o12 . video, action is locked to rodeopony

[usedslam]

[ When the feed starts up, it's hard to tell what you're looking at, between shaky camerawork and a dark setting. The first minute offers nothing but a jumbled view of rocks and dirt, lit by what seems like a candle flame. Sniffling and quick breathing come from just offscreen, joined occasionally by the grinding scrape of rock on rock

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[video] 1/2 haha, yay lunch break~

[rodeopony]

[ A loud gasp, but not a panicked one. ]

[usedslam]

[ He nods a little frantically, backs up to the opposite wall. Orange sidles on over to stand beside the boy, unhurried. ]

Um! Is that okay? Can you do it?

[rodeopony]

Hold on to your Charmeleon, we don't want him to get hit by a bunch of rocks!

You ready?

[ There's the sound of a low rumble from Onyx as she gets into position to bash through the rest of the wall. ]

[usedslam]

Go for it!

[ Shooter's either very excited or slightly hysterical. Probably both. Said Charmeleon very nonchalantly moves in front of him, acting both as a shield a means of making sure the kid stays put -- he crouches between the lizard and wall. ]

[rodeopony]

[ AJ scoots back from the hole and counts down to five--after which Onyx blasts through the remains of the tunnel with a roar. Her head takes up most of the space Shooter, Orange and Dark had been occupying before, but she manages not to smash either boy or lizard.

When the dust clears: ]

Shooter! You okay, sugarcube?

[usedslam]

[ Both the boy and Pokemon cringe, but both come out of it unharmed. Any minor injuries from flying bits of rock are taken by Orange, who's had worse in battle anyway -- he holds Shooter in place until the dust has cleared, and then the kid's scrambling over to Applejack. ]

Yeah! Thanks!

[rodeopony]

[ She meets him halfway, a blur of golden hair and freckles, arms flying around him in a tight hug. Total strangers? Who cares? She pets his hair, reassuring. ]

Oh, sugarcube, you shouldn't be traveling alone! You were mighty lucky I was here.

[usedslam]

[ Hugging total strangers is fine by him, and oh god now he's trying to not dissolve into sobs again. The little boy just clings. ]

Yeah, I... I really, really was...

[rodeopony]

[ She nuzzles the crown of his head, because that's how ponies roll. She'll hold him for as long as he needs. ]

You're not hurt, are you?

[usedslam]

I'm really okay!

[ He doesn't even seem notice, or at least doesn't mind -- right now, Applejack feels more like a mom than anyone he's talked to in the past six months. Or at least a cool babysitter.

It's getting to him.

The words are reluctant, muffled by her shirt. ]

I'm sorry I went out alone, it was kind of stupid...

[rodeopony]

[ A brief giggle, not unkind. ] Only a little bit. Promise me you won't be traveling alone from now on?

[ Shirt getting wet? AJ's lips are sealed. ]