Chapter 13:III. Setting the stage: New life
"Mewtwo. Are you sure that he should wake up now? It doesn't look like it." said small yellow mouse in a cave lighten only by a candle next to Ash which Mewtwo 'borrowed'. Two weeks Ash was just lying there.
"Don't worry. He'll wake up in a moment." answered Mewtwo. Mewtwo teleported Ash to his cave from a helicopter seconds before it blew up with Ash's backpack and Pikachu. It was probably too much for Ash. Stress from the helicopter crash and the teleportation was too much for his mind to handle and he fell unconscious. Now Mewtwo could finally sense some activity in Ash's brain.
"He's not gonna be happy about any of this." said Pikachu to Mewtwo. He already knew why Mewtwo teleported them here. Pikachu was pissed at first, but Mewtwo then explained everything. Man. Such a troublesome trainer Ash is.
"I know. But he can endure it." replied Mewtwo. Ash finally begin to stir. And slowly but surely Ash opened his eyes seeing Pikachu and Mewtwo next to him.
"Hello, Ash. How are you doing." said Mewtwo through telepathy when he saw Ash's eyes open.
"W...water." said Ash to Mewtwo. He had so many questions when he saw Mewtwo in front of him. But they had to take a backseat. His throat was dry. No saliva in his mouth. Ash felt like he spent months in a dessert. He needs water quick. Meanwhile, Pikachu just jumped at Ash and nuzzled his cheeks to greet him back.
"Give me a moment." said Mewtwo through telepathy as he lifted Ash's bottle from Ash's backpack lying next to Ash's head. He opened it and slowly and poured the water into Ash's mouth through telekinesis.
That felt good. Sooooooo good. Feeling a cold water running through his dry neck and to his empty stomach. Finally, Ash emptied the whole 1 liter of water in a bottle and than he was finally able to sit up.
"How the hell am I alive." said Ash. Then he looked at Pikachu on his legs. "...are WE alive?" corrected Ash himself.
"I killed you and brought you here." said Mewtwo through telepathy.
"...come again?" asked Ash completely confused about what was going on.
"It all began when Mew came to me..." Mewtwo began telling Ash his story and how he "killed" him. After about ten minutes, Mewtwo's story was finally over.
"So I am officially dead?" asked Ash after Mewtwo finished his story. He wasn't surprised much. He went through much crazier shit. Time travel to save the current world from Arceus himself for example. But that Chosen One part was interesting.
"Yes." replied Mewtwo. To Mewtwo's surprise, Ash didn't interrupt his story a single time.
"And I was asked by Arceus to destroy Team Rocket?" asked Ash again. When he thought that he finally got rid of them, they just have to resurface again. It was getting exhausting to deal with criminal organizations all the time. Team Aqua, Magma, and Galactic. Give Ash a break for fuck's sake.
"Yes." answered Mewtwo. Mewtwo was curious. Ash didn't even question if he was saying the truth. He just went with it.
"And to train for next three years fighting, in Aura and in a psychic resistance?" asked Ash again. This sounded at least interesting. He could learn something. His fighting consists of punching. Most of the time it was just air when he struck a pose. Does that count as fighting? It has to. Right? Punch like a punch.
"Yes." answered Mewtwo. So far so good. No resistance, just asking what he must do.
"...Mom's going to kill me for this when I come back. How is she taking it?" asked Ash sadly.
"Not well. But Cynthia, Brock and your Pallet Town friends are keeping her company. She'll be fine to a certain extent." answered Mewtwo. He was monitoring Ash's friends to check that they didn't know of his survival. So what was going on Pallet Town wasn't mystery too him.
"Good to know..." replied Ash. He wasn't stupid. He knew that his mother would be devastated by the news. But what can he do? Arceus told him that he has to do this, otherwise the world as we know it will cease to exist. Not much of a choice. At least his mother has a company. And Cynthia was there too?! That was a little... unexpected. Welcomed. But unexpected.
"So. What now Mewtwo. You have some kind of plan for those years right?" asked Ash.
Whole time Pikachu was watching the exchange not daring to interrupt it. Ash took it very well. Better than Pikachu expected. When it was over Pikachu just jumped back on Ash's shoulder and nuzzled him. Ash after this scratched Pikachu's favorite place just below his ears. Everything seemed to be how it always was.
"No I don't." said Mewtwo. He was always so... emotionless. At least it looked like that.
"Great..." replied Ash. They have a 3-year-old mission ahead of them and they don't know how and where to start. Marvelous.
"But I would recommend going for that Riolu Arceus mentioned. That would be probably a good start. After that. I don't know." replied Mewtwo.
"Good idea. Speaking of Riolu. What about my other Pokemon at professor Oak's lab? How I'll get them back without them noticing?" said Ash. From what he heard, he'll need all of his Pokemon to take down Team Rocket. And getting them from Oak's lab will be difficult. When all of Ash's Pokemon would just disappear, it would raise some question's in a public. And they don't need that from what he heard from Mewtwo.
"I have this covered Ash." said Mewtwo.
Flashback
Mewtwo just teleported in the professor Oak's lab to find out what the others thought about Ash's death. He hid in the attic of the lab and was ready to listen to their conversation. It was evening already when the Pallet Town group finally showed at the lab.
When Oak's and Tracey came back from the funeral they immediately went to do their duties. Tracey went to feed the other Pokemon, Daisy was examining a Weedle on a white table that just some Pallet Town trainer caught and professor Oak with his grandson were at his computer looking at some data. professor Oak had a small-sized lab. But it was equipped with science machines everywhere. All around the room were different machines that professor Oak was using for his research. All the equipment was placed on a blue tiled floor. As professor was examining some data on the computer, Gary got up and went to the window. After Ash's death, there were a lot of things to think about. As thoughts about Gary's rival were circulating through his head, he saw Tracey feeding a very sad Bulbasaur in the backyard of the lab. Ash's Bulbasaur.
"Poor Pokemon." said Gary to the professor and his sister in the room. Ash's Pokemon took the loss of their trainer very hard. Not a single one of Ash's Pokemon were acting like they usually did. Sadness over their trainer's death hit them hard too. He raised them, fed them, and made them who they are now. Bayleef particularly was in a terrible state.
"What are we going to do with them grandpa?" asked Daisy as a finished examination of Weedle. Daisy was a 19-year-old brown haired girl. Daisy was considered to be very pretty too. But she never really paid attention to that. Instead, she was usually dressed in her lab coat and worked with her grandfather. Daisy was always fascinated with Pokemon. The secrets of evolutions, attacks, Pokemon types and all of the great stuff about those magnificent creatures fascinated her. It was a world she was devoted too. But right now, seeing Ash's Pokemon like that. She didn't know how to help those poor creatures.
"I'll have to release them into the wild, unfortunately." replied professor. It was a standard procedure if the trainer of a Pokemon dies. As much as it pains professor to do it, Ash's Pokemon deserve a second chance to find a new trainer or have their own life.
"Do you really have to?" asked Gary. It was sad. Their trainer died, and they were supposed to find a new one. Or just live in the wild, find someone and have a family of their own. It was probably something unimaginably for Ash's Pokemon right now.
"I'm sorry Gary. But it is the right thing to do." said professor sadly.
"When are you going to release them?" asked Daisy. She knew this procedure. But it was still sad. Even though she didn't know Ash that much. He was, by all means, a great person. Everybody agreed on that.
"In three days. I'll tell them today." said professor
Flashback end
"So you're going to bring them here after professor will release them?" asked Ash. He is very happy about hose news. His friends would be with him those 3 long years. At least he won't be so lonely.
"Yes. But you need to expand this cave. I don't think you would be comfortable with all your Pokemon in such a small place." said Mewtwo. And it really wasn't a small place. Not for the 3 of them right now, but as soon as Ash would release all of his Pokemon, his 30 Tauros included, the cave would become very small.
"Yeah." answered Ash. "Thank you by the way." said Ash.
"For what? Killing you." asked Mewtwo. Why on Earth would Ash tanked him for any of this?
"Was that. A joke?" asked Ash back. It sounded like one. But you never know. Especially when Mewtwo is the one telling the jokes.
"No." said Mewtwo back. How could he think that it was a joke? Why would he thank him exactly? He just killed him and separate him from society.
"Man. I'll have to teach you to relax a little bit. Anyway I am thanking you for bringing my Pokemon back when the time comes." replied Ash. These 3 years will be very long with Mewtwo by his side.
"No problem." said Mewtwo.
"Infernape. Dig! One more time!" said Ash in a cave lit by a single candle in the middle. Ash immediately after his talk with Mewtwo released his Pokemon. He told them what was going on. Nobody was really touched by this news. They are used to crazy things. Except for one Pokemon. Charizard was angry. He was going to be a father, and now, he can't even see his cubs. He was so angry deep inside. "Why now. Why the fuck NOW!" Charizard thought as he was firing Dragon Rage after Dragon Rage at the walls. At least he can let his frustration out thanks to the cave which Ash's Pokemon were expanding. Thanks to Infernape and his Dig attack they made a big progress in a few hours.
"Charizard?" asked a voice in Charizard's head. It was Ash. Again. Through that weird connection or whatever it was.
"Again?" asked Charizard in his mind. It was happening again.
"Yeah. I'm sorry that you have to live here with us for the next 3 years and miss your cubs growing up. But we have to do this." said Ash. He knew that he heard Charizard in his head again. So he came to him and spoke again through their weird connection that just turns on randomly.
"You think I don't know that we have to do this? It's that I have no choice in this matter but to stop them with you. That's the reason why I'm so pissed." replied angry orange lizard as he released another Dragon Rage into the rock wall.
"I'm sorry that I brought you into this. If I would just let you in Charicific Valley, you would be there with your family." apologized Ash. By now, an apology could be his second name.
"It's not your fault. Besides. If I would find out that you were saving the whole world's ass without me again, as I would be sitting on my butt doing nothing I would be pissed too. Fucking Team Rocket. Have to ruin everything." answered Charizard to his trainer as he was slowly calming himself.
"So you're saying that you are pissed because you have no choice but you would come with me anyway if you had one?" asked Ash Charizard. What Charizard said doesn't make sense.
"It's complicated Ash. Now could you please get out of my head?" said Charizard back.
"I wish I knew how to just turn this off. I don't even know if we are in your head." answered Ash to his Pokemon. In his battle against Tobias, he somehow turned the connection off. But how? He doesn't know.
"Why don't you ask smartass over there?" replied Charizard as he looked at a meditating Mewtwo. After their first encounter on that cursed island, he doesn't trust him very much. How could he? He turned his trainer into the stone.
"I'll try." answered Ash in defeated tone.
Unfortunately for Ash, Mewtwo knew nothing about this. It was definitely mind reading or something similar to that. It has probably something to do with his aura. Speaking of aura. They could finally go and get him. Ash was pulling out his Pokedex from his jacket to find some information he had on this Riolu since he met him earlier. Ash was horrified when he pulled the Pokedex out.
"YOU KILLED HIM?" yelled Ash throughout the cave. He pulled Pokedex and showed him to Mewtwo. With this yell, Ash got the attention of everyone in the cave.
"What?" asked confused Mewtwo. What is he talking about? He didn't kill anybody. At least he thinks that.
"YOU KILLED HIM!" yelled Ash again. This time pointing at his broken Pokedex in his hand.
"Ash. It's just a device." said Mewtwo calmly. Ash scared him a little bit with that killing somebody statement.
"It was NOT just a device. He was my comrade for 3 years. And his name was Dexter!" replied angry Ash. Dexter was with him the whole journey. Advising him. Giving him info. Occasionally making fun of him. But now. He's no more.
"Dexter?" asked confused Mewtwo a little too quietly. Ash didn't hear it. But Pikachu did. And so the yellow rodent joined the conversation.
"It is what humans call artificial intelligence in his Pokedex. It is basically his guide. But it has its own personality. Kind of. I don't know how it exactly works." replied a Pikachu to Mewtwo in his pokespeach.
"Why did you do it?!" asked sad Ash. He was overreacting a little bit about this.
"That device was transmitting some kind of signal. I had to destroy it so no one can find us" replied Mewtwo.
"Dexter..." whispered Ash sadly.
"I never imagined that Ash would get so emotional for some device." said Mewtwo through his telepathy everyone in the cave except Ash.
"... Me neither." replied confused Pikachu.
"Tell me you at least bought this." said Ash. He, Pikachu and Mewtwo were heading to the Lucario kingdom. Mewtwo teleported them to the nearby forest and they were waiting for the sun to set down to find Riolu undetected. Both Mewtwo and Ash had a long dark green cloak that covered their entire bodies with hood. Both had a grey scarf around their mouth to finish the stealthy outfit. Pikachu went with them too. Of course. And he hid in the Ash's cloak on Ash's shoulder. Mewtwo brought the clothes to Ash before they were teleported here. And our black-haired hero was concerned about Mewtwo's methods of getting things.
"I'm a Pokemon. I don't have or use money Ash." replied Mewtwo trough telepathy. He 'borrowed' them from some clothes store he found near the Lucario Kingdom when he was scouting the area before they teleported here.
"... That reminds me. I don't have any money too. Since you KILLED Dexter." said Ash little angry. The money Pokemon trainers earn from battling in leagues and gym battles are electronic. And their Pokedex has all the money in them. And since he was without a pokedex that would identify him, he was without money. To top it all of he was living in a cave depending on a Pokemon to keep him alive. What a wonderful life he has.
"It had to be done." said Mewtwo as they were waiting for the sun to set.
They were ready to go for the Riolu but something stopped Ash. He didn't know what but something was again calling to him. It wasn't as clear as it was with his Charizard, but he knew that there was something. Somone calling to him. He said to Mewtwo and Pikachu that he wants to check it out. Nobody had any complaints. They had plenty of time to get Riolu this night.
Ash followed his gut instinct again and went the way he thought the callings were from. After making it through the trees and bushes in the forest, he found a small pond. The pond itself wasn't very clear. It had greenish water, branches laid everywhere in the water. Mud was all around the pond and it was all surrounded by trees and bushes. There was a Pokemon sitting in the mud and looking at the pond. As the sun was not over the horizon yet, Ash, Pikachu, and Mewtwo could make out that it was Gardevoir. Sitting there and probably thinking. Ash could feel from her that there was something wrong. She was sad. He could tell. He didn't know how but he could.
"Hi." said Ash in a friendly note.
Gardevoir jumped out stratled by the sudden human voice. Gardevoir looked at the man before her. He was covered from head to toe in a cloak. Even his eyes couldn't be seen, because of the shadow created by his hood. The other cloaked figure looked very similar. Suddenly out of the coat jumped Pikachu on person's shoulder and greeted her cheerfully.
"Hello." said the other person. But it wasn't a normal greeting like from the one person with Pikachu on his shoulder. It was through telepathy. Both of them took their hoods off and it revealed a boy and a Pokemon.
"H.. Hello What are you doing here?" she said in a little nervous girly voice through her own telepathy to the group.
"Ask this guy. I and Mewtwo over there don't have a clue." said Pikachu in his Pokespeach to Gardevoir as he pointed at Ash from his shoulder.
"Uhmmmm... I don't really know. Anyway. My name is Ash. And I believe that Pikachu already introduced himself and Mewtwo. Nice to meet you." said Ash. Even though that he doesn't understand Pikachu's Pokespeech, he always knew what kind of statement he was saying.
"I'm Gardevoir. Nice to meet you too." said Gardevoir with telepathy. Now that she can see them. They weren't looking like a dangerous group. They seemed rather friendly. Especially that Pikachu.
"So. What are you doing here? This isn't exactly a place for a Pokemon like you." asked Ash. This was the last place he would be looking for a Gardevoir.
"Can I ask you something?" asked Gardevoir ignoring the previous question asked by Ash. Gardevoir was thinking a lot lately. And this Ash seemed like he could answer the question. Gardevoir hoped that she would receive a different answer from him than she heard from the others. If not. Then she'll have to change her life a lot.
"Sure shoot." replied Ash as he revealed his face. He took down the hood. But the grey scarf was still around his face hiding his nose and mouth.
"You are a Pokemon trainer right?" asked Gardevoir. Ash seemed like one with two Pokmon by his side
"... Kind of." replied Ash. He technically isn't a trainer due to his Pokedex being destroyed. But still kinda is. Who would have thought that this question would be so hard to answer.
"What is your opinion on Pokemon who can't battle?" asked Gardevoir in a nervous tone.
"Well. If a Pokemon doesn't want to or can't battle then he/she doesn't have to battle. Simple as that. Right guys?" replied Ash. It was an easy question for him. And two Pokemon beside him agreed with him too.
"I don't mean that. I mean the one that really can not battle. Can't use attacks which deal damage to others." replied Gardevoir.
"Well. You can always learn those." answered Ash. That shouldn't be a problem for a Pokemon.
"What if I don't want to. What if I don't want to hurt others?" asked Gardevoir admitting that this conversation is about her. Since she saw a Pokemon die from fatal injuries in the wild as Ralts, she vowed to never hurt the others. Instead, she would help the others. Heal them. Saving them. Protecting them. Not hurting them.
"...I guess it is kind of silly. You have to protect yourself somehow. Don't you? You can't do that without attacking." replied Ash. It sounds good to not hurt the others. But you need to protect yourself somehow. It could end badly for the one who doesn't want to hurt the others.
"I can teleport myself away from dangerous situations, calm enraged Pokemon, create a psychic barrier if someone attacks me and heal myself if it'll come to that. I don't think that I need to hurt others in order to protect myself." replied Gardevoir. That's not bad moveset. Right? She just doesn't want to hurt the others. And they can't hurt her with these moves. At least that is what she thinks. But how does this Ash see it? Does he see it like the others? That she is useless? That she should learn some damaging attack?
"Hmm...If you put it like this. I don't see a problem with that." replied Ash. It seemed silly at first. But now that he knows what she can do. It's more amazing than silly. A Pokemon that doesn't want to hurt others and is able to protect herself like that. Sounds amazing.
"Really?" replied Gardevoir. It seems like that finally someone can see her point of view.
"Yeah. In my opinion at least. With the abilities you have, you don't need any Pokemon attacks. You are more than capable of taking care of yourself. It is amazing actually. Being able to end a conflict without hurting others is admirable." said Ash.
"You are the first Pokemon trainer to say it to me..." replied Gardevoir in a little disbelief that she found someone that can support her in her behaviour.
"You had a trainer before?" asked Ash.
"3 actually... none of them had me for long when they found out I can't attack. And that I don't want to attack the others." replied Gardevoir. And all 3 of them released her because of who she was. She was useless for them. She heard that all the time from them. It will be hard to find someone who would respect her for what she is.
"I'm sorry about that... And... Do you want a trainer?" asked Ash.
"I always wanted a trainer. To belong somewhere. To not be alone all the time. But no one wants me on their team." replied Gardevoir sadly. She wanted to fit somewhere. But because of her nature, she wasn't welcomed in trainer's teams.
"I would've loved to be your trainer." replied Ash.
"Huh? Why would you want ME?" replied confused Gardevoir.
"Pokemon trainer should try understand and help their Pokemon in whatever they want to pursue and not force them into something they don't want to. That's how I see it. If you don't want to hurt the others and you can protect yourself that's fine by me. I think that you are one unique, remarkable Pokemon. And with your healing ability you can help a lot. I think you would be valuable Pokemon to my family. I don't have a Pokemon who can heal the others. Or calm them down. Some of my Pokemon buddies can be a little hard to deal with sometimes. You could help me with them. So what do you say? Care to join me and my Pokemon family?" asked Ash. He was always up for a challenge. And Gardevoir is a Pokemon that is very different from his others. They are all fighters. She is not. It could challenge his abilities as a trainer.
"She could make matters much worse..." thought Pikachu to himself. Not that he didn't like Gardevoir. Quite the opposite. She looked very friendly and overall good Pokemon. But the fights that will start over her... Pikachu isn't one who would pursue female Pokemon very much. But even he himself could see just how lovely and gorgeous this Gardevoir is. And if he registered that. Oh boy. Ash's hot-headed Pokemon will destroy the cave in fights over her.
"You won't release me if I'll stay how I am?" asked Gardevoir surprised a little. If Ash would take her with him, that would have been her dream come true. Being herself and have a trainer.
"No. No i won't release you if you won't want me to. But there is one thing you should know before you make your decision." replied Ash. But since she wants to be his Pokemon, she should know what is she going to be dealing with.
Then Ash told Gardevoir everything about his plan and isolation and how he got there. Since Ash is in isolation, and he can't show himself much on the public, he needs someone to heal his Pokemon when they'll overdo their training or when the mission on Team Rocket will go downhill. And Gardevoir would be perfect for this. She even seems like a nice Pokemon who would get along with the others well. "Please, say yes." Ash thought.
"As long as I won't have to do the fighting and only heal you and the others, I don't have a problem with this." replied Gardevoir happily. What he said was incredible. Being tasked with amission by Arceus himself and all that. But it didn't really matter. He wants to take her in even though that she won't be attacking anyone.
"Great!" yelled a little Ash.
There was a minute of silence before Gardevoir spoke through telepathy again
"Uhmmm... will you catch me then?" asked Gardevoir.
"Oh yeah. I don't have any pokeballs at my disposal right now. But we'll figure that out later OK?" replied Ash. That was a little problem. But he'll solve it when they'll be in a cave somehow.
"Ou.. OK" replied Gardevoir.
"I'll get some." said Mewtwo. He was quite the whole exchange. He wanted to see how Ash would deal with this situation. And he dealt with it like a boss in Mewtwo's eyes. This is how a trainer should be. Respecting the Pokemon and not forcing them into anything. He was truly one of a kind trainer.
"Do you really have to steal them again?" asked Ash. He really doesn't like the fact that he is a thief now.
"I don't have a choice. Besides. Professor Oak won't throw your Pokemon's pokeballs away so I'll have to get much more of those pokeballs for the others too." replied Mewtwo.
"... I hope Arceus is OK with this." said Ash. He doesn't want to piss off Arceus second time. One time was more than enough.
"We are saving a world. He'll have to let this slide for all of our sakes." replied Mewtwo
"I hope so. So to give you some insight what is going on right now, Gardevoir. All of us are going to pick up an old friend of mine to help me with the training I told you about. Then we'll go back to our cave and start the training. Is that OK with you?" asked Ash his newest member of the team.
"OK." replied Gardevoir. And all of them made their way out of the forest with happy Gardevoir as the new member of Ash's Pokemon family.
Slowly but surely Ash and his group made their way out of the forest in the night. The Lucario Kingdom itself wasn't spectacular. Few family houses here and there on the grass field which were connected by common dirt paths. Few lamps were lighting up the houses and paths in the Lucario Kingdom. Even though the houses were indistinguishable Ash knew in which one Riolu is. Their aura connection was still there. And Riolu sensed him too. Without a doubt. They made their way on top of a small hill with a slightly larger house than the others.
"So. How are we going to do this?" asked Pikachu in his pokespeach from Ash's cloak.
"I didn't think about that. Mewtwo? Any ideas?" asked Ash. He should make some plan. But. He kinda forgot.
"I just teleport us in. You'll take him and we'll be on our way back." said Mewtwo. Sometimes the easiest solution is the best solution.
But before Mewtwo could start anything the door opened. The door revealed Riolu standing there with a smile on his face.
"I'm ready to go." said Riolu through his aura connection to Ash.
"Riolu? How did you know? And what does Kellyn have to say about his? Wha... I have so many questions right now..." asked Ash all these questions dumbfounded. He knew that Riolu could sense him coming. But to know all of this? And come with him right away? That's just crazy!
"I already told Kellyn that someone is coming for me. And that I want to go with him. That I am destined to fight by this newcomer. He only gave me his best wishes and the pouch with my wooden carved statue. And our Aura connection can tell me what you want. So I prepared myself for my leave before you came here. I'll answer everything you want to know later." said the Emanation Pokemon. His goodbye to Kellyn was heartbreaking. Kellyn raised him from egg basically. Kellyn didn't even know who came for him and he didn't really care as long as Riolu is OK with that person. And Riolu said he knew him and that Riolu has an aura connection with this person. So there is nothing to be afraid of from this person. And Kellyn doesn't even want to meet the person who'll 'steal' Riolu from him. But it has to be done. They both knew that he can't live here forever. If Riolu wants to become Lucario and grow strong, he has to go with someone else. Kellyn loved him very much, but he always sheltered Riolu here. Riolu was never faced with anything except the time he was pursued by Hunter J. With this person, he'll face the real world. Where he can become strong. Stronger than any Lucario before him. Kellyn understood this. He sheltered him too much from the outside world. So he gave Riolu the pouch with Riolu's wooden statue to remember him by and wished him a safe journey. When that all happened they heard steps in front of Kellyn's house. Kellyn nodded to Riolu and they both went their separate ways. Kellyn went to bed again and Riolu went to the door.
"OK than. This makes things much easier." said Ash. Thank god he doesn't have to steal Riolu from Kellyn. That would be a dick move to do that to Kellyn. He doesn't deserve it. This way, he at least gave his goodbye to Riolu.
"Will you introduce me to your friends." asked Riolu as he looked at the cloaked figure beside his master and another Pokemon besides.
"Ou. Yeah. Sure. So this is Mewtwo. He is going to help us with our mission which I'm going to tell you about later." said Ash as he pointed at Mewtwo besides him. Riolu bowed respectfully to the Mewtwo. Riolu's and Lucario's are very noble and respectful Pokemon. It's just in their blood. Mewtwo just nodded from behind his hood. Mewtwo doesn't want to risk the exposure in this land so he kept his cover. Ash was covered like this too. Who knows who could be watching right now.
"You already know Pikachu." said Ash as Pikachu jumped out of his cloak on Ash's shoulder and greeted Riolu. Riolu again bowed back to Pikachu.
"And this is Gardevoir. We met her in the woods not so long before we came here. She is joining us on our crusade." said Ash as he pointed at the opposite end of Mewtwo to Gardevoir.
Riolu blushed slightly as he looked at her. She was so goddamn beautiful. With the moon shining on the dark blue sky today, she looked mesmerizing. He then just bowled again respectfully to pay respect to Gardevoir, and to hide his embarrassed face. Gardevoir just did the only thing she could think of. She saw this a few times so she had an idea how to act in these kinds of situations. She did a courtesy back to Riolu and Riolu began blushing, even more, when he lifted his head up and saw her doing the courtesy.
"Great. The first one is down." thought Pikachu to himself who was probably the only one who noticed Riolu's blushing face. This doesn't look good for their cave.
"Well. Since we have everything sorted out, let's get back to the cave shall we?" asked Ash Mewtwo.
Mewtwo just nodded. Everything went well so far. Riolu went with them without a problem, the cave was expanding, and they even added a new member to their family. This thought made him think about something. "Do I consider myself part of their family?" asked Mewtwo himself as he looked at his partners and teleported them back to the cave at the frozen mountain.