Gladion walked through the quiet halls of his gym. Anger burned inside him every time he pictured Tengen's hollow eyes.
He did not blame Moltres for cutting down Tengen's arm. Her pain was real. Someone stole her egg. She only wanted it back. He was sure even his mother would burn away people if anyone did the same to him or Gwen while they were younger.
The true criminals were Team Rocket. They started everything.
A familiar voice spoke gently in his mind. It was Latios. 'You should wait until your team recovers. Then hunt the ones responsible together.'
Gladion shook his head. "No. We would start as soon as I get information about them. I can't wait for them to hide their tracks and the remaining members of my team would not be enough. I need your help."
Latios sounded surprised. 'You are finally ready to show us to the world? You always said keeping us secret protected us from trouble and attention.'
Latias joined the conversation. Her voice was warm and playful. 'It would feel good to stretch our wings outside these Poké Balls. They are comfortable for sleeping, but flying in the open sky is better.'
Gladion stopped walking and looked at the two special Poké Balls on his necklace. "I kept you secret for good reasons. If enemies knew I had two legendary dragons, they would prepare special plans. They might find their own legendary to fight you. The threat would become much bigger than what they send against a trainer with only an alpha Tyranitar."
He continued explaining. "Dragon clans in Johto and dragon tribes in Hoenn are very proud. They would not accept a human outside their blood having legendary dragons. It would bring endless politics and demands I was not ready to face."
He took a deep breath. "Illegal groups would come after us too. Poachers. Collectors. Criminals who want legendary power. Keeping you hidden protected all of us."
Latios asked quietly. "What changed today?"
Gladion's fists tightened. "Today opened my eyes. I held back. I did not use you. And Tengen lost his arm protecting me. Tengen paid the price for it. If I had shown my full strength from the start, Team Rocket would never have even dared to do this. Heck, even if I just used you to fight Moltres, Tengen would have been fine."
He looked toward the medical ward. "I have enough power now. The champion supports me. The people of Indigo saw what I did today. Gym Leaders respect me. An Elite Four member is the mentor of my sister. I can handle the politics."
His voice grew harder. "And mostly, I am angry. Angry at myself for being too careful. Angry that I let Team Rocket grow like poison. It is time to cut them out completely."
Latias's voice turned fierce and proud. 'Good. A dragon never forgives an insult. Let your rage burn bright, little brother. Those who hurt our family will learn fear. We will fly beside you and show them what happens when they touch what is ours.'
Latios added with deep calm power. 'Your wrath is our wrath. Point us at the enemy, and we will bring storm and ruin. No cage will hold them. No shadow will hide them. They will face the full might of the Eon guardians.'
Gladion felt their strength flow into him. His heart beat stronger. "Thank you."
Latios asked one more question. 'What about Giovanni? The leader of Team Rocket. Will you finally deal with him? You had known that he had been the leader from the start. It is time that you deal with him too.'
Gladion's eyes darkened. "We would not find any evidence against him. He never leaves proof. I sometimes wonder if I should forget laws and politics and end him myself. But I cannot. Those same laws protect my family from him and others like him. I am not scared of breaking them but I am scared about what would happen when the others do the same against my family."
He walked to a window and stared out. "Without laws, anyone could attack us openly. Giovanni would send everything he has. Other criminals would join. My family would never be safe. So I must stay inside the rules until I have real proof."
He turned away from the window. "But this mission will give me that proof. I will hit his bases hard. I will take something he loves. It is time he feels real pain."
Latias's voice rang with approval. 'Very well, little brother. You can count on us.'
Gladion thanked them again and called his staff. He gave clear orders to his social media teams. They were experts at finding hidden information online. "Search every post, every photo, every location tag. Find suspected Team Rocket members. Find the ones I already know. I want trails. I want bases. I want everything."
He ended the call and waited. "We will see what comes first. My people would definitely find something with all the data that we have. We also have Koga's ninjas and the Aura Guardians trying to find out about Team Rocket and where they are keeping the eggs."
Latias spoke softly. 'You should Rest for now, little brother. You used too much of your aura today in the fight. You are exhausted. You cannot go to battle in this state."
Gladion nodded. He felt the tiredness in every bone. He teleported to his room. In a flash he appeared beside his bed. He fell onto it without changing clothes. Sleep pulled at him.
He whispered one last thought before darkness took him. "Soon, Team Rocket. Very soon."
-----Author Notes------
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