And now it's time for a sort of break from all of the heavy plot. This is sort of a mini-plot chapter featuring Mewtwo and the rest of the campers! It won't be an amazing update, but I hope for a few laughs.

000

"What do you MEAN Mew is being held hostage!?" snapped Mewtwo.

Zapdos sighed and shook his head. "Giratina, Palkia, my sister, and the others are all pissed at him. I guess Giratina's attempt to capture Mew got the contestants in the process. It was an honest mistake."

"Honest mistake my ass! How the hell am I supposed to run the show without him and any players!?"

Zapdos gave a sheepish grin. "Do a filler until they get back?"

"I thought you said Giratina was going to lock up Mew forever!"

"He'll probably try, but I think Mew will swindle his way out. Or the big bad ghost will get so annoyed by him, he'll kick Mew out."

"That's more than likely," grumbled Mewtwo. "Alright. Then I suppose I ought to head to the next location on our schedule."

"Next location?" queried Zapdos.

"Victory Road."

"Moltres won't be happy if you touch his other house," warned Zapdos.

"Moltres can EAT IT. It wasn't Mew's fault that some living Pokeball blew up the mountain. Tell your sister that!"

"She's not really into hardcore revenge. You know Articuno- she's clever. Moltres is brute force, but Articuno is a tactician like me."

"You're the smartest one for not getting involved," muttered Mewtwo.

"I think she's gonna confront Mew on the whole cheating business," said the lightning bird. "You know, not physically, but verbally."

Mewtwo snorted. "Do you think that's going to work? People have been trying for years- hell, even Yveltal couldn't crack Mew, and the guy's a psychopath. Not like Palkia psycho, but you know..."

"Most of them have been trying brute force," said Zapdos, flexing his wings as he watched Mewtwo pace around the plane. "Giratina and Groudon for example, Regirock tried to beat him up that one time, Yveltal attempted torture, and I'm pretty sure Palkia tried to actually kill him a couple of times. No one's tried talking. I think it would catch him off guard."

"Who knows if it'll work. Mew is Mew," muttered Mewtwo. "I guess we're both bad at relationships."

Zapdos frowned. "So S hasn't talked with you recently, huh?"

Mewtwo sighed. "I heard from Deoyxs-A a few weeks ago saying she was coming back to visit, but we still haven't spoken. I don't know how I'm going to deal with this..."

Zapdos gave a low hum of sympathy. "I don't think it's your fault- and you've been faithful. Hell, you put HER before a show, while Mew-!"

"I don't want to talk about Mew," said Mewtwo shortly. "And can we not talk about S?"

Zapdos huffed, annoyed, but he stopped. "Alright, fine, I get it, but locking up your emotions isn't good, and you know that."

Mewtwo looked up and sighed deeply, looking past the sky as if he could see into space itself. "...I miss her, but I don't know what I'm going to do."

Mewtwo suddenly stopped and held his head. "...oh...shit!"

"Message?" asked Zapdos curiously.

"Yeah. Lugia," grunted Mewtwo. "He's talked with Ho-oh, who's in contact with Articuno...apparently they're holding a challenge there...winners come home with Mew, losers stays forever."

"Sheesh. That telepathy thing you psychics have is pretty cool," said Zapdos, whistling.

"Hmph. Gives me plenty of headaches as well, and it's difficult to use. Good thing Lugia and I are well trained. I should get going."

"Yeah, if he's gonna come back, you should probably meet him at Victory Road."

"Yeah and-," Mewtwo stopped speaking mid sentence before his eyes widened. "Oh."

"What is it?"

Mewtwo sighed. "S is here."

"Here? On the planet?" said Zapdos, shocked.

"Yeah...this is going to be awkward. I'll catch you later, Zapdos," said Mewtwo, heading up the stairs to the plane.

"Got a plan?"

Mewtwo stopped. "No, but I'll work something out."

000

Mewtwo quietly drove the plane through the air, grumbling under his breath. Where the hell was Lugia? He was supposed to check in ages ago. Huffing under his breath, he continued to guide the plane through the skies, before he finally felt something in his mind.

"Mewtwo? Are you there?"

"Yeah, Lugia, I'm here," grumbled Mewtwo.

"Challenge is halfway done. Apparently, Gardevoir and Wooper are in the clear to come back," said Lugia's deep voice.

"...well, that's something," grumbled Mewtwo. "Any word from Mew?"

"Nah, Articuno was playing target practice with him apparently."

"...eh, serves him right," said Mewtwo. Then paused. "Any news on the OTHER situation?"

"She's looking for you, Mewtwo," said Lugia. "A told her that you're around, and you know how fast S is. She'll find you."

"Yeah...I'm aware."

"Any idea how to handle this?"

"Mew is most likely coming back, so I'm heading to Victory Road...I've got to continue the challenge preparations in his absence, so I'll just do that. If she shows up...well, then it happened...check back in with me later."

"Not a problem."

"Thank goodness he's one of the sane ones," said Mewtwo to himself. "Well, might as well turn on the radio...make this ride shorter."

Mewtwo grabbed one of the dials and turned it, tuning into a station, when suddenly, loud words echoed through the cockpit.

"BREAKING NEWS! A large number of Pokemon are clustered outside of the Indigo Plateau Pokemon League, where the final episode of Total Pokemon World Tour is said to take place!"

Mewtwo stared at the radio in shock. "Huh"?

000

Bellsprout grinned at a befuddled cameraman. "Hello everyone, and welcome to the official Bellsprout and Friends stakeout!"

"Bellsprout and Friends?" asked Scizor. "You couldn't come up with a better name?"

"I don't have to use those ridiculous show names anymore," said Bellsprout, shaking his bulbous head. "Thank goodness."

"...but there are a ton of us missing!" protested Venonat.

It was true. While there were many Pokemon outside of the Pokemon League building at the end of Victory Road, it was probably only about half of the eliminated contestants. Many more of them were nowhere to be seen.

"Yeah...well...about that," said Bellsprout, scratching his head. "Secret mission...show related reasons, you know?"

"Indeed," said Alakazam, walking out of the Pokemon League building with some fancy shades over his eyes. Bellsprout gaped at him.

"I thought you were supposed to be the first one to be fought!" said Bellsprout, confused.

Alakazam smirked smugly. "You'd think that, but when I'm put in charge of organizing, I get to change the schedule just a bit. Let's just say that Bronzong isn't a very happy camper right now."

"Are you sure Mew is going to let you get away with that?" asked Lileep. Of the campers who remaining, only she, Bellsprout, and Alakazam were in on the plan.

"He won't mind. If it goes as planned, then it will make things much more interesting," said Alakazam. "Besides, since I highly doubt I'm going to be having my showdown with Hypno...I've had to make other arrangements."

"I hate it when you talk like that," muttered Bellsprout. "You sound so creepy!"

"To be fair, YOU'RE the one standing out here waiting for the final challenges to get underway," pointed out Alakazam.

"I still have NO idea what you guys are talking about!" said Trapinch.

"Beats the hell out of me," grumbled Charmeleon, glancing around. Gabite wasn't around, and that made waiting VERY, VERY BORING.

"By the way, Mewtwo should be here shortly," said Alakazam. "Apparently, the whole stunt pulled by Giratina has been resolved, and things will be resuming as planned. The only catch is that one of the losers is going to have to stay in Distortion World forever."

"For...ever?" said Froslass, gaping. "That's insane! Four of those people there don't deserve such a cruel fate!"

Alakazam shrugged. "They accepted the game. They'll have to suffer the consequences. Nevertheless, once Mew and the others arrive here, the final two challenges will commence. Understood? Mewtwo will contact you when he gets here."

"Why isn't he contacting you?" complained Bellsprout.

"Because I have people to see," said Alakazam, looking up as a helicopter slowly descended from above. Alakazam stepped over towards it, while everyone else stepped back.

"Who...is it?" whispered Gliscor to Charmeleon. The fiery lizard shrugged. They all watched intently as the door opened. From out of the vehicle stepped a beautiful Pokemon, with a long black dress and purple skin. Her eyes were dark, and her lips were red. She smiled at Alakazam happily, and he returned the gesture with a smile of his own.

"That's HER!" shouted Electrode. "Aw man...he wasn't kidding!"

"So that's the Gothitelle from that Gothica Boutique," said Kabutops. "Well I'll be damned. He nailed a model and she's a looker, that's for sure!"

"Don't look for too long," snapped Scizor. Kabutops rolled his eyes.

"I don't like girls who are too dressy and girly, okay? Calm down."

"What do you mean I'm not girly?"

"Are you KIDDING me?"

"Anyways," drawled Alakazam, looking over his shoulder. "I have a date. I'll be back when it's time for the challenges, alright?"

"Jerk," muttered Bellsprout, as Alakazam sauntered away, arm in arm with Gothitelle. "How long am I supposed to wait for Mewtwo?"

Pidgeot pointed up in the sky. "Not any longer."

Bellsprout looked to see a massive Kyogre-shaped jet approaching them from the sky. Everyone backed away as Mewtwo parked the plane in place. Soon, the artificial life form emerged, grumbling under his breath as he got to Bellsprout.

"Where's Alakazam?"

"He's busy...why...what's going on?"

"Has he already started setting up the final challenge?" asked Mewtwo, looking around quickly.

"Yeah, he's done it all, just as planned. We're right on schedule," said Bellsprout.

"I thought you were fired," said Mewtwo, confused.

"I got myself this job as a sort of test run- if all goes well, I get my show back!" said Bellsprout. Then he leaned in close to Mewtwo.

"Don't tell them."

"Understood," said Mewtwo shortly. "Any updates on Mew?"

"Alakazam said the latest word was that Gardevoir and Wooper were safe."

"That was a while ago," snapped Mewtwo. "Whatever...we'll wait around until we hear something from them and-"

"Mewtwo."

Mewtwo froze. Bellsprout gave him a confusing look, before looking past him. His eyes flicked from the Pokemon behind Mewtwo, back to the co-host.

"Is that...?"

Mewtwo sighed and turned around. "Hello, S."

There, standing before the purple Pokemon, was a Pokemon that, in short, resembled an alien. Their skin was orange with bits of blue mixed in, but their torso was primarily black. She had a long head and strong legs, as well as very thin arms.

"It's been a long time," said Deoxys-S, looking at Mewtwo a bit awkwardly.

"...that's Deoxys!" said Bellsprout in awe.

"One of them," corrected Mewtwo.

"One of them?"

"There are four siblings," explained Mewtwo. "The normal form, the defensive form, the attacking form, and the speed form. We usually call them by N, D, A, and S respectively. This one is S."

S nodded her head in greetings, before facing Mewtwo once more.

"I know this may seem a bit sudden but I...wanted to see you again," she said quietly.

"How did you find me?" croaked Mewtwo.

"A tipped me off. We have...a lot of things to talk about..."

"You can't have come back just to see me," said Mewtwo, eyes hardening.

"...I was actually hoping to return for...hopefully for good this time."

Mewtwo narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"All of the work we've been doing is nearly finished. D will be coming shortly, and then...we might be able to stay."

"Well damn...," said Mewtwo. "Look, I-"

"AHEM!" coughed Bellsprout. The two Legendaries looked down at him, confused.

"The whole thing still stands- what are we supposed to do!?" snapped Bellsprout.

"WAIT FOR A SIGNAL FROM MEW!" snarled Mewtwo. "Find me when you hear something."

"Got it," muttered Bellsprout weakly.

000

"You don't seem happy to see me," said S quietly.

The two of them were sitting on the top of the enormous cave that made up Victor Road. Mewtwo glanced over towards the islands in the ocean far away. Bad memories made him shudder, before he decided to answer S's question.

"How do you expect me to feel? You've been gone for ages, and I said I'd wait if you stayed in touch. But I-"

"I thought you wouldn't miss me that much...I thought you'd be more interested in your show," responded S.

Mewtwo scowled. "Do you really think I'd do that?"

"Mew did."

"And I'm NOT Mew!" growled Mewtwo. "I missed you! I wanted you to be around, damn it! But you rarely sent in messages and while you were off touring the galaxy, I flew planes and cooked food and waited. I stayed faithful."

S looked down at her hands. "Well, like I said, I hope to be able to stay here permanently. The other planet is doing well enough that we aren't needed anymore."

Mewtwo looked down at his hands quietly before he responded.

"Did you...stay faithful to me?"

S looked out into the galaxy before nodding. "I did."

"...well that makes me feel a lot better," said Mewtwo bluntly. S giggled.

"Does it really?"

"Hell yeah, I've got no competition!" said Mewtwo, grinning.

S gave a deep sigh. "So...what of us...now?"

Mewtwo frowned to himself before he shrugged. "I think we should take time to get back to...normal. This is still a bit awkward right now."

"Agreed."

Mewtwo was about to open his mouth again when there was a sudden noise. It was a low, hissing noise that slowly got louder. "What the hell...?"

Suddenly, in front of Victory Road, black smoke began to rise. All of a sudden, a dark portal ripped open, filling the air with a dark purple light. Mewtwo and Deoxys shielded their eyes from the harsh glow until it finally faded, the black smoke dissipating in the air. Mewtwo turned back, squinting downwards, before his eyes widened. He could make out the faint shape of a familiar pink body.

"It's them! Quick, we have to go check on them!"

000

"Ugh...I hate him...," said Mew, moaning in pain.

"Giratina was always a pain," said Mewtwo, frowning down at him.

"Not him. Giratina is one thing. PALKIA? NEVER AGAIN!"

"Oh god, Palkia," said Mewtwo.

"Palkia," groaned S, covering her face with her arm.

"Palkia?" yelped Hypno, looking around wildly.

"Palkia," said Wooper and Diglett as one.

"He's not even here," said Gardevoir, folding her arms as she got to her feet.

"...where's Banette?" asked Mewtwo.

"He lost the game, and so he has to stay," said Hypno with little interest. "He's gone...forever."

"I should've let him eliminate Hypno- Hitmonlee could've been the one to stay forever," said Mew sadly. "Oh well, it can't be helped. You got your wish, Mewtwo."

Mewtwo was horrified. "WHAT? GIRATINA IS KEEPING BANETTE FOREVER!?"

"What do you care?" snapped Mew. "You hate him!"

"I'M supposed to be the one to take down that stupid puppet!" snarled Mewtwo. "Not him! That's outrageous! And what if Giratina teaches him dirty tricks? I'll be no match for that little bastard!"

"You're WORRIED?" said Mew, gaping.

"You should be more grateful," hissed Gardevoir. "It could've just as easily been you, Mew. Banette took that bullet for you."

"Stop making it sound like a sacrifice, when he lost fair and square," said Hypno smoothly.

"I wouldn't be laughing," growled Gardevoir. "He has your pendulum."

Hypno's eyes widened. "WHAT?"

"Is everything still set up?" asked Mew, wiping some dirt off of his body.

"Yeah, yeah, Alakazam and Bellsprout took care of it, you can start the next episode," grumbled Mewtwo. "I've got business to take care of."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm going to get Banette back," growled Mewtwo.

"Are you serious right now?" Mew looked confused. "Who are you and what have you done with Mewtwo?"

"I've had time to mull stuff over."

S stepped forward. "I'm going with you."

"And me!" said Gardevoir.

"Oh no you don't," said Mew sternly. "I've got an episode to run, and Banette isn't going to get back in the game. We're on a tighter schedule than before and I had to cut out the Spear Pillar and Power Plant challenges already! We're going to keep going right now!"

"It's fine," said Mewtwo curtly. "We'll get him back. Come on, S. Let's go."

"Right behind you."

The two of them nodded to the remaining contestants, with Mewtwo stopping by Gardevoir. He nodded to Hypno.

"Good luck."

Gardevoir scoffed. Mewtwo was none too pleased about Hypno indirectly landing Banette in the Distortion World either. As Mewtwo and S walked into the nearby woods, Mew finished adjusting his makeup. Glancing into a mirror quickly before chucking it aside, he shook himself off before brightening up.

"Alright then, campers! Let's get on board with the next challenge!"

000

A short chapter, but nevertheless, it got the job done.

Victory Road into the Pokemon League will be the final two challenges, but we've got some hints as to what's going to go on. And apparently, former players are going to be helping out with the fun!

And we got to meet a few more legendaries. Zapdos is calm and friendly, and a bit cheeky. Lugia is calm, honest, and reliable. And of course, we meet Deoxys S. I had a long time to think on how I'd handle the different forms of Pokemon (especially Black Kyurem and similar creatures), but for Deoxys, I decided splitting it into four would be interesting. After all, they are aliens. There could be more.

Deoxys S and Mewtwo have a romantic relationship that has been tense due to long distance. Why Mewtwo and Deoxys S? Why not. Anyways, I considered giving Deoxys S a fast personality, but I went with a more calm, quiet personality to match Mewtwo's bold and brash one.

Speaking of Mewtwo, we got a good look at him in this chapter. Tell me your opinions- I tried to play him a bit differently without Mew around. Notice how he's not nearly as grumpy and bitter. Maybe that shows you what he and Mew were like back in college, eh?

Bellsprout is on his way to securing another show, and we finally see that Alakazam wasn't lying about his girlfriend. Who'd have thought?

We'll be back to old rules in the new episode. AKA, there'll be a song, there'll be confessionals (there were none in the Distortion World, because no confessional area). But as of right now, place your bets, and place your guesses on what will happen.

Next Episode: It's every Pokemon for themselves to prove themselves able of getting through Victory Road. Running low on time, Mew adds details and bits to this challenge that make it rather difficult and stressful for everyone. One contestant has the upper hand taken away from them, and another contestant finally manages to find something they've been wanting. And in the end, one contestant is finally left behind in the competition.

Mewtwo: Ugh. Just review, this was basically my chapter for character development anyway...