Five minutes in:
"ZUBAT!"
"ZUBAT!"
"ZUBAAAT—"
I swear, they were spawning out of the walls. I was surrounded. This wasn't a cave—it was a flying rodent rave.
"Alright," I sighed, cracking my knuckles. "I'll take care of this."
Sun stepped aside with a grunt like, "Yeah, go ahead, show off."
Zephyr flew up and perched smugly to watch the show.
The swarm rushed me.
I punched the first Zubat square in the face.
It fainted instantly.
"Next."
Another one came screeching. I caught it mid-air and yeeted it into the wall. KO.
A few more came at me—I just spun in place and roundhouse kicked them.
Sun was howling with laughter. Zephyr just looked impressed. Or horrified. Could be both.
"Okay," I said, dusting off my jacket. "Zubat problem solved."
A second later, a voice echoed through the cavern.
"HEY! That was my Zubat!"
I turned to see a burly Hiker stomping toward me, veins bulging out of his forehead like he'd just watched someone slap his grandma.
"Settle down, Geodude Johnson," I said, holding up my hands. "Your Zubat flew at me like it wanted to die."
He didn't laugh. Man had no chill.
"You're gonna pay for that! Go, Geodude!"
The rock Pokémon popped out with a growl and a flex.
"Sun, you're up," I said, stepping back.
Sun cracked his knuckles with a wicked grin and strolled up like he was about to start a street fight. Geodude rolled at him.
"Mankey, Low Kick."
Sun slid forward and kicked Geodude in the soul. One hit. Instant rock crumble.
"GEO—!"
thunk
The Hiker blinked. "You little—GO, MACHOP!"
"Zephyr, your turn."
Pidgeotto flapped down with the grace of a fighter jet and gave the Machop a look like, "Really, bro?"
Machop ran forward with a Karate Chop. Zephyr flew up, looped around, then dive-bombed the poor guy with a Steel Wing. Direct hit. Machop cratered into the floor.
Hiker: speechless.
Aiden: smug.
Sun: flexing.
Zephyr: preening.
Levi (in ball): splash
"You good?" I asked the guy.
He stared at his two fainted Pokémon. "You're a monster."
The cave kept going. So did the trainers.
Another Hiker tried his luck. Two Onix. Sun knocked them both out like he was speedrunning.
Bug Catcher with six Kakuna? Zephyr eliminated them in under ten seconds. We had to stop to let him do his victory strut.
"I could get used to this," I said, grinning. "Right, team?"
Sun gave me a thumbs-up.
Zephyr flipped his crest dramatically.
Levi... floated sideways.
Yeah. We were killing it.
By the time we were almost at the end of the cave. I heard it.
A laugh, maniacal and echoing off the walls. You know the kind.
"Nyahahaha! Hand over that fossil, kid!"
I blinked. Here we go again.
I rounded the corner and there they were. Classic Team Rocket. Two grunts, straight out of a bad high school play, decked out in their black outfits, with their signature red "R" emblazoned on their chests like they were trying too hard to look intimidating.
"Yo, you're not gonna steal that fossil, are you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, already feeling the drama. "Cause it looks like you might be."
The guy, all scowls and swagger, turned and pointed at me. "Yeah, pretty boy. Step aside, or you'll regret it."
Pretty boy? I'm offended.
I shrugged, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed. "Regret what? Getting a front-row seat to you guys embarrassing yourselves?"
"You seriously want to mess with Team Rocket?" the girl snapped.
"No, no," I said, smiling. "I want to wreck Team Rocket. It's different."
Cue them tossing out an Ekans and Koffing. Predictable.
"Sun. Zephyr. Go get 'em."
Sun didn't wait. He bolted in with a screech like a caffeinated gremlin, full of righteous fury, and yeeted Ekans straight into a stalagmite. That thing became snake spaghetti.
Koffing let out a belch of smog, trying to be menacing. Zephyr flapped once, ascended, then dive-bombed with Steel Wing. BOOM. Koffing instantly fainted.
Silence.
The Rocket duo stood there like idiots.
"You guys good?" I asked, spinning a Pokéball on my finger. "Wanna try again with some actual threats or…?"
The girl growled and reached into her coat. Oh god. Is this the part where they run?
Yup. She pulled out the classic smoke bomb. "You'll regret this!"
"Really?" I muttered.
PFFFT—the smoke erupted, and they vanished into the mist, tripping over rocks and possibly their own dignity. I definitely heard a "ow!" in the distance.
Drama queens.
"Uh… thank you?" came a small, nerdy voice.
I turned to see the fossil-hugging guy peeking from behind a rock like a frightened Oddish.
"Anytime," I said. "You okay?"
He nodded rapidly. "They were gonna steal my fossil, but you saved me! Thank you very much!"
"No worries. Happy to help!"
By the time we made it out of Mt. Moon, the sky had already gone dark. Stars were out, moon was high, and I was not in the mood to hike all the way to Cerulean City.
I pulled out my Ulti-Dex and tapped over to the map feature, and yeah, Cerulean was still a good half-day's walk away. I could've pushed through, sure, but after all the battles and the cave madness, my team needed rest. So did I, if I'm being honest.
So, I set up camp right there on Route 4.
I pulled out a tent and a decent little fire setup. Took all of five seconds. Perks of being overpowered.
Once we settled in, I brought out dinner. Something simple but good—Sinnoh-style curry, hot and filling. I also gave Zephyr, Sun, and Levi their own high-quality Pokéfood.
We were mid-meal when I heard something moving just beyond the grass.
I looked up.
A wild Growlithe stepped into the light. Dirty, limping a little, eyes fixed on the food like it wanted to approach but wasn't sure if it should.
Didn't growl, didn't bark. Just stood there watching.
I didn't say anything. Just pulled a hot meal from the Inventory and placed it halfway between us. Sat back.
"Come eat," I said casually. "No one's gonna stop you."
The Growlithe hesitated, then slowly walked over and started chowing down like it hadn't eaten in days.
Once it finished, I pulled out a Full Restore. Moved slow, let it see what I was doing. A couple sprays, a soft pat.
Growlithe blinked up at me. Then plopped down at my side like it belonged there.
It didn't take long after the Full Restore kicked in.
Growlithe gave a little yawn, circled once, then curled up next to me like it trusted me with its life. The kind of trust that hits different when it's earned, not taken.
I didn't say anything. Just let it be.
Next morning, I was packing up—folding the tent, stowing the gear, dishing out breakfast (again, gourmet, because we don't do basic around here)—when I heard a sharp bark behind me.
Turned around.
Growlithe was standing up now, fully alert. Still a little scruffy, but its eyes were clear. It stepped up, barked again, tail wagging, then pointed its snout at my team and puffed out its chest like: I'm coming too.
I blinked. "You sure?"
It barked again, then trotted up beside Sun like it already knew the squad formation. Sun stared, gave a noncommittal grunt. Zephyr fluffed up in judgment before giving a slight nod. Levi splashed.
"Alright then," I grinned. "Welcome to the team."
I pulled out the Ulti-Dex and scanned it.
Growlithe
Male
Level 18
Ability: Intimidate.
Moves: Ember
Bite
Flame Wheel
….(expand)
"Level 18, huh?" I whistled. "Not bad."
I tapped the expand option on the Ulti-Dex out of curiosity—just to see what else it could tell me.
Turns out, unlike in the games, Pokémon here don't have a strict four-move limit.
Yeah. No move slots. No "Forget Tackle to learn Flamethrower?" nonsense.
If a Pokémon learns it, trains it, and can still pull it off in battle? They can use it.
Growlithe barked again, all tail wags and excited hops now.
I crouched beside it and gave it a quick pat on the head. "Gotta give you a name now, don't I?"
It gave a happy little ruff like, I'm down for whatever.
"Alright... how about Blaze?"
The moment I said it, the tail wagged harder, and it did a little spin in place.
"Blaze it is."
So now there were four.
I put them back into their pokeball for the meantime.
Next stop: Cerulean City.
—
So yeah, after beating every trainer on Route 4 into the dirt (politely), we finally made it to Cerulean City.
The city was peaceful, calm—water running through its little canals, streetlights flickering on, and the Pokémon Center standing proud near the entrance.
It was noon, the sun was blazing, and my team? Still fresh like we hadn't just powered every trainer along Route 4.
So, naturally, I decided to explore Cerulean City a bit before tackling the gym tomorrow. I mean, priorities, right?
And where does someone like me—guy from another world, lifelong Pokémon nerd, current walking Pokédex—go first?
Cerulean Cave.
Yeah, that cave. The one you don't get to enter until you've basically become the Champion, rewritten the Hall of Fame, and maybe paid your taxes.
But I had to see it for myself.
I made my way to the northern edge of the city, and there it was—Cerulean Cave.
It looked just like I remembered from the games. Quiet. Ominous. Fenced off like Area 51. Signs were posted all over the entrance, practically yelling at me:
"RESTRICTED AREA."
"AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY."
"EXTREME DANGER: DO NOT ENTER."
Classic.
In the games, this place was post-game, final boss tier. In real life? Same vibe. You weren't supposed to be here unless you were a Champion. Which I was not. Yet.
Didn't matter to me, though.
Immediately, as soon as I stepped inside, the air shifted. Heavy. Charged. I felt them before I saw them—powerful Pokémon, way stronger than my current team.
I didn't let my Pokémon out. This was way above their level. Cerulean Cave wasn't meant for rookie Trainers.
My strength was enough.
The deeper I went, the more intense it got. Wild Pokémon lunged out of the dark, testing me. I didn't even flinch.
Wild Rhydon. One punch. Gone.
A Gengar phased through the walls. Countered it mid-phase. KO.
Even ran into a freaking Dragonite. Took a bit more effort, but down it went.
They looked shocked. Not just at losing, but at how they lost. A human, barehanded. No Pokémon. Just me.
I kept moving, deeper and deeper, tracing the path like I already knew the layout, which, to be fair, I did. Thank you, childhood gaming obsession.
And then… I felt it.
Brilliant. Blinding. Like the sun, trapped in a void.
He was there.
Mewtwo.
Hovering, glowing faintly, power radiating off him like a pressure cooker ready to explode.
The genetically engineered apex predator of Pokémon. The god-tier psychic Pokémon of my childhood.
"Hi," I said, casually.
His eyes didn't blink. Just glowed.
"Human," his voice echoed in my head, smooth and cold like ice on steel. "You are not supposed to be here."
"Well, technically, yeah,"
"Join me," I said, straight to the point.
His eyes narrowed. The psychic pressure thickened around me, like the air itself didn't want to move.
"You are bold to make such a request," he said, voice echoing directly into my mind. "And foolish. You are weak."
Oof. Alright, rude.
"Tell you what. Let's make a bet."
"A bet?" he repeated, incredulous.
I could already feel the psychic pressure tightening.
"If I defeat you. You would join me."
"You mock me."
The cave shook.
His aura exploded outward—pure psychic energy, crackling in the air like a thunderstorm made of gravity. The rocks behind me shattered. The very ground beneath my feet cracked. His presence alone was enough to send most Pokémon or humans straight into unconsciousness.
But me?
I stood there. Calm. Unbothered.
Didn't move an inch.
It was cute, to be honest.
Mewtwo's eyes widened for the first time.
His psychic energy faltered for just a second.
"Impossible," he muttered. "You should have been crushed."
I tilted my head. "Yeah, I get that a lot."
There was a silence between us then, long, heavy, and full of unspoken questions.
Because now, he was the one unsure.
Mewtwo hovered there, tense, still trying to make sense of what just happened. His aura had quieted, but not by much—still crackling, still coiled like a whip.
"All right, my turn,"
From behind me, the air shimmered as golden portals snapped open in the air, all lined up.
Each one gleamed with power. All of them aimed directly at him.
Mewtwo's eyes widened again, this time in actual shock.
"What... is this?"
"Let me introduce myself. Aiden Leonhart. Also known as Oberon, King of the Fairies."
He didn't say anything. Just floated there, processing. Reading me. Still trying to figure out if this was a bluff.
It wasn't.
A single nod from me, and one of the portals launched a divine-looking lance straight toward him.
Mewtwo barely dodged, teleporting to the side just in time. The lance struck the cave wall behind him and exploded into radiant light, blasting the stone apart like paper.
I didn't stop there.
More portals fired. One after the other, different weapons each time.
Mewtwo dodged, deflected, teleported, countered—and for the first time, he looked like he was on the back foot.
He was still insanely fast. Inhumanly precise. But I was pressing him, and of course, I held myself back a lot. I mean, I wasn't trying to kill him. Just impress him.
Mewtwo was strong; in Earthland, he will likely be around Spriggan level.
Gate after gate opened behind me—limitless. Effortless.
"How is this possible?! A human stronger than me?"
"The world is vast, Mewtwo. Too big for you to confine yourself in this cave."
Another wave of weapons surged forth like a golden storm.
This time, Mewtwo threw up a psychic barrier.
It held for a second. Then shattered.
He was sent flying into the far wall, crashing with a boom that shook the cave.
I didn't even have to move.
Mewtwo floated back up in the air, visibly shaken. His breathing was uneven. A fine crack ran along the ground beneath him, and psychic sparks danced around his form, flickering like a dying storm. His eyes stayed locked on me.
I let the golden portals behind me fade away.
For once... he didn't speak.
He just stared at me.
Because now? Now he understood.
This wasn't just a cocky trainer.
That I was something else entirely.
The cave felt still, like the world was holding its breath.
Then I stepped forward.
"Listen, I want you to join me," I said, voice even, sincere, "I didn't come here to beat you down. I came because I want you to be part of my team, of my family."
"Why?" Mewtwo asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
To be honest, I wasn't even sure myself. It wasn't something I'd given much thought to, just something that felt… right.
To be honest, I didn't really have a concrete reason. It just felt right. Mewtwo... well, he was always one of the most fascinating legendary Pokémon in my past life. Maybe even my favorite. I remember watching the anime, the movies—seeing him struggle with his own existence and purpose in this world. Though I wasn't sure if this Mewtwo shared those same struggles.
And if I remembered correctly, Mewtwo had chosen Cerulean Cave as his sanctuary—a place to hide from those who might try to use him, to manipulate him. It was the one place he could find peace, away from the world that had never truly understood him.
Anyways, I came into this cave expecting Mewtwo to be long gone, especially with Red already being the Champion. According to the usual story, he should've caught Mewtwo by now. Was this an alternate timeline where Red failed?
It didn't matter, though. All I knew was that Mewtwo was here, and I couldn't just leave him like this. He didn't have to live in fear anymore. He deserved peace, and I could offer him that. With me, he could find a place where he wasn't just a weapon to be used, but someone who could finally live on his own terms.
Mewtwo waited, clearly still waiting for an answer.
I thought for a second, then shrugged. "I guess... I just think you deserve more than being stuck in this cave, y'know? The world's got a lot to offer. And hey, I've got a place for you by my side, not as a weapon but as a friend."
Mewtwo blinked and stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing my words carefully.
Finally, he spoke, his voice colder than before, but there was something different in it this time—maybe curiosity?
"You think I deserve more?"
I gave him a grin. "Of course. You deserve to see the world. And beyond it, if you want. You don't have to be stuck in some cave for the rest of your existence."
There was another long silence then, his eyes softened just a little.
"...Fine," Mewtwo finally said, his voice tinged with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "I'll go with you."
I smiled, wide and genuine. "Awesome."
From my Inventory, I pulled out a Master Ball.
As I stepped closer, Mewtwo dipped his head slightly.
I pressed the ball to her. A flash of red light, and he vanished inside.
The ball shook once.
Twice.
Click.
"Welcome to the team, Mewtwo," I whispered, holding the ball like it was something sacred.
Out of curiosity, I pulled up my Ulti-Dex and scanned the Master Ball. A soft chime echoed as his info popped up.
Mewtwo
Female
Level: 70
Ability: Pressure
Moves: Psychic, Recover, Shadow Ball, Aura Sphere
Huh. A female Mewtwo. That's unexpected... I mean, as far as I knew, Mewtwo is genderless, but honestly, pretty cool. About time too—most of my team's been a total boys' club.
After that, making my way out of the cave was a breeze. The wild Pokémon that were so eager to jump at me earlier? Now they were actively avoiding eye contact like they owed me money. Can't blame them—after what they just saw, I wouldn't mess with me either.
By the time I stepped back into the city, it was already dark.
I made my way to the Pokémon Center, checked in for the night, and crashed hard after we had dinner.
"Tomorrow's agenda: Gym battle with Misty."
======
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