CHAPTER 7: EARTH SONG

A couple weeks after the storm, Mewtwo sensed that his predecessor had come to Mount Quena. Rising deftly from his next, his found her flitting through the hallways, chirping brightly at each clone she passed, observing the human among them with a certain amount of glee and curiosity. Briar seemed interested in the ancient female as well…she has heard many legends of the Mew race, but she had never thought she would ever be blessed enough to meet one of their kind. Mew happily butted her head against the woman's in the feline form of an embrace, and then floated over to Mewtwo, doing the same with him. The truth was that Mewtwo's feelings for the creature were mixed: he respected her, despised her, admired her, and cared for her. She was one of the few creatures of the world who could understand him in his entirety—his form, his powers, his loneliness, his dreams. She was the closest thing he had to an equal, a best friend, a true advisor. He knew she loved him in the manner of an older sister, but such a warmth had never been reciprocated. He doubted his heart was capable of such open affection. He glanced at Briar, feeling his spirit grow heavy with sorrow. The emotion was cool, saturating…sensing it in him, Mew somersaulted in the air, crying for him to cheer up. She was here, and tomorrow was a very special day.

His eyes narrowed. "Oh? I was unaware that pokémon had holidays. I thought festivities were merely a human creation."

She rolled her azure eyes. "You really have been sheltered, haven't you? Tomorrow, my dear, is the first night of spring—and since I'm in the area, it's my task to…'set the mood' for the coming seasons."

"What is it you mean?"

She giggled with delight. "You'll see. We'll speak then, I assure you. Now tell me, what's happened since I brought you all here? How did you acquire a human in your number?"

And so the stories of the last few months passed between the clones to the legendary, eating away the hours before the area of Mount Quena fell under the sway of the sky kitten, affecting each of its inhabitants in the manner of the aphrodisiac-made-wine, the warmth of it just as sweet….

Dusk fell the next day, and in the darkening sky Mew floated in the cool air, settling her thoughts until she could hear the pulsing of her heart, her breathing. As she focused her energies, the area seemed to grow quiet in anticipation, the silence and peace almost oppressive. Then, finding the thread of music that resonated in her own body and with the movement of the earth's blood itself, she began to sing, her voice strengthening and carrying across the many miles of the Mt. Quena range, weaving its way into each living creature and stone, setting them all in time. It grew, infected, more and more with each being that joined the song. The earth pulsed in time, the wind and water added their double-time lines the trees whispered softly ancient lyrics that no living being could comprehend anymore. And all heart kept in time, the sound of them growing until it was an audible sound. Thud…thud…thud! With each beat, the air seemed heavier, sweeter, warmer…life flower in synch, bringing out the deepest of archaic instincts as the world sang of the coming season of new life. And from the base longings arouse the desire to find someone, anyone, to spend the night with, to share its heat, to cry out in time to. None seemed immune to the sudden ache of desire, the fire that burned in their flesh….

Not even Mewtwo was spared.

Shivering with the sensation, his breathing coming in gasps, he clutched his hands into fists tightly, trying to kill the cravings stirring in his form. He sensed the others pairing up with each other, with wild ones, yet he…he was alone. There was no one else of his kind…no one who would let him so close. As he watched Mew float down, immune to the heat from years of experience dealing with it…she seemed to sense the bitter loneliness within his heart, his despair and hurt...her eyes were soft with compassion as she saw his distress….

"You long for another too, don't you? No matter how you try to deny it, you want to be with someone…with her. That's who you think about now, don't you? The woman?"

Mewtwo said nothing…the yearning was nearly unbearable!

"Oh Mewtwo…she's not untouched by the earth song either. And she…she longs for you. She will come—"

"No! I cannot. Please stop her, Mew!"

"Why? Why are you so frightened of claiming her, or being claimed by her? Do you think you will harm her? Do you think she will somehow hurt you? No, my dear…you care for one another too much. And you can give each other such happiness…you merely need to be brave enough to try."

"…I have already condemned her to a life of servitude. What you're suggesting…it would improve nothing. It would only make things worse for her. I have nothing to offer her…nothing I can give. You don't understand, Mew."

"You cannot stay like this forever, Mewtwo. You need her. She needs you. Accept that and accept her. She will not deny you…I assure you, she won't."

Then the kitten flitted away…she could do nothing more now.

So Mewtwo stood outside, on the outcrop of the island, enflamed and feeling as if his insides were twisting into tight knots of want. He wondered how long he could endure it…he wondered how long he would have to wait until it was over.

"Mewtwo?"

He closed his eyes, trembling at the sound of Briar's voice. Soft, confused, aching…he heard her stepping forward, and in defeat, he turned to face her, observing her in the moon's gloomy light. She seemed beautiful to him in that moment, an angel without wings…her jade eyes gleaming, the breeze making strands of her hair dance across the flesh of her neck and face. She was trembling slightly, her face flushed…as Mewtwo came to stand scarcely a foot before her, he noted a few smaller signs of her wants. He dared not touch her. They'd both be lost if he did….

"Briar…."

He wanted to tell her to run away—he wanted her to avoid being sullied by him as he was certain she would be. But he was unable to say such things…and as he tried to force himself to turn away, she caught his hand, and shook her head. She did not want him to leave…she conveyed that well enough as she touched his face in turn, beginning to draw him down into the tunnels. He followed her, shivering, feeling the beat of the earth song pounding in time with the blood in his veins…with hers. They came to walk close, side by side, brushing together gently, and soon enough, unseen by the others, they found their way into the alpha's quarters. When they finally drifted to a halt, the woman turned to him…and he met her mouth midway, and savored the taste of her and the shock of pleasure that resulted from the soft, warm kiss. Neither had eve felt such an intimate thing before, and they explored it quietly, their fingers stroking at one another lightly, then with more purpose. Briar slid her hands along his pelt, his taut muscles…his own paws slipping under her clothes, wandering across her skin, into her hair. In silent agreement, they began to undo the fabric barriers between them. There was no resistance any longer, only wordless, blissful acceptance…they'd fallen in tune with the notes of the melody around them, their emotions and physical feelings binding them closer with each moment more that passed.

The bond they'd been trying to suppress and deny was in the open now…and as Mewtwo held her tender, naked form in his arms, his eyes softened with a bit of wonder as he regarded her in the dim glow of moonlight. She gazed up at him at him without fear, only peace, her arms wrapped around his back, their forms grazing one another gently. Sighing, he kissed her mouth, undoing the collar she wore…he could not own the creature he saw now. No one ever could….

Slowly, she pulled away from him, her body trembling with evident longing…she breathed out a soundless breath, drifting in quiet steps to his nest, glancing back at him once, and lay down there, waiting for him to come to her. Abd Mewtwo did, slipping himself besides her, cradled her mouth shortly, caressing her surely, beginning to lick at her slightly wet and salty flesh in the pokémon version of a kiss, nuzzling her body at her did so. Those touches, so private and affection, made his partner cry at in pleasure…and willingly she touched him back, soon reducing him to deep growls of enjoyment and making flame suffuse his flesh. Full arousal came swiftly to each of them as they felt the stroking of their potential lover…lost in the sensations taking her over, Briar only vaguely noticed her partner's response…like a dark bead of blood at first between his legs, soon revealed to be the tip of his sex, which unsheathed within a few seconds. His breathing had quickened like hers…he buries himself against her, throbbing, swollen, aching…Briar only drew him closer with a soft moan of rapture as he prickled into her, meeting his eyes once before they came together. Heat…passion…need…desire…perhaps something deeper than mere fondness….

And then instinct took over and they were lost….

Mewtwo thrust himself into the nook of her, breaking through the barrier within her that had marked her as a virgin in a bolt of pain…and the beat of the earth song came into time with their movements against one another…. They held one another tightly, growling and moaning in the bliss that over-shadowed the hurt…nipping at one another with teeth and nail…mating with a form of agonizing tenderness that shocked them both to their cores. For a moment, Briar stared up at the moon high above them both, feeling him fill her up in both body and soul…and then she closed her eyes, burying her face in his neck, breathing in his scent and feeling happiness flood her heart. And though she could not know it, the emotion of joy was mutual….

Zenith came for both of them on their own time, bright and high…before inevitable weariness and fulfillment drew them apart, slick and hot against one another. The act was done…the beat of the song beginning to fade…Briar fell into sleep before he did, curling herself up against his form…and he embraced her without a word, musing on what he had done. He had released himself, the liquid fire of him, into her core…emptying himself physically into her own flesh. Yet he did not feel hollow now. Why was that? Briar breathed warmly into his neck…he recalled how her body had shuddered with his, arching with pleasure as he'd moved up inside of her body…perhaps that was why?

The ecstasy of it had been shared…she'd let him in, gave him herself, a gift he had never thought himself worth of receiving from any creature.

But she had believed him deserving…and that filled the cavity so long present in his soul with something akin to sweet contentment.

He breathed in the scent of her hair, of almonds, and sighed…and allowed himself to fall asleep with her curled in his hold, for closer than he'd ever allowed anyone before….

And for the first time in so very long, neither were plagued with nightmares as they rested together under the pale light of the moon.

When morning came the next day, Briar woke to find herself alone in Mewtwo's makeshift bed. Closing her eyes slowly with a sigh, she breathed in the scents of the fabrics around her…sweat…blood…sweetness…him. He had a minty aroma, she thought…and vaguely, she wondered where he had done before she's come awake. For now, she was content to continue to rest, her slightly grimy body kept warm under the fabrics of his nest…he must have bundled her in them before he'd gone—she'd been too hot to bear their hold after they'd….

Her brow furrowed as the thoughts of their acts together wandered into her mind, brining with them the images from the enchanted twilight. As she shifted at the memories of the sharpest of the sensations, a dull ache raced up between her legs—she stopped moving immediately, not enjoying the pain of it. Yet what would happen now? She supposed they could merely deem it a one-night influence, an experiment…but all the same, she had been touched in far more ways than one by him through what they'd shared. Did she want that bond, that intimacy, to fade so soon? She realized that no, she did not want to return to feeling uncared for. She'd felt wanted, special, in his arms…perhaps even loved. She cherished those feelings deeply…but what could she do?

What did he want to do?

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear the soft voices and pattering of paws coming near her chamber—but as soon as the visitors called out, she knew she'd been discovered, naked and dirty, in the alpha's bed—her, the omega, yet evidently valued nonetheless.

"Well, well…I thought Mewtwo was acting strangely. I guess I now know why! Lookie, Meowth—Briar did the naughty with him!"

Their sly grins made her face redden with embarrassment, and try as she might to duck under the covers, their chuckles reached her ears….

But their laughter was abruptly cut off—their leader had returned, and said calmly, "Leave her be, if you will. She by no means has to answer to you for her actions, nor does she need to endure your teasing."

As Briar peeked out over the sheets, his eyes softened minutely. "We shall speak later, Briar."

From the intonation of his voice, she knew the last commend was for her alone…and as they left, she wrapped the sheet around her and darted to snatch up her clothes, wincing at the pain walking brought. No matter—the spring waters would sooth the ache soon enough. For now, she needed to wash and change…perhaps if she got the smell of him from her skin, the others would not tease her so over what she and the alpha had done together in the night.

About an hour or so later, she was among them again, her soreness having fled and her hand occupied with her usual tasks. At first, the group respected her silence, repressing the comments that arose to their lips. But finally, the oblivious Vileplumetwo merely looked at her somewhat—withdrawn face and asked, "What's with you? Why so tense?"

And Meowthtwo delightedly arose to the inquiry. "Oh, she's fine, my friend. Briar just got pricked by someone else's thorn last night!"

The deep shade of red that flooded her face put the auburn color of Vulpixtwo's fur to shame. Briar ducked her head, but the hollers and catcalls that greeted the comment penetrated her ears easily…their laughter was delighted, joking, but still, self-consciousness engulfed her. It…it was supposed to be private, what she and Mewtwo had done…not shared as amusing gossip!

A vine reached out, Bulbasaurtwo getting her attention. She glanced at him, hearing him murmur, "Don't be embarrassed. They're just goofing around. We all honestly think you and him…it's a good thing…and it doesn't come as much of a shock. Now Pikatwo's and Meowthtwo's antics, none of us thought they liked each other that way, but sure enough!"

It was an attempt to cheer her up…and to an extent, it worked.

But Briar had heavier matter on her mind which sobered her throughout the day during her tasks: Where was she going to sleep tonight?

The events of the previous twilight had left her utterly bewildered of where she now stood in the group and with their leader. She had mated with Mewtwo, felt both his needs and vulnerability in the act…but had that joining changed anything? Or was it merely a one-time deal, an indulgence of softs? Vaguely she recalled the soft conversation they had had before succumbing to their yearnings…she recalled how he had taken the choker from her neck, bringing her out of servitude, to be equal as they came together. The act…had seemed affectionate, full of adoration…but what did that make them?

She wondered what Mewtwo expected from her now? If they'd become lovers through their joining, then would he not expect her to be with him again, to share their lives and selves as mates do? Or was what they'd shared gone now, leaving them exactly where they'd been beforehand?

Briar knew which options she wanted to be the case, but what did he want?

As dusk settled, Mewtwo sent for her, and as she always did, she obeyed. When she arrived at his quarters, she saw him peering at the screen he possessed with what seemed to be concern, the scenes flashing too quickly for her to track….as he sensed her, he shut the device off, and murmured for her to come closer.

Finally, when she was only a foot away, he said, "I feel I should thank you for your kindness last night…what entailed…it was far more than I expected to share with any creature in this lifetime. I…enjoyed our time together…and if you desire it, you are welcome to be at my side again…or remain in your own quarters if you so choose. Whichever you'd prefer, I will accept that choice."

He turned away, looking slightly weary, "That is all, Briar. I—"

"But what do you want?"

His eyes met hers. "What?"

Briar stepped forward, taking his paws in her hands. "Mewtwo, do you want me at your side? Do you want me to sleep next to you during the night? What do you want? And please, actually answer that question—I don't want an evasion—I want to know what you wish to happen."

For a long moment, he stared at her…then sighed. "I…want you to stay here, close to me."

"…Then that's how it'll be."

"But…Briar, I cannot be the mate you deserve. This changes nothing! You have your duties, just as I have mind—and those cannot be forsaken, no matter how we would like to put each other first. Can you live like that?"

The woman closed her eyes for a moment, then reached up and touched his face. "Yes, I can. Mewtwo, I…I want to be the one you lean on. You've been supporting and protecting us all of this time…and I want to be the one you turn to for comfort. So let me help you take on your burdens…you shouldn't have to bear them alone."

In that moment, Mewtwo felt his heart warm as he gazed upon her…. He drew her into his arms firmly, stroking her hair gently…he could feel her breath on his mouth, soft and moist. "Alright. Then there's just one last matter to clarify. What is it I should call you when we're alone? Briar…or Rose?"

Her green eyes glimmered. "Briar. That's the name you gave me. That's who I am now, so call me that."

And the clone kissed her gently, tenderly…allowing his affections for her to come through his usual stony exterior. And she gave him the same adore in return, not thinking about their differences, for in all, those did not matter….

Only this did, and they expressed that truth happily enough through their kiss.