Chapter 6: Mega Evolution!? (Part 1)

-[Professor Sycamore's Theme - Pokémon X and Y]-

Professor Augustine Sycamore was quite impressed by the tale he had been told by his Japanese, born-American friend Sean.

He laughed as he said, "Très bien...I believe it now, Moussiour Sean. I take it you are, Princesse Twilight Sparkle, no...?"

Twilight chuckled as she answered, "Yes, Professor Sycamore, you study pokemon as well? Like Professor Oak?"

Sycamore looked pleasantly surprised as he said, "Quelle merveille! Samuel Oak is here? How wonderful, when can we see him, I'd love to discuss my findings on Mega Evolution with him..."

Twilight remembered Discord asking and Rosa mentioning it briefly, and asked, "Mega Evolution? I've only heard about it briefly before, but what is it exactly?"

Cynthia also asked, "What is Mega Evolution? This is the first I've heard of such a phenomenon..."

Sean raised his hand, saying, "Hold up...Let's save this discussion back at Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will want to hear about it, after seeing me use it in action a day ago..."

Twilight, Cynthia, and Professor Sycamore agreed, as Sean continued, "...Plus, I have to confirm with Korrina if these stones are what I think they are, and we have friends waiting for us..."

Sean sent out Latios and Charizard, and Cynthia sent out her Garchomp, as they mounted the pokemon and flew out of Ghastly Gorge, to Canterlot and their friends waiting for them...

-[Ever Grande City - Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire]-

"Gahh! How long do we have to wait!? It's been THREE FREAKIN' HOURS!!!" an impatient Brendan tapped his foot, having already arrived in Canterlot's station.

Rarity said with her hoof on her face, "Oh come now, Brendan...Sean did say he saw something embedded in the walls of Ghastly Gorge, and had asked us to go ahead. But, it would be rude to go without Twilight and Cynthia...Surely your mother taught you manners about waiting for a lady...?"

Carrie yawned as she said, "Though that is true Rarity, Cynthia and Princess Twilight did say we can go on without them if it takes too long for them to get here...And, you saw the rocks after the great Entei's attack, it will take them a while to dig out anything with smoldering rocks covering them..."

Pinkie jumped up and down as she added, "Carrie's right, you know...I know from my time at the Rock Farm that melty rocks are very hard to work with if something really important is underneath them...Plus, they could be late because they found another friend while getting whatever was twinkling out of the rocks."

Rainbow Dash was getting just as impatient as Brendan, as she exclaimed, "Grahh! Let's just go to Princess Celestia's already! We have waited long enough already!"

Rosa added, "While I would prefer to wait for them, I agree with Brendan and Rainbow Dash…Besides, I really have to do as Sensei suggested I should do…"

Everyone agreed and started to head for Princess Celestia's castle, unaware that they are being watched by a young man…

-[Indigo Plateau - Pokémon HeartGold and SoulsSilver]-

Everyone was escorted to Celestia's castle by her guards, when they entered the plaza, they found Spike and Korrina talking at the fountain. Then, they saw that Korrina had a Lucario of her own out beside her, and it too had a brace of sorts with a stone in it. Only when they got closer did they hear what they were saying.

"…that's it basically…So, do I have a chance…?" Spike asked the Shalor Gym Leader.

Korrina thought about it, then replied, "I really don't know about it, Spike…I cannot answer your question, because the outcome can be anything. But, keep trying and who knows, maybe she will come around…"

Spike sighed with both disappointment and relief as he then asked, "…Y-you'll keep it a secret for me…Please, Korrina…?"

Korrina zipped her lips and flicked the zipper as she said, "My lips are sealed, Spike…On my honor as the Shalor City Gym Leader of Kalos, your secret's safe with me…"

"Ahem...What are you two talking about..." Rosa said aloud to catch the attention of the human and dragon, making them flinch.

"GAHH!" Korrina shouted, then said as she noticed it was her friends, "It is a personal thing Spike made me promise to keep a secret, and I'm not about to go against my word."

Rainbow chuckled as she said, "All right, all right. I get it, personal biz you don't want to talk about. I know what you're talking about."

"Know what you're talking about? What are you talking about?"

Rosa, May, Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy screamed with fright at the sudden voice, while everyone else slightly panicked. When they turned to see who the voice belonged to, they saw a hysterical Sean, laughing hard and tears streaming from his eyes as he laughed and kicked his legs high in the air.

May was absolutely furious as she angrily shouted, "SEAN! Why in the *(pony guard sneezing)* did you do that for!!! You big, *(dinner plates crashing in the castle)*, MORON! I ought to kick your *(Pinkie's party cannon being fired by Haunty)* for pulling a stunt like that!!!"

Rosa was not pleased as well, as she cursed out her teacher, "Yeah Sensei! Why the heck did you scare us for?! If you pull something like that again, I'll join May in kicking your…"

Sean had his hand up, interrupting the two female trainers threats, and had managed to suppress his laugh as he said, "I'm so sorry about that, my family cusses me out for having that habit of walking very quietly. I had no intention of scaring you guys, but it happens nonetheless. I really, truly am sorry, I was laughing because I still do it even when I'm not trying to, and I'm laughing at myself for that mistake."

The ponies (and dragon) present were appaled by May's language, then Fluttershy said, "My goodness, May…such language…you shouldn't say such harsh and impolite things. Didn't your mother teach you manners…?"

May sighed heavily and answered, "Yes, she did, Fluttershy…I really got to get a better grip over my temper…"

Remembering what Sean last said, everyone started to laugh, because whether he intended to do it or not, Sean did give them a very good scare.

Rainbow knowed why the teenage human was behind, and asked, "So…did you find out what it was you saw? And, where's Twilight and that Cynthia woman that helped us earlier. For that matter, how did you get here?"

~"They flew here on the backs of Latios, Charizard, and Cynthia's Garchomp. We have also found Professor Sycamore of Kalos in that place you call Ghastly Gorge."~ Sean's Metagross said at it let itself out of its Poké Ball.

Sean said with a slightly nervous smile, "Yeah, they're on their way, Twilight was with me on Latios' back, but...I flew too fast and got her airsick, so she's throwing up right now and will be here shortly. He-he-he-hee..."

Everyone waited a little, and sure enough, Cynthia, her Garchomp, Professor Sycamore, Sean's Charizard, and a sick-looking Twilight on Latios' back. Latios used psychokinesis to gently put his passenger down on her hooves, then flew over to May and Rosa, cooing with delight at being petted by the two girls. After introductions were placed, everyone headed inside to Celestia's throne room, and the young man silently followed them, saying quietly to himself...

"Hmm...It appears Sean is here too, along with that 'student' of his and a bunch of those other creatures and trainers...I better save them from being discected or experimented on... Heh-heh, what a loser..."

-[Lacunosa Town - Pokémon Black and White]-

When Sinnoh Champion Cynthia and Professor Sycamore arrived to Canterlot with Twilight and Sean, they never expected to have an audience with the rulers of this land apparently called Equestria. They smiled when they met with familiar and friendly faces, Cynthia talked with the heir to his father's company, the Devon Corporation, Steven Stone, while Sycamore was greeted by his colleague and friend, Samuel Oak.

After introductions were dished out, Sean clapped his hands and said, "Ok...Now that everyone, so far, is here, it should be easier to explain how our world works, especially with two Pokémon Professors here. Knowing you two, you highnesses, you are curious about what I did with Lucario when we fought Cyrus, correct?"

Celestia chuckled a little as the alicorn said, "Your assumption is right, I've heard Ms. Rosa say it was something called 'Mega Evolution'. Having seen a Pokémon 'evolve' in front of my eyes, I knew that this 'Mega Evolution' was an entirely different process. Would you be so kind as to tell me what it is?"

Professor Sycamore cleared his throat as he said, "Certainly, your Majesty, Mega Evolution is my area of expertise. Korrina comes from a family that had long used Mega Evolution for generations, and Mr. Stone also seems to have an idea on the subject, so they could help me out with the explainations..."

Korrina and Steven nodded and Sycamore began explaining the mysterious power of Mega Evolution...

-[Abyssal Ruins - Pokémon Black and White]-

"Mega Evolution, is a different type of evolution that has only now, come into light and as such, put our science and understanding on Pokémon as a whole, to question." Sycamore started.

Twilight asked, "How is Mega Evolution different exactly from a regular evolution for Pokémon, professor?"

Steven answered, "Whereas a Pokémon evolving regularly is a permanent change, when a Pokémon Mega evolves, its appearance changes drastically, almost like the latent energy stored in the Pokémon's body exploded out from within. Their power grows to staggering heights, making them more powerful than above-average pokemon, and even some Legendary Pokémon…"

Korrina added to Steven's explanation, "What also seperates Mega Evolution from a regular Evolution, is that a Mega Evolved Pokémon can revert back to its original form before the Mega Evolution was triggered. It almost sounds like a transformation from a Japanese anime…"

Sean chuckled as he jokingly added, "Yeah…Like DragonBall Z, and their Super Saiyan transformations…"

He looked at the confused ponies looking at him, then said, "I'll tell you about that and 'anime' later…Continue…"

Sycamore said, "While studying the effects of Mega Evolution in past records and old legends, the first accounts had been dated to almost three-thousand years ago…"

Steven added, "But, these records also indicate that in unrecorded history, Mega Evolution had existed long before that, by tens of thousands, to even possibly millions of years in the past, long before us humans ever came to be…"

Everyone's eyes widened at that statement, then Korrina said, "Currently, there are forty-four Pokémon we know of, that are capable of Mega Evolution, with the total number a mystery as great as how many Pokémon actually exist out there. My family were tasked with keeping the secrets of Mega Evolution's powers to only be given to trainers and their Pokemon who deemed themselves worthy to know its true potential…"

Pinkie gasped as she said, "Did you hear that? We must be worthy, everypony! I'm so super-duper happy that we're…Mmph-phirmm, Mmph hmmph…"

Applejack closed Pinkie's mouth, and asked, "Sorry…would you all now explain exactly how this, 'Meger Evilution' thing works. I know I must have seen it in action with Sean and that Lucario of his, when that Cyrus feller was making his way to Canterlot…"

Cynthia was visibly disturbed by the mention of Team Galactic's former leader, as Korrina continues, "Anyways, in order for a Pokémon to Mega Evolve, three things are required to trigger it…"

She pulled out two folded sheets of paper, and unfolded the first one, "First, a special, small stone called a 'Key Stone' is required to be held by the trainer at all times. The Key Stones are rare and hard to find, they resemble grape-sized, round, rainbow colored gems that have a sigil that resembles a DNA helix inside them."

Korrina showed an artist's depiction of a Key Stone, being held in a young woman's fingers like a piece of candy, with both the woman and a Pokemon everyone recognized as a Gardevoir looking at the Key Stone with eyes wide with wonder. The Key Stone, though in the sketch was covered in a glow that seemed otherworldly, perfectly matched Korrina's description. The sketch was drawn to mimic an old, Renaissance painting, Rarity fell in love with the look of the Key Stone, wanting one for an outfit she was thinking of.

Korrina folded the sketch, then handed it to Sean to give to Celestia, Luna, and Discord to see, then unfolded the second sketch, as she said, "Second, one needs a Mega Stone, but not just any Mega Stone, one that is a match to the Pokemon one wants to Mega Evolve. Each Mega Stone found so far, is to be used by one species of Pokémon, and as such is named after the Pokemon that a Mega Stone works for…"

Korrina then showed everyone a more modern looking sketch that depicts a young man dressed in a tattered purple cloak, with a Lucario at his side, kneeling down to the ground over a glittering round spherical gem that is orange in color. It was like a Key Stone, but was much bigger, about as large as an apple or orange, it also had three streaks inside that matched two of Lucario's colors, red and blue, making the gem look like a giant, glass marble.

Rarity said with drool dripping from her mouth and looking in a trance, "I assume that is a 'Mega Stone', Ms. Korrina?"

Korrina gave the sketch to Sean again as Steven answered for the young Gym Leader, "Yes, Ms. Rarity, you're correct. A Mega Stone has a name for the Pokemon that is to bring out their power. For example, a Mega Stone for a Lucario is called, a 'Lucarionite', and as such, can only be used by a Lucario."

Korrina then showed everyone her right hand, that had a Key Stone embbeded in a glove she was wearing. Then, had her Lucario show them its Lucarionite on a metal armband on its left paw. The natives of Equestria were captivated by the shimmering brilliance of the Key Stone and Mega Stone, then, Twilight connected the dots, the peculiar braces with the stones on some of the Pokémon Trainers' Pokemon were actually Mega Stones.

Rosa looked around, then said, "Hey! Where's Sensei Sean?! He was here just a minute ago...?"

Everyone suddenly looked around and saw that Sean was indeed missing from the thrown room. They then looked at the pink party pony, who seemed to see anything that surrounds her.

Pinkie noticed and asked innocently, "Why is everypony looking at me for?"

Twilight answered, "You seem to have a knack of knowing where everyone is, that is why Pinkie..."

"Oh! In that case, I saw Sean having his gaze over by the door there, cause somepony was spying on us. Then, whoever it was fled, Sean quietly gave chase and never let any of us know. Does that answer your question, Twilight?"

Everyone looked gobsmacked at Pinkie's explanation, then Rainbow said, "Well then, let's use his Lucario to track him, and whoever he's chasing..."

"No need for that, Rainbow Dash...I already took care of our intruder..."

Everyone turned to see Sean smirking with confidence, they were happy to see and hear that Sean took care of the pony or person who spied on them. Everyone, but Sean's Lucario and Rosa, the Aura Pokémon growled bitterly at Sean, and Rosa felt something was off...

Ten Minutes Earlier...

-[Pokémon Mansion - Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen]-

Sean was quietly listening at Korrina's explanation on Mega Evolution, but he saw a figure peering from the throne room's doorway, then it fled. Using a secret psychic connection he and his PSYCHIC-Type Pokémon established a long time ago, he communicated to his Metagross, Lucario, and Latios.

He said to them quietly with his mind, ~"I sense trouble ahead, guys…Latios, you and Latias hide yourselves, and be sure to tell Celebi and Meloetta to do the same…Metagross, you are coming with me, let Gallade and Gardevoir to ready themselves if there's trouble ahead…"~

Latios and Metagross replied, ~"Yes, at once, Sean…!"~

Sean then said, ~"Lucario…?"~

The Aura Pokémon looked to his trainer as he continued, ~"Be ready if there's someone trying to impersonate me, unless I give the signal, treat me like an imposter, if I still don't give the signal, attack me with murderous intent, alright…?"~

Lucario remembered how there would be impersonators trying to act as his trainer before, mostly to steal Sean's Pokémon to sell at the Black Market illegally. But, this was the first time his trainer told him to attack him with the intent to kill or badly wound, if he doesn't give a signal that he is really him. The FIGHTING/STEEL Type thought about it, and realized why he asked that, and as such, replied, ~"Understood…"~

Sean nodded and quietly left the throne room, quick enough to see the person or pony spying on them flee down a corner down the left hallway, and immediately gave chase…

-[Distortion World - Pokémon Platinum]-

Lyra and Barry felt slightly intimidated by the look Sean's Giratina was giving them, he looked like he is deciding whether to kill them or not, the two trainers only met Giratina once, and the Renegade Pokémon still gave them chills. Had Zekrom not be there with them, they would sooner run away, fearing the absolute worst thoughts Giratina gave them. For some odd reason, Giratina chose keep his appearance as a silhouette, aside from the ominous red glows of his eyes, mouth, stripes, and red thorns.

Giratina sternly looked at his 'guests' and said in a monotone, male voice, "Greetings, Barry, Lyra, and Zekrom…what brings you here to my domain? I thought I closed all portals that led here to the Distortion World…"

Zekrom sensed the slight tinge of fear his trainer's friends had, and answered, "The portal you placed at Sean's home reopened, so we believed you wanted us to be here, Lord Giratina…We also sought your help, since several people vanished from Earth, including our trainer…"

Giratina was slightly surprised by that statement, and said to them in a more kind tone, "I see…It must have been the imbalance generated by my brother and sister that reopened my portal to Mt. Silver…"

Barry and Lyra looked confused at Giratina's statement, until Zekrom said, "Brother and sister? You mean Lord Dialga and Lady Palkia?! What do the Gods of Time and Space have to do about the disappearance of the humans and the reopening of a portal you believed to have been closed…?"

Giratina gave a look that the trainers read as, "maybe I shouldn't tell them about that…", Zekrom picked up on that too, and thought the same.

The massive, DRAGON/GHOST Legendary sighed, then said, "Dialga and Palkia were attacked in the TimeSpace Rift just recently, by what they described as a, 'black, shadowy, mass made of nightmares'. It fled through a vortex to another dimension, one that my sister was unable to trace due to it closing immediately when her attacker went through. Infuriated, Palkia was about to travel through countless other realities and destroy any that had anything like her assailant. But Dialga calmed her, and decided to try and find out where that vortex could have led to, until they felt the presence of their attacker deep in the outer rims of space, and had enlisted the help of our brother Darkrai to help them track that mass down. They asked me to see where that thing came from, so I was delighted to oblige…"

Barry scratched his head, asking, "Wait! Palkia is a girl?! I always thought…"

Barry hissed in pain as a blushing Lyra bitterly dug her heel into his foot, while Zekrom silently decided to not anger his trainer's childhood friend as Barry did.

Giratina looked at Barry and said to him sternly, "You know, if my sister was here and she heard you say that, Palkia would threaten your life and say something along the lines of, 'And what is wrong with me being a girl…?'. I feel inclined to do just that, for you insulting my beloved sister, Barry was it…?"

Barry said immediately, "No-no-noo! I didn't mean it like that, it was just…I only heard Palkia speak once with telepathy, and 'she' sounded more like a…OWW!!!"

Barry screamed in pain again as Lyra, more embarrassed about Barry's statement and seemingly 'sexist' assumption, kicked his shin hard, making the two Legendary Pokémon sweat a little (in a typical anime fashion).

Giratina chuckled a little, then said, surprisingly, in a woman's voice, "When you speak with the mind, it is easy for you to change your voice into someone else's, even sounding like someone you know…"

The God of Anti-Matter continued in his regular voice, "…Many of us legends can, technically, be any gender we wish, and can take forms that are further exhibit the gender of our choice Barry. But, we chose genders for ourselves that feel the most comfortable for us, being god-like creatures, it is an easy task. W could even have or bear children with you mortals if we wish it, that's how easy it is, and many of us did have set genders when we were born, the exceptions would be Zekrom and his other half, Reshiram…"

They looked at Zekrom as he said, "He is right, I can will myself to be a female, though it would be more taxing for me, being half of another's soul…I fear other Legends are trapped in whatever dimension our friends are now, would you help us, Lord Giratina…?"

He looked at them, then gave an inviting, but creepy smile as he said, "Certainly, Sean was the first human to want me to be his friend, and because you are his friends, I will help you, but for a price…"

Lyra was nervous, knowing many old stories and myths about The Renegade Pokémon, she feared it was something like them selling their souls to a demon, but was shocked at his demand.

"Should you find out where this 'thing' that attacked my siblings came from, let me know with this telepathic radio, and I'll inform my dear brother and sister. But, I will arrive first, because it will pay dearly for assaulting my siblings, and I want to punish it and see that nightmare mass writhe in agony…"

Lyra, Barry, and Zekrom felt Giratina manifest a telepathic link in their minds, then the two trainers cringed in fear with the look in one of their friend's most powerful allies. They heard from the Sinnoh champion Cynthia, that long ago, Giratina was an exceedingly violent Pokémon, destroying all manner of things till he was sent to a dimension made to help the God of Anti-Matter contain his urges to obliterate anything in sight.

Giratina then said as he moved one of his red thorns to them, "First off, let me see your memories of the vortex you two saw close behind your friends…Anyone willing to let me see your memories…?"

Lyra volunteered, then Giratina had the red thorn touch her forehead. Lyra took a deep breath, and then felt the DRAGON/GHOST Type search through her memories. It felt like he was intruding her private, most personal thoughts, she didn't like the feeling at all, but realized the Legendary was merely looking through all of her memories to pick up on her missing friend's energy signature, to accurately pinpoint his location in the multiverse.

She then found the memory Giratina was looking for, and it played out exactly as she remembered it, Giratina saw it through her eyes, and felt her emotions as the portal closed.

Giratina finished, then said politely, "Thank you Ms. Lyra, I have all the information I need to try and pinpoint where Sean and the others are located. I apologize if my memory skills were not perfect, and my location skills are nowhere near my sister's level, but the information you provided should make it easier for me to pinpoint their exact location."

Lyra, Barry, and Zekrom smiled at that, as Giratina said, "It might take a while for me to use the information correctly, so until then, prepare yourselves and feel free to use this world's inability to register time to your advantage. By restocking your supplies over there, training your Pokemon, or to rest up, but I must warn you…"

Everyone was a little nervous when Giratina finished in a voice that sounded, demonic, "Should you mess with anything in the domain I rule over, you shall pay for anything destroyed here, with your lives…Understood?"

Lyra and Barry immediately shook their heads that they understand, out of fear, then Giratina nodded and flew off deeper in the Distortion World. They used the time to rest and collect their thoughts, and restock their supplies with the boxes containing all kinds of medicine that may have been misplaced here easily over a year ago. Lyra was obviously worried about Sean, he was her childhood friend, someone she can be herself around and vice-versa. She was also worried about Rosa, Brendan, and May, they were really good friends and Lyra felt a sort of bond with them, like siblings, they are still so young, and she hated any thought that they could be badly hurt, or worse.

After what seemed to be an eternity, Giratina returned and said to them, "I have located our friend as well as the others, luckily, they found themselves in another dimension that is like Earth. The world is a true bliss, like a peaceful utopia, but it does have its short comings. This place lacks any Pokémon, so I'd be careful with the natives, follow me…"

Barry, Lyra, and Zekrom sighed with relief that everyone wound up in a peaceful world, but were confused that this world had no Pokemon, a concept somewhat foreign to them. They followed Giratina deeper into the Distortion World, to this world he located the missing trainers and Pokémon…

-[Strange House - Pokémon Black 2 & White 2]-

Lucario continued to growl at Sean, Rarity saying, "Lucario dearie, why are you growling at your friend…?"

Sean walked forward in a calm manner, with a smile on his face, then the other Pokémon picked up that certain vibe and started to growl as well, the ponies and trainers trying to calm them down.

Sean said warmly, "Why don't we just have these creatures head outside and we can quietly chat, shall we?"

That made everyone notice, then Lucario fired Flash Cannon at his trainer's chest, making everyone gasp in surprise.

Rosa asked the angry FIGHTING/STEEL, "Lucario!? Why did you do that to the trainer who raised you?!"

Cynthia connected the dots, and answered, "Because…That isn't Sean!"

The humans and ponies looked surprised, as 'Sean' grunted in frustration.

Applejack said, "What are you talking about, Sugarcube? He's Sean ain't he?"

Sean's Gallade said using Metagross' mind translator, ~"Sean established this a while ago, because of our strength and skill, he feared someone would try to impersonate him and steal us. He made certain contingencies if someone did try to impersonate him, by giving a signal if he's really him or not. This person never attempted to give out a signal of any kind, so this Sean is an imposter!"~

Everyone was surprised by the new voice, but nonetheless, Celestia demanded, "Who are you imposter!"

'Sean', trying to stay in character, said, "What are you talking about? I am Sean, that thing attacked me and you immediately assume I'm an imposter?!"

That made everyone get into defensive positions, Rosa saying, "You know, 'that thing' is called a Lucario, and those 'creatures' are called Pokémon. You're not Sean, especially since Lucario can tell the real Sean apart from an imposter, he loves Pokèmon, and you are obviously unfamiliar about them…"

'Sean' gritted his teeth in defeat, how could he been found out so quickly, Luna said in the royal Canterlot voice, "SO WE ASK AGAIN, IMPOSTER! WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE TRAINER NAMED SEAN!!!"

The imposter looked at them bitterly, then said in a different voice, "Hmm…So you figured it out, have you?"

Everyone noticed the change, the imposter sounded like a woman trying to sound like a boy.

The imposter then asked, "I am curious, how is it this 'Lucario' can sniff out an imposter, my disguise was flawless, I even replicated the hat and this strange bracelet he wears."

Lucario then launched forward and unleashed Close Combat at the imposter, viciously crashing each blow that felt like the imposter was being crushed by bricks. The imposter was launched into the wall, the sheer impact left enormous cracks on the wall, and rendered the fake Sean unconscious, but then, a green magical light shined off of the imposter, revealing who Sean's Fake really was…And everyone was surprised…

The imposter was a black, humanoid fox with an enormous head of red hair, and a aqua-green orb tying the end together.

The trainers recognized it and said, "A…A Zoroark?!"

Fluttershy asked with curiousity, "What is a Zoroark, is it a Pokémon too?"

May got out her Pokédex as she said, "Wow! I've never seen a real Zoroark before…I've heard they are very rare, even in the Unova Region…"

The Pokédex activated and then a computerized voice said, #"ZOROARK, THE ILLUSION FOX POKÉMON, AND THE EVOLVED FORM OF ZORUA. EACH HAS THE ABILITY TO FOOL A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE SIMULTANEOUSLY. THEY PROTECT THEIR LAIR WITH ILLUSIONY SCENERY. STORIES SAY THAT THOSE WHO TRIED TO CATCH ZOROARK WERE TRAPPED IN AN ILLUSION AND PUNISHED."#

The natives of Equestria were shocked at the power this 'Zoroark' possessed over what sounded like illusionary magic. Lucario looked down at the downed DARK Type, as it stirred awake, prompting everyone present to ready for an attack. The Zoroark opened its teal eyes and quickly leapt back, everyone noticed it looked very surprised, but then it clutched its arm and fell to its knees in pain. Gallade launched forward and pinned the Illusion Fox Pokémon and said to it, "Gaaallllllll-Addddeeeeedd!"

The Zoroark replied, "Crrrrriiiiiiiasaaaaaaakkkkkkkk!" Gallade's eyes, along with the majority of Pokemon present, popped wide open at what the DARK Type said, and Gallade let the sore Pokemon go.

Applejack asked the Blade Pokémon, "Why are you lettin' that 'Zorerark' thing go, Gallade? Isn't it evil or something?"

The PSYCHIC/FIGHTING Type said telepathically, ~"No, this Zoroark isn't evil, she had no clue what happened. She seemed to have been in a trance of sorts."~

Everyone turned to see Gallade, and figured this new voice was coming from him, but they could tell that it was a rookie by telepathic communication.

Twilight, curious about Gallade saying Zoroark seemed to have been in a trance, used magic to find out if this story is true, and much to her surprise, it was…

She turned to everyone and said, "What Gallade said is true, this 'Zoroark' creature was forced into a state that made, her, a puppet, by somepony using a mind control spell. She was forced against her will to disarm a protection spell over Canterlot, but…"

Applejack asked, "But what, Sugarcube?"

Twilight answered, "But she was doing this when Sean allegedly spotted the spy, so Zoroark isn't the one who was spying on us…"

Rarity thought about it then asked with Rosa and Carrie, "If Zoroark wasn't the one spying on us, then who was?"

They were unaware that atop a roof on one of the castle towers, a figure like Suicune and Entei was looking at them with fierce red eyes, deciding if it should help them locate the one who took the friend it made years ago…

-[Ruins of Alph - Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver]-

Sean awakens in a cave like hive, chained to the wall. He thought, Who blind sighted me? I was close to finding out who it was that was spying on us, then I get stunned in the back?! What a cowardly tactic to use on an opponent…

He stopped when he heard faintly in the distance, a woman shouting, "Grah! Those stupid Elements of Harmony, they and those 'Pokémon' creatures have broken my hold on that black fox. Apparently, this 'Lucario' creature that seems to be commanded by our prisoner knows how to sniff out an imposter with ease…!"

He heard a sigh, then the woman continued, "You will bring it to me, my subjects, I won't be sniffed out by some 'dog-like' creature when I take control…And I'll learn from our, 'guest', how this Lucario can tell a fake the moment it steps in a room…"

Sean knew immediately that his captor was talking about his Lucario's ability to sense aura, a force that cannot be copied by even magical means. He knew this woman was coming to him in his prison, to try and get information out of him, then, he felt another's presence, trying to hide itself as it got closer.

-[N's Theme - Pokémon Black 2 & White 2]-

He was about to demand who was trying to sneak up on him, but heard a voice say quietly in a fast manner, "Don't worry Sean. I'll free you from these Changeling's cuffs and reunite you with your family…"

The teenager's eyes widened with surprise, he had not heard that voice in a long time and recognized that speech pattern anywhere. He turned to see a silhouette step into the light, and knew from the aura he was sensing, his visitor was really him…

He quietly said with relief, "Thank goodness it is you…"

The figure stepped into the light, revealing a human man in his mid-twenties, wearing a white shirt and a black cap. He had long, tea green hair and had hanging from his waist, a sliding puzzle that Sean noted resembled something called a 'Merger Sponge'. He had blue eyes that looked grey in this lighting, and wore tan pants. Without a doubt it was his friend, and Sean looked at his friend with a smile as he said his friend's name…

"…Glad you're here, N…"

To be continued in Part 2…