Giovanni had to untangle the mess of his memories. One thing he could never understand was why Kanto and Johto merged. The anime never explored the intricacies of such a political shift, but he could guess some reasons.
The first and most glaring was Samuel Oak's retirement as Champion. That had been the greatest blow to Kanto's forces. Oak wasn't just strong—he was the strongest Champion across all regions. His team was balanced, a rarity at the highest level. Most elite trainers specialized in a single type because training multiple Pokémon to that caliber was incredibly difficult. Specialization was easier; older Pokémon trained the newer ones, creating a self-sustaining cycle. But Oak had defied that trend. Every Pokémon on his team was formidable.
His Dragonite was stronger than those raised by the Blackthorn Clan—something they resented deeply. His Charizard was an apex specimen. His Alakazam and Exeggutor were masterful psychic combatants. His Nidoking? It put Giovanni's own to shame. If Oak had remained Champion, perhaps Kanto wouldn't have settled for peace under such unfavorable conditions.
Giovanni theorized that Oak's son and daughter had died in the war. The anime never mentioned Oak having a son, only his grandson, Gary, who was likely born during the war but remained safe in Pallet Town. If Oak lost both his children, that could explain why he softened, why he craved peace. That meant Giovanni had two immediate objectives: ensure Nathan and Lily Oak survived the war and keep Oak in power as Champion until Kanto secured a favorable peace—one where they remained independent, not forced into this so-called Indigo Region.
Another pressing matter was Delia Ketchum. She was destined to give birth to Ash Ketchum—the boy who, somehow, always found himself entangled with Legendary Pokémon. That was another inconsistency. The Legendaries he knew weren't weak. How had a Charizard defeated an Articuno? If it were Oak's Charizard, maybe—but even that seemed improbable. He remembered Project Zapdos, the disastrous attempt to capture the Thunder Pokémon. It had unleashed a single bolt so powerful it darkened the sky, electrifying the entire battlefield. Even other Electric-types had been empowered by its presence. No, the Legendaries of this world were not to be taken lightly.
Then there was Project Mewtwo. He theorized that in the anime's world, losing the war and signing that treaty had changed him, turning him from a leader into a mere crime boss. Perhaps he had once intended to destabilize Indigo through Team Rocket's operations, but something had failed—or he had lost sight of his original purpose. That Giovanni had stagnated, becoming obsessed with power for power's sake, forgetting why he had become a trainer in the first place: to be the strongest and to protect Kanto.
If he found Mew's DNA in this world, he would have to tread carefully. He either needed to prevent Mewtwo's creation altogether or ensure that the clone was rational, loyal, and malleable enough to serve Kanto's interests. But that would be difficult. Mewtwo would inherit Mew's intelligence, and if it could read his surface thoughts, it might simply escape.
And then there was Ash. Giovanni would need to find Delia Ketchum and marry her. The boy was naive, but that meant he was moldable. If properly trained, he could become Kanto's future Champion. More importantly, his repeated encounters with Legendaries suggested something more—a prophecy, perhaps? If that could be harnessed, Ash could become an undefeatable Champion, one who would secure Kanto's dominance.
Finally, he needed to strengthen his own team. While his knowledge of other regions was limited—his travels had been cut short by the war—he knew there were powerful Ground-types beyond Kanto. His counterpart in the anime had wasted too much time playing the role of a crime lord. While some of his methods had merit, actively hunting Legendaries was dangerous. This world wasn't the tame one depicted in the anime.
A new strategy formed in his mind: a Sandstorm team. If he could acquire a Tyranitar, he could create a battlefield that gave his team an overwhelming advantage. He would need other Pokémon to complement it—Garchomp, Hippowdon, and perhaps even Excadrill. The sheer dominance of a properly executed Sandstorm strategy would make his team unstoppable in prolonged engagements.
For now, he had to act. His first order of business was summoning his elite officers, Petrel and Ariana. They would keep tabs on Oak's children and ensure their safety.
The war wasn't over yet. Kanto still had a chance. And Giovanni would make sure they won.
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Possible Captures:
Tyranitar
Garchomp
Excadrill
Ferrothorn
Rhyperior(Evolve his Rhydon)
Gliscor
Possible Legendaries:
Landorous(T)
Great Tusk