Giovanni shuffled ever so slightly, to satisfy an itch burning at his skin. The fabric chaffed, some sort of cheap cotton or polyester, agitating a stench that invaded his nose, that of stale musk and acrid sweat — disgusting.

He held back his disdain. The irreverent girl had made him change into the boy’s unwashed laundry, no doubt intending to humiliate him if that amused grin on her face was any indication.

“Confident, mischievous…”

The man did not protest, but neither did he yield. Instead, he maintained his aloof facade, cultivated through years of subterfuge. It was interesting how even the most asocial of humans rely on face-reading and body language to extrapolate intent. To deny that was akin to blinding one’s senses — unnerving… Yet, the girl did not stir, just continuing to observe him with that barely contained mirth.

“Indifference? Derision? Arrogance.”

Her assuredness was not misplaced. Giovanni could feel an unwavering Psychic hold over his person. No doubt the vigilance of that lustrous Espeon of hers.

His mind was impervious, of course, years of strict regimen and conditioning had transformed it into a black box that none may enter, save himself. But his flesh was still mortal… Or so she thought. The perpetual stream of Aura circulating through his veins flickered ever so slightly and the man could feel the Espeon’s metaphorical grip tighten.

Three seconds. Should he choose to resist, Giovanni estimated a three second window to act. Not that it mattered, not with that Dragonite looming over him — the species was renowned for their Extreme Speed and no amount of Aura cultivation could negate that fact.

“Pokemon; disciplined, loyal.” It was already plenty apparent during their prior battle, really. Giovanni had only exerted a token effort, but the silent coordination and seamless synergy of the girl’s team was still impressive for a trainer her age. “A Legacy then, clearly.”

The crime lord held back a snort. Had he been in possession of such fine specimens, he would have eschewed the battle and gone straight to subduing the trainer. Which told him more about the girl than she might know.

“Virtuous, honorable, naive… Predictable. How typical.” A profile of his opponent steadily built. He did not recognise the girl. So either more time had passed than he thought or she was foreign to these lands — likely the former. “A Dragonite; Blackthorn, perhaps? No, too genial, lax. Blackthorns all receive strict education from birth.”

The girl’s shadow stirred ever so slightly. It was subtle, but Giovanni saw it all the same. “Hmm… Maybe not so naive after all.”

He wouldn’t try anyway. Escape was fruitless if he remained trapped within this prison of time. Better to play along for now until he regained his bearings. That did not mean he would not prod, however. To know thy enemy was to precede them. Not that Giovanni had any enemies — only obstacles to be overcome.

“That friend of yours sure is taking his time…” He remarked.

The girl barely stirred, a sneer marking her contempt towards him.

“Trust? Restraint? Were they acquainted beforehand? No, it was clear from the boy’s initial reaction that he at least was ignorant.”

“My… such conviction. Is this faith perhaps? I, too, used to have the same conviction… unquestioning, loyal to a tee.” Giovanni chuckled then threw back his head in manic laughter. In part to unnerve the girl and in part, to test her composure.

The girl appeared confused at the sight. Giovanni, however, caught sight of a passing cloud, one that vaguely resembled the silhouette of a Raticate. Or was it a byproduct of his broken psyche? He would be lying if he said all of that maddening repetition had not taken its toll on him — even the sturdiest of monoliths can be worn down by the sands of time.

“Ah… such blinding radiance. There was a time where I, too, once dreamed of reaching for the stars high above.” Giovanni remarked, without really intending to. “Oh well, the Slowbro is already free from its shell.” The man mused as he allowed himself to be taken by the tides of memoria.

“Did you know? There is a tradition shared by both the Kantonian and Johton military. A tradition dating back to a time before the separation — the nurturing of a Rattata. Such weak and unruly beast, yet fearless and brimming with aggression — the perfect tool to impart patience and virtue to hotheaded soldiers. Naturally, it is not the simple matter of obedience and Evolution — food, punishment and battle would more than suffice. No, you had to teach them discipline and decorum. And in doing so, engage in self-reflection and develop oneself along the way.”

The flood of memories overwhelmed him; being born into Viridian City in his era meant being born into war — especially when one’s family had a long and proud history of military excellence. Giovanni was but one of many, but oh how he yearned for their approval at the time, foolishly burning his life away in search of glory and recognition.

The man smirked and returned his gaze to the girl, something unknowable stirring within the abyssal void of his eyes. “You see, for one to be promoted into command, the state of the Rattata under their care was an important judge character. Because how could you be trusted to nurture soldiers when you can’t even handle a simple rodent. And thus, the bond a soldier forms with their Rattata transcends camaraderie — almost as intimate as the lifelong bond one shares with their starter…”

He could still feel it, the weight of the sword in his hands, the stench of fear and resentment, the call of duty, the madness swirling within his mind…

Giovanni cackled. The madness, forgotten and repressed, stirred within the abyss, flickering for just a moment before settling back into that familiar void. “And the final lesson? The final trial before promotion? The personal execution of your partner Rattata — the Pokemon you so carefully nurtured from infancy! All to teach the pragmatism of command and the value of sacrifice!”

The girl was speechless, a touch of fear staining her disturbed countenance. Good. He was Giovanni D’Argento, leader of Team Rocket — he should be feared. Though, regrettably, he had meant to sow the seeds of suspicion instead. Not that the girl would have wavered. The reason?

He blinked, and Giovanni’s eyes settled on the girl’s chest, where a smouldering pink Aura could still be felt. It was subtle, exceedingly subtle… but he had spent enough time around that failure to perceive it all the same.

“What’s wrong? Meowth got your tongue? Or should I say… Mew?” The crime lord quipped, before casually tapping at his chest to earn him a sharp glare from the girl.

His lips stiffened ever so slightly at his triumph. “A child… No doubt a special one. But still a child nonetheless.” It was said that the tyrant only appeared before those who were pure of heart. “But this girl…” Giovanni could sense a darkness within her gaze. “How unusual.”

“I recognise those eyes, you've seen it too — the nihility, the futility of it all. Quite surprising given your age. But I guess nothing's ever mundane with fate's chosen. Just like that friend of yours…” As he spoke, Giovanni felt his anger stirring once more. Fate’s chosen, what a joke! How could one possibly derive any satisfaction from being bound in chains?!

The stench returned, that of copper and iron so thick he could literally taste it. Giovanni tightened his fists, to subdue the tremors, that sickening feel of steel rending flesh and the struggle against unyielding bone.

“Tell me, Mew’s champion!” Giovanni barked, struggling against the invisible chains wrapped around his neck — that suffocating pressure. “What was it all for?! Was I just a mere pawn born to fight in an unknowable war? Hands stained by blood and the taste of Raticate in my mouth! Was this my fate?”

When he was but a boy, all he ever wanted was to have a medal pinned against his chest. But it was all a lie, nothing but false glory. It was meant to be a war fought against invasive tyrants seeking to enslave them. Yet, overtime, industries rose to fuel the machinations of war; poachers plundering their forests, lands tilled to feed soldiers, factories built to make weapons and politicians trading favors to ensure the conflict never ended. A war waged not for liberty but for vested interests and greed.

However, when Giovanni came to that realization, it was already too late. He was simply too outstanding, chained down by his accolades. A criminal and a murderer — because that was what he was, behind whispers of heroism and shining glory lay a blood soaked fool enthralled by duty and patriotism.

So be it then! If he were damned then let the world be damned with him! If breaking the chains of fate meant breaking the world then he would gladly oblige. What’s one more drop of blood when his hands were drenched beyond salvation anyway?!

The girl responded with a long and theatrical sigh, finally deciding to engage him. “What do you want, Giovanni? To protect the world from devastation? To unite the people within our region? To denounce the evils of truth and love? To extend your reach beyond the stars? Ha! Don’t make me laugh, man. You’re just a wretch. A wretch with an ego too big for your head.”

She was not wrong; all platitudes meant to entice the feeble minded — a flimsy declaration similar to the one that ensnared him. Which was why it was effective all the more.

The girl scoffed. “Others use their power and authority to maintain peace, while you use your influence to sow discord. I’ve seen first hand the atrocities committed by Team Rocket. Even to this day, your people are skulking in the shadows, causing pain and suffering.”

Her voice was getting louder and louder, heartbeat rising and breathing agitated.

“I get it, you’ve been traumatized. Seen shit I can’t even imagine. But so what?! You had a choice! We all have a choice! A choice to be good or bad, to do our best or wallow in despair! Yes, it’s frustrating! Yes, it’s annoying being led around the nose when all I want to do is play with cute Pokemon and live a peaceful life! And for what?! That little pink fucker won’t even tell me why? Damned mystics and their damned—”

“Interesting… So she does understand, to a certain degree… Yet here she is, willingly allowing herself to be herded like cattle. Perhaps there is hope for her yet…” Giovanni made a mental note to investigate the girl once he was able.

The girl gasped, to catch her breath and calm her beating heart. “You CHOSE to spread your misery. You CHOSE to perpetuate the cycle of hatred. So don’t blame fate or tell me you’re doing this for some profound philosophy or greater good. You are not a tortured hero or a misunderstood martyr, Giovanni. You’re just a child, throwing a tantrum because you didn’t want to do your chores. Plain and simple.”

Giovanni laughed at the girl’s scorn. “You are not wrong, child. But did you know that Team Rocket was originally founded to serve the interest of the Pokemon League? It is funny, is it not? In a state of war, Kanto and Johto must maintain certain pretenses. And yet…”

The man’s expression twisted into an amused grin. It was why he secretly took over their operations way back when, to develop an organisation loyal to him — to twist their purpose and sow indiscriminate chaos. Team Rocket meant to be a grey entity, intended to be used when the League was unwilling to sully their hands.

The girl scoffed. “Lemme guess. You were one of the good guys all along and the League used and abandoned you. Yade yada… How cliche. Frankly, I’m disappointed. But I suppose it’s my bad to expect some nuance in your character.”

“Nuance, eh? How amusing.” Giovanni chuckled. “Oh no. Not at all. I am very much a villain, child. I walked down this path willingly — took control of Team Rocket once it burgeoned out of the League’s influence. As you said, I chose this path. Or did I? There’s no way to know… Not yet, anyway. For there to be heroes, there must be villains. Maybe that was my fate all along, to serve as fodder for the likes of you and your friends.”

The girl already had doubts about her condition. The best thing to do was to just further validate them, embolden the dark embers smouldering in her heart.

“Choice — such a banal word. A mundane concept. Yet to achieve true autonomy, one must have power and control… That’s all it boils down to isn’t it? Power and control?” Giovanni’s amusement turned into a snort and his eyes quivered ever so slightly. Power and control which he was still so sorely lacking.

“But to answer your question, I wish to break the bonds of fate. Transcend the board and look down upon all of its pieces and attain the clarity I seek — the meaning of life. And to do that, I need power! Power to break free from these shackles! To go above and beyond, away from the bounds of this world where fate’s tendrils have no reach!”

Curse his wayward mind. Giovanni had allowed his obsession to consume him once more. No matter, he was not wrong. And soon, the world will know his grief.

The girl dismissed his words with a casual wave, as if she had finally come to a realization and seen right through him, past the abyssal depth of his gaze into the decrepit fool hidden within.

“You’re just a coward, Giovanni — an escapist,” She declared. “No surprise really, given how willing you are to hurt others for your own gain. You don’t deserve absolution. I hope they lock you up so tight, you never get to see the sun ever again.”

Giovanni met the girl’s scathing eyes with a meaningful gaze, holding it for an intense moment before returning to his usual, impassive grin as he stared down at where the Mew Gem laid. He could no longer reason with her, that door was now shut tight.

It was at this point that the boy, Ash, finally returned, looking a little frazzled with leaves and sticks stuck to his person. Giovanni could have sworn the boy seemed familiar. But whether or not it was due to the influence of his temporal prison, he could not tell.

“Sorry it took so long. Had trouble finding a good spot to burn his clothes.”

“Despicable wretch! That suit was pure cashmere!” Giovanni steadied his breathing, no point getting hung up on material losses. There was more where they came from, provided his subordinates did their due diligence, of course.

The girl nodded in acknowledgement. “Did you empty his pockets beforehand?”

“Yup! Found a case full of Earth Badges, a bit of cash and gold, an expensive looking watch and a… phone, I think? Doesn’t really look like a Pokegear to me. Oh, and some kibble?”

“High density Pokechow,” chimed Giovanni. “Not recommended, but perfectly safe for human consumption, just two pellets will last you the whole day. And you can keep the badges if you’d like. It’s just a bit of sentiment from an old man.” It was not a lie, but seeing the suspicious looks on the pair’s faces amused him all the same. His truly important belongings were safely stashed away in the forest somewhere.

The girl ignored his words and held out a little sack for Ash to deposit all of Giovanni’s belongings into. “The phone might be a burner — to avoid detection via Pokenet. The authorities are gonna want these as evidence. So I’ll keep hold of them for now.”

“Cool! Hey err… I didn’t catch your name, but thanks for saving my bacon just now! I’m Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town! But you probably already know that.”

“Pika-pi! Pika!”

“Haha! Pikachu says thank you too.” Ash laughed as his Pikachu jumped away from his shoulder onto the girl’s and nuzzled affectionately against her, much to her delight.

She then smiled at the affable boy and gave his Pikachu a little kiss before shooting a glance at Giovanni. “Yes, I already know who you guys are, Ash and Pikachu. But let’s save the pleasantries for later, once we get out of this time loop.” She answered, blatantly omitting her name from the conversation.

“Cautious, intelligent…” Giovanni raised his estimation of the girl by another notch. “As expected of an individual touched by that tyrant.” It was fairly obvious by this point, but it bore reminding that his captor was a competent one that should not be taken lightly.

“No worries. I get it. But err… How exactly are we going to get out of here?” The boy asked, eliciting a shrug from the girl.

“No idea. For now, let’s just come back the way I came and see what happens. Espy, Nitey, the two of you are in charge of looking after our prisoner — make sure he doesn’t try to do anything. Brucey will be on recon, Clody and Brinny, go back into your Pokeballs and rest for the time being.”

***

“What the heck, Nina! We turn our backs on you for ten seconds!”

“Is that… who I t-think it is?” Kerry stuttered and nearly fell on her back at the sight of the man in Nitey’s grasp.

Nina nodded. “Yes, I’ll explain everything later. For now, I think we should Fly straight to Goldenrod City. Any objections?” There were none. So she called on everyone to ready their Flyers. “Ash, you can ride with Kerry in her Fly Basket.”

“Wait. Are we even able to Fly out of here? Won’t Celebi mess with us or something?”

“Ah… Celebi! That makes a lot more sense.” Giovanni cackled.

Nina scowled at Justin for his loose lips and let out a deep sigh.

“Celebi, I know you can hear me. What do you say? Will we have any issues Flying out of your domain?”

“Hehehe… Roadtrip!”

Nina giggled. “So I’m guessing you want to come with?”

The Mythical Pokemon responded with even more giggles, which Nina took to be a yes.

“Yeah, I just got confirmation that Flying won’t be an issue. So let’s get going before we lose daylight.”

At the same time, Nina wrote a message to be sent to every single influential figure in her contacts to prepare a reception for Giovanni.

***

“Nina! Are you alright?!”

“Uncle Ali!” The moment that Nina landed in front of Goldenrod Police HQ, she jumped into her uncle’s embrace with a beaming smile and allowed the man to fuss all over her.

“Ash… is that you?”

“Hmm? Oh, hey Misty! Man, you’ve err… gained some weight huh?”

“You fucking idiot!” With a flash of her palm, Misty laid into him with a resounding slap. “I t-thought we lost you… You fool!” The woman sobbed, her pregnant belly heaving up and down in distress.

“Now, now… Misty. Calm down, think of the baby.” Brock chimed in with soothing pats to his friend’s back. He then turned to Ash with shaky lips and pulled him into a tight hug. “Welcome back, Ash…”

Ash quivered in Brock’s embrace, the reality of his situation and all that lost time finally hitting him like a rampaging Gyarados. “Brock… Misty… I-I’m back. I-I’m sorry… I didn’t know… How long was I away for?”

“Eight, almost nine years at this point, my boy…”

“Professor Oak!”

The elderly Professor faltered, almost crashing into Ash’s embrace.

Ash hastily grabbed hold of the senior to steady his gait. “Are you alright, sir? Do you need to sit down?”

The old man chuckled. “I am quite alright, my boy. Even better now that you have been returned to us. Your mother though… has been reluctant to leave the house since your disappearance.”

“Oh shoot! Mom! I gotta call her!”

Professor Oak held Ash back with a firm grip on his shoulders. “I understand how you feel, Ash. But later. For now, there are more urgent matters to attend to.” He said as he leveled a glare at an impassive looking Giovanni.

“Oh my… Such a grand reception. All for little old me. I must say, I am extremely flattered.”

Nina’s message had gone out to every Gym Leader she was friendly with, her uncle from Interpol and even Valerie from the Ace Corp. So needless to say, the Indigo League mobilized every available personnel for this occasion.

Gym Leaders, police officers and Ace Trainers from across both regions. There was currently enough firepower in Goldenrod City to take it over entirely. And all for one man.

“Giovanni D’Argento…” The one who stepped forward was a very severe looking Falkner. “In the name of the Indigo League, I place you under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. In light of the nature of your crimes, you have the right to representation during trial, but an attorney may not be present during your questioning. Take him away.” He gestured towards a nearby Ace Trainer.

The Violet City Gym Leader then turned to Nina with a genial smile. “It seems my faith in you was not misplaced. You have done us a great service today, Melina Jones. And the Indigo League will see to it that you and your friends are appropriately rewarded. For now, get some rest. We shall return to you for a statement at a later time.”

Nina smiled as she watched Giovanni be taken away. However, she couldn’t help but feel a nagging sensation in her gut, that everything had concluded too smoothly somehow.

***

Author's note:

You guys have no idea how many times this chapter has been rewritten. My Patreons would know since I kept pestering them with rewrites every couple of weeks.

But I literally have an entire Doc filled with nothing but iterations of this one chapter alone.

In fact, this version you're reading right now was freshly rewritten last week. The original version and the one that I initially released on Patreon was in Nina's POV. Hence why there might be some missing details that would help elucidate matters.

That said, I made adjustments to Chapter 242 to compensate -- a chapter that coincidentally got released in advanced today actually. Hopefully everything will be made clearer then.

But seriously though, it was only through sheer force of will and a dire lack of sleep that stopped me from rewriting this chapter AGAIN before release. So if the flow is off, which I do think it is, or the dialogue feels stilted, which I also think it is, let me know. Or don't. For the sake of my sanity, I don't really want to know. But at the same time, I don't think I'll ever rest until I get this chapter right.

ARGHHH!!!

Anyways, onto more practical notes;

Trying to characterize Giovanni was a real challenge. Because none of the available source material really bothered to explore his character and motivations in depth. It's all just cartooony moustache twirling villain nonsense. And I don't think I've read any other fanfiction that's gone much further than that either -- feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

The closest thing to what I desired was the Adventures manga which depicted him as a desperate father in search of his lost son. Unfortunately, that wasn't the path that I wanted to take with that character for reasons you will find out soon. So I had to chart my own.

Things will get more hectic later on. But not before Nina goes through a quick little horse girl arc. Umapyoi!