18th Spell: [Video/Action for Route 36]

[friendyousohard]

[The gear clicks on to show what looks like a room out of an old, rustic cabin, a fairly small one with two benches on the sides, next to windows. Three girls are lounging around in it and four backpacks litter the floor. The view holds there for a few moments... long enough to tell that the "room" is moving.]

I have to admit, this really did work out quite well.

[The gear turns around to show off Twilight's smiling face.]

Amazing what you can put together with a little teamwork, isn't it? I'm still not sure how we'll get this thing over some of the terrain Johto and Kanto have to offer, not to mention traveling between regions, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, as the saying goes.

At any rate, we're about to make our stop so I can show the outside- [Twilight's interrupted by a sudden whinny from outside.] What the... Dash! What's going on?

[There's a bit of a clamor as she shoves herself up to one of the windows along with the gear (and, judging by the noises, all of the other girls as well) and the resultant view of the outside shows a small group of Yanma buzzing by, clearly agitated by the giant intruder in their midst.]

... Well, I should have expected this thing would draw some extra attention. Sorry everyone, I'll have to finish what I was saying later.

[She clicks off the feed.]

[OOC: So, Applejack decided a while ago that the pony group needed a wagon, so she built one! (With mod permission, of course.) This is its first journey, and Twilight will be showing the rest thing off after they deal with their little infestation. Questions about it will be fielded mostly by either Twi or AJ.]

Comments

[buckyouup]

It does, doesn't it?

[She nuzzles into the top of Twilight's head. Once comfortable, she whispers.]

Thanks, Twilight... for takin' such good care of her.

[friendyousohard]

[She flushes, embarrassed by Applejack's appreciation and praise for reasons she's not quite sure about.]

I wouldn't ever have done any less. I couldn't. Not for her, and not for any of you.

[buckyouup]

I-I know... I just feel so bad, leavin' the two of you here...

[She knows that there was nothing she could have done. She was sent home. She has no control over when and why it happens. Still... it hurts her to know they were here together, and she abandoned them, regardless of intentions.]

[friendyousohard]

I know exactly what you mean. The whole time that is was just the two of us, it was hard to put out of my mind the question of what would happen to her if I left. It kept me awake at night, at times.

[buckyouup]

I ain't gonna let that happen...

[friendyousohard]

[She doesn't say that it's not AJ's choice whether it happens or not. She knows she doesn't have to, and she knows how much they all wish it was.]

Well, you're here now, and that's what's important.

[buckyouup]

...How 'bout we make a promise. We ain't leavin' anypony alone, and we're all leavin' together.

[She doesn't care that she can't control when she leaves. If it's a promise, she'll find a way to keep it.]

[friendyousohard]

[She doesn't answer for a few moments, just stares up at the sky. They can't make that promise, she knows that. It's just plain ridiculous.

... And yet, she finds herself moving her right hand across her chest in an X shape.]

Cross my heart. Hope to fly.

[buckyouup]

...Stick a cupcake in my eye.

[She chuckles. Boy, if Pinkie heard her use one of her promises, she'd never stop joking about it.]

[friendyousohard]

... Figured it was appropriate.

[After all, nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise.]

[buckyouup]

If there's one way t'know you're serious... it's a Pinkie Promise.

[Her hug tightens around Twilight.]

[friendyousohard]

Which is ironic, because when you think of seriousness, Pinkie's the last pony you'd imagine. But if it works...

[buckyouup]

I reckon it works because when even Pinkie Pie's bein' serious, you know it's a big deal.

[friendyousohard]

I can't argue with that. I can practically hear her reminding us now what'll happen if we break the promise.

[buckyouup]

I know I don't ever wanna be on the receivin' end of a ticked off Pinkie ever again.

[friendyousohard]

She was pretty scary, yeah. Although, that was entirely your own fault and you know it.

[buckyouup]

Had I known how she was gonna respond, I would have just accepted defeat an' came home.

[friendyousohard]

Then you learned a valuable lesson.

That, and the fact that we aren't going to be disappointed with you if you don't win a contest.

[buckyouup]

I suppose you're right. Just don't get mad when I get disappointed in myself, alright?

[friendyousohard]

Then we'll just have to let you know how silly you're being.

And, of course, given the sort of contests you'd be participating in here, I'm actually able to give you a bit of help in training for the next one, so there's that.

[buckyouup]

Well... I'd be lyin' if I said your help wouldn't be nice.

[Not that she would ever outright ask for help.]

[friendyousohard]

Then once we get a chance to change our teams out, I'll give you a few lessons in strategy. How's that?

[buckyouup]

...I'd like that. When we get to Ecruteak, maybe?

[friendyousohard]

That sounds like a plan to me.

... I'd suggest getting the others to join us, but Rainbow wouldn't listen to half of what I'm saying and Fluttershy would spend most of her time worrying over our Pokemon.

[buckyouup]

Nothin' wrong with a little alone time, anyhow. Gives us time for better strategies.