Tessa gasped and stared at the newly-arrived Pokemon with alarm. Landon looked almost frightened- his ears were low, and his tail tucked in tightly.
"Hoopa..." Tessa shuddered.
"My reputation proceeds me." Hoopa flourished his arm and bowed, though it turned into a front flip. "Yay!" He exclaimed, holding his arms outstretched.
"You're the one who brought Tanner here?" Landon's voice quivered as he spoke.
"Yeup. Sorry it took me so long, pal." He floated over and slapped Tanner on the back. "You wouldn't believe how much energy it takes to do something like... this." He gestured proudly down at the Zorua.
A moment of stunned silence passed, each second grinding by like nails on a chalkboard.
"It was you who I spoke with in that dungeon?" Tessa whispered.
"Yeah. I was pretty loopy, no pun intended. Seriously, I'm still recovering. Bringing a human into the world is such a hassle." Hoopa rolled his eyes.
Tanner's mind raced. Hoopa seemed friendly enough. Powerful too, given the other portal in front of them to the flaming hellscape. So why were Tessa and Landon so clearly worried?
"You're the Legendary? You can bring me back home?" He asked.
"Oh, oh, oh! That's the best part!" Hoopa raised his hands excitedly. "Normally, sending an exemplar back is like blech, this big whole thing. I modified the ritual so that I can send you back like that!" He snapped his fingers. "So if there's any danger or anyone gets on our ass, BOOM! You're back in the human world." Hoopa folded his arms, satisfied with his handiwork.
An uneasy moment passed as the four pokemon stood wordlessly in the forest. A pinecone fell, and Hoopa glanced over at it. Tanner and Landon shared a gaze. Tessa glared at Hoopa.
"What are you going to be doing? Why did you bring him here?" Tessa asked.
"Well, I have to keep some secrets, right? Can't let the big plan get spoiled!" Hoopa put a finger up to his head thoughtfully.
"Wait, no, we need-" Tessa stepped forward and pointed a finger at Hoopa.
"Tess!" Landon hissed.
Tanner could see Tessa's worry, and it wasn't just because he was getting good at understanding her body language. He wasn't sure why though. Did they not trust Hoopa? Did they not trust himself? Maybe they just wanted more time to train?
"Guys, I can do this. As long as I can go back... I want to help save the world." Tanner looked over at the Legendary. Hoopa was definitely not as majestic and noble as some of the other Legendaries he learned about, but he seemed okay. He was at least prepared to send Tanner home. That was what he probably wanted in the end.
"That's the spirit. Don't worry about it! We'll get you trained up in no time. We're not even going to take that long- a week or two. You help me out and voila, you're back in your body!" Hoopa raised his hands excitedly.
Tessa and Landon glanced at each other, unsure.
"You're right, you're right. I do owe you two a favor." Hoopa floated forward and put a hand on Tessa's shoulder. Her paw balled into a fist. "Thank you, Tess, and... Mightyena. For finding my lad and training him well. Can you do illusions yet?"
Tanner shook his head. "No, but I can do Scratch. And I'm close to Snarl too.
"...Huh. A moderate amount of training… still! You two did me right here." Hoopa floated backwards and put his hands behind his back. The gold ring that showed a portal to the flaming landscape vanished. Hoopa pulled out another ring and spun it for a second. He tossed it, and it expanded in the air and shimmered with purple energy before it halted. Another portal opened, this time to a sandy beach. "Anywhere you two would like to go? Free vacation, anywhere you can imagine."
Tessa and Landon shared a look with each other. Aura swirled around Tessa's sensors. Landon shook his head almost imperceptibly.
"We're not coming with you?" Landon asked, still looking small.
"Mmm... no. This is sort of a solo mission-type thing. We're going incognito." Hoopa said nonchalantly.
Tanner's blood went cold.
"No…" Tessa whispered, looking devastated.
"Wait, they aren't coming?" Tanner thought that they were going to be with him! They were going to train together, go on more dungeons together, and make the world a better place!
"Nope. Sorry, but it just can't work. Honestly, we aren't even going to take that long." Hoopa gestured towards the ring behind them.
Tanner couldn't believe it. He had just made the best friends he had ever had in his life! He was just getting used to being Landon's roommate!
"Will I at least get to say goodbye?" He couldn't help the tears that started to well up in his eyes.
"Sure, unless something goes wrong- you know what? Even if something goes wrong and I have to send you back, I'll make sure you get to say goodbye." Hoopa gave Tanner a reassuring smile.
Tanner looked down at the ground. He was distraught. He wanted to stay with Tessa and Landon…
Canine footsteps padded towards him, and he saw Landon sit in front of him.
A teardrop rolled down Tanner's fur and fell between him and his friend. His chest felt tight with the emotions that he didn't want to feel right now. What was jubilation after besting his first dungeon turned into apprehension and profound sadness. Memories of their playing on the hill, talking about his home, and laughing late into the night flicked in his mind, making this moment that much harder. He thought that they were going to be together.
He felt Landon's shaky forehead press against his own gently. The Mightyena spoke in little more than a whisper.
"We'll see you again, alright? You keep that power band… to remind you of us. Take this too." He draped a small bag across Tanner's side and tightened it until it was snug. "It has the book and the Invisify orb you found in it. It might come in handy."
Tanner didn't want to talk. He just nodded in thanks.
"Do what Hoopa says. He'll... he'll keep you safe." Landon continued.
"I wish you could come." Tanner stuttered.
"I do too." Landon looked into Tanner's eyes. "Make us proud, okay?"
Tears fell from Tanner's eyes. He didn't like crying. He didn't like goodbyes.
"Tessa?" Landon turned to the Lucario.
She was facing away from them, staring out into the forest. She made no motion to come closer. No aura surrounded her sensors.
"Follow the Aura, Tanner." She said with shaky breaths.
Tanner didn't know what that meant. "I will." He mumbled.
A hand patted Tanner's head three times. "Hey, it's alright. We'll be back soon, I promise." Hoopa interrupted.
The Legendary pokemon dismissed the portal to the tropical beach, and pulled out another ring. He threw it, and it created another portal, this time to a dark jungle forest.
"Come on, kid. Let's go find destiny." Hoopa said with a grin.
Tanner spared one last glance at his friends, before stepping into whatever unknown destiny was planned for him.