Third Spell: Mostly Video Catch-All.

[behindblueskin]

Who: Keldor
Where: Dark Cave; Route 32
When: Over the course of a week [Dark Cave happens earlier].
Summary: Keldor goes pokemon spelunking in Dark Cave for rock types, then it's off to Route 32 in the hopes of getting a Mareep.
Rating: PG in case of language
Log: Dark Cave

Dark Cave is... Yeah. It's pretty dark, but Keldor's smart and, before setting off to find a rock type or two picked up some of the tools he'll need to find his way around [like helmet with a light], and the video feed mostly just captures a lot of lit up cave floor.

So far, that's all there is to see, save for the sight of Gingko the Dartrix. But the audio captures a lot of flapping sounds as Zubats and Noibats fly overhead, startled somewhat by the light. They get ignored. It's Geodudes and Rockruffs Keldor's after, and Gingko's ready to help.

---

Route 32

No need for helmets or head lights. It's sunny out at the moment so no need for artificial light sources.

Keldor's been told that there's a flock of Mareep to be found not too far from Violet City at the start of the route, but the only flocks to be found are flocks of Pidgeys and Starlies, and he's not there for them [though maybe he should be, as getting one of them now means he'll have a candidate for air transportation later on].

Unfortunately out here Keldor doesn't have anything with a type advantage, but he's not letting that stop him from getting what he's after and getting some training in; especially for Nami, his recently-acquired Alolan Raichu.

Comments

[behindblueskin]

Bugs just means things for Fukiran to train against, so if bugs pop up, it won't be a problem. Especially since the gym after that is in Azalea Town, and Keldor needs Fukiran to be strong against Bugsy's bugs.

That reminds him: bugs are weak to flying. A Pidgey caught now will be useful later on when he and Bugsy square off.

"Seems like one cannot go very far in grass without something 'popping up'."

Oh, LOL...

[crystalmaster]

"Pretty much. Evie and I had some interesting times when we first started out. She wanted to play with everything that popped out."

"Eevee!" Evie agreed. She was sad they hadn't much wanted to play.

[behindblueskin]

Yeah, the wild pokemon aren't much for wanting to do things like play. They seem much keener to do battle. As if their default mode is "fite me!".

"What was it like, your coming here?"

[crystalmaster]

"It was ... completely bizarre. We know about this place back home, but it's supposed to be fictional. Suddenly I'm waking up with my favorite Pokemon staring down at me, real and breathing and adorable."

Evie sits proudly. "Vee!"

[behindblueskin]

"'Fictional'? Like, it was a story for you until you arrived here?"

That'd be interesting. Having something from, say, Eternian myth popping up one day and becoming Eternian reality.

But, then, Eternia being what it is, it could very well happen.

[crystalmaster]

"Yeah, pretty much."

He's not sure how to explain what a video game is. But the games do have a story, so ...

"It was nice to be familiar with things to some extent, but I'd only heard of the Kanto region and not Johto. And there's literally hundreds of Pokemon I never saw before! I only knew about the first 151."

[behindblueskin]

"It sounds like you came here with a slight advantage. I knew not of any of these creatures before I arrived."

[crystalmaster]

Radley nods. "I'm glad I knew about some things anyway. I wouldn't have handled the battling concept well at all if I hadn't known about it already."

[behindblueskin]

"Yes, the battling part was a surprise to me."

He wasn't a fan of it, and still isn't, really, but having it explained to him early on that it was more of a sparring match than an actual fight, has managed to adjust to the concept more.

And it's why he, after catching his Mareep, took the time to heal up the flock leader. It wouldn't sit well with him to leave it the way it was and thus be left vulnerable to a real attack.

"One of many."

Yeah, he's still going to be amazed about it all for a little while longer.

[crystalmaster]

"There are some pretty bizarre things that happen here, things that weren't told about back home," Radley says. "I keep thinking I won't be surprised by anything here again, but I always am."

He definitely appreciated seeing that kindness towards the flock leader.

[behindblueskin]

"Hmmm. The strange is something I have been acquainted with. If you look for it, you will find oddities in Eternia."

He pauses, hearing a rustle. It could be coming from his own pokemon—he's allowed them to roam about instead of calling them back. Given them an opportunity to stretch their limbs or roll about if you're a Voltorb like Shidosanda [yes; he named the thing, finally].

"I think that may have allowed me to make the adjustments I needed to make upon my arrival."

[crystalmaster]

"That's good it helped then," Radley says. "I guess we each had what we needed to help us."

[behindblueskin]

Before Keldor can respond, there's a bit more rustling. And this time, it's obvious that it isn't coming from his team. Fukiran, Momiji and Nami all poke their heads above the grass, and Shidosanda has rolled closer to its trainer, but the rustling continues.

Bracing himself, Keldor waits for whatever it is that's moving about to show itself to everyone.

Maybe it's the Pidgey he's looking for.

He hopes, anyways...

[crystalmaster]

Radley tenses, realizing the rustling isn't coming from Keldor's Pokemon. He also hopes it's friendly.

His Pokemon are watching too. "Vee?" says Evie.

[behindblueskin]

Yet more rustling, and then...

"SKORRRRR!"

Wow! That's one big bug! Instinctively, Keldor takes a backwards step as the Skorupi hops out of the tussock it was in.

Fukiran, seeing this, jumps forward without needing any prompting; as if to say, "ready when you are, boss!".

[crystalmaster]

Radley and his Pokemon jump a mile.

"Oh boy. Is this gonna be a possible catch or just a battle to get past it?"

He doubts Keldor will run away.

[behindblueskin]

Run away? Nah.

"Battle. I would prefer to not catch too many today."

Training dozens of pokemon would be a nightmare.

Fukiran growls.

"Use Ember!"

No sense in using the really powerful moves on something low-level.

[crystalmaster]

"All the bugs are one thing I wasn't crazy about on these early routes," Radley says. "But Evie wanted to play with them too." He chuckles.

[behindblueskin]

"It is not whether I wish to acquire one of them or not," Keldor says as the Skorupi dodges part of Fukiran's attack to start jabbing with its tail in defence. The Growlithe manages to evade. "For I will in due time. But presently I need to focus on what I have now. Strengthen what I currently have; prepare for what is coming up next."

[crystalmaster]

"Oh?" Radley says curiously. "You want bugs eventually?"

Focusing on the current ones is a good idea. He likely would have done the same if his Pokemon hadn't decided to make eggs.

[behindblueskin]

"Eventually, yes."

Keldor didn't have a vast army at his command. What he had was a ragtag pack of misfits and outcasts like he was. What he did was try and find a way for everyone on the team to maximise what they could do to the best of their abilities. Help them to realise their true potential.

It's this kind of thinking that's being extended to his team of pokemon. Working with what he has and bringing out the best in them, rather than get as many as possible and picking out only the strongest while neglecting the weaker ones, is his goal.

"Again! Ember!"

"Grrrrowwwwww!"

[crystalmaster]

Radley would likely do the same if he was a battler. Even as a breeder, his goal for wanting to use all of them is the same. He has all of them help with chores around the house and switches around which ones come with him when he leaves the property (although Evie and Cosmo always insist, and no one begrudges them).

He watches the battle, petting the Pokemon who are also watching.

[behindblueskin]

The battle continues for a couple more rounds, until the Skorupi is seen off with a Bite, and Fukiran, feeling the energy that comes from a good battle, is now rather ahem "fired up", so to speak, and almost gives chase.

"No. It has had enough. Let it go."

Fukiran whines while the Skorupi skitters off. It's not too badly hurt, despite having the type disadvantage. Keldor pats him on the head.

"But you did good."

[crystalmaster]

Radley smiles. Keldor is very fair in battling.

"So, the search for Pidgey continues?"

[behindblueskin]

"It does continue."

And it'll take a few encounters with some Bellsprouts, a couple Lotads, an Ekans or two, and finally another Skorupi before the promised land much-sought-after Pidgey is found.

A good-sized one, too. Clearly healthy and of a sufficient level to present a challenge.

"Piii..," it says, adopting a battle stance the moment it catches sight of Keldor.

Clearly this one knows when someone means to catch it, and doesn't intend to make things easy.