Epilogue
November 3rd, 2992 A.W., Route 22, Kanto Region
Giovanni was silently heading towards the border when he heard a young, but surprisingly harsh voice yell behind him.
"Father!"
Silver.
"Silver, now is not the time." Giovanni sternly warned.
"Where are you going?" The small boy demanded.
"Interpol is onto me." The Rocket Boss replied in a bizarrely matter-of-fact way, as if that would explain everything to his eight-year-old son.
Silver was indignant. "You told me… you were the number one in the world! Are you gonna quit? What are you going to do now?"
Giovanni turned around and stared into the eyes of his son. Silver had inherited his father's cold, hardened features but his hair was scarlet red, something he got from his mother.
He was drowning in his own thoughts. It was the first time he had felt truly weak and helpless, in a long time. He knew that if his grunts also knew what he was about to do, they would have the very same questions on their lips. He really did not know the answer to any of them, himself.
After a long pause, he finally managed a response. "...One must acknowledge one's defeat before he can move on…" Giovanni made sure that his last words to his son would be significant. It would be something, if the only thing, that Silver ever learnt from his father.
"I will go solo… for now… So that one day I will form a stronger organization!" Giovanni knew he was making an empty promise. Once the rest of Team Rocket got wind of their disbanding, they would likely see Giovanni as a coward.
"What aspect of you was number one? Gathering so many only to be defeated by a mere child!" Though he was only eight, Silver did not consider himself a 'child'. Giovanni secretly agreed; he was quite bright for his age, something that Giovanni hoped would bring him success one day in the future...
Giovanni continued to placate Silver. "Putting together the potential of many is how you produce a huge power... That's what an organization is... That's the strength of an organization! I failed… to make the best use of my subordinates' potential...! But you shall witness one day the revival of me and my Team Rocket!"
Silver flew into a rage at Giovanni's cryptic speech. He ran up to his father and glared defiantly into his face. "I don't understand you! You don't make any sense!"
Giovanni was stunned for words. He really had nothing else to say.
But something in Silver's glare broke him, and he did. He wanted to tell his son how sorry he was for failing Team Rocket, for failing Ariana, for failing him. He wanted to tell his son how much his father loved him. He wanted to hug and kiss his son as a last goodbye. He knew, sadly, that in reality, Silver would never be able to allow such a thing to happen; all that he knew was eight year's worth of solid neglect.
Giovanni turned towards the League Reception gate once again. He knew that he would never be able to turn back.
"…One day, you will understand."
He walked off.
Silver screamed.
"I don't want to understand you! I will never become someone like you. A coward when you're alone and acting like a tyrant when you're in front of other cowards! I will become strong! I will become a stronger man all by myself!"
Silver stepped forward. "All by myself!"
A tear slid down both their faces.
About a week later
"Huh! Huh!" puffing and panting, Red clambered out of the cave. "Whoo… it's cold here…" Tugging his jacket, he set his sights on the land bridge and the platform before him. Silently, he walked slowly towards where he would be training for… How long? He really didn't know. Exhausted, he collapsed on the ground.
I'm not dead (yet)! COVID has given me so much more free time that I found myself picking this up again. Also I literally cannot write chronologically anymore please forgive me :/