victory_road | [video]

[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.]

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[Pidge fumbles a little bit, because honestly she feels really terrible about knocking the little guy out with the PokéBall and it's screwing with her, but she manages to pull up her map to check her location. It helps that she'd been poking at the thing earlier to get a feel for how it works.]

Uhh- I'm close to New Bark Town, but we're way off the road. [And then she's going through buttons and menus again. There must be some way to give him a more precise location than that.] Kind of close to the shoreline.

[Well, his guess was right, but still that means she's days away from Cherrygrove and if the owl is down for the count, Lance knows there's no way Pidge will make it pass the wil Pokemon ahead.

He rests his head in his hands, wondering what to do next. Think, Lance, think. You can be smart when you want to be.]

Wait, Pidge. If you go back to New Bark, there's a lab there with an old guy, Professor Elm. He's next door to the Mom house. He'll heal up the owl. It'll be a shorter trip to go back there than it is to try and get to Cherrygrove alone.

[And he can't come get her, not without taking days.]

[While Lance is busy thinking (don't hurt yourself, Lance), Pidge is carefully scooping the Pokémon up into her arms with a worried frown. She may not have asked for literally any part of this situation, but getting the poor creature hurt was never part of her plan.

She looks back at the 'gear when Lance speaks up again, then nods at his words with a determined look in her eye.]

Got it. I'm heading back over there now. [And then, kind of as an after thought, she adds-] Thanks, Lance.

[Poor owl. Lance really was trying to help. It just a terrible turn of events that ended up this way. At least there's help coming. A bright side.]

I'll call Shiro and see if he can fly down and come pick you up. I'd do it myself, except... the island is pretty far and I don't have a big ass metal chicken like he does. It'll take me days to get there.

[Lance pauses and glances up at the clock on the wall. His break is coming to an end and he needs to head back up front. But first:]

Hey, Pidge? My bad.

[They're actually really lucky that it's not even as bad as they think it is. Rowlet's hurting, yes, but he's also overacting a bit. Because it's funny, clearly.

Pidge nods again and moves to turn the device off, but stops when Lance apologizes. She blinks at him, slightly surprised, and then gives him a little smile.]

That's okay. [Then, without even changing her expression:] Just be ready to get your ass kicked.

[Damn it, Pidge. He was hoping you'd forget about that threat. You guys were having a nice moment and everything.]

Heeeeey! It's not my fault you gave the bird brain damage!

[It's totally his fault. Utterly his fault.]

It's at least partially your fault. [And at least Pidge is still saying so with a smile on her face.]

But don't worry, Lance. I'll make sure the bird knows where to put the blame.

You know what? I'm going to tell Shiro I'm hiring a bodyguard Pokemon because I'm so not comfortable living with you, dude.

You've been living with all of us for ages, dude. If I haven't already attacked you in your sleep before, the probability of me trying again is really low.

[Still so matter-of-fact and smiley.]

Yeah, but that was the Castle and this is a house. A much, much smaller house.

And what if you're just saying that to lure me into a sense of peace before you sic the bird on me. I WILL NOT BE FOOLED!

[Pidge raises an eyebrow slightly, and then finally shrugs one dismissive shoulder.]

Well, damn. I guess you've caught me now.

[video]

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