265 Silver, See Giovanni Again

Littleroot Town, Hoenn area.

This is a town surrounded by fresh nature without any color.

It is a small town, much smaller than Pallet Town, and is a "town" in name only.

However, this town is very famous even in the large Hoenn region.

The reason for this is that it is home to several famous people.

Hoenn's Professor, Professor Birch, his daughter Sapphire, and Sapphire's companion Ruby.

While the latter two young men are not known for their exploits, Professor Birch is the most authoritative professor in the Hoenn area.

Along with Professor Oak of the Kanto region, he has the right to release the initial Pokémon, the Three Royal Families, to new trainers.

He is also well known in the Hoenn area and in the research community.

After all, he's one of the few Professors who is passionate about going out and doing research in the field.

This coincides with his research topic, "Pokémon Habitat and Distribution".

This kind of hands-on, calm professor is respected and honored by countless people.

Although Professor Birch, who was a bit nervous, didn't care about it...

"Uh-huh."

Today, Professor Birch stayed at his institute, uncharacteristically packing his bags.

"Professor?" the assistant beside him looked at him with a bit of surprise.

Because, Professor Birch has been living and working in the wild like a savage in everyone's mind.

His time at the institute was very little.

As a professor, it was rare to see him in his institute.

"What are you going to do?"

The assistant asked curiously.

Who goes out in the field with a stack of papers?

What's wrong with that?

"Uh-huh?"

The busy Professor Birch looked up, revealing the face of a bearded, middle-aged man.

He froze for a moment, then, smiling at his assistant, he opened his mouth and said, "The seminar in Lumiose City, Kalos region, will be held soon, so it's time for me to pack my bags and go there."

"Ah, I see..."

The assistant nodded.

"You're going alone?"

"Well, it's just an academic symposium, there's nothing to work on, so it's enough for me to go alone."

Professor Birch gathered up his materials and put them into a handbag.

After that, he lifted up another much larger travel bag at his feet and said: "I've already said hello to my family."

"So, we'll be leaving soon."

"...I wish you a safe journey."

Professor Birch smiled and thanked him, and then, with his bag in hand, he planned to go out.

Just as he opened the door of the institute, a call came from the distance.

"Dad! Dad!"

A youthful and beautiful figure came speeding from the distance, with a speed that surpassed even some of the weaker Pokémon.

Professor Birch's daughter, Sapphire, ran to him with a burst of energy, grabbed Professor Birch's clothes, and said, "Are you getting ready to go out again?"

"Why do you always go out by yourself this time, you don't bring any Pokémon with you, and every time you make a mess, you want Ruby and I to go over to save you." Sapphire puffed up her pretty face, complaining exasperatedly about Professor Birch's black history of not caring for her body and not having the brains to do things, and said, "The last time the moving company's Machoke chased after you in the wild, have you forgotten?"

"Uh, haha... That was an accident!"

Professor Birch scratched his head in embarrassment.

It's a dark history.

I've been chased by Poochyena before.

"So, Dad's not going to carry me out again?"

Sapphire stared at Professor Birch with a disgruntled expression.

She decided that if Professor Birch didn't take her with him this time, she would force herself to follow him!

All this time in Littleroot Town with Ruby, the girl who loved freedom and Pokémon battles was going crazy.

She desperately needed to get out into the wild and vent her newfound frustrations.

"This time is different." Professor Birch shook his head.

"This is not a research trip."

Professor Birch shook the bag in his hand, and said, "Do you think I usually go out to work in this configuration?"

"I am ready to go out to participate in a seminar, you as a business trip on the line."

"Seminar?" Sapphire was discouraged.

She'd never been a big fan of all this research stuff.

There was no denying that researchers who dedicated their lives to the cause of research and to the benefit of society were a group of people who deserved a great deal of respect.

But Sapphire is not a quiet girl.

Instead of reading and researching, she preferred to run and play in the field and engage in exciting Pokémon battles.

If Professor Birch had been invited to judge a Pokémon Battle event, Sapphire would have clamored to go with him.

But the seminar... I don't think so.

"Hey."

Sapphire sighed and turned around, ready to leave.

Seeing his daughter in this state, Professor Birch's heart was full of helplessness.

He also hoped that his daughter could inherit his mantle and become the new Pokémon Professor.

However, even after following that beauty pageant-loving kid for so long, Sapphire's wild-girl nature still hasn't changed.

Professor Birch was a little sad.

When Sapphire was a little girl, she loved to wear princess dresses and had a sweet, gentle nature.

How did she become like this?

It's a real pain in the ass...

"Hey."

Sighing, Professor Birch walked alongside Sapphire with his luggage.

As a father, he looked at his daughter's lost look, but also a little bit of heartache, so he did not find words to talk about the symposium, said: "In fact, the seminar is not so boring, that is not a group of researchers take turns on the stage to show their own research results, to say their own journey, but a group of researchers from all over the world to exchange their own experience. People that can can participate in the seminar are not only researchers, but also semi-amateurs who are trainers and breeders, but who have outstanding research results, have the right to participate."

"On the list of invitees for this seminar, as I recall, there is a very famous trainer..."

Seeing that Sapphire still had a look of lack of interest, Professor Birch finally released his big move, and said the heavyweight name, saying, "It seems to be called Aisha!"

"Aisha?"

Not what Professor Birch expected.

When Sapphire heard the name, her expression changed abruptly and she immediately became excited.

"You mean Instructor Ai?"

"Yes." Professor Birch, with a wicked smile on his face, said, "The Aisha who released the 'Beauty Degree' paper as well as Milotic's rapid evolution method and cultivation method."

"That's it!"

Sapphire was as happy as if she was about to jump up and down.

"Ruby's been talking about how powerful this guy is all day long, and then, I heard that he defeated quite a few powerful trainers!"

The girl looked at Professor Birch with an expectant face, treating this seminar very differently from just now, and said, "Can Dad take Ruby and me to that seminar as well?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Professor Birch also did not want to tease his daughter again, immediately is also a face of doting touch her head.

For Professor Birch's status as a professor, bringing a few family members to a seminar is not a big deal at all.

"Yes, then I'll go find Ruby to tell him the good news!"

The happy Sapphire ran off in a huff, leaving her old father sighing helplessly in the same spot.

Aiya, the girl is too old to be left behind.

All she can think about is Norman's kid.

"Well..."

Shaking his head, Professor Birch smiled helplessly.

"Speaking of which, that Aisha, I'd like to meet him as well."

He mumbled to himself as he walked towards the direction of the station, and as he did so, he muttered, saying, "So young, a powerful trainer, a veteran breeder, and a researcher who has made such great names as 'Beautiful Degree' and Milotic's evolution, truly a young talent."

...

Sinnoh Region, Sinnoh League.

Inside the Champion's office, Cynthia was looking at Caitlin on the other side of the video with a smile on her face.

Caitlin was looking at her with a smirk on her face, as if someone owed her a quarter of a million dollars.

"So?"

Cynthia smiled and asked Caitlin, saying: "Now you've realized how powerful Instructor Ai is, right?"

"What's so great..."

Caitlin's voice came from the cell phone, her tone was a little bit insufficient, but, in order to save face, she still held up a look of power and concern, saying: "Trick Room Team versus Tailwind Team, I was just unlucky enough to meet him playing that disgusting Pokémon, Whimsicott, if that Pokémon hadn't been his Tailwind user, my Gothitelle wouldn't have lost so badly."

"If he's using another team, do you think he has any other way to deal with Trick Room Team?"

Cynthia asked again.

In response, Caitlin, who was still furious, fell silent.

After losing to Aisha for the second time, and becoming the material for his new tactics teaching video and program effects, Caitlin had studied Aisha's videos and live broadcasts in the past few days, and realized the level of this Master Tactician as a trainer...

To be honest, even if Aisha had used a Pokémon other than Whimsicott, he would have had more than one way to drag out Trick Room's turn and make a comeback.

Caitlin can't say she'll win...

No, Caitlin can't even say she has a good chance of beating him.

That's Instructor Ai's skill.

She can't beat him.

"Aaaaaaaaahhhh!"

And the kitten exploded.

Caitlin rolled around on the soft pink bed with an angry face, just like a kitten in a tantrum.

In her anger, Caitlin wore a cute expression that suggested she was on the verge of tears.

Her blonde hair was once again disheveled by her movements and fell about her body.

Cynthia looked at her in the video and fell silent.

Cynthia knew exactly who Caitlin was.

She had a bad temper, and she had a big girl's personality.

But Caitlin is still a good kid at heart, and her temper problem is just a side effect of her excess superpowers, not her intention.

She has a problem with Instructor Ai, but she just wants to fight him in the game.

The black history of her defeat was released in a video that was watched by millions of people, but Caitlin, who knew that she was not as skilled as Instructor Ai, didn't cry, didn't throw a tantrum, and instead, she kindly posted her comments on Tailwind and Trick Room tactics and explanations under Instructor Ai's video.

This shows that Caitlin is a reasonable kid.

And... Cynthia feels that her temper is getting the better of her.

At least when it comes to Instructor Ai, Caitlin hasn't lost her temper.

That seemed to be a good sign.

"Well..."

Looking at Caitlin, who was glaring at her with a disgruntled face in the video, Cynthia gave her a smile.

If, Instructor Ai really had a way to change Caitlin's personality... It's good that they know each other.

Besides, Instructor Ai seems to be a psychic.

He might have an effective solution to Caitlin's sleepiness and personality problems caused by her excessive psychic powers.

So...

"Nah, Caitlin."

Cynthia held her face in her hands and looked at Caitlin with a smile on her face.

Caitlin was a little frightened by her gaze, and asked, "What, what's wrong?"

"Would you be interested in going out?"

"Huh?"

Caitlin looked at Cynthia incredulously as if she had heard a big joke.

"Cynthia, are you out of your mind chasing men...? You're letting me go out?"

Caitlin was surprised as she pointed a thin, white finger at herself.

She has been Cynthia's best friend for so many years, it's impossible that Cynthia doesn't know how she is.

It's true that she doesn't leave the house, she doesn't leave the house.

Plus, Caitlin sleeps over ten hours a day because she uses most of her mental energy to control her psychic powers.

Abra in human form.

Due to her short temper and the fact that she can hurt people when her powers flare up, Caitlin has been forbidden to be near people since she was a child.

Over time, she has developed this shut-in personality - although, nowadays, there is no one who can force her to do so.

The only difference between Caitlin and a shut-in is that Caitlin is clean and pretty.

Oh... She's not a shut-in.

She's just a pretty girl with a special kind of cute.

"Uh, yeah."

However, Cynthia kept her smile in the face of Caitlin's surprise and questioning.

From the first day she met Caitlin, Cynthia had wanted to change Caitlin's personality and habits.

Although Caitlin herself was happy to do so.

However, Cynthia could always see the vulnerability and loneliness that Caitlin hid under her eyes.

The child... She was desperate for a change herself.

The big room and the games weren't what she really wanted.

Laughing with her friends was what she really needed.

Cynthia had been Caitlin's best friend for so many years, had accepted her dependence for so long... Sometimes she knew Caitlin better than she knew herself.

"Don't you want to go out?"

"Follow me." Cynthia dropped the bombshell.

"You..."

Caitlin, who had an irritated look on her face, was quiet now.

She looked at Cynthia with complicated eyes, and then, lowered her head.

A long silence filled the room between them.

Cynthia just smiled and stared at Caitlin, waiting for her reaction.

Caitlin looked down at her pink pajamas and gripped the silk comforter with her slender hands, as if she was having a very intense mental struggle.

The silence was too much for Caitlin.

As time passed, Caitlin's body trembled.

It was a precursor to her emotional turmoil and her superpowers going wild...

"Caitlin."

Cynthia called Caitlin's name very calmly.

She wore a serious expression as she stared at the girl in the video.

At this moment, Caitlin's slender body had already lit up with a thin layer of blue light, and her long, delicate hair like golden sand was slightly floating.

Her supernatural power was spreading out unconsciously...

"..."

Cynthia clenched her fists and waited nervously for Caitlin's words.

She was also worried.

If, Caitlin was so rebellious to her proposal, she would give up on the idea as well.

Instead... Given the slightest chance, Cynthia would do her best to use it as a breakthrough to find a way to change Caitlin.

"Ha, ha... Ha."

Facing Cynthia's worried gaze, Caitlin's breathing gradually became heavier.

What started out as an inhalation turned into a gulping breath.

Finally, the glow of her powers dimmed, and her hair fell back over the bed.

"Cynthia."

Caitlin called out to Cynthia, a little weakly.

"Uh, I'm here."

"Uh-huh."

She lifted her head, showing a tired look on her face.

Caitlin was a sight for sore eyes.

"I promise I'll follow you out."

Finally, Caitlin gave the answer Cynthia had been waiting for.

And, she added one more thing, saying, "But, you have to promise me..."

"You name it, I'll give it to you."

Cynthia's lack of hesitation made Caitlin smile.

She took a deep breath, and said, "You have to promise me that you'll knock me out in time when I can't control my powers."

"Ah..."

"Knock me out in time, don't let me hurt innocent people."

"..." Facing this request from Caitlin, Cynthia was silent for a moment before revealing a complex smile that was both relieved and heartbroken, saying, "Okay, I promise you."

"Then I promise I'll go out with you."

Caitlin like a sigh of relief, the tense spirit of a moment to relax down, even with the tone is more than a touch of sleepiness.

"So... Where are you going to take my lady?"

"A place that's too low-end for her." Wrapping her arms around her chest, Caitlin's tone and expression were very arrogant.

"Okay, okay."

Cynthia didn't care much.

She spoke her mind, saying, "My status as an archaeologist as well as a scholar of ancient languages allowed me to receive an invitation to a seminar from the scientific research community."

"The people invited to this seminar are all people who have made outstanding achievements to the League and the research community, and professors from each region will also attend, so it's not what you would call a 'too low-end' place, right?"

"Uh-huh."

Hearing Cynthia's words, Caitlin nodded in satisfaction.

Although she didn't know anything about research.

However, as one of Unova's Elite Four, even if Caitlin didn't go out all day, she knew some famous Professors.

For example, Professor Aurea Juniper, the Unova region's Professor in charge of handing out Pokémon to new trainers.

This sensible, mature, and open-minded female Professor made a good impression on Caitlin.

Doctor Fennel, who looks a bit confused, researched the subject of Pokémon's "dreams", and finally discovered the hidden characteristics of Pokémon, bringing the concept of "dream characteristics" to people's attention, shaking the whole world, cheering countless trainers, and changing the destiny of countless ordinary Pokémon, almost overturning the battle world. Doctor Fennel is also Caitlin's favorite.

Doctor Fennel's Pokémon have psychic powers, and her Pokémon are the adorable Musharna and Munna.

If the seminar was filled with people like Cynthia, Aurea Juniper, and Fennel, it would be an elegant gathering.

"If that's the case, I'll go along with you..."

"Thank you for your hospitality, m'lady."

Cynthia's smile brightened.

Looking at Caitlin, she really realized the opportunity to change her best friend and save her.

Definitely, I'll introduce Instructor Ai to you, Caitlin...

"Uh-huh."

Clenching her pink fist, Cynthia was filled with determination.

"Where's the seminar being held?" Caitlin yawned and said, "Tell me quickly so I can tell Darach to get ready, I'm so sleepy, I need to rest."

"Lumiose City, Kalos region."

Cynthia said after naming the place, "I should pack my things too."

It's been a while since I've seen Instructor Ai, this seminar, he'll definitely be there too, right?

Thinking that she would have a chance to see her beloved again, and that her best friend would become better because of this, Cynthia's mood was too good.

"That's great!"

...

Pallet Town, Kanto area.

Inside the Oki Research Institute, Aisha was sitting in a chair in the research room, looking over the notes Agatha had given her.

They say that old people become wise, and that was true of Granny Agatha.

The Gengar family's training manual was a concentrated effort of her as one of the Kanto Elite Four, and the spooky techniques in the back were even more profound.

As soon as Instructor Ai opened the notebook, he couldn't help but get immersed in it.

It wasn't that there was any magic attached to the notebook that made people pay attention to it, but Agatha's knowledge was just too profound.

Instructor Ai was mesmerized.

Instructor Ai's Haunter had already mastered the "Spirit Poison" method, and his combat power had risen to a new level.

Haunter was familiarizing himself with the mysterious and treacherous "Spirit Poison" method, and believed that it would not take much longer for him to master it completely.

Instructor Ai was practicing the Ghost-type move that the trainer used with Gengar in advance...

"It's amazing."

Holding his notes, Instructor Ai continued to marvel.

In this Ghost Secret Method, the most classic and basic operation was to make a Ghost-type Pokémon sign a contract with the trainer's shadow.

After that, the Pokémon will live in the shadow of the trainer, and will be able to keep an eye on the enemy at all times.

It is the best bodyguard for home travel and self-defense.

It's also a great defense in a non-discriminatory battle.

Imagine... when you're fighting in a non-discriminatory battle, it's common knowledge that you should attack your trainer.

But in your shadow, there's a Gengar that can protect you from harm from a distance.

It can also attack the enemy from inside your shadow at any time.

What an advantage!

"The Kanto Elite Four are really a deep-pocketed team, whoever they are has a very strong specialty..."

Instructor Ai closed the notebook after reading through it with an emotional expression on his face.

Lance's Dragon's Formation was a combination of offense and defense, and the bubbles created by the dragons together possessed great defensive and supportive power.

In addition to Granny Agatha's "spirit poison", she has mastered the "death make-up" that makes the Arbok low-level Deoxys.

Lorelei's ice doll.

Bruno's martial arts... Why is it pulling on your end?

"Hmm."

Instructor Ai remembered Bruno, who was being suppressed by himself, and his expression was a bit complicated.

He shook his head and thought nothing of it.

Let's go for a walk... It's not good to stay inside all day.

"Hah!"

Instructor Ai yawned and walked out of the research lab.

He saw a hostile Togekiss appear in the distant sky, and it flew towards Professor Oak's research center.

On Togekiss's back were two teenagers.

One had red hair, and the other had black hair, but they wore strange bangs like boomerangs.

"These two..." Frowning, Instructor Ai recognized the identity of these two teenagers.

Apparently, they were Gold and Silver, the main characters of the Pokémon special manga Gold and Silver.

"Toge~"

Togekiss' voice reached Instructor's ears.

The Togekiss that had fought against the gods flew to the landing place outside the institute in the blink of an eye, and then Instructor Ai watched as Gold retrieved the Togekiss, pulled Silver, and ran straight to this side.

"Hah, hah... You!"

Gold ran all the way to Instructor Ai, panting, and intermittently struck up a conversation with him, saying, "You're Instructor Ai, aren't you?"

"If the Instructor Ai you're talking about is an anchor, then yes, it's me."

"Good!"

Gold grabbed Silver and pushed him in front of Instructor Ai.

"We have something to ask you... I wonder if you have time to do us a favor."

"Idiot, that's rude!"

Silver knocked Gold's head, then, with an apologetic face, he looked at Instructor Ai and said, "Sorry to bother you."

"He is New Bark Town's Gold, I am Silver."

Silver politely apologized to Aisha and introduced himself.

Aisha didn't care, waved his hand and said, "I'm Aisha, what's wrong?"

"Uh..." After a mental struggle, Silver opened his mouth.

"Has Lance been looking for you?"

"No."

"Ah..." At those words, he scratched his head in a bit of distress and said, "Yes, so... Instructor Ai, you should be the one who defeated my father, right?"

"Uh-huh." Aisha graciously admitted this matter, saying, "Some time ago, he and I had a conflict on New Island."

He knew that Silver was a sensible person and wouldn't look for trouble because he had defeated Giovanni.

"Uh-huh."

Silver's eyes were a bit complicated, said: "Now, my father got arrested, and Elite Lance expressed his wish to see me, and you... Lance didn't tell you about this, probably because he didn't want my father to cause you any more trouble, so he only spoke to me."

"I see."

Hearing this, Instructor Ai understood.

He smiled, looked at Silver who had a hard face, and said, "So, you're struggling with whether or not to meet him at this time, right?"

"Yes."

Silver took a deep breath and looked seriously at Aisha.

This good-looking young man in front of him, although he was only acquainted with him for the first time.

However, when Silver saw him, he subconsciously thought that this person could give him an answer.

Such a feeling made Silver himself quite surprised...

He knew very well what kind of character he was.

Other than Green, he probably wouldn't trust a single person completely... Now, Aisha, who was a stranger to him, was the one he turned to.

This is... Silver had mixed feelings.

"Since it's his wish, what's the harm in going to meet him?"

Aisha stepped forward, patted Silver's shoulder, and said, "I know what you're struggling with... But, besides the identity of Team Rocket's leader, that man has another identity for you that can't be removed, doesn't he?"

"..." Silver raised his head sharply and stared at Aisha.

Aisha smiled blandly.

"He's your father, no matter what, his love for you is never fake... you should know that quite well."

"Uh-huh... Yeah."

Silver lowered his eyes.

He remembered his "first encounter" with Giovanni - between the ruins of the ship and the blazing fire, the man had tried his best to lift his unconscious self above his head from the flames, but the man himself had fallen into the hot flames with one hand gripping the sharp ruins.

This was undoubtedly love...

His fatherly love for himself.

"Besides... can you really not bare to see him?"

"..."

Aisha's question went to Silver's heart.

Silver really didn't want to see Giovanni?

If Silver really hated Giovanni and was ashamed of having a father who was the leader of Team Rocket, he wouldn't have cared about it at all.

But now he's asking Gold for help, and he's asking Aisha, who he doesn't even know, for ideas... That's a sign that he cares too much.

Gold, who was too nervous, couldn't see it.

Aisha, on the other hand, saw right through it.

"So, do you know the answer?"

"Yes..."

"That's good." Instructor Ai looked at Silver with sadness.

This is really a good kid, but unfortunately... The fate of the world is not what it seems.

If it wasn't for Pryce's plan, the young Silver wouldn't have been kidnapped by Ho-oh.

If he hadn't lost Silver... no one knows if Giovanni would have gotten to where he is today.

After all, this father, who is impossible to judge, is doing everything he can to find his son.

Even the Deoxys were just a tool to find Silver.

Such obsession, such love, it's impossible to judge Giovanni.

Even Aisha's dislike of Giovanni is mostly due to their opposing positions.

If we put aside these subjective factors and simply evaluate Giovanni as a person, Aisha's answer would still be "I'm impressed".

"By the way, I'll go with you."

"Huh?" Silver looked at Instructor Ai with surprise, not understanding what he meant.

"Didn't you say Giovanni wanted to see me too?"

Aisha smiled towards Silver and said, "Then, I'll fulfill his wish."

Just as well, he also wanted to take this opportunity to have a serious talk with this lord.

"Thanks a lot... Instructor Ai!"

After a moment of silence, Silver violently bowed towards Aisha.

Instructor Ai was quick to help him up, with a helpless face, saying, "Don't be like that, I didn't help you much..."

"No, being able to give me this answer is really a big help!"

Silver's eyes burned, and his words were full of gratitude.

"Then I'll tell Professor that it's okay, that we're contacting Lance."

"Uh-huh."