Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with Pokémon or any of its parent companies. I am merely a humble storyteller. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this journey with me.
Note: I am English, so some of the wordings, spellings, and expressions will be those commonly used in England.
Chapter Fifty: Red vs Giovanni
Rhyhorn scraped its claws on the floor, waiting impatiently for its Trainer to issue the order for its first attack.
Clefairy twirled, although not as flamboyantly as she would have liked, the insignia on the men's clothing bringing back memories of how those terrible people invaded hers and her family's old home.
"Sir," Archer said. "Sir, I can still battle. I implore you to allow me to defeat the boy as well."
Giovanni shook his head as though Archer made an unfunny joke. "Don't be selfish, Archer. Let me get in on the fun. You have done more than enough."
His boss' word law, Archer zipped his lips and watched on, willing for Giovanni to make short work of Red.
Leaf sat where Red was during her battle, a small, cushioned seat beside a bookcase, her battle against Archer replaying in her mind like reran cartoons. She flinched as the Hyper Beams blasted through the images in her mind.
"Like with Miss. Green," Giovanni said to Red, "you may use all the Pokémon you currently have at your disposal."
"Your mistake," Red said. "Oh, and when I win, I want all the Pokémon here released, and I want you to give up the Meltan."
"You're rather asking for a lot, aren't you?" Giovanni said. "Very well, a battle isn't fun without stakes, is it? Sometimes we need more than money and experience. However, in the event of my victory, all your Pokémon become mine. And Miss. Green's too."
"What?"
"It is the only way I will accept your conditions."
Red looked over at Leaf, imploring her for advice. Losing hurt them majorly. Not only could they not save tonnes of innocent Pokémon, but they would lose theirs too. Red would force Leaf to give up hers, doing what he stupidly did before when he took Eevee down here in the first place, but to a larger degree. It was not his right to gamble Leaf's friends.
Leaf's eyes found his. She nodded curtly, but not without reluctance.
"Fine," Red said. "I accept."
"Excellent," Giovanni hissed, eyes gleaming like Archer's Persian. "Now, let us commence the battle. You may begin, Red."
"Don't mind if I do. Clefairy, Magical Leaf."
Clefairy spun, her claws sparkling green and firing off shining leaves that peppered Rhyhorn's hard exterior. They were already off to a good start.
"Good work, Clefairy," Red said. "Another Magical Leaf!"
"Rhyhorn, Horn Drill."
Charging through the barrage of magical leaves, Rhyhorn's horn spun like a drill, with so much power it seemed to distort the immediate area around it.
Unfortunately for Rhyhorn, it did not have a stationary target this time, and the stress of focusing on performing the Horn Drill successfully caused the attack to veer wildly away from Clefairy, who would not have needed to dodge anyway.
"Phew," Red said, wiping his brow. "Great, let's go again with Mag –"
"Stomping Tantrum."
"Stomping what-trum?"
Rhyhorn glared at Clefairy, shaking its head agitatedly. It raised itself up on its hindlegs. It pummelled Clefairy into the floor, repeatedly ramming its front legs down upon the defenceless pink moon fairy. The ground shook, dust rose, and more cracks formed in the floor.
"What the heck?" Red yelled. "What kind of move was that? Clefairy, Life Dew."
Clefairy crawled from underneath Rhyhorn and summoned a watery sphere, glistening with rainbows. She sighed as it plopped upon her head, easing the bruises and scrapes brought on by the vicious Stomping Tantrum.
"Oh, did you like that demonstration of Stomping Tantrum?" Giovanni asked. "A powerful Ground-type move – I am quite partial to that typing – especially when used after a technique that usually misses. Horn Drill, for example."
Despite himself, Red chuckled. "I see. Looks like you're going to be a lot harder to beat than the other Rockets I've battled. No matter, I'm still going to do it."
"I like your spirit," Giovanni said, smirking. "It's going to make it a lot more gratifying when I completely break it."
But would he break it? Not if Clefairy had anything to say about it. After enduring a Horn Attack, she sent Rhyhorn back into its Poké Ball with a third Magical Leaf and gave Red an easier time breathing.
"Great work, Clefairy," he said to the twirling fairy. "Honestly, I'm so glad you had a doubly super effective move against that Rhyhorn."
If Giovanni was annoyed by that defeat, he did not show it. Maybe he was not at all. He simply threw out another Poké Ball, as carelessly as someone playing catch with a child.
Giovanni's second Pokémon did not make much of a sound when it materialised, mostly a deep breathing as it surveyed its surroundings. Its attention then turned to its front, where it had a pouch, and in that pouch was movement. A little head poked out, its little black eyes gazing at everything with a youthful quizzicality.
"Kangaskhan?" Red muttered to himself. He was certain he had seen that Pokémon used at the previous Kanto and Johto Leagues a few times. His Pokédex confirmed it:
Kangaskhan, a Normal-type Pokémon. She raises her young in her belly pouch. She won't run from any fight to keep her young protected.
Red studied the creature, standing at a towering seven feet three inches. She was mostly brown with a cream-coloured stomach and pouch, her skin covered in several raised plates that looked like armour. There was another plate on top of her head, black in colour. Her arms and legs were thick and strong, as was her tail, and when she turned slightly, Red spied a row of spikes running down her back.
The baby had smoother-looking heather skin and lifted herself further out of the pouch. Her mother pushed her back down and stared at Red with her red eyes narrowed.
"Kangaskhan are known to be quite the stalwart Pokémon," Giovanni said. "Perfect for Team Rocket. It's just a matter of bringing out its full potential. How hard do you think it would battle if it didn't have its child, knowing constant victories were the only way it would see it again? A thought for the future, right?"
Kangaskhan growled, as though wishing she could throttle the man who held her Poké Ball. She patted her child on the head and gave her a quick tickle too.
"You're worse than I ever imagined," Red said, his voice hollow. "Every time I think you can sink no lower, you go even further. You're probably deep in the earth's crust from my point of view. You're really going to steal Kangakhan's baby from her to try and make her fight harder?"
"I did say it was a thought for the future," Giovanni said. "A realistic one that we are seriously considering though. Provided it benefits Team Rocket, then I see no problem with it. Evil? Yes. I'm not going to shy away from what we are, I'm not like others in the world who pretend they're doing good or that they're misunderstood even though they know full well they are relishing in causing harm to everyone and everything around to achieve their own ends. Why would I deny it? I admit it, and I welcome it. If you think about, I am quite the honest man, and Team Rocket is quite the honest organisation."
Red clucked his tongue. "I don't want to listen to you anymore. I seriously can't stand it. Let's just battle so I can defeat you." He looked to Kangaskhan. "I'm sorry, Kangaskhan, but I'm going to fight as hard as I can."
The Parent Pokémon lowered her head solemnly.
"Very well," Giovanni said. "Begin when ready."
Clefairy's staple Magical Leaf scattered across Kangaskhan's hardened body, who crouched and allowed her arms to shield her baby.
Red flinched. How were they meant to have a proper battle with a baby in the midst? He would just have to end it as soon as possible and hope the infant took little to no damage.
Another Magical Leaf.
Same result.
No different the third time.
What was Giovanni playing at? If the battle went on as it was, then he would lose a second Pokémon to Clefairy. There had to be more…
"Rage."
Ah. There it was.
When a fourth barrage of leaves headed towards Kangaskhan like tiny homing missiles, she tanked the attack again, only this time when she straightened up, she let out a roar and thumped her chest and stamped her feet. She hurtled towards Clefairy and swiped at her with a heavy arm, only a last minute, nimble jump saving Clefairy from a nasty headache.
Nuts! Giovanni had lulled him into a false sense of security, getting Clefairy to trigger an attack boost for Kangaskhan. But they could avoid her! Reduce her accuracy with Flash and any attack boosts would mean almost nothing, zilch, diddlysquat, nada.
If only Clefairy's speed was higher though.
She could barely shimmer when Kangaskhan charged forth like a bulldozer and walloped Clefairy with a metallic tail. Yet, despite the super effective strike, Clefairy was down but not out, and she pulled herself up thanks to Red's calls of encouragement.
It was such a pity that she was unable to pull off a Life Dew as a second, speedy Iron Tail ended her day in an instant.
What the heck had happened? This round of the battle ended so abruptly, turned on its head so quickly it made Red feel dizzy. Yes, Kangaskhan's attack was raised, but there was no way the situation should have changed so drastically.
Giovanni said nothing, content to watch a flustered Red scramble to return Clefairy and send out a new Pokémon.
Beedrill fluttered over the ruined floor, antennae twitching irritably as the memories of her evolution surged back to her, those dreaded 'R's, that haunting insignia she desired to be gone.
"We've got be careful and not take any real risks," Red said, speaking slowly, calming himself. "This guy's not the big boss for nothing. But we can take him. Okay, start off by flying out of reach and use Focus Energy. Oh, and watch out for the baby one."
Beedrill soared to the overhead lights, shut her eyes and took a deep breath, transporting herself to her personal realm of solitude.
"Ah," Giovanni said. "A higher critical hit rate versus a boosted attack. Yes, go all out, Red. Show me how much you want to win."
Oh, Red was determined to do that.
"Poison Jab!"
"Rage."
Beedrill's purple stinger met Kangaskhan's bulky arm with a force that should have broken bones, neither giving an inch.
"Now use Fury Attack!" Red shouted.
"Comet Punch," Giovanni said.
Fists and stingers clashed, cancelling each other out, with speeds that caused their limbs to blur. A stalemate yet again.
"You've trained your Beedrill well," Giovanni admitted. "But it's nowhere near its full potential. And it will never get there with your naïve methods such as friendship and encouragement. Believe me."
"Shut up!" Red snapped (Archer clenched a trembling fist). "I've come this far already believing in all my Pokémon! I would've flopped long ago if I didn't. And I'm going to continue to believe in them because they believe in me! I don't care how corny that sounds, it's what I know to be right!"
Pikachu looked up at his Trainer, gifting Giovanni a moment's reprieve from the deathly stare he had never stopped giving him. Despite what they were in the middle of, he smiled. Hidden from Red, of course.
Beedrill wing's fluttered even quicker, and she zipped towards Kangaskhan and jabbed her in the chest, following up with a second from behind. Kangaskhan dropped to one knee, wincing as poison started to course through her body. Her baby squeaked at her, eyes wide with concern. The mother reassured her with a pat on the head.
"Okay," Red said, heart aching as he gazed at the mother and child, struck by the sudden urge to call his own mother. "Beedrill, another Twineedle."
The Bug-type obliged, stingers glinting in the overhead lights as she advanced on Kangaskhan.
The baby squeaked in terror and started scratching her mother, urging her on, warning her of her impending defeat. Beedrill drew nearer, and the infant's cries grew.
Giovanni smirked.
Kangaskhan reached out, still down on one knee, and grabbed Beedrill's stinger, holding her in place. Unworried, Beedrill struck with the other one, only to be met with the same fate.
Then the worry sank in.
Beedrill tried to pull away, buzzing frantically, all her moves disabled.
There was no choice. Red needed to return Beedrill and use her later.
So, he did.
It did not work.
And why did it not work, you ask? Well, for one simple reason: the red beam of light hit the wrong Pokémon. Before it could engulf Beedrill and save her from Kangaskhan's crushing grip, she spun around with Beedrill on Giovanni's order, letting the beam bounce off her back harmlessly.
"What the heck?" Red roared.
"I borrowed that little trick from a certain someone's rather aggressive Venusaur," Giovanni said, giving Leaf a mocking bow, smiling at the glare he received back. "Yes, doing so is illegal, but you're battling the leader of Team Rocket after all, and I would like to have yours and Miss. Green's Pokémon as permanent fixtures of the Rocket roster." He lowered his head and his visage darkened. "Comet Punch."
Kangaskhan released Beedrill from one hand, holding her up with the other, and with the free hand proceeded to wallop Beedrill with consecutive punches. One-two-three-four-five. A dazed Beedrill was helpless to evade the immediate Iron Tail that walloped her across the spacious office. She did not get back up.
"It does not look good for you, does it, Red?" Giovanni said. "A maximum of four Pokémon left. Do you honestly think you can pull this back?"
Red tore off his cap and ran his hand through his hair. He was in a pickle, which was weird because he usually liked pickles. Lo was the best option. Its typing and Acid Armour would help it stand up to Kangaskhan's might, but why would he reveal it to Giovanni, the man responsible for its kin being taken? Charmeleon could probably restrict Kangaskhan's movements with Fire Spin, but even a resisted Rage-boosted Iron Tail would hurt even more than stubbing one's toe.
It had to be Pikachu. Pikachu had more speed and agility than Charmeleon, hopefully rendering Kangaskhan's attacks virtually ineffective. Besides, the electric mouse was itching for a battle against Giovanni; his red cheeks had never stopped humming since they got off the lift.
"Ah," Giovanni said upon Red sending out Pikachu. "The one I was waiting to battle against. After Eevee's impressive display, I have high hopes for this one. Should it perform well, it will validate Team Rocket's methods for producing powerful Pokémon, wouldn't it?"
"Oh, totally, yeah," Red said sarcastically. "And all the battles and fun times we've all shared haven't contributed to his strength at all. No, I completely agree, oh wise one."
Archer's jaw twitched.
"I've had people killed for less," Giovanni said, saying it with such ease that no person should be able to. "But I will allow your insolence to slide for now. I don't know, I sort of like your fire, Red."
"You won't like it when you're burned."
A sneaky Iron Tail from Kangaskhan restarted the fight, a sideswipe that Pikachu bounded over. However, the Dizzy Punch from Kangaskhan's forceful fist smacked Pikachu in midjump, sending him rolling over and over until he collided with a bookcase. Multiple books and splintered wood rained down on Pikachu.
Yet t'is but a scratch Pikachu seemed to say, unaffected by the chance of confusion Dizzy Punch could inflict, knocking aside the vessels of literary amazingness and electrocuting a weakening Kangaskhan with Shock Wave. The baby cried out as she, too, took the attack.
Red flinched yet stuck out his jaw. "I'm sorry about that, Kangaskhan, I really am, but I'm not losing this. Pikachu, Floaty Fall!"
A heavily breathing Kangaskhan fell to one knee again, her cheeks tinged with purple, her eyes half-open yet filled with utter loathing. For whom was up for debate, but she used her fury and blocked Floaty Fall with a Dizzy Punch.
"Whoa," Red said. "Fine, Pikachu, Zippy Zap!"
"Dizzy Punch again," Giovanni ordered.
Zippy Zap and Dizzy Punch met, two attacks that were cancelled out again. Or were they? Kangaskhan's arm fell limply to her side, and she bowed her head.
"No, it is not over," Giovanni said, glaring at the back of Kangaskhan's head. "Not by a long shot. You will fight until we win or until you're half-dead."
Red growled at the man yet could do nothing more other than tell Pikachu to get out of the way of an Iron Tail, responding with a Floaty Fall that this time hit its mark. The poison and the previous damage? Kangaskhan would be going down soon enough.
"Dizzy Punch."
"Double Team!"
Kangaskhan's fist wiped out one of the Pika-clones. The survivors smirked at her and stuck out their tongues. But their cockiness died quickly as Kangaskhan wailed on them with Comet Punch, erasing the clones from existence and thumping the real one with a powered-up thump.
However, whether it was the impressive stamina he had gained since he chose to go with Red on his journey or his own determination to strike a blow to one he despised, Pikachu got back up from the hammer-like punch and, at this Trainer's command, hurtled into Kangaskhan with a final Zippy Zap, poison and exhaustion and one working arm giving her no chance of blocking it. She toppled onto her back, but before she completely succumbed to unconsciousness, the motherly Pokémon caressed the side of her frightened child's face.
Giovanni returned her to her Poké Ball with an unreadable expression.
"Good work, buddy," Red said to Pikachu. "Boy, that Kangaskhan was super strong, but you did it. Still feel sorry for her and her baby though." He called over his shoulder: "Leaf, we're getting there. We're going to do this."
Leaf's smile was strained. "You'd better. Don't let both of us lose. Please."
"I'm not going to lose to him," Red assured her. To Giovanni: "Do you hear that? I may have lost two of my Pokémon so far, but so have you! And I'm going to sweep the rest of your team!"
Giovanni almost rolled his eyes, which would have been quite the unprofessional thing for him to do. "Do you honestly believe that?"
"Of course, I do! We're headed to the Pokémon League, and we're going to fight a lot more powerful Trainers than a simple bad guy boss person like you."
"Oh, really?" Giovanni's lips curled. "You believe my strength cannot compare to future League opponents? Perhaps I'm not even on par with a full-strength Kanto Gym Leader, do I have that correct?"
"Glad to see you understand."
"Oh, you poor fool," Giovanni said, clasping his hands behind his back. "You should not underestimate me. You cannot possibly compare to me in the art of battling."
"What do you mean?" Red asked. "Our battle is even."
"That might be so. However – and I take great delight in telling you this – I am not battling to the best of my ability."
"What?" Red said. He scowled. "You're lying. You're trying to psyche me out."
"I promise you that I am not. My Rhyhorn is my weakest Pokémon, a mere appetiser for my challengers, while that was Kangaskhan's debut in battle. As a matter of fact, I only learned its attacks a few minutes before you arrived here just in case I decided to use it in battle against you or Miss. Green. I am pleased by the results.
"No, no," Red said, shaking his head. "All you're doing is trying to psyche me out. I refuse to believe you're as skilled as you say to use your weakest Pokémon and one you've never battled with before and push me so hard."
"So closeminded," Giovanni said with a sigh. "Very well. I shall stop playing around and put an end to this once and for all." He brandished an Ultra Ball. It opened.
The creature that materialised from the Ultra Ball roared even louder than Kangaskhan, slamming its arms against the floor. It snorted and growled, its vicious eyes locked onto Pikachu, who, to his credit, glowered back.
Leaf gasped and held Eevee closer to her. Red swallowed but fought the temptation to take a marginal step back. "A Nidoking."
Nidoking, a dual Poison and Ground-type Pokémon, and the evolved form of Nidorino. He uses his powerful tail in battle to smash, constrict, then break his prey's bones.
"Nidoking has proven to be a loyal soldier over the years," Giovanni said. "I personally trained it to embrace Team Rocket's dreams and ideals, to adopt the drive all at Team Rocket need to help accomplish our goals."
Nidoking cracked his knuckles, which sounded more like rocks being fractured under a hydraulic press.
"Poisoning a Pokémon's mind too?" Red said, the disgust in his voice tasting like bile. "Seriously, Team Rocket might have actually done some good in the world if someone like… like… Mr. Fuji was in charge."
Leaf perked up, her expression curious.
"Mr. Fuji?" Giovanni said, seeming equally as interested. "I have… never heard of this gentleman. You say he is a good person, do you?"
"I do," Red said. "He helps orphaned Pokémon in Lavender Town. He had a new one because one of your Executives… he… he…" He could not finish saying it.
"Ah, Lavender Town. He must be the annoying old coot that Petrel mentioned in his report. Oh, what a turn of events…"
"What are you on about?" Red said. "Let's get this battle restarted. Pikachu, try and flinch Nidoking with Floaty Fall."
"Oh, yes, the battle," Giovanni said, suddenly seeming as if he desired to be anywhere else that was not where he currently was. "Nidoking, Double Kick."
One kick for the block, another kick to pummel Pikachu into the ceiling.
Pikachu plummeted back down, fainted, and was soon held in Red's arms.
"Guess he wasn't trying to psyche us out," Red muttered. Like with Leaf giving him Eevee, he too made the long walk over to her to put Pikachu in her care.
"Pikachu," Red said, "like always, you've done so well; I say that all the time, and I can't tell you it enough. Team Rocket say it's because of them, but I know all the strength you have is down to your own hard work and the fact you actually listen to me."
One of Pikachu's eyelids fluttered. An ear twitched.
"You must have gone through a heck of a lot with Team Rocket," Red continued. "I can't imagine what they did, but it must've been bad judging by yours and Eevee's faces. But you know what, Pikachu, you're never going to be alone. You'll always have me and Charmeleon and Beedrill and Clefairy and Lo. You can always rely on us. And if you do get tired of being part of our team and want to go off on your own, that's fine too. Honest, it is, because even if you don't want to go on this journey with us anymore, we'll still be family."
Pikachu shifted his head, half opening his other eye.
"You can just rest now," Red said softly. "We're not going to stop fighting."
o~o~o~o~o
Despite the swirling flames that surrounded him, Nidoking stomped forward and summoned more rocks and let them fall on top of Charmeleon. Charmeleon skipped through the Rock Slide, not getting hit this time, avoiding another flinching.
"Flame Charge again!" Red shouted. "Let's get even more speed!"
Speed was the only factor that went in Charmeleon's favour, Nidoking's bulk and power multiple times what the fire lizard was naturally blessed with. He rammed into Nidoking's midriff and quickly jumped back to avoid an electrically charged fist, Red thanking his lucky stars the two previous Flame Charge's connected.
"Your Charmeleon is doing far better than I would have imagined," Giovanni said, sounding as sincere as an evil syndicate boss could. "Despite the gap in strength and the type disadvantage, it is really holding its own. Although I dearly hope it is not going to evolve and wreak havoc on my Nidoking."
Red ignored him, getting Charmeleon to spray his draconian breath into Nidoking's face. Yes, the chip damage from Fire Spin and continuously bombarding Nidoking with Charmeleon's arsenal of moves should be enough to finish off the dino king once and for all. They just had to be patient, use their speed to their advantage.
Charmeleon slashed Nidoking with metallic claws and ducked to avoid Thunder Punch. Yes, just like that.
Oh, wait. Oh no. Why did Charmeleon have dark shadows under his eyes all of a sudden? Why was he woozy? Was he poisoned? How on earth did that happen? Nidoking had not used a single Poison-type technique, had he? Wait, Red had seen that before, at last year's Pokémon League. Mint's friend Mark's Nidorino had left an opponent poisoned when it hit him with an Aqua Jet. Oh, what did the commentator say it was? Ah, that's right! Poison Point.
Darn. Nidoking's Poison Point had affected Charmeleon.
"Bad luck, Red," Giovanni said. "But now I shall mercifully end Charmeleon's suffering. Nidoking, Drill Run."
Still surrounded by flames, Nidoking pointed his horn at Charmeleon and dove forward, spinning like a drill, pushed forward by the propulsion from his solid legs, transforming into a flaming torpedo that thundered into Charmeleon with a sickening crunch, launching the poor Fire-type into a wall. Charmeleon did not even stir.
"You've lost four Pokémon," Giovanni said as Red sprinted over to Charmeleon. "And something tells me you don't have a Water, Ice, or Psychic-type you would need to take on my Nidoking more effectively, otherwise you would have done so already, isn't that right? It appears your race has been run."
Giovanni's intuition was obviously correct. Red had no one else except Lo, and what could it do against a Pokémon with two super effective moves against it, not to mention the fact Nidoking was immune to Thunder Shock and Thunder Wave? And why would he reveal that Lo was in his possession?
But it was the same result regardless, wasn't it? Whether he revealed he owned the last Meltan would not matter, not when Giovanni and his lackeys would forcefully take all his Pokémon away from him. It was preferable to go down fighting, even if it would be a lesson in futility. He unclipped Lo's Poké Ball from his belt.
A strategy. Acid Armour for the endurance and Headbutt to chip away at Nidoking's health. Simple. At least Lo would not be affected by Poison Point, so that was something, right? Red pulled his arm back.
Yet, before he could release Lo onto the battlefield, a Rocket Grunt came running in, breathless. Everyone stared at him.
"How dare you barge in here!" Archer hissed. "Don't you see we're busy?"
"I'm sorry!" the Grunt said, bowing his head. "But we've got trouble!"
"Trouble?" Giovanni said. "What do you mean trouble?"
"W-Well you s-see, sir," the Grunt stammered. "It a-appears that we-we have g-guests outside the… outside the…" He gulped. "Outside the Game Corner!"
"And who are the guests?" Archer said. "Spit it out, man, don't beat around the bush."
The Grunt paused, eyes shifting between Giovanni and Archer. "The police. A-An entire squadron."
"What?" Archer said. "That can't be possible. We have been so careful. Why now, why after all this time?"
Giovanni stood in silent contemplation, pondering the sudden bad news. Why, of all times, were the law enforcement here, surrounding their base, possibly about to storm it? Did someone tip them off? Was it hours upon hours of stakeouts that culminated in them preparing to infiltrate their Celadon base at this moment? Or was it…
"You two," he said quietly to Red and Leaf. "This was your doing, wasn't it?"
"Our doing?" Red said. "What do you mean?"
"You must have made a call to the police at some point," Giovanni said. "Or have someone else make the call. Why would they be here now?"
"What are you talking about?" Leaf snapped. "We didn't know the stupid Game Corner was run by you! And when we did find out, we didn't have the time to call for help." She scowled at Red. "Did we?"
Red hung his head in shame. "No."
"You lie," Archer said.
"No, Archer, it seems they're not" Giovanni said, studying Red and Leaf so intently it was like he was giving them an x-ray. "Look at their faces, listen to their words. Very well, children, I believe you know nothing about why the police are here, however, it does not take away from the fact that someone did call them. Perhaps a worried passerby witnessed you both head down here." He sighed. "Either way, it seems we must be taking our leave of this place. Unfortunate, because this Game Corner is ever so lucrative." Nidoking dematerialised into his Ultra Ball. "But there is no need to worry for Team Rocket will reclaim this base soon enough." He smirked. "It looks like you two will be keeping your Pokémon for a while longer yet. Count your lucky stars."
The Rocket Boss started to make his way across the room, where another door lay in wait, before he paused and strode over to his desk. He opened one of the drawers and took out two items. "This may seem strange, but I rather enjoyed this encounter. And seeing how well you did and the fact that you get to keep your Pokémon, I see no reason not to give you two a little reward. Think of it like receiving a lollipop after having an injection. However, this will be the only act of charity I or any other Team Rocket member will give you."
Reluctantly, warily, Red and Leaf made their way over to the desk. Giovanni tossed the items over to them.
"That's a Silph Scope," he told Red. "It matters not to me if you have it for we can get more." He inclined his head at Leaf. "And in that Poké Ball is a Porygon. The same one in the cage you saw. The moment you left it, I had it brought to me. I was going to use it to taunt you in the unlikely event of Archer or myself struggling in battle against you. My research tells me your goal is to capture all the Pokémon in Kanto, right? This seems like a suitable gift for you. At least until we take it back, of course, if you ever get in our way again."
"This is a trick," Red said. "This is a trick, right? This Silph Scope – wait, that name sounds familiar – is a bomb or something, isn't it? You're going to detonate it and blow us to kingdom come when you're out of range."
"Yeah," Leaf agreed. "This is fishy."
"I assure you, it's not," Giovanni said. "You two impressed me during your infiltration of our base and in these battles, that is all." He shook his head. "You would make fine Team Rocket operatives. It is regrettable."
With that said, Giovanni left with Archer through the door. However, before it closed behind him, he added, "Oh, one more thing: give your parents my regards."
Red and Leaf's blood froze, as though ice was injected into their veins. "What?"
"Just give them my regards," Giovanni said. "I worry about them. Imagine their children getting into trouble putting their noses where they do not belong. It can't be good for their health."
o~o~o~o~o
"Oh, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Erika said, a violin in one hand, a bow in the other. "Did you go to the Game Corner? How was it?"
"Er, yeah, we did go –" Red began, only to be cut off by Leaf.
"Did you know the Game Corner was run by Team Rocket? Did you know they had a major operation happening below?"
Erika covered her mouth in shock, dropping her violin bow, although her eyes did not match the gesture. "Oh, dear. Really? I cannot believe it."
Leaf narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure about that? You seemed insistent that Red and I go there. And you were adamant we check out the posters. In hindsight, that was really weird. Who recommends someone go somewhere to look at posters?"
"Yeah, that was weird," Red said. "Erika, you sent us there on purpose, didn't you?"
Erika took her hand away from her mouth. "Such an accusation. All I wanted was for you to enjoy everything Celadon has to offer, and the posters are such a treat –"
"Even though they all have the Team Rocket logo hidden on them somewhere?" Leaf said.
"Do they?"
"You know they do."
"What a surprise." Erika gazed up into the sky, smiling sleepily as the setting sun shone on her. "But it seems like you got through that ordeal unscathed. That is good."
"Only because the cops showed up the last second," Red said. "The boss and his executive were tough, and I was down to my last Pokémon. Speaking of, apparently the police received an anonymous tip from an unidentified person, told us they said two children were seen being taken by Team Rocket into a hidden area under the Game Corner. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that?"
"I can't say I do," Erika said.
Leaf scoffed. "I don't know why you're playing dumb, Erika. We know it, and you know it. Why don't you just admit it?"
"I can't admit it because I honestly don't know," Erika said, although her eyes sparkled mischievously. "But please tell me, have the police locked down the base? I am assuming the Game Corner has been closed until further notice?"
Red and Leaf nodded.
"I see," Erika said, smiling. "Then that should mean there will be a great decrease of the presence of Rockets skulking about my lovely city, getting up to no good. It is unfortunate that you two had to go through that ordeal, and I can't imagine the police interviews were any less tedious, but we can consider flushing out the Rockets a silver lining."
"Wait," Red said. "Your city? Was that the reason –"
"And now if you will excuse me, I am feeling rather lightheaded," Erika said, placing the back of her hand delicately against her forehead. "I must get some rest."
"No, not yet," Leaf said. "We still have a lot to say to –"
"Farewell, dear Red, dear Leaf. I thank you for your assistance in making Celadon the gorgeous city it is known to be. I wish you well on your respective journeys. Goodbye." Erika picked up her bow and closed the door behind her. From within the Celadon Gym came the sound of cheerful, celebratory music.
o~o~o~o~o
Red laid on his bed, staring through the Silph Scope, trying his best to remember where he had heard of it before, Pikachu lying at the other end, in deep thought.
Leaf sat on her bed, Eevee curled up on her pillow, thinking, just thinking. Her new Abra and Porygon were being treated at the Pokémon Centre, the doctors insistent they stay overnight. It was no surprise, not when the caged Pokémon rescued from the Team Rocket base had to go through the same, being so emaciated, so dehydrated, so tired of the world, of its cruelty, of its vindictiveness. Her heart broke for them, a pain so great it became physical. And her chest hurt more so as anger seared her from within as she considered all those who had won prize Pokémon at the Game Corner and never reported how malnourished and depressed they were. Perhaps some even released them, frustrated at the broken creatures. Pathetic.
Then she turned her ire on herself. Archer had soundly defeated her, and Venusaur's evolution was marred by his strange new attitude. All her potential, all her grandfather's teachings, and this was the best she could do? Even with an aversion for battles, could she not perform when it counted, when people and Pokémon needed to be defended, could she not turn up the dial? Or did the dial only go up so high?
Maybe it was better to ignore Team Rocket and their antics from now on. Especially when hers and Red's parents were at risk. But… turning away when someone needed help would be such a selfish thing to do, wouldn't it? Or was it self-preservation? And did it not make sense to protect one's own family over others one did not know?
No, she could not turn away from those in need! But if her parents suffered because of it… oh, whatever was she to do? It was enough to make her want to tear her hair out.
"Aha!" Red exclaimed, so loudly, so suddenly Leaf fell from her bed, almost taking Eevee with her.
"Red!" Leaf scolded. "What was that about? Don't scream so suddenly!"
"Oh, er, sorry," Red said, rubbing the back of his head, looking like a mad scientist with the Silph Scope over his eyes. "But I just remembered where I heard of the Silph Scope."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Red said, nodding excitedly. "It was a sign in Lavender Town. It said: does anyone know how to get Grimer slime out of the carpet? Yes, I spent money on this sign."
"Huh?"
Red chuckled sheepishly. "Oops, sorry, I got it wrong. It basically said it can make the invisible visible."
"And that's a big deal because?"
"Remember when I told you about the weird stuff happening at Pokémon Tower? Well, we stopped Team Rocket, but we never solved the main problem, you know, with all the ghosts." Red took off the Silph Scope and swung it around his finger. "This can probably help me identify them. Maybe even help with the main problem on the top floor."
"So, you want to go back to Lavender Town?" Leaf said.
"Yeah. Mr. Fuji's a kind man, and he was risking himself trying to sort out the Tower. If the Silph Scope can help at all, then I want to go there." Red's easy-going grin faded. "Besides, I want to do something straight away. I feel useless after getting toyed with by Giovanni, and I need to pick myself back up before that loss has time to set, you know? I already felt low before after losing to Brock, and I don't want to go back there."
Leaf gazed at Red, her mind whirring. He still had that desire, that staunch determination. Yes, he too was worried about his mother and the threat imposed to her by Team Rocket, but that did not mean he would not help others when the Rockets were not involved. He was still moving forward.
Leaf drifted across the room and sat herself beside Red, their arms touching. "I'm coming with you."
"Huh?" Red said. "Why? Don't you have to go back to Pewter?"
"Like I've said before, there's no time limit," Leaf said. "Besides, if that Silph Scope does what you say it does, then maybe it'll reveal a few Ghost-type Pokémon. After all, I am the only one trying to complete the Pokédex."
"Are you sure?" Red asked.
Leaf leaned her head on his shoulder. "I am. I need to try and jump right back on the Rapidash."
"You will," Red said, thinking back to each of his Pokémon falling to Giovanni, to Lo's kin that he failed to rescue. "We both will."
