foolishwren | 91. [Video/Action for Cianwood City]

Okay-- OKAY, OKAY, hang on, I got it!

All right, get back.

_{[The sound of big reptilian feet plodding backwards through wet sand can be heard as the camera shows a wobbly view of.... Sunny the Togekiss standing on an appropriately sunny Cianwood beach. The water's lapping at the shore, the sky is bright blue, it's totally beautiful.]

[A PERFECT day to test out the new, hard-earned skill gotten from beating Chuck in a furious fist-fight (and some obligatory after-battle arm-wrestling): Fly.]

[Perched precariously on the back of the big white marshmallow-bird is Heather, kneeling and holding onto the thick white plumage with both hands. She's got a determined expression.]}

Okay. Let's give it a try. I-- no, Dad, it's gonna be FINE, that's why I'm practicing on the BEACH, remember? Sand is soft!

OKAY.

Ready, girl?

Let's-- oh shit aw HELL--

_{[With some gentle but powerful WHOMPS, the Togekiss had begun to serenely flap its pillowy wings and take off. ... Without Heather, because Heather has no idea how the hell to ride a flying thing and was promptly jostled off by the wing motion.]

[Touching down again, Sunny trills and lovingly sits upon the face-down Heather like any caring bird mother might with a stupid bird baby that crash-landed after trying to fly.]}

... Okay.

This could take a little practice.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[As is Ironhide's next question:]

Why?

... So that I don't have to walk everywhere all the time?

But why would you want to... fly?

Well, it's easier on the feet, for one thing.

And for another...

_{[She trails off briefly, rubbing the back of her neck.]}

I'm... I'm kinda tired of being stuck so far away from so many people.

Especially when they could ... you know. Leave. At any time.

... If I can fly, I can... you know. Visit people more often than just when I'm in town.

I... get that.

[But he still looks supremely uncomfortable.]

But there must... be another way. Better way than flying.

[Ironhide fears very little in this world, or any other. Even the Decepticons inspired something other than mere fear. However... ]

[There is one thing he absolutely cannot do without feeling a deep, spark-killing fear.]

[Yes, that's right. The indomitable, fearless old weapons master... is afraid of flying.]

_{[Yeah, talk about a weird expression to see on THAT face... Heather's seen him sad, seen him tired, even seen him alarmed. But uncomfortable? It's a little surreal.]

[She gives him a weird look.]}

Well, if you've got any ideas, tell me, because I sure can't think of any.

I've been walking around Johto for almost two years, flying looks like a hell of a good alternative when it comes to speed.

_{[Even riding a large land-bound Pokemon (something she's not entirely opposed to, just... DOESN'T OWN ANYTHING BIG ENOUGH TO RIDE ON THAT'S NOT ON FIRE) wouldn't be as fast.]}

Just... find something to ride on. Like another Napalm.

[Yes, that is the entirety of his idea.]

_{[A slight groan.]}

Ironhide, I've ridden an Onix before.

Sure, it's quicker than walking, but it's not that quick.

Besides, that plan kinda falls through when it comes to having to get across bodies of water.

Literally.

Why're you so dead set on me not flying, anyway?

Then... get one that can swim, too.

[He makes that uncomfortable face again, but snaps his mouth shut.]

No reason. Seems. Unsafe. That is all.

_{[Okay, she definitely wasn't imagining things that time. There was something up.]}

... Are you scared I'm gonna fall out of the sky and die a horrible crushing death on impact?