Why is she here?!
When they see the girl slowly walking up behind them, Ash and the others are all stunned.
She's wearing a maple‑leaf‑print kimono, her face fresh and fair, a red hairband in her hair, her steps elegant and ladylike.
"Gym Leader Erika?"
Ash can't hide his shock.
Why would Gym Leader Erika show up here?
They're currently in the northern part of the Kanto region.
It's pretty far from Celadon City.
Green's eyes narrow slightly.
She glances at the Therian Forme Landorus, which has stopped its attack.
"Hold on a second."
Erika smiles gently at Ash and the others.
Then she walks past them and looks up at Therian Forme Landorus.
"Sorry about this. They're all my friends. I'll talk them out of going into the Tree of Beginning."
Erika gives Therian Forme Landorus a polite little bow.
Her smile stays warm.
"Landorus~"
Therian Forme Landorus dips its head.
It throws one last look at Ash and the others, then turns away and leaves.
Everyone watching is quietly puzzled.
"Whew~ Good thing it was Landorus. If it'd been Thundurus or the others, they're a lot harder to reason with. Even I probably couldn't get through to them."
Erika pats her chest in relief.
Then she turns back to Ash and the others.
"Ash, what are you doing here at the Tree of Beginning Park?"
"Tree of Beginning Park?"
"Ah~ you didn't know? That's the name of this ranch."
Erika tilts her head.
One pale fingertip touches her lips.
"Now that I think about it, it really is strange. Outsiders aren't allowed in here. Did you sneak in?"
...
Ash turns his head awkwardly and looks off into the distance.
To cover up his guilt, he even starts whistling.
Seeing Ash like this, Erika can't help but smile.
"Looks like I'll have to give those guys a talking‑to. Being that careless isn't good at all."
"Anyway, Ash, you really should head out. There are a lot of very strong Pokémon in this park. Some of them have pretty rough tempers. I can get by, but they might not hold back on outsiders like you."
Erika gives Ash a gentle warning.
She's always had a good impression of him.
This boy is hot‑blooded, kind, and full of a sense of justice.
He makes it very easy to like him.
"Gym Leader Erika, can I ask why you're here? From the way you talk, it sounds like you know this place really well."
Green asks, playing the clueless card.
"Ah~ strictly speaking, I'm one of Tree of Beginning Park's managers."
Erika blinks.
"What?"
"Manager? So you're one of this ranch's higher‑ups?"
"But isn't this—"
Ash and the others all jump at that.
"That's right. Other than handling Gym challengers, when I'm free I always come here to train. The Pokémon around here are all very strong and outstanding—perfect training partners."
Erika answers with a smile.
"But Gym Leader Erika, isn't this ranch owned by Team Rocket?"
Ash scrunches up his face.
He hesitates, then still asks Erika.
Erika's pretty face changes slightly at that.
Then she smooths it over a second later.
Seeing this, the quick‑witted Green tugs Silver to one side, away from Erika.
From the moment Erika appeared, Green's had a bad feeling.
This Celadon Gym Leader definitely has deep ties with Team Rocket.
It's honestly shocking.
Celadon Gym is an official Gym—yet its Leader has such a murky relationship with Team Rocket.
"So Ash, you already knew. Yes. Tree of Beginning Park does belong to Team Rocket."
Erika lets out a quiet sigh.
"Then you—"
"Ash, do you still remember that time I was with Mr. Damian?"
Erika's proper, reserved smile returns.
Silver's expression flickers when he hears that.
This Erika has something going on with his Brother?
"I remember."
Ash's brows knit tight.
Of course he remembers.
That evil Damian "kidnapped" Erika back then.
"Maybe it was Mr. Damian's wording that led to some misunderstandings. He's always had a pretty twisted sense of fun. I actually wasn't being held hostage by him."
Erika's cheeks go a little pink.
She dips her head slightly.
Her right hand brushes a strand of dark hair from her forehead.
"That day, Mr. Damian and I were on a date."
Silence.
The moment Erika finishes, the air goes dead.
Ash and Misty stare, eyes wide, at Erika—who's acting all shy and girlish.
Brock's eye twitches.
Green is just as stunned.
A date?
Seriously?
Silver, though, is on a completely different wavelength from the four of them.
First there's shock.
Then he starts giving Erika a thoughtful look.
If she's dating his Brother, shouldn't he be calling her "sister‑in‑law"?
Silver mulls it over.
So his Brother's gotten himself a girlfriend.
That's actually a good thing.
Should he tell Dad?
Wait.
Back in Johto, when Brother was there, didn't he have several girls with him?
And his relationship with them didn't look "normal" at all.
If that's the case…
Could Brother actually be one of those legendary scumbags?
Silver's gaze goes a little blank.
No, no, that can't be it.
Brother's not that kind of person.
He must just be… very emotionally expressive.
Yeah.
That must be it.
"But… but Damian is Team Rocket's boss."
Ash finally snaps back to himself.
Even he sounds complicated right now.
"Ash, today's Team Rocket and the old Team Rocket are completely different. And there's something else I should tell you."
Erika shakes her head.
"My relationship with Mr. Damian has already been recognized by Chairman Goodshow."
Erika smiles as she says it.
"???"
Green's shocked again.
What, did Goodshow lose his mind?
Your own region's official Gym Leader is dating Team Rocket's boss, and you just endorse it??
You're really not worried at all that Damian's going to lure Erika into Team Rocket?
Ash's brain is starting to short‑circuit.
"In short, Damian and the current Team Rocket are nothing like what you think. You'll understand slowly in the future."
"For now, I'll walk you out of the park."
Erika lets out a soft laugh.
Everyone looks like they're still digesting the info.
"Hold on! Gym Leader Erika, I need to go into that Tree of Beginning."
Ash blurts it out.
"You want to enter the Tree of Beginning? Humans can't go inside."
Erika tilts her head, puzzled.
"Huh?"
Ash freezes.
"The Tree of Beginning isn't actually a real tree. It's a lifeform in a different shape. It has its own unique defense mechanisms. Pokémon can go in, but humans can't. If a human enters the Tree of Beginning, it'll swallow them."
Erika explains in detail.
"Even Mr. Damian can't go in."
"But…"
Ash's head suddenly feels two sizes bigger.
How is there something like this?
He does believe Erika.
She has no reason to lie to him.
"And even if I don't stop you, you still can't get in. Nowadays, a lot of Pokémon are guarding the Tree of Beginning. The Landorus you just met is only one of them. There's also Tornadus, Thundurus, Zapdos, and so on."
"And there's an even stronger guardian, the greatest of them all, lying asleep underground around the Tree of Beginning. If you keep getting closer, you'll wake it up. That would be extremely dangerous."
Erika's voice is very calm as she lays out just how dangerous the Tree of Beginning is.
Yeah.
The "strongest guardian" she's talking about is Regigigas.
And aside from Regigigas, inside the Tree of Beginning lives a shut‑in cat named Mew.
So you want to brute‑force your way into the Tree of Beginning?
Besides Damian and that old monster in Johto, it's just not happening.
"Hiss!"
Green can't help sucking in a breath.
Well then.
No wonder.
She's always had one big question.
As Team Rocket's largest ranch in Kanto, this area should be insanely important.
The Security outside is strict, sure.
But in Green's eyes, it still didn't feel like enough for something as weighty as the Tree of Beginning Park.
Turns out the outside security is just for show.
The real "security" is inside the ranch.
...
Ash is completely numb.
"This…"
Silver finally speaks up for the first time.
He has no idea what he's supposed to call Erika.
"What is it, sir?"
Erika looks over at Silver, puzzled.
"Sister‑in‑law, I want to know where Brother is."
"?"
Erika stares at Silver, dumbfounded.
Then her brows lift, her expression turning a little sour.
Who is he calling "sister‑in‑law," exactly?
"Sir, even I have limits with jokes. You're pushing it a bit."
"It's not a joke, Gym Leader Erika. This is a misunderstanding. Silver is Damian's little brother. His actual little brother."
Green jumps in to explain.
Damian's little brother?
Erika blinks.
That can't be right.
She's never heard Damian say he had a younger brother.
"Silver was kidnapped when he was small. He only recently reunited with Damian and Gym Leader Giovanni. That's why you didn't know."
Green more or less guesses why Erika's reacting like this.
Erika finally understands.
Even so, she still texts Giovanni to confirm.
As official Gym Leaders, she and Giovanni both have each other's contact info.
Giovanni replies quickly and confirms it.
"Sorry, I didn't know."
Erika's cheeks redden.
After all, Silver just called her "sister‑in‑law."
"It's fine, sister‑in‑law. I just want to know where Brother is."
Silver repeats himself.
"You don't have Mr. Damian's contact info?"
Erika is confused.
"Ever since I found out he joined Team Rocket, Brother hasn't replied to any of my messages."
Silver's voice is low.
"I see."
Erika sighs inwardly.
So it's the same deal as with Gym Leader Giovanni.
But from the looks of it, Silver really cares about his bond with Damian.
"Mr. Damian should be coming back to Kanto soon. But where exactly he'll be, I'm not sure either."
Erika answers like that.
In reality, Damian's coming back to Kanto today.
Of course she's lying.
If Damian's deliberately avoiding Silver, she's not about to spill his location.
Silver falls silent.
Then Erika escorts Ash and the others out of Tree of Beginning Park.
"It's hard to imagine Gym Leader Erika being this close to Team Rocket."
Misty glances back.
She sees Erika standing in front of a few heavily muscled men, clearly scolding them.
Erika's petite, but not one of those big guys dares raise his head.
They're probably getting chewed out pretty hard.
"The main thing is, the League's attitude toward Team Rocket really is subtle right now."
Brock's thoughtful.
He's been following this.
"New management, new style. Team Rocket looks like it really is trying to turn over a new leaf."
Green's got a lollipop in her mouth.
Then she turns to Silver.
"So, Silver, what's your plan now?"
"I'm going to find Brother. No matter what, I have to ask him some things to his face."
Silver's voice is low and firm.
"Fine, fine. Guess I'll have to help you then."
Green can only spread her hands helplessly.
Ash's head, meanwhile, is pounding.
If he can't get into the Tree of Beginning, how's he supposed to help Lucario find out what really happened back then?
He'd wanted to help Lucario let go of that obsession.
Then maybe Lucario would let him catch it.
He really likes that "masterly" Lucario.
"Guess this is it for now then. Ash, Misty, Brock—see you. We're heading to Viridian City."
Green waves goodbye to Ash's trio.
"Bye."
They watch Green and Silver's silhouettes disappear from view.
"Damian's little brother looks like a rival to watch out for, Ash."
Brock gives Ash a reminder.
Silver's definitely extremely strong.
No idea if he'll enter the Indigo Plateau Conference.
"Yeah… but I'm not losing to him."
Ash's confidence doesn't waver.
This time, he's winning the Indigo Plateau Conference.
Even if it's big bro Red, he's going to beat him.
This Silver guy?
All the more so.
Sure, he can't beat Damian yet.
But Damian's little brother?
No way he can't handle that.
"Oh? Sounds like you're feeling pretty confident, Ash."
Out of nowhere, a lazy, amused voice drifts over from behind them.
"Of course I am—wait. That voice… Damian?!"
Ash answers on reflex.
Then it hits him.
That voice wasn't Misty or Brock.
He whirls around—and there he is.
"Yo~ been a while again, huh, Ash. And Misty, Brock. You all look like you're doing well."
Damian's lips curl into a grin.
He looks at Ash with squinting, smiling eyes.
Behind Damian stand Caitlin, Dawn, and Paul.
"Damian! When did you get here?"
Ash goes on guard immediately.
He doesn't trust Damian at all.
Not after last time.
Sure, Erika says that was a date.
Which honestly just makes Ash angrier.
Damian totally played him back then.
"Got here about when you walked out. Saw you hanging around with Silver."
"Then why didn't you show yourself? Your little brother's been looking for you nonstop."
Ash frowns.
"It's not the right time yet."
Damian chuckles.
He's still not ready to face Silver.
The timing's off.
So when he saw Ash and the others, he chose not to appear.
"By the way, Ash, what you did today was pretty rude. Trespassing on my ranch like that? Not cool."
Damian's lips curl slightly.
Erika texted him everything just now.
"I didn't do it on purpose. There really wasn't anyone at the gate when we went in."
Ash's face crumples.
For someone as straightforward as him, it's genuinely embarrassing.
Especially since it's Damian's ranch.
"And if it weren't to help Lucario get to the truth about what happened, I wouldn't have come here at all."
"Oh?"
Damian raises a brow.
"The Lucario from Cameran Palace?"
"How do you know that?"
Ash stares at him, baffled.
"I happened to see some records about it. This place isn't that far from Rota Town, after all."
The plot's completely shifted from the original.
Strictly speaking, the Aura Guardian movie should've happened after Ash got back from Hoenn.
But that's not important.
"Ash, I can help you out this once. You must be pretty stuck."
Damian thinks for a moment.
Then he smiles at Ash.
He's suddenly had a pretty good idea.
"What's the catch this time?"
Ash has learned his lesson.
He eyes Damian warily.
"Pfft~ seriously? Do I look like some bad guy?"
Damian can't help snorting.
If you're not a bad guy, what are you, a saint?
Misty can't help grumbling in her head.
Out loud, though, she stays quiet.
Ash doesn't answer.
His loud, damning silence is all the answer anyone needs.
"Relax. I don't lie. But if you want my help, you'll have to pass a test first."
"What kind of test?"
Maybe it's Erika's words earlier.
Maybe something else.
Either way, Ash's hostility toward Damian has softened a little.
"These two are Dawn and Paul."
Damian grins and gestures at the girl and boy behind him.
Dawn looks at Ash and the other two curiously.
She gives them a friendly nod.
Paul just keeps his face blank.
"They're both from Sinnoh, new members of Team Rocket. They're rookie Trainers your age."
"Like you, they're very talented rookies, Ash."
Damian raises one finger, smiling.
"Pick one of them as your opponent and have a friendly match. If you win, I'll do you a favor."
"But I'm a big believer in fairness. So if you lose, you'll owe me one favor. How's that?"
Whether it's Dawn or Paul, watching Ash fight either of them will be fun.
And win or lose, Damian doesn't really lose anything.
Ash looks between Dawn and Paul.
He falls into thought.
Should he agree?
And if he does… which one should he pick?
~~
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