Into the Unown Ch 222 (Coffee tier)

Author's Note:

I wrote an additional CH 217.5: Kerry vs Bugsy. Because it felt like our favourite nurse girl hadn't been getting much screen time recently.

Also because I felt iffy about skipping the Bugsy battle.

That chapter should be out now along with the regular tier release. So make sure to go check it out if you're interested.

***

Chapter 222

Nina did her best to hold back her amusement at the sight of the criminal gang boss she was watching over. The mighty Giovanni, looking quite incensed in a pair of stinky shorts and undersized hoody, because those were the only clothes from Ash that would fit him.

Giovanni’s Ultra Balls were all locked up in a portable stasis case that Nina had purchased to make up for the limitations of her Apricorn Balls. While the man himself was bound in rope, just calmly sitting on the ground, smirking as always.

As amusing as it was though, Nina kept her guard up. This was Giovanni in the flesh, not a cartoon game sprite. His arrogant smirk was just a mask. When she looked into the man’s eyes, all Nina could see was a void — an impervious, blank void.

“He’s just biding his time. I’m his ticket out of this time loop and the bastard knows it.” 

This was a man who knew when to give and when to take, when to push and when to pull. Nina was pretty sure that Giovanni had gone easy on her during their battle earlier as well. There was no way that the secret team of Pokemon cultivated by the leader of Team Rocket and the former Leader of the Viridian Gym would be that weak.

“That friend of yours sure is taking his time…”

Nina held back her snort, unfazed by the poor attempt at provocation. She had always wondered what Giovanni was like. His charisma was a given, otherwise how else could he have convinced such a large number of people to turn towards a life of crime?

That said, she was expecting a more stoic character — a mute tyrant who enforced obedience through forceful dominance. “But I guess a slick talking Persian makes sense as well. He would have to be, to slink his way out of suspicion.”

“My… such conviction. Is this faith perhaps? I, too, used to have the same conviction… unquestioning, loyal to a tee. Haha. Hahaha!” The man threw his head back in laughter, then came to an eerie abrupt stop. His eyes fixed upon the distant blue sky.

“Ah… such blinding radiance. There was a time where I once dreamed of reaching for the stars high above.”

Nina frowned. “Is this guy insane? Was it that simple all along? A delusional madman?”

“Did you know? There is a tradition shared by both the Kantonian and Johton military. A tradition dating back to a time before the separation — the nurturing of a Rattata. Such weak and unruly beast, yet fearless and brimming with aggression. Making them the perfect tool to impart patience and virtue to hotheaded soldiers. Naturally, it is not a simple matter of obedience and Evolution — food, punishment and battle would more than suffice. No, you had to teach them discipline and decorum. And in doing so, engage in self-reflection and develop oneself along the way.”

The man smirked and turned his gaze back towards Nina, something unknowable stirring within the abyssal void of his eyes. “You see, for one to be promoted into command, the state of the Rattata under their care was an important judge character. Because how could you be trusted to nurture soldiers when you can’t even handle a simple rodent. And thus, the bond a soldier forms with their Rattata transcends camaraderie — almost as intimate as the lifelong bond one shares with their starter… 

“Haha. HAHAHA!!!” Madness stirred within the abyss, flickering for just a moment before settling back into that same emptiness. “And the final lesson? The final trial before promotion? The personal execution of your partner Rattata — the Pokemon you carefully nurtured from infancy! All to teach the value of sacrifice and the pragmatism of command.”

Giovanni blinked, and Nina found herself staring down at that familiar, arrogant visage once more, darkness swirling in his blank pupils. “What’s wrong? Meowth got your tongue? Or should I say… Mew?” The crime lord casually tapped at his chest, earning him a sharp glare from Nina.

“Don’t fall for it, Nina. There’s no way he knows about the Mew Gem. Asshole is probably just guessing at where Mew’s Aura is thickest.”

“I recognise those eyes, you've seen it too — the nihility, the futility of it all. Quite surprising given your age. But I guess nothing's ever mundane with fate's chosen. Just like that friend of yours… So tell me, Mew’s champion! What was it all for?! Was I just a mere pawn born to fight in an unknowable war? Hands stained by blood and the taste of Raticate in my mouth. Was this my fate?” 

Nina sighed, deciding to just bite the bullet. “What do you want, Giovanni? To protect the world from devastation? To unite the people within our region? To denounce the evils of truth and love? To extend your reach beyond the stars? Ha! Don’t make me laugh, man. You’re just a wretch. A wretch with an ego too big for your head.”

The girl scoffed. “Others use their power and authority to maintain peace, while you use your influence to sow discord. I’ve seen first hand the atrocities committed by Team Rocket. Even to this day, your people are skulking in the shadows, causing pain and suffering.

“I get it, you’ve been traumatized. Seen shit I can’t even imagine. But so what?! You had a choice! We all have a choice! A choice to be good or bad, to do our best or wallow in despair! Yes, it’s frustrating! Yes, it’s annoying being led around the nose when all I want to do is play with cute Pokemon and live a peaceful life! And for what?! That little pink fucker won’t even tell me why? Damned mystics and their damned—” 

Nina gasped, to catch her breath and calm her beating heart. “You CHOSE to spread your misery. You CHOSE to perpetuate the cycle of hatred. So don’t blame fate or tell me you’re doing this for some profound philosophy or greater good. You are not a tortured hero or a misunderstood martyr, Giovanni. You’re just a child, throwing a tantrum because you didn’t want to do your chores. Plain and simple.”

Giovanni laughed at the girl’s scorn. “You are not wrong, child. But did you know that Team Rocket was originally founded to serve the interest of the Pokemon League?” The man’s expression twisted into an amused grin. “It is funny, is it not? In a state of war, Kanto and Johto must maintain certain pretenses. And yet...”

“Lemme guess. You were one of the good guys all along and the League used and abandoned you. Yade yada… How cliche. Frankly, I’m disappointed. But I suppose it’s my bad to expect some nuance in your character.”

Giovanni chuckled. “Oh no. Not at all. I am very much a villain. I walked down this path willingly — took control of Team Rocket once it burgeoned out of the League’s influence. As you said, I chose this path. Or did I? There’s no way to know… Not yet, anyway. For there to be heroes, there must be villains. Maybe that was my fate all along, to serve as fodder for the likes of you and your friends.”

Nina frowned. “He’s not entirely wrong. The guy was born to play the villain. To her knowledge, none of the media of her past life ever really expanded upon Giovanni’s motivations. He was always just the big bad, the cartoon villain that the protagonist beats up in the end. Such a life would truly be frustrating…”

“Choice — such a banal word. A mundane concept. Yet to achieve true autonomy, one must have power and control… That’s all it boils down to isn’t it? Power and control?” Giovanni’s amusement turned into a snort and his eyes quivered ever so slightly.

“But to answer your question, I wish to break the bonds of fate. Transcend the board and look down upon all of its pieces and attain the clarity I seek — the meaning of life. And to do that, I need power! Power to break free from these shackles! To go above and beyond, away from the bounds of this world where fate’s tendrils have no reach!”

With a dismissive wave, Nina dispelled the crime lord’s grandiose platitudes. “Control… that’s right. That is all the bastard amounts to. Control over others but never control over oneself. At least he’s being honest about it. Unlike some of the other villain characters.” 

But still, it wasn’t any excuse. This wasn’t a game or a scripted show. The denizens of this world were alive, free to forge their own paths. Why else would characters differ so greatly from their fictional counterparts? Why else would the timeline be so weird?

Melanie went from feeding lost Pokemon in a little shack by a pond to running her own winery. And Brock took responsibility for his family’s Gym instead of dumping the burden on his underaged brother and running away. “Even Misty changed, though not necessarily in a good way.”

Nina scoffed, unburdened by Giovanni’s plight. “You’re just a coward, Giovanni — an escapist. No surprise really, given how willing you are to hurt others for your own gain. You don’t deserve absolution. I hope they lock you up so tight, you never get to see the sun ever again.”

Giovanni met Nina’s eyes with a meaningful gaze, holding it for an intense moment before returning to his usual, impassive grin as he stared down at where the Mew Gem laid.

It was at this point that Ash finally returned, looking a little frazzled with leaves and sticks stuck to his person.

“Sorry it took so long. Had trouble finding a good spot to burn his clothes.”

Nina nodded in acknowledgement. “Did you empty his pockets beforehand?”

“Yup! Found a case full of Earth Badges, a bit of cash and gold, an expensive looking watch and a… phone, I think? Doesn’t really look like a Pokegear to me. Oh, and some kibble?”

“High density Pokechow,” chimed Giovanni. “Not recommended, but perfectly safe for human consumption, just two pellets will last you the whole day. And you can keep the badges if you’d like. It’s just a bit of sentiment from an old man.”

Nina ignored Giovanni’s words and held out a little sack for Ash to deposit all of Giovanni’s belongings into. “The phone might be a burner — to avoid detection via Pokenet. The authorities are gonna want these as evidence. So I’ll keep hold of them for now.”

“Cool! Hey err… I didn’t catch your name, but thanks for saving my bacon just now! I’m Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town! But you probably already know that.”

“Pika-pi! Pika!”

“Haha! Pikachu says thank you too.” Ash laughed as his Pikachu jumped away from his shoulder onto Nina’s and nuzzled affectionately against the girl, much to her delight.

Nina smiled at the affable protagonist and gave his Pikachu a little kiss before shooting a glance at Giovanni. “Yes, I already know who you guys are, Ash and Pikachu. But let’s save the pleasantries for later. Once we get out of this time loop.”

“No worries. I get it. But err… How exactly are we going to get out of here?”

Nina shrugged. “No idea. For now, let’s just come back the way I came and see what happens. Espy, Nitey, the two of you are in charge of looking after our prisoner — make sure he doesn’t try to do anything. Brucey will be on recon, Clody and Brinny, go back into your Pokeballs and rest for the time being.”

***

“What the heck, Nina! We turn our backs on you for ten seconds!”

“Is that… who I t-think it is?” Kerry stuttered and nearly fell on her back at the sight of the man in Nitey’s grasp.

Nina nodded. “Yes, I’ll explain everything later. For now, I think we should Fly straight to Goldenrod City. Any objections?” There were none. So she called on everyone to ready their Flyers. “Ash, you can ride with Kerry in her Fly Basket.”

“Wait. Are we even able to Fly out of here? Won’t Celebi mess with us or something?”

“Ah… Celebi! That makes a lot more sense.” Giovanni cackled.

Nina scowled at Justin for his loose lips and let out a deep sigh.

“Celebi, I know you can hear me. What do you say? Will we have any issues Flying out of your domain?”

“Hehehe… Roadtrip!”

Nina giggled. “So I’m guessing you want to come with?”

The Mythical Pokemon responded with even more giggles, which Nina took to be a yes.

“Yeah, I just got confirmation that Flying won’t be an issue. So let’s get going before we lose daylight.”

At the same time, Nina wrote a message to be sent to every single influential figure in her contacts to prepare a reception for Giovanni.

***

“Nina! Are you alright?!”

“Uncle Ali!” The moment that Nina landed in front of Goldenrod Police HQ, she jumped into her uncle’s embrace with a beaming smile and allowed the man to fuss all over her.

“Ash… is that you?”

“Hmm? Oh hey Misty! Man, you’ve err… gained some weight huh?”

“You fucking idiot!” With a flash of her palm, Misty laid into him with a resounding slap. “I t-thought we lost you… You fool!” The woman sobbed, her pregnant belly heaving up and down in distress.

“Now, now… Misty. Calm down, think of the baby.” Brock chimed in with soothing pats to his friend’s back. He then turned to Ash with shaky lips and pulled him into a tight hug. “Welcome back, Ash…”

Ash quivered in Brock’s embrace, the reality of his situation and all that lost time finally hitting him like a rampaging Gyarados. “Brock… Misty… I-I’m back. I-I’m sorry… I didn’t know… How long was I away for?”

“Eight, almost nine years at this point, my boy…”

“Professor Oak!”

The elderly Professor faltered, almost crashing into Ash’s embrace.

Ash hastily grabbed hold of the senior to steady his gait. “Are you alright, sir? Do you need to sit down?”

The old man chuckled. “I am quite alright, my boy. Even better now that you have been returned to us. Your mother though… has been reluctant to leave the house since your disappearance.”

“Oh shoot! Mom! I gotta call her!”

Professor Oak held Ash back with a firm grip on his shoulders. “I understand how you feel, Ash. But later. For now, there are more urgent matters to attend to.” He said as he leveled a glare at an impassive looking Giovanni.

“Oh my… Such a grand reception. All for little old me. I must say, I am extremely flattered.”

Nina’s message had gone out to every Gym Leader she was friendly with, her uncle from Interpol and even Valerie from the Ace Corp. So needless to say, the Indigo League mobilized every available personnel for this occasion.

Gym Leaders, police officers and Ace Trainers from across both regions. There was currently enough firepower in Goldenrod City to take it over entirely. And all for one man.

“Giovanni D’Argento…” The one who stepped forward was a very severe looking Falkner. “In the name of the Indigo League, I place you under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. In light of the nature of your crimes, you have the right to representation during trial, but an attorney may not be present during your questioning. Take him away.” He gestured towards a nearby Ace Trainer.

The Violet City Gym Leader then turned to Nina with a genial smile. “It seems my faith in you was not misplaced. You have done us a great service today, Melina Jones. And the Indigo League will see to it that you and your friends are appropriately rewarded. For now, get some rest. We shall return to you for a statement at a later time.”

Nina smiled as she watched Giovanni be taken away. However, she couldn’t help but feel a nagging sensation in her gut, that everything had concluded too smoothly somehow.

***

Author's note:

I have wrote and rewritten this chapter more times than I can count. I basically have an entire docs file with just uneneding iterations of this one chapter.

Even while I was editing this chapter, I felt the incessant need to keep tweaking it. And still, I am not satisfied. Frankly, I am sick of it at this point.

Anyways, let me know what you think. Because trying to characterize Giovanni was a real challenge. As written in the chapter, none of the available source material really bothered to explore his charscter and motivations. Aside from the Adventures manga which depicted him as a desperate father in search of his lost son.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the path that I wanted to take with that character. So I had to chart my own.

Things will get more interesting late on. But not before Nina goes through a quick little horse girl arc.

PS. Regarding the slowing of releases I mentioned last chapter, I will let you guys know when it actually happens. I reckon there's another week of normalcy before that. An even then, I'll only really need a couple of weeks at most.