This is the first time since Ghostly Pokémon and the Summer Festival (1997) that Jessie says the lines James usually says in the motto.
Iris and Cilan decide to head to Johto by train, thus parting ways with Ash and Alexa, who continue on to Pallet Town.
Cilan and Iris plan to travel to Johto using the Magnet Train, which was still under construction in Kogane Gym! Speed & Power!? (2000). It should be also noted that the aforementioned episode said it would take a year plus a week before the train would be finished, indicating that at least one full year has passed since then. However, due to the odd, ambiguous passage of time in the anime, it is unknown if this stands true.
Ash, Iris, Cilan, and Alexa arrive in Kanto.