Hina woke suddenly as she fell with a thud. Onto something hard. Wooden. Her eyes flashed open and let in the early morning light. She had landed on her back on top of the bottom wooden step of the log cabin, having rolled right off the porch…
Cabin. I'm in the garden. What happened yesterday? Hina leapt to her feet, nerves jostling. She had a throbbing headache and nothing seemed familiar. I must have fallen asleep out here…waiting, wondering… The memories of the previous evening came back to her and hit like a Tackle.
She sat on the cabin step, which she hadn't had the nerve to sit on in years, and looked down at her trembling hands. What those Pokémon had said couldn't have been true. Baku was her friend. Right?
"Hey."
Hina's head shot up at the voice, her head aching in protest. Her heart pounded.
"Baku!" She leapt to her feet clumsily and paced to him, anxious and confused. "What happened? Are they gone?" His eyes were slits as he watched her and he took a step back as she reached out. He looked almost disgusted.
"A-are you mad at me?" Hina asked, her heart sinking. She withdrew her arm. Maybe…he's upset because I embarrassed him in front of his friends?
"I just dropped in to say 'bye," Baku replied, crossing his arms. His voice was stern, emotionless.
Now Hina's submerged heart was thundering inside her. "Wha-what do you mean?" she asked, trying her best to smile.
"I have places to go, things I want to do. I've gotta keep moving. I need adventure. I need excitement. I'm searching for something worthwhile, and I'm not gonna find anything sticking around here," Simisear snapped. Hina stepped back, hurt. So this is what it all came down to? She was nothing to him?
Baku turned, thick tail dragging behind him, and began to walk off. In the distance she could make out the shapes of some Pokémon, one of which was waving him over.
Heart racing, Hina struggled out another cry. "No, wait! Please!" He didn't stop or slow down. Before she knew what she was doing, she rushed after him, her adrenaline flowing wildly. Grabbing his arm forcefully, she leaned against him. Surely he felt the way she did, he must have experienced something last night…"Please. Don't leave me. You're my best friend."
From a ways off she heard the other three Pokémon snort laughter. Baku cringed and pulled away, face angry and red. "Cut it out, would you sister? I'm done here, so quit being a drama queen."
Hina looked into his amber eyes sadly. This wasn't the Pokémon she knew. "Baku…" she whispered. His expression twitched for a second, and once again she tried to touch his shoulder. "I need you. Please." For one moment she could swear she saw his face soften, to a look of utter regret and sadness, but it was gone in the next instant.
"Sorry," he said numbly, sliding her hand off his shoulder. He then turned and continued on towards the others without another glance back. The shadows faded into the morning fog and as they descended into the forest, they vanished altogether.
Hina stood immobile, her body shuddering. Heart racing and face hot and sweating, she felt her knees buckle from beneath her as she swayed on the spot. With a moan she sunk to the grass, clenching it in her fists to keep from falling headfirst to the ground.
"No…no…" This wasn't fair. Things had been so perfect. I was so close…so close. Biting her lip fiercely, she fought back stinging tears. My garden…my home…was it all for nothing? Is there even a point anymore? Master had left her. And he wasn't coming back. The friend she had trusted, had put her faith in, had used her.
Why torture her like this? Give her happiness and then take it all away?
"Ahh….ohhhhhhh," She suddenly bawled, and the tears broke out and flowed down her face in rivers. Burying her face in the grass she groaned desolately. A raindrop fell, and then another, but she hardly noticed.
"…Nobody loves me." She breathed hoarsely through her sobs. She clawed at her hair in fury, the rain pouring down more fiercely by the minute, situating her in a puddle of mud. "Left by my trainer…Used by what I thought was my friend…" A boom of thunder sounded overhead and she cringed, her head aching. She bared her teeth and snarled through the pain. "…I'm worthless, aren't I?" Completely worthless.
With another cry Hina dragged herself to her feet, covered in mud and face stained with tears. Her eyes shone with fury, defiance, and sorrow. I always thought if I was kind, dedicated….good things would in turn happen to me….look where it's gotten me now. Opening her mouth wide, her whole body shaking in emotion, she released a frigid Ice Beam into the air.
The thunder cracked again and she spun, expelling another attack; she trampled through the flowerbeds, which were just beginning to raise their heads with color and tore the petals apart. A flash of lightning flashed in front of her eyes, dizzying her, and she took in a deep breath and hurled a Blizzard into the sky, the intense cold snow meshing with the fierce downpour and sending a deep chill through the area.
Good. Let it die. Let it die, just like me. Her eyes heavy and vision blurred, she dropped to the muddy, soaked earth in exhaustion, alone and left in the rain.
"Congratulations, Hina! You did great!" Master beamed down at the lively Panpour as the crowd roared its approval. Hina bounced on her tiptoes excitedly; everything around her was so thrilling! But the best part, she thought, was seeing Master's proud face.
She danced around in joy, looking out at the faceless crowd.
"And Musha did great too, didn't he?" Master laughed, holding the chubby little Munna close. Musha squealed happily.
Hina looked up, happier than she had ever been in her life. Then she saw it. The crowd, and all that had been in the distance, were gradually darkening to shadows, their sounds fading away. A swift streak of darkness shot past the corner of her eye.
What?
"And a contest winner deserves a gift for all her hard work, doesn't she?"Master reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace, a dewdrop charm hanging from it. It was beautiful. Hina felt her heart flutter in excitement.
The Contest Hall was now nearly completely dark, all the stands invisible in shadow and drenched in foreboding silence. Suddenly the shapes appeared again, fleet and coming in her direction. And she knew.
Desperately, Hina turned to her trainer, motioning wildly. He laughed. "Hina, stay still. Let me put this on you." He slipped the Mystic Water over her head and smiled.
Why can't you understand? Hina thought, and tried to shout. Not a sound came out. They're right behind you!
But it was too late. Shadowy, thin arms, almost skeletal, grabbed her Master and pulled him into the growing blackness, and as he vanished his body faded, as if into smoke. The sound of laughter came from the abyss and she shuddered; she recognized the laughs as those of Team Monito.
Come back here! Hina rushed forward in fury, knowing a Panpour stood no chance against fully evolved Pokémon, and was suddenly stopped by a wall of white flags rising from the ground- each with a blue "P" in the middle. The symbol was eerily familiar.
"Hina." It was Musha, who had managed to evade the abduction. His glow was now the only other thing Hina could see in the gloom. "Hina, why did you let this happen?"
Hina looked at him, aghast. This couldn't be all my fault, could it? What could I have done…? What could anyone have done..?
"Hina…Hina…Hina…-
Hina."
The voice was soft, melodious. Like clouds, her vision blurred and then faded, breaking apart to reveal nothingness. And then…
"Are you alright?" Hovering above her, a pink and purple Pokémon hovered, with its arms curled around the dwindling remnants of a pink smoke.
Hina rose her head, eyes widening. "M-Musha? Is that you? What happened-?"
Musha smiled at her regretfully, eyes closed and the last bit of smoke vanishing through a mark on his forehead. "I should be asking you that, Hina."
Glancing around, Hina realized with horror the entire garden was devastated. It was still pouring a fair amount with some sleet on the side, and frost covered the ground and a number of icicles clung to drooping plants. The flowerbeds and vegetables had been dug up and thrown about in rage. What have I done?
"Musha…" Hina quaked, "I'm so sorry. So sorry…" She averted her gaze downward in shame. "You were right. About Baku, about me, about everything…" She cringed at saying that name. It hurt like a thorn in her heart.
"Hush," soothed Musha, nuzzling her gently. "You are nowhere at fault. But we must act quickly to right our wrongs." Hina could hardly notice how different he seemed upon his evolution, so much more mature and calm and focused.
"What are you talking about?" Hina moaned, turning away. "I just want to be alone. I deserve to be alone!"
Musha watched her, pained. "Is that a way to talk to a friend?"
"I have no friends." Hina grumbled into her hair as it fell over her face. She coiled into a fetal ball.
"Hina. You are and always have been surrounded by those who love you, and perhaps now even more than ever." He floated forward and tapped his head to hers, pushing her hair away.
"Now you're just talking crazy," Hina said.
"The night before last," Musha pressed on, "you had a most interesting dream, did you not?"
Hina blinked. "How did you…?"
"That matters not. I believe we have more pressing matters at hand."
"Damn rain," grunted Primeape.
"It's getting nippy out here," Ambipom complained, wrapping his arms around himself. "Wasn't it bright and sunny just yesterday? What gives with the freak weather, Simisear?"
Baku ignored them, walking beside Simisage. He studied his older sister worriedly as she paced on, emotionless. Just what could she possibly be thinking?
The four had progressed some distance through the forest but the intense rain and sudden drop in temperature had come as a shock to them all, slowing them down. But Simisage insisted they make haste. I myself have never encountered humans, Baku thought, all I know about them is hearsay. But that alone is enough to inform me, this is a bad idea…Simisage was aggressive, intelligent, and most of all, she was stubborn. She would stop at nothing to get her vengeance.
The image of Hina suddenly popped into his mind, smiling and innocent. He twitched and tried to urge the thought away, shame bubbling in him like a stew. She had seemed so hurt. He could barely look at her as he left, and it killed him inside to have been so cruel to her. But he had had to make her hurt, to push her away, it was the only way to protect her.
If Simisage catches wind that Hina was once a trainer's Pokémon, she's going to kill her, Baku thought desperately, digging his claws into his palms and face reddening in worry. I may have not realized it until I had that bizarre dream, but Simisage is familiar with them, and she'd know. Yes, it was for the best that Hina go back to her old life: alone, apart from the world, but at least safe.
"So Simisear, where's the tree?"
Simisage's cool voice snapped him to attention. The rain continued heavily, drenching them all, but Baku could show no sign of weakness. Not in front of them. He looked around the wood closely. In the distance he could see the river, bulging over the banks. About half a mile down from there, the shabby bridge would be hanging, and another mile through thick forest once crossed, one would come to the garden. Was Hina still there?
"It's close," he said, shuddering through his soaked pelt. "See that big oak over there? That's the one." A soft thunderbolt rolled, and he felt an odd sense of déjà vu. Simisage smiled, eyes gleaming.
"Perfect." She strode ahead, head held high. For the first time since she arrived, she seemed genuinely excited.
"Just what is she planning?" Baku muttered under his breath as his other two companions came to his side. She got her stubbornness from father. What could a pointless little item like that do to change his mind? It was laughable, really. The sharpened black stone was the least distinguishing of all the items they had found on that expedition; that's why he had taken it, it seemed the least likely to be missed.
"Glad you're cooperating, Flare," Primeape said, peering at him. "I've never much liked you, to be honest. Wouldn't want to get on your pa's bad side, though. Got the whole clan convinced you're somethin' special." He snorted laughter.
Baku glowered. He'd always disliked Primeape, causing them to butt heads on missions, settling their feuds only at Simisage's command. Unlike the rest of the clan, Primeape, and Ambipom had great respect for Simisage after seeing her resolve in missions and were now tirelessly faithful to her.
"Simisage's done more than enough to prove she'd make the best leader," Ambipom added, his peppy attitude not troubled by the worsening weather. "I mean, it's for the best, isn't it? I don't know what she's planning, but Infernape has to see that! You agree, don't you Baku?" He clapped him on the back with his two hands.
"Y-yeah." He knew it was true, and he agreed. But do you have to say it like that? He'd always been unmotivated, but dammit, he cared about his family. And with the way things were turning out, he would return home as a pariah, if they let him rejoin at all.
And would he have the motivation to go out on his own again if it came to that? … No. He couldn't think what he would do; his wanderlust and desire for treasure had completely died with spirit. Hina…I'm sorry.
"Simisear!" Simisage shouted shrilly. She was in the boughs of the tree where he had first hidden from the thunderstorm, and was frantically tearing through the branches. "Get up here!" There was an edge of panic to her voice and Baku felt a sinking feeling.
He leapt through the muddy grass with his companions close behind, and looked up into the large tree. His sister leered at him, teeth bared in a growl. "There's nothing here."
What? "That can't be," Baku said, scrabbling up the tree as fast as he could. He had left it in a little nook the night of that other storm, he had made sure it was safe…
"Well, see for yourself!" snapped Simisage as he heaved himself to her side. Just as she had said, the small hollow he'd placed the item was completely bare. What perfect friggin luck. Beneath them, Primeape and Ambipom exchanged worried glances.
"I…had no idea," Baku defended, looking at her sincerely. Her eyes narrowed.
"Spare me the crap. I see how it is here! You…" she paused, stood up, and leered at him with loathing. "You probably have been planning on coming back, thinking you'd be welcomed back as a hero, this entire time, haven't you? Thinking daddy's favorite would miss him so."
"Simisage, what's going on?" Ambipom called up, and Simisage snarled in agitation.
"It wasn't enough to make me look bad in front of the only ones who believe in me, was it, Simisear?" Her lips twitched into a morbid smile for a moment. "No, it actually started before then. It started when your awful mother stole my father from me, and you came along."
"Simisage, what the actual fuck?" Baku's fur bristled despite it dripping with water, and he felt a kick of anger come over him. He hadn't asked for all this. "I'm trying to do everything I can to help you!"
"Simisage, Simisear, what's going on up ther-?"
"Shut up!" Simisage yelled, and reeling her hand back, she struck her brother across the face. Baku stumbled back a step in shock, weakening leg giving out as he stepped over the edge. With a grunt he grasped onto the branch with his arms and tried to pull himself back up.
"Pathetic," Simisage smirked, her tail lashing about. "Can't even defend yourself, and you think you can manage the task? You're even more weak than you used to be." Her amber eyes brightened in interest. "Ohhh? Perhaps you've been broken by a certain someone?" She leaned in closer and laughed. "It's true what they say, guys go for girls like their mothers. In your case, a slut. Like father, like son, as they say…"
Baku's face burned red in fury as clawed his way back up. Insulting their father was one thing, but…
"You leave them out of this!" Baku snapped, and with his sudden rage, tackled Simisage. The force sent her some feet back, and in midair two thick vines appeared from her palms and snapped around Baku's ankle.
With a thud both Pokémon fell from the tree in a tangled mass, and Simisage rolled over on top of him, vines tightening around his body. "Oh, did I hit a nerve?" She purred malevolently. Ambipom and Primeape rushed over.
"Where's the stone, Simisear? I'm giving you one last chance," she hissed as they approached.
"Simisage! Stop!" Baku cried, and kicked her forcefully with his back legs. She was flung back with a cry, and behind them their two companions yelped in alarm.
They rushed to her side to help her up from the soaked, frosty grass, but she pushed them back. "Go away!" Baku stood unsteadily, bracing himself for her to attack him again.
"That old man wouldn't know what was coming," she seethed, slowly getting to her feet. "I would be summoned to him to give a report, to give him an evaluation of your decomposing mental state, and he would listen. And then…" she paused for emphasis, her eyes bright as stars. "I'd present him with the Moon Stone. I would plunge it straight into his heart."
The exploration members went silent, eyes widening in horror, and the only sound was the pouring sleet and distant thunder for a few moments. Baku felt as if he had been paralyzed; he couldn't move, couldn't speak. This couldn't be true. It was too terrible. He'd always known she held it against their father for what happened to her and her mother, but this was beyond what he had imagined.
"Boss," Primeape gasped, "What are you sayin'?" For the first time, he seemed unsure of himself. "Y'know our team has the reputation of bein' killers and threatenin' it, but…never actually have we done it!"
"Leader Infernape?" Ambipom quivered, shaking his head. "But- why?"
Simisage scoffed scornfully. "You two, keep out of this. You wouldn't understand. This is between my baby brother and me. Isn't that right, Simisear?" She leered at him and took a step forward, slushy rain streaming down her face.
"…Baku."
She stopped mid-step, raising one thick brow. "What?"
The younger Pokémon shivered against the cold, feeling the bitter frost seeping to his bones. But inside he was a bonfire. He rose his head defiantly, and glared back at his sister. "My name is Baku."
"You've finally cracked, haven't you?" Simisage growled. "Just like that old fool." With a cry she leaped at Baku, shooting a barrage of Bullet Seeds in his direction. He dodged to the left, agility hampered by his leg, and reiterated with an Ember. The Bullet Seeds exploded to the ground where he had stood and ignited from his blast of fire. Simisage twisted in midair and sprang after him, nailing him with an Acrobatics attack.
"Unf!" Baku dug his fangs into her tail as she hit him. She cringed and fell beneath him, and the two tumbled down a slick slope over and over each other.
"Simisage! Simisear! Look out!" They heard Ambipom and Primeape shout out, their voices sharp, but it was too late.
CRNCH. The sopping grass gave way to another surface; hard and frigid. And it was shifting and creaking beneath them.
"Wh-what was that?" Simisage's aggression suddenly faded and she released Baku from beneath her. The overflowing river was starting to freeze over, and they had tumbled right onto a sheet of thin ice.
Baku's heart continued to race like a Rapidash. He could fell the river surging right beneath him, fierce and stronger than ever. "Don't move," he whispered, and he saw his own fear reflected in hers'.
She nodded, shivering. She looked at him for a moment, and then spoke. "I'm sorry, brother." Her eyes were shining, and Baku caught his breath. Was she…crying?
Whack! She punched him, and he cried out as the ice snapped beneath their weight. Instantly they were swallowed by the swell of the freezing water, cold as death, and the undertow, strengthened by the rainfall, caught them in its grip and sucked them down.
Is this what dying feels like? Darkness surrounded him, and as he felt himself pulled by the current, his vision began to blur. His head, throbbing from the impact of hitting the ice, was spinning in dizziness. But despite all this, a feeling of detachment washed over him. Then maybe…it isn't so bad. I'd like…to finally have a rest. The last thing he saw was the fading image of a shadow passing beneath him, and he let the current take him.
"Boss Simisage!" Primeape howled at the river's edge.
"Simisear! Simisage!" Ambipom scanned the raging waters worriedly. Neither of them could swim, and it was near impossible to see through the sheets of rain pouring.
Suddenly a soft sound came from above them, and the two fearful looked up just in time to see a round, pink shape hover overhead.