8th Spell [Video/Action for Violet City]

[friendyousohard]

P-Princess Celestia?

[Twilight's very worried face appears in the screen, a Sigilyph, Celestia's Sigilyph, fluttering around behind her.]

Your Pokemon... it just showed up here. I don't know how it got here, but I promise I'll get it back to you right away. I'm sure that-

[She cuts off, seeming to notice something in the corner of the screen. Her eyes widen in shock and horror.]

The filter broke? But that means...

[She pauses a moment, tears coming to her eyes.]

She's gone...

[She turns off the gear before she can start to cry. Any responses will be answered in a few hours.]

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[3_butterflies]

[ever so quietly is coming up to her, arms open, hug ready.]

[Action]

[friendyousohard]

[She's still in the midst of fully absorbing the realization. That its happened with people she knows this many times before now is probably the only reason she isn't in complete shock. Still, it's almost overwhelming, like a blow to the gut.

She doesn't even notice Fluttershy coming up to her, not consciously anyway. But she leans in her direction when they're close enough to touch regardless, as if by reflex. Only once she feels her friends' arms does she really notice Shy is there, and she turns to look at her with tear-stained eyes.]

Fluttershy... [She tries to say more, but she can't choke anything out.]

[Action]

[3_butterflies]

[She holds Twilight close, gently petting her hair. Even she was surprised at how soon Celestia had left. She sighs, chin down.]

I'm so sorry, Twilight...

[Action]

[friendyousohard]

[She collapses. Whimpering in her throat, Twilight just flops limply against Fluttershy's chest and begins to sob into it.]

She... she wasn't even here a month. What was the point? Why? Is this place just taunting me?

[Half of that is barely even intelligible around her broken sounds of anguish, but Fluttershy can probably get the gist. Not that it matters much, anyway. There's no answer available.]

[Action]

[3_butterflies]

I don't know... I don't know why it does anything... But... Even if she was only here for a little while... It was nice to see her again, wasn't it...? To know she's okay, and to let her know we're okay...?

[It's not much, but it's the best she can come up with for now. She continues holding her, trying to keep Twilight up and steady.]

[Action]

[friendyousohard]

I was ecstatic to hear her voice... [It's quiet, but clearer than before.] I knew I shouldn't be, but I somehow felt like... like things would be better, now that she was here. Even if she didn't have any power here, she was still the Princess.

But this place just... swept her up and away like that. If it weren't for Apus, it would be like she was never here at all!

[She chokes off a sob and just holds onto Fluttershy for a moment, as though afraid she'll vanish on her next... or the other way around.]

[Voice]

[nemurihime]

The filter broke? What does that mean?

[Someone new here doesn't understand.]

[Voice]

[friendyousohard]

[It's a long time before there's a response, and Twilight's leaving the video function off for it. She still doesn't sound especially good.]

Well, if you haven't made any mistakes in creating it... and I know I didn't, then it means the person you were trying to write a message to... isn't there to get it.

[Voice]

[nemurihime]

[Chihaya is fine with waiting for a response, though she figures she just sent it wrong. Electronics aren't her strong suit.]

What do you mean by "isn't here to get it?"

[Voice]

[friendyousohard]

I mean... [A long pause, almost a minute's worth of one.] They went home. This place sent them back, the same way it brought them in.

[Voice]

[nemurihime]

[This is news to her. Going home.]

So, there's a way back where we belong after all. There's just no way to control it.

[Voice]

[friendyousohard]

Right. You get sent back the same way you get brought in. With no warning and no time to say goodbye or make preparations.

[Oh there is a lot of bitterness in that sentence.]

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[usedlaserbeam]

Princess Celestia as well, then?

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[friendyousohard]

I'm afraid so. [She doesn't say anything else, but judging by her appearance, that's because she can't muster up the strength.]

[Video]

[thetruehistorian]

You know she isn't dead, at the very least.

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

[She seems weak even after the few hours she's waited before responding to this. It couldn't be more obvious that the loss has hit her hard.] I would never worry about that with her.

[Video]

[thetruehistorian]

Then you may count yourself among the fortunate. Very few enjoy such security.

[Robin really blows at being comforting. But her expression is kind.]

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

... But no one dies in Johto.

[Video]

[the_true_historian]

Is that a fact?

[Well, color her surprised]

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

Well, no one who's been brought in from the other worlds, anyway. I assume ghost Pokemon have to come from somewhere, for example...

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[sliceoflaughter]

[Pinkie's approach isn't nearly as bouncy as it normally would be. Even her hair isn't quite as chaotic.]

Twilight? Are you okay?

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[friendyousohard]

... No.

[She chokes out the word, and what follows is a single, harsh sob.]

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[sliceoflaughter]

[...Yep. She figured as much.

Pinkie places a hand lightly against her friend's shoulder, lips curved in an uncertain pout. This wasn't exactly something that you could just laugh away.]

I'm sorry, Twilight... I know how much she means to you.

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[friendyousohard]

[She turns around a bit, so her side is facing Pinkie, her head down and tears starting to stream out of her eyes.]

I... I guess there was no real reason to believe so, but I just thought... I thought with her here, everything would get better.

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[sliceoflaughter]

...Didn't it for a while?

[She's trying for a small smile, ducking down so that she can get a good look at Twilight and vice-versa.]

It was fun to have her here, wasn't it? And to get a chance to talk with her?