Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Xavier glared at Amp and Razor. The Ampharos was heavily bruised, and the Staraptor’s plumage was singed all over. “If this happens again, you’re in the Pokéballs for a week. Understood?” The pair nodded sullenly. “Good.”
And I was sure Luca would be first to really screw things up, Daphne said calmly. Luca just rolled his eyes.
I hope they don’t get too upset at us for that, Gabrielle added.
“Just why did you think kicking up a whirlwind in an enclosed space like that was a good idea?” Xavier asked loudly as Staraptor bowed his head in shame. “It’s a miracle no-one else got hurt!”
Amp chuckled. “And what are you laughing at? A charge beam?” Amp wilted. “What if you missed? What if it hit one of the ponies?”
I think they get it, Xavier, Gabrielle said calmly, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Xavier continued to glower at the pair for a long moment before he shook his head. “Like I said, don’t do it again,” he told them strictly. “We can’t take any risks here, this isn’t Kanto or Unova.”
“Well that was certainly…” Luna paused as she searched for the right word. “Unexpected.”
“I do hope that everything is alright,” Celestia stated with a small frown.
“They do appear to listen to him, so I feel confident that he can reign them in.” She watched passively as the man stopped yelling at the offenders. “Still, we should inform the staff to be ready for extra work.”
“Yes, I imagine that if they fight again it would be like having an untrained unicorn running around.”
Twilight Sparkle blinked as Celestia smiled. “If this is about that time your throne got set on fire, that wasn’t me! Spike sneezed,” she claimed.
“I’m not upset about that, it was years ago,” Celestia replied with a chuckle. “Besides, it gave me a legitimate reason to get a new one.”
“Only you could find the bright side to having your belongings set ablaze,” Luna muttered.
“Well, I’ve always believed in rising from the ashes,” Celestia told her, a small grin on her lips.
We are so very sorry, they heard in their heads. We didn’t expect them to do that and…
It is fine, Celestia informed the Delphox. The damage is not too severe, after all. And it wouldn’t the first time something of the like has happened.
Daphne relaxed. That is a relief. Still, we are very sorry for this.
And as I said, it is fine, Celestia insisted with a small mental shrug. Don’t trouble yourself with it. I simply ask that you keep any further ‘outbursts’ to a minimum and that you avoid injuring any of my little ponies.
I wish I could say that we will, but with these idiots… Daphne turned to glare at Luca, Amp and Razor. I can make no such promises.
Males will be males, a fact that transcends species, as I’ve found throughout my many years, Celestia replied lightly. As I said, just avoid injuring anypony.
“Ah, Auntie Celestia, I was wondering where you…” Everyone in the room turned to see a white-coated unicorn stallion with a blonde mane and tail standing there. He’d trailed off in mid-sentence, his jaw going slack, his gaze lingering on Xavier and his team. “I-I was wondering where you were,” he repeated as he picked up his jaw.
“Ah, Blueblood.” Celestia turned to look at her nephew. “I’m afraid now isn’t the best time.”
“And I’m sorry. But this is about the… the…” The stallion glanced nervously at the seven visitors.
The alabaster alicorn’s eyes went wide with understanding. “Oh. That. Of course.” She turned to the visitors. I am sorry, but this is a very important matter I must attend to. Tomorrow, however, I will clear time to assist you.
Gabrielle watched calmly as she and Blueblood disappeared with a flash. Teleportation?
Indeed, Luna said with a calm nod. Any unicorn with the right amount of magic and skill can do it.
It’s… well, not common, but common enough in our home, the Gardevoir explained. I just didn’t expect to find it here as well.
I see.
If you’d like, I could show you where you’ll be staying for the night, Twilight offered.
Gabrielle turned to Xavier and nodded after a few moments. We would like that. Also, are we able to have food sent to us?
Twilight tilted her head. Usually guests dine with us.
Yes, but Xavier is unsure if Amp and Razor will behave themselves, and he wants to keep an eye on them. She turned to see the Staraptor was still glowering at the Ampharos. And I don’t blame him.
Well, if you’re sure that’s best, then I can arrange to have castle staff send some food. Twilight looked to Luna and asked her if that would be acceptable. Okay then. The kitchens will send somepony along. Gabrielle smiled at the use of ‘somepony’. Are there any dietary requirements that we need to meet?
Gabrielle blinked, taking a moment to understand what she meant. Oh. No, Amp and myself are vegetarian. Luca, Razor, Daphne, Blaster and Xavier will require some meat. Is that going to be a problem? she asked, noticing the mare’s eyes go wide.
No, I just… I just should have realised that they would need meat, she said, chuckling a little. The cooks have some fish, will that do?
They’ve been living on preserved meat with the texture of plastic the past two weeks. They won’t care.
Oh, Daphne said suddenly, catching the pair off guard. Can you bring me some kindling? she asked.
Kindling? Luna asked, having listened to their conversation. I’m sorry, but we can’t have you setting fire to anything.
I don’t need kindling to set fire to anything, she replied, rolling her eyes. No, it’s a quirk of my biology, something that evolution didn’t alter that it should have.
“’Evolution’?” the midnight alicorn asked Twilight.
“It’s the term they use to define the changes their bodies go through when they hit certain points of physical maturity,” she explained. So why do you need kindling?
To eat. Luna and Twilight stared for a moment. More accurately, to fuel my internal fire.
I still say that it’s a placebo effect, Gabrielle thought quietly.
I feel it helps, the Delphox shrugged, and it’s only sticks. Not like I eat diamonds or pearls.
Well, if that’s the case then I’m sure we can provide you with kindling, Luna declared. ’Tis a simple request, really.
Would it be okay if I came with you? Twilight asked. I don’t mean to impose, but I’m interested in observing how you all act around one another. Call it... research, maybe?
Daphne and Gabrielle turned to Xavier, who shrugged. We have no problems with it, the Gardevoir stated.
Great! And I still have so many questions to ask! Well, just a few, she amended, noticing the looks on their faces.
“So now that the important matters have been discussed…” Princess Celestia smiled warmly at her nephew from behind her desk. “Is there anything else?”
“Apart from my requests to have the Canterlot gossip mill muzzled?” the stallion asked with a smile.
“But then who would we be forced to listen to all day in Court?” Celestia asked him with an amused smile of her own. “Surly, barking is better than silence my dear nephew.”
“When that barking is insistent on painting me as the spawn of Tirek… I know, I know, Freedom of Speech,” he muttered, waving a hoof, “but it wouldn’t hurt to limit what they can say, surely?”
“I still say that you should do more to improve your reputation,” Celestia insisted. “Take it from a several thousand year old politician nephew, the more charity events you attend, the more cake you are rewarded with.”
“A little hard when the mares I run into see me as nothing but a stepladder into the nobility,” he growled. “I don’t care if she was a national hero, that mare deserved it. And it’s a little hard to be seen as likeable when you have me running around with… them,” he spat.
Celestia sighed and walked over to her nephew, draping a wing over him. “I know, and I’m sorry. But I need somepony I can trust, and I know that your feelings will never be swayed.”
“I... I know,” Blueblood replied with a shake of his head. “I know that it’s the right thing to do, Auntie but... damn me if it isn’t unpleasant. They behave like animals.”
“I know, dear. But soon we’ll remove them.”
The stallion sighed. “That day cannot come soon enough.”
The pair stayed like that for a while, finding comfort in each other’s embrace. Celestia rarely found time to spend with family outside of formal events, and Blueblood was too proud to seek her out under normal circumstances, or to show affection in public. “Actually…” The unicorn looked up. “Could you tell me what book has the instructions to learn telepathy?”
“Oh?” Celestia asked, smiling down at him.
“W-well, it wouldn’t hurt, surely?” he asked her. “After all, as a member of the Royal Family I do have a duty to treat our ambassadors fairly, no? And speaking their ‘language’ as it were would help with that.”
“And you’re sure you don’t have an ulterior motive?” she asked with a cheeky smile.
“My dear Auntie; I have no idea what you’re insinuating,” Blueblood stated while turning his face away from her. “I simply wish to fulfil my royal duty.”
Celestia’s smile turned sly and she poked him in the side with a wing. “Very well nephew, say what you like. Of course, in the future I would advise against staring; most females don’t take it very well,” she told him with a gentle chuckle.
“I meant nothing by it!” he shouted defensively. “They just look so… so… different,” he said sweetly.
“Of course,” Celestia said, her smile still sly. “Still, one with observant eyes could not help but notice just where it was your gaze lingered.”
“Please stop talking about this, Auntie,” the prince pleaded.
“I’m sorry, Bluey, I don’t mean to tease too much,” the princess said apologetically. “I just rarely get the chance to be myself.”
“I… I know. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be so defensive. It’s just...” he trailed off, shaking his head. “Anyways; I’d like that book.”
“Of course. Just go to the library and ask for the books on telepathy. I’m not sure which ones are still in circulation, but the librarian will help you,” she told him with a small smile. “If all else fails, I’m sure Twilight or I can teach you easily enough,” she added.
“I’m not sure the newest member of our family will be happy to help me,” Blueblood muttered. “Not like she would’ve before that night. Still, I will ask if I must. Thank you, Auntie.”
“Of course nephew,” Celestia said, bending down to give him a light nuzzle. “I have all of eternity, so never worry that I don’t have time to listen to your problems should you need my help.”
So… Twilight put down her plate and looked at Daphne.
Yes? she asked, crunching on some of the kindling she had asked for.
You need to eat meat, right? The Delphox nodded. And your entire world is populated by Pokémon?
Yes…? Daphne replied, not sure what she was getting at.
So to eat meat you need to… to eat another intelligent creature? Twilight asked, sounding disgusted by the notion.
I’m not sure I understand why that’s such a problem. It’s just the way things are, Daphne explained.
But if they’re intelligent as well then you’re denying an entirely new perspective of the world from ever being heard! Twilight protested. Not to mention that in Equestria it would be considered murder and cannibalism, but even if we don’t go into the morality of it, it’s wasteful!
Daphne took that in before chuckling. Things really are different here. It’s hardly easy to attack and kill another Pokémon, she said. if you’re lucky, you walk away injured. More often than not, you end up bleeding out after a Bibarel gets lucky and manages to disembowel you.
Still... the idea is disturbing, Twilight said, looking a bit green. It reminds me of what the griffins used to do... or at least a part of it.
And we don’t consider it murder. If anything, it ensures that only the strongest members of a species survive and pass on their traits. Not to mention that by eating them it ensures that nothing goes to waste. We’re very environmentally friendly that way, the Delphox explained with a slight smile, slightly enjoying returning a bit of suffering to the mare. After all, if no-one ate them, Bidoofs and Zubats would overrun the world and then where would we be?
Constantly stepping in potholes and drained of our blood, Gabrielle answered, a soft smile touching her face. I imagine that the casualty rate would be astounding.
But… you’re still killing them, Twilight mumbled.
Do you hold it against the other races here that need to eat meat? They are only doing what they must to survive, Daphne explained. We’re not all that different. If anything, all Pokémon being capable of higher thought means that we understand what it means, how much it can affect others. We do not hunt for sport, and we only kill when necessary.
It still feels wrong.
Then I’m afraid we simply have different definitions for right and wrong, Daphne replied as she chewed on her fish. And personally, I feel as if it isn’t your place to judge us considering that you are not of our world. She looked up from her fish to give Twilight a hard look before she blew on the fish, the heat crisping it a bit more, before she continued eating.
To hold us by your standards is foolish. Princess Cadenza learned that, Gabrielle pointed out.
I... I’m sorry, Twilight said, looking down. This is just... new to me. I don’t mean to seem close minded it’s just... different.
I doubt that this will be last of the differences between us, Gabrielle said calmly. As long as we explain things like this, though, I can’t see it being that much of a problem, she added with a gentle smile.
I suppose as long as you don’t hurt anypony, it doesn’t really matter, the alicorn said, giving them a smile of her own.
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curse you for linking tvtropes! now im going to be stuck in the endless loop of opening more tabs then i close until i get to tired to read!
other then that this was a great chapter and i love how you made the pokemon world fundamentally different from the pony world.
although i have my own theory on the sapience of the different pokemon.
Well, the Pokedex entries for some Pokemon do mention eating other species. Though I'm not sure all species are sapient.
Granted I also think that the Mystery Dungeon games take place in a distant future where humans are extinct.
No, the dialogue itself also helps to differentiate between them.
All of Brock's pokemon seem to subsist entirely on kibble.
I suppose you are going with the Manga version of the Pokemon world then. Gritty, dark and violent it is.
3923075
Closer to that, yeah. I mean, especially with the giant bird of prey in Xavier's team, eating meat makes sense in my take on the Pokémon world.
That, and surely the kibble is made from something, right?
3923105
In the real world kibble is basically really crunchy bread (think salad croutons) with vitamins and minerals packed into it.
Nice chapter. And a cool Blue Blood?! A pleasant new experience.
But... just what is Celestia planning...?
3923138
Yeah, the other Blueblood I did was a royal prat. I thought it would better to make him a bit more of a sympathetic character. That, and doing something different is fun.
3923165
Well I can say I like it. It's a breath of fresh air to be honest.
Hell, even I still write him as a twat. In a story I'm planning, he tries to take over the kingdom for his own.
3923179
It's because it's easy to write him as a prat. It's what everyone expects, so you feel obligated to follow the leader.
3923217
Blah, I hate being a sheep.
Granted, at least he isn't an idiot in my planned story and actually manages to do something rather than have the fun picked out of him.
I actually like the err... non jerkish (<-not a word?) Blueblood. As stated only treating Rarity like that because he knew she was just after him because of his position. (Seriously that episode made me hate her more then I already did...)
Anyways, on topic of this story, it is kinda weird thinking about Pokemon eating each other, for some reason. (Probably the intelligence I guess) Overall been enjoying this story and can't wait for the next chapter... Moo!
3923532
Have you read Kevin and Kell? Because that's where I pretty much borrowed the logic from. It's not murder if you only kill them for sustenance.
3923064 I wouldn't consider humans entirely extinct in them. At the very least a small minority of them would have to survive for the second game's events to happen, due to the main character being a human from the future
Also, to the first part, I agree that not all species are sapient... look at Magikarp, Bidoof and Zubat, if those pokemon are self aware... yeesh
3924755
static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Magikarp_f19a74_426500.jpg
3924769 hehehe gotta love Gyrados... i just can't decide between Magikarp growing aware during evolution or if Gyrados are just as derpy as their fishy predecessors...
3923116
No, there's some ground up and dehydrated meat in there too.
Can't say I'm a fan of rewriting Blueblood like this. I can see how people might want to do something different with the character, but with his portrayal in the show, it basically amounts to the same thing as writing Celestia as brutal tyrant or Pinkie as an insane mass murdered - completely discarding their character and replacing it with something else.
3923532
Not unless he's also an extremely talented actor, very quick on his hooves (his reaction to that flying cake was all but instantaneous) and one who doesn't mind being an ass to people who've got nothing to do with it to keep up his little act (like Applejack). In short, not bloody likely.
3926132
Except that we have seasons of characterisation for Pinkie and Celestia. We only have an episode for Blueblood, and it wasn't even a full episode. What you've done is gotten fanon mixed up with canon.
3926203
So? Just because there's less canon, doesn't mean it doesn't count. There may not be as much of it for Blueblood, but he's an entitled, self-absorbed prat in all of it.
Blueblood doesn't have a fanon version of that's significantly different; it's pretty much identical to the canon. At most his status as an utter waste of perfectly good oxygen is turned up a few more notches; a matter of degree, not kind.
3930324
All we know is that he acted like a self-absorbed prat. We don't know if that's how he always is, or if was just an act. General fanon likes to go with him being a total douche-munch.
It's called Alternative Character Interpretation. After all, for all we know he's met hundreds of mares who want him for his position and money. That would turn anyone into a total dick.
3931050
I don't think there's much doubt the intention of the writers at least was for him to be every bit as douche-tastic as fanon makes him out to be. The whole point of the episode was that they all came to the Gala with their own preconceptions of what it was going to be like, only to run into the brick wall of cold, hard reality. Rarity's was the fairy tale version of the Handsome Prince.
I don't think she was really after him for his position or wealth. Her unrealistic notiion up for the chopping block was that of a fairy tale romance, with the perfect stallion who would of course be a prince, because we all know princes are handsome, perfect gentlemen, ans they'd live happily ever after, etc etc. She wasn't after him for the materialistic side of his title, but because of a silly, overly idealized notion of what a prince would be like. That moral would be rather undermined if he turned out to be a nice guy who just got the wrong idea about her.
And like I said, while it's possible it was an act, it's not very likely. For one thing, he was a jerk to others as well, not just Rarity. And then there's the flying cake. There's no way anyone could have seen that Rube Goldberg-like series of dominos that resulted in it going straight for them coming. Good luck staying in character when something like that happens totally out the blue. He'd have to be an extremely accomplished actor if thet were the case. Occam's Razor suggests he's probably really like that.
Besides, from what we've seen of the rest of Canterlot's upper crust, the Upper Class Twit-attitude would fit right in.
3939828
Is it just me, or are you simply here to argue now?
Either way, let's just agree to disagree. I'll interpret Blueblood's actions how I want, you interpret them how you want. Sound good?
3940701
As long as you can back it up and aren't a dick about it, nothing wrong with arguing imo. Opposing viewpoints happen. If I'm wrong, then I've learned something.
All I said was that I don't much care for it when I see it and why, it's no big deal. Call it a slight preference against it on my part. I like it if the road from prat to worthwhile individual be a bit more fleshed out than "he was always like this". It just seems like a bit too much like a copout to me. In fact, one of my favorite FiM stories ever is Flight of the Alicorn, which may well be a contender for the Charles Darwin Award for Most Drawn Out but Meaningful Without Being Tedious Character Development in a Pony Fic.
Which might be why this comment of yours kind of rubbed me the wrong way:
As if going by established canon is somehow being unoriginal.
3945299
It's more that authors just pick the first, most obvious trait and use that as the entire base of the character. Then they refuse to go any deeper than that. That's what annoys me about what people do with minor characters/background ponies in general.
a nice blueblood? okay, I'll roll with it, I'd like to see where you take this.
Never liked him much, though perhaps that is because I am more of Revisionary Socialist, and he is of the nobility of rather generous Monarchy...
3945855
That's because most minor or background character don't have any other traits, or any at all, sometimes - that's what makes them minor characters.
Unless you're going to make one of them an important part of your story, there's no reason to flesh them out. Especially Blueblood, since his canon personality makes him very useful as a secondary antagonist.
Well obviously they only eat Pokemon who blow all their money on lottery tickets
I think that there are ordinary, non-sentient animals in the pokemon world, and they're what carnivores eat. References are made to animals like ours in the games, the manga, and the anime.
I squee every time I see a TV Tropes link.
It kind of makes sense that the Pokémon run on "Survival of the Fittest". Think about it: they have insane abilities and powers beyond any animal. Those who cannot use said abilities as well or at all are weaker than the others of their kind, and thus are not able to defend themselves, making them targets for predators.