I walk back to the clearing, feeling ever so much better. But my meeting with Mei has left me with more questions than answers. And I'm still pondering about my ability to speak with the Pokémon. I manage to find Oshawott. "Hey, Oshawott!" I call.

'What is it, Rosa?' Oshawott asks, coming toward me.

"You remember how you said that there's only one person per region who has the power that I have?"

'Yes, I do.'

"Well, N can talk to Pokémon. And so can Hilda, for that matter. What's going on?"

'The three of you were born on the day of a solar and lunar eclipse coinciding.'

"But, my sister never had it and we were twins."

'She was born a little bit before the solar and lunar eclipses.'

"But then, how do N and Hilda have the same power as I do? Weren't they born in Unova too?"

'No, they weren't. Remember that N was adopted, and Hilda moved here about fourteen years ago from Hoenn. Does it make sense now?'

"Yes, it does. Thank you. Um… Snivy, Tepig and Oshawott, do you reckon you could make me a travelling outfit?"

'Sure thing, Rosa!' exclaimed Snivy.

'What exactly would you like it to be made up of? Garments, I mean,' asked Tepig.

'And what colours?' added Oshawott.

"I would like a pair of faded jeans with a rather wide belt, a hot pink shoulderless and strapless tee-shirt, a Flatcap with a Poké Ball on the front and black high-top Converse sneakers."

'Come back at sunset. The whole outfit will be ready, along with a backpack and pyjamas.'

"Thank you very much!"

Just as I turn away, Oshawott calls me. 'Rosa, Rosa, wait!'

"What is it?" I ask, surprised.

'You have the eyes. That's a sign that you have the gift.'

"The eyes?"

'That's right. Your eyes are red, green and blue, aren't they?'

"Yeah…"

'Only those who have the eyes have the gift. That's one reason why it's so rare. It is clear that you have been chosen. For what, I don't know. But that's all the more reason for you to go and find Mewtwo.'

"But where could it be?"

'You may want to try at the Entralink, very near to the Entree.'

"Thanks." I turn back toward the stream and follow it downstream. Soon, I am feeling very hungry. I come to a grotto and find some berries. Oh, man, how I loooove the Pecha berries! In a few minutes, there are none left on the bush and I am feeling very full. I lie back in some beautiful black, white, orange, blue, green and pink flowers. I wonder if this is where N proposed to Hilda. No, don't think about that! They woulda told me!

I can see that giving in to these thoughts would be useless, but at the same time, they would have. I shake my head vigorously. "No," I say to myself, "that's exactly what Ghetsis wants me to think." He's still the same lying, greedy, worthless, manipulative git as when he adopted N long, long ago.

I eat some other berries, mostly Nanab and Sitrus. The sweet and sour combo sets my mouth watering. I've always been prone to that.

Lying down on my back, I notice the sweet and fresh scents of the flowers around me. "Mewtwo, how do I get to you?"

All of a sudden I hear a voice, calling my name. It doesn't sound like Ghetsis at all. The voice is hard, yet soft, and firm. This voice is as different to Ghetsis's as fire is to water and night is to day and hot is to cold.

I sit up and say, "Here I am."

A Pokémon flies into view. It lands in front of me. I can see that it is rather tall, at least a forty centimetre ruler taller than me. It is lilac and looks very much like a human being, except for the fact that it has a tail and is bald – like, no hair at all. Its chest comes out a little, so combined with a pipe sort of thing at its neck, it looks like a divers' helmet.

I look at the photo still clenched in my hand. I look up at the weird Pokémon. Photo, Pokémon, photo, Pokémon. "Are you Mewtwo?" I finally manage to ask.

In response, it puts its three-fingered hand toward me. I take it and it pulls me up. 'You must be Rosa.'

I'm shocked into speechlessness. This Pokémon spoke just like an ordinary human being. I merely nod.

'I am the one who saved you, Rosa. I'm sorry that I couldn't save your sister or parents.' It sounds remorseful, and apologetic. It places a hand on my shoulder.

"It's okay, Mewtwo," I choke out. "My sister, Mei, came to me a few hours ago. She told me the meaning of the caption on this photo I took." I show Mewtwo the Polaroid. "This is the very moment of my parents' and sister's murder. It was Ghetsis who killed them."

Long, silent minutes pass. Suddenly, I say "Help me, Mewtwo!"

'What with?'

"What the caption is telling me to do." I repeat the poem to Mewtwo.

'Where's your home, Rosa?'

"I have no idea. I think my house is in Aspertia Town, but I think I remember walking away from a fire." I close my eyes and am soon bombarded by flames and thick, black smoke. I open my eyes wide. "Oh, shit! The whole friggin' town was on fire! We were all out to celebrate the full moon!"

'Rosa, let it flow. Don't stop.' Mewtwo sits me down on the grass and sits down next to me.

I close my eyes again. "I remember going home after the festival. I had taken my digital Polaroid camera with me, like I always do, to take photos of the moon. Because I had stayed out a little later, Mum, Dad and Mei went home, so I was a little late coming back. But then…" I gasp as the image appears. "The house was on fire… I pushed open the door and saw Mum and Dad and Mei impaled on Ghetsis's cane. Ghetsis was coming toward me, still holding the cane. And then, you appeared, Mewtwo. You should know the rest."

'I do. After I used Psychic to get you out of there, I teleported the bodies of your family to a safe place, somewhere in Unova but on the very outskirts of the region. I then came back and used Psystrike on Ghetsis. He ran off, but the whole town was burning. People were running, like the blind leading the blind, I'm afraid.

'I heard a boy and little girl calling your name, Rosa.'

"Hugh and Isla…"

'I saw them get out of town, but I'm not entirely sure if they're safe.'

"Hugh will make sure his sister survives. He will make sure they both survive." Inside, I am not sure. Hugh doesn't like fire – he chose Snivy, so I'm a little worried. Fire-Types and Grass-Types do not mix. I wonder how they're doing.