Someone mentioned Ben in one of the comments. How he was a main character in the first part, but doesn't have too much of a role in this one.

That's true.

TT-TT

Aww, Ben! We'll get you more of a role at some point.

Right now, he takes care of Avalon as Cara's off doing weird stuff. He stays on Avalon most of the time, working on that vague, general of electronic stuff. I really got to ask my engineering friends more about the details of that stuff… My friend was talking to me about programming and I just went

O-O "That sounds really hard." You need to type in all this stuff, and if you miss one symbol, then it doesn't work.

So, Ben's always there in the background, keeping stuff running. And He's always there when Cara needs him. Ashe said, he's better with electronics than Pokémon battles, and it's hard to work on computers when he's traveling.

Charren-Charizard, Patch-Clone Charizard, Polaris-Ponyta, Nova-Rapidash, Leviathan-Gyarados, Pooka-Pikachu, Skeppy-Scyther

The Dark Cloak

It was later in the day, after everyone was happy, rested, and full, that I brought up the idea of a battle between Charren and the clone Charizard, who'd named himself Patch because of his markings.

Charren really was eager to take part in the battle that she didn't get to do on New Island.

And so Mewtwo and I found ourselves facing each other at my stadium with our two Charizard. Mew conjured a pink bubble and sat on it to watch the battle. A few of the clones gathered to watch also.

This battle is yours, Charren, I told her. I won't tell you anything unless I have to.

She nodded, the excitement of battle gleaming in her eyes. This should be an exciting battle.

Yep.

The two suddenly launched themselves at each other, clashing in the middle of the field, locking claws and snapping at each other. Patch shifted and then knocked Charren to the side. The two of them shot up into the air and spiraled around each other so quickly that I couldn't tell which was which anymore.

I squinted, shading my eyes against the sun.

The two sent out fire blasts that were lost in the glare of the sun.

They darted out and back in, slashing with their claws and lashing out with their tails.

Charren suddenly pulled into a steep dive with Patch right on her heels. The two of them hurtled towards the ground as though they were in a freefall. Patch was gaining on her.

Charren pulled out of the dive, kicking up a dust cloud. But Patch was suddenly in front of her, and he slammed his head into hers. Charren gave a little groan and crashed to the ground.

"We lost," I said, though I couldn't help smiling. "You OK, Charren?"

She staggered to her feet and gave a weak smile.

"Char," she said, giving a dizzy nod of her head.

Patch landed nearby, puffing himself up impressively.

"I didn't think we would win," I said, walking into the stadium.

Mewtwo cocked his head. "Then why did you fight?"

I shrugged. "Well, in this case, we wanted to challenge ourselves. But sometimes you fight, even knowing that you can't win. There… there are some situations where you have to continue fighting, even if it seems hopeless. Heh. Like when I fought Team Rocket. To save you, Mew. I was sure there was no way we were gonna win. But we didn't give up. And we stalled for long enough that help was able to arrive.

Mewtwo gave a small nod of understanding.

Mew left her bubble and came over to float in front of me.

Good battle!

"Thanks."

I haven't seen you in a long time, she continued, but you're a lot stronger now. Team Rocket better watch out if they mess with you again.

I grinned. "Yep! They better!"

The reason I never came to see you since then, I was afraid Team Rocket would come after you again if they thought we were still connected. I didn't want to put you in danger again.

I stared at her.

But I'm not worried about you anymore. I promise I'll come to visit you some more.

"Are you leaving?"

Yes. It's time for me to go.

I sighed. "All right. I'll miss you. Take care of yourself too. And visit soon! You know where to find me!"

She looked over at Mewtwo and gave him a nod. He nodded back.

Bye! Mew called. And she flew away out of sight.

We watched the spot where she'd vanished for a while.

"So," I said at last. "Why don't we fly around Avalon? You could carry all of us, Mewtwo. I could introduce your clones to my Pokémon, and see, uh, see if they like it here and can make some new friends."

Mewtwo looked back up at the mountain. He thought for several minutes, then nodded. "Yes. I think that's a good idea."

That night I climbed into my bed, feeling very tired, but happy.

We'd found (at least temporary) homes for the clones.

My Gyarados, Leviathan, had welcomed the new one in the big lake. The Rapidash had joined the herd that Nova and Polaris were part of. My Scyther, Skeppy, showed the clone around the forests. The Eevee clones joined my "pack" of Eevee evolutions. Pooka introduced the clone Pikachu to the other electric mice.

They all looked so happy.

Mewtwo was sleeping on the balcony next to my bedroom.

I hoped that he was happy too.

I groaned and sat up. I just couldn't get back to sleep. I squinted at the clock. It was past 2:00 AM.

Not fun. No decent person wakes up that early in the morning. But I didn't think I'd get back to sleep right away.

I slipped out of bed. My Chikorita, Tropica, who was snoozing on the pillow next to me, gave a little moan in her sleep and shifted slightly. But she didn't wake.

I walked over to the doorway that led to the 2nd story balcony and looked out over the field awash in moonlight.

Finally I opened the door and stepped out into the night air. The moon was up behind me. It was so bright that it was casting a shadow on the grass in front of the house.

I sighed and watched the sleeping Pokémon out in the field. Tauros, Ponyta, Rapidash, and Stantler were scattered about, heads bowed, sunk in dreams.

It took me a minute to realize that Mewtwo had been sleeping on the balcony, but he wasn't there anymore.

The shadows shifted. I blinked as I tried to find the source of the movement. But all figures were still.

Then I realized that it was the shadow of the house that had moved. But houses don't move…

I turned around and looked up at the roof. Someone was up there, making the shadow.

I shrugged and hoisted myself up the latticework that held the dark green vines that clung to the side of the house. I easily climbed upwards and swung myself onto the roof.

Mewtwo was there. He was gazing off in the direction of land. He made no sign of seeing me approach.

I hesitated, then stepped towards him. When I was right beside him, he sighed and looked down at me.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Mm." He turned and gazed off in the distance again for a few more moments. "The clones are so happy here. You've given them a home, and I hope you'll let them stay here where it's safe. And Avalon really is beautiful."

"But?" The way he said it made me think that he felt something was missing.

"But… I haven't seen much. There's so much world out there. I want…"

"You want to explore on your own?"

He sighed. "I was confined for the first part of my life. And after that, I was planning New Island. So I've never really seen anything. I was never really free to explore on my own."

I could understand what he meant, but I still felt my heart sink. Mewtwo leave? I didn't want him to leave! I wanted him to stay here safe on Avalon. Where no one could hurt him again… But if I confined him, that would put me on a level near Giovanni's. True, Mewtwo had the run of Avalon, but it was really no more than a big cage if Mewtwo was not free to come and go as he pleased. He was different from the other Pokémon. More human than any of them, for better or worse.

"I understand," I said. I don't think I sounded too convincing though.

Mewtwo turned to me. "You'd prefer that I stay here?"

I gulped, then slowly nodded. "I'd feel safe knowing that you were here. Where…"

"Where I wouldn't cause any damage?"

"No! That's not what I meant at all! I meant… I don't want you in any danger out there. There are people… people that might want to catch you again."

"Hmph. I would never allow that to happen to me again."

"Not willingly, I'm sure."

"What do you mean? You think there's anyone strong enough to take me by force?"

"I hope not."

"Then what are you worried about?"

"I just… don't want you getting hurt." I dropped my head, realizing that this might sound very childish. I mean, he was designed to be the most powerful Pokémon on the planet. What should he have to worry about?"

Mewtwo smiled slightly. "I promise I'll come back safe. I'll come back soon too. I like you, Cara. You're my closest human friend. And I don't want to leave you for good. I will come back. I promise."

He thought of me as his friend! That made me happy, even though he was leaving. I realized with a start that my eyes were beginning to water. I quickly brushed the tears away and turned to smile at Mewtwo. "Yeah. When do you plan to leave?"

"Soon."

"Tonight?"

"Yes."

"I see."

We were silent for several moments.

"You know," I said slowly, "I said before that when your heart was broken… it became frail. But… I don't think it is a frail heart anymore. You have a very strong heart. Even after what you've been through, you still care. Don't be afraid to make friends and help people. I think you'll be fine."

He gave a small smile, and we lapsed into silence again.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "I have an idea!"

Mewtwo turned, surprised by my sudden cry. "What?"

"Hang on! Let me get something for you!"

I went to the edge of the roof and started to climb down.

I gave a slight start as I felt myself lift off the side of the house. Mewtwo was floating me down to the balcony. He landed lightly next to me.

"Wait here. I'll be right back."

I dashed inside. Luckily my bare feet didn't make too much noise. I didn't want to wake Ben.

I tiptoed downstairs to the big closet where Jed had stored the clothes from a past costume party.

I quickly scanned one of the racks of costumes until I found what I was looking for.

I snatched the two items from the hanger and rushed back upstairs to the balcony where Mewtwo was waiting.

"Found it!" I said triumphantly. I held out the two items. Mewtwo blinked at them, not sure what to do.

"Here, turn around." Mewtwo hesitated, then did as I asked.

I gave the first item a shake to unfold it. Then I draped it over Mewtwo's shoulders and hooked the clasp on the front. I then took up the other item and set it on top of his head. Mewtwo turned and stared down at himself.

"Oh, you look so cool!"

I had dressed him in a long, dark gray cape that hid his tail and body. And I'd given him a wide-brimmed hat of the same color to hide his face.

"What's this for?" he asked blankly.

"A disguise! I bet that no one's ever seen anything like you before. And if they have, odds are they won't be your friends. So, now you'll be hidden."

Mewtwo gave an experimental swish of his cloak and touched the brim of his hat. He gave a small smile.

"Thanks. I think it's a good idea."

"You take care, you hear?"

"Yes."

"Come back safe!"

"I promise."

Mewtwo gave me a final nod and then drifted up into the air. For a moment he hovered there, his cloak billowing about him, and then he shot off into the night sky.

I stared after him for a very long time.

Heaving a deep sigh, I finally turned and went back into my room. I slowly sat back down on my bed.

Mewtwo was gone. It was hard to believe. I hadn't even known him that long. But I'd started to feel… safe around him. Like he was a protector. Now that he was gone… I felt lost and vulnerable.

I fell back on the covers and gathered Tropica up in my arms. She snuggled up against me, barely even waking up as I hugged her tight.

Just come back safe. Please, come back safe.