Well, sorry this took so long, folks. I forgot last week to type this up and I didn't have time any other day. But today I managed to get onto my computer. This chapter will be longer than the other two. I also want to know if I should do an epilogue to this. Let me know your opinions!

Chapter three

Ash/Red's POV

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We faced each other as foes. I remembered back 6 months to when I saw him at Purity Canyon. He would have destroyed what he had created… Mewtwo. Mewtwo, the feline clone, who was lost in his own mind.

At the call to battle, my mind came back to the present. It had been six weeks since I left Johto. I tracked him down. I had to confront him. There was no other choice. I sent out Pikachu, who was all too eager to battle. He reached for his only Pokéball, and had gripped it when…

Mewtwo came in through the wall. His eyes were red with fury; he almost looked like someone else. I knew he was out for vengeance against the once who had destroyed his life. I called to him to stop, to accept the life he was leading.

He didn't hear me. He began forming his shadow ball attack, and took aim. The ball flew, but the target did not run. Instead, he almost welcomed his destruction.

Through the dust and some of the explosion, I made my way to him. Though we were foes, he was still human. I gripped him, and felt the life leaving his body. He pressed his Houndoom's Pokéball into my hand. Mewtwo had left as Giovanni fell. With his last breaths on this world, Giovanni said to me…

"Do… what you will… Good luck… son."

6 months later

I took responsibility for the gym. I called in my old rival, asked him to take over. He went to the duty gladly. I went to the Executives, but not directly. After defeating them, I could never do that. A memo told them to take their leave, release all the grunts, the captured Pokémon.

His body was cremated. I took the ashes to the deepest reaches of Mt. Silver, so he could remain in the solitude which he had once incased himself in.

At the 6-month mark of the tragedy, I was there at the grave. Neither he nor my mother had ever told me the truth until that moment. I had grown up never knowing that my father was to become my greatest enemy. I hadn't spoken to my mother, or anyone. That day, I saw Mewtwo again for the final time.

He made his way into the deepest reaches of the mountain, where I now resided. He came to me. I could feel his sorrow, could feel how upset he was at what he had caused. He nodded to me, and I knew. I tried to stop him, but it was too late. His mind was made up.

The telepath leapt from the cliffside into the shadows of the chasm. He didn't hover as he oft did. He let himself fall. As he did his final words drifted up to me…

"Farewell… brother."

2 years later

Two years to the day. Two years I have spoken to none but my partners. I have been in intense training for these years. All of the Pokémon I ever had have risen to at least level 70. I carry with me an elite crew now. Charizard, now eternally loyal. Squirtle and Bulbasaur, now in their final stages of evolution. Snorlax, my defensive powerhouse. My new Espeon, caught in secret. And, of course, Pikachu. From beginning to end, they stand by me. I do not use words to direct them in battle. They understand what I want them to do.

I need nothing. My Pokémon are the only ones I see.

1 year after that

3 years ago, both my father and my half brother died. 3 years ago, I cut myself off from human contact. I once was a naï ve fool, but now I am a creature of darkness.

A young girl made her way here into the cavern. I wondered how she made it at first, but it soon became apparent. She had earned all 16 gym badges, defeater the elite four, become the new champion. She had seen legendary Pokémon asleep, a feat even I had never accomplished. And yet… she was humble. I envied her.

A fierce battle ensured. She and her partners were the best of friends, and that unity led to my downfall. How odd, that what once had been my tool for victory, was now used against me…

As she congratulated her partners, held her Typlosion in her arms, I left. I went back into the secret cavern I had made for my team & myself. I let them out. I retrieved the rest from storage and released them. I told them my plan, told them to follow their own path.

When the girl had left, I came out. A sharp rock, shaped oddly like a dagger, lay on the ground. I picked it up. The 'handle' fit perfectly into my hand. My first loss in years wasn't what had taken my will, it was her. Her friendship, the way she understood what her Pokémon were feeling. My Pokémon and I love each other, but we lost that sort of closeness years ago. I lift the jagged edge, and hold it to my throat. My team knows what to do when I make the cut. Just before I take my life, I say my final words…

"I look at my life at the end of a string and watch it twirl around,
and around,
and around,
and around,
and around,
and around...

*snap*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, that's it. ::looks back over fic:: oh my Ra… I just killed off Ash. Please to not be killing me. If I get flamed for this, I won't be surprised. I like fire, anyway. ::nervous beyond all human believe at what Millenium Mutant's done:: ::nervous that Millenium Mutant is talking in 3rd person::

Millenium Mutant

3-27-04