Twenty-Sixth Flutter [Video]

[3_butterflies]

 [It's rare for Fluttershy to actually try to get attention, yet here she is, turning on the Pokegear as she and Twilight travel towards the next town. She swallows, then speaks... Oh, and don't mind the Murkrow that's using her pink hair as a nest.]

Um... hello... I'm sorry if I'm bothering anyone, but... I thought I'd been hearing a lot of people struggling with their Pokemon lately... And I wanted to try and help...

See, my special talent is helping animals... I can talk to them and understand them... So, I thought, maybe if anyone would like me to try... I can talk to your Pokemon, and see if I can help with any problems you might be having...

Okay... Okay? Um... h-have a nice day, everyone.

Comments

[3_butterflies]

[Now she looks up, and is instantly shy again.]

But... he's just a baby. He can't fully understand big words and long conversations yet. Don't you have babies in your world?

[Murkrow chuckles. You'd swear it said 'oh, snap'.]

[worktodo]

It's an egg that chirps. You can imagine whatever else you want.

[3_butterflies]

Actually, it's not an egg. It hatched out of the egg, but still lives in the egg.

[worktodo]

And none of this is proving that you can actually talk to the thing.

[3_butterflies]

Please don't call him a thing. It's a Togepi. And I did talk to him, but like I said, he's only a baby, so that's...

[She hesitates, not good at standing up for herself. But then she swallows, and keeps trying.]

... So that's all I can do. If you want me to have an adult conversation, I need an adult Pokemon. I... I made this offer to help people and Pokemon.

[worktodo]

[And you know, it's that sudden burst of assertiveness that, while not technically making him pause, does get him to alter his next remark somewhat. Well done, Fluttershy, you've scored a point. Besides, jerk though he might be, it's hard to discourage someone who at least has the good intention of trying to be helpful.]

You're really convinced you can speak...egg language.

[This is considerably milder than what he was originally planning to say, which was more along the lines of madam, you crazy.]

Let's say I believe you. How exactly did you come about this mystic example of linguistic prowess?

[3_butterflies]

[Yeaaah, about that crazy part...]

I discovered it when I was just a little foal... I was falling out of the sky, when all these butterflies saved me! It was my first time being so close to the ground, so I'd never seen animals before... and when they gt scared, I talked to them and soothed them, and that's made me realize what my special talent was.

[smile. Like. this is totes normal.]

[worktodo]

[...oh, here it goes.]

...and now you're telling me you're a horse.

[3_butterflies]

A pegasus pony... this place turned me and my friend into humans.

[worktodo]

[He actually probably starts to say something about three separate times, stopping short every time because...what.]

So you and your friend, have you been eating any mushrooms lately?

[3_butterflies]

We can't eat mushrooms or grass anymore... these human stomachs don't take it well.

[Sarcasm and direct insults are not things she can pick up on right away.]

[worktodo]

Don't get me started on the grass, princess.

[Oh, lord, what is his life even right now.]

Okay. Fine. So how long have you been a pony?

[3_butterflies]

I'm not a princess... but I've known two of them.

[Smile. She thinks she's helping.]

And I've been a pony all my life... Until I came here.

[worktodo]

...What's different about being here?

[3_butterflies]

This place turned us human... with magic, I guess. When we woke up here, we were already human.

[worktodo]

Did the magic turn your hair pink, too, or was that your personal fashion choice?

[3_butterflies]

Oh no, my mane's always been this way.

[worktodo]

[. . .]

Okay, so let me get this straight. You're a pony. With wings. Who hangs out with princesses. Who fell from the sky and got caught by a swarm of butterflies. Who then talked the butterflies out of being scared with magical pony powers. And then you came here, and now you're a human with cotton candy for hair, and you still talk to animals with your magical used-to-be-a-pony powers.

And now you're offering those special talents to help people out of the goodness of your formerly pony heart. Does that about cover it?

[3_butterflies]

[She nods...]

Yes, except I don't talk to animals with magic. It's a natural ability. This place takes away real magic... My friend, Twilight Sparkle, she's a unicorn, but she can't do magic here.

[... does that answer your question?]

[worktodo]

[There is not enough alcohol in the world, Fluttershy.]

Your friend Twilight Sparkle.

[Well, you know, if nothing else, at least she's firm in her convictions about this make-believe pony nonsense.]

Tell you what. Why don't you just talk to the egg for a while.

[3_butterflies]

Does it have a name?

[worktodo]

[. . . . . .]

No.

[3_butterflies]

Why not? Haven't you given it one? Everypony - I mean, everyone needs a name. It'd be like calling you 'human' all the time.

[worktodo]

You think it needs a name? Go ahead and name it.

[A beat.]

Or hey, maybe you could just ask it what name it wants.

[3_butterflies]

Well, it's still a baby, like I said... so I can't guarantee anything... but I'll give it a try.

[So she addresses the Togepi, instantly kinder.]

Name? Do you have a name? Your name? My name is Fluttershy. What's your name?