The park is a riot of activity. Kids scream as they chase each other, dogs bark as they try to chase the kids, and pigeons squawk as they try to steal the food from the kids. This is the typical chaotic scene that exists within a New York park.
Kamala Khan, or Ms. Marvel, strolls through the park, her blue scarf flowing behind her. She wears a comfortable hoodie, sneakers, and jeans. Kamala's friend, Doreen Green, also known as Squirrel Girl, bounces along beside her. Doreen is hard to miss, with her auburn hair tied in a ponytail, her squirrel tail twitching behind her, and her bomber jacket with the fur lining. Perched on Doreen's shoulder is Tippy-Toe, her squirrel partner, a tiny pink ribbon tied neatly around her neck.
"So, spill it," Doreen says, her voice full of energy. "What did Captain Marvel say about your new embiggening technique?"
Kamala sighs dramatically. "She said it was 'promising' but needs 'more control'. You know, the usual."
"Promising is good!" Doreen insists. "That's like, a solid B+ in superhero language."
"I guess," Kamala says, unconvinced. "It's just… I wish I could impress her more, you know?"
"You already impress everyone, Kamala," Doreen says, bumping her shoulder with hers. "You're like, the most enthusiastic hero ever."
Tippy-Toe chitters from Doreen's shoulder. Squeak squeak! (Translation: Just try not to break too many more streetlights.)
Kamala rolls her eyes. "Hey, those were extenuating circumstances! A giant robot was attacking!"
Doreen grins. "Exactly! Super impressive extenuating circumstances."
Their conversation shifts to a much more curious topic. "Hey, did you see that video that went viral?" Doreen asks, her tone changing from playful to thoughtful. "The one from that Pokémon Home place?"
Kamala makes a face. "The Pokémon one? Don't tell you, actually believe it? It might just be a highly edited video."
"Well, I don't know," Doreen says, shrugging. "It looked pretty real. I mean, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy were in the video and were commanding two Pokémon. The news even showed the same Pokémon were with them when they robbed a bank."
"It still can't be real!" Kamala exclaims. "Those Harley and Ivy in the video must have been cosplayers or something! It's a publicity stunt, I'm telling you."
"But what if it's not?" Doreen counters, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What if Pokémon are real? Wouldn't that be amazing?"
"Amazing and slightly terrifying," Kamala says, shuddering. "Imagine what would happen if the villains got their hands on those things."
Tippy-Toe chitters again, her tiny head bobbing. Squeak! Squeak! (Translation: I call dibs on the electric mouse if they're real.)
"Tippy-Toe wants an electric mouse," Doreen translates, grinning.
Kamala snorts. "Of course, she does. Everyone is going crazy over this."
As they continue to debate the merits of Pokémon's existence, Tippy-Toe's attention is drawn elsewhere. A particularly enticing acorn lies just a few feet away, nestled at the base of a large oak tree. Tippy-Toe, unable to resist, scurries down Doreen's arm and darts towards the prize.
She reaches the acorn, her tiny paws twitching with excitement. She's about to sink her teeth into it when she notices something else. A small, yellow creature is standing nearby, its black-tipped ears twitching curiously. It's Pikachu, and he's just as interested in Tippy-Toe as she is in him.
Tippy-Toe freezes, her mind racing. Wait a minute... That's the electric mouse from the video! She chatters excitedly at Pikachu, introducing herself in squirrel language.
Pikachu cocks his head, listening intently. He responds with a series of cheerful "Pika!" sounds, communicating his own curiosity. He takes a step closer, his cheeks sparking slightly.
Tippy-Toe, despite her bravery, can't help but feel a jolt of fear. Whoa! Electric powers! She chatters a warning, telling Pikachu to keep his electricity to himself.
Pikachu seems to understand, his cheeks dimming slightly. He offers Tippy-Toe a friendly nuzzle, his small body radiating warmth.
Back with Kamala and Doreen, the debate about Pokémon is still going strong. "I'm telling you, Kamala, you can't just dismiss it without investigating," Doreen insists. "What if they need our help? We're heroes, it's our job!"
"I know, I know," Kamala says, sighing. "It's just… I have a hard time believing it. Where did these things come from? Why haven't we heard of them before?"
Suddenly, Doreen gasps, her eyes widening. "Tippy-Toe!" she exclaims, realizing her squirrel partner is missing. She scans the park, her gaze landing on a familiar patch of yellow fur. "Wait a minute… Is that…?"
Kamala follows Doreen's gaze, her jaw dropping. "No way…" she whispers, unable to believe what she's seeing.
There, a few feet away, Tippy-Toe is interacting with Pikachu. They recognize the Electric-type Pokémon from the HeroTube video that has taken the world by storm. He looks exactly like he did in the video, and he is real.
"It's him," Doreen breathes, her voice filled with awe. "It's actually him."
Kamala's mind is reeling. "But… how? This can't be real."
Driven by a mixture of curiosity and disbelief, Kamala and Doreen start towards Pikachu, their steps hesitant at first.
Pikachu, sensing their approach, perks up his ears. He seems to recognize them too, his eyes twinkling with mischief. As they get closer, he lets out a playful "Pika!" and darts away, leading them on a merry chase.
"Hey, wait!" Doreen calls out, her voice full of excitement. "Come back!"
Pikachu giggles as he zips between trees, his small body a blur of yellow. Kamala and Doreen follow close behind, their skepticism fading with every step. Tippy-Toe, perched back on Doreen's shoulder, chatters excitedly, offering tactical advice. Squeak! Squeak! (Translation: Cut him off at the gazebo!)
The chase continues through the park, attracting the attention of other park-goers. Laughter and shouts fill the air as Pikachu leads Kamala and Doreen on a wild goose chase.
Finally, Pikachu veers off the main path and heads towards a building Kamala and Doreen have never noticed before. The building is bright and colorful, with a large sign that reads "Pokémon Home."
Kamala and Doreen stop dead in their tracks, their mouths agape. Pokémon Home. The place from the video. It's real, and it's right here in New York City.
A wave of conflicting emotions washes over them. Doubt wars with wonder, skepticism with excitement. They struggle to reconcile their preconceived notions with the undeniable reality of what they have just witnessed.
"I… I don't understand," Kamala stammers, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is impossible."
"But it's here," Doreen says, her eyes wide with awe. "It's all real."
They stare at the storefront, their minds racing. What is this place? Where did these Pokémon come from? And what does it all mean?
After a moment of stunned silence, Doreen turns to Kamala, her face filled with determination. "We have to go in," she says, her voice firm. "We have to find out what's going on."
Kamala hesitates for a moment, her mind still struggling to process everything. But she knows Doreen is right. They can't just walk away from this. They're heroes, and it's their job to investigate.
With a deep breath, Kamala nods. "Okay," she says, bracing herself for whatever they might find inside. "Let's do it."
Together, Kamala and Doreen approach the entrance of Pokémon Home, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
As they step through the doorway, a warm voice greets them. "Welcome to Pokémon Home!"
They look up and see a tall man with blonde hair and blue eyes smiling warmly at them. He wears a green and white suit with a tailcoat and holds a whimsical-looking Poké Ball cane.
"I'm Orion Oak, the owner of this establishment. You can call me Owner," he says, extending a hand in greeting. "Welcome to the Pokémon Home."
***
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Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.