Sceptile VS Darkrai!
[Steven: Then it seems the Mega Stone for Sceptile I'm holding can only belong to Ash.]
[Tobias: Why do I suddenly feel like I've been cut off at the last second?!]
[Cynthia: I'm a little excited to see Ash fight Tobias. Is Tobias, who owns Darkrai, really Ash's match?]
[Tobias: I already said it—he's a defeated opponent. The winner will definitely still be me!]
Arrogant!
After watching so many of Ash's battles, Tobias could still say something like that.
Just how confident was he in his own strength?!
Or was this simply the confidence of a Legendary Pokémon Trainer?
The audience was filled with anticipation!
[Ash: That was just me being careless before! The winner this time will definitely be me! Tobias, just you wait—I'll smack you in the face hard!]
[Gary: If you lose, don't say you're from Pallet Town. We don't have weaklings like that.]
[Ash: Idiot Gary! You're just my defeated opponent too! You're not qualified to lecture me—Top 16 at the Silver Conference!]
Gary: So mad!
...
On screen—
The brief Rocket Team interruption didn't bother Cynthia in the slightest.
After all, it was Ash's decision.
Cynthia chose to respect it.
As for the Rocket Team members lying on the ground, she had already contacted the nearby Officer Jenny.
If Team Rocket wanted to redeem these elite members,
Giovanni would have to pay a price.
After successfully rescuing Cresselia,
Ash walked up to her.
He gently placed his hand against Cresselia's forehead,
then connected to the psychic barrier of Mewtwo in his mind.
Through that, Cresselia established contact with Mewtwo.
After some negotiation,
the two of them originally planned to return to Newmoon Island and Fullmoon Island.
But Mewtwo offered them a better destination—
Mirage Island.
There were no humans there. With Mewtwo present, their powers wouldn't spiral out of control.
Most importantly, it was safe.
Cresselia then led Darkrai away from the area,
and together they headed for Mirage Island.
At this point, Ash had successfully completed Mewtwo's commission.
After waiting a short while,
once Officer Jenny arrived,
Ash and Cynthia went to bring Dawn, Gary, and Tobias out of the forest and back to the nearby town.
Familiar buildings came into view, and Tobias was on the verge of collapse!
Three years!
Do you know how he'd lived these past three years?!
Eating barely enough each day, living like a caveman!
Ah! Praise the city!
Pedestrians passing by all looked at Tobias like he was a lunatic.
Seeing Tobias completely lose it, Ash and the others silently put some distance between themselves and him.
As if to say—we don't know this guy.
"Since the Mirage Plan is canceled, I'm going to challenge the Masters Eight too. Ash, don't let me leave you behind."
Gary waved casually and turned away with a swagger.
"Just you wait! I'll definitely have a place among the Masters Eight!"
Ash shot back indignantly at Gary's provocation.
But Gary's figure soon disappeared into the night.
Cynthia reached out and gently patted Ash on the head. Her soft voice sounded by his ear.
"Ash, I need to leave as well. Team Rocket has been far too active in Sinnoh lately—I need to deal with it."
"What… Cynthia, you're leaving too?"
Ash complained quietly. They had finally been traveling together,
and now they were already parting ways.
He felt a little reluctant.
Though Ash spoke softly, Cynthia still heard him.
She leaned forward slightly, bringing her face close to his ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"I really like traveling with you, Ash. I've heard Paldea is a wonderful place. After the Masters Eight tournament ends, I'll have some vacation time—let's travel together then."
A strong feminine scent brushed against Ash's ear.
His ears instantly turned red.
Ash froze, completely at a loss for how to respond.
At that moment, Cynthia straightened slightly and placed a finger against Ash's lips.
"This is our secret. Don't tell anyone—especially Diantha."
Feeling the warmth by his lips, Ash didn't know why, but his heart skipped a beat.
There was something he wanted to say,
yet he didn't know how to put it into words.
"Alright, I'm heading off now. Don't forget, okay~"
"And goodbye to you too, Pikachu~"
Cynthia left with reluctance, disappearing into the night-shrouded city.
Beyond being "Cynthia," she also carried the responsibilities of the Sinnoh Champion.
Unlike a certain irresponsible Hoenn Champion,
Cynthia had never forgotten her duties as Champion!
Even long after Cynthia left, Ash stood there in a daze.
"Cynthia…"
"Pika…"
Both Ash and Pikachu fell into a strange, hazy state.
[Diantha: So sneaky! Cynthia, you actually went on a secret date with Ash without bringing me along~]
[Cynthia: We were traveling. Can't your brain contain something normal for once?]
[Diantha: Oh come on~ I'm just speaking from the heart. You don't think that'll make me lower my guard, do you~? Impossible~]
Even Cynthia's eternally calm expression twitched slightly.
That Diantha—so annoying!
Damn it, she suddenly felt like finding someone to fight!
Too bad Flint couldn't even get out of bed right now, or she'd beat him up to vent!
(Flint: Am I a punching bag?!)
[Caitlin: Don't you think Cynthia and Diantha actually make a great ship too? Rival-to-lovers stories are the most fun!]
[Lillie: Doujinshi? Are those the ones under Mom's bed? With the big sisters wearing very little?]
[Lusamine: Ahem—children shouldn't be involved in this kind of topic!]
[Lusamine: Caitlin, watch your influence. That kind of talk isn't appropriate here!]
[Cynthia: Don't worry, I'll educate her properly.]
[Caitlin: Scared.JPG!]
[Ash: So… what exactly is a doujinshi?]
[Diantha: Want to know, Ash? Come find me—I'll personally guide you~]
[Ash: Really?! Thank you so much, Champion Diantha!]
[Diantha: No need to be so formal. Just call me Miss Diantha, like Cynthia~]
[Cynthia: You bastard!]
[Diantha: Oh~ the Iceberg Champion can't hold it in anymore~]
At the filming site of Pokémon Unite: The Movie.
Diantha laughed so hard she bent over.
This was just too interesting.
Cynthia, Ash is so cute—I'm not letting you have him all to yourself~
...
On screen—
In the night-covered town, aside from Tobias, who was still acting strange,
only Ash and Dawn remained.
Their reunion should have been full of joy.
But because of Team Rocket, that joy had been scattered,
leaving only unease.
When did Ash become so close with Champion Cynthia?!
What she just did—wasn't that something only couples would do?!
Could it be that Ash liked the "big sister" type like Champion Cynthia?!
Then wouldn't I have no chance at all?!
I'm only fifteen!
Wouldn't it take another ten years to catch up to Champion Cynthia?!
Dawn clenched her fists, then loosened them.
No one knew what kind of struggle was raging in her heart.
At this moment, Tobias finally returned to normal.
He strolled over to the still-dazed Ash and said, looking down his nose:
"Hey, I'll keep my promise. As repayment for you leading me out of the forest, I'll go easy on you in the battle."
Those words instantly flipped a switch in Ash!
The gloom caused by Cynthia's departure vanished, replaced by fiery energy!
"Remember my name! My name is Ash! The man who will become a Pokémon Master! Burn it into your memory!"
"All the same. I don't remember the names of defeated opponents. If you want me to remember you, beat me first."
"You jerk! Don't look down on me! I'm the Alola Champion!"
"Then should I still hold back?"
"Give it everything you've got! Holding back—who do you think you're looking down on?!"
"Oh."
"What do you mean 'oh'?! Come on! Let's find a place and battle!"
"Fine. Just don't cry like you did at the Lily of the Valley Conference."
"I did not cry!"
Ash felt like his lungs were about to explode from anger!
Tobias was way too irritating!
Even Gary wasn't this annoying!
After all, Gary was his defeated opponent—
while he himself was Tobias's defeated opponent!
A perfect food chain!
Watching the two of them bicker as they walked toward the public battle arena,
Dawn still didn't move.
Not until Piplup pecked her cheek did she snap back to reality.
As Ash's figure grew more distant, Dawn gritted her teeth, hugged Piplup, and chased after him!
"Ash, wait for me!"
So what if Ash liked someone like Champion Cynthia?!
I… I'll grow into that kind of person too!
If I give up now, wouldn't that just make me a coward?!
Absolutely not!
[Johanna: That's the spirit! Dawn, for the sake of love, you must never give up halfway—especially when it's such an excellent marriage candidate like Ash! You have to seize this chance!]
[Dawn: Mom! I'm only ten! I'm not even an adult yet!]
[Johanna: That's not important! A kid like Ash doesn't come around often! A future Champion—definitely hold onto him! I'm rooting for you!]
[Norman: May, you too! Don't fall behind! You're the same age as Ash—perfect for building feelings together! After the journey ends, just get married!]
[Professor Cerise: Chloe, how about you give it a try? You and Ash are both from Kanto—that's already an advantage over the others!]
[Grace: Don't even think about it. Ash belongs to our Serena!]
[Delia: Sigh… if only Red were as popular as Ash. That kid keeps a cold face all day—he's worrying me to death!]
[Blue: Red, look! Aunt Delia wants to set you up on a blind date!]
[Red: Die.]
[Lance: Red, if you don't mind, you could try Lorelei. That old woman can't get married anyway. If you two get together, I can finally win the championship!]
[Lorelei: You—just wait! As long as I'm alive, you'll be nothing more than an Elite Four member!]
[Red: Heh. Lance, come to Orre sometime. I have something to discuss with you.]
[Bruno: Wow, Lance, you're almost on Flint's level now! No—actually worse. You went straight for Red! I salute your courage!]
Kanto — Pokémon League Investigation Division.
Lance rested his chin on his hands, the light in his eyes nearly gone.
Should he run to another region?
He couldn't stay in Kanto for even a single day longer!
...
On screen—
After everything they'd been through, it was already past midnight.
The public battle arena was completely empty.
Ash and Tobias naturally took their positions on opposite sides of the field.
"So, how do you want to do this?"
Tobias said casually. In his eyes, no matter how hard Ash tried, the winner would still be him.
That was the confidence of a god's emissary!
"Have you ever participated in the World Coronation Series?"
Ash took out his Rotom Phone and opened the battle option for the World Coronation Series.
As soon as he asked, Ash froze.
How could a wild-man Trainer like Tobias have participated?
He couldn't even get out of the forest!
If he had Rotom Phone navigation, how could he have been lost for three whole years?!
It just didn't make sense.
At that moment—
To everyone's surprise, Tobias also took out a Rotom Phone shaped like Darkrai.
"I have. My current ranking is thirty-second."
After opening the same interface, Tobias flipped his phone around.
Seeing this, Ash scratched his head.
This was unscientific.
"How did you even participate in the World Coronation Series?"
"Well… whenever I lose my way on life's journey, someone always travels thousands of miles to battle me. After each fight, I ask them how to leave the forest, but they just look at me strangely and walk away."
Tobias sighed helplessly.
That scene left Ash and Dawn completely dumbfounded.
Even Pikachu and Piplup looked at Tobias like he was an idiot.
No matter how airheaded Tobias was, he sensed something was off.
"Is there a problem?"
"Uh… that's hard to evaluate," Dawn said awkwardly. She truly didn't know how to describe it.
Ash, on the other hand—
"Hahaha! This is killing me! Don't you know the Rotom Phone has navigation?! Just follow it and you can walk out of the forest!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Huh?"
Tobias's expression completely collapsed!
Three years!
He'd spent three years in the forest!
And the way out had been on his Rotom Phone the whole time?!
His mouth twitched into an ugly smile.
Then he tapped the match button on his Rotom Phone.
"Beep beep, Rotom! Hopefully we can find a worthy opponent!"
This was Tobias's final shred of dignity!
Ash had no intention of comforting him—revenge was still on the menu!
Without hesitation, Ash pressed "Accept."
As the Rotom Referee arrived on the field,
the long-awaited rematch—three years later, the Lily of the Valley Conference semifinal revenge battle—finally began!
"This match is a Great Ball–class challenge.
The competitors are Ash from the Kanto region and Tobias from the Sinnoh region.
The format is a 3-on-3 battle.
When all three Pokémon of one side lose the ability to battle, the match will end."
"Both Trainers, please send out your first Pokémon!"
As the Rotom Referee's announcement fell—
Tobias snapped his fingers, and Darkrai, floating behind him, drifted onto the battlefield.
At the same time, Pikachu clenched its fists eagerly!
"Pika!"
A godly battle—how could Big Pika-sensei be missing?!
However, Ash reached into his pocket and pulled out a Poké Ball.
"I choose you! Sceptile!"
A flash of red light—
A green Pokémon appeared on the field!
Sceptile—Ash's ace from the Hoenn region!
It had once defeated Tobias's Darkrai at the Lily of the Valley Conference.
These two Pokémon could truly be called old rivals.
"Sceptile, huh? I remember you. You once defeated my Darkrai. You're very impressive."
"Of course! My Sceptile has gotten even stronger!"
Ash wore a proud grin.
"Scet!"
When Sceptile appeared, its previously relaxed gaze sharpened the instant it saw Darkrai floating ahead.
"Excellent eyes. I hope your performance will be as outstanding as it was back then."
Tobias admired Sceptile—but in Sceptile's eyes, that was pure provocation!
The atmosphere grew tense!
Just as everyone stared at the screen, holding their breath for the battle to begin—
The livestream suddenly froze.
Lines of text appeared across the screen!
Seeing this—
All the viewers erupted in excitement!
It was here!
The thrilling Q&A segment again!
[Bruno: This time I'm definitely winning! No need to think—bet on Master Ash and it's guaranteed! Only Master Ash can lead us to rewards!]
[Lance: Ever considered that the real difficulty isn't the question—but the luck? Are you sure you'll even be selected by the stream?]
[Bruno: Hehe, I've prepared a secret weapon!]
...
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