"Are you alright, Ash? You're not hurt, are you?"
After leaving the Team Rocket base, Ash and Lance returned to Sabrina. The moment she saw him, she asked with clear concern in her voice.
"I'm fine. Those trash couldn't even touch a single hair on me," Ash replied calmly, seeing her worried expression.
"Since everything here is settled, I'll be going first. This Fearow still needs treatment… you were a bit too heavy-handed." Lance shook his injured Fearow helplessly.
"That was already me holding back. Otherwise, it would've been dead by now," Ash said casually. Initially, he had intended to kill it outright, but after thinking it over, Pokémon only followed their trainer's orders. The fault lay with the trainer, not the Pokémon.
"Alright, I'll head off. I still need to catch that red Gyarados. I've been waiting for a long time."
With that, Lance left. Clearly, the thought of the red Gyarados had already captured his full attention.
After Lance departed, Ash and Sabrina packed up and headed toward Mahogany Town to challenge the Mahogany Gym. Since it was close to their current location, they arrived quickly.
Because dealing with Team Rocket had taken most of the night, neither of them had slept. Still, as psychics, missing a night of rest didn't affect them much.
"Is this the Mahogany Gym? It looks more like a small courtyard."
Ash looked at the quiet, grass-covered yard surrounding the entrance. It was still early, and there was barely anyone around.
"Is anyone here? I'm Ash from Kanto, here to challenge the Gym!"
He called out, but there was no response.
"No one?" Sabrina glanced around, slightly puzzled.
Just as they were about to head to the Pokémon Center, an elderly woman approached them.
"Are you here to challenge the Gym? Pryce isn't here right now."
"Who are you? And the Pryce you mentioned… is he the Gym Leader?" Ash asked. Although the old woman looked advanced in age, her posture was steady and strong, clearly in good health.
"That's right. Pryce is the Gym Leader of Mahogany Gym. My name is Sima, I'm his wife. At this hour, he should be training by the waterfall and will be back soon. Come in… it looks like you haven't had breakfast yet."
Noticing their condition, Sima quickly guessed they had traveled overnight and warmly invited them inside.
"So that's why the Gym looks like a residence," Ash said as he stepped into the courtyard. "You actually live here."
"Sima, who are these two?"
At that moment, an elderly man walked in carrying a bucket. Ash immediately turned to look.
"Pryce, these two came to challenge the Gym. It looks like they arrived overnight, so I invited them to have breakfast with us," Sima explained.
"I see." Pryce nodded, then turned his gaze to the Pikachu on Ash's shoulder.
"I suggest you return your Pikachu to its Poké Ball."
"Why? Pikachu is my partner. And unlike other Pokémon, it doesn't like staying in a Poké Ball," Ash replied, frowning slightly.
"Partner?" Pryce's expression turned cold.
"Don't be naïve. Humans and Pokémon can never truly be companions. There must always be a boundary between trainer and Pokémon. Otherwise, emotions will only become a burden in battle."
His tone carried a firm, unshakable belief, as if this was an absolute truth he had long accepted.
"Hmph. I don't need an old man like you to lecture me on my path as a Trainer. And I don't believe putting distance between a Trainer and their Pokémon brings out their true strength."
Seeing Pryce look down on his Pikachu, Ash's eyes instantly shifted into the three-tomoe Sharingan. A fierce aura burst from his body.
Pikachu was his very first companion in this world. Their bond had lasted for over ten years. There was no way he would allow anyone to question that connection.
"Ash, calm down…"
Sabrina immediately sensed the danger. She grabbed Ash's arm, trying to stop him before things escalated further.
"Stay out of this," Ash said coldly, his gaze never leaving Pryce. "I'm going to show this old man that my Pikachu will never lose to someone like him."
Even toward Sabrina, his tone didn't soften. When it came to Pikachu, Ash would not tolerate any interference.
"Pika!"
The Pikachu on his shoulder also glared angrily at Pryce. Electricity flickered faintly across its cheeks. Anyone who dared question its bond with Ash was no different from an enemy.
Sabrina hesitated for a moment, then slowly let go.
She understood this side of Ash well. When he was truly angry, trying to stop him would only make things worse.
Still, even she hadn't expected his reaction to be this intense.