Pallet Town, Kanto Region.
February in the Kanto Region still carried winter's chill,
but the afternoon sunlight bathed the quiet town in warmth.
In the backyard of Professor Oak's Laboratory, figures training and the cries of Pokémon mingled in a lively scene.
Red's, Blue's, and Ash's Pokémon made up most of the Pokémon in Professor Oak's backyard.
Ash's thirty Tauros, in particular, ran tirelessly across the open fields.
"Salamence, Dragon Breath!"
Cynthia's younger sister, Roland, was directing her ace Salamence in a training battle against Red's Pokémon.
After being eliminated in the Top 32 of the Master League last November,
she had come to Kanto for special training, first honing herself in the harsh environment of Mt. Silver and receiving guidance from Red and Blue.
Only recently, as the cold intensified, had she moved to Pallet Town at Red and Blue's insistence, staying at Professor Oak's Laboratory to continue her training.
In fact, compared with Mt. Silver, Pallet Town was clearly better suited to Roland's training.
The Pokémon here were still high-level. After all, they belonged to powerful Trainers.
Just then,
a golden ring appeared out of thin air above the laboratory.
"Hoopa~ scoop, scoop!"
Accompanied by the cheerful cry of "Hoopa~ scoop, scoop!"
two figures leaped lightly out of the ring and landed steadily on the ground.
They were Li Wei and Cynthia.
Lucario and Zeraora followed, along with Victini and Meloetta, who flew out.
Li Wei also held Shaymin in his arms.
"Sis, Li Wei!"
Although Li Wei was a few years older than Roland, she had always called him directly by his name since childhood.
Mostly because Li Wei wasn't used to people calling him their big brother.
As for people later calling him "Brother Wei" at the Breeding Center, that was simply a teasing nickname.
Li