In the end, Li Xiang still found out about it.
But he figured it out on his own, because Mewtwo didn't dare tell him directly. Instead, it sent the Galarian Meowth to probe him indirectly.
It asked what he would think if a Pokémon brutally harmed many humans.
Li Xiang initially thought it was referring to the past incident, so he naturally said he would drive them all out without mercy.
As soon as he said that, the Galarian Meowth's expression became complicated, and Mewtwo, who was peeking in from outside the door, turned pale.
Sensing something was wrong, Li Xiang pressed the two of them until he got the whole story.
Sure enough, the research base incident was much more complicated than Mewtwo had previously described.
"Well... I really don't know what to say about this."
Li Xiang looked at Mewtwo, who was sitting obediently on its knees, and tried to get it to stand up first.
What Mewtwo had done—if it had been Li Xiang in its place, he might have made the same choice.
It's natural to empathize with the suffering of others and feel pity for the weak.
When one witnesses hardship and has the power to help, it's natural to lend a hand.
When faced with injustice, speaking out is only human nature.
Perhaps it's about venting negative emotions, or perhaps it's about imposing one's own sense of justice. Either way, it's something one might do.
The key issue was that it had broken its promise.
That promise was as thin as air, a flimsy thing. If Mewtwo had never agreed in the first place, then it could have done whatever it wanted.
But it had agreed, and the ones it had promised were the rangers—who trusted it deeply and hadn't asked for anything unreasonable.
Keeping that promise was only right.
Moreover, keeping one's word is a good quality.
Treating promises like empty words and toying with serious, kind-hearted people only makes one's character low.
With that in mind, Li Xiang organized his thoughts.
"You possess an overwhelmingly powerful body—there's no denying that. But I hope you also have a noble and pure soul."
He looked at Mewtwo earnestly. "Freedom isn't about being able to do whatever you want. It's about being able to not do what you don't want to do."
As a highly intelligent being that loved to think, Mewtwo would one day become a philosopher.
It had been pondering the meaning of freedom ever since it left Mist Island.
So, when it heard Li Xiang's words, its soul was deeply shaken.
[You said...]
"It comes from a great thinker named Kant." Li Xiang smiled slightly.
Mr. Kant didn't exist in this world, but Li Xiang wasn't willing to take credit for such a great man's words.
Mewtwo fell silent, contemplating for a long time.
Then it said, [I will go and apologize. For my mistake.]
"Huh? That's not what I meant. You were influenced by the black energy..." Li Xiang was taken aback.
[Controlling the black energy is also my responsibility. I failed to do my duty. That's a fact. An apology is necessary.]
Mewtwo stood up and said calmly.
Whether or not it wanted to engage with human society, it had already done so. Over the past few days, the rangers had been very kind to it, even knowing what it had done.
Moreover, if the Ranger Union hadn't helped clean up the mess, it would have either had to leave immediately or attract even more powerful enemies.
Either choice would have led to a series of unpleasant outcomes. At the very least, the meeting wouldn't have gone so smoothly, and ending it in half a month would have been a pipe dream.
Not to mention such a light "punishment."
It couldn't deny it.
It had received favors from the Ranger Union and had broken its promise.
As Li Xiang had said, freedom is about being able to not do what you don't want to do.
So, Mewtwo didn't want to be someone who broke their word.
Its pride wouldn't allow it either.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew in through the window, stirring the curtains and also dispersing some of the black energy in Mewtwo's heart.
As if something that had been clinging to it had finally let go.
An unprecedented feeling of clarity. It couldn't help but take a deep breath.
For some reason, Li Xiang felt that Mewtwo had become stronger again. Not just in power, but also in willpower.
Beside them, the Galarian Meowth sniffed the air and looked at Mewtwo in surprise.
The bloody scent on this guy had vanished, even though it hadn't bathed? How was that even possible?
It couldn't help but sneeze twice.
Incomprehensible.
The Galarian Meowth took off its headscarf, ended its kitchen-cat mode, and walked out of the bedroom.
Mewtwo had returned this time mainly to formally say goodbye to Li Xiang and to take its group of plump little followers with it.
A bird that loves freedom won't stay in one place. Even though it liked Li Xiang, it wouldn't confine itself for his sake.
Exploring this vast world was its true pursuit.
Li Xiang was very supportive of this. Mewtwo had been thinking about it for a long time, and it was time to make it happen.
Of course, just like Volcarona, Mewtwo had left a beacon on Li Xiang. It told him that with its psychic perception and innate foresight, if Li Xiang ever encountered danger, it would come running immediately.
"..."
Li Xiang looked at the pattern on his hand, feeling like he hadn't wanted a tattoo but had ended up getting one anyway.
Still, having another trump card was a good thing.
Speaking of which, Mewtwo wasn't in a hurry to leave. It would probably stay for a few more days.
During that time, helping Metagross master Mega Evolution became one of its interests.
It had examined the Galarian Meowth's brain and used Heal Pulse, but unfortunately, even with its godlike power, it couldn't heal it.
Perhaps Li Xiang should seek out Celebi to brew a universal panacea, or Xerneas, the god of life. At a stretch, Ho-Oh might work as well.
Unfortunately, the tracks of legendary Pokémon were hard to follow. The safest bet was definitely the hospital and medication.
Back to Metagross.
To make it fully control Mega Evolution, two steps were needed.
First, bring it back from its rampage. Second, have it master the immense power that Mega Evolution granted.
Unfortunately, the first step was already proving difficult.
From Korrina's experience helping her Mega Lucario overcome its rampage, it was clear that success required strong enough rapport and the willpower of both Pokémon and trainer.
Ideally, they could recreate the scene from the anime—let Mega Metagross bite or punch Li Xiang, and in his shouts, it would find its true self. That might be the fastest shortcut.
However, Li Xiang's physique wasn't as tough as Korrina's.
If Mega Metagross closed its guillotine-like jaws, it might very well sever his entire arm. Taking a direct punch... maybe he could try it if he wore that protective suit from before.
As long as Mega Metagross didn't use any moves, he would probably only break a few ribs.
The problem was that broken bones needed time to heal, and the Summer Tournament started with doubles. There was no time for recovery.
So that immature idea had to be scrapped.
The biggest advantage of having Mewtwo around was that Li Xiang could safely get close to Mega Metagross without fear of being attacked by its psychic powers.
This also allowed Li Xiang to bring his computer next to Mega Metagross, log into its account, and play its ranked matches.
Such a stimulating scene would surely help restore Mega Metagross's consciousness.
If not for the fact that using Taunt was too harsh and might cause it to wake up furious and start attacking, Li Xiang would have done it.
As for the effect...
Well, it couldn't be said that there was no result at all, but it didn't achieve what he had hoped for.
Playing games in front of it and dropping its rank wasn't quite shocking enough.
"Either that, or the bond just isn't strong enough."
Li Xiang placed a hand on Mega Metagross, sighing helplessly.
The latter stared at him with its cold eyes, occasionally glancing at Mewtwo, who was busy gaming.
"Stop staring. If you've got the guts, move. Otherwise, just lie still."
Li Xiang tapped its head repeatedly, but it couldn't move—not even its mouth or throat.
After half an hour, Mewtwo put down the mouse. [Boring.]
Unlike Metagross, which was basically a supercomputer with built-in cheating abilities, Mewtwo had to figure out gaming on its own.
Even so, its incredible reaction time made it unstoppable.
It finished the match as the undisputed MVP. Its performance was so good that the system even checked if it was using cheats.
But Mewtwo wasn't interested in this kind of combat-based leisure.
Compared to playing games, it preferred studying how games were made—how animations moved, how they responded to button presses.
This idea sent a chill down Li Xiang's spine.
Not content with being a monster physically, now it wanted to be a monster intellectually too?
If Mewtwo could reproduce, sooner or later it would take over the entire world, wouldn't it?
And it wouldn't even take that long.
Its learning ability and attitude were terrifying.
[By the way, would you mind if I studied the Key Stone and Mega Stone?]
Mewtwo turned to look at Li Xiang.
Li Xiang glanced at Mega Metagross, realizing there was no point in continuing to push it today.
So he had Mewtwo knock it out.
Then he handed over the Key Stone and the Mega Stone.
"You can find these in Western Europe. Maybe you could go look for some." Li Xiang tried to encourage Mewtwo to search for unclaimed Mega Stones or Key Stone deposits. Who knew, it might actually find some.
Also, "You should be able to Mega Evolve too."
He said this in a tone that wasn't entirely certain.
[Huh? Isn't Mega Evolution limited to specific Pokémon? Besides, Mega Stones are naturally formed. I was artificially created.]
Mewtwo didn't understand why Li Xiang would say that.
Actually, you don't even need a Mega Stone...
Li Xiang thought to himself, but didn't say it out loud. Mewtwonite X and Y were already a huge plot hole.
Mewtwo was an artificial Pokémon, yet Mega Stones were naturally occurring.
Game Freak had never explained this.
It only proved that Mega Stones could be formed artificially, regardless of the Pokémon species.
It was a convenient excuse to introduce new Mega Evolutions.
"That's what I think, and that's what I've dreamed about."
Li Xiang said this.
Mewtwo's dark form could also undergo Mega Evolution, even taking on a special appearance.
It was pretty cool.
[Dream? Since when did you start believing in dreams?]
Mewtwo chuckled, then turned its attention to the two stones. After examining them for a long time, it showed a look of understanding.
[I see. They act as a bridge and a source of energy.]
It glanced at Li Xiang, then at the unconscious Metagross, lost in thought.