CHAPTER 31: THE CITY
When Neva awoke in the late afternoon the next day, she felt a bolt of surprise go through her. She had never slept in so late, despite how exhausted she could sometimes become, after various battles. However, she HAD stayed up the entire night before, so it made logical sense she supposed. She gave a tired yawn, stretching her somewhat stiff muscles. Despite how soft the sand beneath her was, it was still the ground…
Looking around, she saw her companions were nowhere to be found, including Mewtwo.
She felt a shock of fear course through her, her eyes darting around, somewhat panicked. What the hell? Had they all abandoned her in the middle of the day, leaving her to whatever creatures the light hours lured out? She cursed under her breath, casting out her senses. Where…?
She suddenly picked up on another being, swimming at a shockingly fast speed in the rainwater- filled lake near her. Her large, somewhat egg shaped eyes, quickly shifted to it, seeing something darting amongst the water plants and rocks at the bottom of the large mass of liquid. Curiosity and fear warred within her, half of herself wondering what it was, the other fearing what it could be. What was it doing anyways? It seemed to be…looking for something.
Screw it, she had powers, she'd use them if she had to. Diving into the water, she shivered at the sudden cold, as opposed to how the sun had warmed her skin so, previously. Her eyes scanned the crystal water quickly, searching for the creature who she had spied just a minute ago.
Suddenly, she caught sight of movement a few feet from her, and almost chocked with surprise and laughter. Mewtwo!
Seeing her there, he stopped his quick actions, waiting for her to come to him. She silently obeyed, wondering if he usually took a dip like this. Swimming to his side, her violet and lavender friend motioned for her to follow him. She shrugged, not minding in the least. Every once and awhile, they went up for air, but didn't speak, for reasons Neva was uncertain of.
Finally, Neva asked what was on her mind.
(Where are we going?) She questioned, seeing Mewtwo's gaze darting through the many underwater cave entrances, as though trying to pick out one.
He answered her calmly, (To the city where I usually reside. I'm going to show you the way… If you'd rather stay here, afterwards, you may come back. However, besides teleporting, this is the fastest way out.) He explained, his face then lighting up with a grin, (Ah ha! Do brace yourself Neva!)
Just as Neva was about to ask what he meant by those final words, she found herself being roughly grabbed by a powerful current, one in which she had not been aware of just seconds previous. Mewtwo was also experiencing the same strong tug, whizzing through the underwater tunnels with the flow, ahead of her. He smiled as he recalled previous experiences. While he was reluctant to say he had fun, it had been…enjoyable.
With a great amount of difficulty, he looked over his shoulder. Neva was holding out well, apparently having gotten the hang of it, not tumbling through the water, crashing into the stone walls, as he suspected some other first-timers had done. Straight and steady, like an arrow, she flew upon the liquid wind as well, and from the smile that slowly formed on her face, evidently enjoying herself. Nearly breaking his neck in the process, Mewtwo looked back to the area ahead of him. Slowing himself down psychically, he felt Neva do the same, looking at the water-filled tunnels around them. Which way was it again? Picking through his sharp memory, he figured the way to be the one on the far left.
Mewtwo led Neva through the maze of waterways, the darkness around only just penetrated by the soft glow of light he emitted from him. However, while quick, there was a downfall to traveling through these tunnels, besides the dark. Being under the rainwater lake, they were filled to the brim with liquid, the air only in tiny bubbles, which passed the two creatures by. Mewtwo, being used to this, was quite skilled at holding his breath for long periods. However, this was not the same for Neva, who only had so much training underwater.
Soon, Neva felt her lungs were ready to burst. However, to her immense relief, the saw white light at the end of the tunnel they were shooting through with the current. Unless it was some type of immensely luminous crystal, that light meant the sun, and the sun meant the sky and air. Suddenly, to her shock, she saw Mewtwo disappear. Where…? In a second, it became clear as to why. Shooting out of the waterway, she landed in a pool of calmer water with an immense splash. Shortly stunned, she shook herself, quickly following Mewtwo to the surface. Air! Mewtwo, having been ahead of her, reached the top of the water first, taking a deep, calm breath. A second later, Neva burst out of the water, gasping for air.
(Are you all right?) He asked, concerned.
She gave a small nod, (I will be in a few minutes.) she told, and then opened her eyes, (Where are we now?)
(Look around.) Mewtwo suggested.
Neva gazed at the area they were in the middle of, seeing that they were now in a large cavern, the wall behind them holding the exit to the underwater tunnels. The large opening shot out water like a soda bottle would the carbonated drink inside, if shaken. Hence, why she'd fallen into the small lake below, the water from above gushing into it. She noticed vaguely, while wading, that there was still a current, though extremely weak compared to what they'd just been submerged in. Turning around, she blinked at the light, seeing the water rush out of the cavern, into the air outside. Looking closely, she could see a vast ocean of forests some hundreds of feet below…
Floating outside, into the fading light, Mewtwo led her out into the open sky. He quickly looked over to the cabin below, seeing the bus some hundred yards away loading up.
Humans…whom were making their monthly trip to Purity Canyon. They had to leave, now, before they were spotted!
(Follow me, quickly.) He ordered as softly as he could, not wanting to anger his companion with a sharp command.
Going at a speed that would break the necks of most creatures, the two sped off westwards, the sky growing darker and safer to travel in, with each passing minute. After placing a few hundred miles between Mt. Keyna and them, Mewtwo began to relax, gazing down at the large autumn forest below. He could spy a few bird pokémon flying below them, azure sparkling lakes flashing by. As they went onwards, crossing distances that would take even the fastest jet weeks to cross over, he spied roads and highways beginning to appear and snake below them. Mountain ranges and villages were passed in moments. Neva was concentrating on keeping up too much, to notice the world below them flashing by. Perhaps, someday soon, she would get that chance. Mewtwo sighed as he saw a thin line of blue, an ocean; begin to form on the horizon. They were almost there now…
This entire trip took hours, the night deepening above them. Mewtwo slowed down sluggishly, Neva following his lead. As they dropped altitude, Neva felt her ears pop, but said nothing of the uncomfortable experience. Now floating quickly, over hills, the city in which was their destination came into view. Neva had seen it before, once, from a helicopter at the time. In a time that seemed a lifetime ago now...even though it had been just weeks. When she was under the command of humans… However, whether it was the fact of her near enslavement at that time, or not, she enjoyed looking at it in this point of view far better.
It was a vast, glowing forest of buildings and skyscrapers, and even from this distance, she could see its reflection in the ocean beside it. Her sharp ears picked up the sounds of cars horns and humans and pokémon alike, the scents of gasoline and fast food reaching her nose…
In its own way, this city, which was spread across miles upon miles, was beautiful, and seemed almost endless in any direction, save the side that bordered the sea.
Slowing to nearly a complete stop, Mewtwo motioned for Neva to stay close as they quickly crossed the distance between them and the metropolis. Entering the human made, steel and glass complex, Neva noticed, gazing around, that they were heading into what looked to be the darker part of the city. Though mostly rundown and abandoned, Neva couldn't help feeling that humans were there, somewhere. The many cars on the roads previous had thinned out drastically, as had the crowds of people. Only occasionally did she see a form, a shadow, dart along on the streets and sidewalks below. As opposed to the neon light filled area they had passed, full of life, pokémon, human, and plant alike, this seemed…so barren and dim. It was…a bit unnerving, creepy. How could Mewtwo live in such a place?
Suddenly, Neva's gaze picked out a place that greatly contrasted the desolate city around her. The roof was filled with various plants and trees, a few bird pokémon among the colorful leaves. She vaguely saw a Wurmple crawling among the grass, eating a leave calmly. Silently, she followed Mewtwo to it, silently realizing that this must be where he lived... Landing there, she saw Mewtwo smile.
Mewtwo's eyes shimmered at the scene around him. He couldn't have been more pleased, to see how much his garden had grown in such a short time. Everything was the color of fire, various shades of gold, red, orange, and sometimes brown. Autumn had fallen quicker here, then it had at the lush Mt. Keyna. He felt the dry grass, and fallen leaves, crunch under his feet, seeing a few wild pokémon present in his own home. He did not mind however. As long as they weren't destructive and intervening, they were perfectly welcome here. He turned around to face Neva, seeing her amazement at such a display of color and life amongst the somewhat dead and gray city around them.
(As you have likely guessed, this is my home Neva.) He stated, loudly enough for the other pokémon around to hear, who were looking at the two of them in question, (You now know the way here. Do you wish to go back to Mt. Keyna?) He asked, finding himself, surprisingly, hoping she wouldn't.
Still gazing around, she answered him after a moment, (…I think I'll stay here, for a time.) Mewtwo nodded, (Very well… I'll show you around then.)
Mewtwo, opening the locked entrance to his home, led her inside, and then turned around slowly, gazing at the pokémon in his garden calmly. Seeing their confusion, not knowing whether they were welcome to stay or not, he nodded, privately giving them his permission. Evidently, this was an immense relief to the Spearow couple, who he could see had a few tiny eggs in their nest. To try and move might be disastrous, and were quite glad that the owner of the garden would let them stay as long as they liked. Had they been aware the area was not vacant, they likely wouldn't have settled here, but he had been absent, so…it seemed a good place for them. The Wurmple and Oddish continued their previous activities, not truly caring whether or not it was okay for them to be there. It was all right though…
Mewtwo, turning back to Neva, gently closed the door behind them. Flipping on the lights, Neva saw a room twice as big as her old home had been, something that surprised her greatly. While the large kitchen was well equipped, the female Mewtwo could find no food there, to her disappointment. Though she didn't want to admit it, she was hungry… Mewtwo explained quickly, seeing her expression, that he would gather food soon. He calmly assured her that she would have breakfast.
Neva found it hard to believe, that after all the space she had already seen, of the living room, dining room, and kitchen, that there was still more space in this place as well. After all, she had lived in a rather small apartment with her sister, beside a training area. To think, that one person would have all this room to himself…this guy had a LOT of space. As he led her down the hall, pointing out various things, he saw, to his mild embarrassment, that his room was a large mess, as he had left in a hurry to find Neva and her departed sister. Usually, the entire place was spotless, but in his hurry…
Besides the bathroom, there was another room, in which he expressed would be Neva's. There was also another few bedrooms, which he supposed now, would be guest rooms, if he ever had any. He highly doubted it though…none of the city pokémon were as fond of him as one would think, seeing as how he'd become something of its protector in the past several months. It would just be him and Neva…
(I have one request.) Mewtwo said, recalling the other floors of the building.
Neva gave him a questioning glance, him having her complete attention, (What?)
(Do not go into the second floor. The first floor is something of a gym though, so you may go there whenever you wish.) Mewtwo told, laying down one of the few rules he had in his home. The others were obvious ones, which even a child should know. Neva, as an adult who'd had her own place, with her sister, should know them well…such as not to be destructive…
She nodded, (Okay. But…how exactly am I supposed to get to the gym if I can't go through the second floor?) She questioned.
(The stairs in this building are in a passage beside the various floors. …You'll see when you decide to go to the first floor if you desire.) He told.
(Okay.) She accepted the explanation, and gave a small yawn, feeling drained from the travel, (Well, I'm tired. …Goodnight Mewtwo.)
He gave her a curt nod, as she opened the door to what was to be her room, for who knew how long, (Goodnight.)
Neva quietly entered the room and shut the door behind her. Looking around, she could see it was rather plain, the walls a cream white color. There were no personal decorations to be found, no tiny objects, posters, or any sign that someone had slept in there previous. In truth, Neva was its first occupant, if one didn't count the fact that the building had once been a human dwelling at one point. The bed had a few fluffy white pillows at its head, a dark green blue blanket covering the blank sheets. Neva shivered at how gloomy the room looked, how dim and dark it was, despite its coloring. She would need to add some personal touches, that was certain. Gazing to the left of the bed, she spied a small mini-table there, a lamp on top of it. Stretching, she sighed, soon flinging herself onto her bed. Curling up under the thin, but warm blanket, she closed her eyes, and began to slumber…
Mewtwo, feeling Neva's conscious self withdraw for the night, decided to kill time until he himself felt tired, by going out to get some food, some nourishment. After all, he had told Neva that breakfast was insured…and he would so hate to break his word to his quest. Going out to the roof, he gazed again at his "fire" garden in awe. How it had grown these past several weeks! Still, checking around, he saw the trees and brushes alike had yet to bear the fruit or berries needed to sustain someone of his size, let alone two. Sighing then, he slung his gathering bag over his shoulder, and headed towards the park to gather some of the fruit harvest of the early fall…