Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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"Chaa!!"

Ekans proudly raised its head and hissed, its gaze dripping with disdain as it looked at the tightly bound Meowth.

Giovanni observed the situation and understood that he had lost. He opened his mouth to concede.

"This match is—"

"Meowth! Meowth!"

Before Giovanni could finish, Meowth's determined cry interrupted him. The feline Pokémon twisted its head with great effort and looked firmly at Giovanni.

Giovanni hesitated briefly before realizing Meowth's intent.

"Meowth... You don't want to give up yet? I see. Well, we still have a card to play. In that case—Meowth!"

"Let's evolve!"

"Meow!!"

In an instant, Meowth's entire body was engulfed in a brilliant white light. The mysterious radiance gradually forced Ekans's tail to loosen.

"Return for now, Ekans," Liam instructed. 

Ekans released its grip and slithered back to Liam, its icy gaze fixed on the glowing Meowth, a trace of reluctance flickering in its eyes.

"Meowth has been capable of evolving for a long time," Giovanni explained, his tone filled with pride.

"However, it has been suppressing its evolution to train and strengthen itself in its current form. Now, it has finally taken the step forward. For that, Liam, I have to thank you. It's the pressure you put on us that made this possible."

Liam shook his head, saying nothing. He had already noticed something unusual about Meowth. And then, sure enough—

"Cha!!"

Ekans let out a hiss as its body too was enveloped in a radiant white glow. The light of evolution appeared once again.

Liam smirked at Giovanni, who was now staring at him in shock.

"Ahh.. It seems I forgot to mention that my Ekans has also been on the verge of evolving for a while now. It seems this battle provided the final push it needed. So, Giovanni, there's no need to thank me—this was mutual."

Giovanni could only respond with a wry smile, momentarily at a loss for words.

Before long, the light subsided.

"Meow!!"

A low, commanding growl resounded as a large Persian emerged from the glow. Its streamlined body exuded elegance, and the ruby on its forehead shimmered brilliantly.

Meanwhile, Ekans had also completed its evolution. 

As the light shattered, a fearsome new form appeared—a larger, more menacing Arbok with an intimidating pattern on its chest that sent shivers through the onlookers' spines.

"Aww, Arbok, it seems you've put on some weight..." Liam couldn't help but tease.

Arbok: "..."

"Alright, I'm just kidding. You look amazing, Arbok." 

"Chaa!" Arbok hissed in agreement.

"Shall we continue the battle?" Giovanni asked.

After a moment of thought, Liam patted the eager Arbok on the back.

"Let's leave it at that for today. Let's call this battle a draw. Both Pokémon just evolved and are probably exhausted to continue. They need to get used to their new forms. Pushing them further wouldn't be good for their health."

Giovanni nodded, recalling Persian into its PokéBall, internally praising Liam for his forethought and putting his Pokemon's needs above his own. 

Liam did the same for Arbok, though the latter resisted a bit.

"Calm down, calm down. I'll give you some delicious milk later, besides, we still have an official battle ahead of us." Liam whispered soothingly. 

At this, the PokéBall finally stilled.

With the battle concluded, the crowd around them erupted into applause. It was only then that Liam remembered they had been surrounded by spectators.

"That was incredible, both of you! Such an amazing match!"

"Yeah! I've never seen a Pokémon evolve mid-battle before—let alone two of them!"

"The little snake turned into a big snake..."

As the day grew late, most of the children, bound by their internal clocks, retired for the night, leaving only four people in the hall: Giovanni, Takeshi, Miyamoto (as Jessie had already fallen asleep), and Liam.

"Are you planning to keep operating on your own like this?" Liam asked. "Today's situation was dangerous. If you continue like this, it'll only get worse."

Miyamoto cast a puzzled glance at Giovanni and Takeshi. Not having been involved earlier, she didn't know what had transpired.

"Well, the League won't help us, so we have no choice but to rely on ourselves," Takeshi replied, avoiding Miyamoto's inquisitive gaze.

Giovanni shook his head. "It's not about whether the League will help. It's because we're not strong enough. If we were stronger, today wouldn't have happened."

Miyamoto's confusion deepened.

"So, what's your plan going forward?" Liam asked with a smile.

"We'll take it one step at a time," Giovanni replied. "I don't know where we'll end up, but those poachers must be stopped."

Liam pulled a small pouch from his bag. Opening it, he revealed its contents—a dazzling collection of Evolution Stones.

"Ten stones: three Fire Stones, three Thunder Stones, three Water Stones, and one Leaf Stone. This is everything I have."

"What do you mean by this? What are you trying to do with these stones?" Giovanni asked, startled. Evolution Stones were exceedingly rare and valuable, worth a fortune in this world.

"I hate poachers as much as you do," Liam replied. 

"But your current strength and resources are insufficient. That's why I've decided to invest these stones into your team."

Giovanni fell silent, staring at the Evolution Stones for a long time before speaking.

"You can join our squad anytime. But these stones are too valuable. I can't accept them."

Liam chuckled. "I never said I wanted to join your squad."

Giovanni frowned, confused. "Then what do you mean?"

"I mean, take these stones as funding to form a new team. Use them to strengthen your power and resources. From that man in the trench coat we caught earlier, we've learned that these poachers are part of a much larger organization. What we've encountered is just the tip of the iceberg. Our current strength is far from enough to face them."

"You want me to create a force capable of countering them?" Giovanni asked.

"Exactly," Liam confirmed. 

"If the League won't act, we'll deal with these scum ourselves. It won't be easy, but I'm sure others will join. I'm your first supporter. These Evolution Stones are my way of helping. Use them to kick start the organization. Later, I'll find other rare items to help its development."

"It'll be a monumental task," Giovanni mused. "The resources and energy required are beyond imagining."

"We'll take it slow," Liam said. "But don't tell me you're scared, Giovanni."

Giovanni smirked. "Spare me the cheap provocations. I, Giovanni, have never backed down from anything. I'll accept these stones and give you the results you're looking for."

Hearing this, Liam finally relaxed. With Giovanni's skills, the plan seemed solid.

"In that case, shouldn't we name the new organization?" Liam asked.

"What's wrong with the squad's current name?" Giovanni retorted.

"We need something better!" Liam exclaimed. "I already have the perfect name: Team Rocket! Doesn't it sound bold, grand, menacing, and very high-class?"

"...Does it?" Giovanni asked skeptically.

"Of course! Not only that, I've even come up with the official Motto!"

Liam jumped to his feet, dramatically reciting:

"When asked who we are or what's happening, we'll step forward and say—"

~ To protect the world from devastation!

~ To unite all people within our nation!

~ To denounce the evils of truth and love!

~ To extend…..

"Hey, don't leave! I'm not done! There's more!" Liam shouted as Giovanni walked away, shaking his head.