A Reason to Be Strong

Oh, Scottie...

Have you seen Paulo?

I see...

Well...yeah.

Ever since we lost to Team Rocket, Paulo's been acting weird.

Like he's cornered or something.

I think something that happened when we were little has been bothering him...

Would you mind telling me what happened?

Colress...

Oh! I completely forgot I was supposed to be your bodyguard! Sorry about that!

It's nothing to worry about.

More importantly, what happened back when you were young?

Oh, right. Well...

It happened back when Paulo and I weren't even Trainers yet.

There was this wild Dratini we were secretly taking care of, and...

Yaaay! We got to play with you so much today!

We'll bring you more food again later, OK?

I wanna be a Trainer already...

I wanna go on a journey with Dratini and challenge the Champion!

No way! I'M the one who's gonna travel with Dratini!

Nuh-uh! It's gonna be me!

Who says?

Dratini?!

What're you doing, mister?!

Isn't it obvious? I'm catching this Pokémon!

Cut it out! That Dratini is one that we...

What a Trainer does with wild Pokémon is none of your business!

Take it down, Golbat!

Now!

How could you...

Hahaha! Gotcha!

Hey, hold on!

Please... Take good care of that Dratini.

Pffft. Don't be silly.

Dratini are tricky to raise. Like I'd waste my time carefully pampering it.

Then why did you even...

Let me teach you something, kid. The skins Dratini shed can be sold for good money.

With one in hand, I could be rich!

You only caught it for the money?!

Hmph. If you've got a problem with that, you'll have to stop me yourself, with force!

Not like you can do that anyway. You scrawny runts aren't even Trainers yet!

I... I...

Waaaaaaaaah!

Waaaah! Waaaah!

C'mon, stop crying...

B-but...

Let's get stronger.

Huh?

He's right. Let's get stronger, Tina.

So that we never, ever...

have to lose anything important to us again.

Since then, we got older.

Paulo and I got our Pokémon and left the town where we grew up.

But I think that incident still hurts him to this day.

I see. But that raises a question.

Why didn't you, like Paulo, develop a fixation on becoming stronger to protect others?

I do think that the strength to protect things is important.

And I don't want to say good-bye like that ever again.

But...

I know that the time I can spend with my Pokémon is limited, so I want us to spend it together, making all sorts of memories.

Once, on my travels, I saw a Pokémon graveyard.

Some Trainers who came to visit graves told me their stories. That's when I started to think this way.

There's no point in getting strong if it means you forget about the connection you have with your Pokémon.

That's why I don't like how Paulo's been thinking lately.

He can't be as strong as he wants, and that's really weighing on his mind...

Scottie! Colress!

I don't think Paulo's gonna listen to me anymore.

He didn't even try to listen to what Blue and Cheren were telling him, either.

So...I need your help, to save him!

I'm curious to see how my scientific methods can help you achieve your goals!

Indeed it is! I'm curious to see how my scientific methods can help you achieve your goals!

Thank you, both!

This is just my opinion as a researcher, but...

Pursuing victory and cherishing memories together are both important.

That's why you mustn't get too caught up in one or the other!

Maintaining a neutral view of matters is what draws out potential!

OK!

You can't run away now, Hoopa!

You can be useful...as OUR Pokémon!

Bwahaha! Plasmaaaaa!

What?!

... ... ...

Ugh! How dare you get in our way!

I don't have any more Pokémon... We'll have to run, for now!

Hoopa? What are you doing here?

Whoa! Oh, come on...

Quite the annoying Trainer has found it...

Hey! Who are you?

Come with us...

You'll be most useful to us...

We won't hurt you if you come quietly.

Yeah, sure...

Psyche. You think I'd just come quietly?!

You leave us no choice...

We hold no grudge against you...but you're about to learn a lesson.

Sheesh...

OK, I get it already. C'mon. I'll take you back to Lear.

You may want to make another stop along the way.

Who are you?!

Wait, you're...

Come with me. And bring that Hoopa with you.

Absolutely not.

You'll want to hear the rest of what I have to say, young man.

That girl named Tina... We've taken her into our custody.

What?!

As long as you come with us, we'll assure her safety.

But if you want your friend back, you'll have to trade us that Hoopa for her.

Come...by yourself.

So...don't go asking anyone for help.

Precisely. You're quick on the uptake.

Fine.

I don't need anyone else's help.

Show me to your hideout.

... ... ... Follow me.

(I decided to be stronger so I'd be ready for something like this.)

(I won't be giving them Tina OR Hoopa.)

(I will never, ever...)

(lose anything again!)