(12.1)

Mew looked around the ruined architecture curiously.

"Wow, this brings back memories…"

Arceus glanced up from where it was piecing fragments of Unova together.

"Quite so. I always liked the Sinjoh Ruins. Sure, it's rather cold and drafty, and kinda in a state of disrepair, but it still has that…rustic charm."

Mew rolled its eyes and sat down on a piece of rubble.

"I hoped you remembered to leave a note at the Hall of Origin telling the others where you went."

Arceus abruptly stood up and vanished.

A few minutes later, it popped back and glared at the Mew.

"Not. A. Word."

(12.2)

"Hm..."

Sasha drowsily opened an eye to stare at Mewtwo, who was staring at a sight beyond the eevee's field of view.

"What is it?" she asked, stretching as the masseuse worked his magic on her sore muscles.

"I don't think I've ever seen a hydreigon get a belly rub," Mewtwo replied, to which Sasha blinked before craning her head around to stare at where he was looking.

A hydreigon was in fact stretched out on its back, head lolling back in bliss as a machamp rubbed over its belly and limbs.

A trainer wearing a white shirt, brown pants and black hat noticed their stares and came over.

"Hello. I see you've met my hydreigon. I suspect you have questions?"

Sasha glanced at him before doing a double-take.

"N?"

The man stared at her curiously before carefully examining her.

"I don't believe we've met...?"

"She's got memories of the Cyrus incident a decade ago," Mewtwo replied. "We're curious as to why she remembers bits and pieces of it, despite not being there."

N scratched his cheek and frowned, brow furrowing as he adopted a thoughtful expression. He then shrugged.

"I certainly don't remember an eevee. Granted, my memories aren't exactly sorted and there was a lot going on, so..."

"It's nothing important," Sasha said, hissing as her masseuse found a tense clump of muscles. "Don't worry about it."

N toyed with his necklace for a moment. "I see. I'm sorry for bothering you."

Mewtwo shot Sasha a look and she flattened her ears. "Sorry, that came out wrong," she admitted.

N chuckled and waved a hand dismissively as the machamp stepped back from the content hydreigon. "It's not a problem. I always enjoy meeting new faces. And old ones," he added, giving Mewtwo a nod, which the clone returned.

The man stroked over the hydreigon's head before casting a glance at Sasha. "I've been watching your matches over the past few months. You're all set to take on the League?"

Sasha nodded.

"Then I wish you the best of luck."

The duo watched the man and dragon leave before getting up themselves.

"What memories do you have of N?" Mewtwo asked curiously.

Sasha closed her eyes as Mewtwo scooped her into his arms. "I...remember meeting him in a forest, yet at the same time, that's also when I was given a Blessing from Arceus."

"So your memories are also fragmented, taking various cues from several different versions of yourself," Mewtwo reasoned.

"No," Sasha said firmly, much to Mewtwo's surprise. "You mentioned once how you said your mind remembered things, but your body didn't remember the sensations, right?"

Mewtwo nodded slowly and Sasha continued.

"I do remember the sensations and feelings of N caring for me after I was attacked by..." Sasha shivered and rubbed a paw over her scruff slowly. "…in that case, it was...a pack of wild houndour, mightyena and a houndoom, rather than a singular houndoom owned by Archer."

Mewtwo stroked her ears soothingly and she sighed, nuzzling his paw lightly.

"Strange. At this point, I couldn't begin to offer a theory or explanation. I'm sorry," Mewtwo said. Sasha chuckled softly.

"It's fine, Mewtwo. Really. What's done is done and I'd much rather focus on the here and now, rather than puzzling out what happened in the past. If something else comes up in regards to it, well...then we can worry about it, alright?"

"If that is what you wish."

(12.3)

"And with that, I'm all caught up."

Mewtwo tossed the comic into the corner and stretched his arms above his head.

"Caught up with what?" Sasha asked with a yawn.

"Twelve years and a few months worth of comics, give or take a week."

The eevee stared at him, then at the small mountain of books.

"So that's about 150-something issues, right?" Sasha mused, crunching some numbers in her head.

"With an additional one hundred issues or so of supplemental material covering different side stories," Mewtwo replied.

"You have too much free time," the eevee said with a grin. Mewtwo shrugged.

"That's what happens when you become a recluse."

"Nerd."

"I'll take that as a compliment, freeloader."

(12.4)

"So, tell me about Ash's pokémon," Sasha said.

Mewtwo glanced up from his book on botany with an arched brow. "Hoping to get a leg up on the competition?"

"Seems only fair. I know I'm nowhere near his league, but I'd still like to know what they're capable of."

Mewtwo closed his book and tapped his fingers on the cover absently.

"Well, a decade ago, I know his team was capable of tackling legendary pokémon without problem. I know his pikachu managed to shock primal groudon and Ash regularly turns a supposed disadvantage into an advantage, usually in the heat of a battle to boot," Mewtwo said thoughtfully. "After the Cyrus fiasco...I'm not really sure. One downside to time fracturing and being restored is that a lot of development and power was lost, so his pokémon are nowhere near their old level of power."

He shrugged. "It's been a decade since then and Ash loves traveling. Usually winds up embroiled in one conflict or another, so maybe he's got that power back."

Sasha rolled her eyes. "So what you're saying is that I'm screwed."

"Don't sell yourself short," Mewtwo chided her. "Even if he brings his best team, there's always a chance of victory. Exploit their weaknesses, use your strengths, abuse what you've been given."

The eevee rested her chin on her paws and flicked her tail. "So just keep doing what I've been doing?"

"She can be taught. There's hope yet."

Sasha swiped at him and the clone caught her paw with his own and pulled her close, kissing her nose, causing the eevee to squeak.

Settling against him, Sasha stuck her tongue out.

"Have you ever participated in a League?" she asked.

Mewtwo shook his head. "No. Never been one for crowds and bragging rights."

Sasha nuzzled him. "It'd be good practice and you'd meet new people and make friends."

"I do that just fine by being your chaperone and chauffeur," Mewtwo replied dryly.

Sasha conceded the point.

(12.5)

Deep inside the Sinjoh Ruins, Arceus opened its eyes and frowned.

"I sense a disturbance in the..."

Its frown deepened as it got to its feet.

"What...is that? It...feels like a pokemon but it's so...warped."

Going over to the various time bubbles littering the Mystri Stage, Arceus began peering through them, searching for the anomaly.

"Did we...create this by merging the worlds? Or was this pre-destined?"

"My lord?" Mew asked from its perch on a pile of rubble.

"Hm?" Arceus said absently.

"What's going on?

"Something...ah. Ah," Arceus said triumphantly.

"'Ah'? What do you mean by 'ah'?" Mew asked, floating over.

"There's something in the Alolan timestream that's causing issues."

"Should I get started on restoring it?" Mew asked, waving a hand at Celebi who came over.

"...Yes. Please. There's...you don't feel anything?" Arceus mused. "Anything...wrong? I'm getting chills down my spine, as if there's something there that's me...yet...not."

Mew's lips thinned as it pressed them together. "I...think so? I felt something when Mewtwo was created, as if someone was always watching me. Is that what you're feeling?"

Arceus paced in agitation and sighed heavily. "I don't like this. We've made so much progress, yet it feels like Alola may make or break everything we've done. If that happens..."

"We'll deal with it when the time comes, alright?" Mew said soothingly.

Arceus plucked at the Alolan time stream carefully, brow furrowed in concentration.

"Celebi, have you noticed anything odd about this?" it asked the smaller legendary.

"If you're talking about the lack of anything possibly related to Ash Ketchum or any world-ending threat that seems to be inherent to untangling Cyrus' mess...yes, I have noticed that," the time traveler replied.

Arceus blinked as realization dawned.

"This is...not the past, but the future."

Celebi paused and crossed its arms. "So...we can now confirm Dialga's theory."

Arceus nodded grimly. "I need you to go tell him immediately."

Celebi saluted and vanished.

The Creator then turned back to the unfolding timeline, eyes narrowed.

"The deeper I probe, the more questions I have. What are you hiding, Alola?"

Arceus let out a soft hissing sound and abruptly vanished, leaving behind a thoroughly confused Mew.

"Well, time to get to work," the mirage pokemon said with a sigh, turning towards the fragments of Alola.