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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[She smiles, happier than she's been in a long time... oh right she's being asked something.]

I feel much, much better now! I don't feel too hot or too cold or sick or anything! I just feel so, so happy!

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.)

[... 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.]

I...

[Okay, so all her arguments were basically made to keep them away from the Corps's attack on the Radio Tower, not so much out of Goldenrod altogether. And the fact of the matter is... they're right. As long as they don't get involved, they should be as safe in Goldenrod as they are in Violet.

With a sigh, she bows her head in defeat.]

Alright... I'll bring you to Goldenrod if you want it that badly, but please, don't get involved in what the Corps is doing. Can we go with that as our compromise?

... [She sighs.] I ain't happy about lettin' you go alone, but I reckon we don't have much of a choice.

Alright! We'll make sure to have fun while we're there, but don't do anything I wouldn't do. Got it, Twilight?

(Shouldn't that be 'don't do anything I would do?')

[The resolution is good enough for now. She smiles brightly.]

So we're all going to Goldenrod together... and we'll be there for each other, no matter what... because that's what friends do!

[She sighs. Well, at least they agreed to the important part.]

Alright. We'll leave early Saturday. I've got Spike and Apus to fly us, so pick whichever one of them you like.

An' I was just gettin' used to being on the ground again.

Alright~! It's been too long since I've been in the sky!

(Rainbow's pretty sure Fluttershy's already enjoyed the sky for a brief time.)

[As always, she tries to find middle ground.]

I'm sure we'll all have enough time for both the sky and the ground...

It's the quickest way between the two destinations. Don't worry, Applejack, we'll only be up there for a couple hours. Goldenrod isn't that far away.

Well, if it's the quickest way...

Yeah! So...who's gonna tell Imogen that we're gonna leave for Goldenrod for a while?

(The ponies did sorta bring her into the group for Hearth's Warming Eve.)

Well... what does Imogen want to do?

Thirty-First Flutter [Video]

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