Hideo got close to the Shadow Persian - but not too close. He knew to be careful, even as Uxie told him this Pokemon wasn't moving at all. So he went for the time-honored tradition of investigating something:

He picked up a nearby stick and poked the Pokemon.

Nothing.

"...wonder if it's dead. Or maybe it's just badly hurt? I got a potion on me."

As he readied his potion, Uxie told him of the strange wisp that emerged from the Persian, floating away into the lake Azelf always hid within. And shortly after, it urged him to take a step back as he heard the Persian rise up.

He did so - just as the Shadow Persian fired a Frenzy Plant right at him. A timely Protect ensured he was unharmed, though the sudden attack did knock him on his butt.

Eris Halla

While Uxie focused on defense, Mesprit had gone all-out on offense, beating the Shadow Persian into submission. The second Hideo got his bearings, he scurried away from the beatdown, Uxie keeping its eyes on the Persian the entire time.

A second Mystical Power snuck its way between Mesprit's. It wasn't the only one that sought a bit of vengeance against their sibling's attacker.

Hideo stood just as Eris spoke. "Shadows really can be a handful," Hideo sighed. "The second it gets back up, it's violent. At least my Alakazam isn't that aggressive."

Rude, yes. But he'd trained it to not attack on sight.

"...what was that thing that came out of it? Uxie said something went into the water where Azelf is."

Eris Halla

"We?"

For a moment, Hideo thought Eris referred to the two of them. A second later, the realization hit him: she was talking about Rocket. "...oh, right. Well, it's not your fault they got made, Eris. Rocket just does a lot of shit without caring about who it hurts."

"But…I don't think it's impossible to cure them. A Drowzee I had got Shadow'd for a bit with that whole weird dream game that happened some time ago. It got un-Shadow'd."

How it got converted into a shadow in the first place, he had no idea. And how it got reversed, he was similarly clueless, but it did tell him it wasn't a one-way road.

He could hear Uxie chitter something to Mesprit, who sounded like it was squirming around in Eris's grasp. Something to help it calm down? Unpredictable as Uxie could be, it was usually the calmer between the two.

"Yeah, something like that. It came out of the Persian right before it got back up, and it went into the water. 'Least that's what Uxie said." He could trust Uxie wasn't lying to him about that. "Wonder if that changed anything for Azelf down there."

"Think we should dive in and check?"

Unfortunately for the two of them, the simulation was already beginning to shift…

Eris Halla

Hideo was stopped right in his tracks. "There were plenty of Shadows before that Hatchery popped up…though that Hatchery was really weird. Only place I remember where we could get Illumina Pokemon. And a lotta Pokerus." The latter had been especially common among his Joltiks.

His Cutiefly and Galvantula really liked that place.

"Even if it's a bit unconventional…it's possible. They can be turned back, even if this just means we gotta find a different way to do it." How they would, he didn't know, but there had to be some way to do it.

It'd definitely help rescue Pokemon that Rocket had corrupted.

The two Pixies continued their arguing, Uxie's chattering calmer in comparison to Mesprit's - but both their voices were raised. Though Hideo couldn't understand their words, he could get small vibes about what they were arguing about - of revenge, of anger, of sympathy.

But Uxie's attention was drawn to the two Legendaries arguing before them - and soon after, clashing. Uxie was quick to erect a Protective barrier in front of the group, to keep any stray attacks from hitting them.

It wouldn't last forever, though.

"If we gotta choose," Hideo shouted, struggling to hear himself over the fight, "I'd go with Truth! Gotta know what's right if we're gonna make good choice!"

Uxie grunted in agreement - and in strain as it kept the kids (and Mesprit) safe.

Eris Halla

Eris wasn't wrong: there might not actually be a good way to reverse the shadow-fication for most Pokemon. Hideo didn't have any opportunity to test out purification, and he didn't even know the first step to doing it.

"We won't know that 'til we know the truth. We'll have our choices when we know what could work."

He wanted there to be safe ways to purify them, that didn't permanently harm or kill anything. But they had to know their options first.

And the only way to know that, was with the Truth.

Uxie was too preoccupied keeping the kids safe to intervene in the fight, but slowly, Reshiram gained the advantage, strike after strike reaching the Zekrom. Mesprit's interference saved it from a coup de grace, but the damage was done.

And just as the Zekrom tried to retaliate, readying a Bolt Strike, another pink barrier appeared in front of it - this time, keeping its attack from reaching Reshiram; the same power that Mesprit used to protect, Uxie was using to restrict.

That power would dissipate as the Reshiram prepared once more to finish the Zekrom.

Eris Halla

Hideo could do nothing but stand back as the two Pixies chose their sides, trying to push the fight in their respective directions. Hideo knew his limits well - he had no chance getting in the middle of an actual Pokemon battle, let alone one between Reshiram and Zekrom. Nor one between Uxie and Mesprit.

When Eris ran ahead, to act as some sort of shield, Hideo reached out to her. "Eris, don't!"

It was easy to forget this was just a simulation - that they weren't in real danger. That they wouldn't get vaporized standing in front of a Legendary's attack.

The *thud* served as a reminder of what was at stake here; Zekrom had been slain.

And Eris went down as well, according to Uxie.

Not again.

Hideo ran over to her. "Eris!? Are you ok? You shouldn't try to get between two Legendaries like that!"

Eris Halla