686/Twilight talks about her phobia.

Twilight talks about her phobia.
Date of Scene:	27 September 2014
Location:	Equestria
Synopsis:	Bats are scary.
Cast of Characters:	Staren, 411, 470

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Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     After getting back from the story in a cave, Twilight had to spend some time studying to get over how scary that place was. Of course, she's never really thought about trying to conquer her fear of bats and snakes and other creepy creatures. Like Pinkie's Pinkie sense, it's just something she's accepted that is true. Now, she is happily reading a book on her couch while Owlowiscious sits on her head, reading the book along with her.

     Twilight isn't expecting any company, really, but she's always happy to have guests.

Staren has posed:
    Knock knock! "Twilight, it's me!" Assuming he's invited in, Staren smiles and trots over to hug her, noticing Owlowliscious at the last split-second and and halting to try and not dislodge him.

    Once he's gotten his balance back, he nuzzles her and steps back. "It's been awhile since I visited... I'm always happy to hang out of course, but... I was wondering if you wanted to talk about what happened. You don't have to right now if you don't want to, though." He lowers his gaze a bit and scuffs a hoof on the floor. He doesn't want to pressure her or make her uncomfortable, of course.

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight of course invites Staren in. She giggles a bit as Owl is ruffled by the hug and nuzzling, then she hugs Staren warmly and hugs him before blinking. "What do you mean?" she asks. Apparently she hasn't given the episode in the cave a second thought. Owl resumes his sitting on Twilight's head. 'Who?'

Staren has posed:
    Staren blinks and stares blankly back at her. "What do I mean? Twilight... you were incapacitated by encountering bats! I mean..." he hesitates, briefly. "...How do I put this... as a friend and ally, I'm concerned about what that could mean in another situation like that. And what if an enemy used it against you? But... as a friend and more than a friend..." he steps forward to hold her close, "I'm more concerned about /you/. I don't want you to have to feel so terrified. I don't want you to be hurt like that." After a moment, he lets go and steps back again. "If you're not comfortable talking about it, we don't have to right now. But I hope that someday I, or someone, can help you with this."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
    You know it's a funny thing, bringing up the Pinkie sense like that. Somewhere, a hooded pony hanging around Ponyville is getting the jitters, leg twitching like crazy. Then an ear. Then her nose-- much to her discomfort, and then her tail goes EXTRA SUPER FRIZZY.
    A slow wandering pace leads her half way around town before that mysterious sixth, and very pink sense leads her to her destination...
    And thus comes the rap. A light tap-tap-tap-tap on the window, before the porcelain features of Pinkie's mask can be seen through the window. With a pair of band-aids crossed over the snout.
    "Psst. Psssst! Twilight! Twilight let me in, I'm a Breezie. Twilight, Don't you believe in Breezies?"

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight blinks as well when Staren clarifies what he means. She curls up a bit in self-consciousness before embracing Staren. "I've tried to overcome it before, but it's just no use. I've been afraid of bats and spiders and snakes and other creepy things for as long as I can remember."

     Then, there is a tapping on the window, which given the topic at hoof makes Twilight flinch in surprise. "...Pinkie?" she asks, peering at the window. "I do believe in Breezies, but I do not believe you are one. Would you like to come in?"

Staren has posed:
    Staren tilts his head and looks concerned... but there's Pinkie. He sighs a little. Maybe another time... He looks to the window. "What's a Breezie?"

Pinkie (470) has posed:
    "Yeeeees." The voice is muffled by virtue of being outside, Pinkie waits for Twilight to open the window up, though.
    "Oh oh! Breezies are like little tiny pony-fairies that float on the breeze. --Don't you believe in Breezies, Staren?"

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     "Staren has probably not heard of Breezies until now. But, asking if we believe in them is sort of like asking if we believe in griffons. They are a well-documented species with their own culture." Twilight says as she opens the window to let Pinkie in. Then, she noses Staren. "I don't mind talking about my fears, even with Pinkie around. She's...well, her past self is very good at helping others overcome fears, or at least cope with them. I can't speak for this Pinkie in that regard, but it seems likely that she still has that ability."

Staren has posed:
    Staren headtilts at Pinkie's description. Obviously wondering if they're an Equestrian myth or a real thing. He nods at Twilight's explanation, though.

    And she's willing to continue the conversation? He noses her back. "Well then... I... is there any particular reason they are so frightening, or a quality so frightening about them?" He tilts his head the other way. "There doesn't have to be. Fears aren't always logical. But if this one has any logic to it, well... knowing about it might help us help you."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
    Once the window opens Pinkie comes tumbling in, landing in a sprawl, with a bleat, hooves pawing at the air as she remains that way flailing for a few beats.
    It takes her just a second or so to get herself back up, favoring one of her hindlegs. "Whatwerewetalkingabout?" Nosey as ever, the masked party pony tilts her head, ears pricking up as she seems to have interrupted-- and now barged in on what sounds like a pretty important conversation.
    "Maybe I can help! Huh? Huh? Huh?"

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight shakes her head and eyerolls lightly at Pinkie's antics as she answers Staren. "I have tried thinking about it logically, learning about the animals and how they could in all likelyhood not harm me. But, it was no use. It is an instinctive reaction, the kind of fight or flight reaction that is very hard to control. So far, I have not found a means to do so." she says before giggling softly at Pinkie. "If you can, I would be delighted."

Staren has posed:
    Staren nods. "I see. I... when we went on to Sand Zone..." he hesitates a moment, sort of afraid to admit it, "...We encountered constructs with forms straight out of my nightmares. I... don't know... I mean, I'm sure it was coincidence. B-but... I... we had to fight them. At least some of them. Maybe my fight-or-flight instinct is just stuck on 'fight', though... S-so... I'm trying to say, I get it." He paces a bit. "Perhaps we could work on this together."

    He looks to Pinkie. "Pinkie, how would you cure someone of such fears?"

Pinkie (470) has posed:
    So a certain purple pony is having problems with fears, then. "Hoho...!" Pinkie seems to titter at that, scuffing the floor with one hoof. "Twilight I'm surprised. Did the me here not go through this with youuuuu?" This? Despite the slight limp to her pace, she prances a circle around the two, giggling wildly. "There's an easy way to make something scary... A lot less scary!" Comes her reply to Staren as she takes a breath. Take notes little colts and fillies because...
    o/` ~ "When I was a little filly and the sun was going dowwwwn..." ~ o/`
    The musical number is about to begin.

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight blinks, then starts laughing as Pinkie starts singing. "Yes, she did, but before I can laugh at bats my legs have usually already carried me away from them." she says, blushing just a bit in embarrassment. She lets Pinkie sing. It is a catchy song, after all, and did help her in a time of need.

     But then, a thought hits Twilight. This Pinkie seems -exactly- like her Pinkie. How could their world have ended up like it did? She puts that thought aside before nuzzling Staren. "Perhaps it is the difference in our evolutions. As I understand it, humans evolved to be predators in addition to scavengers. Ponies were never predators, and much of the time before we tamed the wilds and built cities we were hunted."

Staren has posed:
    Staren blinks. A song? Well, okay, he'll listen... he likes songs, but he's not sure how it will help.

    He leans against Twilight gently, nodding at her explanation. He doesn't reply yet, not wanting to interrupt the song.

Pinkie (470) has posed:
    It's a helpful song! Though not a complete reprise, nor entirely the same as it was back in the Everfree. Pinkue tuts, waggling a hoof at Twilight when she says it's easier to run first then laugh at chiropterae.
    We're just going to skip ahead a few verses though as the party pony reached into her cloak with one hoof to produce a deck of cards, which she starts shuffling at a lightning pace.
    o/` ~ "Twilight, y'gotta stand up tall, when you wanna battle the batty, just laugh at the ghastly!" ~ o/` chimed as the shuffling turns into a flurry of folding, until there's a bat made out of spades, another of hearts, another of diamonds, and another of clubs flittering around in circles, while Pinkie seems to get them flitting to and fro with a few puppeteering motions.
    Better get to laughing, Twilight.

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight blinks as Pinkie starts folding so quickly. When she recognizes the shapes, Twilight eeks softly. But, bats made out of cards are not nearly as scary as real bats. Twilight still ducks when they fly near her, though. But, after a few moments, she is giggling every now and then as the card bats fly by. Owlowiscious seems intrigued by the bats, and takes to the air to chase one around.

Staren has posed:
    Staren watches the bat-igami. "/That's/ a neat trick..." he comments. He watches Twilight's reaction, putting a hoof around her until she's relaxed. "When you're terrified, you don't really feel like laughing though, do you?" He pokes a bassing cardbat. "Will this really transfer to laughing at real bats?"

Pinkie (470) has posed:
    "Only one way to find out! TRY!" Pinkie chirps to Staren in reply, amid tra-la-la-ing it up.
    A few more emphatic motions of her hooves, and the bat Owlowiscious is after starts pulling off barrel rolls and loop-the-loops to really give the hooter a fly for his money. But the card-bats flitter and Chitter and screech and flap around--
    Until Twilight starts giggling.
    For every laugh, chortle, chuckle, and giggle, one of the bats goes up with a big POOF of smoke and glitter, turning into paper flowers- one of which she nabs in a cloven hoof and deftly tucks in Twilight's mane by an ear.
    With the song and dance act done she promptly hops to stand on one hind-leg in order to bring her forelegs up in...
    Jazz-hooves.

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight giggles and shrugs. "I'm not sure, but *giggle* this is certainly fun if nothing else! *snicker*" Twilight giggles again as that flower is placed in her mane, then smiles happily. Card bats are no longer scary at all! Soon, all of them are just flowers, leaving Owlowiscious diving after a flower rather than a bat. He looks confused as he catches a colorful chrysanthemum, then he flies over to his perch to investigate this strange flying flower.

     Twilight gives Staren a big hug. "No, when one is terrified laughing is not the first response." she says, even though she is smiling now. She then looks to Pinkie. "But, maybe next time I see a real bat, I will be able to at least chortle."

Staren has posed:
    Staren smiles at Pinkie's antics, and stomps his forehooves in applause. He chuckles once at Twilight's comment. "Mm, I hope so. I suppose we will see." He hugs. "The trick is forming a new association, huh? Maybe now when you see a bat, you'll be reminded of the silly card-bats and laugh at the memory."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
    Pinkie then abruptly crumples to let herself lay out on the floor in a beat manner. Looks like that took some energy out of her. Though she picks her head up. "Oh huh REAL BATS?" She then muses.
    "You know you should stay away from those, they can give you -rabies-."

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight's ears splay and she slumps. "...yes...I know." she says to Pinkie, then sighs and shakes her head. "Hopefully." she says to Staren, then smiles gently to both of them. "I should get some sleep. You two are of course welcome to stay the night."

Staren has posed:
    Staren just sort of headtilts at Pinkie's comment. He snugs Twilight, "Goodnight!" and then pats Pinkie on the back. "Thanks. Doubt she's over it, but I'm sure this is progress."

Pinkie (470) has posed:
    It looks like Pinkie's gonna take Twilight up on that offer, because she proceeds to curl up on the softest spot of floor she can find and lay her head down, peering to keep one vivid green eye on the two for a moment before closing it. "A Pinkie does what a Pinkie can~. GOODNIGHT."
    ZZZzzz...

Staren has posed:
    Staren just blinks as Pinkie curls up on the floor like a dog. After a moment, he retrieves a spare blanket from upstairs and drapes it over her, before heading back up to sleep in the spare bed himself.