Transcendence

The Showdown part 2: Guess who didn't learn their lesson?

He fell, teeth gritted, vision flickering.

Mewtwo descended like a god, its voice icy and scornful.

"Is that all? After all that build-up? All those noble declarations and heroic speeches? Pathetic."

Alex's paw dug into the ground. He was down.

("Damn it! Mew, I told you I wasn't ready!") Alex thought.

The tip of Mewtwo's giant psychic spoon hovered inches above Alex's barely-breathing body, its violet edge crackling with energy, ready to end the battle once and for all.

But then-Both Alex and Mewtwo snapped their heads to the side.

Two distinct auras approached rapidly. Mewtwo narrowed its eyes. Alex mentally cursed.

("You've got to be kidding me...") he groaned aloud, straining to raise a paw toward the cave entrance. ("Arlo, Felix, DON'T get near it! Go home! GO HOME!")

But they were already too close.

Mewtwo's eyes glowed as it lifted a hand to crush their minds-this time for good.

Only for Alex to summon a pulse of pure aura energy, weak but just in time.
A shimmering shield enveloped their heads like helmets-right before the psychic attack hit.

The wave passed.

Arlo and Felix stumbled into the chamber, frozen in fear the second their eyes met Mewtwo's. The air felt wrong. Thick. Charged.

But that fear snapped into rage when they saw Alex lying on the ground, bloodied and unconscious, his fur singed, his body unmoving.

"BLOODY 'ELL!" Arlo shouted. "ALEX! Oi! You daft git, what did you DO!?"

Mewtwo let out a posh chuckle.

"Ah, how touching. His little cheerleaders made it. You should be grateful, really-he shielded your pitiful little minds before I turned you into psychic jam."

Felix's eye twitched, but he ignored the insult. He dropped to Alex's side, shaking him.

"Why's he always like this? He always goes and plays the bloody hero like he's Jesus. I'm sick of it, mate!"

Alex didn't speak. Instead, a calm, tired voice rang in their minds.

("I'm fine... stop shouting... I'm bruised beyond imagination...")

Felix blinked. ("Don't sass me in me noggin, mate! What's wrong with you?! You think this is normal? Going up against a monster like it all alone?! You're not some shonen protagonist, Alex!")

("I HAD A PLAN") Alex shot back mentally.

("A plan to DIE!?") Arlo butted in. ("'Cause if so, mission bloody accomplished, yeah?!")

("I defeated Darkrai! Was in Team Awesome.") Alex mentally declared.

("Oh shut up, you aura-fueled prat!") Felix mentally shouted back.

("And I have gotten vastly stronger. My aura is capable alright!") Alex mentally said.

("I will dropkick your aura into next week.") Felix mentally stated.

("Good luck with that, Felix. Venusaurs aren't known for that.") Alex mentally retorted.

("I swear to King-") Arlo mentally shot back but was interrupted.

*WHACK!*

The spoon came down and flattened Felix into the ground like a tent peg.

Mewtwo, looking mildly annoyed, sighed. "One down, two more to go."

Arlo turned wide-eyed. "FELIX!"

Alex's mental voice groaned.
("Fuck! See what you guys are causing? Arlo...")

("Y-yeah?")

("Blast me.")

("... Say again?")

("Blast me with your cannons. Right now.")

("Mate, what the bloody-why?! That's mental!")

("Do it or you'll be next to Felix playing bloody pancakes.")

"OH FOR THE LOVE OF-FINE!"

Arlo fired. A burst of high-pressure water slammed into Alex, flinging him across the cave.

Right as Mewtwo floated down, spoon spinning once more, charging up Psystrike with an elegant flick of its wrist.

"You shouldn't have come, Blastoise," Mewtwo cooed, "Let me show you the true meaning of a full course psychic meal. This time I won't let fate decide your fate. Ohohoho!"

The cave lit up violet.

Just as the Psystrike was about to launch-A blinding blue aura flash exploded behind him.

*SLASH!*

Mewtwo screamed as a powered-up Shadow Claw pierced clean through its back, sending it crashing forward like a meteor. Mewtwo rolled, skidding across the stone floor.

Alex stood tall, aura flaring wild around him. His wounds were gone. His eyes burned with newfound strength.

Arlo's jaw dropped.

"How in the bloody King's name are you alive!? You were down for the count! We buried you emotionally!"

Alex casually cracked his neck, smirking.

"Life Dew. Learned it during training. Water healing technique. Very chill. I just need water. Also, I have faced through hell and back with the training I underwent, and I fought Darkrai in the past. So... Mewtwo doesn't scare me."

"YOU COULD'VE TOLD ME THAT RIGHT AWAY." Arlo scolded.

Mewtwo stood, seething, clutching its chest.

"What... What the heck is this?! You were done for! Finished! Don't tell me I'm with what Darkrai had to face-what's next?! A daft cheering crowd appears singing ballads and tossing flowers?!"

Alex took one step forward. Aura burned brighter than ever.

"Nope. Just me. Back for round two. You will PAY for what you did to Felix!"