64: Mew vs. Solitude

Mew hadn't expected to be hit by an object when observing the beautiful shadowy landscape during the eve of night. After that happened, it felt all kinds of new sensations, as it was transported to a different, dream-like place. In its surprise, Mew resisted the draw, and then found itself back in the familiar landscape. The instant Mew realized it had been drawn into one of those harmless devices that humans had invented to contain and transport its children and descendants, it was hit by another. This time, it didn't resist the pull.

As Mew settled into the alien sensations, it felt truly relaxed. Was this what it was like to be in one of these things? The sensation resembled sleep. A human could be heard shouting happily, something about success, but all of that was so far away. Overall, the comfort provided by this pokeball was enough that Mew wanted to stay and rest.

However, less satisfied shouts could soon be heard as well. Mew's name was included. At the sound of what seemed very distant, mournful cries and angry shouts, Mew forced itself to resist its current blissful state and exit the human's device.

Outside, one of the humans it had seen hanging around lately had her two pokemon companions outside their pokeball devices, digging through a pile of snow. The human worked along with them. "Damn it..." she swore, holding back tears. "Damn Mew, who needs it. It isn't worth it!" The woman paused her work, putting her face in her hands.

"Mew, mew?" Mew called, curious about what they were doing.

"Licki," one of the pokemon replied.

"Huh?" The human looked at Mew with surprise, her expression quickly turning to contempt. Even without speaking, humans expressed themselves with their faces, a feature that had been acquired by many of Mew's children. "So you want to escape, huh?" the woman shouted hotly. "Fine, go ahead and do it. You've caused enough pain, suffering, and death already!"

"Mew?" Mew exclaimed. Was it really being blamed for such things? It was out here to leave humans alone, though it occasionally ran into some. It had even seen this one specifically, and purposefully tried to stay out of her way until hearing its name. Though hurt by the accusation, Mew stayed in the moment. It had recognized the woman, and up close realized why. Her name was Jessie, wasn't it? And now she was an adult. "Mew..." Mew called mournfully.

Pokemon and human both ignored Mew, working as they uncovered the other human. They quickly did so, finding her unresponsive, lips blue. "Cassidy, wake up! Are you dead?" Jessie shouted. "Tell me if you are!"

"Mew..." Mew called. It concentrated, using its telekinetic ability to try and lift the human that was still partially covered by the snow. As it partially did, she moaned and winced.

"She's still alive," Jessie realized, then turned to Mew. "You're doing that, aren't you? Stop! You're hurting her."

As Mew did so, Jessie carefully worked to uncover the other woman. "That's definitely broken," she said as she noted the distorted shape of the incapacitated person's leg. She swore again as she continued to work at getting Cassidy out of the snow.

Cassidy blinked. "Jessie?" she said, blinking.

"Stay there," Jessie ordered, running off and gathering various objects.

"I'm done," Cassidy muttered as Jessie returned.

"You're not done until you're done, and even then, there's the next day," Jessie muttered as she tore a cloth into long strips.

"When you get back, tell Jonathan-"

"Oh, no, none of that," Jessie began in a shout. "If you let yourself die out here, I'll tell your kid that he's better off with such a worthless parent! I'll tell him how happy he should be you're dead and he doesn't have to deal with you! Now shut up!"

Cassidy did quiet, but she closed her eyes, atypically not responding to Jessie's insults at all. Jessie shook her head, then got to work at revealing the break before she started to set the bone. Now the injured woman did respond, shouting and crying as an expression of both her pain and continued life. Watching one human trying to maintain the other's life was painful to see by proxy.

Human existence was messy like this.

Mew couldn't recall when and how it had first come into existence itself, but the memories of traveling the universe for a seemingly infinite amount of time were still strong. Many warm suns had been visited. If it got too close, the large orbs would try and draw it in, which would extinguish Mew's life. Smaller planets were found around the suns. Some were larger, just as dangerous as the suns themselves, but others were smaller and rocky and could be made a sort of home for a time.

Exploring their surfaces and manipulating their elements was fun. If the planets were closer, Mew could also enjoy the warmth of their suns, and may cool itself down by creating ice or water. Some were too far away from the sun, covered in ice, their sun seeming just a slightly brighter star, and Mew may spit fire in those places. Others were too close, while still more didn't rotate, tidally locked, one side unbearably hot while the other side was so lonely it never saw its sun, experiencing an extreme chill.

After a long time, Mew had found the perfect planet with the perfect sun. During the day, the planet was warmed pleasantly by the sun, which lit up the whole sky beautifully thanks to the atmosphere. When the planet faced away from the sun, the distant suns looked beautiful, as did the tidally locked moon, which reflected the sun's light back to them in phases. The planet was covered with not just rock, but also mostly liquid oceans which moved around in a funny way against the land, pushed and pulled by forces including the weather and the planet's moon. The waves were different each time, and pleasant to watch.

There were other creatures here, species that had developed slowly over countless generations on this very planet long before Mew had ever been there. Mew wanted to enjoy their planet, but at the same time, didn't want to bother creatures that seemed much more affected by their environment than the other way around. When any Earthly creatures flew over it or peeked out of the oceans, Mew dimmed itself and flew away. Sometimes it seemed to surprise the other creatures, but it was gone before it could upset them too much. It might manipulate the water, earth, or fire nearby to distract.

Eventually, Mew met the funniest creatures of all, a bipedal group with much less hair than similar creatures. But more than that, this group emoted much more than others, using something completely unique to them, language. Mew often understood what other creatures emoted. They might express surprise, aggression, satisfaction. These creatures, humans, had those along with many more. They expressed themselves with complicated words, which Mew started to realize had symbolic meanings. They may use these symbols in ways that didn't match what they truly felt or wanted to communicate. Somehow they made effective use of these symbols.

Being able to communicate this way, humans were even more prone than others to worry about something they considered strange even after it was out of sight, repeating the sighting and spreading it to others, so Mew tried to take care not to be too close to them. However, this conviction broke when one day it noted a lonely, crying child. Young humans were vulnerable, relying on others even more than other humans. Mew first used its flickering existence to try and get the attention of the humans nearby. Some had noticed briefly, but still just ignored it. Mew shook the earth to try and lead the humans to their wayward member, but that just frightened them. That was when it decided to try and entertain the child itself.

A ball of light wasn't something recognizable as another being to the creatures of this planet. But Mew could change itself, maybe into something more recognizable and appealing. It did its best to morph into something that could be acknowledged by other creatures on this planet. The creatures here weren't anything like the galaxy traveling Mew. Taking inspiration from the planet itself, Mew evolved itself into something that the girl would recognize as another creature, yet also not be intimidated by.

The effort paid off. The previously upset child now cooed over its new appearance. "A cat!" she exclaimed. "Mew, mew!"

"Mew," Mew called in response, then accepting the imitation of a cat's cry as its symbolic name for the first time. It didn't look completely like a cat, but that wasn't important. Did she understand it? In any case, she laughed in response, hugging it. "Mew..." Mew called softly. This was the first time it had connected with any other living being from what it could recall.

But Mew wasn't there to gain anything for itself. It had changed itself in order to help the human child. As she calmed, becoming more comfortable, Mew slowly led her away from where she'd gotten lost, coaxing her back to her tribe. As they finally reached the other humans, there was a ruckus. Some of them called out in happiness at seeing the formerly lost child, others in fright at seeing their young fellow with a strange, floating monster.

"Mew," Mew called softly. It seemed the humans couldn't comprehend its messages, though it could understand them all perfectly clearly.

"Mew is fine!" the girl insisted.

"Mew..." Mew called, then moved to float behind her. It had protected her, and now she protected Mew in return. It was free to go and enjoy the planet as it had before.

But Mew didn't really want to go back to what it had been doing before. It had enjoyed even the brief interaction with that human so much, and wanted to stay close to her. It got to know other humans as well, but this girl was the one Mew bonded with. She tolerated the monster remaining, becoming part of their collective. Mew protected her as a child, the two of them often together as part of the wandering tribe. Mew was accepted, protecting the girl and spending time with her. Its techniques were seen as an amusing show by the others in her tribe, though others were wary when it started to flash electricity.

Of course, Mew's friend eventually grew to an adult. At that point, she married. After a while, she told Mew she'd be having her own baby. Mew was curious about the idea. It knew how humans proliferated, but now the person it was so close to was becoming a mother herself. Mew started to know all the other parents and children of various ages throughout the tribe. Family and tribe seemed a way to avoid the vacuum of loneliness that Mew didn't want to return to. Could Mew contribute to a tribe by becoming a mother as well?

It created various eggs. Other creatures of this planet stored their developing offspring in such a shape. It seemed more convenient than the humans' method. Besides, then Mew could have a variety of offspring at once. It created a pile of eggs, stacking them up in the humans' common area.

Its friend eventually noticed. "Are these yours, Mew?" the pregnant woman asked as she looked at the eggs the monster floated in front of, furrowing her brow in confusion.

"Mew, mew!" Mew declared.

"We'll both have babies, then. But I think I'll just have one," the woman said with a smile. She gently tapped the eggs as Mew nodded at her.

"Mew!" Mew called happily. With all of its children, together with the humans, they could support each other.

Or so it had thought, until its children were finally born. Even Mew's best friend had been surprised at the appearance of the rodent-like monster with large teeth, quite different from Mew itself. They'd tolerated it, until the monkey-like monster hatched as well. The bug-like monsters alarmed everyone further. Then the talk about how unnatural they all were came into play.

Mew's children figured out how to evolve and change themselves within their own lifetimes as well. They morphed, becoming quite different, imitating Earth-like life, though the transformations were much more rapid, adding to the idea they were unnatural and fearful. This frightened even previously accepting humans. Mew's best friend had been the one to confront it. "What are you, Mew?" she asked tearfully.

"Mew, mew. Mew!" Mew informed her that it was a creature from beyond their sun, existing longer than it could recall. "Mew! Mew, mew, mew." Then it had found this appealing planet. It wasn't sure it had belonged, until it had found this human and her tribe. "Mew..." Mew really appreciated her.

"I don't get it," was her only response. She couldn't really understand Mew the way Mew understood her. "Mew, please leave. Take your babies... Or whatever they are too. Please don't stay here and infest us. I don't want them threatening everyone here, hurting my baby when it's born."

Did she think they would? No! Mew had created children that loved human beings and were completely incapable of harming them. They would be drawn to support and protect humans, the way Mew itself was. Had Mew's current children done anything to threaten anyone? No, they lived for humans, even because of humans. They hatched given not just Mew's energy, but the energy and thoughts of the humans all around them. The pokemon that were born were born specifically for these humans.

But they did look like monsters. That term was used to describe Mew and its children equally, though the term and idea had existed long before Mew itself had. When humans used that word, it might mean something different to each, but the general idea was that it was an abnormal, threatening creature, often frightening as well. Mew and its children could equally be described as such. It wasn't fair to try and force their existence on the vulnerable humans.

So Mew had left. It couldn't stay and argue any points, anyway. It took its children along, both the born and unborn, lifting them and any remaining eggs into the air. Being sure to go far away, it went across the vast ocean. It found an island before a large landmass, dropping some of the children and eggs onto smaller islands before placing more near the shore of the largest island, dispersing the rest before quickly realizing that humans lived here as well.

They really were all over this planet. These humans looked somewhat different, spoke a different language, lived in different structures, but they were still unmistakably the same human species. Mew was about to find a place for its children without humans, trying to gather them up. But then it noticed the humans here were more curious about monsters. Some of its children had grown attached to specific humans, even within a short time. They'd hatched there, in even more variants, not even knowing Mew at all, but still being able to bond with the humans. Mew had no place to take them away.

As for itself, Mew tried to find its own place across the ocean. It could no longer leave to visit other suns, or even planets. The changes it had made to itself with the help of humans made Mew a part of this planet until its death, or the planet's own. But even being alone, it was happy to have such a beautiful planet to live on. It was just too bad Mew hadn't really been created to be a part of the area around it the same as other creatures.

Though still keeping its distance, Mew couldn't help but check up on its friend every few years. The baby had been born healthy, and she was happy. Then later, she had a second as well. Even later than that, the woman had gotten injured, and didn't seem to be recovering easily. Mew thought about saying good-bye before she died, but she wouldn't understand its message anyway. Maybe she would worry her children would be bothered by Mew's own. Mew only mourned from a distance as she passed away.

The woman's children cried out their devastation, many others in the tribe sharing in their pain. Humans were truly fragile. Mew's children could protect them, along with Mew itself. They could also ease the loneliness of the human children. They were needed, weren't they?

Mew didn't want to disrespect its late friend's request, but still traveled back across the ocean to check on its own children. They had continued to bond with humans, caring for each other, easing the other's loneliness, Mew's children ensuring the safety of humans. But Mew's children were far more lonely than not. There were also plenty of lonely humans. On a planet with so many, far too great a number of beings were lonely and alone, and Mew had just added to the problem by trying to create more like itself.

And of course, Mew was also choosing to be alone. Sometimes it was better than any other option. Mew eventually left its children behind on the island nation, going back across the ocean to live in solitude.

"You're Mew, aren't you?"

The woman spoke to Mew on the mountain, dressed mostly in black with a bright spot of red. Though she had to be cold, she had a wide smile. Mew floated closer to her. It had seen this person before, from a distance, then gone away to protect that distance. This time, it was curious about the person that was so happy to see it, speaking in the language of the island nation where Mew had left all its children.

"I'm Miyamoto," she introduced herself, apparently knowing that Mew could understand her, even if the opposite wasn't true. "Ahh... I'm so excited to see the elusive pokemon!"

"Mew?" Mew questioned. Yes, it was elusive, staying hidden from humans, and purposefully at that. But 'pokemon'? Mew could tell the word referred to itself and its children, and the likely many descendants that existed by now. From Miyamoto in particular, nearly all of the negative connotations of 'monster' were gone. This woman saw Mew and its ilk in a positive light.

"You're going to be caught by me now," the woman declared, taking out a round object. She threw it, and Mew teleported to avoid the impact. "Hey!" Miyamoto said in a dejected tone. "Please, just let me catch you, okay? I'll show you something." She dug into her pocket, taking out a picture. "This is my daughter, Jessie. Isn't she adorable? I need to take care of her, so it's really, really important for me to catch you. She'll be so happy to see you too!"

"Mew?" Mew called in surprise as it peered over Miyamoto's shoulder at the image of the sweet looking girl. Would this woman really trust it around her young, delicate child?

"So, you'll let me catch you?" Miyamoto said with some surprise. She threw another round object its way. This time, it hit the side of the mountain as Mew dodged. "Come on, Mew!" The woman became more irritated now.

Should it just go along with the person who seemed to pleased at the thought of its company? Before it could seriously consider the question, Mew noted danger, and teleported away. Looking down at the sight, the woman was certainly lost to the avalanche. It might have gone with her just out of curiosity for one that was so happy to see it, but that wasn't an option now.

Humans really were fragile.

When Jessie had trained to possibly provide first care to wayward trainers before real help might arrive, she never imagined she'd have to set a broken bone at all, let alone that it would be with her co-worker so far away from home. She was still prepared to do so, the information coming to her mind easily as she let anger overtake any panic. The obstinate woman that had dragged them there wasn't going to die on any mountains that day.

"Mew?"

Jessie looked up at the pokemon that they'd gone through so much trouble for. It was fairly small, but still floated up to meet her face. "What do you want, huh?" Jessie asked. "Come back to kill us once and for all?"

"Mew, mew..." Mew floated down near Cassidy, who was recovering from the pain of her broken bone being set and the accident.

Did it want to help? Well, Jessie knew from experience that it was hardly beyond the capacity of pokemon to be benevolent. Noting Cassidy nodding off, Jessie stood. "Let's go!" she said. Getting the other woman back to their camp rather than having her sitting in the pile of snow might be helpful. Jessie tried to support her, noting Mew doing the same with its invisible force. Jessie redirected it for how to help support her traveling companion best.

Once they were back, the injured woman was shivering. Jessie helped her change, then helped with various other things, including settling in the sleeping bag in the tent. Jessie sighed in relief as she noted the other woman sleeping with a steady breath, looking as cozy as was possible. Maybe Cassidy would sleep some of the pain off. Jessie went to start a fire, then stoked it.

That was when she started to worry about where Mew was. She'd wanted the rare pokemon to just go away after that accident, but they really should bring it back. Jessie took out its pokeball and looked around.

"Mew, mew?" Mew appeared in front of her, holding a small paper in hand.

Jessie soon realized it was an old, worn picture. She took it, gasping as she recognized the image of herself as a child. "Mom," she exclaimed. Her mother really had been there, working. That's what the report on her had said, but now Jessie had the undeniable proof of her mother's efforts. "You know it's me, huh?" Jessie said, rubbing her eyes.

"Mew," Mew called, seeming to affirm.

That was when Cassidy had to start moaning, ruining the moment. "Shut up already! I already took care of you!" Jessie shouted, peeking into the tent. "What's wrong with you now?"

"Butch, where's the baby?" Cassidy cried.

Jessie groaned loudly. "Your 'baby' is just fine, home with James, probably a lot more comfortable than either of us!" she shouted.

Cassidy seemed confused at first, but then relaxed, laying down and seeming to fall asleep easily. Jessie grumbled to herself before noticing Mew still staring back at her curiously. "Moms, huh," she said with a shrug. Jessie couldn't say she wasn't still angry, nor thought her mother actually did the right thing by coming out here and dying. But listening to her current field partner constantly go on about her son, Jessie had started to appreciate what parents went through, the rare amount of caring they expended. "My mom might have been thinking of me too, when she was out here."

"Mew!" Mew called in a high tone, picking itself up. It took the picture and waved it around.

"I get it," Jessie said with a chuckle. "You know, I don't have any kids. I don't know what it's like. My pokemon friend says you all don't have to worry about kids like that, so I guess you don't either."

"Mew," Mew called in response, sinking lower.

"She was thinking of him when she worked so hard to catch you," Jessie said, motioning toward the tent. "Just like my mom. Maybe even more than that. And now you'll probably just run away, anyway." Jessie looked down at the pokeball Mew had let itself out of. Pokemon could do that, though they usually didn't. With all of its abilities, including how it could become nearly invisible and teleport, Jessie couldn't do anything about it. "So useless..." she muttered, glaring back at Mew before she stood and stretched. "I guess we're done, since you know we're out to get you and will just run away. Thanks for doing this much, even though it only happened because people come here looking for you. I guess you won't give yourself up and give me and her a break, huh?"

"Mew," Mew called softly before floating forward. It touched the pokeball with its small appendage, being drawn back in.

Even being a human that couldn't understand pokemon completely, Jessie got the message. She hugged the pokeball close. At least they had this.

After a few days, Jessie made her way with Cassidy back to civilization, along with the help of their pokemon. Jessie seemed to have learned the language to some extent from being there. She surprised herself by being able to ask for help, and then a few other basic things. She was able to call the boss for support. After hearing of his employee's injury as well as the mission's success, he wired the funding for the medical care.

When Cassidy was more lucid, she told Jessie to head back. "No way," Jessie insisted. "I won't leave you alone here. We'll head back together, and hand-deliver Mew. We'll both be standing with pride on our own two feet."

Cassidy chuckled. "It will be a while before Team Rocket gets its spoils, then," she said.

It had already been a few decades. Team Rocket could wait just a little bit longer.

Next chapter: Brock vs. Joy