Chapter 40
"The Time Has Come"
It seemed we had Teleported to the inside of a cave not far from Cerulean City…Once we got there, Mewtwo declared that we would stay there for as long as we lived…and then some…It said that as long as we stayed in the cave, it would protect us from humans and the pain of the outside world…
…I immediately asked if I could go home. I wanted to be with my friends, both human and Pokémon. Mewtwo said I could, but it asked me to come back once I said goodbye to my human friends, and it asked me to bring the Pokémon back with me. I said I would, and so it let me go.
* * *
When the whiteness of the Teleport faded, I found myself in a very familiar spot…
"Ash!?"
I spun around in alarm.
"Mew!" I cried.
'You!'
Giovanni…or………For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to calling him what else he was…
"I knew you'd be back, and this time, you don't have Mewtwo here to protect you…"
What…do you mean…?
"Ash…you must tell me where Mewtwo took my Pokémon."
I…can't do that…
"You must. It is imperative that I get them back immediately…Do you have any idea how much effort I put into training them?"
Yeah…but I wouldn't call it training…
"Ash……if you won't help me get them back…then you must at least come back."
What is he talking about? Why would I do something like that?
You think I'm gonna join you because we have a family tie now?
"Of course not. If I had thought that it would make any difference, I would've told you as soon as I saw you…"
…Why didn't you tell me right away…?
"…but I knew that I couldn't do that…I wanted you to join because you honestly wanted to join, not because you felt some kind of obligation…"
Huh?
"Now I ask you the same question…Will you join Team Rocket?"
I didn't answer right away. That wasn't because I didn't know the answer. I just had to think of the perfect way to tell him.
……Not on my life.
"…Ash…surely you're making a hasty decision…"
…Don't call me that.
"…What…?"
What am I saying…?
From now on, you will address me as "Mew"……Only my friends can call me Ash…
"…What!?"
There…I said it…
…Good bye…
"Wait a second! You can't just leave!"
I didn't stick around to hear anything else he might have said.
* * *
"…What are you talking about?" Misty asked.
I could hear the suppressed anxiety in her voice, but I couldn't let that get to me…
I told you…I have a new home now……and…I can only bring Pokémon back with me…
"Oh, Ash…Forget about Mewtwo! Please…"
I closed my eyes.
I'm sorry, but I can't…Mewtwo saved me…twice…The least I can do is keep it company…
"Ash!"
She was having a hard time hiding her feelings now, and I knew it was time to go.
"Ash…can't you at least stay…for just a little longer?" Billie asked.
No……Come on you guys… I said to my Pokémon.
Pikachu stood next to me, and so did Taper. Richie put my Pokéballs on the ground next to us.
…Goodbye you guys…I'll miss you…
"…I wish you didn't have to go…" Brock said.
He was trying to sound like his usual, stoic self, but I could tell that he was sad too.
…Why do I have to do this…?
"…You're gonna come back to visit us, right Ash?" Richie asked.
I hope so, I nodded.
"…Well…You'd better come back soon!!" Misty yelled.
Good old Misty…
I grinned and did my pose.
You can count on that!
That made her laugh a little, and I felt better too.
"Pikachu…"
'Goodbye you guys…'
…It's time…
I closed my eyes and recalled the trick that Mewtwo had taught me…Our surroundings faded away into whiteness, and once again, we were at that special place…
Once we'd made sure that everyone had made it safely, I released the remaining Pokémon from their Pokéballs. Mewtwo watched in disdain, and as soon as they were free, it destroyed the Pokéballs.
Hey! What was that for!? I yelped.
Pokéballs…Just another reminder of the evils of humans…
I tried to control my frustration, but then I noticed that Pikachu was agreeing with Mewtwo.
Pikachu, you're supposed to be on my side!
"Pikachu, pika?"
'What can I say? I hate Pokéballs too.'
I sighed. It didn't look like I could win that argument.
…Mewtwo?
Yes?
Um…can I Teleport one more time?
…You can Teleport as much as you want, that is, until you get too tired…
No, what I meant was……I have one more place I want to go…
…And where is that?
…I want to go see my mom…
That definitely surprised Mewtwo…I guess it had forgotten that I had another parent…
Well…I guess…If you really want to……
Thank you…
"Pikachu?"
'Me too?'
I smiled.
Sorry, Pikachu, but this is just for me…You stay here and try to get used to this place, okay?
"Pika……Pikapika…"
'Okay……but you'd better come back…'
"Meww…!" I laughed.
'Have I ever not?'
* * *
……I never realized how beautiful Pallet Town was until I saw at that moment…I could see the whole town from one spot high in the air…and I could call up memories about each spot…not all of them good, but that just added to the wonder of it all…I floated to my house slowly, drinking in the past…
When I found myself over the roof of my house, I paused and looked down. It sure did look different from above…The roof didn't look nearly as shiny as it did from the ground, but then again, I couldn't really see the roof from the ground…I floated around the house. I admired Mom's garden, and how neat she kept everything……I stopped when I saw our ash tree…
Hmm…
I floated down to it…
…We don't have the same name anymore…
It didn't bother me as much as I had thought that it would, though…
……but you're my friend, so you can still call me Ash…
I twirled around for the fun of it and flew straight to the front door.
Mom!! I'm home!!
I pounded on the door with both fists until Mimey opened it up.
Hi Mimey! Where's Mom!? I exclaimed.
"Mr. Mime!!?"
'What the heck!!?'
I ignored its surprise and let myself into the house.
Let's see…at this time, she is probably right around…
I flew towards the kitchen and ended up bumping into her.
"Yikes!" she cried.
I shook my head to clear it. Then I looked up happily.
Mom!
She must have stared at me for a good five minutes…I didn't mind though. I knew she would recognize me sooner or later…
"……Ash?"
She did!! She recognized me!!
Yep!
I flung myself upwards and wrapped my arms around her…It was a little hard though, because my arms weren't as big as they used to be…
"Mee-ewwww…"
'I'm so happy to see you again…'
"Ash…? Is that really you…?"
She picked me up and held me in front of her. I didn't try to stop her. I was just glad she wasn't freaking out like everyone else had…
"……Oh my………Ash…"
"Mew?"
'Yeah?'
"I…can't believe……"
"…Meww…"
'…I evolved…'
"…How did you…?"
"Mew…Mew?"
'Hey…Can you understand me?'
"Of course I can understand you…I've known you all your life…"
…Wow.
"…Mew…"
'…I'm glad…'
"Ash……Let's sit down…"
"Mew."
'Okay.'
She brought me to the couch and sat me down next to her.
"…Now…I want you to tell me exactly how this happened…"
Well……That's a long story……
"I want to hear it."
Okay…
…So, I told her…
* * *
When I finished, she looked like she was about to cry.
…What's wrong?
"Ash…I'm so sorry……"
Why? You didn't do anything…
"No…It's just that……I'm sorry…"
…Huh?
"I guess I should've told you sooner……about your father…"
But you didn't know this would happen!
"But I should've guessed……You see…I knew who he was…when I married him……"
Of course you did… I said, a little befuddled.
"No, I mean…I knew that he was in charge of Team Rocket…"
You what!?
"Ash, please let me finish…"
I nodded and kept quiet.
"I met him…"
She looked upwards in thought.
"…about thirteen years ago…He was a nice, handsome young man…and he really did seem to care about me…"
That didn't sound like what I thought of him at all…
"Let's see…I met him in Viridian City while I was running an errand for my mother…After he helped me finish my job, we spent the night together, until I had to go back…He called me later, and that's what started it all, I guess…I don't want to bore you too much, Ash, so I'll speed it up a little…
"Well…we got engaged, and later on, we got married……During that time, he also became the head of Team Rocket…At the time, it was only a small organization that stayed solely in Viridian City……
"…After a while, I became pregnant with you, Ash……After you were born, we decided to call you Ashura, because we knew you were destined for great things……"
She laughed softly.
"Who would've guessed that we would be right…?"
"……Mew…" I begged quietly.
'……Keep going…'
"Oh yeah…Where was I…? Right…Now…Vanni knew that it would be bad for you if you were immediately brought up into a life of crime, so he stationed Team Rocket in Viridian City and helped it grow into what it is today……
Vanni?
"Yes, that's his pet name…"
…Oh…
"…He called me everyday…He asked how I was doing, and how you were doing……but his business kept him away……After a while, he asked me not to tell you who he was, so you wouldn't have grow up knowing your father was a criminal mastermind…He wouldn't even let me tell you about the gym in Viridian City, because he didn't want you going there…He was afraid of having to battle you…
That doesn't sound like the Giovanni that I met…
"……He also made sure that we were well off, and he sent us money every month…I knew it was stolen money, but I couldn't refuse such a charitable gift from him…
"……Ash, I think you know the rest…"
Yeah……So that really was him……
"Huh?"
I paused, unsure of what I had really meant…
…He acts like two different people…I mean…before I met him, he seemed really nice……He sent me a gift and a card every time I had a birthday…but he never showed up in person, and he never called……
"Actually…I called him…"
What!?
"…After you were asleep, I would call him so we could check on each other…"
I couldn't believe it…They had both been keeping these secrets from me for so long……
"But now you know………Ash…you have no idea how relieving it is to tell this to you. I feel like someone just took a huge burden off of my shoulders…"
Yeah, and put it onto me…
"No, Ash. That's not true. Now we can share the weight…and no one will have to carry too much…"
But what about…What about……Giovanni…?
"…I don't know, Ash…I guess he'll just have to take care of himself now…"
…He doesn't have any Pokémon anymore…
"……Maybe he can start over……dismantle Team Rocket, and live an honest life……That would make me feel better…"
…Thank you, Mom……I think I understand now…
"…Understand what?"
…I'm not sure…but whatever it is…I understand it…
She looked confused, but I just smiled. I floated up and pecked her on the cheek.
I gotta go now…but I'll be back. I promise.
* * *
I went back to the cave. I stayed there for a few days, but I knew I couldn't stay there forever. I let Mewtwo and the other Pokémon teach me more attacks, and I was even able to teach them a few in return. Eventually though, it was time to say good bye…
You're leaving? Mewtwo asked.
Yes……Mewtwo, I know you can take care of this place just fine by yourself…As for me…I still haven't fulfilled my dream…
But you are a Pokémon Master.
I smiled.
Maybe so, but I'm not the greatest. I still have to beat the Elite Four!
…After that…will you come back?
…I'll come back……but I won't be able to stay too long…I still have lots to do, and I won't be able to that all if I just stay here……
……I think I…understand……
Mewtwo, I want to thank you for being a really good friend, and I promise I'll never forget you……and I'll come back to visit lots of times!……But right now……I've got to catch up on everything that I've missed…So…bye…
Goodbye…all of you…
I smiled and used Teleport. I had no idea how everything would turn out, but I knew that we would be ready no matter what…
THE END