Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Hands of Creation

Chapter 72 - Water and Fire

Zena's realm was entirely underwater, complete with bubbly sea beds and rich, colorful reefs of coral. An undersea cavern lined with red and pinkish polyps marked their entrance into the Water Realm, opening into a shimmering field of white sand and dark green seaweed. Few spirits lived here, though those that did peeked out and watched Zena's return.

Ever since she'd come to Hot Spot, things felt a lot more cheerful and much less gloomy in the Water Realm. Even the shimmer of the water's surface seemed brighter. Zena propelled herself out of the cavern first and looked back. "I want to thank you for escorting me, Man—er... Manny?"

Manny's eyes were wide, paws covering his mouth in shock.

"Ah. I forgot. You should be able to breathe here, Manny, if you... simply think to do so."

Manny gave Zena an incredulous look, a few bubbles escaping his snout. Behind him, Azu proudly beat his chest, smiling triumphantly at being in an environment that favored his Watery side. Verd, meanwhile, was rolling his eyes at Roh, who was flailing in dramatic, agonizing pain, the flames on his head and tail bubbling in the water. They eventually went out, and the Infernape turned belly-up, motionless and dead.

The Chesnaught jabbed Roh on the side. The fiery fighter puffed out a plume of hot air and flailed again, glaring at Verd. In response, he pointed at Zena; after following the claw, Roh shook his head and gave a polite bow.

She had to admit—it was odd to see an Infernape without their fire. He almost seemed... bald. "I suppose you're all a bit out of your elements."

Azu shook his head emphatically and opened his mouth. Huge air bubbles escaped him in a rhythm that could only suggest laughter.

Yen, behind them all, shook his head, eyes lowered.

"Well, I won't keep you," Zena said. "I can handle myself from here. Return to your realm; I have... a few things that I want to do."

Manny and the Fighters tilted their heads.

"Do you have an idea where Owen may have gone? I have my doubts about him returning to Hot Spot so soon, the way he was... but I also don't think he'd remain with Eon. Surely he'd..."

To this, they could only reply with pensive frowns.

Zena smiled sadly. "Well, I will figure it out. Thank you. Please, we can talk again in the living world."

They all nodded—Roh the most enthusiastic—and spun around to return into the cavern that they had entered from. Zena flew through the water, making little conversation with the shy spirits of the ocean, until she found a great dip in the sea floor.

A few other watery spirits floated about listlessly in the sea. They spared a glance at Zena and gave awkward waves; Zena did the same with her left eyebrow. She wondered how they were all doing. Admittedly, she hadn't spoken to them very much. They had grown lonely together, often spending most of their time sleeping or hibernating to waste the years of eternity away. It wasn't much of a waste if there was no end to it.

A Swampert stared at Zena from the bottom of the riverbed, right at the edge of the abyss. He waved a huge arm her way, and Zena waved back. She figured most of them were already caught up in everything, and, briefly, she wondered if she should stay back to talk to them more.

Owen spoke with his spirits now and then. They always had useful advice. She'd tried that with them, too, but perhaps she had been too depressing and lonely before. Who would want to hang around someone like that, if only out of obligation? Her tail twitched and her eyebrows curled up. No, that wasn't a healthy way to look at things.