Don't mind the italics in speech. I only use them throughout the flashback. I only plan on two other human characters having speaking roles so they won't be needed.


Flashback 02: My Mission

This time I overestimated my opponent.

It was not until after the incident that I learned that Lucario was not a legendary Pokemon, nor did I realize that the reason they were so rare was because they destroyed their bodies due to their inability to properly harness the wave. My search with only a name. I did not know anything about my opponents' traits, characteristics, or even their fighting style. I didn't even know what one looked like, but that was irrelevant. I did not need a physical description for this type of search.

Hovering close to the summit of the Tree of Origin, I started a more accurate approach to searching then simply flying around until I found it. My developed abilities allowed me to systematically pry into the mind of every living creature in the region. No matter what a creature was they retained some memories of their own identity, and finding those were like picking berries.

Hours passed, but just as night fell over my mother's sanctuary a bitter stream of memories clashes with the sweet memories of the Pokemon that lived below the mountain. Memories of a time long ago when Pokemon were used by humans as tools of war. The common agreement on a Pokemon's worth in the world was what I had feared years ago; they were considered little more then slaves to their human masters. This one considered himself a slave like all of the others, but did not swear allegiance to anyone except the human he served.

A man who can control the wave; a man who abandoned him in their kingdom's darkest hour.

That night the limits of my telekinetic powers became clear. Though I could read and manipulate bodies, objects, and minds I lacked one important thing that a Pokemon of the wave could take full advantage of. I imagined that the events leading up to this Pokemon's present existence were tragic, but I could not get the feeling of the message he was trying to convey. I simply remembered how I reacted upon the revelation that Giovanni and I were in the same relationship; enraged.

I did not find an enraged Pokemon that night.

Lucario made its home halfway between the Tree of Origin and the human settlement a few miles away from it. The area between the two points were covered in mountains and canyons inhabitable by most creatures, but the Pokemon found a patch of grass where flowers grew at the base of a wall.

The Pokemon itself sat atop a rock in the middle of the flower bed, looking up at the sky. I made myself out to believe that I stared for a long moment because I did not see a Pokemon that looked so simular to myself in the wild. The body structure was almost exactly the same though it was a few inches taller then half my height. My initial analysis continued until the blue Pokemon noticed me.

I narrowly avoided the blue sphere it threw at me in reaction.

" Who are you? " The Pokemon, Lucario, was in a much more aggressive stance when I turned to look at him again. He was charging another ball of energy to throw at me already. " ... and what are you doing here? "

So this Pokemon could use telepathy as well. His voice seemed appropriate for that of a slave's; formal and reserved with just a hint of anger given the current situation. " I am ... Mewtwo. " A proper introduction was the least I could give before making my demands. " I have come because you are a Pokemon of the wave, are you not? "

That ball of erratic energy shrunk slightly in the other Pokemon's hands. " ... Why would you want to know? " The change in his voice was barely detectable. If only I had noticed his fear sooner I would have left him be and none of this would've happened.

" I am the strongest Pokemon in the world, but even I am not perfect. " I began as I slowly approached him. " Since freeing myself from my human oppressors I have been on a constant journey for the meaning of my existence. Recently I have decided that I will continue to strive to retain my place as the world's strongest Pokemon, but in order to do so I need mastery over every possible ability. "

" That leaves me with two possible options. " I slowed to a stop about ten feet away from Lucario. " I can either ask you for your cooperation in helping me harness the power of the wave, or I can ask my mother. In any case - " I glanced down at my paw and flexed it, a purple aura forming around it. " I feel the overwhelming desire to destroy my only competition in the mastery of the wave. Your performance tonight will determine if I allow you to live to teach me the secrets of your power. "

My opponent couldn't get in word in before I came at him with a charged Focus Punch. He abandoned his ball of wave energy to sidestep my attack at the last moment, snapping around to deliver a fluent kick to my side. The pain from the kick was stronger then I'd expect from such a small Pokemon, suggesting that it had more then just fighting characteristics. I could not look further into the matter now, though. Overanalyzing the situation in the heat of battle would lead to my demise.

Close quarter combat was not my speciality so I felt inclined to give the smaller Pokemon a taste of my psychic powers. Kinesis stopped the fleeing Pokemon dead in it's tracks while I flipped around to recover from the attack, but I did not stop there. I slowly brought my paw together to put a bone shattering amount of force on the Pokemon's body. Miraculously he did not scream, and he continued to struggle though we both knew such a motion was futile.

Slowly the situation was growing beyond my desire for his abilities, and I didn't even know it. I began to feel something odd as I watched the helpless Pokemon squirm in my telepathic grasp, like a Butterfree about to get its wings pulled off. " Your determination is admirable. " I commented as I reached the extent I could crush him. " - but I you should know you cannot get out of a psychic's grasp. "

" You ... " It must have taken an excruciating amount of energy for Lucario to send that glare back towards me. Little did I know that was not all he had in store for me. " Should not underestimate me! "

The explosion of dark energy that followed was not only enough to break my concentration, it sent shock waves of pain through my body due to my type disadvantage. I found myself flying backwards, but not before another sphere of that blue energy slammed into my gut to ensure I hit the canyon's wall. His power was ... stunning. So much that I had to take in a few sharp breaths to begin immediately treatment with Recover.

My eyes narrowed towards my opponent as my other immediate limitation became painfully clear. Though my body was perfectly capable of dealing out damage I could not receive it well due to lack of experience. Most of my previous opponents have been so below me that I did not even break a sweat!

Lucario wavered slightly but he would not fall in front of me. He spread his arms wide to retain balance before bringing them to one side to form another sphere. My glare was returned with a glare of his own; those dull ruby studs a contrast to his cool toned body.

A sharp jerk of the shoulder pulled sent my body spiraling towards the ground from the wall, but my telekinetic powers stopped me from getting an speck of dirt on my lavender fur. I did not stop there. In fact, I did not stop until my body gave off the same radiant purple energy that my hand possessed in the beginning of this fight. Yes. It was no longer simply a request or a confrontation.

It seemed as though I finally found a Pokemon who'd put up a good fight ...

To be Continued ...