After Springer loses a close battle against a Beakula, Flash and his friends rush him to a Pokémon Center. While there, Flash finally tells his friends the story of how he and Springer met six years ago and became best friends, as well as the dark secret surrounding Springer's past.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Springer is revealed to have once been part of a pack of Wild Riolu, but after he demonstrated the ability to use Aura Sphere, he was targeted by the Lucario that acted as the leader of the pack and lured away from the others where he attacked Springer and exposed him to the energy of an Everstone. It is also implied he was going to kill Springer before Flash and a mysterious blue-haired trainer jumped in and saved him. But, the event changed Springer forever, since he would be unable to evolve because of the Everstone energy he absorbed.
- Good Scars, Evil Scars: The Lucario that attacked Springer and the ten-year old Flash is scarred across his left eye by Squiron.
- Green-Eyed Monster: The Lucario that was the leader of Springer's pack knew how special Springer was, and that Springer could challenge him for leadership if he evolved and knew he would easily win. So he lured him away to ensure that would never happen, stealing his future from him in the process.
- Hero of Another Story: The blue-haired trainer and his Squiron that suddenly arrived to protect Flash and Springer from the Lucario. He initially catches Springer in a Premier Ball, and agrees to train him even after learning he can no longer evolve. But when he leaves to continue his journey, he leaves Springer and his Premier Ball with Flash, seeing how close the two of them had become.
- Innocently Insensitive: The scientist Flash and Springer lost to comments that if Springer had been a Lucario, he would have lost to them for sure while complementing them. Twilight and Doc later explain to Spike how Lucario, being part Steel-Type, are immune to all Poison-Type attacks, and comment how due to how Riolu normally evolve that Springer might evolve very soon. This is while completely unaware that Springer is incapable of evolving at all.
- Origins Episode: Flash tells his friends how he met Springer and they became best friends and partners, told via flashbacks for the reader.
- Wham Episode: Flash finally explains how he met Springer and they became partners, and confirms that due to being exposed to energy from an Everstone, Springer will never be able to evolve.
- Wham Line: Flash telling his friends "Springer can't evolve...period."
