[video]

[talkyourwayout]

Try to hold it steady, Topaz.

[Unfortunately, while Louie's Scrafty is managing to hold the Pokegear steady throughout the video, he's also holding it diagonally, creating an odd angle for the footage.

Louie is inside a Pokemon Center, with a Golbat and a Quagsire on either side of him, and a Castform held in front of him in his arms.]

I know a few people have gone back home lately, and my brother did, too. [Though what's most clear on his face is exhaustion, there's clear sadness in his eyes, in the rare moments where he glances up from the Castform to look into the camera.] His Pokemon are with me now, but I can't take care of all of them and my team. Plus, Huey would definitely want them to do some traveling and experience new things, so... If anyone wants to take care of Furi, the Golbat here, or Aztec, who's the Quagsire, let me know and we can talk about it.

...Right, there's also a Meowstic. His name is Chaos Theory; we call him Theo, too. The Castform is staying with me, though.

[He sighs softly, taking a moment to organize his thoughts. He knows it'll be weird not to say more about his brother and best friend leaving, and not just to those who watch this. He needs to do it for himself, too.]

It's going to be really weird not having him here, now. It wasn't so bad being the only one from home when I started training, but after traveling with Huey so much... I don't know, having someone to talk to was nice.

Comments

[instrumentally]

I did not realize he was gone.

I am sorry.

[talkyourwayout]

It's okay. That you didn't notice, I mean, the rest kind of really stinks.

Thanks, though, Rei. Um, where are you these days?

[instrumentally]

I am still staying in Azalea Town.

Would you like to visit, too?

[talkyourwayout]

Yeah, if you don't mind. I'll meet you in the Pokemon Center?

[instrumentally]

Yes. I will meet you there.

Action

[talkyourwayout]

[Louie is seated on a bench in the Pokemon Center, the Castform still held in his arms. It's comforting to have Huey's starting partner so close, even if it makes Louie feel very childish. He can't be too bothered by that, he is a child.

When he spots Rei, he gives her a nod in greeting, then tilts his head towards the spot beside him, inviting her to sit.]

How've you been?

[instrumentally]

[Rei sits down next to him, her Duosion floating nearby as usual. It's much bigger than it used to be. Grown up now.]

It has been very quiet lately.

[She is not quite used to it yet.]

[video]

[broken_sword]

I'm so sorry your brother is gone.

[talkyourwayout]

Thanks. I know it’s a downer to hear about people leaving, sorry.

[broken_sword]

Mm, I just think that shows that you really cared about them! I hope your brother is doing well at home.

Are you going to be all right?

[talkyourwayout]

Well, you know, he's my brother.

I'll be fine, yeah. I was traveling alone for a couple of months before Huey got here, and for little stretches after that. It's not bad to be on my own for once, you know? But I miss the conversation.

[seacub]

Oh...

[Right...He never did get to meet him, huh.] ...I'm sorry Louie...I...

...My travel partner disappeared too, but it probably hurts more when it's family...

[talkyourwayout]

They did? I'm sorry, man. And, uh, thanks.

[A thoughtful pause, then he adds:] I think either way it just really stinks.

[seacub]

Yeah...

...Yeah, pretty much. ...So...what are you doing after this? It's good that you're finding places for the pokemon- I couldn't even find... ...mmm...

[Feels Bad]

[talkyourwayout]

Oh... [He can't imagine how he'd feel if Huey's Pokemon had just vanished, which he assumes is what happened with Emporio's companion's team.] Man, I'm sorry.

I don't really know what I'll do next. I want to continue the gym challenge, I just don't want- I don't want to travel alone anymore.

[seacub]

Yeah...I still haven't even left Fuchsia...I thought I got used to travelling alone, but I guess...it's just different when it's someone you're close to, really.

[talkyourwayout]

Definitely. And it's not fair, because-- Okay, Huey's my brother and I love him, but at home all his nerd stuff could really drive me nuts. And it did here, too! Everything is learning and research and lists with him, but...

You know. Now I even miss that stuff.

[seacub]

Yeah...

[...this is depressing now...]

...so...gym challenge huh..? ...I guess I could try continuing that...I sort of took a break after...

[....well.]

[moneymatters]

[Hmm. Even with the physical changes, there was enough of a passing resemblance that this caught his attention. What a development, and so soon after finding himself in this world. On top of all his suspicions there was the use of the name "Huey" alongside "brother." That left him with one option. And even if this was an alternate version of one of his nephews and someone he didn't actually know, his heart went out to him anyway.

Man, he was getting too soft in his old age.]

Aye, it can be hard to lose such close companionship. But somethin' tells me you'll bounce back soon enough.

[talkyourwayout]

[Louie snorts softly as an initial response, but then he does a small doubletake... He sets Cavendish aside and takes the phone from Topaz, looking at the name that accompanies the message. He blinks, then furrows his browline in focus.]

You're Scrooge McDuck... [A statement, not a question.] But I don't think you're my uncle.

[Honestly? It's not the strangest thing to imagine, given the past three years of his life. And the past several decades of Uncle Scrooge's life, at that.]

[moneymatters]

So you are one o' Donald's boys. I had a feeling.

[A bit of a chuckle in his throat.]

I am indeed Scrooge McDuck and no, I'm not your uncle. [He paused, then went on.] The safe bet says we are alternates of each other's family members.

[talkyourwayout]

[If there was any suspicion on Louie's part - and of course there had been, little cynic that he still often was - the fact that he mentioned Donald cleared that up. A bit weird that he hadn't mentioned Della, though. But anyway, Louie has never seen the Pokegear misname anyone.]

I'm Louie, and yeah, I'd believe that. [He starts to count off on his fingers, and he needs both hands to do it.] Trick mountains, Moonlanders, shadow magic, a ghost butler, man-eating plants, wrestling Norse gods, killer robots, and surprise clone cousins. [A sigh. He could easily keep going with the other two fingers and then his toes.] Honestly, an alternate dimension fits right in.

[moneymatters]

Ahh, sounds like home. [He started counting off on his own fingers.] Vicious demon sorcerors, invisible thieves, dinosaurs, tornado-caused time travel, dragons, microsized aliens, sea monsters of various sorts, witches... Ah incidentally lad, your uncle would now be the third Scrooge McDuck I know of. Including meself, of course.

[talkyourwayout]

So really, all of this is just another day in the life of Scrooge McDuck, huh?

[It's a little bittersweet, because Huey would've been so curious about this turn of events. But so it goes.]

I'm guessing you haven't been here long? I would've heard from you before, probably.

[moneymatters]

No, I've only been here the better part of a day. Been spending my time checking around, getting some semblance of bearings, talking to others- oh and o'course, getting to know my own Pokemon.