Leo Cipriani was a man of strong and determined character. He made a place in Johto's business when he was still very young, working as the assistant to a wealthy businessman in the region who saw in the blue-eyed young man a spark of cunning and thirst for power that he saw fit for his plans. His years in the ranks of Cipriani Co. helped young Leo learn quickly about investing, finance, and capital management. Very soon he became a valued element for Mateo Cipriani.

The meeting between Mateo and Leo had been in the words of the former an event predestined to happen. It was a long time before the Black Knights saw the light of day. Before Ash and Gary ran around in Pallet Town. Before Viridian's gym was run, by a tenacious and daring leader. Called Giovanni. Before long before.

Mateo at that time was a successful businessman who led the real estate market with a firm hand and began to venture into high-ranking investments. The Johto native businessman was at that time a man in his sixties with gray and white hair, and time was beginning to mark on his face. Until that moment he had lived fast and without pause, always seeking more power and more fortune. His most accomplished goals made him feel complete. But something was missing and he did not know it until he met Dante Leone who would later become Leo Cipriani.

The morning they met, Mateo was taking his daily walk through the wooded trails of Goldenrod City where he had his main office. He was always accompanied by his guards, but that day he preferred to be alone and use the time of his walk to think about some important things that had him a bit distracted those days. Every morning he made the same route out of the city with a leisurely march and lost himself among the huge pine trees that rose high between the routes that connected Olivine City and Goldenrod. He seldom ventured near rivers that leaked like veins into the sea, but that morning he felt emboldened to jog more than necessary. He deviated a few kilometers from the normal route that he would take and ended up on the bank of a huge river that he had visited on other occasions. He had a swift current due to a waterfall further up the path that was wallowing in the falling water.

Mateo inhaled and exhaled a couple of times with his hands on his knees and his body leaning slightly forward. His face had a few beads of sweat on it and he felt his heart pound in his chest. It was a long walk that exhausted him. The sky overhead a vibrant clear blue had some slowly moving white clouds. A slight cool summer wind made the tree branches dance and some flying-type pokemon could be heard resting among them.

The man was about to turn around and go back the way he came when he saw something floating in the middle of the water. He first thought that it was some dry log, but then he realized that it was a person. Mateo ran to try to help that poor soul in distress. He took a long, thick pole from the ground and stepped into the water up to his waist. He stretched the rod holding it with both hands and with all the strength he could, trying to catch the man who was floating. He let out a small expression of victory as the body got caught in the wood. Then he pulled it with him to shore. He did some cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers that he learned long ago in college and after a while the young man lying on the ground started coughing loudly, opened his eyes, and struggled to straighten up.

"Hey, take it easy, you almost died you know?", Mateo said with a friendly smile.

Dante Leone's dark eyes gazed warily at the man in glasses and sportswear who stood next to him.

"Thank you", he finally said, his voice hoarse from the cough from a moment earlier.

"I just did my good deed for the day. What happened to you, boy?"

"I don't remember", Dante lied turning his face to avoid seeing his savior.

Mateo watched him stay still on the ground looking at the water that ran down the river. Dante's head was spinning, he knew very well who he was and what he had passed. He was a dead man, that was now.

"Do you want to come with me to Goldenrod City? Maybe you can get help there"

Dante stood up, his body felt sore, his black hair was glued to his forehead and he began to feel cold from the humidity on his body. He started walking with Mateo and they both got lost among the large, leafy trees of the Goldenrod City forest.

In Goldenrod City, Mateo left young Dante in front of the police station. A fancy car with several armed guards appeared a while later and the older man waved his hand goodbye. Dante watched the car drive away and then turned to look at the station building. He frowned and started walking in the opposite direction. After that he began to do a little research on Mateo Cipriani that left him very interested, the successful businessman had a prosperous real estate company and very good connections in the city that Dante saw as an opportunity to be reborn as a completely new man.

After following Mateo for a few weeks and studying his businesses, he devised a plan to meet him casually without causing suspicion. He knew his routes and his habits, among which were his daily walks, and visiting the "Le' Rose "cafe on the main street. He would always stop there and order an American coffee and a glazed donut. At that time, his guards let him move freely through the cafe and then walk a few meters to the newsstand where he bought a sports magazine and the daily newspaper. That was where Dante was now, pretending he was reading issue # 128 of "Sports Pokemon", he wasn't interested at all, but it was his decoy to catch Mateo.

The real estate entrepreneur came over with a familiar greeting to the clerk at the newsstand, and Dante peered over the magazine, trying not to look suspicious.

"The usual, Mr. Cipriani?", The clerk said with the newspaper and magazine in hand.

"You know me well, Adam", Mateo smiled, taking them.

Before Mateo finished his friendly and routine talk with Adam, the middle-aged man with brown hair and bushy eyebrows who manned the newsstand, Dante hurried to move. He collided with Mateo causing the newspaper and magazine to end up on the floor.

"Oh my fault! Excuse me", he said, hurrying to pick up what Mateo threw to the ground when he collided with his shoulder.

"Don't worry," Mateo looked at the young man who handed him his things.

"Hey, I know you, you're the float boy", He smiled and held out his hand.

"It's, Mateo, right?" Dante scratched the back of his neck in feign surprise and shook hands with the man.

"Yes, that's my name. Have you remembered what happened?"

"No, the doctor said I hit my head hard but maybe I will remember soon"

"I'm sorry about that, if you need help you can come see me", he pulled a contact card out of his jacket and handed it to him.

"It's very kind, I will, thank you"

"Well it's time for me to go", Mateo looked at his guards who were now closer and attentive to Dante's movements.

"Okay, it was good to see you Mr. Cipriani", The black haired man smiled kindly.

Dante watched Mateo walk away and then he went the other way. A few days later, he appeared at Mateo Cipriani's company building. The receptionist looked him up and down as soon as he stepped onto the fancy, shiny floor of the place.

"Good morning", he said in the softest and most charismatic voice possible.

"Good morning sir, do you have an appointment?"

"I forgot to make an appointment, sweetie, could you help me?",

Dante smirked and the secretary for a moment seemed to soften her face. But then she looked at him seriously again and handed him a date form.

"Mr. Cipriani doesn't take anyone walk-ins, ask for one and come back later", she said, returning her attention to her computer screen and starting to type with quick fingers again.

Dante mentally cursed and took the form. He went and sat on a nearby bench and began to fill out the document. When he was about to drop it back to the receptionist, the lobby elevator appeared with its characteristic sound.

"Float boy!", Dante turned to look at Mateo, he hated that he would call him that, but it was a necessary evil and he smiled in response.

"Mr. Cipriani, hello", he said, extending his hand to greet him.

"What are you doing here?", The man greeted him with a strong handshake.

"I need a job, I wanted to know if you could help me with that"

"A Job?", Mateo raised an eyebrow in surprise, but then a wide smile formed on his face. "Well thought out, a job is great to start a life on"

From that moment everything began to go fast, it began with a position as an office clerk that with Dante becoming a friend to Mateo quickly rose to his assistant and after a few years the trust that Cipriani had in his subordinate became paternal. Mateo had never been married and had no children. Dante knew how to win over the old man who ended up giving him his last name and then left him in charge of all his business.

This is how Leo Cipriani was born. He gave Mateo's real estate company a spin and began to move into other sectors. Smart investments led him to increase his capital and he soon became the most important businessman at Johto.

In all those years Dante now Leo had not stopped thinking about a woman, the cause of all his problems and who had betrayed and practically killed him. His thirst for revenge never left and he planned for years a way to take what he rightly believed was his in Kanto.

Now as he watched the Pewter City below him from his office in his new building in Kanto the memories of the day that woman threw him into hell came back to his mind. He clenched his fist tightly and smirked. He now he could take revenge.

Looker looked at his laptop screen in annoyance. Since he returned from Pallet Town he began to investigate everything he could about Giovanni. So far nothing was relevant to the case. He found nothing in the public record about his marriage to Delia and nothing about little Ash's birth record. It was as if they did not exist. He tried to find information in old archives and on websites that followed social and political events in the city for many years before. But not a single note was interesting. He investigated each of the properties registered in Giovanni's name. Also those that were linked to his businesses and companies. But nothing seemed to lead to anything that was useful. Until, in an old file not related to Giovanni, but yes with a close associate of the gym leader, it led him to find an interesting document that cited an old mansion in Vermilion City that became the property of the young businessman a few years ago.

Looker took a copy of the file and put it in his back pocket. He grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair and hurried out of his apartment. He now he knew where to turn, he was sure he could find Giovanni and ask him for some explanations.

As International Police Officer Looker began to get closer and closer to Giovanni. The gym leader tried to enjoy the time he could with his wife and son in Vermilion City. After the recent events that ended the peace and quiet of Delia and their son in Pallet Town, the loss of their warm little home and the revelation of secrets of yesteryear that brought to light the fears and mistakes of both, marked a Red line between Giovanni and his wife that now kept them close, but at the same time distant.

Ariana and Proton set out as the chief requested to Viridian city two days ago. Now they was moved with discretion while attacking the small groups that Cipriani had in the city so as not to arouse suspicion and not attract the attention of the police and have them on top of them. Giovanni kept in touch with his men to be informed of every move. Petrel contacted him from Celadon City where Fuji had made great strides in his experiments and had convinced his old friend Blaine to meet up to discuss his research and perhaps convince him to join them. Giovanni agreed that Petrel would take Fuji to Cinnabar Island to meet Blaine and now he was waiting for news of both of them.

Archer already had everything prepared to move Ash and his mother to Dewford Town and was only waiting for Giovanni's order to start his plans.

"Everything seems to be going as planned, sir", Archer glanced at his boss sitting behind the desk flipping through the recent report from his subordinate.

"I'm going to Pewter City tomorrow and I don't want you to come with me", Giovanni declared, lifting his face from the documents to look at the executive.

Archer frowned a bit in confusion and before he could say anything he was interrupted by the boss.

"I want you to go with Delia and Ash to Dewford Town, I need you to stay with them." Giovanni leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his neck waiting for an answer from Archer who seemed surprised.

"I understand that you are concerned for the safety of your family, sir, but I think it is best if I go with you to Pewter City. I will send someone capable to take care of your family"

"There is no one more capable than your Archer", Giovanni said as he rose to his feet.

Archer fell silent and looked at his boss. He had read and analyzed the situation, the plan they had, the pros and cons, there was no one else qualified to accompany him. Archer knew and understood the plan perfectly, but he also knew his boss and could trust that he would be fine alone. However, he did not want to let him go alone.

"Okay sir, we'll leave tomorrow as scheduled"

"I trust you, Archer", Giovanni told him with his deep, dark eyes looking at him seriously.

Archer left the office and Giovanni walked over to the bookcase behind his desk. He moved some books and took out the envelope that contained the letter he wrote for Delia. He was silent watching it for a moment, his wife's name lingering in his head for a while. He then shoved the letter into his inner jacket pocket and left the office to search for his family.

Delia and Ash were in one of the gardens of the huge house hanging out. The little boy was playing among the colorful flower bushes while he was pursued by Persian who had stayed by his side since they reached Vermilion. His mother was watching him with a smile, sitting on a white bench a few meters away. The air was cool and the sun was nice and warm at this time of day despite it being winter, a bonus being close to the sea. The woman's hand rested motherly on her rounded belly as she gently stroked it. Her little apparently had relaxed and peeked out more in those days. She felt it always more real to her now, and despite everything that was happening around her, she was excited by the baby she was carrying.

Giovanni looked at his wife sitting a few meters away, the boy was running around playing and spreading his infectious laugh around the place. He stayed for a while watching them both, he wondered if that would be the last time he saw them. He thought for a moment that it was more valuable to him. Team Rocket or his little family? The image of his mother came to his mind. She was always cold and distant, she rarely showed him that she loved him and she focused on raising him as a worthy successor. If she were alive she would surely scold him for even thinking of putting Team Rocket second. She would tell him that he was weak and that she hadn't raised him for that.

The gym leader shook his head to clear those unpleasant thoughts, and began to walk towards where his wife and son were.

"Delia, how are you?", He said when he was near the woman.

She turned her face to look at him standing near the bench and smiled warmly at him.

"I'm fine, are you feeling good?, You seem a little pale", She gestured to the bench and shifted slightly to give him room to sit.

Giovanni sat down next to her and put an arm behind the bench.

"Yes, I'm okay, I just haven't slept properly"

Delia nodded without taking her eyes off him. She heard Ash from a distance and turned to make sure he was okay. When she turned her attention to her husband he was closer to her, leaning slightly over her and keeping his eyes closed.

"Giovanni", she whispered as her husband's forehead collided with hers.

"I'm so sorry for what happened", he told her without opening his eyes, one of his hands took hers and the warm contact made her feel safe. "I don't want us to have to separate without you knowing that you and Ash, and the baby too, are very important to me, I love you"

Delia's eyes were fixed on her husband and her face was shocked at his apology and confession. Giovanni's dark eyes looked at her, flooded with what she thought was melancholy and guilt. Delia didn't know what to say or just didn't want to answer, she just leaned a little closer and kissed him gently on the lips. Giovanni's hands encircled hers and made her rest on his chest. They stayed like that for a moment until Ash came running up.

"Mom, Dad, something happened?", He asked as his dark hair was ruffled from his running against the wind.

"There is something I want to talk to you and your mother about, come here", his father told him, making a space between them.

Ash went and sat between them, he liked be that way with them, he felt calm and safe.

"What is it?", Asked the little boy while his mother stroked his hair.

"Tomorrow you and your mother are going on a trip"

Delia shifted in her place for a moment, weighing the words spoken by her husband. She knew he would send them away from him soon, but hearing him announce that the moment had come made her feel anxious. She remained silent to listen to her husband finish talking to Ash.

"Are you not coming with us?", Ash's voice sounded surprised.

"No son, I have some business to attend to. But I'll see you and your mother soon"

"Really dad?", The little hug to his father as he began to whimper. "You said that you would stay by our side, that you would protect us", Ash's broken voice made his father feel guilty and Delia's eyes threatened to make her cry like her son .

"Ash, don't cry", Giovanni held his son to his chest while the boy cried. "You have to be strong to take care of mom for me, don't you think?"

Ash lifted his face slightly with tears rolling down his cheeks. He felt his mother's hand go up and down his back to comfort him. He had to be strong he thought as his father said. He rubbed his face with his hands.

"I ... I, I will be, Dad"

"I know so", Giovanni told him as he got up from the bench. He looked at his wife who was quiet and looked distressed.

Clouds that were previously scattered were now overhead threatening to drop heavy rain on their heads. The air was cold and some drops began to hit the ground. Persian who had been standing near them meowed and rubbed against his trainer's legs. Delia stood up and took her son's hand.

"We'd better go in or get wet", said the woman looking at her husband who nodded.

The three began to walk towards the house, the Persian looked up at the sky where lightning bolts pierced the clouds leaving a trail of whitish light behind them. He then started walking behind Giovanni and his family.

One week before.

Eric Phillips raced through the alleys of Viridian City. His clothes were dirty and he didn't look like the city's director of public affairs at all now, his face was sweaty and he had an injured arm that was bleeding under a makeshift bandage.

An hour before, while he was searching his father's house in search of something that would help Giovanni, he found a box hidden in the basement that, after searching on it, he found out who Leo Cipriani was. The files showed the file of a former member of the organization who, along with Mads Phillips and Giovanni's mother, had been in charge of taking Team Rocket to the top of the criminal world.

When he read the report he recalled a talk he had years earlier with his father about Giovanni.

"If you really appreciate Giovanni like you say, you should stop playing politics and go back to Team Rocket"

"Father, you also know as I do that this is not for me, if I am here it is because the nursing home said you were dying"

A mocking laugh filled the white nursing home room where Mads spent his last days.

"Listen insolent brat, I didn't raise you to be a government dog. You must have been Giovanni's right hand man"

Eric Phillips got up from the chair next to his father's bed and crossed his arms in annoyance as he leaned against the wall.

"Giovanni is my friend, he always has been and he will be. He doesn't need me next to him. He is very capable"

"The day will come when Giovanni's past caught up with him, son, and you must be by his side"

"What do you mean with that?"

"His mother hid from him a truth about his origin that sooner or later will hit him so hard that he won't be able to get up and Team Rocket will go to hell"

"I don't understand anything oldman. What are you talking about? What happened?"

"I was supposed to take care of that, but very late I realized that I didn't completed the work, she knew it, that's why we fought and distanced ourselves"

"Are you talking about Giovanni's mother?"

A noise at the top of the house brought Eric Phillips out of his thoughts, no one else must be there. The house until now abandoned was very far from the city and no one but him knew its location. He hurried to turn off the lightbulb in the basement and grabbed the box of files. He went out through a small window in the basement and circled the house trying not to make noise. He looked at a black car parked near his and knew immediately that it was Cipriani's men.

The dirt road that would take him to the road that connected with Viridian seemed too long to him. When he was near the city a shot passed by him through the passenger window. The noise startled him, and he ducked low, keeping his shoulders down, still hands on the steering wheel. A quick glance in the rearview mirror revealed the black van that was following close behind. He swerved down an old road in the industrial zone of the city. The van that was following him hit the back of his car and knocked him off the road. He watched a man dressed in black come out as he started toward the car. Eric moved into the backseat trying not to be seen. When the man got close enough Eric opened the door and then kicked it to hit the gunman who fell to the ground cursing. Then Eric took the file box and went out the other door of the car and ran over to some old industrial buildings. As he ran a shot grazed his arm and even with the pain he felt he ran, losing himself in some dirty and stinking alleys.

His pursuers had lost him in the alleys of the industrial zone, but he was not planning to stay there any longer to they find him. He heard the noise of a freight train coming down the tracks behind a building that manufactured auto parts. Crouching down so he wouldn't be seen he hurried to get on the train. He threw the box and then leapt to land on the cold metal of the car that he knew would move along the area of old buildings and into the city a bit. While riding the train he checked his bleeding wound, used a handkerchief to stop the bleeding, and tried to think fast of his next action. He got off when he slowed past a railroad crossing in city and ran to Giovanni's gym. When he got to the building he found it locked so he climbed on some wooden boxes at the back and threw the file box out a window.

Then he continued his race through Viridian city, if he managed to get to his apartment he would be safe. When he was about to get to the subway he noticed a strange man following him. He tried to lose it among the people, he crossed an alley that he knew would leave him on the other side of the police station. As he ran took his phone to call Giovanni.

He informed him of the archive box he left for him at the gym and was about to tell him about Leo Cipriani, who he thought he was about. But the call was cut off when he was hit by his pursuers who shot him in the leg. He fell to the ground with a crash. One of the men smashed his phone with the feet and then picked him up off the ground to carry him away.

Now Eric Phillips remained locked in a makeshift cell in a basement under a huge building in Pewter City. He was badly injured and his face was swollen from the blows he had received since he arrived. He remained chained with his arms pinned to the wall. The ground was damp and the place stunk.

The door opened and a tall figure appeared like other times to harass him. He heard him laugh as he approached.

"I came to see how my special guest is doing", Leo Cipriani's voice pierced Eric's ears and he spat at his feet in response.

"Go to hell, old man"