Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Hands of Creation

Chapter 145 - Unexpected Life

The doctors had insisted Zena stay in bed and recover from those wounds, which were still bleeding mildly despite her Mystic healing. Being struck by the Judgement of Arceus, as it turned out, was more difficult to heal. But Zena insisted a little harder that she go and see Owen; she would be fine. The pain meant little to her anyway.

It was easy to tell where they were. The Radiant Tree of Life, which had gone dark when Leph fled, was brightening. It seemed like it was trying to form a portal into the living world again, since their convenient one had gone out with the Tree's light.

She had made it just in time to see Owen, two of the Trio of Mind, their former assailants, and another Owen standing by the tree. Owen had pulled something vile and shadowy out of Leph's chest, which left her collapsed on the ground from the shock. By the time Zena had gotten within speaking distance, Aster had collapsed next, trembling and incapacitated.

"Um... I do hope I am not interrupting anything," Zena said.

Charmeleon and Charizard both looked at her with relieved smiles. Only then did Zena notice Mhynt also there, frowning pensively, but saying nothing.

"...Oh. Right," Mhynt suddenly said, holding out her palm before forming that empty Honedge.

Zena was immediately on guard, but when Owen and Owen only looked perplexed, she did nothing further.

Mhynt pointed the blade at the ground and fired something red. Zena watched in disgusted awe as a skeleton formed, stuffed and covered itself in living organs and red flesh, and finally covered properly in skin that went over the body in a fine mist before solidifying.

A Swampert now stood there, dazed, and returning to his senses. "Buh—huh?" He blinked. "What? Where?" He spun around, but then yelped when Mhynt tossed the Honedge husk toward him.

"Keep it as an apology," Mhynt said with a hum. "I don't need it anymore."

"Oh. Um. Thanks?" Swampert gave Charizard Owen a panicked look, but he only nodded, as if that would mean something.

"Anyway," Charmeleon Owen finally said, "I think... it's about time we do our own return to form, huh?"

Charizard Owen nodded. "Right. Let's get together again."

They stood awkwardly. Zena awaited whatever strange process they were going to go through. She wondered if she would be allowed to watch, or if it was something stranger and... No, no, she shouldn't fantasize.

"Um, Owen?" Zena spoke up.

"Yeah, hang on," they both said, staring at each other.

More silence.

"...Okay," Charizard Owen said, clearing his throat. "So... we have no idea how to recombine."

Zena gaped. "What?!"

"We didn't think about this part!" Charmeleon Owen squeaked. "We uhh, I mean, I figured one of us would die and we'd combine that way! I wasn't counting on being rescued from all angles..."

"Wait, so should I kill you?" Charizard Owen asked.

"I—maybe? You're the one with wings, so I don't think I should take you."

"Wait, can't you evolve yourself?"

"I kinda tried that during the raid and it didn't work..."

"So that's another strange thing along with not being able to Perceive part of you..."

The two Owens continued to talk to each other, theorizing and contemplating with sentences too fast that Zena stopped following along.

"Hey, ehh..." Manny spoke up. "How about a dance?"