A/N: So just in case the different forms of speech get a little confusing (for the next few chapters there will be a variety)

Character's thoughts

"Telepathic speech"

"Regular vocal speech"

Also in the case of all pokemon in the story, they are speaking in their own languages, not English. However, certain pokemon like those that can speak English in the movies (ie Arceus and Mewtwo) are the exception to this.


Chapter 13

Five years ago (2 years and 1 month before Genesect)

Mewtwo woke up as he felt Naiya shift in his arms. He opened his eyes and looked at her laying next to him. Her head was resting on his arm while his other arm and his tail were wrapped around her protectively. Her hair was unkempt and as she opened her eyes to meet with his, they appeared to be red and puffy. Somehow though, as she was looking up at Mewtwo, she was able to crack a small smile. There was still sadness and grief in her eyes as she smiled, but Mewtwo knew the worst was behind them now. And she fought through it bravely, Mewtwo thought. He couldn't begin to imagine the strength required for Gardevoir to push through their recurring grief. Mewtwo breathed a sigh of relief and smiled back at Naiya, then, unexpectedly, leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

Naiya's eyes widened in surprise and her cheeks reddened. She looked away, smiling sheepishly at the gesture, before shifting closer to nuzzle in Mewtwo's chest. Mewtwo felt a blush come to his cheeks at that. It seemed to be an unspoken agreement in that moment, which both he and Naiya wanted to try a closer relationship. It already felt like they were moving a little too fast though, especially after what she'd been through, he didn't want to feel like he was taking advantage of her. And Mewtwo wasn't even sure what had brought his feelings on so suddenly, it was just before this event that he had doubts this was even possible.

"You seem better," Mewtwo said quietly, "I'm glad."

"Another couple of weeks and I'll be back to my usual self," Naiya said lightly.

Mewtwo summoned some apples from the food storage for breakfast, and he and Naiya sat together eating quietly. After that, he managed to coax her out of the den and escort her to the nearby waterfall so they could clean themselves up.

As they were walking back to the den, Mewtwo noticed Naiya's eyes were downcast, and still mournful. He sighed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders comfortingly, as guilt stabbed his heart. Mewtwo guided her to the fallen tree next to the den entrance and they sat down. Naiya rested her head on Mewtwo's shoulder, and they both looked out across the field, taking in the scenery.

After a few minutes of silence, Naiya spoke up, "Thank you," she said, "for being there for me."

"After being responsible for it recurring in the first place," Mewtwo started, "it was the very least I could do."

Naiya blinked slowly, then turned her head to look up at Mewtwo, "Mewtwo?"

"Yes, Naiya?" He asked, looking down and meeting her eyes.

"Are we really going to try this?" Naiya asked nervously, "Us being together?"

"We could..." Mewtwo said, contemplatively, "But let's not go too fast. Let's start with building a close friendship." There was a slight disappointment in Naiya's eyes when he said that, but Mewtwo continued, "Take the time to learn each others likes and dislikes; favorite foods and such," he explained.

The disappointment didn't fade, but her face did show some understanding at that, "I suppose so…"

Mewtwo dipped his head and kissed Naiya's forehead as a 'thanks'.


"So that's when your relationship officially began?" Misty asked.

"That's when I decided to officially make an effort." Mewtwo clarified, "Naiya had already begun in her efforts long before me. And over time, we grew very close."


Four years ago (1 year before Genesect)

"Ah hahaha! Stop it! Stop!" Naiya laughed. Mewtwo was pulling her by her hand into the ocean waters of Undella Bay. It wasn't that cold, and Mewtwo was trying to convince her. He had even been swimming around in the water beforehand to prove it to Naiya, but she was deciding to be difficult. So, as she continued in her vain attempts to stop him, Mewtwo—grinning roguishly—wrapped one arm around her waist, lifted her over his shoulder, and carried her away from the dry beach and into the water, "No! NonononoWa-AAAH!" She shrieked as Mewtwo dove into the water, taking her with him.

When they both broke the surface and gasped for air, it was Mewtwo's turn to laugh; Naiya's hair had flattened to her head, a piece of seaweed had gotten stuck in it, and she was so busy glaring at him that she didn't even seem to notice! She wasn't really mad though, Mewtwo could tell; despite her glaring at him the way she was, it was all in good humor. Mewtwo hardly ever made any vocalizations because his physical voice sounds very different from his telepathic one, it sounded very alien to him when he first heard his own voice. Due to lack of use however, his throat would get sore rather easily, he was definitely going to pay for this bout of laughter, but he had no regrets.

Once he'd caught his breath, Mewtwo reached toward Naiya's head—she watched him warily as he did this—and plucked the seaweed from her hair. She looked at the seaweed, then back at Mewtwo, and started to giggle, then burst into loud laughter of her own, Mewtwo immediately following suit.

Mewtwo and Naiya's relationship officially grew past the friendship stage during the middle of winter, a few months after Naiya had fully recovered from her grieving. It was just a regular winter night like any other, the cold was keeping them inside their warm den—their den, Mewtwo still couldn't believe it. They were sitting by the campfire, set in the center of the den, talking about…something, when Naiya made the first move. She had reached her hands up to his face and kissed him full on the lips. He remembered closing his eyes, wrapping his arms around her and tracing his hands up to her shoulders to hold her close, as she pushed down on him, making him lie back, with her on top of him. They stayed like that for a few seconds, kissing, enjoying their first moment of true closeness. When Naiya's movements became more insistent, Mewtwo, regretfully, had to stop her; he did want to be intimate with her, but once again it felt like they were moving too fast. He explained to her that he wanted to enjoy the progress of their relationship slowly, so that they can savor each individual moment. She pouted at first but also understood. It was after that that they had begun to do other simple things that couples usually do, like share their nest, and their meals.

Mewtwo had also gotten back to exploring the Unova region, and taking Naiya with him, sharing the experience. Gazing at the cities from a distance, exploring places like the Celestial Tower and Twist Mountain, circling around the Unova region until they reached the shores of Undella Bay, where Mewtwo thought was the perfect place to relax and unwind.

So once Mewtwo and Naiya were able to stop laughing and catch their breath, Naiya climbed up onto Mewtwo's back and held onto his shoulders while he hooked his arms under her legs. He began to walk back in the direction of the shore, but Naiya had other ideas, grinning mischievously, she used Psychic on Mewtwo's tail, pushing to the left and setting him off balance. Mewtwo's eyes widened in surprise, he cried out in shock, and Naiya screamed gleefully, as his body began to fall to the left, and they, once again, crashed into the water.

As they were splashing and tussling in the water, a cry cut them off, "Meeeewww!"

Mewtwo looked up, a smile spreading across his face as a familiar form appeared overhead; the outline of a tiny kitten with a long, thin tail.

Naiya grinned widely and waved eagerly in greeting. Mew, Mewtwo's sister, had visited a couple times after Mewtwo first introduced Naiya to her as his mate-to-be. Mew was so happy for Mewtwo, and she wanted to know more about Naiya; they became very close friends too, it seemed Naiya was even capable of the same level of mischief that Mew had—if the stunt she pulled with Mewtwo's tail didn't say anything.

"There you two are!" Mew called happily, as she floated down to the other two psychics.

Naiya hung on Mewtwo's arm, leaning most of her weight on him, "Hi, Mew!" she said, "It's so nice to see you again!"

"How have you been?" Mewtwo asked as he led the way to the dry shore.

"Well let's see," Mew began, "I was watching some Deerling playing near Dragonspiral tower when…"