//------------------------------// // North By Southwest, Part 2 // Story: The World's Greatest Team of Six // by CassandraMyOCisBestpony //------------------------------// "I appreciate you coming in on such short notice" said Spike. "Nooo problem" replied Big Mac, "ah like yer getup" he added, with a nod to Spike's detective hat and bubble pipe. The two of them sat at a table in the library, Spike with manila folders and detective books scattered around his side. "I wanna to ask you a couple of questions about Applejack. First, have you seen her since yesterday?" "Nope." "Did she maybe tell you about a trip she planned on taking?" "Nope." "Are you sure?" Spike asked suspiciously "Eeyup." "Really? So you had nothing to do with her disappearance?" "Nnope." "You're lying! Where'd you put her?" he demanded, banging his fist on the table. Big Mac didn't even flinch. "Spike, why you gotta hit th' table?" he lamented, "it didn't do nothin t'you." Spike sighed, chagrined, "I didn't really think you were lying. The detective book said to bluff when you get stuck. Was it obvious that I was bluffing?" "Eeyup." "No further questions, send the next pony in." * "So Cherliee, if that is your real name, when did you last see Twilight?" inquired Spike. "Let's see, I think it was yesterday afternoon at Quills and Sofas." "That's awful specific. My detective book says that remembering details means you've got something to hide." "You got me" she said jokingly, "I was planning to give my students a pop quiz tomorrow." "Gah!" exclaimed Spike, sweeping his papers onto the floor out of frustration. "Spiiiiike, use your words." "I'm just worried about Twilight." "Spike, isn't Twilight one of the smartest, strongest ponies you know?" asked Cherilee. "Of course she is!" "It's only natural for you to be worried about her, but I'm sure that wherever she is, she's just fine." ***** Twilight Sparkle stared intently at the solid oak door. She summoned up as magic as she could and focused all her energy on the locking mechanism. It was just a simple deadbolt, she could sense it, all she had to do was slide it sideways. But it wasn't budging. She gritted her teeth and poured on even more magic. Beads of sweat formed on her brow, and her legs became weak. Finally she collapsed on the floor, winded and exhausted. "I'm sorry guys, I really thought that would work. Back home I could perform a lock breaking spell without lifting a hoof... not that I ever did." "We've all felt a bit weaker lately," said Rarity "I couldn't find any gemstones with my horn." "Yeah, and I couldn't move the clouds," added Rainbow Dash, "what's the deal?" "This planet's composition is the same as ours, but it has a lot less innate magic," explained Twilight "So it's like flying with a couple of ten-pound weights strapped to your wings? That's nothing I can't handle!" boasted Dash "It's worse. In preparation for my lock breaking spell, I surveyed various magical energy vectors and found that the epicenter isn't the planet, it's the six of us." "In English please?" "Pretend the Pokemon World is a bucket of water, and our magic is a drop of red food dye. When you drop it in, there's a big rush of color, and it looks like the water's been changed forever. But let it sit for a while, and the red color dissipates, and begins to..." "fade" finished Rarity grimly. "You can't be serious!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash "I'm sorry if it alarms you Rainbow, but you need to accept it now" said Twilight bluntly, "there will come a time when you lose the ability to fly." Before Rainbow could respond, there came a sharp banging at Twilight's door. Through the window, Twilight could see a female dressed in the same piratical costume as the two captors from their initial encounter. "Purple! Boss wants to speak with you. I'm opening the door now, don't try anything funny, unless you want another taste of Icy Wind." "I won't, I promise" Twilight replied. The door swung open, and Twilight could see that the peon was flanked by two aggressive-looking Sealeos "This way." She led Twilight up a staircase, past the main entrance, and into a small, simple room with no furniture, apart from a metal table and two chairs. A single light hung from the ceiling, and the walls were completely covered in reflective glass. Twilight had read enough police dramas to know this for what it was: an interrogation room. From outside, she heard the Aqua peon and another female voice, "I've secured the prisoner in here doctor." said the grunt. "Thank you Sylvia. There were no problems I trust?" "Yes m'am; no kicking or struggling." "Very good. Wait out here for me." The second voice, a woman in a white lab coat with tick-rimmed red glasses, entered the room, giving Twilight a warm smile. She placed a tape recorder on the table and flicked on the switch. "Take a seat, please, make yourself comfortable. My name is Doctor Icor, and I'm the head scientist of Team Aqua's mobile geology lab. And you are?" "Twilight Sparkle, from Equestria. And if you were wondering, I'm not a Pokemon." The doctor laughed, "No no, goodness no. I admit we thought so at first, but considering you talk and have Pokemon of your own, it didn't seem likely." "Speaking of, our Pokemon are in bad shape..." Dr. Marie held up a hand, "Your Pokemon are being cared for in our onboard state-of-the-art infirmary. They will make a full recovery." "Doctor, I don't mean to look a gifthorse in the mouth, but why are you being so kind to me if I'm your prisoner? And why does Team Aqua still exist? I thought they disbanded in Ruby and Sapph- I mean, six years ago." "After the Kyogre incident, we vowed to adopt a more humanitarian approach. We will continue to protect the sea, but will not infringe on the land or its people. While it's important that we curb this geological activity, I see no reason to deprive you and your friends of basic amenities. Now, if we could, I'd like to talk about the island. What can you tell me about it?" "I was working on a Pokemon simulation in my home world, and the next thing I knew, my friends and I were here." "And that's all you know?" Twilight considered whether it was in her best interest to lie, and decided against it, "My simulation was a perfect replica of the Pokemon World, except for one addition; Starter Island, a perfect triangle that points north to Pallet Town. Somehow my island became real." "I see." "I'm not working for Team Magma if that's what you're thinking." "I am a scientist Twilight, it is not my place to determine guilt." "I didn't mean to mess with your world's ecosystem, honest! My magic is too weak to do any more terraforming, even if I wanted to. I can find a way to fix this, but it'll be much easier if you let us go. Please, we're of no threat to you." The Doctor gave her a sympathetic look, "you strike me as a kind hearted person, and you are clearly very bright. You must understand why I can't do that." "All we want is to go home" said Twilight, beginning to get frustrated, "three of our friends got left behind on the island, and I'm really worried about them. So you can see how I might have trouble pretending to be interested in your stupid politics!" She gasped and covered her mouth, but couldn't catch the harsh words before they escaped. To her surprise, Dr. Marie didn't look angry in the least, "Your frustration is understandable. It is unfortunate that our needs overlap. Let's take a break, we'll pick up our conversation later." She escorted Twilight out of the room, where the Sylvia and her two Sealeo were waiting. The grunt brought Twilight back to her room and briskly ushered her in, slamming the door shut. Then she banged on Rainbow Dash's door, "Turquoise! You're next." She opened Dash's door. The pegasus pony was lying on her bed staring at the ceiling. "Get up!" demanded the grunt. Rainbow Dash continued to loaf, ignoring her. "Fine, you don't want to? Sealeo, use Ice Ball!" Exasperatedly, Dash rose from her bed. Sylvia put up her hand to cancel her Pokemon's attack. She led Rainbow Dash away. "She's been moping around ever since you left" explained Rarity. "Can't say I blame her" replied Twilight, "that news about losing her flying is pretty tough to swallow." "So what did they do to you?" "They just sat me down with their head scientist and asked me questions about the island, and the game I was working on. It was weird, she was so friendly, she even promised to take care of our Pokemon. But at the same time, she was so obsessed with the ocean, like all the other fanatics on this ship." "What does she want?" "She thinks I'm hiding my magic from her, and if she waits long enough, I'll cave and admit to everything." "Do you think you can talk your way out of here?" "I wish I knew." ***** "My name is Doctor Icor. What's yours?" The doctor smiled and extended her hand for a shake. "..." "Is it Rainbow Dash? I heard your friends calling you that." "..." "It must be pretty cool to have a rainbow mane. My hair's just black." "..." "It's ok if you're shy, I just-" "I'm not shy, I just don't have anything to say to you freaks. And stop treating me like a child." "This is a safe environment, Rainbow Dash. I just want to talk about the island." "I'm guilty of whatever you're accusing me of, is that what you wanna hear?" "I just want to let you go as soon as I can, but to do that, I need you to cooperate." "I'm tired. I wanna go back to my bed." Sne stood up and made her way to the door. "Rainbow, you can trust me, we're all friends here." Rainbow Dash turned around and glared at Dr. Marie, "You are NOT my friend." ***** Applejack awoke to the gentle rocking of the ship, the smell of sea salt filling her nose. She yawned and stretched out, feeling quite refreshed. But when she saw her friends' uneasy expressions, and their Pokemon glaring at her, the events from the day prior came flooding back. "Applejack, what's going on?" asked Fluttershy, "back there on the beach, you were so..." "Bossy" offered Pinkie Pie. "Oh my no, not that, I just mean different than usual..." "It's alright. Ah'd use much harsher words mahself. Fluttershy, ah'm so, so, sorry fer hittin' you, it was an accident. It won't happen again, ah promise." "I'm not worried about you hurting me. I'm worried about you hurting yourself." "Yeah, you were so loco in hte coco!" added Pinkie Pie "Ah couldn't live with mahself if ah left them behind! And ah failed." "Applejack, we're all scared and confused," said Fluttershy comfortingly, "you don't need to shoulder it all by yourself." "But ah do, see... Ah gotta get somethin' offa mah chest... ah'm the reason we all got trapped here." The two others gasped, "That can't be" said Fluttershy "it was Twilight's spell, wasn't it?" "Ah knocked over th' glass. She got spooked an' that's why her spell,.. went h-haywire." Applejack began to weep "Applejack" said Fluttershy, placing a hoof on her shoulder, "it was an accident. It's nopony's fault." "Yeah," added Pinkie Pie, "if I cried over every little oopsie I made, I'd have no time to make ponies smile." "It won't do us any good to be mad at you, or for you to be mad at yourself" encouraged Fluttershy. Applejack's Maractus came over and offered her a sympathetic hoof-bump "Maractus, how can ya ever forgive me fer what ah did to ya?" she asked, still sobbing. "Mar" it said, stroking her back. "Maractus understands, she knows you only did it because you were looking out for your friends," explained Fluttershy. "Thanks y'all" said Applejack wiping her eyes, "A gal couldn't ask for better friends, or better Pokemoon" she added, with a nod to Maractus. "Better now?" asked Pinkie. Applejack nodded. "Then let's make a Pinkie Promise! No more secrets, and we stick together all the way!" "Count me in on that!" replied Applejack. Pinkie recited the Pinkie Promise mantra, making it official. "Come look at this!" called Fluttershy from the side of the boat. They hurried over and saw school of Finneon jumping in and out of the water, their glassy fins catching the setting sun beautifully. "You know" remarked Pinkie, "this world is really pretty. I think we're gonna have fun here!" ***** "Take a seat, please. Rarity, was it? My name is Doctor Icor." "Are you the one in charge? Because I have many many grievances about our accommodations. For one I haven't had a shower in days!" "There is a shower stall and a bar of soap in your room." "Surely you jest, I need more than water and soap for it to be called a shower. Don't you think you could find it in your heart to get me some lotus-aloe shampoo?" "I will take it up with the facilities manager and see what we can do. For now, I would like to talk about the island." "I want my special shampoo." "May we stay on topic, please?" "I SAID, I want my special shampoo." "Rarity, please put down the tape recorder." "I. WANT. MY. SPECIAL. SHAMPOO!!!" "Rainbow, talk to me, please" begged Twilight "Keep it down willya? I'm trying to sleep!" called Rainbow through the walls. Suddenly, they heard a commotion in the hallway. "What now?" Rainbow groaned. They looked out their windows to see Rarity with bits of frost on her hooves - remnants of a restraining ice attack - being forcefully escorted back to her cell, "Stop it! Quit pushing me! I will get there on my own time, and I do not need for you to-" "Get inside!" demanded Sylvia, shoving her into the room, "hope you're happy with your little outburst. No dinner for you tonight!" "Fine! I didn't want your pig slops anyway!" she shouted back as the door slammed in her face. "Dare I ask how it went?" said Twilight. "I may have overreacted."