Hiei sat on a tree branch, overlooking the training match happening in a clearing below her. Well, perhaps it was not a match per se, more of an exercise, like the ones happening for the past few weeks. Her girlfriend decided to start with these before proceeding to any actual sparring. And Gardevoir knew enough to delegate such decisions to Inabayama, who was far more experienced in the matters of training.
This time, the exercise consisted of Inabayama effortlessly handling a massive boulder, as her trainee used everything she could to destroy it. Given how the rock was larger than the dragon, one would assume she was going to have issues with lifting it in the first place - and yet, with the way she was running, jumping and juggling the thing around to keep it out of reach, it looked like it was made of paper mache.
Hiei's tactile gravitational field said otherwise.
Speaking of, it seemed like the trainee had finally managed to put an impressively sized hole through the boulder, thus ending the exercise.
"Ight, let's stop here," Inabayama declared, throwing the remnants of the massive rock aside. It crumbled into debris on account of all the structural damage.
"Y-yeah," Honnoji agreed, flopping into the dirt while panting heavily.
Hiei was entirely correct in her estimation of the Absol. She had potential to be strong - really strong. Yet, due to whatever horrors Honnoji was subjected to, she was lagging behind, depending solely on the base power boost granted to her by her breakthrough. Woefully inefficient, and easily counterable by most specialities.
And with all of her emotional and mental baggage, there was a Seedot's chance in a volcano for Honnoji to start training without being prompted to in the first place.
Teaching the Absol necessary theory did not take long. Not the basics, at least. It took them an evening to establish the extent of the knowledge Honnoji already possessed, after which she just needed to be brought up to speed. Not to say she was a quick learner, but she learned nonetheless. Then, once there was enough of a knowledge base, Inabayama was tasked with the practical part. The dragon was all too happy to combine it with her own training.
"So, how is her progress?" Hiei slowly descended to the ground, greeted by a bright smile from the Goodra - still a scar on her eye - and an unsure, slightly pensive gaze of the Absol. Gardevoir was fairly certain she knew what was on Honnoji's mind. Perhaps, it was time for a talk.
"She's gotten pretty good. Ready to actually spar, I'd wager," Inabayama shrugged, then throwing a side glance at the Absol lying limply on the ground, still trying to catch her breath, "Uh, maybe not today though"
"Good," Gardevoir nodded, "Can you give us a minute to talk?"
She could instantly see understanding lighting up in dragon's eyes. Her wonderful girlfriend was clever and perceptive like that.
"Sure. I'll go check what Anegawa's been up to"
"Good call," and it was true. On the third day of their travels with this group, the creepy little bugger suddenly went berserk on several of Nagashino's slaves. Which was a thought of itself, honestly.
Hiei believed humanity to be the biggest threat to the sheer notion of free will among Pokemon. However, Nagashino's tendency to war against possible threats, and to enslave those she conquered spoke of the fact that perhaps free will was its own enemy in the first place. If Gardevoir was hellbent on granting freedom from every kind of oppression to all Pokemon, this revelation might've been a major blow to her - but frankly, in reality it was nothing more but a depressing thought.
Even once she had slain Arceus, took his place and rewritten the rules of the world, things were not guaranteed to get better. They could stay as bad, or even get worse. Which meant that even after completing her mission, she still had to monitor the world, predict where it headed and intervene if necessary. Which was work. Too much work. Still, work which had to be-
"W-why?.." Absol's voice suddenly interrupted Hiei's thoughts. After receiving a few moments of a pensive stare, she actually decided to elaborate, "I-I mean, why ar- why are you helping m-me like this?"
Honnoji had finally caught her breath, and now was looking at Gardevoir with that same confusion she exhibited through most of their journey. Well, not just confusion. It seemed like she already came up with an answer, but something in the current situation did not entirely agree with it.
Hiei could guess what was on Absol's mind. And she intended to dispel that useless notion.
"I don't know what humans done to you, Honnoji. You are welcome to tell me, whenever you feel like it, but I am able to make some educated guesses," a twitch-no, a suppressed shudder, "And I can tell, that up until recently, your options were not exactly great. You did not have an opportunity to become stronger, not while you struggled to survive. Though I can also tell, that you have the potential to be strong. Much stronger than you even thought was possible"
This only brought more confusion into Honnoji's eyes.
With a sigh, Hiei lowered herself to the ground, sitting down, and putting her weary head onto her palm. This helped with the energy expenditure, if only a little.
"The prophesy you spoke of, the one about the end of the world. We both know what it is really about. What could possibly cause me to go over the edge like that," a nod. Good, she is thinking, "Now, knowing about the reasons behind this prophecy, why would I want to help you get stronger?"
"S-so I could… Prote- protect her?.."
"Perhaps," Gardevoir agreed, "You are not there yet, but in time, perhaps. If this is all it takes to prevent such an outcome, it's all the better. But what else?"
"W-what… else?.."
Confusion again. Well, it seemed like she had to speak it out loud after all.
"In time, you will become stronger than Inabayama. Perhaps, even stronger than me. This ability of yours is impressive enough for that," she looked straight at the Absol, "You care for this world. You care for it so much it boggles my mind. You care for it despite all the horrors and injustice it subjected you to. Enough to try to save it, rather than asking the alien to bring you to her own universe while you still can. And in case this world-ending prophecy of yours comes to pass, you deserve the chance to protect it with all your might"
"Y-you want me to- to KILL you?!" Honnoji looked at her in complete and utter shock.
"I want you to have the power to stop me, if you ever need to. I trust that someone of your integrity would not abuse such power otherwise," at this, Hiei slowly rose into the air, "Become stronger, so you have a chance to change the fate you foretold, change it with your own might. One way or the other."
With these words, Gardevoir left ponderous Honnoji in that clearing.
There was one more reason she did not mention to the Absol. Like she told Inabayama previously, Gardevoir did not know how long she had left. She planned to get her claws on Arceus' neck soon, but what if she did not get to him fast enough? What if her life ran out before she even reached the Hall of Origin?
Inabayama had no ambition for being a god. Of that, Hiei was fairly certain. Oh, the dragon was going to take on Hiei's mantle if such thing ever came to pass, but only out of her own sense of duty, rather than any personal aspirations. Which was why, Hiei thought it was prudent to train someone rivalling her in strength. Someone who could slay Arceus in her stead, and finish her mission for her.
The thought of seeing what an Absol tormented by humans would do with an absolute power… Was fascinating enough.
Still, there was no use in pondering such matters.
Finally arriving to the camp, Hiei took note of the alien returning from her shopping trip, backpack noticeably heavier, and her 'pet' already back in the Pokeball. Perhaps, Gardevoir had to do something about that. Not now though - too tired for this. Next morning then.
Right now, it was time to sleep.