Blaine had wanted to arrange two rooms for everyone, but Ash and Gary declined without hesitation.
Come on, why would they stay in this creaky wooden shack when Ash was already paying for the most luxurious hotel on all of Cinnabar Island? And more importantly… if he didn't stay there, wouldn't that waste Erika's thoughtful arrangement? Ash was many things, but someone who wasted other people's kindness he was not.
So, despite Blaine's insistence, the group politely refused. In the end, Blaine could only see them off with a stiff expression.
When the door finally closed behind them, Blaine's shoulders sagged as if all the tension had drained away. He sat heavily on a stool, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. Only after a long, long pause did he finally breathe out, get up, and pick up the old corded phone beside him.
He dialed a familiar number.
"Hello, Oak? It's Blaine…"
On the Way Back
Gary spent half the walk wrestling with himself, opening his mouth, closing it again, fidgeting nonstop. Finally, Ash sighed, stretched lazily, and said:
"If you have something to ask, just ask. We've known each other since we were toddlers, why are you still acting shy?"
Gary instantly perked up.
"You should've said that earlier! Blaine scared me so much I didn't dare interrupt! Ash, what is going on? What's up with Mewtwo? Is that Pokémon really strong enough to destroy an entire island?"
He was fifteen. He was curious. And he had endured for at least a whole hour without blurting it out, honestly, that was a miracle already.
Ash didn't hide anything. He explained the whole story: Gardevoir's origins, Mew's genes, Blaine's experiments, Team Rocket, the island incident, everything.
Gary's expression went from confused → horrified → slack-jawed → numb.
By the end, he was walking in a daze.
"No wonder Blaine said not to drag me into this. This is… wow." Gary rubbed his temples. "This is way above my pay grade."
"A word of advice," Ash said lightly. "If you ever run into Mewtwo or Team Rocket? Just turn around and run. Don't think. Don't hesitate."
Gary threw up his hands. "Relax! Do you really think I'd run into something like that? I don't even know what Mewtwo looks like. It's not like it'll suddenly jump out at me."
Ash paused.
For some reason… that sounded suspiciously like a flag.
Back at the Hotel
The moment the four entered the room, they practically collapsed where they stood, only for Misty to immediately snap them back to reality.
"Don't you dare touch the beds! You're all covered in volcanic soot!"
Ash and Brock froze mid-fall, then slowly straightened up like two malfunctioning dolls. Pikachu, who was clean, hopped onto the bed with zero guilt.
After a quick breather, Misty and Brock launched round two of interrogations.
"How long have you known about Aerodactyl's MEGA Evolution?"
"When did you test Gardevoir's?"
"Why didn't we know about ANY of this!?"
Ash dodged through everything with the same universal answer:
"Luck."
And annoyingly enough… they believed him. Ash's absurd, dimension-breaking luck was famous in the group by now.
Blaine's "random teleportation experiment" somehow sent a Ralts egg flying directly into Ash's arms. If that wasn't proof, nothing was.
Once Misty and Brock calmed down, they immediately demanded:
"Ash, check with Professor Oak tomorrow. If there are any spare MEGA Evolution ites or Key Stones, ours get priority!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know!" Ash said, nodding like a pecking Pidgey.
Finally, Misty went to shower, and immediately kicked Ash and Brock out so she could have the room to herself.
So the two looked at each other… and decided to sneak off to the hotel's hot spring.
After everything that happened today, sinking into a steaming natural hot spring sounded like heaven.
Pikachu scampered happily after them.
Misty would call when she was done anyway, they could explain then.
The only downside?
It was a public hot spring. So Ash couldn't let his bigger Pokémon out to soak.
Which meant Charizard and Pidgeot had to stay inside their Poké Balls, sulking.
The smaller Pokémon could still enjoy the hot spring, so Ash let everyone except the big ones come out. Togepi was also brought along.
But Ash didn't release Gardevoir here. Her outward appearance was basically that of a graceful human woman, bringing her into the men's side would be insane. So before they entered, Ash had already let Gardevoir out and sent her to the women's bath next door.
What about Togepi being female?
Please. Look at Togepi. Does she look like a girl who needs privacy? And besides, it was past midnight; there wasn't a single other guest in the entire men's bathhouse.
Togepi happily floated on her shell across the surface of the hot spring, splashing water with her tiny hands and beaming.
Pikachu had a towel draped over his head, leaning against the edge with the blissful expression of someone who had just discovered the meaning of life.
Wartortle was lazily bobbing on his back.
Riolu, however, stuck close to Ash and flicked water listlessly, clearly sulking, he hadn't gotten to battle in ages.
Ash closed his eyes, looking half-asleep, but in reality…
He had sunk into the group chat.
Newbie Ash: Seniors, I got two new MEGA Evolution ite stones. Can someone tell me which Pokémon they belong to?
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After a few seconds of dead silence...
Miner Ash: These two… are Mewtwo's MEGA stones. Where the heck did you get them?!
Champion Ash: Mewtwo? Newbie, you ran into Mewtwo already?
Breeder Ash: HOLY....wait, wait! You encountered Mewtwo this early? Are you alive? Still have your arms and legs??
Newbie Ash: Is it really that exaggerated? Is Mewtwo that strong?
Breeder Ash: Buddy, the Mewtwo over here went berserk and I had to call in TWO god tier Pokémon just to suppress him. Even normally he's absurd. With MEGA Evolution? Forget it, most high-tier Pokémon can't beat him.
Champion Ash: Mine is fine. After New Island, we met again and battled. My Charizard MEGA Evolved and barely won. He couldn't MEGA Evolve back then, but now I can trigger his MEGA form. In my current team, he's at the absolute top tier.
Newbie Ash: Wait. "In your hands"? Champion big bro, did you actually catch Mewtwo?
Champion Ash: Yup. We're old acquaintances. After a tough fight I had a slight edge, and Mewtwo got tired of wandering, so he joined me. Planning to spar with Rayquaza soon, he says he can still get stronger.
Newbie Ash: …
Gap. This was the gap.
Another version of him was sparring with legendary Pokemon while he barely scraped a win against an Elite.
Then again… he had only been travelling for three months. He couldn't be expected to fight gods yet, right?
Champion Ash: Anyway, where did you get the MEGA stones? You met Mewtwo already?
Newbie Ash: Nope. I met Blaine. He gave me two stones that suddenly appeared when Mewtwo was created.
So Ash typed out the whole story, Blaine, the experiments, Gardevoir, Team Rocket, and everything in between.
Retelling it a second time today made it flow out smoothly.
Champion Ash: So THAT'S how it is. In your world, Blaine was the creator? Interesting. My Blaine is just a strong Gym Leader, no tragic backstory.
Breeder Ash: Same here. Our Mewtwo was created by a guy called Mr. Fuji, who was working with Team Rocket. He died when Mewtwo went out of control.
Miner Ash: My world doesn't explain much. Mewtwo's just ridiculously strong. I found his MEGA stone in some ruin.
Champion Ash: No matter how he came to be, newbie, you'll definitely meet Mewtwo sooner or later. Your version sounds weakened by some genetic tampering, but even so, he's a god-potential Psychic. Be cautious.
Champion Ash: Even if your Aura is approaching high-tier, don't underestimate him. Psychic-types are natural counters. Stay low until you grow more.
Newbie Ash: Why do you all keep saying I'll meet him soon? He's Team Rocket's secret weapon. Unless I raid their headquarters, why would I ever run into him?
Champion Ash: Because your next destination is Team Rocket's headquarters.
/
Newbie Ash: What? I'm going to challenge Viridian Gym next. Where would I even find time to visit Team Rocket's headquarters? I don't even know where it is.
Champion Ash: You don't know?
Newbie Ash: Know wh... No… wait!!!
Ash froze mid-sentence.
Champion Ash's earlier words suddenly clicked together like puzzle pieces.
He said Ash was definitely heading to Team Rocket's headquarters. Ash replied he was heading to Viridian Gym.
Champion Ash didn't correct him.
There was only one explanation.
Viridian Gym was Team Rocket's headquarters.
NO WAY.
Absolutely no way… right?!
Newbie Ash: Don't tell me… Viridian Gym belongs to Team Rocket?!
Champion Ash: Correct. Viridian Gym is one of Team Rocket's major bases. And Mewtwo… is right underneath it.
Newbie Ash: !!!
Ash felt his soul leave his body.
Why…WHY was he only learning this NOW?!
If he hadn't casually brought up Viridian Gym in the group chat, he would've marched straight into a Gym where Mewtwo was literally waiting in the basement.
And worse;
He would've used Gardevoir.
Of course he would have. Giovanni was famous for being the strongest Gym Leader in Kanto.
Naturally Ash would send out his strongest team to face him.:
He would have personally delivered Gardevoir straight into Mewtwo's detection range.
Just imagining it made Ash break into a cold sweat.
Go to Viridian Gym? Now?
With Mewtwo sitting right under it like a final boss?
Absolutely not!
Newbie Ash: But Viridian Gym is supposed to be the strongest Gym in Kanto! People say Giovanni is almost Champion-level! How could someone that powerful possibly allow Team Rocket to build a secret base under his Gym?!
Champion Ash: Have you considered the possibility that the Giovanni you're talking about is the leader of Team Rocket?
Newbie Ash: ???????
Ash felt his knees give out.
Giovanni = Team Rocket's Boss?!
The most respected Gym Leader in Kanto, was actually the biggest criminal in Kanto?
What kind of catastrophic plot twist was this?!
If that were true…then wasn't Kanto basically…DOOMED?!
...
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