Legal Disclaimer: Nintendo 'n company own Pokemon, not me. Mystic
Mewtwo owns the character of Ki and any other non-canon character that
appeared in her stories but not in "official" pokemon history.
Yes, folks, I do have Mystic Mewtwo's permission and blessing to write my own stories useing her characters. This is an Alternate Universe setting, set after "Between Two Worlds" ends. The story before is the same as she said it, but this sequal will not be the same as Mystic Mewtwo's planned sequal, which she is keeping me updated on. I am using my
character Sharie from the story "Of Moonlight Shadows and Echoes Past". Mystic Mewtwo liked the idea of bringing the girls together, even if it won't be in "her" storyline, so I thank her for letting me play with her universe to blend it with concepts from mine.
In this setting, while I will be useing the character and basic background of Sharie Triesta, of course the story "Of Moonlight Shadows and
Echoes Past" does not happen. The character and personality are the same, though, and the only difference I am changing, really, is the eye color, to match Ki's, (formerly it was Ameythst, like Mewtwo's) for a very important reason that will be revealed later. Sharie and Ki meet and discover they have more in common than anybody guessed....
Yes, Genetics buffs and pokemon league buffs, I am aware that the stuff about genetics and the League all that stuff I mention here isn't likely in the "real" world, but in fantasy, anything's possible.
Oh, yeah, I am going to go ahead and give this a PG-13 rating. Nothing bad, but there are mentions of topics like breastfeeding, and the sheer fact that Ki and Mewtwo have the relationship they do I guess firmly cements this rating in place.
Shadowed Reflections, Chapter 1 By ZeoViolet
****
*Set immediately after "Between Two Worlds" ends*
Ki and Mewtwo stood there for the longest time, continuing to peacefully gaze at their bundles of five tiny miracles.
They were too enthralled to tear their eyes away.
The babies were indeed miracles. At best, the outsider would observe it seemed strange that a human and a pokemon could even produce children, but Ki and Mewtwo were not what they seemed.
Somehow, both were half Mew and half human. Hybrids. So it was natural the children they produced would be baby Mewtwos.
Mewtwo was easily explained; he had been cloned and his genetic material messed with.
Ki, on the other hand, had no idea how she came to be in existence. She'd been abandoned when she was two days old.
Neither really cared, anymore. Here, far from the world and Man's prying, condemning eyes, they were safe to raise their new family, well out
of harm's way.
For the moment, every baby was sleeping peacefully.
Damian had just gone back to sleep. He lay curled in the first crib, his tiny purple fingers in his mouth as he slept quietly.
*Are you dreaming of angles, little one?* Ki thought to herself. *You are an angel yourself, don't you know that? All five of you are; you are all our perfect angels.*
*Indeed they are,* said Mewtwo, having overheard this silent telepathic thought. His bond and Ki's was so close, their hearts so tightly entwined, that often they inadvertenly picked up whispers of thought from the other without realizing it. *It is a Miracle how we could create five perfect angels.*
*Wait until they are all screaming for attention at once,* put in Mew, who had been strangely quiet while Ki had fed her babies for the first time.
Mewtwo shot her an irritated glance.
*I bet you won't be thinking the words 'perfect angels' then,* teased Mew.
*Mew* Mewtwo said in a warning tone.
*Okay, okay, sheesh, I was just kidding. But I did raise Ki myself, you know. I thought caring for one baby was hard enough, especially a fussy human infant. But you two seem well-suited to parenthood. Honestly, I think you will do fine.*
*Thanks...I think,* said Mewtwo. *Don't besiege me with doubts. I want to enjoy the family I've always wanted; do not try and make me dread it by telling me horror stories.*
*I will try not to.*
*Do not do it if you wish to remain here.*
*Okay,* said Mew, beaten. *Mewtwo, you really need to get a sense of humor.*
*Oh, he does,* interrupted Ki. *Unlike certain Mews who shall not be mentioned here, *he* knows when it's appropriate and when it is not.*
Mew slapped her forehead and sighed, but shook her head and gave a wry smile. *Point taken. I will try to wait until it is more....appropriate.*
*Thank you,* said both Ki and Mewtwo at the same time.
Silence fell again. Ki turned her unique green gaze to the baby in the second crib. Little Brianna, whose beautiful emerald color was dazzling to the eyes. When her eyes were open, it was clear she was as much emerald as her brother Damian was purple, for Brianna had inherited her mother's eyes as well. It was a rather startling combination. She was a beautiful baby.
Right now, this dazzlingly-colored baby was sound asleep, a smile on her tiny mouth.
*If Damian's dreaming of Angels, then she must be dreaming of sunlight,* said Ki softly, in telepathy.
*I agree,* said Mewtwo from where he was standing behind Ki, arms around her as they gazed at Brianna.
Finally Ki turned her eyes to the third child, her second son, Morgan.
This one was one of them that was more unusually colored. He was blue, but his belly and tail were pure white. This startling combination did not make him any less handsome, certainly; the little fellow indeed was only enhanced by it because it was so unusual.
*His coloring isn't that unknown,* put in Mew suddenly. *Some Mews are known to be born other colors. If they are, often it is blue. His shade, though, is very bright. Even his eyes match that color, rather like my eyes. He's so cute, too. Mixed with his white belly and tail is such an adorable combination.*
Ki smiled at her, but privately had a thought to herself she was glad nobody overheard.
*I wonder if the family of....of my Mew parent.....if any of them had such colors?*
She quickly pushed the thought aside. She so rarely let her thoughts stray to the past, to a family whom she could not remember. They had abandoned her, to a Psychic gym and institute. It was their loss, and there was no sense dwelling on it--no matter if the deepest recess of her heart cried out to know her identity.
*What do you think he is dreaming of?* she asked Mewtwo instead.
*Rainbows,* Mewtwo responded after a moment's thought.
Ki only smiled at him.
Moving down the row of cribs, they came to the fourth, where baby Anika lay contentedly slumbering.
This baby was exceptionally pretty. She seemed a blend of Mew's Pink and Mewtwo's purple. Already Ki sensed a sweet personality within her.
*Roses,* thought Ki suddenly.
*What?* asked Mewtwo, not understanding.
*Roses. She has to be dreaming of roses. She's so sweet. You can see it in the depths of the ameythst eyes she inherited from you.*
Mewtwo chuckled suddenly in understanding, hugging Ki tightly. *You are right,* he admitted. *I could not have thought of a better one.*
He kissed the top of Ki's head before leading her to the fifth and final crib, where their smallest child, and their most miraculous child, lay.
Baby Aaryanna, whose name in the basic pokemon language meant Holy Beauty, was curled on her tummy, asleep, her little bottom in the air.
Ki frowned, and reached in to turn the baby onto her back. She did not want to disturb Aaryanna's slumber, but she did not want her babies sleeping on their stomachs. According to the huge stack of baby books she had read since becoming pregnant, babies who slept on their stomachs had a much higher risk of SIDS, a nightmare neither Ki nor Mewtwo cared to contemplate. They had nearly lost Aaryanna once, they did not want to chance losing her again.
Or any of them.
The baby only made soft gurgling sounds in her sleep, though, and did not wake up.
Ki and Mewtwo were astonished anew by her color. She was such a gorgeous shade of azure, from both the light azure of her upper body and head, to the deeper shade of her belly and tail. Mew had quietly remarked that azure just happened to be the blending of the colors icy blue and ameythst.
Blue was Mewtwo's psychic shade when he charged up his powers. Ki glowed ameythst when she did hers.
The baby, unlikely as it seemed to be, had come out the perfect blend of both colors. It was as if she was the perfect blend of Ki and Mewtwo themselves, a true testament to their love.
Her most exotic feature, and almost further proof, was a tiny white spot on her forehead. It was heart-shaped.
Neither Mewtwo or Ki cared that it could be argued something in their genetic makeup had led to such a startling coloring in the girl, or that she just happened to be another unusual, randomly-colored Mew like those Mew had described--to them, she was the perfect blending of them, proof of their tightly entwined love.
Love such as theirs could not be wrong. Something so strong and beautiful, so unwavering and so tightly entwined, could not be anything but
right. Aaryanna's beauty was further proof of this, since she seemed the perfect, living proof of the bond Mewtwo and Ki shared.
If their love had ever needed a physical form to prove itself to the world, to tell it that once and for all it was not wrong, it was a beautiful thing, they now had it.
Aaryanna was that proof.
All five babies were.
*Love,* Ki wispered. *She dreams of the love we share, and what we feel for her, Mewtwo.*
His arms tightened about his mate. *Are you always so wise?* he asked softly, in awe. *I could not have phrased that better myself. It is so simple.....and yet, it's true.*
*If the looks on their faces is any testament to what Ki just said,* said Mew softly, *Then I would say it is indeed true.*
Coming from Mew, especially after how hard she had tried to make Ki leave Mewtwo once upon a time, that statement was truly astonishing.
But by now, even Mew felt it was indeed true. Five little bundles of proof lay in the cribs before her, after all.
****
Before going to bed that night, after a tiring, but invigorating first day at parenthood, Mewtwo pulled Ki and Mew aside to voice a thought that had been nagging him all day long, now that Ki was all right. It concerned the Nurse who had helped make sure that everything was "all right".
*Maybe soon I should bring Nurse Joy back so she can give the babies a checkup. She also has the right to know you are safe. I was beyond worried about you and you were in so much pain during labor, Ki.*
*You were psychotic.* Mew remarked with a frown, remembering. Mewtwo only shot her an irriated glance, though he knew it was true--for awhile, he *had* been in hysteria until Mew had calmed him down.
*I don't think we were as polite or as grateful-sounding to Nurse Joy as we could have been. Before I took her home, I did try to express our gratitude....but I could not get out all the words I wanted to say.*
Ki flushed at the inadvertent reminder of her temper, which she tried to control, but it was sometimes difficult, and something she doubted she could help much. It was just a character trait of hers....when she was annoyed, upset, or offended, she tended to strike back verbally, often without thought. She had told Nurse Joy--and not just during her labor, other times--things like "shut up" and, at the time, had not felt a whit or remorse, even though the nurse had meant no harm and had taken the comments more or less in stride.
Mewtwo saw the look on her face and guessed what she was thinking. *Nurse Joy knows that it is just how you are,* he reminded her. *You are surely not the first person she's met with a temper, or myself. She knows how to handle people and pokemon or she would not be a nurse.*
*You have both treated Nurse Joy well,* said Mew. *I believe the nurse knows this as well as you do. She knows that it is likely you'd have some flippant remark to any offhand observation she might make, if for some reason you did not like what she said, even if she did not mean anything by it. It is just who you are.*
*You are right, * said Mewtwo. *Still, it would not hurt to let the nurse know that we are indeed grateful for her and all she's done for us, certainly more than the thanks I babbled, to worried to concentrate. And to let her know that you are all right, Ki, and the babies.*
****
A few days later, when the babies were five days old, they did so.
This time, Mewtwo had the foresight to make sure that Nurse Joy was alone before he summoned her unexpectedly away.
She blinked in startlement to see where she was, nearly dropping her clipboard.
"Oh, my!" she exclaimed in surprise.
*Sorry for the sudden transportation,* said Mewtwo with a smile. *Hope you were not busy.*
*Not at the moment, just checking some inventory--but my goodness! I guess I will not get used to that.*
*We felt you should know that Ki is all right, and so are the babies,* he said as she slowly recovered from her shock, sinking onto the ledge of the fountain where Mewtwo had teleported her to.
At his news, Nurse Joy smiled. "I am indeed glad to know that," she said brightly. "I care about you and Ki. I am glad you both are all right."
*Thank you,* said Ki, coming into the room at that moment.
Joy turned to greet her. *Ki! You look wonderful. I am so happy you look all right.*
*I feel fine now. I came through, eventually.* Ki did not care to go into detail on the horrific dreams she'd had under the influence of her high fever, or how she had tried to stop her own breathing, believing there was nothing left for her in this world. It was too painful.
*We also brought you here to truly thank you,* added Ki. *I personally did not get a chance to tell you how grateful I am for your actions. You saved not only Aaryanna, but myself as well. We can't thank you enough for what you did.*
Nurse Joy blushed a deep crimson.
"It is my job," she said modestly. "I'd never turn away anybody who needed my help."
*We know,* said Mewtwo. *But we are both grateful nonetheless. I was too distraught last time to get out the words I really wanted to say.*
"You managed to get out how grateful you were, and say that you were in my debt, which you are not," said the Nurse firmly. "I was happy to help and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
*Glad to hear that,* said both Ki and Mewtwo at the same time.
Joy nodded. "So you want me to give your babies a checkup?"
Ki agreed. *If you can.*
The nurse agreed. "I also want to check you over as well, if it's all right with you."
*Why?* asked Ki, surprised.
"You truly performed a miracle, giving birth to quintuplets--and at full term, no less. I understand that this is common in Mews, so your uterus must have been stronger than a normal human's, certainly strong enough to bear it, and you're tall--but your labor was difficult at the end. I want to make sure it did not tear you up inside."
At that Ki agreed. *I want more children,* she stated.
"Caring for so many babies may change your opinion, but that is up to you, of course," she said quickly, upon seeing Ki's frown.
"I assume you know the basic things to do," the nurse went on firmly. "With as many pregnancy books as I saw stacked on your nursury shelves. Wait at least a year, preferrably two, before getting pregnant again, no intimate activities for six weeks, that kind of thing."
*We will be careful,* promised Ki. *I know you are just giving out advice, but that advice is nothing to sneeze at. It's true. We'll be careful, promise.*
"I know you will. Well, aren't you going to show me the babies? Last I saw them I was midwifing them."
Ki laughed. *This way.*
****
The nurse's eyes filled with delight as she veiwed the sleeping babies. It did not matter that their human half was not showing; they were still dazzlingly beautiful creatures, absolutely adorable.
"They're perfect. Just perfect," she remarked in an awed whisper, watching Brianna yawn charmingly in her sleep. "You are a lucky couple, Mewtwo, Ki."
*Thank you,* both responded, smiling.
"If last time is like any indication," said the nurse, "They will know it is not you holding them, Ki. I hope you are prepared for a little noise, but I must handle them to check them. Do you have a table?"
Ki nodded towards a medium-height platform across the room. *There's the bathing station, where I bathe them,* she said. *I'll just move the baby tub and lay down a blanket.*
"That would work perfectly," said the nurse.
****
As expected, each baby cried when they realized that the woman holding them was not their mother or father. They didn't want some stranger around!
Only when Ki held their tiny hands and made soft, soothing, murmuring sounds did they quiet enough for the nurse to examine them all over.
Quickly the nurse checked their reflexes, tested their alertness, and saw how bright their eyes were. With her stethoscope she listened to their hearts and lungs.
Each baby gave a surprised squeak when the cold metal was pressed against their little chests, but strangely, it only made Brianna and Morgan
cry in response to it. The other three just looked very surprised, actually stopped crying for a minute, and giggled.
"It's cold, I know. Many complain about how cold these things are, no matter what I do to it," the nurse sighed.
Ki only chuckled. The rest of the examination did not take long.
"As far as I can tell, they are all healthy," said the nurse at last. "They are in excellent shape, too. They are all well-developed. Their lungs are clear and their hearts are sound and strong. Ki, they got your colostrum, right? The first milk you produced after they were born?"
*Yes, of course,* said Ki.
*Good. That is some protection for them from getting sick for the first couple of months of life, because your colostrum is rich in antibodies. But after a few months I'd suggest you bring them in so they can get immunized against other diseases. It involves needles, and I can garauntee they won't like it in the least."
*If it causes them pain, then why should they endure it?* asked Mewtwo sharply.
"Better a little pinching sting than them dying of an easily preventable disease, Mewtwo. Vaccines are very important to every child, human *or* pokemon. I advise any trainer I see about vaccines, to bring the ones they capture into pokemon centers when it is time to get theirs done."
Even Ki had to agree with the nurse on this one. *I have had all my shots, Mewtwo. I did not like them, but I've read about what can happen if some of those diseases hit. I could not bear to lose any of our babies any more than you. They get the shots.*
Surprised, Mewtwo nodded, agreeing. It was obvious that he hadn't really thought about vaccines before, especially for babies. It had likely
never come up.
****
After getting the babies settled back in, Ki and Mewtwo went to the clinic in the back of the palace so Nurse Joy could check her next.
It did not take the nurse long.
"You're healing nicely, Ki," she sounded impressed. "You've had some nasty tearing to your insides, rips where there should not be any from the delivery of your last two babies, but considering what you went through, you are healing remarkably fast, and evenly, too. I forsee no trouble in having more babies in the future, as long as you wait at least a year, or preferrably, two. You know why."
Ki nodded. She missed being pregnant, and she knew Mewtwo did as well. But neither really wanted to risk her life, either.
"And because you were tore up so badly, I'd say no, uh, *intimate* activity until the babies are eight weeks old. Usually it's only six weeks
at the most, but in your case, Ki, this will make *sure* you are healed fully. Carrying five babies is just a lot more different than carrying one baby, even if Mews did give birth in litters and your uterus was stronger as a result."
She could see the disappointment in Ki's eyes, but remained firm.
In the end, both knew she was right.
****
There was one question that nagged at the back of the nurse's mind.
"Mew?" she asked, motioning the surprised pokemon aside. "Could you answer a question for me? You're the only Mew here who's grown up a mew, I presume, and you're female."
*No reason I should not have,* said the pokemon. *But go ahead.*
The nurse flushed and hesistated, before blurting her question.
"Actually, this question is probably going to sound extremely....weird for me to ask, but I am, after all, a nurse. I ought to know these things. Mews are pretty rare, so I don't know the answer for myself. I feel I should know, in case it comes up in the future in one of my patients. Ki is breastfeeding the babies, but do Mews normally nurse their
infants?"
Mew looked totally surprised as the unexpected question registered in her mind, setting on her dazed thoughts. It took her a moment to react--then she burst out laughing.
For several seconds she could not answer, almost squealing in her base-level glee, until she caught her breath. Nurse Joy, though her face was crimson, waited as patiently as she could for the answer.
*Yes,* she gasped at last. *We do. The difference in pokemon and people, my dear nurse, is that even if a pokemon mother is nursing her infants, you can't visibly tell. It is one of the reasons most scientists can't tell from a distance, or often even up close, whether a pokemon is male or female. The only reason you can tell with Ki is because of her human side is dominant in her form. Most pokemon, including mews, produce milk for their young, but we don't swell with our milk anywhere because of it.*
Nurse Joy thought she understood. "So you're saying that Ki's daughters, once they are grown, will have the same basic body shape as their brothers. Even if they have kids of their own you could never visibly tell if they are nursing or not?"
*Exactly,* cackled Mew.
"Thank you, Mew," said the nurse. "I try to understand all I can about other pokemon. As a nurse, the more I know, the more I can help. That's why I am a nurse."
*I understand. Glad I could help,* laughed Mew.
"Yes, just don't mention this conversation to Mewtwo or Ki. I don't want to embarass them."
*I won't. Scout's honor,* answered the pink pokemon.
Considering her mischevious nature, the nurse hoped she kept her promise.
When the nurse walked away, Mew covered her mouth in an attempt to remain quiet, and teleported herself to the far ends of the palace, where she could not be heard--and she let go, belly-laughing herself almost sick before she calmed down.
****
They invited Nurse Joy to stay for dinner, which she accepted. There was something else that had been nagging at the back of her brain, actually, more than one something. She had been debating whether to tell them or not.
Ki finally noticed that she was looking indecisive, and picking at her food without eating it.
*Something wrong with the food, Nurse Joy?* she asked finally. The nurse was making her nervous.
The nurse blinked. "Oh, no, of course not. I've just been debating whether certain information is relavent in your case."
*Oh? In what?* asked Mewtwo, suddenly alert.
"It's nothing bad, I doubt, but I do think you have a right to know," said the nurse. "It's more than one thing, actually. When you whisked me off those days ago to help Ki in her delivery, Mewtwo, were you aware that there were other trainers in the pokemon center who saw you?"
In fact, Mewtwo did recall the fact that he had vaguely sensed others nearby at the time.
*But I was too concerned about Ki to really care, or notice,* he admitted.
The nurse nodded. "I can understand that. However, when I returned, I was very surprised to find that those three trainers had waited all day and night in the pokecenter for me to return. They were worried about me."
*What did you tell them?* asked Ki, worried.
"They piled me with questions about who the pokemon was that snatched me away," said Joy. "I did not want to reveal much, because I did want to keep my promise to you to keep my trap shut. All I said was that you would not hurt me, and your name was Mewtwo, just to get them off my case. I was shocked at their reaction, though."
Mewtwo blinked in surprise.
"Seems as if you have met them before, Mewtwo. All I had to do was mention your name and they seemed to go into a trance. I almost had to shake them out of it. But great was my astonishment when they suddenly claimed they knew you."
*Who are they?* asked Mewtwo abruptly, hoping he would not have to chase anybody down.
"Their names are Ash, Misty, and Brock. Seems to me they had an adventure here, although they did not go into very great detail. But they remember you, even if it was a bit suddenly for them."
Mewtwo looked astonished. *I put a memory block on them, so they would not remember. It was something they agreed to. But I don't want others sneaking around here, trying to find Ki and myself. We wish for no intruders.*
*And Mewtwo erected a psychic sheild suggestion around the palace,* put in Ki. *Unless a person is a *very* poweful psychic themselves and knows how to haze through it, they'd look at this island and see nothing there, *and* they'd feel a desire to keep away from this place.*
"The kids I know are not bad kids. In fact, the boy Ash Ketchum is an exceptional trainer, better now than ever. They all remember you and wish you well. I felt it safe to tell them about your babies, Ki. Once I could convince them they were not born abominations, they were happy for you."
*What do you mean, 'abominations'?* demanded Ki, instantly angry. *My children are not--*
"Slow down, Ki," interrupted the nurse firmly. "The kids were not aware it is possible to mix human and pokemon DNA. They had no idea you yourself are half mew, or that mewtwo is half human. They were wondering if a human and a pokemon breeding would create babies with many malformations or something. I assured them it obviously does not happen that way.. And I told them that the proof is in you two; you are both half and half. I even showed them your old blood samples."
Joy absently chewed on a bite of food, thinking, before she continued. "All your babies are mewtwos. Mewtwo, you are not a malformed Mew. You were deliberately genetically enhanced, the scientists planned for you to look the way you do, and that included activating the human genes that give you the shape you have now--*and *making it a permanent part of your DNA. You can't change that shape, plus you'd pass it on to your offspring as a result.
Joy turned her gaze to Ki, continuing to explain. "Ki, I think you were formed as result of human and Mew DNA mixing, and that's it. I somehow doubt you were created in any lab, just to be abandoned. Because you were not genetically enhanced nor deliberately messed with, you are just a hybrid, and one form or the other would have taken dominance as it does in most pokemon of mixed parentage, though in your case, human or Mew. Your human shape is the one that did so."
*Wow,* said Mew quietly, awed.
The nurse toyed with her food move. "From what I've seen, it seems that such occurences between humans and pokemon would not produce abominations. Obviously, we're more compatible than I ever realized. After I told them this, and that your babies were all perfectly formed Mewtwo infants, they were relieved....and genuinely happy for you. Seems to me they also expessed the desire to see your babies one day."
Ki smiled, suddenly feeling foolish for overreacting. *I am glad to hear that they genuinely support us. Think it is safe to leave their memories intact, Mewtwo?*
*Is it all right with you, Angel?* he asked in return. *I was just so happy you were alive I suppose I did not pay attention to how deeply I should have buried their memories. Do you feel safe with them knowing?*
"They swore to keep quiet," broke in the nurse. "These are not bad kids, you guys. I think you can trust them. I've known them all for a long time, and especially Ash has matured a bit more in the past year."
Ki smiled. *I think we can trust them. In the end, they helped teach us lessons in forgiveness as much as anything, and for sticking by friends against all odds.*
For some reason, Mew choked, flushed, and stared down at her plate, looking ashamed of herself. Nurse Joy gave her an odd glance, but the pokemon did not elaborate.
*I am glad,* she said instead. *I agree; they are good kids.*
She was quiet for a minute. "You know, it is possible that not all your babies will be born looking like baby mewtwos," she said, out of the blue.
Ki almost choked on her milk. *What?* she sputtered.
"Well, think about it. In pokemon, the parents don't have to be the same sub-species. A pikachu could easily mate with, say, a Jigglypuff. Their children would either be Pichu or Igglybuff. Not a pikabuff, or an igglychu, if you get my drift."
*Meaning....* said Mewtwo with a wry smile on his face.
"It isn't as likely with you two--in fact, very unlikely--but there's a very small chance that Ki could have a human-looking child."
Ki and Mewtwo both looked very surprised.
"Not so hard to imagine," the nurse shrugged. "The baby would simply be either mewtwo in shape or human in shape. Your babies now inherited the mewtwo shape, since it is a permanent part of their father's DNA, like your human shape is to you, Ki, and it was dominant. There's a *very* small chance they could inherit the human shape instead."
Mewtwo only shrugged, still in shock. *Well....I....I cannot stop nature.*
For some reason, that stabbed Ki square in the heart. *Does that mean he can only love our babies only if they are born mewtwos, like him?* she thought, thunderstruck, to herself. She had to know--now.
*Mewtwo?* Ki asked softly. *Would it bother you to have a baby like that? Born human in appearance, the way I happen to be?*
Tears had welled in her eyes and threatened to overflow. Nurse Joy and Mew were both surprised that such a thought would affect Ki that strongly.
Mewtwo instantly looked contrite, guessing what she must have thought. *Of course not, my Angel,* he swiftly reassured her. *I did not mean to sound reluctant. I was just surprised by the nurse's announcement. I'd love any child we produce together, whether they look mewtwo *or* human. They'll still be a part of both of us, a product of our love. That is what matters.*
Ki sniffled and nodded, smiling now. She looked relieved.
Mewtwo got up and came over to her. She slid off her chair and into his arms, letting him hug her tightly.
With his actions alone, Mewtwo had reassured her it would, indeed, be okay.
*Their babies indeed could not ask for better parents,* Nurse Joy thought to herself, smiling.
****
They continued eating in silence for a few more minutes before Ki again became aware that Nurse Joy seemed to be debating with herself over something.
*Something you forget to mention?* Ki teased.
The nurse looked startled. "Well...." she admitted. "I don't know, really. Just wondering whether it has relevance to you two."
*What?* asked Mewtwo, glad to divert his attention from the thoughts of human babies with him as the father. He truly would not mind, but the thought was still shocking to his senses.
"It's about a girl I met the day after you brought me back to the pokemon center in Pallet Town," answered Joy. "She moved to Pallet Town the day I was away. She's been travelling a lot, and I guess she decided to stay for awhile."
*So?* asked Ki.
Nurse Joy paused, fork in the air over her plate as she contemplated the words she was about to use.
"I never thought," she began at last, "to ever meet another human with inbred powers like yours, Ki."
****
There was a stunned silence.
*What?* exclaimed Ki at last.
"I've met a girl recently. She's been helping me in the pokemon center the last couple of days, in fact. Her name is Sharie Triesta. Much to my astonishment, I discovered that she harbored some strange abilites, not normal even to a psychic human."
*Go on,* whispered Ki.
"She's very mysterious," Joy went on. "She just showed up the next morning and asked if she could help anywhere. When I asked what she knew, she produced proof that she knows more than enough to simply help me, certainly. She's told me a little more since, but not much."
*Well?* asked Mewtwo.
"Seems to me her family is one of those rare families that has a lot of psychics in it. Also a lot of scientists. Often one or the other--or both. Her father is a well-known scientist, in fact, *and* a psychic. His specialties are in several areas, but he tends to focus on pokemon genetics. As far as I know, her mother was, as well, but Sharie barely admitted she died when Sharie was only four.
"Sharie herself isn't stupid. She's barely seventeen and already has numerous science degrees. She brushed off my awe and only said her psychic ability gave her the ability to never forget what she learns, and that was about it."
*Without cheating, I hope,* said Mew.
Nurse Joy ignored her. "She's the real thing. She does not believe in capturing pokemon against their will, or battling them, but she's already got her Master's ranking already, something few in the League can accomplish. Strange, since she's so dead-set against it. Obviously, she somehow got it without doing a bunch of battles to earn it."
*Certain tests can be taken by those who don't raise pokemon but want to be members of the Leauge anyways,* said Ki. *I've heard about it.*
"Well, obviously, she has to have some skill or she would not have it. But she won't battle and does not even try to capture pokemon. Before I even knew of her powers she reminded me strongly of you, Ki, although I did not know why at the time. It was reinforced when she went with me to meet Professor Oak, and she started talking to his pokemon and understanding them--fluently."
Ki, who had started eating again, immediately dropped her fork. *Goodness! Wasn't she just talking to them psychically?*
"Nope. Direct translation and understanding, like I've seen you do. She did not need to activate any power to do it. Nothing compared to yesterday, though."
She closed her eyes with the memory. "As far as I know, no human should have the power to do what she did. I had a very sick espeon on my hands. It's breathing was failing even as I forced medicine down it's throat. I was sure we'd lost it when it stopped breathing. What Sharie did next almost made me faint."
She shuddered. "She got up on the bed and took the pokemon in her arms. She closed her eyes and her body, and Espeon's, started to glow a brilliant ameythst color. A few moments later, the pokemon drew in a ragged breath. Sharie stayed that way for several minutes before letting go. She told me she had made the espeon breathe until the medicine could take effect. She must have, because the pokemon is fine now. She said she could do many things others could not normally do, but she does not want everyone knowing she's so different--in fact, she was adamant about that. She said she'd had enough of that in her life. She begged me not to go around and tell anyone--she does not want to be in the middle of a media circus."
*Who could blame her--someone like that?* groused Ki, remembering.
"From what little she's told me, Sharie grew up in a bunch of labratories because of her father's work, mostly distant labratories far from cities. In fact, years ago Professor Oak met both of her parents, though briefly. She's not said much directly, but enough hints that I get feeling that, though her family tried to protect her, many of the scientists her family worked with were pretty nasty to her and treated her badly because she was different--even for a psychic human. I would not even wonder they acted as if she was as much experimentee as experimenter, from the painful shadows in her eyes. Nobody should have such shadows in them like that. Some months ago her father agreed to let her, as she put it, to 'go out on her own and discover herself'--I guess she has no real notion of why she was born with such powers. She's been many places, and eventually, I guess, ended up in Pallet Town."
She shrugged. "As I said, she reminded me so much of you, and the fact that she has such powers, even though she's human and it is said to be nearly so, if not, impossible......it's still uncanny, but part of why I told you. And....well, I can't tell you the rest. If you ever were to see her, though, you'd understand."
*Unlikely,* said Mewtwo. *This place is well hidden.*
Nurse Joy shrugged. "She keeps to herself, anyways. I would not put it past her to be able to telekenetically fly or teleport like you guys can. She just likes to be alone when she's not helping me. I think she can at least telekenetically fly. She's been to the islands nearest to pallet town already, and only gave me an odd smile when I asked her how she got there without a boat."
Ki shook her head, smiling to herself. She could fly better now, but Mewtwo still kept a psychic handle on her when she tried, for fear of her falling. She had agreed to let him do so until he was sure she could fly as well as he could. She rather envied this other girl at the moment.
But it was strange--a human girl, with pokemon powers, inbred powers at that. At least Ki had an explanation now for why she had them....one of her parents had been a Mew. But a human girl....?
****
After dinner, they returned Nurse Joy home. She waved and smiled before teleporting.
"I hope I can think of a good excuse," she said before she left. "Sharie will wonder where I've disappeared to."
*Won't she sense it?*
"Probably not. For all her powers, the thing she seems to abhorr the most is to enter the minds of others or let anyone else in her mind. The other psychic pokemon I've seen interact with her are extremely puzzled--she guards herself so well that, even if they did it deliberately,
they doubt they can get in. They've told me telepathically that this ability is practically defensive, it's so strong and she hates it that much."
Ki shook her head as Nurse Joy was teleported away by Mewtwo. Although she did not like to lay herself bare like an open book, she rarely minded when Mewtwo did once in awhile pick up her thoughts. He was different. Most of the time, he was welcome inside her head.
And her heart.
****
*Wipes forehead* Phew! I know I don't have Mystic Mewtwo's writing style. I tried to make it halfway interesting nonetheless. That was chapter 1. Watch out for chapter 2.
Yes, folks, I do have Mystic Mewtwo's permission and blessing to write my own stories useing her characters. This is an Alternate Universe setting, set after "Between Two Worlds" ends. The story before is the same as she said it, but this sequal will not be the same as Mystic Mewtwo's planned sequal, which she is keeping me updated on. I am using my
character Sharie from the story "Of Moonlight Shadows and Echoes Past". Mystic Mewtwo liked the idea of bringing the girls together, even if it won't be in "her" storyline, so I thank her for letting me play with her universe to blend it with concepts from mine.
In this setting, while I will be useing the character and basic background of Sharie Triesta, of course the story "Of Moonlight Shadows and
Echoes Past" does not happen. The character and personality are the same, though, and the only difference I am changing, really, is the eye color, to match Ki's, (formerly it was Ameythst, like Mewtwo's) for a very important reason that will be revealed later. Sharie and Ki meet and discover they have more in common than anybody guessed....
Yes, Genetics buffs and pokemon league buffs, I am aware that the stuff about genetics and the League all that stuff I mention here isn't likely in the "real" world, but in fantasy, anything's possible.
Oh, yeah, I am going to go ahead and give this a PG-13 rating. Nothing bad, but there are mentions of topics like breastfeeding, and the sheer fact that Ki and Mewtwo have the relationship they do I guess firmly cements this rating in place.
Shadowed Reflections, Chapter 1 By ZeoViolet
****
*Set immediately after "Between Two Worlds" ends*
Ki and Mewtwo stood there for the longest time, continuing to peacefully gaze at their bundles of five tiny miracles.
They were too enthralled to tear their eyes away.
The babies were indeed miracles. At best, the outsider would observe it seemed strange that a human and a pokemon could even produce children, but Ki and Mewtwo were not what they seemed.
Somehow, both were half Mew and half human. Hybrids. So it was natural the children they produced would be baby Mewtwos.
Mewtwo was easily explained; he had been cloned and his genetic material messed with.
Ki, on the other hand, had no idea how she came to be in existence. She'd been abandoned when she was two days old.
Neither really cared, anymore. Here, far from the world and Man's prying, condemning eyes, they were safe to raise their new family, well out
of harm's way.
For the moment, every baby was sleeping peacefully.
Damian had just gone back to sleep. He lay curled in the first crib, his tiny purple fingers in his mouth as he slept quietly.
*Are you dreaming of angles, little one?* Ki thought to herself. *You are an angel yourself, don't you know that? All five of you are; you are all our perfect angels.*
*Indeed they are,* said Mewtwo, having overheard this silent telepathic thought. His bond and Ki's was so close, their hearts so tightly entwined, that often they inadvertenly picked up whispers of thought from the other without realizing it. *It is a Miracle how we could create five perfect angels.*
*Wait until they are all screaming for attention at once,* put in Mew, who had been strangely quiet while Ki had fed her babies for the first time.
Mewtwo shot her an irritated glance.
*I bet you won't be thinking the words 'perfect angels' then,* teased Mew.
*Mew* Mewtwo said in a warning tone.
*Okay, okay, sheesh, I was just kidding. But I did raise Ki myself, you know. I thought caring for one baby was hard enough, especially a fussy human infant. But you two seem well-suited to parenthood. Honestly, I think you will do fine.*
*Thanks...I think,* said Mewtwo. *Don't besiege me with doubts. I want to enjoy the family I've always wanted; do not try and make me dread it by telling me horror stories.*
*I will try not to.*
*Do not do it if you wish to remain here.*
*Okay,* said Mew, beaten. *Mewtwo, you really need to get a sense of humor.*
*Oh, he does,* interrupted Ki. *Unlike certain Mews who shall not be mentioned here, *he* knows when it's appropriate and when it is not.*
Mew slapped her forehead and sighed, but shook her head and gave a wry smile. *Point taken. I will try to wait until it is more....appropriate.*
*Thank you,* said both Ki and Mewtwo at the same time.
Silence fell again. Ki turned her unique green gaze to the baby in the second crib. Little Brianna, whose beautiful emerald color was dazzling to the eyes. When her eyes were open, it was clear she was as much emerald as her brother Damian was purple, for Brianna had inherited her mother's eyes as well. It was a rather startling combination. She was a beautiful baby.
Right now, this dazzlingly-colored baby was sound asleep, a smile on her tiny mouth.
*If Damian's dreaming of Angels, then she must be dreaming of sunlight,* said Ki softly, in telepathy.
*I agree,* said Mewtwo from where he was standing behind Ki, arms around her as they gazed at Brianna.
Finally Ki turned her eyes to the third child, her second son, Morgan.
This one was one of them that was more unusually colored. He was blue, but his belly and tail were pure white. This startling combination did not make him any less handsome, certainly; the little fellow indeed was only enhanced by it because it was so unusual.
*His coloring isn't that unknown,* put in Mew suddenly. *Some Mews are known to be born other colors. If they are, often it is blue. His shade, though, is very bright. Even his eyes match that color, rather like my eyes. He's so cute, too. Mixed with his white belly and tail is such an adorable combination.*
Ki smiled at her, but privately had a thought to herself she was glad nobody overheard.
*I wonder if the family of....of my Mew parent.....if any of them had such colors?*
She quickly pushed the thought aside. She so rarely let her thoughts stray to the past, to a family whom she could not remember. They had abandoned her, to a Psychic gym and institute. It was their loss, and there was no sense dwelling on it--no matter if the deepest recess of her heart cried out to know her identity.
*What do you think he is dreaming of?* she asked Mewtwo instead.
*Rainbows,* Mewtwo responded after a moment's thought.
Ki only smiled at him.
Moving down the row of cribs, they came to the fourth, where baby Anika lay contentedly slumbering.
This baby was exceptionally pretty. She seemed a blend of Mew's Pink and Mewtwo's purple. Already Ki sensed a sweet personality within her.
*Roses,* thought Ki suddenly.
*What?* asked Mewtwo, not understanding.
*Roses. She has to be dreaming of roses. She's so sweet. You can see it in the depths of the ameythst eyes she inherited from you.*
Mewtwo chuckled suddenly in understanding, hugging Ki tightly. *You are right,* he admitted. *I could not have thought of a better one.*
He kissed the top of Ki's head before leading her to the fifth and final crib, where their smallest child, and their most miraculous child, lay.
Baby Aaryanna, whose name in the basic pokemon language meant Holy Beauty, was curled on her tummy, asleep, her little bottom in the air.
Ki frowned, and reached in to turn the baby onto her back. She did not want to disturb Aaryanna's slumber, but she did not want her babies sleeping on their stomachs. According to the huge stack of baby books she had read since becoming pregnant, babies who slept on their stomachs had a much higher risk of SIDS, a nightmare neither Ki nor Mewtwo cared to contemplate. They had nearly lost Aaryanna once, they did not want to chance losing her again.
Or any of them.
The baby only made soft gurgling sounds in her sleep, though, and did not wake up.
Ki and Mewtwo were astonished anew by her color. She was such a gorgeous shade of azure, from both the light azure of her upper body and head, to the deeper shade of her belly and tail. Mew had quietly remarked that azure just happened to be the blending of the colors icy blue and ameythst.
Blue was Mewtwo's psychic shade when he charged up his powers. Ki glowed ameythst when she did hers.
The baby, unlikely as it seemed to be, had come out the perfect blend of both colors. It was as if she was the perfect blend of Ki and Mewtwo themselves, a true testament to their love.
Her most exotic feature, and almost further proof, was a tiny white spot on her forehead. It was heart-shaped.
Neither Mewtwo or Ki cared that it could be argued something in their genetic makeup had led to such a startling coloring in the girl, or that she just happened to be another unusual, randomly-colored Mew like those Mew had described--to them, she was the perfect blending of them, proof of their tightly entwined love.
Love such as theirs could not be wrong. Something so strong and beautiful, so unwavering and so tightly entwined, could not be anything but
right. Aaryanna's beauty was further proof of this, since she seemed the perfect, living proof of the bond Mewtwo and Ki shared.
If their love had ever needed a physical form to prove itself to the world, to tell it that once and for all it was not wrong, it was a beautiful thing, they now had it.
Aaryanna was that proof.
All five babies were.
*Love,* Ki wispered. *She dreams of the love we share, and what we feel for her, Mewtwo.*
His arms tightened about his mate. *Are you always so wise?* he asked softly, in awe. *I could not have phrased that better myself. It is so simple.....and yet, it's true.*
*If the looks on their faces is any testament to what Ki just said,* said Mew softly, *Then I would say it is indeed true.*
Coming from Mew, especially after how hard she had tried to make Ki leave Mewtwo once upon a time, that statement was truly astonishing.
But by now, even Mew felt it was indeed true. Five little bundles of proof lay in the cribs before her, after all.
****
Before going to bed that night, after a tiring, but invigorating first day at parenthood, Mewtwo pulled Ki and Mew aside to voice a thought that had been nagging him all day long, now that Ki was all right. It concerned the Nurse who had helped make sure that everything was "all right".
*Maybe soon I should bring Nurse Joy back so she can give the babies a checkup. She also has the right to know you are safe. I was beyond worried about you and you were in so much pain during labor, Ki.*
*You were psychotic.* Mew remarked with a frown, remembering. Mewtwo only shot her an irriated glance, though he knew it was true--for awhile, he *had* been in hysteria until Mew had calmed him down.
*I don't think we were as polite or as grateful-sounding to Nurse Joy as we could have been. Before I took her home, I did try to express our gratitude....but I could not get out all the words I wanted to say.*
Ki flushed at the inadvertent reminder of her temper, which she tried to control, but it was sometimes difficult, and something she doubted she could help much. It was just a character trait of hers....when she was annoyed, upset, or offended, she tended to strike back verbally, often without thought. She had told Nurse Joy--and not just during her labor, other times--things like "shut up" and, at the time, had not felt a whit or remorse, even though the nurse had meant no harm and had taken the comments more or less in stride.
Mewtwo saw the look on her face and guessed what she was thinking. *Nurse Joy knows that it is just how you are,* he reminded her. *You are surely not the first person she's met with a temper, or myself. She knows how to handle people and pokemon or she would not be a nurse.*
*You have both treated Nurse Joy well,* said Mew. *I believe the nurse knows this as well as you do. She knows that it is likely you'd have some flippant remark to any offhand observation she might make, if for some reason you did not like what she said, even if she did not mean anything by it. It is just who you are.*
*You are right, * said Mewtwo. *Still, it would not hurt to let the nurse know that we are indeed grateful for her and all she's done for us, certainly more than the thanks I babbled, to worried to concentrate. And to let her know that you are all right, Ki, and the babies.*
****
A few days later, when the babies were five days old, they did so.
This time, Mewtwo had the foresight to make sure that Nurse Joy was alone before he summoned her unexpectedly away.
She blinked in startlement to see where she was, nearly dropping her clipboard.
"Oh, my!" she exclaimed in surprise.
*Sorry for the sudden transportation,* said Mewtwo with a smile. *Hope you were not busy.*
*Not at the moment, just checking some inventory--but my goodness! I guess I will not get used to that.*
*We felt you should know that Ki is all right, and so are the babies,* he said as she slowly recovered from her shock, sinking onto the ledge of the fountain where Mewtwo had teleported her to.
At his news, Nurse Joy smiled. "I am indeed glad to know that," she said brightly. "I care about you and Ki. I am glad you both are all right."
*Thank you,* said Ki, coming into the room at that moment.
Joy turned to greet her. *Ki! You look wonderful. I am so happy you look all right.*
*I feel fine now. I came through, eventually.* Ki did not care to go into detail on the horrific dreams she'd had under the influence of her high fever, or how she had tried to stop her own breathing, believing there was nothing left for her in this world. It was too painful.
*We also brought you here to truly thank you,* added Ki. *I personally did not get a chance to tell you how grateful I am for your actions. You saved not only Aaryanna, but myself as well. We can't thank you enough for what you did.*
Nurse Joy blushed a deep crimson.
"It is my job," she said modestly. "I'd never turn away anybody who needed my help."
*We know,* said Mewtwo. *But we are both grateful nonetheless. I was too distraught last time to get out the words I really wanted to say.*
"You managed to get out how grateful you were, and say that you were in my debt, which you are not," said the Nurse firmly. "I was happy to help and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
*Glad to hear that,* said both Ki and Mewtwo at the same time.
Joy nodded. "So you want me to give your babies a checkup?"
Ki agreed. *If you can.*
The nurse agreed. "I also want to check you over as well, if it's all right with you."
*Why?* asked Ki, surprised.
"You truly performed a miracle, giving birth to quintuplets--and at full term, no less. I understand that this is common in Mews, so your uterus must have been stronger than a normal human's, certainly strong enough to bear it, and you're tall--but your labor was difficult at the end. I want to make sure it did not tear you up inside."
At that Ki agreed. *I want more children,* she stated.
"Caring for so many babies may change your opinion, but that is up to you, of course," she said quickly, upon seeing Ki's frown.
"I assume you know the basic things to do," the nurse went on firmly. "With as many pregnancy books as I saw stacked on your nursury shelves. Wait at least a year, preferrably two, before getting pregnant again, no intimate activities for six weeks, that kind of thing."
*We will be careful,* promised Ki. *I know you are just giving out advice, but that advice is nothing to sneeze at. It's true. We'll be careful, promise.*
"I know you will. Well, aren't you going to show me the babies? Last I saw them I was midwifing them."
Ki laughed. *This way.*
****
The nurse's eyes filled with delight as she veiwed the sleeping babies. It did not matter that their human half was not showing; they were still dazzlingly beautiful creatures, absolutely adorable.
"They're perfect. Just perfect," she remarked in an awed whisper, watching Brianna yawn charmingly in her sleep. "You are a lucky couple, Mewtwo, Ki."
*Thank you,* both responded, smiling.
"If last time is like any indication," said the nurse, "They will know it is not you holding them, Ki. I hope you are prepared for a little noise, but I must handle them to check them. Do you have a table?"
Ki nodded towards a medium-height platform across the room. *There's the bathing station, where I bathe them,* she said. *I'll just move the baby tub and lay down a blanket.*
"That would work perfectly," said the nurse.
****
As expected, each baby cried when they realized that the woman holding them was not their mother or father. They didn't want some stranger around!
Only when Ki held their tiny hands and made soft, soothing, murmuring sounds did they quiet enough for the nurse to examine them all over.
Quickly the nurse checked their reflexes, tested their alertness, and saw how bright their eyes were. With her stethoscope she listened to their hearts and lungs.
Each baby gave a surprised squeak when the cold metal was pressed against their little chests, but strangely, it only made Brianna and Morgan
cry in response to it. The other three just looked very surprised, actually stopped crying for a minute, and giggled.
"It's cold, I know. Many complain about how cold these things are, no matter what I do to it," the nurse sighed.
Ki only chuckled. The rest of the examination did not take long.
"As far as I can tell, they are all healthy," said the nurse at last. "They are in excellent shape, too. They are all well-developed. Their lungs are clear and their hearts are sound and strong. Ki, they got your colostrum, right? The first milk you produced after they were born?"
*Yes, of course,* said Ki.
*Good. That is some protection for them from getting sick for the first couple of months of life, because your colostrum is rich in antibodies. But after a few months I'd suggest you bring them in so they can get immunized against other diseases. It involves needles, and I can garauntee they won't like it in the least."
*If it causes them pain, then why should they endure it?* asked Mewtwo sharply.
"Better a little pinching sting than them dying of an easily preventable disease, Mewtwo. Vaccines are very important to every child, human *or* pokemon. I advise any trainer I see about vaccines, to bring the ones they capture into pokemon centers when it is time to get theirs done."
Even Ki had to agree with the nurse on this one. *I have had all my shots, Mewtwo. I did not like them, but I've read about what can happen if some of those diseases hit. I could not bear to lose any of our babies any more than you. They get the shots.*
Surprised, Mewtwo nodded, agreeing. It was obvious that he hadn't really thought about vaccines before, especially for babies. It had likely
never come up.
****
After getting the babies settled back in, Ki and Mewtwo went to the clinic in the back of the palace so Nurse Joy could check her next.
It did not take the nurse long.
"You're healing nicely, Ki," she sounded impressed. "You've had some nasty tearing to your insides, rips where there should not be any from the delivery of your last two babies, but considering what you went through, you are healing remarkably fast, and evenly, too. I forsee no trouble in having more babies in the future, as long as you wait at least a year, or preferrably, two. You know why."
Ki nodded. She missed being pregnant, and she knew Mewtwo did as well. But neither really wanted to risk her life, either.
"And because you were tore up so badly, I'd say no, uh, *intimate* activity until the babies are eight weeks old. Usually it's only six weeks
at the most, but in your case, Ki, this will make *sure* you are healed fully. Carrying five babies is just a lot more different than carrying one baby, even if Mews did give birth in litters and your uterus was stronger as a result."
She could see the disappointment in Ki's eyes, but remained firm.
In the end, both knew she was right.
****
There was one question that nagged at the back of the nurse's mind.
"Mew?" she asked, motioning the surprised pokemon aside. "Could you answer a question for me? You're the only Mew here who's grown up a mew, I presume, and you're female."
*No reason I should not have,* said the pokemon. *But go ahead.*
The nurse flushed and hesistated, before blurting her question.
"Actually, this question is probably going to sound extremely....weird for me to ask, but I am, after all, a nurse. I ought to know these things. Mews are pretty rare, so I don't know the answer for myself. I feel I should know, in case it comes up in the future in one of my patients. Ki is breastfeeding the babies, but do Mews normally nurse their
infants?"
Mew looked totally surprised as the unexpected question registered in her mind, setting on her dazed thoughts. It took her a moment to react--then she burst out laughing.
For several seconds she could not answer, almost squealing in her base-level glee, until she caught her breath. Nurse Joy, though her face was crimson, waited as patiently as she could for the answer.
*Yes,* she gasped at last. *We do. The difference in pokemon and people, my dear nurse, is that even if a pokemon mother is nursing her infants, you can't visibly tell. It is one of the reasons most scientists can't tell from a distance, or often even up close, whether a pokemon is male or female. The only reason you can tell with Ki is because of her human side is dominant in her form. Most pokemon, including mews, produce milk for their young, but we don't swell with our milk anywhere because of it.*
Nurse Joy thought she understood. "So you're saying that Ki's daughters, once they are grown, will have the same basic body shape as their brothers. Even if they have kids of their own you could never visibly tell if they are nursing or not?"
*Exactly,* cackled Mew.
"Thank you, Mew," said the nurse. "I try to understand all I can about other pokemon. As a nurse, the more I know, the more I can help. That's why I am a nurse."
*I understand. Glad I could help,* laughed Mew.
"Yes, just don't mention this conversation to Mewtwo or Ki. I don't want to embarass them."
*I won't. Scout's honor,* answered the pink pokemon.
Considering her mischevious nature, the nurse hoped she kept her promise.
When the nurse walked away, Mew covered her mouth in an attempt to remain quiet, and teleported herself to the far ends of the palace, where she could not be heard--and she let go, belly-laughing herself almost sick before she calmed down.
****
They invited Nurse Joy to stay for dinner, which she accepted. There was something else that had been nagging at the back of her brain, actually, more than one something. She had been debating whether to tell them or not.
Ki finally noticed that she was looking indecisive, and picking at her food without eating it.
*Something wrong with the food, Nurse Joy?* she asked finally. The nurse was making her nervous.
The nurse blinked. "Oh, no, of course not. I've just been debating whether certain information is relavent in your case."
*Oh? In what?* asked Mewtwo, suddenly alert.
"It's nothing bad, I doubt, but I do think you have a right to know," said the nurse. "It's more than one thing, actually. When you whisked me off those days ago to help Ki in her delivery, Mewtwo, were you aware that there were other trainers in the pokemon center who saw you?"
In fact, Mewtwo did recall the fact that he had vaguely sensed others nearby at the time.
*But I was too concerned about Ki to really care, or notice,* he admitted.
The nurse nodded. "I can understand that. However, when I returned, I was very surprised to find that those three trainers had waited all day and night in the pokecenter for me to return. They were worried about me."
*What did you tell them?* asked Ki, worried.
"They piled me with questions about who the pokemon was that snatched me away," said Joy. "I did not want to reveal much, because I did want to keep my promise to you to keep my trap shut. All I said was that you would not hurt me, and your name was Mewtwo, just to get them off my case. I was shocked at their reaction, though."
Mewtwo blinked in surprise.
"Seems as if you have met them before, Mewtwo. All I had to do was mention your name and they seemed to go into a trance. I almost had to shake them out of it. But great was my astonishment when they suddenly claimed they knew you."
*Who are they?* asked Mewtwo abruptly, hoping he would not have to chase anybody down.
"Their names are Ash, Misty, and Brock. Seems to me they had an adventure here, although they did not go into very great detail. But they remember you, even if it was a bit suddenly for them."
Mewtwo looked astonished. *I put a memory block on them, so they would not remember. It was something they agreed to. But I don't want others sneaking around here, trying to find Ki and myself. We wish for no intruders.*
*And Mewtwo erected a psychic sheild suggestion around the palace,* put in Ki. *Unless a person is a *very* poweful psychic themselves and knows how to haze through it, they'd look at this island and see nothing there, *and* they'd feel a desire to keep away from this place.*
"The kids I know are not bad kids. In fact, the boy Ash Ketchum is an exceptional trainer, better now than ever. They all remember you and wish you well. I felt it safe to tell them about your babies, Ki. Once I could convince them they were not born abominations, they were happy for you."
*What do you mean, 'abominations'?* demanded Ki, instantly angry. *My children are not--*
"Slow down, Ki," interrupted the nurse firmly. "The kids were not aware it is possible to mix human and pokemon DNA. They had no idea you yourself are half mew, or that mewtwo is half human. They were wondering if a human and a pokemon breeding would create babies with many malformations or something. I assured them it obviously does not happen that way.. And I told them that the proof is in you two; you are both half and half. I even showed them your old blood samples."
Joy absently chewed on a bite of food, thinking, before she continued. "All your babies are mewtwos. Mewtwo, you are not a malformed Mew. You were deliberately genetically enhanced, the scientists planned for you to look the way you do, and that included activating the human genes that give you the shape you have now--*and *making it a permanent part of your DNA. You can't change that shape, plus you'd pass it on to your offspring as a result.
Joy turned her gaze to Ki, continuing to explain. "Ki, I think you were formed as result of human and Mew DNA mixing, and that's it. I somehow doubt you were created in any lab, just to be abandoned. Because you were not genetically enhanced nor deliberately messed with, you are just a hybrid, and one form or the other would have taken dominance as it does in most pokemon of mixed parentage, though in your case, human or Mew. Your human shape is the one that did so."
*Wow,* said Mew quietly, awed.
The nurse toyed with her food move. "From what I've seen, it seems that such occurences between humans and pokemon would not produce abominations. Obviously, we're more compatible than I ever realized. After I told them this, and that your babies were all perfectly formed Mewtwo infants, they were relieved....and genuinely happy for you. Seems to me they also expessed the desire to see your babies one day."
Ki smiled, suddenly feeling foolish for overreacting. *I am glad to hear that they genuinely support us. Think it is safe to leave their memories intact, Mewtwo?*
*Is it all right with you, Angel?* he asked in return. *I was just so happy you were alive I suppose I did not pay attention to how deeply I should have buried their memories. Do you feel safe with them knowing?*
"They swore to keep quiet," broke in the nurse. "These are not bad kids, you guys. I think you can trust them. I've known them all for a long time, and especially Ash has matured a bit more in the past year."
Ki smiled. *I think we can trust them. In the end, they helped teach us lessons in forgiveness as much as anything, and for sticking by friends against all odds.*
For some reason, Mew choked, flushed, and stared down at her plate, looking ashamed of herself. Nurse Joy gave her an odd glance, but the pokemon did not elaborate.
*I am glad,* she said instead. *I agree; they are good kids.*
She was quiet for a minute. "You know, it is possible that not all your babies will be born looking like baby mewtwos," she said, out of the blue.
Ki almost choked on her milk. *What?* she sputtered.
"Well, think about it. In pokemon, the parents don't have to be the same sub-species. A pikachu could easily mate with, say, a Jigglypuff. Their children would either be Pichu or Igglybuff. Not a pikabuff, or an igglychu, if you get my drift."
*Meaning....* said Mewtwo with a wry smile on his face.
"It isn't as likely with you two--in fact, very unlikely--but there's a very small chance that Ki could have a human-looking child."
Ki and Mewtwo both looked very surprised.
"Not so hard to imagine," the nurse shrugged. "The baby would simply be either mewtwo in shape or human in shape. Your babies now inherited the mewtwo shape, since it is a permanent part of their father's DNA, like your human shape is to you, Ki, and it was dominant. There's a *very* small chance they could inherit the human shape instead."
Mewtwo only shrugged, still in shock. *Well....I....I cannot stop nature.*
For some reason, that stabbed Ki square in the heart. *Does that mean he can only love our babies only if they are born mewtwos, like him?* she thought, thunderstruck, to herself. She had to know--now.
*Mewtwo?* Ki asked softly. *Would it bother you to have a baby like that? Born human in appearance, the way I happen to be?*
Tears had welled in her eyes and threatened to overflow. Nurse Joy and Mew were both surprised that such a thought would affect Ki that strongly.
Mewtwo instantly looked contrite, guessing what she must have thought. *Of course not, my Angel,* he swiftly reassured her. *I did not mean to sound reluctant. I was just surprised by the nurse's announcement. I'd love any child we produce together, whether they look mewtwo *or* human. They'll still be a part of both of us, a product of our love. That is what matters.*
Ki sniffled and nodded, smiling now. She looked relieved.
Mewtwo got up and came over to her. She slid off her chair and into his arms, letting him hug her tightly.
With his actions alone, Mewtwo had reassured her it would, indeed, be okay.
*Their babies indeed could not ask for better parents,* Nurse Joy thought to herself, smiling.
****
They continued eating in silence for a few more minutes before Ki again became aware that Nurse Joy seemed to be debating with herself over something.
*Something you forget to mention?* Ki teased.
The nurse looked startled. "Well...." she admitted. "I don't know, really. Just wondering whether it has relevance to you two."
*What?* asked Mewtwo, glad to divert his attention from the thoughts of human babies with him as the father. He truly would not mind, but the thought was still shocking to his senses.
"It's about a girl I met the day after you brought me back to the pokemon center in Pallet Town," answered Joy. "She moved to Pallet Town the day I was away. She's been travelling a lot, and I guess she decided to stay for awhile."
*So?* asked Ki.
Nurse Joy paused, fork in the air over her plate as she contemplated the words she was about to use.
"I never thought," she began at last, "to ever meet another human with inbred powers like yours, Ki."
****
There was a stunned silence.
*What?* exclaimed Ki at last.
"I've met a girl recently. She's been helping me in the pokemon center the last couple of days, in fact. Her name is Sharie Triesta. Much to my astonishment, I discovered that she harbored some strange abilites, not normal even to a psychic human."
*Go on,* whispered Ki.
"She's very mysterious," Joy went on. "She just showed up the next morning and asked if she could help anywhere. When I asked what she knew, she produced proof that she knows more than enough to simply help me, certainly. She's told me a little more since, but not much."
*Well?* asked Mewtwo.
"Seems to me her family is one of those rare families that has a lot of psychics in it. Also a lot of scientists. Often one or the other--or both. Her father is a well-known scientist, in fact, *and* a psychic. His specialties are in several areas, but he tends to focus on pokemon genetics. As far as I know, her mother was, as well, but Sharie barely admitted she died when Sharie was only four.
"Sharie herself isn't stupid. She's barely seventeen and already has numerous science degrees. She brushed off my awe and only said her psychic ability gave her the ability to never forget what she learns, and that was about it."
*Without cheating, I hope,* said Mew.
Nurse Joy ignored her. "She's the real thing. She does not believe in capturing pokemon against their will, or battling them, but she's already got her Master's ranking already, something few in the League can accomplish. Strange, since she's so dead-set against it. Obviously, she somehow got it without doing a bunch of battles to earn it."
*Certain tests can be taken by those who don't raise pokemon but want to be members of the Leauge anyways,* said Ki. *I've heard about it.*
"Well, obviously, she has to have some skill or she would not have it. But she won't battle and does not even try to capture pokemon. Before I even knew of her powers she reminded me strongly of you, Ki, although I did not know why at the time. It was reinforced when she went with me to meet Professor Oak, and she started talking to his pokemon and understanding them--fluently."
Ki, who had started eating again, immediately dropped her fork. *Goodness! Wasn't she just talking to them psychically?*
"Nope. Direct translation and understanding, like I've seen you do. She did not need to activate any power to do it. Nothing compared to yesterday, though."
She closed her eyes with the memory. "As far as I know, no human should have the power to do what she did. I had a very sick espeon on my hands. It's breathing was failing even as I forced medicine down it's throat. I was sure we'd lost it when it stopped breathing. What Sharie did next almost made me faint."
She shuddered. "She got up on the bed and took the pokemon in her arms. She closed her eyes and her body, and Espeon's, started to glow a brilliant ameythst color. A few moments later, the pokemon drew in a ragged breath. Sharie stayed that way for several minutes before letting go. She told me she had made the espeon breathe until the medicine could take effect. She must have, because the pokemon is fine now. She said she could do many things others could not normally do, but she does not want everyone knowing she's so different--in fact, she was adamant about that. She said she'd had enough of that in her life. She begged me not to go around and tell anyone--she does not want to be in the middle of a media circus."
*Who could blame her--someone like that?* groused Ki, remembering.
"From what little she's told me, Sharie grew up in a bunch of labratories because of her father's work, mostly distant labratories far from cities. In fact, years ago Professor Oak met both of her parents, though briefly. She's not said much directly, but enough hints that I get feeling that, though her family tried to protect her, many of the scientists her family worked with were pretty nasty to her and treated her badly because she was different--even for a psychic human. I would not even wonder they acted as if she was as much experimentee as experimenter, from the painful shadows in her eyes. Nobody should have such shadows in them like that. Some months ago her father agreed to let her, as she put it, to 'go out on her own and discover herself'--I guess she has no real notion of why she was born with such powers. She's been many places, and eventually, I guess, ended up in Pallet Town."
She shrugged. "As I said, she reminded me so much of you, and the fact that she has such powers, even though she's human and it is said to be nearly so, if not, impossible......it's still uncanny, but part of why I told you. And....well, I can't tell you the rest. If you ever were to see her, though, you'd understand."
*Unlikely,* said Mewtwo. *This place is well hidden.*
Nurse Joy shrugged. "She keeps to herself, anyways. I would not put it past her to be able to telekenetically fly or teleport like you guys can. She just likes to be alone when she's not helping me. I think she can at least telekenetically fly. She's been to the islands nearest to pallet town already, and only gave me an odd smile when I asked her how she got there without a boat."
Ki shook her head, smiling to herself. She could fly better now, but Mewtwo still kept a psychic handle on her when she tried, for fear of her falling. She had agreed to let him do so until he was sure she could fly as well as he could. She rather envied this other girl at the moment.
But it was strange--a human girl, with pokemon powers, inbred powers at that. At least Ki had an explanation now for why she had them....one of her parents had been a Mew. But a human girl....?
****
After dinner, they returned Nurse Joy home. She waved and smiled before teleporting.
"I hope I can think of a good excuse," she said before she left. "Sharie will wonder where I've disappeared to."
*Won't she sense it?*
"Probably not. For all her powers, the thing she seems to abhorr the most is to enter the minds of others or let anyone else in her mind. The other psychic pokemon I've seen interact with her are extremely puzzled--she guards herself so well that, even if they did it deliberately,
they doubt they can get in. They've told me telepathically that this ability is practically defensive, it's so strong and she hates it that much."
Ki shook her head as Nurse Joy was teleported away by Mewtwo. Although she did not like to lay herself bare like an open book, she rarely minded when Mewtwo did once in awhile pick up her thoughts. He was different. Most of the time, he was welcome inside her head.
And her heart.
****
*Wipes forehead* Phew! I know I don't have Mystic Mewtwo's writing style. I tried to make it halfway interesting nonetheless. That was chapter 1. Watch out for chapter 2.