This is either going to be really easy or really hard, depending on how much I can milk this battle with Geovanni. Yeah, it's another last minute update, but at least this time I have an excuse. (That excuse being I was working ahead on one of my other stories…) In any event, this should get me moving along at a hopefully quicker pace for a while. Let's get to it.

Ninetales struggled to her feet after getting smashed into the wall by the stone rhino's Horn Attack. Like Red, Green's battles had been getting easier and easier, so the raw power of her newest opponent shocked her.

"Th-this guy's different from the other Rockets," Green said in a worried voice, "He's like a Gym Leader!"

"Of course I'm different from the others you've faced!" the Rocket leader announced from his reclined position on the couch, "I am Geovanni! The strongest Trainer in the world!"

"Something tells me he isn't as good as he thinks he is," Red mumbled to Green, "But you'd better be careful anyway. The Pokédex sais this Rhyhorn thing is pretty powerful."

"How powerful."

"It knocks down buildings."

"Oh, great."

"Don't think you're getting out of this for free, boy," Geovanni warned. With another casual toss of a Pokéball, a massive Pokémon filled the room. Geovanni's Onix attacked just as readily as his Rhyhorn, forcing Red to choose his Pokémon quickly.

"Dugtrio!" Red's triplet mole Pokémon appeared and somehow stopped the giant rock snake's charge by ramming it with its head(s). The impact shoved Dugtrio back, while the Onix only stopped where it was. It was clear that this Onix was even stronger than Brock's. This wasn't going to be an easy fight. "Dugtrio! Dig!"

"Ninetales, use Confuse Ray!"

Geovanni didn't even bother ordering his Pokémon. Both just blindly charged at their opposites. Still, for living rocks, they were fast. Dugtrio barely ducked her way underground when the foe Onix smashed the hole where she just was with its tail. Ninetales also had problems getting out of the way of the charging Rhyhorn. She barely leapt away as Rhyhorn nearly smashed its way clean through a nearby wall. The Rhyhorn turned around and was instantly mesmerized by Ninetales's suddenly glowing eyes. Rhyhorn started stumbling and flailing around.

Dugtrio, meanwhile, popped back up underneath Geovanni's Onix. The attack should have thrown it into the far wall, but Dugtrio could barely move it at all. Onix picked up a piece of the rubble from Dugtrio's Dig attack in its coils and tossed it at Red's mole Pokémon. Dugtrio made it back underground in time to avoid the attack, but Onix kept it stuck down there, unable to pop back up and get new orders from Red.

Ninetales was finally having a better time with Rhyhorn. With the Confuse Ray successful, Rhyhorn seemed to do little more than stumble into the walls of the room and hurt itself in the process. That breather was just what Ninetales needed as she got back in to her more dignified stance and awaited Green's next order.

"Nice comeback, Ninetales!" Green complimented her fire fox, "Now give it your Fire Spin!" Ninetales gave the fluffy tuft of hair on her head a nonchalant flick and breathed fire at the stumbling Rhyhorn. This attack was different from the Flamethrower attack from before, however. The blaze seemed to spin as it rushed toward the stumbling Rhyhorn. Just before it would have impacted, it reeled away and curled around the target, creating a massive vortex of fire. Normally a Pokémon like Rhyhorn would have been resistant to a fire attack, but with it trapped in a tornado of fire, even it seemed helpless. "You did it!"

"Are you so sure, child?" Geovanni asked from his relaxed position on his couch. "Rhyhorn, stop playing around and get rid of those kids.

With a snap of its strong head, Rhyhorn seemed to slay the fire tornado with its horn. The dizzy look had also gone from its eyes. It cast an angry glare at Ninetales and charged again. This time, Ninetales saw it coming.

"It's got to be almost down," Green more hoped than stated, "Ninetales, use Quick Attack."

Ninetales carefully sidestepped the Rhyhorn's charge, its horn coming dangerously close to the elegant fox. With the imminent threat out of the way, Ninetales pushed herself into a lightning quick charge. She wacked into the side of the passing Rhyhorn with everything she had. At first, with both parties stopped in their tracks, it looked like Ninetales's attack had done nothing. After all, how could that little fox hurt a giant stone rhino with a body blow like that. But one should never judge a Pokémon on appearance as Ninetales proved as she toppled Rhyhorn. Still, it was clear that she had been pushed to her limit. As soon as the victory was earned, the exhausted Ninetales had to lay herself down. Green was quick to run over to her to congratulate her and see that she was alright.

"This can't be!" Geovanni roared, standing up for the first time. He took a second to regain his composure, "No matter! Onix, attack with Rock Slide! Crush all of them!"

"You can't take both of us on at once like that," Green said, rooting around in her bag for the healing items her Ninetales needed. "Two on one wouldn't be fair for you."

Geovanni chuckled darkly, "You don't get it. I'm not playing in one of your little 'Pokémon Battles'."

Geovanni's Onix batted a flurry of stones at Green and her Ninetales. The rocks were enough to crush both of them. Red started to call out to her, but before the rocks got close enough to be a danger, they were blasted away by a beam of otherworldly blue fire. The rocks were blasted away by the mere shockwave of the approaching attack. Everyone looked to the snake-like dragon Pokémon that had been hiding behind Red.

With a determined cry, Dratini shot forward toward Geovanni's Onix and Slammed into it. It should have been able to brush off such an attack, but Onix was knocked cleanly away. Everyone looked at the previously timid creature in shock. Red was the first one to react, smiling at Dratini. "I guess I shouldn't have underestimated you… Why don't we teach this 'Best Trainer in the World' a lesson on mistreating Pokémon!" Dratini gave another cry as Onix got up for another round. "Dratini, Dragon Rage!" Dratini launched another blast of blue flames, this time smacking Onix. It swayed for a second before meeting the ground with a huge thud.

Geovanni looked too stunned to say anything at first, but he cleared his throat and recalled his Pokémon. "I shouldn't have held back against you kids, I see. You've raised your Pokémon with the utmost care. Children like you could never understand what I hope to achieve. I'll step aside this time. But rest assured; we will meet again!"

The light in the room suddenly faded and there was the sound of a trapdoor opening and shutting. When the light was restored, Geovanni was gone. Green scoffed at his parting words. "'What he hopes to achieve'? 'Rest assured, we'll meet again'? What a typical villain speech! I hope I see him again so I can put him in his place!"

Red wasn't as enthusiastic. It wasn't boasting when Geovanni said he was holding back. He was just letting his Pokémon do what they wanted for most of that battle. Still, they would meet again. And Red would have to be ready.

That was a battle for another time, though. For now, there was only one thing Red had on his mind; the Caledon Gym.

Structured a little differently than I had planned, but it works. Now to post this before I miss my deadline!