Pfft~Hearing Giovanni speak so righteously, Leaf nearly burst out laughing.
Like, seriously—who else could understand this better?
The former Rocket Boss, now not only the head of Kanto's Elite Four but also declaring in the Indigo Plateau League HQ, right in the Elite Four's office, that he was going to take down former Kanto Champion and Elite Four leader Lance.
And he said it with such conviction too!Leaf almost ruined her freshly done manicure trying to hold it in.
"Nice! That's the spirit, Giovanni-senpai. Yep, a bunch of ex-Elites? Please, we can take 'em no problem!"
Blue was hyped. He'd been bored out of his mind lately. Being a Kanto Elite Four member didn't feel all that different from before—he barely had anything to do.
And those annoying online trolls questioning his skills? Hah! If they had the guts, they should just come challenge him directly!
Saying he was weaker than the previous Elite Four? What a joke!
"Very good, but hold off on the excitement—sit down for now."
Chairman Goodshow smiled, heartened by the youthful fire. This—this was the future of the Kanto League.
"According to inside sources, Lance and the others are still on Cerise Island. They're planning to use the island's special nature to summon a legendary bird Pokémon."
Goodshow's gray eyebrows knit together once more.
"In Kanto, that would mean either Ho-Oh or Lugia, right?" Giovanni mused.
"Correct. Lance already has Zekrom. If he gets Ho-Oh or Lugia too… we'll have a serious problem."
Goodshow sounded troubled. He knew just how strong Lance was.
Lance had always been one of the top Champions of his era. His dragon legion was already formidable, and with Zekrom? His strength had only soared.
Add Ho-Oh or Lugia on top of that? Disaster.
Giovanni's eyes flickered. If that happened, not even he might be able to stop Lance.
"Tch… two Legendary Pokémon, huh." Blue scratched his head, clearly uneasy.
"And then there's Agatha and Lorelei too," Goodshow added heavily.
Well, Agatha and Lorelei anyway—he was pretty sure Bruno had already defected to Dylan's side.
Good ol' Bruno. Loyal and dependable.
"Still, we have Dylan," Leaf smiled breezily.
"Isn't it kinda unfair if Dylan gets involved though? Honestly, I think he only needs to deal with Zekrom and the bird—leave the rest to us," Blue suggested.
"Dylan's the Champion. He shouldn't have to step in directly."
What he meant was—he wanted the glory. If Dylan fought, what was the point of the rest of them going?
Dylan alone could probably wipe out the whole enemy squad.
"You're so considerate, Blue," Dylan said, side-eyeing him.
"No need to thank me. Just sit tight on Reshiram while we win this for you," Blue said with a grand flourish.
"There are four of them, and four of us. Perfect match-up."
In Blue's mind, as the most handsome of the current Elite Four, it was only right that he got to fight Lance himself. He'd been dying to take on that legendary dragon team!
"Chairman, where's Cerise Island?" he asked.
"I'll mark it on the map for you. You must stop them before they complete the summoning."
Goodshow sighed.
"Once they summon the bird, Lance plans to launch an attack on Vermilion City. It's tragic…"
"Wait—attack it?" Blue blinked.
"Literally. He's targeting Lt. Surge," Giovanni quickly realized.
"Ohhh, right. Surge used to be part of Team Rocket." Blue caught on and clicked his tongue.
Well, that explains it.
"Surge has turned over a new leaf. I personally persuaded him," Goodshow said, rubbing his temples. "But Lance won't accept that—he sees Surge as a former high-ranking criminal."
In Lance's eyes, people like Surge didn't deserve redemption—they deserved eradication.
"Alright, gentlemen. Rest well and prepare yourselves. You depart tomorrow."
"Go forth—and return victorious!"
Goodshow smiled warmly at the current Kanto Champion and Elite Four.
After the meeting, Blue and Red went off to the training grounds.
Dylan, Leaf, and Giovanni returned to their respective gyms.
Reshiram still stood proud at the League HQ's front plaza. As Dylan's most famous steed, the White Dragon was something of a celebrity in Kanto.
As the three exited the building, two Officer Jennys were saluting on either side of Reshiram.
The majestic white wings were folded gracefully, its twin tails swaying gently. It was beautiful and sacred.
Another Jenny was taking pictures—Reshiram had basically become a tourist attraction.
Dylan couldn't help but chuckle. He'd left Reshiram out to enjoy the sun, not to become a photo op.
"Champion Dylan! Elite Giovanni, Elite Leaf!"
The three Jennys greeted them quickly.
"Hello," Dylan replied with a gentle smile.
"So tomorrow's the big battle with Lance and the others, huh? The world really is strange."
Watching the Jennys walk off, Giovanni couldn't help but reflect on the absurdity of life.
Once, he was the Rocket Boss, working tirelessly for the criminal syndicate. The moment his identity was revealed, the world turned on him.
Now? He was Kanto's head Elite Four, and people addressed him respectfully everywhere as "Elite Giovanni."
And tomorrow… he'd be fighting Lance for the good of the League.
It was surreal. So surreal that even Giovanni couldn't fully put it into words.
Leaf blinked at Giovanni.
"Feeling confident about defeating Lance 'for justice' tomorrow?" Dylan teased.
"No confidence? Gotta find some. This may be my one and only chance," Giovanni said with a cryptic smile.
Indeed—it might be the only time he could legally call Lance 'evil' and publicly blast him for it.
"If Blue handles Zekrom and the bird, I can deal with the rest," Giovanni added.
"But can you guys handle Lance?"
Dylan tilted his head. He really hoped Lance could be convinced to change. But to make that happen, Lance needed a wake-up call—a complete ideological breakdown.
He needed to lose.
"If I could use my ace, I'd be confident. But I won't be fighting alone."
Giovanni paused. The issue was, he couldn't reveal his true ace: his mega Beedrill. It was too unique. If he used it, the world would immediately realize who he used to be.
He had to stick with his Ground-types. That made beating Lance harder, but hey—he wasn't alone.
He had Blue, Red, and Dylan—all fighting for justice to bring down the wicked Lance.
"Good then. See you tomorrow."
After bidding Giovanni farewell, Dylan and Leaf hopped onto Reshiram and flew back to Rota City.
Once back at Rota Gym, Dylan made a call.
"Yo, Gym Leader Bro?"
"Selene, where are you?"
"I'm at Mt. Moon. Hey, Hiker dude, don't leave! Fight me again! I'm not gonna rob you!"
Dylan chuckled. He could imagine the chaos on her end.
"Ran off again… sigh. Gym Leader Bro, why are they all so chicken? I'm just a cute little girl!"
"…"
Dylan was silent.
"Anyway, got time tomorrow? I'm taking you on a raid."
"Huh?" Selene blinked. What now?
The Next Day – Indigo Plateau
"So this is your student, Dylan?" Blue eyed Selene with interest.
He'd seen her before, during his own Rota Gym challenge.
"That's right. Selene's gotten pretty strong. I thought I'd let her see some real action."
Dylan grinned. If nothing else, he was a responsible mentor.
He'd thought about bringing Yellow too—but decided against it.
"Oh? I'll have to test her out sometime," Blue said, raising a brow.
Anyone Dylan praised that much had to be impressive. He made a mental note to challenge her later—just a friendly spar between seniors and juniors.
"Let's move."
Dylan nodded to Goodshow, then boarded Reshiram with Leaf and Selene.
Blue and Red took to the skies on Pidgeot and Charizard, while Giovanni rode a Salamence borrowed from Dylan.
Together, they soared toward Cerise Island—to challenge the former Kanto Elite Four!
"Lance, place the Green Badge."
Agatha spoke with eerie calm. Around the volcano's rim, seven of the Kanto starter badges had already been slotted in.
Only the final one remained.
Lance, atop Aerodactyl, glided to the volcano's mouth and dropped the Green Badge.
In that instant, the skies began to shift.
Dark clouds swirled and layered across the heavens.
The volcano trembled violently. A column of energy shot straight up into the sky.
"It's happening!"
Agatha, Lorelei, and Bruno stood on a nearby cliff, their hair and robes whipping in the wind, eyes locked on the sky above.
Dark clouds twisted into a massive vortex. From its heart… a colossal figure emerged.
"There it is. The Legendary Bird Pokémon…"
Lorelei pushed her glasses up, staring intently.
A deep, haunting cry echoed across the land.
From the swirling storm descended a great white bird, wings spread wide.
"Lugia!"
(End of Chapter)