My Little Pixelmon: Friendship is a Warmonger

Chapters

Sitzo's way
Truth in Dreams
Skema

Sitzo's way

I slowly looked over the pills. I had carefully gone about collecting these for a few years now, ever since I first arrived here. That insufferable pink mare insisted on throwing me a party. Come to think of it, I do believe that that was the last time I faked happiness. I look back down on the pills. I didn't know what would would happen if I took all of them at once. I didn't care. They were supposed to make me feel better, that damn Doctor kept saying so, but they just weren't working. Happiness is not a state I can be in. The simple fact is that I don't want to live. That much can never be changed by pills. I am not even convinced that they do anything. Maybe the doctor just gives me fake pills because he think that Ill believe him? The slightest hint of anger sparks within me. It is all the emotion i am capable of producing. I walk away from the sink in my bathroom and look over the room that I can see. I dont know how, but i am going to end up dead, and soon. Then I wont have to deal with myself anymore. I hate myself.

I lived in a small house in Ponyville. I have a vast amount of money, the result of years of travel and exploration through that palce. Does it even have a name in Equestria? Im not entirely sure they have discovered it yet. I guess Ill never know. I eat once a day and sleep for two hours a day. I keep to myself, though I have a few friends whom I play games with and meet every so often. But I feel no real connection with them. I think theres is some psychology there, somewhere. Maybe it has something to do with my parents hitting me at a young age. Or with how I was bullied. Or with how i have likely been depressed most of my life. Twenty years is a long time to have untreated depression. You know, there's just something different about ponies like me. Its really too bad that I've never read any, and that I never will.

I step back into the bathroom. I wondered how they would find me. Who would find me. What would their reaction be? Apathy? I will know soon enough. Then my sorrows would be over and left behind. Then I hear a knock on the door and pause. I sigh. Who could that be? It is the middle of the night, after all. I grumble to myself as I feel very slight anticipation. I slowly march through my main living room and towards the door, where there is another knock. I throw open the door in sudden fury to behold a purple, spiked, pissed off Nidoking pokemon. My mouth drops open and I stare, while he stares back. Finally, I manage to whisper "Sitzo?"

"Greetings." Comes the deep, rumbling reply. He looks briefly over his shoulder before returning his attention to me. "Can I come in Master? Its cold." My eyes wide, I step aside as the purple behemoth enters my house with resounding steps. I fall in behind him as he goes into my kitchen and looks around suspiciously. He turns back and eyes me up and down for a long time. I knew I looked like a mess, it was the last day of the weekend. I hadn't been planning for anything beyond what should have been happening by now.

Nidoking started to speak to me. "So, master, how are things?" I looked away and sat on my rump.

"Fine."

"Wonderful to hear." He said. Then he made a face. "But not even close to the truth. Try again."

I returned my gaze to him and my eyes narrowed. "I am the same as I have always been."

Nidoking made a snake-smile. "Attmepting to outwit me? Cute, but a waste of breath. Tell me, in explicit detail, the your current overlook on life."

"What are you doing here, Sitzo?"

"I'm asking the questions here. Tell me how you are feeling."

"No."

"Master."

"I said no, Sitzo."

Nidoking looked indignantly at me. "Have it your way."

He turned around and I felt slight disappointment, though at what I had no clue. Then Sitzo called out "Lepard!"

There was a rushing sound, and a Sceptile rushed in, slamming my door, and dashed over to Sitzo. They nodded at each other, and then Sceptile immediately started trashing my house, removing all the knives from the kitchen, the bed-sheets from my room, the curtains from the walls. He was removing anything I could hurt, hang, or kill myself with. As I watched, Sitzo starring at me the whole time, my heart plummeted into my gut.

Sitzo walked closer to me and gave me a toothy smile. "Everyone else wants is excited to see you again, you know."

I stared at him, and he closed his mouth. "No." I said quietly.

Sitzo didnt seem to hear me. Lepard crept up to him and said "Pills."

Then several other pokemon burst into my house in different ways. The head of a Gyarados burst up from under my feet, and a Charizard crashed in through my ceiling. He landed next the others, and the light of his flaming tail illuminated the area. I saw Sitzo and Lepard much more clearly, their faces full of concern. I saw Garathon's (Gyarados) eye staring holes into my soul. Veados the Charizard looked similar. Thundering steps draw my attention to Typhon the Aggaron. He looked disgusted with me. It was apparent even through the jagged, metal plates of his face. My Luxray, Meltdown, seemed completely indifferent to the situation. Bored, even. I hadn't even seen him come in. Finally, through the hole Veados (Charizard) made crawled Sunfar, my Flygon friend.

"Why the hell are all you here?" I asked. Meltdown immediately answered "How did it come to this, master?" He was always so good at hiding his emotions, even (or perhaps especially?) in the thick of battle.

I grumbled and looked him square in the eyes. "Its complicated."

He gave me a cat-like smile. "We've got all night, Master."

"And let me tell you," Said Sitzo, "Your not going anywhere until we say so. You'll thank us for it eventually." He seemed thoughtful for a moment. "Or, you might not. But you will be alive."

"Why do you care!?" I shouted.

Sitzo seemed hurt for a moment, but he quickly recomposed after a worried look from Leopard and a determined look from Meltdown, both directed at him. He quickly said "It is almost as if your current outlook on life isn't entirely accurate."

I stared him down, then made a dash for the door. I hardly made it three steps before something green and hot crashed into me, causing me to fall on my face. Then I started to scream. I screamed that I hatred them all. I wanted to die, let me die, kill me, please kill me! I eventuall managed to stand up and started to hit Leopard in the side, in the leg, and several times in the stomach. He took every blow with stiff fortitude. I started to cry as he looked down on me in pity, intensified with blow I dealt him. The others looked squarely at the ground, only returning their collective gaze to me when finally I stopped. I stood there in front of the green reptile, and slowly he put his bladed arms around me, he closed his eyes. I leaned away, but as he came closer I started to struggle against him. I started to cry again, I made a move to hit him, but Leopard made he in a tight embrace. I managed to pat him on the back. I pressed my head against his belly and wrapped my two front hooves around his back, tears running down my face and his green scales. He hugged me for what seemed like a moment, before he backed off. I stood right where I was, hooves planted firmly on the ground. A single tear dripped from my eye. I had now cried more in this instant than I had in my entire life. I simply had no more tears to shed.

Sitzo spoke back up after a moment. "You know what we want."

I wiped my face with the back of a hoof. My bruised and broken voice barely made enough sound to form "I'm not signing it."

They looked at each other for a moment before Veados said "We didn't offer you a choice."

I looked up at him. "There's always a choice."

His orange face flashed with anger, but he said nothing.

Sitzo leaned forward and seemed hopeful. "Do it for me."

"No."

"All of us?" Said a melancholy Meltdown.

"Nope." I said simply.

Meltdown looked down, defeated.

Veaod said "How about for Princess Celestia?'

"She means nothing to me." I said weakly.

The six pokemon suddenly gathered together and spoke softly, Garathon partially leaning out of his filthy hole in my floor.

Each one turned to me. "We've decided," said Veados, "That were going to bring you too her."

I eyed him. "Why?"

His eyes narrowed. "If Princess Celestia herself asks you to sign a no-suicide pact, will you sign?"

I looked away from those burning yellow eyes. "I wouldn't do it if every Princess in this country asked me too!"

Veados tore his gaze away from me. He hated how since his gaze made ponies uncomfortable. When he was young, everypony wanted to be his friend. Now his eyes only brought fear and fire, the result of his training.

Then he walked right up to me and leaned over me. "I didn't say you had a choice." He whispered. He seized me in his arms and clutched me close to his chest, before a huge wingbeat sent us up into the hole and out into the sky. I clung to him fearfully and he didn't seem to notice. The wind ripped through my mane and my fur as i started to cry out, but only clung tighter to Veados. Then I tried to struggle against him, and he wobbled, losing balance against the trashing.

He used to love flying with me, though Veados.

I kept my eyes shut tight until we landed with a thud! and I fell to the ground, confused. That sure seemed like a sort flight. It looked like i was on top of some kind of tower or spire. Some of watching post, maybe? I looked around to see a confused Princess Luna looking at me. I looked over at Veados, who shrugged.

Luna scowled and marched up to the fiery lizard with and immediately pressed a hoof into his belly. "By what right doth thou fly here, Warmonger?" She asked him. "I don't know how things are run across the sea, however thou art not welcome to act as thou please in Equestria!" She huffed and turned away from Veados, who looked merely bemused. He had no doubt in his own mind that he could crush her with merely a thought. I hoped there wouldn't be a reason to test that.

"Art thou injured?" She asked me. "I haveth thou now. The behemoth can no longer harm thou." She said that last part with a sideways glance at Veados.

I shakily got to my hooves as she watched me. I started to talk, but was cut off by the sound of yelling and hooves stomping. Several guards took up positions around me and her, pointing spears at Veados and shouting commands at each other and questions at Veados. Luna quickly said "Hold fast! Ensure it cannot attack!"

Luna approached Veados again as I stood there, slightly bemused. He scowled at me before he started to speak. "My master is in trouble! We need your help! You have to talk to him!" I smiled at him as the guards recoiled from what they heard as roaring and hissing. It was only as a result of my years of training with Veados and the others that I could understand that way the pokemon talked. Luna looked at me. "Art thou capable of pokemon speech?"

"No." I said innocently.

Veados looked surprised at my betrayal. He did as we had always trained to do in this kind of situation. He flew a mile high into the air, leaving a trail of smoke behind as he stained himself. I was briefly fascinated. Could I really leave him behind? I shoved the thought aside as the guards around me turned towards me and started asking questions. Luna started barking orders and answers. "He hath arrived by the pokemon! Take him under and debrief him, that he may enlighten us! I shall be by soon for a report, now begone!" Then she too lept in the sky, presumably chasing down Veados. Of course, nothing can possibly fly faster than my old friend.

After Luna's speech,the guards scrambled around in every which direction, a few of the pushing me towards the stairs on the side of the tower. They hurried me down the stairs, and through several hallways before slowing down to a more brisk pace. "Sorry about that, citizen, but Princess Luna likes efficiency. Are you hurt? You don't seem to be."

I looked down. "I'm fine."

"Good" He said, satisfied.

...

Charizard hurriedly flew over the expansion between Canterlot and Ponyville. My flaming tail swished as I adjusted my course in the air. I had to find the others so that we could regroup and come up with a new plan. My actions had been hasty, as was not uncommon for me, but the others were going to be furious. How had I let the Master escape? Worst of all was that we have no idea what was going to happen to him now. If only he had talked more about equestrian society during our journey together...

I was shaken out of my thoughts when a black blast of magic drilled me in the back, pain erupting and my wings giving out. My head started to pound with pain, as it always did when I was hit by a magic attack. My back started to tingle before I did a simple roll and looked behind me, not even slightly shaken by the attack. I was quite used to them, though I silently cursed myself for not thinking that the Princess of the Night would give chase to me. From her view, I probably looked pretty suspicious. Looking around for a moment, I identified her, above me and the south just a little. I smiled to myself when I thought about incinerating her like I new I could. She would join a legion of fallen foes as nothing more than memories and experience. Of course, that's also what I thought about Articuno...

She was already readying herself for another attack, that horn of hers glowing. I met her fierce expression with a snake's smile, and when she let out her magical attack, I launched forward an weak bout of fire. Judging by the strength of her last attack, this would be more than enough to completely overwhelm her, just short of killing her.

She easily dodged to her left and flew up above me, the flames passing harmlessly by her as they passed through her attack. I grunted to myself. I may be a little out of practice...

She dived straight towards me, her horn lighting up again. The night itself seemed to wrap around her and form a spike in front of her, then she started to gain on me. I allowed myself to start smiling again. It was quite the trick, but the powers of even the weakest pokemon far outshine even the most trained pony. It was simply the law of battle. I kept thinking these kinds of arrogant thoughts as I swirled and dodged through the sky, Luna gaining on me slowly. I rolled left and swooped right, flew upside down, performed u-turns and spins to out-maneuver the Princess of the Night. Her attacks were starting to get closer to their target, the spike of darkness getting larger and ever closer. I was done with this. She should have known better than to challenge Charizard to anything.

I stopped my maneuver and started to fly straight again, flapping my wings more quickly now as my path became a drag race. I knew that she was gaining, but I just needed a moment. The ever preset flame on my tail started to grow. Power surged through me and I clenched my jaw. I loved this part. I flipped onto my back as my fists became infernos all their own. That spike of darkness seemed to want to gore me, i could even feel it start to claw into my mind.

It was of no matter. Luna charged straight into my fire, pushed onward by previous success. Far too many foes had felt this same way before I overwhelmed them with my fury. Rage boiled within me as my smile faded and i became one with my flame. The entire mountainside lit up bright as day as Luna dashed into my waiting lava. I flew forward, a entire star condensed into the size of a moon, and then it all went pop.

Flames burst in every direction, lighting up the night sky. The ground beneath us for miles was seared into ash and stone, vegetation burned to nothing. The entire side of mountain was charred black, sizable portions blown off entirely, collapsed on the ground. The entire area was now desert hot and smoking. It also smelled like soot. I hovered for a moment before descending to the ground to admire my handiwork up close. My smile re appeared as I looked straight up at the moon. I did fell a twinge of sorrow for the family of that pony. I may have to apologize for this in time, but the master comes first...

I was interrupted when a magic attack struck me full in the side, toppling me over. I roared with malice and turned to face Princess Luna, standing not twenty yards away, her expression one of determination. I immediately fired my flamethrower attack at her, but a magic shield blocked it completely.

Ponies have magical shields?

"I can do that fifteen times!" I roared at her. She didn't seem to react to my words. She dug her hooves into the ground and fired again, but this time Veados caught the attack on his wing, effectively blocking it.

We stared at each other for a moment, neither of us moving. I slowly leaned down to place my hands on the ground. She didn't deserve fire. What I was going to give was far more guttural.

My wings flapped as I launched at her, my claws swinging for her neck and back. Everything stopped. I struggled in the air for a moment, wondering why I was shrouded in purple energy and why I was just hanging in the air, almost ten yards from the enemy. Her horn was glowing. Did she just catch me full in a charge? Impossible. I heard a noise to my right and turned my head slightly to see five other shapes in the darkness.

...

"I'm not going to ask you again to explain yourself," said the irritated Guard.

I gave him a cheeky smile from my chair. "Your ugly."

He stood up from his own and strode around the interrogation room. "Look, i don't know why your being so uncooperative. Princess Luna herself has asked to provide a report of your recent actions. If you do not comply, we will be forced to imprison you until she returns. And she wont be happy if we have to do that."

I sighed. "Shes no princess of mine."

The guard marched over to me. "Excuse me!?"

I looked up at him. "If i attack you right now, will you be forced to kill me?"

He seemed taken aback. "Well, no. I would be forced to imprison you, however. Now then..."

I was about to interrupt him when there was a knock on the door, and without waiting for a reply, in strode Princess Cadance.

The Guard started to sputter and babble before he straightened into a salute. "Princess!" He cried simply. She looked suddenly sullen. "There is a situation," She said. "Your presence is required. Just got outside the castle, you'll know what to do. I'm taking over for the citizen." Before he could question her, she strode by him and sat down in front of me. I just stared at her. He lingered for a moment, his gaze bouncing between the two of us, before he dashed out of the room. I wondered briefly how horribly Veados had managed to kill Luna, before she dropped her head and looked at me with pity.

"You poor thing," She said gently. "Whatever ails you?"

I hated being talked to like a sick animal. "There is nothing wrong with me!" I yelled.

She didn't react to my outburst. She just looked at me with warm feelings and empathy. I scowled back.

"I am princess of love. I can feel the lack of it in your life."

"you know nothing about me!"

She smiled at that. "I know your type. always roaming around, causing trouble when you cannot find it. Wandering from place to place, hurting feelings and draining the populace dry. You scourge the land and train Warmongers, while staying out of the fighting yourself. You only settle when you realize its not enough, and slowly, once the stimulation has stopped, depression takes you. There aren't many of you kind left in Equestria. Most of them left long ago.

She paused for a moment to examine my hateful expression. "If only you would let love into your life... How many hearts have you broken, trainer?"

I briefly remembered many nights spent alone or the company of warriors. I remembered villages full of ponies, full of money and full of hope. I remembered doing my best to support and raise those villages, prosper with them. That was when I would meet somepony...

I looked down in sorrow, then immediately my head jerked up as the all-too-familiar response came over me. I gave a lustful smile and cooed "your next."

Her smile faded. "Is that an admission?"

I lowered my gaze to stare at her chin, my most dis-alarming smile plastered on my face. "You"ll know exactly what I admit."

She seemed to grow slightly more tired. "Indeed."

I took in a sharp breath, and my expression returned to sullen. "You can feel it, can't you."

"It is as if far away, but yes. You are indeed in a lot of pain."

My eyes grew wet as I considered telling her the truth. Instead I asked "Why are you here? What happened? Did Veados do something?"

She seemed concerned. "The orange dragon seemes to have caused a explosion. The guards are headed there now. Me and my auntie were alerted and she sent me down to talk to you. I didn't expect to see a depressed pony"

"Have their been sightings of any others? A green dragon perhaps, or gigantic sea serpent?" My excitement grew slightly.

She eyed me for a moment. "No."

I smiled. This conversation has about an hour before it ends, I thought smugly.

She suddenly seemed very suspicious of me. "What horrors have you managed to bring to Equestria?"

I once again gave her a cheeky smile. "Come a little closer and Ill show you."

This time she seemed repulsed by my implication. She shook her head.

"What are those things?"

I grew serious. "Those things are my friends, and they are trying harder to help me than anypony else in the entire nation since I've been here."

"How long has that been?"

"Three years."

She gazed at me. "Those things are warmongers. All they want to do is become powerful so that they can prove some kind of horrific point about life."

I returned her stare. "And let me tell you something, Princess. You you exactly nothing nothing of the real world. Not of how it works. Not of how to work it. All you do is lay around on your nice couch, cuddling with your perfect little husband, and whisper sweet nothings while barking orders. You have no idea what how you got here, where your going, or why you do it. You do ,exactly what feels good, Princess of love. Your a cheat over the thousands of us who battle to get food, battle to stay alive, battle to stay healthy, battle to feel happy! In one moment, you catch feelings like a locust, and then proceed to tell me what is and isn't moral! You matter nothing to the world, and when your gone, nopony will care. Even your husband can find a new mare, because brains and bodies like yours are so replaceable that you may as well be made of dirt. I have friends with the will and power to shape this entire nation, and if you don't start treating me like a pony and not a sick animal, well, i'm going to take away your precious powers, your husband, and your life so that you can see exactly what the real world is like! and then we'll see exactly how long you last! It would take me an hour to destroy this place!"

Her face was twisted with dark anger. "Don't you ever speak of my husband like that." She whispered.

I grew even angrier, and then suddenly my emotions fell flat. I huffed and stared at the ground. Words could never get through to somepony like her. "That's what you got from that?"

After a moment of silence, I looked up to see her looking as exhausted as I felt.

"I think were done here," she said calmly.

I smiled at her. "We're done when I say we're done."

She looked me quizzically. I continued "And I say we're done when my friends arrive."

She looked around randomly, then turned her head back to me. She nodded briefly, before she turned and walked towards the door with her eyes closed and her nose pointed up.

She then bumped into an enormous, purple, spiky, angry mass of scales and claws.

"Sitzo!" I said cheerily.

Truth in Dreams

Princess Cadance stumbled back from the spiked purple mass that filled the doorway before her. She thought she heard the citizen say "Sitzo!" She backed up against the wall of the chamber and tried not to let fear completely consume her. She wasn't doing a very good job.

She babbled and stumbled over her words as the horror leaned onto all fours and crept through the doorway. Its eyes narrowed at the pony, and he started to produce clicks and a hiss from his gnarled mouth. She did notice that confusion and suspicion emanated from it, surprisingly sentient emotions for so base a creature. The pony sitting at the other end of the interrogation table smiled at it.

"This is Princess of the crystal empire, Miah Amoray Cadenza." He said incorrectly.

The creature took a single step towards Cadence as its confusion became rage. It hissed again.

"No," that citizen said. "In fact, i probably hurt her a little."

It gave him a sideways glance, confused again.

"Emotionally, not physically," He specified.

Cadance took a step forward. "What is going on here?" She asked.

The citizen suddenly grew cold and bored with the situation.

"Sitzo," he said, "let's get out of here. Kill my captor."

At that, Cadance realized she needed to take control of the situation. She took a defiant step forward. "Nopony is killing anypony!" She declared.

The purple monster, Sitzo, hesitated. When Cadance felt its apathy to her, it hissed.

"Weakling!" The citizen said indignantly. "You'll do as I say!"

Sitzo turned away from Cadence, facing its master. It grunted and started to walk over to him.

"What's it doing?" Cadance asked. "What's it saying?"

The citizen wrapped his hooves around Sitzo's outstretched arms.

"He's taking me and I have no say in the matter. Neither do you."

Cadence took a step forward as the citizen climbed on Sitzo's shoulder, clinging tight to him.

"You need help" she pleaded, "This will only make things worse for you."

He let out a long breath. "Chase us and we'll kill you. My friends are being called off as we speak. Next time, they won't be so restrained. Goodbye, Princess."

Then they marched out the door and down the hall. The only sound was the groaning of a few dispatched guards.

...

Celestia and Luna argued back and forth in the throne room, not an hour later. A clearly shaken Cadence started wide eyed at the wall.

"We hath been attacked!" Declared Luna.

"Sister, your actions could have easily caused serious harm and damage to Equestria. You were reckless and foolish," Reasoned Celestia.

Luna's face tensed. "Our citizen was accosted by powers unknown. Warmongers are back in equestria. If anything, we should at this moment be attempting to hunt down the party and deal with them. This is simply too extreme to wait for Twilight and the Elements, again. They still haven't finished basic preparations for Castle Friendship, and they know nothing of war!"

Celestia relaxed suddenly, gave her sister a warm look. "Luna, there is always time to empower others, rather than do everything for them."

Luna remembered the first time she had heard that. It was long ago. "We are seeing that once again thou art determined to see ponies grow from even the darkest darkness. Thou art pushing commoners too far in too short a time. Thou knoweth nothing of darkness."

"Sister, there is one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance," said Celestia softly.

Both alicorns turned towards the door as several guards allowed Princess Twilight and her friends to enter the throne room. Each rushed into as Twilight and Cadence did their little handshake, Cadence devoid of energy.

Celestia watched for a moment before she spoke up. "My little ponies, thank you for coming."

The others gathered before the princess and bowed low, as Twilight stepped up towards her mentor.

"What's happening Celestia?" She said. "All we heard were roars and all we saw was light from the mountain.

Luna shuffled slightly, a drawing a few glances.

"All we know for sure is that unknown entities attacked Luna, the castle, and several platoons of guards, before entering the castle for a few minuets and departing. Details themselves are scarce and contradictory."

"Fascinating!" Uttered Twilight.

"Oh dear," murmured Rarity.

"Counterattack!" Offered Rainbow Dash.

"Darn." Applejack said simply.

"Horrible," said Fluttershy.

"Moral Party!" Beamed Pinkie Pie.

Luna gave Celestia a cheeky look as the sun princess started to speak. "We need you all to launch a full investigation. Ask questions. Make determinations. Do some reaserch. I want you to determine what exactly happened, where these creatures came from, how many there were, what they wanted, and mostly, where they went and if there is a chance they will return."

Twilight's mind quickly computed how best to attack the situation, then she took her best regal pose and turned towards her friends.

"Rainbow, talk to the guard platoons who saw the most action-"

When rainbow tried to take off in the direction of the closest few, Applejack yanked her back by her tail. "She wah-din finished." Applejack said sternly.

Twilight gave Rainbow a look and continued. "Only yes or no questions, some of them may have stories of their own to tell." Rainbow again lept up, and again Applejack restrained her. "She didn't dismiss ya!" She continued.

Twiligjt and Rainbow shared a gaze before she continued.

"Pinkie, gather material evidence, making no conclusions of your own. We've done it before."

"Okey dokie lokie!"

"Applejack, ask the servants and nobles how they managed to be so overwhelmingly unhurt."

"Yup!"

"Fluttershy, ask the animals what they saw and felt, if anything."

"If you think it'll help..."

"Rarity, examine collateral damage on the outside of the castle. Determine how powerful the entities are and where the initial assault came from - perhaps the top of the mountain, perhaps the direction of Ponyville. It may be helpful to ask a few guards, if you deem it necessary. Any questions girls?"

There was silence for a moment before Rainbow asked "can I involve the wonder colts?"

Twilight looked incredably unsurprised. "No." Then she turned around to face Celestia. "I, however, do have a question. Shouldn't a royal contingent be handling investigation rather than a princess of friendship?"

Celestia staightened up a little. "Yes."

Twilight's eyebrow slowly rose but she said nothing. "Um... Girls, go ahead. I guess."

Each element besides Twilight uttered a formality before taking off in different directions towards their own tasks.

Twilight watched her friends go, hoping she had done the right thing. She turned to Celestia.

"I am a princess before I am a security force. Therefore, I'm afraid I must inquire into the mental fortitude of my step-sister before I spend time in the care of the castle." She said.

"I agree." Celestia said casually.

Luna looked between the two. "Aught we to disagree? Celestia and I are too busy catering to the public with speeches and reassurances and increased patrols despite a weakening of the guard, plus a growing doubt in their abilities since the departure of Shining Armor. You are the only one unaffected by this travesty, and therefore are the one who must take charge of the investigation and response."

Twilight's eyes went wide with self doubt. She had done the wrong thing! She had messed up, now she's lost her chance completely! This was a huge blow to her authority, her credibility, and her intellegence.

"Oh. Um, Sorry..." She said weakly. "I'll go collect the girls..."

Celestia's head very slowly rotated to give her sister a blank look. Luna shrank back a little.

"Wait!" Interrupted Cadence. Twilight froze.

Cadence slowly approached her, her footsteps ringing out through the scarcely populated throne room. The lights of the morning through the windows along the floor crept forward faster than Cadence did. She gave up on movement and tried to project her voice.

"Twilight, it has to be you. Let me explain why. I was there, and I want you to take my testimony first. Then, I will have a task for you."

Twilight looked at Celestia. "That would have been useful information."

Celestia betrayed the faintest smile.

"Very well," She said, "Please, go on."

Cadence took a moment to fortify herself.

"I was here in Canterlot for a simple report to my Auntie. I didn't even have the chance to give it before I was alerted to the fact that Luna had given orders for a citizen to be debriefed in the castle while she took off without a word. Then there was word of reinforcements needed outside the castle, so I relieved the guards myself and went to talk to him."

"On your own?" Twilight asked.

Cadence paused.

"But I'm not sure what happened... I was so happy and exited to help... I wanted to spread love and understanding. Then I got there and faced that pony... Before he said anything, I just felt so sad and beaten and helpless and worthless and useless...

Twilight grimaced.

"It's so unlike me to think that, but I had a job to do. So I talked to the pony. He is horribly depressed, maybe suicidal. He showed all the signs of no treatment. He stopped cooperating. Then... Well...

"Well what?" Asked Twilight.

"A giant purple reptile showed up, hissed at me, then took the citizen and left after threatening to kill me!" Cadence spilled.

Each princess in the room had the same expression of fear.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Whispered Celestia.

Cadence shed a single tear. "It was horrible..."

Luna snorted. "It would be best if you were to return to the Crystal Empire and Shining Armor as soon as you can. We'll arrange a carriage." Luna thought for a moment. "A very protected carriage."

"No!" Said Cadence suddenly. "That pony needs me! Only I can treat him, or he will only get worse."

Twilight and Celestia looked at each other. "Princess, you were personally threatened by an unknown enemy," Celestia said, "while I'm all for empowerment and personal forgiveness, you want to wait until we know more about the situation for you to make such a drastic choice."

Cadence shook her head. "You weren't there, you don't know how much pain he was in. I'm Princesses of love. Treatment under me would quick, cheap, and certain."

Celestia looked at her sister. "Should we again have him in custody, you will be in charge of his interrogation and treatment." She seemed to say to no one.

Twilight looked confused. "Interrogation? That's for enemies, not ponies who need help and treatment."

"Yes. Until I'm certain of the safety of my subjects, he is to be treated as an enemy of the crown." Celestia said sternly.

"Yes Princess." Said Twilight faithfully.

Cadence smiled. "I can do that."

"Good," finished Celestia.

...

"Master, get down from there!" Shouted a disgruntled Sitzo.

"Ah, it feels so good to be back!" Shouted Gregory.

After the rampaging escape from Canterlot castle, Gregory and his friends had regrouped on the way into the badlands north of Canterlot. On the way, he had heard Veados' troubling report that the princess of the night had challenged Veados to a duel in the sky. He was winning until the lost by default: he had no protection from alicorn magic, while Luna had potentially eons of experience with simple kinesis and levitation. So, Veados said with shame, I burned away everything in sight. Flare blitz was just so fun to use.

On the eve of a loss, the others arrived just as a new regiment of guards attacked Gregory's pokemon. It was a war zone, with each pokemon using all their power to rend the earth and flood the sky. Luna retreated, barely hurt, while most guards were incapacitated at most. Gregory had asked them if they even considering trying to solve a problem without violence. Veados just about laid an egg. Now they were refugees, Gregory was sure that there was now a massive manhunt for him led by a pride-wounded princess of the night.

From now on, Gregory and the others would have to sleep by day, and flee by night. Unless those chose to return to Odpur, their birth-land. None of them had even suggested that.

"Oh, pipe down." Said Gregory from atop a dangerously high tree. "Your still in trouble for going on a rampage."

"We talked about this Master," Sitzo pleaded, "things got out of control. You should have known to tell us more about Equestrian society before you became a recluse!"

"That's the understatement of the century!" Retorted Gregory. "I was doing fine until you vagabonds tracked me down."

Sitzo reeled from that. "Master..." He said gently.

Gregory looked away, into the evening sky. "I don't want to talk about it, Sitzo."

"Master, why couldn't any pony hear us?"

"They could hear you fine."

"Okay. Why could they not understand our language communication?"

"They don't have the bound with you that I do. Only a few ponies are born with the power to talk to pokemon. I had to earn my power to do so with only my closest friends. Even if I wish I couldn't."

"Master, don't say that. Our time back in the desert? The masa? In Hecate? They were the happiest of my life. I wouldn't trade our bound for anything." Sitzo smiled warmly, a terrible sight coming from a tank like him.

Gregory fought off a small smirk. "Sitzo, it's over. We failed, and that's how the story ends. Let some young hero figure it all out."

Sitzo shook his head as his smile faded. "Nothing is over."

Gregory was silent.

Sitzo walked closer to the trunk of the tree and placed a hand on it. "Time to move on, master."

Gregory perked up a little. "Wait, from the past, or this tree?"

Sitzo smiled again. "Let's start with the tree."

Gregory returned the smile as he looked down on his old friend. "Catch me!"

"Master, you were a colt, then."

Gregory lept from the tree, and Sitzo races to catch him, the pony crashing into his unprotected belly and Sitzo letting out a thick grunt.

Gregory climbed onto Sitzo's shoulder in just the way they had practiced, in what seemed for both of them a lifetime away. Gregory wrapped his hooves around a thick arm and rested his head against the cool armor of Sitzo's neck. The two walked back to camp in silence, both of them contemplating the events of the pervious few nights.

Together, they returned to camp. It was in a small wooded clearing where not more than a small campfire and two sleeping pokemon lay. Leopard and Meltdown snoozed away on either side of the fire. Veados, Garathon, and Sunfar were nowhere to be seen.

Sitzo looked down on them in disgust. Gregory snickered, he knew what was coming. He put his hooves over his ears, almost falling off. Sitzo stomped up to the duo and screamed an ear-tearing wave of sound.

Each pokemon bounded up and dashed into the woods, yelling about the return of the whismer. Gregory snickered again as the two slowly poked their heads out of the woods in fear, before meeting the horrific gaze of Sitzo.

"And what," he asked them, "do you think that you two are doing?!"

Meltdown and Lepard exchanged a glance before Lepard said "um... cooking?"

Sitzo's voice became deathly quiet. "In your sleep?"

"Um... Uh... Yes?"

Sitzo swatted him in the back of his lizard head. "Get back to work."

Gregory walked over the reeling Lepard and whispered "what were you doing?"

He whispered back "well, I got tired."

"I said get back to work!" Shouted Sitzo from the other side of the clearing.

Gregory ignored him. "I volunteer for first watch!" He said cheerily.

Lepard sudden drew up, serious. "I don't think so, master."

"No way!" Blurted Meltdown.

Sitzo looked up from across the way. "Now what?"

"Gregory wants first watch," said Lepard simply.

Sitzo seemed thoughtful for a moment. "Yes."

Lepard and Meltdown together blurted, "What?" At different volumes.

Gregory gave them a triumphant smile.

"Gregory will never get better unless we start to trust him. Disdain will earn us nothing in this fight," explained Sitzo.

Lepard and Meltdown exchanged glances before they approached him and leaned close to his ears.

"You'd better be here when we wake up," whispered Lepard.

"If you think what we did to the castle was over the top, well, there's no restraint here."

Gregory leaned away as they spoke but did not low his feet. "Guys? I honestly feel better now than I have in two years."

A goofy smile grew about his features as he took a battle pose, his hooves splayed on the ground. With one hoof he scratched the dirt. "It's a dark time for us, boys. For years we've been separate and useless, toiling under cold suburban life where power and magic mean nothing!"

Lepard looked at Sitzo. "Suburban?"

"Our foes have gotten stronger while they ruled unjust against the masses and the few climbed the backs of the many!"

Meltdown looked at Veados. "Has he been drinking?"

"But we are back! I am grey-gore-ee! Mighty Gregory!"

Gregory bounced slightly in place.

"Our foes at this very moment gather to hunt us down! Even Veados cannot light this darkness! Even Sitzo barely rampaged through a castle while guards and insidious psychics chased him and me! Sunfar and Garathon fought against night herself, Lepard and Meltdown-"

"Actually," interrupted Veados, "that was me."

"Why does he always group me and you?" asked Meltdown to Lepard.

"Dunno," said Sunfar from out of nowhere.

"-could barely scale the heights of pain and apathy to fortify the escape of us all!"

Gregory walked up to a tree and slammed a hoof into it, causing leaves to fall around him.

Garathon slithered from around the other side of the tree, his bulk taking up most of the space around it.

"Nothing is over! We are still a team, still friends, and even alone we are the most powerful things on the nation!" Continued Gregory.

Gregory wheeled around and jumped in an arc, landing close to the fire where he stared, suddenly quiet and melancholy.

"Maybe we all said things we regret."

Six pokemon standing obliviously behind him exchanged glances.

"The time has come for action, to once again train and grow strong. There's nothing wrong with me." Gregory's eyes went wide. "Uh, with any of us."

Gregory sat down on his rump. "If we must sleep by day, we must sleep by day. If we must keep watch, we must keep watch. If we must eat stew and leaves, we'll eat stew and leaves! If we have to wander to the end of the world just for refuge and sanctuary, then wander we shall!"

Gregory took a long breath. "My vigilance will never waver!" Then he slumped backwards and started snoring.

Veados blinked.

Garathon slithered forward, filling most of the clearing, and wordlessly scooped Gregory up.

"What's our next move?" Asked Sunfar.

Sitzo stomped out the fire. "The night is young. I say we put more distance between us and the Capitol." He stomped off northward, without waiting for the others.

"Those things were a lot more inspirational when they're based on reality," said Meltdown.

Veados walked after Sitzo, his tail flame casting shadows and figures on the trees and ground. "Were all getting older." He muttered to himself.

..,

Gregory watched as the city of Canterlot was blasted apart. He fell to his knees and recited the immortal words "Fallen! Fallen is Canterlot the great!" Above him, lights flashed and magic blasts exchanged back and forth between a great black alicorn and Celestia. Skeleton soldiers marched towards the city as screams rang out. Somewhere, something roared.

"Destroyed in an hour!" Came a voice from behind him.

Gregory wheeled around. A brown earth pony marched forward, covered in scars, burns, and even a few bite marks. His black mane was mangled and messy, one eye permanently closed, one leg a little shorter than another. His tail dragged on the ground, and he was missing teeth. Despite the injuries, it was unmistakably an older and beaten Gregory.

"Everything leads to me." Older Gregory said.

Gregory looked down as a wave of self doubt him. "I know."

"What will you choose? Will you stand with the moon, with the sun, or alone? The path may be bright and safe, but your journey ends with me. When I will find you, and when I consume your friendship, you'll be alone. A servant of the darkness. It's all your good for."

The body of princess Celestia crashed to the ground next to the them. Gregory screamed.

Suddenly the moon' s light consumed everything. Gregory's older self stepped back from it and the flames died down. The field he was in vanished.

"Thine work is done," said Luna.

Gregory looked around through the grey light. "Princess? You should not be here."

Luna stepped forward from where the older Gregory had been standing. "We could beareth thou suffering no longer. Thou aught to consider thine infection of Princess Cadence. Depression pumps through her veins."

Gregory looked down. "Just making good on a promise."

"Where doth the plague originate? There must be a cure at the temple."

Gregory smiled at her. "There is no cure, because there is no infection. We are just being realistic."

Luna shook her head. "What symptoms did thou first notice?"

Gregory sighed. "I was sad when I was born. I looked over the world, saw its lies and pain, and wept. Now I have run out of6 tears to shed."

"Hath your relationship with your mother run it's course?"

"There isn't one. I haven't spoken to her since I turned ten.

"How old art thou?"

"I do not know. I haven't used a calendar since I turned ten."

"Doth thou require a stronger parental relationship?"

Gregory stomped a foot. "What is this?"

Luna smiled sweetly. "Cadence says it is cognitive behavioral therapy. Since thou has escaped our treatment, we have brought treatment to thou. We will practice and learn during the day and speak at night while thou sleeps, inist the dreams."

Gregory leaned away from her. "Tried it. It didn't work."

"Cadence says it takes six weeks to start making a diffrence."

"That's the antidepressants."

"Oh. Well, we are not convinced. The princess of love herself now supports the well being of thou."

Gregory caught himself starting to feel relived. "No, Princess. Stop hunting me and my friends, or we will get serious about defending ourselves."

Luna's eyes narrowed. "Your friends caused sizable damage to our society and commited high crimes against the crown. They will not go unpunished."

Gregory could feel another speech building. "Princess, they were just trying to help me. They wanted you to treat me, because I told them that the princesses could do anything. That's the only reason Veados the fire lizard restrained himself from killing you. They look up to you, and you hunt them like common criminals."

Luna thought for a moment. "Our actions seem to have been hasty, but we would have been nicer had thou spoken to us about all this before thine ally dropped thou here and flew off. What were we to think?"

"Do you always respond to the unknown and scary with violence?" Charged Gregory.

"Of course not."

Gregory rolled his eyes. "If we're going to get anywhere here, you have to be honest with me. Answer the question."

Luna reared, indignant. "We are not to be commanded by a commoner!"

Gregory's face contorted with rage. "And let me tell you something, Princess! While you sit on your rump barking orders and blasting magic, the rest of us toil in violence and pain! You build your world on the backs of commoners and the weak, growing fat while you order us around! Revenge is coming, and I will be the one that screams fallen when Canterlot crumbles. All roads lead to me, Princess, and you have done nothing to stem the coming tide. I look forward to crippling you in every way imaginable.

Gregory heaved, the only sound in the stillness.

Luna's mouth opened and closed several times, not because she gave any attention to his misplaced blame, but because she didn't know how best to proceed. Cadence hasent prepared her for this. Should she just leave?

Finally, she said "thou rages against higher powers."

"Everybody gets one."

Luna laughed. "Hath thou explained such to Princess Cadence?"

"I threatened her in every way I could think of. It wasn't hard considering the powerhouse I had on my side."

"Not surprising. Thou hath incurred her pain."

"I refer you to my last speech."

Luna shook her head "Thou friends and thou relationships are toxic. It may seem difficult, but we promise thou that if they are shed, thou will improve."

Gregory smiled. "You know nothing about me."

Luna smiled back. "Then enlighten us."

Gregory lowered his head. "Where do I begin?"

"The beginning." Luna said simply.

"It rained the day I was born, far across the sea. Fire and lightning battled for supremacy while ice brought its ire on the villagers."

"Thy symbolism is lost on us."

Gregory shook his head. "I'm being literal. Fire rained down as lightning sprang up from craters in the ground. Ice covered everything else. My father died protecting Hecate village, his only reward for heroism and love being a consolation prize. My mother gave birth while fleeing on the back of her only friend, Tauros. Everything was destroyed by the legendary elements of fire lightning and ice.

Luna wrinkled her nose. "Why?"

"No pony knows why they do what they do. Destroy is all they seem to be able to do. I find that they are no different from any other authority."

Luna sniffed but said nothing.

"We lived as nomads for awile. Never staying in one place. Never eating the same thing, when we could find food at all. Villages turned us away when they didn't throw rocks at us."

"You must have had some friends." Luna said hopefully.

Gregory shook his head. "Everypony was an adult. We simply couldn't feed any more mouths. We settled in the sands of acid, where bugs and pigs thrive."

Luna wrinkled her nose again.

Gregory ignored her this time. "We built a few wooden shacks from pieces of the carts, then sent teams on long journeys through sandstorms and trapinch lairs to get wood at the edge of the desert, in lightning range. Most of us died. Those who didn't wished they had. Brent was scarred for the rest of his short life..."

Gregory paused.

"Most of died again from disease and adjusting to the desert life. I quickly adapted, sharing my water and food. My mother was so proud of me...

Luna reached out a put a hoof on his shoulder. "I'm sure she still is..."

Gregory flushed for a moment. He was quite sure he had never been touched by a mare in supportive companionship. He wasn't sure he liked it.

Luna smiled at him, suddenly much closer. "Art we making thou shiver?" She said quietly. He rolled his shoulders and she removed her hoof and stepped back.

"Things got better. We got hold of money from passers by. Started farming carrots and potatoes in the sand. Somehow. I was never quite sure how they did it. Our houses grew larger. We built a watchtower. Started having weddings and ceremonies again. But it wasn't to last. Tauros died. He taught me everything I know about pokemon, the creatures who thrive on warfare and killing.

Luna shivered. "Why would you want to learn about such awful creatures?"

Gregory shuffled a little. "My friends? Veados, fire lizard. Garathon, water dragon. Lepard, grass ninja. Meltdown, lightning cat. Sunfar the desert dragon. And Sitzo, the poison rhino. They are pokemon- some of the most powerful that have ever existed.

Luna's smile returned. "Their strength was underwhelming."

Gregory sniffed at her. "There are rules where I come from. Ponies don't have to play by them. Pokemon fight one move at a time until one drops dead or fainted - there is no retreat. Ponies have no power where I come from. Pokemon must fight for them. Ponies train their pokemon as friends, and become rivals. Not enemies, rivals. The relationship is complicated, but all as Arceus wishes.

"Semantics," She said cheerily.

"The only way to know is to experience it for yourself. When Tauros died we needed a new sage, a sort of leader. Somepony had to link with a pokemon, and as the child of the previous leader, the duty fell to me. An unprepared child. I failed to speak with the pokemon of the desert. I was banished for damning the village. So I wandered the edge of the desert for years. When I turned ten, I found and linked with Lepard, my oldest friend," Gregory remembered foundry.

"We took to the forest by storm, fighting and destroying. He grew more powerful by the day. At first he could barely strike forth with a fist, but he learned to wield leaves and grass as weapons against rocks and servants of purity. He could drain away life. He even practiced the dark arts.

Luna's eyes were wide. "Thou hath battled and destroyed life as but a child?!"

It was Gregory's turn to smile. "Yes. It was the best times of my life. At times I fell down rocky shafts and spent weeks in recovery, barely holding onto life. At times I lived off the rotten flesh-"

Luna gasped. "Your kind eat meat?"

"We don't have much a choice. Living with pokemon changes you, and you change them."

"I see..."

"Finally, Lepard spoke to me. It seems I have the rare ability to speak with only my closest friends."

Luna looked at Gregory with pleading eyes. "That must have been so hard for you..."

Gregory backed away. "Awful."

Luna suddenly giggled. "A little excitable, are we?"

Gregory allowed a small smile. "If you have to touch me, give me a warning first. Me and a full grown Lepard just had our first hug a few days ago. Only my friend Sitzo gets to poke me."

Luna looked sad. "To be deprived of touch is a horrible fate. Much negativity can be alleviated with simple comforting touch."

Gregory trembled slightly. "I've never really been touched... At all."

"We can work on that," said Luna bluntly.

"I'll keep that in mind." Gregory continued, ignoring the slight tension in the air.

"I also spent a lot of time at the edge of starvation. Dehydration, sickness and in fear of ambush in the dead of night. I went all the way through a very tough puberty. I was definatly older than eighteen by then. I'm pretty sure it stunted my growth and my development. Haha, you should see me when I... Anyway Lepard wasn't too good at fighting bugs, so we realized we needed a new ally. Somepony resilient and bright. We headed up into the mountains to link with Veados the fallen. A horrible dragon ruled the mountain back then, so we had to dodge the monster while searching for food water and shelter, while tracking down Charmander. We needed a pokemon young enough to link, which are rare in such rugged mountains. But we did it and fled the dragons wrath with a young Veados in tow."

"Life was a little harder with two pokemon to feed and train. Veados could barely wield a spark, let alone fend off giant bugs. I also had bad altitude sickness."

"Most foul," said Luna.

"It got easier when we discovered Epothos Villiage in the base of the mountain. They lived in fear of the mountain dragon, but hailed us as heroes. Suddenly, we got all the best training and food, a huge room, plenty of drink. Freedom to roam around, ponies praising us, mares especially-"

Gregory paused and blushed.

"What?" Asked Luna, interested.

"It's just, there were a lot of mares there. Lonely, bored mares. Im preety sure there day consisted of farming and talking to the same few ponies. I mean, there were stallions too, but they didn't have trained pokemon at their beck and call. A few had weak birds or bugs as friends, but that's boring to a mares in those parts. At least I think. They lived very gentle lives, though fit and healthy from fruit of the forest and the earth. They had never seen a desert dweller like me. I was in much better shape back then too."

Luna gave him a very strange look.

"They wanted to stay up all night and hear my stories. I never disappointed. In any way." Gregory added gently.

"Hadist thou..."

Gregory gave her a cheeky smile. "In. Any. Way."

Luna seemed unsure of what to think.

"Of course, the day came when the dragon wanted a sacrifice. A show of submission. They begged me to fight it off. I was young, I was stupid. I was overconfident. So I accepted, and ambushed the dragon in its cave. It was a young and rash dragon pokemon, chased from his original territory and forced to abandon its family and freinds. We battled it. We caused rockslides and filled the cave with water. To this day, there are marks where we dueled... But we won. The dragon lay down and gave me it's fang, that I presented to the villagers. They were overjoyed. Offered me a permanent evidence. I remember looking around at the villiage, offered safety and security, food and drink, other pleasures, a way out of all the fighting and pain... And I said no."

Luna looked aghast, "What!?"

Gregory smiled. "I liked being a hero... Being dotted on. Being cared about. But I had no future there. Eventually they would get sick of me. And I would always be an outsider with a bunch of foals running around. There was no real truth there. I had no chance for love there. So I left."

Luna spoke gently. "Is that what thou seeketh? Love?"

Gregory thought for a moment. "I dunno." He said honestly. "Should I start to experience stronger feelings I would pursue them, but I never have felt anything beyond simple lust. Should those feelings arise, I would accept them, explore them instead of the violence and power i now seek, but... They have been never been revealed to me. I guess I just never met the right mare."

"We can work on that, too," said Luna, her expression unreadable.

"Right. Well after I left I think a took a part of Epothos with me. I felt the need for a new friend. But I was also fascinated with powers of dragons. So we headed towards the dry air and the sands of the acid. I even saw the skyline of Hecate village. There we recruited Sunfar of the earth. His training was-"

"Wait," said Luna, "what hath occurred within your home?"

"I have no home."

"The village," said Luna with exaggerated patience.

"I simply left. Banishments are forever."

"But thou could have-"

"What?" Said Gregory, suddenly angry. "Faced the new elder? My mother? Oh hi guys, you were wrong and I spent my childhood fending for my life! How are you?"

Luna appeared thoughtful. "Hmm. Avoidance of social situations? Intentional isolation? Signs of depression from an early age."

"Sunfar's training was difficult, to say the least. We spent a lot of time dragging a half dead shell around all day. He ate a lot of food and slowed is down a lot. He spoke to me early on, though. He always had something interesting to say. He didn't evolve for a long time..."

"Evolve?"

"As a link increases between a pony and a pokemon, the pokemon can suddenly experience a surge of elemental power, experiencing a rang of effects from simple growth, to mutation, to complete metomorphosis. This is what starts to path of rivalry between trainer and pokemon. Most change from cute and small to giant, gnarled, hardened monsters. Sunfar ended up completely changing, but well get to that."

"We spend a long time in that desert. Veados and Lepard grew much stronger as Sunfar struggled against his old foes. When I almost suffocated in a sandstorm, I was more or less forced to move on. We crossed a river and I met the fish Garathon. I simply couldn't resist his link and friendship. I carried him around for a long time, and it wasn't long before he became a dragon. Sunfar always resented him for that...

"Him? Again? Thou hath none mare friends?"

Gregory stared at her for a long time. "Your... Teasing me."

She leaned close to him and Gregory froze. She whispered right into his ear. "Yes."

He looked right at the side of her head, his gaze at her ear. The strangest excitement built in him. It would be so easy to lick it, to nibble it so slightly. What would that feel like? Would she do the same for him? Or, was she just trying to stimulate his depressed and lonely system? She had, after all, gotten her orders from the beautiful (and married) Princess of Lover herself.

It seemed to be forever before she pulled away, and Gregory felt the slightest disappointment. He buried his feelings, but for a long moment he met her gaze with his own, her expression unreadable but her ears flicked back in - something.

"It's quite common for colts to more easily make friends with colts, and then for fillies to do so with fillies. The same is true for pokemon. Pokemon have long since accepted that linking with a pony means no children and little contact with their own kind. Me and Lepard had lots of time to talk about all kinds of stuff."

Luna licked her lips. "Why doth thou suppose that is?"

Gregory froze again at the gesture. "Um... Biology?"

"Mm." Luna hummed.

"Anyway, we entered Thunder Plain at four pokemon strong. Food was scarce, the wind made everypony irritable, and at two fresh evolutions emotions and rivalry were running high-"

"Dealing with emotions are not thine strength," Interrupted Luna.

"Am I that obvious? Or are you teasing me again?"

Luna stuck her tongue out at him.

He smiled suddenly. "Imagine if we were a team of girls!"

Luna took a serious step forward, ice in her eyes.

"I mean, it would have been a good thing, because, um..."

She smiled at him. "Mm."

Gregory's eyes narrowed. "You'll love the next part. Compromises were rare in team Gregory."

Luna had no discernible reaction whatsoever.

"We agreed that we needed a rational, cool headed, developed, mature, easy going peace keeper among the team."

Gregory waited a moment for a jest or a comment, but Luna kept quiet.

"Instead we got Sitzo. He was controlling, emotional, adaptable, quick to strike and get angry, and above all, steadfast and dependable. He was exactly what we needed. We cut our way through the land, Garathon evolved, Sunfar evolved, Lepard learned his signature move the leaf sword, Veados gained new fire powers, and I felt almost as good as at Epothos village. Then I fell off a cliff and broke a leg."

Luna took in a sharp breath and rubbed her own leg.

"We needed more permanent residence. I didn't want them to dig me a cave, we couldn't go far, so we had make do with a gigantic, creepy stone temple."

Gregory closed his eyes. "Yea. Not our best move. We fought against lightning pokemon for days getting no food and no rest. We fought nonstop, nopony got any stronger.. I was getting sick with bone marrow issues and in increasingly bad shape, I stopped sleeping, and eating. It wasn't long before Garathon had to carry me most of the day. I honestly thought that I should have just ended it myself..."

"Thoughts of death have pervaded thine mind in the past?"

Gregory paused. He suddenly felt like lying. "I have always held a fascination with death."

Luna perked an eyebrow. "Thou resists the question."

"The answer is yes."

Luna looked disturbed, but satisfied.

"We fought our way into the heart of the stone building. There were no enemies there, so we decided to try and make camp. The light was blinding from the center... Sitzo decided to investigate. He didn't come back. We sent Veados. There was a roar. Me and Sunfar and Garathon went forth to find the lightning shrine: an object sacred in these lands. It was protected by the strongest luxray I had ever seen. Sunfar and Garathon were quickly beaten and fell to the ground, fainted. I was going to be trapped in the temple for eons as a slave. It spoke to me, then. It was going to sacrifice me to bring forth the legendary of thunder, and he got close enough to me so I linked with the luxray. Named him Meltdown."

"But it was too late, lightning itself was on the way to protect its legion. So we prepared. Meltdown showed me the orb of static souls, an ancient weapon to be used against the legendary elements. We fortified the temple, wiped out the remaining pokemon the power up the orb. Gathered food. I got plenty of rest. Meltdown coordinated our resistance. He stood watch atop the temple for days on end, cleaving the sky in anticipation."

"Sometimes we sat together when I could make it up there. During one of those talks-"

"What had thou discussed?" Luna asked.

"The lore of the area."

"Continued lack of treatment, no emotional support, unresolved feelings of abandonment and inappropriate guilt, tragic losses at an early age, lacking critical family ties, fascination with death, lifelong lack of proper nourishment, both psychically and mentally." Luna sighed, "unrealistic expectations of love, rampant sex life or no sex life..."

"During one of our talks, Lightning himself arrived. Meltdown attacked without hesitation. The battle tore the temple apart and scorched the area for miles. The storm that resulted still hasn't dissipated. But Meltdown fell, Zapahdos was simply too powerful. So Garathon used ice, but fell as well. Veados fought and only did more damage to the area, but Zapahdos seemed unaffected. Veados fainted. Finally, Lepard could resist the lightning. Leaf blade was simply no use. Zapahdos changed his fighting style to defeat forest pokemon, and it was all up to Sitzo. The winds had broken loose a piece of the moon itself..."

"We should think not!" Luna said, disgruntled.

"This was a while ago. I used the power of the moon..."

"Blasphemy." Luna pouted.

"...to change Sitzo into the beast you see today. Hide of steel, horn of diamond, and powers granted by the moon-"

"The moon is mine!"

"Pokemon don't play by the same rules ponies do."

There was silence between them as the light shifted. Gregory thought he heard the sound of something crumble.

"Sitzo became immune to thunder and pretty much immune to flying attacks. It was glorious Princess, one creature fighting against all odds. Finally, Zapahdos fell. And I... Well, I linked with it. I took all its power for myself. Lightning itself, became my ally."

"That's possible?"

"Its a little different than linking with normal pokemon. Only six may join you, but legendaries dont count. They cant fight for you, but they can do pretty much anything else. So yea, very. That was the first time I flew... Atop the wings of storms. We stopped at the top of a great mountain and regrouped, got to know Yismiir. He had two brothers-"

"Of course. Still no female characters."

"Hmm. I'm noticing that Odpur is full of men and Equestria, women. Interesting isn't it?"

"We shall have to look further. What happened next?"

"Fire was the next target. Lightning fire and ice ruled these lands with a iron fist. They were cause of all the destruction, the changing tides and the inability of the land to get better. All is as the elements wished. As soon as I could walk we trained harder than we ever had. We covered land by night and fought by day. We ate roots and herbs. We barely slept. All of us gained so much strength to face down fire. Zapahdos said that fire lived the great land of the red sands. We found an epic colored red and yellow cliff, where metal foes gathered. We conquered it, learning about metals and the psychic foes that lived there."

"Veados transformed into the form you see today, and learned the mastery of fire that he now has. Lepard did too, learning to wield leaves and grass like a hurricane does lightning. Garathon could breath pure power. So could Sunfar. Sitzo learned to wield the power of the earth itself. Even meltdown got stronger."

"These pokemon could get even stronger?"

"Actually, they reached their potential. They would never learn any new powers. I thought we were ready..."

"Thought?"

"We failed, Luna. Moltres beat us. Everything got worse."

Skema

Luna stepped back from the earth pony. "We cannot even concieve..."

"He was so strong... Lepard didn't stand a chance. Sitzo was blown away. Veados resisted but couldn't match flying power. Meltdown was taken down in a single hit. Garathon missed when he breathed power. Sunfar fought bravely, but he simply lost. I can still hear the laughing... The battle completely leveled the mountain, causing drastic climate change with the winds. We wandered for a few months until Yismiir told us about is the lands of plenty far to the west. We flew there, where I wondered for a year and a half, settling in Ponyville. I dunno what had happened to the others. I was in pretty bad shape after we seperated."

"Feelings of worthlesness tied to a need for stimulation." Luna reasoned.

"I got worse. Stopped sleeping and eating-"

"Thou hath a long history of that."

"I did odd jobs for money, kept to myself, until I started thinking about death. Everypony I failed. My mother. Tauros. My father. The mares in Epothos. Yismiir and my friends. Everthing that could have been.. I wish i had never been born at all. I wanted to move on. This world has nothing left for me..."

Gregory closed his eyes. After a moment something brushed against his cheek. He jerked slightly.

"There are still ponies who care about you. I've seen your dreams before-"

Gregory breathed a soft breath. "I'm sure that was pleasant."

There was a soft giggle. "It was."

Gregory opened one eye and beheld Luna's smile. "It was?"

"Indeed. We beheld many things in the night. Plenty of walking and training, pumpkin pie and talking. We thought that it was symbolic..."

"I see."

Luna stepped back. "You are a survivor of much...uh..."

"Gregory- my name is Gregory."

"What kind of a name is Gregory?"

"In Odpur we build a history around our names, not the other way around."

"Nothing is over Gregory."

Gregory's head made the slightest motion. "What happens now?"

Luna looked up at him with tired eyes. "We grow weary. We must commune with Cadence about our next move. We aught to tell one thing. We are going to Odpur."

Gregory's eyes sprang open. "What?!"

Something blue and scaly slithered beneath him. "What's wrong master?"

Gregory looked around. The sun was just coming up and his companions were walking in a line down a path in what looked like a grassland. "Guys..."

Each pokemon stopped and looked up to him, perched on top of Garathon's head.

"I think were in trouble..."

"Bad dream master?" Said Meltdown.

"Guys, I just sent an innocent pony in the direction of Odpur without even telling her the rules!"

Sitzo started to walk forward again. "Whyd ya do that?"

The others started to follow suit. "No, really. The princess of the night can get into your dreams!" Pleaded Gregory.

Lepard spoke up. "Did your dream tell you so?"

"Wait a sec. Veados, do you remember what she said?"

"No," came the reply, "too busy resisting creating another moon."

"She seemed like she knew something about pokemon. She called you a warmonger."

"I refer you to my previous comment," said Veados.

"I think we have to turn ourselves in."

Each pokemon turned and stared at Gregory.

"I knew it," said Lepard.

Gregory looked down at him. "Good, that's one agreement. Who else?"

Sitzo took a step forward. "That pink pony - Kaydenza? - she got in your head. I could feel it. Now she's convinced you that you need to go back to them. Don't believe it, master. Cooped up in some institution will make you far worse. Who knows what all they are plotting?"

Gregory shook his head. "They want to help - they said so."

Sitzo's left eye went wide. "And why is that? The nation just stops working while it's leaders treat a single depressed citizen?"

"Its not like that, Sitzo."

"Master, do you have any idea what your even talking about?" SItzo challenged.

Gregory hesitated. "I spoke with the Princess all night."

Veados shook his head. "That explains it. Now forward! We're losing time!"

Each pokemon resumed their trek forward.

"Guys, I thought you had to start trusting me?"

Nopony said anything.

Gregory perked up. "What was that?"

Sitzo snorted. "You sure are quick to revert to lies and deception."

There was the flapping of wings.

"Master?" SItzo turned and looked at Garathon, who was shaking his head up and down, nopony perched on it.

A single line of spittle fell from Sitzo's mouth. A vein bulged in his neck. "Veados, go!" He shouted.

The fire beast roared and flew after the black shape in the distance.

...

Celestia sat tight to in her throne. "Twilight, you may begin."

Six exhausted mares stood around the throne room, Princess Cadence just a few steps below an equally exhausted Princess Luna. Only Celestia seemed to have her wits about her, the energy from her seemed warm and rejuvenating. Each girl had bags under her eyes and dropped her head slightly. Even Rainbow Dash was firmly planted on the ground. Only Pinkie Pie seemed the least affected. The investigation had been long and ineffective. After many cross references, meetings, and more than a little disagreement, Twilight had put together the most likely findings and request and audience with the Princess. They had been granted immediate entrance to where they now stood.

"Princess," began Twilight, "I am declaring the initial investigation over. The following are the events that transpired recently..."

"It seems the entities first made contact at Ponyville. What they did is not clear, but we have reports of deep gnarled footprints and slight collateral damage. We can only guess that the creatures are capable of flight, because guard platoons claim that one was spotted in some kind of confrontation with Princess Luna, when it fled, she gave chase. Several events transpired at once, which we will cover. Luna and the creature dueled, resulting in much damage to the surrounding area."

Luna barely conceal her victorious smile.

"During that time, another purple one broke into the castle, attacking only in reaction to guards, leaving servants and passing nobles unhurt. It managed to find a citizen being held there, break him away from Princess Cadence, and then immediately fled. We can assume it went north by footprints and guard testimony, therefore-"

"We give chase!" Interrupted Rainbow Dash.

"To make a long story short, yes." Twilight finished with a glare.

Celestia nodded. "Fine work. What is your plan?"

Twilight recoiled but quickly recomposed. "Uh, I need the suggestions of the other Princesses to best gauge how to proceed."

"Indeed." Celestia looked at Cadence.

She perked up a little. "Careful watching and espionage, gentle guidance, a peace treaty..."

Luna and Rainbow huffed. Twilight looked bored. "Yes, Princess?"

"We attack."

Twilight crooked and eyebrow. "Celestia?"

Celestia thought for a moment. "We bring in woldercolts-"

"Yes!" Proclaimed Rainbow.

"-for an swift capture mission, then we bring the citizen away from the castle and interrogate him in camp. However, this is a time sensitive mission. We dont know enough to waste any time contacting them. Therefore, we use what we have available."

Celestia looked at rainbow. "If they went north they will be easy to spot and traveling on foot. Susceptible to virtually every pegasus style assault imaginable. I don't imagine that more than a single competent individual will be needed."

"That was my plan exactly!" Rainbow gushed.

Luna suddenly looked very, very guilty.

...

Gregory clung tight to his captor, and was getting sick of being pony-handled. His captor (savior?) was blue with rainbow mane and flew quickly, her wings pumping with power, but she was weighted down and wobbling. Gregory tied to yell but she didn't seem to hear him. He looked behind them and saw Veados falling behind. While a perfectly competent flier alone, Veados was far too bulky and out of practice to keep up his younger competitor. Gregory braced for the tunnel of flame that was inevitable when Veados lost at something.

He didn't have to wait long.

...

Rainbow Dash barely had time to look back when something hair splitting-ly hot charged up behind her. She dodged to the left towards their fortified camp as it came into view. A tunnel of flame rushed by her, its heat making her skin squeal in pain. She flapped her wings harder to fly above it, but lost speed. She faintly heard the flapping of wings as big as her entire body. Something screamed below her, but she ignored it. It would be fine.

She started doing basic maneuvers, spinning and lopping through the air to dodged projectile attacks. She took on a sudden burst of height and she started to glide to gain her speed back, but stopped into a dead hover. The orange thing was right below her, staring up with eyes filled with rage. She gave it her most challenging smile, and allowed her captive to drop from her hooves.

He made the strangest sound as he fell, and the fire lizard flapped his wings furiously to intercept him, his eyes filled with worry and panic. It was easy for Rainbow to take advantage of her height to arc straight down at him at grab him back before the distracted lizard could catch his prize, then she was flying at full speed towards the opposite of it. Because of its obvious lack of practice and experience, it had to come to a full stop, completely rotate himself in the air, and accelerate back at her. By then, she was long gone. Rainbow heard a roar in the distance.

They flew for a few more minuets as camp came into view, Rainbow holding tight to the strangely loose pony. Camp was large and circular, comprised of a few tents and a few spare guards. In the center waited her friends and the strangely solemn Princess Cadence.

Rainbow dropped the pony just outside the largest tent as everypony gathered around her and the quiet citizen.

"What happened?" Asked Twilight.

"Mission complete!" Said Rainbow.

Applejack gave Gregory a poke. "This ah 'im?"

Cadence stepped forward. "Yes, this is the citizen in question. Now come. We can question him as we go."

"Whats going on?" Croaked Gregory.

Each of the mares turned their back on him and started for the west, Unicorn Range. "Lets go!" Shouted one of the guards.

Gregory hurried to catch up to the others, who grouped around him like a squad. Only Pinkie Pie looked at peace.

After a few minuets of walking, Gregory spoke up. "So, who are they?"

Cadence looked at him, then back down at the road. "This is the princess of friendship and her friends."

Gregory gave each of them a gaze. "What a lively bunch."

"They've had a hard few days. Been up all night, little food, lots of preparation and repair from certain unknown entities. Also dealing with the press, the inquest of paper, all while investigating a certain unknown citizen."

Cadence paused for effect. "But we'll get to all that."

Gregorey smiled at Cadence, who looked only annoyed. "That's it? I haven't eaten in a week!"

Applejack looked up. "Goodness sweetie, that's awful! How are you feeling? Faint? Lightheaded? How are you sleeping? Do you have shelter? Have you ever been sick? Have you-"

Gregory interrupted her to question Cadence. "You didn't tell them?

She sighed.

"Um..miss.." Began Gregory.

Each mare turned their attention towards him. Somepony asked "Well?"

Gregory looked down in shame. "I suffer from severe recurrent unipolar depression."

They walked in silence for a moment.

"Whats that?" Asked a far too casual Pinkie Pie.

Twilight attempted to silence her with a look. "What?" Pinkie asked cheerily.

"All my friends want is to see me treated."

"Then why the hay-" Twilight challenged, but Cadence cut her off.

"Stick to the plan." She said.

Gregory looked around. "We have a plan?"

Cadence shot him a look. "We do."

Gregory thought for a moment. "You cant be serious..."

Cadence lifted her head slightly. "Until we are certain of the safety of Equestria, you are a prisoner."

Gregory gulped. "Why so few guards?"

Cadence gave Twilight a fond look. "These six are some of the most capable ponies in the kingdom. They have overcame far greater challenges than... well, what is to come, but there is still some to be learned from it."

Gregory's smile returned. "Don't you worry, I've plenty to teach. In fact, this is going to be fun!"

"We're having a blast." Said Rainbow dryly.

"That's all part of the experience!" Countered Gregory.

Twilight eyes went wide and cracked. "Now you listen here, this isn't about fun or adventure. You are a serious threat, and we're going to treat you as such. Nothing you say can be believed. You are not to leave the sight of at least two of us, and when we get to base camp, you will sit down and explain everything. Then you are going to be banished at the very least."

Gregory didn't even seem to hear her. "The seven most powerful mares in the land escort one lost prisoner," He began, "It seemed so easy a task, bring him from point A to point B. But too soon it became so complicated. What truth are lies? What lies are truth? Will they choose to the daughters that provide their mother what she wants, or what she needs? Ancient prophecies evoke strange curses and dead oaths on dead lips bounce back to life. All roads lead to me! Seven mares, six warmongers, four princesses, three elements, two legends, one fate. Can Arceus remain hidden or shall the battle of the gods begin with a simple fetch quest? Indeed, that's all it has ever taken." By the end, Gregory was bouncing with each step he took.

"Simmer down!" Ordered Twilight.

"That. Was. Amazing!" Bounced Pinkie Pie.

Twilight shot her a glare.

"Always nice to do a quick review of the situation." Said Gregory.

"That didn't answer any of mah questions," stated Applejack.

Gregory looked up at the sky. The sun was high in it, the day maybe half over. At this rate, they may make the larger collections of woods where there would be shelter and food, but no water. His companions had to improve in mood if they were going to make it to any close meeting place. Maybe Luna would be there...

He pushed the thought away and gauged what to say next. He could try some inspiration for the tired mares? Both answer their questions and get them looking forward to the future. Since it was the first thing he thought of, he started talking.

"Well, allow me to explain, um...

"Applejack" She said.

"Do you know the symptoms of malnutrition?"

"Whoo dee what what?"

"um... do you know what happens when a pony goes a long time without food?"

"They git hungry and come to me?"

"Okay. What if you weren't around?

"Then they would have to grow it themselves."

"Right again. But, what would happen, how would you get food, if everytime you tried to grow it, a flamming monster came down from the mountains, ate it all, then razed the entire area for fun, beat you up, and flew away?"

Applejack recoiled, then seemed to think for a minuet. "You get guards to help, investigators to investigate, then you talk to it and come to a mutually beneficial agreement." She seemed pleased with herself, and got a look of gratitude from Fluttershy.

"Well, that might happen in Equestria, but there are no cities, investigators, guards, castles, towns, farms, elements of harmony, or anything like that in Odpur. All you have is everything you can see, which now is ash, and the tools that managed to be unburnt, which are one hoe and one handaxe. Whats your next move?"

"We move. We build a new farm with our backs and hardwork, we eat roots and berries that we can find in the new place, then we grow into a big happy family and start spreading building cities like Ponyville, making friends, then we talk to the monster."

"That will take years. Your hungry now. In fact, its been days since your parents last managed to feed you. And by the way, your just a few years old. Your family consistes of one mother, no siblings, and few old, weak, ponies just as hungry as you."

"We head into the deep forest, roots and berries."

Several of the others wrinkled their noses.

"Everything around you is a desert. You were in the only habitable patch of land for miles, and now its a crater of ashes."

"We... I..." Applejack paused, looking defeated.

"There are two answers, Applejack. You eat meat, which Equus cannot do without long years of training and transformations, or you go without. Your stomach shrinks, Applejack. Your growth is stunted. Your skin wrinkles. You catch yourself drooling. You have horrid nightmares, your head always hurts until you learn to block out the pain, your limbs shrivel away. You learn to go for days without until you can find the faintest bit brush in the sand, and you give it to the starving adult ponies. You sleep on the ground. You go without water. You break a bone? They leave you behind. You stop working because you cant or worse, wont? Youve your will to keep going? They ditch 'ya. You get sick? They leave you behind. You fall to the ground, starving and dehydrated? They leave you for dead. You don't wake up with the rest? You never see them again. That's why i can barely bring myself to eat. That's why i never sleep. That's normal for me, because Odpur is not Equestria. All is Lord Arceus' wish."

Applejack's eyes darted around. "Why?"

Fluttershy could barely be heard. "Princess Celestia would never..."

Gregory looked at her, and she shrank away. He noted that she would be very, very easy to get away from. "Princess Celestia doesn't have a say. Now let me ask you: how much strength does it take to survive in Equestria?"

"Darling, we have our share of challenges," said Rarity.

"Fair enough. I've heard quite some stories when I first arrived. But here's the question: Who's citizens are stronger? Who can do more when called on to do it? The Equestrians, whose biggest challenges are being liked and looking pretty?"

Rarity stuck her nose in the air.

"Or the citizens of Odpur, who fight every day to cling to life? Who can go days without sleep? Without food? Without shelter? Without... love?"

Twilight interuppted. "How many citizens of Odpur would give their lives for their ruler?"

"A fair question. Allow me to answer it with another. How many Equestrians would give their lives for their god?"

"Celestia..."

"Whatever she is, truly, she is not a god. She may be an alicorn with overwhelming power. But she cannot create. She can guide, she can talk and love and even be prone to bouts of negativity, but i ask you. How many Equestrians would die for her? Lie for her? Kill for her? How many would go without food and water and entertainment and all the nice things you have, all in the name of Princess Celestia?"

"Well..."

"As opposed to Lord Arceus. He created everything with his thousand arms. Life and death are his, alone. He breathed not power, but potential into his children and the ponies alike. Everything you have in Odpur, you earn. And every single time you accomplish something, you and your friends grow stronger. Your bonds deepen. What is there to be said about Equestria, assuming Princess Celestia can even hold a candle to his greatness and his knowledge?"

"While I don't appreciate your implications, I have never really thought about it. I never really looked at philosophy books, even when I had a chance.." Twilight said meekly.

"Fair enough. Not all of us can be so thankful for the things we have. The easy thing to do is coast through life without a clue. I saw it rampant in Ponyville. Its not a bad thing to take the easy route. Its just not a good thing, get it? I'm very thankful for my adventure and the friends i made, not because it was fun, or because I was afraid to not be liked, but because I had too. There was simply no choice, and even if there was, we would have become friends through association and over a more natural time. Lord Arceus gives us what we want, no matter what it is, but he requires us to earn it. I've known some ponies of Odpur that had nothing in their hearts but rage and hate, not strength. Their friends grew to be much the same way, and it was tragic. Think of it a different way. Your Celestia and I'm Arceus. What would she say to me?"

Twilight seemed to perk up a little.

"Well... she would say that it is more important to empower others than it is torture them and hope it brings them strength. She has only love and hope for her subjects, not some misplaced contentment to watch them struggle and turn on each other. That kind of brutality inspires just as much cheating and pain as it does hope and adventure. She wants us to earn power and magic, and friendship and love, and knowledge and pursuits of our interests, not violence, on our own, then she gives us the change to do so when the time is right, and in a different way for each pony. I, for example, must be tutored personally. There is lore and magical theory that only she can provide herself. Where as for another, like Rarity, it is more important to be available as soon as you are needed, like when she went to Canterlot for business. It is a much gentler, faster, and more complete way for ponies to grow and live a life the way that they choose."

"Twilight, all life is a fight. A battle. There is no escape. If you refuse it, it will eat you alive. We fight for food and land in Odpur, in Equestria you fight for money, for business. When you lose that game, you lie and cheat."

He looked at Applejack. She looked back, confused. "I heard about Flim and Flaam." He said.

"I never lied in mah life, and I don't appreciate the accusation!" She said stubbornly.

"Thats a lie right there. Words, lies and the truth are all weapons to be used in the battlefield, whether that be on a farm or in a city."

Applejack looked away. "I learned from it..."

"You fight for glory. You fight because you can." He looked at Rainbow, who looked back.

"I had hoped you'd get to me soon! I embrace the competition, the thrill of victory!"

"But you do it for fun. I heard about the games, where you intentionally chose weaker..."

Fluttershy looked down and dropped a single tear.

"...allys to make it harder on yourself, so you looked all the better when you qualified. What does that say about Equestria?"

"We embrace the fighting and the struggles, and grow from it ways that you all could never do!"

Gregory chuckled. "Hasty words. What proof have you?"

"Plenty!"

"Equestria is indeed the land of plenty."

"What does that mean?"

"Its means I'm afraid I don't know enough about athletic society to make a strong conclusion. I have heard about the hazing, bullying, recklessness, and brutal trials with far more losers than winners. What was it I heard about a cyclone in cloudsdale?"

"That wasn't me?"

"Then she broke a wing from the strain too!" Inserted Pinkie Pie.

"Thank you Pinkie!" Snapped Rainbow.

Gregory nodded slightly. "You fight for beauty, to be the best, to known and liked. Anypony? I'm afraid I don't know you all that well yet..."

Everypony looked at Rarity.

"Me?!" She asked, startled.

"You know what, I want to let you ponies prove me and Lord Arceus right. Does anypony have anything to say about her? Perhaps she hurt your feelings, perhaps she used you, perhaps she even buys into the romanticism about love..."

Everypony except Cadence and Rarity stopped and raised their hoof. Gregory looked at Rarity. "Seriously?"

"I haven't the faintest of what they are implying!" Proclaimed Rarity.

"You had a fight with everypony here except Twilight and Fluttershy!" Said Applejack. "Celestia help ya if ya git in a fight with either of them!"

"Well, um... I..." Muttered Fluttershy.

"Speak up!" Ordered Rainbow.

"Now, now." Said Gregory gently to Rainbow. Then he turned to Fluttershy, who backed away a step at a time. "Darling, your with friends. Just tell me what you have to say at whatever volume makes you conformable, and nopony will judge you for it. I promise."

"Well, see, its like this..."

"Get on with it!" Hurried Rainbow.

"Rainbow, let her finish..."

"It started..."

"Are you talking about the fasion-esta thing?"

"Rainbow, if you are not quiet until Fluttershy next says you may speak, I'm going to dye your mane the deepest green you've ever seen."

"You what?!"

"Rainbow. I will give you that as some kind of boon. If you decide you like green, i can do yellow, red, blue, white, gray, brown..."

He smiled at her.

"I can even make you look like a stallion from far enough away."

Rainbow clamped her hooves over her mouth.

"Thats..."

Gregory was wheeled around to face the most berserk set of eyes had had ever beheld. He cowered and tried to pull away but was held perfectly still.

"Now you listen here, mr. whatever your name is! Nopony treats my friend like that and gets away with it! You charge into my home, cause every kind of problem and chaos, then try to reason and make yourself sound good?! You will conduct yourself with the grace and sophistication of an Equestrian, from here on out, or I will break you worse than I broke Discord!"

"Whose Discord?"

"Exactly!"

Gregory shivered.

"Gregory... my name is Gregory."

"What kind of a name is Gregory?" Asked an interested Twilight. She instantly regretted her words when she got the same stare that Gregory got.

"Oh sorry don't mind me don't let me interrupt you" She stuttered. Fluttershy looked back at Gregory.

"Are we clear?"

Gregory gulped. "Crystal!"

She dropped him and happily trotted back to her original spot at the left of the group.

"Rarity basically forced me to be her fashion model even though I really didn't want too. It was horrible. Um, not as horrible as malnut-thingy or having no home, but you know.." Fluttershy blushed.

"Do you do that often?"

"Um... have red cheeks?"

"Nevermind. But it proves my point. Everybody has simply had enough for the fighting once in awhile. Even the most quite, reserved, socially awkward-"

"That's our friends you've got there, ya big meanie!" Applejack said.

Gregory brought his gaze down on Fluttershy. "Is it untrue?"

"Oh no. Applejack, he's pretty much right about me, i'm not even sure why i'm here, I should probably..." mumbled Fluttershy.

Applejack glared at Gregory. "Now look what you done?" Applejack trotted over to Fluttershy. "Your here because you are an invaluable friend of the Princess of Frienship herself! Don't you see how special you are?"

"Right..." She mumbled weakly.

Gregory took a step forward. "We are alike, you and I. If only you had been born in Epothos..."

"Um, sorry sir, but I don't think you are I are anything alike, if thats okay..."

Applejack stared up at him.

"Hear me out, Fluttershy. You prefer to be alone. You doubt yourself. You only have a few close friends. You can go for days without speaking. Social stuff is hard for you, and draining of your energy. But at the right moment, you have infinite bravery and power..."

"Well, um, you see sir, I don't prefer to be alone. I have my animal friends to look after."

"Can you talk to them?"

"Why, yes..."

"Birds of a feather my dear. You are a girl version of me. If only I had been born in Ponyville... or you in Hecate. But I guess we'll never know."

"Ew." Said Rainbow simply.

Fluttershy looked like she had been slapped.

"Oh, and in Odpur, you build a history around your name. Gregory meant nothing until I slew the dragon Epothos, or claimed Yismiir as my own. You have to earn things, even a meaningful name.

Gregory turned away and looked for a long time at Rarity, who at first looked back, then fidgeted a little, then backed away. "I wish I could have been there every time you hurt a friend and they forgave you-"

"Alright, that's enough." said Cadence. "We have to keep moving. Discuss it later when the time is right."

"You see, I was eventually banished from my home-"

"Given your attitude, especially towards authority? Shocking." said Twilight.

He glared at her, but she seemed to dare him to try anything. "I think you and I are-"

"Ten?!" Applejack gasped. "How can rational ponies do that to a child?"

"Simple tradition. You fail to link with a pokemon when you come of age, you get kicked out of the village. There is no food available for the useless."

"What is a pokemon?" Asked Twilight.

"I'm surprised you had to ask that. Princess Luna seemed to know what my friend Veados was as soon as she saw him...she did call him a warmonger."

"Which one was Veados?" Asked an intrigued Rainbow.

"The big orange one with the fire. He had wings, but hes a little out of practice. Ill have to ask him about that. Anyway, Pokemon general term for a creature that can establish a link with a pony that causes incredible changes for both. I think it meant pocket monster and some point. Maybe because when their young they can fit in your pocket? Pokemon grow stronger, change form, learn to wield strange magic, and seem not to be bound to the same creation forces that we are. For them, life is growing more powerful. Learning to use fire and ice, not as forces, but as weapons. Only the strongest have children and matter. The rest die in bloody battle. Nopony knows how many kinds there are."

"Now that's barbaric," said Rarity dryly.

Twilight noted that Gregory seemed to think at least Luna knew about them. She caught Gregory looking at her.

"What lies are truth? What truths are lies?" He asked her.

"Enough!," Twilight commanded.

"Good answer." He said with pride.