Hideo wasn't quite yearning to return to the Ultra Deep Sea mines. His last time here had not been a pleasant one, lost and confused in the middle of a conflict between League and Rocket.

The League had requested its members investigate the area, even try to take some material that could potentially let them Dynamax their Pokemon. Hideo had wanted to refuse by just ignoring the request, but Uxie wouldn't stop prodding him to go.

And one could only handle a pixie prodding them (mentally and physically) so long before giving in.

At least this time, he could prepare adequately. Uxie coming along again was a no-brainer, but he'd also be entering with another person: Eris Halla . Perhaps Uxie knew they would be going together and wanted to spend time with Mesprit.

It wouldn't be long until they reached the core. Though Hideo couldn't see the distortions around it, he could certainly hear the pulsations, and the area just felt off. Uxie was even warning him to be cautious.

"Well…we gotta get close if we're gonna mine this stuff," Hideo said, Excadrill by his side. "My psychic Pokemon are pretty good at shielding against hallucinations and stuff, so I could go first. Plus, uh, I'm not gonna be able to do much if it gets too bad."

Choice: Take the brunt equally +50 points

Eris Halla

Splitting the load would prove to be a good idea - though it did have its share of complications.

The mental shield Uxie provides is a familiar one, spread between both children and their Pokemon. It's not a perfect shield; it was the first time Uxie was providing one under these conditions, and the first time it was spread like this.

Hideo could feel that familiar dread, that desire to get out he'd experienced the last time he was here. He didn't want to stick around long enough for it to get worse, his attention focused on getting his Excadrill to mine out some of the material they needed.

And they weren't the only ones here. "Guess…guess those are those weird creatures, huh?" At least one sounded like one of those weird jellyfish monsters he'd encountered before. "Arceus, I don't want those jellyfish touching me again..."

He had a couple other Pokemon out - a Medicham and a Starmie - to help repel the wandering Pokemon that tried to approach them. He could only hope Psychic-types had a better chance of resisting whatever was steadily driving them into madness.

Choice: Focus on mining +1 curio

Eris Halla

"It's uh…it's not good." His mind tried to drift back towards his last time here, but the energy coming from the core acted as a mire, trying to pull him down towards panic. It's not an unfamiliar sensation to him; his feelings had been manipulated by his Pokemon enough times for him to notice these more egregious shifts.

Though it doesn't give him much resistance to it, beyond what his Psychic Pokemon were attempting to provide. "They touch you, and it makes you want to fight. A lot."

Uxie briefly acknowledged Mesprit's complaints, its focus mainly on keeping everyone away from the threshold of panic. It shares a quick Future Sight with Mesprit of what's to come next, moments before it occurred:

Hideo would only be able to hear the strange creature emerge from the ground, but all others would be able to see it: it was almost like a Sunflora with the colors of a Mr. Mime, a wide grin on its face below black-dotted eyes.

It let out a loud cackle unlike anything a Pokemon could make, before firing an array of Bullet Seeds at everyone. "W-what the hell is that?" Hideo asked, spared from the seeds by his Medicham intercepting them.

His Starmie was quick to blast at it with a Hydro Pump, but the creature dug back into the ground once more, re-emerging soon after.

Choice: Battle a fusion Pokemon (Mr.Mime+Sunflora) +50 points

Eris Halla

Eris's hand did help ground Hideo, to keep his attention on the reality of their situation. "Th-thanks," was all Hideo could get out, gripping her hand as he tried to watch out for their mystery opponent.

The strange creature re-emerged from the ground, firing off more Bullet Seeds before diving back into the ground. Being chased by the Vikavolt does little to deter it, the Rising Voltage seemingly doing little to deter it. Hideo's Medicham and Starmie try to attack it was well, but it's a very persistent creature.

Eris's claims that it shouldn't exist brings his mind back to the time she tried to deny the existence of that large Jigglypuff he'd caught last time he was here - but something about this creature just made this claim feel so much more valid, enough that he wouldn't even try to defend it.

They had to act fast, before it wore them down with a thousand seeds.

"Uxie…can you cut it off? Find out where it'll pop up next and disrupt it?" He received the mental confirmation, Uxie glowing as it planted a Future Sight, waiting for the right moment.

And that moment would come soon, the strange creature popping up in front of the kids, ready to fire at them - only to be interrupted by several Future Sight blasts. The attacks didn't seem to do too much damage, but it did disrupt the creature - leaving it vulnerable for a follow-up.

Eris Halla

Uxie observed the world beyond the strange barrier - and was intrigued. It wanted to learn more about this strange world they were seeing, but they couldn't stay much longer: Eris was right about their collective mental state.

"We…we should get out," Hideo muttered. The fear this place was instilling him was starting to overcome what grounding he had, and he could feel his heart beating out of his chest as every part of him just wanted to leave.

Hideo took out a few Pokeballs, two to recall his Starmie and Medicham, with another to let out a new Pokemon, his Espathra. His Excadrill gathered up all the ore it had gathered, tossing them in a bag as Hideo was hoisted atop his Espathra.

"Let's get outta here," Hideo said, recalling his Excadrill just as it tossed in the rest of the ore. It wasn't going to be a fast escape, but at least the more ore they took with them, the fewer times they'd have to return here.

Even if Uxie wanted to return. For now, it retook its spot atop Hideo's shoulders, casting one last glance at the world beyond the barrier.

In his panic, Hideo hadn't even thought about how Eris was getting out - but he could trust that she had her own solution up her sleeve. She was crafty like that.

Choice: Escape with your full load +1 curio

Eris Halla