It only took the group about a full day before returning to the mainland where they headed north till reaching Viridian City.
"We're here. Last leg of the journey." Dan said.
"I'll admit...I'm a bit scared. But we've already come this far, so there's no way we're turning back right?" Simon said.
"You'd better not!" Eddy yelled from the back of the crowd. "We've come too far just to see ya chicken out!"
"I wasn't even chickening out, dammit!" Simon yelled back. "*Sigh* Ready for this, Tsumugi?"
"Yes. I'm ready." Tsumugi said.
"Let's go then." Simon said as the pair entered the gym. They saw it was a standard arena with no add ons.
"Huh...simple." Tsumugi said as a door opened.
"Ah...challengers...welcome." a familiar voice said as both saw it was Giovanni.
"I figured it would be you." Tsumugi said.
"Giovanni…" Simon said.
"Ah...you two. Somehow I knew our paths would eventually cross here." Giovanni said.
"I'm surprised that someone like you can even be a Gym Leader. But, it's not my place to question such things. All I'll say is that things will be going a lot different this time." Tsumugi said.
"If you feel so confident...let's not waste anymore time then. Dugtrio! Nidoqueen!" Giovanni said sending out his pokemon.
"We won't lose this time. Let's go, Bulba!" Simon called.
"You're up first, Butterfree!" Tsumugi said as she sent Butterfree out.
"A Grass type and a bug type. Interesting choices. Dugtrio, use Slash on Butterfree. Nidoqueen, use Super Fang on Bulba." Giovanni said as Dugtrio went underground and started moving as Nidoqueen went right at Bulba with its mouth wide open.
"Bulba, counter with Solar Beam!" Simon called.
"Butterfree, Mega Drain!" Tsumugi said.
Light gathered around Bulba's flower before he opened his mouth and a launched a beam of light towards Nidoqueen.
Butterfree then drained energy from Dugtrio before it could strike, defeating it.
"Return. And Nidoqueen still stands. Now...we'll make things fun. Come, Nidoking!" Giovanni said sending out a Nidoking.
"Nidoking and Nidoqueen. That's quite the combo." Tsumugi said. "But one that can still be beaten. Butterfree, use Psybeam!"
"Fall back, Bulba! Let's shake things up, Spike!" Simon called as he swapped out Bulba with Spike. "Use Bonemerang!" He called as the attack finished off Nidoqueen.
"Nice move...but bad choice." Giovanni said as Nidoking was above Spike as it took the Psybeam head on from Butterfree. "Take them both out with Earthquake!" he said as Nidoking went and struck the ground.
"(Butterfree is safe.)" Tsumugi thought as Nidoking struck the ground as the arena was torn apart as it took down Spike but after the attack, Nidoking breathed out before falling itself.
"Spike...you did good. Well...seems we've got the advantage." Simon said.
"Not quite. My last Pokemon...is Rhydon. A very strong pokemon to say the least." Giovanni said.
"In that case, it's all or nothing, Cheshire!" Simon called sending out Cheshire.
"Tag out, Butterfree. Let's go, Lapras!" Tsumugi said as Lapras was sent out.
"Now...let's finish this! Come...Rhydon!" Giovanni said as Rhydon stood on the field with a strong presence surrounding it as it stared its opponents down.
"Your Pokemon may be strong, but the friendships with our Pokemon are stronger!" Simon said. "Give it everything you've got Cheshire!"
"You too, Lapras! Let's show how far we've come! Use Waterfall!" Tsumugi said.
"Rhydon! Megahorn!" Giovanni said as Rhydon charged.
"Cheshire, time for a Freezy Frost!" Simon called as an icy aura formed around Cheshire. Cheshire charged through the waterfall as both attacks combined to form an icy comet as it collided with Rhydon's horn as both tried to push to overcome the other.
"Vee...VEEEEEEE!" Cheshire cried as he gained the upper hand as his aura glowed brighter and charged through.
"This...power. Is it...their bond?" Giovanni said as the comet overpowered Rhydon and struck it dead on. Rhydon let out a low growl before falling over defeated.
"We did it? WE DID IT!" Simon asked before he yelled as he and Tsumugi jumped and cheered.
"Well...it appears I have lost." Giovanni said. "Well done." he said approaching them. "Not bad for the last gym battle I will have. As such...I present you with the Earth Badge."
"I… I'm not sure if I can accept it." Tsumugi said.
"Neither am I." Simon added.
"You…" he said to a grunt. "Alert the other members. As of right now, Team Rocket is disbanded."
"What?!" the grunt said before falling over in shock.
"There. Now you can accept the badge from someone who is just a gym leader." Giovanni said.
"...Thank you." Simon said.
"That...makes all eight." Dan said. "They can challenge the league."
"Simon vs. Tsumugi? Now this'll be a heck of a show!" Emo said. "Of course, nothing is really on the line except bragging rights, but still...give it your all kids!"
"You two will do great out there. Just give it all you got." Jexi said.
"We will. Don't you worry." Tsumugi said.
"Excuse me for one second." Simon said stepping outside as he tossed his Pokeballs high into the air before it came back down with something inside. "Now I'm ready." he smiled.