"Today's battle gave me a long-lost sense of excitement. It's been so long since I've had such an exhilarating match; I don't even remember the last time I felt this thrilled." Volkner released his hand with a look of reflection on his face.
Ash listened without interrupting.
"Do you know why I let Ah Yi battle on my behalf?" Volkner recalled the root of his past decision.
"When I was in Sunyshore Town, many people challenged me, but none could really excite me."
"Initially, I still participated in the battles myself, but I found that no matter who came, my Pokémon could end the fight with a single move. Over time, battles became mere formalities, and the gym turned into a tourist spot for checking in."
"When I came to Johto, I still held a bit of expectation. After all, the Silver Conference was such a big deal; surely, there would be some decent opponents, right? But it was still the same."
He paused, looking at Ash: "I know I've lost the ambition of being a Trainer. I also know that if this continues, I'll slowly fall into decline, but... I still can't muster interest in battles, and I've even put my enthusiasm into the construction of the gym's mechanisms."
Ash exchanged a look with Pikachu, hearing the helplessness and regret in Volkner's words. After thinking for a moment, Ash spoke up: "But Mr. Volkner, you haven't reached your strongest level yet, have you?"
Volkner was taken aback.
"Your Electivire is strong, Jolteon's speed is very quick, and Manectric's combat skills are very seasoned, but they all still have room for growth," Ash said, looking intently at Volkner, "If you stop moving forward, they will also come to a standstill. If even a trainer doesn't know where to go, then what should the Pokémon following you do?"
"Moreover, Pokémon battles are not just about winning or losing. Losing makes you feel unwilling, winning makes you feel happy, and when evenly matched, your palms sweat!!"
"These things are the most precious between a trainer and their Pokémon; if you lose them, no matter how many battles you win, you won't become stronger."
Volkner remained silent for a long time before he let out a breath, as if expelling something that had been weighing on his heart for a long time.
He looked up at the bright lights on the ceiling and chuckled after a moment: "You're only fifteen, yet you speak like such a seasoned veteran."
"Because every Gym Leader I've met has taught me these lessons," Ash replied, clasping his hands behind his head and smiling brightly.
Volkner stood up straight and took out a badge from his pocket.
A silver base engraved with a lighthouse relief, reflecting tiny fragments of light under the lamp. The Beacon Badge—a symbol of defeating the Sunyshore Gym.
"This is for you, a proof of defeating the Sunyshore Gym, the Beacon Badge."
Ash exchanged a glance with Pikachu on his shoulder and the recently withdrawn Lucario nearby, then struck a pose together.
"I got the Beacon Badge!"
"Pika Pika!"
"Woah!!"
This sudden action startled Volkner, and even Ah Yi watched in bewilderment from afar.
It was only then that they felt it—Ash truly was a fifteen-year-old boy. The earlier battle, and Ash's grand wisdom, made them completely forget Ash's youthful age.
Volkner took out two more items from his waist bag: a dark gray, flat, round magnet with a metallic sheen, and a palm-sized device with a few tiny electrode chips embedded in its shell.
"A Magnet for Electric Pokémon to hold, can increase Electric-type moves' power by 20%. This is an Electirizer needed for Electabuzz to evolve into Electivire. You might find it useful."
Ash was momentarily stunned: "Isn't there only supposed to be items to enhance moves? How come there's an evolution item too?"
"Consider it a reward for reigniting my passion for battle. Take it." Volkner placed the items in front of Ash, gesturing for him to accept them.
Ash took the items and nodded at Volkner. "Thanks, Mr. Volkner."
"I gained a lot from today's match." Volkner's voice echoed in the wide gym. "Your Snorlax, though seemingly clumsy, was trained by you to be so agile, its speed almost on par with agile Pokémon."
"Lucario's move, Dragon Dance, I still can't fathom how you trained it. It's an almost monstrous move, far surpassing the normal range of Pokémon skills; even Explosion probably can't compare to your Dragon Dance."
"But what moved me the most wasn't any of that. It was when I was commanding Electivire that I finally felt that blood-boiling sensation again. I thought I'd never experience that again in this lifetime."
Volkner's face was filled with nostalgia; even now, he was reminiscing about the boiling excitement he had felt during the battle.
He didn't know how long it had been since he last felt that way.
"There are many trainers stronger than me in this world," Ash said, as if stating the most ordinary fact, "Since I could bring that feeling to you, Mr. Volkner, then other trainers can too. So, Mr. Volkner, you could go out and see the world outside."
Volkner nodded: "I've been thinking about that. In the end, I've been bound by this gym... Ah Yi, I'll be leaving this gym to you from now on."
Ah Yi: ...
Well, from substitute Gym Leader to Gym Leader after just one battle? Is this a promotion?
Misty watched this scene, feeling an inexplicable sense of deja vu. This... why does it remind her of the scene when she handed over the gym to her own sisters?
...
When they walked out of the gym, the sky had already started to turn a bit westward. The orange light cast down from the distant mountain ridge, dyeing the ancient cobblestone streets of Ecruteak City with a warm hue.
The red roof of the distant Pokemon Center was now in sight. Ecruteak City's dusk arrived earlier and was quieter than that of Goldenrod City.
Ash walked into the Pokemon Center's entrance and handed two Pokeballs to Miss Joy behind the counter. Miss Joy received them with a smile and turned to the treatment room.
Ash then headed to the familiar phone and dialed the number for Oak's Research Institute.
After a few rings, the screen lit up. Professor Oak appeared on the screen, wearing his usual white coat, though his expression seemed a bit off. However, Ash didn't notice, presenting the Beacon Badge with a beaming smile.
"Professor Oak, I won!"
"Is that you, Ash? This is the Sunyshore Gym badge, isn't it? Looks like you've defeated Volkner."
"Yeah, Mr. Volkner was really strong. His Electivire is champion level, and Jolteon's speed was insanely fast; Snorlax almost couldn't withstand it."
Ash was full of emotions. For this battle, he had actually planned to use Lucario as his trump card, with the Pokémon sent over from Professor Oak being Snorlax and Pidgeot (Sorry guys, Pidgeot's comeback failed).
The reason for sending the latter was his intention to face off with the opposing type, relying on Pidgeot's speed advantage and the MEGA Evolution Stone he received, hoping to match even mid-tier Elite level Pokémon in a contest.
Yet, Jolteon's elite advanced level spoke volumes about the final Pokémon's level, so Ash straightforwardly brought out Lucario.
He knocked out Volkner's Jolteon first to boost morale and prepare for the battle against Electivire.
Thus, Pidgeot missed the chance for a temporary comeback.
Ash animatedly recounted the detailed intricacies of the battle to Professor Oak; clearly, the match had been thoroughly enjoyable for him.
However, midway through Ash's recount, Professor Oak suddenly interrupted: "Ash... something's happened in Pallet Town."
This one sentence immediately froze Ash's excited expression.