On Mt. Silver.
Before her stood the champion and runner-up of the third Master League.
Roland answered Red and Blue's question.
What drove her to become stronger?
Perhaps it stemmed from her bond with her older sister.
Roland didn't want Cynthia to wear herself out.
Of course, Cynthia wasn't worn out at the moment.
Roland clenched her fist and gave it a shake.
"But my goal has never changed."
"I don't want to become stronger to replace my sister. I want the strength to stand beside her and fight alongside her,
to stand in front of her when she needs me, instead of always being the little sister she protects behind her."
A light flashed in Red's eyes. He had remained silent until now.
In Roland, he saw something familiar and pure-the desire to protect.
Blue dropped his joking expression as well, looking thoughtful.
Red took a step forward and spoke of his own accord for the first time.
"Protecting others is a good motivation."
He pointed to the Poké Balls at Roland's waist,
then to his own heart.
"Follow your heart."
Roland froze for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Yes, Red!"
A smile tugged at Blue's lips. "With motivation that good, we'll have to double the intensity of your special training."
Blue raised an eyebrow at Red. "Isn't it time to let your old friends come out and stretch their legs?"
Red didn't answer.
He merely turned his gaze deeper into the snowy mountains.
Stronger wild Pokémon awaited challengers there, all trained by Red and Blue...
The wind and snow picked up again,
but Roland's gaze was firmer than ever.
That evening, Li Wei climbed onto Arcanine and began his first inspection of the Park since leaving nearly twenty days ago.
His first stop was naturally the Little