The creepy little bugger was slithering behind her, torn skinsuit dragging across stone floors. His annoying glare was on her at all times. He was waiting. Looking for an opening, for all good it did to him.
For all the significant power the ghost had, he was also bound by rules, and to a greater degree than most. The Fairy Type was the most conceptual, the most abstract of all Types. Luckily, the creepy little bugger was here to help Hiei with figuring this out, even against his will.
See, he shattered her passive shield in just three strikes. Which was impressively fast, but fine. This defence was there to ward off any unexpected attacks, give her time to react. Except, once she made a sturdier barrier, it also shattered in three strikes. And then, the one she made even sturdier, three strikes. THEN she made one that was weaker than even her passive one, also three strikes. Every barrier took three strikes, regardless of their strength.
This, combined with the fact the ghost made sure the fight looked and felt like something out of a cheap ghost novel, shrugged off both telekinetic assault and instantly regenerated after her literally tearing off his damn limbs? Gave her an idea. A possible explanation, regardless of how strange it sounded.
Everything and everyone followed specific rules determined at the birth of the Universe. All existing matter, all that could be seen and touched was a collection of quadrillions nanoscopic particles arranged into different configurations of quarks, atoms and molecules, held together by universal forces. In living beings, said arrangement decided their place in the biosphere, and their interactions with other living beings on both physical level, and in terms of survival. After millions, and billions of years of natural selection, and under the guidance of their bumbling god, these beings were separated into different Types.
Some, were separated based on their prime physical characteristics. Some based on an element. Some - on more obscure concepts, like emotions, or willpower. And among them all, was one Type most unlike any other, since its distinct quality was so abstract, so esoteric, so undoubtedly strange, that even knowing this information, it was difficult to actually BELIEVE it.
Fairy Type was not a conduit of positive emotions. Nor was it about the power of the Nature, or the power of the Universe. That would've been too easy, it would've made too much sense. No. The power of the Fairy Type was to treat reality itself like a play. A story. A fairy tale.
And everything about this Type only made sense in a way of what could've accounted for a good story. A Hero could not fall to an evil lieutenant. He had to slay the mighty dragon. He had to vanquish the great Evil. Few stories could afford to subvert this. And yet, once the great journey was completed, the Hero could be poisoned. He could be assassinated by those he swore to protect.
And once she realised this, everything clicked into place. The 'Script' behind it all was simple. The ghost gave three warnings, unless provoked otherwise. He was anywhere and everywhere in this darkness. He tore down any barrier in three strikes, the fourth tearing into his victim. He killed and mutilated, literally wearing the hides of his victims. Rather than a 'Hero', he was a 'Monster' of the 'Story'. And there were only two ways to defeat a 'Monster' without tearing down the 'Story' itself. By being either a 'Hero', or a 'Bigger Monster'.
Hiei chose the latter.
Once she knew what she was looking for, she just used her familiarity with the Fairy Type 'moves' to channel her energy into changing the narrative. It just took time - and losing most of his limbs - for the creepy little bugger to realise he was outmatched. The limbs were probably not going to grow back - not since they were detached within confines of his own 'Story' - but she did not care much. The Absol claimed they needed him, but did not specify if they needed him in one piece.
Soon, she glided out of the darkness, first into that 'security room', and then outside, the rest of the group in tow. The remaining two - the Glaceon and the Vespiquen - were just outside.
"H-how did you-" the Ice Type looked like he had just seen a ghost. Well, the Mimikyu was right there…
"Tore off his limbs until he stopped being a problem," she shrugged, knowing full well that a pittance of shallow scratches on her looked far more impressive than if she walked out of the building in pristine condition. Knowing full well the implicit threat behind her words as well. She was good at threats, both implicit and direct.
The group gathered in a semi-circle in front of her, with only Inabayama standing by her side, and the Mimikyu stopping a bit away from the rest. Also, at the very edges of her tactile gravitational field, she felt over a hundred of small-ish creatures of roughly similar size and weight. Combees.
"I guess this was a test you lot threw for me at the last possible moment," she scoffed, then looking directly at the Glaceon, "Did I pass?"
It took him a few seconds to process everything, after which he steeled his expression, and lowered his head.
"Yes, you did," he agreed, "I was not entirely sold on mutt's visions, but seeing how you've managed to beat the ghost into submission, it would've been foolish to deny your strength"
This Glaceon was a slimeball, she had to keep it in mind. Her gaze flicked to the Vespiquen, who was yet to say anything at all since they arrived.
"My Hive will follow you, as long as you promise a favour in return"
"A favour?"
"A land to call our own. A land far away from humans, where my children can live and prosper with no threats"
A land - a haven - like her mountain was. She could do that. She nodded.
"That's reasonable," she looked at the others, "The rest of you can count on similar favours. As long as it's reasonable, it will be granted"
The alien did not react - she did not understand a word being said. The ghost was not reacting either, fully committed to glaring at Hiei with pure, unfiltered hatred. The Glaceon smirked - and she instantly knew she probably was going to veto his first three or four ideas. And Absol… Just looked relieved.
She was the one Hiei could not really make heads or tails of. Not yet. What was her name again?..
"Honnoji," at this, Absol shuddered, snapping to attention, "What were your visions starting from this moment?"
"W-well… I only- only know of p-possible dangers," Honnoji started, "B-but the biggest- biggest one is cro-crossing the ocean, I-I think?.."
Hm… They did have to cross Tsugaru Strait on the way to Ishikari Mountains. And, well, the Vespiquen could probably just fly there, along with her Combees, but the rest…
"What happens there?"
"W-we take over a- take over a human vessel. Eith-either on w-water, or on air. O-or we freeze the- freeze the ocean o-over"
"And the humans interfere. Halfway through," it was a safe guess, all things considered. The Absol nodded.
This was an issue with having a large group. Her and Inabayama alone, could easily travel undetected. She could protect her girlfriend, and transport them both. Adding five other Pokemon into the mix made things more difficult. Adding thousands of other Pokemon? Made it even worse.
Except, according to Honnoji, they needed the entire group. Probably something to do with the last leg of the journey. Considering just how much they've attracted human attention so far, she could probably expect to meet a veritable army at Ishikari Mountains. And last time she went against a literal army, Hiei lost too much energy on the way to her goal. If she could just delegate most of the fighting…
Though… She looked the group over, and… Yeah, she only had a vague idea of wherever they were going to be of any use. Well, Mimikyu was strong. Possibly enough to even threaten Inabayama, and that was a high bar to pass. The rest though… She did not know, besides the fact they did not manage to deal with the ghost. It was difficult to gauge someone's strength at a glance, or even through her tactile gravitational field - for all the energy signatures it measured with enough concentration, it did not account for tactics, techniques and such. There was no universal measure of strength, after all.
"I think I've got some ideas of how to avoid that. But before we get to that, I'll need to actually see what you are capable of"
Hiei glanced at her girlfriend. The dragon smirked in return, probably guessing what she had in mind. Good.
"You, you and you," she pointed at the Absol, the Glaceon and the Vespiquen, "Will spar with Inabayama."
"Yup. And don't bother with taking turns," Goodra smiled sweetly, "All three. At once."