"...Are these people crazy?" Ash couldn't help but remark.
Queuing for three days just to challenge the Gym, are they out of their minds? Do they really need to be this fanatical just for some guidance from an Elite Trainer?
If other people who know Ash found out about his thoughts, they'd definitely say he's got no idea what it's like for others.
For others, guidance from an Elite Trainer is extremely rare, but Ash enjoys it every day, and it's not just from an Elite, but a Champion!
The ones guiding Ash in the group, aren't they all peak existences in the parallel worlds?
Not only Champion Trainers but also Breeders, Body Refining Experts, Attribute Specialization Experts, and others.
For Ash, guidance from high-level Trainers is the least valuable thing, but for those passerby Trainers, it's an extremely rare opportunity. So even if they have to wait for three days, they'd queue up!
Ash initially wanted to come here to spar with an Elite Trainer, guidance wasn't really on his mind. If he really wanted to review the battle, he could jot down the entire match and send it back to the group for a replay. Wouldn't that be better?
But now it seems, challenging Koga is almost hopeless. If he had known earlier, he would have gone with Gary to Lanyan City's Gym.
Better not end up in the Quartz Conference without enough Gym Badges, that'd be a real blunder.
"You guys are leaving?" A passerby Trainer said with a slightly excited look when they saw Ash and the others prepared to leave.
"Huh? Yeah, with a line this long, are we really going to wait for three days?"
"But this is the Gym of Koga, a potential Elite! If you can queue up and challenge Mr. Koga, under his guidance, your path as a Trainer will be smooth sailing and you'll be on the road to success!"
Ash: ...
Heh, "smooth sailing" my foot, I get guidance from a Champion Trainer every day and it's not like it's been smooth sailing for me.
Hoping that one battle can pave your way as a Trainer is nothing but wishful thinking.
It's only through continuous challenges and setbacks that you can truly grow into a peak Trainer.
He's been scolded harshly in the group countless times before seeing today's results.
What can a single piece of guidance do?
"Once you actually battle an Elite Trainer, you'll find that one battle might not help you as much." Ash patted the passerby Trainer's shoulder and said earnestly.
The passerby Trainer was bewildered by this statement, thinking Ash might be some top-notch Trainer. How dare a Trainer who just debuted two months ago say something like this!
"Elite Trainer not helpful," could it be you have Champion guidance?
"Kid, you're young, but you sure talk big." A voice suddenly came from behind Ash. The trio turned and saw an entirely wrapped-up person.
"...Who are you?" Ash instinctively used his Aura Power to scan and found the person was not Team Rocket in disguise, then asked.
"Don't worry about who I am. You were just saying battling an Elite isn't helpful, right?"
"I didn't say it like that, alright? I only said that one battle isn't that helpful." Ash rolled his eyes, feeling a bit speechless.
What kind of person is this, with selective hearing? Just ignored half of what he said.
"It's roughly the same. Let me ask you, if given the chance to challenge an Elite, would you take it?"
"Of course, I would." Ash replied without hesitation. An Elite might not guide him, but they can definitely pressure his Pokemon, and under such pressure, the Pokemon can significantly improve.
For him, that's the most direct benefit of battling an Elite, not some vague guidance.
"Hmph, a moment ago you said it's useless, and now you're quick to accept. Aren't you just trying to challenge Mr. Koga? But if you think degrading him will get you in first, you're entirely wrong."
Ash: ...
Who is this guy, seemingly protecting Koga? I didn't even say anything, but they managed to twist his words into something against Koga.
What, can't say a bad word about Koga? Is he a die-hard fan?
"You said you're a Trainer who debuted two months ago, huh? If you have more than four Gym Badges, maybe I could get you into Fuchsia Gym. But do you have them? Haha, if not, stop talking big... ha???"
Before the person in black could finish speaking, Ash opened his jacket, neatly displaying five Badges.
These Badges instantly choked the words out of the person in black.
No way, I hadn't finished speaking, and you just slapped me in the face? Five Badges in two months? You gotta be kidding me!
Just as the person in black was about to retort, they noticed the Pikachu on Ash's shoulder, which they hadn't paid much attention to, and suddenly thought of someone.
"You're Ash from Pallet Town?"
"Uh... you know me?"
"You defeated Sabrina of Saffron Gym?" The person in black didn't answer Ash's question and kept asking.
"Is there a problem? After all this talk, you still haven't said who you are and why you can take me into Fuchsia Gym."
Facing Ash's inquiry, the person in black looked around and seeing that the attention of those in line had shifted over, they quickly grabbed Ash's hand and said, "Come with me first."
Ash was a bit puzzled but followed the person, thinking if this person could get him to challenge Fuchsia Gym, all the better. Even if it was just talk, there was no loss. They weren't in line and were about to leave Fuchsia City anyway.
The people in line were curious about the situation, but since they were already closer to the front, leaving would mean another one or two days of queuing, so they didn't follow.
Under the guidance of the person in black, Ash and his group arrived at a spot to the left of Fuchsia Gym where there was no one. The person in black pulled off their cloak, revealing their true self.
Under the black cloak was a girl with long green hair and a charming, fair face.
"A... girl?" Misty exclaimed, finding it hard to believe.
The hoarse voice earlier didn't sound like a girl's at all, and under the cloak was such a pretty girl.
Brock's cheeks turned red instantly, his DNA ready to activate again!
"Ah, beautiful lady, from the first sight I felt fate's red thread guiding us. You are destined for me, I can already see how we spend our lives together!"
"Cut it out, we're discussing important matters!" Misty couldn't bear it and smacked Brock's head, then tossed the steaming Brock behind Ash.
The woman, now unveiled, was bewildered by Brock's actions but quickly regained composure. Her beautiful eyes looked at Ash, introducing herself, "I'm Aya, Koga's sister, the Gym Leader of Fuchsia Gym. Now you know why I can take you in, right?"
Aya? Koga's sister? No wonder she could guarantee getting him into Fuchsia Gym. But how does she know him? Has his reputation already reached Koga's ears? Ash's doubts remained unresolved.