01: Testing, 1, 2, 3...

[truthdecided]

[Upon receiving his Grumpearl, Akechi seizes the opportunity to test it. It seems pertinent to get a grasp on the communications technology, even if it's nowhere near as direct as a cell phone.

So, if he thinks, will that be enough? Akechi hums, then tries broadcasting his thoughts.]

Greetings. This is Akechi. I suspect a great many of you encountered me here and there. I'm the... "Rookidee" who was investigating the strange side effects of the various clothing articles and accessories.

[As he tries to figure out what to say, a song starts to play in his head.

Shit. Wait. Is that also being broadcast? Shit. Okay. Time to reedirect his thoughts to more sophisticated music.

Erm. Anyway.]

Please disregard that interruption. As I was saying, I've a vested interest in investigating our present set of circumstances. Recently, Mightyena-san approached me with an offer to join the Oran Berries, so that is where I'll be residing for the near future.

However, regardless of guild allegiances, I believe we could all benefit from using this network to share findings. To start us off, here is what I have learned after speaking to two individuals more familiar with the nature of Pokémon:

First, it would seem there are worlds where humans hold more authority over Pokémon, though their relationship seems more mutually beneficial on slightly more equal footing than humans and pets (Emmet-san and Ingo-san, feel free to correct me if necessary).

Moreover, there are a vast array of different types, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and certain "moves" that might seem unassuming, such as a wag of the tail or a snarl can and do affect our combat capabilities.

Thirdly, many species of Pokémon undergo a metamorphosis called evolution, not to be confused with Darwin's theory of evolution. Those of us who took on smaller and feebler forms may be able to reach even greater heights...

But in a broader sense, it seems there is some power at play that translates our speech regardless of our native tongue. I also heard of "legendary" and "mythical" Pokémon, though whether or not they have anything to do with our arrival here remains to be seen.

I suppose the next question is what exactly determined our present forms. I can see some reason behind my avian appearance, and Ren is fairly cat-like in his own right, but I obviously can't speak for everyone else.

[As he mentions Ren, there's a flicker of an image of a Sprigatito and then a very embarrassing memory he did not intend to broadcast. The jazzy music also gets a little louder before he decides to end the message.]

Comments

[conradachenleck]

[Wow, that's a lot. Conrad pretty much knows all of this already, though...]

I have no idea why I'm this out of all the Pokémon I could be.

And, uh... Yeah, it is very odd there aren't any humans here. Pokémon are supposed to live alongside people, usually. Humans are the trainers or breeders or whatever. You're supposed to become the very best trainer you can be and beat all the other Pokémon in battles. To catch them is your real test, to train them is your cause...

[OH, oh no!... The OG Pokémon theme song starts playing in his head because of course... This definitely wasn't intentional, though, and it's not going to stop until the end.]

[truthdecided]

[It takes a moment for Akechi to respond because, damn it, that's a catchy song. What right does it have to be so catchy?

Erm. Right. He should probably say something.]

There's a theme song?

[And here's another familiar with Pokémon in some capacity...]

I must confess, I'm curious what your relationship to Pokémon is.

[The way he speaks, it seems more like secondhand experience than the direct, lived experiences of Emmet and Ingo.]

[conradachenleck]

Y-Yeah... Sorry that just happened.

[There's a pause then as he takes a second to consider how to respond.]

I, uh- I'm a fan. I'm not as involved with Pokémon as I used to be, though.

[Should he just come right out and say Pokémon is a game/franchise where he's from? That would make for a really awkward conversation considering the reality they're faced with now.]

[truthdecided]

[A fan. And there's a theme song... Hmmm.

He may be a bit presumptuous here, but there's one possibility that sticks out in his mind.]

In other words, Pokémon in your world is a media franchise. Or am I mistaken?

[conradachenleck]

[Well, so much for not blurting that out.]

Uh, yeah. You picked up on that pretty quick. It started as a video game and then it became a phenomenon of sorts. There's an animated tv show and movies and comics and a trading card game and everything.

[truthdecided]

So that makes three degrees of separation...

[An image materializes of Mightyena.]

Those from this world of talking, civilized Pokémon...

[Then come Emmet and Ingo, albeit in their Pokémon forms.]

Then there are those from worlds where humans and Pokémon act as companions in battle and society.

[And then, finally, that absurdly catchy song returns to his thoughts...]

And an entirely separate world, where these concepts are mere fiction.

[...]

Fascinating.

[conradachenleck]

[He should probably apologize for getting that theme song stuck in his head, but... It's not really Conrad's fault, it just sort of forced its way into his brain.]

Apparently, yeah. I wasn't sure if anyone would take it well if I told them Pokémon aren't actually real.

[He especially wouldn't want to tell someone who came from the Pokémon world that their whole deal is fictitious.]

And, anyway... I'm not exactly handling it well, myself. Nothing really makes any sense.

[truthdecided]

Or perhaps it's all relative. They aren't real in your world, but they're clearly real in others. For all you know, there is a world where your story is told through the pages of a book or on the TV screen.

[It's certainly an existential nightmare to dwell on for too long...

And that theme song from earlier creeps its way back into his thoughts.]

Imagine a world where Phoenix Ranger Neo Featherman is more than a children's program...

[conradachenleck]

My story? I doubt anyone would care to learn my story at all.

[Because it'd be pretty boring, he thinks. It's not really a nightmare so much, it's just a ridiculous idea.

He's distracted from his self-depreciating thoughts by that song, though... What is it with these theme songs?]

Phoenix Ranger Neo-What? Yeah, I've definitely never heard of that.

[truthdecided]

Well, that's to be expected, I suppose. Setting aside the strong likelihood that our worlds differ, that theme song you sent seemed awfully short for an anime opening, unless, of course, it was a western original, as was particularly common practice until more recently.

[Licensing, residuals, room for advertisements... There were many reasons for such changes, but he can recognize them easily enough.]

The Featherman franchise is a beloved super sentai series that had its humble origins in the late 80's. It's still quite popular to this day, however.

[conradachenleck]

Oh, I see... Ah, well, yeah... Pokémon is an anime. I can't think of the original Japanese theme right now, but... Pokémon was called Pocket Monsters in Japan before the name got changed when it was released worldwide.

[truthdecided]

That does make sense. "Pokémon" is shorter and snappier, which would appeal more to western sensibilities.

[Although, hmm... Given all of this...]

I imagine it must be jarring to be confronted with a world where it's more than just a fantasy.

[conradachenleck]

That's putting it mildly. I assumed I was in a coma or having some sort of hallucination at first.... But I guess it is better here where the Pokémon are in charge, at least. I don't think I could deal with someone trying to train me to Pokémon battle or whatever.

[truthdecided]

Understandable.

[On more levels than one, in fact...]

Speaking from experience, being at others' beck and call offers little personal agency. Even if the Pokémon do consent to the arrangement, the vast majority of us were human before.

[conradachenleck]

Yeah, ah, most of us...

Um. Anyway, it'd be weird. I don't think I could battle in this form, anyway. I'm pretty sure I'm just supposed to sing my opponent to sleep? But I can't actually sing, though.

[truthdecided]

Perhaps you could ask Emmet-san and Ingo-san. They're quite experienced and were able to give me some guidance.

[Here, he'll project a mental image to boot, one of a Hisuian Zoroark, with all that unwieldy white fur, and the other of a Hisuian Typhlosion.]

Either way, putting opponents to sleep is still a useful skill. You may just have to experiment to see what else you can accomplish.

[conradachenleck]

Oh-oh, yeah, I spoke with them already. One was kind enough to inform me I'm part Fairy Type... Which- I don't know what to make of that. I'm supposed to be able to take on Dragons, at least?

Uh. But, yeah, I'm sure I'd have to practice. If I actually wanted to battle, that is.

[truthdecided]

Well, combat may not be necessary. You could always inquire with Mightyena-san, I suppose.

[She'd know better, as the guildmaster, after all.]

Still, it may not hurt to learn for self-defense purposes.