Chapter 11

Back in Kanto

Lance's voice came through the speaker on the Pokégear, 'Bruno, I have some bad but important news.'

'What is it?' Bruno asked. He had not seen or heard from Lance since he left for Hoenn three weeks ago.

'Team Rocket has returned,' Lance told him. 'They're much worse than they were last time. They surfaced in Hoenn and now they're back in Kanto. I need you to do something for me. Go to Route 7. Giovanni's helicopter will land there.'

'Where are you and how do you know this?'

'I'm in Vermilion City but the engine in Giovanni's helicopter was wrecked. It was sent flying off. Dragonite and I calculated by the wind speed and direction where and when he will crash.'

'When will he crash?'

'In twenty minutes, also go past Viridian City first.' Bruno left Indigo Plateau and after stopping in Viridian City he arrived in Celadon City. After walking out of the city he saw a black object in the sky spinning down towards the ground. It became clearer that this was the helicopter and he saw it smoking and there was evidence of electricity and the propellers were frozen solid. It crashed on its side with a huge sound. He figured that Lance was right when he saw the big red letter "R" painted on the side. The door opened and the stairs pointed in the air not having any use and Giovanni climbed out. Even though the helicopter was a wreck Giovanni himself wasn't hurt too badly.

'Well, well,' Bruno said, 'what have we here?'

'You know perfectly what this is Bruno,' Giovanni replied.

'I got a call from Lance earlier,' Bruno said. 'Am I right in assuming Team Rocket's back and you're still the boss?'

'That's right,' Giovanni said before quickly adding, 'old friend.'

'Giovanni you should get this straight,' Bruno said, 'we were never, and never will be, friends. You disgust me.'

'I disgust you?' Giovanni said. 'That's a little bit harsh.'

'Maybe not you personally,' Bruno said, 'but what you do makes me sick.' Giovanni's Persian jumped out and ran close to Giovanni. It wasn't hurt too badly itself.

'How did you know where I would crash?' Giovanni asked.

'Lance told me he calculated it. He told me to come right here but first stopping in Viridian City,' Bruno replied. 'What happened to your helicopter?'

'That kid, Red, had his Pikachu electrify it,' Giovanni replied, 'and his girlfriend, the Cerulean City gym leader, Misty, had her Cloyster freeze the propeller.' There was some rustling in the trees and a boy not much younger that Red with blood-red hair came out.

'Silver?' Giovanni said with disbelief.

'That's right dad,' Silver said.

'I had to go to Viridian City to collect Silver,' Bruno explained. 'He is the temporary gym leader while Blue is away.'

'Your time is up Silver, because Blue's back,' Giovanni said cruelly. 'Are you ready to join Team Rocket now?'

'I will never join Team Rocket,' Silver said, 'I hate them.'

'You're just like us,' Giovanni said. 'You stole a Pokémon from Professor Elm and another one from a Pokémaniac in Cianwood City.'

'That's all he's known with you as a father,' Bruno said. 'But he's changed. He's friends with them now, knowing Gold helped him with that.'

'Gold's so perfect,' Giovanni said sarcastically. 'Just like Red.'

'I have met and battled them both,' Bruno replied, 'they are fantastic trainers.'

'I've met them both as well,' Giovanni said, 'when I battled Red in Lilycove City the other day, he lost terribly. Also there is no way Silver could be friends with anyone.'

'That's not true dad,' Silver said, 'I asked Professor Elm if he wanted my Typhlosion back. He said it seemed so happy with me. Kirk in Cianwood City said the same when I tried giving him back Sneasel.'

'Pokémon are not meant to be friends,' Giovanni said, 'they are our profits.'

'That's what sickens me the most,' Lance's voice said, as his Dragonite appeared, the rest of the group's flying Pokémon landed as they dismounted and surrounded Giovanni.

'Bruno!' Brawly called out.

'Brawly!' Bruno called back. 'How are you old pal?' They ran up to each other and shook hands but Giovanni said to them, 'People shouldn't have friends. Only acquaintances and underlings.'

'When will you understand the meaning of friendship?' Red said, 'What about all that talk of bettering yourself and dedicating your life to training?'

'I had every intention of bettering myself. I meant being better and more powerful,' Giovanni said, 'I did dedicate my life to training. How else would I be more powerful?'

'But you lied,' Red said.

'I did not lie once,' Giovanni replied, 'I just simply kept the details. Now don't open your filthy mouth again.'

'Don't talk to my boyfriend like that!' Misty said offended. They were all surrounding Giovanni when the ladder from a helicopter fell down and Giovanni used it to escape.

'Where are you going?' Leaf asked.

'Get back here!' Blue said, 'Go Pidgeot!'

'Don't do that,' Clair said, 'Go Charizard. Put this on the helicopter. It's magnetic so it will be attracted to the helicopter from ten feet away. That way you can keep your distance.'

'Good idea Clair,' Roxanne said.

'How did they know he was here?' Brock asked.

'Someone must have overheard me talking to Bruno,' Lance said.

'I can't believe he got away!' Bruno said angrily.

'I hope you find him and put him in prison!' Silver said.

'Careful Silver,' Roxanne said, 'He is your father.'

'As far as I'm concerned,' Silver replied, 'I have no father.' Everyone was shocked by what Silver had just said.

'That is a very serious thing to say,' Flannery said, 'I'm sure he loves you deep down.'

'You're wrong,' replied Silver, 'He doesn't love anybody but himself and his power. He left my mother when I was born and then came back when I was old enough to become a trainer.'

'I'm sorry,' said Misty with tears in her eyes. Red pulled her into his arms as she wept on his shoulder.

'Don't be,' Silver told her. 'I'm better than him. I started just like him but Lance and Gold helped me realise that being like that was wrong.'

The group all went to the Celadon Police Station to inform the police about Team Rocket's return.

'Officer Jenny!' Brock announced. 'Will you marry me? We can live on the coast in a castle where you can be queen and I can be king and we will live happily ever after!'

'You're hopeless,' said Misty as she grabbed Brock's ear very tightly and dragged him away.

'Sorry about that Jenny,' Lance started, 'he's too young for you. I, on the other hand–' Clair slapped him and he quickly changed to saying, 'I mean Team Rocket's back and they may try to take back the Game Corner.'

'We'll do what we can,' Officer Jenny said. 'We'll start by closing the Game Corner temporarily.'

'Not good enough,' Steven said. 'You need constant security at the entrance.'

'Not just the entrance,' Bruno added. 'Protect all the staff as well.'

'We'll do that then,' Jenny said.

'Now that's sorted,' Lance said, 'I still have a dinner reservation for two at–' Clair slapped him again and at the same time Brock tried running back to Officer Jenny but Misty was still holding his ear tightly.

'We'll check Viridian City now,' Bruno said, 'That could be where Giovanni's landed.'

'Why Viridian City?' Roxanne asked.

'That is Giovanni's hometown,' Blue said. 'He used to be he gym leader there.'

'We should go to Pallet Town as well,' Archie said. 'If they broke into Professor Birch's lab to steal the Hoenn starters then they might break into Professor Oak's lab to steal the Kanto starters.'

'I'm going back to Johto now,' Silver announced. 'I'll gather help there before Team Rocket starts to get more powerful. I'll go to New Bark Town and see that Professor Elm's lab is protected as well.'

'That's what the Game Corner prizes will be,' Maxie said. 'Starters from other regions, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle in Johto and Hoenn, Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile in Kanto and Hoenn and Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip in Kanto and Johto.'

'We'll do what ever we can to stop them,' Silver said as he sat on his Crobat. 'Crobat, take me to New Bark Town.' Silver's Crobat flew away and the rest of them decided to split up.

'Roxanne, Brawly, Lance, Archie, Maxie, Steven, Clair, Lance and myself will go to Viridian City,' Bruno told them. 'Red, Blue, Leaf, May, Brendan, Wally, Marcus, Flannery, Brock and Misty, you all go to Pallet Town to protect Professor Oak's lab.'

'He doesn't just have the secret garden where he catches the starter Pokémon,' Clair started, 'remember he also has a massive ranch with nearly all the Kanto trainers' Pokémon. He might try and steal some of your own Pokémon.'

'Charizard we're going home,' Red said. Misty walked over to him and he said to her, 'We're in this together.' He kissed her forehead and they both jumped on Charizard and flew away.

'Pidgeot, to gramps's lab!' Blue said. 'Brock, Get on!'

'Fearow!' Leaf said.

'Swellow,' said May.

'Come on Flannery,' Brendan said, 'we can take our time.'

'Get Salamence,' she said. Salamence was taking off as Wally called from his Altaria, 'No you can't take your time!'

'Follow them Tropius,' Marcus said. The rest of the group watched them go before leaving for Viridian City themselves.