Hideo listened to the man's offer - to help find the others lost in the cave. Though the boy did bear concern for the others lost here, there was little he could do if he couldn't get out himself.

And whatever the man's allegiance, either case would cause trouble for one of his friends.

If this guy was with League, then helping him find Eris Halla would likely reveal she was still working with Rocket, something he doubted the League would take well. She might actually have to battle them for real if they found her at the wrong moment.

And if he was with Rocket, he knew Aaron Toral would not take it well. On top of Hideo's own distaste for Rocket, Aaron had outright attacked one during their battle against Eris. Things could be messy if that guy told the other Rockets about that attempt.

Not to mention tipping them off that Eris didn't actually deal with Hideo and Aaron.

"Well, um…" Hideo had to settle for something fast - choosing to go with a selfish answer. "It's been a while since I was last with either of them. Might've been over an hour…and I just want to get out of here. I don't think I'll be much help at this point anyway."

Which wasn't far from the truth: he wasn't exactly good at tracking people down.

The man's second offer, however, was more tempting. A single Pokemon was easier to get away from than a person, his Lycanroc well-suited to knocking out a bird if necessary - and he had plenty more Pokemon if needed. It didn't preclude the chance of it leading him into an ambush, but it gave him a better shot of escaping it.

Hideo sighed. "Alright. I'll go with one of your Pokemon. Should free you up to keep looking." And give him a chance to get out of here.

Isaac Merlo

The plan wasn't too complex: Uxie!Zoroark would catch the Rockets' attention, teleporting away before they got too close. The real Zoroark would extend its shadow from the ceiling with a Shadow Sneak, separating and confusing them. Uxie's presence ensured the Rockets wouldn't look up to find the real Zoroark, and soon, they'd draw them towards Aaron's Gengar.

Meanwhile, that just left the two boys to talk with each other, and Hideo certainly got an answer to his question.

"That's, uh, wow," Hideo hesitated, "that's rough." It took him a moment to process it all; he hadn't heard Aaron talk that much since that one time at Andy Blackadder 's camp. "I'm sorry you lost your friend like that."

There'd be a brief pause as Hideo tried to think of something to say - also listening for their Pokemons' progress.

"I really want Eris to get out of Rocket too, but she's in a really tough spot. I know Rocket won't be happy if she leaves, and she's already got someone in the League that wants to kill her."

Hideo paused again, thinking about how much Eris Halla would want him to tell Aaron.

And shortly after, he discarded that thought. She'd probably get herself embroiled further with Rocket if he said nothing, or would keep them in the dark until she was another body by a tree. "...that guy she said tried to murder her? She told me it was MATIAS SILPH . Not someone you could just 'take care of'."

Aaron Toral

Hideo found the Soul Heart floating into his hands, fitting perfectly in his palms. The stone felt unnaturally warm, like he'd been holding it for a while; it was as warm as his hands.

"Whatever ordered it made copies of Volcanion too," Hideo added to Eva Morales 's question. "Something in this place is making copies of any people or Pokemon that come here. I don't think it understands them fully - just works off what it observes or something like that."

If it truly understood what it was copying, it wouldn't have made his an amalgamation of himself and his "Ralts".

"But if they're all just copies of the real Magearna, wouldn't that mean Volcanion is doing all that work for nothing? I don't think Volcanion would want to hear that…hopefully, we find the real one before it's too late."

As Hideo held his copy's Soul Heart, he began to notice a faint pulse following a consistent rhythm. It took him a moment to realize it was synchronized to his own heartbeat. Whether it was doing that before or after he held it, he did not know.

At CIAN MAHER 's question, Hideo answers. "I guess anywhere but here's a good place to look. This place is starting to creep me out."

Q81g7z8f

Melody Miro CIAN MAHER Eva Morales

"It's, uh, not a good idea to let them get too close," Hideo added, staying close to his Pokemon. "If they touch you with their tentacles, it does some weird stuff to your mind." Something he only learned from experience earlier in the caves. "Didn't last long, but it made me feel like I just wanted to fight something."

He was fortunate he had plenty of support when it happened.

Their steel-type Pokemons' combined defenses seemed to do well against the jellyfish's attack, but it wasn't the only attack their foe had: it pointed one of its tentacles at the Aggron, a beam of light firing out. The Power Gem struck the Aggron, the large Pokemon pushed back slightly - but that was far from enough to put it down.

The Aggron retaliated, firing another Flash Cannon at the jellyfish as a Flower Trick (tossed by the Meowscarada) dropped down on it. Just how much more would they need to take down this monster?

Meowscarada Type: Grass

Colton Boothroyd

MP Total: 110
+10 (post)

Hideo could only shake his head at Aaron's request. "Sorry, none on me." He cursed his lack of foresight - as if he could've actually predicted falling into a random portal on this day. That every time Eris got hurt around him, he could do little but watch.

The Aromatherapy didn't do much to alleviate his anxiety, his feeling of uselessness. Uxie guided on where to apply the Potion, the boy informed of exactly where to point it, how much pressure to use. It was the best he could do with his limited capabilities.

Uxie looked to Mesprit as it flew close, receiving the many emotions borne of Eris's injury. Uxie raised a hand to its mouth, sorting through them all, thinking best on how to answer them.

It used its strongest area: knowledge, facts. It told Mesprit that Aaron hadn't intended to harm Eris, that Eris had consciously intercepted the horn with her body. That the injury itself wasn't fatal, and that she could recover from it well with proper treatment. That the first aid they others were doing now would help.

As the two sprites spoke, Hideo listened to Eris speak about why she was with Rocket. Though she'd already told him about her allegiance, she never fully explained why. He could only assume Rocket had saved her in Kanto…a situation Rocket itself had caused. And now she needed safety from MATIAS SILPH .

Hideo wouldn't argue with Eris about the logic, or that she could rely on him and the others to keep her safe: she needed proper medical attention. "We…we should find someone to take a look at that wound," he said, tossing his used Potion aside. "I'm guessing you know the way out? Come on, I'll help you."

Hideo moved to Eris's uninjured side, offering his hand to her, to help lift her up.

Eris Halla Aaron Toral

"I mean like in general! Why is Rocket at these Wilds?!" They couldn't have come here just to steal supplies, not with this much Pokepower at their disposal or with this many people.

There was little choice but to go along with Melody's plan, Hideo's Pokemon already focused on keeping their trainer safe. Several more Flower Tricks were tossed at the Rockets' Pokemon, Swift stars following shortly after. Dreepy were fired out as Dragon Darts, striking any of the Rocket Pokemon that tried to get closer.

But one managed to weather the attacks - a Lairon, making its way towards Hideo. Without a sound, his "Ralts" leapt off his shoulders, intent on intercepting the incoming Pokemon. Before Hideo could try to get one of his other Pokemon to help, the "Ralts" met with the Lairon, its fingerless fist glowing as it struck its foe right in the chin, the Drain Punch sending the steel-type into the air and onto its back, knocked out with a single strike.

The Lairon's trainer called foul, questioning how a Ralts had that kind of move - and that kind of attack power.

Hideo's took a moment to comprehend what just happened - before offering a shrug, complemented with a grin.

Melody Miro

Even if he didn't know where this guy's allegiance lied, there was some comfort in being able to talk to someone he could understand, that wasn't immediately trying to battle him. Or detain him. Or yell at him to go somewhere else.

"Yeah, seemed kinda obvious," Hideo said. "Big caves like these don't just appear in Hoenn out of nowhere. I heard a bit about the one around here, but this is my first time being in it." Nothing like the Mechanical Kingdom he'd been to so many times before.

He also didn't have to deal with a League vs Rocket conflict in one of the Wilds either.

He could hear the man let out another Pokemon, the boy clenching the Pokeball in his hand just a bit tighter. He could recognize the peeping of a Ralts very quickly, as well as the sound of a Teleport. "I had enough Potions on me to heal them up," he declined, "but thanks."

Quietly, Hideo listened as the man gave his own reasons for being here. He could catch on that the guy seemed somewhat aware of what Rocket and League were here for - enough to want to avoid getting in the thick of it. He'd imagine either side wouldn't be too keen on one of their own focusing on evacuating people over their objective, so Hideo still couldn't get a read which side this guy was on.

"Well…I know I'm not the only person that got dragged in here," Hideo added, "Though I lost track of where they went." He'd gotten separated from Aaron Toral a while ago, and Eris Halla …he had no idea where she'd gone, and he was pretty certain she didn't want him following her while she worked with Rocket. Worried as he was for her safety, the more attention he drew to her, the tougher things would get for the both of them.

Hideo's free hand tapped against his side. He still had the uncertainty in his mind, that this guy could be a Rocket with ill intentions, but he wasn't in much condition to refuse help. "So…you know the way out? You don't have to escort me all the way there. Just give me an idea which halls to go down. Should keep you free to look for other people."

Isaac Merlo

Markings. For a moment, Hideo wondered if they were at least something he could touch - but how would he know where to feel for them? Would the League even want him feeling them, at risk of wiping them away? Well, at least they'd be useful for others, Hideo nodding along as Colton laid out their options for getting back.

Better than the nothing he had when he first fell in here.

But that was hoping they didn't get killed by the monsters floating around these caves, like the one currently attacking them.

"Well, can't say I've seen one before," Hideo dryly joked, retrieving a Pokeball, "But I encountered one when I was lost in here. They're tough ones! Might even be the same one I dealt with before!" It'd be just his luck that he would be getting hunted by a big, stupid jellyfish.

With his Aggron limited by the cargo it was still carrying, Hideo let out a new Pokemon, his Meowscarada. The tall cat wasn't any happier to see the jellyfish than Hideo was, but was more than ready to fight it off. A quick spurt of Chilling Water shot from the cat's mouth, her mask turning blue as her Protean nature changed her typing.

The jellyfish was soaked, but it was going to retaliate, spewing Acid towards them. Hideo's Aggron was quick to intercept, putting up a Protective barrier to keep the others from getting harmed - after laying down the supplies it was carrying.

Meowscarada Type: Water

Colton Boothroyd

MP Total: 100
+10 (post)

The boy grumbled, unhappy that his own Pokemon was being uncooperative now. There wasn't much use pushing his Pokemon to fight a battle they didn't want to battle, so Hideo was stuck listening to the Rocket's ultimatum.

He didn't doubt there might be worse Rockets in these caves, ones that wouldn't even try to convince him to give up before beating him up. Or worse. But he also didn't have any reason to trust this guy wasn't going to do the same at a moment's notice, even if he did recall his Pokemon as promised.

"Well, I'm not gonna fight you," he answered. "I won't go down your way."

"But I think I'll take my chances on my own." He grabbed onto his Meowscarada. "Meowser, let's go back, now!"

His Meowscarada, equally eager to get away from the Toxic-taster, wrapped her arms around Hideo, putting her energy into a Quick Attack - in the direction they came from, careful to avoid stepping or running into any of the Dark Spikes strewn about the area. It wasn't the most energy-efficient escape plan, but it was the fastest (and safest) they had.

They'd just have to try their chances through a different pathway - when they found one.

Meowscarada Typing: Normal

Cillian Quinn

Hideo cringed slightly, hearing one of the grunts mention his odd Ralts. He answered with the first thing that came to mind: "Well, it's the top percentage of Ralts!" He immediately regretted bringing more attention to his Pokemon, but too late to take that back.

He could hear Melody let out a bunch of her Pokemon, going on the offensive. As her Blastoise kept him and Uxie safe, Hideo let out a few more Pokemon of his own, letting his Meowscarada and white Zoroark join the fray. It was easy enough for the two Pokemon to sneak their attacks around their protector, the Meowscarad's Flower Trick dropping on several of their attackers' Pokemon while the Zoroark's Shadow Sneak attacked them from below. Even his Infiltrator of a Dragapult joined in, an Infestation trapping some of the attacking Rockets where they stood.

The "Ralts", meanwhile, assumed its normal spot on top of Hideo's shoulders, floating itself up there.

"What are Rocket even here for? I know they like to cause trouble, but they're usually looking for something or trying to get control of an area, right?"

Melody Miro

Granted, while he was more than confident that he could fend off any Rockets that came their way, wanting to battle them was a whole other story. Distrustful as he was of them, he didn't want to draw too much attention from them, or risk having to actually battle Eris Halla if she was there as an ambush.

"Well, my first time in there was getting dropped in by some random portal," Hideo said, "so you probably know more about this place than I do. As long as we got a reliable way back, it shouldn't be too rough finding our way around, right?"

He could only hope for that to be true: he didn't want to get lost in this place again.

Their initial entry seemed to go well enough. With Hideo holding on to some material himself, he sadly couldn't join Colton on the Bronzong.

But unfortunately for them, they wouldn't have much free time for riding. Hideo only realized they weren't alone here when he could hear a Flash Cannon erupt from his Aggron's mouth, blasting away a Nihilego that had been approaching them. Not much damage was done, but the pushback was enough to give time to think.

"Ah crap…sounds like another one of the big jellyfish monsters!" It was gonna take him a moment to get another Pokemon ready without dropping what he was holding.

Colton Boothroyd

MP Total: 90
+10 (post)

+25 (ultra beast)

As the two birds were at each of Hideo's sides, the Lycanroc remained in the middle, doing his best to keep an eye on them. They looked like they were keeping an eye out for anything else that might pop up, Pokemon or otherwise.

Hideo could only sit there, uncomfortably waiting for whoever was coming. He knew his initial guess (that these were a trainer's Pokemon) was correct the moment he heard another sound following flapping noises - a voice that he could understand. A human's voice.

Yet it did not put him at ease; he had no idea if this guy was with Rocket or not. Carefully, he reached into his pocket, holding a Pokeball in his hand - but keeping it minimized.

Once he heard the guy get close enough, he stood up. No harm in answering the man's questions, he thought to himself. "I think I got caught in some kind of portal," he said, unsteadily on his feet. "Next thing I know, I'm in this massive cave with no idea how to get out. Feels like this place goes on forever."

His Lycanroc warily watched the man, in-between keeping an eye on the birds.

"I'm not hurt at all…" He trailed off, thinking to Eris Halla , who had a horn in the shoulder - but he had no idea where she was now. And he didn't want to risk getting her in trouble for being involved with Rocket; uncomfortable as it was, he'd remain silent about her condition, in part because he had no idea where she was now. "My Pokemon have had to fight a bit, but nothing that needs more than first aid."

"Are you…uh…what are you doing here?" he asked. He didn't have any idea where this guy's allegiance lay, and he certainly wasn't eager to get caught up with any Rocket business. Last thing he needed was to get kidnapped or used as a hostage.

Isaac Merlo

The little "game" between Mesprit and Uxie didn't last very long, Aaron Toral's Pokemon taking the chance to attack. Several attacks, actually, with Hideo unsure just how Eris Halla 's Pokemon could handle them. It sounded like several were stopped, but others sounded like they hit, and he couldn't tell who or what was hurt.

Eris definitely sounded unamused, shouting at the Rockets to get out of there. And sure enough, Hideo could recognize the sounds of them Teleporting out of there. He was confident they were all gone the moment he felt Uxie move from his side, out of cover. But he also felt one of Uxie's tails wrap around his wrist, pulling him along, his Lycanroc following as well.

Just as Hideo thought to ask why, he received the answer.

Injury

"Shit," Hideo muttered, putting the clues together quickly. He could smell blood as they got closer; he didn't know how bad the injury was, and he was lacking in any Pokemon that could heal wounds.

Uxie let Hideo go the moment they were close to Eris, the boy immediately swinging his bag to the front to pull out a Potion. "I-is it bad?" he asked, unsure how bad the injury was - or who was even injured.

Though with Pokemon as tough as hers, it was probably Eris, if a single attack could cause injury. He dreaded the answer regardless.

Eris Halla Aaron Toral