Chapter 14: The More Things Change
Copycat kept the noon sun at his back as he flew high above the forest. His usual form of transportation was a Pidgeot, although this time he settled for a Fearow due to the longer wingspan that allowed him to grab the air currents and glide in lazy circles over the land. In his claws he carried his hiking backpack, a monster made of canvas and zippers with more pockets than he could count. It contained all the usual goodies. His tent, cooking gear, spare human clothes as well as lots and lots potions of all types. His meeting with Pokemon Expert Bill two years ago could not have gone better. Aside from gaining a valuable contact in the human world, he had a better chance of helping the others to survive. Bill arranged for deliveries of various potions, as well as taking in blood samples of the wild mewtwos that would offer them. Bill had spoken to a few Professors to see if they could help to develop a treatment for their genetic deterioration. So far their efforts had marginal success. The potions Copycat picked up from the Centers had been specially manufactured to help the mewtwos. But even then they had unknowingly uncovered a problem.
Due to years worth of genetic tinkering, Team Rocket had experimented with many variations of mewtwo DNA. Thus the mewtwos had developed different elements and types that became dominant in their genome. What worked for one wouldn't always work for another. Worse of all were the ones that had shifting dominant types. As they developed their skills in training, different abilities and types would surface in their genome rendering the temporary antibodies useless. But still, what Bill had helped to develop and Copycat delivered was better than nothing.
Copycat slowed his pace as he approached his destination. He descended through the trees, dropped his pack, then transformed in midair into his mewtwo form to pick up his pack and continue on his way in a gentle hopping run. This was a nice forest and he always enjoyed coming here no matter the time of year. The summers were fresh and the winters snowy. Fall was just coming on now, and the few maples between the various pines were shedding their leaves in showers of gold and red. His feet found a familiar trail, with clusters of fall flowers set in turns and corners. He rounded the last corner and stepped immediately into the front yard of a small cozy cabin. The "owner" of the cabin was already waiting for him outside, raking up a pile of leaves to return to a compost heap in the forest.
Copycat! A light pink mewtwo fem dropped her rake and came hopping up to him, arms open wide to embrace him. She was a sweetheart, a bit on the plump side, but with a kind heart and eager smile. She had taken her name from a curious dark pink patch of fur on her rump that looked like a petal from a cherry blossom. Copycat didn't know if she had just found the place and set up camp here or if she had built the cabin. Either was possible with this wild-card.
Hey Cherry. Copycat returned her hug, then set his pack down. Phew, wider wings make for a longer flight.
You must be hungry, or thirsty...or both! Either way, come inside! She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the front door of the cabin. With her other hand she picked up his pack and casually slung it over her shoulder, carrying it in with her.
Copycat smiled grimly and followed her in. There was always something off about Cherry and he tried to keep his visits with her to a minimal. She was nice and all but...
The interior of the cabin was cozy. There was no other word for it. A hearth dominated a corner of the cabin where a fire glowed warmly, heating an iron kettle of water for tea or coffee. A looted couch rested along one wall, and everywhere there were piles of handicrafts. Crochet and knitting, along with so many books on all subjects. Cherry set his pack down by the door and went about cheerfully gathering up cups and plates for a tea service. By the time Copycat stepped into the cabin proper, she pushed a teacup into Copycats hand, led him on to the couch and set a small plate of cookies before him. She then plopped down on a large pile of yarn and picked up her newest project, a...very large blue blanket.
So what brings you out here ? She asked in a sing-song voice.
The usual deliveries.You're first on the list, then I'll be heading west to catch Teravolt.
Oh, say Hi to him for me.
Copycat sipped the tea. It was perfect. He tried the cookies. They were perfect. Just sweet enough, with the right amount of crunch and chew.
How are they?
Good, good. Copycat answered truthfully. You've gotten better.
Thank you! She chirped. I've been working very hard to get it just right.
I can tell. Copycat chewed slowly, watching her large pink fingers work the yarn and hook. I uh...have your delivery here. And um...
She looked up at him, eyes wide and expectantly. As if she were trying very hard to ask him to read her mind. Something which Copycat wasn't about to, even if he could.
Trying to escape her gaze Copycat set down his tea, pulled his pack over and removed two small boxes. These should be enough to keep you through the winter. He set them down next to him on the couch, on top of a folded blanket, made with perfect little stitches in perfect little patterns. He tried to find something to talk about, anything to stop her from looking at him like that. So uh...who is that for?
Guess, she held up her current work, revealing an elaborate pattern in many shades of blue. Familiar shades of blue, the blues of a certain very large male mewtwo that made the occasional pass through this mountain range. Do you think he'll like it?
Oh yeah, yeah. I think he'll like it. He took a deep drink of the hot tea, feeling it scorch his throat. Copycat knew where this was going. There were stars in her eyes and a lovesick smile teased at the corners of her lips, and he didn't want to be the bearer of bad news at a time like this. What he had said was "I think he will like it," what she heard was "when you place this in his arms, he will be so blown away by your craftsmanship and thoughtfulness that he will steal you away through the clouds and make you his mate forever and ever." The heat from the last of the tea was a mild pain compared to actually telling her that she never had a chance with the big blue two to begin with. He wasn't going to be the one to burst that bubble.
She giggled and went happily back to crocheting, no doubt dreaming of litters of kittens raised in the woods by herself and a strong (blue) mate. Then, as if this had been the very thought that crossed her mind, Cherry paused again and set those pink eyes on Copycat once more. Would you like one?
Copycat tried to laugh the question off. I would love a blanket, but it would be a bit too big to carry around with me and it would get dirty. Maybe one day if I can actually find a place to settle, you'll be the first one I go to. In truth, yes. Copycat would like a handmade blanket, but damn it came with a hefty price. Namely looking into those pink eyes, thanking her profusely and frequently, and then politely ignoring any advances she would make on him when her prospects with the big blue two didn't pan out the way she wanted. Cherry was cute but she was also clingy. Cherry was talented, smart, skilled and completely insecure in her own abilities. She was the perfect underachiever. And for the sake of his sanity, it was just better to keep that one at an arms length.
Cherry nodded. A scarf then.
A scarf. Scarves were safer. She could toss a scarf off those fingers in a night and they were more like charity work than an investment of her soul in the hopes and dreams of finding a mate. Copycat made a show of checking his imaginary watch and glancing out the window. Well, I'd better get going if I'm going to make it to Teravolt by sundown. He picked up his pack and slung it over his shoulder. Have a good night, and thank you for the cookies.
Cherry stood and walked him to the door, then pulled a scarf off a nearby hook and tied it around his shoulders. Stay warm. The nights are getting cold. If it gets too bad, you can always come back here, there's plenty of room.
Copycat didn't doubt that. Everything about Cherrys home was inviting and cozy, and he was sure that if he ever felt the desire to, Cherry herself would be inviting and cozy. But there was just something...off.
Thank you, and I will keep that in mind if I'm up this way in a storm. He knew he should shut up now or he would find her in the yard next time praying for a huge snow storm...or worse yet causing a huge snow storm.
Cherry smiled cheerfully and bid him goodbye. Copycat practically ran out of the house and down a trail in the woods. He risked a glance over his shoulder to see her watching him through the window before he turned his head to focus on the trail ahead. He had a lot of deliveries left to make before the winter snow set in.
Cherry shut the door after he had left her sight and sighed, then plopped down on the pile of yarn. Friend-zoned again.
Copycat made his deliveries in record time. He had made arrangements beforehand with the other mewtwos that had settled in these mountains. They came to meet him on the main trail as he passed their territories. They exchanged information and supplies before Copycat was back on his way. The humans rarely came this far into the mountains and when one entered their range, the psychic call went out as a warning to the others. Thus far they had remained hidden, although Candy and her trainer made a few passes through the mountains at one point, it had been a while since they had made a return trip. Copycat made a large loop through the mountains and foothills, then returned to the trail that would take him back past Cherrys place. The nights were getting cold already and the thought of curling up near that nice warm hearth was prevalent in his mind. With or without the company of a cute yet chubby fem.
Roughly half a mile away from her cabin he could already sense trouble. He saw smoke rising above the trees. Cherry was usually very careful not to have so much smoke coming from her chimney as it drew attention to her cabin, but this was an unusual amount for a cook fire. As Copycat progressed further he felt his heart drop to his stomach. Where there had been a trail and cozy clearing before, there were now broken and uprooted trees. A path of destruction had been slashed down from the foothills and through the forest. Whatever had caused this didn't care what it went through. Boulders, thick trees, and Cherrys cabin. Copycat shouted her name, jumping over fallen trees to the rubble of her cabin.
Copycat! She called out in return. I'm stuck!
It's okay, I'm here. Copycat dropped his bag as he transformed into a Golem and began to lift a pile of logs that had once been a wall. He had his doubts that Cherry was actually stuck and just might have jumped at the chance to play the damsel in distress. The embers on the hearth had been scattered when whatever it was came through and the logs of the cabin had begun to burn. He found Cherry unharmed, sitting a hole in the ground that had been created by her limited psychic powers. She had never been the strongest of the mewtwos in Woodland Labs, in fact her powers had been compared to that of a newborn Abra, but here she was, raising a barrier for all she was worth to keep the falling logs of her former home at bay. Why didn't you just escape? He tossed the last log aside before transforming back to his mewtwo form and helping her climb out of the hole.
As Cherry unfolded her arms and legs, Copycat could see that she had been protecting the blue blanket she had been working on. She grinned sheepishly as she climbed out, then pulled her working unharmed from the hole with her.
Cherry! You can always make another blanket! We can't make another you!
I guess it is silly to put myself in so much trouble for a blanket. She stood and looked over the wreckage of her home, then down the path of destruction leading into the woods.
What happened?
Cherry hugged her blanket to her chest. It was one of us.
One of us?
A mewtwo. I heard a lot of noise coming from the mountains, so I opened a window to take a look and I saw one of us. Except it was huge. It just came tearing down the mountainside and right through my cabin...and kept going. She hugged the blanket tighter. Copycat! Where am I going to live?
Copycat sighed. Thoughts of finding shelter for the night crossed his mind, but so did finding out who or what had caused this much destruction. It could jeopardize all of them. I have to go after that thing.
Then I'm coming with you.
No, you aren't. You're going to go west to Teravolts territory and tell him what happened.
Cherry wasn't going to be swayed. She went to the rubble of her cabin, kicked over a burning log and pulled a large pack from under a steel plate. It was a bug-out bag, much like the one Copycat carried, and almost every mewtwo maintained in some form. She slung the bag over her shoulder, collected her walking stick from the rubble, then went to Copycats side. It was with some amusement that Copycat noted the walking stick was an over-sized crochet hook. He turned and set down his bag, then transformed into a Fearow and invited Cherry to climb on. Hold tight. Let's go.
The trail wasn't hard to follow. It cut through trees, streams, forded a river and went through a few rock formations. Copycat chased it with the moon now at his back and cold night all around him. He didn't know if he should consider the full moon a blessing or curse. On one hand it made it very easy to see, and on the other it made it very easy to be seen. He didn't know where this creature was heading, but it wasn't running out of steam anytime soon. He heard the sound of snapping trees, and Cherry tightened her grip on his feathers as she leaned forward. There it is! She exclaimed, then returned to a more comfortable position.
And there it was, a horror that Copycat could have gone the rest of his life without witnessing. It certainly had the shape of a mewtwo, but only vaguely. It was massive, standing at four or five meters tall. What had once been fur was now ripped skin, exposing corded muscle tissue beneath and coated with a layer of pus and mucus. Its bones were visible along its back, jutting through the skin and muscle tissue to create plate-like protrusions. Its lower jaw was broken and hung at an angle. Its paws and feet were ripped and bloody from its progress through the forest. It moved in a random fashion. At times lumbering and slow, but then suddenly breaking into a full hopping run where it then slammed itself into taller trees and outcrops of rock.
It's a Mewtant. Cherry whispered.
We are not calling that poor soul a Mew-tant! Copycat retorted. Still the term was catchy and oddly fitting. How had this happened? Who was it? He thought that he had tracked down all of the mewtwos in that mountain range. And if it was a male, Cherry would have likely known of him first.
The Mewtant burst through the tree line and onto an open plain where a herd of Taurus had settled in for the night. At the first sign of danger, the herd was on the move, and the Mewtant gave chase. With a burst of speed Copycat found to be disturbing, the Mewtant closed the distance between itself and the herd, then grabbed one of the fleeing Pokémon in its massive paws. Copycat and Cherry cried out as the Mewtant lowered its decaying head and took a bite out of the Taurus in its grasp. The Taurus struggled and attempted any range of attack, all of which were ineffective. Other Taurus turned back and went to help their herd mate, but their efforts were in vain.
Cherry, down. Copycat commanded, then circled in to land. Upon landing, Cherry rolled from his back and took up a defensive position as Copycat transformed into a Jolteon. Cherry raised a barrier and the Mewtant suddenly ceased feasting on the Taurus. It turned its head and fixed dead eyes right at the pair of mewtwo. It slowly dropped the Taurus' carcass and began advancing on them. Cherry! Run! Copycat shouted, and unleashed the most powerful Thunder-attack he could.
It didn't even slow the Mewtant. It shook off the attack as if it were shrugging off droplets of water. Cherry chirped as she grabbed their bags and began running. Copycat went through a range of the other Eeveelutions in his DNA and blasted the Mewtant with high-power attacks, trying to find something that could damage it. There was no way it was immune to everything. The Mewtant closed the distance as Copycat switched once more to his mewtwo form to try another transformation. It reached down and grabbed Copycat by the tail. For a brief moment Copycat was caught up in the smell of rot from the creature. He couldn't tell if it was truly alive or barely animated flesh. He screamed as he felt teeth bite down on the bulb of his tail. A rotted and slimy tongue wrapped around the underside of his tail in an effort to pull him into the massive mouth. In a moment of panic, Copycat braced his feet on the Mewtants face and used all the power in his legs to keep the rest of him from going down that poisoned throat.
The teeth came down again, biting off a much larger and lethal chunk of Copycats tail. His foot slipped from the jaw and found purchase again on the Mewtants eye. Copycat then reflexively unsheathed his claws, cutting into the fragile organ and popping it under his foot. This the Mewtant felt. It opened its mouth in a scream of surprise and pain, and Copycat dropped free, his body taking on the form of an Espeon with no tail as it landed in the grasses. Copycat had been trained in the halls of Woodland labs, and if there was ever a lesson that had been driven home to him, it was to do everything in his power to defeat his foe when he gained the upper hand. He turned on the still stunned Mewtant and charged the most powerful Psychic attack he had ever attempted. His life depended on it.
Copycat let the attack fly, not even saving any power to guide the mass of emotions and fury. The glowing bright ball impacted with the Mewtant, blasting through its torso and out the other side in a shower of gore. The Mewtant stumbled then collapsed. The blast had nearly cut the creature in half. Copycat lost control of his transformation and reverted back to his mewtwo form, then collapsed himself. His tail was gone, and he was bleeding out.
Copycat! Cherry ran over to him and knelt in the grass beside him. Oh crap crap crap!
Copycat was grateful for her presence, but the Mewtant still wasn't dead. It drew shallow breaths into lungs that were no longer there, rotten blood still pumped onto the grass. Go Cherry!
Silly Mew, no. Cherry set their bags down, then rubbed her paws together. Its been a while since I've done it on this kind of scale...but... she placed her paws on his hip and Copycat felt a warmth begin just under his skin. It traveled through his hip and to the remains of his tail where the warmth turned to sharp tingling sensations. He turned his head to watch as his tail slowly began to reform in a gentle cascade of pink sparks. After a moment Cherry lifted her hands and crossed her arms over her chest as if hugging herself. Always makes me lightheaded when I do that.
Copycat sat up and looked to the Mewtant. It was healing as well. Bone and muscle tissue resealed the hole Copycat had blasted into it. And more importantly, it was healing up stronger than before. No wonder the path it had taken down the mountainside had been so long. The more physical damage it took, it grew back stronger and more powerful. It would kill and eat anything it encountered. And now that it had a taste of mewtwo, it would seek out more of them. He had to warn others, but he couldn't let this thing go unsupervised either. Cherry, I have a really big favor to ask of you.
Sure, anything for you.
I need to go find some help. Some powerful help to take this thing out. I don't know if this Mewtant is anyone we knew, or if it's another creation of Team Rocket. But it needs to be stopped, contained, or maybe even killed. If it's not, then all of the wild mewtwos are in danger. I have to go, but I need you to keep an eye on this thing. Stay hidden. Keep away, just track and warn anyone in the area it comes close to. Can you do that?
Cherry looked at the Mewtant and nodded. Yeah, I've gotten quite good at stalking over the years.
Copycat had no doubt about that, although the details of how she had "gotten good" were best left for another time. And thanks for the healing. I appreciate it. I didn't know you were so strong in that area.
Cherry shrugged. Why else would Blackwell have kept me around?
Copycat hugged her before letting go and using transform to turn into a Pidgeot, plucking a loose satchel off his bag with his talons as he rose into the air. Don't get eaten. We need you.
Cherry waved him off. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Now go get some help!
It was easy to ignore the pounding on the Gym door. The Gym was closed for the night. There was a large sign in the front window that displayed the hours and special events in clear writing. So when Sabrina sat down on the couch with her mug of tea and fantasy novel of her choice, she ignored the pounding. It continued for a few moments longer, and she briefly considered sending Haunter out to go chase off whatever night-type trainer that demanded the Gym open up so they could get their butts handed to them. But no, sending a Pokémon out even to tell them to go away was risky, and the League rules were a little vague as to what exactly constituted a challenge and an answer to said challenge.
She had just taken her first sip and read the opening line of the newest chapter when the pounding stopped, then started on the front door of her home.
No and no. It was one thing to act like a prick when caught up in the thrill of a Pokémon battle, it was entirely another to go pounding on the door of the Gym leaders home. This would be stopped, now, and some little brat from the boondocks was about to get the lesson of a lifetime. Sabrina set her tea down, put the bookmark into place (the adventures of Clef and his Aristocrats would have to wait a little longer) then with a thought summoned Haunter and Alakazam. She checked the mirror beside the door to ensure she looked the appropriate level of pissed, then swung the door wide before the moron could knock again.
All of the wind and fury suddenly left her sails as she beheld Mewtwo...no, a mewtwo standing on her front porch, out of breath, shoulders shaking, bent over with hands resting on its knees and taking deep breaths. It was tan in color with pink stripes along its arms and legs, and a satchel roughly hanging over his shoulder. "I'm so sorry...to bother you!" the mewtwo spoke. "Is Bill in? I really need to talk to him!"
For a moment Sabrina stood stunned. She knew there were other mewtwos running around, but she never expected to have one show up on her front porch just before bedtime. Haunter tapped her shoulder and she called for her husband. "Bill?"
"Who is it love?" Bill came from his study and up the hall. He rounded the corner and stopped in his tracks. "Copycat? Why are you here?"
"Something very bad has happened. I don't know who else to go to. I need to find the First." Copycat panted, but stood up to his full height.
Sabrina's gaze darted back and forth between her husband and the strange mewtwo. "You two know each other?"
Bill closed the distance between them. "Love, this is Copycat, the wild mewtwo I told you about."
"I'm so sorry to bother you at home. But this is...important."
Bill slipped his hand around his wife's waist and opened the door wider. "Well come on inside, I'll get you some water, are you hungry?"
Copycat wiped his feet on the doormat, then stepped inside. "I can't stay long. I need to know where the First went."
"What happened?" Bill asked.
Sabrina cleared off a spot on the couch for Copycat, then sat down herself on a chair opposite. Bill had of course told her about Copycat, but she had never met him. Bill gave him a class of water and the mewtwo drank it in one gulp. "One of us has gone crazy. I don't know if it was someone that had become genetically unstable or if Team Rocket is back to experimenting again, but this thing, this Mewtant is dangerous. It tears through everything it comes across and just flat out eats whatever Pokémon it can catch," he curled his tail around the back of his foot protectively. "It even ate a good chunk off my tail. I went through a selection of my transformations trying to find something to dent it, and it shrugged off everything except psychic attacks. And even after we defeated it, it just healed back up stronger than before."
"We?" Sabrina asked.
"Myself and Cherry."
"A pair of mewtwos couldn't defeat it?"
Copycat sighed. "No. She's tracking it right now, and will let me know if it comes across anything important. Right now it's confined to the mountains. I dread to think what could happen if it gets near a human settlement."
Sabrina gasped.
"I need to find the First. He has to know about this, and he's the only psychic powerful enough to bring it down for good." Copycat set the empty glass down. "Please tell me where he went."
Sabrina and Bill exchanged a glance. Wild Pokémon on the rampage was nothing new, and usually the League would send out a couple of master trainers to track and keep an eye on it, but this was on a whole other level. "We don't even know where Two went. After the incident at the school he left. He gave us one phone call and that's the last we've heard of him."
Copycat sighed heavily. "Did he say anything? Did he give any kind of clues?"
Sabrina tapped her fingers on the arm of the chair. "He said he was going someplace pure and untouched. But that could be anywhere."
Copycat buried his face in his hands. "Is there anyone who would know what he meant?"
Bill thought for a moment. "Maybe Jesse and James. They knew him before we did. It could be worth a shot." He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, and tapped a number on his list.
Miles away, Jesse picked up her ringing cell phone from the side table. "Hello? Oh Bill, this is a treat. What's wrong? You sound worried."
Sabrina and Copycat listened as Bill and Jesse exchanged pleasantries and then Bill got to the point. "We're trying to find Two. We really need to get in touch with him, but we have no idea where he could have gone. All we have is this riddle he left with. He said he was going someplace 'pure and untouched', do you or James know what that could mean?"
"Pure and untouched?" Jesse repeated, then called out to James to bring him in on the conversation. She set her cell to speaker and set it back down on the table. James pondered the riddle for a moment then snapped his fingers. "Purity Canyon. That's the last place we'd encountered him. Remember?"
"Oh!" Jesse exclaimed, "That has to be it. It's very far away from anything, and he had made a home there once. Try looking there Bill. And if you find him, please tell him we miss him."
"Will do, thank you Jesse." Bill bid his good byes and hung up. "Purity Canyon. Never been there myself."
Copycat picked his head up. "Where is that?"
Sabrina picked up her tablet then set it on the table and loaded a map of the Johto region. "...There. It's a protected area because of all the Bug types that gather there to breed. Now that I think about, he mentioned it once or twice, but I never thought it meant much to him. We really should have called Jesse and James sooner."
Copycat took in a deep breath. "It's so far away. But right now it's the best lead that I have. Thank you both so much." Copycat stood and walked to the door.
"Leaving already?" Sabrina stood and asked.
Copycat nodded. "It's important. I'll give you both a call if I find him. Uh...here's my cell number." He hurriedly added, plucking a small note from his satchel and handing it to Sabrina.
"You carry a cell phone?" Sabrina asked, raising an eyebrow at the neatly written number on the piece of paper.
"Yeah. Most of us do. We have some minor telepathy but communication over long distances is difficult. Most of us have burner phones." Copycat explained.
Sabrina began reaching for her own cell phone. "We need to keep an eye on that thing."
"I'll call my cousin to come and watch Jamie." Bill said as he rose up from the couch to unpack and examine their travel gear. "Fly safe Copycat, let us know if you need anything."
Copycat left out the front door, then reverted to his trusted Pidgeot form and took to the skies, heading for Purity Canyon.
Sunrise brought with it the sounds of the waking forest. Gone were the night Pokémon, they had all slipped into their burrows or dens for the day. Sunrise also brought with it the sounds of small feet on moss as Little Two approached the sleeping form of his father. On the best of days Mewtwo was a grouch first thing in the morning. His grouchiness became worse the later he had stayed up the night before. And last night he and Little Two were up late to watch a meteor shower. So Little Two attempted to appease the grouchy beast with offerings of food. "Dad?" Little Two whispered. "Dad wake up."
Mewtwo rolled over on the mosses and showed Little Two his back, the best way he could attempt to convey "do not disturb."
"Come on Dad. You said you were going to teach me to swim today." Little Two put both paws on his fathers shoulder and began gently shaking him. "I got your favorite berries for breakfast."
Mewtwo moaned again and resisted the urge to punt the kitten across the cavern. "Are they coffee berries?"
"No."
"Then five more minutes."
"Daaaaad!" Little Two began whining. Oh there was nothing worse than the whining.
Mewtwo rolled back over and huffed, then reached out and grabbed his kitten and began to tickle him. "What did I tell you about whining?"
"Ha! Ha! Dad! Stop!"
Mewtwo continued to tickle him until he squealed, then released him. "I guess I could use a bath this morning."
Little Two cheered and bounced around the cavern. After two years he thought that the craving for coffee would have faded. No. He craved a just a cup of the stuff every morning. Almost as much as he missed cigarettes. The thought had crossed his mind to fly out and raid a human settlement to gain access to his beloved java, but they were trying to stay hidden. So he suffered for the sake of Little Two. Mewtwo pulled himself out of his handmade woven hammock that he had made himself as dexterity training for his psychic powers, then felt his toes part around the soft mosses. His weight settled on his frame for just a moment before his own powers woke up. He had almost forgotten how good flying felt. The more he tried to understand the hows and whys of it, the more he lost control over it. So, like Mew, the best he could do was just try not to worry about it and just do.
Little Two was the perfect argument that gravity was just all in your head. He bounced off the walls, ran along ceilings or performed little obstacle courses through narrow tunnels. And Mewtwo did his best to follow him. There were a few rules that Mewtwo maintained from the human world however. The first being no flying in the house. Because much like running indoors, flying into and out of someones home (including their own) was rude. They would sit down to eat meals instead of just shoving food in their faces on the wing (although that one was a little more flexible) and as a courtesy, they would use their voices and mouths to speak when around others that did not share their psychic abilities. He knew from experience that humans and some Pokémon found it to be quite upsetting to have a voice suddenly appear in their heads. Because on the heels of that intrusion would usually be apprehension over what else they were capable of doing in someone else's head. In Mewtwos case that was quite a bit, and he had been kept awake on many nights with Little Two snoozing away in the crook of his arm, wondering just how much he had changed since first discovering this place. Was he People or Pokémon? His powers said that he was a Pokémon, but his capability for deep reasoning thought and understanding made him a People. Just like before, one foot in both worlds, and if he turned his head to ignore one or the other, then reality on one side would come and catch him unaware. And thus, he was stressed constantly that Little Two would suffer the same he had. People or Pokémon?
He pushed off the mosses at his feet and floated up to the spot where he and Little Two had their meals. It was a nice sunny spot with a table that Little Two had constructed using a few flat stones. There were a few times when he was free to use the full extent of his powers in their living space, and construction of furniture was one of them. Little Two had set out glasses of juice and a presentation of fruits upon large leaves. Mewtwo sat down on the mosses and waited for Little Two to do the same. Once both were seated they shared the small morning meal.
So, you wanted to learn to swim today?
Little Two nodded excitedly. ~I can float in the water, but actually swimming would be good to learn too right?~
Indeed it was, mental powers could become exhausted, and much like the times he insisted that Little Two learn to use his physical muscles as well as psychic ones, there were other skills to at least have passing familiarity with. They finished breakfast and cleaned up. Mewtwo knew of a calm place in the river that would be ideal to teach him. Shallow in some places, deep in others, with enough of a current to fight against but not too strong for the kitten. He led the way through a volcanic vent with Little Two close behind him, able to keep up with the barest thought. The vent opened up into the surrounding forest and they flew at speed, dodging between trees or ducking under branches. Little Two giggled and snagged a berry from a bush as they flit past, eating it quickly before Mewtwo had a chance to correct him. The forest opened up over the broad expanse of Purity River and Little Two flew close to the surface, running his hand over the silver surface sending up sprays of water. Mewtwo caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye, then smirked. With a flex of his psychic power, he created a "wedge" of force underneath him that then created large sprays of water to either side, wetting the tops of the trees and upsetting the Bug types nesting at the side of river.
Little Two laughed then followed suit, sending up his own large waves. It became a game between them, to see who could create the largest sprays of water and how much of the trees they could get wet until they reached their destination. Once Mewtwo neared the point in the river, he dropped out of flight and into the water, Little Two once again followed, his legs tucked in and tail wrapped around him making a perfect little cannonball into the water. Mewtwo came up for air just in time for the wave from Little Two's impact to hit him and practically carry him to shore. The impact had been more than what the little body could produce. It was a result of the "bleed" from the kittens psychic power. Mewtwo sighed then kicked off the bottom and floated over as the kitten came up kicking and panting at the surface.
~First off, don't panic.~ Mewtwo caught Little Two's flailing arms, then felt them wrap around his shoulders and neck, followed by legs and tail. ~Secondly, don't grapple anyone who comes to help you. That will make both of you drown.~
Little Two slowly calmed down and let go with his legs and tail, but held on with his arms.
~And third, think for yourself first. Help others if you can, but your life matters first.~ Mewtwo slowly pried Little Two's hands from his shoulders. ~Hold your breath. The air in your lungs will help you float. Now kick your feet and move your tail, move your arms back and forth and keep your head at the surface. Its tiring I know, but keep at it.~ He backed away and kept Little Two at arms length. ~Don't panic. Keep calm. Remember to breathe. You're fighting the water too much, just long slow strokes will do it...there you go.~
Little Twos panic became excitement as he was able to keep himself floating in the water. ~I'm doing it!~
~Yes you are, now lean over and start kicking to the shore. We are going to practice swimming from the middle of the river to the shore.~ Mewtwo followed Little Two, giving him pointers on his swimming technique until he reached the sands of the shore. His kitten was a natural in the water.
When Little Twos feet touched the sand he stood up and laughed. Mewtwo came up behind him, then scooped the kitten up telekinetically...and flung him back to the center of the river. The kitten squealed then landed in the water, came up and began swimming his way back to shore. He stood on the sands, arms spread wide. ~Again!~ Mewtwo obliged and flung his son back into the river. They repeated this for the next ten minutes, Mewtwo perfecting his psychic aim and Little Two his swimming strokes until at last the kitten came up on shore for the last time, utterly exhausted. Mewtwo found a nice sunny rock to curl up on and dry off, and Little Two followed, his grin never leaving his lips.
Mewtwo and Little Two had just slipped into a nice mid-morning nap enhanced by the sunlight when he heard the sounds of a massive swarm of Beedrill take off. That was strange, they didn't tend to leave their hive grounds unless there was an intruder. Mewtwo allowed Little Two to continue sleeping as he spread his senses. It had been a while since he had allowed his aura to spread that far, as he didn't want to risk discovery. And what his mind picked up was a curious thing. A lone Pidgeot, flapping for all it was worth at the very edge of its strength and endurance.
Pidgey of any evolution tier were not common here. This was far removed from their usual territories or migration routes. The only time he ever saw one was when a Trainer ventured too far into the canyon before turning back. He wondered if a Trainer had sent this one out to scout ahead, but no, the desperate beat of its wings did not indicate a scouting pattern. Still, Mewtwo and Little Two were out in the open, and until he determined the purpose of that exhausted Pokémon, it was best to stay hidden. Mewtwo lifted from the rock with a thought, collecting Little Two as he went. His son awoke with low snort, but quickly became silent when he read his fathers intent to hide them in the trees. Mewtwo found a large tree and set Little Two up in its canopy, hiding him among the branches. Little Two to his credit didn't question or fight. There would be time for questions later after all threats real or imagined had passed.
Mewtwo returned to the river bank, watching from the edge of the tree line as the Pidgeot came in to land. This was the widest and most open part of the river, so that made sense. The Pidgeot landed on a fallen log and stumbled a few paces, dropping a satchel from its talons. It was then that Mewtwo noted pink stripes along its wings and head. Familiar pink stripes he had seen on a certain Murkrow long ago. The Pidgeot dipped its head and beak into the water, but instead of tilting it up to drink, the Flying-type's body began to change. It started to swell in some areas and shrink in others, a long tail grew from its rear and the feathers retreated back into its body. A pair of diamond-shaped ears peaked from its head and after a moment it had changed completely. It was one of the Others that Mewtwo had freed from Woodland labs. Its fur was short and velvety, dull tan in color with those pink stripes along its arms and legs, with a few sparse stripes along its back. The Other leaned forward on the log and dunked his full muzzle in the water and drank deeply, then came up for air. "Rayquaza what a flight!" he gasped.
Mewtwo remained hidden in the trees. This was either going to be very bad or semi-good. He didn't know how in the name of the Legendaries that he could have been tracked to such a remote place. Or if he was tracked, or if this one was related to the black one with the pink stripes or...but there was a way to find out. He had come here to train, and now this was going to be his first test. If he couldn't defeat an exhausted foe, then he would just have to find a spot even more remote until his strength had returned.
Mewtwo waited until the Other had finished drinking, then stepped out from the trees. Well "stepped" wasn't quite it, more like slowly hovered from the shadows to the sunlight. The water just under his feet rippled with his psychic pressure and he carefully recalibrated his influence. He lifted a hand and with a slight exertion of power, he summoned one of his first and preferred attacks. Energy in the form of a black sphere with a glowing purple center appeared in the palm of his hand, then several others formed in the air around and behind him. The subtle release of power was both draining and encouraging. Draining because he hadn't done this in a while and his control was still a little off, but encouraging because the headache was no longer present and his new-found respect for the full well of psychic power at his disposal. The Other went back for a second drink, and Mewtwo cleared his throat to draw the Others attention.
Copycat paused before his muzzle touched the water again, then slowly lifted his head and took in his surroundings. A shiver went down his spine as he beheld not ten, not twenty, but hundreds of Shadow Balls surrounding him and ready to strike. His eyes could see them, he could even smell the faint crackle of ozone in the air as the individual spheres hovered around him, but he could not sense them. An attack of this magnitude should have registered on all spectrums of his admittedly weak psychic powers, but there was nothing. They were as one with the environment as the trees and rocks.
Turn around slowly.
The voice was one that penetrated his mind with ease, yet with a hint of professionalism. It simultaneously acknowledged and disregarded him. Copycat lifted his hands in submission and made a slow turn on the log. He then faced the source of the voice and his breath caught in his throat. It was Him, the First. He hovered just so above the waters, his psychic powers making nary a ripple below him, another Shadow Ball held loosely in his hand, and another triple mandala of about fifty more swirling behind him. His expression was relaxed yet harsh, his purple tail held high behind him. In response, Copycat lowered his, not quite a full submissive pose, but definitely a subtle gesture to show he had no intention to challenge the damn-near psychic demi-god before him. He couldn't meet those eyes. All thoughts of what he would say or do left his mind. What the hell had he been thinking? Coming all the way out here to try and convince the First to give a crap about the others he had freed and the humans about to be crushed underfoot? Copycat turned his eyes to the ground and stammered. "This could have gone better."
It could have. Once again the voice rattled his brain, and left Copycat feeling both weak and ignored. And it still can. Why are you here? And how did you find me?
Once again all coherent thought left Copycats mind save for one. This was the thing that was living with Sabrina and Bill? The one that he had seen running through the town and...with his hands still raised, Copycat found the willpower to lift his gaze and at least meet the Firsts eyes once. "I asked your mas...your friends, Bill and Sabrina for help. It took a few tries and a phone call to figure out where you went, and honestly coming this far out was a long shot, but I'm glad it paid off. I wouldn't have disturbed you at your sanctuary if I didn't have a good reason."
Before you say anything else. Answer this: Are you working for Team Rocket?
"Team Ro-? What!? No! No, you freed us, well, most of us. Why would I go back? There are some who are fearful and remained, but they are few. There are others who have been recaptured, but the rest of us still try to make the best of things. Life is hard, we try to stay hidden and out of the way until we figure out what's going on. I can't guarantee that forever though."
Mewtwo closed his hand around the black orb in his palm, it vanished in a wisp of purple ether-smoke and crackle of burnt ozone. The others behind him spun and faded out, and the many orbs surrounding Copycat just ceased to be. One moment there and in a blink they were gone. "Perhaps it's best that you sought me out then," Mewtwo spoke. His physical voice was much like his psychic one, deep with an intellectual edge. "I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out a way to best approach any of you. Do you have a name?"
"A name?" He had forgotten even that in the heat of the moment. "Uh, Copycat. I'm called Copycat because well...I can copy whatever Pokémon I encounter, and I've been able to add humans to that list as well."
Mewtwo was about to respond when he heard Little Two drop down from the tree behind him and float over to the river's edge. Now that his dad was no longer primed to completely wipe this other mewtwo from the face of the planet, he felt it was safe to approach. Copycats gaze went from Mewtwo to the kitten newcomer, and his breath caught in his throat a second time. Mewtwo almost went on the full defensive again but Little Two came forward with a smile. "Wow! Dad! There is more of us!"
"Are more of us." Mewtwo corrected by reflex.
Copycat didn't know if he should laugh or remain silent. He settled for a weak grin.
Mewtwo gave Little Two a pat on the head. "If you are here in good will Copycat, then I will hear you out. If you are not here in good will, then your remains will never be found."
Mewtwo was reluctant to lead Copycat into his home proper, but there was no helping it. He had questions, and if Copycat had answers, then he needed a quiet and private place to extract them, through manners or brute force. Little Two was full of nothing but questions for the newcomer, and Mewtwo was content enough to let Little Two distract Copycat while he formulated his own plans. That and Copycat couldn't slip away from Little Two before the kitten was done with him.
"Can you turn into a Pikachu?"
"Yes, easily."
"What about a Beedrill?"
"Not a problem."
"A Ditto?"
"Yes, but it gives me a headache."
Mewtwo and Little Two flew easily through the vents leading to Clarity Lake, Copycat on the other hand climbed over rocks and rough terrain until Mewtwo took pity on him and levitated the other up from the ground and brought him along with them. "You can't fly?" Little Two asked.
"Not all of us can fly. Well, I can fly if I transform, but I'm kinda tuckered out now," Copycat answered. "Some of us are psychics, although not to the extent of the First."
Mewtwo sighed. "You don't need to call me the First. Just...Mewtwo or Two will be fine. I'm not some deity, or some saint or savior. I'm just another one of you trying to get by." He set Copycat down on the mosses in the cavern and once again the other mewtwo had his breath taken away by his surroundings. Mewtwo allowed him a moment to gain his bearings and Little Two hopped over and offered Copycat a bunch of fruit in a folded leaf.
"Thanks." Copycat accepted the leaf.
"We sit down to eat." Little Two said.
"Right, yeah." Copycat sat down on the spot he stood and Little Two tapped him on the arm.
"No, over there." Little Two pointed at the stone table.
The table was located in the middle of one of the larger pools, and already Copycat was trying to weigh the options of getting soaked over appearing rude. Mewtwo again brushed the back of his knuckles lovingly over Little Two's head. "Right here is fine." He said as he sat down with Copycat on the mosses. For a moment there was silence as both of them tried to figure out what to say first, and even though Copycat was famished after that long flight, he was still at a loss for words. Finally Mewtwo asked, "How many made it out?"
Thankful for a change from the silence, Copycat answered readily. "Twenty of us escaped from Woodland Labs. As far as I can tell, there are roughly thirty of us in total, but that number changes from time to time."
"How so?"
Copycat took the first bite of the fruit and chewed carefully before answering. "About twenty escaped. Ten have been recaptured, and an indeterminate number of us are from other side projects. There had been scientists that had left Woodland Labs before or were working at other smaller test facilities. Woodland was the main production facility. Other facilities carried out specified experiments, and when a stable unit had been created, it was sent to Woodland for further development and processing."
The cold and sterile tone of Copycats report chilled Mewtwos blood. "So...there are still others imprisoned?"
"Not from what I've been able to tell. Our main population comes from Woodland. On occasion one or two of us will show up. Our population fluctuates because frankly, a lot of us suck at wilderness survival. I've made it my job to go around and find the ones that want to be found, help out the ones I can, and report the dead. Some of us, like me, hide in the human world. Others have headed for the wild lands and become nearly feral. Some of us were once human but had undergone some horrific gene-splicing and were transformed permanently. Our types and abilities are all over the place. Me, I'm a combination of Eevee and Ditto, mixed with Mew DNA and nearly anything else that can change its shape. But for all of our adaptability, we still have a major problem. At least the ones from Woodland Labs. Our DNA is unstable. Team Rocket would treat us with a special serum that would temporarily fix the problem, but made us dependent upon them. I'm mostly immune to it because my DNA's designed to be malleable, unstably stable. In the wild we've been doing what we can to keep it under control, but many of us have succumbed to illness or severe mutations. I've been working with Bill to find a cure, but so far it eludes us."
"You've met Bill?"
"The day after you left Saffron with your kitten. Speaking of, there have been no other kittens born. Not for lack of trying, believe me, but again because of the instability of our DNA." Copycat ate another fruit and continued. "But that brings me to the reason for my visit. One of us, I don't know who, has become extremely unstable. To the point of being monstrous. It's rotting, but it heals, it has a predatory drive, but no thought. And as far as I can tell, it's immune to everything I've thrown at it. It's a threat to both our kind and the humans. You're the only one I could think of that is strong enough to stop it."
The possibility of something like this happening had crossed Mewtwos mind in the past. As he had learned himself, there was a responsibility that came with his psychic powers. Little Two sat down next his father, and Mewtwo put an arm around him, half protective, half to comfort the kitten. "Are you sure Team Rocket has nothing to do with it?"
"After what you did to the Boss? Team Rocket has been fighting themselves too much to go back into full research mode. All they have are the ones that Candy helped to round up."
"Candy? Was she that light blue female?"
"Oh that's right, you did see her. Yeah. She's Gayles Pokémon. The two of them make a nasty team. You can tell how loyal one of us was to Team Rocket by placement of our bar-code. I don't have one because my transformations erase them. If its the arm or leg, usually that means we were pinned down and branded. A code on the face, ear or chest means Rocket Pet," Copycat said bitterly. "But that's not important right now. That Mewtant needs to be defeated. And save for the other Legendaries getting involved, only you can do it. Please help us."
There was no doubt in his Mewtwos mind. He had to go. Even though he did not have a direct hand in their creation or fate, he still had responsibility to what was now his species. There was a word he never thought he would have used in regards to himself. A species. He was now the First of an entirely new breed of Pokémon. Or were they People? Copycat was obviously intelligent, maybe not as intellectual as himself, but he was capable of speech and getting by as human. What about the others? How many were just left to their own devices. How many were just as bitter as he was and would use their abilities for something as petty (yet entertaining) as world domination? Little Two was the only kitten.
Mewtwo closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands, only then did Copycat get a good look at the scar tissue hidden just under the thin fur along the back of his head. That wound had hurt, and it had taken a long time for it to heal fully. Mewtwo opened one eye and looked down at Little Two. The kitten had grown, he had a better grip on his powers now, but he couldn't be sheltered forever. He was sure there would not be another Squirtle incident. It had been two years. It was time to return to the human world.
Mewtwo lifted his head, taking a last glance around his cavern. "I'll go. I've been on the outside for too long. I don't know how much help I can give, but I'll do my best to set things right."
