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Chapter Text

The Hoenn night was cool and crisp, with moonlight casting silver shadows through the trees. Alex led her small group of fellow students deeper into the valley. Her brown air was pulled back in a messy bun, but some of it had escaped to frame her face, and she was smoothing them back as she consulted her phone's GPS.

"The signal is terrible out here," she muttered, and tapped the screen in frustration. Behind her, Mael grinned, his tall frame easily keeping pace with her long strides. Mael always followed Alex when she got one of her ideas. The teachers sometimes called him the “Alex enabler” - if Alex suggested climbing a mountain at midnight, Mael would already be packing the ropes. He was as reckless as she was, but he rarely came up with his own plans.

"We should have brought a paper map," Keiko said quietly, her voice carrying the slight edge it always did when she thought the others were not thinking enough. She rarely joined these expeditions, not only because she thought Alex was rash, but because she preferred the comfort of books and research. Alex always tried to convince her though - she thought that Keiko’s knowledge and strategic mind made her invaluable. This time, she had convinced Keiko that this was her only chance to see Absol up close. Keiko, whose term paper was on Absol, had predictably folded. Alex grinned - that one had been easy.

Dany brought up the rear, her small figure nearly disappearing in the shadows of the trees. "I think this is taking a bit longer than we thought," she ventured, her voice steady despite her natural timidity. "Shouldn't we go back?"

"We should’ve waited until daylight," Keiko muttered, glancing around warily. "The landscape’s harder to navigate at night."

Alex snorted. "And miss the moonlit view? Come on, Keiko, live a little." She stretched out her arms as if embracing the cool night air. In truth, Alex had another reason for pushing them to come out here: a desire to prove herself. Being both an intern and a master’s student under Professor Willow came with pressures, and sometimes, she felt she had to be more than just good - she had to be exceptional.

Alex turned to look at the trees trees, moonlight catching the determined set of her jaw. "No, we're really close. We just have to get over..." she trailed off as they emerged from the tree line to face an unexpected obstacle: a wide, dark stream cutting through their path like a black ribbon in the moonlight.

Mael moved forward, peering into the murky waters with fascinated interest. "Do you think it has crocodiles?" he asked, leaning precariously over the bank.

"Wrong climate," Alex responded automatically, though her tone carried a hint of uncertainty. She was scanning the area, her mind already working on solutions. "I think. At least the wrong place for Feraligatr." She moved along the bank with the fluid grace that characterised her movements, reminiscent of the big cats she so admired.

"Oh, look!" She pointed to a dead tree nearby, her eyes lighting up with that dangerous spark that usually preceded her more questionable ideas. "This dead tree should do it. If we can push it and then let it fall over the stream..."

Keiko opened her mouth to object, but Mael was already moving to help. The two of them, along with a reluctant Dany, positioned themselves around the tree trunk. Mael took the middle position, his muscles straining as they pushed.

"Sweet Arceus," he swore under his breath, but there was laughter in his voice. With their combined effors - although Mael's strength definitely tipped the balance - the tree finally fell, across the stream. The crash echoed through the valley like a thunderclap. In the sudden silence that followed, they suddenly heard voices in the distance – sharp, alarmed calls that didn't sound like researchers.

Dany's face was pale in the moonlight. "There wasn't an official night excursion today, was there?"

"I don't know," Alex said, but her tone had changed, becoming more focused. "Maybe it's another group of researchers." She approached the makeshift bridge, testing it with one foot.

"If it was rotten, it would have broken when it fell," Keiko pointed out pragmatically, though she stayed back from the edge.

Alex flashed her a quick grin. "You're so right!" Without hesitation, she strode across the log, her natural athleticism making it look effortless. She moved with the absolute confidence of someone who never considered failure an option – whether that was wise or not was another matter entirely. Keiko sighed.

The others followed more cautiously, with Keiko muttering calculations about weight distribution under her breath. By the time they all made it across, Alex had already started to move toward the source of the voices. Her head tilted slightly as she stopped and listened.

"I think they are over there," she whispered, pointing into the darkness.

"Can we be careful?" Dany asked, her voice barely audible. "We don't know who they are."

They crept forward through the undergrowth after Alex. The forest opened into a clearing ahead, and sudden artificial light made them squint. Alex's hand shot out, stopping the others in their tracks as they took in the scene before them: three figures in distinctive black uniforms with red R's emblazoned on their chests.

Team Rocket grunts.

Alex's eyes widened, and she quickly motioned her companions deeper into the shadows. Mael pressed close behind her, his earlier playfulness replaced with tension. "What are they doing?" he breathed against her ear.

"Let's just wait," Keiko whispered, her analytical mind already working. "We will know."

They crouched in the darkness, watching the scene unfold before them, all thoughts of Absol forgotten. This was not Team Rocket territory, and whatever they were doing here, it could not be good. Alex felt her heart racing with adrenaline. This could be important. Professor Willow would definitely want to know about this , if they managed to make it back to tell him.

The sound of helicopter blades cut through the night air, growing steadily louder. Alex crouched deeper into the shadows and her hand reached for her Gabite's Ultra Ball. A sleek black helicopter emerged from the darkness, its landing lights cutting sharp beams through the mist.

The aircraft settled onto the ground, its rotors spinning down to a stop. The subsequent silence felt heavy, expectant. Alex held her breath as the door swung open..

A man stepped out. Tall, dark-haired, dressed in crisp black slacks and a tailored black coat. Despite his formal attire, he moved with an ease that suggested strength, as if the clothes were merely an accessory to his natural command. He swung himself down from the helicopter with an athlete's easy grace. But it was the sheer power of his presence that caught and held Alex's attention. The entire clearing seemed to reorient itself around him the moment his feet touched the ground.

The Team Rocket grunts backed away, coming to rigid attention. Not fear, Alex noted with fascination. Something deeper – respect, perhaps, or awe. She found herself unconsciously straightening, as she watched him. There was something magnetic about his authority, the way he commanded the space around him without speaking a word. Whoever this man was, his authority was absolute. For a brief, startling moment, she felt a flash of envy – to have that kind of presence, that natural leadership...

Mael's sharp intake of breath shattered her reverie. "Giovanni," he whispered, his voice tight.

Alex snapped toward him. "The Giovanni?" she asked, her voice low but incredulous. It seemed impossible. Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, here? In this clearing? It didn’t make sense he should be here in this remote corner of Hoenn.This could really be important, she thought.

"Yes," Mael confirmed grimly. "I saw him once, at a conference in Kanto." He swallowed hard. "We're screwed."

Alex felt a familiar fire igniting in her chest – the one that always preceded her most reckless decisions. Rather than fear, she felt excitement building. If Giovanni himself was here, this had to be something significant. Her mind was already racing with possibilities, strategies, potential plans...

Keiko caught her expression and grabbed her wrist in warning. "Alex," she whispered, "I know that look. Whatever you're thinking -"

She was cut off by movement in the clearing. One of the grunts was pulling away a tarp, revealing what lay beneath: a heavy steel cage. Inside, two Absol paced restlessly, their white fur gleaming in the helicopter's remaining lights. Their proud bearing remained unbroken despite their captivity, but Alex could see the stress in their movements, the way their red eyes darted between their captors.

Keiko made a soft, pained sound. "They're beautiful," she breathed. "And they're suffering. The smaller one's gait suggests injury..." Her usual detachment couldn't quite mask her distress.

Alex's mind was already working. She scanned the clearing again, taking inventory. Three grunts, Giovanni, and presumably a pilot still in the helicopter. The terrain offered good cover, with plenty of shadows to work with. Her fingers drummed silently against her thigh as she formulated a plan.

"Okay," she whispered, drawing them all closer. "Here's what we'll do. Mael, Dany, you will come with me. We will circle around to the far side and create a distraction. Something big enough to draw their attention." Her mind flickered to her Gabite, Terra, knowing its Dragon Rage could create quite a spectacle. "Keiko, you know the most about Absol – their behaviour, their needs. You have to be the one to open the cage. While the grunts are distracted, you can skirt the perimeter and reach the cage. Stay in its shadow, and -"

"Alex," Keiko interrupted, her voice strained. "This is madness. That's Giovanni. We should -"

"We should help them," Alex finished firmly, gesturing toward the caged Absol. "We can't just -"

"Wait." Dany's quiet voice cut through their whispered argument. Her phone was already in her hand, screen dimmed to its lowest setting. "I'm sending a message to Professor Willow. Right now." Her tone brooked no argument, even as her hands trembled slightly. "We can proceed with your plan, Alex, and I'll help you and Mael with the distraction, but we need backup. This is too big for just us."

Alex hesitated, watching Giovanni as he conferred with his grunts. His bearing reminded her of Professor Willow during lectures – complete command of his subject matter, natural authority – but there was something colder in his movements, something that spoke of carefully controlled power. They needed to act soon, before whatever he had planned began.

"Okay," she conceded. "Send it. Quick."

Dany's fingers flew over her phone's screen. "Done," she whispered after a moment. "I included our coordinates. If anything goes wrong..."

"Nothing will go wrong," Alex assured her with more confidence than she felt. She looked at each of her friends in turn – Mael's excited tension, Keiko's reluctant determination, Dany's quiet resolve. "We just need to buy enough time for help to arrive." Her hand found Terra’s Pokéball again, drawing strength from its presence. "And maybe," she added with a slight grin that made Keiko groan softly, "create a little chaos in the process."

The moonlight painted silver edges on the helicopter's dark bulk as they prepared to move. In the clearing, Giovanni's voice carried to them in fragments – something about "specimens" and "unusual readings." Alex felt her jaw tighten. Whatever Team Rocket wanted with these Absol, they weren't going to get it. Not tonight.

She took one last look at Giovanni, studying his confident stance and the way he commanded evryone's attention without effort. Then she pushed aside that strange mixture of admiration and antipathy and focused on the task at hand.

"Ready?" she whispered to her friends.

Their nods were all she needed. The night was about to become much more interesting than any of them had planned.

She led the way, carefully keeping to the shadows as they circled the clearing. The excitement that had been building in her chest now thrummed through her entire body. She glanced at Mael, and was surprised to see him trembling slightly. In three years of friendship, through countless ill-advised adventures, she'd never seen him anything but enthusiastic about her plans. Now, watching him stare at the clearing where Giovanni stood conferring with his grunts, she saw real fear in his eyes.

They're criminals, a small voice in her head whispered. Real criminals. This isn't a training exercise or a friendly battle. But the thought dissolved in the heady rush of adrenaline flooding her system. She'd spent too many hours studying Team Rocket's operations with Professor Willow, too many nights lying awake thinking about their treatment of Pokemon, to back down now.

"Are you both ready?" she whispered, automatically falling into the command tone she'd learned from Candela. Her hand wrapped around Terra's Pokéball, drawing comfort from its familiar weight. She could feel the slight vibration from within – her Pokemon sensing her anticipation. Three years they'd been together, from the day she'd found a Gible injured in a mountain cave. The evolution to Gabite had been recent, but their bond had only grown stronger. "Start with your strongest offensive Pokemon, but be ready to switch if needed."

Mael nodded, his Charmeleon's Pokéball already in hand. The fire in his eyes was returning – whatever fear he'd felt seemed to be burning away in the face of immediate action. Beside him, Dany held her Togetic's ball close to her chest, hanging back slightly. Her Pokemon, like his trainer, preferred peace to conflict. But Alex had seen them in action often enough to know they could hold their own when it mattered.

Alex took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and stepped into the clearing. She heard her friends' sharp intakes of breath behind her, but she kept her eyes fixed ahead. The moonlight seemed to sharpen everything despite the slight mist - the edges of the helicopter, the red R's on the grunts' uniforms, Giovanni's impossibly perfect posture.

"Hello," she called out. "Have I interrupted something?"

The grunts spun toward her, hands flying to their Pokéballs. But Giovanni – Giovanni turned slowly, deliberately, as if this was a scheduled appointment and she was right on time. His dark eyes found hers, and Alex felt her knees go weak. His focus was like a physical force, a pressure that seemed to see right through her practiced bravado to the uncertainty beneath.

"I suggest," he said, his voice cultured and precise, "that you..." His gaze shifted slightly, taking in the shadows where Mael and Dany stood. "...and your friends," he continued smoothly, "go on your way."

Alex forced her racing heart to slow, channeling every ounce of cockiness she possessed. She raised an eyebrow, but was careful not to meet his gaze directly again. "You and what army?" The words came out exactly as she'd intended – casual, almost playful, despite the tension she felt. She lifted her Pokéball, letting moonlight glint off its surface.

Giovanni studied her with an expression that she wasn't sure was amusement of contempt. "Very well," he said lazily. "I commend you for standing up to me, Trainer. I trust you'll make this worth my time."

With a smooth, practiced motion, he reached under his coat and flicked a Pokéball to the ground. A massive Nidoqueen appeared where it landed. The ground shook beneath her feet and her muscles rippled as she let out a roar that echoed through the clearing.

Alex threw down her own Pokéball, and Terra materialised with a roar that dwarfed the Nidoqueen's. She was enormous for her species, her scythe-like claws gleaming as she stood poised before the Nidoqueen. In their training sessions, Alex sometimes forgot just how intimidating her partner could be - the same Pokemon who curled around her like an oversized house cat during study sessions now looked every inch the dragon she was.

From the corner of her eye, Alex saw Mael's Charmeleon engaging one of the grunts' Pokemon, its tail flame lighting up a clearing that had erupted into chaos. Dany's Togetic darted through the air, more aggressive than Alex had ever seen it. But she couldn't spare them more than a glance – Giovanni commanded her complete attention.

He battled like no one she'd ever faced. Where Candela was fire and passion, Giovanni was ice and precision. Each command was minimal, perfectly timed, delivered in a tone that suggested he was merely making polite conversation. His Nidoqueen moved with brutal efficiency, every attack flowing into the next.

"Dragon Rage!" Alex called out, and Terra responded instantly, blue flames erupting from her maw. The Nidoqueen dodged, but only partially – the attack clipped her shoulder, drawing first blood in the battle.

Giovanni's eyebrow lifted slightly in what she thought was surprise – the first crack in his perfect composure. "Interesting," he murmured, almost to himself. "Earth Power." His voice was calm but commanding, cutting through the air.

The ground beneath Terra’s feet erupted, but she was already moving. They had trained so much together that Alex often felt they were like extensions of each other - almost like a bond humming between them, a connection that made them more than just trainer and Pokemon. They had trained for this, prepared for this, even if they hadn't known it at the time.

"Dragon Claw!" The command came without conscious thought. Terra lunged forward, her massive claws leaving trails of blue energy in the air. The Nidoqueen caught the blow on her armor, but the impact drove her back several steps.

Giovanni’s expression didn’t change. He gave no indication that the hit had fazed him, though Alex could still see a faint glimmer of surprise in his dark eyes. "Nidoqueen, Ice Beam."

A chill swept through the air as Nidoqueen opened her massive jaws and unleashed a blast of icy energy. Alex’s breath caught. Ice-type moves were dangerous for Terra, and Giovanni knew it.

"Terra, Sandstorm!" Alex shouted, her voice rising urgently.

Terra slammed her claws into the ground and summoned a swirling vortex of sand and debris. The Ice Beam hit the sandstorm and dissipated in the whirling dust. Alex’s pulse quickened. That was too close.

For a moment, Alex thought she saw something like approval flicker across Giovanni's face. But then his commands came faster, each one still perfectly calculated, and it took everything she and Terra had just to keep up. He wasn't even sweating, while Alex could feel her heart pounding against her ribs.

The only thing keeping them in the fight was Terra’s raw power and how well she followed Alex commands. Where Giovanni's style was technical perfection, Alex and Terra fought with a wild grace that seemed to surprise him. They didn't win every exchange, but they didn't fold, didn't break, didn't give an inch of ground without taking it back.

The battle raged on, each strike from Nidoqueen met with a counter from Terra. Alex was aware of Mael and Dany battling the grunts in the background, but her focus was laser-sharp, locked on her own fight. Giovanni commanded with the quiet authority of someone who expected to win, and she knew he was wearing her down.

A shout cut through her battle focus: "The Absols are gone!"

Then Alex heard the sound of people crashing through the forest on the far side of the clearing. Her heart leapt as she saw Professor Willow emering into the clearing, his usual gentle demeanour replaced with fierce determination. Candela followed him, her eyes glowing with battle light, a Pokéball already in hand.

Giovanni's reaction was immediate. He recalled his Nidoqueen with the same elegant efficiency with which he'd released her. The Pokemon, still roaring, disappeared in a flash of light. His eyes met Alex's again, and this time she held his gaze. There was something unreadable in his expression - something that made Alex’s heart pound even harder in her chest.

"This isn't over," he said, his voice carrying clearly through the chaos of the clearing. "I trust we will meet on the battlefield again." The words held both threat and promise.

He turned and strode toward the helicopter. It was already spinning up, rotors whipping the clearing into a maelstrom of dust and leaves. His movements were unhurried, confident – a commander leaving the field on his own terms. The aircraft lifted smoothly into the night sky and was gone, leaving them in sudden, ringing silence.

"Alex!" Professor Willow's voice snapped her back to reality. He was hurrying toward them, concern written across his features. "Are you all alright? What happened? What were you thinking?"

But Alex was still staring at the sky where the helicopter had vanished, her heart racing with something more than battle adrenaline. She had stood toe-to-toe with Giovanni, leader of Team Rocket, and hadn't broken. More than that – she had impressed him. The realisation filled her with equal parts pride and unease.

Terra nudged her hand gently, bringing her focus back to the present. She scratched her partner's scales automatically, feeling the familiar texture beneath her fingers. Around her, her friends were gathering. Mael looked exhilarated despite a few scratches and Dany was pale but steady. Further away, Keiko emerged from the forest's edge with a grim but satisfied smile that suggested the Absols' escape had gone perfectly to plan.

As Professor Willow began his questioning in earnest, Alex found her thoughts returning to that final exchange of looks with Giovanni. Something had passed between them in that moment – a recognition, perhaps, or a challenge. Either way, she knew with absolute certainty that he had been right.

The trek back to camp proved mercifully shorter than their earlier woodland scramble. Professor Willow led them along established paths, occasionally glancing back at his wayward students.

"Was there really no simpler route?" Alex whispered to Mael, stumbling slightly on tired legs.

"You're the one who decided we should bushwhack through the forest like a herd of Tauros," he whispered back and grinned despite his exhaustion.

"Both of you, bequiet," Candela called from behind them. "We'll have plenty of time for discussion once we reach camp."

They finally reached the camp with their tents standing in neat rows illuminated by the central firepit, Candela planted herself in front of the group, arms crossed. The firelight caught the unimpressed gleam in her eyes as she surveyed them.

"Okay," she began, "I don't need to ask whose idea this was, because that is painfully obvious."

Alex raised her chin. "I can explain -"

"Oh, I'm sure you can," Candela cut her off, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone. "You always can." Her gaze shifted to Keiko, who stood slightly apart from the group. "Though I must say, I'm surprised to see that you are involved, Keiko. I thought you were rather immune to Alex's... particular brand of chaos."

Keiko's cheeks flushed red. "The Absol needed help," she mumbled, studying the ground. "And her plan was... well, it had certain logical elements."

"Logical elements?" Mael interrupted with a laugh. "You should have seen her just walk out there, confronting him!"

"Mael," Candela said sharply, "I'm getting to you." She turned to Dany first. "I trust you, at least, understand how badly this could have gone wrong?"

Dany nodded, her hand still clutching her Togetic's Pokéball. "That's why I sent the message to Professor Willow," she said quietly. "We needed help."

"Smart girl." Candela's attention snapped back to Mael. "Mael, I trust that you don’t understand the gravity of this situation," she said, with a slight sigh, "because you never do. I strongly suggest you start thinking for yourself, or at least stop blindly following Alex into every reckless scheme she dreams up."

"But she has the best ideas!" Mael protested. "I mean, how many people can say they've battled Team Rocket's leader and lived to tell about it?"

"That's not exactly a selling point," Professor Willow murmured.

"Alex..." Candela fixed her gaze on their ringleader.

Alex straightened her spine. "I accept full responsibility for breaking the rules," she said, her voice steady. "It was my idea, my plan, and my fault. Not theirs."

"And the confrontation with Giovanni?"

"Also my fault. But," she added, passion creeping into her voice, "we saved those Absol! And we showed Team Rocket they can't just do whatever they want! Keiko was amazing – you should have seen her with those Pokemon, how she knew exactly how to approach them even in crisis. And Mael and Dany?" She gestured to her friends. "They didn't hesitate. Not once. I couldn't have asked for better backup."

"I was getting to that," Candela said, her lips quirking in a slight smile. "Well done, all of you, You did the right thing, even if you went about it in the most reckless way possible. She paused, her gaze softening just a touch. "Your plan was... reasonably sound, even if it did hinge on picking a fight where you were outnumbered. You all have a lot of fight in you, and I respect that."

The students grinned at her words, a mix of relief and pride washing over them. Candela could always be trusted to accept some rule-breaking, especially when bravery was involved. But there was always that edge to her, that fierce protectiveness, and while she praised them for their bravery, but she was still very aware she was responsible for their safety.

"Technically," Keiko said, "if you count Pokemon, we weren't quite outnumbered."

"You are not helping, Keiko," Professor Willow said, but he was smiling slightly.

Later that evening, when the others had retreated to their tents, Alex sat at the edge of the camp and stared up at the stars. Terra was curled behind her, warm against her back in the chilly night.

"Room for one more?" Professor Willow's voice broke through her reverie.

"Always," Alex said, scooting over slightly.

The professor settled beside her, silent for a moment before speaking. "I had a conversation with Candela earlier."

"Oh?" Alex tried to sound casual, but she was interested.

"She seems to think I'm squandering your full potential." He glanced at her. "She's recommending leadership and tactical training, in addition to your research work."

Alex picked at a blade of grass. "What do you think about that?"

"I think..." Willow chose his words carefully, "that you're doing excellent work in Pokemon research. You could have a real future in it."

"But I'm not like Keiko," Alex said quietly. "She's going to be brilliant at this. She already is. Me?" She gestured vaguely. "I'm just... fine."

"Is that what you think?"

"It's what I know. I love research, I do, but..." She flopped back against Terra, who rumbled contentedly. "Tonight, organising everyone, planning the rescue, even the battle... it felt right. Natural." Her eyes lit up. "Did I tell you about that battle? Giovanni was incredible! The way he commanded everything around him, how he barely had to speak for his Pokemon to understand..."

"Alex," Willow interrupted gently, "you do realise you're admiring one of our most dangerous opponents?"

She sat up, running a hand through her hair. "I know, I know. But you have to admit, his presence, his leadership... it's really something special. Maybe..." She bit her lip. "Maybe I could be like that. But, you know, for good."

"Like Candela?"

"Yeah! Well, maybe. Though probably with more planning and less charging in headfirst."

Willow raised an eyebrow. "I am glad you learned something from tonight."

"Hey, I had a plan!"

"A plan that involved confronting the leader of Team Rocket in the middle of nowhere."

"It worked, didn't it?" Alex grinned, then sobered slightly. "But I get it. I need to be smarter about this stuff. More strategic." She looked at him hopefully. "So... about that tactical training?"

Willow sighed, but he was smiling. "We'll talk about it in the morning. For now, try to get some rest. And Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"Next time you want to investigate something suspicious? Come to me first."

She nodded solemnly, then ruined it with a grin. "Even if it's Giovanni?"

"Especially if it's Giovanni." He stood, brushing off his pants. "Goodnight, Alex."

"Night, Professor."

After he left, Alex remained by the fire. She was absently stroking Terra's scales. The night's events played out in her mind – the battle, the rescue, the look in Giovanni's eyes when he'd realised she wasn't backing down. Even better, when he realised she had tricked him.... She knew she should probably be more worried about having made such a powerful enemy, but instead she felt... excited. Challenged.

"Next time," she whispered to Terra, "we'll be even better prepared."

Chapter Text

One year later
The June morning crept in with unexpected teeth, raw and grey. Mist rolled across the foothills close to the Pokemon Institute, transforming the familiar landscape into something ethereal and strange. Alex pulled her jacket tighter over her t-shirt, grateful she'd thought to grab it before going out. The clearing above the Institute had become her thinking spot over the past three years, and today, of all days, she needed to think.

Graduation day. The words felt strange in her mind, like trying to translate something from a foreign language. Terra lay curled behind her, a warm presence against the morning chill, while her baby Alolan Vulpix, still unnamed, played in the mist, its ice-type nature revelling in the unseasonable weather. The sight brought a smile to her face – some things, at least, hadn't changed since that night in the Hoenn region.

"Three years," she murmured, running her fingers through the damp grass. "How did that happen?"

The gruelling course work alone should have taken all her time – Pokemon biology with Professor Elm, advanced battle tactics with Candela, environmental studies with Professor Birch. But no, she'd had to push herself further, adding those extra leadership and strategy sessions that Professor Willow had arranged after the Team Rocket incident. Professor Kukui's advanced training in strategy and leadership had been particularly challenging, but his enthusiasm for both research and battle had resonated with her own divided interests.

"You did well," Kukui had told her just yesterday, his usual laid-back demeanour giving way to seriousness. "You've got both the mind for research and the heart for battle. That's rare, cousin."

Her fingers found a small stone, and she tossed it down the slope, watching it disappear into the mist. Professor Willow had already offered her the continued internship she'd once dreamed of. The thought of staying here, continuing her research, working with the Pokemon she'd grown to love... It should have been an easy decision.

Her Umbreon, Kage, emerged from its Pokéball unbidden, sensing her troubled thoughts. It pressed against her side, red eyes scanning the misty landscape as if searching for the source of her disquiet.

"What do you think?" she asked it softly. "Should we stay?"

The Pokemon's ears twitched, but he offered no opinion. Below them, the Institute was beginning to wake up. Light appeared in windows, and she could just make out figures moving across the grounds. Someone – probably Mael – was already at the training fields, getting in one last practice session before the ceremony.

But her mind kept circling back to the same thought, the same face. Giovanni. About his effortless command, the way he seemed to dominate the entire clearing with just his presence. She wanted that for herself. To be that strong, that certain.

It had been over a year since their encounter in the Hoenn region, but he haunted her thoughts like a shadow. Every Team Rocket operation she heard about, every report of Pokemon exploitation, made her wonder if she was seeing his hand at work. The few grunts she'd battled since then had been almost disappointingly easy to defeat, but she knew they were just pawns. The real power, the real challenge, lay higher up the chain.

"We're too reactive," she said to the mist. Terra raised her head, listening. "The Institute, I mean. We wait for Team Rocket to make a move, then try to counter it. But by then, the damage is already done."

Her hand went to her belt, where her Pokeballs rested. Each one represented not just a Pokemon, but a relationship built on trust and mutual respect – everything Team Rocket stood against. The Alolan Vulpix who had been a prisoner of Team Rocket poachers, her Umbreon, Kage, who'd chosen to join her after she'd spent weeks gaining its trust, her beloved Terra.

"What if..." she started, then paused, the idea both thrilling and terrifying. "What if we didn't wait for them to come to us?"

Terra perked up, sensing the shift in her energy. She stood, pacing the clearing as her thoughts raced ahead.

"There must be others out there – other trainers who are tired of watching Team Rocket expand their reach. Who want to do more than just react." She stopped, looking down at the Institute. "We have the training now. The knowledge. The skills." A smile tugged at her lips. "And I know we can hold our own against them. We proved that in Hoenn."

"I can always do an internship later," she said slowly, the decision crystallising in her mind. "Right now... right now, we need to act. To take the fight to them instead of waiting for them to bring it to us."

The idea terrified and exhilarated her in equal measure. Professor Willow would be disappointed, she knew. He'd invested so much in her development as a researcher. But maybe this was what all that training had been preparing her for – not just to study Pokemon, but to protect them. To lead others in protecting them.

The morning mist was beginning to burn away as the sun rose higher. Below, more lights were coming on in the Institute, more people beginning to move about. Soon they'd be expecting her to join the graduation preparations.

Alex grinned, feeling that familiar fire igniting in her chest. Somewhere out there, Team Rocket was planning their next move. Somewhere out there, Giovanni was orchestrating his schemes. But this time, they wouldn't be the only ones taking initiative.

"Well then," she said, straightening her shoulders. "I guess we'd better make this graduation count."

The sun finally broke through the morning gray, burning away the last of the mist, and Alex Sterling began her descent back to the Institute, her mind already racing with plans. The day of reaction was over. It was time to act.

...

The Institute's grand hall buzzed with excitement, filled to bursting with Trainers, their families, and their Pokemon. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, catching on scales, fur, and feathers as Pokemon of all types mingled with their human counterparts. The scene was chaos, but the kind of joyful chaos that made Alex's heart swell.

Terra towered protectively at her side, head and shoulders above the crowd. She'd grown even larger in the year since their confrontation with Giovanni, but her size belied her gentle nature. Currently, she was keeping a watchful eye on the baby Alolan Vulpix nestled in a sling at Alex's side. At Alex's feet, Kage weaved elegant figures of eight between her legs, his rings glowing with contentment.

"Still haven't named the little one?" Professor Kukui asked, passing by with a grin.

Alex touched the Vulpix's cool fur. "Nothing feels right yet. They'll tell me when they're ready."

She scanned the crowd, drinking in the sight of her chosen family. There was Mael, his graduation robes already somehow rumpled, being squeezed half to death by his tiny mother. The woman barely came up to his chest, but she had enough enthusiasm for someone twice her size. His father stood nearby, tall and placid as ever, beaming with quiet pride.

"Mum, I can't breathe," Mael protested weakly, but his grin gave him away.

"Oh hush," his mother said, finally releasing him. "I'm allowed to be emotional. My baby boy, graduating!" She spotted Alex watching and pointed accusingly. "You! You're the one who kept dragging him into trouble!"

"Actually, Mrs. Dubois," Alex called back, "he's learned to demand detailed plans before agreeing to anything these days. You can thank Team Rocket for that particular life lesson."

"Don't remind me," Mael's father muttered, but he was smiling as he said it.

Near the front of the hall, Dany stood with her father, a distinguished-looking man in a perfectly pressed suit. Her mother's absence was notable – off on another research expedition in the depths of the Kanto region – but Dany held herself with quiet pride. She'd followed in her mother's footsteps in her own way, combining her natural empathy with rigorous scientific method.

"Professor Elm says Mum's research is revolutionising our understanding of Pokemon behaviour patterns," Dany was telling her father, her usual timidity forgotten in her enthusiasm. "She's going to try to make it back for my first publication, though!"

Further away, Keiko was reviewing her notes one last time. As student representative, she'd be giving the main speech, and even from across the room, Alex could see her muttering to herself, practising her delivery. Multiple publications under her belt already, and still Keiko approached every task with the same meticulous attention to detail.

"She's already had offers from three different universities," Candela said, appearing at Alex's side. "Including one in Kalos." She gave Alex a knowing look. "Speaking of which, have you given any more thought to Professor Willow's offer?"

Before Alex could respond, a hush fell over the crowd as the ceremony began. She found her assigned seat, Terra curling protectively behind her chair while Kage settled at her feet. The baby Vulpix stirred in its sling but remained contentedly asleep.

Keiko's speech was, predictably, perfect – eloquent without being flowery, touching on their shared experiences while looking toward the future. Alex felt a surge of pride for her friend, remembering the shy, strictly academic girl who'd once needed convincing to join a simple night excursion. Now here she was, commanding attention from an entire hall of people and Pokemon alike.

When it came time for the certificates, Professor Willow had a personal word for each graduate. He spoke of Mael's growth in confidence and judgement, of Dany's quiet strength discovering itself, of Keiko's brilliant mind finding its voice. And then...

"Alexandra Sterling," he called, and Alex rose, making her way to the stage with Terra following like a scaled shadow.

Willow's eyes twinkled as he looked out at the assembled crowd. "Some of you may remember an incident three years ago, when a certain first-year student directly disobeyed orders to scale a cliff face in the middle of a storm." A ripple of laughter went through the audience. "She'd spotted an injured Gible – this Gible, in fact, though somewhat larger now – and decided that rules were less important than doing what she felt was right."

Terra rumbled proudly behind Alex, and she reached back to pat her partner's scales.

"Sometimes," Willow continued, "orders must be disobeyed. It takes wisdom to understand when. And while Alex is still working on that wisdom" – he gave her a small, fond smile – "I think she has come far, and this certificate is proof of that." He held out the document. "Congratulations, Alex."

She accepted the certificate, then couldn't resist adding with a cocky grin, "And they said I couldn't do it!"

Her friends' groans carried clearly across the hall. They'd spent countless hours trying to keep her focused during exam preparation, dealing with her nervous energy as it manifested in increasingly elaborate training routines and middle-of-the-night research sessions.

"One time!" Mael called out. "I said you couldn't stay awake for three days straight studying, and I was right!"

"You still passed out in the library," Dany added helpfully.

"With your face in a book about Dragon-type behavioural patterns," Keiko finished.

Alex laughed, but as she returned to her seat, she felt a familiar restlessness stirring beneath her joy. This was an ending, yes, but also a beginning. Her friends were moving on to their next chapters – Keiko to her prestigious research position, Dany to her mother's laboratory, Mael to his advanced battle training. And she...

She touched the certificate, thinking of Giovanni, of Team Rocket, of all the Pokemon that needed protecting. Her path was choosing itself, whether Professor Willow would approve or not.

Terra pressed her snout against Alex's shoulder, sensing her trainer's shifting mood. The Gabite had come so far from that injured creature on the cliffside, growing into a powerful partner who trusted Alex implicitly. That trust had been earned through countless battles, shared victories and defeats, moments of joy and danger.

"Ready for a new adventure?" she whispered to her Pokemon.

Terra's rumble of agreement was lost in the applause as the ceremony concluded, but Alex felt it in her bones. Yes, she decided, watching her friends celebrate with their families, she would always have this – these people, these bonds, this home to return to.

But first, she had work to do.

The evening sun painted long shadows across the Institute's corridors as Alex made her way to Professor Willow's office. The celebrations had wound down, families had departed, and a strange quiet had settled over the usually bustling building. Even her footsteps seemed too loud in the emptiness.

Terra had been returned to her Pokeball – the Gabite was too large for the narrow hallways – but Kage padded silently beside her, his rings glowing softly in the dimness. The Umbreon's presence steadied her nerves as she approached the familiar door.

She found both Professor Willow and Candela inside, sharing a pot of tea, deep in conversation. The sight was so familiar it made her chest ache a little.

"Ah, Alex," Willow smiled, gesturing to a chair. "We were just talking about you."

"Nothing too incriminating, I hope," she said, trying for lightness as she sat down. Kage sniffed a little, then curled himself around her feet.

"Only your finest moments of chaos," Candela teased, but her eyes were sharp, studying Alex's expression.

Alex took a deep breath. "About the internship offer..."

"Ah," Willow set down his tea. "I thought you might want to discuss that."

"I..." Alex found herself unusually hesitant. She twisted her hands in her lap, then forced them still. "I wanted to thank you for the offer. It means a lot, knowing you want me to stay."

"But?" Candela prompted gently.

"But I need to decline. At least for now." The words came out in a rush. "I'd love to do an internship in the future. Right now, I want to do something else. Take a year off."

Willow and Candela exchanged a look that spoke volumes. "We'll be sorry to lose you," Candela said finally. "The training sessions won't be the same without someone challenging every tactical decision I make."

Alex managed a small smile. "You mean someone asking why we can't just charge in and figure it out as we go?"

"That's not quite how I'd phrase your strategic suggestions, but essentially, yes."

"What will you do?" Willow asked, his voice carefully neutral. His keen eyes studied her face, and Alex was reminded of how little actually got past him, despite his gentle demeanour.

She had rehearsed this part, knowing the question would come. "Travel," she said, keeping her voice light. "Maybe visit some other trainer groups, see what other universities are doing." It wasn't exactly a lie – she would be travelling, would be meeting other trainers. Just not quite in the way she was implying.

Silence stretched between them. Outside the window, a flock of Murkrow passed across the darkening sky, their calls barely audible through the glass.

Finally, Willow sighed. "You know, when you rescued Terra from that cliff, I told myself the Institute may be a little to small for you. Even with guidance and structure, you wanted more."

"You taught me more than you know," Alex protested. "Both of you did. That's why I..." she trailed off.

"Why you need to do this?" Candela finished.

Alex nodded, grateful for the understanding in her mentor's voice.

"Just..." Willow hesitated, then continued. "Be careful out there, Alex. The world isn't always kind to those who challenge the established order."

"Even when the established order needs challenging?" Alex couldn't help asking.

"Especially then." He stood, coming around his desk to place a hand on her shoulder. "But if anyone can handle it, I suspect it's you."

"I'll make you proud," she promised. "Just... maybe not in the way you expected."

"You already have," Willow said softly. "Though I'd appreciate fewer midnight emergency calls than during your student years."

"No promises," Alex grinned, then sobered. "Thank you. Both of you. For everything."

As she left the office, she heard Candela say quietly to Willow, "She's going to be trouble, you know."

"Oh yes," Willow replied, and Alex could hear the smile in his voice. "But perhaps exactly the kind of trouble the world needs."

Chapter Text

The unmarked delivery van's surveillance centre hummed with activity as Alex finished securing her tactical gear. The sleek black mask that covered the lower half of her face was a concession to Maya's security protocols, though Lumo had insisted on adding a stylized dragon fang design across one side. Alex' dark hair was pulled back severely, and the rest of her outfit was chosen for utility rather than style.

"I still say the mask is theatrical," she muttered, checking the feeds from their Pokemon surveillance network.

"The mask keeps you off facial recognition," Maya replied from her position at the communications hub. "And you're hardly one to complain about theatrical, Ms. 'Let's-Leave-A-Calling-Card.'"

Alex grinned behind her mask. The small crystal dragons they left at each successful operation had become something of a signature. They were both a taunt and a message: *You know who we are. You still can't stop us.*

Terra’s Pokeball was in her belt. The Gabite’s presence was a calculated risk – she was distinctively large even for her species, and could be recognised – but her combat abilities had proven indispensable too many times to leave her out.

"Ghost team, status?" Alex asked.

"In position," came the reply via Jensen's Gardevoir. "Haunter has mapped all interior guard positions. Six humans, four Pokemon. Security systems operating normally. All cameras identified and ready for loop feeding."

Alex nodded, satisfied. They'd spent weeks preparing this strike, their Ghost Pokemon carefully mapping every security system. "Remind me why we're doing this personally?" Maya asked, not for the first time. "The Ghost and Psychic teams could handle the extraction."

"Because when that Hydreigon panics – and it will – we may need Terra," Alex replied, running a hand along her Pokemon's scales. "Besides, you know our success rate is higher with direct intervention."

What she didn't say, what she didn't need to say, was that part of her lived for these moments. The challenge, the risk, the knowledge that each successful operation was another blow against Giovanni's organisation. Their calling cards weren't just for show – they were a reminder that someone who'd once stood against him as a student was now systematically dismantling his operation.

Movement on the monitors caught her attention. Two trucks approaching the warehouse, right on schedule. She did one final check of her gear, ensuring nothing identifiable was visible. "Echo team?"

"Ice crystals in position," came the response. Their Glaceon had spent the past week seeding the trucks' engines.

"Spectre team?"

"Ghastly network in place."

Through the Murkrow's feed, they watched Arlo emerge from a car. Alex felt the familiar surge of anticipation. "Echo leader, be advised we have Admin presence. Maintain full counter-surveillance protocol."

She slipped out of the van with Terra, both of them staying to the shadows. Their weeks of preparation had mapped every blind spot, every gap in coverage. Ghost Pokemon had already prepared to loop the security cameras, creating corridors of darkness for them to work in.

When the trucks began to move, Alex and Terra took their position. Through the Pokemon surveillance network, she watched the vehicles approach their ambush point.

"Execute," she ordered.

The operation unfolded with precision. As the trucks' engines seized and the warehouse plunged into darkness, Terra burst from concealment. The Garchomp's appearance was deliberately intimidating, drawing attention while their strike teams moved in from multiple angles. Alex directed the battle from the shadows, her masked face and dark clothing making her nearly invisible in the chaos.

"Hydreigon breaking containment!" Micha warned through the Psychic network.

Alex moved instantly, Terra responding to her silent commands. Years of training together meant they barely needed verbal communication. The Garchomp knew exactly how to position herself, how to project both dominance and calm toward the agitated Dragon-type.

"Good," Alex replied, watching Terra successfully handle the Hydreigon. "Maya, initiate cleanup protocol. And prepare our parting gift."

Their financial officer would be creating their electronic alibis while Ghost Pokemon corrupted Team Rocket's systems. But not before downloading their data – they'd learned that Giovanni's reaction to their calling cards was often as informative as the intelligence they gathered.

Within twenty minutes, they had the Pokemon secured and their teams extracted. Alex waited until the last moment to place their crystal dragon, positioning it where security cameras would catch it before their Ghost Pokemon corrupted the feeds. The crystalline structure caught what little light remained, its dragon claw markings unmistakable.

Back in the van, Maya was already processing the stolen data. "You know," she said as Alex removed her mask, "most people trying to avoid detection don't leave signed artwork at their crime scenes."

"We're not trying to avoid detection," Alex corrected, watching their Pokemon network's coverage of Team Rocket's confusion. "We're controlling what they detect. Giovanni knows who's hitting his operations. He just doesn’t know who we are and can’t predict where we'll strike next."

The crystal dragons served multiple purposes – they prevented other groups from taking credit for their work, they demonstrated how thoroughly they could penetrate security, and yes, they reminded Giovanni that the student trainer who'd once faced him was now a genuine threat to his organisation. Even if he didn’t yet know she was that student trainer.

"Besides," she added, scratching Terra's scales, "everyone needs a hobby."

Maya shook her head, but she was smiling slightly. "One day you'll have to explain to me what this thing is between you and Team Rocket's boss."

"Simple," Alex replied, though they both knew it wasn't. "He represents everything we're fighting against. And every crystal dragon we leave is a reminder that his power isn't absolute."

Terra rumbled in agreement, always attuned to her trainer's moods. They had rescued Pokemon to rehabilitate, data to analyse, and more operations to plan. But somewhere in Team Rocket's headquarters, Giovanni would soon be getting reports about another successful strike against his operations, marked with their signature crystal dragon.

Alex hoped it made him think of that night in Hoenn, when a student trainer had stood against him. She might wear a mask now, work from shadows, but some challenges didn't need to be issued face to face.

The war against Team Rocket wasn't won with single battles, but with careful strategy and patient execution.

Even if leaving a calling card made victory just a little sweeter.

...

Giovanni stood at the head of the conference table, studying one of the crystal dragons with focused intensity. The craftsmanship was distinctive. He still didn't know more about the group. That rankled more than he cared to admit.

His Persian raised its head as he pressed the intercom. "Send them in."

The leaders entered in their usual order: Cliff, whose muscled frame spoke of someone who trained alongside his fighting Pokemon. Arlo, still visibly seething from the warehouse debacle, his researcher's pride wounded. Sierra entered last, taking her seat with calculated grace, that knowing smirk playing at her lips as she noted Arlo's agitation.

"Our dragon problem," Giovanni said without preamble, "has evolved from an irritant to a genuine threat." The display activated, showing cascading losses across multiple operations. "What began as amateur interference has become systematic dismantling of our infrastructure."

"If my combat teams had been properly positioned—" Cliff started.

"Your elite fighters were outmanoeuvred by a group half their size," Sierra cut in smoothly. "Again."

"That Gabite," Arlo interjected, frustrated. "The readings we got from the warehouse sensors... its power levels are extraordinary. If I could just get samples—"

"Focus," Giovanni interrupted sharply. "Sierra?"

His second-in-command activated her tablet. "Two months of comprehensive surveillance and analysis, as ordered. Their operational security is impressive – my infiltration specialists haven't found a single entry point into their core group."

Diagrams filled the screen. "We've identified one leak in logistics, currently unaware they're compromised. Useful for feeding false intelligence when the time comes."

She shifted to combat footage. "They're well-funded through tournament winnings and legitimate fronts. Fourteen core members, with wider support networks we're still mapping.

She zoomed in on a photo, showing a man standing at the edge of a Pokémon tournament arena. His face was blurry, but his presence was unmistakable. “This man’s been seen at multiple tournaments. He’s part of their network.”

But..." She paused, bringing up a series of masked figures in action. "There's a clear command structure. Every major operation has this one figure present."

The image enhanced, showing a slender figure in simple black tactical gear and balaclava, a massive Gabite at her side. Sierra brought up a new image beside it. The moment her face appeared on the screen, Giovanni’s eyes locked onto it, his body going still. The grainy photo showed a young woman, her features half-obscured by shadow, but there was no mistaking her identity. He had seen her before. Fought her before.

The girl from the forest.

"Their combat specialist,” said Sierra. “The one who—"

"I know her," Giovanni said quietly. "Though not her name. A former student from the Pokemon Institute. She interfered with the Hoenn operation years ago." His fingers tightened slightly on the crystal dragon. "Made me fight the wrong battle entirely. A slip of a girl with more conviction than experience, and she outmanoeuvred me."

"A student?" Cliff sounded incredulous. "Beat you?"

"She didn't win the battle," Giovanni's voice held a dangerous edge. "She made the battle irrelevant. While I was focused on her challenge, her team achieved their actual objective." He controlled his expression with effort. "She's obviously found proper training since then."

Sierra was watching him carefully. "Look at their operational patterns." More footage played. "Every major strike has her present, directing the action. The others are competent, but she's the tactical center. When she's there, their success rate jumps significantly."

"She's their linchpin," Giovanni said slowly, pieces falling into place. "Remove her..."

"And the rest becomes manageable," Sierra finished. "They're good, but she's the one turning their separate skills into effective operations. Their Pokemon coordination, their tactical adaptability, their morale – it all centres on her."

Giovanni smiled slightly. "Show me everything."

Sierra's display shifted through multiple analyses. "They operate on strict principles – no casualties, minimal collateral damage. They've aborted operations rather than risk serious injury, even to our people. Her influence, clearly."

"Principles can be leveraged," Giovanni noted. "Especially when protecting others is one of them."

"My thoughts exactly." Sierra brought up location analyses. "They're based somewhere in this region – their response times and operational zones suggest that much. With proper pressure..."

"We can force errors," Giovanni finished. "Make her choose between her principles and her objectives." He set down the crystal dragon. "I want a comprehensive strategy focused on their leader. Cliff, have your combat teams ready to respond to multiple locations – we'll need coordinated pressure. Arlo, analyse everything we have on that Gabite. I want to know its capabilities, its patterns, its limitations."

"And me?" Sierra asked, though her smile suggested she already knew.

"Find me her weakness," Giovanni said simply. "Everyone has one. Her team, her funding, her support network – find something we can use. She's turned her principles into a weapon against us. Let's see how those principles hold up when properly tested."

He turned back to the window, plans already forming. "Without their tactical leader, their morale will crack. Without their combat specialist, their operations will falter. Without their coordinator..." He smiled slightly. "Well. A Pokemon team without its trainer is just a collection of individual creatures."

"You want her captured," Sierra stated. "Not eliminated."

Giovanni nodded. "She's proven herself... interesting. I want to understand how that student with more passion than sense became this effective a threat." His smile sharpened. "And then I want to explain to her, personally, exactly why challenging Team Rocket was a mistake."

As his leaders filed out, Giovanni studied the crystal dragon one final time before setting it with its companions. Somewhere out there, an unnamed former student was coordinating an increasingly effective campaign against his organization. She'd grown from impetuous challenger to genuine threat.

But remove the queen from the board, and even the most well-coordinated pieces become vulnerable.

The hunt was about to begin, and this time, he wouldn't let himself be distracted from the real objective.

Capturing the girl with the Gabite.

…

The Celadon City Battle Arena erupted in cheers as Lumo's Scizor executed a perfect X-Scissor, sending the opponent's Electivire to the ground. Alex jumped to her feet, cheering.

"That's how we do it!" she yelled. Terra's Pokaball vibrated at her belt, the Gabite picking up on her excitement. "Did you see that combination? That was incredible!"

Lumo's face split in a massive grin as the announcer declared him runner-up. The prize money would fund their next three operations, but Alex wasn't thinking about that right now. All she could think about was celebrating her friend's victory.

"We have to go somewhere after this," she declared, already planning celebrations in her head. "That new battle cafe in the shopping district, maybe? I heard they do exhibitions while you eat—"

"Alex," Lumo's voice crackled through her earpiece, somehow maintaining his public smile while speaking privately. "Maybe we should keep it low key?"

"Oh come on," Alex protested, making her way down toward the competitor's area. "You just took second place in a major tournament! We have to celebrate!"

"It's just..." Lumo emerged from the trainer's room, trophy in hand, his grin genuine but his eyes scanning the corridors. "Something feels off. Have you noticed—"

"Team leader," Keichi's calm voice cut through their comms. He was positioned in the upper stands, his researcher's eye for detail making him their best surveillance spotter. "We have multiple individuals in similar gear moving through the east and west corridors. They're trying to look casual but their movement patterns are coordinated and military."

Alex's enthusiasm didn't visibly dim, but her mind shifted gears instantly. "How many?"

"At least six that I can see," Keichi reported. "More probably in position outside. They're moving to control the exits."

"Right," Alex said brightly, throwing an arm around Lumo's shoulders for anyone watching. "Ice cream it is! That little place by the park you like so much."

Lumo caught on immediately. "The one with the back patio? Perfect weather for it."

They moved casually toward their pre-planned exit route, Alex chattering about Lumo's battle performance while her eyes mapped positions and movements. The "maintenance door" Maya had prepared led to an employee parking area.

"Keichi?" Alex subvocalized.

"Two teams converging on your position," he reported. "But they're watching the main exits. Service corridor is clear for the next thirty seconds."

"Shame about missing the ceremony," Lumo said as they slipped through the door.

"Please, that's just boring speeches," Alex replied, her natural impatience actually helping their casual appearance. "Ice cream is way more important than -"

"Movement," Keichi cut in sharply. "They've spotted you're gone. Shifting to pursue."

"Race you to the van!" Alex called out loudly, breaking into a run. No point in subtlety now – speed was their ally.

They piled into the waiting vehicle moments before dark-clothed figures emerged into the parking lot. Alex caught a glimpse of their frustrated expressions as the van pulled away.

"Keichi?" she checked.

"Clear. They're maintaining position, probably hoping you'll return for the ceremony."

"Ha!" Alex's grin was fierce. "As if we'd make it that easy for them." She turned to Lumo. "So... ice cream? For real this time? Once Maya clears our route?"

Lumo shook his head, but he was smiling. "You're impossible. We nearly got caught and you're still thinking about celebrating?"

"Hey, you won! And we didn't get caught. Sounds like two things worth celebrating to me." She tapped her earpiece. "Keichi, you're joining us once you're clear. No arguments. Your spotting just saved us a lot of trouble."

"Securing the area around the ice cream shop would be logistically challenging," Keichi pointed out in his usual analytical tone.

"That's why we're getting it to go," Alex said. "Beach picnic instead. Much easier to spot surveillance in an open area."

"You've really thought this through," Lumo noted, impressed.

"Of course! I've been planning victory celebrations since you made it to the quarter-finals." Alex's eyes sparkled. "Just because we have to be careful doesn't mean we can't have fun."

As their van wound through Celadon City's evening traffic, taking a deliberately complex route, Alex felt the familiar rush of success. They'd won twice today – Lumo's tournament victory and their escape from Team Rocket's surveillance team.

"They're learning though," Lumo said quietly. "Getting better at tracking us."

"Then we'll get better at losing them," Alex replied confidently. "But first – ice cream. Even resistance fighters need breaks sometimes."

Her hand went to Terra's Pokéball, feeling its reassuring warmth. Team Rocket was adapting their strategies, true. But so were they.

And Alex meant to enjoy every victory along the way.

...

The room's large table was covered with tactical displays, surveillance reports, and one of the crystal dragon calling cards – a reminder of their target. And the failure of one of their elite teams to bring her in.

"Alexandra Sterling," Sierra said, bringing up what limited information they'd gathered. "23 years old. Former student at the Pokemon Institute. Orphaned at fourteen, no family connections we can leverage." She paused, glancing at Giovanni. "And completely off our radar until the Hoenn incident."

"What about current location?" Giovanni asked, studying the profile.

Sierra shook her head. "They're careful. We've had surveillance on the Pokemon Institute, thinking she might maintain contact with Professor Willow, but nothing concrete. Their operational range suggests they're based somewhere in this region, but..." She spread her hands. "They know how to stay hidden. It is not a large team."

"She's been picking off our smaller operations," Arlo interjected, still bitter about his recent losses. "Hitting supply lines, disrupting research sites, always staying just out of reach. But her pattern is consistent – she can't resist a major Pokemon acquisition."

"Then we give her one she can't ignore," Cliff said, leaning forward. His fighter's mind was already working on the tactical possibilities. "We have several abandoned facilities. Pick one, make it look like we're setting up something big..."

"They're too smart for a simple trap," Sierra cautioned. "We've seen how thoroughly they scout locations. Unless..." She paused, a slight smile forming.

"Unless?" Giovanni prompted.

"Unless we make it real." Sierra's smile sharpened. "Not just false intel about Pokemon trafficking – actual captured Pokemon. High-value targets that her principles won't let her ignore, even if she suspects a trap."

Giovanni nodded slowly. "The Xerneas operation."

"Sir?" Arlo looked up sharply. "That's our biggest planned acquisition. Two years in the making."

"Exactly." Giovanni's smile was cold. "We'll consolidate all our high-profile captures at the facility. Make it look like we're gathering them for a major transfer. The intelligence we leak will be true – which makes it much more convincing."

"Through multiple channels," Sierra added. "Our known mole, plus corroborating evidence through other sources. Make it look like we're trying to keep it secret but failing."

She studied the facility blueprints. "The old research base outside Pewter City would work. Defensible position, limited approach vectors, plenty of space for a convincing operation. We can set up multiple security layers, make it look like we're protecting something valuable."

"Because we will be," Giovanni said quietly. "The Pokemon need to be real. Her team will check too thoroughly for deception. They'll find evidence of actual captive Pokemon because that's exactly what will be there."

"Sir," Sierra's voice held a note of concern. "Using actual captured Pokemon as bait... that's a significant risk."

"One worth taking." Giovanni activated a detailed hologram of the facility. "She's proven she can detect our deceptions. So we give her truth instead. Real Pokemon that need saving. Real security she'll have to overcome. Real stakes that will force her to commit personally." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "And a real welcome when she arrives."

Arlo studied the layout. "We'll need to make it look like standard security. Nothing that would suggest we're expecting her specifically."

"Agreed," Sierra said. "Regular guard rotations, normal patrol patterns. But..." She highlighted several points on the map. "We can position elite teams here, here, and here. Hidden, but ready to respond."

"And Groudon?" Cliff asked quietly.

Giovanni's hand went to the Ultra Ball at his belt. "Will remain with me until needed. She's seen Nidoqueen, knows to expect it. But Groudon..." He smiled slightly. "That will be a surprise."

"We'll need to control the battlefield," Sierra noted. "The facility has several large storage areas. We can stage the Pokemon there, make it look like a temporary holding facility before transport. When she arrives..."

"She'll have to come to us," Giovanni finished. "Her principles won't let her leave without attempting to free them." He looked at each of his administrators in turn. "I want this coordinated perfectly. Sierra, handle the intelligence placement. Make it convincing but not too obvious. Cliff, position your combat teams but keep them absolutely hidden until needed. Arlo, ensure the captured Pokemon are secure – we're using them as bait, not giving her an actual chance to free them."

"And you?" Sierra asked, though her tone suggested she already knew.

Giovanni picked up the crystal dragon, studying how its facets caught the light. "I'll be waiting to finally meet Ms. Sterling properly."

As his leaders began working out the details, Giovanni remained focused on the crystal dragon. The girl who had outmanoeuvred him in Hoenn had grown into a genuine threat, turning her principles and that oversized Gabite into weapons against his organisation.

But principles could be turned into traps. And this time, when she followed her conscience into his facility, she would find more than just Pokemon waiting for her.

He set the crystal dragon down carefully. The hunt was entering its final phase.

Chapter Text

The resistance team's operations room hummed with tension. What had begun as a routine intelligence analysis had evolved into something that set off everyone's warning bells. Dawn, their computer specialist, was sitting before her array of screens. Her screens displayed intercepted Team Rocket communications, surveillance footage, and facility schematics. The screens were all small and rather outdated, but the effect of them all at once was striking. Her pink hair was a backlit halo as she concentrated on the only bright screen, a video feed from the day before with trucks moving through greenery. Mia paced behind her, studying each detail with growing concern.

"It's too perfect," Mia said finally, stopping her pacing. "The intel, the security patterns, even the facility layout – it's exactly what we'd look for in a high-value target."

Alex leaned against the wall, absently running her fingers along Terra's Pokéball. The Gabite inside was restless, picking up on the room's tension. "Show me the Pokemon transport logs again."

Dawn's fingers flew across her keyboard, bringing up the data streams they'd intercepted. "The movement patterns are real," she said, highlighting several routes. "I've cross-referenced them against our known Team Rocket logistics and public camera feeds. They're actually consolidating high-value Pokemon at the facility."

"Which is exactly why we can't ignore it," Alex said, pushing off from the wall. "Look at these numbers. These aren't just research specimens – they're rare Pokemon, probably intended for the black market or worse."

"Or they're bait," Mia countered. She turned to Dawn. "What was that thing you found in their security systems?"

"The facility's running multiple security layers,” said Dawn. Most are obvious, easy to spot. But there's a sophisticated subsystem hidden underneath. I only found it because..." She glanced at Alex. "Because it has similar markers to what we have encountered before, and I was looking for it. “Also,” and now she grinned, “because I am good. You should see my latest update on my communications disruption toolkit. I just need a device keyed into their system, and I will wreak havoc.” She looked very pleased with herself.

Alex's hand tightened on Terra's ball. Hoenn. Giovanni. She forced her expression to remain neutral, but something must have shown because Mia's eyes narrowed.

"It's a trap," Mia said flatly. "They know we can't ignore that many captured Pokemon. They're using our own principles against us."

"Then we adapt," Alex replied. "Dawn, can you create an encrypted copy of those infiltration packages you are talking about?"

Dawn blinked. "You're not seriously considering -"

"We could put it in a modified Pokeball," Alex continued. "Terra's Pokeball would work – if you give me enough to take over their systems, I could do a lot of damage on my own. I just need access to their systems - if I shut them down, the rest of you can go in."

"Alex." Mia's voice was sharp. "Stop. Think. This isn't just another operation. They're specifically targeting us. Targeting you. What happened at the arena -"

Alex met her gaze steadily. "I know."

"Do you? Because it seems like you're letting your vendetta with Giovanni -"

"This isn't about Giovanni," Alex cut her off, though something twisted in her chest at the name. "This is about dozens of Pokemon being gathered for who knows what purpose. Even if it is a trap, we can't just ignore it."

"We're not saying ignore it," Dawn interjected, always the mediator. "But we need a better plan than you going in alone."

"A full team assault is exactly what they'll be expecting," Alex argued. "One person has a better chance of getting in and out undetected. And if it goes wrong..." She managed a slight smile. "Well, Terra and I have handled worse."

"Have you?" Mia challenged. "Because last time you faced Giovanni..."

"Last time I was a student who barely knew what I was doing," Alex snapped. Then, softer: "Now I know exactly what I'm doing."

Silence fell. Dawn's screens continued displaying their evidence of the trap, while Terra's Pokeball hummed with nervous energy in Alex's hand.

"At least take a full team," Dawn said finally. "Not just Terra."

Alex nodded. "Terra, Kage, Tinsel, and the Dratini. A balanced team that can handle whatever we find." She held out Terra's ball. "How long to modify it for your package?"

Dawn sighed, recognising the familiar determination in her leader's eyes. "Give me a couple of hours. The encryption isn’t difficult, but setting it up so you can use it…takes more time."

"Alex," Mia tried one last time. "We're your team. Let us help."

"You are helping," Alex replied, her voice softening. "By being ready to extract me if things go wrong. By maintaining our operational security if I'm compromised. By continuing our work if..." She stopped, then grinned. "Well, let's not get dramatic."

But as Dawn took Terra's ball to begin modifications, and Mia retreated to prepare, Alex allowed herself a moment of honesty. This wasn't just about the Pokemon, though their captivity made her blood boil. This was about Giovanni, about finishing what began in Hoenn, about proving she wasn't just some lucky student anymore.

"One hour," she said to her team. "Then we move."

The screens continued displaying their evidence of the trap, but Alex's mind was already in the field, already planning moves and countermoves. Giovanni thought he could use her principles against her?

She'd show him exactly what those principles could do.

The abandoned Team Rocket facility loomed against the night sky, its darkened windows like empty eyes. Alex moved through the shadows with practised ease, Terra's doctored Ultra Ball ready in her hand. Her other Pokemon were positioned strategically – Kage prowling ahead as an advance scout, Tinsel monitoring their rear approach, the Dratini coiled protectively around her shoulders.

"East corridor clear," came Dawn's voice through her earpiece. "Security cameras on loop."

The facility's layout matched their intelligence perfectly – another warning sign. Alex pushed the thought aside, focusing on the mission. The Pokemon transfer logs had shown at least thirty captive specimens, including several rare species. Real Pokemon, real stakes.

Kage appeared at a junction, rings dimmed to near invisibility, and made their signal for 'movement ahead.' Alex pressed herself against the wall, listening. Team Rocket grunts, their voices echoing slightly in the empty corridor.

"...timing has to be exact," one was saying. Orders from above."

Alex waited until they passed, then moved forward. The holding area should be two levels down, according to their intel. As she descended, the facility's emptiness began to feel less abandoned and more... prepared.

"Dawn," she whispered. "Status?"

Static answered. Then: "Signal's getting patchy. Some kind of interference... wait. Alex, the security systems are -"

The transmission cut off completely. At the same moment, the doors behind her slammed shut behind her with devastating finality.

"Well," a familiar voice said from the shadows ahead. "Ms. Sterling. We meet again."

Giovanni stepped into view, his Persian padding silently beside him. He looked exactly as she remembered from Hoenn – impeccably dressed, radiating authority, watching her with that mix of amusement and calculation that had haunted her dreams.

"The Pokemon," Alex said, proud of how steady her voice remained. "Where are they?"

"Oh, they're here." Giovanni said, amusement in his voice. "Though I suspect not in quite the numbers you were expecting. I needed enough to make the bait convincing, but not so many as to be... wasteful."

Alex's hand tightened on Terra's ball. "You used captive Pokemon as bait?"

"I used your principles against you," Giovanni corrected. "Your predictable, admirable principles." His smile sharpened. "Though I suspect saving Pokemon wasn't your only motivation for coming alone."

Before Alex could respond, Terra burst from her ball in a flash of light, sensing her trainer's surge of emotion. The Gabite towered over Alex, her presence forcing even Giovanni to take a step back.

"She's grown," he noted appreciatively. Then his hand went to his own belt. The Groudon's materialisation shook the entire facility. Its massive form made even the large corridor look small, its ancient power pressing against Alex's skin like a physical force. Terra snarled, positioning herself between the legendary Pokemon and her trainer.

"Last chance," Giovanni said quietly. "Surrender. Save us both some trouble."

Alex's answer was a command: "Dragon Rush!"

The battle erupted with devastating force. Terra launched herself at Groudon, her speed and manoeuvrability in the confined space partially offsetting the legendary's raw power. Alex had trained for this, prepared for this moment. Each command flowed into the next, Terra executing their practised combinations with perfect precision.

"Sandstorm defence!" Alex called as Groudon launched a devastating Solar Beam. Terra's swirling sand diffused the attack, though the residual energy still scorched the walls.

Terra followed immediately with Dragon Claw, catching Groudon's shoulder before it could recover. The legendary actually staggered, drawing an almost surprised look from Giovanni.

But his recovery was immediate. "Rock Slide."

Terra barely dodged the falling debris, using her smaller size to manoeuvre through the barrage. She countered with another Dragon Rush, this one augmented by momentum from her evasion.

"Impressive," Giovanni called as Terra's attack actually forced Groudon back a step. "You've improved significantly since Hoenn."

"Dragon Pulse, then Dig!" Alex commanded. Terra's energy beam caught Groudon in the chest before she vanished underground.

Giovanni's smile suggested he'd expected this. "Precipice Blades."

The ground erupted with stone spears, forcing Terra back to the surface. She was bleeding now from where the blades had caught her, but her eyes still blazed with determination.

"You haven't seen anything yet," Alex shot back. "Terra, Double Team into -"

The command cut off in a cry of pain as Groudon's Earthquake ripped through the corridor. The floor buckled, walls cracking. Alex felt something in her leg snap as she was thrown against a support pillar. Her shoulder hit next, popping with sickening suddenness.

Terra roared in fury, redoubling her attack, but Alex could see the battle was lost. The Gabite was bleeding from multiple wounds, her movements slowing. Even her incredible power couldn't match a legendary Pokemon's full strength.

"Enough," Giovanni said, his voice carrying that subtle note of authority that seemed to fill any room he occupied. Persian moved to flank them while Groudon pressed its advantage. "It's over, Ms. Sterling."

Alex pushed herself up on her good arm, careful not to put weight on her injured leg. Blood trickled into her eyes from a cut on her forehead, but she met Giovanni's gaze steadily. Every movement sent fresh waves of agony through her broken bones.

He studied her for a moment, and she caught just the faintest trace of something that might have been amusement in his eyes. "Look at yourself. You can barely rise. Your Pokemon is exhausted. Your team is locked out." A pause. "And still you refuse to yield."

"Go to hell," Alex managed through gritted teeth, though the words came out weaker than intended.

Giovanni moved with that controlled grace she remembered from Hoenn, crossing the space between them in two precise steps, and kneeling before her. When her arm finally gave out, his arms caught her up with practised efficiency.

The pain was immediate and overwhelming. Every point of contact sent fresh waves of agony through her injuries, but Alex forced herself to remain conscious, to stay alert. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of passing out.

"Stay still," he said quietly as he lifted her. "You're only making your injuries worse."

Alex bit back a cry as the movement jarred her broken leg. "Wouldn't want... to damage your prize," she forced out.

"My prisoner," he corrected, but there was that hint of amusement again. "Though 'prize' might not be entirely inaccurate, given how long we've been looking for you."
She wanted to respond with something appropriately defiant, but the pain was making it hard to think. She focused instead on memorising their route through the facility, noting security positions, counting turns. Even now, even in defeat, her tactical mind wouldn't shut off.

Terra's Pokéball hung at Giovanni's belt, next to his own Pokéballs. So close, yet impossibly out of reach. Alex could feel her partner's distress through their bond, even contained as she was.

"The Pokemon," she managed as they approached what had to be an exit. "The ones you used as bait..."

"Are quite real, I assure you," Giovanni replied. "I find honesty makes the best traps. Though perhaps we can discuss ethics after your injuries are treated."

The night air hit Alex's face as they emerged onto what appeared to be a helicopter pad. The pain was becoming harder to fight, dark spots dancing at the edges of her vision, but she forced herself to stay aware. To memorise faces, positions, anything that might be useful later.

"You won't break me," she said, the words coming out weaker than she'd intended.

Giovanni glanced down at her as they reached the helicopter, and this time she definitely caught that flicker of amusement. "Ms. Sterling, if I merely wanted to break you, I wouldn't be bothering with medical treatment." The helicopter's downdraft whipped his words away, but she heard them clearly: "You're far more interesting whole."

As they lifted off into the night sky, Alex's world narrowed to pain and the strange reality of being carried by her greatest enemy. She hadn't lost consciousness, hadn't given up, but she had most definitely lost this round.

...

The medical facility deep within Team Rocket's headquarters was clinically bright, all steel and harsh fluorescent lighting. Alex lay on the examination table, her ribs hurting with every breath. Her clothes were torn and bloody, her leg twisted at an unnatural angle.

Giovanni stood at the head of the table, his presence filling the room even in silence. Two medics worked with quick efficiency, cutting away her clothing where necessary to assess her injuries.

"Multiple fractures in the left tibia," the medic who was examining her reported clinically. She was a birdlike woman in her fifties, with blonde hair shading into steel grey.

"Dislocated right shoulder. Possible concussion. Various contusions and lacerations."

"Treatment time?" Giovanni asked.

"With standard procedures, several weeks, maybe months. With the enhanced formulas..." She glanced at Alex. "Much faster, but more difficult for the patient."

Giovanni's voice held no particular emotion. "Use the enhanced formulas. I want her mobile as quickly as possible." He looked down at Alex. "This will be unpleasant."

"Like everything else about you," Alex managed through gritted teeth. The effort of maintaining her defiance was exhausting, but it was all she had left.

She caught that slight hint of amusement in his eyes again before the first medic approached with a syringe full of something violently purple. "No anaesthesia," the medic warned. "It interferes with the acceleration factors."

Alex had a moment to process this before they began setting her leg. The pain was beyond anything she'd experienced – worse than the original break, worse than the earthquake impact. She bit down hard on her lip, tasting blood, refusing to scream.

"Remarkable pain tolerance," the other medic noted professionally.

"She's stubborn," Giovanni replied. Was that approval in his voice? "But then, I already knew that."

The shoulder came next. Alex couldn't hold back a short cry as they forced the joint back into place. Sweat soaked her remaining clothes, her vision blurring, but she forced herself to stay conscious. To stay aware.

"The enhanced formula will accelerate healing," the medic explained as they prepared another injection. "But the process itself is... intense."

This time Alex did scream. The purple liquid burned through her veins like fire, every accelerated cellular regeneration feeling like individual needles under her skin.

Through the haze of agony, she was aware of Giovanni watching, his expression unreadable.

"You're doing well," he said quietly. "Better than most."

"Didn't know... you cared," Alex gasped between waves of pain.

"I respect strength," he replied simply. "Even in enemies."

The next hour passed in a blur of pain and clinical efficiency. They cleaned her wounds, set smaller breaks, administered more of the burning formula. Alex retreated into her tactical mind, trying to memorise details about the facility, the staff, anything that might be useful. It helped distract from the pain, gave her something to focus on besides the agony and the humiliation of being so completely at Giovanni's mercy.

"Where's Terra? My Gabite." she asked during a brief respite between treatments.

"Safe," Giovanni replied. "Being well cared for, I assure you. I respect Pokemon, Ms. Sterling, even if we disagree on how they should be used."

"You mean... how they should be controlled?"

"We can debate philosophy when you're stronger." He studied her face. "You have questions. Ask them."

Alex fought through another wave of burning pain from the formula. "Why... why not just leave me there? After the earthquake? Would have solved... your problem."

"Because waste is inefficient," he said simply. "And because you've proven yourself interesting. Your operations against us have been... impressive. Creative. Your team is well-trained, your tactical thinking exceptional." He paused. "It would be a shame to lose such potential to something as mundane as physical injury."

"Not going to... join you," Alex managed, though the words came out weaker than she'd intended.

He was amused again. "We'll discuss options when you're recovered. For now, focus on enduring. The formula works faster if you don't fight it."

"I always fight," she whispered.

"Yes," he agreed. "That's precisely what makes you interesting."

The medical team continued their work as dawn approached, each treatment bringing fresh waves of agony. Alex lost track of time, aware only of pain and Giovanni's continued presence. He never showed impatience, never betrayed any emotion beyond that occasional hint of amusement or approval.

Finally, the medics stepped back. "The worst is done," one reported. "She'll need rest now. The formula will continue working for several hours."

"Good." Giovanni nodded. "Prepare a secure room. Full monitoring, but comfortable. She's earned that much."

As they prepared to move her, Alex forced her eyes to focus on Giovanni. "My team..."

"Will no doubt be looking for you," he finished. "But they won't find you." He studied her for a moment longer. "Rest, Ms. Sterling. You'll need your strength."