Pokemon: A different Ash

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"Miss Joy, why isn't Ash awake yet? It's going to be okay, right?" 

Misty, still worried about Ash's condition, glanced nervously at Nurse Joy as she asked. 

"Don't worry," Nurse Joy responded with a gentle smile. "Ash is just physically exhausted. Once he's had some nutrients and proper rest, he'll recover." 

Nurse Joy couldn't help but be a little surprised herself. Trainers getting this exhausted was rare. She was more accustomed to seeing Pokémon push their limits during battles. "Seeing a Trainer use up so much energy like this is unusual," she murmured thoughtfully. 

As for the Pokémon, while Devileon seemed fine, Sabrina's Kadabra was severely injured. Pikachu, on the other hand, was not only physically hurt but also utterly drained of energy—almost as much as Ash himself. 

"That's good to hear. Thank you, Miss Joey!" Misty sighed in relief, her worry easing slightly after hearing the nurse's reassurance. 

"Miss Joy, how is our daughter doing?" Sabrina's mother asked, stepping forward from beside her daughter's hospital bed. 

"Miss Sabrina's physical condition seems fine," Nurse Joy replied carefully. "However, the cause of her coma is unclear. If she doesn't wake up soon, we'll need to conduct more tests." 

Despite Nurse Joy's calm demeanor, it was clear she was perplexed. Sabrina showed no signs of physical exhaustion or injury. Yet, she remained unconscious, leaving Joy unsure of how to proceed. 

"Thank you. Sorry for troubling you," Sabrina's father said softly. 

After offering a few more reassurances, Nurse Joy left the room, and Sabrina's father turned to comfort his wife. 

"Don't worry too much. I think Sabrina will be okay. Little girl has disappeared, meaning Sabrina's alternate personality is also gone. Her energy seems to have returned to her body. I'm confident she'll recover soon." 

"Thank you so much," Sabrina's mother replied gratefully. "We didn't expect you to get involved in our family's situation." 

"Ah! We didn't do much," Misty and Brock replied hurriedly, exchanging glances. "If anyone deserves thanks, it's Ash!" 

No one could have predicted such a turn of events during what was supposed to be a regular Gym challenge. Both the challenger and the Gym Leader had ended up in the hospital. 

As night fell, the group stayed at the hospital, taking turns looking after Ash and Sabrina. Kadabra had already recovered and returned to the ward to keep watch, but neither Ash, Sabrina, nor Pikachu had woken up yet. Nurse Joy performed another check-up later and found that Ash's physical strength was nearly restored, but his unconsciousness persisted. All they could do was wait. 

Late at night... 

"Ugh..." A soft moan broke the stillness of the room. Everyone was startled by the sound. Sabrina, lying in the bed beside Ash, shifted and murmured in her sleep before slowly opening her eyes. 

"Sabrina, you're awake!" Her parents rushed to her side, relieved to see her finally conscious. 

Misty and Brock, who had fallen asleep while sitting by Ash's bed, stirred at the commotion and quickly stood up. 

It seemed like the long wait was finally over. 

Compared to Sabrina's emotional parents, Misty and Brock still harbored lingering fears of her. They couldn't help but wonder if she would revert to her old, cold self after waking up.

"This is... Dad? Mom... Mom?"

Sabrina slowly opened her eyes, her vision adjusting to the figures in front of her. Recognition dawned quickly, and she addressed them hesitantly. Hearing Sabrina's soft voice, her parents froze momentarily, their eyes welling with tears.

It had been so long since Sabrina had called them "Mom" and "Dad." Overwhelmed, her mother rushed forward, embracing Sabrina tightly and sobbing softly. Sabrina, caught off guard, found herself momentarily dazed. She hadn't felt her mother's embrace in what felt like forever, and it stirred a strange but comforting sensation within her.

Subconsciously, she had called out to them, a stark contrast to her usual cold demeanor. She tried to recall what had happened, her thoughts drifting back.

It felt like she had been trapped in a long dream. In that dream, her alter ego, the little girl, had bid her farewell, urging her to reconnect with her parents. That memory, paired with seeing her parents upon waking, had triggered her instinctive call to them.

Delving deeper, another memory surfaced—she had been thrown back by a mysterious force before falling unconscious. She vaguely remembered someone catching her as she fell. Her gaze shifted, and she noticed Misty and Brock, whose wary expressions betrayed their unease.

Her eyes then fell on the bed next to hers, where a shadowy figure leaped up. It was Devileon, baring its teeth at her protectively. The sight triggered another memory—her battle with Ash at the gym.

She remembered losing to him, the power of her alter ego taking over, and the chaotic aftermath that followed. It was Ash who had saved her. And because the little girl was an extension of herself, her memories as the little girl had also returned to her.

The images of Ash's valiant fight against her darker side played vividly in her mind. She also remembered her father's words of encouragement and his unwavering belief in her.

"Dad, Mom, I'm sorry!" Sabrina's voice trembled as she looked at her parents, guilt heavy in her tone. For the first time, she apologized for her past actions—for driving them away and even attempting to turn them into puppets.

"It's okay, sweetheart," her mother replied, holding Sabrina close. "We're just glad you're safe. It's our fault—we didn't take better care of you."

Sabrina's icy demeanor softened as she rested in her mother's arms.

"Ash... is he alright?" she asked after a moment, turning her gaze to his still-unconscious form.

"Miss Joy said he'll be fine with some rest," Misty replied, exchanging a glance with Brock. They noted Sabrina's genuine concern and began to relax, reassured that she seemed to have truly changed.

Sabrina nodded slightly, remorse flickering in her expression. Her mother comforted her gently, urging her to rest. Sabrina didn't resist, lying back on the bed. Though her gaze kept drifting to Ash, exhaustion soon overtook her, and she fell asleep again.

Meanwhile, Misty and Brock's worry for Ash grew. It was late, and he still hadn't woken up. After some discussion, they decided to wait until morning. If he was still unconscious, they would inform Nurse Joy and Professor Oak.

The next morning...

"Cough! Ugh!"

A faint sound broke the silence of the room. The escorts, who had stayed up late, were still asleep in their chairs. On the hospital bed, Ash stirred, his eyes fluttering open to take in the white ceiling above him.

Unbeknownst to him, his friends' worries were about to be replaced with overwhelming relief.