01 ✦ Video

[mightdoriya]

[It could have all been a dream, given the way Izuku wakes up in a bed that isn't his own. It could also very well be the hospital- a fact that wouldn't have been surprising- but the stark lack of a sterile atmosphere leads him to believe otherwise even as he sits up with a start. His heart is hammering in his chest and between his ears with such ferocity that believing this is anything but reality would be difficult...

He isn't afforded much time to collect himself, because someone has noticed he's awake and immediately lept up onto his chest to greet him, his fluffy tail wagging excitedly.

Okay, maybe this is a dream after all.

Everything happens pretty quickly after that. Your usual fair of arrival: Izuku's "mom" comes in the room upon hearing his Eevee chirp at him, ushering him up-and-at'em even as he's stammering questions and trying (and failing) to get her to give him a straight answer. She is in fact not even remotely his mother but she doesn't seem to know that or care, and before he's able to get a word in edgewise he's out the door with a bag over his shoulders. Eevee had taken advantage of the chaos to climb up Izuku's back, sitting pretty on his shoulder as if he belongs there. So what does Izuku do? Well...

He starts to walk, hoping he'll be able to come into a town and maybe someplace more familiar than the route ahead of him. ...only for a Pineco to drop from a tree and attack both him and his Eevee pretty much immediately. It's a pretty sudden and surprising introduction to Pokemon battling before he's even finished reading up on it, leaving him to find a tree to sit down under for a while before anything else can happen. He has the PokeGear, so let's just try to contact someone. Anyone.]

Hello? I don't know if anyone can hear me on this, but it's worth a try...

[He pauses as Eevee pushes his head into the screen's view, hello he's here too.]

My name is Midoriya Izuku. I'm not sure what's happened, but I'm really not where I'm supposed to be right now. My only guess is this all is due to the effects of a Quirk, but I don't remember anything that could have lead to that.

[Unless Shigaraki had some tricks up his sleeve he really wasn't prepared for. Doesn't explain how his injuries have ceased to exist, either.]

I've been reading the guidebook, but it's really just giving me more questions than answers. Not only that, the pet the lady had in her house where I woke up followed me outside and I can't get it to go back home to her. She won't answer the door now so I'm not really sure what to do about that.

Comments

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[nastyboy]

[It's morning, and Dimitri and Claude are already packing up to continue their search along Route 38 for any signs of Chip. It's honestly been a rough night - he doesn't have Kent with him, which means no Munna eating the worst of his nightmares, and so sleep has been... difficult. To say the least.]

[But besides packing up, well, Gremlin has been looking over the network Just In Case anyone says anything... No one has.]

[But there is someone asking for help.]

[When the screen lights up, it's with a super close up of a Rattata's face, before Dimitri patiently pulls the little creature back by the scruff of his neck. The bag under his one good eye is a dead giveaway for how shit he feels, but...]

That pet - a Palien known as Eevee - is your partner. That is... where we should start at.

[mightdoriya]

[Izuku is unfortunately not the missing Chip, though if he were on the same route there's no doubt he'd probably be trying to help look for them even if he's not in much of a state of mind to be helpful currently. Once a hero, always a hero.

The way people can respond to posts is interesting he's noticing, connecting him to someone relatively quickly in real time. He holds his Gear a bit closer before having to pull it back once his Eevee immediately starts to try to get in close to the screen again.]

A...Palien? Eevee?

[Something seems vaguely familiar about it, but not enough for Izuku to put his finger on what it is for certain. This guy seems to know though, given the way he's handling the rodent he's holding. Both Eevee and Rattata are unlike anything he's seen before...]

I don't understand, why-

[Izuku starts, but before he can finish his sentence he notices that Dimitri looks. Well, dead.]

...are you alright?

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[nastyboy]

No.

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[fortuna_tenax]

[ Congratulations, Izuku! You've definitely got someone connecting to respond. You are heard, and your eevee's additional presence is appreciated. Jinx looks a bit drained, admittedly, but she still speaks clearly and confidently for the most part. ]

I'm assuming that "quirk" is your home's term for powers? If that's the case, this isn't anything like that- we've been brought to a different world, likely by the 'powers that be'... which I've seen described as a space llama god? And we're stuck here until it decides to send us back- some people have been here for years, but I've only been around for a couple months now. I wish I could tell you more, but that's all I know at the moment.

Admittedly, I find the guidebook kinda... bad. But pay attention to the part about berries.

[ She looks so serious when she says it, oh my god. Then again, food poisoning is no joke. ]

Anyways, the "pet" isn't hers- it's yours now. We're all given a starting partner to help us out- they handle the fighting, and in return we take care of them... which sounds awful, I know, but they legitimately enjoy it. It's like sparring for them- and if they don't want to, they'll let you know in their own way.

[mightdoriya]

[Everyone who has answered him looks So Tired so far and that does not bode well. Nor does the rapid influx of information- the idea of a different world, no powers, space llama god- Izuku opens his mouth a few times while Jinx explains without successfully managing to get in any questions. Eventually he just settles to stay quiet and let her finish, all while his Eevee watches with a long ear flicking against his curly hair.]

I...I'm not saying this because I don't believe you or anything, but...all of that is pretty hard to believe. Maybe a Quirk powerful enough to warp people could put me someplace different, but a whole other world...

[He can't fathom even the likes of Kurogiri managing such a feat. Eevee seems to agree with Jinx's assessment though, reaching a paw up to place against Izuku's cheek as if to reassure him that he'll understand it all eventually.]

Are you absolutely sure this isn't Japan? Earth? And if not, where are we?

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[apshot]

[ GUESS WHO HEARD NOTHING BUT "HI MY NAME IS-" ]

voice

[apshot]

[ and he has exactly (1) thing to say. ]

DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Don't worry too much about "Mom", she does that to everybody.

[The girl who responds is older than Izuku by a few years, but no less friendly - she smiles and waves in her response, having been relaxing with a hot coffee.]

That pet is your new partner here - looks like that's an Eevee? It's a kind of Pokemon!

[mightdoriya]

"Evu-!"

[Izuku's Eevee perks up upon hearing that he's being talked about, his ears twitching with a happy flick of his tail. More than one person has called this little guy an "Eevee", so he has no choice but to believe that. The rest though...]

Who...is she, exactly?

[forsaintcecilia]

Hi! [Hello fellow green hair guy! Also another Japanese person! That's surprisingly rare these days.] I don't know what a Quirk is, but that's probably not what's happening. Also, that pet is probably yours! I'm guessing it's your starter Pokemon!

[mightdoriya]

[Green haired folk have to stick together, you know!

Izuku has been hearing the word "starter" and "partner" tossed around a lot, and every time his Eevee responds as if to affirm that yes, that is the case. He's your friend and partner now dummy, accept him. Izuku can't say he doesn't appreciate his company whatever the case; it's helping calm him down as he idly pets the side of Eevee's head as he responds to the people replying to his post.]

Ah, well...a Quirk is a superhuman ability that everyone is born with. It's common where I'm from.

[For......the most part.

You know, he hasn't even tried to use his Quirk yet, so he doesn't know it's not reachable here. He's just assuming that people don't know of them since they're not naturally from his world, not that the Quirk itself is being blocked too.]

[ohmylord]

Ohhhh. I guess you met Fake Mom too, huh?

[The girl who's peering out at him from the other side of the screen is about his age, give or take a year or two. She's dressed in a baggy grey sweater with a monster pattern and wearing a necklace of chunky beads shaped like clouds of gas with faces with matching earrings. Her long black hair is piled on her head.]

Yeah, nobody knows what's up with her. She's probably crazy, though. But, uh, you said something about Quirks? Are you from Kirishima's world?

[mightdoriya]

[Izuku raises his brows slightly when yet another stranger appears on his Gear's screen, but particularly when she mentions Kirishima by name.]

Ah- yes! Kirishima-kun is one of my classmates! I know he and Kacchan are here, but...have you met anyone else talking about Quirks?

[If anyone else from his class or world besides is scattered across this region, he's going to have to find them.]

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[machismost]

Woah, Midoriya, it really is you!

[ Someone might have heard screaming from across the house.

The video feed is mainly looking up at Kirishima's face from a rather unflattering angle - the 'Gear is in his lap - but there's no mistaking the hair or the sharp teeth within the soft grin. Eijiro's really happy to see him after all this time, though it feels weird being too happy since it's so obvious Izuku's discombobulated. And it was all too recently that Kirishima had been reminded of leaving their world in a lurch. ]

Don't worry, man, you don't have to figure it out all at once. Or alone! Though I gotta say I really appreciate a smart guy like you saying you think it's a Quirk. Bakugou called it dumb when I suggested it back when we got here!

[ Vindication! Ahem. ]

But anyway, you're in New Bark Town, right? Want me to come pick you up? It's a lot faster getting around with Pokemon you can ride.

[ Oops, was he supposed to be playing hard to get...? He hasn't popped in to review whatever Bakugou's already said yet! ]

[mightdoriya]

[What a relief it is to see Kirishima looking well, unflattering angle notwithstanding. Izuku hasn't caught up with the others since he and Katsuki split to go after Shigaraki, so things in his brain are a considerable mess currently. Never mind the fact he's already tearfully explained some things to Katsuki, so he's probably not in the best of moods. Sorry Kirishima.

As for the offer to get picked up, WELL...Katsuki did say if he felt like it. But at this point, the idea of getting to them faster outweighs Katsuki's desire to be tsundere about allowing Izuku to join them.

...also Katsuki if it wasn't a Quirk what ELSE could you have explained it as-]

It seemed like the answer that made the most sense...at least at first.

[Until he got to see more and more Pokemon and realized maybe that wasn't the case.]

But...if it isn't too much trouble, I would really appreciate that, Kirishima-kun. I was already making my way but...I'm realizing just now how long this road is.

[Like...days of walking long. And by the way, it's cold? Izuku and his Eevee are visibly shivering even though he's trying not to. At least Eevee can curl up behind the back of his neck and wrap his tail around it, which helps, but it's still pretty chilly for them both.]

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[vrdantwind]

[If Claude weren't currently preoccupied with hunting for Chip, he might reply to Izuku with a video. As he is, though - distracted, anxious, not feeling or looking his best - he sticks to text.]

Hey, Midoriya! [Claude doesn't understand Japanese naming conventions yet, so as far as he knows, Midoriya is Izuku's first name.] Welcome to Johto! They really drop you in at the deep end here, so don't worry about being confused - we all started out that way.

I'm sure other people have explained this already, but that little guy is yours, not Mom's. He's meant to follow you around and be your partner! These creatures are called pokémon, and they like to partner up with people. Some of them do it just for companionship, but some do it because they really enjoy competition in the form of fighting with other pokémon, and fighting alongside a human trainer helps them bring out their full potential. Some of them can even evolve into new, more powerful forms once they've gotten strong enough! Also, you don't have to stick with just the one you started with - you can catch more to add to your team.

Honestly, normally I'd go a lot more in-depth but I've kind of got pressing business right now.

...boy, I'm really scattered, I almost didn't introduce myself. Name's Claude von Riegan.

[mightdoriya]

Thank you. It's nice to meet you, Claude-san. I appreciate the explanation, even if a couple people have already replied to my post. More insight from others never hurt, and I'm going to try to make notes of everything whenever I get my hands on a notebook...maybe when I get to the next town.

Don't let me keep you if you're busy though! I hope everything is alright.

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[epitaffio]

Hey! So I'm guessing you might have figured it out by now, but that little guy is all yours. I think it's called an Eevee, but you can give it any name you want. They catch on pretty quick.

[What he's actually curious about, though, because the phrasing rang a bell...]

If it's okay to ask... what did you mean when you said "the effects of a Quirk"?

[mightdoriya]

[Izuku inclines his head to Doppio in a nod, his Eevee bobbing his head a little in front of the screen as if to agree. Izuku hasn't quite gotten around to naming him yet either, but hopefully that should happen soon. Maybe it will actually be something decent...maybe.]

I don't mind you asking. Quirks are superhuman abilities that people are born with where I'm from. They can be almost any kind of ability you can think of, so very little is off the table when it comes to, like...the realm of what can be done with one. I'm pretty sure new Quirks are being discovered every day.

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

Quirk? Are you from Kirishima's world?

[mightdoriya]

I am, yes. Are you friends with Kirishima-kun?

[stardiving]

Tis naught of your world--or any of ours--that brought us here. Where none of us are 'supposed' to be, for what that is worth.

[From a bored-looking guy with long, white hair. Though he is looking at the screen fairly intently all the same. It's cold out, is this kid going to make it to the next town safely? Arceus, or whatever power actually is bringing people here, really isn't doing so with winter safety in mind.]

The animal is yours.

[mightdoriya]

[It's intriguing, how formal this person sounds when speaking. It makes Izuku wonder...]

I don't mind taking care of him, at least...he's been really friendly and nice to have around so far.

[His Eevee gives a chirp of confirmation because he's definitely not planning on going anywhere any time soon.]

Ah- where are you from, then, if you don't mind me asking?

[islandshore]

[Ah, quirk. He's heard that word used before. Interesting...

But more on that later, as this mid-twenties, silver-haired stranger greets the camera with a faint smile.]

I'm guessing by now you've already gotten some answers, but if you have more specifics, I can try to help out. Got a decade's worth of experience under my belt, and I've seen this world at its best and worst.

[He pauses, as something clicks, and he's quick to add-]

And no. Sticking around for a decade's not normal. There's maybe a handful of us who've lasted more than five years.

[mightdoriya]

A decade?

[Wow. That is...impressive. And the surprised exclamation comes before Riku has the chance to explain, and...wow, still. What a long time to not be in your own world...]

I see...I hope you're doing well in spite of that. I can't imagine being away from home for that long.

[Questions about specifics though, hm...well he does still have plenty of time before Kirishima and Katsuki get here to pick him up.]

I guess I'm wondering, is there any way to like...prevent Pokemon from attacking while you're on a route? I know it's common for them to want to battle you, but I'm worried they'll keep coming up even when my partner and I are trying to rest. We've already had a few close calls and haven't even been out here for very long yet.