3_butterflies | Thirty-First Flutter [Video]

Thirty-First Flutter [Video]

[After a quiet yawn, a delicate hand turns on the Pokegear. Fluttershy is sitting up in bed, cuddling a teddy bear - no, wait, that's a Teddiursa! She looks pretty exhausted, but it's the best she's felt in a while.]

Good morning, everypony... I'm sorry I've been so quiet lately...

[... more-so than usual? er, anyway.]

I, um... I guess you could say I haven't been feeling well... but I'm okay now... In fact, I had the most wonderful dream -

Really? What about?

[Fluttershy blinks. Then, slowly, she turns to her side - where Applejack is smiling brightly at her.]

...

...

...

... Sugarcube? You okay? You look kinda - WHOA THERE, DON'T -

[Whoops, it looks like Fluttershy's about to faint from sheer shock. Applejack lunges to catch her, Teddiursa squeaks at all the sudden movement, and the Gear is dropped during the chaos, turning off.]

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But he must have had a reason... He seemed so nice before...

It doesn't always matter why people do a thing.

They do it and you're stuck with that.

Feeling sorry for who he was is okay, but who he is is bad news.

He hurt a lot of people, and he'd be happy if he didn't just get you, but got your friends too.

[There's a soft but heavy sigh. It's hard to argue that logic.]

... I just wish I could talk to him...

*Immy might act crazy a lot, but she does know her logic.*

I have, he's working with Team Rocket, stole a lot of Pokemon, and happily poisoned a lot of people for Chri- Hearth's Warming Eve.

I dunno what you expect him to say, he'll probably just laugh at you and call you a sucker for getting poisoned.

*Sigh. Deep Breath.* Happier things! You are feeling better, and another of your friends are here! What do you wanna do with that? I think this calls for at least a good meal now that you're up, if you're up for that.

[Though she's still very hung up on Bowser, she does try to follow where Immy leads and go to happier subjects.]

It feels like I haven't eaten in so long...

Well then food is the answer. We shoooouuld probably start slow, but what would you like to eat?

I mean, I've never cooked for ponies turned humans before. Or ponies before. But I'm sure I can come up with something! Just, I don't think I can make anything super expensive because I've only able to work part time and with the weather things haven't been moving super fast in town. So don't try to break the bank or anything. I can make soup! Soup is good if you're coming back from being sick, how does that sound?

Soup sounds absolutely wonderful... And please don't worry about money. You don't need to do anything special or fancy with us. Just eating and just being with friends is so very special.

Any specific type of soup? I mean there's potato soup, tomato soup, Colorado Chili, chicken noodle, butternut squash, Zuppa Toscana...

*She'll keep going a few more dishes past that.*

I mean, this is your first meal after being all nearly dead and sick and such. So it should be what you want.

Um... well... I like tomatoes!

[long as it's not made out of animals she'll have it all.]

Tomato, tomato is easy, good for you. I can get some spices and make it really good! Oh! And a bread, because tomato soup and bread go together like...

...well, it isn't the same as peanut butter and jelly. I suppose it's like chips and salsa but that's a completely different type of of going togther...

...the point is they go together and it'll be a great meal!

[She can't help but giggle.]

Thank you so much.

You're not the only one. It's great to have you back in good health, Fluttershy.

Especially since I have to leave for Goldenrod soon. I'd hate to have to worry about you while I'm gone.

[Because this is the perfect time to drop a bombshell like that, right?]

[AJ raises a brow.]

What's goin' on in Goldenrod?

...It's you-know-who, isn't it?

(Rainbow's eyes narrow instantly, not quite sure if AJ's in the know but keeping it hush-hush in case she doesn't.)

Yes, like that. Or a sadist or someone angry at people in general.

[Damn it, Fluttershy. Stop being so sweet and naive.]

Sadist...?

[what is that word mister reid

[... wait what]

Goldenrod? Why are we going to Goldenrod?

[because that was a slip of the tongue and you obviously meant WE right]

Corps business. I won't be long, and I'll be coming back to bring the rest of you there when it's done, since we need to get AJ's old team back from foster care, but until the mission's taken care of I need to go alone.

[Confirming Applejack knows about the Corps, explaining her next few plans, and ensuring everyone's going to freak out at her. You have to admit, Twi's got talent.]

[Applejack raises a brow.]

D'you think for a second we're gonna let you go out on some dangerous mission by yourself? I may not be a part of this Guardian thing yet, but I ain't about to let you wander off by yourself.

(Rainbow nods.)

Yeah! So what if we aren't part of the group? We have our own group too, and nopony gets left behind!

Twilight... can we please come with you? ... If it's okay...

[don't make her use the wibble.]

Girls... [She sighs, and folds her arms, fully prepared to argue this case.] Look, I appreciate that you all want to come with me, I really do, but I just can't bring you into this, for three reasons.

[She holds up a finger.] First, the danger. Now I know we've been through a lot of dangerous situations in the past, but this is different. What determines if you're ready for things like this in this world is the strength of your pokemon, and... I'll be blunt here, none of you are ready. Rainbow and Applejack, you just haven't been here long enough for your teams to compete with the ones Team Rocket can field, and Fluttershy... we both know you aren't a fighter. I'm the only one of us who can participate in a fight like this now.

[She raises a second one.] Second, we don't have the time to familiarize you all with the members of the Corps, who you'll have to work with in order for this to be pulled off. You don't even know the members, aside from me! Which is a good thing since it makes you less appealing as targets for Team Rocket, but it does mean you'll have to join and be integrated into the Corps before you'll be ready to join a mission like this.

Which brings us to- [She raises a third finger.] The third reason. I can't authorize you to come on this mission. I'm not in charge of the Corps. I'm just another member. You'd have to talk to the Commander and convince her to let you join, and... I just don't see that happening right now.

[Her points laid out, she sighs and lowers her hand.] ... I'm sorry, girls. You know there's nopony in any world I'd rather have by my side, but... There's no way I can risk any of you in this right now. Please try to understand.

We'll support you some other way. All my pokey-mon are in Goldenrod. You think I'm not gonna be there to make sure they're alright when all this is happenin'? No ma'am.

...Yeah. And besides, training in a city where I can't even fight to earn a Badge? We can just come back again when they're open so I can get it!

[She nervously fiddles with her fingers.]

... We can stay out of the Corps business... We'll do our own things... But we can all still go to Goldenrod together... can't we...?

[CUE THE WIBBLE.]

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Thirty-First Flutter [Video]

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