Every pokémon has a type. Some are lucky enough to have two. A pokémon’s type usually determines the kinds of moves it can learn and use, as well as determining what kind of pokémon it can battle against without too much difficulty.

Almost every pokémon learned the basics of type matchups at a young age, usually from their parents or at a school run by, or made for by trainers, pokémon.

The most common example was the grass-water-fire triangle.

Grass was strong against water while water was weak against grass.

Water was strong against fire, but weak against grass.

Fire was strong against grass but weak against water.

Almost every type was strong against something and weak against another. A lot of types were strong against more than one, but at the same time were weak against many. Rock and ground were both weak to both grass and water. Some types were immune to the effects of another type. Normal and fighting type moves didn’t affect ghost types; steel was immune to poison, and the mighty dragon type couldn’t affect the fairy type (much to the embarrassment of dragon-types everywhere).

Some pokémon gained a new type when they evolved, or even lost a type; others didn’t change.

The most common types were either water or normal types; the numbers were close.

Dual-type pokémon were usually final-stage evolutions, or didn’t evolve at all (Many legendary pokémon were dual types) and some gained types that covered their weaknesses.

One of the most irritating type combos was Dark and Ghost, which had no weaknesses except for Fairy – thankfully, there were only two pokémon with that type and both were very hard to come by.

Some trainers relished the challenge of raising teams of a single type, whereas others covered several. One popular team setup was a water type, a fire type, a grass type, an electric type, a flying type and usually a psychic or fighting type to round out their roster. Mixing a team created new strategies and counters; which in turn made battling more interesting.

The Eevee family was highly prized due to the fact it had eight possible evolutions.

Flareon, the Fire type, Jolteon, the Electric type, Vaporeon, the Water type, Espeon, the Psychic type, Umbreon the Dark type, Glaceon the Ice type, Leafeon, the Grass type, and Sylveon, the Fairy type.

With the massive move and type pool available to them, it was possible to cover nearly every type if you picked your team accordingly.

In the wild, when pokémon meet, they usually automatically determine the pokémon’s type before either attacking, fleeing or initiating a conversation.

-

I had moved from the floor to the window, which had a ledge wide enough for me to sit comfortably on, while I looked down at the world flying by. It had been roughly five minutes since I had left the palace (and the town below it was called Canterlot) and while the floor had been comfortable, there hadn’t been anything to do.

Finally, the carriage started to descend and I saw a small town come into view. It consisted of many straw-roofed buildings as well as some rather unique designs among a few of the larger structures. The three that initially caught my eye were one that looked like a Carousel, a Gingerbread house and a massive building that appeared to be made of clouds complete with rainbow waterfalls cascading down from it, which dissipated well before they hit the ground. In the center of the town loomed a very strange looking building. The first thought that popped into my mind was tree, yet it was made up of what I hazarded to be crystal and gold. It looked like some kind of palace; and while it wasn’t as grand as the one in Canterlot where the Princesses dwelled, it had its own charm. I wondered if that meant Ponyville had its own resident Princess as well. I could see many colored dots I assumed were ponies moving around and through the streets.

The carriage landed with a gentle thump on the ground and after a few seconds of muffled voices, the door opened. I took a breath and stepped into the doorway. I noticed the carriage had landed in front of the strange palace. I looked down at the ground, which seemed a very long way away (although it was probably more so my imagination than actual distance) and I cursed my small size.

Suddenly a deep magenta field surrounded me and lifted me out of the carriage. My body locked up and my fur stood on end as I felt a feeling similar to the one I had felt when Celestia had touched me with her field run over me. I wasn’t sure if these feelings were my own, belonged to the one who manipulated it, or was a simple random event. This feeling was a gentle humor, as if it found my predicament funny, but it didn’t mean it in a demeaning way. From that, I theorized that some emotions transferred themselves into the field from the user who cast it, which I found interesting.

Looking up from the ground from within the shimmering field (which again was burning off massive amounts of energy that I found distasteful), I saw a lavender-coated pony, her horn glowing the same color as the field that surrounded me, standing at the head of a group of five other ponies. Just as sure as they were doing to me, I started analyzing them.

On the far left was a pale yellow winged pony, (pegasus, my mind supplied, though I wasn’t sure from where) with a soft pink mane that covered half her face. I saw her teal eyes widen as she met mine and she looked away. On her flank was a trio of pink and blue butterflies. She exuded a calm aura and I felt she was a very shy kind of pony that wasn’t fond of being the center of attention. I wondered what had happened to her to be so introverted. I briefly wondered if something like what had happened to me growing up had happened to her. Had she been teased her entire life as well? Fairy/Flying type, if I had to hazard as to what she would be catalogued in my world.

Next to her stood an orange-coated mare with straw-colored mane and tail. Her bright green eyes were alert and she met my gaze with one that felt slightly guarded, as if she didn’t judge someone until she had gotten to know them first. She wore an old Stetson hat, well worn, but sturdy and I wondered if she was some kind of farmer. On her flank was a trio of bright red apples. Ground/Fighting, since she looked like she was no stranger to her fair share of scrapes and bruises from…whatever she did for a living. Whatever it was, she clearly did it with pride, since she stood tall beside the other ponies around her.

Next in line was an eggshell-white colored unicorn with a carefully curled violet mane that I felt had to be a horror to do every morning. She clearly considered herself to be a mare of high class, since she held herself daintily. The way she was looking at me with her blue eyes was rather unnerving, as if she wanted to pin me down and style my coat until it gleamed. I had seen the same look on a barber who ran a place for Furfrou in Lumiose City. On her flank were three blue gems and I wondered what she did for a living, since I could see her doing anything that would require her to get her hooves dirty. I tentatively labeled her as Rock/Fairy; for while she seemed to have a rather soft exterior, there was a sharpness in her gaze that promised a lot of pain and misery for those that managed to raise her ire.

I passed over the lavender unicorn and settled on the hovering pegasus. Her coat was a bright blue and her mane and tail were a startling array of colors. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple; it suited her well. She had an air of confidence around her, as if she thought she was invincible. I knew arrogance when I saw it and this mare had it in spades. On her flank was a white cloud with a three-colored (red, yellow and blue) lightning bolt extending from it. She had the lean muscular body of an athlete and I figured she was also a bit of a daredevil and showoff. Easily a Flying/Fighting type; she looked like she was eager to be given an excuse to beat the snot out of me and she would enjoy every minute of it.

At the far right of the group stood a two-toned pink pony. Her body was an eye-watering shade of pink, her curly mane and tail slightly darker. I could tell she was energetic, since she was bouncing on all four of her hooves in a manner that produced an actual audible ‘boing’ sound. Around her, I could tell that all laws of physics, logic and reality had taken a permanent leave of absence. On her flank was a trio of balloons; two blue and a yellow one slightly higher between them. Her bright blue eyes never left mine as she kept bouncing. I could tell she wanted to rush over to me and start asking me questions, yet it seemed that she had been told off plenty of times before this and was trying to restrain herself. Yet despite all of her oddities, she seemed to be as harmless as the yellow pegasus. If she ever did fight, I felt she did so through unconventional means, which were usually more of an annoyance or distraction so her friends that could fight, like the rainbow-maned pegasus and the orange earth pony – the name again supplied by my memory – could use the moment to strike. A Normal type; capable of many things, hard to get a feeling for yet once you understood her, she was a delight to be around.

Finally, I let my eyes drift back to the last one remaining.

The lavender unicorn that held me in her field stood next to the white mare and I now saw she also sported a pair of wings, just like Celestia and Luna, yet she was nowhere near their height. Her mane was that irritating shade of color that was either blue or purple depending on how you looked at it and it had a streak of pink and purple running through it as well. Like I had seen with Celestia, she glowed with power, but unlike the more refined glow that had surrounded Celestia, hers was a wild inferno of energy. She was powerful, yet I had a feeling she either didn’t know it or had enough self-control to manage it. Seeing how the corona around her horn and the field that held me were both burning off so much energy led me to believe it was the former. If she refined her control, she’d be unstoppable. Probably a pure Psychic type – and a very powerful one at that.

On her flank was a reddish-pink six-pointed star. Between each of the points was a white point, giving the illusion that there was a smaller six-pointed white star underneath. Arrayed around it were five smaller stars, each six-pointed as well. It didn’t escape my notice that the five other mares flocked around her in a similar fashion; three on one side, two on another. I wondered what had transpired to draw the six of them together.

Friends are a weakness; they can never be trusted. They will turn on you, hurt you and drag you down from power.

Again, the darkness in my heart stirred.

Again, I ignored its lies.

I never had many friends growing up; the few I had were fleeting. It always left a hollow in my heart, which I guessed was where my own Bittercold had grown over the years. There were only two people - a pokémon and a human - that I ever truly considered friends. I had met both at the same time after they had rescued me from the pack of Houndoom. The human had healed my wounds while Espeon had tried to piece my sense of self back together. After what had happened, I felt worse than nothing. It had been a strange feeling, knowing that I had been reduced to nothing more than a toy to be used, abused and thrown away. Eventually, with the help of the strange human, they had helped me see past the horror that I had endured and led me to safety. The human had left while Espeon had stayed by my side for the next two years, until he too had been taken from me by fate’s choice. The desire to see him again might be part of what drove me now, to face these ponies and try to save them from the ever-nearing threat of the Bittercold.

It had taken me a few seconds to categorize the six mares and by the time my paws rested on the ground and the field around me blinked out, I was ready to meet them.

Behind me, I felt the carriage take off again and I fought the urge to watch it go, although the blue mare had no such restraints and watched it go with a calculating look, as if she was judging the technique the pegasi had used when taking off. There was a mixture of envy and admiration in her magenta eyes and I saw her chest move in a silent sigh.

Now on level ground, I saw that these ponies were all still almost three times my height. Already, I felt my neck start to ache from the mere thought of always having to look up all the time. I bit back a small growl of annoyance, yet something must have shown on my face because as she approached me, the lavender winged unicorn knelt in front of me. It didn’t bring her down to my height, but it did lessen the strain on my neck.

“Hello, you’re Sasha, correct? The Eevee that was sent here by Arceus to stop the Bittercold from destroying your world?” she looked a little embarrassed at my raised eyebrows. “Celestia sent me a letter,” she explained, drawing a scroll from under her wing.

I nodded and she smiled a little. “My name is Twilight Sparkle,” she said, then motioned to the ponies around her, “and these are my friends.” She stepped back and looked at the pale yellow pegasus. “Care to introduce yourself?”

The mare slowly came towards me, looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. She came to a stop about a foot from me and inclined her head slightly. “Hello…Sasha, it’s nice to meet you. My name is…Fluttershy,” she said the last word so softly I barely heard it, which confirmed my suspicions she was as shy as she looked. “I hope we get to spend some time together, I’d love to hear more about the creatures of your world…” The barest hint of a smile lit her face and I smiled back before I replied.

“That sounds wonderful, Fluttershy, I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.” With her introduction out of the way, Fluttershy returned to her friends. Next in line was the orange-coated farm-pony. She approached me with a lot more vigor than Fluttershy.

“Howdy, missy; mah name’s Applejack and while ah have’nt heard much about you, I’m sure we’ll get along just fine,” she tilted her head. “I hope ya like apples, cuz that’s all I sell.”

I nodded and she smiled while she gently mussed my fur. I stiffened at the touch and she looked sheepish. “Oh, uh…sorry ‘bout that…we ponies tend to be very touchy-feely when it comes to contact.”

I bit back a grimace. “It’s fine, Applejack; I’ve never been around pokémon who would touch each other in a casual fashion.” Espeon sometimes touched me with his paws, but never for more than a moment, a brief reassurance that he was there for me when I needed him. Again, something I couldn’t control must have passed over my face because Applejack stepped closer to me and hugged me gently. It was a familiar embrace to me, one that said she understood and would help me if I ever required it, even if I never asked. I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall and I simply nuzzled her leg gently. I heard her murmur quietly into my ear.

“I understand that feeling all too well, sugarcube. If you ever find yourself lost and needing answers, I’ll always be willing to lend an ear and advice, alright?” I nodded and she gave me a brief squeeze before letting me go.

She turned and trotted back to her friends, sharing a glance with Twilight, who looked at me with a small frown, but nodded slightly. The white mare was next and she trotted up to me, and then around me a few times. I heard her make a few noises, as if she liked what she saw. I stayed still as she inspected me. Finally, she stood before me and again slowly looked me over from ears to paws.

“Hello, sweetie, my name is Rarity. I run the local designer store,” her eyes gleamed in a way I found almost unnatural. “You must let me make something for you…a scarf or ribbon, perhaps? The color combos I could do with your fur…” - she was almost drooling – “You have the loveliest color scheme…forgive me, but are you an albino?”

I shook my head with a smile. “No, this coloration…well, it’s not exactly common, but it’s still natural. As for the scarf or ribbon…I’ll let you decide, but I don’t have any way to pay you…” I pawed at the thick fur around my neck and felt my cheeks warm slightly.

Rarity shook her head. “No payment needed dear, I get enough from selling designer outfits, A comfortable, fashionable, all-season scarf won’t be a bother to me.” She dipped her head with a smile and trotted back.

Twilight Sparkle looked at the cyan pegasus, who had taken to the ground and was looking at Twilight. The two mares seemed to be asking each who should go first and Twilight eventually motioned for the rainbow-maned mare to go.

She flew over to me slowly; eyes moving over my body, yet unlike Rarity, hers seemed to be a lot more probing, as if she was trying to puzzle out what I was. She landed and walked around me, sizing me up like some kind of prize mule and I fought the urge to smooth my fur. She stopped in front of me and looked me over. In that regard, she seemed an awful lot like Rarity, yet it was obvious she was trying to figure out something else about me instead of what would look good on me. “What are you good at?” she asked, her voice blunt.

I went silent as I turned her words over in my mind. I saw her rustle her wings and I felt she didn’t like being on the ground for any extended periods of time. I finally gave up trying to figure out what I was good at and shrugged.

“Nothing; I’m below-average for my kind.” I wasn’t sure if I could bring up the fact I could breathe ice, fire, water and even light now; this wasn’t the place to try, since I’d probably end up hurting someone.

Hurt them, make them fear you. As they should. Make them kneel to you, make them worship you like they rightfully should…

Again, I ignored the whispers as the mare put a hoof to her chest and posed proudly.

“Name’s Rainbow Dash, the best flier in all of Equestria. I’m sure you’ve heard of me?” she asked, her tone of voice making it sound like there was no way I possibly couldn’t have.

Bemused, I shook my head. “I’ve only just arrived in Equestria, although I’ve heard of someone like you back where I came from…” I didn’t continue that thought, since it wasn’t exactly a flattering comparison.

Rainbow Dash arched an eyebrow. “Copycats everywhere, but there’s none better than the genuine article,” she stated firmly.

I nodded politely and Rainbow Dash flew back to her friends. The last pony in line trotted over to me, which I found rather strange, but then I found myself hoisted into the air by a pair of hooves as I found myself looking into the sharpest blue eyes.

“Well now, let’s get a look at you, Sasha…” the pink mare declared.

“Eevee, the evolution pokémon. Due to its unstable genetic makeup, Eevee are well-known to be extremely adaptable to nearly every kind of environment.”

I felt my eyebrows rise as she then listed off several characteristics of the Eevee family. Behind her, I could see similar reaction on the other mares’ faces and Twilight shook her head as she used her magic to pry me away from Pinkie Pie.

“That’s Pinkie Pie for you…” Twilight muttered, before she turned back to me. “My name is Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship,” the latter she said with some uncertainty, as if she was still trying to get used to the title. I wondered if she had come into it recently - which, judging from the strange structure behind her - she had. “Do you mind if we go inside?” Twilight asked, gesturing to the castle behind her. I shook my head and as one, the entire group of ponies turned and entered the castle.

As we did, I took note that during the exchange, no other pony in the small town had been in the area. Not even a random passerby, which felt a little off to me. We entered the castle and I took a moment to glance back outside.

I saw a few ponies emerge, peering warily out of their homes as they looked at the castle. I couldn’t make out their expressions at this distance, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if relief was the most common reaction. I idly wondered if this was their natural response to any stranger coming to their town.

I dismissed that train of thought as we entered into a vast foyer that branched off into several other corridors. This place seemed a lot larger on the inside than it was on the outside, an illusion I felt was common in Equestria. Twilight was heading towards a small door set next to a much larger pair of doors, her flanks swaying as she hummed a tune softly to herself. It opened and we filed into a cozy room filled with several chairs, pillows and even a few couches. A bar lined with bottles covered one side of the room.

The ponies settled on whatever seat they found most comfortable, with the pegasi favoring the pillows, which didn’t restrict their wings; Rarity claimed an entire couch and lay draped on it as if she had fainted. Pinkie Pie and Applejack sat on chairs while Twilight also laid claim to a pillow.

I didn’t know where to sit, and given my size, I was the smallest thing in the room. Looking around, I saw a rather ornate looking chair. What I found interesting about its design, however, was that it was made out of what appeared to be solid crystal. I went over to it and examined it closely. I couldn’t explain why I found it interesting, but I sat on it and it felt like it was made for me.

“So, Sasha, the letter from Princess Celestia explained the rough basics of why you are here, but do you mind going over it again?” Twilight asked, as her horn glowed and several mugs of what smelled like apple cider and other fruit and vegetable juices were passed around. She offered me one, but I declined.

I explained what I could about the Bittercold; about what it was, how it worked (at least, the general theory). Rainbow Dash was the first to ask a question.

“What makes you so special though? Why is it drawn to you?”

Two questions I didn’t have complete answers for, but I could guess.

“Because I’m different,” I replied, to which Rainbow shook her head.

“You said it yourself, that your coloration, while uncommon, isn’t rare or one-of-a-kind.”

I nodded at that and frowned. “I don’t know why I was chosen out of trillions of pokémon to be the one to decide what happens to the world. If I do nothing, the world burns, or I could choose to let it burn and not interfere. I don’t think the Bittercold has an ‘off’ switch I can push if I decide to reject its…” I wasn’t sure how to phrase it. “Choice? Plan?” I shook my head.

Fluttershy asked, in her characteristically soft voice. “And what is it that you want, Sasha?” At that, I did have an answer, although I wasn’t sure if it would make sense to anyone but me and Espeon.

“I just want to be able to live my life without being hunted because I’m unique.”

Twilight frowned at that. “But…that’s part of what makes you yourself. In Equestria, every pony is unique. No two ponies have the same coloration, or cutie mark.”

“Cutie Mark?” I echoed curiously. Twilight smiled and lifted her flank to show her six-pointed star.

“A cutie mark shows what a pony’s special talent is; not always exact, and it can be interpreted in many ways, but it’s more-or-less a defining characteristic about a pony,” she smiled wistfully. “All six of us here can tie our cutie marks to the day Rainbow Dash first performed a Sonic Rainboom, actually.” Rainbow Dash’s cheeks turned pink as everyone looked at her.

I hesitated, then asked, “Princess Celestia said you could help me harness the elemental power within me to keep it from killing me, any idea how?” Twilight rested her chin in her hoof and looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. “I’m pretty sure there’s a book or two about it…but a few months ago, my library was obliterated by Lord Tirek,” Twilight said with a frown. “I should’ve asked the Princess to send the books with you…” She was cut off as there was a knock on the door.

Twilight opened it with her telekinesis to reveal a purple and green dragon who was looking at something off to the side. “Yo, Twilight, there’s a pony at the door; wants you to sign for something…” Twilight breezed past him, grumbling about salesponies. I stared at the dragon curiously. At least, I thought it was a dragon, it might’ve been an overgrown lizard. He turned and caught sight of me.

“You must be Sasha. Twilight wouldn’t shut up about you as soon as she got that letter from the Princess…you’re a lot shorter than I imagined.” I let out a short laugh.

“I get that a lot,” I said wryly with a shake of my head.

“Spike, while you’re here, would you mind getting me a new mug of cider?” Rarity asked, echoed by Applejack and Rainbow Dash. At the sound of Rarity’s voice, Spike got all heart-eyed and ran off to do her bidding. I watched curiously.

Pokémon rarely dated outside their egg groups, even less likely outside their species. While some truly bizarre relationships existed, (Wailord and Diglett being the most absurd, yet still somehow compatible one that I could think of) they were still rare. The thought of a relationship had never really crossed my mind, although I had fantasized about settling down with Espeon, yet I could never really work up the courage to ask him. After my encounter with the Houndoom, coupled with the story about his Leafeon and past experiences with trying to get close to someone, any chance I’d ever ask him was squashed to dust. Some pokémon seemed to take interest in me as a potential mate, but nearly all of them turned tail when they learned about the emotional baggage I carried, as well as the big fat target I seemed to have painted on my back thanks to my white coat.

Looking at the mares around me, I wondered if any of them were in a relationship. I even wondered if they had relationships with each other that went beyond friendship. Same-sex relationships between pokémon were almost unheard of, since most relationships were based around producing an egg or two and then finding another partner and repeating the cycle until death.

Finally craving a drink, I went over to the bar where Spike seemed to have taken up shop as a bartender. He eyed me curiously before he gestured to the bottles around him. “What are you interested in?”

I let my eyes wander over the bottles curiously. The vast majority of them were Sweet Apple Cider, along with a few Carrot’s Finest and Radish Delight. There were a few bottles of Wild Pegasus, but the “xXx” logo made me balk. I could not handle alcohol. With my small size, even a single shot was enough to turn me into a wreck and I usually ended up with a wicked hangover the next morning, or whenever I woke up.

“Do you have any milk?” I asked, deciding to try for something safer than alcohol. I felt that the cider around here was akin to alcohol itself. Spike looked a little surprised by my request, but went over to what looked like an icebox and took out a bottle of white liquid. I stared at it curiously, not really sure how to even begin drinking it. Spike solved part of that problem by sticking a straw in it and I hopped up onto the top of the bar, sat next to my drink, and took a sip.

Twilight returned, and there was definitely a spring in her step as several books floated in behind her. “Hee! The Princess seemed to have thought ahead and sent these almost as soon as you had left, Sasha,” she said happily, speed-reading through one she held in front of her face as she easily made her way back to her pillow. As she lay on it, a thoughtful look passed over her face. “Can you read, Sasha?” I blinked in surprise and nodded. Twilight smiled. “Excellent, then we can start with the basics…”

Author's Note

The obligatory 'OC meets Mane Six" chapter
Grit your teeth and deal with it