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

[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.

[islandshore]

Honestly, I'm used to it now, but... Eh.

[He shrugs his shoulders.]

It's had its ups and downs, that's for sure. Seen a lot of people come, seen a lot of people leave.

[But Riku waves a hand, trying to brush it off like it's no big deal.]

Anyway, as far as preventative measures go, your best bet's to stock up on Repels... which might take a bit. Been a while, but I'm not sure they carry them in New Bark. Cherrygrove, maybe, but otherwise your next best bet's probably in Violet City.

You could try to work around the grass, too. I'd suggest turning your Pokegear into Pokemon Lullaby, but I'm pretty sure that only comes in on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, so it's not exactly consistent.

[mightdoriya]

[Riku sounds more than a little jaded, but maybe not necessarily in a bad way. It makes sense if he's been around for as long as he says he has.]

Repels...I guess my best option now is to stay out of the grass, if that's usually where they pop up more often.

[Or the trees...which he found out the hard way.]

And well, it's better than nothing, right? I'm going to be on this route for a couple days I think...so it should come in handy at some point.

[islandshore]

You could try cutting it- but that opens up a whole can of worms involving habitat and nature preservation that's way outta my league.

[He chuckles lightly. There's probably been all sorts of debates on the subject he cares not to look into. Then again, grass does eventually grow back.]

I'd say... just pace yourself. It's good to get some battle experience in. Maybe catch some more Pokemon for good measure- but I guess, more than anything, just try to make do 'til you can reach the next town. Your options'll definitely expand once you can shop for supplies and earn some stable income.

[mightdoriya]

[An idea for sure, but at least it's not a quandry he has to worry about right now since he doesn't have any way to cut it. Certainly no Pokemon who can, he's pretty sure.]

Right...that makes me wonder though, what do people usually do about...homes? Or do they mostly just travel?

[islandshore]

Kinda depends. A lot of people tend to settle in the big cities- mostly Goldenrod, but there are others who go outta their way to do the whole "Pokemon journey." Collect badges, explore the regions...

[Shrugging his shoulders, Riku adds-]

Kinda just depends on your comfort zone. Personally, though, I suck at sitting still, even with my own place.

[mightdoriya]

[The way Izuku furrows his brow when Riku says that is more than enough of an indicator that he's got even more questions...but is hesitating to immediately ask them for fear of being overbearing, probably.

But Riku responded specifically to give him what knowledge he knows, so...]

What are the badges for?

[islandshore]

Main thing is just proof of your worth as a trainer. Collect the badges, you get perks like discounts at marts, plus TMS, eventually a mega stone to push your Pokemon beyond its limits.

[That probably sounds a bit too jargony, though, and as he realizes that, he adds-]

...Basically, it lets your Pokemon transform to something even stronger in theory. Plus, if you beat the Elite Four, you can open your own gym.

[mightdoriya]

That sounds pretty fun, actually...I'm going to have to check that out. But maybe not while I still only have one Pokemon...

[Eevee is enthusiastic for sure, but on his own not extremely strong. He's only level five, after all.]

Having your own gym seems like a huge responsibility though.

[islandshore]

Ha, yeah. If you did solo it, you'd probably have to push your Pokemon to a really high level. Definitely not the most 'balanced' way to handle it.

[Pausing, he cracks a sheepish smile.]

Leaders don't usually appreciate it, either. Take it from the wiseguy who sent a maxed out fire type in to torch the bug gym. Honestly, I dunno how they handle all the stupid things challengers throw their way.

[mightdoriya]

[Riku...]

I mean...I guess that's technically a strategy. It's not like there's anything in the rules saying you can't use less than six Pokemon...

[Or just. One. Maybe it's more the principle of the thing, bringing just one Pokemon to burn everything to the ground is almost an insult.]

[islandshore]

Ha. I just didn't wanna hold back. Got held up in Violet City off and on for months...

[He heaves a heavy sigh.]

Still didn't need to sic an overpowered dragon on Bugsy's team, but at the time, I didn't care. I wanted to show off how much "better" I was.

[Judging by the grimace, he's definitely not proud of that fact.]

[mightdoriya]

[Riku...

Man, if that ain't familiar as hell to Izuku to hear.]

Well...maybe you could have a rematch, sometime? A more fair one, just to settle the score.

[islandshore]

Heh, maybe. He does have his Elite Team. I just don't know if it's the best idea. Might still be bad blood for all I know.

[He titters, rubbing his neck.]

But I guess you've got a point- it'd be more balanced that way, and he could use his stronger team. That's the thing with the leaders- they can't use their toughest Pokemon in the interest of keeping challenges fair. Their Elite Teams only come out for trainers who've proven themselves.

[mightdoriya]

That's an interesting way of going about it...I can understand why they'd need to, but the battles probably get a little boring for them after a while. If anything he'd probably be glad you'd want to challenge his stronger team because of that.

[It must be pretty demoralizing to be beaten by young trainers over and over...or, maybe it's the opposite, for some. You'd be able to look at it as you furthering someone else's journey, in a sense.]

[islandshore]

Ha. That's part of why I've been dragging my feet with my own Aurora League gym. Just... finding the right way to balance my own skillset with being fair.

[Cue one slow, almost resigned sort of shrug.]

I guess we get the benefit of setting our own rules and standards, since we're outside the traditional league, but sheesh. Finding that sweet spot between giving a fair challenge and actually being beatable seems like a nightmare. Having to potentially pull punches for the sake of giving trainers that catharsis of winning.

[mightdoriya]

I can already think of a few people who would not be very good at that.

[LIKE...he loves you Katsuki but you would try to curbstomp everyone who came to your gym, regardless of their level and prowess as a trainer. No holds barred.]

But I guess that explains why there aren't that many gym leaders to begin with.