The razor-like wings of Aerodactyl sliced through the air as it soared into the sky. Lance stood cross-armed on its back, eyes closed, silent as a statue.
"Hmm?" Just as Aerodactyl was about to break through the clouds, Lance seemed to sense something. He lowered his gaze to the now-tiny Mt. Moon range below and muttered something to the Aerodactyl. In response, the massive creature dove straight down, heading for one of the mountain peaks.
The howling wind carried a biting chill. As Aerodactyl's talons touched the hard rocky surface, Lance finally opened his eyes, his gaze shifting to the side.
"...Lorelei, didn't I tell you to stay on Saffron Island?"
His voice carried a trace of displeasure and anger. His fiery red eyes, matching the color of his hair, bore into Lorelei, his piercing glare striking straight into her heart.
For a moment, Lorelei's heartbeat faltered. But as one of the Kanto Elite Four, she quickly steadied herself and smiled gently. "...I was just curious and came to take a look."
As she spoke, she turned her head toward the depths of the mountain range—the very place where Lance had fought Giovanni and where he had met Ryuuske.
"Don't meddle in things that aren't your concern, Lorelei! Just focus on your own duties."
Lance snorted coldly, but perhaps realizing his tone was too harsh, he took a deep breath and softened his voice. "...Out of everyone, Lorelei, you're the only one who truly shares my ideals and fights for our cause."
His eyes flicked to the Dewgong nestled beside her, and he said gravely, "...I trust you understand what I mean?"
"When my Dewgong was still a Seel, it accidentally swam into a river polluted with toxic chemicals and nearly died. It was my first Pokémon. That day is still vivid in my mind—it was the day I felt most powerless. Even now, the memory sends chills down my spine. If I hadn't met Agatha by chance that day, my life would have been hopeless."
Lorelei gently stroked Dewgong's fur. This woman, who wielded the power of ice, had a gentle exterior that masked her cold heart.
"Bruno and Agatha... Hmph, they're not on the same page as us."
Lance let out a disdainful snort. "...Bruno has always opposed us. But alone, he can't cause much trouble. He'll have no choice but to accept our decisions. As for Agatha... she has her own agenda. I don't care what her goals are, as long as she doesn't interfere and helps us achieve our ideals."
When mentioning Agatha, Lance's tone carried a hint of wariness. That old woman, skilled in Ghost-type Pokémon, was as unpredictable as the specters she commanded. Lance had never let his guard down around her—her power was formidable, and her motives inscrutable.
Lorelei didn't respond to Lance's words. Instead, she asked curiously, "...Was it really alright to just give away that Dratini like that?"
"I've said it before—only those who truly understand Pokémon and their emotions deserve to live in this world. Such people are exceptional trainers. Ryuuske is one of them. When I saw him, it was like looking at my younger self. There's no such thing as 'rare' or 'common' Pokémon. Ryuuske was a perfect match for that Dratini, and the Dratini liked him. That's why I gave it to him!"
Lance's words were filled with arrogance and pride. Lorelei knew he wasn't so much praising Ryuuske as he was praising himself—because Ryuuske resembled his past self, he was deemed worthy, and thus deserving of the Dratini.
"But what you're planning to do, Lance, will likely result in countless casualties—both human and Pokémon."
Lorelei's voice was gentle, yet laced with malice.
She acknowledged Lance's excellence, but she didn't particularly like this conceited man. As a brilliant woman herself, she couldn't stand his attitude. Yet, Lance possessed the power to realize their shared ideals, so she had no choice but to endure.
"Ideals aren't achieved through words—they require action. Sacrifices are inevitable in the pursuit of our goals!"
Lance's tone was resolute.
"And what if that boy ends up standing against you? What will you do then?"
"That won't happen. He'll understand me. He'll stand by my side—just as he, too, received the 'Dragon's Power' from Viridian Forest!"
Lance spoke with absolute certainty.
"But what if—just what if—he truly is as exceptional as you say? A prodigy with abilities nearly identical to yours? The growth of a 'Dragon' always takes time. By sheltering and nurturing him like this, you might be raising a formidable enemy for the Elite Four in the future."
"If that's the case, then I'll deal with him as an enemy. I've never feared a challenge!"
With that, Lance closed his eyes and ignored Lorelei, commanding Aerodactyl to take flight once more.
Lorelei watched as the Aerodactyl gradually shrank into a distant speck in the sky. Lowering her head, she murmured to herself, "...Your arrogance is admirable. Your willingness to potentially nurture a future rival without hesitation is even more impressive. But Lance, if you want people to follow you unconditionally, you must never lose. Not even once—"
"...Yet you've forgotten the most crucial truth: 'Dragons' are the most prone to infighting."
A streak of white flashed from the mountaintop to the base. Lorelei's Dewgong had frozen a massive ice path down the mountain in an instant—a display of terrifying mastery over ice that would leave any ordinary trainer awestruck. She mounted Dewgong and slid down the icy slope as if on a slide, vanishing into the distance in the blink of an eye.
---
Team Rocket Hideout, Saffron City
The Saffron City Gym Leader, Sabrina, stared in shock at the disheveled Giovanni as he returned. Concern laced her voice as she asked, "...Boss, what happened?"
"I ran into Lance. But it's nothing serious."
Of course, Giovanni wouldn't admit that he'd embarrassingly put on a 'pathetic' act in front of a boy—getting bitten, bullied by wild Pokémon, and even insulted without retorting.
Name-dropping the leader of the Elite Four made the situation sound far more dignified, as if he'd engaged in an epic battle with Lance.
(Though they had exchanged a single move.)
"Lance? I thought the Elite Four never truly aligned with the League. Are they planning to interfere with Team Rocket's operations now?"
Sabrina's voice was frosty. Even as a Gym Leader, she knew little about the enigmatic Kanto Elite Four—unlike other regions where the Elite Four were treated like celebrities, Kanto's remained shrouded in mystery.
But one thing was certain: no one dared underestimate their strength.
"It's unlikely they'll declare all-out war. Still, we should be wary of that arrogant, petty man..."
Giovanni waved it off and prepared to change into fresh clothes and tidy up. But as he turned to leave, he suddenly remembered something and said to Sabrina, "...Sabrina, take a team from the Cerulean City outpost and investigate Mt. Moon. Lance's presence there can't be a coincidence. Something strange is going on."
Giovanni doubted Lance had appeared at Mt. Moon solely because of Ryuuske. He RyuuskehadRyuuske to have another objective.
"I'll make preparations right away, Boss!" Sabrina replied.
To be continued…