"Try this!"
By the clear spring on the island, Ash sat on the ground with his legs sprawled out, holding the two Pikachus. He exchanged some Pikachu food from the system shop and fed it to Pikachutwo.
The taste of food produced by the system didn't even need description; Pikachutwo was completely intoxicated by it. It had never tasted anything so delicious.
The spring water here had miraculous properties. Ash drank quite a bit and even placed his Pokémon egg inside to soak.
"Mewtwo, you try this too!"
Speech alone wouldn't work; Ash knew he wasn't exactly Prince Naruto. But the "gourmet strategy" was always effective. Even if it didn't fully work, it would close the distance with Mewtwo and raise their bond level, wouldn't it?
What he gave Mewtwo to taste was a Psychic Pokéblock from the system, and the price was anything but cheap. If Ash hadn't swept through the Pokémon Ninja School earlier to earn a balance, intending to save up for another psychic ability, he wouldn't even have been able to afford it.
Mewtwo had little guard against Ash. It took the block, took a small bite, praised it as "delicious," and then popped the whole thing into its mouth. Mewtwo had only been born about a year ago; despite its intelligence, it was still like a child and couldn't resist the temptation of good food.
However, the harmony was soon interrupted. In the forests around Mount Quena, many red lights suddenly appeared. Those were clearly human airships!
"Ash, perhaps this is fate," Mewtwo said, swallowing the Pokéblock and looking at the approaching ships with a cold gaze.
"It seems that idiot Giovanni has noticed you again." Ash felt no fear toward Giovanni now. He acknowledged that Giovanni was a formidable figure, but precisely because he was a "formidable figure" in this specific sense, he was destined to fail! This was the world of Pokémon!
"Pika! Pikachu-pika!"
Looking at the airships, Pikachutwo jumped out of Ash's arms and cried out to Mewtwo.
"You're saying that since things have come to this, we have no choice but to fight? That we must protect the place where we live? That this is no longer a battle, but a war?" Mewtwo translated Pikachu's meaning.
Hearing this, Ash picked Pikachutwo up again. "I didn't expect you to be so fierce. You're much more aggressive than my Pikachu!"
"Pikachu!" his own Pikachu echoed from his shoulder.
"Huh?"
While Ash was watching the ships, his peripheral vision caught sight of a hot air balloon that looked like a candle flickering in the wind. Aside from the Team Rocket Trio, Brock, Misty, and Molly were also on it!
That blonde Team Rocket woman had already departed using a paraglider.
"Why are they so disobedient?" Ash shook his head with a wry smile. "Mewtwo, can you bring that balloon over? Having them here means extra hands."
Mewtwo remembered Brock and Misty, and even had some impression of the Team Rocket Trio. "Very well."
A blue light flashed in its eyes. The hot air balloon was blown somewhere by a strong wind, but the figures of Molly and the others suddenly appeared right in front of Ash.
"Ash!" Molly was the first to pounce, throwing her arms around his neck with tears in her eyes.
"Be good, Molly. Say hello. This is Mewtwo, and this is Pikachu." Ash introduced Mewtwo to Molly and handed Pikachutwo to her to hold.
"Mewtwo?" Brock and Misty were instantly terrified. How could they forget Mewtwo's terror? But seeing Ash unharmed and having a picnic with Mewtwo finally allowed them to relax.
"Twerp?" The Team Rocket Trio had been tossed around and were dizzy. Seeing Mewtwo, their past trauma resurfaced, and they shrank back, trembling.
Ash stood up. "Brock, Misty, you've come at the right time."
"What's wrong?"
"War is coming." Ash pointed at the approaching airships and briefly explained the situation. "I need you to help hold this island. I'll leave Slowking, Houndoom, Snorlax, and Meganium here."
"Only by defending this island and protecting the Pokémon here can Mewtwo and I fight without worries!"
Ash tossed out Slowking's Poké Ball. The tall, wise Slowking appeared before him. "Ash, it seems the situation is urgent."
"Slowking, I'm counting on you. Lead everyone to defend this island. Mewtwo has many powerful Pokémon under its command as well!" Slowking was surely capable of taking on this heavy responsibility.
Under Mewtwo's command were the clones of the Kanto starters: a Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur with strange markings. Ash had personally experienced their combat power before.
Mewtwo looked at Slowking. "This fellow looks reliable." It then looked at Ash with a conflicted expression. "Must we fight?"
"I cannot do it, human. They are my creators, my fathers. Ash, must those of us who seek a place of peace always be on an endless journey?"
Hearing Mewtwo's words, Ash finally understood the true source of its confusion. Mewtwo had come into this world without a sense of belonging. It lacked a home, a place that could give it a sense of security.
Ash had been traveling too, but his journey had a destinationthe Silver Conferenceand a starting pointPallet Town. It was like the monk Xuanzang often introduced himself: coming from the Great Tang in the East, heading toward the West to seek scriptures.
But Mewtwo had nothing. No beginning, no end.
Its greatest wish now was simply to find a hidden place to live a peaceful life. Mount Quena, with its treacherous terrain and lack of visitors, was a perfect sanctuary, yet it had still been discovered by Team Rocket and Ash.
"Mewtwo!" Ash patted its shoulder. Its body was hard and somewhat cold. "We've eaten together, and we're going to fight together. We're already partners, aren't we?"
"Ash?" Mewtwo looked at him thoughtfully and then nodded. It had accepted Ash's friendship.
"Pikachutwo might be a bit fierce and full of killing intent, but I don't think it's wrong. You've dealt with that idiot Giovanni; to protect our companions, we must fight him!"
"Team Rocket!" Having settled things with Mewtwo, Ash stood before the Trio.
"Twerp? No, Ash?"
"I have a mission for you. That Team Rocket member you met just now, the one called The Black Tuliptake care of her!"
Upon hearing the task, the Triowho had long been annoyed by the girl called Dominoreadily accepted!
Everything was prepared according to Ash's arrangements. Both he and Giovanni knew in their hearts that dawn would be the time the war began!
Thanks to everyone. Some bugs from previous chapters have been fixed, including Victreebel's Vine Whip.
The big show begins!
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