With Giovanni openly acknowledging his defeat, the operation to dismantle Team Rocket reached its climax.
The shadowy mastermind had been apprehended. Two of the Four Executives—Proton and Petrel—were decisively defeated. Team Rocket's core forces were effectively neutralized.
The scattered remnants across other regions? Left to the Gym Leaders of other cities to handle.
Sabrina bid farewell quickly, using her Psychic power to manifest high-speed flight, hurrying back to Saffron City to manage the remaining affairs.
Aiden and Lance remained at the Viridian Gym.
Ten minutes later, guided by Mewtwo, they descended into the hidden underground laboratory beneath the gym—and their eyes widened in shock.
"…This is… genetic experimentation?"
Lance's brow furrowed as he stared at the undeveloped Pokémon embryos floating in nutrient-filled tanks.
Normally, a Pokémon's life began in an egg—its body developing through stages, gaining strength before hatching.
But here? No shells. No protection.
Just fragile, half-formed lifeforms suspended in glowing fluid, sleeping in silence.
The hum of oxygen pumps nearby made Aiden's temples throb.
Even with mental preparation, the sight still struck him like a physical blow.
The games and anime never showed the origins of Mewtwo or the clones. You had to see it firsthand to grasp the horror Team Rocket had wrought.
Life born against nature—trapped, helpless, unable to leave the tank until fully grown. Success rates must have been abysmal.
And the fate of the failures?
You didn't need to guess.
No wonder the Pokémon world had outlawed genetic research entirely.
Aiden shook his head.
If Team Rocket had only been about money, maybe they could've been "redeemed." Maybe even the Kanto League had turned a blind eye for years—giving them space to grow.
But once they crossed into ethical abominations? It was only a matter of time before the League came for them.
In a way… they'd brought this on themselves.
"Most of these specimens are unqualified—failures. Without you, they'd have been purged by now."
Mewtwo, however, showed no reaction.
It had seen too many of its own kind die in these tanks.
Most never survived long enough to hatch. They simply… faded. Their energy spent, their will extinguished.
Mewtwo had grown numb to it.
The remaining clones here were few. Most were beyond saving. To die quietly in this tank, before consciousness even stirred, was their kindest fate.
Sometimes… Mewtwo wondered if it had become cold. Like Team Rocket had made it.
But it hadn't come here just to show Aiden and the police what horrors lay beneath.
It led them swiftly to a sealed door.
With its newfound mastery over Psychic energy, the door offered no resistance. It twisted, warped, and collapsed into a smooth, heavy sphere that crashed to the floor with a dull thud.
Behind it, a Pokémon poked its head out.
Though not from Kanto, Aiden recognized it instantly.
Bulbasaur.
The adorable little garlic bulb cutie. So cute before evolution.
"Bulba!"
The moment it saw Mewtwo, Bulbasaur let out a delighted cry—and began swaying its vine wildly.
One by one, others emerged from the shadows: Charmander, Squirtle, Vulpix, Abra, and Tangela.
All Kanto's rarest. All clearly familiar with Mewtwo.
"…"
Aiden's expression grew complex.
These weren't just clones.
They were friends.
"Don't worry—they're not bad people."
Mewtwo's usually cold face softened into a gentle smile as it beckoned the others forward.
Then, it turned to Aiden.
"These… are the cloned Pokémon I told you about."
As if fearing Aiden might change his mind, it added quickly:
"They're among the few who survived the experiments. If they accept you… they could become powerful allies."
"No."
Aiden shook his head without hesitation.
"Let you guide them. That's better for them."
He'd briefly considered expanding his team—but these creatures had been wounded by humans since birth. Trust wouldn't come easily.
And honestly? He'd never planned to catch them.
If Mewtwo wanted to become a Trainer… here were its first students. Already bonded. Already loyal.
As a mentor, Aiden could offer advice—occasionally.
"I understand."
Mewtwo nodded.
It was surprised by Aiden's refusal—most humans would've leapt at the chance.
But this one? He didn't even blink.
He truly was different.
No wonder he'd earned Mew's trust.
Mewtwo's respect for Aiden deepened—and it took the Poké Balls he offered.
Veteran Trainers knew: carrying dozens, even hundreds of Poké Balls was essential. Aiden had inherited that tradition well.
(T/N: Stacks of 99x Ultra Balls ready for anything, just in case)
With the clones safely captured, Aiden had fulfilled his promise to Mewtwo.
His "save the world" mission was complete.
At that moment, Lance—who had remained silent—finally spoke.
"For the Pokémon's safety, you should take them to the nearest Pokémon Center for a full checkup."
"As for Team Rocket and Giovanni… I'll take them to the League for trial."
"Thank you again for your aid, Teacher Aiden."
Lance didn't care about genetics or bioethics—he was a battler through and through.
But beneath his stern exterior beat a thoughtful heart.
He wasn't just worried about the clones. He was deeply concerned about Mewtwo.
It had just endured a brutal battle. Aiden's own team needed rest too.
So Aiden agreed.
Before parting, however, he remembered something vital.
"By the way—now that the Viridian Gym is destroyed and Giovanni arrested… who will take over? Who will test new Trainers?"
Lance blinked.
He hadn't expected that question.
But… it was reasonable. A Gym Leader would think about that.
After a moment's thought, he replied:
"Kanto is different. We have dozens of Gyms. Another strong Trainer will rise to fill the vacancy."
"As for Viridian… finding someone on Giovanni's level? That's rare. It'll likely remain vacant for a while."
Aiden nodded silently.
So… that hedgehog-headed kid still had his destiny.
…
Pokémon cities were far larger than in the games. So were the Pokémon Centers.
When Aiden arrived at the nearest one, he was surprised to spot two familiar boys.
"Nurse Joy! We need help—this Pokémon is critically injured!"
A boy with a spiky brown mop of hair burst through the doors, shouting before even noticing Aiden.
Blue?
Aiden raised an eyebrow—just as another boy, cap pulled low, sprinted past him.
He held his chest tightly, as if protecting something.
Aiden's gaze followed—and froze.
An Eevee.
Filthy. Bleeding. Barely breathing.
The legendary Eevee from the Special Episodes — Vee.
(T/N: Pokemon Adventures Manga)
Team Rocket's secret gene experiments had gifted it with the ability to evolve and de-evolve freely between the 3 Stone based Eeveelutions—without Evolution Stones.
A power beyond compare.
But at what cost?
Its unstable DNA had been shattered. It suffered constant, agonizing pain.
Aiden's eyes flicked to Mewtwo.
"I've seen that child."
Mewtwo's brow was knotted in fury.
Seeing this, Mew, who was perched on its forehead, immediately patted its forehead, quickly calming it down again.
"That child is also one of the cloned pokémon created by Giovanni," Mewtwo said quietly.
"It was supposed to be discarded. But it survived—driven by sheer will to live. That made it valuable to other humans. I don't know what they did to it."
"But later, it was probably thrown into the sewers like other failed experiments."
Mewtwo took a deep breath.
"I didn't expect it to survive even in such an environment."
Aiden smiled.
"It's already found a Trainer who loves it. You don't need to worry."
Mewtwo hesitated.
Then, slowly, nodded.
It didn't trust humans.
It had almost considered taking the Eevee by force.
But if Aiden said it was okay… then he must see something others couldn't.
"If you're unsure… go see it."
Aiden offered gently.
He didn't wait for a reply.
He walked into the Center.
"Teacher Aiden?"
Blue, seated nearby, spotted him instantly—eyes lighting up.
'Did I just wake up in the wrong dimension?'
'How is Teacher Aiden here—in Kanto?'
'Is this… the "fate" Sabrina mentioned?'
"Long time no see, Blue."
Aiden waved.
They'd met once—when Aiden and Cynthia had flown back to Sinnoh. He'd returned the "Blue's Breeding Notes" he'd stolen from the system—gifted to the two future "chosen ones."
Now… they were Trainers. On their journey.
Though Aiden had already taken down Giovanni—stealing the spotlight from Red, the quiet, terrifying battler who was meant to be the hero.
Blue, thrilled as he was, couldn't help thinking:
Every Gym Leader in Kanto's been throwing insane tactics lately… and it all traces back to Teacher Aiden!
Not just Kanto or Paldea—this whole world feels cursed! Every new Trainer's traumatized!
Teacher Aiden… you've done too much!
…
Thanks to Pokémon-world tech, Aiden's team and the clones were healed rapidly by advanced recovery devices.
But Mewtwo and the Eevee? Their issues required deeper analysis.
While waiting, Aiden learned bits of their story from Red and Blue.
They'd just begun their journey this year. Their badges were nearly complete—only Viridian Gym stood between them and the Elite Four.
Too bad.
When they arrived, the Gym was surrounded by international police.
So Red, while passing a sewer, had sensed a dying Pokémon.
He'd rushed it here—straight to the Center.
And there, fate had brought them to Aiden.
"…"
Aiden felt a quiet awe.
Even if the timeline was scrambled… destiny still found its way.
The Eevee—meant for Red—had found him anyway.
"By the way, Teacher Aiden—those Breeding Notes you gave us? They were a game-changer!"
Blue, cheerful and talkative, spoke up while Red stared silently at the Center's interior.
"They felt written for me. Every Pokémon I caught had tailored advice—training goals, strategies… like it predicted the future."
Aiden smiled faintly.
Of course it did.
Those notes? Likely written by Blue himself—years from now, as a seasoned Gym Leader.
Wouldn't they be perfect?
As for why future Blue never became Champion?
Don't ask. Just… he didn't want to.
As Aiden chatted with Blue, a nurse emerged from the Center.
"Thank you for your patience, Nurse Joy."
Red exhaled in relief.
But Nurse Joy's expression was grim.
She looked at Aiden first.
"Teacher Aiden, I've never seen your Pokémon before. Physically, it seems healthy."
"But… despite appearing mature, its biological data suggests it's still in rapid growth phase. A child, essentially."
She paused, choosing her words carefully.
"So… avoid battles for now."
Aiden nodded silently.
Translation: You've been using that thing like a weapon. Stop it.
Not his fault. Giovanni's fault.
And even if Mewtwo lived at his Gym? He'd never pit it against a rookie.
Who could survive a Legendary's power?
Joy turned to Red.
"This Eevee's injuries are severe. Even with immediate care, it needs months of rest."
"And… its DNA is catastrophically unstable. Far more chaotic than any normal Eevee."
"I don't know how to fix it."
"Take it to Pallet Town. Professor Oak is the world's leading authority on Pokémon biology. He might have a solution."
"…"
Red didn't react.
He just sighed. Forced a small smile.
"Thank you, Nurse Joy."
Behind him, Blue shook his head, then clapped Red's shoulder.
They were rivals. But rivals understood each other.
Red's pain was his pain.
"Don't worry, Red. We'll go see Grandpa right away!"
He turned to Aiden, eyes bright.
"And Teacher Aiden—since you're here… come with us to Viridian Town!"
"When I was still a kid, Grandpa used to talk about you constantly. He'd be thrilled to meet you again."
"…"
Aiden's lip twitched.
He nodded.
In a way… Professor Oak was his biggest fan.
Ever since Aiden used Bug Relay in his battle with Lance, Oak had been active in his video comments.
He'd traveled to the Dragon-Type Masters tournament in Tachibana City to watch Aiden's "Master Tier" performances.
Even Cynthia and Lance had adopted his strategies.
Aiden sighed inwardly.
Why does it feel like wherever I go, I'm surrounded by fans?'
…
Pallet Town—a quiet hamlet south of Viridian City.
Ordinarily, such a remote settlement would fade into obscurity.
But because every great Trainer began here… it was legendary.
And Professor Oak—one of the world's two holders of the "Battle Legend" title—had retired here, building his research center, the Oak Research Center, or to some researchers: the "Jerusalem of Pokémon Science."
As Aiden followed Red and Blue into town, his eyes locked onto a colossal structure.
Separated from homes, it covered nearly a quarter of the town—encompassing a small hill, carved into natural habitats for every Pokémon type.
A living ecosystem.
This was the Oak Research Center.
"This is… huge…"
Aiden murmured.
No normal research facility was this large. Was Oak's scale intentional?
Or… if not… how could he house the hundreds of Pokémon Ash had sent over the years?
Just the thirty Tauros alone needed a field to run.
"Grandpa doesn't just raise Kanto Pokémon," Blue said proudly. "He takes in Pokémon from all regions. They grow up here."
As if summoned, a researcher opened the gates.
And in the group chat:
[Researcher: No leaks—Teacher Aiden is at the lab!]
[Colleague: What? Who? Wait—Teacher Aiden?!]
[Another: HOLY—GET DR. OAK! NOW!]
[Third: He's probably eating ramen near the nursery again… anyone nearby?]
The quiet lab exploded into chaos.
Blue led Aiden straight to a building marked "Nursery."
"Grandpa's probably in there… eating ramen again…"
Blue hesitated.
Would revealing his grandfather's ramen habit ruin his image?
To the world, Professor Oak was a genius, a legend, a former Champion.
No one imagined he lived on instant noodles.
The door opened.
An elderly man with white hair and boundless energy stood there.
He stared.
"…Aiden?"
He rubbed his eyes.
Again.
Then—his gaze snapped to the two Pokémon behind Aiden.
One—he didn't recognize. Instant curiosity.
The other—
"…Mew?!"
Oak's jaw dropped.
Well-traveled and an absolute authority in pokémon research, Professor Oak recognized this legendary "Mythical pokémon" at a glance.
In the Kanto region, Dratini was already rare enough, which is why it was once also called a Mythical pokémon.
Decades had passed without a single verified sighting.
And now… this?
It was surreal.
And it was here.
And clearly… linked to Aiden?
If he could just get some data… a few scans…
It is said that Mew is the origin of pokémon, and the genes carried by all pokémon are only a part of its body.
If he could gain some understanding of Mew, he believed that new progress could also be made in the theoretical research of pokémon.
"Mew?"
Mew, still perched on Mewtwo's head, turned its head at the sound of its name.
It studied the old man.
There was something… familiar about him.
A signature aura. Time. Life.
This wasn't just any human.
But… why was he looking at Mew like… a pervert?
"Cough—Grandpa!"
Blue hissed.
Every time Oak saw a rare Pokémon, he got that look.
It was… disturbingly pure.
Oak snapped back.
"Long time no see, Teacher Aiden."
Aiden greeted him.
"For you, maybe. But…"
Oak grinned warmly, then paused for dramatic effect.
"I've watched every single one of your videos. So… I see you every week."
"Especially that last series of videos about myths, which allows more ordinary people who don't understand these things to know what happened in the past. I think it's very meaningful!"
He leaned forward.
"But… could you update faster?"
Aiden's lip twitched.
He coughed.
"Next time. I promise."
Even Professor Oak was now ganking him IRL for updates on his videos.
He'd leveled up.
No—Oak had leveled up.
He was now an official Teacher Aiden stan.
After a few more pleasantries, Oak's gaze returned to the lazy, floating Mew.
"So… you're friends with Mew?"
"Coincidence," Aiden said, glancing at Mew with resigned fondness.
Who knew the first bond wasn't with him—but with an unevolved Eevee that stumbled into this loitering cat?
But since Mew was here…
He told Oak everything.
The underground lab. Giovanni's crimes. The clones. Mewtwo's awakening.
Red and Blue listened, wide-eyed, as Aiden described how he'd "descended like a god" to crush the strongest Gym Leader in Kanto and restore peace.
Especially the part about Giovanni using Mew's DNA to create Mewtwo.
Oak shook his head.
"…I never imagined this was happening."
He understood Aiden's unspoken warning.
Oak could be trusted.
But if Mew's genetic secrets leaked… another Giovanni would rise.
The best protection was silence.
"Sigh. Kanto… has changed."
Oak sighed.
He'd retired from politics, focused only on research.
He'd never imagined Giovanni—that promising junior from back then—would become this.
Yet… his eyes returned to Aiden.
Few times had he met someone so clearly devoted to Pokémon—not just as tools, but as partners.
A Trainer who'd earned the trust of Legendaries.
So Oak asked:
"Teacher Aiden… would you consider becoming a Pokédex Holder?"
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