lilbluecorsola
~¤Sea Priestess¤~
- 140
- Posts
- 20
- Years
- ~Under the Sea~
- Seen Aug 16, 2016
Twelve. Frakkin'. Pages.
Yeah, this is it. The One-Shot that took me months to write. -.- Whole thing is crap too. I just finished it up now to get it out of the way so I can move on to better parts of the story. >_> I rather like the ending though.
So, yeah. Rated PG for some violence and stuffish. Read the whole thing, if you can manage. =P
__________________________________________
The bare soles of my feet alighted upon the cold, hard pavement, as a cloud of dust lifted and swirled about in a whirlwind before finally settling upon the concrete earth once again.
Here I was. "Home".
Slowly I traversed the beaten path, my sharp violet eyes darting from side to side, examining the surroundings I had not gazed upon for years now. Chips of broken sidewalk and tiny shards of glass would have sliced my bare flesh to shreds had I not been guarding my body with a protective psychic shield. I was completely unaware of what I might encounter upon this earth, so I was forced to take precautions.
Gingerly I stepped over a shattered green glass bottle that barred my path; its keen edged pieces scattered in a pattern that suggested it had been tossed carelessly from a passing vehicle. Clearly this district was not the most well kept of places. People saw this place as merely a giant junkyard, certainly unfit for any species of life to inhabit.
Smog infused wind whistled throughout the alley and grimy scraps of ancient newspapers fluttered and flipped pages, stuffed into the gutter so that the ink ran across the soaked parchment. Some of the headlines typed in larger, old-fashioned print were still legible though, and they read: "War in Johto, Cities Devastated by Sudden Attack from Kanto Army"
A faint groaning arose from somewhere nearby, causing me to cease craning my neck to scrutinize the symbols in the blotches of ink. Seeking the source of the noise, I caught sight of a bundle of old rags situated beneath another stack of newspapers, heaving up and down in rhythmic movements as if something were alive and breathing inside. And indeed, as I cautiously approached, I could barely discern the figure of a wild looking man almost entangled within the entire network of trash, although this was perhaps accentuated by the disheveled clump of grey hair protruding from his chin, with bits of paper stuck to almost every strand. Fortunately, he appeared to be asleep, and was unaware of my presence.
Suddenly, he coughed loudly and rolled over so that his head was facing in my direction. Gradually, his bleary black eyes opened, and I couldn't help but shudder upon seeing them. His eyes were like that of a dead thing. We locked lines of sight for a moment, and I must admit that I was the first to drop my gaze.
"Get the hell outta here, kid," he growled, the charred lips parting in a crooked, half-toothed smile, "Find yer own place to sleep. Betcha yer family's jus' waitin' for yeh to come back home. Har har har."
And with a low "Hngrrgh...? he turned over and resumed his slumber.
I did not favor rousing him, and so pivoted on my heel, and continued briskly on through the passageway. I could sense my pace accelerating with each step, so that I was nearly flying past the stained brick walls, which were more occasionally now decorated with bizarre, colorful runes, sometimes spanning across an entire surface to form a flashy wall mural. I pressed onward at a faster pace, though still managed to walk in a somewhat dignified manner. I could not determine whether my actions were out of fear, or disgust for the horrible conditions of the place, in which creatures were content to live in.
The bothersome wind blew about my slapping feet once again, carrying with it noxious fumes that forced my eyes to tear against my will. I pulled tighter the tattered cloak I had adorned earlier to serve as my only guise, now to protect my body against the foul gust as I turned the corner.
Once the disturbing dark passage had slid away from my sight, I felt an abrupt relief wash over me, and I slowed my pace. Once again my eyes scanned the area, analyzing the atmosphere. It appeared more pleasant than what I had just left, or at least a bit brighter due to the fact the street was wider and the roofs of the houses on either side lower, allowing some sunlight to filter in.
Cautiously I walked forward; alert to any sort of hidden dangers this seemingly quiet neighborhood might conceal. As I strolled through the streets, I passed a few children seated on doorsteps, their ages ranging from toddler to teen and the tones of their flesh just as varied. I noted that adolescents and older teens would track my movements with narrowed eyes and after some hesitation, slip off the steps and begin trailing behind me, even imitating exactly a few of my steps. Even some of the younger children joined in the strange game, sliding and clambering off to the best of their ability to hasten after their brothers and sisters. But I did not look back, not even when a horde of youngsters was shadowing me.
As slowly and calmly as I could manage under the circumstances, I pressed onward, attempting to ignore the mass of stony faces marching behind me. I could sense hostility emanating from each and every one of them. For some reason, they didn't want me here, but they were waiting for something before they would act...
I crossed before another household, looking even more run-down and decrepit than the rest. As with many others, the porch steps contained a teen boy, but only one, and seemingly the oldest of the lot. His burnt charcoal skin gleamed with sweat in the harsh sunlight, dampening the white shirt he wore with both sleeves torn. He acted similarly to the way the other children had behaved; his sharp obsidian eyes following my figure as I passed before him. Unlike the others, however, he extended a grubby hand outward to halt me.
"Where do ya think you're goin', paley?" he inquired with a malevolent grin.
I didn't answer, merely waiting for him to remove the obstruction so I could continue on my way. Behind me, I could hear the faint murmuring from the congregation of youths, who had also stopped.
With his free arm, the boy groped for a metal pipe that lay on the wood beside him, his gnarled fingers curling around it in a tight grasp. Lazily he reached forward, pipe in hand, and poked me gently at my side.
"I asked ya a question. Ain't ya gonna answer back?" he growled, prodding me harder. A stifled sniggering rose from the crowd at this, as they gradually begin to disperse to form a circle around me, barring my path. Still I said nothing.
Aggravated, the boy at last got off his seat and walked round to my front, facing me with a fierce stare. "What's the matter, clownface? Ya afraid to talk to my face or somethin'?" At this point, he was jabbing at my waist furiously with glee, looking as if prepared to drive the rod into my skin. Shouts of encouragement were hollered out from the crowd, mingled with insults aimed in my direction. I paid no heed to them, but did give an expression of mild puzzlement at my tormentor, for I assumed he was their leader, and therefore could provide an explanation. He grinned in response.
"Think you're pretty smart, ey? Well, least ya know how to hold yer tongue. Most folks woulda talked back by now, and that sort of thing only makes us madder, ey?
See, we don't like it when strangers come here, 'cuz when dey do, trouble comes. Therefore we gotta do something about it when outsiders intrude, right?"
He nudged me lightly with the pipe again, and the crowd hummed with mutual agreement.
"Tell ya what, I'll let ya go so long as you go straight back out da way you came, huh?" the boy offered, and again the children nodded.
I did not budge however, and stared squarely at him to give the impression that I had no intention of going back. I had a mission to accomplish, and the only way to complete it was to keep going forward.
His onyx eyes narrowed to slits and he gripped the pipe tightly in his fists. "If dat's da way ya want it, fine with me."
Raising the pole high above his head, he swung it in an arc as if it were a club, aimed to smash my skull. My old destructive reflexes kicking in, my bony hand shot upwards to catch the end of the bar in mid-air, just before it struck my skin. I stared coldly at his horror-stricken face, and I was dimly aware of the cheers erupting from the spectators behind me. It appeared they didn't care who was winning a fight, so long as it was entertaining.
With an almost lazy flick of my wrist, I sent the weapon and the holder of it flying to my left, and a sickening crunch resounded as his body collided with the brick wall, staining the surface with splatters of crimson blood. Slowly, his limp form slid to the earth, and I surveyed the scene calmly as a few of his colleagues timidly stepped forward to inspect the body. One of them reached forward with a trembling foot to give the corpse a kick. Receiving no reaction, the boy glanced anxiously at his companions, and they held a huddled conversation in hushed voices.
"He's dead, man."
"That guy threw him like a stone!"
"Man, what we gonna do?"
"Get that freak outta here, that's what."
With that settled, the boys spun about simultaneously, stooping to pick up anything that would serve as a weapon: Rocks, pieces of brick, rotting planks, and more pipes. With wild, animalistic shrieks, they charged, lunging for different sections of my body, their strategy obviously to knock me to the earth and beat me to death. With no other choice, I instinctively called upon my psychic abilities to aid me, and with a single blast of pulsing violet energy, all four of my opponents were thrown back upon contact. Three smashed against the walls, and most certainly perished instantly due to the speed of the impact, while the last skidded across the street, his hazel skin slashed and bruised brutally by the rough pavement.
A few of the toddlers broke away from the holds of their older brothers and sisters to flock about the mangled bodies, some bawling because the deceased were siblings, others merely curious and tired of standing on the sidelines. They shrieked and scattered as the boy on the street twitched and groaned, and surprisingly managed to support himself on one arm. He stared directly at me with furious slitted eyes, his expression a mixture of hatred and fear.
"Wha-what are you, man? Some kind of freak?"
I gave no response, merely tugged my cloak tighter against my body, and continued walking. I ignored his mutilated form as I passed, even though there was a loud scraping sound as he hastened to withdraw from me. One small boy with a grubby, tear-streaked face burst out screaming and ran from the crowd, attempting to follow, but an older girl caught his hand, drawing him back. I could sense their still faces watching apprehensively as I strode out of sight, and I knew they would not dare speak until I had rounded the next corner.
Here I halted, and craned my neck up towards the sky. I couldn't help but wonder as my eyes squinted against the blazing golden orb against a sea of pastel blue; was she watching? And if she was, I checked myself furiously, it was of no importance. All I was to focus on now was my mission, and how to go about completing it.
With the memory of that came a horrible, sinking feeling, not of grief for the past, but because I realized at that moment, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I was to accomplish a task I had never performed the likes of before, and in a world I was barely familiar with at all. For the first time since my return, I felt alone and alienated, unsure of myself. Nothing was as I remembered it, and I had no knowledge prior of how to begin my quest.
True, my cousin had spoken some about the world that she visited each day, but I had never listened very closely until recently. Now I saw it was to cost me.
"At any rate," I announced to myself audaciously and with confidence, "She was wrong about one thing. This wretched planet is even worse off than I left it, true, but it seems obvious that it's not going to get any better."
Something within me twitched with both satisfaction and guilt at those words, creating a most unpleasant feeling. I frowned grimly, trying to return my concentration back to my assignment, and set myself on the task of reviewing the facts I was aware of. I was supposed to find someone, the one my 'family' referred to only as 'the Seeker of Darkness'. How positively vague, I drawled within my own mind. I didn't even know whether the one I was searching was male or female, or even if it was human.
"Well, best to start where Darkness reigns," I muttered to myself with a half humorous tone. "After all, it's in the title."
Of course, this was not much of assistance, for at the time I was quite certain that I was already in one of the darkest districts around. I had come to the conclusion based on the events that had just occurred earlier, and it was also partially aided by the fact that I was standing once again in a dark passageway, shrouded by shadows cast from the towering brick walls that flanked my path.
"Filthy, disgusting creatures, these humans are," I grumbled to myself in unrelated comment I aimed a kick at an empty aluminum can, sending it unintentionally ricocheting to the end of the street and causing a horrible racket. A muffled whimpering and scuffling sound followed, as a small dark figure scuttled out from behind a nearby trash can, excited by the clamor. Within moments, it had vanished down a connecting alleyway, and, seething, I chased after it, foolishly hoping to sooth hurt feelings. My cousin's teachings had sparked that action from me. Ho-Oh, why couldn't I just forget her?
Panting, I skidded to a halt before the entrance to the alley, glancing about for traces of the being I had startled earlier. A dead end. Cautiously I stepped forward, aware that this whole thing might be some sort of trap, for I was rapidly regaining my perception as I walked. Apprehensively my line of sight swerved from side to side, scanning for any signs of life or perhaps hostility. I was relearning to distrust this world in which I now resided in, as well as its inhabitants.
"Well, why won't you come on out and face me?" I bellowed out to the listening shadows, growing strangely vexed and irritated. Then, with a slight smirk, I immediately switched tactics. "Be you friend or foe, you may be assured that I will not harm you, unless you choose to be foolish enough to attack me."
Something snuffled, and a miserable creature crawled out from behind the cluster of nearby trash cans, gradually revealing itself to be nothing more than a small girl, perhaps no older than the age of five in her years. She was grubby from head to toe, yet the sheen of the tangled raven hair and faded luminosity in those deep chocolate eyes hinted at a dark, undeveloped beauty. Even so, at the moment I was too astonished and amused at the being's true form that I was even tempted to burst out chuckling. I was that bewildered, especially after the speech I had given. But, what had I expected, after all?
But wait, when I glanced at her once again, all thoughts of merriment vanished from my mind, for I noticed something I had not observed before.
Were those tears in her eyes?
Indeed they were, and accumulating by the second, rolling down her grimy cheeks and staining them further with the delicate channels they created.
For a fleeting instant, I considered attempting to console her, but I immediately squashed such desires. It was not my duty, after all. Not even my 'fate', I mocked to myself. With grim determination, I turned, set to leave. There was little point in staying, after all. There was a mission to be accomplished.
And yet, I felt a pull. No, it was real. I turned, mildly annoyed to see the frail girl's petite hands clutching the cloth of my garment, tugging lightly and gazing up at me with those sad, shimmering brown eyes. It was then that I noticed that in her other hand, she held a doll of some sort, modeled after a creature I recognized to be an electric mouse known as a 'Pichu'.
Determining that speech would only encourage her, I roughly tore away and hastened toward the entrance that I had come through. She scurried out in front, however, and blocked my way, the fierce determination in her glistening eyes unnerving me for some strange reason. What did she want? Unsure, I tried squeezing past her, but she caught on to my cloak once again and tugged harder.
?All right, what do you want?? I whispered at last, glancing down at her somewhat fearfully. Was this normal human child behavior?
She seemed to calm once I spoke, and stood gazing at me quite intently for a moment. At last, she nodded slightly as if in confirmation, and reached forward with a pale, tiny hand. I balked, but then realized that she was offering me the stuffed toy that I had observed earlier. My gaze flickered past the unfocusing mass of golden fur to question her, but her expression was blank, anticipating. Finally assuming that it was perhaps just some strange custom practiced by her kind, I accepted the presented item swiftly, hoping to appease her.
The pain I felt when I touched the article was excruciating. It is difficult for me even now, to describe what was happening, as I had little to no experience with what I was then experiencing. All I was able to comprehend was a blur of images, depicting scenes of sorrow, hate, and despair. The closest thing I could compare it to would be, what is it? A Picture Show? But it was much more than just pictures. No, the visions shot by at such rapid tempo that I was barely able to perceive any finer details of what I was witnessing, and yet they still managed to leave me with a shocking blow more powerful than any attack I?d ever felt before. Even I, Mewtwo, the most powerful Pok?mon of all, had difficulty withstanding the strenuous mental pressure I received.
Fortunately, my psychic abilities were of some help. Once I?d realized that I was in terrible danger of succumbing to the strain of the horrific images I was being forced to behold, my defensive powers kicked in. A mental barrier formed around my mind to blockade the bombardment of enmity. Feeling the presence of the agony leave my body at last, I dropped, exhausted, on one knee. My soul still seemed to ache with a horrible burning pain, and my hands no longer had the strength to hold the doll anymore, so I allowed it to drop with a careless plop to the dusty pavement below.
It took me some time to regain my composure, and I at last noticed that the girl who had bestowed upon me such a dangerous gift was still standing nearby, watching my fatigued movements intently. I stared sternly at her, attempting arduously to read her expression. It was still as blank as when I had first encountered her, but there seemed to be a trace of, what? Concern?
At any rate, I now knew precisely who she was and what I was to do with her, and I exhaled a heavy sigh whilst I stood. This was not at all what I was expecting when I finally accepted my so-called ?destiny?. This ?Child of Prophecy? was only a small child, and a girl at that. How could she possibly harbor what might potentially be the most powerful force in the universe?
And yet, as I glanced down at the mere toy that lay sprawled lifelessly upon the floor, I realized that I had just glimpsed a small fraction of her potential power. Had I not been able to rescue myself in time, the results of such an assault might have been devastating.
?So, you are the One,? I muttered halfheartedly, staring down at the seemingly harmless form that could someday be capable of worldwide destruction. She gazed back curiously, head cocked, giving the impression that she had absolutely no clue as to what I was talking about. And why should she? Even I required repeated explanations on the whole concept, and I still wasn?t sure I understood it all even then.
Even so, it was my duty now to pass on the slight amount of knowledge I possessed to her. No, that wasn?t right, I realized suddenly. Mew had never mentioned anything about instruction. Only guidance.
?Well, I suppose this means you?ll be sticking with me from now on,? I spoke unexpectedly aloud at last. Her bewilderment at these words was obvious, and I remembered that I still had not explained a thing to her about what I was mumbling. But, what could I safely reveal to her at this point? It would be a delicate process, teaching her all she was required to know before the time came, and at the same time, feeding the very essence that made such a task so dangerous. But it was my purpose, or so I had been told, and I was forced to follow through.
Kneeling so that I was at her level, I stared solemnly into her eyes, choosing my words carefully as I spoke, steadily so that she was sure to understand.
?People have hurt you, haven?t they??
No response, but her eyes blinked and seemed to gain a more moistened appearance. For a moment, I felt mild annoyance at this reaction.
?Don?t cry. It doesn?t help you or anyone else on this god-forsaken planet. Trust me, I know.?
Her eyes seemed to dry at this, but her expression was still rather odd. Something about those last words had affected her drastically, but I either didn?t notice or simply refused to.
?I can help you, that is, if you want?? I muttered a little pathetically, as I regretted those words the moment they left my lips.
Help her do what?
What did she even want?
Why didn?t she even say anything?
I frowned slightly, not to appear disapproving, but out of habit. Why was she trembling now, when I had just offered my assistance with? with whatever she interpreted my offer to be, I supposed.
Perhaps we?d best start over, I thought to myself. Yes, that would be best.
?What?s your name?? I figured that would be an appropriate inquiry to begin a conversation. Perhaps we merely needed to get to know each other a bit better.
For a long, difficult moment, she appeared to be debating something. At last, she gave a small shake of her head, causing a few strands of raven hair to fall before her eyes.
I was genuinely surprised. I had assumed that all humans possessed titles by which they addressed one another.
?Well, you?re going to be needing one. After all, we need to have you fit in, so you?ll be able to get close to others. Shall I think of one for you??
Silence.
I shrugged, assuming her quiet demeanor indicated consent. Pausing for a minute, I racked my brain for anything that would be appropriate. I could only think of one human girl?s name I had ever heard, though I could not for the life of me recall where or how, and something told me it was not at all what I was searching for. Nevertheless, I suggested it anyway.
?How about? Amber??
Once again, I regretted the idea as soon as it was out in the open. But there was no taking it back, and I had no other proposals, so I stuck with it. She seemed to accept it anyway, and it resolved one matter easily.
?And you can call me? ?Mute?, I suppose,? I added, realizing that I had not yet given her a name by which to address me.
There followed an awkward silence. I wondered when one of us would speak, but it appeared neither of us was willing.
I sighed inwardly. I hadn?t planned on using my powers for any reasons besides defense, but if I was to extract some information from this speechless being, it appeared telepathic intervention was inevitable. Gradually, I gathered my thoughts and focused them into one question, concentrating hard on each word, transmitting them as I did so to her mind.
What do you want?
I want? to help people.
Why?
Because they need me.
You know then, what you must do?
?Yes.
I stared at her, mystified. How much did she know? And if she knew so much, why hadn?t she just said so?
So you want to help people? how?
Make them understand.
Understand what?
Everything.
I watched her quietly for a few disconcerting minutes, whilst she gazed innocently back with that pair of shimmering, deep chocolate eyes. Perplexed by her odd choice of words, I began debating if she perhaps knew about this whole ordeal more than I. Her face certainly held no hints of indication towards the idea, but?
Those eyes?
It?s like they?re staring into my soul? Searching for something?
But what?
-continued in next post-
Yeah, this is it. The One-Shot that took me months to write. -.- Whole thing is crap too. I just finished it up now to get it out of the way so I can move on to better parts of the story. >_> I rather like the ending though.
So, yeah. Rated PG for some violence and stuffish. Read the whole thing, if you can manage. =P
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The bare soles of my feet alighted upon the cold, hard pavement, as a cloud of dust lifted and swirled about in a whirlwind before finally settling upon the concrete earth once again.
Here I was. "Home".
Slowly I traversed the beaten path, my sharp violet eyes darting from side to side, examining the surroundings I had not gazed upon for years now. Chips of broken sidewalk and tiny shards of glass would have sliced my bare flesh to shreds had I not been guarding my body with a protective psychic shield. I was completely unaware of what I might encounter upon this earth, so I was forced to take precautions.
Gingerly I stepped over a shattered green glass bottle that barred my path; its keen edged pieces scattered in a pattern that suggested it had been tossed carelessly from a passing vehicle. Clearly this district was not the most well kept of places. People saw this place as merely a giant junkyard, certainly unfit for any species of life to inhabit.
Smog infused wind whistled throughout the alley and grimy scraps of ancient newspapers fluttered and flipped pages, stuffed into the gutter so that the ink ran across the soaked parchment. Some of the headlines typed in larger, old-fashioned print were still legible though, and they read: "War in Johto, Cities Devastated by Sudden Attack from Kanto Army"
A faint groaning arose from somewhere nearby, causing me to cease craning my neck to scrutinize the symbols in the blotches of ink. Seeking the source of the noise, I caught sight of a bundle of old rags situated beneath another stack of newspapers, heaving up and down in rhythmic movements as if something were alive and breathing inside. And indeed, as I cautiously approached, I could barely discern the figure of a wild looking man almost entangled within the entire network of trash, although this was perhaps accentuated by the disheveled clump of grey hair protruding from his chin, with bits of paper stuck to almost every strand. Fortunately, he appeared to be asleep, and was unaware of my presence.
Suddenly, he coughed loudly and rolled over so that his head was facing in my direction. Gradually, his bleary black eyes opened, and I couldn't help but shudder upon seeing them. His eyes were like that of a dead thing. We locked lines of sight for a moment, and I must admit that I was the first to drop my gaze.
"Get the hell outta here, kid," he growled, the charred lips parting in a crooked, half-toothed smile, "Find yer own place to sleep. Betcha yer family's jus' waitin' for yeh to come back home. Har har har."
And with a low "Hngrrgh...? he turned over and resumed his slumber.
I did not favor rousing him, and so pivoted on my heel, and continued briskly on through the passageway. I could sense my pace accelerating with each step, so that I was nearly flying past the stained brick walls, which were more occasionally now decorated with bizarre, colorful runes, sometimes spanning across an entire surface to form a flashy wall mural. I pressed onward at a faster pace, though still managed to walk in a somewhat dignified manner. I could not determine whether my actions were out of fear, or disgust for the horrible conditions of the place, in which creatures were content to live in.
The bothersome wind blew about my slapping feet once again, carrying with it noxious fumes that forced my eyes to tear against my will. I pulled tighter the tattered cloak I had adorned earlier to serve as my only guise, now to protect my body against the foul gust as I turned the corner.
Once the disturbing dark passage had slid away from my sight, I felt an abrupt relief wash over me, and I slowed my pace. Once again my eyes scanned the area, analyzing the atmosphere. It appeared more pleasant than what I had just left, or at least a bit brighter due to the fact the street was wider and the roofs of the houses on either side lower, allowing some sunlight to filter in.
Cautiously I walked forward; alert to any sort of hidden dangers this seemingly quiet neighborhood might conceal. As I strolled through the streets, I passed a few children seated on doorsteps, their ages ranging from toddler to teen and the tones of their flesh just as varied. I noted that adolescents and older teens would track my movements with narrowed eyes and after some hesitation, slip off the steps and begin trailing behind me, even imitating exactly a few of my steps. Even some of the younger children joined in the strange game, sliding and clambering off to the best of their ability to hasten after their brothers and sisters. But I did not look back, not even when a horde of youngsters was shadowing me.
As slowly and calmly as I could manage under the circumstances, I pressed onward, attempting to ignore the mass of stony faces marching behind me. I could sense hostility emanating from each and every one of them. For some reason, they didn't want me here, but they were waiting for something before they would act...
I crossed before another household, looking even more run-down and decrepit than the rest. As with many others, the porch steps contained a teen boy, but only one, and seemingly the oldest of the lot. His burnt charcoal skin gleamed with sweat in the harsh sunlight, dampening the white shirt he wore with both sleeves torn. He acted similarly to the way the other children had behaved; his sharp obsidian eyes following my figure as I passed before him. Unlike the others, however, he extended a grubby hand outward to halt me.
"Where do ya think you're goin', paley?" he inquired with a malevolent grin.
I didn't answer, merely waiting for him to remove the obstruction so I could continue on my way. Behind me, I could hear the faint murmuring from the congregation of youths, who had also stopped.
With his free arm, the boy groped for a metal pipe that lay on the wood beside him, his gnarled fingers curling around it in a tight grasp. Lazily he reached forward, pipe in hand, and poked me gently at my side.
"I asked ya a question. Ain't ya gonna answer back?" he growled, prodding me harder. A stifled sniggering rose from the crowd at this, as they gradually begin to disperse to form a circle around me, barring my path. Still I said nothing.
Aggravated, the boy at last got off his seat and walked round to my front, facing me with a fierce stare. "What's the matter, clownface? Ya afraid to talk to my face or somethin'?" At this point, he was jabbing at my waist furiously with glee, looking as if prepared to drive the rod into my skin. Shouts of encouragement were hollered out from the crowd, mingled with insults aimed in my direction. I paid no heed to them, but did give an expression of mild puzzlement at my tormentor, for I assumed he was their leader, and therefore could provide an explanation. He grinned in response.
"Think you're pretty smart, ey? Well, least ya know how to hold yer tongue. Most folks woulda talked back by now, and that sort of thing only makes us madder, ey?
See, we don't like it when strangers come here, 'cuz when dey do, trouble comes. Therefore we gotta do something about it when outsiders intrude, right?"
He nudged me lightly with the pipe again, and the crowd hummed with mutual agreement.
"Tell ya what, I'll let ya go so long as you go straight back out da way you came, huh?" the boy offered, and again the children nodded.
I did not budge however, and stared squarely at him to give the impression that I had no intention of going back. I had a mission to accomplish, and the only way to complete it was to keep going forward.
His onyx eyes narrowed to slits and he gripped the pipe tightly in his fists. "If dat's da way ya want it, fine with me."
Raising the pole high above his head, he swung it in an arc as if it were a club, aimed to smash my skull. My old destructive reflexes kicking in, my bony hand shot upwards to catch the end of the bar in mid-air, just before it struck my skin. I stared coldly at his horror-stricken face, and I was dimly aware of the cheers erupting from the spectators behind me. It appeared they didn't care who was winning a fight, so long as it was entertaining.
With an almost lazy flick of my wrist, I sent the weapon and the holder of it flying to my left, and a sickening crunch resounded as his body collided with the brick wall, staining the surface with splatters of crimson blood. Slowly, his limp form slid to the earth, and I surveyed the scene calmly as a few of his colleagues timidly stepped forward to inspect the body. One of them reached forward with a trembling foot to give the corpse a kick. Receiving no reaction, the boy glanced anxiously at his companions, and they held a huddled conversation in hushed voices.
"He's dead, man."
"That guy threw him like a stone!"
"Man, what we gonna do?"
"Get that freak outta here, that's what."
With that settled, the boys spun about simultaneously, stooping to pick up anything that would serve as a weapon: Rocks, pieces of brick, rotting planks, and more pipes. With wild, animalistic shrieks, they charged, lunging for different sections of my body, their strategy obviously to knock me to the earth and beat me to death. With no other choice, I instinctively called upon my psychic abilities to aid me, and with a single blast of pulsing violet energy, all four of my opponents were thrown back upon contact. Three smashed against the walls, and most certainly perished instantly due to the speed of the impact, while the last skidded across the street, his hazel skin slashed and bruised brutally by the rough pavement.
A few of the toddlers broke away from the holds of their older brothers and sisters to flock about the mangled bodies, some bawling because the deceased were siblings, others merely curious and tired of standing on the sidelines. They shrieked and scattered as the boy on the street twitched and groaned, and surprisingly managed to support himself on one arm. He stared directly at me with furious slitted eyes, his expression a mixture of hatred and fear.
"Wha-what are you, man? Some kind of freak?"
I gave no response, merely tugged my cloak tighter against my body, and continued walking. I ignored his mutilated form as I passed, even though there was a loud scraping sound as he hastened to withdraw from me. One small boy with a grubby, tear-streaked face burst out screaming and ran from the crowd, attempting to follow, but an older girl caught his hand, drawing him back. I could sense their still faces watching apprehensively as I strode out of sight, and I knew they would not dare speak until I had rounded the next corner.
Here I halted, and craned my neck up towards the sky. I couldn't help but wonder as my eyes squinted against the blazing golden orb against a sea of pastel blue; was she watching? And if she was, I checked myself furiously, it was of no importance. All I was to focus on now was my mission, and how to go about completing it.
With the memory of that came a horrible, sinking feeling, not of grief for the past, but because I realized at that moment, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I was to accomplish a task I had never performed the likes of before, and in a world I was barely familiar with at all. For the first time since my return, I felt alone and alienated, unsure of myself. Nothing was as I remembered it, and I had no knowledge prior of how to begin my quest.
True, my cousin had spoken some about the world that she visited each day, but I had never listened very closely until recently. Now I saw it was to cost me.
"At any rate," I announced to myself audaciously and with confidence, "She was wrong about one thing. This wretched planet is even worse off than I left it, true, but it seems obvious that it's not going to get any better."
Something within me twitched with both satisfaction and guilt at those words, creating a most unpleasant feeling. I frowned grimly, trying to return my concentration back to my assignment, and set myself on the task of reviewing the facts I was aware of. I was supposed to find someone, the one my 'family' referred to only as 'the Seeker of Darkness'. How positively vague, I drawled within my own mind. I didn't even know whether the one I was searching was male or female, or even if it was human.
"Well, best to start where Darkness reigns," I muttered to myself with a half humorous tone. "After all, it's in the title."
Of course, this was not much of assistance, for at the time I was quite certain that I was already in one of the darkest districts around. I had come to the conclusion based on the events that had just occurred earlier, and it was also partially aided by the fact that I was standing once again in a dark passageway, shrouded by shadows cast from the towering brick walls that flanked my path.
"Filthy, disgusting creatures, these humans are," I grumbled to myself in unrelated comment I aimed a kick at an empty aluminum can, sending it unintentionally ricocheting to the end of the street and causing a horrible racket. A muffled whimpering and scuffling sound followed, as a small dark figure scuttled out from behind a nearby trash can, excited by the clamor. Within moments, it had vanished down a connecting alleyway, and, seething, I chased after it, foolishly hoping to sooth hurt feelings. My cousin's teachings had sparked that action from me. Ho-Oh, why couldn't I just forget her?
Panting, I skidded to a halt before the entrance to the alley, glancing about for traces of the being I had startled earlier. A dead end. Cautiously I stepped forward, aware that this whole thing might be some sort of trap, for I was rapidly regaining my perception as I walked. Apprehensively my line of sight swerved from side to side, scanning for any signs of life or perhaps hostility. I was relearning to distrust this world in which I now resided in, as well as its inhabitants.
"Well, why won't you come on out and face me?" I bellowed out to the listening shadows, growing strangely vexed and irritated. Then, with a slight smirk, I immediately switched tactics. "Be you friend or foe, you may be assured that I will not harm you, unless you choose to be foolish enough to attack me."
Something snuffled, and a miserable creature crawled out from behind the cluster of nearby trash cans, gradually revealing itself to be nothing more than a small girl, perhaps no older than the age of five in her years. She was grubby from head to toe, yet the sheen of the tangled raven hair and faded luminosity in those deep chocolate eyes hinted at a dark, undeveloped beauty. Even so, at the moment I was too astonished and amused at the being's true form that I was even tempted to burst out chuckling. I was that bewildered, especially after the speech I had given. But, what had I expected, after all?
But wait, when I glanced at her once again, all thoughts of merriment vanished from my mind, for I noticed something I had not observed before.
Were those tears in her eyes?
Indeed they were, and accumulating by the second, rolling down her grimy cheeks and staining them further with the delicate channels they created.
For a fleeting instant, I considered attempting to console her, but I immediately squashed such desires. It was not my duty, after all. Not even my 'fate', I mocked to myself. With grim determination, I turned, set to leave. There was little point in staying, after all. There was a mission to be accomplished.
And yet, I felt a pull. No, it was real. I turned, mildly annoyed to see the frail girl's petite hands clutching the cloth of my garment, tugging lightly and gazing up at me with those sad, shimmering brown eyes. It was then that I noticed that in her other hand, she held a doll of some sort, modeled after a creature I recognized to be an electric mouse known as a 'Pichu'.
Determining that speech would only encourage her, I roughly tore away and hastened toward the entrance that I had come through. She scurried out in front, however, and blocked my way, the fierce determination in her glistening eyes unnerving me for some strange reason. What did she want? Unsure, I tried squeezing past her, but she caught on to my cloak once again and tugged harder.
?All right, what do you want?? I whispered at last, glancing down at her somewhat fearfully. Was this normal human child behavior?
She seemed to calm once I spoke, and stood gazing at me quite intently for a moment. At last, she nodded slightly as if in confirmation, and reached forward with a pale, tiny hand. I balked, but then realized that she was offering me the stuffed toy that I had observed earlier. My gaze flickered past the unfocusing mass of golden fur to question her, but her expression was blank, anticipating. Finally assuming that it was perhaps just some strange custom practiced by her kind, I accepted the presented item swiftly, hoping to appease her.
The pain I felt when I touched the article was excruciating. It is difficult for me even now, to describe what was happening, as I had little to no experience with what I was then experiencing. All I was able to comprehend was a blur of images, depicting scenes of sorrow, hate, and despair. The closest thing I could compare it to would be, what is it? A Picture Show? But it was much more than just pictures. No, the visions shot by at such rapid tempo that I was barely able to perceive any finer details of what I was witnessing, and yet they still managed to leave me with a shocking blow more powerful than any attack I?d ever felt before. Even I, Mewtwo, the most powerful Pok?mon of all, had difficulty withstanding the strenuous mental pressure I received.
Fortunately, my psychic abilities were of some help. Once I?d realized that I was in terrible danger of succumbing to the strain of the horrific images I was being forced to behold, my defensive powers kicked in. A mental barrier formed around my mind to blockade the bombardment of enmity. Feeling the presence of the agony leave my body at last, I dropped, exhausted, on one knee. My soul still seemed to ache with a horrible burning pain, and my hands no longer had the strength to hold the doll anymore, so I allowed it to drop with a careless plop to the dusty pavement below.
It took me some time to regain my composure, and I at last noticed that the girl who had bestowed upon me such a dangerous gift was still standing nearby, watching my fatigued movements intently. I stared sternly at her, attempting arduously to read her expression. It was still as blank as when I had first encountered her, but there seemed to be a trace of, what? Concern?
At any rate, I now knew precisely who she was and what I was to do with her, and I exhaled a heavy sigh whilst I stood. This was not at all what I was expecting when I finally accepted my so-called ?destiny?. This ?Child of Prophecy? was only a small child, and a girl at that. How could she possibly harbor what might potentially be the most powerful force in the universe?
And yet, as I glanced down at the mere toy that lay sprawled lifelessly upon the floor, I realized that I had just glimpsed a small fraction of her potential power. Had I not been able to rescue myself in time, the results of such an assault might have been devastating.
?So, you are the One,? I muttered halfheartedly, staring down at the seemingly harmless form that could someday be capable of worldwide destruction. She gazed back curiously, head cocked, giving the impression that she had absolutely no clue as to what I was talking about. And why should she? Even I required repeated explanations on the whole concept, and I still wasn?t sure I understood it all even then.
Even so, it was my duty now to pass on the slight amount of knowledge I possessed to her. No, that wasn?t right, I realized suddenly. Mew had never mentioned anything about instruction. Only guidance.
?Well, I suppose this means you?ll be sticking with me from now on,? I spoke unexpectedly aloud at last. Her bewilderment at these words was obvious, and I remembered that I still had not explained a thing to her about what I was mumbling. But, what could I safely reveal to her at this point? It would be a delicate process, teaching her all she was required to know before the time came, and at the same time, feeding the very essence that made such a task so dangerous. But it was my purpose, or so I had been told, and I was forced to follow through.
Kneeling so that I was at her level, I stared solemnly into her eyes, choosing my words carefully as I spoke, steadily so that she was sure to understand.
?People have hurt you, haven?t they??
No response, but her eyes blinked and seemed to gain a more moistened appearance. For a moment, I felt mild annoyance at this reaction.
?Don?t cry. It doesn?t help you or anyone else on this god-forsaken planet. Trust me, I know.?
Her eyes seemed to dry at this, but her expression was still rather odd. Something about those last words had affected her drastically, but I either didn?t notice or simply refused to.
?I can help you, that is, if you want?? I muttered a little pathetically, as I regretted those words the moment they left my lips.
Help her do what?
What did she even want?
Why didn?t she even say anything?
I frowned slightly, not to appear disapproving, but out of habit. Why was she trembling now, when I had just offered my assistance with? with whatever she interpreted my offer to be, I supposed.
Perhaps we?d best start over, I thought to myself. Yes, that would be best.
?What?s your name?? I figured that would be an appropriate inquiry to begin a conversation. Perhaps we merely needed to get to know each other a bit better.
For a long, difficult moment, she appeared to be debating something. At last, she gave a small shake of her head, causing a few strands of raven hair to fall before her eyes.
I was genuinely surprised. I had assumed that all humans possessed titles by which they addressed one another.
?Well, you?re going to be needing one. After all, we need to have you fit in, so you?ll be able to get close to others. Shall I think of one for you??
Silence.
I shrugged, assuming her quiet demeanor indicated consent. Pausing for a minute, I racked my brain for anything that would be appropriate. I could only think of one human girl?s name I had ever heard, though I could not for the life of me recall where or how, and something told me it was not at all what I was searching for. Nevertheless, I suggested it anyway.
?How about? Amber??
Once again, I regretted the idea as soon as it was out in the open. But there was no taking it back, and I had no other proposals, so I stuck with it. She seemed to accept it anyway, and it resolved one matter easily.
?And you can call me? ?Mute?, I suppose,? I added, realizing that I had not yet given her a name by which to address me.
There followed an awkward silence. I wondered when one of us would speak, but it appeared neither of us was willing.
I sighed inwardly. I hadn?t planned on using my powers for any reasons besides defense, but if I was to extract some information from this speechless being, it appeared telepathic intervention was inevitable. Gradually, I gathered my thoughts and focused them into one question, concentrating hard on each word, transmitting them as I did so to her mind.
What do you want?
I want? to help people.
Why?
Because they need me.
You know then, what you must do?
?Yes.
I stared at her, mystified. How much did she know? And if she knew so much, why hadn?t she just said so?
So you want to help people? how?
Make them understand.
Understand what?
Everything.
I watched her quietly for a few disconcerting minutes, whilst she gazed innocently back with that pair of shimmering, deep chocolate eyes. Perplexed by her odd choice of words, I began debating if she perhaps knew about this whole ordeal more than I. Her face certainly held no hints of indication towards the idea, but?
Those eyes?
It?s like they?re staring into my soul? Searching for something?
But what?
-continued in next post-