This time around, Hideo didn't bring Uxie along. Eris Halla already knew, so there wasn't much point in hiding, and with Alexei Ivanov , he felt the consequences of an accidental reveal wouldn't be that bad.

Freya, though? A Council member, he had to be more careful around. Revealing before he was ready could get out of hand very quickly. But he also couldn't say "no" to doing the simulations with her.

Also, Uxie told him to start looking at other simulations other than Azelf's - he wasn't going to learn much doing the same thing over and over.

So he had his Beheeyem with him - his most consistent companion at his Gym. One who stood next to his chair as Freya gave the order to join.

"Wouldn't be the first time for me," Hideo said. The description his Beheeyem gave was different than Uxie's, but he could recognize the voice; he'd done this scenario before. And he'd encountered this woman before.

"Think we're gonna have to impress her first. But I can do what I did last time - should work again."

Recounting his story of how he climbed the Tiered Tea Tower should work like last time…

Join the Hexenzirkel +50 points

freya morningstar

Tales of getting carried around by his Ninjask (by his head), his Doublade diving into water to get at a Pokemon hidden within, and his Zarude's nonchalant response to getting Clap Trap'd had proven sufficient entertainment for the Hexenzirkels last time - and they seemed to work again.

But Hideo could recall what came next: the voices telling them they shouldn't be here, and the eyes that surrounded them gradually growing closer.

His first instinct was to run, just as he did last time - until his Beheeyem informed him Freya was just staying in her seat, doing nothing. Was she just accepting what would happen?

Hideo remained in his seat, lightly squeezing his Beheeyem's hand. He'd stay as well, to find out what would happen.

He'd survived drowning in these simulations so many times. Whatever outcome this wrought couldn't be much worse.

Perhaps it would even have a different result?

Succumb

freya morningstar

Thank Arceus that the simulation shifted before they could find out what those eyes and hands had planned for them.

Hideo's Beheeyem caught him before his bottom could hit the ground, thanks to the chair he'd sat upon disappearing. Hideo righted himself just as Freya spoke.

"Last time, I ran," he said. "Charmed them with the same story, but that voice happened. We ran before we could find out what they planned for us." Seemed like any kind of cooperation in that scenario would end poorly.

Would opposing them get a different result?

Hideo expected the next simulation to be the one he was so familiar with - the one with Azelf - but he was caught off guard with how different this one sounded and smelled. Gone was the sounds of waves against a shore - replaced by the wind blowing through a forest of trees. Instead of the salty sea, he could smell the earthy aroma of damp soil and dead leaves.

"...never done this one before," Hideo muttered.

The urge to water the tree before them was hard to ignore - and his Beheeyem already told him Freya was going through with it. Hideo was careful not to bump into any of the petrified Pokemon around the tree as he grabbed a watering can of his own.

Just how did all these petrified Pokemon get here?

He could only hope he wasn't about to join them.

Water it +1 curio

freya morningstar

It was always relaxing, just watering plants, the calm flow of water sounding through the quiet forest serving as the only sound reaching his ears. So many times, he'd spent this kind of time watering the plants in his garden.

Even if this place was a bit…deader than his garden, he was at peace here.

Until the crackling noise broke that peace. Hideo's Beheeyem stood between Hideo and the emerging Pokemon, its hand blinking as it communicated its warning.

But after a moment, it moved aside, one of the newly-awoken Pokemon approaching Hideo - and patting him on the head.

Whether or not these were their real bodies in the simulation, he could still feel as if it were real.

"Only ones I've done were Thundurus and Xatu," Hideo said. "Can't say I'm a fan of either of those. Both kinda get me feeling sick afterwards." First one gave him seasickness, second one forced the past into the open. "1000 Hands works for me."

Leave the glade

freya morningstar