Just as Lance was preparing to rest briefly and then have Aerodactyl carry him away from the island, the small cave welcod another unexpected guest.
The sound of footsteps mixed with the tapping of a cane echoed from the cave entrance.
Soon, a shadow appeared against the rock wall.
Then ca a low, gloomy voice.
"…Heh. Quite the tough life you have, Lance… surviving even this."
"Agatha!"
Lance stared at the figure walking into the cave and spoke in a low voice.
Using the light from the cave entrance, he examined her briefly. Although she looked battered, it was clear she hadn't completely lost her ability to fight.
"…You're in better condition than I expected, Agatha. I thought you had been utterly defeated as well."
Agatha was a mysterious person, and Lance had no idea why she had co here.
But Lance didn't care much anymore.
He had no strength left to resist anyway.
Whatever she wanted to do—she could do it.
"Hehehe…"
"A bunch of little brats may be strong, but if they think they can defeat this old woman so easily… they're still a bit lacking."
Agatha tapped her cane twice against the ground and chuckled.
Lance said nothing.
Nor did he question why she still had fighting strength yet hadn't co to assist him earlier.
There was no aning in asking.
For the defeated, reasons no longer mattered.
What mattered was that the ending had already been decided.
"After this defeat, you've grown quite a bit, Lance."
Agatha spoke slowly.
"In the past, you would've already been yelling at in anger by now."
"…Don't dwell on your failure."
"Even if you hadn't lost to that young man, your plan was never going to succeed anyway."
"What do you an by that, Agatha?"
Lance raised his dried, blood-stiffened eyebrow slightly, confusion in his voice.
"You must be wondering why I supported your plan… why I helped you, right?"
Agatha spoke calmly.
Lance nodded.
He had always found this strange.
This old woman had never shown any desire for power or ambition.
He had never understood why she was willing to help him.
"The reason is actually very simple."
"I just wanted to see a certain old man again."
Agatha murmured as if reminiscing about the past.
"…I'm not young anymore. I don't know how many years I have left."
"But the greatest mistake I made in my life… was leaving him that year."
"I left because of my pride."
"Because I was angry."
"But even if I could return to the past, I would make the sa choice again."
"That's just the kind of person I am."
She paused briefly.
"But when people grow old, they start wanting to make up for certain regrets."
"At this age… I simply wanted to see that old man one more ti."
"To see him stand proudly like he did in his youth."
"But making that old man personally take action…"
"That's nearly impossible."
Agatha's eyes glead faintly.
"…And then I learned about your plan."
"If the lives of everyone in Kanto were used as the wager…"
"That old man would have no choice but to step in."
"So you see, Lance…"
"You had already lost from the very beginning."
"Even if you had defeated that boy who commands dragon power."
"Even if you had successfully controlled Lugia."
"In the end, you would still be the one crying in defeat."
"Even if he's old now…"
"Taking care of the so-called Kanto Elite Four would still be easy for him."
She laughed quietly.
"You really are disappointing, Lance."
"To think you lost so miserably before that old man even had the chance to appear."
Her low laughter echoed through the cave.
It sounded as though she was reminiscing about old mories.
Or lanting that her final wish had still not been fulfilled.
Lance ignored her mockery and asked in disbelief,
"…You did all this for that?"
He had assud Agatha had so grand ideal.
Or perhaps so dark, hidden ambition.
But who could have imagined that this old woman had pushed her research to the limit—
Just so soone else could defeat him.
"Dreams have no hierarchy."
"They only differ depending on the environnt a person lives in."
"Rember that, Lance."
"You cannot understand my dream."
"Just as I cannot understand yours."
"That's what people an when they say: those who walk different paths cannot make plans together."
"In my eyes, your ideal sounds like sothing a teenager ca up with during his rebellious phase."
"I've been holding back my frustration all this ti."
"But perhaps that's for the best."
"If that old man scolded at my age, I'd have nowhere left to hide my embarrassnt."
"Hahahahaha!"
Agatha suddenly burst into cheerful laughter.
Her shadow stretched across the ground, gradually wrapping around her body.
Before disappearing completely, she left Lance with one final sentence.
"…Let this defeat help you finally grow up, Lance."
Lance watched until her figure vanished entirely.
Leaning against the stone wall, he let out a bitter laugh.
"…The 'old man' Agatha ntioned…"
"…must be the legendary Kanto Champion who no one has ever seen."
anwhile—
In Pallet Town, inside Professor Oak's Laboratory, hurried footsteps echoed through the building.
"Grandpa!"
"I received Logan's ssage!"
"They said the Elite Four have been defeated!"
"They'll return to Pallet Town after they rest!"
Daisy Oak burst through the door of Professor Oak's room, shouting excitedly.
But when she saw the scene inside, she looked puzzled.
"…Grandpa, what are you doing?"
"Why are you wearing that outfit?"
Professor Oak had removed his usual white lab coat.
Instead, he was wearing a sleeveless black combat outfit.
Bandages were wrapped around his right hand like a boxer's gloves.
Even at his age, his muscular physique was still clearly visible.
"Hahaha!"
"I was just about to go train a little in the yard."
"Wait—what did you say?"
"Logan and the others defeated the Elite Four?"
Professor Oak laughed heartily before asking in surprise.
"Yes!"
"The Elite Four are defeated!"
"Kanto's crisis is over!"
Daisy nodded quickly.
Then she placed her hands on her hips and complained.
"Logan is risking his life to protect the Kanto region, and you're thinking about exercising?"
"As the world's most famous Pokémon researcher, you should be using your connections to gather people and help solve the crisis!"
Even though she was complaining, Daisy quickly added with concern,
"…You're not young anymore."
"Exercise is good, but don't overdo it."
"Your body might not handle it."
"Yes, yes."
"Don't worry, Daisy."
"I won't overdo it."
Professor Oak scratched his head awkwardly, smiling.
"Alright then."
"I'll go make breakfast."
Daisy left the room and headed toward the kitchen.
After she was gone, Professor Oak lowered his hand.
His embarrassed smile gradually turned gentle.
"…Silly granddaughter."
"Why would Grandpa need to use connections to find help?"
"I was preparing to solve the problem myself."
He slowly removed the bandages from his right hand and took off the combat outfit.
"That kid Logan did pretty well."
"I thought an old man like would have to go fight again."
"My old bones can't take that kind of trouble anymore."
"Those brats have finally grown up."
"The future belongs to them."
"I can finally retire properly."
Professor Oak opened his wardrobe and put away the clothes before putting his lab coat back on.
Inside the wardrobe were two photo fras.
The first showed a young Professor Oak standing in a massive stadium filled with cheering spectators.
He was raising his hand high in victory.
Behind him, a beautiful young woman knelt on the ground, angrily pounding the floor.
That photo captured the final match of the first Indigo League Conference.
Professor Oak had defeated Agatha to win the championship.
The second photo again showed Professor Oak raising his hand in victory.
Behind him stood four n and won looking disappointed.
Anyone old enough would recognize them instantly—
They were the first Kanto Elite Four, established when the Pokémon League was founded.
Professor Oak closed the wardrobe.
He removed several Poké Balls from his waist and placed them back where they belonged.
Through the translucent shells of the Poké Balls, several Pokémon could be seen inside—
Charizard, Venusaur, Blastoise, Kangaskhan…
The professor removed a watch-like device from his wrist and placed it beside the Poké Balls.
Smiling, he said,
"…Looks like you won't need to step in after all, old friends."
"Let's just enjoy retirent together."
"Hahahaha!"
"Grandpa! Breakfast is ready!"
Daisy's voice called from outside.
"Coming, coming!"
"Don't rush an old man like !"
"So Daisy, what are we eating today?"
"Ran!"
"Ran again?!"
"I like ran, but we can't eat it every al!"
"And it's morning!"
"You should be grateful there's food at all!"
"Don't be picky!"
"Yes, yes."
"Whatever Daisy says."
Professor Oak left the room.
Sunlight stread through the window.
On the table sat the accessory he had removed earlier.
Embedded within it was a gemstone that shimred brightly under the morning light.
It was—
A Key Stone.
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