21st Spell: [Video/Action for Olivine]

[friendyousohard]

[The view opens to a shot of the sea. Pure, pristine, gorgeous...

And apparently filled with swarms of oncoming Pokemon.]

Tesla, fire!

[A huge blast of electricity rips past Twilight into the sea, striking all the nearby swarming fossil Pokemon and knocking out a good chunk of them.]

Thank Celestia for strong Electric-types... Does anyone know what's causing this? I woke up this morning and the town was practically covered in these ancient Pokemon. I've been doing my best to hold them back, as have several others, but they just keep on coming no matter what we do. Is this happening everywhere?

[A small group of Kabuto, Omanyte, and Tirtouga dare the beach again only to be zapped into unconsciousness by Tesla. The Magnezone doesn't even seem tired when Twilight turns the camera on it, though it would probably be hard to tell...]

We've been okay so far, but we can't keep this up forever. And what if they start coming from somewhere aside from-

[There's a loud cry from behind. Twilight whirls around and the shot pans up to show the top of the lighthouse-

Which is covered in Archen that have just flown down from Route 39.]

The sea. Oh horseapples.

[One of the Archen screeches as it lifts off, and the feed ends with that ominous shot.]

Comments

[friendyousohard]

Alright. Tesla, clear things out behind us.

[A Zap Cannon and several shrieks from unhappy ancient Pokemon follows that order.]

That should keep us safe from rear attacks. Alright, AJ, I'm behind you. Go.

[buckyouup]

Alright, Spook. Give us a distraction.

[She releases the massive ghost balloon from his ball. He lets out a loud, low bellow of a groan, before unleashing a torrent of thunderbolts at the Archen circling the light house.]

[friendyousohard]

[Under the cover of Spook's attack, Twilight begins to run for the Lighthouse, pulling out Spike's ball as she goes.]

Spike! Take as many of them down as you can!

[The second pokeball opens up and Twilight's mighty Dragonite roars in challenge as he charged into the midst of the battle with a fierce Dragon Rush, knocking down any Archen too unfortunate to be in his way.]

[sitdownbecider]

[Their way finally clear, Applejack rushes forward, grabbing the heavy light house door with both hands. She groans, pulling it open with all her might, finally creating an entrance big enough for the two to get in.]

Quick, before any get in!

[friendyousohard]

[She doesn't have to say it twice. Twilight's already scrambling to get inside to the relative safety of the lighthouse. Once they've squeezed in she turns back to reach out for the door, though she knows she'll be of minimal assistance getting it closed no matter how much effort she puts into it.]

[buckyouup]

[When they're both inside, AJ slowly forces the heavy door shut. She groans, removing her hat to wipe the sweat from her forehead.]

They're gonna have one heck of a time tryin' to get that open. Reckon we have a chance t'catch our breath?

[friendyousohard]

A few moments... but remember that every minute we take is borrowed by Spike and Spook.

[She slumps down to the floor, breathing heavily.]

[buckyouup]

[She nods.]

If we get up to the top, they should be able t'join us up there.

[She leans against the door, quietly enjoying the feeling of the cold metal against her back.]

Are you alright?

[friendyousohard]

Nothing I can't handle. I've rarely missed my pony body this much, though.

[After a couple more moments, she rises back to her feet and looks at the staircase in front of them.]

Let's start climbing. Don't run, though. I know it's tempting, but we'll just tire ourselves out and have to rest again.

[buckyouup]

I can carry you, if you like.

[She chuckles, taking the railing in her hand. Man, that is a long way up.]

[friendyousohard]

Thanks, but I can carry my own weight. Literally, in this case.

[She takes hold of the other one and begins to climb.]

We've got five flights if I recall correctly, and about twenty stairs a flight. That's a hundred steps, give or take. Honestly, in comparison to the one in Sombra's Castle it's nothing.

[Though she'd had her hardier pony body and her magic then...]

[sitdownbecider]

Just makin' sure. I don't want you droppin' on me. I need ya, Sugarcube.

[She goes against her instinct to follow Twilight's advice. She wants to run to the top as quickly as she can, but she knows conserving her energy is necessary.]

[friendyousohard]

Don't worry, AJ. I didn't come this far to drop in the middle of a few stairs.

[She just focuses on putting one foot in front of the other, trying not to count how far she's gotten or how long they have to go. She knows that'll just make it seem longer.

They've climbed up about a third of the way when suddenly, there's a loud wail from above.]

What was that?

[buckyouup]

That was Spook!

[Sorry, Twilight, but you're taking your walk alone. Applejack bolts up the stairs, quick to reach her ailing monster.]

[friendyousohard]

Spook? [She's pretty shocked at that revelation, but much more dismayed at AJ's reaction, trying to grab her hand to stop her as she bolts into a run.] AJ no, don't! You'll need your... strength.

[Grimacing, she speeds up herself, though not to running speed. She wants to, oh how she wants to, but she knows she can't. She has to conserve her energy if she's going to be of use to anyone up there. Resolutely, she forces out the sounds coming from up above and climbs.]

[sitdownbecider]

[It's not long before AJ is out of sight, her footsteps echoing up the staircase as she runs. She's not going to let her pokemon get hurt, even one of her level 100 monstrosities.]

Hang on, Sugarcube! I'm comin'!

[friendyousohard]

[The scene at the top of the lighthouse looks like the scene halfway through a fantasy movie where the good guys' kingdom is being invaded. There are Archen practically everywhere on the outside, swarming around and screeching endlessly.

Several of them are biting Spook, who is for his own part trying to deal with them largely through the tried and true strategy of "Shadow Ball to the face". Unfortunately for each one he drops another takes its place. An orange blur rushes past, dropping several more of them, but even Spike's Dragon Rush can't bring them all down at once.

Twilight's still climbing as the scene unfolds in front of Applejack's eyes.]

[buckyouup]

It's alright, Spook! I'm here for ya!

[She calls out to the massive balloon pokemon, waving frantically over the railing. Spook was a smart pokemon, and about as strong as they come, but no one can last forever against these numbers. They needed something to even the odds.]

Spook! Give it the biggest thunderbolt you can manage!

[The balloon lets out a tired groan and begins charging electricity. The flying beasts continue to swarm his purple body as he turns his gaze to Spike. Give us a hand, here?]

[friendyousohard]

[Another blast of electricity comes from Spike's antennae, knocking down several of the ones near Spook. But unlike the huge ghostblimp, Spike can't stay airborne unless he keeps moving, so he darts off again, smashing down another couple who get too close and hoping to taunt some of the others into following him instead of Spook. Come and get him, birdbrains!

Twilight is almost up.]

[sitdownbecider]

[The Archen swarm is only distracted for a second when Spook unleashes a torrent of electricity from inside his elastic body. It ripples across the sky, arcing from bird to bird. It isn't long before a number of the far-lower level pokemon begin to fall from the sky.

If only it was enough to get them all.]

[friendyousohard]

[Behind AJ, Twilight finally reaches the top, staring at the sight in front of her with wide eyes. She turns to the side to see Amphy cowering in the corner and rushes over to the whimpering Ampharos.]

Ampharos! You've got to get up! Your light can scare them off!

[Amphy, however, doesn't look like she wants to listen to Twilight. She just curls up tighter on herself. Twilight grimaces.]

Okay, Twi, think... how do you motivate a scared Pokemon?

[buckyouup]

[Meanwhile, Spook has resorted to putting up a Protect, shielding the girls from the ever-increasing horde.]

[friendyousohard]

[And suddenly an idea strikes Twilight's brain.]

Amphy, listen to me! Somewhere down there, these things are looking for Jasmine.

[That gets the Ampharos's attention. She raises her head and stares at Twilight through tear-filled eyes.]

She'll fight if she has to, but even she can't hold these things off forever. But your light can scare them off. She's counting on you, Amphy! You've got to shine your light and get rid of them!

[Taking Twilight's words to heart, Amphy gulps, rises to her feet, takes a deep breath...

And just as the Protect falls and the swarm prepares to finish Spook, a blinding light emanates from the lighthouse.]

[buckyouup]

[The bright light radiated through the lighthouse, shining off the reflective panels and off into the sky. The light was intense, and painful to look at. The sudden burst frightened the Archen into a whirlwind of panic.

AJ forces the brim of her hat over her eyes, peeking into the bright light just long enough to spot the near-fainted Spook hovering in front of them. She would have to get him to a PokeCenter as soon as she could. Her whole team deserved a nice, long rest. She approached the balcony, retrieving his ball from her backpack.]

Way t'go, Sugarcube. I knew I could rely on--

[As the giant blimp monster returned to his hand-held home, an Archen, confused and blinded, dives at the balcony. Still covering her eyes, Applejack never saw it coming. It hit her square in the back with enough energy to force her over the railing.]

[friendyousohard]

Applejack!

[Springing to the railing at a speed that would make Rainbow Dash take notice, Twilight rushes to save her before she can slip out of reach. Spike is already turning to aid, but he won't make it anywhere close to in time.

AJ falls completely over the railing, and gravity begins to take hold...

But literally at the last second, Twilight manages to throw both arms over the side and grab her hand. Her own momentum and Applejack's weight combine to slam her torso into the railing hard enough to bruise, but sheer adrenaline lets her shrug it off as she desperately clings to AJ's hand.]

Hurk... AJ... hang on...