princelyspirit | Duel 02 // Video // Violet City

Steady, steady...

[The camera swerves and shakes, and glimpses of one of Violet City's inn rooms can be seen as it slows down]

There! Perfect!

[And soon it focuses in on a teenage girl, sitting crosslegged and barefoot on a bed, her back against the wall. She's dressed a lot like a cyclist - if cyclists wore red instead of pink, that is]

Alright, so. [Takes a deep breath] I've been slacking off a little - okay, no, I've been slacking off a lot since I came here. But, I think it's time to start doing more. To get out and actually see this place. And for that, I need to start training - both myself, and my pokemon.

But... there's one thing.

[She waves her hand, and the camera sweeps over to a Kakuna resting upright against the pillows. It zooms in and the Kakuna twitches... right before it flops over and falls on its side. Utena sighs and catches it before it can roll off the mattress, and sets to putting it back upright]

I have no idea what I'm going to do about her. I mean, these bug things are supposed to evolve pretty quickly, right? But it feels like she's been stuck in this cocoon for forever. I'm not going to take her to the gym with me, so maybe it doesn't matter, but...I don't know, I can't help but worry a little-

[And there's a light "paff" as the Kakuna falls over. Again.]

...anyway, if anyone has any advice, that would be great. For Kakuna over here, or the Violet City Gym.

[And she picks her up again, right before the camera cuts off.]

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...it's warm in here. Besides, it doesn't really matter if I stay like this or not, does it? Everyone else takes care of the battles anyway.

[sounds tired and drowsy more than anything, but there's just a little bit of wistfulness as she continues to talk]

[She pauses. She was... kind of expecting a more noble reason, like she's heard other mons. This just sounds lazy.]

Um... So you don't want to come out because... You don't want to fight, and you don't care what happens?

It's not like I can do a lot, anyway. I used to fight, but every time I'd go out, I'd be brought right back and someone else would finish it off. If everyone has to fight for me, then why should I bother?

I see, I think... Well, would you mind if I told your trainer about these reasons? She's been worried because she cares about you very much.

Okay...

[Utena pauses for a moment, unsure if Kakuna's done talking or not. But, she doesn't hear any more chittering, so!]

So, how'd it go?

[Curious, curious, and just a little nervous. Well, more than a little nervous, but she's trying to keep it together]

[Now that she's talking to Utena again, she becomes once more shy and less confident in her speaking.]

Um... She doesn't want to evolve because she doesn't see the point. Since your other Pokemon usually take over the battles, Kakuna doesn't feel she's a good battler.

But-

[Okay, she doesn't want to say she's a bad battler. But, there are still some issues]

It's not that she's a bad battler, because she isn't. But, while I was training the others, we came across a lot of birds and rock types - the kind of pokemon that could really mess her up.

[scratches her head]

We... sort of learned that the hard way, early on. I just don't want to make that same mistake with her again.

If battling is that important to you, then maybe you can help Kakuna see it your way. Maybe you can find some Magikarp, or another Kakuna to fight... That way, she can win all on her own, and feel some self worth. That's always important.

Margikar-oh! Those are the orange, goldfish looking things, right? I've never actually fought those things - or any fish, really - but I'll keep an eye out for them. For now, though, I think I know a place where we can find a lot of other bugs, so I'll see how that goes.

[Smiles - not that Fluttershy can see it, but there's an obvious note of gratitude in her voice]

Anyway, thanks for the help - I really needed it. And if there's anything I can do to pay you back or help you out, just let me know, okay?

[She sounds a little flustered at the gratitude.]

O-Oh, um, I don't need to be paid back... I just like helping Pokemon... I like helping all animals... As long as Kakuna is happy, then that's all the thanks I need.

Well, I'll make sure to let you know how she's doing, then. By the way, you're Fluttershy, right? One of your friends was telling me about you.

[Slightly happier at that...]

Oh, yes... Was it Twilight Sparkle?

Mm-hmn. She was telling me what she knew about stuff like this, and you came up. According to her, you have a real talent with animals and pokemon. Do you handle stuff like this back home? ...well, not evolution, but problems with animals, I mean.

A-huh... I guess you could say it's my life's work... Everything I do, I do for animals. I've loved them ever since I was a foal. So... as long as I'm here, I try to let everypony know that I can try to help their Pokemon.

That sounds pretty nice... in fact, it kind of reminds me of-

[then, there's a short pause, as she realizes just what Fluttershy said]

...wait a minute, did you say "foal"?

... Twilight didn't tell you what she and I really are?

No... [sounds uncertain - just what the heck is going on here?] And until now, I didn't know that there was anything to tell.

Um... Well... Not everypony who comes here is human. When they take things that aren't human, this world turns them into humans. Twilight and I aren't supposed to be humans... In our world, she's a Unicorn Pony, and I'm a Pegasus Pony.

[And there's a long, long pause on the feed. So, they're...they're ponies. As in, little tiny horses. Which explains all that horse talk, but...]

But that's-

[She's about to say "that's crazy!", until she considers the following:

1) This is a place where people are dragged across various points in time and space, and don't just come from different countries, but different worlds

2) Not only that, but this place is also able to bring people back from the dead

and 3) Before she arrived in Johto, she once saw a girl turned into a cow. If girls can be turned into farm animals, then why not the other way around? Granted, unicorns and pegasus (pegasuses? pegasi?) aren't farm animals, but-oh who cares!]

[Takes a deep breath]

Actually, you know what? This actually sounds normal for a place like this...

[a moment's consideration]

But I guess this is all pretty strange to you, huh? The whole, uh, being human thing, I mean.

[She waits patiently for Utena to answer, and replies back fairly calmly. She's used to the shock.]

It is, but I've been here for over a year, so I'm sort of used to it, I guess...

I guess that's enough time to get used to anything...

[There's still a note of disbelief in her voice - not that she doubts Fluttershy, it's just a lot to take in]

Anyway, all of that doesn't matter, not really. I should get going, though - and again, thanks for the help. I really do appreciate it.

Duel 02 // Video // Violet City

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