buckyouup | 014 Bushels ❦ [Action for Mahogany]

014 Bushels ❦ [Action for Mahogany]

[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.]

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

[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.]

[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.]

[The two hover in the midst of Sapphire's impact, but Protect is the one thing Twilight hadn't counted on. She always thinks of Dozer as pure offense, dedicated to nothing but destruction. She's rather surprised to see him actually defending himself.

Sapphire stumbles back from the mystical barrier, unable to even lift her arms to defend herself. Twilight grimaces at the result. This is beyond even her abilities to turn around. She knows Sapphire could have done this if she'd guided her better, but it's too late for that now.]

[Dozer steps towards Sapphire. Knowing she needs time to rest, he gives her a small nod in recognition. You're not as weak as your trainer. You have his respect.

With that, he finishes the job, stabbing her with another deadly Rock Smash.]

[Twilight pulls her back. She sighs irritably.]

Well, that's not what I planned on... But this isn't over yet.

[She pulls out another ball.] This... might surprise you.

[She tosses the ball, and out pops... Tesla?]

Supersonic!

[Really, you're just going to piss him off. Confused and enraged, the woolly beast charges Tesla, planning to bash it to the ground with another Rock Smash.]

[Enough rage and he'll destroy himself. Tesla wobbles under the Rock Smash, but its no Superpower or Close Combat. It's still floating.]

Gyro Ball!

[Round and round Tesla goes, where it stops... well, it stops by smashing into Dozer's face.]

[The Gyro Ball connects, staggering the beast slightly. He snorts, breathing heavily. That fat monster was more troublesome than he anticipated. With a groan, he bashes his foot against the ground, launching a volley of Stone Edge towards his metallic enemy.]

[The smaller rocks bounce of harmlessly, but a couple of larger ones batter Tesla badly despite its steel typing. In response, it begins to shine.]

Flash Cannon!

[And a shot of pure shimmering light (that is somehow a steel attack) rockets toward Dozer's face.]

[He Protects again, digging his feet in to absorb the attack.]

Twilight, this is gettin' out of hand. Just give up.

I. Am. Going. To. Beat. Him.

[Tesla is on the verge of dropping, but she doesn't need him to finish Dozer off. Just one last chip ought to do it...]

Sonic Boom!

[Dozer's ears are really taking a beating in this fight.

[Well, if that fat monster can prolong her stay, then he can too. Despite the pain in his ears, he somehow manages to fall into a deep Rest.]

[Again, something that she didn't expect. But immediately Twilight's mind starts racing. Can he Sleeptalk? Can he Snore? Or is he helpless now, and just counting on her not being able to hit him too hard until he wakes up again?

... She's pretty sure it's the last. And she's going to prove him wrong.]

Volt Switch, Tesla.

[The attack does nothing, of course. Electricity on ground is purely irrelevant. But then Spike appears.]

You might think this is a terrible idea. Mammoswines are perfect Dragon killers. Spike should be at a complete disadvantage. But there's a reason why he's my right hand.

[Her fist clenches. One more round before he wakes up, then it's a matter of who can dish out the damage the quickest.]

That reason is... adaptability. Flamethrower!

[Burn Mammoth burn!]

I'm sorry, Twilight. I asked you t'surrender.

Sleep Talk.

[The Mammoth stirs, annoyed by Applejack's voice. How dare she try to command him. Still in a sleepy haze, he unleashes a large ice shard.]

[Twilight can't believe it. Not only does it in fact know Sleep Talk, but it got lucky enough to use Ice Shard, rather than say... Earthquake, which would have done nothing. The ice slams into Spike as his fire slams into Dozer, and he staggers, looking like it's over.

But there's one thing that none of the members of this battle counted on.

Spike stuck through it in order to avoid disappointing his trainer!

Friendship.

Spike's trust in his trainer increased his chance for critical hits!

Is.

Spike used Flamethrower!

Magic.

Critical hit!]

S-Spike?

[Beaten and burned, Dozer lumbered forward, slowly. His eyes pierced with anger, his breathing was shallow. Between his tusks, another Ice Shard began to form. Stupid dragon, you're nothing to him. You and your trainer. You didn't stand a chance. He lets out a challenging cry, staggering forward again.

You're all pathetic. The blonde one, who could never wish to control her, and the purple one, with her lesser monsters. Another step. The Ice Shard is almost ready. You'll be sorry... you challenged me.

I'm invincible. I can't lose. Man nor monster can stand before me as an equal. Another step. His eyes pierce like daggers. You think you've won. Don't make me laugh. I'll just Rest again and regain my strength. Then you'll be crushed beneath my feet. Yes... just another... quick... rest.]

Dozer, return...

[Staring blankly at the spot Dozer was for a moment, Twilight finally raises her eyes to stare, boggling, at her Dragonite. Spike turns and gives her a warm smile... and a cheesy thumbs up. She can't help but grin.]

Spike... you were amazing. You've earned a rest. Return.

[She pulls him back into the ball and smiles fondly down at it for a moment. Then kisses it. Celestia, she's so happy with him at the moment, she had no idea he could even do something like that.

Raising her head to look at her love, she sighs and the smile vanishes. Putting her hands in her pockets, she slowly walks down towards AJ.]

I don't think we should count that one as a real fight, for a variety of reasons. I am tempted to say we should refrain from using Dozer and Tower against each other in the future, though. In retrospect that seems way too vicious.

[She bows her head a bit.] And I apologize for that. I let my anger get the better of me. I'm sorry, AJ.

You're right you're sorry! What were you thin--

[She sighs, dropping to her knees, her head in her hands. She felt lightheaded, and with her eyes closed she could swear the world was spinning around her. She hasn't slept in days, and barely eaten. Even if she really was angry, which she wasn't, she wouldn't have the energy to show it.]

T-Twilight... I'm so sorry...

Applejack!

[Rushing to her side, Twilight kneels down next to her and puts her hands on her shoulders, staring at her with fear and worry in her eyes.]

Dear Celestia, look at you... AJ, what in the world could have driven you to do this to yourself?

[She moves to wrap an arm around her, gripping tightly.]

Can you stand? I'm going to bring you back to the inn... but we're going to have to do it the long way, with all of our Pokemon out of commission.

I'll be alright... don't worry 'bout me.

[See? She's standing already.

No wait totally falling down help.]

[Don't worry, your willowy princess in shining... uh, cloth, is moving to support you, AJ. Even if it makes her knees buckle. Which it is.]

There is a literally zero percent chance of me not worrying, at least until we get you back to the inn and get some food in you, at which point I promise to worry less.

[Less, but not stop completely because seriously girlfriend what are you even doing to yourself?]

[She knew that Twilight was going to worry, just as her own pride would insist she was okay. After all, that's what she's been telling herself for the last three days. Or was it four? She really needed a nap.]

A-alright. Just... let me do most of the walkin', I may be tired, but you ain't exactly fit t'carry me.

You don't have to remind me of that. Stupid frail human body... Let's just hobble our way back. We'll muddle through somehow.

[Taking those first steps now and hoping they don't fall flat on their face.]

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