Author's Note: Hello everyone! For those of you who have read Road to be a Pokemon Master, it's been a long time! Unfortunately, I couldn't take the fic further due to lack of interest and also the fact that I have set the fic after BW, and I felt like the XY characters are missing out! And here I am, with my latest fic, taking you into an AU of the Pokemon anime set in the future! More details on the universe setting will be explained in detail in the next chapter! For now, let us shoot straight into the prologue!
Unbound: Shadow of Doubt
About Unbound
Pokemon Unbound will be a series of fanfictions set in an AU with most of the canon characters aged up. Written by dracoflarex from tumblr, this fic aims to show its readers a story that stays true to its canon flavor while trying to connect the various untold potential stories hidden in the Pokemon world.
The fanfiction is set in an alternate universe from the canon with some of its events, slightly altered. The fanfiction acknowledges that Ash has never aged in the canon series, but for its own convenience will age him.
The events of most of the Pokemon movies will be considered canon, with the exception of the XY movies. Which means, Ash and his friends have never met Diancie, Hoopa, Volcanion, Xerneas and Yveltal. The events of the movie "Extremespeed Genesect" will be slightly altered, so that only one Mewtwo exists in the universe.
The events of XY and the current XYZ anime will be considered, but the unaired events as of the day of writing will be assumed. The cut-off for the adaptations of events will be XYZ10.
In addition, many more liberties are taken with the world building and additional explanations to the working behind Pokemon and their powers will be described in detail in the extra material that will be posted on this blog as the fic progresses.
You can additionally track things by following the blog "pokemon-unbound-series" on tumblr
Prologue
To describe the room the young receptionist stepped into, it was a colorful mess. Frilly clothes and ribbons filled the space on the tables, chairs and even the dressers. Expensive looking satin cloth roll lay in a mess in one corner of the room on which was a small, blue Pokémon that seemed to be deep in sleep. But what made the receptionist smile was the blue-haired woman sleeping on the desk, amidst sheets of paper filled with colorful sketches.
"Miss Dawn," the reception tapped the blunette lightly, her voice gentle. The girl in her mid-teens slowly opened her eyes, registering the presence of the blond woman. She raised her head and blinked groggily at her. "You have a visitor."
"What's the time?" She said, the wall clock answering her question. "I must have dozed off again." She stretched her arms and let out a yawn, before standing up. Her legs wobbled a little, probably because she spent too much time sitting on the chair. She looked at the sketches lying on her desk, and let out a sigh. "Is it someone important?" She asked.
"I have reason to believe so," the receptionist said, her lips spreading with a smile. "It's Champion Cynthia."
Dawn looked at her as if she were just hit by a Thunderbolt. "Cynthia?!" Any remaining drowsiness in her face disappeared.
In a few minutes, the former coordinator was all fresh and dressed up. Dawn didn't like stepping out if she was anything less than perfect and that goes double when the person she had to meet was someone important like the Champion of Sinnoh.
The said woman was sitting in the longue, going through the fashion magazines one after the other. The entire building looked grand, with smooth ceramic tiles. An automatic glass door led straight to the reception, next to which was the lounge for visitors.
"Cynthia," Dawn greeted the champion. The champion looked up from the magazine she was engrossed in and gave a warm smile. "You've really come!"
"Of course, I can't ignore a request so important," she said, standing up. "It's good to see you again, Dawn." The two shook their hands, following which, the receptionist showed them to a room where they could talk in private.
"I'm sorry I had to suddenly call you up," Dawn asked, as the two settled down on their seats. "It's been a long since we last met."
"It's okay. I had no important matches scheduled this week," she said, brushing her hair aside. "So how is being a Pokéstylists like?"
"It's exhausting," Dawn said, remembering how she had dozed off on her desk last night. It wasn't the first time either. "But I love it. Retiring from contests was difficult but I don't regret it."
"Speaking of contests," the champion said. "I have heard that there is a collaborative festival in Kalos this year. I think it's called the Kalos Carnival."
Dawn looked in surprise. "Really? Are Pokéstylists invited too?"
Cynthia nodded. "It's a cross-cultural festival which is going to bring artists, coordinators, Pokémon performers, musical performers and of course Pokéstylists together. Even the Pokémon Sommelier Association is a part of the event and will be the judges for many of the events."
"Wow," Dawn said, tapping the buttons of her Pokétch. "I'll look into this. I have always wanted to visit Kalos actually."
"I'm glad I could help you somehow," Cynthia smiled. "Kalos is also hosting a Champions' League this time and the preliminaries will be starting in two months."
"I must be living under a rock," Dawn said, looking embarrassed. "Just like my mom says, I really am behind the time these days."
Cynthia chuckled. "The league will be attracting a lot of people, which is also why they are hosting the carnival around the same time."
"I'll make sure to attend that then. It sounds like something I can't miss!"
The two remained silent for a second before a sudden seriousness took over the atmosphere. "So, what exactly is that you wanted to talk to me about?" Cynthia asked, breaking the ice.
Dawn took a deep breath before she spoke. "I'm sorry for keeping you in suspense all this time. But…" Her expression faltered for a second. "Yesterday I had a strange dream, and I saw Mesprit in it." She shook her head slightly. "To be more accurate, I was Mesprit in the dream."
The champion raised an eyebrow. "Continue."
"It was really hazy, but I think I was watching the whole thing through Mesprit's eyes. We were alone somewhere deep inside the lake, hiding from something damgerous. I don't know what it was but I knew it was coming close. I was scared because I wasn't even sure what I was fighting, or at least that's how it was in the dream. Before I know what was happening, something grabbed me and then it became dark all of a sudden. I woke up after that."
"It could be Mesprit's shared vision." Cynthia mumbled. "Whatever you saw might be Mespirit's experience."
"Or maybe I just had a nightmare." Dawn said, taking a deep sigh. She wanted to believe in that but she couldn't. "I haven't been able to sleep properly lately."
The champion couldn't help but chuckle at this. "But what do you believe, Dawn? What do your instincts tell you?"
Dawn thought for a second. "It tells me there's trouble and I am asked for help…but I could be imagining too much. I don't think Ash or Brock had experienced something like this."
"Their connection to the lake guardians might be weak given they are in Kanto," she paused. "Or well wherever Ash is right now. Dawn, what if there's an unforeseen danger and you are the only one who has come to know of it."
"I'd say 'Why me'," Dawn said, letting out a wry laugh. She stood up from her seat and walked a bit. "But I'd also go to Lake Verity and see what's wrong."
"If it's a false alarm, you could still enjoy a day at your hometown."
"I hope that's the case, really." She pumped her fist, mocking a confident expression. "But hey even if it's an apocalyptic terror, there's no need to worry." She looked at the ceiling, observing the orange light that brightened the room. "I'll take care of it," she said, half sarcastic.
"But maybe that's when we have to worry the most."
The two women exchanged a glance before chuckling again. The heavy topic ended on a lighter note but the two Sinnoans couldn't help but feel that they wouldn't like whatever it was in store for them.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the Unova region…
The skyscrapers of the Castelia City decorated the night with innumerable neon lights, painting a picture resembling the stars. Standing on top of one of these taller buildings was a Pokémon whose existence was unknown to the millions of people who walked underneath.
The Pokémon moved amongst people, curiously observing their behavior and watching over the Pokémon that bonded with them. To that strange Pokémon, who was created by humans to be their tool, bonding with them was a difficult task. And yet, despite its own reservations against human nature, it knew all humans weren't the same and began to understand the beautiful bond that existed between humans and Pokémon.
The Pokémon was known as Mewtwo, a name that constantly reminded of its unnatural existence.
Mewtwo's powerful senses gave it the ability to study each and every of the millions of people and Pokémon, learn their stories, muse over their behaviors and silently judged the from afar. Today was not any different for the psychic Pokémon, as it was deep engrossed in studying the lives of the people.
Or so it thought.
The Pokémon's tail twitched, a strange feeling of discomfort left it uneasy.
The source of discomfort was an unusual presence, but the Pokémon couldn't spot anything concrete nearby that could be disturbing. The presence was somewhere far away, it deduced, before spreading its search to much farther locations.
'For a Pokémon cloned out of an elusive legendary and enhanced in ability, such as task was not impossible. Just by standing at one place, it could know what happened in the entire region if it chose to do so.
Mewtwo's search ended when its senses reached the northernmost area of Unova. The Pokémon opened its eyes in surprise, 'That enormous presence, is it a Pokémon?'
If it was a Pokémon, then it was anything unlike what it had seen so far. Mewtwo tried to push its senses further but a strange barrier blocked its psychic energy. Shifting its focus, the Pokémon focused on the distant New Tork City, where it was welcomed by familiar yet powerful Pokémon.
"Can you hear me, Genesect?"
Only silence replied the psychic before it could hear Genesect's thoughts reaching it back. "Mewtwo? Is that you?"
"Yes," Mewtwo replied back in telepathy, its tail twitched in anticipation. "Far up north I sense a strange presence I cannot identify. It is so overwhelming I could feel it even in Castelia City."
"I'm aware, we had in fact sensed the presence many days ago."
"Days?"
"Yes, the presence does not threaten us but it is alarming. For that sake, I have sent one of mine to see what it was. We are yet to hear from Douse." The swarm leader remained silent before speaking again. "But to think you could feel it that far even without trying...that's rather troublesome."
"It is." A strange glow shrouded Mewtwo as it lifted itself into the air before setting its eyes towards the north. "I do not know what it is, but I shall see it for myself."
The psychic type closed its eyes and brought its crossed arms towards its chest. Even though it lacked the bond with a human and a mega stone, Mewtwo's innate ability to study its own DNA let it achieve something no other Pokémon could. The Pokémon let out a grunt, in a voice that could be called masculine before a blinding light enveloped its essence.
When the light dissipated, the Pokémon underneath changed in form, much smaller in height with a projection resembling a tail extended from behind on its head.
The Pokémon could no longer just be called Mewtwo. Although it didn't know what it could call such a strange forme, Mewtwo believed it was similar to Mega Evolution and hence it called itself, Mega Mewtwo.
"I'm heading to that place," Mewtwo said to its distant friend. The Pokémon's tone changed to a more feminine one, if one could call it that. And then—
At a speed beyond anyone's imagination, Mega Mewtwo dashed towards its destination. At such a monstrous speed, one could expect to see nothing more than a blur but Mega Mewtwo's enhanced senses let it keep a track of its movements as if it were nothing. From the eyes of the mega evolved Pokémon, time itself had slowed down to adjust to its speed.
Such an incredible phenomenon was possible only due to the incredible psychic force the Pokémon possessed. It was unheard of, but Mega Mewtwo's skill let it manipulate its psychic power to boost its entire body and move at a speed beyond the limits of ordinary Pokémon.
In what seemed like a few minutes but was only few seconds, Mega Mewtwo reached the northern most part of Unova. The landscape was a mountainous snow, with a bitter cold weather reminiscent of the wretched peaks of Mt. Silver. The Pokémon gasped when it found itself staring at a swirling storm of ice extending as far as it could see into the sky, it was about as wide as a battlefield.
Clearly, the storm was not normal.
'So this is what has been stopping my psychic from reaching inside.'
Being used to detecting the presence of life around it, Mewtwo couldn't help but feel uncomfortable when it couldn't detect what lay ahead of the storm.
Just then, in a red blur another Pokémon appeared and landed right next to Mewtwo. The Pokémon turned to its acquaintance. "You've come."
"This strange storm has been bothering me," Red Genesect said, checking out the large pillar that was huge both in width and height. "I never witnessed anything like this before." It lowered its head. Although Mewtwo couldn't decipher its facial expression, it didn't take much to guess that the Pokémon was worried. "Douse is inside."
"We shall go," Mega Mewtwo said, lifting itself into the air. Despite the unease it felt, the Pokémon decided to enter, prepared to fight whatever lay inside. Letting out a battle cry, the psychic type dashed into the storm at once.
"Mewtwo, wait!" Red Genesect screeched in warning.
As soon as it propelled into the storm, Mega Mewtwo found its vision and psychic senses completely cut off. But it continued to charge blindly in hope that it could find an advantageous position inside but—
Out of nowhere, sharp blades struck the torpedoing Pokémon, throwing it out of control.
"Magical leaf?" Before Mewtwo could understand what happened, something powerful struck it on the face. The psychic type found itself being shot away by an enormous force and landed outside the storm on the solid ground of ice.
Without a doubt, the attack that knocked it away was a Hyper Beam.
Ignoring the burning pain on its chest, Mewtwo levitated back onto its feet and powered down into its original form. The psychic's tail twitched, displeased by the surprise attack. The wall of snowstorm continued to rage as if nothing happened. However, Mewtwo could make out four silhouettes that stood by the border, the swirling ice concealing their appearance.
"Who is that?" Red Genesect asked, wary of the four mysterious Pokémon that stood in front.
Mewtwo could feel that their strong presence was unlike the other Pokémon it had met in Unova. The Pokémon before them were either legendary or extremely powerful, it deduced. "I do not know, but I can tell they will not let us in so easily."
"You are not allowed to come this way," One of the Pokémon spoke, it's voice serious and commanding. The creature looked sturdy and confident as it spoke with a voice, bold like steel. "The Giant Chasm is off limits to you."
At this, another creature with a bulky body moved, and lifted something with its muzzle and threw it in Mewtwo's direction. A purple mass crashed on the icy floor and toppled its way towards the duo. Mewtwo could sense Red Genesect stiffen in surprise, the bug quickly jumped towards the mass lying on the ground.
Mewtwo followed, recognizing that it was one of the Genesect swarm. The blue cassette on its back suggested that it was Douse, the youngest of the group. Red Genesect screeched in worry, speaking to its fallen comrade in its language, the latter replied with a weak screech before falling unconscious.
The psychic type could feel anger welling up inside, a powerful psychic aura began to envelop it in consequence.
"You are a powerful Pokémon," a second voice spoke from behind the storm, its tone graceful and feminine. "Without a doubt you must be some mythical Pokémon of another land."
Mewtwo remained silent, not wanting to divulge into myths and legends. It may have the power of one, but Mewtwo knew in the end it was just a simple clone, one without a story or a myth behind it.
"Then you must know that it is wrong to step into the boundaries of another," the voice belonged to the burly Pokémon.
"Leave this place at once!" The fourth Pokémon, with an energetic voice jumped forward and let out a stream of water.
Without batting an eye, Mewtwo used its psychic powers to stop the incoming Hydropump and quickly deflected it away as if it were swatting an annoying fly.
"Keldeo, stop!" The first Pokémon turned to the younger one, who bowed its head in respect. "We don't want unnecessary battles."
"Keldeo…" Mewtwo tried to remember the name, but couldn't connect the Pokémon to any of the Unovan myths. The Pokémon also seemed young, suggesting that it could be a new addition to the legendary. 'So, I am not the only newcomer here.' Mewtwo couldn't help but muse.
The psychic type sensed the tenseness amongst the four, probably unnerved by the exchange earlier. "We do not wish to battle you," the older Pokémon spoke. "However, we cannot let you go further. You must choose to either battle or leave."
"We had no intentions to harm your kin." The burly Pokémon turned to Red Genesect. "However, it was a battle we couldn't avoid. We apologize for that."
Mewtwo gave Red Genesect a glance, trying to read the Pokémon's emotions. If it's friend wanted to demand justice for the unfair treatment against its kin, Mewtwo wouldn't hesitate to help and defeat the four. But the decision was Red Genesect's.
After a long silence the bug type stood up, lifting its fallen friend on its shoulder. "Let's go."
Mewtwo watched in surprise as the bug type slowly levitated away. Giving the four legendary Pokémon a wary glance, Mewtwo followed its friend and floated upwards. The two stopped after reaching a great height, from which the four Pokémon they faced were only tiny dots standing by the long pillar of snowstorm.
"I am surprised you didn't want revenge," Mewtwo said, remembering Red Genesect's desire to take revenge for its lost home. "Those Pokémon were unreasonable."
"It is true," Red Genesect said. "But I also know how it feels like protecting one's home. It was our fault for not knowing it was their territory. I should not have sent Douse to explore without seeking their permission first."
Mewtwo couldn't relate to the feeling, for it was one Pokémon that lacked a home. Where in the world did it truly belong to, anyway? The suburbs of Castelia? The hilly ranges surrounding Mt. Coronet? The grand waterfalls between Kanto and Johto? Or was its true home the lab of ?
The world must be a place open to everyone, unbounded by territories or so Mewtwo believed. But was it a meaningful ideal? Or was it just the ramblings of a homeless Pokémon? Mewtwo didn't have answers to these questions.
"But I can say one thing for sure." The psychic stared at the storm, its senses searching for something deep within. "There is something inside, and it is frighteningly powerful."
"I can sense it too. Whatever it is, it feels like it is getting stronger by the day." Red Genesect turned in the opposite direction. "We shall leave now, but if this keeps increasing and threaten my home, I shall not spare it." The Pokémon's eyes glowed with a red light as it began to fly back in the direction of New Tork city.
Mewtwo gave its friend a silent goodbye and stared at the storm for one last time. "Protecting your home…how does it matter when the world itself is your home?"
Deep in its thoughts, Mewtwo turned around and flew away in another direction.
More coming up next chapter...