A/N: OracionMist here! I know this chapter's short, but it's definitely packs the same punch! Enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I only own my OC, not Naruto or Pokemon!

Chapter 13

"Okay, we're through and undetected." Ayumi stated as she cracked the electric password lock from the back door of the Viridian City gym.

Winning against Giovanni to gain the Earth Badge was an easy matter, though the two trainers could tell that Team Rocket's leader was holding back, all that mattered right now was getting back into the gym and see what was behind the stage. Foolish or not, the blond and silverette were going to do it while Jessie and James laid low.

"It's a good thing that your mom contacted the Pokemon Ranger Union to let you use that universal key." Naruto commented. After the two had recovered from the hot springs back at Cinnabar Island, Ayumi had called her mother to tell her the news, and with the circumstances, allowed her daughter and her friend do what was necessary.

"Pokemon Rangers understand why we're doing this." The silverette said as they went in as she tried to get the inner layout of the gym with Meowth's help. "The laboratory is really far underground."

"Team Rocket members are heading toward us!" Rhapsody warned.

"How far?" The whiskered blond whispered as the four hid in the shadows, watching the grunts pass by.

"Four, and two of them is a resting area and a meeting room."

The Unova native grit his teeth. Going through the resting floor wouldn't be too difficult, but the meeting floor would be a different matter. They'd also need to make sure their Pokemon would be ready for a massively outnumbered battle, one that they couldn't afford to lose. Then he came up with something, "Sorry Mom, but it's an emergency." He muttered as he went into his costume case, picking ones that would match as he took them apart to combine into makeshift Team Rocket uniforms. Handing one to Ayumi, Naruto stated, "This is the best we can do on short notice."

"Right."

After quickly changing, the two went downstairs, past the resting floor and into the meeting level.

"Hey, you grunts! What are you doing down here?!" One of the scientists yelled, making the disguised trainers freeze.

Quickly turning around and making sure their hats covered most of their faces as the stood up straight, "Our apologies, sir! One of our superiors ordered us to come down and be of assistance!"

The scientist narrowed his eyes, "That so, huh? Then make yourselves useful and tend to the Pokemon that were just beaten by gym challengers! Keep going down the hall and head downstairs, they're all there."

Just what they needed. "Yes sir!"

Dashing off, Naruto whispered, "While we're down there, we'll keep an ear out for that Pokemon. The scientists should bring it up at some point, whether its here or not, we'll find it."

"Right." Ayumi nodded.

"This is awful..." The albino breeder gasped as she stared at the caged and injured Pokemon.

The Unova native was disgusted as he quietly growled, "Team Rocket or not, no gym should be allowed to stand with these standards."

"You guys must be new, with that kind of reaction." One of the scientists commented as she gave them a side glance. "You'll need to toughen up if you want to rise in the ranks."

"Sorry, ma'am."

The scientist just scoffed, "Just get to work, I have to return to the experiment at hand."

Naruto saluted, "Ma'am, I am willing to assist you. I assure you I won't get in the way!" This was their only chance, especially before they moved the Pokemon to a location they probably wouldn't be able to track. "The truth is, my partner and I joined to be part of the science division, so I would dream of nothing more than to be of help!"

"Very well then, follow me." The scientist relented as she led the way, not noticing the albino breeder discreetly taking pictures along the way.

"You know what to do when we get in there." The blond whispered quietly to Rhapsody.

"Right Daddy! Put them all to sleep and lock ourselves in!" The Meloetta said seriously as she kept herself unseen.

Passing through machinery and wide windowed rooms until the scientist and the two fake Team Rocket members reached a nearly pitch black room. Standing at the center was a tall humanoid Pokemon, not much could be seen for certain with armor-like plating cover a majority of the body of it, save its long tail. There were cables connecting to the armor; it really did feel like they were using this Pokemon as a weapon.

"This is the successful clone of Mew, we'be taken to calling it Mewtwo. Now..."

"Rhapsody, Relic Song!"

"Bellossom, Sleep Powder and fill the room!" Naruto and Ayumi quickly ordered as Meowth used Protect to keep the three and Mewtwo from the sleep inducing song and particles.

Those that were in the room didn't see it coming and fell unconscious right away as the Meloetta followed up by throwing the sleeping scientist out of the room with Psychic.

Ayumi followed up by letting out her Alakazam and having him barricade the door and darken the windows completely. "We did it." The silverette gave a small smile.

"Now we can help Mewtwo." The blue eyed blond added.

"What are you doing?" A raspy male voice questioned, making the two trainers pause. "I am in front of you."

Naruto looked up at the armored Pokemon, "Are you the one speaking to us, Mewtwo?"

"Wow, so you can talk telepathically just like me? That's so cool!" Rhapsody beamed, other than Meowth, she hadn't met any other Pokemon that could speak human in one way or another.

"Answer me. If you came with those scientists and proceeded to knock them unconscious to leave you here with me, what are your intentions?"

Ayumi replied, "We just wanted to help a Pokemon from Team Rocket."

The clone Pokemon didn't comprehend what these children meant, "Pokemon? How can I be a Pokemon if I am just a clone made by humans?"

"It doesn't matter if you're a clone or a natural born Pokemon." Naruto protested, "What really counts is having a heart that beats, emotions that change depending on how you feel, and what your purpose in life is."

"Purpose?"

Rhapsody was the one to answer, "It's what makes us keep going, Mewtwo. Something that, even if it gets hard, we can happily say that it's worth the effort."

"How can you be so confident in that belief? Is it not foolish to not believe that we are only to be bound to a human? Are we not inferior?" Mewtwo questioned, in all of his memories, he was only confined to be in this dark room until called out for only a breath of space, and even that would be short lived. How could a Pokemon be anything more than inferior to a human?

The Meloetta shook her head, "Pokemon aren't meant to be inferior or bound to a human, we become friends with each other. We'll on equal footing and we stand side by side. It should never seem like one or the other has higher footing while the other has to balance themselves on a lower platform."

"You know, I was abandoned when I was just an egg, all because I took too long to hatch. If it wasn't for Daddy and his family caring and loving me endlessly, I wouldn't know where I would be now." Rhapsody continued, "But because I do have them, I know that my purpose, no, my dream. My goal is to be stage and in battle, happily with Daddy as we get each other to the top with our friends."

"The one you call "father" is your trainer, so why are you affectionate to someone that uses you for what you can do?" The armored Pokemon asked, "Why are you so happy and content?"

Naruto was the one to respond, "Because Rhapsody knows that I would do anything for the sake of my Pokemon or any Pokemon that needed help. I'd willingly risk my life to save you too, Mewtwo. That's a promise."

"Not all humans are like Team Rocket, Mewtwo. To me, and I'm sure Naruto agrees, those things attached to you looks like chains and restraints holding you back. I know you could easily break free." Ayumi added sincerely.

Mewtwo's head tilted back and forth, to show that he was looking back and forth between the two young trainers, "Humans usually want things as a prize. That's how they view Pokemon, do you see me as such? Do you wish to capture and contain me in one of those Poke-balls as soon as I escape?"

The blond shook his head, "We don't want or need anything from you, Mewtwo. If you're happy, that's all that matters."

"That's right, Mewtwo! That means we're your friends, so friends help each other no matter what!" Rhapsody cheered before there was a crash at the door.

"We're out of time, Naruto! They're onto us!" Ayumi exclaimed as her Alakazam tried hold back the slamming at the door from Team Rocket trying to get in for a little bit longer.

"We have to hurry!" Meowth yelled as he and Rhapsody started piling up whatever they could to the door.

Mewtwo was silent, he'd never heard of such a word, but if these humans, these children are friends and considered himself as one; they immediately ignored the fact that he wasn't a natural Pokemon and went through all the trouble just to appear before him. It made... his heart warm.

But who was he to be fooled by mere words of children? If these kids were kind, perhaps the person who Mewtwo had made a deal with felt the same. Maybe Giovanni saw him as an equal, if so, Mewtwo needed to see for himself to see the truth. He couldn't leave yet.

"Naruto... Rhapsody... Girl..." Mewtwo called the names he'd heard through out the span they had been there, "I have decided. I will not leave this place, I want answers from the man that promised me something. What I do afterwards will depend on those answers. So leave. If I decide to escape, I will appear before you as you have to me."

Naruto nodded in understanding, and walked up to the Pokemon, giving him something. It was a necklace with a blue crystal. "Here Mewtwo. It's a family heirloom, but I want you to have it to remember Ayumi, Rhapsody, and I. You can hide it under your armor so no one takes it. Also Mewtwo, what you want to do is your choice, so I won't stop you."

Turning to the others to see that they were on their last leg at keeping Team Rocket out, the blond yelled, "Ayumi, let's go!"

"Right! Alakazam, teleport us out!"

Now that the trainers were at a peaceful distance, they sighed in pure relief. "I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest from being in there and just the thought of getting caught." Ayumi sighed, "We can't do much more for Mewtwo, can we?"

Naruto shook his head, "We wouldn't be any different than them if we forced Mewtwo to leave if he didn't want to. I just hope he'll be alright."

"Yeah, Mewtwo's our friend now, so we'll look out for him."

"Okay, you two are registered for the Indigo League. It'll be held three months from now at the Indigo Plateau, so please don't forget to go and confirm your registration for your first match."

"Thank you, Nurse Joy." Naruto and Ayumi said gratefully.

"It's my pleasure to see trainers come a long way from starting their journeys. Best of luck, you two." Nurse Joy beamed kindly.

As the four stood outside the Pokemon Center, Naruto and James stood on one side while Ayumi, Meowth, and Jessie stood at the other. "Guess it's time, huh?" The blond asked with a wry smile.

The Sinnoh native gave the same smile, "Hey, we'll see each other in three months, so it's not like we're saying good bye."

"Yeah, you're right." Naruto nodded, "Train hard, okay? I don't want my rival slacking off when I beat her at the finals."

"That's my line, Naruto." The albino breeder softly punched her travelling companion in the arm before holding her hand out, "Whoever wins, we'll root for to beat the Elite Four and Champion."

Nodding, the blue eyed trainer took her hand and the two shook hands, "Of course, we're friends after all."

Ayumi grinned, "That's right." She went closer to whisper, "But if Mewtwo comes to you for anything, don't forget to tell me okay? I don't want to be left out and useless."

"Ayumi..." Naruto uttered as the Sinnoh native backed away. He knew would've wanted the same thing, he'd willingly cancel his training to help a friend. "You got it!"

The now split group went their own ways in separate directions, Jessie and James asked their own questions to the younger trainers.

"So what did you say that you had to whisper, Ayumi?"

"What did Ayumi whisper to you, Naruto?"

The silverette grinned, "Just to make sure I don't leave him in the dust."

The blond grinned, "Just to keep going all out."

"We won't say good bye for good will we, Daddy?" Rhapsody asked as she perched on her father figure's shoulder.

The Unova native shook his head as he pat the Meloetta on her head, "Of course not, Rhapsody. We'll see her again."

The Melody Pokemon beamed as she chimed, "Our journey was a lot different than we planned, wasn't it, Daddy? We planned to travel alone, but we made great friends and a fun rival!"

Naruto chuckled, "You're right, Rhapsody. Didn't go according to plans, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Three months, Ayumi... See you then."

A/N: And that's chapter 13! While it didn't show the battle with Giovanni, I personally felt that the battle would be very lackluster, and I wanted to focus on Naruto and Ayumi breaking into the gym to see Mewtwo. This is set before Gary even arrived to get unnecessary badges, so they really had to get in the hard way, well hard and logical way.

From Naruto, Rhapsody, and Ayumi talking to Mewtwo, it gave him the chance to understand something outside of the lab that Team Rocket kept him in, and to give a reason as to why he questioned Giovanni in the movie. He doesn't know anything more than fighting, and the scientists that tended to Mewtwo probably feared him too greatly to even hold a conversation. For all accounts, something as simple as this meant something to Mewtwo.

On another note, as much as I wanted to stretch this chapter out, I just couldn't. Unlike Ash, no offense to him, these two are serious trainers that understand that now they have their eight badges and registered for the Indigo League, it's crunch time. Naruto and Ayumi agreed they'd split up to train for three months and that's what they're doing.

As for the training I'd say I'll be focusing on Naruto exclusively, but we have the big first movie chapter coming up next, so I hope all of you don't mind!

In any case, it hasn't changed much since the last chapter, but here's Naruto, Ayumi, Jessie, and James' Pokemon:

Naruto:

Meloetta;female (Rhapsody)

Fearow;male (Falco)

Leafeon;male (Aki)-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Umbreon;male (Haru)-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Charizard;male (Taiyou) -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Gyarados[Shiny];female (Umi)-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Pichu;male (Teru)-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Nidorina;female (Aoi)-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Igglybuff;female (Mao)-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Clefairy;female (Hoshi)-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Kingra;female-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Bellossom;male-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Blastoise;male-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Magneton;genderless-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Vespiquen;female-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Golduck;female-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Milotic;female-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Garchomp;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Shelgon;male

Rapidash;female-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Persian;female-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Dragonair;male

Porygon 2;genderless-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Pupitar;male-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Togetic;male -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Growlithe;male-currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Murkrow;male -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Houndoom;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Noctowl;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Misdreavus;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Drifloon;male

Litwick;male -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Marowak;male -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Honedge;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Gengar;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Gourgeist-large size;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Phantump;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Hitmonchan;male -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Dustox;male -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Beautifly;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Ledian;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Plusle;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Minun;male -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Luxio;female

Gorebyss;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Huntail;male -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Jigglypuff;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Kabutops;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Omastar;male -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Aerodactyl;male -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Chinchou;female -currently at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Ayumi:

Nidoking;male

Empoleon;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Bellossom;female-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Mothim;male-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Alakazam;male

Machamp;male-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Clefable;male-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Kingdra;male-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Sneasel;male

Skarmory;female

Blastoise;male-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Houndoom;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Milotic;male-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Milotic;female-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Ditto;genderless-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Meowth;male

Dragonair;male-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Espeon;male-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Scyther;male-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Pupitar;male-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Luxray;female-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Eevee;female-currently at Devon Family Ranch

Arcanine;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Honchkrow;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Noctowl;female -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Dusclops;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Banette;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Sableye;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Lampent;female -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Honedge;male

Pumkaboo-small size;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Trevenant;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Hitmonlee;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Beautifly;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Dustox;female -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Ariados;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Plusle;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Minun;female -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Huntail;female -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Gorebyss;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Omastar;female -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Kabutops;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Chinchou;male -currently at Devon Family Ranch

Jessie:

Arbok;male

Smoochum;female

Milotic;male

Wigglytuff;female

Lickitung;male

Gorebyss;female

James:

Weezing;male

Victreebel;male

Gyrados;male

Chingling;female

Vulpix;female-taking residence at Uzu-Nami Ranch

Huntail;male

Growlithe;male (Growly)

The movie chapter will take a while, but I won't disappoint!

Till next time!

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