Chapter 39
"What Friends Are For"
Mew, try to pick out a Pokémon that looks particularly strong and Transform into it. You don't stand a chance as you are now…
I looked at Mewtwo in surprise.
Are you saying I'm……
…Okay, maybe I am……
…But you're the strongest one here! I said "out loud".
Then Transform into me. It doesn't matter what you do. Just do it!
…Okay…
…But let me weaken them first before you get into battle…
"…Do you surrender?" Giovanni asked smugly.
Mewtwo's eyes flash blue.
…Never.
Mewtwo flew forward so suddenly it left me spinning. When I recovered I found myself witnessing something very close to a massacre. Pokémon were falling left and right. Mewtwo was protecting itself with a blue sphere, and they couldn't get near it without getting blasted away by its psychic power…
Wow…
Giovanni had made his way away from the fight and was just watching, smiling to himself.
…He's got something up his sleeve…
He took out the little machine again and pushed another button. A pipe appeared that grew into a showerhead. It started spraying some type of liquid, and when it hit his Pokémon, they rose up again, ready to fight.
What the heck!? I exclaimed.
Mewtwo glanced at the shower while still driving off Pokémon.
It must be Max Revive, it answered.
Oh that is so…
He's trying to wear us out. He knows he can't beat us in a fair fight, so he's using an 'invincible' army…Mew, see if you can't do anything about that machine…
You mean you want me to…
I dodged a Pokémon that was flying towards me after being hit by Mewtwo.
Yes! Try to destroy it! The sooner the better!
Um…Okay…
I floated cautiously around the battle, which was centered entirely on Mewtwo, and kept on dodging flying Pokémon.
"…Don't forget about the Mew!" Giovanni yelled.
Oh great…I was doing so well…
Before I could blink, a Golbat flew up to me and latched onto my head, causing both of us to fall to the ground.
Ah! Get off of me, you stupid-!
I struggled to get loose, but the Golbat just held on tighter. I tried pushing it away, but it was too strong.
Let…me…go!!
The more I fought it, the weaker I seemed to get…Then I realized what it was doing…
Leech Life! Mewtwo said that…psychic is weak against…
I fought even harder and tried to remember that new attack I'd learned…
"Meeeewwwww!!!"
I used the strongest Thunderbolt I could summon up, and Golbat ended up dazed enough to let go of my head. I staggered backwards and stared at it. It was dazed, but not beaten. I had to get out of there before it recovered.
I flew up and made my way straight to Giovanni, praying that I wouldn't be interrupted again…I really should've known better…
A Beedrill suddenly appeared and started using Pin Missile. I tried to dodge, but it was too fast and I ended up stuck full of tiny, very painful, pins. I floated lower to the ground, and the Beedrill saw this as the perfect opportunity to use its Twineedle attack.
Oh no…Please don't… I pleaded.
"Beeee…"
'Master said…'
It wasn't going to stop. I landed and closed my eyes.
This is it…
The Beedrill struck two times in a row, each blow was like a knife…cutting through me…but it hurt more than the black knives…
I opened my eyes just in time to see the Beedrill get punched and thrown far to the side. Mewtwo face appeared in its place and looked down at me. I noticed that its blue sphere was now covering both of us.
Are you okay?
The place looked very murky…It seemed like the blue was trying to cover everything…
Mew?
I staggered, but Mewtwo caught me. I felt it pick me up, then use one paw to knock out yet another of Giovanni's Pokémon.
…I have an idea…
I didn't have the energy to reply, but I decided that it was probably for the best.
…Brace yourself, Mew.
…Huh?!
Mewtwo threw me. After breaking through its Barrier, I rolled through the air until I crashed headfirst into a hard, skinny object. I fell to the ground with a brand-new throbbing headache, but I started to feel a refreshing rain falling on me.
…Wait, I didn't know it was raining…
I looked up to see that I was sitting right under Giovanni's "shower". Giovanni saw me and grinned.
"Well, well, well…Looks like another rare Pokémon to add to my collection…"
…What?
He took out a Pokéball, and it whistled as he enlarged it.
"Thanks for offering yourself. You're mine now."
I stared at the Pokéball.
What is he…?
He threw it at me.
Oh yeah!! He's trying to capture me!!
"Mew!" I yelped.
'Help!'
I turned and tried to scramble away. Giovanni had been expecting that though…He had thrown the Pokéball so that it would hit me if I tried to run.
MEW!
Before I knew it, something very large came out of the sky and landed on me. I found myself shrouded in darkness and I couldn't move an inch.
No…
A small ray of light appeared in front of me, and I found myself being lifted up…The wall in front of me was dark though…It was purple…I looked up.
Mewtwo! I cried happily.
Mewtwo had me in its arms protectively. It wasn't looking at me though. It was staring straight ahead. I followed its gaze…It was staring at Giovanni.
Giovanni stared back.
"Well…that was unexpected…" he said, "Since when did you start caring about others, Mewtwo?"
…Maybe it's about time you started, Mewtwo replied.
Giovanni turned off the shower, since we were standing under it right then, instead of his Pokémon.
"I do care. I care about you, Mewtwo…I care about getting you back."
That's exactly why I left.
"You made a hasty decision. Why don't you come back and we can discuss this further."
You've had your chance…Now release all of your Pokémon, and we can settle this the way it's supposed to be settled.
"What are you talking about, Mewtwo? All of my Pokémon are released! Look at them all!"
Mewtwo didn't look. It kept its cold gaze fixed on Giovanni.
Release them back to their owners. Release them into the wild if they no longer have owners…They don't belong to you.
"My Pokémon are loyal to me. Did you see how hard they were battling in my name? They won't leave."
Mewtwo narrowed its eyes, scaring even me.
I know how you train, Giovanni. These Pokémon may obey you, but they are not loyal and would turn on you in a second if they had the chance…Now release them so they won't have to hurt anyone again.
"I think you're underestimating me, Mewtwo," said Giovanni.
I think you underestimate me.
"…What about that Mew? Where did you find it? Why is it on your side? You're not like any other Pokémon. It doesn't have any business with you."
I answered before Mewtwo could.
I'm here because I'm different from any other Pokémon.
I saw his eyes widen in surprise. His mouth fell open slightly.
…Recognize me? I asked.
"Im…im-p-possible…" he stuttered.
I grinned.
Obviously not. Now…it's my turn to ask you a question…
You're not gonna…? Mewtwo asked.
I've gotta know… I said to Mewtwo. Then to Giovanni, I said, …Are we related?
He stepped back and raised his hand, pointing at me.
"You're…You're not Ash…That's ridiculous…Humans aren't Mews……This is some kind of joke……Use your real voice, Mew."
I jumped out of Mewtwo's arms and glared at Giovanni.
This is my real voice!
"But…But……"
…Do I have to prove it?
Mewtwo already knew what I had in mind.
Mew…Don't do it. You'll just hurt yourself again!
I don't care!! I need a straight answer outta this guy, and this is the only way I'm gonna get it!
Mew!
I landed and let my anger fuel me. As I concentrated, the knives came, but this time, I destroyed them before they could get near me. I needed to know! I couldn't let some stupid black knives stop me from finding out the truth.
The knives didn't give up. They kept coming, but I destroyed them all. My anger was giving me the power I needed to protect myself from them.
I felt the change……A whiteness covered over me instead of blackness and when I opened my eyes…I was human.
I fell to the ground, breathing hard. The Transform had taken a lot out of me, even without the black knives cutting through me…I must have exhausted myself by fighting them…
"…No……That can't be right……You can't be…Ash…"
"Yeah? Well I am…Deal with it."
I looked up. His expression was that of total surprise. He moved his mouth but couldn't say anything.
"Now…will you please answer me? I think I deserve to know…"
"You're…not…Ash…"
I had had it. I threw myself up so forcefully that I overpowered myself and Mewtwo had to catch me before I fell.
"Yes I am…My name is Ashura Ketchum, from Pallet Town. I am a Pokémon Master…and a former Rocket…You……You would do anything to keep me in it…but you can't anymore…"
"……Ashura……I thought you didn't like that name."
"I don't, but I had to use it, because you already called me Ash."
He shook his head.
"Wait a second…You…You still can't be Ash…"
"What else do I have to do to prove it!?"
"……If you really are Ash……I've got it! Charizard! Come here!"
Charizard shuffled over and looked from me to Giovanni.
"C-harrrizarrrrd?" it muttered.
'Yes Master?'
No way……Charizard never said that to me……Even Charmander called me Ash!
"…Is that the real Ash?" Giovanni asked, pointing at me.
Charizard looked at me. The sad look I had seen earlier was still there, only sadder.
"Zard…"
'Yes…'
Giovanni's head snapped up.
"What!?"
"Charizard…Izaarrd…"
'I saw him evolve…That's really him…'
"You……You saw him evolve…? And you didn't tell me!?"
"Charizaarrd…"
'I didn't think it mattered…'
…It's lying…It just didn't tell him because it wanted to protect me…
…Charizard…
Giovanni took out a Pokéball and enlarged it.
"I've had enough out of you. Get back in here. Right now."
"Wait!"
I broke free from Mewtwo and fell forward. I grabbed onto the Pokéball the Giovanni was holding. He stared down at me angrily.
"…Please…" I said.
He shook me off of his arm. I was barely able to keep my balance.
"Don't interfere, Ash. If you were a good trainer, Charizard might have listened to you before and none of this would have happened. However, you couldn't handle it. I was the only one who could tame Charizard, so it rightfully belongs to me."
I felt pained…There were no black knives this time…but his words stung just as bad as his Beedrill had…I tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to come out.
"You……You……"
I took a deep breath.
"You said……You said that…"
I swallowed and tried to continue.
"You said that I…"
The tears came out.
"You said that you thought I was a good trainer…"
That was all I could say. I swallowed my tears and they trickled down my throat. I couldn't speak anymore. I could only sob as breathing became harder.
He did say that…He said he knew that I could win the Pokémon tournament…He said that I could beat the Elite Four…and now…he…
…Don't cry……Ash… Mewtwo said softly.
I turned in surprise.
You…called me……Ash… I said.
……That's your name, isn't it?
Despite my tears, I had to smile.
…Thanks…
…That's what……friends……are for…
…You've never had a friend before, have you……
…Mewtwo…
It was getting easier to breathe, and the tears were slowing their rush.
For the first time since I'd met it, Mewtwo smiled.
"……Char?"
'……Ash?'
I turned around.
"Yeah?"
"……Izard?"
'……Forgive me?'
I grinned.
"Of course."
Charizard grinned back.
Giovanni glanced back and forth at all of us.
"Hold on. Don't think you're gonna get out of this that easily! Everyone! Attack them!"
Charizard glared at him. It took a deep breath and seriously flamed him. The other Pokémon watched in shock. When they realized that Giovanni could be hurt, they moved forward and finally charged.
He glanced at them in alarm.
"Hold on. You can't do this. Get back in your Pokéballs!"
They didn't stop. I started to recognize their feelings, and I suddenly realized their intentions.
"Stop!!" I screamed.
I changed back into Mew and dashed forward.
Mew! Mewtwo shouted.
I ignored Mewtwo and used Flash. The Pokémon stopped immediately and everyone looked around dazedly.
"Mew!" I shouted, "Me-ew, mew! Mewmew…Mew?"
'You can't kill him! He may have done lots of awful stuff to you, but he never tried to kill you. You can't kill someone for that…Okay…?'
They looked at me like I was crazy, but they didn't try to attack.
…Mew…why did you…?
……I couldn't let them hurt……
I looked at Giovanni.
……You are my father…aren't you?
He stared at me like he couldn't believe what was going on…I couldn't really blame him.
"……If you really are Ash……then yes…Yes, I am."
………It's about time…
"……But why did you save me? After all that I've done to you………You must hate me…"
………It doesn't matter…You're still a person……I couldn't just watch you………
"……….Ashura……I knew your mother would raise you well……"
I wanted to ask him so much……After ten years of never seeing him……it was hard to believe he was real…
"…much better than I could have done…" he finished.
I looked up.
What do you mean?
"……Maybe we can talk about it some other time……This all comes as a shock to me…"
Yeah. Me too.
"I can imagine…."
…Will you release your Pokémon so we can leave in peace? Mewtwo asked.
Giovanni looked like he was going to say no, but I spoke before he could.
Of course he will, I said, All we need to do is find their original trainers and return them………What about you, Charizard?
Charizard nodded.
"Charrr…Charizarrrd…"
'I'll come with you, Ash.'
…Thank you.
I can probably Teleport them there without any problem, Mewtwo said.
Really? That'd be great!
"Hold on! Isn't anyone going to ask me what I think about this whole thing!?"
I faced him and grinned.
Well…you may be my dad, but these Pokémon still don't belong to you. They're going back to their real masters.
Mewtwo's eyes glowed blue, and a couple of Pokémon disappeared. They glowed again, and more disappeared. He kept going until there were only Wigglytuff, Venomoth, Alakazam, Dodrio, Electrode, Marowak, Rhydon, Chansey, Ditto, Arbok, Raichu, Sandslash, Golbat, Parasect, Magneton, Hypno, Slowbro, Kingler, Seadra, Seaking, Vileplume, Victreebel, Golem, and Lickitung left.
…The rest no longer have trainers… Mewtwo said.
I could sense its tiredness…I guess Teleporting so many Pokémon is exhausting…
I looked at all of them.
What are we gonna do with them? I asked.
"Leave them with me! I'll take good care of them!"
No! we both retorted.
I didn't have any ideas. I looked at Mewtwo.
……There…may be a place………A place where we can be safe……from humans… it said slowly.
Not that island…
No……I…don't understand it, but……I feel that there is a place…I haven't even been there before…but I know that it's safe……Kind of crazy, huh?
No it's not…I got the same feeling right after I evolved…and that's how I found you…
Then maybe……Maybe we can give it a try……
Mewtwo motioned the other Pokémon.
Alright everybody…Come close to me…I'm going to try Teleportation again…
But…
Mewtwo glanced at me and I saw a small smile.
You want to help? Okay, come here…Now just do what I do, and you should be able to learn Teleportation…Alakazam and Hypno, will you help too?
They agreed.
I floated next to him and I listened to his mind…I copied him exactly, and I felt us shimmer. The city faded into whiteness…