[Blue mulls that over for a few moments. The next step, huh.... It was true that there wasn't any one other path to take from there; it had been years of soul-searching on the part of all of these Champions to find their paths, journeying through many regions to accomplish this. The conclusion Lance had come to, returning home, was different surely from the one Blue had come to, and certainly Blue's differed from Red's, too.]

If it's me, it'd be more education, [He thinks aloud, eyes directed into the lakewaters thoughtfully.] About the world. Not just honing your skills in battles all the time. Without knowing things about the Pokémon all around the world, and what they can do, there's not much else you can discover just by battling alone.

Ah, well after all, the Pokédex is a Pokégear app these days, so it's more accessible than ever. That should start moving things along.

[Because obviously the modern Pokégear is a smartphone!! Someone's gotta compete with Rotomphone.]

[He glances up to Lance with pursed lips and skepticism at his worrywarting, and hands him a canteen lid full of the lake 'water'.] Take a sip and chill out, old man. You and Ethan, you fixed things up in no time. Kanto's doing peachy, these days.

--And don't go telling anyone that! We don't need another Red holing up for half a decade.