Chapter 30; burying the hatchet

Sonic and Moltres laid in the forest catching their breath after their pursuit of Giovanni. The latter had escaped and gone into exile, hopefully permanently as Sonic hoped.

"Moltres" he said after finally feeling strong enough to get up "are you ok?"

Moltres let out a weak cry as it looked at its trainer.

"You were amazing" Sonic said rubbing its long neck.

Moltres closed its eyes to Sonic's touch.

The duo heard steps coming from somewhere. Sonic and Moltres witnessed an officer – "is it officer Jenny? Or someone else? I really need to know if there is a dress code" he wondered – approach. Once she saw the duo laying on the ground she spoke into her walkie talkie and then turned to them.

"Hello Sonic".

Sonic knew at that moment it was the same officer.

"Hi officer".

The officer approached Sonic and Moltres, amazed by the legendary pokemon.

"You just keep one-upping yourself" she commented "the titles you bear don't even begin to describe you".

"This titles mean nothing to me. I only did what I thought was right. I believe I had already explained that".

She nodded.

"Let's get back".

Sonic recalled Moltres and followed officer Jenny towards Viridian city.

"Did you find anything in the Viridian gym?"

"Only their final base. Arrested as many as we could catch. Several escaped though. Gary Oak told me you went after their boss".

"He escaped again" Sonic said with a hint of guilt "my Moltres was hurt during our confrontation. It didn't have enough strength to pursue him".

"I understand. Locating him will not be easy".

"I know. But he said he was going into exile after this defeat. And even though I hate to admit it, I believe him".

"That's good news. Though that doesn't mean he won't be hunted down. We will have to appeal for a warrant to be issued for him internationally. He will have nowhere to go if we can do it".

Sonic nodded.

"What else did you find in the gym?"

"Everything. Plans for dominion of Kanto, black market pokemon selling documents and a lot more. But the scariest part was a drawer in Giovanni's office. It contained photos of you, a girl with brown hair and an old man".

"What?"

"And there's more. There was a recording. A girl calling for help, calling you for help".

"I received a phone call before the raid at silph co like that… they must have been planning to lure me away from Saffron by throwing me in a wild goose chase. My friend must have stopped them, learned of their plans and called me, sparking the events of the raid" Sonic concluded "and I assume they used a ditto to do it?"

"Yes we found a captured ditto in Giovanni's office as well".

Sonic felt a chill down his spine. Giovanni had a whole plan to destroy him. And it was ruined by Mike. Everyone called him the hero of Kanto but had it not been for Mike things would have ended way differently.

As they approached the Viridian gym, Sonic was surprised to find not only his raichu waiting but a huge crowd of reporters. Raichu saw him and run at him. Sonic knelt and hugged his partner, shedding a tear at their victory.

Of course the result of raichu's action was the journalists, who were up until that point asking Gary questions, immediately rushed to question Sonic.

"Mr the hedgehog what happened inside the gym?"

"Is the boss of team rocket arrested?"

"Is it true there was a powerful pokemon in there?"

Sonic hesitated to answer as he didn't want to get in trouble with the law for whatever reason. Officer Jenny pulled him aside for a moment and suggested he did make a statement. As he was one of the most known trainers throughout Kanto, his statement wouldn't only be real but make a positive impact. Sonic considered it and turned back to the cameras asking that he be allowed to speak. The journalists immediately stopped speaking.

"The Viridian gym was a front for team rocket. The gym leader, also known as Giovanni, the boss of team rocket was using it as a base for the team's operations. He was beaten by me. I gave chase but unfortunately he escaped. However team rocket has been compromised and has officially disbanded".

"Is it true there was a powerful new species of pokemon controlled by team rocket that escaped during the fight?"

Sonic knew immediately Gary had mentioned Mewtwo.

"That secret can't come out. Not yet anyway" he thought.

"It wasn't a new species. It was a powerful Alakazam wearing a suit of armor to control it and make it stronger" Sonic lied "it did escape during the fight".

"What do you plan to do next?" another reporter asked him.

"That is my move to decide" Sonic said "however I do have one last thing to say. Specifically to my friend and ally who fought bravely alongside me during the attack on silph co. And before you all ask no I won't reveal his identity".

Some reporters who looked ready to question Sonic on that front hesitated upon his statement and eventually pulled back. Sonic turned to the camera.

"My friend" he said "it's over. Team rocket is done. Jolty has been avenged. You don't have to suffer anymore mourning him. Mourning someone is a hard thing. But living your life to the fullest for them… that is a thousand times harder. But it is also worth it cause we only live once. If you're hearing this… I hope we have another battle one day. Because our first and only battle.. was by far the best one I've had" Sonic concluded.

Some of the journalists, who had come to know of what transpired in silph co, shed tears as they were moved by Sonic's statements. After that Sonic declared there would be no more statements and walked away, leaving officer Jenny to handle the crowd.

With raichu following him close by, Sonic approached Gary who was talking with professor Oak who had come as soon as heard about the incident.

"Hey Gary? A word please?"

Gary turned around and saw it was Sonic calling out to him. Excusing himself he approached Sonic.

"Have you come to gloat? That you beat the pokemon I couldn't beat?"

"No. I just came to give you this" he said handing Gary the earthbadge.

"I don't want your pity. I will earn it on my own".

"It's not pity. Giovanni gave me two before escaping. One is for you".

Gary took the earthbadge silently.

"Are you holding up ok?"

"I don't need sympathy either".

Sonic simply shrugged.

"Had to ask. You were in danger because of me after all. See you at the tournament".

"Huh? Where are you going?"

"To meet someone. Get some tutoring for my Moltres. And then somewhere secluded to train until the tournament" Sonic said as he headed towards the pokemon center to heal his team after the brutal fight.

"Wait" Gary called out.

Sonic looked over his shoulder.

"Why did you lie to the press about that pokemon? You obviously knew about it".

Sonic contemplated letting Gary in on the story of Mewtwo but decided against it.

"Some things are better left in the dark. That's all I'll say. And I will also ask one thing of you. Don't tell anyone about it. Not even your grandpa. At least not yet".

"Why?"

"Mewtwo has just been freed. It is a pokemon with intelligence. And immense power. So let's let it find a place it can call home and not disturb it. Maybe someday it will be able to trust humanity even after the pain it went through. On that day it will be ok for professor Oak to know about it".

"But when will that be?"

Sonic smiled mildly.

"Someday. You will know when".

"How?"

"You'll just know" Sonic said as he moved to go to the pokemon center.

After healing his team he went into Viridan forest and called out Moltres. Riding it with Raichu they soared to the skies of Kanto. The rejuvenating fresh air screamed around them as they flew with incredible speed towards Celadon city.

Sonic took the sights in hungrily, as his near death experience at Mewtwo's hands had really showed him how disconnected he was from the beauty of the world. The vast blue sea, the lush green forests, the mountains on the north side of the region. It was as if he was seeing their beauty for the first time.

He wondered where Mewtwo had retreated to, if he had retreated to a secluded mountain top or perhaps a deserted island.

"Wherever it is, I hope it can find peace in its freedom" Sonic thought.

His mind then drifted back to the confrontation with Giovanni as he relived it in his head trying to figure if Giovanni had said something that could be a hint to his location in exile.

While reliving the fight he recalled a specific detail that he had ignored for the longest time ever since discovering Mewtwo existed.

"Giovanni mentioned Mewtwo's creator had created a prototype. A prototype that was destroyed by that person".

His mind then recalled the audio file from silph co.

"Dr Fuji's work hasn't gone to waste".

"Dr Fuji" Sonic repeated though the wind didn't let his voiced out thought reach raichu and Moltres.

"But where would this dr Fuji be now? Unless…" his mind made a crazy thought.

"After our raid with Mike… mr Fuji… was shocked when I mentioned project two".

No, there was no way, his mind kept repeating.

"There is no way mr Fuji and Mewtwo's creator… are one and the same. Right?" Sonic questioned himself.

But no matter how much he thought it over he couldn't just rule it out either. He didn't know about mr Fuji's past. So it was entirely possible.

"I need to find out" Sonic thought as Celadon city appeared in the horizon.

Sonic landed outside the city and recalled Moltres. Landing in the center of the town on a legendary pokemon wasn't the best idea for going unnoticed. He then headed immediately to mr Fuji's house to have Moltres and Pinsir's moves adjusted and to dig for answers.

Reaching mr Fuji's house he found him and Reina there watching a replay of the broadcast in which Sonic had given his speech. Hearing his footsteps they turned to see him and smiles lit up their faces.

Reina rushed and hugged him unexpectedly as Sonic after a moment of awkwardness hugged her back. Mr Fuji approached as well.

"Looks like you were able to find the strength to move forward. And on your own too".

"No. Not entirely on my own" Sonic said as he recalled his battle with elite four Agatha "did Mike happen to show up?"

"Unfortunately no" mr Fuji said seriously "we haven't seen him since the silph co battle. But I'm sure he heard your message. He is a good kid. He will find his way back".

"I hope so" Sonic said.

After a few more questions, Sonic asked mr Fuji to help teach Pinsir earthquake, and bulk up, forgetting submission and revenge, while Moltres, which mr Fuji and Reina were impressed but not surprised as the news of Sonic's chosen one of Moltres titled had reached them as well and had not doubt they were real, was to be taught to use sunny day, solar beam and air slash, replacing ancient power, fire blast and wing attack. As mr Fuji got to work Reina noticed the bruises on Sonic.

"What are those?" she asked concerned.

That was the chance Sonic was looking for to start digging for answers.

"During the battle in Viridian city Giovanni's ultimate weapon tried to strangle me".

"That monster" Reina said in shock "twice you fought him and twice he didn't hesitate to go after you".

"Yeah. That pokemon was very strong. Even with that armor it was wearing".

"I wonder what kind of Alakazam was that strong" Reina commented.

"It wasn't an Alakazam" Sonic admitted.

Reina looked at him in question while mr Fuji, who was helping teach Pinsir earthquake, was so shocked he turned so fast that he lost his balance and dropped to the ground.

Sonic immediately thought that was suspicious.

"What did you say?" mr Fuji asked, clearly shaken.

"It wasn't an Alakazam. It was a bioengineered pokemon named Mewtwo".

Mr Fuji started breathing fast, having a panic attack. Reina rushed inside to bring him water, while Sonic who was calm, waved his hands to give him air.

After drinking water and taking deep long breaths to calm down mr Fuji refrained from looking Sonic in the eyes.

"Why did you get so shocked mr Fuji?" Sonic asked him.

Mr Fuji still didn't look.

"And in fact… should I maybe refer to you as dr Fuji?"

Mr Fuji's eyes widened in shock. Sonic knew.

"I discovered the hidden lab in the Cinnabar mansion. And team rockets data that I released to the public spoke of a dr Fuji who destroyed the Mewtwo prototype".

"You… you know?"

"Know that you helped create a bioengineered pokemon from the dna of the mythical ancestor of all pokemon? That your creation grew so strong and violent you couldn't control it? That you knew Giovanni, your benefactor, intended to use it as a weapon? Yes I know".

"I…" mr Fuji began saying "I didn't know he wanted to use it as a weapon. Not until… until it was too late. Until that monster was already created. When I discovered Mew in the jungle… I wanted to prove its existence to the world… my original plan was to clone mew… and prove to the world it existed. What I accidentally created… that monster… my benefactor's views changed upon seeing my creation. He continued funding it until it was fully grown. When I…" mr Fuji had now began tearing up.

"When I discovered what had happened, I tried to poison the prototype inside its tube. I was successful. However the poison was also intended to destroy the body. To dissolve it completely. I ran away with my research without ever knowing whether I had completely destroyed my work".

"Apparently you failed" Sonic said "Giovanni said the 2.0 version was truly perfect compared to the prototype".

Mr Fuji covered his face with his hands as he shook.

"My mistakes led to those bruises on your body. To all your injuries. To all the painful confrontations with team rocket… to Jolteon's death".

No mr Fuji" Sonic said kneeling down "you were not responsible for any of it. Even if Mewtwo didn't exist team rocket would still pull evil schemes around the region. So I would probably have clashed with them regardless. But none of it matters anymore. It's over. Team rocket has disbanded. And Mewtwo is free from them".

Mr Fuji looked at Sonic in horror.

"Free? What do you mean free?!"

"I mean that that part of my speech was true. It did escape. Because I freed it".

"You… you didn't kill it? You freed that monster?"

"I couldn't kill it mr Fuji. It was too strong. If had tried to kill it, it would have killed me first. And besides" Sonic said as he remembered the look of pain, suffering and terror in Mewtwo's purple eyes "Mewtwo's no monster. It's a pokemon. A bioengineered pokemon but a pokemon nonetheless. A pokemon captured by team rocket and suffering. A pokemon I knew I had to help".

Mr Fuji took it all in with a combination of admiration for Sonic and terror at the situation.

"What you did was noble indeed. But Mewtwo… is still too strong. Being out there… if it hurts anyone…"

"I don't think it will. It's sentient. More sentient than most pokemon. It's probably somewhere in hiding. This is why I lied. To keep it safe. To let it find its place in the world. I'm sure it won't cause any trouble away from people".

Mr Fuji nodded as it made sense. He got up with the help of Reina and asked Sonic for forgiveness for everything he had indirectily caused. Sonic accepted it immediately.

After Moltres and Pinsir picked up their movesets, Sonic opened the map of Kanto and searched through it, eventually finding a secluded coast northeast where he could make camp and train in solitude until the tournament. After bidding farewell to Reina and mr Fuji, he then went to a clearing in the woods and brought out Moltres. Before he could ride it with raichu however Reina unexpectedly showed up.

"What are you doing here?" Sonic asked her.

Reina was blushing trying to find the words. Sonic immediately understood where this was going.

"Isn't it… possible you could stay here and train?"

"…No. I need to follow my path. My gut tells me to go and train. After getting close to death so many times, I just want to be alone for a while with my pokemon. Build my bond with them. Train with them. Grow our power together".

"I… I mean…".

"I know what you mean" Sonic said seriously "I remember. Before silph co. You're a good person Reina. And very beautiful. But I need to follow my own path at this point. And that's something I have to do alone for now".

Reina felt a small heartbreak but understood. Sonic had gone through a lot in the month that he had been a trainer. Nodding she said she understood and turned to leave but before Sonic could ride Moltres turned around and gave him another kiss.

"For the farewell" she said with a teary smile and left to return home.

Sonic smiled closing his eyes. He turned and saw raichu and Moltres were observing the whole time.

"Got a good peek?" Sonic joked.

Raichu and Moltres looked like they were caught stealing berries. Sonic simply laughed as he and raichu rode Moltres.

The flight to the secluded shore was smooth and with no trouble. As Sonic set up camp and let out his pokemon to play or just hang out, he laid on the soft sand and looked at the sky, simply enjoying the peace. Not just the silence but the peace that came with team rocket's disbandment.

Feeling his phone buzz, he received a facetime call from Tails.

"How's it going hero?"

"Haha. Just fine bud. Just fine at last".

Knuckles and Jet joined the call at that moment.

"My guy! Driving team rocket out of Kanto? You're nuts and awesome!" Knuckles exclaimed drowning in hype.

"Too nuts. But too awesome" Jet added "the broadcast aired here too. Everyone in town knows about your deeds" he explained.

"Really?" Sonic said intrigued.

"Yeah. Amy especially has yet to swallow the news".

"What's she got to do with it?" Sonic asked confused.

"I saw her" Knuckles explained "arguing with Shadow while on a date. I heard your name being spoken so I assumed it's about your heroic actions".

"Knuckles…"

"Ok. Ok. You just did what you thought was right" Knuckles relented.

Sonic and Jet's parents appeared behind Jet on camera and took over the call for a while asking Sonic if he was ok and expressing how proud they were of him and that they were sure he'd bounce back up after what had started his journey. Leaving the 4 friends alone again, Sonic took the chance to tell his friends about what exactly transpired at the Viridian gym, his discovery at Cinnabar island and Mewtwo itself. Tails was intrigued that his dream of Mewtwo killing him was essentially a vision of a possible future which Sonic managed to twist just by being himself.

"So what are your plans now bro?" Jet asked Sonic.

"Just stay here at this beach until the tournament. Just training and hanging out with my pokemon. You're free to come if you want of course".

"We discussed the chance of coming early but unfortunately we can't" Tails said grumpy.

"Well that sucks. Guess it's just solo relaxing and training" Sonic said again.

"Make sure to train hard. After all we expect you to kick everyone's ass at the tournament".

"I know I will kick one Ash for sure" Sonic said as he recalled his challenge to Ash.

"Damn look at the time. I need to go now. Talk soon Sonic. Happy training" Tails said hanging up. Knuckles and Jet stayed online for a little longer and then hang up too.

Sonic immediately went to sleep after that. He instructed his pokemon to get a good rest as the next two weeks would include a lot of training. He entered the tent and fell asleep after a while, his sleep peaceful and dreamless.