//------------------------------//
// Blasting Off! 
// Story: Haunting The Zebra Plains 
// by Jest 
//------------------------------//

I cackled madly as I drove the would-be tomb robbers before me like a herd of terrified cattle. Every once and a while I would use nightshade again, heightening their fear and giving them another burst of speed. At about the half-hour mark I was growing a bit impressed, as none of them had passed out, fallen behind, or even tripped.

Which was an achievement, let me tell you.

This was the densest jungle I had ever seen, or at least that I could remember anyway. Mostly hidden ravines crisscrossed the lands, obscured by foliage both large and small. Enormous trees sporting roots larger than ekans were a common occurrence, as were patches of undergrowth so thick you couldn't see through them. Yet these sure-footed, and utterly horrified creatures were maneuvering through it all, barely ever slowing down.

At about the hour mark the jungle began to thin somewhat, with the undergrowth that had been common, becoming increasingly rare. We also happened upon a path, one that was just barely wide enough for two ponies to run abreast of one another. Which meant that Stock was at the back, the wider stallion huffing obscenities at his associates between breaths.

The various pokemon flew, ran, or otherwise kept pace either above or behind their masters. They were mostly okay, but I could tell that ekans wasn't exactly used to moving so far so quickly for so long. Falling behind, the pokemon eventually turned back to me, terror evident in its scaly features.

I didn't even slow, and merely extended my tongue, dragging it across the snake’s head as I passed him by. The reptile tasted kinda good, but I chose to ignore that little nugget of information for the moment. Refocusing on my task, I glanced back at the ekans, who was frozen in the exact same position that he had been when I licked him. As I watched, he fell over, muscles seizing up completely and locking him in place.

Snickering to myself, I continued my chase, using another burst of nightshade to push my little herd faster. Sure enough, they began to sprint with renewed vigor, or at least most of them did, as two were starting to lag behind. Stock and the meowth were beginning to slow, the larger pony and feline summon not as in shape as their comrades.

Extending my long tongue, I surged forward and licked the mowth’s neck, causing him to collapse into a jittering heap. His master joined him a moment later, though he needed two licks to drop him, likely due to his increased size. Either way, they lay only a few feet away from one another, shivering and twitching, unable to move.

“Blah,” I spat, trying to get the taste of cat hair, and sweat from my tongue.

A firm shake of my head seemed to do it, and I focused back on the chase happening before me. Only to realize that I was nearing what looked to be a small village of some kind. It inhabited a clearing in the jungle, and was roughly circular, with a meeting hall-like building in the center.

Most structures were about as you may expect, clay, mud, and thatched rooves, but there were a few standouts. A newer-looking wooden building was in the middle of being built on the east side, relatively close to the jungle. There was also a squat stone structure that looked almost as ancient as the temple/tomb I had just left behind near the west side. In addition, they average homes were mostly raised or sitting on stilts, but a few of the smaller round huts with tall pointed rooves were not.

Between them ran dirt paths, while down the center, running next to the singular stone structure was a cobblestone road. Evidently, this had been more important than a simple village at one point, though I may have been assuming too much. Either way, it was an interesting little place occupied almost entirely by zebras, some of whom had gathered nearby.

Evidently drawn by the sound of screaming, they readied themselves for a fight as best as they could. The lone warrior amongst them wielded a spear, while a curved blade like that of a kukri was belted to his side. Upon seeing the ponies I was chasing, he frowned, but upon locking eyes with me, he turned and ran, belting orders at the gathered zebras.

They all ran to their homes, while he went to the lone stone building, or at least I assume he made it. I stopped watching him shortly after, as my herd was slowing down. Another blast of nightshade kept them going, though even then I knew where they were going. Which was good, as I was quickly running low on Nightshade, the ability taking more and more effort to use

Thankfully none of the zebra got in the way, the striped equines retreating to their homes and avoiding my gaze. Allowing me to press my fleeing herd toward the new building on the other side of town without issue. As I drew close, I noted that there was a half-completed sign out front, one which proudly displayed the name “East Plains Trading Company”, on it.

“Interesting,” I muttered to myself.

Before me, the two remaining ponies and their pokemon ran inside, bowling past a confused construction worker. I floated through the open door and followed them into the structure at a more leisurely pace, waving to the zebra in the hard hat. The equine waved back awkwardly before no doubt taking off back to his home.

Not like I could confirm that, mind you, as I was already weaving through the halls, chasing after the sound of hooves. As I moved, I concocted a plan, one that would hopefully clear up just who was in the wrong here. Because at the moment it sure looked like a foreign power had moved in, and was exploiting the unworldly locals.

I burst through a door a moment later to find that Barrels had passed out on the floor nearby, along with the zubat. Only rattata, machop, and Lock remained, the gangster pony facing an enormous stallion whose head nearly brushed the ceiling. He had the look of a drill sergeant, and the flat top haircut to match this rather dour but accurate summation of his appearance.

“Ahh its here!” Lock screamed.

The male then physically ran around the desk and hid behind his employer, shaking in all four limbs. It was pretty funny, though unfortunately for Lock, the towering mountain of horse he was using as cover didn't share my sentiment.

“Quit your cowering you ninny!” he bellowed. “It's just a summon!”

“But it's enormous and chased us for miles!” Lock yelled, pointing out from behind his employer’s back.

“Did you use the capture matrixes as I told you to?” the mountain retorted.

“Yes, and they did nothing!” Lock replied.

“Augh, go get that damnable priest in here. Maybe she can do what you nitwits could not,” the big boss declared.

I merely watched all this happen while trying to use hypnosis, to little effect. Willing my eyes to become all swirly and spooky did nothing, as did my attempts to lull him to sleep through sheer force of will. Backing up, I recreated the steps leading up to using nightshade, starting with the emotions that I felt.

Gathering together my curiosity, and willpower, I narrowed my gaze on the tall pony. I then pushed for lack of a better word, forcing those feelings outward through my eyeballs.

“Hurry up, its doing something with its… eyes,” my target muttered.

The hulking pony wobbled briefly before toppling forward onto his desk and almost hitting a framed picture of three ponies I didn't get a good look at. Lock, who had been halfway out the door, glanced back only briefly before taking off with renewed speed. Now alone, save for the nervous glances directed my way by a skittish reception mare down the hall, I got to work.

Or at least that's what I thought to myself, as I didn't know exactly what I was doing. A running theme, I know.

Using dream eater was the next thing I had in mind, but that wasn't quite so simple, even compared to hypnosis. For one, it was the highest level move Haunter could gain just from leveling normally, or at least that was the case for gen one. It also may or may not work the way I hoped it did, though it felt like a fair assumption if nothing else.

I mean, come on. If someone were to eat another person’s dreams then they should gain some of their memories, right?

Only one way to find out, I thought, only to pause.

“Huh, deja vu,” I muttered.