[video]

[pidge_out]

[Unfortunately for the current residents of Johto, they might be unfortunate enough to find what might be one of the worst video feeds ever on the network. It seems to cut in and out at first, and even after it manages to stay on for longer than ten seconds, the video is really just... the world spinning endlessly. Ground, leaves, sky, ground, leaves, sky -- Occasionally a tree is visible for half a second and the direction of movement seems to change, but other than that, it's an endless loop of ground-leaves-sky.

It might eventually be obvious that the camera appears to be attached to something that is rolling quickly down a hill. It probably helps that the entire feed is accompanied by the sound of what's clearly a Pokémon "hooting" over and over - rather excitedly, at that - and a voice somewhere in the distance. Pay close enough attention and the words being yelled out are things along the lines of--]

Wait!! Come back!! Just-- Spread your wings and stop rolling already!!

[Does that sound like a new trainer in need of help? That's probably because that's more less exactly what it is.]

Comments

[shiro2hero]

[He just. Sighs. There are so... so many reasons why that is impossible. And none of them are ones he'd like to discuss right now.]

Okay, moving on. You're going to want to put your friend in his ball for the flight over.

[He'll just nod to where Rover and Skarmory are. Or, rather, where Rover is fluffy indignation, and Skarmory is doing a weird... bark sound of displeasure. Looking toward her trainer for assistance.]

[Please put this brat away before she eats him.]

[pidge_out]

[She follows that line of his nod with her eyes, blinking.] You mean Rover? [And then she looks back over at Shiro with a slightly sheepish grin.] Okay, here's the thing. I'm still not entirely sure how to do that part. [Rover puffs up some more. Come at me bros.]

[shiro2hero]

Ye-- you named it Rover?

[He sounds amused, though. Shaking his head at them both.]

It's okay. Grab a ball and I'll show you?

[To which Skarmory trills something. Haha, serves you right, orb boy.]

[pidge_out]

[Pidge's cheeks color slightly in embarrassment.] Well- Yeah. He kind of reminds me of him.

[But then she does as Shiro says, pulling out one of the balls and holding it up in the space between them.

Rover finds a way to scowl in Skarmory's direction. She is one rude old lady, and clearly that's the best way to deal with rude old ladies.]

Okay, now what?

[shiro2hero]

Hey, my usual crew is Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Kuro. So...

[Plus Haunter. But she'll meet Haunter soon enough.]

[He holds his hand up when she does, miming holding a ball of his own.] All right. Just point it at him.

And tell him to come back. It'll do the rest.

[pidge_out]

[Okay, Pidge has to grin at that. And let out a small, self-deprecating sort of chuckle.] Wow. We're really creative.

[Anyway. To business. She focuses on Shiro's instructions, holding the ball up the way his hand seems to be miming her to. Turns to point it at Rover. Opens her mouth to speak. And--]

Wait- Really? That's all I have to do?

[shiro2hero]

Yeah, yeah, it's hilarious. The rest are better, I swear.

[No they're not. They're named after planet nonsense. And Haunter is Haunter.]

[He blinks at her, surprised.]

Yeah, it is. Did... no one tell you that?

[pidge_out]

[Yeah, she doesn't believe that for a second.

Also she's too busy turning to look at Shiro in just... total disbelief. Look at her, man. She's still covered in dirt and grass stains and there may in fact still be some twigs and leaves stuck in her hair. Does this look like someone who knew her rolling Rowlet problem could've been solved by a few very simple instructions?]

[shiro2hero]

... ah.

Got it.

[He just. Gingerly reaches out to pluck some bit of branch out of her hair. He's trying, okay, Pidge? He's trying his best here.]

If it's any consolation, my starter liked to try and chew on my arm for weeks after I got him.

[pidge_out]

Yeah.

[She doesn't mean to sound mad at him. Because really, she's not mad at Shiro. She's mad at the fact that she hasn't figured out how everything in this place works yet.

And she's also mad at Rover. But that might just be the way things are from now on.]

Is that what he is? A starter? [Her tone as she says that is much flatter than before, if only because she's trying to calm herself down. It helps that following Shiro's instructions and saying "Come back" does in fact put Rover away quite neatly.]

[shiro2hero]

[It's okay, Pidge, he's got it. It's always annoying to get news like this. Especially after literally everything she just went through with her round little owl buddy.]

[Hopefully they'll settle down. Both of them. Or, really, just the owl.]

Yeah. Everyone gets one when they show up here. Your first partner. He's supposed to help you battle and catch more of them.

That's how I ended up with so many.

[pidge_out]

[She examines Rover's little ball from all sides before actually moving to put it away. Curious.]

So... is there a specific reason we should get more of them? Or-- Or what?

[shiro2hero]

Because most of them like to fight.

[Kind of like you, he adds, internally. She probably knows that, too. He inclines his head toward Skarmory, instead.]

And all of them have a certain type. Some are stronger against others. Some are weaker. So you have to get a team together to compensate.

[pidge_out]

[Pidge blinks at that. Oh, that makes sense. Or at least, now Rover's behavior makes sense.]

What do you mean by "types"? What type is your- your bird?

[shiro2hero]

Like the elements. And some other... random things.

[He nods toward Skarmory.] She's Flying and Steel. My starter was just pure steel.

[pidge_out]

[And that's one eyebrow raaaaaising up to vanish beneath her bangs.] Steel.

[Pidge looks over at the bird with a small, thoughtful frown.] ...Well, I guess she is basically made out of it. Technically speaking, that bird doesn't look like it should be able to fly at all.

[shiro2hero]

Oh, I know. Believe me.

[And then he's laughing a little. Shaking his head. Because if she's this skeptical about Skarmory--] Wait until you meet Green. She looks like she could fly even less.

These guys -- they don't operate in physics like they should.

[pidge_out]

[Quickest way to make a Pidge frown: Talk about how physics has ceased to apply to a thing. And even worse, he's saying that physics don't apply to a lot of things here.

She gives Shiro a concerned look.]

This is a weird planet.

[shiro2hero]

[He doesn't mean to. But he absolutely does laugh a little at her reaction. But it's okay, he's been there. It's not a mocking laugh, anyway.]

You've got no idea, Pidge.

[A shake of his head.]

I'll show you when we get back. You can meet the whole crew.

[pidge_out]

[See this frown Shiro? This frown? It means that she's very concerned about the things she's about to learn.]

Oh, right. [She puts Rover's PokéBall away, gathers up all of her things, and gets up to her feet.]

Lead the way.

[shiro2hero]

Climb on.

[He gestures toward Skarmory, already heading back over to her. The bird looks unfazed -- Pidge is small, after all. She won't have trouble with her, plus this grown ass man.]

I'll sit behind you, you can hold onto her easier that way.

[pidge_out]

[She does as she's told with a nod, carefully hoisting herself up onto Skarmory's back like it's a horse (Even though it's a bird... Whatever) and getting settled in there. There's a slight frown on her face while she figures out where to put her hands, but soon enough she feels pretty ready.]

All right, I'm good. Let's do this.

[shiro2hero]

[There's a couple less pointy feathers around her shoulders. They make for good handholds, really. But Skarmory barely seems to notice Pidge's weight. She just flicks her wings, waiting until Shiro climbs on.]

Hold on tight.

[He's right behind her, arms around her waist, like a safety belt.]

Here goes.

[That must be the signal, because Skarmory just. Shoots upward. Like a rocket.]