friendyousohard | 17th Spell: [Video/Action for Ponies] (Forward dated to Saturday morning)

[The gear clicks on in the middle of a room in the Pokemon Center. Someone's clearly using it, since the sheets are rumpled and the monitoring gear seems to have seen recent use, but no one's in the bed at the moment.

There's a splashing sound nearby, muffled by a door. The gear is moving very, very slowly towards that door.]

Mmmmmmffff... huh?

[Someone appears to have just woken up behind said door, as well.]

A-AJ...?

Um... h-hey there, Sugarcube. You sure had one crazy sleep, didn't ya?

I did...? Where am I? What's going on...?

[The gear is about halfway to the door at this point.]

You passed out on us right 'bout the time we got into Celadon. We were all real worried about you.

Passed out...? The comas!

[Twilight's voice suddenly gets much stronger and there's the sound of a sudden splash, as though she's just moving around in a pool of water.]

I had one! I went back home! Well... sort of. You know what I mean, right?

I... think so?

I saw so much... My brother, and Cadence, the Crystal Empire, even Discord, there's so much to... Um, AJ?

Discord? What in tarnation's he doin' back? We sealed him up for good!

I'll explain that in a moment, but first... what were you doing just before I woke up?

... Givin' you a bath.

[The gear has almost reached the door, when suddenly a large yellow foot slams down in front of it. It wobbles and falls to the ground, showing an Alakazam glaring down at a Slowpoke, which was carrying the gear.]

And what do you think you're doing?

[The gear floats up into Starswirl's hand...]

Apologies to any who saw this and wanted to speak to my trainer. She is currently occupied, but will be with you shortly.

[And clicks off.]

A few moments later...

[The gear clicks on to show a wet haired and slightly bedraggled Twilight.]

Ah, hello everyone. It seems I've encountered one of those week-long sleeps that we go into on occasion, and gotten some new memories of home. Honestly, it feels a bit strange to be back here... but I'll adjust soon enough. If anything important has happened in the past week, I'd appreciate it if somepo- someone could let me know.

... Also, if anyone has any ideas as to how to curb the tendencies of some Pokemon to abscond with peoples' gear and pull, or try to pull, obnoxious pranks on their trainers and others, I'd love to hear them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, it's an ancient civilization of crystal ponies who lived north of Equestria. Long ago, an evil unicorn named Sombra abused dark magic to enslave the crystal ponies and the empire. Celestia and Luna banished him and destroyed his body, but he cursed the Crystal Empire as he fell, banishing it to be concealed by the snow.

Not long after the wedding, his curse started to fade, and the Crystal Empire returned. We were sent to help Shining and Cadence protect the Empire... because Sombra was also revived, though as a strange, shadowy creature.

[she nods along, interested by the story, but she's definitely scared by the end of it.]

But... but we made it out okay, didn't we? We must have! ... Sombra sounds really scary...

It was a near thing. We had to find the Crystal Heart, an ancient magical object not all that dissimilar to the Elements of Harmony, and get the crystal ponies to unite in love to empower it, protecting the Empire from all threats, Sombra included. Celestia tasked me with finding the Heart, so you girls were in charge of raising the spirits of the crystal ponies, which you did admirably.

It took a lot of effort and quick thinking, but I managed to find the Heart. I was trapped in doing so, but Spike managed to get it to where it needed to be... My number one assistant saved the day, in the end.

[She can't help but smile fondly. Good ol' Spike. Right there when they needed him most.]

[She almost has a sigh of relief, but-]

But... but what about you? You were trapped!Were you okay? Did you get out? Did you get hurt??

[... she's right there, Shy.]

[The concern is touching, regardless. Twi smiles fondly and pats one of Fluttershy's hands.]

Don't worry. The spell was powered by Sombra's power, so when he was defeated, I was freed. I probably could have escaped eventually anyway, but it would have taken too long to get the Heart where it needed to go.

[NOW she has the sigh of relief.]

Thank goodness... What a terrifying adventure... But I guess as long as I know it turns out okay, I can go through it, eventually...

Don't worry, I take care of most of the scary stuff. You girls are in charge of keeping the crystal ponies spirits up, and you do a wonderful job.

[Of course, they do have to contend with shadow Sombra, but that mostly involved just staying away from him.]

That's not the strangest thing we've gone through since then, though. Probably the most intense, but I think Discord's return was even weirder, largely because of how it turned out.

[... i'm sorry, what was that last thing?]

Dis... Discord?! Discord's return?!

[And now she looks absolutely terrified, and she even looks around for a place to hide.]

Fluttershy, he's not here with us! And even if he was, it actually turned out remarkably well!

... Thanks to you, in fact.

Thanks to... me?

Yes. I still can't believe it even now, but you... somehow, through a level of patience and understanding that goes beyond anything I think anypony else could ever manage, managed to convince him to reform.

[She blinks slowly.]

I... I really did that...?

[Aw, Fluttershy, your disbelief is as precious as it is sad.]

You really did. I was amazed, for more than one reason. I honestly didn't think it could be done... and I don't think anypony but you could have pulled it off.

[Well, it's for more than one reason. She looks down at herself for a bit... and then slowly nods.]

... And there are those... who really can be turned over.

I beg your pardon?

[She tilts her head a bit in confusion, not sure what Shy was just getting at.]

... I can help those who did wrong become good people. That's really... wonderful to hear.

[Somepony's getting ideas.]

Well, yes, but... Fluttershy, I feel I should warn you. They have to, on some level, want what you're offering. It worked with Discord because he really did learn the value of friendship once he actually found a friend himself. For someone who genuinely doesn't care about other people, or having friends... I don't know if you can help them.

But I won't know that about them unless I try. That could be happening to so many poor people here... that they're doing bad things because they've never had a friend before.

... Yeah, I can't deny that's probably true, of a lot of people. But I just don't want you to put yourself in danger, or get taken advantage of, trying to help someone who you can't save.

Whatever I do, I won't do it without my friends.

[Well, that gets a sigh of relief from her. She pats Fluttershy's shoulder.]

Alright, I guess there's no one I can trust more to watch your back than us.

17th Spell: [Video/Action for Ponies] (Forward dated to Saturday morning)

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