Chapter 7: Radi-No Worries


A few days had passed since Rainbow, Rarity and Pinkie Pie stopped to check on Twilight, Fluttershy and Applejack. The trio of ponies had gone around Azalea Town and soon found themselves in a huge city. The skyscrapers and community were pretty overwhelming for the three. "Goldenrod City is enormous!" awed Applejack.

"Sure is," Twilight agreed. "I bet you could find anything for a special some pony." Through the streets, there were bakeries, boutiques, shopping marts and plenty in between. One bakery had a three-story white wedding cake which made the trio drool wanting a piece of it.

"That looks so good..." Fluttershy awed. They could go in and see how much one slice would cost... but they saw another cake, not as big, not covered in 20 pounds of frosting but with chunks of apple and sprinkled in cinnamon. Hands down, that cake was cheaper.

"Let's grab that one and share it with the Pokémon," Twilight suggested. Liking the idea, the three entered the bakery and got the cake. They found a park where it turned out the ponies were busy. Aside from the Starter Pokémon from Professor Elm, there was a green spider with yellow legs, a brown squirrel-like creature with a round raccoon tail and a light brown mouse covered in scales. When did they get those Pokémon?

"Is it good?" the pink-haired teen asked. The Pokémon enjoyed the cake from their happy cries. Applejack laughed a little at their reply.

"I guess the little critters were starving the way they devoured their portions of the cake," she studied. Fluttershy and Twilight giggled as well just as little boys and girls came by to see their cache. They petted the Pokémon for a bit before a familiar face came by.

"Okay, boys and girls," a somewhat older man called. "Let's leave the Pokémon to their trainers." The kids returned to someone from a different region. The ponies looked up to see the professor from Hoenn.

"Professor Birch?" they gasped in unison. When Birch heard his name, he saw the ponies and stuttered.

"It's you three?!" Shy laughs seeped from the ponies. "What are you doing in Johto?" The ponies were wondering the same thing about the professor.

"We'd like to ask you about that," Twilight returned. Even the kids realized something between the ponies and the visiting brunette.

"Professor Birch, do you know those three?" one girl questioned.

"I certainly do," he answered. "I know them back in Pallet Town. The one with purple hair is Twilight Sparkle, the blond is Applejack and the pink-haired is Fluttershy." The ponies waved to the children to say hello. "So when did you three decide to try Pokémon training?" Applejack stood to answer as she came to Chikorita and the brown mouse and petted them.

"Ya see, we're escorting Fluttershy to see Clair to help her understand dragons," she clarified. To Birch, this was an interesting reason.

"Really? I have a Pokémon I could show her when I get to the radio station." This interested the ponies about a radio station. "Why not join me?" The ponies looked to each other, wondering about this invite to see a radio station up close.

"I guess it's okay," Fluttershy replied. Just in time, too. The Pokémon finished their portions. "Totodile, Sentret, did you get enough?" Totodile and the squirrel-like creature nodded before Fluttershy returned them to their Pokéballs.

"I guess you're full as well, Cyndaquil, Silk?" Twilight asked. Both Pokémon replied that they had plenty of the cake before she returned them to a ball each. Now it's Applejack's turn.

"Chicky, Sandshrew, you done?" she spoke. Both Pokémon were good to go and Applejack returned them as well. After packing up, the girls joined the professor. "Anyway, what's this radio station we're heading to?" Birch had a feeling about why Applejack would ask.

"I take it Ponyville doesn't have radio stations?" he joked.

"We don't particularly work with anything that uses electricity," Twilight briefed.

"I see. Think of it like talking to a lot of people... or humans rather through a box that produces sound called a radio. No one knows what you look like and almost no one can talk back to you."

"It all goes one way?" Fluttershy guessed.

"Pretty much. You'll see what I mean when we get to the station." As they made their way through Goldenrod City, back in Ponyville, three little fillies reached Fluttershy's cottage. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked inside, finding Discord playing with the animals the only way he knew how: making them fly. Discord heard the door creaked and found the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"Well if it isn't the little sisters of Rarity, Applejack and..." he paused. Scootaloo scowled at Discord's fun.

"I'm an only filly, if you didn't know," she groaned.

"Of course, Scoots dear. I bet you're all wondering about Fluttershy and how long it'll be before she comes back." The Crusaders glanced at each other, surprised that he predicted the reason for the visit.

"How did you know?" Apple Bloom gulped.

"Oh, you know... It's one of those reasons that I prefer hanging around here. The human world can get rather exhausting." Perhaps Team Rocket wore on him the most.

"That's just silly," Sweetie Belle whiffed. "You probably couldn't handle being human." Discord darted his horned head away from her comment.

"Of course being human isn't a cakewalk if I could turn human!" The Crusaders looked confused.

"The almighty Discord, the jester of magic and disharmony, can't be human?!" Scootaloo laughed. This did worry Sweetie Belle that Celestia's magic might have been the reason Discord retained his form.

"Not even a little?" she thought. That's when the jester peered at the hoof.

"Okay, maybe my goat hoof became a human foot..." Still wasn't enough.

"Well, if you don't mind, we like to scope out that human world," Apple Bloom excused herself as she and the other two left Discord's sight.

"I know I was supposed to do something about others by that door..." Did Fluttershy order Discord to make sure no pony came through? Angel decided to follow the Crusaders as they opened the door and entered Ash's room as human girls. Apple Bloom wore denim overalls over a yellow t-shirt, Sweetie Belle had a white dress with matching dress shoes and Scootaloo had an orange track suit. Immediately, they felt lost.

"Where in Equestria are we?" Sweetie Belle wondered as Angel hopped over, no change to it. Apple Bloom had a guess seeing the bunk beds.

"I'm guessing a bedroom, but who's?" she pondered. One clue was on the drawer where a few medals and a trophy stood. Scootaloo plucked two medals from the drawer.

"I think this can help," she pointed out. "'Extreme Pokémon Race: Ash Ketchum and Bayleef, 1st Place.' And here, 'Sumo Pokémon Champion, Ash Ketchum and Snorlax.'" The medals helped clue in on their site.

"We're in Fluttershy's special some-pony's room." Suddenly, Apple Bloom corrected her words. "I mean, somebody's room. I forgot that Ash's isn't a pony." Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo laughed at Apple Bloom's flub until she found a radio near the bed and walked to it. "What's this do-hickey?" The other two came over to see the radio as well.

"I don't really know," Scootaloo struggled. "Turn it on!"

"How, you dodo?!" Sweetie Belle argued. "We don't have..." She glanced at her hand that a minute ago was a hoof. She had a soft but embarrassed chuckle. "Sorry. Forgot we're not ponies now." Apple Bloom switched the radio on which suddenly had a voice.

"Okay, listeners," a woman spoke through it. "At the top of the hour, it's DJ Mary's Pokémon Talk. Today, Professor Birch joins the host in her studio in Goldenrod City so don't turn that dial! You don't want to miss what Littleroot's big man has to say!" To hear Birch sounded interesting.

"What did she say about 'the top of the hour?'" Scootaloo questioned. Apple Bloom saw a clock and pointed to the long needle just passing the 9.

"When this big hand reaches the 12, that's the top of the hour," she explained as she pointed the part out. Sweetie Belle stretched herself a bit before lying on a bed.

"Why don't we relax while we wait for this 'top of the hour?'" she yawned. Nothing better to do. As the Crusaders tried to relax, Birch and the ponies arrived at the radio station with the front door guarded. However, the sight of Birch told the two guards what to do.

"Good afternoon, Professor Birch," one guard greeted.

"Joseph, Ronald," Birch welcomed. The guards let the professor in but when the ponies also tried to cross, they were stopped.

"Do you have an appointment with DJ Mary?" the other guard asked. Hearing the guard, Birch offered an explanation.

"I brought them along. I wanted to show them what a radio station looks like." The guards knew Birch and his help with others.

"Well, if that's what's going on..." the first guard pondered before lowering her arms. "Sorry about that. You can go ahead." The ponies walked in the station where they and Birch were met by a redhead in round glasses, a green sleeveless sweater and black skirt.

"Had a little trouble getting here, Professor Birch?" she teased. Birch giggled as he itched his head.

"Come on, Mary," he tried to play off. "I'm like that everyday!" The ponies had a good look at Mary to know who she was. And Birch was quick to introduce them. "Mary, these are a few friends I met back in Pallet Town. Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Fluttershy." The ponies waived hello to the DJ.

"It's nice to meet you. I wanna know you more but we do have ten minutes to airtime." Birch didn't have much time to prepare for her show.

"Right, I'll join you on set." Mary walked off to get herself ready. That's when Birch pulled out a Pokéball. "I will say that your journey to see Clair to get over your fear of dragons sounds noble. It just so happens that I have a dragon on hand." Fluttershy's heart skipped at knowing Birch had a dragon. He opened the ball and out came a blue ostrich embedded in a cloud. The caw left the ponies rather perplexed.

"This... is a dragon?" Applejack gawked. Twilight brought out her Dex and scanned the new creature.

"Altaria, the Humming Pokémon, and the evolved form of Swablu," it computed. "Altaria hums with a beautiful voice when its happy." Altaria walked over to Fluttershy in curiosity. Reluctantly, she reached out to pet it. When her hand brushed the tiny head softly, Altaria let out a gleeful caw and helped her relax.

"Professor, how did you come across Altaria?" Twilight asked.

"It's actually the other way around," he corrected. "I was on the video phone with a colleague on Valencia Island when one of my interns brought in Altaria a little ruffled. I helped treat its injuries and it warmed up to me almost instantly. It stayed in the lab and helped us with some of our research. Just as I was leaving for here, Altaria insisted to come along. I didn't want to risk it but Altaria couldn't accept 'no' for an answer. Thus, the only way was to capture it." In a sense, Altaria enjoyed having humans around. "Now, if you'll excuse me, it's showtime!" Birch entered the studio and sat on a table across from Mary. A light above the door that read "ON AIR" lit up red.

"It's the top of the hour in Goldenrod City," a man's voice echoed. "And it's time for the goddess of the radio waves! It's DJ Mary's Pokémon Talk with her special guest! So without further ado, the one, the only... DJ MARY!"

"Good afternoon, listeners!" she cheered. "This is DJ Mary's Pokémon Talk, the hour-long talk show where we talk Pokémon and get your calls. This show is sponsored by Devon Industries. Your on the stairway with Devon! Today's special guest joins us from Littleroot Town in the Hoenn Region. He's a professor of Pokémon, Professor Birch!" The professor pulled the microphone overhead closer to him.

"It's a pleasure to join you today," he replied.

"So, I heard that new and unseen Pokémon have appeared around the Kanto Region. Is that true?"

"Well, so far, they're rumors but I wouldn't be too surprised if they are, in fact, true. We've yet to explore every corner of the world to discover all Pokémon in existence." The adults continued their talk and the Crusaders had an idea.

"Maybe we should go on a journey ourselves!" Scootaloo suggested. "That way, we can find these new Pokémon and find our cutie marks!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle blinked at Scootaloo's option. To Scootaloo, her fellow Crusaders didn't think it was a good idea. "What?"

"First off, I don't think we're qualified to go chasing Pokémon," Sweetie Belle scorned. "And even if we are, we did treat Fluttershy's animals pretty poorly. Remember that one time we stayed at her cottage? We let that one chicken loose and it got turned to stone by that cockatrice." Scootaloo felt dejected from that comment.

"And we also don't know if we can travel without knowing what to do if we did start going," Apple Bloom added. Ouch! As Birch and Mary had their show, the ponies had their time with Altaria.

"I still find it hard to believe this is a dragon Pokémon," Applejack groaned. "I mean... Charizard looked more of the dragon than this Altaria." The named Pokémon growled angrily at the blond. Fluttershy wrapped her arms around the Humming Pokémon to calm it down.

"Applejack didn't mean that to offend you," she reassured. Altaria squeaked sadly, still upset at being questioned about its type. "It's okay. No need to get mad. It's just a misunderstanding." Altaria squawked softly to the caring Pegasus girl. That's when Twilight had a thought.

"Fluttershy, I know you can translate Pokémon language," she pointed out. "Ask Altaria how it wound up with Professor Elm." Instead of asking, Altaria cawed up a storm of information that Fluttershy understood. Fluttershy gasped in horror from Altaria's story.

"That gasp doesn't tell me anything good," Applejack suspected. "What's the situation?"

"Altaria said that it got hurt when Team Rocket tried to capture it," she translated. Now Twilight and Applejack shared shocks. Immediately, they suspected Jessie, James and Meowth. "But it's not who we believe. They wore black uniforms instead of white like our 'friends' and berets to help hide their identities." This new information mystified the ponies.

"So Team Rocket is more than those three buffoons chasing Fluttershy and Pikachu?" Twilight guessed.

"Apparently. There might be some people of Team Rocket who are more elite than those three." The concept got on the jitters of the other two. "Anyway, it used Ice Beam and Fire Blast to break free and got hurt in the process. It had enough strength to fly away and made it to Littleroot Town which Professor Birch treated it." To Applejack, it's why Altaria chose to stay with Birch.

"Because he helped you," Applejack clarified to Altaria. "You chose to help Professor Birch as payback." Altaria chirped in agreement. From inside the booth, Mary glared at how close Altaria and Fluttershy sat while Birch explained information through the microphone. Birch realized her attention was on the ponies and Pokémon just outside.

"I see that the girls have your interests," he called her out. Mary snapped out of her delusion and turned back to Birch.

"Sorry about that," she apologized. Then a thought pondered her. "I think I can make an exception today. Didn't you say that one of those has a fear of dragon Pokémon?"

"Well, not exactly dragon Pokémon... Her gift of talking to Pokémon has been beneficial to me and Professor Oak." Astounded, Mary had an idea.

"You know what? I know it's normally against my regulations but what I will try to ask her to come on the show. So we'll take a break. This is DJ Mary's Pokémon Talk!" Mary removed her headphones she had on her head and both stood up toward the door. When opened, the ponies believed Mary's show ended. "Fluttershy?" Hearing her name, Fluttershy turned to the radio host. "Professor Birch told me about your talent with Pokémon. I was wondering if it's okay to join me live?" Fluttershy froze in awe but fear. Humans would know about her and would want to see her for their own benefit.

"Me... on your show?" she stuttered. Applejack thought of a way to calm the Pegasus girl.

"Now how many people actually know who you are out there?" she questioned. "In here, all that will be known is that voice of yours. Not to mention that the audience is strictly listening and not watching." Fluttershy used the words to help her concentrate on a decision.

"So, Fluttershy?" Twilight urged. "What do you say?" With all the support, Fluttershy made her choice.

"Okay, let's do it," she decided. Mary and Fluttershy entered the booth where Mary resupplied her headphones and Fluttershy lowered the microphone. The red light outside came on.

"Welcome back, this is DJ Mary's Pokémon Talk brought to you by Devon Industries," she announced. "Now normally trainers only come on my show when they defeat Whitney, our Gym Leader in Goldenrod City. However, Professor Birch brought along someone who has a way with Pokémon that caught my attention in the studio. Perhaps I should be the first to call my next guest 'The Pokémon Whisperer: Miss Fluttershy!" Mary pointed to Fluttershy as a cue.

"It's a pleasure to be on your show, DJ Mary." In Ash's room, the Crusaders sat up, shocked at not just who's on the radio, but where she, Twilight and Applejack were located.

"Fluttershy's with DJ Mary?!" they gawked. Back to the studio...

"Fluttershy, I saw you with Professor Birch's Altaria and you two seemed to click," Mary noted. Delia blinked at the name Mary spoke. "How long have you had this ear-and-tongue talent?"

"Well... Since I had an accident with a few of my other friends back home," Fluttershy thought back. "Before I knew what happened, I found myself with a lot of Grass Pokémon but I first thought it was other po- uh, people talking before I opened my eyes." Mary awed the history.

"So, let me get this straight... to almost everyone with Pokémon like say a Poliwag, we hear 'Poly? Poliwag!' or a Pikachu, it's 'Pika, Pikachu!' but to you, it's more like you and me now." Fluttershy's face reddened at hearing Pikachu mentioned.

"More or less. It's a talent that some people wanted to borrow but if I can, I'd rather have every trainer be happy with how they relate to their Pokémon. I don't want to be a crutch because you can't understand the words of a Pokémon like I can." Mary snickered at Fluttershy's face blushing before she answered.

"Hey, I wouldn't want you as a crutch either. Sorry, your face got as pink as your hair. Someone special in your life?" Fluttershy hesitated at answering the radio host.

"Too embarrassing..."

"Gotcha. So, what are you doing after you step out of my studio."

"Well... Altaria was my first Dragon Pokémon I befriended but I want to see Clair in Blackthorn City so I can get along with others since I heard she specializes with that certain type."

"Well, before you can, apparently callers are keeping the phone lines off the hook. We'll be back to answer your questions. This is DJ Mary's Pokémon Talk." As the station took a commercial break, the Crusaders couldn't help but glee at Fluttershy talking from the radio.

"Wow, I can't believe Fluttershy met a dragon and befriended it!" Scootaloo awed.

"I know," Apple Bloom agreed. "For some pony that can only stand Spike, this is a step up for our Pegasus friend." A minute or two passed when the show returned.

"And welcome back to the Pokémon Talk," Mary reintroduced. "DJ Mary, your host, and my second guest, Fluttershy, the Pokémon Whisperer. We're having a hard time keeping the phone hung up. Are you ready for some questions? Keep in mind, none of these will be too personal: none about where you're from or what you look like for starters."

"I'm ready," Fluttershy replied.

"Okay, our first called is from Saffron City in Kanto. You're on the air with DJ Mary and Fluttershy. What's your question?"

"Yes, hello?" spoke a young man with a stutter. "Miss Fluttershy, do you have a favorite Pokémon type? Like, do you prefer a Flying Pokémon or Psychic?"

"I... don't have a particular favorite type as of right now," she hesitated. "I would need to see all types and I know I have yet to."

"I think I know why he'd ask that," Mary suspected. "You first talked to Grass Pokémon and believed you'd prefer that type." A shy laugh slipped to the microphone. Mary and Fluttershy approached call after call, some with helpful advice to raising a human's Pokémon and some that border the line of personal quips. The hour was nearly over and both girls knew the show's end came soon. "We have time for one more caller..." Hearing from her producers, Mary hesitated to reply. "It's... It's the Blackthorn City Gym Leader, Clair." The Crusaders, Birch, Twilight, Applejack and Altaria shuttered at the last call. "Okay, you're on with... DJ Mary and, uh... Fluttershy!"

"Thank you for taking my call," she replied. "Fluttershy, is it? I heard that you want to visit me at home and see other dragons." Fluttershy's face blushed at hearing a rather similar tone from Princess Celestia in a sense.

"I do, uh... Miss Clair," she fumbled. Clair lofted a giggle from her shake.

"It's okay. My grandfather and I can help you with dragons and how to communicate with them." Her face got so red, Applejack could make her head out like an apple.

"It would... be an honor to... uh, learn from you."

"It would, indeed. If you come soon, a friend of mine who also specializes in Dragon Pokémon will be there, too. He's a former Pokémon Champion and current G-Men Lieutenant." More help, and the ponies couldn't help but accept it.

"That didn't take long to know what Clair sounded like," Twilight gulped. A few extra words later, Mary saw the big hand peak at 12. Time's up.

"Thank you for the call, Clair," she excused. "And since it's the top of the new hour, my show needs to end now. I would like to thank both our guests, Professor Birch and Fluttershy. Coming up, your local news. For Professor Birch and Fluttershy, I'm DJ Mary, signing off." The red light shut off, Mary removed her headphones and Fluttershy raised the microphone. "Fluttershy, thanks for helping me on the show. I didn't expect to get that many calls. Sure, we didn't get to all of them. A lot of people seemed to have an interest in you." The compliment embarrassed Fluttershy.

"So I've started to notice," she shivered. With a handshake, they exited the studio which Applejack and Twilight praised her calm demeanor up to Clair's call. They exited the station which Mary waved farewell to them but Altaria stayed close to Fluttershy. This gave Birch an idea.

"Fluttershy?" he asked. "I think Altaria wants to join you three." The ponies hushed in awe about the Humming Pokémon. Twilight knelt for a confirmation.

"Is that what you want?" she guessed. Altaria cawed happily to the offer as it turned to Fluttershy. To her, she wanted to be its trainer.

"Of course," she accepted. Birch recalled Altaria back to its Pokéball before handing it to Fluttershy. "I promise to take good care of Altaria." Birch nodded to the promise. That night, Fluttershy fed Totodile, Altaria and Sentret at the Goldenrod City Pokémon Center. "I bet you're all hungry." A Nurse Joy came over to see the three Pokémon.

"Miss Fluttershy?" she asked. Turning, Fluttershy eyed the nurse.

"Yes?"

"You've got a call from Ash." Once more, her face blushed. Answering the phone, Ash appeared onscreen.

"Hi, Ash! How are you?"

"Doing just fine with the rest of the gang," he smiled. "We're on our way to May's next Contest. Besides, what the heck brought you to DJ Mary's radio show? Professor Birch?" Fluttershy huffed a shy laugh like it wasn't a big deal.

"He insisted to have all of us and he gave me an Altaria he treated... and I got to hear Clair! I know what she sounds like!" Ash laughed at the energetic burst.

"Clair's an awesome Gym Leader, otherwise she wouldn't be that well know." Fluttershy nodded to Ash's words of experience. "You and Clair will be great friends. I'm sure of it."

"Thanks." Suddenly, she yawned. She's ready to retire. "Sorry. I guess doing that radio show wore me out." Ash understood her condition.

"Alright. You, Applejack and Twilight take it easy."

"Right. I love you." After hanging up and the Pokémon fed, the ponies gone to sleep. What could be next for the ponies?


TO BE CONTINUED...