Let's go Pikachu! Part 2

Part three-Found- diff version

The group stared at me in disbelief, the weight of Blue’s words sinking in.

Lillie's voice wavered. "You've been gone for five whole days... and you fought Giovanni?"

I nodded as if it were no big deal. "Yep. He's got a mean Rhydon, but we finally knocked it out."

"Finally?" Leaf gasped. "Mia, what were you thinking?!"

"Thinking about winning, obviously." I shrugged. "And getting stronger."

Red's grip on me tightened. His hat tipped forward, shadowing his expression, but I could feel his trembling.

Blue groaned and ran a hand down his face. "You absolute knucklehead. Do you even realize what you've put us through? Red's barely spoken a word—okay, that's normal—but still! Everyone was worried sick!"

I blinked, genuinely confused. "Why? I left to train and win. Isn't that what strong trainers do?"

Misty crossed her arms, her voice sharp. "Mia, pushing yourself to the point where you're bleeding and starving isn't training. That's self-destruction!"

Red finally pulled back, his eyes burning with something I rarely saw—anger. He shook his head sharply as if to say Never again.

I frowned. "Red, come on. I'm fine. I beat Giovanni, didn't I?"

Blue's voice was low but serious. "Kid, strength isn't just about winning battles. It's about knowing when to stop."

"Pika!" Pikachu squeaked, clearly scolding me too.

I sighed and rubbed my neck. "Okay, okay, I get it. I went a little overboard."

"A little?!" Blue exploded.

Lillie and Misty nodded in unison, while Leaf shook her head.

I glanced at Red, who was still glaring at me. "You're mad, aren't you?"

He clenched his fists but didn't say anything.

"I... I just wanted you to be proud," I whispered.

Red's expression softened, and he shook his head firmly before tapping my forehead gently with two fingers.

I blinked, confused. "What does that mean?"

Blue translated with a sigh. "It means he's always proud of you, idiot. You didn't need to destroy yourself to prove anything."

My throat tightened, and I looked down. "...Really?"

Red nodded solemnly.

"Okay." My voice was small. "I'll try not to be dumb next time."

"You'd better," Blue muttered. "Or we're tying you to a chair."

Leaf chuckled. "Or making you wear a tracker."

Everyone laughed, and I sighed. "Fine, fine. But can I at least eat first?"

Misty grinned. "That’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day."

Red gave me a small but proud smile, and for once, I let myself relax.

As I entered the Pokémon Center, my body ached with every step, but the familiar warmth of the building and the sound of bustling nurses made it all feel like I was home again. The comforting scent of clean linens and the soft hum of the machines in the background brought me a sense of peace... until I heard a voice.

“Mia?!”

I looked up, and there he was—Ash, standing by the counter with an expression that could only be described as a mix of disbelief and overwhelming joy. His eyes widened when he saw me, and before I could even say a word, he rushed towards me.

“Mia!” he repeated, this time his arms outstretched.

I barely had time to react before he enveloped me in a tight hug. The force of it caught me off guard, and I stumbled a little, wincing at the pain in my legs, but I didn’t care. The warmth of his embrace made it all feel worth it.

“Wow, everyone wants to hug me today,” I muttered, my voice a little hoarse from days of silence and strain.

Ash pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes sparkling. “I knew it. I knew you’d pull through! I’m so proud of you, Mia! You defeated the number one threat to the whole world! Do you realize how amazing that is?”

I blinked, still trying to process everything. "It wasn’t that big of a deal... Giovanni’s tough, but I beat him.”

Ash laughed, ruffling my hair in that familiar way that always made me feel like I was still a little kid. “You’re too humble. Do you know how many people would be celebrating your victory?!”

I gave him a tired smile. “I’m just... glad it’s over.”

Just as I was about to say more, I saw him dig into his bag and pull something out. My stomach growled loudly—loud enough for Ash to hear—and his eyes twinkled with excitement.

“Hold on!” he said with a grin, “I got you something.”

He reached into his bag and pulled out a mountain of chocolate bars, cake boxes, and ice cream tubs. A small part of me was in shock, but then my hunger kicked in, and all thoughts of propriety went out the window.

I didn’t even wait for him to say anything else. I grabbed a chocolate bar and ripped it open, my hands trembling slightly as I shoved it into my mouth. The sweet, rich taste exploded on my tongue, and for a moment, everything else disappeared. My body was starved, but my soul? My soul was filled with joy as I devoured the chocolate.

“Whoa, slow down, Mia! You’re gonna make yourself sick!” Ash laughed, watching me tear through the food like I hadn’t eaten in months.

I didn’t care. I unwrapped another chocolate bar, ripping through the paper with a fervor I hadn’t realized was possible. The creamy milk chocolate melted on my tongue as I inhaled another bite, my stomach rumbling with relief.

“Cake!” I said between bites, spotting the boxes Ash had brought. I grabbed one of them and tore open the cardboard, quickly diving in. I took a huge bite of the rich cake, savoring the fluffy texture and sweet icing that coated it.

“Ash, this is incredible,” I said, looking up at him in awe. “I haven’t eaten like this in... forever.”

Ash beamed. “I figured you’d want something sweet after all that fighting. You earned it, Mia. Don’t hold back.”

I nodded, too focused on devouring the food to even realize how much time had passed. I reached for the ice cream tubs next, my hands shaking slightly as I opened the lid. A small spoon was nowhere to be found, so I just dug in with my fingers, taking a giant scoop of the chocolate and vanilla mix. The coldness hit my tongue, followed by the creamy sweetness of the ice cream, and I moaned in satisfaction.

“Careful, Mia,” Ash teased, “You might get a brain freeze at that rate!”

I couldn’t stop myself, though. The sweet, cold treat was like nothing I’d tasted in ages, and I was too far gone to care. My body had been drained and beaten, but this simple joy of food, of indulging in something I didn’t have to fight for, was enough to make me forget everything for a while.

I stopped only for a moment to breathe, looking at Ash, my mouth full of cake and chocolate. “You’re the best, Ash. Seriously.”

Ash chuckled, his face lighting up. “Glad you like it. I’m just happy to see you back and safe.”

I smiled softly, my exhaustion suddenly catching up to me. "I’m just happy to be back."