A tall man with black hair in a business suit exited the white portal, pausing as it vanished into nothingness. Giovanni brushed the dirt off his suit, and turned to face the four who were standing at ready to oppose him. In his hand was a suitcase, and beside him were two Team Rocket Grunts that had been trained to be actual assets to the team.
“Punctual, as always Red and Blue. What do I owe the pleasure of your company?” Giovanni looked as each released their signature Pokémon, and quickly estimated their level. Remembering back, he was now certain these were the versions from his time, and not from the past. Looking to the two Grunts, they stepped forward and released their Pokémon.
Blue looked at Giovanni, his Dragonite sitting beside Red’s Charizard, a large lizard with bat wings and a flaming tail. The two Grunts released Rocket’s signature Pokémon, a Houndoom and a Ratticate. Blue looked to the two Pokémon, and then to his Dragonite. He hated to admit it, but Giovanni had been training, it looked like it might be an even fight if these were just the Grunts.
Charizard leaned back, and fired a blast of flame at Ratticate and Houndoom, who leapt out of the way and began to run circles around the orange dragon. Dragonite flapped his wings, and sent the two smaller Pokémon sliding back with the force of the wind. The grunts began barking orders, distracting the two Pokémon just long enough for both Dragonite and Charizard to get the jump.
Blue watched them fight, estimating the health of the Pokémon and the skill of the trainers. Even with them doing the rookie mistake of trying to tell the Pokémon how to battle, they weren’t that bad. If Blue tried to estimate how strong Giovanni would be based on the grunts, it looked like a very tough battle was inbound.
Blue returned his Dragonite as Red released his Blastoise, and turned to face Giovanni. Red would handle them for now, and Blue needed to gauge how much Giovanni had grown in terms of battle in four years. And if Blue lost, Red would beat him, like he always did. Green and Lyra stood back, ready to back either of them up in case they needed it.
“So Blue, have you won any battles lately?” Giovanni tossed out a Rhydon, a large Rhino-type Pokémon, and casually checked his watch, as if he was making sure he wouldn’t miss an appointment. Blue gritted his teeth, and tossed out a large dragon-like snake named Gyarados. Blue knew he would need every advantage he could get.
Gyarados roared and took to the sky, hovering slightly above the ground. Rhydon returned the challenge, and then breathed out, becoming more relaxed. Gyarados charged Rhydon, but bounced off with little effect, wincing slightly at the recoil. Rhydon smiled at Gyarados, and picked up a large section of the ground and threw it at Gyarados.
“That’s none of your business Giovanni.” Blue watched Gyarados dodge, and launch into another full on charge. It was saving it’s water move until the health was lower, else Gyarados would lose the next turn. Rhydon ignored the attack, absorbing it easily as he took in another deep breath. He began to throw another rock, much slower this time.
Gyarados landed on the ground and summoned up some orbs, which circled Gyarados before launching straight for Rhyhorn, taking on a brown, ground like texture. As the attack hit, Rhyhorn winced slightly, but continued with his deep breath taking, slowing down even further. Gyarados returned to the air and roared, mouth filling with water. Firing the water out of his mouth like a fire hose, it knocked Rhyhorn off it’s feet, and Gyarados paused to rest.
“I will take your refusal to answer as a ‘no’ then.” Giovanni’s Rhyhorn slowly stood back up, and picked up some more rocks to throw. They fell down upon Gyarados, who tried to dodge despite the slow recovery due to Hydro Pump, but was hit full force. Giving a roar of pain, it launched straight into another Hydro Pump. Rhyhorn returned with rocks each time. However, after a few passes, both were both looking battered and bruised.
“A pity, that the great Blue is reduced to being simply Red’s lackey.” Giovanni looked to Blue as his concentration was broken and he turned to answer angrily, but was halted as a final rock slide finished off Gyarados. Swearing slightly, he chided himself for letting Giovanni distract him, and returned his Gyarados, pulling out a second Pokéball. Giovanni healed up his Rhydon, and waited patiently.
“Think what you want Giovanni, it won’t change the fact I’m going to beat your butt back to the future.” Blue tossed out his second Pokémon, and concentrated as his trademark Dragonite launched into the air and immediately charged a beam of pale blue in it’s mouth, and fired. As the beam hit the slow Rhydon, it froze him for a moment, before shattering. Rhydon shivered slightly, before launching into another rock slide, which Dragonite easily dodged.
“Ah yes, the future. I wonder, have you heard from your grandfather recently? I hear he’s quite…tied up with work currently.” Giovanni once more succeeded in distracting Blue, who turned to glare at him before returning his eyes back to the battle just in time to see Dragonite launch into another ice beam. Blue was sure his grandfather was fine, he had seen him last month.
Dragonite dodged another Rock Slide and fired another ice beam, before gliding down and punching Rhydon with his fist and doing a loop before launching into a body slam. Rhydon slid slightly, before grabbing onto Dragonite and picking up another rock, throwing onto the dragon’s head. Dragonite reared back, diving back into the air and holding it’s head.
“I apologise if my conversation is boring you, I merely assumed you would be more concerned about your grandfather being too…tied up with work to…answer any calls you made shortly before walking in and…borrowing the experimental devices he mysteriously left for you along with a mysterious note.” Giovanni gently brushed his coat again as Blue once more glanced toward him before forcing his eyes back to the battle.
Blue watched as Dragonite would engage Rhydon in hit and run tactics, changing from launching Ice Beams to giving him punches at the risk of becoming trapped. However as he watched the fight it slowly faded from his view until he couldn’t stop himself from rounding on Giovanni and pointing a finger at him.
“If you did anything to hurt my grandfather, they won’t need a morgue to get rid of what’s left of you.” Blue felt the battle that Red was fighting behind him end, and all eyes turn to him instead of the battle the two Pokémon were raging. Dragonite noticed this, and as he turned to glance to Blue he got hit by another Rock slide, and forced himself to pay attention to the battle, and ignore the confusing humans.
“Do not worry Blue, I have done nothing to your grandfather. However, I could very easily change that. Then again, my decision depends entirely on your behaviour.” Giovanni pulled out a small device with a large red button on it and held it out, waving it slightly in the direction of Blue. Blue growled, and was going to glance to Red behind him, but was halted as Giovanni began to talk once more.
“Come now Blue, do you really need Red to be holding you hand every step of the way?” Giovanni watched as Blue returned his gaze back on the Rocket Boss, and narrowed his eyes. Glancing to the two Pokémon fighting, Blue growled and slowly began to walk over toward Giovanni, making sure to avoid the arena the Pokémon had set themselves in. Somehow during the fight, they had managed to change places, and now Giovanni was the one standing near the pool.
“What do you want Giovanni?” Blue stopped a few steps away, his voice certain not to carry far. Eyes narrowed, face downturned, he faced Giovanni, looking him straight in the eyes. Blue didn’t like the man’s eyes. They were the eyes of a businessman, despite his apparent ‘love’ for his Pokémon.
“I do not want anything from you Blue, why would you think I would? You are like a defective version of Red.” Giovanni paused to once more glance to his watch, a move Blue payed close attention too. Blue opened his mouth to speak, but Giovanni was quick to continue.
“I am merely putting you in a corner to act as bait to lure out the Red you wish didn’t exist, Champion Red.” Giovanni glance to the fight, and was dissatisfied to see neither Pokémon were giving an inch, and his Rhyhorn was suffering from injuries, just as Blue’s Dragonite was. He would need to train them more once they were finished in this wretched dimension.
“Are you insane? He’ll destroy you as if you were an ant.” Blue took a step toward Giovanni, seriously wondering if this guy was off his crazy medication or something. There was one thing worse than mopey Red, one thing that Blue feared facing again even to this day, and that was Champion Red. And Giovanni wanted to bring that monster out?
“Oh no Blue, for you see I am not you. Therefore I don’t lose every single battle I have ever been in. Now if you would be so kind as to move aside, and stop getting in my way of bringing out Champion Red, I would be very grateful.” Giovanni looked to the battle as his Rhyhorn finally collapsed, losing the battle. He returned it and looked to Blue.
“Am I just a joke to you? This battle is far from over.” Blue glared at Giovanni, picking a Pokéball out and Returning his Dragonite, pulling out another Pokéball. Blue tried to keep the venom from his voice, but with Giovanni it was very difficult not to let the guy know just how much you hated him. Giovanni took one look at his expression, and laughed.
“Please Blue, don’t do this to yourself. You know as well as I do that you are like Hors d'oeuvres compared to Red, who would be the main course. You’re barely even appetisers compared to Red.” Giovanni mimicked sympathy, even putting a hand on Blue’s shoulder as he spoke. Blue quickly shoved the hand away, and took a moment before looking Giovanni in the eyes.
“Stop, comparing, me to, RED!” Blue dived at Giovanni, knocking them both into the river. As soon as they touched the water, Blue found himself falling out on the opposite side of the river, and into some bushes. Giovanni was quick to fight back, and as they fought Blue realised that Giovanni wasn’t any normal pencil pusher. They tumbled out of the clearing, before finally separating, Giovanni quick to brush his coat free of dirt.
Over in the clearing, a second pair of Giovanni and Blue were separating as well. Giovanni being apprehend by the others while Red held Blue back, and tried to get eye contact with Blue. Looking at his friend, he felt something a little off, something slightly different from normal. However, eventually Blue was calmed down. No one remembered about the pools effects at that moment in time.
Blue glanced in the direction of the clearing, noticing Giovanni do the same. If he went back there, Red would break up the fight and he would lose this chance to hit Giovanni in the face, like he deserved. Giovanni returned to looking at him, and straightened his tie.
“Now look at what you have done Blue, you ruined my favourite suit.” Giovanni dodged Blue as he was dived at once more, side stepping him with ease. Looking to his left, he hid a small smile and turned to look at Blue. Blue stood up, and ran towards Giovanni. If we was going to dodge his dives, he needed to get into closer combat.
“Now, now Blue, I think it’s time you have a time out.” Giovanni crouched, and grabbed Blue by the stomach as he came in close, lifting him up and over his body before tossing him toward the left. Giovanni might be a businessman, but he did know self defence, it was crucial at times.
Blue glanced toward the ground as it suddenly vanished below him, and he realised he had been tossed off a cliff. There was a river at the bottom, but that was the least of Blue’s worries. With Dragonite out of commission, he fished for Pidgeot’s Pokéball, but realised the water was coming up too fast for his Pokémon to be of any use.
“In that case, I need-,“ Blue grabbed an entirely different ball, the one normally on a piece of string around his neck. Pulling it off, he tossed it into the air just as his head went under the water. Blue felt his head hit something, and gasped as pain laced through the back of his head, loosing any air he had held.
And then everything went dark.