13.1

Mewtwo and Sasha gazed over the edge of the cliff at the lucario struggling to climb it.

"Hello," Mewtwo called, waving. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

The lucario glared up at them as it searched for a foothold. "I don't mean to be rude," he said curtly, "But this isn't as easy as it looks. I'd appreciate it if you didn't distract me."

"I don't suppose you could speed this up?" Sasha asked Mewtwo. "Use psychic or something to help him?"

"No!" the lucario said. "I do not want or need your help."

"He is trying to kill us, you realize," Mewtwo said dryly.

"And we're not taking him out while he's helpless on the side of a cliff because...?" Sasha asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because that's not very sporting," Mewtwo said, sitting down, sending a cascade of rocks showering down on the lucario, who cursed up a storm.

"You did that on purpose," Sasha chided the clone, who wore a look of hurt innocence.

A few minutes later, the lucario pulled itself up and rolled onto his back with a wheeze.

"Why do you pursue us so doggedly?" Sasha asked.

"Because I seek the one who killed my father," the lucario replied.

"Oh goody, one of those pokemon," Mewtwo said with a sigh. Sasha tilted her head curiously.

"Meaning?" she prompted.

"Well, if there's anything I've picked up over the years, it's that some people will gladly manipulate pokemon into doing their jobs for them by slaughtering their loved ones and then blaming the crime on someone they want eliminated. In this case, apparently I'm a murderer," Mewtwo replied.

"You make it sound like you're not the one who killed my father," the lucario said, getting to his feet. A blue sword snapped to life from his hand and he brandished it at the clone. "However, I was told the identity of the murderer and you match the description perfectly!"

"Meanwhile, there's plenty of pokemon who are capable of shapeshifting or casting illusions," Mewtwo countered, idly pushing the blade out of his face. The lucario stared at the clone's hands with a frown before the sword vanished in a flash of light.

"You're not the killer," the aura pokemon stated.

"Good, that saves me from having to tell you my alibi," Mewtwo replied. "What tipped you off?"

"The killer had an extra digit on his hand."

Mewtwo picked Sasha up and she settled around his neck with a purr. "I'd like to help you, but your problems are not my problems and I'm already behind schedule as it is. I don't suppose you've heard of a man named Wes?"

"Is that what brings you to Orre?" the lucario asked, crossing his arms. "I've heard rumors he's out in the desert training. Other than that..."

"That's a great help. Thank you," Sasha replied. Mewtwo offered the lucario a respectful nod.

"Do you have a name?" Mewtwo asked.

"The baseborn are not given that privilege."

"Amarulence, then," Mewtwo said.

The lucario tilted his head. "What does that mean?"

"Bitterness, spite. Despite your lowborn status, you struck out and made a name for yourself. Admittedly, in a manner most of your kind would find deplorable, but a name nonetheless. Perhaps your name will change once you grow more as a pokemon," Mewtwo said, turning. "Best of luck to you, Amaru."

Amaru gazed at his hands, clenching them a few times before nodding curtly. "Once I have made a new name for myself, I will find you and tell you. Thank you, Mewtwo, for giving me this gift."

Mewtwo lifted a hand in farewell and teleported.

13.2

Arceus stretched its legs and got up.

"I am going for a walk," it said, trotting past Celebi, Giratina, Rayquaza and Reshiram, who were carefully untangling the various Unova time streams.

Receiving differing grunts of acknowledgement, the Alpha pokemon vanished.

Arceus popped back into being high above a route in Kanto. Orienting itself, the Original One then started looking around, muttering to itself.

"Knew he was around here somewhere...hm..."

It whirled as an explosion sent a geyser of rubble skyward and it stared down at the familiar figure of Ash Ketchum.

Setting down a safe distance away, Arceus settled in to watch. It wasn't long before Pikachu tugged on Ash's sleeve and pointed at their observer.

"Hey, Arceus, what brings you here?" Ash asked, waving for his pokemon to take a break.

"Curiosity, mostly. How goes your journey?"

"Quite well. Already have my eight badges for the League. Definitely looking forward to it. I hear Sasha's only got one more badge to get?"

Arceus blinked in surprise. "Oh? Eight already? Impressive. Sasha is working on her last as we speak. I was worried that the various restorations would have hampered your growth as a trainer, but it seems that's not the case?"

"I don't really care about that. As long as they remember everything we've been through together, that's enough for me," Ash replied. "That being said, I've not been idle. I met Red a few weeks ago and we battled to a draw. He's really strong. Gary and Blue too. Or was it Green? It gets rather confusing when they start talking about the events they've been through."

Arceus sighed and shook its head. "Merging universes was an extremely risky strategy, but it was the only way we stood a chance of preventing Cyrus from erasing everything."

"Well, you and your children have done a splendid job."

"I'm sorry we couldn't restore events to the way they were originally. Greninja no longer has its Battle Bond ability due to how events have changed."

Ash waved a hand. "Even without that, he's an extremely gifted pokemon. Really hit it off with Sceptile and Infernape, actually."

"So they'll be on your League team?"

Ash flexed his fingers and stretched his limbs. "I'm still deciding. I've got some forty pokemon all eager to give the League a try and it's awfully hectic at Oak's ranch."

"Seems quite hectic here too," Arceus remarked, taking in the blasted and scorched landscape. Ash winced.

"We...may have gotten a little carried away..." he admitted.

"Not a problem. I'll have Celebi remind me to restore this once you're done with it. Or I'll send Shaymin, Suicune and Virizion. It's quite hectic for us too."

Ash grinned. "Thank you for all your hard work."

Arceus dipped its head. "I shall leave you to your training then."

"Ready to get back to training, Piakchu?" Ash asked, turning to the mouse.

"I'm trying to come up with a name for that electric move I just did. Gigavolt seems...too bland," the electric-type mused.

"Why not Catastropika?" Pidgeot suggested.

"Now that's just being silly."

13.3

Mewtwo appeared in the middle of Giovanni's study, arms crossed as he stared at the man sitting at his desk.

"Mewtwo, you're late," the crime boss said, glancing at his pocket watch. It cracked, then shattered in his hand and he dropped the pieces without a word. "Been a while since I've seen you angry. What's got you bothered this time?"

"You promised to leave Sasha and I alone, yet you sent the data on the two of us to others. Why?"

"Answered your own question. I promised not to target you. Not my fault if my servers get hacked and the contents stolen by outside parties," Giovanni replied, stroking over his persian.

Mewtwo snorted. "Spucatum tauri."

"Nulla tenaci invia est via, Mewtwo. You of all pokémon should understand that," Giovanni replied. "Besides, even with his knowledge, Lysandre wasn't able to use Sasha to complete his goal of a beautiful world."

"So you admit you know what happened to your data," Mewtwo said. "Unfortunately, your story doesn't add up with what Sasha told me and I definitely trust her word over yours. She said Lysandre was sent the data."

Giovanni waved a hand. "In the end, it all worked out, thanks to your connections. I've had similar victories and setbacks with my own organization. I know how it works. Now, unless you have something else to talk about, I am a busy man-"

"Shut up."

Mewtwo's tone cut through Giovanni like a knife and the Rocket Boss leaned back, amused.

"If that is what you wish," he replied.

Mewtwo's eye twitched and he vanished.

Shaking his head, Giovanni rested his hand on the persian's head. "You'd think after a decade, he'd have lightened up. Even with his little morality pet, he's still prickly as ever."

With an amused chuckle, he returned to his work.

13.4

Mewtwo stared at the necklace in his hands, mind wandering as he sat alone in his room.

That is, until a weight settled onto the bed beside him.

"Who was she?"

Mewtwo rubbed over the locket silently before speaking.

"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame."

Sasha tilted her head. "What's that?"

"A song between a lover and his beloved. Something from a different universe that haunts me."

Sasha gazed at him before nuzzling his paw. Mewtwo cupped her cheek and stroked her face gently.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with, little one."

Sasha frowned and reluctantly nodded.

13.5

"Unhand me!"

Mewtwo stared at the squirming sack warily before opening the top of it and used his telekinesis to pull a thoroughly peeved eevee out of it.

"I've heard stories about you. Going around taking whatever you want without a care in the world. You're Mewtwo, aren't you?"

"The one and the same."

"Go to hell."

Mewtwo let out a dramatic gasp and clutched at his chest. "Such venom, Princess Sasha! Why do you attack me so?"

"Because you killed the one I loved!"

"Have I? I've killed many. The faces tend to blur after a while. Who was this lover of yours then? Some snooty noble house cat, I bet? Meowth or Persian? Skitty. Ooh, Delcatty, you look like a Delcatty lover."

Sasha glared at him. "I...never actually saw his face. Only ever heard his voice. We used to meet at night, me in my tower, him below..."

She sighed wistfully. "Then one day, I received word that Mewtwo had struck, wiping out several nearby villages and my love stopped visiting. And since you never take prisoners, I assumed my love was dead and hated you ever since."

"Yeah, and this is why I usually kill people, because they don't shut up."

"You dare to mock my pain?" Sasha growled.

"Life is pain, you highness," Mewtwo replied dryly. "Anyone who says otherwise is probably trying to sell you something."

Sasha bristled and looked away. "Put me down."

"If that is what you wish,"

Sasha whipped her head around, eyes wide. "You...you dare?! Mocking my deceased love like that? Just...die!"

Tangling herself around his ankles, Sasha watched with grim satisfaction as Mewtwo tumbled down the hill. She pricked her ears as his voice carried up to her.

"If...that...is...what...you...wish!"

"...Oh dear. This...he can't be...what have I done?"

Without a second thought, she threw herself after him.

...

Mewtwo glanced up from the book, eyebrows raised. "Really? You'd throw yourself off a cliff for me? I'm touched,"

"Well, you're the one who kidnapped me in the first place without telling me who you were!" Sasha protested.

Mewtwo rubbed her ears with an amused smirk. "Well, at least our meeting wasn't as hectic as theirs, hm?"

"Shut up and keep reading."

~OMAKE~

(Written by Kishou the Badger)

The best part about being a Psychic type was the power to teleport; useless in fighting, but good to get out of a fight. Or in a Legendary's case, go far away for a well-deserved break, even for a little while.

"So this is Alola." Mewtwo noted, telepathically raising a pile of sand up to eye level. "It feels a lot more... tropical, than Hoenn."

"Are you sure it's okay to travel out here at night?"

"Any time is technically dangerous depending on a Pokemon's eternal clock. Strolling through the dark is no more dangerous than the day; just ask Ash and Team Rocket."

Sasha rolled her eyes. "Sure, an all powerful Psychic like yourself would say that. But what about the ROUTs?"

"The what?"

"Raticates Of Unusual Typings. I heard they became Dark types after an invasion of Yungoos."

Mewtwo scoffed. "Like those even exist."

"CAAAAATE!" was the only warning they heard before a bulky black blob of a shadow tackled the Legendary down to the ground and taking a huge bite at his tube-like second neck.

The Raticate lost of course. Reduced to a charred lump no less by an overcharged Aura Sphere. But Sasha laughed at how caught off guard he was, and wouldn't let him hear the end of how "girly" he sounded screaming.

Thanks for reading this far (Or skipping to this chapter to see if reading the previous 12 are worth it)