//------------------------------// // Fired Up // Story: A New World, a New Way: Against the Book // by Speven Dillberg //------------------------------// Fired Up Jenny took a few deep breaths to calm herself down as she walked through the destroyed door. Nightingale was glaring at Aggron, who had the decency to at least look apologetic. Next to him, at about head-height, was a Bronzor, which she guessed was the source of the telepathic voice. I am deeply sorry, the same metallic voice intoned. I tried to convince him to wait outside, but he refused to listen. “Is that supposed to make the fact that he destroyed my house okay!?” the pony screamed angrily. “M’sorry,” Aggron mumbled, looking at the floor. He says he is sorry, the Bronzor supplied. He did not intend to cause any damage and misjudged the durability of the door frame. “He’s huge! The frame is made of wood! What did he think was going to happen!?” “I said I’m sorry. What more do you want?” he asked petulantly. He is willing to help repair the damage, the Bronzor offered. “I never said that!” Aggron shouted angrily. I cannot see any other way to calm her down, it pointed out. “I heard all that,” Nightingale interrupted angrily. As the pony began to vent her frustrations at the Aggron, Scorch sidled into the room and waved at the Bronzor. It floated down to him, spinning quizzically. “Do you reckon you can make it so she can understand us?” he asked. The Bronzor kept spinning for a few moments. I can certainly try. I am not sure how long it will last if I do, though. “Scorch, are you sure this is a good idea?” Jenny asked. Scorch’s shoulders slumped. “This is kinda my fault, y’know, inviting Aggron here. I have to try to make things right, y’know?” He glanced at Aggron, whose expression was somewhere between anger and shame. “And this is just getting a bit embarrassing to watch,” he admitted. “Never thought I’d see an Aggron look so ashamed,” Jenny added. Excuse me, the Bronzor said, floating into Nightingale’s vision. I am capable of letting you understand what both the Aggron and Growlithes say. Are you interested in hearing what they have to say? Nightingale just scowled. I am not very good at reading facial expressions. Please vocalise your answer. “Fine. But if I don’t like what I hear, then - ” One moment please, Bronzor interrupted. There was a strange pulse of energy as its eyes briefly glowed a vivid blue. “Did that work?” Scorch asked. “I think so,” Jenny replied, seeing the way Nightingale was now looking at them, wide-eyed and jaw dropped. “H-how did you do that?” she asked, turning to the Bronzor. I… I am sorry, I was unaware of how much energy I would expend doing that. I must rest, it informed, its eyes constantly opening and closing, as though its owner was struggling to stay awake. Forgive me for being unable to answer your questions, it added as it floated towards the ground, laying flat. “If you can understand them, you can understand me,” Aggron said gruffly. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to being inside dwellings, and I am serious when I say that I did not mean to cause any damage.” Nightingale’s anger had faded, now that the target of her ire was able to speak directly to her. Not to the point where it was forgotten, but enough that she was willing to hold a conversation. “And what am I meant to do without a door?” she asked. “He could stand guard?” Scorch suggested. “Why are you even here?” the pony asked, ignoring the Growlithe. “The little guy there suggested it. Sorry about the leg, by the way,” he added, glancing down at Scorch. Scorch was busy making frantic gestures for Aggron to shut up to notice Nightingale’s anger had turned to him. “Uhh…” “Stay right there,” she instructed coldly, leaving the room. When she came back, there was a strange piece of plastic in her magic. “Hold still.” “What is that?” Jenny asked. “I don’t know. It looks like a…” Scorch trailed off as his eyes went wide. As best as he could with three good legs he made a mad dash for the door, screaming “No no no!” at the top of his lungs. He looked down when he realised that he hadn’t moved at all. “What?” “I’ve had plenty of experience with unruly animals before,” Nightingale said coldly. “Are you going to make this easy, or are you going to make it hard?” “Jenny!” Scorch screamed as he was levitated into the air. Jenny for her part looked on blandly, as did Aggron. “I’m not bailing you out of this. This is much your fault as Aggron’s.” “Come on! Don’t let her do this to me!” he pleaded. “I don’t want to wear the Cone!” “Geeze pup,” the Aggron rumbled, rolling his eyes. “If the thought of a cone scares you this much you need to grow more fuzz on your dice.” “I really should have put this on you after I fixed your leg for you,” Nightingale said, ignoring what the other Pokemon were saying around her. “The only reason I didn’t was because that Arceus started talking and your friend set herself on fire,” she explained, attaching the Cone around the squirming Growlithe’s neck. The moment the infernal piece of plastic snapped shut around Scorch’s neck, he went limp. “Arceus, why? Why have you forsaken me?” he groaned, his voice that of a ‘mon without hope for tomorrow. “Is he always this dramatic?” Aggron asked, raising an eyebrow down at Jenny. “I’ve only been able to understand him for three days,” Jenny replied, ashamed with what she was seeing. “Scorch! Stop that, please, it’s humiliating.” “And so is the Cone,” he shot back glumly as his paws hit the ground. Somehow he positioned it so the rim was flat against the ground, blocking his view of the rest of the world. “Wow. I am so sorry, I don’t know why he’s taking it so bad,” Jenny said, turning to Nightingale. “It cuts off my peripheral vision, my hearing, and it’s heavy,” Scorch said suddenly. “It’s like I’m half blind, half deaf, and have a huge weight around my neck! How would you like that!?” “Little guy, don’t make me drop you on your head,” Aggron growled. “Honestly, I did it to him because there’s no way I can do anything like that to you,” the pony said, glancing at the metal dinosaur. “I’m gonna melt this off!” Scorch yelled, looking up, his eyes burning with fury. “You’ll have no-one to blame but yourself for making me do this!” “Scorch! Heel!” Jenny snapped instinctively. “You’ve been bad and you’re going to suffer the consequences!” “Yes ma’am,” the other Growlithe muttered, pouting slightly as he rested his head on the ground. “Good.” Jenny cleared her throat. “Sorry, he just needs a firm hand every now and then.” “I can see that,” Nightingale said, shoving aside the oddness of having one dog tell the other to heel, then she turned back to the Aggron and the Bronzor. “Now then... what am I going to do with you two?” “I dunno,” Aggron admitted awkwardly. “I only came here because the little guy suggested it. You need a bodyguard or something?” he suggested. “... I’m a vet,” she said slowly, caught off guard by his suggestion. “Why in Equestria would I need a bodyguard?” Jenny pointed at the door. “That?” she asked. “And you said you’re a vet, surely someone has tried stealing the medical supplies,” she added, knowing that she was grasping at straws. Nightingale let out a small sigh and shook her head. “No, no one has,” she said before glancing at the door. “But I guess I do kind of need someone to watch that until I can go out and buy another one...” She shook her head again. “You can stay until then,” she informed the Aggron. “So long as you don’t break anything else.” “I won’t make that promise,” Aggron said. “I won’t try to break anything, but if it happens then it happens. I’m not used to being around so many fragile things,” he admitted. “So, sorry in advance for if I break something else.” “Can you take this off now?” Scorch whined, scratching at the cone with his good leg. “I’m not going to chew at my cast or anything, come on.” “Scorch, no. You’re keeping that on until I say so,” Jenny commanded. “I’m not letting you get out of being punished.” “Oh…” “I may have misjudged the dynamic you share. I guess you’re the alpha?” Nightingale asked, looking at the female Growlithe. “Yeah, the alpha bitch,” Scorch muttered angrily. Jenny shot a glare at the injured Growlithe. “What did you just say?” she asked, her voice low and full of terrible fury. “N-nothing,” he replied, smiling awkwardly as he backed away slowly. “What did you just say?” she asked again, pushing her face right into his. “N-n-n-nothing?” “Scorch, you can either come clean, or you can keep trying to run from it. And remember that I can breathe fire now. And I don’t care if you’re fireproof, I’m sure you won’t like melted plastic stuck in your coat.” “You’re not being very nice,” he muttered. “What’s wrong with you?” “You called me a bitch!” “You’re acting like one!” he shouted back. “And you’re acting like a BRAT!” she roared back. “You’re a police Growlithe! Start acting like it!” “Maybe if you started acting like a police officer, I would!” he shot back accusingly. “You’re acting like one of those latte-sipping, make-up caked lunatics who think the whole world is there just to serve them!” “Okay, both of you, shut up,” Aggron said, finally getting sick of their bickering, stepping between the two. “If you don’t shut up I’ll knock both of you out. Got it?” he asked menacingly. “No you won’t,” Nightingale interjected. “But I will stick you both into animal carriers if you don’t stop,” she added, looking at both Growlithes. “Screw this, I’m having a nap,” Scorch muttered angrily. “Wait, Scorch - ” “Jen, come find me when you stop being a bitch.” “Scorch?” “Uhn?” The Growlithe’s ears swivelled around. “I’m sorry about before. I don’t know why I took it so hard,” she explained, stepping closer. “I’m sorry too,” Scorch admitted. “I overreacted, I shouldn’t have called you a bitch.” “Do you… do you mind if I sleep with you?” Scorch’s ears shot up and he looked at her. “What?” “Just next to you. So I’m not lonely.” “Lonely?” he asked, curious. “Like I said earlier, you’re the only thing that hasn’t changed. The last thing I want is to chase you away. So… can I?” she asked timidly. “Sure,” he replied, scooting to one side of the basket so she had room. “Usually I’m the one crawling into your bed,” he pointed out. Jenny giggled a bit and cuddled up next to him. “Good night, and keep your cold nose to yourself for once.” “It’s the middle of the afternoon,” Scorch said flatly. “I don’t care.” The pair stayed like that, sharing each other’s body warmth, until… “THIS IS THE GREATEST THING EVER!” “Remedy’s home,” Jenny groaned. “Just ignore her and she’ll lose interest eventually... or throw a sugar cube in the opposite direction,” Scorch grumbled, nuzzling against her. “I’m too tired right now to care.”