The hallway was silent, save for the echo of Green’s footsteps. His breath was steady, but his fists were clenched. The battle was over. He was the victor.

Red leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “Congrats.”

Green barely spared him a glance. With a flick of his hand, he scoffed. “Who do you think you are?”

Red’s eyes narrowed. “Someone who knows you won the battle… but lost something else.”

Green stopped. His expression darkened. “Tch. Don’t start with that. You actually believe she changed the world?”

“You know it’s true,” Red pushed. “Karen was right. You let go of your emotions. You think that makes you strong?”

Green turned sharply. “Karen’s ideology is weak. Stupid. People like her don’t last. They just talk big.”

Red clenched his fists. “That’s why you’re afraid to listen, huh? You just keep running from it.”

Blue shifted uncomfortably beside them. “Guys, just—”

“Shut up, Blue,” Green snapped. “You and Karen are the same, thinking feelings make you strong. But they don’t. They just make you weak.”

Red shook his head. “Your Arcanine used ExtremeSpeed the same way Raticate used to.”

Green’s expression turned cold. “So what?”

“You remember it, don’t you?” Red’s voice was sharp. “Even if you act like it didn’t matter.”

“Tch. Raticate was just another Pokémon. I don’t waste time thinking about the past.”

Blue gasped. “Green, how can you say that?”

Green’s anger boiled over. In a flash, he threw a punch at Red. Red dodged, countering with his own strike. Their fists clashed—

Then, the world froze.

A pink glow engulfed them, holding them in place. Espeon’s Psychic kept them apart.

But Green’s fury only grew. “You think you can stop me?!” He grabbed a Poké Ball. “Arcanine, attack!”

The fire-type lunged at Espeon, fangs bared—

But in a blur of yellow, Pikachu leapt forward.

CRACK!

Arcanine’s paws slammed onto Pikachu’s tail. Sparks flew as the two locked eyes, tension rising.