video

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

[It's not immediately clear who's filming this video, but it's pretty clear it's not Shinobu himself, because he's standing well in front of the camera. In fact, there are two of them: one looking (relatively) calm, while the other cowers behind him, looking absolutely terrified. The reason for that Shinobu's state is also immediately obvious - namely, the Galarian Rapidash standing in front of the pair, horn lowered to skewering range. glaring at the second Shinobu with, as they say, blood in her eye and murder in her heart. Somewhere behind her, a Midnight Lycanroc is looking on with something approaching worship (not that she'll admit it); viewers may also get a glimpse here and there of one of the two Vulpix, Alolan and Johtoian, who are actually manipulating the camera.

The realer, calmer Shinobu has his hands out placatingly, speaking gently to the Rapidash. If he's rattled at all by any of this (he is), he's doing a very good job of not showing it.]

Kirin, it's all right. It didn't mean any harm - it was just trying to be helpful.

[Kirin does not look entirely convinced.]

Comments

VIDEO

[seacub]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

[There's two Emporio!! One looks to be about as curious as 'humanly' possible. Perhaps because the real one's been astoundingly patient with teaching them. Regardless.]

Not...taking the Ditto well huh....

Re: VIDEO

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

[Shinobu can't answer right away; he's too busy trying to talk Kirin down. But eventually...]

Not really, no.

[seacub]

Can you convince them to take a different shape maybe..?

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

[The Ditto in fact seems to be cycling through them in the background, while Kirin glares.]

They're trying, I think. [He pauses.] But I think they may also be panicking a bit. Kirin, please come away for a bit, so they can calm down - they're not going to do anything bad.

[Kirin looks unconvinced, but does take a few steps away. Shinobu sighs.]

[seacub]

Oh....I see... [That sure is all happening back there, hm.]

I'm surprised to see your rapidash react that much, if I'm honest- Ditto copy other pokemon all the time right? Was copying a person really that different to them?

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

There are some... extenuating circumstances, in my case. The matter of doppelgangers in my world is... somewhat fraught. That's what she's reacting to, more than anything else. Obviously there's no way the Ditto could have known that, but... [He sighs again as he glances back at the Ditto, who is now Ditto-shaped but still clearly terrified.] This was really not the best way for it to find that out.

[seacub]

Ohhhhhh....that makes sense then...I-

[...No wait, hang on-] ...Wait, she's from your world then? [That's the only way she'd know right?] I didn't even know that was possible.!

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

She's not, but she is a partial Psychic type.

[And, well, nightmares happen.]

[seacub]

[Oh! That...makes more sense, he realizes.] Oh...so she just...read your mind about it then..?

[video]

[captainash]

Got yourself an unexpected body double, too? I can see why your Rapidash would be unhappy, but this is a bit much.

[Not that Ash sounds particularly worried or concerned.]

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

[Once Shinobu can trust Kirin won't gore the Ditto, he answers.]

She's... always been on the more protective side.

[He understates.]

[captainash]

It's to her credit! Mostly. But is she like that with every potential threat, or only those that commit accidental identity theft?

[Probably acidental, anyway.]

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

She's like this with most potential threats. But there are some... extenuating circumstances... in this case, which the Ditto couldn't have known.

[Changelings and their doppelgangers are something of a difficult subject in general.]

[captainash]

So, instead of whatever reaction it was expecting, it had to deal with a very close shave with a very gory death. The poor thing.

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

It's trying to be helpful; it just picked an extremely poor method of doing so.

[The Ditto is now - somewhat frantically - cycling through various new forms.]

[captainash]

To be fair, I don't think a wild Ditto would know that people tend to prefer helpful acts like offering to dry the dishes or put away the groceries.

[Would a Ditto even be capable of that, if it took a human shape?]

How do you think it was trying to help, by taking your form?

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

True.

Honestly, we didn't get that far. I'll ask once things are a bit calmer.

[captainash]

Hopefully that won't take too long, now that the so-called threat is obviously not planning to harm you. And too terrified to fight, as far as I can tell.

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

Hopefully. And hopefully it's not completely traumatized now.

[ video ]

[questioneverything]

Oh... that could be a problem.

I see you have a Ditto problem, too. The more protective Pokémon aren't taking to this very well.

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

[There's an initial delay, but eventually Shinobu responds.]

You too?

[questioneverything]

[Romelle nodded.]

Yes. There have been several around that I thought were other people. These particular Ditto seem to be quite skilled.

[As if on cue, another Romelle appeared on screen. Though, this one didn't have the pink face markings or the pointed ears.]

I do have to wonder a little about their motives, but it does seem to be just a prank?

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

All I've gotten from this one is that it was trying to be helpful. As far as I can tell, its intentions were purely good.

[He nods at the Romelle Ditto.] Hello.

[questioneverything]

[Ditto!Romelle waved back.] Ditto! [It had her voice down, but not quite language.]

Helpful... yes. I've noticed that some of them seem to be trying to do things that they think the people they're imitating should be doing. Apparently, Tiramisu found this one attempting to schedule me for a karaoke contest.

[Waaaay outside Romelle's comfort zone!]

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

[Juuuuust a bit, yes.]

Is that something you'd want to do?

[questioneverything]

Not... usually...?

[Romelle shrugged a little.]

I think it's because my Pokémon tend to think I shy away from adventure a lot. They've been pushing me to try new things and do more, and maybe Ditto here was just trying to help that along.

Ditto!

[That was exactly it! Try new things, Romelle!]

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

Your Ditto just confirmed it.

[questioneverything]

Oh. [And that got her to blush.] Well, I suppose I am trying. This whole place was new to me when I first arrived, so there is that. I just don't know about karaoke specifically.

[She looked at the Ditto!Shinobu.]

What was yours trying to help with? If you don't mind me asking.

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

...We didn't get that far before the stabbing threats started.

[questioneverything]

Oh! [Well, then!] I mean, I suppose it can be very scary for our Pokémon to see someone who isn't us pretending to be us. I do hope things have calmed down now.

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

[The Ditto is now Ditto-shaped, and a Mimikyu can be seen attempting to cheer it up (and, probably not coincidentally, put themself between Kirin and the Ditto]

It looks like they're getting there.

[questioneverything]

Do you think they'll let the Ditto stay with you?