Windswept City.
The battle area on the hotel's top floor.
After defeating Brandon, Ash had grown a little too proud of himself lately and challenged Lorelei.
During his travels, Ash had once challenged Lorelei with Charizard and Pikachu, only for her Cloyster to shut them both out.
Pokédex Rotom served as the referee.
Lucario, Metagross, and the others had not returned to their Poké Balls.
Instead, they stood or sat quietly, watching the battlefield.
Sirfetch'd stood ramrod straight with its leek sword in its arms, like a knight attending a ceremony.
Corviknight stood beside Metagross with its wings folded, its gaze fixed on the center of the field.
They, too, could feel Lorelei's and Ash's fighting spirit.
Dragapult floated above Li Wei's head, the little Dreepy poking their heads out curiously.
Lorelei gently tossed a Poké Ball, which traced an elegant arc through the air.
"Articuno, take the stage."
As the temperature suddenly dropped and tiny ice crystals condensed out of thin air,
the Legendary Pokémon-Articuno-appeared.
Articuno's mere arrival sent the temperature inside the venue plummeting several degrees.
Dawn forgot her excitement at seeing Articuno and hugged herself.
"Brr... It's so cold."
Li Wei gestured. "If you're cold, go sit beside Arcanine."
"Okay!"
Dawn, Yellow, and Blue sat beside the warm Arcanine.
Shaymin and Diancie also unconsciously edged closer to Arcanine.
Rotom announced the rules loudly.
"This will be a one-on-one battle with no move restrictions. The match ends when either Pokémon is unable to battle, Rotom!"
Seeing that his opponent was Articuno, Ash did not back down. Instead, he grew even more excited.
"Charizard, this is great! It's Articuno!"
"Roar!!!"
Li Wei could only think...
Ash, you're still too young.
After all, not all Articuno were equal.
Charizard could indeed defeat the Articuno belonging to Noland, the head of