Time slowly flowed by unnoticed.
In these past few days, the Breeding House's business has been booming.
There have been varying numbers of customers for Pokémon boarding, selling pokémon eggs, selling rare items, and teaching Pokémon moves.
Perhaps the Trainers are preparing for the new League Conference.
Lucas was delighted by this; business was getting better and better.
Lucas was sprawled in an armchair in the lounge area, holding a book on Pokémon breeding knowledge, leisurely reading it.
Gothorita walked over, picked up the teapot from the coffee table, and refilled Lucas's cup with hot tea.
With his other hand, he stroked Vulpix, who was napping in his arms.
It was extremely comfortable.
Meanwhile, in Pallet Town, Kanto region.
A young boy wearing a blue jacket, with a Pikachu on his shoulder, burst into a house.
"Mom, I'm home."
"Pika~"
The house was utterly silent.
"Huh, that's strange, where's Mom?"
The boy searched around, but there was no one.
He looked at the Pikachu on his shoulder.
"Maybe she's at Professor Oak's house. Let's go, Pikachu."
"Pika~"
As the boy and Pikachu just entered Professor Oak's laboratory.
They were startled by sudden celebratory firecrackers.
Pikachu fell directly to the ground.
"Pika?"
At this moment, Professor Oak, Gary, and Delia walked out.
Professor Oak first congratulated Ash on conquering the Battle Frontier.
Gary, with his hands in his pockets, looked at Ash, the boy he had grown up with since childhood.
A smile played on his lips.
The boy looked at Gary, his eyes instantly filled with a desire for a Pokémon battle.
"Gary, let's have a battle! I've conquered the Battle Frontier!"
The boy proudly raised his head and said.
"That confident, are we?"
Gary said, then nodded.
He followed the boy to the grassy area outside the laboratory.
"Go, Pikachu!"
The Pikachu on the boy's shoulder jumped down and went to the center of the field.
"Hey, Ash, I've also learned a lot and improved quite a bit while studying with someone else during this time."
Gary spoke to Ash across from him:
"What I mean is, are you ready to be defeated?"
Ash was stunned at first, then finally reacted, "Pikachu and I will never lose!"
Hearing this, Gary made no unnecessary movements, but instead took out a Poké Ball, and with a flash of red light.
An Electivire appeared from it.
Ash had never seen an Electivire before, so he pulled out his Pokédex and scanned it.
No relevant information.
Ken, acting as the referee, announced the start of the battle.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Electivire, endure it."
Thunderbolt struck Electivire, and Electivire comfortably squinted its eyes.
"Get close, Thunder Punch!"
Under Electivire's Motor Drive ability, its speed increased, and it quickly arrived in front of Pikachu.
It clenched its fist and threw a Thunder Punch.
"Dodge it quickly!"
Ash's max-level skill.
Pikachu narrowly dodged.
"Encore, Thunderbolt!"
Electivire still didn't dodge, and its speed towards Pikachu became even faster.
Pikachu couldn't dodge Electivire's Iron Tail and was then fiercely sent flying by Iron Tail.
"We'll use Iron Tail too!"
"Pika!"
"Protect, then Thunder Punch."
Pikachu's Iron Tail hit the screen, and then it was sent flying by Electivire's Thunder Punch.
It lost its ability to battle.
"Electivire, you worked hard. I'll give you an extra meal tonight."
Gary watched Pikachu lose its ability to battle and recalled Electivire to its Poké Ball.
Electivire was happily recalled to its Poké Ball.
His training methods were slowly starting to show Lucas's influence.
Ash, meanwhile, was holding Pikachu.
"How could this be? I thought we wouldn't lose."
Hearing this, Gary shook his head, then walked over to Ash, who was kneeling on one knee, holding Pikachu.
"Ash."
Ash looked up at his rival, whom he had once defeated.
"Don't think that just because you've conquered the Battle Frontier, you can get carried away."
"You need to know that there are still many regions in this world, many powerful Pokémon, and many strong Trainers, for example, in the Sinnoh region."
"There are many powerful Pokémon you don't know of."
Gary recalled the Pokémon he had seen at the Breeding House, paused, and continued:
"I also met someone and studied with him for a while before I truly understood this statement."
Ash listened to Gary's words and mumbled to himself.
"Sinnoh—region, you say?"
"That's right, the Sinnoh region."
Gary nodded.
Then he ran his hand through his hair, "I will go to the Sinnoh region to begin my research, and at the same time, I will continuously improve my Pokémon's battle strength."
"Ash, you're the one who defeated me. Don't let a Pokémon researcher like me defeat you someday in the future."
Gary chuckled at this point.
"You have to remember what you said; you're going to be a Pokémon Master."
With that, Gary waved his hand.
Umbreon walked to his side, affectionately rubbing its head against his pant leg.
After returning from studying at the Breeding House, his bond with his Pokémon seemed to have deepened.
He recalled that battle with Lucas, and Lucas's final words.
"Research and battle strength are not in conflict. Without powerful strength, how can one explore those more profound and dangerous Pokémon and their history?"
"Manager, don't worry, my strength will definitely not disappoint you." Gary looked up at the sunlight above.
I will keep improving, so Ash, as the one who defeated me, you can't stay in one place.
Thinking of this, he spoke again:
"A Pokémon Master won't stop here."
With that, Gary turned to Professor Oak.
"Professor Oak, then I'll head back to the Sinnoh region. I plan to start my research there."
Professor Oak nodded.
"Goodbye, everyone. Goodbye, Ash. I'll be waiting for you in the Sinnoh region."
With that, Gary and Umbreon left gracefully.
Ash, however, remained rooted to the spot.
He watched Gary and Umbreon's retreating figures intently, lost in thought.
"Pika—"
Pikachu in his arms let out a soft cry.
Ash snapped out of it, noticing Pikachu, Professor Oak, Delia, Ken, and Mr. Mime looking at him with concern.
Ash had Pikachu use Thunderbolt on him.
Coming back to his senses, Ash stood up, fully revitalized.
"I've decided! I'm going to the Sinnoh region too! I'm going to challenge the Sinnoh region!"
Delia, standing nearby, looked reluctant but didn't speak to stop him, merely clapped her hands and said she would support Ash.
Professor Oak, already prepared, pulled out the latest Pokédex and handed it to Ash.
"Go, Ash, go and see more Pokémon."
Ash nodded.
Then he returned to the backyard and released all of his Pokémon.
He decided to only take Pikachu with him to the Sinnoh Alliance.
Sceptile and the others all agreed with Ash's decision.
Surrounded by his Pokémon, Ash looked up at the sky.
Gary's figure appeared again.
Sinnoh region, wait for me!
....
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