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What Lies at the Core	By : Twill Category: Pokemon > General Views: 6203 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. I'm not worth anything so don't sue.

Chapter List
- 7
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- 9
A light knock at the door roused Rel from her attempts to sleep. Her huddled form cowered in the room's corner with her mane wrapped around her. All but her face was obscured by the flowing red hair.

The room's door swung open, and a female's voice broke the silence. “Hello?” The door opened wider to reveal a young woman entering the dim room. “Zoroark?”

“What do you want human?” Rel growled. The woman's eyes widened momentarily but she quickly replaced her shock with a warm smile.

“My name is Erin,” the woman said as she approached Rel's corner. “Alex told me a little about you.”

Rel didn't take her eyes off the woman as she moved closer. “If you have something to say human, say it. Otherwise just leave. I have no wish to speak with you.”

The woman's smile never faltered. “I helped take care of you after Alex brought you here. I wanted to make sure you're okay.” Rel watched as the woman took a seat on the floor a few feet away.

“You're the reason I still live?” Rel spat. “Well you didn't do me any favors. Why don't you leave me alone.”

The woman's face softened. “You shouldn't talk like that; you're lucky to be alive.”

Rel tried to curl herself up tighter. “It's not luck.”

“Oh sweetie.” The woman's soft voice was filled with sadness. “Are you okay?”

“I told you I'll live.” Rel muttered.

“You know I didn't mean it like that. What was done to you, do you want to talk about it?” The nurse asked.

Rel's voice cracked. “No.”

“Do you know who it was? The authorities can-”

“Your pathetic government can do nothing.” Rel snapped.

The nurse moved closer and hesitantly reached out with a hand. Her movements careful and slow. “You didn't deserve to be put through what you did-”

“And what do you know?” Rel knocked the woman's hand away. “It was my fault, punishment for what I've done.” She uncurled herself in a flash and lunged, knocking over the woman. Rel snarled as she moved over the woman. “You know nothing.” The look of pity that met her hate filled gaze shook her though, and suddenly tears filled her eyes. Rel's voice trembled as she collapsed onto the woman's chest. “They took everything from me.”

“You poor thing,” the woman whispered into her ear as gentle arms wrapped around her body. “Everything's going to be okay, you're safe now. It's over.”

“My fault, it was all my fault,” Rel choked out between sobs. “I couldn't control it...”

“No, never say that. What was done to you was wrong. Never blame yourself, no matter what he did to you.” Soothing words would do nothing now. Tears leaked into the woman's white blouse, but Rel couldn't help it. She was powerless, just like before.

The human's arms held her for a long time as she cried herself out. Slender arms stroked her quivering body and held her close. This was probably how she treated the other pokemon in this land too, and that though infuriated her. She was a killer, a murderer. A monster that had no right to self pity. She needed to be stronger.

Eventually the tears stopped, and Rel lifted herself from the woman on shaking limbs. “I want to be alone,” she said, her voice harsh from crying for so long.

Erin's voice was soft as she sat up and reached a gentle hand out. “Can you tell me your name?”

Rel backed away from the woman's touch. “Please leave me.” Control, she needed control. And for that, she needed to be stronger. Rel was weak. No, not weak, Rel was dead. The name was nothing but a reference to a young girl; a young girl who was banished to a twisted land and slaughtered by the inhabitants. Thoughts bubbled up into her mind, and she shoved them back down. They were nothing, ghosts from the past of a corpse, memories that weren't hers. For when she was strong, she would find those people who killed that poor Zoroark girl, and she would destroy them. All of them. Yes, she would be strong.

“You look odd, are you sure you're-”

Rel had forgotten about the human. Anger flared in her voice. “I said leave.” The look of pity she received from the woman threatened to reduce her once again to a sniveling mess. Those were feelings of a ghost. Strength was the only thing she needed. “Leave.”

With on last sad look, the human stood. “Please, come talk to me when you're ready. I don't know how long you'll be in the city, but you're not alone. There are people who care abou-”

“Leave,” Rel snarled, and the human left. After the door closed, Rel realized she was panting. Her limbs felt like water as she dragged herself to one of the beds. No one could help her. It was too late for that. Maybe this new human, Alex, could help make her strong like he said. If not she would kill him too, but one way or another, she would become stronger. She pulled the soft covers over her, and for the first time since coming to this corrupt land, enjoyed the peaceful rest of a soft bed.

-----------------------------------------------------

Rel woke early the next morning. Sunlight peered through the room's solitary window to dazzle her weary eyes. As she rose she noticed the human returned, asleep in the other bed. She glared at his back before standing. There was no time for idling about. She needed to occupy her mind with something, anything until she was stronger. It would take time to temper the her shattered self back into something useful. But now, time was the one thing she had plenty of. After turning herself invisible, Rel left the room.

The halls of the building were simple and utilitarian. White tiled floors and white walls with staff all dressed in white was uninspiring but efficient. There were quite a few humans walking about for the hour, all tending to pokemon with some sort of injury. Was this what Unova was like before Mewtwo? No, it didn't matter. She was here for a reason.

Rel ducked into an empty room, moving quietly despite being invisible. Nothing she saw utilized any modern medical principals, there were the basic chemicals. They would have to do. The first cabinet she opened had what she was looking for. With the items secured under her illusion, Rel returned to the room where the human who captured her slept.

Back in the room she placed the stolen items on the counter and looked around. The human had few belongings from the look of it. A heavy pack sat in the corner of the room, but aside from a few small items on a table, there was nothing else. She moved the pack and began rummaging through it.

“Looking for something?” a voice came from behind her. Her hand came across a smooth handle, and she turned away from the pack to confront the man.

“Get up, I need your help human,” Rel said as she walked to the counter and opened the blade, placing it next to the other items.

“My name is Alex, and you could at least try and be pleasant,” he said as he rose to join her. “What are you doing with that stuff?”

Rel rubbed the blade with alcohol before pouring some of the cold liquid on her arm. “There is a device in my arm. I need you to remove it.”

“Are you kidding me? I'm not cutting you up. We're in a pokemon center; I can go get Erin and I'm sure she'll do a much better-”

She cut him off. “No. She doesn't need to be part of this. Just cut here,” she indicated a spot on her arm. “It's about a centimeter down and small.”

“That knife isn't really for surgery-”

“It will be good enough for this, just do it,” Rel said growing impatient. The gray fur on her arm was damp and parted where she poured the alcohol on it, revealing the skin that hid beneath her heavy coat. She placed her arm on the table and met Alex's gaze.

“You're fucking insane,” he grumbled but picked up the knife. “Where exactly?” The blade seemed natural in his grip.

Rel pointed to the spot and turned slightly so the human could get a better hold on her arm. Flesh parted easily as the knife pressed into her skin, causing her to growl in pain.

“Hold still, this was your idea,” Alex said as the knife bit into her arm.

“Just hurry up human,” Rel said through clenched teeth. The pain was nothing compared to what she had been forced to endure, but it wasn't inconsequential either. She panted as blood began to trickle into her fur.

“Okay I think I see it, now what?” Alex asked as he set the bloodied knife on the counter.

“Pull it out,” Rel hissed.

“With what?”

Idiot. There had only been a few items she needed and she had forgotten one of the more important ones. “Use your fingers or something. I don't know, just hurry.”

Alex gave her an exasperated look put poured alcohol on his hand and probed the incision he'd made. Her arm twitched at the pain, but she could feel the tug as the device was removed. It was done. Now all that was left was to clean and bandage the cut. She gasped as the alcohol burned the open wound, but once she had wrapped the gauze around it, the pain was nothing but a nuisance.

She breathed in long, deep gasps. “Thanks you.” With one of her claws she pierced the bloody device, rendering it useless.

“What was that that?” Alex asked.

“It stored information about me, and could be used to track my location.”

At that the human finally showed a hint of emotion. “Tracked by who? Do they know where we are?”

Rel snorted. “The only one who could know sent me here to die. You don't have to worry.” She moved off to the bed and lay back down, cradling her arm. “So what now?”

Alex's voice was calm considering what she had woken him with. “Well, I was hoping to leave the city somewhat soon, if you're able to travel.”

“I'll be fine; I heal quickly. What I meant was what do you plan to do with me?” Rel asked as she stared up at the ceiling. This place seemed so strange. During her walk through the building everything looked so ancient. Was this how all of them lived? They probably didn't even think it was odd.

“Can you fight?” Alex asked.

Thoughts of Hydreigon floated into her mind, but she crushed them back down. “No, not really.” The admission shamed her further having said it out loud. She had always known it, but admitting it to someone else made it worse. And since the only reason he even pretended to care about her was for fighting, she was back to being useless to everyone, even this human.

“Then we'll have to change that. I'll try and find us some place secluded to train in private for a few months. Or maybe we can just travel the countryside, I don't know. I'm trying to keep my head low as it is. I don't know how feasible it will be with trying to train a pokemon like you. Even a sighting could have people hounding me. I might have to keep you inside your pokeball most of the time.”

Rel's eyes lit with anger. “You will not keep in that... Thing,” she growled and sat up. Her eyes burned into his. “I will not be put into that device. Ever.” Pain burned in her arm as her fist clenched, but it helped focus her anger.

Alex's voice didn't change, but his eyes met her challenge evenly. “That's not very realistic, especially with what you are. You will draw attention to us.”

“It is not negotiable. As for drawing attention, it won't be a problem.” With that Rel cast an illusion, changing her appearance back to that of the Zangoose. Her dying mind had first chosen the form while she ran through the forest. It was the exact form of her first kill. His features would be forever emblazoned upon her mind. She took the form now as both punishment and reminder.

Alex approached her, his voice in disbelief. “What, so it wasn't a trick. How did you do that?”

“I can look however I want,” Rel said and stood as the human approached. Once they were only feet apart, she changed herself to look like a copy of him.

For the first time, the human looked shaken. “Wha-what are you?” He circled her, but she never took her eyes off him.

“I am a Zoroark,” Rel replied, uncomfortable with her back to him. “My kind create illusions. It is the reason there are none of us in your lands. They were killed long ago by those who feared us.” She cast an illusion of fire around her hand and held it out to him.

“Is it real?” Alex asked, backing away slightly.

“No.” Rel advanced, letting Alex feel one of her claws brush against his throat through the illusion of his own hand on fire.

“Incredible,” he whispered.

Rel dropped her illusions with a snort before falling back onto the bed. “It hasn't done any good for me yet,” she muttered.

“With that power we could- Well no matter. I guess I have nothing to worry about then if you can keep up that disguise,” Alex said and moved to the pack she had been digging through earlier. “If you're ready today we can get moving this afternoon. I just have to say goodbye to Erin. You should too.”

“I'm ready to leave, but I don't want to talk to the other human,” Rel said and looked away from Alex. She couldn't face the woman again, the nurse's kind eyes would break the tenuous facade that currently hid her weakness.

Alex gave her a patronizing look. “She went through a lot of effort to fix you up and-”

“I said I don't want to.”

“Whatever. We'll leave when I get back then.” And with that he left. Unshed tears glistened in Rel's eyes as she thought about the nurse. Maybe if they had met sooner, or before... It didn't matter. Nothing could be done now; it was much too late her. Soft blankets wrapped around her trembling form as she waited on the bed for Alex to return.

The human returned a short while later carrying a small bag of supplies which he transferred to his pack. Rel watched him from the bed as he made preparations to leave. She had no idea where they would be going, or for what reason, but she had nowhere else to go. It was this or kill him, and run into the wild to wait for her own death.

“Ready?” the human asked. With a shrug Rel rose to her feet and stretched, a deep ache still lingering in her shoulder. She created an illusion, the male Zangoose, and they left the room. The pair were silent as they walked through the crowded city. Rustboro was on a number of the signs, a city to the west if she remembered correctly from the maps. It was like a film from the past. Cars chugged along the streets, people packed the grimy walkways. Everything was tinged with the gray of dirt and pollution, and the air tickled her throat. It was disgusting.

People were everywhere, some accompanied by pokemon, others not. She wanted to be away from them, turn herself invisible and run, but Alex walked through them at a leisurely pace, without a care in the world. Rel looked down at her snowy fur, and clenched her fists. What was she even doing here?

The city was bigger than she would have thought, it's maze of streets a nightmare to navigate as the buildings towered around them. They were nothing like the shining towers that made up Castelia though. No, these buildings were stained with the filth these humans had created here. Bright neon lighting tried to distract the eye from the gray and soot, but she saw the backdrop that those lights tried to hide. Dirt, trash, their filth was everywhere. Even some of the humans seemed to blend into the grime, their own brethren giving them a wide berth and reproachful looks. These humans were savages. Despicable.

Their walk through the city didn't last long though. Faster than she would have thought for what had seemed such a large city, their surroundings replaced by the verdant shades of life. Shrubbery, and then proper trees sprouted from the landscape in an ever thickening wall surrounding the dirt path they traveled upon.

Occasionally another human would pass them, often accompanied by a pokemon, but for the most part the two of them walked alone through the woods. Rel found the clean air and trees somewhat comforting. Anything was better than that horrid city.

“Are they all like that?” Rel asked.

Alex looked up from his own thoughts. “Hmm? Are all what like that?”

“Your cities,” Rel said, not looking at her human – what was Alex to her? Partners? That didn't seem right. She didn't have much of a choice in the matter. That device he had used to capture her, she could feel it still. An invisible rope coiled about her neck, binding her to the human. Could it be broken? Would he break it if she asked?

Alex shrugged. “More or less I guess. Crowded, busy, lots of stuff packed together.” He didn't seem to understand though. Maybe he didn't even realize the conditions he lived in.

Twigs snapped and alerted Rel to a nearby presence. She looked up just in time to see a Poochyena burst from the brush that edged the path to block their way. The four-legged pokemon snarled.

A calm voice came from her right. “This is all you.”

Rel looked at Alex as he back away, a mistake. Claws and fur barreled into her chest as she was distracted. Her back hit the hard packed dirt as a clawed swipe burned her chest, drawing blood. With a roar Rel threw the pokemon to the side before getting back on her feet. Anger blazed in her eyes. Fighting experience or not, she was a fully evolved pokemon, and this thing that attacked her was barely a pup.

Breaths came in adrenaline fueled gasps as she watched the Poochyena get back to its feet. The pokemon sank its claws into the earth to begin its charge once again, but this time it would not take her by surprise. As the small creature leapt, Rel struck. Blood red claws bit deep into her opponent's shoulder and threw the dark type to the ground. Rel was on it in a flash.

Claws wrapped around the struggling pokemon's throat as she lifted it from the ground. Fury burned in her eyes as she lifted the struggling pokemon. She could feel its claws flailing at her arm that gripped it, feel the breath it tried to take through her crushing grip around its throat. Such a weak creature, she could kill it with a gesture, her free hand ready to tear it from throat to tail. That paw hovered, claws gleaming, hungering to part fur and flesh. She had control, she alone would decide whether the pokemon lived or died.

“Zoroark stop,” but Alex's words were unnecessary. She couldn't have done it. The Poochyena thrashing in her grip struggled just as the Eevee had. Rel dropped the pokemon and watched it flee back into the forest, limping from where she had hurt its shoulder. She felt empty.

Rel pushed herself to her feet on shaking legs and stared down at her claws, stained from where she had struck the pokemon. A hand grabbed her shoulder.

His voice was harsh, but her mind could barely comprehend it at the moment. “What the hell was that?”

Rel spun and threw him to the ground. “Shut up,” she growled. Her paws were shaking.

“What is-”

“Shut up!” Rel shouted and turned away from him. Blood pounded in her ears as she clenched her fists and began walking. The calm of the forest taunted her, a silent accusation of the monster she was, whispering that she didn't belong. Rel didn't look back to see if Alex followed her or not. She assumed he did. Shame mixed into her emotions at shoving him, but her mind was too overwhelmed to really care. Nothing made sense to her anymore, everything she did felt wrong. Her existence was wrong.

It was a while before she heard Alex's voice again. “You should disguise yourself again.” The thought hadn't even crossed her mind, too many other things tormented her conscious. Her only reply was to return the Zangoose guise, and continue walking. He said nothing more, and they continued on uninterrupted.

“We should stop for the night.” Alex's words pulled Rel from her thoughts. Darkness had crept over the wooded path without her notice. Moonlight filtered through the scattered holes in the canopy above. Leaves rustled in the light breeze, but her thick fur fended off its icy touch from her body.

Rel turned to see the human a few steps behind her. She had no idea how long they'd been traveling. A Treecko stood with Alex. The pokemon must have been released while they'd walked, but it now met her gaze with a calculating one of its own.

In about a half hour there was a small fire burning, and Alex had set up some sort of flimsy construction that she assumed he would sleep in. Rel sat on the far side of the fire, curled up and staring into the hypnotizing flames. They danced for her, giving off a warm light without care. She looked up as Alex approached her.

“You should eat,” he said as he offered a small packet.

“I'm not hungry,” she replied. He didn't leave though so she took the item and placed in next to her before gazing back into the fire.

“You still need to eat.” Alex sat down beside her, and Rel brought her full attention to the human, watching every move he made, ready to react. “What you did earlier, don't do it again.”

“I thought I made it clear I didn't want to talk about it,” Rel said but Alex spoke right over her.

“You need to control yourself. Even when battling wild pokemon, there's no reason to kill them. But especially in matches against other humans. You might see them as lesser to you, but that's no reason to kill them for sport.”

Rel rose to her feet, fury burning in her eyes. “You,” she sputtered, fists shaking at her side. “You, human, have no idea what you're talking about.” Every muscle in her body burned in attempt to tear the confident man to shreds before her. She would show him she had control. “Who are you to accuse me of such things when you live in a place like this. The only ones who aren't complete savages are the pokemon. So listen human. If you say anything like that to me again, I will kill you. I don't need you.” Rel sucked in breath through bared teeth.

Alex seemed unfazed by the display. “You wont get anywhere like this. If you have such little control over yourself, the first true challenge will put an end to your journey. If you want to get anywhere, you need to stop acting like a child.” His cold eyes met her glare, and he had the gall to give her that condescending smirk. Alex turned his back to her. “Now eat,” he said and walked off.

He dare turn his back to her like that? She'd took a step, claws ready to strike him down, but she froze. Deep breaths. No, he was just toying with her, trying to anger her. That's all they ever did, manipulate her, trick her into doing what they wanted. She wouldn't let him use her like that, like some weak-minded animal. She-she wasn't, wasn't an animal, she was a pokemon from Unova. A tear slid into the fur that covered her muzzle as she sank back to the ground. She wasn't. The food was ash in her mouth, but she forced herself to eat it anyway. She wasn't, right?

-----------------------------------------------------

There was a knock on the door. Mewtwo blanked the screen before him with a thought and turned. “Come in.” It would be Arlen, one of his more trustworthy advisers.

“Sir,” the man said as he entered, and offered a slight bow of the head. Arlen's eyes moved to the blank screen, to Mewtwo, and back again. “Sir please tell me you weren't searching for that lost Zoroark girl again.”

“No, I wasn't. What did you want?” His lie must have been apparent though.

Arlen's voice was desperate. “Sir please, you have to stop this. Forget the girl. It's unfortunate, but you can't devote any more time to a lost cause. She wasn't even important.”

“Don't talk about her like that. Rel risked herself for this country,” Mewtwo said as he turned back to the darkened screen. He was old. Time didn't touch him as it did others. He had watched as the evils that created him, that had planted the seeds of hatred which controlled him so long after his birth, died. Only he and his anger had survived throughout the centuries, but time ground even that into dust as it passed.

Now he was alone, but not for the first time. Some feared him, others worshiped him as the false god he was, but few had ever treated him like a person. Rel had. She was earnest, kind, and ever happy despite the troubles in her youth. She had excelled at the academy, and the day he met her, she added herself to the short list of pokemon and humans that had treated him as they would any other. And he had sent her to a death undeserved by even the truly evil.

“Sir?”

Mewtwo opened his eyes, turning back to the concerned human. “My mind wandered a moment. What was it you came here to see me for.”

His voice was grave. “The Core Assembly has decided to launch an investigation into the recent attack that occurred in Hoenn.”

“Let them look,” Mewtwo said through his telepathy. “It was clear that they weren't going to let us move from the beginning.”

Arlen's brow furrowed. “This is serious. It's not just them either, both high councils are talking about an investigation as well. Please tell me you had no part in this.”

“I did not.”

Silence lingered as the human judged his words. The human was very perceptive, but he seemed satisfied. Somewhat anyway. “I hope that's true. Your opponents will jump on this, and you've been shirking the councils recently as it is. Sir, I hope I don't overstep myself, but please pull yourself together. Things could get very dangerous for you.”

Mewtwo snorted. “Let them do as they wish. They will find something else to argue about soon enough.” Humans and pokemon alike, none of them knew how powerful he truly was. Nothing they could do would dethrone his rule over the world. The only one who had been witness to his true powers now rest in an eternal sleep.

“Sir this isn't-”

“Enough. Leave me; I have things things I must attend to.”

Arlen hesitated a moment longer as if deciding whether or not to push the issue, but with one last pleading look, he left. Mewtwo sighed, and dropped back into a chair to stare up at the blank screen. There was no point in turning it back on; he knew there would be no dot, an indication of Rel's location. The only way that she wouldn't show up is if the device had stopped transmitting, and that would only happen if her heart stopped.

Mewtwo slammed a fist into the table. The most powerful being in the entire world, and yet he couldn't help the one person in centuries who had called him a friend. The decision had torn at him, but going there, rescuing her, would have upset the tenuous peace he had created for the creatures that inhabited this world. How many millions would die if war broke out? Would one person be worth that cost? What terrified him most was he couldn't answer that question.

He thought about forsaking them all and going to her. Rel was young, innocent, and maybe a bit naive, but one of the most sincere people he had met in his extensive life. What would that monster have done to her? The people here had only been concerned for the politics, more than willing to let one so pure suffer to get an edge in their meaningless squabbles. None of it surprised him. He'd seen it countless times before as generations lived and died while he watched, immortal. But there was no one he could trust with his burden; no one even knew why he still lived among these people, protecting them. No one he could trust, and so he lived at the top. Alone.

“Forgive me Rel. Please, forgive me.”
- 7
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- 9
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What Lies at the Core