Hideo could feel the silence after his outburst, giving him time to think over everything. There was so much he didn't know, and most of what he did learn or uncover weighed on his mind.

But if he stopped looking, stopped learning, stopped acting, then he could do nothing to protect his home from whatever threats were coming.

Lost in thoughts, Hideo didn't notice Doug's footsteps approaching - but it was hard to miss his chair being lifted up, the boy clenching on the armrests. He knew the room (and Doug) well enough to know he was getting moved closer to Eris.

At least it was a soft descent.

It was only then that he noticed Eris was starting to cry - even harder to miss when Doug pulled him into a hug next to her. Once Eris was full-on sobbing, regret found its way into Hideo's heart, immediately assuming it was because he yelled at her.

Doug's words were some comfort, but it didn't shake the doubt from his heart. Even if Doug unconditionally believed in him, how could Hideo believe in himself after all his failures? After all the Pokemon he lost accomplishing barely anything? After he'd been clueless in dealing with the threats attacking Hoenn?

After he'd just hurt one of his friends?

"I don't…" he muttered, tears welling in his eyes. "I don't know what to do…"

He was lost.

He was confused.

He was scared.

Eris Halla John Sullivan

Hideo simply nodded. He would've done the same if he was the one that got there first - provided he knew there was someone right behind him. Or maybe his Beheeyem would've.

Either way, the man offered to help him. "Yeah, I kinda suck at giving directions too," Hideo joked, "and it's easier to follow someone than follow directions. Lead the way." It was part of why he always had a Pokemon out - to help guide him along.

That his Beheeyem was so good at it was in part due to experience - another part just being a smart Pokemon.

It didn't take long to get there, though along the way, he could hear a very familiar tapping sound. It sounded similar to the cane he used to use.

He waited until they reached their destination to ask anything, but the man's question came first. His answer was quick and succinct: "There are different types of flour?"

While he could consider himself a pretty decent cook, finer details were still beyond him. "I guess, uh, general-use flour? I don't plan to use it for anything specific, but it'll be handy to have around if I want to make something."

shinobu fujimori

Living with Melody Miro wasn't a bad time. Most days.

Melody didn't stock her fridge with much, and one could only eat omelets so often before getting sick of them. Takeout was nice, but he didn't always want to wait for someone to deliver food - especially when he couldn't be the one picking it up (he was supposed to keep his presence there a secret).

So the most obvious solution was to get some ingredients and try out some new recipes. Easy enough, and he already had stuff he wanted to do in Lilycove, so getting groceries would just be another line on the list.

Finding a decent grocery store wouldn't be hard: even if he wasn't familiar with Lilycove, his Beheeyem could point them out for him, and even follow directions decently well. Telepathy was great for that, but this one was just that well-trained.

They eventually settled on one store. Someone else was ahead of him, but the guy held the door open for him. "Thanks," Hideo said, nodding as he walked inside.

Actually, since that guy was there…

"Hey, you know where the flour is in here?"

shinobu fujimori

Hideo was quick to shoot back after Eris's outburst. "Rocket doesn't need to take over anyone's homes." He could feel his heartbeat get higher, anger brewing.

"They aren't really gonna 'do things better' than Kanto, no matter what they promise anyone. We're lucky they didn't manage to mess up what League had planned to get rid of the meteor." There wouldn't even be any Hoenn left for them to take if they stopped it.

Before this, he might've been willing to hear Rocket out, for any constructive changes. But witnessing their methods was enough to tell him how destructive they were for Hoenn.

He didn't want them destroying his home.

Doug was able to bring his mind back to the Lake Trio. "We weren't the only ones trying to get answers out of them…but as far as I know, Eris and I were the only ones marked. I got no idea if Azelf marked someone, and I don't think they even showed up in Littleroot."

It was the Lake Trio, yet there was a glaring lack of its third member.

Hideo unconsciously tapped the tattoo on his wrist. "I've kept mine under wraps. Only people I've shown it to are you two and Melody Miro ."

Granted, now he was more or less stuck spending his nights at Melody's house, so maybe that decision could've used more time in the mind oven.

"And, well, I kinda didn't get any progress with finding Uxie after I got marked. You both made it clear I had to be careful, but I don't know as many people as you two do." That was more of a guess, but he knew they had more time to make connections than he did cooped up at his house. "Uxie and Mesprit coming to us kinda came out of nowhere."

He could feel Uxie's hand patting him on the head, the pixie doing what it could to comfort him.

Eris Halla John Sullivan

Eris's revelation came to no surprise to Hideo; she'd already warned him about it before Rocket's attack. After what he'd heard happened in Kanto from the two present here, and what he'd witnessed in Littleroot, he didn't expect any less than that. "Bet he even thinks he'll 'do it better' this time, huh? One ruined town at a time."

He already recalled the time they'd temporarily taken over Slateport, though things went so badly for Rocket they'd basically gone underground after that.

Until now.

Uxie watched as its sibling completely misinterpreted Doug's gesture - but rather than correct Mesprit, it watched Doug, curious to see how he'd react.

"Far as I know, only one other person knows we got Uxie and Mesprit. Locke Jamison was there, and he helped us get away from Littleroot, but he helped us meet the trio in the first place. I trust him." Even let them take a ride on Latias. "I know we gotta be as careful as ever, now that they're with us."

Eris Halla John Sullivan

Uxie freed its hand from Mesprit's grasp, catching several of the sparkling scales in its hand, looking over them intently. Its focus only broke to observe Doug's glow, its mouth slightly open in surprise.

Hideo's attention was taken by the second Doug-sized thump, this time on the floor. "That's what he's called?" he asked, an eyebrow raised. "He didn't really give me a name, but I've encountered him before. First, he nearly burns me to death in that fire. Then today, he goes out of his way to give me a hard time. Xerneas really chose a dick for an avatar."

He sighed. "He knocked out my Aggron, and Elga. He was teleporting through vines he was making grow everywhere, attacking along with his Pokemon. And he was strong, too, 'cause I can't imagine any normal person punching out a steel-type, let alone an Aggron."

His physical exhaustion lifted somewhat by the healing scales, righting himself in his seat. "He had a Pokemon just like Frankie too. 'Least that's what Elga told me. Elga was able to knock it out with a z-move, but then 'Wolf Mask' brought out Xerneas."

Saying how Elga was knocked out wasn't necessary at that point.

"I got away after that. Gave Elga a Revive and managed to get behind the theater without him noticing me again. That's where I found Eris…or, uh, Rosmontis here. Rosmontis was helping stop Rocket, not Eris."

Surely she hadn't shared that identity with this Gavin guy…right?

Eris Halla John Sullivan

Hideo didn't even have a chance to put his phone away before he could hear the low hum of a Phantom Force, with a Doug-sized mass plopping onto the couch shortly after. He'd assumed Doug would take a minute or two to actually get here.

Not even enough time to collect his thoughts on what to say. Hideo didn't even have enough time to right himself in his seat. Eris's answer at least gives him a moment to put something together.

"Machine Kingdom under Littleroot Theater. Rocket might've been looking for it for something."

Uxie was dragged over towards Doug by Mesprit, its hand still held. It didn't poke at Doug, but it did look over him carefully with closed eyes.

"I fought an avatar. Think he had Xerneas."

Eris Halla John Sullivan

Hideo Kino and Melody Miro got some stuff that gotta talk about...

Player Name: Melody Miro

Choose your character: Hideo Kino

Friendship simulator now loading...

"I'm pretty sure I won't have much trouble getting the ears of some people high up on the League." He could talk to Melody Miro about it, and John Sullivan might still have some sway with the League. There was also Eva Morales , who he'd been spending a lot of time working with lately. "But I dunno if that'll be enough. I'll have to deal with my parents one way or another, before or after I get the spot."

There didn't seem to be any way around it; if he were to become Gym Leader, he'd have to confront his parents.

The mention of possibly battling Rocket didn't phase Hideo - Eris (somewhat) siding with his parents got the greater reaction, earning an eyebrow raise from the boy.

"Rocket's gonna cause trouble whether or not I become a Gym Leader. At least as a Gym Leader, I have a better spot for protecting Hoenn from them." He'd been around Littleroot enough to know that Rocket was only in Hoenn to selfishly gain power, no matter what they felt like burning down to get it. "And if they did put me out in the front-lines, they won't waste their time trying to stop me from getting involved. You know how Doug dotes on us whenever he finds us in those situations."

Trying to be discreet limited how much he could help, and he was already getting into more and more conflict with Rockets. At least if the League itself was endorsing his involvement in some way, he wouldn't have to stay low.

Eris Halla

The "Ralts" raised a hand at CIAN MAHER 's encouragement - the closest it could get to a thumbs-up. With that, Hideo led the way, towards whatever it was he was being led to.

Sure enough, it wasn't long until Melody Miro announced they'd found something - followed by the music pausing. Neither Hideo nor his Pokemon were blinded by the flash of light, Hideo more focused on the warning his "Ralts" just gave him.

Seemed Eva Morales was right to prepare for a fight.

Hideo rushed to the side, narrowly avoiding the Hyper Voice blasting towards him and the others. "Not every princess is nice!" Hideo shouted, taking out a couple Pokeballs and letting out his Beheeyem and Starmie. "Get'em!" he ordered, the vague order interpreted as "use whatever attack you want."

A large stone was tossed by the Beheeyem's Rock Tomb, followed closely by the Starmie's Ice Beam. Before either attack could get close, they were each intercepted by a pair of Magearna that flew in.

"Guess this princess is the final boss!" Hideo announced, a wide smile on his face. Pure excitement ran through him, overjoyed they could possibly rid the Mechanical Kingdom of the problems ailing it. His mind barely acknowledged he just hurt what were probably innocent Pokemon.

Then again, that excitement wasn't coming from himself. Uxie could only provide so much mental protection when the source was right in front of them.

42 have the meloetta's song affect your character or characters' feelings. they may experience extreme joy or extreme sadness.

Eva Morales CIAN MAHER Melody Miro