Days passed in Lavender Town.
The wind carried the scent of healing herbs instead of ashes. The Pokémon Tower, once shrouded in dread, now stood as a solemn monument to victory. The people had returned to their routines, and the children once held in darkness were beginning to smile again.
Inside the Pokémon Center, the air was warm and calm. Nurse Joy and her Chansey had practically transformed the place into a second home—bright, hopeful, and full of soft conversation and quiet progress.
Outside town, near the river, Skylar crouched beside Charizard as the massive Pokémon practiced low bursts of fire—controlled, careful, but full of power.
Not far away, Scyther was helping Frogadier refine aerial dodges, occasionally tapping the younger Pokémon with the flat of his blade when he left himself too open. Misty supervised Milotic's elegant water flows while Starmie floated between them, glowing faintly.
Arcanine ran slow laps around the group, occasionally stopping to rest, but always with his ears alert.
It wasn't intense training.
It was rebuilding.
Trust.
Stamina.
Bond.
Skylar sat back in the grass and smiled quietly.
They'd survived.
They'd earned this.
That night, Skylar found Gary on the roof of the Pokémon Center, a mug of warm tea in his hands and a heavy breeze tugging at his jacket.
"You always end up on rooftops," Skylar joked softly.
Gary gave him a tired smirk. "Rooftops are honest. You can see everything, and no one can sneak up on you."
Skylar sat beside him. For a while, they didn't speak.
Then Gary said, "You've changed since Mt. Moon."
Skylar didn't look at him. "We all did."
"No, I mean it," Gary said. "You've got this... quiet fire now. A conviction. You remind me of someone."
Skylar blinked. "Who?"
Gary took a sip of his tea.
"My best friend. And worst rival."
Skylar tilted his head. "What was his name?"
Gary looked up at the stars, a rare softness in his eyes.
"Ash."
Skylar's breath caught.
He knew that name.
He remembered it from his old world—a bright-eyed kid from a cartoon who wore a hat, shouted too much, and talked about becoming the best trainer in the world.
But here?
He hadn't been sure if Ash existed in this timeline.
Until now.
"You mean…" Skylar said slowly, "…Ash Ketchum?"
Gary smirked. "The one and only."
"You mean the Champion of Champions?" Skylar asked, voice rising. "The guy who beat every regional League and even took down all the other champions?"
Gary nodded. "That's him."
Skylar sat back, stunned.
"I didn't even know he was real here…"
Gary raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Skylar hesitated—then simply said, "Long story. Another life, maybe."
Gary didn't press.
Instead, he chuckled. "Yeah… he's real. And a pain in the ass. Always was."
Skylar looked at him, curiosity burning in his eyes. "What was he like? You said you were friends?"
Gary smiled—genuine and warm.
"We started our journey together. Same town, same age. Rivalry from day one. I thought I was smarter, better trained, had better Pokémon. And to be honest? At the beginning—I was."
He paused, looking into his tea.
"But Ash… he just never stopped. He lost more than anyone I knew. Got humiliated more than once. But he never gave up. Every time he fell, he stood back up with this stupid grin and said he'd try again. He wasn't in it for pride. He just loved it. The journey. The Pokémon. The world."
Skylar was quiet.
Then asked, "So how'd he become champion?"
Gary smiled softly. "Persistence. Growth. And heart."
He looked out at the dark horizon.
"Over the years, he lost so much. But every time… he came back stronger. Eventually, he started winning. Then dominating. Then—beating champions. One after another."
He paused.
"Until there were none left."
Skylar's eyes widened.
"And where is he now?"
Gary shrugged.
"Wandering. He doesn't care about fame. He's never wanted a palace or a parade. Sometimes I get a call from him—usually from a jungle or a blizzard. Sometimes months apart. But he's always out there. Looking for his next challenge. Or the next kid to inspire."
Skylar looked down.
Processing it all.
Then smiled.
"That's the kind of story you hear once… and remember forever."
Gary glanced at him.
"You've got that same fire," he said. "That same stubbornness. But your path is going to be different. Harder, maybe."
Skylar didn't flinch.
"I'm okay with that."
Gary nodded.
"Good."
The next day, training resumed.
Charizard had recovered enough to fly again, gliding slow circles while Arcanine leapt up in pursuit. Milotic perfected whirlpool spirals, while Starmie began sparring in rotation with Frogadier.
Even the Magikarp were getting bolder—leaping higher, challenging each other with flashes of gold.
And the children?
They were laughing again.
One of them even generated a flicker of aura when Nurse Joy handed him a spoon—blowing it clear across the room by accident.
Skylar had watched it.
Smiled to himself.
Then returned to work.
Later, Gary approached him with his PokéGear.
"She's coming."
Skylar looked over.
"Kalei?"
Gary nodded. "She said six words."
Skylar raised an eyebrow.
Gary smirked.
"Tell him they better be worth it."
Skylar laughed softly and turned back to the field.
"They are."