4th Sapphire Cupcake: [Video / Action for Cianwood] - Backdated to 27 April, early morning

[rather_eat_turquoise]

[The feed suddenly clicks on at an ungodly hour of the morning, on a weird angle which shows that it's obviously sitting on the floor and has been accidentally turned on. There are crashes as growling Trapinch dashes past, followed by an annoyed looking Pineco.

The feed shows the two attempting to tackle each other and dodging, hitting furniture and slamming into the walls.

At this point, if anyone is wondering where the heck their owner is, he's dead to the world, snoring on the bed. You can just hear him in the background over the noise these two pokemon are making.

The pair become tangled up in a corner of the blanket which is draped on the floor. Struggling to both get loose, they pull the entire blanket off the bed, dragging three eggs with it.

They hit the ground with a crack and the feed blinds everyone watching with a series brilliant white lights.]

Karp...karp...karp...karp.

Reeeeep, Mareep?

Hor...seaaaaaa.

[The light fades and Spike's three newest pokemon are revealed (well, at least two of them...the Magikarp egg rolled off screen). Spike's Trapinch and Pineco, obviously surprised by this development, immediately start arguing, each blaming the other for what happened.]

What? Who's there?

[Cue their bleary owner, who has finally woken up.]

What the!?! YOU GUYS HATCHED?

[You can see Spike's feet as he hops off the bed, and starts frantically running around the room]

Oh Celestia, whatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoIdo???

Okay, stay cool Spike...you can handle this....

Wait, YOU'RE A FISH?!?

[A beat]

Water! I need water!

[Spike's legs race past into the bathroom, and you can hear the water being turned on in the bathtub as he dumps his Magikarp into it.]

Comments

retroactively video? // action

[rather_eat_turquoise]

[Spike didn't have a chance to decline Rarity's offer before the feed cut off. The next morning, as Rarity enters the room, Spike looks like he hasn't slept much. The room is far tidier than it had been the night before though. He's sitting on the bed, brushing his Mareep's wool. Small sparks shoot off of it, occasionally zapping him, but his Mareep looks more than happy.]

Oh Rarity! [Yawn and then blinks as he registers what Rarity is holding.] You...made this for me? [He's totally bewildered.]

[Zap]

Ouch!

action

[artofthestress]

[ The buttered toast, fried eggs, and fruit salad is a little sparse by Rarity's standards, but it will have to do. ] Well, you need all of the energy you can get if you're going to be looking after this unruly bunch. I find a good breakfast to start the day helps me take absolutely anything Sweetie Belle or her friends can throw at me.

[ She sets the tray down next to the bed and removes one item from it, a mug of hot coffee which she sips. Observes the bags under his eyes. ] My goodness, did you get any sleep last night?

action

[rather_eat_turquoise]

[Spike yawns again and looks around at his small horde of pokemon playing in various areas around the room.]

Yeah, they're really energetic. Even I'm having trouble keeping up with them! Well, except Raspberry...because he can't really go far...

[Spike breathes in deeply as Rarity puts the tray down]

Wow this looks great! Thanks Rarity!

[Spike proceeds to start scoffing himself with breakfast, speaking in between bites]

Twilight made me stay up all night - you know what she's like. She said I had to bond with them or they'd think that you guys were their trainers.

action

[artofthestress]

Not at all. [ She smiles a little to see Spike enjoying it. She made her own breakfast just a little earlier, so it was no trouble to make extra. ]

Did you? Well, that's very grown-up of you, Spike. Twilight's probably right, these little guys will imprint fast as lightning. You need all the time with them you can get in their early days.

[ She finishes off her coffee, nips a piece of fruit from the salad, and approaches the 'mons. ] Now, which one of these is Raspberry?

action

[rather_eat_turquoise]

[Spike puffs up a bit at Rarity's praise]

That's me, Spike the grown-up, responsible dragon.

[He looks around at all his baby pokemon]

Hopefully they like me. [Under his breath]Not like Pinchy...

[At Rarity's question, Spike points towards the bathroom.]

I left him in the tub beacuse he's a fish. Everypony says that they are fine out of water but...

Come on, seriously, what kind of fish lives out of water?

action

[artofthestress]

I'm sure you and Pinchy will be able to find some common ground!

Is Raspberry, now? [ She moves into the bathroom to have a look. ] He's very bright! I've just acquired a fish of my own, you know. [ She pulls out a pokeball and tosses it into the tub - Hans the Feebas emerges, and bubbles morosely at Raspberry. He's much duller in contrast to the other fish. ]

Action

[rather_eat_turquoise]

Yeah don't hold your breath.

[Spike follows Rarity into the bathroom. Raspberry seems to be beaming at the compliment and flops about a bit, splashing water over the sides of the tub.

[Spike blinks as the Feebas appears. He didn't realise that Rarity had an egg hatch recently too.]

He seems...kind of unhappy? Have you named him yet?

[Raspberry, on the other hand, is absolutely delighted to have another fish in the tub, and immediately goes over and greets the Feebas cheerily, nudging him with his head.]

His fins and tail are a nice blue - kind of like a crystal clear lake. [Spike has no idea about fashion, but is trying to compliment the weird looking fish. Not that his own fish doesn't look really weird too. And his fins are a nice colour...]

Action

[artofthestress]

That's very kind of you to say, Spike... not all of the other reactions he's gotten have been quite so charitable. [ She tilts her head, examining him. ] I can't decide if it's his lips or his scales that are the most... lacking.

But I've named him Hans. After the new appendages we've gained here. [ She wiggles her fingers to show him. ]

[ Hans seems to brighten a little at the prospect of a swimming buddy and mostly just observes Raspberry's antics. ] He does seem happier here, though. Maybe we should let them play more often. I've been trying to get the poor dear to cheer up a little.

[rather_eat_turquoise]

Well, not everyone...or, uh, pokemon...can look as amazing as you Rarity!

[Spike sort of blurted that out, and is now embarrassed, realising what he said, and hurriedly moves on, hoping Rarity doesn’t notice. He examines Hans, as he and Raspberry enjoy each other’s company.] 

Maybe it’s a combination of both? [Spike’s not exactly a fashion guru, so his comment is more of a helpless guess.]

[Meanwhile, Raspberry tries to cheer Hans up by blowing a heap of bubbles around the pair, fizzing up the water, and then seems to laugh as the bubbles pop on the surface of the water.]

Yeah, Raspberry and Kiah seem to like playing together, but Raspberry would probably like having another fish around. Especially since Kiah is just way too excitable...

We can probably leave them in here together.

...I mean uh...if you want to?

[artofthestress]

[ Rarity reddens a little but doesn't respond to Spike's comment on her looks. Instead she concentrates on watching the two fish. Hans swims slow circles around Raspberry. ] They do seem to be getting along.

[ She nods and looks out at the main room. ] Perhaps I can look after the others while you get some sleep, Spike? You are just a baby dragon after all...

[rather_eat_turquoise]

[Spike doesn't notice Rarity blush because he's too busy trying to cover up his awkwardness. He doesn't even notice that she refers to him as a baby dragon.]

I am pretty beat. Taking care of so many baby pokemon is a lot of work.

Are you sure you don't mind? Wake me up if they misbehave.

You won't tell Twilight right? I have no time to write a report on shirking responsibilities...

[artofthestress]

It's no trouble, dear. I have some work to be getting on with. [ She pulls out a notebook and pen. Whether she will be designing, writing down breeding schema, or both, is a mystery even to her at this point. ] You go ahead and get some rest!