Cherreads

Chapter 13 - The Courage

Actually being a human doesn't differ much from being a Pokémon. Both species don't like when things don't get the way they would.

As a combination between human and Pokémon such a failure makes Rea irritated double the way. 

Supervisor. She was and still is eager to inform authorities about her every move. Inform about the next goal. Places she plans to visit during her journey. So why do those geezers suddenly want someone to constantly watch her?

"Damn it." Rea swear. 

To make matters worse, no one has entered her room since she broke Officer Jenny's mug. There still may be some pieces of shattered glass. When getting out of bed she might hurt this fragile human body. But it wasn't the worst. 

Officer Jenny adores coffee. Also drink it when the mug breaks. So right now the room is still covered in the brown liquid made from poured ashes, distributing the specific smell. 

"Great." Rea mumble. "Not only that I'm grappling with a difficult decision but I have to do this in a stench." 

Eventually she slowly gets out of the bed. Her state gets better everyday but Rea still supports herself on the railings of the hospital bed to reach the window.

A quick look outside makes Rea realize why no one entered to clean that mess. The night approaches already, painting the flat roof in the moonlight.

"Useless ever-tired creatures." Rea mutters struggling to open the window by conventional methods.

Eventually she did. But there isn't any blow of chilly night wind of some sorts. 

"Huh…?"

She sticks her head out of the window. Nothing. No fresh air or wind blows. The night is still and warm. And the stench is still present. 

With an irritated growl Rea opens the window wider and holding the frames, steps out on the roof. The tiles seem slippery under her human feet so eventually she just sits down and inhales the warm air. 

But what surprises her most, no one stops her. There isn't anyone who told her to get down or to return to her room. No police. No one. And this actually lets her to another conclusion.

"Why should I care about the authorities?" Rea asks herself. 

She stands up and with help of telekinesis comes down from the roof. At first she is scared that someone may spot her. Yet there isn't anybody. 

And there isn't need to care about those who can't stop her.

With such thought, Rea steps into the night. Wander through the empty streets knowing exactly what she's looking for. 

Back in Caledon City there was, and most likely still is a library. She visited it from time to time to fulfill her ambition to get knowledge. The presumption here in Fuschia City is a similar hub seems valid. 

But despite the obvious similarities, this place is a different city.The layout of the building, despite centered near the main square, differs from the one in Caledon City. There's a Poké Mart and a Pokémon Center.

As well as the weird custom to let all the buildings (including private houses) open and accessible for every visitor.

"Holy Arceus." *Rea swears under her breath and supports herself at some building wall.* "Why is there no map here? A beautiful one with a huge red arrow pointing 'you are here'?"

But as she supports herself under her fingertip, Rea feels a different invoice. Not a brick. Neither a stone. She looks in the direction to notice a metal plate with some cravings. Rea tilted her head to read it and couldn't believe her own luck. 

LIBRARY

"So it seems I don't need a map." She mumbles to herself. 

As every building in the town library is open. And without any cameras or microphones. A real paradise for a thief.

Which in every normal circumstances Rea would be but that's for sure not usual circumstances. Not to mention she doesn't look for her own gain. It might be a good thing to think about later, as she finally defeats Giovanni. 

The library covered in moonlight looks better for Rea. Technically it's the same. The same books, the same silence, the same possibility to read. What's different - in the day there are people. 

It doesn't take long to find the right book. The topic of Legendary Pokémon seems to fascinate people. 

"Like everything unsolved and mysterious." Rea mutters to herself flipping the pages. 

There isn't much information about the Legendary Birds trio - Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres.

Among them Articuno is the one most frequently seen. Yet all those testimonies prove nothing specific. The icy bird seems to guide those who get lost in the cold mountains. However, in different mountains.

"A brid." Rea nervously taps the picture of Articuno. "Most likely it just fly from place to place."

So no anchor points here. With a growl Rea flips the page, only to see the picture of Mew. Her eyes wide. Her ancestor. And despite the fact she has read about it, it always causes the same unwanted feeling. Knowledge she is supposed to be only a copy. Mew two. The second Mew.

Trying to overcome her unwillingness, Rea starts to read. Actually most of those she already knows. That Mew was discovered by Mr. Fuji.

What no one knows is the fact Mr. Fuji at that time worked for Team Rocket. The man has convinced Giovanni to fundraise his crazy project to make further use of his discovery. Giovanni agreed and Dr. Fuji with other scientists gather fragments of Mew's DNA. And that's how he managed to create Rea. 

Which right now uses all her might to not throw the book away. This is useless. She knows it. Knows that she's only a copy. Replica. 

But then her gaze lay on the other picture. A small wooden shrine. Her eyebrows move up. 

"Most people claim that they have seen Mew in Faraway Island." She reads aloud. "So the local population have bulid a shrine in honor of the Pokémon."

Also there's many relations pointing that people see the Pokémon near the shrine. And that it many times helps them in different situations (which Rea believes mostly are unrelated to Mew). But that's the only anchor point she finds.

There's only one thing left. Find the courage to confront her own ancestor. 

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