CHAPTER 29: WELCOME TO MT. QUENA
As the two entered the caves, Mewtwo heard Neva gasp. He smiled in understanding. This place was the closest thing to a paradise as one could get… All the same though, if Neva thought this place to be astounding, then there was so much of the world she had yet to see. So much that she would soon wish to see, he thought glumly, the idea of her leaving anything but welcome in his mind…
Neva knew that this place would be a sacred realm to any. The water was so crystal clear, the areas around the pools, some small, others large, so full of vegetation and life. But no other pokémon could be found… They were the only ones there. That was not so terrible…and yet, Neva felt a bit nervous about her only company being Mewtwo. She barely knew him! But he didn't seem to be a pervert or anything of the sort, so she was probably safe…
Morgan would have loved this place so dearly! All this water…how she loved to swim.
Thinking about her sister made Neva's eyes fill with tears. Morgan had never even had a chance to see the world, like this, as she was. Neva told herself firmly then that she had better make the best of all of this, if not for herself, but for Morgan. But…WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS SHE GOING TO DO? With so many options, it would be difficult to choose. She then wondered what most pokémon did with their lives. …Mewtwo should know such a thing.
(Mewtwo, what do pokémon DO?) She questioned.
He raised an eyebrow at her, but answered her truthfully, (Most pokémon spend most of their time simply surviving in the wild, getting their next meal, finding a mate when the time comes… Others are caught and trained by humans as either tools or friends.)
(And you?) She asked, gazing at him with her almost egg shaped, ruby eyes.
He was a bit surprised to be questioned about such a thing, (Me? I usually live in a human city, and try to get by there. It is not too difficult.)
She regarded him slowly, (I see…)
Then, a sudden thought struck her, a question, (Do you have a family…a mate?)
He didn't look at her, but the air around him seemed to turn instantly frigid, (…No.) However, Neva, not noticing this, continued to pry, (What about your parents?)
Mewtwo didn't answer, (…)
Realizing her mistakes, she apologized quickly, not wanting to make him mad at her, (Sorry… Did they die?)
(…In a matter of speaking.) Mewtwo told her, thinking about how the scientists, who had created him. They were most likely dead from the explosion he had caused, the destruction he had reaped on their lab.
Neva sighed. Mewtwo was skirting his past, she could see. It wasn't her business, though, she had to admit, she was curious. Feeling she had enough answers for one day, she flew up towards the ceiling. Mewtwo halted to gaze up at her, wondering what she was doing. Then, she dived like a hawk towards the crystal blue water below. Mewtwo was about to warn her, when she hit the water with a splash. After a few seconds, she surfaced, her pale arms tightly wrapped about her thin physic.
(It's freezing!) She cried in shock, shivering greatly.
Mewtwo gave her a look that questioned her intelligence, (It is autumn, Neva. Did you not notice the leaves had changed from their green coloring?)
She growled at him slightly, but answered nonetheless, (Well, yes but…I've lived indoors all my life, how can you expect me to know that?)
Crossing his arms, Mewtwo explained, (You have that information inside of you; you just need to sort it out.)
(Yeah, yeah.) She muttered, disliking the fact that he was being so vague, and sighed, (Oh, well. This is refreshing at least.) She told, and gave him an innocent glance, (Why don't you come in?)
Mewtwo tried not to let the shock show on his face at this. She was like a child really, unknowing of certain taboos between genders, at least, when fully physically mature. While there was nothing truly wrong with her suggestion, it wasn't all that heard of, and wasn't something that he, Mewtwo, felt comfortable with in the least.
(…Uhhh…no thank you. I would prefer to stay dry.) Neva shrugged at him, (Suit yourself. I'll be here…)
Mewtwo left into the other caverns quickly; still able to hear Neva's swimming. Curse these caves for echoing every damn sound! As he looked up, he saw the light of day trickle down from the ceiling. He had of course, known it was in the daylight hours, morning, but he felt miffed by it. He should not be awake right now. He had become a nocturnal creature long ago.
How very inconvenient it was, that Neva would live in the sunlight. Perhaps she would change, in time. However, he could not force Neva to make that transition. It would intervene in her life…and he had no desire to do so. Going into the vast cave, which had once been his lair, he let himself drift to sleep.
Neva on the other hand, was having a fine time exploring the caverns. There were enough to explore for a lifetime, in her views, and not see them all! Besides the one in which held many of the pools, the lake, she found the one that contained the healing spring in it, and quite a few smaller caves as well. Going back to the one that held the miraculous spring, she sank into it slowly, sighing with enjoyment. As she did, she felt the same tingling sensation go through her form, as she had when she had drunk the Purity Canyon water earlier, only with more potency. Quickly getting out, she took her bandages off.
She smiled at the fact that she was now completely healed. Her wounds were gone without a trace, as though they'd never been. Carefully setting the bandages aside, she gazed at the spring. She had a whole day ahead of her, so what was she to do? Following the light upwards, she climbed through the tunnel it was filtering through, and exited the underground cavern…
Neva then found herself at the edge of a vast forest, one lush and vibrating with life. A great lake of rainwater sat in the middle of it. Taking a quick taste of it, she found it not to be as pure as the water underneath Mt. Quena, but close. Walking on the bank of the lake, her whitish toes sinking somewhat into the pale sand, she saw a burst of movement from the forest edge.
Another pokémon? Quickly following it, she came to a tiny clearing. The slight breeze made the grass roll like gentle waves, the trees above making small "whooshing" sounds in the moving air. Looking around, she cursed herself for not thinking of putting some kind of marker to show from which way she had come. Well, she could always fly above the canopy to find her way back.
Now where did that thing go? Suddenly the bushes to her left began to shake, making her stand motionless in unexpected fright. What if what she had followed was a monster, and not a pokémon, as she believed? Yet, it was too late for her to turn back now. Silently, she waited for the creature to show itself.
It turned out to be a baby Nidoqueen. But…that couldn't be right! Nidoqueen was the fully evolved form of Nidoran (female). Being just a youngling, the small thing in front of her couldn't have evolved into that creature, especially since it was unlikely that there were Moon Stones around here. Kneeling down, she talked to the child.
(You're a curious little thing aren't you? How are you a Nidoqueen already?) She asked.
"Nidoqueen! Nido, nido!" the pokémon said, much to Neva's surprise, "I'm not little! Mommy, Mewtwo called me little!"
Realizing her mistake in thinking that the child was alone, she floated upwards, and turned to fly away. Just then, the mother came stomping out of the bushes. With fierce indigo eyes gazing up at her, Neva felt she needed to do something, say something, now!
(I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to offend, just-) she quickly apologized over her shoulder.
"Nidoqueen. Nidoqueen nido. Nido…" was the response of the chuckling mother, "No need to apologize Mewtwo (what happened to you by the way? You're PINK). Nirany is NOT supposed to go wandering without being accompanied. Nirany, go to your father…"
(Umm… I think you're confused. I'm not Mewtwo.) Neva said a bit uncomfortably, turning around.
The Nidoqueen blinked, and then gazed at her closer, "Nidoqueen! Nido! Nido… Nidoqueen ni." Nidoqueen said with wonder, "Well I'll be shiny…you aren't! Well, this is a surprise! How interesting… Mewtwo has some explaining to do."
Neva cocked her head, (Huh?)
"Nido nido. Nidoqueen?" She said, "Nothing, nothing. Where is the good fellow anyways?"
The female Mewtwo paused, thinking, and the replied, (Sleeping, I think.)
"Ni. Nido. Nidoqueen? Nidoqueen." Nidoqueen responded, "Good. I'll be paying him a visit now. Why don't you go meet me family? They're over THAT way." She told pointing back behind her.
Seeing no reason to argue, Neva accepted the offer, (Ummm…okay.)
Mewtwo groggily awoke to the sound of someone stomping about in the caverns near him. He gave a soft groan, knowing perfectly well who it was, after he had cast out his psychic senses to identify the creature. Damnation! Why couldn't they all have left? At least Neva herself was quiet enough not to wake him. Then, much to his dismay, the clone found him.
"Nidoqueen, nido!" she yelled a bit angrily, "Mewtwo, wake up!"
(About a year ago, you would never have dared done this…why now, when I really need the sleep?) He questioned irritably.
"Nido, Nidoqueen. Nido?" The Nidoqueen told him, "Because I've just met a FEMALE of your species. Care to explain that?"
(Must I?) Mewtwo asked, wanting nothing more than to slip back into dreamland.
"Ni!" she shouted, "Yes!"
He had no desire to launch into such a story. Not now… Yet, the insistent gaze his fellow clone was giving him, made him, in his tiredness, surrender and agree, (Very well…)
It took well over the ten minutes he had wanted to explain it in. Though he knew little of Neva and her sister in itself, how she had been created, how she was in so little control of herself when they had first met, explaining this all to a pokémon who constantly interrupted and asked questions took a majority of the time.
"Nido, Nidoqueen." She said relieved, after he'd finished, "Good. I thought you might have gotten back into the cloning business."
(…What exactly do you inquire?) He questioned her.
"Nido, nido, ni." She replied chuckling a bit, "Nothing really. She'll probably- "
('She will' what?)
"Nidoqueen, nido." She continued, "-do you some good."
Mewtwo paused at the inference, (How do you expect me to respond to that?)
"Nido, Nidoqueen." She replied, "You don't."
(…I see.)
"Nido…" she sighed, "What does she plan to do?"
Mewtwo's eyes became clouded as he thought on that, (I do not know. She is uncertain herself.)
"Nidoqueen, nido." She asked, "And what do YOU want her to do?"
(…I do not know that either.) He sighed.
"Nidoqueen, nido." She said, "I understand. Have you ever given a thought about the possibility of being mates?"
Mewtwo had no desire to get into that subject. It was one he himself made sure he never thought of, it being inappropriate in his views. And yet, his fellow clone waited for his answer, (…I have. You forget though, that I know nothing about that subject...and it would be her choice as well. But please, do not say that, for it is highly unlikely that such a thing will happen.)
"Nidoqueen, nidoqueen." She told him, "You've been on this world far longer than I have, but it seems I know more about some things than you do."
(You have a mate. Of course you would know more on…love.) He spat out the last word reluctantly, the emotion unknown and ridiculous to him.
"Nido. Nido nidoqueen. Nido…" She said, "That's what you think. Time will tell I suppose. But some advice Mewtwo..."
Mewtwo didn't feel he wanted to know, and gave her a weary glance, (What?)
"Nidoqueen." She told, "Be yourself."
He would have very much liked to either slap her, or teleport away as she muttered those words. Embarrassment and anger at the entire subject made acid bubble in his stomach, (…Are you done?)
"Nido." She nodded, "Yes."
Mewtwo leaned back into his old resting spot, closing his eyes, (Leave me then.)
"Nidoqueen, nido." She said respectfully, "As you wish."
A sudden thought stuck Mewtwo, one he had to ask, out of his own curiosity, (…Wait!)
"Nido." She asked, surprised, "What?"
(Why have you not moved elsewhere in the world?) The purple feline clone asked her.
"Nido, Nidoqueen nidoqueen. Nido." She told, "For one, our children are not old enough to go out on their own yet; and this place is a good one to raise them. You keep that in mind to Mewtwo."
He scowled at her, (You assume far too much, clone Nidoqueen.)
"Nido." She murmured in the most irritating way, "Perhaps."
He sighed at that, (…Would you…make sure that none mention that Neva and I are the only two of our species? Also that you are clones?)
"Nidoqueen, nido, nido." She said, "I'll keep your past hidden from her…but sooner or later you'll have to tell her."
He nodded, (I know. I shall probably see you later then.)
"Ni. Nido, Nidoqueen. Nidoqueen ni." She answered, "Yes. I must get back to my children now. Neva is with them and my mate."
(…)
"Nido, nido." She said quickly, "I'm sure that they haven't said anything to her."
However, the leader clone was not reassured. He had no desire for Neva to find out anything about his past, whom he had once been… How would she react, if she knew? He couldn't allow the chance that something might slip from his fellows. (Go!) Mewtwo quickly ordered, feeling uneased.
With that command in mind, the unnatural Nidoqueen charged off. Mewtwo was now fully awake, unfortunately, and very much doubted he'd be able to return to sleep. Why did anyone have to find him? Why Nidoqueen? But perhaps they all would have given him the same lecture, if that were what it was… And even so, it was lucky, that she found him when she did. After all, had time gone on, the truth about his past might have slipped out, and Neva…who was to know, what she could handle?