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

[friendyousohard]

[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.

Comments

[friendyousohard]

I mean, I guess we could just always let them keep going until one of them was out, but that doesn't seem like the best training regimen.

[buckyouup]

It's better than how I normally train him, at least.

[friendyousohard]

How do you usually train him, anyway?

[buckyouup]

Take him as far out of town as I can an' let try t'convince him t'let me command him? He usually tires himself out after destroyin' a few trees.

[friendyousohard]

[Twilight's mind has no trouble envisioning this... and also picturing AJ smack-dab in the middle of Dozer's rampage.]

And has that... ever worked? Even temporarily?

[buckyouup]

I'm hoping one day.

[friendyousohard]

Applejack, I think we may need to rethink your training methods.

[buckyouup]

...Tell me somethin' I don't know.

[friendyousohard]

[... Well now she feels bad.]

Hey... I can probably give you at least a little help. Let's try to figure this out together, all right?

[buckyouup]

W-well... alright.

[Normally she wouldn't even entertain the idea of getting help from anyone. But... she can't handle this monstrosity by herself.]

[friendyousohard]

Okay, the question to ask ourselves is how we can convince Dozer to listen to you. So, first of all we need to know what he wants.

[Aside from to destroy everyone/thing in the world.]

[buckyouup]

He hates bein' in his ball... an' he likes destroyin' stuff.

[Way to get to know your pokemon, AJ.]

[friendyousohard]

Does he like... anything else? Food? Praise? ... Something that isn't violence?

[buckyouup]

Flowers.

[friendyousohard]

... Wait really?

[She did not expect that.]

[buckyouup]

Y-yeah. I didn't realize it at first, either, until I went off on my own to that clearin' where me an' Riku fought. After Dozer's rampage that made him evolve, you'd think just about everythin' there t'be either covered in ice, or shattered in a million pieces. But... there was a li'l patch of flowers that ain't missin' a single petal.

[friendyousohard]

That's... fascinating. And might give us a bit of insight into him. What sort of flowers were they?

[Twilight's brain is already concocting a plan.]

[buckyouup]

They were light-purple, an' kinda looked like tulips. Maybe he likes the smell, or somethin'.

[friendyousohard]

Light purple... irises, maybe? Hmmm, maybe we'll find some in the greenhouse.

[Like a bull in a china shop has rarely been such an accurate metaphor.]

[buckyouup]

It's certainly worth a shot. If there's anyplace we can find flowers t'calm Dozer down, it's in Celadon.

[friendyousohard]

Well, no time like the present. Let's head down there and see what we can find.

[buckyouup]

You going t'be alright? You just woke up, after all.

[friendyousohard]

AJ, it's a walk to a greenhouse, not a trek up into the mountains. Really, the fresh air will probably do me some good.

[buckyouup]

...Point taken. Just don't go pushin' yourself too hard, alright, Sugarcube?

[friendyousohard]

Right. I'll restrict myself to half-training for a little while.

[She grins teasingly.]