Well, it's my first chapter after the crossover, and it's... kinda short. But the return to Mewtwo's point of view was refreshing because honestly, he's my favorite character to write from. No, really. He analizes everything, and that makes it fun to write.

Well, it's occured to me that this story is roughly six years old and maybe one or two of you would be interested to hear where it came from, wouldn't you? Okay, so most of you don't care, but I'm telling it anyway.

Here's the thing about me- I was an unwanted child. My grandmother was in the hospital, so her dear oldest child, her daughter, decides to have a one-night fling with her boyfriend's little brother- but it's not as one-night as they expect. Forbidden to abort the child, whose father's family will have nothing to do with it, she tries to raise it but fails miserably, at which point the baby is handed over to her own parents in the hopes that they'll do a better job. The young mother moves out of state, and the little girl enters school the only child without a mommy or a daddy. The school bullies had a field day, but that little girl had too much pride to just be pushed around- so she pushed back. Hard. Needless to say, the establishment didn't seem to like her much, and she was often overlooked in favor of the nice, cheerful children.

Is it any wonder she grew up warped?

Skip to ten, eleven years later. An unpopular fifteen-year-old on a bevy of pills to 'fix' her personality about to be kicked out of her public high school for her behavior when she gets sick and ends up in the hospital. After missing a month of school, the teachers happily inform her parents that she can't possibly catch up on classes she was failing to begin with, so she'll have to be home-schooled from now on. She's lost everything, including what few 'friends' she had. She spends hours just riding her bike in circles around the city, knowing the streets pretty well. And then one day she spots a shop with a whole lot of guys playing cards. Curious, she unwittingly steps into the middle of the local Pokemon league. And they actually welcome her. Guys are always eager for a cute girl to play cards with, and they waste no time offering to make her a deck and asking what her favorite Pokemon is. And with her limited knowledge, she looks up at them and says...

"That thing in the armor in Viridian Gym that kicked Gary Oak's ass."

And so they tell her to watch a movie. She does. And she's hooked.

The concept for Anomaly came soon after. With a handful of cards, a borrowed tape, and an unexpected new friend, I started tinkering with a story. It was just a random idea I had, but the sole other girl gamer, Sea, gave it the thumbs up and suggested I write it down. I sat down and started designing a character, one who could be strong and kind, the kind of soul I wanted to be, and Evetwo was born. Badly. Try as I might, I couldn't get it right. Finally, I pinpointed the problem- she was too weak. I tried again, scrapping my old work and starting fresh. By this time, I'd gotten a chance to see the new Mewtwo Return's movie, so I had a handy excuse- even then I was obsessed with following storylines. Sea told me many times that watching my reactions to the movie was better than the movie itself. Something about when I started cursing Giovanni. I sat and started writing again, and while the character was stronger, I felt no closer to her than I had before. She was too tough this time, to hard to like. I did, however, fall in love with a few of my other characters- the sassy-smart Yota, the gentle Cheryl, the foul-mouthed Kazu, and the ubiquitously bright Reyoko, who underwent a gender-change somewhere along the line to become pink haired Reiko. And I made a villian I could really loathe in Jianna, who's name I couldn't spell for months afterwards, and a foil to her in the true-to-life Sea, the Eevee trainer based on my best friend. The characters were wonderful. But the story was terrible, and there was no point in writing it any more. I gave up.

Yet I could not give up on Evetwo.

I guess I had invested too much of my heart into her, because over the years she just would not leave me alone. I'd read and re-read my old story, wishing I could do her justice. I wrote other stories in that time, honing my skills, and I gained new experiences. I made more friends. I had my heart broken several times. I grew up. And one day, as I sat re-reading my old work, I felt almost like I could hear Eve whispering to me, asking for just one more chance. One more chance to come alive.

So I pulled up Microsoft Word, and I started to work.

I knew I had it from the first chapter. The character that had been to complex to just be a child's crutch now came alive. Now that I'd been hurt- and healed- just a little more myself, I could better get in touch with my character's dual nature. Eve is easily the most complex character I've ever written, because underneath the fighter there's still that little girl who just wants her family. In short, hidden in Eve, I've found myself. She is still the kind of person I want to be- complex, layered, a tough shell around a child's heart. With every chapter I find I grow stronger myself, and the timing could not be better, because right now I need her strength. When I type, I can actually hear her speaking to me, and it comforts me. She's more than just a character. She's an extension of my soul. Evetwo's not just my creation, she's my strength, and in this story lies my heart and soul, my tears, my identity. This is the one piece of work that I can truly say defines who I am. That's what this story means to me.

I hope it means something to all of you, as well.

So let's go!

"Evetwo, it is time to go."

"Just a minute!" Eve scowled lightly to herself as she rummaged through the bushes. Mewtwo knew she wanted to find that thing, but he kept bothering her anyway. She shoved a few low branches aside. It had been right about here that she'd seen it last, but the rain was making it so hard to look. The clone scowled to herself as she rooted around. She wasn't going to leave this island until she found...

"Is this what you are looking for?" Eve's head snapped up as Mewtwo pulled a small object out of the brush- the Nido horn that Flame had told her she could keep. He eyed it disdainfully as she stood up.

"That's it!" Eve reached for her prize and Mewtwo dropped the horn into her waiting hand. She grinned to herself as she tied it around her neck by the vine.

"I presume this means you are ready to go now?"

"Yeah, I guess so." Eve picked up her backpack and looked around her. The island was covered in a rainy haze, but the plants were still lush and green where they weren't damaged. "Can I stop and say goodbye to Dewgong first?"

"It would be best if we just left," Mewtwo stated, but behind him Mew clicked her tongue.

"Let her say goodbye, there's no harm in it. Those Seels have stayed on that little island for generations. They won't go telling anyone."

Mewtwo shot Mew a dangerous glare, but the kitten held her ground. Some sort of glance seemed to pass between them and Mewtwo nodded. "Go, then. We will come and get you when we are done here." Eve nodded and shot off into the trees before he could change his mind. It only took her a few moments to reach the tiny island where the Seels rested.

There was no one to be found.

Eve frowned, landing on the empty rocks. This area was usually bustling with activity, but now only a dead silence could be heard. Her throat tightened. The Seels hadn't... they hadn't been captured, had they? They hadn't...

"Hi there!" The clone was ripped away from any morbid thoughts by the cheerful voice behind her. Her breath caught in her chest as she turned. The little Seel, the one who had taught her to use the ice beam, was sliding up onto the rocks with his usual carefree expression. She stared at him, shaking lightly. He just beamed. "I scared you good, didn't I! You jumped!"

"Where did you come from?" Eve's voice shook slightly, and she frowned to herself as she tried to hide the fearful emotions that she had been feeling just moments before. "Where are all the others?"

"They are in hiding, little one." From to the side now came the voice of Dewgong. Eve turned to face the wise old seal. "We heard the commotion last night and took to the underwater caves scattered about this island."

"Then... then you're all okay? No one was caught?"

Dewgong chuckled. "We've been evading humans for a long time now, child. We're quite adept at slipping away unnoticed and avoiding conflict."

Eve felt the knot in her stomach untying itself. "I'm glad," she said weakly. "I'm glad you're all okay."

"Did you come to make ice slides with us again?" The Seel clapped his fore-flippers together in excitement, but Eve shook her head. The pup's face fell. "Why not?"

"I came to say goodbye," she told him gently. The Seel's mouth opened into a tiny 'o' as he stared at her. "My being here could have gotten you all in trouble when those bad people came after me, and my brother says it's time to go now before they can come after us again. Otherwise you might really be caught."

"That's not fair," the Seel protested. "You shouldn't have to-"

Dewgong shushed him gently. "This is her matter, not yours. If her brother says she must go, then she must. It's something you'll understand when you're older." The Seel nodded, grimacing slightly. "Now, go tell the others that it will be safe to come out soon."

"Awright..." The pup headed for the water before turning back. "Hey, did our ice help you when you were fighting those bad guys?"

Eve smiled to herself just a little. "It did," she said truthfully. The Seel grinned and waved one flipper before diving down into the water. The clone sighed. "Everyone is really all right, then?"

"We're all fine, little one." Dewgong nodded her head. "We escaped in time to avoid the danger. None of the humans were any the wiser."

Eve shifted one foot slightly. "Then I guess this is goodbye. Thanks for hearing me out... it was good to have someone to talk to."

"No one can hide what they feel forever, little one. Remember that."

Eve headed back to the island lost in thought over Dewgong's words- enough so that she almost stumbled into the conversation without realizing it was going on. Mew, Mewtwo, and even the supposedly departed Anti seemed to be having a rather serious discussion- she could hear the phantom from on the other side of the rocks. "And we're telling you you'll get killed if you try!"

Frowning, the long-haired cloned ducked down further behind the monolithic stones before she could be seen. She doubted it would do much good; even if Mew didn't sense her, Mewtwo surely would. But if there was any chance of hearing what was going on, she wanted to take it. Anti had sounded angry and more than a little frustrated, as though this was an argument he didn't want to be having. There was a heavy silence and a soft sound like feet shifting in the grass from the other side before Mewtwo actually spoke. "Then would you say that we should just let Team Rocket continue with their twisted experiments? How many human children do you think died before they created her, Mew? How many will die now if they try again? The odds are astronomically stacked against them actually succeeding with every one. Surely you would be the one here most likely to place some value on that."

Eve's throat tightened and she heard Mew actually hissing softly. "Don't you dare try turn my beliefs against me, Mewtwo! I'm not going to condone this suicide mission of yours!"

"I do not care one way or the other whether you condone my actions," Mewtwo responded scathingly. "I am far beyond the point of needing your approval for the things I do. My destiny is in my own hands, not yours." Something in the way he spat the word 'destiny' made Eve flinch. She could hear more than his usual selfish pride in the words. There was a fierce determination in his voice, one that left her with a chill up her spine. It was the tone of someone who would do anything to accomplish their goals, no holds barred, a true believer in their cause. "If I have to systematically level every Rocket enterprise on the face of the planet to keep them from making another such as Evetwo and I, then that is what I will do. There can be no more than us two. I will not allow it."

There was a tired sigh that she recognized by instinct as being the phantom's even as her head was spinning from what she was hearing. "And what about Eve, then? What will you do with her while you're off fulfilling your need for vengeance?"

Mewtwo scoffed lightly. "If you absolutely insist on my keeping her in spite of my plans," and his tone was enough to make her cringe, "then I will take her with me in my travels and leave her somewhere safe when I have matters to attend to. If she cannot look after herself for a few hours from time to time it is no one's fault but her own."

"The hell it's not!" Mew practically shrieked the protestation. "Sis is still to young to take care of herself! You know how she gets, she's too curious for her own good!" Eve almost protested, holding back only because it would blow whatever fragile cover she seemed to have. "She's a child, Mewtwo, a child! Hell, she can be hardly more than a baby sometimes! That may not hold any value for you, but you can't go forgetting it, either! As tough as she thinks she is, she cannot be left alone!"

"Then I will train her until she can be. Perhaps someday she will even be of some assistance to me."

This time Mew really did shriek. "Over my dead body! You are leaving my little sister out of your stupid plans and ideas! You may be helping me take care of her, but I'll be damned if she turns out anything like you have in the end! I didn't give her into your care so you could ruin her, I did it so she could fix you!"

It only took Mewtwo a second to think of a reply. Eve wondered if he didn't rehearse conversations like these in his head beforehand so he wouldn't be caught without an answer. "And what, do you suppose, would she have to say to that?"

"It doesn't matter one way or another," Mew snapped. "You're going to forget this stupid, reckless idea of yours and you'll never say a word about it again and she won't know any better one way or the other!" There was a soft, foreign sound that made Eve strain her ears and then her mind to identify it. It only lasted a moment, but a moment was more than enough for her to realize with a jolt what she was 'hearing' from the other side of the rocks- Mewtwo was actually laughing softly at the kitten. Her eyes widened and she shivered slightly as she hunched down further. If that was how he sounded when he laughed, she'd rather he didn't do it at all!

And then Mewtwo spoke again, so smug she almost wanted to hit him herself. "It is a little late for that. She has been listening in on our conversation for over a minute now. I am sure that even she can make sense of what she has heard."

"I am sure that even she can make sense of what she has heard." Even as the words left his mind, Mewtwo heard a choked gasp from the other side of the rocks. It was not the first sound he had heard from that direction, but it was the first that the two kittens on either side of him had detected, distressed as they were. It was one of Mew's weaknesses- once she became emotionally focused on one subject she tended to miss things she might otherwise notice. Mew and Anti both swiveled their heads towards the rocks even as he heard a frantic shuffling from behind them as the female tried to hide her own presence, or at the very least pretend she had only just arrived. Mewtwo allowed himself the slightest quirk of the mouth. There was a sort of dark humor to the whole situation, one that he could readily appreciate even if the others could not. "It is too late to hide," he informed the eavesdropper. "I knew you were there before you so much as set foot on this island. You cannot pretend you have not heard."

There was another, softer shuffling sound as the female rose to her feet and stepped out of hiding, staring up at them all with those cursedly wide, innocent red eyes of hers. They flickered up to meet his gaze before looking away again, and Mewtwo knew she was thinking over what she had just heard. If he had played his cards right, so to speak, then she would side with him on this matter. Bringing up the children had been for her benefit, not Mew's, and he was certain that her inability to let others suffer would spur her to accept his cause. "And what would you say," he asked as Mew moved forward to nudge the youth's cheek, foolishly affectionate towards their so-called sibling. "Would you see Team Rocket create more like us?" Mew protested, but Evetwo shook her head. "You have suffered more than any of us. You would not wish that kind of suffering on someone else, would you?" Again she shook her head, still refusing to meet his eyes. He had to fight back a smug smile. "Then you should have no problem with stopping them before they can try, should you?" He had left no room for her to argue, and she knew it. She cast Mew a look of helpless apology as she shook her head one last time.

"No!" Mew wailed. "You can't do this, either of you!"

"The decision has been made," he said coolly as he moved, stepping past the kitten and the female and heading for the caves. Let Mew try to convince Evetwo not to go with him, it would not do any good. As long as the kitten was too busy to watch over the little female personally, there was no other outcome as to what happened next. Mewtwo headed down into the caves feeling somewhat satisfied with his handling of the situation.

He headed to his own room once he had reached the bottom of the steps without stopping to look around. It was a simplistic, almost spartan space. The only real furniture he had were a crude seating area made of stone and the slab he sometimes used for sleeping on. The only actual object in the room aside from the book he had finished last night was a bundle of brown cloth, which he moved to pick up. The coarse fabric unraveled with a soft rustling sound, lightly brushing the floor before he lifted it up and tied it about his neck. The cloak was tattered at the edges, and the only real reason he brought it with him from place to place was because he could not ensure that he would find another one long enough to protect him from the cold during the winter months. Everything else he might obtain, including the books, would be left behind. In short, it was his only possession.

He stopped to look around the chamber for a moment. Usually he would return a den to the state it had been in before he arrived- usually one of non-existence- to help preserve his secrecy. Now, however, such a move would be foolhardy at best. The sheer amount of power it took to build or demolish a habitat usually dispersed in the form of light, and if Team Rocket were to see that light they may catch on to the flight of the clones. Mewtwo frowned to himself. He would have to build his next home in stages; it was the only way to prevent a light discharge. It would not be difficult for him by any means, just inconveniently time consuming. But, he reminded himself, it was the only way to get close to any human cities without being detected. And unfortunately the job at hand would require such action. He turned and left the caves without looking back.

Evetwo was sulking in the rain when he reached the surface. The little female's eyes did not rise to meet his as he stepped into the open. In fact, she was deep enough in thought that he was able to come up behind her unnoticed without even making any effort. Turning the vaguely pinkish horn she had acquired over in her hands, she gazed both at and through the trees as though staring off into some imaginary distance. Even in her sleep she was hardly ever this still, if one could disregard the constant motion of her hands. Over and over she turned the horn, seemingly oblivious to the rain that dripped down her face and shoulders and ran along the length of her abnormally still tail. Mewtwo could not help the slightest of frowns. "Where has Mew gone?"

She jumped visibly at the intrusion into her thoughts. There was that indignant squeak of hers, so childish it was almost comical. She stared over at him with wide eyes for a moment before finally answering. "I don't know where Mew went. To sleep, she said. She could be anywhere." The corners of the female's mouth twitched as she stared at the length of fabric he wore over his shoulders. "What is that?"

"It is a cloak," he answered steadfastly. "I find it to be handy during the winter months, and on rainy days such as this."

Her mouth twitched again. "I thought it was wrong to steal from humans."

Mewtwo gritted his teeth. Meeting Mew's rather... willful friends had made her even more difficult than she had been before! Had he been prone to physical violence, he would have tried hitting the tiny smirk that was forming right off of her face. But no, physical blows were best saved for when the purpose was to shock someone, such as when he had punched Mew out of that absurd transformation stunt- which meant that instead he had to fight the urge to pin her to a tree. "This was a special circumstance."

"And the books?"

He eyed her in silence for a moment. It really was just the smallest hint of a smirk, but it was still enough to annoy him. Even more obnoxious was the amused look in her eyes. Even if he could not bring himself to call her his sister, he certainly could not deny her as being a relative of Mew's. He kept his composure. "The books are the one thing I hold as an exception. Knowledge is valuable, enough so that the ends can justify the means."

Eve tilted her head slightly. "Even the fiction?"

The lilting note in her tone did not go undetected by him, but the genuine curiosity in her eyes made him wonder if she was aware of it herself as she proceeded to make a pale attempt at mockery. "Even the fiction," he said firmly. "Anything that can help us to understand the world around us and the minds of the people who strive to dominate it."

She nodded blankly, unable to think of a proper reply- or maybe just trying to understand what he had just said. At times it could be hard to tell with her. She was caught in some strange balance between the knowledge she had gained since her 'birth' and the memories she possessed from times before that, and he often noted her having to piece together what was being said around her. It seemed that she had gained the ability to recall things from her old life at will, a prospect that did not please him. Always the same expression crossed her features while she was puzzling over something; already he knew it well. Her brow furrowed slightly and she frowned the tiniest of frowns, so small as to be almost imperceptible. She was frowning that way now. She was so transparent that way sometimes, and it annoyed him greatly. What was also annoying, and this was not the first time he had thought of this, was the way she simply stared at him when she did not have anything to say. Even when there were other Pokémon around, it was he that her eyes fell on. Like right now. Mewtwo let his expression darken slightly, and the drenched female blinked twice and seemed to snap out of her stupor. "When are we leaving, then, and where are we going?"

He turned towards the north. "We are headed to the mainland now. I know for certain the location of one of Team Rocket's main bases of operation. I shall start my work there."

He could practically hear her thinking without even trying, her confusion and curiosity were so palpable. Even now, she did not fully understand the scope of his plans. "And what do we do then?" He clenched his jaw slightly, gritting his teeth where she could not see.

"We shall do nothing," he informed her, graciously emphatic with the word 'we.' "You will continue with your training while I see to my own business."

She was not satisfied with that answer, he could tell. But in what could have been a rare display of maturity on her part, she did not argue, either. There was only a soft shifting behind him as she seemed to finally notice the rain. "I'm ready," she said in a manner akin to a human mumbling. It still irked him how she seemed to do these things with her voice without meaning to. When she was feeling particularly meek or chagrined, she mumbled. When she was sad he could nearly hear the tears in her voice, a trembling whine. When she was angry she managed to yell at a telepathic volume that gave him a headache. And when she was happy, as he had observed her for a few brief moments when Mew's friends were present, her voice grew lighter, more child-like in nature. It was altogether too human of her for his tastes.

In short, she annoyed him.

Mewtwo sighed lightly before nodding his head. "This way."