Chapter 29: Training Camp
Author's Note: Hey, everyone! So one problem that naturally comes when translating a piece of media from a show, comic, or anything visual to writing is that it's much harder to highlight the rest of the cast of characters. As an example here, because My Hero Academia has a lot of montage style moments where the class gets to shine, that's harder to translate into writing, meaning that we don't get to see them as often as I would like. That's why I'm happy I got to write this chapter. This was the first time since the fitness test at the beginning (and technically the USJ arc) that we get to see which Pokemon everyone has. Moving forward, I want to highlight these side characters more since I genuinely think they have a lot to bring to the table.
Something else that I want to continue is growing Deku and his Pokemon in a natural way that involves Pokemon mechanics. You'll start to see that here at the beginning of this chapter, but it also involves things like new moves, evolutions, etc.. I want this world to feel like a Pokemon world and I want it to feel like Deku and the other 1-A students are going on a real Pokemon journey!
As I said before, I've got big plans for this next set of chapters and I hope you're excited! Please leave a review if you can. I'm trying to grow more in terms of my writing and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the story. Enjoy!
What an eventful first semester it had been. All Might smiled as he reminisced about all that happened in these past three months. Not only had he found a young boy to pass One for All on to, but he also found many other students who he cared for.
However, he also knew that with the end of the semester came more challenges. Not just ones from the school, but also Villain encounters. These students were well known now, and they were going to have to face off against true evil one day.
Knowing this, the Hero decided to pass something else on to his successor. The night before the camp, he called Izuku to meet him at the beach. "Ah, you're finally here." He said as he watched the boy run up to him.
"Sorry, I'm a bit late…" Izuku said, stopping in front of All Might to take a deep breath. The Hero smiled and shook his head. "No worries. Sorry for calling you here so suddenly, but I wanted to give you something before you headed off to camp."
He pulled out a crystal and handed it to Izuku. It was… a Z-Crystal? It was dark red and had a fist at the center. "You're giving me this?" The boy asked.
All Might smiled and nodded his head. "That's right. I saw the way you were able to use young Bakugo's Z-Crystal with his Typhlosion, so I thought it might be time for you to get your own. That's the Fightinium Z my master gave me when I was starting my training. I've got my own one now, so you don't have to worry about that. I suppose I should give you this too…"
He pulled out a white bracelet and put it on Izuku's right wrist. "A Z-Ring…" The boy said, taking the Fightinium Z and placing it in its slot on the bracelet. "Here, I'll show you how to use it." All Might sent out Lucario and the two prepared themselves.
"Remember, a Z-Move is no ordinary attack. It takes the bond of you and your Pokemon and creates a supercharged move!" All Might and Lucario crossed their arms to form an X. They then pulled their arms back and threw a flurry of punches in the air, ending with a powerful jab. "Use this Z-Crystal, and you'll be able to use All-Out Pummeling!"
Izuku sent out Riolu and the two practiced the pose. It was a little awkward at first, but he knew he'd get the hang of it. "Thanks, All Might!" He said, smiling as he and Riolu looked at the Z-Ring.
All Might nodded and crossed his arms. "Start practicing with it at the training camp. I'm sure some of your classmates can help you get started. I know a few of them have their own Z-Rings and Crystals."
With that, Izuku was finally ready for the trip. He put on his uniform and headed to school. Once everyone was ready, the entire class gathered at the gate where they found Aizawa and a bus waiting for them.
"Okay, good. You're all here. I guess we should get this thing started." Aizawa said. "You've just wrapped up your first semester at UA and your summer vacation has begun. However, for those of you working toward becoming Heroes, there is no rest. At this training camp, we'll be aiming to take you and your Pokemon to greater heights- for Plus Ultra."
"Yes, sir!"
The entire class was getting hyped up to go to the training camp. It'd be their first real outing as a class, and it'd be a fun bonding experience. The bad news? They weren't gonna be alone.
"Uh oh! Looks like someone in Class A failed their finals!" Class 1-B was coming too. While they had no problems with pretty much everyone in the class, Neito Monoma was someone the class was able to bond over their collective hatred of. "I wonder why?! Your class is supposed to be so much better than ours, right?!"
Itsuka came in and knocked out Neito with a karate chop to the neck. "Sorry, guys!" She said. While they weren't happy to see the eccentric boy tagging along, they were glad that the rest of Class B was there.
"It's been a while. We haven't seen each other since the Sports Festival!" Setsuna Tokage, one of the recommendation students, said. "Everyone, time to get on the bus!" Itsuka shouted out.
With that, they were off. At some point, the two buses split from each other, meaning that when they reached their pit stop, Class A was alone. But something was wrong…
Their pit stop wasn't a gas station or parking lot at all. It was a cliffside overlooking a huge forest. Minoru, who needed to pee, was the most affected.
"It'd be pointless to take a break like this for no reason," Aizawa said. Another car arrived and two women stepped out. "Yo, Eraser!" They wore similar outfits, one red and one blue. The one in red had short brown hair while the one in blue had long and blonde hair. They wore gloves and ears that made them look like… cats?
The two girls struck a pose and sent out their Pokemon, an Espeon from the red one, and an Alolan Persian for the blue. "We're the Wild Wild Pussycats!" The two said together. There was also a small boy in a red cap who seemed to be standing behind them, unamused
The students were just standing there, baffled. They didn't know what to make of this situation. These two grown women were posing in front of them dressed as cats. To say it was bizarre would be an understatement. "These are the Heroes we'll be working with. The Pussycats." Aizawa said.
"The four-person team who set up a joint agency!" Izuku shouted. "A veteran team who specializes in mountain rescue!" Even the Pussycats were shocked by his knowledge of them.
"This is gonna be their twelfth year as Heroes-" The one in blue quickly ran up to him and grabbed his face to shut him up. "I'm 18 at heart!" She said. "Say it!"
"Y-You're 18!"
After a while, they had requested everyone to send out their Pokemon. Mandalay, the one in red, introduced herself and Pixie Bob. She held out her hand and motioned to the forest. "That whole area is our property, but the training camp is gonna be in a building all the way there." She said.
She pointed toward a building they could barely make out among the trees. It was a long-distance away from them, Momo estimated it to be around an hour and a half drive at best. "S-So, why'd we stop here then?" Ochako asked.
Tsuyu took a step back and began sweating. "You don't mean…"
"N-No, of course not!" Rikido began laughing nervously. Hanta nodded and slowly began walking backward. "Yeah, guys… let's just head back to the bus."
Mandalay smiled and stretched her arms. "It's 9:30 AM right now. Let's say by, what, noon? Yeah, you can make it there by noon if you're fast."
"E-Everyone, get in the bus!" Mina shouted. Everyone and their Pokemon began running back, but Pixie Bob and Persian cut them off. "No lunch for those that don't make it back by 12:30!"
"Sorry, kids. But the training camp has already started." Aizawa said. Persian and Espeon pushed the kids back towards the edge, allowing them to execute their plan.
"Persian, go for Snarl!"
"Use Psyshock, Espeon!"
Their attacks caused the unstable ground beneath the students to crumble, causing them all to fall into the forest below. Luckily, there were no injuries in the fall. "It's private property, so feel free to go all out with your Pokemon! You have three hours! Get there on your own! You'll have to get through Beast's Forest!" Mandalay shouted.
"B-Beast's Forest?!"
"It's like outta Zelda or something!"
The students and their Pokemon fixed themselves up before heading in. By this point, they were pretty upset, but not surprised. UA tended to spring things onto their students like this quite often. Still, this was a good chance to fight without holding back.
Minoru was the first to run in. He didn't see this place as a challenge, it was a bathroom! He was free! Free at last! Trubbish, Bonsly, and his newly caught Sableye followed behind him. However, the moment he stepped inside, he saw just exactly why this place was called the Beast's Forest.
They ended up running into a large Onix staring at them menacingly. It seemed scarier than normal, its roars sending chills through everyone's spines. Koji's Chatot flew in to try and appease the beast, but Onix didn't listen.
"It's probably owned by the Pussycats. Koda's Chatot can't do anything about it…" Momo said. The Onix slammed its tail right onto Minoru and his Pokemon, but Izuku's Pokemon arrived just in time to pull them out of danger.
Izuku joined them and they took a stance. "Mandalay said we could go all out, right? Then let's do it, guys! One for All: Full Cowling!" The trainer and his Pokemon all felt a surge of power.
Shoto's Ninetales and Forslass both used Ice Beam on the Onix to trap him in place, allowing Tenya's Skarmory, Lycanroc Midday, and Excadrill, as well as Katsuki's Typhlosion, Torracat, Primeape, as well as his new Thwakey to land powerful attacks.
Izuku's Pokemon came in to deal the final blow. Combusken's Flame Charge, Eevee's Veevee Volley, and Riolu's Force Palm managed to finally knock Onix out.
"Nice one, guys! You did it!" The class began cheering for the four students. That Onix needed the collective power of the four most powerful students' Pokemon to be taken down. If that wasn't an indication of how tough it was, then nobody knew what was. "Good job as always, Bakugo!" Eijiro cheered. "It's not over yet!" Katsuki shouted.
From above them, they could see an Aerodactyl flying above the trees. "H-How many are there?!" Just as Denki said that a Pangoro emerged from behind one of the trees, quickly followed by a Feraligatr.
"Should we run?!" Mina asked.
Rikido let out a sigh. "You're kidding… no lunch if we don't get there by 12:30?"
"Then we've got no choice!" Momo stood strong with her Pokemon: Aegislash, Braixen, as well as her newly evolved Gallade. "We'll have to fight our way through!"
Tenya nodded and got ready. "Right! Let's do this Class A!"
Mezo's Ledian, Crobat, Machoke, and Barbaracle, as well as Kyoka's Noivern, Galarian Linoone, and Chimecho all acted as the lookouts. They relayed the information they gathered to the trainers and the trainers relayed the information to everyone else.
"Three from the front! Two from each side!" Mezo shouted. Kyoka nodded. "Yeah, there's seven in total! Here they come!"
The Aerodactyl flew down and tried attacking them, but Hanta's Pokemon had it covered. Ariados, Galvantula, and Tangela all worked together to restrain the fossil Pokemon, causing it to fall and leaving it vulnerable.
Rikido and Eijiro's Pokemon were enough to finish the job. Rikido's Bewear, Slurpuff, and Heracross, along with Eijiro's Druddigon, Tyrunt, Lycanroc Midnight, and Larvitar landed several attacks, finally knocking out Aerodactyl.
Fumikage's Honchkrow, Absol, Zweilous, and Corvisquire worked with Mashirao's Ambipom, Mienshao, and Sawk to take on Pangoro. After weakening the Panda Pokemon, Yuga's Starmie, Furfrou, and Unfeazant managed to finally take him down.
Minoru's Sableye landed a few attacks, allowing him to distract Feraligatr long enough for Trubbish and Bonsly to trap him using sludge and rocks. Denki's Pikachu, Electivire, and Luxray landed Thunderbolt together to knock out the Water-type.
Koji's Chatot, Diggersby, and Rapidash working with Toru's Kecleon, Drizzile, and Flaaffy to lure both a Kommo-o and a Drampa to a more narrow area. There, Mina's Nidorina, Venusaur, Sligoo, and Corphish, and Momo's three Pokemon managed to knock them out.
Ochako's Pokemon, her Clefable, Espurr, Whimsicott, and Emolga, managed to all catch a Copperajah off-guard. This allowed them to work with Tsuyu's Greninja, Croagunk, and Politoad to unleash a barrage of attacks to knock out the Steel-type.
There were many more still coming. Katsuki and Shoto's Pokemon worked together to take down a Hippowdon, Dodrio, and Snorlax, constantly butting heads as they did so. "Get outta my way!" Katsuki shouted. "I'm not!" Shoto replied.
Izuku and Tenya's Pokemon split off and took care of a Dracovish, Camerupt, Flygon, and Abomasnow on their own. "Eevee, use Freezy Frost!" The Ice move created a wall that trapped several more beasts into a small area. "Finish them off! Riolu, Vacuum Wave! Combusken, Flamethrower!"
The two Pokemon jumped in the air and combined their attacks, creating a large explosion that knocked out the beasts.
Meanwhile, Aizawa and the Pussycats were watching as they heard the loud attacks of the students from within the forest. "Kota! It's time to go!" Mandalay called out.
Kota, the child with the red cap, squinted his eyes as he watched the students fight. "Pointless." He said to himself. "Are those guys stupid or something? They wanna be Heroes…"
By the time the students arrived at the facility, it was already 5:30, a whole five hours past what Mandalay had estimated. "They're finally here! A bit late, but better late than never." Pixie Bob said.
As the students approached, they noticed that they now had significantly less Pokemon with them. Most of the students' Pokemon were too tired to continue fighting, so nearly all of them had returned to their Pokeballs by now.
Still, everyone was absolutely exhausted. All of them could barely walk, and most of them were covered in dirt and wounds.
"Eight hours… eight… hours! Are you kidding me?!" Denki shouted.
Mandalay giggled. "Sorry, but we probably would've done it faster."
Rikido collapsed to his knees and wiped away his sweat. "The hell? You're bragging about that?! I hate it here."
Pixie Bob couldn't help but laugh. "Honestly, I thought it'd take longer. Those Pokemon are supposed to be super strong guards for this place. Not bad, everyone." She said, turning her attention to the only four students with all of their Pokemon still out: Izuku, Katsuki, Shoto, and Tenya. "Especially you four! I call dibs on you in three years!"
"Mandalay, has she always been like that?" Aizawa asked. The girl shook her head. "She's getting desperate. She just turned 31."
Izuku was shocked by the information. "31-" Pixie Bob quickly grabbed onto his face once again. "Careful what you say, boy." She said menacingly. He pointed toward Kota and pulled away from the woman. "I-I just wanted to ask! Who's kid is that?"
"Oh, him? He's my cousin's kid." Mandalay said. "Kota, say hello. You're gonna spend the next week with these people." Izuku stepped forward and held his hand out. "I'm Izuku Midoriya from UA. It's nice to meet-"
Before he could finish, Kota pulled his hand back and punched the student right in the crotch. Izuku, feeling a pain almost worst than what he felt during the Sports Festival, fell to his knees. He could feel the tears forming in his eyes.
His three Pokemon quickly rushed to his side. Riolu tried going after the kid, but Combusken and Eevee held the small Pokemon back. Unable to reach the child, Riolu just barked violently. "I don't plan on hanging out with people who wanna be Heroes," Kota said.
Katsuki smiled and crossed his arms. "I like that kid."
"Alright, get your bags off the bus. After you get settled, head to the dining hall. Once you finish eating, take a bath then go straight to bed." Aizawa said. "Tomorrow, the training camp will really start."
At the dining hall, the tables were full of food, both for the trainers and their Pokemon. There was a huge variety too, with meats, vegetables, desserts, and even specially designed food to appeal to the students' Pokemon.
Everyone was enjoying their meals together, with Mandalay and Pixie Bob running in and out of the kitchen to bring more food. Combusken showed that even with his calm demeanor, he couldn't help but let a different side of him come out when food was on the table. Out of everyone there, he seemed to have eaten the most in the shortest amount of time.
"Today's the only day we'll be doing this for you, so go ahead and eat as much as you want." Pixie Bob said.
Later that day, all of them headed to the baths. It was more like a hot spring than a shower, but with how bad their bodies ached at that point, it was more than welcome. There were three rooms: One for the boys, the girls, and the Pokemon. Everyone allowed their Pokemon to head into the significantly larger bath while the trainers headed into their own.
Minoru laughed as he stared at the wall separating the boys and girls. "I honestly don't care about food. What I long for lies beyond this wall."
"Mineta? Are you talking to yourself?" Izuku asked. The boy shook his head and rested his face against the wall. "The fact that we entered the baths at the same time, this is no coincidence! It was meant to be!"
"Don't tell me you're-"
"Mineta! Stop right there!" Tenya shouted. "What you're doing is degrading both yourself and the women of this class!" He began walking over to Minoru to stop him, but it didn't seem to matter to the boy.
"I don't need your lectures." He said. "Walls, are meant to be climbed!" Using sheer willpower, Minoru began climbing the wall like an Ariados. "Plus Ultra!" He shouted. His entire life had led up to this moment! He was finally… it was finally time!
However, just as he reached the top, he saw Kota standing right above the wall with a Squirtle behind him. "Looks like you need to learn how to be a person before you learn to be a Hero." Squirtle jumped up and slammed its shell onto Minoru's head, sending the boy falling back down.
"Mineta's the worst!" Tsuyu shouted.
"Thanks, Kota!"
Naturally, Kota turned back to meet the people thanking him, but the sight was… well, he wasn't sure what else to expect. He was completely caught off-guard though and he fell backward into the boy's bath. Luckily, Izuku ran forward and caught him just before he hit the ground.
He brought the child to Mandalay shortly after noticing that Kota had passed out. "He must have gotten scared after falling. Thank you." The Hero said. "Eraser told me that there was a kid who might try to climb the wall, so I had Kota keep watch."
"I'm glad he's okay," Izuku said, letting out a sigh of relief. "But… Kota doesn't like Heroes, does he?" The boy was of course referring to what Kota had said the first time he met the class. "When I was his age, everyone I knew wanted to be a Hero. I've never met a kid who hated Heroes as much as he does."
Mandalay nodded and leaned back into her chair. "No, you're right. Of course, other people don't like Heroes, but Kota… maybe if he had a normal childhood, he'd be different." She said.
Pixie Bob entered the room and let out a sigh. "Mandalay's cousin- Kota's Parents… they were Heroes, but they died on duty."
Mandalay looked shaken after recalling the event. Still, she thought she owed this kid an explanation. "I'm sure you've heard of the Hero Group Water Hose, right? Two years ago, while defending citizens, they died. It was an honorable death for a Hero, but as a child, you can't really understand that."
She wiped a tear from her eye and continued. "To Kota, his parents were his whole world. As far as he knew, being Heroes took his parents away from him, but for some reason, everyone praised them for dying. He doesn't seem to think much of Pixie Bob or I since we're Pro Heroes, but he's with us since he has nobody else to go to. Heroes are just something he can't understand."
That night, Izuku didn't get much sleep. He was tired, but he was also thinking about Kota. No child deserves to be raised like that… his hatred of Heroes was just like Tomura's.
The next day, the students all got up early and were brought to a large open area. There was a small mountain at the center with a cave inside. "Good morning, everyone. Today is the day that your training really begins." He said. "This camp aims to train your minds, but more importantly, your Pokemon's strength. Hopefully, once this is all over, you'll be trained enough to be able to obtain your Provisional Licenses. Anyway, Bakugo!"
Aizawa called the explosive boy over and told him to send out his Typhlosion. "I want you to use Lava Plume on this ball again, just like before. Your record was 705 meters. Let's see how much you've improved."
Katsuki smiled and handed the ball over to Typhlosion. "Lava Plume!" The Fire attack created an explosion that launched the ball with such power that it created a gust of wind that everyone felt.
Once the ball landed, Aizawa showed the reading device to everyone. "708 meters." Much to everyone's shock, it had barely gone any further than before. "It's been three months since you started at UA. Yes, you've indeed gone through a lot and improved, but that's only true from a mental and technical side. Maybe some of your Pokemon have evolved too, but in terms of strength, you haven't improved very much."
Everyone was shocked by what Aizawa was saying, but it was true. This whole time, they were just taught the basic skills of a Hero and how to use your Pokemon in battle smarter. In terms of power, not much had changed.
"Today, we'll be focusing on making your Pokemon stronger." Aizawa smiled mischievously and pointed to the class. "It'll be tough as hell, so make sure you don't die."