Tales of Giovanni's Son

by lord Martiya

Everyone knows Giovanni, Team Rocket's leader. But very few people know his worst enemy: his own son. Who's him? Why is he fighting him? This is his story. Dedicated to the misterious boy of the games who stolen a Totodile and opposed Team Rocket.

3. Chapter 3

Third chapter, now. This time Domino will show part of her crazyness with her Pokemons and the scarier anime character will debut.

by lord Martiya

TALE 03: VS DITTO

I don't remember what happened in the immediate aftermath of the revelation, I was totally blinded by the anger. According to Rose I literally neutralized him with kicks and broke his face before being knocked out by Domino's black tulip and placed in my bed in the green dormitory.

I woke up some hour after, screaming because my then-recurrent nightmare and seeing Rose looking at me.

''What are you doing here?'' I rudely asked.

''Hey, nice to meet you too.'' she replied. ''Let's talk a bit, Enrico. I can call you by name, can I?''

''What sort of scam are you trying?''

''I'm only trying to be gentle with someone who hates the people even more than me.''

''You hate the people? Why?''

''I'm from a little town and my mother runs the only restaurant, so everyone knows me and my father, one of the best trainers in Kanto: in all my life I met only four people outside my family who knew about my father and didn't judged me before know me. Well, five, if that James really know about my family. I suppose that being the son of the owner of the entire city in wich you live is a bit similar to this...''

''How can I believe to the greatest liar of the Team Rocket history?''

''Greatest liar in T.R. history... Very funny. See this, maybe you know the face, you're from Viridian...''

She showed me a photo of her family. The photo showed her with her mother, her little brother and sister and her father. The trainer who managed to beat my father in that gym battle.

''H-have you learned something from him?'' I asked.

''My father is a good trainer but a pathetic teacher.'' she replied after closing her eyes for a while. ''I relied only on my own abilities and some trick from my mother and one of our neighbour to... Hey, what are you looking at?''

''You want to be the very best, like no one ever was.''

''Do you have some trouble whit it?''
''No. But this make us rivals, Rose. Now let me sleep and call me by name, OK?''

I then had again my recurrent nightmare. Twice in a night, and the second time I didn't managed to wake up, so I had to listen the damned voice, I'll return on it, who, after thanking for the good food, that time even teased me about supposedly being a ladies' boy. One of the worst night of my life.

The day after I searched James, but I found Domino looking him and Jesse shouting to each other.

''What's happening?'' I asked.

''Times ago they were friends, but now Jesse don't want to be his friend.'' Domino answered. ''Good, they're about to finish.''

Jesse kicked James' leg and went in the gym. Then I approached James and I asked: ''How did you knew about me and Rose?''

''Oh, well, I saw Rose on a journal with her father. And for you...'' James said. Then he closed his eyes, smiled and said: ''Well, that's a secret(1).''

''Is it linked to your relatives?'' Domino asked, totally scaring James.

''H-how do you know?''

''I read a lot. Not only books, but even journals, magazines and the Pokemon Technical archive.''

''Hu-ho...''

''I suppose that you and Jesse met for the first time when the both of you got the lowest scores of anybody in Pokemon Tech history and failed to enter, didn't you?''

''Yes...'' James answered, his smile completely melted by Domino.

''So, what did the both of you did after that total failure?''

''Well, we went to Sunny Town and formed a bike gang with some guy of the place. I was Trainer Jim, she was Chainer Jesse... Good times, ah, go...''

''So you needed training wheels while old enough for the Pokemon Tech?'' I asked.
''Yes... Well, that was the most wonderful period of my life. But then she found a boyfriend, who treated her badly and then dumped her after... How old are you?''

''Nine years and six months.''

''I'm twelve.'' Domino said.

''Well, return when you'll be 18 or older, OK? But that thing happened nine times in nine months!! Damned them! And I even failed to protect her from them! Oh, and when the gang went after those f... after them, Jesse abandoned us! Now that I found her, I want to stay with her and...''

At that point James began ranting for a lot of time, and I and Domino went to our lessons.

From that day we of the Green Team became a very united group. Each of us never had a friend before, so when somehow we lowered the walls of ice around our hearts we unknowly... Well, I don't know what exactly happened, but we become friends.

What? Why we never had friends before? Well, you know about Rose and me. About Domino, she was declared the weirdo of her class for her loving of books, and after some failed approach when she was five she decided to stand out of the people and began to act in some weird manner. About Andreas, he punched a bully in his very first day of school, and from that time the bullies of his school declared that if wanted to be his friend he would be beated, and you can imagine the rest.

The time passed, we perfected, captured Pokemon and laughed about the harsh treatment the people reserved to Butch on my comments (Rose's idea), and then we were ready for the final exam, supervised by the newest addition to the school staff.

''Greetings, I'm Will.'' he said while holding a box. ''As you probably know, I used to be in the Elite Four. Now I'm your examiner. Show me your Pokemon, now, and then pick a ball from the ticket. In alphabetical order of your name, please.''

Andreas went first and showed him Gaara, his Sneasel, called Temari, and his Schyter, Zabusa. Will commented that their training was an adequate work for his standards (the standards of an ex-Elite Four. For an ordinary trainer, it was an outstanding work) and let him pick the ball, the yellow one. Then went Domino, who showed her Riolu, Aaron (an homage to the famous sir Aaron: she is from Rota in the old Cameron Kingdom(2), and sometimes he used to pretend to be related to Sir Aaron), her Jigglypuff, Rose (named after Rose: she nicknamed all her Pokemon after people who had them as starters), her Sandshrew, Andreas (yes, she nicknamed him after Andreas), her Sneasel Enrico (named after me), her just evolved Primeape Tulip (sometimes I wonder if she named her after herself...) and her Nidoqueen Giovanna (named after my father(3). I refuse to comment on this). Will commented that her training was more than adequate, and she picked the green ball. Then I showed my Murkrow Aureliano, my Ursaring Eugenio, Federico, who just evolved in Nidoking, my Seadra Ambrosio and Snyer, and Will commented that I was doing a more than adequate work in general and a good work on Federico. I picked the red ball. Rose was the last, with her soon-to-be infamous Ditty, her Clefairy Clefy, her Nidoqueen Nidory (for a long time she was one of two her only fully-evolved Pokemon), her Snubbull Bully and Fairy. She picked up the blue ball, and Will commented that she did a good work.

Then Will asked us: ''Now, tell me the colors of your balls. No, I can't see colors, I'm almost blind, but I can read your superficial thoughts with my psychic powers. Now, Domino, you're the luckiest: the green ball assigned you the mission of capture ten rare Pokemons of different species, in ten days and in the Kanto Safari Zone without being caught by the guardian. Beware, Kaisa has guns and can use them very well(4). You, Andreas James, are less lucky: you will capture a Pokemon belonging to Tyranitar evolutionary line in the Mount Silver Pokemon Preserve without be caught. Your enemies will be the Pokemons of the Preserve, the various Jennies, if I recall right there're two or three, the local Pokemon Ranger and the Pokemon G-Men, if you're unlucky enough. Now, Rose, this is your doom: go to Goldenrod City and took the badge of the Gym Leader. I hope your Pokemons know some Fighting-type move, because Norman(5) Ruby is a Normal-type specialist and very strong, perhaps the strongest of Jotho alongside Pryce. We chose him because Pryce is a bit paranoid and really mercyless, if you're caught by Pryce you're an high-quality crushed ice drink. Now you, Enrico Paolucci, lord of the worst luck of all times, there's your mission: you'll go to the Lake of Rage, pass the Gyaradoses' pack and defeat the leader of the pack. You'll recognize him from his red scales and the scars. If you retire now or during the mission, you'll be a mere B-rank agent but you'll be alive. If you'll die in the battle, you'll be awarded with a postume promotion. But if you have the favor of Arceus, Mew and some other Legendary and somehow manage to beat the leader and return alive, you'll be not only an A-rank, but if you'll manage to capture the Pokemon he'll be your and you will can chose your first partner between the unassigned A-rank agents. So? Are you crazy enough? Well, I advice you, prepare your last will. You have a week to prepare yourself and your party.''

After that Will departed, Rose asked me: ''Do you really want to attack that Gyarados?''

''Why not?'' I replied.

Rose dragged me in the arena and then said: ''Show me what your strongest Pokemon can do.''

I sent out Federico, she sent out Ditty. My plan was waiting for the Transformation and strike with Dynamic Punch during it. But I was forgetting a thing: the foe was Rose, not an ordinary trainer.

''Wrap.'' she ordered.

Ditty attacked Federico exactly with a Wrap. Exactly, Wrap: the amorphous Pokemon assumed a serpentine form and immediatly wrapped himself on Federico and then began to crush my Nidoking. Rose then laughed, saying: ''If you can't deal with this, how can you face a Gyarados in his element? Quit now, at least you'll survive!''

I didn't listened to her, and instead ordered a Thunder. The electric attack forced Ditty to retire, but before Federico and I can pursue it Transformed. And then Rose ordered: ''Let's try with the signature attack of Viridian Gym! Fissure!''

Federico managed to avoid the attack, but Ditty pursued with Surf. Rose was sure to win, but then we surprised her with Rock Climb, launching Ditty in its own Surf. Both Pokemon were caught in the water attack, but Federico somehow managed to not be fainted, and Ditty... Well, Ditty emerged from Federico's left ear in its normal form.

''It's enough.'' Rose said, recalling her Pokemon. ''Your Pokemon are thougher than I thought, I have to admit it, but are they though enough to go toe on toe with an high level Gyarados in his element?''

''We can do it.'' I answered. ''Right, boys?''

Federico confirmed, and Snyer popped out from his Ultraball to say his opinion.

''Er... Can somebody translate?'' Rose asked. ''I can't speak Sneasel's language...''

''Snyer said that a simple Gyarados will be easier to beat than your overaggressive Ditto, Meowth!'' Meowth translated while popping out from nowhere.

''KYAAAAAA!! A TALKING MEOWTH!!'' Rose screamed. For a moment I thought that she was scared. Then she said: ''What incredible money-bringer!! Organizing him a talk show I'll make millions! Wait... I can sell him for billions, on the black market... Or...''

''Hey! Meowth is not a nugget! I'm here as Will's assistent on order of the Boss, Meowth!''

''Damn...''

''By the way, what Gyarados were you talking about?''

Snyer explained him the case, and Meowth exclaimed: ''Don't worry, Meowth has the solution!''

''What solution?'' I asked.

''I'm also a move tutor, Meowth! Let me being with your Dragon for two hours and no Gyarados will be a problem. Obviously, you have to pay: the Boss didn't ordered me to help you, and some cash is always helpful...''
''I have no Dragon Pokemon.''

''For now.'' Rose said. ''If I and your Seadra will be alone for a minute, you'll have a Kingdra. Obviosly, you have to pay. One hundred thousand, in cash, anticipated.''

'Who do you think I am, a millionaire?!''

''No, only the close-fisted son of one of the richest and most prodigal people in the world. Don't try to scam me, I know that you father give you ten thousand dollars weekly and that you never spent it.''

What? Yes, my father gived me so much money, plus extra money on some occasion. And I rarely spend money, while my sister become a real pothole everytime she see new fashioned clothing. At that time, I had accumulated a wealth of three billion dollars, partly thanks to Snyer who invested it in shares with unmatched talent (my father never understood who was the misterious businessman who never failed at the stock exchange). No, I wasn't yet one of the big share holders of Silph Co. Lucky enough, at the time they didn't know about this, so I payed much less than I would if they knew: to quote my sister, ignorance never pay.

After the event I trained for the remaining week, then I went to the Lake, preparing for the attack on the Gyarados. Just before embark on the motorboat (I wanted my Pokemon be fresh for the fight), a nearby girl asked: ''Is it worthy?''

I looked at the girl. While she was training an Eevee and was really cute, she was also immensly cold and scaring. I was about to ask her what she meant, but she said: ''I have psychic power, and I'm much more powerful than that Will. Normally I don't read in the mind of the people without permission, but your Aura(6) is interesting. For the Aura, you can read some book, and for what I meant, you're looking for approvation from your father, not only for having a name for yourself. Yes, you can talk for yourself, I only wanted to speed up our conversation reading in your mind and talking with telepathy.''

Ignoring her manners, I said: ''Even if you're right on my reasons, the answer is yes.''

''If your recurrent nightmare is a memory, you're wrong.'' she replied, this time with her voice and using psycokynesis to prevent me from reply. ''But it's your life the one in danger, not mine. At least try to survive, your death would be an horrible waste. I was forgetting to present me: the name is Sabrina Blaustein(7), and I'm the future gym leader of Saffron City.''

Sabrina recalled her Eevee in the Pokeball and teleported herself away. Then, asking what she meant about my recurrent nightmare

footnotes

(1)A little homage to the character of Xelloss Metallium, from Slayers, and his catchphrase. While their characters are totally different, Xelloss and James have almost identical appearances (Xelloss hair is violet and his feline eyes are of the same color, but for the rest they're identical) and are both villains who sometimes help the good characters for their own sake (while Xelloss is far more successful), and in the Italian dub they share the same voice actor, Simone D'Andrea.

(2)The location of the 8th Pokemon movie, Lucario and the Mistery of Mew. Sir Aaron is a character of the movie who had a Lucario and a Pidgeot, and he's regarded as an hero in Cameron Kingdom.

(3)In Italian Giovanna is the female version of the name Giovanni, like Joanna and John in English.

(4)As seen in Miniryu Densetsu (translation: The Legend of Dratini), banned outside Japan because the guns being a plotpoint. This is also the episode in wich Ash caught his 30 Tauroses, catching the first as entered in the Safari Zone and then catching the other 29 when they ran in front of the Safari Balls throwed to Rhyhorns, Rhydons, Nidorinos, Nidorinas and other Pokemons.

(5)Yes, Norman, the father of May and Max. For now, he's Goldenrod Gym Leader, because in Ruby and Sapphire he's stated to be from Jotho. Whitney for now is a mere Gym trainer.

(6)In the Pokemon franchise Aura is a form of spiritual energy possessed by all living creatures first clearly introduced in the game Pokemon Colusseum. Manipulating someone else's Aura is possible to alter the ability and the mind of the manipulated (as seen in the games Pokemon Colusseum and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness and in the movie Pokemon 4ever), and manipulating its own Aura a Pokemon can use various powerful moves like Aura Sphere, Focus Blast, Dragon Pulse and Dark Pulse, and it's implied (while not explictly stated) that Detect is based on. Amongst the Pokemon, Lucario is THE Aura sensitive, able to learn all Aura-based moves. Using Aura it's also possible to see normally invisible things and seal Pokemon (in the eighth movie a Lucario was sealed in a staff by the Aura Guardian sir Aaron, and in both the games and the anime a Spiritomb was sealed in the Odd Keystone). In the anime, Ash is the only living human known to be sensitive to the Aura (in the past lived various Aura Guardians, but the only two known died centuries before the anime and apparently the Aura Guardians are extinct), and thanks to this he and Lucario were able to save the Tree of Beginning in Lucario and the Mistery of Mew and then Ash was able to reseal a Spiritomb, and this may also be the cause Ash was able to activate the power of the treasure balls in The Power of One.

(7)Yes, the Adam from the first chapter was Sabrina's father, and now his cold daughter appeared. She's not yet split enough to materialize the other self, but the child-like Sabrina will appear in the future.