friendyousohard | 11th Spell: [Video/Action for Union Cave]

[The gear clicks on in steady hands, focusing directly on Twilight's face. She checks it out a moment before nodding in satisfaction.]

Looks good, Starswirl. Make sure to keep it recording so I can review this later.

[She clears her throat and goes into scientist lecture mode.]

Date: September the Seventh by Johto's Calendar.

Location: Outside Union Cave, Azalea Town entrance. Preparing to re-enter the cave.

Experiment: In order to test the effectiveness of the Repel item sold in the shops, I wore the fragrance through the Cave and am now going to return into it as the item has worn off. I will document the difference in the frequency of encounters and use this data to determine a rough estimate of the effect. Further experiments may be necessary depending on my results.

The experiment begins now. Come on, Starswirl.

[She turns and heads inside the cave, walking along at a sedate pace. Soon enough there's the sound of wings flapping.]

Hmmm, we seem to have Pokemon already. Well that's a fairly large difference in and of itself.

Wait, just how many of them are-

[She's cut off with a shriek as a Zubat flies by, and another buzzes the gear. Starswirl quickly drops the gear and goes to help his trainer, causing the image to drop to the ground and start showing nothing but rock. Before the gear shuts off, Twilight shouts:]

It's in my hair! It's stuck in my haiiiiiiir!

[It clicks off after that.

A few minutes later, the gear clicks on again, showing a very grumpy Twilight sitting outside the cave with a bandage on her face and her hair looking like it just went through a wind tunnel. One full of various debris.]

Conclusion: There is no need for further study. The item clearly works, and works very well.

Also, a personal note here.

I hate Zubat.

Can't believe I had to catch the rotten thing to get it out... [She mutters a few more inaudible things as she switches the gear back off. Well, no one ever said scientific research was easy.]

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[That gets a mild little laugh out of her, though it's not actually directed at Kayneth himself.]

Oh, I know the feeling. I'm pretty sure, when it comes down to it, that we all have habits some people would find irritating. But you know... sometimes that can be part of the charm, once you get used to it.

Oh, I'm well aware of that. [EVERYONE HAS ANNOYING HABITS except him] Granted, there are some habits that you never quite get used to.

Yes, I can't really deny that either. Though now you've got me curious. What exactly does your partner do that's so obnoxious?

He wakes up at an ungodly hour every morning to train, which would be all well and good if he didn't expect me to join him.

... Huh. Sounds like one of my friends, only replace "train" with "work". And she doesn't expect anyone else to join her.

[Rainbow might wake up early to train too, but somehow Twilight doubts it.]

Why does he want you to join him, anyway?

He seems to think it's good for my health, which really couldn't be further from the truth.

[...Kayneth, you're just out of shape, man...]

Well, a good training regimen would be. That's what they're for, after all. But waking up at that time of the morning and going through... whatever routine he's made for himself would probably do more harm than good.

This sounds like something that really warrants some serious discussion between you two. He clearly just wants to help, maybe he's genuinely worried about you. But if he doesn't understand how you feel about it, he's going to be the opposite of helpful. Who knows, you might end up actually being able to put that particular habit to constructive uses.

I've tried to discuss it with him, believe me. He's not exactly prone to listening to me on this particular subject, though, given how much I've protested it in the past.

Wait, so he doesn't even respect your boundaries on this? That hardly seems fair... A little teasing or suggesting is one thing, but from what you're saying it sounds like he's bound and determined to force you into this, and at his speed instead of your own at that.

It really isn't! There are plenty of benefits to this particular alliance, it's simply this particular issue that's making things difficult.

[...aside from the whole shirtlessness thing, um]

Hmmm... well I don't know what to tell you, honestly. If he doesn't listen to you on the issue and you can't get him to see reason, all you can do is try to ignore him when he tries to wake you.

... I imagine that isn't incredibly easy.

[Just as well not to mention that to her. Her reaction would be an incredibly aggravating "so?"]

[...which would probably lead into "oh... you're... a pony..." and prove kind of awkward, so that's for the best...!]

It's not easy at all. I can find ways to avoid it, at least, so that does help. Nevertheless...

[...well, he'll just sigh in frustration. That pretty much sums up his feelings on the matter...]

Nevertheless... it's still an issue.

... Who is this person, anyway?

His name is Alex Louis Armstrong. Have you met him...?

No, I can't say the name is familiar to me.

Though that's an interestingly apropos last name judging by what you just told me about him...

It... certainly is. That's not really surprising, though, given that this whole thing is apparently some sort of family tradition.

... Does that mean he considers you family, if he's trying to get you involved in it?

I would think that it's more that he's overenthusiastic and doesn't exactly understand why people may not enjoy the things he enjoys.

11th Spell: [Video/Action for Union Cave]

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