Disclaimers and hoopla: Nintendo and company own Pokemon, I don't. Please don't sue. I have no money. And besides, it's free publicity. Part 4 of "Moonlight Shadows and Echoes Past".
Much of the PG-13 comes in here for violence. Imagine yourself in battle with a crazed Tyranitar and you can guess why. In this section, *finally*, Mewtwo, Sharie, and Madhea come face-to-face for the first time. Enjoy, and please tell me what you think. Feedback helps me along. I know there is a lot of dialogue in this one but it is necessary--Mewtwo won't know what to make of these strangers at first. And thank you, Mystic Mewtwo, for your continued encouragement--especially since I am 21 years old and like pokemon anyways. I've since learned that there are much older pokemon fans out there :D
Of Moonlight Shadows and Echoes Past, chapter 4
By ZeoViolet
****
This was a real problem.
Mewtwo was a Legendary Pokemon. One of the most powerful in the world.
The Tyranitar was completely unaffected by Mewtwo's psychic attacks, and Mewtwo was losing rapidly. The Tyranitar was also, evidently, many levels higher and equipped with numerous powerful attacks--including dark attacks, the biggest weakness of any Psychic.
From her vintage point, Sharie could see the astonishment in Mewtwo's face as none of his attacks had any effect. Obviously, this was his first encounter with a dark-type pokemon.
Sharie figured she should not be surprised. It was only recently that another huge wave of pokemon had been discovered. Mewtwo had escaped at the time when the number known was not much higher than 150. He had forcibly isolated himself and his fellow clones since then.
So the fact that this pokemon was not affected by his attacks was as much a shock to him as the fact that he was losing the battle.
"What do we do?" whispered Madhea mentally. "We can't just....leave him there."
Sharie shook her head. "Yes, we must help. But outright attacking that creature would be suicide. You are a Psychic pokemon also, and I can only do a few attacks outside of Psychic myself. I can't talk to a dark-type telepathically or even enter their minds against their will, even if I tried. They have to grant permission. I will see if I can contact Mewtwo telepathically. Maybe from here I can help him hold that beast off until we can get closer."
"Be careful," warned Madhea.
Sharie nodded, closing her eyes for a moment and drawing in a deep breath. Praying this went right and Mewtwo would hear her, she sent a simple, one-word thought.
*Mewtwo.*
She opened her eyes. She saw him visibly start, but he had not known where her voice had come from. The giant beast used Faint Attack on him, so fast Mewtwo was knocked flat backwards. Again the ground shook.
*Mewtwo. Can you hear me?*
"Who is it?" he sounded startled, and she could hear his psychic voice from where she was at.
*Mewtwo, the creature you are battling is called a Tyranitar. It is a dark-type pokemon.*
"So? Where are you? I have little time for a lesson in pokemon, and I have never heard of a Dark type."
*This information could save your tail, Mewtwo. Dark-types were recently discovered. They are completely, and I mean *completely*, immune to Psychic attacks--of any kind. Nothing you throw at it can harm it. And what's more, that pokemon is at peak level--level 100.*
"That is news to me. Where are you? How do you know my name?"
*I am up above you. I can answer the rest of your questions later. Right now I want to help you.*
The Tyrantiar pinned him against the opposite cliff wall, and Mewtwo struggled as his eyes travelled upwards.
He was so shocked he froze, not a good thing to do with another pinning you, by your throat, against a cliff wall.
Staring down at him was a pair of amethyst eyes idencial in color to his own--but set in a face that was very clearly human, young, and female.
It was a human teenage girl!
"Who are you?" he asked again, struggling against his opponent. "How can you even talk to me this way?"
*Later, Mewtwo. Listen to me, I beg of you. Tyranitar are dark pokemon, but they are also of the rock type. Listen carefully--Mews are said to be able to learn almost all special attacks of other pokemon. Giovanni did not train you to do that. But I see no reason why you can't yourself, if you try. Little else you do can affect the Tyranitar. Deep within you are the abilities to not just control temperature, but things like water attacks as well, and ice attacks. Rock pokemon are weak to water. Ice is not a total weakness but won't help him, either. You must look inside yourself--find that way of manipulating power that you've always had, but you've simply never used. I will try to get closer and help you."
Her mention of Giovanni froze him, but the Tyranitar's sinking of his teeth into Mewtwo's shoulder in a Bite attack, nearly breaking it in the process, swiftly drew his attention away. He would have to contemplate that later. He did not know exactly who--or *what*--he was, but this was not how he pictured he would meet his end.
Were her words even true? He hoped he lived long enough to find out. Rock pokemon were weak to--what else? Fighting attacks! He did know a few of those.
Struggling hard, he forced the Tyrantiar's teeth out of his shoulder, dimly shocked he did not bleed more than a little. He put his hands up to the clawed hand about his throat, and at the same time, kicked hard with the fighting-move energy he had learned to use long ago under Giovanni.
Something happened, for the pokemon let go of him, bellowing in pain.
Weakly Mewtwo sank to the ground.
*Now, Mewtwo! Try! He is not going to be dazed for long!*
Mewtwo had little time to think. How could he do something so fast, when he had never done it before?
Vaguely, he remebered the sensations he had picked up from Dewgong and Vaporeon when they used their ice attacks. His heart beat fast as he looked inside himself, searching for a way of manipulating his energy in a way he nad not tried before--in a similar fashion to what he had felt his fellow clones do.
To his utter surprise, he found that the power did indeed respond, in many differnet ways. But which one was which....how could he make that energy into a water or ice-type attack?
His first attempt a failure, he opened his eyes in horror, seeing that the Tyranitar was opening his mouth, and preparing to unleash a Hyper Beam. He had to fight himself to keep concentrating. At level 100, that would surely even finish him off.
Out of nowhere came a blast of freezingly cold wind. Suddenly, the Tyranitar slipped and staggered, the victim of an Ice Beam. Where from, Mewtwo hadn't a clue.
*You can do it, Mewtwo! Try again, while he is distracted! Summon a Blizzard or Hydro Pump! I will try and summon the water from the river to help you.*
*Summon....how can she summon....* He had no time to dwell on her words. Mewtwo summoned the last of his energy, and manipulated the type of energy he unleashed with all his limited ability. Around him, the temperature dropped abruptly as it finally responded to his wishes.
There was a fierce howling, shrieking wind as Mewtwo hit the Tyranitar with a full-force Blizzard attack. It hit the fierce creature point-blank, and he staggered with the sever blow to his HP level.
To Mewtwo's shock, the nearby river decided, at that moment, to take on a life of it's own. A huge wave came up and neatly plucked the Tyranitar away, sloshing him into the river currents and sweeping him downstream, all in a flash, while leaving Mewtwo untouched.
Just before he dropped again, Mewtwo looked up in time to see the girl's eyes glowing the color his did when he used his powers!
With a sigh, he dropped. He did not quite faint, but his energy was gone. Whomever the girl was, she had caught him at a very vulnerable moment.
Knowing Mewtwo was out of immediate danger, Sharie turned and, Madhea at her heels, skittered down the cliff edge, around the sides where it wasn't so steep. Heedless of her own safety, she knew that she had to help Mewtwo, even if she was placing herself at risk.
When she reached him, his eyes were closed and he was nearly limp, except for his gritting his teeth in utter pain. That told her he wasn't quite unconcious. However, he surely *looked* in bad shape.
"Are you okay?" he heard a human female voice, speaking aloud this time. "That was close--fully evolved Tyrantar are extremely rare, even moreso than Dragonite, and even more powerful. I never thought I'd see one, much less a wild one at it's highest level."
He opened his eyes weakly to see the strange human girl digging in her pack. She pulled out something.
"Here." she was speaking quietly, as if she was aware of how much he was hurting and did not want to add to it. "This is Full Restore. It will heal you quickly."
She held the small vial to his mouth, and to his own utter surprise, he did not protest the movement.
"I know your trust in humans is limited," she said quietly. "But drink this. I would not harm you."
*How does she know?* His amethyst eyes met hers, and he saw sincerity in them. Plus, he was in too much pain to put up much of a protest at the moment. Gently she supported his head so he could swallow the contents of the vial in one quick movement, before gritting his teth again against the pain.
Almost immediately, however, he could feel new strength flooding his tissues. Holding back a groan, he sat up, opening his eyes and looking at her again.
"You saved my life there, and for that, I do thank you," he admitted quietly, not sure in the least of what to make of her. "But now--who are you? How do you know my name and so much about me?"
"My name is Sharie Triesta," she said quietly. "I came looking for you, Mewtwo."
"And how do you know my name?" he asked, staring at her, regarding her closely--and cautiously.
"Because I have known of you for a long time. I have always known of you."
The way she said it made him scrutiny her even closer. Was it just his imagination, or did she seem familiar? The face--the eyes--where had he seen someone similar to her before? Except--a man...That Triesta man...those brothers...no...it was not possible....was it?
"It was not for myself that I came seeking you," said Sharie. "But for someone else entirely."
"Are you--" Mewtwo began, then stopped at the sudden movement as a smaller form appeared at Sharie's side. He absolutely froze, unable to start again.
He had seen Madhea.
****
For several seconds, Mewtwo and Madhea could only stare at each other, her calmly, him with utter and total shock.
Sharie rose quietly and placed a protective hand on Madhea's shoulder, not knowing for certain what Mewtwo's reation would be.
The protective nature of her movements finally drew Mewtwo's attention, at least a little.
"Another....like myself?" he asked, dumbfounded. He was too shocked to be angry. "Another Mewtwo?"
Sharie nodded, clearly on guard. "Yes. Madhea is the reason I came seeking you."
*That* seemed to finally unlock Mewtwo from his trancelike state. Abruptly, he stood up, ignoring the screaming pain in his body.
"Who are you?!" he fairly demanded. "How is it that you have a Mewtwo, and a small one at that, eagerly obeying you like some slave?"
Sharie kept her hands tightly on Madhea's shoulders. She had rather expected this reaction, but was taking no chances. She did not like his change in tone at any rate. "Madhea does not belong to me. As I said, she is the reason I sought you out."
"I heard you mention Giovanni," he said, clearly on his guard and fighting impulse at the moment. Not just yet--not until he knew for certain what he was dealing with. "Are you Team Rocket?"
"Absolutely not! I know better than to wade in such evil. Besides, you erased most of their memory of you."
"Then how do you know so much of me?" Mewtwo was growing impatient, and Sharie knew she could not really fault him.
She also could not lie to him. He did not deserve lies--not after all he had been through.
"I am not Team Rocket," she said again, then braced herself and stood directly in front of Madhea, to protect her. "My father and Uncle were the scientists who created you, Mewtwo."
She saw him clench his hands into fists, and saw him tense, as if suddenly fighting some deep impulse borne of rage. She figured she knew what kind of emotions and thoughts were reeling in his mind. She herself tensed, but he made no other move. He was quiet for a long time.
"Triesta's kid?" When he did speak, he sounded very bitter, and justifiably so.
"They survived the destruction to New Island, Mewtwo."
"And went on to create more clones?" he asked, bitterly, holding his anger tightly in check. "Is there a whole army now that I know nothing about?"
"Madhea is the only other. Neither my father, Donningan, nor my uncle Daryn were responsible for creating her. Team Rocket stole their techniques. She was cloned in a different fashion, from an ovum. She was born at fetal maturity instead of physical maturity like you were. That is why she looks like a child, because she is one."
Mewtwo was staring at her again, saying nothing, just wanting explanations before he judged their fate. Sharie herself still felt like she was standing on the executioner's block.
"You erased most of Team Rocket's memory of you," she said softly. "Months ago right here at Mt. Quena. Most of the scientists creating her were called away for a few days to help plan your recapture. Only one remembered, because he had been left behind at the airbase. He alone remebered Madhea was still floating somewhere in an artificial womb. He felt guilty. He wrote to my father and confessed everything. When I found Madhea she was almost dead from neglect. Nobody remembered her so nobody returned."
Something else flashed in Mewtwo's eyes at her words--pain.
"How would you know so much about so many intimate parts of my life--unless you were involved?" he ground out. "You were responsible for that wave of water, and you can talk to me with your mind. I don't know in the least how you did it, but someone with your ability would have been snapped up by Team Rocket long ago."
"I have no explanations for my powers. I was born with them. My family has a long history of scientists and Psychics both. But what I have defies nature, different from everyone else's abilities. From the first they've stamped me as different and an outcast. Da's co-workers often treated me like I was an experiment subject and nothing more, and I am a scientist by training, no less. For whatever my word is worth, I swear to you I am not of Team Rocket and their evil filth. Madhea I brought to you for the same reasons you seek to escape humanity's grasp yourself."
She saw his eyes widen. "Yes, I know of that. I know of how you attempted to take over the world from your fortress on New Island. From the beginning every time your life's path has taken a curve, I have known. I guess I am unusually tuned to pokemon. Something happens to you, I black out. The next thing I know I am standing beside you as it all happens. You can't see me, I can't talk to you. But I see, and I know. Down to the last lurid details."
She had already said enough for him to know that, at least on that, she was not lying to him. The emotion blazing in her eyes had to be truth--no liar could look at him like that. He slowly walked around her, examining her every angle. Now he remembered feeling watched once or twice from within his own mind, at such critical moments in his life. Had that been her presence?
He thought about scanning her mind, but her mental sheilds were so advanced he would have trouble getting through--and she would surely notice if she was a psychic human. He had heard of those--spoonbenders. But he had never heard of one who did what she had done.
"If you are telling the truth, daughter of my creators," he said slowly, "then you know how I feel about your family."
Numbly, she nodded her head.
"And yet, you came to me. Did you believe bringing another to me, like myself, a pokemon--a *clone*--was worth the risk to yourself?"
The slightly mocking edge startled her, but something in his eyes told her otherwise. He was testing her, she realized. Even so, she grew angry and hurt at his words.
"How can you ask that?" she cried out. "Look at her!" She lifted up Madhea, who stared at him silently. The girl pokemon had yet to say a word to him, but her eyes were clearly following every word. Sharie went on angrily, unable to help herself.
"This is Madhea! She is a living, breathing being! I rescued her from death and I have grown to love her in a way that I never allowed myself to feel before! And yet, I am human, a person that, in your own words, is a member of a dangerous race. She is not safe by my side. She is already very powerful, and she needs a place where she can grow up in safety and peace, away from greedy, evil humans like Giovanni or heartless scientists. Yes, it is damn well worth the risk to see to her safety and security, and overall, her happiness! I never had a purpose in my life until I met Madhea, and I am willing to go to any lengths to protect her. The best place she could be is with you, the only other one like herself. There is little proof of my words that I can offer you, Mewtwo, except my promise."
Despite himself, Mewtwo was stunned speechless by her outburst. Could a person--a *human*--really care so much? Especially for another pokemon, a clone? A reflection, like himself--and a shadow?
Sharie's eyes filled with fire. Even so, she spoke quietly, forcing her temper under control. "Madhea and I already have to walk in the shadows of moonlight," she whispered. "Please...don't condemn her to total darkness. What has happened to her was no fault of her own. She deserves her chance. You deserved yours. She needs hers."
"I would not harm the child," he said, his voice now much more subdued. Now he had utter confusion to add to the mix of emotions in him now. "But--you--tell me one more thing. Did you come to Mt. Quena with any ulterior motive besides Madhea?"
"Yes," Sharie answered without hesistation. "I came seeking the healing waters of Mt. Quena."
****
Mewtwo's eyes widened, and his mouth set. "I believe you have said the wrong thing, and if so, beware," he warned softly. "Why do you seek them?"
"It is not for me," Sharie answered. She picked up Madhea again. "It is for Madhea's sake."
His eyes questioned her.
"When I first found Madhea, she was nearly dead. She was very tiny, even though she was past due to have been born from the artificial womb she had been floating in. The water had become contaminated, and she was very ill. It took me days to bring her out of it. But a side of her remains frail. Her immune system is crippled. A cold could kill her. Her coloring is not as it should be. That is why I seek the waters of Mt. Quena--for surely, it will restore her to full health and release her hidden potential. She deserves that much." Her eyes met with Mewtwo's again. "For this reason, and no other, do I seek Mt. Quena."
Such emotion was blazing in her eyes he found he could not doubt the truth of her words. If she was telling the total truth, then was it possible she was...well, different from the rest of her family?
To him, it was a doubtful question at best. But lessons learned the hard way were not often forgotten. Everyone deserved their second chance, and appearances were not always the truth. Ash had taught him, also, that it did not matter so much how a person was given the gift of life--it was how one used it that determined their identities. It seemed the case here--could he really throw away all he had ever learned, just because outside appearances told him something different than what he was sensing from the inside?
And--what about the one like himself? The one whose sudden appearance made him realize he was not the only one like himself in the world?
How did she see things? Was she Sharie's willing pokemon--or was she truly free, her will unbent or unbroken, as Sharie claimed?
"Would you let me speak to her?" he asked. "She has not said a word to me. I want to know what she thinks."
"That's because I have been watching you," said Madhea, out of the blue. "I do not want you to hurt Sharie. But go ahead, ask me anything. I'll try to answer."
The sudden forwardness caught Mewtwo by surprise. She had spoken psychically, like he did, but the tone of her mental voice made it clear she was a girl and not a boy.
"Would you come with me a ways?" he asked. "I want to speak to you alone."
Madhea hesistated, and looked backwards at Sharie anxiously.
"Don't worry, I will not suddenly whisk you away," Mewtwo assured her. At that, Madhea nodded and followed him a short distance away, where Sharie could still see them but could not outright hear their psychic voices.
"Your name is Madhea?" Mewtwo asked.
Madhea nodded. "Sharie gave that name to me. Better that then us both responding to the same name, I believe?"
Despite himself, he smiled. Her intelligence was becoming quickly evident.
"How much of me do you know, Madhea?" he asked quietly. "Are her words true, to your knowledge?"
"Sharie is a good person, and a very honest one," came the answer. "She told me everything she knew about you. Giovanni trained you in psychic attacks only. He told you in a very cold fashion that you were created *by* humans to *obey* humans--that was your destiny. You did not take too kindly to the concept. I would not have, either."
She had mimicked Giovanni in the way she said the words, and her imitation was so accurate it sent chills up Mewtwo's spine. He stopped talking for a minute, as did she, as he quietly contemplated her. Indeed, there was a frail edge that was about her--it was barely noticeable, but there. She had a ghostly-pale edge to her skin tone he did not think should be there. If that was the case, then Sharie was telling the truth abou that.
Her personality did not seem bent or broken. Nor did her wrods sound coached. In fact, in many ways it seemed quite the opposite. There was something...well, solid about her. A security to her nature, a confidence he lacked. Of course, when had he ever been able to develop such confidence? He had been betrayed too often, floundered so much on deciding what his destiny ought to be, or even who he was. It was no wonder it had never developed.
That was part of the explanation right there, he realized. Madhea must have known some security in her life I never experienced. It was pretty obvious that she had never left Sharie's side before.
"How have you been treated, Madhea?" he asked. "Are you Sharie's pokemon?"
"Sharie's not my master. She told me herself she is my equal. She's never given me cause to think I was below her in any way. She's trained me, but only because I asked her to. Not once has she ever engaged me in a pokemon battle. In fact, she goes out of her way to make sure that I can do nothing for her in return. She has never asked anything of me, in return for all she has done. I rather wish she would, at least once, so I could somehow do something for her in return--but she won't. I think she's afraid to ask anything of me, because she fears I might see it as her trying to take control of me."
The rather forcible way she said the last few sentences surprised him. The look in her eyes, absolutely identical in color to his own, reflected all she had said. She wasn't lying. In fact, he got the inkling that the last few sentences were something she had never before even mentioned to Sharie, that it might be how she felt.
"She has never asked *anything* of you?"
"Not without my consent. The only experimenting she ever did on me was medications when I got sick. She uses her science knowledge in an offhand fashion--never once have I seen her scribbling notes on me or secretly programming her pokedex with information on Mewtwos."
"I see," he said slowly. "Madhea--what is your destiny? Do you know?"
"I want to make my own destiny. I have walked in the shadows those of us different seem to inhabit, but I see no reason to not walk elsewhere, as well. Our souls aren't different from non-cloned pokemon. Sharie's soul is not different just because she was born with powers that, as she puts it, no human should have. Life is life once it exists. It should not matter in the end whether it came into being because of science or the more natural way. I have eyes to see and a heart that knows better than that. It is only the standards set by others that forcibly set us apart."
Mewtwo needed no further explanations. She understood the shadows of moonlight as much as he did--and yet, she had a more optimistic look at life and the world around her. No pokemon whose will was bent to another being's could say that with confidence. He would have known if she was coached into saying the words. Sincerity was in her eyes.
*And....she is like me,* he realized again. *She is...truly like myself, even though she is a child. Maybe....maybe....I don't have to be alone anymore?*
Something deep within him shifted. Slowly, he found himself extending his hand to Madhea--in a sense, offering himself in a way he had never thought he could do. He could not stop himself--the impluse, the desire, to not be alone was by now too strong to ignore any longer.
She looked at his hand, then in his eyes--and smiled, deciding that, despite everything, she liked him. She reached up, meeting his tri-fingered hand with her own.
For several moments they held, clarifying the thought in each other's minds--*this is real.*
It was several seconds before he released her hand, deciding something.
"Come," he said quietly, turning back in Sharie's direction. Madhea followed him.
When he reached Sharie, he stood before her, looking down into her eyes again. In their depths was fear--she was afraid of him and what he might do.
But mixed in their depths was love and determination, for Madhea. She had been willing to risk everything to see to the young pokemon's happiness. He did not like her or who she was, but for now he decided to give her the benefit of the doubt--if all went wrong, he could simply erase her memory and be done with it. In fact, he'd end up doing that anyways.
"This may be the most foolish decision of my life," he announced quietly. "But you did save my life. The young one seems unbent to your will, and she has obviously grown up happy and secure. That must say something. I do not wish ill feeling on Madhea. After thinking about all of this, I have decided to escort you both to Mt. Quena."
Sharie's muscles relaxed in relief. This alone was much more than she hoped for.
"Thank you," she whispered. "It will mean so much to me to see Madhea as healthy as she can be. She deserves so much more than I can give her. Here....she can get that."
Mewtwo did not directly answer her, but he did relax more around her. She was glad he no longer was judging her an outright threat.
"Just do not make me regret my decision," he said at last. "I am not used to placing trust of any sort in humans. If you know as much as you claim then you understand that, and why."
"I do, unfortunately," she answered somberly. "My father and uncle--how they handled treatment of you was wrong. They would never have acted as they did if they had not been so buried in grief already. Usually they are very gentle men. Especially my father has psychic ability of his own--he of all of them should have known better. It was only out of desperation and the promise of free help that led to their tainted alliance with Team Rocket."
"Am I so tainted to you?" he asked, guardedly. That hurt. If that was her thinking, why had she brought Madhea to him, since she obviously cared about the girl so much?
Sharie sighed. Her heart ached for him, but he was so doubting! How could she pound what she wanted him to know into his mind? Mewtwo's opinion of himself was as low as her own opinion of herself.
"I said Team Rocket was tainted, not you. It was how they were treating life, as nothing more than machines or labratory specimines. They did not bother to ask the pokemon how they felt. Life is *life* once it exists, Mewtwo! No creature can live without a soul, and regarless of *how* all life is created, we all have one!" In this she unknowingly echoed Madhea's own words. "No judgement or discretion have I ever seen passed in that area. You might be copied, but your soul is your own. Your soul is no shadow of another's. And your heart lets you feel. Can a shadow feel? Does a shadow care what is done to it--does a shadow have a heart? If the sun or moon goes behind the clouds, does a shadow care if it vanishes?"
Mewtwo had gone very silent. If that was her way of saying she did not think he was somehow tainted or unnatural--well, he did not know what to think.
But deep down, her words had a merit on him he could not begin to describe.
He looked at her again, and to his own surprise, felt a small smile curving his lips. Her words echoed in his mind--"Can a shadow feel? Does a shadow have a heart?"
*This shadow does,* he thought to himself. *When a shadow is a living creature. Strange that a shadow could have more substance than most solid originals that I've met. I've always considered myself a shadow--is it possible to be anything more to the world than that? Could I be?*
He doubted it, but he had no idea just then how deeply her words had affected him.
"Let us go," he said quietly, gesturing towards Mt. Quena.
Sharie smiled in relief. Mewtwo began to glow a deep blue color, and he lifted into the air.
His intent had been on taking them with him in this fashion. But when he turned to look at both of them, his eyes widened in surprise.
Not Madeha. She should have had the same ability by now. She was calmly floating in midair as if nothing was wrong.
But Sharie's eyes glowed for a moment, and then the same glow surrounded her body. Slowly she rose into the air, where she took Madhea's hand securely in hers.
"You can fly, too?" he asked, utterly dumbfounded.
"I don't use it a lot, but I can. The most powerful of Psychic humans can levitate themselves, but it is still a rare ability and takes more energy and concentration for them than what I usually use. In fact, except when I taught Madhea how to do it, I've used it even less lately. But it sure beats climbing."
To his own surprise, Mewtwo smiled at her. For some odd reason, she just did not seem as bad a person as she should have been, considering who she was. If she was anybody else he could probably even like her a lot.
But the reminder of her blood ties was very painful. Maybe what her family had done was no fault of her own, and he really should not hold her responsible for their actions. But still, she was closely connected to those he hated, and that alone would always cause him to doubt her, deep down.
He just could not risk getting so hurt again. Moonlight was his world and the only source of brightness he had. If it was extinguished, so would the last of his hope.
Sharie followed Mewtwo though the air, towards the mountain in the distance. The flat peak rose high above the surrounding countryside.
*It is broad daylight,* Sharie sent to Mewtwo. *I don't think you want Luna Carson or Cullen Calix to spot us, do you?*
*No,* he sent back. Goodness, she even knew about that pair, he mused.
His eyes glowed momentarily. *I garauntee they won't see us now,* he sent back.
*What did you do?*
*I made the water pipes turn on and off by themselves a few times and the heater in their house to start making funny noises. They'll be inside for awhile trying to investigate problems that don't exist. To busy to chance going outdoors and looking upwards.*
Madhea, who had flown up beside him, suddenly giggled out loud. Mewtwo looked at her, startled. He had never laughed aloud before, and it was strange seeing Madhea do it.
Madhea only looked at him impishly and smiled.
*The smile of a happy soul,* Mewtwo realized with a pang.
*Mewtwo?* It was Sharie again. *I admit I did not expect to find you around Mt. Quena again. The last time I blacked out, in the end I saw you leave the mountain along with that Ash kid and his friends, and that one Team Rocket pair you spared the memories of. I was not sure you would ever come back.*
*We are there part of the month, the least busy time,* he answered. *When travelers start to come to catch the next bus across the valley, we leave for awhile, and indeed roam. I am taking no chances.*
Sharie thought she saw his reasoning. *I can understand why.*
She said nothing more, and they reached the mountain caves, where several large waterfalls splashed out and down from the hollow mountain interior.
"We are here," said Mewtwo, slowing down. "The spring and Clarity Lake are in here, hidden inside Mt. Quena."
****
End chapter 4
Like it? At least a little? I argued with myself for a long time, figuring out how Mewtwo would actually react--with the impulsive anger he was famous for in the first movie, or at least *trying* to give Sharie the benefit of the doubt, as he seems to have learned to do.
Don't worry, folks, part 5 is on the way. Stay tuned.
Much of the PG-13 comes in here for violence. Imagine yourself in battle with a crazed Tyranitar and you can guess why. In this section, *finally*, Mewtwo, Sharie, and Madhea come face-to-face for the first time. Enjoy, and please tell me what you think. Feedback helps me along. I know there is a lot of dialogue in this one but it is necessary--Mewtwo won't know what to make of these strangers at first. And thank you, Mystic Mewtwo, for your continued encouragement--especially since I am 21 years old and like pokemon anyways. I've since learned that there are much older pokemon fans out there :D
Of Moonlight Shadows and Echoes Past, chapter 4
By ZeoViolet
****
This was a real problem.
Mewtwo was a Legendary Pokemon. One of the most powerful in the world.
The Tyranitar was completely unaffected by Mewtwo's psychic attacks, and Mewtwo was losing rapidly. The Tyranitar was also, evidently, many levels higher and equipped with numerous powerful attacks--including dark attacks, the biggest weakness of any Psychic.
From her vintage point, Sharie could see the astonishment in Mewtwo's face as none of his attacks had any effect. Obviously, this was his first encounter with a dark-type pokemon.
Sharie figured she should not be surprised. It was only recently that another huge wave of pokemon had been discovered. Mewtwo had escaped at the time when the number known was not much higher than 150. He had forcibly isolated himself and his fellow clones since then.
So the fact that this pokemon was not affected by his attacks was as much a shock to him as the fact that he was losing the battle.
"What do we do?" whispered Madhea mentally. "We can't just....leave him there."
Sharie shook her head. "Yes, we must help. But outright attacking that creature would be suicide. You are a Psychic pokemon also, and I can only do a few attacks outside of Psychic myself. I can't talk to a dark-type telepathically or even enter their minds against their will, even if I tried. They have to grant permission. I will see if I can contact Mewtwo telepathically. Maybe from here I can help him hold that beast off until we can get closer."
"Be careful," warned Madhea.
Sharie nodded, closing her eyes for a moment and drawing in a deep breath. Praying this went right and Mewtwo would hear her, she sent a simple, one-word thought.
*Mewtwo.*
She opened her eyes. She saw him visibly start, but he had not known where her voice had come from. The giant beast used Faint Attack on him, so fast Mewtwo was knocked flat backwards. Again the ground shook.
*Mewtwo. Can you hear me?*
"Who is it?" he sounded startled, and she could hear his psychic voice from where she was at.
*Mewtwo, the creature you are battling is called a Tyranitar. It is a dark-type pokemon.*
"So? Where are you? I have little time for a lesson in pokemon, and I have never heard of a Dark type."
*This information could save your tail, Mewtwo. Dark-types were recently discovered. They are completely, and I mean *completely*, immune to Psychic attacks--of any kind. Nothing you throw at it can harm it. And what's more, that pokemon is at peak level--level 100.*
"That is news to me. Where are you? How do you know my name?"
*I am up above you. I can answer the rest of your questions later. Right now I want to help you.*
The Tyrantiar pinned him against the opposite cliff wall, and Mewtwo struggled as his eyes travelled upwards.
He was so shocked he froze, not a good thing to do with another pinning you, by your throat, against a cliff wall.
Staring down at him was a pair of amethyst eyes idencial in color to his own--but set in a face that was very clearly human, young, and female.
It was a human teenage girl!
"Who are you?" he asked again, struggling against his opponent. "How can you even talk to me this way?"
*Later, Mewtwo. Listen to me, I beg of you. Tyranitar are dark pokemon, but they are also of the rock type. Listen carefully--Mews are said to be able to learn almost all special attacks of other pokemon. Giovanni did not train you to do that. But I see no reason why you can't yourself, if you try. Little else you do can affect the Tyranitar. Deep within you are the abilities to not just control temperature, but things like water attacks as well, and ice attacks. Rock pokemon are weak to water. Ice is not a total weakness but won't help him, either. You must look inside yourself--find that way of manipulating power that you've always had, but you've simply never used. I will try to get closer and help you."
Her mention of Giovanni froze him, but the Tyranitar's sinking of his teeth into Mewtwo's shoulder in a Bite attack, nearly breaking it in the process, swiftly drew his attention away. He would have to contemplate that later. He did not know exactly who--or *what*--he was, but this was not how he pictured he would meet his end.
Were her words even true? He hoped he lived long enough to find out. Rock pokemon were weak to--what else? Fighting attacks! He did know a few of those.
Struggling hard, he forced the Tyrantiar's teeth out of his shoulder, dimly shocked he did not bleed more than a little. He put his hands up to the clawed hand about his throat, and at the same time, kicked hard with the fighting-move energy he had learned to use long ago under Giovanni.
Something happened, for the pokemon let go of him, bellowing in pain.
Weakly Mewtwo sank to the ground.
*Now, Mewtwo! Try! He is not going to be dazed for long!*
Mewtwo had little time to think. How could he do something so fast, when he had never done it before?
Vaguely, he remebered the sensations he had picked up from Dewgong and Vaporeon when they used their ice attacks. His heart beat fast as he looked inside himself, searching for a way of manipulating his energy in a way he nad not tried before--in a similar fashion to what he had felt his fellow clones do.
To his utter surprise, he found that the power did indeed respond, in many differnet ways. But which one was which....how could he make that energy into a water or ice-type attack?
His first attempt a failure, he opened his eyes in horror, seeing that the Tyranitar was opening his mouth, and preparing to unleash a Hyper Beam. He had to fight himself to keep concentrating. At level 100, that would surely even finish him off.
Out of nowhere came a blast of freezingly cold wind. Suddenly, the Tyranitar slipped and staggered, the victim of an Ice Beam. Where from, Mewtwo hadn't a clue.
*You can do it, Mewtwo! Try again, while he is distracted! Summon a Blizzard or Hydro Pump! I will try and summon the water from the river to help you.*
*Summon....how can she summon....* He had no time to dwell on her words. Mewtwo summoned the last of his energy, and manipulated the type of energy he unleashed with all his limited ability. Around him, the temperature dropped abruptly as it finally responded to his wishes.
There was a fierce howling, shrieking wind as Mewtwo hit the Tyranitar with a full-force Blizzard attack. It hit the fierce creature point-blank, and he staggered with the sever blow to his HP level.
To Mewtwo's shock, the nearby river decided, at that moment, to take on a life of it's own. A huge wave came up and neatly plucked the Tyranitar away, sloshing him into the river currents and sweeping him downstream, all in a flash, while leaving Mewtwo untouched.
Just before he dropped again, Mewtwo looked up in time to see the girl's eyes glowing the color his did when he used his powers!
With a sigh, he dropped. He did not quite faint, but his energy was gone. Whomever the girl was, she had caught him at a very vulnerable moment.
Knowing Mewtwo was out of immediate danger, Sharie turned and, Madhea at her heels, skittered down the cliff edge, around the sides where it wasn't so steep. Heedless of her own safety, she knew that she had to help Mewtwo, even if she was placing herself at risk.
When she reached him, his eyes were closed and he was nearly limp, except for his gritting his teeth in utter pain. That told her he wasn't quite unconcious. However, he surely *looked* in bad shape.
"Are you okay?" he heard a human female voice, speaking aloud this time. "That was close--fully evolved Tyrantar are extremely rare, even moreso than Dragonite, and even more powerful. I never thought I'd see one, much less a wild one at it's highest level."
He opened his eyes weakly to see the strange human girl digging in her pack. She pulled out something.
"Here." she was speaking quietly, as if she was aware of how much he was hurting and did not want to add to it. "This is Full Restore. It will heal you quickly."
She held the small vial to his mouth, and to his own utter surprise, he did not protest the movement.
"I know your trust in humans is limited," she said quietly. "But drink this. I would not harm you."
*How does she know?* His amethyst eyes met hers, and he saw sincerity in them. Plus, he was in too much pain to put up much of a protest at the moment. Gently she supported his head so he could swallow the contents of the vial in one quick movement, before gritting his teth again against the pain.
Almost immediately, however, he could feel new strength flooding his tissues. Holding back a groan, he sat up, opening his eyes and looking at her again.
"You saved my life there, and for that, I do thank you," he admitted quietly, not sure in the least of what to make of her. "But now--who are you? How do you know my name and so much about me?"
"My name is Sharie Triesta," she said quietly. "I came looking for you, Mewtwo."
"And how do you know my name?" he asked, staring at her, regarding her closely--and cautiously.
"Because I have known of you for a long time. I have always known of you."
The way she said it made him scrutiny her even closer. Was it just his imagination, or did she seem familiar? The face--the eyes--where had he seen someone similar to her before? Except--a man...That Triesta man...those brothers...no...it was not possible....was it?
"It was not for myself that I came seeking you," said Sharie. "But for someone else entirely."
"Are you--" Mewtwo began, then stopped at the sudden movement as a smaller form appeared at Sharie's side. He absolutely froze, unable to start again.
He had seen Madhea.
****
For several seconds, Mewtwo and Madhea could only stare at each other, her calmly, him with utter and total shock.
Sharie rose quietly and placed a protective hand on Madhea's shoulder, not knowing for certain what Mewtwo's reation would be.
The protective nature of her movements finally drew Mewtwo's attention, at least a little.
"Another....like myself?" he asked, dumbfounded. He was too shocked to be angry. "Another Mewtwo?"
Sharie nodded, clearly on guard. "Yes. Madhea is the reason I came seeking you."
*That* seemed to finally unlock Mewtwo from his trancelike state. Abruptly, he stood up, ignoring the screaming pain in his body.
"Who are you?!" he fairly demanded. "How is it that you have a Mewtwo, and a small one at that, eagerly obeying you like some slave?"
Sharie kept her hands tightly on Madhea's shoulders. She had rather expected this reaction, but was taking no chances. She did not like his change in tone at any rate. "Madhea does not belong to me. As I said, she is the reason I sought you out."
"I heard you mention Giovanni," he said, clearly on his guard and fighting impulse at the moment. Not just yet--not until he knew for certain what he was dealing with. "Are you Team Rocket?"
"Absolutely not! I know better than to wade in such evil. Besides, you erased most of their memory of you."
"Then how do you know so much of me?" Mewtwo was growing impatient, and Sharie knew she could not really fault him.
She also could not lie to him. He did not deserve lies--not after all he had been through.
"I am not Team Rocket," she said again, then braced herself and stood directly in front of Madhea, to protect her. "My father and Uncle were the scientists who created you, Mewtwo."
She saw him clench his hands into fists, and saw him tense, as if suddenly fighting some deep impulse borne of rage. She figured she knew what kind of emotions and thoughts were reeling in his mind. She herself tensed, but he made no other move. He was quiet for a long time.
"Triesta's kid?" When he did speak, he sounded very bitter, and justifiably so.
"They survived the destruction to New Island, Mewtwo."
"And went on to create more clones?" he asked, bitterly, holding his anger tightly in check. "Is there a whole army now that I know nothing about?"
"Madhea is the only other. Neither my father, Donningan, nor my uncle Daryn were responsible for creating her. Team Rocket stole their techniques. She was cloned in a different fashion, from an ovum. She was born at fetal maturity instead of physical maturity like you were. That is why she looks like a child, because she is one."
Mewtwo was staring at her again, saying nothing, just wanting explanations before he judged their fate. Sharie herself still felt like she was standing on the executioner's block.
"You erased most of Team Rocket's memory of you," she said softly. "Months ago right here at Mt. Quena. Most of the scientists creating her were called away for a few days to help plan your recapture. Only one remembered, because he had been left behind at the airbase. He alone remebered Madhea was still floating somewhere in an artificial womb. He felt guilty. He wrote to my father and confessed everything. When I found Madhea she was almost dead from neglect. Nobody remembered her so nobody returned."
Something else flashed in Mewtwo's eyes at her words--pain.
"How would you know so much about so many intimate parts of my life--unless you were involved?" he ground out. "You were responsible for that wave of water, and you can talk to me with your mind. I don't know in the least how you did it, but someone with your ability would have been snapped up by Team Rocket long ago."
"I have no explanations for my powers. I was born with them. My family has a long history of scientists and Psychics both. But what I have defies nature, different from everyone else's abilities. From the first they've stamped me as different and an outcast. Da's co-workers often treated me like I was an experiment subject and nothing more, and I am a scientist by training, no less. For whatever my word is worth, I swear to you I am not of Team Rocket and their evil filth. Madhea I brought to you for the same reasons you seek to escape humanity's grasp yourself."
She saw his eyes widen. "Yes, I know of that. I know of how you attempted to take over the world from your fortress on New Island. From the beginning every time your life's path has taken a curve, I have known. I guess I am unusually tuned to pokemon. Something happens to you, I black out. The next thing I know I am standing beside you as it all happens. You can't see me, I can't talk to you. But I see, and I know. Down to the last lurid details."
She had already said enough for him to know that, at least on that, she was not lying to him. The emotion blazing in her eyes had to be truth--no liar could look at him like that. He slowly walked around her, examining her every angle. Now he remembered feeling watched once or twice from within his own mind, at such critical moments in his life. Had that been her presence?
He thought about scanning her mind, but her mental sheilds were so advanced he would have trouble getting through--and she would surely notice if she was a psychic human. He had heard of those--spoonbenders. But he had never heard of one who did what she had done.
"If you are telling the truth, daughter of my creators," he said slowly, "then you know how I feel about your family."
Numbly, she nodded her head.
"And yet, you came to me. Did you believe bringing another to me, like myself, a pokemon--a *clone*--was worth the risk to yourself?"
The slightly mocking edge startled her, but something in his eyes told her otherwise. He was testing her, she realized. Even so, she grew angry and hurt at his words.
"How can you ask that?" she cried out. "Look at her!" She lifted up Madhea, who stared at him silently. The girl pokemon had yet to say a word to him, but her eyes were clearly following every word. Sharie went on angrily, unable to help herself.
"This is Madhea! She is a living, breathing being! I rescued her from death and I have grown to love her in a way that I never allowed myself to feel before! And yet, I am human, a person that, in your own words, is a member of a dangerous race. She is not safe by my side. She is already very powerful, and she needs a place where she can grow up in safety and peace, away from greedy, evil humans like Giovanni or heartless scientists. Yes, it is damn well worth the risk to see to her safety and security, and overall, her happiness! I never had a purpose in my life until I met Madhea, and I am willing to go to any lengths to protect her. The best place she could be is with you, the only other one like herself. There is little proof of my words that I can offer you, Mewtwo, except my promise."
Despite himself, Mewtwo was stunned speechless by her outburst. Could a person--a *human*--really care so much? Especially for another pokemon, a clone? A reflection, like himself--and a shadow?
Sharie's eyes filled with fire. Even so, she spoke quietly, forcing her temper under control. "Madhea and I already have to walk in the shadows of moonlight," she whispered. "Please...don't condemn her to total darkness. What has happened to her was no fault of her own. She deserves her chance. You deserved yours. She needs hers."
"I would not harm the child," he said, his voice now much more subdued. Now he had utter confusion to add to the mix of emotions in him now. "But--you--tell me one more thing. Did you come to Mt. Quena with any ulterior motive besides Madhea?"
"Yes," Sharie answered without hesistation. "I came seeking the healing waters of Mt. Quena."
****
Mewtwo's eyes widened, and his mouth set. "I believe you have said the wrong thing, and if so, beware," he warned softly. "Why do you seek them?"
"It is not for me," Sharie answered. She picked up Madhea again. "It is for Madhea's sake."
His eyes questioned her.
"When I first found Madhea, she was nearly dead. She was very tiny, even though she was past due to have been born from the artificial womb she had been floating in. The water had become contaminated, and she was very ill. It took me days to bring her out of it. But a side of her remains frail. Her immune system is crippled. A cold could kill her. Her coloring is not as it should be. That is why I seek the waters of Mt. Quena--for surely, it will restore her to full health and release her hidden potential. She deserves that much." Her eyes met with Mewtwo's again. "For this reason, and no other, do I seek Mt. Quena."
Such emotion was blazing in her eyes he found he could not doubt the truth of her words. If she was telling the total truth, then was it possible she was...well, different from the rest of her family?
To him, it was a doubtful question at best. But lessons learned the hard way were not often forgotten. Everyone deserved their second chance, and appearances were not always the truth. Ash had taught him, also, that it did not matter so much how a person was given the gift of life--it was how one used it that determined their identities. It seemed the case here--could he really throw away all he had ever learned, just because outside appearances told him something different than what he was sensing from the inside?
And--what about the one like himself? The one whose sudden appearance made him realize he was not the only one like himself in the world?
How did she see things? Was she Sharie's willing pokemon--or was she truly free, her will unbent or unbroken, as Sharie claimed?
"Would you let me speak to her?" he asked. "She has not said a word to me. I want to know what she thinks."
"That's because I have been watching you," said Madhea, out of the blue. "I do not want you to hurt Sharie. But go ahead, ask me anything. I'll try to answer."
The sudden forwardness caught Mewtwo by surprise. She had spoken psychically, like he did, but the tone of her mental voice made it clear she was a girl and not a boy.
"Would you come with me a ways?" he asked. "I want to speak to you alone."
Madhea hesistated, and looked backwards at Sharie anxiously.
"Don't worry, I will not suddenly whisk you away," Mewtwo assured her. At that, Madhea nodded and followed him a short distance away, where Sharie could still see them but could not outright hear their psychic voices.
"Your name is Madhea?" Mewtwo asked.
Madhea nodded. "Sharie gave that name to me. Better that then us both responding to the same name, I believe?"
Despite himself, he smiled. Her intelligence was becoming quickly evident.
"How much of me do you know, Madhea?" he asked quietly. "Are her words true, to your knowledge?"
"Sharie is a good person, and a very honest one," came the answer. "She told me everything she knew about you. Giovanni trained you in psychic attacks only. He told you in a very cold fashion that you were created *by* humans to *obey* humans--that was your destiny. You did not take too kindly to the concept. I would not have, either."
She had mimicked Giovanni in the way she said the words, and her imitation was so accurate it sent chills up Mewtwo's spine. He stopped talking for a minute, as did she, as he quietly contemplated her. Indeed, there was a frail edge that was about her--it was barely noticeable, but there. She had a ghostly-pale edge to her skin tone he did not think should be there. If that was the case, then Sharie was telling the truth abou that.
Her personality did not seem bent or broken. Nor did her wrods sound coached. In fact, in many ways it seemed quite the opposite. There was something...well, solid about her. A security to her nature, a confidence he lacked. Of course, when had he ever been able to develop such confidence? He had been betrayed too often, floundered so much on deciding what his destiny ought to be, or even who he was. It was no wonder it had never developed.
That was part of the explanation right there, he realized. Madhea must have known some security in her life I never experienced. It was pretty obvious that she had never left Sharie's side before.
"How have you been treated, Madhea?" he asked. "Are you Sharie's pokemon?"
"Sharie's not my master. She told me herself she is my equal. She's never given me cause to think I was below her in any way. She's trained me, but only because I asked her to. Not once has she ever engaged me in a pokemon battle. In fact, she goes out of her way to make sure that I can do nothing for her in return. She has never asked anything of me, in return for all she has done. I rather wish she would, at least once, so I could somehow do something for her in return--but she won't. I think she's afraid to ask anything of me, because she fears I might see it as her trying to take control of me."
The rather forcible way she said the last few sentences surprised him. The look in her eyes, absolutely identical in color to his own, reflected all she had said. She wasn't lying. In fact, he got the inkling that the last few sentences were something she had never before even mentioned to Sharie, that it might be how she felt.
"She has never asked *anything* of you?"
"Not without my consent. The only experimenting she ever did on me was medications when I got sick. She uses her science knowledge in an offhand fashion--never once have I seen her scribbling notes on me or secretly programming her pokedex with information on Mewtwos."
"I see," he said slowly. "Madhea--what is your destiny? Do you know?"
"I want to make my own destiny. I have walked in the shadows those of us different seem to inhabit, but I see no reason to not walk elsewhere, as well. Our souls aren't different from non-cloned pokemon. Sharie's soul is not different just because she was born with powers that, as she puts it, no human should have. Life is life once it exists. It should not matter in the end whether it came into being because of science or the more natural way. I have eyes to see and a heart that knows better than that. It is only the standards set by others that forcibly set us apart."
Mewtwo needed no further explanations. She understood the shadows of moonlight as much as he did--and yet, she had a more optimistic look at life and the world around her. No pokemon whose will was bent to another being's could say that with confidence. He would have known if she was coached into saying the words. Sincerity was in her eyes.
*And....she is like me,* he realized again. *She is...truly like myself, even though she is a child. Maybe....maybe....I don't have to be alone anymore?*
Something deep within him shifted. Slowly, he found himself extending his hand to Madhea--in a sense, offering himself in a way he had never thought he could do. He could not stop himself--the impluse, the desire, to not be alone was by now too strong to ignore any longer.
She looked at his hand, then in his eyes--and smiled, deciding that, despite everything, she liked him. She reached up, meeting his tri-fingered hand with her own.
For several moments they held, clarifying the thought in each other's minds--*this is real.*
It was several seconds before he released her hand, deciding something.
"Come," he said quietly, turning back in Sharie's direction. Madhea followed him.
When he reached Sharie, he stood before her, looking down into her eyes again. In their depths was fear--she was afraid of him and what he might do.
But mixed in their depths was love and determination, for Madhea. She had been willing to risk everything to see to the young pokemon's happiness. He did not like her or who she was, but for now he decided to give her the benefit of the doubt--if all went wrong, he could simply erase her memory and be done with it. In fact, he'd end up doing that anyways.
"This may be the most foolish decision of my life," he announced quietly. "But you did save my life. The young one seems unbent to your will, and she has obviously grown up happy and secure. That must say something. I do not wish ill feeling on Madhea. After thinking about all of this, I have decided to escort you both to Mt. Quena."
Sharie's muscles relaxed in relief. This alone was much more than she hoped for.
"Thank you," she whispered. "It will mean so much to me to see Madhea as healthy as she can be. She deserves so much more than I can give her. Here....she can get that."
Mewtwo did not directly answer her, but he did relax more around her. She was glad he no longer was judging her an outright threat.
"Just do not make me regret my decision," he said at last. "I am not used to placing trust of any sort in humans. If you know as much as you claim then you understand that, and why."
"I do, unfortunately," she answered somberly. "My father and uncle--how they handled treatment of you was wrong. They would never have acted as they did if they had not been so buried in grief already. Usually they are very gentle men. Especially my father has psychic ability of his own--he of all of them should have known better. It was only out of desperation and the promise of free help that led to their tainted alliance with Team Rocket."
"Am I so tainted to you?" he asked, guardedly. That hurt. If that was her thinking, why had she brought Madhea to him, since she obviously cared about the girl so much?
Sharie sighed. Her heart ached for him, but he was so doubting! How could she pound what she wanted him to know into his mind? Mewtwo's opinion of himself was as low as her own opinion of herself.
"I said Team Rocket was tainted, not you. It was how they were treating life, as nothing more than machines or labratory specimines. They did not bother to ask the pokemon how they felt. Life is *life* once it exists, Mewtwo! No creature can live without a soul, and regarless of *how* all life is created, we all have one!" In this she unknowingly echoed Madhea's own words. "No judgement or discretion have I ever seen passed in that area. You might be copied, but your soul is your own. Your soul is no shadow of another's. And your heart lets you feel. Can a shadow feel? Does a shadow care what is done to it--does a shadow have a heart? If the sun or moon goes behind the clouds, does a shadow care if it vanishes?"
Mewtwo had gone very silent. If that was her way of saying she did not think he was somehow tainted or unnatural--well, he did not know what to think.
But deep down, her words had a merit on him he could not begin to describe.
He looked at her again, and to his own surprise, felt a small smile curving his lips. Her words echoed in his mind--"Can a shadow feel? Does a shadow have a heart?"
*This shadow does,* he thought to himself. *When a shadow is a living creature. Strange that a shadow could have more substance than most solid originals that I've met. I've always considered myself a shadow--is it possible to be anything more to the world than that? Could I be?*
He doubted it, but he had no idea just then how deeply her words had affected him.
"Let us go," he said quietly, gesturing towards Mt. Quena.
Sharie smiled in relief. Mewtwo began to glow a deep blue color, and he lifted into the air.
His intent had been on taking them with him in this fashion. But when he turned to look at both of them, his eyes widened in surprise.
Not Madeha. She should have had the same ability by now. She was calmly floating in midair as if nothing was wrong.
But Sharie's eyes glowed for a moment, and then the same glow surrounded her body. Slowly she rose into the air, where she took Madhea's hand securely in hers.
"You can fly, too?" he asked, utterly dumbfounded.
"I don't use it a lot, but I can. The most powerful of Psychic humans can levitate themselves, but it is still a rare ability and takes more energy and concentration for them than what I usually use. In fact, except when I taught Madhea how to do it, I've used it even less lately. But it sure beats climbing."
To his own surprise, Mewtwo smiled at her. For some odd reason, she just did not seem as bad a person as she should have been, considering who she was. If she was anybody else he could probably even like her a lot.
But the reminder of her blood ties was very painful. Maybe what her family had done was no fault of her own, and he really should not hold her responsible for their actions. But still, she was closely connected to those he hated, and that alone would always cause him to doubt her, deep down.
He just could not risk getting so hurt again. Moonlight was his world and the only source of brightness he had. If it was extinguished, so would the last of his hope.
Sharie followed Mewtwo though the air, towards the mountain in the distance. The flat peak rose high above the surrounding countryside.
*It is broad daylight,* Sharie sent to Mewtwo. *I don't think you want Luna Carson or Cullen Calix to spot us, do you?*
*No,* he sent back. Goodness, she even knew about that pair, he mused.
His eyes glowed momentarily. *I garauntee they won't see us now,* he sent back.
*What did you do?*
*I made the water pipes turn on and off by themselves a few times and the heater in their house to start making funny noises. They'll be inside for awhile trying to investigate problems that don't exist. To busy to chance going outdoors and looking upwards.*
Madhea, who had flown up beside him, suddenly giggled out loud. Mewtwo looked at her, startled. He had never laughed aloud before, and it was strange seeing Madhea do it.
Madhea only looked at him impishly and smiled.
*The smile of a happy soul,* Mewtwo realized with a pang.
*Mewtwo?* It was Sharie again. *I admit I did not expect to find you around Mt. Quena again. The last time I blacked out, in the end I saw you leave the mountain along with that Ash kid and his friends, and that one Team Rocket pair you spared the memories of. I was not sure you would ever come back.*
*We are there part of the month, the least busy time,* he answered. *When travelers start to come to catch the next bus across the valley, we leave for awhile, and indeed roam. I am taking no chances.*
Sharie thought she saw his reasoning. *I can understand why.*
She said nothing more, and they reached the mountain caves, where several large waterfalls splashed out and down from the hollow mountain interior.
"We are here," said Mewtwo, slowing down. "The spring and Clarity Lake are in here, hidden inside Mt. Quena."
****
End chapter 4
Like it? At least a little? I argued with myself for a long time, figuring out how Mewtwo would actually react--with the impulsive anger he was famous for in the first movie, or at least *trying* to give Sharie the benefit of the doubt, as he seems to have learned to do.
Don't worry, folks, part 5 is on the way. Stay tuned.