Chapter VI: Cave of Dreams

Years ago, Legendary Pokémon were painted as diabolical threats. Their power enticed government leaders and skilled Trainers around the globe. In an attempt to track and capture these fabled beasts, Kanto and Johto regional governments sent for the most powerful Trainers in their land. The Elite Four – composed of Lance the Dragon Master, Bruno the Fighting Guru, Agatha the Ghost Keeper, and Lorelei the Ice Queen – received capture contracts by way of messenger. But fame opened new possibilities.

With the love of the people at their backs, these great Trainers knew they could go against the grain if necessary. Yet most times they found themselves bored senseless. Technically, they were employees of the Kanto region. Their duty was to uphold the glory of the Indigo Plateau, a vast palace north of the treacherous Victory Road where Trainers who earn all eight Gym Badges came to test their will for the chance to be crowned a Pokémon League Champion.

However, the Elite Four rarely saw competition. They were lucky to get five challengers each year. Furthermore, most contenders did not advance past Lorelei, their first opponent. Lance of Blackthorn had been celebrated (even before the inception of the Elite Four) as both Kanto and Johto's strongest Trainer, though his strategic expertise went mostly unquestioned. A hunt for Legendary Pokémon sparked his interest.

Bruno was impartial; he was always content training his fighters and molding young minds. Agatha salivated at the idea; her heart was cold, her greed was insatiable. But Lorelei refused. She felt an imbalance in the nature of the government's request. So she aimed to discover their intentions.

Lorelei hired a band of spies to infiltrate the Johto League Estate on Mt. Silver. Their staggered reports detailed the government's plan to seize all known Legendary Pokémon and keep them captive in undisclosed locations, impelling their unique powers to do their bidding. Without freedom to roam or guidance from an honest Trainer, Legendary Pokémon could not be used to combat authoritative action.

One of the secret storage locations was projected in Icefall Cave, which resides in Lorelei's hometown of Four Island. The legendary bird of ice, Articuno, was to be bound to the isle's frigid caverns. Although it seemed fitting for the bird, it deserved the right to choose its nest. With enough convincing, the Ice Queen gained the support of her associates.

Therefore, the quartet of elite Trainers set out to uproot their government's plots while also dispelling their boredom. To do this, they would need some assistance. They approached the only man they could think of with equal firepower and a hatred for government intervention. That man was Giovanni.

Once the Elite Four proposed this merger, they uncovered the reason why their roster of challengers was diminutive. Giovanni had become unstoppable in battle. The Rocket Leader gloated about his victories over unsuspecting Trainers, and demanded he head the operation. Lance rejected his stipulation, stating it must be a joint effort. Giovanni challenged him to a battle.

"If you truly are the strongest Trainer in the world," Giovanni tempted, "then defeating me will be simple." Begrudgingly, Lance accepted. In the end he was no match for Giovanni's ultimate weapon – a Pokémon so powerful that a split-second thought from it could destroy an entire skyscraper. This Pokémon was called: Mewtwo.

After tasting defeat, the Dragon Master refused to take part in the operation. "I will not be a witness to this man's savagery," he declared. "We must find another way to stop them. Nothing good will come of this level of power." Lance walked alone. The others saw Mewtwo as the only hope they had of giving the Senate a taste of their own medicine.

Agatha was able to persuade Giovanni into sharing the lead following a few carefully worded ego strokes. When the time was right, Giovanni, Mewtwo and the remaining trio crashed a meeting of the Kanto and Johto Senates.

Agatha's ghosts sedated the watchmen; Bruno's soldiers guarded the Estate's perimeter; Lorelei ensured the conference hall's doors were frozen shut. Giovanni guided his ultimate weapon through a power suit he built for it, allowing him and Mewtwo to communicate telepathically. If the Rocket Leader stepped foot on political soil, he would surely pay with his freedom. Lorelei and Mewtwo pressured the Senates to cease their hunt for all known Legendary Pokémon.

With Mewtwo's psychic abilities on full display, they had no choice but to agree. Nevertheless, this only redirected the Senates' scheme. The political collective knew that the Elite Four were capable of leaking information of their covert schemes to the public. They could lose their rank by attempting to exploit them again. And so began the implementation of the Legendary Registration Act.

Power took many forms. These partisan legislators were not Trainers; they were not farmers or salesmen. Policy was their business. But when the keys to society were in its palm, human nature's test drive often turned to tragedy.

The Elite Four dismissed the idea of acting as extensions of the government's police force. But by working alongside a known (but not proven) criminal, the Senates had them right where they wanted them. Experiencing Mewtwo's immense power firsthand hatched an idea in the lawmakers' brains. There was no comprehensible containment for Mewtwo's power. However, as an independent, hyper-intelligent being, it could be shown the essence of its current situation.

The Senates struck a deal with the Dragon Master. Since Lance also feared the Psychic-type's might, separating it from Giovanni meant he would remain the strongest Trainer in the world. Lance did not feel safe knowing a Pokémon of that magnitude was in the hands of a criminal overlord. The Senates used Lance's fear and ego against him, sending him on a covert rendezvous mission.

To complete this mission Viridian City's electrical power systems had to be disabled. Kanto's Power Plant (located east of Pewter City) headquartered the region's entire electrical grid. Lance, with the authority of the government, gained access to the Power Plant's mainframe after hours. He disabled Viridian's power sources temporarily in order to invade Giovanni's Pokémon Gym and free Mewtwo.

After clearing his first objective, Lance flew to Viridian on the back of his Dragonite. Without electricity, the Viridian Gym's plethora of booby traps, warp tiles and shock fences were deactivated, allowing Lance to freely search for the supreme Pokémon. Underneath Giovanni's elevated battle throne, behind a code-secured barrier, Mewtwo rested inside its power suit. It sensed a disturbance.

Dragonite's strength was tested when it tried ripping open the barrier. Several minutes passed but it would not budge. Curious as to why its power suit was offline, and threatened by outsiders attempting to reach it, Mewtwo lifted the door with its mind. There stood Lance and his dragon, quivering in fear.

"Do not be afraid," it spoke. "I sense you have a greater purpose than attempting to capture me." Lance confirmed the Pokémon's intuition. He informed it of Giovanni's true intentions.

"You may believe that you have a partnership with Giovanni, but he is manipulating your power so that he can rule the world."

"We have an agreement," Mewtwo described. "We are to rule this world together so that Pokémon are no longer confined to human masters."

The Dragon Master explained that the power suit Giovanni made for it was built with the Rocket Leader's protection in mind. His suit was designed to harness Mewtwo's powers and filter them into a lust for battle. Lance advised the clone that Giovanni's goal of becoming the strongest Trainer in the world did not align with its goal.

"I am currently regarded as the strongest Trainer in the world, yet I am no ruler," Lance clarified. "The moment I try to overthrow our government is the moment I am seen as a traitor in the eyes of the public." Mewtwo lowered its head in thought.

"If what you say is true," it advanced, "then I am merely a pawn in Giovanni's game of world domination?"

"Not exactly," Lance reasoned. "I would say you are more like a knight or a queen in your analogy. Nevertheless, you do not belong here. Whatever you choose to do, I cannot stop you. The purpose of my coming here is only to show you that you have a choice. If I were you, I would choose freedom. Either way, our government is coming for you and all like you so that they can assemble a new world order. This is my warning to you."

Mewtwo thanked Lance for the heads-up, though it contemplated his incentives. "As the most powerful Pokémon Trainer, I see weakness in your disinterest in leading this world. Why do you limit yourself?" He chuckled lightly.

"I eat well; I live well. I have more riches than the common man can fathom, yet he loves me for it. In this world, our world, I am a god amongst men with no obligation to answer their cries for attention. All I have to do is smile and wave. As far as I'm concerned, my lifestyle is as limitless as one man's can be."

He left thinking he had opened Mewtwo's eyes to a new frame of mind. If Mewtwo aimed to be praised like a deity, the outcome would be entertaining at the very least, Lance thought. The clone weighed its options.

Recalling it and Giovanni's conversations since its scientific birth planted a seed of grave retribution. It could not remember a time whilst wearing the power suit when it did not want to fight or coincide with Giovanni's venomous plans. Mewtwo recognized it had become the very slave it set out to liberate.

As a result, it bestowed wrath upon the Viridian City Pokémon Gym, tearing the hand-crafted armor apart and setting the building ablaze – a reaction similar to its conclusion at birth that it was brought into this world to be nothing more than Cinnabar's lab rat. Once he heard this news, Giovanni never returned to his Gym. While he slipped into the shadows, his creation vowed to never again trust the human race.

This was the saga told to young Damion Harrison by the men blackmailed into creating the world's most dangerous specimen. Tending to the boy's bruised nasal bridge, Bill apologized for not doing so earlier. "It's my fault," Blaine admitted. "I'm the one who sent him off to the Pokémon Center." Damion kept his cool.

"No worries, I can handle pain," said the boy.

"Then I suppose you'll be okay with this," the famed Pokémon Researcher assumed. He snapped the bone into place and injected a new serum. "There. That ought to do it," said Bill. Wincing in pain, the young Trainer blindly stumbled out of his chair.

"A little warning next time?" he urged.

"I gave you a warning… kinda," Bill said, walking back to his machines.

"Sit back down," Blaine insisted to the boy. "We have more to tell you."

"Wait. Can I say something?" Damion interrupted.

"I suppose," said Blaine.

"So this 'all-powerful' Pokémon, named Mewtwo, he's the reason the Legendary Registration Act exists?"

"Basically, yes. Our government wants to hedge their bets. Mewtwo just happens to be the strongest of them all. Also, it has no gender, kid."

"Yeah, yeah. Then why hasn't it done anything to stop all this? I thought you said it wanted to rule the world."

Bill put away his serum gun and gloves to join the discussion.

"We don't know for certain where Mewtwo has been all this time, or why it has not yet intervened. But I have a theory."

"What is it?" asked Damion.

"When Giovanni kidnapped my wife, he threatened to kill her if I didn't help him give birth to the first unstoppable Pokémon. So I did what I had to do; we did what we had to do."

"You and Blaine?"

"Yes. Blaine used to allow Team Rocket to conduct experiments at the Cinnabar Lab after hours to further fill his pockets and infinite void of discovery. Guilt caught up with him so he decided to ban them from the island. Giovanni's blackmail would tarnish his reputation as a Gym Leader and revoke his citizenship."

". . ."

"We are both not proud of what we did. Giovanni is a sick, sick man."

"Let's keep this to what I don't already know."

"We aren't saints, Damion. We're just two men drunk off scientific aspiration."

"I'm no saint either. I get it. But there is something I still don't understand."

"What's that?"

"If Giovanni is one of the men responsible for the creation of Mewtwo, how can he not remember its face in his dream?"

Bill's theory of Mewtwo's disappearance began with the rash on Blaine's forearm. Using a fallen eyelash of the Mythical Pokémon Mew found deep in an island jungle, Team Rocket Scientists attempted to clone a Pokémon far more powerful than its ancestor. Said to contain the DNA of all living Pokémon, Mew's biological composition seemed too complex to successfully branch an all-new species. However, Giovanni refused to take failure as an answer. Pressure made diamonds, after all.

The crime boss raided Bill's seaside home, abducting his then-wife Celeste. Blaine, already dragged into the experiment, promised to make wine from water – for Bill did not warrant this amount of torment. Together, Bill and Blaine worked tirelessly, testing numerous cellular patterns.

Team Rocket Scientists tried combining multiple DNA samples from various Pokémon in hopes of discovering a supreme combination. Bill and Blaine, however, hypothesized that because of Mew's intrinsic makeup, adding known Pokémon species to its DNA would prompt empty results. To create something new they would need to test the unknown.

Blaine and Bill fused a piece of the eyelash with tree bark, sand, soil, water, leaves, flowers and herbs – anything natural or living that wasn't a Pokémon. They observed a positive reaction to a particular percentage of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and carbon at the molecular level. It could only mean one thing.

Although some variables yielded minute positive reactions, a sacrifice still needed to be made. That day, the Cinnabar Gym Leader surrendered a piece of his sanity in the name of science. Merging human and Pokémon DNA was taboo, a forbidden philosophy conspired by a fearless few. In Blaine Team Rocket found their benefactor.

The young Trainer continued to eyeball Blaine's hideous scientific landmark. "So Mewtwo," Damion determined, "is a part of you?" Blaine nodded.

"My missing patch of skin itched uncontrollably whenever Mewtwo and I were near each other. It drove me mad."

"I was able to neutralize the irritation," Bill said. "But only when Blaine was away from the lab." Bill believed he and Blaine are the only humans on Earth aware of Mewtwo's existence. Damion wanted answers.

"How is it possible that you two are the only ones who know about Mewtwo?"

"You must understand: Mewtwo's abilities are inconceivable," said Bill. "Once Mewtwo finished destroying Viridian Gym, we hypothesized that it cast a psychic wave upon the entire planet."

"It tried to destroy the planet?"

"No, no. We wouldn't be here if it did. It erased the minds of all who beheld its power or heard the name Mewtwo."

"Explain yourselves. What makes you so different?"

"Blaine was immune to the wave. Since he and Mewtwo share DNA, it cannot use its power against itself as far as we know."

"And you?"

"My mind was also erased. At first, Blaine was the only one who could recall the experiment. I refused to believe him."

"What changed?"

The click-clack of Bill's brown leather shoes halted the conversation. He stopped at an odd-looking machine. The celebrity researcher glided his hand across the machine's glass curvature. "This," he presented, "is the rarest piece of equipment in the entire universe."

"That's a bold statement," said Damion, getting up from his chair. He joined Bill at the machine.

"It's called a Time Capsule. The Time Capsule, I should say," the scientist explained.

"What does it do?" he asked. Bill put his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"This may sound like malarkey," he warned, "but this machine can send Pokémon through time." The Trainer's head teetered side to side.

"That does sound ridiculous," the boy noted. "But nothing up to this point has made much sense so I'll just roll with it." Blaine snickered in the background as the boy stretched his doubts. "So you're telling me a Pokémon traveled through time to prove Mewtwo exists?" Bill made an indecisive grimace.

"You're on the right track," said the programmer.

"Look man, I'm not a genius like you. Just tell me what happened."

"Alright, alright. Technically, a Pokémon did travel through time to help me remember. But it was a Pokémon in disguise."

"Still lost here."

"Okay. I came home one day a few weeks after Mewtwo emitted its wave and noticed a Poké Ball had been placed inside the Time Capsule. My wife had just recently left me so I knew it couldn't have been her."

"Sorry to hear that, Bill."

"Eh, it is what it is. Moving on, I went to check my answering machine to erase the messages that were on it."

"Hol' up. A mysterious Poké Ball shows up in your time-travel machine and, instead of first seeing what it is, you decide to check your voicemail? I thought you were a scientist."

"You don't get it. Blaine was leaving me life-or-death voicemails every single day. It was my routine to delete them because at the time I thought he was insane. Plus, I can't stand when that light keeps blinking over and over again. It drives me crazy."

"Get to the point, Bill."

"Yes. So, I deleted the messages and took out the Poké Ball from the machine."

"What was inside?"

"Me."

"You were inside the Poké Ball? Now you're just messing with me."

Blaine broke his silence to verify his colleague's story.

"It's true," he added. "Seen it with my own two. This man has turned himself into a Pokémon more times than I can count."

Damion's previous definition of logic now meant absolutely nothing. He had to let go of normal. There was difficulty making use of such a relative term anyway. The Trainer's face left a puzzled expression.

"So let me get this straight: A different version of yourself traveled back in time to confirm that: one – Mewtwo exists; two – Blaine is not crazy; and three – time travel exists?"

"Well, it's more like interdimensional travel. But "Interdimensional Capsule" doesn't roll off the tongue. You see, our souls are infinite, Damion. There are endless versions of us on endless worlds in endless timelines. That is how the universe works – it has no beginning or end. Only our bodies have definite starting and ending points. The human soul cannot be defined numerically, despite how hard we try."

". . ."

"It's okay if it doesn't click right away. You'll understand when you're ready."

". . ."

"I saw myself in the shape of a Clefairy right here in my living room. This Bill listened to all of Blaine's voicemails. He concluded that Blaine called instead of visited because something about Cerulean City frightened him."

". . ."

"I've lived in this city for quite a while so I know it front to back. But the only area I hadn't explored was Cerulean Cave. Other Bill had a hunch that whatever was in that cave would prove Blaine's messages to be true. Disguised as Clefairy, he snuck in past the guard before dawn. In the deepest cavern of the furthest floor was Mewtwo, staring back at the imposter Pokémon."

"Was it alarmed? Did it attack?" the young Trainer asked.

"It disappeared, banishing Other Bill to the cave's waterfront between Routes 4 and 24. He respawned into the water, nearly drowning. Once on land, he rushed home and immediately sent himself 'back in time' to tell me to trust Blaine's words. The next day, Blaine and I met in Cinnabar to retrace our steps and rebuild my memory once and for all."

Damion sat back down to make sense of this huge helping of linguistic data. Government secrets, superhuman clones, time-traveling PokéManiacs – the world as he knew it was quickly revealing its most intricate layers. But why him?

Who was he to hold these secrets? He was just a boy from Blackthorn City aiming to uplift the Harrison family name, although the faces of all who met him suggested otherwise. With hope-filled eyes they gawked at him. His timing could not be more perfect, so it seemed. Was it skill or luck, being destined? Only time could tell the difference.

Hours passed while the three shared opinions and devised a plan over TV dinners. Two watchmen guarded Cerulean Cave separately (appointed by the Kanto Pokémon League). They swapped every 12 hours. A camera surveyed both the east and west sides of its entrance. Bill proposed to mimic the strategy of his other self, but entering would not be that simple. Damion needed to be the one trekking the cave floors. The cave's exterior was shaped like a trapezoid, slanting diagonally upwards on each side from its foundation and flattening at its summit.

"Do you have a Flying Pokémon?" Bill asked Damion.

"The kid's got a lot of things," Blaine blurted. "But a flyer ain't one of them." Damion reached into his inner vest pocket, disagreeing with the Gym Leader.

"Sure I do," he rectified. "I have one… right… here." Disappointed in himself, the forgetful Trainer frowned at his Great Ball.

"600 bucks down the drain," said Blaine.

"I feel like a bad Trainer," Damion worried. "I always forget about Xatu." Bill's face lit up.

"You have a Xatu?"

"Yeah," Damion replied.

"We don't have those in Kanto. It would be great if I could examine one," the researcher implied. "It's said to possess the power to see into both the past and the future!"

"I'll think about it," Damion diverged. "What's the plan?"

A full, pinkish moon accompanied the two Trainers atop Cerulean's cave. At the western edge of Route 24, the Mystic Pokémon used its psychic capacity to lift the bodies of Blaine and its Trainer, placing them gently on the cave's crown. They walked to the summit's edge and peeked below. The guard stood still as a statue. The ancient bird of wisdom behaved alike.

"Could you tell your Pokémon to stop staring at me?" Blaine insisted, whispering with emphasis.

"She's not looking at you," said Damion. "She's looking through you." The Gym Leader was not in favor of Damion's philosophical inference. He had him instruct the bird to focus on her Trainer instead. Blaine paced back and forth as he examined the summit's surface.

"What do you seek?" Damion whispered. Blaine remained quiet and returned with a hefty rock. Struggling to carry it alone, he set the rock down after a handful of steps.

"There are loose rocks all over," said Blaine. "See if you can find one bigger than this."

This veered from Bill's plan, which bothered the boy.

"This isn't what we talked about," Damion replied.

"I'm aware of that," the Gym Leader retorted. "If you want to get stuff done, sometimes you have to improvise."

"When I have a plan," the Trainer informed, "I stick to it." A gentle wind caressed their skin.

Blaine stroked his large mustache to its original comfortable position.

"There's a reason why Bill is at home and we are out here," he explained. "Bill has no sense for adventure. He doesn't know how to adjust to real-life situations. He's an idealist."

"Then what does that make you?" Damion questioned.

"You and I, we're realists. We set goals, solve problems, and get things done."

"I can agree, but speak for yourself. Does this mean you have an alternative plan?"

"You bet I do."

"Let's hear it."

"That guy down there, he was specifically chosen for this job."

"Your point?"

"You've never seen the training videos of these guys online?"

". . ."

"My point is: If we jump down there like idiots, odds are one of us gets ejected into the water by his staff, and the other gets bruised beyond belief. These guards are allowed to strike Pokémon by law if they feel threatened."

"Your concern is valid. What about the cameras? Can we disable them?"

"Lucky for us, the cameras can only see the sides of the cave. But they still pick up sound. Tell Xatu to disarm just the red and white wires from each camera with her mind so we don't get detected."

Damion signaled his hieroglyphic bird with a sideways nod. Using metaphysical perception, Xatu located and unplugged the audio wiring of the two security cameras, leaving the visual component intact to avoid alerting the Pokémon League.

"Now," Blaine directed in a faint, feathery voice, "Xatu will need to remove every bit of rubble from the edge of this summit. Precision is crucial."

Damion caught on to Blaine's concept. "You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

"I have," he replied. "That's why I wasn't saying anything on the way here." Following Xatu's rubble reposition, the Trainers rolled the hefty rock to the summit's edge as silently as possible.

"This isn't right," murmured Damion.

"Relax," Blaine affirmed. "I'll leave him some aspirin."

They pushed the miniature boulder off the summit's edge. It landed on the crown of the guard's skull, cracking in two. His staff dropped as he unconsciously stumbled into the cave's surrounding waters. "Xatu, quick;" Damion exclaimed, "don't let him drown!" The Mystic Pokémon floated down to the edge of the bank. She raised her wings to the sky and surrounded herself in blue light.

Seconds later, the guard, also encased in blue light, emerged from the water. Xatu eased him back on land. Damion and Blaine were next. She guided them down from the summit. They observed the cave's entrance. "Thanks so much, Xatu," the proud Trainer said. "But we're not done yet!" The mystical bird let out its battle cry. The Trainers entered the arcane cave.

Utter darkness was the lone scene. Dripping water and sporadic footsteps reverberated against the rocky walls. It was eerie, cold and uninviting. These unwelcome guests would soon be outmatched.

"Xatu, use Flash!"

A pulse of radiating light dispersed from the bird's lime green feathers. She illuminated the cave's first floor. Fully-evolved Pokémon unearthed in abundance, so in tune with the cave floor that it almost breathed in silence. Until a sensation of light exposed them, that is.
Golbat hung from the ceiling; Parasect scurried 'cross the floor. Electrode and Magneton paused from their territorial duel. All stopped to glare at the intruders who were frozen with fear.

"Please tell me your Xatu can turn us invisible."

"C'mon, man. She's a Xatu, not a Mewtwo."

"Peachy. OK then, Plan B: You see that opening on the other side of the water?"

"Which one?"

"Good point. Uh, the one all the way in the corner over there, you see it?"

"Yeah, I see it."

"Can you swim?"

"Does it matter?"

"Just shut up and run, kid!"

With closed eyes and screaming lungs, the Gym Leader took off like a derby horse after a skyward bullet. He bolted towards the nearby pool. His glasses flew off his face. Groggy Golbat dropped from their upside down perch, giving chase. They were five to his one.

Damion stood in place. He analyzed all the Pokémon's behavior. They were amused by the eccentric Gym Leader. He followed at a much slower pace once Blaine was halfway to the corner opening. The calm Trainer picked up the askew specs and brushed them off. When Blaine was exiting the water, Damion called to him:
"Hey, Blaine," he teased. "You forgot something."

"Yeah, I know," Blaine snapped. "Bring them over h-"

Clinging to the ledge, the Fire-type Trainer yelped in pain. A pesky Water Pokémon latched onto his submerged, dangling leg. "H-Help! Get it off!" He kicked and kicked. But the Pokémon's bite was much too strong. Damion sent in his soldier. "Xatu, let's go!" The airborne clique of Golbat congregated above Blaine's head. He managed to lift himself on dry land, unveiling the culprit.

Its bill full of Blaine's foot, a wild Golduck appeared. Blaine readied a strike with his dominant foot, but the bipedal duck foresaw the attack. It slapped his stomp attempt away with its left webbed claws and spit a high-pressure stream of water into Blaine's eyes.

"Xatu, fly up and use Psychic on those Golbat!" The protective, wide-mouthed bats rushed at Xatu. However, they suffered defeat from the bird's super-effective attack. They plopped into the water one by one, floating to the top with fainted, spiraling eyes. Golduck glanced over its shoulder.

It accepted Damion's test of strength. It faced the Trainer and his telekinetic comrade. The eager, pale-blue duck lunged through the air at Xatu; its red forehead jewel gleamed. "Xatu, use Flash!" The Mystic Pokémon emitted a blinding light once more, sending Golduck back down to its habitat. The splash impact dampened Damion's clothes.

Xatu and her Trainer awaited the Duck Pokémon's next move. A patch of bubbles danced on the water's surface – then a second, and a third. Damion held a fist in the air, telling his Pokémon to be patient. Golduck burst from the water – only this time it directed its attack at the young Trainer. Damion shifted his hands to his pockets and stared into the wild Pokémon's eyes.

He gave a smirk and a wink. The Duck Pokémon levitated in place. Its gaze jumped from side to side. "Xatu, Psychic," the boy ordered. Xatu obeyed. Golduck was raised high above and slammed hard into the ground. It had too little health to retaliate. A dull roar collected from the spectating Pokémon. Damion reached into his Bag and pulled out an Ultra Ball. He rolled the capture device off his fingertips to add Golduck to his team. The Duck Pokémon digitized into the Ball. The device shook thrice from Golduck's fighting spirit. A successful tone chimed.

"Well, well," said Blaine. "That was impressive, kid. Thanks for saving my skin." Xatu joined her Trainer on land.

"Don't thank me, thank Xatu," the boy smiled. The obedient bird leaned her head on Damion's arm and cooed. "Let's say hello again to Golduck!"

The duck emerged from its Ultra Ball. It loosed a victorious quack. Damion chatted with his new Water-type after healing it with a Super Potion from his Bag. "Would you mind taking me over to my friend?" The new addition gave its Trainer a thumbs-up, jumping into the water. Damion hopped on its back. They surfed to Blaine; he was rather unhappy. Golduck and Blaine held a brief staring match.

"Oh, get over it," Damion said.

"Easy for you to say," Blaine replied. "You weren't the one getting bitten and sprayed in the face. I hate Water Pokémon." Golduck crossed its arms.

"Well, you better start liking them because they're our only hope of finding Mewtwo," said Damion. Blaine took back his glasses from the boy's hand.

"Golduck is one Water-type. It can't fit both of us on its back," Blaine reasoned. Damion crouched to look his ally in the eye.

"Golduck, I need a favor," he said. "My friend and I, we're on a very important mission. Is there any way you can convince one of your buddies to let Blaine here ride on their back?" The Duck Pokémon glared at the Gym Leader. It turned its head away and snorted.

"Blaine, I think you should apologize for what you said a second ago," Damion suggested. Blaine sighed and stepped towards Golduck.

"I'm sorry, Golduck. Water Pokémon should be respected like all the rest."

"Golduck!" the Pokémon agreed. It gave Damion a high-five and plunged into the pool.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Damion joshed. Blaine responded with an air of impatience.

Soon Golduck returned, accompanied by a friendly Goldeen. The Goldfish Pokémon whipped its horn up and down in excitement, splish-splashing around.

"A Goldeen?" Blaine complained. "You tell it to grab a friend and the best it can do is a puny Goldeen? How am I supposed to ride that tiny thing?"

Golduck swiped Blaine's cheek with its claw. He steamed with anger.

"Loose lips lead to tight stitches," said Damion.

"Zip it, kid. I've had it up to here with the both of you." Damion addressed the Water-types.

"Golduck, Goldeen: Blaine and I don't have time to decipher all of this cave's intricacies. I know this place must be filled with dead ends and confusing mazes. But, if you could, please show us the quickest route to the deepest cavern. We believe there is a powerful Pokémon there. We don't want to capture it, or let alone battle it. We just want to talk. Human lives are in danger. Can you help us?"

Goldeen was muddled. Golduck was tentative.

"Golduck, have you seen this Pokémon?" It shook its head, but turned its back. It accepted the task, offering Damion another ride. The boy turned to Blaine.

"Golduck knows the way."

"And how am I gonna get there, by teleporting?" Blaine grumbled.

"Grow up, would ya? Hold on to Goldeen's horn. They can be extremely swift swimmers."

The foursome rode west through the calm tides, crystal labyrinths and gem-filled rocks of Cerulean Cave. Goldeen allowed Damion to catch it so its services could be used again whenever they encountered dry land. Golduck led the team astray twice. It had explored this far but once before. Damion and Blaine battled a few stubborn cave-dwellers who refused passage without a fight.

A duo of Machoke (a Fighting type, and an evolved form of Machop) and Graveler (a dual Rock/Ground type) were the mightiest of all. They must have roamed the cave for decades.

Damion found many useful items throughout their endeavor: three Ultra Balls; two Star Pieces (which could be sold at a high price); a Technical Machine containing the Electric-type attack Thunderbolt; two Rare Candies and a Full Restore.

Despite some detouring and scavenger hunting, the group arrived near their destination in good time. Damion attended to Blaine's groans.

"You all right back there?" the boy asked.

"I'm fine. My arm, it's flaring up," said Blaine. "We must be close."

Damion rubbed the spikes on Golduck's head.

"Thanks again for all your help, Golduck. You and Goldeen are lightning-fast swimmers!" The Trainers dismounted their helpers' backs for the final time. There it was: the final plateau. To their dismay, there was no sign of Mewtwo. A mysterious floating portal loomed with temptation. Pure gold wrapped around it like a wedding band. Swirling storms of blues, blacks and purples mesmerized all who laid eyes on the ominous gateway. Blaine nursed his boiling rash.

"Well, this is my stop," the Gym Leader said.

"What? You're leaving me here?" the boy worried.

"That is correct, kiddo. A floating wormhole to another dimension is some kind of witchery. I'm a scientist, not a wizard."

"But we made it all this way…"

"No. You made it all this way. I tagged along to ensure you made it here in one piece. This is your mission, remember?"

"I know it is, but…"

"But what? Don't get scared now."

"I'm not scared! It's just… What if I lose touch of reality?"

"You already have."

"Huh?"

"By thinking too much! Look, kid: Fate, destiny, evidence – whatever it is you believe in, stick with that. Keep your goals in mind and you'll reach your destination."

"How do you know?"

"I don't."

"I guess this is goodbye then."

"I guess it is. So long, Damion. Make us proud."

"Farewell, Blaine. Thank you for everything."

"Don't mention it."

". . ."

"Oh! One more thing: Can I take one of these Pokémon back with me?"

"Of course. Here, take both of their Poké Balls."

"Thanks. Why both, though?"

"Before you leave the cave, destroy their Poké Balls. They belong here; this is their home."

Golduck exited the water, wrapping its arms around Damion's cold, wet clothes. Cracks of electrical bolts coming from inside the portal scored their damp embrace. The Trainers shook hands. Blaine and the Pokémon waved goodbye from the water. Damion confronted the raging warp tunnel.

Fear came knocking, though it departed unfulfilled. Sweat pushed through every possible crevice, trickling down Damion's face and sides. He took a full, deep breath and leaned into the unknown with caution.

Falling into forever, his body felt formless. Gusts of adrenaline jolted through every nerve. His thoughts had life. Memories projected outward: his first ice cream; his first Pokémon battle; his first kiss. The faces of his parents appeared real enough to touch.

Brilliant colors, the likes of which he had never seen, shimmered like sunrays on an ocean surface. He wanted to cry. He missed his family. His father was a quiet man. He required excellence from his son. Every night, the boy pondered whether his father would approve of his daily decisions. Doing so kept him in his heart.

He had been gone for so long now. Would he consider this task virtuous or superfluous? Why did I accept this mission? Damion questioned internally. Do I truly care, or am I chasing my father's approval?

Clair warned the boy at their rendezvous about defending societal honor. She advised that heroes live a lonely life. This region's last hero defeated Team Rocket and fled into the mountains because the pressure was too hectic. Clair wanted more for Damion. Yet he insisted his intentions were anything but heroic.

More often than not his gut had the right idea. So he followed its suspicion. The police had been chasing their own tail for months. Considering his ongoing vendetta, Damion determined his involvement was the only logical solution. He did not desire glory, only justice. He wondered if it would all be worth it, if he had the right to intervene. He found himself trapped in an abyss of thoughts and emotions. With no exit in sight, the boy began to doubt.

Shimmery colors turned sour and murky. Dark clouds arose. His lungs constricted. Breaths were short. And insufficient. Sharp pain shot down his spine. Make it stop! No one was there to answer. Everything in this realm belonged to him: the love, the memories; the doubt, the pain. They were his and his alone. Blaine's send-off echoed in Damion's head. He thought of Maya. He thought of Sergio, Gabriella and Trevor. The Trainer knew he must stay dedicated. His father always told him, "Failure is inevitable. But giving up is always a choice."

The space surrounding Damion glistened once more. He concentrated his mind solely on the task at hand. He entered this portal to find the supreme Pokémon, and he would not quit until he did. Some distance below a white light stole through the vastness.

Damion's body became denser by the second. The light magnetized him, and the harder he focused on it the closer it crept. Wherever it led, the boy knew this was his destined path. He reached out his hands, thrusting them back in a swimming motion. The light's purity was too bright to withstand. Damion squeezed his eyes shut.

The boy opened his eyes while positioned on knee and palm. His hands pressed against solid earth. He rose to his feet, observing the spectacle before him. Suspended between the chamber ceiling and back wall was a large, ice-blue bubble. A gray-skinned creature with three-orbed toes and paws floated inside.

Its skin formed a chest plate that extended out of its shoulders. A tube connected its head to its spine, overlapping its narrow neck. A long, purple tail began at its belly. Two miniature antlers projected from its relatively large, badge-shaped head. It appeared to be trapped. Its arms were tightly spread and its legs were locked together. Although it looked to be in pain, its agony was silent. This is it, Damion thought. This is Mewtwo.

As the thought of its name finished in Damion's head, Mewtwo's eyes flicked open. To relieve the Pokémon of its anguish, the Trainer sent out his Xatu.

"Xatu, Mewtwo needs help! Attack that bubble with Psychic!" The mystical green bird honed in on the hovering sphere, releasing a controlled rush of psychic energy.

The bubble dissipated upon contact, sending the creature into descent. It landed in a crouched position. Shifting its head to glare at the boy, it spoke.

"Leave this place," it said without moving its mouth. Damion was speechless. "Leave this place!" it grunted.

"I-I cannot!" Damion proudly responded. Mewtwo stood.

"You simple, foolish boy," it foreboded, pointing its left paw at Xatu. She flinched as if strapped into a straightjacket. The supreme Pokémon swiped its paw to the right, which sent Xatu and her Trainer flying into the nearest cave wall. Xatu fainted. In a matter of nanoseconds, Mewtwo pinned the boy to the wall by his collar. Its breath was cold and harsh.

"No man speaks my name without paying a price."

"I have been sent by your creator."

"My creator… Have you no respect?"

"What do you mean?"

"You invade my home and disturb my private ceremony, stinking of human filth."

"I swear to you: He is my enemy! And I thought you were in pain!"

"Hmph. You know nothing of pain. Allow me to introduce you!"

Mewtwo's eyes flared to an alarming red tint. The boy's mother entered his mind. His feet dangled and squirmed. A grip like this was inescapable. He closed his eyes and prepared for the afterlife.

However, the love of his Pokémon rescued Damion from certain expiration. From the Trainer's hip holster ejected Eevee's Poké Ball. Sensing Damion was in extreme danger, it released itself through unrelenting willpower. The brave cadet lunged at the ultimate being, attacking with all its might. The Genetic Pokémon screeched in pain. Eevee touched down and spat out a fragment of Mewtwo's skin. A greenish slime spilled from its shoulder.

Damion collected himself and stood behind his companion. Mewtwo grimaced, gripping its wounded tendon. Its eyes filled with rage.

"This day will be your last. Feel the zenith of my power!"

Mewtwo flew above its opponents and stored energy for its devastating signature move, Psystrike. Amidst the duration of Mewtwo's attack, something remarkable happened to Eevee. "Eevee!" the Pokémon cried. Captivating white light encased the figure of the catlike creature. Its bushy tail thinned; its legs grew longer and more athletic; its ears became less hollow. A tiny snout now protruded from its face.

The light vanished and revealed the Evolution Pokémon's new form. Eevee had evolved into Umbreon: the Moonlight Pokémon. Its fur was as black as night. Gold rings seemed printed on each thigh, as well as its forehead, with more rings wrapped around its tail and ears.

When Mewtwo unleashed its Psystrike, Umbreon jumped into the force. The Moonlight Pokémon absorbed the blow; the attack had no effect.

Wincing and panting in exhaustion, Mewtwo plummeted to its paws and knees. Damion and his newly evolved ally approached the feeble Pokémon. Overlooking the hostile creature, Damion held out his hand. Mewtwo did not understand the boy's gesture.

"What is this?"

"A truce."

"I am… unworthy."

"Let me be the judge of that."

"If I were able to attack you right now, I would."

"I know. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve a second chance. Everyone does."

Mewtwo acknowledged the boy's treaty by taking his hand. Damion and Umbreon lifted the weakened Pokémon to its feet. It had expended the last bit of its energy using the Psystrike attack. Although it appreciated the aid it received from the Trainer, it was wary of his intentions. Damion hinted at its bleeding shoulder while returning Xatu to her Great Ball.

"May I?"

"You can heal me?"

"You're a Pokémon, right? A Full Restore should patch you right up."

"No. I will not accept care from a Trainer. I will be fine."

"Help has no face or occupation. I just want to make things right."

"I am an all-powerful Pokémon. I can heal myself."

"Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Okay then, go ahead."

"W-What?"

"Heal yourself."

"Do not give me orders, human; I am not your slave! I will recover when I am ready."

"That's silly. Just heal yourself so we can talk."

"I will do no such thing with you. Leave this place – at once!"

"No! I came here to talk and I'm not leaving until we do."

"I would rather faint at the hand of that Dark-type than negotiate with a human."

Mewtwo's heart rotted with contempt. Damion looked past its eyes and into its soul. It hid something deep within. He knew its story yet knew nothing of its struggle. Its glare was tortured. All too familiar was that expression to Damion. He saw it in his mirror almost every day, disguising himself behind a façade of strength and assurance. But the mirror never lied.

Until he avenged the deaths of his parents, he will never find peace – that was his belief. He understood what it means to be your own worst enemy. Mewtwo's rebellion matched his own. To receive love, one must give it. And to receive respect, one must earn it.

"Alright, Mewtwo, I will leave this cave under one condition."

"Go on."

"Once I see your health is fully restored, I will go away. You can obliterate me or banish me, whatever you want, afterwards. I just need to know you're OK."

"Why is my health important to you?"

"I have studied Pokémon my entire life. I have been a parentless child since I was eight years old. Very few people understand Pokémon the way I do."

". . ."

"Looking into your eyes frightened me. I was not afraid of your power or your plans to destroy me. I was afraid of the deep-rooted pain inside your soul. It felt too similar to my own."

Mewtwo lowered its head and covered its face with its right paw.

"I respect your compassion, young human. But I cannot agree to your terms," the Pokémon shivered.

"Yes you can, Mewtwo. Let me help you." The Psychic-type removed its paw. Tears bundled in the corners of its eyes. Damion began putting together the pieces of this puzzling matter.

"Mewtwo, can I ask you a personal question?"

". . ."

"Is that a No?"

"Proceed."

"When I first spawned here and saw you in that bubble, were you…"

"Was I what?"

"Were you… hurting yourself?"

"I lied to you. The reason I cannot agree to your terms is because I can no longer heal myself."

"Why? What happened?"

"I surrendered my Recover ability so I may follow through with my ceremony."

"So you were hurting yourself?"

"Yes. I do not belong in this world, young human. My existence is all but necessary."

Since its birth, Mewtwo's emotions had become more human over time. Living in various cave homes across the world, it never felt a sense of belonging. Humans only wanted to harness its power for evil. They never attempted to understand the Pokémon's side, or hear it even.

Other Pokémon were afraid of its capabilities. It held their respect out of fear rather than genuine admiration. Mewtwo read their thoughts. The natural species considered it a vigilante. They adored its actions, but ignored its presence. The Psychic-type protected Pokémon treated in an inhumane fashion.

After destroying a Team Rocket hideout or two, the Genetic Pokémon pondered its purpose on this Earth. Despite its efforts, crime would never be contained. Vengeance did not bring it happiness. Mewtwo feared a thirst for destruction would eventually consume it.

Seemingly incapable of finding trustworthy companionship, Mewtwo decided sacrificing itself would help sustain order in society. With Mewtwo out of the picture, humans could not capture it to take over the world. Impending pressure weighed heavy on its conscience. Fleeing had its limitations. And since no one had any recollection of its existence, its absence would not be noticed, so it assumed. The hopeful boy begged to differ.

"Is there nothing in this life you regard as beautiful?" he asked.

"This world has many wonders; I have seen them all. Although aesthetic they may be they cannot make me whole."

"Beauty dwells deeper than the surface. Are you not loved by your fellow Pokémon?"

"They do not recognize me as one of their own. I smell of foreign blood."

"I know exactly how you feel."

"How is that possible? You are human. There are many like you."

"In theory, that is true. But my skin makes me different."

"I do not understand. Your skin is composed like any other human's."

"You're right, it is. But those who look like me have a few more hoops to jump through in life. People are judged by their appearance all the time. I wish more humans thought like you, Mewtwo."

"You know my name, but I do not know yours. Who are you, young Trainer?"

"I am Damion Harrison. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mewtwo."

"Is it true, what you said some time ago?"

"I don't know. Remind me."

"Is my creator your sworn enemy?"

"Team Rocket is responsible for my parents' deaths. I will despise him until the day I die."

"Then why have you come here on his behalf?"

"Because sometimes dreams are more powerful than reality."

Damion's response lit a fire in the Pokémon's belly. It too had potent dreams. One in particular fueled its self-loathing. The boy seemed willing to listen, but Mewtwo had never confessed anything to anyone. Giovanni's cursed visions were described to it by Damion. He explained that, despite Giovanni's patronizing past, his subconscious yearned for his creation, for Mewtwo. He would leave this world discontent without seeing its face one last time.

He did not call this love. Rather the boy labeled Giovanni's restlessness as a sort of remorseful longing. Perhaps the maniacal mastermind did love his special Pokémon, perhaps not. Regardless, Mewtwo would never know joy without first letting go of its pain. Thus its heart began to soften.

"Our meeting was no mistake," said Mewtwo. "You have shown me the greater side of humanity." An accomplished wave fluttered through Damion's body, though his face read otherwise. He wanted the Pokémon to know he was only concerned about his mission and its well-being.

"That Full Restore is still on the table," he mentioned. "How 'bout it?" Nodding its head, Mewtwo exposed the wound.

The Trainer dug through his Bag's side pocket, removing an off-white, spray-top medicine bottle filled with emerald green fluid. He brought the bottle close to Mewtwo's shoulder. A cleansing mist enveloped the Genetic Pokémon's head and upper body. It breathed a sigh of comfort. In exchange for the boy's kindness, Mewtwo emptied its soul to him. This was what it said:

"Do you know why I hate humans so much? It is because despite the gifts and talents and intelligence given to them at birth, they prefer to define life by competition. I do not understand your comparative behavior. It sickens me. I feel it in my bones; I am a part of this infectious culture. You, Damion, helped me see that.

Pokémon stick together while your race picks each other apart. Tall or short; rich or poor; fair-skinned or dark-skinned: What is the meaning of this? They are distractions designed to instill fear and hatred for your brethren. As a species, you are lost. I see no value in attempting to unite such viral creatures.

Possessions are your gods, and I hate you for it. Pokémon have become trophies to the common man. This is our land yet it was taken from us and our freedom along with it. Not every Pokémon gets to choose to be free like I do. That is why I have made my home here in the Kalos region. Pokémon Village is a place where I am not forced to be a savior or destroyer. I am simply a Pokémon. And though I have no herd of my own, at least I know that I am free.

You are different, Damion Harrison. You are an ambassador for the idea of humans and Pokémon one day living in perfect harmony. This notion, however, is far from true. I will share my mind with you nonetheless. Likewise I expect the same from you. Your search for me indicates you require my help. My decision is pending. Prior to your request, please listen to my dream. Due to your kind-hearted nature, I require your opinion. Translation is your gift…

When my body rests and my mind runs wild, I am visited by an ancient spirit. It goes by the name of Arceus. It tells me every Pokémon belongs to it, that it is responsible for each of their creation. Arceus approaches me with a proposition.

If I am able to defeat it in battle, it promises to grant me peace of mind. It will claim me as a true Pokémon. I accept, knowing that I am the strongest Pokémon alive. Our battle lasts for days. At first we break even. But, as the battle rages on, Arceus thinks one step ahead of me. Later, it is two steps ahead, then three. Regardless of my efforts I cannot defeat it.

When my energy depletes it looks down upon me. It has every opportunity to finish me, but it never does. That is power. Arceus peers into my soul and asks me,

'What have you forgotten?'

I wake up each day never knowing what it is I do not comprehend.

Giovanni is haunted by these same words, as you have explained. Our minds remain linked somehow. My entire existence has hinged on the belief that I am the most powerful Pokémon on Earth. Could this mean I have no purpose? My identity and place in this world are a mystery."

Damion held his chin in thought. It was impossible for him to know the right answer for all of Mewtwo's concerns. He did, however, find a flaw in the Pokémon's mental approach. Regurgitating the lessons of his parents, he informed Mewtwo that love comes from within. Acceptance only bloomed in organic soil, so he learned. Before his response, he cradled Umbreon in his arms:

"Thank you for sharing your dream with me, Mewtwo. I can't guarantee my interpretation will bring you peace. What I can give you, though, are my personal experiences and what I've learned from them.

You're more human than you think, Mewtwo. One of the first steps of being human is being a hypocrite at some point in your life. We've all done it, no matter how hard we try not to.

You say you don't want Pokémon to be treated like possessions. You say you don't want your kind to be enslaved. Yet in your dreams you objectify yourself to the point where you're basically applying your own shackles. Your purpose is not to be the strongest Pokémon alive. That is what you have been told, but that is not the truth. You are not the strongest Pokémon because people say you are the strongest Pokémon. You are because you are. There is a difference.

I'll tell you what you have forgotten: You have forgotten to love yourself. Scientists created you to be the most powerful being on the planet. But that is not your purpose. That is their purpose for creating you. Your purpose is to live. Live freely. Live fully. Arceus defeats you because it knows you better than you know yourself.

Mewtwo, you cannot allow this way of thinking to continue. Why are you dependent on the acceptance of Arceus? You don't need it to belong. You are here, so you belong. If your purpose was only to be the strongest Pokémon, all you'd be is a terminator, a programmed machine with an infinite power supply. You breathe, you think, you feel, do you not? You are not a machine.

Neither full Pokémon nor full human, it doesn't matter. You are Mewtwo. Be proud of the unique, intelligent species that you are."

Umbreon licked its Trainer's cheek. The gold rings across its body pulsed to a happy rhythm. Mewtwo felt something for the first time. Gratitude filled its heart. It was unsure of how to express this feeling.

"I do not know how to thank you," it said. Damion placed Umbreon on the ground beside him and extended his hand once more.

"It would be an honor to call you my friend." Mewtwo had seen this act between humans before. It was a gesture of a partnership, an agreement, a goodbye. But this was more of an introduction than a conclusion. A new hope stormed through the Genetic Pokémon. It accepted the boy's offer.

"I am your friend, Damion Harrison, and you are mine."

"It feels good to hear you say that, Mewtwo."

"Likewise. I should have known you were special from the start."

"Why's that?"

"You made it through the portal I created."

"Was I not supposed to?"

"Of course not; I specifically placed a portal in Cerulean Cave so whoever searched for me there would either lose their mind or appear in a place based on their greatest fear. You have succeeded, however."

"Geez, man. That's pretty cynical of you."

"Your kind will never understand what it is like to be hunted. Mystery is my only means of survival."

"But I thought you erased everyone's memory. How can you be hunted if no one knows you exist?"

"I do not know. But I sense I am in danger. Now, what is it you came here to ask of me?"

"Well, initially I came here to seek your help on my mission. You were right about our race. Giovanni passed onto me knowledge involving humans enslaving humans."

"This seems dire. What has changed?"

"You said it yourself: We only want to exploit your power. And, in a way, I did too. But now that we're friends, I refuse to be like the rest. I have one simple favor to ask of you."

"Thank you, Damion. Continue."

"I want you to pardon Giovanni for his foul deeds. Return his memory and forgive him. He doesn't deserve it, but your conscience does."

"It will be a challenge, but I will do as you ask. What is it you humans say, 'Forgive and forget'?"

"No. I don't believe in that. Forgive, but never forget. If you choose to forget, you will never know who to trust."

"Can I trust you, Damion?"

"You can trust me, Mewtwo. I promise."

"Take care of yourself, young Trainer. We will meet again someday. And tell Blaine: When I'm through with Giovanni, I'm coming for him."

"Uh…"

The Pokémon disappeared, leaving Damion with two choices: explore an unknown region or go back through the portal. Kalos could take days to grasp. So, he faced the portal yet again. His conversation with Mewtwo gave him strength. He understood how to scour this mental maze. Maya filled his thoughts. If he could hold his focus on her, the boy knew he would end up in the proper place. Here goes nothing, he thought, allowing the portal's storm to consume him.