1st Sword - New Bark Town - Audio

[in4apounding]

Hello-? Um, salutations, everyone. Anyone? I’m not sure who I’m calling, sorry.

[The voice broadcasting onto the network today is high and brittle. A shaking breath, audible over the Pokégear, rushing in after the end.]

I don’t. Know how I got here? Or really where here is. I’ve- um, I saw the sign that says this is New Bark Town, but that’s not a place I’ve ever heard of, is this somewhere in Vale?

[The questions grow slowly steadier as they progress. The quaking vibration in tone dropping in favor of more even, but still slightly hoarse, inquiry.]

[Deep breath.]

My name is Penny Polendina, if there’s anyone here from Atlas or one of the other Huntsmen Academies, please respond. I think- I don’t know.

[That last part cuts short, a quick tremor sneaking back into Penny’s voice at the end.]

[And then, all shakiness briefly and abruptly dropping-]

Also I think that woman is- probably kind of sick? I don’t- she definitely wasn’t my mother, I’m fairly certain we’ve never met before. She gave me a bag. It had- I’m not sure what it is, but it seems friendly, at least? But- um, I’m pretty sure that woman needs medical attention, I don’t know if there’s any kind of doctor near here.

Comments

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Penny?!?

[It's


It's been a while, since Jane saw an old friend not from home here. Even if it's obvious Penny doesn't have a clue as to what's going on...it's another friend who doesn't remember their time here, but that's okay, it's fine, it's

It's still a friend.]

You're...oh, this is going to be confusing, I'm so sorry, but w-we've met once before! You were here once before. My name is Jane, we were living together with a whole house full of people and Pokemon - that's the kind of friendly creature you must have, and - oh, it's just so incredible to see you again!!

[Jane you're all over the place with this]

[Video]

[in4apounding]

[Penny jerks back from the Gear a little as the screen lights up with Jane's face.]






What?

[New memories, who dis.]

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Augh - sorry, sorry, I...I'm getting ahead of myself. Um...hi, it's nice to...meet you, again, my name is Jane...and we have met before, but you don't seem to remember and that's okay. Does...is that a bit more coherent?

[Barely.]

[in4apounding]

A li-i-ittle?

[She is 》static《 years old and what is this.]

...sorry for. Not remembering you. You seem nice! Did we meet somewhere in Atlas?

[cyan_maid]

It's okay! It's not your fault.

We...actually met in this world. It's the only other one I've ever been to besides the nebulous sort of place mine is.

[What is the Medium, anyway]

[in4apounding]

That- hm.


...I mean, I don't think I've been here before, but if I've forgotten being here I guess I wouldn't?

[That's. Concerning.]

[cyan_maid]

That is most likely the case, yes. But...I mean, it's okay! This is actually somewhat of a common occurance for people. It's not anyone's own fault, so...I mean, if it feels like a memory violation, that's completely valid, but at the same time it's not something we know how to change once it happens.

[in4apounding]

It's weird.

[That's a lot of words that sound accurate to how confused she is, at least.]

...and there's no way home? I was just- um. I think something really bad happened, and I'd like to tell my father and Mister Ironwood I'm okay.

[cyan_maid]

No way home that responds to our own whims, I'm afraid. The process is kind of random and unexpected, when it happens.

[in4apounding]

I see.

[She's quiet for a second. This is fine, everything's fine.]

...were we friends? Before.

[cyan_maid]

Yes.

[It comes easy as breathing, because it's true.]

I...I'd like to be friends again, if you don't mind. Or at least, I would like to propose we attempt to become friends...?

[She could have worded that more elegantly, probably, fuck.]

[in4apounding]

Oh, gosh, yes! That would be absolutely sensational!

[What's eloquent, can you fight with it]

[cyan_maid]

[Yes you can, definitely]

Oh! Oh, that's great! [Jane's body relaxes visibly at that. So nervous!] And - um, well, if you like, once you get to Goldenrod City, I...have a house? And you could stay here for a while if you want?

[be_notorious]

Yeah uh... I wouldn't bother. We all get that when we get here. If she ain't fixed by now then she ain't gettin' better. But she's not harmin' nobody, nobody's harmin' her, and at least she's a good cook, am I right?

Also I haven't hear o' no 'Huntsmen Academy'. Sorry, sister.

[in4apounding]

I guess..?

[She has very little basis on which to judge the quality of Mom's cooking.]

[Her eyebrows crinkle a little at that second part, though.]

You've never heard of the Academies? Are you from outside the kingdoms?

[be_notorious]

Way outside of 'em. In that whole, "probably from a different dimension" range.

You're lookin' at a cosmic state fair, with the mixed and matched from the far reaches all brought here to pet the cute animals and ride the rides. And you're stuck until luck says otherwise.

[in4apounding]

That's- not a literal fair, right?

[She hesitates as she asks, just a little.]

[be_notorious]

Not literally, no. But given how likely people are to get to celebratin'? An actual one is probably not too far around the corner. Especially with the cold settin' in.

Man. I hate the cold.

[A good number of his many, many deaths have been to the cold.]

[in4apounding]

I've never had an issue with it before. ...Does it, um, get very cold here, though?

[be_notorious]

I wouldn't know. I heard it does. I mean, no matter how cold it gets, I've probably seen colder. It still don't feel good at any rate.

[in4apounding]

So it's very cold where you come from, then? That sounds-

[She definitely has a frame of reference for this beyond this conversation.]

-bad? Very unpleasant.

[be_notorious]

Some places are real cold- I'm a space traveller. I visit lotsa places. Some of 'em real far out there. Real dark, real cold. Some of 'em scorchin' hot.

So I figure I can take it. But sometimes bein' able to handle discomfort don't mean wantin' it even in the minor degrees, know what I'm sayin'?

video

[plasticasshole]

Hi, Penny. My name is Connor.

[His Magnezone beeps behind him, one red eye focused on the camera.]

The friendly thing is your Pokemon. If you scan it with your gear, it should tell you what type it is.

[in4apounding]

Salutations Mister Connor.

[Okay, good, people are talking. Her tone's much more even now.]

The gear being-

[Sorry Connor, you're stuck on the line as Penny starts fiddling with the other Gear functions. It's a few moments before there's a beeping noise.]

This says it's called a Magnemite?

[plasticasshole]

[Connor seems to perk up at that.]

Then you have the same starter Pokemon as me. Except, well, mine is a lot bigger now.

[He leans back to pat the Magnezone on the side. It comes closer, beeping more.]

You'll find they're quite friendly. They especially enjoy batteries as a treat. What will you name yours?

[in4apounding]

Oh, wow.

[That's a big UFO thing.]

I'm not sure yet, but- ...Batteries? Do they eat them, or just. Kind of absorb the power-?

Audio;

[schachmeister]

I know this is going to be a lot to handle all at once, but you've ended up in a completely different world than your own. It's the same for all of us.

I'm afraid I've never heard of Atlas or the Huntsmen Academies, so I don't know if anyone else from your world is here, but I could try and answer any questions you might have. I've been here for a while now.

[Armin cannot help but feel sympathetic to the shaky voice on the Network today. It's been years ago for him now, but he does remember that first panic of arriving here. It's a lot to deal with.]

[in4apounding]

Ah. Hm. Um- thank you?

[She's a lot less shakey now that people are actually responding, at least, but still very hesitant.]

...I didn't think other worlds were a thing that existed.

[schachmeister]

Neither did I, to be honest. There were a lot of things I didn't know existed before I came here.

[Like pokemon and different worlds. But also things like fridges and electricity and bacteria and the concept of not having twelve-year-olds join the military.]

Like I said, it's a lot to take in at first, but it becomes easier over time.

[in4apounding]

This is- definitely a lot, yes.

[She grips at her arm a bit with a free hand.]

How long have you been here?