The war was over, but its scars remained.
Giovanni stood atop a ridge, watching the last remnants of Johto's forces withdraw across the border. The battlefield below was a graveyard of broken weapons, scorched earth, and shattered pride. Kanto's soldiers—his soldiers—stood victorious, but there was no celebration, only exhaustion. Some men stared blankly at the retreating forces, others clutched their Pokéballs with white-knuckled grips, unable to let go of the tension that had ruled them for years. Victory felt hollow, and yet, it was undeniable.
A heavy presence approached from behind. Samuel Oak. The man had aged decades in these past years, but his eyes were still sharp.
"Giovanni," he said, voice gruff. "Ride with me. The peace talks are happening soon, and I want you there. You've seen this war for what it is. You need to see how it ends."
Giovanni hesitated. He was no diplomat, but Oak's request was not a suggestion. It was an invitation into a different kind of battlefield. A political one. More than that, it was a test. Oak wasn't just bringing him to witness the end of a war—he was pulling him into the shaping of Kanto's future.
Tensions Beneath the Surface
The meeting was set in neutral ground—an isolated mountain lodge nestled in the foothills of Mt. Silver, close to the Kanto border but just outside its official reach. It was the kind of place where peace could be forged, or where old grudges could be laid bare.
Giovanni rode in silence alongside Samuel Oak and Agatha. The older man's expression was unreadable, but Giovanni knew this wasn't just about signing a treaty. Oak and Pryce had history—bloody, personal history. The weight of it sat between them like an unspoken threat.
Johto's delegation was already there when they arrived. Pryce stood at the head of it, his face like carved ice. He was flanked by Blackthorn representatives, their expressions grim. The war had cost them dearly, and the wounds were still fresh.
For a moment, the two leaders just stared at each other. Oak, the man who had bombed Mahogany Town into ruin. Pryce, the man who had ordered the execution of Oak's family. The history between them could not be erased by words on paper.
"You're late," Pryce finally said.
Oak exhaled sharply through his nose. "You should be grateful I showed up at all."
The air was tense, but Agatha stepped forward with a smirk. "Come now, boys. You've both lost plenty. No need to lose your tempers as well."
Neither man responded, but they moved toward the meeting table. Giovanni followed, taking a seat beside Oak. He wasn't here to speak—only to watch and learn.
Negotiation Begins
Pryce wasted no time. "Mt. Silver remains neutral territory. No Kanto forces step past it. No scouts. No claims. Ever."
Oak didn't flinch. "Fine. But Johto follows the same rule. No incursions. No spies. No border disputes."
A murmur passed through the Blackthorn delegation, but Pryce merely nodded. "Agreed."
Then came the real fight.
"You owe us reparations," a Blackthorn elder said coldly. "Mahogany was wiped off the map. Blackthorn lost warriors who will never be replaced. You expect us to just forget?"
Oak's gaze darkened. "You want me to apologize for ending a war you started?" His voice was quiet, but there was venom in it. "You burned and raided our cities. Don't talk to me about loss."
Pryce's hands curled into fists, but he held his silence. He knew this argument would go nowhere. The demand for reparations was more about pride than practicality, and Kanto would never pay.
The topic shifted. A Johto representative hesitated, then spoke carefully. "Perhaps… this war proves that neither side is strong enough alone. A unified Indigo League could—"
"No." Oak's answer was immediate and absolute.
Giovanni didn't even blink. He had expected that demand.
Oak leaned forward, his voice carrying steel. "Kanto will never be Johto's vassal. We are our own nation. We will stand as our own force."
There was quiet murmuring from the Johto side, but they knew the issue was dead. The treaty would be a non-aggression pact—nothing more.
The Aftermath
The treaty was signed. The war was officially over. But Oak knew better than to believe that peace was secure.
As the Johto delegation departed, Pryce lingered. He looked at Oak, something unreadable in his expression. "This peace won't last."
Oak sighed. "It never does."
With that, Pryce turned and left.
As they rode back, Giovanni remained quiet, his mind absorbing everything. He had fought in this war, bled for it, and now he was witnessing its political end. But what came next?
Oak, however, was already thinking ahead. The war had ended, but Kanto was broken.
Only one Elite Four member remained—Agatha. Blaine had stepped down to protect Cinnabar. The others were dead. That left gaps that needed to be filled. The League system itself might need to change.
Samuel Waterflower was being considered—his experience made him a strong candidate. Bruno, a promising young fighter, could be pushed into an Elite position. But was that enough?
The League. The government. The Gym Leaders. They would all have to come together to decide what Kanto's future would look like.
As Oak plotted the League's future, Giovanni was considering something else. The war had proved that Kanto could not afford to be weak. If it was to survive, it needed a foundation stronger than just treaties and borders. It needed power. Control.
The war had ended.
But the rebuilding—and the next battle—had just begun.