Prologue - The World’s Strongest Trainer Falls!

Archer

“Where is he? What’s the plan? Are we evacuating?” I demand. My vision loses focus and I put my hand on the wall to steady myself. “Tell me he has a plan.”

“Archer, you’re bleedi”- Ariana begins to say.

“Give me a fucking answer or let me through Ari. It’s a fucking bloodbath, he came here himself.” I interrupt her. “The grunts are either surrendering or fleeing, and I don’t think Petrel or Proton will be able to hold them off for more than 10 minutes.”

“He’s been holed in there since the raid started. I… he hasn’t said a damn thing except to turn away everyone but you.”

I go to move past her to go into the office and she catches my arm and lowers her voice.

“This time’s different Archie. He… he’s not himself.” Ariana shifts her feet. “Listen, we could leave. Leave right now. We don’t owe him anything, he brought this on himself.”

Shit.

The rumbles of the battling hit the basement and the whole building shudders.

She’s right. There’s no overwhelming evidence here and it’s kind of romantic right? Vigilantes on the run. Would he do the same for you? He even taught you to be ruthless.

There’s one last tremor, and the sounds of a Dragonite roaring. This time the building shakes, followed by eerie silence.

“You might not, but I owe him everything.” I close my eyes. “You go though, Ari. I need to talk to him at least one last time.”

“You always were a dumbass.” She smiles at me through her tears. “If you make it out of this alive, you’ll find me in GC.”

And just like that she was gone.

Some fucking door guard, I laugh to myself. Good luck Ari. I hope you get out of this scot-free.

Two quick but deep breaths, and I open the doors.

“Boss-”, I begin, but I’m struck by how he is. The Giovanni I know was immaculate, perfect, strong. His posture is perfect. The aura around him exudes pressure. Arrogance, Intellect, and Drive personified.

The man before me just looks drained. He’s at his desk, hunched over, hair ruffled with his suit disheveled. His Persian is restless around him and doesn’t even bother staring me down as she normally does as she paces around his chair. Eventually he looks up and meets my eyes.

“It’s not just a raid. He came here himself and he brought the goddamn Elite 4 and Rangers and-”. I pause as he just stares at me. No reaction.

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“Ah, you knew?”

I can see his mind turn, his eyes calculating, and I see something I’ve never seen before. A look into what makes the enigma that is him, him. And, just like that, he slicks his hair back. Adjusts his suit. Slowly and deliberately, he rises.

Shifting into the Giovanni I know. The boss.

“I came to die with my Team.” He smiles. “I told Ariana to turn away everyone except you at the door. Where are the brothers?”

“Ari’s gone.” I rush through. “Petrel’s pokémon were half dead and Proton wasn’t much better. But more importantly. What do you mean, die with your team? You knew? You fucking knew?”

He hardens his features and puts up his hand to forestall me.

“It’s over. It was this or a slow death as they weed us out one by one. It’s over.” He readjusts his suit again, looking unsatisfied. “I came here to go down with dignity.”

My world tips on its edge, and my head thumps and thumps. Over? OVER?

“It’s not over. It’s never over. We could leave, we could run too, we could fight here, you and I have never lost before!” I start babbling. Anything. This can’t be how this all ends.

“Let me amend myself. Over for me and the team, perhaps. But not you.” Giovanni sighs. “As of this moment, Team Rocket is disbanded, effective immediately. But I hope you won’t begrudge me one last order.”

Bruno

“Let me have him, my Lucario will sweep him.” I argue, itching to fight. It had been less climactic of a fight than I thought it was going to be. “You dragged me all the way here, at least let me do the honors.”

“Bruno, take this fucking seriously.” Karen chides me. “He was a gym leader for a reason.”

Koga just grunts in agreement.

“Why is he even up here? He just dips out of the hideout just to wait for us up here?” Will demands.

“Who cares. You four just back off. He’s mine and we all know he’s mine.” The maniac just grins, rubs his hands together and raises his voice.

“After all, it’s not everyday you get to battle the world’s strongest trainer.” He mocks.

Giovanni just smiles back.

“Man, he gets all the fun” I complain. Truth be told I didn’t really know if could take him. Giovanni was- well you heard things even before he was ousted as Team Rocket’s leader. In fact this showdown was a long time coming in a lot of different ways.

Out of nowhere Lance releases his Charizard and Giovanni releases his Rhyperior.

“Holy shit.” Karen mutters.

And as the first few exchanges happen. The tiny part of my personality that wasn’t all ego could admit to myself that maybe it was a good thing that Lance was the one battling.

No words. I don’t think I’d ever seen Lance pushed that hard, right up to the edge. I even let my Lucario out to have him watch. This was two masters. Probably beyond me. As a fighting type master, this was the kind of fight you got to see once in a lifetime, maybe.

The raid team from the league had to back up from the fight it had been that chaotic and barbaric. The carnage from hyperbeams, shadow balls, earthquakes littered the field.

The terrain was battered. Sections of the cliffside had fallen to the beach below. The whole facility below us had probably caved in after Lance’s Gyrados went down.

Will had even almost ordered his Slowking to help. But Lance had whirled on him and fixed him with a look that had brokered no contention as to its meaning.

If you interfere, after I end him, I will end you.

It had been touch and go there for a while, I mused.

Lance’s Dragonite crows out its victory to the heavens before it slumps over, laying on its side.

Well, maybe touch and go the entire time.

“Bruno- fucking cuff him.” Lance orders me. His eyes are manic and his body drained. This had gone beyond mere justice. It had been personal from the start.

I walk over and put my hand on his shoulder and drive him to the ground. He knows better to resist at this point. Lance fucking scoffs for the final time that evening.

“Strongest trainer, huh. Maybe, maybe not.” Lance kneels to the ground to whisper to Giovanni. “But I’m a Gods. Damned. Champion.”