Simisage squinted and cringed against the forceful oncoming current, and with all her strength kicked with her legs, swimming against it. The image of Simisear's questioning face as she shoved him into the river came to her mind. Why had she done it? …Because. Because it was all she could do.
A chunk of ice swept past her and she narrowly dodged, panting and shivering hard as she struggled to stay above water. She could swim, yes, but more than anything she hated the cold, and even as she fought the waves she could feel her body going into shock.
All of a sudden she felt something grab her around the middle and panic shocked through her; she twisted around, woozy and shuddering, and came face to face with a blue Pokémon.
That Pokémon from before.
"Where is he?" she cried, face full of concern. She splayed easily on the water, floating against the current as if it were nothing.
"Don't touch me!" shouted Simisage as the other Pokémon held her steady.
"I said, where is he?" The Simipour's eyes narrowed as she enunciated.
"Hina! Down here!" Musha called from above. "Down the river!"
Simisage looked up in confusion, and then back at Hina, who was now rapidly trying to usher her back to the bank several yards off.
"Stop," she snarled, and Hina was about to protest furiously when she continued, "Go get him. I can make it on my own!" With a snap, the grass Pokémon launched her vines toward a leaning tree nearby and lassoed it securely. Ambipom and Primeape on the riverbank rushed over.
Hina didn't waste a moment, and leapt downstream as fast as she could go. The water was at twice its normal height, and at twice its normal speed. In freezing water, she realized, a Pokémon would be dead in fifteen minutes or less. Heart pounding faster in fear, she took a breath of air, and sunk beneath the icy surface.
She glanced around frantically in the dark watery world, and grew more nervous by the second. Where is he, oh oh- Then she saw him.A sharp edge of wood planking jut from the gritty floor, and just barely his unmoving form splayed around it, battered by the water's flow.
Hina's pulse jerked into overdrive. She jet downward and grabbed him beneath his arms, dreading his dead weight as she pulled him up through the freezing water. He slumped over her, Pokedoll-like, and when she finally broke the surface, it felt like a million years.
"Baku!" she cried, turning to face him, holding his sopping body near. "Baku?" She shook him gently, but the russet Pokémon made no response. I have to get to dry land, out of this cold. Looking around, she realized she'd been swept at least a quarter of a mile from where she left Simisage, and the wooden plank she'd seen must have been an old remnant of the bridge. Noticing the closest shoreline some meters off, Hina hugged Baku to her chest and stroked to land. She heaved his waterlogged body onto the embankment and knelt over him anxiously.
"Please be ok," she moaned, lying her head on his chest. "Don't be dead, don't be dead…" Faintly, so soft she didn't feel it at first, she felt a heartbeat. Slow and weak. But alive, just barely. The rain had let up slightly, but still pelted down on them, and she did her best to cover his body with her own.
Some distance off she heart confused and furious shouting. It has to be Simisage and the others, Hina thought desperately. They're looking for him. Looking for ME.
Musha appeared at her side through the tall reeds, genuinely concerned. I was the one who was wrong about him, Hina…he had said hours before, face full of shame. And he had then shared with her the secrets he had learned on that night he spent alone; and while a great number involved Baku and the Team Monito, he had also shared some of himself.
"Maybe this will help," Musha offered hopefully, flourishing a plump newly grown berry. Hina took it gratefully and brought it to his face, hands shaking. Musha hated to see her like that.
"C-come on, Baku," Hina said, doing her best to keep a steady voice. "It's the seed you planted. You want to try it, don't you?" She trembled as she propped him up, face to face with him. "I…I'll even roast it for you. Just like you like them-" She trailed off and pulled close to his face, resting her forehead against his and nuzzling him. "…I'm sorry, Baku. I'm so sorry." Tears stung at her eyes as she slid her fingers down through his fur, and they fell like drops of warm sunlight onto his chest.
"You really are hopeless." Baku shuddered softly, and she saw with a jolt of shock he was shallowly breathing. As she watched, he rose his head and sat up, his amber eyes full of fatigue, but glimmering with amusement. "How many times do I gotta say it? Rule number two, sister. Stay ca-"
"Baku!" Crying out with a joy she had never felt before, Hina hurled herself at her friend, cutting him short by hugging him tightly.
"Over there! Behind the reeds!" Instantly Hina regretted her outburst, and looked at Baku in fear. What will they do to him? He scrambled to his feet just as Simisage charged toward them, ready to fight. His head and lungs reeled in pain and his body felt like a thousand tonnes. But I have to protect Hina.
Then Simisage charged right past him. Primeape and Ambipom, who were following nervously, stopped abruptly when they saw him, and looked away as if ashamed.
"You!"
Baku turned, shivering and woozy, to see Simisage glowering down at Hina. His blood ran cold. Oh, no. "Simisage! Leave her out of this! This is between you and me!" He could see Simisage was in no better condition to fight than he was: she moved slow and awkwardly; stumbling about as if in a stupor. She shivered intensely and her eyes were glazed. Her cheeks were shining bright red, her lips a pale purple.
"No, baby brother," Simisage said softly, not taking her gaze from Hina. Her voice seemed strained, and he could hardly understand her over her teeth chattering. "You know this is bigger than me and you. It's between me and the humans." She snarled, teeth bared viciously. "And your little friend here just so happens to be working with them."
Baku's jaw dropped, and behind him he heard Primeape and Ambipom gasp. How long had she known Hina was once a domesticated Pokémon? But what mattered even more, was what made her think she was conspiring with them now? That was ridiculous. It made no sense. It was…
Simisage breathed hard, fur dripping, and grinning triumphantly as if uncovering some great secret, as she leered down at Hina. Then she noticed Musha, who dropped down to Hina's side protectively.
"The Moon Stone," Simisage gasped, staring at the Musharna in dawning horror and fury. "How dare you use the Moon Stone for something so selfish!"
"Isn't that funny," Musha said. "I was going to say the same thing about you." Simisage gave him a baffled look and he continued. "You'd never guess what kind of memories are stored inside everyday items and objects. Just by touching these things…I can see, feel, the strong emotions of those who had ties to it." He motioned to Simisage and Baku. "Such as you two."
Simisage exploded. "I don't have time for this shit! You disgust me! Each and every one of you!" She spun around in a circle, slowly and clumsily, glowering at all around her. Her eyes rested on Hina. "Especially you. You wishy-washy goody-goody who just can't butt out of other people's business! Just like a human, or their disgusting Pokémon, messing everyone else's lives up! "
"Yes. I belonged to a human, once." Hina looked up at her, unfazed, her voice calm and soft. Then she stood, straightened up, and looked at Simisage levelly. "And so did you."
A stunned silence filled the woods, broken only by the falling rain, which had lessened from a deluge to a shower. Baku gaped at Simisage to Hina and back again, mind in a whirl. What's Hina saying? He thought wildly. She's going to get herself killed!
"What?" Simisage roared after a few seconds of shock, and her eyes blazed. She lunged for Hina, but then fell back, grasping her chest as if in pain.
She's in hypothermia, Baku realized with growing dread. Simisage sunk to the ground, eyes closed as her heart beat quickly in her shuddering chest.
He leaped down to her side and forged an ember in his palms. "Simisage? Simisage! Hold on!" But the flame fizzled out almost instantly. He moaned as his mind swam in dizziness and tried once more to the same result. What's the matter with me? Oh man what's the MATTER with me! Hina came to his side and steadied him, then knelt by Simisage.
"We need to get you someplace warm," she said worriedly.
"Forget it!" Simisage barked. Her fingertips and lips were closer to blue now, and her eyelashes seemed darker against her paling skin. "I'd rather die than have the help of a dirty human Pokémon!"
"Simisage, please," Baku begged his sister.
Hina chewed her lip for a moment, face melancholy. "Only one who has been close to a trainer can feel so bitter towards them," she spoke finally. "…You were left behind. Like me. And I know how much that hurts."
Ambipom and Primeape were listening in closely, eyes wide as Pokeballs. Simisage, however, didn't deny it this time. She panted hard, eyes fluttering.
"We need to move her!" Baku said. "Sis, please-!"
"Left behind," Simisage chucked suddenly. She rose her head and looked at Hina weakly. "Is that what you prefer to call it?" There was a certain tone to her voice that was different, and Baku realized that she was close to tears. "They capture me and take me from my home. My mother and I are separated… and when I meet the one human who can speak our tongue, and rescued me, I was too grateful. He was different; he didn't enslave Pokémon for tools of war. I wanted to be with him, and I trusted him. But he didn't feel the same way." She let out a shaky breath. "He abandoned me. And then I went home."
"Boss," Primeape whispered. "You wanted to be with a…human?"
"You didn't even want to escape?" Ambipom was aghast.
"You can say and think of me all you want," Simisage said. "It won't matter much anymore." She lay her down in the grass and curled up, Baku lying against her, hoping his body heat would be enough. "Come the next sunrise, boys, I won't be here to stop you."
Hina was silent a moment, sympathy in her eyes. Then it hit her. "Baku!" she cried, and he looked at her immediately. "Bring out the sun! It'll stop the rain! It will warm up the sky, and strengthen your fire!"
His face lit up in understanding and he stood, the rain splashing his face. Please let this work. Summoning balls of light, they sped into the dark cloudy sky and vanished. He held his breath, and with the silence around him, could tell others were doing so too.
And then…a shaft of light. Through a thunderhead, a bright beam emanated, and then another and another. The cloud began to fade as it was overwhelmed by light, and meanwhile the shower began to weaken…weaken…gone. Slowly splitting apart, the dark gray clouds diffused and vanished into the overbearing sun.
It's high noon, Hina realized, watching in awe as the sun appeared directly overhead. The sky had evolved from a slate gray to a bright blue within five minutes, in which all six Pokémon had watched the weather unfold in silence. The sunlight was strong as it shone through the trees.
"D-didn't know you could do that," Simisage mumbled.. Baku spun around, nearly having forgotten the situation at hand. Once again he clasped his hands and an Ember appeared.
"Just stay still," he ordered, relieved to see that strengthened by the warming sun, the flame did not sputter out. He carefully brandished it several inches over her body.
"I'm not going anywhere." Having told her story, she somehow seemed more at peace. She looked up at him and smiled weakly, and Baku felt his own eyes begin to water. Simisage- and Hina- didn't deserve to go through this.
"Simisage," Hina spoke up. Musha was at her side, and she was clasping her Mystic Water to her chest. "I am proud to be a trainer's Pokémon. My owner loved me, and if he is out there and remembers us, he still does. But we both need to stop dwelling on the past, and learn to live and forget. We have a choice." She took a step forward to the leader, and looked at Baku who was gingerly heating her. "I know I made mine." He glanced up and their eyes met; a girlish blush crept over her face and her blood tingled again in the way she now knew.
"I think you could use this more than I could." She unclasped her necklace and brought it up from over her head, holding it out to Simisage. Her eyes widened at the offering, and looked at Baku, then back up at Hina. Without a word, she reached out and took the shining pendant, eyes sparkling.
"Hina…" Musha whispered, "You're lucky item!"
Hina smiled and shook her head. "It's time to let go, Musha. All this time I've been believing I needed it to take care of the garden. But I know that's not true." She watched as Baku helped Simisage get to her feet, clasping the item around her own neck. "Maybe the kindness of my Master will somehow help your clan."
Simisage stared her down and then finally spoke. She seemed significantly better, and stood tall and arrogant. "You're the strangest Pokémon I have ever met." Spinning around, she headed towards Ambipom and Primeape. "Let's go boys, we're going home. I'm done here. If anyone asks…we tell them Simisear is dead." She paused and looked over her shoulder, eyes regretful.
"Boss!" Primeape said, exchanging a nervous look with Ambipom. "But…where will that leave us? Home..home's in bad shape!"
"We'll just have to make due. Now are we the greatest exploration team, or are we not?"
"Baku…" Hina whispered, abruptly tugging on the dismayed Pokémon's arm. He stared at her, drawn from his friends' predicament. "Is that…what I think it is?" She held him tightly, and pointed skyward. At her words, Baku and the others, overhearing, looked up as well.
"A rainbow," cried Ambipom, clapping a tail to his mouth in fascination. Through the treetops, the sunlight gleamed, and through the center of it, a cascade of colors streaked through the clouds.
"Well, dayum," Primeape muttered. "When's the last time I saw one of them? Must be some sign from ol' Ho-oh!"
"Ho-oh?" Simisage said, looking up with an odd expression on her face. Father said Ho-oh scorned her, Baku thought, that because of her and her mother, the clan was doomed… And then it hit him.
"Sister," he said. "You can move the clan here. There's shelter, water, food…" he trailed off, and looked at Hina and Simisage nervously. I didn't think to ask Hina's permission…but then she beamed at him, and nodded.
"We're restoring the forest to how it once was," she added. "And that includes being a home for Pokémon. The more we have helping out, the better." He really cares about his family. Just as I care for Musha…and Master. And him. "Please. You're welcome to stay here."
"Boss…?" Ambipom and Primeape looked enthused, but peered into Simisage's puzzled face. She closed her eyes and then sneered. "Fools. All of you. But… I suppose I'd be a bigger fool to go against you."
She took a step towards Baku and put a hand on her hip, tail swaying. "Well, then, baby brother. If you need me so much, then I guess that's settled. We're off, and we're bringing the whole bunch back with us." Baku couldn't help grinning at her words. This was the sister he knew and loved, the one without the hate inside her, the one who put on airs but was nothing more than sassy. The sister he had grown up with when they were young.
"And you…" Simisage turned to Hina, as if to speak. Her mouth was open for a minute, but then she closed it, with nothing to say. She turned back to Ambipom and Primeape who stood waiting. "Alright boys, haul out!" They began to make their way through the tall reeds, and out of sight. As they began to dwindle through the grass, Simisage let out one last shout. "If I see those pesky birds on the way, brother…I'll send them this way. Shouldn't be hard to herd them, huh?" And then she was gone.
Musha floated down to Hina with a sigh of relief, and she stroked him wearily. I'm pretty wound up myself, she thought, and cast a look at Baku, who was still watching the grass into which his friends had vanished. "…Baku?"
He responded to his name, and smiled at her. It was so good to see her. Safe and sound. "Hina, I'm the one who should apologize," he said, taking a step towards her. She blinked in surprise. "I never meant to get you involved in any of this. I was…stupid. And through it all, you came and saved my life." He was in front of her now, and she felt her face burn. Musha lit off her shoulder and flitted off some distance, embarrassed.
"It's okay," Hina replied, her heart pounding. Now that he was staring at her, apologizing to her, she could barely muster the words she had been trying to say. She rose her head nervously, and looked into his grateful amber eyes. I don't want to lose them, not again. "And…you? You're going now, aren't you?"
Confusion flashed in Baku's eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Hina chewed her lip and coiled a dreadlock of hair around her finger, feeling her blood tingling in her like hot metal. "The rainbow. Earlier you told me, every time you see one, you're going to head out on a new adventure." She swallowed. "So you're leaving, aren't you?"
Baku looked dumbstruck and frowned. Then he reached out and caressed the side of Hina's face, sending a shiver up her spine. "I already told you my reasons for that, Hina." He stroked her hair and she fell against him, dread growing in her. "I'm looking for something worthwhile."
"Yes…" she whispered into his fur, tightening her hands into balls around it. And that was something she could never provide.
In shame she realized she had tears beginning to stream down her cheeks as he touched his forehead to hers.
"Well, I did."
Then she felt his other hand raise her chin, and she looked into his eyes yet again in disbelief. He was smiling, and then lowered his face, kissing her tearstained cheek. A jolt of pleasure ran through her and she closed her eyes, blushing furiously, and wrapped her arms around him tightly. Tail weaving excitedly, it found his and curled around it possessively. Her wet lashes brushed his face as she nuzzled him, heart pounding against his. At last, she felt at home.