Oak's Laboratory — Backyard
Ash was desperately wiping the tears from his eyes.
To be honest, the Ash inside the projection had suffered a tremendous blow.
But the current Ash—watching as a third party—understood the root of the problem clearly.
So he wasn't truly shaken.
What made him cry…
Was it the fact that so many people had spoken up for him?
Elite Four members. Champions.
Friends from the projections—past and future.
All of them had stood on his side.
Even though Ash hadn't yet met many of those people—
At this moment…
They had already formed bonds with him across time.
"Idiot, Gary! I wouldn't lose my confidence over something like that!"
Ash wiped his tears forcefully and stared at the screen.
"I believe… the Ash from that parallel world is the same!"
That Ash wouldn't be so easily broken.
Right?
Within the Projection
Evening had fallen.
Ash retrieved Pikachu and Charmeleon—now fully healed—from the Pokémon Center.
But his expression was bleak.
He hadn't said a single word.
Behind him, Sōji and Molly tried to comfort him.
Ash clenched his teeth.
"Cross's way of being a Trainer is wrong.
I have no reason to lose to someone like that."
"But…"
His fists tightened, frustration written across his face.
He could accept defeat.
What he couldn't accept—
Was losing to someone like Cross.
Worse still—
As the loser, he couldn't refute Cross's twisted philosophy.
"Saying this hurts," Sōji spoke calmly,
"But Cross's belief in getting stronger can't be denied. He's walked that path with his Pokémon."
"Losing isn't scary," he continued.
"What's scary is not being able to stand back up."
Molly nodded firmly.
"Yeah, Ash. Even if you lost this time, there's always a next time!"
"If you can't stand up after one loss, then you've truly lost."
"Damn it…"
Ash clenched his teeth and suddenly ran off.
No matter how Sōji and Molly shouted after him—
He didn't turn back.
[Lance]: "Still too young. He can't fully bear the blow yet."
[Cynthia]: "It's okay. Ash will be fine."
[Steven]: "Seeing all that support earlier really surprised me…
Ash already has so many allies."
[Professor Oak]: "Believe in him. He'll find his way."
Forest — Night
Ash ran until he reached the forest outskirts.
The sun had set.
Moonlight quietly rose.
Only Pikachu could keep up with him.
Ash slowed down, speaking softly without turning around.
"Pikachu… am I even qualified to be your Trainer?"
"Pika—PI!"
Pikachu shook his head fiercely.
"But… I couldn't even beat Cross."
"Someone like him…"
"I really am terrible…"
"He was right about one thing… my command style is rushed. Reckless."
"That's why I lost."
"Charmeleon is strong… without my commands… he might've won."
"PIKA!"
Pikachu ran in front of Ash and shook his head so hard it looked like a rattle drum.
Ash sat beneath a tree and took out the Rainbow Wing.
"Pikachu… do you think someone like me… can really be the Rainbow Hero?"
As he spoke—
The colors of the Rainbow Wing began to dim.
[Lance]: "I get it now. Cross was trying to break Ash's belief."
[Diantha]: "So that's it… No wonder he suddenly targeted Ash."
[Bruno]: "Huh? What're you all talking about?"
[Lorelei]: "Unbelievable… Lance figured it out, and you didn't? Please retire."
[Bruno]: "???"
[Cynthia]: "At the library, Cross overheard the discussion about the Rainbow Wing."
[Cynthia]: "When a Trainer harbors darkness, the Rainbow Wing loses its light."
[Professor Oak]: "Which means… Cross was trying to strip Ash of his qualification as the Rainbow Hero."
[Professor Kukui]: "That Incineroar was no joke either. Elite Four–level, easily."
[Leon]: "And he succeeded. Ash began doubting himself."
[Professor Oak]: "Self-blame and doubt are also negative emotions."
[Professor Oak]: "A 'Hero' requires unwavering belief. Once that wavers—
The Wing is tainted."
The audience finally understood.
Why the Rainbow Wing was fading.
Anger erupted worldwide.
"That's disgusting!"
"He's jealous! That's all it is!"
"What kind of Trainer does that?!"
But no matter how furious they were—
The Rainbow Wing continued to darken.
Collapse
As the Rainbow Wing lost its final trace of light—
Ash's eyes dulled as well.
His arms fell limply.
His gaze went empty.
He felt as though he'd entered another world.
A world with no Pokémon.
Rainbows formed from light and water alone—not Ho-Oh.
Here, Ash was an ordinary student.
Sōji and Molly were there too.
Yet something was missing.
Then—
A yellow figure darted past him.
Again and again.
Ash chased it across the world.
Until he finally remembered the name.
"PIKACHU!"
Awakening
Ash jolted awake.
Golden lightning filled the forest.
"PI—KAAAA!"
"AHHH—IT'S NUMB—SO NUMB!"
Pikachu finally stopped.
Around them—
Sōji.
Lucario.
Molly.
Piplup.
All watching anxiously.
Ash pulled Pikachu into a tight hug.
That yellow shadow—
Had Pikachu been guiding him with Thunderbolt?
He had nearly forgotten the most important thing.
"I'm okay," Ash said softly.
"Sorry… I worried everyone."
Molly scoffed.
"You ran off without a word! You owe us dinner!"
Ash laughed weakly.
Sōji picked up the fallen Rainbow Wing and handed it back.
The colors had returned.
Ash took it—
And it shone brighter than ever.
I won't hesitate again.
Pikachu. Everyone.
Next time, Cross… I won't lose.
The Journey Continues
Ash resumed his journey.
Eventually, they reached the mountain beneath the rainbow—
The Yunying Range.
A beam of light shot from the Rainbow Wing—
Pointing to Skyblue Peak.
Along the way—
They encountered a massive Butterfree migration.
Ash's Butterfree met a pink Butterfree—
The same one he had saved before.
When Butterfree danced—
She accepted immediately.
And Ash understood.
Farewell
Butterfree hesitated.
Ash tied a ribbon around his neck.
"Go with her."
"We'll meet again someday."
Tears streamed down his face.
This wasn't abandonment.
It was love.
A temporary farewell—
for a better reunion in the future.
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