Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Hands of Creation

Chapter 142 - The Life They Live

"Xerneas... What an awful god," Trina muttered under her breath, riding atop Alex's greater head.

The Hydreigon wasn't really sure how he'd wound up as the Snivy's noble steed, but as he flew down from the Voidlands' portal and toward the ruins of Hot Spot, he found a strange satisfaction in being so needed.

Also on his back were Amia and Diyem. Between the four of them, Alex was, for once, the strongest of the team, though that didn't say much when his passengers were all in their first stage of life, technically.

When he made it to Kilo Village after spending some time letting the trio enjoy the sunlight along the way, he landed near the behemoth that was curled up near the western edge of town.

"That's Nate, I believe," Alex explained.

"That... creature is friendly?" Trina asked, giving him a skeptical look. "He's as large as a small Dungeon."

"Yes, he saved the town, I believe," Alex explained.

"Hmm..." Diyem seemed troubled by something. "Nate..."

"Do you know him?" Alex asked.

"Distantly. You could say we used to be enemies."

"Oh." Alex slowed his flight. "Does that mean I should avoid him for now? Or, you said, used to be enemies. Are things... better, now?"

"I'm trying that new technique called 'optimism,' since the only difference is my name is Diyem now."

"A-ah."

"You're both dark creatures with great power, right?" Amia asked, tapping her chin. "Were you two cosmic brothers, in a sense?"

"I highly doubt that," Trina said, but then stared at Diyem for the answer.

"Yes, in a sense," Diyem replied, which only annoyed Trina enough for her to scowl. "Nate was born at the same time I was. That's all I know. I've known him, felt his presence, for as long as I could remember. I also remember hating it."

"Then, Nate knows your presence, and hates you, too?" Alex asked. "Again, should I..."

"I don't know what his thoughts on me are," Diyem said. "He won't harm you. Perhaps I can use you as a shield."

"Comforting." Alex bumped his head hands together, but then realized that several of the bigger eyes on Nate's strange body were staring at them. "Ah! We're spotted... I suppose I have no choice." He continued the flight at his original speed, descending for conversation. He still stayed many tens of feet off the ground for a quick getaway, though against something as massive as Nate, that probably wouldn't mean much.

Nate's body language was inscrutable. For something so large, there was nothing Alex could understand. He was much more familiar with a Charmander, and could tell that Diyem was tense and bracing for something bad.

"Can he hear us? We're far from him," Alex said. "Maybe I should go closer."

"Do what you want."

"Well, that doesn't fill me with confidence at all!"

"I'm still working on confidence."

Amia hummed. "He isn't attacking. Why don't you wave?"

"Wave? Oh, of course!" Hesitantly, Alex waggled his left, lesser head in Nate's direction.

One of the five... heads that Nate had waggled back. The second from the left. Alex wasn't sure if that was a head or some kind of face-arm.

"Aww, he waves the same as you!" Amia said. "You know, I've never seen a Pokémon like that before. Is he some kind of... alternative entity like you, Diyem?"