As a harsh breeze passed over his body, Mewtwo peered his eyes open. His vision remained hazy, and he felt his body pressed on the cold and hard floor. He shivered, feeling more vulnerable than he would've liked.

He held a hand over his forehead, feeling his brain torn apart from the strain as he slowly got back up on wobbly feet. The pain was still lingering in the back of his head, but he could at least think, and that was a start.

The Pokémon blinked a couple of times, steadying himself on his feet as his eyesight focused and he realized where exactly he was. It was a ruined room, with the roof and walls torn almost completely open and revealing the bright blue sky overhead. Debris and broken machinery and cables surrounded him, what used to be a state of the art scientific facility now a hollow, broken shell.

Mewtwo felt his shoulders hung heavy, slowly piecing together what had happened before. His powers going out of control, the chaos, the death surrounding him, everything breaking down out of his mere presence. Dread crawled under his skin as he continued to remember.

He was the cause of all that destruction. He had proved to really be as much of a monster as the scientists thought he was. He had a chance to prove himself better than they claimed, and instead he fell for his own instincts. He was worthy of all their fears.

Mewtwo paled, almost stepping back as his body stiffened and he shook his head to no one. "No, I'm sorry, I-"

His mind blanked out, remembering why he arrived there. He didn't just fall into blind rage. He had a purpose and a mission!

"Amber!" Mewtwo yelled, turning left and right in search of any trace of her presence. There could be a chance she was fine, he had to make sure she-

Before long, his eyes fell back on the empty, cracked glass container on the center of the room. Amniotic liquid pooled around it, and nothing else was found.

He widened his eyes and quickly tossed himself back towards the nearby computer, trying to kickstart some process to make things work again. He was met by a statics-filled screen and a broken keyboard that didn't respond to any input, and his hopes quickly faded away.

Amber was completely gone, and there were no ways for him to bring her back. He failed.

Mewtwo's whole body shook, his mind refusing to register the information. He couldn't have done all that for nothing. He just couldn't!

"No..." he said, observing his hands. He could do anything he wished with his mind alone, he was more powerful than anything else in the world.

And he still failed where it actually mattered, twice over.

The Pokémon fell on his knees, his mind blank and still trying to process everything. Nothing made sense anymore, and he had no idea what to think or do.

Before he could think more of himself, however, the Pokémon heard the sound of steps coming closer. He perked his head up, quickly standing to attention as he turned around. He turned his head back and tried to peer around with his powers, only for the newcomer to walk from the torn out corridor and into the room.

He was a tall man, relatively well-built, wearing a gaudy orange suit with short brown hair. His face was sharp, his gaze devious, and he was staring right at Mewtwo, considering the clone quietly. A heavy silence filled the room as Pokémon and human locked gazes, with only the soft sound of breeze passing through.

"You're it, right? Subject #150?" The man walked closer, his gaze turning sharper. "Mewtwo?"

Mewtwo's body tensed up ever-so-slightly. He knew his names. He couldn't have been an outsider. Thus, the clone peered into the man's mind, coasting through the superficial information that he could easily gather. What he found gave him pause, but tried not to show it. He could not be weak.

The relevant information found, the Pokémon stood upright once more, trying to match the man's presence. "You are... Giovanni. The one Dr. Fuji and his staff responded to. The leader of the criminal organization known as Team Rocket."

The man gave a pleased grin at that, almost like he expected him to know. A quick perusal in his mind proved Mewtwo's hunch correct.

Giovanni's focus quickly shifted away from the newborn lifeform and towards the debris and machinery, his smile making way for a serious frown as he paced through the room.

"I was their financial backer, yes. I was interested in a powerful creature, and they had the means to provide it." He chuckled out, almost amused. "I was coming in for an unannounced visit to discuss a few details and ensuring everything was working on schedule. You may imagine my surprise when I found out the entire laboratory was blown up."

The Pokémon didn't reply in any way, simply observing the man quietly. Giovanni's attention moved to the container that once held Amber, giving a quick glance to it and the scattered folders on the room before reaching the obvious conclusion.

"This is where Fuji kept his daughter, huh. He mentioned something about wanting to resurrect her once, but I never expected him to run his project on the side." The man shook his head, his frown growing harsher. "I should've paid more attention. Who knows what else was he planning, after being done with this project."

Silence fell again, and the man kicked some folders out of the way. Giovanni and Mewtwo's gazes met once more, his lips curling upward in satisfaction.

"You caused all of this, right? Your power is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Exactly what you should've been." The man observed the ruined laboratory once more. "And I have to thank you for getting rid of all these loose ends for me, too."

Mewtwo still had nothing to say in return. He simply tried to match the man's stare, but he quickly found himself furrowing his brow. This man wasn't praising him, he was praising his powers. The same ones that didn't do anything to save Amber.

He balled his fists, his body tense even as he tried to remain relaxed. Around him, he could feel his powers radiate around the room, debris, paper and machinery hovering low as the glass started to crack.

"Why are you still here?" Mewtwo asked, his mental voice booming around him.

Giovanni paced closer, unperturbed. If anything, he seemed fascinated by the subtle display of power, even as a powerful aura started to coalesce around Mewtwo, the items slowly rotating around him and glass and machinery continued to crack and break slowly.

"I hoped to still find you here." He held his hands in his pocket, and his gaze turned serious. "I'd like to discuss things with you."

Mewtwo looked over at the other man, no expression drawn on his face as he thought of Giovanni's words. Discussion, or the act of talking over diverging viewpoints. Discussion implied a desire to consider their counterpart an equal to an extent, someone on the same level of respect.

Did he seriously believe he would buy it? That a human, one that wanted his creation as a 'powerful creature', would genuinely treat him as more than an object, a monster?

Shards exploded inwardly and machines bent around at awkward and random angles as his psychic powers pulsated around him. He was powerful, more than anything, and that human meant nothing for him. He could fry his brain, pulverize his skeleton, and squash his flesh if he so much as wanted it.

And yet, he still felt compelled to give him one single chance, and read off all the information pertaining to himself out of the man's mind. Mewtwo tensed up as he learned everything he needed.

Giovanni had legitimately only partial knowledge of the specifics of the New Island experiments, of himself and Amber, and his own scientific knowledge was lacking and mostly reserved to the field of geology and others pertaining to his skills and jobs. He was ruthless, unwilling to stop as he sought more power than anyone else, and had very few moral qualms and restraint on a personal basis.

At the same time, however, he was also genuinely willing to talk things out with him, and he did seemingly hold dear a certain degree of honesty when contracting with others, whether legitimately or not. Compared to all the other adult humans he had seen, this felt foreign, and yet familiar in a strange sense. He couldn't tell if it was due to the fact he didn't know of what went down in detail or if the scientists had a different perspective on things. It almost sounded fascinating, after having been surrounded with the same kind of thoughts for a long time.

But why was he different? What were his true aims? He could've just looked into Giovanni's mind for an answer, but a part of him wanted to test the man's honesty. Or maybe he just wanted to talk with someone again, even he wasn't sure.

Mewtwo could feel his anger subside, if only barely. He still kept his guard up all the same, but took a few slow breaths. The glass, the debris and the machinery all stopped being damaged and hovering, the power slowly lowering until everything went back in place. Still mantaining some skepticism, he stared back at the man.

"Why would you want to talk with me? What would you gain from it?" Mewtwo asked. People didn't speak with weapons after all, and one didn't reason with someone that could destroy you in seconds.

Giovanni seemed aware of that - Did the man notice that he peered into his mind, perhaps? In any case, he shook his head with nonchalance and an almost amused grin.

"If I wanted to have you killed, I could've just brought several Tyranitar and blasted you to death with powerful Dark-type moves. Your power can be of great use for me and my operations, but you still can't handle it well. Your emotions risk to make you a threat, for others and yourself."

Mewtwo's gaze turned fierce. "You want me to be your weapon. Your tool."

"Not at all." The man matched the Pokémon's expression, still holding his calm disposition. "I want you to be my subordinate, my right-hand man. A full-fledged member of Team Rocket."

A member of Team Rocket. A purpose meant for individuals recognized as humans, or at least sentient, in some way. A proof of a certain level of respect, in a sense.

But it was also a position that would lead him to commit crimes, hurt others, and take advantage of others. One where he would never be allowed to give or claim any kindness from others.

Exactly what he was designed to be. Exactly what he was. Exactly what he didn't want to be.

Then why did it feel so inviting? It made no sense. And yet, he needed to know.

The clone furrowed his brow. "Why would I want that?"

"Everyone in the world needs a purpose to drive their lives forward. Without one, you either find yourself a failure, or insignificant." The man dropped off the affability, staring coldly at Mewtwo. "Do you have such purpose?"

A purpose. Throughout his short life, he had plenty of those: a weapon, a brother, a protector. He failed all but the first one, which he was way too good at. Mewtwo was at a loss of which to consider his real one.

Giovanni caught on that quickly, nodding to himself.

"As expected." The man closed his eyes, grinning once more. "I'm willing to give you such a purpose. I can give your life a true meaning, a place to belong to. I can also teach you how to harness your own power, and truly make you the most powerful Pokémon in the world."

Mewtwo's attention gravitated back to the man. He had just lost the only place he could've called home and the only person he could've called family, he had so much power that continued to tear his mind apart and activate itself even when he didn't want, and he had more questions than answers about himself. For all he knew, the man was just looking to manipulate him for his own ends. And he was doing a very good job at sounding inviting, as well.

Even more so as the man's body language shifted, assuming a much friendlier stance. "I'm willing to negotiate with you to make this happen. What is it you want in exchange? I'll honor any of your requests, if it's in my power."

Mewtwo considered the offer, eyes on the man. It truly felt weird to be acknowledged like that by someone he didn't know, but he couldn't say he didn't enjoy the feeling. It was his chance, and he had no intention to waste it. So, he walked closer to the leader of Team Rocket.

"I want you to treat me as an equal. Not a monster, but a person. I want you to truly teach me how to harness my power." He pointed towards the man, his eyes glowing blue. "If you don't keep your word-"

"There's no need for threats. One doesn't reach my position without knowing the risks." Giovanni shook his head, and a quick check of his mind confirmed that he was indeed still calm. He walked even closer, mere inches away from Mewtwo. "So, do you want to come with me?"

Giovanni held his hand forward and waited for the Pokémon's reply. Mewtwo considered it, thinking back of all their conversation and everything that happened until then. And then, he chose.

"I want to," the Pokémon grabbed Giovanni's hand, shaking it and sealing the deal. The man's smile widened as he returned the gesture.

"You choose wisely." Giovanni gripped Mewtwo's hand tightly. "It will be a pleasure to work with you."

Mewtwo nodded in response, and together with the man, he took his first steps towards his new life.

During the helicopter ride from New Island to Giovanni's base of operations, Mewtwo's attention was completely on the locales he could see from up above, from the sea to the greenery to even small cities. They looked almost like toy replications of real life from that distance, but even from several miles ahead he could tell how teeming with life and busy with activity each and every part of the world below was, be it just Pokémon living their days or humans achieving tasks of their choosing.

It felt quite like the mindscape he had lived in for so long, yet unlike it: this wasn't a lonely paradise just for two siblings to play and be happy as they wanted, it was a complex world where several people shared the same world and tried to live their lives as they saw fit. His telepathy picked up some stray, confused and jumbled thoughts from below, almost like incoherent whispers, which just gave him an impression of a chaotic and mostly senseless populace. Some regarded each other, others were only thinking of themselves, and others weren't even having a coherent series of thoughts.

And yet, he couldn't bring himself to be too negative. Amber would've loved to be there, after all.

The clone furrowed his brow, quickly shifting his gaze on his hands and his thoughts away from his past. That part of his life was over now, and thinking back to it would've only brought pain. He had a chance to be something different, something with a true purpose, and wanted to see what that would entail.

After a while, the helicopter landed in a remote location, near what looked like a secret facility. Several people clad in a black uniform greeted Giovanni and Mewtwo, with the man leading the clone further inside, through the doors and into a series of metal corridors. The machinery surrounding them appeared to be just as advanced as the one in New Island, perhaps even more so. It filled the Pokémon with familiarity and dread at once.

He could also sense and see several agents and scientists on Team Rocket's payroll walking and working all around him, some just minding their own tasks and others diverting their attention on him and their leader. None of them had any particularly flattering thoughts towards him, between calling him ugly, a freak, or just some strange 'cosplayer' in the oddest instances.

He tried not to think about that, instead focusing on Giovanni. The man's interest in him seemed genuine, and he had so far not expressed any bad thoughts about his partnership or himself. With the sea of distrust surrounding him, an oasis of calm felt nice to have.

As they continued to pace through the corridor, Giovanni talked things over with him, explaining the purpose of each area and, most importantly, what his mission would entail.

"As a member of Team Rocket, it will be your duty to assist our grunts in dangerous missions that would require your immense power. Throughout your trials, you will be faced with situations that will put your powers to the limit, which will be bound to give you a better understanding of your powers and limitations and train you on your control." The man's voice was calm, almost pleasant to listen at. Was that the tone of a businessman? Was that how he could deceive people as effectively as he could?

Mewtwo tried to keep up with the man on his feet, but his stance was still too unsteady and wobbly without his psychic powers' assistance. Nonetheless, he nodded. "I understand."

"Exactly what I wanted to hear." Giovanni turned back to the Pokémon, his stare bearing into the clone. "I won't try to make this sound like something easy or peaceful. You will be faced with harsh opponents and you might be injured often, or worse. Are you truly ready for this?"

It should've been a hard question to ponder, but for Mewtwo there was only one answer as he averted his eyes. "That's the kind of tasks I was created for, wasn't I?"

"I suppose so." A grin formed on the criminal's lips. "Thankfully for you, I have something that will help you in your endeavors."

He and Mewtwo stopped ahead of a door, which quickly opened in front of them. Ahead of the human and Pokémon was a large, blue-tinted room full of machinery of various kinds. Mewtwo briefly wondered what the room's purpose was, until he noticed the structure in the center of it all, housing several distinct but connected pieces of steel-like equipment.

Giovanni walked forward, and so did Mewtwo with him. As they got closer to the center, the clone was able to get a better look at the items: they seemed to be some sort of armor, sturdy and highly advanced, probably built for battle support. But what made Mewtwo most curious was definitely its shape, humanoid yet distinctly not so, especially the quite elongated helmet. Subtle clues that pointed out how that armor wasn't meant to be worn by a human.

And with a grin, Giovanni confirmed his suspicions. "This is the M2 Bind armor. One of the finest works of Doctor Zager, built just for you. Its purpose is to suppress and enhance Psychic-type energy in response to the situation at hand."

Mewtwo continued to stare at it, curious. An armor, according to his knowledge, was meant to be worn to defend oneself and provide better fighting chances against an opponent. The way Giovanni explained it suggested a far different purpose, and its name an even different one. Mewtwo turned back to the man, frowning.

"Bind implies a degree of restriction and control." His eyes twitched slightly. "I don't think this is needed between equals."

"I promised to help you learn how to harness your powers in a way that would be safe for yourself and for others." Giovanni matched Mewtwo's stare with his usual nonchalance. "If what happened in New Island is any indication, you've got a long way to go before that can happen. This will speed up the process considerably."

Mewtwo fell silent, his attention going back to the armor. After some silence, he clenched his fists. "A fair point."

"Step in there and wear it, now." Giovanni's gaze was stern, and his words weren't a request. Mewtwo didn't find any need to fight back.

The Pokémon thus did as instructed, walking inside the little structure and standing still. As if on cue, the machines surrounding him activated, quickly bringing the pieces of the M2 Bind closer to his body.

Mewtwo didn't resist as he was outfitted with the pieces of armor, first on the legs, then the chest and waist, and after the shoulder pads and the gauntlets, feeling their weight over his still young limbs. The mask quickly followed, and for just a second, blackness and silence welcomed him again. The visor of the screen lit up right after, allowing him to see again.

With the armor now completely functional, Mewtwo tried to call upon his psychic powers. His powers were still there, and he could still access them, yet instead of an overflowing torrent of power, he felt able to channel his energy, redirecting it around. He observed his hand, quickly channelling some psychic energy around it, seeing the blue outline dance around his digits. He continued to redirect it, almost studying its power.

Nothing around him exploded or fell apart, allowing him to concentrate fully on its power. It felt foreign, and yet brought him back to simpler times. For the first time since his birth, he truly felt in control of something concrete.

As he continued to experiment, Giovanni stepped closer. "How does it feel?"

"Calming," Mewtwo said, shutting off his powers with a flick of his hand.

"Excellent." The man turned around, nudging the Pokémon to come along. "Follow me. It's time to test your skill."

Mewtwo nodded, quickly following after Team Rocket's Boss. The armor felt heavy, but not enough to impede his movements. He concentrated on storing and maneuvering his powers as he walked with Giovanni inside a large room, with a little secluded box where a scientist with white hair and a monocle, revealed by a quick mind reading to be the 'Doctor Zager' Giovanni mentioned, was typing something on a computer while beckoning for Giovanni to come inside.

The leader of Team Rocket acknowledged that, but not before turning back to Mewtwo and staring at him.

"This is a training room. You'll face several opponents of increasing difficulty, and your armor will help you concentrate your power in the most efficient way." Giovanni's stare fiercened. "Are you ready to test your skill?"

Mewtwo gave a curt nod right away. "I am."

"Very well, then." Giovanni turned around, only giving Mewtwo one last stern look. "Don't disappoint me."

The leader of Team Rocket walked into the box, which sealed itself shut behind him. Mewtwo's attention remained there for all of a second, until he heard a creaking sound and turned towards the opposite end of the room, where a large door was now opening. Understanding its purpose, Mewtwo walked slowly to the center of the room.

Once he took his position, a Pokémon leapt out of the door, revealing a massive red and white Pokémon that his implanted memories identified as an Arcanine, a Fire-type and so-called 'Legendary Pokémon', in spite of not qualifying as one for the most part.

The Arcanine bared his fangs, its eyes gleaning with fury. Mewtwo shuddered, dread crawling on his back; he could read the Pokémon's thoughts, and the primal instincts that drove him. He didn't see him as an opponent, but rather food to consume.

The battle started quickly and unprompted, with the Arcanine lunging towards him. Mewtwo ducked to the side out of instinct, barely missing the Fire-type's Crunch attack. He tried to move out of the way, only for the Pokémon to press his paw on his armor, blocking him in place with its sheer weight.

Mewtwo tried to toss him away, but his arms were too weak. His powers radiated from him, but the armor kept them from being released without his consent, leaving him at the mercy of the Arcanine.

The Pokémon almost grinned, his canines in full display as he brought his muzzle closer to Mewtwo's helmet. He pressed his chest armor further, the Psychic-type gasping for air as he tried to free himself.

He tried to think of what to do, but whenever his vision went back to the Arcanine, his thoughts blanked out. As the Arcanine came close enough to stare right into his eyes, Mewtwo knew it: his end was coming, and he couldn't do anything to stop it.

Arcanine tried to bite at him, with Mewtwo only narrowly moving his head away. It tried again, to the same result, over and over, pressing itself further and giving him less and less time to react.

The Pokémon grimaced under his mask, fear overtaking him as the Arcanine came closer to eat him. Why did he accept this? What did he need to prove?

And then, Giovanni's voice boomed through the room. "Is this what you are? A weakling that lets others walk over you?"

That question gave him pause, even as Arcanine grinned again and readied for another Crunch. As he balled his fists, he knew his answer.

He wasn't a weakling, he couldn't afford to be one. He was Mewtwo, and he was a monster.

No, he was power.

His blue eyes shone through the mask, and a concentrated blast of Psychic energy blasted the Arcanine away for him and right into the opposite wall.

As Mewtwo observed Arcanine sliding to the floor and upside down, trying to get back on its feet and flailing its limbs wildly in the air, Mewtwo tried to study him, only to move back to his fingers.

Just one, unfocused blast was enough to put that beast at bay. Why did he fear it? There was no need. He was stronger. Thus, it was worthless before him.

As if to respond to that, the Arcanine roared and charged back towards in, ready to sink his teeth into Mewtwo's flesh. The clone stretched his hand forward, and a blue psychic outline trapped the Arcanine before it could even come close.

The Pokémon balled his hand, and the outline grew smaller, pressing against the 'Legendary Pokémon' as it whined and tried to break free. He could feel the Fire-type's thoughts, a primal desire for Mewtwo's flesh replaced almost immediately by fear and begging for his life. His pride was gone, only a desire to survive.

His fate was Mewtwo's to decide. He held power over him.

He swiftly moved his digits, aiming his psychic powers to press further at Arcanine's joints. A snapping noise echoed through the room, his adversary crying out as its limbs went numb. But Mewtwo had no intention of being merciful.

And thus, he threw his arm down, the sheer psychic force pressing overhead against the Arcanine, crushing it towards the floor. Arcanine left one last, pathetic whine before its strength faded away into unconsciousness, all while Mewtwo could feel the fear and pain overtaking it.

The clone continued to stare at his defeated opponent for a good few seconds before dispelling his powers, almost savoring the moment. With that armor keeping the flow of his power conscious and regulated, he truly felt as powerful as he was. An unmatched power, that no one else possessed.

He turned back to the secluded box, his gaze meeting Giovanni. He was smiling back at him.

"Not bad." His eyes turned fierce again as he glanced over to Zager. "The next!"

The scientist agreed, and at the press of a button, a new challenger appeared, fists on the ready. It was purple and garguanted, a fearsome Ground/Poison-type known as Nidoking.

King. A person most people would bow down to, showing reverence and respect, and the Pokémon's thoughts seemed to want his opponent and anyone else to do the same. But Mewtwo had no intention of doing either, much less to an inferior being.

It tried to lunge forward, a Mega Punch and Mega Kick charged at once. Much like with Arcanine, a flick of Mewtwo's wrist was enough to trap him in place. The so-called 'King' widened his eyes, attempting to break free, but failing to do so.

Mewtwo remained stoic, but still allowed himself some catharsis by pushing the Nidoking down on his knees, making the mighty king bow down to someone better than himself. He only relished in it for a few seconds, however, and quickly tossed Nidoking away like a used blanket. His opponent cried in pain as he pressed an outline in the steel, but still yielded in.

Mewtwo slammed him into the wall again, and again, and again, destroying the Nidoking-shaped outline and almost opening a hole in the wall out with his powers. By the fifth, Nidoking was defeated, but the clone still made sure to knock his unconscious form on the wall again, just to underscore who was the strongest among them.

Nidoking's body fell right next to the still unconscious Arcanine, under the cold stare of Mewtwo.

Giovanni's order was swift. "Another!"

Without even a second of pause, powerful steps resonated from the door, and Mewtwo's attention shifted there, where a giant, green and rocky creature was coming from. A Tyranitar, the same kind of Pokémon Giovanni claimed could kill him.

Mewtwo tried to peer into his new opponent's mind, only to find himself unable to, a haze of darkness protecting the Tyranitar's thoughts. He went wide-eyed, confused, until he realized what happened. Tyranitar was a Dark-type, and completely immune to his Psychic-type attacks.

He stepped back, doubt and nervousness overtaking him like before, all while Tyranitar stared down at him. Mewtwo could see why: for his new opponent, he wasn't food to be eaten or a subject to ask worship from. He was an enemy to be taken down.

And the Tyranitar made that clear when he hunched over and fired a powerful Hyper Beam at him with no warning. Mewtwo put both hands ahead of him, an outline of blue slowing down the attack and allowing him to part it at his sides, where it blasted the floor away from him. The effort cracked his visor and helmet slightly, but he still managed to come out of it unharmed.

At least until a well-aimed Dark Pulse zoned right towards him.

The Dark-type attack blasted Mewtwo to the wall and then to the ground. The dark energy continued to flow from Tyranitar's mouth as he walked forward, the constant barrage burning into Mewtwo's skins even with the armor protecting him.

The attack was relentless, and Mewtwo screamed. It was a weak point, one of the few he possessed, and he was powerless to fight back. Even with all of his power, he wasn't invincible.

Tyranitar stopped his attack only after several agonizing seconds, and Mewtwo fell on his knees, panting and breathing heavily as he held his chest, pain still ringing throughout his body. The Tyranitar grinned, almost mocking him as he readied another Hyper Beam. Almost as if he wanted to let him suffer for longer.

Mewtwo glared back at him, his own rage and power building up within his hurt and tired body. It had given him an opening, and it would regret that.

And if he couldn't use his powers, that just meant he had to get creative.

His eyes lit up through the helmet again, and the Tyranitar almost laughed at it. That was short lived as the unconscious forms of Arcanine and Nidoking slammed right into its body, interrupting the Hyper Beam and letting him fall down.

Mewtwo didn't stop, continuing to hit the Rock/Dark-type with the unconscious forms of his defeated adversaries. Even as they woke up out of sheer pain, Mewtwo didn't stop, still slamming their body into his current opponent, his smug attitude all but gone as it now found itself just as powerless as Mewtwo had been.

One, two, ten hits later, and Mewtwo finally stopped his beatdown of the Dark-type, all his smugness gone just like his previous two enemies, as all three rested in a pained and defeated heap above him.

Giovanni grinned back at him, but it still didn't seem enough for the man. And so, he snapped his fingers. "Send in all of them!"

The doors opened further, and a veritable army of Pokémon of all types, sizes and regions swarmed inside the room, all directed towards Mewtwo.

And through it all, for the first time since the training began, Mewtwo grinned with pride.

None of them even came close to the clone, the Psychic-type stopping them all on their tracks. He then slammed them into each other, hitting them with well-aimed attacks, toying with them just a little, and generally experimenting with the many ways he could defeat them. All those powerful Pokémon were nothing but his playthings, for him to treat as he saw fit. Their screams just showed how inferior they were to him.

He was powerful, they were not. Defeating them was what he was created for.

Defeating them was his new purpose.

And that was why, once all of his opponents fell down in front of him, all defiance and will to fight replaced by fear and powerlessness, Mewtwo let out a victory cry, his powers pushing the armor to its limits as he blasted everyone away in a messy pile of unconscious Pokémon all around him.

The experiment turned back to Giovanni, and found the stern glare of the man was replaced by a prideful grin, arms raised to the sky. Next to him, Zager was just as intrigued.

"This is it." The criminal's grin widened, almost laughing. "This is the birth of the strongest Pokémon the world has ever seen!"

Mewtwo heard the man's boast silently, until his attention shifted to his hands and the cracks in his armor. He was powerful, but still not enough. He had to grow even stronger than he already was. Strong enough to be unmatched. Strong enough to never feel weak and powerless anymore.

Only then everything would be right again.

From that day onward, Mewtwo took on the role of one of Team Rocket's strongest assets, to be called upon for the most dangerous and secret endeavors of the criminal group. Robberies, mass captures, teaching some rival syndicates a lesson, a simple display of power and many more; he was at Giovanni's beck and call, and never failed to achieve his objectives. He had known enough failure in his life to motivate himself to do the best.

Through it all, thanks to his constantly updated and improved armor, he was able to test the limit of his powers, experimenting with new uses and to improve his control. Slowly, he was learning to use his own powers even beyond his crutch, truly becoming a master of the power he was born with. Who cared if some people got hurt on the way? They made the mistake to stand in his and Giovanni's way. They had to pay for that.

Despite everything, though, he made a rule to never kill, but not out of any moral obligation. Giovanni considered it something that could start some unfortunate investigations, and killing someone would've meant one less test dummy for his powers to use. A fearful and alive foe was much more useful than a dead one, and the leader of Team Rocket wasn't one to gamble on power vacuums he couldn't predict the results of. Like that youth named Fender making a name for himself in the Johto region. He wasn't sure if he liked the idea of killing again. But for now, that wouldn't be a problem for him.

And beyond that, they needed to keep his existence secret. He was Team Rocket's trump card, to be deployed when Giovanni needed an extra hand beyond his usual resources. That was also why they decided against using him in battles in Giovanni's day job as the Viridian Gym Leader: even if it could've been useful to train his powers, the existence of a never-before-seen Pokémon would've caused a stir and Giovanni would've been forced to justify it, casting suspicion on the seemingly spotless reputation of the man and possibly exposing his role as Team Rocket's Boss. It wasn't a gamble worth taking.

For this reason, Mewtwo was also rarely partnered up with the same agents twice during his missions. That gave him a chance to study their reactions: whenever new grunts interacted with him, their reactions ranged from predictable repulsion towards him and his powers and people astonished and grateful for his assistance. He expected the first, but the latter was something he always enjoyed, even if all the grunts appeared to be somewhat dim and superficial. They only cared for the moment, and changed their thoughts in the blink of an eye to fit the situation. Weaklings with no purpose of their own, as Giovanni said.

He would never end up like them. He had a purpose, and he lived for it. It gave him peace of mind, and made him feel appreciated: for the time being, that was more than enough he could ask for.

And through it all, Giovanni was proud of him in his own way. He knew that the simple fact he continued to give him missions meant he found him useful and trustworthy, an unspoken guarantee that his contributions were essential.

He also made sure to take some private time to speak with him of various topics, ranging from his role as a Team Rocket agent to discussions of human nature. After a while, they even started playing chess together. Mewtwo wasn't sure why that started: maybe it was another way to reassure Mewtwo that he saw him as a fellow intelligent being, or maybe he just wanted someone to play with after getting bored with business dealings.

Mewtwo found the notion a bit silly at first, but with chess being a game of the mind he started to look forward to those little matches as a way to improve himself in a different way than his missions, especially with the man always proving victorious. Sure, he could've just read Giovanni's mind to know how to beat him, but where would the challenge have been at that point?

And so, Mewtwo was now in one of his habitual chess matches with Giovanni, still wearing his armor as he moved his pieces with his powers.

"I'm impressed by how good you've gotten," Giovanni said, studying Mewtwo's moves.

"Unlike the other goons on your payroll, I actually learn from my mistakes." Mewtwo moved his bishop forward, eating one of Giovanni's pawns.

"You're even developing a sense of humor. Fascinating." Giovanni chuckled out, moving a rook forward. "The storm you managed to create to cover your unit's escape was particularly impressive, too."

Mewtwo nodded, stroking his chin as he reflected on his next move. "I never tested if my powers could extend to the weather patterns, but it was either that or losing valuable members of the organization."

Hearing him, though, Giovanni smirked. "Is that a hint of altruism?"

"Only efficiency and a chance to push my limits," Mewtwo said, moving his knight.

By itself, the events that led to it were routine: a group of grunts were close to being caught by the police, and there was nothing they could do to prevent it without risking more losses. Out of sheer inspiration, Mewtwo tried to concentrate his psychic powers on the sky, gathering clouds and triggering a thunder storm when one wasn't meant to happen. It didn't last long, but it was enough for the authorities to be sent in disarray and for the agents to escape, no one arrested. Since then, Mewtwo started to test his powers on the weather in small ways, curious to see how much he could push his powers. Maybe he could even create a storm strong enough to endanger the world. That was a possibility worth exploring, especially in the near future.

"Pushing your limits, for sure." With a quick move of his rook, Giovanni caught Mewtwo's knight. "I'm pretty sure quite a few of our rivals are still having nightmares about the beast that almost murdered them in cold blood."

"How can you say that?" Mewtwo asked, sending his queen to catch Giovanni's rook.

"I've kept an eye on the reports of your missions and their recordings. You might hide it well, but you've got a savage heart and relish fighting, like a primal beast. Maybe something about what happened back in New Island." Giovanni stared straight at him, setting his own queen close to Mewtwo's. "Am I wrong?"

Mewtwo didn't answer right away, his eyes on the chessboard. He couldn't deny it: letting his powers go wild, being able to do anything he wanted, truly giving in to his emotions... he loved every second of it. It allowed him to feel alive and in control, as if nobody could go against him. As if he could do anything, if he just wished to. He was truly a weapon and a monster, the strongest and most fearsome of all. And he hated how much he enjoyed it. But nothing would've changed, so long as he remained under Giovanni's orders. He wasn't the same brother Amber had known anymore.

At his silence, Giovanni folded his arm, his expression turning slightly more gentle. "There's nothing wrong with that. If that is your true nature, you should embrace it rather than suppress it."

"Embracing it..." After some hesitation, Mewtwo decided to retreat his queen, noticing how few pawns remained on each side. "Are all humans at their happiest when they do that?"

Giovanni moved his queen forward, eating one of Mewtwo's pawns on the way. "Every single creature in the world is driven by what their nature tells them to do. Some foolish people claim we should suppress it to ensure a peaceful coexistence with others, but that's never worked. The others should bend to stronger wills, that's the way this world has always been."

"Is this why you created Team Rocket?" Mewtwo set his rook on the way, tentatively blocking the queen's path.

"Team Rocket is far bigger than I am. Its origins date back to the pre-Oak years, back when discovering and approaching new Pokémon was a dangerous and restricted endeavor. People wanted to discover new species, find new weapons, and everything else. They all had their personal wishes, and they were all willing to resort to less than legal methods to reach them." Giovanni almost smiled at the reminiscence, moving his queen towards one of Mewtwo's bishops and removing it from the board. "And Team Rocket was more than ready to fulfill this demand."

"You helped people?" Mewtwo frowned behind his helmet, moving a pawn forward.

"We gained what we wanted. 'Helping people' was just the means to an end." Giovanni's queen caught the pawn, still unmatched and unstoppable. "Every leader of Team Rocket had their own reasoning behind how they ran the organization, as well. The previous leader, my own mother, cared for profit above all else. When one of her agents brought a recording of Mew, she flat out asked if they could make a CD out of it."

The man's expression softened just a bit for the briefest of instances, before returning to be as serious as he always was.

"You cared for her?" Mewtwo asked, moving his own queen right next to Giovanni's.

"Just enough. She was a beautiful and intelligent woman, but she thought too small, when she could've done far bigger things. I worked my way to the top of Team Rocket and restructured it into a far more eclectic organization, with one core aim: the pursuit of power, and ways to enforce said power and control." Mewtwo's queen was gone, caught by Giovanni's. "I took over my mother's attempts to search for Mew. It took several ill-fated attempts to reach a result, but I'd say it all paid off in the end."

Mewtwo nodded silently, finally sending his rook to remove Giovanni's queen, and the two continued to focus on their game. It was quickly turning into a game of cat and mouse towards their respective kings, each of their sides constantly whittled down to just a few pawns. Nonetheless, neither one was ready to call it quits just yet, especially Mewtwo. He wouldn't accept any defeat from the man.

"The ultimate aim of any person is to reach their personal happiness. Anything else should always be secondary to personal fulfillment." Giovanni moved a pawn forward, almost at Mewtwo's end of the chessboard. "This is why someone should always have a purpose and be driven to make it a reality."

"One should always choose to be selfish, you mean?" Mewtwo sent his remaining knight to claim Giovanni's pawn, now reduced to just four pieces.

"Not selfish. Pragmatic." Giovanni caught Mewtwo's knight with his last rook, smirking once more. "Kindness and harshness both can be useful in the right circumstances, and you shouldn't be restricted to only using one or the other."

"But the ultimate result is always one's personal happiness."

Giovanni nodded at that. "This world is split between seven billion people and even more creatures. Thinking every single one of them could be happy at the same time is just a childish fantasy."

"So the happiness of others is secondary? A means to an end?" Mewtwo made his move, and his bishop ate Giovanni's rook.

"What, are you taking notes or something?" Giovanni chuckled out, moving his king away. "This is just how the world goes. Those with power will always prevail over the weak, no matter what childish concept of justice people try to instill in their young. If goodness, dreams and the like would truly always prevail and make people happy, Team Rocket wouldn't find new recruits every year."

"You seem quite confident of your convictions." Mewtwo moved his rook forward, removing a pawn from Giovanni's side.

"It is my purpose." Giovanni moved a pawn in just the right position to eliminate Mewtwo's rook from the board. "And what is yours?"

Mewtwo didn't hesitate, tossing the pawn away with his bishop. "Defeat everyone ahead of me. Prove my worth. Help those I care for."

"And you will have many opportunities to do all this at my side." Giovanni smiled, safely guarding his king between some pawns. "Together, we're going to have a bright future. There's nothing our partnership can't accomplish."

"I know. No one will stand on the way of my power."

And with that, Mewtwo moved his bishop in place. "Checkmate."

Giovanni widened his eyes, studying the board: Mewtwo's rook and bishop were both ready to claim Giovanni's king from different sides, and there was no move left for Giovanni to save his piece. He had lost, and didn't even realize it.

He quickly turned serious, almost intrigued, before he sighed and stood again.

"Well done." The man turned around, pulling out his phone and checking his schedule. "I'll send in Zager for some controls on the M2 Bind shortly. Be prepared to meet him."

"I always am," Mewtwo said as he put all the pieces inside the chessboard and set it aside. The meetings with Zager and his staff had become routine enough for him to look forward to them, after all.

Giovanni acknowledged his reply silently, and left the room with nary another word. He tried to mask it, but Mewtwo could tell that he was bothered by how their game went. Mewtwo had never won until then, after all, and he found that ominous.

For his part, Mewtwo found the thoughts amusing. Giovanni was a sharp man where it counted, but he was ultimately proving to be better than him. The game just proved that.

The time for Mewtwo's next move was soon, and after that, the man would've understood that he had every right to be worried about him.

The flaming laboratory exploding all around him felt almost familiar, as the armored Pokémon paced through the blazing corridors. Machinery exploded and people tried to escape from their fate, all while Mewtwo calmly walked through the entrance, peering in the mind of anyone and trying to ascertain the damage. The entire base was burning, and all the important sectors and files were being destroyed one after another.

He was suppressing away any memory of the last time he stood in the middle of an exploding laboratory. He was weaker, more naive back then; now he was stronger and purposeful. That wasn't blind destruction of a creature unable to contain its own power, it was a precise work from a monster that knew what he could do and how to do it. It was similar, yet completely different, much like his life had been. One he was ready to begin a new chapter of.

He observed his hands again, the psychic outline stronger and larger than it had ever been before. He knew he was unmatched by most, and what his weaknesses were. Thus, he could truly be the most powerful Pokémon in existence now. He looked forward to being able to study and learn even more of his new powers alone now.

But first, he had a few loose ends to tie up. And as he felt a familiar mind approaching, the Pokémon knew the time to do that had arrived.

He turned towards the entrance to the laboratory, where Giovanni had now rushed through. He could feel the confusion and even worry in his mind, how nothing was making sense and he demanded answers, all while his gaze flitted left and right until he found Mewtwo. The man frowned, the flames turning even hotter around them.

"What's going on here? Mewtwo, tell me what caused this!" His tone was harsh, demanding, looking for answers as quickly as possible.

Mewtwo stepped closer, staring right back at him. "I did."

Giovanni paled almost immediately, and the clone couldn't help but peer into the man's mind. He could feel many thoughts twisting and blending together: surprise at the sudden turn, anger at the same, and how he had seen him as a partner of sorts even if his ultimate aim was always to use him for his own ends. It made the Pokémon almost feel guilty, something that lasted only until Giovanni's thoughts morphed again, firmly estabilishing Mewtwo as a threat to dispose of.

The man took out a small remote controller, with only one button on it; a kill switch, for sure. He glared back at Mewtwo.

"Farewell, then," Giovanni said, pressing the button.

Nothing happened, Mewtwo still staring back at him in the middle of the blazing laboratory. The confidence Giovanni felt crumbled, still remaining stoic even as Mewtwo paced closer and he continued clicking the button over and over, still to no effect. Mewtwo tried to ignore the broken fizzling of the armor trying to shut his mind as he concentrated on Giovanni, the proud leader of Team Rocket, and the man that was now learning to fear him as he should have.

He observed the M2 Bind ensemble, his lips twitching upward ever-so-slightly. "This armor has already been useless for a while."

Mewtwo's eyes glowed blue, and piece by piece, he stripped off each part of his armor away from his body, letting each of them klang on the ground without any effort until Mewtwo was finally free of his contraptions, now a pile of scrap gathered on the burning floor. The heaviness of the armor gone, Mewtwo could feel his powers ripple throughout all of his body, the blue outline of Psychic surrounding him as he floated right above Giovanni, staring the man down.

He could feel the man tense up, a hand quickly grabbing for one of his Poké Balls. Mewtwo pointed a hand forward, and Giovanni froze mid-throw, still conscious but unable to move at all. Mewtwo felt a rush of adrenaline through his body as he put Giovanni where he belonged, as he drew closer to the man until he was mere inches away.

"I could've done this any time I wished to for the last few weeks, but I wanted to see how much knowledge I could gather from you and your scientists." Mewtwo's stare fiercened, almost cocky even as he remained stoic and calm. "You promised me to help me find my purpose, and you did. Just not in the way you expected."

"What are you talking about?" Giovanni asked, teeth bared.

"I wanted to understand how humans actually act and think. I wanted a consensus about what was your kind's true nature." The clone's eyes went to his side, observing several scientists making a beeline for one of the emergency exists. "I was quite disappointed to see how most are content being a bunch of Mareep, ready to not follow any code of conduct but the one they could gain things from."

The Pokémon's attention went back to Giovanni, peering into the mind that he already knew the contents of. The leader of Team Rocket had been pretty good at covering his thoughts, almost making him wonder if he truly valued him. Mewtwo shook his head, banishing any doubt. There was no time for them.

"Even you aren't immune. I could feel that in the back of your mind you would've preferred a more docile and cooperative version of me, one that didn't have any real free will." The Pokémon balled his fists, old wounds torn open as he held his memories at bay. "I could hear some scientists start to discuss the idea, how they were making notes of my weaknesses, and maybe someone away from here already started to work on said clone, but it just meant I needed to act quickly."

The Pokémon expected Giovanni to be afraid of what he discovered. Instead - perhaps as a show of defiance? - the man laughed it off. "And here I thought I was being careful."

"You were. I would've dismissed it as just wishful thinking if not for your underlings." Mewtwo frowned, locking gazes with the man once more. "Then again, the strongest and smartest always come out ontop, right?"

Giovanni didn't say anything, and Mewtwo didn't need to read his mind to know he was realizing what motivated him. The clone floated up again, once more staring down at the human like the inferior creature he was.

"The human race has proven unfit to rule this world." He placed a hand on his chest, a solemn gaze in his eyes. "Thus, it's time for a superior lifeform to take over."

In spite of everything, Giovanni managed to stare back at Mewtwo in defiance, even if his mind was a vortex of conflicting emotions, still trying to think of ways to break free of his predicament. The Pokémon almost found it admirable. In spite of it all, the man was true to his own beliefs and wasn't willing to bend down to anything.

"So, are you planning to kill me now?" he asked, his piercing glare bearing into Mewtwo. The experiment let the question linger in the air for a few seconds.

"I could. I could twist your neck, make your innards explode, even have you choke yourself by your own hands if I so wished." As if to prove it, he tightened his grip on Giovanni ever-so-slightly, making the man wince. Mewtwo quickly went back to just restraining him, his expression calmer. "But you're still the reason I exist, and the one that helped me see humans for what they are. I'm grateful for that."

Mewtwo's face quickly grew stern again, measuring every word as he grabbed Giovanni's chin, making sure he couldn't look away from him. "I want you to witness my rise and the fall of humanity with your own eyes. Sit there powerless while every other human falls under my rule. And after every other human will be gone, I will kill you last. All while knowing you were the cause of this."

Giovanni was speechless, but his mind was in a frenzy, already going through the many contingency plans he had set up against Mewtwo. The Pokémon chuckled just a bit, more amused than scared as most of said plans blew up behind him. Knowing that their time was running out, he decided to cut things short.

"This is the dawn of the age of Mewtwo, and it's all thanks to you." The clone waved his hand ahead, his gaze sharp and his eyes glowing again. "We'll see each other at the end."

The Pokémon savored Giovanni's expression for one last second before he teleported the man to safety out of the building, remaining alone inside the burning and destroyed building. Mewtwo gave one last glance to his second home, a tinge of guilt hitting him as he saw what he caused. Once again, he proved himself to be a monster, and nothing more than that.

Mewtwo shook his head, his attention going to the ceiling. And without a word, Mewtwo took flight with his powers and pierced through the exploding building as it fell apart on itself, aiming for the only place he could return to.

It took the Pokémon a few minutes to reach his destination, his feet gently landing in the pile of scraps and metal that was once New Island's scientific laboratory. His home.

Mewtwo stood under the blue sky, listening to the gentle breeze passing through his body and the calming sounds of the sea. It felt peaceful and quiet, and closing his eyes, he could see himself, younger and smaller, playing happily with Amber in the world of their own mind. Before the fires, before the battles, before understanding what kind of monster he was.

The Pokémon frowned, opening his eyes and returning back to reality. No matter how strong his powers could be, he couldn't turn back time. He couldn't undo everything that happened, all that he understood about himself.

Mewtwo's eyes fell on the ground, where a cracked glass case rested. Inside was an archaic depiction of Mew, one that used to hang on display right next to his pod. The mythical Pokémon that, one way or another, caused everything that happened. His original, the Pokémon people actually wanted him to be.

He let his powers flare up, splintering the glass in a million pieces before he stepped on the picture. One day, he would've done the same to Mew itself.

Mewtwo moved forward through the wreckage, slowly making his way to the underground chamber, trying not to think of what the laboratory used to be. Quickly, he found himself back in Amber's room, where her half-broken tube still was, the few machines spared from the destruction giving no sign of life. The clone walked closer, unsure of what to say or think.

For a while, he knew that he would be safe. No one that knew of his existence could find him there: he had made sure to debilitate Giovanni's headquarters just enough for the criminal to be busy fixing the problems he caused, and if his threat wasn't enough to keep the man wary and away, he knew he could face him. He was stronger and smarter than him, after all.

And so were all the other humans. Every single one of them needed to bow down to him, because he was a superior being, better than anyone else. That was simply truth. It had to be, or nothing that he caused would've made sense.

What would've been the point of his existence, if he wasn't the strongest? That would've just allowed others to hurt and use him again, and he would never allow that to happen. He loved to fight, to prove that no one had any chance in a fight with him. That was what he was. That was also as far from what he should've been.

He wanted to be happy, to be peaceful, to not hurt anyone. But if word of his existence spread out, he would never know peace. He already knew Giovanni wouldn't allow him to.

His only chances of happiness was solitude away from the world or dominion over everything. And he didn't want to be alone ever again. So, he would need to give in to himself, to be a tyrant too powerful to be hurt. And that scared him.

Mewtwo brushed his hand over the cold glass. There was only one person that could help him, his light in the darkness, the only human that could save him from himself, and she was gone.

So he would need to bring her back, by any means necessary.

He let his powers radiate from him, kickstarting the emergency power systems just enough for the computers to resume functioning. He quickly searched among the required folders, and happiness flew over his body as he saw the data. There was still enough biological data about Amber for another attempt at recovering her, maybe even more, and with the knowledge he got from Zager, his staff and all the other scientists he read the minds of, he had enough knowledge of biology and chemistry to create healthy clones of his own. Ones that wouldn't decay in four years.

But even then, his knowledge wasn't perfect, moreso with the 'enhancements' Fuji made to Amber. To truly bringing her back and allow her to live normally, he needed to know more of human biology, of the people similar to Amber, and also of Pokémon. Only then he would truly be able to bring his sister back.

Thankfully, he knew exactly how to understand what he needed. Giovanni taught him that people are drawn to power, and if he promised a way for trainers to test their skills, he would be able to call upon himself a great number of people, powered or not. He could've been able to prove himself against several opponents, showing everyone what he was capable to do, and claiming all the information he needed for his own ends. A perfect plan with no chances to fail.

The Pokémon's attention went back to the broken glass case, pressing his hand over it, almost feeling Amber doing the same on the other end.

"You'll live again, Amber. And no one will ever hurt me or you ever again." Mewtwo furrowed his brow, his lips pursed. "This is my purpose."

There were many things he had to do now: among them finding people and Pokémon to use for his plan to work, and create an appropriate scenery for the coming battles and Amber's rebirth, but he would do it. He would never fail his sister ever again. He pressed his hand further, his vision growing foggy as he fought back tears.

They would feel good. They would feel... happy...

Welcome, everyone, to the second and last part of Mewtwo Interlude, telling the last part of Reset Mewtwo's Start of Darkness, setting him up for his role as the main antagonist of the upcoming Mewtwo Strikes Back adaptation in the main story. I hope to have made a good job with his characterization, and to have been able to make Mewtwo seem fresh while being loyal to his history and characterization.

I had a lot of fun with parallels, symbolism and foil relationship between Giovanni and Amber in regards to Mewtwo, and I hope that even if this part of the story is overall far more well-known than Amber's side of it, I still managed to make this not feel like a retread of canon. My usual mantra is to be loyal to the spirit of the characters I write, and I made extra sure to keep that in mind for Mewtwo.

In case anyone's curious, 'M2 Bind' is the name given to an armor clearly inspired by the first movie's one in the Special/Adventures manga, and given I made it so the armor both focused and restricted the powers of Mewtwo as necessary, I thought it would've been a fitting nod. The backstory of how Team Rocket came to be and of the previous boss of Team Rocket being Giovanni's mother all come from the Birth of Mewtwo radio drama, specifically the part not adapted in The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin. I thought it added more depth to Team Rocket as a whole and fit the themes of this chapter, so I decided to implement it.

I also made sure to avoid giving Giovanni any 'Villain Ball' moments like in canon, having him treat Mewtwo genuinely well even if he still ultimately schemed behind his back, and most importantly not using Mewtwo in Gym battles, because realistically speaking, doing that beyond the out-of-universe reason to tease Mewtwo for the movie doesn't make any sense and just asks for Giovanni to be investigated and revealed as Team Rocket's leader. I hope to have done well in this area.

The final lines of the story are also a nod to another Nintendo character, specifically Giygas, who repeats that during the final battle of Earthbound, and that in Mother 1/Earthbound Beginnings had more than a few similarities to Mewtwo, to the point he might've been a sort of Spiritual Predecessor considering how much Pokémon owes to the Mother trilogy. This was my way to acknowledge that, in a way, plus feeling it would've been a powerful set of lines to close this story on. Though I doubt Reset Mewtwo will end up becoming an Eldritch Abomination. Maybe.

I also hope to have made a good job setting up the story, and most importantly to have done well in making this a compelling take in its own right. I definitely know that I hope to write some more about Mewtwo, whether in Reset or my own writing, and to keep doing a good job with him.

That said, I have to thank Epicocity, RandomificationChaotic and all the Resetverse crew for the help they gave me in finishing this Interlude, and of course I have to thank Apex85, Ander Arias, Fox McCloude, one Guest and Mateo for their reviews. However, I do have to say to the latter one thing: if you keep writing reviews just to suggest things you want to see happen, just write them yourself. Having Amber be able to be resurrected as a ghost would just cheapen this conflict completely, and I'd never do that, especially since not every dead person in this universe can just come back as a ghost like it's nothing. I've noticed a lot of your reviews tend to pretty much amount 'do X and Y' and nothing else, and what might come across as interesting suggestions ends up coming across like you wanting to force the course of the Resetverse at worst and spamming at best. You might want to reconsider how you approach reviews in this setting, just to say.

In any case, I hope you enjoyed this read, and look forward to your thoughts! See you next time, and thanks to any reader!