Astra's body falls down with a crunch. Mewtwo can only watch it happen in dismay. Gone is the celebratory mood. Gone is the joy of victory. Only dread remains as Astra's body lays in the grass, motionless.

Astra? Mewtwo sends. the though is almost sent with his own fear. Astra does not reacts. Mewtwo has no way of knowing if his though even reached him.

Astra! Mewtwo sends more urgently, this time his feelings are attached to the message, but Astra does not even stir at the compacted ball of fear and apprehension Mewtwo just sent.

Mewtwo rushes to Astra's side not even caring to wipe the praetor's blood covering him, now is not the time. He kneels next to the man's laying body and shakes him. When nothing happens, he tries a stronger shake. Still nothing. Should I move him? What happened? The last thing he declared was in relation to power. Did the fight tire him to the point of exhaustion? He did mention something about needing human food to survive. Were the few they found by the pond not enough? What more does he need? Mewtwo realizes he does not know the answer. He realizes how little he knows about Astra.

Astra. I will help you! Mewtwo declares, more to himself than anyone else. After a few minutes of debating, he decides to at least turn Astra around. being face down into the dirt, even unconscious, is in no ways a good thing Mewtwo reasons. He slowly pushes his fingers under Astra's metallic arms and curses his rounded tips. They make the action far harder than it needs to be. After a few seconds, he realizes how foolish he is. I HAVE TELEKINETIC POWERS BY THE NAMELESS TRIO!! He does not know who the nameless trio is, nor does he care for the fact the swear came almost naturally to him. He only cares about helping Astra.

After his mental outburst, he quickly gathers his mind and gently lifts Astra. He then slowly turns him around and lay him back down. And one of the reason for Astra's sudden passing out reveals itself. Astra's body is battered. His flesh parts have dark bruises all over and on multiple points, metallic parts pock from beneath. His right arm has scars running almost to its upper part, the remnants of the sword's corruption. His face is a mess of dark liquid and shattered metallic bones. Finally, a couple of tubes poke from the left side of Astra's neck.

Mewtwo swallows at the gruesome sight. Are all humans like Astra? No, Astra himself said so. He is different, a machine made to look like a human. Am I the same? Not a pokemon but a mechanical doll made to look, act and think like one? Mewtwo swallows at the possible implications. Another question worms itself within his mind and puts his own existential crisis on hold. How can I help you? Mewtwo questions. Can I even help you? Can he? He knows nothing of Astra's body. Nothing at all!

Then he remembers one of the paths he possesses. One he had seen and only briefly tried. With intense concentration, he gathers his powers into his palm, focusing upon the barely explored path of water, life and healing. A drop slowly coalesces above his open hand, then expands into a large bead. The shimmering blue liquid moves within itself by its own volition. He then slowly lowers it upon Astra and let it go.

The drop of water splashes upon Astra's flesh. It slowly flows along his skin before being absorbed. After a few seconds, it almost looks like snakes start to move beneath Astra's flesh. It starts in right where the drop fell and moves all over Astra's fleshier parts. Slight vibrations on some mechanical parts clue Mewtwo to the fact that what he is seeing is happening all throughout Astra's body.

The poking tube from Astra's neck is engulfed in a light blue aura and reenters the neck proper. The scars left by the sword rescind slightly, but not completely. And a sound Mewtwo had not even realized was missing is heard once more. Astra takes a wheezing, almost inaudible breath.

And yet Astra does not wakes. And more worrisome, most of the light permeating his more mechanical parts remains off. Mewtwo's Life Dew might have saved Astra's body, but it did not fix Astra's lack of energy.

Mewtwo grinds his teeth in frustration. What else can he do? Look for food? That could be a good idea, but how to feed it to Astra? And can he leave Astra alone? The day seems only half gone to this point, but what about other humans? What if some pokemons decide to have a peck or a chomp at Astra's unconscious body?

A yap breaks Mewtwo trail of question. Right next to him is their poochyena guide.

Indignation and anger runs hot within Mewtwo at the sight. And where did you run off to? He lashes out. His eyes flares bright with power. A louder and deeper growl makes him take stock of his surrounding. What must be an entire pack of mightyenas and poochyenas look back at him. He is surrounded by dozens of the black and grey dog-like pokemons. Pairs after pairs of red eyes look straight at him. And all exude the same feeling of strength as their little guide.

If they had decided to attack, he would have been defeated almost instantly. Or killed, depending on their goals.

A couple of poochyenas and a mightyena are sniffing at the cooling corpse of the Praetor. You're late. Mewtwo growls. The mightyena looks up at him then turns away in shame. The more he looks around, the more he realize, they all know. They are all keenly aware that they have arrived after the battle. Another mightyena slowly approaches Mewtwo and Astra.

Mewtwo looks at the approaching dog with a bit of contempt. Had they come earlier... But they could have come earlier. Had Astra not stalled for wood, had he not taken their guide with him when he tried to flee, maybe they could have gotten closer to the settlement their guide was guiding them to. Mewtwo sigh. The mightyena sniffs at the still unconscious Astra and give Mewtwo a questioning look.

He's alive... I think... He breathes at least. Mewtwo answers the unsaid question. The mightyena gives a mix of bark and growl back, asking if he can be transported. Maybe? But he weights a lot. The mightyena huffs at the declaration. I am serious.

The mightyena huffs again and barks at another one. The second comes and places itself alongside the first. The first then motions to Mewtwo. Mewtwo looks at them. They look back, then motion to get on with it. Fine, but do not say I did not warn you. Mewtwo answers with nonplussed expression plastered on its face.

Slowly and gently, he floats Astra's body on top of the mightyenas. Then lowers it. Slowly.

At first the couple of mightyenas look sure, but as Mewtwo releases more and more of the weight upon their back, their sure look start to waver. Mewtwo, for his part is impressed. Their legs only starts wavering after half of Astra's weight. He had bet on a fourth.

I told you. Mewtwo declares. The first mightyena sends him an annoyed glare and barks toward the pack. And another two mightyenas join. Mewtwo gently lifts Astra once more and then lower it on the line of four mightyenas. This time, they hold. But they are clearly straining to do so. Those in the middle seems to have the hardest time out of the four. The first mightyena, part of the middle, barks a command and as one, they take one step. Astra wobbles a bit on top of the line of fur, but seems stable enough.

Each of the four mightyenas look and nod at each other. The first one then barks once more, then once more. Each bark is accompanied by a step forward. And so, slowly but surely, the pack starts to move. Mewtwo is amazed at the mightyenas cooperation. One paw after the other, they are making their way toward their destination. He looks down at the the little poochyena that had guided them before. That is impressive.

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The little one preens upon the praise on her pack. However, she cast a worried glance at the transport line. Their legs are not wobbling, but she can see some strains in each steps. Is our destination far? The poochyena wiggles on herself at the question. Ah... We might have to change porters at some point then... The poochyena reluctantly agrees.

And so they go. At a gentle pace pace, they traverse the plains. Mewtwo floats above the pack, trying to any sort of human food source. None seems to be visible, but he does not lose hope. At some point, some poochyenas approach and ask him what he is looking for. Mewtwo hesitates, but decide that their help could only hasten his search and so he tries to explain. Bushes... of a sort. They contain some sort food. Not berries, but human food. I do not have names for them, but Astra called them gardens.

His listeners look confused at first then one perks up. It growls and barks at the others and they seem to come to an understanding. They all nod and scatter all around the pack. Mewtwo resumes his upper position and watch as the little dogs scurry and sniff around every bushes and and tall plants they find. They slowly circle further and further away.

After some time, one barks, then another, then a third. They all seem to have found something at the exact same time. And all are in quite different directions. Mewtwo signals all three that he heard and goes to the first that signaled. He looks at the find. It is a bush. A bush with leaves and thorns. Nothing else. Mewtwo looks down at the proud poochyena, with a big toothy smile on their face. Where is the food? The poochyena barks in answer, still proud of its find. Ah... I should have been clearer. We need harvestable food, not food sources right now. The hyena's smile falls and their ears droop down. But that might be useful to us in the future. Thank you. The poochyena's ears perks right back up.

Mewtwo moves on the second one and this one did find an actual garden. He rummages through it and find what he believes to be all there is. First is a couple of long and thick green vegetables, then yellowish seeds and finally, three pointy orange vegetables. He gather all of those and creates a new halo behind him. The third one also found a similar garden, this one having another green vegetable similar to the first garden, as well as twisted red ones. The roots also appear edible, resembling round white spheres. They join the halo quickly and he nods in thanks at his little helpers. They all bark happily and return to their search.

The journey continues for a couple more hours. No more garden are found and the little seekers stop as they near their destination. It has finally appeared on the horizon. From up high, Mewtwo had noticed it for quite some time already, but seeing it closer, he is still surprised. What they are approaching is a town. From the distance, the stone building with wooden roofs look quaint and old. He can see movement in the streets and prepares himself. What if there are more humans there? What if they try to attack Astra like the four before?

Still cautious, he follows as the group approaches the edge. Astra's porters had to be changed three times and the moment they reach the town limit, the third quatuor of porters all but collapses under Astra's weight. Mewtwo is ready and quickly make the human float, avoiding both more injuries to him and crushing the poor exhausted mightyenas. One of the porters look at Mewtwo with relief and barks a thanks.

Mewtwo gently lowers Astra down and looks up just in time to see... something approach. Not for the first time since he arrived here, he feels like an outsider to this world, but for the first time, he feels something that actually belongs. Something that has its place here. And that something that looks like a human, and it is approaching the group with confident and hurried steps.

As it nears, Mewtwo can confirm it: it is human shaped. Two arms on each side of a torso supported two legs and topped with a head with two forward facing eyes, a mouth... and a nose. A long nose covering part of the being mouth. The almost human wears a leather dress topped by a purple and gold apron like accessory, with a visible hood behind. They approach at speed toward the pack, but stop the moment they spot Mewtwo and Astra.

"Which one?" The newcomer asks one of the mightyenas. The hyena points toward Astra. "Hum. The other?" The mightyena gives a dog-like shrug. "Then He will judge. Get the sleeping one to a bed. I prepare." With that he turns around and goes back toward the largest stone building in the village.

Mewtwo looks around, trying to understand what just happened. A couple mightyenas whine as they turn toward him. They once more need him to help carry Astra. Mewtwo does so, still unsure. Once Astra is secured on the back of another double pair of fresh mightyenas, they enter the village proper. More of the almost humans look at the procession with either suspicion or curiosity. A couple of smaller versions of the beings come barreling from a side alley and start to pet and hug some of the poochyenas, squealing with childlike glee. No, just squealing with glee, they are children, Mewtwo realized. One tries to approach him, awe clear in his emerald green eyes. But before he can try to reach for him, a harsh voice calls him away. Their parent looking with distrust and fear at the strange newcomer in their midst.

Then something new rounds another corner. Something massive, taller than Mewtwo himself. It towers over Mewtwo, making him feel small for the first time in his short life. It is a bulky metal construct, with a face similar to the villagers. Its arms are almost as long as its body is tall and it lurches forward on short legs. The eyes are empty black pits, with a single red ember burning in each of them. It stops as the procession makes a point of avoiding it. The construct's gaze lingers for a second on Astra, then switches to Mewtwo.

Mewtwo holds the soulless stare until the construct stops and moves on. Once it does, a weight seems to evaporate from the entire village. Children cheer and immediately rush Mewtwo. He recoils in surprise and floats away, to the awe-filled 'Ooooh' and 'Aaaah' of the little crowd. He looks desperately at the mightyenas and poochyenas for help, but most snickers or shrug with malicious smiles on their doggy faces. Some do offer pity. They know how overbearing these children can be as previous victims of their attention.

Mewtwo sighs and keeps floating out of reach. The horde follows him, cheering all the way. Some parents are even smiling now, some laughing at their children antics. The mightyenas and poochyenas slowly scatter across the town, until only the last four mightyenas porters, the poochyena guide and Mewtwo remain. Then even the children stop following, chided once more by their parents. They do so once they get closer to a large building, clearly of different architecture from the rest. It looks like a long cabin made of logs. Some are cut to give air and light inside. Once they reach the door, the poochyena guide pushes it open and a gasp escapes from inside.

The building reveals itself as a dormitory. Beds lines the wall left of the door as well as the opposing one. Some are occupied. Others were if the disturbed sheet are any indication. What is occupying some of the beds has Mewtwo immediately on edge. Humans. About seven of them. They are looking at him with awe and fear for the most, denial for one.

"Is that?" One whispers.

"No way!"

"Who captured him?"

"Did the league finally find one?"

"Is he with the league?"

"Wait is that blood??"

A whine from the porter breaks Mewtwo stare. The mightyenas are starting to wobble in place. Apologies. Mewtwo gathers his halo into a neat little pile and put them beside the bed right next to the door. He then lifts Astra and slowly guides his body inside. The appearance of his friend launches another hushed discussion among the current occupants of the dormitory.

"What the fuck??"

"That's the trainer?"

"Wow he looks advanced!"

"Why would he be here?"

"Wait are those actual robot arms or is it just armor?"

"Why is he unconscious?"

Mewtwo half-listens, he go to but Astra on one of the beds but then stops. There is no way these wooden beds can hold his weight. He realizes. He then takes one of the unoccupied bed mattress and sheets and arrange them on the floor. He then gently lay Astra on top of it.

"Wow look at that level of control!"

"Wait look at the tattoos! they both have the same!"

"Why does he have one?"

"Is there a new kidnapper??"

"Nooo! Please no." One starts to whine.

Mewtwo takes a closer look at the humans and realize, compared to the previous four, the six ones gossiping look young. The seventh human looks old. He also still seems unable to accept Mewtwo's existence. Mewtwo keep looking over Astra as the other humans still gossip away. Some of them have injuries, bandaged or scarring. The oldest has a strange gap under the sheet where one of his leg should be.

"You're not real are ya?" The old human finally speaks. Mewtwo looks at him in confusion. "Pfah, though so."

"Hans! Don't antagonise him! He could kill us all in seconds!" One of the younger one scold the elder.

"He's not real! He ain't gonna do shit!" The elder, Hans spit back.

Mewtwo becomes curious. But before he can confront Hans, the purple dressed villager arrives, followed by two others. One is has a white apron and the other wears a straw hat. "I have the healing, they are here for food need." The purple dressed villager declared. "The guardian cleared both, they're safe." He says to the other occupants of the room.

Some sigh in relief, others appear nervous and the elder scowl just get deeper. And the purple dressed villager turns back to Mewtwo. "Which first?"