(Author's note: Hey there, readers! Thanks a lot for reading up this point. I've reached about halfway through the story so I hope you guys like it so far. I'm trying to revolve this story around legendary pokemon, but since there are so many, I won't be able to fit them all in here, so if I miss one of your favorites, I apologize. Hopefully, you still like it! Thanks for reading!)
In the young forest of a young earth, Celebi has used her vast powers to defeat the legendary golem trio, Regice, Regirock and Registeel. She collapses, breathing heavily in exhaustion.
"Celebi, are you alright?" Mewtwo asks with worry.
"I'll be fine," she answers. "Just let me rest awhile."
"That was amazing." The young Meowth says in awe. "You sent them to the end of the universe."
Celebi manages a weak smile. "It's not something I do a lot."
In the quiet of the forest, the three pokemon decide on their next move.
"I don't know how, but those pokemon were able to follow us into the past." Celebi explains. "I thought I could keep you safe here, but it seems that I was naïve to think that no one would chase us here."
"Then you have to take me back to my own time." Mewtwo tells her. "I have to find out the truth about what really happened to me. Who would erase a year's worth of my memories and then frame me by destroying an entire forest?"
Celebi agrees. Both of them need answers.
"Hello? Aren't you forgetting about me? Don't I have a say in this?" the young Meowth speaks up.
Both Ageless pokemon turn to her.
"Of course I haven't forgotten about you." Celebi says reassuringly. "I'll take you back home soon."
"No, that's not what I meant. I mean, my home was in that forest that someone destroyed and if you two are going to find out what happened, then I want to come along."
"I cannot allow that." Mewtwo tells her. "Powerful beings will be chasing me. It will be too dangerous for you. Besides, I thought you had a grudge against me."
The young Meowth looks away, looking a little ashamed.
"I'm…sorry. I thought that you were the one that burned my home and killed my family, but if Celebi, the guardian of the forest, says that you are innocent, then I believe her. Plus, you saved my life when those golems attacked us. I was wrong about you. There's good in you."
Everyone remains quiet for a moment, thinking about what to do. Celebi is the first to speak. She turns to the young Meowth.
"The way will be difficult, child. Are you sure you want to do this?"
And the young pokemon looks into eyes of the Ageless.
"Yes."
"Very well." Mewtwo consents. "From now on you will travel with me, young one."
"Mia." The young Meowth says.
"Excuse me?"
"My name is Mia." The pokemon repeats.
A slight smile appears on Mewtwo's face. He cannot remember the last time he smiled.
"Well then, Mia, are you ready to go?"
"Yes! Let's go!" she answers excitedly.
"Then let us return to our time." Celebi says.
The time traveler uses her power and once again, the three find themselves teleporting and looking into the memories of the world. Eventually, they all arrive in the ruins of a forest.
"Here we are." Celebi tells them.
Mewtwo looks at the burned forest around him. Someone did this to the pokemon here. I will not let them get away with this.
"Well, what do we do now?" Mia asks.
"We have to find another Ageless pokemon." Mewtwo tells her. "Maybe we can find some answers with them."
"Then let me suggest you travel north of here. If you are not aware, you are currently in the Ilex Forest of Johto. To the north, you will find the remains of Ecruteak City. It's possible that you may find the legendary pokemon, Ho-Oh and Lugia."
Mewtwo tenses up for a moment. If he does meet with Ho-Oh, it will not end well. The last time they met, Mewtwo left a scar on the legendary bird.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Mia says with enthusiasm. "Let's go already!"
"Wait," Celebi says, "before you go, let me say one more thing. Mewtwo, you are on a dangerous path here. The Ageless pokemon have decided to put you to death. You will be hunted and outside the forest, I cannot protect you."
"I appreciate your concern, but remember that I am strong. I can fend for myself." Mewtwo answers with confidence.
"Then good luck on your journey. Before this is over, we will meet once more."
With that said, a gentle light surrounds Celebi and she vanishes back into history.
"It looks like we're on our own now." Mewtwo tells Mia. "Ready?"
"Yeah! I'm ready!"
"Then close your eyes."
The young Meowth closes her eyes and Mewtwo uses his power. He reaches into his memories and remembers the old town of Ecruteak, where the Brass and Tin Towers once stood. In a flash of light, they leave the Ilex Forest and arrive at the edge of Ecruteak.
"We're here." Mewtwo says.
Mia opens her eyes and sees her surroundings. There is a large clearing in the center of a small wood. Autumn leaves line the ground, making the place seem wise and peaceful. However, Mewtwo remains on guard.
"This is Ecruteak?" Mia asks.
"Yes," Mewtwo answers, "rather, it used to be. Ecruteak was what humans called this place. Now that humanity is dead, this place has no name."
Both Mewtwo and Mia walk into the clearing. Everything is quiet for the moment.
"Oh, look!" Mia exclaims happily, pointing up at the sky. "A rainbow!"
Oh, no…
"Mia, hide!" Mewtwo orders her.
"What? Why?" she asks in confusion.
Before Mewtwo has a chance to answer, a blast of fire shoots from the sky heading straight for them. Mewtwo raises his barrier and shields himself and Mia, but the effort quickly drains him. This is not ordinary fire.
"Mewtwo!" a deep and proud voice shouts. "You are not welcome here!"
Another plume of fire rains from the sky. Mewtwo uses his telekinesis to fly out of the way, carrying Mia along with him. He then places her in between the surrounding trees.
"What's going on?" Mia asks in fear.
"Mia, you wait here. I'll handle this," is all Mewtwo tells her. Then he is off, chasing after their attacker.
"Did you think I would not repay you for what you did to me?" the proud voice demands. "I will burn you to ashes!"
From the rainbow in the sky, a massive, multi-colored bird appears. A jagged scar cuts across its chest where no feathers grow.
"Ho-Oh!" Mewtwo calls out. "I'm not here to fight you!"
"Silence! You will burn!" Ho-Oh shouts back with rage.
Ho-Oh uses his Sacred Fire once again, engulfing Mewtwo with purging flames. Mewtwo feels his old instincts kick in and his lust for battle returns. He pushes back the flames with his psychic power and fires a Shadow Ball attack, hitting Ho-Oh square in the chest.
"Mewtwo!" Ho-Oh screams. "You will die!"
Mewtwo feels himself consumed by violent rage. He and Ho-Oh fight in the sky in a sea of divine fire. Both of them are caught up in the moment and once again, they find themselves in a fight to the death. Wind and flames dance around them as they battle, neither one getting a clear advantage. They attack each other viciously, just as they did in the war when Mewtwo fought alongside the humans…
As they lose themselves in the battle, they do not notice a third Ageless pokemon approaching them. It blocks out the sun with its wings and summons a gale.
"Enough!" the new pokemon commands.
The sudden change in atmosphere pulls Mewtwo and Ho-Oh out of their frenzy. This new pokemon glares at them, daring them to make a move.
"Lugia!" Ho-Oh says with his forceful voice. "What is the meaning of this?"
Lugia calms the gale, bringing back the sun.
"I should be asking the same of you, Ho-Oh." Lugia answers in a clear, but firm voice. "You know the Rules."
"The Rules should not apply to him!" Ho-Oh shouts, referring to Mewtwo. "He is not one of us!"
"You know as well as I that that is not true." Lugia says. "Leave peacefully, Ho-Oh. You know what happens if you break the Rules."
Ho-Oh looks as if he wants to continue arguing, but accepts that Lugia is right. He looks at Mewtwo one more time.
"You're lucky that Lugia arrived, otherwise, Rules or no Rules, I would have incinerated you into nothingness."
Ho-Oh flaps his wings and flies back into the rainbow, leaving Ecruteak behind.
"Now then, I apologize for Ho-Oh's behavior, but I would like to welcome you to our land." Lugia says peacefully.
Mewtwo's rage subsides and reason returns to him. "Thank you. And thank you for stopping that battle. I do not know what I would have done if it continued."
Down in the trees below, Mia comes out of hiding.
"Is it over?" she asks cautiously.
Mewtwo descends and rejoins her. "Yes, it is over. Luckily, no one was hurt."
"What was that all about?" she asks.
"Ho-Oh and I have a complicated history." Mewtwo tells her. "We fought once before and he never got over it."
Lugia then descends to join Mewtwo and Mia.
"Oh, a young pokemon. I am Lugia."
"Hello." Mia says. "I'm Mia."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mia." Lugia says with a slight bow. "Now, tell me. What brings you out here?"
"I need answers." Mewtwo responds. "There was a fire in the Ilex Forest and I am being blamed for it. I need to know who could have done it and why."
"Ah, yes. I heard about it. As soon as it happened, an announcement was made to us by the Creator. He declared that you must be executed for breaking the laws of the Ageless."
"But I was not the one who did it!" Mewtwo says almost in a shout.
"I believe you." Lugia says reassuringly. "And I know that a lot of the Ageless hold grudges against you. Many of them have reason to want to be rid of you."
Mia looks at Mewtwo sadly.
"Why do the other legendary pokemon hate you so much?"
"Because a long time ago, before your time, there was a war. The Ageless pokemon fought against the humans, and in that war, I helped the humans."
"You fought against the legendary pokemon?" Mia asks in shock. "But you're a legendary pokemon, too! Why would you fight against your own kind?"
"Because back then, I was a slave to the humans. With their technology, they locked me away and only used me in times of war. Eventually my captors died and I was set free, but the Ageless pokemon have not forgotten that at one time, I was their enemy."
Mewtwo remembers the days of the war with regret. He was used as a weapon for the humans. He was commanded to attack and kill innocent pokemon and he obeyed. Now, all he wants, all he really wants, is to atone. Maybe that is why he agreed to take Mia along. He looks at her and sees that faces of all those lives he took and he wants to be forgiven. And maybe one day, he shall be.