Upon several days of constant travel, Tony and Delia heaved a sigh of relief as they reached the outskirts of Viridian City by mid-afternoon. The first thing they did was to get to the Pokemon Center so that Tony could get his Pokemon healed. While Tony conversed with Nurse Joy, Delia sat down at a booth in the food court and idly picked at a small salad.

"How's your training coming along?" Nurse Joy asked courteously.

"Not too bad. I already have eight badges. I just wish I could day that the one from the Gym here was amongst them."

"I don't see why not." Nurse Joy replied. "Viridian Gym did just re-open again."

"Really? That's great! Then as soon as Charizard, Bayleef and Seaking are ready to go, I'll head over to the Gym."

Over in the food court, Delia had virtually abandoned her salad as she glanced out of the ceiling to floor sized window and thought she saw something that sent dread through her body. At first she deemed it an illusion, so she rubbed her eyes and looked again.

There it was again. What she saw the second time around confirmed what she saw as real. By this time, Nurse Joy had given Tony's Pokemon back to him. Unaware of Delia's frame of mind and whatever had caught her attention, Tony sauntered up to the booth and snatched a cherry tomato from her plate. Popping the tomato into his mouth, Tony glanced over at her. It was then that he noticed how agitated she appeared.

"Hey..." he said as soon as he swallowed the food.

When no response came, he placed a hand on her shoulder. His light touch caused her to flinch.

"What's wrong," he asked as he went from looking at her to try and see what she was looking at. Not seeing anything that would catch his eye, his attention was turned back to her.

"He's here..." came her cryptic response.

"He? Who 'he?' Delia, what's going on?" Tony was stymied. In the relatively short time that he had known her, Tony had never seen Delia so worried.

Without another word, Delia ran out of the Pokemon Center like there was no tomorrow. Caught by surprise at her sudden departure, it took Tony a few moments to realize that maybe he should chase after her. By the time he caught up with her, he barely had enough time to mentally register that they were at Viridian Gym before the double doors seemingly opened on their own accord. Just as they entered the Gym, the doors slammed shut behind them. An unidentified man just barely a few years older than himself came into the dimly lit battle arena and talked to Delia.

"I'd heard tell that you had been in Viridian City at least one time in the past few months... Though when I didn't hear from you personally, I was hurt." the smooth voice said with a hint of exaggerated devastation.

"It appears that you didn't get the memo, so I'll repeat it now: I quit." Delia replied.

"You can't just quit. When you're in my organization, you're in it for life." the man said with a sneer.

"What is he talking about? Delia, you know this guy?" Tony asked as soon as he was able to find his voice.

"I use to know him." Delia replied rather glumly. "His name is Giovanni... and he's my ex-boyfriend."

Shock coursed through Tony's body like a stampeding herd of Ponyta. Tony found it next to impossible to breath for the next several moments; the information that Delia had just told Tony hit him like a sucker punch to the stomach.

"Oh, come now." Giovanni said with mock sympathy. "You make it sound like we only came upon bad times."

"You were the source of the so-called 'bad times' Giovanni!" Delia exclaimed.

"I can't take all the credit. I was just the leader of the gang. I also seem to remember a certain auburn haired girl coming up with some of the more interesting heists."

"Times and people change. Unfortunately for you, you've changed for the worst. It's why I left you."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. There are more members within the organization and, with more members, comes a higher turnout." Giovanni said rather smugly.

"How horrible." Delia exclaimed.

"Do I want to know the details," Tony wondered out loud to himself, considering that he was all but ignored at the moment.

"I doubt it." Giovanni retorted as he looked over at Tony. "But then again, if you're the one that she's been traveling with, perhaps you would."

A vile grin appeared on Giovanni's face as he faced Delia once more.

"Would you like to tell the poor sap what he's got himself into, or shall I?"

A shadow befell Delia's face as she blankly stared down towards the ground. A few moments later, she turned to look at Tony.

"Giovanni is the leader of an organized crime syndicate called Team Rocket. Their primary goal is to steal Pokemon - the rarer, the better, for their own gain. For quite a while, I was a member, and up until some time before we first met, I reveled in being in Team Rocket. A series of events happened that caused me to step back and realize that my lot in life was worth so much more than what I had going on within Giovanni's organization. Traveling with you proved it to me, time and time again."

Tony - who up until that point, remained silent - had to force himself to not faint, or at least not fall flat on his back at the information he was just told. It seemed nearly impossible to believe all that Delia had just said.

"So what about all the other stuff that you had told me about your past? Was it all a cover up for this?" Tony asked when he found is voice.

"No, it all happened. I just didn't want to bring Giovanni or my stint in Team Rocket up. It's not something I like to remember. I truly believed that I had left both in the past. You've known me since we started traveling together all those months ago. Do you think I've been lying to you?" Delia's brown eyes started to mist up as she mentally pleaded for Tony to believe her.

Several excruciatingly long seconds passed by as Tony mulled it all over in his mind.

"Okay... so it's in the past." Tony accepted what Delia said as the truth before turning to face Giovanni. "What are you trying to prove, Giovanni? What's you're point?"

"The point is, that I intend to make her mine again." Giovanni sneered, not even bothering to mention Delia by name. "And I always get what I want."

At that, they were surrounded by various members of Team Rocket. Some wore one piece black jumpsuit uniforms, while others wore the predominantly white on black two piece uniforms. All had the bold, red 'R' on their uniforms and a look of evil intent upon their faces. Delia gasped in mild surprise. She should have known that he'd have Grunts with him. Just before she decided to go willingly, Tony took matters into his own hands.

"Over my dead body." Tony exclaimed with a glare of contempt. Not caring that they were surrounded, he continued speaking. "You heard what Delia said. She chose to leave. She quit. You have no say in her life."

"Feh. Your death could easily be arranged." Giovanni smirked as he withdrew a pokeball and released the Graveler from it.

"If it's a battle you want, then a battle you will get. I could use a warm up battle before I challenge the Viridian Gym Leader." Tony replied as he released Bayleef from its pokeball.

"You fool. I AM the Viridian Gym Leader." Giovanni gloated with a smug look on his face.

"What?" Delia and Tony replied at the same time in surprise.