blinked as they glanced at each other, before turning to Ash behind them. "Huh?"
"Right now?" Chloe added, frowning.
Ash lowered his gaze briefly, tugging his hat down slightly to hide his face a bit, before nodding. "Yeah. Just for a bit."
Dawn hesitated. "Ash, we've had a long day. Maybe you should—"
"I'll catch up later," he said, already turning on his heel. "I just need to—" He cut himself off. "I'll see you guys back at the Pokemon Center."
Before either of them could protest, he was already walking off, his steps quick and purposeful.
The emotions, the frustration, the anger burning low in his chest—he needed to shake it off. He needed to do something.
And right now, the only thing he could think to do was train.
The soft hum of the city outside barely reached the room, and in the quiet, Serena found herself lying wide awake, her eyes fixed on the ceiling above. The room was bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the curtains, mixed with the faint light of the nearby desk lamp.
She had pretty much done everything she needed to before hitting the hay—changed into her nightwear, said goodnight to her Pokémon, and gone over her notes for the freestyle performance tomorrow.
Yet, she had been trying to sleep for what felt like hours now.
No matter how hard she tried to focus on anything else, her thoughts kept drifting back to the events of the day.
Serena exhaled slowly, her eyes tracing the cracks in the ceiling above. The day had been a whirlwind—a rush of emotions and surprises she hadn't quite expected. From the moment she stepped onto that stage in the spotlight, to the unbelievable revelations that followed, it felt like everything had happened in a blur.
She didn't even have time to appreciate or think back to her performance, before suddenly being thrown into a mix of emotions she hadn't felt in a while.
All because of that dense trainer from Kanto.
Serena chuckled at that thought. She had to give it to him, he really caught her off guard this time. Granted, she wasn't quite prepared for what happened in Hoenn either… but, this time, he was the one to see her first, not the other way around.
A creek of the bathroom door broke her train of thought, and Serena didn't need to look to know it was Aria, having finished her bath. The familiar sound of soft footsteps padded across the floor until they stopped next to the desk, where Aria's voice eventually broke the silence,
"Still awake?" she asked, a bit unnecessarily, she'd admit.
Serena smiled before sighing. "Sorry… I told you, it's always hard to sleep before a performance."
Aria's giggles immediately came from across the room. "Oh, I'm sure it's the performance keeping you up," she said, playfully tossing a glance over her shoulder.
Serena let out a fake groan, even though she was half-smiling. "Can you blame me?" she said, rolling onto her side so she could see her friend properly in the dim light of the room.
Aria, having finished fixing her hair, turned around in her chair to face her. She sighed. "I guess I can't…"
"I'm still annoyed you didn't tell me beforehand!" Serena complained, glancing back up to the ceiling.
"Hey, don't put this on me!" Aria argued back. "I had no idea either before yesterday… and I thought it'd be better if I just let things play out!"
Serena didn't reply, mainly because she knew Aria had a point.
Aria's playful grin didn't fade as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Come on, you didn't seem to complain when I brought him backstage… especially judging by how you reacted when you saw–"
"Okay… I get it!" Serena cut Aria off, not wanting to be reminded of that.
Aria giggled again before standing up from the desk, only to sit on her bed beside Serena's. "Well, for what it's worth, I'm really glad you two got to see each other again." She said softly with a smile.
Serena smiled back, but there was a bittersweetness to it. She sat up a little, pulling her knees to her chest, before letting out a quiet sigh. "Yeah... I never expected things to go the way they did today." She bit her lip, trying to focus on the positive, but something lingered in the back of her mind.
Noticing her friend's hesitation, Aria tilted her head. "You don't sound entirely sure about it, though… I thought you were excited to see him?"
Serena's smile faded a little as she glanced back up at the ceiling, the soft glow of moonlight making the room feel quiet and distant. "I was… I am. But something feels a little off."
Aria raised an eyebrow, her tone more thoughtful now. "What do you mean?"
Serena bit her lip again, not sure how to put what she wanted to express into words. "Last time we saw each other… everything felt perfect, as if the stars aligned for us to meet again. There was something about the way I got to see him again after so long that... felt like a dream I didn't want to wake up from…"
Her voice softened, before continuing. "But today... I don't know. Something just felt different."
Aria stayed quiet, letting Serena gather her thoughts.
"I'm not saying it was bad…" Serena continued carefully, "Maybe it was because we were all together—Chloe, Dawn, and you. I loved getting to spend time with everyone, don't get me wrong. I was really happy to see Chloe again! And Dawn is so friendly. It felt amazing to walk around as a group again... I hadn't done that in a while."
She paused, before pulling her knees closer to her chest. Her fingers tightened around her legs, before continuing. "But with Ash... it almost felt like there was a bit of a distance between us. Like he was there, but at the same time... he wasn't."
Aria remained silent for a moment, letting the weight of her friend's feelings settle. Her thoughts started swirling as she tried to find the right words to say to Serena.
She had noticed it, too, the subtle shifts in Ash's demeanor, the way he seemed more withdrawn, even though he was clearly glad to see Serena again. Aria could guess what was on his mind, though it wasn't something she could easily explain to Serena. Or, if it was even her place to.
She watched Serena's thoughtful expression, her friend clearly in turmoil, and Aria couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. She knew she shouldn't be the one to tell Serena about what was possibly weighing on Ash, but she also didn't want Serena to start blaming herself for whatever felt off between them. Knowing her, she was probably soon ready to do just that…
Regardless, Aria knew it wasn't the right thing for her to spill everything to Serena. She just had to hope Ash would come to seek her out himself and explain his side of things.
Aria sighed, leaning back on her hands. "Maybe he's just… distracted." she finally said, keeping her tone casual. "He probably has a lot on his mind, you know?"
Serena took a deep breath, and for a moment, her gaze softened as she looked at Aria. "You're right," she said with a small smile, though there was still a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "Maybe I'm just overthinking things. I know Ash has a lot on his plate right now, with the Masters Eight and everything."
Aria nodded, offering a supportive smile, but stayed quiet to let Serena sort through her thoughts.
"But even if things felt a little different today..." Serena continued, her voice more confident now. "That doesn't change how I feel about him. He still means the world to me, Aria." She looked down at her hands for a moment, her fingers fiddling with a familiar ribbon she had reattached to her wrist. A smile quickly grew on her face.
"No matter what's going on, I just want to be there for him. He's always been important to me, and I'm not going to let something small like this make me doubt that."
Aria's heart swelled at her friend's words. She had known Serena's feelings for Ash ran deep, but hearing her say it so openly brought a warmth to the room, causing Aria's smile to grow.
"I can see that," she said, her voice soft but filled with sincerity. "And honestly? I think he's hoping for that too. You should've seen his face when he appeared on stage…"
Serena's cheeks flushed slightly, her heart fluttering at the thought of him reacting to seeing her again. When she thought about it, it was probably for the best that Aria didn't tell her he would be watching; she probably would've been way more nervous.
"Well, you should really get some rest," Aria said, flashing a playful grin as she shifted to lie down. "You want to dazzle him again tomorrow, don't you?"
"Of course!" Serena exclaimed, flopping down onto her bed beside Aria's. "I'll show him just how much I've improved since we went our separate ways!"
'And I'll make sure he sees the person I've grown into,' She added silently, the thought making her smile, though she kept it to herself for now. Aria didn't need to know about that promise just yet…
Aria chuckled, adjusting her blanket as she snuggled into her pillow. "Alright, calm down, hotshot..." she teased, her voice muffled by the covers. "I'm sure he's bound to notice, if he hasn't already."
Serena's heart lifted at her friend's words, the last traces of doubt slowly fading away.
"Thanks, Aria," she whispered with a soft, grateful, voice.
Aria turned onto her side, glancing at Serena one last time with her usual teasing expression. "Goodnight, Serena. Dream of something nice… or someone."
Serena giggled, tucking herself under the covers as well. "'Night, Aria."
As the room fell into the comfortable silence of night, Serena stared at the ceiling for a few more moments, her fingers once again tracing the familiar ribbon on her wrist.
Her mind was still swirling with thoughts of Ash, but with Aria's support and her own unwavering feelings, she felt a renewed sense of determination.
She was going to win that Showcase tomorrow and show Ash what he had missed in Hoenn. And after that, whatever was going on with him, she'd be there, no matter what.
Still, as her eyes grew heavy, her fingers lingered on the ribbon a little longer. She couldn't help but wish he had said something about it today...
The sound of ice cracking under immense pressure filled the air. A sharp gust of cold wind lashed against Ash's face, but he barely flinched. His breath came in short, steady bursts, the adrenaline in his veins doing little to warm him against the frigid battlefield. Despite this, he wasn't thinking about the chill.
Right now, there was only the battle, nothing else.
"Thunderbolt!" His voice was sharp, unrelenting.
A burst of energy exploded across the field, the clash of attacks sending shards of ice flying in every direction. The impact rumbled beneath his feet, but Ash held his ground, his fists clenched at his sides. The battle had been raging for what felt like hours, but at this point, he couldn't care less.
Dragonite might have already faltered...
Lucario might have also already faltered, despite somehow taking down a Pokemon with him…
But he didn't care.
A part of him knew he was pushing too hard, that his mind wasn't in the right place. But he didn't care about that either.
Because if he stopped—if he let himself think—then the thoughts he had spent all day running from would catch up to him.
And he wasn't ready for that.
"Get in there, Quick Attack!" Ash practically gritted through his teeth, pointing at his opponent in pure determination.
Although, not the best kind of determination.
Pikachu, unwavering despite the circumstances, rushed forward in the blink of an eye. His eyes burned with the same dark fire as his trainer's. At the very least, they had that going for them...
"That again!? Don't you learn!" came a sharp voice from across the field. He sounded almost frustrated, annoyed. "Abomasnow, Ice Shard!"
Ash's eyes widened as he saw the opposing Abomasnow's breath turn icy blue, before launching a barrage of sharp, jagged ice directly toward Pikachu.
Pikachu let out a small gasp as he saw projectiles quickly race towards him. Ash didn't say anything but there was no way Pikachu was letting himself get hit by that… again.
Ash lit up momentarily as he saw Pikachu weave through the incoming shards successfully, slipping past most of them, though a few grazed his fur. Still, he was finally through!
Now was his chance!
"Alright, Pikachu, use—"
A deafening boom cut through the air.
Ash barely had time to process it before his eyes snapped upward, just in time to see Pikachu sent hurtling through the air, crashing hard into the battlefield wall.
His breath was caught. What—how did he miss that Ice Punch!?
"You're not focusing!" The voice from the other side of the battlefield snapped again, angry and unforgiving. It was clear this whole thing was starting to get on his nerves.
Ash didn't answer. He couldn't. His heart pounded as his gaze locked onto Pikachu, who groggily pushed himself up from the rubble. Still standing, but barely.
Ash's fists clenched at his sides. He could almost feel his pulse pound in his head, and his breath came in quick, uneven bursts.
Pikachu was struggling. That much was obvious. But instead of thinking, instead of strategizing, Ash just gritted his teeth.
He wasn't going to lose. He couldn't lose.
"Pikachu, get up!" His voice was harsher than he intended, but he didn't correct himself. He just needed to keep going—keep moving forward.
Pikachu let out a small, determined cry as he staggered back onto all fours. His ears twitched, waiting for the next command.
Across the field, a big, imposing man wearing a blue cape studied Ash carefully, his breath still heavy from the battle. His brows knit together as he tried to make sense of the situation. The gym was supposed to be closed by now—he hadn't expected anyone to show up this late, let alone Ash, of all people.
It had been ages since they'd last seen each other, and now Ash had appeared without warning, demanding a battle like his life depended on it. There hadn't been much of an explanation, just a quiet, determined look in his eyes that a Gym Leader like him couldn't ignore.
Yet, this wasn't what he was expecting at all. And it definitely wasn't what he had hoped for, either.
Wulfric exhaled sharply, folding his arms. "This isn't like you, Ash," he finally said, his voice low but steady. "Your head's not in it, and it shows."
Ash's nails dug into his palms. "That's not—" He cut himself off, shaking his head. He wasn't in the mood for this.
"Iron Tail!"
Pikachu leaped forward, his tail glowing silver as he spun in midair. It was fast, but—
"Wood Hammer."
Abomasnow barely flinched. With terrifying force, it swung a massive, glowing green arm upward, colliding straight into Pikachu before his attack could even land.
Ash barely had time to react before Pikachu was slammed back into the ground. The battlefield shook with the impact.
Ash's breath hitched. "Pikachu!"
For a few agonizing seconds, Pikachu didn't move. The dust settled, and the silence that followed was suffocating.
Then, a weak sound, Pikachu's voice, strained but still there.
Abomasnow was still towering over Pikachu, staring at him with the same look it would have with any other opponent. Except, this time, Abomasnow didn't feel particularly satisfied about it.
Ash let out a breath as Pikachu tiredly retreated to his side of the battlefield, but it felt hollow. Somehow, Pikachu's look hadn't changed.
His Pokemon were giving everything they had, and he was pushing himself to match them... so why wasn't it enough?
He swallowed hard, frustration burning at the edges of his thoughts.
No—don't think about that.
He had to win. Because if he didn't, then what had all of this been for?
Ash anxiously looked around, trying to think of something, anything, to turn the tides, but nothing came to mind.
Studying the battlefield filled with dents, holes, and debris, only reminded him of how much of a beaten three of his Pokemon had taken from just Avalugg and Abomasnow, even if Lucario had managed to take Avalugg down through pure brute force alone. Analyzing Wulfric standing steady with a barely touched Abamasnow and still a Pokemon left in reserve only made him feel worse about how badly he was losing to a Gym Leader he had already beaten a long time ago. And looking at the empty stands of the almost entirely vacant Snowbelle City Gym only made him think of the visions he had of Wyndon Stadium, so Ash avoided his eyes wandering over there at all costs.
To say it lightly, things were going horribly.
Across the field, Wulfric kept a firm eye on him. Then, with a small shake of his head, he spoke again.
"Battles aren't just about brute force, Ash. You of all people should know that."
His voice was calm, but his eyes—those sharp, knowing eyes—made something twist inside Ash's chest.
"I don't know what's going on with you," Wulfric continued, "but if you think you can outrun it by throwing yourself into battle, it's not working."
Ash stiffened, but his mouth refused to stay quiet and listen.
"Iron Tail, again!"
Pikachu shook his head, shaking off the damage he had taken already, before rushing towards Abomasnow again. In another situation, he might've been able to make the rational decision to not do what Ash just ordered, but he wanted to win this just as badly as Ash did, so his mind wasn't much brighter than his trainer's.
Wulfric didn't even need to say anything for Abomasnow to slam his fist to the ground, creating glowing gold cracks that traveled toward Pikachu.
Pikachu didn't react fast enough to dodge the Earth Power that erupted beneath him, an orange explosion ripping through the battlefield and launching him toward Ash, again.
Time seemed to freeze as Ash's eyes tracked Pikachu's battered body hurtling toward him. He almost thought time might stay that way forever, locking him in place, forced to watch his Pokémon get beaten down by a Gym Leader he'd already beaten before. But Wulfric's next words shattered that illusion, dragging him back to reality.
Whilst also giving Ash a reality check he desperately didn't want to hear.
"If you can't even beat me, let alone convincingly, you might as well forfeit the tournament right now."
Ash flinched as he saw Pikachu whizz past him in a split-second before hearing the familiar sound of his Pokemon harshly colliding with the Gym wall.
The referee, the only other human in the building this late in the night, didn't even need to double-check Pikachu's condition to make the call.
"Pikachu is unable to battle, Wulfric wins!"
...
Ash didn't move.
The referee's words barely registered, drowned out by the dull ringing in his ears. Across the battlefield, Abomasnow exhaled heavily, lowering its arms. Wulfric stood firm, his expression unreadable, but his gaze never wavered from Ash.
After a few silent moments, Ash turned, slowly, to where his partner laid against the wall. Pikachu had been through worse before—he knew that—but seeing him like this, completely still for those few agonizing seconds before weakly stirring, made Ash's stomach churn.
He wanted to run over, to pick him up, to do something, but his legs felt locked in place. His fists clenched at his sides once again. His chest felt hollow.
Was this really all he had?
Pikachu pushed himself up with trembling arms. Ash took a step forward, but Pikachu was already shaking his head—I'm okay.
No, he wasn't.
And neither was Ash.
Across the battlefield, Wulfric exhaled through his nose. His sharp eyes lingered on Ash, watching, thinking, waiting.
This wasn't the Ash he had faced before. Not even close.
He had respected that Ash, admired his spirit and drive. But this one… this one was lost. And Wulfric hated that he had to do this to him. Still, this was a lesson that needed to be learned.
He was rooting for this kid, ever since he first beat his Gym way back when, he really was…
Which is exactly why he needed to set him straight. Or at least try the best he could.
He stepped forward, the sound of his boots crunching against the frozen battlefield.
Ash didn't look up. His gaze was locked on the ground, his mind a mess of frustration, exhaustion, and something heavier he wasn't ready to name.
Wulfric kept walking, slowly, purposefully, toward him.
A/N: Hello! Just a heads up, no ETA for next update, but as always, I promise I'm working on it!
Ash is sure in rough spot right now, how will he ever bounce back from this!? (´・ω・`)
Hopefully we'll find out soon! For now, until next time, see ya!