Chapter 32
"Good Mew, Bad Mew"
"Ashura, after this is over, it will just be you and me. No more Team Rocket. We can finally be a family, Ashura…"
Giovanni turned to me with tears in his eyes.
"…That's good, Dad," I said.
"I'm glad you agree Ash…"
He turned around and spoke in a hand-held microphone. As he spoke, the screen in front of him flashed, and a dangerous looking Mewtwo appeared. It was building up energy for a Psychic attack. I could tell.
Giovanni didn't notice. He kept on talking. I tried to warn him, but my voice came out as nothing but a squeak.
I watched in horror as the image on the screen brightened, then changed into a different form…a boy…with black hair and tan skin…wearing a blue jacket and a red and white hat…
Suddenly I was right in front of Giovanni. I glared down at him. He was still talking into the microphone, even thought I couldn't hear what he was saying.
Behind Giovanni, in the exact same spot where I was a moment ago, was Pikachu. It stared at me with sad and frightened eyes. I wanted to tell it that everything was alright, but I knew that it wasn't.
Giovanni was still talking mutely.
Enough of this.
I stared at him through a purple-gray fog and he disappeared.
"Piika!"
Pikachu was trying to contain its fright. It was chewing nervously on the tips of its paws, and its fur was standing wildly on end.
You're next, I told it.
I reached out with my psychic powers to make Pikachu disappear the same way Giovanni had, but suddenly Pikachu turned into a Mew. A yellow Mew.
What's this!? I asked in anger.
"I can't let you do this," Nekiro said, but with Misty's voice.
Misty!? I called in surprise, …Forget Pikachu. This is the real prize…
"Uhh…Did someone mention Pikachu?" Meowth asked.
I charged up my most powerful Psychic attack then shot it at Misty, who looked like Nekiro. As soon as it hit, a bright yellow light flashed and turned purple, then white, then gray and finally black. When it faded, Misty just stood there, looking dazed. She actually looked like Misty now.
Time to finish you off¼ I growled.
"Wait!!"
There was a row of people standing in front of Misty. They seemed familiar…somehow……
Out of my way!! I roared.
"We can't let you hurt anybody!" said a voice…Billie?
They all faded away suddenly, as well as the room. In front of me was Mewtwo, hovering, like I was. He was encased in a blue sphere, like I was, only mine was purple.
What are you doing, Ashura? he asked, This isn't like you…
Maybe that's because I'm not Ashura…… I said, grinning evilly.
"They call me Giovanni," I finished.
A ferocious wild Persian jumped out from behind me. It was over twice the size of a normal Persian, with huge, blood-red eyes, long, cruel claws, and fangs that dripped with a hunger for meat.
From my other side leapt a vicious electric mouse. Its brown eyes were wild with feeding frenzy, and its entire body crackled from electricity.
I watched as the two of jumped on top of Mewtwo, breaking his shield. They completely covered him.
"Asha!" he cried, "Asha! Stop! Help!!"
The Persian and the Pikachu backed off slowly. The only part recognizable was her head, which was still in perfect condition, unlike the rest of her…She stared at me with pleading eyes.
"Asha¼" she whispered, her voice was so thin that I wasn't sure I really heard her.
Mayo and the Persian faded into the background. The Pikachu in front of me grew larger and larger.
"Pikapi!! Pikachu!"
'Ash!! Now look what you've done!'
I'm sorry, Pikachu, I didn't mean it!
"Pikachu, pikapi, kachu!!"
'Now you're going to have to suffer the consequences, Ashura!!'
"NO!!"
Pikachu's cheeks lit up and the Thunder attack hit me with full force¼
* * *
"MEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWW!!!!!!" I screamed.
Pikachu finally stopped using its Thundershock.
I sat up, panting for breath and clutched the blanket close to me. My heart was beating crazily against my chest. I was so scared¼¼
"…Pika chu?" Pikachu asked.
'……Are you okay?'
I shook my head vigorously.
"Perrrrssssiannn…"
'Well, at least we figured out that much…'
I………I had………the worst dream…… I stammered.
"Per? Perrrrsiannn?"
'Well? What was it about?'
It was……
I took a deep breath and continued.
It was crazy, I whispered, Everything was so strange and it all disappeared and reappeared and Mayo and Mewtwo and Misty and Pikachu and……
"Pikachu!"
'You're not making any sense!'
I gulped.
I, I'm sorry, but……it was……It didn't make any sense…either……
I shivered.
"……Pika, pikachu."
'……Well, at least it was just a dream.'
I nodded, trying to make myself feel better as much as I was trying to agree with Pikachu.
Just a dream……It was just a dream…
I shut my eyes, trying to block out the shades of the nightmare that were still after me.
"…………Perrrrrrsiannn?"
'…………It was really that bad, huh?'
I just nodded. I felt Persian rub its head against mine.
…Thanks.
"Perrrrr?" Persian hinted.
'Maybe when you feel better, you'll tell us more about this dream?'
……Maybe.
Persian licked my cheek.
"Siiiannn…"
'There's a good Mew…'
I sighed. I wasn't sure that being a "good Mew" was worth reliving that dream¼I shuddered at the very thought of it.
Then I remembered something.
Is Mom okay?
"Piika?"
'Yeah, why?'
That's not the answer I wanted…
I………Are you sure? Was she acting different at all?
Pikachu gave me a strange look.
"Pikachu. Pikapika. Pikapikachu, pikachu."
'She was fine Ash. Are you sure you're okay? Maybe that dream hurt your head.'
What!? It did not! I'm fine.
I stood up to prove it, although I guess that doesn't really prove whether or not my head's fine.
…I'm hungry too, I added.
Persian groaned.
"Persian, perr…Persiaaann…"
'Yeah, the humans suspected that…Come on, let's find something to keep you quiet about food…'
Okay, I said, glad to have dropped the other subject.
We left the room. Everyone else was already awake, it seemed¼but something was missing¼or someone.
Where's Mom? I said to everybody in general.
Billie looked up from downstairs where she and Misty were watching TV.
Since when did everybody become couch potatoes…?
"Ash!" she exclaimed, "You're awake!"
Of course I'm awake. Now where's Mom?
"She went outside," Misty replied, then added snidely, "……Did someone stay up late last night…?"
I felt myself turn red, and I knew Misty could see it.
I'll have you know… I began, not really sure what I was going to say, I……got a lot accomplished last night……
"…And just what was that?" she asked.
I……I got hungry.
When I saw that she was staring at me, I winked.
But that can wait. I'm gonna go talk to Mom.
I zipped over them, then went out the door. Outside, it was a nice, sunny day, but somehow not as relaxing as it had been last night. I glanced around for Mom, and saw her to my left, attending the petunias. I tried and failed to not smile. I floated up behind her silently.
…They're not thirsty anymore? I asked.
She jumped then whirled around. She put her hand over her chest when she saw me.
"Oh, Ash…Don't scare me like that!" she said with a relieved sigh.
I peered down at the flowers.
…You didn't answer my question, I pointed out.
"Oh……That…" she smiled, "No, I don't think they're thirsty anymore…"
I bent my head down, trying to listen to the flowers. I didn't actually hear them, but I just got this feeling…
…..They're not, I said in affirmation.
She smiled and patted my head.
"You should be a gardener, Ashura," she said.
I blushed that she had called me that, especially with nosy ears not too far away. The last thing I wanted was for everybody to start calling me that.
Come on, Mom. I'm your little Ash tree… I said.
Her smile turned sad.
"…You may be small on the outside, but inside, you've already grown so much, Ash……"
She looked away, then stood up, gathering up her watering can and other gardening tools.
"…Well, if you want to help, there's more flower out here that are thirsty……"
I smiled up at her and wondered whether or not she knew that she was quoting herself¼My stomach growled loudly.
…I'd like to, I said resentfully, but there's a Mew here that's hungry…
She laughed. "Go eat breakfast little Ash tree…"