Chapter 1: My Call To You, Darling
"We're here, Izumi." Inko Midoriya said to her daughter, Izumi Midoriya-Usagiyama, the two getting out of the car.
They had arrived at the city's local Service Pokemon Training Centre, as due to her anxiety issues and autism, Izumi's doctor had recommended that she get a Service Pokemon to help her out.
Izumi fidgeted with her jacket, not quite looking up at the facility in front of them and still getting used to the idea of a Service Pokemon. The new, somewhat foreign surroundings didn't help to calm her nerves.
"Mama, what's going to happen?" Izumi asked her mother.
"I'm pretty sure you'll meet some of the trained Pokemon and interact with them a bit." Inko explained as best she could.
"And if I like one we'll take them home?" Izumi asked.
The new idea was strange to her, as far as she knew people didn't just grab new friends off the street. She understood the concept, it was just strange. Plus the thought of meeting strange ones and having to choose one? That sounded hard.
"If you like them and they're able to suit your needs, then we'll be able to take them home." Inko nodded. "But if we don't find one today, that's fine. I heard the process can be long."
"Alright."
Izumi fidgeted and shifted her weight, not sure exactly what to feel about the whole situation. Her mother was usually right, but that didn't stop the nerves.
"Can we go in?"
Inko smiled softly. "That's the entire reason we're here, darling."
Izumi nodded, took a deep breath, and started toward the doors of the building.
Despite her anxieties, a new friend really did sound great. She'd heard plenty about people with Service Pokemon before, and she knew it sounded like they could really help, help her.
There was just the matter of finding them.
After a bit of a wait, the two were finally called up to the front counter, where the receptionist sat.
"Hello there, welcome to the Service Pokemon Facility." The receptionist smiled. "How may I help you, today?"
"My daughter and I have a scheduled appointment here to help my daughter find a Service Pokemon." Inko explained.
"I see, now do you have a doctor's note?" The receptionist asked.
The question caught Inko by surprise, but she recovered quickly and pulled out a form from her purse, handing it to the receptionist.
Izumi shifted awkwardly, trying to be as patient as possible. This was going to be longer than she had hoped.
"Alright, one of our staff will be with you, soon." The receptionist smiled.
"Thank you." Inko nodded.
Then it was back to waiting. Inko, used to dealing with doctors and other assorted medical professionals, was taking the wait in stride. Izumi, on the other hand, was beginning to get antsy again. Fortunately the next wait wasn't too long.
The door to the lobby opened and a woman in a labcoat stepped out, looking around before spotting the mother and daughter.
"Ah, you must be the Midoriya-Usagiyamas. My name is Ishikawa, I'll be your guide today."
"That's us." Inko nodded, standing and offering the woman a handshake. "It's very nice to meet you."
"And you too." The woman smiled, shaking Inko's hand. "And how about you?" She asked, crouching down to meet Izumi's eyes.
Izumi tried to shrink back behind her mother, but that didn't work as well with the woman crouching all the way down.
"Shy one, huh?" Ishikawa said gently. "Well, that's just fine dear."
"Yes, my daughter has been struggling with anxiety for years, now." Inko explained. "Her doctor recently recommended that she gets a Service Pokemon to help her out."
Ishikawa nodded, trying to make sure not to overwhelm the young girl. "That does tend to work. We have quite a number of Service Pokemon available."
She started moving toward the doors through which she had appeared. "Let's go take a look at them now, shall we?"
Inko nodded and gave Izumi's hand a little squeeze as she started to head after Ishikawa.
This was it. As they walked through the back of the building Inko could see her daughter's mind at work, gears turning, anxiety in full effect.
The first room they entered was an open training floor, with several staff members and Service Pokemon going through drills with their humans. Inko could see everything from dogs running agility courses to a few humans practicing moves with a Lucario.
Izumi's gaze darted around at the unfamiliar surroundings, already on edge without even seeing the individual Pokémon.
"So, what particular needs do you have in regards to what Pokemon will be compatible?" Ishikawa asked, pulling out a clipboard.
Inko, sensing her daughter's distress from the unfamiliar surroundings, crouched down next to her as they paused a few paces from the action.
"Some amount of anxiety support, of course." Inko explained. "She's autistic as well, which adds its own challenges." Inko then looked at Izumi. "Anything you'd like to add?"
"Umm..." Izumi fidgeted with her coat sleeve, not sure exactly what the best way to answer was. "... Loud noises." She finally said. "They're uncomfortable. And... And crowded spaces, sometimes."
"That's okay, it's normal." Ishikawa nodded, then turned back to Inko to speak to her directly. "Those are very normal concerns. We have a few Service Pokémon that should work. There's a few more forms I have to fill out first, and then you'll be able to start interacting with the Pokémon and seeing which would work best for you."
"Alright, sounds good." Inko said.
Ishikawa nodded, then gestured to a bench off to the edge of the room where she had them take a seat. Then she filled out the paperwork, asking the necessary questions about medical history, any allergies, and a few other assorted topics.
All the while, Izumi just looked around, occasionally sneaking a peek at one of the trainers and their Service Pokémon.
After a few minutes, Ishikawa turned back to face the two of them.
"That's all the forms taken care of. Are you ready to start looking at some of the Service Pokémon we have here?"
"Okay." Inko nodded, turning to her daughter. "Are you ready, Izumi?"
Izumi's nervousness had mostly been replaced with excitement, as she now was going to finally have an opportunity to meet some of the Service Pokemon. "...I think so."
"Alright." Ishikawa smiled. "Follow me, then."
The three of them entered through a different door off to the side of the training area, and the sounds of the exercises were shut out entirely by a heavy door.
The room was large, and each of the walls was lined with various pens on either side. Most of the pens held Pokémon playing or sleeping, and only a few of them were empty.
A strange feeling of awe overcame Izumi as they walked down the lines of pens. There were so many species, some of which she couldn't name, and of those she could recognize they came in all sorts of colors and patterns. None of the Pokémon in the pens were fighting, which she supposed was to be expected for a Service Pokémon training facility.
"And these are some of the Pokémon available?" Inko asked.
"Yes, I'll direct you to the ones with Psychiatric training." Ishikawa nodded, leading the mother and her daughter.
"Thank you." Inko smiled, walking along next to the woman, with Izumi a few steps behind as she continued trying to take in the sight of all of the different Pokémon in the pens.
A couple had their heads up and were looking at the humans passing by, but most were occupied with other things like toys or food. It was honestly surprising seeing so many different Pokemon that were trained to be Service Pokemon.
After a short walk they found themselves standing in front of several open pens, each of which contained a different Service Pokémon.
"We have a few options. Let's try and see if any of them are a good match for you, shall we?" Ishikawa asked the young girl.
Izumi's excitement was mounting even as her hands fidgeted, still nervous. So many choices, and not just one or two Pokemon, but a veritable buffet of some of the different types of Service Pokemon they had trained. It was almost overwhelming for the young girl.
"I'll start by bringing out different Pokemon that have been trained to suit your needs." Ishikawa explained, before heading into the pen where the Pokemon were.
Inko put a gentle hand on Izumi's shoulder, and the girl took a deep breath to try and ground herself in the moment. This was real. This was happening. She was really out here, about to get a Service Pokemon.
The first Pokemon was a Simisage. Ishikawa introduced him as Clifford.
Izumi smiled as she rubbed behind Clifford's ears. Cliffod rested his head on Izumi's knees and chirped happily.
"I think I'd prefer a bigger Pokemon, one that can rest on me and can help me out in sticky situations." Izumi requested. Normally, she wasn't very picky about anything, but the one she got would be her constant companion for years. They had to be the best fit possible. Ishikawa nodded.
The next one was a Linoone named Gail. She was so fluffy Izumi swore she could bury half her arm in her fur before she reached her skin. She was much more energetic than the Pansage. She sniffed her hands and her tail was like a mini helicopter blade.
"I really like her fur." Izumi commented. "But she has a bit too much energy. I don't think I would be able to keep up with her, especially when she's not doing her job."
"Got it." Ishikawa nodded.
The next few Pokemon that came out of the pens were met with the same response. A small, round Swablu that tried to roost in her hair was absolutely adorable, as was the Arcanine with a shaggy coat and soft snout, and the stout Audino. However, they all didn't quite hit the mark for one reason or another. Some were too small, others didn't quite seem like they'd fill the role well.
This went on for a while, Ishikawa bringing out Service Pokemon one after another. She was understanding and patient, and Inko appreciated that she wasn't trying to rush Izumi in any way.
After a few more Pokemon, it felt like Izumi had met the right one.
"She's so cute." Izumi smiled, petting the Dusk Lycanroc that came out. "What's her name?"
"Her name is Dusky." Ishikawa replied, enjoying the sight.
"Dusky." Izumi repeated. "It suits her."
Inko looked on happily, glad to see her daughter connecting to the Service Pokemon. Dusky in turn seemed to lean into the affection and attention from the young girl, her expression betraying nothing of what she thought or felt.
The Lycanroc stood just about the same height as Izumi, and was a bit more massive. While her fur looked fairly rough, it was actually quite soft to the touch.
Izumi continued to stroke the Lycanroc, enjoying the feeling of the slightly coarse but incredibly soft texture. If this wasn't the right one, then Izumi wasn't sure what was.
"If you're liking her, then we should head to the training room, and I'll teach you some of her commands." Ishikawa suggested.
"Alright." Inko nodded, noticing that her daughter was still rubbing Dusky, her hands lingering in the same spot.
This was the Pokemon it seemed likely for Izumi to leave with. The thought was somewhat surreal.
Ishikawa led the two of them back through the pens and out into the training room from before. The various trainers had long since finished their sessions, leaving the room nearly empty. There were a couple of trainers and Service Pokemon in the corner, working on some sort of obedience training, but the rest of the room was open.
Dusky padded along behind the three, making sure she was staying close to Izumi.
Ishikawa then led them over to a training mat and sat down. Dusky followed after them, and sat down next to Izumi. Izumi continued to pet the Lycanroc, enjoying the feeling of the Pokemon's soft and warm fur. This was definitely the one.
"So, here's a rundown of commands that you can use on Dusky." Ishikawa told the young girl after sitting down. "We've been working on some of her usual Service Pokemon tasks, and also a few to help with any anxiety you may experience. And of course, just the basics of walking heel, following commands... Those sorts of things as well."
As the two of them spoke, Izumi didn't let go of Dusky. She kept mindlessly petting the Lycanroc, enjoying the warm, soft texture and the sense of solidity and security the Pokemon provided.
Eventually, after about five minutes of going over the various commands and actions a Service Pokemon like Dusky could be taught, they switched from going over the basics to a demonstration of some of Dusky's more advanced skills.
The first was what Ishikawa described as an "interruption." "This is used frequently for autistic people." the woman explained. "If Dusky sees you doing something like rocking on your heels or scratching your skin, or any manner of self-soothing behaviours, though typically the harmful ones, she's been trained to come and lightly nudge you to stop."
Izumi nodded, continuing to pet the Lycanroc. That definitely seemed useful, though hopefully she would be able to avoid getting to the point where she'd need to self-soothe.
Ishikawa then moved on to explaining Dusky's support for panic attacks.
"Dusky can sense when you're experiencing an attack and is trained to help calm you." She said. "She'll usually come over and put her weight on you, providing a sort of hug. Some Service Pokemon can also apply things like acupressure to help with certain problems, Dusky is one of them."
The weight of a full-grown Lycanroc laying her head on her lap or back was definitely a comforting thought, if a bit heavy. Not to mention how soft the Lycanroc felt, and the fact that she'd just be a few seconds away whenever she was needed... The more she thought about it, the more clear it became that, even if there was a bit of a learning curve, getting a Service Pokemon like Dusky was not going to be a bad thing.
Ishikawa ran the girl through a few more commands, Dusky responding to all of them flawlessly. Inko watched on, feeling reassured that they actually knew what they were doing here. Dusky really was a well-trained Service Pokemon.
"She's very well-mannered, isn't she?" Inko commented once the demonstration was over.
"Oh, yes." The woman smiled. "All of the Service Pokemon we train here are extremely intelligent and well-trained. Dusky will be able to help allay any panic attacks or anxiety, as well as help you to ground yourself if you get overloaded. She also has a good sense for how her wards are feeling and when she needs to assist them."
It was reassuring to hear them go over Dusky's abilities, especially with how well-trained she was. Izumi looked down at the Lycanroc, who was looking back up at her with a calm, almost knowing gaze, and smiled. This really was the right Pokemon for her.
"Now, before we wrap up for today, I'll show you some of the vests and different gear, and you can pick out the ones you like." Ishikawa nodded.
This part was less exciting to Izumi, she didn't really care what the vests looked like, but she nodded and sat back with her mother as Ishikawa went on.
Inko, on the other hand, was paying close attention to what the woman was showing them.
Ishikawa gestured toward the various vests and gear laid out on a rack to the side of the training area. "We have a few different vests, which contain pockets to store Dusky's paperwork and other important info, such as emergency or contact information. The vests are also durable, and will help protect Dusky in case of an attack. Of course, you'll also be able to personalise it with her name, and she's even able to wear a couple of patches like any other working Service Pokemon."
The vests themselves had a few different pockets and harnesses, and varied from simple cloth to some made of heavier leather or rubbery material. Inko was looking them over carefully, while Izumi just wanted to go back to petting her new-soon-to-be Service Pokemon.
It honestly surprised Inko a bit, how excited Izumi was, despite her general anxiety in new environments. She was sitting there with her attention split between her new Pokemon and the display of vests, clearly excited and already attached to the Lycanroc in front of her.
After a short while, Inko and Izumi had selected the one with the designs and material they liked the most. It was fairly simple, with a few pockets and places to clip tags on it.
After they chose the vest, Ishikawa spoke up. "Alright. If you're both prepared, we can start the final steps for you to take ownership of Dusky."
"Yes, that sounds good." Inko nodded, standing up as she did. Izumi, too, rose to her feet, giving Dusky one last good scratch underneath the chin before standing just behind her mother.
Ishikawa smiled, watching as Izumi finished petting the Lycanroc one last time. "Alright, come with me."
The three of them once more walked into the back, through a door, and ended in a completely new-looking room with a counter at the far end and a few chairs.
Inko and her daughter sat in two of the chairs and, after a few moments, Ishikawa reappeared with a stack of papers. She sat on the third chair, opposite the two.
"Alright. Welcome to the final step, the signing of your form." Ishikawa smiled. "This is the paperwork which shows that you are Dusky's legal owners, and which has the information on the Pokemon's training and certifications."
Inko accepted the pen, already grabbing a form and beginning to fill in the necessary parts. As she did, she noticed Ishikawa talking to her daughter, explaining parts of the form she wasn't sure about. It made her feel better that they clearly had experience dealing with such young recipients.
Over the next few minutes Inko filled out the forms needed, with occasional help from the woman across from her. Finally, they got to the end of the papers.
"Alright, that's the last one." Ishikawa said. "Sign here, and that completes the transfer of ownership."
It was surreal, finally completing the final step to taking ownership of a new Service Pokemon. Inko signed the form, then passed the pen and remaining papers to Ishikawa.
Ishikawa accepted the papers with a smile, then reached into a drawer in the counter as she passed it back. "Here's her Pokeball, all of the paperwork, and her vest, some gear, and tags of ownership."
Inko took the Pokeball and the papers, placing them carefully into her purse. Meanwhile, Izumi took the collar and tags, a soft smile spreading across her face, thinking of when she'd finally get to call Dusky hers.
Ishikawa finished writing out a few things, then looked up at the mother and daughter sitting across from her. "Well, that covers everything. Dusky's all yours now. Be sure to take care of her, alright?"
"Yes, of course." Inko smiled, turning to her daughter. "Is there anything else you want to ask or do here, Izumi?"
Izumi sat there for a moment, staring down at the Pokeball, tags, and collar. She shook her head. "No, I think we're good to go."
"Alright." Inko nodded, then stood to get up out of her chair. "Thank you so much."
"It's our job." Ishikawa smiled, also rising to her feet and walking around the counter to the door. "It was a pleasure helping the two of you. Be sure to call us if you need anything, alright?"
"We will." Inko smiled back, and she and Izumi walked out of the room and back through the training area toward the entrance. As they walked along, the young girl fidgeted with the collar and tags, finally starting to sink in that Dusky really was hers now.
The walk back outside was the best part as Izumi finally got to let herself be proud of her achievement, letting loose with a string of comments on what she was going to do with Dusky, what the schedule would look like, and what kind of outfits they'd be able to get for her.
They made the short drive to the apartment, the entire trip filled with Izumi's chatter about how excited she was. She felt like her words were getting jumbled up in her mouth, but at the moment she simply didn't care. She had her very own Service Pokemon!
As they arrived at the apartment, Inko smiled as she parked the car. This was certainly the most animated her daughter had been about anything. The excitement was nearly infectious, and even the typically stoic Inko was having trouble not beaming as they stepped out of the car. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her daughter so enthusiastic.
With Izumi nearly running to the door of the building, mother and daughter walked into the building, taking the elevator up to their floor. Then, they stepped into the apartment, and Inko closed the door behind them.
Inko then pulled out her phone and opened up the messaging app. She then started to text someone.
"Hey, when are you coming home?" The text read.
Inko waited for a reply. Then, just a minute later, her phone lit up with a new notification.
"Be home in about fifteen minutes." A text from Inko's wife, Rumi Usagiyama, read. "Did you head to the Service Pokemon Facility?"
"Yeah, we're back now. Ended up choosing a Lycanroc named Dusky."
After sending the text, Inko locked her phone and turned to look at her daughter, who had stopped fidgeting with the Pokemon's collar and tags, now petting Dusky like she did back at the facility. She looked so happy.
"That's great!" Rumi responded only a few moments after. "I'll be home soon. I can't wait to meet her."
Inko smiled, putting her phone away and walking over to her daughter, who was currently leaning on Dusky's back and absent-mindedly petting her fur.
"You enjoying that?" Inko asked, amused, walking up next to Izumi.
"Mhm." the girl responded, burying one of her hands in Dusky's soft fur up to the wrist. The Lycanroc made a contented sound, leaning back into the girl's hand.
"You look like you're really enjoying yourself." Inko observed, sitting down next to her.
"Dusky's so soft..." Izumi murmured, shifting her attention to the Lycanroc's back. Dusky let out another blissful sound as the young girl scratched lightly.
Inko smiled at this. "Sounds like you two are getting quite close already."
"I like her." Izumi confirmed, leaning in and hugging the Lycanroc. "She's soft, she's warm, she's mine..."
"And a bit oversized." Inko observed, still watching her daughter hug Dusky from the side.
"That's the best part!" Izumi giggled, burying her face in the Lycanroc's fur. "She's like a big fluffy pillow. She's the best."
"Well, try to not cling too much." Inko warned. "She's your Service Pokemon, not a stuffed animal."
"I can't wait to show this to Rara when she gets home!" Izumi exclaimed.
"My my, this is the first time in a long while I've seen you so energetic." Inko chuckled.
"It's just so much!" Izumi responded, looking up from Dusky to look at her mother. "I'm so excited, I've never had my own Pokemon, this was really the best choice, I'm- I-"
Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening interrupted the girl in mid-sentence. Turning to look, the two discovered that the door had opened, and a familiar voice called out from the hallway.
"I'm home!" Rumi said as she walked in, closing the door behind herself and placing her duffel bag on the ground. "Now, where's my family?"
"In here!" Inko called back from the living room.
Rumi then walked into the living room, and her face lit up when she saw the two of them sitting on the couch, her wife and child.
"Ah, how are my two favourite people doing... And who's this?" She asked, seeing the Lycanroc laying on the other end of the couch, with Inko's daughter leaning on her.
"That's Dusky! She's my Service Pokemon." Izumi said happily, sitting up and turning to look at her step-mother. "We picked her out today."
"Well, look at that." Rumi smiled, walking up to get a closer look at the massive Lycanroc on their couch. "...She's a bit big, ain't she?"
"That's the best part." Inko said, having seen Rumi's reaction. "She's big and she's fluffy, and Izumi adores her already."
"Of course I do!" The girl said passionately, reaching across the couch to pet the Lycanroc on the head. Dusky leaned into her palm just like she did back at the Service Pokemon Facility, loving the attention.
"Well, I can't say I blame you." Rumi commented, watching the interaction. "I've never understood how Lycanroc can be both big and fluffy, but it's sure a good combination."
She moved to sit down on the couch next to Inko. As she did, she looked down at Dusky, who was now lazily resting her head on the floor with Izumi still petting her.
"You take good care of my daughter, now." Rumi whispered to Dusky.
Dusky didn't respond, but instead gave a short huff, shifting her head ever so slightly so it was further in Izumi's grasp. The young girl, for her part, was too distracted by the experience to notice the Lycanroc's nonverbal response.
Inko chuckled, looking over at her wife. "Looks like they'll get along just fine."
"I think so." Rumi smiled back, watching as Izumi continued to pet the Lycanroc and lean against her enormous frame, clearly already enjoying the feeling of having the Lycanroc as a constant presence.
The two women sat in silence for a minute, neither saying a word and just observing the new addition to their family.
"So how did it go?" Rumi finally said, breaking away from staring at Dusky.
"Pretty uneventful, really." Inko responded. "They had a few Pokemon there who were trained for Service purposes, Izumi went through the options, she decided on Dusky, and we dealt with the paperwork."
"Huh. So it was that simple, huh?" Rumi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Surprisingly." Inko nodded.
Rumi nodded, then turned her attention back to the Lycanroc and her young ward. It was odd, seeing them together like this. Dusky was significantly larger than Izumi, big and fluffy and yet clearly incredibly well-trained given her behavior thus far. If nothing else, the Lycanroc would certainly be able to provide good physical security, for whatever that was worth.
She leaned back into the couch, watching as Izumi scratched just the right spot, and Dusky leaned even further into her touch.
"Seems like she'll make a good Service Pokemon." Inko commented, continuing to observe the scene in front of her.
Izumi and Dusky continued their interaction, seemingly oblivious to the two adults having their own conversation. The young girl was having the time of her life, running her fingers through the fluff on the Lycanroc's back, her face full of excitement and contentment. The large canine Pokemon, for her part, was enjoying the attention thoroughly, leaning into the young girl's touch and letting out little sounds of pleasure.
It was a cute sight, honestly.
Chapter 2: One Hectic Week
Since the beginning of time, Pokemon and humans have worked together. Some Pokemon assisted humans with their jobs, like construction, or police work. Others assisted humans with their day-to-day lives. Other people battled with their Pokemon.
After the uprising of quirks, people and Pokemon worked together as heroes. Some specialised in search and rescue, others honed in their fighting prowess. But in whatever day and age people and Pokemon coexist, people will always love Pokemon, and Pokemon will always love their people.
Izumi, Dusky, Inko, and Rumi were sitting in front of the TV, the news just finishing up for the night.
"Seems like tomorrow will be a windy one." Rumi commented.
"You'd better be prepared then." Inko huffed. "I don't want to think of what would happen to you if you weren't prepared."
"Yeah, yeah." Rumi giggled. "Or, I could request for a day off to spend with my family."
"I wouldn't be opposed to that." Izumi giggled.
Inko and Rumi couldn't help but smile. Ever since Izumi got Dusky, she's been a whole lot more brighter, at least around them. Public was a different story, for perhaps a different time. But they were really happy about seeing their daughter's true personality shine.
Inko sighed again, and leaned back in her seat. "I must say though, my shoulders are killing me. You wouldn't happen to have any free time before bed, would you Rumi?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at her wife.
Rumi smiled and shrugged, leaning back as well. "Depends on what you'd asked me to do." She replied, her hands already beginning to wander.
"Mama and Rara are flirting." Izumi observed blankly.
"Yeah, we are." Rumi giggled. "Who knows, maybe you'll be flirting with someone in the future."
Inko rolled her eyes jokingly, and lightly shoved Rumi's shoulder. "Don't tease her, she's just a little girl. Besides, the way you act you'd think you were planning on bringing someone of your own into the home."
Rumi chuckled and gently took Inko's hand in hers, bringing it to her lips for a gentle kiss. "Now why would you ever think that? I've got everything I need right here."
Inko blushed lightly, her expression melting into a soft smile. "Sweet talker."
Dusky groaned from her spot on the couch and shifted around, getting comfortable as she laid down to sleep.
"Aww, is someone jealous?" Rumi teased, poking the Lycanroc on the nose.
Dusky huffed and turned her head away, trying to pretend she wasn't listening to their conversation.
Izumi couldn't help but laugh, when a loud squawking sound burst through the apartment, causing Izumi to cover her ears.
"Ugh, not again." Rumi grimaced, covering her ears as well.
Inko groaned and stood up, heading over the window where the screech had come from. "I swear, if that darn Murkrow is pecking the window again-..."
However, it wasn't a Murkrow, this time. Instead, it was coming from a tree near the apartment building. A group of Impidimp were harassing a lone Spearow in a nest.
Inko's expression quickly turned from annoyance to pity. "Ugh, again?"
Rumi stood and made her way to the window as well, peaking over Inko's shoulder to look at the commotion. "Oh for Pete's sake. Those stupid rascals won't learn their lesson, will they?"
"What's going on?" Izumi asked, getting up from the couch.
"A gang of Impidimps are harassing a Spearow's nest, as per usual." Rumi explained, leaning on the window frame.
"Those troublemakers should really know better by now." Inko agreed. "I just wish they'd stop tormenting those poor birds."
"You know, why don't I give them a taste of their own medicine?" Izumi grinned slyly.
"Go for it, kid." Rumi nodded.
Izumi looked down at the mysterious watch that latched itself onto her wrist, one day, and pressed a button that lifted up a dial. Izumi twisted it until she landed on a bird-like silhouette, pressing it down as soon as she did.
In a flash of light, Izumi transformed into a large, mostly brown bird Pokémon with a vulturine neck and broad, powerful wings, the hourglass symbol of the watch on her chest.
"Let's get this over with." Izumi, now a Fearow, smirked, flying out of the window.
As she neared the tree, the Impidimps noticed and screeched defiantly. One of them picked up a pebble and threw it at her, another spitting at her. Unfortunately for them, the one attempting to spit missed terribly, and the one with the pebble's aim left much to be desired.
Izumi laughed mockingly at their attempts as she circled around the birds harassing the Spearow's nest. Maybe this won't be so hard after all.
The Impidimps seemed to notice too, shifting nervously as they looked around and tried to come up with a plan.
Izumi seized the moment, swooping down closer to them. Fearow are fast and agile, after all, she reasoned. They couldn't hope to keep their attention on her for long.
Swooping down, Izumi prepared a Whirlwind, wanting to get this over and done with. One Impidimp noticed the attack first, screeching at the rest of the group to look up. The rest of the Impidimps looked towards Izumi as well, just in time to be caught in the whirlwind they were warned against.
In their panic, they dropped the rock they'd been using against the Spearow, leaving the poor bird to look on in confusion.
Once the gang of Impidimps fled, Izumi perched on the tree where the lone Spearow sat.
"Are you ok?" Izumi asked.
"I'm fine, you scared them off before they could do any damage." The Spearow nodded. "Thank you."
"Of course, I wasn't just gonna let them get away with that." She responded, giving an awkward laugh.
The Spearow chuckled, a sound somewhat similar to that of a human's. "What did those little rascals think they were doing, anyway?"
"They were bored, I think. Those kids probably can't read more than a few sentences, honestly."
The Spearow nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Impidimps aren't the brightest."
"So, are you normally alone?" Izumi asked. "Is your Mama somewhere?"
"A couple of weeks after I hatched, some guy threw a black and gold ball at my mother, and then, she disappeared." The Spearow answered. "I'm not sure where she is, or if she's coming back, though."
"Oh." Izumi's eyes widened, and she suddenly found herself unsure of what to say. "That's... terrible."
The Spearow seemed nonchalant about her mother's absence, perhaps having already accepted it as fact.
"It's ok, though." The bird said matter-a-factly. "I've been doing just fine on my own so far. As long as I'm careful."
"Still though, it can't be safe being completely alone." Izumi mused, her eyes darting around her surroundings.
The Spearow shrugged. "No more dangerous than any other day. Like I said, I've been doing fine so far."
"Don't you get lonely, though?" Izumi asked.
"A little, but all Flying-types leave the nest someday." The Spearow shrugged. "Why should I be any different?"
"If you want, I can take you under my wing." Izumi offered. "What if something like that happens again and you aren't helped?"
The Spearow hummed in thought, rubbing her beak thoughtfully. "I suppose that would be pretty terrible, huh? Being helpless in the middle of a big, open sky..."
"Exactly. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if a poor soul like yourself was helpless in a dangerous environment." Izumi admitted.
The bird sighed, looking down at the ground below.
"...Alright." The Spearow agreed. "I don't see why you'd want to keep me company, but I won't refuse the protection."
"Great." Izumi smiled, her heart filled with a strange pride and joy.
Suddenly, the sound of two worried voices from the apartment complex interrupted their conversation.
"Izumi!" Inko and Rumi called from the window. "Is everything alright out there?!"
Izumi gave the two a nod of confirmation.
"Follow me, I'll introduce you to my family." Izumi instructed.
The Spearow jumped from the nest, flapping her wings to keep aloft. "Alright, lead the way."
With the Spearow following behind her, Izumi made her way back to the window where her mothers watched closely.
"Well, there you are!" Inko sighed, looking at her daughter up and down as if checking for injury. "You had us worried. What happened out there?"
The symbol on Izumi's chest started beeping, and pretty soon, Izumi reverted back to her human self.
"I'm fine. But this Spearow was abandoned by her mother, and I kinda..." Izumi explained, before pausing. "Offered for her to live with us."
Rumi's expression immediately shifted to one of surprise. "Hold on a minute, did you just bring home another stray?"
Despite her harsh words, her tail was wagging back and forth, giving her away a little.
Inko also seemed a bit surprised, but her expression quickly softened. "And you just... Offered for her to live with us?"
"I'm sorry." Izumi tensed up. "I wasn't thinking and I didn't want to leave her alone out there. Especially when she's so young."
"Of course you had to go and be a hero." Rumi rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. She knew it was pointless to try and stop Izumi from rescuing a Pokemon in trouble.
Inko shook her head in faux disappointment. "You and your bleeding heart. You just can't say no to any Pokemon in need."
"I couldn't!" Izumi protested. "She was alone!"
The Spearow shuffled awkwardly. Despite Inko and Rumi's joking, the atmosphere was still tense. She had no idea what was going on.
Inko noticed the Spearow's awkward shuffling. "Come on in, dear." She said, motioning for the bird to come into the apartment. "Let's have a look at you."
Izumi looked up at the Spearow, smiling encouragingly. It was at times like this both she and Inko could understand the language of Pokemon.
"I know this isn't what you were expecting, but it's home, or at least to me, it is." Izumi smiled. "If you don't want to stay here, that's fine, too, though."
The Spearow nodded and stepped forward into the apartment.
She looked around curiously. It was all very strange - all the furniture and strange devices were so unlike anything in the wild. The place was oddly comfortable too. The Spearow wasn't sure how to feel about it.
"All of this is unfamiliar, but you seem nice." The Spearow commented. "I'll stay."
A wave of relief washed over Izumi with the Spearow saying those words. Her eyes flicked over to Inko and Rumi, both of whom were smiling.
"Glad to hear it." Inko said. "I don't suppose you have a name?"
"Not yet." The Spearow shook her head, before looking down at Izumi. "Why don't you give me one?"
"Peaker." Izumi said, after a while. "I hope you like it."
"I love it." Peaker smiled.
"Great." Inko nodded, a warm feeling swelling in her chest. Even Rumi couldn't help but smile at this strange, yet charmingly wholesome moment.
Of course, not that she'd admit it.
"Now, I actually have a question for you." Peaker said to Izumi. "What was with that transformation thing?"
"It's a bit of an intricate story..." Izumi replied. "In fact, it's so intricate, that I'll have to explain it in a flashback sequence."
FLAAAAAAAAASHBAAAAAAAAACK
Izumi hated being Quirkless. It meant that even if she wanted to, she couldn't be a hero just like Rara. It hurt, honestly. But what hurt the most was how she'd be treated at school. Sure, people tended to give her weird looks, already, even more so after she got Dusky. But that was beside the point! Though, it was relieving to hear that Rara would pull some strings, just in case anyone tried anything. But she felt like she was missing out. Izumi hated being Quirkless, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Admittedly, she didn't talk about how she felt to Mama and Rara. Izumi knew for a fact that they had a lot on their plates, especially since most people taking the Gym Challenge had beaten Karakura Town's Gym Leader, and were moving onto Musutafu City's Gym, which Mama ran. Not to mention, criminal activity was on the rise, so she didn't want to bother Rara about it, either.
However, her problems felt like they were finally solved one night, when the Midoriya-Usagiyama family were settling down for the night.
Mama was preparing for bed first while Rara and Izumi sat on the couch. Rara had an oversized hoodie on, and her head was lolling back over the couch's armrest. Her eyes were closed, but Izumi knew better than to assume she was asleep.
Izumi tried to work up the courage to say something. This was a perfect opportunity to talk about her problems without too much risk of burdening her parents. But she was still worried. She didn't want to take up more time and energy than she needed to.
Rara noticed Izumi shifting awkwardly next to her, clearly thinking about something.
"'Sup, kiddo? Got something on your mind?" Rara asked, opening one eye.
"Oh, you know, just normal stuff." Izumi shrugged.
"Is it about being Quirkless?" Rara asked.
"Well, uh... Kinda." Izumi averted her gaze slightly.
"I get it. When my Quirk first came in, I had no idea what to expect." Rara nodded sympathetically. "It wasn't as flashy as anyone else's, nor was it an Emitter or Transformation quirk."
Rara stood up, stretching before sitting down next to Izumi. She draped an arm over her daughter's shoulders, a more relaxed action than one would expect out of her.
"So yeah, I was a late bloomer, quirk-wise, and some of the other kids made a point of reminding me I'd never be able to be a great hero like All Might."
"What did you do about it?" Izumi asked.
"I kicked them in their groins." Rara smirked. "After that, they left me alone. But just kicking people in their groins isn't always enough. So I worked hard to become the Pro Hero I am, today."
Rara pulled Izumi closer until the girl's head was against her shoulder, still holding her closely.
"I was also lucky in that I didn't listen to anyone who told me I wouldn't be a great hero." Rara continued. "Sure, my quirk didn't immediately make me the strongest in the class or anything, but it's all in how you work at it."
"So do you think I can become a hero, even without a quirk?" Izumi asked, hoping for some confirmation from her mother.
Rara smiled, tilting her head so it was resting on top of Izumi's.
"Kid, I think you could pull it off. It's more a question of whether you're willing to put in the time and effort. A quirk is only part of that equation, y'know?"
Izumi's eyes widened. She hadn't expected such reassurance from Rara. The woman always seemed like she was more pragmatic, and even coldly logical at times. Izumi thought Rara would tell her to aim lower, try to be a teacher or rescue worker. This was... different. But she wasn't complaining, not in the slightest.
However, the nice moment was cut short, when a loud BOOM burst through the apartment, causing Izumi to cover her ears.
"What the hell?!" Rara yelled, the peaceful expression she'd been wearing a moment ago replaced with annoyance as she stood up.
Mama rushed into the room, still in her nightgown. Rara would have teased her if the situation was better.
"What happened?" Mama asked, noticing the commotion.
"I think it came from outside." Izumi presumed. "Should we check it out?"
"Damn right we should." Rara said, making her way towards the window. "I can't tell if it's a villain or just idiots with fireworks. Either way someone's going to get their ass kicked, tonight."
Mama sighed. Rara was always like this, ready for a fight or a challenge no matter the time.
"You two just be careful." Mama warned as Rara and Izumi pushed open the window.
"Yeah, yeah." Rara waved her off. "Have a little faith, babe. I can handle myself."
The two girls flew out the window, scanning the night sky for whatever had caused the noise. It wasn't far from the apartment building, and whatever it was was enveloped in a flash of green light, before slowly fading, revealing a small pod.
"The hell is that?" Rara wondered aloud, narrowing her eyes and tilting her head inquisitively.
Izumi moved closer, curiosity winning out over concern for the moment, to get a better look. The pod was smooth and metallic. It didn't seem to be damaged from what either girl could tell. It didn't look like any sort of vehicle used by heroes or villains, and it had a strange aura that Izumi couldn't quite place.
Rara landed on the ground next to it and knelt down, inspecting it closely.
"I've never seen anything like this before..." Rara said, running a hand across the pod's surface.
She found a spot on it that seemed to pop out slightly from the rest. Rara pressed on it, and the front of the pod started to crack open. A blinding white light streamed out of the pod, and Rara and Izumi both shielded their eyes.
After a moment, the light died down enough that they could see something sitting inside the pod. It was hard to make out, but whatever it was, it was in the shape of an, albeit bulky, wristwatch.
"That's what was in the pod?" Rara asked, her brow furrowed as she picked the object up. "That's all we had to worry about?"
"Can I have a look?" Izumi asked.
Rara raised an eyebrow, but handed it over to her. "Go wild, kid."
However, just as Rara had handed it to her, the watch jumped onto Izumi's wrist.
"Whoa!" Izumi cried out as the watch began to glow.
Rara jumped back from the light, watching apprehensively. She'd seen her fair share of strange and dangerous things in her hero work, so she wasn't going to act rashly until she knew what was going on.
The watch was now tightly hugging Izumi's wrist. She looked at it incredulously, then, somewhat awkwardly, looked up at Rara. "Uh, hey, I don't think it wants to come off."
Rara knelt back down next to her, poking at the watch warily. "Weird. Normally something like that would have some sort of clasp on the back for you to get it off. Try twisting the front or something."
Izumi did as Rara suggested, twisting the watch's face. To her surprise, the dial twisted as she was turning it. She heard Rara suck in a breath.
"Damn, I guess it really is stuck..." Rara muttered.
Izumi then started pressing random things on the watch, eventually pressing a button, which raised the dial of the device. After a little bit, a hologram of a Gyrados popped up. Izumi then twisted the dial, causing the hologram to switch to different Pokemon. Tyranitar, Swampert, Toxicroak, Volcarona, Hawlucha, Kommo-o, Grimmsnarl, Armarouge, and then Turtonator.
Izumi then pressed the dial down, and in a flash of light, Izumi had transformed into a Turtonator, with the hourglass symbol of the watch on Izumi's chest.
"Aaah! I'm a Turtonator!" Izumi exclaimed, though to Rara it just sounded like normal Turtonator sounds.
Rara stumbled back, shocked and concerned. "What in the- What in the world just happened?!"
What in the world was one supposed to think when her daughter just turned into a large Fire/Dragon-type from Alola?
Rara started pacing, as if movement would help her wrap her head around the situation at play.
"Ok, ok, this is weird. But that doesn't mean it's bad, right? I mean, she's still conscious, and she could still turn back before."
The sound of Mama's footsteps, rushing out of the building, broke Rara out of her thoughts.
"I saw what happened!" Mama exclaimed, turning to Izumi. "Izumi, are you ok?!"
"I'm fine, Mama." Izumi replied. "Just, well... A Turtonator."
"What did she say?" Rara asked Mama.
"She said she's fine, just a Turtonator." Mama translated.
"Huh." Rara hummed, processing the new information.
She walked over to Izumi, looking her up and down. She looked like a perfect replication of a Turtonator, with nary a human feature in sight. "You doing alright, kid? No weird feelings or anything?"
"No. But, to be honest, I don't think I want to be a Turtonator forever." Izumi admitted, Mama translating what she was saying.
However, just as Izumi said that, the symbol on Izumi's chest started beeping, and after a few seconds, Izumi changed back to normal.
"Oh, few. It's not permanent or anything." Rara sighed, relaxing somewhat but still a bit confused by the situation.
Mama let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness. Although that does beg the question of why this device even changed her into a Turtonator in the first place."
"Well, I pressed this button on the watch, and the dual popped up, and then holograms of different Pokemon showed up." Izumi explained. "Eventually, it landed on Turtonator and pressed the dial down, and that's what caused me to transform."
"Odd." Mama hummed, trying to make sense of it all. "It seems that this watch, if it can even be called such, transforms you into whatever Pokemon is currently on its display. Can you test some of the other ones?"
Izumi looked down at the watch, noticing how it was now red.
"I think we'll have to wait a little bit." Izumi replied. "I think it needs to recharge."
Rara huffed. "Typical. Well, I guess that means the danger's passed for now. But this is all just so damn strange..."
"I wonder if I could use whatever this is to become a Pro Hero?" Izumi wondered.
"I think no matter what happens, you can be a Pro Hero just like anyone else can." Rara smiled. "As long as you put in the work. So don't let anyone tell you otherwise, Izumi. And if they do, kick em' in the groin."
Izumi laughed. "I don't think that'll be necessary. But... I hope you're right."
Mama wrapped an arm around her, giving her a comforting smile. "I'm sure you'll be a great Pro Hero, sweetheart. With or without that watch."
"So, that's what happened?" Peaker asked.
"Yeah, I haven't mastered it, yet, though." Izumi nodded. "I only got this thing a couple of days ago."
Peaker tilted her head curiously, looking down at the watch.
"That thing really turns you into a Pokemon? Like, actually turns you into one, not just illusion or something?" Peaker asked, as much for confirmation as in a vain attempt to wrap her head around the strange tale.
"You saw it yourself." Izumi nodded. "It's hard to wrap around my head, too."
"How long can you stay as one for?" Peaker inquired, still very confused and a little skeptical. She kept her distance while still asking all the questions bubbling up in her head.
"Currently, I'm not sure. But before I've reverted back, I've always felt like I was finished." Izumi replied. "There's still a lot I don't know about the watch. Like, how many transformations does it have? Can I scan other Pokemon to gain access to them? Can I scan two Pokemon from the same evolution line? So many questions."
Peaker nodded, her gaze trailing off, thinking about all those questions.
Then, like a switch being flipped, she suddenly snapped out of it, and looked confused again. "Er, wait. Can you scan other Pokemon?"
"Like I said, I have no idea." Izumi shrugged.
Peaker went silent for a bit, her face the picture of contemplation as she struggled to wrap her mind around this new information.
"If you can scan other Pokemon... Does that mean you can scan me?"
"Maybe, but I already have a Fearow transformation, so I don't see a point in having a Spearow transformation." Izumi shook her head, thinking thoughtfully. "No offence, by the way."
Peaker chuckled, somewhat awkwardly.
"None taken." She said, before perking up again. "Hey, what if you-"
Before she could continue, she was interrupted by a yawn. Peaker's face quickly went from wide-eyed to bleary, as if she'd expended all of her energy. Izumi had almost forgotten how late it was, thanks to the excitement.
"Why don't we continue this, tomorrow?" Izumi suggested. "I'm pretty tired after today."
Peaker nodded reluctantly. She still had plenty more questions to ask, but she was starting to feel fatigue creep in. She'd probably feel pretty stupid if she ended up nodding off and missed all her next questions.
Izumi let Peaker sit on her shoulder as she walked to her room, of course getting Dusky in the process.
Peaker yawned. "I still have so many questions about this..." She murmured, leaning her head on Izumi's shoulder.