As Aiden sailed back to the Sunshine Gym, a "minor" event occurred in the distant Kanto region.
Viridian City, beneath the Viridian Gym.
After nearly three weeks, Gym Leader Giovanni once again entered this completely sealed-off research facility located beneath the gym.
After all, if even a hint of the illicit experiments conducted here were to leak out, it would surely spark overwhelming public backlash, and even the Pokémon League wouldn't stand idly by.
Genetic synthesis, artificial Pokémon, biological experimentation…
If any one of these secrets were exposed, Giovanni's carefully cultivated positive image would collapse instantly.
Thus, despite the facility being directly beneath the gym, Giovanni remained extremely cautious.
Until he truly possessed power beyond the norm, he had no intention of stirring up trouble.
"Report on Mewtwo's recent growth."
Dressed in a black suit, with a Persian strutting elegantly behind him, Giovanni spoke without turning his head, addressing the researcher behind him in a cold tone.
"Y-yes, Boss Giovanni!"
His deep voice sent a shiver down the researcher's spine. The man hastily flipped through his research journal and began reporting loudly:
"After entering its growth phase, Mewtwo's physical development has accelerated to an alarming degree. In just half a month, it has already reached a body size comparable to a ten-year-old human…"
"In this aspect, it has far surpassed Mew!"
As a devoted scholar, the researcher instinctively straightened his chest when speaking about Mewtwo, pride evident on his face.
"Not only is its body developing rapidly, but its brain development is even more astonishing. It has started learning how to use psychic powers, and it seems to understand our language as well!"
"And… perhaps due to the integration of human genes, Mewtwo appears to have a desire to communicate with us. Nearly every researcher in the lab has heard it using psychic powers to emit sounds."
At this point, the researcher's expression grew somewhat complex.
From this alone, it was clear that Mewtwo's mental capacity was extraordinarily terrifying.
In a purely native-speaking environment, humans typically require 3-5 years to grasp a new language.
But Mewtwo, from birth until now—barely two months—had already mastered human language by listening to the daily conversations among the researchers.
The first time those childish voices echoed in their minds, many of the researchers were startled.
"What did it say?"
Giovanni seemed intrigued, turning his head to look at the researcher. The faint smile that played on his lips inexplicably made the latter's back feel cold.
"Nothing particularly special. Most of the time, it repeats our conversations, occasionally asking the same question—"
"O-of course, we've never spoken to Mewtwo!"
Giovanni didn't care about that. His focus had always been on Mewtwo itself.
"What question?"
"Who… am I?"
Mimicking the tone of Mewtwo's voice, the researcher obediently repeated the words.
"…"
Giovanni furrowed his brows momentarily before relaxing them again.
"Interesting."
"Since the suppressants aren't able to restrain its brain development, starting tomorrow, stop adding suppressants to the nutrient solution."
"A mindless puppet is certainly useful, but wouldn't controlling an intelligent Legendary Pokémon be far more interesting?"
Looking at Mewtwo, curled up as if asleep in the incubation tank, Giovanni's lips curved into a slight smile.
As the underground emperor of Kanto and the true boss of Team Rocket, Giovanni had never doubted his ability to control Mewtwo's power.
After all, aside from the retired legend, none of the Elite Four on the Indigo Plateau posed a challenge to him.
Even Lance, now hailed as the "Uncrowned King" and "Champion of Justice," had been defeated by him a decade ago.
If he could possess an even stronger Pokémon, his strength would undoubtedly soar further, and then…
His wish would finally come true.
"Don't disappoint me. Grow into the strongest tool, Mewtwo."
Seemingly recalling something, Giovanni's expression softened slightly. After giving Mewtwo one last glance, he slowly left the lab.
After Giovanni and the researchers departed, the empty lab fell silent. Mewtwo, who had appeared to be sleeping, suddenly opened its eyes.
[Giovanni?]
[Is that the name of the human who named me?]
After half a month of growth, Mewtwo now possessed a certain level of reasoning ability and had fully mastered human language.
But for this human who reappeared after such a long absence, Mewtwo still felt deeply confused.
[If he's my "father"…]
[Why don't I sense any special emotional fluctuations from him?]
Even the white-clad humans it saw daily always elicited an indescribable feeling when they looked at it.
In human terms…
Was it pity?
Mewtwo didn't understand human emotions, but one thing was certain—
He wasn't its father; at most, he was merely the one who "created it."
Theoretically, shouldn't it feel gratitude for allowing it to exist?
But Mewtwo couldn't comprehend why this man named Giovanni referred to it as a "tool."
As it pondered this, it suddenly sensed a psychic turbulence forming outside the incubation tank.
Soon, a pink-skinned creature materialized out of thin air.
"Mew!"
Mew's arrival made Mewtwo instinctively smile.
[Don't worry, they've already left.]
Noticing Mew nervously looking around, seemingly searching for traces of humans, Mewtwo instinctively used telepathy to inform it.
During this time, this creature called "Mew" had appeared in the lab almost daily, so Mewtwo had grown accustomed to its presence.
"Mew~"
With Mewtwo's reassurance, Mew quickly smiled.
[Are you looking for me for something?]
[Mewtwo means, if there's nothing, I can't come to see you? Aren't we friends? I'm so sad, boo hoo hoo~]
[…I didn't mean that. I'm sorry.]
[It's okay, I forgive you!]
[Thank you.]
Proficiently using telepathy to converse with Mewtwo inside the incubator, Mew soon turned its head, revealing a mischievous grin.
Just as Aiden said, Mewtwo was indeed like a child right now.
It knew nothing, and its reactions were quite amusing!
Thanks to Aiden's explanation and her interactions with Mewtwo over the past few days, Mew quickly confirmed one thing—
There was indeed a genetic link between it and Mewtwo, which explained why it instinctively felt so close to it.
Though Mew knew it often acted a bit unserious, it usually focused on teasing humans and Pokémon, rarely getting close to other creatures.
Aside from Eevee, who had approached because of its cuteness, and the interesting human Aiden it met through Eevee…
Only this Mewtwo in front of it made Mew lower its guard and actively engage in conversation.
Mewtwo's body was already two or three times larger than Mew's, but that didn't stop Mew from occasionally teasing it.
Kids are meant to be played with!
Recalling Aiden's words, Mew stood tall and proud, almost ready to place its hands on its hips.
According to Aiden, most of Mewtwo's genes came from Mew, which explained why they shared so many physical traits and could connect via telepathy.
So, it must really be Mewtwo's "mom," right?
But…
If I'm the mom, then who's Mewtwo's dad?
That black-clad man who chased me for years, clearly not a good person?
Apparently, the small amount of human DNA in Mewtwo came from that annoying guy…
"Mew!"
Absolutely not, I refuse to accept it!
Mew quickly shook its head, its gaze toward Mewtwo growing more complex.
Perhaps it was better to think of it as a friend.
Becoming a mom at just a few thousand years old was too fast!
?
Mewtwo in the incubator quickly noticed the change in Mew's expression and formed a question mark.
[You seem… to pity me?]
[The same look some of the researchers give me. Can you tell me why?]
Mewtwo could perceive the emotions in their eyes and Mew's, but it couldn't fully understand their meaning.
At least it could tell this emotion wasn't something good.
Thus, it proactively used telepathy to ask Mew.
Mew quickly shook its head.
[I just feel like you might be too lonely. Life in the incubator must be boring, right?]
[But it's not time yet. Once your powers awaken, I plan to take you outside to meet more interesting humans and Pokémon~]
[Outside…?]
This unfamiliar term naturally confused Mewtwo.
Since it had memory, it had always lived in this narrow lab, never leaving the incubator.
Where humans and Mew went after leaving was completely unknown to it.
"Mew…"
Mew sighed.
No wonder even the researchers among those bad people felt a bit lenient and pitied Mewtwo.
A Pokémon born in such an environment had its freedom and selfhood stripped away from the very beginning…
If it hadn't coincidentally sensed Mewtwo's presence while visiting Celebi, who knows what kind of twisted fate Mewtwo might have faced under Giovanni's control.
Thinking about it made Mew shudder.
If Mewtwo turned bad, it'd lose so much fun in the future…
No, it'd lose a friend!
"Mew~"
Mew quickly spoke again.
[When your body grows enough to survive outside without nutrient solution, I'll take you to see the outside world!]
[There's also a very interesting human—I think you'll like him too~]
If Mewtwo's body were fully developed and capable of living in a normal environment, Mew might have already whisked it away.
Mewtwo was a forbidden creation, a special individual born from the fusion of human and Pokémon genes—it theoretically shouldn't exist in this world.
Even after birth, Mewtwo's body needed a long time to adapt to this world.
Without the incubators and life-support systems in this underground lab, Mewtwo might not survive, and Mew didn't dare risk it.
Since the miracle of life had already been born, all it could do was patiently wait.
Once Mewtwo grew strong enough to adapt to the outside world and defend itself, Mew would find a way to take it away from here.
[Humans… like?]
Mewtwo repeated the two keywords, then shook its head.
If all humans were like Giovanni, completely ignoring its will and treating it as a tool…
Then it would never grow close to any human.
However, out of consideration for its relationship with Mew, Mewtwo ultimately nodded.
[Alright, I'll trust you.]
If it refused, it might upset its only friend…
Unbeknownst to it, this "friend," the only one it could communicate with freely and who treated it as an equal, had become an incredibly important presence in Mewtwo's heart.
Compared to the "father" who created its body, it was Mew who awakened its will and gave it a sense of being alive.
Therefore, no matter what, it would unwaveringly trust Mew's decisions.
"Mew?"
Mew quickly sensed Mewtwo's inner resistance but soon smiled knowingly.
It didn't matter. As long as it was willing to leave with Mew, there would be plenty of opportunities to gradually correct its personality later.
If worst came to worst, Mew could leave Mewtwo with Aiden for a while—he seemed to be a professional at raising Pokémon, after all~
After all, raising a Bagon was parenting too, so helping Mew raise one more wouldn't be a problem, right?
"Mew!"
[It's about time—I'll be going now!]
After saying goodbye, Mew quickly disappeared under Mewtwo's wave.
[Farewell, friend.]
After Mewtwo's telepathic message faded, it curled back into a ball, emptying its mind as it spent the rest of its time in the incubator.
Time passed so slowly without its friend…
So lonely…
…
Also in the Kanto region, Pallet Town.
"Professor, I'm off!"
"Be careful on the road!"
A boy wearing a red-and-white cap and standard Trainer attire rode his bike out of town, heading toward Route 1.
Watching the boy leave, Professor Oak waved goodbye, feeling a wave of nostalgia.
"After so many years, we finally have another group of kids from Pallet Town setting off on their journeys…"
Pallet Town had a very small population and was completely unknown across Kanto. Even the town's fame paled compared to the Oak Research Lab.
However, Professor Oak always believed Pallet Town was a wonderful place.
Children born here were naturally suited to become Trainers.
He had no doubt about this. Whether it was Red, who had already set off, or his grandson Blue, bidding farewell to the familiar researchers in the lab, both showed the potential to become top-tier Trainers in his eyes.
Back in the day, he too had been a spirited and handsome youth. During his journey, he had met lifelong companions like Kurt and Agatha…
Finally, he had won the Kanto League with Kangaskhan and Dragonite, kickstarting a brief but fulfilling Trainer career.
These fond memories had unknowingly passed by many years ago…
Professor Oak shook his head, halting his thoughts before they became too sentimental.
Now, he was just an ordinary researcher devoted to studying Pokémon, hoping to share their charm with the world.
The path of a Trainer should be left to Red and Blue!
Nowadays, Champions from various regions were young, and geniuses like Aiden who excelled in battles were emerging. It was truly the era of the youth!
Professor Oak sighed inwardly, unaware of the spiky-haired boy walking out from behind him.
"Grandpa, where's Red?"
Blue's call quickly brought Professor Oak back to reality.
"Oh, it's Blue."
Professor Oak scratched his head, chuckled awkwardly, and pointed in the direction Red had gone.
"That kid said he wanted to start earlier than you, so he already left on his bike. If you hurry, you might still catch up."
"…"
Blue shook his head helplessly.
"Grandpa, did he say he was going to challenge the Viridian Gym?"
"How did you know?!"
Professor Oak was momentarily stunned, realizing Red had indeed mentioned something similar.
Seeing this, Blue revealed a knowing smile.
"They say the early bird catches the worm, but if the bird flies in the wrong direction, it's worse off than those who start late…"
He knew Red's impulsive nature. Knowing the nearest gym was in Viridian City, he probably rushed there without a second thought.
But the problem was…
The Viridian Gym was the hardest gym in all of Kanto, requiring at least six badges to challenge.
Gym Leader Giovanni was a powerful Trainer rivaling the Elite Four, far beyond Red's current level!
Red's trip would surely end in failure.
And Blue could take advantage of Red's stay in Viridian City to surpass him, rushing through Viridian Forest to Pewter City and challenging the first gym!
Stupid Red, eat my dust for the rest of your life!
"Grandpa, I'm off too!"
With this in mind, Blue wasted no time. Taking his foldable bike from his backpack, he quickly embarked on his journey.
"Safe travels~"
After seeing off Red and Blue, Professor Oak gazed at Route 1 bathed in sunlight and shook his head.
"This year's Champion will likely emerge from these two."
"Though Red may seem like an ordinary rookie now, that's only because he hasn't had much chance to interact with other Trainers yet…"
"Whether Blue can withstand the evolved Red he meets on his journey depends on whether he's prepared for it!"
Professor Oak shook his head and returned to his lab.
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