Searching Far and Wide

[intricate_engineer]

Glen was creating a prototype for a new gate design. It was meant to be affordable and provide quick transport between individual homes. She tests several objects and a rat and everything seems to be working.

She steps through. Instead of finding herself in the room next door, she finds herself standing on a sidewalk in an empty city. The buildings are tall and perfect, colorless with doorways far too tall for any human. The roads have no straight lines and twist in on themselves. There is no life or sound.
Glen tries to stay calm. She begins to walk along the road, randomly opening doors and exploring buildings that are as silent as the rest of the world.

She opens a door that she hopes will lead onto a roof and is instead met with warmth, and soft noise, and color.

Comments

[the_very_best]

"Some people eat Magikarp. I don't, but I don't go on a crusade about it."

[intricate_engineer]

"Do people eat other types of Pokémon?"

[the_very_best]

"Basically never. We do eat some 'mon-derived products, milk and eggs and fruits and stuff, but actually butchering them is very rare."

[intricate_engineer]

Glen nods.
"I wonder if Pokémon are on average, more intelligent than animals on other worlds? Or perhaps they are just more useful. Pigs are relatively intelligent animals, but are commonly eaten."

[the_very_best]

"What do pigs do?"

[intricate_engineer]

"They are raised to be eaten. They don't exist in the wild."

[the_very_best]

"No, I mean, what demonstrates their intelligence."

[intricate_engineer]

"They are highly social animals and can communicate with and deceive each other. They also have simple problem solving skills."

[the_very_best]

"Well, that's kind of worrying, though I might want to meet some pigs before passing judgment."

[intricate_engineer]

"We've learned to grow pig meat without needing pigs, and it's more economically viable. So either way, the problem is mostly solved."

[the_very_best]

"Oh good!"

[intricate_engineer]

"It is! We could maybe even do it for Magikarp."

[the_very_best]

"I'm sure there's all kinds of 'mon that people would eat if they didn't have to kill 'mon to do it."

[intricate_engineer]

"How many types of- 'mon -are there?"

[the_very_best]

"Hundreds? I don't remember the exact number and sometimes new ones are discovered or we find out that some other region had one they didn't mention."

[intricate_engineer]

"Hmm. And as far as you know the legendaries are singular?"

[the_very_best]

"Yep."

[intricate_engineer]

"Are they supposed to have existed forever?"

[the_very_best]

"There's more and less stories about that; they vary. Time travel stable loop, created the universe, made by other legendaries, that sort of thing."

[intricate_engineer]

"Some beings can create universes."

[the_very_best]

"Well, if my universe has one of those it's probably Arceus."

[intricate_engineer]

"If I can get a second portal to work, could I visit your world?"

[the_very_best]

"Sure, why not."

[intricate_engineer]

"Thanks! It seems fascinating."

[the_very_best]

"You'll want to stick by me or to civilization if not both, especially if we can't just get you a 'mon to attach to you correctly."