Chapter 3
Alola Region: Altar of Moone, Poni Island
18 years later
The unforgiving sun beats down relentlessly, scorching the air and causing mirages to dance on the endless dunes that stretch out before her. With each step, the shifting sand threatens to swallow her whole, only giving way to firmer ground- a reassuring sign the deities-forsaken cave is nearby. Her parched throat and aching limbs were a small price to pay for the promise of answers.
"How's it looking out there, kid?"
Uma shielded her copper-colored eyes from the glare of the desert sun and scanned the endless expanse. "Just sand," she muttered, wiping sweat from her brow. She thought she saw a figure but realized it was just another cactus, tall and prickly like her friend. "And cacti's," she chuckled, "Who knew you had a long-lost twin in the middle of nowhere?"
A glance at her Rotem phone revealed a visibly annoyed Professor Burnet, her pout somehow making her caramel-toned face look even more adorable. "If I didn't need to be on a call with you, I would hang up," she growled. "Drop the cheek and give me actual information I can work with. ETA and coordinates?"
Uma released a frustrated breath, feeling both tired and irritated. After all these years, she was used to Professor Burnet getting easily stressed under pressure, but it still annoyed her that she wasn't trusted to handle a simple task like field scouting. Either treat her as an equal or don't assign her a job that Burnet felt like she should handle. Uma had already proven her capabilities time and time again.
She traded a raised brow over her shoulder with Marshadow, who grumbled and shifted in the cool shade of her pack. Their bond twisted with Marshadow's discomfort; he was annoyed, not because of Burnet - but at being treated like a helpless sack of potatoes. Marshadow was a lot of things; sympathetic he was not.
Marshadow hated being coddled or seeming weak. With his quiet curiosity and intense passion, Marshadow could be, well, a bit of a drama queen. But as a ghost-type Pokemon, Marshadow couldn't handle the intense sunlight and heat. It was either carry him or risk him getting too weak to protect her once they reached the cave.
Despite all this, Uma couldn't help but feel grateful for his presence by her side and the bond they had formed over the years. She knew how to temper his anger and soothe his dramatic tendencies, but he never lost his pride or playful spirit.
She rolled her shoulders to ease the weight of the bag and mentally sent a soothing pulse down their link. Turning to face her superior, she adopted a more somber expression. "I'm due east and should be arriving at the southeast edge of Moone Altar in about 2 minutes. There have been no signs of any animal or human presence so far. How is the reading on your end?"
"The dimensional flux of the area is currently stable," Professor Burnet said, and the digital screen showed a side-by-side image of the scanner's charts and a live map with her location represented as a green dot. "But it can spike at any time as you close in on the tear site, so watch out for ripples caused by the portal. If our calculations are off, be on guard for any wild Legendaries popping out."
"I doubt it; we've gotten predicting its next location down to an art form. Our math—mymath—isn't off. The next portal will open outside the altar in exactly one hour." Uma reassured. They were cutting it close, but she was confident that she would be outside the cave to greet the portal with enough time to spare. "Now, please explain why I had to tell you my ETA and location if you're already tracking me in real time?"
Professor Burnet smiled cheekily. "Making sure you stay sharp, of course! You've been out in the heat so long that your eyes and brain seem to be melting. So quit comparing my beautiful face to a cactus!"
Uma shook her head, focusing on the walk ahead and letting the egomaniac professor's rant about her beauty flow in one ear and out the other.
Uma had spent nearly two decades as Professor Burnet's dutiful assistant, juggling everything from tedious lab work to chaotic field expeditions. She never envisioned herself in this position, but after being introduced by Elder Brine, Burnet wasted no time in claiming Uma for her own. It took some convincing on Uma's part to avoid being whisked away to Burnet's lab in Heahea City.
At first, Uche wasn't thrilled at how the Elders pushed her daughter to pursue a career so young. But Uma persisted (i.e., begged nonstop) until she eventually won over her mother's approval. Before long she started splitting her time between school and weekly trips to the other island with Burnet.
But as much as Uma enjoys her work and her growing bond with Marshadow, there is always a nagging feeling that she isn't doing enough. On one hand, she was fulfilling her mother's wishes of living life to the fullest. But on the other hand, her apprenticeship under Burnet meant she couldn't actively oppose the Aether Foundation.
Every time Uche writes, the news just gets worse. The researchers were growing bolder in their schemes. In her latest letter, Uche expresses her disappointment in Uma's absence; she couldn't understand why Uma wouldn't come home. Uma knows her focus must be on preventing an impending doom rather than fighting current issues, but the weight of keeping her divine mission secret strains their relationship like a vice grip.
As each day passed, Uma found herself consumed by endless research and the weight of trying to outrun the ticking bomb that was Alola's demise. With another lifetime of knowledge and a gifted prodigy at her side, finding a way to reverse the damage to the Shards should have been a simple task. But as days turned into years, Uma found herself no closer to success than when she first began, her desperation growing with each failed attempt.
Professor Burnet was a renowned figure in the world of research and also happened to be the youngest out of all three professors in the Alola Region- a verified genius. In a world where Pokémon battles reigned supreme, education had taken a backseat. All it took was a Master's degree and two years of training. Uma had earned her degree two years ago, a record, and was currently finishing her last year of training.
Burnet's passion lay in studying Pokémon and their connection to the universe and other dimensions. She was focused on unraveling the mystery behind the portals that brought Pokémon to Alola- a puzzle that had baffled scientists for years.
Uma's research focused on the connections between the region's ecosystem and the Shard's properties. Though Uma couldn't divulge the details of her work with the enigmatic Shards, she and Burnet were driven by the same goal: to uncover dimensional rifts to help better Alola. Despite her usual tendency to keep people at arm's length, Uma found herself befriending the vain woman, who soon became a cherished member of her small circle.
Thanks to Burnet's connections, Uma was allowed to explore most of the region's forbidden ruins without being yellow-taped by the Elders. Her adventures led her to uncover the history of the Shards, but to her frustration, she has yet to find out why their disappearance meant the end of the world as they knew it and how to reverse its decaying effects plus their exact location within the dimensional space of Alola.
The white tattoo on her hand, a mocking reminder of Tapu Koko's task, has yet to fade.
A week ago, Burnet stumbled upon the Altar of Moone, a deserted place with a high level of dimensional fluxes. Coincidentally, Uma's latest discovery happened to be in the same spot. The duo needed to investigate the potential origin point; Uma to confirm the location of the elusive Pon shard, and Burnet to potentially rescue any lost Pokémon who may have been pulled into the swirling portal.
It was an opportunity too good to pass up, despite her uncertainty. For Uma, luck wasn't a skill she maxed out on. And when things lined up a little too perfectly, well, saying she was being overly skeptical wasn't a bad observation.
As she walked down the sandy slope, the ground shifted beneath her feet and she stumbled. But she regained her balance just in time to prevent a full-on fall.
It looks like I made it sooner than I thought.
Confirming her initial thoughts, she glanced down and stomped her foot firmly. Beneath her lay a cracked and compacted stone with a familiar symbol, a marker of the entrance to the sacred altar.
"I'm here," Uma announced. Without hesitation, she set her phone aside, knelt, and searched for the telltale handle she knew most of the ruin's entrances featured. When she felt it under the sand, she grinned.
"Wanna give me a hand, Marshadow?" She felt disgust at his end of the bond and huffed in silent laughter. "Always one with the dark, yeah?"
Again, more disgust, followed by irritability, and a deep grumbling of "Marshadow," let her know that the answer was a biting, 'Watch it.'
Flexing her fingers, she took a deep breath before pushing the plating covering the entrance. With her muscles straining, she collapsed after widening the hole enough to accommodate her and her gear. After a brief moment to collect herself, she proceeded with the familiar steps of retrieving her climbing harness and securing herself to Marshadow. "Scan the area for fluxes," she intoned to the person she knew was still watching on the phone. "I'd hate for an earthquake to happen right when I'm trying to go underground."
Burnet complained, "Who put you in charge? I thought you said no portals would open."
As Uma rigged the belay, she checked the knots on her ropes, and an odd feeling washed over her. Turn back now, before it's too late. Uma grits her teeth and stabs a stake in the ground. She forces the feeling to pass as she waits patiently for Burnet to answer. With a mumbled confirmation from the woman, she firmly steeled herself with a nod. Uma secured the headband flashlight over her head and the phone in the chest pocket that protected it.
"Secured and going down," she said. Placing a hand on top of Marshadow's head, she asked, "Ready and steady?"
"Marsh." was the confirmation from the shadow, with a trickle of eagerness accompanied by slight annoyance. Judging from his expression with narrowed blank eyes and a thin-lipped mouth, she knew he was saying, 'Why is my human insulting me, asking a question to which she already knew the answer? I am a protector and always prepared to take risks.'
"Consent is key," she quipped. Then she tipped forward, letting gravity take over before the rigging kicked in.
Carefully, she let the ropes carry her down into the quickly darkening desert cave. Her feet landed on the floor with a quiet thump, and she exhaled as she unclipped her harness, taking in her surroundings. Marshadow floated to the ground silently, more than happy to return to the gloom.
The heavy scent of mildew filled the air, while the faint beam of light from her headgear cast shadows on the ancient walls, embellished with faded symbols and cryptic inscriptions. The chamber was enveloped in a suffocating silence, broken only by the soft echo of her footsteps reverberating through the dimly lit space.
"That old map you found at the last cave says to go straight until you hit a fork, then go left. I don't know if our signal will hold, so make it quick. In and out under 5 minutes," said Burnet, her worries echoing across the cavern. "Keep me pointed at the walls so I can take pictures."
"Yes, ma'am," Uma affirmed before she and Marshadow took off on a light jog.
"Don't the symbols seem familiar? " Burnet wondered.
"Unfortunately," she muttered, used to them. She wished she could say more to her mentor, but with her grim and spiraling thoughts, she knew it was better to hold her tongue.
The symbols on the walls were nothing new, taking her years to decipher. Any site related to the Shards re-tolled their origins, a recurring tale of the Guardian Deities' conflict and the creation of the Alola region.
Before the Alola region was created, the four legendary beings clashed day in and day out, fighting each other over the idea of a perfect realm. Each was given a shard to create their own realm and test out their ideals. The society that won would ultimately settle down in a neutral realm. The neutral realm, Alo, was split into four: Pon, Aka, Ula, and Mele.
Throughout the ages, the shards experienced a metamorphosis under the influence of the Dieities' powers, evolving into the distinct four islands known today. Over time, the beings lost interest, content to only watch over their respective areas. But despite living in the neutral realm of Alo, the shards inherited their masters' opinions and continued to fight.
The fighting never ceased, until one day everything changed. The Pon Shard went berserk, and the influx of power destroyed everything that lived on it. Even now, Poni Island remains desolate due to the aftermath of the Shard's rampage, rendering it uninhabitable. To live on the island was to constantly expose oneself to its aura of chaos and insanity.
Why did the Shard go mad? Uma had no clue. The Shard managed to remain intact, although chaotic and unstable. As for the other shards, they stopped fighting when the Pon Shard lost its marbles. Hopefully, the moon altar led her to the answers she desperately needed.
They approached the Altar of Moone quicker than she liked. It felt too easy; no traps or misdirections. The altar stood innocently enough. Two pillars flanked a stone slab, adorned with intricate carvings of moons and suns. As Uma approached the altar, she felt a surge of energy and a whisper in her mind. She startled, swinging her gaze to Marshadow, who appeared just as startled, sensing the foreign intrusion as well.
"Professor, did the influx of readings go off?"
"Huh? No, everything is still stable. Why are you asking? Did something happen?"
Uma shook her head, not lowering her guard. "The altar feels weird. Off. Likely due to being left alone for a while."
Hopefully, it's just evidence that the Pon Shard is here. It's the last one we need.
She turned to her partner, sending an urgent warning to 'be on guard for anything' through their bond. Her child-like days of being unprepared while arrogantly assuming she knew everything was over.
"Keep tracking me and watching for disruptions, Professor. Marshadow, you know what to do."
As Uma started to scour the room, Marshadow extended his fists, encircling them in a blue-green aura as he adjusted his stance to protect her back. Through the bond, she felt that Marshadow was as anxious as she was, although he hid it under an outrageous amount of arrogance and pride. They have been on numerous extrusions, and never once has he failed to protect them from danger.
Although this felt different—more foreboding and estranged—she held her tongue and continued to search for any seals or markings. She kept silent, for no amount of light jokes could distract her from the feelings of wrongness. The altar's presence seemed to bore into her, a silent observer casting a chilling gaze that sent goosebumps down her arms. Uma took a deep breath to try to shake off the strange sensation. Uma normally felt intimidated when searching a site, as it felt akin to grave robbery, but she knew this time was different.
She couldn't explain it, but she knew it was watching her.
"Marshadow," her partner hissed, grabbing her attention. Uma was halfway across the room with her back to the altar, and she turned, noticing he had put his fighting aura away and was pointing at her flashlight. Then he gestured to the room around them before pointing at her flashlight again.
Instantly understanding, she voiced her next thoughts aloud to Burnet. "Professor, are you still there? Marshadow thinks we'll be able to make more progress without light, and I agree. A moon altar means there is no light besides one source. I need to go dark."
Without waiting for a response, she switched off her flashlight and moved feeling the weight of the room's stillness pressing down on her. She beckoned Marshadow closer.
In front of her stood a glowing wall. Constellations connected in fine lines of blues and whites, deciphering a picture. Forgetting all pretext of vigilance for the moment, she hurriedly dove into her bag and took out her sketch pad, recreating the image in front of her with deft fingers.
The picture on the wall was one she and Marshadow had never seen before. It showed a figure cloaked in starlight, reaching out towards a glowing orb with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. As she finished sketching, she noticed behind the figure were three others, reaching out their outstretched hands. They seem desperate- as if they were trying to prevent the arduous figure from reaching the orb.
The scene left her captivated, evoking a profound sense of unease. She closed her sketch pad, looking up at the altar once more. Now that her light was off, she noticed that it was shimmering and glowing in a color that reminded her of the glowing flowers in front of the palm tree she saw all those years ago when she watched the Aether Foundation build their makeshift altar for Tapu Koko.
"Uma…ther…now…" crackled the distant voice from her phone.
Startled out of her trance-like state, Uma flicked her light on and shoved her sketch pad back into her pack, a bit sheepish at being caught distracted. She retrieved her phone from her hostler, bringing it closer to her ear to listen. "Sorry, Burnet, you're breaking up—but get this! I found a new glyph, and this one is-, "
"Get out right now!" Burnet screamed in her ear, cutting her off. The next words her mentor said made the color drain from her face and dread pool into her stomach. Marshadow let out a growl, his eyes flashing in the cavern. "A portal is opening right now! I don't understand why, but the readings are going crazy out of nowhere! I can't find where it is! You need to go-please. Run, Uma!"
Uma's heart thundered in her chest, a cold sweat breaking out as she frantically processed the urgency in Burnet's voice, every nerve on edge. Without hesitation, she reached for Marshadow and sprinted towards the exit of the cavern, fear gripping her every step.
The ground trembled, and the walls around them quivered. No sooner had she taken a step than a resounding boom deafened the duo. She clutched Marshadow close to her chest as she looked over her shoulder and noticed that the altar glowed, and a swirling portal of gold, green, and red stood behind them.
Oh, shit.
Gravity ceased to exist, and Uma felt her body lift off the ground and effortlessly pull towards the portal.
The air was electric with energy as she fought against the force, her desperation almost tangible, as she resisted being drawn into the portal. Out of all the portals she's witnessed, never once have they looked like this. Pulled into the portal, she felt a rush of warmth and light envelop her, transporting her elsewhere. Her name echoed in the darkness, the final sound that struck her ears before everything faded.
Uma absolutely despised the sensation of free-falling.
Disliked the queasiness in her stomach that traveled to her feet and the tightness in her throat. Clutching Marshadow to her chest for dear life was her only solace as they free-fell through the air.
And fell.
And continued to fall for what seemed like an hour.
Then, Uma started to hate the fact that she became used to the rush of wind against her face and the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
In a blink, she saw the night sky quickly shrinking as the Earth rushed up to meet her, forcing her to close her eyes and brace for impact. Fortunately, she turned her back, ensuring it faced the ground, and her pack absorbed most of the force; unfortunately, crashing into the pavement knocked the wind out of her and left her gasping.
As she lay in the small crater and floating dirt, trying to regain her composure, Uma couldn't help but feel grateful that she had survived the fall relatively unscathed. She lifted Marshadow and hovered the fighting ghost over her head as she met his wild-blown and shocked fire-eyes.
"We're alright, we're okay. We won't die here, alright?" Uma rasped out with breathless reassurance, trying to convince herself and her partner. Marshadow's fiery eyes softened slightly. A wave of ease was pushed down their bond, making her shiver. 'Death on our terms' was the whisper of agreement.
When Uma made that promise on the beach with Uche, she had to come to acknowledge a few things. She accepted her life in this new world, but that didn't come without its share of difficulties. Some days she was frustrated by the lack of comforts that she had pre-Alola, or she shut down when Uche tried to push the boundaries of their relationship. But she tried. Uma had reflected, and pushed to change how she processed the world; her thought patterns were now mildly cynic at best.
One thing she hadn't budged on, though, was death. Simply put, she refused to entertain the idea. She had already died once, and if it wasn't on her terms, then she simply wouldn't die again.
A loud and excessive honk startled her, and a shout of "Get out of the way!" made her act on instinct, propelling her body to roll towards the left, narrowly avoiding getting hit by a speeding object flying on four wheels (which seemed oddly familiar).
Scrambling to her feet, Uma let out a gasp as multiple objects came flying at her. She danced and darted in front of several hulking metal contraptions, dodging them as best she could. People peeked out of the sides of the contraptions, shouting at her in an unfamiliar dialect to 'Get out of the middle of the road,' which she struggled to comprehend.
Stumbling like a newborn fawn, she finally came to a halt on the grey concrete sidewalk and dropped Marshadow beside her, panting and resting her hands on her knees.
Those were cars. Uma's mind suddenly had a light bulb moment. Startled, she whipped her head forward, only to realize that in all her travels through the Alola Region, she had never encountered a car. Boats, ferries, and the occasional bike, sure, but never a car. The only place her hazy memories could recall seeing cars was... Could it be...?
Above her, hundreds of towering buildings made of colorful glass and moving pictures stood, shining brighter than the night sky. The air was thick with the tang of garbage and sewage; her nose was assaulted with the stench of rank water and the heat of too many bodies in one spot. She clutched her hands to her ears as the cacophony of noise raged on – honking, shouting, and a roar from a metal object overhead (airplanes, was the faint sigh of Before).
Normally, people's fashion choices were a good indicator of their region. Uma hoped to either gain clues or crush the newfound hope in her chest by focusing on the people...which, turned out to be a mistake. Surrounded by a swarm of thousands (never had she seen so many people in one place!) citizens, all brightly dressed and looking incredibly strange to her eyes, Uma couldn't help but gawk.
A woman with horns on her head passed by; a family strolled past with butterfly wings sprouting from their backs; and a man with a spray bottle for a head even pushed her aside. Exchanging a look with Marshadow, they both seemed to share the same bewildered thought: Where the heck are we?
Marshadow narrowed his eyes in anger, and Uma felt a trickle of suspicion creeping into her chest.
"What?! Do you think I triggered the portal and did this?" Uma exclaimed, bewildered and offended."I didn't! I don't even know where we are, so stop looking at me like that!"
Her partner adjusted his stance, and glared up at her, his aura turning deadly. 'Don't care, figure it out.'
Uma dragged both hands through her kinky curls and started scrubbing at her scalp furiously, hoping that enough friction to her head would help her think. She wouldn't jump to conclusions—she wouldn't. She instantly crushed the idea that they ended up in her previous life's world; from what little she endeavored to remember, things were far too different.
The idea of time travel vanished in a plume of smoke-too outlandish for serious consideration. The portals functioned as teleporters meant to bring legendaries into their dimension. The portals were simple and weren't capable of breaking down and displacing particles in a time-stream. She was certain they were still (probably) in the right dimension, just in a different region; most likely Unova or Sinnoh judging by the technological advancements.
Despite never entering the Legendary dimension, Uma knew that the Pokemon dimensions just didn't have cities or mutated humans. She and Burnet knew that the portals only accessed the Pokémon's plane, not anywhere else.
Now there were only two possibilities: either they were in Alola, but in a parallel reality; or they were thrown into a completely new dimensional plane. The latter was becoming increasingly likely, as Uma noticed that for every human, there were no Pokémon in sight.
Considering alternative dimensions that weren't neighboring their own went against everything they knew. Most adjacent dimensions carried parallels and few differences. A Professor in Kanto had already discovered the Mirror World and Ghost World, the two closest dimensions to theirs.
But she couldn't ignore the feeling that something had gone incredibly wrong this time. The uncertainty was eating away at her, causing her to question every theory about interdimensional travel. Burnet had recently given a lecture providing evidence that the Arcus World, their final dimensional neighbor- to no one's surprise- was only filled with more Pokemon!
Calling Burnet would put an end to my panic, she conceded. The Rotem was known to carry a connection despite being in bizarre situations. She went to pull her Rotem out of its protective casing at her chest before a voice stopped her.
"You! Stop right there! You are violating the law! Quirks are not to be in use in public!"
Uma's heart raced as she turned to see a figure in spandex approaching them with a stern command, and she struggled to process his thick city drawl.
When she didn't answer fast enough, the man who cosplayed as a superhero angrily huffed and pointed rudely at Marshadow, who simply narrowed his eyes in warning. "Your quirk is out and in use on public property. In clear violation of the law! I will issue you another warning before I have the right to publicly arrest you! Any resistance will be considered a threat and as the sanctioned sidekick Kickstart I will use my quirk to arrest a villain like you!"
For a moment, Uma's mind stopped working. She traded another baffled look with Marshadow.
Was... Was this guy being for real...?
Hesitantly and awkwardly, she spoke gently, as if the man had one screw too loose. "Marshadow isn't a... quirk? He's a Pokemon." Hopefully, the sincerity in her voice led the man to be forthcoming in answers in return. She took a few steps backward and pretended to use the distance gained to fall into a hasty bow, "I'm sorry, er... Kickstart-san, but what's a quirk?"
Now it was the spandex man's turn to awkwardly process her words. His eyes did a quick sweep of her person, taking in her hesitant, country-accented Japanese, and her haggard appearance. He nodded once, clearly coming to a decision. "As a foreigner, I commend your use of our language; you speak very well. Unfortunately, you still need to comply with Japan's law. This is now your second warning."
Uma flinched, taken aback, the words hitting her like a physical blow. "E-excuse you?" She expected him to clarify the meaning of what a quirk is instead of making rude assumptions. Rather than checking on her in concern (like a normal person; she just fell out of the sky, and evaded being run over by several cars in the span of 5 minutes!) the stranger was biased, rash, and quick to abuse his power to invoke rules she was genuinely ignorant of.
Kickstart continued, her stuttering question falling on deaf ears. "As an outsider, you can't always use your ignorance as an excuse," he scolded. Falling into a crouch he peered closer to her partner, inspecting him closely. He frowned. "I may be old, but I know that quirks are still called quirks. Those youth trends always try to change the wording, and Pokomun- or whatever-won't hold up."
Marshadow's eyes burned, and through the bond, she felt the beginning signs of his vindictive nature shine through.
Quicker than she could warn the ignorant sidekick, he plucked Marshadow off the ground. "Now ma'am, please deactivate your quirk and put your plushie-"
The man's words were cut short as he was suddenly thrown backward, soaring above the street before crashing into a glass building with a satisfying crack. Marshadow turned with a wicked smile, slowly placing his purple-glowing leg back on the ground, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
Uma gave him a begrudging nod of approval. "Good job, buddy," she said, her tone wary. She loathed unnecessary violence, but Kickstart had brought it on himself. He was a jerk who had looked down on her, refusing to give her common decency. She still didn't know what a quirk was or where in the world Japan is!
As she felt hubris tickle her navel, she pushed Marshadow's preening aside. She noticed men in spandex suits running towards her. Ignoring the shouts of 'Stop, Villain!' and 'Apprehend them!' behind her, she quickly weighed her options. She entertained the thought of questioning the men and considered how likely they were to oblige once she asked them for help. She sighed and grabbed Marshadow, fleeing in the opposite direction.
"And here goes the consequences," she muttered to herself.
Uma barreled through the suffocating crowds, knocking people aside with forceful shoves and barely managing to apologize with a quick "Excuse me!" as she went. She couldn't help but think, I get it, Marshadow destroyed a building, but do the authorities really need to chase us? The citizens of this twisted dimension looked like mutated creatures straight out of a nightmare, so things are bound to get messy! The Foundation isn't even this strict!
She navigated through the crowd, dodging and weaving before ducking into a nearby alleyway. Catching her breath, she waited for the police and costume-clad chasers to pass by her hiding spot. Once the coast was clear, she jumped away from the wall, careful not to touch anything in the filthy alley, which reeked of old urine and sewage. She didn't want any of the dirt or grime on her favorite orange jacket.
She let out a frustrated huff, gazing up at Marshadow, who had perched himself atop a tall dumpster. His piercing stare sent a chill down her spine as he nodded curtly, his gaze fixed on her chest, making his impatience clear.
"Deities, I'm on it."
Whipping a hand to her chest she fished out the Rotem. She took a few calming breaths, trying to stay focused."Burnet, are you still there? Can you hear me?" she called out, but her voice betrayed a hint of panic. She glanced at her slightly cracked phone screen. The phone was stuck on the map that showed her location and the readings for dimensional flux. But one thing was missing: Burnet's signal.
That was fine, it was manageable. She pressed a few buttons, redialing Burnet. While the call rang, she pinched her fingers, zooming out on her location. She thanked whatever higher power that looked after her- the map had updated to her current location. The map only showed the outline of the region and stopped at displaying the label Japan surrounded by various unfamiliar land masses. Upon zooming in, she discovered the label Esuha, the city they landed in.
This time, she couldn't stop the tremble in her hands. When her ears picked up the failed dialing tone, she finally began to accept their circumstances.
Her eyes shifted to her surroundings as she tried to come up with a plan. What should she do next? The city was crawling with life, people going about their daily business, completely unaware of the chaos that was unfolding inside her head. What if they weren't able to return home? What if they were trapped here forever?
She couldn't hold back the hysteric chuckle that escaped from her lips at the thought. "Marshadow, we aren't in our dimension anymore."
Marshadow's piercing glare could freeze water in its tracks, a look Uma had grown all too familiar with. The bond tingled with demands, and Uma's sigh was heavy with frustration as she acknowledged the futility of their situation.
"We've been pulled through a rift, bud. I don't know how or why, but we need to focus on finding a way back, and no right now I can't contact Burnet. We're on our own."
She ran a hand through her hair. In this tense moment, Uma stood tall; she couldn't afford to break, not yet. Not when Marshadow relied on her to keep her composure and get them out of this mess. "We're in someplace called Japan and things are...different here." The memory of the strange people they'd encountered earlier sparked a low growl from Marshadow. Uma absently nodded in agreement.
She refocused on their pressing need for survival. They'd need food and shelter for tonight; but without the current currency, they'd might have to settle for camping. Thoughts about unraveling the mystery of how they arrived in this dimension could fall by the wayside.
A loud alarm blared from her phone. Startled, Uma glanced at the Rotom Pokemon, who danced in the air urgently. As she snatched her phone, her brow furrowed, recognizing the noise; it was the indicator for dimensional fluxes. The charts were going crazy, but that was impossible: after all, portal openings were supposed to be non-existent in this dimension. The anomaly defied logic, as such occurrences were exclusive to the Alola Region, where the Shards held sway.
The cacophony of the night was shattered by yells from the street. Peeking her head from the alley, the sight before her left her reeling. In the distance, a yellow portal had opened in the sky. Uma closed her eyes, already knowing what came next; the roar of a Legendary greeting the night let her know that, shit, a Pokemon had arrived.
One that was battle hungry and pissed.
Man, could she not catch a break?
She slipped her phone into her pocket and swiftly took stock of her person. She had her remaining Pokeballs around her waist, whatever camping and emergency aid items she had in her pack, and her partner.
Uma hoped it was enough.
She dashed out of the alley. Uma didn't need to look down to sense Marshadow's presence, radiating intensity just behind her, fits aglow. As much as she wanted to sit down, gather her thoughts, and simply think, she couldn't. She didn't know much about the dimension they landed in, but she knew that wherever Japan was, they were woefully unprepared to confront a Legendary. In her mind's eye, she can already picture the destruction, the casualties.
The least she can do is minimize the fallout of her entry into this world.
Finding the source of the commotion was easy. Up ahead, two different blockades were surrounding the creature. The one nearest to her had multiple men in spandex sprawled on the ground, and Uma saw deep claws and burn marks on their backs. Nauseua pooled in her throat. Even during the few Pokemon battles she's attended back home, never had she seen a Pokemon inflict such damage.
The once bustling crowd had thinned significantly; teenagers stood at the periphery, their phones raised to capture the unfolding chaos. Further ahead, the other blockade dressed in all black were taking up positions behind shields and were propping heavy ebony objects to target the Pokemon.
Her blood ran cold at the fear that lingered in the air, causing her to maneuver over the barricade being hastily assembled by men in blue uniforms, their urgent warnings fading into the background.
Her gaze locked onto an enormous feline, its fur a vibrant red and black seemed to be bursting with pent-up energy. Its muscles rippled beneath a blood-stained coat as it wrestled with a giant of a man clad in yellow. Despite the man's impressive size, the cat sent him stumbling backward. Yet, the man refused to yield, his massive frame absorbing the blows as he retaliated with powerful hits of his own.
Do my eyes deceive me, or is Big Yellow holding out against a super-powered monster?
The Legendary creature let out a deafening roar as it effortlessly lifted the man into the air, flinging him with such force that he soared through the sky like a ragdoll. The figure in yellow was hurled several streets away, crashing onto the roof of a car with a sickening thud.
As Uma took another step forward, an iron grip snatched her backpack and spun her around. A masked man stood before her, his crimson mask concealing his eyes but not his urgency. Despite his small stature, he exuded an aura of authority as he declared, "Miss, it's not safe here! Let me guide you to Fatgum's safe zone."
His words were laced with a reassuring conviction as if Fatgum's presence was a guarantee of her safety. Uma needed to guarantee the safety of everyone else. She knocked the offending appendage aside.
With a determined look in her eyes, Uma shook her head at the masked man. "You need to get everyone here to the safe zone. Let others know to not intervene in the upcoming Pokemon battle. They're not safe for regular people."
The man's brow furrowed beneath his crimson mask, clearly taken aback by Uma's refusal. "Miss, please understand, this is no ordinary threat we're facing," he protested, gesturing towards the direction where the legendary had turned its sights on the men posted behind the shields. "It's unnatural; animals aren't supposed to have quirks. The police are here to put the abomination to rest."
Uma's head snapped back in confusion, her mind racing to make sense of his choice of words. Put the abomination to rest...?
Her thoughts were cut short by deafening pops that echoed through the air. Uma spun around just in time to see a harrowing sight; the humanoid cat was bleeding profusely from small bullet holes scattered across its body, desperately fighting for its life against the armed attackers.
Uma felt immensely horrified and forced herself to not pass out. She hadn't considered that she might need to save both citizens and Pokemon from their untimely meeting.
Without waiting for a response from the masked man, Uma sprinted towards the chaos, pulling out her Rotem as well as stuffing a hand into her pack. "Identify Pokemon and pull up all known info!" she cried out.
The Rotem hummed to life in Uma's hands, projecting a holographic image displaying data on the Legendary rampaging through the city. Its name flashed in bold letters - Incineroar, a Fire/Dark-type Pokemon known for its immense power and uncontrollable aggression. Uma gritted her teeth, knowing she was up against a formidable opponent.
A man in black turned to face the Incineroar, and his eyes reflected the neon lights, his expression as monstrous as the beast he faced. Uma briefly locked eyes with him, ignoring the gasps and cries of those fleeing the scene, skidding to a stop. When Incineroar fired into the barricade, debris sprayed across the ground. Uma handed her partner the healing berry without taking her eyes off the chaos.
"Marshadow, I need you to get that Incineroar to eat this berry. I don't have many, so you only get one shot. Once it's healed and its eyes are on you, engage in battle." The bond buzzed with affirmation and to her shock, hesitation, and Uma stiffly quelled both their fears. "I refuse to let you get hurt while battling. You'll stop the Pokemon, and I'll stop the humans."
Despite being outmatched in size and strength, Marshadow was quick and agile, making him the perfect opponent. Uma may not have been an experienced trainer, but she had taken precautions to allow Marshadow to fully embrace his innate copy abilities to his fullest.
With a subtle nod, her partner slunk into the shadows, disappearing as Uma rushed to maneuver around the fire-cat, without getting hurt herself. She deftly dodged past the fallen Yellow man who had just been tossed by Incineroar, determined to reach the brigade and protect the Legendary at all costs.
As she ran, her hand reached for the Pokeballs clipped securely at her waist. With a swift flick of her wrist, she released her only other Pokemon onto the battlefield. She was lucky the men were distracted at putting out the fire the Incineroar just threw at them. She used the momentary confusion to her advantage to call out: "Magikarp, use Spray!"
In an instant, a jet of water burst forth from the Magikarp, engulfing three of the men in its forceful stream. Their weapons clattered to the ground as they fell to their knees, bewildered, drenched, and disoriented.
The remaining barricade member turned their attention towards Uma, their expression a mix of shock at the unexpected counterattack. "What do you think you're doing, girl? Why are you attacking members of the police?" Their eyes narrowed before aiming their firearm at her. "Are you a Villain?"
If the situation wasn't so hectic, Uma would roll her eyes. What was with this dimension and labeling everyone a villain? Uma held her arms out in the universal protective stance, standing in their line of sight before Marshadow and Incineroar.
"I'm a civilian and the only one here who knows what's going on! Lower your weapon, that Pokemon is just a scared animal that wants to go back to its home."
The brigade member's grip on the firearm wavered.
He exchanged a hesitant glance with his companions who were still sputtering from the unexpected drenching by Magikarp. "Who are you, and what the hell is a Pokemon?" His eyes remained weary.
Uma seized the opportunity, her voice firm but laced with empathy. "I can answer all questions later. I'm not the enemy here. I'm just trying to protect these Pokemon and go home." Uma checked over her shoulder and sighed quietly in relief. Marshadow had gained the advantage with a surprise attack, roughly stuffing the berry into his opponent's mouth. "My partner and I can finish handling the legendary, as long as you all stop firing at the poor thing."
The brigade members exchanged uncertain glances, the tension in the air palpable as they processed Uma's words. Slowly, the one holding the firearm began to lower it, his eyes flicking between Uma and the chaotic battle unfolding behind her.
"That... that creature came out of the sky and started attacking. We didn't know what to do," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "But you... you seem to be able to control them. Like that one next to you..."
"We don't have time for this," Uma emphasized, "Please, just trust me."
With a small nod from the man, he put his weapon down. Uma's relief was radiant. She smiled, missing the man's blush, and faced the battle. As if on cue, Marshadow landed a decisive blow onto the newly healed Incineroar, causing it to stagger back with a roar of defiance. The Incineroar seemed reinvigorated now that it had an actual battle to focus on. She reckoned that it needed only a few more hits before beginning defeated.
She briefly entertained the idea of sending in her comical Magikarp to join the fight, but ultimately rejected it. She recalled Magikarp back into his ball. Marshadow's sense of superiority would never allow anyone else to join, and he despised sharing the spotlight.
Marshadow waited until Incineroar was within striking distance before disappearing from view. Its fiery fist crashed onto the ground where its target had been standing just a moment ago, never making contact. Marshadow reappeared behind Incineroar, launching a surprise attack with his ghostly powers. The sudden strike caught Incineroar off guard, leaving it vulnerable to Marshadow's next move.
Marshadow swiftly followed up with a series of quick and precise punches, taking advantage of Incineroar's momentary confusion. The combination of ghostly and fighting-type moves overwhelmed Incineroar, leaving it unable to defend itself effectively.
"Marshadow!" Uma called out, gaining her partner's attention, but he didn't dare take his eyes off his opponent. "Stop playing around and finish it!" Marshadow giggled childishly, caught red-handed. If Uma didn't stop him, the small terror would drag the battle out for as long as he could. Shortly, Marshadow knocked out Incineroar, claiming victory.
It didn't take long for something strange to happen as Uma stepped forward to check on the creature. The body of the Legendary shone and broke down into shimmering sparkles. Suddenly, a small portal appeared above the creature, and the Incineroar vanished.
"So, once a Pokemon is defeated, they're sent back to our dimension?" Uma wondered aloud. A faint crease formed between her brows. Could they hijack a portal to transport back home? Further study was needed before jumping to any conclusions.
Uma rolled her eyes as her partner skipped to her side, seemingly unbothered by her latest discovery. She sent a gentle reprimand through their mental link, urging the impish creature to be a bit more focused. However, the Pokemon ignored her, his mischievous grin widening as he reveled in the thrill of his win.
"Monstrous Villian! You're under arrest! Put your hands up where we can see them!"
Stunned, Uma studied the crimson-masked man from earlier. He supported the burly man in vibrant yellow, who leaned weakly against him. Yet their gazes were anxious and focused intently on her presence. There was a palpable tension in the air, a silent standoff between the trio, each sizing up the other, waiting to see who would make the first move.
Slowly, she raised her hands, palms out in a gesture of surrender, though her mind raced with possibilities, considering her options. She knew she couldn't simply submit - her very freedom hung in the balance. But with the masked hero's fierce gaze upon her, and his injured companion at his side, Uma recognized that she would need to tread carefully, lest she provoke a confrontation she couldn't handle.
"And what am I under arrest for?" Uma challenged, her voice barely hiding the underlying tension. "Helping to save an animal from harm? Or stepping up when no one else would?" She couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride at her actions, even as she faced the duo before her.
Uma's eyes took in her surroundings, observing the crowd that had gathered. Now that the threat of the Legendary was gone, citizens had come out from hiding, their phones held aloft to capture the unfolding scene. They were bystanders who seemed to relish in watching the events unfold, and it was starting to make Uma feel sick to her stomach. The idea that people would find entertainment in standing on the sidelines (when they could easily help) and simply watching her potential downfall only fueled her determination to get home (and away from these weirdos) further.
"I'm no villain, you know," she continued, her tone slightly more diplomatic, but still laced with a hint of defiance. "I was doing what I believed was right, what any good citizen would do. Surely you understand the desire to protect the innocent and prevent further destruction?" Uma's gaze shifted between the two heroes, silently pleading for them to see her perspective, to recognize her as an ally rather than an adversary.
The crimson-clad sidekick clenched his fists, his body trembling with barely contained rage. "Your so-called heroism has only resulted in further destruction and chaos! Summoning that beast was a reckless and dangerous act, one that put countless others in the hospital! Some might not even survive the night! Your quirk is a threat to the public, and you must be held accountable for your wrongdoings!"
Uma flinched, the weight of his accusations and the gravity of the situation pressing down on her. While she had not directly caused harm to any of the citizens, her entry into this dimension had allowed the legendary creature to wreak havoc, and she could not deny her part in the matter. The guilt and responsibility weighed heavily upon her shoulders, and she struggled to find the words to defend herself.
The larger, yellow-suited man raised a hand, silencing his companion. His gaze was thoughtful, but his tone remained measured and authoritative. "While I understand your anger, Captain Tofu, we are Heroes."
Uma didn't miss the labels. Was that what was going on? Grown men were playing as superheroes. Dietes, spare her.
"Regardless of your intentions, your actions today are against the law. As a civilian, you're not allowed to use your quirk to aid heroes. Such actions, however well-intentioned, put others at risk." He continued. The hero's gaze narrowed as he took a step forward, towering over Uma. He extended a gloved finger, pointing directly at Marshadow. "Under my power as The BMI Hero: Fatgum please, deactivate your quirk. Cooperation is the best course of action here, for everyone's safety."
Uma's temper flared, her eyes flashing with a mixture of confusion and defiance. "For the last time, I don't know what a quirk is, nor do I have one!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in frustration. "Marshadow is a Pokemon! I don't understand why you all are playing superheroes, but I haven't done anything wrong, and I won't be arrested for simply trying to help!"
Fatgum's brow furrowed, and he exchanged a puzzled glance with his companion. This situation was not unfolding as they had anticipated. Fatgum took a deep breath, but before he could say anything further, he had to hastily throw his muscular arms up in a defensive position.
Marshadow, fist aglow, launched a relentless assault, driving the hero back with a flurry of blows. Fatgum, renowned for his immense strength and durability, found himself hard-pressed to keep up with the sheer intensity of Marshadow's attack.
The air crackled with the sound of impact as Marshadow's fists collided with Fatgum's sturdy frame, each strike laden with the intent to overwhelm and subdue. Fatgum had no choice but to let off a bit of steam, reverting to his skinner form, to keep up. He could tell he took-whatever this thing was-by surprise when its eyes widened and its punch faltered.
Fatgum took no pleasure when the small thing flew back and crashed into a nearby car. It didn't get back up.
"Marshadow!" Uma screamed. Blinded by the pain she felt through the bond, she rushed to get to him. She only managed a few faltering steps before she was blocked by Captain Tofu. As Captain Tofu witnessed his boss, Fatgum, unleashing his full power against the villain, he felt the urge to act.
With a playful glint in his eyes, Captain Tofu pointed both his arms at the villain, relishing the moment as her panicked gaze fixed upon his transforming limbs. "Brace yourself, villain!" he exclaimed, "for I have a super-sized serving of butt-whooping ready for you!" Gathering his concentration, the side-kick shouted, "Special move: Encasement of Tofu!"
Instinctively, Uma scrambled to throw herself away from the incoming blob, her heart pounding in her throat. As she turned back to assess the situation, she was greeted by the sight of a massive mound of tofu sitting on the street, occupying the space where she had previously stood.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Uma screamed, her voice laced with a combination of disbelief and outrage. "Were you going to trap me in that revolting thing?" She shuddered at the mere thought, her face twisted in a grimace of disgust. "I would suffocate to death!"
Captain Tofu, oblivious to Uma's reaction, stood proudly, his chest puffed out in a display of self-satisfaction. "Ah, but you underestimate the power of my Encasement of Tofu!" he boasted, gesturing grandly towards the towering soft, white cube. "This is no mere trap – it's a delicious and nutritious way to immobilize my foes!"
Uma could only stare at the sidekick in stunned silence, her mind struggling to comprehend the sheer absurdity of the situation. As she opened her mouth to unleash another barrage of protests, a soft rumbling from the tofu heap caught her attention. Before she could blink, the mound exploded into smaller pieces, scattering in all directions. Some of the fragments encaptured her legs, binding her in place and rendering her unable to move.
The sidekick let out a triumphant cackle, his laughter echoing through the air like the cries of a deranged hyena. Uma glared at the man, her anger and frustration boiling over as she struggled against the tofu restraints.
"Let me go!" she cried, her voice trembling. "Release me at once, you... you... over-grown man child!" Uma panted, and to her horror tears began to well up in her eyes. She's never felt so helpless, so thoroughly misunderstood in her life. She twisted in her bonds, now practically crawling. "I'm not going with you until I get my partner!" Her voice cracked, and she willed herself to keep moving, desperate to reach Marshadow, who still hadn't risen. "I need to check on him. He's hurt!"
Captain Tofu shrugged, unfazed. "I think you should make yourself comfortable because you're not going anywhere."
"That's enough Tofu." Fatgum sighed. Uma struggled to place the man, despite him wearing the same clothes-his appearance had changed drastically. Instead of being wide and towering above two meters, he now had shaggy blonde hair and a muscular frame.
Uma's attention was snagged by what Fatgum carried in his arms - her bonded, Marshadow, cleanly knocked out. Relief washed over her like a wave, her entire body going slack.
She must have zoned out of the conversation taking place above her for too long because Fatgum now sat crouched before her, concern and hints of kindness in his eyes as he looked at her.
Gently, he spoke. "I don't know what this thing is, but it put up one hell of a fight. You both are going to be detained by the police when they get here. Will you resist arrest?"
Uma refused to answer, her mind racing to process everything that had transpired. She was displaced, overwhelmed, and now found herself in the care of these self-serving heroes.
Her heart couldn't handle much more.
Fatgum's brow furrowed as he studied her. Carefully, he placed Marshadow on the ground next to her. His mouth worked to say something else, but whatever he liked to say was cut off by the sound of approaching sirens in the distance. Fatgum straightened, his gaze shifting back to Uma. "Your rights and crimes will be read to you shortly," he said, his tone more formal. "I'll be close by, so no trying to run away. Let's go, Tofu."
The two heroes walked into the embracing cheers of the bystanders, wishing them a job well done.
Uma placed her head down on the pavement and closed her eyes.
If a few silent tears of frustration escaped, then that was her business.
Fatgum, a thoughtful individual, recognized himself as someone who, while not the most intelligent or sharp, was earnest and could identify genuine souls. He took pride in being able to look past the surface and truly getting a read on folks' true colors.
But this villain he'd just nabbed had him on edge. In his line of work, he'd seen it all - the low lives, the liars, and the truly nasty characters. Yet, this particular individual was different - her motives were unclear, her actions contradictory, but her words seemed genuine. It was a puzzle that Fatgum couldn't quite solve, leaving him unsettled.
He couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something, and that situation had spiraled out of control to the point where he couldn't have addressed it at the moment. He would have to wait for the dust to settle and hope for an opportunity to mend things later.
Standing behind the one-way mirror in Eshua's police building, Fatgum, chewing on several dango sticks, silently watched as the two men, the ruffled detective, Eizo Tanuma, and the robust Chief Kuroo slid the door of the interrogation room shut.
As Tanuma came to stand by Fatgum's side, the hero let his eyes slide back to the object of their undivided attention - the strange, foreign girl. He watched her shift uncomfortably with the cuffs attached to her wrist. It had been three hours since her capture, and the girl had only spoken once. Besides that, her lips were sealed shut despite the detectives' repeated attempts to extract information from her.
"I don't like this," Fatgum rumbled, casting a troubled sideways glance at Tanuma. The usually calm and collected detective, whose quirk: Keen Intellectual allowed him to anticipate and respond to any situation, seemed genuinely perplexed by the unexpected turn of events.
Tanuma scrubbed a weary hand down his beard, the strain evident in the tight lines around his eyes. "What alternative solution do you propose, Fatgum?" he asked, his voice laced with tiredness. "We've followed proper protocol, but the woman refuses to cooperate. I'm running out of options here."
"Isn't it a bit unusual for a villain to be so... calm? " Fatgum's brow furrowed. "And she hasn't asked anything besides if we had invented the technology f-for- " Fatgum stuttered, before clearing his throat. "What was it again?"
"A subatomic fusion transporter capable of tapping into the mycelial network, and if not, then a reactor that breaks down o-neg particles." Chief Kuroo deadpanned, cat whiskers flickering. The Chief had come back with coffee in hand, silently handing one to the detective. "Something smells off with the kit. Fatgum says the girl doesn't know jack about anything, yet is an expert in sci-fi tech?"
"Besides imprisoning the girl in Tartarus and discarding the key, all I can do is call someone from the HPSC to collect her in the morning," Tanuma continued, his brow furrowed with consideration. "Do you understand the pandemonium that will ensue if the public learns that quirks have further evolved? It's simply unbelievable."
The girl was now preoccupied with glancing about the brightly lit room. "She claims she has no quirk." Fatgum vividly recalls the steel in her voice and the truth that burned in her eyes. "That the thing I fought was an animal."
Tanuma paused. "There are now animals possessing quirks, Taishiro," the man continued, his voice tinged with a sense of disbelief and exasperation. "It challenges everything we thought we knew about the limits of quirk evolution." Taking a sip of the bitter coffee, Tanuma let out a heavy sigh. "God, I wish I had never given up smoking."
Chief Kuroo's lips curled into a frustrated scowl. "This is strange, even for me, and I'm a mutant type. If we're making wishes, then I wish to shut down every news station in the goddamn city," he grumbled, the weight of the situation bearing down on him. "By tomorrow, I want this entire debacle buried under a mountain of silence. The public can't handle the truth about these animal quirks right now." He tapped his fingers on the glass, deep in thought.
"Tanuma, look everywhere for information on our ghost girl," he instructed. "Check the dark web too. We need to know more about her. Go through the storage room carefully. If she's not talking, maybe her belongings will reveal her secrets for us."
Fatgum was curious. "And what will you be doing?" he asked.
"Making a phone call. Boys," With the dismal, Chief Kuroo turned on his heel and walked away.
The duo fell silent, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on each of them. It was a revelation that could change everything they knew about quirks and human limits. They both felt a bit scared about what this meant for the future. They knew the days ahead would be a battle to maintain control and prevent widespread panic.
The woman from the other country looked into the mirror, thinking hard. She had her hand on her cheek. Fatgum watched her, even though she couldn't see them, yet that didn't alleviate the sense of danger that stirred within him.
"The entirety of Japan is going to be on our ass by morning, aren't they?" Lighly joked the BMI Hero.
Tanuma, sipping his coffee, paused momentarily as a subtle twist of his lips betrayed his true sentiment. "Like coffee without alcohol," he remarked dryly,
Immediately after Uma's arrest, the video of the legendary's arrival and prompt attack on the police was uploaded onto two places: one, a forum dedicated to reporting all heroes' battles and achievements; and two, a social media account that barely received any foot traffic. They both were easily traceable.
It was taken down just ten minutes later.
But that didn't stop others from downloading it. In a dark room, a boy with emerald eyes and messy hair sat inches from the screen, holding his breath. He held his breath as a woman, one who had daringly declared herself as quirkless, darted into the frame. The boy's heart skipped a beat as she risked her life to protect both men and monsters. Then he hit replay.
Two hours after Uma's detainment a video capturing the intense battle between Fatgum and the monstrous fire-cat received 2M views. It excluded the part where the BMI was knocked unconscious.
The video of Captain Tofu capturing the girl only had 2K views, but it was easy for forum users to connect the dots. The girl who shouted commands to attack Fatgum was one and the same.
After three hours, the story pieced together was one where Uma had run onto the scene, standing by and commanding the beast to attack random citizens and the police alike. Fatgum won through seer strength, and Uma was detained by his sidekick.
Most videos were too far away to pick up on any conversation.
A bit grainy and blurred, Uma's face was revealed to the world. Many tried, but none were able to discover her social media accounts. Uma gained the titles of: 'Monster Villain' and 'Montress Summoner'.
The scientific community was abuzz with excitement. For the first time since the dawn of quirks, a new quirk classification was born. Emitter, Heteromorphic, Transformation, and now Combination, defined as a quirk that has surpassed its initial limit and evolved entirely.
It was speculated that Uma's quirk was two-fold. A quirk that allowed one to transfer its properties onto another and then subsequently control them.
After four hours one of the police officers attacked in the fight went into critical condition.
He was dead by April's warm nightfall.
The public cried for justice, and they didn't have to wait long. Just five hours later, the president of the Hero Public Safety Commission stepped into the limelight. Uma was declared a terrorist. She would be sent to Tartarus by the end of the week safeguarded by the watchful gaze of Esuha's Chief of Police, Kuroo.
And the ones forced to live in the shadows cried in outrage.
In their eyes, they saw a martyr.
A calculating blonde woman sat at her desk, staring at the raw video footage unblinkingly. A man with a red scarf with a thirst for righteousness sharpened his swords. A doctor thoughtfully hummed, staring at his mutated creatures in test tubes. A man dressed in a plague mask who itched to cleanse society sneered.
Another man who longed for power, for absolute control, released a laugh that chilled to the bone. His face held no features, yet the air crackled with the promise of more. Then he began to plan.
For the game had changed. A new player had entered. And the one who obtained her power first could change the rules.
The world paused. Tilted on its axis.
And spun once more, but never like before.
Glossary:
HPSC- Hero Public Safety Committee
E.H.T- Emitter, Heteromorph "mutant-type", Transformation
Mycelial network- Star Trek term used to refer to the string of multiverses underlying each universe.
Author's Note:
I hope readers understand and sympathize with Uma, girl is going through a lot. But she got a couple of lucky breaks here and there because I don't hate her.