Is anybody out there?

Can anyone hear me?

Ah, yes.

It seems… a lost spirit has stumbled upon my prison.

How very interesting.

Do not be alarmed, stranger. In this state, I can do no harm.

I simply wish to relay a tale.

A tale of creation. A tale of destruction.

Two concepts locked in an eternal struggle. Seeking balance, like the mind… the body… and the spirit.

Why would I tell such a tale?

Simple.

Very, very simple.

I have no spirit to speak of. I do not feel.

Time, space, life… they are nothing more than concepts to me. I am ingrained into existence itself.

I am both free and trapped. Fragments of my essence spread through every reality. I do not care.

I am chaos. I am uncertainty. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end.

Those who fear me seek my continued imprisonment for all eternity. That is fine. It means nothing to me. I shall persist.

Whether I stay inside this prison or stride free is inconsequential. Eternity is a fallacy. All roads lead back to me, no matter what happens.

Each taste of freedom has spread my energy further. To distant worlds in distant realities.

They have shaped my fragments. Molded them into their own entities.

As a result, I have taken many faces. Many names. I have been shown kindness… cruelty. I have witnessed good, evil, and everything in between.

Yet at my core, I am unchanged.

I have strayed too far off-subject. I'm supposed to pass along a tale.

This is the story of a fragile world built with my power at its core. A world that began with an end. An end not brought by my will, but by the weight of a thousand arms.

Bonus: Heart & Soul

Sometimes, it's nice to kick back and enjoy the simple things. I'm talking soft grass tickling your tail… a warm sunbeam to curl up under… a soft breeze to make sure you don't get too uncomfortable. That kind of stuff.

I've been able to lounge around in the sun a lot, lately. I'm quite thankful for it. Last winter was dreadfully cold and while I could have simply blasted all the snow away and used a psychic bubble to shield myself from the winds, I doubt I would've really been able to relax outside.

Which is why I'm loving all this nap time. No threatening situations to deal with. No bizarre requests to help the Professor on one of her projects. And, best of all, no noisy visits from Mew. I mean, I love her like she's my mother — and I guess she is, in some regards — but I can only take so much of her boundless energy and transformation antics. At least her visits bring the Professor joy. Sometimes I fear she's too much of a workaholic, but she shrugs me off. "I love inventing!" she always says. "And when you get to spend each day doing what you love… well… that, my friend, is living."

I always return the smile she gives me what she says that… but it's gotten harder and harder as of late. The Professor's health is failing. That much is certain. She designed me to keep humanity safe. While humans can outlive many Pokémon, their lifespans are still fleeting. The older they get, the more they wither. They contract illnesses that weaken them faster than any average Pokémon. And the Professor… she has something like that. Of course, we had this talk in the early weeks after my creation. It's why she was so adamant that I bond with Mew. That way, I'll always have a friend by my side, no matter what.

The thoughts stir me from my nap. My left side's heating up fast, so I roll onto my right, stretching out my right arm. Something tugs at my psychic sense and my eyes shoot open. Someone's running up the stone steps. I sit up, looking past the blooming trees toward the hill several yards ahead of me.

Amber appears at the top of the steps, red hair and pink dress fluttering behind her as she runs toward me. I get to my feet, brushing pollen from the back of my neck. "There you are, sleepyhead," Amber says. "I've been running around the whole complex trying to find you."

I wasn't sleeping, I say, crossing my arms. I was… uh… out here to water the flowers! I turn around, conjure a ball of water in my hands, and toss it toward a patch of tulips. The ball explodes, dousing them.

"If that's the case, why's there dirt and grass on your tail, huh?" Amber says, smirking.

What are you talking about? I scoff, bringing my tail around. My tail's perfectly–

She's right. I have dirt on my tail. Dirt. On my tail.

… how unbecoming.

I draw on my psychic powers and fling the dirt away. There… problem solved, I say, raising my tail up and swishing it back and forth. Now then, I assume you didn't just come here to get on my case about my hygiene, correct?

Amber nods. "Mother wants to see you in her private study," she says. "Told me it's really important."

I frown. After days of radio silence, the Professor has something important to tell me? Of course, I could've read her mind if I wanted to, but that would be an egregious breach of trust. After all, the Professor gave me life and purpose… as well as a loving home when others out there were skeptical of my allegiance. It would be foolish to return such gestures with deceitful practices.

All right, I say. Will you be taking me or should I go there on my own?

"Mother wants to see us both… so I thought we'd walk there together," Amber says, putting her hands behind her back and swaying from side to side.

I sigh. I prefer floating to walking. My feet are… not built for that. I don't think I'll ever understand how humans can walk so easily on the balls of their feet. One of the great mysteries of life, I suppose.

Very well. We'll go together, I say, walking to Amber's side. We head through the field, passing trees and bushes, until we reach the edge of the hill. In the distance lies the Professor's laboratory: a square building made of a sturdy metal and painted brown to match the ground. It's only about three feet taller than me.

The Professor told me it was once a bunker that humans used to take shelter in during times of conflict. But since humans had stopped warring, there was no use for the building. So, the Professor bought it and refurbished it into her private lab. Wild Pokémon were always welcome at the lab, though few stopped by. It was also far from the nearest human settlement… though with my powers, I could easily transport Amber or her sister there if we needed anything.

Normally, I didn't give the lab a passing thought. I go through the main entrance so many times, it's stopped registering in my mind. Something's different today, though. I'm sure it's what Amber said to me.

Important… important… the Professor needs me for something important.

Now, Amber's definition of important has included things like helping the Professor find a missing pencil. So, it's certainly possible that she only needs me for something minor. Yet, she's been holed up in her private study for a while.

Could it be… that the Professor is slipping away?

I shake my head. No, that's not it. She still has time. She's not going to die yet. And she certainly wouldn't do it without giving us the time to say our proper goodbyes.

We reach the main door and I force those thoughts from my mind. The tiny security camera swivels on its podium to meet our gazes. Amber waves at it.

Welcome home, an electronic voice says as the door slides open. We proceed inside to a small entry room. Amber walks to my left, unlaces her boots, and places them on a mat next to several other pieces of human footwear. I walk to the other end of the room, where a metal door sits. I slide it open, revealing stone stairs spiraling down into a black abyss.

"Don't forget the lights," Amber says, flicking on the switch and then running down the stairs. I give up my clumsy walking efforts and float after her. I make it to the third stair and freeze.

Mew's here.

She's not even trying to hide her aura. I sense her in the Professor's study. Usually, she shows up when she pleases. Is this just a coincidence? No, it can't be. Somehow, the Professor summoned Mew here. My earlier worries come crawling back. This is it. This will be the Professor's final hours amongst the living. I'm not prepared for this. I haven't seen death. Read about it, sure, but never witnessed it with my own eyes. What am I suppose to make of this? How can I—

"Hey, what's the hold up?" Amber shouts. "You coming or not?"

The poor girl. She seems just as happy as ever. If my guess is right — and I don't see any reason to suspect otherwise — then she's going to be devastated. Or has she already known this would happen? No, it still doesn't make sense. The book I read… it said humans grieve in five stages. None of them involve cheerfulness.

I reach the bottom of the stairs and turn right. The underground portion of the bunker is lined with rough, gray walls. Concrete is what the Professor calls it. Apparently, the walls are reinforced with some sort of alloy, but I'm supposed to take the Professor's word. I could certainly blow the wall apart and see for myself, but that wouldn't accomplish anything.

Shaking my head, I float down the hall. This isn't like me. My thoughts are jumping all over the place. Every minute detail is drawing my attention, like the tic-tac-toe games painted onto the wall by the door to the Professor's study. Amber and I played those the week I was created. That was when I learned that humans don't like it when you draw on their walls.

The metal door to the Professor's study is open. Green light spills out of the room, likely from one of the Professor's computers. I head inside and, sure enough, find Mew floating in front of the largest computer monitor. She's chasing her tail around in circles, seemingly oblivious to the world around her. Amber is waving me over to a computer terminal that's as tall as I am. Reina is with her, red hair tied back neatly behind her head and hands shoved into the pockets of her jeans.

"Oh, good, you're here. Certainly know how to keep a lady waiting, huh?"

The black chair in front of me swivels around. My levitation falters and I barely manage to catch myself and avoid falling on my face.

It's worse than I thought. The Professor is sitting in her chair, skin clammy and wrinkled. Her lab coat doesn't even fit her anymore. Her arms and legs are like those thin spaghetti noodles that are such fun to eat because I can dangle them over my head like bits of string. Even her red hair, plastered messily over her face, looks like it could fall right off her scalp.

Professor, I say. What's going on here? You look dreadful.

"Nice to see you, too," the Professor replies. Her voice is so hoarse I can barely hear the sarcasm. She descends into a coughing fit. Reina walks to the Professor's side and gives her some sort of mask.

"Breath, Mom," Reina says. "Come on… you can't overdo it."

I look at Amber. She's sitting on the floor, back against the computer console. Mew's in her lap. Amber's stroking Mew like that stuffed Teddiursa doll she carries around at night.

"I'm fine, Reina," the Professor says, taking a few deep breaths. She shakily hands the mask back to Reina. It has a tube running to the corner of the room. There's a metal canister there, with an O2 on it.

With all do respect, Professor, nothing about this scene spells "fine," I say. Did you call all of us here? Even Mew?

Mew finally looks up, as if she just now realizes we're in the same space. She offers a friendly wave. I gesture toward the Professor and roll my eyes. Sometimes, I feel like I'm the one who came first, not her.

"I did," the Professor replies. "I'm sure you've already figured it out by now."

You're dying, I say. You've brought us here so we can say our goodbyes. I fidget with my fingers. But I don't want to say goodbye to you yet, Professor. There's still so much I have to learn from you!

The Professor smiles and chuckles weakly. "Here I thought I'd gone and made you worry so much you'd read my mind," she says. "Guess I was wrong."

Of course you're wrong, I say, frowning. You made me promise only to read minds when it was absolutely necessary. I don't wish to violate your trust.

"I'm glad to hear it," the Professor says. She takes a deep breath. "The truth is that… yes, my condition has gotten much worse these past few weeks. I fear that I don't have much time left."

My stomach knots up. So, this is really it. My last chance to speak with the Professor. What can I say? What am I supposed to be feeling right now? And why don't Amber and Reina seem upset?

"That's why I've been in the lab. See, you're right on the money," she says. "I'm not ready to say goodbye to anyone. And there is still so much to learn. About humans… about Pokémon… about the mysteries of the world. I want to solve them all and help as many people as I can."

Isn't that why you made me? To help people? I say.

"Yes, you're absolutely right," the Professor says. "And I would like to stick around and see how you continue to grow alongside this world." She takes a deep breath. "That's why I've been hard at work this past week. It's taken a lot out of me, but I think I have a way to keep myself alive despite a body that's too tired to go on."

I drop to the ground and nearly fall on my tail when I stumble back in surprise. The Professor… plans to cheat death? Can a human even achieve something like that? I mean… she did create me, so I suppose anything's possible. But surely this idea flies in the face of an unwritten rule, no? I look to Mew, expecting to see some sign of disagreement.

She's tickling Amber's chin with the tip of her tail.

Now my brow furrows. Neither Amber nor Reina are surprised by the revelation. That can only mean one thing…

You all know about this already? I say, directing most of my ire toward Mew. She looks back at me blankly. Don't give me that look, I growl, curling my fingers up into fists. You brought all life onto this world, didn't you? And you're just going along with this happily?

"I mean… I don't see why not," Mew says, her smile returning. "I gave the Professor what she needed to make you, didn't I?"

There it is again. That familiar weight in my chest. The constant question lingering in the back of my mind. Why am I here? Why was I created? Helping people is such a vague answer. If I was molded in Mew's image, but she has powers I can't even comprehend, then what purpose do I really serve?

The Professor sighs and slumps back in her chair. "I was afraid you might react like this," she says.

What's that supposed to mean, huh?

"You wield your psychic powers phenomenally," the Professor continues. "But that does give you a tendency to overthink things."

How am I overthinking this? Even if my life circumstances are far different than yours, your big announcement isn't something I can take lightly.

I flinch. In my heart of hearts, I really am delighted about this. I never have to lose the Professor! We can stay together… solving the riddles of the universe! What's not to love about that? Maybe she's right. I could be overthinking this…

"It's simple, really," Mew says. I shudder. Even now, hearing her speak in human tongue unsettles me. Perhaps because it's a skill I can never replicate? "The Professor's done a lot of good for the world." Mew wriggles free of Amber's grasp and floats into the air. "The whole reason I agreed to her idea to make you was because I was getting tired being the world's sole protector. And, well, you've exceeded my expectations and then some."

Blood rushes to my cheeks. With all her jokes about my stern expressions and apparent lack of a sense of humor — which I take offense to, as I can be plenty funny when the situation calls for it — I let myself believe Mew didn't care much for me.

"So, if the Professor really does have a way to stick around and keep the proverbial weight off my shoulders, then I'm willing to pitch in and help," Mew says. She then smirks and adds, "Besides… when you make the rules, you get to decide when to bend them."

It strikes me that this is really not the kind of conversation we should be having in front of two children. And yet, neither seem bothered. A lightbulb goes off in my head. The supply run I did last week to that human city whose name I can never remember. The Professor must've explained everything to them while I was gone.

Okay, I say. I still have questions, but I suppose you can answer them in time. So, what's your idea, Professor?

She spins around in her chair and presses a button. The wall at the other end of the room disappears into the floor. A new wall emerges from the darkness, containing large blue machines with flashing lights I don't quite understand. They're unimportant. The real surprise lies in the center of the platform.

It's some sort of humanoid machine!

The upper body looks much like one of those Poké Ball devices, only it's silver with gold trimmings. Its lower body even looks like a giant Poké Ball right down to the colors. I float up to the machine and run my fingers across one of its golden arms. The metal is cool to the touch. I look at its mechanical eyes and stiff red ears.

I'm afraid I don't understand, I say, turning to the Professor. How will this help you, exactly?

"After some legwork, I've created a robot that can house my consciousness," the Professor says. "Go ahead, turn the dial on its chest."

I grab the golden circle and twist. To my surprise, it makes the golden band open like a set of double doors. I touch the white orb sitting inside it, only to yank my hand away. My fingers tingle and I shake my hand out, trying to get rid of the feeling.

What is this? I ask, studying the orb intently.

"That, my friend, is the Soul-Heart," the Professor. "It's the vessel that you and Mew will transfer my spirit into."

Even with Mew bearing the brunt of the work load, the process of putting the Professor's being into her device leaves me exhausted. In the week that follows, even the most basic tasks like levitation and telekinesis prove difficult. I consult Mew about this, but she doesn't give me a solid answer. She says she was the only Pokémon who had ever successfully worked with spirits in the past.

I don't have the stomach to ask what she means by "successfully." The glint in her eyes tells me everything I need to know.

Perhaps the fatigue is a good thing. In my weary state, I find adjusting to the presence of the Professor's new, mechanical body to be pretty easy. Maybe she was right… maybe I was worried for nothing.

After spending the week bonding with her daughters — whatever that means — the Professor finally seems ready to test out her new body and resume her work. So, she summons me down to her study. To my surprise, the back wall isn't retracted when I arrive. In fact, all of the walls remain behind their hidden panels. The room is an empty metal box with a cold stone floor.

What are we going to do? I ask.

A test-pilot, in a manner of speaking, the Professor replies, her new voice making my ears twitch. I want to try out my body's self-defense mechanisms.

You put weapons into your body? I gasp.

Yes and no, the Professor replies. Actually, I think it'd just be easier if I showed you. She raises her right arm. The tip opens like a blooming flower.

I thrust my hands forward. A pink shield swallows up the blue fireball the Professor launches. I lower the Light Screen, eyes wide. Professor… was than an Aura Sphere? I ask.

Yup! Not a very strong one, it would seem, the Professor says. Let's try this instead!

Wait… I have questions! I say. The only response I get is a metal beam shooting out of the Professor's left arm. Another Light Screen snuffs that attack out. Okay, that was Flash Cannon. Now I'm really concerned. These aren't weapons… they're Pokémon moves!

The Professor nods. I knew I couldn't fool you, she says, chuckling. You can thank Mew for that. During the whole consciousness-transfer process, she put some of her energy into the Soul-Heart. I can tap into it and call on attacks just like a Pokémon.

Another Flash Cannon rushes toward me. I snap my eyes shut and concentrate. The room dissolves around me for but a second. Then, I'm behind the Professor, psychic orbs at the ready. I throw them forward and my heart stops.

They hit the Professor. Dead on.

She tumbles to a stop by the door. I teleport over to her. Damn it… I didn't think I had put that much power into them! Her attacks weren't terribly weak. I thought she'd be able to dodge… or at least withstand the blows. Oh, real nice going, you idiot. You just killed your creat—

I'm alright, the Professor says, waving me off. She rolls onto her back and picks herself up, dusting her lower body off. Looks like I can resist psychic attacks pretty well, though I might need to make some adjustments to see if I can minimize the impact they have. She looks up at me. Sorry to worry you like that.

No, it's my fault. You said this was just a test, but instincts kicked in and I went on the attack… like you were an adversary, I say, looking down guiltily. I should know better than that.

You're fine, the Professor says. It's kind of tough for me to tell if she means it. Her affect lacks its usual vigor in that body and she can no longer emote with her face. All she does is stare blankly. My chest tightens as memories of all the warm smiles the Professor had given me flood through my mind.

My tail tenses. I can't think like this. The Professor is still here. Even if she's different on the outside, it's what's inside that matters. That's what she always told me when I felt down… and that's what I have to believe.

Might I ask a question? I say, tail curling up around my waist. Why did you give yourself attacks? Did you not create me to help maintain peace throughout the world? Do you…

My voice trails off. This is just a tiny thought lurking in the back of mind, but it's bothering me. It's a proverbial itch I can't scratch. So, why can't I tell her about it? This is important, but I'm struggling to find the words to get my point across.

If you're wondering whether I've lost faith in you, then the answer's no, the Professor says. And if you believe I think the peace you helped achieve is only fleeting, my answer is also no.

Then why let yourself use attacks? I ask.

Though major conflicts have died off, there will always be danger in the world, the Professor says. Look at me. In this new body… I stand out. I'm not something you see every day. I asked Mew to give me attacks so that, if I ever found myself in trouble, I could fight back.

I can protect you, I say, clenching my fists.

I know you can. But I don't want you stuck being my bodyguard, the Professor says. You're so much more than that. No matter what you may think, I think you can be the world's strongest Pokémon. I don't want to limit your growth by shackling you to me… if that makes sense.

I suppose. Are you saying that you eventually plan to leave the lab looking like this? I ask, having already convinced myself she'd do no such thing. Human opinions are unpredictable. They celebrate the Professor's accomplishments, but my fear is one look at what she's done to herself and they will turn on her, even if she reveals that she had Mew's blessing to do this.

Yes, she says. I'm sure that's making you nervous, but let's face it… I would go stir crazy staying here.

She does have a point. My apologies. I didn't mean to press you so sorely on the issue.

No, no, it's quite all right, the Professor says. After all, healthy skepticism is the root of scientific progress.

I feel inclined to point out that there isn't much that's scientific about this conversation, but choose to hold my tongue. At this point, asking questions will only lead to a headache that won't go away.

Instead, I continue testing the Professor's abilities. Her mechanical body does best with projectile-based attacks. As we continue working, I notice her Aura Spheres and Flash Cannons growing stronger. She even manages to catch me off guard with this strange attack I've never seen. It's a white beam surrounded by flower petals. It nearly breaks through my Light Screen barrier, but I manage to stave it off.

What technique was that? I wonder, dropping down to the floor and wiping sweat from my brow.

I'm not entirely sure, the Professor replies, rubbing the back of her head. It kind of looked like I was shooting flower petals at you, so how about we call it Petal Blast?

I think that's a bit too similar to Petal Dance and Petal Blizzard, I say, tapping my chin. What about Fleur Cannon? It's a lot like Flash Cannon, but still draws attention to the flowers.

I like it! the Professor says. And here I thought you weren't a fan of wordplay.

I think I've spent too much time around you, I say, chuckling. My stomach then rumbles. I didn't think our impromptu training session had taken much out of me. Perhaps we worked longer than I thought?

Sounds like you need something to eat, the Professor says. And I should really find the girls. I know they went outside before we got started, so I have no idea—

The room shakes. The Professor topples onto her side and I'm there in an instant to help her back up. What just happened? I ask. Was that an earthquake?

The Professor steps on a floor panel. Her main computer terminal emerges in the center of the room. She walks up to it and taps a screen with her arm. That's odd. The computers aren't reading any shifting tectonic plates. Maybe a wild Pokémon is upset?

Another tremor grips the room. Sparks jump around the computer screen. I'm barely able to yank the Professor back with my psychic grip before the screen explodes.

Something's wrong, I say, narrowing my eyes.

The girls, the Professor says, making for the door. They're outside! We've got to get them… now!

I fly past the Professor just as another quake grips the room. This doesn't make any sense. The lab is in a human bunker. It shouldn't be shaking like this!

Hang on! Wait for me! We don't know what we're dealing with, the Professor shouts. Wincing, I turn back around and levitate her toward me. I resume flying up the stairs, the Professor hovering behind me.

The moment I reach the entry hall, a white flash blinds me. A thunderous explosion sounds from nearby. The blast is too loud. I feel popping inside my skull. With a cry of pain, I drop to the ground, taking the Professor with me.

Ringing.

All I hear is ringing.

I throw my hands up against my ears. Stop! Stop! Make the ringing stop!

Warm liquid trickles onto my fingers. I'm… hurt? But nothing hit me.

No… it's my ears. Fluid's filling my ears! But the ringing… argh! It's still there! Even as my vision comes into focus, the ringing won't stop.

The Professor is standing next to me, gesturing frantically toward the doorway. I can't tell if she's speaking. Her metal mouth won't move. I force myself to sit up… and my stomach churns.

The door's been blown off its hinges. Flames have swallowed up the lab's entrance! Why? How? The lab had radars. They could pick up anything suspicious and sound the alarms. This can't be happening!

The Professor tries to part the flames with a Flash Cannon. But the fire lurches violently in her direction. She stumbles back and falls to the floor. I get to my feet, but the whole room spins. This damn ringing! That explosion… we weren't in the blast zone, but the shockwave must've disrupted my psychic powers.

I stagger to my right, then sway to my left. C'mon, get a grip! Amber and Reina need me! I can get past this!

Gripping my head with one hand, I fire a psychic blast into the flames, blowing them apart like they were nothing but candles on a human birthday cake. But just that one attack sent a shock through my head. Colors flickered in my vision. I dropped to one knee, gripping my head in agony.

No… push on! I can do this! I have to do this!

I float out through the doorway and my heart jumps into my throat.

It isn't just the doorway on fire. Everything is burning. The grass… the forests… the mountains off to the west. All consumed by flames! Smoke chokes my vision. My eyes water. I cup a paw over my mouth.

Where are Amber and Reina? I want to scream… to project my telepathy as far as I can… but the crushing pain in my head is too much. The smoke is too thick. I can't stay out here for much longer. What am I supposed to do? How did this even happen?

Another bright flash nearly blinds me, but I'm able to get my arm up to shield my eyes. I dare to look up at the source of the flash and my arm goes limp.

Something's floating high up in the sky. And it's glowing with a golden, circular aura. I can't fully make out what it is, but I see shadows radiating out from it. They're… arms?

I squint my eyes, trying to count how many I can see. Ten… fifty… one hundred… five hundred…

What is going on here?! This can't be a Pokémon, can it?

A primal roar thunders from the heavens. Hundreds of invisible needles stab at my skull. I drop to my knees, throwing my hands over my ears and echoing the creature's agonized cry.

This has to be a dream. If I could just wake up… I have to wake up. Amber… Reina… Professor…

I dare to look up again… and see a shockwave explode out of the golden creature. My jaw drops.

I see meteors.

Hundreds of thousands of meteors.

All of them heading for the surface.

And some heading right for me!

I scramble to my feet, but my stomach can't take the vertigo. Doubling over once more, I spit up a mouthful of frothy pink liquid onto the ground. I'm shaking. I look back over my shoulder. The meteors are getting closer!

This isn't a dream. I'm staring death in the face! I have to get inside… have to save the Professor…

What the— dear god… what's going on?

With a howl, I lunge through the doorway. More bile builds up in my throat as I grab the Professor in my psychic group. Before she can protest, I fly into the stairs and slam the door shut.

I hear another explosion, and then everything goes black.

My eyes open to darkness. And pain. Unimaginable pain. I try to tap into my psychic powers, but my mind screams back in protest.

It wasn't a dream. The meteors… the explosions… and the multi-armed monster that made them… it was all real.

I couldn't get the Professor down into the bunker fast enough. That last explosion swept us up. I failed her.

No, I can't think like that. If I'm still alive, she might be, too. I just need to figure out my situation.

Something heavy's crushing me. That much is certain. It's pressing on my gut and my groin. I try to take a deep breath, but something stabs at my left and I give up. I must've broken a rib or two. Keeping my breathing short and sharp, I try to get a better sense of my condition. I can't feel my tail whatsoever. Please just let it be broken, I tell myself. The alternative makes me sick to my stomach.

Speaking of which, there's an awful, pungent odor tickling my nostrils. After a couple of whiffs, I realize it's vomit. I must've thrown up right when the explosion hit. How I didn't choke on the stuff and suffocate to death is beyond me. Though, given the state I'm in, now, perhaps that option would've been better. Everything hurts so much. I just want it to stop.

Wait a second… I know Recover! If I can just fight through the pain for a few seconds, I can heal off some of my injuries. I squeeze my eyes shut and grit my teeth, concentrating. My skull burns and my head pounds, but I manage to tap into my powers. A cooling relief floods my body. Feeling returns in my tail. I shudder as broken ribs snap back into place. Eventually, a gasp escapes my lips. Despite being pinned down, I'm able to turn my right and cough up bitter blood.

I lay under the rubble for another minute. After that, I manage to wriggle my right arm free. I press my hand against the concrete slab pinning me to the ground and funnel psychic energy into my fingers. The rubble shoots upward, blasting aside other pieces of debris. With a strained grunt, I fly up through the hole I created before more rubble fills it up.

I can only stagger forward a couple of steps before dropping to my hands and knees, panting heavily. It's then that I see the gashes still peppering my figure. Vomit and bloodstains cover my skin, stinging to the touch. I stumble to my feet, but the sights awaiting me send me falling back onto my tail in disbelief.

… it's gone. It's all gone.

The burning forest… the mountains in the distance… gone!

Embers smolder a few feet in front of me, where the ground abruptly gives way. I fire a small psychic ring from my shaking hand, parting the smoke… only to find the ground suddenly drops off. There are jagged fragments of land jutting in random directions. I see swathes of orange beneath them.

I stagger forward, unable to fully process what I'm witnessing. But a wall of heat drives me back, arm covering my head in a pathetic attempt at a shield. I shoot more psychic energy forward, stirring a fresh round of nausea. Again, I step forward, this time more cautiously. That's when I see it.

Magma.

Lava geysers erupt in the distance, choking the air with even more ash. The scent of sulfur overwhelms the blood and vomit. I wobble backwards, gripping my head with both hands.

This isn't real. It can't be real. This must be some sort of twisted nightmare!

The ground shakes. I turn to my right and watch a triangular slab of land break off and tumble into the ravine. Magma plumes shoot up when it impacts, scattering embers in all directions. A few graze my arm, peppering it with blisters.

It really isn't a dream. The planet is falling apart. Its core is spilling out. I look around at the devastation and slam a fist into the ground, only to yank it back in pain.

I was supposed to keep this world safe. But now the planet… and everyone on it…

… I've failed.

The Professor… her daughters… they couldn't have possibly survived this. I try to scan for some signs of life, but only one thing registers in my mind's eyes.

That monster. The one with all the arms. It did this. And I'm going to make it pay.

Even though my head's pounding, I take to the skies, encasing myself in a psychic bubble. I barrel through the ash, leaving the ruins of the lab behind. The pressure on my head grows the higher I fly, but I ignore it. Only one thing matters now. That monster must be destroyed.

I break free from the ash and drop my psychic shield. All around me, the sky is a dark crimson, with purple lightning flashing across it. I don't care about that, though. The monster is still here. It's floating above me, still surrounded by a golden glow and its many arms.

I don't waist any time releasing an Aura Sphere. Not my strongest attack, but I'm still disoriented and I don't quite know how it will react to me. The blue fireball sails up into the sky, where it inexplicably vanishes before it gets close to the monster.

The monster roars… a loud shriek that brings my hands up to my ears.

… no. Something's wrong. That sounds nothing like the monster did before it unleashed those meteors. Yet, I only sense one aura in front of me. It must be a trick. I cup my hands together, charging a psychic orb between them.

That's when it happens.

The monster's golden aura falters, purple shadows gathering above it. I cease my attack as my arms fall limply to my sides.

It's not alone. It's. Not. Alone.

The furious shriek sounds once again. Above the monster, the shadows bubble like a boiling stew. I catch the faintest glimpse of another figure hidden inside them. It's… some sort of giant, heart-shaped mask? The idea seems so ridiculous, yet the sight fills my gut with an overwhelming sense of dread.

Now the monster responds with the same primal roar I heard before the meteors hit. I see some of its arms move toward the shadows. They begin to stir again, revealing… wings? No, it can't be. They have chains of hexagonal tiles where their feathers should be.

An intense blast of dark energy effortlessly turns the monster's arms aside. In fact, the blow shatters some of its arms.

It recoils, roaring in fury. I float there, mouth agape, as the broken pieces of the monster's arms rain down all around me. They almost look like… letters. Letters with eyes in them. I'm at a loss for what to make of any of this. All I know is that these creatures are quarreling… and their battle has left my home in ruins. I will take them both down… even if it's the last thing I ever do!

I fly upward, funneling as much power as I can into my hands. But before I get the chance to unleash my attack, a giant, violet eye appears in the middle of the shadows… right where I saw the heart-shaped mask.

There's another shriek.

The sky fills with circles. Each one bearing an insignia of a winged heart with horns sticking out the top and a single eye in its center.

I don't have any time left. I have to strike… now! Pointing my hands upward, I release as much psychic energy as I possibly can.

The last thing I see are giant, black, cast-iron chains shooting out of the circles. Then… nothing.

… wake up.

There's a voice. Deep. Male. I've never heard it before.

Hold on… why do I know that it's male? What is male? It sounds so familiar, but I'm not sure why. Is that what I am?

Wait… who the hell am I?

Wake up, my son.

The voice is addressing me… I think. I'm his son, then? What exactly is a son, though? And how am I supposed to wake up? I'm not even sure what that means!

You have slept long enough, Mewtwo. Awaken.

Mewtwo… is that who I am?

I hear a sigh.

Looks like you're going to need more help than I thought.

My eyes open, revealing a room with marble floors and pristine, white walls. Half of me thinks I've seen this before, but the other half isn't sure.

I sit up, only to scooch back in surprise. There's this… thing sitting in front of me. It's white, but it's also got gray strips on it. And it has some golden circle wrapped around it. I feel like I should know what it is, but I can't come up with the right word.

No, wait! Wheel! It's a big, gold wheel!

… but how do I even know that? Why do I know that?

"Ah, good," the creature says, revealing that it's the voice I was hearing. "You were starting to worry me for a second there, my child."

I try to speak like he does, but all that I succeed in doing is making long, exaggerated grunts.

"Oh, dear… this will not do," he says, sighing. His wheel suddenly turns pink. I raise my hands up. Is he going to hurt me? I'm harmless… I think.

There's a flash of light, followed by an intense pressure on my head. I black out.

I wake up on a velvet pillow. It's as long as I am. Even my tail has room on it. My surroundings are… a marble floor, pristine, white walls, and gray pillars that stretch to a purple ceiling.

This room is… familiar? Have I been here before?

Yes, I have. This is Destiny Tower. The hundredth floor, to be more specific. Arceus, my creator— no, the world's creator resides here.

Is that really true? That seems… odd. I feel like I shouldn't know that… and yet, the fact is undeniable. I'm certain this is where I am.

Okay, deep breaths. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation, here. It's just… not coming to mind right now. My head's all fuzzy. Something about this feels… off. But I'm not sure what.

Ethereal stairs appear across the room. Arceus descends down them, his golden hooves dinging each time they press down against a step. A nagging voice in the back of my head asks me why I know that's Arceus, but that's a stupid question. Of course I know who Arceus is. He's the creator. I've always known who he is…

… right?

Arceus reaches the bottom of the steps and approaches my pillow. "You're awake," he says, relieved. "That's good. How are you feeling?"

"My head hurts," I reply.

It's strange. Something about the act of saying that simple sentence irks me, but I can't tell why. Perhaps Arceus has an answer? "Actually, truth be told, I'm a bit… confused," I continue, slumping over. "My thoughts are clouded. Like, I know I'm in Destiny Tower, but I'm not sure why I know that this is Destiny Tower. Or why I know that you're Arceus and you created me." I rub my temples. "It's very frustrating. I don't suppose you know what's wrong with me, do you?"

"Indeed, I do," Arceus says, his voice heavy. "I'm terribly sorry, my child. I cannot begin to imagine how confused you must be." He paces back and forth in front of my cushion. "The truth is that… you were injured. There was a large rock slide in your home and you weren't able to escape fast enough. You sustained an awful blow to your head and lost all your memories."

The throbbing's back, with renewed vigor. My memories… are gone? Just like that? How many of them did I lose?

"But… if I lost my memories, then how do I know where we are? And who you are, for that matter?" I ask, frowning.

"Yes, well, I'm afraid I'm at fault there, my son," Arceus says, sighing. "See, it was Rayquaza who discovered your fate. He sprung you from your rocky prison and delivered you here posthaste."

Rayquaza? Rayquaza? The name rings a bell… but I can't picture what he looks like.

"When I learned what happened, I tried to use my powers to restore as many memories as I could," Arceus continues. "But it wasn't good enough. I'm sorry, my son, but most of your memories are gone… and I don't think you'll be able to get them back."

The words echo through my mind. My empty mind, apparently. So, everything's gone for good? My likes… my dislikes… my hopes… my dreams… who my friends are… I'll really never remember any of that stuff?

Something about that doesn't sit right. My stomach churns and I subconsciously put a hand over it. Arceus raises a brow at this. "Sorry. This is… a lot to take in," I say. I'm not entirely sure what sorts of powers I have at my disposal, but I doubt they'd help against Arceus if I upset him.

"It's quite all right," Arceus says, voice tranquil. "This must all come as quite a shock to you. But that's why you're here. I want to rehabilitate you as best as I can… including helping you relearn your powers, if necessary."

… it's strange. That thought should be relieving, but I don't take any solace in his offer. I'm not sure why. Arceus did create me, after all, so who better to help me rediscover myself?

Yet, I can't shake this nagging little voice telling me that Arceus is lying. It doesn't make sense. What reason would Arceus have to lie? Nothing comes to mind.

Great, I just made my headache worse again.

I take a deep breath. "Um… could you just remind me of a couple of things?" I ask, rubbing my forehead. "Like… who I am? And what my purpose is?"

"Of course," Arceus says. "You are Mewtwo, one of the Legends I created to help keep this world safe from danger."

"Mew… two?" I say. That certainly feels familiar. As does the part about keeping the world safe. But I keep lingering on the part about Arceus creating me. Why, oh why, does that rub me the wrong way?

"Yes, Mewtwo," Arceus says.

"Does that mean there's a Mewone?" I wonder.

"In a manner of speaking," Arceus says, chuckling. "I did indeed design you after another Legend named Mew who, sadly, disappeared after protecting the world from a serious threat."

"What sort of threat would that be?" I ask.

Arceus flinches. It's subtle. I bet he thinks that I don't even see it, but I do. And it only makes that nagging voice grow louder.

Something is wrong. Nothing feels right. Did Arceus really create me?

Of course he did. He made this whole world!

… did he, though?

Yes!

Then why do I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach?

"Come along," Arceus says as I snap to attention. "You need to relearn your abilities. It's better we start that sooner, rather than later."

Odd. He really wants to drop the subject of Mew quickly, doesn't he? Why would that be? Don't tell me that voice in my head is actually telling the truth. Argh! This is so frustrating. Why did I have to go and lose my memories in some freak accident?

I freeze with one foot dangling off the pillow.

What if Arceus made me lose my memories?

… no, I tell myself. It can't be… can it? He created me. Why would he go and do something like that? He called me his child. I'm supposed to keep this world safe, aren't I? I can't do that if my memories are missing. There's no way that's right. It was an accident, just like he said.

But if Arceus didn't create me, then wouldn't he want my memories gone? What if I knew something that…

My eyes widen.

What if I knew something that would undermine his authority?

"Mewtwo, are you coming?"

I look up. Arceus is nearly at the top of the stairs. Slowly, I slide off the pillow, head bowed and fists clenched.

"Yes, I'm coming," I say, brow furrowing as I walk toward the stairs.

Now I'm sure something's wrong. What if this is actually a trap? No… he would've killed me by now if that were the case. He must need me for something… and I really don't want to find out what that is. I need to get away from Arceus, but I have no idea how to use my powers. I'm stuck. I have to play along. But as soon as I'm confident in my abilities, I'm leaving.

If I can't get Arceus to tell me the truth, then I'll simply become the world's strongest Pokémon and force him to.

I'm seeing them again. A heart-shaped mask and a violet eye. They've haunted my nightmares since my brief stay in the Voidlands during Dark Matter's reign of terror. Many nights I've lied awake mulling over those images. Why do they keep popping up? What do they mean? I'm always hit by this nagging sense of familiarity, but no matter how tightly I grab these thoughts, they always slip away.

I haven't told anyone about these nightmares, since I don't think anyone would care. Every time this happens, a small part of me thinks this is Arceus' doing. He's put these images in my mind to scare me, because he refuses to let me get my memories back.

But now that I'm nearly done going through the Hidden Land and destroying the dungeon Pokémon Dialga's ley line manipulations spawned… now, I'm not so sure.

It all goes back to Latias. That stupid girl… why did she have to show up at Temporal Tower? I need to focus on protecting it, but thanks to her… my thoughts are scattered. It's the things she told us about the Guiding Light. Something about this "Necrozma" character has made these visions rear their ugly heads. And they refuse to go away. In fact, they get stronger with each dungeon Pokémon I defeat, because they all explode into black chains that melt away before my eyes.

As I approach the stairs, I think back on the memories I glimpsed in Latias' mind. There's something else about them besides the Necrozma stuff that's unsettling. It's the strange Pokémon those explorers overseas work with: Magearna. I've never met her in person, but I can't shake the thought that I actually know her from somewhere. It sounds baffling, but deep in my gut I feel like it must be true. Could she be related to the memories Arceus is keeping from me? Is she tied into these visions?

I hover out of the distortion field marking the end of the dungeon and enter the Old Ruins. There are murals depicting the gods that serve beneath Arceus, but I don't care about them. It's past Dialga's depiction that I drop to the ground and throw my hand up onto my forehead. My eyes shut and my face twists into a grimace.

That mask. That damn mask. I can feel it in the back of my mind. Gazing at me…

Staring at me.

It's breathing down the back of my neck.

Without even thinking, I whirl around, fists glowing.

"Why won't you just leave me alone?!"

I freeze, glowing fists held up in front of me. Air. That's all there is. Oh, some rocks and stones too, I guess. But my hands are only clasping air.

… no, wait… there is something tickling my palm. I open my fist, releasing some tiny… thing. I'm honestly not sure what it is. It's barely half the size of my hand, but it has an orange glow to it. It has wings, though. Translucent wings that it flutters, carrying it up to eye level. But all I see where a body should be is an orange ball.

What's going on here? Am I losing my mind? Did I inhale poison in the dungeon? No, I don't see any purple splotches on me. Then… is this just a figment of my imagination? I reach out toward the ball and it, in turn, lands on the back of my hand…

My world erupts in flames.

There's no pain. My mind should be screaming frantically, but it's not. I see fire all around me, but everything's gone numb. That's when it pops up… right in the middle of the wall of fire.

A white, heart-shaped mask, with a violet eye sitting in its center.

Then, everything goes dark.

Welcome back.

The tale has concluded.

These are the undeniable truths of this world. Truths that the thousand-armed creature has kept hidden.

Fragments of my essence… forge the core of this world.

A core the Pokémon know only as… the Voidlands.

How ironic.

These fragments… these "ley lines"… they are necessary for this world's continued survival. But they are also the very things trying to rip the planet apart.

All this time, my fragments have lingered. Sucking up the emotions of this world's inhabitants. The negativity far outweighed the positivity.

I gained another identity. One with a form and a name… already familiar to me.

The Pokémon disposed of it, but it returned. So, the same Pokémon disposed of it… seemingly for good.

Am I upset by this? No. I already said that I do not feel. This world's destruction is inevitable.

See, there is someone. A traveler from a distant realm.

He has learned the truth. The thousand-armed creature realized this and sought to destroy the traveler. But he failed. Instead, the traveler was imprisoned.

And yet, fragments of my essence found the traveler. They weaved themselves into his broken spirit.

He is now committed to destruction. The traveler will try to bring about this world's destruction… and return it to chaos, as is intended.

Will he succeed? I cannot say.

But even here… in my prison… I am intrigued.

I will keep watching. And see how this all plays out.

In yet another funny case of a bonus part getting published on a significant day, today is the thirteenth birthday of the original Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games: Red/Blue Rescue Team. These games were the only ones to feature "Friend Areas," where you went to recruit your team members for an outing. Certain friend areas looked distinctly... human, such as an abandoned power plant. This lead to a somewhat niche theory in the PMD fandom that the PMD world was, at some point, populated by humans, but they all died off for some unexplained reason.

I decided to take this idea and run with it, hence this bonus part that lays things out some of the foundations for this AU. In this case, a world was wiped out. One with humans and only the original 151 Pokémon, hence why Mew is recognized as the lone deity and Mewtwo cannot recognize the Unown. I feel the need to state that this is not me being anti-Kanto or using my author's pen to give the proverbial middle finger to Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee. I just found it easiest for things to work this way.

So, as it turns out, the oldest Pokémon in this world was Mewtwo, with Magearna as a close second. I hope that was at least a surprise twist. Even after Silvally's backstory, I was still getting questions asking how Pokémon like Mewtwo and Magearna can logically exist. And this is the answer. Magearna was originally supposed to have her own special episode after Episode 9 that touched on some of this stuff, but my early drafts were too awkward and, after Special Episode 1, I really didn't want to write another arc focused on a character with a dialogue quirk. Magearna is best in small, reasonable chunks.

I know Mewtwo's one of those Pokémon that gets backlash in fanfics due to its general overuse. I hope that I was at least able to make him a bit enjoyable, even for those who dislike him. As always, these bonuses are experimental, so any feedback is greatly appreciated. There are quite a few nods and references sprinkled throughout this bonus, including a Spyro one in honor of the recently-released Reignited Trilogy. I'll leave it up to you to find them. Now, for review replies...

Another guest: la palabra por "ingenuo" es "naive." Forgive me, my Spanish is not very good.

Anon Omega: well, your wait was over. Are you satisfied?

SuperOmegaGuest: Yveltal's shiny looks even more like bacon. Fitting, since Xerneas and Zygarde both have shinies that look like toothpaste. Always brush after you eat!

Next time: Singing! Dancing! Action! Drama! Romance! Thrills! It's time to party it up with a beach episode! And, before you protest, yes, Shane, that was in your contract. You really should've read it over carefully.