Chapter 15: Critical Hit

Inside of the Wyndon Stadium, the cheers and support of the two recent trainers who gave the performance of their lives would continue to echo throughout the dome. On both sides of the stands, be they standing in applause, or in their ticketed seats, fans united in showing their appreciation and love for both Haru, the Champion of Galar who defended his title, and Syra, the Gym Challenger who tried to take the title of Champion from him only to fail in the final act. Internally, it was a mockery that she not only failed at the last moment, but that she ended up breaking down in front of untold numbers of fans. It was unbecoming of her image, and she felt awful.

The Champion's time may have ran out by the end of the whole event, but Haru asked staff behind closed doors to give him some time before he would come out with the Gym Leaders and Oleana for the closing ceremony.

Leaning against a wall, Haru spoke on his cell phone to the head of logistics and Oleana viva la conference call. "Syra should be there with us regardless of what went down, and to know that despite what occurred, the people aren't going to turn their backs on her. I don't think I know the whole of her story despite what she told me...I think she just needs a moment okay? Give me a moment to have her regain herself. Is that fine?"

"It's fine, Haru. I think a lot was said between you two and more than just words will be remembered after today. Do what you need to do." Oleana was heard speaking on the receiver.

"Sure thing, sir. But do know that we have a timetable to keep, not counting any post-tournament party you may be holding within the company." replied the logistics head.

Haru looks over to Syra, who was slumped in a chair. The two of them had secluded in an office where League Tournament Staff or competitors would be held up in, and Haru had made sure they wouldn't be disturbed. "Thank you, two. I'll phone again when we're good for the closing ceremony."

His thumb tapped the screen to end the call and sat opposite of Syra with another chair pulled up. Both of his hands folded together after he took off his cap that he wore to the battle. It was a little awkward being there alone with her after everything that had transpired between the two. She had been intensely aggressive, violent, and hateful towards him almost every step of the way. He recalled moments where even at her worst, he caught glimpses of what her true personality would be if she lowered her guard. At some part within Syra sat the true girl that bore the blue vest, 'Champion' cap, and short shorts that she often did when not adorned with the required League uniform.

Syra sniffs and rubs her nose while looking to the side. "I couldn't tell everyone out there more of the truth...but what you heard was most of it. What happened to my friend, my little brother, and my family." Her eyes look up, lifting her head slowly.

She sees Haru raise an eyebrow and lifting his head up to meet hers only to be met with sunken eyes that showed fatigue. Her hair looked somehow flat. Her intense aura and strong persona had faded to reveal a girl that was putting on a mask; one that helped her perform at her best at all times. "Is that so? So what aren't you telling me then? What's going on with the real Syra within you?" he asked. She took a moment to inhale deeply and started to comb her own hair slowly. Her own hand stops to grip onto the tip of her scalp in frustration. "Syra. It's okay. I won't tell anyone if it's that big of a problem."

"When I said that I needed to win that match in order to escape...? I wasn't just talking about making things right with my friend. I wasn't just referring to maybe helping her get out of her situation. It was for me. Outside of Holly, my little brother is my only friend I have ever made. From what I gathered about you when I was..." she sighed and rolled her eyes at Haru before admitting it outright. "...spying on you, and if we're comparing here for a moment, then I know that you had a good upbringing. You have a single mother, sure, but you ended up becoming what you are today through hard work, the friend you had within Hop, and someone whom I found a blip about named 'Hiro'."

Haru smiled a little weakly and nodded. "Hiro was someone I considered to be a big brother. He passed away suddenly, alone, in his home one night. I spent my Gym Challenge career doing my best to honor him."

"That's really nice." Syra smiled sweetly for the first time without any hint of venom at Haru. The expression didn't last long as her head sank a little again. "My own wasn't so nice. At a young age when my brother was just a baby...my father was divorced from my mother. There was an issue at the time with the court that when it came to money, or some other bullshit, that they saw that he was a better provider so he got the custody between the two. I think. It's fucking stupid: maybe he paid off the judge, but that's...all I was really told about it. I haven't seen Mom in such a long time but I do keep in contact with her via mail. I miss her a lot, and she always reminds me she loves me. But the whole event knocked a chain reaction where my Dad gained violent tendencies. He would take me aside and start to train me to learn self defense. Said one day I would 'need them'."

The velvet hair on Syra was flipped as she attempted to give herself a self esteem boost, looking at Haru. "You know from personal experience that I excel when it comes to the physical side of self defense. Martial arts is what I know aside from my own expertise in Pokemon. I'm physically the image of my mom but throughout all this, I gained the toughness from my Dad. Every single day we would spar for a few hours, and Gabe would see me show up with a few bruises. Dad called it 'tough love'. Well...one day that went too far. Too far that...well, I'm still healing from it."

Haru said nothing but only let the slight increase of his attention show with his eyes widening in silent horror. /Is...is she inferring what I think she is..?/ he began to think, before Syra continued. Sighing and waiting with baited breath, she would explain to the most detail she was willing to part with him. "Dad...did things to me. For years. Eventually my little brother found out. I..it's cuz of all this that I...have problems trying to open up to others and making connections. You'll have to forgive me for stumbling over myself on this. All the times we've had any sort of interaction with exception to this one, my behavior is commonplace for me and anyone else at all."

The gravity of hearing such detail broke Haru's heart. Knowing his mom was a key factor in her family being split apart made him sad. He knew she was not to blame, but was now analyzing for any one thing that he could say or do to make up to her. Maybe not now, but at some time in the future. Syra would lift her head up gritting her teeth and now making eye contact with Haru, not tearing away from him this time. "That doesn't make it right, though, so I also understand that it warped me. Do you understand me now? With everything that's gone on I've tried so hard to get away from him to write my own fate. I know that I fucked up but maybe I just told myself that doing what I was doing was going to somehow make it okay if I went out and..." she sighed, looking away and feeling ashamed of herself. "...destroyed your legacy."

Haru blinked in disbelief and physically reeled a little in his chair when she mentioned that, as Syra rolled up her right sleeve to show some swollen skin on her arm from the fight earlier. "Before the tournament today, that bastard showed up and was going to have his way with me and probably do something worse. It goes to reason that he would shame me so badly that I would just walk away from this whole thing and come back to him. When you beat me in the stadium and said all those things...I hated you in the moment because you were absolutely within your right to say all those things. You weren't wrong at all. I am absolutely guilty of throwing a tantrum and wanted to look for someone to blame for my own misdeeds and shit I have gone through." She would ball up both of her hands into fists as they rested on her knees and her nose flared in frustration.

Tears filled the corners of her eyes again as her eyes shut to try and make them not fall from her cheeks, only to fail while she hung her head again. "You walked away from all of this without so much as a fucking scratch, and I've had to live with an abuser who screwed me both physically and metaphorically that I don't know how to act! He took away my innocence! Fuck, I don't even know why I'm even telling you all this: why do I care, and why should you, huh..?"

"Hey, Syra...look.." Haru began to say, being so close to pain she felt was putting a heavy toll on him. But she kept going to get to her points, and shook her head.

"I fucked up badly, Haru. I...I hate it. In the entirety of this Pokemon Gym Challenge not only was I going to take you down, but attempt to make some friends. I figured by the time I reached the tournament itself I would have a new social circle to call my own, but I only secluded myself further than when I was home. I got so wrapped up in the idea of revenge against you that I just completely lost sight of trying to fix myself, even if it would have been a little. It sucks trying to 'fix' yourself when you deal with...someone who has no clue of the meaning of the word 'No'. This is the most I've spoken with anyone that wasn't Gabriel. I don't even know why I'm fucking telling you all of this when you made me so angry. But what's worse than all of this, is knowing that others actually liked me for being a Gym Challenger. Maybe the world was cursing me. I don't want anyone to like me, because they'll see what I really am like, and nobody wants this type of woman with them as a friend or...more. Or do they? I don't even know!"

She slammed her fists on her legs and continued. "Shit, I don't even know if it's correct for me to feel this way because I've never really spoken about these problems...but I know that I have to succeed or it doesn't matter. It's what I was raised on."

Her mind flashes back to training with her Dad.

/She's not here to defend you anymore, so either you fight this off, or you're taking the full force of my moves!/

/You're practically a woman by now. Shocks me how much you've grown up.../

Syra took another deep breath before continuing. "When I failed in front of thousands of fans, to me that says I can't best my own fate as damaged goods. That my body, my image is only to be shown in limelight, to be adored, lusted after but then tossed away once it's messed up or my time is simply 'up'. Maybe I fucked up by saying as much as I did to you on the field. Maybe my fans hate me. Maybe I betrayed so many of my fans' trust saying what I did and then losing to you...and now I'll have to go back. "

"Syra..." Haru began to speak, as Syra held her own with tears still flowing.

"I don't wanna go back...I can't." her magenta eyes were now reddened with frustration, and ended up glazed from the sorrow that cut through her ethereal core. Haru did his best to open back up to her on his side and turn the tide by placing one hand over one of hers. For the first time since knowing him, she did not reel back.

The man before her did his best to speak as calmly and with understanding in his voice. "Syra, you didn't betray anyone. The fans out there aren't going to turn their back; they've dealt with worse heels in the Pokemon League than someone who simply stole Pokemon or did whatever you did. At the end of the day, I'm honestly not even going to judge you for it. If anything,you have proven that despite your background and what you've been through that you can spit in fate's eye and do what you've managed to do. Lesser people have crumbled before completing Kabu's Gym. You're an amazing Pokemon trainer, and I can sense that you'll possibly succeed the next time you compete in the tournament. Sure, that's coming from ME of all people, but I'm being serious. I know that I have absolutely no way of understanding the pain you feel. There's no way I can relate, but I can't simply walk away here today knowing you'll just deal with more of it. I can't promise a solution, but I can promise you I'll listen. I'll take all of what you have in you if you need me to be that 'punching bag'. It's the least I can do since our families crossed pathways before I was even aware of it. Allow me at least this much as the Galar Champion."

Syra managed to catch her breath from sobbing and ended up having her voice uninterrupted. "Fuck, how are you so good at saying stuff?" she'd weakly say before giving a weak, defeated laugh. Haru hung his head a bit and smiled halfly. "I don't make an effort to say shit that stands out like that; it just comes to mind."

The two shared a bit of a laugh together with Syra using her sleeve to wipe her face again. She took a few deep breaths and turned her head briefly to some chanting that was heard on her name, then looked back to Haru. "I'm sorry for everything I said to you. I'll return the Pokemon I took from the trainers I did, and Hop: as promised. When I can, I'm going to train and then compete again in the Pokemon League Tournament...and I'll beat you."

Haru nodded, looking satisfied in her response in comparison to when they first came to the room together. /If only she knew what kind of announcement I was about to make in front of everyone at the ceremony. Oh well, everyone in the region will find out soon enough./ He'd clasp both of her hands together with both of his and shook them once. "Now THAT is the way an actual legend in the Pokemon League speaks; exactly the kind of person I said you were just now. But let me know if you need some more time to collect yourself before we head out for the closing ceremony."

The girl nodded. "Thank you, Haru. Uh...I also apologize for the comments I made about you and Nessa. Those were very crass, irresponsible, and it was wrong of me to make a jab at your sex life. That's petty shit that only kids do when they have nothing else to say. I'll have to properly apologize to her in person when I see her again and have a moment." Haru's eyebrow raised in surprise. "You two are perfect for each other, and I guess I'm a little jealous of the unity you two share. You've definitely become a strong guy with her by your side."

"Heh...thank you, Syra: you're forgiven. I'm very fortunate to have her in my life. But I'm also thankful to have met you, Syra. I don't know how, but I'm going to help you with this situation okay?" the redhead would say, as Syra turned her face to the side with an apprehensive look.

There was insistence in her tone, but an underlying sensation she wanted his help. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather just...let me deal with it and figure it out? I always have in the past."

"You dealt with all this by yourself all these years, right? I don't even know what I can do, but we'll figure something out together." He flashed a thumbs up with a smile. Syra blinks when he did that and looks away. "S-sure."

"Awesome!" he let go of her hands and then stood up. "I'm going to give you whatever time you need, but I'll be outside the door okay? Just tell me when you're ready to head to the ceremony." waving briefly to Syra and walking out. Before he exited she reached out towards where he walked and almost spoke out his name, only to cut herself off when the door closed. Syra huffed a little at the resolution she found herself in, and recalled what just occurred.

She leaned back in the chair she was sulking in and stared at the ceiling as some pink spread across her cheeks, as her eyes went half lidded. "What the fuck, when did he suddenly look so cool..?"

About a quarter hour goes by and Syra re-joins Haru outside the room where she had held herself up before reconvening with him. The two made haste in their walk towards where the league staff would meet up for the final ceremony. She's holding her head up high, and has calmed down considerably since discussing her backstory with Haru. Knowing that not much time for his 'role' remained, Haru didn't want to let there be any loose ends and was occasionally checking that she was okay during the walk to meet up with Oleana. The Chairman was outside in a connected hallway where the VIP Room was located when the official herself saw the two trainers talking animatedly together.

"Bullshit, that's the shiny you got?" Haru is heard exclaiming in disbelief and annoyance. Syra had her head held high with the widest of prideful smirks encompassing her face and exclaimed aloud "Absolutely. I can show you myself once this ceremony is done. He's a beautiful Machamp, I tell you!"

"I see you two are getting along quite a bit moreso than during the earlier match." Oleana is heard commenting as she looked at the two trainers. As the pair met up with the chairman, Haru looked a little strained from his own annoyance at being shown up by yet another trainer who had at least one Shiny Pokemon compared to his collection of none. "We had a good talk. There's...still a rivalry to be sure, but...I believe we're making good progress on everything else. I wish to help Syra with a few personal beats after the ceremony, so I am hoping to get this done soon. Are the others already on their way downstairs?" he inquired, briefly scanning his own outfit to make sure it can still be prepped for a dramatic reveal.

Syra would have a confused look at Haru's sudden interest in his cosmetics but paid it no mind when Oleana replied. "Yes, and I would like for us to make our way there. However I must get at least one thing out before I forget. Syra..." she began, making the velvet haired trainer look up. "You were such a fantastic challenger that I have to give you credit for doing something that only a few Champion battles in the past were able to do: give me chills."

Syra bowed a bit in respect with some blush on her face spreading. "Th-thank you! I know I told Haru that I said a lot of mean things, but I am hoping to keep up my image and improve myself in a lot of ways: both as a Pokemon trainer and as someone people can look up to..!" The Chairman herself gave an honest smile, and extended a hand. "If you need somewhere to train so that you can compete properly in the next annual Gym Challenge, I know of a place-"

The sound of a phone ringing echoed amongst the 3 of them, with Haru and Oleana looking at Syra. "a...ah. Excuse me...it seems that someone is calling me." /It can't be dad, he's in a holding cell. Is it Gabe? He may have seen the match and is trying to console me since I'm not on the telly yet.../

Haru thought nothing of it but took notice when Syra stopped walking with him and Oleana, to which Oleana also looked at Syra. The girl was holding up the phone and looking at the screen with a pale face. Her complexion, he swore, had turned paper white in fear. /N...no...please...it can't be. Not now!/

'[CALL BY: G]' showed up on the screen and Syra was shaking.

"Hey Syra, you okay? We should go, the ceremony is starting soon, you know. We have to make our way there now-" Haru would begin to say but Syra shook her head violently. A gut feeling hits Oleana. "Pardon me if I'm a little forward Syra, but why haven't you answered?"

Syra jumped a little, looking at the two of them as she started to sweat nervously. "Oh! Uh..." Oleana tries her best to calm her down with a suggestion rather quickly. "If they understand that you're a Gym Challenger, they won't have an issue on calling you later."

Syra visibly gulps a little. She taps the 'decline' option on the screen and puts the phone back in her pocket. "You're right ma'am...they can wait." /Deep breath. It's not the first time that he called, and I can tell him what happened in a bit. He doesn't have to know I failed, yet.../ she would rejoin the others taking a few steps forward with Haru and Oleana. The woman with them raised an eyebrow inquisitively; the nagging feeling that something wasn't sitting right was keeping her attention. The girl does her best to distract from hanging up on someone in front of them by changing the subject. "So what exactly happens during a closing ceremo-" her phone starts ringing again and Syra freezes. This time both Haru and Oleana stop with her and turn completely to face her due to the fact Syra shrieks in what sounded like retaliation of the phone going off again.

There is a hint of frustration and worry in Syra's face as she hastily takes the phone out, but is stopped by Oleana who holds up a finger. "Sorry, Syra but perhaps it's best you just answer them right here." her eyes narrow after saying this as Syra's face expression had faltered. "Syra...is there a reason you don't want to answer that you're not telling us?"

/Fuck...she's onto me!/ Syra was internally panicking. Half of her mind was ready to give up, while the other wanted to see where it would go. Either way, she was put in a tight spot: unable to escape. The phone is still ringing, and Haru has no clue why Syra is refusing to answer the phone either. "Syra..? What's up with you suddenly?" he asked, taking note of her shaking.

Oleana asked again, annoyed. "Syra. Why have you clammed up?"

*click*

Syra takes a deep breath and puts it on speaker. "h...hello?" her voice is shaky, and the one that responds catches Oleana by surprise.

"Syra? Why the hell did you take so long to answer the phone and why did you hang up on me?! You've been nothing but a thorn in my side for a little bit and you dare try to act up with so much as trying to 'ghost' me?! Do you still not know your place?" said the man on the other line. Haru looks to Oleana's face which turned to surprise and shock; like mentally all the pieces had suddenly lined up. In that single moment alone, Oleana knew who she was speaking to, and within her mind felt an incredible level of disappointment that had yet to be matched. Syra just continued the conversation, her face looking defeated once again and holding the phone out speaking back to him.

"S-...sorry. My thumb slipped." she lies, and her face winces when he yells at her again aggressively.

"Your THUMB slipped?! What?! Ugh...anyways, I wanted to call because as my memory serves me right, you were going to be facing the Champion Haru at this time of day, yes? I recall that was your goal all along after coming to me for help." he is heard, now talking in a calmer tone. Oleana clicks her tongue hearing those words and has to hold back from interrupting the call herself. Syra's eyes meet with Oleana's and fall to a point where she appeared dead inside. Whatever ambition and positive spirit that was whirling within her core had started to wane due to having the feeling Oleana had figured out who she really was all along.

Syra bites her lip and nods. "Yes...that is true."

Giovanni is heard readjusting himself in his office chair. "Ah well, I'm sorry to inform you that I'll no longer be needing your services, so what you do after that is of no concern for me at this point."

The waning spirit that Syra was feeling suddenly reverted on itself as the announcement shocked her senses. "Wait WHAT?! What the hell do you mean 'no longer needed?!" the hand that wasn't holding the phone immediately balls up into a fist.

"I'll be blunt with you. Do you honestly think you were the only playing piece we used just because of the Pokemon you gave us? The truth is that your placement in the plan was a bit more fortuitous than a necessity. It is a fact that all this time throughout your journey you have been an amazing asset as our one-way-ticket to getting DNA from Galarian exclusive Pokemon. Being here in Kanto has proven to be a little difficult to break those shores without causing eyebrows to raise. I told you, and I was honest, in saying that we would be able to make new strides in science with Pokemon the way that my team does thanks to your efforts. Without you, we would never have been able to utilize the intellect of your friend Holly. It is because of her breakthroughs that we were able to repay that in kind. You know this due to all those supplies sent back to you. However..."

"However WHAT?! Not only is your timing impeccably awful, but there's a 'however' to this, too?" Syra's voice is cracking a little under the pressure, and her grip on the phone is tightening. Oleana's mind is racing fast on the realizations being met there in front of her, and is quietly notifying security.

"...however at some point I grew tired of how you were belaying the plans. It is true that due to some..unfortunate events that your goal was delayed. But let's say that thanks to some other influences I no longer require you to be my way in to the shores of Galar for trade. There is someone else on the inside; someone that I was able to get a hold of to do what your role was used for. You know Syra, connections are an important thing, don't you agree? But...I am a generous man: you did not necessarily fail me, so I'll allow you to keep the Pokemon we sent over."

"What about Holly?!" Syra yells back.

"What about her?" he sneered from the phone.

Syra blinks at her phone. "Well for one thing...I thought you were going to use the Pokemon sent to you and her brains as a means to help broaden the understanding of them to others across the globe. You know firsthand how smart she is thanks to me. I figured from what you told me that my findings would end up...I don't know...being auctioned for science? Sent to research centers after they went through your teams first? Is she doing fine? Now that...you know, this is all over or whatever can I at least talk-"

Giovanni replied plainly. "That is absolutely true, but we are using them for my vision."

The girl came back with only more questions swirling her own mind as the resolution that she felt was in front of her was now fading away. "Wait, your vision? That's not what you told me you needed them for, and answer my question about Holl-"

Giovanni's tone was no longer someone who was on her side, much less wanting to entertain any request or conversing with such a person at all. "There is no reason I should tell you. I believe you have completely misunderstood where you stand now Syra. What you are right now is simply just a random civilian to me, as I have plans that don't involve you and your piddling attempts to persuade me any further. You don't get to ask anything more of me right now, as I have given you a parting gift. You know that I'm a gentle man who is reasonable...or have you forgotten what could happen to your mother and brother?"

Syra froze. Her nose flared up in fear again, with Oleana and Haru looking at her back. Haru so badly wanted to say something audibly on the phone for him to hear...even though the conversation was all but confirming the worst fears and worst possible scenario. He didn't want to believe that she was behind this, but this was outright telling him Syra was the one behind the acts he was investigating.

"Team Rocket will proceed as we always have been, and I shall not let even a professional relationship such as the one we had stand in the way of it. I have things to do. If you've a Pokemon Battle to attend to, then it doesn't concern me. Thank you for giving us your friend: she will continue to serve Team Rocket well.." the venom in Giovanni's voice was easily picked up by all the listening parties as he was heard chuckling. Oleana had alerted the security of what was just discovered in their presence, and down the hallway were a few groups of policemen and security staff-men.

"If that is all, Syra, then I bid you adieu. In the future, make sure you do not step out of line like you're attempting to do now and I'll keep my promise to your family. It will be my final gift to you. Are we understood?" Giovanni's voice rang out amongst the group. Syra looked defeated as she was caught redhanded in front of the Galar League Chairman, Oleana herself. Her involvement with what Giovanni of Team Rocket had been planning was completely laid bare, and Syra saw the encoming future would involve jail bars. Twice that day she had tried to avoid such a bad future that she would do what she had to do in order to get away from her abusive father, and now that she has now lost the match in the grand finals of the tournament against Haru and is now caught to be involved with Team Rocket, her spirit was broken. The cost of her actions came back finally.

Yet in one fraction of a moment, Syra was filled with determination.

She inhaled deeply and shouted at the top of her lungs. "TEAM ROCKET IS THE ONE BEHIND THE WYNDON STADIUM ATTACK! IT WAS ALL THEM! I ONLY SENT THEM POKEMON ON ORDERS BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WOULD HELP ME DEFEAT HARU, SAID IF I STOPPED IT WOULD MEAN TROUBLE FOR MY BROTHER, MOTHER AND I!"

The staffers and policemen that were in earshot, alongside Oleana and Haru froze in their spot. Haru's eyes widened as his frame had physically reeled back as if struck by a blunt object. The girl before him had suddenly changed in a split second in what felt like was the beginning of a big retaliation. /What. Is. Happening?/

"Syra...!? What the hell..?!" Giovanni is heard saying on the phone.

The velvet haired challenger was filled with determination to save whatever ounce of humanity she could within herself that remained and looked at her phone angrily. "FUCK YOU Giovanni! You want to fuck me over? Well guess what?" Her eyes flared up as she looked at everyone for a second but then eyed Haru as if to tell him specifically everything that was left of her story. "I went to Team Rocket because my friend was having issues getting a job and I went to THEM to give her an employment opportunity. I only went to them because I felt I had no other choice: many businesses here in Galar blacklisted her for her involvement with Sordward and Shielbert. I know now that it was a bad decision on my end to go to such a chaotic organization but all I knew was that my Dad knew of them, and I had to do something to save her! I felt that I had no other choice, and after the events that led me to have a plot of revenge aimed at Haru occurred, I felt the only course of action was to storm the headquarters of my father's employer and demand help in person. It is because nobody would hire my friend...and...I wasn't thinking clearly! I fucked up! Giovanni agreed to everything, but he said in order for it to be equal I had to give something back for this favor. I was promptly told 'Get us Galarian Pokemon'."

The boss of Team Rocket sounded irritated. "What exactly are you doing, you stupid-"

She aimed her look back at the phone as if it was Giovanni physically in front of her and just shut her eyes in a gesture of shame for her actions. "Shut up! You'll let me finish! I see now in my final moments that not only was I stupid for doing this and that nothing would come back to bite me in the ass, but even worse is that you...you swindled me! You wanted to use me for other means and even threatened to take away everything from me like this? FUCK YOU!"

Standing there in front of everyone was putting Syra on an adrenaline high that her legs where shaking but her resolved helped her to keep a tight fisted cling to her phone as she continued confessing her sins. "Galarian authorities just heard the entire thing, and since I am going in for what I did, I've got nothing else to lose...especially because I know where your headquarters is located, and I plan on telling them everything!"

Her phone made a 'click' noise, indicating that Giovanni hung up on her. The assumption was that when he heard that she confessed everything he would simply now have to move onto his plans much quicker than previously designed. The girl looks at a nearby police officer and then the others. Oleana steps forward with her arms folding over each other as Syra was cornered by the authorities at this point. "Syra, I am incredibly disappointed. For now, I will withold your arrest until the ceremony is done. We can decide on what to do about your involvement at a later date...in incarceration. What's important is that the Galarian people see you standing alongside everyone else due to the role you played. We've stood here long enough."

Any more delays would start to upset the audience. Knowing this much and having expended whatever adrenaline she could in exposing herself, Syra silently walked with Haru, Oleana, and a group of authorities and league security staff. What just occurred in front of him shocked Haru to the core. How could he have let the entirety of the case for what he was assigned to do go on as long as it did only for it to unwravel right in front of him? Furthermore, how could he believe that Syra was the one responsible for so much and deal with a destructive background as she did? Part of him wondered if it was naive to immediately start planning ways to try and fix this, but knew logically that as his heart weighed heavy from this that Syra was a criminal.

/I refuse to believe there's nothing I can do after what I just witnessed.../ He thought to himself. Haru ended up only asking Syra one single question as they were about to head outside to the stadium on the ground floor. "Why, Syra? You could have walked away from all of this..."

Before the two made it outside Syra replied with a voice that was unlike even the one she carried earlier. Lifting her head up and having the face that knew her time was simply 'up', she said "Because I have nothing left to lose. All of it was true, and I have to pay for it Haru. I know this isn't what you wanted at the end of the day, but...I guess I couldn't avoid this any longer. I'm going to be taken away...but I'm okay with this turnout. You said it yourself, right? Things have to be equal. I'll give the stolen Pokemon back as I know which boxes contain them. The second I heard Giovanni say all those things to me I figured 'Fuck it'...y'know?" In that moment she looked completely crestfallen.

She sighs and looks forward,not wanting to make eye contact as a tear goes down her cheeks. "I just wish my friend could see me stand up for myself since I realized I was wrong for what I did. She needed help, and I didn't know where else to run. I hurt a lot of people Haru...and I'm going to go away for awhile. So...there you have it."

The second the group reached the outdoors, they see the Gym Leaders are awaiting for them at a stage that was on the field as the crowd starts cheering loudly. Oleana waves to the crowd with Haru seeing that Syra puts on a facade to wave and blow kisses to her fans. /Is this really how her legend ends...?/

The group reconvenes as Haru goes behind Oleana towards the center as she addresses the audience. It was a pleasure to have Haru back near her side, as Nessa was bubbling with pride seeing him for the first time after his victory. The only one not joining them for this final ceremony would be Sam, as he was from Johto and not of Galar representation. He would be merely waiting on the sidelines outside on the grounds of the battlefield near the stands. Everyone's attention would heighten when Oleana announced to the whole stadium that the Galar Champion himself, Haru, would like to share a few parting words to close out the ceremony. Stepping forward to the microphone stand that was on the stage, he clears his throat, and after taking one final look around at the audience surrounding him, spoke with clarity.

"People of Galar who have come to watch the Pokemon League Tournament matches today: I thank each and every single one of you for taking the time out of your day to watch the performances! Whether you are livestreaming this very broadcast, watching on the telly, listening via radio, or are right here in the stands with me, history was made and you all were active participants. Miss Chairman herself already gave you all her parting words so I must also give my own as well. As your Galar Champion today it was an amazing feat to be challenged by one of the best trainers in the entire League itself: Syra. Please give a big round of applause and support for the larger-than-life performance she gave us!" he smiles, turning around towards her and claps himself. The audience and the Gym Leaders near him all decide to join in on this very moment, causing Syra to bite her own lip hard to hold back the tears.

/Haru, you don't have to do that for me...but thank you../ Syra thought to herself, a budding tear on the edge of both eyes as she looked to everyone and bowed gracefully. The applause slowly edged off as Haru turned back to the crowd with the microphone in front of him. "Be that as it may I hope, nay, request to see even more new blood compete in the tournament next year! Perhaps we shall see greater things not just from Syra but from many others. As the man I am today, I hope to see many of you on the battlefield."

He's heard exhaling into the microphone, closing his eyes. The time had come, and although he was not ready to see it end, he knew it was the required time. Glancing back to Oleana, she nods silently; her knowledge of the oncoming moment helps her signal to Marnie and Raihan to come up to both sides of Haru. The ruby red haired champion continues as the jumbotron and video signal that would be broadcasted to thousands of eyes close up on Haru's face. "However...I will not be here next year as your Champion of Galar, for you see, I'm here to tell you all I'm announcing my retirement."

Surrounding them was a near simultaneous gasp of the whole audience, and Syra herself being shocked more than anyone else. "What!?" she says out loud. No doubt Haru hears her and nods, making a wry smirk behind him. He faces the crowds once again. "Galar, it has been a pleasure to be your Champion, but my time as Champion was going to come to an end today no matter what the result was going to be. I wanted today to be the best match of my entire career...and I was not disappointed in the slightest. Do not weep for me, Galar. I thank you for everything you have done to support me in my time when I was a mere Gym Challenger up until this very moment. You all know that I've been working towards helping this region already even as a Champion by setting up a Steel Gym. Please look forward to it in the upcoming year."

Haru bowed as he then turns away from the podium as if to make his exit. The audience has been talking amongst themselves the whole time as if they were discussing how to exactly take the idea of Haru retiring as a Champion. However, what they saw next subverted all expectations. He was seen extending both of his arms outward to the side as Raihan and Marnie cooperatively yank the sweatjacket that he wore clean off. There's a sudden zoom-in by the person that was monitoring the feeds as the audience audibly exploded. Imprinted on Haru's back was a very distinct pattern: a silver, black, and neon green colored uniform with his number "1". Alongside the hat and scarf he was already wearing, Haru bore steel bracers and shinguards, with a distinct belt carrying a sword and shield charm on the waist. He turns back around to show the symbol of the Steel type and proudly exclaims into the microphone. "Galar, I, Haru, shall be your Steel Gym Leader!"

The screen showcases a new border that centers on Haru's face. Embolded text display the words "STEEL GYM LEADER: HARU" much to the very loud approval and praise of nearly everyone there. As the crowd continues to applaud him, he takes to the microphone one last time. "Before I leave today, I am honored and very happy to introduce to you a few of my Gym Trainers that will be battling all Pokemon Gym Challengers who take on the 'Shield' variant challenge!" using his right arm to gesture with a sweeping motion a few people who began walking onto the field. A girl with long brown hair tied back into a ponytail with green eyes, a boy with short brown hair and brown eyes, and another girl with medium length brown hair. They all meet in the center in front of the stage and faced the crowd in sync. Haru takes a second to soak up the massive amount of support he is already receiving in his new career that has been officially unveiled to the masses, and exclaims one final time. "Thank you for coming out to see my final performance as your Champion, Galar. Gym Challengers of tomorrow: I await to see you on the battlefield as your new Steel Gym Leader! Have a wonderful evening everyone, and please have a safe trip home! To those of you watching internationally: Au revoir, Auf Wiedersehen, and Arrivederci! Good night!"

Pyrotechnics go off around the top corners of the stadium as Haru and the other Gym Leaders wave to everyone in the cameras as well as the audience as they slowly make their exit. Haru himself turned behind him to pick up his sweatjacket and sees Syra looking back at him in disbelief of what she just witnessed. She wore a weak smile of both defeat and self reflection. "Haru...right to the very end you surprised me. It now makes sense why you battled with all of your might to the very end: you saw your end in sight no matter what occurred."

He ends up rubbing the back of his head and laughs. "I guess, yeah? I have the support of my friends and Nessa to thank for this, but don't sell yourself short!". His conversation with her was quickly intervened by Gordie who elbowed Haru's side, exclaiming that all the Gym Leaders were gonna hit up a nearby locally owned 'BBQ' joint. The image of seeing Haru surrounded by the other Gym Leaders, and one Nessa, who took one of his arms around her own made Syra feel isolated. She had worked her way all to the tip top of the mountain, only to be pushed back down. Perhaps it was the connection between others that prevented her own victory, perhaps it was ego of her own actions.

The would-be Gym Challenger looked around to view the audiences that were exiting the stadium slowly and sighed to herself. /I never stood a chance against him. He's truly amazing. If anything within this journey has left me, it's that my story ends here: witnessing a new era for the Pokemon League here in Galar./

She hung her head to acknowledge the invisible distance of power between herself and Haru as the whole group was escorted back inside the walls of the Wyndon Stadium. All the Gym Leaders and Sam had gone with Syra near where the Restrooms were located to have a brief intermission: talking amongst themselves all the way. Haru catches the back of Syra's head walking along with them and says to 'wait for him here'. Before she could make one last effort for her own freedom, Syra herself was escorted personally by Oleana away as authorities put her in handcuffs.

After exiting the Men's Restroom, Haru inhaled as if to ask Syra if she would like to join them for the staff dinner. "...Syra?" The new Gym Leader, Haru, was met with silence, realizing she was taken away already. The person whom he had an intense rivalry with for the many months of his Championship tenure, and had only begun to turn into a camaraderie had already come to its sad end.

She was gone.

Within a moment, the other Gym Leaders made their exit from the restrooms as they saw Haru standing in the center of the hallway seemingly staring at nobody and at nothing. The last to appear would be Nessa, who saw the others grow quiet as Haru was not answering to anyone's calls of attention. The Raging Wave gestured with a nod to 'Go on ahead' as she walked up behind Haru's side and slowly put a hand on one of his. "Babe? Hey, what's goin on? You weren't responding to the others. Are you okay?"

The man slowly looked to her with a morose expression. "Nessa...there's something I need to talk to you about concerning Syra."

His girlfriend tilted her head; hanging on every word about to come. "What is it, Haru?"

He took the hand that was on him within one of his own and began to walk with her to meet back with their fellow Gym Leaders. "Do you recall the case that I was working on for Miss Chairman?"

Nessa nodded. "I do. It was something you had to focus on outside of just your upcoming Gym."

He looked back and sighed. "It's been resolved, and you should know what the entire truth laid bare is in its entirety...but it's not going to be easy. Would you be okay with knowing what happened?"

As both of her bright blue eyes looked at him, she had confidence in the strength of his words and squeezed onto his hand. "Tell me everything."

- - - - - WYNDON, GYM LEADER AND STAFF DINNER - - - - -

- - - - - Private Party Room - - - - -

At the event that evening, Haru was at a large table that had himself plus all the Gym Leaders together and decided to tell them everything. The matters would no doubt be a public event once word eventually got out and the legalities were finalized, but he felt that it was important to tell them the details since any of them could be pressured into giving answers should tabloids pick up on what occurred earlier. Before discussing any of it, he asked for the staff that was not strictly Gym Leaders to exit the room until he asked. While confusing at first of the odd request, those that heard him obliged. As he put down his first plate, Haru explained first to everyone that a large part of his own anxiety leading up to today was a mixture of not only the prep for today's match and becoming a Gym Leader, but a certain case that Oleana had asked him to resolve. The only ones that would not hear any of this would be Leon, Sonia, and Hop. Leon had made his exit with Sonia before the Gym Leaders would end up going to the dinner, and Hop had to study on some new research he was piling up that came from Sinnoh's scientists.

He would start by telling them about the 'stolen Pokemon' reports, and how there was a growing suspicion that there may have been someone that was doing it that was also linked to a greater issue. He would start by referring to the attempt on his life by someone pretending to be from Team Rocket, the attack on the Wyndon Stadium, and the linked case from reports of suspicious materials spotted in Johto. The part that got him to hesitate on details was when he brought up the moment where Syra confessed in the hallway.

Eventually Haru had both of his elbows resting on the table with his hands clasped together to let his chin rest on them upon finishing his tale. "Today was my last day as the Galar Champion, and in my last day I feel like I failed because I could have helped someone who was so far gone they went through such difficult measures to get back at me. Sam, the guy you all met earlier, is most likely interrogating her with renowned investigator, 'Looker' himself. The real reason Oleana could not join us for the dinner is because she is most likely investigating the lengths of what Team Rocket may be doing, if anything, in addition to what we found out with Syra."

Marnie was twirling a spoon in her hand from the curry she ordered and looked over to her friend. "Hey...it's not your fault. You're not responsible for other people's actions." Her point was seconded by almost everyone agreeing with either nods or 'Aye's. The snowy white mother of the group, Melony, leaned a little on the table and looked at Haru. "As this moment comes to a close, you have to know that we are all responsible for our own future. She chose her path. It sounded like she was trying to make peace with you and others by throwing Giovanni under the bus: 'burying the axe' as the phrase goes."

Allister spoke up, since he had yet to put his few thoughts into the mix. Even in his youth, he showed a high intellect enough to warrant commenting. "You may have been a Champion for awhile up to a point today, Haru, but as a Gym Leader you are now tasked with merely being moreso on the sidelines. To watch, guide, and encourage fellow Pokemon trainers in their journey to become better people is what we ultimately do at the end of the day."

Kabu had his arms crossed and nodded sagely. "From this point onward, perhaps it is best to simply let fate handle the rest."

The ruby red Steel Gym Leader sighed but he had to be honest with himself: everyone was correct. "Fair enough. So now you all know. Bede. Nessa. Milo, Melony, Marnie, Gordie, Raihan, Bea, Allister, Kabu. Thanks for hearing me out. I've uh...taken up a large part of the dinner just expositing all this so...let's just enjoy the rest of our dinner, okay?"

Nessa had grown silent; thinking about the whole situation and reflecting on all the times in the past she ran into Syra while staring at the cake before her on a plate. Hearing Haru firsthand tell her that Syra apologized for how she acted towards herself was one thing, but was fighting to reach the same peace that her lover attained. Her quietness would not go unnoticed, as it caught Haru's attention right when the others would begin to talk amongst themselves. "Nessa? You've been unusually quiet."

Taking a bite of the cake she had on a plate, Nessa gave a bit of a huff in frustration; venting her own confusing thoughts. "It's not that I don't agree with your pain, darling, nor your wishes to make it right, but I'm not quite there yet in forgiving her for what she did to you or I. Not yet. I also am not sure what you're feeling is right." Hearing that much, Haru didn't blame her one bit nor did he hold that against her.

"You're perfectly reasonable to feel that way. I think for now I'm not going to spend so much energy in trying to put a bandaid to this, however if I can find a way to help-" Nodding his head and taking a sip of the drink he had, but Nessa interrupted him.

"HELP her?! After what she nearly did to you and this league?! Why would you? You don't owe her anything: WE don't owe that ponce an ounce of sympathy!" raising her voice and looking at him. True to her word, Nessa wasn't quite ready to put what Syra had did past herself and Haru saw her frustration. Feeling the tension rise a bit, Raihan would exit from the table to feign needing to 'spend a penny'. "Let's not forget what she tried to spread about not just you, but me too! In front of untold thousands of people she just aired out her grievances and venom not just on this but how you are as a caretaker of your own Pokemon! She doesn't know Mirukon and Masako like you or I do, and what is it anyway to anyone on how well their possible little ones' stats are, huh?! It's none of hers or anyone else's damned business anyway!"

Haru took a bite of a calzone that was left on his plate. "I can let that be her mistake, since I can easily quiet the public with any misconceptions. If they speak smack, then let them."

Putting a hand to her forehead, Nessa seemed a little more than irritated. "You can't be this laissez-faire about such a problem, Haru! You and I both know personally with the garbage we've dealt with in the past. I won't let you leap into something that could lead into another problem."

"We've dealt with those Arboks-in-human-clothing before. If it's an issue, I'll simply tell them that they don't know what they're talking about: the same as you and I have handled any such idiot journalists talking about us." he tried to assure her, winking.

To that end, Nessa somewhat caved into the idea, angrily eating a part of cake from her plate. "Nessa, if I can try to make things right, I will. I have plenty of time from now until this situation with Team Rocket actually concludes that I can, at the very least, see to this whole 'Holly' thing. Sam is an expert on things in Johto, but he may require me for assistance if we have to settle something with Team Rocket...though then again I'd have to look into this aforementioned person, however." He began to explain, as Nessa scoffed and leaned her head on a hand.

"Honey I know you want to be a hero still, but you can't just throw away yourself to anyone with a sob story. Don't forget that Syra had a planned revenge for you; she made her bed, she can lie in it too!" Nessa counter-argued with a spoon in hand.

She saw Haru tilt his head with one eye halfway closing as if putting immense thought into the scenario. "How can I walk away from that, hmm? Am I supposed to just let her deal and not try to make things right? I've done it before."

She was known as the Raging Wave, but Nessa's face then faltered. His logic made sense, but fighting to get to the same point he was currently residing was a struggle. "Be that as it may I just don't feel right trying to push what she did under the rug. Not for myself at least."

She'd see Haru put his plate a little to the side to gesture with both hands folding forward. "I don't blame you for that, and I won't force you to come to the same conclusion I'm at now. Let me figure out what I can do for just my own reasons. My view is that there are some things here that haven't truly concluded that don't involve the legal side of this, that I think I can help with, if possible."

That line of dialogue confused the Raging Wave, as her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that, exactly? Is there more you aren't telling us? Did she blackmail you?"

Taking a look around the room, Haru scooted his chair closer to Nessa and whispered. "In actuality, I only trust you currently to know the full truth. Let's chat on the balcony."

Her curiosity spiked, as the black-and-aqua haired lady raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

- - - - - WYNDON, STAFF DINNER - - - - -

- - - - - Outside Balcony, 15 minutes later - - - - -

The winds were calm that evening with the skies being overcast as no stars illuminated the Galar atmosphere. Haru stood with Nessa by his side as both lovers held each others' hands and Nessa looked to the ground of the balcony they stood on. He had finished explaining the more personal details behind Syra's backstory that he refused to air out amongst the Gym Leaders, and it hit her more deeply on why he had made the points he did.

"I understand now why you chose to say what you did. Syra confided in you in possibly her weakest moment of her whole life. I guess alongside myself, we are the only ones that know her true struggle. I can't even begin to imagine the pain she went through." Nessa spoke with a voice filled with the notion of second guessing her previous opinions.

Haru squeezed her hand and gave a half smile. "Love, I still don't hold it against you; your feelings on her are perfectly reasonable. We don't even have to agree on the same thing. Heck, we haven't before on everything. But now you understand why I feel some form of responsibility to at least make an attempt to help her out, or help her redeem herself, yes?"

Nessa sighed, nodding before looking at him. "Mmhmm. She did to you what I once did when I felt comfortable. It was roughly when we had our first date that I began to let you in on the more 'raw' side of my history. She's trying to find a way to repair herself, so I can respect that much at least."

There was a small pause between the two of them before Nessa broke the silence. "Can I ask you something, Haru?"

"Sure, what is it?" He asked, looking up at her.

"Do you always do this? Find a way to be such a good guy to almost anyone you can?" she teases, letting go of one of his hands and reaching over to poke him on the nose. "You started this Gym Challenge and since then have saved our region twice over, are making a new Steel Gym, possibly getting a new Pokemon sanctuary started, and haven't once stopped to help others be it myself, Hop, Marnie, or Sonia. Not to mention anyone else you've met since then."

Haru laughed a little and embraced Nessa with both arms as the two shared an intimate moment of simply wanting to feel better after such an intense day. "If you had asked me this when we started dating I would have made some coy remark of 'oh I don't try to be'...but I guess I won't bullshit you. It is a growing habit of mine, I'll admit."

"You make it hard to be angry at for long." she had almost a smug grin on her face but the comment from her was only in jest. The way she said it made him halfway snort to a laugh himself before she continued. "Then again, it's only due to how well you communicate with me and don't put me down...especially in front of others." she squeezed his hands once again before leaning forward to nuzzle his nose; their foreheads touching. "I appreciate that, Haru. Thank you."

The two shared some quiet time together before heading back inside to enjoy the rest of the meal and conversations the other Leaders were having. Nessa retained that the whole story had made her far more comfortable in knowing where Haru stood on the situation, but since he respected her position on the matter, she felt far less tense. The rest of the staff dinner between the Gym Leaders went without a hitch, and for a little while Galar was quiet.

- - - - - 3 Days Later - - - - -

- - - - - Pokemon League HQ, Wyndon - - - - -

Over the next few days, Syra was key in helping Oleana, Sam, Looker, and anyone that interrogated her to find out what Team Rocket could have been planning. There wasn't a lot they could grab out of her that would give any big leads outside of her own knowledge of the headquarters, how Giovanni acted, and her own accomplice that she worked with the few times she was in Kanto in between the lull of her own Gym Challenge. It was a male Rocket Grunt who she was able to 'influence' very well due to her intense presence alone but was also the one who would end up speaking to her when the boss himself wasn't around or able to contact her. This man, simply named 'Iggy', would be her in-between with her and Giovanni, and was the first Grunt she took down initially when having invaded Team Rocket HQ.

Even with the addition of Syra's knowledge, Giovanni's 'plans' were always kept nebulous; out of sight and mind. The few times when she got a whiff of such things when having a video call with the boss, it was cut short. For a bit, Oleana had considered putting a halt on the whole operation...until a contact from within Johto called for a meeting with Sam, and he carried the message to her. The contact simply stated that it had information pertaining to Team Rocket coming from an anonymous, but trusted source. Oleana looks up to Sam when he presented the message, as the messy, raven haired man said "If there's anyone I trust to give me something like this, it's him. I believe we should call some of the others."

The woman who held the glue together of the Galar Pokemon League stood up with a pen in her hand, pointing to the glass window that oversaw the horizon of Wyndon. "No. Let's call everyone."

"Everyone, Oleana?" Sam asked, raising an eyebrow.

She turned away and had a confident smirk come up before pulling back a strand of hair. "Yes. We're getting everyone together in on this." speaking with a tone of order, Oleana held her phone up to her ear after dialing onto it. A meeting of the minds would have to take place that would turn this situation around. Sam sees her turn back to face him; phone still in hand.

"Yes? This is The Chairman. Connect me to the Kanto League. Tell Lance it's important..."

The next day, Oleana had brought Haru, Leon, and Sam together to the conference room on the same floor as her office and locked the door. As one pair of security guards stood both inside and outside the room, the opposite of the room had several holograms projecting the images of other people as if they were in the room with the current Galarian Champion, Galarian ex-Champion and Johto ex-Champion. While not in actuality there, Haru looked upon the projected images of several Champions that he researched months ago, and the informant. A man with straight red hair wearing a blue jacket joined the conversation. His name was Silver, and was 'positioned' next to Blue. Red, Lance, Steven, Wallace, Cynthia, Alder, Iris, Diantha, and Professor Kukui had also joined in on the conversation. The first question would be aimed at Silver, from Oleana. "Now that everyone is here, I must thank you all for taking time out of your schedules to meet. Depending on today's findings I may require some or all of you to help out. Blue, I'd like to thank you for getting Red to join us today.

Blue sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I apologize for the last minute confirmation, ma'am. It took a bit." All Red did was nod in agreement, with Oleana smirking.

Haru narrowed his eyes as a thought came to him. /Man, so even now Red ghosting people is still that common? I know he just sorta...went wherever after Mt. Silver, and was something called a 'Battle Legend'...I don't remember if the tapes Sonia loaned me had anything much on that part of his life./

The chairman clapped her hands together to call attention for everyone. "For now, Silver, I'd like to hear from you what it was you contacted Sam about the other day. You possess the most important piece of information for us all before we start our discussion proper."

Looking at Sam, Silver then made a 'step' forward, bringing out his own copy of the findings that he had spoken to Sam on the other day. "Thank you, Miss Chairman. A few days ago, while I was out taking a break from training it had come to my attention that there was something sent to my email. Initially I had brushed it off as just another piece of spam due to the weird nature of it all, but something told me to take a second look into it. Its contents read like it was code that one would find from any bot programmed to send scam messages, though something nagged in the back of my mind. Usually spam messages are filled with actual messages such as 'free way to get a perfect bred Eevee click here' but this message looked as if it had to be decoded. Since I was unable to figure it out by myself and went to ask Professor Elm for assistance. After some time with both his and an assistant's help, we discovered that the hunch of this message being encoded was true. This message had been through several proxy locations before somehow ending up in my hands."

Oleana's eyebrow raised; confused. "Care to elaborate?"

Silver is seen sharing a screenshot of what the message looked like before it was decoded. "Outside of the jargon you all see, this was bounced from Saffron City, to Mahogony Town, to Ecruteak City and about 4 other locations...before ending up in my inbox. Whoever sent it wanted to get their message out to someone but to try and make whatever 'trace' they had hard to decipher. When we look at it decoded.." he gestured with his left hand, and a new screenshot came up which causes Haru's eyes to go as wide as dinner plates.

"...you see this as a letter of warning." Silver would go on before reading the contents out loud for those in the 'room'.

{TO THE PERSON READING THIS:

IF YOU HAVE DECODED THIS MESSAGE THEN YOU ARE POSSIBLY CAPABLE OF ASSISTING ME IN MY PLIGHT. MY IDENTITY IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT I BRING A WARNING THAT MUST BE SHARED WITH THOSE IN POWER POSTHASTE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHARE THIS IMMEDIATELY. THIS MESSAGE WAS ENCODED SO THAT MY IDENTITY COULD NOT BE FOUND BUT YOU MUST TRUST THAT WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD PUT THE WORLD, OUR WORLD OF POKEMON AND HUMANITY, POSSIBLY THE UNIVERSE, IN DANGER. I AM ONE OF MANY RESEARCHERS THAT WORKS FOR TEAM ROCKET, AND WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON THREATENS TO CHANGE THE WAY HOW POKEMON BATTLING, BREEDING, AND THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM OF POKEMON IN WAYS THAT ARE NOT NATURAL. WE HAVE BEEN TESTING ON POKEMON FROM THE REGION OF GALAR AND EXTRACTING THEIR DNA THROUGH...CERTAIN MEANS THAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS INHUMANE. IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF THEY WERE EXTRACTED THROUGH PAINLESS MEANS OR SIMPLY LAID TO REST WITHOUT SUFFERING, BUT I HAVE SINCE WATCHED AS HORDES OF POKEMON ARE PUSHED TO THEIR LIMIT THROUGH TESTS OF 'ENDURANCE' AGAINST WHAT I CAN ONLY REFER TO AS 'SUPER' POKEMON. IT TURNS OUT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE REMNANTS OF ENERGY THAT ALLOW POKEMON IN GALAR TO DYNAMAX OR GIGANTIMAX AND COPY IT TO OTHERS SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT THE NEED OF A POWER SPOT. I HAVE SEEN POKEMON THAT ARE 'POWERED UP' WITH THIS ENERGY FIGHT REGULAR POKEMON AND TAKE THEM OUT AS IF THEIR STRENGTHS HAVE MORE THAN QUADRUPLED. AS IT TURNS OUT, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THE VERY CHEMICALS AND MAKEUP OF WHAT ALLOWS GALARIAN POKEMON TO DYNAMAX AND GIGANTIMAX AND CENTER ALL OF ITS BENEFITS ONTO POKEMON WITHOUT CHANGING THEIR PHYSICALITY. ALL THE BENEFITS OF IT WITH NONE OF THE DRAWBACKS. THEY KEEP THE SAME PHYSICAL SIZE BUT REAP THE BENEFITS: A MEGA EVOLUTION WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A KEYSTONE, A Z-MOVE WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A DANCE. IMAGINE A SNORLAX WITH ITS AVERAGE HEIGHT BEING ABLE TO COMBAT HORDES OF POKEMON WITH THE SAME STRENGTH AS ITS FRIGHTENING GIGANTIMAX FORM. PUT ONLY A FEW OF THESE ON THE FIELD, ANY FIELD WHATSOEVER, AND IT COULD VERY QUICKLY BECOME CHAOS. AGAIN, POKEMON BATTLING WITH THE MAGNIFIED STATE OF STRENGTH, SPEED, DEFENSE BUT WITHOUT ANY CHANGE OF THEIR PHYSICAL SIZE COULD THREATEN EVERYTHING AS WE KNOW IT. ONE FINAL THING. I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THAT HE HAS COME TO POSSESS A POKEMON SO INTENSELY POWERFUL THAT WE HAD TO LIMIT ITS PHYSICALITY. INJECTING IT WITH THE DYNAMAX DNA SEEMS TO HAVE IMPROVED IT ALL THE SAME LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, BUT LEFT WITHOUT THE ARMOR IT'S WEARING, AND IT WILL BREAK FREE OF THE CONTROL GIOVANNI HAS PUT ON IT. WITH THIS SECRET WEAPON, GIOVANNI PLANS TO MARKET THE RESEARCH THAT WE CAME TO REALIZE AND SELL IT ACROSS THE GLOBE: TO EXPAND TEAM ROCKET'S REACH TO THE STARS ABOVE. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO BETTER UTILIZE MY MIND TO HELP US UNDERSTAND POKEMON, EVEN IF IT WAS THROUGH UNCONVENTIONAL MEANS...BUT WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED HERE WITH MY OWN EYES, AND LEARNED WHAT I HAVE, I CAN NO LONGER KEEP IT HIDDEN. I HAVE TO ATTONE FOR THIS IF I EVER GET TAKEN IN, AND I PLAN TO IF FATE SMILES UPON-}

Silver looks to everyone. "...and the message ends right there abruptly. It can be assumed the person had to send it before being caught."

Leon crossed his arms, as Cynthia was the first to speak up. "Well this could be bad. I've dealt with plenty of things in my day, but this could lead on to its own road of problems." Sam spoke up, stepping forward. "You think that's bad? I was there when Team Rocket initially tried to come back and thwart Johto. I was just a kid with my dad in the Radio Tower incident back then, of course, but I know that Gold stopped them before they ever came back. If anything, I feel responsible for letting them re-organize under my nose when I was Champion. I lived in the region that they re-assembled in, damn it!"

Alder rubbed his stubble and spoke up after raising his hand to speak. "Hmmmm. Hatsu, I know you've dealt with your own form of an evil organization and forces before but I wonder if someone your age can even handle this, much less Sam here. We're talking about something larger than what your region has been dealt before."

Haru felt a blood vessel throb in his forehead. "First of all it's 'Haru'...second of all, Alder, I wouldn't worry about me. I plan on being here for every part of the operation from the beginning to its natural conclusion."

Steven had stepped forward. "Just what is that natural conclusion anyway? To just 'stop' them like before? It doesn't even seem that simple. Did you not all see the letter? They're a lot more smart it appears than last time, and until any one of us finds out personally, it's to be assumed it's a lot more dangerous than all the other incidents involving them."

Blue spoke up. "If it's like before, since we couldn't get Gold to join us, then naturally Red and I will take down Team Rocket. We've done it before and we didn't need a group like you guys to do it."

Sam held up a hand. "Forgive me if I'm wrong, Blue, but with all due respect you were Champion for all of 20 minutes, so I wouldn't exactly hold high regard for someone like yourself saying you 'don't need' anything. We're all here because of the dire nature here."

"You little...! I've been doing a lot more things than you could imagine back when you were just getting your first Pokemon!" Blue shouted back, with Red merely looking on quietly after folding his arms together. The silent Kanto ex-Champion chose, just like normal, to not say anything.

"Guys we're all missing the big picture here! Regardless of position and experience we all have something to add to this and Miss Chairman is asking us for help due to the possibility that not only would Team Rocket be waiting for any attack...but investors or suppliers. It could be bigger than just them." Iris says with a wagging finger. Oleana takes a bow, as if she wanted to say exactly that. "Thank you, Iris. I expected you to be able to come to that conclusion."

"What, so now the child prodigy is going to lecture us?" Blue points out, before Alder steps up. "If she has something to say, she'll say it. Watch your step young man."

Diantha is seen looking to Professor Kukui as both sigh. Diantha pressed two fingers to her forehead in a disappointed glance. "Look at us, we're all complaining and bickering about nothing here when Team Rocket could be planning for an attack."

The statement shut everyone up as Oleana, arms crossed, snapped her fingers. "I'll devise a plan and get back to you all posthaste, but I'm going to most likely require everyone here to back me up. Silver, can you say that you will help us, now that you've come this far and divulged the information you just did?"

The redhead rubbed his neck. "I can't make any promises, but since their headquarters is near where I live, I could make it out for this operation."

"Thank you..." the chairman sighed contently. Haru was eyeing the floor intensely, as Leon looked over to see Haru going silent. "Haru?"

The ruby redhead Steel Gym Leader had his arms crossed and one hand up to his chin; deep in thought of possibilities and ideas. Steven called out to him. "Haru, c'mon, speak up. We don't have time." With that being said, Haru looked up to the fellow Steel Pokemon trainer and nodded. "You're right, Steven. We don't. Ergo, I propose we bring in someone else to assist everyone on this mission, as I believe they will be the necessary key of victory for such a mission." putting his arms down to his side and raising his head up in defense for a possible blow back to his suggestion.

The somewhat short Gym Leader spoke again. "I propose we bring in Syra."

The suggestion was not welcomed by everyone else except for Sam, who stayed quiet, and the others immediately started blasting him with questions.

Oleana looks over to the one man she had trusted to resolve this situation before it got to this point get a new look in his eyes. /He must be putting on such a face because he feels guilty about failing to stop this before it got worse. Haru, I do not blame you for any of this, but once again you're putting yourself out there like this. The more things change, the more they stay the same, hmm?/

"Syra? You mean the girl responsible for aggravating this problem into an even bigger issue than before?" Cynthia said, looking disappointed.

"That's a stupid idea." Wallace replied, turning his head to the side like the idea alone was beneath him acknowledging.

"Haru have you gone mad? If you bring her with us she may jeopardize the whole thing!" mocked Blue.

Yet despite all this Haru kept firm in his stance and had physically turned to Oleana; ignoring the detractors. "Miss Oleana. I believe that Syra is the key to helping us all resolve this: she's already made a turn for the better and has been more than open on doing her best to make amends. Let's run down the list, shall we?" He gestures with his right hand counting. "Firstly, she has told us everything she knows personally about the headquarters. As far as we are aware she was able to charge the whole headquarters with just her fists and feet before she even got a badge to begin with because she was purely fueled by hatred. Hatred of me."

The master of Dragon type Pokemon, who was quiet until now, is seen sighing. "This is all well and fine, Haru and that's all nice but I don't see how-"

"Lance of Kanto, I am not finished. With all due respect, I am going somewhere with this so have faith okay?" Haru held up his hand to gesture with two fingers, as this quieted everyone. He was controlling the conversation now. "Secondly, she herself had a change of heart and threw Giovanni and all of Team Rocket under the bus by telling the authorities of what his responsibilities were to another big incident here in Galar. One that I myself took part in its fallout of, and personally saw to its conclusion. She could have easily not said anything but she threw her own career under the bus and admitted to everything in front of Oleana, Galarian authorities, and myself. Throughout all the interviews that Sam and Looker were able to carry out up to this point in time, Syra told us she was having second thoughts about leaving the organization anyways. Thirdly, with her expertise and knowledge of almost the entirety of Galar's Pokedex AND her battle strength more than attest for her capabilities. There is nobody else I trust more than her to be a big asset to us on the field of battle. "

There was a pause from the entire room as Sam looked at his new friend he gained while coming to Galar. Once again he was reminded of Haru's personality that Nessa had hinted at since he came across the shores here, and how when the chips were laid down he was a no-nonsense, strong trainer. While he had only heard about the Darkest Day incident from across the pond, he never got to see what type of strong leadership Haru had displayed until now.

Oleana took the chance to ask the question on the others' minds, looking at Haru. "...and if you're wrong?"

Haru does not hesitate to reach into his pockets and pulls out a medalion with 8 badges inserted into it. It was his collection of the Galar Gyms Badges when he completed the 'Shield' challenge. Holding it up, he looks to Oleana. "If I'm wrong, then I'll turn this in. But mark my word, I won't be wrong...and I'm willing to put myself on the line for it. If none of you can see that, then I'll go at it alone. This involved my home first and foremost. I, and my best friend Hop took down ex-Chairman Rose together, handled Eternatus, defeated the twins Sordward and Shielbert, and protected this region. Twice. If I have to save Galar again, but alone, I will."

He was straight to the point in his confidence and bowed to Oleana. "Pardon me." turning to exit, he left the room. Sam was speechless and was unable to comment. The man hadn't seen Haru so fired up on personal matters before. After a moment, the chairman bowed to everyone in the holographic call. "I'll get back to you all about this within a few hours. That's all for now, everyone. Dismissed. "

Haru walked down the hallway of the Pokemon League HQ where he was marching to the elevator. Intending to head down he pressed the 'down' arrow, huffing to himself with his arms crossed. He had been thinking about the reaction that everyone was giving about the suggestion and it burned him up.

/"Maybe I fucked up by saying as much as I did to you on the field. Maybe my fans hate me. Maybe I betrayed so many of my fans' trust saying what I did and then losing to you...and now I'll have to go back."/

He thought of himself in that room talking to Syra as she poured her soul out to him.

/"Because I have nothing left to lose. All of it was true, and I have to pay for it."/

Sam came to Haru's side, meeting him at the elevator that was still on its way to the floor. "WHOO boy you uh...made waves there, man. But can I ask if you're actually certain about the decision you've made?" he would ask turning to the fellow friend.

Haru kept looking at the numbers of the floors the elevator was elevating past; focused on the mission ahead. "Syra has gone throughout her whole life with people constantly either not believing in her, or always being against her. She has lived in a constant state of being on 'attack mode', and it's ended up with her making rash decisions. Nobody was there to give her directions, assistance, or even give her sympathy. The only ones there for her were her brother, her mom, and her Pokemon. I can't even imagine what it's like to be in the life that she's had, but it's put her where she's at right now. If there's anything I can do to turn this around for everyone's sake, I'll do it. Someone has to extend a genuine olive branch to her because nobody has up until now. She didn't have the support like I did, and I think I'd like to be the first one to be that support."

Sam smirked when Haru finished. "You remind me of when I became Champion of Johto. I'd feel bad if I wasn't already set on my own future but hearing you talk like that is inspiring!"

The elevator dings, as both trainers walk in, with Haru pushing the lobby button inside. "I've picked up a lot from watching Leon's matches before I became a Gym Challenger."

"Yeah, is that so?" Sam asked, halfway smirking.

Haru takes his glasses off and starts cleaning them with a cloth. "That...and I think it's what Hiro would want of me." The doors close and the two trainers are transported downwards, on their way to pay a certain raven haired girl a visit.

- - - - - Holding Cell, Police Station in Wyndon - - - - -

"...and as of right now, that's where everybody stands. At this point a team-up operation is on the horizon where Oleana will assemble several trainers to take down Team Rocket before their plans can come to fruition. It will most likely require several Champions and other prominent figures in the history of the Global League to do it, but even so they let me approach you on the subject. Because they allowed me this much I'd like to ask you formally about joining...Syra." Haru spoke, bowing forward a bit while on the other side of the cell as the raven haired girl looked back. Her expression showed the same indifference she had previously only due to her own defense mechanisms.

Syra folded her arms and looked up at him from the flat prison bed she laid on."Out of the two of us, you had the most victories. You're the Champion who took on Macro Cosmos, saved the day from another Darkest Day, and are now tasked with fighting Team Rocket. I'm more likely to believe you don't need me."

"That's not tru-" Haru began to say before Syra cut him off. "Look, I know you're a really nice guy and I can tell that from personal experience, but not everybody is worth being given a second chance. Not everybody is worth saving, and that includes myself. I haven't fully considered what my life will be like after all this, but I know that part of it will most likely revolve around starting the Gym Challenge from scratch since I did cheat through a majority of the whole thing: if I'm even allowed that much. My only regret is losing some of the Pokemon that were not actually my own."

The tense air between the two trainers was thick enough to be cut through by a knife; Haru finding it hard to fault Syra's logic in what she retorted. "I'll do what I can to make sure you're reunited for this operation. Plus, even if that is true, a part of me believes we need you for the takedown of Team Rocket. Let's attack this from another angle: don't you want an opportunity to reverse what you've done?"

"Of course I do, but will everyone else be okay with letting me back on? Teamwork for something this serious requires all parties to be able to coordinate with each other and have no bad blood, and with myself joining up with other legendary people in the League I would only stall things. Ask yourself: what would that even accomplish, Haru? Be smart about this. If this succeeds, it'll just show that anyone can do evil things and get a slap on the wrist. I don't want to be another example of that: I should be punished. It was problematic of me to think the way I did and push things to the limit-" Syra would be interrupted as Haru stomped one of his feet.

"I've told everyone that on the small chance you turn against us, I'm willingly betting my entire Gym Badge medallion." Haru replied, pulling out his collection of badges that assembled into a medallion and showing it to her. The 'mic drop' of a twist caught her off guard and she sat up from her bed, and walked to the bars, reached through and grabbed him by the collar bringing him to the bar until they were inches apart. The 'clang' of the bars was loud that it caught attention of the other prisoners in the same holding cell block. Haru and her locked eyes as the height difference between the two caused him to have to look up to her in a defiant manner. She seemed genuinely irritated at his willingness to make amends.

"Do you get a rise out of doing this? Putting your life on the line for people like me and being a hero? Are you feeling nostalgic for what you did before that you see me as an opportunity to revisit those days? What do you get out of trying to help someone like me? I. broke. the. law. I deserve to be punished just like anyone else and-" She began to say before Haru cut her off as his fists clenched.

His eyes narrowed and the fire that was there was the same from his Gym Challenge journey. "You've been going your whole life at constant war with everyone and working by yourself to resolve your own problems. You had to resolve those things because nobody else helped you through them. The way I understand it, is that nobody has ever been there for you, and it's partially due to our connected past. While you were angry at me at the stadium, some of what you said definitely did ring true: I was complacent as a Champion at one point and I did let the fame get to my head a little. But I had help...so let me help you."

She had found her fighting spirit and ability to argue against him had waned considerably ever since the conclusion of her Pokemon League battle and hearing him say this made her face go pink with blush. /What's his damn problem...?/ Syra thought to herself.

The Steel Gym Leader kept his steely gaze up at her. "You deserve a second chance, Syra."

Letting him go slowly, Syra turned her back to him, leaned against the bars and folded her arms. "Fine! I suppose I can go along with this if it'll be for the greater good. It gives me a chance to give that shirty Giovanni his due."

Haru pumped his fist and smiled. "Awesome. I'll inform the others that you're on board with this and we'll start getting everything set up." Turning away from her, Haru began to exit the small room where her cell was at and then turned back to her before leaving. "You know, I'm looking forward to actually cooperating with you like we did in Hammerlocke."

As the former Champion of Galar left, Syra looked back and spotted that he was smiling: no doubt cheerful at the idea of battling by her side. She huffed to herself and looked at the floor while leaning against the iron bars of the cell, pulling some of her black hair back. "Damn it, he's actually really cool now and causing me to look at him differently."

"Oooo someone's found the Champion real fit huh?" said the voice of a man in the cell next to her, causing Syra to immediately yell out with her whole face going dark red "Get stuffed, prick! I am not! I'm just not good with words when people are like that to me personally! Augh!" punching the wall next to her where the man was commenting. The small shockwave caused him to jump and move away. Syra went back to her bed and laid on her side facing the wall with a pout as the prisoner in the nearby cell couldn't help but laugh at such a reaction.

- - - - - Hulbury, Nessa's Home, late night - - - - -

While on his way out of Wyndon, Haru had taken an Air Taxi towards Hulbury to inform Nessa of what was being done. She knew that he had been called by Oleana to meet up for 'something important' and was unaware of the contents until he had come back to meet her at home. Upon arrival to her abode he got a message from Sam while in the kitchen.

[SAM: Oleana has accepted your proposal entirely. Looker and the others have brought Syra in and are explaining what she will be allowed to do while working with us. We've let her have her entire Pokemon team back as well. As of right now, it appears everybody, us included, will be meeting up with Blue, Red, Silver and Lance in Vermillion City. We leave tomorrow early in the morning. I would recommend bringing your best team.]

As Haru read aloud the text he looked over to Nessa, putting his phone onto the counter. "So that's that, then. I'm heading to Kanto tomorrow to take part in this. I may have to get whatever sleep I don't get tonight on the trip over there." he said, noticing that she went quiet. While the dinner she was making didn't require the fullest of her attention due to having made it innumerable times before, the raging wave had seemingly laser focused on it. Biting her lip and inhaling deeply, a welling sensation of worry rose from within.

"I see. So you're going to head out again on another daring mission just like with Eternatus? Just like those royal idiot twins, hmm?" She spoke quietly and not looking over to her lover.

"Hiro is speaking to me, and my gut tells me this is what is right. Giovanni must be stopped. Whatever it takes." Haru spoke while leaning opposite of Nessa against another counter, as she put down the knife she was using to cut vegetables.

"Whatever it takes? How can you say that so casually?" Nessa turned to face him as she held her hands down to her side. "Haru, we are talking about an entire organization that is banding together with the means to spread globally to face you and every Champion that's joining in the fight with what can only be described as ludicrously as 'Super Pokemon'. If they are like Macro Cosmos were in the past, then they will be armed to the teeth with a legion of grunts with several Pokemon each or more."

"Which is why I'm bringing Zamazenta with me and several key Pokemon that will be necessary that I've used for Max Raids myself. If I were to guess? Oleana will put everyone into teams and I'd like to be paired with Sam and Syra myself; him being an ex-Champion like myself who I've become good friends with should be a plus for our coordination. Syra I have battled multiple times so in my opinion that's a plus." Haru replied, making sure he spoke calmly but to listen to Nessa if she had more...which she did.

"...and what if something goes wrong? What if you arrive under-prepared, or the show of force from Team Rocket is heavier than you anticipated?" Both her fists clenched and while the Queen of the Galarian Seas kept her eyes on him, Haru noticed some tears had began to bud up at the corners of both eyes and her voice went weak. "What if this is the last day we have together?"

Haru stood away from the counter and held a hand up. "h...Hey, hon..."

"I don't want to lose you, Haru! This could be as big as that Rhyme City incident where the population was suddenly turned into Pokemon under a subservient Mewtwo, or in Hoenn where the entire planet was almost destroyed until we had Rayquaza settle things all because a single trainer was able to find them, or you and Eternatus! I-I don't know what to expect here. Who's to say that they have something as strong as it or even stronger? It's not that I'm frightened at your inability to fight these goons off, but I'm scared on the small chance..." her eyes began to stream tears slowly, looking at him. "...that you're going to leave and never come back. Haru...I...I don't think my heart can take that kind of shock."

This wasn't something that would be resolved if Haru spoke the right 'hero' line, so he let her get it out and chose to listen to her worries instead of trying to come up with a solution. Nessa looked down at the floor. "We've been together as long as we have, and I believe in you so much because I love you. Maybe it's selfish of me but I almost wish you wouldn't go and just let everyone else handle this."

Nessa walked a few steps towards him and leaned forward until her head rested on his shoulders, placing both hands on him as her eyes that were watering got his clothing wet.

"N..Nessa...?" Haru said quietly. Both of her hands went onto his shirt and clung to him.

She began to cry softly. "P-please don't go...just ghost the message and don't go. Please..."

Haru ended up carefully taking his glasses off and putting them aside before holding Nessa closer to him. "You know I can't do that, darling. I chose this path, so it's what I must do."

Nessa lifted her face to look at him, as her tears ran down her cheeks freely. "I know. I know you won't dismiss this because I know you've chosen to put this burden upon yourself. Please don't think of me a shitty girlfriend. The first sign of you being heroic like before and I'm reacting like I don't want you to respond to the call."

Her hands clung to his uniform and Haru felt her shaking from the fear of losing him. "I trust in your ability as a Pokemon Trainer...but I don't trust in the opposition to play fair. What if the reason Red disappeared and is so hard to contact by even Blue of all people is because of his history with Team Rocket?" She looked away, ashamed of the way she was reacting. "Nothing has had me so shaken like this before. I must look weak to you..." The two shared an embrace while she openly sobbed at the worry of losing the one she held so dear. Letting one of his hands rub her back, Haru spoke quietly. "You're not a shitty girlfriend. Don't ever think that, darling. I promise you that when this is over, I won't put myself into a situation like this again okay? The focus will stay on my Gym and my eventual Pokemon sanctuary. As far as personal matters go, I'll focus on my best friends, my Pokemon...and you."

Nessa blinked, looking at him. "Haru, you don't have to do that for me.."

He shook his head. "No no, it's only fair. Being in a relationship is not just about you and I finding out about each others strengths and weaknesses; lifting the other up when the other falls, but compromises. So..." Haru inhaled a little and exhaled with a soft smile that met her gaze. "...So I'm willing to put that life behind me for us, okay?"

She met his look as she feels one of Haru's hands caress her cheeks, wiping one of the tears from her face as the two kiss softly. Holding it for a bit, Haru pulls away and embraced her, stroking her back. "I promise you that this will not be the end, Nessa. When I return, I'll pay back that kiss 10 times over, okay?"

He had felt satisfied saying that much until Nessa had turned her face to the side and side-eyeing him. "A...are you quoting the anime I think you are to me?" she blinked at him as Haru's cheeks went red. The ex-Champion laughed a little; embarrassed. "Yeah. Hey, I thought the line was a good one to use at this time."

Haru and Nessa shared what felt like a long period of silence; albeit only a few seconds before she responded back with a narrowed set of eyes at him. Nessa then turned away from him and got open a bottle of homemade sauce out of the cabinet above her and started pouring it into the mix she had for dinner's prep. "In that case I'm making your batch extra hot."

Haru immediately panicked. "H-hey, wait..I'm sorry that wasn't-!"

Nessa yanked him by the collar close and gave him a quick kiss. Grinning from ear to ear, the Galar Goddess of the Seas laughed at Haru. "Psych! But do that again and I'm going to add in Kabu's mix too. Now let me finish this up, it's my night to cook anyway."

That night had started off a little rocky, but the two had thankfully come to a resolution towards the end that calmed both of their spirits. Haru would be blasting off to take down Team Rocket tomorrow, and if anything was certain, he would have to be in tiptop shape of mind and spirit.

- - - - - The Trip Over. . . - - - - -

The plan was set in motion, and Oleana stayed behind in Galar to monitor the situation and stay as the Galar League Chairman in her region. Sam was the one put in charge of the operation, and he, Syra, Leon, and Haru would be flown from Galar to meet up in Vermillion City where they would rendezvous with the others in 's Gym. There, they would be equipped with extra gear and 'one special key to victory' that was teased from Silver. The trip itself would not be long, but due to the night before, Haru decided to nap on the way over. Syra would get sleep as well since the trip was much more comfortable than a cell bed. For the first few hours, Sam stayed awake with a laptop on his lap and his phone to his side on the armrest of his seat.

Occasionally looking outside, the upcoming operation was playing out in his head in multiple ways. While Gold had been the reason they were driven out of Johto in the first place, he wasn't going to be there now and had to rely on his own knowledge of the group and his own Pokemon expertise. On the screen of the laptop were a few programs open, with one tabbed to display everyone's team makeup and the other with who would be grouped with whom. Sam's eyes looked over the Pokemon that Syra had and compared it to Haru. Despite the slight difference in levels, he was impressed on how Haru still pulled out the win regardless and looked over to the sleeping ex-Champion.

/To think that I saw him on TV acting almost dismissive about team makeups, hidden abilities, EVs and IVs, but in reality he was prepared for someone who maxed out their team's strengths. It may have been a close match, but he still won./ The poofy black haired man from Johto had combed through his hair and constantly darting his eyes from the numbers onscreen to the fellow sleeping passenger. Haru was asleep with a sleeping mask with the graphics of all the badges of Galar on it.

/...was that just all an act or something? If so, then he's a lot scarier than he lets on./

- - - - - Kanto, Vermillion City - - - - -

- - - - - Vermillion City Gym - - - - -

"So nobody's going to be interrupting us, right?" Sam asked, halfway yawning and getting his bearings as a tall, brawny man with buzzcut blonde hair walked from the entrance. Outdoors there was a "Closed" sign on both sides of the entrance of the Gym and some of Surge's Gym Trainers keeping guard. "Yes sir. Until everybody here gets their bearings I'll make sure nobody messes with you...though I gotta say Champ-" the man began to say, as his companion Raichu walked up to his side.

Sam held up a hand, correcting him. "EX. Champion. Remember, I lost my title to another trainer. But thank you, Surge...it's appreciated." The Gym Leader flashed a thumbs up, with the Raichu bouncing on its tail happily. "I gotta say though...the whole situation is bad enough that you got the 'world warriors' here in one spot huh?" he asked, looking to the side as every single Champion and person that was in on the operation had their backpacks open and were going over all their tools and gear with a few of their Pokemon walking out. The space that usually occupied surge's Gym Trainers was cleared out entirely.

Professor Kukui was making small talk with Diantha and Haru, who made the comment about wanting to visit Alola eventually. Diantha smiled at Haru and put hand on his shoulder. "I had been reading up on your exploits in between breaks while on movie sets, and was trying to make around to congratulating on the fact you're with Nessa. She's beautiful, and I can see you two going the distance, if you don't mind my saying so." The compliment from both her and Kukui made Haru's face red. "Haha...thank you. You know it's come up that I would like to take her to Alola one day. I hadn't considered it for any particular occasion but you two talking about us have me redder than my Cinderace's fur."

Kukui flashed a grin and a thumbs up to Haru. "Just tell me when you two decide to drop on by and I'll show you around. Though I'm surprised you don't know any Alolan." teasing the Galarian man a little. Haru looked a little deflated. "I'm only quarter Alolan and my mom is primarily Galarian so..."

The others, upon realizing that Syra had actually been temporarily absolved of the previous events were eyeing her. She had her back hunched over and her Intelleon standing to her side while munching on a protein bar and drinking a black canned energy drink with a "M" on the side. "Hey, new girl." came a voice from behind. The rival of Haru turned behind her to be met face to face with a man wearing a black button-up shirt and green pants who had one hand on his side.

She rolled her eyes. /Oh for the love of../

"You're Blue, right? What do you want? I'm busy getting ready to save your town alongside everyone else here." Syra replied, turning away to re-focus her effort on what items to have her Pokemon hold leading up to the battle and was pondering on teaching her Gothitelle a different move.

"Yes. Anyway. You should know that we may be joined up today, but I haven't fully accepted your partnership here. Be sure not to pull a fast one on us and don't get left behind. The battles here are different than what you're used to in Galar so-" Blue would begin to say before he was cut off by Syra speaking.

"Hey so do you have something actually interesting to say or am I just going to have to mentally check out and ignore this aggressive aura you're trying to put off here?" Not once did she look back at him and handed her Intelleon a HP Up bottle to use.

The spunky veteran from Kanto felt a vein in his forehead throb a little, and he stepped forward. "Don't mistake what this is here, Syra. This is a temporary union, and after this is all done it's going to take more than Haru over there defending your position to right the wrongs."

Syra stood up slowly after putting down a bottle of Carbos and turned to Blue; readjusting her hat until it was straight and looking him in the eyes. "Wow big man Blue. Are you done? Did it feel good to try and flex just now? Making up for lost time and legacy, or is it due to something else? If you really have a problem with me then just say it, coward."

Gritting his teeth a little, Blue leaned forward back to her. "Never had a problem that I couldn't resolve myself, girl, so don't think for a second you've rustled me. I've taken down people that were twice the trainer you are."

Raising her eyebrows a bit, Syra got a wry smile. "Oooo~ooh, see, I like that confidence you have: where did it come from? Is it maybe your own substitution for the intellect you're lacking?"

Red had moved next to Blue and tapped on his shoulder, silently nodding his head away in a gesture to 'put a lid on it'. Blue shook his head and eyed Syra before folding his arms together, sighing and putting the last comment aside. "Right, so anyways, do you want to get in some practice before we get this all started?"

The confidence shot back into Syra's face in such a manner that Haru had a gut feeling he knew what 'mode' she was channeling. "We don't exactly have the time. The only sort of training I would want to do with you would be the type that doesn't involve Pokemon at all." turning to her side while still making eye contact and squeezing one of her hands into a fist. It was at this point that Haru took a step towards the two with the intention to defuse the situation before he saw someone step forward and use himself to pull the two apart.

"Okay okay. Blue, stop. Talk like that isn't going to get us anywhere; well intended or not, and you were out of line to approach her like that in the first place. What matters is she's here and has the same goal as anyone else, which is stopping Team Rocket." Silver had stood in between where Syra and Blue were standing, eyeing the fellow from Kanto. Uninteresting in continuing, Blue walked off.

Silver sighed and looked up at Syra. "He's a bit rash at times but it's only a bit misplaced. For what it's worth, I myself had a change of heart on your assistance and am glad you're here. I'm looking forward to seeing what you're capable of, Syra."

She was unable to come up with something clever or witty as a reply, and readjusted her hat so it partially hid her face before turning away. "W-well...thank you, Silver. I heard good things about you too." holding a fist out and bumping it to Silver's own. Haru's arms were crossed as he held the most satisfied, smug expression as his new friend, Sam walked over.

"That was rather unexpected..." Sam said, before Haru turned to him. "But not unwelcome. Now tell me what was this new tech you were going to explain that you're giving us? Something about a new ring? I'll have you know that I don't think of you like that, Sam: I'm loyal to Nessa." lightly ribbing him. It gave some brevity to the situation as the two walked over to a tarp on the floor that had an opened briefcase. Cynthia was seen already getting one equipped herself for Garchomp.

"It's a different way to battle, sure, but it just may be the one thing we all needed for this operation. Good call, Sam." The blonde said with a smirk. "Is Mega Evolution that big of a game changer? Hop was talking to me about this at one point." Haru asked, seeing that within the open briefcase was a set of stones and bracelets that Haru did not recognize.

"It's what we can use to boost our side without the advantage of Power Spots from Galar. These, Haru, are Key Stones and Mega Stones. In order for us to get an advantage for this battle, it was best that we get these." Sam began to explain, handing Haru a Mega Ring that had a stone inside it, and another stone. Having a slightly confused look, the Steel Gym Leader-to-be glanced at his friend. "Okay...how does this work exactly? It's like a bulkier Dyanamax band, which, by the way, I already miss. Not having any Power Spots here in Kanto is a bit of a buzzkill."

Sam held a finger up and pointed to the Lucarionite in Haru's hand. "First, you must be wearing a Key Stone on your person within a Mega Ring, which is already inside said Mega Ring, and your Pokemon must have a Mega Stone on them. With these, and the strong bond you share with them, they'll be able to 'Mega Evolve'." At the same time Sam was explaining this, almost the whole group of Champions were nearly finished getting set up.

"Okay, so how does Mega Evolution work then? Is it like Dynamaxing?" Haru asked, bringing out his Lucario, Mirukon, and handing him the Lucarionite Mega Stone. Keeping it brief after he took a glance at his phone for the time, Sam further explained. "Not quite. Your Pokemon gets a massive boost in all of their stats similarly to Dynamaxing, but it's not over nearly as briefly. When the battle is done, they will revert back to their normal forms. Even though I have yet to do any Max Raids in my short time in Galar, I would still say I wish we could do that here. Who knows what lays ahead."

Turning around to look at the others, Haru gave a wry smirk. "Are we shorthanded? I notice not everybody here has one." Sam shook his head but also held up a hand to gesture 'yes but also no'. "The thing is, unlike Dynamaxing, not every Pokemon can Mega Evolve. We believe that in time we may be able to discover more Mega Evolutions but as far as things stand now, these are the stones we have on us. As far as the Professor here is concerned, he insisted on being let alone as is, showing me that he had his own key item to help out with his Incineroar."

"Right, Kukui was talking to me about that...and that was another thing Hop mentioned. Shit, I probably should have paid more attention when he was sharing that information with me. Then again, that was quite a bit of time ago." lamenting, Haru shook his head. Just as there had finished, Leon put a hand on Haru's shoulder and flashed a wide grin. "You two good? I think everyone is almost ready so let's run through the plans and head out."

The Johto ex-Champion had a serious look and nodded. "Yes. Let's get this started: we have a world to save."

Everybody met in the center of the west side of the Gym interior as Sam ran through what was going to occur; team makeup and the operation details for who does what action. The teams for everyone was written on the whiteboard as such...

[ Red, Blue, Lance as Group 1 ]

[ Silver, Cynthia, Steven as Group 2 ]

[ Alder, Iris, Diantha as Group 3 ]

[ Haru, Syra, Sam as Group 4 ]

[ Wallace, Kukui, and Leon as Group 5 ]

Sam put his left fist into his right palm, reviewing the plan with everyone. "Silver, you'll be on the front lines with us, but will stay on guard outside the building when we all arrive. if we get into Team Rocket HQ, I'd like to have you stay within both Ground Zero of the fight. I had you grouped with Cynthia and Steven, but I must admit that I need you to stay outside once we reach the building and help anyone who may be getting into the crossfire stay safe. For now we don't know if they've taken over the whole town like they did way back when, but you won't be alone. Wallace, Professor Kukui, and Leon will be your backup as we're going to have them try and approach the headquarters via flanking."

Silver nodded and looked to the Crobat alongside his waist, then back to Sam confidently. "Got it. I don't have a PokeGear anymore so alerting you guys will come easy for me." Sam then turned his attention to the remaining members of his group.

"Cynthia and Steven: upon breaking through Rocket's front lines I'd like you to join my group in taking on the building itself. While there's one main entrance we will spread out as far as we can when we get inside of it, but I'd like to trust you as a team to rescue the Pokemon being tested on that are still there."

Kukui spoke up, juggling a single Pokeball in his hand that contained his partner Pokemon. "What will you be doing? Hopefully after all this is over we should all have a go in a Battle Royal of our own: 4-way of course."

Throwing out two fingers to point at Haru, who was standing next to Syra; stretching both of her arms like she was about to throw down fists once again. "Syra, Haru and I will pair up with Red, Blue, and Lance and will move to stop Giovanni or at the very least rescue that rogue scientist and any other outliers. We have reason to believe that they are not the only one that wanted out of this whole thing but were unable to leave of their own accord, so we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Lance nodded and looked to the side, as his Dragonite was confidently flexing its wings. "I had hoped that after the Lake of Rage incident, going through Mahogany Town's secret lair and stopping Team Rocket with Gold's help that I wouldn't have to involve myself with this sort of situation once again. It seems our job will never truly be finished until today is over."

Steven smirked, tossing his own few cents. "For the moment, we can't focus too much on failure or 'what-if' conclusions. My only regret now is I was unable to supply the type of stones everyone here needed to completely equal the strength of Dynamax."

There was a pause before Wallace walked over to Steven, nudging him a bit and shook his head. "Now that's something we shouldn't go into this performance with, Steven: regrets. I trust that you'll see this to the end!"

"As I trust all of you to not only see your fellow partner's back as something to defend but to remind everyone why you were such remarkable figures in the Pokemon League's history. Moving on..." Sam turned his attention to Iris with a sweeping arm motion. "Iris, you've had experience with situations like this before, so I'd like to have you be at the front of the pack when we approach the building since we will need someone capable of helpin us pull a 'Pinsir' Maneuver. If you have to, pull back or move to support Silver, Wallace, Kukui or Leon. The latter, I'm unsure if I really need to direct since he was, at one point, known as the 'undefeated Champion'." Leon throw out a fist pump and readjusted his cap as Iris kept smiling, albeit with a confident stance.

"Blue, since you will be with my group heading into Team Rocket's headquarters with Red and Lance, is there anything else you can tell us that we may not know from Syra's intel?" Sam asked, turning his full attention to the veteran.

The rival to Red took a second to ponder it over as his fellow trainers looked at him, but Blue shrugged. "There may be a few rooms that require us to solve puzzles, and since we know they have bigger laboratories where the Pokemon are being tested it stands to reason there will be more grunts and scientists. Some of those may even be equipped with Pokemon but they may or may not end up with these 'super' Pokemon...although that's just a guess. It's also easy to assume that ever since our girl Syra came here on her own accord awhile back that they've increased security."

Syra felt a vein in her forehead throb before Haru raised a hand and stepped forward. "If I may make a point? Since nobody here but Syra, Leon and I are native to the Dynamax phenomenon, I feel it necessary to point out that not all Max Raid Pokemon are powerful. I want to keep you guys in check about this: we in Galar classified them on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. '5' is used to label any Max Raid Pokemon the most powerful or difficult class of Max Raid Pokemon, with '1' being the weakest. I won't deny at all that they've possibly used the DNA to enhance regular Pokemon for this battle, but let's keep this in mind." He was interjected by Syra at the end, who politely added "We should still attack as if every single one is a 5 star Pokemon and not let up at all, and Team Rocket is full of people who also may release their Pokemon that they deem 'weak'. The way I see it, we may end up with some Pokemon that should be rescued and rehabilitated. As we attack these Grunts, don't feel limited to 1-on-1: use more if you have to or group up with others. Max Raids require multiple trainers back home, and they're not going to be playing fair game with us at all."

Her 'Red' equivalent, Haru, folded his arms over each other and raised his chin up a bit. "Good points, Syra, thank you." Her face went a little pink as she looked away. "It was just a point I thought we should all keep in mind: nothing too extravagant."

Turning back to the whiteboard, Sam nodded confidently as it appeared everybody was on the same page and it was time to stop discussing things and to go forth and do them. The time to act was upon everyone. "Then it's all settled then: we all have our objectives. This is Team Rocket we are facing here, so we know they will not let up. Don't forget for a second that we're fighting for all of our regions. Johto, Kanto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar: all of them." He extended his arm forward with his palm facing the floor as everyone else put their arms forward with their hands on top of his own; Syra's own reluctantly ending up at the end.

"Haru?" Sam prompted.

"Hmm?" The bespectacled Gym Leader wasn't counting on him to say anything else directed at him.

In as little time as they had, the two had grown a bond befitting of great friends, and Sam had a feeling of confidence in Haru that was budding to the surface. "You're the one that helped me with this case, so as the main person assigned for this, I'd like you to lead. Do you have anything to say before we head out?"

The man of Steel type grinned, turning his other hand into a fist and proclaimed. "Let's light a fuse under these rockets, guys."

- - - - - Saffron City, Team Rocket Headquarters - - - - -

"Okay. Okay so I knew there was going to be a lot but uh..." Leon started to speak, while next to his Charizard. Him and the entire group, with Iris and Haru at the front of the pack, laid eyes on a tall building that reached the skies many floors up. Surrounding the building was a small army of Pokemon and Team Rocket Grunts standing behind them. The outdoor army consisted of Alakazams, Kadabras, Weezings, Arboks, Toxicroak, Golems, Persians, Murkrows, Golbats, Vileplumes, Houndooms, Raticates, Sandslashes, Hypnos, Voltorbs, and Marowaks. The city itself was barren. Whatever Team Rocket had done to get people to stay within their homes or otherwise off the streets seemed to have worked for the moment.

Riding on the back of Zamazenta, Haru took a hard look before glancing to Iris. "So then...this is it." he said, looking back at his fellow trainers. Everyone looked back with the same determination he wore, with Iris commenting. "The pain of the Pokemon inside...I can feel it."

"I know what you mean, Iris. We're right here staring down at pure evil here. Is everyone who has one have their Mega Rings ready?" Haru called out, with those who contained one raising their arms with a unified "Aye!". In the distance, he saw some clouds gathering and took one small pause to look at the army before him. For one moment he was shaking. Perhaps he had bitten off too much this time. "Everyone have their communicators on their ears right?" he asked again, to which he got another resounding affirmation from everyone.

Haru pushed all thoughts of doubt to the back of his mind, raising up his own arm that had the Mega Ring. "Allright guys, light up those Rockets and send them flying straight to orbit!" then pointing forward. Zamazenta roared, shaking the foundations where the outdoor Rocket Grunts were waiting, and the fight was on as the large crowd of Rocket Grunts also had their own war cry. As Zamazenta 'equipped' itself into its enhanced form, Haru hung onto the mane while several attacks fly by him. Hyper Beams, Rock Throws, and Pokemon using the attacks 'Slam' and 'Body Press' would signal the start of the fight. Zamazenta shrugs off a Pokemon that hits it by the side using 'Body Press', with Haru being launched off of it, hitting the ground. Jumping to his feet, he narrowly dodges a Thunderbolt with Zamazenta protecting him. The large lion-like Pokemon looks to its master. "Thanks 'zenta. Now that we're on the ground together, let's try to weed these losers out!" Haru says, grinning.

"Get them and leave none of them standing! We can't let these guys invade the building! Send all Pokemon out, now!" shouts one Team Rocket Grunt who was most likely a leader, before Iris got close with a large steel Pokemon next to her. "Aggron! Go out there and show them how we do things from Unova!" Iris shouts, raising her arm to Mega-Evolve her companion. True to the description of previous intel in the operation, her Aggron undergoes a new evolution with boosted stats, as the Mega Aggron shouts. "Use Earthquake!"

The ground near a faction of Rocket Grunts breaks up and shakes violently as a section of Pokemon feel the intense damage, with some catapulting through the air from the ground-busting attack. "Hey, try to mitigate damage to only the Grunts and within or around their building, guys. Let's not bring any collateral damage to the city itself!" Silver had shouted, with his own Sneasel fighting with an 'Icy Wind' attack."

From within the dispersed armies, several Hyper Beam shots fly across where Diantha stood, as her Gardevoir deflected it at the last second before casting 'Moon Blast'. Kukui came to her aid, running up as a piece of debris landed with his Incineroar shielding them from the blast. "This is certainly a lot more chaotic than I figured, but if I'm honest with myself this is interesting. Incineroar, let's get fired up and use Inferno Overdrive!" The red cat-like Pokemon flexed its muscles as if performing in front of an audience, and let out a blaze-like glory of flames at several of its opponents. The fire ends up going past some of the Pokemon and instead setting fire to some Team Rocket Grunts' outfits, and thus retreat.

Sam strikes a fist pump. "So Haru and Syra were right! Not all of these Pokemon are as strong as we thought: they are enhanced, sure, but with our Mega Rings we've evened the odds! Some of these are on the weaker end of the Dynamax 'Super Pokemon' end, guys!"

Syra hands her Gothitelle a 'X Accuracy' supplement and grunts after hearing that. "Yeah yeah, it's your first time doing a Raid battle, Sam. You popped your cherry and we're alllllll~ proud of you." She'd say sarcastically but meant it only in jest. Sam was physically near where she was located and when he sheepishly had looked where she was at, all Syra did was stick her tongue out. "Psych. You'll get used to it, rookie!" running past him to command 'Future Sight' with her Pokemon. The man from Johto blinks, before yelling. "Wh-what? 'Rookie'?! Who are you calling 'rookie'?!"

On the east side, the Grunts would not be given much time to respond when a large blast of fire came from the skies: Leon and Red simultaneously having a Charizard of their own. The attacks spread out, with a few of the strengthened Psychic Pokemon using Max Guard. Initially satisfied with having taken down a few Pokemon, Leon winced. "Should have known this was going to happen!" with Red looking at him in understanding.

"What the...?" Blue is seen, after noticing that a Hydro Pump attack with his Blastoise ricochets off as an Alakazam fires back a Confusion Ray. Syra comes in next to him with her Gothitelle who uses a Shadow Ball attack in retaliation. She looks to him. "It's Max Guard. Think of it as the move 'Protect' but it's what Max Raid Pokemon use..but if we force it to keep using it then it may not work! There are some moves that ignore it of course but...well we should just keep firing to exhaust them for all they got!"

Sam, who still had no experience currently in Max Raids even with his time in Galar, spoke up with his own Feraligatr using Shadow Claw, having started to attack another group. "So basically just keep hitting them and don't let up." His answer came when Haru had shown up riding on Zamazenta's back as the large Pokemon bowled through a part of the army as it used its attack 'Behemoth Bash'.

Leaping off of the large, lion-like Pokemon once they were out of sight from one of the waves, Haru knelt behind a parked car with Zamazenta following. "Tch. A lot of these guys seem to just be assaulting us by telling their Pokemon to do one move over and over: Sandslashes with Hyper Beams, Kadabras with Psychics...we'll be in trouble if they are able to figure out how to use Dynamax Moves. These guys are attacking like those in the GO League do." He popped his head around the corner and then ducked quickly to avoid being seen by a troupe of Arboks, Persians, and Weezings go by him. "The GO League?" Syra asked him, confused. Haru responded after searching for some Ether capsules. "It's a unique league, and like us, they too, have raids. Difference is, their way of battling is a little different. It's kind of like in the Ferrum League, except it's not!" he shouted, yelping a bit as an explosion from a Voltorb went off a block over.

"That doesn't make any sense, Haru!" She shouts back in the communicator, with her Shiny Machamp coming out to fight. "Have you looked around you, Syra? This whole situation doesn't make sense either but here we are! Gah. Cynthia, how are things going on your end? Have you been able to get through?" Haru calls out, as nearby he saw Alder had changed his current Pokemon from Bouffalant to Volcarona hoping to penetrate the massive Psychic based defenses with Silver Wind.

Not hearing any answer for a few seconds, Haru called out to her again. "Cynthia?"

"I'm here, Haru, but it seems they're guarded on all sides. I may have to get drastic for us to get an entrance opened up!" she's heard replying, with Garchomp fighting off another group. Lance's Dragonite is seen flying overhead spreading Thunder Waves below, in hopes that it will do something to slow them down. Seeing this, Haru moved from his previous spot to another, tossing a PokeBall out after retrieving Zamazenta to have his Lucario,Mirukon come out. "Lance that may not help if these Pokemon are utilizing Dynamax Pokemon energy! Even if they get paralyzed we may not-"

Haru ate his own words watching a small group of the enemy's Pokemon, including their trainers, get hit by the electricity based attack. Commanding his Dragonite with fervor, the Dragon Master shouted "Now, give them a Hyper Beam right back, Dragonite!". The would-be Steel Gym Leader shrugged. "Son of a bitch, he did it anyways. Must be how he held onto so many victories in Kanto. Or was it Johto? Either way, he showed me up. Let's not fall behind. What do you say, Mirukon: should we level the playing field?" eyeing his fellow friend and Pokemon. The bipedal Pokemon tensed its muscles and focused on the bond he had with Haru throughout the journey he's spent so far, and as Haru raised his Mega Ring upwards the Pokemon shone with a new light never before seen. Then, before his eyes, Haru saw that Mirukon's body had transformed into a Mega Lucario form...much to his own delight. "Holy shit! So THIS is what Mega Evolution is, huh? It's like a Gigantimax form, but tiny! How do you feel, buddy?"

In asking his own Pokemon that question, Haru comes to face with a troupe of Marowaks who stare down his own Pokemon. All of them with bones in their paws, they all raise their arms; readying their attack. Before Haru finished uttering the words "Close Combat", Mirukon had already disappeared into the enemies before him, before reappearing next to its trainers. The Marowaks all faint, and the Team Rocket Grunts commanding them freak out. "Sweet. Merciful. Arceus. That was AMAZING, Mirukon! Hahaha!" high-fiving the Pokemon, and tossing him an X Defense and X Special Defense to recover the debuffs from such a move.

Through the rubble, Wallace walked up to Haru, calling to him. "Hey, Haru! Figured you would need this since you withdrew one of your Pokemon already and it took damage." tossing him a Full Restore. To protect the two of them, he had his Milotic stand guard, using Surf to buy them time. "Your Pokemon is part Steel, yes? Then the fire damage it sustained should be healed up with this." The red-haired trainer smiled back confidently. "Thanks Wallace! I was going to keep stock of them until later but these guys are a lot tougher than I figured. Do you have any ideas how we can break through this?"

Kneeling down where his companion was at, Wallace looked at the ground, then met eyes with Haru. "I believe so. In order to get an opening we may have to get risky. Consider where we are positioned for a moment: let's see if Cynthia's Garchomp knows Giga Impact." Haru's eyes widened at the idea and took to asking the blonde ex-Champion on the communicator. She responded in kind "It does, but as it currently stands I don't know if that's enough to give us enough of a clearing."

Syra decided to speak up on the communicator after ducking from Golbats divebombing towards her, even as her Machamp was defending her position. "Hey, this is Syra here. I have no problem giving you my Dire Hit and X Accuracy if you need to buy time to make sure it's just enough! It's my only one I was able to procure from the inventory, so you'd better use it well!" She'd end up yelping defensively as a loud blast from a Flash Cannon attack shoots by her, and a Magnezone floats by with its Rocket Grunt trainer not far behind. Her eyes widen in horror for a split second before a Druddigon roared, using 'Rock Throw' at it: aided by a Conkeldurr who used 'Stone Edge'. Both Iris and Alder leapt at the last second to Syra's aid, with the old man turning to her. "Youth is the future, and that's something I'll fight to protect. Go get Cynthia those boost items: we'll defend you here!"

Iris gestured Syra with one hand waving. "Go, go!" It felt completely different to be on the receiving end of some aid in her life, but Syra did not waste the opportunity and sprang to her feet after withdrawing her Machamp. "Cynthia I'm coming to you! Be ready to catch the bottles okay?"

The blonde looked around with one of her hands on her earlobe where the communicator lay. "Okay, but be careful!" she warned. Syra smirked confidently, relying on adrenaline to fuel her ability to duck and weave through the battlefield. Everyone's attention came to a screeching halt however when a glowing Golbat summoned a large gust of wind in the form of what was called 'Max Airstream'; causing destruction to the buildings where it shot. Several of the trainers are hit by it, as their Pokemon are damaged by it.

"Damn it, these stupid Grunts are starting to realize how to use Max Moves effectively now. If we don't stop this right now then we're going to be done for right here and the city will be the first to pay...!" Haru shouts, frustrated. "Okay, let's think this through, there's no-" His body freezes suddenly when he sees a large slab of rock rise from the ground in front of him and Mirukon; 'Max Rockfall' as it was named. At that moment he did not see anyone near him, and upon viewing this, felt his life flash before his very eyes as the large slab of cemented rock felt as if it was aiming to squish him in slow motion.

The day he began to collect Pokemon Trading Cards. Meeting Hiro. Getting to know Hop and Leon, and their family. Nessa. Everything about Nessa. He saw her face in his mind...death had finally knocked on his door.

"GROSS!"

"DOS!"

Haru was kneeling down defensively thinking he was going to meet his maker before being countered on the Max Rockfall as a Mega Metagross and Mega Gyrados appear near him. Steven and Wallace stood side by side, both using their Pokemon in a last-second shield for Haru via 'Surf' and 'Meteor Mash'. The giant slab of rock breaks apart entirely and both attacks hit their target. Both of the men turn to look at Haru and help him to his feet. "We've both heard a lot about your exploits, and it would weigh heavily on our conscious if you met your end here." Steven had said, with one arm down to his side.

Nodding a bit and keeping his chin up, Wallace agreed, putting a hand on Haru's shoulder. "Hmm, yes. Steven is right. I've been dazzled by the performance you've put on thus far, Haru, and I don't just mean today! I know you must think yourself not so elegant, but don't lose hope yet, Haru. After all, you've a woman to come back home to, yes?"

"You two...damn. Tch." He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed being saved by at least two figures he grew to silently admire when he did his research awhile back, but shrugged off the feeling and looked to his Lucario, Mirukon. "I'm not going to be shown up by veterans so easily...so I won't let you guys down!"

"Cynthia! I'm going to toss it to where you're at, okay? Get ready!" Syra calls out, leaping over the hood of a nearby car. In a second she sees Cynthia with her Garchomp and throws the two items in her direction. The Dragon Pokemon took notice when it called out to its trainer, and snapped its jaws to catch both supplements in its mouth. "Thanks, new girl!"

Wasting no time at all, Cynthia applies both supplemental items to her partner Pokemon and with one arm yells the command loud and clear: "Garchomp, use Giga Impact and create an opening for us!"

- - - - - Goldenrod City, Johto - - - - -

- - - - - Goldenrod Radio Tower - - - - -

Running into the office of the manager, a man holding a phone with the receiver covered shouts. "Boss! We have urgent news to report...!"

"What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost!" replied the veteran with salt-and-pepper facial hair. Without a word, the younger man handed the phone over. On the other end was someone living in Kanto who worked in Saffron City near the Pokemon Gym. Widening his eyes in shock, the manager quickly turned a few knobs on a soundboard and turned to the employee who ran up to his office. "We're going live...this is bad. Everyone has to know what's going on."

All across multiple regions of the world, Team Rocket was now being watched, as amateurishly captured video footage from citizens living in Saffron City were spreading news far and wide about the event involving Team Rocket. Not long into the assault would a few News Station branded helicopters would fly by at a possible safe distance.

"Sinnoh News Net coming at you live with a Breaking News segment! As of right now, Team Rocket has begun what looks like an all-out assault against-"

"CTV is here live! We're reporting a lot of collateral damage in what appears to be WAR! War between Team Rocket and figures of the Pokemon Leagues-"

"-involving those such as Lance and Blue from Kanto, Diantha from Kalos, TV Mauville is still confirming the appearances as we speak-"

"Whatever is going on is chaotic, so we at GND8 must warn you what you're about to see may not be suitable for all audiences-"

- - - - A House In Galar - - - -

"-every single figure in the Pokemon League from many regions are here, but what's also curious is the one inclusion of the recent winner of the Pokemon League in Galar who succeeded in all but taking the Champion title: Syra."

The TV program in one house was running the live broadcast as it was using live footage from a crew that was on ground level with the battle that was happening live. A young man facing the TV had hits eyes light up wide when the footage revealed Syra in her iconic blue jacket, shorts, cap, leggings, and her partner Pokemon, Intelleon, who was using 'Snipe Shot' from around the corner of some debris.

"Oh my God! Mom! LOOK! See, this is why Syra's still the best even after everything that's happened! Even after what occurred at the Wyndon Stadium, she's out there risking herself for us! Gosh...she's not only terrifyingly beautiful, but to think she's this selfless too? What a woman." Pointing at the TV, the teen who was named Isaac bounced in his seat. His mother, sighed but smirked at him. "You don't think she's doing this for ulterior motives do you? Have you not kept up with the reports coming out about her since her battle with Haru?"

"I don't care! Syra is the ideal Pokemon trainer, and someone I admire!" Almost starstruck and not wanting to have his opinion of her challenged, Isaac turned back to the TV watching the video switch to showcase Sam from Johto healing his Feraligatr with a Max Potion. /One day I'm going to go to a Pokemon Gym Leader battle and meet her face to face!/

For the rest of the evening, Isaac would be able to stay glued to the constant barrage of news coming out from the event.

Elsewhere, others in Galar were also paying attention. Sonia had decided to pay Nessa a visit since she knew her friend was probably anxious from having Haru leave, and needed some time with her bestie since Leon was there doing the exact same thing. At Nessa's home, her Drednaw was on the floor next to her in the living room with the pair watching the TV. Occasionally it would flicker from what damage Team Rocket's army of 'Super Pokemon' was causing to the locale itself, to reporters trying to figure out just who was all there.

As the camera changes to show the News Anchor on TV with multiple images of amateurishly captured shots of Syra, Sam, Cynthia, Leon, and Haru, Nessa felt her chest tighten up. On one hand, he was still okay and looked well within his element. On the other hand, she worried something would happen live on television that would traumatize her.

"Nessa...? Hey. We'll both get through this." Sonia replied, looking next to her, and giving Nessa a big hug. The two girls embraced each other with the dark beauty clinging. "I know I will. I'm glad you're here, Sonia."

"Trust me. I know I'm putting up a strong front here, but there's a bit of worry I have for Leon, too. We haven't been together as long as you and Haru, but that goofball is in uncharted territory.." The orange haired professor said, and in response, Nessa had leaned back and tilted her head to the side in confusion.

Snickering, Sonia replied "It's a brand new location he's never been to: he's going to get totally lost if the others aren't constantly looking out for him!"

It was a moderately cheesy point to bring up, but Nessa took in the humor easily and smiled widely. "Good thing Haru is there to help direct him around. Both of our goofballs are there fighting for us."

The TV interrupted their thoughts together, as the newscaster cut herself short. "Sorry, I'm being given the signal to switch to our live reporter that's at Ground Zero of this attack on Team Rocket's Headquarters. It-...oh! Oh my." the video showed a large dustcloud from several Pokemon being flung about from the Garchomp's Giga Impact attack, with Cynthia waving her arms to signal someone to follow her lead. The camera changes to show a group of 6 people running.

"I-it appears that we have Cynthia herself assisting some fellow trainers into the building; of what may be a heist or operation of some sort to stop them! I believe those below are Lance, Blue, and Red from Kanto. Oh my goodness, that's also Sam the ex-Champion of Johto, and with him are Syra and Haru from Galar! Whatever this is that's happening now folks, we will continue to report on the events here! If so many prominent figures are here, including Syra, then this has to be a very big event!"

Nessa leaned foward and got on her knees, putting one hand on the TV as the camera showed that Haru was on the ground level and on his way to enter the building. "Haru...he's there. If he's going inside then that means he's part of the main force that's going to possibly fight Giovanni." Her face turned into a pout and she shouted. "HARU YOU BETTER COME BACK TO ME IN ONE PIECE DAMN IT OR I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS!"

- - - - - Saffron City, Kanto, Team Rocket HQ - - - - -

Lance, Blue, Red, Sam, Syra, and Haru rush in after Cynthia's Garchomp was able to clear the way for them all to come in. Haru had begun to make a point on where to go before he reeled his head back and sneezed loudly. The others looked at him and blinked. "What, is it the dust?" Blue chuckled.

Rubbing his nose and sniffling, Haru shook his head. "Nah. Maybe? I don't know. Perhaps someone is talking about me."

The 6 of them saw that everyone on the first floor had dispersed, with the lone receptionist hiding behind the computer. Blue and Syra walk up to it with both kicking the desk. "HEY you! Tell us where the laboratories are located and how to get to them!" Syra yelled, with the girl behind it yelping full volume, and then slowly handing Syra a map. Snatching it away, Syra takes a second to look her up and down briefly and then points. "Oh right I remember you. I fought you the first time I came here right?"

The girl simply nods and continues to hide behind her chair.

Red looks at the map after it was handed to him by Blue, who then hands it to Lance, and so forth. Sam, being the progenitor of the operation, looks to his fellow trainers and motioned everyone closer. "Okay, so it looks like things may have changed from when you described their flooring plan, Syra. Any of this look familiar to you?"

She leaned forward and rubbed her chin, narrowing her eyes and grunting when looking at it a second time. "Thinking about it right now, it seems there's a few things that's new. I must have honestly overlooked them or not gone through them when I visited her the very few times I did, and when I initially came here. They most likely have doubled their security, and considering the army outside that's being dealt with, I'm unsure if they have many left and were probably just banking on that stopping us."

"But then there's Giovanni. Gold and Red were the ones who've fought him before, and he's not the type to run away. He'll be ready for us." Sam pointed out, then looking to Syra and Haru. "You two, I want you guys to go through the areas that Syra is familiar with and see if we can't find Pokemon that are able to be freed. We don't have enough of a crew to take care of them safely until we're through and get Emergency Services out here, so use the Balls that we got from when we were in the Gym to transport them safely."

"...and if there are so many that we can't safely capture them and transport them safely out without a Ball?" Haru asked, raising a hand up inquisitively.

"Haru has a point. We all may be able to rescue a considerable number as we are, but again, this is a whole organization we're looking at here." Lance added to Haru's question, both of his arms crossing.

Rolling his sleeves up, Sam pondered this then replied. "Then come back to them later. We have to do our best to rescue as many as possible, if not all of them. I know that we generally only keep 6 on our person at one time for our team, but let's use the bags we got and brought with us to carry extra, and if possible, use the computers here to transport them safely to boxes. It's safe to assume that Team Rocket's intel and laboratories utilize such technology. Syra, you were able to mess around with your Dad's computer and find this location. Do you think you could do something similar but for the minor task of transporting Pokemon into boxes?"

Syra looked to the ground in thought, as the others leaned forward in their huddle quietly. "It shouldn't be too hard, honestly. If I find my friend, then this is all but guaranteed. That is...if Giovanni hasn't done something with her at this point already. I hope she's safe."

Red looked around, and then gestured to his comrades, Blue and Lance. They understood him perfectly fine without words. "Honestly it's surreal being back here, but hopefully this will be the last time. I think what the 3 of us will be doing is trying to knock out the rest of the force and open up a way for us to get to Giovanni." Blue said, bringing out a Pokeball that had his Blastoise in it.

"Lance, Red, Blue. It was a pleasure meeting you all. Let's meet up soon and contact us on the communicators when you find out something." Haru said, reaching forward and shaking their hands before gesturing for Syra to lead him down where she was in charge of. Before joining them, Sam looks to the others...thinking back on how Lance, Blue, and Red once saw him become the Champion of the region there, and yet here he is once again doing something for his hometown.

- - - Team Rocket HQ 12F - - -

The floor that laid before the trio was all new territory to Syra, but with the layout and general map knowledge they were carrying with them it did not feel as the group was running blind. They only came in contact with a duo of trainers that attempted to stop them in their tracks, though the talking Meowth and strength behind the team did nothing but annoy them. The time expended simply dealing with them was barely worth the trouble, with Syra and her Tyranitar blinking in disbelief at each other before withdrawing it into her ball. Seeing the group run off and shouting about 'blasting off again' made Syra wince, looking to the side. Almost in a smug manner, Haru looked to her.

"Friends of yours?" he asks.

Her face went pink and she sighed, holding her hand up to shield her face from looking at them. "Just...some people I knew and ran into a few times while here. Not particular a group I was ever fond of, but...I don't hate them. They're no 'Giovanni'."

Sam stared at the direction the Team Rocket goons ran off and shrugged. "I dunno. They seemed funny at least. Are you sure they were legitimate employees here? Do you all do that here?"

"ENOUGH TALK ABOUT THE DAMN TEAM ROCKET GROUP WE JUST DEFEATED! They're stupid and already gone! L-let's just move on okay?" Syra huffed, walking down the hallway with Haru and Sam snickering. The hallways were much larger and wider than the ones previously. It did not seem to be meant for those such as the Grunts to be funneled into, but where the research Pokemon would be contained. One such hallway had one-way glass panes with containers inside: some filled with Pokemon who were alive and kept for 'testing', others were the already-enhanced 'Super' Pokemon yet to be utilized for the plans from Giovanni.

The group went to the first double doors that they came across leading to where these contained Pokemon were at, where Syra cursed when coming to a new roadblock. After trying for a little while to come up with a password hack, a new prompt came onscreen for 'fingerprint confirmation'. "Shit! How are we supposed to surpass this now?!"

"Well that's a shame. Let's try busting these walls down..." Sam suggested, getting one of his own PokeBalls in hand and ready to throw it. He stops himself before even attempting to do anything, prompting Haru to look at him. "What is it?" he asks. Sam shakes his head. "That would be too reckless of me. If they have these Pokemon cooped up in here then doing anything but the regula-"

**THWAK!** Syra punched the wall in frustration. "DAMN IIIIIT! What do we do? They're right there!" the outburst prompted Haru to walk up to her while his forehead sweat a bit nervously. "H-hey let's try not to bring any more attention here to us. What do we know that could be of help here?"

The demeanor in which he approached her caught Syra off her guard, though she did focus for a second and calmly looked over the situation again. "Well, I could try to see if there's any way we can forg-"

"S-Syra?"

Syra turned around whipping herself to the direction of the voice before her face softened up to come face to face with someone very familiar. Before her was a woman with a lab coat, dark blue hair and glasses. Haru and Sam looked with her, and then looked back at Syra; visibly confused. "H-holly...?"

Syra's eyes glazed over into tears and she bit her lip, with both hands clenching into fists. "H-h...holly..."

The two women met in the middle as Syra ran full speed; embracing in a tight hug. As her hat fell off her head from the speed at which she ran towards Holly, Syra had finally come to see her friend again. Whatever doubt she had before in not being able to meet her friend, or that she was hurt disappeared entirely upon seeing her best friend. Syra began to cry openly, being held by the longtime friend of hers, as Holly began to talk to the group. "I take it you're with the others that have attacked the building?"

"Yes we are: I'm Haru, the upcoming Steel Gym Leader and ex-Champion of Galar. This is Sam, the ex-Champion of Johto. YOU were the one who sent the letter?" Haru replied, introducing himself and his friend.

The rogue scientist nodded, still holding her friend and now petting Syra's hair openly since the hat flew right off with the speed in which Syra lunged at her. "I have been trying to escape this facility and this organization for awhile so I sent that in a hurry. For awhile I thought I would never be able to leave, but with this, there's hope. I can possibly atone for my sins I've attributed towards."

"Can you help us unlock these doors so we can rescue the Pokemon within, and is there a way to send these to some Boxes? I was attempting to do that but it appears that the security for these is tighter than I had figured." Syra finally asked, wiping her reddened eyes and looking up at her best friend. The lady smiled, and with a renewed fervor, nodded with certainty. "Not only will I do all that, but I'll try to give you guys the information needed to revert these Pokemon back to their normal, un-tampered form. First, however, we need to get them to safety. A lot of these Pokemon have been damaged for long periods of time with little rest and low numbers of restoration items."

Sam looked around to see if anyone decided to pick up on their trail, and if they would get ambushed. Grabbing onto one ball from his belt, he threw it, and out came Feraligatr, who roared confidently once it came out. "I'll guard this part of the hallway here, you guys. Do what you have to do, but do it quick! We have to make our way to Giovanni after this and rendezvous with the others!"

Flashing a thumbs up, Haru, Syra, and Holly all agree to this objective, and the next phase of the plan would initiate.

- - - A Short Time Later - - -

Quietly tapping away on a computer not far from the holding cells where the captured Pokemon lay, Holly kept her face glued to the screen before her. Haru, Sam, and Syra had been using the balls they brought with them to safely transfer them to a Pokemon Box account that would house them; away from Team Rocket's eyes. While tapping away as Syra took turns handing balls to Holly, the woman looked at Syra from the corner of her glasses. "The boxes here are almost already filled up. We may have to transport these out of here soon on foot to another location: it's already risky transporting so many at once."

Turning to the side, Syra tries to contact the other group that had left earlier. "Blue, Red, Lance, have you guys found anything at all yet?"

The communicator would buzz in her ear with some static before Lance responded. "We got to Giovanni's office but he's not here, though it's presumed he hasn't left since the only way out of here is through the lobby. Nobody else has reported finding him, so he must be on his way down. There's a lot of papers strewn about, so it can be assumed he was in a hurry to make his exit like last time when Red took him down. We did however come across records of that weapon that the letter spoke of however."

"Yeah? What did you guys find out?" she asked. Silence. "Hello? Lance? Blue? Guys are you there?"

Holly looked to her friend, and Syra looked back with a shrug. "Just lost contact with the others, but they said Giovanni isn't in his office."

Sam and Haru come back together with another cart they wheeled that was loaded with Pokemon-contained balls. Tipping his glasses up a little, Haru heard the last part and frowned a little anxiously. "Wait, if Giovanni isn't there that could make things far more risky than they were before. We're not done yet!" he exclaimed, before everyone's attention went to the sound of a loud clicking from the side.

"I'll be the one who will make sure that you all are 'done'. Turn around slowly with your hands up." came a booming voice. Syra, Holly, Haru and Sam froze in fear and slowly lifted both of their arms up to the sight of Giovanni holding a pistol aimed at the group with his Persian right next to him. He was standing opposite where Feraligatr was keeping guard, rendering the defenses asunder at that point. "Syra. How good of you to come back home. I don't recall you being on the payroll anymore. You there, with the messy black hair!" he called to Sam. "Recall your Feraligatr, now, or you'll be coming to a short end, boy."

Hating that he would be obeying such requests in such a circumstance, Sam held up the ball that Feraligatr would be paired with and withdrew it back. The venom in Syra would come up from the pits of her stomach as her eyes pierced his gaze. "Giovanni. Love what you've done with the whole place when I was gone. It was just missing some changes and a good ol' touch from yours truly." Haru's face had faltered completely, sweating bullets and hadn't said a single thing at all. Looking to her new friend, Syra just quietly gestured to him with her eyes to 'keep calm and let me handle this'. "Regardless of why you're here, it's pretty easy to see that you're the reason my beautiful Team Rocket is under attack. Not only that, but my dear Holly; how disappointing it is to find you here. You would so easily toss our goals and visions to the wayside after all you've done?!" the mob-like-boss of Team Rocket shouted angrily, still keeping his gun pointing at the group.

Holly did her best to keep calm and hands raised still while answering. "All things considered, Giovanni, you know that I had issues with the means and nature of all our work. Given what you had gotten away with already it was only a matter of time before it came to this flashpoint. I'm doing what I can because I still possess my humanity, unlike yourself. I guess you could consider this my two-weeks-notice."

/W-wow. I've never seen Holly so fired up and confident like this before. It's pretty cool!/ Syra thought to herself, eyeing the rogue scientist from the side and staying still.

Narrowing his eyes, Giovanni looked to the floor and shook his head. "Short-term vision for long-term goals."

*BANG!*

Holly falls to the floor with a loud 'thud', holding her left knee as she wailed in pain, screaming. Syra screams "HOLLY!" before angrily growling at her former boss. Haru tries his best to not let it be known that he's shaken up, but his face changes to defiance and looks at the boss with Syra in the same manner. "You won't get away with this you piece of shit!"

Walking around where the wounded scientist lay on the ground, Giovanni clicked his tongue in annoyance; Persian keeping to his side all the while. "Oh Holly, it's such a shame that it has had to come to this you know. Had you merely kept on track and done what I asked you to do, you wouldn't be in such a miserable position." he took aim at her again, with Syra now huddling her whole body over Holly. Chuckling lowly, Giovanni smirked. "You would work so hard to get to this point, just to die over her?"

"Absolutely. I would die trying to protect her, since she represents my home, and what I fought for! She, and Galar, are everything to me!" Syra angrily shouted. She winces as she hears the gun cock, fearing her last second is near before the building shook violently. Outside, a Max Strike attack from one of his own Grunts backfired and sent shockwaves strong enough to destabilize everyone standing in the hallway as the floor shook. In a split second, Sam's arms reeled behind him and lunged forward: tackling the leader of Team Rocket and knocking the gun far away. Unable to keep him down, however, Giovanni kicked him off with the Persian running to his side. "Syra, Haru! Take Holly down to the lobby and get her to Silver!"

"Wait, dumbass! I got as much stake in this as you do!" Syra yelled back as everyone saw Giovanni make his way through a "PRIVATE ENTRANCE" door that locked upon closing. Through the door it would lead to a staircase, and at its end was a single elevator leading to the rooftop. Turning back, Sam brought out his Feraligatr again. "NO ARGUING! We don't have time for this! It's important that you two make sure she's safe. We'll figure out how to save the rest of the Pokemon later! Group up with Lance, Blue, and Red, save Holly, and get out of here! I'll handle Giovanni: he owes me!"

Turning to his water starter, Sam stretched out a hand and pointed to the now locked door that the boss retreated through. "Feraligatr! Use Crunch on the door!" he shouted as the blue-and-red water lizard crunched on the door hard and pulled away with its mouth. The door crumbles and hits the floor with a loud clang as Sam makes chase with Giovanni. /This is finally my chance to make things right...! Oleana, wait for me!/

- - - - - Team Rocket HQ - - - - -

- - - - - Rooftop - - - - -

Walking onto the roof and pulling out a phone, Giovanni dialed a number and looked around. Before him were plumes of smoke from the constant attacks happening around his building as the outside armies of Pokemon he had lent to his grunts were still doing their fighting. He hadn't thought it would rouse as much attention as it was due to the several helicopters hovering nearby, but it made no difference. His plan would start that very day and nothing would get in his way.

Back in Galar across network television, the broadcast showed an amateurishly captured piece of footage of the clad-in-black man with a phone to his ear. The headline onscreen was "WAR WITH TEAM ROCKET". Immediately the on-site news reporter went straight to business. "Folks right now as we can see, Giovanni, the former boss of Team Rocket, has been identified and seemingly confirmed to be the reason for their resurgence! Whether or not he has taken back his position as leader remains to be seen! We'll keep shooting as long as possible to see to today's conclusion, folks!"

- - - - - Galar, Wyndon: Pokemon League HQ - - - - -

Sitting in her office, Oleana was monitoring the situation from every conceivable angle she could while doing what was necessary of her at home. As the many many cameras from many news stations were reporting on the events, her eyes dart back and forth from her computer to the multiple screens. Keeping herself busy was one way she would be at peace; often finding herself late into the morning hours leaned forward and coding away. Her position had changed, but her quirks remained all the same.

Attention got diverted, however, as some of the news stations began to change tone reporting another newcomer on the scene. It didn't click with her mentally upon first scanning the screens initially, but her gut told her to look again and she ended up standing on both feet, gasping. Both of her hands to her side, Oleana clenched them into fists. Before her eyes she saw the image of Sam standing defiantly on the rooftop: PokeBall in hand.

- - - - - Team Rocket HQ Rooftop - - - - -

The mad man was seen turning to his phone with a slightly agitated demeanor. "I don't care about specifics, I just need it now. We have run out of time!" he would say to the fellow Rocket on the phone. Turning to his side, he met eyes with Sam, who had made it up from below. From how high the two were above sea level, the winds were somewhat aggressive though the clouds from earlier also had stayed above them to set the scene. In Sam's eyes it felt like fate had welcomed him there.

"You're right about one thing, Giovanni. You have run out of time. I'm going to put a stop to you right here and now. For everyone in Johto and Kanto that you terrorized, I'm going to take you down for them!".

"Hurry that order up; I've a guest to entertain and need everything ready." the man said into his phone before hanging up. Putting both hands into his pockets, he laughed. "So! To what occasion do I honor the ex-Champion of Johto's presence? I must say it is an interesting arm twist of fate that I have seen you here, though I suppose it wasn't unexpected. I must ask, however, of one thing before we begin."

Giovanni extended an arm forward in a near narcissistic way with his chin tilted upward. "What business do you even have with me that you would seek to take me on by yourself? Are you that confident, or just stupid?"

"This is about what you owe me for what you've done. Not only am I here to make up for lost time and my duty as former Champion, but to fulfill my end. You see, we met awhile back when rumors of you coming back to reform Team Rocket surfaced. I'm not exactly sure how, but you slipped away from me, and I've not stopped regretting it since."

Looking at Sam with eyes squinting, as if to study him more intensely, Giovanni chuckled. "I have a very faint memory, but I remember this encounter now that you mention it. It's taken a bit of time but it appears we've come to a crossroads once again, haven't we Sam? I recalled that you were ex-Champion right away, but it did only now strike me that we had a little history together, haven't we?"

"I had just gotten used to my new life as a former Champion and was put in charge of finding out if it was true that you came back. After everything Gold and Red did to stop you, it would have been bad news if you ever resurfaced. Silver told me that you had a conversation with him that amounted to you only coming back when you would be able to become a better, or stronger person. Quite frankly I don't care about your motives back then. It seems you've gotten to where you are now because you surpassed your past self. When I tried to prove the possibility that you were back, nobody but Looker believed in me. I don't know how you kept your presence hidden, who you paid off to keep silent, or why you chose to come back in the first place! You even chose to head to the same building as before, restructured it in secret under a faux company name until you were ready to shed that coat like the snake you are but make no mistake, Giovanni!" Sam exclaimed, bringing out the ball he was holding. On the inside he was a little scared but had refused to let that control him nor let it be the reason he would back down. "It ends today!"

Giovanni looks down to the Persian next to him and reaches within his suit, pulling out a PokeBall. Speaking with confidence, the villain laid his intentions bare. "I warned you back then, boy, that if we were to meet again I wouldn't let you off so easily. You should have taken the hint when your fellow officials told you to drop the hunt. Though I suppose if Looker was involved..hmmf. In any case, we've spoken long enough by now. It's time you faced the renewed strength and might behind Team Rocket!"

- - - - - Team Rocket HQ - - - - -

- - - - - Lobby - - - - -

Lance, Blue and Red had met back up with Haru and Syra. Holly was laying on her back with her leg kept still, with Silver inside. Outside, the majority of the forces were contained with the remaining forces fighting back the Grunts towards a climax that would be occurring soon. The mood was shifting in the favor of the operation...until Blue delivered the findings that they got when investigating Giovanni's office.

The severity of the situation had skyrocketed. "I understand how you may feel. Red is the only one here out of us that's ran into it alone and survived, but this is different from before." Blue commented.

Haru and Syra's faces turned pale, as he looked to Red. "..i..is this true? THIS is what the secret weapon is..?!" /This is bad...this is REALLY bad! How did we overlook this badly while making our climb up to the top floors? Sam's all alone and there's no way he will survive against this thing! Forget failing the mission, I'll never forgive myself if I have to tell Oleana he was mortally wounded or worse!/ Haru thought to himself with one hand going to his forehead. Red nodded with his arms crossed as Silver looked up to the others. "Things are going to get worse if that thing is unleashed, but we have to have a plan. No splitting up of forces unless needed. Leon, Diantha, Cynthia, and Kukui are still managing outside, but everyone else is helping to wrangle up those that have already been defeated."

"Though none of that matters if Sam can't do what he's attempting to do right now." Syra said in a matter-of-fact fashion, turning to walk back to the elevator. Without saying anything at all, Haru followed. "Hey what are you doing? Didn't you just look at the document? You know exactly what's waiting up for you! With the DNA from the Dynamax phenomenon, it'll be nigh unstoppable! You've seen the damage it's done before, and that's not taking into account its Pokedex entry and accounts from those who have seen it!" shouted Silver.

Both Syra and Haru turned back to him with Haru giving a confident smirk; addressing everyone else with her. "So it's a Max Raid Pokemon, then. That means there's one surefire way to take it down that we are both VERY familiar with, then." to which Syra finished his statement with her left fist pumping towards herself. "We kick its ass with a lot of Pokemon, obviously! Stay here and keep Holly safe, Silver. We'll be back! For now, this concerns us Galar natives: we're used to this pressure."

Riding up the elevator to the same hallway where they had left previously, the intention of Haru and Syra was to head to where Sam was fighting Giovanni and finish the job. For Haru it was a finale to the entirety of the last year, and for Syra, it was an end to a grueling past she brought upon herself. With victory in their sights, the two hashed it out a bit on the ride up.

Haru looked to her with his arms crossed, leaning on one side of the elevator. "So, you nervous?"

Shaking her head, Syra turned her hat inside out to get dust out from it before putting it back on her head. "Not really. This thing has to be a 5 Star strength Pokemon, but considering what it is, it may even be a 6 star. We could be the legendary few trainers who take it down and save the world! It's exciting to me to think of it like that."

Haru glanced at the changing number of the floors they were rising past. "Hmm. Gotta say I actually agree to that, though I better be careful, or Nessa's probably going to kick my ass. Tch. We probably won't even get any rewards from defeating this thing, either."

Syra gave a small laugh and winked at him. "No XP candies."

"No treasures."

"No rare TRs."

"It's not even a shiny, either."

The two looked at each other smugly after they shot back and forth with those statements and began to laugh. "That means we can go all out today and never look back." Haru said, feeling his fighting spirit swell up and shook hands with Syra. Grinning back, it felt good to her that maybe after all of this is over she can have some sort of inner peace. The elevator door opened on the familiar 12th floor from earlier as they run by the torn door that Sam had used Feraligatr to destroy.

- - - - - Team Rocket HQ - - - - -

- - - - - Rooftop - - - - -

Nidoqueen roared out loudly on the haphazard battlefield as Giovanni grew irritated at the progress of the battle. Sam commanded his Gallade to use Pyscho Cut, and the Nidoqueen faceplanted as it fainted. Melting through his team, Sam kept his chest outwards while Giovanni cursed him, as the attack hit and he had to retrieve Nidoqueen from the match. In the past, this would have been the point where he would have retreated to the shadows but instead started to chuckle a bit.

"What's so funny? Is there a point to the humor in losing a battle? I've taken out your team, and you've no other options. Turn yourself in, Giovanni and maybe, just maybe, we can give you a comfortable bed in prison." the ex-Champion said, as his Gallade flexed its arms in an idle stance for battle. It looked to Sam, as if it sensed something wasn't right. True to the bad feeling his Pokemon felt, the floor beneath him shook as a large shutter door was slowly opening. Moving away immediately from the large opening, Giovanni kept laughing. Nearly to the point of tearful cackling, the mob boss from Kanto took to one more taunt. "You complete and utter fool, you may have gotten this far but I'm afraid this is where your journey ends. Behold, the truth behind what Team Rocket has gone out of its way to obtain!"

Spreading his arms out wide as if an actor on a stage, a large tube that was covered in smoke and glowing from within its container was brought up on a platform to where the two men were fighting. The container has multiple large pipe-like wires plugged into the bottom where the base lay, and the faint image of a Pokemon floating within was seen. In a brief second, a blinding light flashes from the tube as it explodes. Sam shields his face as the broken glass flies outwards; some of it cutting his arms from the sharpness of the pieces. The explosion of the container bursting from within creates a small fog and his Gallade suddenly is held up in the air from something using telekinesis.

"Giovanni! WHAT IS THIS?!" Sam shouts, as he then sees his Gallade slam into the ground of the rooftop a few times, then shot by a large beam of energy multiple times in a row. Sam sees the Pokemon gets knocked out immediately, withdraws it, and once the smoke clears his face grows pale. Standing before him was a Pokemon that was 6 feet, 7 inches tall and covered in a mechanical-like armored suit that stood on its hind feet. Its eyes glowing from within the helmet. Making sure to continue the pressure, Giovanni steps forward. "Sam! I want you to meet the legendary that once resided here in Kanto, escaped my possession, ran amuck years later in Rhyme City, ran away from that city only to be caught back by yours truly: Mewtwo!"

The fog completely dispersed finally and what Sam saw was an intense aura of pure power emanating from the Pokemon. "Giovanni you bastard! That Pokemon is one of the most powerful to have ever come to being! What do you plan on even doing with that much strength?"

Walking next to the monstrous Pokemon, Giovanni put his hand on one of Mewtwo's and helped to lower it. Mewtwo merely stands there speechlessly as its master began to pontificate. "Ah~ where to start? A villain only exposes his plans once he believes he has truly won, so why not? I'll entertain your query. We used the research thanks to your fellow friend, Holly, to enhance its already monstrous DNA to the upper limit. It was difficult to track him down, even moreso to catch it, but with enough time we were able to make our own Master Ball-like technology. I lament that adding our research to its own immense strength made it grow completely mad, but we were able to contain its consciousness and mold it to our own. The last time him and I met, he merely adopted such a piece of armor. Now? There's no longer a will that it can call its own and simply obeys me. In short: Mewtwo has truly surpassed any and all Pokemon that have come before it and ever will! With him by my side, Team Rocket is stronger than it was ever in the past and will become a national, no, even a global power to be reckoned with: you've got no hope to survive this so make of what time you've got left!"

/Damn. He took out Gallade in a single shot, and considering that Mewtwo was recorded as a Psychic type, this meant even with them being the same type he was simply far stronger than Gallade that it didn't even matter. I have to try and play smart, but what can I do?/ The situation turning for the worse had Sam up into a mental wall before tossing out another ball and shouting "Feraligatr, I choose you!"

The blue water type roared loudly, seeing the Pokemon before it and huffed; just as fearless as its owner in many of the battles it endured. "Feraligatr, we don't have a lot of options at the moment, but I want you to try and constantly focus on taking it out with Crunch!". It didn't last long, as the second the Feraligatr lunged forward for the attack, a giant, near skyscraper size of a psychic wave hit Feraligatr, tossing it upwards high before it collapsed back onto the rooftop with a hard 'thud'. In one move, the Pokemon shut down Sam's attack and he watches as the Pokemon is then withdrawn into his ball.

Giovanni lets out a laugh and points. "That! That right there, Sam!" he shouts, as Sam looks up to him with his face tensing up and forehead sweating. "That is the expression I so dearly wish to see from everyone now thinking they can take on Team Rocket!".

"Go Typhlosion!" he throws out another Pokemon into the battle, as Giovanni folded his arms. "Tell you what, Sam. I actually feel just a tiny bit bad for you, so I'm going to allow you to give it one free hit." holding up a hand with one finger extended, he smirked in a very confident manner. "Typholosion, use Sunny Day and then hit it with Flamethrower!"

The clouds above them opened up as the Pokemon utilized all the energy above to help give it an ample boost for its fire move, and Sam crosses his fingers behind his back. "Now, use Flamethrower!" The Typhlosion burps out a huge torrent of flames, immediately coating the armored assailant before them. As the flames dispersed, however, Mewtwo appeared right in front of Typhlosion, reeling back a fist as a giant representation of a fist appeared before it, and punched it hard enough to elicit an explosion in retaliation. The fire Pokemon falls backwards from the impact several times over, whimpering before it faints and Sam recalls it.

Looking down at his belt of remaining Pokemon, Sam starts to fear his wits' end. /This is really bad.../

- - - - - Team Rocket HQ, Lobby - - - - -

"Holly, how are you feeling right now?" Leon asked, as he had come inside the building after cycling a shift from battling with other trainers at the moment: one by one rescuing whatever Pokemon they could. Before they could get a response out of her, she ended up pointing behind them. Silver, Leon, Red, Blue, Lance had turned to where her finger led as all of them widened their eyes in shock. Silver got up from where he was kneeling, completely baffled out of his mind. "Y-you..! You're here..!"

- - - - - Galar, Lana's Home - - - - -

Haru's mother, Lana, was on the phone with Nessa at the moment trying to see if she could figure out what exactly was going on. He wasn't answering his own phone at the moment, and with what was being broadcast on television had her so worried that she was pacing around the house relentlessly. Hop had come by with his own mother to keep her company since they knew she tended to worry a lot over her boy. "Please, Nessa...if there's anything at all.."

"Lana I'm sorry but all I know is what you see. Haru only told me as much and didn't give explicit details for fear of any of it coming back here. Since it was as big of an issue as it was, I'm sure he did it to make sure those like yourself and I were safe. But trust me, I'm just as worried!" Nessa replied from her end on the phone.

Looking at the screen, Lana saw the scrolling marquee of "Mewtwo Under Rocket Rule" as she watched a trainer battling with it. Sam was doing his best to try and bring the situation back into his favor, but was failing almost immediately as the Pokemon shut it down in a single attack every single time.

"Sorry to worry you like this. Hop and his family have just arrived to keep me company it appears, so I'll let you go." The mother of the ex-Champion looked to Hop, who greeted her. "Hello Mrs Lana. I ran here from Sonia's lab and told my Mom of the idea of coming here along the way once I got wind of everything. I can't do much, but with us all being here together maybe...I don't know. Haru WILL figure this out! I believe in him!"

The brown haired lady looked at the boy she had known for years confidently look back without a shred of doubt. Reassuring her, Hop said again after looking to his own mother. "Haru will pull this off!"

- - - - - Team Rocket, Rooftop - - - - -

Sam is kneeling. He sustained some debris damage from the intensity of Mewtwo's Dynamax and Gigantimax attacks being relentlessly aimed near him, as all of his Pokemon except for one had been used. He, just like Giovanni, was only a single Pokemon away from defeat...the tables however turned completely in the opposite direction of what they were before. Standing before him, Giovanni, Mewtwo, and a slightly ruined rooftop that had taken some damage from the battle, painted the image of a losing battle. Despite this, Sam yelled defiantly. "You won't get away with this, Giovanni! You lost before to Red, to Gold, and I' certain if there's another universe that you have already lost there too! There won't ever be a universe or timeline where you will come out on top! I won't allow it!" clenching his fist.

"Look where you're standing, boy. Do you think I plan to simply be satisfied leaving you with a full team that's defeated by yours truly? No. After this is over, I'll make sure to give you a quick one-way trip to your demise. I want your final moments to flash up to the point of today and remind you until eternity that it was I, Giovanni, who took you down myself, and went on to become a ruler over all the lands! In my new Pokemon world, with Mewtwo leading everyone, a new species of Super Pokemon will prove how 'Might Makes Right'!" the villain shouted as he was basking in his ego. "Mewtwo, with my final command, I want you to use Max Strike and take him and his Pokemon out!"

Suddenly the Mewtwo was struck HARD by a large set of rocks from the side, and then uppercutted by a fist attack. "What the blazes?!" Giovanni says, sweating a little from the sudden attack that came out of nowhere as a Mega Tyranitar and Mega Lucario land at the same time before turning to Mewtwo.

"Now this party's getting crazy!" Haru was heard saying, appearing next to Sam as Syra walked from the other side of him. Caught completely off his guard, and rightfully confused, he looks to his friends. "Wait?! What the heck? Guys I told you to stay down in the lob-" his speech was cut short as Syra yells. "DUMBASS! Do you honestly think it was worth getting yourself killed here for your own personal glory?! This is Giovanni and Team Rocket we are talking about here!"

"Which, by the way, how did you say it Giovanni...?" the ruby Steel Gym Leader said, as Mirukon flexed; ready to fight. " 'Short-term vision for long-term goals.'? Syra and myself have the one long-term goal, and while it would have been nice to let Sam take one for the team, we know that all Pokemon are better in strength together! They have us, and we have them. That kind of unity goes for us trainers, us leaders, and even Champions."

Sam looked at the two and felt himself tear up a little. "You guys..."

"No need to have the waterworks now, buddy. You have to get this stuff over with so I can go back to jail and pay my sentence, right?" Syra said, grinning from ear to ear and nudging him with an elbow. The fact she spoke so casually of her past mistakes caught him off guard, but she wasn't wrong. /I'm not sure it would be wise to lock her up after everything she's been shown to do here. Looker can help me file it later, but right now Giovanni must pay./

"So Sam, I know you haven't done a Max Raid fight yet, but just so you know, they require multiple Pokemon to take them down. So...we're going to bend the rules a bit because screw it: the whole planet is riding on this!" Haru said before tossing out another ball as his Toxtricity, Crane, appeared alongside the Mega Evolved Lucario, Mirukon. "Besides, it's not like this asshole is playing by the rules so why should we? C'mon and bring out the last 'mon you have, Sam. Let's take this guy out!"

Tossing out another ball, Syra brings out Gothitelle, as Giovanni yells in frustration. "You trite Pokemon trainers are nothing in the eyes of Team Rocket, and you'll fall just like your friend was about to right here and now!"

"Not unless we stop you right here and now, and we will!" came a new voice that none of them recognized. Haru, Syra, and Sam turned to face the new voice behind them as Sam's eyes widened in pure shock. Standing before them was a man wearing a red vest, black pants, and a black-and-yellow striped hat. He seemed to be a bit older than the 'old days', but his appearance was unmistakable, and the Typhlosion that stood near him was the icing on the cake to confirm his appearance.

"GOLD!" Sam shouts. It was the very man who helped him get his foot started on his own Pokemon journey, coming to also help in the battle. Haru and Syra looked at him, and then Gold again. "THE Gold himself?! Holy shit!" Haru says, aghast that the fight had brought so many legendary people from the past to unite for one single goal. Not wasting any more time, Sam brought out his final Pokemon: a Charizard. As the winged fire Pokemon appeared, Sam raised his arm up and Mega Evolved it using Charizardite X. Now joining the battle was a blue flame spewing Charizard with black coloration of skin alongside its fellow teammates.

Crossing his arms, Haru looked to everyone that was now beside him. "You know, after this is over, I can safely say this will be the highlight of my career outside of handing out my first Gym badge to someone...hehe."

"We'll make sure you'll be able to live a long life to create many more memories, Haru." Gold said confidently, looking to him and then Sam. "It is good to see you again, my friend. Let's take him out together."

With no further words needed, the team fired back a glance at Giovanni. Standing with the Mewtwo, the boss angrily shouted in frustration. "You'll pay, you'll pay for it! Don't mistake this for anything less than a bigger loss! Mewtwo! Attack all of them, now!"

Syra looks to her belt and throws out a 3rd Pokemon to use in the ring, Exeggutor, who knew the move to use as they discussed prior to: Trick Room. The entire arena gets a completely different shift in tone as suddenly the Mewtwo, which was previously running circles around everyone. "Mirukon! Crane! Attack that Mewtwo constantly with Aura Sphere and Poison Jab! Don't let up until it's down!"

"Kars! Use Giga Impact, Gothitelle, use Imprison, and Exeggutor, use Protect!" Syra commands all of her Pokemon at once. "Charizard, use Air Slash and cut away until it can't stand it anymore!" Sam shouts confidently. "Typhlosion, Shadow Claw it until it can't stand!"

All of the Pokemon lunged at once as Mewtwo attacked, but now with its focus being stretched thin it wasn't damaging nearly as fast nor as much as before. Giovanni struggled to keep up, constantly shouting moves until he realizes that Mewtwo freezes. It seemed to be struggling to use one of its moves thanks to the use of 'Imprison', locking itself out of one of the more damaging attacks. It seemed to be acting upon its own however, upon receiving the damage, as it stood still and recovered its health. "You can't defeat Team Rocket, you fools! Mewtwo knows to recover its health when it needs to, and with its enhanced strength you can't hope to take him down!"

Haru stood by, making sure to keep his Pokemon on the field recycling the same moves, and occasionally giving them Potions to keep them in the fight, spoke back. "Yeah? Well we won't know until we try now do we?!"

- - - - - Nessa's Home - - - - -

"Nessa...? Hello?" Sonia waves her hand in front of her friend's face. All the worry that Nessa had previously from earlier had completely zapped as the raw footage of the live event was showcasing Haru onscreen. The way his stance had shifted and was actively commanding his own Pokemon showed him in an entirely new light. The only time Nessa had seen him battle was in her own challenge duels with him and the recent Pokemon League Tournament. She was aware of the active dangers he dealt with in saving Galar with his best friend Hop from the Darkest Day from ever happening again and had only heard it through proxy of what type of person he was in such situations.

Yet now she was able to see the complete shift in personality that he never showed even in the Pokemon League itself, and it had sparked a new level of attraction to her own partner. Feeling as if hearts were actively floating above her own head and swelling until they popped, the Raging Wave almost didn't blink. "Man...look at him go. He knows what's at stake but look at how he's handling things."

/I remember when I got to know the more personal side of him outside of battles. He was sensitive, at times emotional, and definitely a bit stubborn. He takes a bit to come around to some ideas, and he was complacent at one point. But now it's like he's done his own 'Dynamaxing' revealing his true self./ Nessa thought to herself, smiling. She turned to Sonia. "I heard you, Sonia. I was just...thinking. Parts of me were simply just admiring the strength that Haru has grown into."

"I bet Leon is doing the exact same thing...though I wish I could see what he did too! Hmpf." the orange haired, brightly professor had pouted a little. The air around the whole battle had begun to change in tone, while showing what appeared to be a Max Raid-like encounter with a legendary Pokemon.

- - - - - Team Rocket HQ, Rooftop - - - - -

Mewtwo is taking hits constantly from all those that are circling around lobbying moves in its wake. As one Pokemon takes a hit, every single other one makes their mark from the other side, angrily spewing off a Hyper Beam from both hands. In the short time it would need to recover, the Pokemon is hit over and over again: hearing every trainer call out the same moves. It shouts loudly before its body glows and recovers its health, turning its attention to one Mega Evolved Tyranitar and firing off a Blizzard attack. Jumping in to defend it, the Mega Lucario from Haru's side jumps in with a Protect shield and then comes back with Close Combat. It knows that each time its used, its own statistical strengths lower and as such dips in and out of Mewtwo's close range.

Yelling loudly, Giovanni throws his fist down. "You brats shall not be the end of me! I won't have you stop me again!"

Syra laughs a bit and commands her Exeggutor to start using Seed Bomb attacks. "Maybe it won't be enough for now, but seeing you pissed off in person is pretty entertaining to say the least!"

"Ugh...but he's right, the damn thing is so strong that the armor is basically shoving off all our attacks! We have to take Mewtwo down but that armor is strong!" Haru shouts, giving Giovanni the one compliment that he had to say at that point. Snidely, the boss replies, saying "That's the beauty of Team Rocket's aim for the stars: our technology and values are beyond what simple mortal men like yourselves could ever achieve. Mewtwo here is the pinnacle, and he will crush all of you!"

Sam yells out loudly in a command to send his Mega Evolved Charizard to give a Mega Punch straight to Mewtwo. "If your aim is to go for the stars with such a terrible ambition then Charizard and I are going to bring you back down to Earth and bury those ambitions!" The fire Pokemon pushes past its limits and uses all its strength into the single Mega Punch, then using another one, and then recycling. It's enough to push Mewtwo back, if even for a little. Roaring loudly with the union being felt with its trainer, Haru's Mega Lucario even joined in on the approach as both it and the Charizard joined together with its own attack in the form of Close Combat. "Sam's right! We're going to ground you once and for all: you AND your organization, Giovanni!" Haru shouts back as adrenaline pumps through his veins. Joining in now with a trifecta physical assault alongside the Lucario and Charizard, Syra's Mega Tyranitar also joined in with its best attempt to Giga Impact alongside its new companions: Syra herself giving a fist pump. "You may have gotten your way this far by essentially cheating the system, the people, and even me, but it stops today! I was a fool for going to you for help and getting swallowed up in the quest for revenge. The only thing that matters is stopping you, and if I can live in a world where both my brother and my best friend are safer...and where I can see my Mom maybe...then I'll fight for that too!"

Underneath the helmet, Mewtwo appeared annoyed being pushed back by the trio of Pokemon that were in close quarters as Gold's Typhlosion kept firing from the sides, as well as those remaining in middle or long range. "Mewtwo, come on! Fight! Don't let these naive children set you back! Recall that you're fueled by Dynamax energy and mankind's greatest research, and release Max Strikes on them!" Giovanni yelled in retaliation.

As one of Mewtwo's arm gestures, several attempted shots of 'Max Strikes' aim for the Pokemon, with each one either missing or barely scraping by the team. Syra's Pokemon takes the brunt of Mewtwo unleashing repeated Max Strikes, as she uses one Max Potion one of them and sweats a little upon seeing what little she had left. "Hey guys? Don't know about you all but I'm running low." Sam looks into his backpack briefly and shouts. "Crap...he's going to run us dry if we keep this up!"

"I have an idea!" Gold suggests to the others, as Sam looks back at him. Nobody says anything, but with the attention aimed, he's allowed to continue uncontested. "We've seen Mewtwo recover in the fight, but he's also wearing armor. Do you guys notice how it's starting to wear down? I say we all aim in one spot and fire that Mewtwo with all we got at once!"

"Got it!" Haru agreed.

"Sounds sexy: I like it." Syra replied, thumbing her nose.

"Let's do that, then! Charizard, here!" Sam says, tossing it a Dire Hit and several boost items. Mewtwo looked at them and stumbled. It was growing tired from using all the moves it had to use constantly and was running low on energy, and looked silently at its opposition. "Mewtwo, get up! You're still full on health so don't go pretending that those fools over there are actually hurting you! Attack them already!" Giovani shouts, to which the Pokemon looks back at him. For a split second it appeared to have regained its own consciousness. The moment fades as it stands upwards and created a shield.

"Everyone, on the count of 3, we fire it with everything we got!" Gold said, holding a hand up, as the group assembles their Pokemon all in a line. "1, 2, 3!"

Everyone shouted at once to their Pokemon.

"Aura Sphere!"

"Thunderbolt!"

"Hyper Beam!"

"Solar Beam!"

"Dark Pulse!"

"Fire Blast!"

"Flamethrower!"

The unified attack caused Mewtwo to be pushed back, holding one of its hands outwards as if trying to shield itself from it. The multiple hits from the moves and intensities of them being from highly skilled trainers was too much to handle at once as even under Giovanni's spell, the Mewtwo was unable to respond. It appeared that slowly, but surely, a crack started to form on its helmet. Then another. Then another. The Mewtwo is heard letting out a human-like voice that sounded like it was yelling in defiance before something else entirely occurred. As everyone's attack swelled into a center point and continued to damage the armor, a bright light emits from Mewtwo and then a large explosion that wasn't unlike that of a Dynamax Pokemon being knocked out in battle. The difference here was that the shockwave was much stronger, and as such knocked away several of the monitoring helicopters on the scene and all the trainers, Giovanni included, were blown off their feet onto the rooftop. While not a mushroom cloud by any means, the intensity of the explosion and brightness of the light was enough to cause confusion and panic by everyone watching globally.

Nessa, Oleana, and many others got up from their seats: worried that the effect of such a blast would have had some fatal feedback from the explosion. As the dust cleared up, Haru is seen knocked out cold, Syra was hurt, and Sam had a newly sprained wrist from the force of the fall. Gold is kneeling and looks over to his fellow friend from Johto. "Sam, are you okay? Can you stand?"

"Ghh...shit...I think my wrist is broken..." he winces. Looking around he sees that all the other Pokemon are fine, if not a little damaged from the explosion. Mewtwo isn't seen anywhere, and Giovanni appears to be a little shaken up. With one of his sleeves slightly torn, the boss frantically looks around for answers to what just occurred, only for Sam to laugh at the display. "You've lost, Giovanni. It's time to finally get turned in for your crimes."

"...tch...none of this would have happened if you hadn't come back and stuck your nose in business! I told you that if you pushed your luck you'd pay for it..!" scrambling into his coat, Giovanni pulls out a smaller, replacement gun that was hidden and draws it on Sam. Before he's able to do anything, however, Giovanni's body is held still and the gun floats away from him.

"No more, human. You've done more than enough." echoed a loud, booming voice that everyone heard.

Haru had sat up slowly, with Syra following suit. "Did that Pokemon just talk...?"

Mewtwo was seen floating above the rooftop by a few meters, now encasing Giovanni in a Psychic ball that he could not break out of and had looked towards the others. "I must apologize for the terror that I had brought here. It is once again regrettable that I was held against my will, but you all united together and were able to free me. As my own thanks to you, I will heal you and your Pokemon for you." True to his word, a calming aura surrounded everyone and their Pokemon,including those in their balls, as Mewtwo had healed up everyone.

Sam noticed that the pain in his wrist completely zapped away, and looking to his fellow friends, stood up. "Oh hey, I'm better. Thank you..!" "Mewtwo, you're one Pokemon that I've only heard stories about but was unsure of ever capturing, much less seeing in person. I had hoped that the one time I met you it would be under less dire circumstances, and as someone who dealt with his own dire situations thanks to human greed..." Haru looked at Giovanni and thought about ex-Chairman Rose. Briefly getting a flashback of that whole situation brought back bad memories that were thankfully far past him. "I apologize that humanity still has a long way to go."

He's elbowed by Syra, who walks up to Haru's side, snickering. "Don't go getting mopey in front of the legendary, Haru."

"Oww. Either way, I am thankful we were able to free you."

Looking with equal disappointment and irritation at the man who imprisoned his mind, Mewtwo is seen shaking his head. "As many times as I am disappointed with how mankind will seemingly never stop to find new lows to stoop to, am I also impressed with the few who stand on the right side of history. That being you all." Scanning all of them, he saw Gold walk up with Sam and exchange a firm handshake in a congratulatory way. Crossing its arms, Mewtwo looked at Giovanni. "Now then, let's bring this one here to those that need to take him in: I'm certain you humans will be able to figure out what's best suited for him."

With a newly refreshed vigor, Syra had smugly walked over to where the newly captured 'Giovanni ball' was, and stuck her tongue out before turning to the tall Pokemon. "Guarantee it."

"Guys. I think it's safe to say that we did it." Sam had said, meeting them all in the middle, raising his hand up. Without needing any permission or pretense, Haru, Syra, and even Gold matched high-fives and took one glance on the horizon overlooking Kanto.

The battle was finally over.

The next set of events that happened all were carried out within the day. Giovanni and his Team Rocket staff were all taken in. Holly, alongside a pair of other rogue scientists, were brought in for questioning, and given ample care. All the Pokemon that were alive and captured were safely rescued as their lives would continue onward without any more capture at the hands of such a disgusting organization. Though they would have to go through extensive rehabilitation to have their 'Dynamax enhanced' bodies return to normal, the Pokemon were happy to take extended stays at Pokemon Centers from the regions their homes were originally.

Standing outside of the ship that would be transporting Syra, Sam, Leon, and Haru back to Galar, Haru was speaking to Steven.

"You know...you and Wallace really came through for me in my time of need. It was great to fight alongside you two, and, as a fellow Steel Pokemon fan, it gave me chills to see how you operated. Though...next time we meet I'd like to take you on in a no-holds-barred duel if that's fine." tilting his glasses up, Haru smiles. Giving a laugh as a response, Steven nodded and then shook Haru's hand firmly and placed his own hand atop of Haru's. "It would be an honor. I must go home and see to it that everything there calms down...since no doubt things will be hectic for everyone after this is played out through the media."

The two parted ways, with Haru about to take a step on the ship before Steven called out. "Oh, and Haru!"

"Hmm?"

"If you ever want to have someone help you find a perfect diamond for Nessa, I'm your guy!" waving to him and giving a sly grin.

Haru's face turned red with blush at the idea and shouts back. "Go back to Hoenn already, Steven, or I'll kick your ass in a Pokemon battle right here and now!" he huffed, walking on without looking, only to laugh about it afterwards. All of the fighters that came on for this operation had finally separated, and Mewtwo had once again disappeared into the far reaches of the planet.

Whether or not he would be found again was up for fate to decide...

- - - - - Inside The Ship, Near Haru's Quarters - - - - -

Haru had faceplanted the bed from fatigue. The battle had worn him completely out and as the Drowzee within his mind started to perform 'Sing', he made sure to contact Nessa.

[[Haru: Hey darling. I know it's been a few hours since the battle but I wanted to let you know that I'm fine and am about to go dark since we will be heading back to Galar soon.]]

[[Nessa: Damn it Haru, you really had me worried for a bit but you pulled through again. I'd like to battle you again someday, but one can't help but wonder if I would win with how you were fighting as the cameras were rolling! ;P]]

[[Haru: Long as you're not trying to destroy the planet I don't think you have to worry about me going fully gung-Ho-Oh on you.]]

[[Nessa: You told me to believe in you, and I did the whole time. Get some rest though okay? When we come back remember what you said you would do?]]

Haru shifted so he was laying on his back and idly looked around the bare room before replying on his phone.

[[Haru: Finding a new place for us to live together. I remembered.]]

[[Nessa: I'm glad you do. Be safe, and love you!]]

[[Haru: Love you too, gorgeous. I'm going to konk out here in a second. See you when I get to Galar.]]

"Hey Haru." his attention was diverted as Syra stood in the doorframe of his room and flashed a thumbs up at him. "That was pretty amazing work out there. I may not have won the battle with you, but fighting with you was pretty damn cool."

He sat up and grinned widely as his glasses slanted a bit; needing to readjust before he replied. "Tch. Don't sell yourself short. It's like I said that one time: I knew you were a great trainer, and this whole shindig proved it! I was never the type to undersell someone no matter what people thought of me, and I'm glad my hunch was right about you!"

Her eyes narrowed, looking at the floor. "Still...I'll probably have to go back for some time before I can attempt the Gym Challenge again."

She saw Haru raise a finger, having a question for her. "Speaking of the whole...stuff that you did, considering you told me at Ground Zero that your Tyranitar was Team Rocket-supplied, what did the officials say about it? You were able to fight alongside it just like it was your own: stolen or not. Mega Evolution wouldn't have happened if it were just simply caught and trained."

"Turns out it was stolen...but was a wild Pokemon. I was essentially its first trainer when it was a fully beefed up Larvitar, and raised it since. Word came around that they've allowed me to keep it...at least for now. Still, since I may be punished I want you to know something." She stepped forward with her cheeks blushing and both hands to her side. Haru noticed this, and then looked back up at her.

His head tilted a bit to the side. "What is it?"

"You said you were going to create a sanctuary for all Pokemon to be safe, right? Did you mean that? I know it'll take awhile because that sort of thing requires a lot of research, studying: big brain shit, right? It's not just because of what happened with my little brother, is it?" her magenta eyes had a fire in them that showed that despite everything she really cared for each of her Pokemon like they were family. Haru nods definitively. "Absolutely. It's something I think Galar needs, and although one could argue that the Isle of Armor or Crown Tundra could possibly work better as that...I'd like to manage one with supervision and a team that cares to preserve Pokemon life. Lapras were once endangered, but people banded together and helped that species no longer be endangered. I could be the type of person that someone is able to rely on to keep Pokemon safe. At least as far as home is concerned."

He gave a wide smile, making Syra just snicker and tilt her head before she combed her hair. "Anyways, we're about to shove off shore so I'm going to also get some sleep. Although...I did want to thank you though for all this."

Haru's eyes dart left and right before settling back to making contact with her own eyes. "...for what, exactly?"

She walked over right to where he was sitting and looked down at him. The two had locked eyes, were less than a foot apart, and Syra bit her lip. "Use your imagination, Haru."

At that moment, Sam had finally made his way to his quarters as he was reporting to everyone about the mission. "Hey guys! Operation 'Critical Hit' was a success, and we're about to head off. I just told Leon that we should be-" Moving his way into the room Sam freezes. Syra had yanked Haru up by the collar and leaned down to where he was: completely lip locked around Haru's own mouth in a kiss. The poor guy, in his naturally defensive state and shock that such a thing was happening had both arms completely extended to the sides, and his eyes were wide open. On the off chance that anyone had walked in, they would know immediately that he did not bring this upon himself and she did this on her own. To Sam's view, it looked like Haru was 'T-posing'.

"Uh..." was all Sam managed to say before Syra pulled away from Haru with a quiet 'smak' from their lips meeting. Her face being pink from blush and looking at him, before pouting. "That was for everything up until now, and believing in me so strongly." She pushed him back down so he was sitting on the edge of his bed, and eyed daggers at Sam.

"What are YOU looking at?!" she yelled once she got to where Sam had been standing and leaned towards him as her face was still pink. He reeled back a little, profusely sweating and just shook his head. As Syra walked off into the hallway, Haru looked back at Sam, his face flush with blush and embarrassed. "Okay so you saw that right? I had NOTHING to do with that! At all! She picked ME up! You know I'm loyal to Nessa, I didn't even ask-"

"Haru, Haru. Buddy. It's okay, man. I'm a Johtian, not a Rocket Grunt: backstabbing isn't in my blood. I'm not gonna tell Nessa, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that was shocking..." rubbing the back of his head and sitting next to his new best friend.

Haru felt the phantom sensation of another woman's lips on his own and just shook his head. "The hell was that for, anyway? Aye. It's a non-issue, as long as she doesn't make it one. You were going to say something upon entering?"

When his friend looked over, Sam snapped his fingers. "Oh! Yes, I told Leon that we should be home in about 13 hours, so get plenty of rest okay?"

Haru had readjusted his uniform, and tapped himself on the cheeks with both hands. "Right...I had figured it would be that long. Okay, thanks for telling me."

Smiling on the fact of putting this all behind him, Sam shook his head. "No, thank you Haru. I was unsure how far everyone was willing to go in order to help protect a problem that involved my homeland...but I guess since it directly had you along for the 'ride' you stepped up just as much as I did. I am very grateful for you. From now on I'd like to consider you just as much of a friend as I do good ol' Gold."

"Geez, Sam, we aren't that far apart in age difference! Don't think of me as old as he is, c'mon!" the ruby red Gym Leader teased, laughing. The brevity of the moment gave Sam a chance to finally and completely relax. Gone are the months of mystery, and what laid ahead was a brand new future with no Team Rocket and a world once again at peace.

As she attempted to drift off to sleep, Syra had laid on her side and brought her phone out. She was still unsure of what was going to be happening when she was brought home but after doing what she did to Haru, it reminded her of one loose end she had hoped to tie up. In contacting Haru through text, a new message popped up on his own phone.

[[Syra: Hey Haru, I know we're both about to fall asleep but I have a favor to ask of you before you pass out.]]

A few minutes went by and Haru finally answered.

[[Haru: Sure, what is it?]]

[[Syra: Do you have Bea's phone number?]]

Haru almost did a double take upon reading the message before replying back.

[[Haru: As in...Bea, the Fighting Gym Leader?]]

Looking at the phone, Syra's eye twitched a bit, halfway hiding her own face in her own shirt's top from blushing.

[[Syra: Yeah. I don't know when I'll get out, or if I'll be able to get a good lawyer. I know that outside of this, I also have my own problems with my own father to sort out and I plan on fixing my past up one by one. But I would at least like to know her number. If nothing else but to follow up a thing I said I would do with her. You don't have to if you don't want to, I can understand if what I did earlier made you uncomfortable to the point of not paying back another favor since you've done so much.]]

[[Haru: (Bea) - That's Bea's phone number right there, Syra. Knock yourself out. Also...just as long as you don't tell anyone I won't mention it either since it just sorta happened.]]

[[Syra: Fair enough.]]

Syra tapped on the screen to add in Bea's number and would spend a good half hour trying to think up of an ice breaker of a conversation starter to Bea. Before she even hit 'send' however, the raven haired trainer fell asleep. Exhaustion caught up with everyone: Leon, Sam, Syra, and Haru had crashed hard on the beds that were assigned to all of them. Leaving the Kanto region was a moment for all of them to reflect on everything up until now. While Haru initially cursed his inability to stop the problem at the sources prior to this event, he was happy that it resolved.

In his final moments of consciousness, the sensation of a hand patting him on the shoulder was felt. The touch shocked Haru so violently that he sat upright, stiff as a board. Looking around, thinking that he was being pranked last minute by Syra, there was nobody around. He had noticed, however, that he accidentally knocked his phone and wallet to the floor. Kneeling down to pick it up, Haru sees a photo of Hiro facing upwards. Exhaling a bit of a sigh, and smiling, he sits on the edge of the bed and takes a minute to look at the photo.

"Thank you, Hiro. I'm glad to know you're proud of me, brother..."

- - - - - END CHAPTER 15 - - - - -