Chapter 11
"Learning To Love"
The…child…was so happy……It……didn't even know that its mother was…gone……for good……It just lay there…gurgling and giggling…while Chansey and I watched it…She had done a good job of cleaning and dressing it…but now……it was my turn……
"Chansey…"
'She needs a name…'
What!?
I didn't even think of that…Of course it……she……needs a name……but……what?
"Chansey…chansey?"
'Someone's picked a name for her…right?'
Uhhh……
I stared at the tiny human…She was even smaller than I was…Small and……kind of……cute?
'Of course it's cute. All babies are cute.'
Huh?
"Chan?"
'What?'
Uh…Nothing……
…Misty loved cute things…
What am I thinking…?…
Misty………
…I didn't even know that I had said that out loud…
"Chansey?"
'Misty?'
…Huh? I asked.
"Chansey, chan?"
'That's her name?'
Umm…Yeah…? I said, not really sure what she was talking about.
"Chansey……Chansey, chan!"
'Alright then……Her name is Misty!'
It took me a good two seconds to figure out what she was talking about.
What!!? I pointed at the baby. You mean her!?
"Gu muuu!" the baby bubbled.
Huh?
"…Chansey…?"
'…So her name isn't Misty…?'
…She does look like her mother……
No……No…Misty is fine………Yeah……Her name is Misty…
"Muu! Muu!!" Misty laughed, then yanked really hard on my tail.
"Mew!" I yelped, then turned on the little thing…She only kept smiling…
Ehh…
I turned to Chansey. Could…I um…be alone with her…?
"…Chan?"
'…I guess so…'
Chansey left and then it was just…Misty…and me…
"Mumu…!"
Mumu? I asked skeptically.
"Muu!"
"………Mew?"
She giggled. "Gumumu!" she exclaimed, and followed it up by a string of gurgling.
……You're weird… I muttered to myself and dared to edge closer…
She grabbed my muzzle and began to slobber on it. I quickly pulled back and she laughed.
…Did she just kiss me??
As I wiped the drool off of my face…I started to laugh too…
All right…I've made up my mind……You're going to be free……
Misty…It's the least I can do……I'll protect her for you…I'll keep her safe……
……not just from my control……I'll make sure……that nothing…ever……hurts you………
You have a strong daughter, Misty……Look at her……She doesn't cry………
* * *
Chansey helped me raise Misty only in the very beginning……but I couldn't stand letting anyone else take care of her…I became so afraid that something might hurt her……I kept her by me at all times…I made sure she had only the best of everything……
…But I was still scared……of Misty herself……Both her mother and father had proved to me the dangers of the free mind……They had cared only about themselves…and me………That had hurt………
…But they had stayed loyal for such a long time……It wasn't until……they were older that they decided to betray me……
Every day……Misty became a bigger part of my life……If she turned on me too……it would just be too much………I could not let it happen……
……So I kept her young……I preserved her youth by sacrificing my own……I had plenty to spare…Mews have very long life spans……After I had perfected the flow of energy, we seemed to be aging at about the same rate…
…It helped my worry a little…but just being young doesn't protect innocence………I knew that all too well……so I protected her from anything that could ever cause pain……because pain………Pain would only hurt her……and pain……Pain is something that no one needs……especially not her……
…But she still grew……I couldn't just lock her in a time capsule to take out whenever I wanted……no……That would cause pain……She needed to grow………just not very fast………
…She wasn't stupid though……As much as I tried to keep pain away from her……she could tell that it wasn't avoiding me……When she asked about it………the only thing I could think of as a response was……well………I gave it a name……I told her that it was a disease……an age old disease that I'd had from birth……After all…I had been born from pain…………Maybe…maybe that's why I cared about her so much……We had been born the same way……
………She never asked about her mother or father……I wasn't even sure if she knew what they were………She never called me anything but Ashura……Sometimes……Sometimes I felt……that she would have been better off……with a different…"parent"……but I was the only one she had……and the both of us had to make do……
……She was always so happy……The only thing she ever seemed to worry about…was me…and my…"disease"……and she really did worry…She wanted to help me somehow……but I assured her that she was already doing more than her fair share by just being alive and nearby……
Time…went by……not slowly……but not too quickly either……Just right……and it was all worthwhile……because Misty was there……and I was keeping my promise to her mother………