Of recent memory is the events after losing a royal guard.
It was three days after Joey, Nian, and Narros, along with the support of Lena and Jenny, rescued Orah. Unfortunately, Rockfall died fighting Lunaris, a dragon that was confined to the Forbidden Jungle for trying to commit deeds such as attempted murder of his kind for their treasure and attempted regicide, all of which had failed. The dragon had died alongside Rockfall when the stallion had sliced the dragon's throat.
Though he died, Rockfall's love for his wife, Silver Mantle, who he calls Milly, manifested into magic similar to the instance when Shining Armor and Princess Cadance used their love to banish the Changelings during the invasion of Canterlot. With the power of love, Rockfall had, in his final moments, made a wish that ensured Silver Mantle's recovery, to whom would have died from her injuries inflicted by Lunaris weeks ago.
When Joey and his Pokémon pals, Nian and Narros, had arrived in Canterlot, more specifically the Canterlot Infirmary, he was immediately greeted by a grief-stricken Princess Celestia trotting up to him after the golden chariot had landed. Very few words were spoken as Joey gingerly held the limp body of Orah; she looked gaunt and ill with horrible scars snaking rigidly down her belly; a result of Lunaris' neglect and cruelty.
Almost at once, nurses led by Doctor Ailment had approached Joey with a stretcher and told the human to lay Orah's unmoving body onto the stretcher so they could take care of her. He did as he was asked and settled Orah gently in the stretcher before she was carted off into the building.
Doctor Ailment stayed behind. He wanted to be completely sure if Rockfall was truthfully dead. He trotted to the chariot and peered his gray gaze inside and saw the motionless body of Rockfall. The scar down his neck had reopened, blood staining the base of the chariot, and he was not breathing. Ears drooping accompanied by a long and heavy sigh; Doctor Ailment turned to Princess Celestia with a gaze to suggest what the alicorn already knew.
Princess Celestia had hoped what she concluded with Silver Mantle was just a hunch, pure speculation, and wished that the mare had gotten better by some mysterious miracle and not by a rare blessing from Rockfall. She wanted to believe it so badly. A lie. And she knew better. Everything she said had unfortunately been true, and it didn't halt the fresh tears threatening to slide down her tired visage.
Doctor Ailment would call for another stretcher to whisk Rockfall away. Princess Celestia had looked on as the body of an old friend she cherished vanished within the Canterlot Infirmary.
It took several seconds of dreadful silence before she had the strength to look at Joey, who, with Nian and Narros, were practically silent since they landed. The alicorn gave him a shadow of a smile, thanking the human and his Pokémon for saving Orah and that he would be rewarded for his aid sometime later. She was dull and tired like Princess Celestia had gone through Tartarus and back several times that day.
Joey, with the Pokémon by his side, dipped his head in a respectful bow. He knew the pain of losing a loved one. And he hoped that Silver Mantle would recover from this ordeal. Princess Celestia told him that Silver would and dismissed the human with a polite nod before heading back into the Canterlot Infirmary, probably to pay her final respects to the fallen soldier she called friend.
It was a blissful morning and Joey with Nian by his side was ambling toward a bridge outside the village of Ponyville to meet a friendly pegasus named Fluttershy. Joey met the shy yellow pegasus when he dropped unceremoniously into the world of Equestria next to the Everfree Forest. Joey and Nian had saved and comforted Fluttershy and her friends Twilight Sparkle and Applejack from a tenacious duo of vicious and ravenous Manticores.
Since then, Fluttershy has been visiting Joey every other day alongside Princess Twilight Sparkle whenever she wasn't engrossed in some kind of experiment and or task from Princess Celestia.
Joey felt that since Fluttershy visits so often, he should visit her on occasion to repay the kindness. Initially, it was just going to be him, but Nian had insisted she tagged along to which Joey was happy. Out of all the ponies Nian has been around, Fluttershy is the most well-known. And it was one of the few ponies Nian didn't grimace towards so that was a plus in Joey's book.
Narros was coming as well but when he heard that Joey was going to visit Fluttershy, he changed his mind and stayed behind to look after the house in Joey's absence.
When two close friends crossed the bridge and went a little way down a well-trodden path, they were met by a beautiful cottage resting in the near distance. Approaching closer to the woodland cottage, Joey spots a group of animal burrows, birdhouses sprinkled around the area, and a miniature house that, on closer inspection, says the words, "Angel's House".
Many animals frolicked and cavorted wherever an eye wandered and they were quite friendly: little mice danced around Joey's shoes, birds perched atop his head and shoulders, and cute insects like butterflies fluttered lazily around him. It was cute and kind of funny, Nian had to contain a snort of amusement at the dumbfounded and almost flustered face Joey made.
"Joey?" A voice, meek and reserved, came from the front of the woodland cottage. Veering his limpid white eyes, Joey spots Fluttershy fluttering out of her cottage with a bag of animal food.
Almost at once, the animals rushed excitedly over to their pony caretaker with smiles of hunger and joy. Fluttershy, using her soothing voice calmed the rambunctious yowls and cries of the animals into mere whispers as she distributed the animal feed among them. Joey watched on as the animals mowed down the food just as it fell to the ground. Fluttershy had a contented expression, and the human knew she enjoyed her life. Harkening back to a memory of the day he arrived unannounced, Joey is reminded that Fluttershy could talk to animals as it pertains to her cutie mark and that she was the only one to his knowledge that had this ability. Oddly enough, when came to Pokémon, Fluttershy couldn't make heads or tails of what they said.
After Fluttershy was done feeding the famished animals, she turned her beautiful eyes to Joey and Nian, his gal-pal for life. She gave a meek wave, beckoning the two visitors. "It's nice to see both of you," she said with a smile strewn across her face. "Have you both come to visit?"
Approaching the timid pegasus and hugging her before backing away, Joey says, "Yep! You always come over to my house, so I wanted to visit you for once. Are you doing well today?"
Playing with a long lock of her mane, Fluttershy nodded bashfully. "I am, thank you for asking. I was thinking about having a sanctuary near my home shortly, but I haven't figured out all the plans yet. Would you both like some tea? I have one already brewed."
Before Joey could answer, he and Nian spot a cute white bunny hopping out of the miniature house and yawning, stretching its limbs luxuriously. It turned its beady black eyes toward Nian and froze.
Fluttershy giggled. "Uh-oh. It looks like a certain rabbit caught the eye of my bunny."
"What do you mean?" Joey asked.
"That's Angel Bunny, my pet bunny," she answered mirthfully. "He can be a bit demanding, but he has a good heart. And it looks like it's been stolen by Nian."
It took a few moments for Joey to register what Fluttershy meant, but when it clicked, it clicked. "Ooooh," he drawled. He looks at Nian. "Looks like you got an admirer."
Nian looked incredulous. "Excuse me?"
Nian was a very beautiful Lopunny. She has performed in and won most Pokémon Contests in the past. Her beauty and grace, along with the battle sections of the Pokémon contest gained her a lot of notoriety as the Lovely Lopunny, and was the target of positive inspiration from the masses, much to her chagrin. And her beauty was purely natural, discarding the usage of Pokémon poffins that enhance a Pokémon's physical features to make them look outstanding.
Joey remembered that he was approached multiple times in the past to have Nian lead a career in Pokémon Modeling, which is one of the highest honors in the contest scene, though Nian declined the frequent offers. So, it should be no surprise that Nian would steal the hearts of many Pokémon during her Pokémon Contest journey, and Angel was no different.
The enamored white bunny had leaped from his house and bounded over to Nian and hugged her right leg. He looked up at her with a large, toothy grin, his fluffy tail wagging like a Yamper's.
Immediately, Nian glowered, almost in disgust. "Beat it, shorty," she spat harshly, but her sharp words were shrugged off as Angel didn't relent. "Joey...do something or I will."
Joey rolled his eyes. "Nian, relax. It's just a bit of puppy love, and it's not like we're staying all day. It's just a visit. Surely you can handle this without resorting to violence?"
Nian groaned and fought from baring her teeth at the little bunny. "Fine," she muttered. She peered at the lovestruck bunny, and her face softened a little. "You can stay, but if you start humping, you get turned into paste. Got it?"
Angel, positively ecstatic, vigorously bobbed his head wildly, climbing to the top of Nian's head and hugging a tuft of brown fur. Nian groaned, but she didn't protest.
After a sweet comment from Fluttershy, the shy mare leads Joey and Nian into her cottage. Inside, the cottage was layered with everything nature: the yellow mare even had birdhouses, an abundance of plants giving off a wonderfully soothing aromatic scent, and gloriously painted artworks of vast plains and cozy forests. Merely existing inside the cottage made Joey feel he had grown up there or he was reminded of his old home in the mountains before the snowstorm ruined everything.
In front of a couch decorated with illustrations of flowers and butterflies were a coffee table and a tea set. Sitting down with Nian close to him, Joey watched Fluttershy flutter to the other room to get more teacups for her guests, assuming it led to her kitchen. When she returned, the pegasus set teacups down and lifted the teapot to pour the tea inside. It scented of apples from his old home, and when Joey took a cautious sip, it tasted sweet, and it soothed his throat.
"This is good," Joey commented warmly, taking more sips from the sweet-tasting tea. "It reminds me of my old home. My mother had a tendency for brewing tea, although I never could remember all the scents and different flavors."
Fluttershy beamed at Joey's praise. "It's nice to hear my tea makes you so happy," she murmured amicably. "Your mother loved tea?"
The human nodded. "My mother was always one for trying out new things, and when she got into brewing tea, she made all sorts of stuff, though I could never tell you; I was too young then."
"She seems like a person I'd love to meet," she regarded.
Joey bobs his head in agreement. "She would have loved it too. Anyway... how is everything here? Are you doing well?"
"I am," she said, taking a sip of her tea. "The animals are doing great and I'm healthy." She turns her attention to Nian, who had not taken a sip of her tea. "Oh my. Nian, do you not like tea?"
The rabbit's piercing scarlet gaze almost made Fluttershy's fur stand on end. "Chamomile isn't my favorite," she remarked tersely.
Fluttershy narrowed her eyes as if willing herself to understand Nian's words, but she could not. It was odd to Fluttershy and those who knew her that she couldn't speak with the Pokémon as she could with other animals, let alone understand them. It was frustrating and a bit demoralizing, to say the least.
"Nian says chamomile isn't her favorite, but she will drink some to show courtesy, wouldn't she?" Joey said, glancing at his furry partner.
Nian grumbled something under her lips as she took a cautious sip of the tea and nearly recoiled from the taste. She didn't want to make Fluttershy feel bad about the tea she brewed, so the rabbit willed herself to drink more of the beverage, much to her dislike. Angel had hopped down from Nian's head and landed on her chest fur, to which the rabbit almost snarled. Oblivious, Angel wanted a taste of the tea. Taking the opportunity to share the agony, Nian happily allowed Angel to drink her tea, and until they left the cottage, Nian never drank it again.
After engaging in some small talk, Fluttershy eventually says, "I heard about...well, you know...about your mission."
Joey was perplexed, but he didn't show his surprise. "Not that it's a bad thing, but who told you?"
"Twilight," the yellow pegasus muttered. She set her teacup on the coffee table. "She visited Princess Celestia after receiving a letter from one of her guards, telling Twilight that the princess needed some comfort. When she came back, she told me that a close friend of the princess, Rockfall, had...sadly passed away during a mission you both were on. Joey, are you here just to see me? Are you okay?"
It took a moment for Joey to respond. "In a way," he said finally. "I wanted to visit you just because I wanted to. And I didn't want to sulk around my house. I never knew him, but I could feel that Rockfall was a special pony, and in the short amount of time I knew him, he grew on me, if only a little."
Nian gave Joey a withered glance and touch her paw to his hand. Joey was no stranger to loss.
"All I knew of Rockfall was that he was deeply respected by his peers and that he was a close friend of Princess Celestia," he continued. "Even when we just met, he followed my orders as if he's been with me for my entire life; that type of loyalty is often hard to come by, and I wished I knew him more. Sorry if this is too depressing."
Fluttershy shook her head, the long pink locks of her mane swaying gently. "I've known loss too," she muttered, veering her gaze out a window that showed the animals playing. "I have a connection to all my animals, and when it is time for them to pass on, it breaks my heart, but I know a better life awaits them after this one. I'm just sorry you haven't gotten the chance to know him, and from what you told me of him, it makes me want too as well."
After moments of silence seemed to stretch on, Fluttershy asked, "Do you work for Princess Celestia? N-not that I want to pry or anything, just curious..."
Joey set his teacup down and leaned back on Fluttershy's comfy couch. "Not really," he answered with a yawn. "She asks for my assistance on occasion, but I don't work for her. A few weeks ago, she had some trouble with some ponies soliciting an illegal drink to bystanders that messes up their insides. She had Twilight fetch me to ask if I would help out, and I said I would."
Fluttershy held her hoof to her mouth with a gasp. "Oh my! Did everything go well?"
Joey briefly hesitated before nodding. "For the most part, there was an accident, but all you need to know is that everything is okay now."
As they continued to talk, a red bird flies through an open window and perches comfortably atop Joey's head. A couple of rodents scurried inside the cottage appeared and began to corral around his shoes.
Fluttershy giggled. "You sure have an affinity for animals, Joey. Were you around a lot of Pokémon?"
Carefully as to not disturb the bird and the animals around his shoes, Joey bobbed his head slowly in confirmation. "I never really had many human friends when I was young, so I often went to this valley where a lot of Pokémon lived and played with them. When I wasn't working on preparing and maintaining the village's food with my family, I would be there instead to pass the time."
"You didn't have a sibling to play with?" Fluttershy asked.
"I did. A sister, a twin, but we never had much in common, funnily enough," he answered absently. "We got along just fine, but that was the extent of our relationship."
Fluttershy noticed the faraway look twinkling in Joey's limpid white eyes and felt a sudden pain when she gazed at him. She has a brother, one that she cares for very much despite his annoyance but listening to Joey telling her about his sister there seemed to be regret and guilt, but also something else. Maybe the desire for a second chance. Regardless of what she thought, it was clear how Joey talked about his sister.
"Joey," Fluttershy began tentatively, "has your sister passed away?"
"Yes," he answered simply. "She died during a snowstorm."
"What was her name?" Fluttershy saw a brief sign of hesitancy in Joey, but he shook his head as if to clear his mind.
"Her name was Josie," he told the yellow pegasus. "She was smart, that one. Smarter than I ever could be." Joey shook his head.
Fluttershy let another few moments of silence pass by before shifting the conversation. Since Joey was around Pokémon at a young age, she had asked him about his connection to them and how he can understand them.
"Pokémon and humans can develop a deep bond with one another that can lead to a multitude of things." He went on. "Pokémon are mysterious creatures, and their powers are even more so when you incorporate a bond. The close friendship between Nian and I caused her to undergo an evolution, essentially changing into a completely different form than her previous one. It's a display of our connection and relationship with one another.
"A boon for having such a close connection with Pokémon is for someone like me, and many others, to be able to either interpret what Pokémon say or be so connected to Pokémon that you can fully understand their complex language."
Fluttershy had her eyes widen with interest. "Does it mean that if I am around Pokémon long enough, I'll be able to understand them?"
Joey nodded. "Develop a connection and let time take its course and you'll find yourself being able to understand what Pokémon are telling you. There's also body language, but they'll usually just talk to you." Joey stretched before lifting himself from Fluttershy's comfy couch. "I think I'll go and talk to Twilight. I haven't seen her since we got back, and I'm sure she'll have questions about Pokémon."
Fluttershy nodded before taking another sip of her tea. "I don't think she's left the castle all week; you got her interested in Pokémon. When she finds an interest in something, Twilight will do her best to understand...to the detriment of her health. Try to convince her to take a rest, okay? She'll listen to you."
"Will do," Joey answered, lifting himself off the couch and stretching. He turns to Nian. "Let's head off."
Obeying his orders, Nian lifted herself from the couch. She gently took Angel in one of her paws, much to his dismay, and set him lightly on the coffee table.
"Sorry, shorty," she spoke cooly, "but I have to go." She saw the heartbreak in Angel's deep black pools and gave the sad bunny a swift peck on his head with her lips. She saw him instantly perk up with a strong energy that seemed to pulse in his veins. She gave the bunny a good-natured smile. "I'll come and visit you again."
Angel Bunny gave Nian the lovestruck a lame salute before passing out in bliss on the coffee table. Nian rolled her eyes and elicit and gave a suppressed chuckle.
Saying their goodbyes, Joey and Nian left Fluttershy's cottage, but the human halted for just a moment. An idea popped I'm his mind; he could kill two birds with one stone. Perhaps he should do it. There was no harm in trying.
Turning to Fluttershy waving her hoof, Joey says absently, "Fluttershy, I have a problem and I don't know what to do. Do you think you can help me?"
Fluttershy gasped, bringing her hoof across her mouth. "Oh my, a problem? What's wrong?"
"Yuna loves flowers," Joey began. "Because of her enhanced sense of smell, she has developed a particular fondness for them. She always had one behind one of her ears, but ever since I landed here, Yuna never got another flower to replace the one that wilted just recently. I had told her I would go and check for flowers in Ponyville but she didn't want to be a burden; she is very modest.
"To respect her words, I did not go looking for flowers in Ponyville, but I could see that not having a flower bothered Yuna, causing her to be distracted, and she is one of the most attentive Pokémon in the family. I don't know any places outside of Ponyville that grow flowers. This is where you come in. Do you know a place I can find that doesn't involve spending money?"
Fluttershy nodded seriously. "I maintain a garden behind my cottage; I could pick her some and give them to you."
Joey beamed at her answer, but he wasn't done yet. "I appreciate it, Fluttershy, but instead of just doing that why don't I send her over? That way, you can show her the flowers and allow her to choose what she wants. During that time, you can ask her to help you around the cottage. The longer you spend time with her, the easier it will be to understand the Pokémon speech. Efficacious, right?"
Fluttershy nodded absently for a moment before she realized what Joey meant and a smile stretched across her face. "That would be lovely!" she shouted, but it barely increased in volume. "Send her over anytime, as long as she wants to!"
Joey bowed his head at Fluttershy. "I will, thanks," he said before turning away and leaving her home with Nian at his side.
To Fluttershy's kind request, Joey and his furry partner headed to the large crystal castle in Ponyville to check up on Twilight Sparkle. When they approached the door that led into the castle, it suddenly swung open nearly striking Joey in the face. Behind the door is the back of a small purple and green-scaled creature with an exasperated expression etched harshly across its face while small holding a bucket of blue and red gems.
"Twilight, if you aren't out of that room when I come back, I will have no choice but to force you out, alright?!" the small creature spat tiredly.
A frail voice responded to the creature; grating and layered with exhaustion. "No time to rest now, Spike, not while there is so much to know about Pokémon!"
The small creature known as Spike groaned in frustration. "I just got back this morning and you're already spouting nonsense! This 'Pokémon' business is being taken too far and you need rest! I'm off to see Rarity for a bit, and I'll drag you from that room if you aren't out and resting when I get back!"
Spike waited for a response but nothing, but an indistinct murmur sounded from within the castle walls, alluding to Twilight not taking Spike's words seriously and brushing them off. Holding back another yell, Spike turns around and sees Joey and Nian looking down at him with perplexity in their eyes.
Spike snorted. "You Joey?" he asked almost accusingly, pointing a claw at him.
Joey nodded. "That's me," he answered. "Are you Spike?"
"Yeah, that's me," he muttered with an edge to his voice, "but more importantly, I need you to march into Twilight's study room and talk some sense into her. I've been out of town and I'm too tired to deal with Twilight at the moment. She hasn't slept in days, and you seem to be the reason why! Talking about Pokémon and whatnot has gotten that mare in full study mode!"
Nian glared at Spike, but Joey quickly held her back by placing his hand on her head. "I understand and I will try to get Twilight to take a break. I promise."
Spike eyed Joey sternly before accepting his word with a tip of his head. "Promises are important and I'm trusting you on this," he said, trying to force back a yawn. "We'll talk later when I'm not so tired and cranky. Good luck."
With the eventful meeting now over, Spike walked past Joey and Nian, sticking a few gems in his mouth before muttering something under his breath. Sighing, Joey and Nian entered the crystal castle and located Twilight's study room. The door was slightly ajar, so carefully, Joey slowly eased himself and his furry partner inside.
The study room had seen better days: open books and stacks of mashed-up parchment were discarded callously among the blue crystal floor, making it impossible for one such as Joey to traverse without eliciting a crinkling sound. He looked around and saw a purple alicorn fluttering feebly over a desk littered with scrolls scribbled madly with black ink.
Twilight had a star-speckled blanket Rarity had made for her as a birthday present over her back. Her mane was messy and out of place, invaded by the enemy of long manes: cowlicks. When Joey called out to the alicorn, she whipped around, revealing sagging, bloodshot eyes.
"Joey!" she exclaimed happily, fluttering awkwardly over to him and giving the human a soft embrace before pulling away. "This is a pleasant surprise! Visiting?"
Though Twilight was ecstatic to see her human friend, she noticed Joey had his hands on his hips and he had a stern expression across his face, and, with his misty white eyes, caused the alicorn the flinch away slightly.
"I met Spike at the door," he told the mare, his tone strict. "He told me you haven't been taking care of yourself lately because you are so engrossed about Pokémon." Twilight was silent, looking down as if caught stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. Joey cleared his throat. "Twilight? Is that true?"
Still silent, the purple mare nodded. She was on the ground now, panting lightly; the energy to hover herself off the floor had finally become too arduous to maintain, and with Joey admonishing her, she didn't feel like flying anyway.
Joey sighed. "I know how it feels to become lost in something that interests you greatly, but it isn't worth the hassle if you neglect your health," he reprimanded. "You have Spike worrying about you."
"Yes, Joey," she murmured, shuffling her hooves in embarrassment. "I'm sorry..."
"And this place is a mess," he continued. "Princess or not, you should keep things tidy; I can't take a single step without putting my foot on discarded pieces of paper. Understand?"
"Yes, Joey," Twilight responded quietly. "It's just when I get caught up in something it's hard to stop; I've been doing better, but some habits are difficult to break. I'm sorry, I am. And I need to apologize to Spike when he comes back. But before anything else happens, can I just ask a few more questions about Pokémon?"
"Of course, if it means you'll take it easy," Joey said. "Shoot."
Twilight agreed. "How does Nian transform into that version of herself when we first met, in the Everfree Forest?"
Joey exchanged a glance with Nian who didn't care about the purple alicorn's questions.
Joey turned his white gaze to Twilight. "It's a special evolution a select few Pokémon can achieve called Mega Evolution, a transformation that allows Pokémon like Nian to have access to a greater power. It's usually attached to an earring, a necklace, an arm brace, a headband, on the tail, or hidden under the fur on a Pokémon."
As if on instinct, Twilight's horn glowed, but it flickered rapidly, probably from overuse. She levitated a scroll, quill, and a pot of ink and started scribbling the information down.
"For certain Pokémon like Nian to Mega Evolve, two things are needed: a particular Mega Stone for Nian, and a Key Stone for me to possess, because without it, Nian wouldn't normally Mega Evolve," he continued tersely.
"What's a Mega Stone?" Twilight asked, entranced.
Joey chuckled. "During my travels around a region named Kalos, I learned that Mega Stones are evolution stones, those are stones that can make certain Pokémon evolve, that were enhanced or empowered by two extremely powerful legendary Pokémon. That's a popular theory in a sea of theories anyway. I subscribe to a more...particular one."
Twilight, despite her glaring fatigue, nodded vigorously. "What's next? What about Key Stones?" she urged with hunger shining in her eyes.
"A Key Stone is a smaller stone that affects the Mega Stone; it allows the Trainer to activate it, unlocking the full latent power of the Pokémon affected," Joey explained. He motioned to his wrist where his bracer occupied. "A Trainer usually has a Key Stone right there in a special case or accessory, and all we have to do is tap it to activate the Mega Stone. It's seemingly 'impossible' to achieve this evolution otherwise..."
Twilight nodded eagerly, but then her face scrunched in confusion. "But you don't have one on your...wrist? Did you leave it at home? Also, Nian doesn't have a Mega Stone, not that I could visibly see; it could be concealed under her fur."
Joey gave the confused mare a titular smile. "Nian and I do not have a Key Stone or a Mega Stone."
Twilight was baffled and a bit incredulous. "But you said Pokémon cannot Mega Evolve without those items. I'm struggling to understand how Nian can Mega Evolve otherwise!"
Joey put his hands up in mock defense. "That's true, for the most part," he said. "Usually, a strong bond can bring out a Pokémon's powers, yet having a close connection with a Pokémon doesn't matter when it comes to Mega Evolution; all you need are the two stones and you and your companion are good to go."
"But that isn't the case with you and Nian," Twilight pointed out. "If your bond with Nian is so strong that the items required for the evolution aren't necessarily needed, then Nian can Mega Evolve anytime she wants." She stared in astonishment at the two. "How deep does your bond go?"
Joey shrugged, placing a loving hand atop Nian's head. "Deeper than any of us knows," he murmured. "It's a special bond for sure, one that can surpass Mega Evolution." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, if that's all, it's time for you to take a rest."
Twilight began to protest but a loud yawn escaped her lips. Embarrassed, she quickly covered her mouth with a hoof. "This information is critical for the understanding of Pokémon. Thank you, Joey!"
Just as Joey was about to say something, he saw Twilight suddenly wobble on her hooves and moved forward to catch her before the mare fell to the floor.
Twilight groaned, cradling her head with her hooves in an attempt to massage them. "Oooooh," she cried painfully. "My head hurts..."
"Seems all that fatigued caught up to you," Joey remarked. "A good nap will do you wonders. Do you know where your bedroom is?"
Twilight shook her head and moaned lowly. "Can't think... put me on the couch over there."
Swiftly yet gentle, Joey carried Twilight over to the couch which surprisingly was not littered with a mess like everywhere else and set her down. Twilight snuggled within the star-speckled blanket and squinted at Joey.
She sighed. "Thanks," she uttered. "I wish Spike was here, he'd know how to get rid of this Celestia-forsaken headache; it's too painful to sleep..."
Joey stared at Twilight for a few seconds before an idea went off in his mind. "Cover your ears," he told the mare.
Although bewildered, Twilight did as she was told. Sure, it seemed silly, and she knew this wouldn't make her head pain go away, but the mare suspected that the handsome human had a plan.
She watched on as Joey turned to the study room's door entrance and placed his hands on the sides of his mouth before inhaling a lung full of air. She saw Nian do the same.
Joey yelled, "LEEEEEEEEEEEENAAAAAAA!"
Even with her ears covered, Twilight winced and flinched at Joey's shout. As the ringing in her ears began to settle down, Twilight felt her couch rumble as if an earthquake had occurred in Ponyville. It took only three seconds until she saw a large, rotund, pink creature dancing merrily around Joey and Nian. It was Lena!
She watched as Lena the Chansey embraced Joey in a hug that was reminiscent of Pinkie Pie's hugs.
"Lena, stand at attention; I got a mission for you!" Joey declared hotly. "Princess Twilight Sparkle isn't feeling too particularly well...and she can't take care of herself at the moment. I want you to take care of her using your valuable, expansive repertoire until a small creature named Spike returns to this convalescent quadruped. Then you can head back home. Got it?"
Lena gave a brisk salute. "You can count on me, Joey!" Lena exclaimed mirthfully. "Are you and Nian heading home?"
"We are," Nian responded. "Take care of princess over there. Don't stay longer than you have to."
"Yes, ma'am!" Lena responded, joy overcoming her voice. She stood next to Twilight, leaning down, and began using Life Dew to soothe the alicorn's throbbing headache.
With that taken care of and seeing the literal watery wave of relief wash across Twilight's face, Joey and Nian exit the crystal castle to head home. When they had gotten back, Joey called out to Yuna, who was resting peacefully under Nils' tree.
Upon hearing Joey's resonant, rich call, the little Lucario scurried clumsily to her paws before rushing over to greet the human with an embrace filled with happiness. Nian broke away from the two and headed inside the house.
"I'm happy to see you, Yuna!" Joey said, giving the canine Pokémon warm caresses with his hands; he fondled her cute cheeks which rewarded him with a squeal of utter delight. "Who's my Lucario? You are! Yes, you are! I have something to tell you."
Yuna giggled under the weight of Joey's love. "What is it?"
Joey ceased his sweet caresses and pointed to Yuna's ears. "Your flower crisis? Consider it averted! Fluttershy has agreed to let you pick whichever flower you desire from her garden, but in exchange for her kindness, I want you to help the mare around the cottage. We can go over there tomorrow so you'll know the way."
Yuna's tail wagged with excitement. The prospect of being around so many flowers seemed heavenly to her. With the vigorous bobbing of her head, the little Lucario agreed.
"Awesome," Joey said to Yuna, booping her nose with a finger which made the canine giggle uncontrollably for a few moments. "Now, go on and see if Jenny wants to play. Ask her to conjure a slide of ice for you. And before you go..." Joey motioned to his cheek.
Ever since she hatched from her egg, Yuna was no stranger to public displays of affection, especially when it came to Joey. She leaned towards Joey and tenderly bussed him on the side of his face before giving the human another hug and darting off in a klutzy manner.
Joey rubbed his cheek and chuckled. "Slow down you silly Ducklet!" he merrily called after her. Yuna was quite accident-prone when she was excited. "And be careful on your paws!"