friendyousohard | 13th Spell: [Video/Action for Fluttershy]

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13th Spell: [Video/Action for Fluttershy]

[The gear's camera shows a nice view of the night sky (well, sort of nice, it's still pretty cloudy and the fog's rolling in, after all) as Twilight clicks it on. Something flutters across the view, but it's pretty dark and hard to see what it is.]

I thought things would get a bit brighter after we got out of Ilex Forest, but not just yet, I guess. Ah well, Echo seems to like it better like this anyway.

[As the unidentifiable (unless you know Twi named her Zubat Echo) Pokemon flutters by again, the camera seems to come just a bit closer to it, then slide a bit further away.]

Trying to adapt to Pokemon that have different sleep schedules is a bit tougher than I thought. I figured with all my experience staying up to cram for tests I'd have been more ready for this, but it's definitely cut into our travel time. Not that the recent weather was helping, mind. Anyone else have any problems with that?

[A loud snort comes from behind, and Twilight chuckles, shifting the camera around to show her own face... and right behind it, that of the Snorlax she's using as a bed.]

Then again, some of them can sleep wherever and whenever, and are pretty good at helping us with that too. On that note, I should say that if you've never used a Snorlax as a bed before, you should try it. Best. Mattress. Ever.

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If you're having any trouble, you can always come to me. And this little one is a boy!

[Treeko, for now, seems pretty laid back. He shrugs it off, hands behind his head. Sup, babe.]

He's been doing so much better. And he's so adorable! He's a grass type, and he can spit out seeds, and look at his little tail!

[She leans down, nuzzling to the lizard, who pokes her nose. Celest grumbles, and would... cross her arms if they were long enough. I'm adorable too, dammit.]

[She can't help but chuckle a bit at how well Fluttershy's hit it off with the newcomer. Not that she'd expect anything less, mind you.]

He is pretty cute. Are you planning on keeping him?

[The grumbling does sort of get her attention, and Twilight glances down at Celest, curious, but it's hard to make out her expression in the darkness. She's about to ask what's going on when the flutter of leathery wings distracts her, Echo diving down... straight at her head. She jumps.]

Gah! Echo, knock it off! [She flails her hands a bit before pulling the Zubat out of her hair, holding her up with a frown.] What is it with you and my hair?

[Fluttershy keeps cooing and coddling Treeko until the bat business, which makes her raise her head.]

... Sometimes I let my bugs and birds rest in my hair. I think they like how soft and warm it can be. Maybe it means Echo likes you a whole lot.

Well, that's nice and all, but...

[She trails off with a frown, just staring at her little bat, who responds by flapping her wings eagerly and sort of nuzzling her round little body into her trainer's hands. Twilight gulps.]

It just... feels weird to me. Maybe it's because I'm used to having Spike and Owlowiscious on my flank, or...

[Echo skrees at her, and Twilight flinches a bit before realizing she's just being friendly, at which point she pats her on the head. Point of fact, Twi looks a bit... scared?]

[Fluttershy blinks at that interaction. She cautiously steps forward, worried.]

Twilight, are you... afraid of Echo?

What? N-no it's... [Twilight stops, looking down at the now-worried looking Echo, and scratches the top of her head reassuringly.]

Don't worry, Echo. Go fly a bit more, okay? [She tosses the Zubat into the air, where Echo obligingly starts to flap around again, and pats next to her on Sapphire, silently asking Fluttershy to come up as she draws her knees up to her chest, folding in on herself and looking rather ashamed.]

[Fluttershy nods, and then moves to put Treeko on her shoulder. Celest grumbles again, but tries to be patient. Fluttershy ever so gently and slowly climbs on top on Sapphire's belly - constantly checking her face to make sure she's okay with this - before sitting next to Twilight.]

What's the matter? You know you can tell me anything.

[Sapphire doesn't even seem to notice, she's so deep in sleep. As Fluttershy and Treeko climb onto her, she just yawns and murmurs in her sleep. Twilight doesn't even seem to notice, just sitting there and looking down at the ground... well, mostly at Sapphire's belly, really, but the expression's the same. She takes a few moments before breathing in deep to answer Fluttershy's question.]

I'm... I'm... Scared of bats.

[She's a bit startled - first, why are bats scary? They're adorable! With their widdle wings and widdle fangs... er, not the point. Second, Twilight having actual fears is always surprising, since she's so mature and smart. She gently puts her arms around her friend.]

I had no idea... Why didn't you say anything? If you're afraid of anything, I want to help...

[She leans against Fluttershy, still pretty embarrassed by that admission because she knows, full well, that there's no reason for this particular fear.]

You... remember when I was trying to help you wake up the critters on Winter Wrap Up? How I ended up being so, well... freaked out, and ran around all over the place until I wound up getting sprayed by skunks?

[She pauses, then nods, remembering the disaster.]

I shouldn't have sent you in so early... I always forget not everypony sees animals the same way I do... I'm sorry...

It was not your fault. I was the one who was so eager to find some way to help that I didn't even think that not all the animals would be ones I was eager to see.

Anyway, that was probably when I first realized it. Not that it caused it, mind you, but I hadn't really had to deal with bats much before then. It's not... crippling, or anything, I can deal with it if I have to, but, well... if you were wondering why I haven't trained Echo enough to evolve yet, that's why.

[She looks up at the sky again, watching Echo flit around with a depressed face.]

I've been trying to get over it with her, but... when she surprises me or gets too close, it's hard. And I just don't know how to deal with it.

[She frowns a bit, and then pulls back, determined. A friend in need? AND animals in need? This was definitely something she had to help.]

Then I'll help you deal with it! Echo really cares about you, and I know you care about Echo. We'll get you past this fear... I know we can do it! I'm all about fear!

[Definite side-eye from Treeko. What kinda group did I get myself involved in...]

Fluttershy... [She manages a weak, small smile, relieved at having her friend, who's also an expert (in both wild animals and being terrified of things there's no reason to be scared of) to help her.]

Thanks. Really, I... I definitely appreciate you doing this for me. I know this must come as a surprise to you...

[She glances away again, still pretty embarrassed about all this.]

It is surprising... But that just means there's more I need to learn about you! You helped me when I was afraid of dragons... these are your smaller dragons!

[... it makes sense to her okay. She looks up at Echo, gives her a smile, and then looks back down.]

Let's get started... I want to help right away! First... um... oh, I know! Tell me what it is about bats that are scary!

Smaller dragons, huh? I guess there's something to that...

[Fluttershy's question gets her to close her eyes and give it her usual amount of thought for important details. That is to say, a lot of it.]

The first thing that comes to mind is the way they fly. I'm more used to birds and pegasi, whose feathers rustle enough that I can usually hear them coming. Hearing them come flapping by is almost comforting, really, it's so familiar. Bats, though... They don't sound at all the same, and when I try to pet Echo, it just feels so strange to get the feeling of that leathery skin instead of feathers. Maybe that's because I'm used to Owlowiscious, I can't be sure. But either way, it bugs me.

[She stops there for the moment to see if Fluttershy has anything to say on the subject before she moves on.]

[Hmmmm.]

What we need is comfort sensory! ... Or sensing comfort... well, um... I think since you attached feathers to good memories and happiness, we need to attach feeling Echo's wings to good memories and happiness! Right now your strongest memory of those wings is probably the first time Echo got stuck in your hair... so we need to change that!

[She holds up her hands.]

Echo, would you mind coming here?

Okay, that makes sense...

[It's true that the first thing she thinks when Echo gets close is "oh no she's going to land in my hair again!", so fixing that knee-jerk reaction would be a pretty great start.

Echo swoops down towards Fluttershy as she calls out, answering with a soft skree of "okay!" and lands in Shy's outstretched hands.]

So... what's your plan, exactly?

Well, if you want to... I'd like you to start petting Echo, but with your eyes closed. While you're petting Echo, I want you to focus on things that make you happy. And Echo, I need you to stay still for this... no going in her hair, okay?

O-okay... I'm pretty sure I can handle that, at least.

[Twilight closes her eyes as bidden by Fluttershy, and reaches out her hand to touch Echo's head between the ears, scratching gently. Echo flaps her wings once and leans into the hand, but doesn't make any movements to actually fly up to her trainer, in respect to Fluttershy's wishes.]

... She's soft. [She almost sounds surprised about that.]

[Yay, progress! Fluttershy smiles very wide, glad to have helped even a little.]

That's good, very good! Try and pet her wings too, and her ears. But stay away from the mouth... I don't want you scared by her teeth. And remember, right now, Echo has no eyes and can't see, so she's the same as you.

[Nodding silently, Twilight obeys Fluttershy's instructions and starts scratching Echo's ears, which gets a happy little coo out of her. She moves her hand over a bit, keeping it on the top of her Zubat, until she's reached her wings. Slowly, curiously, she starts to map out the left wing with her fingertips, running them over Echo's skin curiously. Leathery, but with soft hairs all over, thin and pliable, but strong, the wings are actually pretty fascinating to feel.]

I think... she's a lot stronger than she looks. [Twilight comes to that conclusion as she feels the other side of the wing and notes how much muscle there is on the top of it, where the wingbone is.]

She probably is. She's got a very good bite to her, and her wings can be used as weapons too. She may be small, but she's full of strength and warmth... just like us. We're a lot more than we appear on the outside. See... Echo and you are more like than you could have thought.

[Twilight just nods in response to that, not really sure about her words, and trails her hands to the bottom of Echo's wings, trailing over the thin membrane between them. Echo squeals a bit and squirms, and Twilight pulls her hands back in surprise and worry.]

Ah! I'm sorry, Echo, I didn't mean to... I didn't hurt you, did I?

[Echo skrees back: "Tickles!"]

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