The Goal He Continues to Pursue

"She has come to the Indigo League as well..."

Xiao Yan lay on the grass in the yard of Professor Oak's Laboratory, looking up at the sky and reminiscing about his travels with Xiao Lan.

"You've been looking at the clouds all afternoon, you should at least eat something!"

Gary brought a sandwich over and handed it to Xiao Yan.

"Ah... I didn't realize it was already noon."

"What's wrong? You look like you have something heavy on your mind."

Gary sat down nearby and ate the sandwich in his hand.

"Nothing..."

"Is it about your foster sister?"

Just then, Xiao Yan choked halfway through a bite of his sandwich, and Pikachu handed him a cup of water, allowing Xiao Yan to finally catch his breath.

"You can't hide anything from me."

Gary stood up at that moment, brushing the grass off the seat of his pants.

"If you don't want to battle her that badly, you might as well just forfeit!"

With those words, Gary walked away.

Night fell quickly. Xiao Yan lay in bed, thinking about what Gary had said to him that afternoon, and found himself completely unable to sleep.

"No! I'd better go out for some fresh air."

Terrified of waking up the soundly sleeping Pikachu, Xiao Yan carefully got out of bed, put on his shoes, and headed outside.

The nighttime streets were nearly empty, with only Xiao Yan and a few people out buying midnight snacks walking along them.

"Slash!"

Hearing the sound of someone training a Pokémon, Xiao Yan walked toward the source of the noise.

"Xiao Lan?!" Upon seeing the familiar figure, Xiao Yan immediately hid behind a large tree to the side.

"Tomorrow is the match with Brother Xiao Yan. When I was little, I always watched his back as he battled others. Now I can finally face him in battle. Since I've chased him all the way here, I have to fight with all my might and make him acknowledge me."

Every word was heard by Xiao Yan, who was hiding behind the tree.

Fight me with all my might, huh...

"Isn't this person..."

"Why is he sleeping here?"

"I repeat! Will contestant Xiao Yan from Pallet Town please come to the battle arena? If you do not reach the field within five minutes, you will be considered to have forfeited!"

Oh no! I accidentally fell asleep, and my Pokémon are still at the hotel!

Xiao Yan wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and the surrounding crowd of onlookers voluntarily cleared a path for him to pass.

I have to make it in time...

Running halfway, Xiao Yan saw Suicune arrive on the main street to pick him up, and everyone's eyes locked onto the Legendary Beast Suicune.

"Honestly! How could you wander off in the middle of the night and fall asleep outside? Get on!"

Xiao Yan climbed onto Suicune's back, and Suicune sprinted rapidly toward the arena.

"Wait! My Pikachu and the Pokémon I'm using for the match are still at the hotel."

"Don't worry! Entei already brought them for you."

Xiao Yan finally let out a sigh of relief.

"What's going on?! While waiting for contestant Xiao Yan, Entei has actually appeared in the arena, holding a Pokémon Ball in its mouth, and there's a Pikachu on its back-wait! This Pikachu looks so familiar!"

Suicune made a giant leap from outside the grounds, jumping straight into the arena.

"You're finally here..." Gary watched Xiao Yan, who had just entered the arena, from the spectator seats.

A commotion swept through the scene at that moment.

"Wow! Suicune has appeared in the arena too! That means..."

The crowd hurriedly raised their phones to take pictures, and camera flashes flickered endlessly.

"Xiao Yan!" Entei ran up to Xiao Yan and handed him the Pokémon Ball it had been holding in its mouth.

"There are three Pokémon Balls on the table, and two of them belong to me and Suicune. You're going to use us!?"

"Let's give it everything we've got!" Xiao Yan flashed a sunny smile at the two Legendary Beasts.

Then he took out his Pokémon Balls and recalled the two eagerly watched Legendary Beasts.

"Suicune and Entei really are contestant Xiao Yan's precious Pokémon! Since contestant Xiao Yan has reached the battle station, let's begin!"

"Go, Wigglytuff!"

"I'm counting on you, Entei."

Both Xiao Lan and Xiao Yan sent out their first Pokémon.

When Entei took its place on the field, the previously overcast sky suddenly cleared, and dazzling sunlight shone down on the faces of Xiao Yan and Entei.

"Flamethrower."

Entei fired a Flamethrower at Wigglytuff. Because of the Sunny Day, Fire-type moves received a significant boost.

"Wigglytuff, dodge it!"

Wigglytuff leaped upward into the air.

Entei prepared to launch its next offensive while awaiting Xiao Yan's command.

Yet Xiao Yan didn't react at all.

"Xiao Yan! Pull yourself together, this is a battle!"

"Wigglytuff, use Sing."

Wigglytuff, having returned to the ground, pulled out a microphone and began to sing.

As Wigglytuff's song played, Entei's eyes grew heavy.

"Use Rain Dance!"

Entei successfully activated the move just before its eyes closed.

The previously cloudless sunny sky quickly turned overcast and began to pour heavy rain.

Raindrops continuously pelted Entei's body, keeping it awake and preventing it from falling asleep.

"Return, Wigglytuff."

At that moment, Xiao Lan recalled Wigglytuff to switch Pokémon.

"Electabuzz, use Thunderbolt."

Xiao Lan seized the advantage of the rainy weather and used an Electric-type move on Entei, whose entire body was drenched.

Thunderbolt struck Entei, electricity coursing through its frame, and Entei wore a look of intense pain.

"Electabuzz, Thunder Punch."

Electabuzz rushed toward Entei, which had just taken heavy damage, and prepared its next attack.

"Entei, use Flamethrower directly."

Entei's Flamethrower struck Electabuzz; although it wasn't as strong as before, it still packed a punch.

"Do it again, use Fire Blast."

Without waiting for Electabuzz to recover, Entei unleashed a direct Fire Blast.

"Electabuzz, hurry and dodge!"

Electabuzz tried to evade, but Entei's attack was too fast, and Fire Blast hit it head-on.

"Electabuzz is unable to battle! Contestant Xiao Lan, please send out your second Pokémon."

Xiao Lan recalled Electabuzz. At the same time, Xiao Yan recalled Entei, and both trainers switched in new Pokémon.

"Whoa! Is this the arrangement of fate? One is Espeon, and the other is Umbreon."

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Lan's Espeon.

That Eevee from back then...

"Umbreon, Shadow Ball."

"We'll use Shadow Ball too."

Two Shadow Balls collided in midair, creating an explosion.

"Swift."

Without giving the opponent time to react, Umbreon immediately launched an attack.

Espeon was struck by Swift and took minor damage.

"Flash!"

A blinding light radiated from Espeon. Bathed in this dazzling glare, Umbreon couldn't open its eyes.

"Psychic!"

Espeon seized the moment while Umbreon couldn't see and struck first.

"..."

Unable to open its eyes, Umbreon was sent flying by Psychic.

"Keep attacking, Tackle."

Umbreon was battered with injuries under Espeon's overwhelming onslaught.

We can't win...

"Umbreon, return!"

Just as Xiao Yan recalled Umbreon, the Pokémon unexpectedly popped back out, turned around, and bit down on Xiao Yan's hand.

"Umbreon, what are you doing? Your eyes can't open, you'll just be a punching bag."

Umbreon gazed earnestly into Xiao Yan's eyes.

"I get it... Go back and fight!"

The rain continued to fall. Umbreon returned to the field; although its eyes remained closed, it showed not a trace of panic.

Xiao Lan is already fighting with all her might to surpass me. As her target, how could I ever hold back?

Instantly, the Mega Stone on Xiao Yan's bracelet resonated with the Mega Stone on Umbreon, both emitting a brilliant white light simultaneously.

"Mega Evolution"

"What's happening? Contestant Xiao Yan's Umbreon is showing signs of evolution! Could this be the legendary Mega Evolution?!"

After the recent appearances of Suicune and Entei, the entire stadium had already been in an uproar, and now the emergence of Mega Evolution turned it into a riot.

The Mega-Evolved Umbreon stood majestically in the center of the field, its neck fur resembling a white scarf fluttering in the wind.

"Dark Pulse." Mega Umbreon radiated a malicious, terrifying aura from within. Espeon was caught in the shockwave, taking damage and flinching.

"Psychic."

Mega Umbreon opened its eyes amidst the dazzling light and assaulted Espeon with powerful telekinesis.

"Espeon is unable to battle! Contestant Xiao Lan, please send out your next Pokémon."

"Brother Xiao Yan... You really are strong. I'm going to use my trump card to defeat you."

Xiao Lan sent out Charizard.

At that moment, Umbreon ended its Mega Evolution.

"Return, Umbreon."

Xiao Yan switched to a new Pokémon.

"Contestant Xiao Yan has sent out Suicune, one of the Legendary Beasts. This is my first time seeing a battle between Legendary Beasts with my own eyes."

Charizard and Suicune locked eyes, waiting for their respective trainers to give the command.

"Bubble Beam"

"Fly"

Suicune fired a Bubble Beam at Charizard. Charizard flew up into the sky, causing Suicune's attack to miss, and then dove back down.

"Suicune, dodge and use Blizzard."

Suicune leaped backward to evade Charizard's attack as the temperature in the air plummeted drastically. Snow began to fall from the sky, thickening rapidly into a blizzard that swept toward Charizard.

"Charizard!"

Charizard was swept by the intense blizzard and fell into a frozen status.

"Flamethrower."

Suicune dodged the flames just as Charizard spread its wings, flew over, and slashed at Suicune with powerful claws, knocking Suicune down and sending it crashing into the ground.

"Absolute Zero." Seeing Charizard's immense speed, Xiao Yan directly ordered Suicune to use its ultimate move.

Suicune climbed back up and roared fiercely at Charizard as the ground rapidly froze over.

"Charizard, use Fire Spin on yourself."

Seeing that Charizard was about to be frozen solid, it used Fire Spin at its own feet to raise the temperature and prevent freezing.

"Hydro Pump!"

Xiao Yan directly commanded a massive, high-powered Hydro Pump toward Charizard trapped within the Fire Spin.

"Charizard!!!"

"Charizard is unable to battle! Contestant Xiao Lan, please send out your final Pokémon."

Xiao Lan sent out the Pokémon she had recalled earlier during the battle with Entei.

"One more Hydro Pump!"

Suicune immediately unleashed a Hydro Pump at the newly entered Wigglytuff to close out the match.

"Wigglytuff is unable to battle! Therefore, the winner is the red corner's contestant Xiao Yan!!!"

Xiao Yan left the arena intending to look for Xiao Lan, but he was swallowed up by the crowd.

"Could you spare a moment for an interview?"

"I'm from OX News, how on earth did you capture two Legendary Beasts?"

"Please accept our interview!"

Reporters swarmed and surrounded Xiao Yan until Pikachu, perched on Xiao Yan's shoulder, unleashed an Electromagnetic Wave on everyone, paralyzing the whole lot of them.

"Sorry, I have an urgent matter. I'll take your interviews another time if I get the chance."

Xiao Yan couldn't spot Xiao Lan's figure anywhere around the stadium.

"Pikachu, you should still remember Xiao Lan's scent, right? Can you help me find her?"

Pikachu jumped down from Xiao Yan's shoulder and ran toward the park, with Xiao Yan close behind.

"Found her!"

Pikachu led Xiao Yan to the park, where they saw Xiao Lan sitting on a bench with a dejected look in her eyes.

"Long time no see!"

Xiao Yan and Pikachu walked up to Xiao Lan.

"Xiao Yan..."

Tears faintly glimmered in Xiao Lan's eyes.

"You've gotten stronger!"

Xiao Yan rested his hand on Xiao Lan's head.

"You've really worked hard."

Tears slid down Xiao Lan's cheeks.

"From now on... keep working hard, and one day... surpass me, the person you've set your sights on."