CHAPTER 30

Date: October 29th, 111 P.A. / 2115 C.E. and January 31st though February 7th, 112 P.A. / 2116 C.E.

Mewtwo awoke in the night a few weeks after the birth of Jonah to hear his son wailing softly. Spying his wife sleeping so soundly, her body still recovering from the exertion it had been put through, he rose from her bed, kissing her gently as he did, going over to Jonah's crib. His nursery was in Arei's quarters, and since before their son had been born, he had made his own quarters off limits before noon and after the evening fell. It wouldn't do to find his rooms empty and follow him to Arei's quarters. Sometimes, he just wondered if he should tell the whole world of his marriage to her, his love for her and their child…he could even imagine it…standing out on the public balcony with her, holding her and their child, telling it to them all of his wife and child. But common sense made him bury the idea, knowing well the risk that could come from a revolted public. No…he could not reveal it, no matter what he desired.

But at any rate, he now slept in Arei's quarters to watch over her and Jonah, her quarters under a similar privacy spell as his. It would not do for servants to accidentally wake the hallowed infant…and as the two had always been rather private people, no one questioned or protested the limited hour access. After all, it was not as though all of their time was spent in those rooms. Just some.

So, without a worry, Mewtwo now lived in her quarters for the most part. He reached into Jonah's crib, shushing the crying infant, rocking him gently in his arms. The child quieted slightly at the warm, familiar hold of his father, but remained pouting. Mewtwo knew the sound well. There were different cried for each need, food, a change of diaper, attention, a toy, sleep…now Jonah was crying from hunger. As Mewtwo glanced at his mate, he saw that she had stirred awake, and was now beckoning them to her. She, too, know the difference in tone and knew what her flesh and blood wanted from her.

She took him and led her to her breast…he began to nurse with a soft coo, and Arei, so like the first time Jonah had fed, curled up to her mate, gazing at him and their little one with what almost seemed to be more joy than before. It was an illusion…still, Mewtwo savored the idea. He knew she loved Jonah desperately…and as for him? Well, she had never spoken of her affection aloud…she had never said it. Yet, Mewtwo was certain she did. He had to believe such, or risk sullying the heaven they help together in such pondering.

After a time, he asked, "Are you happy, Arei? With this life, with us?"

She looked up at him and smiled. "…Yes, Mewtwo. You both mean everything to me…and I'd rather be here than anywhere else on Earth; or with anyone else. Surely you know that?"

He kissed her lips, and sighed. "Yes…but I wanted you to say it."

She kissed him in return. "Don't ever doubt it, husband. You and Jonah make this life worth living…and never have I felt happier than in these nights with you both. Never…."

And in perfect peace and happiness, they kissed and savored the night and the little being they had made through a miracle. So, drunk they were in their joy that they did not notice that with every day, every week, every month, disaster approached as swiftly as their plausible dream, and would strike before it arrived. For the Rebels were gathering, the Priests allowing them in, their army relaxing their guard, the people being swayed by subliminal propaganda and whispers…and the pokémon themselves were preparing for their task when it came….

So, drunk they were on hope and joy they noticed none of this. Around five months would come to pass, the two-year mark swiftly coming upon them, their dream a month beyond it…and whose plans which would come to pass a thing of equal chance…perhaps….

They should have known their joy could not last. Mew, as usual, would be the first harbinger of fate. She came on the alibi that she was there to visit Mewtwo and congratulate Arei on the successful birth of her son. This was a handful of months late, and so it confused the new mother to some extent, but the kitten seemed kind and sweet enough, and indeed Jonah loved to tussle with the pink feline and pounce after her in a manner that reminded Arei all too well of tiny kittens…it was rather cute! Still, she was wary of those huge, secretive blue eyes, all too aware of her lover's tension. Something was not right, but she could scarcely get the opportunity ask what. Also, Mew had said she planned to give the couple and their baby a gift…but as of yet, she had not revealed what it was to Mewtwo. And that left him irked and puzzled. She carried nothing with her, and a few days passed in uncertainty. No disaster struck, and Mewtwo reluctantly relaxed.

And then the Rebels were ordered to strike.

Seemingly from the very earth, they swarmed into the streets, firing their guns at any soldiers and guards they could find. Their pokémon reduced many of the city's official establishments to rubble and ash, and rounded up dozens of townspeople and held them hostage. Those peasants who were not captured rioted in terror and fear, many rushing up to the sanctuary of their Temple. At first, they were accepted—but the religion base could only hold so many. The doors were closed, the night falling…the Rebels hunkered down in the city for the night, and the Temple held. In a matter of hours, the silent war had exploded into public concern. The Holy Officials gathered swiftly, Abaddon ordered Arei to stay with Mew and Jonah. Reluctantly, Arei obeyed him, staying in her quarters, watching warily the smoke those rose into the black night from the capitol. The army had been ordered out to quell the fighting and regain control…but with their limited forces, it was up to luck if their succeeded in recapturing city….

A few hours later, they appeared to succeed. The Rebels seemed to melt away, back into their camps in the desert, the townspeople freed, yet still shake and terrified. They wanted to know what had happened to security—they suspect an internal breach. So did their God and his wife. About a week later, another meeting was held—again, Arei was requested by her mate not to leave their child. Mewtwo was still very wary, for while the Rebels seemed to have disappeared, he suspected they were still near. It seemed all too likely that they assaulting forced had been feigning, and he shivered to think what a full front might do. Even now that the army's Partners had been summoned, the pokémon willing to serve with human soldiers, he wondered at the apparent weakness of his empire. When had the Rebels gained such numbers?! When?!

And another concern now weighed on his mind: This morning, Mew had disappeared.

Now that the capitol had seemed to calm down, soothed by the arrival of the partners, they had begged for a meeting to be called to discuss the attack. Mewtwo agreed. Representatives from all Classes were sent, packing into the grand hall, the Commander and Attendant, the Priests and Handmaidens, the nobility and merchants of highest position. He waved them to silence, and motioned for Byron to speak.

And so, began the meeting that would give the people what they longed for, and possibly destroy Mewtwo and his mate….

Hours passed of discussion and debate, numerous witnesses to the wave of the invasion recounting their stories and accusing one another of allowing the Rebels in. It was the type of chaos of a witch hunt without the pitchforks and torches, kept at bay from laws so long established to keep violence from the Temple where blood was not to be shed, and Abaddon's very presence. He listened with increasing frustration at the people's shouts and bickering, barely noticing when cries of shock and fear erupted from the audience, then all fell silent.

Mewtwo opened his weary gaze, only to see that Arei was before him. He tensed, quite confused. He had not sensed her arrival, or heard her footsteps. In fact, something seemed…offer, with her. She was glaring at him, but behind her expression was a cunning edge, and Mewtwo rose, putting his hands on her shoulders, whispering quietly, "What are you doing here, Arei? I told you not to leave Jonah."

No one heard him—he said it privately to her. Then, she smiled something cold and cruel as strangers filtered in from the entrances, a group of a dozen or so which began to fight the audience, she grinned, wider, and said aloud, loud enough to carry, though it was just for him, these words:

"Your usefulness had ended, my dear."

And with that, she reached into air, her hand clutching a dagger that appeared in her hand, and before Mewtwo could react, above it into his chest.

In pain and shock, he staggered back, and howled as Arei, her eyes flashing of the palest blue of Mew's eyes, disappeared into the stairwell leading back to their quarters.

And Arei heard this cry, she bolt upright from her chair, her heart racing at the agony and despair of her husband's call. Jonah squeaked in her arms, and she case a look to Marie, her only servant who agreed to stay with her for her protection. She was able to be sparred. Arei quickly stroke over to her, kissing her son's forehead before telling the Handmaiden in hurried tones, "I have to go to him! Keep Jonah safe!"

And the Priestess ran. Down the halls and steps, hearing fighting being quelled ahead and moan of surprise and sympathetic pain and horror. Her heart beat with a panicked thudding, and her eyes widened at the person who ran past her. It was…herself! The woman smiled, eyes flashing azure blue, then vanished Arei a few steps after passing her. The Priestess, hurriedly staggering to a halt, stared wide-eyed at the place where the figure had been, for a moment terrified for Jonah, but her mate was only yards away, needing her help, she was certain of it.

She dashed out, breathing hard, into the room. A group of Rebels were imprisoned in the center of the room, and everyone gazed at her as she entered with indiscernible expressions. But she did not care. She had seen Mewtwo.

He lay slumped upon the dais, bleeding from a gaping wound in his chest, his blood almost black. She rushed over to him fleetly, almost tripping in her rush, beginning to cry. She murmured his name over and over again, pressing her robes to the stab wound to staunch the bleeding, screaming at the rest of them to get a medic. No one moved. She wailed out her rage when she saw this, her tears falling onto his face…he was staring up at her with confused, glazed eyes. He reached up shakily, and she took his paw, thinking that was what he wanted…but he tore his hand from her grasp and shoved her back.

She gazed at his with startled eyes as he sat up and said, "Why are you attempt to…smother the wound you…created?"

She trembled. "What? Mewtwo, what are you saying? Mewtwo—"

It was then that she took in the gazes of the other people in the room. They gazed at her in seething hatred, muttering between themselves…even people she had befriended, Orobus, Byron, Jeremiah…all were glaring at her. As if she was a monster, a viper, a—

"Traitor!"

The cry rose up from a female, familiar voice, but Arei could not place it. More cries joined it. Whore. Witch. Spy. Backstabber. Traitor, traitor, traitor. Then Arei recalled the other Arei. She recalled the flash of blue eyes. She began to shake her head furiously, crying out that they were wrong, it hadn't been her, that she was innocent! Innocent!

Guards took her arms and heaved her upwards, dragging her away from her lower, who was taking in her pleading with a stony face. Arei saw two smiling faces in the crowd. Craven…and her own Delilah. It had been them, she knew, but the words choked in her throat. She struggled savagely, weeping and screaming, and managed to get out of their hold long enough to return to her mate's side.

She grabbed his paw, pleading to him: "Mewtwo, I didn't hurt you! Believe me! I was with Jonah…I was with Jonah! And Marie—she knows! I didn't do it! I wouldn't! Mew—"

She was caught and dragged away. Mewtwo watched his mate being taken away, aware of what the people were whispering. She must be the reason for the attack. She had been the one to order it…she had always been an oddity, always dappling in forbidden activities. Running away from the Temple, disappearing…sleeping with multiple men, bearing a bastard…helping a confessed Rebel when he was wounded…she'd probably freed him. And Abaddon had overlooked it all. As her supposed crimes mounted, including bewitching children, Abaddon heard whispers as Doctor Zered attended them that perhaps she'd also bewitched their own God.

But Mewtwo's thought overrode the destructive whispers…Arei's pleas filling his mind. Were the people right? Had she been using him, as she herself has suggested before stabbing him? Was she a traitor? As he latter held their son, he wondered at his beliefs and their hatred for Jonah's mother. Had…it all been a lie? Even this child?

No…no, that could not be! It could not! They had one another…they…they shared the same dream. Yet, he choked on the thought that she'd never said that she loved him to him. That she'd always seemed to value their son more than him. Of so many inexplicable things about her that had never made sense….

Then, with a start, he remembered the flash of blue eyes. Mew's eyes.

Arei was innocent. He knew it. And in that horrible moment, Mewtwo understood Mew's plans. Within hours, his suspicious would only be confirmed. For the missing Marie was found, dead, eyes gaping, her brain fried to gray sludge, washing us by the sea….