Pokémar Episode V, A Clone's Destiny

Imperfect Reunion

All eyes in the guild's hall are locked on me. A mixture of relief, joy, and confusion are evident in their expressions. Honestly, I'm the same way. Another apocalypse? Time travel? Another me? Frick, I thought the Bittercold Crisis was crazy, but this? This is another matter entirely.
But the scariest part is that I don't remember any of it. I didn't do anything they said I did. It was my future self. This version of Thunder hadn't fought alongside me, but another version of me. And now...

I glance over at Thunder. Unpleasant thoughts rush through my head. He wasn't there when I fell from the sky. When we reached the Great Glacier. When we defeated Kyurem. He doesn't have those memories. Is it still him? Is he still the Thunder I know? No. Stop it. Of course he is. Memories don't define someone. Do they?

"So, hello there, everyone." I say, the awkwardness thick in the air. "What do I even say? How do you respond to a situation like this?"

"Let's start with 'is it really you?'" Chatot asks.

"Honestly... I'm not sure. I want to believe I'm the same Alex that spent his time here. Heck, he sounds a lot like me. I could imagine myself doing a lot of the stuff I've been told he did." I pause for a moment. "Simply put, I can't answer that."

"What exactly brought you here?" A Bidoof asks. "I mean, you're from New Hope, right? You work out of Unova Minor. What brings you here?"

"I had a mission. Reports of kidnapping. Targets being Mew. The call came from Sinnoh Minor, so I used the magnagate generator to get here as fast as possible. Things were going to plan until..."

"Right..." Thunder interjects. "Though these Mew probably still need help."

"I think you're right. If you don't mind, sir," I look to the Wigglytuff, trying my best not to look unnerved.

"Of course, Alex! We'd be happy to have you with us again!"

"Thank you all for your understanding in this... truly insane situation. I appreciate it. Thunder, mind showing me to your- er, our room?"

"Right. Yeah. This way." Thunder beckons for me to follow. We weave our way through the crowd and down the hall towards the living quarters. Up until we step into our room dead silence envelops the air around us. I know what's on his mind. The same thing on mine. But I'm afraid to say anything. If I acknowledge it, I could very well find that my worst fears are realized. That Thunder is gone and this Pikachu may as well be a complete stranger. But I can't keep this up. It needs to be addressed.

"...I wish I could say that I vaguely remember this. That some ethereal part of my other self latched on and let me see what had happened." I finally say, breaking the silence.

"Yeah. That would be nice." Thunder pauses for a second. "When I saw you on the beach this morning I thought I had witnessed a miracle. My close friend back from the dead. But..." He holds back tears. "You're not even the same pokemon. he was a Treeko. You're a Snivy. I want to look at you and see my partner. The guy who always had my back. But I just can't."

"I know. But maybe it's not all bad." I try to swing a more positive angle on the matter. "I used to say that I thought that fate and destiny were fallacies. Something that some people just dreamed up and ran with. But the fact that we still found each other after we went back in time, and again after his... no, my death, tells me that someone or something is trying to keep us together. It might by fate. or just a legendary being a guardian Togakiss. But if they've gone to the trouble of keeping us together, they're going to do their best to keep us together."

"How would they do that?"

"Honestly? I have no idea. I just pray that I'm right somehow."

A moment of silence passes.

"...We should focus on your mission." Thunder says. "You have a lead?"

"Yeah. A Psyduck claimed he felt psychic emanations at the base of Mt. Travail. The kind a psychic type would emit when in distress. It's not much, but it's close to the latest reported kidnapping. Best I've got."

"Any idea what they want the Mew for? That's a very specific target."

"No. That's what scares me." Mew are able to use any move they want. Elemental attacks. Psychic powers. Spiritual energies. If they learn how to do it, they can. Which means that facing one is a significant risk. My fear is they're forcing the Mew to work for them, letting them carry out far more destructive crimes than they could before.

"In that case we'd better move."

"Yeah. You get ready I'll meet you at the guild entrance."

"Alright. See you there."

I push my feelings aside. I have a mission to complete. Pokemon are in possible danger. I can't have personal concerns clouding my judgement. It's time to get going. Besides, fighting with him could bring out more of the Thunder I remember. And if not, then I'll find another way. I'm going to make this work out, one way or another. I will not lose my best friend.

>>>>>>>>>>

"There's an old training dojo a short ways from here.." Thunder says. "Probably a good place to start looking."

"Good call. Keep close. We may run into an ambush."

"I wasn't planing on leaving..."

"Oh. Sorry." I silently chastise myself. I had spoken as if he were a stranger. That's something I need to shut down fast. I can't let myself slip into habits like that.

I force my attention away from my thoughts and to my surroundings. Nothing spectacular. Rough terrain, large boulders dotted about, the abandoned building Thunder mentioned dead ahead. Apparently it is home to a mystery dungeon as well, but apparently it's not in view, wherever it is.

Bang! A violent sound echoes out from the old building just as we reach the steps. It almost sounds like a gunshot.

"What on... What that an explosion?" Thunder asks.

"Not sure. A small one maybe."

Bang! Bang! Two more of these sounds ring out. Is that gunfire? No, couldn't be. There's no place here advanced enough to build firearms. But the sound is uncannily familiar.

"I have a bad feeling about this." I mutter quietly. "Stay low." Cautiously we approach the building, making our way to the main room. As I round the corner into the room, I catch a glimpse. Five pokemon. Two Mew. One dead. And a Charizard, Electabuzz, and Heracross. The three other pokemon are the focus of my attention.

They appear to be wearing what look to be human clothing. Matching sets of black pants and a white shirt embroidered with a massive capital R printed in red on the chest. And the Electabuzz is holding... is that a pistol?! But that can't be possible! Are they humans like me? And they somehow brought things over with them?

"Frick! Get down!" I urge to Thunder, keeping my voice low. "Don't let them see you!" This mission just got a lot more dangerous.