Chapter 1: Welcoming Windows to Wonderful Worlds Part 1

Guardians:

Ruby (Pokémon Adventures): The Charmer

Junko Konno (Zombie Land Saga): The Shy One

Linhardt von Hevring(Fire Emblem: Three Houses): The Brains/Healer

Bucky Barnes (Marvel Cinematic Universe): The Veteran

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Third-Person POV

"A group of zombie idols disguised as humans, formed to 'save' a prefecture..." Ruby ponders as he looks at Junko.

The Showa Idol turns to Linhardt next, "An academy within a monastery for up and coming nobles or commoners, that trains students in weapons, magic, and other skills..."

"An entire universe filled with beings of extraordinary strength and abilities…" Linhardt rubs his eyes as he stares at Bucky.

Bucky turns his attention to Ruby, "... And a world with nearly thousands of weird monsters that battle alongside humans. Well, I don't know crap about any of this stuff, I feel like I should go to one of those sorcerers or something…"

"Magic's on your world too, huh?" Linhardt raises both eyebrows at this.

"This is all so much to take in… other universes? I know that zombies aren't exactly mundane either, but… ugh, and I also have this really bad feeling that this situation isn't going to end for quite a while. Just now we faced a horde of those bears, as well as… you." Junko looked at the Ultra Ball in her hand containing the captured Salamence.

"This is definitely the work of someone sinister, scattering people from other worlds and flooding homes with those Monokuma robots…" Ruby ponders.

Bucky sighed, "I was just starting to relax, y'know? Fought fellow super soldiers, finished therapy…"

Ruby raised an eyebrow at that last statement, "I'm sorry, if you don't mind me asking, therapy for what?"

"... Nothing you have to worry about, kid." Barnes stated.

"Hm…" Junko looked at the older man for a bit before Linhardt yawned.

"Eh… how much longer until we find a place to stay? I need a nap badly…"

"Just keep walking, it's getting dark so we'll settle down soon." Bucky told the green-haired boy.

Linhardt yawns again as a response as Bucky rolls his eyes. The four of them have been traveling for about an hour or so since the last battle, while staying out of sight from patrolling Monokumas. The three younger individuals are too exhausted to fight anymore, and Bucky doesn't feel like fighting an army on his own right now. The group continued down the cracked path ahead of them, as the bodies of dead inhabitants of the city laid before them.

Junko shivers each time she passes by one, "Ugh…", she utters as she steps over a dried up puddle of blood.

"What a truly horrifying sight…" Ruby shakes his head with disgust.

"How could someone be so awful? To commit such acts of violence… so many deaths…" Junko was beginning to get nauseous.

"Trust me, I've heard a lot of stories about the evil assholes in my universe, most of the time they just want power over everyone. Whoever's behind these bears are no different." Bucky answers her question solemnly.

"Ah… I can feel my head spinning because of everything going on." Junko clutched her head as she began to slow down.

Ruby holds her floofy-haired girl up and keeps her steady, "Hey, hey, we'll get through this. Mr. Barnes, do you see anywhere we can stay yet?"

"If you're not too picky, there's a motel right there." He points with his metal arm towards a shabby looking motel, the sign for it is broken and half of it is on the ground.

Ruby looks at it with judging eyes, "No thanks, I don't think it'll be safe for us…"

"There aren't any Monokumas near this area, so we can keep a low profile. If there's any danger I can keep watch."

"Much appreciated, but there's another thing we have to consider… is it sanitary?"

"... What?" Bucky responded to the young man's question.

"If we're staying here, the living arrangements should be aesthetically pleasing. I would prefer to use bathrooms without mold, thank you very much." Ruby raised his finger as he explained his point.

Junko nodded slowly, "Well, I would like a clean room but…"

"I just need a comfy bed and I'm set. A clean room would be nice though admittedly." Linhardt says as he struggles to keep his eyes open.

Ruby smirked, "Ha, see? I'm not alone on this."

Bucky puts his face in his hands as he sighs, "God damn it, this is gonna be hell for me, ain't it?"

"Um, what did you say?" Junko tilted her head.

Bucky grumbled before turning to the young trio, "Look, we either stay here or keep walking. Beggars can't be choosers, okay?"

The former Howling Commando went on ahead, Junko deciding to follow him as well as Linhardt. Ruby hesitated for a bit before joining up with them.

"Okay Pretty Boy, it's a bit bad on the outside, but on the inside it's probably decent."

Bucky opens the door to the first room and a dead body flops onto the ground.

"EEYAH!" Junko and Linhardt screamed before both ended up fainting.

Ruby immediately turns to walk away with fear on his face before Bucky grabs him by the collar, "Okay I admit that's an immediate turn-off. Let's look at the next one."

"If I find another body when I'm about to take a shower, I swear to Arceus…" Ruby quivered.

"Wake up time, you two." Bucky says to both Junko and Linhardt who slowly rise back up.

Linhardt yawns, "That's my least favorite time of day…"

Bucky rolls his eyes as he opens the door…

FWOOSH!

A fireball soars past him and lands behind Linhardt, "Okay, just this once it's my favorite time of day."

The four of them back away as the individual who shot that flame steps out of the room.

"State your identities, are you in league with those robotic bears?"

Blaze the Cat, imperial princess of the Sol Empire and guardian of the Sol Emeralds. Independent, yet caring, she uses pyrokinesis to create and control fire in combat.

Fire crackles from her fluffy cuffed gloved hands, as the rest of them stood there startled.

"We're not affiliated with them. We're just trying to find a place to stay for the night." Ruby held his hands out in front of everyone.

Blaze ponders for a bit, "Hm… if you're sure about that, then prove it."

"Huh?" Ruby lets out as a familiar laugh is let out behind them.

Beast Monokumas descend from the motel roof, with claws out and snarling wildly.

"Let's take care of them, shall we?" Blaze walks out into the parking lot, her hands still burning.

"We shall." Bucky grips his vibranium fist.

"I'd like to take it easy. It looks like you're covered when it comes to magic." Linhardt stated as he entered the motel room for a long rest.

Ruby sighs, "Ugh, come on… Regardless of the effects of time, the cuteness that this body encompasses never changes. Oozing Cute Charm from her body, this is the Pokémon Delcatty—Kiki!"

Kiki is released from her Pokéball and lands gracefully with a cute meow.

"U-Um… go, Salamence!" Junko throws her ball and the large dragon-type is let out.

"What in the world?" Blaze reacts with surprise.

Bucky turns to her as he tries to hold down a Beast Monokuma, "Just go with it um... Cat Lady."

"It's Blaze." She corrected him.

"Okay that makes more sense. A bit on the nose, but it's better than others I've heard…"

Barnes breaks the sharp teeth of the Monokuma before tearing its head off. Blaze sets two of them aflame and melts them down to their exoskeletons.

"Zzzzzzz." Linhardt let out as he counted sheep.

"Ugh, having five of us out here fighting would have made this less cluttered, right Junko? Junko?" Ruby looks over and sees her talking to Salamence.

"What's wrong, Salamence? Please go fight the bears!" She pleads, but the dragon just lies down and ignores her.

"Oh no, I forgot! A higher level Pokémon doesn't listen to a trainer who it sees as weaker." Ruby realizes his failure to teach her the basics.

Junko gasps as she stares at Salamence, who just hits a Monokuma with its tail before loafing around again, "... Weak?"

Ruby notices her head lowering and tries to walk over to console her, until a Monokuma begins charging towards the zombie girl.

"Kiki, Iron Tail!" He commands his Delcatty.

Kiki's tail shines as it turns into metal, and slams the Monokuma into a hard wall.

"Are you alright?" Ruby asks her.

"Yes… thank you, Ruby." She utters softly.

"Haaaaaaah!" Blaze burns through another Monokuma before being grabbed from behind as another one gives her a bear hug, "Agh!"

"Puhuhu~." The Monokuma laughs.

Blaze decides to jump into the air as fire spins around her, a small burning tornado is formed and the Monokuma is eradicated.

"Not bad, now watch out on your left!" Bucky tosses a Monokuma and Blaze shoots a fireball with her left hand as it passes her.

The fiery Monokuma explodes upon hitting a small crowd of its brethren, leaving only a bonfire of robot parts. The fight has been won.

Blaze puts out her flames and takes a deep breath in, "It seems like you all are trustworthy enough, however I wish I didn't have to rely on any of you for this battle."

"It's our pleasure." Ruby replies.

"In case you haven't heard my introduction due to all the mayhem, I am Blaze the Cat, Princess of the Sol Empire and protector of the Sol Emeralds. Now who are all of you?" Blaze asked.

"Ruby, Pokémon contest expert." The young man with a knit cap winked.

"Junko Konno, and the boy sleeping inside is Linhardt." The zombie idol pointed over to the snoring mage.

"James Barnes, you can call me Bucky." The former Winter Soldier states.

Blaze nods, " I see, let us converse in a… much less messy space."

"Finally, speaking my language, Your Highness." Ruby bowed, and Junko quickly did so as well.

Bucky rolls his eyes at Ruby, annoyed at the boy's fussiness.

"No need for the formalities. Come now, before any more of those bears find our location." The princess ushered them to join her in her motel room as she makes sure there's nothing out there.

Junko takes off her shoes and sits down on one of the beds as she looks saddened, upon her failure to give Salamence any commands. Staring at Salamence's Pokéball as Ruby, who was busy looking over every nook and cranny of the room, turns to her with concern.

"Are you okay?" He asks her.

Her voice came out shaky, "No, I wasn't able to make it listen to me. Maybe I'm not fit to be its trainer, to be out there fighting."

"Well, who was the one who captured the Salamence earlier?"

"Huh?" Junko looked at him as he sat on the bed opposite of hers.

Ruby clears his throat, "You were also the first one to notice something wrong with it during our battle. Clearly you have a pure enough heart to want to help it."

"But…" Junko is about to speak up but gets interrupted by Kiki, who steps onto her lap and purrs.

"You just need to spend enough time with Salamence, treating it with enough kindness to form a beautiful bond. I'll be here to assist with the process as long as you need it."

Blaze steps forward, "Ruby, was it? The bathroom is free now if you need it."

"Wonderful! I need to wash off all this dirt." Ruby hops off the bed and he grabs a towel, "Just let me know, Junko."

The bathroom door closes as Junko is left to think about what he said.

"GYAH!" Ruby suddenly yells from inside the bathroom.

"What's wrong?!" Bucky asks as he kicks open the bathroom door.

"Agh… can you keep it down? What's with all this noise?"

Junko runs over to see what's going on, Blaze prepares her flames as they walk in to see… Ruby standing on top of the toilet shaking in fear.

"I-I thought I saw a rodent or insect scurry across the floor, we might need to evacuate this building immediately!

Everyone just stares at him blankly as they slowly close the door on him.

"Good night." Linhardt says as he falls back to sleep.

"Hm… I am used to crossing dimensions and ending up in different worlds, but I never imagined anything like this." Blaze responds after everyone else explains what brought them here.

"There has to be a facility where those Monokumas are being produced around here. We'll maybe get some answers after we shut it down, if not there, then somewhere else." Bucky explained.

"We would appreciate your help if you could come with us, strength in numbers after all." Junko tells her.

"That is a good point, although I still have only just met you all. I know you are not enemies to me, but I still am not completely sure if I can trust you all. My apologies." She bowed her head towards the four of them.

Linhardt arose from his slumber, his eyes half-open, "These people will just drag you along regardless, that's what happened to me."

"If that's the case, why haven't you left yet?" Bucky questioned him as he leaned back in his chair.

"Those bears would most likely ambush me if I were alone, even if I could handle myself, I would prefer not to fight at all. Having allies gives me less foes to focus on so I could get back to my nap time."

"Lazy ass." Bucky mutters under his breath.

"Come again?" Lin responds.

"I'm beginning to see your point. However, if I were to accept to join this team of yours, would I be able to put my trust in you?" Blaze puts forth an important question.

Ruby is the one who answers, "You have my word, Your Highness."

"Very well, we'll depart tomorrow morning then?"

Linhardt shakes his head, "Noon at the earliest for me."

Everyone else sighs as they all agree to wake up early, except for Linhardt.

The next day they all prepare to get going, if they stay in one location for too long the Monokumas might find them. Junko looks at the Salamence's Pokéball as Ruby puts his hand on her shoulder.

"How about some quick practice?"

It seems we've managed to gather quite a splendid group so far. Let's do headcount so far: A fussy Pokémon Contest champ, a floofy shrinking violet zombie idol, a sleepy mage and crest researcher, a super-soldier with a metal arm, and a cat fire princess. What is next for this group as they depart for their next destination? Well… before I show you that story, a new one will reawaken soon. Danganronpa: Fictional Epicenter's new and improved prologue will be up real soon! Like… this upcoming week! Hope you're all excited for that. If you need a reminder on who's in it, go check out the final chapter of Fictional Nexus. See you next time when we catch up with the Guardians!