Authors Note: Just on a random note, for the previous chapter, yes, it was Mauville City, not Mauville Town. I can't believe I didn't catch that. Ha-ha! Anyways, get ready for a weir…probably debatably appropriate plot twist!
Kar awoke that morning quite violently; being shaken back and forth by what he noticed soon was Rhea. Rubbing his eyes, stretching his hands out and yawning, he looked over to her.
"What's up, Rhea?" He asked, still exhausted from yesterday.
"Her." Said Rhea flatly, pointing to a teenage girl in a pretty normal outfit, stretching out her one hand and examining her nails on the other. It wasn't that she looked exactly snooty; it was more like overconfident and snide. "She wanted to speak to you." Rhea continued tonelessly, and then tiredly, she flopped back onto her sleeping bag on the poke center floor and proceeded to sleep.
"Huh." Kar muttered, stepping over his friend's sleeping body and coming over to the other girl to which she pointed. She looked up to stare at Kar, and then she giggled.
"I'm Meria. It's nice to see you, Kar." Meria said, putting her hand on her chin, careful not to smudge what looked like freshly painted nails.
"Kar here. I noticed you said nice to see you…?" He mumbled, still stretching.
"Ah well, you never mind that. Anyways, are you familiar with the legendary Cujo?"
"Umm, you mean the one that was in the Stephen King book?" He replied, seeming confused by now.
"No, I mean the one that beat a certain legendary pokemon with relative ease a few years ago."
"Well, by now I'm actually completely lost. What legendary pokemon? Which Cujo? Where the hell do I know you from? How do you know me…?" Kar inquired, getting a bit aggravated.
"It might be better if we talk outside." Said Meria, pulling him out the door. Leaving Mauville town to the north, they walked in the feeble light of the rising sun to route 111, where Meria pulled him behind a tree and made sure no one was near.
"A few years ago a strange pokemon appeared. Maybe you don't know about it because it wasn't in this region, but it definitely happened. It was definitely one of a kind, and it was extremely powerful. It tyrannized the cities and towns until finally one day an Arcanine from one talented trainer rose up to stand against it. And they won. But this Arcanine was of proportional power. It wasn't normal. Your Growlithe-"
"Was the son of that Arcanine, right? And now that pokemon will rise again and it's up to me and only me to stop it and save the world from impending doom?"
"Don't flatter yourself. The first part, was true yes. But you? You save the world? You couldn't save a timid kitten. I was actually thinking that you should give up your Arcanine to a trainer with more status and power. Besides, I never said that the pokemon would rise up again. I was just going to say that your Growlithe was the son of that Arcanine and because of that, I want it!" She grinned and kept a cheerful disposition while Kar stared at her as if she was mad.
"You're joking, right?" He said, his expression amused.
"Nope, completely serious. I'm actually a member of team magma, and as we love fire pokemon, we can't help but desire a pokemon like your Growlithe with such potential. You however, Kar, have no skill, so I suppose we'll have to give your Growlithe to someone who's a bit less of a retard."
"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of giving you my pokemon." He shot, angrily.
"No problem. Your pokemon-less, so I'll just have to kill you and take your pokemon by force." She grinned manically. Kar snorted. "Go, Houndoom!" Looking slightly like the devil of dog type pokemon, Houndoom appeared. Most of its body was a dark black, but its belly was an orangish red, and grey ridges lined its back. His eyes locked onto the grey skull by Houndoom's neck, Kar stepped back, a knot forming in his stomach. "Use Flamethrower, Houndoom!"
As a rush of fire came towards him, Kar's Growlithe leapt in front of the flames, easily taking the hit.
"I suppose I should have been expecting that." Meria laughed. "No problem. That pokemon has no potential with you."
"Overheat attack, Growlithe!" Said Kar, ignoring her. Although the attack hit head on directly, it did nothing but contribute to the malevolent glare in Meria's eyes.
"This is why you suck. You see, you forgot about my Houndoom's Flash fire, which renders fire moves useless." Remembering that his Growlithe had only Fire Blast, Overheat, Ember, and Agility, he realized that his pokemon was completely useless. "Houndoom, finish Kar off! Hyper Beam!"
As the large deadly blast was fired at Kar, his small Growlithe knew that it was helpless to block it. Though Growlithe had feigned hostility and ungrateful-ness, it really did care about its trainer. But as it made the faithful rush to try and intercept that hyper beam, something amazing happened. A flare of white light blinded both trainers and pokemon, and suddenly the hyper beam was gone. It had disappeared, into thin air, at the very last second. However, taking the place of the hyper beam was a small pink pokemon. It was cat-like in nature and it could be told at a glance that it was the legendary pokemon, Mew, looking aggravated indeed.
In shock the battling parties looked , their interest captivated to the utmost intensity, at the legend before them. Its eyes glowering red, it turned towards the member of team magma, rearing its head and releasing a blast of energy towards them, an attack which Kar did not recognize. Considering this pokemon was a legend, however, he did not doubt its power. More so, he doubted its existence and figured that he must have early symptoms of psychosis.
The Team Magma member shrieked loudly, clamoring as fast as she could away from the mew, completely overcome with fear. Kar only stood, still looking upwards, as the mew stopped floating, hesitantly approaching the ground. His Growlithe was equally mesmerized.
You must be Kar. The pokemon said telepathically. Surprised, Kar didn't know how to send a telepathic message in response so he just spoke aloud.
"That I am." He said.
Ah. Right, then. My name isn't important, but you humans like to call me mew, I'd expect. Anyways. I have a bit of a favor to ask you, if it isn't too much of a problem, of course. The mew explained.
"What might that favor be?" Kar asked. He was unsure of how to address a legendary pokemon, and in fear of being slaughtered, he just didn't address it at all.
No need to be so cautious, I have no intention of hurting you whatsoever. Anyways, I was thinking you could travel to Werten, my home region. There will be species of pokemon unknown to the rest of the world, of course. It's unbeknown to me why they weren't already found, and this region, it's honestly not very hidden. Those humans, they really make you wonder…
"No offense, my little pink friend, and I am surely indebted to you for saving my life, but, why should I?"
Shadow pokemon. Not the same as the ones created by Cipher a few years ago in Orre. No, these pokemon are different. They are mutants of nature itself, not a product of man's twisted curiosity. They are bore from only one shadow pokemon that existed long, long ago. They are atrocious in power. We'd like your help.
"We? Aren't you the only mew?"
That may be so. But there are a number of other telepathic pokemon there, as you will see for yourself. The ones I live with.
"What about humans?"
What about them? Well, there are poke'morphs.
"Poke-what?"
Half human. Half Pokemon. Simple enough for you? As they are considered abominations of nature, like shadow pokemon, they stay away from the outside world, from the regions of Kanto, Jhoto, Hoenn and Orre. Werten is much different, you see. If only you could gaze into the wonders of it! You would never want to return here. The pokemon said, licking her fur disinterestedly.
"I have to admit, it does sound appealing. But I was planning on collecting the 8 badges here, and then the league…"
Oh come now! Many trainers have done that! Come with me to Werten and meet the poke' morphs. And help us rid ourselves of those damn shadow pokemon. Such a nuisance, really. You'll be considered a hero, of course, and not a nobody like you are here. You and your trusty Growlithe.
"Growl." The pokemon snorted.
"I…well…fine!" He said, clutching the air into a fist and his eyes sparkling with determination. "But…I have to take Rhea."
Take your silly human friend. Mew yawned. But I'm going to take a nap. Meet me back here in an hour with your decision, Kar. And don't be late, because if anyone finds a sleeping mew here and I have to wake up and kill them, I won't hesitate to blame it entirely on you. Cheerfully, the pokemon stretched itself professionally, as if it had done this many times in the past, and curled itself into a sleeping ball. Suddenly it lost it's intelligent aura, and it was replaced by the cute illusion of a completely innocent sleeping pokemon.
"Aww…" Kar said, unable to help himself. He skulked over to the sleeping mew and lowered his hand down to pet it. Opening one eye, the pokemon hissed.
Don't even think about it, human.
He backed away quickly. Calling his Growlithe to follow him, he raced back to the pokemon center in Mauville. Trainers looked at him, shaking their heads. He was sure they thought of him as a newbie. But they weren't the ones going to a far away region. Oh no. And it was this thought that kept him running at a constant pace to the poke'center, springing onto Rhea like a caged animal that was just set free. She bolted upright.
"Huh? Wha?"
"Hey Rhea? Guess what!" He grinned, cheerful as ever. Every spark of tiredness that once had filled him was now gone, replaced by dim-witted blind happiness.
"What?"
"We're going to Werten!" He practically screamed. And then, only after the entire poke center froze, looking at him as if he was a mental patient, did he brighten up and take her outside.
"What the hell is Werten?" She asked him, her eyes still flickering upon and closed and her movements clumsy and stumbled, as if she was still in the twilight of being awake and asleep.
"It's a new region. There are shadow pokemon there, and new pokemon, and people that are half human and half pokemon, and-"
"Have you lost your mind?"
"I'm completely serious. I swear." Kar nodded, putting up his right hand. Seeming unsure, Rhea looked towards his Growlithe.
"Did this happen?" She asked, completely doubtful the pokemon would confirm Kar's story.
"Lith." It responded simply, nodding its head.
"If this is a joke, I will slap you both so hard…"
"It's not. Will you agree to come?"
"Just pretending you are telling the truth…not that I actually believe you are or anything…we'd have to abandon our journeys now for something that may be nothing like we expected…" She said, frowning, completely unsure.
"But…it'd be something new and exciting. Not like everything else. We could be heroes." He said, gazing awkwardly at the sky. Eyeing him with some degree of embarrassment, Rhea looked away, blushing again. How could she say no? Yet somehow, someway, she knew the three of them were in for more danger then ever before. He must know it too, but he didn't seem to care. Instead, he seemed exuberant, enthralled. He was just an idiot, he could get her and Growlithe killed. But, she intended to follow him. Something about Kar drew her to him. She needed to get to know him. Besides, it did sound fun. For a second, the silence between them grew deafening a gust of chilly wind passed by, the foggy clouds still dimming the morning sun. After a little while of getting tired of him gazing at the sky how he was, she sighed.
"Fine. We'll go. But we might be killed, and we might me gored, or trampled, or burned or-"
"We'll go?" He said, grabbing her hands and jumping up and down. "Awesome! Lets go tell the mew!"
"Wait a minute-mew? You've definitely gone insane, Kar." She laughed, putting her hands on her knees to keep herself from rolling over laughing.
"Hey, I'll prove it!" He scoffed, blushing angrily. Pulling her upwards, he tread towards that spot in the forest where him and his Growlithe fought Team Magma, and where mew appeared. As his excitement climaxed, he reached the spot and looked for the mew, his eyes darting quickly around it, scanning every possible place, but the small pink pokemon wasn't there. "It was-but I swear!" He said, feeling the same hopeless anxiety that he did the day of the poke' school tournament.
"Of course. Now lets you to a therapist, you delirious mental patient. Wertan, mew, shadow pokemon! Heh! Mew! Hahaha!" She laughed, pulling him by the ear. "Mew doesn't-"
Exist? The pokemon said to them both shrewdly. I'm sorry to say that I do, unfortunately. The two trainers looked left and right, trying to locate mew. Tired yet? Look up, you little children geniuses. Kar and Rhea looked up. Kar smiled triumphantly, and Rhea gasped. Growlithe simply barked and wagged its tail happily. Kar, have you come to your decision? I don't have the whole day to baby-sit you mediocre trainers from Team Magma, you know.
"Yeah-I have. My answer is" He smiled, looking up. From then on Kar, Rhea, and Growlithe's journey became so heinously deformed from what it was when they started out was beyond recognition. So many things in their world would become upside down. So many things changed. When Kar replied, he knew little that soon enough his pokemon collection would be riddled with shadow pokemon, a sarcastic legendary one, new ones completely, or that his new friends would consist of poke' morphs who constantly thought themselves better then anyone else, he definitely didn't know that he was getting himself into a world of trouble. Chaos would ensue in the world, and he was going along for the ride, consenting to it completely and saving mew's conscience by one simple one-syllable word. "Yes."