After the last chapter it might be best if we catch back up with a trio not bogged down by their own emotional insecurities. Unfortunately I couldn't find one of those so we're jumping back to the other trio of main characters instead.
This was originally envisioned as a short chapter meant to be a cooldown after the last chapter. Whelp only time will tell if it maintained either of those goals. Now onto the story!
With Mew's plans for the day thoroughly dashed, he dejectedly let either of us take charge. There wasn't a need to cook a copious dinner for everyone thanks to that bar covering for us…hopefully… plus I wasn't about to let Jirachi spend all day locked away in that kitchen. So it fell to me to keep us occupied until this evening. I'm no stranger to being the defacto leader. It was a role I had come to excel at. In no small part because Jirachi doesn't want to be the one calling the shots and because Mew has outright stated he would make for an awful one.
The sun was nice, warm, and had just the right number of clouds in the sky. It was the perfect day to just laze in the grass and do nothing.
Mew didn't even need convincing. I thought he might be a little bummed that his carefully thought out plans were ruined, but he perked right up at the mention of spending the day relaxing with me. Jirachi would prove far more difficult to convince, she just could not sit still. Always had to have something to keep her mind occupied or her body busy. So getting her to relax has always been a challenge. She's never really had that moment of clarity click to just sit back and enjoy the sights before her and the nature surrounding her. I also couldn't use the same offer to cuddle with her like I did with Mew.
Thankfully I didn't need to say anything to convince her. Manaphy hopped up and whispered something to her and her eyes began to glisten. Mew was right, he really does know exactly how to speak to her. I had a guess as to what devilish whispers could persuade the shooting star to slow down. Especially given her reaction to their secret conversation. She spun around with him coiled around her ribbons happily declaring, "Manaphy if you got a wish for me consider it granted!" Knowing Jirachi he must have told her she could watch us cuddling or doing a myriad of other overly sappy couple activities. That lovestruck look on her face took too much enjoyment watching the both of us.
To my surprise the sea angel had apparently already had a wish in mind. He motioned for her to lean close so he could whisper to her again. That gleam in her eyes only shined brighter hearing whatever he was asking for. "I don't mind that at all!" She cheered, Mew and I exchanged glances. His guess on Manaphy's wish was as good as mine. Whatever it was she was jittering with excitement about it. Said enthusiasm never diminishing as she turned her attention back to us.
"Come on guys why are you still floating around? Let's relax already!" She didn't have to tell me twice I found the exact spot I desired. Laying on my back the serenity of nature washed over me. 7 Seconds later and a welcome shiver shot through my body as I felt Mew rest his head on my belly. His company propelled the tranquility of nature to be all the more luxurious. Evidently he found the intimacy to be even more appealing than I did. Approximately 34 seconds after his head came to a rest he was fast asleep. He certainly did that a lot when it was just the two of us. I wasn't complaining. His gentle snores were as soothing as the loveliest of grass whistles.
"You two are utterly adorable." My star struck, wish granting counterpart teased from a few feet to my left. She was resting on her stomach, cheeks cradled in her hands, and feet idly kicking at the dirt.
To her side Manaphy had the luxury of being all curled up in her ribbons. Was that what the sea prince wished for? It wouldn't have been my wish if Jirachi was promising them with no strings attached…but it was cute… Still he could have wished for a date and at least saw how she responded. He could even play it off as a joke if she reacted poorly… or… oh great now I was playing matchmaker… I couldn't help it, they looked so cute. I really was just turning into the hopeless romantic teasing me right now and I couldn't even stop it.
Him wanting to hang out with us couldn't be any more obvious. I've never really been all that close to the sea prince and Mew… he still wasn't on the best terms with him for the multitude of pranks he was the victim of. Or worse became the subject of Kyogre's frustration because of said prank. He wanted an excuse to hang out with Jirachi again and Kyogre getting angry happened to be a really good excuse… huh… maybe he really does provoke her on purpose…
"I can say the same for the both of you." I responded. Normally I would let her teasing slide, but I wasn't quite ready to let this opportunity slip past me. She blinked and her head nearly slipped out of her hands.
Her head remained at that crooked angle as she dumbfoundedly asked, "Huh? With Manaphy?"
Well duh, not like there was anyone else who was showing an interest in her. "Yeah. He's all curled up your ribbons right now. It kinda paints a very specific image."
She shifted about and certainly would have cocooned herself with those ribbons if they weren't preoccupied. "I don't know… I haven't really had the chance to date anybody…"
That was my cue to use a little snippet of information I had been hoping to utilize for centuries.
"Oooh I wouldn't be so sure about that. There was this Absol I've heard about through the grapevine. What was his name again?... Oh that's right, Hiro~"
Each of her pupils shrunk to the size of a dot and her face was flooded by a wave of vibrant pink. I'm gonna have fun showing that to Mew later.
She sputtered the only word she was capable of at this moment, "H-h-how?"
My hand guided her eyes to our adorably devious counterpart. It came to a gentle rest at the back of his head. "He's got dirt on EVERYONE!"
Her mouth was left agape as she struggled to process the depths of Mew's abilities for unveiling everyone's secrets. I was taken aback the first time he unveiled the vast tapestry of secrets he's got tucked away for emergencies. "Plus we're counterparts Jira, it's our job to know these things."
She folded in on herself trying to shield her face from direct eye contact. A weak voice trailed out from the white and gold bunker curled up in front of me. "Please don't tell anyone…"
Seeing how I couldn't put a hand on her shoulder I settled to wave my hand in the air. "Relax. You wanted it to be a secret so the both of us have agreed to keep our lips sealed."
She slowly unfurled, giving me an appreciative look and returning her stare to the slumbering sea prince. "Thanks…"
"I'm serious though. You ever think about putting yourself out there again?"
All remnants of joy fully drained from her face and she glumly hung her head. The ribbons on the side of her head idly swaying as she shook her head. "It just feels wrong...even after all this time. I've wanted to talk to Mesprit about it...but..."
Her voice trailed off and her hands fiddled indecisively. The distress in her eyes had spread to the rest of her face. If I squinted I swear I saw her face turning rosy. Pushing my theories to the side I motioned for her to continue.
"It's been a recent change but when I'm talking to her or Manaphy. It kinda feels like I'm talking to Hiro again."
A faint smile snuck its way back to her face accompanied with a wistful sigh. I had the sinking suspicion that all roads we'd take going forward were going to keep leading us back to this Absol. If that's the case then maybe I should encourage her to dive deeper.
We should have done something like this eons ago. Back when Mew first shared this information with me. It's not like we have the excuse of the world being at risk of ending every week. Sure it happened at a concerning frequency but it wasn't the weekly occurrence Arceus often bemoaned it as. If anything, things had managed to calm in recent years. Maybe we could start now. "Well, if you don't mind me asking. What was he like?"
Her eyes lit up, housing a newfound excitement and a frightened uncertainty. This was a chance to share what he truly meant to her. I circled my free hand in the air motioning for her to tell me everything she wanted.
"Well… maybe just one story…" Her voice was distant and nostalgic.
(Eons ago)
So tired... I didn't even make someone's wish come true this millennium. All I accomplished was befriending a kid who I'll never get to see again and ravaged a poor forest with an artificial version of Groudon. Worst of all I had to say goodbye to them again. Maybe I'll do better next time I wake up. Whenever someone from the council decides they want something from me... or Mew wants to talk. He's gonna be stuck to me like a shelder to a slowbro once he hears about this.
At least he was a constant if annoying friend. Celebi meanwhile was gonna have some kind of speech prepared for me. As if stewing in this for up to a thousand years wasn't punishment enough. Still at least they cared enough about me to regularly check up on me. Sometimes it really did feel like they were all I had... why did that still make me feel so empty?
Ugh I hate when my mind is in this state while I'm hibernating. Why couldn't I just fall asleep one moment and then wake up in the next millennia. It was a more pleasant existence than being forced to stew in the week I lived for what felt like an eternity.
Finally that merciful dream began to take shape and I could let my thoughts drift aimlessly. Until that dream inevitably ends and I'm forced to return to my reflections.
It was soft and warm to the touch. A far preference to the cold wind brushing against my back. I clung to the source of comfort to better shield myself form... hang on... I never feel the wind while I'm asleep. It was one of the easiest ways for me to identify if I was asleep or not. Was I awake right now? That was absurd I lose track of time while sleeping but never this early on.
"Ah it would appear my suspicions were accurate. This location is having an effect on you." A familiar voice bellowed. It must have belonged to whatever I was resting on. It was soft and warm to the touch. White as snow and if I focused my attention I swear I could spot what looked like a dark blue crescent moon. Wait, this was that Absol from that very catastrophe. How?!
"Are you immortal?"
"No my dear. You're simply stirring from your slumber."
What? How was that even possible? I should be in an unbreakable hibernation. It was the price Arceus declared a necessity for me to grant wishes in the first place.
"No doubt your mind has been wracked with confusion over your current condition. Well that is the mystifying effects of this wonderous cave."
Looking around nothing appeared too bizarre about this place. Well I've been to like two caves so far but they looked remarkably similar to this one. Minus those glistening gems imbedded in the walls surrounding us. I floated upwards shaking the residues of slumber from my body and just as quickly wrapped my ribbons around myself as the cool breeze continued to flow around my body. How in the world could this random cave stir me and how in the world could anyone find this or even know about it?
Bah, who cares! I was free from that prison of slumber. I could see the world not just a brief glimpse either. I could witness how a mighty forest could be slowly replaced by those strange metal structures humans have taken residence in. Not just that I could actually hang out with my friends from the council without them needing to wake me up first!
I turned back to the magnificent Absol. His stoic demeanor was betrayed by the joy in his eyes. Well I was about to make his life even better. For what he's given me I just had to repay his kindness. "Any wish! Any at all! No costs!"
He held up his paw and shook his head. "I partook in this journey for the sake of your freedom. Though I am afraid that for the time being this cave will have to be your place of residence."
I darted back to embrace as much of him as my tiny form possibly could. Unfurling my ribbons from myself I ensured they coiled around him. It was too simple a thank you for the time being, but I'm certain he'll think of something in time and I'll just have to stick close to him until then.
"Who cares if I have to live here! I'm finally free!"
I attempted to look him in the eyes from where I was stationed only to be met with a flurry of white fur. I guess I had no choice but to bring this embrace to a temporary end. Well I could leave my ribbons wrapped around him to a partial degree. It was a worthwhile trade to look him in the eyes and find the words to properly thank him.
Yet as I bore into his soul I found no words to properly convey my emotions. I was entranced by the captivating rubies in front of me.
The longer our gazes remained unbroken I felt a compulsion to close the distance. I could feel that same pull written all over his face. An invitation I was happy to accept. I closed my eyes and drifted closer to seal our lips in a sacred moment of passion and bliss.
I motioned for her to stop. I didn't need the lurid details of her actions following the 'sacred moment of passion'. She got the message and hid her bright pink face behind her tiny paws. She totally was going to go way further than just explaining their kiss. I chuckled at the wriggling wish granter's display. It was a bizarre display to see such a romantic soul act so shyly.
She peaked out from her improvised hiding spot. "C-could I share another story?" she asked timidly. I smiled and gave her a curt nod. I could stomach a couple more sappy tales for her sake.
She spent the rest of the day regaling me with tales of his heroics. Stories of how he'd often greet her by sweeping her off her metaphorical feet and galloping across landscapes to show her the latest spectacle the world had to offer. "He sounds like a total lovestruck buffoon."
She let out a soft chuckle and maintained her melancholy smile. "He totally was. He'd often serenade me with his poetry too. Shame I can't really remember any of it. You would have hated it."
I have little doubt that I would, Moltres' poems were already sickeningly verbose. This was the exact kind of cheesy romantic nonsense I would gag at. Yet hearing Jirachi speak of the experience put a different light on the matter. A genuinely loving if overly corny relationship. By all accounts the kind of sappy nonsense you only ever see in a fairy tale.
"But… it was never meant to last… he could only live for so long after all. We... parted ways when that inevitability set in."
Right up until that cruel reality forced their union to come to an end. There was always a caveat. No matter how amazing something lasts it does inevitably come to an end at some point…
"That was nice… Thank you." She said while wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Yeah… anytime." Things got uncomfortably quiet. I couldn't even take comfort in the serene nature surrounding me. Something about the temporary nature of her and Hiro left an unsettling tremble in my chest. Glancing at Jirachi I spotted her sitting upright, folding her arms, and keeping her eyes scrunched shut.
"Do you need to talk some more about him?" She shook her head while maintaining her posture. Maybe she was thinking about putting herself back out there or her final moments with Hiro. I wonder if they left on amicable terms, I sincerely hope so.
"Sorry babe, but I'm a flower that flows with the wind. I can't just deprive the world of such beauty by becoming a stationary house plant. I just can't bind myself to one garden I know you understand."
Those words clung to me like a leech. I never would have imagined back then that Shaymin's commitment was so fleeting. I made the mistake of thinking I was anything more than a fun fling for him.
I still haven't found it in me to be on speaking terms with him. It was selfish of me to so thoroughly push him away and there have been moments where I've tried to mend that bridge. Except every time I saw him I just remember how hurt I felt. It was this constant pernicious aroma that continuously brought out the worst in me.
I gave up entirely when he approached me for yet another frivolous date. As if shattering my hopes for a future with him meant absolutely nothing at all. I had to fight every instinct to slap the senses into his thick skull.
He didn't even take me dating Mew seriously. I was apparently 'window shopping roses' whatever that was supposed to mean.
My thoughts about Mew inevitably drew my gaze to him. I could still recall every detail of that day. Where he miraculously stumbled his way into my lap and point blank told me how he was feeling. It was clumsy, awkward, and a little ridiculous. He said it without a single care for how I would respond to it. That's why it was so perfect. He didn't need to be mushy or romantic. He just needed to be honest with me.
He was still sound asleep with my hand gingerly stroking the back of his head. He looked so peaceful and innocent. A far cry from the cat I would come to know in the centuries I spent as his counterpart. Back then he would have hidden his malicious intent behind a sweet voice and a cheeky smile.
"Say…what was the first Mew experience you ever had?" Jirachi's eyes popped open and she looked at me incredulously, but after a moment accepted the chance to change the subject. She tapped her chin for a brief moment. Eyes gazing off searching the recesses of her memory for her story. She came back when she closed her eyes and shrugged.
"If you're talking about a prank then it was nothing too extreme. He swapped around all the contents of my makeup. So I used him as a dummy to figure out which was which. You?"
I probably did have some minor prank I was a victim of in the past, but I most vividly remember enduring a particularly obnoxious encounter where he desired to test my mental patience. "An absurd amount of paper puns."
"That sounds tearable." I could only glare at the smug cheshire grin she was sporting. Of course she would follow in his footsteps and make a similar pun. Well if the scenario was reversed I would have done the same… so I couldn't judge her too harshly.
His antics back then were so harmless. Hardly worth anything more than a light scolding or an equally petty revenge prank. They were almost charming. Then at some point it just wasn't enough for him. Like when he thought it would be 'funny' to toss Kyogre's orb into Groudon's volcano and watch the ensuing catastrophe. Poor Manaphy really took the brunt of Kyogre's wrath for that. Everybody was absolutely livid with him after the two calmed down. I specifically remember tearing into him for how catastrophically stupid of an idea that was.
Where did that behavior even come from? It couldn't have been as simple as him needing to constantly step up his game. The punishments he endured couldn't have made it worth the moment of chaos. I could think of a few points where his antics grew significantly worse. Though those were few and far between. Moments where to some degree it could be viewed as justified. Then he really seemed to change for the worse when those humans managed to clone him. Jirachi was hibernating at the time. So she had every reason to miss what happened, I didn't. I could see that he was putting on a mask to hide how unsettled those events shook him and I didn't do anything to genuinely help him.
(Ilex Forest, Eons Ago)
My sleep came to an abrupt end thanks to the cries of several panicking Pokemon. Apparently that small shrine that humans created for me had attracted a rather suspicious crowd. Probably just some humans looking for a blessing of 'safe passage' or a 'good harvest'. I mean I could tell dangerous Pokemon to keep their distance or help a crop to reach its full potential. But can't these humans see that I had my own forest to tend to?
I was on the cusp of falling back asleep when a Heracross decided to take the aggressive approach. With a single blow from its horn a shockwave traveled through the entire tree tossing me into one of the bushes below. "I'm up… and you have ten seconds…"
Ugh… that's definitely the last time I just pick a random tree to sleep on. My back was stiff and my neck pinched uncomfortably. Bushes and the grassy terrain below from now on. Not like any of the Pokemon here would be dumb enough to pick a fight with me. Dumb enough for a rude wake up call…but they were often smart enough to know better than to push their luck. My wings buzzed and slowly lifted me from the bush I crashed into.
All the Pokemon trying to force me up had wisely fled for their lives. I stretched as much of the discomfort in my body away as possible. I felt a small pull to just duck back into the bush and fall back asleep. Ah screw it… best see what all that commotion at the human made shrine is all about. Plus if I dealt with it now, then I could go back to sleep uninterrupted. Flying through my home nothing looked terribly out of place. Aside from how panicked all the Pokemon became the closer I got to that blasted shrine.
This was a new sight. It was an entourage of various pokemon from all over Kanto. All huddled together and beaten within an inch of their lives. At the center was a feline that bore an eerie similarity to Mew. He gave off the same aura as my counterpart, nearly the exact same in fact but something about it was wrong. It felt… unnatural… a pikachu piped up causing the feline's attention to fixate on me. His stare left an unnerving presence in my stomach. He was towering over me and all the color and joy that painted Mew was totally absent with him.
Pushing the newfound fear to the back of my throat I spoke as calmly as I possibly could. "Mew?"
His cold eyes squinted and he spoke to me through a telepathic link. "I am not Mew, I am my own being. As is everyone else with me." Agh… not the way I wanted or needed to start my day. Only compounded further when the annoying voice I dreaded perked up.
"Ah cool you're here!" Mew bounced out of his hiding spot and flew next to the larger version of himself. He nudged the taller feline while gesturing towards me. "This is Celebi, she's the one I was telling you about." He maintained the towering disdain in his eyes and quietly nodded.
"So I know this is pretty sudden, but do you know a nice place to take these guys? The less inhabited the better, but still nice enough to wanna live there."
Of course, he had a problem and he was hoping I could solve it for him. Placing a hand to my now sore temple. I spoke directly to my counterpart. "Mew… EXPLAIN!"
He yelped and darted behind the unflinching counterpart right next to him. Hastily trying to explain to me why he brought this entourage to my forest. "W-well t-this is Mewtwo, he's my clone, he got mad and made more clones, we 'talked' it out, now we're here." Mewtwo closed his eyes in annoyance, audibly sighing at Mew's… personality. Being around him for so long must have been wearing down his patience.
"That is an abridged summary of events, but not inaccurate."
"Yeah… I know a place…Search for a large plateau in Purity Canyon." Why was I even helping this buffoon fix his problem? Well if I didn't I would have to deal with his incessant pleading all day and I… really didn't wanna put up with that.
"Thanks Cel! See ya next meeting!"
He and his company of clones left rather abruptly. All carried off by Mewtwo. That was odd… No trying to insist we catch up or a trip to find some hapless human to prank. He didn't even have some tedious story to drone on about. I thought for certain he'd ramble on for hours about how this whole mess happened in the first place. Maybe he was just tired. His eyes and his voice certainly conveyed that. Felt almost like he was putting on a mask to hide something… Not to mention the rest of the pokemon surrounding him. Seriously, what the hell did I sleep through? Well I guess the next meeting would fill me in on the details. A true rarity where I could look forward to the otherwise tedious lectures Arceus gave.
That still wasn't the worst of it.
I felt the very tree connected to all of nature screaming in agony. It was for a moment but I could feel the sanctuary for preserving life itself disappear. Then just as quickly that pain vanished. It was a hauntingly familiar feeling. Twice now the tree had been on the cusp of death and I needed to find out why.
I had to check on this and as quickly as I possibly could. If I was too late then I would time travel to be there on time. Dialga would scold me for reckless time travel, but that could be a problem for later.
The outside of the tree appeared unharmed, scouting the outer rim of the tree I spotted those obnoxious golems. I wasn't in the mood to try and interrogate these things. They'd just beep and boop incessantly. I flew into the nearest opening in the tree rocketing to the core where the sudden pain struck.
At the heart of the tree I locked eyes with the culprit. My obnoxious counterpart, the one who's existence made my life a living hell. "Oh hiya Cel. What brings you here?"
I grabbed him by the shoulders, slammed him against the crystal mass he was tinkering with. "MEW WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"
He hardly even reacted to me pinning him against one of the massive crystal stalagmites.
"Tree started dying, got real close to it too.." He was far too exhausted to even bother with any excuses or fabrications. His eyes held a similar hollowness to when he first introduced me to Mewtwo. Only far worse this time, not only was he exhausted he was looking at me with this inexplicable sadness.
"I just need to tidy this place up. Then I'll find a new place to crash." I wasn't even aware he was using this place as his home. Why was he even living in a place so vital for life on this planet to remain intact?
The 'cleaning' he had claimed to be doing amounted to little more than stacking a bunch of rocks and gems next to a cluster of crystals. Turning my focus back on him, another simple question followed, "Why?"
"A Lucario and his human died saving this place. Well the human was centuries ago and the lucario was…about an hour ago, but they both died making sure I didn't. So I wanted to put something together for them." He explained while motioning to the very rocks and gems he had been assembling.
He almost died? Why did that bit of news shake me so much. He's been in danger more times than I could be bothered to keep track of, but he's always bounced back with no lessons learned and a totally oblivious smile glued to his face. Hell too many of us have been having near death experiences lately, myself included... and then there was Latios... I was so distracted that I didn't even notice when he slipped out of my grasp.
"Okie dokie all done here. See ya next time Cel! You can stay here all you want though. I know you do that whole talking to trees thing and they actually talk back so I get it might take awhile. Oh and sorry I can't keep an eye on things here anymore. This place just isn't all that fun to hang around anymore."
He was keeping an eye on the tree? Is that why he chose to live here? I didn't get the chance to inquire any further. He vanished in a bright pink light with all of the random crap he deemed worth taking with him. Not like I was going to have any ideas of where that dummy thought would be a suitable home. I half expected him to ask if he could stay with me until he found somewhere else to reside. Probably under an abandoned truck in the middle of nowhere. Ah screw it I can just ask him the next time he causes some disaster I gotta clean up or he inevitably comes running to me to shelter him from someone wanting to skin him alive for his insane antics. For reasons I can't fathom in any of those scenarios I would have offered him sanctuary no questions asked. Probably just a need to thank him for looking out for me after that human took control of my body.
What I did not expect was that to be the last I saw of him for three months. It was absurd, he's never been this quiet before. Even something as simple as him dropping by with a paper mache flower would have been appreciated. Suicune called it Stockholm syndrome whenever I began to miss him. She had to be correct... I'd have to be crazy to genuinely want him around...
Come on this forest needed me to care for it and I can't keep getting distracted. I had berries to plant, flowers to tend to, and weeds to keep an eye out for. It was a full day and it would easily keep my mind occupied. Until I received a bit of news I've been longing to hear for months.
"That cat is at your shrine again. He won't go away either!" I knew it! He couldn't stay out of trouble forever. He needed a place to lay low for a few days or weeks. I could easily tolerate him for about a month. I motioned for the ledian to take care of the flowers while I 'handled' the intruder. Darting off before she even had a chance to give me an answer.
The foliage of the forest zipped past me as my wings carried me faster than they ever had before. I had to get there fast, before he gets caught and I miss my chance.
There he was! At the clearing in the forest sitting on the base of that human made shrine. He was absentmindedly staring off into the forest and carelessly kicking his feet over the edge. A wave of relief washed over me. I was smiling at the sight of him. Arceus something really was wrong with me and I didn't care! In an instant I charged at him, trapping him in an arbor shattering ursaring hug. It felt so nice... I wanted so badly to hold onto him for the rest of the day. Forgo any care at all for how such an action could be perceived. It was a desire I held right up until I realized I was behaving erratically. So with that in mind I reluctantly released him and recomposed myself to speak with him properly.
He was nervously grinning at me and I felt something off about his smile. That immature beaming face has been etched into my memory and the small changes in his expression were setting off an abundance of red flags. I couldn't pin my finger on why, but I could just tell that this wasn't who I was hoping to see.
'He' snapped his fingers and in a blinding golden flash he was replaced with the third member of our trio. Golden star crown with dangling blue wish tags, tiny white body with a third eye intermittently opening and closing, and two long golden ribbons flowing out of her back and in the wind. Jirachi, she was still grinning just as widely when disguising herself as Mew and was shaking with uncontainable excitement. She was awake...somehow... and now I had even more questions.
"Jirachi? Shouldn't you be hibernating?"
"NOT ANYMORE! But that can wait clearly I missed something very important between you two!"
I disagree, but she wouldn't relent until I gave her an answer first.
"Nothing substantial."
Her grin spread even further as she got even closer to my face. "Oh Really now~ Since when are you all affectionate with anyone?"
I guess she really did miss out on that entire debacle with Shaymin. Well she's better off not knowing how much of an insufferable prick he was. Evidently she kept talking even when I wasn't listening. She'd gone off on a ramble about our annoying counterpart that I was all too happy to have missed out on.
"Oh well I can just ask him about that later. Where is he anyways?"
I shrugged and pushed her out of my personal space. "No clue. He's been absent for three months, sixteen days, and four hours and 31 minutes now." My blunt choice of words flipped a switch in Jirachi. She went from the carefree spirit of wishes to a shaking mess barely keeping her newfound dread bottled.
"What? Is he hurt? D-did a human take him prisoner? W-what if something even worse happened?!" As she spoke her voice steadily cracked and tears began forming in her eyes. Normally she'd be getting hysterical over nothing, but in this instance I shared some of her concerns. I had to act quickly now or Jirachi would suffer a full blown panic attack worrying about our foolish counterpart. I put my hands on her shoulders and made certain she was looking me in the eyes as I spoke.
"I may not know exactly what he was doing or where he went. But I'm certain we can ask Arceus." Something I realize I should have done after the first week of silence. That at least put her fears at ease and she enveloped the both of us in a bright golden light. Warping the both of us to the base of the Hall of Origins.
Thankfully she was all by herself in the Hall today. Just sipping a large cup of coffee in her living room. Her artificial composure was all I needed to know that she was lazing around watching soap operas. Her voice carried that practiced regality she refused to drop no matter who she was speaking with.
'Ah, you're finally here and with company no less.' I couldn't help but feel that she was directing that 'finally' at me specifically. She must have known why the two of us were here... and she never bothered to tell me what happened with him. I bit my tongue and let Jirachi do the talking. I wasn't in the mood to get into an argument with her over withholding information about Mew. "Lady Arceus. W-where is Mew?"
'He's gone to the happy place.' I can't even begin to imagine what the hell she meant by that. Was he dead? No… he can't be, if he was then Arceus would have had the courtesy to announce it like she did for Latios. Plus even if he was I could just rewind and pull him out of the fire. I mean Arceus would certainly permanently strip me of the power to traverse time itself… but that would be a worthwhile trade... Even with how annoying and obnoxious he was. Could I live with that?...
He was was obnoxious, stupid, never thought any of his actions through, and it seemed to be his goal in life to make my life as miserable as possible... He proved it very recently when I couldn't get rid of him. He stuck to me like glue and insisted he do whatever I asked of him... he failed at basically every task I gave him. Yet I still desired to have his antics as a part of my life.
Yeah, I could...
'Worry not, he still lives.' Her voice remained outwardly neutral but carried a twinge of 'don't even think about it'. Well that news was as reassuring as it was terrifying. I was working myself up over nothing. At the very least it would give Jirachi a bit of comfort. Maybe Azelf too… when she finds out. Those two have always been close... It was still an odd sensation to be comforted by the revelation that wherever he was that he was doing OK. Even then I will accept it all the same.
He continued to remain absent for the rest of the year. I had to repeatedly reassure Jirachi that as long as Arceus says he's fine then it means he'll be alright. It was something I had to frequently remind her and myself. It came to an abrupt end when he just showed back up one day. No fanfare, no dreaded prank to top all the ones he's done throughout the ages, absolutely nothing of note at all. He floated in so quietly he'd have gone unnoticed if he didn't fly right up to Arceus. Right as she began the meeting.
I was fully expecting him to get utterly eviscerated by the Quilin. She has made no secret her disdain for him and his behavior. I felt my hands balling into fists in anticipation for when I had to rescue him. It was preparation for a moment that never came. Her only words to him were a pleasant, 'Welcome back. I trust you've sorted everything out.' He gave an eerily quite and straightforward nod. She smiled and motioned for him to take his seat and immediately returned to her usual business, scolding one of the different troublemakers. It was by far the most civilized the two had ever been with each other. If I wasn't here to see it I'd struggle to believe it even happened.
I could hear Jirachi breathe a sigh of relief beside me. I wasn't quite sure why but I shared Jirachi's relief seeing him unharmed. He floated over to us and greeted us with an artificial flippancy. Despite his best efforts he still looked and sounded just as tired as he did when I last saw him. "Hey guys, did I miss anything? Wait… you're still awake Jira?" Jirachi proceeded to grab him by the shoulders, shook him like a ragdoll, and verbally chewed him out for his vanishing act. It was for the best that Jirachi was taking this kind of initiative. I have no doubt in my mind that I would have hugged him then he'd say something stupid and we'd be right back to where we were before he disappeared.
Oh well, it was an interesting experience to worry about him but that time has passed. He was back and he's well enough. He always bounces back from whatever misfortunes befall him. We'll probably be back to his usual antics before the week is over.
I can't believe I could just brush off his wellbeing so readily. When he learned Jirachi and I suffered similar events we couldn't get rid of him for months. Just how much of his behavior was just him crying out for someone to help him? Well to some degree that troublemaker had always been there, but… maybe Jirachi can help me here too.
"Do you think he did all that because he thought it was funny?"
That same finger returned to tapping her chin. Her words came slowly, carefully chosen to best deliver her thoughts. "No… he might have found some of it funny, but I can't really say for certain. You two have always been closer than I ever managed to get with either of you." I mean, it's not entirely wrong, but that's only been a relatively recent change. Not to mention just how disheartened she sounded. She spotted the confusion in my eyes and tried to mask her dismay. "Hey, don't look so down. I'm just rambling and-"
"Jira…" She fell silent, she was very familiar with the tone of voice I was using. The one Mew used to hear all the time.
Her paws tightened grasping at one another. She kept her stare on me whether she was lost for words, searching for the courage to answer, or some other concoction of emotions I couldn't say for certain. She kept looking at me to give her an avenue to escape with. It was a path I was not going to give her. If she didn't wish to dive down this path she would have make that choice herself.
With no easy way out a burdened sigh escaped her weary lungs and she shared her troubles, "Well, it's a lot more apparent nowadays with how close you and Mew have gotten, but I'm kinda the third wheel in our trio."
How long has she held this secret to her chest? Has she been thinking this for eons while I remained blissfully unaware. How could I claim to be her friend when I remained so oblivious to her pain? I didn't hide how much this was getting to me all too well. She floated to my side where her hand came to a rest on my shoulder. She wore that same smile she always put on. The one that hid just how lonely she had been all these years.
"Hey, I really don't mind. It's awesome to see you two being so happy."
"That's not the point Jira…" She gave my shoulder a light shake and grinned at me far more sincerely this time.
"Maybe not, but I don't have to play peacemaker between you two anymore. Would you honestly prefer go back to THAT?"
No. I didn't want to admit to it. It felt wrong to take the side that felt like I was isolating her, but she was right. I couldn't stand the idea of Mew and I hating each other again. That thought brought my mind to a screeching halt. My body involuntarily shuddered at such a thought.
I tried to deny this but…every fiber of my being reaffirmed that truth to me. For so many years I despised him. For centuries of my existence I wanted nothing more than for him to suffer. It was getting so much harder to breathe. Come on, pull yourself together. Even if that was true it's not who you are now! You're better than that now, he doesn't have to hate you either...
Did he also hate me back then?… Was I just so blinded by my own emotions that the thought never crossed my mind? If so…which of us changed first… it had to be me. I can't imagine he loved me for how I used to treat him.
My gaze concentrated on his slumbering form. His fur brushing against my skin momentarily quelled my bubbling anxieties. With one last exhale all those intrusive thoughts dissipated in the air.
"Celebi? You doing OK?" Jirachi's distressed questioning broke through to me. My own thoughts had managed to leave the both of us in needless anguish. I waved my free hand in her direction doing my best to reassure her.
"Yeah. I'm cool. Just overthinking a couple of things was all." That concern never left her face even as she accepted my answer. She slowly fell on her back stomach leaving the window open to share my concerns if I so desired. It was a moment that never came and we spent the remainder of our free time in a truly uncomfortable silence. It wasn't the best feeling leaving her in the dark after she made the conscious effort to share her personal demons with me.
With my own anxieties continuing to build I pulled Mew closer to me. Right now I needed to feel his head nuzzling into my neck. I needed that warm, comforting embrace I treasured so dearly. A gentle caress that had gifted the both of us countless pleasant nights after so many painful or tedious days. One that brought me to a state of safety, security, and belonging...
So why was I still so afraid?
Celebi and Jirachi sure had a great day. They got to learn so much about themselves and each other. Plus Mew was well behaved and didn't cause any trouble, what more could you ask for?
On a side note my favorite last minute inclusion that I am way to happy about was writing Shaymin as a frat bro who's broisms revolve entirely around flora.
Next chapter we are finally getting to the club and I have some fun things planned for that~ Unfortunately all signs are looking towards me needing to delay that chapter in favor of other projects. I'll work on it when I can but given what I want to do with said chapter it may take some time. So until then please leave a review and have a good day.