High School Union, Chapter 55

EmDrago; Well, it's good to be back, everybody! Giratina and I have come to an understanding, and she no longer wants to kill me outright. Besides, this story is drawing to its close, and I've got another idea for a story, though it's going to be a stronger rating, so if you're not interested, that's up to you.

Giratina; (Rolls eyes) Are you going to get any clearer on that announcement with animating this story?

EmDrago laughs nervously and rubs back of head

EmDrago; Well, to tell you the truth, I haven't gotten to that yet.

Giratina; (Sighs) Idiot.

EmDrago; Hey, I was backed up trying to keep up with the PMs I've been getting for my latest series, and updating that as well, so give me a break! Besides, the story would likely have been over by the time I got that up and running. Computer animation isn't an easy thing to pick up.

Giratina; How would you know, moron? You never did it!

While EmDrago and Giratina argue, Arceus comes in with the rest of the gang, interrupting them.

The remainder of the girls; Welcome back, EmDrago!

EmDrago; (Smirks) You miss me?

Palkia; The hilarity you and Giratina gave these notes.

EmDrago falls flat to his face, anime-style, and everybody laughs.

Uxie; Arceus was very boring with the notes. Nothing ever happened.

Giratina; Watch it, blondie, that's my boyfriend you're dissing there.

Uxie backs in fear, and everybody laughs again. EmDrago turns to audience and says

EmDrago; Well, for the first time in a good number of chapters I'm going to be doing the stats. Gang, take it easy!

The gang mumbles about this but doesn't argue.

EmDrago; For today's Story Spotlight, I'm turning it to Family Matters, by nyislandersgirl. The ratings kick off with my largest fanbase country, the good ol' United States, then is followed by Singapore, the United Kingdom, Australia, and finishes with Canada. Good job, guys!

An Explanation…

The Monday after Palkia received the results that told her Mr. Mewtwo was her father, she found herself shuffling about nervously. She now knew who her biological father was, but it was impossible for her to reconcile the image of the ever-strict Mewtwo, the man who flipped out over a misspelled word or mispronounced sentence, having knocked her mother up. That was just way out there.

Still, the results didn't lie, or so they claimed, and given their track record, she couldn't exactly say they were lying. What she needed was a way to expose him, make him realize on his own who she was. With that in mind, she prepared herself to go to school, where her father was located, strange though it was. Not least because he had scolded her on multiple occasions for a multitude of "offenses". She wondered how he would take this…

At the school, she told her friends that she was going to confront Mewtwo about their apparent relationship, and she turned down their offers to accompany her; this was something she had to do alone.

With each step she took, it felt like her heart either doubled in speed or outright failed, but she kept going regardless. Finally she came to the door she was after, and after a few shaky starts, she knocked. After a brief moment, the door was opened to reveal the lavender-haired, purple-eyed, super-strict man who was labeled as her father. He scowled for a moment, then said

"Palkia? What is it?" Palkia took a deep breath, then said

"I need to speak with you."

"Now?"

"It might not be a good idea to wait." He merely grunted and stood aside to let her in, and she walked still somewhat shaky, which Mewtwo noticed. He closed the door and asked

"Something wrong?" She gathered her nerve, then turned and dropped her backpack on a desk, fishing through it for the file as she said

"Yeah, I've got a bone to pick with you." Mewtwo scowled again and said

"I'm not going to speak with you if you can't show respect." Finding what she was looking for, Palkia held it up and said

"Yeah? Ten bucks says this gets you to sing differently." She tossed the file to him, and he snatched out of the air with one hand, scowling for a moment. He looked at the cover, asking

"What is it?" She motioned and replied

"Take a look inside and find out." The scowl didn't fade as he opened the file, scrutinizing her for a moment before looking inside. He read the information carefully, and with each passing second he grew paler and paler. He flipped through the many notes within, checking all the careful details that accompanied the research. Once he finished, he gently set the file down on his desk and shakily sat in his chair, placing his horrified face on his hands, thinking hard. After a few minutes, he asked in a low voice

"Where did you get this?" Palkia stood on the other side of the desk, saying strongly now

"At the local agency that specializes in finding illegitimate children's missing parents. Just last Saturday is when I got these results. Now I want an explanation." Mewtwo nodded numbly and replied

"You of all people deserve one. But now is not the time for this discussion. Would you be amenable to set a meeting place in the park, this weekend?" Palkia thought for a moment, then said

"I've waited twelve years; I think I can manage a few days. But don't expect me to be warm toward you." Mewtwo just nodded again, and Palkia took the file back, grabbed her backpack, and left.

Throughout the week, Palkia repeatedly told her friends that she hadn't fully resolved this issue, but she had brought it up his attention. She also insisted they stay away from the park, which took some arguing, but in the end they agreed to give her the privacy she needed to confront him.

That Saturday, Palkia was waiting at one of the benches underneath a massive wooden awning, which had several small barbeque grills nearby, where families could enjoy each other's company. She wasn't waiting for long before Mewtwo showed up, surprisingly strong-willed despite the trouble he was no doubt in.

"Good day, Palkia." She merely grunted in reply. He took a seat and started

"No doubt you are confused about this whole matter. I'll try and be informative, but… I don't know how well I'll do." Palkia eyed him darkly, then demanded

"Did you even know my mother?" He sighed and nodded, explaining

"To an extent, yes. I knew her then as Melanie DelRasso, and that she and I attended the same party." Palkia frowned and asked

"Party?"

"A throwback to the sixties and seventies, if you will. Melanie and I decided to join, since it sounded fun at the time." Palkia crossed her arms and asked

"And that's where things got heated, huh?" He nodded, his head bent.

"Yes, I do not deny it. However, I was not aware at the time that she was pregnant. I was never aware of it. She never told me about it."

"How was she supposed to? She told me that you disappeared after you knocked her up." Mewtwo frowned and replied

"No, I never disappeared. In fact, for the next couple of months, we saw each other on and off. After that, though, we lost complete contact." Palkia felt the world swirl around her, and she considered the implication; had her mother lied to her? If so, why? She couldn't have any idea where he was any more than she herself did previously. Deception wasn't necessary. Perhaps it was to discourage her from looking for him herself?

"And in that time you never suspected anything?" He sighed and told her

"I was much stupider at the time-"

"Yeah, that never works. Not even on tv. You still should have followed up on her." He scowled and retorted

"It may be an excuse, and a pathetic one at that, but it's true nevertheless. I never thought about my actions, until I spent some time in jail for illegal possession. After that, I swore off such activities and resolved to make something of my life. And I suppose you can see the results of that." Palkia didn't deign to answer, simply sitting in silence.

"Anyway, if I had taken that vow earlier, you would not be here." Palkia seethed and almost cursed him out, but instead shouted

"Am I supposed to look at that like a blessing?!" He shook his head calmly and said

"Not if you don't want to. I'm sorry I can't take everything back, make it all better. Believe me, I wish I could, or at least have realized what had happened." Palkia scoffed and said

"What would you have done? Gone in for an abortion? Get rid of the problem before it became irreparable?" Mewtwo's eyes darkened and he replied in a low tone

"I would have taken responsibility for my actions. I don't believe in such barbaric methods."

"Oh, great, now you're gonna go all Christian on me?" He scowled and said

"We're getting nowhere with this. I can understand why you're upset, but-"

"Upset?! Way to understate how I really feel!" Palkia stood, unable to contain herself. She paced around, trying to calm down, but with no success.

"I lived without a true father for my whole life! The one man who my mother married tried to be a father to me, but it wasn't enough! I didn't need a father figure, I needed a real father!" She paused for a moment, then swore and banged a fist on the table. She couldn't abet the tide of her turbulent emotions, and without her consent tears began to form.

"For my whole life I lived in disgrace, and I was ashamed to say I was born! I couldn't imagine what kind of-of heartless son of a bitch would knock a girl up, then not even bother to look after her!"

"I told you, I wasn't aware-"

"Shut up!" Mewtwo closed his mouth, nodding. Palkia continued her rant;

"I was living a lie, a lie that cost me any semblance of a family with my mother, stepfather, and stepsister! Regardless of whether or not you were aware, the fact remains that you still screwed up, big time." He nodded slowly and replied

"I am well aware of that." Palkia was close to snapping, and she shouted

"Then why don't you do something?! You're always just sitting there, acting as if this happens to you every day!" He held his hands up helplessly, asking

"What do you want from me? An emotional breakdown? A heartfelt apology? To throw myself at your feet, begging forgiveness?" Palkia growled, still in a bad state.

"I don't know! All of the above!" Mewtwo just sighed, then told her

"Calm down. We're not going to get anywhere with you like this." Palkia just seethed for a moment, then she punched one of the support beams, and while she rubbed the pain out she said in a low voice, trying to be threatening but failing

"I could report you. Get you fired." He nodded once, solemnly, and said

"I don't doubt it. You have every motivation to, and I suppose I can't ask for an appeal to your better side. What do you want from me?" Palkia finally sat back down calming down a little.

"So… you're not even going to tell me what to do?"

"Do you want me to? I have the feeling that would be a waste of my time." Palkia merely grunted, wanting something, but she didn't know what.

"Look," Mewtwo started, "regardless of our positions and no matter how much you might hate it, I am your father. I checked over some records over the week, and I have no doubts whatsoever that you and I are directly related. But because I don't know what you expect from me, there's little I can do." She shook her head, then mumbled

"I don't know what I want myself. This is just… too hard to deal with right now…" He nodded, replying

"I won't say I understand, I don't want to set you off again. But I hope you will allow me the chance to help you." Palkia scowled now and asked

"Why should I?"

"There's no reason you should, but since I didn't know of your existence and relation to me for your entire life, I hardly feel that I should be entirely victimized." Palkia's head shot up but he cut her off

"Yes, I know my actions were responsible for this, and I don't deny it, at all. However, as I've said before, I was not aware you even existed. Had I known, I would have done everything in my power to find you."

"Why?"

"Because, like it or not, you are my daughter. And I feel that I deserve to get to know the one who shares part of my genetic structure, assuming you are willing." Palkia hesitated, then replied

"I don't know… I want to know my father… but…" Mewtwo suggested

"Why don't we give you a cool down period? That way you can let this sink in better, and once you are ready you can give your answer? With any luck, we can resolve this in a way that makes us both happy." Palkia paused, then shook her head, saying

"No, I want to get this done as soon as possible. I've waited for twelve years, plus a week. I really don't want to wait anymore." Mewtwo nodded and replied softly

"Alright. So, what's your first order of business?" Palkia began to think, and she asked

"Did you at least have the guts to tell the other teachers about this? Because I haven't heard anything." Mewtwo nodded and told her

"Yes, I told them the day you told me. Many didn't believe me, as I had no evidence to support the claim. Mr. Quaza will want to see the file himself." Palkia nodded her assent, then asked

"How did Miss Deoxys take it?"

"Surprisingly well, actually. I was amazed she didn't break off from me then and there, nor would I have blamed her. But she genuinely likes you, and I have reason to believe she loves me." His gaze sharpened and he said

"Understand that this relationship is strictly outside of work. And it isn't so much your business, but considering the circumstances, I'm allowing it." Palkia simply nodded in response, then asked

"What happens when Quaza confirms what you told him?" He shook his head and replied

"That's really up to you. You're very nearly a grown woman, and whatever you choose to do the path that we'll have to accommodate. Be it my resignation, support, or some obscure demand that doesn't breach any laws, most likely we'll have to accommodate you." Palkia thought about that, then said

"I don't think I could force your resignation, even if you did hurt me in a deep way. After all, two wrongs don't make a right." He nodded and said

"Thank you. I would be remiss to lose this profession in such a dishonorable way. Nevertheless, whether or not you choose to act against me, the fact remains that I owe you, big time. I can only do so much, especially at the moment, but I do want to establish a proper father/daughter relationship. Would that be too much to ask?" Palkia hesitated for a few minutes, but she finally answered

"Maybe… we'll have to see. I'm still angry, and overwhelmingly disappointed… but if you can redeem yourself in my eyes, we'll talk about that." Mewtwo nodded once more and replied

"Fair enough. Can I safely assume, then, that you do not want me to treat you as my daughter for the time being?" Despite the dispassionate tone he used, the pain Palkia could see in his eyes was as clear as day; he wanted to call her his daughter.

"Wait… you want to claim me? As your child?" He grinned wanly and retorted

"Is it that obvious?"

"Well, not in your tone, or even your demeanor… but your eyes are speaking volumes." Mewtwo blinked, then chuckled a bit, saying

"Well, I won't say I'm surprised you see that. Rhonda says I'm not very good at completely hiding my emotions."

"Rhonda?"

"Miss Deoxys."

"Oh." Then things lapsed into an uncomfortable silence for several minutes, where each seemed to be waiting on the other for something, an answer to a question neither could voice aloud. Finally Mewtwo stood and said

"If there's nothing else, I must be on my way. I still have some business to take care of, so I suppose I will see you Monday." Palkia merely nodded, and when Mewtwo was out of sight, she allowed herself to relax, heaving deep breaths. When she recovered, she thought back on this meeting, not sure if they had really gotten anywhere. Still, it felt good to fully confront the man whose identity she had stressed over for many years.

Hopefully the next few meetings, for she planned more, would rate with more success.

Well, that's it for this chapter! Let me know how I did, guys!