1st [video network post]

[forsaintcecilia]

I'm... Gosh, I hope I'm doing this right...

[A green haired young man is staring into his gear with an expression like a lost puppy. In his arms is a Popplio who seems more interested in it's surroundings than it's owner. It's easy to tell that he's in a Johto-style Pokemon Center from the background in the edges of the video.]

Hi! Uh, if this goes through to anyone, my name's Kazuki. And I'm kind of in a pickle here. This is going to sound totally crazy, but it's the truth, okay?

I... I woke up this morning in a weird bed. Some lady was pulling the curtains back and she kept telling me she was my mom, but she's not! I swear! She left me a change of clothes that aren't mine either, and a bag, and got me out of the house super quick. And then there was a man who gave me this fella here [Kazuki lifted the Popplio towards the camera for emphasis.] And told me to take the nearest route out of town, and...

Well, to be honest, everything felt like such a dream that I went along with it at first! But now that I'm here and I still haven't woken up yet, I think I'm in trouble! Like, maybe mentally, or something. 'Cause critters like this don't exist where I'm from!

I've been trying to tell the people I've met here that I need to go home, but they don't get it. Some of them laugh at me. And then one of them told me that this thingy the man gave me can connect to the internet, and that someone there might be able to help, so that's what I'm doing now.

[The poor fellow looks absolutely befuddled. This is what happens when ordinary folks get tossed into the world of Pokemon!]

So, um... Help? Please? Someone out there has to know what's going on here, right? I'm starting to get really worried here!

Comments

[Video]

[notmyrealname]

You don't sound crazy at all. We've all experienced the same thing when we first arrived here.

[Cissnei offers a small grin to the young man as she pauses in her trek towards the Icefall Cave, a golden and black Riolu perched on her shoulder.]

You're not in the same world you were before, as crazy as that probably sounds.

[Video]

[forsaintcecilia]

Really? Like... Really really?

[It was just so good to hear from someone that he wasn't going nuts!]

So, you mean-- this happens to more people? Not from the... same world?

[Video]

[notmyrealname]

Pretty regularly. Most of the people you'll talk to on the network are from different worlds. Some of us have friends from home here with us but that's not always the case.

[She had started with someone from home, for example, but now she was all by herself.

Well, in terms of people from her world.]

I'm Cissnei, by the way. Welcome to the Pokemon world~

[Video]

[forsaintcecilia]

Oh. {Friends from home? He'd like that right about now.] If they were here, do you think they'd see this?

It's nice to meet you, Cissnei. I'm Kazuki... Did I say that already?

[Video]

[notmyrealname]

Most likely. Paying attention to the network is a quick and easy way to get the hang of things in this place so I wouldn't doubt they'd be watching.

[She can't help but laugh and Tseng, the Riolu on her shoulder, let's out a quiet huff.]

You didn't, no. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kazuki.

[Video]

[forsaintcecilia]

Okay! Good, good. I'm glad I got this advice. I didn't know his gadget could do this.

[His Popplio waves a bit to the shiny Riolu. Hello! At least Kazuki got a friendly, affable starter.]

[Video]

[notmyrealname]

[Tseng returns the wave with a somewhat shy one of his own, clearly not the most personable Pokemon out there but he could at least greet others nicely enough.]

It can do quite a bit. Pretty much anything you may need to do while you're here, the Gear can help you with it.

audio

[moneylogues]

Yeah, that's the standard welcome you got there. Surprise, you're stuck here with the rest of us.

Lucky you.

audio

[forsaintcecilia]

Um... Yes? I'm sorry?

[Kazuki doesn't do well with sarcasm. Doesn't really get the nuances of it.]

audio

[moneylogues]

Oh, good, you're one of those clueless types.

Look, someone who cares can probably give you a better rundown, but the basic gist of it is that you're so not in Kansas anymore and there's no way of getting home. I'm not fucking with you when I say you're stuck.

audio

[forsaintcecilia]

What? But... I don't know how I got here in the first place!

[He's stuck? Oh no. He can't be stuck! He has to go home, so his family knows he's okay, and he has to go to university tomorrow, and--]

audio

[moneylogues]

Welcome to the club. That's how it goes, you just suddenly wake up here and then you just have to deal.

It's complete bullshit, I know. I spent a long damn time trying to find a way off this dump, but it's just not happening.

audio

[forsaintcecilia]

I-- I wouldn't call it a dump, but... [He sure doesn't want to stay any longer than he has to!] I really need to go home! People will be worried about me! There really isn't any way?

Video;

[schachmeister]

Don't worry. Nobody will think you are crazy. We've all been through this, so we know you are speaking the truth.

I don't think anyone knows what is going on completely, but if you want, I can try and answer as many of your questions as I can.

Video;

[forsaintcecilia]

Well, some of the people hre do, but no one I've talked to on this thingy does. Why is that?

[Is that a good first question?]

Video;

[schachmeister]

Ah, that is-- everybody who arrives in this world from a different one like you did is given one of these devices. So we've all gone through the same experience as you.

But there are also a lot of people here who were born here and lived their whole life in this world. I guess not everyone of them knows or understands what happens to us.

Video;

[forsaintcecilia]

Oh.

[Well, that makes sense. It's weird, but it makes sense.]

You said you don't know what's going on completely, but do you know why we're here? Or how? Or how I go home?

Video;

[schachmeister]

Nobody really knows why or how we've been brought here. I know that is probably not a very satisfying answer, but it seems like people just show up in this world at random. There doesn't really seem to be a specific reason or pattern either.

[Well, okay, Armin has a few theories. Or, well, at the very least he has noticed one thing which he thinks points to a pattern, but it is not like he can really prove anything, so best not to dump that on the new person. Things must already be confusing enough.]

As for going home... Going home isn't really-- it is possible but it is not something we can control. Some people have been here for years, but nobody has ever really figured out what makes people go home or stay. That too happens seemingly at random. I know that might not be what you wanted to hear. Though from what we can tell, at least, time doesn't really... move in your own world while you are here. So you haven't exactly gone missing. If you go home, you go back to the same moment you left from.

Video;

[forsaintcecilia]

[Good decision, Armin. Kazuki definitely can't parse through theories right now. Or ever. Best to stick to the facts you know for now. Those are confusing enough on their own.]

Years? Oh no... I can't be gone that long! My family'd be worried sick! Are you sure about this time stuff? Like, 100%, no doubt, absolutely sure?

[Just the thought of how sad his mom would be nearly makes Kazuki tear up!]

video;

[notvaljean]

[Hello, were you planning on talking to a person today? TOO BAD, because instead, Fat Ice Dog the Spheal has commandeered the device and is looming large and goofy in it, looking down at you with interest. When he sees the Popplio, he barks excitedly and claps his flippers together, clearly pleased at seeing another water type.]

video;

[forsaintcecilia]

Oh, uh, hey fella! Who're you?

[And how did he get on camera like that? Popplio, however, recognizes the sound of a fellow seal-Pokemon, and props himself up in Kazuki's arms so he can get a better look. He happily barks in reply, and raises a flipper in greeting.]

You two wanna talk? Okay... [Kazuki adjusts the device so Popplio can use it better. These creatures strike him as far smarter than your average cat or dog, so maybe they can communicate?]

video; Jean will make an appearance in the next tag

[notvaljean]

[Fat Ice Dog recruited Zappy the Shitposter the Rotom to assist him with the communicator. The Spheal has many fine qualities, but technological savvy is not one of them.]

[Thank you very much for the adjustment, human friend! Fat Ice Dog claps his flippers with even more aplomb when he can see the Popplio better, and starts chattering away in Pokemon language. Let him tell you all about the world, young new friend!]

video; Fat Ice Dog alone is worth it

[forsaintcecilia]

[Popplio nods along in rapt attention as Fat Ice Dog barks and yelps at him, and Kazuki cants his head, as if hoping that a new angle would get him to understand what they were talking about. Because they were obviously talking! He just didn't understand them.]

Where's your, uh, trainer, buddy? [He asks when the two pause for a suitable amount of time.] Do you even have one?

video; Fat Ice Dog is more personable than Jean anyway

[notvaljean]

[Fat Ice Dog starts when the trainer addresses him, then nods enthusiastically. Yes, yes he does have a trainer! Do you want to talk to Dumb Narrow? Let him go find him! The Spheal rolls out of the camera's view, and Kazuki will get treated to a lovely view of the ceiling for a few minutes, accompanied by some crashing in the distance and the sound of more Spheal barking and flipper clapping.]

Okay, what, what are you all excited about?

[The sound of footsteps, and then someone picks up the communicator and looks into it, one eyebrow lifted.]

Hello? Was he bothering you?

[Fat Ice Dog barks indignantly from somewhere off-screen. He was being helpful, thank you very much!]

video;

[forsaintcecilia]

Oh! [There's a person! So it wasn't just some random Pokemon fella that happened to have Gear for some weird reason. He'd probably nabbed it from his trainer for a minute.] No, not at all! There were talking to each other.

[Kazuki lifts Popplio up so he could be seen again. They were both pinniped Pokemon, so maybe they had something in common.]

Sorry, I just got here, I don't know how things work very well yet.