Chapter Text
Hyperspace was never safe. He knew this going in.
Despite that, Paxton kept jumping into every distortion he could, determined to uncover its secrets, capture as many Pokemon as he could, bash some floating Pokeballs to keep the cycle going, and get home in time for dinner, though Dialga’s reign over Hyperspace was far faster in comparison to reality He could spend an entire day inside a distortion with only a few minutes passing in reality. Regardless, he loved Taunie’s cooking far too much to ever entertain the idea.
This distortion wasn’t too different from the rest. Another Special Scan from Phillippe, this time one filled to the brim with Eevees and its many evolutions. Not the most ideal circumstances, but he came in prepared with a sickeningly sweet donut for Hoopa. Nobody at the hotel understood truly why, but those in particular seemed to bring Alpha, Shiny, or even sometimes both at once, running from wherever they come from in that other realm. Paxton sure wasn’t looking a gift Rapidash in the mouth, though.
The other reason why this was different is because this distortion appeared in the Dormez Bien Cemetery- or Wild Zone 4, as the tourists know it as. How that EVER got past the planning phase is something that nobody in Team MZ will ever understand. And while a distortion in the graveyard isn’t a problem for a normal person…
…it’s a big problem for the Mythical Pokemon whose focus is entirely on keeping the one way portal to reality open, who also happens to have a four times weakness to the ghosts that haunt the area. Typically, they tend to just leave Hoopa alone, most Pokemon have an innate sense to stay well away from the minor and major gods of the world, and Hoopa’s lucky enough to fall under that category.
But that doesn’t really go for an Alpha Haunter, who’s decided that Hoopa’s very existence in this haunted ground is an insult to its very existence. And with Hoopa’s attention squarely on ensuring that their keeper’s dear friend isn’t left stranded in an unstable dream realm, it leaves them wide open to a brutal assault of Ghost and Dark type attacks, quickly knocking him out.
Hoopa wouldn’t wake up until long after their friend’s time on the other side was about to run out. And their friend relied on Hoopa to drag him out if he starts to push that timer to its final few seconds before escaping.
Hoopa could only hope, as their consciousness started to slip away, that Paxton would get out before his time ran out…
Paxton wasn’t aware of Hoopa’s predicament at all. He was far too busy raking in the spoils of this absolutely goliath sized Hyperspace Wild Zone, full of one of his more frustrating targets. “Lucky break! Ansha’s going to have a field day with all these berries!” He said. Out loud. To himself. He’s not crazy, you’re crazy! “And with this Shalpha Eevee in the bag, this might just be one of the best scans we’ve gotten yet! Corbeau and Phillippe are going to love all this new data!”
In his moment of celebration, Paxton didn’t notice the signs of Hyperspace beginning to fade away around him. The subtle sound of TV static, distorting buildings around him, Pokemon starting to get nervous, it somehow eluded him entirely. He kept venturing further in, trying his luck at another lucky find, or that surprisingly elusive Bonus Ball that he never manages to find before Hoopa grabs hold of him. It’s only once he realizes just how far away from the portal he’s gone that the signs start to become far more apparent, and far more concerning, that Paxton begins to turn around and try to get back to his gateway home.
“Shit, how did I miss the signs!? And how could I forget just how fast Hoopa’s energy drains in these Special Scan distortions? Am I even going to make it back in time!?”
He picks up the pace, adrenaline coursing through him, winding around buildings and alleyways, when an Alpha Flareon catches sight of him. Its roar knocks Paxton off balance, slowing him down just long enough to let out a Flamethrower that singes his right leg. The burn slows him down while his partner Feraligatr subdues the raging fire fox, giving Paxton a chance to escape to the portal.
But it’s not enough time.
“Hoopa!? You’re cutting it real close here, buddy! Could really use your help right about now! This place is coming apart around me! Where are you!?” He shouted, waiting for a hand to reach out through one of their hoops and pull him back through. A helping hand that would never come. A save that would never happen. “Hoopa!!! This isn’t funny anymore, pal! I’m in SERIOUS trouble here!!!”
The portal’s finally in sight, barely even the size of his own head, when he reaches out to return to Lumiose City. But it’s too late. As his hand grazes the portal, it vanishes with barely even a sparkle left behind. Hyperspace Lumiose begins to vanish around him. Gravity becomes more than a suggestion. And with one final cry of Hoopa’s name…
Paxton is stranded on the other side- with no way home.
Hoopa wouldn’t wake up until after nightfall, when one of the cemetery groundskeepers spots him unconscious.
“What on Earth is that Pokemon..? Doesn’t look like anything that typically haunts the cemetery grounds… and it looks a little worse for wear…”
As soon as the groundskeeper reaches out, Hoopa shoots awake in a panic, and looks around to get their bearings. It remembers what happened not long after, and floats over to the wall that held the distortion they opened… only to find nothing. Hoopa’s absolutely terrified at this point, and doesn’t know what to do, this hasn’t ever happened before! Where’s their friend? Did he just leave them here? No, he would never! What’s happening!?
Hoopa thinks to check where all of their friends normally stay- Hotel Z, they called it? The name’s not relevant right now! They need to hurry and find help!
“You sure he’s alright? He’s normally home by now.”
Naveen might not show it outwardly, but he’s starting to get a bit worried. The last time Paxton missed dinner, it was the first few days of the Hyperspace expeditions when he was working overtime to get the data necessary to close the giant distortion over Ange’s remains. Even when the hunt for Rayquaza took center stage in their lives, Paxton still managed to get home in time every day for the team’s regular round of Croissant Curry.
“He’s got a point, Taunie. Speaking of which, where’s Hoopa? They’ve always made sure to get back to Ansha’s side once Paxton’s out of a distortion… Oh jeez, you don’t think something happened to them, did you-” Lida’s panicking was quickly interrupted by Taunie. “Calm down, Lida! Maybe he just lost track of time going between distortions. I’m giving him an extra hour before I’m out there, dragging him home myself, though!”
“I’m with Naveen on this one, Taun. Man’s obsessed with your cooking, girl! He wouldn’t miss dinner for the world! We might wanna get out there and-” Korrina was interrupted as Hoopa burst through the door, no less scared for their friend than before.
“Hoopa? What has you so distressed, my friend?” Ansha’s voice seems to bring Hoopa back down to Earth, long enough to attempt to communicate just what happened to Paxton in their own way. They start by throwing one of their rings into the air to mimic a distortion, which they immediately jump through.
“What’re they doing..? Is this… some weird game of charades?” Lida wonders out loud. “Wait, is that supposed to be Paxton?” Taunie asks, which Hoopa quickly nods to. “Ok, so Paxton went into a distortion, that’s pretty normal so far…” Hoopa then flies around their ring, then feigns an attack, ending with them falling to the ground, eyes closed. “You got attacked out there!? Are you ok, Hoopa!?” The entire team, Ansha especially, is absolutely terrified at the idea of Hoopa getting hurt while they can’t help. Hoopa nods again, and from the ground, closes their ring as it flies back around their horns.
“Wait… If Hoopa was attacked, wouldn’t that mean…” Naveen starts to confirm everyone’s worst fears. “...Hoopa couldn’t save them if a distortion closed while he’s on the other side!” Lida finishes the grim possibility, as her eyes start to widen. Her hands fly up to her mouth by instinct, as the horror of their reality starts to settle in.
“Then… that means… He’s…” Korrina finishes.
Ansha’s hands cover her mouth, just like Lida. Tears are already starting to well up in her eyes. Korrina staggers backwards, hands trembling. Lida starts to shake her head in denial. “No, no, no, no no no no no, this can’t be happening, this can’t be happening, this can’t be happening…” Even Naveen, normally the most reserved of the team, has a look of pure horror on his face.
And Taunie…
Taunie falls to her knees, already crying, choking back sobs. For the third time in her life, someone she considered family was stolen away from her, all while she’s unable to do anything to stop such a tragedy from ever occurring.
Team MZ comes to the realization… that Paxton Kyoya Sycamore… is lost in Hyperspace.