Hmm?
Seeing Mewtwo appear online after so long, Johan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Also, how did Mewtwo know he was in Kanto?
[Grain in the Field]: Yes, I'm currently in... Vermilion City.
[Who Am I]: Vermilion City, huh?
[Who Am I]: Actually, when you came to Viridian City last time, I had a faint sense of it, but I was in a state of slumber then.
Slumbering, huh?
Johan lightly rubbed his chin.
Now that he thought about it, Mewtwo hadn't been "born" all that long ago.
Strictly speaking, from an age perspective, Mewtwo was still a baby.
Babies sleeping more was perfectly normal.
Even Mew, which had existed for billions of years, was essentially still a baby.
[Who Am I]: I'd like to meet you.
Johan's expression immediately stiffened.
That statement carried a subtle weight, enough to send a chill down his spine.
Although he trusted that Mewtwo wouldn't harm him given their current relationship, Johan couldn't help but feel nervous.
The impression of Mewtwo from games and stories was too deeply ingrained.
Almost every Pokédex entry described Mewtwo as a "savage Pokémon" with "no compassion" and "a heart of pure violence."
Of course, those were just external interpretations, not reflective of Mewtwo's actual personality.
In Johan's view, their connection was more like that between a doctor and a patient.
Sooner or later, meeting in person would be inevitable.
Still, he believed that under his guidance, Mewtwo would now be much easier to communicate with than its counterpart from the original stories.
It's just meeting Mewtwo. What's there to be afraid of?
"Oowu~"
The Vulpix in Johan's arms suddenly brushed its fluffy tail against his forehead.
You're sweating a lot.
Johan forced a smile through gritted teeth.
"It's just a little hot."
The Vulpix tilted its head, its icy-blue eyes gleaming as it gently exhaled.
Whoosh—
A chill breeze, laced with snowflakes, caressed Johan's face.
Caught off guard, Johan shivered violently.
"Thanks... I guess."
The sweat on his forehead instantly turned to frost. Lips pale and teeth chattering, Johan still mustered a forced grin.
"Oowu~"
The little Vulpix shyly burrowed its head into Johan's arms, its six tails flicking playfully.
So dog-like, Johan thought wryly.
[Grain in the Field]: I'm open to it.
But Mewtwo's next message caught Johan off guard and even made his eyes light up.
[Who Am I]: But not yet.
[Who Am I]: According to the researchers here, my psychic powers are currently in a rapid growth phase, which has left them unstable. I need a quiet environment to recalibrate myself.
[Who Am I]: If I were to meet you now... I might unintentionally harm you.
What's this?
This was the very "superego" Johan had been guiding Mewtwo to develop!
The superego is the moral component of the psyche, shaped by societal norms, ethics, and values. It serves three main functions:
Suppressing base impulses of the id.Monitoring and guiding the ego.Striving toward higher ideals.
Wanting to meet Johan was a primal desire—a reflection of Mewtwo's id.
Yet Mewtwo consciously suppressed this urge, exercising self-restraint.
It was like a child craving candy but refraining because of reasons like dental health or lack of money.
Reading Mewtwo's message, Johan felt a deep sense of pride and satisfaction.
Mewtwo's growing up!
Still, he hadn't expected Mewtwo's psychic powers to be advancing so rapidly.
Could this be a byproduct of its evolving intellect and wisdom?
[Grain in the Field]: I'm proud of you.
[Who Am I]: ?
[Grain in the Field]: I know you're still grappling with the meaning of your existence. But consider this: "Existence precedes essence." (See Note 1)
[Who Am I]: Existence precedes essence?
[Grain in the Field]: Let me simplify it. What do I mean to you?
"Where are we headed, Johan?" asked Bisques from the driver's seat.
"Where?"
Johan glanced at the Vulpix and Gengar.
Click—
One of his Poké Balls opened on its own, and Tinkatuff plopped down beside him.
"Chu!"
It pointed its hammer toward the distance.
"The sea!"
Johan chuckled.
"Alright, let's head to the beach."
"Got it!"
Bisques kept an eye on Gengar and steered toward the coast.
Mewtwo seemed to ponder Johan's earlier question for a long time before replying:
[Who Am I]: A mentor. A guide. A guardian of the heart.
Johan blinked, a little taken aback by the praise.
He hadn't expected Mewtwo to hold him in such high regard.
[Grain in the Field]: So before we met, I meant nothing to you, correct?
[Who Am I]: I think... I understand now.
[Grain in the Field]: Life's beauty lies in its infinite possibilities. Every lifeform interacts with others, creating something new and meaningful.
Borrowing Cynthia's famous philosophy, Johan drove his point home.
[Who Am I]: Life interacting with life...
[Grain in the Field]: That's where true meaning comes from.
Turning to his Pokémon, Johan couldn't help but smile.
"Ka-kah!"
"Oowu~!"
"Chu!"
"Driii~~"
All of them returned his smile.
After all, wasn't his existence enriched because of his encounters with them?
[Who Am I]: I get it now.
Johan exhaled deeply, feeling relieved.
This was the first time a conversation with Mewtwo hadn't ended with it abruptly logging off.
Mewtwo's growth was undeniable.
At Viridian City's Rocket Base.
"Mewtwo... fell asleep. It looks so peaceful."
In the lab, a group of researchers exchanged whispers, treading cautiously.
"This is the first time Mewtwo didn't cause an explosion or blackout after using the network."
"According to the data, its psychic powers increase significantly every time it connects. This slumber might be its self-protective mechanism."
"We need to study why its abilities surge so much after these sessions."
Suddenly, one researcher gasped.
"Wait! Look at the screen!"
On a nearby monitor, an intense white light flickered.
"Is that... Porygon?"
Another researcher, frantically typing on his keyboard, froze.
The computer was no longer under his control.
On-screen, Porygon's blocky form was enveloped in a radiant glow.
"Is it evolving?"
When the light subsided, a new Pokémon emerged.
Its rounded edges gave it a softer appearance compared to Porygon's sharp angles.
"Porygon2?"
Lines of text began flooding the screen:
"Gastly... Dream No. 2... Charizard No. 2... I want to meet... Supreme Destroyer... What is meaning... Meaning is meaning... Existence precedes essence..."
The researchers: "???"
"Is... Porygon2 having a mental breakdown?" one of them whispered.
Another sighed.
"Maybe life has worn down its edges."
Suddenly, the server burst into flames.
The researchers: "..."
Oddly, none of them were angry.
Instead, they felt... pity.
It's always Porygon that suffers.
At the Vermilion City beach, Johan and his team arrived just as the sky turned to twilight.
As they stepped out of the car, a fisherman called out to him.
"Young man! Interested in a Magikarp? They're top-quality!"
Johan glanced at the fish tank, filled with Magikarp flopping aimlessly.
The fisherman's eyes lit up when he noticed Dratini by Johan's side.
"Oh! A Dratini! How about trading it for one of my Magikarp?"
Johan: "..."
Trading a Dratini for a Magikarp?
Do I look like an idiot?
As Johan walked away, the fisherman chased after him.
"Wait! These Magikarp are elite! Once they evolve into Gyarados, they'll help you punch Gym Leaders and kick the Elite Four!"
Johan: "..."
He quickened his pace.
The fisherman shouted after him, "Come back! I've got a special treasure to show you!"
Note 1: The phrase "Existence precedes essence" comes from Jean-Paul Sartre, a key figure in existentialist philosophy. Sartre argues that humans define their own meaning, as existence is primary, and purpose or essence follows. For storytelling purposes, this idea has been simplified here.
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Powerstones?
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