Things are slowly coming together here, though poor Mewtwo's world is falling apart. With one more chapter left will everything work out all right?

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Chapter 10: My Salvation

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The air became refreshing after a while …

Here I could breathe in deeply and not pick up any pollutants in the air at all. There were only two times prior I was able to do the same in this world. In the precious moments I spent in that tank between my birth any my escape, and in the time I inhabited Purity Canyon. I remember hearing from elder Pokemon that there was once a time when the entire world was as fresh and pure as those places, but that time had long since past.

In this place I could see Pokemon playing in the distance; a Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur. The markings on those Pokemon were strangely familiar and unlike those on a typical member of the species, but they were also not like that of my clones … Those clones I raised were trained to be serious and focused at all time. These beasts were far too tame to be them.

" You think too much, you know. " A bubbly voice was accompanied by a giggle.

Prior to my passive observations I'd been conversing with the strange human who found me when I regained consciousness. She inhabited the body of a nearly adult woman, but she spoke in terms of a small child. Her eyes were bright, blue, and innocent while her skin had a ghostly glow. The woman wore a simple yellow dress which resembled a child's summer dress, and a straw hat atop her light blue hair.

My eyes met hers briefly. I felt as if I knew this human and simply couldn't remember when. In the end I closed my eyes with a sigh, and continued our conversation. " My life, my existence, revolves around the fact that I am in the shadow of Mew … and other naturally born Pokemon. The only thing I wanted from this life was to find peace of mind from the turmoil surrounding my birth; to find my own place … but every time my path takes me back to the road I wish to forget. "

The human reached out to touch my on the shoulder. Her head dipped so she could force her pleasant face in my line of sight. " You can't be in a Mew's shadow, silly. You're way too big! " The girl smiled. " … An old saying goes: A name is just a name and none are the same. This saying is to remind people that even though Pokemon may share the same species name, and look the same, they can be as different as people can be. Just because you're a clone of a Mew doesn't mean you have to act like one! "

A name is just a name … and I should not govern my life by it. I knew for certain that I did not want my life to become what my original's was. No longer will I refer to Mew as my Mother, let alone my ancestor, but rather as a blueprint that I spawned upon. My appearance made it obvious that I was not 'born' to be a carbon copy of Mew, but rather an upgrade … like evolution.

My hand came on top of hers to grasp it. The reasoning behind my own actions was uncertain, but the feeling that came through was comforting. For reasons I could not explain I related to this nameless human as my mother … " In all honesty … I wish I could say that I understand completely, but I cannot. " I'm the type of beast that becomes distraught when things don't make sense. It happens more than I'm comfortable with in this world, now that I think about it.

The woman inched closer to me, but I didn't feel the additional heat that came when a living creature approached. " You're less than ten years old, Mewtwo. " That was a modest estimate. My fifth birthday was still a few months off. " You have your entire life to find the answers you're looking for, but for now you should enjoy all that you have to be grateful for. The ability to go wherever your heart desires … the abundance of places and experiences left to see and explore … and knowing that there are creatures all around you that love and support you throughout. You have to remember that life is – "

Word from word I could hear those last two words, but she cut herself off when she suddenly looked towards the Pokemon playing in the distance. It was the first time I saw a feeling relating to sorrow, though not quite there, crossing her innocent face. A moment later I followed her gaze and saw why …

The Charizard that had been flying around so happily moments prior was falling, and gradually vanished from sight. Blastoise and Venusaur stared at the place their friend was dumbfounded and frightened, only to join in his fate less than a minute later. I myself was confused with what was transpiring and why the peaceful landscape in front of me was vanishing in the same fashion. The way the Pokemon disappeared, the order, the scenes … it all seemed painfully familiar. I felt a tinge of pain in my heart that was more like a reopened wound than a fresh one.

" I'm sorry … " When I looked back towards the woman it appeared she'd been going the same way as the other Pokemon. I no longer felt the faint weight of her hand on my shoulder, at least. " It seems that I have to leave you once again. " Again? I must have stared at her bug eyed at that point. Have we met before? " … but that's all right. I enjoyed the time we shared together. "

As she and the world around me disappeared from existence her final words echoed. " One day you will find the answer you're looking for, and it's much closer than you think. "

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The next breath I took left me in an incredible amount of pain. I hissed like a primitive beast as I clawed at my burning chest. About half a dozen set of paws were on me in an instant, pushing me back down with my back pressed against the bark of a tree. As my vision focused I noted that the Pokemon holding me down were types that are associated with Pokemon medicine.

Front and center was the disputable 'head honcho' of healing, a Miltank. Humans may prefer the more elusive Chansey line for their medicinal needs, but Miltank were revered in Pokemon circles. Most believe it is because Miltank remind us of our own mothers in their methods while Chansey seem like friends.

This one looked up at me with a stern yet concerned look. " Take it easy for a little while longer; you're safe here. " She coaxed while sitting me back down.

" Just where is here? " It was the obvious question.

" We're at the edge of Cameron Kingdom, m'lord. "

My eyes flew up in a shock in search for a monument that was no longer there; the Tree of Beginning. The green crystal covered mountain was completely gone, a small stream of smoke flickering up from the place it once was. From the air I'd guess that there's be nothing but a crater left if the Tree collapsed in on itself, and could never be inhabited again.

Hundreds of questions flew through my mind now. If the Tree did collapse did it truly die like Mew warned, and her along with it? More importantly – " How … "

" You were brought here a week and a half ago by three strange looking Pokemon; those ones over yonder. " She gestured down from the elevated platform we were on towards three very familiar Pokemon: the Titans! They were assisting some Pokemon by stabilizing a wall on a hut that the smaller Pokemon proceeded to weld it into place. " They've been living here ever since like they're one of our own. We don't mind the help much seeing as how the Pokemon in Cameron are too small to do what they can easily. "

Those artificial Pokemon were truly fascinating. They're just full of surprises that make me want to investigate them further. I wonder if this is the feeling that humans got when they looked upon me. My investigation had to wait, however, so I can get the information I needed. " Did those Pokemon only bring me here? "

Miltank looked confused by my query. " Hundreds of Pokemon came through this small village since the Tree fell, m'lord. At first it was just a handful to stay the night, but soon we were overwhelmed. It was like they appeared out of thin air! The vast majority of those Pokemon choose to leave Cameron and long since have, but some like those large ones down there choose to stay. "

My chest was becoming tight with tension once again. The flood of Pokemon that came through must have been the captive Pokemon without a doubt, but that only answered half my question. " I'm looking for a particular Pokemon, miss. There should have been a blue Pokemon with me when those Pokemon found me. "

I did not like the indistinguishable expression that crossed her face at all. I could just feel my intestines twisting in knots from anticipation. " … Those Pokemon claimed that you were the only living creature they could find in the rubble, which is why they rescued you. " Being one in the medicinal profession I imagined she knew what was implied by my question, and her own explanation. She bowed her head in subtle respect. " I'm so sorry for your loss, m'lord … I'll leave you to your thoughts. "

Leaving me was the worst possible thing she could have done. The moment the cow was out of sight I was on the move; rolling off the platform I once rested on to land on my feet on solid ground … then my belly. Frustration over my inability to hover boiled. All I could do was claw at a tree to stand on my weakened legs. The awful aftereffect from sleeping so long were limbs that moved and felt like jelly, but I didn't want to wait for it to wear off.

My struggle gathered quite a bit of attention. " I'm fine. " I muttered to the smaller Pokemon quickly when they approached me to help. That was an absolute lie, but I did not want any help. These Pokemon helped me enough. I had to stand on my own two legs now … or four as the case may be. The sensation flowing through my legs was reduced significantly when I shifted my weight to all fours, so I carried myself out of the village that way.

The Pokemon in the village, even the Miltank once she returned, only gave me sympathetic looks as I made my slow escape from that place. Respectful of my wishes to be left alone they soon returned to their work. It was better that way; I didn't want anyone to see me in such a weakened state … or even what I was about to do.

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I don't know how long I've been digging, but I couldn't stop.

Near noon I left the village on the edge of Cameron, and now the sun was setting against the mountainous landscape. The site of the mountain that was not amongst them since the last time I saw a sunset was where I did my search.

Lacking the majority of my psychic powers I had to make my journey on foot; over half the length was done on four legs, and then I converted to two for the final stretch. My sense of smell took me to the final place I saw him … or rather an estimated fifty feet above it. The passageway was now covered with roughly a ton of stone and dirt. I could barely pick up the scents through the smell of smoke and dust, but I tried anyway.

One rock and then another. I pushed them out of the way and wasn't making any significant process down to the bottom. I knew this search was futile. Even if I did find something I knew I didn't want to see it.

A few hours back the possibility that Lucario did indeed die settled in my mind. Now it was implanting itself as fact. I didn't dig in a desperate attempt to save him, but rather because I knew that he didn't deserve this wretched mountain to be his final resting place. I wanted to pull his body from the rubble to give him a proper burial in the place I had the fondest memories of him at; the territory we shared during our weeks of training. I think I'll bury him at the falls where we had lunch; the first place where Lucario gave into my constant pestering for some time spent together. I'd use his Master's staff as a grave marker and stay there for however long it took for the grass to grow back to ensure the site wouldn't be disturbed by curious humans.

… My eyes burned …

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They were watching me again …

Hours into the night I gave heed to the Titans who followed me back to this place. I could not see them immediately by looking around, but this time I knew they were there. It was illogical how I could see them now, but I knew I could. With an exhausted groan I rocked back to sit on the ground, and looked around the area idly to see if one of them would show themselves.

" You are interfering with reconstruction work. A request for your compliance to cease has been delivered. " That was the Titan of Ice, and the first time I heard any of the three speak.

I turned to the floating ice Pokemon as it slid into view. " Reconstruction? "

The lights on the Titan's face flickered. " The Tree of Beginning will be reconstructed by my comrades and I without the leadership of the Pokemon Mew. Hypothesis; a fully functional Tree can be reconstructed from the living remnants of the old tree is reproduction is preformed without delay. "

" Why would you want another living Tree of Beginning? " My question was pretty obvious, especially after what happened last time.

The Titan of Steel answered my question this time. " Hypothesis; the original Tree of Beginnings was used to fuel power to a single Pokemon. In theory the Tree can be bonded to any living creature to restore and purify, including the planet itself. The new Tree shall be bonded with the planet as originally intended so energy can be dispelled from it if this world comes into peril. Sacrifices to the Tree will be voluntary, and an absolute last resort. "

These Pokemon were a lot more intelligent than their movements and speech let on. I was thoroughly impressed that they even showed an interest in protecting the planet. I myself didn't see a point in trying to save this self destructive society and passively decided to watch progression from a distance many years ago.

Still … I felt the need to at least ask. " I will not interfere with your work, but I want to know if there's any chance of there being a Pokemon still trapped under the rocks. I'm looking for a … friend. " I didn't want to complicate things for them by calling the fighter anything more.

The two remained silent for an agonizing minute, and then the Titan of Ice answered. " Query; all significant organic material has been excavated by Regirock and Registeel. In total there were four thousand, three hundred, and twenty two Pokemon present in the old Tree of Beginning on collapse. Two hundred and eighty one Pokemon were pronounced dead at the scene or died in route to the village. Sixteen Pokemon are missing including the Tree's former ruler, Mew. "

Those statistics were renewing my anger, which was significantly better than the nothing I'd been feeling prior. " The assumption is that you are looking for the Pulse Pokemon, Lucario -. " I nodded to the Titan of rock's inquiry. " Lucario was not found at any time during the recovery effort. Status: missing and presumed dead. "

" … Thank you. " I felt my heart pulsating in my throat as I slid down from the pile of rocks. " I'll leave you to your work. " There was no use in keeping the Pokemon from their work with my futile search, so I sauntered off into the darkness of the night.

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Three days in solitude came and went.

My recovery came along smoothly, but there were still significant problems with my body. All traces of my psychic powers were still absent from my body aside from telepathy which forced me to heal without the use of Recover. I was slowly becoming accustomed to living without my powers though I didn't necessarily enjoy it. Time was more of a factor than convenience in choosing telepathy, but with no sense of urgency in my life I could afford to take walks.

It only depressed me remembering that Lucario wanted me to live this way …

I made one last trip around the Kingdom of Cameron after making the decision to leave the region for good. My first destination was the den that the fighter and I shared during our training. There I retrieved Master Aaron's staff and the Pokemon breeder's books. I read every book except for one; the one I decided to keep for the road.

The rest were to be returned to the castle library where I'd make my second stop. It was by chance that the woman who Lucario served so loyally passed the doorway as I entered, and would have screamed if I didn't react quickly. I must admit it was bad form to grab a royal official and pull her into a secluded room, but once she knew the whole story she didn't need to fear her safety.

It was a story I told after apologizing for my brutality, and stealing the books. I felt it was only right to tell the only living human who cared about his safety that he passed away. Judging by the tears that fell when she heard the news I made the right decision. She expressed sympathy for my loss and the loss of Lucario, and then excused herself from the chamber. I decided to leave her to mourn.

My last stop was back to the falls to place the marker as planned. Lucario cleaned and polished the staff every night before sleeping, I remember, so I decided to carry on the tradition before placing it in front of the rock the fighter often sat on when he visited this place.

I barely missed an odd looking flower protruding from the foot of the rock with the base of the staff. Honestly, I didn't notice the crystallized plant until now. Curiously, I leaned down to examine it. This included a casual touch which, oddly enough, caused the flower to begin glowing …

… Then … nothing happened at all.

Not the first time I'd been confused by something that happened in this territory, but it'll certainly be the last. I left the Kingdom of Cameron before sunset with little fanfare, vanishing disappearing into the Kanto countryside. This country was where I had my worst memories, so I wouldn't be staying long. The Kanto shoreline should have some Pokemon willing to give me a ride wherever I decided to go.

The destination didn't matter.

All that mattered was that I was alone …

… and there was precious little that could fix it.