Alex

"Thunder. Alex is waking up." I hear a voice say as my eyes open. I groan as I try to sit up and get my bearings. My body aches all over and it take a fair while to collect my thoughts and remember exactly why I'm waking up on a concrete floor fully soaked in stale water.

"How do I keep finding ways to pass out..." I mutter idly before noticing Thunder rushing towards me.

"Alex!" He yells as he jumps up onto my chest.

"Oof!" I grunt from the impact. "Good to see you too, buddy. I trust it worked?"

"It did. we're all alive, the thugs are tied up and the Mew are free. Apparently that alarm you pulled summoned fire fighters who then called the police."

I stiffen a little, my body sending a jolt of pain in retort that I try and ignore. "We're sure they're the real deal, right? Not the guys on Rocket's payroll?"

"Mewtwo's keeping an eye on them. They already busted one of them for pulling a gun on us. If anyone else tries anything malicious our psychic friend will shut them down."

"Good. How's everyone else faring?"

"Ninetales and Growlithe woke up before you and are looking for pokeballs to open; you know how Team Rocket is. Sylveon's still out, but not for long I suspect. One other thing. Alex, I wanted to thank you for having faith in me."

I grin. "Of course. You've always been there for me. Regardless of time travel stupidity, that will never change." I take hold of him in a hug, one that he quickly responds to in kind. "Whatever the future looks like, I'll be right there beside you."

"You always were."

"Alex." Mewtwo calls. I turn to face him, but my gaze rests on the green-tailed clone behind them. Once again adrenaline kicks in.

"Mewtwo! Behind you!" I yell as I dash for cover.

"Do not worry, Alex. Beta has become an ally."

"That fast? It took us weeks to get you to where you're at now."

"The sharing of memories appears to have expedited the process significantly." Beta says. "However now that Project Mewtwo breathes its last, I do wonder, what do I do after this?"

"I..." Mewtwo starts before pausing. "I never considered that. This entire time I have been focused on this as my end goal. Learning who I was, and then ending this project."

"If I may intrude," Ninetales says, stepping forward. "While the cloning project has been decommissioned, Rocket is still out there. This single victory doesn't spell their end. Perhaps that could be your next goal."

"That is," I add. "Assuming that's what you actually want."

"I am... unaccustomed... to having the luxury of choice." Beta mutters.

"It is a lot for me too." Mewtwo joins. "However Ninetales is correct. Rocket's efforts will continue. Perhaps it would be best if those efforts did not continue unchallenged. I would like to continue the fight."

"Very well. I shall join you. If for no other reason than we are brothers."

"Think you could hang around until all the legal fallout has settled? Until any changes, enforcement or reforms take place Rocket will want all our heads on a silver platter. Best we stick together to keep that from happening."

"A wise precaution."

"Speaking of, Ninetales, can I ask a favor?"

"Of what nature?" She asks.

"New Hope and the Guild are probably worried sick about us. Seeing as you know where the portals are, could you head over to Pokemar and update them? Suddenly vanishing during official investigations would not be a good look for me."

"I believe I can manage that. I know of a portal nearby. Once I return I'll show you."

"You've been a great help, Ninetales. Let us know if there's something we can do to repay you."

"Ending the incursions into Pokemar is repayment enough. I shall see you all soon." Ninetales turns and leaves.

"I hope we run into her again sometime." Thunder comments.

"I imagine we will if we want to stop back here to visit everyone." I say.

The sound of movement catches my attention. Sylveon is stirring.

"Ohhhhh..." Sylveon moans. "Thunder, was that you? I saw light everywhere and now I'm here. What happened?"

"We had to do something crazy. But it's over now. Everyone's alive and the Mew are free." Thunder replies.

"Ugh... I feel like my head is in a vice..." She slowly brings herself up to her feet and takes a glance around. Her gaze rests on the outside door and I see panic fill her eyes. "Oh no..." She takes off like a rocket, sprinting outside. Thunder and I follow her and find her staring at our car, riddled with bullet holes.

"Oh crap! Jackson! Josh!" I yell, sprinting towards the car. I get about halfway before I spot Josh's head peering up from the window. He's fine. Relief swells in my body, but Jackson isn't here, which is worrying. "Josh, what happened here? Where's Jackson?" I ask once I get within earshot.

"The guys with guns tried to kill us but a bunch of Mew came and saved us. Last time I saw dad he was heading inside."

I turn to Thunder. "Did you see Jackson inside the warehouse?"

"Yeah. He came and helped tie up all the thugs. I think he's looking for Tsunami and Salty right now."

"Well, that's a load off my mind." I sigh. As I tell Josh what Thunder said I catch a glimpse of Sylveon staring at us with a conflicted frown. "Give us a moment, Josh."

I walk over to Sylveon, Thunder following close behind. "I suppose you had hoped to never see him again."

"That's the thing... You'd think I would. But the moment I saw that car covered in holes, I panicked. I panicked over whether or not Josh was still alive. I don't understand. I hate him with every fiber of my being and yet..."

"I would imagine all the affection you once felt hasn't truly gone away. I won't defend his actions, but I know he wants to make amends. Hear him out. I think it will provide some closure."

She takes a moment to think, staring at Josh as he gets out of the car and walks towards us.

"Alright... Fine..." Before long Josh has reached us. I turn to face him.

"She agrees to talk to you. Make it count." I say.

"I will." He turns to her. "Hey Shadow."

"She doesn't like that name. Just call her Sylveon for now."

"Okay... Hey Sylveon." He says. I translate for the both of them.

"Josh..." She replies curtly.

"I... I guess I should say that I'm sorry for what I did..."

"You need to do more than that. Do you have any idea what it's like to learn that your closest friend suddenly hates you because you became something they didn't want?"

"I don't hate you! I never did! I just... I lost my temper. And I treated you poorly."

"You say that but you forget." She waves her feelers. "I have an empathic sense. I felt your distain. Your disappointment. Your frustration. It broke my heart. Was it ever real? Was I just a means to an end? Did you ever actually care?"

"Sha- uh, Sylveon, I...I did want you to be an Umbreon for... well, because I wanted an Umbreon. And yes, I played with you mostly at night for that reason. But I did, and still do, care about you. It was real. And I want you back. You're my pokemon. And I don't want some stupid mistake to change that. I'm sorry. I am so, so very sorry. You didn't deserve it."

Sylveon gently takes his hand with her feelers, no doubt to verify if he's being honest. After a moment she lets go. She fights the urge to cry.

"You mean it... You do actually care..." She takes a full minute to compose herself before speaking again. "You're saying what I felt was an overreaction?"

"Yes. Exactly. I got mad over nothing. Please. Will you forgive me?"

She lets out a short sardonic chuckle. "A freaking tantrum..." She lets out a shaky breath as the tears threaten to fall once more. "I...I forgive you, Josh. ...But I'm not coming back."

"What?! But-"

"You want to try and mend the wound. I appreciate that. But this wound is just too deep. You need to understand just how badly you hurt me. It'll take time for me to trust you again, if I ever can. But," She gives a halfhearted smile. "I'll still be around. I'll try and visit when I can. But for now I need to keep my distance. And someday, if I'm ready, I'll come back."

"B-but I... I apologized. I thought-"

"Josh," I say. "I think this is the best outcome you're going to get. It's her life and her choice. Like she said, you broke her heart. That's not going to just go away."

"But what if she gets killed? A wild pokemon might decide to attack her."

"After what I saw in the warehouse fight I'd say she is fully capable of defending herself."

"But I... I don't want her to go..." Tears start welling in his eyes.

"I've only been on Terranor for about a month, but something I've learned is that one of the most important parts of a pokemon-human relationship is trust. Trust her. Trust that she's making the best decision for both you and herself. It hurts now, but it's far better in the long run."

"Trust..." He turns back to Sylveon, tears in his eyes, and hugs her. She is taken aback but gradually accepts the affection. "I'm going to miss you..." He says. I translate it for her.

"You know, I think in my own way, I will too." Slowly the two of them separate and Sylveon starts to back away. "Take care, Josh." She says as she turns and walks away. "Actually, one more thing. I think I figured out my new nickname."

"Oh yeah?" Thunder says. "Let's hear it."

She smiles. "Mercy."

"It's a beautiful name." I say with a nod. "Best of luck to you, Mercy."

"As to you, Alex. Here's hoping we meet again." She turns back and walks away, heading off towards the south. Soon she turns a corner and disappears from view behind a building.

"I wish I never did that to her..."

"What's done is done. At least now you'll be less likely to make that mistake again."

"I suppose... So, what are you two going to do now?"

"Well, there's likely going to be an investigation that we'll have to participate in, along with any number of legal hoops we're going to have to jump through. But once that headache is over and done with we're headed back home to Pokemar."

"Do you think I could come?" I ponder his request for a moment. Hydreigon had said that the presence of humans on Pokemar threaten the world's natural stability, but when he told me that I had already been there for about a month and a half. That'd be a good window of time for a visit with plenty of buffer time. And I suspect Jackson would jump at the chance to reconnect with his old friends.

"I'll talk to Jackson about it. If we do, we're gonna have to do some lessons on pokespeak."

"Yeah, yeah. Of course. When do you think we can go?

"Alex, heads up." Thunder says before gesturing to a pair of officers and Mewtwo approaching us. I let out a long sigh.

"And so it begins..." I mumble. "We'll talk about it later, Josh. It looks like it's time to deal with the aftermath of our little adventure." I set Thunder on my shoulder and head towards them. "Alright... Let's get this over with."