Let's go back three days.
The journey of Mew and Baby Bear continued.
At noon that day, they arrived at a port shrouded in dark clouds and heavy rain.
The sea was pitch black, and massive waves from the storm crashed against the coast repeatedly.
Heavy rain poured down, and many people, drenched to the bone, hurried to seek shelter in the boat boarding area.
A group of young trainers, eager to cross the sea by boat, had gathered there.
Officer Jenny, tasked with maintaining order, stood at the entrance with a loudspeaker, shouting to the waiting trainers inside:
"Everyone! Due to the storm, the ship cannot sail today! Please wait here until the storm passes, and we'll resume the journey afterward!"
"Hmm?" Baby Bear, perched on a steel beam above the hall, looked down at the crowd of humans with curiosity.
Meanwhile, Mew's attention was focused on the storm outside.
Baby Bear noticed this and asked, "What's wrong?"
Mew gazed at the stormy sea with a look of interest. "Mew." (This storm is being influenced by a powerful force.)
"Teddi?" Baby Bear was surprised. A powerful force?
Not only was it strong, but the energy felt oddly familiar to Mew.
Mew, now intrigued, exclaimed, "Mew!" (Let's go check it out!)
Baby Bear, always up for adventure, agreed immediately.
The two Pokémon vanished in a flash, passing through the storm and arriving at a small island.
There was no rain here. A castle stood tall on the island, with a windmill spinning on the coast.
Mew and Baby Bear, instantly captivated by the windmill, perched on its blades and began to spin with it, laughing in delight.
"Teddi!"
"Mew!"
The two Pokémon were having a blast when suddenly, an explosion echoed from the castle nearby.
Their attention shifted immediately. They flew toward the source of the sound and, just as they approached, saw a boy in a baseball cap being hurled through the air.
"Mew?"
Without hesitation, Mew used its psychic powers to create a protective bubble, catching the boy mid-air with perfect precision.
"Yay!" Baby Bear's eyes lit up at the sight of the bubble, fascinated by Mew's ability.
It had never seen this particular move from Mew before! It looked like so much fun!
With a playful glint in its eyes, Mew winked at Baby Bear and created another bubble. The two Pokémon bounced on the bubbles like trampolines, giggling with joy.
They were so engrossed in their fun that they didn't notice the eerie silence that had taken over the hall.
"What kind of Pokémon is that?" Misty asked, astonished.
Brock, standing beside her, shook his head. "I only recognize the one next to it as Teddiursa."
The trainers, who had braved the storm to get there, were equally stunned.
In the center of the hall stood Mewtwo, a humanoid Pokémon radiating an overwhelming aura of psychic energy. Its piercing gaze locked onto Mew.
Raising its hand, Mewtwo hurled a shadow ball directly at Mew.
The shadow ball pierced through Mew's bubble, causing both Mew and Baby Bear to stop playing and turn their attention to Mewtwo.
"Teddi?!" Baby Bear was upset. It had never seen such hostility in a Pokémon before!
But Mewtwo ignored it and launched several more shadow balls, which Mew and Baby Bear effortlessly dodged.
Baby Bear was furious now. Really furious.
It glared at the strange Pokémon, then fished out a small stone from who-knows-where and hurled it at Mewtwo.
"It's a Dark-type move—Fling," Brock noted with recognition.
The stone, glowing with phantom light, sped toward Mewtwo like a bullet. But just as it was about to hit, it was blocked by Mewtwo's psychic shield.
Mewtwo's gaze shifted to Baby Bear, and the air grew thick with tension as Mewtwo's psychic power surged like a tidal wave.
"This doesn't concern you!" Mewtwo roared, its voice echoing with power.
Baby Bear floated in the air, undisturbed. The wave of psychic energy passed overhead, ruffling a tuft of its fur.
"Did I miss?" Mewtwo blinked, surprised at its own failure.
Realizing it was being attacked, Baby Bear's anger flared even more. It hadn't done anything wrong! This Pokémon was incredibly rude!
With a growl, Baby Bear broke free from Mew's flight and shot forward like a missile.
Seeing this, Mewtwo sneered, "You're no match for me."
It hurled five or six shadow balls, but Baby Bear dodged every single one with ease.
Mewtwo was taken aback. "How is it this lucky?"
While Mewtwo hesitated, a tiny flaw appeared in its psychic shield, and Baby Bear seized the opportunity. Its sharp claws extended with a "whoosh," leaving a faint scratch on Mewtwo's body.
Finally realizing the threat, Mewtwo's face darkened. Its psychic energy exploded, sending Baby Bear flying.
Luckily, Baby Bear landed on a soft cushion of flesh. The cushion groaned in pain, but Baby Bear emerged unharmed.
Ash, who had broken Baby Bear's fall, stared in disbelief. Did he see that right? Teddiursa had actually managed to attack Mewtwo!
"Teddi!"
Baby Bear hopped off Ash, ready for more, while calmly assessing the situation.
Meanwhile, Mewtwo's focus had returned to Mew.
The two Pokémon stared each other down.
Mewtwo spoke in a low, menacing tone. "Mew, the rarest Pokémon in the world. I was created in your image, but I am stronger. I am the real one. I am the one who will survive!"
"Mew…"
Mew looked puzzled. It had never provoked this strange Pokémon before.
It had come here because it sensed a familiar aura, only to run into this guy instead.
Mew didn't want to fight. It tried to communicate with Mewtwo, but Mewtwo attacked again without hesitation.
Forced to defend itself, Mew dodged while continuing to try and reason with Mewtwo.
But Mewtwo wouldn't relent.
Mew was starting to get angry.
"Why won't you fight me? Are you avoiding it because you're scared?" Mewtwo taunted.
Between Mewtwo's aggression and its earlier attack on Baby Bear, Mew had had enough.
Silently, Mew unleashed its full psychic power, blasting Mewtwo across the hall.
Seeing this scene, Baby Bear looked on with admiration: "Teddi!" (As expected of a hero!)
"Hmph," Mewtwo scoffed, stepping out of the ruins. "It seems like you'll be a slightly tricky opponent."
Floating above the cloned Pokémon, Mewtwo gave a cold command: "Now let's settle this—Mew and I, who is truly stronger? The original or the evolved?"
"We were created to surpass you!" Mewtwo declared.
At Mewtwo's command, the cloned Pokémon started to move, engaging in fierce battles with their original counterparts. Meanwhile, Mew and Mewtwo transformed into glowing orbs of energy, intertwining and colliding as they flew into the sky.
The rumble of explosions echoed from above, while below, in the ruins of the castle, cloned Pokémon clashed with their originals.
As the situation escalated, Baby Bear grew increasingly flustered and confused.
It called out loudly: "Teddi!" (What's happening? Why is everyone fighting?)
But no Pokémon responded. Whether they truly wanted to or not, they couldn't stop. They continued battling, with each side growing more exhausted and injured—Vulpix, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, Bulbasaur—all of them worn down, their movements slow and sluggish.
Watching the chaos unfold, Baby Bear felt panicked. It thought, 'If only Naoki were here.' But Naoki wasn't there. It had to rely on itself.
Gathering its courage, Baby Bear shouted at the top of its lungs: "Teddi!" (Stop it! Stop fighting! We're all Pokémon, why hurt each other?)
Nearby, Nurse Joy murmured softly, "What's the point of this battle? Whether original or clone, they're all alive now."
Brock added, "Even if they were created, they're still creatures of this world."
Misty nodded in agreement. "Both originals and clones are living beings. What's the point in fighting to prove who's stronger?"
Nurse Joy clasped her hands in front of her chest, her expression solemn. "As creatures, they don't give up their territory easily, especially not to their own kind. They'll keep fighting until one side drives the other away. That's the way of nature."
"As long as Mewtwo and Mew continue fighting, none of the other Pokémon will stop either…"
Baby Bear listened to their words, sadness welling up inside. It had always viewed every Pokémon it encountered as family. But now, watching them battle each other to the brink, Baby Bear's heart ached.
Its eyes filled with tears, and it didn't want to witness the violence anymore.
Determined, Baby Bear raised its head and shouted: "Teddi!" (Enough!)
Hearing Baby Bear's cry, Mew, in mid-air, hesitated. It immediately broke away from its battle with Mewtwo and descended to the ground.
Baby Bear rushed to Mew's side, pointing at the battle raging around them. "Teddi! Teddi!" (Look at them! Why are we fighting?)
Just then, Mewtwo launched a massive Shadow Ball attack. The dark energy surged forward, engulfing both Mew and Baby Bear in a devastating explosion.
Dust and debris rose into the air, and silence fell over the battlefield.
"Hmph," Mewtwo muttered confidently.
But a moment later, a surge of even greater power erupted from the cloud of dust.
With a fierce cry of "Teddi!", Baby Bear's body glowed faintly as it grabbed Mew's hand and, with surprising strength, threw Mew toward Mewtwo.
Mewtwo's body was hurled backward, its mouth open in shock. A glint of blue light flickered in Mew's eyes.
In an instant, Baby Bear reappeared above Mewtwo, claws drawn, and struck with unexpected force.
"Teddi! Teddi?" (Enough! Do you really want to see everyone perish in battle? We're all Pokémon—why must we hurt each other?)
"Mew!" Mew echoed, its frustration clear.
Mewtwo ignored Baby Bear's plea and blasted both Mew and Baby Bear away, saying coldly, "To prove that we are the strongest!"
Baby Bear flew forward again and asked, "Teddi?" (What's the point of proving you're the strongest? Don't you still have to live in this world? Why can't you try to get along now and live together peacefully?)
Mewtwo was speechless for a moment, only to snort dismissively. His psychic energy turned into a sharp blade, slicing through the air.
With Mew's help, Baby Bear dodged the psychic blade in a flash.
Mew took over for Baby Bear, and once again, the two most powerful Pokémon in the world clashed.
At that moment, a figure suddenly rushed forward, positioning himself between Mew and Mewtwo.
"That's enough!" Ash shouted.
Both Mew and Mewtwo froze for a split second.
Mew instinctively tried to pull back its power, but it was too late.
The opposing forces collided within Ash's body. In a violent explosion, his body turned into stone and slowly crumbled to the ground, lifeless.
Everyone—humans and Pokémon alike—stood in stunned silence.
Mewtwo scowled and muttered angrily, "How foolish... A mere human trying to stop our fight!"
"Pikapi!" Pikachu ran up to Ash, desperate, calling out to him and trying to shock him back to life, like always.
But no matter how much electricity Pikachu poured into him, Ash remained motionless.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried out, overwhelmed with grief, tears streaming down its face, falling to the ground below.
Seeing this, Baby Bear's expression softened, moved by the sight.
"Teddi..." (Oh no...)
It turned to see that all the Pokémon had stopped fighting. They stood silently, tears welling in their eyes as they watched Ash and Pikachu.
Then, something miraculous happened.
Starlight began to gather around Ash, and with a soft, warm glow, Ash slowly opened his eyes.
Pikachu's eyes brightened. "Pika... Pikachu!"
Seeing that the battle had ended, Ash smiled and hugged Pikachu tightly. "We did it!"
"Was that... the 'Tears of Life'?" Nurse Joy murmured softly.
Brock turned to her in confusion. "The Tears of Life?"
Nurse Joy nodded. "Yes, it's a healing technique that releases one's deepest emotional energy in the form of tears."
"A long time ago, a Pokémon lost its life in battle. Its trainer, overcome with grief, shed tears that brought the Pokémon back to life."
Misty looked puzzled. "Humans... can use Pokémon's moves?"
Joy smiled faintly. "In extraordinary moments, when the bond between human and Pokémon is strong enough... it seems anything is possible."
...
In mid-air, Mewtwo silently observed the scene below.
It no longer fought but felt a deep sense of confusion. Its mind was clouded with conflicting emotions.
"Why?" Mewtwo muttered.
Mew, floating beside it, said gently, "Mew." (We are all living beings, whether humans or cloned Pokémon, we all exist in this world.)
Mewtwo closed its eyes and said quietly, "Indeed, you and I both exist. We are both... Pokémon."
"Perhaps it's better if no one remembers this. Maybe it's best if everyone forgets."
"We were all born, we all live, and we all must go on... somewhere in this world."
Mew tilted its head, watching as Mewtwo seemed to reach a new understanding.
A soft blue glow enveloped Mewtwo, and the clone Pokémon below began to glow as well, rising into the clear sky to follow it.
Seeing this, Mew and Baby Bear followed suit.
Mewtwo glanced at the pair and finally asked, "Who are you?"
Baby Bear hesitated for a moment. "Teddi…" (We're a heroic exploration team !)
Mew giggled, covering her mouth.
Mewtwo raised an eyebrow, confused. "A... heroic exploration team?"
Baby Bear nodded and explained, "Teddi, Teddi." (Yes, we travel and help Pokémon in need. So far, it's just the two of us, but we've helped many!)
Mewtwo seemed to grasp the idea, responding with a simple "Oh," before falling silent, gazing off into the distance deep in thought.
After an unknown amount of time, they landed on a beautiful, uninhabited cliff. The steep landscape assured no humans would disturb them.
Mewtwo surveyed the area and said, "We are not ready to be discovered by humans yet, so we will live here. What about you? Will you stay with us?"
Baby Bear shook his head enthusiastically. "Teddi!" (There are still many Pokémon out there that need our help!)
Mew nodded in agreement. "Mew!"
Mewtwo blinked, then replied, "I see."
As the heroic exploration team prepared to leave, Baby Bear suddenly had an idea. It pulled out a camera from its bag and excitedly called out, "Teddi!" (Let's take a group photo together!)
Mewtwo looked puzzled. "Group photo?"
Baby Bear eagerly explained the concept of a camera and taking photos. But when Mewtwo realized humans might see it, it floated back, its expression darkening. "I don't want humans interfering with our lives."
Baby Bear frowned, sharing a confused glance with Mew. "Teddi..." (But Naoki is a really good human…)
Mewtwo raised an eyebrow. "Naoki?"
Baby Bear nodded. "Teddi, Teddi." (He helped me. If it weren't for Naoki, I'd still be living in the mountains, stealing honey every day, probably caught by humans. Naoki is the best human ever!)
Baby Bear's eyes sparkled as it spoke, full of admiration. Mew, equally enthusiastic, added, "Mew!" (And Naoki's cooking is the most delicious food in the world!)
Mewtwo stared for a moment. "..."
Then, after a brief pause, Baby Bear excitedly remembered something. "Teddi! Teddi!" (By the way, Naoki even opened a tavern just for Pokémon! Pokémon in need go there to find him!)
Mew shared its memories of Naoki with Mewtwo, who remained silent after seeing them. Mewtwo couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed by how… peculiar this human was. Burying his face in a Pokémon's belly? It wasn't sure how to feel about that.
However, Mewtwo had to admit that Naoki treated Pokémon with genuine kindness and respect.
After a long silence, Mewtwo finally relented. "Fine... but only one photo."
"Teddi!" Baby Bear cheered.
"Mew!" Mew added with a happy giggle.
Mew and Baby Bear's eyes suddenly lit up.
They took two photos with Mewtwo and the group of cloned Pokémon.
One photo was left for Mewtwo and the cloned Pokémon, and the other was meant to be sent back home to share their journey with Naoki.
...
Looking at the photo in his hand, Naoki nearly spits out the juice he had just sipped.
'Was he seeing this right?'
'Was that really Mewtwo?'
'When did Baby Bear and Mew meet Mewtwo?!'
'Could it be that their incredible luck had come into play again?'
"Unbelievable."
Naoki didn't even want to imagine what they might encounter next.
After his initial shock wore off, Naoki took a deep breath and calmed down.
'Stay calm, stay calm'. He was used to farming with Koraidon, so seeing Mewtwo's picture shouldn't surprise him so much anymore.
With that thought, Naoki stood up, framed the photo, and hung it on the wall of the tavern.
He checked the time and realized it was already 4:50 in the evening.
Just then, the sound of a truck engine rumbled from outside the ranch.
Naoki headed out to sell that day's fresh Moomoo milk and goat's milk to Zack, then returned to prepare dinner.
By the time he and his Pokémon finished dinner, it was exactly seven o'clock.
Naoki casually opened the door of the tavern, officially beginning a business for the night.
At 7:05 p.m., the two Machamps arrived right on time, as always.
They ordered two glasses of juice and started chatting about their day.
Naoki sat behind the bar, quietly listening to their conversation.
Not long after, a Quaquaval sauntered in, swaying in its usual carefree manner.
This particular Pokémon was working in the Kosaji Town Fire Department.
Two days ago, it heard about a tavern that exclusively served Pokémon, and since then, after each shift, it would waddle over here, strike a playful pose, and sip on a glass of juice with elegant flair.
"Did work go well today?" Naoki asked with a smile, pouring a glass of juice.
The Quaquaval took the goblet gracefully. "Quack." (Very smoothly.)
It found an empty table, sat down, and drank its juice while listening to the chat between the Dratini and the Dragonairs next to it.
The Quaquaval sat in the tavern until nine o'clock before finally getting up. It paid for its drinks with five dark blue feathers.
Naoki: "..."
I have to admit, this Pokémon is a bit of a narcissist.
...
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