Nine o'clock in the morning.
Melodious bell-chimes rolled across Stonetown like ripples on still water.
They heralded the opening of a showdown that had the whole town watching.
From Stonetown's perspective — the last time an outsider had come to challenge the town's ways was over twenty years ago, back when the League was first being established.
The strongest man of his era, Samuel Oak, had marched in alongside his companions and fought his way through everything — the heavens above, the earth below, and the empty air in between.
...You have to understand: Oak, Pryce, Agatha — they all ran in the same pack. ...And when they were young, those three were ferociously competitive.
...They were exceptionally powerful, and they were exceptionally eager to prove it.
Nothing could stand against them head-on.
The remnants of the old era could only chip away at them from the sides, seeking compromise through influence rather than direct confrontation. There was no other choice, really. Samuel Oak's group was simply too small in number — they needed enough supporting personnel to properly govern an entire region.
Because they were good people, they would not resort to slaughter — and that was precisely what gave the old era's fossils an opening to survive.
Stonetown was preserved in its old form for that reason... though, to be fair, a large part of it was because Stonetown was populated mostly by stubborn traditionalists, not genuine villains.
In truth, the local [Order of Stone Knights] had, on the whole, a rather fine reputation.
They too were good people.
They simply saw the world differently.
So — seek common ground while reserving differences! Seek common ground while reserving differences! Then gradually find a working rhythm.
That was the founding tone set by [Samuel Oak] and [Damaranqi].
It was also the most core philosophy of the Pokémon League.
And it was precisely because of that philosophy that the Pokémon League had essentially no outward coercive or aggressive force to speak of.
For the most part, the League's stance was: as long as you weren't pulling something genuinely against humanity, they would leave you alone if they possibly could. At least, that was the case the vast majority of the time.
...Sometimes an individual member went off the rails, pulled something inexcusable, or got replaced, or just fell to corruption — and there was no helping that.
...But the League as a whole? Genuinely trustworthy. ...And over ninety percent of its members? Also genuinely trustworthy.
It was precisely that kind of League that possessed the regal, sovereign momentum to unite all of Kanto and forge a new order for human civilization.
Defeat through strength, then win hearts through virtue. Not brutal suppression.
...What's that? ...You're asking about those who refused to learn no matter how many chances they were given?
...Can you even call those things people? Laughable.
Ash walked at the front, his stride steady and resolute.
Brock and Misty flanked him on either side.
The three of them formed a small triangle formation, moving along the wide cobblestone main street toward the most imposing manor at the heart of the town.
Sunlight fell across the uniformly styled stone buildings lining both sides of the road, yet it did nothing to dispel the heavy, watchful atmosphere hanging in the air. Even from a distance, one could already see a sizable crowd gathered in the broad plaza before the Eevee family manor.
More striking still: on both sides of the path the trio walked, many townspeople had come out early to take their places.
They were neatly dressed, their expressions carrying a mixture of curiosity, scrutiny, and a barely perceptible territorial wariness.
Most of these people were Stonetown residents — born and raised here for generations, steeped in local tradition.
They looked the three young outsider Trainers up and down, their gazes settling primarily on the Pikachu perched on Ash's shoulder and the Misdreavus drifting at his side.
Two Pokémon capable of evolving, yet neither had — and in the townspeople's eyes, that fact alone was already a kind of transgression against the natural order.
Yet a curious thing was happening.
Stonetown had the numbers, the home ground, and the crowd on its side. And yet as Ash, Brock, and Misty walked through it all, they somehow projected an aura like an army of thousands.
It wasn't arrogant swagger. It was a quiet confidence and ease that came from somewhere deep inside — like a blade forged through a thousand trials, which, even sheathed, could not conceal its keen and imposing edge.
...In a certain sense, that was genuinely accurate.
...Misty had brought only one Gyarados — a Gym-ace-tier fighter — and relying solely on it to bulldoze an entire town would indeed carry some risk. ...But Brock had brought three Gym-ace-tier Pokémon, all of them suited to large-scale combat. Singlehandedly annihilating an entire town was, for him, not actually a problem.
...And Ash was on an entirely different level — he was carrying Ho-Oh.
Each step the three took was measured and unhurried, their eyes fixed straight ahead, as though the varied gazes pressing in from both sides were simply invisible to them.
Three people, and yet they projected the presence of three hundred — pushing back the invisible pressure that blanketed the entire street.
Ash even let his mind wander slightly.
If he let Ho-Oh out of its Poké Ball right now, this trio's collective presence would probably rocket up to thirty thousand. Stonetown would prostrate itself on the spot, and every tradition and rule they held dear would be shoved meekly aside.
But the thought was only a flash; he snuffed it out immediately.
Using Ho-Oh to intimidate Gary during their little spats was a joke between friends — a bit of fun and encouragement. But trotting Ho-Oh out to deal with these stubborn traditionalists in Stonetown? That would be beneath him.
Ho-Oh was the witness and guardian of his journey — the ultimate trump card reserved for when some "Super Boss" decided to throw honor out the window. Though, admittedly, the only Super Boss he'd encountered so far — Giovanni — had turned out to have a surprisingly chivalric sense of the underworld's code of honor, and had never stooped to bullying someone weaker.
Giovanni held no malice toward Ash whatsoever. The one time Giovanni and Ash had clashed was entirely because of Ho-Oh.
Because that time, it was Giovanni who had picked a fight with Ho-Oh.
And the reason Giovanni picked a fight with Ho-Oh was that Ho-Oh had taken his son.
.....When you trace it all the way back, Ho-Oh was the one in the wrong.
...Even if it hadn't been Ho-Oh's own intention.
....Because when it comes down to it, your body did what it did — and who's going to sit there and argue about your intentions?
His mind drifted back to the present.
The three of them had already arrived at the manor gates.
The center of the plaza — paved in white stone slabs — had been cleared, and a standard battle arena had been temporarily marked out within it.
The watching crowd had gathered at the arena's edges, separating distinctly into two rings: the inner ring held more elaborately dressed individuals, clearly the town's prominent figures. The outer ring was made up of ordinary townspeople.
And standing on the far side of the arena — at the very forefront — were several individuals who immediately caught Ash's attention.
The one leading them was an elder of about sixty, his hair combed to immaculate perfection. He wore a formal white robe of considerable gravitas, its surface covered in intricate patterns, the collar and cuffs inlaid with gemstones of unknown origin. In one hand he gripped a staff topped with an enormous Fire Stone. His expression was severe, carrying a natural authority that needed no words — he possessed the unmistakable bearing of a pope from another age.
Half a step behind him stood another man — middle-aged, dressed in a deep charcoal ceremonial suit. The design fused the sharp, structured lines of a knight's uniform with the refinement of formal attire; his epaulettes were crafted from polished Thunder Stones, and a Water Stone pendant hung at his chest. His posture was like bedrock, his gaze sharp, his presence composed and weighty.
...Today's situation was shaping up to be unexpectedly formal.
...Ash had assumed this would be a fairly ordinary battle. ...It looked like yesterday's events had spread through town and drawn in a larger audience than anticipated.
There really are things that weigh nothing until you put them on a scale — and then they tip the whole thing over.
The only real question was how the two sides' strengths compared, and who, ultimately, would be doing the losing.
From an omniscient perspective, it was plain as day that Ash's trio outclassed the opposition by a factor of N.
Ash alone was far stronger than the three Eevee brothers combined.
And if the opposition dared to throw honor aside, Brock was ready to step in.
If they resorted to something truly underhanded, Ho-Oh's intervention would be perfectly justified.
No matter how you looked at it, there was no logical path to a loss here.
When the three of them came to a stop, the white-robed elder stepped forward. His staff tapped the ground with a crisp knock, and the buzzing chatter of the crowd fell silent in an instant.
His voice was resonant, carrying an ancient cadence as it rang out across the plaza:
"Visiting Trainers — I am Gregory, Mayor of Stonetown."
He stated his identity first, then turned slightly to indicate the middle-aged man beside him.
"This is Yantie — current captain of the 'Order of Stone Knights,' the guardian force of Stonetown."
The captain who called himself Yantie gave only a slight nod, his gaze sweeping over the three like a hawk's — lingering a beat on Brock in particular, as though he had sensed something but couldn't immediately confirm it.
...The decaying relics of the old world sometimes possessed their own kind of discernment.
...New-generation people didn't really have much concept of what [God] meant — it was generally only specialized researchers who bothered to look into it. ...But by coincidence, the old ones had extensive firsthand experience in precisely that area, passed down through generations.
Mayor Gregory continued:
"We are aware of the ideological dispute between yourselves and the three heirs of the Eevee household — Raizou, Mizuki, and Achi."
"In accordance with Stonetown's ancient tradition, disagreements of principle are to be settled by Pokémon battle."
"Today, Captain Yantie and I will jointly bear witness to this match and ensure it is conducted fairly."
He paused, his gaze passing over Pikachu on Ash's shoulder and the Misdreavus floating beside him, then looking back at the three Eevee brothers — standing at battle-ready behind him, each flanked by their respective Jolteon, Vaporeon, and Flareon — and offered a proposal:
"Considering that you travel as a trio, and that the Eevee household likewise has three brothers —"
"In order to more comprehensively validate each side's beliefs, perhaps this match should take the form of a three-on-three team battle."
Let's set aside the omniscient perspective for a moment.
From Mayor Gregory's point of view, making the Eevee brothers fight in relay would be the unfair thing to do to the visitors — so he was pushing for three-on-three.
But that proposal...
"???" Misty turned to Brock with a head full of question marks.
...Brock chose to look down and say nothing.
Three-on-three? What would be the point?
The other side might as well just concede.
Did they want to simultaneously take on: Pewter City Gym Leader Brock + Cerulean City Gym Leader Misty + Ho-Oh's chosen Rainbow Brave Ash?
Magnificent. And they even get to pick the matchups.
You're all very brave.
Anyone who knew the full picture would have to applaud your courage.
"Mayor Gregory, Captain Yantie." Ash spoke up — his voice clear and bright, interrupting the Mayor's words without being the least bit impolite.
"Thank you both for presiding over this so fairly."
"However, regarding the battle format — I have a suggestion."
His gaze met the Mayor's and the Captain's calmly, though inwardly he was at a bit of a loss for words.
Not recognizing him and Misty was understandable — their reputations weren't widespread yet.
But Brock was a legitimately established, multi-year Gym Leader of Pewter City.
Even if he was traveling temporarily, he was a well-known figure in Kanto's Trainer circles.
And yet neither of these local bigwigs had recognized him?
That said everything about just how cut off from the outside world Stonetown really was.
Considering that openly naming Brock's identity might be read as provocation — as if they were throwing their weight around — Ash chose a more tactful approach.
He spoke clearly:
"Three-on-three is fine — but I'd like it to be in a gauntlet format."
"Our side will have me go first. If I'm defeated, my companions will step in one after another."
"And the three Eevee brothers may take the stage in turn as well."
"Would that be acceptable?"
It was still nominally three-on-three — but restructured into a three-on-three gauntlet.
Yet given what had transpired yesterday, the meaning behind his words could not have been clearer to everyone present —
I, Ash Ketchum, am challenging all three of you. Alone.
What staggering confidence.
The moment those words landed — not only the Mayor and Captain Yantie froze.
Even Raizou, Mizuki, and Achi on the opposite side wore expressions of stunned disbelief, which almost immediately curdled into furious, wounded pride.
From the watching crowd, a wave of barely suppressed uproar broke out.
From Ash's perspective, it could even be considered a gesture of goodwill.
But from Stonetown's perspective, it was something else entirely.
How to put it? Sometimes conflict is born exactly like this.
If one really had to assign blame — it would be the world's fault.
After all, everyone has their own standpoint and their own internal logic.
Brock and Misty were out traveling; short of absolute necessity, they weren't going to go around announcing their credentials everywhere.
And Ash was even less likely to go flinging his Rainbow Brave title and Ho-Oh's existence around at every opportunity.
"Insolent!" Achi, the red-haired one, couldn't hold it in and let out a low snarl.
The Flareon at his side bared its teeth, the fiery mane around its neck blazing with renewed vigor.
Raizou's expression darkened.
Mizuki frowned slightly, studying the unruffled Ash with a measured gaze, as if recalibrating his read on this opponent.
Mayor Gregory and Captain Yantie exchanged a glance, each finding surprise mirrored in the other's eyes.
Captain Yantie's low, steady voice carried across the plaza: "Young man — confidence is a virtue, but excess tips over into arrogance. Are you certain?" One against three was not a trivial matter!
"I'm certain." Ash's answer came without a heartbeat of hesitation, his eyes clear and unwavering.
"This isn't arrogance — it's trust. Trust in my own strength, and in the strength of my partners."
"Moreover, in a clash of ideals, quality matters far more than quantity. Having me alone carry this is enough."
Ash genuinely meant every word.
He even felt, inwardly, that he was the one being the bully here — dynamiting a fishpond with a stick of TNT.
Never mind Misdreavus.
Pikachu alone could punch clean through all three of them!
This was the Light Ball Partner Pikachu, after all!
Hands on hips! Extremely smug!
The Mayor considered in silence for a moment. He looked again at the three Eevee brothers across the field — furious, yes, but that fury had only sharpened their fighting spirit — and finally gave a nod:
"Since you insist — then so be it."
"The battle format is set: a gauntlet match!"
"Challenger Ash takes the stage first; the defending side is the Eevee brothers, who will enter in sequence!"
"The match continues until all Pokémon on one side are unable to battle!"
"Standard League one-on-one rules apply, with no field restrictions!"
"Captain Yantie and I will jointly adjudicate!"
With that, Mayor Gregory and Captain Yantie finalized the rules together.
"Hmph! Suits me perfectly!" Raizou stepped forward, his Jolteon crackling and spitting tiny electric arcs in all directions with a sharp snap-snap-snap.
"Let this clueless brat see with his own eyes just how overwhelming the power of evolution truly is!"
"In the face of absolute strength, your twisted nonsense won't amount to a thing!" Raizou meant that with complete sincerity.
This was a clash of ideals!
Achi and Mizuki stepped forward as well.
A misty vapor rolled off Vaporeon's body.
Flames roared to life around Flareon.
Three evolved forms of Eevee radiated a formidable, combined pressure — fusing seamlessly with the fierce battle-will of their Trainers.
One shouldn't underestimate the three brothers too quickly, to be fair.
Their strength didn't reach the level of a Gym Leader — that is, the champion-contender tier of the League Conference — but they were certainly qualified competitors for the Conference.
Of course, they'd be the kind who were there to fill out the bracket.
Like those students who cleared the Academy exams and entered the League Conference directly — a champion among them wasn't unheard of, but the number was vanishingly small. The overwhelming majority were just there for the experience.
And in the minds of the three brothers — and the great majority of the townspeople watching:
— Evolution meant a leap in the hierarchy of life. It meant an absolute elevation of power.
— How could an unevolved Pokémon possibly hold its own against an evolved form?
Facing this aggressive, overbearing pressure, Ash simply gave Pikachu a gentle pat on the shoulder, smiled at the Misdreavus floating beside him, and then turned and walked alone to the Trainer's command position on the battle field.
Sunlight fell across him, and somehow, it made even his ordinary travel clothes seem to glow.
He had no need for words to refute them.
Go out there and fight.
Go out there and win.
The results would speak for themselves.
Stonetown's banner rippled gently in the breeze, and the plaza hung thick with tension and anticipation.
A battle of ideals — tradition against innovation, rigidity against openness — was about to officially begin in this ancient little town.
And Ash, with his strength alone, would challenge the proudest crown jewel of Stonetown's younger generation: their way of evolution.
Oh!
Fight!
Ash: Once I've beaten them all, it should be a lot easier for Taiichi to push for change~
____
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