Red did not accompany his brother to the Pokémon Center. His sights were set on a different destination: the Viridian City Gym. He promised Ash he would meet him at the Center that evening, a promise meant to ease his brother's worry.
He arrived at the gym as dusk began to settle over the city. The building loomed before him, an imposing structure that radiated an aura of quiet, formidable strength. This was, without a doubt, the strongest gym in the Kanto region, and its leader was a man who walked in two worlds. Giovanni, the enigmatic Gym Leader of Viridian City, was also the shadowy mastermind behind Team Rocket. He expertly played both sides, using his official League position and the city's resources to funnel immense profits into his criminal organization, all while seeding his trusted agents into the League's official ranks.
Two towering guards, each armed with a massive, ceremonial axe, stood sentry at the entrance. They exchanged a weary glance as Red approached. It was late, and they were ready to go home. Their first instinct was to advise the young challenger to come back another day; few rookie trainers were foolish enough to start their journey with Viridian City's gauntlet. But as they were about to speak, they saw the look in Red's eyes—a focused, unshakeable fighting spirit that gave them pause.
Wordlessly, they compromised. They struck the ground with their axes in unison, and the heavy doors behind them rumbled open.
"A challenger, you say?" Giovanni's voice echoed from within. He sat on a lavish sofa on a raised platform overlooking the battlefield, a smirk playing on his lips as Red's image appeared on his monitor. "I didn't expect to meet this young man so soon..."
Red's arrival triggered the gym's lights, illuminating the cavernous, dark interior. He walked to the center of the arena and looked up at the man who was both a respected Gym Leader and a feared crime boss.
"I am Giovanni, the Gym Leader of Viridian Gym," he declared, his voice smooth and confident.
"I am Red, from Pallet Town," Red replied, his own voice steady and clear.
"Quite confident, aren't you? I accept your challenge!"
The two guards took their places as referees. "This will be a three-on-three battle between the challenger, Red of Pallet Town, and Gym Leader Giovanni! The match is over when all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle. Only the challenger may substitute Pokémon. Let the battle begin!"
"Go, Rhydon," Giovanni said lazily, not even bothering to rise from his seat.
"I'm counting on you, Onix!" Red countered, sending out his own rock titan.
The colossal Onix emerged, its massive body nearly scraping the high ceiling. Across the field, Rhydon snorted, its own body tense with excitement. This was Onix's first official gym battle, and it let out a fierce roar, vowing to secure a spectacular victory for its trainer.
"A fine Onix. From Mt. Moon, I presume," Giovanni commented, his eyes analytically scanning Red's Pokémon. "It's rare to see a new trainer with such control over a powerful creature. You are an excellent prospect."
(This boy's strength is... intriguing,) Giovanni thought. He was already aware of Red. Dr. Fenris's unauthorized operation in Pallet Town had attracted his attention, and his own spies had confirmed the existence of a second, prodigiously talented Ketchum twin. He felt a flicker of appreciation for the boy. To start a journey with a Beedrill was an unconventional, almost defiant choice, and that alone piqued Giovanni's interest.
"Rhydon, use Drill Run!" Giovanni commanded.
"Onix, Iron Tail!"
Rhydon's horn spun like a drill as it charged. Onix met it head-on, its tail glowing white as it slammed into Rhydon's face, completely unintimidated. The raw power of the blow sent Rhydon stumbling backward.
"Arm Thrust!" Giovanni countered.
"Double-Edge!" Red ordered.
The two titans clashed again, both refusing to give ground. Thanks to its Rock Head ability, Onix could use the powerful move repeatedly without suffering recoil damage.
"Mr. Giovanni," Red said, his voice ringing with confidence. "Onix's tail is free."
As he spoke, Onix suddenly shoved Rhydon back with its full strength. In that single moment of separation, its tail whipped around and struck a critical point on Rhydon's body.
"Finish it. Stone Edge," Red commanded.
Countless sharp pillars of rock erupted from the ground, overwhelming the exhausted Rhydon and knocking it out completely.
"Roar!" Onix let out a triumphant cry and happily approached its trainer. Most would be intimidated by the massive, scar-faced Pokémon, but Red showed no fear, stroking its head in praise.
"Excellent strength, and your move combinations are superb," Giovanni said, his admiration genuine. It also put Red on high alert. "It's hard to believe you're a rookie who just started your journey."
"Rhydon is unable to battle!" the referee declared.
"This time, it's your turn." Giovanni recalled his Pokémon and sent out his next choice. A sturdy, powerful Nidoking appeared on the field.
"Return, Onix. I'm counting on you, Gyarados!" Red swapped his Pokémon, sending out his blood-red leviathan.
Also in its first gym battle, the Gyarados appeared with a roar of excitement, its Intimidate ability immediately lowering Nidoking's attack power. But the effect was instantly countered. Nidoking's eyes glowed red, its muscles swelled, and it let out a furious snort. Its own ability, Sheer Force, had activated, fueled by the intimidating presence of another powerful male Pokémon.
(Could this be Dr. Fenris's Experiment One?) Giovanni mused, recognizing the creature from his scientist's reports. He felt no greed, however. As the leader of Team Rocket, he had seen countless rare Pokémon. Only creatures of legend held any real interest for him now. He could simply order Fenris to create more.
Gyarados, for its part, had only ever known Fenris's lab and his direct subordinates. It held no memory of Giovanni, or it would have attacked him on sight.
"Gyarados, use Hydro Pump!" Red commanded.
The sudden blast of water nearly overwhelmed Nidoking. A timely Ice Beam from the ground-type froze the torrent into a massive pillar of ice.
"Mega Punch," Giovanni ordered coolly.
Nidoking shattered the ice pillar, sending a shower of sharp fragments toward Gyarados. As his opponent was distracted, Nidoking closed the distance and slammed a powerful punch into Gyarados's abdomen.
Enraged, Gyarados opened its massive jaws and clamped down on Nidoking's arm with a vicious Crunch, ignoring the Pokémon's desperate struggles.
"Use Brick Break," Giovanni said, his voice devoid of any concern for his Pokémon's safety.
Nidoking endured the crushing pain in its arm and slammed its free fist into Gyarados's head. The super-effective blow forced Gyarados to release its grip, allowing Nidoking to escape.
(Just as I thought. The typing has changed. Fenris is truly a talent...) Giovanni confirmed his suspicions. The data was correct. Fenris had successfully altered a Pokémon's fundamental nature.
(A talent comparable to Professor Oak. Such a man must be kept firmly within Team Rocket's grasp.) As the thought crossed his mind, a cold, predatory glint appeared in Giovanni's eyes. If he couldn't bind Dr. Fenris to his cause, he would not hesitate to eliminate the unknown factor himself.
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