"I'd like to ask you to create another Mewtwo for me!"
Upon hearing Lucas's words, Dr. Fuji suddenly raised his head, staring at Lucas in shock. "You want to use me again to help Team Rocket build another weapon? Dream on!"
He rejected the request without hesitation. Though Fuji still carried an unfulfilled wish in his heart, he had absolutely no desire to be used by Team Rocket ever again.
Mewtwo was a success—an undeniable, terrifyingly powerful, man-made legend. No one understood this better than Fuji, the very creator of Mewtwo. But the project had been born purely from Team Rocket's selfish ambitions.
Not long after the first successful embryo of Mewtwo was created, Team Rocket had forcibly instilled a massive amount of combat experience and knowledge of war and conflict into it—flooding its mind with nothing but negativity.
That alone told Fuji everything he needed to know about Team Rocket's intentions. They never wanted to create life—they wanted to build the ultimate weapon of war.
And now they wanted him to create a second Mewtwo?
Absolutely not!
He had already made one irreversible mistake in pursuit of his ambition. He wouldn't make a second.
"Mewtwo?" Marnie tilted her head slightly, confused as she looked at Fuji. She didn't even know what Mewtwo was. But Marnie, being obedient as ever, chose not to ask. She'd just ask Lucas about it later.
"No, no, Dr. Fuji, you've misunderstood. I'm not here on behalf of Team Rocket," Lucas replied with a gentle smile.
"I'm here as an individual, requesting a collaboration. This has nothing to do with Team Rocket."
"An individual?" Fuji frowned upon hearing that. If he remembered correctly, Lucas was a member of Team Rocket.
"Is it because you're after Mewtwo's power? So, in the end, you're just another man driven by ambition." Fuji shook his head in disappointment. He could see it in Lucas's eyes—the hunger for Mewtwo's power.
This young man standing before him—what he truly desired was Mewtwo's strength.
"Give it up. Even if I could create another Mewtwo—which I can't—I wouldn't," Fuji said flatly. One Mewtwo had already been enough to trigger catastrophe. A second one? That would be a disaster waiting to happen.
And truth be told, Fuji didn't even believe he could do it again. Mewtwo's birth had been a product of timing, coincidence, and unexpected luck. Even if he were given the exact same equipment as before, Fuji had no confidence he could succeed a second time.
"You really won't do it?" Lucas's lips curved into a slight smile.
Fuji furrowed his brows but remained silent.
"You took all the research data on Mewtwo with you when you fled, didn't you? That means… you haven't completely given up."
Lucas smiled as he gazed at the visibly weary Dr. Fuji. Yes, if Fuji had truly let it all go, there would've been no reason to risk Team Rocket's pursuit just to steal and preserve all the experimental data on Mewtwo.
"I did my homework. When you were young, you were a passionate, celebrated researcher. And back then, you had a lovely daughter…"
"Her name was Amber, wasn't it? But fate can be cruel— Amber died in a tragic accident."
"That loss broke you. Unable to accept it, you left Cinnabar Island and drifted through life in a haze."
Lucas spoke softly, recounting the story he had pieced together. Yes—Dr. Fuji had been a devoted, loving father. And when his daughter Amber passed away at a very young age, the trauma shattered him completely.
Fuji's aged face turned pale. His body trembled. The pain of losing Amber remained just as raw even now.
"But Team Rocket gave you a new hope. Through genetic cloning and artificial life research, you saw a possibility—a chance to 'resurrect' Amber. That's why you agreed to join the Mewtwo project. You even convinced Blaine to help."
"The first clone, Mewtwo, was a success. But to you, it was a failure."
"You tried to transfer all of Amber's memories and emotions into Mewtwo. But Mewtwo's independent consciousness completely suppressed everything—it wasn't Amber. It was just Mewtwo."
Lucas looked at Fuji with a hint of pity. He didn't see a villain. In truth, Fuji was a man with a kind heart.
In both the games and the anime origin stories, Fuji created Mewtwo out of scientific curiosity and admiration for Mew's genetics. But in the first Mewtwo movie, Dr. Fuji's motives were different—he only joined Team Rocket's Mewtwo project to bring back Amber.
But he failed. The Mewtwo that emerged from the project bore no trace of Amber's consciousness. And Fuji eventually vanished from history.
Perhaps he died during Mewtwo's escape. Or perhaps he disappeared into obscurity, never to return. No one knows.
In the end, Fuji was just a father who wanted to see his daughter again.
"How do you know all of this? Did Blaine tell you?" Fuji asked, voice dry and hoarse, his emotions now slowly settling.
"No. I simply investigated and pieced it all together. I know you're not ready to give up. That's why I came to you."
"The genetic cloning experiment was a success. Mewtwo's existence proves that. I can free you from Team Rocket's pursuit. I'll provide funding and a proper research facility. You can continue your efforts—for Amber."
Lucas smiled gently. He was confident Fuji would agree.
Because Fuji still had a dream.
He still wanted to bring Amber back. That desire had become an obsession—so much so that he'd stolen all the data from Team Rocket after the "failure" of Mewtwo.
He was already half-mad from grief. And that madness was exactly what Lucas needed.
Fuji trembled again as he stared at the young man before him. This offer—it was the temptation of a devil.
He knew Lucas was up to no good. Maybe this was even Team Rocket's way of manipulating him again.
But he also knew one thing for certain: Lucas wanted Mewtwo.
And Fuji knew he should refuse. There was no guarantee that even if they succeeded, the new being would truly be Amber.
But…
Could he say no?
He couldn't.
He missed his daughter too much. He wanted to see her again—even if the Amber he saw was just a clone.
After a long pause, Fuji's dry lips finally moved.
"To create Mewtwo, we need more than just equipment. What's most important… is Mew's DNA."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
The experiment required not only advanced machinery but enormous financial support. That alone was beyond Fuji's reach.
Not to mention the rare and superior Pokémon DNA needed for fusion. He couldn't possibly do it alone.
Lucas's expression turned satisfied—Fuji had agreed.
"Mew's DNA is the most stable and inclusive. Only with Mew's genetic foundation can all the other genetic data be successfully merged. Without it, the experiment will fail."
Fuji knew he had stepped into the abyss. There was no turning back. He couldn't refuse—because this was his last hope.
"I'll take care of finding Mew's genes," Lucas promised. "I'll get them to you as soon as possible."
The only time he'd sensed Mew was in the outskirts of Viridian Forest. And even then, he hadn't seen it—only sensed its presence.
"If all else fails… I'll go to the Tree of Beginning in the Hoenn region."
Lucas pondered quietly. Mew was a playful creature, constantly traveling around the world. But it was said that one Mew resided near the Tree of Beginning in Hoenn.
He didn't know if that Mew was the same one from Kanto—but the Tree of Beginning was a dangerous and mysterious place. Unless absolutely necessary, Lucas didn't want to go there.
"I'll also need a list of the required equipment," Fuji added. "And finally… I need an assistant. The workload for this kind of project is too much for one person."
Genetic cloning wasn't something that could be done alone. The calculations were immense. One mistake could ruin everything.
That's why he'd asked Blaine to help last time.
But this time, Blaine would never agree—and might even scold him harshly.
"No problem. I'll get you a base first, and I'll find an assistant as soon as possible."
"They need to be an expert in genetics and biology," Fuji reminded him. "I don't want a rookie messing things up."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure they live up to your standards," Lucas promised. Regardless of how difficult it might be, agreeing was the first step.
As for a qualified researcher, one name immediately came to Lucas's mind—Professor Samuel Oak...
Kidnapping Professor Oak?
He quickly shook his head. That man was too stubborn—he'd probably rather die than cooperate.
Another name flashed in his mind, and Lucas's eyes lit up.
Yes—that person would work!
"For now, please rest. I'll have someone bring you some food shortly."
Lucas gave Fuji a respectful nod and left the room with Marnie.
Fuji didn't respond.
As the door closed behind them, a wave of exhaustion swept over Fuji. He lay back on the bed, face filled with conflicted emotions.
"…Amber…"
In the hotel hallway—
"You look pretty happy. I'm guessing what just happened was important?" Marnie tilted her head and looked at Lucas, noting the smile he couldn't hide.
To be honest, she only half understood the conversation between Lucas and Fuji. She still didn't quite grasp what "Mewtwo" really was.
"Of course I'm happy. Marnie, do you know what the limit of science is?"
Lucas gently held Marnie's soft little hand. In moments of great success and joy, not having someone to share it with—that was truly sad.
Fortunately for him, Marnie was always there to share everything with him—his joy, anger, sorrow, and laughter.
"The limit of science?" Marnie blinked, puzzled. Her face practically had question marks written all over it.
Seriously, how was she supposed to know that?
"Human civilization has reached incredible heights. But the world's wonders and mysteries are endless—there are still so many things beyond human understanding."
"You mean… legends?"
"Yes. Legendary Pokémon."
Lucas nodded. Even with today's scientific advancements, this world was still filled with the unknown.
And the highest level of that unknown—were the Legendary Pokémon.
"Wherever civilization cannot reach, science will. You've seen how powerful these legends are, Marnie. A Trainer's limits are hard to break."
"That's why, to humans, Legendary Pokémon are disasters. But even so, science can still bring us miracles."
Lucas's smile grew wider.
Yes—miracles.
"Legendary's are sometimes called gods. And when science reaches its limit—it can create gods too. Artificial gods!"
Of course, artificial legends could be considered man-made gods.
Marnie's eyes widened in realization.
"That Mewtwo…?"
"Exactly. Mewtwo is the product of genetic cloning. Its potential rivals those Legendary Pokémon regarded as gods."
Lucas confirmed her guess with a smile.
"So… you're trying to use that old man to make another one?"
Marnie still found the idea hard to accept. An artificial legend? That sounded insane.
She had seen Legendary Pokémon with her own eyes—Calyrex, Zacian, Dialga, Eternatus…
Their power was terrifying. And now he was saying such power could be man-made?
"Yes. Though I don't know if it'll succeed. We still need to find Mew, and we need a skilled geneticist."
Lucas paused in thought.
As for Mew…
Forget it—for now, he'd focus on getting the scientist first.
"But where are we going to find them?" Marnie frowned. Researchers were one thing—there were plenty of famous professors around the world. Worst-case scenario, they could always kidnap one.
Yeah… After spending time with Lucas, Marnie had become pretty numb to the idea of kidnapping.
Snatching a person or two? No big deal.
The real problem… was Mew.
Finding that legendary Pokémon wouldn't be so easy.
"We're heading to Unova next," Lucas said with a sly grin, finally setting his next destination.
After all, as a descendant of the Blackthorn Clan, how could he not visit the Dragonspiral Tower?
He wondered—had N been there before? And if so, did he walk away with Truth, or Ideals?
(End of Chapter)