I've gotta say, I'm getting seriously tired of these hoops.
Sure they make for fast, convenient travel, but the sensation of falling to your demise, alone in the dark until you get there? 0/10, would not recommend.
This time is different though. Instead of finding myself in a new place, I appear to be…floating in a void. It's definitely different to the void of the Distortion World—it's totally dark, I can't see my own paw in front of my face. I heard screaming a moment ago, but…
Is this another trick of the ruins? Am I—
No! You are NOT in the Echoing Ruins!
I force myself to breathe. This is…a situation, to say the least, but I've been through worse. I think.
"Hello?" I call out feebly. Maybe not the smartest move when I have no idea what's around me.
"Gwen?" Stephanie's voice calls back. The tension leaves my body—they must be here, I just can't see them. "What's happening? Where—" Seviper's voice gets interrupted by another one with a much larger presence.
"Hello my friends! How are we all feeling? Comfortable?" Hoopa's voice booms, seemingly reverberating in my skull. Delcatty yells from somewhere nearby, "Hoopa! You little brat, let us go or I'll—" "ohoho! As you wish!" They giggle. Suddenly I feel the invisible force holding me let go—I fall unceremoniously onto an unseen solid ground. From the various grunts and complaints around me, I'm assuming the same has happened to everyone else.
Suddenly I can see—my team, Stephanie, and Team Starburst at least. Everyone is clearly visible, although the surroundings are still plunged in darkness. After a quick headcount, I'm relieved to see Elliot isn't here, then I worry for a moment that Hoopa can somehow read my thoughts—after what they've put me through, I wouldn't be that shocked if they could.
Hoopa appears before us a moment later. "There, that better? Now, Delcatty, my friend! You seemed a little confused about my continued involvement in your life, yes?" She levels a glare at them, refusing to answer, "you should always ask to see the terms and conditions before making a deal, my dear!" They grin, "but, as I have my bottle and can get along with it all shortly, I don't see any harm in showing you why things are going to be the way they're going to be. Call it venting, if you will—no one ever wants to listen to my problems!"
"What in Arceus' name are you talking about?" Ampharos says, voicing what I'm sure we're all thinking.
"What I'm talking about, you disrespectful little creature, is an epic story of friendship, betrayal, and revenge." They say, dramatically. Noivern actually snorts beside me. A moment later Rotom laughs, "and the winner of cheesy backstory introductions is…" "Enough!" Hoopa bellows, taking us aback. "One way or another, you're going to be quiet, listen to my story, and watch these events unfold—do not tempt me to open this bottle first." They say, producing the bottle and waving it around. "Ahem, now then, where was I? Ah yes…"
The scene changes around us. With Hoopa's flair for theatrics, they'd be well suited as a Master of the Center, I think offhandedly. We're in the depths of a desert. It actually looks remarkably like the final clearing of a dungeon.
"The Shimmering Sands Desert…" Delcatty breaths. "200 points to Delcatty! You remember this place, I take it? It's where we met, after all," Hoopa says, leaning to me conspiratorially as I shift away. "Now quiet! It's starting!"
An Aegislash carrying a heavy-looking bag enters the clearing. From it they withdraw a large, golden hoop. We watch as they carefully place it onto the ground, surrounding it with all kinds of treasures—jewels, golden trinkets, even a few impressive-looking books. They step back and say a string of words in a language I don't recognize. A few moments pass in silence, and then a light starts to shimmer in the center of the hoop. An instant later, the form of Hoopa materializes above it, although…
Although it's a different form to the one that floats beside me. Looming over Aegislash is the much larger version of Hoopa I remember from the Center's library book.
"Who dares summon the mighty Hoopa!" They say, as Hoopa mouths along the words beside me, seemingly reveling in the chance to relive their glory days. Frightening true form or not, this pokemon is seriously weird. "And who dares summon me with such paltry offerings? I mean, come on, sapphires? Are you cheap or what?"
Aegislash stands there looking stunned—perhaps not realizing his summoning ceremony would actually work, or not thinking there great and mighty Hoopa would be so critical of his gifts. "My apologies, mighty Hoopa! I am but a humble explorer, and I offer you my most prized treasures!" "Tch, if this is the best you can do as an explorer, I wouldn't quit your day job." They say, eyeing up a golden plate before tossing it into the sands behind them. Aegislash looks after it longingly for a second, then returns to the issue at hand.
"That is actually why I'm here. Oh mighty Hoopa, I have tried so hard to become a revered explorer…I have many dreams of achieving greatness and spreading the spirit of exploration to all who will have it. But…but no matter what I try, I always seem to fail." He says, dejectedly. Hoopa looks disinterestedly into the distance while twirling a hoop around their finger. "I have summoned you to make a deal! Please Hoopa, help make my vision a reality! I'll give you anything!"
This piques their interest; they finally deign to look at Aegislash. "Anything, huh? A dangerous statement to make on your starting offer," they say with a tone of boredom. They reach into a hoop, extract the prison bottle, crack open the lid, and, in a flurry of light, change into their smaller, more familiar form. They immediately seal the bottle then casually toss is back into the hoop before snatching it from the sky and making it disappear.
Aegislash looks dumbfounded. "My favorite party trick," Hoopa says, winking, "it's a little easier to talk like this, and besides, you know the might of my true form, why complicate things?" Aegislash still looks aghast, but manages to stand his ground. Hoopa again takes the floor, "you offer me anything, 'anything at all,' to fulfill your dream?" They say, circling Aegislash slowly, "you come bringing treasures and empty promises…but I have no need for such things," they wave their hand. Aegislash looks like he's been slapped, "oh great Hoopa, please! I have nothing else—" "I have no need for such things," Hoopa repeats, cutting him off, "but, there is something you can offer." They pause while Aegislash eagerly leans in, ready to hear the price of his dreams.
"I…am a very lonely pokemon. I live by myself, traveling between realms, speaking to no one unless called upon, and even then they just summon me to make deals and grant wishes," they say, eyes downcast. "What you can offer me, Aegislash, in exchange for me making your dreams a reality, is nothing more than your friendship."
"My…friendship?" Aegislash says, looking baffled.
"Yes, a wonderful thing, isn't it? I would continue my life as usual, of course, and you would be free to pursue all your ambitions! But, wherever we were, we would have the knowledge of our special bond—a friendship that spans dimensions."
Aegislash is considering it, looking at the ground as Hoopa gives him a moment. "Truly? You…just wish for a friend?" He asks, not seeming to believe his luck. "Truly. We become friends, check in on each other every now and then, maybe grab lunch or something? You know, normal friend things." They grin, as though they're already long time buddies, "and in exchange, I help you become the great explorer you always dreamed of, help you fulfill your dreams and whatnot. So," Hoopa extends a hand, "do we have a deal?" Aegislash thinks for a beat. Then another.
"No! Don't do it!" Noivern calls out. "He can't hear you, stupid, this has all happened already!" Rotom hisses. "Shhh! This is the best part! Pay attention," Hoopa says with annoyance.
"Hoopa, consider me your new best friend. We have a deal," Aegislash says, shaking their hand.
The scene dissolves before us and is replaced by another; now we're in front of what a banner advertises as the Exploration Center. It's quite different to the Center I know—for starters, the signature trees are almost totally absent. Instead, there are several small buildings arranged in a ring, and surrounding them are several reedy saplings that look newly planted.
It's amazing…how long ago was all this, anyway?
In the center of the clearing is a small stage, reminiscent of that in the Explorer's Lounge. Aegislash stands upon it, flanked by a roserade and a braviary. "I helped him meet those two, you know," Hoopa says, pointing to the pair. "A munna owed me back in the day; I had him go into their dreams to 'inspire them,' to seek out Aegislash. They were up-and-coming explorers, but not much to write home about by themselves." Hoopa's looking proud of themselves, but it makes my skin crawl, hearing how they manipulated and molded the lives of so many different pokemon.
I return my attention to the unfolding scene. Aegislash addresses the small group that's gathered, "thanks to your support, we've finally managed to set up the Exploration Center! Truly the first of its kind—a community for pokemon with the spirit of exploration, the dream of discovery, and the thirst for knowledge!" Some applause from the crowd. Hoopa leans in, "now, he says all that, but it was really thanks to me. There they were, weeks deep in an expedition with nothing to show for it! I swoop in and deposit some treasure—right from my own stash!—in the next clearing." "Ugh, you were just…watching them that whole time?" Delcatty asks. "Of course not!" They reply, indignantly, "I have a life, you know! He summoned me as soon as he got a moment alone. Needed his all-powerful friend to bail him out," they say, crossing their arms.
The great Aegislash…founder of the Exploration Center…a fraud.
The scene changes around us, again and again and again. Each time showing Aegislash's successes—the growth of the Center, the prestige and wealth of which helped the development of Bedrock Town, which fueled more treasure-filled expeditions, incredible discoveries, and supplied everything an explorer could ask for. I'll be honest, he looks like he's having the time of his life. Hoopa punctuates each accomplishment with their own contribution; guiding Aegislash on where the best dungeons were, giving advice on how to pass unforeseen challenges in expeditions, and even rescuing teams from danger without their knowledge. Throughout Aegislash's career, Hoopa was in the shadows, working towards the betterment of the Center, helping it grow into the entity it is today.
And watching these memories, I notice a…change in Hoopa as they go on. They started off disinterested in Aegislash's exploits, dismissive even, but they always delivered. Whenever they were summoned, they'd do whatever they could to help. But, with time, I see a spark—they seem genuinely excited about contributing to the Center, planning expeditions, or doing just about anything else. They even start coming without being called, sometimes offering suggestions on how to craft Aegislash's next big win, or giving ideas about how to improve quality of life for the explorers.
As the years passed, it's clear that Hoopa really came to love the Center, and everything it stood for. I can tell they even came to love the pokemon who served it and it served in turn. They put in so much work…and no one even knew.
The scene changes again, this time to Hoopa appearing before Aegislash at night behind the Master's quarters (which, back then, was still on the ground). I notice Hoopa stiffens beside me.
"Absolutely not! It's absolutely out of the question!" A much older Aegislash says, furiously. Hoopa looks despondent, "please…I've put years of work into this place…I…I love it, the exploring, the pokemon, all of it! I just…want to be part of it…properly." They say. "If I reveal that you've been involved in all this…I'll be ruined! My reputation? My career? It will have all been for nothing!" "But I wouldn't need to tell them…I could…I could join as a new recruit!" They say, eyes lighting up, "an aspiring explorer! I don't want the the credit or anything, I just want to be involved—really involved." They plead desperately. "How could I trust you to keep your word? You slip up and tell them…even once…no, I just can't risk it," Aegislash says decisively.
Hoopa recoils, eyes lined with hurt. "I…I wouldn't tell anyone because…because I'm promising you! Because we're friends! I would never want to hurt my dear friend!" "Pah, after all this time, you think we're really friends? We're bound by a deal, nothing more. Now off with you, it's late, and I have to prepare for the upcoming expedition." Aegislash says, waving them away.
Hoopa starts shaking, tears in their eyes. They reach into a hoop, pulling out the prison bottle a moment later. "You seem to forget the terms of that deal. The condition for this—all of this!—was that we would be friends! If you go back on your word now…" they open the bottle, transforming into their more menacing form, towering over Aegislash, "…then I'll have no choice but to go back on mine!" They bellow. Various pokemon from the Center emerge, staring at Hoopa, first in confusion, then terror. Shrieks fill the quiet night air.
The look that crosses Hoopa's face…it's a menacing face, I'll be honest with you, but the anguish is palpable. They wanted so badly to be a part of the Exploration Center, of its community, and instead the very pokemon they've come to love just see them as some kind of monster attacking their beloved Master.
I know Hoopa's put us through a lot…but this? This is too much.
While Hoopa's distracted by the crowd, Aegislash lunges forward, at first appearing to attack, but instead managing to swipe the prison bottle from them.
"Hoopa! I banish you from whence you came! Begone, and leave our Exploration Center in peace!" He brandishes the bottle, reverting Hoopa to his diminutive form.
Now he opts for moves. It's a pretty low blow. One after another, Hoopa looking too broken to fight back as they watch the pokemon of the Center they've cared for for so long urge on Aegislash to victory.
Finally, they collapse, are brought to a prison, and locked away. From their cell, we hear Aegislash ordering the bottle to be taken to the Echoing Chambers—evidently not yet in ruins—to keep it from Hoopa so they can't regain their full strength. I wonder if he realizes the toll that will have on the poor team he's sending.
Seeing how he's acted, I'd say probably.
The memory abruptly ends, and we're surrounded by darkness again.
"By the time I regained my wherewithal, my bottle was long gone." They start, voice wavering. "It took time to regain my strength—when I finally did, I was able to escape through a portal. No prison can hold me!"
Delcatty steps forward, brows knit together "Hoopa, I had no idea…I—" "enough! I'm not looking for pity!" Hoopa cries, "I need you to understand! Understand why I have to destroy the Center!"
With that last sentiment, they finally manage to open their bottle.