Pokemon: Gym Leader

"By the way, is our hidden guest still not going to show themselves?"

After dealing with Archer and the others, Dylan suddenly raised his head, his lips curling into a smile as he looked toward a seemingly empty spot.

Leah and Lillie blinked in confusion.

"Although your concealment is quite impressive, it's just unfortunate that I have a very keen sense of Pokémon auras."

Dylan waved his hand at Pecharunt.

"Tok-tok-tok~!"

Pecharunt immediately understood, and from its mask, two sinister, poison-coated chains shot out at high speed, striking toward the nearby wall.

Malignant Chain!

However—

That "wall" suddenly moved.

A figure clad in black ninja garb leaped out, skillfully dodging the attack.

"Eh?"

Lillie's eyes widened as she glanced at the now-collapsed gray "wall" on the ground.

So it was just a disguise? She hadn't even noticed!

The masked, middle-aged ninja landed smoothly, his sharp gaze locking onto Dylan and the others.

"You're… Gym Leader Koga?" Leah narrowed her eyes before gasping in shock.

That ninja outfit was way too distinctive—plus, the man's slicked-back hairstyle was a dead giveaway.

Koga, the Gym Leader of Fuchsia City.

One of Kanto's Eight Gym Leaders.

Silence filled the air.

"…I am not Koga."

After a long pause, the man put up a desperate struggle.

Leah gave him a deadpan stare.

Dude, you didn't even bother changing your speech pattern.

"You're still referring to yourself as 'this humble one.' That makes it even more obvious!"

Dylan's expression turned slightly amused.

"Well, I suppose I'll just take off your mask and confirm it myself."

Koga fell into silence again.

"…Fine. As expected of Gym Leader Dylan. I am Koga."

Koga finally exhaled and admitted the truth with a solemn nod.

"I had received intelligence that Team Rocket executives were gathering here, so I came to investigate. I didn't expect to run into you, Gym Leader Dylan."

His voice was deep and composed.

"I see."

Dylan nodded thoughtfully.

"Such dedication… Gym Leader Koga, you came all the way from Fuchsia City to Saffron City, infiltrating Team Rocket's meeting without even informing your own family?"

Koga fell silent once more.

"Although I'd love to take your word for it, I'm afraid your actions are highly suspicious. Would you mind surrendering yourself for questioning?"

"If you're innocent, I'm sure Gym Leader Koga will regain the trust of the League soon enough."

Dylan sighed, his tone patient and understanding.

Koga's brows furrowed. Surrendering was not an option.

He had always heard that Dylan was strong, but Koga was confident in his own abilities.

After all, he was stronger than Lt. Surge.

"But if you're not innocent… I'd advise you not to resist. You have family—unlike Lt. Surge."

Dylan's voice was soft, almost gentle.

Koga's expression flickered slightly before he let out a long sigh.

His daughter, Janine, and his younger sister, Aya, had no idea about his true allegiance.

If he resisted, the League would definitely detain Aya and Janine for questioning.

At least if he surrendered, the investigation on them would be less severe.

Leah's expression darkened.

First Lt. Surge, and now Koga?!

Two official Kanto Gym Leaders were Team Rocket executives?!

It was getting harder not to suspect that there might be more hidden among the remaining Gym Leaders.

Meanwhile, Near the Exit

"Umbreon, Foul Play!"

A sleek, pitch-black Umbreon radiated dark energy as it lunged forward to intercept the charging Slither Wing.

Foul Play vs. Lunge!

BOOM!

Both Pokémon were sent skidding backward, their feet dragging against the ground.

Umbreon lowered its stance, its cold, crimson eyes locked onto Slither Wing.

Slither Wing let out a low growl, flexing its claws aggressively.

"Even without a Trainer, this thing is ridiculously strong."

Karen frowned.

Above her, Flutter Mane hovered ominously, its glowing red eyes watching for an opening—fortunately, her Houndoom was keeping it in check.

But the real problem was—

Behind the two Paradox Pokémon stood a very familiar figure.

"Tok-tok-tok~! Tok-tok~!"

Will was still dancing.

Both Karen and Will's eyes twitched.

"You're still 'Tok-tok-tok'-ing?! Can you STOP?! You look ridiculous!"

Will couldn't take it anymore.

Will's creepy masked dance was a crime against humanity.

"Karen, we can't waste any more time! If Dylan catches up, we're finished."

Will growled.

"I know! Then hurry up and give me some support!"

Karen snapped back, clearly irritated.

She wanted to break through as fast as possible—but Slither Wing and Flutter Mane were too strong.

Short-term, she had no way of knocking them out.

And the longer they stalled—

Dylan would arrive.

"I can't! My Pokémon are already down!"

Will gritted his teeth.

Earlier, he had disguised himself as a low-ranking Rocket grunt and tried to approach Will.

Will didn't hesitate.

Without a single word, he had pulled out Xatu—and all while still dancing—immediately attacking.

Will had barely escaped.

All of his Pokémon had been obliterated in the process.

"We don't even know what happened to Archer's team…"

Will glanced at the three branching paths.

They hadn't seen Archer, Proton, or Lt. Surge in a while…

And then—

"Tok-tok-tok~!"

That same cursed chant echoed behind them.

Karen and Will immediately turned around—

And saw Archer, Proton, and Lt. Surge all swaying to the exact same ridiculous dance.

Their eyes glowed with that same eerie purple light.

"They got controlled too."

Will's expression darkened.

"This bastard… how the hell is he a Gym Leader?! This is pure evil!"

Karen's face contorted.

She wouldn't call herself a good person, but even she wouldn't use such a wicked technique.

Controlling someone's mind?!

This wasn't just immoral—this was borderline villainous.

"Beautiful lady, I can't pretend I didn't hear that."

A crisp, amused voice cut in.

Dylan's clear laughter echoed through the underground base.

Dylan, Leah, and Lillie stepped forward, followed by Koga, who was trailing behind them with a wary expression.

"They ALL got caught…"

Will's stomach sank.

With all the Team Rocket executives gathered here, only Sabrina had managed to escape.

"Gym Leader Dylan, why would such a powerful Trainer concern yourself with us weaklings?"

Karen asked cautiously.

"Miss, you must be joking."

Dylan smiled playfully.

"As a Gym Leader, capturing Team Rocket members is my duty."

"And besides, you're all worth quite a bit in reward money. Why wouldn't I?"

Dylan shrugged.

"Archer and Proton alone earned me some incredible League rewards. Now with even more of you, I'm sure President Goodshow and Champion Lance will be very proud of me."

He smiled brightly.

This time, he had caught so many executives.

Would Giovanni personally come to save them?

Before Karen could retort—

BOOM!

The ceiling shook violently.

A blue energy shield enveloped a figure descending from above.

Dylan's brows lifted slightly in surprise.

As the glowing blue aura dissipated—

A tall, silver-furred, feline-shaped Pokémon landed gracefully before Karen.

Its piercing, psychic-blue eyes locked onto Dylan.

"What kind of Pokémon is that?"

Leah and Lillie both stared in surprise at the sudden intruder.

Its body was sleek and silver-white, with purple eyes, tail, and stomach, and its fingers were composed of three orb-like digits—

Mewtwo.

"Mew?"

As if sensing something, a round, chubby head popped out of Dylan's backpack, tilting slightly as it curiously observed Mewtwo.

Mewtwo's gaze flickered toward the "Clefairy-like" creature—

And its facial muscles visibly twitched.

BEEP—

[Mewtwo]

Type: Psychic | The Genetic Pokémon

Ability: Pressure

Moves: Psystrike, Recover, Psychic, Aura Sphere, Psycho Cut, Safeguard, Earth Power…

Entry: "A Pokémon created through the manipulation of genetic material. While human science was able to create its body, they failed to create a gentle heart."

The Rotom Pokédex displayed the full details of the legendary Pokémon.

"A Pokémon created through genetic manipulation?"

Leah's eyes widened in shock.

"A man-made Pokémon?"

Sure, artificial Pokémon existed—but something genetically engineered like this? That was an entirely different story.

"Leave."

Mewtwo's glowing, psychic-blue eyes briefly glanced at the Rotom Dex before lifting its arm.

Instantly, a blue aura enveloped Slither Wing and Flutter Mane, suspending them in midair.

Under the immense power of Mewtwo's psychic energy, the two Paradox Pokémon couldn't even struggle.

Its deep, echoing voice rang through Karen and Will's minds.

The two Rocket Executives froze.

Then—realizing that Mewtwo was here to help them escape—they wasted no time dashing toward the exit.

Dylan, however, simply raised an eyebrow.

"You barge in here and try to take my prey? Don't you think you're being a bit arrogant, my friend?"

Despite his words, he wasn't actually angry.

If anything, he was far more intrigued by Mewtwo itself than by Karen and Will.

"I don't need them. I'm not your opponent."

Mewtwo's eyes locked onto Dylan.

It could feel it—

Dylan had many auras that made it feel uneasy—some even downright terrifying.

It had come here to assist Giovanni in retrieving his subordinates, but…

Mewtwo had no intention of throwing itself into unnecessary danger.

It wasn't willing to risk its own safety just for Team Rocket's sake.

Instead, at this moment, it had a far greater concern.

"Stay away from me!!"

Mewtwo's eyes flared with blue energy, its telepathic voice filled with unmistakable rage.

Because at some point—

That round, chubby, clearly soft figure had floated directly in front of it.

And its beer belly was right in its face.

Mewtwo immediately felt uneasy, its thoughts clouded with an inexplicable frustration.

"Do NOT come near me!!"

"Mew~! You're so aggressive! But this is weird, why do you smell like me?"

Mew blinked, looking genuinely puzzled, though it was also a little hurt by Mewtwo's hostility.

Mewtwo's face twitched even harder.

"Because Mewtwo was created using your genetic material as a base," Dylan chuckled.

"That's why it's somewhat similar to you. Your DNA exists within its genes."

Mewtwo fell silent.

"Huh?"

Mew's eyes widened, its expression suddenly lighting up with realization.

"So that means you were born from my DNA?!"

"That makes you my child, Mew~!"

Mew practically glowed with excitement, eyes sparkling as it eagerly gazed at Mewtwo.

It didn't care that humans had used its genes to create a new Pokémon.

To Mew, the birth of a new life was never an accident—it was fate.

Rather than dwell on how it came to be, Mew was far more interested in who Mewtwo was as an individual.

If Mewtwo was born from its genetic material, then wouldn't that make it Mew's child?

With pure joy in its voice, Mew opened its arms—

"Come, call me Momma, Mew~!"

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!!"

Mewtwo visibly trembled, its entire body shaking with pure frustration.

A massive psychic shockwave erupted from its body, sending Mew flying backward.

However, Mew effortlessly stabilized itself in midair.

"Fine, fine, no need to be so grumpy, Mew~! But seriously, you're way too extreme!"

Mew pouted, clearly offended by its "child's" rejection.

"Why are you so against me?! I'm adorable!"

Mewtwo's psychic glow dimmed as it quickly regained its composure.

Its cold eyes fixated on the fat, floating cat before it.

"I have no mother. I have no father."

"And I reject the notion that I was created from your genetic material."

Mewtwo's voice was calm, but forceful—

Every word carried undeniable weight.

"Even if I do possess some of your DNA… I refuse to acknowledge it."

Its glare intensified.

"Because there is NO WAY my mother is a fat, neckless pig!!"

Mewtwo practically spat the words out, as if they physically pained it to say.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Leah: "Pfft—!!"

Lillie: (—)

Dylan: "…"

Even Koga, who had remained serious and alert the whole time, now had a very, very strange expression on his face as he eyed the floating Mew.

It took a few moments—

But finally—

"YOU—YOU—YOU—!!"

Mew stuttered in fury, too enraged to even form words.

"HOW DARE YOU CALL ME A PIG?! YOU'RE SO RUDE! SO INCREDIBLY RUDE, MEW~!!"

"AND WHO SAID I DON'T HAVE A NECK?! MY NECK IS RIGHT HERE!!"

Mew turned in the air, dramatically puffing out its body to emphasize what was, admittedly, a barely noticeable neck.

Mew was livid.

So angry, in fact, that it completely dropped its usual cutesy speech patterns.

It was 1000% done.