Chapter 34
"Time For Lunch"
"Ash, you have a lot of explaining to do," Brock said.
……I do?
"Yeah. I mean…You disappear for a while, and when you come back, you're a Mew. What gives?"
I blinked.
…Um……
Perhaps we shouldn't bother him with that, Taper broke in, I don't think he knows.
Well, duh, I said.
"Oh…Of course…" Misty smiled, "What were we thinking? Imagine that…Asking Ash a question like-OW! Why you little-!!"
She lunged at me, but I easily dodged out of the way. She grabbed at me again, and I just moved to the side.
"Hold still so I can give you what you deserve!!" she growled.
Yeah right… I laughed.
"……It's almost noon…Anyone hungry?" Dr. Gray asked.
I grinned. For once, the doc had sad something I liked.
* * *
While everyone else was getting ready for lunch, Taper pulled me to the side.
You're not alone, Ash. I can tell.
Huh…? How…?
There's someone outside, and it's not human…Why didn't you introduce us all?
Taper had certainly caught me off guard. I thought up the best excuse I could.
Uhhm…It's afraid of humans…
Nuh-uh. That thing's too powerful to be afraid of anything. Why is it hiding?
……It doesn't trust humans…
Why does it trust you then?
Cause it doesn't think I'm human.
…I can understand that…
I am though!!
…You certainly don't look it, Ash.
But……
Nevermind……I suggest you do something about this though. I wouldn't let it stay out there all by itself…
It can take care of itself.
That's not what I'm worried about…I'm worried about anyone who might run into it on accident…
I suddenly knew what it was talking about.
……Taper?
Yeah?
Do you think I should go talk to it?
…If you want to…Food's just about ready though.
I sniffed the air. Taper was right…Brock's cooking…Yummy…
……I guess…I guess it shouldn't take too long……I'll be right back, okay? Will you cover for me?
Sure.
Thanks.
Good luck.
Whatever.
I opened the door and went outside. I made sure to close the door behind me.
"…Mew?"
'…Mewtwo?'
Hm?…Oh! Mew! You decided to come back.
I looked around, not seeing Mewtwo.
…Where are you?
Right where you left me.
I floated into the woods. To my surprise, Mewtwo was lying on the ground against a tree. When I got near, it stretched out and looked at me.
…What?…I got bored and decided to take a nap.
…Oh.
……So, how'd it go?
…Fine……We're about to have lunch.
Yeah, I know…Smells pretty good.
You can smell that from here!?
Yeah. Can't you?
I sniffed again, trying to smell it. To my surprise, I could.
Wow! I can!
Yeah……Most Pokémon do have a very good sense of smell.
……Uh-huh… I said dryly.
……Aren't you going back in? Mewtwo asked, reclining against the tree again.
……You're not coming?
…Mm…No. I'd rather not.
Why not? Brock's one of the best cooks I know.
Yeah, probably…but I don't really care.
Why not?
……Because they're human.
……Mewtwo!! I'm a human too!
Mewtwo gave me a strange look.
You are not. You're a Mew.
Well-…Yeah, but-…Um…Wait…No…I……
…Mew…Just trust me on this. You are a Mew.
…No! And my name's not Mew! It's Ash!
…I think it's Mew.
And I think it's Ash, okay?
Mewtwo shrugged.
Fine. Believe what you like…but I think a mirror would prove you wrong…
I clenched my fists and really wished that I could hurt it, but I knew better than that.
Mewtwo gave me a sidelong glance.
Aren't you going back in? They're going to start wondering where you went. I don't think your Drowzee will be able to hold them off much longer…Humans are very stubborn…
…Yeah, and so am I……And I'm a human, too!
…Goodbye, Mew.
I just ignored it and went back inside.
"Ash! There you are!" Misty yelled, "Where did you go!?"
Um…Outside…
"Why!?"
Uhh……Just…because…?
"Okay, I know you're hiding something, but that's just going to have to wait. Come on…" She grinned. "…Do you want Pokémon food or human food?"
I want real food!! That Pokémon stuff is gross!
Misty stifled a laugh.
* * *
"…I can't believe it…You shrunk, but your stomach's still the same size…"
I glared at Misty.
You just can't leave me alone, can you?
"No…You kept leaving the rest of us alone so much…I guess I just have to make up for all the times you weren't around…"
She sounded kinda…sad…when she said that…
"Well…We've still got the problem of the boss," Billie said, "He doesn't know where we are right now, but he'll figure it out sooner or later, and when he does…"
…That wouldn't be good…
"Why does he want Ash to be on Team Rocket so badly, anyway?" Richie asked, "It's not like……It's not like you're famous or anything…"
I suddenly remembered what Mewtwo and I had been talking about before we got here…I completely froze with that thought…I mean…almost literally…I could not move…or think…or…
"Pika? Pikachu?"
'Ash? Are you okay?'
I tried to answer, but I couldn't…not really…
"…www…"
"Hey, Ash! Snap out of it," Brock said.
"……Meww…"
Pikachu blinked.
"Pika chu…"
'If you're gonna talk, say something…'
"……Mewww……"
"…Pika?"
'…Ash?'
I felt like I was going to cry…
"…CHU!!!!!" Pikachu said, Thundershocking me.
"MEWWWW!!!!!!" I screeched.
…At least that snapped me out of it.
I glared at Pikachu angrily.
"Mmew!!" I said, smacking Pikachu on the head.
"Pika!" it cried.
It glared back at me.
"Chu…" it growled in warning.
Sparks started to fly from its cheeks. I growled at it and clenched my fists. I could feel my tail twitching behind me.
"Hey, you two! Stop it! No fighting at…er…on the table!" Brock interrupted.
We both stopped suddenly. I glanced at everyone else. They were all staring at us…
"M……Meww…" I said sheepishly.
'Uh……Sorry…'
"…Pikachu…" Pikachu said.
'…Me too…'
I 'heard' Taper laughing. I glanced around until I saw it in the corner, grinning stupidly.
What's so funny? I asked.
…I think you do know an attack, Ash… it replied.
…And that would be…?
Pound…I oughta know. I can use that attack too…And you were definitely Pounding your Pikachu…and Misty and Brock too, earlier…
I blinked.
Uhh…Sure…
…Whatever.