Hard Enough - Pokemon SI

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Regarding Mewtwo, I'm going to buck the trend and be positive. Maybe he'll be touched that the Guardians are risking life and limb to defend him?
The thing is, they're not actually there to "protect" Mewtwo, they're there to ensure that Team Aqua doesn't piss off the super-powered Legendary Pokemon. I'm just hoping that the battle itself doesn't upset Mewtwo although, if it does, I hope he'll at least ask Sabrina what's going on before deciding to act.
 
I think they should've just let Mewtwo handle Aqua. Sure, they would've been letting them onto New Island, but at least they wouldn't be breaking their deal with Mewtwo by actively going to where it is. Let Mewtwo handle its own problems. Now, Mewtwo is going to be mad at both parties for trespassing on its property.
 
Chapter 208 - Days like this
"Hyper Barrage! Full Broadside!" roared the Aqua Commander.

The full wave of pokemon rose up like a firing line from my past life.

Maws stretched wide as energy coalesced. I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck and something dark put its hand on my shoulder like it was half a step away from claiming me.

I knew without looking that I and the others with me were now staring death in the face.

A full barrage of Hyper Beams was a great opening move.

If this had been anyone else facing them, they would have probably won the battle then and there.

Sadly for them, we Guardians had veterans of the old wars and were wise to their tactics of full broadsides.

"Protection detail!" shouted Koga even as pokemon shifted about, moving with alacrity to where they needed to be in a heartbeat.

A heartbeat was all they had after all as within the next, the Hyperbeams were unleashed causing a roar that filled the room shaking it as powerful beams of energy came at us.

Our pokemon were up to the task however and they formed a blanket shield with Protect after Protect that led to an impenetrable wall.

The Beams slammed home against the impossibly strong Protects and caused a resounding boom that filled the room rattling and shaking everything around us.

One of the more delicate spires that rose up holding a light was cut through and toppled but the sound of it smashing into the ground was lost due to the onslaught of Hyper Beam.

Koga made a signal and we all nodded. From what he'd taught us, the 'Broadside' was a Team Aqua special that was practically their signature move when they grouped up. It was why it was always best to get them in small groups or attack them one on one. Usually, they only ever had one or two pokemon that could unleash a Hyper Beam.

When they got to six or more? Then things got as complicated as they could, if they were clever and well practised, rotate which of their pokemon were attacking us.

Hyper Beam after all had a recharge value while Protect had a failure risk after the second. It was unlikely that they'd get off more than three of any of their pokemon, but three wasn't a number we could handle.

Even trying to absorb a second Broadside would be beyond suicidal.

We needed to counterattack and disrupt them.

Thankfully we had some of the best pokemon around for just that.

I stabbed my hand upwards and Don and Zephyr soared up taking the high ground as other pokemon ascended with them. From on high ghost, flying and psychic Pokemon unleashed their own attacks.

I saw beams and gusts of winds arc down only to be lost in the wave of flickering lights.

I felt the attack land as more rumbles rippled through the ground. I turned to Sanchez. "Any possibility of going under them?" I asked eying the hardened floor that looked like it had been made from a single piece of melted metal. That… could pose an issue for some of my pokemon.

Sadly my premonition regarding the floor proved correct as Sanchez stabbed a hand into it only to exert a lot of effort to drag his finger through a little of it.

"Go… lem," he said sadly with a shake of his head.

I cursed. "Koga we're not going to be able to tunnel under them unless we get them out of this building. The floor is made of something that is resistant to my pokemon digging through it."

Koga merely nodded and I proceeded with my other options. "Sanchez thunder, launch it where they were last," I said watching as the light show of the Hyper beams died away indicating that our pokemon up above were having some impact.

Sadly there was still a lot of smoke in the way, which made it tougher to line up a target directly. Once again, this was something we'd trained for.

"Sabrina! Call them out!" Agatha ordered as the Protect wall in front of us started to drop.

Sabrina's eyes glowed as she connected with her Alakazam who paused in firing a Psybeam to instead act as a spotter for us.

Sabrina's hands rose. "They've split into three clusters," she said calmly, her hands stabbing in three directions. "The group on the left is about to unleash a barrage of Surf at us to buy themselves more time."

I knew straight away what to do for that. I stabbed my hand forward. "Bertha! Tide! Ice Beam!" I roared. Both of my pokemon responded excellently; they unleashed cold blue energy where I'd indicated.

While I was doing that, Sabrina directed the others to line up on their own targets.

"Take down those hovering pokemon!" called a loud voice from beyond the smoke. I noted that it sounded like it was coming from the central most group which Karen and Sabrina were prioritising with a powerful pincher attack. Two Houndoom charged forward with an inferno encircling them just as Sabrina arced lightning up and over by using her Psychic pokemon to redirect the natural movement into something much more condensed and dangerous.

I gestured and Sanchez added his own spark into the forming lightning dragon that howled as it rose up and shot down.

It was loud, bright and very attention-grabbing.

Which made it the perfect distraction for Agatha's ghost pokemon to slip into the Team Aqua lines and begin laying about themselves with cackling glee.

A flicker in the smoke was the only warning I got as a Sharpedo launched out of the smoke, fangs gnashing as it locked eyes on me.

Before it could devour me, Titan spun, his tail whipping about to slam down and pin the sharpdeo even as Shrek slid into position in front of me, his twin fists raised to punch out the threat.

This proved to be a very good call as a moment later a shimmer appeared and out of instinct more than any true understanding of what I was doing had me pointing at it. "Hydro Pump," I called to Shrek and he unleashed, this causing a hidden Starmie to be revealed.

Hmmm, it seems we weren't the only ones trying to slip daggers into our foes.

The smoke was starting to clear and I heard the Team Aqua commander once more speaking up. "Our boarding action is faltering! Shore up your lines!" he called.

Wonderful, nautical terms that obviously meant something to the Aqua members as they shifted and called orders to their pokemon, but might as well have been a second language to us.

When a Hitmonchan blurred across the gap towards my pokemon, Sabrina's Farigiraf was suddenly in front of me, both heads smirking at the onrushing fighting type.

Hitmonchan still charged ahead however with both arms dropping back to run in what looked extremely uncoordinated. It reminded me of another anime where ninjas adopted a very odd running style.

I was about to turn away from the exchange when I felt dark energy building up around the hidden arms. I snapped my attention back and stabbed my hand forward.

"Selene! MB!" I called, knowing that Farigiraf was about to be Sucker Punched or take some form of Dark attack.

My prediction proved true, as Hitmonchan swung its arms up and charged through the Psybeam with its arms in a guard position, dark energy coating them. Then it leapt, one fist cocked back ready to punch out Farigiraf.

Selene intercepted it with a Moonblast that blew Hitmonchan out of the air, sending it skipping back to the Team Aqua lines.

That didn't stop other pokemon from attacking us. Pelliper and Sharpedo launched themselves forward while other pokemon charged in. A Hitmontop spun towards Koga's pokemon and I was surprised when I realised it was literally launching miniaturised Starmie and Stary with each spin like they were throwing stars.

That turned out to be a terrible decision though as Koga's pokemon were more than up to the task of batting away the shrunken pokemon before launching a blistering combination of gas and fire to explode the battlefield in front of them.

Seeing all the pokemon charging in made me realise something.

The earlier order hadn't been a 'shore up the defences' as I'd expected it to be, but rather an order to double down on attacking us.

A twang and a scream made me check to the side.

Annabelle had a small spear lodged in her shoulder and was on her knees as blood poured out. My eyes tracked along a small wire that led back to a smug-looking Aqua grunt with a speargun raised in her direction.

Annabelle's team, responding to her cry of distress, doubled down and a wave of pokemon attacks blasted forward.

The smirking Grunt instantly paled and regretted his life choices as his pokemon and he were blown away. They slammed into the back wall with a sickening crack.

"Orderly! Orderly now!" roared the commander of the Team Aqua group. It struck me as a very odd shout as everything around them seemed more like chaos as pokemon moves were exchanged and blocked in turn with it being a riotous melee.

Koga appeared next to me. "Agatha! Karen Counter blow! Now!" he said, giving the order for our own version of a 'full broadside'.

I didn't say anything, merely spiked my aura with intent and fed it along to my pokemon. The only pokemon who didn't realise what that meant was Empress but she knew enough to follow as Tide, Don, Shrek, Selene and other pokemon began to build up for their strongest attacks.

"Armour up!" roared the Aqua Commander as he realised what was happening and this time we unleashed upon them.

Unlike their attacks which relied heavily upon Hyper Beam. Other attacks such as Hydro Pump, Moon Blast, Psybeam, Shadow Ball and more were unleashed.

I mentally counted down in my head three seconds before spiking my intent again. The few pokemon I'd had using Hyper Beam stopped, once again with only Empress still disgorging her might.

I'd need to work with her on that. Power was good and all but I needed to apply when and where it was used. Especially in team situations like this.

Still, a single Hyper Beam that lasted longer than the others wasn't enough to stop my next move.

"TITAN LEAD THEM IN!" I roared and Titan responded.

He rocketed forward having had time to prepare himself. At his side, Jorm and Knight followed all of them building up a corona of power as Giga Impact formed up and was unleashed with my pokemon acting like linebackers in a skirmish.

Or in this case, linebreakers. They cut a swathe through the Aqua team members trampling their defensive lines and emerging out the other side before slamming into the walls as they failed to dig in to stop themselves.

The impact caused a shake throughout the entire room and the pillars with lights on them tilted and crumbled. This caused the lights to smash and darkness to start claiming pockets of the room.

I flicked my eyes about for any falling debris that would hit me or the others but found nothing.

I turned my attention to my split-off pokemon and reached into the strained bond with Jorm. He was still close enough for me to feed energy to, so I prepared for the one-two of Giga Impact into Mega Evolution.

I was just pushing energy into the bond when a voice echoed out through the room.

"That, will be enough of that," said a powerful voice that instantly had me looking around.

Sabrina shifted all of her focus from Team Aqua to looking around. "Mewtwo? We're sorry about the damage that—" she started to say, only for something in the dark areas of the room to shift.

I saw movement and turned, eyes narrowing as I called up Dark energy. What had that—

"Pokeballs?" cried Karen in surprise having apparently already turned around herself.

I frowned, my mind lurching at the idea that Mewtwo was using… I felt a spike of fear run through me. The only pokeballs that Mewtwo used were dubbed as 'Mewtwo ball or otherwise as clone balls'.

These had been notoriously powerful due to their ability to ignore that some pokemon were already housed in pokeballs. Worse, the pokemon didn't even need to be out of their pokeballs. The movie had demonstrated that returning your pokemon wasn't enough to stop them.

"Beware the pokeballs!" I shouted mind racing for a suitable excuse. "They might be explosives!" I said, ad-libbing a suitable excuse as black pokeballs with red eyes zipped forward.

"Circle up!" I shouted to my pokemon and they did so, nudging Farigiraf in with them as well for good measure. With me at their centre I could peer out through the gaps and watch as things developed.

I caught sight of Team Aqua perking up as they noticed the shift in the battle.

Annabelle and her team were with Tiffany and Katrina. Both had their pokemon circling and it looked like Annabelle was receiving some emergency care, but with Annabelle weakened Team Aqua must have smelt blood in the water as their pokemon orientated towards the trio of women with what they had left.

They fired off a barrage of attacks only for a single clear barrier to form up in the middle absorbing and negating any attacks.

Once more Mewtwo's voice sounded out. "I depart from my home for but an hour, and what do I find when I return?" he said. His voice and his actions forced everyone to look up at him.

He hovered slowly towards us, his gaze taking in everything.

The downed pokemon, the broken pillars, and also the two groups.

For a long moment there was silence as everyone held their breaths. Then Sabrina shifted, floating up with her Alakazam.

"I'm happy to see you without the—" she began, only for Mewtwo to raise a single digit and silence her.

"No, we will not talk like this," he said, his mental voice projecting to everyone.

He swept his hand forward and the pokeballs that had been hovering like a threat behind him shot forward, their red eyes locked on various pokemon.

"Blast them away from you!" I roared to my team, not liking the idea of losing any of them.

Worse, if Mewtwo's machines worked like they had in the movie then within minutes he'd have a veritable army of pokemon equal to some of the strongest in Indigo.

If Mewtwo wanted to fight, numbers were one of the advantages we had.

The cloneballs whipped forward and caught a few of the Guardians' pokemon unaware as people like Annabelle were unable to give the balls the attention they needed to.

Karen copied me in circling up her pokemon but despite the earlier command we still had some stragglers.

Don shrieked in outrage and tried to bat away a ball only for another to sneak in on his blind side. "Sanchez!" I ordered, causing a blast of lightning to fry the ball before it could capture Don.

"Don and Zephyr!! Get in here now!" I roared at my flying pokemon.

Zephyr tucked his wings and fell into the circle of pokemon. Don turned, giving me a considering look that made me want to curse his stubborn streak.

That moment of hesitation was enough to see a ball slam into him from above and a red light to absorb him. Titan stepped up barking in surprise before leaning down and digging his claws into the psychic metal. Then with a tortured shriek, the floor gave way and he hurled it after the ball, smashing it out of the air but not stopping it from fleeing with its ill-gotten prize.

Other cloneballs followed it, making it impossible for me to track which one contained Don.

I glanced around and realised that while the Guardians had taken losses from this surprise avenue of attack, Team Aqua had been gutted as large swathes of their pokemon were captured.

I saw a few quick-thinking Grunts return their pokemon thinking they were safe. When the balls failed to slam into the pokeballs I blinked. Wait? Had Mewtwo not installed that feature yet? Or was it just a Movie gimmick?

I glanced around and caught more and more people returning their pokemon only to have the cloneballs go into holding patterns around them.

Ah, it was not a matter of that he couldn't, but that he wasn't.

I looked up and found him watching my pokemon smacking or blasting away the cloneballs.

I swallowed. "You want us to return our pokemon then I take it?"

He nodded.

I swallowed, hating the idea of putting myself in such a helpless position. Sabrina looked at me and nodded in encouragement, urging me to trust Mewtwo.

I rubbed at my throat drawing Mewtwo's attention to me once more.

For a long moment we stared at each other, man and pokemon observing each other. Then I nodded begrudgingly.

I honestly had no idea if I could trust Mewtwo.

But I could trust Sabrina, and if she was going to vouch for him then… I swallowed and straightened. "I'll return them," I said.

Mewtwo made a gesture and the cloneballs about the field paused in their assault on everyone.

Damn, but that was impressive. On a lot of levels I had to give it to Mewtwo. It was a great opening move. Announce yourself, but do it with the ability to end the fighting. He'd then denied an initial discourse until he'd levelled the playing field so to speak.

He demonstrated what he could do, but then held back.

For a negotiation, it was a great flex.

I looked towards Titan and grimaced. "Trust me and Sabrina buddy?" I asked.

He nodded slowly and I clicked the return feature on each of the pokeballs. Titan held my gaze even as he broke into red energy.

Around me the other Guardians followed my lead, with Agatha and Koga being the slowest. Annabelle, who'd lost all of her team could only impotently glare at Mewtwo.

I glanced behind me and through the red energy of my team fading into their pokeballs to see that Team aqua was doing the same. The men and women of their little expedition clustered up quickly with their eyes locked on the still hovering cloneballs.

Two sharp blarts jolted me from my inspections. I blinked before realising that the sharp tone was that of the pokeball alerting me that a pokemon, or in this case, two pokemon hadn't returned to their pokeballs. Don's pokeball making that noise made sense which left…

I instinctively looked around only to pause as I caught sight of Empress.

Fuck.

Empress who was standing tall and looking murderous as her gaze stayed locked squarely on Mewtwo.

"Empress…" I started to say only for her to turn furious eyes upon me.

"Tar!" she snapped and I grimaced. Oh, all the foes that I wanted her to stand down for, Mewtwo… just wasn't ever a foe she could back down for.

He'd cost her too much.

I sucked in a breath and turned my attention to Mewtwo. "Mewtwo! I'm sorry to say this but… Empress, the Tyranitar you see still out? She has a history with you and wants to say something!"

Mewtwo blinked slowly. "A tyranitar?" he locked eyes with Empress and she snarled.

"Ah, yes, I remember you, from the incident in the human skyscraper in Saffron, and again at the airport. You were… quite impressive with your power," Mewtwo said, his tails swishing behind him as he considered Empress.

Empress took a single step forward and snarled something, her claws stabbing towards Mewtwo's heart.

Mewtwo blinked. "The mountains? With the firebird?" he said, tilting his head for a moment. "Ah, you speak of Moltres." He waved his hand and turned his head away from her. "That was not my doing, I was acting for another and knew no better at the time." he said dismissively.

I winced and Empress obviously saw red at being brushed off. She roared her rage at him clutching her claws close to herself and I think I saw tears in her eyes.

I reached out with my aura to the fragile bond I shared with her, not to placate her. I knew she wouldn't calm down.

Mewtwo, for better or worse, had been an instrument of her greatest loss.

I felt her turmoil, the grief coalescing into hatred the more she stared at Mewtwo. I raised my eyes to Mewtwo as he looked down upon us.

"Mewtwo, your actions, while they might not have been entirely yours, were still acts committed by you. To ignore them is disingenuous," I said, walking up to Empress side and putting my hand on her flank to show I was supporting her.

This wasn't the smart thing to do in this instance. In fact it was one of the worst things I could do. If I really tried I might, might, be able to get her back into her ball. I knew such a plan had as much chance as a cheeky Snorunt in a Charizard den.

Around me, I could outright feel the looks of shock and exasperation directed at me as I basically announced my intent.

"Brock! Now is not the time to—" Agatha hissed at me.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry Agatha, I can no more stop this than I can command the winds to stop blowing," I said without turning my gaze away from Mewtwo as he flicked his tail in agitation.

A Cloneball rose and I narrowed my eyes while Empress snarled. "Don't run from this!" I shouted up at Mewtwo.

The Cloneball paused.

I grit my teeth and kept talking. "While this isn't the best option or in any way a good solution it's the only way to fix a wrong of the past! Empress has a grievance with you due to your part in the destruction of her nest! You were a victim of a poor master then, but it doesn't completely excuse you!" I shouted, making my voice heard and in a way acting as Empress' mouthpiece.

Empress snorted and nodded, letting me know I'd hit the nail on the head.

Mewtwo lashed his tail once and snorted. "While I am not willing to admit culpability I will hear you out. What do you propose?"

Empress didn't hesitate to step forward, her teeth gnashing together. It was clear to all that she intended to fight Mewtwo.

I kept my hand on her. "Empress…" she didn't look at me but I knew she heard me with how the small muscles in her skull twitched. I licked my lips and thought about what I could say. "Do you want me to bring out the others to help?" I said.

Empress stilled.

Everyone that had heard my offer sucked in a shocked breath.

Agatha was the first to reprimand me. "Brock don't be a fool!"

Karen was quick to follow her. "Fucking nutcase Brock! Just let the psycho pokemon fight if she wants it that bad!"

Koga merely stared intently at me. The Team Aqua grunts remained quiet, watching as silent and unwelcome spectators to this sudden drama.

I flicked my eyes to Sabrina, and caught her tight, worried little nod. She didn't like it, but she understood and wouldn't stand in my way.

Empress shifted and looked at me, for the first time in a while her emotions shifted away from rage. She locked eyes with me and shook her head. "Ty.. ranitar," she said with a growl before leaning down and nudging me with her head pushing me away from her.

She then turned back, her emotions spiking as she locked eyes with her hated foe.

Mewtwo scoffed. "I see, very well," he said, lowering himself to the ground.

Through happenstance or fate, I wasn't sure what to think, they were almost a perfect pokefield apart from each other.

I took another step back and swallowed down my worry/relief/fear all of which warred with each other in my stomach.

Empress stalked forward, claws flexing.

Mewtwo held his ground attention locked on Empress.

I heard a scuffle and the squeak of movement behind me only for a shout to sound out.

I didn't turn my head to find out what was going on, I was too invested in this fight.

Empress continued to stalk forward, her tail grating along the metal floors and raising an unholy shriek of metal as she dug it into the ground.

Once more Mewtwo didn't move.

I narrowed my eyes as a glint appeared about Empress's form. Ah, she wasn't just letting her rage control her. I felt at the link and found her emotions to be tightly controlled.

Tightly controlled and calculative. She was, in a way, beyond rage. She wanted to hurt Mewtwo, but she knew she had to be smart about it.

For the first time in my life I caught a glimpse as to why Empress, before any other pokemon. Had held the mountain top closest to Mt Silver where only the strongest could exist.

It wasn't just that she was strong, but also smart.

With each step she took she built up her defences. Sadly I knew she would have to raise her Special defence for a fight against Mewtwo. I tried to nudge her in that direction with our bond only for her to pause and shot me an affronted look.

Right, she didn't even want me subtly coaching her. I sighed and grimaced. Sabrina floated over and took my hand in hers.

Empress continued forward, but this time her energy was shifting in a different manner. She locked eyes with Mewtwo and loosened a Snarl. As she did so, spikes of Dark energy blasted out of her.

Mewtwo responded by raising a Light Screen in front of himself that the spikes hammered into and began to pierce resulting in him dodging to the side.

He narrowed his eyes in annoyance only to find Empress lunging at him with her fangs bared.

Mewtwo's hand shot forward and for a heartbeat I hoped that his lack of visible Miracle eye would hamper him.

Sadly it didn't, and pink psychic energy snared Empress in place before she began to be pushed back.

She snarled again, causing dark energy to tear through her binds and lance towards Mewtwo but once more he was up to the task of dodging her attack with a deft float up and to the side before drifting around her.

Empress turned her head, watching as he orbited her. "Is this what you desired?" he asked.

Empress growled at him, her fangs bared. Mewtwo merely observed her before shaking his head. "I cannot understand your feelings, nor your attempts at some farcical attempt at revenge. I was not aware of my actions back then. I will not have that man's acts held against me!"

Empress roared at this and I shook my head. Mewtwo wasn't equipped to understand the pain of loss, especially not on the level Empress experienced.

Still, I held out hope that by fighting her, he would glimpse and understand a fraction of her emotions.

A squeaking and slapping noise made me frown and Mewtwo twitch.

He flicked a hand to the side. "This… sideshow is a waste of my time," he announced cupping his hands and forming a ball, unlike others that I had seen, was orange-brown in colouration. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I recognised what that was.

That was an Aura Sphere!

Empress opened her mouth and countered with a Hyper Beam.

Both attacks slammed into the other causing a detonation in the space between them and for smoke and dust to obscure Mewtwo. For a moment I held out hope as Empress poured on the power.

Only for Mewtwo to shift to the side, appearing with his hands cupped once more at Empress' side.

Empress swept her beam around and I found myself levitated out of the path of the energy beam. Others hurled themselves to the ground.

She wasn't quick enough though as once again Metwo unleashed an Aura Sphere and this time the attack slammed home into her flank causing her to buckle around the super effective attack. Empress was launched away and slammed into the wall.

Mewtwo shook himself slightly and sniffed. He glanced up at me. "Your Tyranitar is poorly trained."

I clenched my jaw and felt a spike of hate run through me. How dare he dismiss Empress and her issues like that.

When I spoke, I did so by grounding the words out. "She isn't poorly trained, you just don't understand her," I said.

I flicked my eyes to where she'd been launched and smirked as she emerged at a full tilt sprint, energy forming around her. Mewtwo whipped around, shocked that his attack hadn't put her down.

She pounced on him with Giga Impact and I grinned. She really had been picking up some tricks from training with us and watching the others.

Mewtwo clenched his fist and a Protect snapped around him, making me grimace as the sneak Giga Impact failed to do anything.

Damn but Mewtwo was fast with his moves.

Instead of being repelled from the Protect, Empress continued to grind her face against it, urging the Protect to break and I was shocked when a sound like glass cracking echoed out about the room.

Mewtwo as well seemed stunned, but it lasted only for a moment as he shifted, standing up instead of crouching down. He once more formed an Aura sphere right as he dismissed his Protect. Empress strode in, claw swinging only to once more get blasted away.

She skipped across the battlefield and I reached for Titan's greatball, agreement be damned.

Empress stabbed her claws into the metal and slowed herself down.

She looked up and for the second time in the fight, I felt her attention shift to me.

She shook her head slightly and admonished me, like a child that was doing the wrong thing for the right reasons.

I flexed my fingers on the ball, hating that she was being this expressive with me now of all times.

I stared into her eyes and let go of Titan's ball.

She nodded and turned her attention back to Mewtwo.

She stood, slowly, blood trickling down her mouth.

He stared at her. "You should stay down, this is killing you," he said, his head cocked to the side.

I grimaced, knowing that he was right. She was ignoring the urge to pass out and making this a fight of life and death.

She warbled something that I couldn't understand. I didn't know what had been said. I glanced at Sabrina, hoping for a translation.

Sadly Sabrina looked equally as lost.

Mewtwo seemed to understand as he tilted his head only to shake it.

"No, I can't say I do," he said.

Empress said something else only for Mewtwo to scoff once more and race to her side where he slammed a third Aura Sphere into her head. She rocked back only to take a hard step.

She didn't take another step back.

Mewtwo hovered only to tilt his head as more blood poured from her mouth.

Ah, she'd succumbed and been knocked out due to the damage she'd sustained. Part of me felt relief at this but another feared just how injured she would be.

"You won," I said, my voice echoing hollowly.

In a way, I knew this had always been the outcome that would occur. Mewtwo was too strong, too fast, too smart to be faced by a single pokemon alone. Not even a Pseudo Legendary of Empress' strength could do more than close the gap.

Mewtwo considered me. "So I have," he said, nodding slowly. "So I have." After a moment's consideration, he waved a hand.

The cloneball that had been threatening her shot in and I blanched. "Hey! That's not what we agreed on!" I shouted, snatching up a piece of metal and hurling it at the ball. The ball was knocked aside but righted itself to slam into Empress' side, taking her away.

Sabrina's hand shot out and caught me as Mewtwo rounded on me. "I agreed to you returning your pokemon! You did not! Now! As the victor I decide what happens to her!" he snapped, his tail once more lashing out behind him.

He then shifted his gaze. "And stop attempting to run!" he snapped, flicking out his hand. I turned my head and spotted a trio of Team Aqua grunts being dragged back to their group. Their boots squeaked on the ground.

Ah, that was what had been going on behind me during the fight.

Mewtwo shook his head and looked back at me. "We had no agreement.. But I will see her cared for," he said.

Then he looked around. "With that… sideshow handled now, I think it is now time that we talked."

I worked my jaw, hating that Mewtwo was right.

Sabrina squeezed my hand. "We'll get her, Don and the other pokemon back Brock."

I nodded and exhaled, my eyes locked on Mewtwo.

I followed the others over to a still mostly intact set of tables and chairs, annoyed at how things were playing out.

This, this was really turning into a day where I wished I hadn't gotten out of bed.

Still, it was now Mewtwo's show, and if he wanted to talk, all the better.

But there was no way in Giratina's realm I was leaving this island without my pokemon.



A.N. I struggled with the start of this but the later half just came together so well.

Thanks go to my Patreons for your support!

Thanks goes to Twmmy for Betaing this chapter!
 
Ah, poor Empress. She didn't have the power to beat him down, or the words to break through his heart. Though hopefully something will happen in the coming chapters to tilt the balance in the other direction.

Kinda curious how Mewtwo will react to the separate groups reasoning for "trespassing" on his island. If nothing else, maybe he'll be appreciative of the Guardians trying to ensure he be left alone?
 
Ah, was that the squeaking of a playful Mew I could hear in the background there? It seems like Mewtwo's genetic ancestor might've caught up with him sooner without him hiding his presence from the world.
 
Auditory hallucinations should only come in after three days without sleep.
To true. Studying for finals week id push it to three days without sleep and i kept hearing someone call my name when i was alone. Day 3 really is the danger zones of not sleeping, it only gets worse from there. Pretty sure 5 days is when people start dying from not sleeping.

So remember to get your sleep! Take naps! Be more like munchlax! Its good for you.
 
To true. Studying for finals week id push it to three days without sleep and i kept hearing someone call my name when i was alone. Day 3 really is the danger zones of not sleeping, it only gets worse from there. Pretty sure 5 days is when people start dying from not sleeping.

So remember to get your sleep! Take naps! Be more like munchlax! Its good for you.
I have to feel really bad for the poor SOB's who work for "certain" companies, for example some game companies, that practically force their workers to basically live in the office on minimal food and sleep just because the higher ups have set a completely unreasonable deadline. Also, that kinda crap really doesn't work out very well as tired, hungry people are not only going to be slower at their work than someone fresh, but they're also gonna make more and bigger mistakes as time goes on.

Of course we have to mention that the worst offenders are the Asian countries where it is in fact relatively common for someone to just drop dead at their workstation from a combination of stress, poor/minimal nutrition and a lack of sleep.

As such, just as @flareonflare said, be more like munchlax, don't forget to eat decently and get enough rest.
 
I have to feel really bad for the poor SOB's who work for "certain" companies, for example some game companies, that practically force their workers to basically live in the office on minimal food and sleep just because the higher ups have set a completely unreasonable deadline. Also, that kinda crap really doesn't work out very well as tired, hungry people are not only going to be slower at their work than someone fresh, but they're also gonna make more and bigger mistakes as time goes on.

Of course we have to mention that the worst offenders are the Asian countries where it is in fact relatively common for someone to just drop dead at their workstation from a combination of stress, poor/minimal nutrition and a lack of sleep.

As such, just as @flareonflare said, be more like munchlax, don't forget to eat decently and get enough rest.

They are called black companies and yes Asia is bad for it to the point Japan even has a term for it karoshi or something like that and a whole forest people go to to commit suicide in from the overwork.
 
They are called black companies and yes Asia is bad for it to the point Japan even has a term for it karoshi or something like that and a whole forest people go to to commit suicide in from the overwork.
Thanks, I had forgotten the exact names for those things. It's bloody terrible how some companies treat their workers isn't it. Then Japan in particular wonders why lately it's been struggling with its birthrate and the fact that the younger generations are proving less wiling to accept the traditional Japanese work-style.

Well, when your typical Japanese worker gets up in the morning, showers, gets dressed and has a quick bite to eat before heading for what is likely to be at least a ten hour workday, complete with unpaid overtime. Follow this by at least two hours schmoozing (sorry "socializing") with the other workers (and especially the boss in a vain hope of promotion). Then you get home with just enough time for a quick bite to eat and a minimal amount of sleep only to repeat the next day for six days a week. Sure, you get Sunday's off but that barely lets you do everything you couldn't do during your nonexistent free time during the week.

Thanks to all this middle aged Japanese people don't seem to have any time for a life outside of their work which is one of the main reasons the birthrate has tanked. Fortunately the younger generation seem to have wised up somewhat so hopefully Japan's toxic work culture will meet its demise.

Sorry for the rant peeps but it's kinda a hot button topic for me. My own job can be a PITA at times but when I hear about those poor SOB's, again they have my sympathies but if they don't stand up for themselves and say "enough is enough" things will just keep carrying on the same as they are now.
 
Chapter 209 - Diplomacy
To say that the room was more nervous than a Persian in a room full of rocking chairs would be underselling it. I couldn't imagine a more tense situation.

I certainly hadn't helped things by allowing Empress to fight Mewtwo but I wasn't trying to fool myself. That fight was going to happen, with or without my blessing. As it was she'd… given it a good fight, sadly that had resulted in consequences for me.

Mewtwo floated towards a long table with chairs that were fused to the ground. They reminded me somewhat of egg holders with their shape, but the large sloping back support made them feel more like chairs you'd find on some alien mothership.

No one moved to follow Mewtwo. There was a tense standoff taking place between us and Team Aqua.

Honestly, it would have been weirder if we'd all moved to sit down and forgotten the last few minutes of attempting to destroy each other.

Koga cleared his throat. "Mewtwo, you say you wish to talk, some of us… have injuries that require tending to. I fear I cannot sit idly while they deteriorate."

The Aqua commander straightened at this. "I too have many injured," he said, shooting us a glower.

I felt the ghost of a smirk play out over my lips. Part of me wanted to say that if they couldn't handle the heat they really shouldn't enter the kitchen, but I didn't. I was too busy fretting over what Mewtwo was doing with Don and Empress.



Unlike the others, I had a potentially viable idea.

It all came down to if the cloning machines were actually operational or merely a gimmick from the Pokemon movies. If Mewtwo needed backup at all, I suspected we'd find out. Then again, his clone balls managed us rather well as it was.

Mewtwo rotated in the air and considered the injured. Annabelle glowered up at him weakly while some of the Aqua grunts looked like they were merely hanging in while their fellows saw to them.

Mewtwo hummed. "You may withdraw your injured along with one other for each injured person you have," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

I held in a hiss. I could already see an issue with that, at least from our standpoint. Team Aqua had been ambushed and we'd basically had them on the ropes, now they were going to, mostly, be able to slink away and lick their wounds.

I caught the flash of relief on the Commander's face as he bowed his head in an attempt to hide his smirk. "Thank you for your wise actions," he simpered. "Might I suggest you detain—"

Mewtwo held up a bulbous finger and a pink glow appeared around the Commander silencing him as he was levitated up and towards Mewtwo. When they were of a level Mewtwo spoke. "I am aware of what you are and who you represent. Do not mistake my mercy for weakness, or naivety. I know the depravities mankind can cause," he said firmly.

The commander swallowed. "I… see," he said.

Mewtwo lowered the man to the floor and the Commander barked orders to have the injured taken away. One of the Grunts spoke up. "What of the injured pokemon sir?"

The commander shot Mewtwo a fearful look. "We… we will see how negotiations proceed. For now take the injured and depart. Tell Commodore Amber what we've encountered on this island," he said as his eyes darted from us to Mewtwo.

I clenched my teeth and looked to Sabrina, who was our best chance of getting Mewtwo to understand our point of view. She shook her head minutely and I had to repress the urge to sigh as Annabelle was lifted up and escorted away by Tiffany.

The young channeller shot Agatha a look only for the older woman to wave her off with a nod.

Reports would also be spread around for our group and a potential recuse might start to be set up.

I worked my jaw. If I was being realistic, more people entering Mewtwo's domain while he had the clone balls up might just be a terrible decision. It would be like feeding a Snorlax. Mewtwo would only become a bigger threat with access to more pokemon.

Mewtwo waved his hand. "I will not ask again." Some of the Team Aqua grunts that had been trying to edge towards the exit with the injured were suddenly yanked towards the table and chairs. Mewtwo's tail lashed behind him. "Sit, and we shall talk," he commanded while himself remained hovering in the air at the head of the table.

I shared a look with the other Guardians and we nodded. I swallowed down the bitter feeling and followed Agatha and Koga as they led us to our side of the table. Sabrina squeezed my hand and nudged me into a position next to Agatha while Sabrina took the seat to my right.

Agatha shot me a look that spoke volumes about how I was to sit down and keep my mouth shut. Apparently, she thought I'd done enough and I… couldn't find it within myself to refute her.

I'd been expecting Mewtwo to… what? Respect or recognise Empress' spirit? Or her anguish?

Mewtwo didn't have the reference for that, not unless Sabrina— who had an extremely atypical childhood— was able to convey the importance of motherhood. Sabrina was many things but she wouldn't have been able to convey that to Mewtwo with their last exchange.

We approached the alien-like chairs and I sat. My knee bounced and I swept my gaze up and down the table to find that there weren't enough seats for us, on our side or for Team Aqua on their side, resulting in some people standing behind others. On our side, Koga, Agatha, myself, Sabrina and Karen filled out the Guardians.

For Team Aqua, there were a few men and women wearing some form of sailing outfit while the commander took pride of place with a large coat draped over his shoulders.

I shifted in my seat. They really weren't the most comfortable of chairs. Then again that might be because I was sitting on the edge and not laying back in them like others.

Mewtwo didn't deign to sit with us. Instead, he kept hovering at the head of the table. His gaze slowly swept over each and every one of us.

Karen and Agatha narrowed their eyes and bristled.

Heh, it was just like being called into a principal's office after getting in a… I narrowed my eyes at Mewtwo and considered him. This… wasn't what I would have expected from Mewtwo.

His actions were very… human.

If another pokemon had found a group —pokemon or people— they would attack and drive them out. And New Island was in effect, Mewtwo's den, or home perhaps. Mewtwo after all was extremely human-like in his mannerisms.

Even the closest comparison, of Alakazam or Gardevoirs as social psychic pokemon usually lived in the wild with a cluster of an extended family group of their fellows.

Was it that Mewtwo was a Legendary pokemon? Or that he was all alone?

"So, I have returned to my home and found you…" he paused as his tail lashed about him and his fists clenched. "Humans, fighting within my halls."

His tail continued to lash. "Why should I not simply crush you all for this trespass?" he said, lifting his chin.

One of the grunts scoffed and whispered. "If it wasn't for them freaky black pokeballs we'd wreck this stuck-up Psychic." His words, in another setting might have gone unnoticed.

With the architecture, and the lack of anyone actually talking, his words reached everyone's ears. The young grunt then made the mistake of stiffening as the realisation of what they'd done set in.

If you hadn't been able to pick her out before, you could now. Mewtwo flicked his hand and the woman rose into the air only to be launched out an open window. She screamed the entire way out.

Sabrina pursed her lips and tracked the woman. "She will impact the water near the main Aqua vessel," she announced.

Mewtwo shot her an annoyed look but Sabrina merely met it cooly, not at all bothered by the heat of his gaze. She'd faced stronger after all.

Sabrina instead chose to take the thread of conversation and address the Donphan in the room. "Our group was aware of your claim to this island and we were also aware of Team Aqua's approach. Our hope was to limit any destruction they might cause—"

"We hadn't taken any aggressive actions!" interrupted the commander with a raised finger. "We were merely exploring this island before we were assaulted by them!"

Agatha scoffed. "Terrorists and military groups like Team Aqua shouldn't attempt to hide behind such transparent truths," she said. "You have been mapping out the Orange islands and preparing for a strike on Kanto! You have no other reason to be here! Your organisation is criminal and a threat to our way of life!" Agatha refuted.

"Bold words from a group that happens to have some of Kanto's strongest! Are you claiming to not be a military group as well?" sneered the Commander.

I flicked my gaze back up to Mewtwo, who was watching on with a neutral expression. Agatha and the Commander glared at each other while Sabrina stayed focused on Mewtwo.

I felt something ripple past me that set my skin tingling. I flicked a glance towards Sabrina and found her eyes glowing. Mewtwo paused in his tail lashing and his eyes drifted towards Sabrina.

Hmmm, I suppose that's one way to make yourself heard over the rabble. Simply talk in a manner they can't interrupt.

"—concerned citizens!" snapped Agatha, her shadow roiling despite Gengar not being even in it. I eyed it thoughtfully before flicking my gaze towards the white-faced Team Aqua Commander who was looking at Mewtwo like he wanted Mewtwo to step in.

What was he expecting? Mewtwo to call a foul or something?

Mewtwo, for his part, scoffed. "I see, so that is your version of events," he said aloud and everyone paused. They then tracked Mewtwo's gaze to Sabrina.

Everyone but myself and Koga who continued to watch Team Aqua. I noted that Koga was reclined in his chair with one leg curled up.

If you didn't know Koga well you'd think him like a lazing Snorlax.

The thing about Snorlax's is they can strike extremely quickly when they want to. It takes a lot of people by surprise how quickly the lumbering giants can go from placid to extreme violence when threatened.

His eyes were shaded due to the angle he had his head resting at, so he could be tracking anyone on Team Aqua's side. It was impressive how he'd judged the angles of the room and adjusted his position to adapt.

Then again, Koga had a number of skills that took you by surprise despite knowing he was a ninja, so it really shouldn't be that surprising.

Team Aqua stiffened as they realised what had happened. The Commander stood, turning to Mewtwo. "Sir Mewtwo! I swear we were merely investigating this island! We are just an exploratory force."

"That is part of a greater military force," Mewtwo added on pointedly. Mewtwo lowered himself for the first time since his fight with Empress, to meet the commander's gaze.

"I will make this clear," he said, his words echoing out and filling everyone's mind. I winced at the projected force and flooded my mind with dark energy to mute the feeling. His next words while still powerful didn't hurt as he pushed them upon us.

"I do not care for the incidents of humans! I have had enough of being a part of such things. You, and any others will leave me alone," he said, slowly rotating to glare at us Guardians.

Karen snarled. "Is that the thanks we get for protecting you from this bunch of Carvannagh?" she snapped.

Mewtwo jutted his chin. "I did not ask, and I did not need it! You humans are the ones who arbitrarily decided to insert yourselves! Now I am drawing a line. You will not intrude upon my island again! Is that clear?" he said.

The difference from Mewtwo here and now and to the Mewtwo I'd been expecting to encounter based off the movies was like night and day. Drawing a line? What was his plan?

Silence met his demands and he narrowed his eyes.

I felt the same psychic energy pass me by as Sabrina attempted to talk to Mewtwo, or calm him down. Mewtwo's gaze snapped to hers and something flashed in his eyes.

When Sabrina flinched I clenched my fist. I was about to rise up out of my seat only for the situation to assert itself to me once more.

I remained seated, annoyed at my inability to do anything.

Mewtwo turned his full gaze upon Team Aqua. "You have learned what is here and now you will follow my commands, or I will seek you out and destroy you and any of your followers."

Mewtwo clenched his fist and around the room debris from our battle rose up with psychic energy. I likened it to another pokemon's threat display. I had to admit to being impressed with the sheer scale of items and their collective mass being raised up casually.

"You will do this, or I will destroy you!" Mewtwo said, making sure that the consequences of crossing the line was well known.

I worked my jaw, annoyed that we were being lumped together with Team Aqua of all people in Mewtwo's mind. He turned to our group. "The same is true for you," he said hotly.

I bared my teeth. "Really? After how we helped you and all you've done to us in the past—"

"I will not have those situations held against me!" Mewtwo snarled and I felt Psychic energy build up around me.

In response, I flexed my dark energy.

Just like Empress had shown him, I would show that while weaker, I had teeth.

I met his gaze and for a moment I recalled the time he'd grabbed me by the neck. My pulse began to race even as my mouth continued to work. "Consider the situation at least! You might not have been in complete control of yourself but you can't ignore that you were part of it."

"Brock," Sabrina said, laying a hand on me to calm me down.

I didn't pull my arm away from her despite wanting to. I didn't stop glaring at Mewtwo.

Mewtwo's tail lashed about again and I heard some fixtures within the room screeched and grind as Mewtwo tore them from the walls or floors.

I continued to stare up at him.

Sabrina squeezed my hand. "Brock, you're letting your fear for Don and Empress cloud your thoughts right now and lashing out. Mewtwo was the victim," she whispered to me.

"Mewtwo might have been the victim, but he shows no remorse for what he did and refuses to acknowledge the damage done."

"That is still victim blaming, he didn't know better back then," Sabrina said, urging me with what I knew to be a morally correct argument. I was victim blaming. I couldn't say I'd ever encountered someone as heavily restricted, or even raised into criminal actions quite like Mewtwo, but it still rubbed me the wrong way to know how much damage he'd done only for him to deny any part in it.

Is that what I wanted though? Remorse? Or perhaps it was the lack of empathy on his part that stuck in my craw.

I wasn't sure what I wanted, but I wanted something.

I clenched my jaw and held back from saying anything else.

I'd done enough to muddy the waters to a reasonable outcome already with my words and Empress' fight.

I couldn't bring myself to regret saying what I'd said or allowing Empress to fight.

They had needed to occur, now I just needed to find a way forward. I swallowed and inhaled before slowly exhaling, showing that I was making an effort to calm myself.

Sabrina squeezed my hand again in thanks and directed her gaze back to Mewtwo. Once more her eyes glowed and once more she made contact. Mewtwo didn't rebuff her this time and Mewtwo remained quiet for a time.

Around us, the others, barring Koga, shifted in agitation gazes flicking between Sabrina and Mewtwo. Eventually, Mewtwo jerked his head and scoffed.

"I will hold to my initial demands," he said firmly. "You will all leave my island," he said.

The commander nodded and stood. "Very well, we shall depart." He bowed with a smarmy smile towards Mewtwo before turning and smirking at us. "We shall be in touch," he said and I turned my glower upon him with the rest of the Guardians.

Notably, a few of the Grunts remained in their places.

"Sir… what about our pokemon?" they asked nervously.

I raised an eyebrow at the dichotomy on display with the people who hadn't cared and the people who had.

The Commander stiffened and scowled at them like they were an annoyance instead of people raising a serious issue. The Commander turned back to Mewtwo with all of his group watching him. "Sir Mewtwo, may we have our pokemon returned to us?"

A quip about them most likely not being their pokemon emerged on my lips before I stifled it. They weren't Team Rocket for all that they were a criminal organisation. I might want to deny them their pokemon but that might result in our own pokemon being taken from us.

And there was no way I was leaving here with my pokemon.

An equally firm expression appeared on Koga, Katarina and the other's faces. All of them had lost one or two pokemon each. Annabelle had lost her entire team.

Everyone held their breath. Mewtwo was within his rights to demand we leave having set himself up on this island, but if he wanted to detain our pokemon we were going to come to blows.

Mewtwo tilted his head and for a moment I thought I saw a glint of something cruel enter his eyes. Then the moment was gone and he nodded his head leaving me to wonder if I hadn't just imagined it.

"Your pokemon shall be returned to you," he announced grandly. He snapped his fingers and from the staircase leading down a torrent of clone balls rose. Several appeared before each Team Aqua member while only a handful appeared on our side.

The two clone balls in front of me warbled for a moment and Mewtwo gestured at them. "I suggest you return your pokemon if they were already not bound within their pokeballs," he said.

I raised up Don and Empress' Greatball and Luxury ball respectively. When the cloneballs released them I didn't wait for them to gather their bearings, I simply returned them. They'd be confused later on but it was better they have murky recollection.

Don was just as likely to become aggressive and there was no way I could get away with another battle with Mewtwo.

Not that I rated Don's chances alone.

I rolled the balls around in my hand after I shrank them. We'd only been talking for a few minutes.



Had that been long enough for Mewtwo to clone them?

I glanced towards the staircase leading down. If he had the capacity… or rather the facilities to do it, it would be down there.

It was probably best I assume he had the capacity to perform such feats. Meaning he now had many powerful pokemon at his beck and call.

If anyone tried to pressure him they were in for a shock.

"You may depart now," said Mewtwo to us and the Team Aqua group closed up on each other and made for the exit with only a few glances shot our way.

I caught a few mutters and whispered comments as they departed.

"We have our pokemon back, do we want to try them? We know to avoid the blackballs this time!" whispered one idiotic Team Aqua woman.

"No!" snapped the Commander. "Just make a note of who was here for their group. We need to report that Kanto has another Legendar—"

"Brock, Sabrina, time to go," said Agatha.

I blinked, realising I was one of the only people still seated. Sabrina was standing but her eyes glowed once more.

Mewtwo and her stared at each other and I had never quite wanted to be gifted psychically as in that moment. Oh to be able to listen in on that conversation.

Then again it was probably a lot of intuition and information. True Psychic conversation afterall didn't rely on merely words but impressions, emotions and attached thoughts. Or at least that had been the one time I'd had a much younger Sabrina attempt it with me lowering whatever Dark energy shield I had around me.

Mewtwo twitched and Sabrina nodded, turning away. "Let's go," she said, agreeing with Agatha.

Agatha for her part eyed her uncertainly. I suppose she didn't really know what to say right now. I didn't expect that to last very long.

Sabrina surprised us all when she released her Alakazam, Hypno, and Xatu. "Let's depart, Annabelle will need us to catch up to her to get her to a doctor," she said, indicating the six pokeballs that Karen had claimed for her friend.

Karen nodded and started to open her mouth only for a blinding flash to take us all by surprise.

I blinked when I appeared within the Fuchsia Gym's garden.

A rustle of leaves instantly swept through the garden as though a wind had rushed through the place but I knew it to be ninja reacting to our sudden presence. A quicker inspection of our group revealed that Sabrina was missing.

I glanced around double checking for her. I caught sight of Koga making a hand sign that had the rustling leaves dying off. Sabrina was noticeably missing, had she stayed behind to talk with Mewtwo?

A second later Janine appeared before Koga. Her eyes swept over her father's form.

"You have returned… where is—" she started to say only for another flash to sweep through the gardens.

I blinked and relaxed when I caught sight of Sabrina.

She nodded to Koga. "I caught up to Annabelle and Tiffany; they are now at the Fuchsia hospital."

Karen relaxed. "Good, I... better go check on them," she said with what sounded like worry in her voice.

I flicked a glance around. "So, that was… eventful," I summarised.

Agatha snorted. "You are a master of understating things Brock," she said, eying me. "What possessed you to allow your pokemon to fight Mewtwo!?" she snapped.

Her cane lanced out but I wasn't about to let her bully me, even half-heartedly.

I caught the cane and locked gazes with her. I flexed my hand and the cane groaned a little as I gave a small warning that she would lose her cane if she pushed her luck.

She drew the cane back and I allowed it to go. Tensions were obviously high and I took a moment to breath in. "That…" I said carefully, thinking my words over before I spoke. "That was a situation where my pokemon wouldn't back down even if I'd ordered her to," I said.

Agatha's jaw worked before she nodded, accepting my response. It didn't stop her voicing her thoughts. "You need to work on her more, that was a delicate situation as it was and I think it could have spiralled out of control with that… demonstration," she said.

I grunted, not really feeling up for commenting on what had gone down. It was true even if I couldn't see a situation where Empress wouldn't throw down against one of the parties in charge of the destruction of her nest. She wasn't the only one I needed to work on. Don's attitude had cost him. I'd let that go on for too long, I needed to curb his antics.

Instead off doing anything with my pokemon however, I turned my attention to Sabrina.

I raised an eyebrow quesitoningly and she sighed. The others joined me at gazing at our resident Psychic specialist.

"I was able to make contact with Mewtwo somewhat. He is still extremely cagey about interactions with humans. Rightfully so considering his past," She said, earning a nod. "Overall I'd say that was handled… in as good a manner as can be expected," she said.

I snorted and was about to disagree when Sabrina shot me a look. "You' weren't going to be objective with Don and Empress on the line."

I grimaced and looked away. Surprisingly my eyes landed on Koga who looked like he was offering me a look of commiseraiton. Ah, right, he'd also had Charizard taken, hadn't he? We shared a nod befoer looking back to Sabrina.

She shot me an apologetic look. "He also didn't react well to you reminding him of his time spent under Giovanni and Team Rocket."

Agatha shot me another look and the hand holding her cane twitched but I shot her a glare.

If she tried that again tonight I was breaking that damn cane. In fact, no, if she tried it ever again with me I'd break it, I vowed to myself.

Agatha restrained herself as I gave Sabrina's words some consideration. I could only nod my head and sigh. "Yeah I know he was raised and… conditioned to do what they asked him but… I don't know, I guess I just wanted some empathy, but that's not something possible for him right now."

Janine fidgeted. "Why is that?" she asked innocently.

Sabrina sighed. "Mewtwo is incredibly smart, but… he lacks much life experience. He has been taken advantage of in the past so that makes it harder for him to interact in a positive setting with humanity." she smiled woodenly at me. "He was not raised either so much as created. Team Rocket have encoded numerous obedience orders into his very flesh."

I grimaced and nodded feeling a twinge of pity for him. Urgh, I wish this could be more straightforward. If Mewtwo had been like his movie counterpart this might have been easier but instead he was a pokemon that was still finding his feet.

"Also, as a Legendary there will be people that will still attempt to capture him,. By drawing a line in the sand he will stave off some of these," Sabrina said.

I nodded, knowing Sabrina's words were bang on the mark. After all, hadn't there been that one adaptation of pokemon where the main character made it their goal?

If people like Tobias had access to a Darkrai and Latios in the cartoons then surely it was possible. Even if such an idea was terrible.

Sabrina coughed to nudge my wandering attention back to her before she continued her explanation, "Mewtwo is quite lacking in… emotional understanding and awareness. This makes him come across as extremely blunt. He is trying to raise walls as he feels threatened due to what happened."

Sabrina licked her lips and her eyes darted away from me. I knew I wasn't going to like what she said next. "I have offered to act as a… guide for him to learn and experience more of the positives that life has." For some reason she looked at me with a fond smile when she said this.

I stiffened alongside the others. I'd been right. I really didn't like the idea of Sabrina having Mewtwo simply drop in. I grimaced after a moment's thought as I realised that Sabrina was in a way 'paying it forward' like I'd once done with her when she was a child.

Koga and Agatha both spoke up at once. "That is entirely too risky to do alone!" "You foolish girl, a Legendary pokemon is not to be underestimated!"

Sabrina stood tall. "I know that, and I know there are risks. I don't have to do it alone, and I will be careful, but giving Mewtwo more reasons to dislike us is not the way forward. Mewtwo can be reasoned with and shown a better way." Sabrina looked to me for support and I swallowed my misgivings.

"I think… out of all of us," I said carefully. "Sabrina's probably the one with the best shot. Who knows?" I said with a laugh, "He might just like her enough to help out when we're in a pinch," I said.

If Spenser, a man from the Kingdom of Rota, and Brandon could work with Legendary pokemon, I didn't see any reason why Sabrina couldn't work with Mewtwo.

I chuckled at the blank expressions I'd gotten from my comment while Sabrina just shook her head with a faint smile.

Agatha sighed, "We will need to do a debrief before we depart," she said, her wrist turning over before she grimaced. "It is very early in the morning so let us get this done. We will need to consider what to do about Team Aqua going forward, as they will be aware that we know of them. They also now have faces and names, so see to your own home's defences," she said.

Koga shot her a look that she ignored as the trees rustled. It was probably redundant advice for someone like Koga even with Fuchsia being one of the potential targets that a naval based military could access easily.

"Team Aqua will most like dive deep into the ocean to evade any further detection. This is a standard MO for them. With their presence known they will be more careful. Their previous base will also likely vanish in the coming days," Koga said with a sigh.

Agatha waved her hands and a few ninja appeared with tablets for us to do up brief reports. I typed mine up quickly along with some observations. When I finished I spent a minute weighing up the benefits of mentioning my fears about Mewtwo possessing an army of pokemon cloned from those he abducted from today.

I felt it was a bit of a stretch, but I did decide to lay out some logic with regards to it as a 'potential threat'. If the others wanted to question me I wouldn't be able to back it up, but I could at least bring the possibility to their attention.

When I was done Sabrina and I shared a look before we teleported back home. We reappeared in my room only to find Billy curled up in my bed. The flash of the Teleport was enough to have him sitting up and blinking blearily.

I leaned down and rubbed his head, a small idea of why he was here forming in my head. "Hey buddy, sorry we missed you, there was an emergency, what's got you in my bed?" I asked.

He smacked his lips. "The bed is wet," he said before laying back down.

I sighed and nodded my head. "Yeah, of course that makes sense," I said, moving to change out his mattress before it got ruined. Sabrina stopped me with a raised hand.

Her eyes glowed and a few seconds later she nodded at me. "I changed his bed. He can stay with us tonight if he wants?" she said. She then telekinetically raised our pokeballs and made them vanish. "They need to rest," she said.

I gave her a thankful smile. I hadn't been looking forward to trudging down to deposit them with Chansey. As it was she was probably going to get a bit of a rude shock with Empress being so wiped out.

That made me pause. I couldn't have her running off in the morning when she recovered… if she recovered that is. I moved over to the computer earning a frown from Sabrina and a grumble from Billy as the light invaded on the dark room. I clicked through some security features before coming up on the medical bay. When it showed the various berths with pokebalsl within them I clicked on Empress' Greatbal land locked it down, signalling for the machine to induce a medical coma.

That would stop her running off along with making sure she was fully healed.

I'd have to talk with her in the morning. I sighed and shut the computer down, deciding that could be future Brock's problem.

I nudged Billy back into bed and made sure he was on my side of the bed so he wouldn't kick Sabrina while she slept.

I lay down in the middle of the bed and tried to relax. Sadly my mind was a little too amped up after everything that had happened in the last… I glanced at the clock and found something new to curse Team Aqua for. It was six o'clock in the morning.

I sighed, knocking my head against the headrest.

Damn… I could skip training with my team needing the rest.

I wouldn't, or rather shouldn't, skip out on Greta and A.J.'s Gym battle with Kong.

And I really really shouldn't skip out on Flint.

I sighed again. Ah well, it wouldn't be the first time that I've been tired throughout the day.

I could deal. I nudged Billy into a more comfortable position on my side. This was nothing compared to when Flint had left.

I yawned and let sleep claim me.

I'd just have to manage with three hours.

Damn Team Aqua, next time I fought them I was totally having Sanchez blow them out of the water.

And just for good measure, I was totally going to give them a taste of their own medicine with a Hyper Beam Barrage.

They deserved no less.



A.N. Thanks go to my Patreons for your support! I hope these last two chapters have some theory crafting with what might happen going forward as I have some plans with Mewtwo acquiring a several pokemon of his own!

Thanks also go to Twmmy for proofreading this chapter
 
I was honestly suspecting Mewtwo swapped Empress and Don for Clones just to see if the whole 'bonds' thing Sabrina probably told him about is actually a thing or a palcebo. It'd be the sort of dick move done by an emotionally stunted Legendary that's still trying to figure out how this whole 'emotions' thing works, and also thinks the dude is a dick for calling him out.
 
I was honestly suspecting Mewtwo swapped Empress and Don for Clones just to see if the whole 'bonds' thing Sabrina probably told him about is actually a thing or a palcebo. It'd be the sort of dick move done by an emotionally stunted Legendary that's still trying to figure out how this whole 'emotions' thing works, and also thinks the dude is a dick for calling him out.
The clones don't share the same mind, Sabrina would have already noticed
 
Hmm, so Sabrina is going to be Mewtwo's life coach? That should be an interesting experience for everyone... It does give me hope though that this version of Mewtwo will heal and get past his chuunibyou phase of "conquering the world" a bit earlier than in canon.

...Also, bravo Viva. You have once again accomplished an author's goal. You made me feel. Feel a deep need to reach through the screen and punch the Aqua Commander.

When I finished I spent a minute weighing up the benefits of mentioning my fears about Mewtwo possessing an army of pokemon cloned from those he abducted from today.

I felt it was a bit of a stretch, but I did decide to lay out some logic with regards to it as a 'potential threat'. If the others wanted to question me I wouldn't be able to back it up, but I could at least bring the possibility to their attention.
There is actually a line of reasoning he could use. Mewtwo was created through cloning, on the very island where they just did battle. Further, he would be aware of other Rocket bases that the Guardians and Kanto may have missed. So it's more than plausible that Mewtwo has been able to get some cloning facilities up and running.

Lastly, below are some typos for your editing pleasure:
And there was no way I was leaving here with my pokemon.
with - without

a nod befoer looking back
befoer - before

Empress' Greatbal land locked it down,
land - and
 
I think the older guardians would find the clone balls (even if they don't know about the cloning) to be the scariest thing about Mewtwo right now. While there are pokemon that are as intelligent or sometimes even smarter than humans, they usually don't bother with technology without human influence due to being able to rely on their natural abilities. Mewtwo has proven able to not only reverse engineer human tech, it's making improvements and possibly inventing new technologies entirely on its own. A wild pokemon going out of its way to do something like that is completely unprecedented from their perspective.
 
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I think the older guardians would find the clone balls (even if they don't know about the cloning) to be the scariest thing about Mewtwo right now. While there are pokemon that are as intelligent or sometimes even smarter than humans, they usually don't bother with technology without human influence due to being able to rely on their natural abilities. Mewtwo has proven able to not only reverse engineer human tech, it's making improvements and possibly inventing new technologies entirely on its own. A wild pokemon going out of its way to do something like that is completely unprecedented from their perspective.
You also have to take into account that Mewtwo is both a Legendary and a Psychic Pokemon. Psychic Pokemon are already generally known for being hyper intelligent by human standards so it isn't that far-fetched to presume that a Legendary psychic Pokemon is even more so. Plus, he was literally created from technology rather than the natural way so him taking even more interest in what birthed him is also fairly logical.

What Sabrina is going to have her work cut out for her in doing is properly awakening Mewtwo's emotions and getting him to understand that a) not all humans are bad and out to get him, and if possible b) that working with humans can be more beneficial than trying to either enslave us or wipe us out.
 
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