Author's Note:

Aww, geez! Two thousand hits already? You guys and gals do me a great service by giving this story some attention! I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again:

Your attention humbles me!

A great many thanks to November Red Angel and an anonymous Guest for the Reviews!

That probably won't happen, at least on Mewtwo's part, November. Above all else, I value characters being realistic. Considering Mewtwo's nature and history, I don't quite think it'd be realistic from him to just try being friends like that out of the blue. That's what Iji's trying to do, and will eventually succeed in.

Spoilers, I guess?

And as for the plot… Well, it'll seem like that at first, but trust me when I say it will become far, far more.

And as for you, Guest… It's definitely shameful, but you don't quite know what out mysterious person is attempting to do yet, do you? Heh.

… Oh, yes, and have a spooky 2015 Halloween, my readers!

Disclaimer:

Pokémon and any other referential materials found in this story do not belong to me. They belong to their respective owners and subsidiaries, and I claim no ownership of them.


Of Children, Men, and Monsters

Chapter Fifteen: Taking a Chance


Cue music – Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance soundtrack – Quiet Days

Considering how the previous days have went, at least in terms of waking up in the morning, it was almost startling to see Oscura rouse with Marza, and so quickly on top of that. The Pokémon gazed at Marza, eyes filled with concern at the other female's thoroughly frightened expression. The human let out a long, steady exhale in an attempt to calm her rattled nerves. Oscura let a small chirp of worry, grasping onto Marza's hand re-assuringly. Another sigh left Marza's mouth at this gesture, and she then forced a smile.

"Thanks, Oscura. It was just a nightmare. Nothing you should concern yourself with."

Oscura eyed Marza, appearing uncertain as to whether she was telling the truth or not.

"No, really. It's not like people can just hop into my head and–" She cut herself off, thinking better of her words. The look that the Larvitar was giving Marza just confirmed that knew she was fibbing by this point, so she figured that she may as well fess up.

"… Sorry for lying to you, Oscura. It's just that there's nothing that we can–"

Another pause.

"… Okay, there is something that we can do about it. In three days, to be precise." She then told the Rock Skin Pokémon about the occurrences in her dreams for a second time.

'Two times too many, I think…'

Four minutes was the amount of time it took to explain the situation to Oscura. She didn't interrupt throughout the entire thing, just sitting there and taking the information in.

Several long moments passed after said tale was finished, with the ensuing silence only being broken by Oscura's movements as she stood up-right, once again appearing uncertain as to what to think.

Marza picked up on this indecisiveness, and said, "I don't really know what to do, either, Oscura. His talking about my family getting involved in whatever he's doing may be shallow words, but…"

A third sigh.

Oscura took the lass' hand for the second time, giving it an assuring squeeze with both limbs. Marza grinned at the display of affection, though this time, the facial contortion was completely genuine in its meaning.

"Thanks again, Oscura. I think, together, we can both get through whatever happens next…!" she announced, confident and optimistic.

Another pause.

"… That sounded really cheesy, didn't it?"

A nod of confirmation.

And, finally, a fourth sigh.


The day passed in relative boredom. Marza's finishing of the school year may have relieved Julius and Erise, what with the removal of the possibility of Marza being bullied and such, but this change in living didn't particularly affect the work hours of their day-jobs. As such, Marza and Oscura were left to their own devices for the entirety of the day, at least strictly speaking, as her parents usually got back just as evening began.

After Marza's usual morning routine, as well as the twos' consuming of breakfast, the odd pair spent a solid hour and a half in education. As was per usual, Marza taught Oscura a mixture of English and mathematics. Oscura once again shocked Marza with her pace of learning – the tyke had practically mastered spelling and was rapidly eating away at the unnecessarily large and complex sandwich that was the grammar of the English language.

'If she retains this rate of learning beyond her childhood, I'm honestly curious as to just how much she can learn, and how fast compared to the average person! Why, if it weren't for the fact that her discovery by everyone else would probably cause who knows what to happen, I'd be tempted to let her go to an actual school and see how well she does grade-wise!' she idly contemplated as she patiently waited for Oscura to complete the assignment that she had assigned.

The day passed in relative calm after that. No real incidents occurred for the rest of the morning, the afternoon, the evening, and even the night. No odd dreams

The clutter of worry that clouded Marza's mind more than made up for this tranquility, however. He consciousness was like a tempest bearing down upon a boat of minuscule size. The decision that Marza was attempting to reach was like the journey to the final destination on said boat: long, arduous, rocky, and potentially filled with much vomiting.

… Okay, probably not that last part, but the point has been gotten across, regardless!

This metaphorical journey lasted for the next two days. Marza was justly on the fence about the matter of going through the portal that the man had promised would appear.

'He's clearly not someone to be trustedBut at the same time, if I don't take up his offer and go through the portal, he might get Erise and Julius involved in whatever he's up to…'

Perhaps this is needless to point out, but many sighs left her throat as time passed during these days.

It was a short time after the sun rose on the third day when she finally came to a decision.

Marza spent the nearly entire day waiting and filled with tension, only coming out to do things like eat, drink, or relieve herself.

It was just past twilight when the shadowy, red-tinged portal opened in her room, just a few feet away from her bed. She fetched Oscura from downstairs when this happened. As she, too, looked upon the dimensional gateway, the Pokémon swiftly realized what Marza intended to do. She nodded, tugging at her pants sleeve in an assuring manner, as if to say, "I'm with you, whatever you decide to do." The human once again nodded in appreciation at the gesture.

After spending a few minutes getting some items that she thought she may need packed into her school backpack (she lamented the fact that she would have to use it again so soon), Marza gazed down at Oscura.

Taking her in her arms and clutching her tightly, Marza and Oscura both took a deep, slightly shuddery breath…

Before the lass sprinted into the portal, barely managing to stifle a scream as the darkness engulfed their vision.


A note was drawn up and left on the house's refrigerator's front.

It read as such:

Julius and Erise:

I'm… away. I will be for a decently long while, I imagine. But don't worry. I'll be back, trust me.

The reason that I've left is because something's happened to Arceus. This strange, ominous-looking being did something to him – something bad, judging by his own words – and I intend to figure out what before he gets you two involved in whatever plot he's up to.

Don't try looking for me. Trust me when I say that you won't find me.

I'm sorry for not telling you two about this earlier, or for warning you that I would be leaving.

And… Again, don't worry about me. I'll be fine.

Be seeing you two soon.

– Marza

Julius broke down in tears.

Erise embraced him, feeding him comforting words.

Neither appeared to realize or particularly care that the standard gender roles had just been reversed.

They just wanted the comfort they provided for each other in those heart-wrenching moments of loss…