victory_road | 01 ✦ Video

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[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.

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[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.

[ 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.

[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?

No.

[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?

[Dimitri continues on without missing a beat.]

People here have been pulled by a... strange force with no solid explanation, from what I understand. Here, creatures called Paliens - not quite animals, and incredibly intelligent in their own right - are considered steadfast companions.

Everyone, through mysterious means I also cannot comprehend, starts out with one.

Despite the fact that we are outsiders, the locals of this land seem more than happy to assist where they can... So if you need any immediate help with shelter, or food, feel free to ask, although there does not seem to be any room in New Bark, the town where everyone seems to awaken for some reason.

[ They've been goin thru it, Izuku, sorry. ]

No, I understand. Even back home, where we have magic it'd be hard to just... do this, or something like this. But I have no reason to suspect the people who've been here longer of lying- and there's people of all sorts, who all started out at the same town you just came from.

[ The girl does giggle a bit at the eevee's actions though- it kind of reminds her of her meowth, despite the baby kitty's age. ]

It isn't- I know the star charts from at least my own Earth pretty well, and they don't match up here. But I've found a lot of things that are... similar to things back home? Including Japanese architecture in a few cities, and major holidays. Like it's taken pieces of home as foundations for it's own life, but then grew past that.

Edited ((forgot icon sorry!!)) 2021-03-01 23:53 (UTC)

[Well that does not inspire any confidence in him whatsoever Dimitri, please love yourself??

Paliens though. That...Izuku isn't sure he's seen that name anywhere. Isn't it "Pokemon", or did he misread it at some point?]

I guess I should go to the next town then...that explains why I couldn't go in any of the buildings to stay here.

[He's welcome to explore it seems, but not welcome to stay. So much for "mom's house" being his home.]

Um...before I ask anything else about this, I'm sorry if I'm overstepping, but is there anything I can do to help you? You look pretty bad.

[Which is maybe not the best thing to say about someone you just met but he's worried okay.]

[Izuku takes a moment to let that sink in, particularly the mention of "her own earth". The concept of other worlds isn't completely foreign to him, but it's not something he actually subscribed to being...real, documented science. It's theorized- has been for decades- but there's no concrete proof of it. In a world like his though you'd think that sort of thing would be more common place but, alas.]

Mm...so there are a lot of other people here, then...

[He brings a hand to his face, smudging his thumb and forefinger across his mouth.]

Can you tell me how long you've been here for?

[Listen, loving himself is really hard right now, a lot has happened. Let him just do things to feel Useful.]

[Still, at that offer... Dimitri glances down to the purple rat he's idly scratching behind the ears.]

...I do not think they went that way, but perhaps they get troubled, or confused... [Well, maybe Chip would use the warp in Olivine to head back, and panic upon not finding them. It's a low chance, but, still. Just in case.] If you see an eleven year old named Chip - medium length brown hair, brown skin, dark brown eyes, they should have a small lizard named Lazzo with them at all times - please let us know.

Ah... I am Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, for the record.

Since very early January, actually. Just barely two months- my friend Razor showed up on the same day, but he's from someplace completely different than Earth. [ Though she remembers it being late summer, when she was taken- another reason the cold affected her so harshly, she assumes. ] We can all communicate on the Network like this, and for some reason the locals don't use it- but so far I've had nothing but helpful encounters with both?

[ And then, it hits her. ]

Oh jesus f- I'm sorry, I totally forgot- uh. I'm called Jinx. I know I haven't been here long, but I do ask a lot of questions, so I'll try to help as best I can.

Edited (amity stop forgetting sentances challenge) 2021-03-02 00:18 (UTC)

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

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

DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

[Oh my god that sounds alarmingly like a missing child and suddenly Izuku is sitting up straighter and giving his Gear even more of his full attention. Eevee seems to sense the change in him as well, giving a curious sound as Izuku replies.]

I'll keep an eye out for them, I promise. Here, let me write down your number so I can call you if I find them...

[Give him a moment, he's rummaging in his bag off to the side. There's a non-zero chance that Izuku won't be spending most of his energy searching now instead of prioritizing himself, but he'll get back around to that eventually.]

Dimitri-san- It's good to meet you. A-and thank you for the information too, it's really helpful. I think I'll be able to get my bearings and a better handle on what's happening once I get to the first town, I hope...I just need to get there without running into more, ah. "Paliens"?

[Helpful encounters, kind locals...if that tells him anything, it's that this place seems relatively peaceful. A far, far cry from what he's been dealing with lately, but...it's a relief in some ways too. It means that he can take his time figuring out what's going on without worrying about the safety of everyone being in peril. At least for a short time. He's still plenty worried about what's going on back home, but...what can he do if he's not even there?]

Ah- it's nice to meet you, Jinx-san. I know you said earlier that we're stuck here, but...I really need to get back home. There's something very dangerous happening to my home, so being here is...it's not...

[He tightens his grip on his Gear, causing the plastic to groan beneath scarred fingers.]

[The voice peals from his Gear with such violent force that Izuku actually fumbles and drops it to the grass even while Katsuki is still screaming, the speakers buzzing against the grass as Eevee pins his ears against his head from the sheer shrillness of it all.

It takes Izuku several beats to react, too stunned with his heart having lept into his throat and his hands- still positioned in the air where he'd been holding his now dropped Gear- shaking in front of him.]

They should be... They should be fine. They took all their, ah, travel equipment, and their Pokemon should help keep them safe, they're all sensible...

[This may or may not sound like something Dimitri has had to repeat many times to himself for reassurance.]

This world is a kind one, so both them and you should do well. It is only the weather that is a concern...

[...]

[The Rattata gently pats his hand and Dimitri blinks.]

Ah - Paliens is something of a - it means the same thing as Pokemon, only, a different country's way of referring to them.

[He.... cannot remember the word.]

That is what Chip knows them by, and they will be very happy if they hear it from someone else.

[He can't help it. He's immediately tearing up as he snatches the device up off the ground, springing to his feet fast enough that his Eevee nearly falls backwards off his shoulder, only managing to catch himself by digging his paws into his sleeve.]

Kacchan!!

[Nobody else calls him Deku. Nobody.]

Kacchan, where- where are you?! Are you okay?!

[Even if Katsuki can't see Izuku's face, it's clear just from the emotion in the tone of his voice that he's leaking like a faucet. Strangely though, it isn't just Izuku's normal reaction to hearing from Katsuki.

It's frantic. Panicked in a way that Izuku doesn't get unless something is actually wrong.]

[ Jinx tries to keep her voice calm and soothing, but given her own sharp tones it sounds a bit foreign to her own ears. She also decides against pointing out that Americans have few honorifics- he likely needs a piece of home, and she's not going to deny it. ]

I know. A lot of people were taken at bad times. But I've been told that while we're here, time back home seems to... stop? And when you go back things continue, like it never happened. It's still. Bad. But it's not as pressing as you think. The force that brings us here isn't malicious- just... capricious.

[ Admittedly, she's unaware of the fact that it really might as well never happened, with the lack of memories and all. But she also doesn't need that in her life right now. ]

By all means, get your stress out- and I understand if you don't believe me on that either, but I'm afraid that's all I know about that situation. I'm sorry.

Oh. Okay, that...makes more sense, if I'm honest.

[Though now he might be swapping the two names in his head mentally for a while, just until he hears "Pokemon" from the locals enough. You did this, Dimitri.]

It's relieving to hear that things are peacful here. My home...isn't doing well right now. That's why I need to figure out how to get back as soon as possible.

[ You know, he had been about to go off on the nerd, but then he hears that tone of voice. Deku's a crybaby, make no mistake. Usually there's a difference in his wailings. Right now it's a very distressed one that, well, he has no idea what it could be from? He hadn't done anything yet to merit that sort of blubbering.

Honestly it sounds like the shitty nerd right before he loses his mind and does something phenomenally stupid.

Something ain't right there. ]

The hell wouldn't I be okay!? Who do you think you're talking to!?

[ "Are you okay?" Well shit that doesn't settle right on Bakugou at all. ]

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!

[That's his life every day, Izuku]

I understand... My home - that is the same.

But things will wait for you. I can at least promise that much. It would not be so anywhere else, but this place - or the method for getting here - is unique in that regard.

[It's something he'll discover with time, maybe even with people requesting they be just called by their name and nothing else. There's no guarantee he won't keep doing it impulsively but for now...Jinx-san she is.

That, though...Izuku leans back against the tree again, still not quite relaxed but maybe a bit less on edge than he was a moment ago. He still seems skeptical, but at the same time it's like Jinx said herself: people here would have nothing to gain from lying. Not unless they just wanted to be blatantly malicious for no reason.]

There isn't really much I can do about it if I'm stuck here right now.

[Which is obvious, but he needs to just hear it aloud. Confirmation for himself.

Eevee huffs and lays his head down against Izuku's shoulder, calming down for the moment from his antics. He can tell his trainer is stressed.]

Don't worry, I believe you. It's just...a lot to think about, I guess. Please don't apologize.

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