Chapter 36
"Training"
…I'm glad that we're finally away from them… Mewtwo said.
Mewtwo had led me far into the woods. It was cooler in there, darker, but more lonely…I think all the other Pokémon were afraid of us…I know I was afraid of Mewtwo…
…Why do you hate them so much? I asked, but even as I asked, I began to wonder if I didn't already know the answer…
…Because they're humans.
……I knew you were gonna say that…
…That's good…That means you're getting better.
Huh?
……Mew, I want you to come with me when I go to see…Giovanni…
………Are you sure?
Don't you want to come?
I couldn't answer that question. I didn't know…
Mew…Alone, I am dangerous…but if I have an ally…
I'm not really that much of an ally, you know, I interrupted, I uh, only know one attack.
Yes…I am aware of that…but with some training…
Did you just say training?!
Eh…Yes…If you would let me train you-
Wait a sec! You want to train me!?
Now Mewtwo looked annoyed.
Yes, that's what I said…I believe that if you reached a high enough level, you could be quite a formidable opponent.
But…
Now, we won't be able to get very far…especially at this rate…so I suggest we get to work right away.
…What kind of…training did you have in mind?
At the very least, you should learn all of your natural attacks…
Do you know what they are!? I asked.
I think I was getting a little excited. Anything would be better than only knowing Pound.
Yes…I did do a little research before I destroyed my…birthplace……Mews learn Pound, Transform, Metronome, Mega Punch, and Psychic.
Pound, Trans…Wait, that can't be right…
Did you say Transform?
Yes.
But…I thought only Ditto could learn Transform!
…There are only two Pokémon that learn Transform, Ditto and Mew…
If I can learn Transform…
This was getting very exciting.
All right! Let's get started!! I cried.
…That was quick…You didn't sound so eager before…
Yeah, well, I am now! Come on! Let's get going!!
* * *
…Try it again… Mewtwo said tiredly.
I concentrated as hard as I could on turning into Mewtwo, but it still didn't work.
…It's not working, Mewtwo… I sighed.
…I guess you don't have enough experience…
But I thought you said I did!
Well……you're usually supposed to have winning experience…not losing…
It had a point there. No matter how hard I Pounded, or how easy it went on me, I still couldn't hurt, let alone beat, Mewtwo.
…But who can I beat? I asked.
Mewtwo closed its eyes in thought. After a few seconds it opened them again. It had a strange look on its face, kind of like amusement.
I think I have an idea… it said.
Well? I asked impatiently.
Your human friends may be able to help us out here…They are Pokémon trainers, right?
I suddenly knew where he was going.
And at least one of their Pokémon must be easy to beat! I finished.
Mewtwo nodded.
Strange though, that a Pokémon would ask for help from a human… it commented.
I didn't say anything, but I didn't think it was too strange…
We went back to the house. The sun was setting, and the door was almost fixed.
…That sure was quick…
…That actually took a few hours, Mewtwo corrected.
Wha-? Huh…Mewtwo, not you too……Hey, that rhymed…
Mewtwo gave me a low glance.
Um… I mumbled.
Go tell them what you want, Mewtwo said gently.
…That I want one of them to fight me? I asked weakly.
I was starting to wonder whether any of them would actually go easy on me…
Yes…but remember, don't tell them why you want to gain experience…
…Why not? I asked, completely missing its point.
Do you want them to follow us to the headquarters? Mewtwo asked.
That wasn't what I had been thinking of at all, but I decided not to say so.
…Um…I…guess…not… I lied.
Actually, I wouldn't have minded having them follow along…for backup…I knew I could trust them…
Well, hurry up. I want to leave tomorrow.
Okay, okay…Sheesh…
I floated out to the front yard and drifted forward until someone noticed me…It happened to be Billie who spotted me first.
"Ash Ketchum! Where have you been!?" she shouted, deafening everyone who was next to her.
Um…
Misty backed a good distance away from Billie.
"Yeah! This was your fault, you know!" she added.
Well…I…
Taper, who wasn't actually helping with the door but was watching from the side, chuckled to itself.
You've got some more explaining to do, Ash…
Shut up, Taper…
Ohh…You're getting touchy, Ash…
I decided it was best to just ignore Taper.
"Pikapikachu, pika!?"
'Ash, you'd better have a really good excuse for not helping us with this door!'
I cringed. Now even Pikachu was mad at me…
I let myself down to the ground, and looked at it.
Well…I was actually just……I was…um………I was training… I finished quietly.
"What were you training, Ash? It's not like you have any Po-……" Misty trailed off.
Brock finally joined the conversation.
"So, you decided you were going to train yourself, Ash?" he asked.
Um……I guess so.
"Did it help?" Billie asked.
Ummmm…not…really……
"Oh…That's too bad."
"So, what happened?" Misty asked, "How come it didn't help?"
Well……um…I couldn't win any battles……
There was a pause as they realized what I had said and tried to hold in their laughter.
Misty finally spoke.
"Well……This is a big change……Mr. Pokémon Master can't win a battle against a wild Pokémon……" She covered her mouth and laughed.
It's not funny……
"Yes it is," Billie said, "All the wild Pokémon around here are at really low levels…Even you should be able to beat them!"
"I bet…I bet you couldn't even beat a Caterpie!" Misty laughed.
It's not funny! I repeated.
…but it will be when I learn Transform and I can turn into a Caterpie…That'll teach her…
"Pikachu…Pika…"
I glared at Pikachu. Even it was laughing at me.
All right…That's it.
I stepped in front of Pikachu and tried to make myself look tough.
Pikachu! I challenge you to a match!
Pikachu stopped laughing and stared at me with wide eyes. After a brief moment, it went back to rolling around on the ground.
I deflated.
Pikachu…
…Oh, I see…Ash wants to battle you guys so he can gain more experience and get stronger……You've gotta admit, he's got guts… Taper said.
"You mean…if we battle you, we don't have to work on this door?" Billie asked.
Yeah! Come on! Let's battle!
Billie jumped up and into the lawn and pulled out a Pokéball.
"Then I'm ready! Go! Venomoth!!"
"Veno! Moth!"
Venomoth…?
I jumped into battle too.
This isn't gonna be easy…That thing looks tough…
…Mew…You should have an advantage here…as long as it doesn't use Leech Life… Mewtwo said from its spot in the woods.
Um…What happens if it uses Leech Life? I asked.
Psychic Pokémon are weak against Bug attacks.
…Oh.
However, Venomoth is also a Poison-type, so if you use…Wait a sec…I didn't teach you that, did I?
Whatever it is, you're probably right.
Then in that case……um…you'd better use Pound.
I sighed.
One Pound, comin' right up.
"Venomoth! Stun Spore!"
Stun…?
Before I could even begin to attack, Venomoth was already shaking out its Stun Spore, and I was paralyzed. The awful stuff clung to me and made it impossible to move…
Uh…Mewtwo? This isn't working.
…I thought she was supposed to be going easy on you…
Huh? Oh…Yeah! Billie!! I called out, Aren't you supposed to be going easy on me!?
"Um…I thought I was…How much easier can it get?"
I can't move!!
"Oh…Sorry, Ash…Um…Let's see…How about if I just use Venomoth's weakest attack?"
That's…fine with me… I said, still trying to move, but still failing.
"Venomoth! Tackle attack!" Billie ordered.
Oh great…
I braced myself and let it hit. It zoomed down at me and managed to whack me hard enough to make me tumble over several times.
"Oo…Sorry…" Billie said.
I winked my eyes open and realized I was facing the grass. I pushed myself up and turned around, but then I fell down again.
"Mewww…" I groaned.
'Owww…'
"Pikapika!?" Pikachu cried, running over to me.
'Are you okay!?'
I rubbed my head and grinned weakly.
"Mew…"
'I could be better…'
"Pikachu…"
'You should be more careful…'
"Mew!? Mee-ew!"
'Me be more careful!? It was Billie and her Venomoth that did it!'
Pikachu smiled sadly.
"Pikaa…"
'Right…'
Billie recalled her Venomoth and came over to me.
"Are you okay, Ash? I didn't mean to hurt you that much…I guess I overestimated…"
"Mew…"
'It's okay…'
"…Huh?"
Oh yeah. She can't understand that.
I said it's okay.
"Well…if you say so…"
Brock looked up from his fixing.
"Hey Ash, you want some Paralyze Heal?"
That would be nice…
After a quick job of fixing me up, Misty decided it was her turn to beat, I mean, battle me.
"Okay, Ash. If you lose this match, I'll make sure you never forget it……Psyduck! I choose you!"
She threw out her Pokéball, and sure enough, the comical-looking yellow duck that couldn't even swim was ready to battle me.
Well…I guess I'd better win, then.
"Psyduck! Scratch attack!"
"Psyduck!!"
Psyduck dashed forward and Scratched me as hard as it could. I flinched as it hit, then looked up.
"Psyduck, psy!" Psyduck quacked.
'I'm pretty tough, huh?'
I glared at it.
You little…That hurt!
"Well…At least you're not out of the battle yet," Misty grinned.
That's…true…
You'd better fight back, Mewtwo suggested, or even a weak opponent like that one will beat you.
Right, I said.
I jumped up and Pounded Psyduck forcefully.
"You idiot!!" Misty shouted, "You just hit it on the head!!!!"
I glanced at Psyduck. Sure enough, a large welt was forming on the top of its head, where I had Pounded it.
……Oops…
"Pssyyyy…"
'Now that hurt…'
I…I'm sure it did… I laughed nervously, Now…no need to, um…you know…
"…Ash, I think you know what's gonna happen next," Misty said dryly.
Uhh…
"…Duuck…"
Psyduck tensed up, and its eyes started to glow a deep blue color.
This isn't good…
"Psy……Duck!"
Its brainwaves suddenly took hold of me and before I knew it, I was flying backwards. Psyduck sent me crashing right into a nearby tree.
"Meww…"
'Oww…'
"Psyyduckk…"
Not done yet?
Psyduck lifted me up again, brought me a little forward, then banged me against the tree again…I had thought it had hurt the first time…I was wrong…
"…Psyduck?" Misty asked.
"Psyyyy…"
I tried to get up, but Psyduck had already weakened me too much…I couldn'tdefend myself anymore…Just let whatever happens happen…
"Pika! Pikapi!!"
'Ash! Stop it, Psyduck!!'
"Psyduck!! Return!"
"Pssy?"
A beam of red light engulfed Psyduck and it went back in its Pokéball.
That's good…
I sighed, one of the few things I could do at the moment.
"Pikachu?"
'Are you all right?'
…No.
"Chu…"
'Oh…'
"Hey, Brock," Misty said, "Get out your potion bag again. I think a certain Mew needs it."