Chapter 162: Epilogue

Mewtwo sat in silent contemplation for a long time; Luo Mu did not urge it, waiting for it to think independently.

After a while, Mewtwo finally spoke, word by word: "The road ahead is still long. Since being 'the strongest' is not the entirety of my existence, I wish to take them with me to seek the answer."

"Very good."

Luo Mu withdrew his right hand, satisfied. Mewtwo's greatest problem had been being bound by the curse of "the strongest," resorting to Wu Li for everything.

Now that it realized this world was still vast and countless powerhouses existed, gradually breaking free from the curse would allow it to examine itself more rationally.

After this session of talk therapy, carrying only the Poké Balls for Dragonite and Luxray, and possessing neither a Comfey nor any Potions, Luo Mu had no way to treat Mewtwo.

Fortunately, Mewtwo mastered the move Recover; after chatting for so long, its stamina had recovered enough to use moves, and after several uses of Recover, its condition was largely restored.

Watching this made Luo Mu and Luxray feel a bit envious; the most monstrous aspect of legendary Pokémon was precisely this profound stamina and energy reserve—

Mewtwo, no longer displaying hostility, stood up and looked at Luo Mu: "I wish to erase those humans' memories of New Island and then return them to their original locations."

Luo Mu nodded slightly; he also agreed with Mewtwo's decision on this point.

If the incident on New Island were exposed, who knew how many ambitious individuals it would attract, especially Team Rocket, who lurked in the Kanto and Johto regions.

Mewtwo closed its eyes; surging psychic power swept across the entire New Island, erasing the memories of New Island from the humans it had invited, then using Teleport to send them all back to the Old Coast Pier.

After accomplishing all this, Mewtwo slowly opened its eyes, frowned, and said: "While I was unconscious, Mew ran away."

Luo Mu recalled Dragonite and Luxray into their Poké Balls to let them rest, then picked up Delibird and asked, puzzled: "Are you still fixated on it?"

"That is not it; it was only because of that fellow Mew's provocation that I summoned you over in the first place."

Mewtwo shook its head, recounting all of Mew's maneuvers in full. As if to prove the truth of its words, Mewtwo even dug out the "holy relic" slipper that had summoned Luo Mu.

Luo Mu:.

Growlithe, I wrongly blamed you. (Repentance)

However, according to Mewtwo's description, this Mew seemed somewhat unlike the innocent, trouble-making street wanderer in Luo Mu's impression; it was far too capable of shifting the blame.

Seeing the two mention Mew, Delibird's mind, which had become chaotic from the earlier philosophical debate, suddenly cleared; it flapped its wings fiercely, breaking free from Luo Mu's embrace, having nearly forgotten the very reason it came to New Island!

Since Mewtwo was no longer hostile, could the mind control that the useless Mew couldn't break be undone by Mewtwo?

Delibird chirped "De-li" several times, almost pressing right up against Mewtwo's face, questioning why it had toyed with the Dragonite Leader's mind in such a manner.

This left Luo Mu, who could not understand what Delibird was saying, completely bewildered.

Fortunately, Mewtwo briefly translated Delibird's accusations against it, allowing Luo Mu to understand why Delibird had appeared on this New Island.

So, it had been paying attention to the search for the Dragonite Leader all along...

"Mewtwo..."

Before Luo Mu could finish speaking, Mewtwo raised a hand to interrupt him: "Regarding that Pokémon, seeing is believing."

A ripple of psychic power flashed, and Mewtwo transported Luo Mu and Delibird to appear within that dust-filled attic.

"Is this the Dragonite Leader...?"

Luo Mu gazed at the familiar Pokémon interacting with thin air, carrying a black satchel, his feelings complex.

The Poké Ball at its waist opened automatically, and Dragonite appeared in the attic; its gaze fixed steadily on the Dragonite Leader, whose eyes were glazed, its expression filled with sorrow.

It could feel the bloodline connecting itself to this Dragonite; this was the Dragonite Leader that the Hakuryu godmothers had waited so long for, which was to say, its own mother.

The Dragonite Leader, described by the Hakuryu as gentle and powerful, had now become like this.

Mewtwo could perceive the questioning gazes of Luo Mu and the others; without hiding anything, it stated plainly: "The trainer it cherished passed away a long time ago. At that time, its heart was dead with grief, and it had lost the will to live."

Luo Mu's eyes slowly widened.

Mewtwo added: "Of course, I do not deny that I picked it up for its flying ability, created an 'illusion' visible only to it, and used that illusion to command it."

Mewtwo recounted the entire story of how it found the Dragonite Leader, including the memories it had read, without omission.

Mewtwo possessed the resolve to face its own actions; even if doing so caused Luo Mu's perception of it to decline further, it would honestly lay this matter completely bare.

To seek the answer within one's own heart, honesty is indispensable.

However, Luo Mu was not angry; instead, with a complex expression, he said: "But, it is also a fact that you acted to save it when its heart was dead with grief. Thank you."

Having said this, Luo Mu bowed deeply to Mewtwo, and Dragonite and Delibird followed suit.

Mewtwo, prepared to be scolded, momentarily stood stunned in place.

Luo Mu glanced at the Dragonite Leader with a complex expression, never expecting the truth of the matter to be like this.

He already knew that the Dragonite Leader had once been a certain trainer's Pokémon; the Hakuryu had mentioned it.

But there were things even the Hakuryu did not know.

The reason the Dragonite Leader abandoned its Pokémon Egg was that it actually did not know its trainer had already passed away; it had even made a promise with the frail, aging trainer for the Dragonite to return to find her thirty years later.

That trainer surely did not want the Dragonite to be saddened by their departure, believing time would wash away memories, but that clearly proved useless; that trainer had completely underestimated their weight in the Dragonite Leader's heart.

When the time arrived, the Dragonite Leader returned to that place in its memory that never faded, only to find a lonely tombstone awaiting it.

Mewtwo did not explicitly state how the Dragonite Leader's state of mind changed during the journey, but by the time Mewtwo found it, the Dragonite Leader's heart was already dead with grief, in a state of wishing to follow its trainer into death.

This matter was undoubtedly a tragedy through and through.

Mewtwo asked: "Should I dispel it? Without the illusion, it will likely return to that state."

Luo Mu looked at Dragonite, wishing to solicit its opinion.

Dragonite sorrowfully shook its head; even if it was merely an illusion, it could at least bring a sliver of comfort to the Dragonite Leader.

In the end, Luo Mu temporarily captured the Dragonite Leader, who was already free, using a Poké Ball; its current condition was certainly unsuitable for dispelling the illusion, at least until Luo Mu found a way to help it resolve its inner knot.

Regarding such a method, Luo Mu currently thought of only three existences.

Celebi and Dialga, who traverse time and space, and the mist of Seeing Seeing Kapu Fini, which allows one to see those who have passed away.

Everything still required careful planning.

At a certain cliffside on New Island.

Surrounded by the Pokémon it had cloned, Mewtwo gazed at the distant rising sun, its mind filled with myriad thoughts.

"Where do you plan to go next?"

Luo Mu's voice pulled Mewtwo out of its thoughts; it shook its head, having no ideas yet.

Luo Mu suggested, "Then I recommend you go to the temple on Asertia Island; there resides a Slowking brimming with wisdom. Perhaps you could have a chat with him."

Gazing at the rising sun, Mewtwo felt its heart more peaceful than ever before; it nodded slightly and said, "Once I have settled them, I will go."

Hesitating, Mewtwo began, "By the way, if possible..."

Luo Mu spoke before it could finish, "If you have the chance, you are welcome to visit my farm; by then, I will prepare many delicious treats to host you."

Mewtwo's perpetually stern expression gradually softened at this; nodding gently, it asked, "Your Delibird still intends to continue its journey. What about you? Do you plan to travel abroad for a while, or shall I teleport you back?"

"If I leave without saying goodbye, the Pokémon on the farm will worry; it is better to return first."

(End of Chapter)