In the footage—
Eternatus let out a sharp snort, but without another word, it willingly dissipated into a stream of red light and returned straight into Ash's Ultra Ball. The massive threat to the world had finally been peacefully resolved.
"Wow... Eternatus really isn't as terrifying as the stories say," Chloe noted softly, a look of awe on her face.
Compared to the monstrous descriptions in history books, all she saw now was an incredibly stubborn, tsundere Pokémon. It wasn't evil at all; it was actually remarkably straightforward. History truly couldn't be taken at face value.
"Yeah, the legends definitely misunderstood him," Ash agreed. "If Eternatus were truly evil, Zacian and Zamazenta would have finished him off for good back at Hammerlocke Stadium.
The fact that they spared him and let me catch him proves that even the ancient heroes knew the war wasn't entirely his fault. That's why I chose to trust him!"
Because of that trust, Ash had effectively secured a tier-one Legendary ally for the cost of a daily Aura top-up—an incredibly lucrative trade-off by any standard!
"Thanks a ton, Mewtwo! You were a massive help!"
Don't mention it. I merely assisted in restraining a giant bag of bones.
Ash's Ultra Ball gave a sudden, violent shudder. It was obvious Mewtwo had intentionally beamed that telepathic insult straight into Eternatus's consciousness! It was a classic, petty little piece of revenge, but entirely justified.
"Hehe, helping me hold him down so we could actually talk was the biggest help of all," Ash laughed. "Where will you head next, Mewtwo?"
I plan to stay on this island for a while. I've recently rescued several mistreated Pokémon from across Kalos. Once they are fully rehabilitated and settled, I'll move on. Furthermore...
Mewtwo stepped forward, placing three rounded fingers gently onto Ash's shoulder. A brilliant, ethereal light pulsed from its hand, seamlessly intertwining with Ash's Aura.
Instantly, Ash felt the spiritual bond between them amplify a thousandfold! Even if they were separated by entire oceans, they would now be able to communicate effortlessly across the telepathic link.
I have forged a permanent bridge using my psychic power and your Aura. This is a connection that can only be established once your Aura has truly awakened.
If you ever require my strength in the future, simply call out to me in your heart. Likewise, if your life is ever in critical danger, I will sense it immediately and Teleport straight to your side.
Ash scratched his cheek, offering a sheepish chuckle. "C'mon, talking about life-or-death situations is a bit dramatic, haha! But... thank you so much, Mewtwo! Oh, right, I haven't properly introduced you two yet!
This is Chloe, my current traveling partner. Chloe, this is Mewtwo. His power is so incredible he can outmatch almost any Legendary in the world! His past is actually..."
As Ash happily shared their histories, the two shared a formal greeting. Chloe was thoroughly astonished to learn that Mewtwo was an artificial Pokémon.
While synthetic Pokémon like Porygon existed, a manufactured creature reaching the status of a literal god was completely unprecedented. Mewtwo was an absolute, one-of-a-kind marvel.
Having long since come to terms with its past, Mewtwo simply nodded calmly as Ash recounted the old stories, officially welcoming Chloe as a friend.
...
[Lance: Oh, this is pure comedy! Eternatus calls Mewtwo a hairless creature, so Mewtwo fires back by calling him a bag of bones! Hahaha!]
[Caitlin: It's honestly so refreshing to see such a childlike, petty side to Mewtwo~]
[Blaine: Personal banter aside, that telepathic bridge is a massive development! Now that Mewtwo has permanently linked its mind to Ash's Aura, Ash essentially has a direct hotline to a god-tier ally at any given second!]
[Acerola: With the sheer speed of Mega Mewtwo Y, it could easily circle the entire globe in no time at all! The moment Ash calls, it would probably materialize right next to him within ten minutes!]
[Volkner: This is the ultimate reward for Ash's boundless kindness. Mewtwo might be the first to forge a permanent link like this, but I highly doubt it'll be the last. If he encounters other Legendaries who share a deep bond with him down the line, they'll likely use his Aura to establish similar connections.]
[Leon: But that brings up a serious question. In the future footage where Daktor defeated Charizard, he explicitly mentioned using Yveltal's dark presence to completely cut off Ash's connection to the outside world. If Ash's Aura is permanently tethered to Mewtwo's mind, wouldn't Mewtwo instantly notice the moment that link was forcefully severed?]
[Mewtwo: There are specialized barrier techniques in this world designed to let information pass through while keeping spiritual links intact, but a deity like Yveltal might operate on a completely different level of authority. We won't truly know until we see that footage unfold.]
[Chairman Rose: I can't believe Ash actually tamed Eternatus... I never would have imagined that terrifying entity could be so remarkably straightforward and reasonable..."]
Sitting in his high-rise office in Galar, Rose stared at the screen with an unreadable expression. He had spent years orchestrating a massive, high-stakes plot that nearly brought Galar to the brink of ruin, all to harness that power.
Yet Ash had secured it completely through a single display of raw, genuine sincerity.
Perhaps... I really was entirely in the wrong. Rose sighed heavily. The future of Galar was better left in the hands of the younger generation.
[Caitlin: It's not just straightforward; it's a total tsundere! I'm genuinely curious to learn what really happened during the ancient Darkest Day now.]
[Steven: Indeed. Based on Ash's deduction, Zacian and Zamazenta clearly showed mercy to Eternatus during the crisis at Hammerlocke. Having fought it in ancient times, they likely understood its true nature and knew when to stop. Probably, the ancient conflict was also triggered by human interference...]
[Wallace: Beyond that, Ash's natural intuition for understanding a Pokémon's emotions is completely unparalleled. To deduce that much information from a few subtle behavioral cues is incredible!]
[Blaine: It's just a shame he can't spare a fraction of that emotional intelligence for the girls in his life. If he did, he'd probably have a whole line of suitors waiting for him by now~]
[Caitlin: Exactly, exactly!]
Professor Cerise wisely chose to keep his mouth shut. If Ash had possessed standard romantic awareness from the start, he likely would have been swept off his feet by someone else long ago.
Therefore, the Professor didn't dare tease the boy. If Ash had been romantically enlightened from the beginning, Misty would have had the highest probability of success as his very first companion!
...
In the footage—
Ash and Chloe spent the rest of the day walking around the island with Mewtwo. Everywhere they looked, the resident Pokémon were playing happily, living entirely carefree lives.
Knowing that the vast majority of these creatures had been rescued from severe neglect or abandonment, seeing them display such pure joy was a testament to how much love and effort Mewtwo had poured into protecting them.
Chloe found herself deeply moved by the sight. She spotted numerous rare Pokémon she had only ever seen in textbooks, observing how beautifully they thrived when left to their natural instincts. The sight of their creative, uninhibited movements sparked a sudden flash of inspiration in her mind.
I know exactly what kind of performance I want to do for the Showcase now!
Before long, the time came for them to part ways. With the Pokémon Showcase scheduled for the following day, Ash needed to get Chloe back to Lumiose City ahead of schedule to prepare.
"See you next time, Mewtwo!"
Until next time. Oh, before you leave, take this.
Just as Ash was about to mount Charizard, Mewtwo remembered something. With a swift motion of its hand, a brilliant, swirled blue-and-black gemstone materialized in its palm.
It was a Charizardite X!
I stumbled upon this Mega Stone entirely by chance during my travels across Kalos. Ash, your Charizard doesn't possess one yet, correct?
"Whoa! Not only do we not have a Mega Stone, we don't even have a Key Stone yet... Mewtwo, are you really giving this to us?!" Ash's face lit up with pure ecstasy.
Mega Stones were exceptionally rare, prized treasures across the globe! He had always hoped to track down a Mega Stone for his partner, but between his hectic journey and league matches, he hadn't even managed to find a Key Stone yet.
He never expected Mewtwo to hand him a Charizardite X out of nowhere! With the absolute depth of his bond with Charizard, the moment they secured a Key Stone, achieving Mega Evolution would be an absolute breeze!
"This is way too precious..."
A stone like this holds no value to me, Mewtwo replied, its eyes softening with genuine warmth. Besides... aren't we friends, Ash?
Meeting Mewtwo's sincere gaze, Ash solemnly accepted the gemstone, holding it tight. "Thank you so much, Mewtwo!"
"ROOOOARRR!!"
Charizard let out a thunderous roar of gratitude, its entire being vibrating with the powerful, instinctual resonance radiating from the evolutionary stone.