"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer's voice boomed across the speakers. "This is it, the Silver Conference semifinals! Whoever wins this one secures their spot in the finals, so I won't bore you. I know why you're here, give it up for Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and Gary Oak of Pallet Town!"
The crowd erupted again, chanting as Ash and Gary took their positions. Ash stretched his neck while Gary rolled his shoulders, that usual smirk on his face like he wasn't still thinking about everything.
"This will be a three-on-three battle!" the announcer continued. "Only one Pokémon may be used at a time. Trainers, send out your first Pokémon!" At that, Ash and Gary threw out their Poké Balls.
"Kingdra!"
"Ampharos!"
On both sides, Gary's Kingdra and Ash's Ampharos stomped onto the field, glaring at each other, just waiting for permission to start fighting.
Ash and Gary didn't need more than that, as soon as their Pokémon hit the field, they raised their arms immediately.
"Kingdra, [Dragon Pulse]!" Gary shouted.
"Ampharos, [Thunderbolt], now!" Ash commanded.
Kingdra reared back, charging a swirling orb of dragon energy in its mouth. At the same instant, Ampharos' body lit up with electricity, arcs of lightning dancing violently around its frame before launching forward.
The clash between [Dragon Pulse] and [Thunderbolt] exploded in a burst of light like an impact frame, forcing both Pokémon to skid back from the shockwave.
"Kingdra, [Surf]!" Gary ordered sharply.
Kingdra let out a cry, slamming its tail into the ground. Water started flowing up from the earth, building into a wave that it leapt into. The surging wave rolled across the battlefield toward Ampharos.
Ash swiped his arm. "Ampharos, hold your ground! Counter with [Thunder Wave]!"
Ampharos braced himself, letting out a crackling pulse of electricity that spread through the water like a net. The wave crashed against him, but he dug his feet into the ground, tanking it and charging up even more electricity as Electromorphosis activated. Meanwhile, Kingdra flinched mid-surge as static wrapped around it, about to paralyze it.
Gary gritted his teeth. "Tch—Kingdra, spin it off with [Twister]!"
The seahorse Pokémon forced its body into a rapid spiral, whipping up a violent tornado of wind and water that both dispersed some of the paralysis and hurled the residual electricity into the sky. Just like Silver, and kind of Misty, this was clearly copied from Ash's [Counter Shield].
"Huh… you know enough people use it, that I really should get it copyrighted," Ash tapped his chin, then shook his head. "Thoughts for later. Ampharos, [Thunder Punch]!"
Ampharos huffed, dug his feet into the ground, and leapt toward the spinning Twister Kingdra was in. His fist ignited with electricity, and with one powered-up hit, he punched Kingdra right out of the Twister, sending it crashing into a rock.
Kingdra fell and shook itself to recover. As it did, it saw Ampharos still rushing toward it, trying to speed-blitz with another [Thunder Punch].
This time Gary didn't let it happen. "Kingdra, don't take it head-on, [Agility], then [Dragon Breath]!"
In a flash, Kingdra darted sideways with a burst of speed, Ampharos' fist just grazing its scales. Before Ampharos could land, Kingdra exhaled a torrent of purple flames, striking Ampharos in the back and sending the sheep to its knees, but charging it up again.
Ash snapped his fingers. "Alright then, let's take it up a notch, Ampharos, [Tail Glow], then [Charge Beam]!"
Ampharos thrust his arms forward, gathering the crackling energy around him into a concentrated yellow beam that lanced straight toward Kingdra.
Gary's eyes narrowed. "Not gonna hit us with that! Kingdra, dive under with [Dive]!"
Kingdra's sleek body slipped beneath the battlefield pool left behind from [Surf], vanishing in a ripple just before the [Charge Beam] cut through. The attack blasted apart the rock behind it, leaving a smoking crater.
Ampharos looked around, waiting to see where Kingdra would fly out to try and hit him, but he didn't see any openings. Gary did.
"Now!" Gary thrust his arm. "Kingdra, [Ice Beam]!"
Kingdra burst from the water behind Ampharos, frost already swirling at its snout before firing a jagged beam of ice.
But Ash was ready. "Turn and [Focus Blast]!"
Ampharos spun on his heel, a sphere of orange ki gathering in his palms before he hurled it into the path of the [Ice Beam]. The two attacks collided with a deafening crack, shards of ice scattering across the field as the explosion sent both Pokémon skidding back.
Ash smiled and snapped his fingers. "Ha, you're as predictable as the day I met you, Gary. Ampharos, close in with [Power Gem]!"
Ampharos leapt, summoning a cluster of glowing crystals around his horns that fired like bullets mid-air toward Kingdra.
Gary narrowed his eyes. "Really? Then try this, Kingdra, [Smokescreen], then circle back with [Dragon Pulse]!"
Kingdra released a thick cloud of ink-black smoke, the glowing shards sparking against the haze. Out of the fog came the sudden flash of a blue [Dragon Pulse], bursting straight through the gaps and hammering Ampharos in the chest, knocking him off balance.
Ash clenched his fist. "Stay up, turn that into momentum! Ampharos, spin and [Thunder]!"
Ampharos roared, twisting his fall into a roll and slamming his palms against the floor. A pillar of lightning fell from the sky, slamming into the smoke cloud and causing it to explode upward.
The crowd gasped as Kingdra shrieked, caught in the storm of electricity, its silhouette thrashing inside the haze.
Gary gritted his teeth. "Kingdra, endure it, break free with [Hydro Pump]!"
From within the smoke and lightning, a cannon of water exploded outward, ripping apart the storm and knocking Ampharos back across the battlefield. Both Pokémon were panting heavily now, sparks and steam rising from their battered forms.
Ash clenched his fist. "Alright, let's end this [Thunderbolt]!"
Ampharos growled, power channeling around the red gem on his head, then shot out a bolt of electricity.
"Kingdra, dodge it with [Agility]!" Gary barked.
Kingdra blurred across the field, but as it tried to move, it was immobilized by paralysis, its tail dragging half a second too late. The lightning connected, engulfing Kingdra in a dazzling burst of electricity that lit up the stadium.
When the electricity faded, Kingdra collapsed to the ground with spirals in its eyes.
"Kingdra is unable to battle! Ampharos is the winner!" the referee called.
The crowd roared. Ash pumped his fist. "Yes! Way to go, Ampharos!"
Ampharos raised his arms, electricity still crackling, though he was breathing hard after taking so much punishment.
Gary recalled Kingdra, holding the Poké Ball for a moment. He took a breath, then put on a smirk again. "Not bad… but let's see how you handle this. Go, Umbreon!"
Gary's Umbreon jumped out, his yellow rings glowing as he landed on the ground. He huffed, eyes locked on Ampharos.
Ash's expression hardened. "Umbreon, huh…" Of course Ash knew that Umbreon, it was the same Eevee Gary had when they were kids. He hadn't trained it in Kanto, but that didn't mean it was weak. Far from it.
Umbreon was definitely stronger than Ampharos, even without the damage. Sure, he was weaker than Pikachu, but he easily scaled above Vee, who still had his extra forms and hacks.
But that didn't matter right now. What mattered was dealing as much damage as fast as possible.
"Ampharos, [Thunderbolt]!" Ash called out.
Ampharos' gem started sparkling as he charged the bolt of electricity he was about to shoot.
"[Protect]!" Gary countered, voice sharp.
Umbreon's rings glowed brightly as a shimmering green barrier snapped into place. The [Thunderbolt] slammed against it, sparks scattering harmlessly across the shield before fading.
"Now, [Quick Attack]!" Gary commanded immediately.
Umbreon darted forward like a streak of black and yellow, too fast for Ampharos to react. It slammed into Ampharos' chest, forcing the sheep Pokémon back a step.
"Shake it off, Ampharos, [Focus Blast]!"
Ampharos steadied himself, pulling energy into a glowing red sphere between his palms. He hurled it forward with all his might, the orb exploding with raw power.
Gary's eyes narrowed. "Umbreon, dodge it with [Double Team]!"
In a blur, shadows of Umbreon split across the field. The [Focus Blast] sailed through one of them, detonating against the stadium wall with a boom that rattled the stands. But it wasn't the real one, now a dozen Umbreon clones surrounded Ampharos.
Ash didn't have time to search for the real one as Gary pressed his assault.
"[Bite]!" Gary shouted.
Umbreon latched onto Ampharos' arm with a vicious crunch. Ampharos howled in pain, electricity crackling wildly around his body as he tried to shake Umbreon off.
"Ampharos, hit it with [Thunder Punch] point blank!"
Ampharos' fist lit up, and he slammed it into Umbreon's side. The impact discharged a burst of lightning that knocked Umbreon loose, sending him skidding across the ground, but he recovered quickly.
Gary's arm cut through the air. "Now, [Shadow Ball]!"
Umbreon gathered a swirling sphere of darkness in its mouth and launched it straight at Ampharos.
Exhausted and already weakened, Ampharos couldn't brace himself in time. The [Shadow Ball] struck clean, detonating in a cloud of black energy that engulfed him. When the smoke cleared, Ampharos collapsed with spirals in his eyes.
"Ampharos is unable to battle! Umbreon is the winner!" the announcer said as the crowd cheered.
Ash returned Ampharos to his Poké Ball and clipped it back onto his belt. "No surprise here. I always knew that Umbreon would be a problem, but I have my own tricks."
He pulled out his next Poké Ball and threw it. From it came his Aerodactyl, which screeched into the air and narrowed its eyes at Umbreon.
Gary watched Aerodactyl as Ash took the first move. "Aerodactyl, let's do this, [Dragon Dance], then [Rock Slide]!"
With a screech, Aerodactyl flapped its wings hard, glowing purple for a moment. Then chunks of rock from the ground were picked up and hurled at Umbreon.
Gary raised his hand sharply. "Umbreon, [Double Team]!"
In a blur, Umbreon split into half a dozen illusions. The boulders came crashing down, smashing the copies to pieces, but the real Umbreon darted out of the dust cloud unharmed.
"Now, [Confuse Ray]!" Gary commanded.
Umbreon's rings glowed ominously as it released a pulse of ghostly light. The shimmering ray darted through the air, striking Aerodactyl in the eyes, making it thrash around recklessly.
Ash gritted his teeth. "Aerodactyl, snap out of it!!"
But Aerodactyl lurched forward in a dizzy dive, narrowly missing the stadium wall before slamming one shoulder against it, hurting himself slightly.
Gary smirked. "Perfect. Umbreon, [Dark Pulse]!"
Umbreon's rings flashed, unleashing a shockwave of black energy that streaked across the battlefield. It slammed into Aerodactyl mid-stumble, the prehistoric Pokémon screeching as the wave rattled through his body, forcing him back toward the ground.
Ash clenched his fists. "C'mon, Aerodactyl! Power through it, use [Earthquake]!"
With a furious roar, Aerodactyl spread his wings and slammed down onto the arena floor. The battlefield quaked violently, cracks spiderwebbing outward as the tremors rocked the ground beneath Umbreon.
Gary's eyes widened. "Umbreon, move, [Quick Attack]!"
Umbreon blurred into motion, but the quake's shockwaves rippled faster than expected. The ground erupted, sending Umbreon tumbling as rocks and dust burst into the air.
"Yeah! That's the way, Aerodactyl!" Ash pumped his fist. "Now, [Sky Attack]!"
Aerodactyl's body glowed white-hot as he soared high into the air, charging his power. The crowd gasped, necks craning upward as the massive predator circled back like a falling star.
Gary gritted his teeth, but didn't flinch. "Umbreon, meet it head-on, [Protect]!"
Umbreon planted his paws firmly, his rings blazing as the shimmering green barrier reappeared just as Aerodactyl came crashing down. The collision was deafening, a burst of smoke and light exploding outward.
For a moment, it looked like the shield held, but cracks split through the barrier, and then it shattered. Aerodactyl's full weight and power plowed into Umbreon, driving him hard into the dirt.
Umbreon groaned, struggling as Aerodactyl flapped back into the air, but he was still standing, still ready for more.
Ash narrowed his eyes, not giving him a moment to recover. "Aerodactyl, don't let up! [Stone Edge]!"
Jagged pillars of glowing blue stone erupted from the ground, lancing toward Umbreon like spears.
"[Double Team], now!" Gary countered instantly.
Umbreon's shadows scattered across the field once more, each clone darting in a different direction as the jagged stones pierced the ground. One, two, three illusions shattered like smoke under the assault, but the real Umbreon slipped between the gaps, eyes locked on Aerodactyl.
"Umbreon, [Iron Tail]!" Gary shouted.
Umbreon's tail glowed silver as he leapt forward, whipping it hard against Aerodactyl's wing. The strike rang out like metal on stone, forcing Aerodactyl to stagger in the air.
Ash gritted his teeth. "Aerodactyl, [Fire Fang]!"
Aerodactyl's jaws erupted in flame, snapping down at Umbreon. Umbreon barely twisted out of range, but the flames still singed his fur as he landed, growling defiantly.
The two Pokémon circled, both battered, both refusing to yield.
Gary narrowed his eyes. "Let's lock it down [Toxic]!"
Umbreon's mouth opened, spewing a cloud of vile purple sludge. The poison splattered across Aerodactyl's hide, seeping in with a hiss.
"Aerodactyl!" Ash's voice rang out, desperate but firm. "Don't give in! Use [Roost]!"
With a screech, Aerodactyl landed hard on the ground, folding his wings around himself. His body glowed faintly as he tried to restore his strength.
Gary smirked. "Don't think I'll let you heal. Umbreon, [Dark Pulse]!"
The shockwave of black energy blasted across the field, slamming into Aerodactyl mid-recovery. The prehistoric Pokémon roared, forced back onto his feet, the poison already eating at him. His breathing turned ragged.
But that only meant he was at fifty percent, and then Aerodactyl's irises narrowed like a predator's. His Prehistoric Might activated, giving him a surge of strength. He roared, power flaring as he readied to fight again.
Ash's eyes lit up. "That's it, Aerodactyl! Show them what you've got, [Dragon Claw]!"
Aerodactyl's talons gleamed with a sharp green light as he lunged forward, slashing at Umbreon with devastating force.
Gary's smirk faltered, but he snapped his command instantly. "Umbreon, counter with [Protect] again!"
The barrier snapped up, dragon claws raking against it and sending sparks and shockwaves across the battlefield. The shield held, but only barely. Cracks snaked across it like glass under a hammer.
Ash clenched his fist. "Break through it!"
Aerodactyl let out a guttural snarl and pushed harder, his claws flaring brighter. With a loud shatter, the barrier broke apart, and the slash tore across Umbreon's side, knocking him tumbling.
Umbreon stood back up, but this time he was clearly starting to show fatigue. Aerodactyl, however, was still rushing in like a predator going for its prey.
Ash pointed forward. "Aerodactyl, don't let him recover, [Stone Edge]!"
The ground split violently as jagged stone pillars shot upward toward Umbreon.
Gary's voice cut sharp. "Evade it with [Quick Attack]!"
Umbreon blurred forward, weaving between the spires of stone, dust exploding in his wake. He closed in on Aerodactyl like a shadow darting across the battlefield.
"Now [Payback]!" Gary barked.
Umbreon's body glowed with dark, vengeful energy as he whipped around and slammed into Aerodactyl's chest, the hit amplified from taking damage beforehand. Aerodactyl was driven back into the air, coughing out a roar as the poison spread deeper through his veins.
Ash's voice cut through the chaos. "Aerodactyl, stay focused! Use [Brave Bird]!"
With a piercing screech, Aerodactyl's entire body ignited with a radiant blue aura as he tucked his wings and dove, faster than before.
Gary clicked his tongue. He couldn't use [Protect] Aerodactyl had already proven he could break it. Time for plan B. "Umbreon, use [Last Resort]!"
Umbreon ignited, glowing as he charged forward. He met Aerodactyl head-on, the two forces colliding in a violent clash. The air itself seemed to shudder from the impact, gusts so strong the crowd could feel it in the stands.
Both Pokémon gritted their teeth and pushed harder, slamming into each other with primal force, until an explosion tore through the center of the battlefield.
The blast sent a shockwave roaring outward, nearly knocking Ash and Gary back as their capes whipped in the wind.
When the dust finally settled, there on the ground lay Aerodactyl, Umbreon draped over him. Both Pokémon had spirals in their eyes.
"Both Pokémon are unable to battle! Double knockout! Both trainers, send out your final Pokémon!" the announcer bellowed as the crowd roared louder than ever.
Ash and Gary returned their Poké Balls. Gary looked at Umbreon's for a long moment, his smirk gone, his lip caught between his teeth. He wasn't mad. He was stressed. Part of him was even scared. But he held himself together, gripping his final Poké Ball.
Ash also grabbed his, holding it out. "Well, guess it's down to this. Reminds me of the first time we battled. Do I even have to ask? We've got the same idea, don't we?"
Gary met his eyes and nodded. "Right. Our bet. Let's do this." He raised his ball alongside Ash.
Both trainers hurled them forward.
On the field landed Heracross and Pinsir, the same ones they had caught together all the way back at the beginning of Johto.
They didn't waste any time. Both raised their Key Stones, shouting in unison: "Mega Evolve!"
Light engulfed the bugs. Heracross' armor bulked out, crimson plates lining his chest and monstrous arms. Pinsir's jagged horns grew longer and deadlier as wings burst from his back, extending wide and buzzing with lethal power.
Now standing across from each other were Mega Heracross and Mega Pinsir.
Heracross slammed his fists together, his massive horn gleaming, while Pinsir's wings hummed furiously, mandibles snapping with a sharp crack.
Ash raised his arm. "Heracross, open with [Rock Blast]!"
Heracross roared, swinging his massive arms forward. Glowing boulders launched like cannon fire across the field, whistling through the air toward Gary's Pinsir. With his ability, he fired the maximum volley, a storm of rocks hurtling straight at his rival.
Gary's arm cut sharp. "Pinsir, [Quick Attack], weave through and [X-Scissor]!"
Pinsir blurred into motion, zipping through the gaps between the boulders. He spun mid-flight, his glowing scythe-like arms crossing in an X as he slashed toward Heracross.
"[Close Combat]!" Ash countered.
Heracross stepped into the strike, fists blazing with orange energy. The two Bug-types collided head-on, fists and blades sparking in a violent shockwave that blasted dust outward. The crowd gasped, some rising to their feet as both Pokémon shoved back, neither willing to yield an inch.
Gary's voice snapped again. "Pinsir, get out of there, [Aerial Ace]!"
Pinsir's wings blurred into a near-invisible hum, rocketing skyward before diving like a missile. The razor strike carved across Heracross' chest, forcing him back with a grunt of pain. But Heracross refused to fall. Pinsir darted back into the air, circling for another strike.
Ash's eyes lit up. "Heracross, take it out of the sky, [Bullet Seed], full burst!"
Heracross steadied himself, jaws snapping open as a storm of green seeds erupted like machine-gun fire. The barrage caught Pinsir mid-flight, staggering him and nearly knocking him out of the air. The beetle reeled, wings thrumming wildly just to keep balance.
Gary's fist tightened. "[Guillotine]!"
Pinsir's horns glowed white-hot, crackling with energy as it dove, mandibles gaping wide. The attack screamed danger, one clean hit could end it.
Ash smirked, eyes flashing. "Not happening! Heracross, [Arm Thrust]!"
Heracross roared, bracing himself. He caught the deadly horns with his forearms, muscles straining, then shoved back with monstrous strength. Pivoting hard, Heracross hammered Pinsir's chest with a relentless barrage of punches, each blow thundering across the stadium.
Gary shouted desperately, voice cracking, "Pinsir, get out of there, [Return]!"
Pinsir's body glowed brilliant white, surging with the power of his bond with Gary. With a furious cry, he slammed into Heracross like a wrecking ball, driving him backward and tearing trenches in the dirt.
Ash grit his teeth, jabbing his arm forward. "We're not done, Heracross, [Megahorn]!"
Heracross' massive horn flared like a gleaming blade as he lunged. The two Bug-types met in the center, horn against horn, sparks exploding in every direction as their strength clashed.
They pushed against each other, snarling, straining, neither willing to give in. To Ash and Gary, it wasn't just their Pokémon locked in that struggle, it was them, too. Their rivalry. Their history. Everything built up to this final clash.
Heracross and Pinsir grappled fiercely, shoving back and forth. Gary's hand trembled at his side, curling into a tight fist. His eyes clenched shut.
In that moment, he thought about what Ash said
"Are you Gary Oak because you're strong… or are you strong because you're Gary Oak?"
The question struck him like a thunderbolt, he didn't have an answer yet, but Gary realized why it sounded so familiar.
–
{Flashback}
A young Gary sat by the lake, tossing stones into the water and watching the ripples fade. The bushes behind him shook, and a little Ash stepped out. "Yo, Gary."
Gary glanced back at Ash, then looked into the water and threw another stone. "Hey, Ash. What are you doing out here?"
Ash moved over and sat beside him. "Could ask you the same thing. What's up? You look like you're moping around."
"It's nothing," Gary said, shaking his head. "You should have stayed with everyone."
"Please," Ash scoffed, grabbing a stone and flicking it into the lake. "Without you, I'm stuck with Green, and she really thinks she can scam Pink into 'renting me out.' No thanks."
Gary snorted but didn't show it. He stared into the water. "Yeah… makes sense. You were always people's favorite."
Ash frowned. "Hey, Gary, are you really okay?"
Gary hesitated, then finally let it out. "Some people keep saying I'm falling behind you and everyone else," he confessed. "And… I don't know. Seeing how much you've been getting better while I don't feel like I am… it just—"
"It feels hopeless," Ash finished for him. "Like you're wondering why you should bother."
Gary nodded. "Yeah. Everyone's telling me how my life is supposed to go. They say if I don't follow it, I'll be a failure to the Oak name… Even Gramps tells me I should be a professor like him. I know he's not forcing me to stop being a trainer, he doesn't push it, but I just…"
"Why is that? Do you really not want to be a professor?" Ash asked.
Gary shrugged and tossed another pebble into the lake. "I don't know. It's not that I hate it. I like learning about Pokémon… it's just, I guess I hate people telling me I should be a professor. Maybe if nobody said anything, I'd choose it myself."
He frowned as his reflection rippled with each stone. "It's not that I hate the idea of being a professor. Gramps is the best there is. But it's not my dream, you know? It's just… easier. No pressure, no struggling to keep up with you or anyone else. I could give up on battling, take the easy road, be what everyone expects."
Ash froze. The rock in his hand slipped from his fingers and plunked into the water. His brows furrowed, his voice low and sharp: "…You're kidding, right?"
Gary sighed. "Why not? If I quit now, nobody can say I failed. I'll just… move on. Forget it."
The next thing Gary knew, he was flat on his back in the dirt, his cheek stinging from Ash's fist. He blinked in shock, hand flying to his face. "Ow-what the heck, Ash?!"
Ash stood over him, fists clenched, eyes burning. "Don't you EVER say that again, Gary! Don't you dare talk about throwing away your dream just because it's hard. If you give up like that, if you stop being YOU just to make it easy, then we're done. Our friendship's over. I mean it."
Gary's breath caught. He stared up at Ash, stunned, not just by the punch, but by the raw emotion in Ash's voice.
Ash leaned down, grabbing Gary's shirt collar and hauling him halfway up. "You're Gary Oak, not because of your name, not because of your Grandpa, but because of YOU! Got it? It's your dream, your life. Why should you care what they say? Remember me, Mr. No Talent, last in class. I didn't mope around. I worked my ass off and proved them wrong. And you have the nerve to even suggest giving up?"
Ash let go, shoving him lightly back into the dirt. "So pick yourself up, and stop whining about it. Are you gonna do what you want, or am I gonna punch you again?"
{Flashback end}
–
Gary took a breath. To this day, the punch Ash gave him back then still felt like the hardest. Not because it hurt the most, but because it cut the deepest. And he never forgot it, even if they never talked about it.
Whenever he thought about giving up, that memory was what stopped him. It pushed him to keep working, every single day. A little stronger. A little better than the day before, just like Ash always did.
And now, he finally understood Ash's words. "Are you Gary Oak because you're strong, or are you strong because you're Gary Oak?"
What Ash had really been asking was: "Is your identity built on being an Oak? Or are you who you are because, no matter what, you'll always fight to become stronger?"
Back then, Gary hadn't had an answer. But now, after everything, after all the battles, after the journey, after every failure and victory, he did. He unclenched his fist.
His answer was simple.
He was Gary.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Almost as if connected, the moment Gary let go, Pinsir faltered. His strength waned. And with a roar, Heracross finally broke through. He grappled Pinsir, hurled him into the air, then caught him mid-fall and, with a spiraling throw, smashed him into the rocky ground. The impact cracked the battlefield, smoke and dust exploding outward.
Heracross landed, chest heaving, battered but standing. When the dust cleared, Pinsir was still upright in the rubble, wings twitching. Then, his body flickered, falling out of Mega Evolution before collapsing, spirals in his eyes.
The stadium erupted in cheers.
"Unbelievable!!! Pinsir is unable to battle! The winner is Ash from Pallet Town!!!" the announcer roared.
The crowd went wild.
Across the field, Gary stood in the haze, his face half-hidden by smoke. He returned Pinsir to his Pokéball, his eyes cast down. Ash glanced at him and in that moment, he thought he saw it, the glint of a single tear slipping down Gary's cheek.
But then Gary wiped it away with his sleeve, and when he looked up, he was smiling. Not a forced smirk. A real smile. And then he laughed.
"Hahaha! Got me again, didn't you, Ash… you idiot! Hahaha!"
He walked forward and extended his hand. "You know… you could've just said it straight instead of making me figure out your riddles."
Ash smiled, clasping his hand. "Yeah, but then where's the lesson? Besides… of course you figured it out. You're Gary."
Gary shook his head, "No…" He smiled wider now "I'm Gary Oak."
---
So, guys, normally i wouldn't uplode a Tuesday chapter, but tomorrow i have another test so i won't be able to uplode another chapter, and i don't want to leave yall with nothing, so here is the chap, k bye