Bet you weren't expecting an update. Gotcha, lol. But seriously, I had been put off writing for a long time. The shitty reviews effecting me in ways that I really shouldn't have let happen.

So this is my PSA: I'm going to write this how I want to. I'm done catering to everyone's demands. I will, however, still take opinions and requests into account. Just so long as you are respectful when requesting it. This is unbetad, so if you have a problem with me grammar, bite me.

And for the people who have a problem with me thinking about having Ash catch a legendary Pokemon. Like seriously? How many people in the anime have one.. Get over yourselves.

Okay, I'm done bitching... for now.

Enjoy!

The trainers and their Pokemon are led to a large battlefield outside. The sky is dark and the air swirls with ominous intent. Ash shivers as he watches the newly revealed psychic type make his way to one end of the battlefield, the trainers to the other.

Ash unconsciously raises his hand to his long-time friend, feeling more grounded and steadier as he runs his fingers through Pikachu's yellow fur. He can tell that the electric mouse takes comfort in his calming strokes too, the bond they share deep.

Mewtwo stands before them, his purple eyes staring at the trainers in apathy. The dark tendrils he gives off makes the young Pallet native sick. Never before has he felt such hatred emanating so strongly from another's aura.

"These are the Pokémon given to anyone who wishes to become a Pokémon trainer." Mewtwo gestures towards the three Pokémon being lifted through the now revealed holes in the ground onto the stadium floor. "Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur."

Ash is surprised at the off-colored markings decorating the Pokémon's bodies. The decorative lines giving the three a sinister look.

"Who will be my first opponent?" Mewtwo challenges, voice hollow and monotone. His purple eyes scanning the trainers before him in disdain.

The trainer in a red track suit steps forward bravely, his Venusaur following suit. "I let my guard down earlier, but it won't be so easy this time!" He states, his voice ringing with confidence.

Mewtwo looks towards his own Venusaur, tilting his head toward it in an indication to step forward for battle.

Both Venusaurs approach the center of the arena. With each step they take the trainer's anxiety increases. They know the outcome of these battles will decide their fate.

"Go, Razor Leaf!" The track suite adorned trainer yells, hoping for a quick and easy win.

"Vine Whip." Mewtwo instructs, his aura lashing out in perverted pleasure, causing Ash to suppress a shiver.

The Vine Whip effortlessly destroys the Razor Leaf, cutting through them before wrapping around the trainer's Venusaur. The cream-marked Venusaur wraps the other in its' vines before throwing him towards the wall.

The track suit clad trainer rushes after his Venusaur, worry spiking around him as his hands hover over the Bulb Pokemon.

The trainer with a Pokeball around her neck steps forward. Ash can tell her confidence is faked, her hands are trembling and a grey swirl coats her body. "I'm next. Go, Shellshocker!"

Her Blastoise runs onto the field, its' energy spiking in anticipation and battle rage.

Mewtwo's own Blastoise also enters the field at a run, matching the other in enthusiasm. Both water type Pokemon eager to prove their power.

"Shellshocker, Hydro Pump!" The girl calls to her Blastoise.

Blastoise releases a strong Hydro Pump but is taken out by a Rapid Spin. The woman runs to her Blastoise in concern.

Ash grabs Charizard's Pokeball from his belt. He knows that the amount of effort Charizard put into training in the Charicific Valley was astounding, but he is unsure as to what the outcome of this battle will be. The sheer power being exuded from the clone Pokemon in front of him is staggering. As if the Clone-Charizard was a many seasoned veteran.

"I choose you, Charizard!" Ash calls, releasing his lizard-like Pokemon.

Charizard emerges from his ball in a flurry of flames. Thanks to Ash he has been able to observe the battles leading up to this point. Charizard's excited aura is rolling off him in waves.

"Listen Charizard," Ash says, immediately gaining the attention of his first fire-type. "This battle is going to be like nothing you've ever faced before. I don't know what Mewtwo did to those Pokemon, but it isn't normal."

Charizard snorts flames out of his snout, showing that he understands Ash's worry.

"I believe in you, Charizard. Do whatever you think it will take you to win." Ash instructs, running a small hand over Charizard's wing.

Charizard's steal grey eyes catch with Ash's own amber. The two mentally connect for a small second, enough for Charizard to feel the worry and concern radiating through Ash. Nodding his head, Charizard turns to his opponent who is already walking towards him.

As soon as Charizard steps onto the battlefield, both fire-types launch themselves into the air. The velocity of the wind let out forcing both trainer and Pokemon to step back a few feet.

Ash and Mewtwo's eyes are glued on the pair as they trade blows. The clone Charizard out flying Charizard and managing to land devastating hits on the lizard.

Charizard roars in fury before diving in close to the crimson streaked Charizard, releasing a Fire Punch that the other did not see coming.

The crimson streaked Charizard grunts in pain, falling a few feet through the sky, in surprise from the attack, before shaking it off and righting itself.

Mewtwo can feel his eyes narrow. No regular Pokemon should be able to keep up with his clones, let alone manage to land an attack. He feels the smirk he has been wearing since the beginning of the battle begin to fade.

What has this trainer done to his Charizard that it is managing to keep up with his perfect clone? He had made them to be superior in every way! No normal Pokemon should be able to even withstand an attack from his clones.

Feeling his patience with the battle beginning to wane, Mewtwo issues a psychic command to his cloned Pokemon, telling him to finish the battle quickly. He feels the cloned Charizard's affirmation of the order.

"Seismic Toss." Mewtwo commands, watching as his clone tosses the other Charizard onto the ground, smirking when it collapses. He knew the power of his clone would overcome the original.

Ash runs towards his Charizard, a sick feeling beginning to fester in the pit of his stomach. "Charizard you fought so bravely, thank you." Ash says, stroking the orange lizard's back in comfort. He can feel the shame Charizard is radiating upon losing. But Ash says nothing, for he knows no words of comfort will appease his powerhouse. Charizard would take this opportunity to prove himself, to dedicate himself to becoming even stronger.

"They lack both speed and power." Mewtwo states, raising his arms above his head and summoning three black Pokeballs. The balls dart forward, sucking their Pokemon into them. Ash jumps in surprise, he can sense the confusion and fear of the others almost as if it were his own.

"Are you stealing our Pokemon?!" The lone female trainer calls in rage and confusion, her fists clenching and unclenching by her sides. She knows that even if she were to attack, it would be easily deflected.

"Stealing? No." Mewtwo says, summoning more of the black Pokeballs with his psychic power. "I'll make copies of the Pokemon you're so proud of. Ones worthy of me."

The female trainer stands up, her face contorting into something dark. "Copies?" She growls. "That's against the rules! You can't do that!"

Mewtwo sneers at the woman, his words coming out in a growl. "Don't give me orders!"

The woman is picked up in Mewtwo's psychic powers and is harshly thrown against the other male in their group.

Ash watches in horror as the dozens of Pokeballs comes flying towards them, easily capturing their Pokemon.

"I'll decide my own rules!" Mewtwo yells, his physic power unleashing around him.

Ash watches in horror as his, and the others, Pokemon are captured. He can sense the energy the black balls are giving off, he knows that nothing he does can prevent them from being captured.

Taking a slow breath to calm his mind and racing heart, Ash scans the area around him. He notices all the Pokeballs flying towards two pillars in the other room, taking special interest when they lift from the ground, very similar as to when the cloned starters entered. An underground room?

Pikachu pokes Ash's cheek. "What are we going to do, Pikapi?" He questions, worry and fear in his voice. His small black eyes watching as their family members are easily sucked up into the black balls. Knowing he will be too, and soon.

"Don't worry, Pikachu. I see where the balls are headed. Right now, there is no way to prevent the balls from capturing everyone, but that does not mean that they can't be released."

Pikachu nods, his faith in his trainer and friend strong. He knows that Ash will do anything for his family. So, when a black ball rams itself into his side, he does nothing to prevent it.

Ash watches as the black Pokeball captures his long time best-friend. With determination filling every atom of his being, the dark-haired trainer runs after the retreating balls, intent on saving them.

Mewtwo is shocked when he sees the explosion. The trainer who put up a fight against his Charizard leading the way for the original Pokemon.

"Who are you?" He questions, a sliver of curiosity beginning to slink its way through him.

The trainer glares at him as he emerges from the cloud caused by the explosion. "Unforgivable." He growls. "I will never forgive you for this."

Mewtwo feels something stir in him at those words. For some reason the thought of this specific trainer finding fault in him sets him on edge.

"My Pokemon, my family, I will protect them!" The trainer yells, flipping his cap to face backwards on his head.

The trainer rushes Mewtwo, his fist drawn back, preparing to strike.

As Mewtwo puts up a protective shield around himself, with the duel purpose on knocking the trainer back, his is surprised when a blue light begins to glow around the trainer's fist. The trainer easily passes through his shield, managing to land a punch on the astonished Pokemon.

Mewtwo, in shock, uses his powers to lift the trainer, before throwing him harshly against the high sitting rocks at the top of the building.

His shock doubles when a pink bubble catches the trainer, revealing an all too familiar pink Pokemon.

"Mew." Mewtwo growls, all thoughts of the odd trainer exiting his mind, throwing a Shadow Ball at the pink Pokemon.

Ash watches in shock as the two begin their deadly battle.

Ash's eyes glance around at the bloody and beaten Pokemon surrounding him. The energies, the emotions, being let off by each Pokemon, clone or not, is heartbreaking.

Ash's own Pikachu, his faithful companion, is taking attack after attack by his clone, refusing to give in to the pressures of the legendaries battling above him. His emotions radiate grief and despair.

Ash feels tears well in his eyes, each pair of Pokemon beginning to lose energy, toppling on top of each other.

He is disgusted at this display. He wants it to stop. He will do anything to save these Pokemon from this pain.

It is as Ash is trying to formulate a plan that both Mew and Mewtwo drop down harshly from the sky into the battlefield. Their psychic powers are physical manifestations of pink and blue blazing around them.

They each charge an attack, hoping to end the other with one final display of power.

It is as these two attacks are unleashed towards each other that Ash begins to act. He has no plan, just a burning desire to end this pain and suffering.

"Stop!" Ash yells, running into the middle of the two oncoming attacks. "Just stop already."

And as the two attacks simultaneously hit Ash, one final "STOP!" can be heard ringing from the dust.

Pikachu blinks his eyes, a loud "Pikapi!" escaping his lips as he begins rushing towards his trainer.

As the smoke begins to clear, Ash is shown floating in a malevolent glow of dark pink. His body slowly falls to the ground.

"Fool!" Mewtwo says. "A human tried to stop our fight?"

Pikachu finishes his run across the room, only making it in time to see her friend's body harden into stone, one final look of anguish and desperation frozen onto his features.

"Pikapi?" Pikachu questions, his heart clenching and his stomach dropping. "Please wake up, Pikapi." Pikachu shakes Ash, the stone body of his friend already feeling cold to the electric mouse…lifeless.

"Pikapi, please don't do this." Pikachu begs, hitting his trainer with repetitive electric attack in hopes of breaking the stone and reviving him. "Pikapi." Pikachu says, tears falling down his yellow face. Grief already making its way through his body, clawing at his heart. Pikachu lets out a cry of anguish, the sound jarring to those around them.

The Pokemon, clones and originals alike, begin to cry. A mournful energy filling the air as their tears begin to sparkle and float towards the trainer turned statue.

Ash begins to glow a pastel blue, and Pikachu lets several more tears fall. "Pikapi." Pikachu begs.

The blue glow fades to reveal Ash turned back to normal, his expression turning to one of shock. "Pikapi!" Pikachu calls, jumping into Ash's chest. "Never scare me like that again!"

Ash catches the electric mouse, hugging him close, allowing the warmth of his best friend to flow through him, clearing up the residual coldness of his being.

Mewtwo watches as the clones and originals celebrate the revival of the trainer in front of him. He feels a shift begin to form in his heart. "It is true, that you are a Pokemon who exists just as I do. It might be best that no one remember this incident. It might be best to forget this." He states, directing his words to his original, but not looking at her just yet. The wounds were still too fresh.

Mew nods her head in agreement, allowing her psychic powers to wash over those on the field that are not clones.

Mewtwo joins his powers with Mew, using it to erase the memories from the humans and the originals and sending them back to where they came.

Both are surprised that after the flash fades, indicating a successful job, one trainer and his Pokemon are still left.

Mewtwo feels emotion begin to build in his chest. Just who is this trainer?

Mew is also confused, never has someone been able to resist her psychic attacks besides the aura guardians of past times.

She feels her eyes widen in shock… Surely this human can't be… But that would make him…

Shaking her head, Mew glances at Mewtwo, before disappearing in a pink flash, she has a certain Alpha to talk to…

Barely registering his originals disappearance, Mewtwo floats down to land in front of the human.

"Who are you?" He questions for the second time that day.

Ash smiles, noticing the shift in Mewtwo's emotions. No longer are they completely dark, they are beginning to lighten, just barely, but it's a start.

"My name is Ash Ketchum. I am a trainer from Pallet Town."

Mewtwo is still confused, that simple introduction does not leave a lot answered.

"What are you?" He asks instead.

Ash smiles, sticking out his hand. "Aura Guardian and Subject of Arceus at your service."

Mewtwo can feel his eyes widen. Aura Guardian? He has heard that term before. It floated through the minds of his captives. Looking down at the hand being presented to him, Mewtwo slowly, hesitantly, puts his own in it, allowing the trainer to shake it. This trainer, this human, is so unlike those he has met before. Mewtwo wonders at the feeling building inside of him.

And it is as the two's hands connect, that a bright light surrounds the pair, engulfing them.

Mewtwo and Ash are dragged into the memories of the other. They live the life of each other, seeing and feeling everything that the other has gone through in a span of minutes. Every emotion, every memory, every fear, every secret is soon laid bare. The connection leaves a white hot feeling jolting through their nerves, making them sensitive to even the slightest breeze. The emotions twining together in a thread of confusion and understanding.

As they come to the end of their shared memory viewing, both are left panting and gasping, eyeing each other in a new light.

"What," Ash gasps, "was that?"

Mewtwo recovers his breath before speaking again. "I do not know. I have never heard of such an event happening."

It takes Ash several moments of regaining his breath before he can collect his composure. He then eyes Mewtwo sadly, but not with pity. "I apologize for everything that you have had to go through. Nobody, Pokemon, human, or clone, should ever have has to endure what you have."

Mewtwo, who would usually be offended by the perceived pity of another, understands that this is just Ash's personality. That he is just a highly empathetic child. "While I cannot say that I enjoyed my life, I can say that it has helped shape me into the Pokemon that I am today."

Ash nods in understanding, intimately now, knowing Mewtwo's deepest feeling.

Mewtwo eyes Ash in a new light. "You treat Pokemon as your friends and family, not because you think it will install loyalty in them, but because you genuinely care about them."

Ash, understanding the confusion Mewtwo must feel given his harsh past, nods. "Yes, Pokemon can think, speak, and feel just like humans. Why should I treat them with any less respect than I would give a fellow person?" Here Ash pauses, before reevaluating his words. "What I mean is, not every human is like the partner you had in the past. That man," Here Ash pauses to rein in his temper, "He is nothing but trash. To treat a Pokemon like that."

Now more than ever the feeling of wanting revenge on Team Rocket encompasses him. He will destroy that group, if it is the last thing he did. Though, knowing that it is a Gym Leader causing some concern. How will he get his next badge?

A strange feeling begins to invade Mewtwo. It is the same feeling that he felt a long time ago. One he can vaguely recall from a dream, maybe… One a young girl once installed in him. A feeling of hope, acceptance, and kinship. After viewing Ash's life, Mewtwo now has a deep understanding of the other. He has seen Ash's every thought, just as the trainer has seen his, and he now understands Ash on a level he will never be able to obtain with anybody else.

And he knows that Ash can feel that same connection. Ash now understands him. Has seen things Mewtwo never wanted to ever reach the light of day.

But he is not scared. No. instead he is elated. He has someone who knows everything about him. Who understands him on a deep and personal level.

And Mewtwo wants nothing more than the trainer's approval. His love, his friendship. To be a part of his family.

And looking into the understanding eyes of the trainer before him, he knows that Ash can understand and feel these thoughts.

"Are you sure?" Ash questions, his voice light and soft.

Mewtwo holds his hand out, awaiting the action of the other.

Even when he was partnered with Giovanni, he never gave the man this much control of him. Never allowed him to.

Ash unclips a Pokeball from his belt and places it into his tri-fingered paw.

Gazing at the red and white ball like it will answer all the questions that life has to offer, Mewtwo presses his finger against the center of the ball, being sucked up in a red light.

Ash watches as the ball shakes once, twice, before finally letting loose a ping sound to indicate a successful capture.

He gingerly picks the ball up, staring at it in wonder before quickly letting its owner out.

Mewtwo is released with the same red light that captured him.

"I need to find my clones homes in the wild. But after that, expect my call. If you need me, you know how to contact me." Mewtwo states, before he uses his psychic powers to lift the clones from the ground.

Ash watches in wonder as his newly caught friend flies off, a dozen cloned Pokemon following behind him.

He is speechless.

"Well, that just happened." Ninetails states, breaking the silence that had fallen over his Pokemon.

Ash blinks. "I guess it did, didn't it?"

Pikachu looks around quizzically. "And how are we supposed to get home?"

The group turns towards Charizard, a hopeful and pleading look in their eyes.

Charizard groans.