Well, I managed to get two chapters up for the holidays; not as many as I'd hoped. Still, I hope that you enjoy this last part of my Christmas present to you! And even though PikamasterADV is back, I hope that you'll continue to read Final Challenge! Happy reading, and happy holidays!
''There are several more specimens that I require,'' Giovanni said, looking out of the window at the mountainous landscape before him.
''They are?'' J asked coldly.
''Kyogre, Manaphy, Jirachi, Latias and Deoxys,'' Giovanni responded. ''We've located the positions of all but Latias.'' J raised an eyebrow.
''Impressive,'' she said sleekly. ''However did you manage to do that?''
''Kyogre is currently nearby the Sea Temp-''
''A myth,'' J interrupted, waving a hand dismissively.
''A fact,'' Giovanni responded coldly, turning to face the tall, slim Pokemon Hunter. ''I've known of the location of the Sea Temple for a long time; we infiltrated the organization of a man known as the Phantom several years ago. He has tried several times now to steal the Temple's riches, but has been defeated each time by the Kyogre, along with many other water Pokemon. The Kyogre now seems to live at the Temple permanently as it's protector.''
''Manaphy?'' J asked.
''Also at the Sea Temple,'' Giovanni responded.
''Jirachi?''
''Why don't I just download the information into your Poketch?'' Giovanni suggested. ''I'm a busy man, and I don't have time to personally tell you every location.'' J glowered at him, but then nodded.
''Oh, and I also require a Soul Dew,'' Giovanni said lightly.
''I don't suppose you'll tell me why?'' J asked dryly. Giovanni smiled, his demeanour turning from jovial to menacing.
''You don't suppose right,'' he said. ''Don't take the whole thing, that will only cause a disaster. All I need is the core.''
''What about my fee?'' she asked.
''After these five Pokemon and the Soul Dew, I will only need Entei, Moltres, Mew, and Ho-Oh,'' Giovanni said. ''Consider your payment double what it was for all of the Sinnoh legendary Pokemon.'' J grinned.
''Deal,'' she said. The door burst open and a Grunt ran in, panting heavily.
''Sir,'' he gasped. ''There's been an incident; Silver's escaped!''
''What the hell is that thing?'' Rey shrieked, regaining her senses at last.
''Oh no...'' Brock muttered, covering his eyes.
Thing? Mewtwo demanded of Rey. Thing? I walk under the same sky, I breathe the same air, I drink the same water as you, and yet you call me a thing? Mewtwo glared at all of them, his personality cold and hostile once more. Humans are all the same, he muttered. They care only for themselves.
''Mewtwo, you know that's not true,'' Ash said. ''You remember what happened in Johto. Not every person in this world is like Team Rocket.''
Those who aren't are too few and far between to bother spending any thoughts on, Mewtwo retorted.
''And just a couple of minutes ago you said 'I have wondered if I would cross your path for a third time','' Ash said softly.
Mewtwo glared at him, but was quickly distracted when he realized that he was in an open field. Why am I here? he demanded suddenly.
''The same as any of us, I guess,'' Brock answered. ''To live.''
If this is your attempt at humour... Mewtwo growled. I meant why am I here in this field? I was supposed to materialize directly in Vermillion City.
''Oh, well, you didn't miss it by much,'' Brock answered, pointing. ''It's just down this hill.''
This is very disquieting, Mewtwo muttered. I know of nothing that can interrupt my teleportation and lead me to land elsewhere. He turned suddenly to May. You, he growled. There is a dark presence overshadowing you; you bear evil's mark.
''M-me?'' May squeaked, trembling as Mewtwo's cold personality washed over her. Mewtwo raised a paw and twisted it slightly. A dark purple aura enveloped his paw and began to glow brightly; May gasped as the same aura surrounded her, causing her to levitate.
''Hey, what are you doing?'' Ash yelled as she soared higher, jumping to try and drag her back down. Mewtwo ignored him, twisting a paw and causing her to rise even higher above the ground.
I can't get it, he growled angrily, more to himself although everyone could hear him. I can feel it but I just can't grasp it!
''Mewtwo!'' Ash shouted. Mewtwo jerked around and glared at him.
What? he demanded.
''Please, bring her down,'' Ash begged. ''She's too high, and she could be hurt if she falls!'' Mewtwo gave one last surge of energy, but when the dark presence refused to be dislodged, he relented, returning May to the ground.
Your presence endangers everyone here, he growled to the coordinator. I don't know what it is that you carry, but only an object crafted from darkness can resist my Psychic powers.
''Hey!'' Ash shouted, stepping in front of May protectively. ''Stop saying that! May is the purest person I know and she would never hurt anyone, let alone put anyone in danger by carrying a dark object! I think all those years of solitude have damaged your mind, clone!''
''Cool it, Ash,'' Brock snapped, jumping in between the two. Ash glared at Mewtwo menacingly, who stared back coldly.
You are indeed unique among humans, and yet unnervingly similar, Mewtwo stated; everyone shuddered at the tone of his words. You do not hesitate risking your life to save others, but at the same time you jeer at those same people with barbed words designed only to hurt. You are wrong; humans are all the same; they care only for their own kind.
His eyes stared into May's, glowing a bright blue for a moment. Don't be so sure of your own assertions, human. She is not so pure as you think. Where she travels, hurt and despair follow. Whether she is willing bearer of her burden, or aware of what harm it causes, I do not know. But she carries evil with her, and it is an evil that is best left hidden again for eternity.
Mewtwo turned and vanished. With his disappearance, May collapsed into Ash's arms, shivering uncontrollably, her eyes wide and staring.
''May,'' Ash whispered softly. As he cradled her gently, a voice flashed through his mind; a voice that he recognized as Mewtwo's.
Whether willing or not, we are irrevocably and eternally linked to one another, he said. I can hear your thoughts just as easily as you can hear mine. Anger does much to alter one's personality; I, of all creatures, understand this most. I know that in your heart you regret your degradation of myself.
Through our link I can sense how much you care for this girl, and I know that it is this caring that sparked your outburst. Such feelings are beyond my comprehension. However you did save my life once, and of all of the creatures on this planet you are the closest there is to a friend. For this I forgive your outburst, although I shall not forget it.
We are permanently linked by our thoughts; we are one, but we are not the same. In times of danger, we have to carry each other. If ever you are in need of my help, simply call for me and I shall come. I know that you shall do the same, friend.
''Mewtwo,'' Ash whispered, his emotions filled with regret, shame, and worry.
Giovanni slammed his hands onto his desk, cracking the wood.
''What do you mean Silver's escaped?'' he demanded.
''Somebody left his cage door open, and he escaped the building,'' the grunt babbled, backing towards the door.
''Now wait just one minute!'' Giovanni roared. ''Why was his cage door open? Who opened it? How did something so big escape without any alarms being raised?'' The grunts face blanked for a moment and then he let out a little laugh of relief; a mistake. Giovanni strode around his desk and grabbed the grunt by the throat, lifting him into the air.
''Now,'' he said in a deceptively calm voice, ''I want you to explain this to me like we're not faced with a potentially critical situation!''
''Wrong Silver...'' the grunt gurgled, slowly beginning to turn blue. ''Hostage... escaped... Fearow helped...'' Giovanni released the gasping grunt, unnervingly calm again.
''Ah, you mean the prisoner,'' he said with a slight smile. ''Send out Grunts, six groups of four. Have them search the perimeter and report back every 90 minutes. Use the Zubat and Golbat to search the trees with their supersonic. Put the stolen Poke Balls under lockdown; we don't need him retrieving his Salamence. Place teams of three at every entrance and exit, and double the security for Namba's lab and the legendary room.''
''Sir!'' the Grunt saluted, running out of the room.
''Impressive,'' J drawled. ''You strangle the man, and he still obeys you without question. That is some impressive loyalty.''
''Are you still here?'' Giovanni demanded. ''I hired you to hunt, not to offer advice! Get after those Pokemon, now!'' J looked at him impassively and then walked towards the window. She stopped at the large pane of glass, and then turned to face the leader of Team Rocket.
''Salamence, Dragon Claw,'' she said calmly, pointing a Poke Ball behind her. The massive dragon-type materialized and shattered the window with one fierce slash. It swooped outside and J followed, jumping lightly onto it's back. ''Silver isn't the only one with a Salamence,'' she said coldly to Giovanni. ''I suggest you keep that in mind; you don't want me as your enemy.''
''Nor you, I,'' he whispered softly as she swooped out of sight, fingering the precious trinket in his suit pocket.
Happy holidays to you all! As ever, please review (you can make it my Christmas present)! Have a safe and fun New Years! 2008 is when this story will conclude...