Pokémon: Ash's New Journey

The group worked tirelessly to nurse Celebi back to health. Under Brock's guidance, they carefully applied herbal treatments to its injuries while Solana monitored its condition. Pikachu stayed by Celebi's side, its eyes full of concern, while Sceptile, Charizard, and Scyther helped guard the area. Misty's Starmie and May's Beautifly fluttered nearby, providing gentle encouragement.

As Celebi began to regain its strength, it looked around with its large, sparkling eyes, taking in the sight of its caretakers. Despite its weakened state, Celebi's expression brightened with gratitude, and it let out a soft, melodic chirp.

"It's overjoyed to see everyone caring for it," Brock noted with a smile as he finished treating Celebi's wounds.

"That should do it!" Solana said, wiping her brow. "With a night of rest, Celebi should be fully healed."

Brock nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, that's wonderful! Once Celebi recovers, the thorns around here should return to normal. I suspect Celebi grew them instinctively to protect itself from danger."

As night fell, the temperature dropped noticeably. The group decided to set up camp in the clearing to keep watch over Celebi. Ash and Brock gathered wood for a campfire while Misty and May laid out their sleeping bags. Solana, accustomed to the wilderness as a Pokémon Ranger, prepared a protective perimeter using Linoone to ensure no wild Pokémon would disturb them during the night.

When it came time to rest, Ash noticed Misty and May shivering slightly, despite their sleeping bags. Without a second thought, he handed over his own sleeping bag to them.

"Here, take mine," he said casually. "I'll be fine without it."

Misty and May exchanged surprised glances. "But Ash—"

"No buts," Ash interrupted with a grin. "I've slept through colder nights on the road with just Pikachu. You two need it more than I do."

Solana, sitting nearby, chuckled. "You're as tough as they come, Ash. But don't push yourself too hard."

Brock, unbothered by the cold, merely shrugged. "It's not a big deal. Guys can handle this kind of stuff."

Ash set up a small campfire and sat beside it, cradling Pikachu in his lap. The warm glow of the fire reflected in his thoughtful eyes. Misty and May, though grateful for Ash's gesture, felt conflicted. They couldn't shake the guilt of seeing him give up his comfort for their sake.

"Um… Ash, you should come in and sleep too…" a soft voice called out.

Ash's enhanced hearing caught the murmur, and he glanced over. "I'm fine," he replied gently, his voice steady. "You two rest."

Pikachu let out a contented "Pika," nuzzling closer to Ash as the fire crackled softly. Misty and May, however, weren't convinced.

"This sleeping bag can be split… The three of us can just combine two sleeping bags into one, and that should be enough…" one of them said, her voice barely audible.

Ash hesitated, taking a deep breath. He knew their concern was genuine, but his stubbornness made him reluctant to accept. Finally, after a long pause, he relented.

"Alright, but only because you won't let me hear the end of it," he muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

The trio arranged the sleeping bags to share their warmth, and the night passed in relative peace.

By morning, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the canopy, illuminating the clearing. Ash woke early, as usual, and ventured into the forest to gather berries for breakfast. When he returned, he noticed Misty and May sitting near the fire, their faces a little flushed. They avoided his gaze, clearly embarrassed by their insistence the previous night.

Ash, oblivious to their awkwardness, simply smiled. "Morning, guys! I found some berries. Let's eat before we check on Celebi."

Brock, noticing their reactions, smirked knowingly but said nothing.

"Bii, bii, Celebi!"

The melodic cry drew everyone's attention. Celebi had opened its eyes, its body glowing with vitality. It floated above the ground, its aura radiating warmth and joy.

"Celebi's finally healed!" Solana exclaimed, her face lighting up with relief.

"Now the forest can return to normal," Brock added. "Celebi's power is amazing—it should be able to undo the damage caused by those thorns."

As everyone celebrated Celebi's recovery, Ash suddenly tensed, his Aura senses flaring. He turned sharply toward the trees.

"Charizard, Flamethrower! Aim to the front left!" he commanded instinctively.

With a fierce roar, Charizard unleashed a searing Flamethrower in the indicated direction. The flames struck a metallic claw emerging from the shadows, reducing it to a pile of smoldering scrap.

"Team Rocket!" Ash growled as Jessie, James, and Meowth emerged from the foliage, their expressions a mix of shock and frustration.

"Looks like we've been spotted!" Meowth muttered.

"Spotted? We've been roasted!" James exclaimed, pointing at the wreckage of their robotic claw.

"Charizard, finish it with Blast Burn!" Ash commanded.

Charizard's massive flames erupted with explosive force, sending Team Rocket flying into the sky.

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" they shouted as they disappeared into the distance.

The explosion left a small fire smoldering in the forest. Celebi quickly extended its vines, extinguishing the flames and healing the scorched trees with a gentle Heal Bell.

"Bii, bii, Celebi!" Celebi circled Ash, expressing its gratitude. Ash smiled warmly and reached into his bag, pulling out a spare Poké Ball. Stringing it onto a cord, he handed it to Celebi.

"Here. Take this as a memento of our time together," Ash said.

Celebi accepted the gift, placing it around its neck. It hovered close to Ash for a moment, its eyes shimmering with affection. Though its duty to guard the forest called it back, Celebi promised to return if Ash ever needed help.

As Celebi vanished into the light of time travel, Ash stood silently, his heart full. This bond, forged through trust and kindness, was timeless and unbreakable—a friendship that transcended space and time.

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