As Rory and Aoki prepared to leave Professor Cedar's lab, they adjusted their backpacks and checked their equipment, ensuring they were ready for whatever challenges awaited them outside.
While they were waiting for Mew to recover Aqua had made a small update to their Pokedexes adding features such as a pager, a map of almost every region, a small mini game of pong and a device that shows up to the next week's weather which was a nice feature.
The recovery room was quiet, the only sound the soft beeping of Mew's monitoring equipment, which showed steady improvements in its health.
Just as they turned to leave, a soft sound stopped them. It was Mew, now awake and floating gently at the edge of its bed, its eyes fixed on Rory and Aoki with an unmistakable look of longing and attachment.
"Mew!" it chirped softly, the glow around it brightening as it attempted to float towards them, its movements still slightly weak.
Aoki gasped softly, her heart melting at the sight. "Mew, you should be resting," she said gently, taking a step towards the mythical Pokémon.
Rory looked conflicted, his eyes softening. "It looks like it wants to come with us," he murmured, reaching out to gently caress Mew's head, which it accepted like a cat.
At that moment, Aqua stepped in front of Mew, blocking its path gently with his arms spread wide. "Mew, you're still healing. It's not quite safe for you to leave yet," he said firmly, yet with a warmth in his voice that conveyed deep care. "Not to mention you might bring too much attention, and you would bring more danger to yourself."
Mew looked up at Aqua, its expression one of mild confusion and disappointment, but it stopped its advance, floating in place as if it somehow understood what he was saying, but for a second Rory and Aoki thought they saw something in its eyes as if it was trying to tell them something.
"We'll be back soon, Mew," Rory promised, his voice thick with emotion. "You need to get stronger first. We don't want you getting hurt again."
Aoki nodded in agreement, though it was clear she too was reluctant to leave Mew behind. "You have to stay and get better. We'll think of you every step of the way," she added, a promise in her eyes.
Mew seemed to understand, its glow dimming slightly as it retreated back to its bed, settling down with a small sigh, as Aqua took out a clipboard out of thin air and started to write things down.
Just then, Rory's pager from his Pokedex beeped loudly, breaking the tender moment. Making a face he pulled it from his belt, checking the message quickly, his face hardened as he read the contents.
"It's Giovanni," he announced, looking up at Aoki and Aqua. "We're needed in Pewter City. Team Dark is causing trouble at the gym there."
Aoki's nodded her face shifting to a more determined look. "We have to go, then. Pewter City needs us, and so does Giovanni."
Aqua nodded, stepping back from Mew. "I'll stay here and keep an eye on Mew. Go handle Team Dark, and make sure they don't hurt anyone."
Rory and Aoki gathered their things quickly, their expressions set with resolve. "Thanks, Aqua. We'll be back as soon as we can," Rory said, giving Aqua a grateful nod.
Aoki paused at the door, turning back to look at Mew, who was watching them with wide, understanding eyes. "Take care, little one. We'll see you soon," she whispered.
"Mew" Was all Mew was able to say as Rory and Aoki left the lab, heading towards Pewter City.
The sun seemed to be turning Pewter City into an oven. The hot summer air was unbearable, and the stone buildings didn't help much, Rory shoes felt as if it was melting as he rode his skateboard down the streets and Aoki thought her legs were about to come off with how hard she peddled as they raced through the streets towards the Pewter Gym. The air was charged with tension, the murmurs of the gathered crowd growing louder as they approached.
As they rounded the corner, they saw a scene of chaos. Several Team Dark grunts were menacingly surrounding the gym, their Pokémon were intimidating the local trainers who had tried to stand up to them. An army of Rattatas, several Kantonian Watchogs and an army of Mucks were among them.
Before Rory and Aoki could even assess the full situation, or process what the Team Dark grunt was saying or even think of what to do, a commanding voice boomed through the noise. "Enough of this nonsense!" The small crowd parted to reveal an old woman who looked no older than 70, came down from the sky on a large dragonite as if fired from a cannon.
The large Dragonite looked around the crowd as if scanning to see who friend or foe is, with its expression changing rapidly from a look one would greet a lifelong friend, to a look one would give to someone who had killed everyone they love in front of them.
The woman had a stern, regal demeanor, her gray hair pulled back into a tight bun, and she wore the distinctive uniform of Team Jet, but hers was adorned with a dragon insignia at the back, and despite her looks of old age her bones looked as if it was made of iron with how she moved.
"Who?" Rory said but Giovanni popped out of thin air behind the two. He looked as if he received a baseball bat to his face, but despite the wound on his face he was making a small smile.
"This is Lola, the leader of Team Jet," Aoki whispered to Rory, her eyes wide with respect and a hint of awe. "She is from Johto and is one of the best dragon trainers in the region. In fact almost all of her family members are star dragon trainers, from her daughter, to her grandchildren"
Lola continued, her voice resonant and powerful, "You thugs have no business terrorizing these people." Her Dragonite staring down at the Team Dark grunts as if it wanted to break every bone in their body.
One of the grunts, a young man with enough oil on his head to make it a fire hazard and teeth that never seen a dentist sneered, trying to maintain a brave face. "You think you can scare us, old lady? Get her, Houndoom!" He commanded his Houndoom to attack with a Flamethrower.
Before anyone had time to blink, Lola pointed forward, and her Dragonite responded with an impressive speed, unleashing a powerful Dragon Rush that not only intercepted the Flamethrower but also sent the Houndoom crashing back into its trainer with enough force that Rory was surprised that the two didn't merge in any way.
"Dragonite, Hyper Beam!" Lola commanded with an air of finality.
The Dragonite's antennae glowed intensely before it released a massive beam of energy, sweeping across the area in front of the gym, the hyperbeam was powerful enough to knock out any of the grunts Pokémon or the grunts themselves, but not a single cell in any of their bodies were violated or harmed, and the gym they were standing right in front of didn't even loose an atom of damage.
The grunts scrambled to recall their defeated Pokémon, their bravado completely shattered under Lola's overpowering presence. "This isn't over," one of them muttered, but the hollow threat was ignored as they retreated into the shadows of a nearby alley helped along by disapproving glares from the locals.
As calm began to return, the small crowd started cheering for Lola, who simply nodded in acknowledgment, as she beamed at the crowd like how a mother would do to a son who just came first place in a race.
"She is some woman" Rory said
"Yeah." Giovanni said looking down at his pokeball "But if only I did more."
"What do you mean?" Aoki asked
"I could have stopped them but me and my pokemon are not strong enough." Giovanni said under his breath as if saying it as quiet as possible would make it less painful to say. "All I did was take down 1 grunt, and I got hit in the face as a reward."
"Hey." Aoki said as she patted Giovanni on the back, "You did your best G. I am sure of it, why don't we ask Lola over there" She said gesturing at Lola who was giving orders to a handful of Team Jet members.
"Maybe" Giovanni said as the three of them approached Lola, her Dragonite stood by her side, its imposing figure a stark contrast to her slender, aged frame, its face changed from a more serious look to a look of pure joy. The crowd had mostly dispersed, leaving only the key players of the recent skirmish, and a number of Team Jet grunts cleaning up the mess that Team Dark left.
"Ms. Lola, that was incredible," Rory said with a smile. "I am Rory and this is my friend Aoki. We are honored to meet you."
Lola turned to face them, a small smile playing on her lips as she nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you…uh Rory. It's crucial we maintain order and protect these communities."
She turned to see Giovanni "Ah Giovanni," She said slightly stunned "Are you alright?" She said as she took a water bottle out of thin air "Your face is all." But Giovanni raised up a hand to stop her,
"I am Ok." He said, as Lola reluctantly nodded.
"I hope you are taking your training." Lola said to him
"Yes, yes." Giovanni said
"Giovanni…" Lola said sighing "You can't expect to become a great trainer overnight. It took me years to be one of the best dragon type trainers in all of Johto and Kanto, and you only started training less than a month ago."
"I know, I know." Giovanni mumbled, more interested on how many specks of dust there is on the floor than looking anywhere else.
"Even if all you did was beat 1 grunt, I say that would be impressive." There was a bit of a pause when Lola made a small sigh as she took out a bar of chocolate out of her jacket and handed it to Giovanni "I know what you are thinking and what you might say, but please don't compare yourself to any of them. While they are talented, and are top in the program, my grandson acts first before thinking, and my granddaughter can't take a loss without throwing a temper tantrum, and you are wiser and more mature than that."
Giovanni nodded as he took the bar of chocolate.
Aoki, observing Giovanni's demeanor, added encouragingly, "We've seen how hard you've been working, Giovanni. It's really impressive."
Lola's expression softened as she looked at Giovanni, her gaze assessing. "Giovanni has potential, that much is clear. He and his Nidoran have come a long way. But true courage and the skills to be an effective trainer are earned through experience and facing one's fears head-on. And you have to work as hard as you can to get what you want"
Giovanni nodded, his face set with determination, though the underlying anxiety was still visible.
"Now, let's focus on the tasks at hand. Team Dark has been pushed back today, but we must stay vigilant. They, and others like them, will not rest for long."
Rory and Aoki nodded, both feeling the weight of her words. "We'll be ready," Aoki said firmly.
Lola glanced at each of them, her gaze lingering on Giovanni. "And you, Giovanni, will continue to train and grow. You're on a good path. Remember, the making of a great trainer comes not from avoiding challenges but from facing them when they arise."
Giovanni swallowed hard, inspired by Lola's confidence in him. "I understand, Ms. Lola. I won't let you down."
"Good" Lola said "And allow me to test you. For I hear that the Team Dark grunts seemed to have taken something valuable from the gym. And I want you to go around Pewter City to go and find it."
Giovanni tensed up as he nodded at Lola "I won't disappoint you."
"And why not take your two friends with you?" Lola said looking down at Rory and Aoki. "For they would be of good help to you.
Rory patted Giovanni on the back "Don't worry" He said as he looked up at Lola "We will show Team Dark not to mess with anyone ever again." As he, Aoki and Giovanni ran down the alley.
Lola sighed to herself as she looked around her at the building and the gym and the group of young volunteers, "If only I was young again," She said softly more to herself than anyone else, "I can do so much more, so many things, but alas life is too short." She looked down at a large device as she read a message, she let out a heavy sigh "Of course they are causing issues." She groaned "those damn bikers can't learn a damn thing. Oh well, why not we persuade them to listen to reason." She said as she hopped onto her dragonite and she flew away.