014 Bushels ❦ [Action for Mahogany]

[buckyouup]

[Applejack has been quiet for the last few days. Hardly in the mood to talk, the southerner has been taking advantage of the warmer weather to get in some training. Never wanting to sit still, she takes every opportunity to run or fight or do something, but outside of her pokemon, she insists on being alone. She has to keep herself busy. So she doesn't think. So she isn't reminded.

One year. One whole year. And that's just the time she remembers. That's not counting the time she's been here before. She hasn't seen her family, her home, her orchard, in a year. She knows that time works strange here, that for her, time isn't moving back home, but that doesn't quite translate to her emotions. To her, she's spent a whole year of her life chasing strange animals while her family and her farm is without her. Stuck in some strange land, located who knows how far away from home. If she was never brought here, what would she have experienced at home? Would this year's haul be a good one? Did Apple Bloom get her cutie mark? She didn't want to think about it. She didn't want to think at all.

If you happen to be wandering in a secluded part of town, you may notice Applejack training. She may be running laps, or doing sit-ups, or training her pokemon, but one thing is instantly noticeable: she looks like shit. Her clothes are torn and her body is dirty and covered in scrapes and bruises. She looks like she hasn't slept in days. She doesn't want to. She dreams of home.]

Comments

[buckyouup]

Leaf Storm!

[What else could she do? She had to keep fighting. Sprout could barely see straight, but he would keep fighting. The leafs kicked up like a blizzard, slicing into everything in their path. Including Sprout and Applejack.]

[friendyousohard]

Mirror Shot.

[It was time to put the poor turtle out of his misery. Tesla was also starting to get a bit tired, anyway, so better to end it now.]

[sitdownbecider]

[And it does. The already exhausted turtle collapses to the floor, and Applejack snaps to recall him to his ball. She only had two pokemon left. Things were about to get messy. The next ball she clutches tight, her glare cast upwards.]

This is your last chance t'call it quits. I don't wanna let this next one out.

[friendyousohard]

[Twilight stares at her briefly, then raises both eyebrows.]

You're not seriously threatening me with Dozer.

[sitdownbecider]

I ain't got much choice, Sugarcube.

Now please, surrender so we can talk 'bout this.

[friendyousohard]

You surrender! You're getting the worst of it!

Besides... I can beat Dozer. Or did you forget that while you might have the unstoppable-

[She recalls Tesla with one hand and pulls out another ball with the other.]

I have the unmovable.

[sitdownbecider]

An' I have the unstoppable.

[She releases the ball, and the mammoth steps free. He snorts, examining the field. Hm. So you finally wised up and went off on your own? Maybe you're not as useless as he thought.]

[friendyousohard]

Sapphire!

[The ball pops open, and the enormous bulk of the Snorlax slams down in front of Dozer.]

Show that overgrown pig he's not as invincible as he thinks he is. Body Slam.

[buckyouup]

[lolnope.]

Roar!

[It was a roulette's chance. There was only one pokemon she was looking for.]

[friendyousohard]

[Her eyebrow raised again as Sapphire was forced into the ball.]

Intriguing. Let's see what you get.

[And out pops...

Starswirl. The frail psychic immediately brings his spoons up, recognizing a poor matchup when he sees it.]

Hmm... no choice. Starswirl, Disable! He won't be doing that again.

[buckyouup]

[Dozer gladly takes the attack, but Applejack manages a grin.]

I reckon you haven't caught on yet.

[Unfazed, the mammoth charges full-tilt at the smaller creature. Smaller, until with a shimmer, the massive creature shrinks into a black fox.]

Dark Pulse! Give it all you got!

[friendyousohard]

[Twilight's eyes bulge. She hadn't expected this. She hadn't expected it at all.

And now, Starswirl's gone. One shot, and he's out of the battle. Twilight frowns coldly.]

Very good. That little performance of yours really did seal the deal. But now I know exactly what you have waiting.

[She pulls out her ball again.] She can take them both. Sapphire, get back out there! Body Slam!

[And bursting back into the fray, Sapphire lumbers forward to do precisely that.]

[buckyouup]

C'mon, Rascal! You don't need trickery t'be strong! Bring 'em down with Low Kick!

[friendyousohard]

[The blow knocks Sapphire over, but she knows exactly what to do. Tilting herself to fall square on poor Rascal, she flattens the hapless Zoroark beneath her bulk.]

It's kind of a pity he's not going to appreciate her sacrifice.

[buckyouup]

He'll do just fine.

[Recalling the fox pancake, she looks down at the last ball. No more bluffing, now. The last ball.

She tosses it into the field, and the mammoth burst free like a bullet, charging forward and ramming the Snorlax before Applejack can even give a command. He digs his tusks into her bulk, attempting to slam the heavy creature with a Superpower.]

[friendyousohard]

[The impact is incredible. Between it and the earlier Low Kick, Sapphire is barely able to stand. She'd probably be down already if not for Tesla's Reflect.

But Twilight just smiles.]

Rest.

[Oh Twi you troll.]

[buckyouup]

[Dozer snorts, pacing around the sleeping creature. Fine, if you want to close your eyes on the battlefield, he'll take the time to set up a Reflect of his own.]

[friendyousohard]

Snore.

[The thunderous noise of Sapphire's sleeping rips through the air. What, you didn't seriously think she was helpless just because she was unconscious, did you Dozer?]

[buckyouup]

[The snore was painful, but Dozer stood his ground. He charges, embedding his tusks once more, shaking the beast to its very core with an Earthquake.]

[friendyousohard]

Sleeptalk.

[Murmuring in her sleep, Sapphire opens her mouth wide... and her belly bulges outward as she uses Stockpile. As if her defenses wasn't already high enough.]

[buckyouup]

[Fine. His tusks still stuck deep, he jabs them in deeper with the force of a Rock Smash.]

[friendyousohard]

[And that wakes her up. Grunting in pain, Sapphire gives Dozer a very aggravated look.]

Screech.

[And opens her mouth to shriek his defenses down to paper.]

[buckyouup]

[Defense is for the weak! He lets out a frustrated roar, lifting her again with Superpower.]

[friendyousohard]

[And once again she's staggering after the impact, lumbering a bit away from him, gasping for breath. It's time. She knows it, even before Twilight gives the order. One last go.]

Giga-

[She's already tensing herself, readying the full weight of her massive body to hurl into the ice mammoth in front of her.]

Impact!

[And with a thunderous roar she leaps, smashing into him with all of her bulk and all the momentum she can muster. It's her or him, right now.]

[buckyouup]

[Dozer anticipates the strike. You could smell the desperation. Pathetic. All of you. He may not have any defense, but he can still use Protect.]