Pokemon: A different Ash

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"This is..." Ash blinked, surprised by the unfamiliar surroundings. A slight haze clouded his thoughts as memories of the previous day surfaced in his mind.

Ash lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying yesterday's events in his head. During the battle, he hadn't been thinking about anything else—the connection with Pikachu had felt seamless, almost like they were one being.

It didn't surprise him to see Pikachu reach such a powerful Condition. It felt natural, as though he had become that way himself. After all, no one knew him better than Pikachu. No matter how much things changed, this bond remained unshaken.

Still, now that the adrenaline had faded, the memory of that moment felt oddly distant—almost foreign. Pikachu's Condition had showcased a power Ash and Pikachu had never displayed before, even in their strongest battles.

Could it be that some hidden potential within them had already awakened? Or was it a special ability introduced and somehow developed ahead of time? Ash mulled over these questions, but no answers came to mind.

As the fog in his mind cleared, Ash stretched his arms toward the ceiling and rolled over to sit up.

"Um?"

When he turned, he saw a pair of ruby-like eyes staring back at him. The startled gaze belonged to Sabrina, who was lying beside him. Her expression flickered with panic as their eyes met.

Sabrina quickly sat upright, flustered. She had been awake for a while but hadn't wanted to disturb anyone. Watching Ash while he rested had distracted her—something she wasn't used to at all.

Ash, now fully awake, seemed equally unsure of what to say. Sabrina hesitated. For years, she had lived isolated from others, her psychic powers creating an unbridgeable gap. Even though her mind was free of its previous darkness, connecting with people was still foreign to her.

Her mind raced. What should I do? What should I say? Should I thank him? Yes, I should thank him—he saved me.

Clutching the quilt tightly, Sabrina took a deep breath to steady herself. She lowered the quilt slightly, only to notice Ash sitting on the edge of the bed. His legs dangled, and his hands rested on the mattress as he gazed at her.

Neither spoke at first, and the silence stretched. Ash's gaze drifted to a corner of the room, where he spotted a man he recognized as Sabrina's father and a woman he assumed was her mother. He had heard how Sabrina's mother had been turned into a puppet during her psychic outbursts and that her father had barely escaped due to his own psychic abilities.

Now, seeing them both returned to normal, Ash felt relieved. He also noticed the absence of the little girl, which likely meant that everything was finally back to normal.

"Are you okay?" Ash asked, breaking the silence.

"Ah! I—yes! I'm fine. Um, thank you… thank you for everything!" Sabrina stammered, warmth spreading through her chest. So, this is what it feels like to have someone care for you.

"It's nothing. I just wanted the Badge," Ash replied with a casual smile.

"Ah! Right—the Badge!" Sabrina gasped, her cheeks flushing slightly. How could she have forgotten? After all, Ash had won the battle. Yet, in her turmoil, she hadn't awarded him the prize he had rightfully earned. If not for him defeating her darker self, she might never have woken up.

"I'm sorry about that," she added earnestly.

"It's okay," Ash replied, his tone reassuring. "You're probably still adjusting. Don't rush yourself into doing things you're not ready for."

Sabrina nodded, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time. For the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope that she could move forward.

Ash shook his head slightly and said, "It's just a Badge. Don't worry too much about it." He could see that Sabrina was still recovering, and he understood the situation. After spending years in isolation and turmoil, expecting her to adjust immediately would be unfair—like expecting someone just beginning to heal from deep wounds to suddenly act as though everything was fine. The progress she had made so far was already impressive.

"Um…" Sabrina blinked, surprised by Ash's words. She nodded slightly, feeling a strange warmth inside. The young Trainer in front of her didn't possess psychic powers, yet it felt as though he could read her heart. Just by listening to her, he seemed to understand her struggles and insecurities.

Despite everything—despite the danger she had placed him and others in—he harbored no resentment toward her. Instead, his words carried nothing but kindness and understanding, which only made her gratitude grow.

!!!

Suddenly, a Growl filled the room. Ash's attention snapped to a shadow leaping toward him. Without thinking, he caught it in his arms. It was Devileon, the dark Pokémon.

"Hey, buddy!" Ash greeted with a smile, stroking Devileon's head gently. The Pokémon seemed anxious, its gaze scanning Ash as though ensuring he was truly unharmed. "Don't worry, I'm fine," Ash reassured, his voice calm as he comforted his loyal companion.

"Devileon!"

The commotion startled Misty and Brock, who entered the room hurriedly. Sabrina's parents, awakened by the noise, also glanced over. They all relaxed when they saw Ash awake, smiling in relief.

"Ash, you're okay!" Misty's voice trembled slightly, a testament to her earlier worry. Brock didn't say much, but his expression mirrored her relief.

"I'm sorry for worrying you all," Ash said, holding Devileon close. His smile was apologetic, his gratitude evident.

"It's okay, Ash. We're just glad you're alright," Misty replied, her voice soft. Brock nodded in agreement.

"Where's Pikachu?" Ash asked, glancing around anxiously.

"Oh! After you passed out, Pikachu did too," Misty explained quickly. "We left it with Nurse Joy for care. But since you're awake, I'll go get her!" Without waiting, Misty hurried out of the room.

Moments later, the door opened again, and a familiar yellow figure darted inside.

"Pika-pi!!" Pikachu cried out, leaping onto Ash's bed and scrambling up to his shoulder. It nuzzled his cheek affectionately, its energy and affection shining through.

"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed with a laugh, gently stroking Pikachu's head. The bond between them felt even stronger now, as though the battle had deepened their connection. Pikachu greeted Devileon with a cheerful sound, and Devileon responded with a soft growl of camaraderie.

Nurse Joy followed Pikachu inside and gave Ash and Pikachu a thorough checkup. After confirming that both were perfectly fine, everyone finally breathed a collective sigh of relief. Sabrina's parents stepped forward, their expressions sincere.

"Thank you so much," Sabrina's mother said, her voice filled with gratitude. Her father nodded, echoing her sentiment. "We can never repay you for what you've done for our family."

Ash simply smiled. "It's nothing, really. I'm just glad everyone's okay."

The warmth and gratitude in the room were palpable, a fitting conclusion to the chaos of the past few days.