A frozen long-haired pig came into view before Ash Ketchum and Pikachu.
It was completely encased in ice, yet even in that state, it still held several herbs in its mouth.
Ash stepped closer, his expression turning serious as he examined them.
"These herbs… they're highly effective for treating burns."
With his knowledge, he immediately recognized their properties.
Nearby, he also found a thick, broken bracelet. Judging by its size and design, it had clearly been worn on the long-haired pig's leg. Now, it was snapped, likely from the fall down the cliff.
Ash picked it up, his eyes sharpening.
"So I was right… This long-haired pig is Pryce's, and it never abandoned him."
A faint sense of relief appeared on his face.
Everything made sense now.
Back then, the long-haired pig must have gone out to gather medicinal herbs for Pryce after he was burned. But during the process, it slipped from the cliff and became frozen here, unable to return.
That was why Pryce had waited in vain and eventually believed that it had betrayed him.
Ash crouched down and observed the frozen body carefully.
"It's injured too… burn wounds."
Through his enhanced perception, he could clearly see the damage. The injuries likely came from battling a powerful Fire-type Pokémon, probably a Magmar.
Fortunately, the freezing conditions had preserved its state and prevented the injuries from worsening.
Without wasting time, Ash began collecting the frozen herbs around the area, storing them carefully. These were incredibly rare resources, and with proper cultivation, they could be replicated in the future.
Once everything was gathered, he carefully transferred the frozen long-haired pig into his storage space.
"Let's go, Pikachu."
Using his movement ability, Ash quickly ascended the cliff and headed straight back toward the Gym in Mahogany Town.
A short while later, he arrived above the Gym and landed in the courtyard.
At that moment, Sima and Sabrina were just walking out.
Seeing Ash return, Sabrina immediately walked over and leaned into him, clearly relieved.
"Grandma Sima, perfect timing. Can you take me to see Pryce?" Ash asked, gently brushing through Sabrina's long hair.
"No problem… but like I said, even if you went, you wouldn't find anything," Sima replied, still unconvinced.
Ash simply smiled, saying nothing.
However, Sabrina immediately understood from that smile that he had already found the answer.
Under Sima's lead, they entered the resting area of the Gym.
Inside, Pryce was feeding his Pokémon.
Even though he often claimed that humans and Pokémon could not truly be friends, deep down, he still longed to be proven wrong.
Hearing footsteps, Pryce turned around.
"Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?" he asked coldly, his expression unchanged.
"Wait."
Before he could say anything more, Ash threw the broken bracelet onto the ground in front of him.
Pryce froze.
He bent down and picked it up, his hands trembling slightly.
"This… this is…"
His voice faltered.
He remembered it clearly. This was the victory bracelet he and the long-haired pig had once earned together.
"Pryce… isn't that…" Sima stepped forward, her tone filled with disbelief. Even she recognized it instantly.
She had not expected Ash to actually find a clue.
"The facts prove that I was right. The long-haired pig never betrayed you. A bracelet alone may not be enough evidence… but this should be."
After hearing Pryce and Sima's words, Ash Ketchum's eyes changed.
The three-tomoe Sharingan began to spin, and a space-time vortex slowly formed.
From within it, the frozen long-haired pig appeared before everyone.
"My… long-haired pig…"
Pryce recognized it instantly.
After more than twenty years, seeing it again caused his eyes to redden. His body trembled, and tears began to gather.
Sima stood beside him, equally shaken.
"Look at what it's holding in its mouth," Ash said calmly.
Hearing this, Pryce and Sima focused on the frozen Pokémon.
Inside its mouth were herbs.
As people who had lived in this region for decades, they immediately recognized them.
They were extremely effective for treating burns.
"Don't tell me…"
Pryce's voice trembled violently.
In the next moment, his emotions broke completely. Tears streamed down his face as he dropped to his knees before the frozen long-haired pig.
"Yes. It never intended to leave you," Ash continued. "It went to gather medicine to treat your injuries."
"This Pokémon has a natural resistance to extreme cold. It could go to places humans couldn't reach."
"It knew there was a herb that could heal your burns, so it went alone. But after finding it… it fell from the cliff and was frozen at the bottom."
Ash's voice remained steady, but every word struck deeply.
"From its actions, it's obvious. It always saw you as its closest companion."
"The only mistake… was the misunderstanding."
Sima and Sabrina were both moved by the truth.
As for Pryce, he was already overwhelmed with grief.
"So… that's what really happened…"
"I'm sorry… I'm such a fool…"
"Because I doubted our bond… I thought you betrayed me…"
"Forgive me… please forgive me…"
Pryce cried openly, his voice filled with regret as he faced the frozen long-haired pig.
Beside him, Sima wiped the tears from her eyes.
At this moment, the cold, unfeeling Gym Leader from the past was gone.
What remained… was simply a man who had finally realized his mistake after twenty long years.