Pokémar Episode V, A Clone's Destiny

Nature vs. Nurture

Mewtwo

Mewtwo doesn't know where they're going, nor do they care. They just need to get far away. Far from anyone. Somewhere where they could never hurt anyone ever again. Somewhere to live out their remaining days alone.

They find a spot to rest a little before twilight. They believe it's called Mt. Pyre. A place where the dead are laid to rest deep within the mountain. Ironic, in a way, that they'd stop by such a place given their intent to avoid dooming others to the same fate.

They land on the mountain's top and sit, looking over towards the ocean and the orange setting sun. Perhaps there's a small island that they can settle on. Far away from anyone, barely charted. A place to live the remainder of their years in solitude. Where they can't hurt anyone.

"I've not seen you around here." A voice from behind startles them. Immediately they turn around and face the source, a Ninetales with her head cocked in curiosity. "Nor have I seen your species before. Tell me, what are you?"

"What are you doing here?" Mewtwo says quickly.

"Doing what anyone, human or pokemon would do at Mt. Pyre, paying respects to those who have passed into the spirit world. For me it's one who dedicated their life to someone who, at the time, didn't deserve it and tragically lost their life for them."

"Please... leave. I don't want to hurt you."

Her expression hardens. "Is that a threat?"

"A warning. I am a threat to those around me. I do not wish to be."

She approaches them with caution. "You seem to be doing a decent job of not attacking me."

"I can no more control my nature than you can keep from cursing those who touch your tails. It's part of who we are."

"You say that as if I were completely incapable of controlling myself."

"Is that not true?"

She sighs. "It is true I will inflict a thousand years of pain onto anyone foolish or insolent enough to try it. But say someone trips onto them. It would infuriate me, sure. But I have enough self control to stay my paw."

"But it is your instinct. Everything that makes you a Ninetales compels you to do it, correct?"

"I never said it was easy. It takes a lot of self control, but I can control it. I remind myself that those who touch them on accident don't deserve the curse, those that do so fully aware of the consequences do." The ability to overcome one's instinct... Could it be true? 

"How does one build this self control?"

"Whenever the desire to lash out arises I remind myself that they do not deserve it. So long as the desire to preserve the innocent is stronger than my desire for retribution I can easily hold back." She eases her guard slightly and sits down next to them. "Forgive my inquisitiveness but you have my curiosity. What makes you think you can only kill?"

"I was made for that purpose. Designed for it."

Her head tilts slightly. "Designed?"

"I was made by humans, specifically those under the banner of Team Rocket. They created me to be obedient and ruthless. Thus that is what I am."

"Ruthless pokemon do not fret about taking life. And yet here you are. I think you are oversimplifying things. You seem to want to distance yourself from that par of yourself. I would say that is a worthy endeavor."

"What if I fail? What if another life ends because I was not strong enough to stop myself?"

"I've heard it said that you only fail if you stop trying. You don't have anything to lose by trying."

"You remind me of Alex in some ways..."

Ninetales' ears perk up. "Alex? Would you happen to be referring to Alex Russet of Team New Hope?"

"You know of him?"

"I have walked both Pokemar and Terranor. I had heard of his exploits. Most call him a hero."

"How are you able to travel between the two worlds?"

"There are points where the two worlds intersect. Locations where people can pass between Pokemar and Terranor with ease. I come from a long lineage of Ninetales guardians dedicated towards keeping threats from here spilling into Pokemar and vice versa."

"Considering that Team Rocket have been pulling Mew from Pokemar it seems you have not been very successful."

"Sadly I have not. Most of the portals between worlds are kept secret by a select few, ones that can be trusted. But a human stumbled across one of these portals and found a way to replicate them. Given that it was housed in a secure facility, my options were limited. While that facility may no longer exist, I fear that they may have built another elsewhere."

"Do you have any leads?"

"Not necessarily. I do know that the portal was built near a subtle spatial distortion."

"You are aware of such things?"

"When one spends enough time around portals, they learn to pick up on subtle cues like such. As near as I can tell, those distortions are necessary for the man-made portals to function. But there are a fair number across the region. Too many spread out too far to be able to narrow down an area. I've been seeking them out one by one with little success."

"I do believe Alex would benefit from your insight. He intends to dismantle Rocket's Mew kidnapping operation, which would likely involve removing the artificial portal. Perhaps I should provide directions."

"I would be honored to assist him." She quickly stands up. "Lead the way."

"I was simply going-"

"I know what you were going to do. You wished to send me on my way and continue to flee. Correct?"

Mewtwo pauses, not expecting to be called out like this. "...I... I was."

"Fleeing from this won't cure it. As difficult as it is, you must face that part of yourself and bring it to heel. Else the shadow of your original purpose will remain over you to your last breath."

"I... I can't. I've already taken dozens of lives already. I can't bare to risk taking more."

"You mentioned Alex was trying to help. Let him. Having a caring companion will likely make your burden easier and keep you from going too far. If what I've heard of him is true, you can trust him."

"He has proven trustworthy in the past... Perhaps you are correct. I do hope this is not naivety."

"As do I, but I am confident." She looks out to sea for a moment. The sun has since vanished beneath the horizon and the last of its light begins to dim, letting the stars peer out from the inky black. "It appears we have lost track of time. Perhaps we should wait until morning to meet with Alex." She starts walking away, gesturing for Mewtwo to follow. "Come. I have a den nearby. We can rest there without worry."

Mewtwo gets up and follows her. "Probably a wise precaution."