Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Hands of Creation

Chapter 51 - Fickle Soul

"Mbbfffrr..." Anam slimed his way into his makeshift home in Hot Spot Cave, curling around his favorite rock until it was completely drenched in his purple goo. "I missed sleep," he said.

Rhys, doing his best to be cordial, averted his eyes and said, "I believe I will be resting with Elder in my home. So, unless I am needed elsewhere?"

He was atop Elder's shell, legs crossed. Elder was only somewhat warm in what would have been the hot spots of his shell, and Rhys had little trouble riding on his back. Despite his typically reserved nature, nothing was going stopping the Lucario's tail from wagging vigorously at the prospect of finally having a night together with Elder that wasn't just in their telepathic connections.

"Ugh..." Demitri stretched his back, hearing a few cracks. "That was such a long walk. We need to install a better Waypoint system for this place."

"Well, we can't have that," Nevren said. "Imagine if someone from the public sees us using a strange, exclusive Waypoint? We'd have to find a place in secret, and that, well, that would just get even more complicated. We can only use our Badges and their personal warp point."

"Is Valle still here?" Willow asked. "I don't think I saw him in a while!"

"I am still here."

"Enet," Step said, "perhaps it is appropriate to release your illusions. There is no longer a need." Indeed, Step was back to her Icy self, gently tapping against her armor to make sure it was back to normal.

Enet nodded and clicked her claws together, concentrating on the surrounding area. Mispy's tendrils returned to view. Relieved, she shook a few of them and wrapped a few on her back to envelop Demitri, squeezing him in an abominable hug. Demitri let out a little wheeze, nuzzling the tip of his snout against her back. He was careful not to cut her with his tusks.

Step scanned the area. "You have not restored Valle."

"Hmph!" Enet turned her head, arms crossed.

"The Shiftry shall return, yes?" Step said lowly. "We do not want to bump into him."

"I request visibility."

ADAM spun his head irritably. "Restore Valle."

"No."

ADAM buzzed. "Sudo restore Valle."

Enet hissed. "No! He's dumb!"

Just in time to evade the scuffle, Elder slipped into Rhys' home. "Oh, what a wonderful place you live in, Rhys. A bit," he paused, "primitive, and a tad cluttered, but it's very quaint, isn't it?"

"I've grown quite accustomed to the simple nature," Rhys said. "I certainly miss some of the luxuries that Nevren was able to produce—and in general the technologies of modern Kiloan life—but what we have here is just fine."

Elder chuckled.

Rhys glanced at the giant Torkoal again. He was used to the general smokiness of Elder's presence. It used to sting his nose, long ago. But now, after all this time away, the smell was nostalgic. He leaned forward, tracing at a familiar ridge pattern. "Being physically nearby... nothing replaces it," he said. "Meditation is never enough."

"It truly isn't," Elder said.

"You don't have to go back, do you?" Rhys asked. "Elder, I... I simply don't see why you still want to follow Eon, after all he's done. Is that truly what you want to do? He's terrorizing the Guardians. Is he truly the one you'd rather have the Orbs? To have control over the world?"

"I don't," Elder said. "I'm afraid that I... don't know who I want to have that sort of power, Rhys. But I had nowhere to go. Eon is losing himself, Rhys. If I leave, I do not know if it will be for the greater good. If Eon grows too impatient, he may do something that he'll regret. For all of us."