The sky was overcast.
In Lance's eyes, it had been gray for a long time. He had always believed so firmly in his ideals.
But now? He couldn't even defeat a handful of his juniors. How was he supposed to fulfill his dreams?
Or… was he simply wrong all along? Why else would he lose?
Cold rain pelted down from the heavens. Not far off, Giovanni's group of five watched Lance, who now knelt in the mud, utterly defeated.
Red and the others remained silent. No one stepped forward. Any words right now would feel like mockery or pity—perhaps both.
Even Giovanni's gaze carried a hint of complexity as he looked at the fallen Dragon Master.
Maybe… in this broken Lance, he saw a reflection of his own past self.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps cut through the rain and stopped right in front of Lance.
Lance slowly raised his head, his lifeless eyes settling on the man before him.
"…Dylan."
"…Lance."
A ripple passed through Lance's gaze as he looked up at his junior.
"Lance… you lost."
Dylan sighed softly, voice low as he looked upon the once-glorious Dragon Master of Kanto.
"…I lost."
Lance's lips were drawn tight, eyes shut. He had lost. And not even to Dylan.
Maybe—he really had been wrong.
The battle of Cerise Island was officially over with Lance's defeat.
As the scheduled time arrived, the Officer Jenny unit dispatched by Chairman Goodshow arrived by boat. Lance, Agatha, and Lorelei did not resist.
Lance could have resisted—Zekrom and Lugia still had fight left in them.
But this loss had shaken him deeply. His beliefs were crumbling. He was trapped in doubt.
Dylan removed the badge energy inside Lugia, clearing its mind. Lugia, regaining itself, left.
Zekrom, after a silent exchange with Lance through their bond, chose to leave as well.
Zekrom honestly felt confused. You worked so hard to take me from N, and in the final battle, you had me… sit and watch?
Then why even bring me here?
Still, it understood. Had Zekrom joined the fight, Dylan wouldn't have just stood by. Then it wouldn't have been a battle at all.
Bruno, meanwhile, had always been undercover. Naturally, his treatment was very different. He was now lounging in the ship's mess hall, happily devouring a meal.
And so, the former Kanto Elite Four faction was… entirely dismantled.
—
"You all did great."
At dinner, Dylan raised his glass to the five who had fought.
"Not great—miserable," Leaf muttered, rolling her eyes.
She had thought this whole thing would be for show—but Dylan had been the only one pretending.
"But it was a damn good fight!" Blue downed his beer with a satisfied grin.
Win or lose, giving it their all had been thrilling.
"This victory over the former Elites is a major contribution. Once we return, you'll all be able to request rewards from the chairman. He won't be stingy," Dylan said with a smile that wasn't subtle in the slightest.
The former Elites were every bit as dangerous as Team Rocket had been. Their defeat couldn't be publicly acknowledged, but the accomplishments were real.
Goodshow would definitely reward them handsomely.
"Hey, Gym Bro—what's going to happen to Lance and the others?" Selene asked, sipping juice curiously.
"Who knows? But knowing the chairman, if they're willing to come back, he probably won't say no."
Dylan shrugged. No matter what they'd been planning, they hadn't actually gone through with it yet.
And no matter how far they'd strayed, Lance and the others had still served the League with honor in the past.
The League prided itself on its humanitarian values. If they showed repentance, Goodshow wouldn't hold a grudge.
"If they come back, wouldn't they be competing with us for the Elite Four seats?" Blue frowned, raising a second glass.
"Could be," Dylan said, glancing at Bruno, who was still stuffing his face.
"Bruno-senpai, would you challenge us?" Selene asked with wide eyes.
"Eh?" Bruno blinked, a little lost. "I still need more training. Can't beat you guys yet."
Straightforward as always—but the intent was clear. Bruno still had his sights on returning to the Elite Four.
In fact, that was probably why he joined the League in the first place—to battle strong Trainers. That had always been his dream.
"Tch, whatever. Anyone who comes, I'll knock 'em down!" Blue said with a cocky tilt of his head.
After this battle on Cerise Island, he was sure of it—he was stronger than ever.
"More competition, huh…" Selene rested her chin in her hand, pouting. She wanted to challenge the League too.
"Actually, from what I've heard, the League plans to establish a separate Johto branch. If Lance and the others truly repent, they'll probably be assigned there," Giovanni added smoothly.
"For real?" Blue looked surprised.
"He's right. The chairman mentioned it to me too," Dylan nodded.
Johto hadn't formed its own League yet because it didn't have an Elite Four.
If Lance's crew came back, that problem would be solved.
—
After the battle and a satisfying meal, the group dispersed to rest.
Meanwhile, in another room…
"Leaf, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Pryce, the Gym Leader from Mahogany Town."
Dylan brought Leaf into the room. Pryce looked at her with a mixture of guilt and shame.
Now that his dream was close to being realized, his heart had begun to shift.
"Hello, sir." Leaf offered a polite smile despite her confusion.
She had a deep-rooted fear of the Masked Man, but no one had ever known who was under that mask. Not until now.
"I'm sorry… for what I did to you."
Pryce bowed his head from his wheelchair.
Leaf blinked in confusion.
"Uh… what are you talking about?"
She'd spent time in Johto. Of course she knew of Mahogany. But the apology felt… ominous.
"That's right. Pryce has something important to do. Leaf, remember telling me about your past?"
Leaf froze.
"This man—he's the Masked Man."
"!!!"
Leaf's eyes widened in shock, staring at the old man in disbelief.
The Masked Man—her worst nightmare. The one who had taken her away from her family.
But…
"This…"
Normally quick-witted, Leaf was speechless.
This frail, wrinkled old man? Him?
She clenched her fists, anger flickering in her eyes.
She feared the Masked Man, yes. But she also hated him. He had shattered her childhood.
Her breath hitched. Her chest heaved.
Dylan gently patted her shoulder, offering silent comfort.
The room was silent.
After a while, Leaf looked away from Pryce and toward Dylan.
She needed answers.
Dylan gave them, telling her everything.
"So you kidnapped us… to prepare us for catching Celebi?" Leaf asked coldly.
"Yes," Pryce answered without evasion.
"You suffered misfortune, and decided to build your future on others' pain," she spat.
"I'd do anything… for them," he murmured.
"I don't want your apology," Leaf said tightly. "It's too late."
Her past had already been written. But…
She turned to Dylan. And in her eyes, there was warmth.
Dylan smiled back.
"So to revive those Lapras… we need Ho-Oh, right?"
"Yes. Only Ho-Oh has the power," Dylan confirmed.
"Fine. I'll help you. And after this, we're done," Leaf said firmly to Pryce.
She needed closure.
"Thank you," Pryce whispered.
Leaf didn't answer. She turned to stare out the window.
Of all things… her nightmare had been caused by an old man with a broken heart and a dying wish.
How absurd.
—
Officer Jenny's ship docked in Vermilion City.
Giovanni's group escorted Lance and the others to Indigo Plateau.
Meanwhile, Dylan, Leaf, Pryce, and an excited Selene slipped away into the wilderness.
"Ho-Oh, come," Leaf said softly, holding out a special Rainbow Wing—a gift from Ho-Oh itself.
It glowed brilliantly. A response.
Pryce remained silent in his wheelchair, stroking the Swinub in his lap. With his other hand, he quietly released Delibird.
He ordered it to hide nearby.
"Coo~"
Ten minutes passed. A radiant rainbow stretched across the sky.
A bird of flame and light approached from the distance, wings blazing gold and shimmering in every hue.
Ho-Oh.
"So pretty~!" Selene's eyes sparkled.
This was the Ho-Oh of Kanto myth—her idol.
It came closer… closer…
"Coo—??"
As it reached them, it let out a long, majestic cry… that abruptly cut off.
Because it had spotted Pryce.
The moment their eyes met, Ho-Oh froze.
Even after all these years, it recognized him.
"Ho-Oh… it's been a long time."
Pryce met its gaze.
He wasn't wrong. He had once been Ho-Oh's Trainer—even if he'd used it for… less than noble purposes.
Ho-Oh's eyes bulged.
And then—
"…Huh?"
Selene tilted her head, baffled, as Ho-Oh turned tail and fled.
Wait.
Was that… was that a run for your life maneuver?
It kinda looked like… Ho-Oh was escaping.