[closed] One step at a time, there's no need to rush

[shiningkindness]

Who: Fluttershy and Scrooge
Where: Around Route 36
When: Sometime between 11/23 and 11/27
Summary: Just a couple of travelers running into each other
Rating: PG

Fluttershy sighed softly as she recapped her water bottle, leaning back against the tree trunk she was resting on. Traveling was much tougher than she expected, and while it had been going well so far she found herself wishing that she was just a bit more active, like Applejack or Rainbow Dash.

Still, she liked to think she was fairing pretty well. Though having the Pokémon around certainly did help; not just her own, but some of the wild ones that were willing to offer some assistance and travel with her for a while. Even now, a group of them stuck around, keeping her company and playing with her team.

Uncurling her legs, she stretched out a little bit before pulling out her PokéGear to check the time. She should probably think about feeding her and her team soon.

Comments

[moneymatters]

Sure, Scrooge had taken a teleporter or two in his time here already. But even without accounting in the residual feelings from doing so, he always was one for liking it the old-fashioned way. Go figure. So once he decided to go back to Violet City he'd decided to do it by foot, for now at least. There were some little bottlenecks he might try to avoid but for the most part...

So he was out on the route, his Meowth bounding this way and that ahead, beside, and behind him. He wasn't one to curb enthusiasm and besides, he might just find something interesting- But it would be Scrooge who made a discovery, first by the knot of Pokemon, then by the person in among them. It was easy to recognize her, even just considering they'd only had a single conversation, but still there was a faint question in his voice as he walked up.

"Fluttershy, right?"

[shiningkindness]

The Pokémon are the first to notice the other presence, and some of them are quick to hide as he comes closer. Seeing them leave is when Fluttershy finally glances up, a little nervous at first, but after a moment she recognizes the figure, despite having only spoken with him once over the comms.

"O-Oh...yes, that's me. It was, um...Mr. McDuck?"

[moneymatters]

"Aye, right in one!" He hang back a few paces, spending a few more precious moments to observe the Pokemon around her. It definitely brought thoughts of Webby to mind, the way she could calm nearly any animal and bring it to her side, no matter how wild.

"How have you been gettin' on?"

[shiningkindness]

The Pokémon that hadn't fled were hiding behind Fluttershy a little, though some were starting to feel a bit braver and peek out to look at the newcomer.

"I've been...doing all right, thank you. Mostly just traveling and looking around, to get a better feel for this place."

Her Scatterbug seemed a bit curious, and cautiously makes its way over to the Meowth.

[moneymatters]

Meowth was busy clawing away underneath a brush in case of interesting things, when one ear twitched and it looked over. Scatterbug gets a happy bound of a greeting, with a small cry to match.

"Aye, about the same meself." He keeps one eye on the two Pokemon, but is otherwise focused on Fluttershy. "Trying to get a feel for this new place, and all that it offers. Though right now, I suppose it'd be more accurate to say we're gearing up for a few gym challenges."

[shiningkindness]

Scatterbug waves its little front legs, crawling around the Meowth to try and get it to play.

"Gym challenges?" she asks with a curious tilt of her head. "What are those?" Since she was a Breeder class, she hadn't heard much about the gym challenges.

[moneymatters]

Play? Meowth wants to play! Scatterbug is delightfully round.

"You havnae heard of them yet? Well, no matter. To my understanding, every city or near abouts has its own gym that a trainer can challenge for a badge. Get enough badges and you can take on even greater challenges, and get a few benefits on the side." Scrooge? Want deals and freebies, on top of getting to prove his strength? Perish the thought! "It's like a grand test o' skill, for those that want to do it anyway."

A quick glanceover of Fluttershy and her friends, and in remembering his early assessment of her, "O'course, it's not for everyone."

[shiningkindness]

Scatterbug gives a pretend cry as it runs away, beckoning Meowth to chase it.

"Oh, I see." She gently pets a Vulpix that crawls into her lap, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I did hear that Trainers entered competitions with their Pokemon, so I guess the gym challenges just higher stake competitions?"

[moneymatters]

The chase is on! Meowth gambols on after it, and off they go.

"Aye, that's about it! A trainer battle can have a not insignificant money reward, but winning a gym battle will come with so much more. But with that comes a matchin' rise in difficulty too."

[shiningkindness]

Fluttershy keeps an eye on the two, but otherwise lets them play.

"Oh, that makes sense. It wouldn't be much of a challenge if it doesn't have some difficulty."

She still feels bad thinking about the Pokemon fighting. But if they were okay with it, and as if they were properly cared for after, she'd try to be okay with it.

[moneymatters]

"Too true." He chuckled softly, even smirking a bit. "And it's the challenge that is drawing my attention! I've never been one to back down from something a little harder than the rest."

[shiningkindness]

She smiled. This definitely sounded more like something Rainbow Dash or Applejack might like, so she was glad that she didn't have to worry about the gym challenges. "Well, good luck to you and your team. I'm sure you all will be great."

[moneymatters]

"Thank you! Though, I've been doing what research I can and I fear I may have to," he tried to stifle it but a distaste was still evident in his expression as he spoke, "catch some other Pokemon in the future. Expand my team options."

[shiningkindness]

She tilted her head, a little puzzled. "Is that really so bad? These Pokemon seem pretty friendly from what I've seen."

Given that she was sitting in the middle of a wild group of them.

[moneymatters]

"Oh, it's nothin' about the Pokemon! I've yet to meet one that I cannae handle. It's more the- expense, of catching new ones. But I've also learned over time that keeping options open in as many ways as possible is the best way to go, so I've got to deal with what comes with that."

[shiningkindness]

"Oh." That does make a bit more sense. Just like any pet, there is a certain amount of care that goes into taking care of Pokemon, which does inevitably require funds. "Do you think it gets pretty expensive?"

She had four Pokemon of her own by now, which wasn't too terrible. But she does have to be careful with her own funds, especially on routes like this, before she can get to the next town to work a few days at the PokeCenter.

[moneymatters]

Scrooge opened his mouth, paused, closed his mouth. There was a little roll of his shoulders and he cleared his throat. "Ah- Well, that's a bit sticky. What I think is expensive is not often what others think is expensive.

"However, I will say that expenses can usually be covered by battling with others, or findin' goods with your Pokemon and perhaps selling them, or using them yourself."

[shiningkindness]

She tilted her head curiously, but nodded. "Oh, I see. I don't think we've found really found anything noteworthy to sell." Not that they've been looking, honestly. "I'm not sure about battling, but I did work at the PokeCenters in the past few towns we've been in. That helped a bit too."

[moneymatters]

"Ahh, aye that's always an option, too. There's plenty to be said for putting one's nose down to the grindstone, too! And there's certainly no shortages o' jobs around here, for those who look enough."

[shiningkindness]

Fluttershy nodded. "Yeah! Especially Pokemon-related ones." Naturally. "I really like being able to help with them, so I'm hoping to find something a little long-lasting where I can work with them."