A shout from Ash stilled the hatred-filled Houndour.

"No! Flamekist, don't do it! If you kill him, that'll make you no better than he is!"

The Fire-Type hesitated. He was right. She knew he was right. But—

A voice suddenly spoke in everyone's heads. You may not let her kill him, but I, Mewtwo, shall without regret.

A large white feline with sinisterly glowing eyes floated forward in the air, preparing an energy ball to shoot at Giovanni.

"Mew!" cried the Pokémon that had earlier been Misty's and Brock's guide, Teleporting in front of the larger Pokémon and hovering there in a protective bubble. The smaller Pokémon spoke to Mewtwo frantically and quickly.

You cannot stop me, Mew, Mewtwo said, interrupting the frantic feline. This debt of mine must be repaid. I do not believe in rebirth, nor this Great War you speak of. I know only that I must kill him. While distracting Mew with conversation, Mewtwo managed to get around the small feline, sending an energy ball straight at Giovanni.

The expression on the Team Rocket head's face was not scared or angry or hate-filled. Instead, his was a look of evil satisfaction, as if he had wanted to be killed. He did not even attempt to dodge the energy ball or order a Pokémon take the attack for him.

The energy ball hit, and Giovanni's body disappeared.

"Mew," said the little feline sadly, looking defeated. Giovanni had been killed.

"He's gone," gasped Ashura, disbelieving. How could it be so?

Yes, Mewtwo affirmed, lashing his powerful tail in the air.

"What is Mewtwo?" Brock asked as he looked at Mewtwo, his voice low. He was unable to take in the fact that the crime lord's body had just disappeared, so he was trying to address another issue.

"A clone created by Giovanni," answered Ashura Ketchum, quivering in shock. He still couldn't believe that his brother was actually gone. How? he wondered again, desperately.

That debt has been repaid, said Mewtwo, but I have still more debts towards mankind—

Mew began jabbering away at Mewtwo once again, and the two Pokémon floated further away from the group to have a more private and extended conversation.

Everyone still looked uneasy at the sudden presence of Mewtwo, but they knew they must use what time they had for other things. They would not be able to get rid of Mewtwo very easily.

Misty took this moment to yell. "How could you kill my parents?"

Ashura Ketchum flinched. "It wasn't like you think it is..."

"Oh? Then how was it?" Misty glared.

Meekly, Ashura spoke, avoiding her eyes. "Giovanni ordered me to shoot your parents, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't just take their lives. My female Rocket partner, Jade, got angry at me. We had a Pokémon battle right outside the Cerulean Gym, and my Charizard's flames got out of control. I recalled him, and I tried to use my Gyarados to put out the fire, but Jade knocked me out and drug me away. Afterwards, she told Giovanni that we both started the fire."

Misty softened somewhat, but the pain of losing her parents was still in her mind.

"But you did abuse your Pokémon," Brock stated.

"Only because Jade and Giovanni forced me to be. I had to give in...I didn't even want to train Houndour...Flamekist," Ashura corrected, "at first, but I finally did...I'm sorry I was cruel to all of my Pokémon, but I was especially harsh to her, and for that I am even more sorry."

"I'm sorry I was mean to you when you tried to give her to me...I didn't know you were being forced to leave..." Ash said quietly. He felt terrible. "When I saw Houndour and heard that you were alive..."

"It's okay, Ash. I'm sorry, too."

Flamekist finally spoke. She, too, felt ashamed. And I'm sorry for my deception...When I was turned out into the streets of Viridian, I wasn't supposed to fight as hard as I had. I thought it was my opportunity to get away from humans once and for all, and I didn't want to follow Giovanni's orders. When I got caught I was angry, for I had thought I would be able to avoid it. My anger just continued to build, and finally Rage took over around the time I nearly killed you, Hound-houn. I wanted to just disobey Giovanni and stay in Pallet Town, but I saw something in you. I saw your kindness, and a glimpse of your inner light, and I wanted to travel with you more...Going to Viridian...It was my excuse for traveling with you. After we got here, I felt so ashamed, like a traitor...

Ash moved over towards her, lightly petting her. "It's okay, Flamekist, I forgive you."

It was then that the Houndour began to glow, causing Ash to jump back.

He watched in awe as she became bigger, evolving into a Houndoom.

"Flamekist, you—"

Yes, the canine said with a toothy grin. I decided not to hold it back anymore.

Ash laughed, throwing his arms around her neck and startling her. She moved her head away at first, then finally rested it on his. Hound-houn... she whispered.

Ashura Ketchum smiled, his eyes glistening with tears. "Ash," he said softly. The youth looked up at him. "I want you to take her...That is, if she'll have you?"

"Doom!" howled the Pokémon excitedly, even venturing to lick Ash's face. The boy laughed.

A tear slid down Ashura's cheek, and he said to his son, "There's another Pokémon I'd like you to have as well."

His son looked at him curiously.

"Follow me," instructed the man, and the group did so with a last glance back at the two felines who were still deep in discussion.