In the cold dampness of the Seafoam Island cave, Lance and his new friend, Lorelei, find themselves cornered by the mythical bird of ice, Articuno. Lance's pokemon are on the opposite side of the cave and cannot reach them unless the young woman distracts the ice bird long enough with her Seel.
Lorelei: I'm counting on you, Lance!
Lance: I won't let you down!
The bespectacled girl sends her young pokemon into battle against the frozen behemoth.
Lorelei: Seel, Icy Wind!
The sea lion pokemon exhales deeply, blowing a chilling breeze inside the cave. Being an ice type by nature, Articuno is hardly affected by the attack. It retaliates by flapping its mighty wings, kicking up a whirlwind mixed with shards of ice. Lorelei's pokemon is unable to get away from the legendary pokemon's Razor Wind and is tossed about violently.
Lorelei: Seel!
The young girl runs up to her injured pokemon and embraces it in her arms. It does not stand a chance against this immortal opponent. Meanwhile, Lance has had enough time to sneak past Articuno and retrieve his dragons. He calls upon the both of them to fight.
Lance: Go, Dragonair and Frost!
Lorelei looks in wonder at Lance's graceful pokemon. Never in all her years of travelling with her parents has she seen such pokemon. She feels confidence returning.
Lorelei: You can do it, Lance!
The young trainer's dragon pokemon take their positions to do battle against the giant bird.
Lance: Dragonair, Slam attack!
The male dragon takes flight and aims at Articuno with its long tail. The blue bird flies higher yet and evades the dragon's Slam.
Lance: Frost, use Ice Beam!
Next, the female dragon builds energy in the orb on her neck. She launches the frozen beam which collides with its target. Articuno is shaken, but not beaten. It spreads its ice-tipped wings and swings them widely and powerfully. The result is a massive Blizzard attack that freezes the walls along the cave in solid ice. The dragon trainer's pokemon are instantly downed by the immense ice storm.
Lance: Frost! Dragonair!
He runs up to his dragons and tries to help them up, but they have been severely weakened. The power of a legendary bird is too much for ordinary pokemon. Articuno corners Lance and Lorelei in the depths of the cavern.
Lorelei: Lance, what do we do?
She holds onto Lance's tightly in fear, trying to comfort herself in any way. The young man tries to think of a way out of this situation. The hole in the ground that was meant to be the exit has been frozen shut by Articuno's relentless assault and now, both trainers are out of viable pokemon. He shuts his eyes and thinks hard. There must be a way. There must be something. Anything, please. Anything! Lance opens his eyes again. They are bright blue once more. His desperation has awakened his power. Lorelei cannot believe the transformation he has gone through.
Lance: Articuno, you will not trap us in this place!
His third pokeball starts to shine in a white light. The seemingly useless Magikarp emerges from its ball, emitting a strong glow. Fueled by its trainer's emotions, the red fish pokemon starts to transform into a larger pokemon.
Lorelei: It's evolving!
Magikarp completes its metamorphosis into the more powerful, Gyarados. The large fish pokemon curves its long, blue serpentine body and faces Articuno with an intimidating look and deadly fangs.
Lance: Gyarados, Dragon Rage!
The atrocious pokemon exhales a blue flame that spins into a vortex. The ice bird is pulled into the swirling blue fire weakens it.
Lance: Good, keep it up Gyarados, you've almost got it!
His new pokemon keeps up its Dragon Rage attack, slowly draining away the legendary bird's stamina, but Articuno endures it. The legendary bird fires off an Ice Beam attack at Gyarados, stopping its Dragon Rage.
Lance: Gyarados, are you okay?
The massive water pokemon shakes off Articuno's attack. It'll take more than that to bring it down. Meanwhile, Lorelei watches the whole thing in disbelief. Not only did Magikarp evolve in the brink of time to save them, but more importantly, Lance has also gone through some kind of change as well. She can feel a powerful aura coming from him, like he can do anything.
Lance: Okay, Gyarados, end this battle with your Waterfall attack!
His serpentine water pokemon focuses its power into one final charge. Articuno also gathers the last of its strength and summons a powerful Blizzard, filling the entire cave with ice and snow. Gyarados then shoots upward, toward its opponent with the strength needed to climb a waterfall. It powers through the snowstorm and makes contact with Articuno, ramming it into the wall of the cave and causing the entire place to shake. Articuno finally falls in defeat. Lance and Gyarados have won.
Lance: You did it, Gyarados. You saved us.
The dragon trainer recalls his pokemon back into its pokeball. He turns to Lorelei and smiles at her. His eyes have returned to their normal color. He starts walking toward her when he loses his balance and collapses. Lorelei comes running to his side.
Lorelei: Are you okay? What happened?
Lance: I guess I used up too much of my own energy in that battle. I'll be fine, though. Don't worry about me.
The girl doesn't know what to say to him. He completely empathizes with his pokemon to the point where he feels their exhaustion after a battle. Lorelei wants to help him somehow, but there is nothing she can do for him. Instead, she just holds him in her arms. Somehow, she feels bad for him. This person she just met. She doesn't want to see him hurting like this, yet she can't do anything to help. Lorelei stands and helps Lance up, also.
Lorelei: Come on. Let's get out of here.
Together, they walk over to the frozen exit at the bottom of the cave. Lorelei's Seel breaks the ice with its horn and they both swim out of the frost-filled cavern. Upon reaching the surface, the two trainers head for the shore of Seafoam Island. They walk onto the sandy beach and sit together. The two of them have been through a lot these past few hours.
Lorelei: Are you going to be all right?
Lance: I'll be fine.
Lorelei: What happened back there?
Lance: It's nothing.
Lorelei: Don't tell me that was nothing. You almost fainted, Lance. Don't you trust me?
The girl looks into Lance's eyes. She can see a sad loneliness in there that she immediately recognizes.
Lance: I just met you. I don't have to tell you anything.
Why is he being so hostile toward Lorelei? She only wants to help.
Lance: I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that to you. It's just, I've been through a lot lately, and I don't really have anyone to turn to.
Lorelei: I understand. You don't trust me.
Lance: No, please, listen. It's not that I don't trust you. I do. It's just that, I'm afraid that you'll think I'm a freak if I tell you.
Lorelei: Try me.
The dragon trainer explains to her about his miraculous birth and how he can share his strength with pokemon through his emotions, but at the same time, it consumes him, draining his own life force in exchange for strength. Lance risks his life every time he uses his ability. She remains quiet for a while, letting all the information sink in.
Lorelei: You're an interesting person, Lance.
Wait. That's it? "You're an interesting person."? This girl has to think of better things to say. The sun begins to set in the distance. On the horizon, a figure breaks the still image. It's a ship.
Lorelei: Well, it looks like my parents finally remembered to come pick me up.
Lance is saddened. He was hoping to spend more time with her. Oh, well. Lorelei stands and looks to the sea.
Lorelei: I don't know why, but I feel linked to you. Like our destinies are somehow intertwined. Maybe, we'll see each other again, Lance.
A smile comes to his face.
Lance: Yeah, I hope so.
The boat arrives and the crew climbs off, running to Lorelei.
Crew Member: Miss Lorelei, are you all right?
Lorelei: I'm fine. Leave me alone, I can walk on my own.
The young lady turns to Lance one more time.
Lorelei: Good-bye, Lance. Thanks for everything.
Lance: Yeah. Bye, Lorelei.
They wave their good-byes to one another. Lorelei climbs onto the ship and sails away. Lance watches the boat disappear beyond the horizon. He has made a new friend today. A friend that he will one day meet again and make history with. But for now, he sets his sights on his next destination; Cinnabar Island, to meet the Man of Fire, Blaine.