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]

[A short hike later, the two find themselves out to the east of Celadon, just far enough away that they probably won't bother anyone.]

Alright. Are you ready?

[Twilight's pretty stone-faced, but she can probably be forgiven for that.]

[buckyouup]

[Applejack grips Dozer's ball tightly in her hand. She's never happy to let this monster out, especially now that he's evolved into this giant weapon.]

...I reckon there's no backin' out now.

[friendyousohard]

Let me... get us some insurance.

[She pulls out one of her own balls and pops it open, unleashing Megasoma. The Heracross flexes a bit and then glances over at her questioningly.]

We... might need you in a moment, Megasoma. How confident are you in taking on a cranky Mamoswine?

[Megasoma just smirks and gives her a thumbs-up. Bring 'im on.]

That's what I like to hear. Okay, Applejack, I think we're ready.

[buckyouup]

Alright.

[She winces, holding out Dozer's ball, releasing him into the wild.

The mammoth pokemon, now free from his prison, stomps the ground in frustration. Human, how long did you plan on keeping him inside that tiny cell? He turns, slowly, sniffing the air, until he comes face-to-face with the girls. He barely notices Megasoma, his eyes narrowing down at Twilight, and the flowers in her arms.]

[friendyousohard]

[Twilight braces herself and stands her ground, making sure not to flinch, gulp, or in any other way betray her fear at being matched up against an enormous animal that would probably like to maim her. She holds the flowers up, but not out, not yet.]

AJ says you saw a few of these around recently, and they're one of the few things you decided not to trample or freeze. Do you like these type of flowers, Dozer?

[It's sort of a one-sided conversation without Fluttershy around, but Twilight figures she can get what she needs without her, for the moment.]

[buckyouup]

[Dozer's eyes widen as Twilight raises the flowers. This girl dares to speak with him? He snorts loudly, stomping closer to the tiny human, knowing if he wanted, he could stop her flat without warning. Humans are such weak creatures.

He lowers his head to get a better look at the flowers. A peace offering? This is not a tactic they have tried before. He leans in, sniffing them. Surely they were booby trapped, in some way.]

[friendyousohard]

[Twilight just stands there as Dozer walks closer, Megasoma still holding position next to her, arms folded, ready to flip out and wreck faces if Dozer decides to try anything nasty.

But his reaction is encouraging. Twi slides her hand a bit further down the flowers' stems, giving Dozer the chance to take them if he wants.]

I'll take that as a yes. So, you do have something you like aside from destroying everything you see. Alright, you can have them. They're poisonous to us anyway. All I ask is that you listen to me.

[buckyouup]

[He recognized the flowers in an instant. They were the same ones from that field, the day he evolved against that monstrous Charizard. How he loathed that day. The day of his evolution should have been the day he claimed his freedom, but that beast and his silver-haired human had to interfere. He snorts again, touching Twilight's arm with his frozen tusk. He should crush you just for thinking you deserve his audience, but... those flowers.

He closes his eyes, pulling his tusk away and taking the bouquet with it. Fine. Your offering is acceptable. He will hear what you have to say.]

[friendyousohard]

[Okay, so far so good. She releases the flowers to his trunk, and sighs with relief.]

Alright. Now, Dozer... I don't know much about you. I know you destroy things every time Applejack lets you out of your ball, but I don't know if that's because you're angry, because you just like to, or what. But I do know that as long as you keep doing that, she's going to keep shoving you back into that ball. And nothing's going to change. Do you like things the way they are? You coming out, maybe fighting an enemy Pokemon, maybe crushing a few things around you, then being pulled back into the ball when she's fed up with the way you're acting? Is that what you want?

[buckyouup]

[His eyes narrow, he turns in an instant back to Applejack, grunting angrily. This puny human thinks she can control me? Lock me away when I do something "bad"? One day I'll shove her into a tiny cage and see how she likes it.]

[friendyousohard]

So you want to get rid of her, is that it? Trample your trainer and be wild again. And what then? Rampage throughout the countryside? Destroy things just for the sake of destroying them? What do you want, Dozer? That's what I want to know. What is it that you're really after?

[buckyouup]

[Dozer turns, slowly, back to Twilight. He shakes his head, slowly, every move he makes, deliberate and calculating. Little human, do not boil down my actions to wanton destruction. You don't know what it's like to be entrapped by something less than you.

His eyes move downwards, staring at the bouquet of flowers hanging from his icy tusk.]

[friendyousohard]

... You're not a mindless monster. I can tell that much now. Honestly? I wasn't sure before this conversation. That's the kind of impression your actions give. What is anyone supposed to think when the only times they ever see you, you're trying to crush everything around you? Do you realize that this is the first time I've ever seen you being anything remotely resembling peaceful?

And maybe you don't care. Maybe it doesn't matter to you what the people and Pokemon around you think of you. Fair enough, you're under no obligation to. But ask yourself, if everyone around you thinks of you as a monster, what are you going to be treated like?

Dozer... I'm going to tell you something you might not believe. We don't want to keep doing this. Applejack doesn't keep putting you back in there because she likes it. It's because she doesn't feel she has any other choice. Because she feels responsible for what happens to those around her, especially when the Pokemon she's caught and raised are involved.

[buckyouup]

[The mammoth pokemon grunts. Other pokemon are beneath him. Humans, without any power of their own, are especially worthless. Unable to fight their own battles. He's seen it. Every time they're in a city. When he fights, all humans do is scream, or cry, or hide behind their pokemon. He glares at the purple-haired girl.

He turns and looks at Megasoma. He understands your ploy. Were he to attack, you would simply hide behind him. Twilight, you're no different than any other human. Helpless.]

[friendyousohard]

[Megasoma looks right back, glaring into Dozer's eyes. Already he doesn't like the mammoth. He unfolds his arms once, and flexes one of them at the mammoth, a silent "bring it, I dare you" challenge. Twilight, however, reaches out a hand and rests it on his shoulder.]

Megasoma, no. We don't want to fight unless there's no other choice.

[The Heracross glances at her with an "are you serious?" look, but sighs and returns to his folded-arm stance.]

I won't try to hide while Megasoma's here. I can't fight you on my own, Dozer. No human possibly could. I have no problem admitting that. But I have complete confidence in Megasoma's ability to do so, and win. And he will willingly give me his strength, because we're partners. Friends.

[Megasoma nods sharply at that. Darn right!]

But I don't want this to have to come to that. I don't want to fight you if I can help it. I want us to be able to work together. And I want you to be able to work with AJ. Is that really so impossible?

[buckyouup]

[He snorts, looking away from them. Do you honestly expect me to let that little blonde one control me? To command me in battle? I fight for myself.]

[friendyousohard]

Just what's so offensive about the idea? Haven't you ever had a friend before? Someone you were willing to fight for?

[buckyouup]

[Friends? He closes his eyes, his snout in the air. Friends are for the weak.]

[friendyousohard]

... I see. You know, that actually explains a lot.

[She closes her eyes in thought for a moment, then nods, as if coming to a decision. Silently gesturing for Megasoma to stay where he is, she walks toward Dozer, slowly and carefully.]

[buckyouup]

[Dozer opens one eye in an instant, glaring down at her. Why are you approaching me, human? Do you have a death wish?]

Um... Twilight? You sure what you're doin' is a good idea?

[friendyousohard]

No, I'm not. But it's a calculated risk.

[She stops within arms reach of Dozer.]

Yes, I'm terrified right now, but I'm going to this anyway. Because even if you decide to attack me, Dozer, I have faith in my friends to protect me.

[She lifts a hand and reaches it out towards him.]

No matter how much stronger you are than me.

[buckyouup]

[Dozer takes a step back, his tusks lowered in defense.]

[friendyousohard]

[She blinks a bit in surprise...

And then starts to laugh.]

Dozer, I'm not going to attack you. What could I do to you even if I tried?

[She holds out her hand.]

You've never had a friend before. What would it hurt to try? It's not all that hard, really.

[buckyouup]

[He grunts again, turning away from Twilight and starts to wander away. Hmph. This human thinks she can be his equal?]

[friendyousohard]

... You know, it wouldn't hurt you to give us a chance. What do you have to lose?