Viridian City, Giovanni is in a great mood today.
Because yesterday evening, his little son Silver finally returned to Viridian City; this pair of father and son who had been separated for ten years have finally reunited.
Although the reunion is long-awaited, at first there's inevitably some awkwardness, but that's not a big problem.
As long as this kid is truly his son, Giovanni believes they'll grow closer.
And indeed that's how it's turning out—the Silver isn't resisting him; in fact, Silver, who is usually cool, is taking the initiative to accept him as his father.
"Dad, can I contact my friends to come here?"
At the dining table, Silver suddenly asks Giovanni.
"Of course you can; this is your home, Silver. You can bring friends over to visit and rest, but if you don't mind me asking, who are your friends?"
"Hmm, she's one of my sisters. Over the years Green sister has been taking care of me; without her I don't know what I'd be like right now." Silver whispers.
"Sorry… Silver, it's my fault." Giovanni's smile tightens a little, and he sighs.
"It's okay, dad. That person…" Silver's expression darkens a bit; he knows his father is likely strong.
After all, Giovanni is revered as the "Strongest Gym Leader in Kanto," but compared to the Masked Man…
"Let's not talk about the sad stuff. Silver, since she's your sister, go ahead and invite her; tell her to treat this place as her second home."
Giovanni senses Silver's mood isn't right and immediately shifts the topic, smiling softly.
"Great!"
Silver's face lights up; he immediately grabs his phone and calls Green.
"Moses Moses~ Silver, what's up?"
Green's cheerful voice rings out.
"sister, I found family!"
"Huh? Really? Congratulations, Silver!"
"Yeah, I told my dad I'd like you to come over to my home, at Viridian City's Viridian Gym, I…"
"Wait, Silver, where is your home?"
Green's voice reveals astonishment.
"The Viridian Gym."
Silver is a bit puzzled; is there a problem?
"The Viridian Gym… then Damian, who is he to you?"
Green remembers the black-haired boy she met in Celadon City, that oppressive strength.
To this day it's left a lasting memory; she's never met such a powerful peer before.
"Damian is my Brother, Brother. What's up sister?"
Silver, already sensitive, has picked up that something isn't right.
"Didn't Gym Leader Giovanni tell you about Damian? About him…"
Green looks a little embarrassed; she likely suspects Giovanni didn't tell Silver about Damian.
She can understand; after all Silver has just found his family.
Silver's brows knit tightly; he ends the call with Green and returns to the dining table.
"dad"
"What's wrong, Silver?" Giovanni keenly notices Silver's off mood.
"Brother Brother—are you hiding something from me?" Silver asks in a low voice.
"..." Giovanni's brows draw together.
He hasn't told Silver directly; after all, even Giovanni doesn't quite know how to start telling Silver such things.
"It's father's fault." Giovanni sighs again.
"I neglected to show Damian more care, which led him to join Team Rocket."
Boom!
Like a bolt of lightning, Silver's pupils dilate; he looks at Giovanni in absolute shock.
What did I just hear?
"Brother Brother… joined Team Rocket?"
That gentle, kind Brother Brother turned villain, a member of the evil organization Team Rocket?
"That's impossible."
Silver can't believe it; he still vividly recalls Damian's gentle smile and warm embrace a couple of days ago.
But now he's told that such a gentle Brother Brother is a villain.
Silver's face is awful to look at; how can he believe?
...
Ogi Isle.
"The sun feels so nice; too bad the environment here isn't as good as Alola."
Damian lies on a rock, hands behind his head, looking out over the endless blue water.
The sea on this side of Kanto is clear and blue as well; the sun glints on the water, beautiful to behold.
But there are no golden beaches here, no coconut trees—just different.
"Is Alola's sea really beautiful? I've heard it is."
Miki runs her fingers through the sea breeze-blown hair, her eyes a bit hazy.
She's not in a kimono today; her hair is deep blue with waves that look mature and alluring.
Beside Miki, Zuki sits with her legs drawn up, gazing at the water, lost in thought.
Because of the responsibilities passed down from their ancestors, they've never left Johto; Alola's beach world is famous, but they haven't been there.
"The sea isn't that different, but the beaches and tropical vibe there are worth a visit; if we have a chance, I'll take you there to play."
Damian smiles at Miki.
Miki freezes, staring at Damian's face with a slight fixation.
"I wonder when that little one will take the bait—let's just fish."
Damian glances at the sea; a mechanical big duck is currently skimming on the water, something he devised to lure the Little Lugia.
But after more than twenty minutes, there's still no sign of Little Lugia's shadow.
Damian feels a bit helpless, but there are plenty of ways to pass the time by the sea.
A Team Rocket subordinate fetches two fishing poles for Caitlin; they begin fishing.
Whirl Islands' waters are rich; the fish here grow well.
If only they weren't all Magikarp…
First, Magikarp.
Second, Magikarp.
Third Magikarp.
Up to the tenth, still Magikarp that only Splash.
Damian is numb; is this all that's in these waters? Goldeen would be better.
Miki and Zuki cover their mouths to laugh softly; Caitlin's mouth corners also rise; at least she caught Shellder, right?
"On the bite again."
Damian senses the tug; he stands.
"That's a strong pull; this isn't Magikarp for sure."
Damian is confident, because he can feel this catch is a big one.
"Yeah! Go, Lord Damian!"
Miki cooperates by cheering him on.
Timing right, Damian yanks the rod; a golden silhouette appears on the water and crashes onto the shore.
"Huh…"
Damian sets the rod down and stares at the golden Pokémon bounding around on the ground.
What to say? It's another Magikarp.
But this Magikarp is shiny—a gleaming gold.
"Shiny Magikarp! Lord Damian, you're amazing!"
Miki covers her mouth, thrilled; shiny Magikarp is incredibly rare.
"Not a bad bit of luck."
Damian throws an Ultra Ball and catches the shiny Magikarp.
But looking at the Ultra Ball in his hand, he hesitates; should he train it?
He spent a lot of time catching it; the Shiny Gyarados could be strong.
But his main roster is already crowded; Water types are three already: Tapu Fini, Suicune, Kyogre.
If he trains this shiny Magikarp, that would make four Water-types on his main roster.
He's not comfortable with being a Water-type champion.
"Fine, I'll keep it for now."
Damian decides to keep the shiny Magikarp; Mega Gyarados' strength is decent, and it can be used occasionally.
"Damian! Look at what I caught!"
Caitlin's surprised voice suddenly cuts in.
"What Pokémon is that?"
Damian looks toward the white little creature on the ground; at first glance, he's stunned.
Its overall shape is birdlike and dragonlike, all white, with a mask-like face and light blue belly.
It's not large, about 0.6 meters tall; it sits on the ground with tiny wings, its big watery eyes staring at Caitlin.
"Uww—"
The little one chirps adorably at Caitlin.
"..."
Damian is speechless, pulls out the Ultra Ball for the shiny Magikarp and looks at Caitlin's adorable little one.
Miki and Zuki frown; this little one seems puzzled, almost unbelievable.
Especially Miki, who pulls out an ancient text from her bag; this is something her ancestors left behind.
"Damian, do you know this Pokémon? I can sense psychic energy inside it."
Caitlin asks softly; she's fond of this adorable little one.
As a Psychic-type, she can sense psychic energy inside this little one, so it's probably a Psychic-type Pokémon.
That means she can train it as well.
"What can I say?"
Damian rests his chin, slowly stepping up to the little one sitting on the ground, squatting down.
"Uh?"
The little one tilts its head, curiously watching Damian.
"I know! This is…"
Miki finally finds the page; after careful cross-checking, she confirms it, and her excitement shows.
She was unsure at first, but reality and imagination are far apart.
Now that it's confirmed, she can't help but be thrilled.
"This is Lugia!"
"???"
Caitlin's face shows rare astonishment as she looks at Miki.
Isn't that sister? Are you lying? I've never seen Lugia before.
"Miki's right, Caitlin, you've fished Lugia."
Damian feeds this adorable Little Lugia a small piece of bread, smiling at Caitlin.
Caitlin watches the little Lugia munching happily on the bread, eyes wide with wonder.
Is this Lugia—the guardian of the seas, from legend?
~~~
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