"Klein, you're still not asleep?"
That night, as Klein was preparing to leave Professor Oak's lab to accept an invitation from Lily of the Valley Island, he noticed Ash sitting alone on a rock, lost in thought.
"Teacher Klein..."
Ash turned around and greeted him with a cheerful smile, while Pikachu adorably waved as well.
There was no denying Pikachu's cuteness—especially Ash's Pikachu, which had successfully "lost weight," making it even harder for Klein to resist.
"Still haven't gotten over losing to Gary?"
"No, it's just... I'm leaving for the Johto League tomorrow, and I can't sleep."
Comparing Ash's current state to his student Gary's rapid progress, Klein remained silent for a moment before making a decision.
"Ash, do you want Pikachu to learn some stronger techniques?"
Ash and Pikachu froze for a second before Ash's eyes lit up with excitement and anticipation.
"Stronger techniques? What kind of moves? Are they really powerful?!"
Deciding to give Ash some guidance, Klein wanted to compensate for his presence altering the original course of events. If this could help Ash go further in the Silver Conference, it would be worth it.
"If used properly, these moves will make your Pikachu significantly stronger. There are two—one to expand Pikachu's offensive versatility. The first is Iron Tail. I'll have Nidoking demonstrate."
With a flash of light, the enormous form of Nidoking let out a roar. Its massive tail gleamed with a brilliant silver glow before smashing a nearby boulder into countless fragments.
The impact left Ash and Pikachu completely stunned.
The sheer power of Iron Tail made their eyes burn with excitement.
Unlike ordinary trainers, Klein was an expert breeder. After just a few demonstrations and detailed explanations of the technique's key movements, Pikachu—a Pokémon with exceptional intuition—began to grasp the basics.
Mastering Iron Tail would take time, but since Pikachu had already taken the first step, the rest was up to Ash to help it refine the move.
"The second move is called Reversal... This one, rather than having another Pokémon demonstrate, it's better for Pikachu to experience firsthand what it feels like to fight at the limit of exhaustion."
Compared to Iron Tail, Reversal was much more difficult to learn.
The move, similar to abilities like Blaze, required activating a Pokémon's fighting spirit at the brink of defeat. For a battle-hardened Pikachu, it was the perfect fit.
Klein could already imagine Pikachu using Reversal to turn the tide in desperate moments—perhaps even landing the final blow to a legendary Pokémon one day.
To train Pikachu, Klein had Nidoking attack repeatedly, using Iron Tail to force Pikachu into a defensive struggle. As the battle went on, Pikachu became drenched in sweat, panting from exhaustion.
During the process, Klein continuously explained the principles of Reversal, hoping Pikachu would internalize the sensation.
Yet, it still fell short—just by a tiny bit.
In truth, Reversal was an incredibly difficult move to master.
It wasn't until the first rays of morning sunlight shone down that Ash suddenly felt a surge of determination.
"Pikachu! We're not giving up! There's no way a move like Reversal is going to stop us!"
As if his words carried some kind of magic, Pikachu's entire body erupted in a brilliant silver light.
In an instant, it shot forward at extreme speed, crashing directly into Nidoking and forcing it back several meters!
Klein was speechless.
One motivational speech? That was all it took?
All his careful explanations and strategic insights were overshadowed by Ash's hot-blooded anime protagonist energy?!
With that one instinctive counterattack, Pikachu had somehow fully grasped the essence of Reversal.
Completely exhausted, Pikachu struck a triumphant yet adorable pose.
"Pikachu, you're amazing!"
Ash immediately scooped up Pikachu, hugging it tightly.
Meanwhile, Klein could only stare blankly.
They hadn't even fully mastered Iron Tail yet, but Reversal—an advanced move—was learned purely through Ash's battle spirit and intuition?
"...Thanks, Klein!"
Ash was beyond grateful. He was no longer just a rookie trainer—Klein's guidance had given Pikachu two new, highly versatile techniques that would greatly enhance its battle potential.
However, before he could celebrate too much, he noticed that they were being watched.
Misty, Brock, Tracey, Professor Oak, and even his mother had gathered outside the lab, having witnessed Pikachu mastering Reversal firsthand.
"A Champion-tier trainer personally coaching Ash—and gifting Pikachu two powerful techniques? That's basically a free power boost."
Misty smirked.
"Looks like Klein just didn't want Ash to lose to Gary too badly, so he gave him a consolation prize."
Ash, however, clenched his fists in fiery determination.
"Don't underestimate me! Pikachu and I will master both moves and dominate the Johto League!"
"...Well, good luck with that."
With his brief guidance complete, Klein pulled his cloak over his shoulders and approached Professor Oak.
"I'll be leaving for Cinnabar Island. I'll be counting on you to continue looking after my Pokémon in the reserve, Professor."
"I also wish you the best of luck in the Lily of the Valley Tournament—may you push your limits and claim victory."
Hearing this, Ash's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Lily of the Valley Tournament? What's that?"
After a simple explanation of the upcoming battle between the strongest new-generation Elite Fours, Ash was immediately hyped.
"The strongest young Elite Four fighting each other?! That sounds incredible!"
Unlike Ash and the others, Klein remained calm.
Since he had accepted the invitation, there was no room for fear or hesitation.
With some time before the tournament, he decided to return to Cinnabar Island for intense training.
—Meanwhile, in the Sinnoh region—
Aaron sat among his Bug-type Pokémon, feeding them fresh nectar while enjoying their company.
Despite being a newly appointed Elite Four member, Aaron had been a trainer for over four years.
From his rookie days to winning the Sinnoh League, then proving himself in the Champion Tournament, it had taken him four years to reach this position.
Though a "newcomer" in title, he was by no means inexperienced.
After becoming Sinnoh's League Champion, the Elite Four Council assigned him to special investigation units, where he gained extensive field combat experience.
Unlike the typical controlled battles of official tournaments, in the wild, his Bug-type army displayed terrifying strength.
Scouting, ambushes, even assassination missions—Bug-types excelled at all of them.
Despite his gentle appearance, Aaron had shed his fair share of blood while executing missions.
Poachers targeting Bug Pokémon? Most never returned alive.
To protect his beloved Bug-types, Aaron was utterly ruthless.
Becoming an Elite wasn't just about strength—it required the resolve to face any challenge head-on.
Even Aaron—who appeared soft-spoken and delicate—possessed unshakable determination.
"All three invitations were accepted?"
Hearing the update, Aaron blinked in surprise.
"Looks like Klein and Caitlin both refuse to fall behind."