victory_road | Fourth Spell: Getting Ready Catch-All [video/in-person]. Plus Forward-Dated Swarm.

Who: Keldor
Where: In and around Violet City
When: Sept. 19-21; Sept. 22 [swarm]
Summary: Keldor begins his preparations to battle for his first gym badge.
Rating: PG
Log: Berry picking.

Not far from city limits it's All-You-Can-Pick time at the berry farm, and Keldor's making the most of it, building up a stash for future battles. His basket's getting heavy with all that he's plucked so far, but he doesn't mind.

Nor does he mind all the Patrats, Watchogs and Pachirisu scurrying about, berries in their mouths.

What he does mind, though, is a rather pesky Skwovet that's decided to turn berry-picking into a race. As in, if you don't get there fast enough, it's definitely taking every last berry on that bush or tree. And, unlike everyone else picking berries, it's not being slowed down by ladders and baskets.

He'd try and catch the thing, but the owner has a "No Catching" rule in place [good for the tree rat; not so good for the customers], so he's doing his best to not lose to the rodent.

Fishing at the pond.

Berries picked and paid for, Keldor's off to a rather large pond that's something of a popular fishing spot. Unlike the farm, there's no rules against catching anything, and he's already gotten himself a Goldeen [who will take care of water transport once it's able to], so the rest of the day is spent training up Shidosanda, Nami, and his recently-acquired Mareep, Tanpopo. If he's to beat Falkner, he needs strong pokemon.

The fish in this pond are "helping" in that regard.

Back on 32.

Keldor's electric types are getting a nice rest after beating up all the fish pokemon he could catch, so now it's time for Mikazuki the Rockruff he found in Dark Cave and Sugi the Pidgeotto he'd caught out here when he'd gotten Tanpopo to get in a workout. Of course, today is the day when finding Mareep is easy ~~why couldn't it have been like this two weeks ago?~~, so Mikazuki and Sugi have plenty of opportunities to hone their skills in combat before the big day arrives.

At the deer park.

Simply put, it's a park. With Deerling and Sawsbuck roaming about or being fed by the visitors.

It's a nice place, and Keldor's either catching a break or feeding the very hungry pokemon crowding around him.

It's also very cute.

Swarm!

What hey? Where'd all these Pumpkaboos and Phantumps come from?

More importantly though, can he catch one?

Never know when you might need a Ghost type.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Excellent." Pause. "If ever I retire from battling, I may consider such ventures as these."

Or he could not retire, but become a gym leader and also raise berries. That's an option too.

"Yeah, I think it'll be a nice side venture," Radley says. "We probably have enough to head out soon. Are you going to stay and keep gathering?"

With that, he looks at his own basket. There does seem to be a good quantity there of most things, even with Keldor having to try and outrun a Skwovet to get them.

"I may be nearly finished."

Even if there's hammerspace inside the backpack, it wouldn't do to abuse it too much. And berry jam from squished fruit is a bear to get out.

"Cool."

Radley chuckles as he looks to where Evie and Isla are romping with the Skwovet.

"Well, they're having fun. Or the Eevees are, at least."

No, the Skwovet's not really having fun. It has fall and winter to get ready for, and every berry counts.

One more examination, and it's time to go and pay for his berries.

Hopefully no shenanigans happens on the way to the checkout. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Radley calls to the Eevees and they scamper over. Soon he's heading to the checkout too, all of his Pokemon trotting with him.

Everything's fine. Nothing to worry about.

Except he's toting a big basket of berries in his hands and is now the focus of every rodent on the farm...

...they're heading straight for him, as he's got the motherload.

"H-hey!"

Uh-oh...

Radley snaps to attention. "Okay, guys! Protect Keldor and his berries!"

His Pokemon warble and leap into position all around Keldor, attacking any rodents that get too close.

Oh goody. The rodents scurry as rodents tend to scurry, trying to dodge Radley's pokemon. Keldor, in his effort to avoid tripping over or stepping on something, is getting about unsteadily, with end result of losing several berries.

Exactly what the little pests were hoping to achieve.

"Tanpopo!" he yelps, hands full. "Go!"

"Maaaaaar!"

"Use Thunder Wave! But only on the wild ones!"

"Maaaaaaaaaaarrr!"

Cosmo tries to gather up the fallen berries, despite being shy and afraid. Keldor is Radley's friend. She wants to help Radley....

Radley's other Pokemon join the fight.

Radley watches, wincing. He hadn't thought just picking berries would be so complicated.

Neither did Keldor.

This is probably why growing your own is a sensible idea. Because you never know when hilarity will ensue. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Thankfully, together with Radley's 'mons, Tanpopo is able to stun the other pokemon just enough to keep them from running very fast.

Sigh of relief as he adjusts his hold on the basket.

"Thank you."

To everyone.

Cosmo smiles shyly and holds out the berries.

Radley smiles too. "Sure."

Crouching down, Keldor holds out his basket so that Cosmo can drop them in, then, balancing it on his knees, reaches out to give a pat on the head.

"Tanpopo?"

"Reeeep?"

"Run ahead to make sure there are no others. Do not attack though; just chase them away if need be."

"Reeeeep!"

Tanpopo runs off.

This time it should be easier to get to the cash register.

Cosmo puts them in with a smile.

Radley stays alert for any other possible trouble.

Save for a few Pacharisu who scamper out of the way, getting to checkout is unobstructed by anything else trying to get at Keldor's berries. Tanpopo wouldn't be able to affect them, but he's bigger and it's wiser to stay out of the way.

Pretty soon the checkout is reached.

Time to get in line.

A nice, orderly line, with no jerks to ruin things.

Radley gets in line behind Keldor, his Pokemon gathered around him. The line is moving well.

Very well, even when Tanpopo joins up. It doesn't take long before he's paid his money and can finally get to work sorting and storing them.

"I think you have the right idea. Growing one's own would reduce these kinds of hassles."

"To some extent," Radley muses as he pays for his. "But the critters could always come bug us on our property."

He feels a little sorry for them, since they need food too. But he wonders how to keep them from taking everyone's.

"They might. But a small operation might not attract as many creatures as a large orchard would."

He thinks, anyways. It's not like he grew up learning everything about farming.

"Hmm. That could be. I'll have to talk to the berry farmers and see what they have to say," Radley muses. Right now, though, he thinks it's better to hurry home with these.

"You will learn more from them than from me," he admits. "Agriculture was not one of the things I was instructed in."

Radley nods. "We can both talk to them," he smiles.

The Pokemon warble happily.

Yes, yes he probably could. It wouldn't hurt to learn a skill like that.

"But not at this time."

Berries need processing.

"Yeah, we should get these home before any other Pokemon try to swipe them," Radley says.

Checking to see if Radley's right, Keldor turns to look behind him.

The pesky Skwovet is eying him. No. Eying his basket. And eying Tanpopo nervously, too. It must've seen what the Mareep did to the others, if it's not trying to get any closer.

"Yes. I think that would be advisable."

He can do that once he gets back to his hotel room ~~which he'll be sad to have to give up, once it's time to head off to Azalea Town and he has to start roughing it again~~.

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