The next few months I was travelling around the Kanto, trying to find those Rocket bastards that may still have my case. Or, at least, anyone from Team Rocket at all. I checked on every city, every crime gathering, every trace that Team Rocket have left…
But I have found nothing. It`s like they have vanished into the void, or never existed… or just moved to another region. But also I could not find anything to tell me where could they move to, so now I have to search the whole planet to find them… Possibly, starting with Johto as the closest region.
But as just this idea came into my head, also a letter suddenly came too. I found it on the window in my temporary hideout, so on the first check this scared the shit out of me.
Ven, I need you to help me. I have tracked the possible reason of missing trainers… Meet me tomorrow at 8 P.M. near the Cerulean Cave. Take your team with you.
L.S.
Oh my god. Is L.S. - Leaf Stone? This actually sounds logical as the International Police may actually find me if they need to. This thought scared me even more.
I didn`t thought Leaf tries to connect to me this early. Well, I hoped she would never try to connect me at all! These words sound like she means business, but how can I be sure if I don`t know how she thinks of me now? Especially after I lost control over myself, tried to kill her and then brusquely left. She asks me to take my team with me… If she tried to lure me into a trap, she would better take me as weak as possible. Something is really off here.
Of course, this still may be a setup for catching me, but the cover sounded familiar. This suddenly reminded me of the problem I was constantly seeing in news all this time, starting from the very League. People are missing again somewhere near Route 24 without a trace. No one could solve this problem, and cops even stopped the investigation due to the lack of forces. Maybe, Leaf did find something interesting. Maybe we can uncover the mystery of the Kanto Stalker!
But could this be dangerous for me? Of course, it could. It definitely IS! But if this is a setup, then it`s useless to run away. I just need to accept my fate and deal with it quickly.
With ANY means, if necessary.
I headed to the beach on the north of Cerulean behind the small forest, where I met Harry. That day the cave was blocked with rocks, but now it is cleared and free to enter. Unless you don`t fear strong pokemon that live there…
Firstly, I observed the place from other side of river, trying to find the signs of setup. Unfortunately, the place was too overgrown to look out, but I actually noticed some suspicious cars heading there. It`s good that I decided to come there much earlier. So I managed to invent a couple of deadly plans and headed bravely to the entrance.
I got through the forest and finally reached the entrance. Two cars with suspicious people in black were guarding the cave, and one single girl in strict green uniform was standing right near the very entrance. The only girl that I count dangerous.
"Move on!"
Suddenly the gun poked me in my back. The man behind me definitely meant business, so I decided to follow his words for now.
I slowly headed forward, quickly observing the territory. Only two men there, one is behind me, and another one is guarding the hill nearby… I think I can handle them alone, but there must be more. Let`s see what their boss can tell.
"I knew you would come." She said, slowly turning to me. "You never leave an opportunity to discover a mystery."
"Why? Maybe, I came to YOU." I playfully replied. "The mystery is just a bonus..."
"Oh, stop it, Ven! Now I know everything about you." Leaf interrupted me, trying to express her mistrust in me. But I can clearly see her emotions she attempted to hide. But also I felt myself a bit relieved – if she actually knew EVERYTHING about me, she could not talk to me that calmly.
"I`ll let you think that way." I nodded and made a step forward to look at the entrance of the cave. "So why I`m here?"
Leaf shook her head in disappointment and then proceeded to briefing me:
"I was sent here to this new case, as I`m the Kanto expert now. People started to be missing somewhere on this Route." She was saying with a worried, trembling voice. "The last location is here. And the only place we can check now… it this cave."
I took some time to observe the entrance and the place near it. Well, looks like a regular cave, but… actually feels like something strange is in there. The intuition literally told me that darkness and evil surrounds this place. Also a very slight stench of corpses.
"Is this a graveyard?" I asked Leaf with a serious tone.
"No, why should it be? She questioned me in return.
"I feel death." I shortly and brutally replied.
"Oh my god…" Leaf shockingly exclaimed and made a step back.
This dark aura is sure real. I even felt that I just WANT to enter this cave and find out what is inside, just of curiosity. I also feel that this could be really important.
I took off the top pokeball from my shoulder belt and released Dumpling outside. The cops around us yelled and pointed their guns at him, but Leaf stopped them:
"Halt! We`re going in. Guard the entrance."
They took away their stupid guns and nodded, accepting the order. After Leaf made a step closer to me, I headed inside with two partners following me.
This place looked like a regular cave, nothing special about it. I have seen lots of caves like this one. Golbats screech somewhere far away, sometimes other pokemon appear in our sight when we pass tunnels, but with a large dragon monster behind my back I felt myself safer. The most threat was radiating from the girl also following me.
"I… never had a chance to congratulate you on your victory at Pokemon League." Leaf tried timidly to start a conversation on our way.
"Yeah, thanks." I waved away, like this was nothing. "Better tell me how I`m ended with working for the International Police? Why did you decide to call for me exactly? Don`t you have forces to assault this cave by yourself?"
"Why would we need to assault it?" She exclaimed, like I said something stupid. "We better send a small squad of strong pokemon champion and a psychic in his support…"
"Come on, Leaf, you could at least have tried to make some decent scouting!" I quietly played dumb. "You would know that I`m not the champion."
"But… You defeated Pokemon League, aren`t you?" Leaf was so surprised she even stopped.
"No, I`m not. I refused to take the title after defeating Douchebag." I shook my head.
"But why? Being a champion is SO great! Millions of people dream of becoming one, and you just… refused?"
"I just supposed that sitting boringly on the throne and sweep the floor with some random trainer once a year isn`t exactly for me…" I explained her my point of view. "Well, maybe it is not EXACTLY like this, but you got the point."
She remained silent for some seconds, and I did not want to lose more time. The girl quickly caught up with me later. This time I decided to interrogate her a little:
"You seem to become a boss of some sort." I commented her position near the entrance.
"Well, as I returned back to the Central Office, my bosses began to praise me for taking part in destroying a whole criminal organization even before I had the chance to explain everything." Leaf gladly told me her story. "The news about Jane`s death pleased them too, so… here I am. Leading my own squad."
"Now this is a thing that worth a congratulation…" I replied her, but interrupted myself on place, feeling something uneasy. Some sort of pressure on my head. "Stop."
Leaf walked to me and then suddenly grabbed her head with hands and bended forward with a cry.
"AAAARGHHH! Pain!" She was crying out loud. "I can`t… stand it…"
I rushed back to her and helped to sit near the wall. Her face was red and she breathed heavily.
"What`s happening?" I asked her worried. Dumpling approached us too, growling with a worry of his own. "Stand on guard, boy." I ordered him and returned my attention back to Leaf.
"There is a barrier…" She said carefully, feeling hard time on talking at all. "Some extremely strong psychic interference…"
"You`re right. I felt this too, but maybe this influenced me not as strong as you…" I quickly gazed around, trying to find at least something – a device emitting some psychic waves or something like that. "Are there psychic –type pokemon in this place?"
"Some Slowpokes and Kadabras on the deeper levels, according to professor Oak." She tried to remember the info that I might need. "But they can`t be… THIS strong!"
Leaf grabbed my collar and pulled closer to her.
"There is… darkness deep in this cave." She wheezed through heavy breath. "Find it. Stop it."
She was talking like having a heat.
"I won`t leave you!" I told her. "Not in this place!"
"Go. I have my own strength." She grabbed the ultraball from her pocket and showed it to me. "I will stay here until you return."
"Are you sure?" I insisted. But despite feeling not well, her face expression was determined as ever.
So I listened to her and stood up, calling Dumpling to me with a jest. Leaf released a light-blue pokemon that I have never seen. He had some lines across his body, intimidating yellow eyes and a huge skin sack beneath his mouth. Whatever this thing is, I feel it can protect Leaf if needed. I don`t want to leave her right there, but if there is a psychic barrier that she can`t pass – we cannot move forward.
Only I can.
"Let`s go, Dumpling." I commanded to my partner and proceeded deeper into the cave.
Heading forward and forward, the bad feeling grew up just more and more. Also the smell of death was becoming stronger too… Until we reached its source.
After taking another corner, I felt myself glad that Leaf stayed behind. The scene was horrible. Some big drops of blood scattered around the walls of cave, together with pieces of pokemon limbs. This reminded me of Lavender garage, but this time it was a real butchery. A very terrible sight, not everyone can withstand this.
"Urrrr…" Dumpling growled uneasily. Or, maybe it was his stomach wishing to erupt from this sight. I can understand that.
"Yeah, I know." I sighed. "But in real world outside of pokeball this… maybe a regular thing. So just pull yourself together and stand here. Be on guard."
While Dumpling keeps the border, I observe the limbs lying on floor. The first I approached looked like a tail of Raticate… The edges didn`t look sharp, so it was definitely torn apart with some immense power. The monster did this must be really strong, and what`s more important – it must be wild. What could it be? After observing some of them, I noticed this thing to be a common sign. There were more and more pieces as I proceed even deeper – these were from different pokemon; even ones I don`t recognize. Anyway, I don`t find out much of it.
"Let`s go. You may look away, if you want to." I ordered Dumpling to follow me and together we proceeded even deeper into the cave.
With each step, I felt the pressure in my head growing. This is not like in Lavender tower; this was… different. Dumpling felt it too, but he kept his head straight.
We found the old miners` ladder to down levels and got even lower.
"Oh my god…"
Now we have found the obvious trails of brutal fight there. There were more corpses almost eaten by smaller creatures that scattered away upon our arrival. I`m sure it was not them to kill them all. Everything points at the same creature as earlier – someone strong enough to tear apart a pokemon. But who exactly this is – I don`t know. Machamp, maybe? Some angered legendary pokemon? No other ideas.
But then I finally found what I wanted to find. And wished never to find.
The missing trainers.
Among the dead pokemon there were also human bodies, complete and… not. Maybe they were trainers or just random travelers to wander around this cave, and they were caught up by a surprise by this monster. Fatally.
Damn, I REALLY glad Leaf is not with me.
"Are you okay, Dumpling?" I asked my partner. He looks really disturbed by the looks of everything around us. We are in the middle of a graveyard, but there are no graves. That is horrible, but we need to continue. We need to be careful not to share this fate too.
Soon we reached another floor, where the underground river was situated across a huge room. This reminded me of a cave where we encountered Articuno. There was a lone island in the middle of huge hidden lake, and it seemed to be something strange going on there. The air itself was distorting and sending waves everywhere. The tensed atmosphere there reaches its absolute peak, even Dumpling clenched his fists and growled threateningly.
"Yes, Dumpling… Be ready for anything." I raised my hand before him and slowly headed forward, looking at the motionless figure on the far island with one eye and looking under my feet with another. That was hard… Avoiding stomping into another poor dead body was hard enough too.
We were too far to see what exactly is happening on the other island, and also we had a whole lake to cross to get there. We crouched on the shore and tried to look forward. Darn it, I just had to let that asshole take my binocular…
"Okay. Let`s fly over it, but… carefully." I whispered to Dumpling and stood up, starting to unpin my shoulder belt. After that I put it on Dumpling`s neck and wrapped it tighter. Charizard`s look was really surprised. I pulled his head closer to me and said very strictly, looking straight in his eyes. "We will fight carefully. NOT to the very end. You will NOT resist if I tell you to retreat, you get it? If I tell you to run away – you will leave me and head back to Leaf with all pokeballs and warn them with any way you can, you get it?"
His eyes stared at me, worried and doubted.
"You WILL do it, Dumpling!" I yelled at him, whispering. "I don`t want to risk your lives, but we have to try and stop that monstrosity, whatever it is. You understand?"
Suddenly he twitched. Of course, he did not want to do such a thing, but I will not let him die because of me, and I need to know that he will do EXACTLY as I say if it is needed.
"Grrrr…" He shortly nodded, stating that he will listen to me even he doesn`t want to.
"Let`s go." I said and hopped on his back.
We flew to the distant island, trying to keep as close to the water as we can. The blurred image of something from the other side was constantly exploding with wild energies, blinding us with bright flashes. But we reached the island and landed right on the shore…
I jumped down Dumpling and stared at the figure before me. The pillar of energy disappeared as the pokemon obviously felt our presence and just stopped doing whatever he was doing.
"Another pitiful slaver came for my head?" The voice inside my head asked me. It sounded rude and brutal… but at the same time – tired.
I was shocked at the same time by two things, and I don`t even know what hit me stronger – the sudden revelation of a talking pokemon… or the fact that I KNOW this pokemon.
The tall thin figure with thick legs, very close to human, but with long purple tail that turns into stomach. Three fingers on each hand and twisted high feet. Head looking like alien with small horns on sides.
This is exactly the statue I sat at the mansion on Cinnabar, but… alive!
I had no doubts. The creature before me is Mewtwo.
I was shocked, hearing his voice in my head. A psychic-type pokemon… I shouldn`t be so surprised about it. But he seems to be much more intelligent that the others. I must try to talk to him. Still, I need to keep calm and stay strong. Although this may end up being a really huge discovery, I`m here for another reason, otherwise I may end up like those poor souls.
"No, my dear friend… I need you whole!" I made a careful step back and straightened. I don`t want to show fear. I`m not scared. It doesn`t matter if this is an artificially created pokemon that has the strength compared to legends. I even forgot about the horrors I saw on my way there, I just became really curious.
Mewtwo slowly turned around to face me and stared right at my soul. His small eyes radiated anger and hatred. However, I can understand it.
"Why are you here?" He asked me, like trying to get rid of me. "To enslave me just like previous ones tried?"
I hold my breath for some seconds. This moment was as tense as it can be – one my wrong word can immediately leave me with my head exploded. I saw him being capable of it…
"I have other reasons to be here." I tried to show as little hostility in my voice as possible. But I risked and took out the purple capsule out of my pocket to show him. "See this?"
Mewtwo clenched his teeth and stared at it with fire in his eyes. He recognizes it. And he fears it.
"You know what it is?" I asked him, shaking the capsule in my hand. "This thing is called the Masterball. A special kind of pokeball that captures any pokemon without fail and bends his will to the master. Completely."
Now Mewtwo had to retreat back, taking a defensive position. He feels the threat coming from this small piece of metal on my hand.
"It was made by your creator specifically for YOU." I explained it to the pokemon. "To make a 100% percent sure that you – the most powerful pokemon on the Planet – will listen to him and help him conquer the world."
Mewtwo looked a bit down, trying his best to recover any memories he has.
"The owner of Masterball and the owner of YOU… rules the world…" I slightly threw the capsule in my hand, thus making Mewtwo twitch. "One your touch – and it`s over, do you understand?"
"Why are you talking, human?" He asked with disgust. "Why wasting time?"
I kept the silence for some seconds, thinking how I better want to tell this.
"Because I don`t want it." I said and in a single move threw away the millions-costing capsule into the lake. "My pokemon are strong enough to count as strongest in Kanto region. I don`t want to enslave you. I want to make a connection with you. The exact way trainers make friends with pokemon…"
I approached Dumpling and grabbed the pokeball from shoulder belt hanging on his neck.
"…with a pokemon battle."
Mewtwo`s gaze trembled in misunderstanding. He was surprised by my behavior, a bit differing from all other trainers that obviously came here to catch him. Any other would capture him with a Masterball immediately, but I don`t want to make it easy.
"But I have a request. You seem to be an intelligent pokemon. You understand what I say and – what`s more important – you let ME understand you. So please… Keep your powers under control."
Judging by his face, twisted in anger, from my words he understood only that I`m going to fight him.
"Not all people want to take your freedom away." I quietly said. "You were brought to this world in pain and horror… You can`t even imagine, WHAT Giovanni sacrificed to bring you into the existence." After these words, I clenched my fists, remembering exactly what was sacrificed. "You`re the outcast, just like me. So I wish to show you my good intentions… and to show you that I`m strong enough for you to trust me."
I threw the pokeball before me, releasing Reaper outside to fight. It`s actually been a while since we had a real battle, so he is really eager to fight.
"You battle with your slaves?" Mewtwo`s voice threateningly echoed in my head. "What intentions could this mean?"
"Only the best ones." I smiled and invited Beedrill to start the battle. "Start with Pin missile!"
Mewtwo stepped back and, clenching his teeth, spread hands widely to create an energy barrier that blocked all our pins.
"Oh, okay. Let`s try to attack with Poison Sting now!" I changed the tactic.
This time Mewtwo pointed at Reaper and began to shoot star-shaped energy clots from his hands. This looked like Swift, so it obviously reached my pokemon without any problems, beating him really hard. But he shook his head and rushed to the opponent to make a small sting in his leg, unfortunately not succeeding in poisoning him.
"Begone, slave!" Mewtwo raised his hand, tossing Reaper back and creating another force field that looked like exactly like a protection from Safeguard.
This pokemon is really smart. He knows how to protect himself from trainers and knows how to counter moves. I wonder if he may know more than four moves? Or nature blocks act even for artificial pokemon?
"Fine. Attack with Twineedle, give your best!" I ordered to Reaper.
As Beedrill rushed to the opponent, Mewtwo once again raised his hand caught him in the psychic sphere to explode it and crush my pokemon into ground with extreme power. Even though we don`t have a status screen here, I feel Reaper is close to defeat.
"Return!" Worried about his condition, I beamed Beedrill away from the battlefield. "Harry, your turn!"
Now my Victreebel takes place on the dark stage and prepares to fight the enemy. For now, we managed to land a couple of weak hits, but I hope we can outsmart and exhaust Mewtwo. This is the only our chance to win.
"Start with Flash!" I ordered to my partner.
The opponent brought his hands together and formed a chaotic clot of energy between then, releasing the stream of stars at Victreebel. The Swift hit us pretty badly, leaving some really deep cuts on the body. Damn, this move has never been SO powerful. Harry had to put lot of effort into recovering after that. His Flash blinded our opponent, but this will not be enough.
"Stand strong, Harry! Use Acid!"
Mewtwo clenched his teeth and lifted himself up with the powers of psychic force and shot a purple energy out of his hand, accurately getting Harry and throwing him onto the wall right near me.
"Crap! Can you battle?" I carefully asked Victreebel, helping him to get out. His weak but determined cry stated that he still has the power to fight. "Then go. Finish what`s needed."
Returning my attention back to the battlefield I noticed a glimpse of Mewtwo`s a bit surprised look. But that was for just a second, as he then crashed into the ground with extreme power and targeted his another energy shot at my pokemon once more. Harry tensed and spit a clot of acid at the enemy, hurting him but no more able to dodge any more of attacks, so this one finished him, throwing off the island.
"Harry!" I shouted worried and immediately rushed to him. His body got up to the surface and released a couple of bubbles.
He is alive.
"Return." I quietly said, beaming him back inside his ultraball. Now I fixed it on Dumpling`s belt and grabbed the next capsule.
"You do not finish the fight. Why?" Mewtwo suddenly asked me, really curious.
"Because I fear you." I honestly replied. "I fear that you may hurt them."
"I do hurt them anyway!" The pokemon clenched his fists.
"Not completely. I better surrender this fight and put myself under the risk rather than letting you kill them." I had a serious reply to this one. "You have the greatest power in your hands. But you don`t know how to use it. You fear this world and so you just destroy anyone showing just a little threat to you. For the amount of people you killed they would put you to sleep… forever."
"..but you have another purpose?"
"Yes, I do. Moment, you`re next!"
Now the mighty Golbat entered the field, carefully hovering near me.
"Start with Poison Fang, my boy!" I smiled cunningly.
The bat pokemon rushed to his opponent, opening the jaw wide. Mewtwo stretched his hands forward and pointed all his six fingers at the approaching target, exploding him on the flight. Still, even after a powerful attack like that Moment angered even more, piercing the hand of the artificial pokemon and finally releasing his poison inside the enemy.
"How dare you!" He screamed and threw Moment away, preparing another attack.
"Bite him!"
The stream of star-shaped missiles magically appeared in front of Mewtwo and headed to Moment, exploding on the contact and taking him away from his course, sending Golbat straight into the ground. The wounds like that would bring down anyone… but not my guys!
Moment still had the strength to stand up and release a loud cry, inspiring me and making Mewtwo feel nervous. After that he made one last push to reach the opponent`s leg and bite it with all his might.
"Get off me!" The pokemon yelled at Golbat and tried to shake him off, but the grip was very strong. My partner definitely didn`t want to release his prey, even while being so close to end.
"Do not lose him! Hit with Wing attack!"
Mewtwo took away his left hand to materialize a purple sphere of devastating energy, preparing to launch it at Moment. But at this seconds my partner clenched his teeth stronger and hit the enemy in the stomach, making him lose the focus and release all accumulated energy right on the point. The sphere exploded in Mewtwo`s hand, throwing back both battlers – the artificial one barely stood on his legs after that… and Moment did not. Heavily wounded he released the last cry and blacked out.
"You did a good job, return." I have praised my pokemon and sent him back into his pokeball before replacing it with another one from the belt.
Mewtwo is very powerful, but we exhaust him. The poison and numerous attacks make their effect, and right now the genetic pokemon stands there, heavily breathing, covering his bitten arm and staring at me.
However, he is not attacking.
Maybe, all previous battles were a pushover for him and he just wants to check what I`m capable of. Maybe, he is just curious about my personality differing from anyone he encountered before. Or, maybe he just thinks that I came to kill him and wants me to finally end his suffering of existing. But I already learnt one important thing.
He is NOT a stupid beast.
Mewtwo is far more intelligent than he looks. He have learnt our language and found out how to transmit it into our minds! A beast would just finish me far ago. He is just waiting me to make the next move.
"You`re wishing to test how actually strong you are? Then let`s see how you handle THIS monster!"
After the energy explosion flashed over our island, the tall menacing figure heightened over Mewtwo. A dragon-like pokemon roared at him loudly, almost pushing him back.
"Mindless creature!" Mewtwo yelled at Lei Sheng. "No matter how big you are… You fall just like the others!"
"That`s exactly my point, bro!" I cheerfully addressed Mewtwo. "But hey! Don`t offend my little Gyarados! Lei Sheng, use Dragon Dance!"
Angered, our opponent pressed his right leg forward and leaned on it, stretching hands to Lei Sheng. The menacing psychic aura surrounded him like a flame and then appeared around my pokemon as well. The heavy monster was lifted into the air like nothing, but for Mewtwo it was a serious challenge. The body of Lei Sheng followed the movement of our opponent`s hands, but it was slow and clumsy. Yet it seemed the psychic pressure was really hurt for Gyarados, he managed to escape it and jump aside, empowered by his ritual.
"Okay, we can withstand that. Let`s go for another round!"
Showing the first fear mixed with anger, Mewtwo retreated back and raised his hands to create a barrier in front of him. Meanwhile, Lei Sheng safely performed another dance and opened his jaw, ready to put his teeth to good use.
"Finally. BITE!"
Empowered by the mystical energies of dragon ritual, Lei Sheng rushed to his opponent with opened mouth and pushed the barrier back, making it to the enemy and biting his arm before he could cast any more dangerous moves. Mewtwo used this to launch a powerful energy pulse that pushed Lei Sheng away and pressed him into the ground.
What power… Amazing. And dangerous.
"Good, good. We`re getting closer! Another Bite, big guy! Aim for the middle!"
Now it`s time to go violent. Lei Sheng jumped forward and at high-speed headed towards Mewtwo, opening his jaw and successfully biting the waist. From my point of view, it looked like Gyarados is going to bite him apart.
"RRAAARGH!" Mewtwo screamed, not telepathically this time, but really. He was screaming from the pain until the loud explosion deafened and blinded all of us…
I myself was knocked back on ground. Lei Sheng and Mewtwo were literally crushed into nearest walls. Too bad my partner got the furthest wall in the cave where he soon just fell down the water, unable to move anymore.
Damn, that was really dangerous! I will need a lot of time for them to recover after that.
I managed to return Lei Sheng into his greatball from here and then looked at Dumpling. He seems to be really worried about happening. He was observing the whole battle and learning how powerful our opponent is. And he does not lack of safety instinct.
"I know you`re scared." I tried to calm him down. "But I have a plan. Your foe is weakened. We just need to make one simple step… Trust me."
Dumpling switched his gazes between me and Mewtwo limping towards his battling position. Even the perfect pokemon is not all-powerful. Even he has the limits.
"Rawlr!" Dumpling said with determination, taking my belt off and giving it back to me. I nodded, accepted it and got on me again.
Mewtwo is now staring at me with killing glance. He is weakened by all our attacks, by all of my pokemon. He was never this close to defeat, and this is where we get him.
But he isn`t going to surrender. That is why he raised his trembling hands and created another wall of energy barrier before him.
"Iron Rogue." I said shortly and fixed my glasses.
Charizard headed up and covered the whole field with thick smoke that took away our opponent`s chance to land the next hits. Mewtwo was lost in this whirlwind of smog, expecting an attack from any side. He prepared his hand to shoot more energy balls, but the attack went exactly where he did not expect – Dumping struck him with steel wing so strong that opponent`s missile once again exploded in his hand. Mewtwo roared again, this time just from the sense of despair.
"This is it, Dumpling…" I brutally said, taking out a small empty ultraball from my pocket. It`s so good I have some of them. "Away to the Matrix Mode."
Now Charizard looked surprised, but he understood me. He carefully moved away and pointed at the place where Mewtwo must be standing. This is exactly where I threw the ultraball.
"I… won`t give up!" The pokemon yelled, sending a psychic wave to break the capsule right in the air.
"I do not need you to." I shook my head and honestly replied while grabbing another ultraball.
Now all of his attention was definitely pointed at me. Now I am the threat to him, not my pokemon. So he began to cast another dangerous attack, targeting me.
I just need to wait for a moment…
Just like during our first battle with Quartz. I noticed the small moment of weakness after opponent`s attack and tried to use it as advantage.
Mewtwo released the energy ball at me, and I managed to jump away from it. Right in the mid-air I threw the ultraball straight at the pokemon, finally hitting his head and causing the small energetic explosion that sucked him inside it. Ultraball closed and fell down, blinking.
One shake, two shakes, and another one…
Then it exploded into pieces, releasing the monster out. Mewtwo, despite being barely able to stand, still has the power to resist.
"You will not.. put me in cage… AGAIN!" He roared at me in my mind that my head even began to hurt.
"This is a cage you will like!" I said, preparing another ultraball for the throw. This time Dumpling approached me, preparing to cover me if needed.
Mewtwo have concentrated so much power in his hands that even his body began to shake uncontrollably, even the purple lightning bolts began to strike chaotically around him.
"Rarr." Dumpling seriously said to me and headed straight to the epicenter, at this moment I prepared the next ultraball for the throw.
With two targets on the field, Mewtwo had problems with concentrating. Yet, he released the energetic storm he accumulated to sweep down Dumpling and me, and also some other surroundings. But to make another one, he had to overcome my pokemon that immediately rushed to him after that and just grabbed his hands.
Two pokemon clashed with each other like two sumo warriors. Under normal circumstances, Mewtwo would just crush Charizard, but he is weakened and exhausted. This is our chance.
I took an ideal aim on the opponent and threw the ultraball. Seeing the approaching capsule, Dumpling jumped aside and pushed Mewtwo toward it. Two collided, and the genetic pokemon once again was sucked into the capsule that landed on the floor.
One shake…
Two shakes…
Three shakes!
And then loud explosion, returning Mewtwo back to his original form.
He fell on his knees, heavily breathing and leaning on his hands. He has no powers to resist, all he has left is his will.
"I… will not… be… SLAVE!" He screamed at us.
"No, you will not." All I had to say.
Another ultraball… I have only two left. Two chances.
I grabbed the next one. Only the silhouette of Mewtwo stands before me. He tries his best to stand up, but Dumpling stands right near him to prevent it. The slight psychic aura surrounds the opponent, trying to grow stronger.
I didn`t let him to.
The ultraball headed to Mewtwo, drawing a perfect trajectory. I even felt the time slowing down as the capsule flies towards his head.
The contact happened… and the ultraball opened to convert the whole genetic pokemon into a cloud of energy stored inside. Finishing the procedure, it fell on the ground and rolled a bit closer to me.
Shake… Another shake… and the third one…
Click.
Mewtwo was caught.
I closed my eyes and exhaled loudly.
We made it.
Dumpling suspiciously stared at the capsule, like expecting it to break soon and release the captured pokemon once more, but it did not. I approached it and carefully took on my hand. For some reason this feels a bit heavier than usual ultraball. And I definitely feel a strong psychic aura radiating from inside of it.
Giving myself some time to restore my breath, I opened the ultraball myself.
The energetic lightning struck the ground, soon turning into Mewtwo standing on one knee and holding his wounded hand. He slowly looked up at me.
"So… Now you destroyed me…" His voice rang in my mind, still sounding contemptuously. "Should I fall on my both knees before you… master?"
"No. I don`t accept this." I shook my head and grabbed a Full restore from my pocket.
Spraying each part of his body I was slowly recovering Mewtwo from all the damage we`ve caused. Finishing with it, I grabbed his shoulder and helped to get up. Only when our eyes met on another level, I finished.
"Each pokemon in my team is on my level. We are partners and comrades. We fight only because we have no choice. And because we have to!" I assured him and carefully tapped his shoulder. "But now you are on our team. Actually, the best team in the world! Yet… I will not keep you there against your will. I will make sure you have no masters."
And with these words I crushed the very ultraball in my hand, disconnecting it from Mewtwo. I looked right into his eyes and finally said:
"From now on… YOU will be called Master!"
Mewtwo stared at me, not sure how to reply. He was very confused, and so looked down. Despite of me healing his body, he had no strength to fight. He had no will to fight.
"Why are you doing this?" He carefully asked me.
"I know that you`re a free-willed pokemon." I sincerely replied. "And I don`t want to take away your freedom. People will not understand me having a never-before-seen pokemon in my party, this will just make us more problems. I could really use the strength you possess, but… it is too hard to take under control. This is a thing you have to overcome by yourself."
I retreated back, still looking at him. Mewtwo lowered his eyesight and stared at his hands. The tensed, causing his body to glow brightly, thus making Dumpling take defensive stance, but then stopped. After some seconds he once again returned his attention to me.
"Then why you attacked me?" He asked with unmistakable naivety. He is just like a child – lost and confused, but wishing to learn.
"Heh… this is the nature of any pokemon – beating the shit out of each other to get to know your friend." I smiled and called Dumpling beside me. "Pokemon always have tons of energy inside them, they need to release it regularly, otherwise it may end badly for themselves. So even wild pokemon can fight each other just to save themselves. And… that`s how they train and learn to protect their home."
I approached Mewtwo again and put my hand on his shoulder.
"Not all fights have conflict reasons. This exact one… did not."
Judging by his eyes, he began to understand. Only then I retracted away.
"Now go." I shook my head in the direction of cave somewhere up above. "Fly away somewhere far from humans and train. Learn to control your abilities. I hope that one day, when I need you, you will answer my call... Master."
Mewtwo looked into my eyes, trying to find a glimpse of lie in them. Right now, there is none.
"You gave me a name…" He thoughtfully said. "Do you have a name?"
"Yes. A name that would fit you too. I am Vengeance."
Master understandingly nodded and then rushed up, breaking the ceiling and disappearing in the tunnels.
Only seconds after that Dumpling and me could exhale with relief.
"Looks like we have gained a new team member. But not officially… yet." I said to my partner with a smile. "Let`s go, pal. Leaf must have been waiting for us."
Charizard growled in agreement and got down so I can climb up him. After I tapped his shoulder, he ascended up and headed to the tunnel where we came from…