When Mesprit takes Eris's free hand, so too does Uxie takes Hideo's, descending from his shoulder. As much pain and confusion the pixies put them through, they were doing it by their sides, helping them along the way.

"Guess so. Once more into the deep."

Hideo gently squeezed Uxie's hand. It was time for the familiar plunge, the familiar lake surrounding them as they made their attempt to get down as far as possible, where Azelf laid in wait, healing.

It didn't seem like Azelf was making any progress on its healing - but Hideo had accepted this was just a simulation of some point in time. He could only hope they'd find something out if they did make it to the bottom, perhaps even wake Uxie up.

But they had to reach the bottom first. Each attempt got them closer, even if Hideo couldn't see it. They just had to keep trying.

Even if this attempt ended the same way all his other attempts did.

Drown glub glub

Eris Halla

It may all just be a simulation, and the water was gone once the simulation shifted, but Hideo's body still sputtered as he regained consciousness, trying to cough out fluid that just wasn't there anymore.

"Arceus, I hope you guys don't make us drown for real to find Azelf," he got out between coughs. Uxie offered a pat on the head as the boy gradually sat up. He groaned as he stood back up.

He took a moment to survey the area with his ears, and it sounded very familiar. "Back here with that Xatu?" Hideo asked Eris. He could still remember that flashback he had last time.

And the one he had of Eris's past.

Were they about to go through that again?

Receive a Vision of the Future +100 points

Eris Halla

Sounded like Eris had a rougher time of it than he did. Uxie assured him she'd be alright with Mesprit by her side.

Which left Hideo to prepare for the Xatu standing before them both. He could once more feel the psychic energy contacting his mind, and awaited whatever part of their pasts it would show next.

That wouldn't be what he'd get.



It wasn't a room that Hideo would recognize, even if he had the chance to feel it through, though perhaps Eris would be likely to recognize a Rocket interrogation room. The room's purpose would probably be easier to realize with Hideo handcuffed to the desk, the boy sitting with his hand upon his hand, impatiently waiting. The boy was wearing a tattered version of his Gym Leader outfit, missing his blue jacket. There were several bruises on his body, partway to healing up.

He only moved off his hand the moment someone entered the room, some woman that neither child would recognize, though was undoubtedly in a Rocket uniform. "Got you something to eat," she said, placing down a plate of cookies - audibly enough for the boy to hear.

Hideo's head rested upon his hand once more. "How do I know you guys aren't trying to drug me again?"

The smile on the woman's face didn't waver as she pushed the cookies towards him. "Pick one for me to eat," she said. "Made sure they're nice and crunchy."

The boy was reticent, but eventually, he reached over with his free hand, feeling over the cookies. He eventually picked one up - and neatly put it in his own mouth, taking a bite. "Glad to know you can trust me," the woman said, taking a seat across from Hideo.

"I don't," he said, munching away, "but you guys don't give me much to eat."

"I'll have to talk to them about that." Her voice was calm, comforting. "But first, I want to talk to you about a few things."

"Already told you guys I don't know anything about what the League's planning. I'm just the Gym Leader over in Littleroot. You really think they'd tell me anything?"

"I don't think you're as clueless as you think you are. If you're just willing to talk with us for a minute, we'll even give you back one of the Pokemon you had with you when we found you."

Hideo paused with the cookie he was eating through. "Taurosshit," he said, "I gave them all to my Lycanroc before I passed out. I know you guys can't catch something like that."

"You'd be surprised how resourceful we can be, Hideo. Your Lycanroc did put up a fight, and I'm sorry to have to inform it's pretty badly injured. We have the six Pokeballs you gave it…and I fear we might not be able to save them. But I'm sure we could do a better job patching them up if you just talk to us."

A moment of silence passed as Hideo's expression dropped, facing down towards the desk. The woman didn't speak, merely letting the boy ruminate on his options.

"...if I tell you what I know, you'll make sure Rocky's alright? You'll give him back to me?"

"Of course."

Another moment of silence, Hideo looking back up. "Alright, I'll tell you what I know."

The woman happily nodded. "Thank you for your cooperation. Now then, if you don't mind, we'd like to know-"

"I know I didn't give my Pokeballs to my Lycanroc."

The boy wore a wide, shit-eating grin as he said that, contrasted by the frown the woman now bore. "You'd know that if you actually caught them. You guys suck at bluffing."



With that, the vision dissipated, returning to the simulated reality - with a very confused Hideo left standing there. "...what the fuck?" he said aloud, "That…that never happened?"

Eris Halla

Hideo was trying to process what he'd just witnessed.

He knew he'd never been captured by Rocket before. He'd never been interrogated like that by anybody, or drugged.

So why did it all seem so real? Why didn't it feel more wrong?

A strange sound from behind him stopped him from ruminating on it for any longer. It sounded like it came right from where Eris was…

Mesprit's screeching gave him an answer.

"Eris?!" Hideo shouted, rushing over to her. It took Uxie to tell him exactly where she'd landed, the boy kneeling beside her. "Eris! What's wrong?!" He reached over to try and rock her awake, joining Mesprit in that regard.

Uxie hopped off his shoulder, making its way over to her head. "Uxie? Uxie, what happened? Is she alright?!"

The small pixie looked her over, before taking a moment to peek into her mind, to check just how out-of-it she was at the moment.

Eris Halla