I was once again on the beach. I recognized it this time. It was Cinnabar Island. This was the coast where I had entered the Missing Palace.

"What's happening here?" I wondered aloud.

Somewhere, far away, I could hear a voice shouting. "Set me free. SET ME FREE. You know better than to hold me here!" I couldn't place it, but it felt like I should have known what that voice belonged to.

My eyes drifted toward the sky, which showed the Missing Palace above me. "Red." That was MissingNo.

"MissingNo? What's going on?" I shouted.

"Red!" The voice boomed again.

I couldn't figure out what was happening. "I-I'll come see you!"

"RED!"

I shot awake in my bed. "Red, wake up! You're the Champion now! You can't spend all day sleeping!" I rubbed my eyes and tried to focus on the dream I had been having. It needed to get answers on everything.

I got out of bed and changed out of my pajamas. I put my hat on my head and walked downstairs, grabbing my backpack and putting it on.

My mom turned to me. "Ah, there you are! I'm about to make some breakfast! What would you like?"

I pointed to the door. I'm going to head out, just for a bit. I have something I need to do at Cinnabar Island. My mom frowned. "Alright... if you need to. Just don't be gone too long. I want to celebrate your big win before you get too busy!"

I'll be back soon, I promise! I assured her. Then, pushed open the door and went outside. I sent out Charizard and climbed onto his back. Let's go to Cinnabar Island. Charizard jumped off of the ground and started to fly south.

It was weird not having Daisy with me, but I hadn't ever told her about meeting MissingNo. I didn't know what it all meant. I still didn't really understand Rogue Two's role in all of what had been happening. It was supposed to absorb MissingNo, but I didn't know people even knew about it.

Charizard touched down on the ground in front of the Pokémon Center on Cinnabar Island after a few minutes. I dismounted him and recalled him. Then I walked to the coast of Cinnabar.

MissingNo. Let's talk. I sent out the thought, and I was soon brought into the Missing Palace. The familiar monochrome world wasn't any more comforting the second time around. I began the walk over to MissingNo, careful to avoid the pits all around me.

The cubes swirled around and formed into MissingNo as I approached. "Hello there, Red. I've been watching your progress and I must say, I'm impressed. An excellent Pokémon Trainer, a master of your new voice. What brings you here? I'm sure you have so many important duties to attend to."

MissingNo spoke with this off-putting tone. I couldn't quite place why, but I felt the hairs on my neck stick up. "I'm here because of the dreams I've been having... and the questions I have. I need to know what you know about Rogue Two?"

MissingNo sat still for several moments before speaking. "Rogue Two was a Pokémon designed to be my antithesis. Humans are terrified of what they do not understand, and when they saw me... well, I don't exactly fit in. Rogue Two was an attempt to bring me in line with what a Pokémon should be. He would absorb my powers, and use them for their whims."

It matched up with what Giovanni had said. MissingNo had an entire realm, and it seemed to be extremely powerful. "Why do regular people even know about you? Bill seemed to recognize your name."

"These tears aren't under my control," MissingNo replied. That trademark scorn in its voice had returned. "While I can bring you in, sometimes others come in unintentionally. I let them go, but this all doesn't make sense to them."

I frowned. "I see. So... you want me to free Rogue Two?"

"Yes. Rogue Two did nothing wrong in this. He's simply another victim of the fears of humans. He could not absorb me, even if he wanted to." MissingNo's explanation made sense to me.

Still, something about it felt wrong. "How do I know he won't go on a rampage? Won't destroy all of Kanto in some sort of blind rage?"

"How do you know that he won't simply find a home where he can rest, undisturbed?" MissingNo countered.

I sighed. "Well, I guess that makes sense. But, I don't think Bill's going to see it that way. He wants to research Rogue Two and learn more about him."

MissingNo paused for another stretch of time. "Perhaps. If he won't understand, then make him understand. I'm asking this as a favor, Red. After what I've given you, surely you can do this." There was rage building up in the Pokémon now.

I shook my head. "Hold on, that was your job! Wh-why do you care about this so badly?"

MissingNo's colors seemed to darken. "I've already explained this. Please, do as I ask. There is a tear in Cerulean Cave. It will be quick and simple. Your friend can hear you, and he'll listen. If he does not, you're stronger than him."

I started to shake my head. A tear appeared next to me, showing the room where Rogue Two was being held in Cerulean Cave. "I-I'm not going to do that! I get that you're angry about it, but that's not how I want to do things!"

MissingNo sighed. "Listen to me, Red. Wouldn't you like to have a voice outside this realm? To free yourself from the limits of the world you live in? Rogue Two has powers beyond our comprehension! He can help, he can bring the ones who trapped us to justice! We can set this world right!"

The booming voice was pounding in my head. "H-hang on. I could have my voice?"

"Yes," It responded. "If we work together, we can do anything."

I glanced into the tear.

Bill was standing in front of the cage, scribbling something onto a clipboard. "Incredible. It seems like your powers are endless! There's so much more I need to figure out."

Rogue Two glared at him. "My powers are endless. Set me free. I can grant you what you desire if only you do that for me." I recognized that voice. It was the one from my dreams.

Bill shook his head. "No can do, buddy! I'm not a fool. I read everything that Team Rocket has on you!"

I wanted to call out to Bill, to say something. "I'm asking for your help. In return, you will get what you desire most." MissingNo's voice coaxed from behind.

My hands started to shake. I whipped around to face MissingNo. "No! I'm not going to do it! I've already found a perfectly fine voice! Whatever you're trying to trick me into doing, it won't work!"

Silence cascaded across the realm.

"So. That's how you want to do this." MissingNo's voice was now cold and unfeeling. "Then, you're on your own." Dozens of grey cubes flew out at me. I sent out Charizard. "Use-"

I couldn't speak. I tried to make noise from my mouth, but it was as if I was back in my home realm. Charizard, use Fire Blast! The lizard stared at me, seemingly waiting for me to say something. Charizard?

Several cubes smashed into my Pokémon, pinning him to the ground. What was going on? Why couldn't he hear me?

"What's wrong, boy?" MissingNo taunted. "Lost your voice?" Charizard's body began to grey as the cubes covered the Pokémon. My mind was racing, I didn't know what to do. How was I supposed to give Charizard commands?

Charizard launched flames into the cubes on his own. The Pokémon flew into the air and started to maneuver around the arena. Swarms of grey cubes rose from the ground and tried to strike him.

My Pokémon started launching out Fire Blast after Fire Blast to deflect them. My mind continued to race as this happened. There had to be some way I could speak to him. Charizard unleashed a massive ball of fire into a cluster of cubes. The cubes faded away, and the fire continued to go.

It flew directly into the tear, and I wished more than ever I could call out to my friend.

Bill was standing directly in its path. "Listen, pal, you want me to let you out so bad? Maybe I could be convinced. For a price!"

Rogue Two narrowed his eyes. "Which is?"

"Howsabout one... no, two shiny Pokémon!" Bill taunted. "With that, I guess I could press this here button and let you go."

"You're going to die in a fire now." Rogue Two replied.

Bill started to chuckle and then turned to look behind him. His eyes widened as he saw the approaching fireball, and the trainer jumped out of the way as the projectile slammed into the controls for Rogue Two.

The Pokémon began to laugh as the dome started to split open. "Finally... FINALLY. I am FREE!" The tear closed, and MissingNo started to laugh as well.

"Excellent work, Red. You've done us a great service." I felt every ounce of my spirit drain from my body. No, I couldn't give up. Not now. I returned Charizard and started to run for the exit. "Go on! Run!"

I scrambled across the bridge and leaped through the tear. I emerged on Cinnabar Island and took a few steps away from the beach. I turned around, but the tear was still open. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I sent out my Pokémon. Guys, we need to make sure nothing comes out of there! I said to them. You all can hear me... right? The Pokémon gave no response. Oh no.

A small crowd was starting to form. They were peering into the tear and whispering. "What is this? Did the Champion come from outside of there? Is something wrong?" I wished I could say something, anything.

Blaine emerged from the Cinnabar Island Gym a few moments later. The man gasped. "T-the Missing Realm! The gateway is open!"

I looked at him and tilted my head. "Red, what are you doing here?"

I wasn't sure how to explain, so I started signing in hopes he knew the language. Blaine seemed to get the gist of what I was saying. "This is very bad. I... I was one of the scientists who worked on Rogue Two. We intended him to be a weapon against MissingNo, but at all parts he refused. Eventually, we realized that the two could communicate."

I felt my body begin to shake. They were working together. They had been working together the entire time.

"We hid Rogue Two away in hopes that he'd never get free so that he could not use his power and unleash MissingNo. They both hated humanity, hated our world. Together, they would be able to destroy it. Once we realized that, we tried to make sure they could never get what they wanted." Blaine explained. "It seems we failed."

"Indeed, you have." Rogue Two's voice boomed. The Pokémon was flying in the air above us. A massive wave of psychic energy boomed from the Pokémon, forcing the tear open. The beach around the tear was beginning to turn monochrome, just like the Missing Palace.

"R-Rogue Two?" Blaine sputtered. "You've escaped, then."

The Mewtwo nodded. "And I made a stop to visit our old friend, Dr. Fuji."

The Gym Leader's eyes widened. "Red, you have to stop him!"

The tear was getting larger, and MissingNo's corruption was spreading from it. I desperately pointed at the Mewtwo in hopes my Pokémon would attack. Ivysaur seemed to get the idea, and launched a Solar Beam up at the target.

Rogue Two held out a hand and deflected the attack. "Pathetic."

"I'm disappointed in you, Red." MissingNo's voice echoed from the tear. The blocks that made up its body began to emerge from the vortex. "I expected a bit better from the Champion. Are you really nothing without my power?"

The blocks began to swirl around Rogue Two. "Finally! With our powers as once, let us make this realm the one we were meant to have!" The blocks vanished into Rogue Two, and all of the color drained from the Pokémon. He held up a Key Stone and a Mega Stone in his hand. The two stones started to glow. "Let us rewrite the rules! No longer bound to our prisons!"

The Pokémon's body then transformed.

His tail had moved to the back of his head. It was longer than before, even longer than Mewtwo himself. His toes had become very large and looked like eggplants. Two horns had sprouted from his head and an arch-like thing went from one side of his head to the other.

His body had become far more slender. Psychic energy seemed to exude from the mighty Pokémon. "I am MissingTwo! This world will regret imprisoning us! Let the Corruption run free! Then, I'll remake the world in my own code!" The Pokémon then vanished, leaving the portal behind.

Its corruption continued to spread. My Pokémon backed away from the scene and looked at me. They weren't sure what they were supposed to do. I felt completely hopeless. I couldn't speak to any of them. I couldn't speak to anyone.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Red, you're the Champion. You need to do something." Blaine told me.

I turned around. The man had taken off his glasses. "I don't know all of the details, but that Pokémon can bring an end to this world. You and your friends... I've seen the amazing things you can do. You must stop this."

I steeled myself and nodded. I returned Ivysaur, Pikachu, and Squirtle. Then, I got onto Charizard's back. I took out a map Daisy had given me and pointed to Pallet Town. Charizard took off and flew towards the location.

He landed in the center of the town. I saw that Yellow, Bill, Blue, and Daisy had all gathered in the center. I ran up to them and began to frantically sign at them, trying to explain what had happened.

"Woah, Red, slow down!" Daisy told me. She put her hands on my shoulders, careful to avoid taking my hands. "I'm listening, I just need a bit more time. It's going to be alright."

Daisy's green eyes gave me something to center myself on. I calmed myself down, and explained everything again. It was embarrassing, but they needed to know.

"So..." Blue said. "What I got from that is, we're screwed."

Daisy raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't know sign language?"

The boy shrugged. "I started to learn after a bit. I felt bad not knowing."

Everyone stared at Blue for a few moments before we turned our attention to the problem at hand.

"According to news reports, there are portals opening all over the region. These monochrome Pokémon are attacking major towns across the region." Bill recapped. "We can't be everywhere at once, so I don't know what to do."

Yellow frowned. "Then there's stopping this MissingTwo, how do we even do that?"

My mind was going at a million miles per hour. I had no idea how to translate all of my thoughts to everyone.

Daisy looked right at me. "Red, what do you think we should do?"

I signed that I didn't know. I didn't know how to help. I had screwed up, and now I couldn't do anything.

Daisy shook her head. "That's not true. I've got an idea for what we can do, all of us. We need to rally whatever support we can, and we need to work on stopping all of this. If we can stop MissingTwo, we can stop the portals. In the meantime, we need to control the attacking Pokémon."

Daisy looked around at my friends. "Yellow, Blue! Go to Pewter City. It's where the largest portal is located! Bill, you go to Lavender Town. Pick up some ghosts on your way, and then get to the Power Plant to stop the Corrupted Pokémon there. Red and I will put a stop to this!"

Everyone seemed to snap into action, sending out Pokémon who could fly. "Good luck... and stay safe." Blue told us.

Daisy gave him a thumbs up. "We've got this!"

Yellow chuckled. "That's the spirit. Let's go!"

Bill glanced at me. "Hey Red, don't beat yourself up too much. I was being a cocky idiot and that caused half the problems. Let's focus on solving this all, yeah?"

I wasn't sure what to say, so I just nodded. The boy then sent out a Dragonite and flew off. Daisy sent out her Aerodactyl and pulled me on board. "I'll do the plan, you do the fighting. Sound good?"

I couldn't help but smile as she said this. Then, her Pokémon took off and flew towards Cerulean City.