She nods. "I want to give a good challenge, but we can also just keep our eyes open for other team members but not rush it, then."

"That's probably the best course of action. We can also test just the first level or so of the gym to see where we're at."

"The other thing is- only the pokemon fighting are allowed to be out in the arena. While it's just you that's fine, but when we find another partner, I'll have to use pokeballs for the match."

She hums. "I think I wouldn't mind being in a pokeball," she concludes. "As long as it was only a little bit, and especially if the interesting stuff was being recorded. I've just always refused them 'cause I don't like missing stuff."

"Yeah, it'd just be for the duration of the match, basically. I think it's to test the trainer, their capabilities not only as a strategist but also a leader."

"Hm, yeah. 'Cause if I could tell you when to tag me in, you'd be doing less... Also I bet some teams get overexcited and might try to interfere in the ongoing match, and telling everyone they've gotta be in a pokeball if they're not fighting makes it fair and keeps that from happening."

She nods. "There's probably multiple reasons for the rules. Makes sense, for something so big."

She nods.

"When are we setting out?"

"There's a gym her in Viridian, but the leader is out of the city a lot. He's on the board for a bunch of charity organizations I guess? And likes keep personal tabs on things. We can check it out in the morning, see if he's here and decide if it's worth it to start here."

"Okay." She yawns. 

"Talk more in the morning?"

She nods and nuzzles her Ellie.

Pet pet.

Sleep time.

Intrepid's pretty snugly. 

Though the next morning, she's back to excited about checking out the Gym.

Then that can be their first stop. Unfortunately, there's a sign out front informing people that Leader Giovanni will be out of town for the next three weeks.

Aww...

That means probably the Gym in Pewter City will be their first, then?

Ellie would rather keep moving than hang around, yeah. But it does give them a chance to find some more friends, they'll be going through Viridian Forest to get to Pewter. Speaking of which route, Mr. Brown actually mentioned a favor he'd like them to do to Ellie while Intrepid was catching up with her old friends. Apparently there's an umbreon that's been sniffing around but doesn't feel like making themself known. He's pretty sure they're living in the forest and since Ellie and Intrepid'd be passing through anyway, he'd like them to see if they can't check the umbreon's doing all right.

Yeah! They can definitely do that.

Cool. So Ellie wants to go back to the Pokecenter and test the collar with Pidgey and finalize arrangements there, then she should pick up some extra supplies while they have access to the market here, but after that they can leave since they'll be several days in the forest anyway.

Okay. Intrepid can go at least pick out supplies, maybe? Speed things up.

Sure. She'll need to take the collar back first, if they're separating.

...Hm. Intrepid likes the collar though... Maybe she'll stick with Ellie, then.

It's not like she wouldn't get it back pretty quickly.

She giggles.

Maybe Ellie just needs to hurry up on making a second.

Apparently!

That'll help when they get a bigger team, too.