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The Gyarados pushed forward with relentless determination, surging through the massive waves toward New Island.
Kai held tightly to its neck, with Misty seated behind him, her arms wrapped securely around his waist.
Meanwhile, Ash and Brock clung desperately to the scales near Gyarados' tail, struggling to keep themselves from being swept into the tumultuous sea.
After what felt like an eternity of battling the waves, they finally crested one last swell. The storm suddenly vanished, leaving behind an eerily calm sea.
"Did the storm just... stop?" Brock asked, looking around in confusion.
"No," Kai said, scanning their surroundings. "We're in the eye of the storm."
Indeed, behind them, the storm still raged, a violent ring of wind and waves surrounding the tranquil patch of sea they had now entered.
The rain had ceased here, and the water was eerily still.
"It's like Dragonite Island," Kai murmured to himself, recalling a similarly peculiar place he had once visited.
The group stretched and tried to ease their aching muscles after the exhausting journey. Suddenly, Misty pointed excitedly ahead.
In the distance, illuminated by the pale light of the moon, stood a lonely island with a towering, ominous castle at its centre.
"Finally!" Brock sighed with relief. "That has to be New Island."
Kai compared the coordinates on his phone's map and nodded. "It's the right place." He patted Gyarados, signalling it to move toward the island.
As they approached, they noticed a cave built into the base of the castle, serving as a port.
Waiting a woman was holding a lantern. Her posture was stiff, and her face betrayed no emotion, making her seem almost lifeless.
"Welcome. Please show me your invitation," the woman said monotonously.
Ash quickly retrieved the electronic invitation from his pocket. "Is this what you're asking for?"
The woman examined it, then nodded. "Yes. And you?" she asked, turning to Kai.
Kai showed his own device, which the woman also approved. "You are the trainers we invited. Follow me."
Brock's eyes lit up as he studied the woman. "Wait! Aren't you Nurse Joy from Vermilion City?!"
The woman's expression didn't change. "I don't know what you're talking about. I have worked here my entire life. I am not the person you are referring to."
Only Brock, with his sharp eye for details, could notice the subtle similarities between this woman and Nurse Joy.
Even so, Kai knew the truth: this woman had been abducted by Mewtwo and hypnotized to forget her past.
"Come," the woman said, her voice as emotionless as before. "Other trainers have already arrived."
The group followed her through the narrow cave into the castle. The eerie atmosphere made Kai uneasy, and he snapped a few pictures with his phone out of habit. Despite noticing, the woman didn't stop him.
After climbing several flights of stairs, they arrived at an ornately carved door. The castle's strange architecture made it seem almost alien.
The door opened to reveal a spacious hall with a spiral staircase and a long central table. Three trainers were seated there, resting with their Pokémon.
"These are the other trainers who arrived before you," the woman explained.
"Strange," Misty murmured. "There were so many people back at the port. Why are there only three here?"
"Those who cannot survive the storm are not worthy of arriving," the woman replied coldly.
Realizing the storm was a deliberate test, Ash and the others exchanged uneasy glances.
"Now," the woman continued, "release your Pokémon and take a seat."
Ash and his friends released their Pokémon as instructed. Kai, however, released only his Gardevoir and Haunter to keep watch.
As they approached the table, one of the seated trainers, a young man in red, gave them a lazy glance. "Great. More people. Just when I thought it was only going to be us."
"Don't be like that," said the lone girl among the three, smiling warmly. "The more, the merrier. My name's Luna, but you can call me Tina."
The last trainer, the chubby man they'd seen at the port earlier, introduced himself as Hiro.
"I'm Ash, and these are my friends, Brock and Misty."
Kai introduced himself simply before discreetly examining the trainer's Pokémon: Venusaur, Blastoise, Gyarados, Ninetales, and Golduck. Each one looked powerful and well-trained.
Before anyone could say more, the hall's lights dimmed, plunging them into darkness.
"What's happening?" Misty asked nervously, clutching Starmie's Poké Ball.
The woman's voice broke the silence. "The strongest Pokémon trainer is about to appear."
As she spoke, the Pokémon in the room grew restless. A spotlight illuminated the spiral staircase, and a figure descended gracefully from above.
When it landed, everyone stared in shock. It wasn't a human it was a Pokémon.
"This... this is a Pokémon?!" Ash stammered, his voice full of disbelief.
"Yes," the woman confirmed. "This is the strongest Pokémon trainer and the strongest Pokémon Mewtwo."
The trainers and their Pokémon froze, their gazes fixed on the psychic being before them. Only Kai remained composed, knowing this moment was inevitable.
"You expect us to believe this thing is a trainer?" Fergus scoffed, slamming his hand on the table. "A Pokémon giving commands to other Pokémon? That's ridiculous!"
But Mewtwo's cold, piercing gaze silenced him. Without saying a word, it exuded an aura of authority that demanded respect.
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