A World Reborn - No Peace
The crowd of humans were panicking, frightened by the appearance of the animals that had been outside only moments before. They wanted answers, but their leader, Harold, didn't have any. He grabbed a megaphone and talked into it.
"Attention!" he shouted, but only a few paid attention. "Attention!" he shouted even louder, getting the attention of almost the whole crowd. "I know, we thought we were all that was left, but this is a good thing. It means there is a place out there where we can live."
"Those things could kill us!" someone said.
"We won't let that happen. We're going to go where they are in a few days, and you'll see, we'll be just fine."
A few minutes later, Harold was sitting on a bench in a separate room. Mike walked up to him.
"They'll never let us live with them. You heard what that one said. They want nothing to do with us," Mike said.
"I know," Harold responded. "Which is why I'm going to take any soldiers who are willing, several dozen automatics and kill every one of them."
Mike was shocked to hear that. "We don't have to do that," he said. "Maybe I could negotiate with them. Prevent bloodshed."
Harold looked skeptical. "Negotiate with animals?"
"You saw how many of them there were. They could have slaughtered us if they wanted. They didn't," Mike insisted. "If they have the intelligence to do that, then they can be reasoned with."
Harold contemplated it before making a decision. "Very well, I'll give you a day to reason with them. But after that, I'm sending an army in to kill them when they don't listen."
A while later, Mike was gathering up his three kids and taking them to the jeep.
"Mike, wait up!" a woman shouted. Mike turned around and saw a woman who was a few years younger than him. She called herself Seema, but that wasn't her real name. "I want to come with you."
"To where?" he asked.
"Where do you think?" she sarcastically asked. "I know you're going to talk to those creatures; what did they call themselves again?"
"Look, it's smarter if I go," Mike shot down. "They know me, so they might be more willing."
"I still want to go see them," Seema insisted.
"If I convince them to let us live with them, then you can see them as much as you want," Mike said. He got in the jeep and started driving away.
An hour later, he was driving through the Pokémon's land. Eventually the terrain became to rough for even the jeep, and had to be parked.
"Alright. Stay here no matter what," Mike told his kids. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He got out and started walking in an almost random direction. He didn't know where these things lived, but he knew they were somewhere. He had been walking for several minutes when he heard a rumble. He looked around, thinking another group of those animals had found him, but saw nothing except more trees. Before long, water started dripping on him, which quickly turned into a downpour.
Realizing it was raining, he ducked under a particularly large leaf to avoid getting wet. He didn't know how long it would rain, but he hoped it wouldn't be to. long. He failed to notice that the leaf wasn't connected to a tree, and was much larger than what it should be. So when it moved on its own accord, letting the rain fall on him, he jumped. He spun and saw a face that vaguely resembled a dinosaur looking at him, a smaller leaf covering it's head and banana-like fruits hanging from the base of its head.
The Tropius growled at him, displeased to see a human among them. He grabbed the biped by the back of its shirt and carried him to the Tree.
Meanwhile, a Zorua and a Poochyena were playing together in the forest.
"C'mon brother, catch me!" Zorua taunted. Poochyena sprinted as much as he could before he tackled his sister.
"Got you!" he cheered. They shared a laugh before Poochyena saw something. "What's that?" he questioned, pointing a paw at a strange metal object on wheels.
Zorua turned to face the object. "I don't know. Let's go look!" She started walking to it when she noticed her brother wasn't following. "You're not scared, are you?"
"A little," he admitted.
"Don't be a Meowth. Let's go check it out!" she teased, resuming her walk, her brother reluctantly followed behind. When they got to it, they realized it was very big compared to them.
"What is this thing?" Poochyena wondered.
Zorua sniffed it out, and it didn't smell like anything she had smelled. "Not sure." She noticed that there seemed to be some holes in it, and leapt up to try and get in, only to hit an invisible barrier. She fell down, rubbing her now sore head. "What was that?"
"Maybe we should just leave this alone," Poochyena suggested.
As Zorua shook her head, she remembered an old tale her mother told her. A human contraption that could travel great distances without stopping. Unlike her timid brother, she was several years older than most other children. "I think mother told me about something like this once. It's called an auto-mo-wheel. The humans used them to take them great distances."
"If it's human, maybe we should leave it alone," Poochyena said.
"Oh relax, they're all gone. It couldn't hurt to look inside," Zorua said. She leapt into the air, turning into Infernape. Using her new hands, she found the small bar that opened the… door? She thought that's what its called. When she opened the door, there was someone inside, two someone's. A young boy was being held by an older female. Zorua turned back to her true form, startling the pair. "What are you?" she questioned.
"What is that?" the boy questioned.
"I think it's one of those animals," the older female said.
"I'm not an animal, I'm a Pokémon," Zorua protested. She eventually realized that these were humans. When she imagined them, she thought they were several times larger with big muscles. These two didn't look threatening at all.
"Um, hi?" the boy said. "Think it understands us?"
"Yes, I can, and I'm not an 'it', I'm a female," Zorua said. She looked behind her, and saw Poochyena cowering at the sight of the humans. She scoffed at her little brother's cowardice.
"I think it's trying to talk to us," the female said. Zorua was about to say something when it clicked; they can't understand her.
"She looks like a black fox," the female said.
"Think it's friendly?" the boy asked.
"That alligator thing wasn't." Zorua turned her head and saw an older boy, pointing something metallic at her. She ignored it as it didn't look threatening. She walked closer to the boy, who stretched a hand out to her.
When she was close enough, he placed his hand on her head and started rubbing. She let out a small whine of contentment, liking the feeling. He kept petting her, until she got so relaxed she laid on her side, and moved his hand to rub her belly.
"This feels so nice," she sighed. Poochyena jumped up to see his sister being rubbed by the boy. Seeing her happy face, he started getting closer.
The moment was brought to an abrupt end when something rammed the side of the jeep, shaking it. Judas looked out his window and saw a larger version of the black fox with arms attacking the side. He tried to shoot it, but it broke the window and ripped the gun from his hands. A growl from the other side drew their attention, and saw a larger version of the dog standing there, barring it's teeth.
Mike was being carried through the trees to a large tree-shaped mountain. He was taken inside and dropped in front of a blue jackal-like creature with spikes. He heard more noises around him and saw more of the strange creatures, a monkey-like one with fire for hair walking up. He turned his attention back to the jackal, wondering what was going to happen to him.
"You were told to not come back," the jackal said telepathically.
"I know," Mike said. "But I had to come to talk to you."
"There is nothing you could say to us that we would tolerate your presence for long," the jackal said.
"Mr. Jackal…"
"My name is Lucario."
"Okay, Lucario," Mike began. "Please listen. We need your help. We're running out of food and were hoping we could live here somewhere."
There were many shouts from the creatures around, and they didn't sound pleasant. Lucario let out a shout, and they quieted. "For several reasons, we do not trust your kind," Lucario said.
"Please, we need help. If you don't, an army will come and wipe you all out," Mike begged. There were more roars and shouts, which Lucario silenced with another shout.
"We do not fear your kind, either," Lucario said. "We can protect ourselves."
There were roars and shouts, and Mike turned to see his kids being led by two canine-looking creatures, one walking on two feet, the other on all fours. The black biped shoved the older boy to the ground before walking up to Lucario.
"Zoro," it said. It then proceeded to talk to Lucario in a similar way, the words coming in twists of Zoroark, with Lucario only offering grunts in response. Then Zoroark pulled out something from behind it; a gun. The reveal caused an uproar among the creatures. They clearly hated the weapon.
Lucario took the weapon before walking up to Mike. "You would have the audacity to plead for mercy while carrying this?" he questioned. He tossed the weapon away, where Charizard stomped on it. "Why should we allow you here when your single instinct is killing?"
"Please, at least give us a chance," Mike begged. "We'll die without your help."
A green lizard with plant characteristics walked up to Lucario and talked to him, the words coming out in variations of 'Sceptile'. Lucario and Sceptile talked back and forth for a while, Sceptile's speech being rather gentle, while she repeatedly pointed to a tunnel that lead further up into the tree. Eventually their discussion came to an end.
"Wait here," Lucario said to Mike and the humans before walking into the tunnel, but not before letting off a series of growls, seeming to issue orders to the others.
Lucario walked through the network of tunnels before coming to Myu's hollow. He found the Mew gently stroking his daughter's long antenna, winding them together in an attempt to make a ponytail.
"Myu," Lucario spoke. The blue Mew turned to face him.
"Lucario, what is it?" Myu asked, not stopping his braiding.
"A few humans showed up and were brought here," Lucario bluntly said. Myu looked shocked to hear that. "The eldest of them said that they need to live here, despite you telling them they're not allowed here."
Myu stopped what he was doing and flew up to meet Lucario's eyes. "Have they explained why they need to come here?"
"They said they were running out of food and he has also warned that if we don't let them live here, they will send an army to kill us," Lucario explained.
Myu pondered on this before speaking up. "Why have you come here if this is the problem?"
"Because Sceptile thinks we should let them live amongst us," Lucario answered. "She thinks if we show them mercy and let them learn your teachings then maybe we could live together."
Myu thought over this, weighing the possible consequences of either choice before reaching a decision. "Tell them that our stance doesn't change. They must remain where they are and tell them that they will find their ability to defeat us in battle impossible."
Lucario was surprised, but nonetheless left to relay the message.
Meanwhile, the Humans waited for Lucario to come back. As they did, the Pokémon discussed amongst themselves what Myu's choice could be and the appearance of the Humans, as well as the power they possessed.
Lucario did return after several minutes, walking up to the Humans. Everyone waited with baited breath for Lucario to relay Myu's answer.
"Myu has decided that our original stance will remain unchanged. He also warns that attacking us is a bad idea," Lucario telepathically relayed.
Mike was stunned to hear that and tried one last time to convince them. "Please, we don't want to hurt you, but our people are desperate enough that they will kill you."
"Myu's decision is final, and I cannot change his mind," Lucario told them. "Now leave, and once again, don't come back."
Mike got up and motioned for his kids to do the same. Lucario told the others to let them go. Mike and his family eventually got back to their jeep after some help from Zoroark and drove off.
Sceptile wasn't going to let this matter rest though and went to talk to Myu herself. She arrived at his hollow and managed to find the Mew.
"Sceptile, what are you doing here?" he asked. It was rare for any Pokémon other than Lucario to come without being summoned.
"I'm here to object to your decision regarding the Humans," she said. "I do believe that we can achieve peace with them if we try."
Myu shook his head before speaking. "Sceptile, while I admire your compassion for them, I'm afraid that living peacefully with them isn't as simple as you think," he said.
Sceptile knelt down so she was more level with Myu. "Myu, you know I'm grateful to you for saving me from more than the radiation, and I cannot thank you enough for giving me this family after I had lost mine. I wasn't very old when it happened, but I can still remember my family before they were crushed by our house," she said. "But I cannot remain silent concerning your decision to turn a blind eye to the human's plight."
Myu chuckled slightly. "Where did you learn vocabulary like that?"
"It doesn't matter. What does matter is why you choose to remain indifferent to the Humans," she said.
"Sceptile, while we can sustain the Humans, the fact is we cannot risk letting them corrupt us," Myu explained. When he saw Sceptile's confused face, he elaborated. "We are at a critical point in our species history. We have produced an entire generation of offspring and have spent years teaching each other the ways of peace. If we let things continue as they are now, then this generation will teach their own children what their parents have taught them, while also planting in them the necessary wariness to fight more… aggressive instincts."
Sceptile nodded her head to show she was following before he continued. "But if we risk letting that many humans mingle with our young, then they will inadvertently spread their bloodlust to our children, corrupting them and all the children they may have in the process. I have spent the last twenty years trying to stomp out that seed in as many of you as I can, and it has worked for most, but already that seed is threating to sprout again. And with the humans around, make no mistake, it will sprout, strangling us and all our progeny for generations, until history inevitably repeats itself."
Sceptile was taken aback, having never thought about it like that before. "I had to watch my whole world get destroyed once, I don't want to see it happen again," Myu finished, a somber tone in his voice.
"But the Humans; they will act on their threat," Sceptile warned.
"Yes, and I have taken that into consideration." Myu flew up. "I must leave now. I'll be back within the hour." With that, he flew out.
Sceptile returned to the base of the tree, still overwhelmed by Myu's logic.
"Let me guess; they didn't agree."
Mike sighed as Harold guessed it right away. "They don't want us anywhere near them," Mike added.
"Well, since negotiating has obviously failed, that leaves only one option left," Harold said, pulling out a gun and cocking it.
"I still don't think this is a good idea. We could learn from them," Mike insisted.
"We can't learn anything from animals," Harold countered, walking off.
Mike sighed, not sure how this could be any worse. He got his answer when Seema walked up.
"What does Harold think he's doing?" she demanded.
"He's going to take anyone he can spare and massacre them," Mike answered.
"He can't do that! They could be the future of this planet!" Seema almost shouted.
"Look, I want to live with them too, but they've made it very clear, they don't want us around."
"I wouldn't be surprised. If I were an ordinary animal and I one day turned into that, I'd be mad at the culprit too." Seema turned around to walk away.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mike asked.
"To go talk to them and knock some sense in them," Seema answered.
"I wouldn't recommend it," Mike warned. "You could get killed in the crossfire."
"I'm confident I could get to their home by myself before an army could," Seema confidently stated.
"Well, okay, but don't take a gun with you. They hate them," Mike advised.
"Wasn't planning on taking one anyway." Seema knew sneaking out wouldn't be a problem. Harold was rounding up every trained personnel and was drawing all their attention as a result. She easily slipped past patrols to make it to the exit and walked out, seeing no reason to hurry.
An hour later, Harold managed to round up fifty people to march to the Pokémon's land. Now they were at the base of the mountains, ready to begin the invasion. As they marched, he spotted something moving on the mountains, flying through one of the many valleys.
It was small, blue and very fast. A closer look revealed that it was a flying kitten. Harold wasn't sure how it was flying as it didn't have any wings, but he supposed it wouldn't matter in a minute.
Myu was flying the perimeter of the mountains, finishing up his defense against the humans when he heard several footsteps walking up. He turned and saw Lucario, Charizard, Infernape and Pikachu walking up.
"What is it, my children?" he asked them.
"Myu," Lucario began. "Some of us, including me, think that your pacifism to the human threat isn't in our best interest. They will come for us and it will be in great force."
"I understand your fear, but there is nothing to worry. The humans will never come here now, as you are about to see," Myu assure, gesturing to down the mountain.
Lucario looked and he saw spots of green clumsily moving up the mountain. He soon realized that they were humans.
"Shoot them," Harold ordered, realizing they were discovered. A soldier raised his rifle, aiming it at Lucario, and fired.
Lucario jumped when he heard the shot, but what truly knocked him down was the air rippling right in front of him. Many of the other Pokémon watched with shocked expressions as Lucario was unharmed, more ripples appearing in the same place.
Harold was stunned when he saw the Pokémon were still standing. How could they have survived? He decided to try it himself when he fired at the blue cat, only for his shot to ricochet off an invisible barrier.
Myu flew up and stretched out a paw, gently placing it on the same invisible force, a visible blue glow emanating from the contact.
"This is our defense from the humans," Myu stated. "Nothing they have can breach it, and so long as we stay behind the barrier, we will be safe."
Lucario was in awe, placing a paw on the barrier, feeling the psychic power emanating from it. "Wow," was all he could say, his already great admiration for the Mew skyrocketing.
The humans fired several more rounds, but nothing broke it, no matter how close they got or how much they shot one spot. Harold tried smashing it with his gun, but even that did no good and he only ended up denting the weapon. One of the soldiers picked up the flattened bullets, amazed that nothing they did even made a dent in the barrier. Harold, in a fit of rage, punched it, but not even that did any good and only ended up hurting his hand. He cradled his hand, as it felt like he had punched a steel wall.
Myu smirked and gestured for he and the others to leave. They easily climbed down the other side of the mountains, ending up in a forest.
"So, we're safe so long as we're here?" Lucario asked to clarify.
"Yes," Myu answered. "I must also remain here, for if I were to leave, the barrier would fall."
"Then I guess we don't have to worry about Humans anymore," Charizard said, before a noise and a yelp to their right caught their attention.
Seema stood up, brushing off her already ruined clothes. "Gee Mike, it would have been great to know in advance that there were insanely tall mountains all around this place," she complained to no one in particular. "Where could these mountains even have come from in the first place? Although it did make finding this place rather easy." She chuckled to herself as she remembered wandering through the wastes, with no idea what to look for or where to go other than the direction that blue cat had pointed. She was glad the mountains were easy to spot.
"Alright, now where are those things?" she asked out loud before coming across a small blue cat that was hovering right in front of her. She turned around and saw a monkey with fire for hair, a blue dog walking on its hind legs with spikes on its chest and back of its forepaws, an orange dragon, and a small yellow rat with red cheeks surrounding her. "Um, hi?"
End of Chapter 2
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