Outside Cerulean Cave. PSEUDO approaches atop CECIL, seeing the guard at the cave’s entrance talking with somebody.

PSEUDO: Good, he’s early.

CECIL: Who is?

MAN: I’m telling you, sir, you can’t just ‘wait’ here, this place is dangerous-

BLAINE: I’ll tell you what’s dangerous, kid, telling and old-timer like me where he can and can’t ‘safely’ wait for someone! Look at these wrinkles, you think I fear death?

PSEUDO: 'Sup.

BLAINE looks back to see PSEUDO step onto dry land.

BLAINE: Ah, there he is - (to MAN) I told you.

MAN: I didn’t doubt you, I said you shouldn’t-

BLAINE: I’ve never been more sick of somebody in my life. (to PSEUDO) What’s going on, Pseudo, shouldn’t you be facing the Elite Four by now?

PSEUDO: How do you know I’m not still trying to beat Viridian?

BLAINE: I- I don’t know, I figured-

PSEUDO: Yeah, yeah, everyone’s figuring everything.

PSEUDO goes to the guard.

PSEUDO: I’d like to get past, if you don’t mind.

MAN: I already told you before, sir, you can’t go in there for your own safety-

PSEUDO: I’m not the only one going in. He is.

PSEUDO gestures to BLAINE.

BLAINE: I’m what?

MAN: Him? You think I’m gonna let two unprepared trainers inside? That’s your plan?

PSEUDO: He’s not an unprepared trainer, he’s Leader of Cinnabar Island Gym. He’s not just a checkpoint on Indigo League, he’s part of it - he’s one of the damn judges.

MAN: That’s… I mean-

BLAINE: Pseudo, I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but isn’t this where you said we might find-

PSEUDO: (to MAN) We’ve both got business in that cave. He’s prepared, I’m prepared, all I’m missing is the qualification - which he’s already got.

The guard looks between PSEUDO and BLAINE.

MAN: … (to BLAINE) if you’re willing to take responsibility for this kid…

BLAINE looks to PSEUDO.

BLAINE: … sure. Why not.

The guard uncertainly steps aside. PSEUDO immediately enters the cave. BLAINE hesitates before following.

Inside Cerulean Cave. PSEUDO marches onwards, determined. BLAINE follows.

BLAINE: Pseudo - what are you doing? You’re facing Mewtwo without having become the Champion-?

PSEUDO: I don’t need to be Champion to know I can take him.

BLAINE: But that’s- that’s so reckless, who do you think you are?

PSEUDO: It doesn’t matter who I am, not for this. If this is what Mewtwo’s been wanting then this is what’s gonna happen.

A wild Pokemon tries to jump out at PSEUDO but he sprays it in the face with a Repel.

BLAINE: You’re- this is wrong, you shouldn’t-

PSEUDO: Why not? I’m a good trainer, I’m 'chosen by destiny’, I’ve got charisma coming out of my butthole - what am I missing?

BLAINE: I don’t know… this isn’t how it’s meant to go-

PSEUDO: This isn’t how IT wanted it to go. Who do you want to have more control over the situation - a monster, or me?

BLAINE: Mewtwo is not a monster.

PSEUDO: And I’m not meant to be here. But I am. I don’t care who Mewtwo thinks it is, but this isn’t its story to tell. It’s mine. This is my journey, my adventure, my life. The only rules I get to follow are mine.

BLAINE: … and the League’s?

PSEUDO: Fine, and the legal rules set down by the Kanto League - fuck, man, what do you want from me?

BLAINE: Alright, alright. You’re really taking this seriously, aren’t you.

PSEUDO: Sure are.

PSEUDO leads them further into the cave. The deeper they go, the stronger the feeling of tension becomes. The air itself seems to pulse with energy.

BLAINE: I take it you aren’t a fan of the concept of destiny.

PSEUDO: I don’t like the idea.

BLAINE: Even though it tried to lead you where you wanted to go?

PSEUDO: It’s not where it wanted me to go, it’s the order it wanted me to do it in.

BLAINE: What does the order matter, if you wanted to become Champion either way?

PSEUDO: Same reason I don’t like it 'making’ me do anything at all - it’s not about me, then.

BLAINE: Sounds a little selfish.

PSEUDO: Excuse me for wanting my life to be about me, not some genetic experiment someone else jabbed too many needles in.

BLAINE: Ouch-

PSEUDO: You know what I mean. If everything in my life, including my own dreams and goals and all that sappy shit isn’t just leading up to, but necessary for me to do something else, then that’s what my goal is. This whole time I thought I was aiming to be the Champion, but really I’ve been aiming to be 'good enough’ to face Mewtwo. At least, that’s how it’s making it out to be.

BLAINE: So this, coming early… you’re trying to undermine it?

PSEUDO: Undermine, dethrone, whatever works. Anything to get from under its thumb. I’ve distracted myself from destiny before - just small stuff at first, shopping trips and exploring and all that… but then there’s the Birds.

BLAINE: … birds?

PSEUDO: The Legendary Birds. Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres.

BLAINE: Arti- what, the myths? They’re- no, they can’t be-

PSEUDO: They are. Found each one. Nobody else wanted to, they didn’t think it was worth it - until we ignored destiny. Warp knew the most, he’s the most attuned or whatever, but even he agreed to take them on. That’s why I know I can do this. If Warp can cheat destiny and not bat an eye, so can we. Like I said, this is my life, not Mewtwo’s. I do what I want.

BLAINE: … that’s certainly dramatic.

PSEUDO: I live for the drama.

PSEUDO turns a corner and enters a large cavern.

The air is rich with power, blue and purple light bouncing off the walls and illuminating the space. The atmosphere itself seems to ripple and pull across the room towards and away from an entity sitting across the way. A human-like entity with a large tail and horn-like ears, a Pokemon with closed eyes and a powerful aura that even Pseudo could feel. PSEUDO stares across the cavern at the resting form of MEWTWO.

PSEUDO: … (under his breath) oh, yeah, that’s the good stuff.

BLAINE: Oh my god…

BLAINE is both terrified and in awe. He stares at the creature before him.

BLAINE: There it is… after all this time…

PSEUDO stares with very different emotion. He glares at the entity that has been guiding his life, moulding and manipulating him and those around him to enact something supposedly greater. The Pokemon that had been taking his life, his story for itself.

PSEUDO: Stand back.

PSEUDO steps forward. He stands in the centre of the cavern, facing MEWTWO. He thinks, trying to understand. MEWTWO wanted him here, in front of it… but why?

BLAINE: What are you going to do? Does it want to fight? Is it going to speak to you?

PSEUDO: I don’t know… but whatever it wants… it’s gotta come from me.

PSEUDO releases JASON.

JASON: Bite, right?

PSEUDO: Yeah.

BLAINE: All that power, that rage-fuelled, uncontrollable power… are you sure you can take that on?

PSEUDO smirks.

PSEUDO: Man, I’ve been chosen by destiny and proven by legend. What’s a science experiment gonna do?

PSEUDO screws up all his courage and takes a deep breath.

PSEUDO: (yelling) Mewtwo!

MEWTWO’s eyes open. A pulse of energy ripples through the room, the blue light intensifying.

PSEUDO: Sorry I’m early! Traffic was just fine!

MEWTWO lifts its arms and rises into the air, its body emanating a blue aura. The immense power it holds is about to be unleashed.

JASON stands at the ready, about to strike.

JASON: Pseudo…?

MEWTWO lifts its arms, preparing an attack.

PSEUDO: … go!

JASON leaps at MEWTWO, attacking with Bite. MEWTWO flicks JASON away and sends a pulse of energy at him, knocking him away. JASON lands back on his feet and sprints back into the fight, already panting. He dodges several smaller attacks and gets MEWTWO again, damaging it even further - but MEWTWO lets out a burst of power and throws JASON across the room.

PSEUDO: Jason!

JASON’s HP is extremely low. PSEUDO returns him and sends out ROD.

PSEUDO: Let’s end this quickly, Rod!

ROD: Already on it!

ROD is indeed already heading for MEWTWO. MEWTWO sends out a flurry of attacks in Swift, which ROD powers through. He jumps into the air and lands a Quick Attack into MEWTWO’s chest, taking it down a notch.

PSEUDO: Alright, he’s nearly done!

MEWTWO centers itself and closes its eyes. Its aura briefly changes to a passive, healing effect.

PSEUDO: Was that Recover?

ROD: That asshole!

ROD attacks again with Hyper Fang, but MEWTWO comes right back at him with Psychic, blasting ROD away, too. ROD’s HP is getting low.

PSEUDO: Oh, boy…

PSEUDO returns ROD and sends out ORBIT.

ORBIT: This is getting pretty intense!

PSEUDO: What, this? This is nothing!

MEWTWO uses Swift again, pelting ORBIT. He endures and uses Thunder, striking MEWTWO with a bolt of lightning. MEWTWO catches ORBIT in a Psychic hold and throws it into the cave wall. ORBIT tries to break free but is thrown into the other wall, and struck into the floor.

PSEUDO sends out CECIL, bringing ORBIT back. CECIL wastes no time in summoning a great wave of water into the cavern, Surfing into MEWTWO. MEWTWO, weaker, then uses RECOVER and brings itself right back up to health.

PSEUDO: Oh, come on!

CECIL repeats his Surf attack but MEWTWO repeats Recover. CECIL, getting frustrated, summons all his power and as much water as he can muster into one more Surf attack… that MEWTWO dodges!

PSEUDO: Cecil!

MEWTWO plucks CECIL from the water and slams him into the ground. With his power, he takes control of the water and blasts it out of the cavern, taking CECIL with it.

CECIL: Pseudo!

PSEUDO returns CECIL before he gets out of range. MEWTWO glares at PSEUDO, its eyes still glowing.

PSEUDO: Why are you doing this? You want to fight, right? That’s what you brought me here, for?

MEWTWO doesn’t respond, though it becomes more agitated - but it doesn’t harm PSEUDO.

PSEUDO: What now?

MEWTWO’s aura intensifies but it doesn’t attack. PSEUDO steps back, seeing it strain against it.

BLAINE: Pseudo, act!

MEWTWO’s energy grows. Before it or PSEUDO can move, the power is released…

WARP appears in front of PSEUDO, shielding him from the blast.

PSEUDO: Warp-!

WARP: What is it with you and failing to avoid getting hurt?

WARP pushes back against MEWTWO’s Psychic energy with his own. PSEUDO, meanwhile, realizes something.

PSEUDO: But it wasn’t trying to hurt me… it didn’t want to attack, but it-

MEWTWO throws WARP across the room. WARP, in return, throws MEWTWO across the room. MEWTWO sends out a blast of energy that WARP deflects with his spoon, destroying a different part of the cave wall. WARP deflects two more blasts before sending one of his own, which MEWTWO catches and detonates mid-air.

PSEUDO: It wants to fight, but it doesn’t want to hurt… it doesn’t want to hurt!

BLAINE: What are you talking about?

PSEUDO: Mewtwo wants to be defeated.

WARP tries to push MEWTWO with Psychic but MEWTWO tries to respond in kind. The two energies connect and act against each other, pushing. The two Pokemon stand their ground as their Psychic powers push against each other, each one trying to win out.

PSEUDO: Everything that gave it that power, everything that made it so angry and spiteful - but that’s not all it is, it’s still a Pokemon, it still knows what that power’s supposed to be for - that’s why it didn’t want to attack me, it was holding itself back!

BLAINE: It wants to be defeated - so it doesn’t have to hold back anymore?

PSEUDO: Why else would it hide in a cave for all these years?

WARP: Pseudo!

WARP is getting weak. He’s trying to stand up to MEWTWO’s power but it’s not working.

WARP: I can’t hold it much longer!

PSEUDO: Warp!

MEWTWO suddenly breaks the connection. Both Pokemon’s energies are released into the space, shooting into the walls and ceiling. WARP falls to his knees, trying to maintain conciousness amid the dust and rubble falling to the ground. MEWTWO, however, prepares another attack.

PSEUDO: No! Warp, it’s-

MEWTWO throws out its Swift attacks. The dust obscures the battle.

PSEUDO: No!

The dust begins to settle. WARP is standing, its aura glowing with Recovery.

WARP: Timing… is extremely important.

PSEUDO: You fucking legend, Warp-

PSEUDO realizes something else.

PSEUDO: Recover…

BLAINE: What now? How many revelations are you gonna have?

PSEUDO: Oh, shut up - it keeps using Recover, it’s always recovering.

BLAINE: I don’t think survival instincts are that surprising-

PSEUDO: Exactly! It’s still trying to survive, it still has those insticts! It’s not trying to lose, it’s trying to survive.

BLAINE: So it doesn’t want to be defeated?

WARP is hit with another Swift. He stumbles to the ground and returns himself, going back to PSEUDO.

WARP: It’s too much, Pseudo…

PSEUDO: That’s okay, Warp, you did great.

MEWTWO rises again, its energy building up. PSEUDO sees it straining against its own power.

PSEUDO: See? It doesn’t want to fight, it can’t help it!

BLAINE: What part of 'uncontrollable power’ did you forget, boy?

VERNE, PSEUDO’s last healthy Pokemon, releases himself.

VERNE: I hope you have a plan, Pseudo!

PSEUDO: Verne… you’re part-Poison, you can’t-

VERNE: I have to, I’m all that’s left!

PSEUDO looks to his belt, counting off his Pokemon. He looks back up to MEWTWO, whose power is still getting stronger.

PSEUDO: You brought me here, you wanted me to fight you. But you didn’t want to be defeated. You don’t want to hurt us, you knew you couldn’t help it. You wanted to face the Champion so they had a chance to stand up to you.

MEWTWO’s attack is about to be unleashed.

PSEUDO: But that’s not all, you took me everywhere - there was the League, and Team Rocket, and-

PSEUDO has his biggest lightbulb moment yet.

VERNE: PSEUDO!

PSEUDO: DODGE, VERNE!

MEWTWO lets out a Swift. VERNE leaps away, dodging just in time.

PSEUDO opens his bag.

PSEUDO: You want to be stopped, you want to be saved…

PSEUDO pulls out a small, ornate box and quickly takes out the item within - a very special Pokeball he’s been holding on to.

PSEUDO: You want to be caught.

PSEUDO throws it. The ball glows purple as it soars through the air. It takes a flight path of its own, arcing around MEWTWO and heading straight for it. MEWTWO looks to PSEUDO, the light in its eyes fading just enough for PSEUDO to see them. The ball connects with MEWTWO and he flashes inside, the ball clasping shut.

The cavern falls silent. The ball falls to rest on the ground and shakes in the usual tense lead-up to a capture, but PSEUDO knows the outcome. The ball flashes, signalling success.

PSEUDO, BLAINE and VERNE stare in awe.

BLAINE: Pseudo…

PSEUDO: You okay, Verne?

VERNE: Yeah… I think so.

PSEUDO picks up Mewtwo’s Pokeball and looks at it.

BLAINE: I-I can’t believe it… Mewtwo, Rocket’s Mewtwo- I mean, just Mewtwo.

PSEUDO looks to BLAINE, holding the ball up.

PSEUDO: This is what it wanted. It knew its power was so strong it couldn’t help but lose control. It’s been trying to bring somebody here, someone strong enough to survive against it who had the means to stop it.

BLAINE: That ball… how did you-

PSEUDO: It’s called the Masterball. I got it from the president of Silph after I saved them from Team Rocket… after Mewtwo led me there. It knew the only way to stop an uncontrollable power was to find a way to control it. Because it knew, at the end of the day… it was still a Pokemon.

BLAINE stares at the ball.

BLAINE: … I guess it makes sense. A great danger created by misused technology, made right by better technology.

PSEUDO: Only one thing left to do, now.

PSEUDO holds the ball out to BLAINE.

BLAINE: What? You’re- you’re giving me-?

PSEUDO: Someone’s got to help it get better. It’s been through a lot of stuff, it can’t get there alone.

BLAINE: It can’t-?

PSEUDO: Mewtwo knew it couldn’t continue the way it was going, so it called for help. It took that first step to real recovery… now it needs to take the rest. Remind you of anyone?

BLAINE knows who he means.

BLAINE: But I… I can’t-

PSEUDO: You already know one guy who went from hurting Pokemon to helping them. You could give him a call, get some tips, y'know.

BLAINE remembers painfully. A tear in his eye, he hesitantly reaches out for the Masterball. PSEUDO puts it in his hand. BLAINE holds it like the most fragile object in the world.

BLAINE: I can feel it…

PSEUDO: This is your story, now. Yours and Mewtwo’s.

BLAINE looks to PSEUDO. He embraces him.

BLAINE: Thank you.

PSEUDO: … it-it’s cool, y'know, whatever.

PSEUDO pulls away, his face totally dry and not having just had tears wiped away, not at all.

PSEUDO: Right. Well. Okay. Glad that’s sorted, then.

VERNE: You alrigh-

PSEUDO: FINE, just fine.

Outside Cerulean Cave. BLAINE and PSEUDO come out, squinting in the sudden sunlight.

BLAINE: Well, I’m sure we both have places to be, now.

PSEUDO: Sure do. I’ve got a title to win and you’ve got group therapy.

BLAINE: Good luck to us all, I should say! I’ll be keeping an eye out for you, Pseudo.

PSEUDO: As everyone should have been.

BLAINE and PSEUDO go their separate ways. The guard looks quizzically after them both, then back to the cave.

MAN: The hell happened in there?

PSEUDO heads back to town.

PSEUDO: Here we go, guys, this is it. How are we looking for destiny, Warp?

WARP: I can’t see a thing. The future is finally what you make of it, Pseudo.

PSEUDO: Oh, and I’m gonna make of it. I’m gonna make a lot of it.

VERNE: Hey, Pseudo?

PSEUDO: Verne?

VERNE: I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything against Mewtwo.

PSEUDO: Hey, dude, it’s fine. It wasn’t a fair fight, Psychic versus Poison, y'know, it was too risky.

VERNE: Everything’s risky. The Gyms are risky, taking on Team Rocket was risky.

PSEUDO stops. He releases VERNE, seeing him look moody.

PSEUDO: … what’s going on?

VERNE looks at PSEUDO, determined.

VERNE: If we’re facing the League, that means we have to face Gary.

PSEUDO’s eye twitches.

PSEUDO: (calmly) Yes.

VERNE: When we do… and when he sends out his Charizard… I want to be the one who fights him.

PSEUDO: What-

VERNE: I know what you’re gonna say, it’s not smart, and we know what happened when Diana let her grudge get the better of her, but…

VERNE trails off. PSEUDO is shocked, but tries to be calm.

PSEUDO: You’ve thought about this a lot, haven’t you.

VERNE: That day we met you guys, when we fought in the lab, that’s the only time we’ve ever faced each other. That’s how we started this whole thing, so… it makes sense it should end the same way.

VERNE smiles.

VERNE: What better way to take your own destiny back than slapping it in the face with some good old-fashioned irony?

PSEUDO: It’s not irony, it’s bookending.

VERNE: Nerd.

PSEUDO laughs, then gets serious again.

PSEUDO: I mean… we don’t have to do that. This isn’t about destiny anymore, this is your life.

VERNE: Our lives.

PSEUDO crosses his arms. He and VERNE look at each other, thinking.

PSEUDO: You know Charizards have higher Special Attack than Venusaurs, right?

VERNE: Venusaurs have higher Special Defence than Charizards.

PSEUDO: They’re faster.

VERNE: We get more health.

PSEUDO has run out of stats to name. He sighs.

PSEUDO: … you really want to do this.

VERNE: I really do. He’s such a dick, Pseudo.

PSEUDO: I know.

PSEUDO thinks for a moment.

PSEUDO: … okay.

PSEUDO has his Pokedex open to multiple pages again and has a notepad in front of him.

PSEUDO: Now, we can have Orbit or Warp use Light Screen to weaken any Fire moves against you, that’d buy you some hits.

VERNE: Give it to Orbit, Warp should keep Recover.

PSEUDO: Smart. For your moves, you should definitely keep Giga Drain. It won’t be overly effective, but at least you’ll get some extra health out of it.

VERNE points to the Pokedex screen.

VERNE: What’s that move? That’s pretty strong, how do I learn that?

PSEUDO: It’s powerful, all right, but it’s a Grass-type, so it’d only do half damage. It’s basically an elemental Hyper Beam anyway, which you could ALSO try-

VERNE: But either way, I’d be losing time I can’t afford to.

PSEUDO: Exactly, and that’s just ASKING for something bad to happen…

PSEUDO rubs his eyes.

PSEUDO: This is hard, Verne.

VERNE looks at the screen. He points to one more thing.

VERNE: … Return.

PSEUDO: Huh?

VERNE: Return. It’s the strongest move I can learn that doesn’t take time and isn’t weak against Fire.

PSEUDO: Only if you like me.

VERNE: (sarcastically) Oh no, I guess we’re screwed.

The pair smile.

PSEUDO: It’s still a stretch. We’ll need to have a lot of Potions ready.

VERNE: I know.

PSEUDO: Burn heals.

VERNE: Pseudo. I can do it.

PSEUDO: … of course you can.

VERNE grins.

PSEUDO: But you’re training an extra ten levels.

VERNE: (horrified) What!?

PSEUDO: Every advantage counts.

VERNE: Ten?

PSEUDO laughs.

VERNE: Come on! I’m regretting this already.

Much, much later. PSEUDO returns to the base of the Indigo Plateau staircase. He takes the first step dramatically and excitedly, then sprints up the steps as fast as he can go. He pushes through the burning in his legs and the panting of a relatively unfit man, climbing to the peak of the mountain.

He passes the arch at the top of the stairs and stops, exhausted. He wipes the sweat from his brow and looks up at the majestic Indigo Plateau building, the excitement building up… then turns to look back at the view from the highest point in Kanto.

PSEUDO: Whoa…

PSEUDO’s team release themself from their Pokeballs and look out at the view, too.

VERNE: Whoa.

WARP: Incredible…

CECIL: Heavens!

JASON: Wow-!

ORBIT: Cool…!

ROD: Well, shit.

The whole of the Kanto region is spread before them. At the base of the mountain is Viridian City, in the distance is Pokemon Tower in Lavender Town. Beyond the towers of Saffron City and Celadon City is the ocean, sunlight sparkling off its waves. The view, to say the least, is incredible.

PSEUDO: Guys… we made it. I know I’ve said that a lot, but this is really it. The Elite Four. The four greatest trainers in the country…

PSEUDO’s face involuntarily screws up.

PSEUDO: (sourly) And Gary.

VERNE: You’re good, keep going.

PSEUDO recovers and continues his speech.

PSEUDO: Before we go in there, I just want to say… I’m so thankful for each of you for coming this far with me.

PSEUDO turns to CECIL.

PSEUDO: Cecil. When I was a kid, I always wanted a Tentacruel, or a Gyarados. Tentacruels were so vicious and Gyarados’ are like, the coolest things ever. Back in Silph I found out Lapras are statistically superior to Seaking. But… none of that means anything. You proved that to me without even trying. I don’t care about stats, or aesthetics, or what I thought was cool when I was a kid… you’re better than all that stuff combined.

CECIL smiles. He circles PSEUDO and spits water into the air. PSEUDO laughs.

PSEUDO turns to JASON.

PSEUDO: I’m sorry I always underappreciated you, Jason. Even now, a bit part of why I need you here is your Bite, since… Diana couldn’t be with us. I’m sorry I feel that way. But that’s not all I feel. I want you to know that no matter what, I’m not going to treat you like a replacement, or some quota-filler - because that’s not what you are. You are my friend, and you’re just as important to this, to ME, as anyone else.

JASON smiles at PSEUDO and affectionately head-butts his shin.

PSEUDO: Hehe. Also, while this might be sending mixed messages…

PSEUDO takes something out of his back and hands it to JASON. The others look on, surprised - PSEUDO is giving JASON a pair of sunglasses.

PSEUDO: While you guys were training I picked them back up. The way I figured, there’s no reason not to make use of the gifts we have. Diana wouldn’t want us to sacrifice something useful just for her, right?

JASON looks to ROD. He looks melancholic, but nods.

PSEUDO: I want you to think of these not as a passed baton or anything, but as a sign of my faith in you to be just as good as anyone else.

JASON accepts the sunglasses. The sunlight glints off them.

PSEUDO: Plus, they look super cool and power up your Bite.

JASON: Awesome.

PSEUDO turns to WARP.

PSEUDO: Warp. I never told you this before - though, you probably know already - but I had another Kadabra before you. His name was Simon… we’d planned to come here, all the way to the top… but there was an accident, and we lost a good friend. Then I got you, a baby little Abra. A second chance. I hoped I could help you to become great, even greater than Simon was, greater than Simon could have been… I guess that’s a little insulting to his memory. You helped me through that, though, because you did become great. You became so much. Not only are you this force to be reckoned with, you’re you. Not a replacement, not a ghost of a lost friend… someone truly unique. You became Warp, and I’m so proud to be your trainer.

WARP hugs PSEUDO warmly.

PSEUDO turns to ORBIT.

PSEUDO: You know I just wanted an Electric-type.

ORBIT laughs.

PSEUDO: … but you came along anyway. I don’t know if you knew we were gonna get this attached - we haven’t even been on many adventures, together. We had one big one - one really big one - and you stuck it out anyway. Now you’re here, you’re right at the top! From the very beginning, you’ve been ready to help us out regardless of the situation. We haven’t known you that long, but we’ve all formed bonds with you. We’ve trained together, we’ve risked our lives together - and we’re about to take glory by the horns together. You are loved by everyone here. No matter how new you are… or how bloody long it took to level you up from scratch.

The others laugh. ORBIT rolls its eyes.

PSEUDO: … thanks for being here, man.

ORBIT gets a little emotional. It rolls into PSEUDO’s shin.

ORBIT: It’s the best I can do.

PSEUDO: No problem.

ORBIT pulls back. CECIL and JASON nudge him from either side.

PSEUDO turns to ROD.

ROD: (sarcastically) Oh, good, was wondering when I’d get one of these.

PSEUDO: Rod.

ROD: (already emotional) Oh, god-

PSEUDO: Back when we were figuring out who we were gonna need for the Elite Four, there was one slot left. It was yours, man. It was always gonna be yours.

ROD lets out a squeak.

PSEUDO: You’re one of my oldest friends, Rod. You and Verne, we’ve been in this since the start. Hell, you know I’ve never boxed you once since we met? Everyone else’s had a break - Verne, Warp, Cecil - Chris and Belle are waiting for us as we speak! And there’s nothing wrong with that, you know every one of you is important to me… but come on, man. I was never gonna make it here without you. Of course you’d be here with me at the end.

ROD’s eyes are shut tight and he isn’t moving. Nobody is sure what to do with him.

PSEUDO: Rod-

ROD: (strained) Shut up.

PSEUDO picks ROD up and holds him. ROD makes a strained breathing sound, holding back emotions.

PSEUDO: We get it, you don’t like emotions.

ROD: I’m fine.

PSEUDO puts ROD down. ROD takes a deep breath, then exhales.

ROD: Thanks, Pseudo.

PSEUDO smiles.

PSEUDO turns to VERNE.

PSEUDO: And finally… you, Verne.

VERNE smiles.

PSEUDO: I can say whatever I want to Rod, but you were always gonna be here, too.

ROD: Wow, thanks!

PSEUDO: Ever since this thing started, it’s been you and me. We took our breaks when we had to, but it was always gonna come back to us. And look at where we are, now! All of us!

PSEUDO gestures out to the view from the top of the world.

PSEUDO: Everything that’s happened, everything we’ve done, it’s… it’s all 'cos of you, Verne. You and me.

VERNE leans against PSEUDO.

PSEUDO: We’ve come so far from that tiny old town in the south… Verne… thank you for coming with me. I really… I hope I’ve been a good enough trainer for you.

VERNE: Pseudo-

PSEUDO: For all of you, y-y'know, I wanted to-

ROD tackle-hugs PSEUDO. JASON jumps on him, immediately taking him to the ground, laughing. CECIL, WARP and ORBIT crowd around too, everybody yelling things at each other. PSEUDO tries to fight them off, laughing.

PSEUDO: My god this’s been a long journey. We’ve done so much.

VERNE: Made new friends.

WARP: Defeated the Gym Leaders.

JASON: And other trainers!

CECIL: Not to mention the Legendary Birds.

ROD: Fought off the Rockets.

ORBIT: And saved the world?

PSEUDO: All to make it here… I’ve wanted this… for so long…

PSEUDO sighs deeply.

…

…

PSEUDO: I wanted to be the very best, like no-one ever was…

PSEUDO: I thought catching you would be my real test, but training you was my cause.

PSEUDO: We’ve traveled across the land, searching far and wide for all these Pokemon… but now we know the power that’s inside!

PSEUDO: It’s all you guys and me. This is our real destiny!

PSEUDO: You’re my best friends, in this world we defend.

PSEUDO: And with these hearts so true… our courage has pulled us through.

PSEUDO: You’ve taught me, and I’ve taught you… you’re my Pokemon!

STRANGER: (pointing at PSEUDO’s team) Whoa, did you catch them all?

PSEUDO: Yeah, I caught them all! They’re my Pokemon!

…

…

…

STRANGER: Cool!

The stranger leaves, passing by on their way. PSEUDO looks to his team.

PSEUDO: … don’t know why I said all that.

VERNE: It sounded… cool?

ROD: No it didn’t.

PSEUDO: It really didn’t, I don’t - it doesn’t matter!

PSEUDO leads the team towards the building. They pass the remaining arches and approach the door. PSEUDO’s Pokemon return to their Pokeballs as the doors open.

PSEUDO dramatically steps inside the Indigo Plateau.





Author’s note: i wanted to sing the pokemon theme song because i’m fucking awful and my script from 2012 included it so why the hell not.

also surprise, LGHAFA has been a meta-piece on breaking free of a constricting narrative all along! the pokemon games have a plot and nuzlocke challenge stories tend to follow those plots, but what if the humorous and/or interesting voice or manner of retelling those plots just aren’t unique enough to stand on their own? you get shit like this where the story is taken right off the rails for the sole purpose of doing so to explore the medium of nuzlocke challenges themselves. how fucking artsy, i should get a patreon.

in my nuzlocke run i did in fact challenge mewtwo after i became champion, though i didn’t like how it and the sevii islands fit into the narrative of this story. i liked the notion of mewtwo’s existence and the game’s intended showdown so i played around with plot stuff trying to make it work, but in the end i just really wanted the gary fight to be the finale because that’s what i’d been working towards. once i realized that nintendo didn’t actually own me and i could do whatever i wanted i switched them around and made it Mean Something. as a result, the mewtwo battle described here is nothing like the actual fight i had in my game, in fact i deleted the record of my fight and made this one up entirely, because that’s what the fight in LGHAFA is about - the true freedom of just making shit up instead of following the original Leaf Green storyline for my own personal narrative desire.

cool now that that’s done we return to pseudo’s actual intended destiny-free journey next week have a good one babes xoxo gossip pseudo