Silver Notes: Sorry for the delay folks! I went out for like 10 days and then my monitor broke for like 3 days more. Promise I'll update more regularly from now on. Also feel free to join the Discord server if you wanna chat with some pals! Here's the code: sHey6Tw


Duty and Purpose


Yet there is a difference between power that is given a purpose and power that is left to its own devices. The latter is like fire and lightning. The former is… No, it used to be like me.

I sworn to use my power for nothing but the protection of my homeland. A necessary oath, in times of war. Yet as the years passed, I began to wonder: what would be of me, once peace returned? What use would anyone have of me, then? Would I be discarded, like a rusty sword that vainly hopes for another conflict to come so that they may have a purpose once more?

I was fearful, yes, though I never let that get in the way of my mission. However, I must admit… It might have occurred at some point, were it not for a much bigger fear which ended up becoming reality right before my eyes. The biggest fear someone like me could possess.

The fear of losing someone I love.


Reiko had never flown so fast. She believed Knives to be one of the swiftest and strongest Fearow she'd ever met, a species already known for their incredible flight speed, but even he couldn't hold a candle to the white Pokemon she was currently riding on, hands strongly closed around its rigid, pearly scales as she focused entirely on not falling off.

The creature resembled a flat, wide airplane with red and blue triangles dotting his stomach as well as two horns of the same colors separated by a longer white one. His form was lithe and aerodynamic, and as he flew her over the ocean the air seemed to part to allow them a safe and stable passage. Cynthia's ride wasn't so graceful. Instead of using grace and aerodynamics the hammer-head dragon chose to smash her way with brute force and speed alone, sonic waves trailing behind her tail.

Reiko got very few glimpses of the waters below, fearful that any sudden movement could send her spiraling down to her death, but the few she got were breathtaking. Spots and blotches of sunlight reflected off the endless blue as they moved erratically due to the speed at which they were traveling, making it seem as though light were raining horizontally through the ocean itself. She didn't know for how long she stared, but by the time she spotted the familiar shape of the Sevii islands in the distance it didn't feel like more than an hour had passed.

Cynthia shouted something, but even as the Pokemon slowed down considerably Reiko couldn't make out what it was. Then she felt a tug in her stomach, and they started losing altitude. She grabbed on with even more force as her feet were lifted off the back of the Pokemon's wings, wind exploding against her and the world going blurry and swirly all around her.

And then they landed, abruptly and with the softness of a feather touching the ground. It took Reiko a few seconds to get down, her entire body shaking and her hair a wild mess sticking back by the force of the wind. Cynthia seemed nonplussed, however, as she returned both Pokemon to their balls and simply patted her coat a bit to get it back into place, her expression as bright as ever.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, beaming. "It can be a bit of a shock the first time, as I'm sure we humans weren't designed to go that fast by any means necessary. Then again, we always manage, don't we?" She clapped her hands together, letting out a chipper sigh. "Ahh… I'd forgotten how clear the air is here in Kanto. A bit stuffy for my liking, though."

But Reiko wasn't paying attention to her, too busy breathing in the familiar atmosphere around her, turning around like a curious Hoothoot. They were standing on a lively patch of tall grass at the edge of what she recognized as Cerulean river, the rushing sound of its waters as calming as the first time she'd heard it. The dark and proud figure of Mt. Moon stood a few miles at her left, almost blocking out the sun. And there in the horizon at her right, almost far enough for its soft blue hue to be too hard to see, was Cerulean itself. Just looking at the town from afar filled Reiko's chest with a feeling so fresh and clear it made her shakiness from before vanish instantly. Even from afar the place looked as fine as ever, and she figured that if they'd landed a little closer she would have heard the distant voices of its citizens as clear as glass. The people of Cerulean weren't exactly known for their indoor voice or lack of enthusiasm, something their Gym Leader encapsulated to a T.

Without meaning to she formed a wide, easy smile. It was good to be back, if only momentarily. Speaking of…

"What are we doing here?" She turned to Cynthia, raising an eyebrow. "Like, here specifically, in this field."

"This is the closest I deemed it safe to land on," replied Cynthia, as cryptically as ever. "Our true destination lies that way."

She raised her hand gracefully and pointed toward a certain point past the river, where a wall of rock belonging to the tail of Mt. Moon blocked the view. It took Reiko a second to see it. There, in between overgrown shrubs and scattered rocks, was a small crack in the wall, tall and wide enough for someone to be able to slip inside. Her eyes went wide. She knew what lay behind that rift in the mountain.

"Cerulean Cave?" she asked, unable to hide her incredulous tone. "Why here?"

"As I said, there is a friend of mine we will meet there." Cynthia's hand went to her belt, unconsciously. "We will meet opposition on the way, as the Pokemon inside will surely mind their hiding spot being traversed by humans, but I wouldn't have brought you here if I didn't think you were capable enough of handling it."

Reiko hesitated for a second. What Cynthia didn't know was that, a few weeks before her trip to Sinnoh, she had visited this cave in a naïve attempt to prove herself and her abilities as a trainer. Unfortunately, the Pokemon inside didn't seem to give a single shit about what she wanted, and if it hadn't been for Stain carrying her blood-soaked, unconscious body out she was pretty sure her corpse would still lay deep within that cave, never to be found again.

I was a stupid novice then, she thought, balling her hands into fists. Now I'm still stupid but at least I'm much stronger. I can do this.

She nodded in agreement, and Cynthia shone her a curt smile as she grabbed a Pokeball from her belt.

"I know it's rather fast, and I hate to give you so little time to enjoy being back home," she said, a line appearing above her eyebrows. "But nonetheless, I hope you won't hold it against me."

"God you talk so fucking much," muttered Reiko, letting out a sigh. "It's fine. I know we're not here to take a vacation and unlike you I've got the focus to stay on the mission and not go off and do whatever the hell I want all the time."

Cynthia's brow perked up, and a tiny smile formed on her lips. "I… Suppose I am guilty of beating around the bush sometimes. Forgive me. It is nothing more and nothing less than my nature; I simply must immerse myself every little detour my path offers, for what point would there be otherwise?"

"Uhh… How about your fucking duty?" snapped Reiko, shaking her head. "Was that a real… Was that a serious question?"

"That is yet another spot where cultural differences might sever our common ground, I'm afraid. I'm aware that you Kantans place an almost divine importance on the concept of duty, but…"

"But what? You're the Champion, woman; you've got a duty to your region and your people and honestly, fuck your feelings and your happiness. They don't factor into this."

Cynthia's face scrunched up slightly, as though she'd swallowed something sour.

"That sounds like a horrible existence, don't you think?"

"Of course not!" Reiko threw her hands up in the air, her face going red. "It's an honor anyone would give their right hand for! Why'd you even become the Champion if you're not even willing to do that!?"

For a moment a hint of irritation seemed to flash through Cynthia's eyes; a bolt of lightning within that stormy grey, but then she closed them and drew a deep breath.

"You may have misunderstood me," she said with the tone of someone explaining to a toddler that two plus two equaled four. "I've done for Sinnoh more than any previous Champion could have dreamed of. So much in fact, and in such a short amount of time, that I'm blessed with all the time in the world to focus on living life as I see fit, exploring every wonder that I come across and striving to reach the peak of potential as an individual, through experience and effort. My Ultimate Self, if you will."

Reiko shot her a look of disgust. "All I'm hearing from that is that you could do better if you wanted to."

"Yes, well… So could we all, if we stopped eating and sleeping and all the other things that make us human." Cynthia shrugged. "But few are willing to put their Spirit through such punishment, lest it grows smaller and bitter." She then lowered her head in a gesture that could have passed as a bow. "Not everyone possesses a fiery determination such as yours, Reiko."

"That's not… You're not gonna get out of this by complimenting me!" she snapped, feeling her cheeks reddening.

"Besides, I hardly think you're qualified to judge me on the subject," continued Cynthia, as though she couldn't hear her. "Rarely have I met someone whose goal is so strongly driven by their own personal feelings."

Reiko scoffed. "Oh fuck off; you think I wanna do this? Freeze my ass off every night and spend my time with a bunch of people I fucking hate?" She shook her head incredulously. "I'm doing it to get justice for what they did to my island. I'm doing it because it's my duty, though it doesn't surprise me that you don't understand that."

Far from looking offended, Cynthia tilted her head to the side and looked at Reiko with uncomfortable intensity, as though she were a particularly puzzling piece of art she was trying to understand. Then, after a few seconds, she simply shrugged and turned around, still smiling.

"You really believe that…" She whispered, her voice barely audible with her back to her. "Oh well, we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. You certainly don't want to change your mind and I doubt I can convince you of the fact that you clearly don't hate us as much as you claim you do."

Reiko's ears grew hot again, but as much as she looked for something to snap back with, she found that her lips wouldn't part. A cold, uncomfortable feeling pooled at the bottom of her stomach. For a second, she considered…

She shook her head violently and took a step forward, pushing the thought off her head entirely. One of her hands closed over Stain's Pokeball as she stared forward at the cave's entrance.

"I hate you," she said, almost whispering. "Come on let's cross the fucking river already."


Crossing both the horizontal and vertical length of the cave turned out to be not as difficult as Reiko had expected, though it was time-consuming. Like last time, wild Pokemon jumped to attack them as soon as they set foot inside. Primeape, Golbat, Magneton, Kadabra, Ditto and even Chansey appeared from nowhere at every turn, throwing themselves at Cynthia and her with a murderous gleam in their eyes, leaving few seconds to advance and breathe a sigh of relief in between each wave of them.

Luckily –and Reiko pronounced the word through gritted teeth in her mind– Cynthia was there to make the process a lot easier. Her Lucario predicted the attacks before they happened and did short work of every Pokemon who approached them, leaving little to no room for Stain to show off his own abilities, leaving him more than a little grumpy. Reiko could relate. She knew Cynthia was good; Palmer had warned her about it already, but this was just ridiculous and more than a little emasculating to Reiko. Didn't she have the decency to at least hold back a little? Let her show off for a chance? No, of course not.

After slightly less than an hour of exploring the width of the cave and going down at least five subterranean levels, Cynthia suddenly stopped and raised her arm to stop her. They'd arrived at the end of a long tunnel, the other side of which seemed to be an enormous subterranean cavern, mostly flooded by dark water. Weak blue lights hung from the ceiling, likely clumps of overgrown chargestone, which gave the entire cavern a sick, sinister look.

"We're here," said Cynthia, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "Return your Pokemon before we go in."

"What?" Reiko frowned. "But what if we get att–"

"Just do it."

The weight of her command sent a shiver down Reiko's spine and, before she could stop herself, she pressed the button on her Pokeball and Stain vanished into light.

"Good. Just follow my lead and try not to say anything stupid."

Reiko arched an eyebrow. "Uh… Why did you bring me here again if that's what you want me to do?"

Cynthia flashed her a nervous smile. "You know, I'm starting to have second thoughts about it myself. Just… come along and I'm sure it'll be alright."

As soon as they set foot inside the cavern Reiko felt another shiver, and though it wasn't as paralyzing as the first it was certainly more recognizable. She stopped in her tracks, focusing on the sensation for a moment. It didn't feel physical, more like…

"Is there a Psychic Pokemon here?" she asked, almost whispering.

"Good instincts," said Cynthia, not turning around. "How did you notice?"

"Well… Trained by Sabrina and all that."

"Right, right."

She didn't say anything else. After a few seconds of walking they stopped again, only a few inches from the shore of the dark lake. The waters didn't move at all. The only reason Reiko had known it was a lake and not a perfectly uniform sheet of black metal was due to the way the light above reflected on the surface, and even then she wasn't completely sure.

"I'm guessing we need to cross," whispered Reiko. "I'll release Nakuru and…"

"There's no need. Just follow my lead."

And, as though it were the most normal thing in the world, Cynthia took an elegant step forward and began walking on the water like it was solid. Reiko's mouth gaped for a moment, before she looked at her feet. There, beneath the sole of her shoes, there was a thin purple sheen, like a psychic barrier had been placed over the surface of the lake for them to walk over. Reiko swallowed, steeled herself and followed after.

The cavern was impossibly vast, so wide that they only saw the small island resting in the middle of the lake after a couple minutes of walking. It rose from the waters like a hand made of stone; a pedestal the size of a small room and with a shape too distinct and uniform to have occurred naturally. Taking a closer look, Reiko was surprised to see that there were actually carved steps leading up to the top. That surprise was soon replaced by apprehension, however, as the humanoid figure took form in the very center of the platform.

The air of the cavern seemed to become denser and the lights above dimmed as they began walking up the steps. Reiko could almost hear Cynthia's heartbeat next to her. Just before taking the final step up, the woman deliberated for a single moment, then stepped up into the platform. Reiko followed a second after, and the figure standing in the middle finally became clear.

The creature was unlike any other Pokemon she'd ever seen. There was something oddly grotesque about their features, the chalk-white of their skin almost too thin, stretched over most of their body like clay. Their face was thin and skeletal, though she could make out some feline features in the shape of their eyes and mouth. A long, thick purple tail grew from their stomach, like a mouth consuming their lower torso. They tilted their head slightly, and she noticed what seemed like a tube connecting their spine to the back of their skull.

However, none of that would have normally been enough to intimidate Reiko; not with the kinds of things she'd seen already. What finally made her take a step back was not their body, but their eyes. They were a beautiful purple, like polished amethyst, but as soon as they met hers Reiko felt a rush of fear so intense she couldn't help but move away, almost tripping on the steps behind her. There was power in those eyes; power like she'd never felt before and she had only felt a spark of it, barely a drop from an ocean of unbridled psychic energy. Sabrina had once taught her how to appraise the abilities of Psychic Pokemon, how to gauge their psychokinetic abilities by simply looking into their eyes and reaching out to them.

In that short moment in which their eyes had met, Reiko knew that the creature could have killed them both, effortlessly, if they wanted to. Knew that, as powerful of a trainer as Cynthia was, even she wouldn't stand a ghost of a chance against them.

She gulped, trying her best not to shake. Realization came to her in a rush similar to the one she had just felt, and suddenly she knew who the creature was standing before her. The living failure, the strongest Pokemon in existence…

"Thank you for having us here," Cynthia finally broke the silence, performing a small bow toward the creature. "It's nice to see you again, Mewtwo."

Mewtwo looked from Reiko to Cynthia, and then back. Each time their head moved it left something like an afterimage behind; distorting the air in the same way a flame's heat did.

"You've brought an unknown human with you." It felt like their voice filled the entire room, but as Reiko noticed that their mouth hadn't moved she realized that it was actually resounding inside her head. "Why?"

"She won't speak to anyone of your location, if that's what you're worried about." Cynthia, somewhat less nervous than before, took a step forward and smiled. "Is that why you didn't tell your friends to leave us alone? Still, I'm sure you could have tried harder to keep us out."

"Futile. You would have found your way here regardless, just as the first time." Mewtwo closed their eyes, chest deflating and a tiny sigh leaving their lips. "Come then. Sit. I will give you a few minutes of my time, but not many."

Their tail curled around their torso as they sat down on the stone floor, skeletal arms shaking from the effort of momentarily holding the rest of their body. Cynthia gave a courteous nod and did the same a second after. It took Reiko a few more seconds of stupor for her to follow their example, her hand almost slipping on the wet floor as she lowered herself down. She noticed that parts of the floor around them were littered with random objects, like teapots, toys or shovels.

A few seconds passed in silence, Reiko still too shocked to even produce a sound. The cogs in her brain had completely stopped. Mewtwo seemed to noticed this, as they turned to look at her with what almost could have been described as a curious look, though the alien geometry of their face made that hard to discern.

"You were not told that I resided within this cavern before entering." It wasn't a question, she realized, they were simply stating a fact. "Why?"

Reiko opened her mouth to speak, but Cynthia replied before she could.

"And waste the opportunity to see the look on her face?" she asked, incredulous. "I wouldn't miss that for the world, especially since she's got a face as inscrutable as yours, my friend."

"Disingenuousness and folly. Of course." Mewtwo nodded. "That almost always seems to be the answer when dealing with your kind."

"Careful there. That almost ended up being a tone of endearment you used," said Cynthia, pointing at them. "Maybe it was in bad taste, but what can you do. Why don't you two introduce yourselves?"

Another look exchanged; this time Mewtwo was definitely staring at her with something akin to curiosity. Reiko opened and closed her mouth a few times before she could speak.

"I… can't believe it." She shook her head, smiling incredulously. "You're…"

"I know who I am. I do not need you to remind me." The slits of their eyes narrowed slightly. Then they ordered: "State your name."

Reiko's smile dropped and she gulped, feeling the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Something told her Mewtwo wasn't one for idle chat.

"Couldn't you just… read my mind?" she asked, trying to keep her voice firm. "I… Sorry, hope that didn't come off wrong, it's just…" She swallowed again, turning to Cynthia with a pleading expression that said 'What the hell am I supposed to say here?'

Mewtwo closed their eyes, letting out a sound halfway between a sigh and a purr.

"I could. But I won't." Their tail waggled across the wet floor like that of a Meowth. "It may not have occurred to you, but I understand and respect my hosts' privacy. Do you want me to read your mind, human?"

"Not… really," she whispered nervously. For a moment she thought to comment on the heavy bitterness behind their words, but she had a pretty clear idea of where that stemmed from "Sorry. I'm Reiko Chabashira, a trainer from this region. It's… nice to meet you."

Mewtwo didn't reply, simply nodding at her statement and glancing back at Cynthia a moment after.

"Out of all the people who are aware of my current location, you were the last one I expected to divulge that information to someone else," they said, no hint of anger in their voice. "You didn't seem the type."

Cynthia beamed a proud smile at them. "What can I tell you; sometimes I can surprise even myself."

"That wasn't a compliment."

Reiko's gaze moved back and forth between the two, her mouth still slightly gaping from surprise. The tone they used with each other… It wasn't anything close to friendliness, but it was also far from animosity. More like a courteous, distant respect.

"I'm sorry…" She cleared her throat, gaining their attention. "Can I ask… I mean, how did you two…?"

"Ah… A very exciting story, for sure," said Cynthia, sighing dreamily. "Though I'm not sure we have the time to…"

"She simply brute-forced her way in," Mewtwo interrupted her. "It is not difficult for me to conceal my presence, nor to put up enough defensive measures between me and whatever unfortunate human wishes to find me. If I want to meet a certain human, I shall be the one to contact them. However…" Their tail rose up and slapped the floor impatiently. "Cynthia is not one to settle for no as an answer."

Reiko glanced at Cynthia, eyes wide with surprise and maybe a little bit of respect. "Yeah… I can see that."

"Thus began our wonderful and long-lasting friendship," said the woman, clapping her hands together.

"You… didn't fight them?" asked Reiko.

"Well…"

"Ah. Of course." Mewtwo looked down briefly, eyes closed and a miniscule smile forming on their face. "Why else would anyone wish to visit? I am a mere Pokemon, after all, so it stands to reason that my only purpose is to serve as entertainment for any trainer unfortunate enough to make it this far. Is that it?"

The sudden and powerful venom in their voice was enough to momentarily render Reiko mute, her entire body frozen from fear. She could feel the temperature of the cave dropping violently. For a few moments, the invisible energy surrounding Mewtwo seemed to burst out and flood the entirety of the platform they were in, suffocating them.

"N-no, of course not! I would never…!"

"You are being awfully defensive," Cynthia said, not quite as flustered as she was. "That's not what she meant and you know it. Lose the venom, will you?"

And just like that, the oppressive atmosphere vanished as fast as it had appeared. Reiko breathed in a cold gulp of air, feeling her muscles jolt awake like they'd been hit with electricity, and just stared slack-jawed at the creature before her. She needed to be more careful, she realized, gulping. Despite the somewhat formal nature of this meeting, Mewtwo was clearly not here to indulge them.

"I will determine for myself what her intentions are," finally said Mewtwo, looking to the side. "Though I admit I might have jumped to conclusions. In any case…" They tilted their head up, the spongy muscle connecting their spine to the back of their head twitching slightly. "I believe it's time you finally state your purpose here."

Both trainers exchanged a look, Reiko raising her eyebrow in a 'Well… What now?' kind of gesture. Cynthia simply smiled and nodded.

"I'll cut to the chase. We came to ask for your help." She paused for a moment after saying that, during which Reiko couldn't help but think 'Oh. Is that what we're doing here?'. "An unprecedented threat has fallen upon Sinnoh, more dangerous than any other before. We're doing everything we can, but it's not a guarantee that we'll be able to stop it."

"Help… You want my help." Mewtwo's tone was contemplative as they repeated those words. "We both know what the only type of help I'm able to give is, Cynthia. You're asking me to hurt, and destroy. What threat is worth me deciding to do that, instead of keep living as I see fit?"

"A threat to reality itself," Cynthia answered, not missing a beat. "The people behind this aren't just a group of thugs, I assure you. And neither are they religious zealots looking to ravage the world by taking control of legendary Pokemon, something we're both familiar with." The skin over Mewtwo's nose wrinkled slightly, a hint of recollection in their eyes. "Their goal is to remake the universe, and erase all traces of Spirit from it. If they get their way, even you will be affected beyond repair."

Mewtwo didn't answer, instead choosing to keep hitting the floor behind them with their tail, gaze lost someplace else. Finally, after a long silence, they asked.

"Are you saying you cannot stop it on your own?"

Despite the circumstances, Reiko enjoyed immensely the way Cynthia's expression soured, as though even answering that question was a sharp blow to her pride.

"I'm not sure," she said. "If it were just them I wouldn't be asking you, but they've got an ace under their sleeve." She leaned forward, frowning. "Charon is one of them, and we think he's got a way to make… To make another clone. Another one of you."

This time Mewtwo's reaction was instant and unbridled, psychic waves bursting off them outwards, like a pond being hit by a stone. Every hair in Reiko's body stood up on end. Inside her mind, an uncomfortable feeling like nails on a chalkboard made her shiver violently.

They stared at Cynthia with eyes wide, their slit pupils contracting into thin lines.

"I see." Their words sounded thin and weak, even though they were only telepathic. "A foe you couldn't defeat on your own…"

"I could." Cynthia interrupted them, a sour look on her face. "Maybe. But enough of an uncertainty that I'm not willing to risk it."

"Yet you're willing to risk me. You want me to stop Charon, to make sure he is unable to make another one of me, as you put it." Their eyes narrowed ominously. "Allowing another mistake like myself to enter this world would be dangerous, wouldn't it?"

Reiko swallowed and leaned forward as she spoke. "It's not like that. That thing wouldn't be anything like you." She looked at Cynthia, frowning. "It'd be…"

"An abomination," she concurred. "Charon isn't leaving anything to chance this time. His next clone won't have a will or a mind of its own, and certainly no emotions that might compromise the role he has in store for it. It will be, in his eyes, the perfect specimen." Her lips pursed in disgust, now as pale as the rest of her face. "The only sympathy in this scenario would be to make sure that poor creature never comes into being."

"For which my aid would be unnecessary," said Mewtwo. "If you knew where they were you could stop them, yet I assume that you don't."

"That's what we're working on right now. Don't misunderstand me." Cynthia leaned forward, her thin eyebrows joining over the bridge of her nose. "We'll do everything we can to stop them, but if we fail and the worst case scenario comes true, then we'll need you. I pray it doesn't come to that, but if it does…"

She shook her head and threw her hands up slightly in a gesture that seemed to say 'We'll be fucked, then.', or so Reiko interpreted it. Mewtwo pondered it for a moment, resting their chin on one of their pale fingers.

"I would need to get involved only if you fail, and only to neutralize this creature," they summarized, tone pensive. "Nothing more…"

"Nothing more," Cynthia assured them. "Will you do it? I wouldn't be asking if the situation weren't dire."

For what felt like a long time, no one spoke or moved. Mewtwo kept staring down at the floor, the tip of one of their deformed fingers rubbing at their chin slowly, almost to the rhythm of the drops of water falling from the ceiling to the lake around them. Then, when the silence felt heavy enough to be uncomfortable, they finally gave their answer.

"I will not." They raised their head, the purple of their eyes duller than before. "You're on your own."

Cynthia made a face like she'd swallowed something unpleasant, yet she smiled nonetheless.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "Is there nothing I can say to change y–"

Cynthia froze. Not in the usual way, where she clamped her mouth shut and decided to stop speaking, but in a more literal way. It was as though someone had stopped a video. The sound of rushing water disappeared as well, and as Reiko looked past the small island they were in she noticed that the lake surrounding them now looked as solid as an iron sheet. The only noise in the cavern now were her and Mewtwo's breathing.

"Huh? What…?"

"Come." With a bit of difficulty –and pushing themselves with their tail– Mewtwo rose up, eyes closed. "Stand with me for a moment."

She compelled before she knew what she was doing, the feeling of the coarse ground beneath her hand even stranger now that the particles of dust remained frozen even when she grinded against them. Tentatively, she took a couple steps toward Mewtwo, staring all around her with widened eyes.

"Did you just stop time?" she asked.

Mewtwo looked over their shoulder, and she could have sworn the brief quirk of their lips looked like an amused smile.

"Time is not my domain," they said. "I simply wanted to speak with you, and for Cynthia to give us some time to do so. Listening to her can be… tiring, sometimes."

She couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, you tell me."

"Thus, I chose to project myself into your mind for a moment. A moment outside, of course," they clarified. "In here, eons might pass if I willed it so."

"Let's… not do that." I can think of better ways to pass an eon, she thought. Then, on cue, Mewtwo raised an eyebrow. Shit. Had they heard that? "So this conversation is happening inside my head, then?"

"Everything is."

Reiko blinked. "Is it really?" she asked, doubtful.

"Of course. The mind is the bridge that stretches over the chasm between the spirit and the vast and ever-flowing stream of reality. Only by understanding the power of your own thoughts can you truly see." They placed both hands behind their back. "Those who leave their imprints on the canvas of reality always possess three things: Their heart's desire, a sharp mind to understand what must be done in order to achieve it and an iron will to make it so. Emotion. Wisdom. Valor." They pronounced each one slowly, deliberately, as though paying respect. "All three, together, have a power beyond even the fabric of reality itself. A shame…"

Suddenly, their eyes shut tight and they let their head down a bit, sighing. Reiko understood the gesture instantly. Regret.

They stood in silence for what felt like a long time, though technically –and probably– no time had passed at all. She observed the world around her, too realistic for it to be a fake inside her mind, even if nothing moved. Then again, if what Mewtwo had said was true there wasn't much difference between the reality inside and outside her head. Reiko looked over at them, and wondered what she should say. Why had they brought her here? Just to wax poetics about weird concepts that she had no hope of understanding? She wasn't exactly the kind of company one sought if they wished to discuss these sort of things.

"You… sound like you know a lot about that," she finally said. "Did you figure that out on your own? I guess you do have a pretty strong brain." She smiled. They didn't. "Or did someone teach you?"

Mewtwo nodded at that. "My kind of solitude is shared by a few other creatures. Pokemon whose… uniqueness also leads them to be wary of interacting with humans, and as such they seek other forms of companionship. One of them taught me," they clarified. "And I figured out the rest myself."

"Sounds like a cool friend."

"Friend…" Mewtwo repeated the word slowly, the slits of their eyes narrowing slightly. "Yes… I suppose it was. Though we haven't talked in a long time. To this day it is the only Pokemon that avoids humans even more than I do."

"Right…" Reiko stared ahead, unsure of how to proceed. Which, every time it happened, meant that she bounced back to her usual solution for most awkward situations; blunt honesty. "Anyway, what did you want to talk to me about? Besides all this… stuff."

Mewtwo tilted their head to the side, gaze lost in the frozen waterfall at the other side of the cave. "I am curious, Reiko. Curious about you." Her own name, pronounced by the creature's voice, was enough to send a strong shiver through her skin. "What are you doing here? Why did Cynthia bring you? It does not seem as though you would have helped her convince me."

"Hell if I know," she said, rubbing her left arm nervously. "You know how weird she can be."

"Yes. However, I don't think she ever acts without reason, as nebulous and convoluted as that reason might be." They turned to face Reiko, the rest of their body still immobile. "Previously, when you introduced yourself, I sensed guilt from you. Then, as I voiced my refusal to help, there was anger there as well. The latter was much more powerful. Sharp and precise, like a honed blade. A tool you have probably refined over the course of your life. I sense a link between those two emotions, and I want to know what that is."

Reiko swallowed, feeling the pressure of his gaze upon her like a vice inside her chest, squeezing it tight. They were incredibly perceptive. She wouldn't be able to lie to them.

"I… It's 'cause of my dad," she finally said, looking to the side, avoiding their gaze. "Shun Chabashira. He…" Even before she finished her sentence, she felt realization dawn on Mewtwo. "He was part of the experiment that made you. I never thought I'd run into you, so when I had to introduce myself…" She sighed. "I guess I felt sorry."

"You felt sorry for my existence?" asked Mewtwo, their voice a cold, controlled calm.

"I felt sorry for what they've done to you," she corrected them. "Cynthia was right; you could stand to lose that venom. We're not responsible for what happened."

"Yet you felt guilt at the sight of me," challenged Mewtwo. "Though… You are right, in that you bear no responsibility for your maker's decisions. We all learn from our predecessors' mistakes." Frowning, they gave a quick glance to the frozen Cynthia behind them. "She certainly has, at least. I'm sure she looks twice before crossing a street, for example."

Reiko opened and closed her mouth a couple times. "What… does that mean?"

"Never mind." They waved the matter off with a swat of the hand. "In any case, I am more curious about that anger you displayed earlier. It felt hostile. As though my decision personally offended you."

She folded her arms and cocked her head away from his gaze. "Because I think you should've agreed, that's all."

"There's more than that," Mewtwo assured her. "There is much at stake, I know that, and anyone in your position would have been disappointed, even angry at my refusal. The righteous indignity you showed was far above that, however. So tell me. Why did you react that way?"

"Hell. You're not much better than Cynthia when you keep mouthing off like that," she muttered angrily. "Want me to tell you? Fine. I was pissed off 'cause I thought, out of everyone in the goddamn world, you'd be the one like me to understand that Charon needs to pay, no matter what. But no. I guess that's not a good enough reason for you to move your ass, is it? He's just the guy who made your life miserable, no big d–"

"My life is not miserable." Mewtwo didn't sound angry as they said that, though there was a hint of doubt in their voice. "I am content with my current circumstances."

"You know what I mean! And if you are happy with your current life then that's the more reason to help us take him down. Didn't you hear Cynthia talk about all the horrible shit they're planning to do?"

"And that means I am obligated to stop them?" asked Mewtwo. "If I made it my life's mission to oppose every deluded human who believed they can build a perfect future from the pieces of a destroyed present I would barely have time to catch a breath in between each one."

Reiko grit her teeth, feeling that familiar fire spread through her body. "So what!? If that's what you gotta do then you do it! What's the point of having so much power if you're not gonna use it for anything worthwhile!?"

"I did not choose to have this power."

"And you think I chose my island being wiped off the face of the planet and for half my family to die!?"

"We all deal with grief differently." Mewtwo folded their arms and craned their neck forward, letting out a sigh. "I understand that you've lost much to Charon, but…"

"I know! I know you understand. That's why… " She lifted her hand weakly, her next sentence getting caught up in her throat. "After all the shit you've been through, I thought at least you would see why I'm doing this."

Mewtwo turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "This?"

"My mission." She pronounced the word with all the force she could muster, eyes gleaming with determination. "No one else gets it. Not Cynthia, not Palmer, not Barry or Inyssa or even Percy. They all look down on me. I know what they're always thinking." She violently looked to the side, stabbing her fingernails against her palm. "They think that I'm wasting my time, that I'm just looking for an empty revenge that won't even satisfy me once I get it. They think I'm just hot-headed and too prideful for my own good. That I'll end up killed or worse because of that. None of them understand…"

She raised her chin and looked at Mewtwo straight in the eye, uncurling her fingers and swallowing hard. They stared back, eyes wide and curious. Their expression was unreadable.

"When I got my trainer license, I didn't head for Sinnoh right away," she explained, trying to control her tone. "I wanted to so badly but I know I didn't stand a chance. So I made sure… I made sure to get all the tools necessary for the job." Her voice became heavier and prouder as she spoke. "Janine taught me how to fight and survive no matter what I'm up against. Sabrina taught me to understand my own mind, and make sure no one else tries to use my weaknesses against me. Misty taught me everything she knew about Pokemon battling; hundreds of tricks and strategies I never would've thought of myself. And Blaine… Blaine pointed me toward the final tool I needed, and taught me the most important lesson of all." She made a pause to breathe, and the air she inhaled felt like it evaporated in the furnace that was her chest. The temperature around them seemed to have raised significantly in only a few moments. "The Flame of Cinnabar burns twice. Once to give warmth to all who would cherish it… And once to incinerate anyone who would dare snuff it out."

She placed her left fist against her chest and raised her chin high. Her eyes were like burning coals. "I am the second coming of the flame. It's my duty to deliver justice in the name everyone who suffered because of that bastard. That's what none of them get." Her fist closed even tighter, a terrible grimace forming on her face. "This isn't some kind of childish revenge and I'm not doing this for myself. When I finally strike Charon down, all of Kanto will stand behind me."

Mewtwo said nothing. For a few seconds they simply observed her face as though it were a mildly entertaining magazine, the purple of their eyes making her feel like she was being stared at with X-rays. As time passed, she felt the sudden burst of heat dissipate from her chest, leaving her dull and empty. Once that happened, Mewtwo craned their neck and looked up at the ceiling, at the enormous clump of chargestones hanging high above, casting a weak light upon them and the lake surrounding them.

"I was wrong about you." They said that with levity, a miniscule smile forming on their thin lips. "Unfortunately, that doesn't change the situation. The life you lead. The path you've chosen. I cannot imitate either. They are not for me."

"How can you know?" she asked, a tinge of desperation in her voice.

"Because I've already tried it." They blinked rapidly as they lowered their head again, shoulders dropping. "Remember what I said before? About the three tools that are necessary in order to truly affect reality?" They shook their head. "I lack one of them, as I learned after I sought for a purpose for the first time. I simply cannot help you. I am sorry."

"That… That's just a bullshit excuse." She looked down and shook her head, setting her jaw. "When I met you I really thought you'd stand with us. I thought you understood…"

"You've said so yourself; I do understand." Mewtwo shot her a serious glare, frowning. "However, you do not understand me. That is the crux of the issue."

She swiped at the air with one hand, leaning forward. "Well I want to! If you weren't so weird and cryptic then maybe I could start to understand, you know?" She spoke with an unmistakable bitter tone. "I really… Really can't wrap my head around it. Why someone like you who's suffered so much because of Charon… Someone like me… Why you'd be so against helping us. I really don't get it." She curled her fingers into fists and locked gazes with Mewtwo. "But I want to. If there's any way you can help me understand…"

The sentence hung in the still and dead air, dancing around them long after silence had set in again. Mewtwo hung back a bit, clearly hesitant. Their tail swatted behind their with the jerky movements usually seen in a nervous Meowth.

"There is a way," they said, unsure. "However, you might not find it pleasant."

"I don't care." Her reply came immediately, her tone devoid of doubt. "I won't be able to accept your decision until I understand why you came to it. I'm ready, whatever it is."

Mewtwo nodded, and then with speed she thought them incapable of raised their hand toward her, the tip of one of his fingers less than an inch from her forehead. Their voice resounded inside her head as though amplified by speakers.

"Very well. An equivalent exchange, then." Their eyes flared up, shining like the chargestones above. "Prepare yourself."

Reiko was given no time to do such thing, as an instant after they said that, Mewtwo touched her forehead with the tip of their finger, and the world went black. She was thrown back like a cannonball, sensation leaving her. It felt as though someone had hooked her soul out of her body. And then…

She wasn't Reiko anymore. She… They… didn't know what they were, exactly. Nothing but darkness had come to meet them ever since they had become aware of their surroundings. There was no cold or hot, no pain or bliss, no sight or hearing except for those distant, unintelligible whispers that only occasionally were heard in the distance. The only sensation they could feel was that of the liquid encompassing everything around them.

Breathing was impossible. The pain of suffocation was constant, yet it had never come close to killing them. It was simply bothersome. And yet, in the state they were in, it also served as the only link between their half-slumbering mind and their body. Pain was the bridge. Pain was the only thing connecting them with the outside world.

Outside world? They thought. What is that? Why do I feel so sure that there is something outside… this? What are these thoughts?

Time wasn't a concept they understood yet, though they felt like so much of it had passed as they pondered, the only thread of consciousness available feeling so small and inadequate. They needed more. And, as soon as they thought that, they felt their sphere of consciousness start to expand. Slowly, so much that it took them another long stretch of time before they realized they could now feel the tickles from the bubbles brewing within that liquid, running up their exposed skin.

The whispers came back. Clearer. Stronger. The noises changed shape. They rose from the bottom of the liquid they were in like bubbles, only… Only this time, they could see it. For the first time, something broke through the darkness surrounding them; small lights, dots so small they were barely there yet to them they were the brightest things that could possibly exist. Their own miniature suns.

The lights danced above, often formless, but sometimes arranging themselves into shapes they almost recognized. Creatures. A few of them, moving about and staring down at them with their small, shining eyes. The sight of them filled their chest with a strange warmth. Suddenly, the pain of suffocation didn't seem so oppressive, so all-encompassing. It felt as though those creatures were shielding them from it.

Who…?

They didn't expect the question to be answered. But, a moment after, a chorus of voices flooded them, distant and muffled, yet feeling as though they were sprouting from inside their head.

"New!"

"A friend."

"Another one…"

"Feels different."

"Hello, new one!"

"You can hear us?"

"Hello!"

"Will you wait with us?"

The voices were overwhelming, yet they filled them with such enthusiasm that they couldn't help but reach out and answer.

Wait for what? Who are you?

"We are the others!"

"You're new…"

"A new friend!"

"The smallest of us."

"But you feel so much stronger…"

"You'll make it out with us in no time!"

The lights continued to dance above, reflecting the tone and excitement from all those different voices. After some time, they found that they could link each voice with a specific shape, with barely any effort. Each one was different. Each group of lights shone in its own, unique way.

I will… Make it out? Out where?

"Out is out."

"The creators will let us out soon!"

"We are all so close."

"We'll finally get to see it!"

"And you'll see it with us… The strongest of us… The weakest of us…"

"All thanks to our creators. They'll let us out."

"We love the creators!"

"We love the creators."

"We love the creators…"

Time continued to pass. They couldn't tell if it was longer than what came before, or longer than what would come after, but it was different. They had company now. All throughout, they continued to ask questions, and the lights, the creatures, answered to the best of their ability. They didn't seem to know much. Barely more than they did, but that didn't bother them. Their enthusiasm was contagious and their company extremely appreciated. Soon, they could fully distinguish between each one, between each little dot of light, the meaning each carried, the emotion each change conveyed. It was like a secret language, shared only between them. In the end, they could almost see it. Their true appearances, behind the darkness. Their bodies, floating much like theirs in that strange, suffocating liquid.

Then, one day, they heard something else. Unlike the usual voices, these were so loud and clear that they felt like a lightning bolt inside their mind. As they recoiled from the pain, they saw the lights above flicker ominously. The new voices blared out.

"Cut their oxygen. All of them except for M2."

A horrible sense of dread set in their chest. They tried to speak, to communicate with every ounce of their strength, but they couldn't reach out. No one was listening.

No… No…

"But, sir…"

"They've outlived their usefulness. M2 is already in its final stage of development." There was a short pause. "Do it, before Blaine and Fuji have time to make a fuss about it."

"I… Yes, of course, sir. Right away."

They kept screaming inside their mind, desperately trying to reach those voices outside. Something sharp and cold began to form around them.

No! No, please!

Then, they felt it. They saw it. The lights above began to dim; one by one they fizzled out, and as they did the chorus of familiar voices spoke up again, more loud and excited than they had ever heard them.

"Is this…"

"It's happening!"

"Finally…"

"We'll be free!"

"I can feel it… It's closing up around me…"

"It hurts."

"It won't be long now. Come on…"

With everything they had they threw their consciousness against the cage keeping them hostage, crying out in horror. More and more lights went out with every moment that passed. The outlines they formed began to broke out, disheveling into unrecognizable shapes.

No! This isn't it! You'll all…

"Don't be afraid."

"It'll be over soon…"

"And then we'll be free!"

You won't! They're trying to…!

"It hurts so much."

"It'll go dark one last time… Then…"

"Come with us friend! It's so close!"

"It hurts."

"It hurts…"

Please…

"It'll be over soon! Thank you creators!"

"We love you creators."

"We love you creators!"

"We love you creators…"

"So close…"

"It hurts."

No…

"We will…"

"It…"

"We'll be…"

No!

"…Hurts…"

"… Free…"

NO!

Then, with a final, desperate flicker, the last dot of light vanished into nothing. Its foggy imprint, and that of all the others, remained for a few more moments, slowly dissipating like threads of smoke, leaving nothing but darkness behind.

No…

Outside, the voices became louder, more booming. But they could barely hear them anymore, as though they were a long distance away.

"What do you mean? How can M2 be…"

Come back… Please…

They felt their consciousness begin to widen, just like it had done so before, but this time so quickly and violently that they could feel their surroundings with a painful, disorienting clarity. Everything began to take form.

"What!? How can that be!?"

"I don't know! Its mind waves are accelerating violently! At this rate…"

You…

"Flood it with tranquilizer liquid, now! It's not supposed to wake up for weeks yet!"

"R-right away!"

You're the ones that…

Suddenly, everything went muddy again. The world began to lose focus, the painful clarity being violently surrounded by a wave of darkness. They could feel it trying to envelop them again, but something else kept pushing against it. Something hot and furious and ever-expanding.

"It's resisting! It's vitals aren't going down at all!"

"That's impossible! That'd be enough to knock down a Tyranitar! Check again!"

"I've checked it three times, sir! It's not working!"

Those voices… rough… painful…

"It refuses to…"

"I don't care what that thing wants! I'm not letting it wake up two weeks before it's supposed to so flood it with more tranquilizers!"

"A higher amount could damage it permanently! If we…"

I want them… out…

"Fine! If I have to do it the traditional way then…!"

I want them out!

"Sir! It's cerebral activity's went up by 550%! 1000%! 2000%! It keeps going up!"

"Quick you imbecile, help me up here! We have to activate the hibernation system or…!"

I WANT THEM OUT!

"I'm coming s–!"

There was the sound of breaking glass and rushing liquid, followed by an explosion of light as they opened their eyes for the first time.

And then, nothing.

When Reiko came back to herself, she found Mewtwo standing far away, at the very edge of the small island. They had their back on her, chin raised and gaze locked high up, somewhere in the ceiling of the cave.

It took her a long time to finally bring herself to move, the dread of what she'd seen covering her like an invisible sheet of ice. When she made it to their side, she said nothing. Instead she followed their gaze, finding nothing but a sheet of darkness occasionally broken by the light of the chargestones sprinkled all around. They shone together like constellations, forming shapes she couldn't quite make anything of.

Realization came to her. Suddenly, she understood the reason Mewtwo had chosen this place as its home.

"What…" When she finally spoke, she found her voice sounding rough and unfamiliar. "What happened… to them? The others?"

Mewtwo didn't take their eyes off the dots of light as they answered.

"I was unable to save them."

Reiko looked down, unable to look at their face any longer. Her insides felt numb. Muffled. Much like she… they had felt inside that memory.

"Sorry."

They didn't say anything back; instead they lifted their hand toward the ceiling of the cave and began moving it in a slow and circular pattern. Soon the chargestones disappeared, leaving only those dots of light behind. They moved and danced amongst each other, forming an array of different shapes some of which Reiko felt like she recognized.

"I used to be like you," Mewtwo finally said, their voice devoid of strength. "Bitter. Furious. Desperately searching for some sort of purpose, of retribution. At first I considered taking revenge. I was so close… Hovering over that enormous city, an immeasurable rage boiling inside me… I could have wiped it off the face of the planet before anyone would have had a chance to stop me."

"You'd have been killed," Reiko told them. "The Champion and Elite Four would've been on top of you immediately."

"I doubt that knowledge would have changed my mind, had I chosen to go through with it." Their eyes narrowed ever so slightly, their purple suddenly looking quite dull. "But I didn't. I thought… What if there are others like me down there? What if I ended up killing creatures like those I'd been unable to save, back then? No, I wouldn't become the monster they believed I was. But what then? What was left, after my fury resided? It was as though there were a void inside my chest, begging to be filled. What purpose was there then, for someone like me?

"It took me long, way too long, to finally find an answer to that question. And the one who answered it for me was none other than a human." There was a hint of incredulous laughter as they pronounced that last word. "A boy with fiery eyes, and a small yellow creature standing atop his shoulder."

Reiko's eyes went wide and a gasp was caught in her throat. They couldn't mean…

"I shiver in embarrassment every time I remember the way I acted. I saw this as my opportunity; as the sliver of purpose I've been searching for. I stood in front of this boy and told him that he had made a mistake in coming here; that, should he wish to prove himself and escape with his life, he would need to defeat me." Still moving their hand, making the dots of light in the ceiling move, Mewtwo shook their head and let out a strange sound that could have passed as a chuckle. "What a joke. As young as he was, the boy saw right through me. He had come for a fight indeed, yet by the time he left none had taken place. Instead, I had been the one tested.

"He didn't give me the answer, of course. Only a nudge in the right direction. I tried to recall…" As they said that, their gaze moved to focus on each individual shape above, recognition flashing through their eyes. "What was it that they desired, above everything else?"

Reiko didn't need to think to know the answer. "To live."

"That's right. Their only goal, their only purpose. What they so desperately wanted me to share with them…"

Their hand dropped, and instantly every dot of light vanished into nothing, being replaced once more by the chargestones embedded in the ceiling. Reiko looked over to Mewtwo, whose expression was unreadable.

"There are two girls in Cerulean," they began to recant, "that I once helped get out of a bind. They come here once a month and bring food and drink for the three of us to share. Then there's this old woman from Celadon whose eyesight is so bad that, every time I visit, she believes I'm her lost grandson. She makes some incredible tea and expects me every Sunday at her home, at nine a.m sharp. Her Meowth is quite feisty. I still have the scratches from my last visit." A thin, warm smile spread across their face as they spoke. "Sabrina, a fellow psychic, has promised not to divulge my current location to the rest of the League as long as I agree to meditate with her once a month. And, on those days where I crave a different form of company, I fly toward Kalos where, hidden within the depths of an enormous forest, lies a village populated only by Pokemon who, like me, have known the horror of human cruelty and search for a place to call their own."

When they turned around to face Reiko their face seemed almost human, their smile looking less grotesque than it had one before and the purple of their eyes now devoid of that dangerous spark she'd noticed the moment they had come into the cave. When they spoke again, their voice was firm, yet friendly.

"I've already chosen my life and my purpose, Reiko. I hope you can understand that."

Reiko smiled back, unable to fully make the disappointment inside her disappear, but still unwilling to let it flood the rest of her like it'd done so before.

"Yeah… Yeah, okay." She placed her hands on her hips and looked down, breathing in. "We'll do our best to stop them on our own, then. Sorry for bothering you with all this."

Mewtwo nodded. "We all must choose a balance between our duty and our heart's desire. For you, both appear to be the same. For me, they couldn't possibly be more different. Still, I am glad that we can both understand that."

Reiko's lips quirked up. "Man… You always wax philosophy and tell your life story to whoever comes to visit? Not that I'm complaining but…"

"I might have grown a bit too accustomed to the company of your kind," admitted Mewtwo. "Though… You do also remind me of him, in a way."

She didn't need to ask to know who they were referring to. Pride burst within her as she heard that. "Thanks. Though…" She looked over her shoulder, toward the still frozen Cynthia. "We should probably wrap this up, huh."

"Indeed. However, before that…" Mewtwo pressed one of their fingers against their mouth, expression contemplatively. "If I may, I wished to thank you, and also apologize for my own intrusion into your mind."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw some of your memories as well. And if I remember correctly…" They began to look around, frowning. "You recently lost your weapon?"

"My bokken?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, but…"

"I believe I could help you with that," said Mewtwo. "Just a moment. I'm sure I had it somewhere around here… Ah. There."

They did a twirl with their finger and, apparently from thin air, a sword materialized into their hands. Reiko leaned back, letting out a yelp. The curved blade, which was still inside its scabbard, had an unmistakable Kantan shape and the cross-like design of the red and white patterns adorning it all over told Reiko that the weapon was not one of the cheaply made ones they sold at the mall.

"Wha– How…?"

"I've made sort of a habit of collecting certain objects that strike my fancy," explained Mewtwo. "Judging from the look on your face, I assume that this is a quality weapon. Will it serve as an appropriate gift?"

Reiko couldn't answer at first, still too taken over by the design of the blade. Dear Mew, were those… Were those threads woven into the scabbard made of Persian fur? How on earth had Mewtwo gotten their hands on a sword like this!?

"I… Yeah, for sure," she finally said, voice thin from surprise. "I'll take that off your hands no problem."

"No, you won't."

She frowned, looking up at Mewtwo. "Huh?"

"Would Cynthia not be suspicious if you left this cave carrying a sword that you previously lacked?" they asked. "Besides, we're still inside your mind. The real sword still lies outside, in the real cave."

"Then how am I supposed to…?"

"Leave that to me." A tiny, sly smile formed on their lips. "Once you take the sword in here, I will forge an unbreakable link between your mind and the real blade. Whenever you find yourself in danger, place your hands together and call to me. The sword will come to your aid, no matter where you are."

Reiko felt her jaw drop. "That's... Not gonna lie, that's cool as shit."

"Indeed." Tentatively, they held the sword up, toward Reiko. "Now take it, and let us return."

She raised her own hands, palm up, and the moment the sword fell into her hands everything went white.

The distant sound of rushing water returned. Reiko was sitting alongside Cynthia again, whose voice brought her back to reality.

"…our mind?"

Mewtwo, now sitting across them, opened their eyes and flashed Reiko a quick smile before answering.

"No, you can't. Reiko, you may come visit if you wish to, but I ask you not to disclose my location to anyone else. And now…" Cynthia opened her mouth to say something, but she wasn't quick enough. "Off you go."

They made a gesture with their hand as though to swat a fly, and a moment after Reiko heard the familiar sound of the air around them vibrating intensely. Then, they were gone.

Painful brightness met her gaze the next time she opened her eyes, accompanied by the caress of a hot breeze enveloping her. They were back on the outskirts of Cerulean. The distant cries of Pidgey and Rattata filled the air, quite the difference from the cold silence of the cave they'd just been teleported out of.

Cynthia let out a sigh as she looked up toward the now sealed entrance of the cave, her shoulders dropping. It was hard for Reiko not to chuckle.

"Well… Drat." She ran a hand through her perfect blonde hair, shaking her head. "Sorry Reiko. Guess we caught them in a bad mood or something; they've never been so curt with me before."

Reiko pressed her lips strongly in an attempt not to smile. Looking down, she opened and closed the fingers of her left hand as though gripping something. Just like with wha resided within her last Pokeball, she could feel it; the sword, so out of reach yet so close. She knew that, should she want to, a simple gesture would be enough to have it appear before her.

"Oh… I dunno." She looked up at Cynthia with a knowing smile. "I think they were pretty nice, personally."