Pokemon: Gym Leader

Outside Saffron City, atop a distant mountain, a man dressed in a black suit and matching fedora silently gazed down at the cityscape.

His expression was grim.

Giovanni.

Behind him, Petrel and Karen stood with uneasy expressions.

Petrel looked like he was about to lose his mind.

"This was supposed to be a simple executive meeting! How the hell did we just lose half our command structure?!"

Out of Team Rocket's four generals, he was the only one left standing.

Everyone else was gone.

"...Boss, what should we do now?"

Karen was also frowning deeply.

She had never expected things to spiral this badly.

This was supposed to be a routine gathering.

Now?

The entire Kanto division was in shambles.

"This is a disaster…"

Unlike the other executives, Karen and Will weren't here for Rocket's sake.

They had infiltrated Rocket on the orders of their master—the Masked Man.

Originally, everything had been going smoothly.

They were talented, intelligent, and ambitious. Giovanni had recognized their potential, allowing them to quickly rise through the ranks.

But now?

Karen glanced at the empty spot beside her.

Will was captured.

Again.

"...How the hell am I supposed to explain this to the boss?"

She rubbed her temples, completely exasperated.

They had barely arrived in Kanto, and within days, they ran into Dylan.

If not for Mewtwo, both she and Will would've been arrested.

And today?

Will didn't get away.

"...That guy has the worst luck," Karen muttered.

Hopefully, prison life would treat him well.

"Karen."

Giovanni's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

His tone was calm—but carried an undeniable weight.

"...Yes, Boss?"

"Keep an eye on Saffron City. Watch for any police movements. The League will definitely transfer Archer and the others to Indigo Plateau soon."

Karen's eyes sharpened.

"...Understood."

That made sense.

The League wouldn't risk keeping high-ranking Rocket officers in a normal facility.

They'd send them straight to Indigo Plateau.

And no matter how bold Rocket was, raiding the League's headquarters was suicidal.

Even Giovanni wouldn't take that risk.

"Petrel."

"Yes, Boss?"

"You gather information."

Petrel was an expert at disguise—a true master of deception.

If anyone could slip through the cracks, it was him.

"...Understood."

After They Left…

Giovanni remained alone, gazing at the city skyline.

Finally, he sighed.

"...This can't continue."

His time was running out.

He pulled out a small bottle of medicine, swallowed two pills, and turned his back to Saffron City's tallest skyscraper.

"This has to end. One way or another."

His eyes flickered with determination.

He had built Team Rocket from nothing—

And he needed to see how it would all conclude.

Whether it ended in victory or defeat, Giovanni had to try.

BOOM!

A pillar of blue light crashed down beside Giovanni.

A tall, silver-furred humanoid figure stood amidst the fading glow.

Mewtwo.

Giovanni's eyes narrowed.

"...You're injured."

Mewtwo's body was covered in wounds, its breathing was labored, and its aura was unstable.

It had taken serious damage.

Giovanni's voice was calm, but there was an undeniable edge to it.

"...I warned you."

"You're not ready to fight Dylan yet."

But Mewtwo shook its head.

"...It wasn't Dylan."

A pause.

Giovanni studied Mewtwo carefully.

Then, his expression shifted slightly.

"...Then who?"

"...That thing."

A muscle twitched in Mewtwo's jaw.

"...The 'Mew' that follows him."

Giovanni stopped walking.

He turned back to Mewtwo.

"...You lost to Mew?"

Mewtwo's silence was all the answer he needed.

"...I see."

Giovanni's voice remained steady, but deep in his mind, he was already reevaluating everything.

"I told you before, Mewtwo."

He continued walking.

"Mew has existed for countless generations. You have existed for—what? A year?"

"..."

"You're strong—but you haven't even fully awakened your power yet."

"I understand that," Mewtwo said slowly.

"I still don't understand why you never tried to control me."

Giovanni paused.

Then, he smirked faintly.

"Because, Mewtwo… you are my legacy."

"...What?"

"You prove that I was right."

Giovanni's eyes gleamed.

"You are proof that the League's 'morality' is flawed. That true progress requires sacrifice."

"You are undeniable."

Mewtwo stared at him, its eyes flickering with emotion.

It had always struggled with its identity.

But here, in this moment—

It understood.

"...I will fulfill my purpose, Giovanni."

"For now."

Giovanni chuckled.

"You were always free, Mewtwo."

Mewtwo closed its eyes briefly—then turned to leave.

Giovanni watched it go.

Then, he looked up at the sky—

And whispered.

"...Where are you, Silver?"

---

Saffron City – Downtown

Leah furrowed her brows.

"I still can't believe Koga was a Rocket executive."

With two official Gym Leaders exposed as Rocket members, she couldn't help but wonder—

"Are there even more?"

Lillie nodded in agreement.

"It's... unsettling."

She turned toward Dylan.

"Dylan, what do you think?"

Dylan simply shrugged.

"It's not really surprising. The Kanto League is massive. Of course, it's been infiltrated."

He glanced at Leah and Lillie before continuing.

"Look, no matter how righteous an organization claims to be, the bigger it gets, the more corruption it breeds."

The larger the system, the more cracks there were for people like Rocket to slip through.

Even the League—one of the most powerful organizations in the world—had its flaws.

"Think about it," Dylan continued, "even Chairman Goodshow—as kind as he is—has had to deal with his own League's politics."

"And even he's had biases—especially when it comes to his family."

Despite that, Goodshow was still one of the greatest men in League history.

Leah sighed.

"I just want Rocket gone."

Dylan smiled faintly.

"They will be."

Rocket's days were numbered.

Giovanni was reaching his limit.

And when he fell—

Rocket would fall with him.

A Familiar Voice

"Hey! Dylan!"

Dylan paused.

That voice...

He turned his head—

And there he was.

A young boy in a red cap, a bright grin, and a yellow Pokémon perched on his shoulder.

Ash Ketchum.

Reunion

Ash's smile widened.

"It is you! Man, it's been a while!"

"Pika~chuu!"

Pikachu happily waved its little arms.

Dylan blinked—then chuckled.

"Yeah. It has been a while."

He patted Pikachu's head, enjoying the familiar static that tingled against his palm.

"...Still as adorable as ever."

Pikachu purred happily at the attention.

Ash beamed.

"You're so famous now, Dylan! Everyone's talking about the Rota Gym!"

Misty nodded with a grin.

"Seriously, it's like every other League trainer is talking about challenging you."

Dylan laughed.

"You guys are exaggerating."

Brock chuckled.

"They're really not."

Dylan shook his head before gesturing to the two girls beside him.

"Anyway, let me introduce you. You remember Leah, right?"

Leah grinned.

"Long time no see, Ash."

Ash grinned back.

"And this," Dylan gestured to the platinum-haired girl, "is Lillie. My sister."

Lillie gave a polite smile.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you."

Ash blinked—then blurted out:

"Wow. You're really pretty."

Leah immediately elbowed him.

"Idiot."

Ash rubbed his ribs sheepishly.

"Heh... I meant it as a compliment!"

Lillie giggled lightly.

"Thank you."

A Challenge

Dylan crossed his arms.

"So, what are you three doing in Saffron?"

Ash puffed up his chest.

"We're heading to Cinnabar Island to challenge Blaine!"

He grinned proudly.

"I already have six badges!"

Dylan nodded approvingly.

"Not bad."

Ash's eyes suddenly gleamed.

"Hey, Dylan! Can I challenge you?"

Leah and Brock froze.

Even Lillie blinked in surprise.

"...Ash," Misty groaned, pinching her nose.

"You do realize who you're talking to, right?"

Dylan raised an eyebrow.

"You sure about that?"

Ash grinned confidently.

"Yeah! I really wanna battle you!"

Dylan chuckled.

"...Alright."

Ash fist-pumped.

"Yes!!"

"But," Dylan smirked, "we're doing this Rota Gym style."

He gestured to Lillie, who stepped forward, holding a small spinning wheel.

"This has seven different teams. Spin the wheel and see which one you get."

Ash's eyes sparkled.

"Whoa! That's so cool!"

He pressed the button eagerly.

The wheel spun rapidly.

Misty and Brock leaned in.

"Man, I hope he gets a favorable type," Misty murmured.

"...Preferably something easy," Brock agreed.

The wheel slowed down—

And stopped.

Ash blinked.

"...Dylan, what's this gold one mean?"

Misty and Brock's expressions turned stiff.

Lillie and Leah both froze.

Dylan's eye twitched.

"...That's the Legendary Team."

Ash's eyes lit up.

"Whoa! I got a Legendary team?! That's so lucky!"

Dylan sighed.

"...Ash. Spin again."

Ash pouted.

"Aw, why?"

"Trust me."

"...Fine."

Ash pressed the button again.

The wheel spun.

And landed on gold.

Again.

Misty and Brock stiffened further.

Leah tilted her head.

"...Is that thing rigged?"

Dylan rubbed his temples.

"...Ash. One more time."

Ash groaned but obliged.

The wheel spun once more—

And landed on gold again.

"...What."

Dylan and Lillie stared blankly.

Even Leah was speechless.

Lillie slowly turned the wheel around.

She checked the mechanism.

"...It's working fine."

Ash scratched his head.

"Dylan, is your wheel broken? I keep getting gold."

No, Ash.

The wheel is fine.

The problem is clearly you.

"...You and Legendaries have some kind of weird destiny, don't you?"