"Can I borrow this ring for a while?" Cynthia asked.
She wanted to compare it with the inscriptions at that ancient ruin she'd visited years ago.
Caleb replied, "You can have it. I've got no use for it anyway."
He didn't think much of it. The item was useless to him, so he didn't even register the implication of a guy giving a girl a ring.
But Cynthia did. Fortunately, she knew Caleb well enough from their time together to understand he absolutely didn't mean anything by it.
She stared at the black-eyed man before her...
He had short dark hair, wore a plain white T-shirt, and had sharp, handsome features. His nose bridge was sharp, and he had thick eyebrows, making him quite eye-catching.
In that moment, Cynthia suddenly realized something... Caleb was no longer the boy who once needed looking after. In both appearance and strength, he was now a capable adult.
"What are you thinking about?" Caleb asked, stuffing his things back into his inventory. He spotted the second ring and pulled it out, asking, "This one has writing too. Do you want it as well?"
Cynthia snapped out of her thoughts, glanced at it, and shook her head, saying, "No, you keep it for now. I just need to check if the inscriptions match the ones from that ruin. I'll give it back once I'm done."
Caleb was confused. In his culture, once you give something away, you don't ask for it back. So he said, "No need to return it."
Cynthia smiled softly and shook her head, "A ring like this should be given to a girl you like."
Caleb didn't know what to say to that.
Just then, Cynthia's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and said, "It's Caitlin. She's probably looking for you."
She didn't step away and answered the call in front of Caleb. Sure enough, Caitlin's voice came through, full of complaint: <..Cynthia, do you have any idea where your little brother ran off to this time? Seriously, traveling without a phone... How am I supposed to reach him?!..>
Cynthia kept a straight face as she lied smoothly for Caleb, "He's probably out getting lunch. You know how bad the Unova League cafeteria food is."
Caitlin grumbled: <..I suggested to Alder that we hire a new chef, but he turned me down..>
After a brief pause, she sighed wearily: <..Ugh, forget it. I'll wait a bit longer. Did you eat yet?..>
"I'm About to," Cynthia said.
<..Alright then. When you come visit for vacation, I'll treat you to a fancy dinner. Bye~>
And with that, Caitlin hung up.
"You Champions and Elite Fours really live like regular people…" Caleb muttered.
Before coming here, Anime had misled him into thinking these top-tier Trainers just fought battles and served as regional figureheads.
"We're all just normal humans," Cynthia laughed, "So yes, we complain about bad food and lousy weather too."
"True," Caleb said, realizing she was right. He changed the subject, "You and Caitlin seem to get along well."
He remembered that in the games, Cynthia would spend summers in Undella Town in Unova, renting a villa owned by Caitlin.
"Mm," Cynthia nodded, "She's an excellent Trainer."
"Oh." Caleb wasn't particularly interested in their friendship. He had just remarked casually. So after that, he led Cynthia back to the dining room for lunch...
…
After lunch, Caleb said goodbye to Cynthia and gathered his Pokémon to continue with the main quest.
As soon as he returned to his Unova League quarters, a Mewtwo popped out of its Poké Ball on its own. Judging by its eyes and posture, it was Mew2.
Caleb set aside what he was doing and asked, "What's wrong?"
Mew2 looked hesitant, as if struggling to find the right words.
Caleb frowned slightly. This world had changed because of his influence. Giovanni had been forced to relocate with the infant Mew2 earlier than in the original timeline.
Seeing Mew2 like this, Caleb wondered: 'Could it be that with Team Rocket's bases in Kanto dismantled, their tech had failed, causing problems with Mew2's body?'
His thoughts spiraled. Concerned, he asked gently, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Mew2 replied: >..No, I'm fine. It's just…<
"Just what?"
Mew2 pressed its lips and asked: >..Can I ask you something?..<
"Of course," Caleb said, giving the young Genetic Pokémon his full attention.
A flicker of confusion passed through Mew2's eyes: >..Why did humans create me?..<
Caleb froze, stunned by the nature of the question: 'Is Mew2 opening up to me?'
If not for that truck at the beginning, Caleb wouldn't have come to this world. If he hadn't come here, Mew2's fate wouldn't have changed.
And if Mew2's fate hadn't changed, it would've followed the original storyline; meeting Amber, watching her die, being used by Giovanni, returning to New Island, and eventually encountering Ash.
After a moment's thought, Caleb chose his words carefully, "Because they wanted to create the strongest Pokémon in the world and use it to achieve their own goals."
That was Team Rocket's reason for creating Mewtwo. Harsh as it sounded, it was the undeniable truth.
This young Mewtwo deserved to know. Caleb refused to feed it some sugar-coated lie about being created out of love.
>..So that was their goal..<
Mew2 murmured.
>..Does that mean my existence is only for that?..<
From his vintage point, Caleb understood exactly what Mew2 was feeling; Why do I exist?
It was a philosophical question with no clear answer...
"No," Caleb said firmly, "They are them. You are you. From the moment you were born, you've been your own independent being... a life recognized by this world. Every living being is like you. None of us chose to be born. But does that really matter?"
"We live in this world. What matters most is being happy. There's nothing we have to do. I love Pokémon, so I met everyone and chose to live together. Some people love flowers, so they become gardeners. Some love the sky, so they study hard to become pilots. Some love sunrises, so they climb mountains at 4 a.m. to watch the sun rise. What you love... that's the meaning of your existence."
>..Love?..< Mew2 echoed, dazed.
Caleb had said a lot. He didn't expect the young Pokémon to figure it all out right away. After a pause, he asked, "Have you ever tried lying in the grass and soaking up the sun?"
Mew2 shook its head, puzzled.
Caleb smiled, "Then let's go try it sometime."
A moment to just let go. Thinking about nothing, and savoring the warmth of sunlight on one's skin.
Most importantly, a moment spent with cherished companions; Mimikyu, Dragonite, Lucario, Celebi, Hydreigon, and both Mewtwos...