"What? Ash, you actually have a Legendary Pokémon?" Max blurted out. He hadn't expected such a thing—it was incredible.
Max's amazement was understandable. Later, in Alola, Ash would even catch three Legendary-class Pokémon at once—an Ultra Beast, a Mythical Pokémon, and a top-tier Legendary—so this was only the beginning.
"Yes, I do have a Legendary Pokémon," Ash said calmly.
"Can we see it?" Max begged, hoping Ash would release Latias. Fresh chapters posted on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝘯𝘦𝘵
"Maybe another time. Latias is too strong to keep out casually. Let's wait until the Ever Grande Conference," Ash replied.
Thanks in part to Gary's influence, Ash had grown far more mature than in the original timeline. He understood that keeping an Elite-level Latias with him when he couldn't train her properly would be pointless. At Professor Oak's ranch, she could spar with other Elite-class Pokémon and improve faster.
"By the way, Gary, I heard you've met Latios," Ash added.
In response, Gary simply took out a pink Heal Ball and pressed the button. Latios materialized in a flash of light.
"L-Latios…!" Max gasped. Capturing a Legendary Pokémon was the highest honor for any Trainer.
May immediately raised her Pokédex:
Pokédex: "Latios, the Eon Pokémon. It dislikes fighting but can fly faster than a jet when it tucks in its forelegs."
"Woo!" Latios chirped, greeting Ash warmly.
"Long time no see," Ash said with a smile, recalling their time together in Alto Mare's secret garden.
"Latios, take Bagon for a flight—but stay invisible," Gary instructed.
Using Psychic, Latios lifted Bagon onto his back, shot into the sky, and vanished from sight.
"Ba-gon! Ba-gon!" Bagon shrieked with delight, this was his first taste of flight.
"Hmph!" Zinnia's Shelgon wasn't pleased—he'd spent his life staring longingly at the sky. He complained to Zinnia at once.
Zinnia looked at Gary pleadingly. "Gary…?"
"All right." Gary laughed and sent Latios back up, this time giving Shelgon a joyride through the clouds. Shelgon was so thrilled he even gained a level when he landed.
Once Brock finished lunch, everyone gathered to eat. After a short rest, it was time for the main event: a duel between Gary and Ash. Because the challenge came from Ash's Treecko rather than Ash himself, Gary's system didn't issue a mission.
They returned to the clearing where May and Zinnia had battled earlier. Treecko and Grovyle faced each other, tension crackling between them.
"Treecko, use your agility. Open with Quick Attack to confuse Grovyle," Ash ordered.
Treecko blurred into motion, streaking around Grovyle in a white arc. Grovyle, however, remained unmoved—its nearly 360-degree vision made the feint useless.
"Find an opening—Pound!" Ash shouted.
Treecko slipped behind Grovyle and whipped his tail at the back of its head, but Grovyle reacted instantly, parrying with the leaf on its head. Tail met leaf with a sharp crack, and Treecko was knocked back, flipping to land safely.
"Leaf Blade!" Gary commanded.
Emerald energy sheathed the leaves on Grovyle's wrists, forming twin blades. Grovyle lunged. Treecko countered with Pound, tails and blades clashed in rapid succession. Though Treecko took several cuts, his Grass typing lessened the damage.
"Finish it—Dynamic Punch!" Gary ordered.
Grovyle's fist glowed and slammed into Treecko. The smaller Pokémon tried to block with his tail, but the power gap was too great. Treecko was hurled into a boulder and slumped unconscious.
"I lost…" Ash muttered. Seeing his Treecko fall to Gary's Grovyle stung.
"Good work, Grovyle—rest up." Gary recalled his Pokémon.
"Treecko and Grovyle aren't far apart in level," Gary said, "but evolution matters. Grovyle isn't just bigger—it's faster, reacts quicker, and sees almost everything around it. Your diversion wasted energy."
"I know. I won't lose next time," Ash replied, determined.
"I hope so," Gary smiled. "At the Ever Grande Conference, I'll use only the Pokémon I catch in Hoenn. If you bring your fully-trained team, you'll have a real shot at beating me."
Ash was stunned, if Gary restricted himself to new Pokémon, beating him wouldn't feel quite as glorious—but it gave Ash a clear goal.