The tower rumbled; like a faraway rockslide, crumbling beneath them ominously. The grunt beside Petral gave a curse, glancing towards the doorway. Petrel had like thoughts. It had been three days since the ghost made its appearance and trapped them, and they still had no idea how to get out.

Then, the old man showed up.

"How'd you get past it?" Petrel wasn't really paying attention to the interrogation. Thus far, it hadn't done much. The old guy didn't seem to care about threats, or bruises, and honestly, Petrel wasn't really a fan of beating up old folks. Still, this was a doozy of a situation. The only thing keeping them from being ghost chow was the protection on the doors to the top floor, put down by the keepers of the tower. A week ago, he'd of laughed at such superstitious mumbo-jumbo. But now?

Another rumbling. It felt like the damn tower was going to come out from beneath them. No good. Trapped, and no closer to completing the objective.

"Why's he need three bases, anyway?" Petrel grumbled to himself, thinking of the boss. "He's got Celadon and Saffron. Nobody gives a damn about this town anyway."

Another rumble – but this was much closer. Everyone in the room stiffened, the grunts letting up on their interrogation to glance at the door. "You hear that?"

"Course I heard that," Petrel replied, rubbing his nose. How could he not have? It sounded like an earthquake… was it coming from the bottom of the stairs? Was that thing fighting its way through? Well, at least Giovanni wouldn't kill him for failing. The ghost would do it for him.

One last rumble, then a thunderous boom, like lightning had hit the tower itself. Then, for the first time in days, the whole tower went quiet. Petrel didn't like it. It was – unnatural, too still. His hand drifted towards his belt.

Suddenly, the doors to the top floor burst inward, flung against the side walls and crumbling to dust. Petrel practically fell over himself leaping back, cussing up a storm as he stumbled away. He didn't sign up for hauntings! This wasn't in his contract!

But, wait… that was no ghost. In the midst of the dust and debris stood a woman, an older teen probably, with long brown hair and dark skin. Looked like a Pokémon trainer, by her way of dress, but he'd never seen a trainer with such cold eyes.

"You're a fool for messing with Team Rocket!"

Petrel blinked. Who had said that? Then he suddenly realized that, unlike him, his companions were actually challenging the woman. Were they nuts? Couldn't they see something was wrong with her? That she'd destroyed the stone doors by herself? That she was just standing there, arms limp at her sides, glaring at them with those pitiless, empty eyes…

Still, for his own sake, Petrel didn't say a word as the first grunt approached her. He didn't even get his hand on a pokeball before he was suddenly gasping for breath, clutching at his throat. Then, his feet started to leave the ground. Petrel's heart leapt into his throat as the grunt started fucking floating in the air, covered in a red glow, struggling for his life in vain…

"Amy!"

Footsteps came pounding up the staircase, and somebody else entered the room. Petrel hardly looked at them; he was transfixed by the woman, now glowing red, one hand lifted towards the grunt, fingers splayed. There was a small grin on her face, like she was enjoying his pain. Like she was reveling in it.

"Amy, stop!"

Petrel watched as the other person, a tall man with purple hair, tried to approach her, only to be flung backwards. Only, he didn't hit the wall. A purple barrier grew to life around him, cushioning him. He began to float too, and that was when Petrel really started to curse his fucking luck and wonder when it was he'd entered an episode of the X-Files.

The second grunt started to scream, falling to his knees. "My head!" Clutching at his skull, almost tearing at his hair, the man fell to the floor, forehead press to the cold stone tiles. The old man they'd both been tormenting sat between them, completely unbothered, breathing hard from his injuries. He looked at the woman causing all this terror and he didn't blink, he just stood up. Petrel had half a mind to ask him what the hell was going on, but he was too terrified to speak.

"Amy, you must stop!" The other man spoke again. He had lifted his hands, and was obviously trying to intervene, with little success. This "Amy" didn't seem to be listening. She had both hands lifted now, one on each grunt, and – and then she looked at Petrel. His heart skipped a beat.

"Oh, shit!"

"Departed one," The old man spoke, standing in the center of the chaos like it was nothing. "I weep for your pain and your loss, and I lament your suffering. But do not torment those who have done you no wrong. Release the girl."

"You know nothing of our pain," Amy retorted darkly, her voice weirdly augmented. The windows began to rattle, and it felt as if the room itself was shaking. "Nothing of our sorrow."

"This can only cause more pain and sorrow. Do not force this girl to murder for your vengeance. Allow them to live and be brought to justice."

"This is justice!"

A howling screech tore through the air; glass shattered, the altar Petrel was hiding behind began to crumble and fall apart. He clambered away, but safe spots in the room were becoming scarce. Soon, the whole thing was going to fall apart.

"Amy, listen to me, you must fight its control. You must help me to free you!" The purple-haired one spoke again. He was struggling to move closer to Amy, despite the power forcing him back.

"Do not interfere!"

"This is wrong." The old man insisted. "To make right the wrongs done against you, you would commit wrongdoing against another? This girl does not deserve to be made your puppet. Let her go."

Perhaps it was working – perhaps the ghost was tiring – whatever it was, the woman was breathing hard and sweating, her arms beginning to slump. She looked like she was fighting it off, but it wasn't an easy battle. Suddenly, she fell forward into herself, arms wrapped around her torso as she fell to her knees. The grunts both collapsed, and Petrel had a feeling at least one of them might be dead.

"Amy!"

Both men scrambled for her, and Petrel took his chance; he ran for the door, and never looked back.


When Amy came to herself, her body was heavy as a sack of stones, and her mind laden with fog. Everything hurt. Opening her eyes hurt, the world was too bright, so she winced and squinted as she sat up. Where… where was she? What had happened? What was…

The tower.

It came back in a sudden, sickening rush, and Amy resisted the urge to hurl. Her whole body stiffened, held by the terror and pain of that event, of – of being –

Let go. Trust me to bring them to justice. I understand your pain.

No, human. You do not yet understand. But you will. We will make them pay.

She had… tried to reason with it, but… what had happened?

A knock came at the door. Brought out of her thoughts, Amy glanced around. She was in a small bedroom, lying in bed, and when the door opened, she saw Frodo in his human disguise.

The – Pokémon? Man? – stood solemnly in the doorway, seeming to be debating whether or not to come in. Clutching nervously at the bed covers, Amy tried to smile.

"Uh, good morning?" Her voice was hoarse, throat dry. At her greeting, Frodo finally did come in, and in his hand was a glass of water. "Thanks."

He handed it over, and took a seat on the side of the bed. "How much do you remember?"

Amy took a few gulps, then shook her head. "Basically nothing. I remember going to the tower, facing it, that it attacked me… then it's all blank."

Frodo hesitated for a moment. "I – wiped your memory of it." Amy startled, looking at him. He could do that? "It was not a pleasant experience, and I did not think you should have to relive it. If I have overstepped, I can reverse it –"

"No, I, I think you're right." Amy said, holding up a hand. She set the water glass on the side table. "Given my impression of that day… maybe it's for the best."

The spirit had been so, so angry… its rage and pain had been completely overwhelming. And it's death… she had felt it die, felt it suffering so many blows…

"I could… try and take more of it?" Frodo, perhaps realizing what had distracted her, said. "I fear to tamper too much with the minds of others, but this was a very special case."

"No, it's okay." Amy forced herself to say, ignoring the bitterness in her throat. She felt raw, turned inside out. "I'll deal. And thanks for getting it out of me."

"I didn't." Frodo admitted. "I believe you fought your own way free. The spirit tried to take advantage of your anger and fear over Darling's near-fatal injury, but Mr. Fuji stood up to it. Perhaps it heard him."

"Is it – gone?"

"Yes," A new voice entered the conversation. Amy and Frodo both turned to the door, where Mr. Fuji stood. "The spirit of Cubone's mother has finally passed on from this world. It let go of its pain, and found peace."

A small smile found its way to Amy's lips. "I'm… glad."

Mr. Fuji smiled in return. "I am only sorry it took such trouble on your part for it to happen. For that, and for rescuing me, I want to thank you both."

"It was the right thing to do," Amy told him. "I'm just glad you're okay."

"I'm not the only one." His smile became a beaming grin. "Once the spirit was defeated, it seemed the whole town started feeling a bit better, including that friend of yours."

Sabrina! Grinning herself, Amy moved to stand. "Where is she? Is she here?"

"Still recuperating in the hospital, but she should be released sometime tomorrow." Frodo replied for him. He lifted a hand, and pushed Amy back to the bed. "Until then, you should rest as well."

Amy wanted to contradict him… there was so much to do, so much… yet, she was so tired…

In her dreams, Amy remembered some; not of the event, not of being possessed… of something else…

Afterwards, when the ghost was gone, her mind had been in turmoil. The human mind wasn't mean to handle such things. With no other choice, Mewtwo – Mewtwo, his name is Mewtwo – had entered her mind, hoping to set it to rights and restore her to consciousness…

In doing so, their minds touched, their thoughts intermingling, feelings interwoven, as they must be in so close a connection. And as Mewtwo focused on healing the damage Marowak had done, he could not think to defend his own mind from intrusion… and really, Amy hadn't known what she was doing… she was half in a coma, unused to such experiences…

Fear. Mewtwo's mind was filled with overwhelming fear. Why? Fear for her? No… he did fear for her, felt concern for her, but this fear was much different… it was terror, bone-numbing terror, the kind one felt in the dark of night when the wind is howling and it seems the whole world is a threat one cannot possibly know. This was the fear of death, the fear of the worst the world has to offer, something primal and innate, the fear of losing all one has…

Mewtwo was terrified.

Why?

Why…


"Mewtwo."

Mewtwo startled enough that his illusion flickered, and he turned wide purple eyes towards Amy.

"Do not use that name so easily!" He insisted, the human façade returning. "It is – not safe."

"That's your name, isn't it?" Amy mumbled sleepily. "I don't know why I didn't remember before."

"It took your mind time to adjust to… Everything. " He explained weakly. Honestly, she wasn't sure she wanted to know. Psychic mumbo-jumbo. But she did have plenty of questions.

"What happened to Team Rocket? Are they gone? What did they want?"

"They are… gone." Mewtwo said quietly. "The police have entered the tower, and given what was left behind, it seems Team Rocket had been in the process of transforming the building into a base."

"The Pokémon Tower? Why?"

"It could easily be used to turn a profit, if done correctly." Mewtwo answered with a shrug. He was sitting in a chair across the room, on its very edge, and leaning forward, and it looked dreadfully uncomfortable and unnatural. Until Amy remembered that Mewtwo had a rather large tail. "Undoubtedly that is what they wanted: to turn the grave tower into a commercial enterprise."

A sick feeling twisted through Amy's stomach. "I really hate them."

"Yes," Mewtwo grumbled. "The feeling is mutual."


Marowak's tribute was still there on the side of the road when Amy walked by the next day.

Seeing it, she was hit with Marowak's memories – the brutal blows raining down, the agony, the terror, and most of all, the anger – and for a moment it almost overcame her. Sudden, sharp pain thrust itself like a dagger between her eyes and she winced. When she opened her eyes, it was gone. She was just standing on a street corner, looking at bouquets of flowers, set over the scene of a crime that should never have been allowed to happen.

Amy clenched her fists.

Behind her came footsteps. Not those of a certain psychic Pokémon masquerading as human; but of an actual psychic human. Sabrina came to stand beside Amy, bowing her head in reverence, before speaking.

"You are going after them."

Grimacing, she nodded. "Yeah."

"Undoubtedly, they are behind the barrier around my city." Sabrina continued.

"First Celadon, then Lavender, and now Saffron." Amy started. "I just don't get it. How can you be so heartless and greedy as to think something like this is okay?"

If she closed her eyes, she could hear Cubone crying… Amy gritted her teeth.

"Some people are simply unjust and cruel." The other trainer told her. Then, she turned to Amy. "If you are going to Saffron to stop them, allow me to help you. I am Saffron's gym leader, it is my duty."

Amy's jaw almost dropped. Another gym leader? "I… yeah. I could use the help, to be honest." After her last two attempts, she was a little afraid of what might happen when she faced up against them.

"Good." Sabrina replied, turning to walk away. "We will leave come morning."

As she walked off, Amy turned to look at the grave site one last time. Then, with a bitter frown, she turned and ran away.


Mr. Fuji's daycare was lively again. Children and Pokémon were all about… it was loud, and distracting, just what Amy needed. She smiled, sitting in a corner of the room with a cup of tea, watching them all play. It was nice to see such happiness, after…

Sighing, she set the mug down. She really should be doing something. Her mother was probably worried sick, and she hadn't called Prof. Oak in a while. But what could she say? What would she want to say? Resting her head back against the wall, Amy struggled with her feelings of uncertainty, unsure of what to do, of what to feel, caught in a bitter darkness she didn't like. She was scared, she was tired, she felt sick and sore and she wanted to leave Lavender Town and never come back.

Most of all, she really just wished she were home.

"Wartortle!"

Ryan's cry drew her attention; glancing up over her glass of tea, she watched as her friend played with the children. One of the young ones was riding on his shoulders, cheering and laughing. Nearby, Suzanne was sitting, letting children pet her fur, and nuzzle her. She seemed pleased with the attention. Outside, Henry was playing chase with the kids and a few other Pokémon, while Darling crawled along one child's arm.

She was glad they were happy, at least.

"I kept them from following you up the stairs." Mewtwo moved to stand beside her, leaning against the wall. His body jutted out strangely, once again made to look odd given his actual proportions. "I did not think you would want them to see you like that."

"Thanks." She muttered. The reminder of what had happened was a bitter taste in her throat. Just thinking that she'd been – possessed – felt so wrong. She felt violated. Even knowing what had happened to Marowak, feeling sorry for her… it still felt so wrong.

"For my part, I am sorry." Mewtwo began, stiffly. He glanced down. "I should have shielded you from the creature better. I apologize."

She shook her head. "Not your fault." He'd been the one willingly following her into danger, fighting in the dark. She'd almost gotten him badly hurt. What if he'd been the one possessed? She wouldn't have been able to help him fight it off.

"Still, I feel I should have done more. I am sorry."

A little smile came to her face. "Well, I know your name now. Consider us even."

He chuckled at that.

The two of them stood in silence for a while, watching the children and Pokémon together. "You will leave in the morning?" He asked, eventually.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Sabrina and I are going to try to get into Saffron. We think Team Rocket's up to something there." Looking up to him, Amy asked, "Want to tag along?"

Something flashed in his eyes, and his gaze went wide. He stiffened, glancing away. It was only for a moment, but in that brief instant, Amy caught the emotion that came over him:

Sheer terror.

"No, I … have someplace I must be." Mewtwo insisted weakly. It wasn't a good excuse.

"Okay." Amy said, looking away. She took another sip of tea. When she looked up again, he was gone.

One mystery solved, and suddenly another took its place. Mewtwo was terrified of something… of something in Saffron City… But what? Amy wondered. And why?

And what did any of this have to do with Team Rocket?


In the morning, Mr. Fuji escorted Sabrina and Amy to the edge of town.

"I wanted to thank you again for your help," He said as they approached the route out of town. "I don't know what we would have done without you."

"It was nothing , sir." Amy insisted, turning to face him. "I'm glad I could do something."

"Still, it would please me if you would take this." The man revealed a long wooden box, holding it out towards Amy with both hands. "I think it will be of use on your journey."

Amy took it reverently. As she did, Ryan leaned up on tip-toe, trying to get a better look at it. Darling scooted down her arm as she opened the lid, revealing a flute inside.

"A Pokeflute." Sabrina began. Amy glanced towards her. "For waking sleeping Pokemon."

"Wow, thank you!" Grinning, Amy closed the box, clutching it to her chest. "This is a wonderful gift. But are you sure you - ?"

"Take it!" Mr. Fuji insisted. "And remember, you are always welcome here."

Those last words sent a shiver running through her. Oh no, she thought, glancing past him to the foggy path, the thin trees winding towards the dark sky, the Pokémon Tower in the far distance… she did not feel welcome here. And she did not think she was ever coming back.