My Little Pixelmon: Friendship is a Warmonger

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.