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

[firealone]

Like a... huh?

[It does not, even a little bit.]

A hand is a paw, right? What's a glove?

[truthdecided]

[Ah, right. He's a cat. Certain metaphors might not make sense...]

Gloves are clothing that humans wear over their hands. Sometimes it's to keep them warm, sometimes it's for protection, and other times it's merely for aesthetics.

[firealone]

[He thinks it over a little bit longer...]

Oh! Clothing is the temporary pelts, right? So they fit... okay, I got it. I think I've seen gloves.

[A little more thought...]

I think our version would be "take to it like a fish to water".

[truthdecided]

That's a familiar idiom as well. Perhaps it's simply universal, especially since fish are such an important part of life where I live.

[They're an island nation, after all. Of all food sources, fish are among the most plentiful.

An image of a sushi tray flickers through his thoughts. What he would give to have some proper Ginza sushi right about now...]

[firealone]

[Hmm... that sushi looks like it was made with care, but Firepaw just wrinkles his nose at it.]

I've never had fish - it seems gross. Where I'm from, only RiverClan cats eat fish, and the other cats say they smell it.

[He sends over the only mental image he has of them - a distant view from across a wide river, of sleek and muscular cats catching fish out of the water.]

[truthdecided]

Perhaps it's an acquired taste. A certain cat I know loves his fatty tuna, though when you live on an island, it's only natural that your diet will include a great deal of aquatic life.

[Still, those are some rather strong looking cats. Then again, perhaps it's to be expected from cats fending for themselves. Survival of the fittest, for one.]

[firealone]

[He likes your funny words, magic bird... although he thinks he's starting to get it through context.]

Is this that green cat - Ren- is it Ren's pet cat, that you're talking about?

[If it was a different ThunderClan cat they might be disgusted by the idea, but Firepaw is just curious what other cats' lives are like.]

[truthdecided]

Correct. Morgana is... outspoken, to say the least. For quite some time, he denied that he was a cat at all.

[An image appears with Akechi's words of a blue-eyed tuxedo cat with a yellow collar.]

[firealone]

[What a handsome cat! Honestly, just seeing another real cat feels like a breath of fresh air.]

I can't imagine denying being a cat. I mean... I can't imagine wanting to be anything else.

[Except maybe a lion, but that goes without saying.]

[truthdecided]

He believed himself to be a human at heart, merely transformed. I suppose I can't blame him, when the only ones who can understand him are those who have heard him speak in a parallel world.

[Best not to go into specifics. Akechi hardly expects a cat to understand apps, after all.]