"Give Team Rocket to me"
Darkrai floated in the air, his body stained with blood.
The once beautiful land was now strewn with a mound of corpses.
His body trembled as years of suppressed emotions surged forth all at once.
"You don't get to grieve...
Whether directly or indirectly... You bear the weight of every innocent soul lost," Darkrai's adversary, Mew, declared.
The scene shifted, transporting them to the midst of an ocean of red water and storms.
"This place was once brimming with life and peace, but you slew Lugia, the ocean guardian.
Its blood tainted the water, and the storm claimed all life," Mew recounted.
The scene changed again as they stood before a blazing tower.
Flames spread, consuming every life form near the tower.
"You killed Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, who maintained balance here.
You, Incubus...
You extinguished their lives...
Why? What drove you? What was their crime? They were living peacefully, yet you robbed them..." Mew's words struck Darkrai's soul with each syllable.
"My father commanded it..." Darkrai replied.
"Just because Giratina ordered you?
Don't you possess your own reasoning?
Power isn't meant to steal life from the weak; it's meant to grant life to the vulnerable.
How could you understand this...
You never comprehended life's essence from the start...
Awaken, Incubus... There's still time...
Experience life... Feel life... Realize its value..." Mew's voice resonated in Darkrai's ears, pulling him from his thoughts.
His arms, once stained with the blood of innocents, now cradled a Poochyena that had just hatched from an egg.
An innocent life deserving of a chance to thrive.
"What's troubling you, Darkrai? You seemed lost in thought," Aoki asked.
"Nothing... Just reflecting on the past," Darkrai replied.
"The past is fixed, Darkrai. It's the present that defines us.
Anyway...
Let's go. Our task here is complete," Aoki said.
"You're right... Let's depart," Darkrai agreed, merging into Aoki's shadow.
************
As evening descended, Aoki emerged with Misty, leisurely walking toward a park.
Children were headed home, leaving only a few people behind.
"How's the town?" Aoki inquired.
"It's peaceful, though not as serene as Orange Town. It has a unique vibe," Misty responded.
On a bench, a man dressed in black with a black hat was advising his son, who was about to embark on a journey.
The boy was Silver, the one to whom Misty had given a starter.
Silver absorbed his father's guidance and set out on his journey without looking back.
Approaching the man, Aoki and Misty sat on either side.
"Heard you disappeared….. Didn't expect to see you here, Giovanni.
I thought our next meeting would involve a fight, but this works too," Aoki remarked, prompting the man to remove his hat.
"Of all people, I never expected you to have a son," Misty added.
"What's wrong with that?
My role as the leader of Team Rocket has nothing to do with my personal life.
Besides, I raised my son away from everything I'm associated with," Giovanni responded coldly.
"So, what's been happening with Team Rocket lately?
The crime rate in Kanto is rising due to various organizations' invasions. Wasn't stopping them your responsibility?" Aoki questioned.
"Why should I answer that to you?" Giovanni's tone was icy.
"As Kanto's champion, maintaining harmony is one of my responsibilities.
Interestingly, I find Team Rocket intriguing. Who knows, I might assist.
And I haven't thanked you for creating Mewtwo; it's been invaluable to me," Aoki said, surprising Giovanni.
"So, he's with you...
Fine, I'll tell you. I have nothing to lose," Giovanni conceded.
"In the past, the League favored the wealthy, granting them exclusive opportunities.
I established Team Rocket with the hope of providing equal opportunities for everyone to become trainers.
I captured wild Pokémon and gave them to aspiring trainers at low prices in exchange for their services.
Over time, our popularity and numbers grew, particularly among the less fortunate.
Our influence expanded, reaching various sectors.
The League couldn't ignore us anymore.
They wanted to eradicate us, but we were too important to dismiss. So, we struck a deal that granted us power over Kanto's underworld.
The League rarely aided us; our profits were minimal.
Enter Team Dusk, an organization of high-ranking members with legendary Pokémon.
Numerous organizations worldwide were part of it.
They were the true rulers of the global underworld.
They invited Team Rocket to join and work for them in exchange for investments.
I was coerced into it and had to sign a contract.
With their assistance, Team Rocket expanded throughout Kanto and Johto, creating various business opportunities.
Recently, the situation changed...
Team Dusk, once hidden, emerged with the goal of causing chaos.
Someone aims to open a portal to another world, seize Pokémon from trainers, awaken ancient deities, and gain control over all Pokémon.
They invited me to join, but I declined and became their enemy.
Too weak to resist, I initiated Project Mewtwo.
It worked for a while until Mewtwo fled to join you.
Currently, Team Rocket battles Team Dusk daily, weakening our presence in Kanto.
If this continues, Team Dusk will take over Kanto's underworld completely. Trust me, it will be a nightmare.
If I die, everything I've built will disappear. So, I'm here, in a remote town, guiding my operatives from afar," Giovanni concluded.
"It sounds dire...
Let's strike a deal, Giovanni.
Give Team Rocket to me; unite under my leadership.
In return, I'll crush Team Dusk, restoring Team Rocket's power.
Your ambition commands respect; you'd be a valuable teammate," Aoki suggested, his tone casual.
"You are good at making jokes Aoki Gunhildr," Giovanni remarked, a tinge of sadness in his expression. Aoki remained silent.
Night enveloped the park, an empty canvas.
"Allow me to demonstrate my sincerity," Aoki declared.
A burst of darkness enveloped them, spiriting them away.
Giovanni's senses reeled as he started falling from the sky along with Aoki and Misty, but a beyond-champion-ranked Alakazam intercepted their fall.
"Welcome to the Euphrates, Giovanni! This is my domain!"
Giovanni was too stunned to speak.
"Alakazam, provide our guest with a comprehensive tour of Euphrates," Aoki instructed, and Alakazam teleported them across every island, showcasing the resident Pokémon. They finally stopped on the central island, home to Aoki's mansion and research lab.
"All the Pokémon you've seen obey my command.
Now, let's resume our discussion about my proposition," Aoki said with a wide grin.