Dipsy
~Beginning

Radic marveled at his ability to find bizarre and unique Pokémon. It was almost as if they were drawn to him somehow...as if they knew he was a kindred spirit, or that he would never hurt them.

A mute Mareep that knew Morse code...that was one of the greater mysteries to him. He wasn't sure what happened to her, but he didn't want to ask. He didn't feel as if he knew her well enough to ask such a personal question. He wondered if maybe she had a previous trainer, someone who had taught her Morse code, but then why was she wandering with the herd of other Mareep?

Poe wasn't any help, avoiding Chirin and trying desperately to hide the fact he was terrified of her, although he made it painfully obvious.

Poe tried to cite several sources that stated that Mareep were bad Pokémon, or potential health risks, but as the sources got more ludicrous he got less believable. Radic had never heard of the "Society to Prevent Electric Damage to Flying Pokémon, Particularly Nocturnal Ones," and he was almost positive that their essay dedicated to the imagined flaws of the Mareep were just as nonexistent. Radic wondered if the bird was simply a compulsive liar, or just wanted to appear educated in order to persuade Radic to get rid of the sheep.

Radic, of course, would do no such thing. Chirin was very affectionate to Radic, constantly rubbing up against him, letting him hold her, and she was incredibly sympathetic when he talked to her, or asked her advice. As a result of being with her, he was definitely brushing up on his Morse code that he had been slightly rusty on since he was a young scout, and he felt better being able to converse with her more readily. He was able to deduce from Poe's reaction to her that each of the little electric pulses she sent him made her tail blink in response.

She was very grateful to be with him and she cared for him deeply. It made Radic happy, particularly since Dmoxinil now refused to speak to him.

More often then not, Radic would have Poe on his shoulder to help him see important matters, and Chirin would be walking along with him by his side. He rarely put the two in their Pokéballs, unless required by the store he was entering or some other restriction, and they loved the freedom that it gave them.

The day was particularly warm and hot when he decided to try his hand at fishing.

He didn't feel like wandering around in the heat, as most people did, and he decided fishing would be the best way to spend his time. He hadn't caught any other Pokémon since Chirin. He had decided, after his experiences with his neglected Pokémon some time before, that catching Pokémon just for the sake of catching them was kind of cruel. If he didn't want to use them...he was essentially just making them spend the rest of their lives in Pokéballs. And despite what any Pokémon said to the contrary, he doubted that a Pokéball could compare to being free. So Radic decided that only when the Feeling came over him would he try and catch whatever Pokémon was nearby and that would be his team in this new region.

He still needed a water Pokémon and he hadn't fished at all since he was here, so this was a constructive way to spend such a hot, humid day. He rented a boat with the bit of extra money he had saved up through battles and used the rod a kind fisherman had given him.
Chirin had not felt comfortable on the boat and wanted to rest in her ball, so Radic let her. Poe also hadn't liked the heat or light, so Radic was just sitting on the boat by himself. He held onto the rod with one hand as he reclined back into the boat, his hat tipped over his eyes. He felt comfortable, secure, and lazy.

Not bad at all, really.

He could hear the splash of water nearby, and the boat tilted slightly. Curious, he automatically lifted his hat brim although it wouldn't help him and turned towards where the noise had come from.

"Hello?"

Something flopped into the boat and walked up to him. He tensed up automatically, but the small creature's sounds indicated that it was a Pokémon, not a person, and that it seemed friendly enough, if a bit curious. The Pokémon ran right into his leg and then fell over with a distressed noise.

"Upaaa!"

Radic reached out automatically to where the noise was coming from and felt slick, smooth skin underneath his fingers. He accidentally poked the thing in the eye while he was setting it upright, but other then a short "Upaa!" it seemed to be unharmed. He set it on its little feet and sat back.

"So, you wanted to say hello?" Radic smiled, reaching at his belt for Poe's Pokéball so he could get a look at the Pokémon. The little slippery thing seemed startled by the motion towards the shrunken pokéballs near his waist and squirmed around, again running into his leg as it tried to get off the small boat.

"Oh no no no, I didn't mean...no, I don't want to fight you or battle you or anything. I don't want to hurt you, I just- I can't see, so I use my Hoothoot here, he lets me see for a little while, here..." He tried to reassure the small Pokémon which had stopped trying to climb over his leg. He guessed it was waiting for him to prove his claim.

The Pokéball opened, revealing the Hoothoot who flew straight up immediately, hooting loudly.

"Oh! Oh! A Wooper!" Poe made his way down to Radic's shoulder cautiously, his hooting dying down in volume. "I guess they're safe enough."

"Upaa upaaaa?" The little thing sounded confused. Radic turned his face towards Poe's voice.

"Can you let me see it, Poe?"

The Hoothoot ruffled his feathers, sounding vaguely annoyed. "I don't know, my head hurts, it takes a lot to make that connection, you know?"

Although most people would have been annoyed at the bird's refusal, Radic didn't really react. "Please, Poe? It'll only take a few seconds. I just want to know."

"All right, all right." Poe huffed. "But only for a few seconds."

Radic felt the familiar dizzying, nauseating sensation that came with switching consciousness with Poe for a few seconds, then he was able to see from the Hoothoot what the Pokémon was.

The small blue Pokémon stared up at Radic and Poe with a very confused look on its face. From its either side of its head came two small antennas and some broad stripes covered its belly. It only had two small feet and a thick tail. The Wooper stared at Radic curiously, opening its mouth.

Another surge of nausea and dizziness overcame Radic as he switched back to his own body. "Upaa?"

Radic put a hand to his head, trying to stop his head from swimming. Yes, that was definitely it...amidst the normal feeling of switching minds with Poe for a few seconds, he felt the connection that came with Pokémon that someday would become his closest friends. The feeling of immediate kinship, concern, and love for the Pokémon. The tiny Wooper...he wanted to be its friend.

"My name is Radic." He held out his hand, although he knew the Wooper couldn't take it. "I'm a Pokémon Trainer from Kanto. I don't really want to fight you or anything." He hoped he wouldn't frighten it away. "I just think...well, I'd really like to be friends with you. I think we can be great partners in battle."

"Upaaaa..." The Wooper didn't sound quite convinced. What could he say that would show the Wooper that he didn't want to hurt it...?

"I have a few Pokémon back home that are waiting for me." Radic decided it couldn't hurt to explain a bit more about himself. "I miss them a lot, but I promised myself and Red that I wouldn't bring them here. I think you'd like them all. They're very friendly and kind." Radic conveniently did not mention Ruby, Kitsune, or Nova.

"I don't know." Poe looked down at the little Wooper. "I don't think he looks like the right type of Pokémon for our team. He's a little small."

"No he isn't." Radic automatically defended. Actually he had no idea how big Woopers were supposed to be. The Wooper here was a tiny thing, barely a foot tall. He considered taking out his Pokédex and having it read out a Wooper's size to him, but he thought that might just insult the Pokémon. As it was, the slimy creature sounded rather offended by Poe's statement.

"Upaa! Upaa upaa upaaa!"

"He's not small, Poe. He looks...looked perfectly fine to me. And he sounds strong enough anyway." Radic smiled.

"Upaa." The Wooper sounded somewhat soothed by Radic's words. Perhaps it would grow to trust him.

"Anyway, I was wondering if you'd like to come with me. I don't want to hurt you, I just want to give you that choice." Radic fumbled in his bag for a bit before he came across an empty Pokéball. He held it out to where he last heard the Wooper. "I'd really like you to come. I'd like to be your friend if I can."

The Wooper hesitated for a moment, then slapped its tail on the bottom of the boat.

"You missed?" Poe sounded aghast from his perch on Radic's shoulder. "How could you miss? It was right in front of you!"

"Upaaaaaa." The Wooper was not pleased with Poe at all. Radic could hear it starting to walk off.

"No no, wait. Wait. If it's about Poe, don't worry. You won't have to deal with him often, I swear."

"Hey!"

"Quiet, Poe. I promise that I won't let anything happen to you. Honest. And besides, maybe I was holding it wrong. Try again, if you want." Radic wasn't sure what he would do if the Wooper walked away...he couldn't imagine letting this Pokémon leave. He had never let a Pokémon that triggered his Feeling leave yet.

"Upaaa...." He heard the soft noise of the Wooper walking back towards him. Poe was so deeply offended at Radic's reprimand that he refused to speak at all.

"Do you want to come with me? I can't promise much, but I'll give it my best shot."

"Upaa. Upaa."

"His name's Dipsy. That's what it said." Poe muttered. Radic nodded at him.

"Thank you. Dipsy, do you want to come with me?"

"Upaa..." Another slap of the tail hitting the boat, then the Wooper connected with the button on the Pokéball, allowing himself to be sucked into it. Radic didn't pay attention to the dinging noises it made, only smiling broadly to himself at the thought of another friend on his journey.

"He's nearsighted." Poe remarked as soon as Dipsy was out of sight.

"What?"

"He's nearsighted." Poe clacked his beak together. "He can't see. That's why he kept missing the ball. He also ran into the boat a few times. He can't see at all. You should dump him."

Well, it was obvious that Poe and Dipsy weren't going to get along.

Regardless, Radic held the newly filled Pokéball in his hands with a satisfied smile. "Doesn't matter. I'll get him glasses when we get to the next town."

"Why spend the money?" Poe demanded, his voice reaching a familiar hysterical tone. Why always hysterical birds? Why? "He's a runt and he's almost blind. You don't need him, drop him."

"He's my friend." Radic leaned back, finding the dropped fishing pole and resuming his previous activity. Poe flapped off his shoulder and landed somewhere on the boat, thought it was hard to say where. "I don't care how hard he is to raise or if I even have to get him leg-braces. Dipsy's my Pokémon now and that means he's my partner."

Poe clacked his beak at him again sharply and Radic ignored him. He was used to inter-Pokémon feuds--Kitsune gave him VERY intimate knowledge in that area--and he knew this was just another thing he was going to have to get used to after a while.

Either way, he was sure that Dipsy would prove to be a valuable member of his team, despite his faults. He knew that Dipsy would not let him down.

And within his Pokéball, Dipsy wondered about the existential dilemma he had gotten himself into. The question of ownership kept running through his head, along with his judgments of Radic and Poe's characters. He was going to have to reconcile this with his personal belief system over time, but as it was, Radic seemed a nice sort of fellow. While he had prided himself on not viewing his ultimate lifetime goal as being someone's glorified pet, something about the boy seemed very sincere. Perhaps that was what it was. Had psuedo-scientist Dipsy gotten himself into another awkward dilemma to sate his intellectual curiosity?

Either way, there wasn't much he could do about it now. Ah well. He'd just make the best of what happened, as he always had.

"Enjoy the ride, Dipsy my boy, Enjoy the ride."

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