Pokémon/Humanity - Travelers of the Same Road

[Shift]

Pokémon/Humanity - Travelers of the Same Road

Rating: G to PG

This is my first Pokémon fic, though not my first fic in general: Pokémon/Humanity - Travelers of the Same Road. Even though I'm using rather staple legendaries like Mewtwo and [SPOIL]eventually MissingNo.,[/SPOIL] I'm really out to make an original story, and I will do my best to make sure that the plot clichés end there. And now, here it is! Enjoy!

NOTE: When a line is in " "s, it's normal speech. When a line is in {}s, it's thought speech. When a line is in / \s, it's translated Pokémon speech. When a line has a mix of both (ex.: "{}", the line is being said in two types of speech at the same time in the same way. When a line is completely in italics with no quotations, it's only what the character is thinking.
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Pokémon/Humanity - Travelers of the Same Road​

Chapter 1

The light casting forth from the street lamps provides the dark road with an ambiance both comforting within the areas illuminated, and disconcerting within the alleys still locked in shadows. This is more or less how the girl feels as she walks down this road, her loyal pet Totodile waddling in front of her to guard the way. She keeps her glance firmly on the alleys, watching closely to not be caught off-guard from any thieves that might emerge from their depths. She watches them so closely, in fact, that she fails to see what's right in front of her.

“Very nice Pokémon…” a voice simpers from in front of her.

The young lady spins around in shock to see a man in a ragged coat, his face grinning maliciously while crouching down in front of the growling Totodile.

“Very nice…” he reiterates. “I’ll take it!”

He suddenly leaps forward and tackles the Totodile to the ground, holding it down tightly as it struggles.

“Toto, Bite him!” the girl screams.

The Totodile follows her order and clamps it’s jaws down on the man’s right arm. The man’s face screws up in pain for a moment, then quickly softens into a dark smile again.

“You bite me…” he begins as he grab’s Toto’s tail. “I bite back!” he screams madly as he brings his own jaws down upon the Pokémon’s tail.

“You freak! Get off of Toto!” the girl shrieks in fear as he begins to beat him with her purse.

However, neither the Totodile nor the man relents on their assault, each of them only clamping down their jaws even further upon the other. The man’s eyes glow with an insane spirit as he continues his frenzied struggle. The next moment, however, he feels an abnormal grip around his body, one that leaves him almost breathless as he’s lifted into the air. At the same time, the Totodile is ripped away from him and set back on the ground.

The girl looks on in horror, even as Toto is safely returned, at the figure apparently responsible for this turn of events: a tall, sturdy figure in a large cloak and traveling hat. The stranger was holding out its arm and gripping a disfigured-looking hand in front of the struggling assailant now 5 feet in the air.

The man struggles to see who’s causing this, but the form in front of him slowly dissolves into darkness as he begins to lose consciousness. Before this happens, though, the man feels the grip being released and his body thrown backwards towards the wall. He hits it hard and falls to the ground, unable to move on his own.

The new stranger looks upon the man in disgust, then turns his head to the girl. Her face is stark white, her eyes mere dots in her head as she stares at his pale-white skin and inhuman face.

“AHHH!!!” she screams in terror. She quickly collects Toto and runs away, crying, “Help me! Monster! Someone, please help me!!!”

The stranger turns away from her direction of flight back towards the man, who is now looking weakly up at him himself. With a final huff, the stranger turns his back on him and Teleports away, leaving the man’s head to drop down once more.

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The following morning, the corrupt man is already up once again, scrounging through the garbage bins in another part of town for his breakfast.

“Blech…” he moans as he pulls out a rotten banana peel. Tossing it aside, he looks toward the street. Scanning the passing crowd, he spies his target: a couple carrying a grocery bag between them. Wasting no time or thought, he races out with animal-like speed and snares his prize.

“What the— Hey, you!” the victimized man cries out as the rogue runs off with the bagged goods. The couple gives chase, but the strange man is too experienced to be caught in such a manner. Quickly placing the bag handle into his mouth, he takes off on all fours into another alley, then leaps up and scurries along the withdrawn metal stairs on one of the buildings up to the roof. The couple arrives but both are unable to follow him.

“Well, fine! Go ahead and keep it all, you freak!” the man on the ground yells sourly. “C’mon, Mary…”

The peculiar man watches the two of them leave, then proceeds to pull out the contents of the bag and consequently consume them. As he initiates an attack on a large tangerine, he hears the screech of skidding tires coming from somewhere below.

“Huh?”

Before getting his head over the edge, he hears the crunching of metal. He then manages to see the smoldering wreckage of a blue car, in front of which is a familiar cloaked stranger. The man tenses up for a moment, but continues to watch as another man steps out of his car and approaches the stranger.

“What did ya do to my car?!” he screams as he pulls the stranger towards him. “Why didn’t you jump outta the way?! You’d better have the money to pay for this, or so help me I’ll—”

He doesn’t get to finish as the stranger, like he did with the rogue the night before, lifts this man into the air psychically and throws him backwards into his wrecked car. The now-surrounding crowd gasps.

“Ohh…” the man groans as he sits back up. Looking at the stranger, his eyes grow wide in fear. “Th-th-that guy ain’t human!” He leaps from atop his car and runs away screaming.

The members of the crowd shuffle around in anxiety.

“Not human?”

“What, is it a Pokémon?”

“Never saw one like that before…”

“What is that thing?”

The stranger looks around at the crowd with an unreadable look on its face. The rogue looks down at the scene in interest, the food lain forgotten.

“Well, if it is a Pokémon,” a young man says as he steps out from the crowd, “I’m gonna catch it!” He takes out a Pokéball and maximizes it. “Carusou, go!” he cries as he tosses the ball, releasing in a flash of light the mythical Eon Pokémon, Latios.

“LAOOS!!!”

“Incredible!” a member of the crowd gasps.

“He has a Latios?!”

“It’s practically legendary!”

“Now, Carusou,” the young man commands, “Luster Purge!”

“Laoos!” the Latios’ call shrills as it summons a ball of light. The attack, however, is quickly negated by the stranger's psychic burst of energy. Just as quickly, the stranger counters harshly by crushing the Latios with its psychic might.

“C-Carusou?!”

Soon enough, the battle is over as Carusou lays on the ground, passed out. This proves to be as good of an opportunity as any for the crowd to begin panicking.

“RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!”

The crowd member do just that. The trainer, however, doesn’t back down.

“I’m not afraid of you! Ultraball, go!”

The trainer sends the ball the stranger’s way, but it easily halts it in midair, sends it back to the trainer, and telekinetically crushes it in front of his face. The trainer finally gets the picture, and after quietly recalling his Latios, hightails it out of there.

The rogue watches all of this in interest. As the others run off, he leaps off the roof into a nearby tree, then comes back down to the ground. Calmly, he moves over to the stranger, who looks at him in reminiscent disgust. Without a moment’s pause, the man takes away the stranger’s hat, revealing its pale head in full: its pronged ears, its thin muzzle-like face, and its deep, violet eyes. The man looks at the strange creature in mingled awe and mild interest. The creature merely narrows its eyes before Teleporting away once again, leaving the man alone on the vacated street. The man, clutching the hat, grins very happily in the most unsettling sense.

“Very nice Pokémon…”

End chapter…

 

[Shift]

Chapter 2

The woods near the city rustle with the night wind being blown throughout them. The scurrying steps and various call of wild, nocturnal Pokémon emanate over the area, filling the darkness with life. The strange creature, its cloak now open, walks between the trees quietly. Its pale skin reflects the light of the moon in a peculiar manner, almost mysteriously. Its violet tail swishes back and forth in slight agitation. It looks solemnly up at the night sky through the leaves, its eyes lost in thought.

“Raiai, ai,” a voice says nearby.

The strange creature turns to see the old Raichu, a patron of the woods, standing a few feet to its right. The Raichu stares at him with a mixture of distress and bemusement.

The creature’s eye’s narrow as it says telepathically, {Is it by chance you found me so quickly, or was it already obvious to you?}

The Raichu grins and continues in its own tongue, with the creature easily understands; /It’s never very hard anymore. You always come to this general spot after causing some degree of mayhem.\

{I see.}

/The local Rattata were making quite a fuss about it,\ the Raichu explains. /They raged on about how the humans were raising a din over some traffic problems and interrupting their scavenging. They saw it was you, once again, at the center of it all.\

The creature remains silent.

/I can’t quite understand you. One day, you’re saving humans in trouble, and the next, you’re injuring those very same humans. You’re behavior is rather disturbing.\

{I have no ties to humans. I do as I will for my own convenience. It’s the same with all Pokémon, isn’t it?}

/Is it?\ the old Raichu asks him. /I’m a Pokémon, and yet I feel no need to strike against any other Pokémon or human unless they strike against me first. The others of the woods appear to feel the same way. As far as I can see, you’re the only one who will attack without provocation, whether for one reason or another.\

{Do my actions concern you that deeply?}

/My concerns lie in the fact that your actions may lead to the desecration of our peaceful existence, and perhaps in our, or even your, destruction.\

{Can an existence shared with humans truly be called peaceful? I have seen how eager those creatures are to capture capable Pokémon, how far they’ll go. None in your ranks seems at all concerned about this, about the possibility of being separated and controlled by humans, perhaps for the rest of their lives. If all of you are so casual about the situation, perhaps you should just surrender yourselves to them right now.}

/Is that what this is about? You’re actions are meant to liberate us from the oppression of human control?\

{Perhaps.}

/Does your cause extend so far as to conclude with the eradication of humans?\

{If the need be.}

/If that were true, I would be extremely worried about you.\

{If?}

/That’s right. I don’t fully believe that you feel that way.\

{What makes it difficult to believe?}

/I certainly don’t possess your caliber of psychic intuition, but I can sense how deep your confusion is. You’re so desperate to find your path that you accept the most sensible ideal without question. Humans had a part in what you are, correct? If you feel resentment for what they did, then you would naturally be inclined to take vengeance and prevent them from doing the same to others. But believe me when I say I’m experienced enough to know that one can’t go through life on one path without understanding the direction of other paths.\

{Other paths?}

/Yes, other paths. If you fail to understand the direction of other paths in life, you run the chance of forever living in doubt or regret. Whether you stick to your path or change course is up to you, but don’t live in ignorance and blind faith.\

The creature looks at the Raichu hesitantly.

/If you truly want to understand the direction of other paths,\ the Raichu explains, /then you will need to expand your knowledge of and connections to the world; whether Pokémon or human, you need to be aware of both sides. Can you understand this?\

{I… I understand. What is it that I should do?}

/I’d recommend moving beyond these woods and the city. There are many more places to explore and beings to encounter. Use your experiences of the world outside to draw your own conclusion of which path you should take. That is all I ask of you.\

The creature remains silent for a moment. He then speaks, {Very well. I will take your advice to learn more of the world and its inhabitants. I will draw my conclusions afterward and decide my course of action then, however long it takes.}

/I’m glad to hear it,\ the Raichu replies with a warm smile. /I trust that you’ll be able to handle yourself from here on. Good luck on your journey, and take care.\

Without another word, the old Raichu dashes off into the darkness of the woods, leaving behind only the continued nightly noises and the strange creature, its eyes once again lost in thought.

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As the morning arrives, the creature, its cloak once again wrapped around it, quietly leaves the woods. The inhabitants don’t pay his departure much attention, at least apparently. The old Raichu watches for only a moment before returning to its daily routine. The creature knows that the nearest outward-bound trail was placed between the woods and the city, rather like a merger of the two. After reaching the trail, it takes one final glance at the city and woods, two places so close and yet so completely different. With a sigh, it turns back around and walks down the trail. Before getting too far, however, it quickly whips around and telekinetically grabs the one following behind: the peculiar man from before, now wearing the traveling hat.

“Eee hee hee!” the man laughs despite his precarious situation.

The creature’s nostrils flare in anger, but it merely tosses the man a few feet back before haughtily turning back on its way.

“Wait!” the man calls.

The creature fiercely turns around once more, but stops as it sees the man holding out the hat, taken off his round head covered with dark, lank hair. The man gives a wide, toothy grin, which the creature ignores as it takes its hat back.

“You are a very nice Pokémon,” the man says. “Very strong. Very unique.”

{Get out of my sight,} the creature replies testily as it turns to leave again.

“You voice was inside me!” the man exclaims, impressed. “Even nicer…” he adds slyly as he catches up. “I like you. You’d be the perfect Pokémon for anyone. You will be my Pokémon.”

{You presume too much.}

“You are strong. You will make me strong. You are now mine.”

{I’d never serve any human, much less a human as piteous as you.}

“Don’t you dare pity me!” the man snarls suddenly. “You will be mine.”

The creature hits the man with a powerful psychic blast. However, this time the man manages to brace himself as he skids backwards, leaping forward immediately afterwards and plunging straight at the creature. It grabs the man’s face before he can connect and lifts him into the air. Glaring furiously at him, the creature sees that the man is grinning insanely once more. Having had enough, it tosses him away and gets set to Teleport, but before it can, the man leaps up again and grabs him by the waist, both of them being sent a few yards from their original position.

{Get off of me!}

“No!”

The creature continues to Teleport, trying to shake the man off. He, on the other hand, refuses to let go.

{If humans are like you, then I’ve already made my decision! Or is it you’re a special case?!}

“That’s correct. But in a way, we’re the same!”

{You have nothing to do with me!}

“You’re different. I’m different. We’re both different!”

{Let go!}

“Our uniqueness makes us the same! You need me! I need you!”

{I need no one!}

“Then you’ll always be alone!”

The creature stops thrashing and transporting.

{What?}

“There’s no one else like you besides me! You see? Only I share your sense of exile from the world! We’re different and yet the same! If we don’t join together, where will we go? I will never truly be a part of the world of humanity, just as you will never truly be a part of the world of Pokémon. We’re too unique. So unique that no one will ever accept either of us for what we are. In the opinion of the world, we’re freaks…” He looks up solemnly at the creature. “And freaks really should stick together.”

The creature stares at this man, this confusing man who acted a feral as any Pokémon one minute, then spouted unexpected wisdom the next. Feeling a little off-put, the creature takes a moment to think. The man gradually releases his hold on the creature and steps back.

“Hmm?”

{Well,} the creature begins, {first of all, I can’t help but believe that you are certifyably insane, even by human standards.}

“Yes, go on.”

{Secondly, I have no reason whatsoever to yearn for any human’s company or friendship.}

“Uh-huh…”

{But finally, and this is something I hate to admit, your words ring true. I am alone, too unique for acceptance. And I can certainly understand how that would also be the case for someone like you. That is perhaps the only thing we have in common, after all.}

“So you will join me, then?”

{I would much rather not have anything more to do with you. You’re a disgusting, pathetic, and critically mad human being. But it may be that I’m no better off than you are in this world. Someone I knew told me that I should understand all paths before I start on one with conviction. So for the time being, yes, you and I will travel in each other’s company, as, in the way you put it, ‘freaks’ should.}

“Very good. You’ll make a very nice Pokémon for me to own.”

{Understand, however, that you are in no way my owner, my master, or my superior in any way.} The creature's eyes narrow maliciously. {I am my own master, I take orders from no one, and if you ever try to treat me otherwise, I will not be afraid to show you just how much pain my powers can drag you through before you are no more. Do you understand?}

“Certainly,” the man says with his usual toothy, twisted grin. “We’ll go over those little details later.”

{In any case,} the creature continues, {if we’re to be traveling together, we should each know what to call the other.}

“You mean names, do you? I have no idea of what mine was, if I even had one. Someone said I was a ‘riley street freak’ once before. So then, you can know me as Riley.”

{Very well. I have only known of one name for myself: Mewtwo. That is what you will call me.}

“Mewtwo? But you are only one. Is there a first of you?”

{That is unimportant. Riley, then?}

“Correct. So we are now travelers of the same road, yes?”

{For the time being, yes, we are.}

“Very nice. Yes, very, very nice.”

{Hopefully, not too nice…}

End chapter…

 

[Shift]

Chapter 3

“We’ll go this way!”

{We’ll go this way.}

These two lines are spoken simultaneously as Riley and Mewtwo point down two separate paths branching from the fork in the road. Each realizing the other’s differentiation, they turn to glare at each other in annoyance.

“We’re going this way,” Riley says more firmly as he points down the right-hand path.

{Well, I think that path is best,} Mewtwo says just as firmly while pointing down the left-hand path.

“As your master, I order you to go this way!”

{I warned you about assuming that you are in control.}

“I’m your master and you are my Pokémon and you will come with me this way!”

{I am not going that way. I am going this way. You may follow if you wish, but if not, then don’t.}

“You aren’t going that way because you’re coming this way with me!”

{What makes you so sure that that’s the best way to go?}

“Because the right way is always the right way!”

{That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!}

“It doesn’t matter what you think since we’re still going this way!”

{Maybe you are, but I’m not!}

“Yes, you are!”

{No, I’m not!}

“You will!”

{I won’t!}

“Um, fellas?” another voice pipes up from behind them.

“{What?!}” they both yell as they turn around, only to see a bearded man in a covered wagon, drawn by two Donphan.

“Well, could you fellers just move for a minute and let me go through?”

{Oh,} Mewtwo says quietly. {Yes, of course.} He grabs the fuming Riley by the collar and carries him over to the side of the road, allowing the driver to move forward.

“Um, I’m headin’ over that-a-way,” the man tells them as he points down the right-hand path. “If y’all need a ride into town, I’d be happy to give ya a lift.”

{Well…} Mewtwo ponders as he looks over at Riley, his teeth showing in a victorious grin. Ignoring this, Mewtwo tells the man, {Very well. Thank you.}

After the two of them clamber into the wagon seat, the man rubs his temples.

“That sounded… Aw, never mind.” He picks up the reins once more, “Eupha! Donno! Let’s roll out!”

At this signal, the two Donphan curl up and indeed use Rollout, pulling the jostling wagon down the right-hand path at a breakneck speed.

“Donphan are pretty handy, don’t you think?” asks the driver, who has no trouble keeping upright on the wagon seat. “I like using ‘em better than Tauros since they’re a lot easier to deal with. A lot calmer and sturdier most of the time, and they know how to move fast when they need to.”

“V-v-very n-nice…” Riley stammers as he struggles to keep from flying up and out.

“Young man,” the driver calls over to the covered Mewtwo, “no offence, but you look like you met up with the rough end of a Rhyhorn. What’s yer story?”

{I’d rather not discuss it,} Mewtwo replies as he pulls his hat down lower.

“Sure thing. It's none of my business. Anyway, we’ve almost made it. Hang on, fellas; we’re goin’ for the home stretch! Hee-yah!”

The driver snaps the reins and the Donphan pick up speed. It takes them only a few more minutes to reach the town.

“Woah, there! Woah!” the driver calls.

The Donphan follow his command immediately, halting in one spot and bring the wagon to an abrupt stop, which sends Riley flying forward and landing a few feet away, sprawled out.

“Sorry about that,” the driver says sheepishly. “Anyway, this is it! I have to go a little bit further in, so I’ll drop you fellers off here.”

{Thank you for your assistance,} Mewtwo tells him before jumping off the seat to the ground in a graceful leap.

“The ride wasn’t very nice…” Riley moans as he picks himself up before squatting down in front of the Donphan. “But these are very strong Pokémon. I’ll be sure to take very good care of—”

Bonk!

“Ouch!” Riley cries as he grips his head where the right Donphan had bonked him with its trunk.

“Eupha!”

The Donphan just looks up at its owner with what could only be a grin.

“Sorry again,” the driver apologizes.

{Don’t be…} Mewtwo replies as he drags Riley away from the wagon before it moves forward into town, soon being lost in the crowd.

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“I would have taught that ungrateful beast a lesson…” Riley grumbles as he stuffs some food into his mouth, he and Mewtwo having sat down in the local restaurant.

{You're the one that should be grateful,} Mewtwo tells him while sipping plain tea. {Their generosity saved us from a three-hour walk.}

“How can you know how long it would have taken? You didn’t want to go that way in the first place!”

{I have seen my error in judgement. You’re assumptions proved to be correct.}

“I’m glad you have learned to respect your master at last.”

{However, I can only suppose that it was a lucky guess on your part…}

“Lucky?! I’m never lucky, only good! You should know that, Mewtwo. As punishment, you will pay the bill.”

{What?}

“The bill. Our bill. For the food.”

{And how am I supposed to do that?}

“With money.”

{Money?}

“Don’t you dare try and trick me! You will pay with the money that you have!”

{I’ve never had any use for any human goods, so I’ve never had to pay for any. You’re the human, use your own money. You’re the one who ate more, in any case.}

“That’s the thanks I get for the tea you pour into your mouth at this moment? You should be grateful to me for have introduced you to it, so you should repay me by paying the bill!”

{For the final time, I have no money! Are you suggesting that you have none, as well?}

“That shouldn’t matter, since you’re paying!”

{So, we have no way to pay for this meal…}

“Then we must sneak away.”

{Without paying, you mean.}

“You have no money. I have no money. Without money, we can’t pay, so all we can do is sneak out of here before they find out.”

{What will happen if they find out?}

“Don’t even ask!” Riley tells him with a shudder. “We’re leaving right now, and that’s that!”

“Without paying?”

“Yes, we've already established that we won't pa—”

Riley stops as he realizes that the question hadn’t come from Mewtwo, then slowly turns around in dread to see the large woman who owned the restaurant standing near them.

“Well?” she asks stiffly.

Riley looks at her, then slowly opens his mouth as if to speak, before leaping out of his seat and bolting for the door. His plan is to no avail, as the woman grabs him by the collar before he escapes and drags him off. Mewtwo gets up before being asked and follows them to a pair of double doors behind the counter, Riley struggling fiercely all the way. The woman opens the doors and tosses Riley inside, then points to signal Mewtwo to enter, as well. As he walks in, he sees nothing remarkable about the room besides a large assortment of dirty dishes and utensils, and the trembling Riley.

“I want every item in this room clean enough to eat off of,” the woman orders them as she heads back out, then adds snidely, “but I’m sure you know the drill by now.”

The doors swing shut behind her as Mewtwo turns towards Riley, whose fists are clenched tightly.

“RrrrAUGH!!!” he bellows very loudly. “I HATE washing dishes!!!”

{This is what you were worried about?} Mewtwo asks hotly as he pulls off his hat. {You were afraid of cleaning?}

“I hate washing dishes…” Riley says again sullenly.

Mewtwo just stares at him in disbelief. Shaking his head, he moves over to the pile.

“Hey! Don’t just brush off my pain and suffering!”

{You really are most pathetic.}

“Pathetic?! What about you?! You just let that witch boss you around! Why didn’t you teach her about who she was messing with?!”

{There would have been no point; this is fully our responsibility. And anyway, I’m testing out a different tact.}

“I guess you’re not such a nice Pokémon after all. You’re strong, but that does no good if you don’t use your strength to get what you want. Throw your weight around!”

{So you’re fully aware, if I had any desire to ‘throw my weight around’, you wouldn’t be alive at this point.}

Riley growls angrily at Mewtwo, but says nothing more, opting to sit down, cross his arms, and turn away.

{Look, we’ll each take half,} Mewtwo sighs. {The sooner we get started, the sooner we’ll be done with it.}

With that, Mewtwo uses his powers to levitate some dishes and a washcloth, hold them under the now-running water and wipe them clean, and dry them off with another cloth and set them aside. Riley, however, refuses to leave his spot.

{Fine! Be that way!} Mewtwo yells before using his powers to make the water burst from the faucet as though it were a fire hose. The water creates a wave of sorts that drenches both the pile of dishes and Riley. Riley merely continues to fume as Mewtwo angrily whirls the clean dishes through the air, effectively drying them before he flings them into their proper racks. Squeezing the faucet shut with his mind and jamming his hat back on, Mewtwo snaps, {We’re done. Let’s go.}

Mewtwo doesn’t wait for Riley to get up as he heads out through the set of doors. However, the scene he meets outside the room makes him halt.

“You two! Don’t move!”

Mewtwo stares at the man who just said that, a vicious rogue holding up the girl at the cash register with an equally vicious Cacnea, its spiked arms held at gunpoint.

“If you don’t wanna get skewered,” the man snarls, “you’d best get those hands of yours up where I can see ‘em.”

Mewtwo glances at the other customers, their arms also raised. Riley, now beside Mewtwo, looks on as well.

“Well?” the criminal asks, quickly losing patience.

Riley slowly grins wildly as he looks up at Mewtwo, who was indeed raising up one arm.

“What are you smilin’ for?!” the criminal bellows. “Both of you, get both arms up now!”

{One is all I need.}

No sooner does Mewtwo speak then the criminal is blasted back to the other end of the restaurant and conks out. Cacnea turns away from the girl and uses Pin Missile against him. Casually blocking it with Reflect, Mewtwo grabs the Pokémon telekinetically, as well, and blasts it toward the ceiling, its spiky body effectively sticking it there.

The customers all stare at him in silent amazement, which doesn’t stay silent for long. The entire place erupts in cheers and whistles for the new hero. The woman who put the two to work before rushes up to him.

“Well, I’ll be! I never would have imagined that I was serving a hero! Feel free to come back anytime, on the house!”

Riley’s face lights up immensely at this prospect, while Mewtwo doesn’t display any emotion, even as the others surround him with further congratulations. However, one man, unnoticed by the others, remains in his seat with a Murkrow sitting beside him. The man looks over at the unconscious criminal.

“Sorry for the Taunting, mate,” he says as he recalls Murkrow, “but believe me, it was well worth it. We finally found our quarry.” The man rubs a small mechanical device strapped to his arm as he looks at Mewtwo within the celebrating mob. “And I tell ya, it’s a real beaut.”

End chapter…

 

[Shift]

Chapter 4

“A victorious day!” Riley croons as he falls backwards into one of the beds in their hotel room, freely granted to them for the night by the manager, a close friend of the restaurant owner.

Mewtwo remains silent and standing, his back turned to his own bed.

“You performed very nicely today,” Riley continues as he gathers his blankets into what can only be described as a nest on his bed. “Our teamwork has greatly improved.”

Mewtwo gives a small snort.

“Gesundheit.”

{I saw no teamwork.}

“Excuse me?” Riley asks in an irritated tone.

{What exactly did you do?} Mewtwo inquires stiffly as he turns his head to look at Riley with a glower.

“How dare you! I was the most important part of our plan!”

{There was never any plan for anything, and the only purpose you served was to count on me to take care of your problems.}

“How I use you is none of your concern!”

{This was clearly a mistake.}

“What was that?!”

{You heard what I said. It was a mistake for me to go along with you. At first, it seemed as though you were only a small annoyance, maybe even a little mad, but I almost believed that an outcast like you could understand how I feel. Now I know the truth: you are a pathetic, self-serving, worthless creature, and there is nothing you and I could possibly have in common.}

“W… worthless?”

{Exactly. If you are the epitome of humanity, then I’ve already formed my opinion, but I highly doubt that that’s the case. Perhaps I can find humans who are actually worth understanding, because it’s apparent that I’m not going to get anywhere with you.}

“What are you saying?”

{Tomorrow, we part ways. You can do what you wish; enjoy free food and lodging for the rest of your life, or go back to living in the alleys, it matters not to me. I’ll find my own road on my own.}

“But…”

{Good night.}

Mewtwo telekinetically turns out the lights, but doesn’t lie on his bed; rather, he moves to the wall and sits down, leaning up against it. Riley looks at him for a moment in what seems like sorrow, then his face quickly contorts with anger as he pulls up the blankets on Mewtwo’s unused bed and adds them to his nest, using the thickest one to cover himself.

A few minutes pass by quietly. However, Riley soon starts to squirm around in his blanket nest, and then pulls off the thick blanket.

“Too hot.”

He rolls it up into a big wad, and after taking careful aim, chucks it at Mewtwo’s head. Strangely enough, it actually hits him. Waking with a start, he angrily uses his powers to make it into an even tighter wad and shoots it at Riley, who ducks just in time as his slams the wall above the doorway. Glaring fiercely at each other in the dark, the two then turn away from each other and close their eyes, finding it hard to get back to sleep…

The next morning, Riley groggily wakes up with a yawn.

“G’morning…”

However, he quickly realizes the greeting was useless, as he looks to Mewtwo’s previous spot only to find the rumpled blanket in his place.

“So, he’s gone.”

Riley sits in his nest, staring down.

“It doesn’t matter. He was the worthless one…”

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Meanwhile, Mewtwo walks down the main street, his disguise back in place. A few of the people walking by wave a friendly greeting to him, but he doesn’t pay them much mind. His only concern lies with finding the way to the exiting road.

“Hold it right there.”

Mewtwo turns around to see the speaker, who turns out to be the man with the device on his left arm.

“I was very impressed with your performance yesterday,” the man continues, grinning slyly. “You seem to be quite the fighter. But then, I wonder if there’s more to it than that?”

Mewtwo doesn’t reply, choosing to turn back around and continue.

“Fine, I’ll spell it out for you: I know your secret.”

Mewtwo stops, but doesn’t face the man.

“In fact, I’ve been searchin’ around for you for a while now. An 'ultimate fighting machine'; you fit that description perfectly. And now that I’m here, I’m sure ya know what’s comin’ next.”

Mewtwo continues to turn away as the man brings out two Pokéballs.

“Murkrow! Kangaskhan! Let’s go!”

As the flash recedes, the two Pokémon thrash about in anticipation.

/ Wha-ha! Time to get to work! \ Murkrow caws; of course, to human ears, this statement is merely the repetition of its name.

/ We’re prepared to win, \ Kangaskhan concurs while its baby merely laughs.

The people along the sides of the dusty street immediately start to form a thin ring around the scene.

“Looks like you have a real audience this time around,” the man laughs. “Good thing that this time the match won’t be done so quick. Now turn an’ fight!”

Mewtwo doesn’t seem to listen to him.

“No? Oh well, have it your way. Kangaskhan, Comet Punch!”

Kangaskhan rushes forward with unnatural speed, its fists flying forward. Mewtwo, who finally turns around, halts Kangaskhan in its tracks.

“Now that I have your attention,” the man sneers, “use Mean Look, Murkrow!”

Murkrow flies in front of Mewtwo’s face and unleashes a glare that seems to somehow freeze Mewtwo from the inside and brings him falling to his knees.

“I wouldn’t want my prize bounty makin’ a getaway, you understand. You won’t be leaving until we’re through.”

The onlookers mumble to each other in concern for their hero. Mewtwo, however, gets up without much trouble and stares straight into the eyes of his oppressor with a determined spirit.

“Good on ya! I hope that things will be much more interesting from here on. Kangaskhan, Fake Out!”

At that command, Kangaskhan performs an even quicker maneuver, a sort of in-and-out movement ending with a quick jab that takes even Mewtwo by complete surprise, leaving him open to another attack.

“Murkrow, Icy Wind!”

Murkrow conjures up an unexpected blast of ice, slowing Mewtwo’s movements considerably. The attack also affects him in another way, by blowing his hat off of his head, revealing his true form to the crowd.

All of the people there pull back and let out a collective gasp of horror.

“His head… What’s wrong with his head?!”

“Is he a Pokémon?”

“What is he?”

Mewtwo looks around at them all, his eyes narrowed.

“Well, you won’t be winnin’ any Pokémon Contests, I s’pose,” the man sighs. “But don’t feel bad; I’ll let you take care of all of those ingrates once your mine. Kangaskhan, use Earthquake!”

Kangaskhan lets out a roar as it pounds the earth, creating a mighty tremor. It doesn’t reach out very far, however, before Mewtwo Teleports right next to the creature and performs Barrier, both raising his own defense while entrapping the tremor within the small space. The reverberations successfully shake Kangaskhan enough for Mewtwo to easily strike it with Psychic, sending it skidding back to its trainer, severely weakened.

“No!” the man cries. “I’m not done yet. Murkrow, get ‘im!”

Murkrow dives for Mewtwo, who unleashes another Psychic attack. However, this has absolutely no effect on the bird as it completes its aerial strike onto Mewtwo’s head.

“Maybe you didn’t get the memo,” the man snickers, “but Dark-types are unaffected by any of your Psychic mumbo-jumbo, pretty much makin’ you a Corph' on the barbie. Go ahead and Taunt him, Murkrow!”

Murkrow uses its Dark powers to bait Mewtwo into attacking against his will. However, Mewtwo uses this to his advantage by unleashing Swift against Murkrow, which successfully makes contact and sends it plummeting.

“Good move, but not good enough. Fly, Murkrow!”

Murkrow regains its lift and takes flight into the sky. Mewtwo tries his Swift attack again, but even such accurate stars can’t reach the bird as it hovers so high out of reach.

“You know what to do now!”

Mewtwo watches as Murkrow begins its dive. Being able to neither strike in time nor defend himself, he can only brace for impact.

PHWACK!!!

It takes a split second for Mewtwo to register that the Murkrow is no longer Flying towards him and to look to the ground to see that Riley had intercepted it in midair and was holding now-struggling bird down.

“Not worthless!!!” Riley shrieks as he grabs Murkrow by the ankles. “Not! Not! Not! Not! Not!” he yells while slamming it into the ground over and over again. He then stands and swings Murkrow around before chucking it straight at the stunned man’s head, knocking him onto his back.

{Riley?} Mewtwo asks tentatively of him as he wheezes irately.

“I’m not worthless!” Riley yells at him.

Mewtwo isn’t sure of what to say. Regardless, neither of them have time to continue, for the man brings himself back onto his feet.

“That was incredibly stupid…” he snarls as his lifts up his machine-equipped arm. “But we’re through playin’. I said I’m gonna catch ya, and I meant it. And now, I’ll show ya both how!”

The man slams a large button on his device, which emits a series of multicolored sparks. These sparks seem to jump off from the device and onto the downed Pokémon, covering them with an aura of energy. Soon, both Pokémon raise themselves up, but their behavior changes completely; their bodies are tensed up, their pupils are dilated, and they are both completely silent, even the baby.

The man, smiling smugly, then simply taps one of the device’s smaller buttons, and the Pokémon go berserk.

“KANGA KAGASKHAN!!!” the mother Pokémon roars, its mind lost even to Mewtwo.

“MUUUR!!!” the bird screeches in the same manner.

The people in the crowd pull back while shouting and screaming.

Both Pokémon then charge straight at Mewtwo, no holds barred. He can only just stop them with Barrier, but that doesn’t keep them from rampaging against it, completely unrelenting in their fury. Mewtwo plants his feet and struggles to keep them at bay, having to divert all of his energy to do so. Riley looks at him anxiously and tries to think of what he should do. Suddenly, it hits him; he looks over at the man’s device, and doesn’t hesitate to run over for it.

“What the—” the man cries out as Riley dashes towards him. “Get away, you!”

He swings his right arm at Riley, knocking him back. Riley, however, skids to a stop and leaps forward again, landing on top of the man and bringing them both crashing to the ground. They begin to punch at and hit each other while tumbling along the ground. Riley then grabs hold of the device and yanks it off.

“GIVE THAT BACK!!!” the man screams, scrambling to pull it away.

Riley keeps a tight grip on it, managing to rip it from the man’s grasp and tossing it over at the rampaging Pokémon. The man runs past Riley to try and get it back, but he doesn’t even make it halfway before the stomping Kangaskhan smashes it to pieces. The man’s wails are drowned out by a high-pitched, electronic screech, which accompanies a small flash of bright light. The light recedes and the screech fades, revealing the two incensed Pokémon knocked out once again with Mewtwo standing tall behind them. Shaking in fear, the man tries to run for it, but Mewtwo easily catches him telekinetically and brings him back.

“Please, mate…” the man pleads. “I’m done now, I swear. Just please, don’t hurt me…”

Mewtwo shakes his head in disgust, then pulls off all of the man’s remaining Pokéballs and lets them drop to the ground before finally throwing him over to the crowd. A few of the people cautiously grab a hold of him, while the rest of them look towards Mewtwo, holding their breaths. Mewtwo looks morosely around at them all, then looks down at Riley, staring up at him.

{Let’s go.}

Mewtwo walks back down the street, Riley silently following behind him, both of them not looking back. The people watch them go without stopping them. As they pass over the town boarder, however, a few of the local children wave a silent good-bye to them, with many of the other citizens follwing suit as they watch the departing heroes.

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After walking some distance away, Riley, with a simple “Here,” hands Mewtwo the hat that he dropped without meeting his eyes. Mewtwo accepts it, but doesn’t put it back onto his head.

“Um…” Riley starts before he merely sighs and looks away again.

{Thank you.}

Riley quickly looks up at him again, though Mewtwo only looks ahead.

{For your help, I mean. You were… very helpful.}

Riley stares at Mewtwo for a moment, then gives a small but happy grin.

The two continue to walk down the road, as there was no need for anything more to be said.

End chapter…

 

[Shift]

Chapter 5

“Rihodieoom City…” Riley struggles to say, he and Mewtwo attempting to read off of a signboard set before a rather large, shining metropolis of a city. “The center of comersee and in… inovatee… vateeon…”

{Are you sure you know how to read?} Mewtwo asks apprehensively.

“Do you?”

Mewtwo pauses for a moment before replying simply, {No.}

“In that case, you ought to leave it to me, the human,” Riley concludes smugly before returning his attention to the writing. “Erhhody… Rahoodee…”

“Rhodium City.”

The two look away from the sign to the man who just spoke, who was on his way out.

“The ‘h’ is silent,” the man sighs. “‘Rhodium City: The center of commerce and innovation.’ That’s what it says.”

“O-oh, yeah,” Riley stammers quickly. “It was just the letters; too small, too blurry.”

The man stares at them in mild suspicion, then continues on his way, shaking his head and mumbling audibly, “Hicks…”

“WHAT WAS—” Riley starts to yell before Mewtwo lifts him a few inches off the ground telekinetically and releases him, causing him to fall over. Riley glares fiercely at Mewtwo, who shakes his head and holds out his padded hand.

{Let’s just go.}

Riley reluctantly grabs hold, Mewtwo pulls him up, and the two of them continue into the city.

“What is it that we’re to do here?” Riley inquires as they start passing by a few of the gleaming buildings.

{I’m not exactly sure, myself.}

“What?! But you wanted to come this way! Why did we bother, then?”

{I was told that I should attempt to investigate as many of life’s different roads at possible. However, I now realize I should have inquired as to what types of roads I should be searching for…}

“Huh?”

{In other words, I really have no idea as to where I’m going.}

“And you’re just saying that now? Why is it that I’m following you to nowhere?”

{Not that again. You were the one so desperate to follow me, not vice versa. And you had the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the last town, didn’t you? The question of why you’re still accompanying me truly rests with you.}

“Oh, now I remember! You’re my Pokémon, and it’s my job to command and support you as your master.”

{Please, not that again…}

“And as your master, I cannot allow this mindless rambling to continue. We have no money, no mission, and no direction, so we mustn’t keep going aimlessly. We need to plot a course and—”

PHWANG!

{Riley?}

Mewtwo looks down at the fallen Riley, having just walked headlong into a metal pole.

“Ohh…” Riley moans, his eyes spinning.

Mewtwo turns back to the poll, having just noticed the flyer attached to it.

{What could this be about?}

“What’s what about…?” Riley asks as he struggles to stand. He too, then sees the flyer and inspects it.
“Today,” he reads with some difficulty, “Prof. Son-eye-a… um, Hawthorn… somethin’-or-other… siempo… saye… um… blabbidy-blah whatever!” he finally cries out in exasperation. “My head hurts! From the pole!” he adds quickly. “Stupid pole jumping in my way…”

Riley storms off in a huff. Mewtwo, with just another glance at the flyer, follows him. They head over to an empty bench near the park with a large, open-air auditorium, packed with people listening to someone on the stage. The two pay this little mind, however, as they sit down, Riley rubbing the point of the pole’s connection.

“Stupid pole. Now I have a headache…”

{Perhaps we should rest,} Mewtwo suggests as he pulls his hat over his eyes. {We’ve been walking for some time, and we’ll need to be rested if we hope to find a way to go.}

“I’ll never be able to get some rest with all this noise everywhere!” Riley replies sourly. However, it doesn’t take long for his assertion to be proven false, having fallen fast asleep, and snoring, no less, from his head leaning back and his mouth being drawn wide open. Mewtwo slumbers slightly, as well, though much more quietly. Indeed, the warmth of the sun keeps them locked in sleep for much of the morning and into the afternoon. However…

“Mmph… Hmmph?”

Riley wakes up immediately, for something was trying to envelop his head. He tries to draw a breath, but this proves impossible because whatever subtance was covering him had entered his mouth.

“MMPH! MMMPH!!!”

He flails around, desperate for air, his panicked screeches effectively muffled. He grabs hold of the attacking substance and pulls, but it only stretches out like soft rubber. He desperately pulls more and more of the pink goo, soon pulling a strand that stares back at him with tiny, black eyes. Terrified, Riley stumbles back and falls onto Mewtwo, who swiftly wakes up and casts and alarmed look at his companion. Mewtwo quickly uses his powers to pull the amorphous creature off of Riley and send it flying a few feet away. Riley gasps and draws in air thankfully. Mewtwo, meanwhile, stares at the pink creature, now clearly seen as a Ditto, pulling itself back together. In addition, he sees a woman nearby, running over to them. She bends down to pick up the Ditto, then stands and looks at Mewtwo through her glasses in shock.

“I’m sorry, but…” she says, her voice trembling a bit, “…how did you do that?”

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“Please forgive Ditto,” the woman asks of the two once again, all three of them sitting in a comfortable restaurant as her apology. “It doesn’t like loud noises at all, and it’ll do anything to plug up the source, which I suppose was you this time,” she continues with a small giggle.

“Whatever,” Riley replies, too interested with his meal to concentrate on a grudge.

“It’s incredible,” the woman sighs, looking at Mewtwo. “A Pokémon capable of human-level intelligence and mind speech! It’s simply amazing.”

{Thank you,} Mewtwo replies, a little half-heartedly.

“I’m sorry, I never introduced myself! I’m Professor Hawthorn; Professor Sonya Hawthorn.”

{The person mentioned in the bulletin, correct?}

“Exactly! For the record, my glasses don’t have anything to do with my intelligence; I just have bad eyes and don’t like contacts very much. Anyway, I’m so grateful that I didn’t postpone my symposium after all, after meeting you,” she continues while absentmindedly curling a strand of her red hair. “May I ask what your names are?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” Riley tells her with a mouth full of food. “He’s Mewtwo, and I’m Riley.”

Riley holds out his hand, covered in small bits of food. Prof. Hawthorn gingerly takes a hold of it and gives it a tiny shake. As Riley resumes his ravenous consumption, the professor continues, “Did you say you were called Mewtwo?”

{Yes.}

“Then the rumors may be true after all!”

“What rumors?” Riley asks.

“It’s a common story among the scientific community that many years ago, a group of researchers had steeped themselves into the study of Mew, the ancient creature thought to have been the precursor to all Pokémon species. It was rumored that they had actually discovered some form of Mew; whether it was the actual creature or merely genetic material no one could agree on. However, it was also suggested that they had managed to create an enhanced, living replica of Mew; one even stronger than the original. Whether the entire story is true or not, there’s no denying that you’re an extremely special Pokémon.”

Mewtwo doesn’t speak, only shifting his eyes away.

“It’s must be quite amazing,” she continues. “Created as the ultimate Pokémon. Being as intelligent as you are, I’m sure you can understand what a blessing it is to be endowed with such abilities.”

{A blessing… Is that what you’d call it?}

“Why, yes, I suppose. I mean, many Pokémon struggle to gain such strength and prowess, but it comes so naturally to you. It really would be a blessing to many. Don’t you… feel that way?” the professor asks a little hesitantly.

Mewtwo glowers at her, clenching his fist, and snarls, {Your stupidity makes me sick.}

“What? I-I’m sorry,” the professor stammers. “I-I didn’t mean to insult you,” she adds as she places her
hand on Mewtwo’s arm.

{Don’t touch me!} Mewtwo roars, angrily yanking his arm away. He then leaves his seat and storms away.

“No! Wait! Come back!” Prof. Hawthorn desperately calls out to him, but Mewtwo is already gone. “Oh…” she moans as she clutches her head. “What did I do?”

“Who knows?” Riley answers placidly before stuffing his mouth with a large roll.

Mewtwo, now well away from the restaurant, continues walking down the evening-covered street, his mind still fuming from his sudden rage. He doesn’t stop as he pushes a young couple out of his way.

“Hey, buddy!” the guy calls as he supports the girl. “Watch where you’re goin’!”

Mewtwo replies with a glare so fierce that the man immediately shrinks back and quietly leads the girl away. Mewtwo continues to stride angrily down the street until he arrives at the outskirts of the city. He moves away from the bright lights into the dark, expansive field adjacent. Breathing heavily, he draws in the cold air around him. The anger slowly dissipating, Mewtwo takes off his hat and seats himself on the ground to reflect.

A blessing, he thinks to himself. It’s all too far from a blessing…

Further thought on the matter is halted, however, as Mewtwo senses someone behind him. Quickly standing once more and turning around, he sees two figures. One, certainly a Pokémon, floats in midair, it’s metallic body barely reflecting the light from the city. The other, assumedly it’s trainer, is of a stocky build, but who’s body doesn’t gain any illumination; only the person’s dull eyes and the familiar-looking device on his arm can be seen with the captured light. Mewtwo readies himself as the trainer points a finger straight at him.

“Metang,” the trainer commands lifelessly, “Metal Claw.”

Metang groans metallically as it rushes forward with shining claws outstretched. Mewtwo blocks the attack with Barrier, which nevertheless sends him sliding back a few feet. Undaunted, Mewtwo counters with Psychic, which unfortunately bounces right off of Metang’s steel-covered and psychically-reinforced hide.

“Metang, Agility.”

Metang’s body loosens up and vibrates in the air at a great velocity. Mewtwo sees this and counters with Psych Up, copying Agility’s effect and increasing his own speed.

“Metang, Scary Face.”

Metang’s face contorts in such a way that it chills Mewtwo to his very core, negating his speed increase. He resorts to using Barrier again.

“Metang, Double-edge.”

Metang spins rapidly and charges head on towards Mewtwo, crashing into him with an explosive force. Both of them are sent flying back. Mewtwo, however, catches himself in midair and Teleports away.

“Metang, Pursuit.”

Metang moves in a jagged manner, zooms up to a spot in air, and strikes with a dark force that knocks the stunned Mewtwo back into view, sending him plummeting.

“Metang…”

The Pokémon moves just beneath the falling Mewtwo.

“…Meteor Mash.”

Metang unleashes a meteor-like punch squarely into Mewtwo’s back. With a gasp, Mewtwo is sent flying back into the air only to fall and slam into the ground. Hearing footsteps coming towards him, the last thing he sees is a searing red light before darkness sets in…

End chapter…

 

[Shift]

Chapter 6

Previously, Mewtwo had stormed out of the restaurant he and Riley were dining at, incensed by something that Prof. Sonya Hawthorn, the woman treating them to the meal, had said. This part of the story explains what happened while Mewtwo was gone.

“Oh…” the professor moaned as she clutched her head. “What did I do?”

“Who knows?” Riley answered placidly before stuffing his mouth with a large roll.

“I didn’t mean to hurt him. I just thought that… Oh, I should have been more sensitive.”

“Geth tho,” Riley replied with his mouth full.

“It should have been obvious! He must have gone through a terrible ordeal become as strong as he is. Why didn’t I see it?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Um…” the professor said as she strummed her fingers nervously. “Don’t you think we should go after him?”

“Huh?” Riley mumbled, coming out of a slight daze. “Oh, right!”

Prof. Hawthorn left some money on the table and headed out, followed by Riley, who paused just long enough to grab the remaining rolls.

Heading down the street, they asked some of the meandering people if they had seen him, without describing him too specifically, of course.

“That jerk?” the guy with the girl, both of whom Mewtwo had terrorized earlier, replied to their inquiry. “Yeah, he went that way, towards the edge of town. Keep him under control, would ya?”

“Yeah, yeah…” Riley grunted back as he and the professor set off in that direction, the night setting in.

“We’ll need our own light from here onward,” Prof. Hawthorn told him while pulling out a Pokéball. “Magnemite!”

The ball opened to reveal the magnet Pokémon.

“Magnemite, use Flash to light our way.”

“Magne!” the creature replied happily as it glowed with a bright luminescence, effectively lighting their path continuing from outside the city. They all head into the field, calling out for Mewtwo.

“Mewtwo, where are you?” the professor called out. “I’m sorry! Please come back!”

“Well, I’m not sorry!” Riley yells. “Get back here right now! Right now, I said!”

With no reply, they continued to call and search with no luck. That is, not until they heard the commotion from some yards off. Wasting no time, they hurried over to see if it was indeed Mewtwo, which, of course, it was. And with that, the story returns to the present time.

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“No!” both Riley and the professor shout as Mewtwo slams into the ground, unmoving. The stoic trainer watches on as his Metang levels out over the ground.

Prof. Hawthorn, emanating a sudden authoritative energy, pulls out two more Pokéballs. “Rapidash! Ditto! Go!”

The two Pokémon materialize: the Ditto from before, and the ever-burning Rapidash.

“Rapidash, Fire Spin!”

The horse-like creature unleashes a vortex of flame with a shrill whiney. The flames entrap the Metang as the trainer watches silently.

“Riley, take care of Mewtwo!” the professor commands, the flames bringing her fierce expression into sharp relief. Riley weakly nods his head and dashes off to aid Mewtwo. The professor turns to Ditto, crying, “Ditto, Transform into Rapidash!”

“Ditto!” it replies as it instantly shifts and morphs into an exact replica of the flaming equestrian.

“Metang,” the trainer commands, “Double-edge.”

Metang slams against its burning cage, but it only ends up damaging itself.

“Rapidash, Ditto!” Prof. Hawthorn calls out. “Flamethrower!”

Her two Pokémon each unleash a jet of flames, enveloping Metang. The trainer looks on for a moment, and then silently pulls out his Pokéball.

“Metang, return,” he says indifferently, and Metang is pulled out from the inferno, causing the flames to start to die down. The trainer leaps away into the darkness without another word. The professor is about to chase after him before remembering Mewtwo’s condition. She rushes over to him and Riley, kneeling down beside them.

“How is he?” she asks quickly.

“Won’t move,” Riley answers. Indeed, Mewtwo was knocked out cold.

“He’s fainted,” the professor tells Riley. “He needs treatment quickly.”

“How will we do that?”

“I think there’s no other choice: he needs a Pokémon Center.”

“What’s that?”

“What’s th…? You mean you’ve never…? Oh, never mind,” the professor sighs. She motions Rapidash and the transformed Ditto over and takes a hold of Mewtwo, telling Riley, “Help me get him on.”

“On those things?!” Riley shouts, pointing at the flaming manes of both Pokémon. “They’ll burn him alive!”

“Rapidash can control the intensity of their flames at will, which they’ll do as long as they trust the handler,” she explains. “Mewtwo will be fine, but that won’t be the case for long with we don’t hurry.”
With a reluctant scour, Riley nods his head in agreement, and after grabbing Mewtwo’s hat, the two of them, each holding one side of Mewtwo, carefully lift him up onto the backs of two Pokémon, whose flames, indeed, recede. With the two holding him steady on either side, they all head back to the city, guided by Magnemite’s light.

After some number of minutes, they make it back into Rhodium City, Prof. Hawthorn leading the way to the large Pokémon Center. After they lift Mewtwo off of the two Pokémon, Ditto reverts to its original form, breathing heavily.

“Thank you, Ditto,” the professor says kindly as she recalls Ditto into its ball. “You too, Rapidash,” she continues as she does the same for it. Then, she and Riley each take a hold one side of Mewtwo and carry him through the doors.

“Hello,” the nurse inside says as they enter. “Welcome to ou—” she stops short as she sees the covered form of Mewtwo.

The professor moves up and, while holding up her ID card, briskly informs her, “I’m Professor Hawthorn. This Pokémon is in critical condition, so please don’t ask any questions. Can you help it?”

“I, uh…” the nurse mumbles while glancing back and forth between the card and Mewtwo. She finally stutters, “Yes, I-I’ll take care of it.” Turning around, she calls out, “Machoke!”, and sure enough, the muscular Pokémon, wearing a nurse's uniform, lumbers in. “Machoke, please carefully bring the patient into the examining room.”

“Machokah,” the aid replies, moving over to and gingerly lifting Mewtwo’s body, and then bringing it through the doorway behind the service desk. The nurse follows behind them, while Riley and the professor take a seat on one of the cushioned benches in the middle of the room.

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The early morning sun is rising as the examination room light turns off. Prof. Hawthorn gently prods the snoring Riley awake as the door opens. The nurse, looking rather pale, walks in, followed by Machoke and Mewtwo, who moves over to the others. Riley hands Mewtwo back his hat, which he places onto his head. With a small nod of thanks to the nurse, he walks out, his two companions following behind him, leaving the nurse to faint herself.

Outside, the three of them walk quietly for a few minutes. Soon, however, they reach the park bench where they had first met the previous day. They don’t sit down, but rather stand around it without speaking for a moment. Soon, though, the professor pipes up, “Oh, Mewtwo, I—”

{I’m sorry.}

“Huh?”

{I… I acted too unreasonably, and I apologize. It’s… a complicated issue… You couldn’t have known.}

“Well, I ought to have. I shouldn’t have been so pretentious, so I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“Okay, I think we get it!” Riley yells in exasperation. “You’re both sorry, fine. Now what about that crazy metal doohickey Pokémon?!”

“That is a problem,” the professor agrees. “Why was it after you in the first place?”

“Yeah, why is that?”

{I really wouldn’t know. All I’m sure of is that the man controlling Metang was wearing that same device, the type we saw in the last town.}

“That thing?” Riley asks, and then says with a grin, “We’ll just smash it like before!”

“But that Metang was powerful,” the professor points out, “and Psychic-type attacks have little effect on Steel types, not to mention that it’s also part Psychic. At his current state, it’ll be hard for Mewtwo to defeat it. However, I may have the answer.”

{What would that be?} Mewtwo inquires as the professor reaches into her pocket, soon pulling out three disks.

“These!” she exclaims, their glossy surfaces catching the early morning light.

“What are they?” Riley asks in awe.

“Technical machines, or TMs, for short,” the professor explains. “Each of these has a unique attack encoded onto it, and if it’s used on a compatible Pokémon, that Pokémon will learn the attack. However, they’re extremely fragile, and will only work once on one Pokémon.”

{And you want to use them on me?}

“Exactly!”

{But what about your Pokémon?}

“They either already know the attacks, or can’t learn them at all. Besides, you need them much more than I do, and they’ll like come in handy in the future. So, will you use them?”

“Do it!” Riley urges him. “Free stuff!”

{Very well,} Mewtwo agrees. {It’s worth a try.}

“Good.” Prof. Hawthorn takes out some sort of scanning device and places the first disk, a blue one, into it. “Now, hold still,” she says as she holds the device up to Mewtwo’s head and pulls the trigger. The disk begins to spin rapidly and a beam the same color as the disk showers Mewtwo. “TM 13: Ice Beam,” she informs him as the disk crumbles away. She places the second, yellow-colored disk in and does the same thing, stating, “TM 24: Thunderbolt.” The disk, like the one before, disintegrates.

“Feel any different?” Riley asks.

{I’m not sure,} Mewtwo sighs.

“It worked, all right,” the professor tells them. “My encoder says so. Now, this last one is the most crucial,” she explains as she places the final disk, orange, into the device. “TM 35: Fla—”

At that moment, something smashes into the bench, sending pieces of wood flying everywhere. Having crouched in cover, the three of them look up to see a giant Metagross groaning angrily.

“WHAT IS THAT THING?!” Riley yells.

“The Metang must have evolved!” the professor answers quickly. “It’s Metagross now!”

The trainer from the night before approaches. Without a word, he points directly at Mewtwo, which seems to be the only command Metagross needs. It flies forward with such speed that Mewtwo can’t properly defend himself, and is sent flying as a result. Recovering in midair, however, he lands deftly on the ground.
“Mewtwo!” the professor cries out. “Use Thunderbolt!”

“Hey, don’t go ordering my Pokémon around!” Riley shouts indignantly. “Mewtwo, use Thunderbolt!”

With a grunt of impatience, Mewtwo leaps up, and with no prior practice, summons a wad of crackling electricity within his palm and shoots it out as a large bolt. The energy strikes Metagross, causing it to screech with pain.

“Quickly, Mewtwo! You need to learn this last attack!” the professor calls.

Mewtwo prepares to come over, but Metagross quickly recovers and rushes towards him again. Quickly using Barrier, Mewtwo can just barely block the assault as Metagross smashes at him wildly.

“We have to slow Metagross down long enough to teach Mewtwo the attack,” the professor says anxiously to Riley, then shouts to Mewtwo, “It won’t be very effective, but you need to try and freeze it with Ice Beam!”

Mewtwo nods quickly in agreement, then bursts away from Metagross, all the while charging a now icy-blue energy in his hand. He fires the Ice Beam at the metal behemoth, who only shakes off the frost and charges again. Mewtwo leaps out of the way just in time.

“Try again!” Prof. Hawthorn cries.

Mewtwo indeed tries the attack again, firing the beam straight at Metagross and successfully freezing its legs to the ground. Wasting no time, Mewtwo Teleports over to the professor, who immediately holds out the encoder with TM 35 inside and starts it up. Metagross, however, pulls itself free and spurts towards the three of them. Mewtwo pushes the professor away and halts Metagross in its tracks, though has trouble bracing himself. As the professor falls to the ground and Riley comes over to her, he sees the encoder and the shattered remains on the TM.

“Did it work?” he asks.

“I don’t know; it might have been stopped too soon. Mewtwo!”

Mewtwo, struggling to keep Metagross at bay with his bare hands, can’t move away at all. Suddenly, however, his bare hands begin to glow with a red light, and embers spark forth from within his palms. Grinning, Riley clenches his fist triumphantly, while the professor sighs with relief, and the trainer merely watches silently. With a blast of force, Mewtwo unleashes his newly-acquired Flamethrower, sending the Metagross skidding back several feet in a trail of smog. Undeterred, Metagross flings itself at Mewtwo again. Mewtwo, however, is more than ready. His hand releases another mighty jet of flames that engulfs Metagross. When the fire dies down, Metagross, it’s metal coating charred and slightly warped, staggers in place, struggling to stay erect.

{That’s enough,} Mewtwo tells the Pokémon calmly. {I’m not your enemy.}

/I must fight,\ the Metagross pants. /Must fight… Must fight…\

The trainer, without a word, lifts up the device on his arm. Riley sees this and alerts Mewtwo, “Look out!”
Mewtwo sees it too late as the trainer presses the button, and just as had happened during their previous experience, Metagross is instantly healed and roars in uncontrollable rage. Mewtwo leaps out of the way as Metagross smashes the street where he had previously stood, creating a considerable crater. Metagross continues to swing wildly at Mewtwo, destroying all objects in its path.

“What’s happening?!” the professor cries out in fear.

“That box thingy makes the Pokémon go crazy!” Riley explains. “We gotta smash it!”

“Then we’ll need a distraction,” the professor replies as she pulls out a Pokéball. “Magnemite!”

The magnet Pokémon pops out once again.

“Use Supersonic, Magnemite!”

“Magnemiiiite!” the little Pokémon hums as it unleashes its sound wave attack, affecting everyone present, including Metagross. The titan falls to the ground in agony.

“Mewtwo, attack the device!” the professor calls out with her ears covered.

Mewtwo, though also reeling from Supersonic, manages to stand and attempts to take steady aim at the device. He fires the Ice Beam attack, and fortunately, his aim turns out to be true. The device is slowly encased in ice, the trainer being unable to move from Supersonic.

“Leave the rest to me!” Riley says as Supersonic wears down, and he dashes towards the trainer. Metagross sees this and makes a mad sprint to intercept him, but Mewtwo blocks his way with Barrier. Meanwhile, Riley makes it to the still-confused trainer and, with and upward kick, strikes the machine and shatters it into a thousand pieces. The icy remains spark ferociously as they scatter over the ground, but in a matter of moments their activity dies down for good. The trainer wobbles in place, and with a low mumble of “Thank you,” slumps to the ground.

The Metagross, on the other hand, smashes past Mewtwo and dives for Riley. Luckily, the effects on the device wear down on it as well, as it collapses to the ground before it can reach him. Riley walks over to it with a smirk on his face. “Not so tough now, huh, Pokémon?” he s******s as he raps it on the head. With the last of its strength, Metagross knocks Riley away and sends him tumbling into the unconscious trainer. Both he and Mewtwo sigh irritably, while the professor giggles in spite of herself.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Here. This should be enough for a few days.”

“Thanks, Sohnni.”

“No, Sonya.”

“Right: Sohnni.”

“Oh, never mind,” the professor sighs with a smile in the glow of the evening sun.

Mewtwo takes possession of the box of food she had just given to them as he asks, {Are things truly okay in the city?}

“Yes, don’t worry. That young man and his Pokémon are being cared for at the Center. Like I said, he didn’t remember much of anything from the past few months, so there’s no knowing of what really happened. The city officials didn’t press charges since he said that he and Metagross would help repair the damage.”

{That’s good to hear.}

“Yeah, very nice, very nice,” Riley answers anxiously. “And?”

“And I haven’t told anyone else about Mewtwo,” she concludes.

“Good. We don’t need any bad publicity; we’ll show everyone how much better we are than them when we’re good and ready.”

After a disgruntled snort, Mewtwo tells the professor, {Thank you for your help.}

“Yeah, and thanks for the free swag, Sohnni!” Riley adds.

“My pleasure,” Sonya laughs. “I hope we meet again someday,” she says as she shakes Riley’s hand. She turns to Mewtwo to see him looking away, and grows slightly crestfallen. After a moment, however, he holds out his arm, his gnarled fingers outstretched. Joyfully beaming, Sonya gladly clasps his hand and shakes. She then takes out a Pokéball and releases her Rapidash, who bends down and quells it’s flaming mane to allow her to climb on. After mounting, she gives a farewell wave before having Rapidash gallop down one of the routes away from Rhodium City.

{We should be going, as well.}

“Yeah. Boy , I miss all that free stuff already…”

{Is that all that matters to you in the end?}

“Certainly. What, you think I admired her as a person or something dumb like that?”

{Oh, never mind,} Mewtwo snarls as he heads down another trail.

“Hey, wait!” Riley calls, running after him. “You know how it is: ‘Take what you can, when you can’! That’s how it always is!”

{Erg…}

End chapter…

 

[The Dean of Suds]

I think this is an excellent fic! The description is nice, the characters are well-thought out and portrayed nicely[penny-piching street bum! Whoo!] The plot is excellent and unique, and the grammar is almost flawless. Come on, people! 92 views and NO RESPONSES?!? I just can't believe no one responded to this! It is awsome,Shift. Really awsome.
Over and out,;198;

Edit: I just noticed that at the top you didn't spoil The two words you meant to spoil. Might want to address that.
Over and out [again],;198;

 

[Ditto master]

You had some wrighting to do!