The moment Logan saw the uninvited guest—
His pupils constricted sharply.
It was none other than the former Viridian Gym Leader, known as "Giovanni of the Earth"—
The supreme leader of Team Rocket.
When Lance saw Giovanni, his expression first flickered with shock—
Then with wild delight.
But the ecstasy lasted only a split second.
He suppressed it instantly, masking his emotions.
With Giovanni's arrival, the atmosphere of Cerise Island shifted.
What had been a clash of two dragons—
Became a three-way standoff.
Even the raging wind and torrential rain seemed to hesitate.
Both Lance and Logan withdrew their killing intent.
Both stared warily at the man who could tilt the balance of victory with ease.
"Yes. It is I."
Giovanni's tailored suit was damp from the earlier storm.
Yet despite the rain, it remained immaculate.
No wrinkles.
The large crimson "R" emblazoned on his chest stood boldly.
A luxurious silk handkerchief rested in his pocket.
Even his hair was meticulously styled.
He looked less like the ruthless leader of a criminal syndicate—
And more like a corporate executive on his way to a board meeting.
"A year and a half without seeing you, Uncle Giovanni."
"You're still looking quite vigorous."
"That makes me very happy."
Logan and Mewtwo remained fully alert.
Mewtwo especially watched Giovanni with absolute caution.
If Blaine and Dr. Fuji had created Mewtwo's body—
Then Giovanni had shaped its spirit.
The Saffron battle still lingered vividly in their memories.
Giovanni's Beedrill had been terrifying beyond imagination.
Though Mewtwo was now fully liberated and no longer time-limited—
It was not in peak condition after battling Lance.
Logan exchanged a glance with Lance atop Zekrom.
Without words, they subtly moved closer together.
However bitter their rivalry—
They both understood:
Giovanni's timing was dangerous.
Especially for Logan—
Team Rocket had been crippled largely because of him.
And strangely—
Compared to Giovanni—
Logan trusted Lance more.
Lance was arrogant.
But Giovanni was calculating.
"Logan is as spirited as ever."
"Not congratulating you when you became Champion was quite a regret of mine."
Giovanni spoke warmly, as though discussing family matters.
But Logan did not relax.
Giovanni's hands remained in his coat pockets—
A habit he always had before attacking.
"I don't need your congratulations."
"You've already given me plenty of gifts."
Logan glanced at Mewtwo—
Then at Eevee, now evolved into a Dragon-type form.
The implication was clear.
Mewtwo.
Eevee.
Team Rocket's finest "gifts."
Giovanni narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"To see Mewtwo so bonded with you…"
"And that abandoned Eevee I once discarded for the Legendary Bird project—"
"You've brought out such potential."
"It fills me with pride."
He looked every bit the proud elder.
Logan snorted lightly.
"Enough pleasantries."
"Why are you here, Uncle Giovanni?"
"Don't tell me you came just to enjoy our fight."
Logan had anticipated Giovanni's appearance.
After all—
Team Rocket had leaked Cerise Island's location.
Giovanni chuckled.
"Young people are so impatient."
"I thought you'd spar with words a bit longer."
"I don't like adult mind games."
"Say what you want."
Logan's hand rested firmly on his Poké Ball.
If Giovanni sided with Lance—
Logan would unleash Mew and Latios immediately.
He would not gamble with his life.
"Relax, Logan"
"I didn't come for you."
"Yes, you crippled my Team Rocket."
"Yes, I was furious."
"But compared to what I'm here for now…"
"Team Rocket is insignificant."
Giovanni bent slightly.
His gaze locked onto Lance.
Killing intent radiated coldly.
"I came for him."
"In that sense—we share the same goal."
"To defeat Zekrom alone would take time."
"A prolonged battle."
"What do you say, Logan?"
"Shall we cooperate and remove our Elite Four commander together?"
"…What?"
Logan blinked in genuine confusion.
What had Lance done to Giovanni—
That made him willing to cooperate with the man who dismantled Team Rocket?
But Logan did not accept immediately.
With Giovanni—
There were always layers.
"You don't believe me."
Giovanni shrugged.
"If you doubt me, simply observe."
"I'll handle him myself."
"Our grudge can wait."
"Go—Beedrill!"
Without waiting for a response, Giovanni released his ace.
Beedrill surged forward—
Directly toward Zekrom.
Lance remained expressionless.
As if the possibility of Logan and Giovanni teaming up—
Did not concern him at all.
"Giovanni is serious…"
Seeing Beedrill engage Zekrom immediately—
Ignoring whether Logan might exploit the situation—
Logan understood Giovanni's resolve.
In that instant, countless possibilities raced through his mind.
Lance's objective.
Giovanni's objective.
The broader picture.
Logan was not indecisive.
He made his choice quickly.
Even battered, as long as Lance possessed Zekrom—
He could drag the fight on.
And the one thing Logan feared most—
Was time.
Time meant deeper bonds.
Stronger synchronization between Lance and Zekrom.
If that bond solidified—
Zekrom would become truly his.
And Logan would never have another chance.
Giovanni had placed the choice in his hands.
Logan would choose.
"Mewtwo…"
"Who should we support?"
[The choice is yours, Logan. I will follow.]
Mewtwo personally preferred aiding Lance.
But it would support Logan without hesitation.
Logan raised his right hand—
Kissing the Keystone once more.
"…Then let us shatter Lance's 'Ideals' here."
Logan did not care about grudges.
He did not care about Giovanni's ambition.
He cared about one thing—
Zekrom.
If Lance and Zekrom continued fighting together—
Their bond would deepen beyond reach.
So Logan followed his desire.
His ambition.
He would crush Lance's "Ideals"—
To fulfill his own "Wish."
The storm pauses.
Three powers stand.
Ideals.
Ambition.
Desire.
Only one will remain.
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