His heart pounding, Ash swiveled around, only to see one of the last faces he had expected.

"Mewtwo!" Ash cried out, his eyes wide with surprise.

Mewtwo inclined his head. Ash Ketchum.

"What do you think you're doing here? Where's Devon? And why are you working with him?" Ash scowled as he pointed to Lawrence.

Meanwhile, Riviera was moving towards Mewtwo looking delighted as she cried out "Kitty!" Mewtwo, giving a small smile, curled his tail around her protectively.

The gesture broke Ash's heart.

Well, Ash Ketchum, I began thinking. Why should I live in some sort of self-inflicted exile when I could be taking over the world?

"What did you do to Devon?" Ash persisted, trying to look at Mewtwo's cold face instead of his daughter's happy one.

Oh, I just made a statue out of him. You would be surprised at what a work of art it—

Ash kept trying to keep Mewtwo on his feet, metaphorically speaking. "So, what? You just got bored? Is that what turned you back to evil?"

You could put it that way, I suppose.

"What have you done to my daughter?"

I have done nothing. She simply prefers me as a father figure, I suppose. What with your leaving so often for Pokémon battles—

"That isn't fair," Ash growled, though he felt a small pang of guilt at Mewtwo's words. "I don't leave that often, and what has happened to Riviera is your fault. Why did you brainwash my daughter?"

As Mewtwo patted Riviera on the head with a paw, he turned cold eyes to Ash. Your notions of power have always been strange to me, Ash Ketchum. You desired the power that being a Pokémon League Champion would provide you with, yet you wished to get that power with your sweat and blood. There are others in this world who also desire power but want it to be permanent and swiftly attained. Your power is always at stake as Pokémon League Champion, because you are too good to do that which would protect your power. Lawrence III and I have a different understanding of power. Why work for power when you can seize it?

"But what does Riviera have to do with this?" the dark-headed man gritted.

You do not understand the joys that are to be found in elaborate plans. After Lawrence III heard rumors that Mews and Celebi were tied somehow to you, he decided to shift back from collecting rare cards to collecting rare Pokémon. With you on the prowl, however, he knew he would need a partner. He managed to find me. We rebanded Team Rocket and began another clone line. I knew that to control the world, I would need the strength of Team Rocket and that which a Pokémon army could give me. Lawrence knew that being a part of Team Rocket would mean more rare Pokémon and even a chance to create hybrids. We are in the process of forming a strong Pokémon army, and we will soon be unstoppable.

"But Riviera—" Ash tried again.

"We wished to convert her to our side," Lawrence answered him. "The Mews proved elusive, and she would provide fresh DNA."

She is also our form of revenge against you, Ash Ketchum, Mewtwo said, a harsh glint in his eyes. And those bickering clones you found were simply part of our scheme. They were hardwired to turn on you, so we would have time to convert your dear child. I also wanted to see if you could stand up against their power, which you seem to have done. They were going to try to catch you, however, as we wanted to use you as bait for the Legendary Pokémon. But you're here now, anyway, so there doesn't seem to be much of a problem.

Starr and Belle ran into the room.

"The Pokéballs have all been stolen," Starr huffed. "And that kid—"

A Growlithe burst into the room and then transformed into A.J. "Dad! Riviera!" He began moving forward, but Mewtwo used his Psychic powers to hold him in place.

Where are the Pokéballs? Mewtwo asked A.J. coldly.

"Like I would tell you," the kid retorted.

Peach came scrambling inside, looking annoyed at having been left behind. "Pi, chu-pi, pi," she scolded A.J.

Mewtwo nodded at Lawrence, who moved over to a communications console and began speaking into it. Then, unexpectedly, Mewtwo shot out a ball of Psychic energy towards A.J.


Charizard was out talking with the Mews, Meowth, and the other Pokémon. He told them that they all needed to stay away, but most of them decided that they wanted to go help Ash.

He's our friend, Cat said stubbornly.

Mewsie nodded energetically.

You'll all be caught, Charizard stated.

If that is the price we have to pay, said an Ivysaur, then we will pay the price.

Charizard sighed. All right. Let's go.

What about the other Legendaries? wondered Moltres.

If we call them, they will be caught as well, Charizard said quietly. The balance—

It is too late for that, Lugia stated, having just appeared with a whole host of other friends. We will fight for Ash Ketchum, regardless of the cost.