“You can’t do dat!”
It was a singular Meowth’s intervention that had saved the recollections of all present under Mt. Kanar that night. One objection that spearheaded the thoughts of a multitude of cloned Pokémon and the humans which stood by them.
“It’s only natural t’wonder about who an’ where ya came from,” the Meowth had protested, as it had glanced to the fully evolved yet youthful Nidoqueen offspring. Mewtwo had detected the personal implications in this unusual Pokémon’s words as it uttered them in heartfelt tones. There were gaps in its memory much like his own - gaps which the psychic feline had not been responsible for and which he was unable to fill.
“...just forgetting things doesn’t change the fact that they happened,” the spiky dark brown haired young man had added calmly.
“Don’t you think that everybody deserves to know who they are and where they came from?” the orange-haired girl next to him had inquired with a faint smile.
Yes… Mewtwo had nodded. They deserve to know…
And so do I.
There were two major issues facing the Pokémon as he left Mt. Kanar that night. One of them was the issue of his own origins. The second was the question of his life’s purpose. Neither of which Mewtwo had any idea to address. As he flew deep into one of Johto’s nearby forests, the words he had uttered two years ago played in the back of his mind.
“The circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant.
It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.”
And what had he done? Little more than isolate himself and his fellow cloned Pokémon upon some unreachable plateau. Had it been out of fear? Mewtwo could not see what he had to be afraid of – he owned abilities far beyond those of any creature he knew existed. Perhaps the fear had been more for the Pokémon accompanying him. Since he had been the one who had created them, Mewtwo had felt a deep responsibility for their welfare. Scattered amongst natural-born Pokémon, the psychic feline would have no way of protecting them all. But gathered here…
Mewtwo snorted, dismissing his wandering thoughts. Maybe all that was just an excuse to cover up his own insecurities about the world. His intelligence was vast, able to grasp some of the most intricate scientific theorems mankind had devised. And yet, when faced with the most basic social behaviours, he felt confused…perplexed…even threatened. And it wasn’t as if the cloned Pokémon wouldn’t blend in perfectly – they were no different from their egg-born counterparts bar a few unexplained markings.
Not like him, a creature with the appearance of nothing on earth.
Mewtwo paused to examine himself in a nearby body of water, once again introducing himself to a six foot tall bipedal figure covered mostly in sickly pale violet skin, except just below the torso where it darkened – extending the length of his equally-measurable tail. While Mewtwo’s legs were powerful and muscular, his arms were almost skeletal and had certainly not been manifested with physical prowess in mind. Two stubby, horn-like ears protruded from the top of his head while a thick tube wound its way from the back and into a point just between his shoulder blades. Research through the leftovers of laboratory data had spoken of this rather unflattering addition as a way to increase the efficiency of blood and Aura flow, though as to what ‘Aura’ was…this happened to be something the Pokémon had yet to grasp.
How could I possibly bear the name ‘Mewtwo’? he asked no one in particular. I barely look like Mew at all!
Such a thought cast Mewtwo into a spate of longing as he recalled Doctor Fuji’s words.
“You are greater than Mew…improved through the power of human ingenuity...”
Human ingenuity may well have been used, but how? Mewtwo could see that it wasn’t just Mew’s DNA that had been involved in his creation simply by looking at himself, but what else had they used? The Pokémon desired, no, needed to find out – accepting himself and dedicating his life to the best possible means depended sorely upon it. Still, Mewtwo was at a loose end as to where to start looking for such information. Infiltrating Team Rocket would just be asking for trouble and New Island laboratory, along with any experiment data it held, no longer existed – having been returned to its natural state by Mewtwo in an attempt to begin afresh.
Mewtwo flinched. That was it…’begin’! The Pokémon had to start his search at the location of the one whose DNA had been taken to give him existence. He had to find Mew, and this was naturally easier said than done. His only recollections of Mew related to his conflict with it.
Wait. No…there were other memories – ones buried in the deepest parts of Mewtwo’s subconscious, ones that seemed to be part of his very being. These were the memories that had haunted the Pokémon since his awakening.
The mountain…
It could have been part of the reason for Mewtwo’s retreat to Mt. Kanar following the events of New Island. The vision of the mountain had been both a comforting and a daunting one for him. It brought familiarity, though Mewtwo knew he had never seen it before. Maybe the only reason this image had returned to him time and again was because it was part of his very being, written into his DNA as it were. In essence, maybe that mountain was Mew’s home and all Mewtwo needed to do was grasp his vision of it and let it lead him there.
Entering his subconscious…the far reaches of his mind…this was also an unsettling concept for the Pokemon. But to uncover his origins and purpose, it had to be done.
***~~***~~***~~***~~***
Was this really the place?
Mewtwo couldn’t quite believe he was at the right location. Having descended into his hidden thoughts, the psychic feline had found himself drawn westwards over the topmost ridges of Johto and toward the open sea beyond. There he continued to soar, using the spray from the water below as a means to conceal his lengthy pale form. After some hours had passed, Mewtwo once again reached land – mentally and physically exhausted by his travelling. And this land was unlike anything he had ever seen. It appeared to shimmer with a curious bluish-green tint under his two-toed feet and jutted out in step-like elevations over his head.
Standing in that very spot, Mewtwo felt a deep sense of calm as he surveyed all before him. From here, the Pokemon could see the very mountain which had repeatedly surfaced in his dreams – surely that was where he was supposed to be! Impulsively taking off into the air, Mewtwo flew towards the rocky edifice, but as he did so, he felt the calm feeling ebb away from his body. Pausing in confusion, the psychic feline swung round to see just why this had happened, his jaw dropping open soon afterward.
At this distance, Mewtwo could finally see where he had been standing – under the jade-coloured ‘boughs’ of a tree-shaped crystal formation.
That had to have been it. No ordinary mountain, however large, could possibly surpass the majesty of the beautiful structure that Mewtwo saw before him right now. The Pokémon was swift to return, landing gently upon one of the formation’s higher ridges and wandering down a nearby passage into its rugged depths.
Almost at once, Mewtwo found himself in the presence of a pulsing, living force. Hardly the living force that existed within the humans and Pokémon he had encountered, this force was one that seemed to emanate from the very walls itself – particularly through the glowing blue crystal formations that jutted from the duller brown rock. After a few minutes of walking, the semi-dim cerulean glow gave way to a more intense natural light and the haggard textures under his feet became soft and lush. At first, Mewtwo assumed he had wandered straight through a tunnel and back into the outside world. But as he continued to examine the change of surroundings, he noticed the light was coming from another, far larger crystal formation a good distance above his head. Clear, pure waters flowed below the ledge the Pokémon stood upon while fruit-covered foliage dotted the surrounding grassy landscape.
It was then Mewtwo realised - he had stepped into a cavern paradise much like the one he had formed within Mt. Kanar in his attempts to protect the cloned Pokémon from Giovanni’s wrath. Even here Mewtwo could see signs of Pokémon happily co-existing with one another – strange and wonderful species that he had only ever caught sight of in human reference documents. The psychic feline was certain that some of the Pokémon he could see weren’t even supposed to exist. Perhaps the ‘living energy’ he had felt upon entering the tree-like structure had been keeping them alive somehow.
But this was not Mewtwo’s reason for coming here. He had to find Mew. He had to at least try and find the essence of his own being.
Mew? he called out cautiously in telepathic mannerism. Some of the Pokémon glanced up at the ledge at the sound of this strange new echoey voice in their minds, but none of them became panicked or agitated upon sight of Mewtwo. It was as if the psychic feline was a familiar presence to them and, in some twisted sort of way, he was.
Mew! I know you’re here! he persisted, the tone of his mental voice taking on a note of anguish. Don’t hide from me, please…all I wish to do is talk….
<Then why don’t you?> came a soft voice from behind. Mewtwo whirled round and came face to face with the large blue eyes and slender pink form of the one he had sought for so long. The appearance had been quite unexpected, for Mewtwo had been relying upon his own powerful senses to notify him of Mew’s arrival. And yet, he had known nothing of the tiny Pokémon’s approach.
<Why do you stare so?> Mew inquired expectedly. <You wanted to see me, didn’t you?>
Yes, but… Mewtwo looked the pink creature up and down. Your force…the energy within you feels so much different since the last time we met. How?
<The last time we met?> Mew looked puzzled. <I am sorry, but I’ve never seen you before in my life.>
That’s not possible!
In his desperation, Mewtwo found himself diving for Mew’s mind without thought for holding back – searching through the Pokémon’s memories in some futile attempt to find the accounts of his encounter with her on New Island. But there was nothing. He had come all this way across hundreds of miles of land and ocean, seemingly for nothing.
<I may not have seen you before> Mew reiterated. <But it doesn’t mean I don’t know who you are, Mewtwo>
I…don’t understand… the bipedal figure shook in his disorientation and exhaustion, forcing him to sit down.
<Humans have been very careless in the past> Mew sighed. <You were not the only Pokémon to have been cloned using the DNA sample they stole from me – there were others>
Uh…others? Mewtwo glanced up in surprise. Such a concept had never occurred to him – hadn’t the knowledge of cloning been a relatively new idea? Mew was speaking of it as if it were some kind of ancient rite.
<Other Mews. Yes.> she responded quietly. <They sought to gather the data I hold within me, the data of almost every Pokémon species on this planet which I helped manifest, even if it meant prying open an undeserving duplicate. I imagine the clones that survived long enough to escape disappeared into hiding>
And I happened to meet one of those clones, Mewtwo murmured. How ironic…the creature I had fought to prove myself against had been no different from me the whole time.
<Maybe so> Mew smiled faintly, lowering herself to his eye level. <But you and I have more in common than you’d believe>
I cannot see how that is possible, Mewtwo snorted, staring at the floor. You live here, you have your purpose as a life giver whereas I…I do not know my place in this world. That is if there is a place for me besides the bringer of death and destruction I was originally intended for.
<So you feel that the intentions of the one who brought you here have tainted your purpose> Mew concluded. <You have not been alone in thinking such things, Mewtwo. Long ago there was a human who believed exactly the same about himself. He was adamant that the ancestors who had blackened his family line and drained it of its power would cause him to amount to nothing.>
Mewtwo lifted his head at this point, his intrigue re-awakened. Noting this, Mew gave a nod and reached forward to grasp the larger stubby paws of her humanoid companion. Suddenly Mewtwo felt his heart begin to race as he detected a sudden upsurge of psychic energy within the Pokémon - energy he so rightly associated with teleportation. The scenery was gone in but an instant, plunging Mew and Mewtwo into a temporary shroud of black before reforming them in the more distinct brightness of the outside world.
<Follow me> Mew instructed, before her travelling companion had a chance to regain his equilibrium.
<There is something I wish to show you>
***~~***~~***~~***~~***
Following a few minutes passage across the mountainside, a tall, ornate castle emerged into Mewtwo’s vision. It was positioned atop a large grassy hill amidst a lake filled with sparkling, clear water – connected to the mainland by means of a long bridge. Captivated by its majesty, Mewtwo found himself grow somewhat nervous upon witnessing Mew’s lack of hesitation to continue her flight.
What are you doing? he exclaimed. Surely we can’t go any closer. It is not yet night - what if we are seen?
<Don’t worry> Mew smiled. <Those who live at Cameron Palace know me well. They shall not be concerned with our visit>
If you insist, Mewtwo looked uncomfortable, but obeyed his gut feeling to follow Mew. The two Pokémon approached one of the castle’s rear-facing windows, to which Mew once again grasped her companion’s paw and teleported them beyond the glass.
The innards of Cameron Palace proved to be even more meticulous and opulent than its outside. Every wall appeared to be one intricate mass of panelled carvings, each one more detailed than the last, while curtains draped between ruby red pillars and chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Mewtwo instinctively took to hovering instead of the walking he had been grown more accustomed to as of late, not wishing to mark the polished marble tiles beneath his feet.
Reaching the more darkened end of this particular room, Mew hovered over a particular spot which suddenly became aglow from an unseen source. As the glow brightened it picked out the edges of a tall glass case and an equally tall, thin staff that was held inside it. Mewtwo found himself drawn to the case, longing to touch the ice blue crystal set at the tip of the staff within.
It’s…beautiful, he marvelled, after a long silence.
<This is the staff that belongs to Sir Aaron Cleagi> Mew explained. <A descendant of the once-revered Ki’shuum family.>
How, may I ask, did this Ki’shuum family cause such consternation?
<It was the result of a single man and a single, yet unforgivable abuse of power> Mew replied. <The reason for the Ki’shuums’ high position of reverence was due to their place as masters of their element>
Of their…element? Mewtwo echoed, noticeably confused.
<Yes> Mew nodded. <It is not just Pokémon that can control things like fire and water - there exist humans with the ability to do the same thing. Of course back then, such humans were a lot easier to find. Over time, the dispersion of these abilities and the conflicts between humans with them and those without drove the former of the two groups into hiding.
As for the Ki’shuum family, they showed considerable control over the element of Wind. However, a man known as Ra’al sought to use this ability to bring under his command the very Pokémon he had been told to guard.>
Typical, Mewtwo snorted. Conflicts, selfish desires for control – all too familiar facets of the humanity he knew.
<I can see your distrust is strong> Mew observed. <But not all humans act that way, Mewtwo. Sir Aaron is just such an example. His valiant efforts to redeem the besmirched Ki’shuum name have made him a well-respected figure by many>
Certainly a commendable act, for a human, Mewtwo nodded in acceptance, before returning his attentions to the staff. And quite the fascinating artefact he has. It feels…alive somehow.
<That is because the stone contains the essence of Aaron’s Pokémon partner, Lucario> Mew told him. <It has kept him in a sleep-like state, much like the ‘Pokéballs’ of humans today, while he waits for his friend’s return>
Wait, Mewtwo raised one of his stubby hands. You’re talking in past tense. Just how long has Lucario been inside that crystal?
<Almost 1000 years> came the solemn reply. Mewtwo’s eyes shot wide open.
WHAT? he spluttered. Humans cannot survive for that long! Why on earth were you speaking of this ‘Sir Aaron’ as if he were still alive?
<Because technically, he still is> Mew replied softly. <His selflessness almost destroyed him, but I caught his essence and preserved it within the Tree of Beginning before he disappeared entirely. There he lies, until the process is complete>
What process? Mewtwo urged.
<That is something best spoken of at another time> Mew dismissed the questioning, turning back toward the case and submerging it in darkness. <You have heard what you needed to hear, for now. Sir Aaron is proof that a figure from a darkened background can redeem himself in the light>
But how? Mewtwo sighed exasperatedly. Despite all the things he had learned that day, the Pokémon felt none the more fulfilled. Mew turned to her dispirited companion and for just a second, the calm optimism in her deep blue eyes was blotted out by a sorrowful sympathy.
<For that answer…> she began.
<You must turn to those whom you find hardest to look upon>