Journey - Prologue

Pallet Town - Pokémon World
00:00 AM


The time had come, as it eventually would. The journey back to Pallet Town was long, but worth it. Ash Ketchum was home again, after his participation at the Sinnoh League, and even with his loss, his grin never faded from his face. Not even the news that Brock wouldn't follow Ash on his next journey - so he could chase his career as a doctor -, or Dawn's farewell made Ash become saddened. He was actually as confident as ever, his Pikachu sharing his eagerness and adventure spirit.

But now, it was a moment of relaxation as he and his Pikachu peacefully slept, Pallet Town quiet as a calm breeze lightly shook some trees outside. But this moment was about to suffer a strange turn of events.

As Ash slept peacefully, a low noise suddenly awoke Pikachu as his ears perked up. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around the room, trying to locate the source. He got up and stretched before moving on to Ash's bed and nudging his face. Grunting, the boy turned around. Pikachu nudged him again, this time causing him to turn back and slowly open his eyes.

"Pikachu...?" he groggily said. "What's... the matter...?"

"Pikapika! Pikachu!!" said the Pokémon as he pointed to the window.

Ash grunted once again as he groggily got up from his bed and walked towards the window. He looked through it and saw Pallet Town outside, Professor Oak's laboratory not far away. However, he saw something moving on the distance. A shadow, moving towards the lab, too dark to allow recognition. This woke Ash up as his eyes finally snapped open.

"Someone's moving towards the lab!" he said.

He immediately began searching the room for his Sinnoh clothes and hurriedly put them on. He also took his Pokéballs in case of emergencies and finally walked out to the door with Pikachu on his shoulder.

He began sneaking down the stairs so his mother wouldn't wake up. If she caught him, she would never let him go after the possible burglar. So he quietly moved to the front door and opened it, sneaking out successfully and closing it behind him. Finally safe, he bolted to the laboratory.

"What was that figure?" he asked himself. "Is that a burglar? A Team Rocket member?? Whoever that is, I'm gonna check this out for myself!"

He rushed past the main gates and up the stairs. When he reached the top, he saw Pikachu moving to the back of the main building and suddenly stopping as he began sniffing the air. He caught a scent and jumped on the ground, trying to locate the source.

"What is it, Pikachu?" asked his partner.

The small rat Pokémon finally caught a trail.

"Pikapika!" he called before running away.

Ash followed Pikachu's lead once again. They ran to the corral, where Ash's loyal partner stopped again, looking solely at a solitary shade that was near the fence, watching over Ash's Pokémon as they were all sleeping soundly here and there, some in plain sight, others a bit far away or out of sight.

The shade was larger than Ash, and a large cloak covered its whole body. The cloak had a hood, which covered the mysterious figure's head entirely.

"Alright, you there!" called Ash. "What do you want with the Pokém--"

Pikachu then called his partner again and pointed at the shade, causing Ash to notice a very interesting detail: the figure had no feet. It was literally floating above the ground, the cloak a few centimeters above. That confused Ash even more.

"No feet...?" he asked. "Is he floating...?"

The shade noticed them and turned around. Ash kept his guard on as he prepared for anything that could happen, when...

"Ash Ketchum... It's been a long time..."

Ash was stupefied. The voice echoed in his head as if it was spoken. And the interesting fact is that it was a familiar voice.

"Telepathy..." Ash said. "I think I know you..."

The shade finally revealed its arms, which were revealed to be really thin and with a grayish-purple tone, three circular digits instead of fingers on each hand. He took off his hood to reveal a cat-like face with purple eyes and cat-like features, like a short muzzle and short ears. On the back of his head was a tube extending from his skull to his spine, and as the cloak revealed the rest of his body, a large, purple underside and a thick purple tail could be seen. Indeed a Pokémon, although a very rare one.

"Mewtwo..." said Ash.

"Pika..." said Pikachu.

The Pokémon floated towards Ash and stopped close to him, still levitating above the ground.

"I think I can safely say that it is good to see you once again..." said Mewtwo.

"Same here." said Ash. "What brings you here to Pallet Town?"

"I've heard of your travels throughout the regions of Hoenn and Sinnoh." said the Pokémon. "Apparently, you have been quite busy since the last time we met."

"Sure was..." answered the boy. "But what about you?"

"I've also traveled. My quest has yet to be completed, but I have seen quite notable examples of humans such as yourself through this land. This gives me hope to find my destiny on this world."

He turned away from Ash with his eyes closed.

"And is this 'world' that I am currently concerned about..."

Ash was surprised by that statement.

"What do you mean??" he asked.

"A few days ago, I felt a disturbance in this world's balance." explained Mewtwo. "Another presence made its way to this realm. Something I have never seen before... Tell me, Ash... Have you ever wondered if there are other worlds out there?"

Ash pondered about this question for a while, recollecting his previous adventures.

"Well, there was one time I was transported to this place, the Reverse World..." he said. "The home of a Pokémon named Giratina..."

"That is not quite what I meant..." said the psychic Pokémon. "I meant separate worlds. Like planets or stars far away. Realms similar, yet different to ours."

"Oh, that... Yeah, many people ask these questions." said Ash. "I always wanted to see if there was anything else out there... Another world sounds like a good adventure."

"Pikapika! Pikachu!" said Pikachu in agreement.

"We might eventually be in contact with another one."

Ash was taken by surprise again.

"What!?" he said. "Another world!? So it's true!?"

"Which is why I came to you" explained Mewtwo. "If I'm right about this, then I would ask for your help."

The boy gasped.

"Me!?" he said. "But how could I help?"

Mewtwo turned around again to look at Ash.

"I have heard many stories in my travels, but many of them had a common element to them." explained the Pokémon. "Which is, of course, you and your friends. Tales about travelling through time and preventing the fall of time and space, as well as many others. Which is why I sought you: to see if these tales are true."

He raised his right hand towards Ash as his eyes began glowing.

"Brace yourself. This might hurt for a moment."

Ash tried to say something, but it was too late. Mewtwo had used his psychic abilities to see into his mind, seeking his memories of his previous adventures. What he found, though, was much more than Ash's usual encounters.

Flashbacks flowed like an uncontrollable stream, showing many of Ash's biggest adventures: his encounter with Lugia, the fight with the Unown, Celebi's rescue, Latios and Latias in Alto Mare, Max and Jirachi watching the Millennium Comet together, and Deoxys and Rayquaza flying through LaRousse City, among many others from Hoenn and Sinnoh. However, after those memories, the most important ones finally revealed themselves to Mewtwo, especially Ash's adventure in the city of Rota, home of the Tree of Beginning and Mew. The flashback showed the exact moment when Lucario, the Aura Pokémon, sacrificed himself to save the Tree and the kingdom, as well as the Pokémon saying how similar Ash was to a man named Sir Aaron. All of these memories seemed to be exactly what Mewtwo wanted, or maybe even more than that.

He stopped right there as he recoiled from the experience. Ash held his head with both hands for a second. When it stopped hurting, he finally heard Mewtwo's voice again.

"I was right about you..." he said, mentally grunting. "You are indeed... a one-of-a-kind human..."

Ash finally snapped out of the pain and looked at the psychic Pokémon again.

"You're also right about hurting..." he said.

"Pika?" asked Pikachu with concern.

"I'm fine, Pikachu."

"So many memories... and so many adventures... It seems I was wrong about humans... And I might have underestimated you..."

Ash sighed.

"I saw how you got interested on my memory about Lucario..." he said sorrowfully. "It's one of my strongest ones..."

Mewtwo looked at the corral once again.

"You have a special connection to the Pokémon around you..." he said. "It even allows you to befriend those deemed 'legendary' by human standards. It seems... it even made its way into me."

"I know you want a meaning to your life, Mewtwo." said Ash. "Mine is to become a Pokémon Master, but there's more to that. It's not just catching them all, it's about being their friend. We fight together, we share experiences together... That's why I became friends with the legendary Pokémon. Because I wanted to help them and see them doing well, just like I still want to with you."

"Pikachu!" said Pikachu cheerfully.

Mewtwo discreetly smiled.

"Very well, then." he said. "So I can trust that you will help if this world makes full contact?"

"You can count on me!" said the boy.

"Pika!" agreed his partner.

Mewtwo nodded.

"I'm glad to hear that. Now I must go. "

"Where to?" asked Ash.

"Rota City." said Mewtwo. "I must look into this story right away. Tell your friends I said hello."

Ash nodded as Mewtwo prepared to fly away. However, something popped in Ash's mind out of the blue, and he knew he needed an answer.

"Mewtwo, wait!" he said.

The Pokémon stopped in midair and looked at him.

"You said I had a special connection with Pokémon..." asked the boy. "You said I also had it with you. Does that mean you consider me a friend?"

Mewtwo thought about it for a second before answering.

"I still have to learn much about mankind to be sure... But yes, I think that term is better to describe you to me."

Ash smiled at that answer and nodded.

"Then I'll see ya later, Mewtwo!" he said. "Take care!"

"Pikapika!" said Pikachu as he waved him goodbye.

"I will. Until next time."

With that, Mewtwo flew away to Rota City and disappeared into the night sky. Ash yawned after seeing him leave and called Pikachu as they began walking back home.

"A new world, huh..." he thought out loud. "Guess I better be well-rested, then! I can't wait to see what it will be like!"