Red once again entered Mewtwo's inner world.
Looking at the small Mewtwo wrapped within itself, Red took a deep breath.
"I'm back."
Hearing his voice, the small Mewtwo slowly opened its eyes.
Red spoke gently:
"I know you're lonely in this world. Lost. Confused."
"That's exactly why I understand how you feel."
At first, Mewtwo's gaze was unfocused—
but soon, anger began to surface.
Step by step, it approached Red—
its form gradually shifting back into its true self.
Mewtwo stared at him, fury burning in its eyes.
"You understand me?"
"Is there anyone in this world as alone as I am?!"
"Even those cloned Pokémon have each other!"
"But me?! I have no one!"
"And you dare say you understand?!"
"Human… do you really think I won't kill you?"
Its eyes glowed blue as it looked down at him.
But Red remained calm.
There was no fear—
only sympathy.
"No, Mewtwo. I do understand."
"Because I've gone through something similar."
"I also came to this world alone."
"I've felt loneliness. Despair."
"That's why I know exactly how it feels."
Mewtwo scoffed—
but then suddenly froze.
In this inner world—
it could tell.
Red wasn't lying.
Its expression shifted from disdain—
to shock.
The first "kindred existence" it had ever encountered—
was a human.
"…You're really… like me?"
Red nodded seriously.
Back in his previous life—
he had at least had an orphanage, a place to belong.
But after transmigrating into this world—
he had felt the same endless isolation.
Even surrounded by others—
there was always an invisible barrier.
"…Then how did you move forward?"
Mewtwo asked, hesitant—but hopeful.
Red thought for a moment.
"I'm not even sure."
"Maybe it was when my old man stood up for me against some bullies."
"Or when I spent time with the Pokémon at the Gym."
"Or when I raised Marshtomp, Larvitar, Castform… and Ninetales."
"Little by little… that barrier just disappeared."
"At some point, I realized…"
"I wasn't alone anymore."
"I had a home. Friends. My Pokémon."
Red looked directly at Mewtwo.
"Go experience the world."
"Build bonds—with trainers, with Pokémon."
"Find your own home. Your place to belong."
Mewtwo shook its head.
"But I'm not like you."
"You're human. You have companions."
"I'm just a copy!"
It still clung to that belief.
But Red shook his head.
"You've seen Mew, right?"
"Do you even look alike?"
Mewtwo paused—
then shook its head.
"Humans share over 99.99% of their DNA. We all look similar."
"But every single person is unique."
"You may be based on Mew's genes—"
"but you're also made from countless other Pokémon and even human genes."
"The difference between you and Mew is far greater than 1%."
"How could you possibly just be a copy?"
"Even your creators didn't see you as one."
"They saw you as something greater—something that could surpass Mew."
"That's why your name is—Mewtwo."
"Super… Mew…"
"The one meant to surpass Mew…"
Mewtwo's eyes lit up.
A completely different light.
"That's right… I'm Mewtwo!"
"I'm meant to surpass Mew!"
Though created as a tool—
Dr. Fuji had genuinely hoped for its growth.
That hope—
was real.
At that moment—
far away at the Tree of Beginning—
Mew shivered slightly, sensing something… unsettling.
Back in the inner world—
Mewtwo still felt alone.
But—
the confusion was gone.
For the first time—
it truly felt alive.
"…Thank you."
"…my friend."
Red finally relaxed.
"As long as you understand, that's enough."
But his mental strength was reaching its limit.
"So… partner."
"Can you help me?"
Mewtwo looked around at the figures in Team Rocket uniforms.
"…Of course."
But just as Red was about to leave—
Mewtwo spoke again.
"But partner… I haven't forgotten how you betrayed me."
Red froze.
"…Didn't we agree that settles after the battle?"
Mewtwo replied matter-of-factly:
"But our battle isn't over yet."
"So neither is our grudge."
Red sighed.
"…Fine. Believe what you want."
"But if you don't act now, I might not even be around for you to settle it."
With that—
he left the inner world.
Red opened his eyes.
Xiaowen was pale from exhaustion.
Joy Xue was struggling to hold the line.
Ninetales' vision was blurred.
Sabrina's presence lingered in his mind.
Even Lance and Giovanni—
paused to look his way.
Across the battlefield—
all eyes turned to Red.
Under everyone's gaze—
he nodded.
"Mission accomplished."
"Mewtwo has regained its senses."
"And… it's willing to fight with us."
For a brief moment—
silence.
Then—
a tidal wave of cheers erupted!
"Really?!"
"We're saved!"
Xiaowen, Joy Xue, Sabrina, Ninetales—
all had the same thought:
He really can create miracles…
At that moment—
Mewtwo slowly opened its eyes.
No longer blood-red.
No longer filled with rage.
Only clarity—
and a newfound connection to the world.
It glanced at its petrified body—
then at Red.
"…Partner."
"Mind letting me out?"
Red smiled awkwardly and deactivated the device.
The stone shattered.
Mewtwo stepped forward—
looking at Team Rocket with cold eyes.
"…Now."
"It's your turn to answer to me."
◇ You can read 60+ chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ElaraVance1
✨ Bonus Chapter Goals ✨
10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter