"By the way, Giovanni, don't you have a Kangaskhan?" Dylan asked, thinking aloud.
If he remembered correctly, Giovanni did indeed have a Kangaskhan as one of his mainstays.
"I do. But I rarely use it."
Giovanni blinked. That was true—it was more of a hidden ace, like his Persian. But unlike Persian, who always accompanied him during his Gym Leader days, Kangaskhan rarely saw the light of day.
"Well, now that you can't use your Beedrill, you'll need a new ace," Dylan said as he handed over a brilliant Mega Stone.
"Kangaskhan's Mega Evolution is powerful. I think you'll like using it."
He smiled. Naturally.
Mega Kangaskhan's ability, Parental Bond, was infamous for a reason.
This exclusive ability allowed Mega Kangaskhan to attack twice in one turn—a ridiculous mechanic in any turn-based battle system, let alone Pokémon.
"Oh?"
Giovanni examined the stone with interest. He hadn't seen a Mega Kangaskhan in action before.
"I've been thinking about training a new ace lately, actually. Just haven't decided which one yet."
He turned the stone over thoughtfully. His original plan had been to raise a Tyranitar or Garchomp—both species were known to have Mega Evolutions and strong potential.
"No need to overthink it," Dylan said, shaking his head. "The World Championships are starting next year. Starting from scratch now won't cut it."
Sure, Giovanni was a top-tier Trainer, and raising a new ace would be faster for him than most—but even then, it couldn't compare to his old Beedrill in a year's time.
Pokémon growth takes time—and Giovanni didn't have the same… advantages Dylan had.
"That's true," Giovanni admitted, frowning slightly.
Originally, he hadn't cared much for the World Championships.
But now… he had found his son.
He wanted Silver to be proud. He wanted to stand tall as a father.
What, was he supposed to let his kid watch him get humiliated in front of the whole world?
No way.
"…Unless you catch Landorus," Dylan added casually.
Landorus, one of the Forces of Nature from Unova.
A Ground/Flying-type legendary Pokémon. Not quite a god-tier mon, but certainly elite among legendaries.
Of course, with Giovanni's strength, he could probably catch Landorus and train it as his new ace.
But the real problem was finding it.
Even the locals of Unova couldn't find Landorus, let alone an outsider.
"Landorus, huh…"
Giovanni mulled it over. He had heard of it. As a Ground-type enthusiast, of course he was intrigued.
"I think I understand."
"Wait, understand what?" Dylan blinked. That wasn't the point at all. He had meant: train your Kangaskhan, man. Mega Kangaskhan would be good enough as a stand-in ace.
But Giovanni seemed to have taken it another way entirely.
"Dylan, you mentioned you could help with my illness," Giovanni said, finally getting to the main reason he'd come to Rota.
"Having a flare-up?"
"Yes."
Giovanni's expression darkened. He had refused to die before—he wanted to live to find his son.
Now that he had found Silver… he wanted to live even more.
He still had to make up for all the years lost. He wanted to be a real father.
"That's not hard to fix."
Dylan looked around, scanning the area.
"Calyrex, I need you."
He opened his phone and messaged a contact labeled "KingAlone."
Soon, a Pokémon with a blooming head and a focused, stern look floated into view, cradling a phone and frowning.
"Where were you just now? I didn't see you."
"They were too noisy. It broke my concentration."
Calyrex didn't even glance up.
Dylan rolled his eyes.
Calyrex had recently become obsessed with online chess—all kinds of chess—and it was good.
Like, scary good. It could even beat cheaters.
Judging by its furrowed brow, it was likely in the middle of another intense match against some "god-tier" opponent.
"Well, take a moment. Heal Giovanni."
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Giovanni had turned to Celebi to cure his illness.
Celebi, as a Grass-type Mythical Pokémon, certainly had the vitality and life-force necessary.
But Calyrex wasn't inferior in the slightest.
Known as the "King of Bountiful Harvests," Calyrex could make plants bloom and bring prosperity to entire regions with just a wave of its hand.
To it, curing an illness was nothing.
"…Fine."
Calyrex glanced at Giovanni, lifted one hand, and bathed him in glowing green light.
Particles of energy flowed into Giovanni's body.
"…Done."
Without another word, Calyrex floated off again, already back on its phone.
"Amazing…"
Giovanni flexed his fingers, marveling at the power flowing through him.
He hadn't felt this strong since his youth—no, even stronger.
He was truly cured. More than cured. Reinvigorated.
"Not bad, right?" Dylan grinned. "Calyrex can be trusted."
"…What even is it?"
Giovanni stared after the Pokémon.
"A legendary from Galar. Used to rule the region, long ago."
Dylan gave him the abridged version.
Giovanni let out a low whistle. "You never cease to amaze, Dylan."
Calyrex had to be incredibly powerful—yet it followed Dylan without question.
Giovanni rarely admired anyone. But Dylan? The guy was absurd.
How did he do it? Was he born with… Trainer's charm or something?
"Just lucky," Dylan chuckled. "Now, should I call Silver over?"
"...Yes."
Giovanni hesitated, clearing his throat.
Dylan texted him: "Come out back."
A few minutes later, Silver appeared.
Giovanni's face was a little stiff. He was clearly nervous.
"Teacher, you needed me?" Silver asked, puzzled.
"Not me. Look at this."
Dylan handed him the photo.
Silver took it… and froze.
The red-haired boy in the picture… that was him.
The Sneasel was proof.
He looked at the man beside the boy—Giovanni.
Which meant…
"Yes, Silver. Giovanni is your father."
"…Oh."
Silver bit his lip and looked down, stunned.
This was… a lot.
"I'm sorry, Silver. I've never stopped looking for you," Giovanni said gently, walking over.
Dylan quietly stepped away, giving them space.
No matter what else had happened, this reunion was a good thing.
Silver was getting a family.
Giovanni was gaining someone worth protecting.
A win-win.
Back inside, Dylan flopped onto a couch and started planning.
Aside from Sinnoh and Kalos, he'd visited nearly every region.
No rush on Sinnoh—but he'd probably hit Kalos after the New Year.
The only thing to look forward to next year was the World Championships.
Although… since he couldn't challenge anyone early on, it wouldn't be that exciting.
"If only I could enter under my 'Aizen' alias… but I'd definitely get banned."
He clicked his tongue.
The Championships were supposedly open to all trainers worldwide.
But not to Aizen—he was still on the wanted list. Obviously not eligible.
A couple hours passed.
Giovanni and Silver returned from the garden, both looking more relaxed.
"Looks like it went well," Dylan teased.
"Congratulations. Family reunion."
"Haha… Thank you, Dylan. Really. Thank you for looking after Silver all this time."
Giovanni bowed, deeply and sincerely.
"No need to be so formal," Dylan waved it off. "I think of him like a little brother. And even if he's got you now, he's still my student—he's part of Rota Gym."
Silver bit his lip, deeply moved.
"Then I'll be glad to have him as part of our lives," Giovanni smiled.
Not many could claim to be Dylan's student. He was picky.
"That's right. Silver—drop by the gym when you have time. You don't need to specialize in Ground-types like your dad."
"I'll take you to meet Falkner someday. He's a flying-type master—he knows his stuff."
"Learn from him. Then, when you challenge the Kanto League… you'll have experience beating your old man."
Dylan grinned and patted Silver's shoulder.
After all, Silver had said he wanted to be Champion.
One day, he'd challenge the Kanto League.
"Yes, teacher. Understood."
Silver nodded seriously. He trusted Dylan completely.
But he didn't notice the twitch in his father's eye.
You're seriously sending my kid to learn how to beat me? From my lifelong rival??
(End of Chapter)