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Literature Text
Once upon a time, there was a happy family. A man and a woman, ever so loving in the life they built. The man was suave, brimmed with confidence and power. His looks were ever so dashing, able to make the men envious and the women smitten. The man was so dedicated in his studies and work. He never thought about stopping to take a break. He never left his job unfinished. He was respected by many. His ambitions and dreams were awed by all. Love was never in his agenda. All he thought about was work, work, work. A workaholic, one might say. The man chased his dreams to the limit, never pondering a minute about stopping to catch a breath.
That is, until a certain lady caught his eye.
They met during a business convention. She was a former ranger, now working in a local farm belonged to her family. A Sneasel, her childhood friend was happily perched on her shoulder. The woman had deep red hair, crimson as rose. It was pulled to a high ponytail, baring her white neck. Her eyes sparkled a milky chocolate shine. She was joyful and talkative, bringing smiles and laughter every time someone talked to her.
Needless to say his heart was stolen the minute she smiled at him and said, "Hello there. I'm Emery."
---
Two years passed by blissfully. And those two years were proof enough of them to tie the beautiful knot. The man proposed under the twinkling stars. He still remembered her tears when she gazed in shock. She still remembered his happy yelps and skips around the field when she accepted. A marriage was held – one surprisingly simple yet meaningful. The man wanted it to be grand, for he was so excited to tell the world of his soulmate. But the woman – modest as she was since birth – only wanted a quiet wedding fit for families and close friends.
Their silly little argument didn't last for five minutes as the man happily accepted her wedding plans.
All he ever wanted and needed was her.
And his mirth only increased when their first son was born under the chilly winters of December. With hair bright red as his mother's, the child obtained a pair of mesmerizing, silver eyes. One glance was enough to pull a person into a trance. As the child grew up, he often smiled and laughed like his mother. Many enjoyed his presence. Many loved the child like he was a son of their own.
Especially to the man's loyal executives.
"Welcome to the world, Silver."
---
Time ticked its timeless clock. And each day thickened the man's dreams and perspective. Finally, he sought a new dream; one so great and unbelievable. He had wealth. He reached fame.
He wanted more.
"I want people to acknowledge me not just as an entrepreneur, not just as a simple billionaire," Giovanni spoke as his four loyal grunts – even one that was so young at age – stood before him, "but also as a person who completely changed the future into anew."
His grunts gave a single nod, mouth never uttering a peep.
Black jet eyes staring at his organization and lips forming a wide sinister smirk, he sternly declared, "And in order to form a new revolution of my own, one must have a new Pokémon."
---
A laboratory was built under the Wolfe mansion in Cinnabar Island. One only Team Rocket and his family knew. Without waiting for a single break, the man negotiated and cooperated with world-renowned scientists and geologists. Some were hesitant, while some accepted his offer with eyes shut. His plan for a new future began for months. Until one day, a DNA of a mysterious legendary was finally found in the deep dark jungles of Kanto. Experiments began in a heartbeat. The powerful man wasn't just known for his thick dedication, but also for his dangerous organization.
The first try ended in complete failure.
The second try ended in a burst of minor flames.
The third try was just the same, only it also caused the whole Cinnabar a total blackout.
Many tries and failures happened in the following month. The scientists almost lost hope. But Giovanni never gave up. "Every time you fall, it only gives you a reason to rise even higher!" He always said, motivating and silently threatening the workers under him.
After numerous and countless failures, finally the experiment was a success.
Stable. A beating heartbeat. Even breathing. Body solidly formed. Alive.
The subject was called, 'Mewtwo.'
---
Even with the lab positioned under the mansion, Emery and Silver had no clue what the man was doing. They were off limits, per say. The woman didn't question much, but for her to be curious was never denied. She was an ex-adventurer, after all. Secrets and mysteries were things she craved. Even as a calm housewife and mother, she was still a tenacious ranger inside.
"Oh it's nothing, my dear. All you need to know is that our future will be bright as ever soon," was all her husband ever told her. Even so, that never stopped her from being curious. Every time she walked by the halls, the door to the underground was never not looked.
Until one night, curiosity had gotten the best of her.
She waited until all were asleep. Her child was tucked in his room. Her husband was exhaustingly worn out beside her. As her feet touched the ground, she glanced at Xander who merely gave a confused stare.
One finger placed on her lip, Emery gave a light 'shush'. "I'll be right back. Make sure Giovanni's asleep, okay baby?"
Understanding his human's words, Xander gave a single nod. With a smile intact, she placed a soft kiss on the sharp claw's forehead and quietly dashed off. She knew the consequences of her actions. If she were to ever get caught, things might stir trouble between her and her husband.
So as she walked towards the chosen room, all she ever thought was, I'll only go in there once and take a peek. What's the worst that can happen?
Little did she know, not only her mind, but her life would also change for good as her foot set its first step inside the laboratory.
---
Emery had no idea that their 'little' house had so much space.
The laboratory was huge and spacious. Devices and machines fitted most areas, some even she thought it might change into a rocket if pressed carelessly. Her footsteps echoed throughout the big room. Left and right her eyes took place, scanning the bizarre area. "What have you been doing, sweetie...?" Her lips murmured the unanswered question. Emery brought her hands close to her beating chest.
Ba-dump!
Her feet reached a halt. Her eyes widened. Emery looked around, seeing only darkness and tiny mechanical lights as her vision.
Ba-dump…Ba-dump!
There it was again: the faint sound of a heartbeat. Quickly her palm pressed her chest. That wasn't me… she thought blankly, mind spinning with slight confusion. Head craning to the left, Emery saw a giant tube; size almost connecting the ceiling. Water filled the giant vessel. Bubbles in all shapes and sizes popped inside it. A dark shadow loomed in the blue liquid, shaped as a ball and almost the size of a human.
"What's that…?" Emery mused loudly, though not enough to reach an echo. As if in a trance, her legs moved on their own, scooting towards the bubbling tube. Eyes never tearing away from the bedazzling shadow, finally she stopped in front of the vessel. "What are you…?" Her hands lightly pressed the glass, body inching closer to get a clear view.
Her ears didn't deceive her. She wasn't deaf. The beat was coming from the mysterious creature. The shadow wasn't an object. It seemed too…alive to be classified as such. Its body was curled to a ball. Its eyes were pressed shut. Its arms held its legs, letting its body move freely inside the liquefied container.
Completely oblivious to the dangers she might – and would – face, Emery bent her legs down, trying to meet the mysterious shadow's gaze. Engulfed in pure curiosity, her index finger gave a light tap. "Hello."
The tap immediately awakened the creature.
It snapped its head up, bright iris-less purple eyes glaring up front. The sudden reaction startled Emery, seizing her from her thoughts. "What the-"
BANG! "MrraaAAWWGGH!!" The black figure bellowed savagely. Its fist gave a harsh punch on the thick glass. Though the glass was unfazed, tiny tremors were seen on the vessel as the creature continuously landed its brutal punches. A yelp was released from Emery's voice. Quickly her feet scooted backwards, only to lose her balance and fell on her bum. "W-what…the…"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"MRRAWWGHH!" It screamed and roared in bellicosity. The figure plunged forward, unleashing more punches on the solid glass. Emery's body began to shake faster, eyes clearly frozen on the manic creature. Now, all she saw were not only its wide blank violet eyes, but also its sharp white fangs. It growled and snarled, glaring at the woman as if she was helpless prey.
Her arms and legs shivered in utter terror. "W-what…is…"
"Something's happening in the laboratory!" Suddenly, she heard a voice from afar. Luckily, the voice brought her back to reality, snapping Emery from her fearful trance. Taking one sharp breath, she fumbled back to her feet and swiftly dashed away before the guards realized she was ever there.
Just before she successfully got out of the laboratory, her skin prickled horribly as the violent creature bellowed another maniacal, "MMRAAAAWWGH!!"
---
Three days had passed since the traumatizing yet confusing incident. Emery safely reached her bedroom without a peep. But even as her body lay on the bed, her eyes and mind were awake like they had never been before. Her thoughts were too enthralled on the mysterious grim shadow. Its dead purple eyes. Its gleaming little fangs. Its fists numerously banging the thick sturdy glass. All of them served her mind in a silver platter.
She wanted – needed – to know the beholder of the dark figure.
She questioned what Giovanni was doing – experimenting – to that shadow. Heck, she even doubted her husband's job. What was her husband's relation to the wrathful mysterious creature? What were his intentions? What was his motive to undergo such baffling experiments?
Giovanni was just a man managing a training center for trainers, right?
She knew it was unnecessary, but doubt rooted in her heart no matter how badly she convinced herself. And it didn't help Emery to realize that even if she asked her husband, he wouldn't cooperate nor answer a soul.
So at the brink of the third night, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
---
The night proceeded as before: sneaking out of bed, tiptoeing towards the hidden laboratory, and making sure that Giovanni's guards were not hot on her trail.
That, and made sure the black mysterious figure didn't go berserk like last time.
Emery stopped in front of the vessel. It was still bubbling. The form was still present and floating soundly. Her brown eyes wandered around the dark figure. Its body was as it was before, curled up in a fetal position. Eyes lowering to a squint, she took one – very quiet – foot forward.
Sensing her presence, the shadow's eyes opened in a snap.
It looked forward, blank eyes glaring as before. Its mouth almost twitched to a snarl, threatening Emery in defence. The redhead froze in shock instead of fear. Quickly her hands were raised at eye level. "Hey, hey," she shushed gently, voice soft and slow, "I am not going to hurt you. I swear. See, I'm unarmed." Emery waved her hands in front of the creature's eyes, proving her point. Its iris-less violet eyes cautiously moved to her palms, before reaching her face.
She flashed a sweet smile – as if she was standing before a frightened baby Pokémon. "You can trust me."
Silence swirled in the room as one waited for a response while the other pondered. The black figure stared long and hard. Though completely dark, Emery could see a faint sign of confusion in its eyes. She saw hesitation.
And honestly, this made her flash a wider smile. Because the second Emery saw emotions in the being, that meant it had heart and mind. Her hands slowly fell to her sides. As she did so, she saw another emotion that made her heart skip joyfully: Trust.
The creature was beginning to trust her.
"Who are you?" Emery asked, immediately switched from cautious to curious. Hands cupping behind her back, she leaned her torso forward. Swiftly and thoroughly she scanned the shadow. All was dark inside the vessel, except its eyes which gleamed as bright as purple stars. Other than that, all was coated in darkness. At the same time, the figure floated an inch backwards, baffled that the human showed no fear or threat.
"What is your name?" It heard her asked, voice gentle and sooth. It stared at her in surprise. She blinked and had her full attention on him. Her voice was clearly heard for the first time. Her brown hazel eyes shined under the dim darkness of the barren laboratory. She looked innocent. She looked demure. Clearly she was interested about the being, it wouldn't deny. But the way she stared at it. The way her eyes cast a gentle gaze gave the creature a new sense of emotion it never thought existed: Calm.
First there was trust. Then there was calm.
Next there was fond.
The being slowly closed its eyes. Before Emery could question its gesture, lights blinked from a machine near where she stood. The woman gave a light jump, a hand quickly holding her chest. A screen was switched on, revealing numerous numbers and words that could prove baffling to simple minds. She gawked at the machine at such a dumbfounded manner. Emery then looked at the shadow, whose eyes showed nothing but emptiness.
But she knew: the machine wasn't activated by accident. And she knew: the creature wanted her to find out.
Brown eyes still lingering on the vessel, her feet cautiously scooted towards the contraption. Her palms were rolled into fists, closer to her rapidly beating chest. Finally, she stopped in front of the machine. Her eyes stayed focus on the screen given. One by one a file blinked open, revealing the answers that she longed needed since the first night she came.
She saw biographies of genius and tough explorers, archaeologists, and scientists.
She saw a constructive and detailed image of a DNA, one that seemed quite abnormal than the average human or Pokémon.
She saw quite a few reports on – failed – experiments from the past few months. Finally, a file was opened, revealing the information on the last – successful – experiment; one which was floating a few feet away.
One by one by one the notes opened and closed, baring the secrets within in front of the stunned woman. Emery could only freeze in her steps, mouth slightly parted as her mind tried to sink in the horrifying information. Successful findings? Countless tests? Clone…Clone of Mew…? New…stronger Pokémon…? Her stomach twisted a churn. Her heart reached an ache. Questions drilled into her brain, somehow making her mind more tangled rather than easing it. Finally, her eyes glued to the current experiment's biography. Its gender. Its DNA. Its current status. Its stability.
Its name.
Unaware of her actions, Emery mouthed, "Mewtwo."
Suddenly, light appeared from behind. A gasp breathed from her mouth. Her body turned around, only to see the vessel's light switch was on; revealing the true identity of the mysterious Pokémon.
His body resembled one more to a mere human. His thighs were quite huge, though his waist was slim and small. Three stubby fingers were present on each hand, whilst two toes were present on his feet. His skin was a lighter tone of purple. However, a dark violet tail swished gently in the clear liquid, its other end connected to his lower abdomen. Forcing a gulp, Emery moved her eyes to his head. Compared to his body, the head took after a rather feline structure than a human's: eyes sharp and narrow, a snout, and two ears in shape of little horns.
But her heart stopped for a nanosecond once she saw the Pokémon's gaze. They weren't blank and empty anymore.
No. Instead, it revealed a pair of deep, dark, mesmerizing purple irises.
"You're…" She stuttered, unable to precede the words she wanted to utter. "A…clone…?"
"Is somebody there?" Suddenly, before a single reply could be answered, another voice echoed from afar. Thankfully, it awoke Emery from her shock. She quickly glanced at her side, seeing a few shadows coming near them. "Shoot." She hissed lightly. Without a second thought, the woman dashed towards the closest exit and made her escape. Mewtwo merely watched in confusion, lips forming a straight line.
But just before she could disappear from his vision, Emery turned, flashed a cheerful smile, gave a quick wave, and happily whispered, "I'll come back tomorrow, okay?" She ran off without a respond, gone for the rest of the night.
Surprise was what the Pokémon felt after that.
He stared at the distance blankly, eyebrow rose in question and lips posing a puzzled pout. Mewtwo looked at his right palm. Head tilting to the left, he shook his hand in a robotic manner, imitating what the human had shown to him. He gawked as his palm gently swished. The action was still baffling to the genetic Pokémon. However, he didn't stop waving. So as he stared towards the path she disappeared, he moved his slowly rocking hand against the glass like a dumbfounded idiot.
---
Two weeks.
Two whole weeks were the time spent between the human and Pokémon.
Two whole weeks they secretly met without Giovanni or the others realizing it.
Two whole weeks Emery befriended Mewtwo, talking and conversing about random stuff; unintentionally teaching the genetic Pokémon about life.
And in those two whole weeks, the more Mewtwo spent time with Emery, the more he actually felt…alive.
"And today my precious Silver healed a Pidgey by giving him Oran berries. Those berries are very useful when used for medicine. And they're quite tasty too." Emery burst a giggle as her thoughts brought her to the ecstatic little redhead. "He is always helping the Pokémon around when they're in trouble. As a mother, it makes me very happy." Right hand tapping her lips, she hid her smile. Her eyes narrowed to a thoughtful, motherly glow. Silver was the joy of her life. Whenever she felt glum or lonely, she knew her little ray of sunshine was always there to make her happy.
Unaware, her daydream was fully focused by Mewtwo. The Pokémon blinked and looked as Emery giggled to herself. A twitch of a faint frown curved his lips. What…is that sound…?
Her laughter halted. Her eyes wide. Emery quickly stood up straight and spun around, body in position of an offense. But to her surprise, darkness was all she could see. There was no one around. Guards or grunts were absent. No human nor Pokémon. "Who's there…?" She cautiously asked, hands raised and rolled into fists.
Who are you talking to?
There it was again; that deep, stoic voice. She scanned left and right, brown eyes wide as they could be. Her heart raced. Her nerves pulsed. She wasn't deaf. A voice was heard.
But where?
Emery, you are baffling me with your strange human ways.
"That voice…" Muttering to herself, the woman turned around and faced the vessel. Mewtwo was eyeing her peculiarly, an eyebrow rose in question. Brown eyes blinked at a pair of violets. Emery stood in stupor as her hands fell to her sides. "Did you…" She pointed her finger towards the creature, face expressing the most baffling expression she could give, "Did you just…speak to me…?"
Oblivious to the stupor, Mewtwo merely gave a single nod. Yes, I am.
Her hands slapped her gaping mouth. Amazement was all that could be seen and felt from her. Never had she heard a Pokémon talk before. Even though Mewtwo was now talking to her telepathically, it was still counted as a conversation between human and Pokémon. "That is amazing!" Emery cheered, voice still in a stable volume, "I never knew you have the ability to talk to other humans and Pokémon. Such wonders!"
Mewtwo blinked as Emery continued to unwarily praise him. As her words were slurred into his ears, Mewtwo felt a small sense of what could be stated as pride. He felt somewhat proud to be praised and awed by the person responsible for his newly changed behaviour. You are the first person I have ever let my mind be indulged into. Mewtwo calmly spoke, violet eyes never tearing away from her face.
The elegant redhead looked at the purple being, slight shock twinkling in her eyes. "Eh, you haven't talked to the other scientists or anyone before?"
A shake of the head was given. Negative. Compared to you, they merely see me as an experiment; driven with such formalities and no sense of humanity. Mewtwo cast a glance at Emery. His eyes narrowed to a grim glow. His mouth straightened to a thin line. And for that, I shall never entrust them with my thoughts as to what I am doing to you.
Obviously, the woman didn't expect that answer for her eyes had grown wide in bewilderment. Her heart shook a crack to see the pain in Mewtwo's eyes. "I'm sorry to hear that…" she muttered woefully, head staring at her twitching toes. Silence lingered around them. The sound of bubbles brewing was their only music, both waiting for either one to shatter the awkward stillness.
Until finally, Emery looked upwards and flashed a beautiful white smile. "Well, then I am honoured to receive your trust, Mewtwo." She laughed softly, left fingers gently placed on her pink lips.
There it was again: the sound. The beautiful chime as it breezed from her parted mouth. What is that sound…?
Her giggles stopped, yet mouth still curved to a small smile. "What sound?"
That. He pointed one finger towards her mouth, That sound you made. I have never heard of it before. Curiosity began to peak the legendary's mind. To him, the chiming echo gave a gentle ease in his heart. It sounded like bells, only softer and calmer than any ring. He floated closer, as if trying to solve the hardest mystery that was clouding his brain.
It took Emery no less than seconds to realize what he was talking about. "Oh you mean my laugh?" She chuckled the answer, right arm wrapped around her waist.
Laugh…? He cocked his head slightly, eyes blinking at her face. This time, roles were switched. Mewtwo bared its puzzled expression while Emery gave a small nod.
"Yes. A laugh, Mewtwo. It is a sound made to express joy and happiness." Her mouth pursed a giggle. "Laughter can always be given at any time and any place with anyone. In fact, laughter can also remove one's stress. Even when you feel sad, a little laugh can always cheer you right up. Isn't that great?" Her teeth flashed before the Pokémon's eyes. Hands cupping her elbows and arms placed near her stomach, Emery happily added, "Like right now, I'm laughing because I'm enjoying my time with my friend."
Friend…? Another question after another. Mewtwo blinked, feeling more and more curious at every new word coming from the human's vocabulary.
"Eh, you don't know what's 'friend' too?" Emery knew the Pokémon had so little knowledge on the world around him, but she couldn't help but feel surprised at his intuitiveness. She laughed adorably, right palm holding her parted lips. "Well, how should I say this…?" The woman looked at nowhere in particular, thinking of the perfect answer for such an obviously easy yet tough question. Mewtwo merely waited patiently, his body floating in the clear thick liquid.
Finally, a snap of her fingers mutely echoed. "I got it!" Emery happily cheered, brown eyes sparkling in glee. As she focused her gaze on the puzzled Pokémon, she flashed a smile and answered, "Well, a friend is someone other than a family member, spouse, or a lover. But even so, a friend is someone whose company you enjoy very much and you feel at ease every time you're with them. A friend is someone who you can share laughs with, make happy moments together, and even make you forget all the bad things in life. A friend is someone who loves you for just who you are."
Her smile lowering to a much more motherly line, Emery slowly murmured, "A friend is someone who you can always count on and never leave you behind."
Unlike before, surprise was clearly seen on Mewtwo's face. His mouth slightly gaped out of reflex. He seemed stupefied at the statement given. Emery giggled to see such an expression. Her cheeks were a shade of reds, somehow glowing under the dim light of his vessel. Lips lightly pursed inside, he tried to make a connection of her answers with the time they spent together.
He enjoyed her company, as so was her. He felt calm and peaceful every time she came, as so was her. The second he saw her enter the laboratory, he felt a sudden rush of bliss rushing into his mind. The second he heard her laugh for the first time, he felt a soothing emotion of content.
She knew who – what – he was. And yet, she still cared for him just as she was now.
So…that means…I am… I am you friend…? Mewtwo asked, voice now quite loud and shaken than before. Nerves made his heart beat faster. Never had he felt this way before; nervous and very anxious to know such a simple question.
But then, all of his fear and anxiety washed away in a blink of an eye as he obtained his answer: "Of course you are, Mewtwo. And you are a dear friend of mine."
---
"Boss," Archer spoke as he entered the room. His blue eyes set on the desk and chair positioned a few feet away. A man sat calmly on his place, head down on the piles of documents stacked before him. Giovanni didn't give a response, yet the young Rocket knew he was summoned to come forward and bear the latest news.
And today, his news was one that was greater than good. "Sir, here is the file for 'Experiment Mewtwo' as you requested." Arriving in front of his boss, Archer placed the brown folder and slowly slid it forward. Without a word, Giovanni took the file and flipped it open. His eyes scanned the notes thoroughly, mouth never uttering a peep. Eerie quietness ticked its moment inside the huge room. However, Archer felt neither fear nor fright for his boss. To him, only respect conquered his feelings for the leader of Team Rocket.
Another tick occurred, and a grin evilly coiled Giovanni's lips. "It seems the experiment has stabilized perfectly these past few weeks. Excellent." Slapping the file shut with one hand, Giovanni looked up and smiled at his second-in-command. "Begin phase two as soon as possible."
A smile wasn't returned, but the edges of the bluenette's lips twitched to a smirk. With arm placed on his stomach and a bow given, Archer loyally replied, "Very well, Boss."
---
Silence. Unmoving, frightful stillness lulled its surroundings. Time seemed frozen as darkness wrapped him whole. Sounds were faint echoes as his heart drummed a still beat.
All seemed normal for Mewtwo, just like the days before.
But today, everything would change for the worst – and nothing would ever be the same again.
Zap! He felt something lightly poking his torso, making him twitch in discomfort. More voices boomed in his ears. Mewtwo tried to shrug it off, taking it as one of their foolish tests on himself.
Z-zap… Zap! Another zapped occurred. Another spasm happened. A low hiss bubbled out of his mouth. What…is going on…?
Zzzz-ZAAAP!
"Mrawgh!" The genetic Pokémon shrieked in pain, eyes immediately snapped open. For the first time in his life, Mewtwo woke up before the people who weren't Emery. Panic-stricken and dumbfounded, he looked left and right. All were strangers to him. All were complete nobodies.
"Rise and shine, Mewtwo." A voice took his attention, making him shot his vision on a man before him. The man stood very closely to the container. His body was clad in black pants and suit. A small logo in a shape of an 'R' was patched on the man's left side of his chest. Although this was the first time Mewtwo had ever met the smirking human, the genetic Pokémon hissed acidly; knowing very well that this man was the exact opposite of Emery.
Instead of fear like what his subordinates were showing, Giovanni wore a much calmer look. "I am impressed that you are able to feel threaten at my presence," he chuckled grimly, hands clasping and arms folded behind his back. "Then again, you should be afraid of me, since you will be my most powerful and obedient pet."
Such baffling words were slurred without hesitant or doubt. And for that, a new sense of emotion riled up inside Mewtwo. A…pet…? The genetic Pokémon thought, his mind well locked from the mind of the evil doer. I am no such thing! He quickly shook his head, obviously denying the proposal given to him.
And because of this, a frown curved Giovanni's mouth. "Stubborn, I see." A sigh breathed through his lips as Giovanni slowly walked towards the machinery beside Mewtwo. "You see, pet. You are in no position to disobey me. You are created by me. You are designed for me. Your life is to serve me." His hand reached a red lever. "And if you ever – even crossed your mind – to disobey my orders, you shall retrieve your deadly retribution."
The lever roughly pulled down.
The jolts zapped every inch of his purple body.
ZZZZAP ZAP ZZZAPP!
"MRAAWGHH!" Mewtwo shrieked in unbelievable pain. Multiple white jolts stabbed his body from inside the clear vessel. It pierced through his chest. It drilled into his shoulders. The blasts ripped his fragile skin, tearing his legs down to his ankles. "MrrewAAAARGHH!" Mewtwo violently shook his head and body, trying to shake off the brutal jolts that continued to violate his every whim.
Reactions were seen from the spectators. Scientists were scared and shocked. Grunts were petrified and awed. Only the four young executives posed calm masks, enjoyable even to see the punishment the clone was receiving for refusing their boss' command.
Giovanni gave the widest smile, amused to see pain inflicting the successful clone. He pulled the lever up, ceasing the jolts from zapping – much to Mewtwo's relief. The limp body fell on the cold ground; his head and shoulder weakly leaned against the thick glass. Mewtwo gasped and panted in utmost pain. His eyes were barely open, enough to see the evil man laughing in maniacal glee.
"Have we reached a deal?" Mewtwo heard him ask, voice not even the slightest hint of guilt for what he had done. He clenched his teeth tightly, only to regret as pain shot right through his jaw. The legendary tried to shake his head, still refusing to form such a humiliating pact with the leader.
Seeing his reply, it only aggravated Giovanni.
"Tch," he spat in disgust, fingers clutching on the lever. "Disgusting beast!"
The lever was pulled, and round two was commenced.
Mewtwo bellowed once again as the jolts ate his flesh and skin. His body rose up. His arms stretched and twitched on his sides. His head tilted up until his wide eyes saw the tube's lid. S-stop it… he begged mentally. I s-said s-stop…it…
ZZZAAAAPP!!
The voice of his mind reached a silence as he could no longer bear the agony. E-em…me…ry…
---
"Who's a cute boy? Who's my precious lovable prince?"
"I am!" Silver cheered as he waved his hands in the air. Emery laughed happily as the child began to parade in front of his mother. A toy crown was placed on the child's red locks. A little plastic staff was swished around the boy's right grasp. A red blanket was tied on his neck, flapping behind him as Silver paced back and forth before his mother.
Emery and Xander laughed as loudly as they could. Silver always enjoyed playing dress-up and modelled for his mother. He huffed and fisted his chest many times, acting more like a caveman rather than a king. "Look Mama. I am King Silver and as my first order of business: free ice cream for everybody!" Silver shouted in triumph, both arms raised in the air.
Emery giggled as she petted her son's head. "That is the best rule ever, sweetie."
A blush shaded the youngling's cheek. A cough of a bashful laugh escaped Silver's mouth. "And you will be queen, Mama. Coz queens are beautiful and you are so beautiful, you'll make all the other queens sad coz they're all ugly."
The boy had never failed to make his mother burst into a joyful cackle. "Aww, thank you Silver-"
Emery…
Her petting froze. Her eyes didn't blink. Emery stopped for a moment, heart pounding as a new voice entered her brain.
Em…me…ry…
She swiftly stood up, hands near to her beating chest. Her body turned left and right, round eyes looking at nothing. "Mama?" Silver asked in confusion, baffled at the sudden change of Emery's behaviour.
H-he…Help…
She wasn't wrong. It was definitely Mewtwo's voice. Suddenly,
BA-DUMP…!
She exhaled a light gasp as the pain shot right through her heart. As if something had punched her stomach, Emery bent forward and held her temple.
'Emery?' Xander asked in full concern, panicking to see the weird reaction his ranger was giving.
"Mama?" Feeling slightly afraid, Silver cried for his mother. His hand tugged the woman's pants, hoping to catch her attention. "Mama?"
Em…me…r-ry…
"No." Without another thought, Emery spun her heels and rushed out of the room.
Bewilderment slapped Silver's and Xander's face to see their mother and ranger dashing out of the blue. "Mama wait!" Silver gave chase, and so did Xander.
---
Mewtwo gasped hollowly as he sprawled on the cold floor. His breathing faint. His eyesight blurry. All watched as the Pokémon was slowly losing his consciousness.
Giovanni sighed in boredom. "Apparently, this Pokémon has created a too much mind of his own." He spat in irk, hand moving up to his hair. "Guess we have no choice but to use force." A finger snapped, and Archer – expressionless as before – obediently walked forward with a collar and device in his hands.
All nervously waited for what would soon happen. None were even brave enough to sound a squeak. Breathings and heartbeats raced, all eyes watching as Archer began handing Giovanni his second greatest creation.
Until suddenly, "Get away from him!"
A booming voice echoed out of nowhere. Heads were turned. Heels were spun. Even Giovanni and Archer stopped in their movements, heads quickly moving to the sound of the intruding person.
Giovanni's eyes widened. His smile immediately replaced with a frown.
Emery stood near the lab's doorframe. The entrance was positioned quite high up with stairs leading down the laboratory, thus letting everyone saw the last person they wanted to see.
"Madam!" Ariana screamed out of reflex, right before her hands quickly slapped her mouth shut.
"Emery?" No words could describe the shock that consumed Giovanni right now. There, standing right before his very eyes, was his own beloved Emery. And rather than her usual, loving expression, Giovanni felt his heart stopped to see the rare expressions of his wife: Peeved, angry, and clearly infuriated.
And just as he thought his unfortunate surprise had ended, Emery opened her mouth and furiously commanded, "Xander! Ice Beam!"
Xander, who had arrived a second after, immediately acted without hesitance and jumped above Emery's head. Inhaling a sharp breath of air, the Sneasel exhaled Ice Beam right at the crowd of grunts and scientists. The solid cool air zapped the ground, shattering the tiles and causing some to trip and fall.
Mind acting out of rationality, Emery held the railing and jumped off the edge. Right in the nick of time, Xander breathed a thick slide of ice. The woman easily slid on the frozen water, legs bent and arms stretched to achieve balance. Her ponytailed hair swished rapidly as speed picked up. Her eyes were narrowed, glaring at the man she called husband.
"What the…" The Rocket leader took a step backward, mind a total blank to see the situation had turned for the unexpected.
"Somebody stop her!" A random voice reached his earshot, ordering the men to stop his wife. Giovanni felt his skin tingled up to his spine. Fear instantly shot right through him. Although Emery was causing such a scene, the last thing he ever wanted was his beloved to be hurt. Fisting the machine brutally, Giovanni angrily shouted, "Don't attack her you fools-"
But to his dismay, Zubats, Koffings, and Ekans all plunged towards the sliding woman. Multiple forms of gasses and sludge rocketed for both the ex-ranger and Pokémon. Black eyes were wide as they could be, feeling as they were about to fall off to see his wife seconds away from acidic annihilation.
Suddenly, a huge mist poofed and clouded the room. All visions were fogged. Coughs were heard. A loud bark rang in his ears. Slices and dices and screams and shrieks came seconds after. What is going on?! Giovanni irritatingly thought, feeling both worried and angry at the fact that not only his wife could be in peril, but he could also not see a damn thing.
Silence came after the frantic noises. A huge gust of wind was cast by Ariana's Murkrow, immediately lifting the white fog.
And what they saw next made them speechless to the bone.
Emery stood before the gaping crowd, body completely unscathed and unharmed. Her position was one of power and in command. Her face showed neither smile nor joy. Her fists were tightly clenched. Xander perched on her shoulder, mouth growling and hissing in hatred.
The Rocket grunts' Pokémon lay on the floor; all frozenly dizzy and horribly beaten.
Taking no attention to the shocking response from the others, Emery quickly dashed towards the vessel. Her attention, her eyes, her fear; all focused on the single Pokémon sprawling helplessly inside. "Mewtwo!" Emery pounded the thick glass, silently praying that she wasn't too late. "Mewtwo! Mewtwo! Wake up!" Bang and boom her fists went, until finally she stopped, opening her hands and pressing her palms against the cold glass. Oh how her heart fell to see the despair lying deathlessly before her very eyes. "I'm sorry…" She wept in grief, her legs slowly bending down to meet his fallen gaze. "I'm so sorry I was too late. Please wake up…"
"Emery."
The voice – one that was causing her heart to wage a ruthless battle in her – whirled in her ears. Ironically, a sense of fear entered her mind, making her body shiver in terror. Biting the insides of her lips, Emery shut her eyes and peeked to her left.
Her mind cursed silently, for in the clear view of her tearful brown eyes, she could perfectly see her husband.
All the worst part was, she could vividly see the emotions brewing inside him: Confused, angry, dumbstricken, disappointed.
And most of all: Betrayed.
---
"How?!" Giovanni paced left and right, hands tugging his short black hair.
"Why?" He shouted again, voice reaching a higher pitch every minute.
"When?" The man clenched bits of his dark locks under his fingers, ignoring the pain as he furiously pulled them harder.
"WHY?!" Finally he stopped, eyes glaring at the lady before him. Minutes after the horrifying stunt she pulled, Giovanni dragged his wife away from the whispering crowd and led them to their room. Now, all kinds of questions and speculations haunted his mind, turning it into a complicated tangled mess.
Emery stood still as Giovanni broke into a mental fit. Her hands clasped behind her back, fingers intertwined and nervously twitching as his voice boomed in their bedroom. The redhead looked down, teeth lightly chewing her lower lip as if trying to remove the jitters.
He saw fear in her. And honestly, it killed him to see it.
"Emery," Giovanni took one long breath, calming himself down for scaring her. "I… I just…" Another sigh, one louder and rather intense, "I specifically told you to stay away from the laboratory. Why did you disobey me?"
She didn't answer a peep, whether from fright or stubborn.
"Emery…" Hands cupping his face, he blew a distressed hiss and impatiently tapped his foot.
"It was a couple of weeks ago." Though voice was quiet as the tiniest of whispers, Giovanni was able to hear her words perfectly.
"A couple of weeks?" He gaped like a fool, hands falling and dangling to his sides. "You meant to tell me that you have been secretly meeting that thing – behind my back – for the past few weeks??"
"And why were you so intent into not letting me enter that lab?" She averted his question with one of her own. Her head shot straight up, round eyes drilling into the man's stricken gaze. "Why were so against me from going into that room and meeting that poor Pokémon? What were you doing to him in the first place? Why did you torture him like he was some kind of a ragged doll?!" Her voice reached a pitch as well, volume reaching an equal to her husband's. Giovanni could only stare and gawk. Never had he thought Emery would disregard his orders, let alone find out about his master plan.
"What have you been doing all this time…?" Her final sentence was the quietest and toned to a mutter. And her final sentence was also the clearest he had heard.
His hands trembled. His teeth clenched and bore with a frown. He was at lost for words; both the truth and lies. A long breath inhaled through his nostrils and mouth. Giovanni looked away, silently unmasking the horrid truth before the woman he loved.
As she watched, her heart shattered until none could be repaired any longer. "What happened to no secrets between us? Are all those just empty promises you made?" A tear trickled down her cheek, dripping right on their red carpet. "All this time… All this time that we've been together; what you've been doing, all of it were just acts? Lies to cover up the true deed of your nature?"
Nothing. Silence. Giovanni had said nothing in his defence. It was all pointless. It was all useless.
It was all over.
Emery wanted to sprawl on the floor. She wanted to scream, to bawl in sorrow of all the things she had witnessed.
Because the man that she loved and swore to spend eternity with, was also the man that tortured Pokémon for his own sick pleasure.
"Please release him…" she begged shamelessly, "Please let go of Mewtwo. Stop… Stop torturing him as to what you are doing now."
His eyes turned round to such an unbelievable request. "What- No!" His answer came out of a whim, without having much thought to it. "I will not – never – let it be free! Do you realize how much effort it took for me to actually create that thing?" Quickly he took her hands – shaking and cold – and brought them closer to his face. "Emery, all that I've done. All that I've achieved. This is all for us; for our little family. For you. For me. For Silver-"
"No!" With a stern cry, Emery snatched her hands away. "Not by manipulating people and Pokémon! Not by exterminating what you think is weak and pointless!" With brown wet eyes glaring deadly at the stunned man, she furiously hissed, "And not by tormenting a poor harmless Pokémon!"
"A harmless Pokémon?" A maniacal cackle escaped Giovanni's mouth, baffled and stupefied that Emery would label such an abomination. Fury slowly took control of him, taking over his patience that was wearing cautiously thin. "Emery, get your facts straight. He's not a Pokémon. He's a monster!"
"You wanna know who's the monster?" Rationality faded from both the adults. One foot forward, she pointed one finger and jabbed his chest. Clouded from the anger conquering her mind – and without a single moment to stop – she blatantly accused, "The only monster in this house right now is YOU!"
"EMERY!" The man himself acted out of rage, his right hand was immediately raised – palm ready to brutally kiss her cheek.
Anger could blind a man until all he could see was death and destruction.
But anger could also be temporary, halting a man before causing any acts that would cause regret and suffering.
He froze with hand in mid-air. She froze with terror-filled eyes gawking at his manic face.
Realization hit him like a rock. Tremors occurred in every parts of his body, making him realize the consequences of what he was about to befall.
"Papa? Mama?"
A childish voice rang in their ears, making both heads faced the door. There he was: little Silver standing by the doorframe, still in his cloak and crown. Xander stood by his side, lowly growling with eyes sharp on the Rocket leader. Silver hugged the toy staff closer to his heart, looking ever confused and sad. "What's going on…?"
Time seemed to stand still as they watched their child. The parents gave no response, for no explanation could help him understand the situation they were caught in.
And honestly, they themselves were lost and trapped in his sick, tormented game.
"It's nothing, baby."
That voice – her voice – brought him back to reality. How sweet and gentle; one that he unwarily craved and missed ever since he indulged in the project. Giovanni looked forward, but Emery gave no attention to him at all, instead looking at their son. "Mama is just having a little conversation with Papa." A smile was shown on her radiant, beautiful face. A smile that brought him joy, laughs, and everlasting promises of happily ever after.
But it murdered Giovanni to know: That smile wasn't for him. And it would never be anymore.
Emery walked towards her son, all awhile ignoring the motionless man. Body stooping down and hand caressing Silver's hair, she lovingly uttered, "Why don't you go have some ice cream with Xander? Go find Auntie Ariana and stay with her until I get back, okay?"
Silver eyes blinked innocently as he gazed at her mother. Her closed eyes simmered and shined like the saddest of stars. He then lowered down to her lips. It trembled around the edges, though a smile was given for him; somewhat masking the horror a little child could not decipher.
Emery smiled. But then shock then retrieved her as she felt a warm palm on her cheek. She opened her eyes, seeing her son giving a boyish pout. "Don't cry, Mama." Silver grumbled, finger wiping the tear off her face. "Mama is sad. Nobody makes my mama cry. Nobody. If Mama is sad," He bent to the side and eagerly looked at his father, "then Papa will beat those meanies up and protect Mama and make Mama happy again!"
Crack!
Giovanni felt as if a cold silver bullet had shot his heart, ripping off his flesh and dripping his thick blood right to the soles of his shoes.
Silver flashed a radiant smile, oblivious to the reactions of his parents. He glanced back at his mother, whose head was down to the ground. "Mama?"
"It's nothing, dear." Emery quickly replied, voice quick and short. She then looked up, mouth still forming a – very forceful – smile. "Now run along. I'll be there in a minute alright."
The little redhead watched in perplex, however finally nodding with a white smile flashing. "Alright then!" Clicking his heels, the boy skipped away, leaving the sorrowful moments that lingered in the room. Xander stayed in place, feeling the pain and pressure his ranger was giving. But before the Sneasel could manage a mew, Emery gently patted his head and murmured, "I'll be fine."
He knew she was lying. And he knew he wouldn't do anything about it.
With a heavy heart, Xander left to follow behind Silver. Once again silence echoed in the premise. One stood in the middle whilst the other still stooped near the doorframe. His child's words still delayed in his ears, causing his heart to burn and rot into the deepest pits of hell. The man looked down, both fists coldly shaking on his sides. Locks of his messy black hair covered his forehead as he looked down, hiding the shimmer of his shut eyes.
Finally, Emery stood up, back still facing the mournful man. Shrills of silence accompanied them, intensifying all the wrecked emotions they had left. Giovanni stared at his wife, who made no sudden movements for the past minute. With a frown stuck to his sullen face, he slowly whispered, "Emery-"
"I'm sorry." Her voice resonated quite loudly, stunning him shut. Body slowly turning around, she looked at Giovanni. He gulped to see such a shattered face, expression as if had given up on all she ever believed in. "I'm sorry I called you a monster. I'm sorry for disgracing you to a level that low." Clenched fists shaking on her sides, Emery stuttered, "You have every right to hit me…"
Black eyes widened in shock. Never would he think that she would say such ghastly things. "What- Emery no I didn't mean to-"
"But what you're doing to Mewtwo is downright unforgivable." Her head shot up, her eyes pleading without shame. "So please… I beg of you. Please release Mewtwo."
There it was again; the agonizing request. It sounded fainter and more desperate than before, merely plunging his guilt further down to his aching stomach. He pursed his lips. His eyes looked away. An agreement wasn't given. A denial wasn't granted.
But to her dismay, she received her vivid answer.
"If you do not find it in your heart to release him," Her legs went limp. Her mind went faint. "then release me instead."
Time had frozen solid. World had stopped flat. Breathing seemed impossible for the powerful boss of Team Rocket. His heart reached a motionless beat. No words could describe the bafflement devouring his every waking soul. His mind urged him to react; to prevent Emery from saying such a dreadful decision. The back of his brain yelled at him, screaming as loudly as it could to go to his wife and hug her petite body.
But he didn't move. Not an inch. Not a fidget.
She felt the jagged pieces of her broken heart slowly scraping the fleshy remains of her insides. Slowly Emery took a breath, sound shivering and crackling a sob. "I am going to Almia with Silver, and I don't know how long we will be there. Honestly, I hate to see you choose between the two things that you love." Her feet scooted to the door. Her arms swayed pathetically to her sides. How her body felt weak and lifeless; like a soul had left her, leaving only an empty tormented carcass. "But I can't handle this. I just can't…bear to feel this pain any longer."
Before the door was shut between the two once loving couple, her voice brokenly grieved, "I just hope you have made the right decision…"
That is, until a certain lady caught his eye.
They met during a business convention. She was a former ranger, now working in a local farm belonged to her family. A Sneasel, her childhood friend was happily perched on her shoulder. The woman had deep red hair, crimson as rose. It was pulled to a high ponytail, baring her white neck. Her eyes sparkled a milky chocolate shine. She was joyful and talkative, bringing smiles and laughter every time someone talked to her.
Needless to say his heart was stolen the minute she smiled at him and said, "Hello there. I'm Emery."
---
Two years passed by blissfully. And those two years were proof enough of them to tie the beautiful knot. The man proposed under the twinkling stars. He still remembered her tears when she gazed in shock. She still remembered his happy yelps and skips around the field when she accepted. A marriage was held – one surprisingly simple yet meaningful. The man wanted it to be grand, for he was so excited to tell the world of his soulmate. But the woman – modest as she was since birth – only wanted a quiet wedding fit for families and close friends.
Their silly little argument didn't last for five minutes as the man happily accepted her wedding plans.
All he ever wanted and needed was her.
And his mirth only increased when their first son was born under the chilly winters of December. With hair bright red as his mother's, the child obtained a pair of mesmerizing, silver eyes. One glance was enough to pull a person into a trance. As the child grew up, he often smiled and laughed like his mother. Many enjoyed his presence. Many loved the child like he was a son of their own.
Especially to the man's loyal executives.
"Welcome to the world, Silver."
---
Time ticked its timeless clock. And each day thickened the man's dreams and perspective. Finally, he sought a new dream; one so great and unbelievable. He had wealth. He reached fame.
He wanted more.
"I want people to acknowledge me not just as an entrepreneur, not just as a simple billionaire," Giovanni spoke as his four loyal grunts – even one that was so young at age – stood before him, "but also as a person who completely changed the future into anew."
His grunts gave a single nod, mouth never uttering a peep.
Black jet eyes staring at his organization and lips forming a wide sinister smirk, he sternly declared, "And in order to form a new revolution of my own, one must have a new Pokémon."
---
A laboratory was built under the Wolfe mansion in Cinnabar Island. One only Team Rocket and his family knew. Without waiting for a single break, the man negotiated and cooperated with world-renowned scientists and geologists. Some were hesitant, while some accepted his offer with eyes shut. His plan for a new future began for months. Until one day, a DNA of a mysterious legendary was finally found in the deep dark jungles of Kanto. Experiments began in a heartbeat. The powerful man wasn't just known for his thick dedication, but also for his dangerous organization.
The first try ended in complete failure.
The second try ended in a burst of minor flames.
The third try was just the same, only it also caused the whole Cinnabar a total blackout.
Many tries and failures happened in the following month. The scientists almost lost hope. But Giovanni never gave up. "Every time you fall, it only gives you a reason to rise even higher!" He always said, motivating and silently threatening the workers under him.
After numerous and countless failures, finally the experiment was a success.
Stable. A beating heartbeat. Even breathing. Body solidly formed. Alive.
The subject was called, 'Mewtwo.'
---
Even with the lab positioned under the mansion, Emery and Silver had no clue what the man was doing. They were off limits, per say. The woman didn't question much, but for her to be curious was never denied. She was an ex-adventurer, after all. Secrets and mysteries were things she craved. Even as a calm housewife and mother, she was still a tenacious ranger inside.
"Oh it's nothing, my dear. All you need to know is that our future will be bright as ever soon," was all her husband ever told her. Even so, that never stopped her from being curious. Every time she walked by the halls, the door to the underground was never not looked.
Until one night, curiosity had gotten the best of her.
She waited until all were asleep. Her child was tucked in his room. Her husband was exhaustingly worn out beside her. As her feet touched the ground, she glanced at Xander who merely gave a confused stare.
One finger placed on her lip, Emery gave a light 'shush'. "I'll be right back. Make sure Giovanni's asleep, okay baby?"
Understanding his human's words, Xander gave a single nod. With a smile intact, she placed a soft kiss on the sharp claw's forehead and quietly dashed off. She knew the consequences of her actions. If she were to ever get caught, things might stir trouble between her and her husband.
So as she walked towards the chosen room, all she ever thought was, I'll only go in there once and take a peek. What's the worst that can happen?
Little did she know, not only her mind, but her life would also change for good as her foot set its first step inside the laboratory.
---
Emery had no idea that their 'little' house had so much space.
The laboratory was huge and spacious. Devices and machines fitted most areas, some even she thought it might change into a rocket if pressed carelessly. Her footsteps echoed throughout the big room. Left and right her eyes took place, scanning the bizarre area. "What have you been doing, sweetie...?" Her lips murmured the unanswered question. Emery brought her hands close to her beating chest.
Ba-dump!
Her feet reached a halt. Her eyes widened. Emery looked around, seeing only darkness and tiny mechanical lights as her vision.
Ba-dump…Ba-dump!
There it was again: the faint sound of a heartbeat. Quickly her palm pressed her chest. That wasn't me… she thought blankly, mind spinning with slight confusion. Head craning to the left, Emery saw a giant tube; size almost connecting the ceiling. Water filled the giant vessel. Bubbles in all shapes and sizes popped inside it. A dark shadow loomed in the blue liquid, shaped as a ball and almost the size of a human.
"What's that…?" Emery mused loudly, though not enough to reach an echo. As if in a trance, her legs moved on their own, scooting towards the bubbling tube. Eyes never tearing away from the bedazzling shadow, finally she stopped in front of the vessel. "What are you…?" Her hands lightly pressed the glass, body inching closer to get a clear view.
Her ears didn't deceive her. She wasn't deaf. The beat was coming from the mysterious creature. The shadow wasn't an object. It seemed too…alive to be classified as such. Its body was curled to a ball. Its eyes were pressed shut. Its arms held its legs, letting its body move freely inside the liquefied container.
Completely oblivious to the dangers she might – and would – face, Emery bent her legs down, trying to meet the mysterious shadow's gaze. Engulfed in pure curiosity, her index finger gave a light tap. "Hello."
The tap immediately awakened the creature.
It snapped its head up, bright iris-less purple eyes glaring up front. The sudden reaction startled Emery, seizing her from her thoughts. "What the-"
BANG! "MrraaAAWWGGH!!" The black figure bellowed savagely. Its fist gave a harsh punch on the thick glass. Though the glass was unfazed, tiny tremors were seen on the vessel as the creature continuously landed its brutal punches. A yelp was released from Emery's voice. Quickly her feet scooted backwards, only to lose her balance and fell on her bum. "W-what…the…"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"MRRAWWGHH!" It screamed and roared in bellicosity. The figure plunged forward, unleashing more punches on the solid glass. Emery's body began to shake faster, eyes clearly frozen on the manic creature. Now, all she saw were not only its wide blank violet eyes, but also its sharp white fangs. It growled and snarled, glaring at the woman as if she was helpless prey.
Her arms and legs shivered in utter terror. "W-what…is…"
"Something's happening in the laboratory!" Suddenly, she heard a voice from afar. Luckily, the voice brought her back to reality, snapping Emery from her fearful trance. Taking one sharp breath, she fumbled back to her feet and swiftly dashed away before the guards realized she was ever there.
Just before she successfully got out of the laboratory, her skin prickled horribly as the violent creature bellowed another maniacal, "MMRAAAAWWGH!!"
---
Three days had passed since the traumatizing yet confusing incident. Emery safely reached her bedroom without a peep. But even as her body lay on the bed, her eyes and mind were awake like they had never been before. Her thoughts were too enthralled on the mysterious grim shadow. Its dead purple eyes. Its gleaming little fangs. Its fists numerously banging the thick sturdy glass. All of them served her mind in a silver platter.
She wanted – needed – to know the beholder of the dark figure.
She questioned what Giovanni was doing – experimenting – to that shadow. Heck, she even doubted her husband's job. What was her husband's relation to the wrathful mysterious creature? What were his intentions? What was his motive to undergo such baffling experiments?
Giovanni was just a man managing a training center for trainers, right?
She knew it was unnecessary, but doubt rooted in her heart no matter how badly she convinced herself. And it didn't help Emery to realize that even if she asked her husband, he wouldn't cooperate nor answer a soul.
So at the brink of the third night, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
---
The night proceeded as before: sneaking out of bed, tiptoeing towards the hidden laboratory, and making sure that Giovanni's guards were not hot on her trail.
That, and made sure the black mysterious figure didn't go berserk like last time.
Emery stopped in front of the vessel. It was still bubbling. The form was still present and floating soundly. Her brown eyes wandered around the dark figure. Its body was as it was before, curled up in a fetal position. Eyes lowering to a squint, she took one – very quiet – foot forward.
Sensing her presence, the shadow's eyes opened in a snap.
It looked forward, blank eyes glaring as before. Its mouth almost twitched to a snarl, threatening Emery in defence. The redhead froze in shock instead of fear. Quickly her hands were raised at eye level. "Hey, hey," she shushed gently, voice soft and slow, "I am not going to hurt you. I swear. See, I'm unarmed." Emery waved her hands in front of the creature's eyes, proving her point. Its iris-less violet eyes cautiously moved to her palms, before reaching her face.
She flashed a sweet smile – as if she was standing before a frightened baby Pokémon. "You can trust me."
Silence swirled in the room as one waited for a response while the other pondered. The black figure stared long and hard. Though completely dark, Emery could see a faint sign of confusion in its eyes. She saw hesitation.
And honestly, this made her flash a wider smile. Because the second Emery saw emotions in the being, that meant it had heart and mind. Her hands slowly fell to her sides. As she did so, she saw another emotion that made her heart skip joyfully: Trust.
The creature was beginning to trust her.
"Who are you?" Emery asked, immediately switched from cautious to curious. Hands cupping behind her back, she leaned her torso forward. Swiftly and thoroughly she scanned the shadow. All was dark inside the vessel, except its eyes which gleamed as bright as purple stars. Other than that, all was coated in darkness. At the same time, the figure floated an inch backwards, baffled that the human showed no fear or threat.
"What is your name?" It heard her asked, voice gentle and sooth. It stared at her in surprise. She blinked and had her full attention on him. Her voice was clearly heard for the first time. Her brown hazel eyes shined under the dim darkness of the barren laboratory. She looked innocent. She looked demure. Clearly she was interested about the being, it wouldn't deny. But the way she stared at it. The way her eyes cast a gentle gaze gave the creature a new sense of emotion it never thought existed: Calm.
First there was trust. Then there was calm.
Next there was fond.
The being slowly closed its eyes. Before Emery could question its gesture, lights blinked from a machine near where she stood. The woman gave a light jump, a hand quickly holding her chest. A screen was switched on, revealing numerous numbers and words that could prove baffling to simple minds. She gawked at the machine at such a dumbfounded manner. Emery then looked at the shadow, whose eyes showed nothing but emptiness.
But she knew: the machine wasn't activated by accident. And she knew: the creature wanted her to find out.
Brown eyes still lingering on the vessel, her feet cautiously scooted towards the contraption. Her palms were rolled into fists, closer to her rapidly beating chest. Finally, she stopped in front of the machine. Her eyes stayed focus on the screen given. One by one a file blinked open, revealing the answers that she longed needed since the first night she came.
She saw biographies of genius and tough explorers, archaeologists, and scientists.
She saw a constructive and detailed image of a DNA, one that seemed quite abnormal than the average human or Pokémon.
She saw quite a few reports on – failed – experiments from the past few months. Finally, a file was opened, revealing the information on the last – successful – experiment; one which was floating a few feet away.
One by one by one the notes opened and closed, baring the secrets within in front of the stunned woman. Emery could only freeze in her steps, mouth slightly parted as her mind tried to sink in the horrifying information. Successful findings? Countless tests? Clone…Clone of Mew…? New…stronger Pokémon…? Her stomach twisted a churn. Her heart reached an ache. Questions drilled into her brain, somehow making her mind more tangled rather than easing it. Finally, her eyes glued to the current experiment's biography. Its gender. Its DNA. Its current status. Its stability.
Its name.
Unaware of her actions, Emery mouthed, "Mewtwo."
Suddenly, light appeared from behind. A gasp breathed from her mouth. Her body turned around, only to see the vessel's light switch was on; revealing the true identity of the mysterious Pokémon.
His body resembled one more to a mere human. His thighs were quite huge, though his waist was slim and small. Three stubby fingers were present on each hand, whilst two toes were present on his feet. His skin was a lighter tone of purple. However, a dark violet tail swished gently in the clear liquid, its other end connected to his lower abdomen. Forcing a gulp, Emery moved her eyes to his head. Compared to his body, the head took after a rather feline structure than a human's: eyes sharp and narrow, a snout, and two ears in shape of little horns.
But her heart stopped for a nanosecond once she saw the Pokémon's gaze. They weren't blank and empty anymore.
No. Instead, it revealed a pair of deep, dark, mesmerizing purple irises.
"You're…" She stuttered, unable to precede the words she wanted to utter. "A…clone…?"
"Is somebody there?" Suddenly, before a single reply could be answered, another voice echoed from afar. Thankfully, it awoke Emery from her shock. She quickly glanced at her side, seeing a few shadows coming near them. "Shoot." She hissed lightly. Without a second thought, the woman dashed towards the closest exit and made her escape. Mewtwo merely watched in confusion, lips forming a straight line.
But just before she could disappear from his vision, Emery turned, flashed a cheerful smile, gave a quick wave, and happily whispered, "I'll come back tomorrow, okay?" She ran off without a respond, gone for the rest of the night.
Surprise was what the Pokémon felt after that.
He stared at the distance blankly, eyebrow rose in question and lips posing a puzzled pout. Mewtwo looked at his right palm. Head tilting to the left, he shook his hand in a robotic manner, imitating what the human had shown to him. He gawked as his palm gently swished. The action was still baffling to the genetic Pokémon. However, he didn't stop waving. So as he stared towards the path she disappeared, he moved his slowly rocking hand against the glass like a dumbfounded idiot.
---
Two weeks.
Two whole weeks were the time spent between the human and Pokémon.
Two whole weeks they secretly met without Giovanni or the others realizing it.
Two whole weeks Emery befriended Mewtwo, talking and conversing about random stuff; unintentionally teaching the genetic Pokémon about life.
And in those two whole weeks, the more Mewtwo spent time with Emery, the more he actually felt…alive.
"And today my precious Silver healed a Pidgey by giving him Oran berries. Those berries are very useful when used for medicine. And they're quite tasty too." Emery burst a giggle as her thoughts brought her to the ecstatic little redhead. "He is always helping the Pokémon around when they're in trouble. As a mother, it makes me very happy." Right hand tapping her lips, she hid her smile. Her eyes narrowed to a thoughtful, motherly glow. Silver was the joy of her life. Whenever she felt glum or lonely, she knew her little ray of sunshine was always there to make her happy.
Unaware, her daydream was fully focused by Mewtwo. The Pokémon blinked and looked as Emery giggled to herself. A twitch of a faint frown curved his lips. What…is that sound…?
Her laughter halted. Her eyes wide. Emery quickly stood up straight and spun around, body in position of an offense. But to her surprise, darkness was all she could see. There was no one around. Guards or grunts were absent. No human nor Pokémon. "Who's there…?" She cautiously asked, hands raised and rolled into fists.
Who are you talking to?
There it was again; that deep, stoic voice. She scanned left and right, brown eyes wide as they could be. Her heart raced. Her nerves pulsed. She wasn't deaf. A voice was heard.
But where?
Emery, you are baffling me with your strange human ways.
"That voice…" Muttering to herself, the woman turned around and faced the vessel. Mewtwo was eyeing her peculiarly, an eyebrow rose in question. Brown eyes blinked at a pair of violets. Emery stood in stupor as her hands fell to her sides. "Did you…" She pointed her finger towards the creature, face expressing the most baffling expression she could give, "Did you just…speak to me…?"
Oblivious to the stupor, Mewtwo merely gave a single nod. Yes, I am.
Her hands slapped her gaping mouth. Amazement was all that could be seen and felt from her. Never had she heard a Pokémon talk before. Even though Mewtwo was now talking to her telepathically, it was still counted as a conversation between human and Pokémon. "That is amazing!" Emery cheered, voice still in a stable volume, "I never knew you have the ability to talk to other humans and Pokémon. Such wonders!"
Mewtwo blinked as Emery continued to unwarily praise him. As her words were slurred into his ears, Mewtwo felt a small sense of what could be stated as pride. He felt somewhat proud to be praised and awed by the person responsible for his newly changed behaviour. You are the first person I have ever let my mind be indulged into. Mewtwo calmly spoke, violet eyes never tearing away from her face.
The elegant redhead looked at the purple being, slight shock twinkling in her eyes. "Eh, you haven't talked to the other scientists or anyone before?"
A shake of the head was given. Negative. Compared to you, they merely see me as an experiment; driven with such formalities and no sense of humanity. Mewtwo cast a glance at Emery. His eyes narrowed to a grim glow. His mouth straightened to a thin line. And for that, I shall never entrust them with my thoughts as to what I am doing to you.
Obviously, the woman didn't expect that answer for her eyes had grown wide in bewilderment. Her heart shook a crack to see the pain in Mewtwo's eyes. "I'm sorry to hear that…" she muttered woefully, head staring at her twitching toes. Silence lingered around them. The sound of bubbles brewing was their only music, both waiting for either one to shatter the awkward stillness.
Until finally, Emery looked upwards and flashed a beautiful white smile. "Well, then I am honoured to receive your trust, Mewtwo." She laughed softly, left fingers gently placed on her pink lips.
There it was again: the sound. The beautiful chime as it breezed from her parted mouth. What is that sound…?
Her giggles stopped, yet mouth still curved to a small smile. "What sound?"
That. He pointed one finger towards her mouth, That sound you made. I have never heard of it before. Curiosity began to peak the legendary's mind. To him, the chiming echo gave a gentle ease in his heart. It sounded like bells, only softer and calmer than any ring. He floated closer, as if trying to solve the hardest mystery that was clouding his brain.
It took Emery no less than seconds to realize what he was talking about. "Oh you mean my laugh?" She chuckled the answer, right arm wrapped around her waist.
Laugh…? He cocked his head slightly, eyes blinking at her face. This time, roles were switched. Mewtwo bared its puzzled expression while Emery gave a small nod.
"Yes. A laugh, Mewtwo. It is a sound made to express joy and happiness." Her mouth pursed a giggle. "Laughter can always be given at any time and any place with anyone. In fact, laughter can also remove one's stress. Even when you feel sad, a little laugh can always cheer you right up. Isn't that great?" Her teeth flashed before the Pokémon's eyes. Hands cupping her elbows and arms placed near her stomach, Emery happily added, "Like right now, I'm laughing because I'm enjoying my time with my friend."
Friend…? Another question after another. Mewtwo blinked, feeling more and more curious at every new word coming from the human's vocabulary.
"Eh, you don't know what's 'friend' too?" Emery knew the Pokémon had so little knowledge on the world around him, but she couldn't help but feel surprised at his intuitiveness. She laughed adorably, right palm holding her parted lips. "Well, how should I say this…?" The woman looked at nowhere in particular, thinking of the perfect answer for such an obviously easy yet tough question. Mewtwo merely waited patiently, his body floating in the clear thick liquid.
Finally, a snap of her fingers mutely echoed. "I got it!" Emery happily cheered, brown eyes sparkling in glee. As she focused her gaze on the puzzled Pokémon, she flashed a smile and answered, "Well, a friend is someone other than a family member, spouse, or a lover. But even so, a friend is someone whose company you enjoy very much and you feel at ease every time you're with them. A friend is someone who you can share laughs with, make happy moments together, and even make you forget all the bad things in life. A friend is someone who loves you for just who you are."
Her smile lowering to a much more motherly line, Emery slowly murmured, "A friend is someone who you can always count on and never leave you behind."
Unlike before, surprise was clearly seen on Mewtwo's face. His mouth slightly gaped out of reflex. He seemed stupefied at the statement given. Emery giggled to see such an expression. Her cheeks were a shade of reds, somehow glowing under the dim light of his vessel. Lips lightly pursed inside, he tried to make a connection of her answers with the time they spent together.
He enjoyed her company, as so was her. He felt calm and peaceful every time she came, as so was her. The second he saw her enter the laboratory, he felt a sudden rush of bliss rushing into his mind. The second he heard her laugh for the first time, he felt a soothing emotion of content.
She knew who – what – he was. And yet, she still cared for him just as she was now.
So…that means…I am… I am you friend…? Mewtwo asked, voice now quite loud and shaken than before. Nerves made his heart beat faster. Never had he felt this way before; nervous and very anxious to know such a simple question.
But then, all of his fear and anxiety washed away in a blink of an eye as he obtained his answer: "Of course you are, Mewtwo. And you are a dear friend of mine."
---
"Boss," Archer spoke as he entered the room. His blue eyes set on the desk and chair positioned a few feet away. A man sat calmly on his place, head down on the piles of documents stacked before him. Giovanni didn't give a response, yet the young Rocket knew he was summoned to come forward and bear the latest news.
And today, his news was one that was greater than good. "Sir, here is the file for 'Experiment Mewtwo' as you requested." Arriving in front of his boss, Archer placed the brown folder and slowly slid it forward. Without a word, Giovanni took the file and flipped it open. His eyes scanned the notes thoroughly, mouth never uttering a peep. Eerie quietness ticked its moment inside the huge room. However, Archer felt neither fear nor fright for his boss. To him, only respect conquered his feelings for the leader of Team Rocket.
Another tick occurred, and a grin evilly coiled Giovanni's lips. "It seems the experiment has stabilized perfectly these past few weeks. Excellent." Slapping the file shut with one hand, Giovanni looked up and smiled at his second-in-command. "Begin phase two as soon as possible."
A smile wasn't returned, but the edges of the bluenette's lips twitched to a smirk. With arm placed on his stomach and a bow given, Archer loyally replied, "Very well, Boss."
---
Silence. Unmoving, frightful stillness lulled its surroundings. Time seemed frozen as darkness wrapped him whole. Sounds were faint echoes as his heart drummed a still beat.
All seemed normal for Mewtwo, just like the days before.
But today, everything would change for the worst – and nothing would ever be the same again.
Zap! He felt something lightly poking his torso, making him twitch in discomfort. More voices boomed in his ears. Mewtwo tried to shrug it off, taking it as one of their foolish tests on himself.
Z-zap… Zap! Another zapped occurred. Another spasm happened. A low hiss bubbled out of his mouth. What…is going on…?
Zzzz-ZAAAP!
"Mrawgh!" The genetic Pokémon shrieked in pain, eyes immediately snapped open. For the first time in his life, Mewtwo woke up before the people who weren't Emery. Panic-stricken and dumbfounded, he looked left and right. All were strangers to him. All were complete nobodies.
"Rise and shine, Mewtwo." A voice took his attention, making him shot his vision on a man before him. The man stood very closely to the container. His body was clad in black pants and suit. A small logo in a shape of an 'R' was patched on the man's left side of his chest. Although this was the first time Mewtwo had ever met the smirking human, the genetic Pokémon hissed acidly; knowing very well that this man was the exact opposite of Emery.
Instead of fear like what his subordinates were showing, Giovanni wore a much calmer look. "I am impressed that you are able to feel threaten at my presence," he chuckled grimly, hands clasping and arms folded behind his back. "Then again, you should be afraid of me, since you will be my most powerful and obedient pet."
Such baffling words were slurred without hesitant or doubt. And for that, a new sense of emotion riled up inside Mewtwo. A…pet…? The genetic Pokémon thought, his mind well locked from the mind of the evil doer. I am no such thing! He quickly shook his head, obviously denying the proposal given to him.
And because of this, a frown curved Giovanni's mouth. "Stubborn, I see." A sigh breathed through his lips as Giovanni slowly walked towards the machinery beside Mewtwo. "You see, pet. You are in no position to disobey me. You are created by me. You are designed for me. Your life is to serve me." His hand reached a red lever. "And if you ever – even crossed your mind – to disobey my orders, you shall retrieve your deadly retribution."
The lever roughly pulled down.
The jolts zapped every inch of his purple body.
ZZZZAP ZAP ZZZAPP!
"MRAAWGHH!" Mewtwo shrieked in unbelievable pain. Multiple white jolts stabbed his body from inside the clear vessel. It pierced through his chest. It drilled into his shoulders. The blasts ripped his fragile skin, tearing his legs down to his ankles. "MrrewAAAARGHH!" Mewtwo violently shook his head and body, trying to shake off the brutal jolts that continued to violate his every whim.
Reactions were seen from the spectators. Scientists were scared and shocked. Grunts were petrified and awed. Only the four young executives posed calm masks, enjoyable even to see the punishment the clone was receiving for refusing their boss' command.
Giovanni gave the widest smile, amused to see pain inflicting the successful clone. He pulled the lever up, ceasing the jolts from zapping – much to Mewtwo's relief. The limp body fell on the cold ground; his head and shoulder weakly leaned against the thick glass. Mewtwo gasped and panted in utmost pain. His eyes were barely open, enough to see the evil man laughing in maniacal glee.
"Have we reached a deal?" Mewtwo heard him ask, voice not even the slightest hint of guilt for what he had done. He clenched his teeth tightly, only to regret as pain shot right through his jaw. The legendary tried to shake his head, still refusing to form such a humiliating pact with the leader.
Seeing his reply, it only aggravated Giovanni.
"Tch," he spat in disgust, fingers clutching on the lever. "Disgusting beast!"
The lever was pulled, and round two was commenced.
Mewtwo bellowed once again as the jolts ate his flesh and skin. His body rose up. His arms stretched and twitched on his sides. His head tilted up until his wide eyes saw the tube's lid. S-stop it… he begged mentally. I s-said s-stop…it…
ZZZAAAAPP!!
The voice of his mind reached a silence as he could no longer bear the agony. E-em…me…ry…
---
"Who's a cute boy? Who's my precious lovable prince?"
"I am!" Silver cheered as he waved his hands in the air. Emery laughed happily as the child began to parade in front of his mother. A toy crown was placed on the child's red locks. A little plastic staff was swished around the boy's right grasp. A red blanket was tied on his neck, flapping behind him as Silver paced back and forth before his mother.
Emery and Xander laughed as loudly as they could. Silver always enjoyed playing dress-up and modelled for his mother. He huffed and fisted his chest many times, acting more like a caveman rather than a king. "Look Mama. I am King Silver and as my first order of business: free ice cream for everybody!" Silver shouted in triumph, both arms raised in the air.
Emery giggled as she petted her son's head. "That is the best rule ever, sweetie."
A blush shaded the youngling's cheek. A cough of a bashful laugh escaped Silver's mouth. "And you will be queen, Mama. Coz queens are beautiful and you are so beautiful, you'll make all the other queens sad coz they're all ugly."
The boy had never failed to make his mother burst into a joyful cackle. "Aww, thank you Silver-"
Emery…
Her petting froze. Her eyes didn't blink. Emery stopped for a moment, heart pounding as a new voice entered her brain.
Em…me…ry…
She swiftly stood up, hands near to her beating chest. Her body turned left and right, round eyes looking at nothing. "Mama?" Silver asked in confusion, baffled at the sudden change of Emery's behaviour.
H-he…Help…
She wasn't wrong. It was definitely Mewtwo's voice. Suddenly,
BA-DUMP…!
She exhaled a light gasp as the pain shot right through her heart. As if something had punched her stomach, Emery bent forward and held her temple.
'Emery?' Xander asked in full concern, panicking to see the weird reaction his ranger was giving.
"Mama?" Feeling slightly afraid, Silver cried for his mother. His hand tugged the woman's pants, hoping to catch her attention. "Mama?"
Em…me…r-ry…
"No." Without another thought, Emery spun her heels and rushed out of the room.
Bewilderment slapped Silver's and Xander's face to see their mother and ranger dashing out of the blue. "Mama wait!" Silver gave chase, and so did Xander.
---
Mewtwo gasped hollowly as he sprawled on the cold floor. His breathing faint. His eyesight blurry. All watched as the Pokémon was slowly losing his consciousness.
Giovanni sighed in boredom. "Apparently, this Pokémon has created a too much mind of his own." He spat in irk, hand moving up to his hair. "Guess we have no choice but to use force." A finger snapped, and Archer – expressionless as before – obediently walked forward with a collar and device in his hands.
All nervously waited for what would soon happen. None were even brave enough to sound a squeak. Breathings and heartbeats raced, all eyes watching as Archer began handing Giovanni his second greatest creation.
Until suddenly, "Get away from him!"
A booming voice echoed out of nowhere. Heads were turned. Heels were spun. Even Giovanni and Archer stopped in their movements, heads quickly moving to the sound of the intruding person.
Giovanni's eyes widened. His smile immediately replaced with a frown.
Emery stood near the lab's doorframe. The entrance was positioned quite high up with stairs leading down the laboratory, thus letting everyone saw the last person they wanted to see.
"Madam!" Ariana screamed out of reflex, right before her hands quickly slapped her mouth shut.
"Emery?" No words could describe the shock that consumed Giovanni right now. There, standing right before his very eyes, was his own beloved Emery. And rather than her usual, loving expression, Giovanni felt his heart stopped to see the rare expressions of his wife: Peeved, angry, and clearly infuriated.
And just as he thought his unfortunate surprise had ended, Emery opened her mouth and furiously commanded, "Xander! Ice Beam!"
Xander, who had arrived a second after, immediately acted without hesitance and jumped above Emery's head. Inhaling a sharp breath of air, the Sneasel exhaled Ice Beam right at the crowd of grunts and scientists. The solid cool air zapped the ground, shattering the tiles and causing some to trip and fall.
Mind acting out of rationality, Emery held the railing and jumped off the edge. Right in the nick of time, Xander breathed a thick slide of ice. The woman easily slid on the frozen water, legs bent and arms stretched to achieve balance. Her ponytailed hair swished rapidly as speed picked up. Her eyes were narrowed, glaring at the man she called husband.
"What the…" The Rocket leader took a step backward, mind a total blank to see the situation had turned for the unexpected.
"Somebody stop her!" A random voice reached his earshot, ordering the men to stop his wife. Giovanni felt his skin tingled up to his spine. Fear instantly shot right through him. Although Emery was causing such a scene, the last thing he ever wanted was his beloved to be hurt. Fisting the machine brutally, Giovanni angrily shouted, "Don't attack her you fools-"
But to his dismay, Zubats, Koffings, and Ekans all plunged towards the sliding woman. Multiple forms of gasses and sludge rocketed for both the ex-ranger and Pokémon. Black eyes were wide as they could be, feeling as they were about to fall off to see his wife seconds away from acidic annihilation.
Suddenly, a huge mist poofed and clouded the room. All visions were fogged. Coughs were heard. A loud bark rang in his ears. Slices and dices and screams and shrieks came seconds after. What is going on?! Giovanni irritatingly thought, feeling both worried and angry at the fact that not only his wife could be in peril, but he could also not see a damn thing.
Silence came after the frantic noises. A huge gust of wind was cast by Ariana's Murkrow, immediately lifting the white fog.
And what they saw next made them speechless to the bone.
Emery stood before the gaping crowd, body completely unscathed and unharmed. Her position was one of power and in command. Her face showed neither smile nor joy. Her fists were tightly clenched. Xander perched on her shoulder, mouth growling and hissing in hatred.
The Rocket grunts' Pokémon lay on the floor; all frozenly dizzy and horribly beaten.
Taking no attention to the shocking response from the others, Emery quickly dashed towards the vessel. Her attention, her eyes, her fear; all focused on the single Pokémon sprawling helplessly inside. "Mewtwo!" Emery pounded the thick glass, silently praying that she wasn't too late. "Mewtwo! Mewtwo! Wake up!" Bang and boom her fists went, until finally she stopped, opening her hands and pressing her palms against the cold glass. Oh how her heart fell to see the despair lying deathlessly before her very eyes. "I'm sorry…" She wept in grief, her legs slowly bending down to meet his fallen gaze. "I'm so sorry I was too late. Please wake up…"
"Emery."
The voice – one that was causing her heart to wage a ruthless battle in her – whirled in her ears. Ironically, a sense of fear entered her mind, making her body shiver in terror. Biting the insides of her lips, Emery shut her eyes and peeked to her left.
Her mind cursed silently, for in the clear view of her tearful brown eyes, she could perfectly see her husband.
All the worst part was, she could vividly see the emotions brewing inside him: Confused, angry, dumbstricken, disappointed.
And most of all: Betrayed.
---
"How?!" Giovanni paced left and right, hands tugging his short black hair.
"Why?" He shouted again, voice reaching a higher pitch every minute.
"When?" The man clenched bits of his dark locks under his fingers, ignoring the pain as he furiously pulled them harder.
"WHY?!" Finally he stopped, eyes glaring at the lady before him. Minutes after the horrifying stunt she pulled, Giovanni dragged his wife away from the whispering crowd and led them to their room. Now, all kinds of questions and speculations haunted his mind, turning it into a complicated tangled mess.
Emery stood still as Giovanni broke into a mental fit. Her hands clasped behind her back, fingers intertwined and nervously twitching as his voice boomed in their bedroom. The redhead looked down, teeth lightly chewing her lower lip as if trying to remove the jitters.
He saw fear in her. And honestly, it killed him to see it.
"Emery," Giovanni took one long breath, calming himself down for scaring her. "I… I just…" Another sigh, one louder and rather intense, "I specifically told you to stay away from the laboratory. Why did you disobey me?"
She didn't answer a peep, whether from fright or stubborn.
"Emery…" Hands cupping his face, he blew a distressed hiss and impatiently tapped his foot.
"It was a couple of weeks ago." Though voice was quiet as the tiniest of whispers, Giovanni was able to hear her words perfectly.
"A couple of weeks?" He gaped like a fool, hands falling and dangling to his sides. "You meant to tell me that you have been secretly meeting that thing – behind my back – for the past few weeks??"
"And why were you so intent into not letting me enter that lab?" She averted his question with one of her own. Her head shot straight up, round eyes drilling into the man's stricken gaze. "Why were so against me from going into that room and meeting that poor Pokémon? What were you doing to him in the first place? Why did you torture him like he was some kind of a ragged doll?!" Her voice reached a pitch as well, volume reaching an equal to her husband's. Giovanni could only stare and gawk. Never had he thought Emery would disregard his orders, let alone find out about his master plan.
"What have you been doing all this time…?" Her final sentence was the quietest and toned to a mutter. And her final sentence was also the clearest he had heard.
His hands trembled. His teeth clenched and bore with a frown. He was at lost for words; both the truth and lies. A long breath inhaled through his nostrils and mouth. Giovanni looked away, silently unmasking the horrid truth before the woman he loved.
As she watched, her heart shattered until none could be repaired any longer. "What happened to no secrets between us? Are all those just empty promises you made?" A tear trickled down her cheek, dripping right on their red carpet. "All this time… All this time that we've been together; what you've been doing, all of it were just acts? Lies to cover up the true deed of your nature?"
Nothing. Silence. Giovanni had said nothing in his defence. It was all pointless. It was all useless.
It was all over.
Emery wanted to sprawl on the floor. She wanted to scream, to bawl in sorrow of all the things she had witnessed.
Because the man that she loved and swore to spend eternity with, was also the man that tortured Pokémon for his own sick pleasure.
"Please release him…" she begged shamelessly, "Please let go of Mewtwo. Stop… Stop torturing him as to what you are doing now."
His eyes turned round to such an unbelievable request. "What- No!" His answer came out of a whim, without having much thought to it. "I will not – never – let it be free! Do you realize how much effort it took for me to actually create that thing?" Quickly he took her hands – shaking and cold – and brought them closer to his face. "Emery, all that I've done. All that I've achieved. This is all for us; for our little family. For you. For me. For Silver-"
"No!" With a stern cry, Emery snatched her hands away. "Not by manipulating people and Pokémon! Not by exterminating what you think is weak and pointless!" With brown wet eyes glaring deadly at the stunned man, she furiously hissed, "And not by tormenting a poor harmless Pokémon!"
"A harmless Pokémon?" A maniacal cackle escaped Giovanni's mouth, baffled and stupefied that Emery would label such an abomination. Fury slowly took control of him, taking over his patience that was wearing cautiously thin. "Emery, get your facts straight. He's not a Pokémon. He's a monster!"
"You wanna know who's the monster?" Rationality faded from both the adults. One foot forward, she pointed one finger and jabbed his chest. Clouded from the anger conquering her mind – and without a single moment to stop – she blatantly accused, "The only monster in this house right now is YOU!"
"EMERY!" The man himself acted out of rage, his right hand was immediately raised – palm ready to brutally kiss her cheek.
Anger could blind a man until all he could see was death and destruction.
But anger could also be temporary, halting a man before causing any acts that would cause regret and suffering.
He froze with hand in mid-air. She froze with terror-filled eyes gawking at his manic face.
Realization hit him like a rock. Tremors occurred in every parts of his body, making him realize the consequences of what he was about to befall.
"Papa? Mama?"
A childish voice rang in their ears, making both heads faced the door. There he was: little Silver standing by the doorframe, still in his cloak and crown. Xander stood by his side, lowly growling with eyes sharp on the Rocket leader. Silver hugged the toy staff closer to his heart, looking ever confused and sad. "What's going on…?"
Time seemed to stand still as they watched their child. The parents gave no response, for no explanation could help him understand the situation they were caught in.
And honestly, they themselves were lost and trapped in his sick, tormented game.
"It's nothing, baby."
That voice – her voice – brought him back to reality. How sweet and gentle; one that he unwarily craved and missed ever since he indulged in the project. Giovanni looked forward, but Emery gave no attention to him at all, instead looking at their son. "Mama is just having a little conversation with Papa." A smile was shown on her radiant, beautiful face. A smile that brought him joy, laughs, and everlasting promises of happily ever after.
But it murdered Giovanni to know: That smile wasn't for him. And it would never be anymore.
Emery walked towards her son, all awhile ignoring the motionless man. Body stooping down and hand caressing Silver's hair, she lovingly uttered, "Why don't you go have some ice cream with Xander? Go find Auntie Ariana and stay with her until I get back, okay?"
Silver eyes blinked innocently as he gazed at her mother. Her closed eyes simmered and shined like the saddest of stars. He then lowered down to her lips. It trembled around the edges, though a smile was given for him; somewhat masking the horror a little child could not decipher.
Emery smiled. But then shock then retrieved her as she felt a warm palm on her cheek. She opened her eyes, seeing her son giving a boyish pout. "Don't cry, Mama." Silver grumbled, finger wiping the tear off her face. "Mama is sad. Nobody makes my mama cry. Nobody. If Mama is sad," He bent to the side and eagerly looked at his father, "then Papa will beat those meanies up and protect Mama and make Mama happy again!"
Crack!
Giovanni felt as if a cold silver bullet had shot his heart, ripping off his flesh and dripping his thick blood right to the soles of his shoes.
Silver flashed a radiant smile, oblivious to the reactions of his parents. He glanced back at his mother, whose head was down to the ground. "Mama?"
"It's nothing, dear." Emery quickly replied, voice quick and short. She then looked up, mouth still forming a – very forceful – smile. "Now run along. I'll be there in a minute alright."
The little redhead watched in perplex, however finally nodding with a white smile flashing. "Alright then!" Clicking his heels, the boy skipped away, leaving the sorrowful moments that lingered in the room. Xander stayed in place, feeling the pain and pressure his ranger was giving. But before the Sneasel could manage a mew, Emery gently patted his head and murmured, "I'll be fine."
He knew she was lying. And he knew he wouldn't do anything about it.
With a heavy heart, Xander left to follow behind Silver. Once again silence echoed in the premise. One stood in the middle whilst the other still stooped near the doorframe. His child's words still delayed in his ears, causing his heart to burn and rot into the deepest pits of hell. The man looked down, both fists coldly shaking on his sides. Locks of his messy black hair covered his forehead as he looked down, hiding the shimmer of his shut eyes.
Finally, Emery stood up, back still facing the mournful man. Shrills of silence accompanied them, intensifying all the wrecked emotions they had left. Giovanni stared at his wife, who made no sudden movements for the past minute. With a frown stuck to his sullen face, he slowly whispered, "Emery-"
"I'm sorry." Her voice resonated quite loudly, stunning him shut. Body slowly turning around, she looked at Giovanni. He gulped to see such a shattered face, expression as if had given up on all she ever believed in. "I'm sorry I called you a monster. I'm sorry for disgracing you to a level that low." Clenched fists shaking on her sides, Emery stuttered, "You have every right to hit me…"
Black eyes widened in shock. Never would he think that she would say such ghastly things. "What- Emery no I didn't mean to-"
"But what you're doing to Mewtwo is downright unforgivable." Her head shot up, her eyes pleading without shame. "So please… I beg of you. Please release Mewtwo."
There it was again; the agonizing request. It sounded fainter and more desperate than before, merely plunging his guilt further down to his aching stomach. He pursed his lips. His eyes looked away. An agreement wasn't given. A denial wasn't granted.
But to her dismay, she received her vivid answer.
"If you do not find it in your heart to release him," Her legs went limp. Her mind went faint. "then release me instead."
Time had frozen solid. World had stopped flat. Breathing seemed impossible for the powerful boss of Team Rocket. His heart reached a motionless beat. No words could describe the bafflement devouring his every waking soul. His mind urged him to react; to prevent Emery from saying such a dreadful decision. The back of his brain yelled at him, screaming as loudly as it could to go to his wife and hug her petite body.
But he didn't move. Not an inch. Not a fidget.
She felt the jagged pieces of her broken heart slowly scraping the fleshy remains of her insides. Slowly Emery took a breath, sound shivering and crackling a sob. "I am going to Almia with Silver, and I don't know how long we will be there. Honestly, I hate to see you choose between the two things that you love." Her feet scooted to the door. Her arms swayed pathetically to her sides. How her body felt weak and lifeless; like a soul had left her, leaving only an empty tormented carcass. "But I can't handle this. I just can't…bear to feel this pain any longer."
Before the door was shut between the two once loving couple, her voice brokenly grieved, "I just hope you have made the right decision…"
Literature
Our last breath
Silver sat next to the hospital bed, which contained an ill looking girl, sitting straight. Her hair was chocolate brown, and her eyes were hazel. Even though the girl was still alive, her eyes were hollow, showing that she could see no more.
Kotone almost couldn't hear anymore, nor smell, taste, or feel. The tumor in her brain had infected her whole nervous system. Even though machines were keeping her alive, she was still conscious and could still think.
Shaking, due to the damage to her nervous system, she stretched out her hand to the place where she sensed Silver. Silver grabbed her hand, while tears silently flowed down his cheeks. He
Literature
Follow Me Ch 27: Doubleslap
Follow Me
A Pokémon Heart Gold/Soul Silver Story
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Doubleslap
"You what?" Soul asked, not believing what she was hearing.
"What, are you deaf all of a sudden; I said I'm done," Silver said, strolling past her. "As in I quit. I'm through with this bull crap."
Something inside her snapped, like a branch she'd been standing on for far too long. Without hesitation, she snatched his arm and whirled him around. "What do you mean you quit?? You can't just quit!"
"To hell I can't!" Silver shouted. "I'm not gonna spend the rest of my life freezing my ass off searching the whole world for a stupid o
Literature
Follow Me Ch 24: Assist
Follow Me
A Pokémon Heart Gold/Soul Silver Story
Chapter Twenty-Four
Assist
"So wait, you know Gold?" Soul asked, surprised.
"Yeah, you know him too?" Crystal asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Nn, yeah, we live in the same neighborhood back in New Bark Town."
"So he didn't move...huh..."
"Did you two keep your promise to meet up again?" Soul asked, tilting her head.
"Hey, aren't you the least bit curious about what happened to Silver?" Crystal said with a cough.
"Oh! Yes, please continue."
"I think he's dead," Gold said. He picked up a soggy, nearby stick and poked the boy in the chest. "Yep, def
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Hey guys.
Guys.
Look what I've got ITS HOLLOW DEMON CHAPTER 25
SCREAMING
FLAILING
EVERYONE SEUQALESBFDM,FSND
AND ITS SO FUCKING LONG
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY BROKEN IN HALF IM DONE WITH MY MIND THANKS ~FallenFromInsanity N =Rainbowonders FOR ADVICE
So lets recap:
1) We are reading Mewtwo's flashbacks
2) Emery was once a ranger and she met Giovanni at a convention.
3) SILVER WAS BORN YAY.
4) Gio is power-hungry welp.
5) Emery is a really curious woman
6) Compared to the anime/manga, this Mewtwo is a bit...savage in the early stages coz his mind is raw and has no humanity whatsoever so YAY BERSERK
7) EMERY. NEVER. GIVES. UP.
8) She learned about Mewtwo and MEWTWO TRYING TO WAVE EEE
9) Weeks passed and Mewtwo slowly learned about ways from Emery like how NOT TO GO APESHIT ON PPL
10) Mewtwo can finally talk to Emery coz he trusted her.
11) Emery talks about laughter and friendship and Mewtwo got his first friend AWWWWWWWWWWWHHH
12)ZAPPING TIME /SHOT
13) Mewtwo calls for Emery's help. Also, since he entrusted her with his thoughts, she can feel his pain as well.
14) Emery casually being a BADASS I PRESENT TO U GIOVANNI'S WAIFU
15) Due to her recklessness, Emery n Gio had a HUGE fight.
16) He almost SLAPPED HER COZ SHE CALLED HIM A MONSTER GIOVANNI NO DONT NO BAD ROCKET LUCKILY HE DIDNT BUT DAMMIT
16.5) SILVER SAW THE THING N HE'S SAD N CONFUSED BABY ;A;
17) SILVER'S WORDS THO
18) Emery made Gio choose eventho she hates for doing that to him.
19) So she leaves for Almia in time for him to think critically.
What will happen next? What will happen to Mewtwo? What will happen to Giovanni? What will happen to Silver? And everyone's been waiting for: What will happen to Emery? What will soon befall on the small - about to be broken - family that Mewtwo once swore never to remember again? What was his reason to hide the deep dark secret all along?
Why am I not asleep for it's already 5AM?
I HAVENT PULLED AN ALL-NIGHTER FOR SO LONG IM PROUD IM SORRY SARAH.
So, DID I KILL YOU WITH FEELS YET HA HAHA
Guys.
Look what I've got ITS HOLLOW DEMON CHAPTER 25
SCREAMING
FLAILING
EVERYONE SEUQALESBFDM,FSND
AND ITS SO FUCKING LONG
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY BROKEN IN HALF IM DONE WITH MY MIND THANKS ~FallenFromInsanity N =Rainbowonders FOR ADVICE
So lets recap:
1) We are reading Mewtwo's flashbacks
2) Emery was once a ranger and she met Giovanni at a convention.
3) SILVER WAS BORN YAY.
4) Gio is power-hungry welp.
5) Emery is a really curious woman
6) Compared to the anime/manga, this Mewtwo is a bit...savage in the early stages coz his mind is raw and has no humanity whatsoever so YAY BERSERK
7) EMERY. NEVER. GIVES. UP.
8) She learned about Mewtwo and MEWTWO TRYING TO WAVE EEE
9) Weeks passed and Mewtwo slowly learned about ways from Emery like how NOT TO GO APESHIT ON PPL
10) Mewtwo can finally talk to Emery coz he trusted her.
11) Emery talks about laughter and friendship and Mewtwo got his first friend AWWWWWWWWWWWHHH
12)ZAPPING TIME /SHOT
13) Mewtwo calls for Emery's help. Also, since he entrusted her with his thoughts, she can feel his pain as well.
14) Emery casually being a BADASS I PRESENT TO U GIOVANNI'S WAIFU
15) Due to her recklessness, Emery n Gio had a HUGE fight.
16) He almost SLAPPED HER COZ SHE CALLED HIM A MONSTER GIOVANNI NO DONT NO BAD ROCKET LUCKILY HE DIDNT BUT DAMMIT
16.5) SILVER SAW THE THING N HE'S SAD N CONFUSED BABY ;A;
17) SILVER'S WORDS THO
18) Emery made Gio choose eventho she hates for doing that to him.
19) So she leaves for Almia in time for him to think critically.
What will happen next? What will happen to Mewtwo? What will happen to Giovanni? What will happen to Silver? And everyone's been waiting for: What will happen to Emery? What will soon befall on the small - about to be broken - family that Mewtwo once swore never to remember again? What was his reason to hide the deep dark secret all along?
Why am I not asleep for it's already 5AM?
I HAVENT PULLED AN ALL-NIGHTER FOR SO LONG IM PROUD IM SORRY SARAH.
So, DID I KILL YOU WITH FEELS YET HA HAHA
© 2012 - 2024 FieryFafar
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