Well now we know Hoopa exists…

Now what?

The truth is we've already scoured the library and didn't see anything about them. Not a single book, article, or even story. I'm fearing that until Delcatty returns, we're going to have to wait. She didn't seem to know about them herself, so I don't even know where we'll look when she gets back.

What makes the waiting particularly painful is Elliot. He seems to have been having a great time so far, but he's realizing it's been a few too many days away from home without his parents.

"Gen, where's mommy?" He asked this morning, eyes wide. "She's…on a trip with mama, but don't worry! We'll take care of you until they get back!" I said, forcing the lie to flow naturally. "But…I want mama…" he looked around sadly. "Gwen, a word?" Stephanie appeared beside me.

She guides me to the other side of the dorm. "I can't do this anymore, we need a way to tell him…to make him understand." "I know what you mean, but…" I looked over as the others tried distracting him, with mixed success, "but if he didn't understand it then, why would he now? And, if he did, would he think we'd been lying to him for…I don't know, for fun or something? I couldn't bear that either…" it's truly a terrible situation all around. I can't imagine what he must be thinking…how weird it must be that all our pokemon, plus two 'eevees' are here, talking to him, no less, but no sign of his moms. We agree to we'd keep on as we have been for now, but we'd still like a way to cheer him up and take his mind off it.

Which is why we've come here, at the Exploration Center's official daycare which we learned of, courtesy of Tinkaton. Maybe playing with other kids—even if they are pokemon kids—will lift his spirits. The blissey in charge walks Stephanie and I through everything before we decide whether to bring him or not. "Oh yes, many explorers here have little ones! And sometimes visitors too! But what to do when you need a little break?" She pauses for dramatic effect, "why, you bring them here of course! We offer all kinds of wonderful things for the dear children! Here's the play area, over there is the arena where they can practice their moves—safely I assure you," she says, noting our widening eyes, "and here is the classroom! Just because they're small doesn't mean they're too young to learn, after all!" She beams.

It does look like a wonderful setup. There are several children now, running around, playing, having a great time. It looks like a kid's dream.

But I still worry. "Thank you for the tour. I was wondering uh…well Elliot is a little uh…different…to your average child here, and…" I'm not sure how to put it in a way that doesn't make me sound insane. "The thing is, Gwen, Elliot and I were all humans, and we came from another world, so Elliot's only been a pokemon for a little while—are you able to work with that?" Stephanie says bluntly. Well, that's one way of getting the message across. Blissey blinks a few times, then her eyes light up, "Oh! I thought you seemed familiar! So you're that family!" I guess word spreads fast, "Yes indeed. Well, it may be a little different, especially if he's not familiar with etiquette regarding moves," Ha! If only she knew the half of it, "but a child's a child! Rest assured we'll take good care of him here, and I'm sure he'll love meeting the other little ones."

Feeling good about the daycare, we say goodbye to Blissey and head back to the dorm. Leaving him alone with the others too long is…well, it leaves us a little nervous. It's not that we don't trust them (I trust them, anyway), but they're not necessarily the most qualified bunch. Plus, Elliot is at least a six pokemon team job.

"So what do you think? Can we trust her?" Stephanie says on our way back. "I mean, it's a place designed with children in mind…" "pokemon children though, what's if Elliot gets hurt?" "I think we'd better pray the other kids are safe from him," I say, throwing her a look, earning a playful shove in response. "I just feel…bad, you know? It's so hard, he misses us, and we're right here, but he just can't see it. What if he thinks we're just…dumping him in a daycare?" Stephanie says, voicing the same worries I've been having. "I know what you mean…what must be going through his mind…I can't imagine. I'm glad our teams are at least here too, to give him a little familiarity in the midst of everything." Stephanie nods, but still looks worried. "I bet he'll have a great time at the daycare, all those kids to play with? Being able to unleash his energy in a safe place? He'll have a blast!" She laughs softly, "yeah…I guess you're right. And it will give us the peace of mind to look for answers more…efficiently." So we're in agreement—Elliot is going to daycare.

When we bring him back to meet Blissey, he's overcome by an incredible shyness—right now he's burying his face in the fur around my neck.

"Hello Elliot, I'm Blissey, it's nice to meet you," she says, bending down and reaching out a hand. He glances at her and buries his face deeper. "I want to introduce you to someone. Come on out, dear!" She calls into the playroom. A small happiny toddles forward. "This is my daughter, Happiny, she's going to be your buddy today, how does that sound?" "Hi Happiny…" his muffled voice comes from my fur. "Go on Elliot, doesn't she look nice?" I coax. He peels himself from me and shyly approaches. "Hi…I'm Elliot, me and mommy and mama are all humans, but now I'm an impi…ipimimp…" I stiffen. Serperior told me the whole altercation leading to their arrest was because Elliot told that kirlia kid we were humans, and when he didn't believe him it made Elliot get upset and attack. How will these kids take it?

"Woah, humans! We read a story about humans! But I never seen one for real!" I release the breath I was holding, the kids start chatting excitedly as Happiny takes his hand and leads him into the daycare.

"She's adorable," Stephanie says to Blissey. "Thank you, so is your Elliot. I'm sure he'll make fast friends with all the children here,"

"Bye Elliot! We'll pick you up later!" I call as we leave. "Bye eevees!" He replies.

It's a huge weight off our chests, to know he's having a good time and not stuck with all of us who are too busy worrying about how to get home.

"And did you notice? He knows he's an impidimp," I tell Stephanie on our way back to the dorm. "Maybe…maybe in time, he'll be able to accept we're still us too…" she replies hopefully. I would love that, although I'm also hoping we'll be back home before long, and that it won't matter too much.

We regroup with the others…but now what? Honestly, Elliot or not, we're right back where we're started; we know Hoopa exists, and that they could well be the reason behind us being here, but the painful truth is there was no info about them in the library, and no other leads to follow-up on.

"We could try asking some of the explorers about Hoopa?" Dragalge suggests, "they didn't know anything about other worlds though, so why should they know Hoopa?" Rotom replies. "But mentioning them by name? It might trigger a few forgotten memories." They're right, and at this point, what harm could it do?

We return to the lobby, looking for exploration teams, but finding none. It's the middle of the day—I guess everyone's out on their assignments. Maybe we could try elsewhere in the Center? I'm pretty sure there's a training arena or something—

"Gwen?" I whirl around, hearing the familiar voice. "Oh my, Gwen! And everyone! It's a pleasure to finally catch you!" Lurantis says, fluttering over. "Oh, uh…hello!" I say, not quite sure how to speak with her. While we parted ways on decent enough terms, the events that lead up to that were…not ideal.

I betrayed her trust, destroyed Center property, abducted prisoners…you know, a few simple mistakes that can really drive someone up the wall.

"Gwen, I just wanted to apologize again for everything that happened to you and your team here—I've regretted my actions every day since, and struggled to come to terms with never being able to let you all know how sorry I truly am." I…wasn't really expecting an apology, to be honest. "I-thank you…Lurantis", I stammer, bowing my head. "If there's anything, anything, I can do to help you now, I'd be happy to oblige." Her words give me an idea—if Delcatty isn't to be back for an unknown length of time, what's the next best way to follow up leads?

With the Center's previous Master, of course; the only pokemon who probably has more experience and knowledge of this place than anyone else, Delcatty included.

"Actually, we have a few questions, and I think, if anyone has answers, it might be you. Is there somewhere we could talk?"

—

Maybe the worst part of this is the monotony.

Why did Hoopa insist I come alone? Just to be cruel?

Well, it wouldn't surprise me.

Why the little menace couldn't just come here themself for their precious bottle is still beyond me. It's tedious and making me nervous, sure, but it's not like I've actually encountered a real risk yet.

I guess they decided the boredom was too much to bear. Why should they do it if they can get someone else to?

I have no way to keep track of time in here—I may have been walking for hours or days. I tried calculating it based on my hunger some time ago, but I had to give up the endeavor; all it did was make me hungrier. And with only two apples left and no supplies lying around thus far, focusing on it is a luxury I can't quite afford to take.

I guess that's a pretty real risk. I have other supplies to eat, but nothing that will keep me going for long.

Each floor is exactly the same as the one before. Dingy, dirty, and quiet.

So, so quiet.

I wonder what they're doing at the Center now? I hope they're not too upset that I had to leave so abruptly. I'll find a way to make it up to them when I get back.

If I get back. I'm still suspecting this dungeon might just go on forever.

But if it does, what can I do about it now? In a fit of weakness I tried using my badge to bring me home, thinking I'd have better luck with just dealing with Hoopa than all of this, but it didn't work. Whatever's up with this place…it's not quite normal.

And of course I instantly regretted it. What if it had worked? I'd have gone through all this—here in the dungeon and bringing Gwen and everyone here—for nothing. What a waste that would have been. I hope Hoopa has no way of knowing I tried it. How do I even know they're upholding their end of the bargain? What if I get home and they've sent everyone back for fun? What if—

No. I shake my head. I can't do anything about any of that right now. All I can do is keep going.