TR HQ
Pallet Town Perspective
Giovanni
"No. We will not take over Pallet Town!" I thought my analysts were smarter than this. Take over Pallet Town? We couldn't even stop that horde of pidgey from raiding MY CITY! Let alone face
PROFESSOR OAK IN HIS HOMETOWN!
"The only thing of note in the whole place is a retired champion. We all know many champions whom lost the strength they last commanded. Besides, Pallet Town's size is tiny compared to Viridian, and the only thing of note in that whole place is a retired champion's lab." The analyst states, clearly having little familiarity with Pallet Town history, let alone the man he was talking about.
"Professor Oak is not a man to let himself go. In fact, I suspect even now, he'd be able to fight off my best team and articuno, let alone the understated strength Pallet Town hides." I was never able to get close to his level, no matter how hard I tried.
Even Mewtwo might not be enough to bridge the gap.
The only reason he isn't still champion is because he retired. The league never found someone able to pass the test, leaving Lance as both one of the Elite four and the acting champion. Domino, whom has been listening in, chimes in. "Especially given the fact that ever since the Indigo League started, the winner of said event has always come from Pallet Town. So there is more than just the old man to worry about, especially as every Pallet Town Trainer, and a few lucky trainers from elsewhere benefitted from having access to Professor Oak's Ranch."
"Possibly a side effect of it's history, as back in the Warring States period, it maintained it's independence from Viridian even as being their lifeline and connection to trade. After all they were the only major player in the Warring States period that did not have a central warlord. Cinnibar, Saffron, Ceruleon, Celadon, Fuchsia, Vermillion, and Pewter all were ruled by clans and the warlords in a system that later helped set the foundation for the Gym system in use today. With even the badges predating the system, being not only symbols of the clan, but also allegedly having mystical abilities, the veracity of which is outside my field of expertise. While Lavender Town could have been mistaken as one of the big nine, it has always served as a neutral ground, thanks to the Pokemon Tower." Mira Emberhart, the resident historian chimes in. Pallet town has allways danced it's own tune. Even now, while Oak could have handled things the same way the Gym leaders like myself have, he chose to use the town's history, reviving the Council and rebuilding the wall. While it is far smaller than it has been last time the region has been in the grip of warlords, and having not rebuilt the ports since they were destroyed long ago, they have arguably compensated with the existence of Professor Oak's lab.
"While many have tried to theorize on how they were able to handle the Warlord Era. Personally, I suspect that most theorists have got it wrong. After all, many asked why they succeeded in spite of not having any gym. But, I'd say it was because they lacked such that they could succeed. After all, it is no accident that gyms tend to specialize their types, like how Fuschisa is long known for poison type trainers thanks to the local ninja tradition, Pewter for the Slate Family's affinity for rock types, and Cerulean with Water types to name a few. Family secrets, institutional knowledge, and family traditions giving an edge in their specialty, and building on each other, it's part of why we have a ground type gym, the city simply has more knowledge of ground types than most other places on the continent. It's part of why the Pokedex project is fundamentally revolutionary. Even without the features that make managing a team easier, the simple fact it's a digital encyclopedia connected to a central server holding all currently known data on Pokémon, is a fundamental paradigm shift for the world. I should know, after all, one of my closest agents was from that town." I say. Knowing full well, that of all of the leaders in this brave new world, there is one that might be an equal to me and Crimson.
Who am I kidding. Team Rocket is the only reason why I might have a chance against the old man.
A/N: A little attempt to both have a bit of perspective on Pallet history, and possibly building the reason Pallet done well for itself in the quest lore. Also a nod to the fact, that in Pokémon live show, the local owner of Pallet house and mother of Ash/Red, dated Giovanni and was a part of his gang. And also threw in invisitext to highlight a bit of insecurity given, well, Giovanni the 'Self-Proclaimed Strongest Trainer', aspects of the character like how he has a strong bond with his partner pokemon( Persian, in how I became a pokemon card manga story), his mother that despises pokemon, the quotes from the games(
"TM26 contains Earthquake. It is a powerful attack that causes a massive tremor. I made it when I ran the Gym here, far too long ago...""Having lost in this fashion, I can't face my followers. I have betrayed their trust. As of today, Team Rocket is finished forever! As for myself, I shall dedicate my life to training again(In original, this is part is I will dedicate my life to the study of Pokémon!). Let us meet again someday! Farewell!"). So, Gio could be a proud, passionate trainer beaten down by life until he becomes the 'just business' organized crime boss type of person.
AND THEN there is this crazy version, fitting that the one where Gio took pages from the TR trio's book( complete with disguise skills) also happen to be the one where the whole Bill being a mad scientist and somehow managing to turn someone into a mew came from.