Chapter 30
"Twilight"
I was still woozy when I got back home. I ended up in the family room. There were Brock, Richie, Misty and Billie…all watching the TV…Brock was the first one to notice me, because he was the closest.
"Uh…Hey, guys! Ash is back!" he announced.
They all turned to see me and waved and said hi.
Uh…Thanks guys…but if you don't mind…I think I'll be going now……
"…What's the hurry?" Billie asked.
I'm not feeling all that good…I'll be okay though…Just need a little rest…
I walked towards the stairs. I didn't feeling like floating or Teleporting…
"…Pe-eerrrrr?" Persian asked the others.
'What are you guys watching?'
"You want to watch too, huh?" Brock asked "…What happened to your paw!?"
"Per?…Perrrrsiiannnn…"
'Oh that?…Just a red badge of pest control…'
I was getting to the top of the stairs…slowly, but surely…Pikachu came with me.
"You need to get that bandaged up," Brock told Persian, "…Hold still."
I stopped on the second to last step.
"Pika?"
'What's wrong?'
…Brock's gonna get scratched…
"Piika…?"
'How do you know that?'
I looked back at the two of them down there. Brock was holding the distrusting Persian's paw and was attempting to place a few drops of disinfectant on it. When he did get them on Persian, it howled and screeched, then swiped at Brock with its free paw. It hit Brock's arm, causing him to let go. Persian then ran off to a corner of the room and began licking its stinging paw.
…Told ya.
I jumped off the stairs and landed somewhat gracefully…(Okay, so I stumbled a little…)…I ran over to Persian.
"Perrrrr…" it muttered.
'Stupid human…'
Brock was just trying to help…
"Perr…Persiannnn…"
'Maybe…but that hurt worst than the little pest's bite…'
It was- just a disinfectant…It'll make your paw better in the end.
"Persian!…Pe-errr…siannn…"
'I don't need it!…No rat's ever wounded me before…That pest isn't any different…'
But Persian…
"Perrrrsiann…Pererrr…siannn…"
'No buts about it!…It isn't a major wound…I'll be just fine.'
It continued to lick its paw, and I knew that was the end of that. I looked over at Brock. He was using the disinfectant on himself now. I couldn't help but laugh a little.
Are you okay, Brock? I asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, "It's just a scratch."
"Perrrrrsiannn…"
'And I just have a little bite…'
I sighed. Fine. No one's gonna make you try to heal your wound…
"Persiann…Pe-errrrr…siannn…"
'That's good…Although it's not a wound, and it doesn't need healing.'
Whatever you say…
I headed for my room to get the rest I had been planning on in the first place.
* * *
'Ashura…'
'…What?…I thought you said you weren't going to bother me like this anymore.'
'I never actually said that……Besides, I have something I want to tell you…'
'Like what?'
'…Ashura, have you ever heard the story of the dark Mew?'
'Nope.'
'……Then I guess this means I will have to tell it to you…'
'……Go for it. I don't have anything better to do anyway.'
'Alright……This is a story that has been passed down through generations of Mews…and even the ancient humans……'
'…Oh, so you're finally admitting that we're the same?'
'Shut up and let me finish.'
'Geez. Sorry.'
'As I was saying…Back in the time when Mews and humans still kept in contact with each other, the Mews began to notice that over time, their numbers were decreasing. Humans were becoming cruel, and they gradually stopped evolving…I was one of the last ones to evolve, so this story is old, even for me……
'After we saw the unchangeable direction that the humans were headed, we separated completely from the humans and devoted our lives to helping other, less fortunate Pokémon and not to interfere with the lives of the humans.
'A short time after our split, some of the older Mews began to have visions or foretellings of a time in the far-distant future…when humans have forgotten about us and their connection to Pokémon. They warned us of a time of great conflict between good and evil.
'From the midst of the evil will come a Mew more powerful than any other Pokémon and even Mew in existence. With nothing but hatred in its heart, it will create a storm unlike any other. This storm will destroy the world, leaving nothing to be mercied by this unfeeling being…We call this Mew the Dark Mew…The last Mew to come into existence…The Dark Mew who will destroy all humans and the Pokémon most loyal to them…leaving the rest of the world in a crumbling state, where next to nothing can survive……'
'…And you thought this guy was me?'
'……They said that the Dark Mew could only be stopped by a pure one……We thought they meant a Mew……That's why I have been watching you…I hoped that maybe I could stop you from doing all of those terrible things……'
'……But I would never do those things in the first place.'
'Yes, but they said it would be the last Mew to come into existence……You don't think there will be another human who will evolve, do you?'
'How would I know?'
'……Ashura, no matter what, I know that you are not the Dark Mew. You may be very different from the rest of us, but maybe it's just because you're from a different time period…'
'Well, that makes sense, doesn't it?'
'……I don't know what everyone else will think about this, but I'm going to leave you alone from now on, Ashura. You may do things differently, and you may be breaking the oath that we made so many centuries ago…but you're still helping Pokémon that need help. I'm not going to try to stop you.'
'………Thanks…Nekiro.'
'……Goodbye…Ash.'
* * *
"Ringringring! Ringringring! Phone call! Phone Call! Ringrin-!"
"Hello?"
I made myself wake up all the way. It was dark, and I could feel Pikachu, Persian, and Richie already fast asleep. Not too many people would call at this time…
"Deleila, did Ash make it home?"
"Giovanni…I thought I told you that I didn't want to speak to you again."
Did she really say that…?
I Teleported myself so I was just outside her room. She had a phone in there. The door was closed, but I could still hear everything clearly.
"Deleila, I am truly sorry. I never thought th-"
"Well maybe you should have!"
"Delei-"
"No, Giovanni. It's over. What you did was unforgiveable. I want you to stay away from us. Is that clear?"
"…Did Ash make it home?"
"It's not any of your business, but yes. He did make it home in one piece. Now good bye Giovanni."
"Please wait, Deleila! Please…"
"Goodbye, Giovanni."
"Wa-!"
His voice was cut off by the click of the phone being placed on the hook. Even I winced. I never knew Mom could be so cold…
…I have to talk to her now…
I knocked on the door then let myself in.
…Mom?
She jumped in surprise.
"Ash!? What are you doing here!? You should be asleep!"
I…heard the phone ring…
"You've been awake that long…?"
I nodded.
Her gaze dropped to the floor in front of her.
"……Ash, you don't have to worry about him anymore…He won't bother us."
……Oh.
"……Ash, go to bed……I……have a lot to think about………by myself…"
I fidgeted. I didn't want to leave her alone like that…After all…I thought that they……
"……Ash. Go to bed. Please…"
Um……If you ever……need to talk to me………I'll listen……
I backed out the way I came and walked back to my room, a little frightened. It was usually Mom who comforted me…not the other way around……I wasn't sure what to make of everything…
I went inside of my room, closed the door and curled up under my blanket on my makeshift bed. Pikachu, Persian and Richie were still sleeping soundly, completely oblivious to what had just happened…
I tried to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come…I felt that something big was happening…and I didn't know what it was…
"Mew…" I whispered to myself.