"…"
For a moment, Aiden was speechless at Giovanni's casual dismissal.
"What do you mean, 'entrust Mewtwo to me'?" he thought. "It's not some tool you're handing off—it's the righteous Master Aiden sweeping away the evil of Kanto to rescue an innocent Pokémon!"
"You don't need to worry about Mewtwo's future anymore, Boss Giovanni," Aiden said with a weary sigh. "And by the way—Mewtwo isn't a weapon to help you conquer the world. It's a living being with its own will. Its future shouldn't be decided by your casual words like 'I'm entrusting it to you.' It should be chosen by Mewtwo itself."
"In a way, Mewtwo is your creation—your child. But your parenting style? Frankly, it's terrifying."
In the games, Aiden didn't mind Giovanni as a straightforward villain. But here, in reality, many of his beliefs struck Aiden as dangerously twisted.
You spent enormous resources creating a genetically engineered Pokémon—why not spend time with it? Build trust. Earn its affection through genuine connection and charisma? Why treat it like a machine?
If Giovanni were like that, he would be truly terrifying, having filled in his last shortcoming.
Among all the villainous leaders in the Pokémon world, Giovanni was one of the few with real charisma. But instead of using it to inspire loyalty, he chose to become a brutal overseer—slowly, deliberately, crushing every spark of trust until Mewtwo's affection for him froze into pure hatred.
You don't raise children with force. You don't expect obedience from a newborn creature through intimidation. And yet… here we are.
Too bad Giovanni was a villain. Otherwise, Aiden would've sat him down and given him a full lecture on parenting.
Who knows? Maybe in this world, Giovanni even had a son named Silver…
If he treated Silver the same way he treated Mewtwo… the future of this Rocket father-son duo was going to be very awkward.
Giovanni's reply clearly caught him off guard.
He blinked, stunned—almost dazed—then finally sighed.
"You're right, Mister Aiden… I've never been a good father."
"But that's also why I'm more certain than ever—"
He paused mid-sentence. His gaze passed over Aiden's raised brow, waiting for the next words, and landed instead on Mewtwo—standing silently behind him, eyes wide, fully awake, watching with quiet, complicated emotion.
Giovanni smiled—a genuine, relieved smile.
Perhaps Mewtwo had once harbored resentment.
But now, with Aiden unknowingly speaking words Mewtwo had longed to hear—words that shattered its deepest doubts—this moment might rewrite everything Mewtwo believed about humanity.
Add to that the wild rumors swirling around Aiden…
That he was close to Mew.
That he'd even bonded with a rare, jet-black Rayquaza.
"Of course," Giovanni murmured, eyes gleaming with quiet awe. "Teacher Aiden… you are no ordinary person. You are one of the world's chosen ones—blessed by fate itself."
"Enough said. As for Mewtwo's path…"
"Just as you said—let it choose."
Though he spoke these words, Giovanni already knew the answer.
With the groundwork laid—and Aiden's bond with Mew so undeniable—Mewtwo would never refuse him.
As if on cue, a flash of white light cut through the air.
Giovanni instinctively narrowed his eyes.
Before him appeared a pair of silver handcuffs—and then, the smirking face of a man draped in a crimson-and-black cloak.
"I never imagined," Lance said, stepping between Aiden and Giovanni, voice icy, "that the greatest shield protecting Team Rocket was hiding right here—in the Kanto League itself… and that it was you, Giovanni—the beloved Gym Leader of Viridian."
"Then tell me," he continued, voice edged with challenge, "why—after being blessed by the Viridian Forest, granted the Viridian Power like me—did you become this?"
Aiden's ears perked up instantly.
'Ohhhhh… this is the juicy gossip I've been waiting for!'
But… Viridian Power?
He remembered it now.
In the Pokémon world, there were many rare, special forces beyond Psychic energy. Some humans could wield Aura. Others were said to inherit the transcendent power granted by Arceus himself.
And now—this "Viridian Power."
It was a concept from the manga: every ten years, a child born near the Viridian Forest was chosen by the forest itself, granted this sacred gift.
It could heal Pokémon. Read their emotions. Even unlock other unique abilities.
No wonder Giovanni's Beedrill was so terrifyingly strong—he wasn't just a trainer. He'd been granted a divine boost.
But… shouldn't those blessed with Viridian Power be gentle, compassionate trainers who deeply loved Pokémon? That's how the forest chose them, right?
Aiden saw none of that in Giovanni.
And yet, Giovanni didn't flinch at Lance's tone—not even a flicker of offense.
He merely smiled, calm and elegant.
Lance had recognized him.
The "hero of Viridian City," the man everyone admired… was the same man who had crushed him a decade ago.
"I don't recall having such a disgraceful disciple," Giovanni replied smoothly.
"But don't worry. If I've chosen to stake everything on this game… then I accept the loss."
He gave Lance a calm, steady look—then turned back to Aiden, his gaze heavy with meaning.
"If the path I've walked has been proven wrong… then I hope, Master Aiden, you will walk the right one."
"But permit me one final word."
His eyes darkened. His voice lowered.
"Master Aiden… not all Legendary Pokémon are worthy of trust."
"Those who bestow blessings… can just as easily bring annihilation."
With that, Giovanni extended his hands—offering no resistance, as if he'd already accepted his defeat.
Perhaps, with Team Rocket's headquarters destroyed, he'd finally chosen peace.
"…"
But Aiden? He was left with a headache and a brain on fire.
What the heck was that? Speak plainly, Boss Giovanni!
What do you mean, "don't trust Legendary Pokémon"? Are you dropping a cryptic warning? Or just trying to sound profound?
No more riddles!
Aiden made his decision instantly:
'If I can't understand it… I'll just ignore it.'
He turned around—
And came face to face with a pink, bouncing kitten mid-backflip.
"Mew~"
Mew let out a soft, affectionate cry, immediately climbing onto his shoulders and draping its tiny arms around his neck.
"You did great, Mew," Aiden smiled, ruffling its head.
All of Giovanni's ominous words vanished from his mind.
Legendary Pokémon not trustworthy? Who cares? That's Mew's problem, not mine!
Mew is adorable!
As Aiden basked in Mew's cuddles, his peripheral vision caught sight of Mewtwo—standing silently behind it, expression unreadable.
Now that the restraining device was gone, Mewtwo's true form was revealed.
It did resemble Mew—about 80% similar—but whereas Mew was feline and small, Mewtwo stood upright, humanoid.
According to Aiden's memory of the games, Mewtwo was supposed to be two meters tall.
This one? Not even close.
It was shorter than Aiden himself.
"You… are the human friend Mew spoke of?"
Mewtwo spoke up the moment it felt Aiden's gaze.
Its first impression of Aiden? Terrible.
Just awakened, it had opened its eyes to see Giovanni—who had just coldly declared, "I'm entrusting Mewtwo to you."
So naturally, Mewtwo had assumed Aiden was another cruel human.
But then… Aiden had contradicted Giovanni without hesitation.
He'd spoken the very words Mewtwo had longed to say.
He'd defended its right to exist as a person—not a tool.
Yes.
It wasn't a weapon.
It was a living being—with a will of its own.
And for the first time in its life… someone had recognized that.
The feeling was strange. Strange and warm.
And this man… had come here because Mew asked him to.
He looked ordinary. Unremarkable.
Yet… why did Mewtwo feel—
Could he be the "kindred spirit" the researchers had whispered about?
"Hi, Mewtwo," Aiden replied with a warm smile, stepping forward. "I'm Aiden. And yes—I'm Mew's friend."
Technically, Mew's closest friend was Sylveon… but Aiden and Mew were close enough now that it didn't matter.
"Mew~!"
Mew chirped enthusiastically in agreement.
"I understand," Mewtwo nodded.
Even without words, its meaning was clear.
The way Mew clung to Aiden… the way it nuzzled him… that wasn't the behavior Mew showed toward anyone else.
Not even toward Mewtwo.
It was… envy.
A strange, bitter ache bloomed in Mewtwo's chest.
"Mew!"
Just then, Mew turned, winked, and stuck out its tongue—making a silly, exaggerated face at Mewtwo.
"…"
Mewtwo understood.
After a moment of silence, it raised its head—and extended its hand toward Aiden.
"Thank you, Aiden."
Aiden smiled, reaching out to shake it.
Up close, he realized—this wasn't the "evil alternate universe" version of Mewtwo.
This one was… polite.
Clearly, the early separation from Giovanni had changed it far more than Aiden had expected.
Normally, thanks to Giovanni's cruelty, this Mewtwo would've grown to hate humans entirely—even resent Pokémon owned by them.
But Mew… even though it was a total goofball… somehow knew how to parent.
It had turned a rebellious monster into a gentle soul.
Aiden glanced at Mew.
But the Mew that had been so affectionate just moments ago? Now it had turned its head away—avoiding Aiden's gaze.
It looked… guilty.
Aiden's brow twitched.
A cold unease settled over him.
Then, Mewtwo—after shaking Aiden's hand—finally spoke, emboldened by Mew's encouraging stare:
"Mew told me… when you accept help from a human, you must repay them in kind."
"I have nothing to offer now… so, for a time, my strength will be yours."
"But I have one request…"
Mewtwo looked up, eyes sincere.
"Could you… take the other cloned Pokémon from the underground lab with you?"
"…Huh?"
Aiden froze.
What?
He had never considered capturing Mewtwo.
He'd come to Viridian Gym for one reason: Mew had asked him to help rescue it. He'd known Mew had met Mewtwo—he'd expected Mewtwo to vanish into the wild, maybe even return to the World Tree with Mew.
He hadn't planned to keep it.
His gaze flicked to Mew.
"Mew~"
Now that the cat was out of the bag, Mew didn't bother pretending anymore.
It wrapped its tail tightly around Aiden's arm and began tapping its tiny feet rhythmically on his shoulder.
"…"
No need to understand Mew's language.
Aiden knew exactly what it was thinking.
It saw Mewtwo as a burden. A nuisance. A third wheel that would ruin its street-sweeping freedom.
So it had dumped it on him.
'Of course you did, Mew.'
The domineering dad. The lazy, selfish mom. The chaotic siblings. And now… the broken one.
Aiden stared at Mew with an unmistakable accusation.
The problem?
He had no idea how to raise kids.
One Bagon was already giving him nightmares.
Now… Mewtwo? Plus a whole lab full of clones?
Is this a Gym or a Daycare Center?!
He sighed.
"…Fine. I don't object."
But after seeing Mew's adorable, shameless pouting? He couldn't bring himself to say no.
After all—raising one Pokémon was hard. Raising ten? Still just hard.
He could always… train Mewtwo to become a Trainer.
Imagine it.
Mewtwo as a Gym Leader.
It could take care of the clones. Become an apprentice. Fill the gap left by Nemona's departure.
Then, when Aiden wanted to travel? Someone could run the Gym.
He'd be back in business.
I'm a genius.
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