The party with the Gym Leaders was eventful, especially since, well, everyone liked Ash, and it only got better when the boys joined in on a stupid soda-chugging contest.

So yeah, it was fun, and there were more than a few good laughs as they all hung out. But, you know, it might've gotten a little too chaotic when the girls started arguing over who Ash would sit next to. That may or may not have started with Whitney's playful flirting with Ash, and of course, Ash acted completely oblivious, even though he knew full well what was going on around him.

"You sure you can handle all this soda, Ash?" Whitney teased, winking as she leaned over the table, the glass of soda in her hand almost as tall as she was. "I mean, I could help you with that if you're feeling a little… overwhelmed."

Ash leaned back in his chair. "I'm pretty sure I've been through worse, Whit. You can try, but I don't think you'll be able to keep up." His smirk widened as he glanced around the table. "Alright, let's see if anyone's got what it takes!"

The boys were already laughing, egging each other on to see who could finish their drink first, while the girls exchanged glances, clearly intrigued by the challenge. However, as the competition heated up, it wasn't just about who could chug the most soda, it was also about who could make Ash laugh the hardest.

Yeah, so that ended with a bit of chaos and a lot of jokes. Eventually, it got way too late, and Ash mentioned he needed to check on Molly and get ready for the exhibition matches.

So he left, with Yellow tagging along, even as some of the others clearly wished he'd stayed longer.

And that's how the night ended, the night before everything happened.

–

{Meanwhile, in the Team Rocket secret base near the stadium…}

The Masked Man was walking through the halls. He had recently begun investigating the "disappearance" of the Legendary Beasts, ever since they had stopped appearing to challenge Gym Leaders.

He didn't know where they had gone or even why they had emerged in the first place. They had reappeared after years of silence and started targeting Gym Leaders for mysterious battles. The Masked Man had expended a significant amount of resources trying to locate them, but it had been useless. He never found anything.

But that didn't matter now.

He approached a podium where his Executives were standing, waiting. Carl grinned and stepped forward to speak for him.

"The time has come! At last, we have enough minions and resources to let the world know about us!" Carl shouted to the army of Team Rocket grunts.

"An announcement we'll make in a terribly appropriate location," Carl continued. "The Pokémon League competitions begin tomorrow, we'll hijack the stadium and make it the stage for our spectacular return!"

The grunts erupted into cheers, chanting the Masked Man's name. As the chants grew louder, the Masked Man turned silently and began to walk away.

Sham noticed and called after him, "Boss? Where are you going?"

The Masked Man stopped, glanced back, and answered with a single word.

"There."

Then he walked out.

D, watching from behind, narrowed his eyes. He didn't say or do anything, he just kept his expression neutral. But he knew… things were about to get complicated. And maybe, just maybe, he'd have a little fun trolling the Masked Man.

—

{The next day}

Jay, Enid, Helena, Domino, Sayoko, and Owari walked together. This time, they were dressed in casual clothes, none of their Team Rocket uniforms. They quietly found seats, saying nothing as they tried to blend in.

Their goal was simple: figure out what the Masked Man was planning, and, if possible, find a way to get D back. Annie and Oakley were back at the base handling their part of the plan, while Arlo was reluctantly helping… mostly because it was either this or dealing with Sierra.

But as the group tried to stay low-profile, a certain familiar trio strolled past them, completely oblivious to any operation in progress.

Jessie, James, and Meowth.

They passed the incognito group without a second glance, each juggling massive trays of snacks and drinks with more enthusiasm than coordination.

"This is it, guys!" Jessie beamed, nearly spilling her popcorn. "The best seats, the best snacks, and no one's tried to arrest us yet. I call that a win."

James adjusted his oversized sunhat and sunglasses. "Do you think they'll have a souvenir stand? I want a Pikachu-themed water bottle this time."

"Will ya two focus?" Meowth hissed. "We're tryin' not to blow our cover!"

Sayoko blinked as the trio walked past. "Are they... just here to watch?"

Helena shook her head slowly. "I don't think they even know there's a plan."

Jay shrugged. "I mean, I didn't tell them," he whispered. Of course they all knew Jessie, James, and Meowth were part of Team Rocket, he'd even gone on a few missions with them. He and James were cool with each other.

–

Meanwhile, a few rows behind them, Anabel and Looker had found their own seats. Anabel seemed tenser than usual, barely speaking as she slumped in her chair, tapping her foot against the ground.

Looker watched her with concern. He knew coming here alone had been risky. Explaining to the rest of the police force where this intel came from would've been complicated, but luckily, since this was the League event, they were able to pass it off as vacation time. Besides, there were already international police agents stationed around the venue.

Still, Anabel wasn't relaxing. She kept tapping her foot, mind clearly racing.

Ever since she got that secret note D left for her, she'd been on edge. What did he mean? What could he mean? Was it a warning? A lead? A trap?

No. No, she wouldn't think like that, not anymore.

Looker gently placed a hand on her shoulder, snapping her out of her spiral.

"Hey… Anabel."

She blinked and looked at him, the tension still etched across her face like a shadow that refused to lift.

"I know," she said softly. "I just… I don't like not knowing what we're walking into. Especially not when he's involved."

Looker nodded. "Whatever D meant in that note, we'll figure it out. You're not alone in this."

Anabel gave a small nod and exhaled through her nose. "Yeah… I know. I just… wish we could have done more. After all he did for us..."

Looker gave a small, teasing smile and nudged her shoulder. "Is that attachment I hear? Don't tell me you miss D's voice~"

"I—uh—shut up," Anabel muttered, looking away. "I just… feel bad. That's it. Nothing else…"

While all of that was happening, on the other side of the stadium, Ash and his friends were sitting together.

Ash had reclaimed Molly, who was now comfortably seated next to him. On his other side were Green and Yellow, and even Gary had joined them, now that he'd cooled off about yesterday.

Other than that, it was the Johto gang, Ethan, Silver, Kris, Lyra, Vincent, and Casey.

They were all chatting casually when Ash heard a voice call out to him:

"Hey, is this seat taken?"

Ash turned around and saw a familiar face, Virgil, smiling at him with his hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie.

"Yo, it's you!" Ethan said before Ash could even respond. "It's good to see you made it! We haven't seen you since you stayed back in Ecruteak City!"

Virgil chuckled. "Yeah, I made it. I actually just qualified in the Top 16 over in Stadium 2."

Ethan blinked. "Wait, there's more than one stadium?"

Kris rolled her eyes. "Seriously? Of course there is. The League gets over 20,000 applicants. That gets narrowed down to 700, then to the Top 16. If we tried to run all that in one stadium, we'd never get anything done."

Virgil laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, it's a whole circuit. I barely scraped into the Top 16. But hey, I did say I was planning to make it all the way."

Ash nodded and patted the seat beside him. "Well hey, glad you're here. Molly's been asking about your Eevee squad."

Molly perked up at that, turning toward Virgil with wide eyes. "You still have all of them? Even the Flareon?"

"Especially the Flareon," Virgil said with a wink as he sat down. "He's mellowed out a bit, though he still tries to pick fights with my Glaceon sometimes."

Molly looked thrilled as she turned to Ash. "Well, my big brother also got an Eevee! His name is Vee and he's super strong and super cute, and he lets me hug him all the time!"

Vee peeked his head out of Ash's bag at the sound of his name, looked around at the new person, then quickly ducked back in. He did not like new people. Besides, Ash didn't have Vee back when he last saw Virgil.

They all chuckled as Ash pointed to the open seat. "All yours, my guy. The more the merrier."

Just as Virgil sat down, the stadium speakers crackled to life and the announcer's voice boomed across the arena.

"Welcome one and all! Now, I know why you're all here, the Silver Conference! Out of over 20,000 applicants, we are already down to the Top 16. I can hardly wait to see how this plays out!"

The crowd roared with excitement.

"However…" the announcer continued, his voice rising with energy, "I think you all deserve a little extra treat!"

The stadium lights shifted, focusing on the VIP section.

"But first, a shoutout to the ones making this event possible! This tournament is brought to you exclusively by Goldenrod Radio! And hosting our opening ceremony… give it up for the one and only, DJ Mary!"

A spotlight hit the VIP section, where Mary stood waving in front of her mic and equipment, grinning from ear to ear as the crowd cheered.

"Now…" the announcer said with rising anticipation, "Every three years, we treat you all to a special Exhibition Match! And this year? You'd better buckle in!"

With a mechanical rumble, the stadium began to split down the center. Slowly, the battlefield parted as two massive walkways extended from either end.

From both sides of the stadium, a total of sixteen figures began to walk out, eight on each side. The lights followed them, casting long shadows behind as the crowd fell into stunned silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen… Trainers and fans across the regions… it's time for the Exhibition Match Showcase! Let's meet the titans who've stood atop their cities and guided countless challengers…"

A dramatic pause echoed across the stadium as the figures reached the center of the battlefield.

"Our GYM LEADERS!!"

The crowd erupted in cheers as the spotlight followed each figure stepping onto the battlefield. The announcer's voice boomed, filled with showmanship:

"From Violet City, he's the elegant master of wind and wings, give it up for Falkner, the Elegant Master of Flying Pokémon!"

Falkner lifted one hand in a graceful wave as his Skarmory walked beside him, calm and regal.

"And from Azalea Town, he knows every bug by name and nature, it's Bugsy, the Walking Bug Pokémon Encyclopedia!"

Bugsy strode out waving both arms excitedly, his Heracross following him with cheerful energy.

"Now strutting in from Goldenrod City, with charm, style, and a reputation for being way tougher than she looks, it's Whitney, the Incredibly Pretty Girl!"

Whitney blew a kiss into the crowd and winked, while her Miltank bounced along behind her to wild cheers.

"Marching from Ecruteak City, he's a master of illusion and tradition, give it up for Morty, the Mystic Seer of the Future!"

Morty simply nodded as his Gengar phased up from the shadows beside him, flashing a mischievous grin.

"The quiet leader of Cianwood City, Chuck! His roaring fists do the talking!"

Chuck laughed heartily, flexing both arms, while his Poliwrath mirrored him with matching gusto.

"From Olivine City, it's Jasmine, the steel-clad girl of unbreakable defense!"

Jasmine gave a shy bow, quietly helping push Pryce's wheelchair forward. Her massive Steelix slithered protectively alongside them.

"From Blackthorn City comes Clair, the blessed user of Dragon Pokémon!"

Clair swept her cape behind her with dramatic flair as her Kingdra glinted under the stadium lights, eyes sharp and regal.

"And finally, from Mahogany Town, chosen by the Pokémon Association as the captain of the Johto Team, Pryce!"

Pryce gave a small wave and faint smile, Swinub curled in his lap. He thanked Jasmine with a nod before taking his place at the front.

The stadium shook with applause. But the cheers didn't die down for long, because the opposite side of the arena suddenly lit up in a surge of spotlights and fanfare.

"And now, from the Kanto Region! These are the Gym Leaders who shaped champions and stood as the region's strongest!"

"The rock-solid Pokémon Trainer, Brock of Pewter City!"

Brock waved politely as he walked forward. Though he didn't have a Pokémon with him, he held his head a little higher than last time. The memory of his loss in the last exhibition still lingered, but this was a new day.

"From Cerulean City, she's known as the fourth Sensational Sister, and they call her the Tomboyish Mermaid, Misty!"

Misty stepped out nervously, her hand raised in a small wave. Unlike the others, she technically wasn't a full Gym Leader yet. That would take over next year. But she held her breath, standing tall as the crowd began to cheer, slowly at first, then louder as they took her in.

"The Lightning Soldier of Vermilion, Lt. Surge!"

Surge marched forward proudly, Raichu perched on his shoulder, the two grinning as one.

"From Celadon City, the nature-loving princess herself, Erika!"

Erika glided onto the field with serene grace, her Bellossom spinning joyfully beside her.

"The poisonous ninja master, Janine of Fuchsia Gym!"

Janine rode in on her Ariados, arms crossed, saying nothing as her piercing gaze scanned the arena.

"The mistress of psychic Pokémon, Sabrina of Saffron City!"

Sabrina strode forward, stoic as ever, her Alakazam floating beside her in a silent meditative trance. Her eyes seemed to be searching the crowd, looking for someone.

"The hot-headed quiz master of Cinnabar, the Burning Blaine!"

Blaine entered with confidence, despite his still-bandaged arm. His Magmortar marched beside him, smoke puffing from its cannons.

"And finally, from Viridian City… captain of the Kanto team… the man known for his earth-shattering strength, Giovanni!"

Gasps echoed as Giovanni slowly stepped forward, calmly adjusting the tie of his sharp suit. His expression was unreadable as his Nidoking stomped beside him, radiating power.

And up in the stands… Silver watched.

His breath caught.

This was the first time he'd ever seen Giovanni in person. Before now, it had only ever been old photographs. He gripped his shoulder tightly, his expression complicated.

And then, Giovanni looked up.

Their eyes met. Giovanni didn't smile. But he gave a small, slow nod… and turned away to take his place.

Once all 16 participants had gathered at the center of the battlefield, the announcer's voice rang out once again:

"These 16 trainers will wage eight separate battles, and the side with the most victories will be declared the winner! The final battle will be between the two captains!"

He raised a hand toward the spotlight.

"Now, take it away, Mary, explain the rules!"

The cameras swiveled as DJ Mary leaned into her mic, a wide grin on her face.

"Thank you very much! It's great to be here!" she said, her voice echoing through the stadium.

"Here's how it works: All exhibition matches will be held as 3-on-3 Pokémon battles. Each trainer is allowed to use up to three Pokémon, and they can switch as often as they'd like, no limit. However, the moment a trainer loses one Pokémon, the match ends, and the other trainer is declared the winner!"

Now, that might've sounded confusing, so here's how it worked:

Let's say Brock was battling Misty. Brock sends out his first Pokémon, and it's getting badly damaged. He can swap it out. And again. And again. There's no restriction on switching during the fight. But, if one of his Pokémon faints before Misty loses even one, Misty wins the match, nothing else matters

The goal isn't to sweep your opponent, it's to defeat at least one of their Pokémon before you lose any of your own.

These battles weren't meant to overshadow the main League matches. That's why they weren't full 6-on-6 battles. The point was to inspire the crowd, get everyone excited, and give the Gym Leaders a moment to shine in front of a massive audience.

Not everyone got the chance to see Gym Leaders in action, especially not those from other regions. This exhibition was a way to change that.

But more than that, If a Gym Leader performed well here? Their Gym could become more popular. More challengers. More attention. And potentially more League funding.

It was also to help make things a little more fair. For example, say Sabrina was up against a Dark-type Gym Leader, even though there isn't one; this is just for the sake of argument, yes, Sabrina would be at a major disadvantage. But if she plays smart, she could still defeat one Pokémon before any of hers go down.

Mary's voice returned, now with an edge of excitement, "Now, it's time to find out who battles who! Let's spin the wheel!"

The giant stadium screen lit up, filling with names. Then they began to shuffle, fast, chaotic, dramatic.

One by one, names flickered, rearranged, clicked in and out. All the Gym Leaders looked up, eyes fixed on the screen. The audience held their breath.

And far in the back, watching from the private stands, the Elite Four of Kanto and Johto sat in silence.

And in the center of them all, Lance, arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on the screen below.

Time to see just how much everyone had changed,