A New Dimension, A New Threatby ZeroChillChaptersUnityStrong as a H.O.R.S.E.CelebrationGreenhornsH.O.R.S.E. DivisionsGirl's Night OutDecisionsOld Memories, New WaysFrozen WorldAn Artist's PassionInto EverfreeOne with YourselfS-Ranked SupportAnother Frozen StrokeTests and RestSimulationConfrontationDiscord's LamentElementary LearningEthics of AssassinationInto the JungleThe Colors of FeelingsViolent SurgesPurgatoriumDark RevelationsMutual UnderstandingEvolution Beyond LimitsFarmer's HandsBattle for the FarmSweet DreamsDimensional Intrusions pt. 1Dimensional Intrusions pt. 2Dimensional Intrusions pt. 3Uneasy AlliancesA Parable of Light and DarknessThe Fire That Burns in the DarknessThe Desert of Forgotten SoulsTomb of the AncientsCustard's RevengeShattered Remnants pt. 2A Day For Nightmare NightGuiltSelf-WorthBlood on the SandA Cold PastA Sheltered Mare's EpiphanyTeacher's AssistantThe Battle for SurvivalCreeping Shadows and the Heart of DarknessThe Black TestamentThe World of Hollow Gears (unedited)DisplacedThe Mysterious StallionExploration of the NightShattered Remnants pt. 1Shattered Remnants pt. 3A Waxing Nightmare Into a Waning NightUnityThe guns of the aliens whirred to life and a red light flashed from the barrel. Rondo gazed at Mono, flapping his wings to the point where feathers were falling off. “Mono, you got to use another Psychic attack!” “I would, but I don’t know how to use it. The previous attack was just done at the spur of the moment.” Mono admitted. The lasers from the guns fired, releasing a barrage of serrated beams aiming towards the group. Everyone shut their eyes from the world and held out their paws, wings and hooves in front of their faces. The beams exploded in a veil of smoke. Behind it, a red barrier pulsated around Mono, Rondo and the pony. Upon opening their eyes, the barrier disappeared, revealing the trio to be unscathed by the pullets. “We’re safe? But… how?” “Looks like that Quick Guard came in time, Mono!” Rondo called out. The aliens tightened the grip on their guns once more. The beams within the barrel charged up. “Oh no! You don’t think you can pull up that shield again, do you?” The pony asked. From the right, a beam of electricity shot down in a downwards diagonal line. The claws held a death grip on the guns from the electrocution, shattering their handles. Mono and Rondo eyed towards the source of the direction where the electricity fired. Upon a hill, they saw an Aromatisse and a bipedal cat with yellow eyes, two curved tails, ears and hair on her head. Her body's colors were opposite to that of Mono's; a white body with dark blue ends. Her fur frilled at her hips, and her paw was extended. “Jasmine, strike those foes with a Dazzling Gleam!” The Aromatisse jumped down from the hill. With a blinding flash, white beams fired from her body and shot the aliens, knocking them back. The Meowstic rushed over towards Mono, Rondo and the pony with her wide with concern. “Lith, is that you?!” Mono called out with a shocked tone. “…Mono?! You’re a Pokémon as well?” Lith asked. “Hey, I’m here too you know.” Jasmine stated, hovering over towards the group. “ I’m just glad that we found some of the others transported here.” “Ummm, I really hate breaking up reunions, but those aliens are really mad at us.” The pony stated, pointing to the aliens unsheathing their claws. “Lith, can you tell me how you used your moves so freely?” Mono asked. “Just let go of your own emotional restraints and let them flow to wherever you want. It’s how I was able to use my Charge Beam.” Lith explained. Mono glanced towards Rondo and Jasmine, each of whom shivered with excitement. “Lith, Rondo, Jasmine, let us neutralize this threat together.” All the Pokémon nodded and turned towards the aliens. Rondo flew into the face of the aliens, unleashing a series of loud sonic waves directed towards the aliens. With their sharp claws, the aliens tore through the sonic waves. Behind Rondo, Jasmine’s body crackled with volts. A stream of electricity pulsed from her body, striking one of the aliens with a wicked thunderbolt. Mono’s eyes flashed in a blue color. Several nearby boulders were lifted from the ground in a blue aura and were then tossed towards the standing alien. Each boulder smashed against its head. Lith’s ears unfolded, her eyes flashed a yellow color and her right paw stretched towards the dazed behemoth. A brilliant beam of pink, light blue and yellow fired towards it, exploding in smoke on contact. The alien hopped back, holding its arm near its mouth. A black screen upon its wrist lit up in a white color. “Mission failed! Requesting permission to evacuate!” It shouted. The screen flashed a green color. Staring at the Pokémon in front of it, a slasher’s smile came upon its face. The alien picked up its downed partner and vanished in a race of white lines. “They got away!” Lith shouted, running towards the spot they vanished from. “It’s alright, Lith. We did our job here. We found Mono and protected a native.” Jasmine assured, placing her paw upon Lith’s right shoulder. “Fluttershy!” A voice from the sky called out. A vermillion-coated pegasus mare with a mane colored in the layers of fire and intense orange eyes flew down to the scene. She was garbed in a navy blue vest. Armed with dual silver cannons on her shoulders and the image of a tongue of fire on her flank, her presence brought a thick air of intimidation onto the scene. “Spitfire!” Fluttershy cried out with a smile, running up to her and embracing her. “I’m so glad you’re here.” “I knew something was up when the squad dispatched to protect you suddenly stopped communicating with me. Now that I see their dead bodies here, it all makes sense; they were overpowered by the Van'Goth.” Spitfire explained. “Ummm… Van’Goth?” Mono voiced. “And who do we have here?” Turning around and focusing her attention on the Pokémon in front of her, Spitfire asked. “They saved my life. I don’t know how, but they’re apparently able to command very powerful forces under their whim.” Fluttershy responded. “And how come all I hear is squeaks and noises coming from them? Surely beings that can do what they did are intelligent enough to communicate with us.” “I don’t think they’re of this world. Maybe that’s why we have difficulty communicating with them.” “Is that so? I know just the thing that will alleviate that issue.” With these words, Spitfire turned towards the group of Pokémon and made a firm smile on her face. “You four are coming with us to Neo Canterlot, whether you like it or not.” Mono, Lith, Rondo and Jasmine all gave nervous glances towards each other. The four Pokémon sat within the benches of the deployment truck. Mono twiddled with his paws with an anxious glint in his eyes, Lith looked through the small window on the opposite side where sunlight poured out, and Jasmine and Rondo gazed at each other with their respective right arm and left wing extended. “So you woke up in a nearby cave along with Lith, huh? Meanwhile, I woke up in the middle of the wilderness with Mono. Seeing as how aliens such as those exist, I am lucky to still even be alive!” Rondo exclaimed. “Well, you did a good job distracting them for Lith and me to come in.” Jasmine stated. Rondo frowned, shying his head away from Jasmine. “Is that all what I am? Just an annoying distraction? I used my best moves on those aliens and all it served was just that; a distraction. It’s disheartening, really.” “But, I never said that you were merely a distraction, Rondo. In fact, you are very important to the team, and as a family member. Had it not been for you, who knows what those aliens would have done to Fluttershy and Mono?” “Yeah… actually, yeah. If it weren’t for me, then we wouldn’t be safe! Thanks, Jasmine.” Rondo replied with a content smile. “Any time, Rondo.” Lith directed a smile towards Jasmine and Rondo and then faced Mono. Her smile turned into a straight frown, seeing her brother move back and forth with his eyes and paws twitching. She placed her left paw on Mono’s paw, caressing it in a comforting motion. “You don’t look like you’re alright, Mono. Do you mind telling me what’s wrong?” Mono turned his face towards his sister, flashing a ghost of a smile to her. “Sorry, Lith. It’s just that being here reminds me of that one time when I was taken in for questioning as a child.” “Oh… that.” All of the talking on the back of the truck stopped. Jasmine and Rondo looked towards Mono and Lith with sympathetic frowns. “Being a witness scarred my life. Not only did I have to see a brutal murder, but the attorneys and prosecutors pressured me until I broke down in tears. This continued for five straight days until the defendant got the Guilty verdict. If they said I was fine, then why do I always feel horrible?” “It was hard for all of us, Mono. Just seeing you break down after everything you endured was one of the saddest things I witnessed. Mom and dad were quick to tend to your emotional needs and Rondo always followed you to make sure you wouldn’t feel alone when no one wasn’t around.” “I know, Lith. But, I just want to know how my life would feel like if I never witnessed that murder take place. I want to know what it is like to not have to go have received night terrors from that experience, or even be admitted to emergency counseling at the age of eight.” “I could tell you how it wouldn’t be like; we would have never been able to meet Professor Pasque, which means we would have never been adopted by him once mom and dad… passed on shortly after.” Lith stated, tilting her head downwards. “I guess you’re right. If it wasn’t for Professor Pasque, I wouldn’t know where we would be today.” The truck stopped moving. The metal doors opened, basking the interior of the deployment benches in florescent lights. Mono, Lith, Rondo and Jasmine all narrowed and covered their eyes at the sight. With the light dimming, metal crates and a concrete walkway within a building could be made out. “Well, aren’t you four going to step out?” Spitfire asked, standing towards the double doors of the back with Fluttershy. One after one, each of the Pokémon stepped out of the truck. Glades of air spread the chilly temperature throughout the group’s fur and feathers. The road in front of them was guided by light pink lights. Walking down the path, Lith eyed a group of ponies and griffons garbed in clothing and walking around the enormous bay. Noises of stomping and whirring of mechanical joints reverberated through the complex. Deer with lights on their hooves waved their heads back and forth, leading titanic quadruped mechas down the designated path. “Lith, may I please have permission to filter out this odor of industry? It’s not leaving a good impression of the air here.” Jasmine asked, wafting her left hand with her eyes squinted in disgust. “Not now, Jasmine. We were brought here as a forced invitation. We do not want to impose ourselves upon their land.” “We’ll get your translators soon enough so that I may actually start understanding you four and your insane chatter.” Spitfire responded with an irritated tone. “Now, Spitfire; though we forced them to come along with us, that does not give you the right to be rude to them.” Fluttershy noted with closed eyes and a tilted head. “I already like this Fluttershy with us! She treats us better than Miss Drill Sargent here.” With a gleeful smile, Rondo stated. Spitfire shook her head and mumbled underneath her breath. The group of six stumbled beyond a set of double doors, revealing a room with plush blue carpets and a metal desk. Several images depicting bipedal and quadruped mechas, ponies, griffons, donkeys, deer and changelings littered its walls. Spitfire placed her hoof on a black sensor, bringing up a crate full of silver bracelets with red lights on them. Spitfire grabbed four of the necklaces and handed each one to the Pokémon. “Here. Wear them however you like. Then, try speaking.” Following her instructions, Mono and Lith tightened the bracelets on their paws. Jasmine extended the cord of the bracelet and hung it around her neck. Using his beak, Rondo tossed the bracelet over his head, letting it hang onto his neck. Each of the pieces of jewelry flashed a red light. “Hello? Hello? Is this on?” Mono stated. “I don’t sound any different.” Lith noted. “But I can hear your words plain as day.” Spitfire responded. “Wow! Cool tech.” Rondo said. “Well, at least it complements my colors.” Looking down on her necklace, Jasmine stated with a smile. “Now that we got any potential language barriers out of the way, let’s get this briefing out of the way.” Saying these words, Spitfire walked over to a firm chair behind the desk and sat upon it. Fluttershy walked by her side, smiling and bowing her head to the Pokémon. “First of all, I wish to thank you all for saving my life. My name is Fluttershy, wildlife researcher of Equestria.” “And my name is Spitfire, general of H.O.R.S.E., or Hostile Ousting Regiment of Specialized Equusians. First order of business; just what the heck are you four?” “My name is Mono, and I am what known as a Pokémon. More specifically, I am a Meowstic.” Mono introduced. “My name is Lith, also a Meowstic by the look of things.” “The name’s Rondo, Chatot extraordinaire!” “And I am Jasmine, an Aromatisse under Lith’s care.” Spitfire focused her sight on Mono and Lith, studying and humming them. “If you both are known as ‘Meowstic’, then why do you two look so different?” “Meowstics happen to have the highest amount of sexual dimorphisms among all Pokémon. I’m a Male Meowstic, meaning that I am more specialized in defensive moves.” “As a female Meowstic, I specialize more in offensive moves.” “So… are you two like a breeding pair or something along those lines?” Lifting her eye and moving her hoof in a circular motion, Spitfire asked. “We’re twins.” Mono stated in an unamused tone. “Oh…” Spitfire vocalized, pulling on her caller. Sweat poured down from her face to her neck. “Ignoring that awkward question, what exactly is a Pokémon?” “There were many definitions that many professors across my world discussed over what actually makes a Pokémon a Pokémon. There are common traits among those definitions, though. A Pokémon would be a sort of creature with supernatural abilities beyond the scope of other beings. They are intelligent beings with their own personalities and hearts.” Mono responded. “These supernatural abilities can be broken down into eighteen types, but we cannot explain them all in depth given the limited time we have. But, we can at least discuss the types present here.” Lith added. “Mono and I are both Psychic-type Pokémon. Psychic-types often use their mental prowess in order to overpower their opponent. Their moves are strong against Poison and Fighting-types, but are weak against Dark, Bug and Ghost-types. Rondo here is a dual type of Normal and Flying. Normal-types have next to no weaknesses, but next to no immunities either. They’re the most vanilla type. Flying-types are capable of flight. Because of this, their moves are strong against Grass-types, Bug-types and Fighting-types, but they are weak to Electric, Ice and Rock-type moves. Finally, we have Jasmine here who is among the relatively new Fairy-types. Fairy-type Pokémon were previously thought to have been mythological until their discovery nine years ago. Fairy-types are completely immune to Dragon-type moves and their moves are strong against them as well. Though Fairy-type moves hit hard against Fighting-types and Dark-types as well, they are weak against Poison-types and Steel-types.” Fluttershy was scribbling down all of the details all of the details heard. She glanced towards Lith. “I hope this isn’t asking too much, but can you talk more about the resistances of your types? It’s important to my field of research to see nature’s interactions.” “Certainly. Psychic-type Pokémon resist Fighting-type and other Psychic-type moves. Normal-type Pokémon are immune to Ghost-type moves. Flying-type Pokémon resist Grass-type, Bug-type and Fighting-types moves. They are also immune to Ground-type moves. Finally, Fairy-type Pokémon resist Dark-type and Fighting-type moves.” Fluttershy hummed and wrote down the details. A smile came upon her face. “I didn’t think Pokémon could be so fascinating when it comes to their physical typing. My friend in the Scholarly and Research Department would just love to study you four.” “Enough, Fluttershy. We still need to finish this meeting before we jump ahead with plans.” Spitfire commanded. “Right.” Fluttershy uttered out. Spitfire walked towards a set of dark blue curtains at the end of the room. Pulling on a white string, the curtain pulled away and revealed a brilliant light. With the light fading, a very wide cityscape surrounded by a silver-colored wall and an aqua-colored barrier above greeted everyone’s eyes. Quadrupeds walked along the sidewalks and into buildings, laughing and smiling. Carriages forged from black metal levitated along the concrete streets, moving from one place to another. “Wow! Beautiful sight!” Rondo noted. “It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Spitfire asked aloud. “Those aliens you saw, the Van’Goths, wish for nothing more than the complete and utter annihilation of all of the Equusian races of the planet. What you see here is the only city left on Equus with any sort of society in it.” “Seriously?!” Jasmine noted out loud. “But you are all so advanced. How is it that these aliens drove your people onto the verge of extinction?!” Spitfire turned around, letting loose a melancholic stare directed towards Jasmine. “It started ten long years ago. Back when all of our social issues have finally resolved, Equus entered into a golden age where magic, technology and nature can peacefully coexist with each other. Then, they came. The Van’Goth appeared into our stratosphere one day, declaring that they would annihilate us all. At first, we laughed at their threat because we could handle pretty much anything that came against us, or so we believed. The alien assault was sudden and unrelenting. Many great cities, including the original Canterlot, were all destroyed and left in ruins. They killed fleeing lives in cold blood, leaving only a small fraction of us Equusians alive. Neo Canterlot was in the works for some time, but the city became a reality once the aliens struck. As the Van’Goth continued destroying city after city, Neo Canterlot quickly became a refuge for those who were lucky enough to escape their brutal onslaught. Here, we try to keep life the way it was like before the aliens attacked.” “Okay… so what does that have to do with us?” Rondo asked. “There is no easy way to say this, but I’m seriously considering letting you four into our organization of H.O.R.S.E. agents. Anyone who could dispatch Ambush Van’Goths like that would be a great help to us.” Spitfire responded. “Ummm… isn’t that a bit sudden? From what you made this organization sound like, it seems like this is an organization that only citizens are allowed to partake in.” Lith said. “Which is why the move would be so controversial. I know that my own troops within H.O.R.S.E. walls would not be so trusting of aliens like you, but Neo Canterlot’s walls cannot last forever. We’re playing a defensive game here, and I know that we will all die if we do not get a power boost.” “So how do you propose we would rectify this situation, Spitfire?” Mono asked. “It’s simple, we-“ A blaring noise echoed throughout the complex. Spitfire’s face turned a pale color. “What’s going on?!” Rondo asked. “It can’t be! Neo Canterlot’s wall has been breached!” Fluttershy shouted. Down within the city, a diamond drill bore its way through the metal that made up the wall. A black bipedal mecha burst through the walls and its triangle-shaped visor flashed a bright red. It walked beyond the wall. A storm airplane-shaped black crafts blasted out of the hole, transforming into similar-shaped mechas. Everyone in the command room did nothing but stare at the impending storm of doom before them. Author's Note And now everything begins by falling apart... Strong as a H.O.R.S.E.A sea of screams reverberated throughout all of Neo Canterlot. The citizens galloped and flew away from the impending mechas. One light-green earth pony stallion tripped over a crack on the ground. Pushing his torso up from the ground with his front legs, he looked behind him. His blood chilled, his pupils dilated and his body sweat at the sight of a mecha hovering above him. “No, no, no!” He shouted with primordial fear filling his voice. From a gray sphere on its body, a red laser fired towards the downed stallion, disintegrating him completely. Mono, Lith, Rondo and Jasmine’s vocal cords were constricted in disbelief. Their bodies became prisons to reality. Spitfire scrunched her eyebrows and swiped her hoof along a black coaster on her desk. From it, a hologram of a donkey head appeared. “Spitfire to Docking Bay! Bring out every possible Mecha Pilot into the action, now! This is an order!” A hoof was raised from the hologram and was arched onto the donkey’s head in salute. The hologram vanished. Spitfire eyed the Pokémon in front of her with rigid expressions. “You may not be H.O.R.S.E. agents, but we need every available fighter in our midst, Equusian and Pokémon, to go down there and combat the threat. If we do not, more civilians will end up like that poor stallion that was vaporized to oblivion.” Mono, Lith, Rondo and Jasmine flashed nervous glances at each other. Through a nod, what anxiety they possessed blasted away with mutual understanding taking its place. “We’ll do it.” Lith responded. The group of Pokémon rushed out of the room through the door behind them. Spitfire glanced towards the door with narrowed eyes and her lips formed into a faint smile. Smoke had risen from smoldering buildings and blasted holes on the streets. A storm of black missiles flew from across the air, unleashing fiery explosions that knocked the Equusians into the air. The enemy mechas shifted their bodies into bipedal forms, walking down the burning streets in unison with each other. A volley of lasers shot down towards them, pelting them and veiling the area in smoke. In the air above were white mechas with blue visors. They were pelting the mechas below with a storm of bullets. One of the mechas flew down, revealing a silver blade within its gauntlet. With it, the mecha stabbed through the chest of the invading machine and sliced downwards. Electricity crackled and wires snapped. An explosion pulsed throughout the area. “We got one!” A male voice called out in a joyous tone. The surrounding black mechas lifted their plates from their chest, revealing a myriad of holes on them. Missiles fired from them and flew towards the lone mecha. One after the other, explosions that rose to a tower’s length ingested the machine, tearing it to shreds. A black gun materialized in the hand of one of the enemy machines. With deadeye aim, each bullet pierced into the white fleet’s vizors. The white mechas became wreathed in a shower of electricity and fell onto the ground. “Mayday! Mayday! Alpha Exo Squad down!” Spitfire grimaced and tightened her front ankles onto the desk. “Get out of your cockpits in any way you can! Continue the fight as your Equusian selves!” On command, the chests of the downed mechas hissed. The doors on their chests lifted and revealed ponies, griffons, donkeys deer and changelings garbed in black latex suits. They were catapulted into the air. On their shoulders, metal buckles undid themselves and shown their forms as cannons. The griffons, changelings and pegasi of the group flew into the sky, showering the mechas with a rain of purple lasers. The other members of the group pulled silver levers on their suits, revealing black parachutes. Beams of blue light emerged from the bracelets on their front ankles, shaping themselves into blades. All of the airborne Equusians flew into the faces of the black mechas and stabbed their visors. Crawling their way through with the intrusion of spiders, each troop slashed apart the wires holding the machinery together. One by one, each mecha collapsed upon itself. The Equusians inside jumped out through the broken visor, escaping the falling debris. “First enemy formation defeated! We’re moving on to go against the others.” A brown earth pony mare with a brown mane called through her bracelet. “Excellent. Make sure you subdue all the invaders.” Spitfire commanded. A black mecha descended upon the group of Equusians. Its dark fires slowed down to a halt, kicking up a storm of dust. It pumped a black shotgun at hand and aimed it at the squadron. Through the hologram, Spitfire heard a loud ignition and the sound of viscous liquid hitting the ground. She closed her eyes, frowned and shook her head with a slow speed. She glanced over towards the twin cannons holstered onto a mannequin and shut her eyes. With her eyelids shooting open, a fire ignited into her heart. A black-feathered griffon with a white head, a green-coated doe and violet-coated unicorn mare with a chartreuse-colored mane and tail, stood back-to-back with each other. Each of them was covered in thick black armor. All three of them flashed frustrated grimaces directed towards the black mechas walking towards them. The unicorn of the group looked back to her teammates. “Razor Wind, Hydrangea; if we fall here today, I want you to know that you two are my best friends in all my years as a H.O.R.S.E. agent.” “The feeling is mutual, Strawberry Delight. But, let’s see how many of these scums we can take down before we go down.” The griffon, Razor Wind, responded with a cocky tone. “United we stand, and united we fall. Let us show these ruffians the true meaning of our bonds!” The doe, Hydrangea, stated. The trio charged forward. Blue lasers forming into lancers emerged from their front right gauntlets. Hydrangea jumped high into the air and plunged her lance through the mecha’s visor. She showered the inside of the head with black spheres popping out of her left gauntlet. Rolling down the head, the spheres exploded along with the machine. Razor Wind flew into the air, scaling the mecha before him. He stabbed its joints using his lance, bringing it down to its knees. Pressing a black switch on his gauntlet, the lance disappeared. In its place, a large laser shot from his talon and through the mecha’s chest, destroying it. Strawberry Delight’s horn flashed in a yellow color, conjuring a yellow sphere that hummed with energy. Flipping to her front, she kicked the ball with her right hind hoof. The ball struck the mecha in the chest and rebounded towards her. She thrust her lance into the sphere, launching it at sonic speed. The sphere rushed into the mecha, carrying it halfway across the city and exploding it. Razor Wind, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight hopped back with their backs to the wall. From the air, more mechas three times more than the mechas they have destroyed arrived. One of them held a gattling gun and aimed it towards the three Equusians. Their armor was rained down upon with a stream of sonic bullets. Their eyes twitched and they bent down onto their knees. One mecha unveiled its missile silos and stood in front of the trio. Razor Wind, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight all closed their eyes and turned their heads away, expecting the biting fires to take their lives. The sounds of hissing smoke ejecting from the mecha came, but the tongues of explosive flames had not eaten them. Opening their eyes and looking forwards, they saw a myriad of missiles held in place through a psychokinetic aura. The missiles shifted their direction and shot the mecha, destroying it. “Are you three okay?” The trio of Equusians looked to the right for the source of the voice. Mono and Lith stood on top of a mound of debris. The light within their eyes faded away. Lith hopped down into the group. “Ummm, I don’t know what to say. But… thank you.” Strawberry Delight voiced with slow words. “But… who are you two?” Hydrangea asked. The robots stomped forth, shaking the very ground with their steps. “We can worry about introductions after we aren’t in danger. Right now, we have a fight on our hands.” Lith stated, extending her right paw out. Mono’s eyes flashed. Holding his two paws out, a sphere of pink energy generated within the space. The orb broke, releasing a wave of sparkles that spread amongst the downed Equusians. Their wounds healed over with new flesh and a surge of dopamine rushed into their brains. The three of them uttered content sighs. “Feeling better now?” Mono asked. “Much better.” In an elated tone, Razor Wind responded. “Alright! Now we can kick some butt again!” Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight nodded. The three charged forth against the mechas down the path. Lith glanced over to Mono, displaying a small smirk. “I didn’t know you are capable of learning Heal Pulse.” “I didn’t think Flareons were capable of learning Flare Blitz.” “Good point.” Mono and Lith rushed forward with their allies. Lith’s eyes flashed in a yellow color and fired a Charge Beam from her right paw. The beam of electricity struck the face of the mecha. Twirling a black cable from his gauntlet, Razor Wind tossed the hook around its neck. Grunting and pulling back, the mecha fell onto the ground. Hydrangea stood on her hind legs. Her bracelet transformed into a black long bow. From a slot on the side of the hind leg of her armor, she pulled out a black and red-tipped arrow and placed it on the string. Using her front hooves to pull it, she aimed her sights onto a mecha flying towards its allies. She released the string, firing the arrow into the visor of the mecha. It exploded with brilliant flames, causing the machine to move in a dead flight, which knocked it into other mechas. It burst in a sea of flames, igniting all of the other mechas in its path. Hydrangea smirked. “A successful shot.” Strawberry Delight conjured a yellow barrier around her. Bullets upon bullets splashed down upon it, causing several cracks along the top of it. With the speed of hopped shadows, Mono and Lith jumped off the shield. A shower of green leaves cloaked in an indigo aura spawned around Lith and fired themselves towards the guns of the mechas. The guns fell onto the ground. They were lifted into the air with an indigo aura and had their barrels aimed to the mechas. The triggers were pulled, rending their targets’ armor into ground metal. The light in Mono’s eyes faded. His legs wobbled and he placed his paw on his head, shaking in a daze. Lith ran to Mono, letting his body fall into her paws. “Don’t overexert yourself, Mono. We both are still new to this.” “You guys can rest easy now. It’s time for the fun to really begin!” Strawberry Delight stated, spinning around and smiling. The barrier turned into a series of yellow beams that struck the mechas on their joints, dropping their bodies onto the ground. “Nice shots!” Razor Wind commented with a boisterous voice. “Are you alright there?” Gazing upon Mono, Hydrangea asked. “I’m fine.” Armor-clad Equusians with black helmets over their heads fired a stream of lasers from the cannons on their backs. Enemy lasers pierced through the helmets of their numbers, shattering them. The struck Equusians fell onto the ground, limp and lifeless. With a mecha taking a step forward, a blue flare exploded near its foot and knocked it off-balance. Spitfire flew into the scene, raining down explosive blasts of blue onto the advancing mechas. She clenched her teeth, bearing her fangs at the maws of darkness before her. She zipped down into the air, spinning and firing two bolts of her bullets into the tornado. The wild winds blown against the mechas. The flares from the bullets melded in with the strong winds, setting them on fire. “It serves you right for claiming the lives of my troops!” She spat out with unquenchable venom in her voice. The fires and winds faded, revealing the legion of mechas unscathed. Spitfire stared wide-eyed at the mechas, taking loose and erratic breaths. “T-that’s not possible! That should have burned you all to cinders!” The mechas pointed their Gatling guns at a stunned Spitfire, cocking them. A vibrant whirring echoed from their chambers, spinning the barrels. An orange wind spread its way through the scene from behind Spitfire. Her body warmed itself to its exposure. Water began building up on top of the armor of the mechas. The paint on them peeled away, revealing a rough exoskeleton underneath. “Big damn heroes coming through!” Rondo dove in from above the air, unleashing a Hyper Voice. The visors of the mechas shattered, causing them to shake their heads. “Don’t hog all the fun to yourself, Rondo.” A Dazzling Gleam shot from Jasmine’s body, lighting up the armor of the mechas. They slowed down to a stop and then collapsed. “It looks like we made it on time.” Rondo mused, flapping his wings in the rhythm to his descents. “Are you alright, Spitfire? You look shaken up there.” Jasmine asked. “Rondo! Jasmine! Well, these mechas usually die when exposed to intense heat. I didn’t know why my bullets did not do much of anything to them.” The scraped metal hovered above the air. All of the shattered pieces of metal conglomerated towards the road in front of Spitfire, Rondo and Jasmine. Purple veins appeared on the exterior of the mass, thick arms and claws formed around the hill and a chest sculpted itself from the top. The bottom shaped itself into a pair of legs with talons. A draconic head with yellow eyes appeared on the top. The monstrosity let out a glass-shattering roar. “Ummm… that’s not supposed to happen, is it?” Rondo asked, answered by a slow shake from Spitfire’s head. A black sphere of fire built up within the monstrosity’s mouth. It was then launched in a stream, scraping against the hairs and feathers of the ducking trio. Jasmine scrunched her eyes and waved her hand next to her face. “That is much warmer than I expected a stream of fire to be. I’m still feeling its effects!” With its mouth agape, the draconic zombie machine began building up black flames in its mouth once more. A dragon-shaped flame of red, blue and purple blasted into the monstrosity’s mouth, exploding the energy within it. From the coattails of the flame, a Krookodile rushed up to its face. Her right claw flashed in a green color and slashed the face of the behemoth. From the direction of the beam, a Goodra ran into the fray and fired another dragon-shaped beam from his mouth. The beam struck the abdomen of the monstrosity. The Krookodile fell onto her feet and rushed back to the Goodra’s side. “It seems like the situation escalated, right Custard?” “I didn’t expect all of those machines we’ve destroyed to transform into that thing, Gnasher.” “Gnasher! Custard!” Jasmine called out, garnering their attention. “Jasmine? Rondo? And… who’s the orange pony over there with you two?” Gnasher asked. “You know these two?” Spitfire asked. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll have to give them their translators when the threat it over.” From the smoke, the dragon uttered another roar, slapping away the entire group with a steel-forged tail. The entire group was downed. While the others grimaced from the blow, a sinister smile brewed upon Gnasher’s face. She stood up from the ground, cracking her claws and her neck. “Finally, someone worthy of a challenge. You’d think a horde of mechas would prove to be a challenge, but they all die to a single Earthquake. Let’s see if this mecha here falls the same way.” With these words, she curled her claws into a fist and punched the ground. The ground shook and collided upon itself, creating spires the size of mountains that crushed the dragon. With a swing of its arm, the spires shattered. The shards sped towards Gnasher, who opened her mouth and crunched them. The draconic machine thrust its claws towards her direction, stabbing her and knocking her back. Gnasher clenched her teeth and roared. “Is that all you got? Magikarp hit harder than you do!” She ran up to the machine, opening her jaws to the size of a vicegrip. Fires raged inside of her mouth. She snapped her fangs upon the arm of the behemoth, tearing it off. With her claws flashing, she sliced off the other arm. The draconic machine roared, charging a black fireball in its mouth. A gust of black flares struck Gnasher. Seeing this, Custard’s eyes shot open and his mouth hung low. “Gnasher!!!!” He shouted. With the flames dissipating, Gnasher was no longer in her spot. A burning rage formed within Custard’s eyes. His mouth curved into a vicious frown. Getting up from the ground, he walked towards the behemoth. The machine fired another black flare towards Custard, caking the field in its flames. The Goodra came out unscathed. Brown water spiraled around Custard, whipping up into a tower with him standing as the beacon on top of it. With a downward thrust of his gooey arm, the tower collapsed. A wave of filthy water the size of a tsunami stormed towards the machine, absorbing all of the debris in its wake. The wave struck the behemoth, toppling it over. Custard sprinted towards the downed machine, glaring down onto its head. Pillars of flames built up in his mouth. He breathed it out, releasing the orange tongues in a focused stream. The head of the machine melted away. The machine stopped moving and its form reverted into a heap of scrap metal. Custard jumped off the debris, frowning. His eyes twitched, holding back an ocean of tears. Spitfire, Rondo and Jasmine ran up to him. “Custard! Are you alright?!” Rondo asked. “I’m fine…” Sniffling, Custard responded. “But Gnasher… she’s gone…” The sound of metal rending reverberated from behind him. Gnasher jumped out from amidst the scraps, unharmed by the fires, and walked over towards Custard with a casual stare directed at him. She crossed her arms. “So… how long will it be when you realize I’m here?” Custard turned around. His frowned flipped into a wide-mouthed smile. “Gnasher!” He shouted, embracing her with his gooey appendages. “Custard, please stop. Everyone is watching and you’re getting your goo on my body.” “I thought I lost you, Gnasher! What happened?” “Simple; I jumped in just before the flames hit me. I figured I might as well attack that thing from the inside to do massive damage.” Gnasher explained. “Though, I never expected that you would have been that vicious when I disappeared.” “Don’t ever do that to me again, Gnasher. I don’t know what I would have done without you in my life!” “Well, it seems like a majority of the gang is here.” Gnasher, Custard, Rondo, Jasmine and Spitfire turned to the left. Mono, Lith, Razor Wind, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight walked into the area with their steps synced with each other. “That voice… Lith?! It’s you!” Custard called out, dashing towards Lith and embracing her. Lith laughed. “Wait, so if that is Lith, then are you…” Gnasher asked, pointing towards Mono. “Yes, Gnasher, it’s me.” “Mono!” She shouted, running towards Mono and hugging him. “Where have you two been at? It seems implausible that you just appeared right when the action was climaxing.” He asked. “We were somehow in a home that belonged to beings that looked like Sawsbucks. They were afraid at first…” Gnasher rolled her eyes and sighed, slamming the palm of her right claw between her eyes. “But Custard hugged them with an affectionate grasp and realized that we weren’t as bad as they thought.” “That definitely sounds like Custard alright. He’s a hugger after all.” “Even if I don’t understand a word any of you two are saying, it still was quite heartwarming to see everyone’s reactions here.” Smiling, Spitfire stated. “You’re all coming by H.O.R.S.E. headquarters, right? I’m going to commission a party in the honor of all of our heroes in this battle, including the Pokémon here.” She walked away, dusting herself off. Lith glanced towards Mono with an inquisitive smile on her face. “Should we go, Mono? I know you don’t like parties, but it would be a good way to be formally acquainted with the city.” “Well… Gnasher and Custard do need their translators so that they wouldn’t be mistaken as wild creatures.” Mono shrugged his shoulders. “I say we go.” Razor Wind walked up to Gnasher and scratched his chin while glancing upon your eyes. “Even if I can’t understand you, tell me this; how do you feel about game meat?” He asked. “I love devouring game meat! It really suits the mood after a good hunt.” Gnasher responded with an enthusiastic smile. “If you showed enthusiasm for that, then I think we’ll get along just fine. Come by my living quarters at the H.O.R.S.E. residential area and we’ll go hunting in the Terraformed Wilderness until we’re called to the party.” Hydrangea eyed Custard with a smiling gaze, humming. Strawberry Delight looked upon Rondo and Jasmine’s translators. “I could see we can both communicate with each other.” She focused her attention onto Jasmine. “You look like you are skilled with aroma manipulation. Do you mind sharing with me some of your secrets?” Jasmine gasped and a large grin came upon her face. “I thought nobody would have asked! Of course I’ll share with you some of my trade secrets. You are in good hands when an Aromatisse such as myself will teach you about various scents. Who knows, maybe I can even learn about a few spices in your world as well.” Strawberry Delight and Jasmine walked together and away from the scene. “I don’t know about you all, but I got to practice a few songs for the upcoming party! I’m sure everyone will love it.” Rondo stated. “Of course they will, Rondo.” Lith stated. “Just be sure to meet us in front of H.O.R.S.E. Headquarters when the sun begins to set.” Mono said. “Will do!” With these words, Rondo flew off into the distance. Within a dark room sat a bipedal humanoid with a purple shade of hue on his skin, blond hair that flowed down to his broad shoulders and a size that towered a mountain. His yellow eyes gazed gazed upon two smaller-sized humanoids with green skin and green hair, each of whom bowed down with hurried shakes. “Magnificent Emperor of the Van’Goth; the invasion failed.” The emperor raised an eye and snarled. “Every single calculation was taken into that invasion. The remote-controlled mechas being able to form into the chimera upon defeat, their ability to think three steps ahead of their enemies and even having the advantage of a surprise attack… the only way the invasion failed is if some unexpected variable were to appear.” “Sir, if I may.” To the right of the emperor was a blue-skinned humanoid man in a black suit with coifed hair of a silver shade and thick-framed glasses hiding away his red eyes. In his hand was a black device showing all of the destruction during the invasion. “You have the right to speak, Wilhelm.” “Yes. It seems that while we had an advantage at first, the intervention of a group of strange creatures wielding mystical forces entered into play. Our mechas were not equipped to handle creatures like these. As such, they were beaten by completely new forces out of our understanding.” Wilhelm explained. “When it comes to situations like this, we need to call upon the lunatic of our empire…” “But, sir, are you sure that is a brilliant idea?” “I am aware of how driven he is for any sort of fun. He also is one of the few members of our race who possess an affinity for magic as well. Bring him forth and task him with testing the limits of these new creatures.” The emperor demanded. “As you wish sir.” With a bow, Wilhelm ran off. The emperor gazed at a hologram screen in front of him that displayed missiles returning back to the mechas, a heat wave melting away the mechas and Gnasher slashing away the Chimera’s arms. “Just know that I am far from finished, Equusians. You shall all be eliminated for the glory of the Van’Goth.” CelebrationGnasher walked towards large fence with a set of black gates ajar. Beyond the gates were Mono, Lith, Rondo, Jasmine and Custard, who were all smiling and waving. On Custard’s neck and around Gnasher’s body were two bracelets similar to those worn by Mono, Lith, Rondo and Jasmine. “Sorry I was a bit late, but Razor Wind and I were out hunting for fun in the Terraformed Wilderness.” She stated. “That’s the area the four of us woke up in, is it not? Did you at least have fun, Gnasher?” Mono asked. “Heck yeah!” Gnasher roared with enthusiasm. “Alien rabbits are fun to hunt. They put up a good challenge, but I managed to catch and butcher them. I won’t tell you about the details, though, because they can be a bit too gruesome for you all.” “Well, the sun is setting. So, shouldn’t we all start walking in?” Lith suggested. “Yeah! Let’s get in! I can’t wait to sing!” Rondo responded with a burst of energy, flying into the open hallway. “Ummm, we should go follow him and make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.” Jasmine said. The five Pokémon walked through the metal hallways, swiveling their heads in all directions. “Rondo! Where are you?” Jasmine called out. “I’m over here.” Rondo stated, hovering below the airduct. “I took a shortcut to the reception room and scoped it out without letting anyone see me. Seems like there’s a lot of H.O.R.S.E. operatives and even two winged unicorns!” Mono raised his right eye with a slow ascent. “You can be very sneaky sometimes, Rondo.” “Heh, I know.” The group of six Pokémon continued walking down the halls. In front of a set of double doors were two brown-coated earth pony stallions in black suits, standing with stoic expressions on their faces. Upon seeing the group, they smiled. “Ah, you six must be among the guests of honor.” The two stallions stepped out of the way and the doors opened. The sight of the other side of the door caused the Pokémon besides Rondo to gawk with dropped jaws; the reception room was the size of a stadium. Stone statues of various creatures spilling out water from their mouths were spread amongst the green hedges lining the interior of the place. The descending sun stood upon the windowed ceiling. Walking among the sweet-smelling shrubberies, they overheard the conversations of Equusians speaking in sophisticated tones. With their minds warping through the twisted maze, they bumped into Spitfire. “You came!” With her content smile widening, Spitfire declared with an audible voice. “We wanted to make a good impression.” Mono responded. “Well, I’m glad you all made it anyways. Come, I want to introduce you all to the council of Neo Canterlot.” Following Spitfire, the group wandered into an open forum. Within the area, there stood five larger-framed Equusians, the non-ponies whom all emanated a noble air. One was a female griffon whose wings’ feathers were stained in a blood red that offset the brilliant white plumage on the rest of her body. Her blue eyes radiated with wisdom and strength. Her fur flashed in a silver color and brown silk was wrapped around her neck. Next to her was a changeling with a wizened appearance; he had a fair bit of bulk and stature compared to the other party-goers. His mane and tail flashed in a silver color. A lighter shade of silver ran down their centers as a stripe. His mosaic wings were of a translucent gray and his crooked horn had a soft turn upon it. His green eyes flashed with a deep respect for those around him. He wore a blue-white cloth around his neck. After him was a tall and slender doe. Her fur shimmered with a foliage green accent. On her head were wooden stubs from her skull, but the tips were rounded off. Her gray eyes were mirrors that reflected upon the condition of the heart of those that looked into them. A verdant green cloth was wrapped around her neck. In the center of the group were two alicorn mares; one was a white-coated alicorn with a whispy aurora for her mane and tail. The image of a sun was placed upon her flanks. She emanated with a radiant sunshine from her body. The other was a sapphire blue-coated alicorn whose mane and tail were the midnight sky. Though she was not as tall as her sister, she still dwarfs other ponies in stature. The image of a crescent moon behind two black clouds was placed upon her flanks. They both wore cloths representing their coats’ colors. The group of five Equusians eyed the group and warm smiles rose from their faces. “It seems that some of our guests of honor have arrived, Spitfire.” The doe said with a pristine tone. “I have not seen creatures like these before.” The changeling noted. “If they helped defend our city, then they are a friend to us regardless of their mysterious circumstances.” The griffon stated. The two alicorns walked towards the Pokémon, wearing inviting smiles on their faces. “Greetings, creatures from afar. Let us be the first to welcome you into Neo Canterlot. My name is Council Lady Luna and this my older sister Council Lady Celestia.” Luna introduced. “Welcome. First of all, allow me to apologize to you six. I wished that we could have welcomed you into our city under better circumstances. Instead, you were all dragged into our war against the Van’Goth.” Celestia stated. “It’s not a problem. We still managed to neutralize the threat.” Gnasher stated. “But, it looked like those alien freaks would have given you big trouble had we all not showed up.” “The Van’Goth are very cold and calculative. They have a wider range of power than all of us Equusians. For the record, my name is Council Lady Victoria.” Victoria said. “My name is Council Lady Serva.” Serva introduced. “Those Van’Goth pushed us all back into the walls of this city, but this may be a blessing in disguise.” “I agree, Lady Serva. For a long time, our tribes have been on uneasy grounds. But, the war brought to us a forced solidarity. As for my name, it is Councilman Carapace.” Carpace said. “What exactly do you mean about ‘uneasy grounds’?” Mono asked. “Before this war began, we all used to be monarchs of our lands. At best, we were all on shaky grounds. We always argued on how each of us ran our kingdoms. Racial tensions among us were high and it would have blown out into a full war. But ten years ago, war came into our midst. Just not the war we were expecting.” Celestia explained. “Even with our technological advancements from years ago, we were no match for the invading forces storming in through our lands. Eventually, we all had to retreat from our lands. Even a few monarchs were slain in battle.” Victoria added. “But hope was not lost. When all the monarchs were still alive, we established the Neo Canterlot Project at the request of the then-Princess Luna. It would provide all of our peoples with a sanctuary that would be able to relocate itself when compromised. In addition, we all would have to cede our own titles of nobility.” Carapace said. “Wait, why did you give up your titles of nobility? That seems a bit… humbling.” Jasmine asked. “Our kingdoms are now ruins. What is left of us is literally this city. We all cannot be monarchs of one city, but we can still be the representatives of our people.” Serva responded. “It is the significance of these cloths around our necks. We lost our monarchies, but gained a new republic and a new lease on life.” Carapace added, holding out his cloth. “Interesting… I’m glad that this republic of yours is working so far.” Lith stated. “My name is Lith and this is my brother Mono.” “Greetings your majesties.” Mono said, bowing down to them. “Please do not bow down to us, Mono. While we appreciate your gesture, it’s now a bit much.” Victoria stated. “Oh, well, uhh…” “My name is Rondo. My specialty is in singing and I hope you all will enjoy it.” Rondo interrupted. “Heh, that’s clever! You’re a bird who can sing named ‘Rondo’. I’m a bit of a singer myself.” Carapace stated. “Greetings to meet you all. My name is Jasmine, an expert in fragrances.” Jasmine stated. “Fragrances you say? What types?” Cocking her head, Serva asked. “I range from simple scents like Vanilla Blossom to more complex scents such as Yache Berry Extravagance.” “I’ve never heard of Yache Berry Extravagance.” “You will love it. Trust me when I say that.” “I shall look forward to experiencing the scent of ‘Yache Berry Delight’ then.” Celestia and Luna looked upon Gnasher and Custard with nervous smiles on their faces. “You do not need to be afraid of us. We’re well-tempered. Gnasher is the name.” “My name is Custard.” “Greetings, Gnasher and Custard. Spitfire told us all that you are known as ‘Pokémon’. Is that correct?” Luna asked. “Yep. You see those two Meowstics over there?” Gnasher asked, pointing over to Mono, whose legs are trembling and Lith, who is patting him on the back. “Believe it or not, they used to be our trainers.” “Lith is more sociable and can take problems head on. Mono isn’t so sociable and can be very awkward around others, but he is very good at planning. They both are the dream team.” Custard explained, letting out a happy sigh. “It kind of reminds me how my sister and I are. You four should be lucky to have leaders like those two.” Celestia complimented. “And I can see that you two are a dream team as well.” “…What do you mean by that?” Edging into her words, Gnasher asked. “From what I see, you two are very different but share a strong bond.” “In a way, you two are adorable together!” Luna squealed. “Me and him? Have you even been hugged by a Goodra before? You’re left with a lot of gunk on your skin.” Gnasher snapped. “Ummm… Gnasher is a bit rough around others.” Custard squeaked out. “Convince yourselves that, but we see everything.” With a smile and wink, Luna stated. Gnasher glanced back to Custard. She crossed her arms and moved her head away. “I-I didn’t protect you because I liked you more than others. I-I just, uhh, feel that you need more protection at times.” “And I definitely wasn’t mad when I thought the machine killed you because I felt strongly for you. It’s just that thing was a bully that needed to be put out of its existence.” Custard responded with a similar cross of arms Lith, who witnessed the exchange, stifled a giggle. Mono looked back at Lith. “Lith, I’m going to step out. Let me know when the ceremony begins, alright?” “Alright, Mono. Enjoy your time outside.” Mono eyed an open door that led outside. He walked towards it while Lith walked into the crowd of ponies. A pale yellow earth pony filly with a red mane and tail, yellow eyes and a red bow on her head eyed Mono. She shifted her head, looking at both directions. Then, she walked towards the door. Mono stood upon a lofty balcony. He tilted his head up towards the sky. The sun had dipped beyond the horizon and a full moon stood high in the sky amidst a sea of stars and clouds. Mono took a deep breath of the cool air, relaxing his sporadic nerves. He smiled. “Mister?” Mono jolted backwards to the source of the child-like voice. Standing by the door was a filly with a frown on her face. “Who are you?” The filly walked towards him, hoisting her front legs upon the metal railing. “My name is Apple Bloom. I saw you leaving the party with a frown on your face. Don’t you like the party?” Apple Bloom asked. “I was never any good around parties, and my nerves still need to recover after speaking to the Neo Canterlot Council.” Mono stated, glancing down upon her. “My name is Mono.” “I know your name. My sister told me about you and your friends saving Neo Canterlot from those monsters. She and my big brother are both H.O.R.S.E. soldiers.” “So are you a part of H.O.R.S.E. too?” “Kind of… I’m too young to be an actual member, but I am known as a H.O.R.S.E. child. I’ll eventually grow up into a H.O.R.S.E. operative because other members teach me their stuff.” Apple Bloom explained. “That’s seems interesting. Considering the aliens you are all fighting against, it looks like this city will need all the support it can get.” “So Mono, why are your nerves so bad?” Applebloom asked. Mono remained silent. “You can trust me with your secrets. I’m trying to earn a Cutie Mark and being trustworthy is on my set of goals.” “I can’t tell anyone but those who I consider my family, Apple Bloom. Nothing personal, but I can’t just tell you right now.” “Oh…” Besides the sounds of talking and laughter in the reception room, a deathly silence overfell the balcony. For what felt like hours, nobody spoke a word. It was during that time when Mono glanced towards Apple Bloom with a meek smile. “Thank you for keeping me company, Apple Bloom.” “No problem, Mono. I’m glad I got to talk to you.” Hearing her words, his smile grew. Lith walked around the floor, eyeing the chatting ponies, griffons, donkeys, deers and even changelings. They laughed and were all smiling. Having her sights focused on them, she bumped into an amber orange-coated earth pony mare with a blond tail and an image of an apple on her flank. “Woah! You best watch where you go.” With the mare turning towards her direction, Lith was able to gaze upon her green eyes and brown Stetson. Her face had several freckles dotted throughout. “I’m sorry. I was just distracted by how happy everyone here is.” “Wait a goshdarn moment… aren’t you one of those Pokémon ol’ Spitfire talked about?” “Ummm, yes. My name is Lith.” The mare extended her right front hoof out towards Lith. “It’s a pleasure to meet ya, Lith. The name’s Applejack, one of the top soldiers of H.O.R.S.E.” Lith shook Applejack’s hoof with her paw. “Pleased to meet you, Applejack. So what has Spitfire told you about us?” “Nothing much, but one of my close friends Fluttershy told me much more about you folks. You’re all capable of using a special kind of magic and are affected by other types of elements it seems.” Applejack responded. “Fluttershy does seem like a gentle pony. But, she seems a bit timid. I can’t imagine why she would venture out into the Terraformed Wilderness to begin with.” “Fluttershy is a member of H.O.R.S.E., but she doesn’t do any fighting. She’s in charge of investigating the world after the Van’Goths changed it completely so that we wouldn’t go into each area blind. I also have to thank you for rescuing her from those Ambush Soldiers.” “It was nothing. I was just looking for my brother. Rescuing Fluttershy was just a fortunate consequence.” Lith explained. “Before I forget, you were involved in the recent battle today right?” “Heck yes I was. There were too many times that my older brother and I would’ve wound up with our heads blown off like some of my other teammates. But, we managed to hold off until we got some unexpected support from a red crocodile and gooey dragon. They are your friends, right?” “Gnasher is my brother’s Pokémon while Custard is my Pokémon. Custard is a very sweet Goodra while Gnasher is very protective Krookodile about who she cares about.” “I guess that Pokémon really do have their own sorts of personalities.” Applejack said. “Speaking of personalities, where’s my sister?” She looked around the area, glancing towards every conceivable angle. Beads of sweat began dropping down her face. “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s probably out and about in this very large area.” Lith rationalized. “But she would always tell be before leaving, but she didn’t. Now she’s gone! That means that something bad has happened to her!” Applejack began hyperventilating, prancing about her hooves. “Hey Applejack! Why are you dancing around so weird?” She turned around and saw Apple Bloom standing by Mono’s side. “Apple Bloom! Don’t get me so worried like that. Next time, tell me when you go somewhere.” “But I’m a grown-enough pony to wander around on my own.” Apple Bloom said. “You must be Applejack. Your younger sister was telling me all about you.” Mono interjected. “According to what Fluttershy told me, you must be Mono.” “Yes I am. You do not need to worry about Apple Bloom. She’s just interested in getting to know me is all.” “Mono!” Lith shouted, running up to Mono. “I thought you were going to come in when I alerted you about the upcoming ceremony.” “I was, but Apple Bloom dragged me back in here to show me how to enjoy a party. I had nothing else to lose.” Apple Bloom pulled on Mono’s paw. “Come on, Mono; we’re going to go onto the dance floor!” Mono submitted to Apple Bloom’s demand, smiling and being dragged away by her. Lith and Applejack then looked back at each other. “I’m glad that your sister is getting along with my twin brother. I usually don’t see him that happy around others.” “What do you mean by not being happy around others?” Applejack asked. “He had a bad experience around the justice system. To make a long and winding story short, that one event destroyed my family and rendered us orphans. He has since never let any other people close in his life.” Lith explained. “That’s a strange coincidence. Big Mac, Apple Bloom and I were also orphaned once the Van’Goth invaded. My parents were H.O.R.S.E. agents and died in battle shortly after Apple Bloom was born.” “I see we’re both kindred spirits, then.” “Helloooooo everypony and everygriffon and everydeer and everyling and everydonk!” An energetic voice shouted over the intercom. “The dance contest will start in a few minutes. Everyone go down to the dance floor and find a partner if you want to compete!” Lith glanced over towards Applejack with a raised eye. “That’s just Pinkie Pie. She’s another good friend, a member of H.O.R.S.E. and can be very fun to be around.” Applejack explained. “Should we go to the dance floor, Applejack? I’m interested in seeing how you dance.” “Sure. Good luck in that contest, Lith!” “So, are we really going to be dancing together?” Custard asked. “Well, yes. But, we’re doing it as friends.” Gnasher responded in a skeptical tone. “Yes, yes, definitely as friends. Nothing more and nothing less.” Apple Bloom rushed onto the dance floor with Mono being pulled behind her. “So… is there anything I need to know about this dance competition, Apple Bloom?” Mono asked. “It’s a red light/green light type of thing. You dance when the music is playing, but stop when it stops. If you continue dancing while the music stops, OR if you aren’t dancing when the music is playing, then the team is eliminated.” Apple Bloom explained. “It’s going to feel weird dancing with a child, though. I am an adult, after all.” “But you’re just a bit shorter than me by a foot, Mono. It shouldn’t be too awkward.” A purple smokescreen with glitter in the air dropped onto the dance floor, veiling everything. When it dissipated, a bright pink-coated earth pony mare with a dark pink mane and tail appeared standing on her hind legs at the center of the floor. Her soft blue eyes scanned the entire crowd of the dancers on the floor. On her flank was an image of a trio of balloons, each one being red, blue and yellow. “Is everyone having a good time so far?!” She called out, bringing forth a roar of applause in the room. “Good! My name is Pinkie Pie, your party planner and mistress of ceremonies for the evening. Now, the rules are simple; you and your partner dance when the music is going, but stop when the music stops. If you’re still grooving with what your mother gave you when the music stops, then you’re out! Last team standing is the winner!” Mono gazed upon the twenty-four contestants on the dance floor. The nerves in his legs shook. He leaned over towards Apple Bloom’s right ear and held his paw over his mouth. “Did I forget to tell you that I’m a terrible dancer?” He whispered. “You can’t be more terrible than Twilight, so you’ll do fine.” Apple Bloom assured in a hushed voice. “If you say so.” “Ready, go!” Pinkie Pie declared with a wave of a hoof. A sweeping melody with an upbeat orchestra carried its way throughout the air. Mono grimaced upon hearing it. “This is… the Rumba of Love.” He said to himself. “I’m sorry, Apple Bloom, but I just can’t. This music will make dancing with you awkward.” Mono walked off the dance floor, not looking in any direction except straight ahead. “But we’ll be eliminated if we leave! Please stay.” Apple Bloom pleaded. “You can’t make me dance to that type of romantic music with you, Apple Bloom.” Mono responded. “Wimp.” Apple Bloom stated, pouting and turning her head away. “It looks like we got one chicken-livered couple. Anyone else want to leave?” Pinkie Pie asked. Several of the other contestants gazed at each other with nervous sweat dropping from their faces and scratched the back of their heads. “Yeah, I like you but not like that.” “I could always dance another day.” “Wow… that music made things awkward.” One by one, contestants walked away from the dance floor, leaving only half the dancers on the floor. Among those that stayed were Gnasher, Custard, Applejack and a red-coated earth pony stallion with green eyes and an image of a green apple sliced in half on his cutie mark. “Y’all are cowards. It’s just music, ain’t that right Big Mac?” Applejack asked. “Yep.” Big Macintosh responded, nodding. The dancers grasped each other by their shoulders and began swinging to the rhythm of the melody. After a minute of dancing, the music stopped. All but a red doe and a brown stag stopped dancing. With their eyes widened, the deer couple fell over themselves. “Out!” Pinkie Pie shouted, pointing her hoof towards the couple with dramatic air. The couple frowned and walked off the floor. The music continued and the competitors began dancing once more. The music paused very quickly. A changeling and a pink-coated pegasus stallion fell over. “You two are out!” Pinkie Pie called out. The music resumed. Custard swung Gnasher by her waist and scooped her just before she fell towards the ground. Custard leaned his face close to Gnasher’s, smiling with narrowed eyes. “This isn’t too weird for you, is it?” He asked in a soft voice. “Is this weird for you?” Gnasher responded, her face contorting a small smirk. “Not at all. We’re just friends.” “Then it’s not weird for me.” Custard brought Gnasher back onto her feet, just as the music stopped. The two looked to their side and saw Applejack and Big Macintosh fumble over their steps. A small frown appeared on Pinkie Pie’s face. “I’m sorry, Applejack, but it looks like you and your brother are eliminated.” Applejack huffed out an air of pride. “This music was too cheesy for us anyways, Big Mac. Let’s wait for when a real hoe-down comes up.” “Yep.” With a furious nod, Big Macintosh left the floor with Applejack close behind him. “Alright! Only half of our original contestants remain! We have the really strong Strawberry Delight and Razor Wind of the Heavy Arms division, the super-smart Spitfire and Soarin’ of the Command Division, and the not-yet members of H.O.R.S.E. who are also not from this world known as Gnasher and Custard!” Pinkie Pie called out. Spitfire glanced towards the baby-blue pegasus stallion with a navy blue mane and tail next to her and whispered in his ear. “Alright, Soarin’, we got to take it up to a higher level with our dancing. I’m not too worried about Strawberry and Razor, but those Pokémon scare me with how well they move along the floor. They’re surprisingly nimble.” “Got’cha. Let’s take our dancing into a realm where they’ll never be able to touch us.” Soarin’ responded. When the music resumed, Spitfire and Soarin’ flew into the air, grasping each other by their shoulders and standing upon the winds. They Spitfire stepped forwards, matching Soarin’s step backwards. The two continued tangoing in the air. With a flap of Soarin’s mighty right wing, a gust of wind picked carried a rose from a loft and brought it directly into Spitfire’s mouth. Spitfire smiled with her teeth bared. “Good idea, Soarin’.” “I always try.” Gnasher and Custard stared at the act in the air with their jaws dropped onto the ground. They eyed over to Razor Wind and Strawberry Delight, who were waltzing upon a set of flashing stairs conjured by the latter. Meanwhile, Razor Wind performed a back flip with his wings extended and punched the stairs, shattering it and leaving brilliant sparkles in the air. The crowd stared in awe. “We’re going to lose this if we don’t do anything, Gnasher. Do you have any plans?” Custard asked with his voice dipped in worry. “We’ve got special talents too, remember? Just use your Muddy Water and I’ll use my Dragon Claw. Let’s make this into a Battle Tango.” Gnasher suggested with an aggressive tone. “Ah! Good idea.” Custard hopped back away from Gnasher and built up a whirling stream of Muddy Water. The water formed into a tidal wave, causing worried chatter and screaming within the crowd. With the wave of filthy water approaching her, Gnasher’s right claw flashed in a green color. She hopped into the air and slashed apart the wave, bringing a galaxy of brown stars into the area. She moved down onto her side, cartwheeling towards Custard. Custard then grabbed her by the claw and twirled her. “The crowd is left speechless.” Gnasher stated, pointing towards the crowd whose once horrified eyes metamorphosed into those of admiration. The round of sighs brought a smile onto Custard’s face. “Wow, your plan is working. What should we do next?” “This.” Gnasher swung her tail at Custard, who spun around in circles from the strike. Gnasher then punched the ground, unleashing an earthquake that raised four spires around Custard. With his heart beating and with a whimper, he unleashed a Flamethrower that ate all the pillars. Moving to the step of the rhythm, Gnasher pranced her way to Custard and grabbed him, spinning and then stopping. “Could you have at least warned me before doing something like that, Gnasher?” With his eyes glaring into her, Custard demanded. “I gave a fair warning. Plus, the crowd is eating it all up.” The crowd roared with cheers and whistles, bringing a soft smile onto Custard’s face. Gnasher eyed the other contestants, whose eyes widened to that of suns and their jaws stretching farther than their body sizes. A sneaky smile appeared on her face. “Alrighty then! It looks like the crowd has spoken; this contest is over!” Pinkie Pie called out, standing on her hind legs and pointing her right front hoof in the distance. “Now, I shall point to each of our contestants. Whoever the crowd cheers loudest for is the winner!” Saying these words, she pointed to Spitfire and Soarin’, who descended upon the ground. Several whistles and cheers echoed throughout the dance floor. She then pointed towards Razor Wind and Strawberry Delight, where louder applause sounded throughout the area. With a dramatic sleight of hoof, she pointed towards Gnasher and Custard and met wave after wave of roaring cheers and clopping. “It looks like we have our winners for the dance contest! Gnasher and Custard, you won! Give our winners a roaring round of applause!” Gnasher and Custard faced the crowd. Everyone clopped their legs on the ground along with the contestants. They eyed Mono, Lith, Jasmine and Rondo, who were also clapping and whistling. A red blush overcame Gnasher and Custard’s faces. “So… still just friends?” Gnasher asked. “Yes… very much just friends.” Custard assured. The festivities of the party ended and all of the heroes of the invasion lined up. Several ponies, griffons, donkeys and changelings all lined up and dressed in black clothing. All the way to the right stood Mono, Lith, Rondo, Jasmine, Gnasher and Custard in line. Spitfire stepped up onto the podium, dressed up in her commander outfit. She tapped the mic three times, amplifying the wind through the speakers. “I want to thank all the citizens of Neo Canterlot who came today to honor our heroes of the fight for the city. I hired our member of H.O.R.S.E. and party planner extraordinaire, Pinkie Pie, to set up this celebration.” She stated, pointing towards Pinkie Pie. “And let me say that this was one of the bestest parties we’ve had in a veeeery long time.” “I agree with that statement. But, before we close our celebration, I have an announcement to make.” Spitfire raised her hoof and called over Mono, Lith, Rondo, Jasmine, Gnasher and Custard. The six Pokémon approached center-stage. “Any reason why you called us over?” Mono asked. “Several reasons, Mono.” Spitfire responded with a smile and then faced the crowd. “These Pokémon arrived in our world in the midst of our war against the Van’Goth. Their intervention saved many precious lives, including the lives of our noble soldiers. It is with great honor and great pride that I accept these six Pokémon into the ranks of H.O.R.S.E.” A hushed gasp overfell the audience. Everyone remained silent with stunned faces. The H.O.R.S.E. members lined up, however, let out a unified smirk. “I know that our war against the Van’Goth makes us very cautious on aliens we do not fully understand yet, but I trust them. They saved me when I was marked for death by the army of mechas that stormed our city. If it were not for them, we would have lost Neo Canterlot to the Van’Goth. Seeing how they are, can we tolerate their differences from us and accept them into our society as new citizens of Neo Canterlot and Equus?” Spitfire called out. The entire room remained stunned. Celestia, Luna, Victoria, Carapace and Serva all stepped up from the front of the crowd and walked over to the stage. “I may not know who these strange beings are, but I know that they are not hostile towards us. They could have refused our cries for help when we needed them most, but they chose to fight the threat instead. My ponies in the audience may have second thoughts, but I trust them with the security of our united nation.” Celestia stated. “I agree with my sister. As far as life in Neo Canterlot goes, we need every single helping hoof possible. If there are those who have shown their capabilities in servicing our city, should we really reject them?” Luna questioned. “I used to be the empress of a war-shaped empire, but I realized that war alone does not make a nation great. It is our ability to look at every possible point, having the strength to move forward and doing so as a united force that makes a nation so great. Even if my griffons do not accept, I shall welcome these strangers in our ranks.” Victoria declared. “For a long time, we changelings have taken up façade after façade in order to trick others to get what we want. If there is one thing a changeling understands, however, it is that we cannot do anything without each other. If we accept these Pokémon into our ranks, then we shall add their skills and talents among ours and truly achieve unity. I accept them as members of H.O.R.S.E.” Carapace announced. “Let us not forget our reactions when we first paved our exodus to Neo Canterlot, my deer. We were not so trusting of others, too. But, we eventually learned how to live with our neighbors in harmony and even develop relationships with them. Could we not say the same about these wonderful Pokémon here? I see no issue with letting them enter into H.O.R.S.E.” Serva said. Several portions of the crowd began clopping their hooves onto the floor. More sounds of clopping and applause shook the room. Loud cheers echoed throughout the area. Mono and Lith walked onto the microphones, both whose eyelids were dripping tears. They both wiped the saline from their eyes and smiled. “First of all, I want to thank you all for accepting us into your home, beautiful citizens of Neo Canterlot. It is true that we are strangers from a different world, but we were pulled away from our home with no idea on how to return. We are in a situation like yours; lost in darkness without any sort of light. But this new light you have shone upon our lives, I must thank you all.” Mono declared. “It is not just we six that arrived onto your world, but a handful of others came here as well. Who knows how they are doing right now? We do not know if they are hungry or are even killed by the Van’Goth. But, we will make sure that we will find them and add to the rich diversity of our new home.” Lith stated. Spitfire approached Mono and Lith, placing medals depicting five golden stars around their necks. Mono glanced down upon his medal and Lith rose hers high into the air, inciting a roar of applause. Rondo, Jasmine, Gnasher and Custard all received medals the same as the ones given to Mono and Lith. “All of you; welcome to H.O.R.S.E.!” “Wait!” Pinkie Pie called out, running to the center of the stage. “Before we end this chapter of our lives, I have a special treat for you all. Rondo, one of our new H.O.R.S.E. operatives here, is going to sing!” She declared, moving herself out of the way and letting Rondo stand before the mike. “Thank you, Pinkie Pie. I have been practicing all day for this moment.” Rondo cleared his throat. “No idea on how we are here, So far, yet so very near, Our eyes, they are all filled with tears, These winds call forth our fears, How do we feel, About our seals? We stand together, Helping forever, Uniting under goals... Let’s raise the banner! In an arch manner! No way we can lose, Despite our own blues, Let’s raise the banner!” The crowd stood up on their hind legs, giving a round of clapping and whistling. Rondo smiled. GreenhornsSpitfire, Mono and Lith walked up a set of stairs and approached a door with an image of a burning tongue of fire upon it. Spitfire pulled out a black card with her image on it and flashed it over a metal banner. The door opened, revealing a small living room furnished with a black sofa, an orange recliner and a black disk upon a simplistic television cabinet. Beyond a windowless counter at the far end of the living room was a small kitchen that had a fridge, a stove and a sink. “Are you sure you it is okay if we stay with you for the night, Spitfire? It seems like a bunch of trouble to go through.” Mono asked. “You two don’t have a place where you can stay. Jasmine is staying with Strawberry Delight, Gnasher is staying with Razor Wind, Custard is staying with a civilian deer family and councilman Carapace was quick to invite Rondo to stay for the night after hearing him sing. At the very least, this is my way of expressing my gratitude for coming to our aid.” Spitfire explained. “We will try to make sure our presence here is as minimal as possible, Spitfire.” Lith assured. “I don’t know what your nightly rituals are, but I’m going to hit the shower now. You’ll find my room near the end of the hallway opposite the bathroom door.” Saying these words, Spitfire traveled down a dark hallway with only four doors in total. She opened the door to the left near the end of the hallway and a bright light illuminated from the room. Spitfire slammed the door shut. “Well, at least we know where her room is now. But… is she doing what I think she is doing?” Lith asked. “I’m sure she just wants to keep a close eye on us. We should sleep on the floor, right?” Mono responded. Walking into the room, Mono moved his paw over a blank space next to the door. The room lit up, revealing a Queen-sized bed with thick sheets and fluffy pillows all colored in navy blue. Lith smiled, whistling and stepping into the room. “Nice bed she has. I never got the opportunity to sleep on a Queen-sized mattress before.” Mono hopped onto the bed, bouncing on it. “I know exactly how you feel, Lith. Though I consider the Opelucid Lab home, not even Professor Pasque sleeps on a bed bigger than a Full-size.” “I just wonder where everyone else is.” Lith stated. A small frown formed on her face. “Don’t feel sad, Lith. I’m sure they are alright.” “I know, but this is the first night where everyone is away from each other. Not everyone would have been fortunate enough to find a warm bed and shelter from the weather.” “Now that you mention it… I didn’t see Stereo at all.” Mono grimaced and grasped the center of his chest. “He usually gets moody while he’s separated from me. I don’t want to see him sad and miserable. I really hope we can find him as soon as possible.” “Don’t worry, Mono. Stereo is very tough and will more than likely scare off any potential threats… if he doesn’t blow out their heads first.” Lith assured, laughing at her final statement. “I know, right? Taking a Hyper Voice from him would be the same as having your head explode from a grenade in your mouth.” Mono stated in an enthusiastic voice. “I also wonder how Professor Pasque, Professor Gentian, Einstein and Tesla are doing as well. I know for a fact that all the humans with us also turned into Pokémon. I just don’t know which ones.” “Well, it looks like Spitfire has an unusual device on the cabinet back in the living room. If the new technologies being developed in our world are any indicators, then that must be a hologram used for watching television. Are you interested in seeing what sorts of programming this planet broadcasts?” “You think they have some cleverly-written animations available?” “These Equusians appear cultured enough for that sort of thing. It would be an interesting experience to view their entertainment.” When Mono and Lith hopped off the bed, a veil of steam hissed out from the open bathroom door, revealing a smiling Spitfire with narrowed eyes and a mane full of volume with a towel around her neck. “The bathroom is available right now. Nothing beats having a quick steam bath and a shower after a hard day of work.” “That was kind of quick.” Mono noted. “The faster I can get to bed. Why don’t you two try having a steam bath and shower together?” Spitfire asked. “Ummm… that would be very awkward for us.” Lith responded. “You two aren’t walking around with clothing, so how would bathing with someone you trust make you feel awkward?” “Good point.” Mono and Lith stepped out from the bathroom with narrowed eyes and open mouths, exhaling relieving sighs. “Spitfire was right; that steam bath really rejuvenates one’s mind and spirit.” Lith stated. “And there’s nothing like a good shower to help remove the impurities of the body.” The two of them walked into Spitfire’s bedroom, lying down on the floor and placing their front paws underneath their head as makeshift pillows. Up from the bed, Spitfire released an audible cough from her throat. Mono and Lith stood up, looking onto the bed and seeing Spitfire lying down on the right side of the bed. “You two can sleep here with me.” She invited. “But… isn’t that your bed, Spitfire?” Mono asked. “Doesn’t mean I can’t invite others on it. I promise that I won’t hog the sheets.” “Well, now that you mention it, that bed does feel comfy and looks like it can give you good dreams just for lying down on it.” Lith stated with a perky smile. They ambled towards the bed and climbed onto it, nestling themselves into the blanket nest. With a clap of Spitfire’s front hooves, the lighting in the room blacked out. Spitfire then buried her right front hoof underneath Mono and Lith’s resting bodies, letting their soft fur brush against her plush hoof, and wrapped her left front hoof over their bodies. She smiled, slowing her eyes down to a close. “Ummm, Spitfire, why did you wrap your hooves around us?” Mono asked. “Because… I’ve always… wanted to… cuddle with cats…” Spitfire began snoring and her left hoof became heavy in exhaustion. Lith squirmed underneath the grip. She poked her head towards the front and gazed upon Mono’s shut eyes and content smile. She smiled, letting the exhaustion plaguing her subside and her eyes close. Mono and Lith walked into a dark room, where Rondo, Jasmine, Gnasher and Custard all stood around a black table displaying a shimmering hologram of a land shaped in the form of a star split into multiple pieces. Spitfire walked into the room, dressed in her clothing and dark shades. She walked behind the desk with a strong glare directed towards everyone. “If you are in this room, then you are now officially a part of H.O.R.S.E. and shall be given the organization’s basic rules. But first of all, the each of you needs to be fitted into H.O.R.S.E.-authorized uniforms. Luckily, a H.O.R.S.E. member shall tailor to each of your individual and unique needs.” A door slid open, revealing a white unicorn mare with a swirling purple mane and tail and was garbed in a sleek uniform of a shade of gray. Her crystal-blue eyes scanned through each of the Pokémon with intrigue. “You were not making a joke when you said that I would have some unique members to fit.” She said. “If any fashion designer can do this task, it would be you, Rarity.” Spitfire responded with a casual smile. “Your name is Rarity? You have a very fetching style and appearance.” Jasmine commented. “Why, thank you, Jasmine. Before you ask, I know each and one of your names through the H.O.R.S.E. database.” Rarity responded. “But, because you seem to understand the toil of maintaining a beautiful appearance, why don’t we start fitting you first?” “It would be my delight, Rarity.” Jasmine responded, curtseying. Both Jasmine and Rarity left into the other room. “So, I’ll fill you each in on your roles in H.O.R.S.E. Whenever a newbie joins, they are assigned into a group that would best fit with their race and personality. But, since you all are entirely new to the world, I’ll have to create an entirely new group for Pokémon. Each group is ran by a representative, got that?” Spitfire explained. “I understand.” Rondo called out, nodding. “Alright.” Spitfire stated, nodding and touching the table. The flat map expanded beyond the air, becoming three-dimensional. “Let me teach you kids a geography lesson; prior to the Galactic War, Equestria used to be one whole land where everyone flourished. Upon the invasion of the Van’Goth, however, this land splintered into many pieces due to an unidentified alien force. I’ll only tell you about our continent for now.” She tapped a land mass on the northwest portion of the map. The continent highlighted in a denim blue color. Several holograms appeared before everyone, depicting a grassy region with plentiful hills and caves. “This is the Terraformed Wilderness. It’s a relatively peaceful land compared to the other continents that our agents are sent out to, but it still is filled with many monstrous beings and is often a target of attack by the Van’Goth. Neo Canterlot is located here.” “So, if the Van’Goth constantly attacks this area, then why doesn’t the council move this city into another continent?” Lith suggested. “Because practically every other continent is unsuitable for living. I would be happy if we could move into another continent if those continents didn’t have features that weren’t trying to kill us.” Spitfire responded. “Well, that’s terrible.” Jasmine and Rarity walked into a bright room littered with pink armchairs and carpeting. A raised platform stood near the ray of sunlight emanating from the window. “This room is definitely different from anything else I have seen in this city.” “I take that you like it? This is my office of operations here in H.O.R.S.E. One of my roles within this organization is to create clothing as well as lead the architecture design for new buildings designed for H.O.R.S.E. use.” Jasmine floated up to the platform, placing her left arm on her hip and leaning her stance to the left. “I hope this gives a good view of me.” Rarity grinned, hiding a squeal of delight. Her horn lit up in a light blue color, levitating a yellow measuring tape next to Jasmine. Using the tape, Rarity placed it against Jasmine’s height, her width and her circumference. “Your body type is a bit alien, but I can definitely make this work.” Jasmine stepped down from the platform. “I saw you trying to hide your excitement, Rarity.” “Well, you definitely have one of the most adorable body shapes I have witnessed. For all intents and purposes, I would love to work closely with you outside of H.O.R.S.E. matters. You seemed to enjoy it as well.” Rarity explained. “It’s not every day when a Pokémon models for clothing. Even if our time was short, I quite enjoyed it.” Jasmine responded. Using a stylus, Rarity placed all of her calculations up on a silicon-made board. “Thank you for your time, Jasmine. Now, can you fetch me one of your other friends?” Jasmine nodded and opened the door, stepping out of the room and walking into the briefing area. “Rarity asks for another Pokémon in there.” Rarity wiped her forehead, airing away the beads of sweat from it. She looked onto the silicon board, seeing the calculations of Jasmine, Lith, Mono, Rondo and Gnasher’s measurements and body shapes. “Lith and Mono would be easy to fit, Jasmine and Gnasher will prove to be an arduous task to make clothing for, and I’m sure that Rondo would be easy to fit if I can fit other winged Equusians.” She looked down upon the list, eyeing Custard’s uncrossed name. Custard slipped his way into the room, smiling and waving. “Come in, Custard.” She asked, waving her hoof inward and smiling. Custard took small steps towards Rarity, leaving lilac-colored goo on the carpet. “You must forgive me for ruining your carpet, Rarity. I can’t seem to control my goo when I get nervous.” “You don’t need to be nervous. You are just being fitted. Though…” Rarity touched Custard’s side, feeling sticky liquids and a solidus body underneath. “Your body’s composition is a bit unusual, but I’ll see what I can do.” Rarity levitated a roll of measuring tape around Custard, checking his width, height and circumference. She smiled. “Your measurements are not too bad. The only real challenge is just getting some material that would best suit your physical needs. You see, the clothing that H.O.R.S.E. members wear is made of a combination of rubber and cloth. Seeing how much goo your body makes, cloth will only get wet and rubber will be very uncomfortable for you.” “Yeah…” Custard stated, frowning. “So what material would you believe would be best for me to wear?” “There is a substance found within the caves of the Terraformed Wilderness known as Nytherium. Nytherium is a very strange material that molds itself around wet surfaces and develops a rubbery consistency. Because of this, it is very comfortable on those that have damp skin. But, H.O.R.S.E. does not normally keep Nytherium.” Rarity explained. “If I find Nytherium, would you be able to make these clothes?” “Of course! Actually, that is a wonderful idea you have there. You and your friends could use some experience on the field, and Nytherium is not in any dangerous areas either. I shall go post a special request for your group, Custard.” With these words, Rarity walked out of a door to the side of the board. Custard glanced down upon the goo-covered carpet and chuckled with a strained smile. Fluttershy guided Mono, Lith, Rondo, Jasmine and Gnasher into a steel-walled room the size of a forum. A few lights hung from the ceiling, casting a shadowy light into the room. “I’m sorry if this room doesn’t suit to your group’s needs, but this was the best possible room I can get you in short notice. Sorry.” She said. “You do not need to apologize, Fluttershy. This room is very reminiscent of home for us.” Mono said, smiling and walking over to a set of tall lockers. “You mean you’re all not mad?” “Mad? Why would we be mad? You took the time out of your busy schedule to help us get better acquainted with this place. That’s one of the kindest acts I have seen out of anyone who I barely know.” Lith responded. “Ummm… thank you…” Fluttershy whispered out, smiling and hiding behind her mane. Jasmine glanced towards the right side of the room, humming. “I would love to administer a bit of Feng Shui in this place when I have the chance. Do we have to pay for our furniture?” “Unfortunately…” Fluttershy responded. “But, H.O.R.S.E. stores sell all operations-related goods at a heavily discounted price, especially furniture.” “That is fine as well. I shall look forward to being able to design my dream corner in this room.” When Jasmine said this, a chorus of coughs emerged behind her. All the Pokémon in the room glared at her. “Well, our dream room with the ability to change it to whatever we want.” Custard sprinted into the room, carrying a black device in the end of his right arm. “We got our first mission!” He called out. Everyone else in the room glanced at Custard, cocking their heads with eyes glinted in curiosity. Custard touched the base of the disk. It emitted an electric-blue light with a square sheet being projected. Everyone leaned their heads towards the message, scanning it with widened eyes. “It’s from Rarity! It seems like she wants us to gather Nytherium!” Fluttershy said, her voice rising with excitement the more she spoke. “Ummm… what’s Nytherium?” Rondo asked. “Nytherium is a very mysterious substance that molds around sources of moisture. No one knows how it is done, but it is a very interesting material found only in the caves of the Terraformed Wilderness.” “Better question is why are you are so interested with Nytherium?” Lith asked. “It’s not the Nytherium that I’m interested in, but it is the ecosystem where it is located in! So many wonderful creatures that only live in the caves on this continent, and they all vary from cave to cave! I must come with you all if you are going there!” Fluttershy called out with sheer excitement brimming in her timid voice. “If that’s okay with you.” “I don’t know about this… you don’t exactly look like the kind of pony who’d go out of her way to start a fight.” Gnasher stated. “I promise I won’t be a burden to you six. I just want to see the Terraformed Cave Bat and I will never pester you for another thing again.” Fluttershy looked into Gnasher’s face with pleading eyes. “Alright. I can’t resist that face you have.” Letting out a defeated sigh, Gnasher stated. “You will not regret having me along. I know where the sources of Nytherium should be.” The group sprinted across the sprawling field, seeing the horizon pop up in front of them. Upon Gnasher and Custard’s backs were tall backpacks that could hold a flood of items within it. “Do not worry everyone. We’re almost at our destination.” Fluttershy assured, pointing towards a hill with a cave mouth that descended into the land. “I thought it would have been much longer away.” Rondo stated. The group of seven walked down into the cave. The light dimmed into darkness and the air became moist and cool. Drops of water from stalagmites echoed throughout the cave. The smell of water seeping out of porous rocks lingered in the air. Looking at the depth of the infinite darkness of the cave, Mono’s spine shivered. “Ummm… I’m starting to have second thoughts about this.” “Don’t be so timid about it, Mono. It’s just a cave.” Lith assured. “It may be a cave, but your rash decisions would lead us into danger, Lith.” Mono responded. “Of course I may be rash at times, but how many times did my decision-making skills save us?” “They did… as much as they brought us into trouble.” “Mono… just man up. You’re an adult. Stop being afraid of the dark.” “Mono, Lith, let’s not argue about it. After all, this is our first mission. What would this make our group look like if we were falling out this quickly?” Jasmine rationalized. “She has a point, you know. This bickering between the two of you is what will actually get us killed.” Rondo stated, shaking his head in disapproval. “So, make up and say you’re sorry to each other.” Mono and Lith scratched the back of their heads, uttering out a soft sorry to each other. “Look!” Fluttershy stated under her breath, pointing towards a gray bat with pink-edged wings. “That’s a Cosmos Bat! It’s so beautiful!” She whispered out, having a mad hatter-sized grin plastered on her face. “Fluttershy, you look like you’re about to have a heart attack. Should I alert the paramedics?” Gnasher asked. “The Cosmos Bat is an extremely rare creature found only in this particular cave in the Terraformed Wilderness. The change of the world caused a slew of bats to develop changes of evolution over the years and this is the current form of it. How can you not be excited upon seeing it?!” “Ummm… yeah… it’s just a bat. Shouldn’t we be looking for that Nytherium?” “Alright, fine.” Fluttershy pouted out. Her eyes shot open and a soft squeak left her mouth. “Oh no! I’m sorry, Gnasher. I didn’t mean to sound so rude about it.” Gnasher grinned and patted Fluttershy on her back. “Something tells me that you are normally this apologetic, Fluttershy.” “…Yes. I’m sorry for apologizing so much.” The group crept through the cave. Light poured into the cave from the ceiling, making the lustrous minerals sparkling within the wall. A stream of water fell through a gap in the ceiling, crashing down into the abyss below with a mighty roar. Mono’s nerves rested and a calm sigh passed its way through his mouth. “It’s beautiful. I didn’t think it would have been this magical.” A sly smirk appeared on Lith’s face upon hearing his words. “And you didn’t want to come here.” “I never turn my back on a mission. Speaking of which, is Nytherium somewhere nearby?” “Actually, yes!” Fluttershy responded. “Nytherium absolutely loves to be around damp and brilliant areas within caves. There is some Nytherium over there, actually.” Saying this, she pointed towards a deposit of gray masses with a rubbery consistency. The group ran towards it, each with a grin on their face. “Alright then. Shall we start harvesting it?” Custard asked. The Pokémon approached the Nytherium in waves, scooping up handfuls of the material and dumping it within the two backpacks. Mono approached the Nytherium, scooping up more than normal. As he brought it into Gnasher’s backpack, his right ear perked up at a sudden movement within the shadows. He jumped out of his position, where a bullet crafted out of shadows shot towards. The bullet dissipated, garnering the attention of everyone in the group towards the origin of the shot. “Damn it! Missed.” A bipedal figure emerged from the shadows; a humanoid man with gray skin and stringy hair colored in a brilliant yellow stood out in the light. He stood at Custard’s size and was garbed in a gray and tattered poncho, vest and pants. His ominous yellow eyes glanced down upon a black revolver in his hand, still fresh with smoke emanating from the muzzle. On the barrel showed the word ‘Chaotic’ written in cursive. “Who are you, why did you try shooting my brother and what is with that get-up? I mean, hello, 1849 wants their clothes back” Lith asked with a sharp tongue. The humanoid twirled the gun around his finger and brought it back into its holster. “A smartass bitch, are you? The name’s Giacomo of the Van’Goth, and I’m afraid I can’t let you all live.” Giacomo responded. “Wait… you’re a…” Jasmine uttered out, piecing out the information in her mind. Realization oozed out of her face and her red eyes contorted into anger. “I’m afraid that we can’t let you live either you warmonger.” Giacomo reached his left arm to his back, grabbing a metal pole upon it. Holding it in his hand, a blade made of black energy curled out from the top and revealed a scythe. “You see, you guys are starting to be big trouble to the empire. You’ve defeated two transformed grunts and even scrapped our invasion plans of the only Equusian city left on this planet. I’ll send you all on a one-way path to hell!” He sprinted forwards, disappearing within the shadows of the light. “Where did he go?!” Fluttershy called out. Giacomo appeared right behind Lith. Swinging his scythe, he slashed Lith’s back and kicked her. Lith shrieked. “Lith!” Mono called out. With his eyes contorted in anger, they flashed in a blue light. Giacomo found his feet were off the ground and his head turning towards the ground. “What the hell?! Get your hold off of me!” Mono slammed Giacomo into the ground with a loud boom that sent a shockwave of dust out. Mono’s eyes dimmed to its regular state. From within the cloud of dust, four consecutive chamber explosions erupted. Four bullets shot their way towards Mono’s direction and struck his knees. Mono grimaced in pain. “That hurt… more than it should have.” He uttered out. A creeping shadow crawled its way towards him at breakneck speed. A blob of darkness formed at the tip, shaping itself into Giacomo. With his legs imbued in darkness, he kicked Mono across the floor. Mono lied onto the floor, twitching with pain gripping his body. “Wow, you may be a pussy cat, but I didn’t think you were that much of the former word.” Giacomo taunted. A burning anger erupted within Gnasher’s eyes. Her claws became cloaked in a green light. She ran up to the distracted Giacomo, slashing him with a Dragon Claw. Giacomo anchored his feet into the ground, dragging along it. He raised his fingers to the three gashes on his face, touching the red liquid on his face. “That hurt, you bitch!” He shouted. “That hurt? I’ll do more than hurt you for hurting Mono, you lunatic. I’ll end you!” With a fiery roar, Gnasher threatened. She punched the ground, causing an Earthquake. The stalagmites fell down to the ground towards Giacomo. Giacomo dodged them and pulled out his revolver, raining a storm of shadow bullets upon Gnasher. Gnasher stood unfazed by the bullets, walking towards Giacomo. “Dark-type bullets, eh? Have to hand it to you; you have some good taste in weaponry. But, those bullets don’t do very much to a Pokémon that resists Dark-type moves now does it?” Saying these words, she curled her claws into a fist and thrust it forwards. Giacomo held his scythe up to his face, blocking the punch. Forcing Gnasher back, he sprinted forwards and kicked her in the gut. Gnasher’s eyes shot open as she shot towards a wall with a bullet’s force. Gnasher fell onto the ground face-first. Her eyes twitched. “All bark and no bite? I thought something as naughty as you would have at least put up a better fight.” Giacomo eyed a brilliant flash emanating from Jasmine’s body. The light solidified, firing towards him. Giacomo shot several bullets into each of the solid lights, but they pierced through the darkness. “Oh shi-“Before he could finish, he found himself being pelted by an onslaught of light shooting his body and exiting through it. He clenched his teeth and panted heavily, staring at Jasmine. His eyes narrowed and a fire built within them. “I’ll kill you!” A Charge Beam shot out from Lith’s direction, striking him. Twirling his gun, he fired three bullets aimed towards her. A red barrier surrounded Lith, protecting her. Mono stood on his knees with his knees out. “God! I can’t even catch a damned break!” Right behind him stood Custard, whose glaring form towered Giacomo. “You thought you could hurt my family? I’ll give you on the count of three to run before I show you why I’m a Dragon-type.” A cold shiver went down Giacomo’s spine when he heard the dark-spoken words of Custard. He clicked his tongue. “Outnumbered and overpowered by a group of bastardized animals.” Saying these words, he disappeared into a shadow and fled from the area. “Whoever that guy was, we have to keep a careful eye on him.” Lith stated, brushing off her fur with her paws. “Lith, your back…” Fluttershy said, pointing towards the sizeable slash on Lith’s back. “Oh, that. It doesn’t hurt as bad as it looks.” Lith responded. “I cannot allow you to walk around like that, Lith. Fortunately, I came prepared with a medical kit just in case something like this happened.” Fluttershy pulled out a red case with a cross from her satchel. Opening it revealed a white ointment, a brown bottle of peroxide, a bandaging roll and a black device with two conductor tongs within the vicegrip. “I’ll get you up good as new.” She tore out a scrap piece of the bandage and tapped the open bottle of the solution with it. “This might sting, so please hold still.” Lith rolled her eyes and stood still. She felt a cold dampness on her back that turned into a burning sting. She winced. Following it was a sound of crackling electricity. She let out a faint shrill when it came into contact with her wound. “Do you really need to zap me, Fluttershy?” “You should have seen the size of your wound. I had to seal the wound in some way so that you would be fine.” Lith then felt a cool cream against her back that smelled of liquid with medicinal herbs boiled within it. Finally, Fluttershy took out the bandage and wrapped it around her body. She smiled and wiped her forehead. “You’ll be fine now. I’ll treat your brother and then Gnasher for injuries they have sustained.” She ran over towards Mono, whose legs were wobbling and his mouth was clenched in pain. She looked over his legs and rubbed her hoof over the skin of his knees at a gentle speed. “What is the prognosis, Fluttershy?” He asked. “It’s worse than I thought. Those bullets he shot into your knees maligned the connecting joints in your legs. They’re standing on an inverted position.” Fluttershy explained. “That’s not going to require surgery, is it?” “No, but it will require that I dislocate your knees from their places so that they can normally align with each other until we can get back.” Mono gulped on a pocket of air upon hearing her words. He blinked and nodded. Fluttershy placed her hooves around Mono’s left knee. With a quick jerk of her hooves, she separated the joint. Mono clenched his teeth, shrieking underneath his breath. She moved her hooves towards the other knee, jerking her hooves and separating them. “Gah! Mother of Arceus did that hurt!” Mono shouted. Fluttershy scooped Mono up with her hooves, frowning with an apologetic stare towards him. “I’m sorry that hurt, Mono. I didn’t mean for it to be that bad.” “A-apology accepted, Fluttershy. S-s-some things have to be d-d-one for healing to take place.” “Luckily, Neo Canterlot has a way to accelerate the re-alignment process to about a day so that you will be back on your feet by tomorrow.” She then rested Mono onto his back and walked over towards Gnasher, who was standing up and smiling. “You don’t need to worry about me, Fluttershy. I’ve been through worse.” “Ummm… alright. But, Gnasher, can you please hold Mono for the remainder of the trip? We can’t let his legs align themselves back into that position.” “It’ll be my pleasure. I’ll be sure that he gets home in good shape.” Gnasher responded. “But, someone else will have to carry the bag. The straps might get in the way of giving Mono the best possible stability.” “I’ll do it.” A voice called from deep within the mine. From among the shadows stepped an Exploud, grinning at the sight of the Pokémon in front of him. Wait a moment… is that you, Stereo?!” Mono called out, pulling his upper body upwards. “What happened to you here?! Are you hurt? Are you alright?” Stereo asked, hyperventilating at the sight of Mono’s decrepit body. “I’ll be back into good shape in no time. Gnasher has a backpack filled with Nytherium you can hold onto, Stereo.” “It’ll be my pleasure to bring it in the place of Gnasher, Mono.” Spitfire walked down through the hallways, her ears perking up towards the sound of jovial laughter echoing through the Pokémon-assigned room. She hummed and walked through the open door. “And just what is up with the laughter in here?” She called out, bringing forth a silence within the room. Her eyes glanced over towards Mono’s legs within white fabrics, Lith’s bandaged torso and the unfamiliar Pokémon in the room. “Ummm… I must be missing something here.” “Good afternoon, Spitfire. We completed our first mission and even found one of our friends.” Mono stated, pointing over towards the Exploud who had a translator around his neck. “This is Stereo. Somehow, we found him in one of the depths of the Terraformed Wilderness’s caves while we were filling out Rarity’s request.” Stereo raised one of his bulky arms up to his forehead and saluted her. “Mistress Spitfire! Mono told me all about you. Let me just say that it would be an honor to work for H.O.R.S.E.” He stated. “Wh-wait. I don’t even know if you are qualified to even be a member of H.O.R.S.E.” “I specialize in sound control.” “Well… H.O.R.S.E. does need some sound-based officers in its rankings and you are a Pokémon… very well.” Spitfire admitted. “But seriously, what happened to Mono and Lith here? They look like they have sustained some serious injuries.” “Apparently, we came across an agent from the Van’Goth known only as Giacomo. He specialized in Dark-type magic.” Rondo explained. “Wait… you encountered that lunatic and survived with only injuries? Not even a squadron of elite members can overcome him.” “To be fair, he did have a type advantage against Mono and me because of our injuries. He didn’t have much of an advantage against Gnasher because of her typing though. Then, Jasmine unleashed a Dazzling Gleam on him and Custard scared him away.” Lith stated. “Well, color me impressed. You know, maybe it might be worthwhile to have as many types as possible at H.O.R.S.E.’s disposal. I’ll have to see our head of our R&D department to discuss these matters with her.” Spitfire said, smiling with a calm expression. “And Fluttershy.” Fluttershy turned towards Spitfire with a confused glint in her eyes. “Y-yes, Spitfire?” “I was hoping if you would be the Equusian representative of the Pokémon group here. You have a very nurturing and understanding spirit, which would make you a wonderful addition to this group.” “A-are you sure about that, Spitfire? I mean, I still have to do my environmental research and field studies with the other group I am affiliated with.” “One thing I like about our organization is the ease of transferring a member’s work from one division to the other. I’ll simply do that for you so that you can spend more time researching our new brethren.” Spitfire stated. “That means… I can spend more time with my new friends and study them AND their world?!” With her voice rising, Fluttershy asked. “Yep, and considering their strengths and goals of finding other Pokémon, I’ll give them permission to go onto intercontinental missions. That means that you are free to do research for other areas.” “This news makes me so happy that I can cheer!” Fluttershy took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A weak and audible hum crawled its way out of her mouth. “…Ummm, I think I’ll help Fluttershy with her cheering ability.” Stereo offered. Giacomo walked into the presence of the emperor with a scowl on his face. The emperor glared at him with an impatient stare. “I assume that you failed in the duties assigned to you?” He asked. “I followed them down into one of the caves in the Terraformed Wilderness, hoping to get a surprise bullet in on them. But, those bastards were able to evade me and we clashed directly. That croc and Miss Smells there were real bitches to deal against and made my time a living hell.” Giacomo explained. “So can you give me your prognosis on their combat ability, Giacomo?” “They’re all definitely strong, no doubt about that. But, they apparently have an edge when it comes to the elemental affinities they control. That Miss Smells bitch pelted me with light that burned like a mother fu-“ “We do not need any more profanity coming from your mouth, Giacomo. You are free to go back to where you normally go off to and continue your duties.” Giacomo turned around, walking towards the gates to the throne room. The emperor looked in Wilhelm’s direction. “What are you suggesting, my liege?” Wilhelm asked. “We’ll have to put our invasion plans on hold for the moment. What Giacomo says about elemental affinities has me concerned that any plans we make without the proper knowledge on our new enemy are doomed to fail. We will have to bide our time and observe all of their strengths and weaknesses. Then, that is when we will strike.” H.O.R.S.E. DivisionsMono and Lith eyes opened within the sheets of twin-sized beds. A ray of sunlight broke through the area between the red curtains. The both of them yawned. “Good morning, Lith.” “Good morning, Mono.” Mono pulled out his sheets, revealing his leg fabrics. He lifted his right leg and bent his knee. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. It looks like it does work.” “These bandages aren’t as effective as the Pokémon center back home, but they’ve done their job.” Lith stated, sitting up, pulling on the bandage and severing them with her teeth. The bandages fell apart, revealing a healed back with no scarring. “You know, Lith, I never thought we’d be enlisted into an army upon our arrival. I always thought I would find peaceful days within this new world.” “I know how you feel, Mono. I never thought I’d had an alien slash my back or reverse your knees natural positions. It just goes to show you that there will always be something.” “Despite everything we are going through right now, I’m still very happy. I mean, we are in the middle of a war for survival and we are split from the rest of Opelucid Lab’s scientists and Pokémon. But, we found Stereo and we can even engage our Pokémon in conversations with each other. Plus, the inhabitants of this world seem very friendly.” “They definitely aren’t like the people back in our world who hide their ulterior motives through this veil known as law and justice.” Mono hopped off the bed and onto his feet. “I’ll be brushing my teeth and taking a shower. Do you mind checking the holographic television for the news, Lith?” “I don’t mind at all. It would give us ideas on how to plan out our H.O.R.S.E. day, after all.” Mono walked out of the room with a slight limp in his legs. Lith hopped off her bed and approached the disk. She tapped it, revealing a hologram displaying all of Neo Canterlot above it. A silver-coated earth pony mare with a pink mane stood in the front, equipped with a blue suit and a headset. “Good morning, Neo Canterlot! You are tuned into the NCNN with Crystal Current here. Today’s weather is sunny with a chance of a cloudy noon. Temperatures will be around seventy-five degrees today and you will be able to feel a cool breeze today.” Crystal Current announced. “Seems like a good day to get a feel for the city with the others.” Lith said to herself. “I’ll pass it over to Bulk Biceps with the news.” The screen transitioned to the inside of a stadium, where a white-coated pegasus stallion with a dirty blond mane and oversized muscles appeared in a suit and headset. “Today’s the big hoofball game between the Griffonheim Eagles and the Canterlot Cavaliers. It’s gonna be awesome!” Bulk Biceps shouted, standing on his hind legs and flexing. “Yeah!” “Wow, this city even has its sports… and that announcer is such a ham.” Mono walked into the room with a white towel around his neck. He dried off the fur on his forehead. “The bathroom is all yours, Lith.” “Alright, Mono. But, please keep it on this channel and tell me everything that is happening. Be sure not to forget any of the details.” With these words, Lith sprinted out through the door and into the bathroom. Mono looked upon the hologram screen, watching it with unbroken focus. The hologram of Neo Canterlot became replaced with an image of a purple unicorn mare’s head. Her mane was a sapphire blue with a pink stripe running down the center and she had a warm smile complimented by her purple eyes. “Hey there, Mono.” Mono jumped back and shrieked, breathing with deep and successive breaths. Regaining his composure, he looked back into the hologram screen. “Ummm, who are you?” The mare looked to the right and then backed her head away with a sheepish smile. “Whoops! Sorry about that. My name is Twilight Sparkle, head of the Magic and R&D departments. Spitfire told me this was the area code to access you.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “Wait, you’re the head of two departments? Don’t you look a little young to be in charge of those things?” “Well… before the invasion, I was personally educated by Council Lady Celestia while Canterlot was still a monarchy. But then the Van’Goth appeared and you know what happened after that. Everyone says that my talent with magic and research is very strong, so I am now running these two departments.” “So, what did you call me for, Twilight?” “Nothing much, Mono. All I’ll need is a sample of your DNA for research purposes. Just place it in the drawer of the cabinet here and I’ll have it transported over to R&D for studying.” “Well…” Mono said with a stutter. “First, I would like to see your R&D division. It is to make sure that I can feel safe with giving my DNA to someone I’ve never met before. I have some trust issues.” “Understandable. Also, I hear that Fluttershy is in your group. Is that correct?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “She’s one of my best friends. She may be a bit timid, but she has a wonderful heart and is an excellent field researcher. She’ll prove to be valuable in helping to find your friends.” Lith walked into the room with a dark blue towel around her neck. She eyes the hologram and Mono, who had his body leaning forward. “Mono, who’s your friend you’re talking to?” She asked. “Oh! You must be Lith. My name is Twilight Sparkle, head of the Magic and R&D departments of H.O.R.S.E. I’m just asking your brother here if he is willing to give a sample of his DNA for research purposes.” “Sorry, but my brother and I doesn’t trust government officials.” Lith responded in a cold voice, crossing her arms. “That is kind of ironic to say coming from your current position.” “It is also ironic that you are bringing up irony in this ironic conversation.” Twilight Sparkle groaned over the hologram. “You sure can be nasty to deal with.” “I have to be. My brother is one of the few members of my family I have left.” “Alright then, how about I just teleport where you are and we can talk this over in person?” Saying this, Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed in a purple color. The screen filled with the light of the same color, turning into a beam aimed towards the floor in front of Mono and Lith. The beam disappeared, revealing Twilight Sparkle in a white lab coat and a six-pointed hot pink star on her flank. “Luckily, I’ve picked up a bit of Technomancy in that one class back in school.” “Alright, you’re here now. So, what is your next plan from here?” Lith responded. “I’d figure I would earn the trust of both of you by personally showing you around H.O.R.S.E. Headquarters.” With these words, Twilight Sparkle’s horn lit up once more. Mono and Lith became caught within the aura’s glow. With a brilliant flash, the world around them warped. Mono, Lith and Twilight Sparkle all found themselves within a white room with beakers, machinery and test tubes everywhere. Various Equusians in lab coats and goggles held beakers full of liquids and objects using magic, hooves and talons. The sounds of scribbling on crisp paper echoed within the walls of the area. “Welcome to the lab.” Mono and Lith gazed at the area around them, sighing in awe. “It looks like home.” Mono stated. “You were raised in a lab?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “No, but we spent most of our time in a lab doing research since we were children. We are very general with our studies.” Lith responded. “Professor Pasque taught us everything we know about science and philosophy. He believes that one should not let science dominate a culture entirely since there are bad consequences in society and in the environment.” Mono added. “That’s a great philosophy to have, Mono. Here in the H.O.R.S.E. R&D division, we do not go through with any sort of research conducted if it would have an ill effect on those of Neo Canterlot.” Twilight Sparkle proclaimed with a proud tone. The trio walked through the space of the lab, seeing minerals and plants being observed by scientific individuals and having various liquids added onto the substances. “We can cross ‘Unethical Scientist’ off of the list of reasons to not trust you chart.” Lith remarked. Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes. “So anyways, let me show you to the Magic Division.” Metal platforms levitated above the ground and cases lined with books and tomes sprawled throughout the tower-like complex. Many Equusians in velvet robes, hoods and glasses scanned through each of the books. Mono, Lith and Twilight Sparkle walked up the set of floating platforms, reaching floor after floor. “You weren’t kidding when you said this was the Magic Division, Twilight. Everything here looks like it is being manipulated by a psychic force. Actually, I can feel that force as well.” Mono remarked. “Mono has a point there. I don’t know if it is because we are Psychic-type Pokémon, but the concentrations of energy levels feel much different than anywhere else on the world.” Lith added. “And you both are correct. Here in the H.O.R.S.E. Tower, we experiment with using mystical arts gathered through leading scholars within the field. The energy you two are feeling is known as Unda Magicae, a strange energy we were recently able to tap into that grants even those who are unable to process external magic the ability to do so. But, it actually takes a high level of discipline to be able to control the magic here.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “So… what is the point of this area? All it looks like is an expensive waste of money.” “Lith, learning magic is not a waste of money in the slightest. In fact, the magic used here is used for the purposes of devising new spells and equipment for our magic users on the field to use. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the brands of magic used by operatives, right?” “We have actually! Those spells some of those Equusians used looked potent.” Mono exclaimed with perked ears. “That is an example of the research that goes into use. Another example is crafting enchantments to be used on weapons that further their normal attributes. This area is devised this way so that those who are not capable of external magic, but show a natural affinity to using it can use it.” “I guess I spoke too soon by saying it is a waste of money.” With a defeat sigh, Lith remarked. “I make sure that no money goes to waste. After all, every little bit we have matters. We do not have the luxury of throwing around money wherever we want.” Towards the right, a young dragon with a purple body, green spines and underbelly underbelly ran towards Twilight Sparkle’s direction. In his right hand was a red book, where the cover was imprinted with the golden seal of a flaming avian. “I have good news, Twilight. The ‘Risen Through Ashes’ spell has been doing well in the testing phase so far! We’re ready to try it out on the field.” He proclaimed. “That is excellent news, Spike. Tell the testers that we will be practicing it Gnosis Valley.” Mono and Lith eyes Spike with tilted heads and confused glints. “I don’t think I have ever seen a creature like that before. I mean, he looks like a purple Gible.” Mono noted. “He somehow is a Dragon-type that looks even cuter and cuddlier than Custard. I never thought that was possible.” Lith stated. A red blush came upon Spike’s face and had a burning rage deep in his eyes. “I’m… I’m not cute and cuddly! I’m just small.” Twilight Sparkle cuffed her mouth with her right hoof, suppressing a giggle. “Anyways, this is Spike. He’s a dragon who also happens to be my apprentice in the magical arts and my personal assistant. I hatched him ten years ago for my exam in the presence of the royal Canterlot sisters.” She explained. “And, yes, I have a natural affinity for magic despite my appearance.” Spike added, raising his right index claw into the air with his eyes closed. “You know, I don’t think I’ve seen any dragons around in Neo Canterlot. Is there a reason why?” Mono asked. “Dragons are an Equusian race of beings and are very strong, but almost all of them were annihilated upon the invasion of the Van’Goth. Only a few hatchings were able to make it into this city, one of which being Spike.” Twilight Sparkle responded. “That’s horrible!” Lith shouted. “Truly, the Van’Goth are void of any sort of sympathy.” “I could go further on how they made several other races of Equusians extinct, but now is not the time for that. I’m here to show you around the divisions, not give you a sob story.” “Before I forget; where do you want the enchanted weapons to go, Twilight?” Spike asked. “Ummm… put them in the weapons hold along with the assault cannons. Everyone is going to want to have access to it.” The trio walked into a white room beyond what can be seen beyond their horizons. Several targets floated around the room. Ignitions of guns flared throughout the area and the targets shattered with the sound of glass breaking. An azure-coated pegasus mare in a black suit with a rainbow mane and safety goggled zipped throughout the air in the room with an assault rifle in hoof, mowing down every target in her way. “Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight Sparkle called out, eyeing the pegasus in the air. “Oh! Twilight!” Rainbow Dash shouted, lifting her safety goggles and flying down onto the ground. “So did finally decide to take up my offer on having a shoot-out with me?” She said with a cocky grin. “Not really. I’m just giving a tour of the base to our new recruits.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “Maybe you would like to explain this area to them?” “Oh! I guess this our first time meeting each other, then. The name’s Rainbow Dash, Senior Marksman II of H.O.R.S.E. and don’t you forget that.” “Greetings, Rainbow Dash. My name is Mono Samers.” Mono introduced. “And I am Lith Samers. So what is this area all about?” “I’ll tell you two in complete detail; this is where the Marksman Division hones its gunning skills at. The Marksman Division is one of the major combat divisions of H.O.R.S.E. Here, we teach our recruits how to hold a gun and how to get the most use out of holding said gun. Speaking of which…” A target spawned in the air behind Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash aimed her gun over her left shoulder and fired, shattering the target. Mono and Lith stared at the air the target used to be, speechless. “I’m not even sure that is humanly possible.” Mono noted. “That was impossibly cool…” Lith stammered. “Heh, I know right? That’s one of the tricks and trade we teach in the Marksman Division.” Rainbow Dash hoisted her rifle onto a sash on her back. She looked at Twilight Sparkle with pleading eyes. Twilight Sparkle sighed and rolled her eyes. “When I’m done with my duties, I would love to engage in a match of Break the Targets with you.” “Yes!” Rainbow Dash shouted, pumping her right hoof with an ecstatic grin on her face. “I’ve been waiting all month for you to say that. Oh, and tell the new recruits that I’ll teach them how to hold a weapon soon.” She flew off, pulling out her rifle and aimed it towards a faraway target. “She seems very hasty.” Lith stated. “That’s Rainbow Dash for you. She’s the kind of pony whose energy is very contagious. But, she isn’t careless and will make sure she is the last to leave a battlefield of any kind so that she can cover the back of her other allies.” Twilight Sparkle revealed. “She obviously has a lot of trust within you, Twilight.” Mono noted. “Now, we’re going to go into the heavy armor division area.” Walking through the doorway into the room, the very first object that caught the attention of Mono and Lith were the bulky armors equipped by all of the Equusians in the room. The room had dim lighting and dumbbells labeled with various numbers were sprawled along the hardened floor. Lith’s eyes wandered over towards Razor Wind, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight, who were facing each other and engaging in conversation. She smiled and waved her hand. “Razor Wind! Hydrangea! Strawberry Delight!” The trio of armored operatives glanced towards the source of the noise and smiled. The three of them walked towards Mono, Lith and Twilight Sparkle. “Mono! Lith! Didn’t think you three would come here.” Razor Wind greeted in a casual tone. “Oh? You three know these Pokémon?” Twilight Sparkle asked with a smile developing on her face. “Of course we do. They saved our lives two days ago.” Hydrangea responded with a voice oozing cheers. “Looks like Twilight is giving you two a tour of the facility. I guess that since we aren’t doing anything, I’ll give you a brief explanation of this division.” Strawberry Delight stated. “The Heavy Armor Division is what you would consider the shield of H.O.R.S.E. We specialize in setting up formations as well as guarding against threats. Essentially, we take the fire so that other H.O.R.S.E. members can attack.” “That doesn’t mean we are incapable of offensive power as well. In terms of raw strength, the Heavy Armor division is among the strongest platoon of Equusians in H.O.R.S.E.” Hydrangea added in. “As such, we usually take the frontlines of battle.” “Probably the most notable group of members within the Heavy Armor division is the Apple Family.” Razor Wind noted. “Before becoming members of H.O.R.S.E., they were a family of Apple farmers. As such, they have a naturally high endurance level that makes them stars of H.O.R.S.E. Currently, Applejack and Big Mac are members of the Heavy Armor Division and Applebloom is looking towards becoming one as well.” “If you see Applejack, can you tell her I said ‘hi’?” Lith requested. “We will do that for you, Lith. After all, we still owe you for saving our hides back during the invasion.” Strawberry Delight chimed in. “Also, make sure to take care of Twilight. She can be a bit eccentric at times.” “I resent that remark.” Twilight Sparkle stated in a flat tone. “Hey, you’re still a valuable member of the team and an even more valuable friend. I meant that as a compliment.” The trio then walked away to the left. Mono looked Twilight Sparkle in the eyes and smiled. “I think I have seen enough of the place to know that you can be trusted, Twilight.” “But… don’t you want to see the Civilian Division or the Architecture Division? We still haven’t made our way through even half the divisions of H.O.R.S.E. yet.” With a quick tug, Mono yanked out a strand of white hair from his head. “We could always see those divisions some other time. Besides, if my brother trusts you… then I guess I can trust you as well.” Lith stated. “I’m sorry I treated you in an unpleasant way.” “You are correct to be cautious, Lith. You don’t know if I am a friend or foe. Heck, we could have been secretly committing Van’Goth xenocide and they’re attacking us just to save what little they have left.” Twilight Sparkle joked. “Veeery funny, Twilight.” Mono said with an unamused tone. “But, before I hand you my DNA, I have a personal request I would like to ask of you.” “And what would that be, Mono?” “I would like to join your R&D division. I could do that and still be with my group, correct?” Mono asked. Twilight Sparkle stuttered, looking towards her left and right. Sweat plumed down from her face. “That is going to be difficult. Yes, you can join any division while still remaining in your group. But, the R&D Division is notoriously hard to get into. You need to be recommended by one of the higher-up members and have to have a history of working in an actual lab. Also, you have to be knowledgeable in various sciences and engineering.” She explained. “I thought I made it clear that we were both scientists. We’ve also assisted Professor Pasque in developing and engineering tech that helped enrich the lives of our people. Also, I’m sure you would be able to put in a good word for me if you talked with registration.” With a smirk, Mono responded. “But I don’t even know what you are capable of. It would be foolish for me to simply accept you in just with your own word.” “Then I guess you do not want this DNA for your research then.” Twilight Sparkle stammered and stomped her right hoof. “But I do!” She let out an exasperated huff. “Alright, but you’ll first have to show me your skill in the lab. I expect you to live up to your word.” “Fine by me.” Mono stood in front of a counter at the lab, wearing a white apron and safety goggles. On the counter are several beakers with colorful liquids, plants and stones within them. To the right of the counter was a packet of several pages. Twilight Sparkle walked by him, wearing her lab coat and safety goggles. “So… what am I supposed to do here?” Mono asked. “Simple; I want you to create a fuel solution for our mechs using the ingredients in front of you. To your right is all the information you need to know and there is no outside assistance on the exam.” Twilight Sparkle explained. Mono grabbed the packet of notes and scanned through each individual material and chemical. He grabbed the beaker of green roots and dumped them into the mortar. Using Psychic, he brought a beaker of water over to him and added it into the roots. Using a pestle, he began beating the moistened vegetation. Doing so, he levitated a beaker of thick liquid in the color blue towards him and added it into the mortar during the crushing. “Not bad at all.” Twilight Sparkle noted, keeping a stone-hard face. Mono took the mortar of the dark green-blue compound and scooped it out into a test tube of red liquid. The tube began shaking and glowing in a red color. With a grimacing face dropping beads of sweat, he levitated three white stones from a test tube and brought them into the solution. Using a wooden stick, he mixed the solution with rigorous force in his wrist. “How am I doing so far?” “You got passed one of the difficult portions. Many that have taken the test always seem to foul up when it comes to adding the bracyix tail solution into the bergamot oil since it causes a sudden volatile reaction.” “Reading through the notes you gave me, Wilderness Quartz can stabilize the reaction and allows me to make it into a useable compound.” Mono took the test tube and placed it into a boiling pot of water. The brown solution within it bubbled, changing into a white-brown color. Levitating it, he brought it into a pail of ice and snugged it between the cubes. Twilight Sparkle raised a cautious eye when Mono took a packet of salt from the table, tore it open and poured it into the liquid. “Don’t do that, Mono! You might cause a chain reaction to occur!” She shouted, seeing the liquid bubbling over the beaker and into the ice. The ice began melting. “Then watch this.” Mono grabbed a sprig of pink petals from a nearby plant and inserted it into the tube. The leaves dissolved, but the solution stopped bubbling over. Twilight Sparkle, who ran behind a potted tree, peered out and saw Mono with the test tube of clear brown-yellow solution held high in his paw. “Azalea…? But, that’s not one of the materials used in the exam!” Twilight Sparkle stated. Her eyelids scrunched into anger. “You could have gotten us all killed like that! Salting that solution would have been a huge safety hazard.” “But it didn’t. Azalea leaves have a biological composition that allows them to neutralize covalent reactions involving salt.” “Fair enough, but let me test that.” Twilight Sparkle levitated the test tube from Mono’s paw and poured it into a gray funnel of a cube-shaped monitor. The screen lit up in a green color. Twilight Sparkle smiled. “How does it test?” Mono asked. “The monitor sees a three-hundred percent increase in power and it looks like the solution will keep powering for three times the length of the standard fuel devised here. How on Equus did you ever think to do that?” “I may be timid around others and in society, but I’m bolder when it comes to the lab. Professor Pasque always tells us that taking risks is just another part of being in the lab, and I knew I was risking many things when I made that solution.” Twilight Sparkle smiled and lifted her right hoof towards Mono. “As afraid as I was to involve you within our division, I see no reason as to why you shouldn’t be a part of it. You are free to work in this lab whenever you want, Mono. Heck, I may even post some tasks in your group specifically for you!” Mono raised his paw and shook Twilight Sparkle’s hoof. “It would be a pleasure working in this division, Twilight.” “That reminds me! Spitfire asked that all members of your group are to report to the briefing room as soon as possible.” Twilight Sparkle announced. Mono pulled his paw away from Twilight Sparkle, leaving a strand of white hair on her hoof. “I better go then. Spitfire does have a temper when anyone is late.” Mono sprinted into the briefing room, erecting his back and saluting Spitfire. Lith, Rondo, Jasmine, Stereo, Gnasher, Custard and Fluttershy all glanced towards him. Spitfire and Rarity both smirked. “You’re somewhat late, Mono.” Stereo stated. “That’s alright, Stereo. Mono was simply taking the exam to get into the R&D division. From what I could tell, you seemed to have passed with flying colors.” Spitfire noted. “I have. So, what did you call us all over here for?” Mono asked. “I’ve gathered you all here to tell you that your uniforms are complete.” Rarity took a step forwards underneath the bright light. “I was very grateful to see such a large amount of Nytherium gathered by you all. I’ve heard from Fluttershy what happened during the request and it was a shame that you had to encounter that nasty Giacomo.” Rarity announced. “After giving Stereo the proper measurements, my squad of teammates and I have went straight to making the clothes themselves.” Rarity levitated seven black uniforms, all of varying sizes, to each of their respective Pokémon. All of the Pokémon grabbed the uniforms and held it out, revealing a symbol of five stars etched onto all of the torsos. Everyone smiled. “These feel pretty good!” Jasmine stated. “And my talons aren’t scratching them up!” Rondo noted. “These uniforms are tested by the R&D division and they greatly reduce the impact and damage done to the wearers. No more nasty injuries like the ones you two suffered yesterday.” Spitfire said. Spitfire, Rarity and Fluttershy waited outside the door into the Pokémon room, their legs trembling with deep anxiety. From what felt like forever, the door opened. All of the Pokémon stepped out, each equipped in their uniform. Mono and Lith were both wearing a two-piece uniform, with each piece stretching down to the hips, ankles and wrists. Lith’s shirt extended past her waist and curved into a skirt-like fashion. Their tails were free from the bindings of the clothing. Jasmine and Rondo only wore a top piece for their uniform; Jasmine’s uniform stretched down to her hips, which extended into an enlarged skirt. Rondo’s shirt covered down to his abdomen and the top portion of his wings. Stereo’s shirt fit around his massive forearms while still contorting to his upper arms and cutting at his wrists. Its backside was also dotted, leaving the pipes of his body unhindered by the fabric. His bottoms stretched down to his ankles and gave his tail pipe an ease of access. Gnasher and Custard’s bottoms expanded wide enough to fit their hips and their shirts extended to their wrists. Goo leaked from Custard’s clothing and absorbed it, hydrating his body. Gnasher’s clothes were reptilian in texture, retaining the heat within her body. “So… how do we look?” Lith asked. “You seven look fabulous!” Rarity shouted out. “I had not thought that I would make beings such as you seven look this good in clothing, but I somehow did it. You can see that the clothing I made for each and every one of you reflected your overall physique. For example, Jasmine and Rondo do not need bottoms due to their physiology, but Gnasher and Custard are specially suited to maintain their physiological needs.” “I can feel that. For once, I can wear clothing without having to damage it or damage me.” Custard replied, hugging himself with a euphoric grin. “I definitely like the retaining heat feature. This will definitely keep me active while I’m hunting alien rabbits with Razor Wind.” Hearing Gnasher’s words, Fluttershy’s legs shivered. “Ummm… could you not mention hunting down rabbits in front of me? I can’t stand the thought of slaughtering a wild animal myself.” “Well, that settles that; you have the talent and now you have the look. Neo Canterlot will be looking forwards to your duties, Pokémon from another world.” Spitfire announced. “Thank you very much. I shall wear my clothing proudly in battle!” Rondo stated. “So… now what do we do?” Jasmine asked. “Beats me.” Shrugging her shoulders, Spitfire responded. “Just… do whatever you want as long as it is ethical and legal. I really didn’t plan much for you seven after getting your uniforms. Get yourself acquainted with H.O.R.S.E. and Neo Canterlot.” “You know, I have a good plan. It’s more for fun though, but it would be good if the three of you can follow up with the plan.” Lith suggested. “So what plan do you have in mind that would require us three, Lith?” Rarity asked. “Simple; a Girl’s Night Out.” Girl's Night Out“Are you sure you want to do this?” Mono asked Lith, who was placing a sachel of bits on a belt around her waist. “Of course I want do this. It’s a good way to develop better bonds with other females of this world. Besides, this is probably the first time I’m doing something like this with other Pokémon as well.” Lith reasoned. “Maybe you should have a Guy’s Night Out with some other male members of H.O.R.S.E.” Mono’s eyes glanced towards the side of his head and a small frown formed on his mouth. “I know, but I don’t really know much of anyone.” “That is more of a reason why you should hang out with other members of H.O.R.S.E. Who knows, you might even make some more guy friends so that you can have others you can trust.” Lith pulled out a black tablet and held it away from her face, displaying a screen that revealed a list of mug shots of various contacts. “So what are your plans for the evening, Lith?” Mono asked. “Nothing much. We’ll all meet in the residential courtyard. From there, we’re going to see a movie, do a bit of shopping and meet over at Spitfire’s place for some Stratego. We’ll gossip and, you know, confide secrets with each other.” Lith responded. “Alright, Lith. I trust you will do well tonight.” Lith walked through the doorway of their room and turned her head back so that her eyes met Mono’s eyes. “I’ll be fine, Mono. Now, I want you to do at least something tonight. I know that Custard’s going to be alone tonight. Maybe you two can do guy stuff?” Lith stepped into an open location nearby the residential buildings. The ground was basted in the moon’s ethereal light. Plants swayed along a gentle breeze, brushing past their petals with a cool temperature. In the center of the area sat a statue depicting five stars, each one spitting out rushing water that plummeted into the basin below. “Everyone should be here by now. It is eight o’clock.” Looking down onto the hologram on her left wrist, Lith said. Spitfire appeared from the northwest, walking her way towards the center. Her mane is more relaxed and her clothing was foregone. Lith smiled, running up towards Spitfire. “Spitfire!” “What are you still doing in your uniform, Lith?” Spitfire asked. “I wanted to look good this evening and make it feel more like my own.” “Fair enough. So… everyone should be getting here soon.” From the nearby residential buildings, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight hopped off of the balconies and landed on the ground. “Woah, almost lost track of the time.” Strawberry Delight shouted out, giggling afterwards. “Time flies when one is taking a nap it seems.” Hydrangea noted. “You know, this might actually be the first time I don’t see the two of you with that heavy armor on.” Lith stated. “Your strength definitely betrays what I imagined the each of you to look like under there.” “Because you really only see us with our armor on. Didn’t you see Razor Wind and me at the party two days ago? We were in civilian clothing.” Strawberry Delight inferred. Her eyes drifted towards Strawberry Delight’s flank. An image of a group of strawberries covered in golden honey was depicted upon it. “So… who else is supposed to show up?” Hydrangea asked. “From my list of contacts, we have Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash and Applejack to go. I tried contacting Pinkie Pie, but she doesn’t seem to be picking up. Fluttershy said she won’t be able to come with us because she doesn’t like to go out into Neo Canterlot at night.” Lith explained. “That definitely sounds like Fluttershy. It’s funny because she would rather be out in the field than within Neo Canterlot.” With a keen smile, Spitfire stated. “What about Fluttershy?” Twilight Sparkle stated, walking from the north with Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “I apologize for being three minutes tardy, Lith. But, I was still stuck on deciphering the DNA your brother gave me.” “It took us many tries just to tell her to come here before she freaked out about the time, too.” Applejack argued in. “Eh, we’re all still here right?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Not yet. We’re still waiting for Jasmine and Gnasher to show up.” Lith responded. “Who?” “Oh, that’s right! Ol’ Rainbow Dash never met with Jasmine or Gnasher. Won’t she be in for a surprise when she sees them!” Applejack chided in. From the west, Gnasher and Jasmine walked into the courtyard, not wearing their clothing. Gnasher grimaced and Jasmine shook her head with worried eyes. “I apologize for being late, everyone. I was trying to help Gnasher take her clothing off.” Jasmine explained. “Luckily, Jasmine taught me how to take them off. They look nice, but I had a difficult time taking them off.” Gnasher noted. “Oh dear. I may have made the clothing a bit of a tight snug.” Placing her right front hoof on her face, Rarity stated. “Don’t bother yourself about it, Rarity. Now I know how to take them off, and I shouldn’t have any problems in the nearby future.” Lith looked into Spitfire’s face with a soft smile. “So, what movie did you have in mind to watch?” She asked. “There’s a movie out right now that H.O.R.S.E. lent its defense aid to. It even starred Hydrangea here in a role.” Hydrangea’s neck backed away, her eyes widened to a pool and her teeth clenched hard upon hearing Spitfire’s words. “Please, not that movie! I wasn’t even trying to act!” She pleaded. “It can’t be that bad, Hydrangea. Lots of movies have actors and actresses who couldn’t act. You wouldn’t be anything worse than them.” Lith noted. “Please… just don’t laugh at me when my role comes up on the screen.” Shaking her head with a frown and looking down onto the ground, Hydrangea requested. The group of ten walked down the sidewalk of a street. Cars flashed by them with blurred speeds and lights, creating images of phantasms. The streets were peppered with lights flashing down upon the ground and illuminating the entire area. Colorful advertisements, static and animated, and various Equusians littered the walls of the street. A hologram flashed in the air, displaying symbols of an eagle and of a shimmering shield along with the numbers ‘23’ and ‘32’ underneath them. The group came across a vibrant front of a building with a tall sign flashing and rotating through neon colors. On the sign, it was listed as ‘Neo Canterlot Cinema’. A stream of Equusians migrated into the theather to the front. Lith stood staring at all the colors assaulting her eyes. Her mouth opened at a slug’s pace, taking in the sight before her eyes. “Hey, Lith, are you coming in?” Spitfire asked. “Y-yeah.” The inside of the theater looked several times bigger on the inside than it did outside. The walls were painted in white and posters the size of billboards hung upon the massive walls. Rainbow Dash curled her lips, whistling with delight. “Looks like the whole place is packed tonight!” Lith eyed all of the posters, and a shiver of unfamiliarity rushed down her spine. “So which movie are we watching again?” “This one.” Spitfire responded, pointing to a poster with Hydrangea and a blue stag standing flank to flank in front of a fiery explosion. The poster red in earth-shattering letters ‘A Hoof-full of Pain’. Hydrangea slammed her hoof in her face. “Can we please not watch that? It’s embarrassing.” She requested. “It shouldn’t be that bad. At least it isn’t some action martial arts movie where all the characters are speaking out of sync with their lips.” Lith said with lightheartedness in her tone. “That is… exactly what it is.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash pursed their lips hard, straining her hardest to suppress the giggle rising from their voices. “That settles it, Hydrangea; we have to watch just how bad the movie is just so we can laugh at it.” Rarity announced. “Who knows? You could be much better on the screen than how you were during those filming sessions.” Strawberry Delight teased. “I do find it hilarious to see some cheesy action flick.” Jasmine noted. “I can’t wait to do my own voice-over for the movie!” Gnasher snapped. “Please, Deus, just end me.” Hydrangea uttered under her breath with a furious red rising in her cheeks. Mono lied down upon his bed with his body sprawled out. He sighed with his half-lidded eyes. He sat up on his bed, looking around all the corners in his room. “I guess maybe Lith was right; I could probably use some guyfriends to hang around with. I’ll check to see if any of the male Pokémon are available.” A knocked on his front door echoed from the outside. Mono jumped down from his bed and sprinted down towards the living room. He opened the door, revealing the figure of a smiling Soarin’. “S’up Mono?” “Just a bit lonely without Lith, Soarin’. What are you doing here at my door?” “Nothing much. I just wanted to see if you are up for a small party that me and a bunch of other guys set up. I know you aren’t really the sociable-type of being based on how I saw you act at the party, so it’s gonna be a small gathering.” Soarin’ offered. “Well… Lith did say I should have a Guy’s Night Out and this does sound too convenient to be true. What’s at the party anyways?” Mono asked? “Well, we’ve got a Cinnagog Warriors Fighting Tourney going on with the grand prize being a new Spidercube Gaming Console. Then, we’ll spend the rest of the night seeing movies of intense violence and sexual content if you’re into that sort of thing.” Soarin’ explained. “Are you suggesting a night of debauchery?” “Does it sound like I’m offering some child stuff here? Your buddies Rondo, Stereo and Custard are in the party as well!” A wide-eyed smile appeared on Mono’s face. “Sign me up for whatever is at the party then!” Hydrangea sprinted out of the screening area with a reddened blush on her face. The rest of the group emerged from them with a chorus of laughter bellowing out of their voices. “And now, I shall destroy your face by blowing it up with my open hoof strike!” Standing on her right leg and lifting her two arms into the air, Lith said while moving her lips out of her words’ sync. “Be prepared for the Hi-Ha-Ti-To-Ten!” Rainbow Dash shouted, arching her hind legs and pulling her right front leg behind her shoulder. “Oh! Let’s not forget the part when Hydrangea said ‘My Grandfather died in dishonorabu battur against you! Now I wirr make you commit Sudoku!” Gnasher teased in a higher-pitched voice, bringing another rise of laughter out of the crowd. Hydrangea rolled her eyes. “Okay, that was the director telling me to say the line like that. I honestly thought it was stupid and it should have never made it into the final product.” “You should be lucky, Hydrangea; not many people get to be in movies.” Lith responded with an earnest smile. “Actually, they do.” Spitfire argued. “The film industry is always looking for people on the streets. In fact, some Civilian Requests we get for H.O.R.S.E. involve bringing our agents onto the set to act for a movie. I may give actually give you two a request by the same director when she decides to make another kung-fu flick.” “And then we get to make humor with your lines.” Rarity added, causing Lith and Gnasher to radiate a red blush on their cheeks. “We don’t have to do that… right?” Lith asked. “Who knows? It’s all up in the future.” Spitfire responded, smirking with a sinister air around her. Everyone but Lith and Gnasher chuckled at these words. “That isn’t a funny joke!” Gnasher stated. Mono and Soarin’ ambled through a doorway. The two of them were greeted by a small room with violet lighting and a hologram tv set towards the side of the room. In the room, they saw Rondo, Stereo, Custard, Razor Wind, Big Macintosh and a white unicorn stallion with blue eyes and a blue mane and tail with an image of a blue shield with a pink star in the center. “Hey there, Soarin!” Rondo called out. “I see you brought Mono like we requested.” “You did say he would be alone tonight, and we just can’t let that happen.” Soarin’ responded. Mono walked towards the group, sitting on the floor next to Rondo and Custard. He gazed at the unfamiliar stallion in the room. “Pardon me, but I do not think I have seen you before.” The stallion turned his head towards Mono, his lips pursing into an inviting smile. “My name is Shining Armor. I’m the head of the Heavy Armor and Exo divisions. My sister told me all about you today, Mono.” Shining Armor introduced. “And who is your sister?” “I’m sure that she was the one who gave you a tour of H.O.R.S.E. this morning.” Mono nodded with an open mouth. “I’m in her R&D Division. Also, what’s an exo?” “You’ve been hearing how everyone was calling those machines ‘mechas’ right? Well, they have a name known as exo, but we have gotten used to calling them mechas. Expect the two to be used interchangeably.” Shining Armor explained. “So what’s someone like you doing here?” Mono asked. “Why, I’m here for the Guy’s Night Out. Even married stallions have to hang out with other guys from time to time. I’ll tell you more about my wife later, but I want to get this night started! Bring on the Cinnagog Warriors Tournament!” Shining Armor screamed. “I’m excited too, but it’s nothing worth yelling over.” Custard called out. “Awww you need to lighten up and have some fun, Custard. I’ll thrash you in that tournament! I always beat Stereo when we played video games back home.” Rondo screeched. “Not true! I won forty percent of the time.” Stereo corrected. Soarin’, Big Macintosh and Shining Armor chuckled at the tension between the Pokémon. From a closet, Soarin pulled out two rectangular boxes littered with buttons and having a large stick with eight points on its base to the left. Mono’s eyes widened at the sight of the behemoths, glossing over at the colorful array of buttons on it. “This looks like a fighting stick.” He noted. “And you’re surprised? This is the only way how we Equusians can play at an equal advantage.” Soarin’ interjected. “Now, who wants to start this thing?!” The group of females walked out of a ten-storied building made up of windows with flashing neon lights. In her left paw, Lith carried a brown bag made of paper. Using her magic, Twilight Sparkle levitated several bags over her head. “Wow, what kind of stuff did you buy?” Lith asked. “Nothing much. I just bought some materials I could use for personal research.” Twilight Sparkle responded in a rush, flashing a sheepish smile. Lith stomped her way to a white bag littered with pink polka dots. She lifted a magazine out of it, which depicted an ivory-coated unicorn stallion with deep green eyes, a rough and wet mane and tail hued in a light and dark yellow and a small but seductive grin. The stallion had beads of sweat dripping down his chiseled face, chest and legs. ‘Playfilly’ was written out in pink and elegant lettering. “Playfilly? Is this what I think it is?” Lith asked. Twilight Sparkle snatched the magazine from Lith’s paws and hid it behind her body. “Yes it is. I kind of get lonely sometimes when I’m researching, so I have to keep myself occupied with other-” She began saying, clearing her throat with a loud-enough sound. “-activities to stimulate my brain and body.” “Wait! They have the new issue of Playfilly already?!” Strawberry Delight shouted, galloping over towards Twilight Sparkle. “Yeah! This month’s issue stars Blissful Aura on the cover, some interesting articles depicting society and best of all, several images of the hottest males in Neo Canterlot!” “You have got to invite me over your home so that we can look over that magazine!” Rarity and Rainbow Dash giggled underneath their breaths at the sight of the two unicorns fawning over the magazine. “Rainbow Dash, please remind me to never succumb to such temptations to where I sound like a giggling schoolfilly.” “Will do, Rares.” Gnasher and Jasmine scratched the tops of their heads which were tilted. Their eyes flashed a glint of confusion. “Playfilly?” Jasmine asked. “It’s our world’s equivalent to Playgirl, which is an adult magazine meant for the enjoyment of women.” Lith responded. “Ah. Everything makes sense now. So what did you buy, Lith?” Gnasher asked. Lith opened her brown bag, pulling out an iron-cast figurine of a sitting cat with big eyes. “It’s nothing much, but this object kind of reminds me of my parents. May Arceus keep their souls at rest…” She looked down onto the ground, ignorant on her surroundings. “Equus to Lith; are you here?” Spitfire asked. Lith jumped back into life, looking at Spitfire’s face and smiling. “I’m alright, Spitfire. Now, I think it’s time we all head over to your place for some talking and Stratego.” Mono’s eyes strained and his teeth were clenched. His right paw tapped at the buttons underneath at light speed while he throttled the stick at a furious pace. On the screen, a violet-coated earth pony stallion with an oversized sword that is curved to a vicious maw followed all the movements of Mono’s controller commands. The character slashed apart a white pegasus stallion in blue robes with a series of slashes, all of which are done within milliseconds from each other. Soarin’s face dripped with sweat while he tilted his stick away from the area where his character was. He tapped a myriad of buttons with a whine of desperation rising in his voice. Mono imputed a down-quarter circle motion on his stick and pressed the crossroads of four buttons with his right paw. On the screen, the sword belonging to the violet character grew several times its own size, filling the battlefield. The character slashed the other character, leaving behind a series of shockwaves. What remained of the green within that character’s bar depleted into red. Soarin’s character lay on the ground. A large chorus of cheers erupted from the audience. Rondo, however, pouted and looked away. “Mono! Mono! Mono!” Everyone cheered. Soarin’ sat by his controller with his jaw dropped to the ground. “Since when did you learn to do all that?!” He asked. “I’m pretty good at 2-D fighters. It’s one of the genres my family and I invested my time in after all.” “I still can’t believe I got knocked out in the very first round by Custard of all contestants!” Rondo complained. “That was actually kind of surprising. You usually never played video games with us.” Stereo noted. “I normally prefer playing 3-D platformers, but I do indulge a bit in some other technical types of gaming.” Custard responded, flashing a shy smile. “But, there was no way I could have beaten Soarin’.” “Well, that was exhilarating to watch. Now it’s time we move onto the other fun stuff!” Shining Armor stated. Big Macintosh blinked his eyes, and his body shuddered with anticipation. Soarin’ held his front left hoof’s ankle out, tapping on the center of the watch. The hologram of the game disappeared, revealing a blacked-out hologram. Spitfire’s living quarters were brilliant with lighting. Everyone gathered around a table, waiting with anticipation as Spitfire and Rainbow Dash moved their pieces. Rainbow Dash smirked, moving one piece over to Spitfire’s piece. “My Marshal takes out your General. What will you do now without your General in the game, Spitfire?” She asked with an ego-inflated tone. “Always narrow-sighted to tactics, Rainbow Dash.” Saying these words, Spitfire moved her piece towards Rainbow Dash’s General and flipped it over. Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped. “A spy?! You had that hidden next to your General all this time?!” “Of course! I knew you would go after my General once you got rid of my Marshal. It is simple tactics like that which make me the commander of H.O.R.S.E. after all.” “I don’t know about you, but it looks like you’ve also left your Flag Piece unguarded and Spitfire is ready to take it with two of her scouts.” Rarity noted. “What?! No way! I’ve been beaten like that?!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “It seems like it. Even if you take out one, the other one will still give me victory.” Spitfire explained. Rainbow Dash groaned, slamming her face on the table. Spitfire took all the pieces on the table and placed the red ones in one zipping bag and the blue ones in the other. She folded the board and placed it into the box. “So, now that we’re done with the games, it’s time to get into the juicy topic of this night; gossip and sharing secrets.” Lith stated, sitting down on the floor. “Now, let’s talk about what members of the opposite gender and otherwise have sparked our attention. Gnasher will go first.” She said, pointing towards Gnasher. Gnasher hopped back from her position, tilting her head towards all directions of everyone in the room. “Exactly where are you going with this, Lith? You know that I don’t care about that sort of thing.” “Really now? Then why do I always see you blushing madly whenever Custard approaches you?” The entire room filled with a clamor of gasps in bated breath, followed by a ring of ‘ooohhh’s. “I absolutely have no possible idea on what you are getting on about, Lith.” “Oh don’t I? Then why was it that you enjoyed dancing with Custard two days ago to that song?” Lith teased. “Look, Custard and I have agreed to keep it as just friends.” Gnasher then tilted her eyes to the left and right. “But… maybe a part of me wishes that we were more than just friends. I mean, he’s very sweet and has one of the gentlest spirits I have ever seen. In all honesty, I find those traits extremely hot in a Pokémon. But, that’s enough about me; what about you and Fei?” Lith giggled with a nervous smile on her face. “F-Fei… and I? D-don’t be ridiculous, Gnasher!” “I have read your e-Diary without your permission before, Lith. One of the major themes in there was your entries dedicated to Fei. You used some very colorful language that should not be said around children, too.” With a devilish smirk, Gnasher responded. “Y-you read my e-Diary, Gnasher?!” Lith shouted, her white-furred face turning beat-red in color. “What else was I supposed to do when I was bored and didn’t feel like playing with the others?” “Who is this ‘Fei’ fellow Gnasher keeps talking about?” Applejack asked. “We want all the juicy details. Don’t hold back now, darling.” Rarity egged on. “Fine. Fei is a fellow scientist that worked in the Opelucid Laboratory with us.” Lith began, clasping her paws together. “He is such a cute guy who always went out of his way to tend to Pokémon in need. He had great skin and a brilliant head of brown hair. He always called out some of the most adorkable things ever and wore the nicest glasses that had a cute lens flare to them.” “Wow, he does sound amazing! But, that can’t be all to him can it?” Hydrangea asked. “Nope. Like Miss Blabbermouth here said, I have entire entries of my diary dedicated to him. During the times we interacted, he always made it clear that he does not like fighting or using any sort of machinery for violence. Ironically, he’s very gifted in martial arts. But, there is a nasty rumor going around that Fei might actually have romantic feelings for his Sylveon, Sophia.” “And that is a problem why?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “Well, in my world, Poképhilia was a bit of a hot button issue. It is banned in the world and is punishable through imprisonment or worse. I personally don’t have any problem with it, but I cannot accept the fact that someone other than me has Fei-Fei all to herself like that!” Lith explained, her voice rising to anger near the end. “Fei-Fei?” Rainbow Dash asked, giggling at the nickname. “That is also in her e-Diary. I’ve also talked with Sophia about these rumors and she claims that they are just rumors. But she also said some interesting things about your brother, Lith.” Gnasher claimed. “I don’t want to hear those things between my brother and Sophia, Gnasher! Before this conversation gets any more awkward, are there any Equusians that got your attention, Twilight?” Lith asked. “Just one. He’s a pegasus in the Exo Division who goes by the name of Flash Sentry.” Twilight Sparkle revealed. “Hah! I knew it!” Rainbow Dash called out. “Can you help me, though? He’s multi-talented and is always willing to do community service. Plus, he knows his way around an Exo. I just wish he knew his way around me.” With a slight blush in her cheeks, Twilight Sparkle revealed. “I guess it is my turn to reveal who I like.” Rarity asked. “That Keldeo fellow, right?” Strawberry Delight asked. “Wait a moment, did you just say ‘Keldeo’?” Lith asked in a voice escalating into shock. “Yes, do you know him by any chance?” “Not really, but he’s actually one of the legendary Pokémon in my world.” “That is a strange coincidence, Lith. But, as I was about to say, I’ve had my eyes set on that unicorn for a while now. He appeared on the outskirts of Neo Canterlot about eight years ago, seemingly orphaned. I was actually the first to be his friend, mainly because he was very shy around others like your brother is. Now that we’ve grown older, I find that he has such an air of nobility and is always willing to protect those that cannot protect themselves.” Rarity stated in a calm tone. “It’s not really a surprise to us that she likes him, though. He’s always been a bit weird, but she was practically his first friend. If you want to, he’s usually in the Magic Division or in the Interceptor Division.” Hydrangea said. “I’ll take that as a note.” Lith stated. “So Applejack, do you have anyone you like?” “Can’t say I do. I’ll let you know when I find someone I like.” “I don’t really like anyone either.” Rainbow Dash responded. “It seems like I am also on that ship of females who are not infatuated by anyone in particular or are not in a relationship. All I know is that Spitfire is dating Soarin’ and Strawberry Delight is dating our teammate Razor Wind.” Hydrangea stated. “I’m also with you on that, Hydrangea. I’m just happy being a wonderful friend to others.” Jasmine responded. Lith checked the watch on her wrist, which timed at twelve o’clock. “Have we really been out this late? I got to get to bed!” “Well would you look at that? Time flies when you’re having fun it seems.” Spitfire stated. “Now, I expect all of you to report to the headquarters before nine tomorrow.” With these words, everyone began disbursing out of the apartment. Mono, Rondo, Stereo and Custard up the stairs to the higher tier of the apartment complex, all grinning with joy. “That night was better than I thought it was.” Mono said. “Did you see how Razor Wind acted when those scenes of gore and carnage came up? It looked like he wanted a piece of the action.” Stereo added. “I don’t know why, but I really enjoyed hanging out with my fellow males. Perhaps we should do it again some other time.” Custard said. “Alright then.” Mono split from the group and walked towards the door. A light shined from underneath the crevice of the door. He hummed to himself, pulling out a card from a bag on his waist and sliding it through the slot. The door opened. “Seems like you had a good time tonight, Mono.” From within the hallway, Lith appeared without her clothing. “It was nice. How did your night out go, Lith?” “Better than I thought. I also learned more about Neo Canterlot than before. For example, did you know that everyone here has been involved in stardom at least once?” “No I have not. That is a very interesting fact.” Mono responded. “So, what did you do with your night?” “Played some video games and watched some films of extreme violence and sexuality. You should have seen the look on Rondo’s face when he lost to Custard. It was priceless.” Lith’s face contorted, holding back a force of laughter in her mouth. Her lips burst open and her chest contorted back and forth. She slapped her knee with her left paw. “I could already imagine the look on his face. You should have saved a video on your watch, Mono.” “I already did that. I will make sure Rondo never lives it down.” “Oh, speaking of secrets, I’ve heard from Gnasher that Sophia has said some interesting things about you. Is there anything you have to say in that regard?” Mono’s muscles froze upon hearing Lith’s words. “In what context?” He uttered out. “I’m not exactly sure, but it’s implied to be a romantic one.” Mono held his mouth shut. He stomped his way straight into the hallway. He glanced back at Lith with a stone-frosted expression in his eyes. “We will not speak of this again, Lith.” Lith took a step back with her face’s nerves paralyzed in surprise. Her tails slumped down. “Mono…?” DecisionsThe group of Pokémon and Fluttershy stood around in the briefing room. With the exception of Fluttershy, each member of the group was all garbed in their uniform. Mono glanced towards Lith’s direction, but turned his head away from the instant she met his gaze. “Lith, can I tell you something?” He asked in a quiet voice. “You can always ask me anything, Mono. We are twins after all.” Lith responded in a deadpan tone, not looking at Mono. “First off, I want to apologize for how I acted last night. I should have never screamed at you like that.” “Well… that was a bit out of character for you. But, why did you erupt like that? All I asked was a simple question.” Mono remained silent, rubbing the top of his right paw with his left paw. His eyes glanced towards the ground and a solemn frown was etched onto his face. “I… get very defensive when someone asks me a question like that. I mean, I don’t really have any sort of rebuttal against it because I will only know that I am lying to myself.” “So it is true; you do have romantic feelings for Sophia.” Lith stated. “All of our Pokémon know apparently, but yes. I’ve been spending a lot of time with Sophia when no one else is around. She understands the kind of person I was when no others could. She is one of the only things that actually made me feel like, well, a feeling individual. But, Poképhilia is banned and I was kind of afraid how everybody at the lab would feel.” Mono revealed. “Well, I won’t think any differently of you. And that isn’t because you are my brother.” With a smile brimming with light, Lith responded. “I always believed that we should be with the ones we love, even if our choices are questionable.” Mono forced a smile, giggling underneath his breath. “You have always been the hopeless romantic, Lith.” “Yep. Besides, you’re doing me a favor by going after Sophia. After all, with her out of the picture, Fei will be all mine.” Lith said. Mono looked at her, imagining that she was a one-eyed being with three heads. “Fei loves Sophia?” “It’s only rumors, but I don’t want any sort of competition. Also Mono, can you please tell Gnasher to not read my diary anymore? She’s been snooping as much as she wants through it.” Gnasher glared at Lith with a stare that frosted over her soul. “Gnasher, why?” Mono asked. “No reason. I just get bored from time to time.” Gnasher shrugged off. “I would appreciate if you wouldn’t look through the private property of others without their permission next time, Gnasher. It just isn’t right under any circumstance to do so.” “Alright, Mono. But, you have to find more ways to keep me entertained.” “Will do.” Spitfire walked into the room with an unmoving expression on her face. She tilted her shades to all of the Pokémon in the room. She walked up to Fluttershy, whose legs were trembling and cold sweat breaking out of her coat. She walked past her and stopped in front of the briefing table. “Everyone break into this new world of yours yet? Because today, I’m giving you a mission.” “What kind of mission?” Stereo asked. “Simple; I want you to go out to the southeastern portion of the Terraformed Wilderness. One of our travel probes is off-line, and I want you eight to clear away the monsters infesting the area.” Spitfire explained. “That seems a bit sudden.” Jasmine responded. “It has to be sudden. Developing a new probe out of schedule is expensive and inconvenient for us. Therefore, we have to keep as many probes possible as active. Plus, if the monsters aren’t cleared away, then those new probes will also be destroyed.” “That seems a bit dangerous.” Fluttershy noted. “Are you sure you want someone like me to venture into dangerous territory?” “You aren’t a stranger to danger, Fluttershy. In fact, you’ve seen more danger than try to avoid it. Plus, someone’s going to have to be there to be their guide, and I cannot think of anyone else fit for the position.” Spitfire said. “Well… that’s true. And, I really don’t want to see any of my new friends get hurt. Plus, someone has to drive the buggy. Very well, I’ll join on their trip.” “Excellent. You can begin your mission at any time, but it has to be before eleven.” The seven Pokémon sat in the open back of a black vehicle. They all sat with their limbs stretched out. The cool wind whisked off of their bodies and they were greeted by the scent of wild flora in the air. “You know, sometimes I forget that this place was home to a warfront from aliens in space. It actually seems like a cool spot for a vacation.” With a content sigh, Rondo stated. “There is a reason why we are in the back though. Spitfire says that the wilderness carries some nasty monsters that would love to ruin our plans.” Stereo noted. “I don’t see any monsters yet. I don’t think they’ll come to us at all.” From the distance, a large roar sounded out. A giant whale-dragon beast with green wings and luminescent flesh appeared in the horizon, aiming towards the buggy the group is in. Its six eyes were red with uncontrollable anger. “You just had to say something, didn’t you, Rondo?” With a fire burning in her voice, Lith shouted. “Now is not the time to argue; it is time to fight!” Mono called out, jumping on the top of the hood. “You are not alone, Mono. I shall assist.” Lith stated, jumping onto his side. Mono and Lith both unfolded their ears, revealing their extra eyes. They flashed their respective colors, causing all the Pokémon in the buggy to hide just behind the driver’s area. A massive shockwave emanated from the two siblings, knocking the behemoth outside of the sky and onto the ground. The buggy skidded to a stop and Fluttershy hopped out of the open door. The rest of the Pokémon leapt off of the buggy and engaged the beast in the front. “Fluttershy, you wouldn’t happen to know what this creature is would you?” Mono asked. “It’s a brachyix, and it’s not too happy to see us.” The brachyix let out a paralyzing roar, causing everyone to place their front limbs over their faces. “Stereo, stun it with a supersonic!” Mono called out. “Way ahead of you, Mono.” Stereo took a deep breath of air in and screamed. Red sonic waves struck the brachyix, stopping it in midair. Shaking its head, it opened its maw. A blue gust of gasses blew out from it, covering the entire area in smoke. “Rondo, fly up into the air and scan for the brachyix. We cannot let it have the edge over us.” “Got it, Mono!” Rondo flapped his wings several times, flying upwards. The gas thinned for him, allowing him to breach through the surface into clean air. With his sharp eyes, he detected a shadow moving quickly to the center of gas from the northeast. Rondo flapped his wings, unleashing a Heat Wave towards the direction. The glass cleared away and the brachyix was revealed from its guise. “Good job, Rondo!” Jasmine shouted. “Thanks, but you have to be-“Rondo began saying when the brachyix appeared from underneath him and crashed its head against his body. Rondo winced, but flew out of its way by using the force launching him. “That was a close one!” Jasmine’s body flashed, unleashing a dazzling gleam towards its direction. It stood in the air, twitching from the strike. “Whatever it is, it’s weak to Fairy-type moves. It doesn’t look like a Fighting-type and its body betrays a potential Dark-typing.” Jasmine informed. “I got just the thing to bring a chill into its nerves.” Stereo said, opening his massive maws. A light blue beam shot out of it, striking the brachyix. “Hah! The Ice Beam is working!” The brachyix broke free from the ice and turned towards Stereo’s direction. “You might have spoken too soon, Stereo.” Custard said. The brachyix cloaked itself in scorching flames and charged itself towards the crowd. Mono held up both of his arms, creating a light blue shield around everyone. The strike from the beast knocked everyone back and their clothing suffered slight scorching. “That was an Outrage. Wait, Custard!” Lith shouted, running over to the downed Custard. “I’m fine, Lith. It’s just a scratch.” Custard responded, smiling but with wobbling legs. Gnasher hopped up off her feet and punched her open set of left claws with her right claws. “You see, now that means I have to hurt it.” Gnasher sprinted towards the brachyix, slashing it with a Dragon Claw. It roared, but torqued its body and swiped its tail across Gnasher’s face, knocking her over. Mono’s eyes flashed and grasped the beast in his psychic hold. Custard got off the ground, unleashing a Dragon Pulse straight from his mouth and into the scratched portion of the brachyix’s body. Mono lifted the brachyix into the air, which became shot by Stereo’s Ice Beam. The center of Lith’s paw charged with a Signal Beam, firing into the damaged area of the brachyix. “Down you go!” Mono shouted, thrusting it down with a telekinetic slam. The brachyix lied on the ground, motionless. “Is it… dead?” Lith asked. Fluttershy galloped to its side and placed her hoof on its face. “It’s just unconscious. I just don’t understand it.” She stated. “What don’t you understand?” Lith asked. “Brachyixes are normally docile in nature, only attacking when it is aggravated. I was driving at a safe speed, and this particular one flew from the direction of the probe.” “So, what you maybe are saying is that there is something at the probe that is causing these creatures to go berserk?” Mono asked. “It’s a theory, but it could be true. This gives us even more reason to make haste towards the probe.” Fluttershy said with a surprising burst of dedication in her voice. “Wow, Fluttershy, you sound confident all of a sudden.” With her eyes widened to dinner plates, Lith commented. “Even if these are monsters that have the capability of hurting others, I cannot stand something that is driving these normally docile creatures insane. We have to make it to that probe under every possible circumstance. Now.” The buggy cruised along the bumpy plains, shaking the benches of the Pokémon. Rondo gripped the cushion of his seat with a crushing hold, not letting his body launch out of the vehicle. Gnasher looked to her right and eyed a darker patch of purple over the left shoulder of Custard’s cloth. “Custard… your shoulder.” Custard glanced towards his shoulder and touched it. “It doesn’t hurt as bad as it looks. I’ll just have it patched up and be good as new.” “You idiot! That was a direct Outrage you took from the Brachyix when jumping in front of me! We don’t know just how strong these creatures are. You could have gotten yourself killed!” Gnasher snapped. “Maybe I just wanted to protect you. I may not have the most durable body, but I will not stand to see you or any of my family harmed like that. I will gladly shield everyone with my body if I could.” Custard replied. “Just try not to get too beat up, alright? I don’t want to have to be the one to bury you.” “I’ll try not to get too hurt, then. But, you’ll have to promise me that you’ll try to not bring yourself into much danger as well.” Stereo looked over towards Rondo’s wings and saw darkened patches underneath his feathers. “Rondo, are you alright? You look hurt.” He asked. “It’s just the dangers of doing some risky things. I don’t really mind, though. I’m just glad I am able to help.” Rondo responded. “I may have known you for years now, Rondo, but I always forget how tough your small bird body is.” With lighthearted laughter bellowing out of his mouth, Stereo commented. The window behind the driver’s seat scrolled down and Fluttershy looked back towards the Pokémon. “We’re almost at the probe. I want you all to be prepared for whatever may be there, if that is okay with you.” In the distance was a white structure that towered some of the larger buildings in Neo Canterlot. It had a white dish at the top and several open passages leading into its heart. The buggy stopped and Fluttershy disembarked from her seat. The Pokémon all hopped and flew over the edge of their seats. “Something is a bit… off here. Shouldn’t this place be swarming with monsters?” Mono asked. “That is weird. Where could they all be?” Fluttershy questioned, placing her left front hoof underneath her chin. A shadow the size of a moon descended upon the group. Everyone looked into the sky, eyeing a hoard of brachyix and one that is at least five times bigger than normal. “Awww, come on! We had trouble dealing with one brachyix! How are we supposed to beat a whole hoard of them and their alpha?!” Rondo shouted. “This may be a good time to run inside the probe now.” Lith suggested. She looked behind her and saw that everyone made haste towards a nearby passage. She sighed. “I would have loved it if you waited for me!” The lights in the hallway flickered on and off with an erratic pattern. Sparks of blue electricity flickered throughout the broken wires and open bulbs. A feeling of dread and suspense gripped the group’s nerves, walking through the hall with the atmosphere of a haunted house. “What happened in here? I knew that those brachyixes outside are destructive, but I never imagined that they can fit inside this place and do direct damage.” Jasmine said. “Now that I think about it, the structure outside is relatively unharmed. If anything, this implies that there is an intruder aboard the probe.” Fluttershy theorized. Saying these words, her heart stopped and fear gripped her wings. Jasmine glanced towards Fluttershy with her eyes jolted open in surprise. “Fluttershy? What’s wrong?” She asked. “There are Equusians working on this particular probe! We have to make sure that they are okay.” Fluttershy shouted, running into the hallway. “Wait, Fluttershy!” Mono screamed, following Fluttershy in a sprint. The rest of the Pokémon soon followed suit. Fluttershy wandered into a larger room with computer monitors everywhere. A horrified gasp escaped her throat, seeing a blue-coated earth pony stallion in a lab coat with a light blue mane and tail, both were roughed up and pink eyes sprawled on the floor. His legs were swelled with liquid and inflammation in several places, his joints were dislocated in acute angles and his spine was twisted three times over. He moaned out in pain. “Blue Land!” Fluttershy stated, kneeling down by Blue Land’s line of sight. “F-Fluttershy…?” He said in a decrepit tone. The rest of the Pokémon sprinted into the room. Jasmine’s head backed away and she sealed her mouth. A slight gag was heard from her voice. “Good Arceus! What happened here?!” She shouted. “It doesn’t matter… who you others… are. But please… hear my story.” Blue Land responded. “A… member of the… Van’Goth came in and… began destroying this place. I tried confronting him… but he left me… in this state.” “Oh my!” Fluttershy said. “Then… this place is sabotaged?” “Not… necessarily. But… the alien brought a weird stone… that is causing this place to be… under attack.” With a yelp in pain, Blue Land explained. “Mono! Please help me help him. He is in very bad shape.” Mono shied his head away. A flash of melancholy appeared within his eyes. “Fluttershy… he’s badly injured. Even if we get him emergency help and surgery now, these injuries will guarantee that he will never be the same pony he was before the incident.” “Wh-what?” Fluttershy uttered out, a stray tear falling from her right eye. “As much as I’d hate to say it, Fluttershy, Blue Land is beyond saving. We have to euthanize him.” With a heavy tone filled with regret, Lith suggested. “N-no! We can’t kill him. It’s not right!” “P-please! This pain… it’s horrible… every waking moment… is in agony…” Blue Land uttered out. “Please, Blue Land! I don’t want to lose you. You are one of my closest friends!” Fluttershy pleaded. “I appreciate… the thought. But the pain… it hurts so much. I want it… to end. Please, Fluttershy… as a friend… do me an act of kindness… and end my suffering.” Fluttershy’s heart ripped in half by Blue Land’s request. Her cries were stifled by her throat. She shut her eyes, letting her tears pool underneath her eyelashes. She walked up to Blue Land’s head and grasped it with the gentle hold of a caregiver. “Breaking your neck… will be instant, Blue Land. You won’t have to suffer anymore.” She said in a voice steeped in sadness. A weak smile appeared on Blue Land’s face. “Thank you… Fluttershy.” Fluttershy jerked her hooves with an unhesitating force behind them. A loud crack echoed throughout the area. Blue Land’s body twitched for a moment and stopped moving. She opened her eyes and turned to the direction of the group with rivers flowing down them. “That must have been hard to do.” With his voice void of any joy, Rondo replied. “I never hope I have to do that again. I think a piece of my heart died when carrying that out.” “You did… what was right.” Lith said. Mono shook his head. “I apologize that you had to do that. I would have done it so that you would not have the blood of your friend on your hooves.” “No… it had to be me. Blue Land would have wanted to die in the care of someone he values.” “I’m sorry if I sound like a jerk about it, but don’t we have a mission to complete? We can’t focus on someone’s death if it gets in the way of our mission. In fact, I think this Blue Land would want us to resolve the issues here.” Gnasher said. “You’re right Gnasher, and I know just the place where it could be. In the lowest possible level of every probe, there is a command center that processes information and sends it to HQ. If that stone he mentioned is here, then it must be there.” Fluttershy said. “Then let’s make head there before the situation worsens. I do not want to fight all of those brachyixes outside.” Mono replied. The group sprinted down a series of closed-in staircases, running a marathon against the clock. At the end of the stairs was a shining light that beckoned their objective. At the base of the stairs, the group was greeted by the sight of three monitors the size of billboards. The monitors each displayed several images outside, showing the brachyixes’ on-screen attacking the probe. The rumbling of their attacks shook even the base of the probe. “Now, if I was a weird stone, where would I be?” Rondo wondered aloud. Stereo flipped the dashboard of the central monitor open, revealing a black and shimmering stone betwixt the wiring. “Maybe in here?” Fluttershy hovered towards the gem, picking it up. The rock was icy to the touch, almost freezing a hole through her hoof. She dropped it on the floor, waving her hoof with clenched teeth. “It hurts holding it. We should destroy it.” She suggested. “Good idea. But… where do we go to destroy it?” Lith asked. “Every probe has a built-in furnace for incinerating scraps and other products to destroy sensitive objects. It is actually over there.” Fluttershy responded, pointing over to a box in the wall that crackled with red electricity. “That might be too convenient. I’d be wary about that thing if I were you.” Mono said. “It’s not like this stone can turn into some sort of Dark-type and Ice-type Ninja, right?” Rondo asked. The strange rock floated into the air, gaining more mass and developing razor limbs and a needle head. Its eyes flashed in a grim red and it crossed its arms. “Now look at what you did, you dumb bird! Didn’t you know to never invoke Murphy’s Law?” Gnasher chastised. “Ummm… what’s Murphy’s Law?” Fluttershy asked. “Basically, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Now, we have to fight a Dark-type and Ice-type Ninja because Rondo implied that it wouldn’t happen.” Lith explained. “Ohhhhh. Oh.” The strange being sharpened its blades on each other, dashing forward with its arms held out towards Fluttershy. Mono raised a Reflect over Fluttershy, shielding her from most of the damage. The blow from the strike sent her flying towards a monitor. She shut her eyes, expecting the feeling of glass shattering through her body to arrive. But, it never did. She opened her eyes, finding herself levitating in the air and Lith’s left paw extended out. “I won’t let you die, Fluttershy.” “Thanks, Lith.” Lith lowered Fluttershy onto the ground and faced the strange being. “Mono, I suggest you stick to healing us and buffing our defenses against this thing.” “Understood, Lith.” The strange being’s eyes flashed for a moment, creating an X-shaped slash with both of its arms. A raging gust of frozen wind enveloped the battlefield. “Allow me to counter that!” Rondo said, whipping out a Heat Wave with his wings. The Heat Wave and the Blizzard collided against each other, not allowing one to win over the other. Lith fired a Signal Beam towards the direction of the strange being, chipping away at the stone. Gnasher broke through the temperature barrier, biting the being with her Crunch. She tossed it into the air, where Jasmine unleashed a Dazzling Gleam and struck it. It vanished within a veil of darkness. “Where did it go?” Stereo asked, moving his head everywhere. The being reappeared on top of a monitor, slashing away chunks of black ice towards Stereo. Mono erected a Quick Guard, protecting him from the shards of ice. The being vanished again. “Great, where is it now?” Lith wondered aloud. A cloud of darkness appeared behind Custard, disappearing and giving way to the being. Custard turned around and a sudden gasp escaped from his throat. “Oh no you don’t!” Stereo shouted, holding out his two arms and placing them to his right side. A light blue sphere of energy built between his hands, pulsating with power. He threw the ball of energy against the being. The being took a step backwards, dodging it. The ball crashed into the dashboard of a monitor, causing an explosion of dust. Stereo grimaced. “Don’t feel bad, Stereo. That was still a good Focus Blast.” Mono comforted. “Thanks, but I would have liked it if it hit.” Stereo admitted. “I got this now!” Custard shouted. A dark purple ooze with a foul smell formed around him, twisting in several directions. Extending his right arm outwards, he directed the sludge towards the being in front of him in a wave. The sludge osmosed into the being, shattering half of its left shoulder. Its back faltered and its eyes turned a dark shade of purple.” “Good hit, Custard!” Lith said. “Now it’s time for me to finish it off.” She fired a Signal Beam from her hand, striking the writhing being. The being’s body turned into glass, cracking from the legs and up. It shattered, releasing a black shockwave the buffered everyone back. “Did we… win?” Fluttershy asked, her voice seeping with uncertainty. The active monitors on the screen displayed the brachyixes outside stopping in their assault. Their red eyes turned into a peaceful blue. They all floated away from the probe. Rondo let out a quick smile. “We did it!” He screeched. Lith walked over towards one of the pieces of the dark glass on the floor, picking it up and humming. “It’s not deathly cold anymore, that’s for sure. Mono, would you mind sending this to R&D for analysis for me?” “Will do, Lith.” Mono replied. “It’s just so weird though; why does the Van’Goth have such interest in this place that they went through the trouble of putting this inside here?” “The probes are our connection to the outside world.” Fluttershy stated. “They allow us to gather information so that we can plan out our missions in each region. They also allow for field agents to teleport directly to a probe as well.” “That is interesting, but it still leaves answers as to why they couldn’t have just destroyed it themselves. Why did they have to insert this thing inside?” Jasmine asked. “It seems like we have many unanswered questions, and I expect that having them answered will only lead to more questions. For now, let’s just say that our mission is completed.” Lith announced. Fluttershy appeared in Spitfire’s Command Room, saluting with a stone-frosted eyes and mouth on her face. Spitfire smiled. “I trust that the issues involving the probe have been resolved?” “Yes. We found a foreign object in the command center of the probe and battled it. It is sent to R&D for analysis, but it was the cause of the monsters going berserk and attacking it.” Fluttershy reported. Spitfire glanced into Fluttershy’s eyes, seeing them twitch and eyeing a dash of red within them. She frowned. “So there were no survivors it seems.” Fluttershy slanted her eyes, frowned and looked away. “There was one… but he was in so much pain. Mono and Lith said that he would never be the same pony that he was even if we put him under intensive care. I… had to euthanize him.” On the verge of tears, she said. “It was Blue Land, wasn’t it?” Spitfire asked, taking off her shades and revealing her empathetic eyes. Fluttershy nodded. Spitfire walked around her table, hugging Fluttershy by her neck. She felt the moisture of Fluttershy’s tears running down her shoulder. “Just let it all out. It does no one good to hide their feelings.” “I never thought… I would have to kill someone… to help them. Especially not a good friend like him.” Fluttershy blubbered out. “I know how it is like to lose a friend. I’ve already lost several friends during this war, some of which I had no choice but to execute myself.” Fluttershy backed away from Spitfire. Tears ran down her face, but the clouds of sadness in her eyes were replaced with raging suns. “Spitfire, I want to learn how to use a rifle.” Mono sat within the Pokémon group’s room, staring down on the ground. He took in a deep breath, exhaling a shaken air. “Mono, are you all right?” Lith asked, walking into the room. “I’m fine, Lith. I’m just trying to rest my nerves over what happened in our mission.” Mono responded. Lith sat down next to Mono, craning her neck down and looking at his eyes. “There wasn’t much we can do for that stallion, if that is what you were referring to. I have never seen anyone that had their anatomy mangled that badly before.” Mono sat up and looked onto Lith with lidded eyes. “Lith, if I was ever in that much pain; would you have mercy killed me as well?” “What?!” Jolting her back upwards and her eyes and mouth widening to their peaks, Lith shouted. “Why would I do that?!” “Just imagine it. I had my spine broken in several areas, my limbs were shattered and my body will never be able to recover. Do you think it would be better to leave me alive like that, or would it be better just to end my existence?” “I… I don’t know. If you were anything less than family, I would have done it for you. But… you are literally my twin. You are the only family I have left in this world. I would lose a part of my heart if I did that. Without mother… without father… without you… I would end up being insane with grief.” Mono turned his head the opposite side, frowning. “I’m sorry I even mentioned it, Lith. But, seeing how Fluttershy killed her friend because of his condition… it leaves much to think about.” “I don’t blame you, Mono.” Shaking her head, Lith uttered out. “But, it would be an even more difficult decision for me to make if you were in Blue Land’s condition.” Mono placed his left paw on Lith’s shoulder, caressing it with a fairy’s grace. “If it would make you feel better, I would feel the same way if that happened to you as well. Fate just has some twisted mechanisms meant to hurt people. But, I promise that I will never let you be hurt like that.” Lith looked into Mono’s eyes with a wide, but tearful smile. “I promise that I won’t let you be hurt like that either, Mono. I promise that with the bottom of my heart.” The two siblings embraced each other. Wilhelm walked through the command center of the probe, eyeing the glass spread out throughout the floor. A devilish smirk covered his entire lower face. “It seems that the little bug I planted here was removed and destroyed. Nonetheless, I got what I needed; valuable information on those new creatures.” Old Memories, New WaysLith sat on her bed, looking into the figurine of a cat in her paws and gazing at it with longing desire. She sighed. Jasmine walked into her room with her eyes lidded in sadness. “Lith, you haven’t shown up today for roll call. Actually, you haven’t shown up in H.O.R.S.E. at all today. Is everything all right?” She said, walking into the room and sitting by her side. “How did you get in, Jasmine?” Lith asked, glancing towards her. “Mono lent me his card so that I can come inside. Now tell me what is on your mind.” Jasmine explained. “I miss my parents very much. I can’t help but feel that if I had not pushed my dad to get my mom for the surprise anniversary party Mono and I prepared, they would still be alive today.” Lith said. “You know you could not have foreseen your parents getting into that car accident that day. Nobody did.” Jasmine comforted. “I know… but my father was so exhausted from having to help Mono and dealing with the situations after that case that I believe that it was my fault.” “Lith, you need to stand up to the shadows of your past. You have grown to be a beautiful and intelligent woman. You have shown that you are very capable as a Pokémon and nobody will ever hate you for what happened. Now, you just need to learn that it wasn’t your fault.” Jasmine advised. “But-“ “Don’t give me any ‘buts’, Lith. Just listen to me and smile. Look at the positives of your life. We’re all here and you even made some new friends!” Lith flashed a weak smile. “I know, Jasmine. Thanks for cheering me up.” “I’m always here to cheer you up when you’re down. Now, how about you go into H.O.R.S.E. to do a civilian quest? Spending time with others is definitely your strong suit.” Holograms covered an entire board the size of a household roof with requests. Several Equusians garbed in uniforms downloaded each hologram into their watches, reading them from there. Lith walked into the area, eyeing the various H.O.R.S.E. members wandering throughout the hub area. She walked up to the front desk, where a brown-feathered griffon with a gray head, green eyes and a cheerful smile sat. “Welcome to the Civilian Division of H.O.R.S.E. You must be one of the new members that everyone here is talking about.” She said. “What does everyone say about us?” Lith asked. “Some of the discussions I’ve heard were mixed. Some say that your group lives up to the hype, some say that they still don’t trust you. Mainly, everyone says that you will all leave a deep impact in our organization. But, don’t mind the naysayers. My name is Sharp Beak, and I’ll be your receptionist during your time here.” Sharp Beak responded. “Greetings, Sharp Beak. My name is Lith, and my partner recommended that I come here to do a civilian quest?” “Jasmine, right? Yeah, she came by here earlier and actually selected a quest for me to hold on to for you.” Sharp Beak flashed her watch, cueing Lith to do the same thing. The light from Sharp Beak’s watch transferred over to Lith’s watch. A hologram appeared above it. “Hmmm… it seems like the quest is from the local orphanage, and it is to cheer up a depressed child there?” Lith asked. “That’s right. I don’t know why she chose that quest for you, but no one wanted to take it. So, I held it on for you.” Sharp Beak responded. Lith smiled, shutting off her watch. “I’ll take the quest. Is there anything I need to do to show that I’ve taken it?” “Nothing much. The only thing that is asked for is a signature on the request from the client or the next of kin if the client is unavailable for some reason upon its completion.” “That shouldn’t be too hard, and it shouldn’t also be hard to cheer up a child.” “Trust me, Lith; many H.O.R.S.E. agents tried this request, but none have been able to complete it. But, you have a different aura about you. I’m sure you’ll do fine.” Sharp Beak stated, filing her nails with a laser. Lith walked down the populated streets of Neo Canterlot, eyeing the directions to her destination. “Alright, so the orphanage should be just three blocks away if I take these directions.” “Or, you can skip into the alleyways and cut it down to one block.” Lith eyed to the source of the voice, seeing a smiling Apple Bloom by her side. “Apple Bloom, right?” She asked. “You remembered! So, I heard you’re gonna go to the orphanage to do a request.” Apple Bloom responded. “How did you-“ “I kind of followed you.” Lith smacked her forehead with her left paw and sighed. “So… is there a reason why you are following me?” “Well, I’m doing a bit of on-the-job shadowing. I’m gonna to be a H.O.R.S.E. agent someday, so I might as well see how a real H.O.R.S.E. agent does her job.” Apple Bloom explained. “Couldn’t you find another agent to shadow? What I’m doing is kind of mundane.” “I’ve never seen you do a civilian request, so I really want to see how a newbie handles one.” “So you want to see me fail is what you are saying?” Lith asked in a flat, but aggravated tone. “Don’t word it like that! I just want to see what mistakes agents shouldn’t make and learn from them.” “So you want to see me fail?” “…Maybe.” Looking away from Lith, Apple Bloom uttered out in a quiet voice. Lith smiled and pat Apple Bloom on her shoulder. “It’s alright if you want to see me fail, Apple Bloom. What’s not alright is causing me to fail just to see me fail. As long as you don’t do that, then we’ll be as right as rain.” “You’re pretty cool about me saying that, Lith. Most other agents would just scream at me for bringing that up.” Lith shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve had my own failures to contend with. One more isn’t going to hurt me if I learn from it. Besides, you’re still getting a learning experience from it regardless, right?” “I guess so. Oh, hey! There’s the orphanage!” Apple Bloom called out, pointing to a metallic building with a hologram jetting out on the side reading ‘San Fruta’s Home for Orphaned Children’. Lith looked in her watch, her eyes jetting open upon seeing her marker close to the destination. “I guess that actually was a shortcut! We made it early. Now, let’s go see the client.” Outside the building stood a silver-coated donkey with a brown mane and brown eyes. She looked at Lith and Apple Bloom, smiling and galloping up to them. “You must be the agent who took my request!” She said. “My name is Lith, and you must be Chili Spice if I read your request correctly. Also, don’t mind the filly here because she is just shadowing me. Is that alright?” Lith asked. “It’s all fine, mija. It’s what I say; ‘Mas amigas es mejor que cero do digo’.” Chili Spice replied in a cheerful voice. “So, may I see the child?” “Of course you may. I’ll bring you to his room.” Within the halls of the orphanage lied giggling Equusian children running from room to room, playing with toys, giggling and talking with each other. “Wow! I usually thought that orphanages were supposed to be grim and scary.” Lith commented, bringing about a headshake from Chili Spice. “And why would I do that? An orphanage is supposed to be a home for children that have no family. If it doesn’t feel like a good home, then you might as well lock them behind a prison. I make sure that I am a good parental figure for a good number of the future of Neo Canterlot.” “I take back my statement, Chili Spice. It’s kind of hard to not think badly about orphanages since I was almost placed in one with my brother.” “It’s all good, mija. It’s a very bad stereotype that mi bisabuela wanted to stop when founding this orphanage.” The group walked upon a closed door. Chili Spice knocked on it, causing it to lift open. Behind the doorway a sea-green-coated pegasus colt with an aqua blue mane and tail. His body and blue eyes were tinted in gray and a perpetual frown existed upon his face. “Hello there.” The colt responded in a deadpan voice. “Hi! My name is Apple Bloom!” Apple Bloom introduced, extending her right hoof forward. “When I say ‘Hello there’, I mean ‘get out of here’.” The colt responded, inviting a chilling feeling into Apple Bloom’s body. “Well aren’t you rude?” “Why shouldn’t I be? I lost my parents and nobody likes me anyways.” The door shut closed. Lith looked towards Chili Spice with a frown on her face. “Has he always been like this?” “Sí. Jetstream Rush is always this depressed when he first came here. His crying was inconsolable, but then he just stopped. Since then, he’s been in this mood for two years.” Chili Spice explained. “Wait, ‘two years’? But, didn’t the invasion start ten years ago?” Lith asked. “Manehatten was one of the last cities to be evacuated because none of the aliens were attacking it. But, the aliens attacked and Jetstream Rush’s parents died trying to make sure he fled. I have a feeling that he still blames himself for what happened that day.” “…You know what? I want to talk with Jetstream Rush right now. I want to make him happy, not because it’s my mission to, but because I see a little bit of himself in me.” Saying these words, Lith stomped towards the door with renewed vigor and knocked her right paw on it. The door opened, revealing a depressed Jetstream Rush behind it. “Oh, it’s you. What do you want?” “Do you want to just talk?” Lith asked. Jetstream Rush shrugged his shoulders and walked onto his twin-sized bed, letting the door be open. Lith walked into the room and the door shut behind her. “I’ll give you five minutes to talk with me.” Jetstream Rush said in a hurried tone. Lith sat by Jetstream Rush’s side in the bed. “So Chili Spice tells me that your parents died trying to save you. Is that right?” Jetstream Rush looked away, shaking his head. “You wouldn’t understand.” “You mean the fact that you hate yourself for letting your parents die? Or is it because you believed that you were the reason your parents died? Perhaps it’s because you actually thought your parents would make it and you would live a happy life for them?” Lith prodded, making Jetstream Rush wince with each item. “H-how did you know about that last part?” He asked. “Because I lost my parents when I was at the age you lost yours, and I hated myself for inadvertently causing their deaths. I still had my twin and my Pokémon, but it doesn’t make it any less painful that they would be alive today if it wasn’t for me rushing my father to pick up my mother from work for their anniversary party.” Lith explained, pulling out her cat figurine from her bag. “What is that?” Glancing at the object, Jetstream Rush asked in a peppery voice. “It’s something that I brought from a store in the city. It reminds me of the gift I gave to my father before he died.” “Can… can I see it?” Lith handed the figurine to Jetstream Rush, who examined the figurine with interest. A shadow of a smile appeared on his face. “Look at the craftsmanship on this! It’s made out of cast iron. You don’t see that anymore nowadays.” “It is wonderfully crafted, is it not? I guess I was allured to the craftsmanship of this object.” Lith said. Jetstream Rush handed the figurine back to Lith, who took it and placed it in her bag. “You are powerful, right?” He asked. “Ummm… I can say that I am a bit of a powerhouse. Why do you ask?” Lith responded. “The mecha that killed my parents; it’s still in Manehatten. I want you to destroy it.” Jetstream Rush requested. “That’s a bit out of the request, Jetstream. I mean, destroying one mecha is not an easy feat alone. On top of that, a mecha that is still wandering around Manehatten sounds much more powerful than the invasion mechas a few days ago.” “Please! Seeing the physical representation of my sorrow and depression being toppled over will make me happy!” “I’m sorry, Jetstream Rush, but there are certain protocols I have to take so that I may take such a huge mission. I’m sorry.” Jetstream Rush stared at Lith with an intense glare. He pointed at the doorway with ferocious motion. “Out. Now!” “But-“ “Now!” Lith stood up from the bed and walked out with a frown on her face. She looked back and opened her mouth, but stopped and continued walking forward. Chili Spice and Apple Bloom looked upon the distraught Lith with frowns on their faces. “I take it you didn’t cheer him up?” Chili Spice asked. “I was close… he was actually smiling, but he wanted me to take out a mecha at the outskirts of Manehatten. I rejected his request.” “Why did you do that? I’m sure you can take out a mecha by yourself.” Apple Bloom questioned. “That’s not an easy thing to do, especially since said mecha was responsible for the annihilation of Manehatten.” Lith responded. “You actually got him to smile?!” Chili Spice shouted. “That’s the closest anyone had gotten to cheering him up, and he does sound like he has more emotion in his voice. Would you mind if I kept your contact number, Lith? If he’s open for talking again, you’ll be the first I’ll notify.” “It would be my honor, Chili Spice.” Lith and Chili Spice held out their watches and pressed a red button on them. A symbol shaped like a cellphone appeared on both of their screens. “You are still welcome to come by anytime, mija. There are plenty of children here that would love to see beings such as yourselves.” “We’re leaving, Apple Bloom.” Lith said. Apple Bloom frowned, following Lith outside. Lith wandered the streets of Neo Canterlot, looking down on the ground with a dull shine on her eyes. “I’m sorry you didn’t learn much from me, Apple Bloom. I wasn’t sure if I made a mistake or not.” But, no voice responded to her. “Giving me the silent treatment for abandoning the colt, Apple Bloom?” Lith glanced to her side and saw that Apple Bloom was not around. Her lungs petrified with fear. “Apple Bloom? Apple Bloom!” She called out, running towards every conceivable angle in the area. She raised her watch to her face and imputed a series of buttons on in. Chili Spice’s head came up over the watch, who began breathing in quick successive strokes. “Chili Spice! Is Apple Bloom at the orphanage?!” “No, but there is even worse news; Jetstream Rush is missing!” Lith’s reality shattered in black upon hearing Chili Spice’s words. She shook her head. “There is only one possible place those two could have gone to. I’ll contact you when I find them in safe condition, Chili Spice.” “¡Por favor llamame cuando tú las buscas!” Chili Spice called out. “I’m sorry, but what?” “Just find them!” Chili Spice’s head disappeared from the watch. Lith imputed another series of commands in her watch, bringing up Applejack’s head. “You better have a good reason for calling me, Lith. I’m trying to find Apple Bloom, and a buggy went missing!” “That’s the thing, Applejack; I know where Apple Bloom is, but I need your help.” Jetstream Rush soared through the gray clouds in the sky, shredding the air around him. A bridge leading into an island of ruined buildings and structures appeared in the horizon. He inhaled a gust of air and descended upon the bridgeway. “It took you long enough.” He looked to his side, seeing a smirking Apple Bloom by the side of the bridge. “How did you get here so fast?” He asked with a higher tone. “I took a buggy to get here without anypony’s permission. I know my way around these things.” Apple Bloom responded, holding a black square in her hoof. “Aren’t you a little young to be driving?” “Yep, but I don’t care. What matters is that you came here for the mecha, right?” “And you’re here to stop me from finding it?” Jetstream Rush asked with an interrogative tone. “The opposite, really. I wanna help you fight that mecha to help stand me out from the other children at H.O.R.S.E. and be an agent faster.” Apple Bloom explained. Jetstream Rush walked across the bridge, looking back towards Apple Bloom. “If you are helping me, then we should go together. Working as a duo will make things easier for us.” “Now you’re speaking my tongue!” Apple Bloom and Jetstream Rush eyed the decaying and broken stones and metals across the entire cityscape. The streets were littered in debris, broken glass and the lamps from street lights. The windows in the buildings were shattered open, revealing empty darkness inside of the buildings. The signs littering the streets had faded lettering and coloring. Apple Bloom moved her head with a nervous shake in her spine. “This place doesn’t feel too nice to be in…” “This used to be my home. To see it in ruins like this is horrible.” Jetstream Rush said. “To think this used to be one of the busiest cities in all of Equestria. Now, it just looks like-“ “A ghost town? It pretty much is at this point, and it’s all due to that exo that descended upon here two years ago. That exo took everything away from me, so I really don’t mind seeking it out in an attempt to destroy it myself.” “Adults can be useless since they all have to follow the rules to do something simple like destroying a mecha. I mean, how hard could it be to destroy one mecha?” A loud thud reverberated behind Apple Bloom and Jetstream Rush. The two of them craned their necks slowly with stunned movement, and their jaws dropped at the source of the noise; a gray and purple mecha the size of a skyscraper stood right behind them. Its armor pulsed with red electricity moving through its veins. “Wow… it’s bigger than I last remembered.” Jetstream Rush stuttered out, pointing at it with a shaking hoof. “That’s the mecha? I didn’t expect it to look so big… or intimidating!” Apple Bloom shouted. The mecha’s visor flashed in a black color, and it aimed its large arms towards the two children. “I think now would be a good time to run!” Jetstream Rush screamed, running the opposite direction of the mecha. Apple Bloom sprinted behind him. “Hey, what’s the big deal?! Weren’t you gonna fight it?” She chastised. “Less talking, more running!” Panting, Jetstream Rush ordered. The mecha bent its knees close to the ground and leaped into the sky, disappearing in it. “Did we get away from it?” Apple Bloom asked, looking behind her. The mecha dropped in from the sky in the ground in front of the duo, shattering it. They clenched their teeth with their pupils contracting in fear, stumbling backwards. “Oh no, we’re gonna die!” Apple Bloom shouted. Jetstream Rush frowned and looked away from her. “Apple Bloom, I want to apologize for being rude to you. If I knew that I was going to die next your side in the hands of this machine, I would have never said a word.” “Apology accepted, Rush, but that still doesn’t mean that we aren’t dead!” The both of them embraced each other, shutting their eyes and facing away from the mecha. A crackle of lightning vibrated their eardrums and the noise of metal scratching sounded throughout the area. The duo opened their eyes and looked towards the mecha, whose shoulder was chipped and smoking. “It looks like we made it on time.” Lith said, running into the scene with Applejack and Rarity behind them. Applejack ran towards Apple Bloom, embracing her torso. “You had me so worried, Apple Bloom! What were you thinking of when you were stealing a buggy and driving off to such a dangerous area?!” She shouted. “What possessed you to leave the care of that sweet donkey who took you in to fight a hopeless battle against that monstrosity?!” Rarity scolded. “It’s alright, girls. These two obviously learned that it is wrong to sneak out of the city to try to face something like this.” Lith responded. “Right now, we have to make sure they are safe by destroying this mecha.” Applejack sprinted towards the mecha and leaped a grand distance into the air. The shoes on her front hooves sparked with purple electricity. She knocked her right front hoof into the leg of the mecha, denting the armor and knocking it backwards. Rarity’s horn flashed in a light blue color. A large spike from the earth rose up underneath the mecha, striking it between the legs. Lith hopped off of Rarity and leaped towards its face, unleashing a series of Magical Leaf strikes that cut its visor. The mecha aimed its arms towards Rarity and fired a storm of lasers from its arms, pelting her coat and the spire underneath it. It looked down upon Applejack and kicked her towards Rarity, knocking over the two mares. Its fits unscrewed and then launched towards Lith, hitting her square in the chest. Lith winced, but flipped back onto her legs. The mecha launched another fist towards her. With her eyes flashing, she grabbed the fist through her Psychic, grinding it to dust. Rarity stood up from the ground, conjuring a storm of shards from the ground that swarmed into the open wrist on the mecha. The mecha’s wrist tore open, revealing spraying electricity and wires inside. Applejack stood up from the ground, seeing the mecha’s ruined wrist. She looked back into the buggy, eyeing a red box with a large hole in the center. Her stare tightened. “Lith, Rarity, keep that mecha distracted. I’m gonna blast it to kingdom come with our special rocket.” Lith and Rarity nodded, facing the mecha once more. Rarity shot boulder after boulder into the mecha’s visor while Lith shot Signal Beams into its chest. Applejack placed the rocket over her shoulder and aimed it at the moving wrist. She clenched her teeth and hit the button on the side. A green and red rocket fired out of the launcher and into the wrist of the mecha. The rocket navigated its way through the tight corridors of metal, twisting and turning away from the walls and narrow areas. Within its line of sonar was a red core that pulsed with energy. It locked onto the signal, drilled its way into the core and exploded. The mecha became engulfed with flames from its inside. Literal fires burst through its armor. It then exploded into multitudes upon multitudes of pieces, leaving it as nothing but a smoldering pile of scraps. “Yeehaw! Worked like a charm!” Applejack called out, rearing her front legs. “Marvelous explosive technology, Applejack. You weren’t bad yourself, Lith.” Rarity complimented. “Thank you very much, Rarity. Right now, I’m just glad that the children are safe.” Applejack looked towards Apple Bloom and Jetstream Rush, who looked away from Applejack and shivered. “The two of you have lots of explainin’ to do when we get back to H.O.R.S.E. But…” Applejack smiled and brought the both of them in for a hug. “We’re… we’re not in trouble?” Apple Bloom asked with a wary voice. “You two are in trouble, but all that matters right now is that you are safe.” Applejack responded. Jetstream Rush wriggled out of Applejack’s grasp and walked over to Lith with a frown on his face and his head looking away from her. “Lith, I’m sorry about how I acted. I was a fool to come over here by myself in order to attack a mecha. But, when I saw you and heard your story and saw just how strong you were, I thought I could do the same thing like you did and fight the shadows of my past. But… my hooves got kind of cold and I seriously thought I was going to die.” Lith kneeled down to Jetstream Rush’s head level and stroked his mane. “Admittedly, what you did was very foolish. But, it is very understandable for you to feel that way. Next time, you should learn how to pick your battles.” She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a framed photo of Jetstream Rush with a lime green-coated pegasus stallion with a soft green mane and blue eyes and a marine blue-coated pegasus mare with a soft blue mane and green eyes. “Is that… you found this for me?” Jetstream Rush asked. “To be honest, this photo was just poking out of a pile of debris when we came in here. But, when I saw your face, I knew that I had to pick it up. And, here.” Lith pulled out her figurine of a cat and placed it in Jetstream Rush’s right hoof, cupping it. “You’re giving me this? But… why Lith?” “Because… I see myself inside of you. You carry pain within your heart from losing your parents and I want this to be your reminder that you will never be alone, Jetstream. Whenever you are feeling sad or lonely, I want you to look at this and think of me.” Jetstream Rush’s eyes watered and his face strained to keep his tears dammed. He rubbed his left hoof over his eyes, wiping the tears away. He hugged Lith and sobbed over her shoulder. Lith returned the hug, rocking him with a gentle motion. “Let it out, Jetstream. Let out the sadness you’ve kept in your heart for these years.” With these words ushering into his soul, Jetstream Rush wailed in a loud voice. Lith, Apple Bloom and Jetstream Rush approached Chili Spice, who galloped over to Jetstream Rush and hugged him by his neck. “¡Mijo! Where have you been? You had me so worried!” Chili Spice asked. “I’m sorry, Chili Spice… for giving you such a hard time all these years.” Chili Spice’s ears perked up at Jetstream Rush’s words. She looked into his eyes, his coat and his mane and tail; in them, she saw that they were void of their gray overtones and, instead were replaced with radiance. “Is that… a smile I see?” She asked. Smiling, Jetstream Rush nodded. From a satchel tied around his upper left front leg, he pulled out the figurine and the framed photo. “Lith and her friends not only saved Apple Bloom and me, but Lith actually found my family photo and destroyed the mecha!” Chili Spice looked up into Lith’s eyes with a smile. “Lith, I don’t know what to say. But, I should start by saying this; muchos gracias por ayudar Jetstream Rush con su depreción.” “Ummmm… I still have no idea what you are saying.” “I’m saying thank you! You’ve done what no others were capable of doing! You actually brought a genuine smile onto Jetstream Rush’s face! This makes me so happy that I could throw a fiesta for all the children in the orphanage!” “Lith, Apple Bloom; can I ask you something?” “Of course you can, Jetstream. You can ask us anything.” Lith responded with a vivid smile and a gentle tone. “If it is alright, can I see you two again some other time this week? I really like being around you to.” “I’d love to!” Apple Bloom shouted out, cueing mystified stares from Lith and Chili Spice. She blushed. “I mean, I can always have another friend to hang out with, especially a fellow orphan.” “So… are you available on Friday?” “I don’t think so. My sis still has a punishment in mind for not staying home, stealing a buggy and going into dangerous territory.” “Yikes. Well, I still want to see you again. I want to see if Chili Spice would let me see you at H.O.R.S.E. as well.” “I can, but we still have to discuss your punishment, young mister. ¡¿Tú eres loco?! You nearly got yourself killed because of your depression!” Jetstream Rush looked back towards Apple Bloom, flashing a coy smile and a luminescent blush on his face. “Looks like I’ll have to see you again some other time, Apple Bloom and Lith.” Lith hummed out a happy note, seeing Chili Spice and Jetstream Rush walk into the orphanage. “Lith, what’s with that noise you’re making?” Apple Bloom asked in a pestered tone. “It’s cute! It looks like Jetstream Rush has a crush on you.” Apple Bloom’s face lit up red to a tomato’s shine. “Ummm… yeah.” “Awww, true love is what I see!” “Please stop it, Lith. You’re embarrassing me.” “But you two look so cute together! I can’t wait to hear the sorts of adventures you two will go on! I want to hear about eating a spaghetti dinner, and how you two have your first kiss!” Apple Bloom shouted and shook her head. “Please let Applejack punish me before Lith fills me with this gushy mushy lovey stuff, Deus.” She uttered out. “So I have to spend the week apologizing and doing chores around the house?” Jetstream Rush whined. “It is only fair for the trouble you caused everyone here, don’t you agree?” Chili Spice asked. “…I guess. Can you still read me a bedtime story though? I really like the ones you tell.” Chili Spice hummed and looked up into the ceiling. Then, she pat Jetstream Rush’s head and smiled. “Of course I can do that. You did learn your lesson after all.” “Also, Chili Spice; can you allow me to only be adopted by the agents of H.O.R.S.E.? I want to be a part of the organization that brought a smile onto my face.” “I could also do that as well. Now, run along and get a start on your quehaceras.” “Will do, Chili Spice!” Jetstream Rush stated, running towards the closet and taking out a broom and dustpan. Chili Spice glanced towards the family photo and figurine on the table. “Your boy is quite the troublemaker, Rising Cyclone and Starry Wind. But, he has a good heart underneath. With the heart you gave him, I'm sure he will accomplish his dreams.” Frozen WorldMono and Twilight Sparkle observed a hologram of an enlarged strand of DNA in the lab, eyeing the linking rainbow-colored sugars and acids making it up. Twilight Sparkle let out an exasperated sigh. “We’ll never be able to decode this gene. Why does Pokémon DNA have to be so much more complex than Equusian DNA?” “Pokémon are very complex creatures. It seems that we are discovering something new every day about them. Unlike Equusian DNA, however, Pokémon are all linked through their breeding groups and Mew, the legendary Pokémon that is the common ancestor of all Pokémon.” Mono explained. “I didn’t think that a Pokémon’s breeding mechanisms would contribute to something as huge as overall DNA. Perhaps with this information, I could look at it from a different angle?” With her horn flashing, Twilight Sparkle increased the resolution of the strand and zoomed in towards the top. “What are you doing there, Twilight?” Mono asked. “If memory serves, the coding in the DNA responsible for reproduction should be in this area. From there, I could separate the information related to breeding groups and splice it together with the information regarded to physiology and we should be close to achieving a breakthrough in elemental affinity.” “That sounds like it could work.” The top right part of the DNA lifted off of the structure and combined with another separated strand. The two elements melded together, forming into a cluster of omni-colored spheres. Twilight Sparkle grinned, cheering with a loud tone and hopping on the desks. “A breakthrough in genetics! Yes! Yes! Yes!” Mono winced and smiled with a sheepish tilt of his head, pushing his paws down with repeated movements. “It’s exciting, but not that exciting.” Twilight Sparkle teleported directly in front of Mono’s face, her wide eyes staring into Mono’s soul and her grin bringing a cold shiver down his spine. She grabbed his shoulders and leaned over him. “Not that exciting?! Mono, this is the first step in Equusian-Pokémon technology! This is the power of unity between two worlds! If I can analyze what all of this means, then our chances of saving everyone left on this planet would drastically increase!” “Yeah… I guess that is very exciting.” Chuckling with a nervous shake of his teeth, Mono responded. Lith ambled through the open doorway with graceful steps, eyeing Mono being leaned over by Twilight Sparkle. “Ummm… am I missing something here?” “Lith!” Mono shrieked out, falling on his back. Lith grabbed Mono’s right paw, pulling him up from the ground. “Hey, Lith. Is there any reason you swung by the lab today?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “I need to get Mono because Spitfire called my group to the briefing room for an emergency meeting. Has anyone seen Fluttershy?” “Fluttershy is with Rainbow Dash in the training hall at the Marksman Division.” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both hovered in the air. Rainbow Dash stood behind Fluttershy, holding a gray rifle wielded on Fluttershy’s left hoof. “Ummm… I’m not too sure that I’ll hit the target, Rainbow Dash. I tried and failed sixty-four times. Do you think I’m even cut out to be a marksman?” “When I accepted teaching you how to use a rifle, Fluttershy, I made a promise to myself to not let my friend give up in her training. Even if it takes a million years, I won’t leave your side until you learn how to fire that rifle at the target.” Rainbow Dash responded. “Now, keep your hooves steady and set your sights at the target.” Fluttershy aimed her sights at a target that was five feet away from her, twitching her hoof while gripping the handle on the rifle. Mono and Lith appeared through the door. “Hey, Fluttershy!” Lith called out. Fluttershy shrieked, moving her rifles positioning towards the twins’ direction and pulling the hoof-sized trigger. An explosion sounded throughout the room and a stray laser carved its path between Mono and Lith’s feet. The two of them jumped back and their hearts beat with a gong’s soundwaves. Fluttershy observed below and frowned. “Alright, take five.” Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash said. “I’m so sorry, Mono and Lith! I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here at this hour, so I got scared and, well, you know the rest of the story. Please forgive me.” Fluttershy apologized. It’s… quite alright, Fluttershy.” Between deep breaths, Lith responded. “Anyways, Spitfire called us for an emergency meeting in the briefing room.” “Oh, tell her I will be on my way. I have to ask to see if it is okay to use a rifle, if that is alright with you.” Fluttershy responded. Mono and Lith exited the area. Fluttershy looked over her shoulder, witnessing Rainbow Dash crossing her front legs and rolling her eyes. “Go. Just make sure that you don’t accidently shoot someone on the field, okay?” Spitfire glanced at the time on her watch with her left hind leg tapping the ground in impatience. Mono and Lith sprinted into the room. “Where have you two been, and where’s Fluttershy?!” She screamed. “Fluttershy will be here momentarily. She just needed to ask for permission for rifle use.” Mono stated, saluting to Spitfire. Fluttershy hovered into the room, landing near Rondo and Jasmine and saluting. “Sorry for being late, Spitfire! I’m still not a full-fledged marksman yet, so I have to ask for permission to bring a rifle on the mission.” “That’s all fine and dandy. Because today, you eight are going to be given a very special assignment for this mission.” Spitfire announced. She touched the table, bringing up the holographic map of the world. She touched a mass of land to the north of the Terraformed Wilderness, filling it with an icy blue color. “Our satellites have picked up a strange disturbance from the northernmost continent on the planet known as Glacial Drift. Honestly, we have no idea what it is, but the readings are giving off a similar energy code to your group of members. I think a Pokémon may be wandering around there.” A ring of silent gasps filled the room upon her declaration. “A Pokémon, there? Who could it be?” Jasmine asked. “I’ll tell you who it isn’t; a Pokémon that can’t stand being in a place known as ‘Glacial Drift’. Seriously, thinking about the name makes my blood freeze over.” Gnasher commented. “Not to worry, Gnasher, because Rarity was generous enough to make parkas contorted to each of your physiological needs.” Smiling, Spitfire said. “But, as you can tell by the name, Glacial Drift is an icy land constantly splitting apart and drifting into other ice masses. It is an understatement of the century to say that it is very cold there, so you’ll need those parkas. Any questions?” Rondo raised his wing with a nervous shake. “Can I be excluded from the mission? I’m a Flying-type, so being exposed to low temperatures hurts.” He asked with a trembling voice. “But, I’m a Dragon-type pile of goo and I will be going on the mission as well.” Custard responded with an innocent demeanor. “B-but you’re more adjusted to the cold than me!” Gnasher smacked the portion of her face next to her eyes and walked towards Rondo. “Custard’s going and even I’m going. Like it or not, you’re coming along as well. Got that?” She threatened. Custard swallowed a nervous gulp and nodded. A cocky smile appeared on Spitfire’s face. “I didn’t even need to say anything! So, any last questions?” Stereo raised his right hand. “Are there any other things we should know about the Glacial Drift? It seems like a dangerous continent outside of the cold weather.” “Just be careful of any of the creatures lurking. They are adapted to sub-zero temperatures for a reason you know.” An armored buggy roamed the peaks of fresh snow spreading across an icy wasteland. The air filled with an impenetrable blizzard that made basic sight impossible. Inside of the walls of the vehicle, everyone wore a black parka covering just below their waists that matched their body sizes. Rondo rubbed his body with both of his wings, his teeth chattering at a rapid pace. “I-I-Iz-z-z-z-z-z-z it j-j-j-j-ust me… or izzzzz it c-c-c-c-cold?!” “It’s just you, birdbrain. You don’t see me or Custard shivering.” Gnasher responded. “Eaz-z-z-y f-f-f-for y-y-y-you t-t-to say. You got… warm uniforms!” Rondo stuttered out. Jasmine and Stereo rolled their eyes. “Is it just me or does Rondo still have that phobia of being in snowy areas?” Stereo asked. “It’s not just you, Stereo; Rondo always imagines that he is freezing whenever he believes he is in a snowy area. It’s sad, really.” Jasmine responded. “Mono, do you think that I might be able to alter Rondo’s mind with my Psychic so that he wouldn’t be afraid of cold temperatures anymore?” Lith asked. “I think you might need assistance from another Psychic user for that to work. Good thing we both know Psychic.” With a devilish smirk, Mono responded. A loud squack erupted from Rondo’s voice after hearing the twins’ conversation. “No! Anything but that! Please, I’ll stop now.” Mono chuckled under his breath, sitting next to Rondo and wrapping his paw around him. “We’re only kidding, Rondo. Do you think we would really do something like that?” “Not really… but the two of you had crazier ideas in the past.” Shaking his head, Rondo noted. The buggy swerved, launching all the Pokémon to the left side of the hold. A screen with Fluttershy’s face appeared. Each of the Pokémon rubbed their heads and arms from the impact against the wall. “I’m really sorry for what I did there. The ice around here is very unstable, and I was about to fall into a frozen crack had I not done what I did.” “All forgiven, Fluttershy. I know too well about the dangers of unstable geography.” Mono responded. “Though… how can you even see in this blizzard?! All I see is just white.” Rondo asked. “I have a minimap on my dashboard that surveys the surrounding land for me. I use it as my guide. Speaking of which, we are almost at our disembarking point.” Fluttershy responded. Rondo let out an exasperated sigh. “Great! We get to wander out in the cold, get mauled by predators and freeze to death. It’s a wonderful way to die, isn’t it?” “Now Rondo, you should be more optimistic about our prognosis; we would starve before we freeze to death.” Lith responded, shutting her eyes and smiling with an innocent tilt. “That doesn’t make me feel any better, you know.” “No, but at least you won’t have to freeze while you are conscious. Besides, don’t you have a Fire-type move that you always keep using in battle? It might be very useful as a utility move in this temperature.” Rondo’s pupils directed themselves towards the ground. He mumbled underneath his breath. He smacked his face with his right wing. “Duh! How did I forget that I knew Heat Wave?! Proper use will keep us all nice and toasty. Thanks for the reminder, Lith.” Gnasher chuckled underneath her voice. “It took you that long to get that, Rondo? You’re literally one of our important factors for the mission solely because you and Custard are the only Pokemon that know a Fire-type move that can actually not be used to harm others.” Gnasher responded. “It’s true, and my Flamethrower isn’t as well-controlled as your Heat Wave. You’ll do a good job with keeping us alive.” Custard added. “Now I suddenly find myself to be useful! Thank goodness, because I did not want to be dead weight on this mission. Let’s go find a Pokémon!” The blizzard raged. Fresh snow covered the prints made upon the terrain by the group in seconds. Mono, who teeth chattered and his paws wrapped around his body, looked back towards Rondo. “C-can you use a Heat Wave, Rondo? We might need a blast.” “Sure thing, Mono!” Rondo soared into the sky, flapping a hot gust of wind that melted the snow in the air around the group. A feeling of warmth descended from the sky with the mercy from a goddess. “Thank you, Rondo. My wings were starting to lose their flexibility.” Fluttershy said, looking back at Rondo and smiling with a brilliant grin. “No problem, Fluttershy. I’m glad to even be of use.” Rondo soared down to the ground, eliciting a happy sigh from the heat around him. “And you said you wanted to be excluded from the mission.” Gnasher teased. Through the hazy veil of steam, the snowy landscape rolled out of the group’s sight and the horizon filled itself with mountains. Fluttershy sprinted towards the edge. Looking below, her jaw dropped. “Fluttershy, is there somet-“Lith began saying, shutting up at the sight that shocked Fluttershy. The group stopped, silent from the sight below; a ruined city sparkled amongst the lands with shattered crystals spread throughout. Stones and diodes littered the ground. Several impact craters spread throughout the city. “Is this… a city all the way out here? But, it somehow looks even worse than Manehatten!” Lith shouted. “That’s because this was one of the very first cities destroyed by the Van’Goth. This city was previously thought to have been a myth by other Equusians due to its enigmatic nature and impenetrable location along with a magitech barrier that prevented communication with the outside world. As such, we were unable to give the city the aid it desperately needed. No survivors emerged.” Fluttershy explained. “I’ve never heard of such an awful attack before. In the stories I’ve read, such raids would have been brutal, but at least there would have been some survivors in the forms of slaves or other methods. These Van’Goth truly are brutal.” Stereo said. Ornate-crafted buildings worn away from the eroding arctic winds sprawled throughout the once magnificent city. Spiraling pillars were chipped away, their pieces buried within the piles of snow. A bony hand of dread grasped the nerves of the group within the city. “Something tells me this used to be a center for arts and intellect based on the arcitecture.” Stereo commented. “That is exactly what the Crystal Empire used to be. It was a city unlike others in the world. Some of the most prestigious minds were from it.” Fluttershy explained. “Hearing that makes me sort of sad. I hope that when this is all over, Equusians can rebuild this magnificent city. Mono looked over towards a building, where two thirds of its structure was blown apart. Open books scattered throughout the floor of the library, their covers blackened from ash and their pages soaked in snow. “All that valuable books and knowledge are wasted. Did the Van’Goth do this just to set an example for the rest of the world?” Mono asked. “Who knows? All that is known is that almost nothing of the Crystal Empire exists in Neo Canterlot.” Fluttershy responded. A loud thump echoed from the distance of the city. A large sauropod with deep blue skin and an ice blue underside walked across the group’s line of sight. His long neck was a host to two flowing sails that transitioned from butter yellow to indigo. His deep blue eyes contrasted the white V-shaped mark on his forehead. A line of diamonds that are icy to the touch ran down from his neck up to the base of his tail curling in a spiral. “Wait a moment… that creature. That’s an Aurorus!” Lith said. “Is that a Pokémon?” Fluttershy asked. “Yes! We didn’t have an Aurorus back at the lab… so it must be another former human as well.” Mono replied. “I think it would be a good idea if we followed it to see where it is going.” Rondo suggested. The Aurorus walked down an empty street, looking straight at the path ahead. The group of Pokémon and Fluttershy hid behind the corner of a ruined wall. They peaked at the Aurorus, who went up the steps into the ruins of a grand building. The group hopped over the corner, running towards the stairs. Jasmine’s eyes glittered at the sight of the crystal pillars holding up a tall roof. “This looks beautiful! What is this area, Fluttershy?” “Well… if I had to guess, this would be the Royal Palace of the Crystal Empire. It fits the descriptions of what I read in geography guides.” Fluttershy responded. “Why would an Aurorus go in here, though?” Gnasher asked. “Well… considering the size of the structure and whatnot, it seems like perfect shelter for a Pokémon of its size. Let’s go in.” Stereo stated. The Aurorus walked towards a Reuniclus, who lied on the ground with his eyes closed and his forehead red. The Aurorus dropped sparse springs of vegetation from his mouth onto the Reuniclus’s forehead. The Reuniclus opened his eyes, smiling at the sight of the Aurorus before him. “I’ve checked the toxicity levels of this plant myself and found that it is not a dangerous substance. It should help you with your fever, Einstein.” “Thanks, Professor Pasque. You always are looking out for me.” Einstein responded with a strained tone, chewing on the vegetation. The red on his forehead waned, bringing forth his white color. Professor Pasque nuzzled Einstein. “You have been my partner since I was but a child. I never abandoned you then, and I will not abandon you now.” Einstein chuckled underneath his voice. “I always forget how long we’ve been together. Had it truly passed fifty-five years since we were together?” “I believe so. Our partnership seems to even extend into this new world. But… I cannot help but shake a feeling of dread grasping this world. Einstein’s eyes jolted open, listening to a series of footsteps coming towards their direction. “We got company, Professor!” Professor Pasque turned his head around, glaring the Pokémon and Equusian that followed him into the palace. “I didn’t think I would see other Pokémon or even traces of other life around here. Are you friend or foe?” He asked. “Wait, that voice… Professor Pasque?!” Mono shouted. Professor Pasque’s eyes widened and his muscles relaxed. “That voice… is that you, Mono?” “I’m also here, Professor.” Lith stated. “And Lith… you two are Pokémon as well.” He smiled, craning his head down towards Mono and Lith. Mono and Lith smiled, hugging Professor Pasque’s head. Fluttershy pulled out a translation bracelet and tied it around Professor Pasque’s neck. “With this, you should be able to communicate normally with other Equusians.” “Thank you very much, young creature. I shall make sure to take good care of it.” “What are you doing out here in the Glacial Drift anyways?” Lith asked. “Is this what this area is called? I wasn’t expecting it to be known as the Volcanic Drift due to how cold it is. But, as chance has it, Einstein and I ended up in this very palace. With how much destruction this entire area suffered, we concluded on first glance that it was ancient ruins. But, careful examination of the destruction revealed the event to be historically recent.” Einstein hovered towards the group with a weak smile. “Hey, what about me?” “Einstein! You... don’t look so well.” Rondo said, his words slowing down with a casted gaze. “Just recovering from a fever is all. Professor Pasque did his best to find herbs out in the wasteland. I don’t know what they were, but they helped me very much.” Einstein responded. “Herbs… all the way out here?” Jasmine asked, putting her right hand onto her beak. “It is true that vegetation is uncommon out in the tundra, but there are always a few hardy plants that have adapted to the extreme weather conditions of this place. Such plants are always potent in their properties. Deciding whether it is healing properties or harming properties is an entirely different story.” Professor Pasque responded. “So you are Mono and Lith’s paternal figure?” Fluttershy asked. “Yes. For ten years, I have raised them as my own two children. By now, I’m just an old fossil whose adopted children will continue in his teachings. I guess that being an Aurorus is very fitting for me in that case.” He responded, chuckling underneath his breath. “Well, when we get you and your friend here back to Neo Canterlot, you can share your knowledge with an entire generation of young Equusians.” “That… would be very nice. I always was fond of children. I don’t think you are familiar to me. Who are you?” “My name is Fluttershy. I’m a pegasus pony from Neo Canterlot.” “As good as civilization sounds right now, I think we should explore this continent a bit more.” Einstein suggested. “That would not be in our best interest, Einstein. Why would you suggest that?” Jasmine asked. “Apparently, this continent is mostly unexplored. The least we can do is explore some of it so that we may be able to plan future expeditions into this land with more success. If I start being ill, you can always hit me with an Aromatherapy.” “Well… I could always do that. Alright, Einstein, we should explore this new area.” “Are you serious, Jasmine?” Lith asked with her eyes lidded in disbelief. “Very serious. Think about what we can find here and bring back to H.O.R.S.E. I hope to find many rare and exotic items with unusual scents.” Gnasher shook her head, letting out an irritated sigh. “We aren’t treasure hunters, Jasmine; we’re operatives that are supposed to protect everyday living in Equus. We only came here to fetch the Professor and his Pokémon, nothing less and nothing more.” “Hush now, Gnasher. You can’t honestly expect to believe that hunting for treasures here would improve the everyday living conditions of Equus, right? This will almost be like one of those daring adventure novels I used to read back home.” Jasmine responded. “Well, we are ahead of schedule. So, a bit of treasure hunting wouldn’t hurt. Plus, it would give me more materials to work with in the lab.” Mono stated, glancing down toward his watch. “Not you too, Mono. This is literally asking for us to go die in a wasteland.” Gnasher responded. “It’s not like you don’t enjoy roaming around in the wastelands yourself, Gnasher.” Custard commented. “Alright, but no one complains when things don’t go their way.” “Since you know more about the Glacial Drift than any one of us, where shall we go?” Mono asked, facing Professor Pasque. “There are a set of twin peaks not too far away from here that sparkle like a radiant sun. I suggest we go there.” Professor Pasque walked alongside the slow-moving buggy, smiling at the face of the blizzard rushing by his eyes. He craned his neck towards the buggy. “You know, I have been uneasy since arriving in this area. My biggest concern was whether or not everyone else was alright. But, seeing all of you here puts my soul at ease.” A hologram of Fluttershy’s face appeared in front of Professor Pasque. “I’m glad you do, but aren’t you cold or being buffered by the snow?” She asked. “Not at all. Auroruses such as I thrive in these types of conditions. We are Ice-types after all.” “That’s an interesting tidbit of information, Professor Pasque. I’ll record that information when I get the chance.” Fluttershy responded. In the distance were two icicle peaks out in the horizon, covering the descending sun and glistening with sparkles. Dust particles of snow blew down from the mountaintops, spreading out in waves along the sea of snow. “This reminds me of the days when it would snow. I took Mono and Lith outside to play and observe the weather. Imagine my surprise when I saw them playing with a wild Vanillite outside. The three of them playing together… it was just a joy to see.” Professor Pasque said, gazing into the sky with a happy grin. “You must care very much about Mono and Lith, Professor.” “That is an understatement. I came to first bond with Mono when I stopped by the Counseling Center in Opelucid. My original intent there was to gather research on the differences between the human mind and the Pokémon mind. When I saw Mono, something inside of my own heart urged me to speak to him. He was nervous at first, but then I found out his innate intellectual potential.” “Sometimes, our hearts lead us to chance encounters. That is what must have happened to you.” Fluttershy responded. “Fate has some interesting designs that lead us to completely different paths. After I heard about the parents of the twins dying in that accident, I was the first one to make the offer to adopt them. It was there when I discovered that Lith also had the same potential. I made sure to raise them in a good-hearted environment. I even gifted them with their own Pokémon, one of which whose egg I managed to obtain from the Kalos Region. You might know them as Custard and Gnasher?” “I was wondering how such a sweet-looking mound of goo and a fiercely-protective crocodile were in their care. You know, I am very gifted with caring for animals of any kind. So, I don’t mind being caring for your family, Professor Pasque.” “And I assume you are capable of caring for me in my growing age?” Professor Pasque suggested, following it with a hearty laugh. “I jest, Fluttershy. I feel like I am in the prime of my life.” “That’s good to hear.” Blinking, tilting her head and smiling, Fluttershy responded. “We’re almost at our destination. Are you sure you want to do this, Professor?” “Nothing would make me happier than seeing my entire family frolic in the snow like they did as children.” Professor Pasque responded. The buggy and Professor Pasque climbed up the summit of the peak. The doors of the buggy opened up and all of the Pokémon looked towards the sun lowering down into the sky. Mono and Lith shut their eyes and inhaled the alpine mountain scent through their noses, breathing out a cool mist from their mouths. “It’s chilly, but it’s the good kind. Why is that?” Mono asked. “For one thing, the winds seem to have subsided.” Professor Pasque responded. The group hopped out of the buggy. In her mouth, Fluttershy carried a black kit. Opening it, a set of brown brushes and picks were inside. “Ummm… why do you have a random set of excavation gear, Fluttershy?” Lith asked. “For some reason, H.O.R.S.E. mandates that all recon buggies come equipped with one. It’s strange, but there is no use arguing against it.” Fluttershy responded. Each of the Pokémon grabbed a brush and pick, observing them. Gnasher tossed her brush and pick aside. “Meh, I don’t need any of these things. Not when my claws are capable of rending the ice here.” She ran towards a nearby mound of ice, slashing it apart with her claws. “Gnasher’s right; who needs this stuff?” Rondo shouted, dropping the items within his talons. He flew over to a wall and began pecking it with his beak. “Professor, I know that these Pokémon are very tough, but how practical is using their body parts to chip away at ore?” Fluttershy asked. “Hey, I found some gems already!” Gnasher called out. The group circled together around the busted rock. Purple stones that radiated from even the faintest of light flashed inside of it. Several hums of awe harmonized within the air. “These gems are so precious!” Jasmine called out, rubbing her hand along the rough stones. “Would you mind if I took some with me, Gnasher?” “Not at all. I don’t know what sort of use I would have for them anyways.” A loud growl echoed from nearby when Jasmine reached both of her hands inside of the ore. A white-coated canine with seven white horns, eyes whiter than the snow and the bulk of a bull leaped out from a patch of snow. From the walls and other snowy piles, similar-shaped beings appeared and set their eyes on the group. “Uhhh, Fluttershy, what are these creatures? They don’t look very friendly.” Lith stammered out. “These are wolf yetis. They are one of the higher-ranked predators of the Glacial Drift. The few encounters H.O.R.S.E. had with them usually ended up in a few casualties. They’re really tough and very vicious.” Fluttershy explained. “So I take it that negotiations are out of the question?” Mono responded, turning his head towards the buggy and backing away. A wolf yeti dropped down from above and leaped towards Mono. With a sleight of paw, Mono thrust it back with a Psychic. Another wolf yeti leaped out from its location, pouncing towards Jasmine. Jasmine fired a Thunderbolt towards it, shocking it. The wolf yeti lied on the ground, unable to move its muscles. Another wolf yeti leaped towards Jasmine, striking her with its claw. The gems in her hands fell down to the ground. “It looks like they don’t like how we are in their territory. We have to leave.” Professor Pasque suggested. “But what about those gems?!” Jasmine called out. “I thought we would excavate this area more.” “I erred in thinking that this was a safe area for us. In my vision of nostalgia, I was unable to see that this area is a clear danger. We leave now, Jasmine.” Jasmine eyed the open rock and then eyed the group retreating into the buggy. With a disheartened sigh, she hovered towards the buggy. Professor Pasque faced the wolf yetis. His body flashed with a golden aura. The ground underneath him began cracking with golden light seeping out of it. The cracks traveled to the wolf yetis. The impact of the cracks sent them flying into the air. “Brilliant Earth Power!” Rondo called out from within the buggy. Lith eyed a pack of wolf yetis flanking Professor Pasque from his blind spot. She kicked the doors of the buggy open, firing a Magical Leaf towards them. Professor Pasque tilted his head towards the direction of the attack with his mouth agape in shock. Each leaf struck each of the wolf yetis. “Thank you, Lith. I very much appreciate it.” “I don’t want you to be hurt, Professor. Shall I assist you?” “No. Get back into the buggy with the others and flee. I’ll follow behind you.” Lith paused in her movements, contorting her face into a frown. She nodded, going back inside. Fluttershy opened her door, gazing at a wolf yeti standing upon the cliff. Its size was a wolf yeti’s size quadrupled. The wolf yeti pounced on Professor Pasque’s back. He jumped at the sudden force applied to his back. He reared his front legs forward and stomped on the ground multiple times. “Professor Pasque is in trouble!” Einstein shouted. Fluttershy looked back at the rifle in the passenger seat. She closed her eyes and turned her head to the right. She grabbed it and flew out of the vehicle. She rested the rifle over her left shoulder, grasping the trigger area with her right hoof and holding it steady with her left hoof. Her reticle followed the wolf yeti being shaken by Professor Pasque. Her hooves became weak and her aim shook. Her heart beat with a nervous rhythm. “Be calm, Fluttershy. This is your true test of being able to wield a rifle. Fail, and our mission is over. Succeed and you would save your teammate.” Fluttershy whispered to herself. The nerves in her hooves relaxed, allowing her to focus her reticle once more. She aimed it towards the neck of the wolf yeti. With a fiery gaze, she pulled the trigger. A black bullet erupted from the muzzle and dug itself into the wolf yeti’s neck. The wolf yeti let go of Professor Pasque and fell onto the ground with a loud yelp. It looked back towards the marksman and ran away. All the Pokémon in the buggy exited it, gazing at Fluttershy with loud cheers. Fluttershy moved her head away from the rifle, looking around with a confused glint in her eyes. “Why is everyone cheering?” She asked. “Because you saved my life.” Professor Pasque responded, walking towards her. “I did?” “Fluttershy, did you happen to forget that you actually fired a bullet inside that alpha wolf yeti? That was amazing.” Mono stated with a tone leaking out energy. “Wait… my marksmanship was actually on-spot?!” With a grin creeping up on her face, Fluttershy responded. “Yeah! We could have helped the Professor, but that wolf yeti was on him like melted cheese on a slimy frog. We didn’t want to risk removing it ourselves because we could have hurt him.” Custard responded. “It seems that your confidence has taken its first step into becoming realized, Fluttershy. Amazing job.” Professor Pasque commented. “I… actually did it. I’m so happy that I could scream! But, I won’t.” Rondo eyed the horizon, seeing the land bask in a golden orange and several lollipop-shaped trees in the background. He flew down onto the summit. “I don’t know about you all, but it’s getting real late. Ol’ Spitfire’s gonna have a cow when she sees us arrive so tardy!” Rondo shouted. “Do you think that we would be able to explore this place more in another time? I really like looking through this place.” Einstein asked. “Of course we can, Einstein. But, we’re going to have to go back to where we are supposed to be. We don’t want our family to be in trouble, now do we?” Professor Pasque responded. “Yeah, but those trees do look interesting. Why is it that we only see them now?” Rondo asked. “One assignment at a time, Rondo. Now, I’m just happy we got Professor Pasque back.” Lith responded. Mono gazed towards Rondo and smiled. “Rondo, you aren’t freaking out about the tundra anymore. In fact, it seems like you want to see more of it.” “Wait… hey, you’re right! I’m cured! I’m one-hundred percent cured!” Rondo shouted. Spitfire stood in the docking area of H.O.R.S.E., tapping her right hind hoof and grimacing with a nasty stare. The door opened, revealing a wet buggy driving into the bay and Professor Pasque. The group emerged from the buggy, their nerves frozen in fear when looking into Spitfire’s eyes. “Do you have any idea how late you are back here? I expected you two to be here by sunset and it is almost midnight right now. Just where did you eight lollygag to?!” Spitfire fumed out. “My apologies, Mrs. Spitfire. It was my call to extend this journey for a longer time since the Glacial Drift was a very intriguing area. We would have wanted to explore more of it, but we were on time constraints.” Professor Pasque explained. “Oh? You must be the objective-sensitive Pokémon that our satellites detected.” “Don’t forget about me!” Einstein shouted in a chipper tone, levitating above Professor Pasque’s head. Spitfire looked back towards the group and smiled. “Well, you eight were much later than when I expected you to arrive, but you still got the job done. You showed me that I can trust you with missions going out into the Glacial Drift. Consider that an achievement for you all.” Rainbow Dash walked through the doors, grinning upon seeing Fluttershy. She bolted out of the doorway and towards her direction. “Fluttershy! There you are! Have you used the rifle at all?” She asked. “Yes… I have, Rainbow Dash. I actually managed to shoot my intended target in a vital area.” Fluttershy responded. “That’s awesome! You have got to tell me everything about it.” Rainbow Dash responded. Spitfire glanced towards Professor Pasque and Einstein, humming with curiosity. “You look like you wouldn’t be able to fit into an apartment… at all. What do we do for living conditions for you?” “I don’t mind sleeping outside, Spitfire. What about you, Einstein?” Professor Pasque asked. “As nice as a bed sounds, I can’t really leave you alone. We both are partners until the end.” Einstein responded, snuggling against Professor Pasque’s neck. “Do you mind sleeping out at the courtyard, then? I could always fetch a blanket for your friend there.” Spitfire questioned. “A blanket would be nice as well.” Mono and Lith lied on the grass outside with Professor Pasque and Einstein, gazing at moon dunked within the sea of stars. “It’s so nice for the three of us to be back together, Professor Pasque. I was very worried about you, you know.” Lith said. “I was especially worried about the two of you. But, now that I see the both of you in sound condition, my worries are put to rest. But… are you sure you two don’t mind sleeping out here tonight?” Professor Pasque asked. “We don’t mind at all. I’m just happy to be here with my sister, my father figure and his Pokémon. Speaking of which; how are you feeling, Einstein?” Mono said. “I feel better than a deoxyribonucleic acid, Mono. That herb I was given really helped me pull through.” Einstein responded. Mono’s watch vibrated. He sat up, lifting his left paw to his face. A hologram of Twilight Sparkle’s head showed up on it. “Mono, I’ve finally decoded the DNA.” An Artist's Passion“And next on the stage, we have Prism Heaven by Light Flash!” A pink-coated earth pony mare with a curly blond mane and tail called out, pointing to the violet-colored runway. Fleur De Lis emerged behind the red curtains, wearing a prismatic dress that sparkled in the spotlight. She trotted down the runway, bringing several flashes from cameras in the audience. Lith watched Fleur De Lis’s hips move in elegance with each step taken within the hologram. With a rosy red blush appearing on her face, her breathing became trapped in her throat. She eyed her mane, which was a floral gust blowing out of her head. Fleur De Lis looked out into the camera, giving Lith a perfect view of her lilac eyes. A shrill gasp escaped her throat. “By Arceus, she is so beautiful! What I wouldn’t do to meet such a creature.” She stated, detached from the material plane. Mono entered the living room with his uniform on, eyeing his sister’s reactions. “You’ll get to meet her today, Lith.” Lith shrieked and jumped, eyeing a smirking Mono looking towards her. “M-Mono! How long were you here for?!” She shouted, the blush on her face exploding into a sea of cherry juice. “Long enough to hear you shrieking when she looked at you. I always find it humorous when you react the way you do when you see someone who you are sexually attracted to.” Mono responded, walking over to Lith and wrapping his right paw around her shoulders. “Well… yeah. It isn’t weird that I happen to feel attracted to Fleur De Lis, right?” “Not at all, Lith. It’s almost like how I am attracted to a Pokémon back when I was a human. We can’t control who we have our feelings for, but that is a sign that we are capable of loving others with the bottom of our hearts. Don’t let what our society deems as taboos interfere with your love for others, because you are one of the most loving and caring individuals I ever got to know.” Lith wrapped her paws around Mono’s body and brought him in for a hug. “How is it that you know the right words to say to me at the right time, Mono?” “I don’t, but the both of us know each other very well. It’s almost like we are twins. But, we have to go to our area at H.O.R.S.E. All of the other Pokémon are there after all.” “That’s right! I almost forgot that we are the bringer of announcements for today.” Lith remarked, shooting up and out of her seat. Stereo stood in front of a canvas depicting a cityscape within the walls of the Pokémon room at H.O.R.S.E. He rubbed soft strokes on the canvas with a brush in his left hand, adding a pearl white color to a building to the left. He placed his brush on a rung, smiling at the painting before him. “It took a while, but I finally managed to paint the commercial district of Neo Canterlot.” Ducking his head underneath the doorway, Professor Pasque entered the room and eyed the painting. He rewarded stereo with a brilliant grin “Very impressive use of vibrant colors, Stereo. It seems that this city has turned you into quite the painter.” He noted. “Truth be told, I learned how to paint from Frida and her Smeargle Kahlo back at the lab. Their paintings were so vibrant and life-like that I just had to learn how to emulate their style. I wonder where they are now.” Stereo stated with a half-hearted sigh escaping from his large mouth. “I’m sure that they are fine, Stereo. They are very resourceful on their own, after all. Anyways, Mono and Lith are coming over here to give us a couple of announcements for today. I suggest you get yourself ready.” “Right. I’ll just put away my painting materials and place this painting on a corner to furnish this room a bit.” Stereo lifted the painting towards the corner of the room. He took the plank of wood and tubes of paint he used, bringing them out of the room. Gnasher and Custard entered the room and eyed the painting. “So that’s what Stereo was working on all this week. It looks pretty nice.” Gnasher commented. “I love the way how he captured the naturalistic lighting of the cityscape.” Custard said. “Good morning, Professor Pasque. Where is Einstein?” “I made a suggestion for Einstein to be a part of the Research and Development Division. I feel that his talents are more suited for being in the lab rather than being out on the field. I find myself following in that same path. I’m much too old to embark on adventures with you all.” “I don’t know; you were quite the badass back at Glacial Drift when you took on those wolf yetis.” Gnasher stated. “It is only further proof about how much of an old fossil I actually am. It’s actually pretty funny to say, seeing that I am technically part of an extinct species of Pokémon.” Professor Pasque chuckled under his own breath. Jasmine hovered into the room with a tower of golden plates in her arms. “The stores here are amazing! I bought a twelve-piece set of decorative plates for fifty bits! It was a bit of a steal.” “Jasmine, that pun was terrible and you should feel bad for saying it.” Gnasher responded, slamming her right claws at the base of her eyes and groaning. “You need to have a better appreciation about the art of puns sometime, Gnasher. One does not simply live life without learning to enjoy them.” Jasmine stated, hanging the plates on the western wall. Rondo flew down from an air vent above the ceiling, covered in soot and a yellow cap with a light on his head. “Hey everyone. Don’t mind my dirty appearance, but I came back from an overnight quest involving a mind underneath the city. Man, talk about ironic about a bird enjoying the subterranean world!” Mono, Lith and Stereo entered in the room, eyeing the cast of Pokémon within the room. Mono tapped the case in his left paw. “Where’s Fluttershy?” Mono asked. “I ran into her on my way here. She said that she is practicing her aim with Rainbow Dash. From what I’ve heard, she managed to impress her with her critical shots.” Professor Pasque answered. “She won’t be here today since Rainbow Dash took this specific day to train her.” “So I heard you two have some announcements for today.” Lith looked down onto her watch. “Considering that it isn’t time for her to appear yet, we’ll just only give one announcement.” Mono placed the case on the floor, garnering the attention of everyone in the room. Flicking away the locks and lifting the cover, a cannon small enough to be carried around the shoulder and a three-pronged claw with deep curves were brought into the light of reality. The cannon had a set of silicon panels on the top and the claw was tipped with red gems. “The Research and Development Division rushed to make these weapons using the typing matrix from my DNA. This cannon here is known as a Solar Cannon. It stores sunlight through its cells and converts it into usable energy. It bestows upon the user Solarbeam and Synthesis. Meanwhile, these claws are known as the Pressure Claws. They bestow upon the user Crush Claw and Fire Punch.” Mono explained. “Dibs on the Pressure Claws.” Gnasher called out, swiping the Pressure Claws and fitting them over her right claw. She flexed her fingers and hummed with a smile on her face. “If you don’t mind, I would like to test the Solar Cannon.” Custard suggested. Lith smiled and took the cannon from the suitcase with her two paws. She tossed it towards Custard, who grasped it with a shriek in his tone. In his rush, he pulled back on a black handle. A light within the barrel circulated with a whirring hum. “Custard, no!” Lith shouted. A beam of light shot a plate on the wall, destroying and scorching the area. “Oops. Spitfire is going to kill us for doing that, isn’t she?” “My plate!” Jasmine called out, hovering over towards the shattered remains. “I’ll pay for the damage, Jasmine.” “No, it’s… fine, Custard. I guess I’ll just have to eat this loss.” Custard looked towards Lith with a deep frown on his face. “I’m sorry, Lith.” “I don’t fault you, Custard. It was your first time actually handling a piece of machinery, after all. You can put it back if you want to.” Lith said. “I still want to try it out on the field, though. A Solarbeam and Synthesis all in one device?! That is almost magical!” Fleur De Lis traveled down the hallway, seeing the door ajar and a scorch mark on the wall. She grinned and walked inside. “I hope you do not mind me coming early, Mono.” “I do not mind at all, Fleur. You do mind if I call you by your first name, right?” Mono said, extending his right paw out. Lith’s nerves froze with anxiety and the feeling of a thousand ants gnawing at them permeated throughout her entire body. “I would rather prefer to be called by it than my full name. I hate the thought of presenting myself with an arrogant and prideful fashion.” “Ah, so you must be the pony Rarity was talking about.” Professor Pasque stated, bringing his head down to Fleur De Lis’s level. “And you must be the good Professor. It is an honor meeting a scientist such as yourself. Though, I had never met with an actual sauropod before.” “I don’t get it; what is a model doing here with us?” Rondo asked. “I’m glad you asked. You see, I may appear to be just a model on the surface, but I am also a rather influential artist that goes by the pen name ‘Life’s Spade’ and only very few Equusians know my identity. I am not only the canvas for one’s imagination, but I am also the painter behind the canvas as well. You see, I have hit an artist’s block and I need a new source of inspiration.” Fleur De Lis explained. “But why come to us? Couldn’t any other team with more artful experience take the request? We are a bunch of foreigners reigned into a war after all.” Gnasher stated, crossing her arms together. “That is why I specifically need your group; you are all foreigners of this world. You all exhibit different shapes and forms, both physically and mentally. When I first heard of your group’s exploits, I knew that you all are stories and poetry in motion. It is inspirational, and I feel a deep urge to paint you all.” Lith let out a shrill gasp and her eyelids widened to the point where her eyes could fall out at any moment. Her paws were pressed against the upper portion of her mouth, hiding an explosive scream. “It would be an honor to be painted by someone as illustrious as you, Fleur!” “I appreciate the enthusiasm very much, Lith. But, I would love to allocate the time I have with you all to get a chance to paint each and one of you.” Fleur glanced over to the painting at the corner, humming and narrowing her eyes. “I painted this in my spare time. I hope you enjoyed looking at it.” Stereo said. “It looks fine, yes, but where is the passion? Anyone can paint a cityscape like this. You clearly have potential with the attention to detail, but you need to do something that is more… unhinged if you truly want it to be an art piece to remember.” Fleur De Lis stated. Stereo’s heart ripped in half and his jaw dropped halfway down to the floor. “B-b-but I worked hard on this! You can’t dismiss it as something of below average quality.” “I’m not saying it is below average. I’m just saying that if you want to be an amazing artist, you have to learn how to suffer for your art. It is not something that I can teach you myself, but it is something you have to experience for yourself.” Fleur De Lis lifted her right front hoof over to Stereo’s arms, putting them together and lifting them above her hooves. “Is there a reason you are holding my arms like this?” “These arms are beautiful to look at, and the pipes on your body are also very pleasing to the eye. You have such a great shade of periwinkle and you are the living embodiment of sound itself. I would love to paint you first if you do not mind.” “I never heard someone call me beautiful before. Normally, strangers would run away from me because I am a walking boombox and am fierce to the eyes.” Stereo stated, looking towards the ground to his left. “Those people clearly do not have an eye for what is beautiful, then. I know the location I would like to paint you as well.” Fleur De Lis tightened her grip around Stereo’s wrist, dragging him out of the room. Stereo shook his head and leaned it backwards. Fleur De Lis held a cluster of paints, brushes, a canvas and an easel within a lilac aura with Stereo skulking behind her. In front of the duo was a canal erected out of metal. Water poured out of a gaping hole in the wall, running a stream down a deep hole at the end of the line. An arched bridge connected two halves of the city together. “Wow, how did I not see this place?” Stereo asked. “Maybe you didn’t go out as much as you would like to admit?” “Maybe, but where do I stand?” “Right by the Equusian-built stream over there seems like a perfect place.” Fleur De Lis responded, squeezing out tubes of paint into several black cups. She levitated a paintbrush towards her face and dipped it in a cup filled with periwinkle-colored paint. Stereo moved himself towards the designated area, standing by the rushing water’s edge. The downpour of the waterfall behind him and the cool mist that splashed against his skin elicited a smile. “So how long will this take?” “Hmmm… about an hour. We can talk during that time.” Fleur De Lis responded, placing several strokes of her brush on the canvas. “Mono says that you and he are old friends, having a friendship that lasts over a majority of your lives.” “Yep. He hatched me as a Whismur when he was about five years old, one year after he got Rondo and Lith got Jasmine. Mono and Lith were always happy with sharing what they have learned with us at school and they taught us how to read and write.” Stereo stated. “Oh? That is a very interesting detail he left out of our conversation, Stereo.” “Yep. I was always happy with that skill they both taught us because I was able to pursue other goals in life rather than just be a Pokémon companion. Art was always an interesting subject for me. That reminds me; how did you suffer in life, Fleur?” Fleur De Lis’s grasp on her paintbrush faltered. She looked into Stereo’s eyes with a melancholic frown on her face. “I came from a wealthy, aristocratic family from Old Canterlot. My mother was a model while my father was a painter. They had only one child and dedicated their lives to me. My mother taught me how internal beauty was important for maintaining external beauty while my father taught me how to paint. I was the joy in both of their lives.” “So then what happened?” “It is needless to say that everything changed when the Van’Goth attacked. It was on the birthday when I was considered a full-grown mare. It was a literal festival, where my mother fashioned a brooch for me while my father danced with me, as tradition in our family follows. The Van’Goth attacked the area and my parents fended off the invaders, telling me to hide in the basement.” Fleur De Lis levitated the brush towards the easel and began stroking it against the canvas. “I’m going to guess that they died.” “Your guess would not be that off-point, but that was half of what happened. When all the noise above subsided, I emerged from the basement to find that everything was destroyed. Many of the guests were brutally killed, including my mother. As for my father, he vanished without a trace. To say I was heartbroken would have been an understatement. My parents were everything to me. But, rather than sit and mope about it, I used my pain to become the two things my parents were.” A faint image of Stereo’s visage appeared on the canvas. Fleur De Lis dipped the brush into water, drying it off and then dipping it into red paint. “So did you ever find out what happened to your father?” “All that I know is that he is still alive somewhere. One day, I hope that I would be able to meet him again as our physical selves. Until that day, I strive to make him the proudest father he can be by besting his pieces of art. With my mother’s brooch by my side, I know that I will be able to anything set on my mind. But, enough about me; who else do you value in your life?” “I value all of my friends and family closely. But, out of them all, I hold Rondo closest to my heart.” Stereo responded. “The bird, yes?” “He’s not just a bird, but yes. You could say that we are heterosexual life partners. Rondo taught me how to sing and helped me to express myself. I loved him like he was my actual brother. Even after everything Mono and Lith went through, I was never feeling hurt because I always had Rondo and them. Even if I was in a cave for three days, I still managed because I know that they are alive somewhere.” “So, let us say something happened to Rondo; maybe he suffered a broken wing and he can never fly again. What state of mind would that leave you in?” Fleur De Lis asked. Stereo broke his pose with his spine shooting upwards. Images of a depressed Rondo with bound wings flashed before his eyes. “That would be horrible. He’s literally the happiest member of our family. Seeing him depressed because of having any of his talents taken away from him will hurt my heart. I can’t bear to see that happen.” “Hopefully, it will never happen to him. But, this is an age where anything can happen. You should always be prepared for the worst.” Fleur De Lis stated, changing the color on the brush to a pale yellow. “You know, Fleur, it is very nice talking to someone like you. It helped me cast away any doubts I have right now.” “Likewise, Stereo. I believe that just talking to you helped make me a better artist.” Fleur De Lis set her easel and canvas outside a building with Lith standing in front of the neon signs flashing in the background. She dipped her brush in a pearlescent white and began stroking the canvas with her brush. “You are by far the most eager being I have met who wanted to get painted by me so badly. It’s an impressive feat, considering how desirable of an opportunity it is.” “I was never put in any piece of art and you wanted to paint me, so how can I resist?” Lith responded, crossing her paws together. “Mutual benefits are truly a beautiful opportunity for one to truly express themselves. So your brother sings of high praises about you, Lith.” Fleur De Lis stated, painting Lith’s ears. “What does he say about me?” “He says that you are one of the strongest people he has ever known. He says that you act even when the situation looks bleak. When two factions are at an impasse, you are the one who fires the shot and inspire your own group to act. While he does note that you can be very impulsive at times, he says that he is glad to be your twin.” “I’m glad that he feels that way about me. I may berate him sometimes on how nervous and introverted he is at times, but he still is a wonderful brother who would do anything and everything to guarantee the best possible outcome for everyone.” Lith stated. “But, Fleur, how do you feel about the concept of love?” “Love is a beautiful idea. The thought of two beings who wish to dedicate the remainder of their lives together fills my heart with joy. I even had a close stallion friend who I wanted to spend my life with. Unfortunately, that never came to be because he died of illness shortly after the primary invasion strike.” Fleur De Lis explained, tinting the brush with forest green paint. “So do you believe that love should not have any sort of physical limitations? I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic and am a firm believer of love transcending beyond what is physical.” “I share in your philosophy, Lith. It does not matter who we love just as long as we are capable of feeling love for others. There are many different kinds of love, but the love you and I are speaking about can only happen through actual development over time. Simply falling in love for their appearance is shallow and does not lead to any sort of meaningful ties.” Fleur De Lis swapped out her paintbrush for a fresh one, dipping it in azure-colored paint. She looked onto Lith, eyeing a red coloration building up in her face. She pointed to her own cheek. “I have something on my face?” Lith asked, looking to the right and eyeing a mirror. Her face lit up in a red color and her heart beat with an irregular rhythm. “I could see clearly into your eyes and cheeks that you harbor some sort of forbidden love. Is it perhaps for me?” “D-Don’t be silly, Fleur. This is a completely professional job I’m doing.” “If that is the case, then why have you not looked me in the eyes all day? I see you trying to avert your gaze away from my eyes, Lith. Only one who is nervous about their feelings for another would feel that way. If I am painting you, then be honest with me. I detest painting liars.” Lith let out a defeated sigh and looked into Fleur De Lis’s eyes. “It’s true that I have feelings for you. When I saw your image and your video of modeling clothing at the runway, I felt a sudden urge of just… wanting to be with you. But my heart already belongs to someone else. I’m just not sure if he will be coming anytime soon.” “And the truth is unraveled like a juicy pomegranate. You do not need to feel ashamed about your feelings, Lith. While I sense internal conflict within your soul, I am positive that you know where your heart goes out to. Who knows, maybe this might be the start of a friendship between you and I that might blossom into something more.” Fleur De Lis stated. “You mean…?” “I am not impartial to the idea, but go after who your heart swoons for first. You are young and have the chance to take more bites out of the fruit of life than I do.” “Thank you for your wise words, Fleur. I will make sure to listen to my heart rather than deny what it says.” Lith stated, her nerves lowering and a small smile appearing on her face. “Now that’s the type of smile I love to see on who I paint!” Mono looked at each individual painting of the Pokémon of his team, nodding his head and smiling at them. Fleur De Lis waited in bated breath, gazing at Mono’s reactions. “You have some amazing use of colors, contrast and style here, Fleur.” “I appreciate your comment very much, Mono. It seems that I have gained touch with art back from the cold doldrums of mental drought. And I wish to thank you for allowing me to do this.” Fleur De Lis stated, putting her right front leg forward and bowing. “It is always nice for us to get to meet more people. My squad is much happier after you painted them, myself included.” “You all have nice colors that are candy to the eyes. It would be a shame to not choose the proper environments and paints that would best fit your unique personalities.” Mono focused his attention on Fleur De Lis’s painting of Stereo, looking at the earnest smile in front of a tranquil river. “So Stereo told you about his interest in art?” “Yes he did. I must say that you did a fine job with giving your Pokémon an education to the best of your ability, and I am glad that he seeks the noble pursuit of art. I’m considering putting him under my tutelage.” Fleur De Lis responded, smiling and whipping her mane towards Mono. “Speaking of which, I always wondered why someone such as you were to go into the realm of painting and art, Fleur. I mean, you already have an amazing career as a model and everything.” “It is true that I am content with my life as a model, but I also know that art is needed now more than ever. Most of the art in the world is lost when the Van’Goth attacked. When the war ends, how will the people of our nation return back to life? With art, I can help revitalize the spirits of people and give their lives more options of approach. Many Equusians do not put much value in art after all.” “Art is nice to look at, but I don’t feel that it is as important as you say it is, Fleur.” Mono said. “And that is your first error, Mono. You cannot simply just look at life thinking that it only has one option. Having a clearer view and taking things slowly will reveal a multitude of paths you can take on your journey of life. Art grafts this knowledge upon those who take even a minute of their dedicated time. Maybe you can look more into art as well?” Fleur De Lis’s swords for words pierced through Mono’s mind, causing his nerves to be paralyzed on the spot. A small frown appeared on his face, but curved into a smile. “I’ll try to look at art in a different way, Fleur. Thank you for teaching me this important lesson.” “Any time, Mono. I would love to have the opportunity to paint your entire squad in a single portrait some time. In the meantime, I will keep in touch with you, your sister and Stereo. I’ll also leave these paintings here overnight and have some hired hands to pick it up for the gallery exhibit tomorrow.” Fleur De Lis walked out of the group’s room, leaving Mono by himself. He gazed back at the paintings, allowing their colors to spiral through his head. “I can definitely see their personalities flash in these paintings now. It’s almost as if I can read what is on their minds right now just by looking at them. But I still don’t see how this will help me look at the different options in my life. I guess it must be acquired.” He said. “Well, I could always start now.” Author's Note It's a light chapter, but I hope that it is enjoyed nonetheless. Into EverfreeSpitfire sat in her seat, sipping at a steaming cup of coffee. Her half-lidded eyes looked upon the sun rising over Neo Canterlot’s pink sky. She let out a hearty sigh. “Nothing like watching the sun rise with a cup of joe in my hand.” She said, taking a generous sip out of her mug. Sonars pulsed within the electronic map embedded within the table. Within the rings of the radar, two dots revealed themselves within the south of the Terraformed Wilderness continent. Spitfire’s right ear shot up, listening to the pinging sound of the radar. “It seems like the radar detected some foreign energy out near the Everfree Forest. I could call the squad up right now… or I can wait after H.O.R.S.E. is officially open for the day.” Fluttershy hovered into the Pokémon Squad’s room with a rifle and a blue rectangle on it hoisted upon her back. She flipped the lights in the room on and flew towards a wired bench. She placed her rifle onto the table in front of her and lifted away parts of the weapon. “S’up, Flutters?” Gnasher asked, entering the room with her claw being waved. “Oh! Hello, Gnasher. I didn’t expect you to be up so early.” “I know, but I was going to go to the training grounds to try this new claw first. Always wanted to use Crush Claw. What are you doing here so early?” “I’m just making sure that my weapon is calibrated and that the healing charm on it is functional. Twilight gave me a good idea about augmenting my weapon with one so that I can give immediate healing aid during battle.” Fluttershy explained. “Hello, everyone.” Jasmine stated, floating into the room with Custard by her side. “If you are wondering why I am here so early, I thought I should focus some more on redesigning this drab room.” “I’m here to help since I broke a plate by accident.” Custard said, holding the Solar Cannon in his right hand. Spitfire walked past the hallway, peeping her eyes in the room. She scanned the room and a frown of confusion stretched across her face. “I didn’t expect you all to be here so early. Where’s everyone else?” “They must probably still be sleeping. We needed to do some early morning stuff.” Jasmine responded. “Well, this is somewhat convenient. My scanners detected two Pokémon within the Everfree Forest area.” With a smile, Spitfire said. “Shouldn’t we gather up the rest of our allies then?” Fluttershy asked. “There is no time. What we have in this room is enough.” The group of four glanced at each other and then looked into Spitfire’s eyes. “So you mean you’ll accompany us on this mission, Spitfire?” Gnasher asked. “I’ve been out of the action for a while since the invasion. I’ve been craving for some combat.” With an enthusiastic huff, Spitfire said. “I’m sure that with you by our side, we would do twice as well with our objectives.” “You know it, Fluttershy. Also, how is your memory on the Everfree Forest?” “Still as good as the day I stepped in there.” Fluttershy answered. “Perfect. I say we leave as soon as possible.” Spitfire declared. “Also, Custard, do you mind if I use your Solar Cannon for this mission? I left my cannons back in my office.” Custard handed the Solar Cannon over to Spitfire with an enthusiastic smile on his face. “Not a problem.” A tall and bipedal stoat with a lilac torso, purple legs and a purple stripe around his waist sprinted across the forest ground with red berries within his whip-like arms. He turned his head, glancing at the wooden wolves approaching from his back with his red eyes. He leaped off of the ground, kicking off of the trees using his powerful clawed feet. The wolves clambered onto the tree and began leaping off of branches. The creature narrowed his eyes and grunted. “Blasted wolves! That’s the second time they’ve tried attacking me today.” He cursed underneath his breath. He turned around on top of the tree branch, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “As much as I would hate to do so, I have to dispatch these creatures.” He leaped towards the creatures and extended his clawed right paw out. He struck the head of one of the Timberwolves, his palm whirring with a radiant flash. A beam shot out of it, forcing the beast downwards and allowing him to vault off the blow. Seeing another Timberwolf nearby, he dives towards its direction and slammed his feet against its back. He descended onto the forest floor with agile grace, sprinting away with the berries in hand. He sighed a breath of relief, looking back and seeing that the Timberwolves had disappeared. A quadruped with pale cream-colored fur and pink ears, feet and tail sat within the clearing of the dark forest. Her white and pink bows on the base of her neck and ear each had two pale cream ribbons that stretched around her body, ending off with pink and blue colors. Her large azure eyes were lidded and a frustrated frown plastered upon her face. The bipedal stoat emerged from the bushes carrying berries in his hands. “I’m sorry I was late, Sophia. I had a bit of a run-in with those wooden wolves again.” “Fei, it isn’t any fun just sitting around here waiting if you would make it here alive or not. Maybe I should recon and bring back today’s food next time.” Sophia responded. “I know that you are a Mienshao and everything, but you can’t handle everything on your own.” “I care for you too much to bring you out into danger, Sophia.” Fei stated. “There you go again thinking that I’m just some helpless damsel, Fei. Don’t forget that it was I who defended you all those years we were together considering you absolutely hate fighting.” Fei glanced away from Sophia, frowning with half-lidded eyes. “I know, Sophia. I shouldn’t think any lowly of you, my best friend.” He stated, dropping the berries onto the ground. Sophia picked up a berry with her mouth and tore it apart between her fangs. Its red juices, skin and flesh slithered down her throat. “Well, whatever these berries are, they sure are delicious! Where do you find them, Fei?” “Around some of those wolves made of wood. They seem to guard these berries as if they are valuable.” Fei responded. “And you wonder why you have Timberwolves chasing after you? That just gives me more reason to come along on your gathering expeditions.” Sophia shook her head and devoured another berry in silence. “You’re right, Sophia. I should bring you with me next time when I am looking for food. Besides, there are predators that can attack you at camp.” “Capable of defending myself, remember?” Fei closed his mouth, his eyes widened in a panic. “R-right.” Spitfire, Fluttershy, Gnasher, Custard and Jasmine closed in on the mouth of the thick-wooded forest. Several patches of blue flowers grew on the nearby grass. “Those flowers look absolutely lovely.” Jasmine noted, hovering her way over to a patch. Spitfire dashed in front of Jasmine, blocking her off from the flowers before her by sitting down. She nodded and held her right front hoof high. “Not going to happen, Jasmine. These flowers are known as Poison Jokes. Touching one causes the flower to pull a prank on you. By prank, I mean distort your body with a random effect. Some are benign, some are lethal, but they are all annoying.” “I didn’t know a flower can do that to you.” Jasmine said, placing her right hand onto her beak. “So Flutters, what kinds of things should do we have to know about the Everfree Forest?” Gnasher asked. “Many things, actually. Even with the current state of the world, the chaotic magic that melds the forest together makes it one of the very few landmarks to have been unaffected by the terraforming. As such, there are still some original native Equusian animals that lurk only in this forest. Timberwolves and Cockatrices are among them.” Fluttershy explained. “Those sound like Pokémon.” Custard interjected. “They aren’t. But, just keep your guard up. These creatures are still very dangerous.” From the top of a nearby tree, a green serpent with the head of a rooster leaped out towards the group. It let out a hissing noise. “I’m guessing this is a cockatrice? Doesn’t look threatening.” Gnasher commented. “Just don’t look into its eyes. Doing so will turn you into stone.” Fluttershy stated. Gnasher’s weapon flashed with a blue-white light. She dashed forward, slashing the cockatrice across its chest. The cockatrice yelped with a loud scream. Its right eye twitched in pain. It flew away. Gnasher smiled and pumped her right arm downwards. “The Crush Claw is awesome! Did you see how that cockatrice fled after I swiped it?” She stated. “Yes, yes, it was cool. But, we still have a mission to complete.” Spitfire stated, taking her steps into the forest. Fei and Sophia traveled along the plush grasses of the forest, eyeing the dark and twisted shapes of the trees before them. Fei’s nerves constricted his body, forming a physical cage that prevented him from speeding forward. “Sophia, are you sure you know where you are going? This area doesn’t look too familiar.” “Of course I know where I’m going. Going into an unfamiliar part means that we are making some progress of getting out of it, right?” Sophia responded. “I guess so. But maybe we should be extremely cautious. This forest has some very unusual creatures and specimens within its wood. Who knows what other creatures we will run into?” A twist of fate spun through Fei’s words, where a hut within a tree was spotted from the distance. Fei and Sophia glanced at each other and shrugged their shoulders. “How anyone can live in here is beyond what I can believe.” “You lived a cushioned life, Sophia. It is possible to live here. Heck, we’ve been living in these woods for Arceus knows how long.” Sophia rolled her eyes at Fei’s comment and let out an annoyed sigh. “Let’s just go inside, Fei.” The duo approached the tree, looking at the dark bark and oval window upon it. A wood-crafted door opened in front of the two, revealing a black and gray-coated zebra mare with golden rings around her right front leg and neck. Her Mohawk and her tail brought out a primordial vibe from her, which emanated further from her deep blue eyes. “Two strange creatures before my eyes. Was my information on this forest all lies?” She questioned. “Ummm, Fei… she rhymed.” Shying her head away with a nervous frown, Sophia stated. “She doesn’t seem hostile. We should probably ask for her help.” Fei responded. “You two communicate through unusual phonics. Luckily, we can communicate using one of my tonics. You two seem much friendlier than the creatures of the Everfree, so conversing with you could be a treat for me.” The zebra responded, walking into the hut and leaving her door open. Fei and Sophia peeped their heads inside, seeing a circular-shaped room with carved masks, charms, plants and potions along the walls and shelves on the wall. At the center of the room was a black cauldron, bubbling with a green liquid inside. The zebra took a ladle from the cauldron and poured the solution into two crude bowls. Fei and Sophia looked at the potion with teeth clenched in uncertainty. Fei picked up his bowl and tilted it, allowing the liquid to seep down into his throat. Sophia placed her nose next to the liquid, sniffing it. A bitter aroma wafted around her nose. She smiled, pressing on the edge of the bowl and bringing her mouth underneath the flowing liquid. “Wow, that’s much tastier than I imagine it to be!” Sophia stated, smacking her lips. “It is alright. Not the best thing in the world, but not the worst thing either.” “It seems that my special recipe was a success, as it brought out your language that was repressed. Zecora is what I am called, and the Everfree is where you two are walled.” Zecora explained, grinning at the two. “My name is Fei, and this is my partner Sophia.” “Hi!” Sophia responded, waving her right front leg. “What is the Everfree, and why are we even here?” Fei asked, sitting down on his knees. “This forest is enchanted by a chaotic force. Over time, the magic gets worse. There are many dangerous creatures lurking around here. As for your appearance, consult another mystic seer.” Zecora flatly responded. “Well, isn’t that rude of her?” Sophia asked with her head tilted and her right eye raised. “Rude I may be, your plight is what I can see. You two need help in your path, lest you invoke this forest’s wrath. I can help you leave these woods, but be prepared for what lies beyond if you should.” With a half-hearted tone, Zecora suggested. “What does lie beyond?” Fei questioned. Zecora walked towards the window with a frown on her face. “A land changed by the nature of an intergalactic war. It shook the very world to its core. I am the last of my kind, and this has kept me disturbed in mind.” Fei narrowed his eyes and bit his bottom lip with a force hard enough to feel the sting of his incisors. “What you are saying is that if we leave this forest, we’re only going to be swept up in a war we have no intention of fighting?” Zecora stood staring out at the window, giving a solemn nod from her head. “It seems you hate violence such as I. But, do you truly wish to say to your friends goodbye?” “Wait, our friends are here?!” Sophia shouted. “Not in the Everfree, but spread across this massive world. Your role here will surely be unfurled. You must unite with your friends if you want to survive. Even if you hate fighting, surely they will be your drive.” Zecora’s words struck Fei’s heart with a storm of needles. He remained silent for several seconds. “If I am in this forest, I still have to fight to survive. If I am out of it, I still must fight to survive. While I do not like both options, I would rather fight alongside my friends than without them.” Zecora turned around, feeling a warm light inside of her that brought out her smile. “I am glad you feel that way, Sophia and Fei. Your dedication to friendship brightened my day. We can leave at any time, but preferably after this rhyme.” Sophia shrugged her shoulders. “Well, you do like to rhyme. Is there a time when you don’t rhyme?” “No, so…” Zecora stated, pointing her hoof towards the door. “We shall leave immediately. Let us make haste conveniently.” Spitfire, Fluttershy, Jasmine, Gnasher and Custard stood with their backs facing each other, staring down at the horde of Timberwolves around them. Spitfire aimed the Solar Cannon at one of the Timberwolves. Its barrel whirred with a yellow light, turning into a beam that struck the timberwolf. She smiled, eyeing the scorch mark on the timberwolf’s right shoulder. The timberwolf leapt out towards her. She flew out of its attack path with her heart beating out of her chest. “The timberwolf should be downed by that. How did it not destroy it?!” “If I had a guess, these timberwolves are all Grass-types in stature. Grass-type moves aren’t very effective against Grass-type Pokémon.” Custard explained. “Now you tell me.” Spitfire stated, diving down towards the offending timberwolf and splitting its head open with her right hind leg. Gnasher dashed up towards a timberwolf and clamped her jaws on its neck. Her fangs caught on fire, burning the timberwolf. All what echoed from the burning ashes was a horrid yelp for pain. She eyed the other timberwolves around her. “Who’s next?!” She threatened, looking upon all the timberwolves. The timberwolves looked at each other with dull expressions in their glowing eyes. All of the timberwolves leaped onto Gnasher, biting several parts of her body. She squirmed. “A little help would be nice now!” Fluttershy aimed her rifle at the timberwolf biting her neck. A small round dug into its chest and forced it to drop its grip. She fired another round towards the timberwolf on her tail, which dropped it onto the ground. A glob of green energy grew on Jasmine’s right arm. She fired the orb towards the timberwolf on Gnasher’s arm, detonating. The impact forced the timberwolf away from Gnasher and knocked it into a nearby tree. Custard eyed the downed timberwolf with a dark glint in his eyes. He opened his maw and breathed a flamethrower onto the creature, roasting it and the wood behind it. He looked at the other timberwolves, which sat down on the ground and whimpered. “I suggest you all leave… now!” At Custard’s beckon, the timberwolves spread away from the area and into the thick of the woods. Jasmine hovered towards Gnasher with her lips curved into an apologetic frown. “I’m sorry if that was a bit unexpected, Gnasher. But I had to do something about that dreadful timberwolf biting your arm.” She said, examining the scorch mark on Gnasher’s left arm. “Eh, no biggie. I’ve had worse.” Fluttershy touched the charm on her rifle, covering it with a sparkling light. She aimed it towards Gnasher and fired a white and radiant bullet into her. Gnasher’s wounds had their flesh regenerated. “How does that feel, Gnasher?” She asked. “It feels good, Flutters. Much appreciated.” Gnasher responded, smiling with a grin on her snout. “I’m glad you feel better, Gnasher. We should look deeper into this forest to see if your friends are close by.” “I agree with Fluttershy. Let us make haste before we lose the signal.” Spitfire commanded, taking the next steps forward into the unknown thicket. The image of a moon appeared behind Sophia, bathing her in its luminescent life. From her mouth, she fired a pink sphere at one of the five towering draconic heads before her. The hydra reeled backwards from the strike. Fei, seeing one of the heads lower itself, leaped onto its head and ran down its back. He leaped off of back and turned around, holding his arms behind them and his hands perpendicular to each other. A blue sphere of energy built up within the combined palm. He fired at the base of the five heads. The hydra screeched, turning towards Fei. The five heads opened their maws, breathing out a blue and orange flame towards his direction. The flames scorched his fur and brought the sensation of a thousand needles poking into every individual muscle in his body. He landed on the ground on his back, grimacing from the shock on his body. The hydra glared down upon him with its fangs drooling. Zecora tilted her sight towards Sophia. “You must help out your partner, Sophia, lest he be fried like a rhea! I shall distract the behemoth with some brews I have while you tend to Fei’s paralyzed calves.” “But, that means I have to leave you alone. I can’t let you fight that thing alone!” Sophia shouted. “I survived against worse encounters. Life cannot get any browner. Now assist your friend, or all of us will meet our end!” She took a glass bottle containing a green and bubbling liquid from her backpack and chucked it at the hydra. The glass shattered upon impact, spilling its contents all over the scales of the area. Its scales fell off of its skin, melting into the goop. The hydra turned around seeing red, directing its vision towards Zecora. Sophia sprinted towards Fei, whose chest was scorched by the hydra’s flames. She lifted Fei onto her back and sprinted away from the scene. Zecora looked towards the duo’s direction, smiling. She faced the hydra before her, standing her ground with a stone-wall stance. “You stand before me beast, but I shall not be your feast!” She shouted, diving towards the hydra. A set of bushes rustled near the group of H.O.R.S.E. operatives in the dirt path along the forest. They stopped, standing their guard and staring at the shrubbery with the readiness to act. Sophia jumped out of the bush along with a paralyzed Fei on her back. She looked back, seeing the doldrums of inactivity behind her. She sighed, setting Fei on the ground nearby. “You should be okay here, Fei. Let your nerves recover and we can escape the forest.” “…Sophia?” Custard asked, tilting his head in confusion. Sophia looked behind her, grinning at the sight before her. “Jasmine! Custard! Gnasher! What are you all doing here? And… who are the other two with you?” “Well aren’t you adorable? You look like some mix between a cat, dog and fox. My name is Fluttershy, a field researcher and marksman-in-training from H.O.R.S.E.” Fluttershy introduced, forcing the urge to squee within the walls of her heart. “And my name is Spitfire, commander of H.O.R.S.E. We are here to bring with us two Pokémon in the Everfree Forest. Considering you and your buddy there don’t look like any creatures I have seen, I will assume that you two are our objectives.” Spitfire stated. “So this Mienshao must be Fei. It’s kind of ironic, but expected.” Jasmine said. Fei let out a groan, struggling to get up from the ground. He opened his eyes, looking at Jasmine with curious eyes. She eyed his body, seeing the electricity pulse throughout his body. “Jasmine, is there anything you can do to help him?” Sophia asked. Jasmine spread her arms out and closed her eyes. A multi-colored fragrance emerged from the fluff on Jasmine’s lower body, bathing the air in a sweet and flowery scent. Fei twitched for a moment and the paralysis gripping his body subsided. He got up, using his arms as support. “First time I was ever paralyzed. It didn’t feel good at all.” “You get used to it after the first time, Fei.” Jasmine said. “Now, are we ready to get back home.” “Not yet. We still have to save Zecora from that hydra.” Fei stated, grasping the scorched area of his chest. “I do not want her to die because we left her alone.” “Zecora, as in the last zebra?” Spitfire asked, clicking her tongue. “It seems like we have no choice; our objectives for this mission have changed. We have to rescue Zecora from a rampaging hydra!” “Yeah, but where can she be?” Gnasher asked. “She’s not too far away from here. Just follow this path from the bushes and we could reach her in time.” Pointing to the bushes she was just in, Sophia suggested. “Then that is where we go. Hydras tend to be very aggressive, so we should go as quickly as possible.” With her eyes narrowed in determination, Fluttershy sprinted into the bushes with the rifle on her back. The rest of the pack nodded, following her with speeds that tore apart the wind. Zecora was flung into a nearby tree, wincing from the scratches on her body. She looked forwards, eyeing the hydra whose body was bruised in several spots. Its roar echoed with nothing but contempt for her. Zecora closed her eyes. “It seems that dying here is my fate. At least this means I do not have to wait. Being the last zebra truly is cruel. I would be glad to go down in a duel.” The hydra focused beams of energy within its mouth, poising its aim towards Zecora. A bullet shot the back of its middle neck, destroying its concentration. It turned around, seeing Fluttershy with a rifle over her shoulder. Gnasher leaped out of the bushes at a swift speed, using a Dragon Claw against the hydra’s abdomen. The heads of the hydra roared out in pain from the strike. A Dragon Pulse, Dazzling Gleam and a Moonblast shot from beyond the bushes, fusing into a pink-purple beam that tore apart the space around it. The potent blast of energy blasted off a head of the hydra. Sophia sprinted past the bushes and around the hydra, zipping towards Zecora’s side. She exhaled a breath of relief and put her right paw on her chest. “Thank Arceus you are alright!” “Why did you come back for me? I told you two to flee.” Zecora asked, grunting while getting up. “You will not die here today, Zecora. I promise you that. I even brought help from afar.” Sophia responded. Spitfire flew into the canopies of the trees with a direct view of the hydra from above. She dove down towards it, twisting her body into a corkscrew. She struck the hydra and bounced off of it, aiming her Solar Cannon at the beast and firing a Solarbeam towards it. She buzzed around its four heads, pestering and weakening it with each successive Solarbeam. Fei leaped towards Zecora and hoisted her onto his back. He looked back towards her with an assuring smile. “Do not worry, Zecora. We will help you get out of here alive.” Zecora flashed a smile and grasped his shoulders. “Never had I had others do this kind favor. It makes me wish to sing praises with a quaver.” “I don’t need that, Zecora. But, I appreciate the offer.” Fei stated, sprinting out of the area. Spitfire eyed Zecora and Fei leaving through the bushes. She smiled, flying down towards the others. “The target is safe and secure. We leave now!” She shouted, pointing towards the bushes. Mono, Lith, Rondo and Stereo walked into their room at H.O.R.S.E., gazing around with their heads tilted in confusion. “Ummm… where is everyone?” Rondo asked. “I don’t know. Nobody mentioned something about everyone else being tardy. Did I miss anything?” Mono asked. Einstein floated into the room, gazing at the Pokémon inside with a wide grin on his face. “Oh? Didn’t you get the memo from Spitfire? Everyone else in the squad and her went out to do a mission to bring back two of our friends.” He explained. “Wait, when did she give us the memo?” Lith asked. “Well, I was doing my morning rounds around the lab and I happened to see Spitfire and the others rush down the halls. She told me to tell you guys this when you got here.” “Thanks for the exposition, but it looks like there is more on your mind if you were just randomly hanging around the hallway.” Stereo commented. Einstein rolled his eyes, keeping the large grin on his face. “Well… if you must know, I took the liberty of progressing the genome research project Twilight Sparkle and Mono were working on. I’m almost finished with making two gauntlets containing the elemental pledge moves for Mono and Lith. You can thank me later.” Shutting his eyes with a soft smile, he floated out of the room and bumped his body to a cheery rhythm. “So our comrades are in a mission? I guess that it must have been urgent business.” Rondo said, descending upon the ground and folding in his wings. “This area must be very dangerous then. I just hope they are safe.” Lith stated. “Do not worry, Lith; we are safe.” Custard announced, stepping his way into the room. Lith smiled and ran towards Custard, embracing him with both of her paws. Custard kneeled down onto his knees and hugged Lith back. Lith separated from Custard and an angry scowl formed on her face. “You had me so worried, Custard! I would love if you have taken some of the time to warn me that you would leave. I don’t want to see you being hurt.” Lith scolded. “I’m… I’m not a little Goomy anymore, Lith. You don’t need to protect me or treat me like one.” “I know, Custard. You’ve grown to be such a fine Goodra and I don’t need to worry about where you are. But, can I really help it since I’ve raised you from an egg?” “Wait, so if you are here, then that means you completed the mission?” Mono asked. “Yep. And, you two would be surprised about who we found!” Custard stepped out of the doorway. Fei and Sophia walked into the room, looking at the space and furnishings within. Around Fei’s left wrist and Sophia’s front right ankle were two translation bracelets. “Sophia… is that you?!” Mono asked with a grin forming on his face. Sophia smiled, walking up to him. “I know that voice anywhere, Mono. I was always wondering where you were!” She stated, embracing him with her feelers. “Did you eat alright, Sophia? Are you hurt? Did you encounter anything dangerous?!” Mono questioned with his voice rising to a zenith. “Don’t worry too much about me, Mono. I was more worried about how you would do fitting into life here.” Sophia shrugged off with a smile. Lith looked upon Fei’s eyes, who glanced towards Sophia with a distant frown on his face. “So if that’s Sophia, then you must be Fei?” She asked. “That is who I am. Then, if you are a Meowstic like Mono, then you must be Lith.” Fei responded, his voice dipping deeper into melancholy. “Yep. So… would you want me to introduce you to your new home?” Lith offered. A small and sheepish smile appeared on Fei’s face. “That… would be nice.” Author's Note The Move Weapons in action and Fei and Sophia appearing makes chapter 13. I wonder what else will happen. Also, bonus points to those that can point out the references in the fic so far. One with YourselfMono’s eyes opened, revealing an entire world of vermillion luminescence and spiraling rings made from red primordial rock. He stood on an octagon-shaped platform. He went down onto his knees and crawled his way towards the edge, seeing a red, orange and yellow ground towards the infinite bottom. He leapt back, breathing in rapid increments and grasping his heart that beat out of his chest. He gazed at the atmosphere once more, feeling a fuzzy haze clouding his mind. “What is this place?” He asked in a voice stupefied in wonder. “You will have many challenges ahead of you, each being more difficult than the last. I shall grant you power to where nothing but a god can stand in your way.” Mono tilted his head towards every direction, trying to find the source of the loud and divine voice. The world before his eyes vanished with a white light and its hum. In its place is a grayscale street with a sky devoid of colors. Cracks and degrading edges were present on all the buildings and street. Towards Mono’s right was a pure-white filly whose body phased in and out of existence with static. She had a deep frown on her face and her black-iris eyes were wide with pleas of help. She held out her left front hoof towards Mono. “Please… revive… don’t be… about…” The filly disappeared along with the world. Mono got up from his bed with his body breaking out in a cold sweat. He gazed towards Lith’s bed, where the top left portions of the sheets were folded to the right. His ears picked up the sound of running water. He got up out of his bed and stumbled out of the room with a shaky head. The door to the bathroom opened, revealing a disheveled Lith; her eyes were reddened with exhaustion and her bottom eyelids drooped with a black tinge with them. Her back slumped over. “Wow, you don’t look so good.” Mono stated, letting out a massive yawn. “You don’t look too good yourself. You looked as if you had several night terrors.” Lith responded, stretching her back. “You could say that… I think. I had the strangest-possible dream and I can’t really explain it.” “You too, huh? I had a dream where I was in a weird place and some omnipresent voice said something about granting me the power to change destiny, only for it to change into a bleak street with a young filly letting out a cry for help.” “That’s exactly the same dream I had. But… why did the two of us have that same dream?” Mono asked, stretching his back to the left and right. “That is what I like to know, but we have to hold off looking for answers for now. I just got a message from Spitfire about some special announcements.” Lith explained. “Well, as long as it isn’t any sort of show business I have to participate in, I am happy.” Fei and Sophia sat on chairs across Rarity, dressed in black latex. Fei’s uniform is a one-piece uniform, extending from the wrists of his hands all the way down to his ankles, curving around his joints. Sophia’s uniform is two-pieced, where the collar of the shirt loose and goes around the ribbon on her neck. Her back portion allowed her tail freedom. Each piece stretched down to her ankles. “My, don’t you two look fabulous in your uniforms?” Rarity commented, smiling and cupping her front hooves together. “I definitely like it. It’s nice, comfortable and easy to wear.” Sophia responded, lifting her right front leg and waving her paw. “It is a strange outfit, but it does surprisingly feel very good. However did you do it, Rarity?” Fei asked. “Working with many different bodies allowed me to have some more insight on the special physical needs on my clients. Take your friend Custard for example; I could have just made a uniform with general specifications for him, but I opted to make his clothing more suited towards helping him retain his slime.” Rarity explained. “Well, if this means that we can be with our friends at this organization.” Fei grunted with his teeth clenched in disdain, a feature picked up through Rarity’s observant eyes. She frowned. “Is there something wrong, Fei?” She asked. “I understand that you and your people fight to survive, Rarity, but can you do so without using the mechas here? I take… special issues to that sort of thing.” “I can understand your frustration with the methods we use, but I can assure you that those exos are very important to us. In fact, the exos allow us to do more than just fight. They are used for discovering new areas and such.” Fei let out a huff and turned his head away. Sophia glanced at him and then looked into Rarity’s eyes. “You have to forgive Fei for his behavior. His younger brother was put into a coma from an experiment gone wrong involving a mobile suit. He is still very bitter about that.” She explained. “Again, I know how you feel. I also have a younger sister who I care about very much. If something bad were to happen to her, I won’t be able to look at things that are capable of causing that pain to her with respect again.” Rarity said, keeping her warm smile. Fei sighed and stood up. “Thank you for the clothing and conversation, Rarity. I hear that Spitfire has a special announcement for everyone in my squad. I will see you then.” “Same with me. I am now a member of H.O.R.S.E. after all.” Sophia said with a small grin. Fei and Sophia walked out of the door, leaving Rarity alone in her room. Rarity glanced over towards a framed image of a white-coated filly with light-green eyes and a curled and fluffy mane and tail colored with lilac and pink. “I’ll make sure that this world is safe for you to grow up in, Sweetie Belle. But, I guess that you are pretty happy with your friends and family so far.” All of the Pokémon and Fluttershy gathered around in the room, shaking their ankles and gazing at the analog clock on the wall with shuddering anticipation. Spitfire and a pink alicorn mare walked into the room. The mare’s mane and tail are colored in stripes of purple, magenta and yellow. She was dressed in a navy blue dress and skorts. “Ummm, Spitfire, who is this pony?” Rondo asked. The mare’s purple eyes glanced towards Rondo. She flashed a grin. “Carapace told me a lot about you, Rondo. He says you have a magnificent singing voice. You look pretty cute as well.” Rondo blushed and looked away. “Awww, thanks.” “Everyone, I would like you all to meet Commissioner Cadance. She’s wanted to meet with the operatives of this squad for some time now.” Spitfire introduced, pointing her hoof towards Cadance’s direction. “You didn’t need to introduce me, Spitfire. But yes, my name is Mi Amore de Cadenzia, but everyone just calls me Cadence. I am currently the head of the Civilian Division at H.O.R.S.E. and am responsible for maintaining the general funding of this organization. I also am sort of the patron of Love, so there is that.” Cadance explained. “Cadance sounds like a very familiar name… you wouldn’t happen to know Shining Armor, do you?” Mono asked. “So you met Shiny?!” Cadance responded, her voice rising with excitement. “Well, he’s kind of my husband. So yes, I do know him. And if my physical description matches anything I remember, you must be Mono.” “Umm, yes. You got that right. My name is Mono.” “Out of the entire colorful cast here, I am the most interested with you. Actually, a major reason I came to visit this squad is because I have a special request of sorts for Mono.” She said, placing emphasis on the word ‘special request’. “I… really am nervous when you said those words like that. Considering who you are… did you just imply that you want me to be your escort?” Mono stuttered out, his tails twitching in anxiety. “Wait, what? Heavens no, Mono. You see, part of my task as the head of the Civilian Division is to check through the database of operatives in H.O.R.S.E. to see if they have been taking some civilian requests. From my knowledge, you have been here for at least a month and haven’t taken a civilian duty.” Cadance explained. “So what does that mean for me, Commissioner Cadance?” Mono asked. Cadance narrowed her head close to Mono’s face. “Simply put; each operative is required to do at least one civilian request a month. An important duty of H.O.R.S.E. is to help maintain everyday living, after all. An operative that does not take civilian duties has their access to the headquarters greatly reduced. It would be a shame if you couldn’t participate in the R&D Division anymore.” “Wait… but didn’t I just recently do Fluer De Lis’s request?” Mono asked. Cadance backed away from his face and shifted her head around the room with anxiety building up within the sweat on her face. “Well… I suppose you did… But, I still really do need you for this one request. And it can only be you.” She said. With these words, she grasped Mono’s right paw and pulled him out of the room. Mono pulled back and looked towards the other Pokémon with pleading eyes. “Should we help him?” Stereo asked. “Help him and I’m going to make the each of you do one-hundred thousand push-ups without a break.” Spitfire threatened. “Despite my position as commander, the commissioner outranks me because she’s responsible for maintaining this organization. No hard feelings.” “None taken, Spitfire.” Gnasher stated. “No way will I do that!” Mono shouted, looking away from Cadance with a black top hat and cane held in a light blue aura. “But you look too adorable to not compete in the Neo Canterlot Improv Theater! It’s just improv.” Cadance said, smiling and shuffling her way towards Mono’s line of sight. “I don’t do too well around the sight of complete strangers, Cadance. I’ll make a goof out of myself.” “So? We all make goofs out of ourselves from time to time. Heck, Pinkie Pie puts that to great use as a member of our organization.” “I know, right?!” Pinkie Pie shouted, appearing with spontaneous stealth in the same room as Cadance and Mono. “How did you get in here?” Mono asked. “I used the ceiling. My Pinkie Senses always tell me when someone mentions me.” Pinkie Pie responded. “Alright, but why are you here is the bigger question.” “Well, I was around and I saw you fidgeting within Commissioner Cadance’s grasp. Then I heard that you don’t want to make many Equusians happy and that just makes me sad.” “I know, right?” Cadance responded. “But… I’m just not good at performing.” Mono said, looking away from Cadance and Pinkie Pie. “What a load of hogwash, Mono. Everyone has a performer inside of them. Besides, how would your mother feel if you turned your back on the performing arts?” Pinkie Pie questioned. “Why are you even bringing my mother in this conversation?! She has nothing to do with this.” Mono shouted with a fume of anger in his voice. “Well, isn’t she a Performing Arts Major back in your world?” “I… I never told anyone that. How did you get that information?” He asked, shivering in anxiety. “I always have my ways, silly. Also, I sometimes check up on you and you mumble a lot in your sleep about your mother and father.” Pinkie Pie responded with an innocent smile. “Oh dear…” Cadance muttered, shaking her head with a blush of red on her face. “So you admitted that you watch me in my sleep?” Mono asked with a flat tone. “Blame Luna. Lith tried kicking me out, but she gave up. But, that’s not why I’m here. I still want to help you perform for the Neo Canterlot Improv Theater show.” Pinkie Pie stated, taking out a black vest with white cuffs, top hat and cane of her own. "So, will you still do it?" Mono looked at her. He then glanced towards Cadance, who had a pleading smile on her face. He then looked upon his paws and clenched them. “For my mom.” Pinkie Pie and Cadance grinned and looked at each other. Professor Pasque and Lith traveled down a street crowded to the brim with Equusians rushing into a theater. A sign above the box office showed brilliant lights and sparkling amidst the darkness of the night. “So Lith, how many others will be attending this play?” Professor Pasque asked. “All of members of our squad have special seats reserved in the front, and I heard something about Razor Wind, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight showing up with us. Pinkie Pie will definitely be with us though.” Lith answered. “But… I’m pretty nervous about Mono, Professor. Are you really sure Mono can do well on the stage?” “Why do you not feel confident about your brother, Lith?” “Because I know how he is around complete strangers. He might make a goof out of himself on the stage and he would hate himself for allowing that to happen.” Professor Pasque shook his head and flashed an assuring smile. “Have confidence in your brother, Lith. If I know him as well as you do, he always gives out one-hundred and twenty percent on everything he does. He is very capable of overclocking himself.” “Thank you, Professor. That kind of alleviates some of my concerns I have.” Lith stated. Mono twiddled his paws together with the cane betwixt them. He looked at all of the other actors with a nervous quiver in his lips. He took a deep breath and blinked, calming down his nerves. A brown-coated stag with blue eyes placed his right front hoof on Mono’s shoulder, jolting a jump out of him. “Are you alright? You don’t look too hot.” He asked. “I’m… trying to regain composure, Leaf. I’m not exactly a performer.” Mono responded. “None of us are exactly performers either. But, opens like this are the greatest ways to give us a start on our acting careers. I just hope I don’t mess up.” Leaf responded. “Mess up? You are like the least likely actor to not make an error. I saw how you were in rehearsal. You were nothing short of amazing!” “You might say that, but I get nervous around crowds. I guess it is something we both have to contend with.” Mono smirked and turned towards Leaf’s direction, patting the base of his neck. “Thank you for your words, Leaf. I hope that we both do well here.” “That’s my biggest hope as well!” The steps of the audience rushing into their seats echoed into the stage. The chatter from the crowd bounced into everyone’s ears. Leaf smiled and cocked his head. “You know what they say in Show Biz; break a leg.” “I’m sorry sir, but you are much too big to sit in one of our seats.” A white-coated earth pony stallion in a blue vest said to Professor Pasque. “But my son will be performing in this show! I can’t just not see him!” Professor Pasque shouted. “It cannot be helped, sir. As much as I would hate to say it, we are unable to fit any seats for any large creatures that are at least ten feet tall and two feet wide. It is a protocol we have to meet.” The attendant responded. Professor Pasque let out a huff and turned his back on the attendant. “I hope you enjoy the show, Lith. It seems like I’m too big to join in the fun.” “I will try to enjoy my time, Professor.” Lith stated, flashing her ticket and walking into the theater. Bright lights spotted the entire seating area of the theater, broadcasting all sorts of different Equusians chatting amongst each other. Her eyes picked up on a mixed group of Equusians and Pokémon in the front. She smiled, walking down the carpet to where they were. “Hey Lith. Wait, isn’t the Professor supposed to be with you?” Einstein asked. “He is… but he is too big to come here.” Lith stated. Einstein pouted and crossed his arms. “Geez, isn’t that discrimination against larger-sized Pokémon?” “It really can’t be helped, Einstein. The designers of this theater never anticipated for large creatures to be among their numbers.” Lith comforted, patting Einstein on his head. “Still…” “Yo Lith!” Razor Wind called out, waving his right front claw and sitting next to Gnasher and Strawberry Delight. “Hey Razor!” Lith stated, smiling and running towards him. “I was expecting you and your friends to be here tonight. So you came to give your support to my brother?” “Kind of, but I mostly came to see everyone else goof up. It’s why these shows are almost always so crowded.” Razor Wind stated. “But… isn’t that a bit spiteful?” Strawberry Delight shook her head and wrapped her left hoof around Razor Wind’s neck. “The entire cast knows that it would either be a comedy due to their screw-ups or something amazing and breathtaking if they are good. That infinite potential is what truly drives in the audience. It’s also nice for Commander Spitfire and Commissioner Cadance to give us these tickets.” She said. “You can sit in the seat between me and Gnasher if you want.” Custard offered. “Or you can sit in this empty seat next to me, Lith.” Hydrangea stated. Lith scanned the section of seats in the area. Her eyes perked up, seeing an empty seat nearby Fei and Sophia. “I appreciate the offer, but I have another seat in mind.” Gnasher snickered and covered her snout with her claws, seeing Lith point towards the empty seat past Rondo, Stereo, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. She moved her right claw to the side of her face, creating a wall that link her and Custard. “She totally wants to get laid.” She whispered. “Don’t be silly, Gnasher. They’re obviously very good friends.” Custard responded with an oblivious tone. “Wow… you really are innocent.” Gnasher responded in a deadpan tone and stone-hardened face. “I am very aware of her affections for Fei, but I do not wish to jinx it.” “Eh, fair enough.” Lith approached the seat next to Fei, waving with a casual posture. “Do you mind if I sit here, Fei?” “Not at all, Lith.” Fei stated, flashing a smile towards her direction. Lith sat down in the seat. Pinkie Pie, who looked at the curtains of the stage with an impenetrable focus, turned her head towards Lith and grinned. “Hey Lith! How are you doing this wonderfully fantastic evening?” She asked. “I’m doing well, Pinkie.” Lith said. “Umm… you haven’t been watching my brother and I in our sleep again, have you?” “Of course I have! How else would I make sure that no one breaks into your home to attack you? Or be there to comfort the two of you with hugs when you suffer nightmares?” Pinkie Pie responded. A cold shiver ran down Lith’s spine. “Well... as long as you aren’t doing anything, I suppose that is fine. But, don’t you ever sleep?” “Of course I do. I micromanage every single second and subsecond so that I can check up on everyone in the night and still have enough time to sleep. Anyways, I’ve been teaching your brother a thing or two about the tricks and trades of the performing arts. I know he will do well.” Pinkie Pie said. “Well, I know he will do well. He knows how to act, believe it or not.” Sophia noted. The lights dimmed and the curtains opened, revealing a black-coated unicorn stallion with a white mane and tail. He was dressed in a black tuxedo and his yellow eyes sparked with life. His horn shined with a yellow glow. “Good evening, ladies and gentleman. Welcome to the monthly Neo Canterlot Theater Open, where anyone can participate regardless of experience. Regardless of what happens, we are all here to give each and every one of you a good time. So, I hope you all enjoy the show.” He said through a voice amplified with the magic. The curtains shut on the host and the dim lights blackened into darkness. The stage opened up, revealing Leaf and two other stags with different shades of brown for their coats. One stag has green eyes and the other has brown eyes. Leaf stepped forward and bowed to the audience. “Good evening, Neo Canterlot. My name is Leaf!” “My name is Drop!” The red-eyed stag said. “And my name is Flare!” The green-eyed stag stated. “And the Triple Threat Team of Triplets will show you how we roll!” The three of them stated in perfect synchronization. Drop jumped onto Leaf’s back and Flare leaped onto Drop’s back, forming a tower of stags. Leaf reared his hind legs, sending Flare forward into the air and Drop back. Leaf catapulted himself towards Flare. The two stags straightened their bodies and twirled within a split second, evading each other’s collision. Flare grasped Leaf’s back right hoof and tossed him all the way towards Drop, who landed upon the stage with his four hooves. Drop jumped into the air, passing by Leaf. Leaf grabbed Drop’s front legs and threw him forward. Drop hoisted himself onto Flare’s back and rode him down to the ground. “And that was a deer riding a deer!” Drop said. Leaf leaped onto Drop’s back and rode it. “Make that a deer riding a deer riding a deer!” A storm of roaring cheers and clapping of hooves and stomping surged through the audience. “We have more where that came from!” Mono glanced towards the hologram projection of the show. His legs quivered in anxiety, feeling cold on him. “I don’t think I won’t be able to pull off something like that… or do as well with my performance.” His heart beat in rapid increments and the muscles in his neck tightened, choking his breathing. “Do not be afraid, Mono. I know you can do it.” A nurturing voice called out from within the recesses of his mind. The voice relaxed his nerves and his breathing returned to normal. His legs and face stopped quivering. Leaf, Drop and Flare walked through the back of the stage, looking towards Mono with cheery smiles. Leaf patted Mono’s back. “Don’t worry about it, Mono. Just follow your heart and you will be able to achieve anything.” Mono nodded his head and walked out into the stage. The stallion returned to the stage with the spotlights directing onto him. He stretched the collar of his tuxedo, flashing a smile that can win awards. “Well, that was an interesting show with the Triple Threat Team of Triplets. Up next is somebody who is very new to the scene of Neo Canterlot in general. Please give a warm welcome to Mono!” Sophia, Lith and Pinkie Pie grinned. “I can’t wait to see how he will do.” Sophia stated. “I really hope he has the best things going for him.” “Don’t be so hung up on your nerves, Lith. We will have fun regardless of what happens.” Pinkie Pie assured. On the balcony, Fleur De Lis sat next to a gray-coated stallion whose mane and tail paled with ripened age. “I recommend that you focus on this particular act, Chiffon. You will be amazed by what you see.” She stated. “Will do, Miss Lis.” Chiffon responded. At the top back row of the seats sat Chili Spice and Jetstream Rush. “Mono is the name of Lith’s brother, right?” Chili Spice asked. “Yep. I can’t wait to actually see him. Lith told me so much about him through our message exchanges.” Jetstream Rush said. The curtains unfolded, revealing Mono wearing his top hat and cane. He tipped his hat and grinned with a confident surge. He lifted himself on top of the cane with his right paw, holding out his hat on the left paw and stretching out his entire body against the gravity going against him. He pushed his paw against the cane and leaped off of it, levitating the cane to his paw with his Psychic. He flipped forward and landed on his feet with the end of the crane on the floor. His feet moved in a flurry, bringing forth a storm of clicks that allured the audience to them. Lith’s eyes widened at the sight of Mono’s body dividing into ten copies. Rondo gazed towards Jasmine and brought his wing between him and her. “Ummm… did he just use Double Team?” He asked. “I believe he did. He’s always learning some new things behind our backs apparently.” Jasmine responded. Each of the ten Monos threw their canes forward, holding them in place with Psychic and twirling them at a hypnotic speed. The Monos shuffled their feet along the ground and moved around each other, bringing widened eyes and eye rubs to the audiences. All but one Mono and cane disappeared before their eyes. He levitated the cane towards his right paw and placed his top hat on the ground before him. He reached his left paw inside of it and pulled out a bouquet of roses, tossing them towards Sophia’s direction. Sophia stood up and caught them, grinning and embracing the gift. Fei reeled back in his chair, eyeing the act before him. “That was… somewhat bold on how he did it.” He noted. “I know right? But, I enjoy the gift nonetheless.” Sophia responded. Lith smiled and clapped, bringing her paws to her mouth and whistling. She stood from her seat, clapping with intense beats. “Yeah Mono!” A heartfelt smile appeared on his face, masked by the performer’s grin. Mono stood in the back of the theater, wiping the sweat off of his forehead. From the small corridor hidden away from sight, he saw crowds of Equusians rush towards the other performers of the show, holding out slips of paper towards them. He breathed a sigh of relief. “Mono!” Lith called out from behind, running towards him with Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Gnasher and Sophia by her. She embraced him with a hurried pace. “You were amazing back there! Did you hear the entire crowd cheering for you at the end of your performance?” “Ummm… yes, I’ve heard. But, I prefer to hide in the shadows.” Gnasher let out a chuckle. “Funny how you have a complete one eighty on your personality when you are on stage, Mono. But, it’s really good on you. How come you never told me you can perform?” “I’ll be honest; I never thought I could perform. I always felt like I couldn’t stand up in front of other people to do something. But, I felt like I heard my mother speak to me when I was about to choke. Leaf assured me that everything would be alright… and I felt a new persona come out from within me.” Mono explained. “You were still so amazing. I wish I could stand up in front of other like you could.” Fluttershy whispered out. “I think you can, Fluttershy. It’s just all about being able to believe in yourself and let the inner you take over.” “What did I tell you, Mono? I knew you’d do amazing out there. And you did, just like my Pinkie Senses told me you’d do.” Pinkie Pie complemented. “Your tips were amazing, Pinkie. I put on the Razzle Dazzle like you instructed me to.” “And you showed off that Razzle Dazzle beyond everyone’s expectations. Maybe I should invite you to act in my parties!” Cadance flew down from the sky and ran towards Mono, hugging him with her front legs. “You killed it out there, Mono! I knew that my choice in selecting you was the right one!” She called out. “I understand, Commissioner Cadance. And, I thank you for forcing me into this situation. If I didn’t, I would have never worked up a good spine.” “You know, Mono, I really like the Bold you out there. It was definitely exciting to watch unfold. Those roses you gave me were also a nice present as well.” Sophia stated. “Oh that? That was just improv. Don’t know what I was thinking when doing that.” Mono responded. “Are you sure that isn’t a way to ask me out on a date, Mono?” She teased. “I’m pretty sure it is not that, Sophia. But… I really didn’t like the glare Fei was giving me.” “He’s calmed down about it right now. I assured him that there was nothing going on between us.” Cadance forced a cough into her left hoof, hiding the words ‘Yes there is!’ within it. “Sorry, I just needed to sneeze.” Mono looked down onto his watch, gazing at the stream of e-mails and letters coming to him. His eyes widened, seeing the hundreds of messages filling up his inbox. “Was I really that good in the show?!” “Of course you were, Mono. You were amazing. I just wish that the professor was there with us to see you.” Lith stated, tossing a cashew into her mouth and chewing it. “It’s a shame the theater couldn’t let him in. What is he, some kind of giant purple space dragon that murders someone’s parents then mocks that person with it?” The duo broke out in laughter. “That’s not a funny joke, Mono.” Professor Pasque stated, looking through their window. “Oh, I didn’t expect you to be listening on to us, professor.” Mono stated. “It’s fine. Though I didn’t get to see you in person perform, I saw it from a recording I managed to hack into and I was very impressed with what I saw. You have definitely showed more growth on this planet than you have in our world.” “Well… outside of the lab, there weren’t too many people who are willing to help me out. But, the Equusians all left their marks in my heart. Their brave struggle to survive and maintain everyday living makes my problems feel small in comparison. I have to move away from feeling sorry about my life and help keep that everyday living for them.” Professor Pasque grinned. He peeped his head through the window way and nuzzled Mono’s shoulder. “I’m glad that you have found this path for yourself, Mono. Continue on it and never look back.” Pinkie Pie stood on top of the roof of Mono and Lith’s apartment, gazing at a wispy sphere of blue energy. “I bet you must be proud of your son and daughter, Mrs. Samers. I still don’t know how you are able to come into this dimension.” “A mother’s love transcends any temporal and spacial boundaries. Though, I am curious as to how we are even communicating right now.” Pinkie Pie shrugged her shoulders. “Anyways, I think you should go back to that sparkling place in the sky you call heaven, Mrs. Samers. I’ll make sure your two children are safe.” The spirit faded away from existence. Luna flew down onto the rooftop and folded in her wings. “I would appreciate if you do not do my job, Pinkie Pie.” She said. “Don’t you have to sleep?” “I do sleep, Council Lady Luna. I just sleep in different increments of the day.” Pinkie Pie responded. Luna sighed and smiled. “‘Tia always said you were something, Pinkie. But, I guess there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. But, you are aware that my Thestrals patrol the night and make sure everyone is safe, correct? They might attack you on sight if you are lurking around.” “Oh, those bat ponies? We often go eat some burritos late at night. They are fun to hang around.” “So that explains some of the bean drippings I see on some of my Thestrals’ chins.” “Yep. Don’t worry about me. I make sure that everypony is fine.” Pinkie Pie responded. “Very well, Pinkie Pie. I shall take your word on it.” Luna unfolded her wings and took off into the night sky, leaving Pinkie Pie by herself. Author's Note We all have a performer inside of ourselves. Let your inner persona out, and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. S-Ranked SupportAuthor's Note Will they or will they not? They do S-Ranked Support Shining Armor and Cadance lied next to each other on the couch in their home, gazing at the hologram of a young pony couple gazing into the stars. Cadance stretched out her right front legs and wrapped them around Shining Armor. “You know, Shiny, this is the first time that the both of us are at home together in a long time.” “Right? Working for H.O.R.S.E. seems to drain the time away. I’m glad that we can spend this evening together.” Shining Armor responded, looking with a dazed expression into Cadance’s eyes. He placed a pecked on her cheek. “Remember that day when you declared your love for me? Six years ago? It was the day that brought a silver line into the bleakness that was the war we are engaged in.” “I remember very clearly, Mi Amore de Cadenzia. The survivor rate from Trottington was grimmer than we had hoped and we lost many troops that day. Nothing cheered you up and, errrm, I thought that would have been the perfect time to confess to you.” Cadance pat Shining Armor on his head and cracked a meek smile. “Normally, that would have been one of the stupidest things any stallion can do to a mare, but it worked out very well. You cheered me up and surprised me with a kiss. I’m glad that, if I ended up with someone, it was you.” Shining Armor flashed a lewd smile with half-lidded eyes directed towards Cadance. “You know, I’ve been very anxious to spend the day with you. But… even if the sun is still shining, want to call it an early night? Lying next to you like this is getting me excited.” “I have no objections to that, Shiny. We both need a bit of a stress relief, after all.” A knock echoed from beyond the front door. Cadance looked into Shining Armor’s eyes with a frown. Shining Armor nodded, bringing a smile to her face. Cadance got up from the couch and walked towards the door and opened it, revealing a blushing Custard who is twiddling his hands together. “Oh… ummmm, hi Commissioner Cadance.” He said with a nervous tic. “Hello, Custard. So what brings you over to my home?” Cadance asked with an upbeat tone. “You did say that you are the Patron of Love, right?” Custard asked, his voice muting near the end. “If there are any love-related problems in your life, then you have come to the right mare. Come inside and sit down. I’ll prepare some warm tea for you.” Cadance responded, standing out of the doorway. Custard walked inside the dimly-lit home, eyeing Shining Armor lying down on the couch. A soft smile appeared on his face. “Hello, Shining Armor. I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything.” “It’s alright. I was just going to spend the day with my wife is all.” Shining Armor responded with slight agitation leaking in his voice. Custard leaped back from his spot. “S…sorry.” He whispered. “It’s not your fault, Custard. You came to the right couple in your time of need.” Cadance walked into the living room with an ornate cup of black tea on a dish and passed it across the table to Custard. “I find that Bittermelon Tea is a great way to relax, but it is a bit on the bitter side.” Custard sat on the floor and held the tea in his hand, sipping it and letting its flavor swish around in his mouth. He sighed with a content smile on his face. “I always liked my food and drinks bitter, Commissioner Cadance. Thank you very much.” Cadance sat down on the floor across Custard and placed her front knees on the table, positioning her head on her front hooves. “Please, just call me Cadance on my days off. So, what love emergency can the Patron of Love help you with today, Custard?” “Ummm… it’s a bit embarrassing to say with your husband around, but I will try my best. For the past month, I’ve been having some very… sensual dreams about Gnasher. More than I would like to admit. But this morning, this particular dream left me feeling… stickier than usual.” With the red on his face growing and slime on his body becoming thinner, Custard explained. Cadance lifted her front legs and head away from the table and placed her left front hoof on her chin. “So you were having erotic dreams and this recent one was a wet dream?” Custard squealed and reeled back. “Don’t say it like that! It’s… embarrassing…” “There’s nothing wrong or embarrassing about what is natural, Custard. What you are feeling is completely normal. If we want to get through this situation, tell me about Gnasher. What do you like about her?” Cadance asked. “That’s very easy. Underneath the gruff and rough exterior lies a caring heart. Ever since the first stages of our lives, she protected me from some of the other Pokémon bullying me. Even if she does like teasing others, she does it in good fun. She absolutely hates those that pick on others because of how they are.” Custard explained. “That’s a good start! So she cares for you greatly and you like her back because she can look past whatever problems others say you have. So what else attracts you to her?” “Well... she has the cutest snout and knows how to throw her power around. The stripes on her add a layer of mystery to her and she has the nicest shades of colors.” “Mmmhmm. You two already have a good established history and you love her for what she is, but the bigger question is this; what made you realize your feelings for her?” Cadance asked. “Well, it would be an understatement to say that we came into this world with guns blazing from both sides. But… when I saw that mechanical monstrosity devour Gnasher, I felt something tear my heart apart. For the first time, I genuinely felt angry. I would be able to keep a level head if it happened to others, but I literally blew a gasket when she was devoured like that!” “At that point is when you discovered your anger, is it not? So is it safe to assume that the protection she had given you has given you the urge to protect her?” “That’s exactly what it is! And on that night, we danced to the Rumba of Love.” Custard responded, closing his eyes and clasping his hands together with a serene hum. “After that night, the dreams kept happening and I couldn’t stand to be without Gnasher in my life.” Cadance placed her left front hoof on her chest and cocked her head with a heartfelt smile. “Awwww! Isn’t that adorable, Shiny?” “I was pretty concerned when I heard that you said you liked her, but now I see that you genuinely do have feelings for her.” Shining Armor commented. “The good thing is that I can help you out with your situation, Custard. But, you will have to trust me with every step I give you. Is that alright?” Cadance asked. “I guess.” Custard ambled towards door towards Gnasher’s apartment with his body quivering in anxiety. He looked at the door and held his right hand next to his face, bringing it over to the door with hesitation in its movement. Each knock on the door filled his intestines with butterflies. The doorknob twisted open and the door opened. On the other side stood Gnasher. “Hey, Custard. What are you doing here on our day off?” She asked. “Ummmm…. do you mind if we go hunting for rabbits today, Gnasher? I mean, if you aren’t busy or anything.” With his voice breaking and his forehead pouring out sweat, Custard offered. “Are you sure you want to do this? It involves killing living things.” “I’m positive. I want the two of us to do something you enjoy doing.” A grin appeared on Gnasher’s face. “Let me first go to Razor Wind’s apartment first. I’m going to need to borrow some of his hunting gear.” Gnasher walked outside and shut the door, walking down to the stairs to another building. Custard twiddled his right arm and reached down to the watch, revealing a hologram of Cadance’s head. “H-how am I doing, Cadance?” He asked. “You’re doing very well so far, Custard. But… seriously? Gnasher’s activity for a good time is hunting rabbits? Even if that gives us food, it still is a barbaric activity for fun.” Cadance asked, with her eyes lidding and her mouth forming a straight and deadpan expression at the other half. Custard shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve been meaning to see what the fuss about hunting rabbits is. Now I can do that.” “Eh, fair enough. I won’t judge any further.” Gnasher walked up the stairs towards Custard, carrying oval-shaped racks, nooses and cages in her claws. Custard squealed and deactivated his watch. “I got the gear. Are you ready, Custard?” Gnasher asked. “Most certainly, Gnasher.” Gnasher and Custard traveled outside of the city walls. Gnasher dropped the gear in her arms and brought a deep inhale through her nostrils, taking in the fresh air of the plains. “To be out here on my day off is refreshing!” She said, grasping a noose and handing it towards Gnasher. “You see that hole over there? That’s a prime spot for rabbits to come out of. I want you to set this to the north of that hole. Just bang it into the ground to the left and I do the rest.” “Alright, Gnasher.” Custard said, running over to the hole. He took the wooden peg and banged it near the ground, setting the noose forward through the instructions of Gnasher. “So what next? I don’t expect rabbits to come out at any time right now.” “You just leave that to me.” Gnasher slammed her fist into the ground, causing an Earthquake. A stream of panicked rabbits popped out of the hole, running away from the epicenter of the rumbling. Two rabbits tripped over the rope and the force tightened the noose around them. The rabbits squealed and squirmed their legs and the noose tightened with each pull. “We got two!” Custard shouted. Gnasher sprinted towards the rabbits and lifted them by the rope. The rabbits hung upside-down, screaming at the sight of the hunter before them. A dark chuckle escaped from her mouth. “So Custard, how do you feel about rabbit for lunch?” “Rabbit sounds nice. But, do you mind adding a bit of bitter sauces over mine during preparation?” Custard requested. Gnasher’s face grimaced and a sound of revilement escaped her mouth. “How do you even like your things bitter, Custard?! That’s a nasty flavor.” “I don’t bash your taste for spicy foods, Gnasher.” Custard said. “Fair enough. Right now, I’m going to set up this rung so that we can have some fresh meat to bring back to my place.” Gnasher stuck a rung into the ground and placed a rabbit’s head into the grip. She handed the other rabbit to Custard. “So I am supposed to hold this?” “Yep. Make sure it doesn’t flee. Shouldn’t be hard since you have some very sticky fingers.” Cadance and Shining Armor poked their heads outside of a tree, eyeing the two. A shade of green overcame Cadance’s face and her eyes quivered with queasiness. “She’s actually going to kill and butcher those rabbits here? Shiny, I don’t think I can bear to watch.” Shining Armor chuckled at Cadance’s reaction. “Remind me to never take you hunting with me and the guys then. What Gnasher’s doing is the proper way to kill a rabbit. Watch and you will be amazed with how intriguing the anatomy of a rabbit is.” “Shiny, you can sometimes be really terrible. Did you know that?” “Yep.” Gnasher shook her head in disbelief and slammed her claws underneath her eyes. Custard walked into Gnasher’s apartment, patting the rabbit in his right arm on the head. The rabbit smiled and looked up towards Custard’s face. “You’re amazing sometimes, Gnasher. You already bonded with what is supposed to be food and didn’t want to hand it over.” “Well, the poor thing looked so terrified and she looks so adorable. Besides, you killed one rabbit and got its choice meats. That should be enough for a full meal.” Custard rationalized. “It is, but geez Custard! Have some hunter’s dignity.” Custard stopped in his movements. His nerves froze up and his throat clenched on himself. “I… didn’t do anything wrong, did I?” Gnasher placed the rabbit meat on the cutting board. She let out a sigh. “No… I should have expected that much from how you are as a Pokémon. But, I guess that’s part of the appeal that you have.” She said, tearing her claw through the leg of the meat. The rabbit in Custard’s hands looked away and dug her face into Custard’s chest. “There there, Delilah. You’ve been through enough today.” Custard cooed, stroking Delilah’s head. Gnasher stifled the giggles erupting out of her mouth, imprisoning them with a veil of seriousness. “You named it ‘Delilah’. A Pokémon having a pet is literally one of the greatest oxymorons I have ever heard.” “You don’t have a problem with it, do you?” Custard asked. “Nah. How about you and Delilah take a seat while I go get the lunch ready?” Cadance looked down into her watch, which contained a hologram of Custard’s head. “First of all, Custard, I want to thank you for sparing that rabbit. Shiny and I were watching from the background and seeing the actual slaughter take place still has my hooves shaking.” “I’m sorry you had to see that, Cadance. But, what else can be done about it? I am just following with what you told me to do.” Custard said. “Yeah, but that probably didn’t earn you any points with Gnasher. She was looking forward to cooking two rabbits instead of one.” “I understand, Cadance. But again, I wish to apologize for spoiling your day with Shining Armor. You must have looked forward to this day for a long time.” “Don’t worry about it, Custard. My duty as the Patron of Love outweighs my own personal desires. I’ll be with you through every step of the way.” Cadance responded with a warm tone brimming with assurance. “Don’t forget that I am here as well, Custard. If you ever need some male to male advice, I’m the one to talk to.” Shining Armor stated, looking at Custard. Custard smiled and looked towards left. His eyes perked up and he gasped. “She’s coming! Bye.” Custard’s hologram disappeared from the watch. Cadance looked towards Shining Armor and smiled. “Despite your little stunt with forcing me to watch that horror unfold before my eyes,” She began saying, stretching her front legs and wrapping her right front leg around Shining Armor’s neck. “Do you still want to snuggle up in bed with me?” Shining Armor grinned. A sated smile appeared on Gnasher’s face. She picked her teeth with her right index claw. “Rabbit turned out to be much better than I thought, Gnasher. However did you do it?” Custard asked. “The secret is to create a moisture lock by grilling it in some olive oil. It’s a technique that I use for any meats I cook.” “I’ll be honest; this is my very first time eating meat. Now I see why you like this food. The rich flavors and moisture are definitely in balance.” Gnasher looked toward Delilah, who nibbled on a head of lettuce before her. She stroked her head. “You know, she’s much more adorable than what I gave her credit for. But, I still will keep hunting rabbits you know.” “I can’t change that, Gnasher. It’s in your blood as a predator Pokémon. In some strange way, it makes me feel like I can be safe around you.” Custard said. “Safe around me, huh?” With a smile creeping on her face, Gnasher asked. “It seems like things between us haven’t changed at all. You were always the one picked on by the others and I was the one to always bail you out. Heck, each of your forms had a new reason for the other Pokémon to pick on you.” “Gah, don’t get me started. When I was a Goomy, the Pokémon picked on me for my funny appearance for a Dragon-type. Then, I got made fun of for being blind when I was a Sliggoo. You actually scared off some of the Pokémon for teasing me like that. And even in this form, Pokémon still thought I was too soft for a Dragon-type.” “You don’t need to be intimidating to be a Dragon-type. That’s just a typist approach that others see in Dragon-types. You can be very scary whenever you want, but I like the sweet you. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to some of the other male Pokémon flaunting around their masculinity. They are usually the ones that end up running away when they see me.” “Isn’t that the truth?” Custard and Gnasher broke out in laughter. Gnasher pounded the table before her and Custard’s lung exploded from laughter. “But yeah, don’t ever change the way who you are. Who cares about what a few chumps say about you? You will always be better than them.” She said. Custard twiddled his stubs together, looking towards the left with a blush on his face. “Gnasher, do you like me?” Gnasher’s eyes widened, looking at Custard with curiosity flashing in her eyes. “Of course I like you. You’re literally my best friend that doesn’t include Mono.” “No, as in, do you like-like me?” Custard asked with a red blush on his face and his eyes looking away from Gnasher. A light shade of red appeared on Gnasher’s face. Her words muddled underneath her voice and she twiddled her claws together. “Ummm… kind of.” Custard turned her head towards Gnasher with a face that is redder than her body. “C…Could you repeat that again? I didn’t think I heard you properly.” “I like-like you, Custard. I’m not sure when, but I have been attracted to you for a while. I just kept it under wraps because… well, I didn’t feel like you would share in my feelings because I am a bit of a rough croc.” Gnasher explained, crossing her arms together, tilting her head away and focusing her eyes on Custard. Custard smiled and stood up, lifting his chair and moving closer to Gnasher. He treaded his left hand below Gnasher’s snout, feeling her scaly skin brush against his slimy exterior. “It might be hard to believe, but I’ve been attracted to how rough you tend to be. After all, it makes your golden moments shine even brighter. You have such a beautiful heart that I feel inclined to be with you.” A soft smile appeared on Gnasher’s face. “So going hunting with me was a way for you to admit your feelings to me, eh?” “I’ll admit; I had a bit of help from Cadance on what to do. But, I knew you would enjoy hunting today.” Custard explained. “She must be one hell of a love doctor if she can set you on the right path to admitting your feelings for me. Speaking of which, do you want to take this date out into the city?” Custard grinned. Custard and Gnasher sat around a clothed table under the dim lights. Around them are other tables, each filled with a majority of changelings followed by a slew of other Equusian varieties. Several Pokémon were also seated at their tables. Carapace walked onto the stage in the back of the room, clearing his throat. “I thank you all for being at Club Chitin today. Making his debut in the singing scene today, please, give a warm round of applause to Rondo!” He pointed towards the silver wall behind him and backed away from the mic. Rondo flew his way over to the stage, pushing the microphone stand down to the floor. A tranquil round of clapping ran throughout the audience. “Thank you for the applause, Neo Canterlot. Now, the song I will be singing is one you more than likely never heard before since I might have made it on the spot, but I hope you enjoy it regardless.” Rondo stated, turning his gaze towards a gray earth pony mare with a black mane and tail, pink eyes and bowtie at the piano with a tilted head. She began touching on the piano, and a somber melody shined its way throughout the room. “I feel lonely even in a crowd I feel that my voice isn’t even loud I wondered how my life will go on Simply being life’s pawn Somebody knocked on my door ‘I will be with you’ that’s what she swore And she left me Oh how days have passed for I Wondering how fast time can fly And she left my heart on the floor She walked the door My life is in pieces So tell me why I must be the one to cry I need life’s releases!” Rondo closed his eyes, wailing into the microphone with passion exuberating from his voice. A heartfelt smile appeared on Gnasher’s face. She grasped Custard’s hand with her left claw. “You now, Rondo has a wonderful singing voice.” “I know right? That song of his is pretty good.” Custard responded. “Even if it isn’t entirely original, I still like his rhyming scheme.” Gnasher commented. Custard glanced towards the left. A frown appeared on his face. “Gnasher, do you promise to never leave me?” Gnasher’s eyes blinked twice. “What makes you think I would leave you?” “Well, Rondo is singing about how love can end in pain. I don’t want to go through the pain of losing anyone I care for, especially you.” Custard explained. “You oaf! I may be cold-blooded, but I would never do something as tear apart your heart like that. Even if we are in the midst of a dangerous war, we will make sure to spend our long lives with each other.” Gnasher assured. Rondo opened his eyes. “And I say Everything about you You go your way I will take my view Tell me why My mind is hazed with you By and by I will wade it through.” A roar of cheers, whistles and clapping emerged from the audience. Gnasher and Custard scratched their heads. “Ummm… how long were we talking for? It feels like we missed two thirds of the song.” “Maybe about two minutes?” Custard responded. Carapace walked onto the stage with a smile on his face. Rondo flapped his wings and took the air. “That was a wonderful song, Rondo. My heart called out to the melody of your voice.” Carapace stated. “Thank you very much for the compliment. I was happy to sing to everyone in the crowd today.” Rondo stated. “Aaaand that’s what we came here for.” With a fulfilled smile on her face, Gnasher stated. “So we got to see Rondo’s performance, so what else is there to do?” Custard asked. “We could walk by that canal that Stereo and Fleur De Lis like walking by. I hear that is a romantic place.” “That’s a good idea.” Gnasher and Custard stood up from their seats and walked towards the door. Mono turned his head to see the two leaving the door, humming with suspicion. He glanced towards Lith and tapped her shoulder. Lith turned her attention to him. “What’s up, Mono?” She asked. “Custard and Gnasher just snuck out of the club for a mysterious reason. I wouldn’t have much of a problem with it, but Rondo has two other songs after this and it feels kind of rude to just ditch him like that.” Mono stated. “That is a bit weird. Maybe we should just follow them?” Mono and Lith leaped out of their seats and pushed in the chairs. The two walked out towards the exit, feigning calm exteriors. “Oh Shiny, it was a brilliant idea to have a relaxing gondola ride after roughing it in bed.” Cadance stated with a sigh. “I could make a lewd comment about this, but that would ruin the moment. I’ll just let the waves rock us back and forward.” Shining Armor said, poking his right front hoof into the water and swirling it around. Cadance’s eyes glanced towards the couples on the railings, looking into each other’s eyes with no focus on anything else. Her eyes glanced towards Gnasher and Custard, who held each other’s hands and looked into the water. “Awww, look at those two finally together! They look so adorable.” She commented. Shining Armor eyed Mono and Lith, who stormed towards the couple with hazy anger within their eyes. His eyes widened. “Uh-oh! It looks like they have trouble coming their way.” He stated. “Gnasher!” Mono shouted. “Custard!” Lith screamed. Gnasher and Custard jolted upwards at hearing Mono and Lith’s voices. “M-Mono! Lith! What are you two doing here?” Gnasher asked with a shaky voice. “You two are just going to abandon Rondo after a single song? Didn’t you forget that he has three songs to perform today?” Lith scolded. “Oh… shoot. That passed my mind completely.” Custard admitted. “Anyways, what are you two doing at the canal here? It seems like a very suspicious place for two Pokémon to sneak off to if you ask me.” Mono questioned. “T-that’s none of your business, Mono!” Gnasher lashed back with her face red in embarrassment. Cadance and Shining Armor sprinted towards the group of four. “Alright, what is happening over here?” Cadance asked. Mono and Lith’s eyes jolted open and their words stammered. “C-Commissioner Cadance! What are you doing here?!” The two said in unison. “Well, I was enjoying a gondola ride with my husband here when I suddenly saw you two storming up to Gnasher and Custard to scold them. Now, is there any reason why you are scolding this couple?” “Couple?” Lith asked, looking towards Gnasher and Custard. Gnasher groaned and smacked the top of her snout. Custard looked away with his eyes gazing towards the floor. “They kind of abandoned Rondo after they promised to watch his complete show today. But, I can now see why they wanted to come out here after hearing that they are a couple now.” Mono stated. Lith cooed and ran towards Gnasher, hugging her by her waist. “Awww! How adorable it is to see you two finally together as a couple!” “Well… he kind of dropped many hints today when he decided to go rabbit hunting with me today. Speaking of which, where is Delilah?” Gnasher asked. “I released Delilah back into the wild. She is much happier there than being cooped up in a home.” Custard responded. Rondo flew towards the group with a scowl on his eyes. “What the heck? The four of you abandoned my performance to come out over here?” He stated with a pained voice. “I didn’t abandon you, Rondo.” Mono responded. “I know, Mono. I was just kidding. I kind of saw Gnasher and Custard holding hands and speaking romantically to each other while I was singing. I decided that one song was enough and I came here to congratulate the new couple here.” Rondo smiled and turned towards Shining Armor. “You know, we still have to do our fated match. I will beat you in the game, you know.” Shining Armor grinned in response. “Sure… but I have my day off with my wife today. Can it wait some other time, Rondo?” Rondo let out a cry of frustration. “Geez, everyone seems to have a significant other. I need a girlfriend of my own.” Everyone in the area laughed, including Rondo himself. Gnasher and Custard looked at each other. Gnasher trickled her claws up to Custard’s shoulder. “If you want, we can call it an early night and head back to my place for some… private time.” “I appreciate the suggestion, Gnasher, but I would like to wait before our relationship goes into a sexual one. I like to take things slow and easy.” Custard responded. “Fair enough. I didn’t expect you to go through with it anyways.” Gnasher and Custard locked their hands and claws together and gazed at the canal before them. Another Frozen StrokeStereo gazed at the blank canvas before him, rubbing his chin with a dissatisfactory hum. He pounded his fist against a nearby locker. “What am I supposed to paint?!” He roared. “Calm down, Stereo. It’s just a canvas.” Jasmine said, lowering her hands downwards. “It’s not the canvas, Jasmine. I just feel like I cannot paint anything. There is an entire world out there with infinite possibilities of potential for amazing paintings and I can’t do anything of the sort!” Jasmine placed her left hand onto Stereo’s shoulder and patted it. “Blocks happen for a reason, and blocks are always intended to be shattered like a ray of light in the midnight sky. But, if you want my suggestion on it; how about trying to paint something outside the city?” “I’d paint something outside of the Terraformed Wilderness, but the only other continent we have access to is the Glacial Drift. It’s not exactly an easy place to paint at.” Stereo said. “Of course it is not, but I hear that the Glacial Drift is a bit warmer during this time of the year. But, we really can’t go there by ourselves now can we?” “Not unless if we get called to there. But, what are the chances of that?” Professor Pasque, Spitfire and Fei entered the room with eyes focused on the duo in the room. “You two are the only ones in the room? Where are the others?” Spitfire asked. “They’re out rescuing some confirmed survivors towards the west of the Terraformed Wilderness. That is the mission you gave them after all.” Jasmine explained. Spitfire slammed her hoof into her face. “Great. I had to give them a mission at such a critical time. Our satellites have detected abnormally huge Van’Goth activity at the Glacial Drift. We need some scouts to see exactly how the Van’Goth will do and I guess that everybody in this room will have to do.” She said. “That s somewhat strange that they would be over there. But, we aren’t exactly quick enough to be scouts ourselves.” Jasmine commented. “That is true. And, if we just wait around for the Van’Goth to strike, then it would be too late. It looks we all have to be involved in battle then. That does include you, Professor.” Professor Pasque turned towards Spitfire with an understanding gaze. He nodded. “I’ve heard stories about the Van’Goth. It would be my pleasure to assist in their defeat.” Fei shivered and narrowed his eyes. A small grunt escaped from his mouth. “As much as I would hate to be on the frontlines, I made a promise to Zecora to fight alongside my friends. You have my service.” Spitfire smiled. “Today, we will be teaming up with the Heavy Armor division. This will end up being a very messy battle, regardless of the circumstances. Are you all fine with this?” Everyone in the room nodded their heads. “This battle just may give me the inspiration to make art. Maybe I might be able to understand what Fleur means when she said that great artists must have suffered…” A battalion of armored buggies drove through the bitter winds of the Glacial Drift. Stereo, Jasmine and Fei sat within the back of a buggy, equipped with goggles and scarves. Stereo glanced towards Jasmine’s eyes. “You know, this is the very first time that the three of us are together by ourselves. Spitfire is driving our vehicle, but it still counts as us being alone.” He said. “I agree. You know, I’ve been meaning to talk with you two about Mono and Lith.” Fei answered. “What kind of things? If we talk about them, of course we will be talking about how well they have treated us.” Jasmine stated. Fei eyed the floor and twiddled his thumbs. He breathed into his hands, masking his anxiety. “I have a feeling that Sophia loves Mono more than she loves me.” He admitted. Stereo and Jasmine shifted grimaced glances towards each other with their faces breaking out in sweat. “Umm… I don’t know how to respond to that.” Jasmine said. Fei frowned, and the color on his fur dulled. “So it is true, isn’t it? I had my suspicions when I saw her hanging around Mono more than she does me.” Stereo’s face is paralyzed with silence. “Ummm… unfortunately, it is.” He whispered out. Fei let out a frustrated sigh and dropped his face onto his. “How did I let this happen? I thought she loved me.” “To be fair for her Fei, you did have a full grip of control over her. You made it so that she couldn’t have a life of her own to live. She told me that when she is with Mono, she feels more liberated from your clutches.” Stereo explained. Fei bit his tongue on the words passing through his ears. He shook his head. “Stereo is right, Fei. Even if she is happy the way she is, it doesn’t excuse you from choosing her destiny for her. While I understand that you did it for the right reasons, you completely ignored her ability to choose destiny for herself.” Jasmine stated. “It’s true that I took away her ability to choose for herself, but I was trying to protect her from a cold and horrible world that would have exploited her. Mono and Lith protected you two from a similar fate.” Fei responded, breathing out through his nose. “Not necessarily true. Have you ever tried comforting children that have lost their parents? We were protecting them from being exploited, and Sophia did the same for you. It works both ways, Fei. Only when you understand that mutualism can you understand why Sophia loves Mono over you.” Stereo explained. Fei remained silent, looking forward with a distant frown on his face. He shook his head with a solemn shake and placed his hands on his face. “So all this time, I was blind to a Pokémon’s feelings. Though Sophia was happy, I failed in the most basic duties as a trainer and couldn’t understand her feelings. So… my own love will end up being unrequited because of this.” Jasmine walked her way to Fei’s side and stroked his back sideways. “Even if your love for Sophia will remain unrequited, there will always be others who you can still love. Like Lith, for instance.” Fei raised his head out of his hands and looked towards Jasmine with the muscles in his face locked in surprise. “You mean… the lady at the lab who doesn’t even realize that I am there?” “She absolutely adores you. All the Pokémon and even some of the humans saw the affection she possessed for you. You would have to be oblivious to not be able to see it.” Jasmine said. A small blush appeared on Fei’s face. His frown shifted into a small and warm smile. “I always had an affection for Lith when I first saw her. But, I thought I was invisible to her radar. I thought she never wanted me, which was the reason why I devoted my life to Sophia. But, hearing this news ignites a new hope in my heart. I will fight, and I will survive this battle to finally confess my feelings to her.” Stereo stood up from his seat and approached Fei, punching his shoulder with a light tap. “That’s the kind of attitude we need for this mission. With this knowledge, we will not fail.” A hologram of Spitfire’s face appeared in the back, glancing towards the trio of grinning Pokémon. “We’re almost at our rendezvous point. I suggest you all prepare for battle.” She said. All of the buggies stopped at the plateau before a large field. Hundreds upon hundreds of mechas and transformed Van’Goth stood at the bottom, marching towards the east. Jasmine, Stereo, Fei and Spitfire disembarked from the back. Professor Pasque waded his way through the snowstorm, looking down onto the field. He narrowed his eyes. “So these are the Van’Goth I’ve heard so much about. Using violence and warfare as a means of expressing themselves… disgusting.” He commented. “Many Equusians died from their onslaught, including three world leaders. Not even the elderly or children are capable of escaping their wrath. But, with the combined might of otherworldly beings and ourselves, we shall deal a huge blow to their regime!” Spitfire said. Applejack and Big Macintosh approached the group, looking towards the bottom. Big Macintosh’s eyes widened to the point where his eyeballs can fall out at any moment. “That’s… huge.” “I know what you mean, Big Mac. This is probably the biggest we’ve seen of the Van’Goth’s advancing forces. Why do you think they need a force like that?” Applejack asked. “From the direction they are headed, it looks like they are approaching Griffonheim. But… they already captured that area. Why would they go back to there?” Spitfire questioned. “I can answer that.” Razor Wind said, flying down to the ground near the group. “Griffonheim is home to many treasures, some of which caused insatiable greed amongst our kind. Civil wars broke out over trying to capture these artifacts. Our queen had enough of these wars and sealed the artifacts away, thus ending the greed-fueled political strife within our nation.” “Rainbow Dash did tell me a bit about that while she was in Griffonheim. But, what would the Van’Goth want with just a few treasures like that?” Applejack asked. “Part of it has to stem from the fact that these treasures are actually just everyday objects charmed with a certain spell that drives those exposed to them to madness. It makes me frightened thinking what the Van’Goth can do with artifacts such as that.” “I share in your feelings, Razor Wind. If we are exposed to that, then we can kiss our way of life goodbye. We must not let this army into Griffonheim under any circumstance. Are my orders clear, everyone?!” Spitfire shouted. Everyone around her stood erect and saluted Spitfire. “Ma’am yes ma’am!” Everyone shouted in unison. Applejack and Big Macintosh leaped down the slope, sliding on their hooves. From the cannon on her shoulder, she fired two fiery blasts into the advancing Van’Goth forces. The bullets detonated, exploding and creating a fiery crater amidst the Glacial Drift. The forces turned their sights on the two siblings and aimed their guns towards them. One of the mecha’s guns unleashed a stream of flames towards Big Macintosh. He rolled to his left, evading the stream of flames. His mane singed from the top and his eyes widened. “They never had a weapon like that before!” He shouted. Applejack ran towards the mecha and bucked it with her hind hooves, sending it flying through a gravity pulse. A nearby mecha slammed its fist into the ground, shaking the very earth that they were on. “Grab my talons quick!” Razor Wind called out, diving towards the duo. With an understanding nod, Applejack and Big Macintosh grasped onto his talons. Razor Wind flew away from the earthquake, where a spire erupted out of the ground. “Wait a moment, I know what that is! It looks a lot like Gnasher’s Earthquake.” Jasmine said. “Seriously? Then again, that stream of fire looked a lot like Custard’s Flamethrower as well…” Stereo noted. Professor Pasque stared at the trio escaping from pink beams and electric streams headed towards them with a knowing silence. “They’re learning.” Spitfire turned her head towards the direction of her head to Professor Pasque with her jaw dropped halfway before the ground. “They’ve developed that sort of technology already?! But how?” “They’ve learned from the encounters between themselves and the Pokémon. If I had a guess, we were merely valuable test subjects for them in battle.” Professor Pasque explained. “What?!” Big Macintosh shouted, dropping towards the ground with a scowl on his face. “You mean to tell me that the enemy had gotten stronger because of you all?” Professor Pasque looked to his side and closed his eyes. A despondent frown crept onto his face. “You have my apologies. We had not foreseen this event coming. Even if we made them stronger, we have solidarity and a reason to fight back. We will make sure no one else suffers at their hands!” Professor Pasque sprinted down the slope and ran towards the army. He rushed passed a shower of inaccurate lasers and approached one of the transformed Van’Goth. He inhaled and breathed out a frigid breath, encasing the soldier in a block of ice. He turned around and bucked the soldier, knocking him into the sky. Stereo’s mouth flashed within a blue light. He took a deep breath and let out an explosive noise towards one of the mechas. The mecha wreathed in blue electricity and its visor cracked. It then fell apart onto the ground. He sprinted towards Professor Pasque’s side. “I see you have been working on your Boomburst, Stereo. I approve.” Professor Pasque commented. “I thank you for the compliment, but we have an army to take care of.” Stereo said. “I’m way ahead of you!” Spitfire shouted out, soaring through the sky and brandishing a sword made of light. She dove down towards a soldier and slashed from the diagonal left. With the soldier reeling backwards and the sword gripped in her mouth, she leaped into the air and spun at light speed. Several cuts appeared on the soldier’s body before it collapsed onto the ground. Jasmine moved forward of the advancing Heavy Armor Division, showering the two soldiers and mecha in front of her with a Dazzling Gleam. The mechas broke out of the light and grasped her in a telekinetic grab. Jasmine squirmed in its grip. “Ummm… a little help would be appreciated.” Hydrangea rammed her body into one of the mechas, knocking it over. Jasmine shot her arms out and shattered the telekinetic grasp. She unleashed a Thunderbolt onto the other mecha, zapping it out of oblivion. “Do not thank me yet, Jasmine. We only took care of a few members of the army when there is about three hundred.” Hydrangea stated. A mecha shot out a volley of missiles that approached the advancing Equusian soldiers. They exploded, forming crags within the snow-covered landscape and knocking the soldiers into the air. The rest of the soldiers stormed forth, firing lasers and bullets into the Van’Goth forces. One of the Van’Goth soldiers rushed into the crowd with a light-tipped pike in his massive arm. He leaped and forced the bladed end into the face of one of the Equusians. The soldier’s body limped. The Van’Goth lifted the pike in the air, picking up the dead soldier and flung him aside. Fei vanished from his current spot and reappeared in front of the soldier. He thrust his palm into the soldier’s chest and thrust him forwards. With the soldier flung into the air, he tossed an Aura Sphere towards it. He sprinted forward, invisible to the naked eye. He leaped into the air and dropped down onto another soldier’s back, downing him and retreating. “Fei’s pretty quick on the moves.” Applejack said. “Very. We may just win this yet!” Big Macintosh stated, aiming his cannon into the crowd. Ten mines shot out of the cannon and littered the area in front of him. Each of the mines exploded, blasting away the army in front of him. Applejack’s front greaves formed into hammers. She struck two soldiers across the face with them, knocking them down to the ground. Spitfire paused with the movements of her sword and looked behind her. She saw more and more of the Heavy Armor soldiers being torn apart through the mechas using crunch and waves of heat blasting them away. The numbers of both sides dwindled, but the Equusian numbers are only a fraction with what they began with. The Equusian forces circled around each other, observing forward and seeing the mechas and soldiers appear with no stopping motion. “We’re surrounded!” Spitfire shouted. A mecha raised its cannon towards the surrounded group and a blue light filled its muzzle. “Boreas, use Surf!” A voice called out. Flooding waters appeared on the field, spearheaded by a blue plesiosaur with a white underside and a horn on her head. The water sparkled against her gray and nub-filled shell. The water swept away a significant portion of the Van’Goth and the plesiosaur slid her way into the Equusian forces. “That’s a Lapras!” Stereo called out, pointing towards her. “And just in time too! We needed some back-up reinforcements.” Spitfire said. From the distance, a black and bipedal weasel with a crown and collar made of brilliant red feathers rode into the scene on a wave of ice conjured from his right hand. Spitfire looked upon him, eyeing the yellow marking on his forehead and the feathers on his ears and tail. “It seems like the good guys always arrive in the nick of time!” The weasel called out with an energetic huff. “That voice… is that you, Rundas?” Fei asked. Rundas turned his sight towards Fei and scratched his head. “So you’re a Pokémon as well, Fei. Good to know that I’m not the only one that happened to. Though, being a Weavile is pretty cool.” “I can’t understand a single word you’re saying, but you’re going to help us out right?” Spitfire asked. “Of course. These are obviously the bad guys you are fighting. Justice always prevails against evil, after all.” Rundas stated. He ran forward and released a series of dark purple slashes within the blink of an eye, detaching the arms of the mechas from their joint. He then leaped into the air. A frigid beam erupted from the palm of his hand, freezing the air underneath him. A wave of suspended ice appeared under his feet, causing him to fly through the air. “Is that even possible?” Applejack asked. “Apparently. But, enough of that. Their appearance has given us the upper hand now. Let us make the best use of this.” Jasmine responded, firing a Dazzling Gleam into the army. Spitfire soared into the air and rushed towards the mechas nearby. The mechas unleashed a storm of lasers from the cannons on their bodies. Spitfire spun and formed a corkscrew of photon, deflecting all of the projectiles back towards the mechas and tearing them apart. The remaining troops of the Heavy Armor division charged forwards with bullets firing out of their cannons. A yellow aura covered Strawberry Delight’s bullets, changing them into a golden color. The bullets tore through the armor of the mechas and soldiers. Boreas fired a beam of ice from her mouth, encasing a soldier in front of her in its icy grip. She lifted her right front flipper and smashed it against the soldier, shattering its body. Rundas exhaled a frigid breath of wind and blue sparkles. Icicles formed in the air that he surfed around. The icicles rained down against the army, crashing against them. He flipped off of the ice he was riding, conjuring another wave of ice underneath him and screeching with delight. Several stones from the ground orbited around Fei. He leaped into the air and roundhouse kicked each of the stones, showering the field with bright sparks and shards of earth. “The enemy is strong. I’m calling for reinforcements!” A soldier of the Van’Goth stated, raising its wrist to its face. “Oh no you don’t!” Rundas shouted, surfing by the soldier and slamming his claw into the soldier. The soldier grunted and blinked from the strike. It turned around, seeing Rundas right behind him. Rundas slashed it with darkness-cloaked claws, eliciting a shriek of pain from it. What remained of the army vanished within a series of beams into the sky. What remained of the Equusian army inhaled and exhaled deep breaths. “Did we… win?” Professor Pasque asked. “It seems like it.” Spitfire stated. Rundas and Boreas slid their way in front of the Equusian army with smiles on their faces. “Routed the enemy army! Score one for the good guys.” Rundas said, pumping his claws. “I really wish that we can understand some of these Pokémon. All I keep hearing is ‘Wee’ and ‘Vile’.” Applejack commented. Spitfire, Twilight Sparkle, Professor Pasque, Rundas, Stereo and Boreas stood within the docking bay of H.O.R.S.E. Rundas observed the translator bracelet around his wrist and jiggled his arm. He smiled. “Cool piece of jewelry you have here.” He said. “Originally, it was intended to be used with animals so that we can communicate with them on a similar level. But, considering it works well on Pokémon, we’ve decided to prioritize handing out translators to any and all Pokémon.” Twilight Sparkle explained. Professor Pasque gazed upon Rundas with a grin on his face. “I am glad to see you are alright, Rundas. I didn’t think you would be in the lab today, considering you had been outsourced to take care of a bounty.” Rundas shook his head, closed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. “The bounty was a bust. The dude ended up being dead all along and I just returned back home.” Spitfire glanced up towards Boreas, rubbing her chin with her right front hoof and humming. “So are you sure Boreas doesn’t need a translator?” “Unfortunately, she’s mute. Back in my days as a ranger, I rescued her from some poachers doing some awful things to her. The experience left her unable to even make a cry. So, I’ve learned to read her emotions through her body language. We’ve been partners ever since.” Rundas explained. Boreas frowned and turned her head away from Spitfire, closing her eye with a slow blink. Spitfire frowned and hovered to her face, stroking it with a gentle caress. “It seems like she doesn’t like being reminded of that disability.” “No… she doesn’t. Lapras is a very cheerful Pokémon that love singing and being around others. To be robbed of something you enjoy doing would put a damper on anyone’s spirit.” Rundas stated. Stereo grinned and walked towards Boreas. “Boreas, you are truly a magnificent work to the eye. While I do not yet fully understand your struggles, I would love it if I could paint a portrait of you in the canal of Neo Canterlot.” A small smile appeared on Boreas’s face. She nodded her head. “So Professor, how did a ranger end up being in the care of your lab?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “A good question to ask, Twilight. Rundas didn’t like how things in the Ranger Union were ran. While he admires the goal of rescuing Pokémon, he felt that some of the orders he was given were somewhat misguided and didn’t bring a quick-enough solution to the helped Pokémon..” Professor Pasque said. A small chuckle escaped from Rundas’s mouth. “I did what any sane ranger would do; I quit with a bang. After busting a Pokémon smuggling operation, I stabbed my team in the back and ran off with the Pokémon myself to release them back in the wild. Apparently, I ended up not only being blacklisted, but was also put on the ranger’s most wanted list.” Twilight Sparkle blinked twice, shaking her head and doubts away. “Rundas and Boreas escaped to Opelucid City, where I met him. After hearing his plight, I took the two in. From there, they took requests from private contractors to take down criminals in any way he felt comfortable doing.” Professor Pasque finished. “Geez, Professor, did you really need to make me sound like some vigilante?” Rundas asked with his eyes narrowed. “Would you honestly want me to describe you any other way, Rundas?” “Nope. Just the way I like it.” Sophia stretched her back on the couch and yawned. She gazed upon the green curtains hung over the window. Her ears perked up at the three beeps from the front door. The door opened up and Fei walked in. Sophia grinned and stood up, sprinting towards Fei. “I heard what happened to you, Fei. So the Van’Goth led a huge army out into the Glacial Drift? And you helped defeat the army.” Fei nodded and went down to one knee, stroking Sophia on her head. “That is true. Rundas and Boreas were a huge assistance to the cause. But, that is irrelevant to the current topic at hand. Sophia, who makes you happier; Mono or me?” Sophia narrowed her left eye and cocked her head towards the left. “Any reason why you are asking that now?” “Sophia, I had an epiphany today about understanding Pokémon. I felt that as your trainer, I have denied you the ability to choose life for yourself. I have failed to read your feelings, only to focus on my own feelings for you.” Fei said. “So you finally got it through that thick skull of yours, eh Fei?” Sophia said, exhaling a breath of relief and happiness. “It only took talking with another Pokémon to understand how restrictive I was with you. Originally, I thought you were with Mono to provide him with some companionship. But, then I realized that there is a lot more between you two than what meets the eye. The news was upsetting for me at first, but then I realized that this was the perfect ironic punishment for me.” Fei said, sitting down with crossed legs. “So… what does this mean for you?” “It means that I have given up trying to romance you or impress you, Sophia. I realized that you do not share the same feelings I had for you and that you have those feelings for another. If you had to have feelings for another, then I am glad that it is with someone who sees you for who you are rather than what you are. His heart is obviously in the right place.” Sophia nuzzled Fei’s face and embraced him by the neck. “Just because I don’t have the same feelings for you doesn’t mean that I value you any less, Fei. You are literally my best friend, and I am so happy that you are my trainer. But… don’t you have any others in your life who you can share those feelings for?” Fei blushed and looked out towards the window. He looked back into Sophia’s eyes and stroked her head. “I’ve heard that Lith likes me a lot more than I thought she would have. I thought she would have kept ignoring me.” “Oh, her? Yeah she definitely has feelings for you. Gnasher told me all about what was in her diary. You should definitely ask her out some time this week.” “So… how did your rescue mission go?” Sophia walked two steps back and rolled her eyes, uttering a frustrated groan and frowning. “The ‘confirmed survivors’ bit was a trap. The survivors turned up to be dead and it was an ambush by the Van’Goth. Luckily, we had a large enough squad to defeat them. Still, that definitely put a damper on my day. But, as long as I was with Mono and I got to see you, then who am I to get upset?” “Well, as long as I was able to make amends with you. I am glad that we worked this out.” Fei stated. “I’m glad that you are alive and okay, Fei.” Sophia opened the door and walked halfway out of the way. “I’m going to Commissioner Cadance’s house. We’ve taken a bit of an interest with each other.” “What kind of interest?” Fei asked. “That will be revealed some time later in our strange journey.” Sophia stated, walking out and closing the door. Fei scratched his head and stood up from the ground. “I’m… not sure how I should feel about that.” Author's Note I guess that Rundas and his buddy are some of the coolest additions to the roster, eh? Okay, I'll shut up now. Tests and RestSpitfire set her gaze on three different holograms, each of which displayed Mono, Lith and Fei battling against their opponents. Her view shifted to the left hologram, where Mono used a Double Team and evaded gunfire directed towards him. A smirk appeared on her face when the real Mono leaped onto the enemy mecha’s head and crushed its head with a Psychic. She looked towards the middle hologram, rubbing her front hooves together with a grin on her face. In it, Lith clambered onto the mecha and used her Charge Beam against the joints, disabling their use. She then leaped towards the chest, throwing a Psychic-augmented kick at it. She gleamed towards the right hologram and her eyes were witness to Fei knocking away the fingers of the mecha he is facing with a flurry of lightning speed kicks. He leaped over the mecha and thrust his palm through the head. “These three know the ins and outs of a mecha, do they?” Spitfire said to herself. Three holograms spawned in front of her, each in the shape of a tall rectangle. A white glow appeared on them, forming into stamps with a symbol of five stars on them. Spitfire leaned back on her chair with her front hooves wrapped behind her head. Lith glared at the hologram above her watch. “So, I assume that Spitfire recommended you to take the Exo Exam as well?” Mono asked, leaving his room. “Unfortunately. Looks like I will have to cancel my plans for today since we are apparently forced to take this exam.” With her lips curving into a small frown, Lith responded. “What kind of plans?” “Rarity offered to bring me with her to the spa so that we can relax and discuss some things. Nothing much.” Mono opened his mouth and an onomatopoeia of epiphany echoed out of his mouth at a low tone. His mouth formed into a soft smile and he wrapped his paws around Lith’s right paw. “You can always do that after the exam you know. Besides, Spitfire wanted us to take it for a reason. Just imagine us riding in exos of our own!” Lith placed her left paw under her chin and hummed. A slow nod of her head swept her neck. “I can see it… we all die a horrible death because of an explosion.” Mono frowned and his eyelids dropped to a slant. “Wow… do you really mean that?” He replied with a monotone voice. “Nah. Let’s go to the exam now.” A stout building stood towards the west of the H.O.R.S.E. headquarters. Its courtyard is filled with Equusians walking across its large field. Within the crowd, Mono and Lith focused their sight on Fei. He stood by the building’s mouth with his arms crossed and a scowl visible on his face. “Fei!” Lith called out, sprinting towards him. “What are you doing here?” A heavy sigh escaped Fei’s mouth and he looked towards Lith with his lips pursed into a frown. He held out his watch, displaying a hologram above it which contained lettering. “Spitfire mandated me to take the Exo Exam. What a disgusting turn of events.” “I guess… if Spitfire gave you this exam, then you must be good with mechas.” Mono stuttered out. A flat sigh escaped from Fei’s throat. “I suppose so.” Keldeo galloped towards the building, stopping and letting out deep breaths. “Did I make it on time?” He asked, panting between words. “Make it for what?” Lith asked. Keldeo regained his composure and his breathing stabilized. “For the Exo Exam. I was at the other half of the city when I received it. So, I sprinted all the way over here in less than five minutes to see if I made it on time.” “Isn’t this city twenty square miles?! Considering that you couldn’t simply run across the city, you had to at least be going two hundred and forty miles an hour!” Mono shouted with disbelief pouring out of his voice. “Three hundred and sixty miles an hour, but my speed is irrelevant in this situation. I spend one morning with Rarity’s parents and something this big happens to me.” Keldeo said. “I assume you three are here for your exam as well?” “Yep. Spitfire recommended us as well. Now how about we enter the building?” Mono suggested. The four walked through the double doors of the building. Their eyes were greeted by a large and open foyer with a glass dome roof, where light shined down the floor. A chestnut-coated jack with blue eyes and a chocolate mane and tail sat behind a desk with bits of coding floating through the digital ocean upon it. The donkey looked forward and grinned. “Ah, you must be the four who Spitfire recommended to take the test. I have your names recorded in this reservation reservoir. Those taking the test head to the east wing for the writing portion.” He said, pointing to his left. “Thank you very much, sir.” Lith said. “Aww, please. People called my dad ‘sir’. Just call me Dominic.” Dominic responded. “Dominic… it’s finally nice to see someone with a name I am familiar with. Then again… no one we knew has names that are standard.” Mono commented. “Oh just wait until Hearth’s Warming season comes around. I get real festive.” A large room sat at the end of the wing. Its floor was a navy blue carpet and trapezoid-shaped desks lined up in four rows and four columns. A large and imposing griffon with black feathers and brown eyes sat at a rectangular desk in front of the room. A small growl escaped his voice. “Your four are late.” He said. Mono’s nerves tensed up. He forced his neck to look down towards the watch. “The exam is eleven o’clock, right? Aren’t we here at eleven?” The griffon narrowed his eyes to a scowl and flew towards Mono. He pointed towards the seconds of the analog-functioning clock. “You four are fifteen seconds late. Many things can happen in fifteen seconds. I could have died in those seconds and you would have never known!” He shouted. Lith clenched her right paw and bore her teeth. Her blood bubbled to a boil and a small growl passed through her mouth. “I apologize for being late, sir. I promise it wouldn’t happen again.” Mono squeaked out through a tight throat and his neck tucked behind his shoulders. The griffon glanced towards Lith, and a stream of air blew out through his nostrils. “Don’t get prissy with me, young lady. I’m the one handing out your exam.” “And what if I am?! Will you fail me because you screamed at my brother, who doesn’t take that sort of thing lightly?! You need to be more tactful about how you do things and be more understanding of how everyone is, sir.” The griffon fired a fierce glance into Lith’s eyes and growled. “You have guts, kid. I’ll let that act of aggression slide, but don’t get too comfortable with it.” He walked back to his table, carrying eight packets within his talons. He passed two out each to the four tables in the front. Mono, Lith, Fei and Keldeo sat at each table with the packets and flipped through them, scrolling their eyes through their contents. The griffon cleared his throat, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. “My name is Commander Uppercut, and I shall be your exam proctor for this session. To your left is a study guide, and to the right is the actual test itself. I will give you each ten minutes to look over the guide. After that, you must start taking the test or you fail. Got that?” Uppercut stated with a booming voice. Mono skimmed through the pages of the study guide, flipping through them with butter consistency. He picked up his pen and began scribbling. Lith was the next one to pick up her pen. Though her speed was slower than Mono’s, she still burned a hole in the paper. Keldeo glanced towards Fei, who wrote on his exam packet with a patient and steady speed. Keldeo’s face cascaded with sweat, looking down at the exam in front of him. He levitated the pen towards the packet. “Alright… so what is the name of the program that an Exo unit uses?” He whispered to himself, scribbling in the answer. “Okay, next question; what should every pilot do when an Exo’s stabilizer goes critical?” Uppercut eyed the test takers in the classroom and his gaze focused upon Mono, who let go of a pen that burned with steamy friction. With a vivid smile on his face, he stood up and walked over to the front desk, handing the packet over to Uppercut. “Here you go, sir.” Mono said. Uppercut skimmed his talons through the packet and his eyes glanced over the contents. His beak dropped to the desk, eyeing the essays of writing done on the packet. “This is your first time taking this exam, right?” He asked. “Yes, sir. It wasn’t so bad after I glanced over what I needed to glance over. Plus, I have a good amount of background information on exos since Flash Sentry forced me to understand one inside and out.” Mono responded. “Done!” Lith called out, raising her pen in the air. She stood up and walked towards Uppercut, slamming her exam packet on the desk with a sly smile oozing with confidence. Uppercut looked through Lith’s packet, and his lower beak dropped down to the floor. “B-but how? No one has ever been able to finish these exams in the speed that you two have!” “It helps that we used to write reports for a living. Analysis and research are our skills after all.” Mono stated. “Fine. Wait outside for your other companions to finish.” Uppercut groaned out, pointing towards the door. Mono and Lith sat on two seats by the door, gazing at each other with relieved smiles. “So, how did you think you did on the exam?” Mono asked. “Probably not as good as you, but pretty well. How do you think the others would do?” “I saw Keldeo sweating bullets and Fei is writing at his own pace, but I think they will do fine. It wasn’t too much of a hard exam.” “Mono, why do you think Arceus sent us all here?” Lith asked. Mono’s head shifted upwards and turned towards Lith’s direction with an instant speed. “You know, I haven’t really thought about it. With all of the crazy events going on in this world, pondering our existence here hasn’t really crawled into my mind. What’s even more unusual is that the phenomenon was apparently global, but I don’t see nearly as many Pokémon as I should.” “That part is a bit unusual. I’m sure Professor Pasque is studying it right now.” Lith stated, looking forwards. She held her paw towards the direction of the wall and began shifting it in a circle. The tip sparked to life with a mystic energy. “What are you doing there?” Mono asked with a smile oozing intrigue plastered on his face. “It is time that I’ve started learning some new moves. I found my current movepool to be a bit lackluster, so I decided to train my psychokinetic abilities to use some new techs.” Lith’s paw tips ignited with fire, sapping away all of Mono’s attention. “Did you just use your psychic abilities to produce fire?” “I discovered it while I was training out in the field. It should be useful for igniting any amount of opposition on fire. But, it only works on rows for some reason. It also isn’t terribly powerful, but it’s definitely more useful than Magical Leaf.” Mono grinned and held his paws up to his face. “I wish I could shoot fire out of my paws.” Lith chuckled under her breath. The fire on her paws vanished without a trace. “I’m not sure if you can do something like that, but I’m very sure you can do other things with your brand of moves. While your Heal Pulse is cool, I bet you want it so that it can work on yourself right?” “You’re right, Lith. I can use Heal Pulse, but I bet that I can make this move my own to help myself out better. Any tips?” Mono asked. “Just don’t try to force it or have control over it. Start off with the most basic form of Heal Pulse and rank it up in your own regard from there.” Lith responded, patting his right shoulder. The door opened, revealing a trembling Keldeo and a calm Fei walking out of the room. “So how do you think you did?” Fei asked, looking towards Keldeo. “I think I did good. I think.” With his head looking around and a nervous in his voice, he responded. “So I see you two got out of Commander Uppercut’s exam alive and well.” Lith said with a jovial smile. “I’m not too sure about how I did, but we got out in one piece. That test was admittedly difficult.” Fei responded, rolling his eyes out to his right and hissing. “I still hate that Spitfire forced us to do this.” “I feel you, Fei. I thought I was doing very well without an exo of my own. I guess that Spitfire needs as many people able to pilot exos as possible.” Keldeo responded. “So… are we free to leave?” Lith asked. “Uppercut says that he won’t have our grades until tomorrow, so it is a safe assumption to say yes.” Fei stated. “Well, I guess I’m leaving then. I have some lab work to do.” Mono stood up from the seat and poised his direction towards the nearby door. “Not. So. Fast!” Uppercut shouted, bursting his way through the door. Mono raised his shoulders and ducked his head. “What is it, sir?” He said with a shaken voice. Uppercut flew in front of Mono, staring him down and pointing his talon close to his eyes. “I’ve looked through all of the exams and saw something of yours that interested me. You’ve written a theory saying that the core processor on our exos can be improved? Even if we have the latest model right now?!” Hearing his words, Lith grimaced and looked away. “Yes sir. The latest model suffers from some performance issues. It is also vulnerable to hackers, making it a poor choice to use against foes with superior technological capability than ours.” Mono explained. “A techie, eh? Seems like Spitfire was right when she said you four had potential as pilots.” Uppercut crossed his talons together, stood on his hind legs and gazed at the four test takers before him. “Eh, you four are free to go. Spitfire’ll ring you up when the simulation portion is ready.” A red and white-checkered floor sprawled before Mono, Lith, Fei and Keldeo’s eyes. Equusians sat upon metal stools with red cushions by the counter, eyeing a coffee-coated earth pony mare in a white apron and hat flip disks of meat at the stove. She pressed the spatula gripped in her right front hoof on one of the patties, forcing an eruption of steam. Mono and Lith’s ears perked up at the sizzle reaching their range of hearing. “I’m surprised we never came here before.” Mono noted. “This is a very good diner run by an honest mare. Some say she’s even a distant relative of the Apple Family.” Keldeo explained. “Naturally, Applejack recommended that we eat here.” “I would love to stay and eat with you three, but I promised Rarity that I would meet her at the spa today.” Lith said. “Alright. I guess I will see you later then, Lith.” Mono replied, waving his right paw. Lith turned around and walked out of the door, taking a left down the street. Mono directed his attention towards Fei and Keldeo. “So… who’s hungry?” Rarity glanced down upon her watch, humming with a small scowl forming on her face and tapping her right back hoof. She set her gaze forward, seeing Lith walk towards her. She smiled and waved. “Rarity!” Lith shouted, running towards Rarity’s side. “I thought you would not show up, Lith.” Rarity stated. “After we finished the written portion of our exam, we decided to head over to a diner. I only went to check it out since I like diners, but I knew we had our day together.” Lith said. “I’m glad you hadn’t forgotten, Lith. One question; have you ever visited a spa before?” “Not really. There weren’t too many instances where I got to visit one.” Rarity grinned and grasped Lith’s left paw with her right hoof. “Then you will enjoy this one. I know the owners, as we are childhood friends. I’m sure we can get something that will make that coat of yours shine.” With a hurried excitement in her tone, she dragged Lith through the glass doors of the building. The first feature that caught Lith’s eyes was the large and open space of the area. Her eyes rolled towards the tables with clients resting on them with closed eyes. Their smiles formed a radiant curve as Equusians with white t-shirts rubbed them down. Rarity looked over towards the counter, looking at two earth pony mares; one had a blue coat and a pink mane and tail while the other had a pink coat and a blue mane and tail. They each had eyes that resembled pristine seas. The two glanced back towards Rarity, smiled and walked over to her. The three mares embraced each other. “Aloe! Lotus! How have you two been doing since I last saw you?” Rarity asked. “Business is doing well. Thanks to your group’s efforts, we maintain a steady stream of needed materials used to carry out our services.” The blue mare, Aloe, said. “So do you want the usual, Rarity? We know just how you like it.” The pink mare, Lotus, asked. “Actually, I am here with a friend today. I want you to help make her coat shine.” Rarity responded, pointing towards Lith. “Oh! My apologies!” Aloe stated, walking over towards Lith. “I almost did not notice you. My name is Aloe.” “Hello, Aloe. My name is Lith. Rarity insisted that I visited your spa after taking the written portion of my Exo Exam.” “And she is right to say so.” Lotus responded. “You have nice colors, but I bet we can make it shine further with our kelp and diamond oil deal.” Lith’s eyes shot open and a shaky laughter escaped from her voice. “That sounds a bit expensive.” “Very. Diamond oil is very hard to create and the ingredients are expensive. While kelp is easy to find, we don’t really like keeping it on our premises too often since it is hard to maintain. Normally, the treatment would cost twelve thousand bits. But, because you are a friend of Rarity’s and her efforts with helping us out saved us a minimum of twenty thousand bits, we can give you the package for free.” Aloe explained. “Ummm… that’s very generous of you two. Are you sure you would want to do that for someone you’ve never met?” Lith asked, zoning her left paw to herself. “Oh, we insist. Any friend of Rarity’s is a friend of ours. Plus, you seem like a nice enough… err…” Lotus hesitated and looked to her left and right. Her sight focused on Rarity. “What did you say she was again?” “She’s a Pokémon, Lotus. There aren’t too many, but they wish to help us.” Rarity stated. “Ah, right. My apologies, Lith. You are the first Pokémon I’ve seen, so I did not know how to respond when I saw you.” “It’s alright, Lotus. I wasn’t even sure if I was a Pokémon or not when I first came here.” The four of them exchanged a round of laughter. Aloe placed her right hoof on Lith’s right shoulder. “You are too funny, Lith. I am dying to hear more of your stories as we do our work on you.” Mono sipped a concoction of chocolate ice cream and milk through a straw, letting the sweet flavors rush through his mouth. Fei pinched golden fries with a red coloring on them, tossing them into his mouth. With a fork and knife enshrouded in a deep blue aura, Keldeo tore into the red flesh of the watermelon amidst a bed of leaves and golden sauce, bringing the food to his mouth. Fei shifted his gaze towards Mono with a despondent frown on his face. “Ummm… Mono?” He whirred out. Mono released the straw from the grip of his lips and looked upon Fei. “Yes, Fei?” “Can you tell me what a few of Lith’s favorite hobbies are?” Fei asked, tilting his head. “I’m… not sure why you would ask me that. Asking Lith herself would be a better option.” Mono responded, sipping his chocolate shake once more. “Well, considering that you are her brother and everything, I thought it would be best to ask you this question. I can’t really ask your sister this question directly.” Keldeo swallowed his food and turned towards Fei with an innocent smile plastered on his face. “I’m not too familiar with this guy talk, but it sounds like you’re trying to hit on Lith.” Mono’s eyes jolted open and the suction of the beverage stopped. “Is this true, Fei? You want to ask Lith out?” “What?! No! I mean, Keldeo’s putting words in my mouth! I never said anything about wanting to ask your sister out!” Fei shouted with words blurring at a quick pace. “You got to believe me, Mono.” “It’s alright if you have feelings for my sister, Fei. I’m fine with you being with my sister as long as you don’t do anything that will make you regret being with her.” Mono responded, smiling and putting his head back on the booth seat. “Hah! I knew it!” Keldeo stated, stomping his right front hoof on the desk with a confident smirk on his face. “But anyways, I can tell you since we are all guys here. Lith doesn’t have interests that you would expect her to have. She’s a lady of action and always likes to have something happening. She gets bored when the doldrums of life hit and she would go out on an adventure with Rundas at times. She’s also a bit of a romantic nut, so you could probably woo her with some lines from a cheesy work of romance and journey to some exotic location.” Mono explained. “That seems simple enough.” Fei noted. “It’s not. She’d want to do something extreme like leap down into a chasm to explore its depths or fight some monstrosity. The point is that you better be able to keep her off her toes. It’s never simple.” “…Really? That sounds a bit extreme. But, thank you for the information, Mono.” Mono shifted his eyes towards Keldeo, who listened onto the conversation with a serene smile on his face. “So how are you doing, Keldeo? I think this is the first time we have interacted.” Keldeo turned his gaze towards Mono. “I’m doing fine. The test was a bit difficult, but it wasn’t anything too bad. Commander Uppercut was kind of vicious with you though.” “I really wished he wasn’t, but we cannot change what had happened. Also, I could have sworn he flashed a quick smile in my direction as we left.” “I can attest to that. He does see potential in all of us, so it would be in our best interests to try our hardest in the simulation portion.” Fei said. “This is true. How do you feel about everything, Keldeo?” Mono asked. “A bit nervous. I never thought I would be taking an exam like this.” “Neither did I. Piloting a mecha was the last thing I wanted to do. I wonder if the potential Spitfire saw in me was misplaced.” Fei said, shaking his head. “You have plenty of potential. Out of everyone in the room, you kept your cool the longest. That automatically gives you the proper mindset for piloting a mecha.” Keldeo responded. “Regardless of the result, the three of us are finally able to talk with each other in peace. So…” Mono held out his empty cup and flashed a small smile. “Let us commemorate this event by clasping our cups together.” Fei and Keldeo both grasped their empty cups with their appendages and clashed it against Mono’s cup. Lith lied back on a recliner with green straps of kelp wrapped around her body. Her fur glistened with the radiance of diamonds save her ears. Next to her, Rarity was garbed in a pink robe and laid back on a chair. Lotus filed away at her hind hooves. Both Lith and Rarity had a green paste masking their face and had disks of cucumbers cover their eyes. “So Rarity, was there any reason why Keldeo was over at your parents’ home? It seems kind of suspicious that he would do that.” Lith asked. “He’s very good friends with my parents. You could say that they practically raised him, even if he was raised in the orphanage.” Rarity said. “I didn’t like the thoughts of orphanages at first, but Chili Spice proved me wrong in that regard. She is quite amazing as a foster mother from what I’ve seen.” Rarity sat up, lifted away the disk of cucumber over her right eye, and directed it towards Lith. “So you met Chili Spice? That jenny and her lineage have always worked hard to maintain a good reputation for orphanages. My parents are friends with her parents. It was through them when I first met Keldeo, after all.” Aloe held out a vanilla-covered box and opened it, revealing a fresh set of kelp inside. She unraveled the seaweed around Lith’s body. “How do you like your treatment so far, Lith?” She asked. “It’s wonderful so far. My nerves already feel relaxed. I definitely needed this when I saw how Uppercut screamed at Mono.” Lith responded. “He’s not the most pleasant griffon to be around, is he? I remember when I took my exam underneath him; he screamed at me for my aesthetic-based answers rather than core answers.” Rarity stated. “I wanted to rearrange his senses so that he would smell out of his eyes, hear through his mouth and see through his ears. But… I held back because that wouldn’t do either of us any good.” Aloe formed a tight seal on the fresh kelp wrapped around Lith’s body. “So you mention that Mono is your twin brother, yes? Lotus and I are also twins, albeit we were separated from birth. But, when the Van’Goth invaded, we were brought together once again and apprenticed in anatomical arts. Healing and relaxation is what we focus on, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t use our knowledge and skills for… less savory occupations.” Lith lifted her right paw out of the kelp wrap and lifted away the disk over her eye. “You mean that you are assassins, right?” Aloe breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank Deus that was your first assumption, which is actually quite correct. We take jobs from the council of Neo Canterlot itself to assassinate any potential threats to our way of life among our population.” “Due to our impressive anatomical knowledge, we know all of the nervous passageways of a body and which ones to stun. We select special poisons depending on size, race, gender and other physical features to do the job.” Lotus explained. “That sounds intimidating. Are you sure you should even be telling us this?” Lith asked. “We always tell our close clients this information. Even if they did believe us, there isn’t much that they can do about it since we are under contractual protection due to the council itself. We also always have a view from the sky, so that helps in our endeavors.” Aloe responded. “Interesting. But, if it is for the good of Neo Canterlot, then I have no qualms with you.” “You took it much better than I did when I first heard this, Lith.” Rarity commented. “Eh, I had a lot of crazy things happen in my life. Knowing that spa owners are assassins actually sounds down to earth for me.” A chuckle escaped from Aloe and Lotus’s mouths. “You’re alright, Lith. I definitely hope you become a regular client with us.” Aloe admitted. “It would definitely be my pleasure. Who knows, I may even bring my brother as well.” Lith’s watch signaled a flurry of beeps. She lifted her left paw out of the seaweed and gazed at it. “What does it say, Lith?” Rarity asked. “It seems like the next portion of the exam starts now. Looks like I have to cut my treatment short.” With a frown, Lith responded. “Do not worry, Lith. The treatment is already ninety five percent complete. Do what you have to do.” Aloe stated. Lith wriggled out of the kelp wrap and sprinted towards the door. “I will definitely come back another day!” Author's Note I blame Smash 4's DLC for this taking much longer to write than it should. SimulationLith rushed towards H.O.R.S.E. headquarters’s gates and sprinted towards the right, following the sounds of mechanical joints whirring in the distance. In front of a blue building laden with silicon cells and holograms were Mono, Fei and Keldeo. The three of them eyed Lith in the distance, waving towards her direction. “Hey Lith!” Mono shouted. Lith slowed her steps down to a walk, allowing her lustrous fur to glitter in the sunlight. Keldeo whistled. “Wow! You look stunning right now, Lith. Did the spa have some sort of special or something today?” “The spa owners owed Rarity a favor. She used that favor to make my fur shine and help me relax, which I needed after confronting Commander Uppercut.” Lith responded. Fei turned his head away, averting his sight from Lith. A faint rush of blood appeared on his cheeks. “Regardless, I’m glad that you had the time to relax. Keldeo, Fei and I really got to hit it off while you were away.” Mono stated. “But anyways, I’m ready for the simulation portion of my exam. What about you all?” “I’m definitely ready to kick some tail.” Lith stated, pumping her right paw down. “If it is anything like Rarity showed me, then I should do fine.” Keldeo responded. “I can’t believe I am saying this, but I feel ready to ride in a mech of my own.” Fei answered. The door of the building slid open, revealing an opaque air within. Mono, Lith, Fei and Keldeo walked down the dark hallway leading towards the infinite abyss. Mono held his left paw out, feeling for the wall with an anxious frown masked by the darkness. “Ummm… I don’t do too well in darkness. Are you sure we are going the right way?” “I’m certain… I think. H.O.R.S.E. wouldn’t have a dark hallway like this, now would they?” Lith reasoned. “I think this may be a part of the test. Being a pilot requires courage, after all.” Fei stated. Keldeo spearheaded the group’s advance. For what felt like an infinite amount of time, his face finally smacked against a hard surface. He stepped back and rubbed his snout with his right front hoof. “It seems like we made it to the end.” “Way ahead of you in that regard.” Mono responded, walking around the room in an octagon-shaped pattern. The room lit up with life, revealing four spiraling circles heading out of four of the walls. Four seats with four straps each, black sticks on the right arms with red buttons on top and a host of buttons and a lever on the dashboard on the left arms. “I guess we are supposed to sit down in these chairs?” Lith asked, shrugging her shoulders. The group sat within the chairs, placing on the straps over the buckles. The walls, ceiling and floor came to life, emitting a vibrant landscape that is similar to a sunny day on the Terraformed Wilderness plains. Everyone sitting in the chairs looked to their left and right, seeing no traces of the others. “Greetings everyone.” A voice called out through an intercom. “This is Commander Spitfire here, giving you the simulation portion of your exam.” “I have many questions. First of all, why is an entire building built to house this one room?” Mono asked. “Always asking the background questions, eh? I guess I can answer that for you. This building is a super projector of sorts. You’re surprised that you can’t see anyone else, right? Well, look around once more.” Spitfire responded. On the field were four exos, each one representing the colors of the test takers. Each of them possessed lines flashing with blue lights. On each view flashed three holographic screens featuring the other test takers. “This is pretty cool. It’s like I’m actually in a mecha.” Keldeo noted. “And that’s the effect that we’ve strived to create in this facility. Now, as you know, the simulation placed you in the position of pilots within exos. Here are the rules for the four-person version of the test; you see that walled city in the distance?” With Spitfire’s question declared, a silver-walled city with a lime green pulsating shield phased into existence. “I see it, Spitfire. I guess we have to protect it?” Lith asked. “Precisely. This is a cooperative mission, meaning you four have to work together to defeat waves of enemies. You all pass the test when the enemy threat is eliminated and the city is still standing, but you all will fail if the city is destroyed. Is this understood?” “I understand. United we stand and united we fall. Therefore, we all have to do our part in this test.” Mono stated. A horde of mechanical spiders spawned by the coast of the digital sea. Fei readied the stance of his exo. He looked towards Mono’s screen, seeing him fumble with the stick. “Need some help?” He asked. “Use the lever and stick in conjunction to move forward.” Mono grasped the lever with his left paw. With his paw on the stick, he moved both forward. His exo advanced towards the horde. Pressing the green button on the dashboard, a flurry of missiles shot towards the crabs. “Thanks, Fei.” “No problem.” Fei responded, smashing his exo’s foot into the ground near the spiders. Lith’s exo extended its arms outwards, releasing a volley of missiles from its shoulders and into the horde. Several explosions blasted the spiders away. Keldeo’s exo held its hand out. A storm of bullets erupted from its fingertips, firing away at the mechanical spiders. The remaining enemies exploded from the shells piercing their armor. A loud beep signaled across the digital world. From the other side of the city, ten giant crabs snapped their blue and metallic pincers. They scuttled towards the city’s walls. Mechanized eagles with razor-sharp talons dove down from the coast of the sky towards the city. “Oh great! Now they’re attacking from both sides!” Lith stated, clenching her teeth. Lith’s exo leaped into the air. It grabbed one of the eagles by its left talon and swung it towards two more eagles. A flurry of bullets flew out of Fei’s exo’s shoulders, peppering the eagles swarming towards Lith’s exo in its fiery fury. “Thanks for having my back, Fei.” “Always glad to be of assistance.” Mono and Keldeo’s exos sprinted towards the giant crabs. A pincer smacked itself against the head of Mono’s exo. Mono’s seat shook with intense vibrations. He grimaced. “A bit realistic, isn’t it?” He asked with sarcasm dripping from his tone. Keldeo’s exo launched its fist underneath the crab, uppercutting it onto its backside. “Mono! Attack its weak point for massive damage!” Keldeo shouted. “You just wanted to say that, didn’t you?” Mono responded, leaping onto the soft underbelly of the crab. “Yes I did.” With the crab no longer moving, Mono’s exo leaped towards another crab and smashed its fist onto the shell of the crab. The crab raised its pincers and swung it to its right. Mono’s exo raised its right arm, deflecting the blow. It raised its leg, kicking the crab and launching it across the digital hemisphere. Keldeo’s exo vaulted above a crab. It pulled out a sword, stabbing it through the top of the crab. Removing the sword from the crab, showers of sparks erupted from the wound. “Well, that’s wave two so far.” Keldeo said. “How’s everyone doing so far?” “Mono here; a bit rough, but I’m doing fine.” Mono responded. “Lith here; I suffered a bit of damage on my end. But, I’m still good to go.” Lith stated. “Fei here; I am in optimal condition.” Fei answered. “This wave will be a bit different.” Spitfire announced. A stressful ticking erupted from the epicenter of the city. Each of the pilots flashed glances towards each other. “Ummm… what was that noise?” Mono asked, tilting his head in puzzlement. “I have set you up with the bomb in the city to spice things up. You have ten minutes to find the bomb in the city and disarm it. In addition, a new wave of powerful enemies will be spawned at the same time. Hope you like dual challenges like that.” Spitfire responded, chuckling with an evil undertone in her voice. All around the city, mechanical dragons with large and gaping wings spawned. They unleashed a fiery breath towards the walls of the city, melting away the metal exterior. “Dear Arceus! Those dragons are destroying the city!” Mono shouted. “On top of that, there’s a bomb somewhere within the city. One of us will have to go into the city to find and disarm the bomb. The rest of us…” Keldeo paused with a gulp on air. “Will have to face those dragons.” “I’ll go. Disarming a bomb should be like field research.” Lith stated. “I trust you, Lith. We’ll try our best to defend the city from these dragons.” Mono responded. Lith’s exo’s body rearranged itself, forming into the shape of a horse. It galloped towards the city. Mono, Fei and Keldeo glanced towards each other, nodding with silent understanding. Fei’s exo leaped into the air, grasping one of the airborne dragons by its tail. The dragon flapped its wings higher and swung its tail towards the city, smashing Fei’s exo into the wall. “Fei!” Mono shouted. “Don’t worry, Mono. It’s just a scratch.” Fei stated, his face grimacing from the violent shake from his seat. His exo held its left arm out towards the dragon. Its fist launched into the dragon’s face, shattering its head. The corpse of the dragon fell to the ground. Fei’s exo leaped from the wall and twisted through the air, locking on his systems to a nearby dragon. A red glob shot out of its wrist, adhering onto the dragon. The glob flashed with a brilliant orange, setting the dragon on fire. “Cool. Two in one!” Keldeo complimented. “I might need a bit of help here.” With his exo being bombarded with seven flaming breaths, Mono pleaded. “I’m coming by to help!” Lith’s exo scoured across the digital city, checking across the vast streets and narrow alleys. With the ticking of the clock echoing louder and the timer running down, a panicked whine escaped her lips. “Okay, calm down. If I were a bomb, then where would I hide it?” She asked herself. She closed her eyes, her ears twitching and listening on to the source of the noise. She opened her eyes, smiling with a confident grin. Her exo sprinted towards the west of the city. A replica of H.O.R.S.E. headquarters and a black device at the gate’s base came into sight. Lith approached the oval-shaped bomb. Her exo grasped it with its right hand. The bottom of the bomb sprouted eight legs and grew to the size of a stadium that towered her exo. Lith narrowed her eyes and smacked her face with her right paw. “Oh come on! Now I have to beat the bomb?!” She shouted. A hologram display of Mono showed itself within her field of vision. His seat rumbled and he clenched his teeth with closed eyes. “Need help there, Lith?” He asked. “Yes. Very much. Apparently, the bomb is a boss enemy.” Lith responded. Two hologram displays of Keldeo and Fei appeared within Lith’s line of sight. “Fei and I have these dragons covered.” Keldeo stated, grunting and directing his stick in a diagonal movement. “Go help your sister, Mono.” “Explosive enemies are no laughing matter, especially if they are boss enemies. We’ll cover your path inside.” Fei said. “Thanks guys. So where are you now, Lith?” Mono asked. “Outside of H.O.R.S.E. headquarters. But you might want to hurry because this thing is trying to stab me.” Jamming her stick’s movements to the left and right, Lith answered. Lith’s exo dodged a tendril stabbing at it. It leaped into the air and unleashed a volley of missiles down to the ground. The bomb spider leaped towards the right, firing a stream of fire towards the exo’s direction. Lith looked to her right, eyeing the gauge listed as ‘energy’ dropping down to less than half of its amount. She pressed on a combination of two buttons on the dashboard and shifted her stick to the right. Her mecha dashed out of the line of fire, unloading a stream of lasers and bullets towards the bomb spider. The bomb spider held up two of its legs in a cross, blocking a small percent of the projectiles striking it. Lith leaped forward and punched it in its body, launcing it towards the building. The bomb spider braced its legs against the building and leaped off of the wall. It lunged its legs within the joints of Lith’s exo. Lith’s seat vibrated with a violent shake, eliciting a wince and a tight grip of the arms on the chair. She set her eyes on the energy gauge. She scowled when it reached down to a tenth of the full bar. “Get. Off!” She shouted. Her exo pulled its right arm back and punched it in the body, knocking it onto the ground. The bomb spider stood up and opened a compartment underneath its body. Several metal balls rolled out of the gap and along the floor. The exo dove towards the right, avoiding the stream of balls and the ensuing explosion from them. The exo held its right arm out towards the bomb spider, launching a fist into the bomb spider. Her exo leaped up towards the top of the building. The bomb spider turned around and shifted its optical sensors around. Mono’s exo dropped down onto it, striking its top with a fist at sonic speed. His exo then kicked it towards the gate. “It’s about time you got here, Mono.” With her exo dropping down to the ground, Lith said. “I would have been here sooner, but some of the dragons were blocking the path into the city. Are you alright?” “Yes, but my exo’s energy levels are down to ten percent. My exo can’t really sustain any more damage.” “My exo’s energy levels are down to fifteen percent. So, it looks like we have to take care of this bomb with an eighth of our combined energy levels.” Mono said. A sharp grin emerged on Lith’s face. “We’ve had much tougher challenges than this. All we need is just even one percent of our combined teamwork and we can permanently disarm this bomb.” Lith’s exo leaped onto Mono’s shoulders, vaulting off of them and aiming its arms towards the bomb spider below. A stream of lasers fired from its wrists and clanged against the armor of the bomb. Mono’s exo fired a large missile from its shoulder, bursting into flames upon collision with the spider. The fiery heat of the explosion chipped away at the metal coating of the spider. Past the exoskeleton is a dual tank which transferred a golden liquid through a pipe underneath a torch. “Huh. So that is how it is capable of shooting flamethrowers.” Lith noted. Her exo stomped down on the bomb spider’s tanks. The liquid burst out of the spider and spilled onto the virtual ground. “Lith. You go help out Fei and Keldeo. I’ll stick behind to make sure that this is properly defused.” Mono instructed. “Right.” Lith nodded. Her exo transformed into a pony shape and galloped out of the gate. Mono’s exo touched upon the spraying wires of the bomb. Keldeo’s exo stabbed through a dragon and slashed upwards. The dragon fell onto the ground with the top portion of its body bisected. Fei’s exo became drowned out in flames. “Fei! Are you alright?!” Keldeo shouted. “I’m fine.” Fei grunted through his teeth. “But my exo can’t handle much more of these flames.” His exo leaped back and fired a volley of missiles towards the dragon in front of it. The ensuing explosions erupted in a veil of black smoke. Fei’s exo sidestepped its way through the smoke towards the back of the dragon. It launched its fist forward, but the dragon smacked it away with a swipe of its tail. Fei gasped. “I’m coming, Fei!” Keldeo shouted, leaping into the air and slashing the back of the dragon. The smoke subsided and the dragon fell to the ground. Fei sighed and smiled. “Thanks for having my back, Keldeo.” “Not a problem.” Keldeo responded. A dragon that is five times larger than the other dragons descended upon the two exos. It had two red eyes and the metal on it was blacker than night. It roared in their faces. Lith’s exo ran from the mouth of the city, firing a barrage of bullets at the dragon. The dragon gazed at Lith with a fiery stare. “You won’t be hurting any of my partners. If you want to get to them, you’ll have to go through me!” Lith shouted. The city and landscape vanished into darkness and the octagon-shaped room flashed back into existence. “Uhhh… did we do something wrong?” Mono asked. “I’m not too sure, Mono. It was very unusual how the simulation stopped there.” Fei stated. The four unbuckled themselves and plopped their feet and hooves onto the ground. A set of doors hidden within a nearby wall slid apart, revealing a smiling Spitfire and Fluttershy. “Spitfire! Fluttershy! Why did you two come out of a hidden set of doors?” Lith asked. “Why, I wanted to congratulate you four on completing the simulation portion of your exam!” Spitfire answered. “Wait… we passed? But, we didn’t finish all of our requirements.” Fei stated. “The bomb was disarmed and the waves of enemies were mostly defeated. Plus, you four have shown the true meaning of camaraderie that we look for in pilots. As far as I’m concerned, you four have the great making to be exo pilots.” Spitfire assured. “You four were amazing. I was with Spitfire because I eventually want to be a certified pilot and I’ve noticed that you used some very interesting formation tactics.” Fluttershy stated. “The way that you split up into different groups to take care of sub objectives comes to mind.” “That’s nice to say. It was definitely a difficult task, especially with the realistic effects happening.” Mono said. “Neo Canterlot put in a lot of money to ensure that we deliver the best quality exams for our test takers. I will share your results with the rest of the Board of H.O.R.S.E.” Spitfire stated. “Now Fluttershy, it would be a bit different when you eventually take your test. But, I have the utmost confidence in you. You are quickly developing into a fine soldier on the field in addition to your other talents.” “Thank you for your words, Spitfire. I promise that I will live up to those expectations if I do not exceed them at the very least.” Fluttershy said with a moving voice. A casual smile appeared on Spitfire’s face. She knocked her right hoof into Fluttershy’s right shoulder. “You’re doing me proud already. As for the rest of you, you have the rest of the day off to do whatever.” Big Macintosh sat alone on the bench in the exo bay, gazing at the ground and sighing. He lifted his right hoof to his face, gazing at the fetlock at the end. “Big Mac! There you are!” Applejack shouted, running toward towards Big Macintosh. “Are you still feeling down about the loss of our friends in the last battle?” “Yep.” Big Macintosh uttered out. “Don’t feel so bad about it, Big Mac. They placed their lives on the line to defend Neo Canterlot’s way of life. They all died heroic deaths.” Applejack responded, patting Big Macintosh on his shoulder. “Like how Ma and Pa died when they fought against the Van’Goth? You know that they died because the Van’Goth learned from the tactics of the Heavy Armor division at the time. Now, they’ve learned the Pokémon’s moves as well.” “I suppose that is true. H.O.R.S.E. was quite ignorant when they deployed our parents and the Heavy Armor division to that area for battle. But, soldiers will die sooner or later in battle. We are literally living like it is the last day of our lives every day at H.O.R.S.E.” “That’s why I worry, little sis. I worry because I might lose you to the army. Then little Apple Bloom would be next and then I’ll have no more siblings… Why can’t this war just end?” Big Macintosh asked, rubbing his face into his front hooves. “This war would have ended two months ago if the Pokémon never decided to aid us in our efforts. We owe them our lives up to this point.” Applejack commented. Big Macintosh stood up from the bench and looked out towards the gate leading into the Terraformed Wilderness. “I’ll be off to do some things like recon and stuff. Don’t go looking for me, Applejack, for I will come back on my own time. If I run into trouble, I’ll let the others know of my situation.” “Alright, Big Mac, but be careful out there. It still isn’t too safe.” Applejack warned. Big Macintosh walked down the road, looking back at Applejack with a frown. He looked forward with no further movements of his head. Author's Note Writing battles from a mech point of view is weird to do. But, hopefully you enjoy this chapter as well. ConfrontationAuthor's Note A bit of a warning; the contents of this chapter are a bit dark. Whether that is an understatement or not, I'll let you decide that. Confrontation “Good mission, everyone!” Rundas called out to the back towards Rondo, Stereo, Jasmine, Gnasher, Custard, Sophia and Boreas. “I am glad that mission ended in the way it did. Those timberwolves had no business being that far away from the Everfree Forest.” Jasmine stated. “I know right? They would cause problems if they kept wandering too close around the town like that.” Sophia responded with a scoff in her tone. “I should know, since I lived a month in that forest.” “Oh yeah. It’s like how Boreas and I stayed at some ruined city within the mountains for at least a month.” Rundas said. Boreas nodded with a smile on her face. “Regardless, I’m glad to be home in one piece. Then, I can keep placing the finishing touches on my painting.” Stereo stated. “I’ll make sure that it captures your best side, Boreas.” Fluttershy, Mono, Lith, Fei and Keldeo traveled down the hallway and shifted their gaze towards the full room. They grinned and smiled. “Oh, you’re all back.” Mono said. “And just in time to see you four get your pilot licenses, apparently.” Gnasher noted. “But how did you know?” Lith asked. “Ummm… I might have told them via the comms system about your success.” Fluttershy sheeped out. “And we are all very happy for you four. We should celebrate!” Custard suggested. “Celebrating over small successes? It’s somewhat petty of a reason if you ask me.” An upperclass-toned voice sounded out. Everyone focused their gaze on a white-coated unicorn stallion with a stringy blond mane and tail standing by the door. His blue eyes looked down upon the Pokémon. His stare intensified with the cobalt black latex suit he wore. “I don’t think we have met before. Who are you?” Lith asked with an irritated tone. “Blueblood. I’ve heard all about your accomplishments. I really can’t say that I am impressed, however.” Blueblood responded with a prideful tone. “In a way, it’s taking away from the real hero around here.” Lith clenched her right paw and stomped her way towards Blueblood. Using her right paw, she pointed at him with a fiery stare. “You have some nerve talking high and mighty like that. Where were you when the city needed you most?!” She shouted. Blueblood placed his right front hoof on Lith’s paw and brought it down. “I was merely doing recon at the Machiner’s Field continent, learning about the moves of our enemy. You should be careful about who you point that paw against. You never know if you are pointing to the heir of Neo Canterlot itself.” He stated with a smug smile on his face. “Keep talking like that and I’ll make sure you’ll never be able to walk like that again!” Lith threatened, leaning her face into Blueblood’s face. “I would like to see you try. Imagine what would be on the lips of everypony when they hear that you assaulted me. They would brand you and your kind as monsters, even if you have helped us out. My aunties Celestia and Luna would look down upon you and you all would be banished from the city.” Blueblood stated. Lith reeled back her paw and clenched it. It trembled under the gravity under the situation. She took a deep breath and dropped her paw, exhaling a sigh and turning away with a frown. “As punchable as you are right now, I can’t do it. You are one of my allies, as much as I would hate to admit it.” “You have some degree of intelligence yourself. But, there will be times when you have to strike your friend. Not every Equusian here wants to strive towards survival, after all.” Blueblood stated, turning his back and walking away. “I mean no offense to the donkeys here, but that guy is an ass.” Gnasher stated. “Who berates us like that and just walks away?” “Someone with links to royalty. It can’t be helped; he used to be like this even before the arrival of the Van’Goth. But, at least he is working with us and not against us.” Fluttershy explained. “Royalty or not, he has no reason to act like a complete jerk-off.” Rundas stammered out, crossing his arms and turning his head away. “Hehe, you said ‘jerk-off’.” Rondo commented with narrowed eyes and a lewd smile. “Wow, you really are immature.” Rundas noted with slanted eyes. “But anyways, let’s not get that guy to put a damper on our evening. We’re going to have fun and that’s all what matters.” “I suggest we go to the Dance Parlor out by the Commercial District. I feel like getting my groove on.” Jasmine said. “If you don’t mind, Jasmine; can we all go to the arcade in the Crossing District? I’ve always wanted to go there.” Mono asked. “After that simulation? I think I would want to be away from simulation-type machines for the rest of the day. I hear that the Neo Canterlot Garden is a great place to go to.” Lith suggested. “I agree with Lith. Flowers will help keep my mind off of that simulation.” Fei concluded. “That sounds good as well. To the flower garden we go!” Jasmine shouted, pointing her hand out towards the doorway. Professor Pasque entered the room, ducking his head below the door hedge. Behind him was Einstein, who carried a black disk in hand. “Thank Arceus you are all here! I just got a message from Big Macintosh via comms transmission.” Einstein stated, setting the disk on the ground. A beam of light flashed above the disk, revealing a hologram of Big Macintosh’s head. His eyes were wide and he jerked his head with rapid and panicked movements. “I tried getting in contact with the other Pokémon, but they were unavailable for some reason. In my recon, I have encountered a Van’Goth base deep within the Everfree and I am under fire. My legs are shot and I need some aid. Only you Pokémon have the power to help me. I’ll even send the coordinates. Just come as quickly as possible!” The hologram stated. “Oh dear. It seems like Big Mac needs help.” Taking a step back and placing her right front hoof onto her chest, Fluttershy said. “When did you receive this message, Einstein?” Sophia asked. “Just thirty minutes ago. Why do you ask?” Einstein responded. “Nothing. As much as I’d hate going back into the field again, we have to go rescue the big guy’s flank.” “You definitely are spending too much time with the Equusians, Sophia. You’ve taken to adopting their language quirks.” Stereo noted. “Everyone, Big Macintosh says his legs are shot. That can only mean he is in grave danger.” Mono pointed out. “We have no time to lose. We have to rush into the Everfree Forest using these coordinates.” Professor Pasque instructed. “Ummm, may I come along? I know Big Mac asked for Pokémon, but I feel that I have gotten to understand you all enough to be an honorary Pokémon.” Fluttershy requested. “You are always a member of our team, Fluttershy. You are always welcome to come with us.” Lith responded, setting her sights on Keldeo. “Would you like to come with us? It may help discover who you are.” “Positive. I just need to let Rarity know that I’ll be going on a mission with you all.” Keldeo responded. Gnasher let out a snide chuckle and bumped her right elbow into Custard’s arm. “He’s so whipped! Good thing I don’t treat you like that, right?” She whispered. “Nope, but I wouldn’t mind it if you did.” Custard replied. “You really need to grow a backbone one of these days, Custard. Just a request to you as your girlfriend.” “I’ll take that request to heart.” Blueblood strolled down the hallway leading into a large area where Equusians sat at tables with plates of food on them. He sat down on a lone table, sighing with a wide smile on his face. “It is wonderful to be back home after months of spying. Not a familiar continent Equusians can go to, but I never minded. I never got along with the others anyways.” He said to himself, popping open a bottle of lemon-lime soda. With the fizzy syrup entering his mouth, his eyes drifted to the right and detected the Pokémon rushing out of the nearby door. He planted the bottle of soda onto the table and stood up from his seat. He approached Fluttershy, who placed the straps across her rifle with rushed speeds. “Excuse me, Fluttershy, but where are all the Pokémon going?” He asked. “Oh! Blueblood. Big Mac released a distress signal for the Pokémon. He’s being assaulted by the Van’Goth at their base and we’re all coming to his aid.” Fluttershy explained. “Oh, I can’t stay any longer. I have to go now.” Blueblood stood in the hallway, eyeing the direction Fluttershy is heading out towards. He hummed and scratched his chin with his right front hoof. “I smell a trap.” The entire group sprinted past the thickets and vines of the Everfree Forest. Their breathing cycled with quick succession and took in the forest air. “Professor; how far away are the coordinates from here?” Rundas asked. “Not too far away, Rundas. It should be just around this bend of bushes.” Professor Pasque stated. Passing through the bushes, the group saw a bruised Big Macintosh laying next to an obsidian exo. A weak smile appeared on his face. “You made it just in time!” He shouted. “Big Mac! Are you alright?” Fluttershy asked, walking towards Big Macintosh and pulling the rifle off of her back. “Fluttershy! What are you doing here?” Big Macintosh asked with a stunned voice. “I’m here to help with your wounds as well as fight the Van’Goth. Don’t move please.” Fluttershy stated. She aimed her rifle towards Big Macintosh’s body. A blue haze shot out of it, filling the air around with a soothing wind. The bruises on Big Macintosh’s body mellowed away, returning the red spots on his coat. He sighed and stood up from the ground. “Much obliged, Fluttershy. You’re getting very good at that you know.” He stated. “It took some training with the Magic division and Marksman division to get it up to that level, but I’m glad I was able to heal your wounds.” “That’s nice and all, but your message said that you came across a Van’Goth base out here. Where is it?” Gnasher demanded with a direct tone. “Just across that thicket. You can’t miss it.” Big Macintosh responded, pointing towards the bushes. “Alright. We’ll be going there now.” Mono stated. Fluttershy pointed her direction towards the bushes and leaned her body outwards. Big Macintosh grabbed the end of her tail with his mouth. “Whoa! Where do you think you’re going?!” He asked with a strain in his tone. “I’m going to help my friends fight. They need my help.” Fluttershy stated. “But… aren’t you afraid of being hurt?” “Such is the risk of helping my friends. I’d rather be maimed than have my friends be seriously injured. You understand, right?” Big Macintosh lowered his eyelids and looked to his side. He released his grip on Fluttershy’s tail and took a step backwards. Fluttershy followed the rest of the team beyond the bushes. On the other side, the group gazed at the area with attentive eyes; the area is an evergreen clearing where little amounts of light poured through the canopies of the dense trees. “Wait a second, where’s the base?” Mono asked. “This is a bit troubling. Did Big Macintosh make a mistake?” Stereo stated. “Nope. There’s one thing; there was never a base to begin with.” Big Macintosh stated with a gnarled grin, pressing a black button under a patch of grass. The ground underneath the group collapsed into a crater of viscous honey, adhering to their bodies. “What? What is the meaning of this, Big Macintosh?!” Fei shouted, grunting and wriggling his arms and legs out of the honey. “If you don’t explain, then I’m going to be a very angry Krookodile!” Gnasher shouted, wrestling her claws from the goop. “What did we ever do to you?” Lith asked, grasping her tails and pulling them out of the sticky ground. Big Macintosh pulled a sharp dagger out of the chest compartment of his armor and approached Mono, whose front body was stuck in the honey excluding his head. He took the knife to Mono’s face and pointed the edge towards his cheek. He made a vertical cut across the face, drawing red blood from him. A pained scream rushed out of Mono’s mouth. He winced. “It seems that you have something we Equusians call a heart. That is how you are able to bleed.” Big Macintosh stated. “Ummmm… have you gone completely psycho?!” Rondo shouted. “Of course we have hearts! We’re living and breathing beings.” “Is that what you think when you inadvertently helped out the enemy?” “Huh? What are you talking about?!” Sophia shouted. “You must know that the Van’Goth are capable of learning our strategies and moves, correct? When you appeared in our world and surprised them with your capabilities, you brought a temporary relief to our hooves. But… our relief is up. The Van’Goth have learned from you and are using that knowledge to strengthen their forces.” Big Macintosh explained. “We didn’t know that! How could we have expected them to do that?!” Mono shouted. “Simple; didn’t you find it unusual how their weapons were super effective against us but were not very effective against you all? You should have seen the signs.” Big Macintosh focused his gaze onto Fluttershy and frowned with a scowl on his face. “What is with that look, Big Mac? That’s not a very nice look you are giving me.” Fluttershy asked, frowning with a hint of red growing on her face. Big Macintosh chucked his knife into the ground, edging close to Fluttershy’s face. Fluttershy squealed. “I can’t believe that you consider these murderers your friends, Fluttershy! Don’t you know that the lives that we are losing recently are because of them? Why do you want to be a part of this?” Big Macintosh shouted. “They’re… they’re not murderers! They saved me and treat me right! Why are you doing this to me, Big Mac?!” Fluttershy pleaded with tears running down her face. “Quite frankly, I’m tired of the war. I’m sick and tired of how much pain and suffering we go through as Equusians. All what your ‘friends’ are doing is making it harder for the war to come to the conclusion. Honestly, I don’t care anymore whether the Van’Goth win or not anymore. I’m just tired of seeing my fellows marching down to their deaths.” “You could have just quit! Have you ever thought about that?!” Custard shouted with a violent tone in his voice. “You shut up!” Big Macintosh screamed out, striking Custard across his face with his iron right front hoof. “Oww… you didn’t have to do that.” Custard whispered out with a voice on a verge of tears. “Who cares about what you all think? You’re just as bad as any of the aliens I have fought and killed.” “You’ve even given your heart away to cruelty… I used to look up to you, Big Macintosh.” With a crushed voice and his eyes on the verge of crying, Keldeo uttered out. “I never liked you to begin with, Keldeo. I always found something odd about you and I could never put my hoof on it. But, I see that you are a lot more like these Pokémon than I imagined beforehand.” Big Macintosh called out. “So… are you just going to kill us?” Fei asked. “No. That honey you are trapped in? Not only is it a trap that resists the elements, but it is a prime food source for some very dangerous predators. Seeing you wrapped up in that honey will drive their appetites to insanity. They’ll eat you all alive. And sorry, Fluttershy, but your talent will not work when you are prone in the ground like that. You’ll just have to join your friends with being eaten alive.” “I swear to Arceus, Big Mac; when I get out of here, I will kill you! No one, absolutely no one hurts Mono and Custard like that!” Gnasher shouted, thrashing her body back and forth. Big Macintosh turned towards the direction of the bushes and leaped through them. Mono sighed with a frown. “So this is how our journey ends; we were all stabbed in the back by a fellow soldier so that we would die to ravenous hunters. I never thought I would die in such a horrible way.” A small smile appeared on Lith’s face. She grasped Mono’s right paw in the honey with her left paw. “While I don’t like the events that happened, we can at least be reunited with our parents. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to meet them again.” Mono’s frown morphed into a small smile. “You and I both, Lith. It’s going to be a messy journey, but we will still make it.” Professor Pasque’s eyes flooded with tears, having them drip into the honey below. He looked towards Rundas and Fei, frowning with his cries stifled. “I am so sorry that I brought you all in this mess. It’s my fault that we even ended up in this predicament. Had I not built that machine, then we would have been in a much better place.” “Don’t feel bad about it, Professor. I helped build it because of a small voice I hear from time to time. If anything, it’s my fault for helping to make it a reality!” Sophia stated. “That is true, Sophia. But, you never mentioned anything about hearing a voice before.” Professor Pasque noted. “Because you never asked. No one ever asks because I feel that not many care about what I think. As far as you are just concerned, I’m just another Pokémon with a cute face.” “You are much more than that, Sophia. Mono and I can attest to that.” Fei said with a consoling tone. “But, I know I have made you feel less than what I said. So please, forgive me.” Jasmine glanced towards Stereo with a frown on her face. “You know, Stereo; if we ever make it out of this alive, I want to help you with your art. Even if I have made fun of it in the past, I want you to know that I find you to be an amazing artist.” She said. Stereo’s eyelids filled with water. He turned his head away from Jasmine. “I’m so sorry if I ever said anything bad about you, Jasmine. You can be vain at times, but you always have our interests at heart as well.” “So, I guess this is it, eh Boreas? It was a fun ride while it lasted. I’m a bit cheesed that our ally betrayed us, but it is a fitting punishment for one that had betrayed his allies in the past.” Rundas stated. Boreas shut her eyes. She moved her head with a small nod past the viscous honey. Big Macintosh walked his way through the thickets towards his exo with eased eyelids and a satisfied smile on his face. The exo’s chest opened. “And where do you think you are going?” Big Macintosh turned his direction towards the source of the voice and saw Blueblood walking towards him. “My recon is complete and we’ve defeated the Van’Goth in this area. I’m just going back home.” “Where are the Pokémon? Where are Fluttershy and Keldeo?” Blueblood asked with a drilling voice. “They all died trying to save me. I’m the lone survivor of this mission.” Big Macintosh responded. “About that mission; I’m curious as to why you only wanted the Pokémon to aid you. We have many troops specialized in assault and recon. They have very helpful skills that the Pokémon do not have yet.” Blueblood walked towards Big Macintosh and pointed towards a splat of honey on his hoof. He flashed an intense glare at them. “What are you yammering on about now?! I admit I wasn’t thinking straight when I requested the aid of the Pokémon and I just stepped in some honey after the battle is all.” Big Macintosh shouted. “I wasn’t pointing to the honey on your hoof. I was pointing towards the blood on it.” Blueblood explained. “Now how could one’s blood get onto honey if you are not beaten up and you stepped on honey after the fight?” Big Macintosh’s eyes widened with warning signs of danger. He clenched his teeth and knitted is brow in anger. He tossed is right front hoof towards Blueblood’s face. Blueblood blocked it with his right front hoof and launched his left hoof across Big Macintosh’s face. Big Macintosh took three steps back and brought his right front hoof to his struck cheek. “Dangnabit, Blueblood! Why can’t you mind your own business for once?!” He shouted. “Why do you have to betray your teammates, Big Macintosh? You know what the punishment is for that crime.” Blueblood retorted. Big Macintosh stood on his hind legs and launched a flurry of strikes from his front hooves. Blueblood ducked and dodged every strike. Holding his right front hoof out onto the ground, he swept Big Macintosh’s hind legs with his left hind leg. Big Macintosh fell onto his back. Blueblood pulled out a dagger from the pocket on his flank with his right front hoof and pointed it close to Big Macintosh’s face. Big Macintosh’s eyes widened and he gulped on air. “Tell me where the Pokémon are now. If they are dead, I can at least give them a proper burial and funeral. If they are alive, I can still save them.” “Nothing you can do can save them now. They’re trapped in the honey of the Everfree beyond that thicket. So just slit my throat and leave them.” Blueblood’s horn flashed in a deep blue color. His knife levitated back into his pocket and he clambered onto Big Macintosh’s exo. Big Macintosh chuckled and rolled onto his side. Blue electricity covered his body, eliciting a pained scream. “I forgot to mention that I placed a compression chip on your neck during out skirmish. Try to move and you will be shocked with pain.” Blueblood stated with the door to the exo closing on him. Blueblood flew down through the canopy and descended onto the trapped members of H.O.R.S.E. They frowned. “Come to finish us off, Big Mac?” Lith shouted. “Now why would I do that when I want to save you all?” Blueblood’s familiar voice echoed. “Wait, Blueblood?! What are you doing here?!” Mono asked with his voice drenched in surprise. The exo grasped all of the members of the team in the honey with its large hands, pulling them out one by one. All of the Pokémon and Fluttershy stood on top of the ground, covered in honey. Blueblood hopped out of the exo. With his horn illuminated, he levitated Big Macintosh towards the clearing. “I was enjoying a soda when Fluttershy told me about the situation. I found that there were too many inconsistencies with Big Macintosh’s message. For example, I’ve done recon in this area several times and this would not be a suitable area for the Van’Goth to set their base in. I also wondered why he would ask only for Pokémon to help him. It was there when I realized that a trap had been set for you all.” He stated. Big Macintosh grumbled underneath the tone of his voice. Lith frowned and looked away. “I don’t know what to say. I thought you were just a jerk, but you ended up saving our lives. Thank you.” “Honestly Lith, you are right. I am a jerk, and I honestly wish that I have even half the bonds that you share. I get a bit lonely, you know? As for Big Macintosh, I’ll let you all decide what you should do with him.” Blueblood stated. “Are you insane?! They’ll kill me in horrible ways you could imagine!” Big Macintosh shouted. “You know, yeah! I say we kill him. He needs to pay for his betrayal in blood.” Gnasher said. “I think we should just turn him in to Neo Canterlot for a proper punishment. What he did here is within a clear violation of its rules.” Stereo suggested. Mono turned towards Fluttershy with stoic eyes. “I think we should give Fluttershy the decision here. Big Macintosh was her friend.” “I agree with Mono. If anything, Fluttershy was the most hurt out of everyone here.” Lith seconded. Fluttershy hummed and looked upon Big Macintosh. She eyed Mono and Lith. “Do you mind if you two destroy this exo? I know he won’t be able to escape without it.” Big Macintosh’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped to the ground. “With pleasure!” Lith stated, cocking back the gauntlet over her left paw. “Are you up for it, Mono?” Mono cocked the gauntlet over his left paw and grinned. “Anytime you are.” Lith slammed her left paw into the ground. Pillars of fire rushed towards the exo and enveloped it. A tornado of leaves escaped from Mono’s left paw, coming into contact with the pilar of fire the exo is within. The leaves exploded, leaving a sea of burning fire that ate away at the metal of the exo. “Ooooh! So that’s what those gauntlets do. They use the Pledge moves.” Rondo noted. “Why!? What is your reason in doing this?!” Big Macintosh shouted. Fluttershy walked towards Big Macintosh with a serene smile on her face. “For what you did, I cannot let you off the hook, Big Mac. But, as your friend, I won’t bring you to Neo Canterlot to face judgment or allow any one of us to kill you.” “Awww, really?” Gnasher whined. “Really. Instead, I’ll let nature be your judge. Gnasher, if you don’t mind shredding off his armor and tossing him in the honey?” Fluttershy requested. An evil chuckle escaped out of Gnasher’s mouth. With her claws, she tore through Big Macintosh’s armor with the might of a can opener against a tin can. She then punted him into the honey. “Please! Don’t do this to me! Look into your heart, Fluttershy! Do you think that this is right?!” Big Macintosh pleaded. “Don’t worry, Big Mac. If nature believes that you are innocent, then you will survive and make it out of here. At the very least, I am giving you the chance to survive for a horrible crime you have done.” Fluttershy responded with dissonant serenity in her voice. “But the predators will come at any second! I’ll be torn apart and die with half of my organs being devoured! This is cruelty. You aren’t cruel Fluttershy!” “Guilt tripping won’t work with me, Big Mac. I realized that some actions have to be done, even if they seem unsavory. Besides, even if I did fall for your guilt trip, there’s no way I could save you. The exo is destroyed.” “Well, that’s enough excitement for one day. I say we head back home.” Blueblood suggested. “Definitely. That was too much for one day.” Mono noted. One by one, Fluttershy, Blueblood and the Pokémon exited through the thicket. Big Macintosh’s eyes wandered towards the right, where the sound of large footsteps approached. From the dark of the forest, three gray bears with yellow eyes, rows of serrated teeth and sharp curved claws walked into the clearing. They eyed Big Macintosh with a ravenous growl. “Get away! Get away from me!” Big Macintosh shouted. The bears looked at each other and stared at Big Macintosh on the ground. The middle bear raised its right front paw and swiped at Big Mac’s bare ribs. It licked the blood on its claws and smiled. Big Macintosh’s eyes widened, hearing the famished roars of the bears before him. “No! No!” He shouted out. His throat screamed out in pain from the claws swiping through his abdomen and bear fangs tearing into his flesh. Applejack sat on the bench within the Heavy Armor division, looking towards the ground with eyes glimmering in impatience. Her ears perked up at the sound of the doors opening, revealing Mono, Lith and Fluttershy. She looked forward and sprinted towards them. “How did it go?! Please tell me Big Mac is alright.” “Ummm… do you want to tell her?” Mono asked. “I’ll tell her.” Fluttershy responded with a frown on her face. “But first, do you want to hear the lie or the truth?” Applejack’s heart split in two, and she shied her head away with closed eyes and quivering lips. “I can take the truth. I ain’t a small filly.” “Big Mac tried to have us killed. So… we left him to die alone in retaliation.” Fluttershy explained with her throat clenched in pain. “You couldn’t even have the decency to kill him yourselves or bring him to Neo Canterlot?!” Applejack shouted with a sharp tongue. “Why?!” “I know, Applejack. It hurts me very much. But, it’s better that Neo Canterlot doesn’t know about this nor should I have his blood on my hooves. I’m not a murderess, and everyone believed that this is the best way he should be punished.” Fluttershy explained. Muffled sobs escaped from Applejack’s mouth and tears streamed down her face. She embraced Fluttershy by her neck. “But why did he want you all to die? Was he that tired of the war that he wanted it all to end?! He would resort to betrayal so that he could…” Fluttershy returned her hug and rubbed the back of her neck with her left hoof. Small beads of tears ran down her cheeks. Mono and Lith’s eyes rolled towards each other. “Lith, do you honestly believe what we decided was the right choice?” Mono asked. “I’m… not too sure anymore.” Lith said with a pained frown forming on her face. Discord's LamentRainbow Dash and Mono walked down a hallway where its walls are brimmed with gold and velvet ropes. Framed pictures of Equusians were hung upon the walls. “And that’s the H.O.R.S.E. Hall of Fame in a nutshell.” Rainbow Dash capped off with a prudent smile on her face. “Interesting. So many heroes who have done so much…” Mono stated. His eyes drifted towards a duo; one was a red dragon-like creature with yellow eyes and a brown head. His limbs and horns are an amalgamation of animal parts. Wrapped around his lion’s paw for an arm was a dark magenta earth pony filly with a puffy purple mane and tail. Her eyes were purple with hypnotic swirls. She had an orange and yellow-striped cap on her head. An image of a baseball and screw was present on her flank. They both had large grins on their faces. “Ummm… who are these two? They look a bit off.” Mono asked. “The dracoequus you see here is named Discord. That filly wrapped in his right arm is his daughter Screwball. These two are the terror on the field against the Van’Goth. So much so that we thought we would win solely by riding on the coattails of their success.” Rainbow Dash’s smile fell into a frown. She looked away from the image with half-lidded eyes. “Are they dead?” Mono questioned. “No. You can’t really kill them since they are technically immortal. But… Screwball was captured by the Van’Goth and, combined with him losing his wife, Discord has been heartbroken ever since.” Rainbow Dash responded. “Well, it couldn’t be that bad, could it?” The wall to their right collapsed in dust from a fast moving projectile. After the dust settled, the projectile was a black-coated earth pony stallion with yellow eyes and a vanilla-colored mane and tail. Discord walked through the hole in the wall with a scowl on his face and picked up the Stallion by his neck with his eagle’s talon. “What do you mean you couldn’t find Screwball?! I thought you said your sources knew where she is!” He shouted. “I’m sorry!” The stallion choked out. “The leads proved to be false! Just give me more time!” “Give you more time?! I’ve given you eight years to locate the whereabouts of my daughter! All what you prove to be is a disappointment after disappointment!” With his grip on the stallion’s throat tightening, Discord screamed. “Not so hard! I can’t breathe!” “Can’t breathe?! This is merely a fraction of how I felt each time I needed to wait for news on my precious daughter!” Discord tossed the stallion back through the hole. He sighed. “Useless. Every one of them is useless.” Mono extended his right paw out with a frown on his face. Rainbow Dash placed her right front hoof on his paw and lowered it, shaking her head. “Not a good idea to talk to him.” Discord’s ears perked up at her voice. He turned around, fixating his gaze on Mono. “I believe we haven’t met before. You must be one of those Pokémon that Celly keeps yammering on about, right? I’m sure Dashie told you my name already, but I’ll still introduce myself.” He cleared his throat and snapped his eagle’s talons. A sign appeared above his head with his name flashing in rainbow neon colors. An unenthusiastic ‘yay’ escaped from his mouth. “Ummm… you don’t seem that cheery for someone who looks like he or she should be cheery.” Mono commented. “What do you know?” Discord groaned out. “If you experienced even half of the things I’ve experienced, you wouldn’t be so cheery either.” “I can’t say that I understand the pain of losing a significant other or not being able to see your daughter any more. But, I do understand the pangs of losing a loved one.” Mono said. Discord hummed. A monocle appeared in a veil of smoke over his right eye. He gazed into Mono’s right eye. “So you do. Lost your parents at the young age of eight. Kind of the same thing that my little Screwball had to go through except she never knew her mother.” “That… must be very tough for her.” With his teeth clenched and his eyes shifting left and right, Mono stated. “Being captured is also very tough on her. It is also incredibly tough on me. Do you understand why I am unhappy?” With arms crossed, Discord questioned. “Very much. But… that doesn’t exactly give you reason for taking out your frustration on others like that.” “And I say it does. It’s a bit of stress relief on my trembling nerves. You’ll understand when you have children one day.” A sad sigh slipped through Mono’s lungs while he shook his head. “Look, what if my team and I help to look for your daughter? I’m not too entirely sure about locating her whereabouts, but our mission completion rate is great. I just don’t want to see you beat yourself or others up over this situation.” Discord scoffed and flipped his hand off. Rainbow Dash held her head back, clenched her teeth and sweat poured down her face. She cricked her neck and swiped her hoof across her neck with continuous strokes. “Just because your team’s mission completion rate is great does not mean you are able to do this arduous task for me. Many have tried and everyone failed.” Discord replied. “Then why don’t you go look for her? Don’t you have some unusual ability of being able to warp reality with your fingertips?” Mono asked with a sour voice. “What do you think I have been trying to do?! I scoured the entire world three times looking for her. I used every single one of my abilities from radars-“A table with green sonar and headphones materialized between Mono and Discord. “-to warping space itself to find my daughter! Those Van’Goth must have hidden her well to the point where none of my powers can aid me.” Discord’s vicious stare fell into a somber frown and eyes. He dropped down onto his elbows and knees. Sobs heard clearer than crystals and a waterfall of tears broke out of him. Mono frowned and stepped towards his side. He patted his shoulder. “You don’t need to feel like this. You may say that I will not be able to succeed, but I promise that I will find your daughter today. You can count on that.” Mono said with a smile. Rainbow Dash winced, groaned and smacked her face with her right front hoof. Discord floated from above the ground and hugged Mono. “You’re very stubborn about this, and I can appreciate that about you. I’m putting you in charge of looking for my daughter then.” With a snap of his lion’s paw, Discord vanished in a puff of smoke. Mono turned back towards Rainbow Dash, who shook her head with a disapproving motion. “I thought you were smart, Mono! No one, and I mean no one should ever make a deal like that with Discord! Now you are at the verge of his mercy.” “What’s the worst that can happen? I get flung around like that guy that Discord choked?” Mono said with an uneasy smile. “His innate power is greater than that of the council. Knowing him, he’d probably put you on some sort of torture device if you fail.” Rainbow Dash stated. Mono shut his mouth and stared into nothingness. His spine was gripped with icy fear. He hugged his shoulders and shuddered. “He couldn’t really put me in a torture device. It’s unethical… right?” “Normally, yeah it is unethical. But this is Discord we’re talking about. Last guy that failed looking for his daughter ended being put in an iron maiden. He survived, but the experience traumatized him enough to stay away from Discord.” Rainbow Dash answered. “What have I gotten myself into?” Mono whispered out. “Tell you what; I don’t want to see you end up like that poor sap, so I’ll help you look for Screwball.” Rainbow Dash offered with a smile. “That would be appreciated. Thanks, Rainbow Dash.” Mono, Lith and Rainbow Dash slugged their way through the bitter winds of the Glacial Drift. Everyone wore thick parkas, boots and multiple scarves. “So tell me why I’m doing this again? I don’t even know why I even agreed to this.” Lith asked with an irritated shiver in her voice. “The last report I’ve heard regarding Screwball was that a filly with a physical description similar to her was found in this region. Plus, if I don’t find her, Discord’s going to put me in something like an iron maiden.” Mono responded. “You can be too nice sometimes, Mono. But… I don’t want to see you on the receiving end of a pissed off dracoequus. But seriously? The Glacial Drift?” “How do you think I feel?! I can’t even put my wings out without them freezing like juice in a fridge.” Rainbow Dash stammered out. “I should have purchased that exo when I had the chance…” Mono whispered to himself. In the distance is a tall piece of blue vegetation in the rough shape of a lollipop. Its thick canopy and stalk stood tall against the winds. It had the circumference of a wide tower and small opening at its base. Rainbow Dash grinned underneath her scarf. “That place looks a bit warm. We should probably take a break and head there.” She suggested. “I guess we can use a bit of warmth. My ankles are freezing with these blistering winds.” Mono stated. “If what I know about plants like this is correct, then this really would be a good place to keep warm.” Lith added. The air within the tower steamed with heat pouring out of the floor. Mono, Lith and Rainbow Dash pulled on the multiple scarves around their neck. They shed off their excess clothing and are brought down to their uniforms. Rainbow Dash sighed with delight and unfolded her wings. “Wow this place is amazing! How is it that something hot like this exists out here?” “I can explain that.” Lith answered. “We are inside what is known as a steam tree. Steam trees thrive in areas of extreme winds and generate their own heat through its roots with that wind. The steam we are seeing now is from the evaporation of water through the roots of the tree. The process helps to keep a steam tree moisturized and provides a safe haven for creatures.” “I didn’t know you knew about this plant, Lith.” Mono noted. “The Glacial Drift inspired me to look up some of the native fauna and flora. It is a dangerous continent after all.” “If Screwball is in the Glacial Drift, then could she be in one of these steam trees?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Not a bad guess, Rainbow Dash.” Mono stated. “She’s still warm-blooded and would want to seek comfort amidst a frozen land. If she is anywhere, she could be up at the canopy of this tree.” Lith turned her head to the left, revealing thick growths of vines along the walls that stretched towards unknown heights. “We can probably use these vines to climb up to the top.” “Since I have wings, I could fly my way to the top. I’ll keep your backs protected in case anything tries to sneak up on you.” Rainbow Dash offered. “I appreciate that gesture, Rainbow Dash. Hopefully, Screwball is up here.” Mono stated. A low moan echoed from within the tree. The walls of the tree spun with black energy, summoning black hunks of bipedal and animated stones that are top heavy. A deafening roar erupted from their mouths. “They couldn’t wait for us could they? Well, it’s a good thing I got my rifle.” Rainbow Dash said with a cocky tone, taking out her rifle from her sheathe and holding the butt on her shoulders. Three bullets fired out of the rifle. Each one dug into the kneecaps of the golems, causing the rest of the leg to crumble. Fire built up within Lith’s paw tips. A burst of embers erupted out of them and struck the row of golems before the group. “So that’s what the move looks like in combat.” Mono commented. “I call it Psycho Fire. As I’ve said before, it’s not too powerful but it gets the job done.” Lith explained, blowing the smoke off of her pawtips. Mono ran towards the group of burning golems, splitting his body into clones via Double Team. Wisps of shadow energy emanated from the golems. Three shockwaves burst out of the golem, destroying all of the clones and knocking Mono, Lith and Rainbow Dash against the wall. Their bodies shattered. “That… hurt more than I expected.” Mono groaned out. “That wasn’t like any move I ever seen. It felt super effective.” With her right paw rubbing her temple, Lith stuttered. “You’re telling me. I never felt a move like that hit me before.” Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash stated. “It’s almost as if those golems were using…” Mono’s eyes widened and suspense grasped his heart. “…Shadow moves.” “You can’t be serious, Mono. That project was dead for years!” Lith called out. “What are you two talking about? And why are you making it sound like some ‘in the know’ thing?” Rainbow Dash asked with an irate scowl. “Back in our world years ago, a criminal organization had succeeded in finding out the way to artificially close the hearts of Pokémon. These Pokémon, which were dubbed Shadow Pokémon, are stripped of all of their emotions and heart. Shadow Pokémon only care about inflicting violence on others. It was a huge topic back in our lab because it only displays the potential evils of science and cruelty against Pokémon.” Mono explained. “That sounds very screwed up. I mean, stripping a Pokémon of their heart and emotions? That’s low. But… why do these golems have access to moves like that?” Rainbow Dash questioned with worry present in her tone. “I have a theory, but I really hope it isn’t true. What if these golems are merely some sort of ability brought upon a reality warper whose heart was closed? It could only mean that Screwball is up here, but…” Lith paused in her words, unable to continue. “If that’s the case, then it would only break Discord’s heart if he finds out. I hope to Arceus that it isn’t true.” Mono stated. “Let’s climb up this tree as quickly as possible!” Rainbow Dash commanded. Lith’s paws poked above the edge of the cliff, lifting her up. With his head over the edge, Mono pushed himself upwards. Rainbow Dash landed on the ground at the top. Her eyes picked up the sight of Screwball amidst the shadowy portals within the canopy. “It’s her!” Mono shouted. Screwball made a slow turn around. Her swirling eyes strained with a dark malice. She growled. Spikes of shadow energy formed at the base of the edge. With a burst of energy in their system, Mono and Lith leaped over the pools of darkness that turned into black thorns upon thorns. “Are you two okay?!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “We’re fine. But, that attack confirmed my suspicions; Shadow Rave can only be used by those who had their hearts closed through artificial means.” Lith stated. Rainbow Dash growled and held her rifle in position. She pulled the trigger, sending a Flamethrower towards Screwball’s direction. Screwball cracked a smirked and vanished from her spot. She reappeared by Rainbow Dash’s side and kicked her in the gut, knocking the wind out of her. Rainbow Dash found herself flying through the roof of the canopy. “Rainbow Dash!” Lith shouted. A virulent scowl formed on her face. She shot a Charge Beam towards Screwball. Screwball pulled down the space and time in front of her with her right hoof. The gap in dimensions ate the Charge Beam. A sudden gasp made its way out of Lith’s mouth. Mono observed space and time opening above Lith. He pushed her out of the path with Psychic, causing her to avoid the stream of lightning shooting downwards. He sprinted by Lith’s side, picking her up by her right paw. “Are you alright, Lith? Sorry for the sudden push.” He said. “I’m fine. I did not expect that to happen at all.” Lith responded. A broken and child-like fit of laughter burst from Screwball. A blob of shadowy energy formed on her right front hoof. She chucked it into the air, filling the inside of the canopy with shadows. A surge of purple rain cascaded upon the battlefield, touching the fur of Mono and Lith with a sizzle. The duo winced and went down on their knees. “This must be a Shadow Sky. I have no other explanation as to why it burns.” Mono noted with a quivering lip. Lith shot a Psycho Fire out of her pawtips that aimed towards Screwball. Screwball faded away into darkness, dodging the bolt of fire. She reappeared in front of Lith, rearing her right hind leg. She became held in a Psychic by Mono. With his paw extended out, Mono flung Screwball towards the wall with a hard thump. Screwball winced from the blow against her shoulder. Her eyes emanated with a red glow. She took out a knife and sliced the telekinetic aura around her, breaking it. “How was that even possible? She sliced through your Psychic like butter.” Lith noted. “I don’t know, but fighting her is like fighting a severely mad cartoon character that is high on power. It seems like we won’t be winning this fight.” Mono admitted. A loud roar of thunder echoed from above. Rainbow Dash crashed her way through the canopy with a rainbow aura around her and collided with Screwball. The resulting shockwave sent gusts of color throughout the area, turning the snow into the color of rainbow sherbet and reversing Mono and Lith’s colors. With the smoke subsided, Screwball and Rainbow Dash stood their ground with hardened gazed towards each other. Both of their bodies had scratches along the face, chest and legs. Screwball spat out a green liquid from her mouth and growled. Rainbow Dash held out her rifle and pressed a yellow charm upon it. The rifle hummed with a golden light. “You. Me. We’re doing it now!” With these words, she fired three bolts of yellow energy that hurdled towards Screwball. Screwball leaped into the air and roundhouse kicked them back towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash held her rifle out, absorbing the energy reflected back. “So energy attacks clearly don’t work on you. Looks like I’ll have to bring out the good ol’ fisticuffs.” She tossed her rifle to the side and stood on her hind legs. She dashed towards Screwball and launched her right front hoof across the cheek of her face. Screwball smirked and grasped Rainbow Dash’s right front hoof’s ankle with her left front hoof and twisted it out of its socket. Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened and her teeth shut closed. Screwball bashed her right hoof into Rainbow Dash’s right front knee, knocking the joint onto its other side. Fires of screaming pain erupted throughout Rainbow Dash’s right front leg. “Rainbow Dash!” Mono shouted, running towards the battling ponies. Rainbow Dash groaned and socked Screwball across her face with her left front hoof. Her right front leg limped on its side. “You think that rendering my right front leg useless would put me at a disadvantage? I’ve learned to fight with just my head!” She shouted, bashing her head into Screwball’s forehead. Screwball flinched and backed away from Rainbow Dash. Observing Mono and Lith run towards her side, she growled. She slipped into a portal of shadows and vanished. “She’s getting away!” Lith shouted, running towards the portal. “It’s too late, Mono. She got away.” Rainbow Dash warned. “Ummm… I’m over here, Rainbow Dash.” Mono said with a silent tone. Rainbow Dash chuckled. A twinge of pain surged up from her leg, causing her to grasp it with a tight grip. “Hold on, Rainbow Dash. I’ll get you up and better with a new move I learned myself.” Mono’s right paw ignited with a white sparkling light. “Just be careful about how you touch my leg. It’s hurting like a mother bucker!” Rainbow Dash shouted. Mono tapped Rainbow Dash’s right front knee, illuminating it with a white glow. Rainbow Dash’s facial expressions eased into a smile and her bones set themselves into their regular position. “How did I do? While my Heal Pulse was helpful, it only healed the wounds on the current state of body. The wounds would have been healed, but everything else would have remained. This move helps to restore the body to its original shape.” Mono stated. “Cool. What is it called?” “I think that Psycho Heal might be a good name for it until I can think up a better name. You should be able to move around normally now.” Rainbow Dash wiggled her right front leg and smiled. “Thanks for the treatment, Mono. But, I could have still flown my way out of here.” “Out of this blizzard?” Mono retorted. “Touché.” Lith shook her head and frowned. “We couldn’t bring Screwball back. I’m sorry.” She said. “It’s not a complete loss. I managed to place a chip on her when I struck her with my left front hoof. If she comes up again, we’ll know.” Rainbow Dash stated. “But… is Discord going to put me in an iron maiden for failing?” Mono whimpered out. “If he wants to put you in an iron maiden, then he’s going to have to put me in one as well! I won’t let you suffer that alone. I refuse to!” Lith stated with a resolute tone. “Make that the three of us. I won’t let Mono take the fall for this mission. After all, what kind of H.O.R.S.E. officer would I be if I just threw all of the faults on the two of you? A bad one, that’s what!” Rainbow Dash said. “Regardless, we still have pay our dues and face the music.” Mono, Lith and Rainbow Dash crossed through the gates of H.O.R.S.E. headquarters with uneasy frowns on their faces. Discord puffed into the area before the three with a frown on his face. “I assume that the three of you showing up empty-handed means that you failed with getting my daughter back.” He said with a serious tone. “There were several issues that happened with our mission, Discord. We actually found Screwball, but she attacked us.” Mono explained. “We tried to bring her back, but she escaped and left us empty-handed.” Lith added on. Discord’s stern expression softened up. His feet touched the ground. “She attacked you? That doesn’t sound like my Screwball at all. The Screwball I know and love would never provoke an attack.” “Well that’s what happened! Apparently, Mono and Lith said something about her heart being artificially closed.” Rainbow Dash stated. “Wait wait wait. Repeat that last part again.” Discord stated with his hands shaking away. “Did you say that her heart was artificially closed?” “It’s what we said. Didn’t you say that the Van’Goth captured her?” Lith asked. Discord walked back several steps with his eagle’s talon over his chest. His eyes looked into the sky with a stunned expression. “They… closed her heart? They stripped away her ability to love and show compassion?” He broke down onto his knees and banged the ground with his clenched lion’s paw. He shut his eyes and teeth, holding back the tears in his eyes. He shook his head and a stream of tears flowed its way into the city. Mono frowned and walked by his side, patting his back. “I’m sorry about what happened, Discord. I really am. It must hurt bad to know that this is the fate of your daughter. But… I promise that we will get her back. Rainbow Dash managed to place a tracker on her before the last skirmish.” Discord’s cries have softened. He wiped his stray tears away with his eagle’s talon and looked towards Mono. “How do you ever plan on opening her heart? It’s almost impossible without a lot of love.” “I don’t know, but it will happen one day. And I hope that you will finally be reunited with your daughter.” Mono whispered. Discord stood up from the ground and looked into the sky with his frown curving upwards. “I’m going to… be alone for a while.” “So… am I going to be put in an iron maiden?” Mono asked. “Heavens no! Who put that thought into your head? I’m much more merciful than that.” Discord responded with an offended tone. “But, let me know when your thingamajig finds Screwball. Okay?” With these words, he vanished from the area. “So Rainbow Dash, why did you scare me like that?” Mono asked. “Scare you like what? The iron maiden?” Rainbow Dash responded with a shrug and sheepish smile. “Well, that’s at least what I’ve heard him do.” “Rainbow, are you sure that those aren’t just rumors spread to make Discord look more frightening than he is?” Lith asked. “I mean, he threw a stallion and nearly choked him to death, but I think that is how every father would respond if their child goes missing. Don’t you think?” Rainbow Dash frowned and lowered her head in shame. “I guess you’re right. It was a bit insensitive for me to think of him as being nothing but a jerk because of what he did.” An eruption of chuckles surged from her throat. “Heck, if I go missing, I bet my father would act the same way.” Discord appeared on a serene hill above a sparkling sea with the sun setting in the horizon. At the top of the hill were images of him with a cherry red earth pony mare with a lavender-colored mane and tail. Her blue eyes resonated with the happy grin on her face. Discord moved his right thumb over the image and stroked her head. “They found her, Wild Berry. They finally found her. I just hope that you will reach out to her and clear the shadows of her heart. I want to see her smiling face once more. I want to see her laugh and play with me like the days before the war. I want her to be like her mother; gentle and sweet with a hint of insanity. I hope that I can see that once more.” Author's Note Hooray for the Van'Goth being the next Cipher! Good on ya guys! Elementary LearningEinstein stared at the elemental matrix of typing, grinning at the sight of yellow, light green and burgundy spheres lighting up before his eyes. Professor Pasque smiled and craned his neck down towards him. “Yes! Yes! We did it! We found the Electric, Bug and Fighting-type matrices of the genome!” Einstein shouted. “You worked really hard to make this happen, did you not?” Professor Pasque asked. “I couldn’t have done it without you or Twilight, Professor. But, it was mostly me wasn’t it?” Einstein stated with a smug smile an inflated tone of ego. “I wouldn’t say it was mostly you, but you placed in a lot of work to make this happen. Now we can broaden our technology to extend to these types. It could be interesting to see what sorts of devices we can make with these new types possible.” Cadance walked through the doors of the lab with a smile on her face. She strutted her way towards Professor Pasque and Einstein. “I knew I would find you two here. I have a civilian request that requires the aid of you two.” She stated. “Us? What specific request would require our skillset that others do not?” Einstein asked, scratching the top of his head with his right index finger. “I’ll tell you along the way. We will be having a bit of an exercise to get there.” Cadance and Professor Pasque made their way down a wide street. Einstein stood on Professor Pasque’s back. “So you want the two of us to teach an elementary school class for the day?” Professor Pasque asked. “That’s exactly what I’m saying, Professor. Because you are a dinosaur with a fountain of knowledge and Einstein is a living molecule, the client said that you two would be a fun way to help bring the world of learning to the children. I wouldn’t blame them either.” Cadance explained. “Oh goodie! I love being around children!” Einstein declared, closing his eyes with a grin and clapping his arms together. “So the details of the request say that we can educate the children in any way we desire as long as it fulfills the current curriculum, correct? This will definitely be an enjoyable day.” Professor Pasque announced with a grin on his face. “Much better than what happened a few days ago.” “I’ve heard about that incident, and I’m sorry that you and your team went through that. I should have seen the signs coming. Just try not to bring it up around Applebloom since she is in the class. She… hasn’t been taking it too well.” Cadance responded. “You have the honor of my word, Commissioner Cadance.” “I know you do. Speaking of which, we are here.” The trio stopped outside of a fenced building that is two stories high. Outside of the building stood a magenta-coated earth pony mare with a pink and lilac-striped mane and tail. Her green eyes and smile brimmed with warm sunshine and a calming aura. She waved at the trio. “My! You are much taller than I assumed, Professor.” The mare said. “You must be Miss Cheerilee from the request, correct?” Professor Pasque asked. “That is my name.” Miss Cheerilee responded, swiveling her head around him. “Ummm… isn’t there another one?” “Right here!” Einstein shouted, leaping off of Professor Pasque’s head and landing in front of Miss Cheerilee. Miss Cheerilee hopped back and shrieked. She exhaled deep breaths and regained her composure. “Please don’t scare me again like that. Still, don’t you look adorable?” “So when do we get to meet the children? I can’t wait to interact with them!” “We will get there soon enough. I just need to talk with Commissioner Cadance on some aspects. In the meantime, why don’t you two wait in the hallways?” Einstein nodded. He grabbed Professor Pasque’s right front foot and tugged at it. “Let’s go inside!” Professor Pasque chuckled and smiled. “Alright, Einstein. I’m coming.” Miss Cheerilee and Cadance looked onto the two Pokémon stepping and hopping their way into the building. With Professor Pasque and Einstein out of the range of sight, Cadance’s face dropped into a frown. “Miss Cheerilee, are you sure you want to do this? I think it might be a little bit too soon.” She asked. “Positive. I am very aware of the entire situation, but I know that the students would absolutely love this. I want to show the opposite of what Big Macintosh believed and having Pokémon as guest instructors would be a great way to prove that.” Miss Cheerilee responded. “I trust your judgment then.” Cadance nodded and turned her direction away from the school. Looking back and waving her right front hoof, she walked off of the school grounds. “Wow, Miss Cheerilee has been gone for a bit. I wonder what happened.” Applebloom said to herself. She sat between a white-coated unicorn filly with a lavender and pink-striped mane and an orange-coated pegasus filly with a magenta mane and pink eyes. “I’m sure she’s just fine, Applebloom. She probably has something important to do.” Sweetie Belle responded. “What do you think, Scootaloo?” “She’s probably going to go get someone. But, at least the class is lively.” Scootaloo responded. Within the room, many young Equusians chattered amongst each other with noise that rivaled a rock concert. Young changelings, griffons and pegasi flew in circles above the classroom. The door opened and brought all the children in the room to a standstill silence. All of the students sat back in their seats with angelic smiles on their faces. Miss Cheerilee stepped into the room and stood in front of the class. She clasped her front hooves together and grinned. “I have two very special guests today, class. Now, how many students in here are familiar with the Pokémon working at H.O.R.S.E.?” Jetstream Rush, Applebloom and a slew of other hooves rose up from the audience of students. “Rarity tells me about the Pokémon when she comes over my house. Does that count?” Sweetie Belle asked. “It does. Anyways, our guests are two scientists who took time out of their busy day to come educate you all. Please give a warm round of cheers to Professor Pasque and Einstein!” Cheerilee announced, pointing her hoof towards the door. Professor Pasque craned his head below the doorway and stepped into the room. Einstein hopped his way across the floor and faced everyone. Professor Pasque cleared his throat. “I give my greetings to everyone in the room. Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Professor Pasque.” “And I’m his partner Einstein!” Einstein added. “We are both scientists at H.O.R.S.E. and were scientists back in our world. Before we begin our scheduled day, does anyone have any questions? You will have to tell me your name if you want to continue.” A cream-feathered griffon with a gray head and blue eyes raised his right talon into the air with an enthusiastic smile. Professor Pasque pointed towards him and nodded. “Cirrostratus here. So you are a talking dinosaur who is going to teach today?” Cirrostratus asked. “My species is what is known as an Aurorus, but I guess I would be considered a dinosaur as well. And, yes, I will be instructing your class for the day on the orders of Miss Cheerilee’s request.” Professor Pasque answered. “Jetstream Rush, and what are you supposed to be? Some kind of molecule?” Jetstream Rush asked. “I guess you can consider me that. Though, I am a part of the species known as a Reuniclus. Pretty much my entire body is controlled through my psychic abilities. My arms themselves also pack a wallop, so no misbehaving on my watch.” Einstein responded. “If you two are so smart, then what is two fourths times three eights?” Scootaloo asked. “The raw answer is six thirty twos.” Professor Pasque stated with a smirk on his face. “The simplified answer is three sixteenths. As a decimal answer, it is point one eight seven five.” Einstein responded. “That wouldn’t happen to be on the homework Miss Cheerilee gave you yesterday, now would it?” Scootaloo raised her head forward with a pencil in her right hoof and a worksheet with numbers on her desk. “Uhhh… no?” She stated with a sheepish grin. “So does anyone else have more questions?” Professor Pasque asked. None of the students raised their hands. “I guess it is time to go on a field trip then.” “A field trip? Do I have to have my parents sign a permission slip or something?” Cirrostratus asked. “Nope.” Shaking his head, Professor Pasque responded. “You will find that I am the type of person who is more hands-on with his learning. We will be taking a field trip into the Terraformed Wilderness.” All of the students in the room grinned with wide eyes and shifted their sights towards each other. Miss Cheerilee glanced towards Professor Pasque with an uneasy curve of her lips, revealing a partial amount of her teeth. “That may not be the best idea, Professor. The Terraformed Wilderness is incredibly dangerous to navigate through. There are many dangerous creatures and there is always the chance of a Van’Goth attack.” She said. “While I do applaud your view on safety, I feel that having children explore the environment around them would give them a better understanding on core values that are instructed upon within the education system. It was how I taught my two children, anyways.” “Very well, Professor. I trust your judgment. I assume that Einstein and your abilities will be able to keep the children protected, right?” “You have my word, Miss Cheerilee. These students will be safely protected like how an Ursaring mother protects her Teddiursa cub or a Mightyena father protects his Poochyena pups.” Professor Pasque assured. “Pokémon similes I assume? Not sure what those are, but they sound like creatures that would maul me.” Miss Cheerilee said. All of the students in the classroom erupted with a round of laughter. Einstein and Miss Cheerilee spearheaded the entire group that walked out into the plains of the Terraformed Wilderness. Professor Pasque stayed behind the group, shifting his head towards the left and right and observing any potential dangers. Walking towards the edge of a cliff that overlooked a wide plain, Lith and Fluttershy sat upon slabs of rocks observing a horde of gray tiger-like creatures the size of rhinos sprinting below. Fluttershy wrote the results of the observation into a tablet. “Hey Lith! Hey Fluttershy!” Einstein greeted, waving with closed eyes. “Oh! Einstein and Professor Pasque!” Lith called out. “I see you brought a bunch of children and a teacher. What is the occasion?” “My name is Miss Cheerilee, and Einstein and Professor Pasque are in the process of doing a civilian request.” Miss Cheerilee answered. “They wanted to take my class on a field trip into the Terraformed Wilderness.” “Fair enough.” Lith stated, bumping Fluttershy’s right shoulder with her left elbow. “We got company, Fluttershy.” Fluttershy turned her head away from the tablet and squeaked at the sight of the class before her. “I didn’t notice you all! I guess I was too busy with my current duty. My name is Fluttershy and I am a field researcher who works for H.O.R.S.E. I’m currently tracking down the migration path of the Fatalis Tiger.” She introduced. “My name is Lith, another member of H.O.R.S.E. and one of the Pokémon of the city. I am currently enlisted with protecting Fluttershy while she conducts her field studies of the fatalis tiger.” Lith explained. A gray-coated pegasus colt with a jet black mane raised his hoof. Lith pointed to him. “My name is Rumble, and what’s so special about the fatalis tiger that you have to have its migration patterns mapped out?” Rumble asked. “That’s a good question. You see, fatalis tigers are what is known as a keystone species in this area of the Terraformed Wilderness. That means that they are important to maintaining the ecological structure of the area and their disappearance causes instability among the region.” Fluttershy explained. “It is interesting that you bring up keystone species, Fluttershy. That is a topic we are covering in the biology portion of our class.” Miss Cheerilee noted. “What a coincidence.” Fluttershy noted. She then set her gaze towards the rest of the class. “Here is a quiz to see if you pay attention in class; based off of their name and appearance, can anyone tell me what the keystone role of a fatalis tiger is?” A portly gray earth pony colt with a rough brown main raised his front hoof. “Truffle Shuffle here, and I want to guess that they are a predator?” Truffle Shuffle responded. Fluttershy smiled and clopped her front hooves together. “That is a wonderful answer, Truffle Shuffle. The fatalis tiger is a keystone predator. With their power, intelligence and immunity to neurotoxins, they are the only creatures capable of taking down the giant scorpion. Giant scorpions would have infested this area if it wasn’t for the fatalis tiger.” The entire class echoed out with sounds of awe. Scootaloo scoffed and flipped her hoof. She focused her attention on Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. “I say we ditch this class and head out to the Everfree Forest to see if we can’t earn our cutie marks in exploration.” She whispered. Applebloom frowned and Sweetie Belle scowled. “Can’t we go somewhere else to do that, Scootaloo? The Everfree Forest isn’t exactly the place we should go to first considering you know who had you know what because of you know how.” Sweetie Belle chastised with an angry whisper. “What are the chances that we’ll run into that? We’ll just look around the Everfree and bring something valuable back home. Everyone will comment on our bravery and we get our cutie marks.” Scootaloo explained with a sly smile on her face. “Normally, I would want to do this. But, it feels like it is too soon to go inside there.” Applebloom stuttered out with a hesitant voice. “But this is our golden chance! We are out here in the Terraformed Wilderness and we can just sneak off with no one noticing us gone. At the end of the field trip, we’ll just unite back with the rest of the class and keep whatever treasures we got hidden until another day.” “Well… when you put it that way... are you sure we won’t run into you know what in the forest?” “Positive. The Everfree Forest is big and we shouldn’t be able to run into that.” Scootaloo assured. “There’s only one problem with your ‘brilliant’ plan, Scootaloo; Professor Pasque is behind us observing everyone. How do we get past his all-seeing eyes?” Sweetie Belle questioned. “Watch and learn.” Scootaloo directed her attention towards a pink-coated earth pony filly with a coifed lavender and white-striped mane and a dark gray-coated earth pony filly with glasses and a white and silver-striped mane. She crawled around towards the side of the gray filly and grasped a rock. She tossed it against the pink filly. The pink filly’s eyes jolted open in shock. She looked to her right and a heated scowl appeared on her face. “Silver Spoon! Did you toss that rock at me?!” Silver Spoon set her glance down towards the scrape on the pink filly’s ankle. Her spine jumped from its socket. “I didn’t throw it, Diamond Tiara. I swear!” She shouted. Diamond Tiara huffed and stared down Silver Spoon. “That rock was thrown at point blank range! It felt like it and there are no other child around us now is there?” Silver Spoon gazed towards the rest of the class, who looked at the two with tilted heads and confused glances. Diamond Tiara shoved Silver Spoon onto the ground. Silver Spoon’s mane and coat became stained with dusty dirt. Her glasses were knocked onto the ground. “I told you I didn’t do it! Why would I throw a rock at you?!” “I could list several reasons. One, you aren’t as rich as me. Two, you do not have the same style or fabulousness as me. And three, you are jealous that my cat looks more awesome than how your cat will ever be.” Diamond Tiara stated with a smug grin. Silver Spoon growled and scowled. She pushed herself up from the ground and pushed Diamond Tiara into the ground. “You take that back you she-hag!” Einstein, Professor Pasque, Miss Cheerilee, Fluttershy and Lith’s eyes, heads and mouths sprung upwards at the sight of the children forming a circle around Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “Fight! Fight! Fight!” The children chanted with bloodthirsty smiles and pumping bodies. Scootaloo crawled towards Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, who walked away from the action. “With how those two act, it will take a while for that fight to break up. That should give us more than enough time to go out into the Everfree!” Scootaloo declared with a crafty cackle. “You’re pretty devious, Scootaloo. I can’t say I approve, but it does the job.” Sweetie Belle complimented. “Let’s hurry up to see if we can get our cutie marks!” Applebloom announced. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo slipped away towards the direction of the wooded forest towards the edge of the land. The three foals took their first steps into the dark wood. The dark and moist atmosphere brought a chill into their ankles. Sweetie Belle hugged herself and her spine erupted in a shiver. “Oh, why did I ever let you talk me into going here, Scootaloo? This place is intimidating.” “It’s not too bad. It’s just a bit dark and fresh on our nerves. It’s a new experience ripe with many possibilities for us. Just trust me on this and walk forward.” Scootaloo said, forcing a smile through her tight lips. “Let’s just hurry up and do what we need to do. I really don’t want to be in here for too long.” Applebloom let out in a hasty speed. “We won’t be here for long. It’s just until we find something. This direction looks like a good way to go.” Scootaloo stated, pointing towards the trees bending towards a beaten path. “That path does look inviting, but what is it inviting us to?” Sweetie Belle asked, rubbing her chin with her right front hoof. “Don’t think too hard on it because I’m already there!” Scootaloo shouted, running into the path. “Scootaloo wait!” Applebloom screamed, sprinting after Scootaloo with her heart gripped in anxiety. “Wait! Don’t leave me alone in these woods!” Sweetie Belle called out, running into the path. A cave glistening with water running through the stalagmites enraptured the attention of the class. A lake that glowed with the brilliance of a luminescent crystal sat below the bridge. Professor Pasque’s eyes detected Stereo, who hitched himself onto a wall and examined the rock he is on. “Here is one of the caves that make up the subterranean network of the Terraformed Wilderness. Theoretically speaking, it is possible to access other continents through this network.” Einstein explained. A cream-colored earth pony filly with purple-framed glasses and a frizzed red mane and tail raised her hoof into the air. “Is it true that the cave’s formation of water and pressure over time causes it to have some valuable minerals?” She asked. “That is very true, Twist. But, from what I have researched, the terraforming caused this process to accelerate at a humongous rate. It was unnaturally formed, but nature quickly adapted to it and that is what gives the unusual glow in the cave.” “Ummm, question.” A gray changeling with aqua blue eyes said. “My mom told me about how caves like these were homes to changelings. Do you think that there are still relics of my people here?” “Maybe there are, Silk. I’ll grab an expert on the cave system.” Einstein responded, whistling towards Stereo’s direction. Stereo looked behind him and smiled. Using the rope, he swung his way towards the bridge everyone is on. “Einstein! Professor Pasque! Are you two giving a field trip to this class?” “Yes we are. We were talking about relics in the cave. Since you happened to be here exploring the cave network, maybe you can tell us a bit on your findings?” Professor Pasque said. “Glad to. Anyways, my name is Stereo. I am a Pokémon known as an Exploud and I happen to be a natural when it comes to cave dwelling. In this particular cave, I was actually able to find remnants of combs along the walls. From the unnatural degradation along the edges, these combs were subject to fierce wars over turf.” Stereo explained. “I never knew you knew about Changeling History, Stereo.” Miss Cheerilee complimented. “I don’t, but I know about caves and art. One day, I wish to construct a complete replication of a changeling hive that actually functions. Changelings have a very interesting architecture pattern I wish to emulate.” Jetstream Rush looked within the crowd. An air of concern and worry overcame him, bringing a frown to his face. “Professor Pasque, I don’t see Applebloom, Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo anywhere.” Professor Pasque stretched his neck across the class of students and looked down upon them. His heart palpitated with anxiety. “They aren’t here! Where could they have gone?!” He whispered with a strained voice. “I don’t know. But, I think that fight was a bit too well-timed. I think that’s when they split from the group.” Jetstream Rush hypothesized. “Einstein? Miss Cheerilee? It appears that we have lost some children.” Professor Pasque stated. Miss Cheerilee’s back jolted upwards. She collapsed onto the ground with a faint-eyed expression. “Ummm… I’ll look after the children, Professor Pasque. You should look for those three foals.” Einstein suggested. “Can I come with you, Professor?” Jetstream Rush pleaded. “I know I’m still just a colt, but I can’t forgive myself if I let Applebloom get hurt.” The other children giggled with queasy grins on their faces. “As long as you promise to listen to everything I say while you are with me and no one else comes along. From how you worded it, Applebloom seems to be very special to you.” “Ummm… what gives you that idea?” Jetstream Rush asked with a hasty tone and a heart that beat every other interval. “I was young as well. Do not forget that.” Professor Pasque responded with closed eyes and a smile. Scootaloo looked through the vines and shrubbery of the Everfree Forest, humming and looking along the ground. She frowned. “Drat! There isn’t anything over here either.” “I’m sure something will turn up. We might even be able to find the Castle of the Royal Sisters!” Sweetie Belle stated with glee emanating from her tone. A smile crept upon Applebloom’s lips, turning her frown around. “You know? I’m glad you talked me into coming here, Scootaloo. I’m having much more fun than I should!” A wafting odor of decaying meat and spoiled honey hit the noses of the travelling fillies. Their noses wrinkled and their eyes bled tears. They brought their hooves over their noses and spat onto the ground. “Gross! What’s that smell?!” Sweetie Belle shouted. “I don’t know, but I really don’t want to find out.” Applebloom stated. “Awww, come on? Aren’t you at least a bit curious as to what that smell is? The fouler things in life are merely challenges that mask the fruits of our labors.” Scootaloo answered with a forced smile. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle gazed towards her with the interrogative gaze of an inquisitor. “What? I read that quote from a book.” “No, you read?” Sweetie Belle asked with hefty amounts of sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Haha very funny, Sweetie.” Scootaloo responded with her eyebrows curved into an unamused expression. “But seriously, there should be treasure just past these bushes! It could be some never before seen plant, or some ancient and musty piece of treasure.” She parted the bushes leading towards the scent of the area. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom glanced towards each other with their teeth born in uneasiness. “I’m not too sure that’s a good idea, Scootaloo. What if there is something guarding the treasure? Than what do we do?” Applebloom asked. “Then we use one of my super brilliant plans of distraction to take it and flee. It worked when we fooled all the children and adults, didn’t it?” Scootaloo retorted with a proud tone. “Well, I guess it did…” Sweetie Belle acknowledged, following Scootaloo through the bushes with Applebloom by her side. “I still find it weird how we didn’t come across a single creature yet.” “They’re all probably scared of the day or something. Maybe we are more frightening to them more than they are to us.” Scootaloo parted open the last of the bushes, breaking a new era of light into everypony’s sight. “Behold the sight of an awesome treasure and the keys to our cutie mark!” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle popped their heads over the bushes and gazed forward with bated breaths and large grins on their faces. Within the trio’s line of sight was a puddle of golden honey splattered with botches of burgundy. Their grins dropped into frowns and their hearts sunk into their stomach. Scootaloo gazed towards Sweetie Belle, whose ivory coat turned into a sickly shade of green and was on the verge of gagging. She looked towards Applebloom’s direction, whose eyes let out streams of tears. “T-that’s Big Mac!” Professor Pasque and Jetstream Rush sprinted towards the cliff. Fluttershy and Lith sat on the very same rocks by the edge they first sat upon. No further fatalis tigers traveled down the plains below. “Lith! Fluttershy!” Professor Pasque shouted. “Oh! Professor Pasque! I thought you were done showing this area to the class.” Lith stated with a jolt of shock in her tone. “What are you doing back?” Professor Pasque’s eyebrows and mouth formed into a nasty scowl. He grumbled to himself. “Three fillies split from the group while we were distracted, and we have reason to suspect that they split here. Do you have any possible idea where they could have gone?” He demanded, stomping his right front foot into the ground. “The entire plains area below was cut off by the migration, and the closest landmark of interest is the…” Fluttershy paused in her words. A gasp of a thousand epiphanies crawled its way up her throat. “Everfree Forest.” Professor Pasque, Jetstream Rush and Lith all shared a round of horrified gasps and risen eyebrows. “We waste no time! If you two aren’t busy, then we have lives to save!” Professor Pasque commanded. “We were on our break, but the situation at hand holds many more dire consequences! We will be happy to help.” Fluttershy stated. Lith glanced towards Jetstream Rush and smiled. She patted his head. “Why are you with Professor Pasque, Jetstream Rush?” She asked. “I got to make sure Applebloom is alright. I wouldn’t like myself if I found out she is hurt.” Jetstream Rush answered. Lith grinned and a squeal erupted from her mouth. “I always knew you had feelings for Applebloom.” “Not now, Lith! And I don’t have a crush on her either!” Jetstream Rush shouted with a reddening blush growing on his cheeks. “You look even more adorable when you are denying the truth! But, I won’t press it more than I need to.” Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sprinted with dialated pupils and rapid increments of air coursing through their lungs. Hordes of cockatrices, timberwolves and bears ran behind them with ravenous drool seeping out of their mouths. “Some treasure we found, Scootaloo.” Sweetie Belle spat out with a hint of anger spilling out of her voice. “How was I supposed to know that those two combined smells would attract so many of the Everfree Forest’s creatures? I’m not perfect you know.” Scootaloo retorted. “Less complaining, more running!” Applebloom shouted. Her hoof tripped over a brown root. Her heart stopped and time stood still. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo closed onto Applebloom’s position grabbed her front legs. Applebloom’s heart jumpstarted and time flowed as normal. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sprinted with their friends front legs over their necks. “We would never abandon you, Applebloom. Make note of that.” Sweetie Belle said. “We can’t let you take the fall for my stupid mistake. We’ll make it out of this forest together in one piece.” Scootaloo assured. “Thanks girls. I really appreciate it.” Applebloom sighed out with an exhausted smile on her face. The three fillies eyed a bolt of fire that shot out from the canopy above, exploding in front of the horde chasing them. They stopped and eyed a shadow drop behind them. “Are you three hurt?” Lith asked, standing up from her crouched position. “We’re fine, Lith.” Applebloom said. “Was that your bolt of fire that struck the creatures?! If so, that is awesome!” Scootaloo responded with an ecstatic tone. “Not as awesome as Rainbow Dash, but still pretty cool.” “While I would like to talk about how awesome Rainbow Dash is, we have more pressing matters at hand.” The flames of the Psycho Fire reduced in size after Lith’s words parted. With the flickers of the dying flames came the flashing glows of angry eyes. The claw of a timberwolf poked through the flame and stood on the ground in front. “Can you do another one of those flame shots again to frighten the creatures?” Sweetie Belle asked with a trembling voice. “I can, but I have a better idea.” Lith said, turning her head back with a confident grin on her face. “Fluttershy! Professor Pasque!” Professor Pasque leaped out of the bushes from the right and unleashed a Frost Breath down the path. From the branches above, Fluttershy fired a sphere-shaped pellet that set its direction towards the timberwolf. The creatures felt the chill of Professor Pasque’s wind and the pellet shattered the extended leg of the timberwolf. The timberwolf yelped and looked at its iced-over shoulder. Another bullet shot out towards the leg of another timberwolf. Lith launched a Psycho Fire from her pawtips and cloaked the crowd in flames. Professor Pasque’s eyes flashed with a blue light and his neck stretched forwards. The droplets of water in the air dissipated, bringing forth sparkles of ice that expanded into crystals. The crystals collapsed onto the creatures, sealing them within ice. Any liquid upon them dried away. “That Freeze-Dry should keep them busy! Let’s move out!” Professor Pasque ordered. Professor Pasque, Einstein and Miss Cheerilee glared at Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo before them with anger resonating from their eyes. The three fillies turned their heads away with their eyes closed in shame. “Unbelievable! Sneaking out into the Everfree Forest during a field trip?!” Miss Cheerilee shouted. “It’s my fault, Miss Cheerilee. I was the one that wanted us to get our cutie marks in exploration. I’m sorry if I caused others to worry about us.” Sweetie Belle stated with a crestfallen tone. “But it isn’t your fault, Sweetie. It was my fault because I wanted to see if the rumors of my older brother were true. Safe to say, it was. So, it’s my fault.” Applebloom stated. “You two, please don’t!” Scootaloo stated with a raised and cracking voice. “You don’t need to take the fall over my idea of sneaking into the Everfree Forest.” Miss Cheerilee cocked her head and placed her right front hoof over lower lip. “Scootaloo, are you taking responsibilities for your own actions?” Scootaloo let out a low sigh and closed her eyes. “They didn’t even want to go into the Everfree Forest. I thought it would have been a cool idea to earn our cutie marks by finding treasure there and coming back as brave explorers. Instead, I was just being a poor friend who wasn’t listening to the needs of my other friends. If anyone should be punished, it is me.” Miss Cheerilee’s eyes softened from Scootaloo’s words. She glanced over towards Professor Pasque and Einstein. “Well, since you two were the instructors for the day, how do you think they should be disciplined?” She asked. “If you want my opinion on it, these are still young children that have much to learn about. While I applaud them for their resourcefulness and budding intellect, they have learned a lesson about the consequences of impatience and disobedience.” Professor Pasque responded. “The whole field trip went without a hitch other than that event. We went further in the cave and even went out in the Froggy Bottom Bog. I don’t see why they shouldn’t be left off the hook.” Einstein said, bringing large grins to the faces of Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. “I didn’t say that they would be completely off the hook. There is the matter of Scootaloo causing Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to fight.” Professor Pasque noted. “You need to apologize to them in front of everyone.” A pained groaned escaped from Scootaloo’s voice and she shook her head with a grimacing frown. “Can’t I just scrub the board, mop the floors or handle trash duty for the rest of the week? That would be less painful than apologizing to those two.” Professor Pasque closed the distance between his face and Scootaloo’s body. “You directly brought pain and strain to those two pulling off your stunt. It is only fair that you amend their friendship with each other.” He stated. Scootaloo crossed her front hooves and huffed in frustration. “Fine. I’ll go apologize and do something nice for them.” She said with obvious stutters in her voice. “As for you, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, the two of you are free to go.” “Well… there you three have it. Scootaloo writes a letter of apology, but you three are off the hook.” “Thanks again for saving us, Professor. I thought we were being discreet about our disappearance.” Applebloom noted. “Jetstream Rush let me know about your disappearance. Out of everyone there, he seemed to have been the most concerned. Had he not, you would have not lived to see the rest of the day.” Professor Pasque said. “I guess I have to thank him then.” “You already did. Showing him that you are alive and in good condition brought a certain level of relief to him. You don’t need to do any more.” “You know, there is one thing I didn’t understand yet; what the heck is a cutie mark?” Einstein asked. “It’s the symbol of our talent on our flanks.” Miss Cheerilee stated, pointing to the image of three white flowers on her flank. “They appear when we discover our special talent.” “Oh. I was wondering what those marks were. I could see why you two would want these so-called cutie marks. Next time, you could always make a request for me, Professor Pasque or any other agent to accompany you on your adventures to look for your cutie marks.” “Wait, you mean it?!” Sweetie Belle asked with a voice brimming with hope. “Of course! A duty of H.O.R.S.E. operatives is that we help maintain the norm of living. If going out to look for your cutie mark is an important part of everyday living, then I would love to help you three earn your cutie marks under a supervised eye.” Einstein responded. “Besides, it gives me an excuse to get to know you three better.” “I’ll take you up on your offer, Einstein. I really don’t feel like having another near-death experience like that again.” Scootaloo said. Professor Pasque lied underneath the night sky, gazing at the sea of stars above the dome. He looked towards the lone tree, seeing Rundas’s back against the bark. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping, Rundas?” He asked. “Couldn’t I ask you the same thing?” Rundas responded. Professor Pasque stared into the sky once more. “I am reflecting upon how my day went. Seeing three certain fillies today reminded me about how curious Mono and Lith were in their childhood. It was adorable and brought a feeling of nostalgia to me. So how did your mission given to you by the council go?” Rundas shook his head and leaped onto the ground below. “It went off well. Can’t say I feel good about taking a life with my own two claws. But… I would do it if it was for the sake of justice.” “I cannot fault the nature of the mission for how you feel. You know what you were getting yourself into when you took it.” Professor Pasque stated. Rundas stretched out his legs and sat by Professor Pasque’s side. “I know. I’ve grown used to just disarming and capturing my bounties rather than outright killing them. The system of this place is very gray if not black if I have to actually kill to be a bounty hunter.” “Considering the situation at hand, it really does not surprise me. At times like this, society cannot afford any deviations from the norm. We do not have that luxury to do so. When Big Macintosh died, everyone at H.O.R.S.E. knows the truth about his situation. But, society knows it as just being killed in battle. If the people knew the truth, then their morale would take a down turn for the worst.” Professor Pasque said. “Yep. I had to make the assassination look like an accident, which I did. I still don’t know why Aloe and Lotus are open about their double lives as assassins.” Rundas responded, shaking his head. “It doesn’t make sense to make it look like an assassin and say that you are the assassin at the same time.” “There is the reason of being a deterrent. If the Equusians know that there are assassins among them, then they would have to think twice before becoming enemies of Neo Canterlot. They know this as well as the risks associated with it. But, somehow, they’ve managed to win the crowd over. Last time I’ve checked, crime rates were down after those two became assassins.” “Professor, do you think we will ever see a day where we no longer have to kill? Even if I did some horrible things against others, I cannot stand seeing bloodshed like that.” Professor Pasque’s head dipped towards the ground. His eyes gazed towards the H.O.R.S.E. main building. “As long as there is free will, there will always be senseless killing. I know that sounds like the type of people you despise, Rundas, but it is the truth. Free will shall always have its consequences, and things such as war and bloodshed will never disappear because of it.” “I’m even sorry I asked, Professor.” Rundas said with a depressed tone. “You do not need to apologize. You are gaining the understanding of higher levels of philosophy when you asked a question like that. The only thing that is important is if you believe the path you chose is the right one.” Professor Pasque said with a smile on his face. Rundas stood up from the ground and walked towards his right. “I have much to think about, Professor. Thank you again for the conversation.” Professor Pasque shut his eyes and smiled. A rush of warmth flowed down his neck and back. Images of Mono, Lith, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo flashed throughout his mind. Author's Note This is part one of the two chapters of the day. Hope you enjoy, and this fic has now hit the 100k word mark. Ethics of Assassination“Lulu, how does Neo Canterlot fare underneath your night? Are the Equusians safe at home?” Celestia asked, sitting across a wire table with a beam of light illuminating the two. “All of the Equusians sleep in their quarters as intended… except for the pink pony known as Pinkie Pie. My thestrals do not see her within the violation of curfew, and they have even established a friendship with her.” Luna responded. Her eyes scrolled to the left and right. She leaned inwards and moved her hoof to the right of her mouth. “I feel as though bringing mention to her name has placed me in surveillance under her all-seeing eyes.” “Maybe you are just paranoid, Lulu. No one and I mean no one is capable of sneaking past the sentry we have set up around this building.” Celestia assured, tapping Luna’s shoulder with her right front hoof. “You mean like this?” Rundas asked, leaping down from above the ceiling and onto the table. Luna squealed and leaped back from the chair, knocking it over. Her heart was about to explode from the pressure of the scare. Rundas took notice of her chest expanding and compressing at rapid increments along with her hoof on her chest and her deep breaths. With her body sustained, Luna scowled at him. “Do not scare us like that next time!” She shouted. “We thought you were an assassin sent by the Van’Goth.” “Your name is Rundas, correct?” Celestia asked with a calm tone. “That’s my name.” Rundas responded. “How did you ever sneak by the guards, and why are you even here in our private time?” “Being a Dark-type has its advantages, mainly when it comes to sneaking around. As for the other thing, I heard from Lith and the spa twins that you hand out bounty assignments.” Celestia and Luna exchanged a narrow-eyed glance and then looked towards Rundas. “So the reason you snuck onto us was so that you can take on a bounty?” Luna asked. Rundas lied on his side with a cocky smile on his face. “That’s right. I used to be a bounty hunter back in my world, but I only go after the criminals with evil intentions.” “Should I tell him what we really offer, Lulu?” Celestia asked with a pleading voice. “I shall tell him, ‘Tia.” Luna responded. “Rundas, we do not exactly offer bounty assignments here. We offer assassination assignments.” Rundas sat up from the table and looked towards Luna with his pupils on the right side and crooked lips. “Wait a moment… what’s wrong with keeping the bounties alive?” “There are several reasons why we should not keep them alive. If we keep bounties alive, then we have to imprison them and they are expected to be released into society again. In addition, we have to waste precious resources with keeping them imprisoned. Considering that we are not in the best of positions to imprison others, assassination is a favorable option for us.” Luna explained. Celestia walked towards a bare wall to the north and pushed on a pressure tile on the floor. A portion of the wall moved away, revealing an electronic board with a list of names on it. “I realize that this may be a mentally daunting task for one that has not killed outside of battle, but would you be of assistance and take your hit?” She asked. Rundas gazed at the board of holograms and names. He moved his right claw towards the center of the board and touched the name there. The name flashed, revealing the mug shot of a bright pink unicorn mare with a lavender and aqua-striped mane. Her blue eyes radiated with stoicism. An image of a pink ‘x’ and a white cross with two blue wisps stood on a different hologram. “She doesn’t seem like she is the type of girl to commit any heinous crimes or such.” “Her name is Starlight Glimmer. On the outside, she seems to be a normal, everyday mare. But, we have received incriminating amounts of evidence and witnesses that she is trying to bring forth a rebellion within the city. We cannot afford any internal strife during this time. Even if one percent of the citizens are not in accordance with us, then our chances of winning decrease immensely.” Luna explained. Rundas shut his eyes and let out a soft sigh. He looked back towards Celestia and Luna with sorrowful eyes. “I’ll do it.” He said, tapping his watch and sucking the information inside of it. “We are glad that you made the right choice, Rundas.” Celestia responded with a confident smile. Rundas gazed upon the image of Starlight Glimmer and walked down the empty street. Down the sidewalk to the left, Spitfire walked and hummed a low tune with her eyes closed and a content smile on her face. The two smashed into each other and found themselves on the ground. “Spitfire!” Rundas stated, rubbing his head. “Aren’t you supposed to be overseeing operations at H.O.R.S.E.?” “I’m taking a break. What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be out with Mono and Fei patrolling the city?” Spitfire asked. Rundas and Spitfire stood up from the ground and brushed the dust off of them. “I heard about the bounties that the council offered. I checked it out and…” Rundas shied his head away. A cold itch shot down to his neck. “Now you have to assassinate your target?” Spitfire responded with a dry voice. “Going against the norm to pursue justice is in my veins, Spitfire. Bounty hunting provided me with that as well as an escape from the regulations of the law. No one ever told me that all the bounty missions here are assassinations.” Rundas said. “So how good are you at taking lives?” “I’ve done a lot of thing in my life I wasn’t proud of, but I could never take a life outside of battle. I make sure to keep everyone alive.” A small smile cracked on Spitfire’s face. She wrapped her left front hoof around Rundas’s neck. “Sounds like you have a problem on your claws. The desire of the hunt and the will to not kill are warring inside of you.” “What advice can you give me, Spitfire? I’m not really much of a thinker. I just do.” Rundas asked. “Just follow your heart on the matter. If you believe that this person should truly see the light of justice, then you carry it on as normal. If not, you’ll find out a way to satisfy yourself and the council.” Spitfire pat Rundas’s back and walked off, whistling the low tune she stated with. Rundas leered forwards and saw a pony that resembled Starlight Glimmer’s appearance entering through the front door of a store. He raised an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders. He leaped upwards and rode a wave of ice towards the top of the store. He slashed an exhaust and leaped into the hole. He crawled through the metal vents and moved with the silence of a strider. A panel of light on the ground that is broken into three bars greeted his line of sight. He leaned his head over the grate, seeing Starlight Glimmer with a basket of bread and cans held in a blue aura. In front of her is a white-coated pegasus mare with a straightened mane and tail in the color of blue. Her eyes were a brilliant yellow. “How has everything been going for you, Starlight?” The mare asked, moving the items through a scanner. “Everything has been okay, but things could be better. Not many Equusians can appreciate my philosophy. But, I’m glad that you are able to, Day Breeze.” Starlight Glimmer responded. “It is a shame too. Your speeches have moved me to look at how I perceive the deity we look up to. Equusians will always cling onto any form of hope rather than create our own hope.” Day Breeze said. “It’s especially true with how they treat the aliens that have recently begun living with us. They are not our saviors nor are they the key to salvation, but the Equusians believe them to be like the second coming of Deus. Isn’t that sad?” Rundas raised his right eye and cocked his head. His eyes moved along to the food being slid into Starlight Glimmer’s bags. Starlight Glimmer waved and left. Rundas raised his wrist to his face and tapped it. An image of Sophia’s head appeared above it. “Oh, hey Rundas! What do you need me for?” Sophia asked. “I need your investigative skills to uncover just who the heck this Deus is. Apparently, it’s a huge part of the reasoning with my target’s plans.” “Got it. It was starting to get a bit boring around here since Boreas and Jasmine left to do some coast patrol and Rondo’s being annoying like always.” The hologram of Sophia’s head vanished back into the watch. Celestia, Luna, Victoria, Serva and Carapace sat around a circle of seats. Serva’s eyes moved towards Luna, whose body shook with small vibrations. “Luna, you look a bit rattled today. Is something on your mind?” She asked with a warm tone filled with concern. “It’s nothing, Serva.” Luna replied, shaking her head. “Lulu got scared by a Pokémon surprising us.” Celestia responded with a quick and witty tone. “‘Tia! Not in front of the council!” Luna whined. “The council has every right to know, Luna. It means that our security measures are lax if a Pokémon can sneak by.” Victoria announced. “You mean like this?” Sophia asked, jumping down from the balcony. “Gah!” Carapace shouted, leaping back in his seat. “Victoria is right; you five do need to increase security measures for your chambers.” Celestia sighed and pinched the bridge of flesh between her eyes. “Sophia, what business do you have with us that required sneaking here?” “You know, I’ve been hearing a lot of Equusians throw around the word ‘Deus’. Deus this, Deus that, Deus everywhere. Does that word carry a lot of significance?” “Is that all you wanted to know?” Carapace asked. His raised eyelids and frightened exterior melted away into a mellow smile. “We will be more than happy to tell you about that.” Serva stood from her seat and walked over to a panel on the wall. The wall lit up with life, detailing a five-pointed star with a brilliant light in the center. “Deus is our god. It was stated in the old legends that he appeared from nothingness and cultivated the land and all Equusians. It is through his will that we are animated. Everything began with him, and everything will end with him.” Serva explained. “Sounds a lot like Arceus back where I came from. So Deus is your universe’s equivalent to Arceus then?” Sophia asked. “If Arceus is the god of your universe, then it is a perfect synonym. Just think of Deus as Arceus and you will get why we revere him so highly.” “That is very helpful information. Many thanks council lady Serva. Good luck with that troubling teenage son of yours!” Sophia stated, grinning, waving and running out. “How… how did she know about my son?” Serva stated with a thousand-yard stare and a dumbfounded tone. “How much does she know about us is the better question?” Victoria asked with her talons held out with a threatening air. Starlight Glimmer stood within an alley, looking towards the street with left and right movements. A small sigh escaped her mouth upon seeing the empty sidewalks. She pressed her right front hoof against a metal tile of the wall. The floor nearby folded into a set of stairs leading downwards. She descended upon them, unaware of the shadow that snuck behind her. Shelves filled with potions and ancient artifacts greeted Starlight Shimmer’s eyes. She walked down towards the center, where a gnarled wooden staff that ended in a fork sat. Her right front hoof made its way towards grasping it. Three needles from the ceiling above struck the area between her hoof and the staff. Starlight Glimmer took a step back and turned around. A smug grin cracked onto her face. “Show yourself. Do not be afraid now.” She taunted. Rundas dropped from the ceiling and stared towards her. He poised his right claw fixed towards his front. “Your life is forfeited, Starlight Glimmer. Prepare to die.” He said. “Well, what are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to kill me?” Starlight Glimmer answered with a calm tone. Rundas grunted and clenched his teeth. He leaped forward and sliced towards her direction. Starlight Glimmer blocked his slash with her bare right hoof. She moved it to her left. With a quick twist of her body, she bucked Rundas between his legs with her right leg. Rundas’s eyes widened and his mouth shot open, releasing a pained groan. “That… was a cheap shot.” He uttered out, dropping onto his right knee with a twitching right eye. “And sneaking into my personal abode to kill me isn’t? You need to learn a lot more about ladies if you want to impress me.” Starlight Glimmer egged on. Rundas leaped into the air and formed a platform of ice underneath his claw. He formed a path of ice around Starlight Glimmer and rode it down towards her. He leaped off and held his right claw towards a firm direction below. Starlight Glimmer vanished from her spot, reappearing a second after. Rundas clicked his tongue and flipped towards the ground before him. “What is your reason for trying to rebel against this city? Do you not know we cannot afford to have any sort of defiance within the city?” Rundas asked. “My purpose isn’t to rebel. It is merely… to subjugate the citizens into a new order. An order that has no need to rely on a god that has abandoned us. Who are you to ask me such trivial nonsense?” Starlight Glimmer responded with a straightforward glare. “Rundas, a Weavile. I don’t care much about your god either, but this Deus sounds like the binding glue that holds everyone’s hope together.” “Are you just going to keep talking or are you actually going to kill me?” Rundas’s breathing stopped cold in its tracks. His claws glimmered with a dark aura. “Let’s see who’s talking when I cut you down with my Night Slash!” He shouted, slashing horizontally with his right claw. Starlight Glimmer stood in her spot, feeling the air rush across her face and a burning sensation along her right shoulder. She shook her head and clicked her tongue. “Why are you so afraid of killing me? Am I not an unrepentant criminal that is against Neo Canterlot?” “Realistically speaking, what else have you done to the city? You haven’t hurt anyone based on the records on here. Even if you are a big smug and prone to taunt others, I see no reason why others would dislike you to the point where you have to be murdered.” Rundas answered. “Simple. You see that staff at the altar I have set up?” Starlight Glimmer asked, pointing towards the staff. “This is the fabled Staff of Sameness that I have recovered on my travels outside of the city. It has the power to remove cutie marks and the will of difference. With this, I shall turn bring true happiness to Neo Canterlot and we will all unite over our similarities.” “That thing?” Rundas questioned with narrowed eyes and an unimpressed voice. He inhaled a torrent of air through his nose and breathed out a frigid air that formed into icicles above the Staff of Sameness. The icicles dropped onto the staff, shattering it upon collision. Starlight Glimmer’s neck reeled backwards and a gasp of ruined intent crawled out of her voice. “My staff! You destroyed my staff!” She shouted. “With your staff destroyed, there is no way for you to resume your plans on rebelling against Neo Canterlot.” “You think that just because you destroyed my staff, I would give up? While I do admit that it is an offset to my plans, it did not stop my plans as a whole. I just got to work hard and gain followers so that we can achieve a true utopia. With that said, you clearly do not have the mentality to even handle me. Is there any reason why?” Rundas dropped his stance and looked towards the ground. He shook his head. “The thing is that I can’t kill, at least not if it was aggravated. From what I see, you did absolutely nothing wrong to become a target of assassination.” He folded back his claws. "In the end, I don't think I would have to kill you." Starlight Glimmered let out a sigh of relief. “You have no idea how hard it was for me to keep on this shtick with the government breathing down my neck, Rundas. What the citizens of the city need to realize is that change is important. Yes, it is all fine and dandy if the Equusians are happy living the way they are now. Sooner or later, the council will end up getting too powerful and truly bring forth ruination upon the city.” “There is a part of that I agree with. I know for a fact that war can lead to drastic measures, but that just shows how unstable we are as a community. Without that stability, how can we even be sure if we are the good guys anymore?” Rundas asked. “I know that my ideas are inherently foolish, but I cannot stand to see the last bastion of equinity fall as well. There has to be some way where we can just all get along for true happiness.” Starlight Glimmer stuttered out. “At this point, all you can do is just place your hopes on H.O.R.S.E. It may not be your style, but we are determined to win this war.” “That’s all I can do it seems. I’m clearly too weak-hearted to take on the Van’Goth myself, and I made myself an enemy to the city.” “Yeah that’s gonna be a problem. Since I failed to kill you, then they would just go send another assassin after you. Not to forget to mention that I would be in serious trouble with the council.” Rundas stated, crossing his arms together. “If there was only a way to make you disappear…” Starlight Glimmer’s eyes lit up with brilliance. Her mouth hung open with a smile and a lightbulb of epiphany flashed above her head. “You need a kill for confirmation and I need to lay low for a while. So I have an idea on how we can solve both of our problems.” “I’m listening.” “Can you do that Night Slash thing again, but aiming for my jugular vein?” She said, pointing towards the side of her neck with her right front hoof. “You know that will kill you, right?” Rundas asked. Starlight Glimmer levitated a vial of purple liquid towards Rundas’s left claw. “Just collect a sample of my blood from there and quickly pour that serum onto the wound. It closes it instantly and regulates the bloodflow.” “That’s a bit insane, but it’s better than no idea.” Rundas raised his claws and a dark energy took his claws. He threw his claws towards the direction of Starlight Glimmer’s neck. Celestia and Luna traveled down the plush carpet in the narrow hallway. At the turn of the corner, Rundas ran into the two council ladies. “Celestia! Luna! I was looking for you two.” Rundas stated. “Did you finish your assignment as instructed?” Luna asked. Rundas presented a white rag stained with a dark red splotch on it and handed it towards Luna. “This blood is fresh from the jugular vein of Starlight Glimmer. You can do DNA testing and splotch testing to confirm it.” Celestia and Luna looked at each other with stunned expressions. They looked onto Rundas and smiled. “Well done. We didn’t think you had it in you to assassinate someone. We earnestly believed that you would have just dropped it altogether.” Celestia stated. “Well, when I have my thoughts straightened out, I can do anything I put my mind to.” “We will have you posted in the future then. We could always rely on someone like you.” Luna stated. Rundas shook his head and carried himself towards the first floor of apartments. His sharp eyes detected Sophia, who sat on a metal platform by the door he headed towards. “Sophia! What are you doing out here so late? Shouldn’t you be at home with Fei?” He asked. “I would, but Jasmine told me that I needed to see you before anything else. She got quite the glimpse of you and was worried about you.” Sophia explained. “I took a life. That’s what matters at the end of the day.” Rundas stated. “Buuuuut you didn’t?” “How would you know? I got her blood on my claws.” “Because I talked with her outside of the city. She was not happy, but smiled at the same time. Last I heard, she was going to get stronger so that she can fight the Van’Goth. Now is there something you want to tell me?” Sophia asked with an interrogative tone. “Okay, so I didn’t kill her. I couldn’t bring myself to kill one that hasn’t actually claimed a life.” Rundas admitted. “There’s the Rundas I know. You are willing to hurt others, but only those that actually deserve to be hurt. But you will never kill unless if the other person has killed.” “Please don’t rub that in. It’s already difficult when I had pressure put on me to kill someone. I barely got out of that situation with Celestia and Luna.” “Don’t worry, Rundas. I understand. I would never take a life on-purpose as well.” Sophia stated. “But, that is all I wanted to tell you. Your decision isn’t wrong and you shouldn’t feel bad despite the circumstances that had happened.” “Wait, that can’t be all… can it?” Rundas stated. “That would be all. I waited at this platform all day and night just to tell you this subjective piece of advice. Anyways, I got an important request tomorrow, so I have to go now.” Sophia leaped off of the platform and sprinted up the stairs underneath Rundas’s abode. “I can’t seem to get a grasp on that girl now can I? Then again, girls have always been confusing for me.” Rundas closed his eyes and chuckled. “I guess that Starlight Glimmer might have even captured my heart. Or... maybe I just got bucked in the nads too hard.” Author's Note Getting kicked in the nads is someone's way of showing you affection apparently. Into the JungleSophia dragged Mono towards the group’s room at H.O.R.S.E. with her ribbons grasped around his paws. She leaned her head outwards with an eager smile on her face. Mono’s feet dragged along the ground and he rolled his eyes. “Is there a reason you are dragging me here, Sophia? I have yet to eat breakfast.” Mono asked. “I’ll tell you when we get there, Mono. In the meantime, I suggest you hold your tongue.” Sophia stated with a confident smirk. “I’m not exactly too comfortable where this is going, but you always do have a reason.” “I did say to hold your tongue, right?” Mono’s throat clenched at Sophia’s sudden words. Entering through the door into the room, his eyes picked up on a green-coated buck whose horns were studded buds. His eyes were green with the energy of a lively forest. The buck frowned at the sight of Mono. “Are you sure he will be able to help us, Sophia? He doesn’t look like he has a spine.” “Trust me, Bambi; he has one. I’ve told you all about Mono, haven’t I?” Sophia questioned. “Ummm… who is this, Sophia?” Mono asked. “Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Bambi. I am sure you are acquainted with my mother Lady Serva correct?” Bambi responded. “I know your mother, but what does this have to do with the reason we are all gathered here?” Mono questioned. Bambi pouted and blinked once. He grumbled underneath his voice. Sophia chuckled with a nervous disposition and rubbed the back of her neck with one of her ribbons. “Bambi has some… mommy issues at the moment. You see, back before the Van’Goth invaded, Bambi was of the Deerope royal lineage along with his brother and sister. Because his mother was the diplomatic mind of the family, she was never around to raise Bambi.” She explained. “My father was the one who actually raised me, but he and my siblings died when the Van’Goth invaded Deerope. Only my mother and I were the only members of royalty to have ever made it out of the country alive. Then, my mother got roped into politics and started ignoring me again.” Bambi stated with a low and rumbling voice. “I still do not understand the current situation at hand. Should this be something you should talk about with your mother?” Mono asked. “Honestly, I’m too frustrated with how she is never around. That’s why I want to go back to Deerope just to see my deceased family once more. At least they were there for me when I needed them.” “But Deerope is destroyed. If my New World Geography is correct, then what remains of Deerope is upon the continent known as the Twiluminescent Jungle. We don’t exactly have a clearance to that continent yet.” Bambi smirked and turned towards his side with his eyes closed in a smug fashion. “Well, it’s a good thing that I am royalty, no? I could grant you all clearance to the Twiluminescent Jungle in a heartbeat.” Bambi placed his front hooves onto the table in the briefing room, bringing up a map of the world. He tapped on a mass of land to the southeast of the Terraformed Wilderness, coloring it with a rich green color. “That’s the Twiluminescent Jungle continent? I wonder why it is called that.” Sophia said. “It gets its name from the ethereal and almost mystical glow it gets during the night time. As for the continent itself, it has a very humid atmosphere that causes the vegetation to grow to sizes that tower over the buildings of our city. It used to be higher north, but it shifted closer towards the equator of the world due to the unstable tectonics of the continent.” Bambi explained. “You know your geography well, Bambi. Have you ever thought about joining H.O.R.S.E. in the field research division?” Mono asked. “Not the point now, Mono. Besides, I’m on the fence when it comes to joining.” Bambi answered. “Anyways, this continent is home to creatures that are stories tall. We will need firepower to strike them down. Since you own an Exo License, Mono, maybe you could pilot a Class-D Fortress Exo there?” Mono’s fur stood up from his body and anxiety gripped his spine, throttling it back and forth. “I’m not exactly too confident in my exo-piloting skills to be able to pilot a Fortress Exo. I mean what if I hit something wrong and cause everyone onboard to die? I don’t want to put anyone through that.” Sophia patted Mono on his shoulders with her right front paw and smiled. “It’s a good thing it’s just the three of us then, right?” She asked with half-lidded eyes and a grin. “That doesn’t make me feel any better, Sophia.” Mono responded with quivering lips and a nervous shiver down his spine. “I didn’t drag you here because you are some half-baked pilot with quarter-baked potential. A voice told me that you have the skills to bring the three of us to the Twiluminescent Forest. Therefore, I have trust and confidence in your abilities as a pilot. Agreed?” “When she puts it that way, then I guess I trust in your piloting skills as well.” Bambi commented. Mono stammered and sighed. “I guess I have to practice my fortress-piloting skills sooner or later. Better sooner than later.” “So exactly how would you grant us clearance to head towards this continent, Bambi? I’d love to see you work your magic.” Sophia commented with a skeptical tone in her voice. “Simple; I just put my mom’s password when the clearance cue comes up.” Bambi announced with a confident grin. He imputed a maelstrom of masterful strokes along the hologram screens appearing in front of his face. The yellow lock hologram had its handle lifted away and flashed in a green screen. “And done.” “Let’s just hope Council Lady Serva does not catch onto us using her information.” Mono stuttered out. The orange sun blossomed within the sky. The vines and canopies that strangled the continent basked in its juicy glow. From the left of its shore, a white mech the size of a house spiraled towards the land with smoke rushing out of the boosters on its back. Its arms and legs folded inwards and formed into a brick shape. It dug into the soft earth where the tide meets the sand. The head folded upwards, forming a tunnel into its body. Mono, Sophia and Bambi stepped out of the tunnel with shaky steps and their heads held by their forelimbs. “How I even brought us here in one piece will always be a mystery.” Through exhausted pants and a nauseated voice, Mono uttered. “I thought you said that we would be okay because of my skills, Sophia.” “I did. We all made it out in one piece.” Sophia answered with a grin and her eyes shut. She looked back towards the exo and eyed the smoke coming from the shoulder blade of it. “Though it looks like our trip back home will be delayed… indefinitely.” A smile cracked onto Bambi’s face. “This is perfect! It will definitely give me enough time to refamiliarize myself with the land I have lost.” “I thought we were just going here to visit the areas where your father and siblings died.” Mono stated with a dull fire in his voice. “I did and we will. That would just be the last stop in our journey into the Twiluminescent Forest.” Bambi answered. “Every other H.O.R.S.E. operative I told this request to just laughed at me. Sophia was the only one who would take it.” Mono directed an agitated stare towards Sophia, who flashed a nervous grin and chuckled. “That wasn’t exactly a wise idea, Sophia. Did you know this would happen?” “I did, but I really don’t care about the dilemmas that could occur. As a H.O.R.S.E. agent, I have sworn to take any request no matter how silly or ridiculous it is.” Sitting down and raising her right leg upwards in salutation, Sophia answered. “Or did you already forget that we have to fulfill our client’s wish so that his way of life may be preserved?” Mono raised his paws into the air, looked upwards and shook his head with his mouth open in disbelief. He looked towards Bambi, who glanced onto a yellow flower below with a crisp smile on his face. He pointed at it. “It’s a yellow tulip. I didn’t know that this flower survived the terraforming. I will bring this back into the exo to see if I cannot bring it back home.” He said, shoveling through the ground around the flower with his front hooves. He retreated back into the exo with the tulip. Mono leaped onto a flat rock by a wall of spiked vines. He sat down and stretched his limbs. He glanced towards Sophia and and waved the tips of his paws towards her. Sophia grinned and jumped towards the rock, lying down beside him. “Sophia, did you drag me along with your scheme so that it would just be the two of us out here with a teenage stag that would end up ignoring what we do?” Mono asked with a placid voice, stroking the back of Sophia’s neck with his right paw. “Do you mind if I did that? It was the only way for us to finally be alone, after all.” Sophia responded. The duo gazed out at the sparkling sea bringing in waves of salt onto the sandy shore. The waters spread out towards the edge of the exo. “You know, Sophia, I really don’t mind what you did there anymore. I was upset at first, but then I realized that it isn’t all that bad. We have a stunning view and we still have each other.” Mono commented. “Even in the body of a Meowstic, your petting still feels amazing.” Sophia purred out. “I like having these times with you.” “I do as well, Sophia. I do as well.” Bambi exited out of the exo and observed the sated smiles on Mono and Sophia’s faces. He grinned, holding back a chuckle that rumbled through his teeth. “You two lovebirds better stop gazing at the ocean. It’s time to do what we came here to do.” Mono stood up from the rock and slanted his eyes with a stone expression. “We aren’t lovebirds.” Mono stated. “Give us a few more minutes of staying on this rock and stroking and we will be even more than lovebirds, eh Mono?” Sophia teased, standing up and bumping her left front knee into Mono’s right paw. Her right eye blinked. “Sure Sophia.” Mono uttered out with a nervous chuckle. Beyond the mouth of the vines rested trees whose height rivaled that of skyscrapers. Thin vines hung down from the branches and barks of the palm trees within. The air steamed with the scent of coconut and melon. Light flickered through the leafy canopies and brought salvation down to the plants below. Mono lifted a green leaf that is the size of a tray. “I never saw leaves this big back from where I came from.” “These leaves are the product of alien technology after all, so it should be like this.” Bambi noted. “It is interesting that you feel comfortable with your former home being like this, Bambi. Most Pokémon I know would have freaked out at such large changes.” Sophia commented. “Whether this land has changed or not, it still is Deerope. Even if everyone is gone, I still will inherit this land one day. As the heir to the continent, I have to be able to cope with and appreciate its changes. Besides, deer operatives at H.O.R.S.E. are still the best operatives to go through this continent.” “So where do we go first, Bambi?” Mono asked. “We head over towards the Spring of the Ancients. My sources say that area is left untouched by the terraforming.” Bambi answered. “It is one of the major landmarks before the remains of the capital city.” A wide grin appeared on his face. He leaped towards a vine, landing upon it with the grace of a beautiful gazette. He leaped towards another vine across the path, laughing with primordial joy. “Wait! Slow down!” Mono shouted. “Come on! We’re taking the adventurer’s path!” Bambi called out. Sophia shrugged her shoulders. A grin appeared on her face. She leaped towards the vines, following in the path that Bambi blazed. Mono hopped onto the vines and trailed behind the two. Bambi sprinted down the gnarled vine that spiraled through the canopy of the jungle. Running with the smell of hibiscus rushing through his nose, Mono looked below. A red theropod with yellow eyes and gray stripes looked upwards, inhaling a scent through its nose. It roared with a sound that causes the most strong-willed of stallion’s hearts to fall into their stomachs. “That Tyrantrum-looking creature looks frightening.” With dilated pupils and his lips tucked in, Mono noted. “Oh that? I suggest that you don’t go next to that Redclaw. It will tear you a new one, and that isn’t just intended as a pun.” Bambi commented. “Why else did you think I took the vines as our alternate route? Walking down the same path as that thing is just asking for trouble.” “Again, how do you even know so much about this place?” A quick snicker stifled underneath Sophia’s tongue. Serva stormed through the door of the Pokémon room with her eyelids and mouth wide open in panic. Her hooves pranced along the ground and a nervous sweat broke out from her face. Jasmine, the only inhabitant within the room, looked onto her with a sojourn glint in her eyes. “Oh dear oh dear oh dear!” She stuttered. “What is the matter, Council Lady Serva?” Jasmine asked, floating by her side. “My son! I couldn’t find him! I checked all over our living quarters and throughout all of Neo Canterlot and he is nowhere to be seen!” “You have a son?” Jasmine asked. “Yes.” Serva responded with a placid tone and serene stance. “But, I admit that I haven’t been the best mother in the world. I have been working day and night in my stance as a member of the council and have not been giving him the attention he deserves. But… that shouldn’t excuse him from running away!” Jasmine’s eyes narrowed and her stance faltered at the sudden shouting from Serva. “Please relax. You will not be able to get anything done just by screaming. Do you have any possible idea where he could have gone?” “If he is not in the city, then I have the suspicion that… no he can’t be there.” Serva responded with an inside tone, shaking her head. “Could have gone where?” Jasmine asked with interest peaking in her voice. “I would have the suspicion that he went off to the ruins of the kingdom capital Sylvanstag, but that couldn’t be possible with just his own self. It’s too dangerous and an ocean stands between this continent and that continent.” Spitfire hovered down the hall with a sleek tablet in her hooves. Seeing Serva and Jasmine, she smiled. “Hello, Council Lady Serva. What brings you around here?” “My son has gone missing and I don’t know where he is.” Serva answered. “Bambi right? I don’t know about his whereabouts, but you apparently gave clearance to Mono and Sophia so that they may enter into the Twiluminescent Jungle. Are you aware of that?” Spitfire answered with her right eye narrowed in suspicion. “I never gave clearance for them to enter into the continent. But, that means… oh no! My poor little Bambi is heading towards the capital city!” She shouted. “I’ve also checked that one of our Class-D Fortress Exos have been taken underneath Mono’s name as well.” Spitfire noted. A low growl emerged from her tone. “I cannot believe how deceptive those two are! When I get my hooves on them…” “Ummm, Commander Spitfire, you’re getting angry again.” Jasmine pointed out. “Considering you are the only operative in this room at the hour, you are coming with me to pick up those three hooligans!” Spitfire stated, pointing towards Jasmine. “I’m coming too, whether you like it or not!” Serva announced. “But council lady Serva, it will be too dangerous for you! Stay here and help maintain the city.” “And what? Worry about whether my son is dead or fighting for his life?! Not going to happen. I have been doing a poor job as his mother for neglecting his needs. It’s time that I stepped up and become a doe worthy of the title ‘mother’.” “I appreciate your dedication, but I’m still not sure whether it is actually the best decision for an Equusian of your stature to leave the city.” Spitfire said. “You know I could have you demoted to janitorial duties, right?” Serva asked with a smug smile on her face. Spitfire rolled her eyes and looked down onto the ground with her shoulders down. “L-let’s just leave now.” Bambi, Sophia and Mono leaped down from the end of the vine. A cool and wet sensation enveloped underneath their feet. Sophia lifted her right front paw from the ground and the sound of water welling towards the top made its way towards the group’s ears. “We’re here at our landmark stop! This is the Sylvanstag Spring!” Bambi announced, letting the scent of water breaking through earth reach his nose. “If this is a spring, then why is all the water under the dirt? Shouldn’t it be out in the open?” Mono asked. Bambi stepped forward and struck the soft ground. The water erupted outwards with a volcanic force. He craned his head towards the ground and sipped at the water. A satisfied sigh passed by his lips. “This spring is unique when compared to other springs. Because all of the water is hidden underneath the earth here, it acts as a sort of protection from unsavory bacteria and such. The dirt here is made from special minerals that filter out pollutants. So drink, my friends! You have nothing to be afraid of.” Mono and Sophia broke the dirt underneath them, where water burst from underneath. Sophia lapped at the water at her paw tips and Mono scooped the water with his paws and sipped at it. “This water tastes very fresh. It is as if this water had always been new.” Mono noted. The water retreated back into the earth, where the dirt lifted itself upwards. “The water retreated back.” Sophia stated with a frown and crestfallen tone. “That is just how the dirt here acts. A few seconds and it absorbs the water. In a way… it’s like a mother asking her child to come back inside after playing.” Sophia looked onto Bambi’s face, where a glint of melancholy flashed within his eyes. “Are you alright, Bambi? You seem upset.” “I’m fine, Sophia.” Bambi uttered out. “Ummm, what is that statue over there?” Mono asked, pointing towards a stone statue depicting the vague shape of a tall and slender mare with six wings. “I don’t know why, but she seems so familiar…” Sophia noted with a tilted head and her left eye narrowed. “This statue was made by a sect whose members were from all parts of the world.” Bambi strained out with disdain in his voice. “They say that this what the true goddess of the universe looks like. It’s pure blasphemy how it still stands here!” “Woah, sour much?” Sophia questioned with a mix of sarcasm and concern in her voice. “Never mind. Let’s just go.” Bambi leaped onto a separate vine that continued down the path. Mono and Sophia followed behind him, following in his tracks. Behind the statue, a bush rustled. Out of its leaves, a black boot stomped into the ground. Through the thicket of the jungle and the end of the vine, the eyes of Mono, Sophia and Bambi picked up on the sight of blackened wood and shattered planks. Dropping off the vine, they saw large trees fallen from their stumps. Ashes and shattered metals littered the ground. The ropes that hung from above the canopies are sliced and bones littered the area. Bambi’s front hooves trembled. “This… is Sylvanstag? I knew that it was in ruins, but this is too much. You can’t even tell that this was a capital city anymore.” Mono stated. “My ancestral home… I saw the fires when they invaded, but I thought we would be able to return one day for when it is over. It’s worse than I thought.” Bambi said with his heart ripped out of his chest. Sophia touched a small skull and frowned. “Not even the children were spared…” “That’s because I personally razed it all to the ground!” Mono’s ears perked up at the shout of the familiar voice. The sounds of gunshots echoed from the canopies above. Mono sprinted towards Bambi and Sophia, scooping them into his upper limbs and leaping away from the trajectories of the shots. He stood up from the ground and stared into the sky with an indignant stare on his face. “Show yourself, Giacomo! Do not think I don’t know you’re there!” Giacomo leaped down from a branch in the trees and chuckled. “Well, well, if it isn’t the pussy with his bitch and a bastard for a prince.” He taunted, waving the gun in his right hand towards the trio. “Ummm, excuse me?! Did you just call me what I think you called me?” Sophia asked, walking towards Mono’s side with fiery eyes directed towards Giacomo. “Yes. You are a female dog, right?” Giacomo questioned with genuine curiosity in his voice. “I’m... well, I think I look more vulpine than canine. Of course, that could be arguable. But for Arceus’s sake; clean up your language! Nobody talks like that!” Sophia shouted. “You!” Bambi screamed, pointing towards Giacomo. “You killed my father and siblings!” “Ah, yes. King Sylvan and two of his three children. I still remember the sounds of their screaming as my scythe tore through their flesh.” Bambi clenched his teeth to the point of fractures appearing on them. He sprinted with heavy hoofsteps towards Giacomo. An invisible force knocked him away and his back struck against a tree stump. He groaned in pain. “Hah! Balls without wisdom. Truly, he is a foolish runt.” Giacomo taunted. “It seems as though you gained some abilities since our last encounter.” Mono said with a stoic tone. Giacomo smiled and held out his right arm, where a black device was imprinted into his gloves. “I have you to thank for it. Without your usage of psychic powers against us, the Van’Goth would not have been able to make this into reality. But enough simple talk; I’m going to kill you and use your skull as a urinal.” “You seriously are disgusting, you know that?” Sophia remarked with a serious tone. “But, I bet you were never hugged by anyone, weren’t you?” She said with a snide smile. “You nasty skank… I’ll be sure to kill you first. But first…” Giacomo placed a green bullet within the chamber of the gun and fired it towards Mono’s direction. Mono’s eyes widened from the strike on his chest. His eyes and mouth drooped to a close. He dropped to the ground, sleeping. “Mono!” Sophia shouted, shaking him with her right front paw. “He’s sleeping. You want him awake? You’ll have to fight me so that I won’t kill him.” Giacomo challenged. “If it is a challenge you want, then it is a challenge you get. Try to keep up.” Sophia stated with a confident smirk. A thick light blue mist emerged from Sophia’s body and covered the field. Giacomo looked around. His eyes were veiled by the contents of the mist. “What is this shit?! I can’t see shit!” A dark ball of shadowy energy shot towards his direction, exploding on contact. Giacomo grimaced, but then chuckled afterwards. “Didn’t hurt that much, dipshit.” “Who says I was trying to hurt you? I was merely just… testing your resistances with my Shadow Ball. It seems that you have a bit of a resistance level to my Shadow Ball. That means…” Sophia’s body lit up with the image of a moon. An orb of lunar energy built up within her mouth and fired directly towards Giacomo. Giacomo leaped to his side, evading it. “That’s a pretty shot. Too bad I avoided it.” “There’s more where that came from. Try me.” Sophia whispered out. Giacomo growled and fired a sleep bullet towards Sophia’s direction. “Have fun with that sleep!” “I’m not sleepy though.” Sophia said, pouncing onto Giacomo’s head. “As long as this mist is up, we cannot fall asleep, be burned, poisoned, frozen or any other one of those lingering side effects that are possible in this world.” “Damn it!” Giacomo shouted. “And get the hell off my head.” “Okay.” Sophia stated, leaping off of his head. She spun in the air towards his direction and fired a Moonblast towards him. The blast collided with him, exploding on impact. Giacomo staggered backwards, gripping his face in pain. “You’re another one of those fairy bitches, aren’t you? No wonder it hurts as much as that other one.” “Yep.” Sophia responded with a shameless smile. “You may be nasty and abuse the language we speak, but you sure get upset easily. It seems like you can’t even land a hit on me.” Giacomo held out his hand towards her direction. Sophia levitated into the sky, turning her head in two directions. She wriggled and grunted. “I could strangle you if I wanted to. Actually, I think I’ll do that now. It’ll teach you for being as annoying as you are now. With your pussy of a friend there knocked out and that bastard unconscious, no one can save you as you are choked to death.” A Dazzling Gleam shot Giacomo’s back, breaking the telekinetic grip he had on Sophia. He turned around, seeing Jasmine and Spitfire behind him. “Game over, Giacomo.” Spitfire called out, pointing her cannon towards him. “You are surrounded. It’s time that you pay for your atrocities.” Jasmine threatened. “Try me.” Giacomo said with an eerie calmness in his tone. Spitfire fired a blast out of her cannon. Giacomo deflected the blast away with his hand. With the window of distraction, Spitfire dashed at a blazing speed, unsheathing her laser blade and slashing him. Giacomo’s eyes widened from the strike and he gripped his slashed side. “Was that a good hit?” Spitfire asked with a confident smile. “It was. You were a bit of an ass to distract me with that though.” Jasmine rushed towards Mono’s side and emitted an Aromatherapy. With the sweet smell hitting his nose, Mono awakened with life. “Where am I? Was it all a dream?” He asked, rubbing his head. “You aren’t dreaming, Mono.” Sophia said, rubbing her neck with a grimaced frown on her face. “Bambi’s been knocked out and that foul-mouthed Van’Goth nearly strangled me.” “What?” Mono said with a darkened tone. “Nobody hurts Sophia. Nobody!” Giacomo looked towards his left, where his eyes met with a geyser erupting out from the ground underneath. He dashed backwards and dodged it. His face met with a Psychic-infused paw by an angry Mono, knocking the wind out of him and forcing him into a stump. “Bambi!” Serva shouted, running towards the unconscious Bambi. She pulled him off of the stump with her hooves. Her pupils shrunk at his beaten state. She shook him with her mouth open in panic. “Please! Don’t die! I don’t want to lose you… I love you, Bambi! I’m sorry I couldn’t be the mother I could have been to you, especially during the most confusing time in your life. Please, don’t leave me alone!” She saw no movement from Bambi. Tears formed under her verdant eyes. She shoved her face into his neck and cried loud. She rocked him back and forth. Feeling his mother’s warm tears streaming down his neck, Bambi’s eyes cracked open. A small groan crept out of him. “…Mom?” Bambi asked. Serva lifted her face away from Bambi. A smile of a thousand splendid suns shined from her face and her eyes lit up with joy. “Bambi!” She shouted, nuzzling and hugging him. “You’re alive! I thought I lost you!” Bambi turned his head away and frowned. “Please, mom, not in front of my friends. It’s embarrassing.” He requested, pushing his hooves against Serva. “I’m going to hug and nuzzle you until you for a while, Bambi. There’s no way you can escape.” Serva responded. “God! You all should stop ambushing me when my guard is down!” Giacomo whined. “You weren’t all this tough back several years ago.” Serva let go of her grasp and turned towards Giacomo’s direction. Her stare caused the ground itself to rumble in fear. “You tried to take everything away from me. You took away my city, my family and my people. You have torn my heart asunder, foul creature. For that, your life shall be forfeited.” Her eyes flashed with an evergreen aura. Vines wrapped around the feet of Giacomo, snaring him onto the ground. Giacomo took out his scythe and slashed the vines. “Not happening, you deadbeat mother. I know when my jig is up.” Saying these words, he leapt into the air and disappeared. Bambi stumbled towards Serva, whose eyes stopped flashing. She looked towards him. “Mom, did you really mean those words?” Bambi asked with uncertain hope in his voice. Serva looked towards Bambi and smiled. She nuzzled his neck. “Of course I love you, Bambi. I was always so busy that I could never show my love to you. I’m sorry that I was never around. I deserve to be called every name in the dictionary for never being around. I neglected you and it was wrong for me to do that.” “Mom…” Bambi said. He embraced Serva’s neck with his front legs and wept. “I’m so sorry for running away from you. I’m sorry about shouting at you and saying that you should have died in dad’s place. You came for me when I needed you most… when I wanted you most.” “That’s so adorable!” Jasmine called out, pinching her arms together and tilting them and her head to the side. “Bambi… I know I shouldn’t do this, but I’m going to take this week off from the council to be with you. I want to get to know my son like a real mother and tell you everything you need to know about what a stag in puberty needs to know.” Serva said. “Really mom?!” Bambi asked with a tone rising in joy. “Of course. We’ll go out for ice cream, too. That is if you like ice cream.” “I would love it, mom. I would.” Serva and Bambi hugged each other once more. Mono sat alone within the Pokémon room at H.O.R.S.E., kicking his feet with a frown plastered on his face. His eyes were reddened and dried tears ran down his face. Jasmine and Spitfire walked into the room, waving and smiling towards him. “Jasmine! Spitfire! What are you doing here?” Mono asked with genuine surprise in his voice. “You kind of just ran away after we got back. And, from the look of things, you cried. Is there anything on your mind, Mono?” Jasmine asked, sitting by his side. “It’s nothing… and it’s kind of stupid to even cry about.” Mono responded with a choked-up voice. “You can tell us anything, Mono. At this point, we can be considered your family.” Spitfire said with a warm tone, sitting by his side and patting his back. “Seeing Council Lady Serva and Bambi uniting and bonding… it reminded me of how my mom and I used to be.” Mono admitted. “I miss my mom… I wish that I never even ran down that alleyway. She would still be here with me had I not done that.” Jasmine looked towards Mono’s eyes and detected tears rising from them. She brought his head towards her chest with her arms and stroked his head. She hushed him. “It’s okay Mono. You don’t need to feel alone. Mommy will always be watching over you from above. No more tears. Just dreams now. You have me by your side.” Jasmine comforted. Mono’s blubbering halted to a stop. He looked up towards Jasmine’s face with wide eyes and a mouth shrunken in curiosity. “But… I still want my mom. I’ve never had my mom for a decade.” “Mono, I don’t know about this parent stuff, but I really don’t mind being another mother to you.” Spitfire said. “We can spend time with each other and I could teach you some tricks and trades. I know I can never replace your mother, but it seems like you really do want a mother.” “Really? But… why are you offering me that choice?” “Truth be told, I was never a mother and I will never be a mother. I’ve always wanted to raise a child, but my lifestyle prevented me from doing so. Like what Council Lady Serva offered to her son, I could teach you on, well, how to be a better soldier and fit better into Equusian life. Plus, I get to snuggle you like the kitty cat that you are more often.” Spitfire answered with her tone rising at the end. “That’s a bit weird, but I won’t complain.” Mono said. “Good, because you and Sophia have to do one thousand laps around the track non-stop! Now get to it!” Spitfire commanded. Mono’s back erected in an instant and he saluted towards her direction. “Yes Commander Spitfire!” Mono sprinted out of the room. Jasmine looked towards Spitfire with a questioning gaze. "What? They both broke the rules? Sophia's already on the track and did ten laps already. But, she's a bit slow in her movements. With how Mono runs, he will definitely go through his punishment quicker. Isn't punishing children when they misbehave something a mom would do?" Spitfire said. "I suppose so. Who am I to argue? You are my boss after all." Jasmine answered. Spitfire smiled and chuckled. "Hey, do you think Lith is around? I'd like to see if she would want a mother as well." "I already took that position for her. But, I don't see why we both can be mothers for the two of them." Jasmine said. "Mothering Pokémon... I'd never thought I would ever see that day." The room became filled with the hearty laughter of Spitfire and Jasmine. Author's Note It is terrible to have your internet slashed. But, I hope this chapter is meaty enough to sate your palettes. The Colors of FeelingsFei sat at the desk with an inked pen in his hand, scribbling down words on a piece of paper. A confident smile cracked on his face that deepened with each word he wrote. “Winning your heart is my ultimate goal. Your eyes are the rubies that caught my soul. I wish to to feel your warm and silky fur, and I’d like to hear your hypnotic purr. If I would hold your paw, my heart would beat. To bring you close for a kiss is my feat. My love is boundless like the ocean, Lith. They say that your beauty is like a myth. My life without you, I cannot be with.” He orated. “No offense, but your poetry sounds ridiculously cheesy, Fei.” Rundas said, laying back in the corner of the room. Fei leaped out of his seat and grasped the ceiling. His heart pumped faster than a geyser and his face broke out in a cold sweat. “Rundas! What are you doing in here?” Fei shouted with an angry blush on his face and dropped to the ground. Rundas walked towards Fei’s side with a swagger in his step and tapped Fei on his shoulder. “We have the day off, and I’d figure that I’d see what you were up to. Buying parchment and ink is pretty expensive, so I was curious with what you were doing with that. Now I see; you’re writing poetry for Lith!” “No! I mean… I’m just practicing what I will say is all for the, errr, Poetry Club tonight.” Fei responded, shifting his eyes left and right. “No offense Fei, but I can see a bad liar from a mile away. You’re going to have to do better than that to fool me.” Rundas responded. “So when will you confess to her? Everyone from the lab can see it.” Fei sigh and slammed his right hand onto the desk. “To be honest, I really don’t know. Every time I go near her, my stomach explodes with Butterfrees. I feel my heart about to explode and I get onto the verge of passing out.” He admitted. “How are you even so good with the opposite sex, Rundas?” Rundas shrugged his claws. “A roguish charm always helps. Being dark, mysterious and having a cool language with the ladies usually makes them swoon for me.” “But… I’m none of those things. I’m expressive in the wrong ways, I am shallow and I abide by the law. No girl would ever fall for someone like that.” Fei stated with his head fallen down in sorrow. “So? You have your charms. Come with me and I’ll show you what I mean.” Fei climbed up a hill with a lone and leafy tree standing at the top. At the hills summit, Keldeo and Rarity lied down upon a red-plaid blanket, eating sandwiches with white daisies and a dark red sauce. Rarity and Keldeo looked towards his direction, smiled and waved. “Fei! What brings you to this far corner of Neo Canterlot today?” Rarity asked. “I had a feeling to check upon you two to see what you are doing.” Fei responded with a forced smile. He sat down on the blanket and looked towards Keldeo. “We’re doing fine. A day off from duties is always good.” Keldeo said. Fei’s watch flashed with erratic intervals. “Alright, Fei, just do what I told you.” Rundas whispered through the watch. “So Rarity, it is a very nice day today. I say the sunlight reflects perfectly off of your pristine coat. Did you do something nice with it?” Fei stated. “Why thank you for the nice compliment, Fei. You were the first one today to actually notice. I’ve tried something new with my coat and I was afraid that no one noticed.” Rarity said, eliciting a huff of heated air through Keldeo’s nostrils. “Your mane also seems bouncier and luxurious than normal. Are you trying to get a special somepony to notice you?” Fei asked. “Aren’t you just the charmer today, Fei? I admit that I did focus special attention on my mane.” Rarity responded with a buttery tone. “Ummm, Fei, can I talk to you? In private?!” Keldeo whispered out with an irritated tone. Fei’s eyes widened with surprise and fear. “Did… did I do something wrong?” Keldeo levitated Fei within a deep blue aura. He looked towards Rarity. “I will be back, Rarity. I promise.” Keldeo stated with a distracted tone. Keldeo and Fei traveled down to the base of the hill. Fei plummeted onto the ground, landing on the ground head first. He rubbed his head. “Did you need to talk to me?” “Yes. Why are you putting the moves on Rarity?! Do you want her to fall in love with you?!” Keldeo asked with a loud tone to the point of screaming. “What’s wrong with giving her compliments?” Fei asked, oblivious to the situation. Keldeo groaned and threw his front hooves into the air. “I’m trying to woo Rarity today, alright? I prepared a lunch with her favorite type of food at her favorite location in Neo Canterlot. Don’t ruin it for me!” “Wait… so the reason you are doing this is just so that you can be her lover?” “Yes! Having you putting the moves on her is ruining that! I apologize if I’m just going on and on with this, but I really want to repay back Rarity for all the kindness she’s given me with a lifetime of happiness for the both of us.” “I’m sorry, Keldeo. I didn’t know. I was just trying to do what Rundas said and just explore what my charm can be.” Fei admitted. “You mean that roguish guy that the others hang around? What do you need his advice for?” Keldeo asked. “Do you really have that much difficulty talking to Lith in a straight conversation?” “Don’t say it like that. You make it sound like I cannot talk to females.” Fei said with a shrinking and embarrassed tone. “I’ve never been too good around females, even my companion and former love interest Sophia. That’s why I had to test my speaking skills with Rarity. I apologize if I impeded your progress with her.” “It’s alright. I kind of can’t spit out my feelings for Rarity either. I thought I would be able to work up the courage to tell her my feelings for her… but I choke up when I even try to compliment her. I don’t have the courage to tell her.” Keldeo said with an honest and depressed voice. “Is there anything we can do to just admit our feelings?” Fei questioned. “I’m sure that Twilight might have an answer to that. She’s always at H.O.R.S.E. working on something. She wouldn’t mind giving us solutions.” “But what about Rarity? You can’t just leave her alone.” Keldeo’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates upon hearing Fei’s words. “That’s right! I can’t just call off our day. I spent too much time in the planning stages for this day… But, what if I say that I’m going to get her gift? She would believe that.” “Really? You’re going to say that?!” Rundas shouted through the watch. “You know she won’t buy it.” “Let’s try it regardless. He obviously has a plan, Rundas.” Fei said. “Fine, but don’t come crawling to me when she gets mad.” Fei turned off the watch. The duo walked up the hill, where Rarity sat with a patient gaze. “Back so soon you two? What did you talk about?” She asked. “I realized that I forgot to get you your gift, Rarity. Fei is going to help me get a gift for you. We should be back soon.” Keldeo responded. “Take your time, Keldeo. I have the utmost of confidence in you.” Rarity stated. Twilight Sparkle looked through multitudes of floating books around her within the halls of the Magic Division. She hummed to herself. “I think I can reproduce this spell with a different effect if I channel the magic through zeta waves. And combining this with the current research done on Mono’s DNA, I can create an exact copy of-” “Twilight!” Keldeo shouted out. Twilight Sparkle leaped into the air and shouted. She fell down to the ground and looked behind her. “Keldeo! Fei! What are you two doing here? Shouldn’t you have your day off?” She asked. “Truth be told, Twilight; we are unable to confess our feelings to the ones we have feelings for.” Fei admitted. “Is that so? I think I know of something that would be able to help you.” Twilight Sparkle said. “I have this book of records here that talks about a magical bird that only appears once every ten years at a place known as Rainbow Plateau.” “Rainbow Plateau? Where is that located?” Fei asked. “It’s actually not too far away. It is located in the Terraformed Wilderness. It was an area that contained a pegasi settlement known as Rainbow Falls, which was named that because of the literal waterfalls made of rainbows. It was said that a mystical bird would appear there every ten years so that it can enrich the soul of the area with its courage.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “Ah! I’ve heard myths about that. Supposedly, the bird descended upon there because it has a strong affiliation with rainbows in general. But, why are you telling us this?” Keldeo questioned. “That is because today is the very day where the bird would appear there. If you can meet it, then it would grant you the courage that would allow you to do anything, especially confessing your feelings.” “Normally, this all sounds like mumbo jumbo… but I really want to work up the courage to tell Lith how I feel. As it is right now, my knees and stomach are too weak to even confront her with it.” Fei stated. “Wonderful! Actually, I don’t really have anything major to do right now. I would love to come with you two if you would allow me.” Twilight Sparkle requested. “Don’t you have to reproduce whatever magic you were trying to reproduce?” Keldeo asked. “Not really. I just experiment when I’m bored. But, an adventure to see a bird affiliated with rainbows would be an amazing experience for me.” “When you put it that way, then you are more than welcome to come with us.” Fei said. Twilight Sparkle, Fei and Keldeo climbed up a cragged path that spiraled upwards. The chilly air from the nearby mountains smelled of fresh earth and sweet herbs, bringing a calming aroma to the group. At the summit laid a flat land with two adjacent lakes at the center filled with liquid colors that were fed through an arched rainbow. “This area is beautiful!” Fei shouted with his jaw dropping to the ground. Keldeo eyed the craters and ruined buildings around the lake. A frown came upon his face. “But the settlement here is destroyed. I never thought the Van’Goth would have destroyed even this sacred place.” “Honestly, it isn’t much of a surprise. Rainbow Falls usually is seen as a symbol of hope among the pegasi. This place’s destruction was intended to crush that hope and make them more vulnerable. It’s disgusting, but a brilliant strategy at the same time.” Twilight Sparkle said. “I don’t get you sometimes, Twilight; are you on our side or the Van’Goth’s side?” Fei asked with a suspicious tone. “What? I cannot appreciate a good strategy when I see one? But I digress; shattering hope is something that only monsters would do.” Twilight Sparkle responded. “So when does this mythical bird descend down onto the plateau?” Keldeo questioned. “It descends at dusk. It is the most golden time of the day after all.” Twilight Sparkle noted. The sun set halfway into the horizon, casting a golden glow upon the land. The rainbows glistened and shined from exposure of the sunlight. The entire plateau sparkled underneath the sun’s glow. “Amazing! It is twilight and the land just sparkles with life.” Fei noted. “You just wanted to use my name out of that context, didn’t you?” Twilight Sparkle questioned with a deadpan tone. “Maybe.” A giant bird cloaked in a golden aura flew over the sky, creating a rainbow trail in his flight path. His descended onto the plateau, where his aura dissipated. His physique resembled that of a peacock and phoenix. His red feathers radiated with power down to the green and white-tipped feathers at the edge of his wings. A green stripe spiraled down from his neck. His tail was covered in gold feathers that formed into the shape of a burst of energy and his abdominal feathers sparkled with purity. Keldeo gazed into the perched bird’s orange eyes and the yellow crest on its head that represented a crown. His breath was taken aback by the light that shined from it. The bird looked around the environment with a frown on its beak. “This land… it is destroyed. And the good folks of this area all disappeared.” He stated. “Many things have changed since my last visit to this area.” “I’m sorry to say, sir, but this place was the victim of an extraterrestrial war. Many lives here were lost and no one lives in Rainbow Falls anymore.” Twilight Sparkle stated. “I see. It cannot be helped, however, as I am always crossing over throughout the many skies of the universe. But, I see that you three are here so you can give me the company I desire. My name is Ho-Oh, guardian of the skies and granter of courage.” Ho-Oh introduced. “No wonder you look familiar. You are a Pokémon.” Fei noted. “What?! This mystical bird of legends is a Pokémon?!” Twilight Sparkle shouted with surprise. “The Mienshao there is right, little unicorn. I am indeed a Pokémon. Why does this fact surprise you ever so?” Ho-Oh asked with a friendly grin on his face. “I just didn’t expect a Pokémon to have been visiting this place for centuries now. Pokémon only started appearing in this world about a few months ago.” “I see… so it has finally begun.” “What begun, Lord Ho-Oh?” Fei asked. “A turn of events that would determine the entire fate of the universe that had been proclaimed by the precursors since the birth of this dimension.” Ho-Oh answered. “It was said that an exodus would occur within a different dimension, bringing all of the humans and Pokémon into a more peaceful version of this particular universe. But a handful of those humans and Pokémon would be brought over here to help fight against the threat of this universe.” “A threat… do you mean the Van’Goth?” Keldeo questioned with a tone of uncertainty. “They are the ones that laid ruins to this area, no? However, it is not them. An even greater threat than them shall be upon us. It was the same threat that had destroyed our universe years ago, young Keldeo.” The eyes of Twilight Sparkle, Fei and Keldeo widened with shocked revelation. “When you say ‘our’ universe, do you mean that I was from that universe as well?” Keldeo asked. “So it is true; Keldeo is a Pokémon.” Fei said. “You were a part of the universe I was from, but the Mienshao here isn’t. It is too soon to tell you all the details, but I travel throughout the dimension on the words of my late master so that I may spread courage and hope everywhere.” Ho-Oh explained. “So… I am not a pony. I am a Pokémon…” Keldeo stated with a despondent tone. He growled and stomped his right front hoof into the ground. “And here I thought that I would be able to live out a life as normal as possible in Neo Canterlot.” “Do not treat this like the end of the world, Keldeo. But rather, treat it as a second chance at life. Our universe’s Arceus saw great potential in you and whisked you here to safety when disaster struck. You have gained many ties to this world, so much that you can actually be considered more of a natural-born resident of this world than ours. I can sense it.” “But why me? What potential can I possibly have that would grant me a chance at living here?” “You do not need me to tell you that, Keldeo. It is asleep within your memories. Allow them to be awakened, and your true potential shall be realized.” Ho-Oh explained. “I understand, Ho-Oh. But… why does Fei call you by the title of ‘Lord’?” Keldeo asked. “It is because Ho-Oh is a legendary Pokémon back in our world, just like how you are a legendary Pokémon there as well. Though, considering the camaraderie that we now share, it would be most unusual to give you that title as well.” Fei responded with a chuckle in his voice. “Wait, hold on. Let me get this straight; so you and Keldeo are from a different universe, but your universe is different from the universe that Fei is from. Then, there is the implication of something bigger that will doom our universe…” Twilight Sparkle assessed. “I think that I need to sleep more hours and work less. This is all becoming too ridiculous for someone like me.” “Everything will make eventual sense to you, Twilight Sparkle. You just need to let it rest within the annals of time.” Ho-Oh assured. He looked behind him, seeing the golden shine from the sun disappearing into darkness. “I have to cut this conversation short, unfortunately. I would love to talk more with you three, but I have to visit other worlds in a scheduled time.” “Will we ever see you again, Lord Ho-Oh?” Fei asked. “I was hoping that Keldeo and I would be able to be granted your courage so that we can admit our feelings to the ones we have feelings for.” “Do not worry, young Fei. We will see each other much sooner than ten years. There is a dimensional pocket somewhere within this world that will grant you access to the gateway of dimensions. You will see me there. As for your dilemma, I say that you do not need my power to tell your feelings to the ones you love. You did have the courage to journey here, did you not?” “Well… when you put it that way, I guess I feel more courageous than I did before this day.” Fei stated. Ho-Oh cracked a smiled and unfolded his large wings. Feathers of red, green and white colors fell in front of Twilight Sparkle, Fei and Keldeo. “I have heard of stories from this world that my feathers are used as gifts for expressing love. It is funny really. They are just my feathers, but take them nonetheless and give it to whoever your heart yearns for.” Twilight Sparkle picked up a Rainbow Wing from the ground and stared at awe into the colorful plumage. “We give them as gifts because your plumage is beautiful and rare. Anyone would treasure one of your feathers more than a mountain of gold.” She explained. “I suppose that anything can be valuable if others place a value on it. Never lose hope and always remain strong. You can all do anything if you put your minds to it.” Saying these words, Ho-Oh flapped his magnificent wings and took to the sky. Twilight Sparkle, Fei and Keldeo gazed into the sky, staring as Ho-Oh vanishes when travelling through the rainbow waterfalls. The dark of night hit the area. Rarity glanced down onto the blanket with a teary frown on her face. She looked up into the sky, seeing the moon rise into the sky with the stars amidst them with a wistful glint in her eyes. Keldeo sprinted up the hill with a hurried panting through his breathing. “Oh… Keldeo. I did not think you would be away for the entire day.” Rarity commented. “Rarity! Don’t tell me you waited here all day.” Keldeo said with a pang of guilt in his voice. “I have. I didn’t want you to question my whereabouts, so I stayed here for you.” “I’m so sorry I did that to you. I didn’t mean to be out for so long…” “That reminds me; why did you take so long just to look for a gift?” Rarity asked with an interrogative voice. “The truth was that I wasn’t looking for a gift.” Keldeo said, closing his eyes with a sigh. “The truth was that I was trying to muster my courage up to say something very important to you, Rarity. But, one thing led to the next and now I realized that I’m not the pony that you once new.” “What does that even mean?” Rarity asked with her head tilted and eyes narrowed in confusion. “I’ll just let this gift to you explain what I mean.” Keldeo stated, levitating a royal purple box in the shape of a rectangle towards Rarity’s direction. Keldeo lifted Rarity’s right front hoof with both of his hooves in tender display and dropped the box on it. “Please open it.” Rarity’s breath was taken away by the gesture of Keldeo’s words. She brought her left front hoof towards the box and opened it, revealing the Rainbow Wing inside. Her eyes lit up in fascination. “Is this… what I think it is?” “The red color represents my undying passion for you. The green represents the idea that we were meant to be. Finally, the white color represents the purity of my feelings. What I’m trying to say is that…” Keldeo’s words stopped in its tracks. His throat choked at the final words. He blinked and breathed out a calming air. “I love you.” “Keldeo… I’m not sure what to say.” Rarity uttered out with her breath taken by his words. A smile on her face with beads of tears dropped from her eyelashes. “You are kind, generous and my best friend. You are strong-willed and graceful at the same time. You have the beauty that matches the stars in the heavens above. You deserve a stallion who can give you the love and attention you deserve. But…” Keldeo looked away with a frown on his face. “Is there something wrong, Keldeo?” Rarity asked. “But I’m not that stallion. I’m not even a pony. Today, I realized that I am a Pokémon that just happens to look like a pony. How could you even love an alien such as me?” Keldeo asked. Rarity placed her left front hoof over Keldeo’s lips, quieting him. “I don’t care whether you are an alien or not. When I first saw you in the orphanage a long time ago, you were alone. None of the other orphans acknowledged your existence. Ultimately, you desired friendship and I wanted to give you that friendship. Over time, I realized just how special you are to me. You may be timid, but you are strong when you need to be and are surprisingly very selfless.” She explained. “But isn’t that how everyone is?” “You exhibit a special type of strength. You show the strength to love a nation that you are foreign to. You show the strength that is able to protect others no matter how dangerous it may be for your own good. Your wispy mane and wave-like tail display a very noble air that I just felt attracted to for the longest time.” “You… felt that way for me all this time? You don’t care if I’m not a pony?” Keldeo asked. “What I care about is the beauty of your soul, and I have seen its lustrous shine many times. Besides, you look pony enough to pass for one, and you are very pleasing to the eyes. Though, I’m curious how you were able to talk without a translator like the others.” Rarity stated. “That… I’m not too sure. Heck, Ho-Oh talked the way that you would as well. Maybe it’s just the Pokémon of my universe that can do that?” “So, you have the Rainbow Wing in the box like I told you?” Rundas asked. “Yes. I have everything I want to say right here in paper. Lith should be in her living quarters with Mono.” Fei responded. “Alright then. Well, good luck. If things go for the worst, you and I can spend the night at a local pub drinking your sorrows away. I got a permit from Council Lady Luna to do that.” Rundas offered. Fei sighed and rustled his shoulders. Rundas leaped over the railing. Fei knocked on the door three times. The door cracked open, revealing a smiling Mono. “Hey Fei. What brings you to my home at this time of night?” Mono asked. “Hello, Mono. I just wanted to see if Lith was home right now.” “She is home right now. She was actually getting ready to sleep right now. Do you want to see her?” “It would be my pleasure to see her.” Fei responded. He walked past the door and entered in the living room. He sat on the couch and glanced towards Mono, who stepped into his room. An excited shriek shot from the room, and Lith ran towards the living room. She vaulted over the arm of a chair adjacent to Fei and landed on the cushion. “So Fei, what brings you to my abode tonight? I have to say that I wasn’t expecting you to come.” Lith asked. “First Lith, would you mind sitting closer to me? I want to give you something.” Fei requested. Lith nodded and leaped towards the couch where Fei sat. She sat down. Fei presented the box in his right hand to her. Lith opened it, revealing the Rainbow Wing inside. “This is… how is this even possible? Ho-Oh shouldn’t even be in this world.” Lith questioned with eyes narrowed in confusion. “There was an urban legend that is actually real that tells of a mythical bird that would descend onto the Rainbow Plateau once every ten years and grant courage to those around him. Those that have witnessed it are said to become wonderful heroes. That bird was Ho-Oh.” Fei explained. “Wait, Ho-Oh is in Equestria?!” Mono shouted, running out of the room with his jaw dropped in surprise. “How?!” “I do not quite understand everything, and explaining would only throw a kudzu plot into your chapters, but he claimed that he was from an alternate version of our world, who travels the dimension to bless each world with his courage.” “Amazing!” Mono and Lith shouted in united joy. “I also wrote this for you, Lith.” Fei stated, holding out the parchment. “Paper and ink were very expensive to purchase apparently.” Lith took the paper and began skimming through it. Her back tilted backwards and her teeth were born in disgust. “Fei… this is literally one of the cheesiest pieces of poetry I have ever read.” “What?!” Fei shouted. “B…but Mono said you loved that type of poetry.” “He didn’t exactly lie. I love reading this kind of poetry because this makes me laugh loudly.” “Wait, what?!” “It’s true. I told you that because I didn’t think you would actually take the bait.” Mono added. “I appreciate the effort that went into this, but wow! This poem literally rhymes and has ten syllable stanzas that reflect upon how you feel about me. ‘and I’d like to hear your hypnotic purr’ really? This is so cheesy that it actually verges on being good!” Lith announced. Fei frowned and looked down onto the ground with a frown on his face. “I’m sorry I soiled our friendship with that poem, Lith. Now you know how I feel about you.” Fei stood up from his seat and walked towards the left. His wrist became gripped by Lith’s paw. “Wait! Where are you going, Fei?” Lith asked. “Rundas invited me for a round of drinks. I might as well go there now that I’ve embarrassed myself in front of you.” Fei answered. “It is true that you wrote this cheesy poem, but I want you to stay for a bit longer. You obviously worked hard to give me this hilarious poem and the Rainbow Wing is an additional plus. But, what I’m trying to say is that I like you… I like you a lot, Fei.” Lith admitted. “Mono and I were about to make some muffins with something known as pistachios. A friendly mailmare gave us the recipe for it and she said that it would hit our sweet and dry cravings at the same time.” “Wait, we were?” Mono asked with a puzzled tone. “I was wondering if you would like to bake some pistachio muffins with us.” Lith offered. “I would love to, Lith. I feel curious enough to try it… as long as nothing sour is put inside of them. Arceus knows how much I hate sour flavors.” Fei responded, shuddering at his words. “Then let the three of us start baking some goods now.” Author's Note I meant for this to be a chapter that was lighter on the plot, but it somehow ended up bringing the plot into some very interesting and complex territories. Anyways, some more ships have set sail. Violent SurgesFluttershy stood within a dark blue room with lines of blue light running through. Black fabrics wrapped around her front hooves. Fluttershy looked back to a mirror with a bead of sweat falling from her forehead and her teeth gripped with anxiety. “Commander Spitfire, are you sure that I should be the one to test these gloves?” Fluttershy asked with anxiety in her tone. “I don’t think I am cut out to be a physical fighter.” “You did give a gleeful yes for when I asked you to do some testing. Besides, all of the other operatives are either busy or just declined.” Spitfire said. “But you are here, Spitfire. Wouldn’t you be more suitable for testing them? I mean… if you don’t mind that is.” Fluttershy squeaked out. “Ummm…” Spitfire stuttered out with a nervous tone. “Someone has to record the results.” “But Twilight is still here, and I have formal training in recording results in general.” “Uhhhh…” Spitfire hit a green button on the dashboard. The mirror disappeared from Fluttershy’s view of sight. The roof and walls disappeared and an azure sky with an infinite horizon replaced it. The floor became an island of sand and grass. A sandbag the size of a human dropped onto the center. “I’m not even sure what these fabrics can do, Spitfire.” Fluttershy called out. “The developers said that these are developed using the latest information discovered on the genome matrix. From what I understand, the techniques available within the gloves are Thunderpunch, Sky Uppercut, Volt Switch and Focus Blast.” Spitfire explained. “Those sound like they hurt others.” Fluttershy noted. “That’s because they do. Now try out those moves on the sandbag there.” Spitfire commanded. Fluttershy put her hooves together. Yellow electricity cackled from the fibers, eliciting a squeak from her. “The electricity isn't shocking me. Is there a reason why?” She asked. “It uses the electric-type genome within your body to function. Don’t even ask me how that is possible.” Spitfire answered. “Also, if anything goes wrong, I will stop the simulation and get you immediate help.” Fluttershy pounded her hooves together, feeling a buzz of electricity surround her entire body. Her body shined with the luminescence of a brilliant light bulb. The light transformed into an orb of electricity between her hooves. She tossed it forwards, striking the sandbag. The remnants of the electricity pushed her towards the edge of the water. “Wow. That felt… good!” Fluttershy called out. “Nice Volt Switch there, Fluttershy. I thought you would have blown up for a second.” Spitfire commented. “Now try going for a Thunderpunch and combo it with a Sky Uppercut.” Fluttershy galloped towards the falling sandbag. Her left front hoof charged with a virulent flow of electricity. She held it out forwards, surrounding her in an aura of volatile voltage. Her hoof collided with the sandbag, stunning it in place. Her right front hoof cloaked itself with a light blue aura. She struck the sandbag with that hoof and leaped with her uppercut, knocking it into the air. She gritted her teeth and felt the adrenaline pump through her blood system. “Now finish it off with a Focus Blast!” Spitfire shouted. Fluttershy held her hooves out and brought them to the side of her left shoulder. A light blue sphere of aura built itself between the two hooves. The sand blew away from the source point of the move, and an inferno erupted from Fluttershy’s eyes. She tossed the sphere forward, exploding on contact against the sandbag. A vicious roar escaped from her. “My blood… is on fire!!!” She shouted with the ferity of a lunatic grizzly bear. “Woah! Calm down there, Ariani. You almost lost yourself there.” Spitfire called out with snide fear in her tone. Fluttershy snapped back into reality and looked over her shoulder. A sheepish smile emerged on her face and a shy giggle squeaked out of her mouth. “Sorry.” Spitfire and Fluttershy walked down the hall. Spitfire flashed a content grin towards Fluttershy. “You were quite the warrior back in the training chamber, Fluttershy. I wish I could have been that fierce.” She admitted. “Honestly, I was not sure what came over me. Activating those gloves made me feel like a different pony altogether. I almost felt like I was going to be a savage beast if I had continued testing.” Fluttershy admitted with her eyes looking away from Spitfire. “But, at least we know that they work well.” “I’m glad. Those will be an amazing weapon against the Van’Goth. And in your hooves, we will be so much closer to ending the war.” Spitfire complimented. “May I hold onto these gloves for a bit, Commander Spitfire? I mean, if you don’t mind that is.” Fluttershy asked. “I’d say you did more than enough to deserve them. Not only are you frightening with them on, but you have such a destructive streak with them that it makes me proud of you.” “I’m not sure if I should be happy that you said that… or scared that you made me sound like a monster.” “Let’s just leave it at what I said. Now, I have a very special mission that you can appreciate, Fluttershy.” Spitfire said, patting Fluttershy on her left shoulder. At the end of the hallway sat the cafeteria. Spitfire and Fluttershy strutted their way towards a table, where Hydrangea and Rondo sat at. Hydrangea stirred a dark green beverage and glanced towards Rondo, who pecked at the golden brown slices of fruit before him. “This peach is pretty good. It tastes almost like a pecha berry.” Rondo noted. “Well I’m glad you enjoy it. They are known for their juicy sweetness. So tell me Rondo, what is your favorite fruit?” Hydrangea asked. “When it comes down to it, watmel berries. It has that niiiice sweet flavor with a hint of bitterness to it. It’s pretty good.” Rondo responded. “I do have a fruit I hate though; the yache berry. That fruit tastes horrible!” “Yache berry? Please tell me why you hate it so much. I am curious.” Hydrangea requested. “Ohhhh, the yache berry. It was during one winter when Mono gave it to me. He said that when I start to feel cold, I could eat it to reduce the effects of the freezing temperatures. So, my wings are feeling frigid and then I took a sample of it. It was disgusting! It was too sour and the dry flavor didn’t help too much. The sour flavor perpetuated throughout my mouth, and I was still cold! From that day, I vowed never to eat another Yache Berry in my life!” Rondo explained with disdain. “You know, as much as I would love to hear your conversations on fruit, I must interrupt.” Spitfire interjected. “Commander Spitfire! What brings you to our lunch table today?” Hydrangea asked. “Nothing much. Just your assignment for the day.” Spitfire responded. “And considering Rondo is here as well, I might as well give it to him and Fluttershy as well.” “Oh dear. An assignment with just the three of us? What are the details, Commander?” Hydrangea questioned. “I will tell you after you finish your lunch and conversation. Just report immediately to the briefing room.” Rondo, Fluttershy, Spitfire and Hydrangea stood around the map of the briefing table, gazing down upon the map. “We have to go into the Twiluminescent Jungle? What for?” Rondo asked. “There are rich traces of mithril located somewhere within the brambles of the jungle. H.O.R.S.E.’s supply of mithril has been running low as of late, and we aren’t getting much luck with finding mithril in the subterranean regions of this continent.” Spitfire explained. “Mithril is a very important metal for making armor for our pegasi. Its durability and weightlessness allows for a pegasi to excel in aerial combat without being hindered by traditional armors. Without that armor, then our fighting efforts will be reduced.” Fluttershy added. “I see… And you need a cervine being such as myself because we are capable of traversing our ancestral continent, correct?” Hydrangea asked. “Precisely. Hydrangea, I will leave you in charge of navigation. Rondo will be in charge of recon. Finally, Fluttershy will be in charge of information gathering. It isn’t typical where I would send off a squad into a faraway location with non-combative roles, but that doesn’t mean you are not capable of fighting. When push comes to shoves, shove it back with a kick. Got it?!” Spitfire declared. “Yes Commander Spitfire!” Fluttershy, Rondo and Hydrangea stated with straight voices and their respective left front leg, right front leg and right wing saluted over their foreheads. “That’s what I’d like to hear from my operatives. Now, I will provide the mode of transportation via the military air transport vehicle.” Spitfire said. “Not the Fortress Exo, because those are expensive to replace.” Fluttershy, Rondo and Hydrangea sat on a black-cushioned bench. The air around them strangled their limbs, giving the impression of the plane being able to explode at any moment. Rondo looked out of the window of the plane, glancing towards the black wing and the sea that took the appearance of a bending fabric to his eyes. “I know I’ve flown into the air several times, but this is much higher than I would usually fly. Everything looks like a paper-mache model from this height.” “It is quite interesting to be up in the air. I flew several times in a plane like this. My first time… wasn’t so great though.” Hydrangea said. “I know how you felt. Everything just felt so sudden. I remember when I heard all of the panicked shouting and we were forced to evacuate into vehicles like this. But… I’m honestly glad for that. If I had not, I would not be able to explore this new world. I know it is dangerous, but it still is always amazing to discover new things.” Fluttershy stated. “Mono would hate to be aboard one of these planes. Not only because he would feel threatened, but because he hates flying in general.” Rondo revealed. “Wait… didn’t he just go flying to do that request the other day?” Hydrangea questioned with a tone wet with suspicion. “He did. He also kept shouting how he hated riding the fortress exo after Commander Spitfire gave him and Sophia that punishment.” “Oh right! You know, that was kind of funny to see. His shivers made it all worth it. I know it is wrong for me to see him like that, but he looks a bit cute doing it.” “Ummm… you do know Sophia will be out for your blood if you say that in front of her, right Hydrangea?” Rondo asked with a hint of fear in his voice. “I don’t care what a dog…cat…fox thing feels about me saying that. He’s just cute when he freaks out.” Hydrangea responded. A stifled giggle emerged from Fluttershy. She dropped down onto the floor, rolling on it in laughter. “Are you okay, Fluttershy?” Rondo asked. “I’m fine, Rondo. I just find it funny how Hydrangea cares about what kind of creature a Sylveon is.” Fluttershy answered. “H-hey! It’s not my fault. I mean… I know what all the other Pokémon are based off… but wow is Sophia a mystery!” Hydrangea shouted. “Don’t you ever get curious?” “They are aliens though. We cannot use our perceptions and beliefs of what we see to judge their appearance. Doing so is wrong.” “I guess you’re right, Fluttershy. I should quit while I’m ahead.” Hydrangea stated. “Ummm… we are about to descend now.” Rondo said, pointing towards the mass of green land cutting into the sea below. The inside of the plane dipped towards a sharp diagonal angle. Rondo, Fluttershy and Hydrangea gripped the benches with wide eyes and felt their insides rushing towards their right side. The plane came to a sudden stop, throwing all of the passengers within the bench forward against the wall. Hydrangea stood up with spinning and slanted eyes. “I think we are here now…” Rondo and Fluttershy trailed behind Hydrangea, whose steps moved with a wobbly pattern. Rondo and Fluttershy shared a glance and looked back towards Hydrangea. “Are you sure you should be walking after getting off the plane, Hydrangea? You don’t look too good.” Rondo asked. “I’m… fine.” Hydrangea responded. A wave of queasiness struck her stomach. Her fur turned a sickly shade of green and a burning liquid reached her uvula. She cupped her mouth with her right front hoof and gagged. “I have an emergency barfing bag in my bag if you need it.” Fluttershy offered, pulling out a brown paper bag from her bag. Hydrangea snatched it from her left front hoof and put her mouth inside of it. The gagging turned into a mesh of liquids hitting the inside of the paper bag. Rondo looked away and his hid face behind his wing, trembling with every burst of vomit shot into the bag. Hydrangea dropped the bag and pushed it away. Her stance wavered. “T-thanks, Fluttershy. I n-n-needed that.” “For Arceus’s sake! Don’t do that in front of me!” Rondo shouted. “I hate the sound of vomiting!” “S-s-sorry, Rondo. I couldn’t…” Saying this, Hydrangea felt another burst of nausea rise from her throat. “Do you have another bag?!” She shouted with rushed words. Fluttershy pulled out another brown bag, which became snatched through Hydrangea’s hooves. Hydrangea ran off towards the bushes within the opposite side of the path. “You know, Rondo, Hydrangea is lucky that she can relieve her nausea through vomiting. We ponies have to stomach our nausea.” Fluttershy explained. “Her lucky?! I wish I couldn’t vomit! When I eat a bad piece of fruit or eat something sour…” Rondo stated, shuddering at the end of his words. “So much… there was so much.” A roar erupted from the bushes next to Hydrangea, causing everyone’s hearts to drop into their stomachs. A large redclaw emerged from the bushes and looked down on the three agents with bloodthirsty eyes. Hydrangea looked above with her eyes a pale color from exhaustion. “Can you please do this some other time? I really do not feel like dealing with you after I had to stomach all of this vomiting!” Hydrangea shouted, pointing towards the two bags on the ground. “Wow, she is definitely not happy right now.” Rondo noted. Fluttershy walked up towards the Redclaw and cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Mr. Redclaw? I know you must be hungry and are very upset that you cannot sate it, but we are not food for you. We are looking for veins of Mithril in this continent. Would you mind leading us there?” The Redclaw roared in front of her face, blowing back her mane with strands of her hair frozen in shock. Fluttershy moved her left front hoof through her mane and straightened it out with closed eyes and a gentle smile. She slipped on her Volt Fighter Gloves with a devious smirk on her face. She flew towards the Redclaw’s face, shouting with primordial aggression in her tone. She launched her left front hoof the Redclaw against its temple with earth-shaking force. “You want to insult my mother again you big nasty lizard?!” She shouted, rearing her right front hoof and aiming it under the chin. She ducked under and struck it with a Sky Uppercut. “She was a greater mare than what your entire species’ females are like!” Each word she shouted, the Redclaw’s face met with an electrified strike to the face. Rondo’s eyes popped out of his head. “Yikes! Fluttershy’s scary!” Hydrangea leaped on the airborne Fluttershy, stopping her in her tracks. The redclaw ran away from the area with tears dripping down its eyes. Fluttershy squirmed underneath Hydrangea’s weight and growled through clenched teeth. “Let go of me! Can’t you see that overgrown lizard needs to die?!” “Fluttershy! What has gotten into you?!” Hydrangea asked. “I’m perfectly fine, Hydrangea! I am in the best mood of my life!” Fluttershy yelled. “No you aren’t! You just attacked an animal, Rondo is hiding behind the leaves of the tree above because of your attitude and you are seriously being out of character right now!” Hydrangea shouted. The anger within Fluttershy’s eyes dissipated. Her body stopped squirming and she looked towards Hydrangea. She looked up in the trees and saw Rondo looking away from her, shivering with fear. “By Deus… what have I done?! I hurt a poor and innocent Redclaw who was just hungry and agitated, and I scared Rondo. That isn’t like me at all…” Hydrangea smiled and got off of Fluttershy. She grabbed Fluttershy by her right leg with her right hoof and lifted her up. Fluttershy hovered towards the canopy where Rondo was. Rondo looked to his right and scream. “Don’t hurt me! I get badly hurt by electricity!” Rondo said. Fluttershy wrapped her front legs around Rondo’s body and brought him in for a hug. “I’m sorry, Rondo. I don’t know what came over me. When that Redclaw shouted at me, I knew I had to do something to scare her off… but I didn’t want to hurt her.” Fluttershy said. “Wait, her?! That thing was a girl?” Rondo questioned with a loud tone. “Yes. She was very mad because she was hungry. When I put on my Volt Fighter Gloves, something vicious came over me. I felt… violent and aggressive! I promise, Rondo; I will never be like that again.” Fluttershy vowed. “Thanks, Fluttershy. And you have nice hugs.” Rondo stated. Spitfire entered inside of the lab of the Research & Development division, fluffing her mane with a smile on her face. She walked towards Twilight Sparkle, who had a glimmering grin on her face. “The testing was done, Commander Spitfire?” She asked. “You will be happy with the results I have gained from the Volt Fighter Gloves.” Spitfire responded, hitting a black button on a tablet. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes skimmed through the contents of the tablet’s words. Upon scrolling down enough of the words, her smile formed into a concerned frown. “Umm… Spitfire, are you sure it is okay that you used Fluttershy for the test?” She asked. “I don’t see why not. Fluttershy wanted to toughen up a bit, and I forced her to volunteer for the test to help her give a backbone with using different types of weaponry.” Spitfire explained. “You do realize that Fluttershy is one of the very few Equusians we have documented that has a very rare personality condition, do you?” Twilight Sparkle asked with her face stoned with immense gravity. “Ummm… what’s this condition again?” Spitfire asked with an uneasy tone, scratching the back of her head. Twilight Sparkle smacked her face with her right front hoof. The two ponies directed their attention to a black screen. It flashed into life, depicting a base image of a pegasus and a cloud above it. The lightning struck the pegasus. “Normally, when a pegasus pony would be strike by lightning, they would emerge unharmed due to the special structure within their muscle system that would nullify ninety percent of the electricity, transfer nine percent of it towards the nervous system and one percent of it throughout the blood system.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “This allows a pegasus to remain unhindered by even the worst of lightning shocks during flight.” “I know that. That’s basic pegasus biology one-o-one.” Spitfire commented. “What you probably wouldn’t know is Fluttershy’s special case.” Twilight Sparkle said, changing the image of the pony on the screen into a pointy and stylized image of Fluttershy. The lightning strikes her. “Fluttershy suffers from a rare case of volt cuniculum, where her muscle system fails to neutralize forty five percent of that electricity. That means an additional forty five percent of volatile electricity runs through her body.” “That doesn’t sound too good.” Spitfire commented. “Not good is an understatement, Commander. That extra voltage towards the nervous system isn’t enough to kill her instantly, but it causes some drastic personality changes.” The image of Fluttershy being struck by lightning scowled and gritted her teeth. She stood onto her hind legs and beat her chest with her front legs. “It’s good that she gets a bit more aggression. What can possibly go wrong?” Spitfire asked with a carefree tone. “Here’s what can go wrong; Fluttershy can develop psychological problems that would need to be medically treated. It throws her entire circadian rhythm out if its proper cycle, giving her insomnia and other sleep-related disorders. Finally, there is a variety of health issues that can permanently affect the heart and light bone structure of the pegasus.” Twilight Sparkle listed off with a scowl on her face. “That does sound serious…” Spitfire noted. “And she can get hurt in her current mission.” “You sent her on a mission with those weapons?! I’m sorry, Commander Spitfire, but you have to pull her out of it as quickly as possible. Leaving her with those gloves is the worst possible thing you have ever done!” “Don’t you think you are overreacting a tiny bit, Twilight Sparkle?” Spitfire questioned. “I have read through documented cases of this condition, Commander. From what I have looked up, constant exposure to even small amounts of electricity ruined their lives. It’s not something to joke about.” Twilight Sparkle walked towards the edge of the lab. “Umm, where are you going?” “I’m off to get my friend watch so that I can warn one of my best friends about the use of that weapon.” Seeing Twilight Sparkle run out of her sight, a frustrated groan passed from Spitfire’s lips. “Another casualty of a good friend is going to occur because of my stupid ambition! I thought I wouldn’t let any more cases like this happen…” She said to herself. “No, I won’t let that happen. I will not let her suffer because of an oversight!” Fluttershy, Hydrangea and Rondo walked into a cragged canyon, where ores of dark blue rocks scattered themselves throughout the ground and walls. “Amazing! So this is what mithril looks like in its purest form.” Hydrangea said in awe. “I thought you might have seen it more often since you lived here.” Fluttershy stated. “You would think that and you it wouldn’t be a bad guess. But truth be told, I never ventured out of the established paths and cities of Deerope. While mithril is a common ore for us deer to use in our technology, the locations were always away from the cities we built, and I never really wanted to go away from those cities. Kind of weak for a deer, isn’t it?” “I don’t think so. In a way, it is like how I hate flying and always try to care for animals despite being a pegasus. We all have our quirks.” “Life would be more fun if I had a Quirky Nature. But, I’m still happy with how I am. Just be happy with yourself and all will be good.” Rondo advised. “Thanks for not making me feel like a total stranger among other deer. I really appreciate it.” Hydrangea thanked. From the cliff tops above, jet black lizards the size of buses leaped down into the chasm towards the trio. Hydrangea looked into the sky and pushed Fluttershy and Rondo away from the falling shadows. The ten lizards let out scratchy screechs. “What the heck are those things?!” Rondo asked, pointing at their yellow eyes. “From what I see, these appear to be shadow skinks that exist only on this part of the continent.” Fluttershy answered. “They think we are intruding on our territory, so they’re going to kill us.” “Boy, don’t we have the luck with everything trying to kill us?” Rondo commented. Fluttershy’s watch rang with a cheery series of notes. She brought her left front hoof over to the watch and touched it, revealing a holographic head of Twilight Sparkle. “Twilight! What brings you to communicate with me through our friend connection?” She asked. “Fluttershy, do not use the Volt Fighter Gloves anymore. I repeat, don’t!” Twilight Sparkle warned. “I know what this is about, Twilight. Don’t worry, because I promised to never use them again.” After she said this, the shadow skinks all shot their tails towards Rondo and Hydrangea, knocking them to the ground. Rondo squawked with a shrill noise. “This feeling… I know it…” “What… feeling… Rondo?” Hydrangea asked with a slurring tone. “It’s… poison.” Both Rondo and Hydrangea collapsed onto the ground with their eyes dropping to a close. Fluttershy shrieked and ran towards their side. “Rondo! Hydrangea! Please, get up!” She shouted, shaking their bodies with her hooves. No response came from either of them. She looked forwards at the shadow skinks, whose eyes flashed with a bloodlust. She looked down towards her watch with a hologram of Twilight Sparkle’s head. With a hesitant shutting of her eyes, she peered into her bag and pulled out the Volt Fighter Gloves. She slipped them on. “Wait, Fluttershy! What are you doing?!” Twilight Sparkle shouted. “Sorry, Twilight. Sorry, Rondo. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. Shadow skinks are vulnerable to electricity from my research, and this is the only weapon I have that uses it.” Fluttershy stated. “No! Don’t do i-“Fluttershy shut off her watch before Twilight Sparkle finished her words. Her gloves charged with a surge of electricity and a red aggression fell over Fluttershy’s serene form. “You want to poison my friends?! Then I shall send each and every single one of you to the depths of Tartarus!” She shouted. A large ball of electricity formed between her hooves. With gritted teeth, she threw the Volt Switch forwards and struck a shadow skink between the eyes. The reaction of the electricity flowing through her body pushed her back towards the cragged wall. Using the force received, she kicked off of the wall and flew forward, punching another skink across its cheek. The skinks hissed towards Fluttershy’s direction and spat a glob of black goop towards her direction. Fluttershy punched the blobs back and flew towards a skink, striking it directly in the forehead with a Thunderpunch. She then unleashed a Sky Uppercut with her right front hoof, knocking it into the air. She felt her heart beat out of rhythm and felt twinges of burning pain in her ventricles. She groaned and dropped to the ground, but her anger remained unfazed. She held her hooves behind her and shot a Focus Blast towards the group. The orb exploded around the skinks, knocking them all against the walls. “That will… teach you to…” Fluttershy mouthed out. Her heart slowed to a standstill and she collapsed onto the ground. Fluttershy’s eyes opened to the sight of a white and blurry room. The sounds of oxygen rushed through her mask and a sheet wrapped around tender body. Around her bed are Spitfire, Rondo, Twilight Sparkle and Hydrangea. Fluttershy wobbled her left front hoof towards her face and pushed off the oxygen mask. “Where… am I?” She stuttered out. “Rest easy, Fluttershy. You took a horrifying amount of electricity there.” Twilight Sparkle stated, wrapping her front hooves around Fluttershy’s body and embracing her. She let go after three seconds. “What? I’m confused.” Fluttershy asked. “After recovering the Volt Fighter Gloves from you, there was a coding error in its design that failed to regulate the proper channels of electricity within a safe current.” Spitfire explained. “With your condition, it was a miracle that you even survived.” “But… Rondo and Hydrangea. Weren’t they poisoned?” “Yeah, we were poisoned. It was potent enough to make us faint.” Rondo noted with a happy tone. “Thankfully, Commander Spitfire came to our aid and gave us antidotes. We were fine after that. But you… were not that lucky.” Hydrangea said with an uneasy tone. “Those gloves channeled your inner electricity and drove it out of control. And combined with your condition, it led to a nasty cardiac arrest.” “How did I survive that? Doesn’t death usually come after one?” Fluttershy questioned, sitting upwards and rubbing her right shoulder. A frown appeared on Spitfire’s face. “You are extremely lucky that I rushed as quickly as possible to your location with a medical team by my side, Fluttershy. They brought you back to life with the very weapons that nearly killed you.” Tears welled up within her eyes. She brought her face onto the side of Fluttershy’s bed. “Commander, why are you crying?” Fluttershy asked. “I’m still alive and the mission was a success.” “I broke my promise to this organization. I knew something wrong was with you when I had you wear those gloves and I did nothing to sway your decision because you would be a better soldier with them. I let my ambition get the best of me, and it almost cost you your life. I’m sorry, Fluttershy. Please, forgive your foolish commander.” Spitfire cried out. “I don’t blame you, Commander Spitfire.” Fluttershy stated, putting her left front hoof onto Spitfire’s head. “I don’t blame you for anything bad that happened. You were just hasty was all, and anyone can be forgiven for being hasty.” Spitfire brought her front legs around Fluttershy’s shoulders and hugged her. Fluttershy glanced towards Rondo, Hydrangea and Twilight Sparkle. She crooked her neck towards the side with the door. “I think Fluttershy wants to be alone with the Commander. Let’s give them some privacy.” Twilight Sparkle said. “If that’s what she wishes, then so be it.” Hydrangea stated. “Boy, being poisoned makes me feel hungry. Anyone know where some of those watermelons are? They’re very close to the flavor that watmel berries have.” Rondo asked. The three operatives left the room, leaving Spitfire and Fluttershy alone. Spitfire retreated back to her seat with reddened eyes. “Thank you for… forgiving me, Fluttershy. You may not know it, but I really tend to beat myself up for mistakes I make that cost lives.” Spitfire admitted. “And… I also have a bit of a case of volt cuniculum as well. I never revealed it to others because I’m afraid that others will think less of me. That’s why I was so afraid of trying on those Volt Fighter Gloves and had you wear them. But, I never expected you to have that condition as well.” “I understand, Commander. And… if it makes you feel any better, I don’t think any less of you. You still are a brave war hero who is always willing to go into the line of danger to help out those under her. Nothing will ever change that. Besides, I always knew of my condition before putting those gloves on.” Fluttershy said. “Then… why did you put your life in danger like that?” Spitfire asked with a tone backed with anxiety. “I don’t know if you don’t know, Commander, but I honestly get too tired of being considered the weak link in the organization. I wanted to prove to everyone that I was much stronger than the weakling they considered me to be.” Fluttershy explained. “But you aren’t weak! Even if you know the risks of going out into the world to do research, you still do it with a smile on your face. Not that many Equusians would even consider taking a step outside of Neo Canterlot. Even our own operatives are afraid of being out of the walls. You’re even rising through the ranks of the Marksman Division! Rainbow Dash always brags about how well you are doing under her wing.” “I know, but it still doesn’t change the fact that ponies mock me for being weak. Those Volt Fighter Gloves made me feel strong and powerful, even if it nearly cost me my life and sanity. For once in my life, I felt like an apex predator. I felt like I was capable of changing everything. That feeling felt amazing and I never wanted it to end.” A rise of light-hearted chuckling broke out of Spitfire’s mouth. “Fluttershy, did I ever tell you about how much you reminded me of you in my youth? I was the smallest out of all my classmates when I was just a filly, after all. I was weak and picked on, but I wanted to prove them wrong. And prove them wrong I did.” “I never knew that, Spitfire. I would have always assumed that you were always this gruff and tough.” Fluttershy said. “I didn’t need the help of anyone to do that either. Just sheer will and determination allowed me to hit harder, fly better and grow bigger to the point where I pretty much wrestled the respect out of everyone who ever dissed me.” Spitfire stated with a cocky grin. “You sound a lot like Rainbow Dash at times, Spitfire. Not that it’s a bad thing.” “She’s pretty good at what she does. Even with dislocated joints, she’ll fight to the end. I admire and respect that about her. Who knows; if I kick the bucket, she’ll take my position as Commander.” “While it would be nice seeing one of my best friends in your position, I wouldn’t want it to happen upon your death. I would be sad to see you go away.” Fluttershy admitted. “I’ll be around for a very long time for your sake, and for Mono’s and Lith’s sake. Somebody’s gotta watch over you three to make sure that you don’t get into trouble and become amazing operatives.” Spitfire and Fluttershy hugged each other once more, with a grip that is tightened with the bonds they share with each other. Author's Note It's a sappy ending for someone who almost died, am I right? Regardless, I hope you enjoy the new chapter. PurgatoriumMono stood by the bedside of a white-coated pegasus stallion with a mint-green mane and tail. A cast gripped around his hind right leg and front left leg. Mono placed his upper paws on the stallion’s casts and flashed an assuring smile. “Everything is going to be fine, sir. Do you trust me?” He asked. The stallion flashed a weak nod. The eyes underneath Mono’s ears flashed with a white light and his paws became cloaked with his Psycho Heal. The stallion winced, feeling a sharp shard forming within the fractures and binding the bones together. He let out a relieved sigh and touched his casts, feeling no stings from the pain. “Thank you so much. I need my legs to bring food onto my family’s table.” “It’s not a problem at all. I would say that you were very lucky that you suffered this injury on the day my sister and I decided to volunteer at the hospital.” Mono stated. “But, you really should rest those legs of yours. They still are weary and prone to fracture without giving it a day of rest. For today, you should just spend time with your family.” The stallion sat up from the bed and slumped forwards. He turned his front left leg around and grinned. “You said you have a sister? Shouldn’t she be in the dayroom?” “She’s in the Intensive Care Unit. She’s not really someone who would prefer doing things the slow and steady way.” A blaring flat line hit Lith’s ears. A pink-coated earth pony mare with a purple mane and tail lied motionless on a bed before her tied to IVs, oxygen tubes and suction sensors. Lith gritted her teeth and rubbed her front paws together with a quick friction. The eyes underneath her ears lit up. Electricity sparked out of her paws. “I won’t let you die.” She said, placing her paws on the mare’s chest. Voltage from the Charge Beams poured into the mare, causing her to jump and radiate a thunderous noise throughout the area. Lith looked towards the monitor and still saw the heart rate at a flat line. She growled. “Live!” She shouted, shocking the chest of the mare once more with her Charge Beam. The monitor spiked with life and the mare’s chest rose on its own. Lith smiled. A trio of ponies garbed in blue scrubs ran into the room. The mare in the middle, who had a gray coat and an indigo mane and tail, stared daggers at Lith. “You were not supposed to tend to the critical patients of the ponies in this ward, Lith. You could have killed this poor mare!” She scolded. “Where were you when this mare entered Cardiac Arrest? She was in horrible shape and needed someone with expertise in CPR and Shock Therapy to revive her. I happened to be the only one around the immediate vicinity with experience in that. Had I not done anything, she would have died on the spot!” Lith argued. The mare looked towards the patient, whose breathing is stable and the monitor showed a consistent level of spiking. A low growl emanated from her tone. “So you did save her life… I’ll leave you off with a warning. But, you are forbidden from entering this area again.” Lith walked out of the room with a silent stride to her step. Mono and Lith sat on adjacent seats within the lobby. Mono glanced towards Lith, who pouted and had her upper paws crossed. “So I’m guessing you didn’t have much of a good day today, didn’t you?” Mono asked. “I did. I saved lives and stuff, but I was told off by Indigo Cross to stop.” Lith responded with a bitter tone. “Let’s see who would come to her when she is in critical condition.” A white-coated earth pony mare with a pink mane tied into a bun and tail walked towards the two siblings. A white cap with a red cross sat on her head, and the same cross is pictured on her flank. A smile is seen on her face. “Thank you two very much for volunteering today. I really appreciate the assistance since we were heavily understaffed for the day.” She said. “It was not a problem, Nurse Redheart. We were happy to help.” Mono answered. “And Lith, please do not think badly of Indigo Cross. She’s really good at what she does, but she’s been under a lot of pressure and frustration as of late due to the understaffing our hospital is suffering from.” Nurse Redheart stated. “I understand. But, just how much understaffing does this hospital even have that puts a mare like her underneath that pressure?” Lith asked. Nurse Redheart looked upwards and stuttered with a hesitant expression. “Umm… there was a huge influx of patient entries as of late. We know that it would be hard to take care of all those patients at once, but we had no idea how difficult it would have been. We have had more patient fatalities than outgoing patients in this hospital lately and it really dropped the morale of our staff.” She explained. “What could be causing this? Do you have any idea?” Mono asked. “All we could find out from our patients’ wounds was that they were heavily battered and bludgeoned. We could have a serial aggravator in our midst.” Nurse Redheart rationalized. “But regardless, thank you two for all of your help. I greatly appreciate it, even if some of our staff did not.” “Your words mean a lot to me, Nurse Redheart. We promise that sooner or later, we will be able to find out who was attacking these poor citizens.” Lith proclaimed. Mono and Lith travelled down a street that had a foreboding emptiness to it. Mono glanced at Lith with an uncertain expression in his eyes. “Lith. There’s something I was meaning to tell you since this morning.” He said. “I had a dream similar to that last dream on the day when I performed. Except now, the voice told me to go after something known as a God Stone and use that as a catalyst to enter into a gap between dimensions. For some reason, you were in it as well.” “I remember. Wait, could it be possible that we had a shared dream?” Lith questioned. “We’re Pokémon that exist in an alien world full of colorful creatures and diverse landscapes that have to fight a race of genocidal aliens to survive. I’m willing to believe anything at this point.” Mono responded. “Is that so?” A peppy voice perked up from beyond a nearby alleyway. Mono and Lith turned their attention towards the right and extended their respective left and right paws out. A low growl emanated from Mono. “Show yourself!” He threatened. From the hidden shadows of the alleyway, a brown and bipedal beast approached the duo. He had a mane that was whiter than snow that covered his entire face. He had pointed ears and a nose that extended far past the mane. Attached to his arms are three-pointed leaves colored in dark evergreen. With his stilted feet and yellow eyes, he brought an air of intimidation to the twins. “It’s a Shiftry!” Mono shouted. “Were you the one who attacked all of the innocent civilians within the city?” The Shiftry cocked his head in confusion. He grinned and closed his eyes. “Attacked them? I just got here a couple of days ago. I’m just ecstatic to see other Pokémon beside me in this world. Do you not know who I am, Mono and Lith?” “Wait… how do you know that we are them?” Lith asked in a tone wavering in doubt. “Maybe this would come as a refresher to your minds. Tesla!” A large Magnezone levitated down from the rooftop onto the duo. It emitted a pulse of static electricity from its magnets. “…Professor Gentian? Is that you?” Mono asked. “The one and only.” Professor Gentian replied. “Where were you all this time?! How did you find your way into the city?!” Lith asked with a shocked tone. “It’s a long story. But, to make a long story short, I was stuck within a jungle ever since I came here. During one of my wanderings, I came upon a pegasus and some other creatures around it. They were tending to a pegasus, a Chatot and a deer. Before they left, Tesla and I snuck onboard.” “That’s… kind of sneaky.” Mono noted. “And speaking of which, why are you sneaking around? It will make you look very suspicious, especially since there was a wave of attacks recently. I don’t want the Equusians to think that you are attacking innocent civilians.” Professor Gentian brought one of his leaves towards his lower lip and hummed. Tesla remained silent. “You have my word that neither Tesla nor I would perform such heinous acts. Unfortunately, I have no idea who would have done such a thing.” “iF I cOuLd, I cAn AnAlYzE tHe ReCoRdS oF tHe SuRvEiLlAnCe SyStEmS aRoUnD hErE.” Tesla stated with an erratic tone in its electronic voice. “BuT I dO nOt HaVe ClEaReAnCe To Do So.” “We can help you with your current dilemma, however. You need a God Stone to breach beyond this realm, no? I heard that Rundas and friends found a trio of nifty gems that can grant a noble-blooded organism a degree of omnipotence. The gems are at what you call H.O.R.S.E. headquarters.” “I do not really need to add any more black marks on my list, Professor. I will wait it out.” Mono stated with a tone that dipped into a batter of nervousness. “Relax, Mono. I can just take the gems without anyone letting up a peep about it.” Professor Gentian assured. “Aha! Gotcha!” Keldeo leaped down from the nearby roof and stared at Professor Gentian straight between the eyes. “Do my eyes deceive me? Is this the legendary fourth Sword of Justice Keldeo?” Professor Gentian questioned with a starstruck tone. “Not again…” Keldeo groaned out. He shook his head and redoubled the efforts into his stare. “I am placing you under arrest for a planned grand theft larceny!” “Keldeo! What are you doing here?” Mono asked with his voice robbed of will. “Commander Spitfire sent me to investigate the causes of the brutal assaults that have happened as of late. Looking around, I stumbled onto this; a conspiracy for snagging the discovered God Stones.” Keldeo explained. “There seems to be a big understanding. While I merely suggested what I could do, I never had the intent on doing so without the proper specifications and clearances. I’m not sure how it is possible you are here, but I could tell that you and my colleague’s junior scientists are very good friends.” Professor Gentian told. “Wait… you know Mono, Lith and Professor Pasque?” “And Rondo and Stereo and Jasmine and Einstein. Do I need to continue with the names?” “No. You’ve proven your point. But, why did you even talk about the God Stones in the first place? That information is very sensitive outside of H.O.R.S.E. and the council. We really do not need any leaks at this point.” Keldeo questioned. “It’s not a problem. My partner and I will go away quietly as long as we are able to translate with the natives of this planet.” Professor Gentian and Tesla stood under a beam of light, where Spitfire’s eyes gazed at the duo with persecutory fires glimmering in her eyes. Wrapped around the stem of Gentian’s leaf and the nub connecting Tesla’s magnet to its body are translation bracelets. She slammed her hoof on her desk. “I have a lot of evidence linked to you with these crimes as of late, criminal scum.” She spat out. “What evidence are you talking about? I am genuinely confused.” Professor Gentian asked. “I am talking about the attacks on civilians as of late. Some masked thug appeared out of nowhere and began attacking ponies on the streets. We traced tufts of white hair at the scene of each crime and witnesses have reported feeling blows of wind for when they found the victims brutally assaulted.” Spitfire explained. “Professor Gentian is not your culprit, madam.” Tesla stated. “I assure you that these are all merely coincidences, and the real perpetrator is out there.” “I’m lenient and believe in due process. I’ll show you these recordings taken from the scenes of the crimes and then I’ll let you explain yourself.” Saying these words, Spitfire pressed a red button on her table. A hologram depicting films of a shadowy figure assaulting Equusians on the street flashed before Professor Gentian and Tesla’s eyes. The figure disappeared into the darkness with a blowing wind, leaving a tuft of white hair on the ground. “Hold on, when were these footages taken?” Professor Gentian asked. “They were taken on the same night. Why do you ask?” Spitfire questioned. “Look at the timestamps. All of these assaults were committed within seconds of each other. In order for me to be responsible for all of these attacks, I need to be able to be at more than one place at a time.” “How do I know that you don’t have a move that could do that? Mono knows how to use Double Team and perfected it to the point where he can attack with solid clones.” “If I may add another tidbit of information, I would be around Professor Gentian when these attacks would occur. Therefore, wouldn’t my presence alone be able to interfere with the electrical transitions if he did commit all those attacks?” Tesla asked. “I am a giant talking magnet after all.” “You have a point. Anyone with even a degree of intelligence would know to not perform these attacks on camera, or find a way to warp them to the point where the cameras would be rendered useless.” Spitfire admitted. “I can assume that Gentian is at least intelligent and if he were behind the attacks, he would have used you to delete any sort of evidence. But, if it is not him, then who is?” “If I may add a point; wouldn’t something that would attack multiple victims at the same time also be able to exist within another dimension? That creature looked very ethereal to me.” Professor Gentian suggested. “What do you suggest we do to investigate?” “If you did not know, I specialize in Time-Space-related science. All we need to do is track down the dimensional disturbance where it occurred from and we can use a God Stone to enter and track it down.” “Use a God Stone? Are you insane?!” Spitfire shouted in disbelief. “Think about it; God Stones grant omnipotence to a degree to those of noble blood. In order to open gaps to other dimensions and universes, wouldn’t it make sense that omnipotent power would be needed to do so?” Professor Gentian rationalized. “Besides, you are in possession of three blank stones. If one is used exclusively for interdimensional purposes, then you would be able to explore beyond the borders and see more of the truth.” Spitfire rested her jaw over her arched hooves and closed her eyes. A light hum reverberated from her throat. “It’s not going to be easy, but I’m going to see what I can do to get access to one stone. If this wrongdoer is truly from a different dimension or universe, then I guess I have to use Code Magenta reasoning to appeal to the council.” “Code Magenta?” Tesla asked with a tone steeped with curiosity. “That’s a very serious code. No one messes with Code Magenta.” Mono, Lith, Keldeo and Fei sat around a table within the cafeteria at H.O.R.S.E. Lith smirked and bumped her elbow into Keldeo’s shoulder. On her face is a smug grin. “Look who decided to take charge of the situation! You definitely aren’t like the colt you were when I first saw you.” Lith teased. “K-knock it off, Lith!” Keldeo shouted with a luminescent blush of red on his face. “I have to learn how to take the helm more often now that Rarity and I are… officially dating.” “You don’t see Fei trying to act all macho after it was revealed that we are dating, right?” Lith asked. “She’s right you know. I don’t try to act tough. I like to keep my cool.” Fei commented with a sly smile on his face. “Well, looks like I’m the only one at the table who isn’t in a relationship then.” Mono proclaimed with a prideful tone. “Don’t be too sure about that, Mono. Sooner or later, you and Sophia will be dating. I can guarantee you that.” Lith noted. “I hear you in your sleep sometimes, and you keep on saying her name. It also doesn’t help that those dreams sounded erotic in nature as well.” Mono’s midnight green fur turned a deep shade of red. His head shrunk underneath his neck and he craned it to the left. “Did you really have to reveal that? That’s… private information.” He squeaked out. A ring of laughter brought itself around the table. Lith refocused her gaze onto Keldeo and brought her chin onto her paw. “So tell me; did you two kiss yet?” She questioned with an excited tone. “W-why would I tell you that?!” Keldeo stammered out. “That’s not on a need-to-know basis for you.” “Fine, I won’t push it any further. Fei-Fei and I have some plans tonight anyways, so I don’t need to be thinking about whether you kissed Rarity or not.” Mono and Fei smacked their faces with their right upper limb. “Couldn’t you have at least picked a better pet nickname for me?” Fei grunted out. “That’s seriously one of the cheesiest nicknames you have ever given to someone.” Mono said in accordance with Fei. “It’s a good nickname. Besides, I always call Rarity my Sparkling Princess.” Keldeo noted with a lovestruck tone. “And she likes calls me her Mystic Swordsman.” Mono and Fei pulled back their seats and stood up with their faces grimaced in disgust. “Too much cheesiness for me for one day.” Fei said. “Normally, I wouldn’t be so staunch with my will to leave, but dear Arceus! I’ve heard too much for one day.” Mono stated with a dramatic tone. Spitfire, Professor Gentian and Tesla entered the cafeteria and approached the table. She cleared her throat and garnered the stares of the group towards her. “Commander! What was the status of our suspect?” Keldeo asked. “He’s innocent of all charges. He’s not behind any of the attacks whatsoever and we may know who the culprit is.” Spitfire answered. “Do you? I am interested in hearing who may have been behind these heinous assaults.” Fei commented. “From what I have seen in the recording, the culprit is an otherworldy being that just happens to look a lot like me. In order to track him down, I have designed the schematics for a device that opens a portal that leads towards the original points of spacial-temporal distortion within the area.” Professor Gentian explained. “But for that, we need to use a God Stone.” “I knew it!” Keldeo shouted. “You are after the God Stone!” Professor Gentian scowled and stared down Keldeo. He walked up towards him with a frightening series of steps. “Listen, kid; using an accusatory tone like will only lead to a circle of blame. A circle of blame means that we will never get anything done right. If I hear you pointing fingers again, I’ll Seed Bomb you so hard that not even Mono’s Psycho Heal will be able help you up. Do I make myself clear?” “C-c-c-clear, sir.” Keldeo stuttered out with pressurized fear breaking out of his voice. Professor Gentian smiled and patted Keldeo on his shoulder with his right leaf fan. “Good of you to understand.” “I like this guy already. He knows how to keep our operatives in check.” Spitfire complimented. “How did he know that I could do that?” Mono asked. “We tend to spy on you all.” Tesla responded. “Yeah… totally not creepy at all.” With a shiver down her spine, Lith noted. Mono and Lith sprinted towards a lone streetlight in the middle of an empty street. Spitfire, Fei, Keldeo, Professor Gentian and Tesla followed close by the duo. Within Mono’s grip is a black rectangular device with a screen on it. A white stone shined within the base of the handle. “I’m impressed by how quickly you built this, Professor.” Mono said. “I based its design off of the Dimensional Generator with some minor tweaks here and there. I’m even more impressed with the technology available that allowed me to build it.” Professor Gentian noted. The device made a pinging noise, and the waves on the screen flashed with an erratic pattern. “It looks like we found the source of the dimensional disturbance!” Lith stated. “So how do we even enter beyond this gate?” “Simply tap the stone.” Professor Gentian instructed. Mono and Lith tapped the stone. The area crackled with an arena of lightning. Space and time tore open around the street light with the tenacity of a sharp knife’s slice. A blue wormhole with the screeching of a thousand souls permeated through the area. “Ummm… are you sure that it is safe to go into that?” Keldeo asked. “I’m pretty sure I heard of myths and tales about demons lurking beyond this realm.” “I’m with Keldeo on this one; hearing those screams is a one-way trip to pure nope for me.” Mono stated. “Like it or not, we are still going in there. Do I make myself clear?” Spitfire commanded. “Y-yes Commander.” Keldeo and Mono answered with a hesitant stutter. “Just to be sure that you two will actually go on your word…” Spitfire said, dragging Keldeo to the gap by his mane and approaching Mono. “Go on your word… what?” Mono asked. Spitfire chucked Keldeo into the gap and bucked Mono inside afterwards. Both Pokémon shouted to the top of their lungs. She glanced towards the other operatives around her, grinning with a smug disposition. “Anyone else wish to take the hard way in, or will you wise up and go on your own accord?” Mono and Keldeo looked around them with their eyes widened and teeth gritted in primordial fear. The two embraced each other, seeing wispy spiritual skulls pass through their line of sight and scream with a soul-chilling noise. A vermillion light appeared at the bottom of the endless abyss. Falling through it, the duo landed onto a cragged platform of a red color. They got up and looked around them. With the scope of what their eyes can see, the realm shined with a vermillion light. Gates made from primordial rocks that levitated above the air. Below them laid a red landscape orange glows cracking through it. “What the heck is this place? I’ve never seen anything like it before!” Keldeo questioned. “This place looks very familiar for some reason. I can’t seem to put my finger on it though.” Mono answered. The rest of the group fell from the portal above and landed on their legs or levitated to safety. “Let’s… never speak about what happened there again.” Fei said. “Not many things legitimately scare me, but what the hell was that?! It literally looked like I was passing through hell itself!” Spitfire commented. Mono gazed towards Lith, whose fur stood on its ends and her stance paralyzed in fear. “And I thought we had it bad.” Keldeo commented. “Meh, what else is new?” Professor Gentian said with a bored expression. “Seems like a Tuesday for me. What is interesting is this place we landed in.” He took steps forward towards the edge. Hovering his foot over the open air by the platform, fragments of stone rushed from below and formed a path. “Okay, that’s pretty cool.” Regaining her composure, Lith stated. The group of operatives walked down towards the path, looking at the rays of brilliant light that made up the sky. Looking up into the sky, Mono’s eyes detected a golden bird flying through the sky. He smiled, pointing towards it. “Is that what I think it is?!” He shouted with a burst of excitement. Ho-Oh looked down upon the travelling party and smiled. He turned his direction of flight around and descended upon the path of the group. His glow disappeared. “Did I not say we would meet again?” He asked. “It is you… the legendary Ho-Oh!” Lith said with the breath of her voice robbed by wonder. “Lord Ho-Oh! It is an honor to meet you once more.” Fei said, kneeling down on his right knee and bowing his head. “Please do not bow for me, young Fei. It seems I get to see more variety of the Equusians than last time, including more Pokémon.” Ho-Oh stated. “Wait a second! You’re the mystical bird that comes to the Rainbow Plateau once every ten years! What are you doing here?” Spitfire asked. “Quick to the point, are you not? Perhaps I should explain this area and maybe you will all be able to make sense of things.” Ho-Oh responded. “What you see around you is a gap between dimensions that connects the universes together. It is a realm where the deceased are brought and the gods themselves access. This place has many names, but one name fits the description best; Purgatorium.” “Purgatorium…? Now I know that I heard that name before.” Mono noted. “Fei told me how you visited different worlds and universes so that you can grant courage. Is your journey through this area the reason why you are here now?” “Yes. Though, I am curious as to why another group of mortals are walking through the platforms of this most dreadful location.” “We are looking for a criminal who happens to be staging his attacks from this dimension. Any information you have would be most helpful for us.” Spitfire explained. Ho-Oh hummed underneath his tone and slanted his eyes. His beak opened wide with an epiphany and curved into a frown. “I know who you speak of. He is a survivor of the fallout of my universe. But… his mind was ravaged merely upon witnessing it. He is a Shiftry just like this one here.” “So where is this Shiftry now?” Spitfire asked. “He should be back in his home universe. But beware; that universe is rendered hazardous after its destruction by the hands of a being the survivors call the Demiurge. Take caution as you explore it, lest you also succumb to mental corruption.” Ho-Oh answered. “Lord Ho-Oh… I’m very terrified about what I will witness. If what you say is true, then this was also my home universe. Will I turn into a horrible creature upon seeing its destruction?” Keldeo asked with an uneasy and concerned voice. “Do not worry, young Keldeo. The only fear you should have is the fear of the unknown. One day, you will have to see your homeland so that you can truly understand your destiny.” “So how do we even access this destroyed Pokémon universe anyways? It looks like these gates can lead to anywhere!” Lith asked. “These gates exceed infinity, no doubt about that. But, your heart will lead you to the gate you seek. That is my advice to you.” Saying these words, Ho-Oh flew into the air and escaped into the horizon. Spitfire glanced towards all of her companions, seeing their faces shuddering with anxiety. “Even if you have heard all of that, would you all still be willing to track down this criminal?” She asked with a warm voice. “I can understand if you do not want to go there, and you can go back if you want.” Mono closed his eyes and sighed. “My dreams have been urging me to come to this place for a long time now. If looking for this criminal will help get me answers, then I will venture forwards. I don’t care about what I see, because I know that the truth is more important than the fear from the truth.” “I’m with Mono on this one. We are already too far into this chase, and we really can’t go back without punishing that criminal. I mean, we went through a lot of trouble just to get here.” Lith said in accordance. “If it will help me regain my memories, then I will continue forwards.” Keldeo stated. “I can’t let another Shiftry give Pokémon like myself a bad name. I will personally punish this Pokémon with my blazing flames of justice.” Professor Gentian said with a heated tone. “If my partner is going, then I am coming as well.” Tesla mused. Spitfire turned her direction towards Fei, who looked onto the ground with anxiety shaking his fingers. She placed her right front hoof on his right shoulder. “Fei, you don’t have to come along with us if you don’t want to.” “Spitfire, I am afraid. I am afraid of everything I saw going here. I am afraid of seeing destruction that will probably corrupt me. Mortals such as myself should never witness some of the atrocities that we will soon see. Even then, I will still go to the ends of space and time with you all.” Fei proclaimed. “You’re much more brave than I have given you credit for, Fei.” With a warm smile on her face, Spitfire complimented. “Glad to have the squad come together in this most critical time.” “So now that we have that out of the way, which gate leads to where?” Mono asked. A red gate descended upon the group to the right and opened, revealing a red portal behind its doors. The group stared into the oblivion that stared back into their souls. With a wavering step, Spitfire approached the gate. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She made her first step through the red haze and disappeared. Author's Note Stepping through the gates of infinity, our group will finally get to witness the Alternate Pokemon Universe. Will you also be ready for what lies beyond? Also, a new Pokemon introduced after a long amount of time. Hooray for that. Dark RevelationsStepping through the gate, Spitfire opened her eyes. Her jaw hung low and silence rung from her voice at what she saw; the sky illuminated with a dark violet field of electricity. The land before her was a dull gray landscape. Structures everywhere lied on the ground and were decimated. The ruins of a walled city sat upon a dead hill. Mono, Lith, Keldeo, Fei, Professor Gentian and Tesla emerged from the other side of the portal. Their eyes were locked into widened shock. Keldeo’s ankles slumped over the sight. “This was… my universe?” He voiced out with disbelief haunting his voice. “There is destruction, then there is annihilation… then there’s this.” Professor Gentian said. “Destruction such as this could only ever be shown within the scriptures of Arceus. Such apocalyptic force.” Looking upon the destroyed land, a light flashed before Keldeo’s eyes. Within that light, images of a city of crystals upon a green hill underneath the azure sky cycled through his head. Images of three tall horned quadrupeds, one blue, one green and one gray and brown, made its way into his mind. Then, a storm of fires engulfed the city and a white quadruped lied upon a plateau with its body scarred beyond repair and its eyes dimming down to a close. Keldeo’s head became engulfed with a burning pain. His brain teetered beyond the point of exploding. He grabbed his head and closed his eyes, screaming in agony. Spitfire shifted her view towards his direction and dashed by his side. “Keldeo! What’s wrong?!” She called. “My head! It feels like it’s about to explode! Where is everyone?!” Keldeo shouted. Mono, Lith and Fei ran by Keldeo’s side and appeared in his sight of vision. “We’re right here, Keldeo. We’re by your side. Just relax and take a few breaths.” Mono said. Keldeo inhaled through his nostrils and exhaled. His mind relaxed and the intense light vanished. He rubbed his head with his eyes drooping in weariness. “What happened there?” Lith asked. “It looked like something terrible was going to happen.” “I saw… memories. I saw a blue goat, a green antelope, a brown bovine. Then, I saw the flames of destruction and something dying before my eyes. It was horrible and I think I personally know them.” Keldeo explained. “You could be talking about the other members of the Swords of Justice, but what about that last being? The one that is dying?” Professor Gentian asked. “I don’t know, but I think that memory was left vague for a reason. All I know is that a lot of the denizens I have known and valued here are dead. They’re all dead along with this land, and there’s no use in trying to get them back.” “We can focus on that later. But now, we have to capture a terrorist. Professor, since you are a Shiftry, what can you tell us about their abilities?” Spitfire requested. “Shiftry is a Dark and Grass-type Pokémon, meaning that our Psychic-type, Water-type, Electric-type and Dark-type moves are either ineffective or not very effective. However, they’re weak against Fighting-type and Fire-type moves. Ultimately, you have to know how to approach it from different distances. They can hurt you up-close and far away.” Professor Gentian revealed. “This Shiftry has shown signs of evasiveness, but it will never get away from my Magnet Bomb.” Tesla stated with a resolute tone. “Everyone ready to take out a criminal?” Lith asked, pumping her upper right paw. The group walked up a set of eroded stairs that snaked its way towards the top of the hill. Walking under a crumbling arch, their eyes peered towards the shards of buildings formed out of crystals lying on the ground and impact craters along the street. Mono’s tails lowered and a frown cracked on his lips. “Countless millenniums of work must have been made to build this city. This must have been an important hub place for Pokémon before the end.” “This was the capital city of the world known as Kurisutaru.” Keldeo revealed with a somber voice. “From what my memories tell me, this was the city of my birth.” Lith kneeled down to her knees and scooped a paw full of dust. It settled in her hand with no wind disturbing it. A gust of wind blew it off, scattering it into the air. “Strange. There’s no wind but a gust just happened to blow this wind.” Shadow phantasms dropped behind Lith. The figure raised its leaf fan towards Lith. Professor Gentian narrowed his eyes and blocked the strike with his fan. Lith turned back, seeing a Shiftry by Gentian’s side. “Leave this Shiftry to me, Lith.” Professor Gentian declared, swinging his right foot at a low height towards the Shiftry’s groin. The Shiftry faded in a dark fog. Seven more Shiftry dropped down from the sky, surrounding the group in a circle and staring death into their eyes. The central Shiftry pointed its fan towards the group. Keldeo stepped forwards with a determined gaze fixated on it. “So you must be the criminal who was behind the attacks of Neo Canterlot. What do you have to say for yourself?!” He declared. “You traitorous scum! You have abandoned my universe and left it to die.” The Shiftry stated. “As a guardian of our kind, only death is suitable for someone such as yourself.” “Listen to yourself, Shiftry; you’ve let the destruction of our universe turn you into something you aren’t. You may be a troublemaker, but you were never malicious about it. What even gave you the idea to attack innocents in our universe?” “Implying that it was a universe you belong to anyways? You truly have abandoned us, Keldeo. Where were you when our kind was screaming at the fiery meteors that landed upon here? Where were you when millions of Pokémon died from the sudden explosion? You are a disgrace to your heritage.” Keldeo’s shoulders faltered and a wave of weakness overcame him. He took two steps back and frowned. “But… it’s not my fault. If I could fight it, I would. But…” “But what?! You were the hope of our planet and you left it to die. The spirits of your parents and everyone you ever cared about in this dimension all scream out in agony because you let them down!” “Shut up.” Fei declared, catching Shiftry’s attention. “Just shut up. What do you know? There wasn’t much he could do because he was still just a child when it happened. But, because you are a miserable survivor who is angry with his lot in life, you wanted to shift the blame to someone who doesn’t share that misery. You are lower than scum, attacking a blameless fellow Pokémon. You should be ashamed of yourself.” The Shiftry sprinted towards Fei’s direction and raised its fan towards his skull. Fei placed his left leg back into the ground and blocked it with his right fingers. His left palm radiated with a blue energy. He struck the Shiftry in its chest, knocking the wind out of it and blasting it towards the ground. The Shiftry disappeared. A Shiftry appeared from the shadows underneath Fei. Fei’s left eye peered towards its direction and widened. The Shiftry rushed at Fei with its fan surrounded by white streaks. The fan struck Fei, sending him flying off of his feet and into a worn-down structure. “Fei!” Lith screamed, running towards Fei’s direction. A Shiftry dropped in front of Lith and smacked her with its fan, knocking off the gauntlet on her paw. “Don’t you get it? You stumbled onto the wrong Pokémon to face. Embracing this darkness within my heart, you are hopelessly outnumbered and outmatched in power!” “Looks like I have to even the odds.” Mono stated. Images of Mono spread throughout the area, outnumbering the number of Shiftry by seven times. Each of the Shiftry smirked. “So you seem to be skilled in Double Team as well I see. But, considering how limited your offensive movepool is, I doubt you have the guts to take me on in a straightforward fight.” “It’s a good thing I have this gauntlet then.” Each of the images of Mono said, flashing the gauntlet in their left paws. Mono and his clones slammed the cruxes of their gauntlets to the ground. Spouts of fire shot towards the Shiftry at all direction. They dodged the fires, splitting into a number of clones that equaled to the number of the Mono clones plus the group. “A nice attempt, but it was nowhere near good enough.” A Shiftry said behind Mono. The Shiftry swung its Knock Off towards Mono, which vanished within smoke. Mono shot a Fire Pledge towards the Shiftry’s direction, expelling the clone from the area. Lith pushed herself up from the ground and gritted her teeth. She rushed towards her gauntlet at the ground and slid it over her left paw. Punching the ground, a spout of water collided with Mono’s Fire Pledge. A rainbow erupted from the steam generated from the two Pledge moves, shimmering down on the group. “Why did a rainbow appear here?” Spitfire asked, holding out her hoof and touching the particles of water descending towards the ground. “Pledge moves have interesting effects when used together. In this case, using Water Pledge and Fire Pledge together causes a rainbow, which doubles the probability of secondary effects taking place.” Professor Gentian explained. Fei leaped from the rubble of the building and struck a random Shiftry in the chest with a Focus Palm, causing it to disappear. With her body flashing, Lith shot a Psycho Fire towards the group of Shiftry, enveloping them all with their fire and causing all the clones to disappear. The lone Shiftry stood on its knee and brought its fan towards its burn mark. “Not bad. I honestly didn’t expect moves from Pokémon that are not of this dimension.” It said. “But don’t think that I’ll go down with just a burn.” The Shiftry opened its mouth and leaped into the air. A flurry of shimmering seeds rained down towards Mono, Lith and Fei and exploding on contact. The Shiftry disappeared from his spot and appeared from their backs, whacking its fan against the back of their heads. Lith’s eyes widened from the blow. She collapsed onto the ground. “Lith!” Mono and Fei announced. The Shiftry smirked and stabbed at Fei with its Aerial Ace. Fei fell down onto the ground, groaning and closing his eyes. Mono glanced to his right and saw a Shiftry phase into existence before him. It fired a Seed Bomb from its mouth at point blank range. Mono screamed, feeling the exploding rounds pelt his body to the point of unconsciousness. “Seriously, is that the best you three can do? I fought tougher threats when navigating Purgatorium.” Keldeo bore his teeth and sprinted forward. His horn fleshed out into his Sacred Sword and he dashed towards the Shiftry. The Shiftry blocked with its left fan. Both limbs shook with force applied against each other. “Your cruelty ends here. You may not know, but you made a personal enemy with me by attacking my best friends like that.” Keldeo said with his sword still locked in combat. “So your weakness shows, guardian of our kind. You let all of these attachments to the new world blind you to your home world? I see that I was wrong for thinking highly of you.” The Shiftry said, kicking Keldeo’s chest and knocking him back. Keldeo flipped back onto his hooves and leaped into the air. He aimed his right front hoof towards the Shiftry. A blast of water fired out of it, striking the Wicked Pokémon. Keldeo’s body became cloaked in a barrier of water. With its propulsion, he dashed towards the Shiftry with a heated gaze. The Shiftry blocked the collision with its fans. Keldeo burst out of the Aqua Jet and rolled to his right. His horn lit up with a dark blue aura, causing his body to vanish within the darkness. The Shiftry growled and leaped towards a shadow on the ground, smacking the direction of the air with its Aerial Ace. Keldeo’s invisibility disappeared and the Shiftry’s fan struck just below his rib cage. His eyes widened to the point where his eyeballs could fall out and his tongue tried running away from his body. Keldeo soared through the air and struck a wall. Keldeo limped out of the wall, pressing his right front hoof against his blackened ribs. “That hurt… more than it should have.” He noted. The Shiftry leaped down towards him and patted his face with a malicious grin. “I’ll admit that I was holding back a bit when fighting against your so-called friends. Out of the group, you are my real target. I will make you feel all of the pain and misery I had to endure!” Saying these words, it launched another blast of Bullet Seed at point blank range, blasting Keldeo towards the wall. Spitfire growled and stared at the Shiftry with raging eyes. She unsheathed the photon sword around her right front gauntlet and flew towards the Shiftry’s position. A clone of the Shiftry appeared in front of her and its fan swung at a horizontal arc. Spitfire took a sharp turn upwards and dove at a thirty degree angle towards the Shiftry clone, swinging her saber to the point where a barrier of light surrounded her. She shattered the barrier of photon and stabbed the clone through the chest, causing it to disappear. The Shiftry flashed a stoic stare towards Spitfire’s direction. Spitfire landed on the ground and pointed her sword towards its direction. “Game over. You’ve terrorized Neo Canterlot and my team long enough. I’ll give you one second to go down on your knees and surrender.” She demanded. The Shiftry ran up-close to Spitfire’s face and smirked. “And what if I don’t?” Spitfire rolled her eyes and swept her hind right leg underneath the Shiftry’s feet. She reared her blade towards the head of the Shiftry. The Shiftry spun, surrounding itself within a pocket of air. The winds blew Spitfire backwards. “So based on your appearance being similar to those weaklings I’ve fought, I assume you are a natural-born from that dimension.” The Shiftry said. “A world like that harboring weak fools has no point in existing in this space.” Spitfire gritted her teeth and dashed through the air, screaming and bringing down her blade. The Shiftry kicked away the direction of Spitfire’s hoof. Spitfire growled and swung her sword at a flurry. “You know nothing about the strength of us Equusians! We’ve been engaged in war with each other since the beginning of the annals of time! Even after we finally achieved peace, we still are in war. Hundreds die every day by the hands of the enemy, wanting to break our spirit!” Spitfire called out, swinging her sword with every two words that passed through her mouth. The Shiftry dodged each strike, smirking with every movement. “You call that ‘spirit’?! You should have seen their faces when I stared them in the eye. I could smell the fear in their breaths when they saw my face. Why does such a kind exist to live when my strong-willed kind were forced to the brink of extinction? Why?!” “Because they were born in a world of strife!” Professor Gentian shouted, leaping from above the Shiftry and kicking his groin. “But against the odds.” Saying this, he shot a Seed Bomb from his mouth that blasted the Shiftry towards the edge of the wall. “They choose to fight!” He swung both of his fans in slicing arcs, shattering the air with a torrent of fierce winds. The Shiftry held both of its fans in front of it in defense, groaning from the wind that tore it apart. Tesla levitated itself through the hurricane. Its body crackled with blue electricity and a blue orb formed in its magnet. It fired the orb towards the Shiftry, igniting upon impact. The Shiftry lied down on the floor face first. It pushed itself off the ground, straining its voice while getting up. It brought its left fan towards the burn on its chest. Mono, Lith, Fei and Keldeo limped towards the downed Shiftry with scrapes and bruising along their bodies. The Shiftry growled. “What are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to finish me off?!” It shouted in a prideful tone. Spitfire pointed her saber towards the Shiftry to the point where its nose touched the laser. “With what you have done to us, we could just mow you down like the criminal you are. After all, we don’t have the time or luxury to give mercy to a being from a different dimension who is hostile to our kind. But… I don’t feel angry at you.” She said with tranquil fury brimming in her voice. “Not angry?” The Shiftry asked with a lighter tone. “No. I feel pitiful for the kind of thing you have become. Rather than progressing through your life to make it better amidst the turmoil surrounding it, you threw an angry tantrum for your current circumstances and lashed out against innocent beings.” Saying these words, Spitfire’s saber retracted back into her gauntlet. She turned around and maintained her stone-hard face. The Shiftry gritted its teeth to cracking under pressure. It dashed forwards and raised its fan. “Do not turn your back on me!” Keldeo pushed Spitfire away from the trajectory of the Knock Off. The Shiftry’s eyes widened and a sudden burst of gagging erupted from its mouth. Keldeo pierced through the Shiftry’s chest with his Sacred Sword. The energy from the move retracted back into his horn. The Shiftry then dropped onto the ground without a movement in its body left. “Fighting like a coward is how you go down then? You could have accepted your fate and lived on, but you chose to demean your own skill and power into using such dirty tactics. You deserved to die along with the countless others that have perished with this universe.” Keldeo said with a cold tone in his voice. “Keldeo!” Lith shouted with a tone drenched in surprise. “How could you say that?” Keldeo shook his head and glanced towards Lith. “Throughout our encounter, all he did was spout on about how we were cowards running away from our fate when it was he who was doing so. He berated me for running away from my kind. My memory is still vague, but I know for a fact that what he did was disgraceful to the dead of my kind.” Spitfire shook her head and clicked her tongue. “A warrior who threw away his honor for the sake of anger and revenge… pathetic.” The device within Mono’s uniform vibrated. He pulled it out, seeing it flash to life. “It seems that this device recorded this world’s code. Does that mean we can come back here at any time without the need of Purgatorium?” “Yes. It’s a nifty feature I designed within the memory system as a way of giving us shortcuts. But for now, we are done. We still have to go back home and tell the council of our findings.” Professor Gentian stated. “When I first came onto that planet, I felt like a fish out of temporal water. But now… it really does feel like home.” Fei commented. “I really want to go home.” “This place is no longer my home, so I have to agree. Let’s go back to Neo Canterlot.” Keldeo requested. Mono sat on a bench with his left cheek and back of head adhered with a square-shaped bandage. His chest is wrapped around in bandages. Beside him sat Sophia, grinning with closed eyes. Within Mono’s lap was a yellow bowl filled with a warm and orange broth inside. His lips quivered with anxiety. “So what did you say this was again, Sophia?” He asked, pulling up the spoon and dripping the liquid into the bowl. “It’s a nice and warm soup for that ailing body of yours. Don’t be afraid; it’s nothing spicy.” Sophia responded. Mono smiled and dipped the spoon into the broth and brought it to his lips. His eyes lit up with joy. “It’s delicious. I didn’t know you could cook this well.” He complimented. “It’s a bit of a skill I picked up from this city. Fei was never good at cooking, so I had to learn. Hearing your reaction, it seems like I got the proper balance of carrot juice and aubergine.” Sophia explained. “I’m still very curious as to why you made this soup just for me. My sister, Fei and Keldeo are in just as bad of a shape as I am.” Mono said with a confused tone. Sophia scowled and slapped Mono across the left side of his face with her right front paw. Mono spat out the soup in his mouth and rushed his upper left paw to his cheek. “Gah! That… still hasn’t recovered yet.” “Are you really that dense, Mono?! I’m worried about you the most!” Sophia shouted. She ran up towards Mono and wrapped her front paws around his shoulders. “Even in your new and physically-stronger body, you still lack the others’ stamina! You could have died in that world… and I don’t want to lose you.” Mono raised his eye with a curious glance. “I’m worried about you too, but you don’t see me going around and slapping you.” “Just look at yourself! You’ve already been injured or hurt in some way more times than anyone else on the team and… and…” Tears welled up within Sophia’s eyes. She dunked her face within Mono’s shoulder and wailed. “Sophia?” Mono asked. “You are the one that understands that I’m not just a cute face, Mono. You are the first one who has literally taken the time to understand me and my feelings. You’re very special to me and losing you would be devastating. When I heard that you were going to catch that criminal, I grew afraid. Next time, please make sure to keep safe and not get hit.” Sophia pleaded. “Sophia… all this time, you expressed this worry for me?” Mono questioned. Sophia nodded with a frown on her face. A small smile made its way on Mono’s face. He wrapped his upper paws around Sophia’s body and hugged her. “I promise that I won’t worry you like that again. Is there any way that I could make this up to you?” He whispered into her ear. A wicked grin appeared on Sophia’s face. “Not too hard. Not too hard!” Keldeo, who lied down on his side upon a bed, screamed when Rarity rubbed her hooves along his bruised ribcage with a mint green cream on her hooves. “Relax, my Mystic Swordsman. I knew that something bad like this would happen to you, so I ventured out into the Everfree Forest and asked Zecora to make a healing ointment for you.” Rarity explained. “Thank you again for caring for me, my Sparkling Princess. I really did not feel like ending up in the infirmary like Fei.” Keldeo sighed out. “It’s not a problem at all. I do have to take good care of my coltfriend now, right? Besides, I heard from Spitfire about the entire situation. It seems like you are getting closer to discovering exactly what you are, and there’s two new Pokémon working at H.O.R.S.E.” Rarity sealed the bag of the ointment and draped a rag over the bruise. She wiped off her hoof with a spare rag and sat by the edge of the bed. She passed her right front hoof through Keldeo’s mane, stroking it with a gentle speed. “You know, Rarity, I killed someone today.” Keldeo said with a somber tone. “That doesn’t sound like something you would do. Can I ask about the trigger?” Rarity asked. “That Shiftry tried to kill Commander Spitfire when her guard was down. I pushed her out of the way and… I stabbed through the Pokémon.” “Why do you make it sound like an act of defense was a murder? You said it yourself that Commander Spitfire would have died had it not been for your intervention.” “A part of me had some sort of sick satisfaction with doing it though. I felt very angry, very confused and very annoyed with this Pokémon. All of the voices in my head told me to kill it and I succumbed to the desires of my demons. Was that even right of me to do?” Keldeo asked with a nervous tone. “We can’t all be the perfect beings, Keldeo. Every single one of us has done something we aren’t proud of, and we will only keep making mistakes as we go along. But, mistakes are what make us who we are. You made the mistake of submitting yourself to your inner desires. But, that is how you learn, right? You should be happy that you were able to fulfill your desires in a controlled setting. Just fulfill them in controlled settings and you’ll be fine.” Rarity advised. “You always do know what to say, Rarity. I’m glad that you are in my life.” Keldeo reached his right front hoof towards Rarity’s right front hoof and lifted himself up with his left hoof. Looking into Rarity’s eyes, his heart exploded out of his chest. Rarity craned her body towards Keldeo and planted her lips on his cheek. “I’m glad you are also in my life.” Professor Pasque glanced towards the tools on the table with narrowed eyes. A silent wind passed through his nostrils. The door to his right slid open, revealing Professor Gentian’s face. A small smile appeared on Professor Pasque’s face. “It is very nice to see you again, Gentian. I heard about your presence here, but seeing you is a much different sight.” “I’m glad to be back in a lab, Pasque. It was good to have an extended stay out of it, but I definitely feel most comfortable with working indoors once more.” Professor Gentian noted. “I’ve heard from the purple unicorn that you and Einstein are heading the Geneology aspect of device creation. I have to say that the technology you created is pretty cool then.” Professor Pasque frowned and craned his head low. “I cannot say I am proud to put my talents and knowledge into devising and developing weapons. This matrix research we are developing can be used for more important matters, such as improving the quality of the Equusian’s lives and helping to form bonds amongst each other. Instead, it is used in assisting to take out lives.” Professor Gentian grinned and walked towards Professor Pasque with a swagger in his step. He patted the right shoulder of Professor Pasque with his left fan. “Is that what’s bugging you? Look, I’ve heard about one of your creations nearly robbed the life of one of our field operatives along with other destructive implications. But, these are merely the growing pains of your research!” “Growing… pains?” Professor Pasque asked with a curious tone. “Yeah. Sure, we’re all using them for weaponry now. But, sooner or later, the Equusians will be using that research into doing good things for society! But for now, you are giving them the chance to fight back against the invaders and other situations. If you stop your research because of ethical and moral difficulties, then you can never use your research to help people.” Professor Gentian explained. “I… guess so.” Professor Pasque stated. “Anyways, my research with finding the next matrices is undergoing smooth progression. Very soon, we will be able to develop Rock-type, Ground-type and Psychic-type weapons… and I’m really hoping that we can create armor with this research as well.” “Armor, huh?” Professor Gentian voiced out, rubbing his chin with his right fan. “Yes. As you said, we are merely in the growing pains of application right now. If we can make armor and imbue them with the types we have discovered, then we will be able to save more lives out in the field.” “See? Now that’s what I’m talking about!” “I’m assuming that you are not here just to give me a pep talk, are you?” Professor Pasque asked. “I’m here to continue doing research in Space and Time. Who knows? Maybe we can visit the dimension where all of the others have been transported to.” “What do you mean by that?” “Haven’t you realized it yet? We’ve been here for three whole months and we haven’t found much in terms of other Pokémon. If Arceus truly did warp everyone off the planet, then shouldn’t we be seeing more Pokémon?” Professor Gentian rationalized. “Now that you mention it… this world has been surprisingly bare of Pokémon. It would be safe to assume that our machine back in Opelucid City had done something to affect our dimensional trajectory.” “Now that we’re together, our research speed and consistency should double. Plus, Tesla and I will be able to take your work for when you and Einstein are busy. So, you can keep mentoring those foals that you care so much about.” A light-hearted chuckle made its way out of Professor Pasque’s mouth. With his right front foot, he patted Professor Gentian on his back. “Welcome back.” Author's Note It seems like everyone is coming back together one step at a time. The next planned chapter will have things go a bit easier for you all to catch a breather. Mutual UnderstandingSpike hoisted himself upon a ladder, pulling out a thick book from the top shelf of a tall bookcase. He grinned at the sight of the blue-covered book in his claws. He dropped down the ladder’s bottom step and kissed the cover. “Hello Encyclopedia of the Arcane Arts.” He said with a flirtatious tone. He dropped the book’s cover and eyes Sweetie Belle, who flashed a keen smile towards his direction. Spike squealed and leaped onto the ladder. “How did you get here?!” Spike shouted, holding the step of the ladder with his left claw. “Rarity brought me here. There’s something I want to tell you.” Sweetie Belle said. “Can’t it wait until some other day? I’ve been wanting to read out of this book for a while and I finally get my chance to.” Spike stepped down onto the floor. Sweetie Belle grabbed Spike’s right wrist with her front right hoof. “Rarity told me that you are always busy reading out of books and doing magic-based experiments here. I think you need to get out of this place once in a while.” “What? I have free time and I do get out of this place from time to time. It’s just that… well, err… I want to use magic. If I’m out of this place, then I can’t use magic like any other unicorn could.” Spike rationalized. “And? Why is it that you want to learn and use magic so much? Take it from a unicorn filly who is learning her way around magic; it’s useful, but it’s not what others would consider to be worth dedicating their lives over.” Sweetie Belle explained. “You wouldn’t understand, Sweetie Belle. I was hatched through magic right before the Van’Goth invaded. Magic is beautiful to look at. Magic gives me hope and the energy to live day by day. Even if I can’t use magic outside of here, I want to learn everything about magic because magic is ultimately fun. You understand?” With a grin, Spike said. “Spike, it’s pointless for you to concern yourself about magic. You’re a young drake who shunted himself from the outside world to perfect something that he will never be able to do.” Sweetie Belle said with a flat tone. “I guess your right… but Twilight depends on me for helping to advance some of the magic around here. I can’t just stop what I’m doing to have fun.” “Sure you can! You really need to spend time with others who are around your age group or you’ll never be able to become a socially-functioning being in our modern world.” “So what does this have to do with my current dilemma?” Spike asked with interrogative tone. “Rarity and Twilight told me that you need to socialize and that will teach you a magic you can always use; the magic of friendship.” Sweetie Belle stated with a confident tone, tugging on Spike’s wrist. Spike rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine, I’ll go along with you. If this is what Twilight wants.” Spike and Sweetie Belle walked underneath a series of hanging pots filled with dramatic and colorful flora littered the streets that they walked on. Spike inhaled through his nose, letting the sweet aromas mixing together trigger a pleasured sigh. “I don’t think I have ever been on this street before. What’s the name of this street?” “This is the Floral Avenue. It’s one of the best-smelling places in the city, and it uses real bees to pollinate the flowers.” Sweetie Belle explained, pointing to a bee flying inside of a hive on a lone tree. Within their line of sight, they viewed Stereo painting an image and Fleur De Lis looking on with a happy glint in her eyes and a small smirk. “This place is very relaxing. It puts my nerves at ease and the aroma is wonderful.” Stereo commented. “It is a very nice street, no? You will not find anything like this district throughout the rest of the city.” Fleur De Lis told. “Hey, Stereo!” Spike shouted, waving his right claw and running towards him. “I did not expect you to be outside today, Spike. And I see you are courting a lady friend as well.” “What? No!” Spike shouted with a red tinge on his cheeks surfacing. “Sweetie Belle just wanted me to come outside today.” Stereo gazed towards Fleur De Lis and grinned with a hopeful expression. Fleur De Lis nodded with a silent smile. “Well bring Sweetie Belle and yourself towards those patches of moonflowers blossoming over there. It would bring to fruition the inspiration I desire.” “You mean there?” Sweetie Belle asked, pointing towards a steel arch covered in white flowers. “Come on, Spike! This will be fun. We get to be on a painting!” “Eh, I might as well. I got nothing else better to do.” Spike said. Sweetie Belle and Spike ran underneath the arch with wide smiles on their faces. Stereo held out his hand and raised a thumb up. “Perfect! Keep it in that position for about thirty minutes!” Stereo stopped stroking his paintbrush on the canvas. Sweetie Belle and Spike ran over to his side and looked at the canvas. An image of the two by the arch is presented to their eyes. The colors of the paint ran thin the farther it got away from the focus. “What do you think? It’s a bit bare, but I have the skeleton of the image drawn.” Stereo asked. “You really can be called an artist! The strokes are exquisite to the eye.” Sweetie Belle stated. “I cannot be called an artist yet. I have not suffered enough to be deemed one.” Stereo noted. “Being an artist sounds like serious work if you must suffer.” Spike noted. “It cannot be helped. Art is experience, and the biggest experiences often end in tragedy.” Fleur De Lis said. “Well, it wasn’t like I was trying to look for a cutie mark in painting anyways. I want to live a long and happy life.” Sweetie Belle said. “Just remember, Sweetie Belle; happiness is just but for a moment. When you learn that happiness cannot be forever, then you shall take the next step to growth.” “Ummmm… yeah we’re going to leave now.” Spike stuttered out with a rushed tone, tugging on Sweetie Belle’s right front hoof. “Yeah. Spike and I have somewhere to be now.” Spike and Sweetie Belle sprinted down the street and disappeared from sight. Stereo chuckled. “Those two seem to be in quite the rush today. They should learn to stop and smell the roses.” “I agree, and those two will someday make a fine couple. Their hearts are but just mere buds after all. Through the passage of time and the nutrients of their attention, those buds will bloom into beautiful flowers.” Fleur De Lis waxed with poetic language. “So is that all for the apprenticeship today, Miss Fleur?” Stereo asked. “I suppose so. Just remember to practice your dexterity and think outside of the box.” Sweetie Belle and Spike stood outside of a window, where a nearby sign depicted an image of a white scoop of ice cream on a wafer cone. Spike crossed his arms and fumes erupted from the corner of his mouth. “You know we could have ice cream back at H.O.R.S.E. right? We don’t even need to wait in a line since I got a whole stash of it!” He stated, raising his arms into the air. “But then you’ll miss the point of eating at an ice cream parlor! It’s not about whether you can eat ice cream or not, but it’s about being able to eat ice cream with the sun shining down on you while sitting down on one of these tables.” Sweetie Belle explained. “It’s a time to get to know who you eat ice cream with.” Spike glanced towards his side, where a table that seated Mono and Sophia became nestled in his view. Two ice cream tones here held in place with a steel frame. Mono licked at the vanilla scoop with an intense fervor and Sophia nibbled on the green scoop with trees of frozen broccoli jetting out of it. “I didn’t even think that broccoli was even a flavor here!” Sophia noted. “I was very surprised when I saw that. I thought that there wouldn’t be any bitter ice cream flavors for you to enjoy, since the other ice creams we saw here were the same vanilla, chocolate and other sweet varieties.” Mono said. “You hate those sweet flavors, right?” Sophia brought her mouth away from the ice cream. Her mouth was drenched with ice cream. She nodded her head. “Honestly, I don’t really like sweet things all too much. It’s too overbearing for my taste buds.” Mono looked towards his right. Seeing Spike gazing at him by the window, he grinned and waved. “Hey Spike! What are you doing here?” Sweetie Belle’s horn flashed in a light green, allowing her to levitate the chocolate soft serve cones to her and Spike. “Sweetie Belle dragged me here out of the library to get some fresh air and socialize or whatever she calls it.” Spike said, grabbing the cone and licking at the scoop of ice cream. “You make it sound like it’s torture, Spike. What are you doing here Mono?” Sweetie Belle asked with a cheery tone. “Well… Sophia and I thought that it would finally be a good time to go out on a date.” Mono stated. “She wants to spend more time close with me because she’s afraid that I’ll die sooner or later.” Sweetie Belle rubbed her hoof on the ground with a nervous shake of her leg. She cocked her head with an uneasy frown on her face. “Can you please not say ‘die’ around me? It makes me feel like this will be our last day alive.” She requested. “It’s understandable. So, it seems like you found a boy toy of your own.” Sophia said with a smug grin on her face. “What? What’s a boy toy?” Sweetie Belle asked. Sophia rushed by to Sweetie Belle’s side and wrapped her left front leg around Sweetie Belle’s shoulders and pointed towards Spike with her right front paw. “Don’t play dumb with me. You obviously picked someone who will grow up to be very big if you know what I’m talking about.” The entirety of Sweetie Belle’s white coat reddened to a rose in bloom. Her hooves quivered and she stared at Sophia with a scowl. “That’s not funny! I’m just taking Spike out for the day because he’s always stuck doing nothing but research!” Sophia leaned inwards towards Sweetie Belle’s right ear with her same smug grin. “Are you sure you don’t have any feelings for him?” She whispered. “Sophia! You’re making things between us awkward.” Sweetie Belle warned. “Well if you want Spike to reciprocate his feelings for you, you got to learn how to turn him on. I’ll even demonstrate this right now using Mono as the test subject.” Saying these words, Sophia strutted her way towards Mono and walked around him, rubbing her body around his legs with a slow and sensual speed. Mono’s spine jerked upwards. His eyes shot wide open and his mouth shut at an instant. “W-what are you doing, Sophia?” Mono asked. “Oh, nothing.” Sophia said with half-lidded eyes, leaping up towards Mono’s shoulders and rubbing them with her front paws. She dipped her legs underneath his upper limbs and down his sides until she is rubbing his hips. A bright red blush illuminated through Mono’s dark coat. His left eye’s lower eyelid rose to cover half of his pupil and a loud purr emanated from him. “P-p-please… Sophia.” He stuttered out. “Oh you like that, do you?” Sophia asked with a seductive tone. “I do b-b-but why h-h-here? A-and why is this making me feel so…” “You know that soup has a lot more eggplant in it than you think. Eggplant does some very fun things to males you know.” “Just stop. This is embarrassing.” Mono pleaded. “Okay!” Sophia stated, letting go of Mono’s body. She went towards Sweetie Belle and grinned. “And that’s how you turn on your mate.” “I don’t get it. Wouldn’t that be called sexual harassment?” Sweetie Belle called out. “Not if you’re a female.” Sophia whispered, winking with a tilt of her head. “Seriously speaking though, you don’t really want to do that too much. You could get arrested or sued if they feel harassed.” Sweetie Belle looked towards Spike, who stared towards Mono’s direction with his mouth and eyes wide-open. He stood in this position with his ice cream tone towards his chest level, frozen in disbelief. “What just happened?” He worded out in shock. “You don’t want to know yet, Spike. Trust me, you don’t.” Sweetie Belle answered. The two of them walked away from the ice cream parlor with their faces stunned with uneasiness. Sophia walked to her seat and began eating the ice cream in front of her. She looked towards Mono with a smile on her face. “You look a bit distracted there.” She teased. “Ummm… a b-b-it. My vocab-LOUGH isn’t cong-EESE!” Mono sputtered out. “Awww don’t be like that, Mono. How about we go back to my place and I could shower you with more of those massages?” Sophia asked with a seductive grin. Mono looked down towards the ground with a deep red blush on his face. He glanced towards Sophia with a nervous glint in his eyes. “That would be… nice.” Spike’s scales and Sweetie Belle’s mane became drenched in the waterfalls of sprinklers spraying throughout the park. Sweetie Belle shook her head, shaking off the beads of cascading water that swamped her mane. “The Sprinkler Park is a very refreshing area to be in. The grasses are well-fed and the spraying water is a perfect way to cool down.” Sweetie Belle explained. “Yeah, but doesn’t it use up a large amount of our water supply? Water is a very limited resource.” Spike interjected. “The water we get is from the sea through pipelines. It is treated within the water filters underneath the city and brought onto the surface for public use. Miss Cheerilee taught us that today.” “And that’s another reason why magic is so important and that I should be studying it right now.” Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes and frowned. She looked towards her right and saw Gnasher and Custard sitting on the bench. Gnasher crossed her arms and scowled and Custard laughed and pointed to her. “Can we leave this place yet? I hate getting wet.” Gnasher responded with an aggravated tone. “We can leave here at any time. You are the one who suggested we go here today.” Custard said. “I did because we always did what I wanted to do together and thought that it would be a nice change of pace to do what you wanted. But this?!” Gnasher shouted, holding out her arms with widened eyes. “I suppose it is a problem, considering you are a Ground-type. But I come here from time to time to reinvigorate my moisture levels. It helps to keep me healthy after all.” “Ummm… who are they, Spike?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Oh! That’s Gnasher and Custard, two more H.O.R.S.E. operatives! I’m surprised you haven’t seen them.” Spike stated. “Want to talk with them?” Gnasher poked her head through the sprinklers, where Spike and Sweetie Belle entered in her field of vision. She grinned. “Look! It’s the dragon shrimp, and it seems like he’s with a filly. Want to say hi?” She suggested. “I would love that.” Custard responded. Gnasher and Custard stood up from their seats and approached the children. Spike waved towards their direction. “Gnasher! Custard!” “S’up Spike? It’s a rare sight to see you out of the headquarters.” Gnasher commented. “Sweetie Belle thought it would be a great idea for me to get some fresh air.” Spike said, letting out an exhausted sigh. “The amount of times I actually had to say that is getting very stale.” “You only said it three times.” Sweetie Belle stated. “Sweetie Belle? I think I might remember seeing your image in Rarity’s work office.” Custard said. “Rarity is my big sister after all.” “Then why aren’t you at H.O.R.S.E. more often? Wouldn’t you be considered a H.O.R.S.E. child then?” Gnasher asked. “Well, that title only goes to children whose parents are operatives at H.O.R.S.E. My parents are civilians with civilian jobs in the city.” Sweetie Belle explained. “Rarity decided to become a member of the Regiment so that she can put her design sense into practical use as well as fight for our nation.” “So you two are out here on a date?” Spike asked. “Yes we are. The fine mist here invigorates me. Are you out here on a date too?” Custard responded. “Gah! Why does everyone assume that Sweetie and I are out on a date?! It’s absurd!” Spike shouted. “She just happened to drag me outside against my will! There’s nothing even close to romance between us!” Saying these words, he stormed off with a scowl on his face. Sweetie Belle extended her right front leg towards his direction and frowned. “Spike!” She shouted, running towards his direction. “Great. Now it feels like we are involved in some sort of cheesy romance plot.” Gnasher said. “I would offer to cook fish, but there are people who hate it when the fish is cheesed.” Custard said with a light and casual tone. “D…did you just crack a joke?” “What if I did?” A small grin made its way on Gnasher’s face. She wrapped her right arm around Custard’s shoulder and dragged him close to her. “That’s the first time I heard you make a joke. It could be better, but it is passable.” “I did learn how to joke after being around you for so long. I thought that it would be the perfect time to joke.” Custard said. “You know, I’ll take you up on your offer to cook fish. I’m getting pretty hungry. But please, leave out the cheese.” “Spike!” Sweetie Belle called out, reaching out her hoof and grabbing Spike’s right shoulder. “Look, Sweetie Belle, I’m not sure if I even feel comfortable being around you right now.” Spike said with a crestfallen tone, turning around and looking Sweetie Belle in the eyes. “Just because a couple of operatives keep calling us a package? Don’t listen to them, Spike. It just looks weird because we are a male and female going through some areas that can be considered romantic… well, except for the ice cream parlor. That was just weird what happened there.” Sweetie Belle mentioned. “I know. But… what if they are right and we are a package?” Twiddling his claws together, Spike asked. “I mean, you’re nice and everything, but I really don’t want to be in a relationship right now. Not when I have all of this magic research to do.” Sweetie Belle cocked her head and smiled with a soft disposition. She treaded her right front hoof onto Spike’s forehead. “Is that all you were worried about? You know I never brought you out with the intention of going out with you. I just think that you are very lonely sometimes and that you need someone to take you out from time to time.” “You think I’m lonely?” Spike asked with a confused tone. “Well, yeah! You don’t go to school like I do and you rarely interact with others outside of research-based means.” “I suppose that’s true. I never really interact with Equusians around my age group. So… I’m sorry that I acted immaturely back there. I’m actually enjoying today and I really don’t want it to stop.” “We actually have one last stop to go on before our day is complete.” Sweetie Belle declared. Celestia’s sun neared the end of the horizon and Luna’s moon rose into the sky. Sweetie Belle and Spike rushed through the neon-flashing frame of a building. The duo walked around the bend of the corner, where their eyes were greeted by bright and flashing lights coming from machines and the walls. The roars of the stereos and Equusians fiddling with the controls smacked the duo’s eardrums. “This place looks fun. What is it?” Spike asked, looking around with an innocent smile on his face. “You’ve never been to the arcade before? It’s a great place for kids to just hang out. Speaking of which.” Sweetie Belle pointed to the right, where Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked towards the group with Rumble and Jetstream Rush by their sides. “Oh! You made it!” Applebloom shouted. “I never thought you would get that stubborn drake out of the headquarters.” “Yeah. Now that we all have our plus ones, we can participate in the Xtreme Lazer Tag Arena!” Scootaloo shouted, stomping on the ground. “Ummm… what’s going on?” Spike asked. “You didn’t know? Tonight is the Crossed Hearts Lazer Tag event. Couples participate for free instead of having to pay.” Rumble explained. “I came with Scootaloo as soon as I heard that.” “I’m here just to go out with Applebloom. Nothing wrong with that right?” Jetstream Rush said. “Wait a moment… you tricked me into coming here?” Spike asked with an interrogative tone. “Why?!” “Well… errr, none of the other students wanted to be my plus one because everyone else had plans. I know that you are always available, so I kind of lied about my sis and Twilight saying you need to get out.” Sweetie Belle responded with a sheepish grin. She frowned and looked down onto the ground. “I’m sorry I lied to you.” “Normally… I would be very mad in this situation. Very! But, I’m not.” Spike said. “You showed me a great time and that’s all that matters. Who cares if you did it for yourself? Ultimately, I’m glad you did it.” “So does that mean you’ll play?!” Sweetie Belle shouted with a smile on her face. “Of course. I’ve always wanted to try Laser Tag.” Spike said. “Is that so?” The group of children looked to their right. A bandaged Lith and Fei walked towards the group. “Lith! You and your friend don’t really look too good.” Scootaloo noted. “We came off the cruxes of a vicious battle today. Mono and I came out to be in good shape, but Fei and Keldeo… not so much. Though, I hear that your sister is taking care of him.” Lith explained. “I’m confused. Why’s Fei here if he’s in such bad shape?” Applebloom said, pointing towards Fei, whose leg wavered and his right eye squinted in pain. “It’s nothing much. Just some broken ribs and some internal hemorrhaging remaining. It’s nothing serious.” He said. The children looked towards each other with nervous glanced and clenched teeth. A nervous giggle made its way through Scootaloo’s lips. “I’m not a whiz on doctor stuff, but I don’t think you should be walking outside of a hospital.” Scootaloo said. “And miss the Crossed Hearts Lazer Tag event going on tonight? I don’t plan to miss it for the world if it allows for me and Lith to spend the night together.” Fei responded. “I tried to convince him to stay in bed and rest, but he really wanted to do this with me. I would probably do the same thing, so I let him come with me.” Lith explained. “Wow… you’re really stubborn.” Rumble noted. “My older brother wouldn’t even try to move around on a sprained ankle.” “I have to. As a H.O.R.S.E. operative, I need to be able to move even with the worst of injuries. Please, do not let my condition change how you see me. I’m here to have fun with my girlfriend, and that’s all what matters.” “I would hug you, Fei-Fei, but I really don’t want to aggravate your condition.” Lith noted. “I really appreciate your concern.” Fei said with a small smirk on his face. Sweetie Belle and Spike stood back to back of each other, wearing black vests around their chests that illuminated in a bright green color. They panted with heavy breathing and held their handgun-shaped weapons close to their faces. “How are you holding up, Spike?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Very good. There are twelve teams and half of them were eliminated so far. But this maze-like structure isn’t exactly helping out with my nerves.” Spike responded. No sound emanated through the air. Sweetie Belle and Spike heard their hearts jumping out of their chest. “Where is everyone? They can’t all be gone already… can they?” Sweetie Belle questioned. “I’m not too sure… but Fei is surprisingly vicious out on the field despite his condition. His marksman skills and stealth took out half of the competition by himself.” Spike voiced with concern. “I’m afraid that he might be breathing down our necks right now.” “You mean like this?” Sweetie Belle and Spike’s eyes widened to the point where their eyeballs can fall out at any moment. With a slow movement, they directed their heads above them. Only darkness was seen. “Okay, for a moment there, I was afraid that Fei might have found us. It must be our minds playing tricks on us.” Sweetie Belle said, sighing in relief and wiping away the sweat from her forehead. “But I did.” Spike and Sweetie Belle looked forwards, gazing at Fei in a glowing rest vest. Their hearts plummeted into their stomachs. “W-what?! But but how did you throw your voice?!” Spike shouted. “I didn’t. But, now that I have you on my sights, it’s time to end your game.” Spike aimed his weapon towards Fei’s chest and shot a laser into it. “You talked too much. You gave me the opening I needed for that shot.” “So I have.” Fei cracked a grin and peeled away at his vest with careful pulls. His body shrieked in pain. Spike’s eyes glanced upon Fei’s mouth, where a drop of red liquid seeped out of his mouth. “Ummm… Fei? You’re bleeding.” “Don’t worry about it too much. I’m fine, really.” Fei insisted. Wearing an aqua blue vest, Mono sprinted down the corridor and grinned. He ran towards Spike, Fei and Sweetie Belle with a confident smile. His smile dropped into an open frown, seeing the blood leaking out of Fei’s mouth. “Fei!” “Mono? What are you doing here?” Fei asked. “Sophia and I came here to play, remember? Why are you out here in your condition? Don’t you know you can damage your organs?!” Mono shouted. “I know, Mono. But, I would give my body up for Lith. I love seeing her smile.” Fei stated. Mono clenched his teeth and gripped Fei’s left hand with his right upper paw. “That kind of attitude is going to get you killed, Fei. At the very least, let me treat some of your wounds with my Psycho Heal. After this match, you’re going straight back to the infirmary and you will be re-examined by the doctors.” Fei nodded in silence. He kneeled down to his knees. Mono’s eyes flashed in a blue color and his upper paws became illuminated with a white aura. He treaded them upon Fei’s chest. The blood on his lips retreated back into his mouth. “Mono, did you come here because you are worried about Fei?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Part of the reason. Though… I wanted to play with Sophia as well. I just didn’t expect Fei’s condition to act up this badly.” Mono explained. “You didn’t need to do this for me, Mono. I’m perfectly fine.” Fei said. “No you aren’t! Bleeding from the mouth is not a good sign under any circumstance! I know you didn’t want to disappoint my sister, but I don’t want to lose a friend because of recklessness. Now you kneel still and let me treat that rupture I know you have in your lungs.” Mono stated. “Lung rupture? You mean you’ve been playing this entire game with that?!” Spike shouted. “It only came up halfway when I was eliminating other teams. I didn’t think much of the lower levels of breathing and the pain in the right portion of my chest, so I continued.” Fei responded. Sweetie Belle looked onto Fei in silence, seeing a disappointed frown on his face. The light on Mono’s paws faded. “You really shouldn’t move much anymore, Fei. I don’t want you to aggravate your condition some more.” Mono said. “He’s already eliminated. I’ll make sure he goes straight back to the hospital at H.O.R.S.E.” Spike offered. “Wait, he is?” Mono asked. “He’s telling the truth. Spike is fast on the gun. I probably should have just shot him.” Fei said. “Lith will be disappointed, but I’m going back to the infirmary.” “I’ll walk you there too.” Sweetie Belle said. “Are you sure you want to do that, Sweetie Belle? It seems a bit inconvenient for you to do.” Spike warned. “I’m sure. Plus, it will give me another reason to walk back to your place.” With these words, Sweetie Belle undid her team vest and placed it on the ground. She smiled and looked onto Fei’s face. “I’ll make sure no other harm comes to you, Fei.” “That sounds like a good proposition from you.” Spike, Sweetie Belle and Fei walked into a room where a periwinkle polka-dotted curtain separated the two begs in the room. Fei limped his way towards the bed and sat down. “I think I might have overdone it again. My ribs are poking at my chest.” “Well why did you run? Your ribs aren’t exactly in the steadiest condition right now.” Spike said. “I was lucky that Mono and Sophia decided to play tonight. If not… well, my condition may have worsened.” “There has to be more for purposefully hurting yourself than to make Lith happy. She would be the last being to see you pass away.” Sweetie Belle rationalized. Fei lied back on the bed and shut his eyes. He took a shallow breath and exhaled it. “Maybe… maybe I just miss my little brother. It has been a while since I last saw him conscious. With the whole ‘warp every Pokémon and good human on the planet into a different world’ scenario, I can only wonder how he is doing. I wonder if he is even alive anymore.” “You have a brother?” Spike asked. “Fee was his name. My parents must have had a naming scheme with us, but I still loved my younger brother very much. But, a mechanical malfunction with a mecha being developed for Pokestar Studios under a project I was involved in went wrong. Fee, who was with me at the time, believed that he could stop it and went inside of it.” Fei explained. “Don’t tell me…” Sweetie Belle said with her breath robbed by shock. “The malfunction caused the mecha to transform and crushed him. Miraculously, he survived. But… he never woke up after that incident. Part of the reason why I was involved in the same lab that the others were in was so that I could afford the treatments to keep my younger brother alive. I guess that I don’t fear death anymore because I feel that death would be a way to reunite with my brother once again.” “I’m so sorry to hear that, Fei. I never could have imagined that you held thoughts of hurting yourself for what happened there.” “Do not feel sorry for me, Sweetie Belle. No one could have known that would happen. But… this incident has always left me feeling uncomfortable around mechas. Who knows if the exos here would cause their pilots to end up in the same condition as Fee was when he tried disabling the malfunctioning mecha?” Fei said. “It’s getting late, Fei. I’ll be walking Sweetie Belle back home before the curfew settles in. I don’t want her to be stuck here while her parents worry about not being able to see here.” Spike stated. “That would probably be the best idea. I don’t think Rarity would want to see anything bad happen to her younger sister either.” Spike and Sweetie Belle turned around towards the door behind them. The two of them walked out with frowns on their faces. Sweetie Belle and Spike walked along the streets. The street lights illuminated the duo’s path. Spike looked into Sweetie Belle’s eyes, seeing that her cheery radiance dimmed into a shallow sadness. “Sweetie Belle, you looked bummed out. Is there anything you would like to talk about?” He asked. “I’ve just been wondering; what would happen if something bad were to happen to me? Would Rarity try to hurt herself because she failed to protect me? I don’t want that to happen to her, and I’m afraid that I will get badly hurt sooner or later.” Sweetie Belle explained. “Don’t say that! You’re not going to get hurt. Rarity, Keldeo, Fei, Twilight and all the other members of H.O.R.S.E. and your parents will make sure no harm will ever come to you. And, if they can’t do it, then I’ll be there for you!” Spike declared. “I appreciate the thought, Spike, but I really can’t see you doing much when compared to the others.” Sweetie Belle said. “I don’t care. You’re one of the very few people who have told me to do something different other than to study magic. For the first time in my life, I actually felt alive and a member of our unique society. Even if it was through trickery, you introduced me to a new way of life. For that, I thank you. Now I know that there’s more to life than just trying to learn magic. Friendship is magic, just like what you said. So now, I’m going to learn to take that magic and add it to my life.” Finishing up his words, Spike stumbled onto the path towards a two-story home. He looked towards Sweetie Belle and smiled. “Thanks again for walking me home, Spike. Do you think we will see more of each other?” Sweetie Belle asked. “You can always stop by H.O.R.S.E. to visit me. I’m usually the one who’s researching magic. I’d love to go outside again.” Spike responded. “I had a great time after all, even if the last bit of the day was depressing.” “I’m sure you did.” Sweetie Belle ran down the path towards the door. She knocked on it, cueing a flashing of yellow lights in the home. The door opened. She walked through the open crack of the door. Spike crawled into a twin-sized bed in his room. Twilight Sparkle, who sat at a stool with a computer in front of her, looked behind her and smiled. “How did your day go, Spike? I heard from Mono that you had fun.” She asked. “A lot of it. But, right now, I’m pooped. I walked Sweetie Belle back home.” Spike said with half-lidded eyes. “I could tell that you are tired after that. Her home is on the other side of the city.” “Twilight, can I ask a favor of you?” Spike asked. “Sure. What do you want? I’ll grant it without a problem.” Twilight Sparkle said with a confident smile on her face. “Twilight, can you enroll me into school?” Spike questioned. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes widened and a small frown curved onto her face. “But… aren’t you happy being lectured by me? I make sure to give you only the best tutelage available.” She asked. “I am, and I appreciate what you teach me. But… I’m still a growing boy. I need to interact with others around my age group if I want to function in a socially healthy way.” Spike stated. “I see your point. I’m not happy with it, but I understand. As your legal guardian, I will make sure that you go to school so that you can learn and be happy around others.” “Thanks, Twilight.” With a small smile on his face, he squirmed himself into bed. Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed and the sheets became enshrouded in a purple aura. Spike felt the blanket tuck itself into him. “Good night, Spike.” Twilight Sparkle said. She looked towards Spike’s direction, seeing his chest rise and fall. She turned back towards the screen, where an image of Strawberry Delight and her room was present on the desktop. “Sorry about that, Strawberry. Spike just came back home tired.” “It’s not a problem, Twilight. So how’s your research into applying the Pokémon Genome into Equusian magic going along?” Strawberry Delight asked. “It’s proceeding very well. I received some volunteers for the Pokémon-Equusian Genome Transfusion. It’s doing well. I’ll talk more about it tomorrow morning.” Twilight Sparkle responded. “One more thing; has the new issue of Playfilly come yet?” “No. That should be coming in tomorrow. When it does, you’ll be one of the first girls I’ll invite over my abode to look over it.” “That will be so hot! I hope that Razor Wind doesn’t mind me looking through images of hot and sexually explicit male Equusians.” Strawberry Delight stated. “You act like he doesn’t look at smut himself. I’m sure he’s fine with whatever you do in regards to your personal tastes of magazines.” Twilight Sparkle assured. “I know. So… you’re going to enroll Spike into school?” “Yes. I don’t like the thought of sending him off to someplace where he can suffer social issues, but he really wants to go. I understand where he’s coming from since I only started making friends after the Van’Goth invaded. At the same time, I know that he understands how I feel about sending him off alone.” “There you go! You two have a perfect mutual understanding on each other’s feelings. That’s the sign of some healthy communication there.” Strawberry Delight said. “Anyways, I got to log off. I’m tired. It was nice chatting with you again online.” With these words, the image of Strawberry Delight disappeared. Twilight Sparkle turned around and flashed a confident smirk. “Mutual understanding, huh? I like that concept.” Author's Note Spike-centric slicy of lify chapter ahoy! Except... now I'm scared about Fei. Why did I have to write in those implications? Evolution Beyond LimitsMono’s eyes illuminated to the hazy landscape of Purgatorium. He took a deep breath and stared out into the horizon. “You called me again, haven’t you? What do you want this time, strange omnipresent voice?” Mono shouted. “I see you have visited the realm of my dominion. Truth be told, all the universes that connect through it are mine, and every being that lives in them is mine to command. Now it is time that I keep my end of the word and give you power beyond anything you can imagine.” The entire landscape of Purgatorium illuminated before Mono’s eyes. He blinked once and smiled. “Are you sure you can just give me this information like this? Exactly who are you?” “Do not let my name slip through your memories young child; my name is Deus, one and only god of this universe.” Deus’s voice disappeared along with the landscape. The landscape of the bleak city made its ways towards his eyes once more. To his right, he saw the same sad filly against the decaying fence reaching out for him. “Please… won’t you revive… Don’t be….” The landscape and the filly disappeared from Mono’s sights. Mono woke up in his bed. He looked towards Lith’s bed and blinked twice with a confused glint in his eyes; her bed’s sheets remained undisturbed and there was no sign of anything belonging to her on the bed. “Where’s Lith? I haven’t seen her after last night.” He said to himself. “I would like to think more, but that dream left me even more questions to think about. Can I still remember the information Deus gave me?” Mono’s watch rang with a loud clamor. He looked down upon it and touched it. An image of Twilight Sparkle’s head appeared on it. “Mono! I need you to swing by the lab ASAP. I have some very important news to discuss with you.” Twilight Sparkle announced. “Understood. Just let me do my morning duties and I will be over there at a speed reaching Mach 5.” “I’ll hold you onto it, Mono.” Mono sprinted through the doors of the lab. Twilight Sparkle stood in the center of the room with a white lab coat on, tapping her hind right leg on the ground. “It took you long enough.” She said. Mono looked away and rubbed his neck with a nervous frown on his face. “Sorry. I took a lot more time eating my breakfast today.” “Understandable, but you should probably go to the cafeteria to eat your breakfast then. It’s all premade and it’s close to the lab.” Twilight Sparkle stated. “I know. So, what did you request my presence here for?” Twilight Sparkle smiled and waved her hoof back. She pointed towards the giant screen, where silhouettes of various Equusians and a strand of rainbow-colored DNA appeared on it. “I’ve been doing some personal research with how we can imbue your Pokémon DNA into our operatives to grant them some of the abilities of Pokémon. It’s a bit unusual right now, but I am getting the kinks worked out.” She explained. “That sounds cool… but you do realize that experimentation like that could kill the testers, right?” Mono said with a straight tone. “I do. But, that’s why I designed a magic failsafe that would remove all traces of the Pokémon genome if things go wrong.” “Interesting. So who are the testers?” Twilight Sparkle pointed towards the door that lifted open. Fluttershy, a yellow-coated earth pony stallion with a brown mane and tail and a black-coated pegasus stallion with a white Mohawk-shaped mane and tail entered into the lab. “Fluttershy! You look better! But… who are these two?” Mono said. “The name’s Caramel. I dropped down from the Civilian Division to assist with the testing.” Caramel introduced. “My name’s Thunderlane. I’m still a novice in the Marksman Division, but I have deadeye aiming skill that has caused many a successful resolution to my missions.” Thunderlane stated. “As for me, Mono, I’ve been cleared by the Medical Division for allowance into standard H.O.R.S.E. activities again. My heart has been doing better after that incident.” Fluttershy said with a cheerful smile. “That’s good to hear, but are you sure you should be testing again so soon?” Mono questioned. “I’m not working with electricity this time.” Fluttershy pulled up a black bangle around her right front hoof and displayed it to Mono. Mono looked towards Twilight Sparkle. “It’s purely magic. It just happens to mimic your DNA.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “While I couldn’t give them your moves and such, it gives them passive abilities that I have discovered in my personal side of the research. For example, Caramel’s grip on his weapons is greatly improved since his body is a bit sticker.” “See?” Caramel said with a smile with a ball sticking to his body. “Don’t try to touch me, because you’ll become paralyzed.” With a crackle of pink electricity surging through his body, Thunderlane stated with a proud tone. “At least that’s what she said.” “Sticky Hold and Static I see… What about you, Fluttershy?” Mono asked. “I’m not sure yet. All I know is that I have an ability.” Fluttershy said. “You see Mono? Nothing bad has happened to them during the course of the experiment. Sooner or later, they will be ready for field testing.” Twilight Sparkle assured. “Very interesting results you came up with, Twilight. I’m sure that the professors must be happy with this progress you have made.” Mono complimented. “They don’t know yet. I’ve kept this research confidential and only my test subjects know about it. I told you because it is your DNA genome that I based this research off of, so it should only be fair that you get to know.” “So what exactly determines the abilities that these bangles give? It seems like they are random depending on whoever wears them.” Twilight Sparkle pointed towards the screen. The rainbow DNA split into three and combined with the silhouettes, causing them to flash in different colors. “That’s precisely what it is; random. Honestly, there’s so much to even one single strand of DNA that it is impossible to pinpoint one desired effect you would want with a consistent ratio.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “It’s honestly better for research purposes just to add the random generator in there rather than try to manipulate the desired effects.” Thunderlane glanced towards Twilight Sparkle with an impatient stomping from his right front hoof. “Ummm… can I leave now? I need to wake Rumble up for school today.” He pleaded. Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes and breathed out an agitated gust of air through her nostrils. “Fine. But you’ll have to be very careful with removing that bangle. The chip is directly injected into your body and any sudden movements will cause you to cut yourself further.” She responded. Thunderlane peeled away at the bangle and placed it on the table. He left the room. “Ummm… I have to leave as well. I need to check the request postings for today.” Saying these words, Caramel took off the bangle and placed it on the table. He then left the room. “Do you want to leave as well, Fluttershy?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “No. I have nothing else to do for today.” Fluttershy responded. “Well, I still might need to run some tests on you to check for your ability. Do I have your consent for this?” “Of course you do. If I can help, then I will help.” Mono looked towards Twilight Sparkle with a worried frown on his face. “Twilight, have you seen Lith anywhere? She wasn’t in our living quarters when I woke up and I’m somewhat worried about her.” “You don’t need to worry. I saw her while I was at the infirmary. She stayed by Fei’s side over the night.” Fluttershy explained. “That’s the first time she didn’t tell me she would be away from me. It kind of left me terrified to not be able to sleep in the same room as her.” Mono said. “Oh right! I forgot that you have separation issues.” Twilight Sparkle noted with a smile on her face. She looked towards Mono, who ducked his head between his shoulders. “Ummm… moving on. Other than that, you look like you have something on your mind you would like to share.” “Oh! Thank you for reminding me. I have the knowledge of creating a device capable of further evolving our own selves.” Mono stated with a confident tone. “What do you mean by ‘evolve’?” Twilight Sparkle asked with her head cocked in confusion. Mono walked towards a window, displaying a clear gaze into the dome of the city. “I’m not sure if you know this or not, Twilight, but many Pokémon are capable of something known as Evolution. When the conditions are met, a Pokémon can evolve into a stronger form with more abilities and power at their disposal.” He explained. “All the Pokémon you have seen so far are all in their final stage evolutions.” “Wait, what?” Fluttershy asked, backing onto her rear legs. “I didn’t think you were evolved from something.” “It’s true. Meowstics are evolved forms of a Pokémon known as an Espurr. Maybe you might see one someday, but that’s not the point of my conversation. The fact is that while we are in our final forms, some Pokémon have the ability to exceed even further with a process known as a Mega Evolution.” “Mega Evolution huh?” Twilight Sparkle voiced out with a hint of suspicion in her tone. “Do go on. What exactly makes this form of evolution different than the one you speak of?” “Many things. Mega Evolution was introduced through a Legendary Pokémon known as Diancie, which is essentially a Carbink that underwent a type of permanent Mega Evolution. Diancie introduced something known as a Mega Stone, which is a special ore that is contains the DNA of a Pokémon that would allow it to exceed beyond its form.” “So you just need to find a Mega Stone that corresponds to the same species of Pokémon that can use it to achieve Mega Evolution?” Fluttershy asked. “It’s not that simple. While a Mega Stone is an important factor for achieving Mega Evolution, a Key Stone is needed to commence the Mega Evolution. Key Stones can be embedded into accessories that a trainer can wear. If the bond between a trainer with a Key Stone and a Pokémon holding a Mega Stone is strong enough, then a Mega Evolution can be performed by the trainer tapping their Key Stone.” Mono responded. “I see… I appreciate more information on Pokémon through the concepts of Evolution and Mega Evolution, but that sort of information doesn’t seem too practical with what you have in mind.” Twilight Sparkle noted. “How would Mega Evolution contribute to evolving ourselves further?” “That is what I was about to go to. In my dream, I’ve came across the idea of an artificial Mega Evolution that anyone can use. Just imagine being able to evolve your powers all of a sudden through a sleight of your upper limbs. Your skills will sharpen and you will feel a burst of energy that would allow you to achieve anything your heart desires!” Mono acted out with a large and open smile on his face. “That sounds exciting. But… a natural Mega Evolution already sounds complex and nearly impossible to perform in our world. How would we even begin going about by a Mega Evolution?” Fluttershy asked. “That part will be difficult to explain in one sitting. But, the information I received in my dream says that we can build a network exclusively for that purpose. If a natural Mega Evolution requires the use of a trainer and Pokémon’s bond with each other, then an artificial Mega Evolution would be achieved through a device linked to a terminal.” “I see where you are getting at. We simply mimic the events of a Mega Evolution through our database’s connections with our operatives through this device you have planned. But, I don’t think you thought this situation out completely.” Twilight Sparkle stated. “What do you mean?” Mono asked. “Well, in order to even begin to understand how a Mega Evolution would work, we actually need a sample of a Mega Stone and Key Stone for research purposes. As of right now, there is absolutely no way how we can generate the same frequencies that are used in a Mega Evolution.” “Oh. I almost forgot about that. There’s absolutely no way that we can get those here, is there?” Mono’s smile formed into a frown and his body slumped forwards. “Ummm, Mono? I might have a suggestion for you.” Fluttershy peeped out. “Professor Pasque might probably have some information on it. His words have given some allusion to what you were talking about with Mega Evolution and all.” “I guess I can go off of that. If anyone knows more information on Mega Evolution than me, then it’s the professor.” Professor Pasque and Einstein gazed out into the dome-covered sky. Their eyes locked onto the cloud formations flowing across the azure horizon. Einstein shrieked with an excited tone and pointed towards a sheeted wave of clouds coming in from the southern horizon. “Look Professor! That’s an Asperatus Cloud formation coming from the north!” He pointed out. “It looks to be that way. I don’t know much about how the weather system works here, but I heard that pegasi create and manipulate clouds through the use of water vapor in the sky. It is an interesting and noble effort on their part to still be able to create clouds during this time.” Professor Pasque noted. “It looks so wavy and so thick. I would love to be able to sleep on a cloud like a pegasus can.” Professor Pasque smiled and rubbed Einstein’s back with a slow speed with his right front foot. “One day… I’m sure you’ll be able to.” Mono sprinted towards the field of grass that Professor Pasque and Einstein lied upon and reached his upper right paw towards their direction. “Professor Pasque! Einstein!” Professor Pasque turned his neck towards Mono’s direction and smiled. “Mono. What can I do for you?” He asked. “Professor Pasque, what do you know about Mega Evolution?” Professor Pasque looked towards Einstein, who shrugged his massive arms. He focused his glance towards Mono. “I know quite a bit about the concept. Is there a reason you asked?” “I think I might have found a way for all of us to achieve a sort of Artificial Mega Evolution. It came to me in a dream, but I need to study a Key Stone and a Mega Stone to understand how their waves work.” Mono explained. “I wasn’t planning on revealing anything… but I am actually in possession of a Key Stone and a Mega Stone myself.” Professor Pasque said. “What?!” Mono and Einstein shouted with their eyes widened in shock. “It was something that I held close to me even when going into this world. I couldn’t identify what type of Mega Stone it was, but I do know that it is indeed a Mega Stone based on its patterns and wavelengths. If you need it, it is at my workstation within the lab.” “Thank you, Professor Pasque. But why did you keep it a secret from everyone?” Professor Pasque looked towards his right and left, being alert to his surroundings. “My lab has many different artifacts that would make it a major target. I’ve covered any and all information about their existence within my lab and preserved their secrecy to this day. I know that if word got out that I was in possession of such artifacts, your lives would then be in jeopardy.” He explained. “I understand. But… why didn’t you tell me?” Einstein asked. “I wouldn’t squeal.” Professor Pasque frowned and shut his eyes. “It isn’t you, Einstein. Naturally, I am a very secretive being. I make sure that absolutely no information escapes from my hold. I know that you would keep a secret, but I cannot trust myself to tell you.” “Oh… I tend to overlook that fact about you. Sometimes, I forget how much of a good communication we have with each other.” Einstein stated. “No need to feel hurt Einstein. I know you have your secrets, just as much as I have my own. We are all entitled to our privacy.” Mono ran towards a large counter in the lab with several drawers. He pulled on the bottom one, which revealed a small sphere that flashed in the colors of a rainbow and a DNA shape on it. Next to it was a larger stone that was clear in color. The DNA-shaped mark on it is less translucent than the rest of the sphere. Mono scratched his head and cocked it. “Professor Pasque was right. If this is a Mega Stone, then the lack of color on it doesn’t really show what species of Pokémon can react to it.” He grabbed both the Key Stone and the clear Mega Stone from the drawer. Twilight Sparkle looked onto Mono and rubbed her jaw, eyeing at the two stones with an intrigued hum. “So these are the stones you were talking about, Mono?” “That’s right. Honestly, I’m not sure whether this Mega Stone is real or fake. It matches the common descriptions found in the ores of Mega Stones, but it doesn’t look like any Mega Stone seen up to this point.” Mono stated. “I’m not even sure what a clear stone is supposed to represent.” Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed with a violet color and levitated the two stones towards her face. She hummed and narrowed her eyes. “What is it?” Mono asked. “These stones definitely have a unique frequency that I have not yet seen and they reverberate with each other. I can guarantee you that this is indeed a Mega Stone just from the unique readings I get from it.” Twilight Sparkle rationalized. “I guess that these will have to do then. I guess we can begin research on them and construct a new server based on that information.” Wearing a light blue medical gown, Fei sat up in bed. On his lap was a gray tray was a bowl of brown and fermented mush. His eyes watered at the sharp and sour smell of the bowl. He pushed it to his left and turned his head away. “Gah! It smells horrible. I knew hospital food has a reputation for being foul, but fermented bean paste?” Lith walked into the room with a brown bag tied around her. She opened the bag and pulled out a black and plastic bowl from it. She took the bowl of fermented bean paste away from him and placed her bowl on his tray. Fei eyed it with a curious glint and removed the top from it. Inside was a slab of white meat sliced into six strips. It rested upon dark green vegetation and was topped with sliced jalapeños on top of it. “For you.” Lith said with a smile on her face. Fei smiled and looked towards Lith. “I could tell that this is much better than the food the hospital serves. May I ask what it is?” “Gnasher said that she captured a cockatrice of all things. She said it was a bit tough removing the scales, but she prepared the meat for me to throw into a bed of romaine lettuce and top it off with jalapeño slices. I threw in a splash of vinaigrette so that it would allow the flavors to soak better.” Lith explained. Fei took a fork that was to the right of the tray and jabbed it into the meat and vegetation. He brought the contents into his mouth and chewed it. Swallowing the foodstuff, he felt a burning irritation inside of his throat. His eyes widened open and he fanned his mouth with his right hand. Lith pulled out a canister of milk and handed it to Fei. Fei opened the lid of the container and downed the entire bottle in one gulp. The irritation in his throat disappeared and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. “Thank you very much for the food, Lith. You know you didn’t have to do this for me.” Fei stated. “And leave you eating that nasty goop they call food? You’re still recovering from surgery earlier this morning and you need some good nutrition in your body to help you do that. What’s the point of having nutritious food if you won’t be able to enjoy it? The cockatrice meat is very high in protein and iron while the vegetables provide a high level of vitamins while tending to your taste buds. I made this in mind for you. I have to start taking care of you after all.” Lith said. She leaned towards Fei’s direction and kissed his right cheek. Fei brought his right hand to his cheek and rubbed it. “Having you by my side and witnessing all this had really brightened my hospital stay. You bring a ray of sunshine into my desolate world.” “You know that you are verging on cheesy territory again, right?” Lith said with a serious tone. “I do, but I really mean it. Some days, I just don’t really feel like living. I feel like I’ve been dropped into a hellhole where I’m forced to fight. My life as a human wasn’t so great either.” “Look, I know about what happened to Fee and everything, but you have to realize that your life won’t stop just because of events such as those. I mean, look at the Equusians. They lost nearly everything, but do they give up? They want to make a new life for themselves despite the odds. You can as well.” Fei wrapped his right arm around Lith’s body and pulled her close for an embrace. With his left hand, he stroked the tufts of hair on Lith’s head. “Again, I must thank you for being here. I’m sure that Mono must have been worried about you being here. Lith’s eyes rose with a slight movement and she pulled herself away from Fei. “I forgot to tell Mono!” Shouting these words, she ran out of the room, leaving Fei by himself. Fei frowned, sighed and shoved his fork back into the salad. Lith ran down the hall with her heart bursting out of her chest. She ran up towards a changeling with her eyes and mouth wide in panic. “Do you know where Mono is?!” She shouted. “I think he might be in the lab.” The changeling responded. Lith continued down the hall, sprinting with the notion that her life depended on her actions. She crashed through the doors of the lab and witnessed Mono and Twilight Sparkle standing around a table. On the table are the Mega Stone and Key Stone. “Lith! You came just in time.” Mono said with a happy tone in his voice. Lith exhaled a calming breath and smiled. “Sorry I didn’t contact you beforehand, Mono. I was too worried about Fei and I guess I forgot to tell you.” She said. “I was upset for a bit, but now I’m not upset. Fei needed you more by his side than I needed you, and I accept that.” Mono stated. “Wait, did you just…?” Lith worded out. “Is there something wrong, Lith?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “No. Nothing is wrong. So what’s going on here?” “We’re conducting research for an artificial type of Mega Evolution. You are welcome to join us.” Mono said. Lith nodded and walked towards Mono’s side. She wrapped her left upper paw around Mono’s shoulders and rocked him back and forth. “So… would you mind if I wasn’t around your side more often then?” She asked. “You have your life and I have mine. Our lives may naturally be intertwined with each other, but that’s not an excuse I can use to hold you back. How else can I grow up?” Mono stated. “From how it sounds like, your maturity evolved.” Author's Note I have nothing quirky or insightful to say here. Here's the new chapter of the story. Farmer's HandsApplejack, Custard and Jasmine reached beyond the southeastern corner of the city, where the concrete and steel changed into verdant grass and moist dirt. A foul stench hit Jasmine’s nose. Her eyes watered and she covered her face with her right upper limb. “Applejack, may I ask what is that dreadful scent out here? It almost smells like manure.” She asked. “That’s because it is manure. Didn’t you know this when you and Custard agreed to help me with my cousin’s request?” Applejack responded. “I have but that scent is overbearing. I will have to unleash an extra dosage of chamomile and lemongrass to counteract the horrible stench in the air.” “You can relax, Jasmine. The smell is just nature’s way of saying ‘I love you’ to all the plants of the world.” Custard said, hugging himself with a smile on his face. “Geez, Custard. I love this scent as much as the next Apple Family farmer, but you really take it to a whole new level.” Applejack noted. “I grew used to the smell of the manure after the other Pokémon shoved me within it for a long time.” “Sounds like you were bullied there.” “He was. His species line is generally a prime bully target by other Pokémon for a plethora of reasons. His appreciation for the smell of manure is a… coping mechanism he developed after the other Pokémon in Opelucid City used to push him into imported Miltank manure.” Jasmine explained. “I felt terrible for him, but he still forgives the Pokémon that bullied him.” A light-hearted chuckle emerged from Applejack. She patted Custard on his back. “Turning the other cheek when you get struck, don’t ya? I respect your loving spirit, but you gotta learn a thing or two about inflicting tough love on others.” Custard’s eyes widened and a nervous frown appeared on his face. He shook his upper limbs. “Oh, I can never inflict tough love. I honestly hate the concept of being tough on others.” “Like how you were tough on that mechanical dragon chimera when we first came here? Or when you scared a member of the Van’Goth into submission?” Jasmine noted with her eyes slanted with a sly glint. “Those were a different case. They are unrepentant sinners that deserve to be locked within the confines of the Reverse World.” “Ummm… yeah. Moving onto a different topic, we’re at the farm now.” Applejack said with a nervous shift in tone. Custard and Jasmine looked towards their front, where a giant meadow sprawled before their eyes. Oxen littered their eyes farther than the eye can see. Applejack pointed her hoof towards the barn that could fit ten living complexes and a small house nearby it. Behind the aged glass peeped a white-coated earth pony mare with a brown mane tied into braids and green eyes. She smiled and waved, running out from the door and approaching the trio. “Applejack! I’m so glad you took my request!” The mare stated, embracing Applejack with her right front legs. Applejack smiled and wrapped her right front hooves around her. “It’s nice to see you too, White Apple.” Custard and Jasmine looked upon White Apple’s flank, where a cutie mark an apple at the intersection of two crossing milk bottles was present. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends, Applejack?” White Apple asked. Applejack released her hug and turned towards Jasmine and Custard. “I want you all to meet my fifth cousin twice removed from the Land Down Under, White Apple!” “That is a lot of distance in blood relation…” Jasmine noted. “And you still consider her your cousin?” “That’s right. We’re still Apples and no amount of distance in our blood can change that. You must be some of ‘em Pogeymanz Applejack was telling me about.” White Apple noted. “Pokémon, but it is close enough to pass.” Custard corrected. White Apple walked underneath Custard’s shade and stroked his neck with her right front hoof. Feeling the nice and warm strokes of White Apple’s hoof, Custard cooed and rubbed his head along her hoof. “You sure are friendly. I take it that you must be Custard?” “You are correct with that assumption.” “So that must make this quiet, yet sophisticated gal here Jasmine then?” White Apple asked. “Absolutely. You raise quite the farm here, White Apple. Have you ever thought about investing in some air fresheners?” Jasmine asked. Applejack’s teeth clenched and she scowled towards Jasmine’s direction. A burst of laughter erupted from White Apple’s mouth and she flipped her right front hoof. “That’s a wonderful joke, Jasmine. Now come inside and let me tell you and Custard all about my dairy farm!” Applejack, Jasmine and Custard sat around a dusty wooden table. Three white coasters were planted on the table in front of them. White Apple spun three glasses of milk from her tray, which twirled and landed onto the coasters. Jasmine’s eyes widened and her arms jumped up in surprise. Custard smiled and clapped his upper limbs together. “That was amazing! When did you learn how to do that?” Custard asked with a tone peppy with excitement. “You learn when you’re an heir to one of Equus’s largest dairy farms. Now let me regale you with a tale of this farm’s importance.” White Apple began explaining. “You see all ‘dem bulls and cows out there? They’re the only remaining ones in this world left. Milk is always in high demand, so these bovines are essential to the city for their milk supply.” “That seems a bit risky to leave all of the milk production of the world to one farm. What would happen if an epidemic struck all of your bovines and you are left without them?” Jasmine asked. “I see where you’re coming from, Jasmine. That is always a big concern for me. If all of these bovines were to suddenly die, then the effects would be disastrous to Neo Canterlot. But worry not; I treat each and every single one of these bovines as honorary Apple Family Apples. I’ll make sure that nothing bad happens to them!” Custard grasped the glass of milk in front of him and brought it to his lips. The liquid seeped into his mouth. He felt the refreshing chill and the starch sweetness lingered on his tongue. He let out a pleased sigh and lidded his eyes halfway. “This milk is delicious! I haven’t had such fine-quality milk ever since Lith had me try Moomoo Milk. What is your secret?” He asked. “An Apple never tells the secrets of her craft to outsiders. But, I can say that’s love you taste right now.” White Apple said with a sly smirk. “Enough idle conversation. I am interested in hearing what the details of our service to you are.” Jasmine requested. “Nothing much. I need some extra hooves with milking the cows today and cleaning their stalls. All of my other farm hands took the day off, so I’m a bit understaffed at the moment. But the four of us will be able to do all of this work in one day, no?” “When two Apples and Pokémon come together, everything can be achieved. Now let’s go do what we came here to do!” Applejack declared, rearing her front legs with an excited flurry of kicks. Custard and White Apple walked into a silver depot that contained numerous amounts of stalls. Many cows stood within these stalls, chewing at bales of vegetation and had tubes firmly grasping their udders. Custard eyed the milk flowing from the many tubes into a machine. “I’ve never seen what a modernized milking process looked like. I wonder if this is how they milk Miltanks back from my world.” “Yep. This fancy technology makes it easier to milk the cows, but some of my heifers don’t really like feeling the suction process on their udders. For them, I assign gentle-hearted workers to squeeze on the udders themselves.” White Apple explained. “That’s where you come in!” “Me?” Custard asked, pointing to himself. White Apple and Custard walked into the stall of a brown-coated cow whose udder was not connected to a milking mechanism. By her side was a wooden stool. “That’s right. Big Bertha might look like a tough and intimidating cow, but she’s actually soft and gentle.” White Apple explained. “She absolutely despises the milking machine that would be put on her, so she’s one of those cows that we manually milk.” She sat on the stool and reached her right front hooves onto Big Bertha’s udders. She began pulling on them, releasing shots of milk onto the bucket underneath. “So I have to pull on the udders like so?” Custard asked. “Exactly. I warmed her up for you, so you should be able to do well with her.” White Apple stood away from the stool and she held her left front hoof towards it. Custard sat on the stool and looked down upon his upper limbs. He reached them down towards Big Bertha’s udders and squeezed them. Big Bertha’s mouth and eyes widened from the slimy limbs that grasped her udders. Her muscles became stunned in surprise. “Uhh… she seems frozen. Did I do something wrong?” Custard asked with a hint of anxiety in his voice. White Apple examined Custard’s limbs that wrapped around Big Bertha’s udders and examined the coating of slime dripping from them. She cocked her head and lifted her right front hoof back. “Uhhhh… you might want to keep your goo there in check, Custard. You’re making Big Bertha feel uncomfortable.” She warned. “Do you have gloves I could use?” Custard asked with a nervous grin. Jasmine hovered into a stall, wearing a yellow gas mask, and black gloves and boots made of rubber. In her two upper limbs are a brush and a clear bottle filled with a green cleaning solution inside. She stared at the bales of hay that stunk of feces. “Filth… my one greatest enemy. Prepare to meet the cleaning power of Jasmine the Aromatisse!” She bellowed out. She lowered herself down to the ground and kicked away the hay. Underneath it were small bricks of brown fecal matter that can peel away the layers of the eye with its stench. She redoubled her will and grabbed a scoop near the entrance of the stall. She scooped up the feces and dropped them into a bucket. She sprayed the ground that they were on with the green liquid, where a floral scent emerged from the green bubbles building up in the sprayed area. She scrubbed the ground with the brush in her limb. The paint on the ground peeled away, revealing a shimmering silver underneath. She scrubbed the floor until the entire rectangle became spotless with silver. “Okay… now to dispose of these-“ Jasmine looked to the walls of the stall, which were red with a coat of dirt on it. Her right eye twitched. She peered into the pockets of her uniform, pulling out three yellow spheres with fuses on them. A Thunderbolt shot out of her body and danced upon the tips of the fuses, setting them on fire. She tossed them towards the back of the stall and ran out. “Fire in the hole!” The bombs exploded with scrubbing suds flying throughout the area. She smiled and floated towards the stall she was cleaning, where the dirt and some paint came off the walls. She whistled a dainty tune, scrubbing off the remainder of the soap. A pleasant aroma emanated from her body and covered the stall, bathing it in a floral and fruity scent. “And done. This is good work if I say so myself.” Jasmine said with a pleased tone. Applejack stomped her way towards the stall, covered in bubbles and staring at Jasmine with scowling eyes directed towards Jasmine. “Jasmine, perhaps you should prepare the feed for the oxen. Maybe that wouldn’t trigger your fancy cleaning disorder you have.” “Too much?” Custard squeezed on the udders with the tips of his upper limbs and feet adorned with rubber gloves. He held his tongue out and narrowed his eyes with each pull of the udders. Milk squeezed out of them, filling the silver bucket below. The black-coated cow in front of him looked to her right and cried out a happy sound. “I’m glad that you are happy, Heidi. It was a pleasure working with you as well.” Custard responded. White Apple walked towards the stall that Heidi and Custard are in and whistled with an energetic tone. “That’s a nice bucket of milk you got there. Heidi’s difficult around newbies because her udders require some TLC to get even a small amount of milk. You’re a natural at this!” She complimented. “Understanding a cow is like understanding another Pokémon I feel. Once the two of us were in sync, then the rest became easy.” Custard responded. “I’ll say. Every cow you’ve milked seems to be much happier! I bet that these buckets are filled with especially tasty milk.” White Apple picked up the handle of the bucket with her mouth and walked towards the mouth of the stall. She looked back towards Custard with eyes of sunshine and waved her right front hoof. “I’ll be right behind you, White Apple.” Custard said. Custard followed White Apple beyond a set of doors where a large machine with a funnel rested. White Apple poured the contents of the bucket into the machine, where a faint whir resonated from within. “Haven’t heard a sound like that since I was back home at Kijaro’s Rock. Ah those were the days.” Custard looked onto White Apple’s face and saw that her peppy smile broke into a small frown and her eyes fell. “You don’t look so well, White Apple. Is it too much if I asked?” White Apple let out a sigh and faced towards Custard’s direction. She forced a smile through her muscles. “Custard, be honest with me; how do you feel about milk?” “Milk?” Custard asked with his tone rising in surprise. “I suppose I didn’t give much thought to milk because of the fact that I don’t have much of a skeletal structure. But, I can see how important milk is and I love your philosophy on how we should treat our bovines as feeling members of our family for more than just getting the finest milk.” White Apple walked towards a corner and tossed herself down into it. She pat on the floor to her right. “Sit here, Custard. We have gotta talk over a bottle of fresh milk.” Custard walked towards the spot designated by White Apple’s hoof and planted himself into the floor. White Apple dragged her right front hoof towards a crate filled with glass bottles of milk. She grabbed the nearest bottle and brought it between her and Custard. She tore off the metal cover of the bottle with her bare hooves. “Ummm… thank you?” Custard said with eyes slanted in curiosity. He took the bottle and wrapped his mouth around the hole, drinking the cool and refreshing liquid. White Apple ripped off the cover of her bottle and brought it to her mouth. She closed her eyes and began chugging the liquid down. The mare pulled the half-empty bottle away from her and she sighed with her eyes half-lidded in euphoria. “Custard, do you have a girlfriend of your own?” She asked. “Yep. I have my snugglynosed Gnasher.” Custard asked. “Can you tell me what it feels like to be in a romantic love?” “It’s a wonderful feeling. Seeing the target of your loving affections makes your heart melt and makes you feel giddy with glee and happy. You would just want to do anything and everything with your loved one!” White Apple downed the rest of the milk in her bottle and tossed it into a blue bin with a disregarding motion of her hoof. “Do you ever see yourself having children of your own one day?” She asked. “I would love to do so with Gnasher, but we aren’t of the same breeding group. Our best chance at having children would be to adopt. Is there a reason why you are asking these questions, White Apple?” Custard responded with skepticism towards the end of his words. “There’s a tradition that we Apples of the Apple Family have; when we become of age, we’re supposed to look for a significant other ourselves so that we can continue the line of the Apple Family. But… that’s kind of impossible for me.” White Apple said. “Impossible? Why? You are a young mare who is beautiful and full of energy. Any stallion would want to be with you.” “…I’m unable to have children of my own.” Custard’s eyes widened at the statement and he frowned. “What do you mean by that?” “What I’m saying is that no stallions can plant any seeds in me that can germinate into apples for me to continue my branch of the family. It’s all dead tissue in there because of some condition that renders me unable to have a fertile field of my own. The rest of my immediate family all died shortly after the war began, leaving me to be the sole heir to the farm and the last of the Milk Apple subline.” White Apple stated with a depressed tone. “That is something to be depressed about.” Custard noted. “You don’t even know the half of it. When my time eventually comes to kick the bucket, I’ll have no successors to give my farm to. My work hands aren’t as serious about milk as I am, and the rest of the living Apples can’t be trusted to keep this a pure dairy farm. I’m afraid that my bovines will not be happy in the new hooves that will be forced upon them and Neo Canterlot’s milk production will suffer.” “But why tell me all this? I’m just a volunteer to do community service for my organization. I shouldn’t be the one to hear your personal information.” “Custard; I have a sharp eye for how others treat my bovines. You may not be able to see it, but you carry a true passion for milk that I have not seen since my ma. My cows sing praises of you even if you just met them and you even got that much milk out of Heidi on your first try!” White Apple stated. “So you want me to be your successor? But, I’m not even sure that I would be able to take your place when that time comes. I would probably end up being too old to milk a cow, and I won’t be able to even create new generations to continue the line.” Custard responded. “True… but you are the closest I know of anyone who shares a passion for milk like I do.” “Why don’t you try adoption? I’m sure that there are many children that will show promise as a dairy farmer.” Custard suggested. White Apple swiveled her head towards Custard’s direction and frowned. “I could, but then I’d be doing it for the wrong reasons. A child would feel that the only reason I adopted them would not be because I would love them, but because I am desperate for a successor. Desperation never makes a good parent since a child would feel like that they would have to try for my affections and love. The child would be even more miserable than when they lost their parents.” “I see where you are coming from there. I will need some time to decide, White Apple. Once I have sorted out everything with Gnasher, I’ll give you my response.” Lowering his head towards the ground, Custard responded. White Apple smirked and launched her right front hoof at a soft speed towards Custard’s left shoulder. “Take all the time you need, Custard. Just even acknowledging it makes me happier than a kangaroo that found herself a tasty fruit.” Jasmine and Applejack sat underneath the shade of a large tree. Large apples that were covered in a pink and yellow skin hung from the branches above. Jasmine looked at the fruits in above her and gazed at them with longing desire. “You want a white apple up there?” Applejack asked with a smirk. “I would love one very much.” Jasmine responded. Applejack stood up from her spot and bucked the tree with her hind legs. The branches of the tree shook and a lone white apple fell down into Jasmine’s lap. She looked at the fruit with widened eyes and grabbed it. “There you go.” “Thank you very much, Applejack. I’m very impressed by the accuracy of your bucking there.” “It’s nothing. Just a skill passed down from generation to generation in the Apple Family.” Applejack proclaimed with a proud tone. “Why does your fifth cousin twice removed even keep an apple tree here? I thought she was a strict dairy farmer.” “An Apple Family farm is allowed some leeway with what an Apple can produce. Besides, white apples remind my cousin of the good ol’ days back when half of the Forgotten Wastes used to be Zebrallia.” Applejack explained. Applejack laid her body back towards the shade of the tree and tilted her Stetson, blocking the sun away from her eyes. Jasmine took a bite out of the apple and tasted its sweet and exotic juices. Her eyes widened and she looked at the apple with a condescending glare. She tossed the apple towards Applejack’s direction. “Bah! Too sweet.” She complained. Applejack took the apple and bit into the uneaten flesh. She smiled and relished at the flavors dancing in her mouth. A pleased hum emanated from her voice. “She definitely has some good apples here. It’s a shame that she wouldn’t capitalize on it.” “Well, she is a dairy farmer. That’s a very important calling in life for her.” Jasmine pointed out. Applejack turned the apple to its side and glanced towards Jasmine. “You know, White Apple’s been having issues of late when it comes to who would succeed her. I would offer me or Applebloom to succeed, but we’d probably turn the dairy farm into an apple orchard filled with these trees.” “Why would she have troubles with succession? It should be as simple as just giving the farm to someone you trust, right?” Jasmine questioned. “Well that’s the thing; she don’t have anyone who she can trust her farm to. She can’t have foals of her own and there isn’t anyone who her bovines would feel one-hundred percent peachy around but her. It’s a very sad turn of events for a proud Apple such as her.” Applejack stated. Looking up into the azure sky, Jasmine’s eyes picked up on a group of specks in the air flying towards the dome above. With the distance closing between her and the specks, she was able to make out mechas flying towards the dome. Her eyes widened with anticipation. “Applejack! We have company!” She called out, pointing towards the sky. “What in tarnation?!” Applejack shouted. “We have to warn my cousin and H.O.R.S.E.!” “Thank you again for the milk, White Apple. I really do taste the happiness in your cows!” Walking down the corridor of the barn with White Apple, Custard exclaimed. “I’m glad you’re able to see life how I can see it, Custard. Even if you are just considering the offer, I’m a happy farmer since it gives me one less thing to worry about.” White Apple stated. Jasmine and Applejack sprinted around the corner where Custard and White Apple were. Their faces lit up with panic. “Applejack! Jasmine! You two look like you’re in a hurry.” White Apple said. “White Apple! You got to bring your bovines back into the barn! The Van’Goth are coming at this very farm!” Applejack warned. White Apple’s jaw dropped to the ground. Her hooves fumbled upon themselves. “I gotta hurry and bring’em all inside!” She shouted. Flying towards the edge of the barrier, a sinister smile appeared on Goethia’s face. The hand on her mecha retreated back inside and a drill replaced it. She punched the dome of the city with her drill, which spun to the point where fiery sparks can be seen from the edge of the city. The drill pierced through the barrier, creating a circle-shaped hole. “Excellent. This new technology works very well, Wilhelm.” She said. “It’s the latest in the technology developed through my research of the aliens that call themselves Pokémon. Have fun with the new additions on your mecha, because I had a lot of fun testing them out on lesser beings.” Wilhelm stated through a holographic image in front of Goethia. White Apple fanned her right front hoof into the main gate of the barn with her teeth clenched in anxiety. All of the bovines retreated back inside of the barn. Applejack, Custard and Jasmine gazed towards the sky, where Goethia’s mecha dropped onto the ground. “It seems that H.O.R.S.E. operatives are already here. I guess I can kill some time by killing you three.” Applejack looked into the hole at the dome, where a storm of smaller mechas flew in. Her heart sunk into her chest. Goethia laughed with the air of a sinister noblewoman around her. Her cackling clamored throughout the area. “This is bad…” Custard said. “Bad? This is literally one of the worst possible outcomes to happen!” Jasmine shouted. Goethia looked onto the trio with a sinister and condescending smile on her face. “All of you shall perish before my beautiful mechas!” Author's Note It must always turn into a crappy day when your farm gets stormed by mechas. Just think of the potential damages. Battle for the FarmThe docking bay flashed with sharp red colors and a loud wail reverberated throughout all the walls. Spitfire approached Flash Sentry, Rarity, Mono and Lith, who all stood with their eyes locked with diligent courage. “Bad news; the Van’Goth have invaded the dairy farm at the far corner of the city. We have identified one Class S Warlord Unit along with several Class C Drone Units. One of the members of the Van’Goth is believed to be piloting the Class S Mecha.” Spitfire explained. “Goethia…” Lith hissed out, clenching her right paw with a heated shake of her limb. “If you gathered us four operatives who have an exo license, then you must want us to spearhead the battle inside of mechas right?” Flash Sentry asked. “Correct. But you four won’t be riding in any ordinary exos.” Spitfire said. Four exos whose armor gleamed with a purple shine rose up from the ground underneath. Two boosters were fixed into their backs. Looking onto their heads, the group eyed a flurry of sharp needles colored in yellow that jetted out of their heads. “These definitely don’t look like ordinary exos. Exactly what models are these?” Flash Sentry questioned. “After the team behind the Genome Research Project made a breakthrough with discovering the Rock-type, Ground-type and Psychic-type genes, they began to implement their research into more than just weapons. These exos are the fruits of that implementation.” Mono walked towards the center of the four exos and rubbed his chin. A small hum vibrated from him. “Is there a reason why I wasn’t notified of this research? I am a part of the team.” He asked. “It was Professor Pasque’s idea. Only he and Einstein were involved in the engineering process. Our mechanics just followed the blueprints they have devised for us. It’s weird how it all came together, but you should be able to use the moves that Pokémon can use with these.” Spitfire explained. “That sounds very useful, but is there a reason why you chose us four?” Rarity asked. “No particular reason. I just drew some straws from a random pool of licensed pilots within the organization. But, that shouldn’t be a problem right?” Spitfire said with a calm grin. “Not really. An exo is still an exo, no matter how unusual it looks.” Rarity responded. “I’ve never met an exo I couldn’t tame before. This shouldn’t be any different.” Flash Sentry said with a confident smirk on his face. “The professor can be amazing with his works sometimes.” Lith noted. Missiles fired across the meadow and exploded on the ground, tearing it apart. Custard and Jasmine stood back to back, firing lasers of Dragon Pulses and bursts of Dazzling Gleams towards the mechas swarming them. Their attacks collided with force fields around them, dissipating before they could touch them. Custard broke out in a cold sweat and his lips curved downwards in anxiety. “Why aren’t our attacks working? They worked the last time.” He said. “It must be those force fields around them… it’s absorbing our attacks like a sponge!” Jasmine noted. Goethia’s mecha held out its hand, where a virulent surge of lightning sparked through Custard and Jasmine. Custard gritted his mouth and stood against the flow of electricity through his body. Jasmine landed on the ground and whimpered, closing her eyes and turning her head away from the lightning. “Strange. I expected a better fight for the beings that have been such a thorn in our plans.” With her mecha descending onto the ground, Goethia said with a voice heavy in sarcasm. “What are you doing here? Why attack this farm?!” Custard shouted. “It may seem like a random attack. But, without the milk from this area, the Equusians of this world will suffer without a consistent source of Vitamin D, Calcium and something to live for. Am I correct with this assumption?” Goethia asked. “You want to destroy what remains after an entire food group?!” Jasmine shouted. “That is evil!” “And who is going to stop me? Clearly, you two are too weak to even press against my force fields.” “That’s where I come in!” Applejack shouted, jumping from the canopy of the tree behind Goethia. She threw herself onto Goethia’s force field, feeling the electrical current of it going through her body. Her teeth gritted under the stress of voltage flowing through her body. She plunged her front legs into the force field and felt them turning into jelly. Goethia’s skin paled upon seeing the hole pried through the force field surrounding her mecha. Applejack fell through the hole and kicked the head of Goethia’s mecha with her hind right leg. Her leg shook from the force reversed back into her. She fell off the mecha and landed upon the ground. “I must say, it takes a certain level of brashness to attempt something like that. I will have to talk to Wilhelm about how easy it is to tear through the forcefield.” Goethia noted to herself. Custard broke out of his electrical binds and stared at Goethia with fiery eyes. A blast of light fired from the chest of Goethia’s mecha and shot Custard. Custard’s upper arms absorbed most of the light, but the leftover energy dragged him along the ground and onto his back. “That felt like getting hit by a Fairy-type move…” He murmured out. “That is a special cannon designed after the pink one’s burst of light technique. It seemed to hurt Giacomo and the Brachyixes a lot, so I wondered if it would hurt you too. Turns out that I was not only right, but it seems to be a weakness weapon for you.” Goethia said. Her mecha approached the downed Custard and its right hand gripped itself around his neck. It lifted Custard into the air and tightened its grip around his neck. Custard shut his eyes and gritted his mouth. His body squirmed with erratic intervals. “Custard!” Jasmine shouted, reaching her right upper limb towards him with a weak stretch. “There isn’t much you can do now. Soon, your friend will be but a distant memory.” White Apple ran out of the barn and her jaw dropped at the sight of Custard squirming for his life. She swayed her head to the left and right. She focused her eyesight along the ground, where a small brown button appeared within her vision. She smiled and leaped towards it. Goethia’s ears picked up a weak static emerging from the field around her. She looked around her and saw blue nodes around the farm that generated blue electricity. The force field around all of the mechas appeared with cracks forming around them. Her heart palpitated from the sound of glass shattering around her. A sly grin appeared on Jasmine’s face. She unleashed a Thunderbolt on Goethia’s mecha, shocking it from the inside and out. Goethia brought her left hand to her face from the flashing lights and opened her right palm. The mecha dropped Custard onto the ground. White Apple ran towards Custard’s side and held up his head with her front legs. “Custard! Are you okay?!” White Apple called. Applejack and Jasmine rushed towards Custard’s side. Applejack eyed the compressions along Custard’s neck and his deep intakes of breath. “Rest easy, Custard. You nearly got choked to death!” She said. “Will… do.” Custard gaped out. “You rotten… milkmare!” Goethia shouted with her mecha staring towards White Apple with its right hand opening towards her. Applejack bucked the hand away. “Keep your filthy hands off my cousin, alien scum! You’re the one that decided to attack!” Applejack shouted. From the distance, Goethia’s eyes laid upon four exos running towards the field. One of the exos put its hands together and generated a burning aura. Splitting them apart, the hands unleashed flames of tongues that burned away the smaller mechas that headed towards them. Another one of the mechas had its right hand twirl around in its socket. Its hand formed into the mouth of a barrel. A blast of water emerged from it, striking down the mechas that burned from the heat of the flames. The third mecha surrounded itself with shards of stones and hurled them towards the damaged mechas. The stones pierced through their armor. Spurts of electricity shot out from their wounds. They fell onto the ground, releasing fiery gasses from their bodies. “Yeah! Now it’s time to go for the big one!” Flash Sentry shouted. His exo sprinted towards Goethia. The exo’s right hand curled into a fist and punched Goethia’s mecha across its face. Goethia’s mecha grabbed the right hand of Flash Sentry’s exo and lifted it upwards. Flash Sentry’s exo lifted its open left hand towards the chest of Goethia’s mecha. From the hole in the center, a swarm of robotic bees flew towards her. “Surprise Attack Orders!” Flash Sentry shouted is a toothy grin. Goethia’s mecha tossed Flash Sentry’s exo to the side and swatted away the bees around her. “How infuriating! I’ll make sure to destroy you first!” The right hand on Goethia’s mecha shifted into a drill and geared itself towards Flash Sentry’s mecha. It thrust itself onto its chest, piercing through the armor with its sparks. “Get away from him you ruffian!” Rarity shouted. Her exo punched Goethia away from Flash Sentry’s exo. The left hand of Goethia’s mecha grabbed the right arm of Rarity’s exo and tossed her overhead. A volley of missiles released themselves from the shoulders of Goethia’s mecha and aimed towards Rarity. Rarity’s exo crossed its arms in defense. “Not on my watch!” Mono shouted. Mono’s exo held out its right hand. Covering itself within a green energy, a green barrier emerged around Rarity’s exo. The missiles exploded upon the barrier without any harm to the exo covering it. “Now it’s time to settle the score!” Lith shouted, running towards Goethia with her exo’s right hand lit up with flames. The eyes of Goethia’s exo fired two lavender beams towards the direction of Lith’s exo. The exo sidestepped to its left and right. Goethia’s mecha ducked underneath the strike of the fiery fist, evading it. With light speed, she swept the legs of Lith’s exo and punched it forwards towards the barn. A large dent appeared on the building. “No! My barn!” White Apple shouted. “And where do you think you are going, young missy?” Goethia stated, grabbing White Apple by the skin at the back of her neck. “Let go of me!” Goethia’s mecha brought White Apple to its face. “Do you think I would let you go after you pulled off that trick against me? I’ll make sure you die a horrible death.” The right hand of Mono’s exo flashed with an indigo color. Goethia felt her mecha lifted into the air. White Apple squirmed out of the mecha’s weakened grasp and dropped towards the ground. She landed on her hooves and ran back towards the barn. Lith’s exo sprinted towards Goethia’s mecha and punched it within its chest. Goethia felt the flames tonguing into her chamber. A barrier formed around the mecha, quelling the flames around her. Her mecha then punched Lith’s exo in its chest. Lith gritted her teeth and tucked her head downwards from the blow. “I’m tired of playing games with you all. It’s time that I destroy all of you!” Her mecha’s fists lit up with a golden light. Rarity’s exo ran towards Goethia’s mecha, raring to throw a kick towards it. The kick deflected off of the barrier. “Physical attacks seem to have no effect on it.” Rarity noted. Jasmine looked towards the entrance of the barn and floated her way over towards the hill. “Please let it be here. Please let it be here.” She whispered to herself. Looking through the grass, she saw a button among the green field. She pressed it, sending another round of voltage through the farm. Goethia’s mecha and the H.O.R.S.E. exos collapsed under the strain of the electricity throughout the area. “Jasmine!” Lith shouted. “That EMP works against us as well!” “Sorry!” Jasmine stated. Custard got off from his back and stood up underneath the weight of his body. He rubbed his throat with a slow speed and breathed out a Flamethrower that engulfed Goethia’s mecha. “I’m not going to die like this!” She shouted. Goethia’s mecha flew into the air and above the dome. “Again she leaves our grasp.” Lith stammered out. “Don’t worry about it, Lith. Everything will be fine.” Mono said. “Besides, the threat of the attack is over.” “Yeah. I guess you are right. Still…” The chest of Lith’s exo opened up. Lith hopped out of the cockpit and sprinted towards Custard’s side. “Are you alright Custard?” “Yeah. I’m fine, but my throat still feels a bit sore.” Custard said, rubbing his throat. “Just give yourself a bit of R n’ R, Custard. It should heal up pretty soon.” Applejack stated, patting his back. “I’m curious as to why your cousin has an EMP field in her field.” Mono questioned. “I always thought something like this would happen, so I forked over some extra cash to set up a defense system for my farm. It was worth it.” White Apple announced. Custard sat on a firm bench. To his right, Gnasher huffed and sprayed a blue liquid onto Custard’s neck. She shook her head. “You idiot. Don’t try to be a hero when you know you couldn’t do much. I don’t want to hear that you died just because you were acting without thinking.” She chastised. “Sorry, Gnasher. I won’t let it happen again next time.” Custard responded with a sullen voice. “I suppose it’s not your fault.” Sighing, Gnasher said. She sat down by Custard’s side and patted his back. “Many things must have went on in your mind for you to do something like that.” “Several. Mainly, I sort of feel that the farm is now a responsibility I should have. Not only is it a part of the city, but I feel like it will be an important part of my life.” “Wait, what? What are you exactly saying? You just got there today!” “Well… the owner of the farm was having some difficulty with succession. She said that I have the ability to become the next successor to the farm.” Custard explained. “You didn’t say yes, did you?” “I told her I would think about it and talk it over with you. I know that you aren’t exactly the type who would want to work on the farm, but I developed a feeling of mutuality with the cows there. They need a good and stable line of ownership, and we need the milk they produce. I see how milk is important, even if I don’t really drink it much myself.” Gnasher looked down to the ground with a silent gaze. She shifted her sight towards Custard and smiled. “A farm is a good place to work up on my butchering skills. I could use some of that area for a place to gather edible game meat. Plus, I bet some of those bulls will need to be monitored over during mating season. I hear that they get aggressive during that time.” “And I get to care for the bovines when they get sick as well!” Custard stated with a gleeful tone. “Alright, I think I have my decision now.” White Apple and Jasmine set their eyes upon the repairs of the dent in the barn. Professor Pasque and Fei lifted a thick sheet of steel and placed it over a gap to the side of the gate. White Apple gazed towards Jasmine and bumped her shoulder into her shoulder. “You have my deepest thanks for protecting my precious bovines, Jasmine. I was afraid of what would happen if I couldn’t produce no more milk on this farm. Neo Canterlot would have been dealt a big hit there.” She said. “It isn’t nothing much. The exos from H.O.R.S.E. and your EMP did all of the work.” Jasmine stated. “Aww don’t be like that. If I was here by myself, I wouldn’t have triggered the EMP and my bovines would’ve been kidnapped or something worse. Aliens, can’t really predict what they’ll do next with cows.” “That attack sounded horribly clichéd now that I think about it. What would aliens do with all that milk anyways?” White Apple shrugged her shoulders. “Dunno. But, thank you again for having some of your Pogeymanz friends help repair my barn at this hour.” Jasmine groaned and smacked her forehead. “It’s Pokémon! Must it be so hard for you to pronounce it?!” She shouted. A burst of laughter emerged from White Apple. “I’m just joshing with you, Jasmine.” “Right. Well, Applejack said something nice about that apple tree you have growing there. She said that your fruits are quite sweet. Maybe a bit too sweet for me, but she says that you will be able to make a profit off of them.” She said. “She keeps telling me that she would want to obtain the rights to sell my apples. But, she has her own apples to grow. These apples are too special to me to just sell like other apples. They’re mementos from my deceased kin.” White Apple stated. Custard and Gnasher approached Jasmine and White Apple with smiles on their faces. “White Apple! I’ve made my decision.” White Apple smiled and walked over towards Custard. “What’s your answer?” “After Gnasher and I talked about the situation, I accept your offer. But, I can only do it after the alien menace is over.” Custard responded. “That’s understandable, but you have no idea how happy you made me.” White Apple stated. “Just for the record, you don’t mind having a butcher’s station on your property right?” Gnasher asked. “As long as you don’t touch any of the bovines with that cleaver, I’m fine with all of the butchering you do. Just don’t scare the bovines with that though.” White Apple responded. Fei and Professor Pasque walked up the hill where the trio stood at and smiled. “That was exhausting work! But, I’m glad we were able to fix it.” Fei stated. “It was a bit hot out today. So Miss White Apple, I see that you enjoyed those exo designed I have engineered to protect your farm.” Professor Pasque said. “Sure do. They were unique, for the lack of a better term.” “The sun is beginning to set in the horizon. Should we spend our last few moments together watching it?” Custard requested. The group of five gazed at the golden horizon, seeing the sun dip below the land. The world around them dimmed into a purple night. Author's Note Part 2 of the dairy farm arc. Hope you all enjoy. Sweet DreamsSpitfire wielded her photon sword in hoof and faced off against Mono and Lith, who both wielded photon swords around their paws. Mono took the first step and dashed towards Spitfire. Spitfire smirked and clashed her blade against his, parrying the blow and knocking him away. Lith sidestepped towards Spitfire’s side and leaped towards her with her blade aimed towards her center. Spitfire hopped into the air towards Lith and grabbed her with her front hooves. Lith’s eyes jolted open. She felt her body lifting with the effortlessness of a rag doll. Spitfire threw her down to the ground and hovered in the air. “You two need to be even less predictable with your movements. I’m reading you like a Sunday comic strip!” She called out. “I didn’t expect you to grab me like that though. It’s kind of weird.” Lith said, raising herself up from the ground. “Rule one of swordsmanship; a sword is merely just an extension of your body that happens to have a dangerous blade. Your body is the weapon, so you have to use your body to its full extent.” “Is that what you were doing? I felt a pulse of energy emanate from your body, Commander.” Mono stated. Spitfire’s sword deactivated. She smiled and offered her right front hoof to Mono. Mono grasped it and lifted himself up. “You two have definitely been training through the way of the sword though. Ever since I began tutoring you with fencing and swordsmanship two weeks back, your skill has improved. Still, you two need to work on concealing your intents. If you don’t, I guarantee that you will lose against foes with even the most basic of reading skills.” “Thank you for the encouraging words, Commander. We will work on that weakness next time.” Lith said. “Our time together is over that quick?” Spitfire asked. “I guess time flies when you’re having fun.” Mono looked through a window into the night sky and eyed a crescent moon behind the dark clouds. “We really have been training all day, haven’t we? I have to go to bed.” “Me too.” With a loud yawn escaping her gaping mouth, Lith said. “Alright. Then… Thursday would be a good day for training?” Spitfire questioned. “Thursday sounds great.” Mono responded. Lith enshrouded herself within her blanket and looked towards the dark ceiling. She turned her direction towards Mono, where the left half of his body is swallowed underneath his sheets. She popped her upper paws out of the blanket and brought them under her head. “You don’t normally sleep like that unless if you are nervous about something, Mono. Mind sharing what’s on your mind?” “Nothing much. I’m glad that Spitfire is teaching us the way of the sword and even takes us out to eat, but I see why she is doing so. Did you think she ever wanted to mother children of her own?” Bending his right leg and having a sigh pass through his open mouth, Mono responded. “Isn’t she around forty-two years old? It doesn’t surprise me much, considering that she told us how she was always involved in the military even during times of peace. Even if she could have fun, it seems like she was always stressed with her obligations to war.” “It’s nice that she’s acting more of like a parental figure to us, but no one is able to replace mom and dad.” The smile on Lith’s face curled into a frown. Her eyes became half-lidded and a silent air passed through her nostrils. “No matter what parental figures come into our lives, they can never take the place of mom and dad. I still sometimes blame myself for what happened to them, even if I know it wasn’t my fault. I sometimes think back to that day, thinking whether pushing dad to pick up mom from work for their anniversary party I planned was the best thing to do.” “I think I might’ve forgotten what mom’s face looked like.” Mono uttered out with quiet words. His eyes sparkled with regret and tears welled up within his eyes. “I must be a horrible son if I forgot that.” “Please don’t beat yourself over it, Mono. You haven’t done anything wrong. It is easy to forget about anyone’s faces after a large amount of time had passed. Coupled with the fact that we’ve had… many startling changes happen to us over a short amount of time, there is no reason for you to feel bad.” Lith comforted. “Yeah… I guess. Good night, Lith.” “Good night, Mono.” A cool haze wrapped around Mono and Lith’s heads. The twins opened their eyes, seeing an azure blue space around them. Luna stood at the center of their vision. Her eyes peered into their souls with an eager smile on her face. “I was hoping to see when you two would start to dream tonight.” She said. “Council Lady Luna? What’s going on? Are we still asleep?” Mono asked. “I did say ‘start to dream tonight’. So yes, you two are asleep.” “I’m sure that I might have seen you in my dreams from time to time, but I’ve never seen you approach the two of us like this.” Lith noted. “Out of all the Pokémon that have appeared in this city, you two are the most intriguing.” Luna opened her wings and flew to Lith’s right. She extended her neck towards Mono’s direction at the left of Lith. “You two have shed several masks from your heart ever since you first came into the city, but I sense that you have several more masks underneath. Do you love those that are around you, or are you still defensive around them?” Lith bore her teeth and waved her right upper paw in a slapping motion towards Luna’s direction. “K-knock it off! I don’t need you to read my heart!” Luna disappeared into a veil of smoke and reappeared towards Mono’s left side. “Do you feel like you are betraying the memories of your parents by living on with your life, or are your intents much deeper? I am interested in hearing what your subconscious reveals.” “Council Lady Luna, why are you even interested in us? It is very invasive of our privacy.” Mono asked. “My dominion extends into the realm of dreams. I’ve been detecting an intruder entering into both of your dreams, so I need to figure out why it is. For that, I will need to see what your subconscious thoughts are hiding.” Luna responded. A brilliant light flashed from the tip of Luna’s horn. The azure space around them flashed into a pure white. The bright light faded away. Mono and Lith stood upon a blue carpet. Rays of light emerged through windows curtained with lilac drapes. A large table fashioned out of glass and oak stood at the center of the room. The two looked around them and a wave of nostalgia hit the nerves in their limbs. “This place feels… familiar for some reason.” Lith said. She set her eyes on Mono, whose head shifted around with aimless direction. His mouth was agape in confusion. “Is this place what I think it is? Was this… our parents’ home?” Tails of wisps converged before their eyes, forming into humanoid shapes. A male body wrapped itself within brown skin. A bed of black hair formed on his head. His eyes lit up with brown irises. A cream-colored button shirt, brown khakis and black shoes adorned themselves upon the man. To his left, a female body became enshrouded with fair-colored skin. Her brunette hair extended down from her scalp. Her green irises lit up with life. She was adorned in a black dress with a puffy skirt and a black top hat. In her gloved white hand is a black cane. “It can’t be... Is that mom and dad?” Mono asked with a voice breaking in disbelief. “It is what I was able to sculpt based off of your most recent memories of them.” With her body phasing back into existence, Luna stated. Lith walked towards her mother’s face and waved her right upper paw. “How come they aren’t moving?” “They are not endowed with the proper artificial intelligence yet. Once they are, they will react naturally to how you two have progressed based on what I have constructed of their personalities.” Luna vanished from the room. A midnight blue shockwave engulfed the area, sharpening the colors within it. The twins’ parents blinked once and looked upon them. “…Mom? …Dad? Is that you?” Mono asked with a wary voice filled with hope. “Ummm… Samantha, are you aware that there are two Meowstics talking to us?” The man asked. “I am aware Emilio.” The woman, Samantha, responded. She brought her hands around the base of Lith’s upper paws and picked her up. She then embraced her. “You certainly have changed a lot since I last saw you, Lith.” She said with a smile. Hearing these words, Lith’s eyes watered. She closed them and wrapped her arms around Samantha’s neck, crying a river of tears with muffed sobs. Emilio focus his sight towards Mono. Mono extended his upper paws towards him. His lips wrinkled and his eyes were on the verge of bursting with tears. Emilio kneeled down to Mono’s eye level and wrapped his arms around him. Patting him on the back, he heard Mono’s tears muffled on his shoulder. “There, there. Everything is going to be alright, Mono. I’m here for you.” He whispered. “D…dad… I missed you and mom so much.” Mono cried out. “I’m not exactly sure how you two turned into Pokémon, but I am glad to see that you two are alright.” Samantha stated. Lith lifted her face off of Samantha. With her eyes reddened with tears, she let go of Samantha and dropped to the ground. She walked to Emilio and hugged his left leg. Emilio smiled and released his grip on Mono. He then ruffled the patch of fur on Lith’s head with an affectionate motion. “Dad, I need to know something; do you hate me for being indirectly responsible for you and mom’s death?” Lith asked. “What makes you think I hate you? I would never hate my two children, especially not over something as trivial as causing us to die.” Emilio responded with a good-natured voice. “On that day, chances are that your mother and I still would have been involved in that accident. It was just simply our time to leave.” “Please! Don’t say that dad! Just scream at me! Scold me and hit me for doing something horribly wrong! I was being a selfish little girl!” Lith screamed out with a frown on her face. Emilio turned his body towards Lith and placed his hands onto her shoulders. Lith looked into her father’s eyes. She saw a gaze that was not filled with bitterness nor anger, but a gentle and warm flame that resonated from his soul. “You were just rash. I can’t punish my daughter for expressing her personality and wanting to surprise her parents with a surprise anniversary party now would I? I’m sure that you behaved very well after all that time we were separated from each other.” “Daddy…” Lith dug her face into the lower left leg of Emilio’s khakis. Emilio wrapped his arms around Lith and rocked her with a gentle speed. “Come here, Mono. Come to your mother. You must be very exhausted.” Opening her arms wide and kneeling down the ground, Samantha stated. Mono sidestepped his way towards Samantha with an uneasy frown on his face. He shook his head. “I’m sorry that I kept you and dad to the brink of exhaustion when dealing with me mom. I’m so sorry! If I had never seen that murder, then you and dad would…” His words drowned under his stifled sobs. Seeing his face stressing to fight back his tears, Samantha reached her arms towards Mono and pulled in him for an embrace. “It didn’t matter if I put all of my active time into making sure you were growing up to be a healthy young boy in body and mind, Mono. I would gladly have given even my sleeping hours just to make sure you were okay. I’ve been in the Performing Arts business for too long to see that this was bothering you for a very long time.” “It was mom… it was…” Mono stifled out. Samantha backed her head away from Mono and looked onto his face. She wiped away a stray tear on his cheek with her right index finger. “You don’t need to try to act tough, Mono. You are too sweet to try to be like that in front of me. I want you to show me how you really feel right now.” “Alright… mommy.” Mono uttered out. Samantha placed her right hand behind Mono’s head and nudged him towards her body. She rocked him with a gentle motion and hummed a soft melody. Mono rested onto Samantha’s shoulder and his eyes calmed down to a half-lidded state. “You two have definitely changed a lot since we last saw you! You two are so big now. Your mother and I would love to know what happened.” With his mouth formed into an upbeat smile, Emilio requested. “It’s a very long story, but we will try to explain.” Lith responded with a cheerful disposition. The family sat on the couch together; Emilio and Samantha sat at the middle of the sofa. Mono is wrapped around Samantha’s left arm and Lith is wrapped around Emilio’s right arm. “So my son and daughter are kicking alien butt to free several races of aliens from war? That’s quite an impressive feat!” Emilio complimented, rocking Lith’s body to her left and right. “But that’s nothing, Emilio. Our children finally have romantic others that they can share their lives with!” Samantha noted. “Well… yeah!” Mono stated with a nervous fit of laughter. “But, you don’t really have anything against me going out with someone who was originally a Pokémon, right mom?” “Why would I? You are free to love who you love and nothing in the world can change that. Besides, it’ll be much easier loving a Pokémon now that you are a Pokémon yourself. It makes having a fulfilling sexual life with her much more manageable.” Saying these words, Samantha blinked her right eye and smirked. “You got to tell me all about this ‘Fei’ fellow that has grabbed your heart the way it did, Lith. I want to know if he will be man enough to keep up with a lady such as you.” Emilio stated. A small grin formed on Lith’s face. She punched Emilio’s shoulder with her upper right paw. “You wouldn’t think I’d go for someone who wouldn’t push daisies? At least have more confidence with me in choosing a boyfriend, dad.” Lith said with a collected tone. “Well, I did raise you. You should know well-enough. Plus, like your mother said, I don’t have a problem with who you have feelings for. If you feel for girls the same way that you do about boys, then I don’t have strong feelings one way or the other. All I care about is whether you are happy with your decision or not.” Emilio assured. “Also, I’ll have to thank this Professor Pasque for doing a good job with raising the both of you into such productive members of society. If only this was more than just a dream.” Samantha said. “It is just a dream, but I want this dream to last as long as possible. I wish every night was a dream where Lith and I can just talk with you two.” Luna stood within the room of Mono and Lith. She gazed at the puffy cloud between the twins, looking at the smiling family chatting inside of it. Her chest radiated in warmth and her stone faced façade melted away and revealed a smile. She looked towards Mono and Lith’s bodies, where the two snuggled into their blankets with smiles on their faces. “Their dreams reveal the truth they held back. These children truly did miss their parents, did they not? With these sweet dreams they will have, I’m sure that they will have no more subconscious intrusions. But… why would anyone intrude on the dreams of these two? Surely these are two average aliens, correct?” Luna shook away the questions setting roots into her head. She popped her head out of the window and into the sky, where the moon hung high above the stars. “The night is still young and there are many more dreams to be in. I, Council Lady Luna, will make sure that the faces of everyone tonight will show a grin.” Author's Note Lo and behold; the shortest possible chapter I will be writing for this fic! In all honesty, I needed to write a filler chapter before a major collaboration effort will begin. I hope you will all look forward to that. But, in the mean time, I wish that you all have pleasant dreams that will melt away the pain you have. Dimensional Intrusions pt. 1Author's Note This will be a special arc involving a collaboration between the Stag Prince and I. The characters that appeared here are all from the fellow Newverse fic Building a Better World, which I suggest reading. Other than that, I hope you enjoy this weird turn. Dimensional Intrusions pt. 1 Jasmine stroked along the front patches of fur on her lower body with a pink brush. Each stroke let out a scent of fresh linen from her body, covering the Pokémon’s room at H.O.R.S.E. headquarters with its pleasant scent. She closed her eyes and smiled. “I’ve never had the time to brush my matted fur like this before. Strange that I’ve started doing it now.” She said to herself. Rondo, who roosted on a perch at the left of the room, moved his beak towards the direction of the scent. He raised his right wing and smiled. “I see your fur is being brushed again. What’s the occasion?” “No occasion, Rondo. I’ve realized just how mangled my fur is. I can’t have it looking like that all the time, could I?” Jasmine retorted. “It has been a very easy day so far. Jasmine's brushing her fur and I’m just taking this sweet time to hone my artistic vision. I don’t really expect much to happen today.” Wielding a brush in his hand and painting an image of a steel barn, Stereo stated. Fluttershy passed through the open doors of the room. In her mouth, she carried two small bags filled with shaved herbs and vegetation. She dropped them to the ground. “Jasmine, Rondo, Stereo, did either of you happen to see where Mono and Lith went?” She asked. “I think they are with Commander Spitfire doing one of their ‘Swordsmanship Training Courses’. Do you need them?” Jasmine asked. “Well, I found these bags of catnip inside of a fallout shelter and since the domestic household cat went extinct, I was hoping that I could give these to them.” Fluttershy explained. “That’s kind of degrading for a gift. I know what that stuff does! It makes felines all loopy and high!” Rondo squawked out. Fluttershy frowned and craned her neck away. She rubbed her right front leg with her left front hoof. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to sound insulting about it. I just remembered that this existed and I thought Mono and Lith would enjoy this gift since they are felines.” “At least your heart was in the right place, Fluttershy. But, it would probably be best for you to dispose of those drugs.” Jasmine suggested. Twilight Sparkle sprinted into the room, breathing with rapid increments and holding herself against the wall. “Twilight! Why do you look like you ran twenty miles?” Fluttershy asked with a curious tone. “That’s because I did just run twenty miles. Professor Gentian and I, we were researching the time-space theory when our machinery detected an abnormal number of dimensional anomalies within the city.” Twilight Sparkle panted out. “In the city? That seems rather unusual. Would you know what the cause would be?” Jasmine asked. “I’m not sure…” Spitfire, Mono, and Lith walked into the room with calm smiles worn. “I heard you called for us.” Spitfire asked. “So is it true that our city is the home to some dimensional breaks not caused by us?” “You heard right. But… where are the others?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “Custard is assisting Hydrangea with some floral research, Gnasher’s out with Razor Wind hunting for wildlife as always, Professor Pasque and Einstein are too busy to come and Rundas and Boreas got assigned to patrolling the landscape.” Lith responded. “Fei and Sophia are out shopping for food and Professor Gentian and Tesla were with you, so I really can’t say much there.” Mono added. Spitfire’s watched let out a series of sharp beeps. She raised it to her face and touched it. The hologram of a changeling’s head trembled. His eyes were wide and his mouth quivered in fear. “C-c-commander! The museum’s being attacked by two strange creatures!” The changeling shouted. “The museum? What do you mean by strange creatures? Are they a part of the Van’Goth?” Spitfire asked. “They don’t really look like it. One looks like some sort of cow and the other one is a bipedal creature that looks like he is straight out of a movie back during the time when video tapes were still being circulated.” “Well isn’t that an unusual description. We’ll be on our way to the museum.” “Hurry! The bipedal thing is drawing mustaches all over the portraits!” The hologram of the changeling’s head vanished back into the watch. Spitfire shook her head and turned towards Twilight Sparkle’s direction. “Dune Bug reportedly saw some strange creatures. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that those strange anomalies and the creatures arriving are related. We have to investigate it.” “And I agree. Maybe we’ll be able to find the cause of those anomalies.” Twilight Sparkle said. Stereo sighed and dropped his brush. “Well, so much for my statement there.” A pale pasty white man with brown hair that was swept back in an Elvis style stood in front of a painting of a lilac-coated pony with a black marker in his right hand. He had left his tropical shirt unbuttoned, revealing a white t-shirt underneath it. His green pants are designed with canary yellow pinstripes and his feet were adorned in shiny black dress shoes. By his side is a peach-coated cow with a black hood-like marking around her face that started around her stubby horns on top and extended down to her neck. Four udders existed on her cream-colored belly and she had four black cloven hooves on her. Her slender tail ended with a black ball. She slanted her blue eyes with an unamused frown on her face. “Are you sure you should be drawing moustaches and monocles on these paintings and statues, Joker?” The man, Joker, turned towards the cow and shrugged her shoulders. “There’s nothing much else better to do, Monarca. We’re stuck on a different planet, so why not mess around with alien art?” “Whatever you say…” Sighing with a frown on her face, Monarca responded. “Just don’t be surprised if they send some sort of regiment after you for assaulting a museum.” “I’m expecting that to happen. Otherwise, how else would we be able to progress with the chapter? I got the manuscript right here and it says I need to draw on these faces and then a group of armed beings will march in here and ask me to stop.” Joker said, cuffing his mouth with his left hand and snickering. Monarca shook her head in disapproval. Hearing a set of doors opening behind her, she turned around and saw Spitfire, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, Mono, Lith, Rondo, Jasmine and Stereo all in solid stancing. “Freeze!” Spitfire shouted. “Right on cue!” Joke stated, turning himself around and lifting his hands in the air. Mono, who held the gauntlet in his left arm, faltered in his stance and gazed upon the creatures before him. “Something’s not right here… Am I seeing a human and a Miltank here of all places?” “Is there a reason that bothers you so much, Mono?” With her horn cocked towards the perpetrators, Twilight Sparkle asked. “Kind of. The humans that were transported here turned into Pokémon, so there shouldn’t be any humans on this world. In addition, we didn’t have any Miltanks back in the lab, and this particular one seems to be acquainted with this human.” Mono explained. The rest of the group dropped their stances and gazed towards Mono with cocked heads. Mono raised his paws into the air and approached Joker and Monarca. Joker chuckled and pointed towards Mono. “Hehe, you can talk like I can.” He noted. “I’m using a special device developed in this world that allows me to speak in a language that others can understand.” “Wait, they gave a Pokémon like you a device like that? So that must mean you aren’t originally a part of this world as well.” Monarca noted. “That’s right. My name is Mono and you two are…?” Mono introduced, whirling his right upper paw in a circle. “I’m Monarca, and this psychotic maniac you see here is my companion Joker.” Monarca responded. “Don’t say it like that! At least add the parts about me being a mentally unstable psychotic maniac that drove several psychologists and psychiatrists into insanity.” Joker chided. “How is he even understanding you like you were speaking English?!” Mono shouted in disbelief. “Trust me, you don’t want to know… It’ll drive you crazy as well.” Monarca uttered out. “So he actually did drive his doctors to the point of insanity?” “Whether you want to believe it or not is up to you.” Mono looked towards Joker, who drew a black moustache on an image of Celestia’s face. Mono nodded his head with a gnarled frown on his face. “I believe you.” Spitfire stomped her way towards Mono’s side and glared at Joker and Monarca. “So what did you learn, Mono?” Spitfire asked. “It is basic introduction. All I know is that Joker is insane. Don’t try to understand his ways because you will never be able to understand them.” Mono responded. “So it’s Pinkie Pie Logic all over again it seems?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “It seems that way, but this guy seems… scarier on that level.” Spitfire walked towards Joker’s face and stood her ground. “Regardless, you caused trouble here. As the commander of H.O.R.S.E., I will detain you for questioning.” Joker held out his hands and placed handcuffs onto them. “Let’s give the audience what they want to see then.” Spitfire scratched the back of her head and cocked it. “…Audience?” Spitfire sat alone with Joker and Monarca within a room with a coned light. Around Monarca’s neck is a translation bracelet. Spitfire gazed at the cuffs around Joker’s wrists. “You know you can take those off now, right? I trust that you wouldn’t do anything.” “You mean like this?” Joker responded. Spitfire’s eyes dilated at the sight of the handcuffs that vanished a second after she looked upwards. “How’d you do that?” “How’d you like to get on with this line of questioning? Honestly, insignificant questions like that will only make the readers feel like they aren’t getting their time’s worth of content.” Joker said. Spitfire growled and pounded her right front hoof on the table. She let out a heated sigh and directed her attention to Monarca. “Just talking to this guy infuriates me. Looks like I’ll just have to get any answers from you.” “I understand, and I will try to answer all of your questions with the most satisfactory answers I have.” Monarca responded. “First question; are you aware of the city you are in?” Spitfire asked. “All I know is that this city’s name is known as ‘Neo Canterlot’, which I got from reading the holographic sign on the museum. Joker and I went inside there after our group split up in the city to look for answers.” Monarca explained. “Your group? Tell me a bit more about the group you are in.” “Joker here is the leader of a mercenary group known as the Royal Flush Gang. Give us a contract that pays well and we’ll do any dirty job you have.” “That doesn’t sound like the most savory job description in the world.” Spitfire noted. Monarca shrugged her shoulders. “It puts food on the table. Anyways, Joker’s the only human of the group. Everyone else is a Pokémon.” She stated. “So tell me, are you in any way affiliated with Opelucid Labs?” “We share no affiliation with any labs at all.” “So that means you aren’t from the same group of Pokémon that were transported here several months back. So when did you exactly get here? Spitfire questioned. “A few hours back when some black hole brought us out of our world and into here.” Monarca responded. “Tell me more about this incident that brought you here.” Spitfire requested. “I remembered that our group clashed swords against a rival mercenary group that is known as Checkmate. My group was hired to kill a human known as Gene and the other group was hired to prevent that from happening.” Spitfire’s nerves tensed upon hearing Monarca’s words. “Was this ‘Gene’ a troublemaker?” “I can’t say for sure. We never care about the reasoning behind our mission. We just only care if we get paid enough money to make a living.” Monarca said. “I can’t say that your faction is setting a good impression on me for taking morally ambiguous hits. Back to the scenario, Royal Flush and Checkmate were fighting and then…?” Whisking her hoof towards her direction, Spitfire demanded. “Joker here thought it was a good idea to pull a gun into a Pokémon battle and shot an orange filly!” Monarca said with a voice that brimmed with dull anger. “Scootaloo should not have pushed Doc out of the way! I did the one thing I should never do and that was hurt a child! Just take me away already!” With these words escaping from his mouth, Joker slammed his face onto the table and wailed with an exaggerated cry. “Wait, wait, wait and wait! You said an orange pegasus filly named ‘Scootaloo’ correct?” Spitfire stated with a loud tone. “Is there anything worth noting about that subject?” Monarca asked with utter confusion in her voice. “There’s an orange pegasus filly that lives in Neo Canterlot and occasionally visits this place. Her name is Scootaloo. Rings a bell?” Spitfire responded, conking her head with her right front hoof. “So there’s a Scootaloo here as well? Wow, things got a lot more confusing when you add that in.” Monarca noted. “That’s not important now. I want to know what happened after this joker here shot Scootaloo.” “Scootaloo had imprinted herself onto the Gene’s Pokémon and mate Belle. Since she is a Gardevoir and Scootaloo is practically her adopted daughter, she got a bit mad. Let’s just say that hurting someone a Gardevoir loves would make the top ten list of dumbest things that a suicidal idiot would do. We got caught in her explosion. Next thing you know, we find ourselves awake in this world.” Spitfire stood up from her seat and looked into Monarca and Joker’s eyes. “I’ll have to talk to someone who is an expert on time and space matters outside. In the meantime, try to make yourselves comfortable in here until I get back.” She walked through the front door, leaving Monarca and Joker alone in the room. Professor Gentian looked through the transparent glass in the interrogation room. He heard the door lift open and looked to his right, where Spitfire walked into the room. “Did you get all that Professor?” Spitfire asked. “I’m glad that you picked up on that tidbit of information on Scootaloo, Commander. With that information, I am one hundred percent certain that these Pokémon are not from the same dimension as Keldeo’s or ours.” Professor Gentian stated with a proud smile on his face. “Wha-wha-whaaaaat?! This asshat of a Joker came from an entirely different dimension than yours?!” Spitfire shouted with fiery confusion. “We don’t have any Equusians back in the universe I originally hailed from, but it sounds like there are Equusians in his universe. He’s a human and there are Pokémon with him, so that is solid evidence that proves his existence in an alternate version of my universe. Based off of what I heard, the poor saps must have fallen into some dimensional break caused by an absurd ripple of power.” “That’s an interesting tidbit of knowledge. Should I break the news to them?” “That wouldn’t be a bad idea. I’m not sure how the human there would react, however. He seems a bit… special.” Professor Gentian advised. Spitfire walked out of the room and entered back into the interrogation room. She sat on her seat and arched her front hooves together. Monarca looked towards Spitfire with her eyes wide in worry. “So what is our current situation, Spitfire?” She asked. “I can confirm that your group of Pokémon is from an entirely different dimension from the first group of Pokémon that came into this world. It seems that you fell into some dimensional break and ended up in our city by chance.” Spitfire explained. Joker lifted his hand in the air and waved circles with his index finger. “Yadie-yadie ya! I already know that. Can’t you tell us something we don’t know?!” He asked. “Tell us about that race of aliens that is driving you all to the point of extinction and ask us about how we can help.” “H-how do you even know that information?!” Spitfire shouted with her voice vibrating with shock. “Duh! How else could I understand Monarca’s italicized words and tell the readers what is going on? I’ve read throughout the story of everything going on here while you were talking with that Shiftry behind the glass there. Seriously? ‘A New Dimension, A New Threat’? Couldn’t the author have at least picked a better name, like ‘The New Invaders Among Us’ or something? But nope! It has to follow the pattern of the Newverse fics.” Monarca growled and slapped Joker across his face. Joker placed his right hand on his reddened right cheek. He opened his mouth wide and slanted his eyes, uttering a silent howl. “I’ve had enough of you reading into some imaginary wall you can see, Joker! Can’t you see that you will only confuse this lady even more?!” She shouted. Joker let out a silent nod and slumped down into his seat. He crossed his arms and pouted. “Ummm, what was that about?” Spitfire asked. “It’s just a part of his mental disorder. He keeps on spouting stuff like ‘we are fictional characters in a fictional setting where we are being read by a handful of readers’. I don’t believe it one bit and it’s starting to become irritating to me.” Monarca explained. “We have a similar case with Pinkie Pie here, but your case seems to be on a different level. Regardless, where are the other members of your mercenary team anyways?” “You’ll know when you see them. They aren’t exactly the quietest group of Pokémon you’ll see.” “Something tells me that I’m in for a migraine with what you said there.” Spitfire said. “You have no idea. I usually end up having to heal them after their stupid stunts.” Monarca stated. Spitfire smiled and extended her hoof towards Monarca. Monarca flashed a smile with similar intensity and extended her upper right hoof towards Spitfire. “You aren’t half bad for a mercenary, Monarca. I just need to sign you two out and you are free to leave.” Spitfire’s watch rang once more. She sighed and touched upon it, revealing Dune Bug’s head once more. “C-Commander! We got some sort of big… thing stomping its way through the streets here!” He shouted. “Tell me more about this mystery creature.” “I can’t understand a single word it is saying, but it is resisting arrest and is burping in the faces of those trying to apprehend it. We need some assistance, now!” Monarca frowned and planted her face into the table. She shook her head. “Ay dios mio…” “What’s with the Spanish there, Monarca?” Spitfire asked. “I know a vague description like that from anywhere. He had the misfortune of meeting up with Gordo the Snorlax. He’s fat, mean, vulgar and disgusting. He sounds like he is having one of his temper tantrums.” Monarca explained. “Something tells me it will definitely not be fun trying to take care of him.” “It won’t.” A large and bipedal creature with a dark green body and bloated belly and face colored in cream stomped his way towards a cherry red-coated unicorn mare with green eyes. He picked her up by her neck, where her eyes dilated with fear looked into his slanted eyes. “Tell me where I am now!” Gordo shouted. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t quite catch that. Can you repeat that again?” She asked with a timid voice. Gordo snarled and unleashed a loud and rancid burp aimed at the mare in his grip. He tossed her aside. A brown duck with a V-shaped eyebrow and a white leek in his yellow beak descended onto Gordo’s head, landing on it with his yellow feet. He rolled his brown eyes and shook his head. “Ay Gordo, do you have to really act like un culo gordo and just attack anyone who doesn’t give you answers?” He asked. “Nobody asked you, Rey. Shouldn’t you be searching for information as well?” Gordo responded with an agitated expression on his face. “It’s no use. None of the locals can understand what I’m saying. Frankly, I don’t think any of the locals can understand what any one of us can say. It’s just like the humans back in our world.” Rey explained. “Perfecto. Just absolutely perfecto.” Gordo muttered out. Fei and Sophia strolled down the street carrying bags filled to the brim with food. He looked towards Sophia and stroked the top of her head. “It’s nice that the two of us can finally just do something average again, Sophia. It reminds me of the times we used to have when we went grocery shopping.” He stated with a content smile. “I remember the times you slipped on discarded Nanab peels left behind by Aipoms.” Stifling her giggle, Sophia remarked. “Don’t remind me… I was trying to forget that.” “Cheer up Fei. At least no one here is calling you ‘Feiceplant’ anymore after that incident. Isn’t that right, Feiceplant?” Patting his back with one of her ribbons, Sophia said. “Why must you be so sassy sometimes?” Shaking his head, Fei stated with a soft voice. “Can’t help it. Wait, hold on!” The two Pokémon looked upon a horde of screaming civilians running away from Rey and Gordo. Fei stroked his chin. “Is that a Farfetch’d on top of a Snorlax that the Equusians are running away from?” “We should probably check them out just to be on the safe side.” Sophia stated. Rey turned around towards the approaching Pokémon behind him. He tapped the top of Gordo’s head with his leek. “We got company He shouted. Gordo turned around and looked down upon Fei and Sophia. “Good luck running into Pokémon, ey Rey? Maybe they can give us some information.” “You stomped through this city in a rampage and scared many citizens just because you were looking for information?” Fei asked. “We didn’t mean to, hombre! We just dropped in the middle of a city with no idea where we are!” Rey reasoned. “You are in the city of Neo Canterlot, the last-known place of active civilization on the planet Equus that is located on the Terraformed Wilderness continent. It is the bastion of safety from a race of intergalactic warmongers known as the Van’Goth.” Sophia explained with a quick and dull tone. “Now that you know where you are, can you please stop scaring the citizens of this poor city?” Gordo curled in the claws of his left upper paw and pointed to Sophia with his right upper paw. “You sound like a bitch. Did your trainer have you fixed yet?” He remarked. Sophia rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. “First that Giacomo and now this guy? Why does everyone like calling me that word?!” She lamented. “Let’s not get on the bad side of the Pokémon here, Gordo. They’re giving us la informaccion que nosotros necesitamos. Let me do the talking and you just sit down with a pretty face.” Rey instructed. “You are the boss of me, Rey.” Sitting on the ground, Gordo stated with a disappointed sigh. “My name is Rey and this here is Gordo. We both are part of a mercenary group known as the Royal Flush gang. Who are you two?” “My name is Fei and this is my partner Pokémon Sophia. We used to work as scientists in Professor Pasque’s lab before being transported here. I used to be a human, but now I’m a Pokémon.” Fei explained. “Sounds like some sort of voodoo you suffered. So that explains why you are here talking to us now. Can you bring us to a place where we can sound like you? I want to be able to have my language understood.” Fei looked upon the snarling Gordo, who stared at him with overbearing eyes. A bead of cold sweat dropped from Fei’s face. “S-s-sure. As long as Gordo over there stops staring at me. It’s kind of intimidating.” Rey clapped his wings together. Gordo snapped out of his stare and looked above him. “Let’s not intimidate the nice Pokémon here, Gordo. They’ll take us to a good place where we can be understood.” “…Fine. But I don’t have to like it.” “No one said you have to.” Rainbow Dash flew down towards the intersection that Gordo stood upon and aimed her rifle towards him. “Nobody terrorizes Neo Canterlot on my watch!” She shouted. “We have it taken care of, Rainbow Dash.” Sophia rebutted. Rainbow Dash dropped her shoulders and fiery gaze. She looked towards Sophia with her eyes wavering with confusion and disappointment. “…Really? Well that’s a boring way to end conflict. I was hoping I would end up engaging this fatso here in a bloody conflict!” “You must really like the color red, butch. Would you want your blood to stain your body in that color?” Gordo stated with an aggressive tone. “What did he say?” Rainbow Dash asked. “You don’t want to find out. Let’s just bring them to H.O.R.S.E. and give them their translation bracelets.” Sophia suggested. “Alright. I’m ready when you are.” Saying these words, Gordo stood up from the street. Rainbow Dash bumped Fei’s left shoulder with her right shoulder and brought her mouth to his left ear. “He’s a big fellow, isn’t he?” Dimensional Intrusions pt. 2Spitfire walked down the hallway with an uneasy frown on her face. She looked towards Joker, who strutted with lanky arms. She then set her gaze on Monarca, who walked with a calm and cool demeanor on her two hind feet. “So are you sure that Rainbow Dash will make sure that Gordo isn’t hurting anybody?” She asked. “Ehhhhhh… I can’t really guarantee that. I mean, if Gordo starts making a mess of things, then-“ Spitfire felt her watch ring out a third time in the day. She raised it to her face and touched it. A hologram of Rainbow Dash’s head is revealed. “Hoy, Commander. The three of us convinced the two Pokémon here to arrive at H.O.R.S.E. without much of a fight.” Rainbow Dash announced. “‘Three of you’? I wasn’t even aware that you were assisted or the fact that there is an extra Pokémon at the scene.” Spitfire noted. “It looked like Fei and Sophs were here taking care of the situation. The other Pokémon is a duck with a leak. Seems like the big guy answers to him.” “Alright, bring ‘em in. We’ll get them fitted with translation bracelets.” Rainbow Dash’s hologram disappeared. Joker chuckled underneath his breath. “So it looks like they found Rey and Gordo. Now all we need is Inge and the first squad of the Royal Flush Gang will be all here.” He explained. “Who’s Inge?” Spitfire asked. “Inge is a sweetheart! She’s very nuzzling and gets along well with others.” Joker explained. “Or, in actuality, she’s a bit of a nutjob who has a fascination with appearing when we least expect it.” Monarca rebutted. “She could actually be in here right now.” “Like this?!” An excited voice rang out. The lights above flickered with an erratic pattern. Within a bolt of zeroes and ones, a strange Y-shaped being with a blue head and body with a lilac stripe around her appeared in front of the trio. Her jetting limbs and beak are colored in lilac. Spitfire looked into her swirling yellow eyes and felt dizzy. “Ah, Inge! So nice of you to arrive.” Joker said with a happy smile. “…This is a Pokémon?” Pausing in disbelief, Spitfire asked. “It speaks like we do and it looks so… artificial!” “I downloaded the specs for the translation device into my software. So now I can speak in your common and native tongue!” Inge stated with its eyes closed and a large grin on her face. “As for my artificial appearance, Porygon is the world’s first artificially-created Pokémon. I just happen to be descended from one of the first Porygon.” “Truer than true. Isn’t she just the most adorable thing your eyes ever looked upon?” Joker asked with glee emanating from his tone. “Ummmm… no?” With her head cocked in confusion, Spitfire responded with an unsure tone. “Tu madre.” Inge responded. “Insult my mother one more time and I’ll have you sent to the incinerator to be scrapped.” Spitfire threatened. Inge’s head shot up in anxiety. She looked down to the ground with crestfallen eyes. “I’ll behave.” “A bit harsh there, don’t you think?” Monarca asked. “I don’t have any time for any sort of ridiculous activity. That’s why I’m trying to keep contact with this freak here to a minimum.” Spitfire proclaimed. “You say I’m a freak, but at least I don’t have a desire to become a crazy cat lady like you.” Joker rebutted. Spitfire’s lips gnarled into a frown. The gate to the vehicle bay lifted open, revealing Rainbow Dash, Sophia and Fei. Gordo and Rey followed them inside. Their eyes wandered towards the Equusians taking their welding torches to the various exos within. Rey’s beak dropped in awe. “You work alongside machines like this?” “Yep! Fei has a license to pilot these monsters, but he prefers not to do so.” Sophia responded. “Can’t stand them. I don’t care what Commander Spitfire says; she can’t force me to go inside one of them against my will.” Fei pouted out. “You’re not sucking on your mommy’s tetas, so don’t act like you do.” Gordo announced. Rainbow Dash looked at Fei’s face. Her eyes picked up on the stare tightening in his eyes. “You okay there, Fei? You look a bit insulted.” “No… I’m fine.” Sophia wandered into a wide chest down the road and rummaged through it. She tossed two translation bracelets with her mouth, which were caught by Rey and Gordo. “Try wearing them in any way you want.” Sophia explained. Rey shrugged his shoulders and brought the bracelet around his head. “You mean like this?” Rey asked. “I can understand you, so yes.” Rainbow Dash responded. Gordo stretched out the bracelet and brought it to the base of his left arm. “Can you understand me now, butch?” Gordo asked. “Did you just call me a ‘butch’?” Rainbow Dash asked with a deadpan voice. “Just because I am an aggressive female with a rainbow mane doesn’t give you the right to call me names like that.” “And what are you gonna do about it? Shoot me?” Gordo threatened with a cheeky grin on his face. “I’m too thick for any conventional gun to shoot through.” “Good thing that this isn’t a conventional gun I have then. It was imbued with the latest of Magi-Poke tech that gives it moves that Pokémon can use. I’m sure a Focus Blast from this baby will ruin your day.” Patting her weapon with a soft grin on her face, Rainbow Dash said. “First mechas and now weapons developed that can use Pokémon skills? Just how technologically advanced is this world?” Rey questioned. “Very. Through the combination of magic and machinery, the Equusians were able to modify their technology fifty years ahead of our respective universes.” Sophia stated. “Unfortunately, most of the technology developed here is used for warfare.” Fei added. “I am not sure why aliens are invading this world, but we cannot progress with civilian-centric technology until we defeat the invading forces.” The group gazed ahead and saw Joker sprinting his way towards Gordo and Rey with leaps exaggerated in each step. “You came! Oh you two came!” Screaming this, he dropped onto Gordo’s feet and hugged them. He burst out with loud wailing and dry tears. “Do you really need to do this every time I am gone for even an hour?” Gordo asked with a monotone voice. “Yes.” Standing up from the ground, Joker responded. Spitfire, Monarca and Inge wandered out of the hallway and into the bay, where they met up with the rest of the group. “So apparently, you know these two?” Spitfire asked. “They are a part of our Normal-type team. Rey there is the King, or the leader of the squad. I am the Queen, or the second in-command. Gordo over there is the Jack, or the muscle of the team, and Inge is the Ace, or the jack-of-all-trades of the team.” Monarca explained. “If my knowledge on playing cards is correct, then there must be four teams in the gang then?” “Correct! You’ll also notice that we all have national themes to each theme. Take a guess what we are. Come on!” Inge challenged. “Mexicolt I assume?” Spitfire guessed. “Your world’s version of the region south of Orre? Then you are right! You win a hug!” Inge wrapped her arms around Spitfire’s neck. Spitfire smiled and chuckled. She pushed Inge away. “Enough already. You sure can be affectionate.” Spitfire’s watch rung out once more. She sighed and tapped on the watch. A hologram of Dune Bug’s head appeared. “Commander! We found more strange creatures by Floral Avenue.” He stated. “I’ll give you props for finally steeling your nerves, Dune Bug. What is the status of the creatures?” “They were causing some trouble and, errr, well, a thestral made a citizen’s arrest.” Spitfire’s eyes narrowed and a low hum resonated from her voice. “Do you know who made the arrest?” She asked. Dune Bug’s eyes wince and his head shivered. “Scary Story.” He muttered out with a shaken tone. Spitfire’s nerves chilled underneath the nerves of Dune Bug’s words. “I feel bad for those creatures. Just bring them into H.O.R.S.E. custody and we’ll take it over from there.” Dune Bug saluted and his image over the watch disappeared. “Ummm… what happened?” Rey asked. “Apparently, two more of your buddies got apprehended by someone whose name I will not speak because it darkens the air around here. I mean that in the most literal sense possible.” Spitfire explained. A bipedal plant with a brown tail stem and face stood in front of the gates of H.O.R.S.E. Her body is wrapped around in green flesh. Her head is a green mushroom cap and her face is a part of the light brown stem upon it. She swung her light brown tail that ended with four green balls. Her feet and hands each had two giant red claws on them. Towards her right is a brown and bipedal creature with four stubs for limbs and two green horns curled at his forehead. He is covered in a giant cotton ball colored in a very light shade of brown. His orange eyes and lips quivered. “Are you alright, Iosac? You aren’t normally this uneasy. You’re usually a mischievous ball of fluff.” The mushroom plant asked with a concerned voice. “Aye, Sareid, I’m still a bit shaken by that dark fella’s dark scare. She’s a demon I tell ya.” Iosac responded. “Besides, weren’t ya a wee bit scared by that lady?” Sareid cocked her head and flashed an aggressive frown. “I tell ye once and I tell ye again, Iosac; getting scared’s for the peasants. Now, do I look like a peasant to ya? The answer is no. I’m a purebred Breloom perfected through decades of selective breeding.” She responded with a condescending tone. Iosac chuckled underneath his breath. “Then how do ya explain turning your backside to that fella and hiding your head underneath those fine claws of yours? That looks like peasant activity to me.” He teased. “Can it you scaredypuff of a Whimsicott.” Saraid responded in a dry tone. The gates opened on their own accord. The two Pokémon took their first steps on the grounds of the area. Saraid’s eyes detected the metal cargo towards her left. To her right is a building made entirely out of solar panels. Iosac smiled and hopped around in place. “This place looks amazing!” He noted. “I wonder how important some of these things are to the aliens.” “Don’t even think about it, Iosac. We’re under arrest, so anything we do will flash negatively on us.” Saraid warned. “I wasn’t planning on doing anything… yet.” At the front doors of the central building, Saraid and Iosac saw Jasmine leaving through the front door. Jasmine stopped in her steps and looked at the two Grass-types before her. “Are you two a part of the Royal Flush Gang I’ve heard about?” She asked. “It seems that our reputation extended even into this world.” Saraid stated with a pompous tone. “Or maybe some of our other teammates came into contact with them?” Iosac questioned with an eye raised with confusion. Jasmine’s eyes wandered towards Iosac’s direction. She grinned, squealed and picked him up. Iosac wiggled with a continuous motion in an attempt to break free from her grip. “Well aren’t you just the cutest Whimsicott I have ever laid my eyes upon?! You look a bit filthy around the cotton. Oh well, this means I get to bathe you!” Jasmine declared. Iosac’s eyes widened and his mouth shut with a deep frown. Feeling his body being spirited away into the building, he stretched out his right hand towards Saraid. “Saraid! Help me!” Iosac screamed out. Saraid held her left claws towards her mouth and suppressed a giggle. “I’d love to help, but ya do look a bit dirty around the cotton!” She called out. “Well, isn’t that something?” Walking up towards Saraid, Stereo asked. “And who are you supposed to be?” Saraid questioned with a haughty tone. “My name is Stereo. I am an operative here and a part-time artist under Miss Fleur De Lis’s apprenticeship.” Stereo responded. “Your Joker buddy also happened to ruin many pieces of artwork at the museum! Do you know how that makes me feel?!” “Wait, wait wait, hold on… you said you were an artist?” Saraid asked. “Artist in training, but what does that have to do with anything?” “Paint a picture of me. This world doesn’t know perfect beauty until it has seen an image of me!” “A bit boastful there, aren’t you?” Stereo asked with narrowed eyes. “Maybe a bit, but I’d like to see ya paint a portrait of me.” Saraid responded. “Well… Fleur does want me to paint something new. Alright, but we first have to get a translation bracelet on you so that the Equusians won’t think that you are trying to harm them.” “Fair enough.” Fluttershy stood outside of the city and gazed upon a tranquil lake whose size reminded her of the ocean. Her eyes set themselves towards a flock of long-legged birds with purple-tinged feathers and green eyes. Her watch on her right front ankle unveiled a blank page above it. She took a stylus from the watch with left front hoof and began scribbling words on the hologram. “It seems that the green-eyes purple flamingos had come back from their migration from the south. How I hope that I can visit the Island of Volcanic Steel to see what they do there.” She said with a hopeful tone. The green-eyes purple flamingos landed upon the shoreline of the lake by Fluttershy. She smiled and sighed at the sight of the birds folding in their straw-textured legs and gazing out towards the lake. In the midst of the event, a giant shadow descended upon her and extended towards the shoreline. The flamingos all looked into the sky and flew away from the area. Fluttershy set her sights above and gazed upon a ship the size of a mountain above her. A beam shot onto a flat section of land behind Fluttershy. A squad of five transformed Van’Goths appeared within the light. The central member’s skin and armor is tinged with red. The member to the middle-left is wrapped in blue skin and adorned in armor of the same color. The member to the middle-right has its skin and armor fashioned in a verdant green. The member to the far right had its armor flash in a bright yellow and skin that matched its color. The final member to the far left had a suit of pink armor that matched its skin’s color. The ship vanished within particles of accelerated light. Fluttershy’s eyes widened. She bore her teeth and pulled out her rifle. She aimed it towards the head of the central Van’Goth. “I’m not running away. Not this time! I won’t let anyone else die to your vicious ways!” She called out. “Big talk from a small pony. You, your kind and those aliens assisting you may have thwarted our forces before, but you are nothing against the Sallerian Rangers. Roll call!” The central member called out. Each of the members held out their arms and saluted into the sky. “Sallerian Ranger Red!” The central member Red introduced. “Sallerian Ranger Blue!” The middle-left member Blue declared. “Sallerian Ranger Green!” The middle-right member Green reported. “Sallerian Ranger Yellow!” The far right member Yellow called out. “Don’t forget Sallerian Ranger Pink here!” The far left member Pink asked. “Life forms don’t stand a chance against our quintuple-force tag team! Prepare to be annihilated!” They all declared at once. Red vanished with the first step taken and appeared in front of Fluttershy’s face at half a blink later. Fluttershy failed to make any sort of reaction within the span of a second. She felt an iron-clad fist pound against her chest and knock her into the air. Her body landed onto the water back first. “Blue! If you can!” Red ordered. Blue aimed its right hand towards the lake, which flashed in a blue aura. Fluttershy felt the water welling underneath her. She flipped onto her other side and began paddling her hooves with a hurried attempt at escape. The water underneath her exploded, knocking her back towards the group of Van’Goths. A bruise formed around Fluttershy’s chest. She gritted her teeth and stared at them with a tranquil gaze. Pink walked towards her and flicked her forehead. “This pony’s too much of a pansy to do anything right now. We should just end her life and get this scouting episode over with.” It said. Red pointed its fingers towards Fluttershy. Flaming tongues of fire spiked from their tips. Fluttershy aimed her rifle at Red’s face and fired a round into it. The bullet collided with its helmet and failed to dent it. Her heart dropped down into her stomach at the sight. “B….but how?” “Firmusite Armor. We aren’t the Sallerian Rangers without it.” Red answered. “That was a cute move you did, but I bet you’d be even cuter when the tongues of my flames will have you screaming in agony for death’s release.” A green vine smashed itself into Red’s hand, dismissing the flames within. Red held its hand back and looked towards the opposite direction. In the sight of the ranger is a large quadruped lizard with bumpy and bluish skin. On his back are multiple green fronds that surrounded a thick and brown trunk. The trunk held a pink and red-spotted flower that covered the entirety of his back. Blue gazed upon the red eyes of the creature behind it, which burned a hole through the ranger’s helmet. On closer inspection of the skin, each of the rangers picked up on deep scars along the creature’s skin. “I don’t know who ya are, but I’m pretty sure ya want to face something that won’t bore you.” The creature said. “This must be one of those Pokémon I’ve heard so much about.” Green stated. “I’ll handle this one.” Saying these words, Green dashed forwards and raised its iron fist towards the Pokémon. The Pokémon opened his mouth and shot a flurry of brown sludge towards Green that exploded on impact. Green flew away. Green stood its ground and touched the sludge on the chest. The sludge dissolved through the armor. “Figured that your armor was a Grass-type and lacked any sort of Steel-type affinities within it. That Sludge Bomb will take good care of you.” Fluttershy gazed upon her savior with a curious stare. He stood with a stoic grin on his face. Yellow rushed towards the Grass-type Pokémon and conjured tornadoes from the palms of its hands. The Pokémon shot a Solarbeam from the center of the flower on his back and destroyed the tornadoes. “It’s definitely strong. But we rangers will stand together to take out this Pokémon!” The rangers aligned themselves into an arrow-shaped formation and fired a rainbow of lasers towards the Pokémon. Multiple explosions erupted from the ground where the lasers struck, knocking the Pokémon into the air. He landed onto the ground with a loud thud. He lifted himself with his massive legs and laughed. “Impressive, but Breasal of the Royal Flush Gang will never falter to a challenge!” His body’s muscles tensed up and a red aura surrounded him. His eyes became wreathed in a burning aura. He rushed towards the group, flinging his body in his rampage. The Sallerian Rangers caught in his rampage flew into the air and towards the lake. Breasal looked onto Fluttershy with an intense rage. Fluttershy stood in her position with eyes not filled with fear, but understanding. She heard Breasal’s growling and his deathly intent, but she extended her left front hoof towards his face and touched it. She stroked him with soft and motherly pats. The anger from Breasal’s eyes dissipated away, revealing his calm exterior. Fluttershy smiled. “Thank you for saving me. My name is Fluttershy, but I probably wouldn’t be able to understand you if you tried to speak without a translator. I haven’t learned to understand Pokémon phrases yet.” She said. A brown-coated goat with a white-furred face stood upon a lone plateau by the lake and gazed upon Fluttershy and Breasal’s interactions with her orange eyes. Her black horns that are straighter than a longsword’s blade, her green shrubs that covered her neck, back and tail and her black-membraned eyelids created an air of intimidation around her. She smirked. “The kid has the ability to calm down even Breasal in his rampage? She truly must have a talent for understanding the heart of Pokémon if she could do that.” She said to herself. “I guess that if Breasal’s gonna be with her, I should follow behind.” The goat-like Pokémon leaped onto the ground and stalked Fluttershy and Breasal, who walked away from the scene of the area. Each of the Sallerian Rangers popped their heads out of the water and gazed upon each other. “The new tech developed by Wilhelm is pretty good, but we got to report on the kinks of the armor.” Red noted. “Especially this poison corroding my chestplate.” Green stated. “You’ll live through it.” Pink chastised. Saraid stood with a proud smile on her face and gazed at the heavens above. Stereo’s hands moved at light speed and the skill of a surgeon. He smiled and wiped his forehead. “And done.” Saraid dropped her stance and rushed by Stereo’s side with a smile on her face. “How do I look? I hope ya caught my good side!” Her eyes set themselves upon the canvas. She saw an image of her own body painted from a lower perspective that brought an air of opulence and power around her. Her eyes wandered to the lens flare that flashed down from the image of her cap. “Do you like it? I figured that you would be into an image that showed your beautiful power.” Stereo said. “Beautiful, yet so powerful… and you say ya just are a wee novice?” “Well, yes. I’ve only began painting about a year ago under the tutelage of one of my closer friends who happened to be a Smeargle and her human companion.” “Smeargles are known for their art, and I can see that this particular Smeargle’s style seems to have rubbed off on ya.” Saraid complimented. “Well, some of the more technical effects were actually taught to me by my current mistress Fleur. She taught me about the importance of perspective and the dynamics of how I can paint.” “Regardless, I am happy with this piece of art. This world has been blessed with my perfection.” Jasmine and Iosac walked out of the front doors of the main building. Iosac frowned, crossed his arms and turned his face away from Jasmine. Jasmine smiled and patted Iosac’s cotton. “Look who’s clean and is presentable to society!” Jasmine called out with an excited tone. Iosac looked back towards her and blew a raspberry towards her direction. “Ya really shouldn’t have taken my dignity by showering me like that.” He stated. “I’ll make ya rue the day you did!” “Oh hush now, Iosac. You look clean and you should be happy that I used some of my Mist-Rise Forest shampoo on you. Now you smell like a forest angel.” Jasmine stated. Iosac gagged. Saraid stifled a rising giggle. “Well don’t ya look presentable now, Iosac?” She asked with a tone of genuine cheerfulness. “Ya… really like how I cleaned up?” Iosac asked. “Of course! The Ace of our squad has to look his finest at every given moment. And I can say you look very féaráilte.” Saraid stated. Iosac’s uneasy frown flipped into a smile. He looked back into Jasmine’s eyes. “Alright bean neamhphósta, you did good. But next time ya force me to take a shower against my will; I’ll heckle ya until your bladder bursts!” Jasmine giggled and ruffled Iosac’s head. He winced and pushed away Jasmine’s hand with his hands. Fluttershy walked through the gates of the area with Breasal by her side and the Gogoat following behind her. Saraid and Iosac’s eyes lit up with joy. “Breasal! Riona! You two are here!” Saraid shouted. “Aye there, Iosac and Saraid. Didn’t think I’d see ya two in a place like this.” Breasal called out. Riona stared upon the group before her, humming and analyzing each member in the area. “Interesting set-up you have here. I wouldn’t have expected this girl to come from a big city like this.” She said with a wary tone. “You mean Fluttershy?” Stereo asked. “Yes. I can sense a special aura emanating from her.” Riona explained. “Fluttershy, are you alright? You have a nasty bruise on your chest.” Jasmine questioned with concern dripping from her tone. Fluttershy looked down onto her chest and jumped at the sight of the blackened skin hiding underneath her canary yellow coat. “It’s nothing. I just… errr, fell.” She responded with a quick tone. “Liar! I was there when I saw ya getting pummeled by those freaky aliens.” Breasal called out. “What?! The Van’Goth attacked Fluttershy again?!” Jasmine shouted. “Please Jasmine; it’s nothing to be worried about. I’m not the same helpless filly you first saw when you appeared in this world. I have grown, even if I wasn’t able to do much.” Fluttershy reasoned. “But why lie to us? We can help you out with your expeditions and protect you.” Stereo asked. Riona held up her right front hoof, silencing any potential words that anyone would have had. “I can understand Fluttershy’s motives with lying here. She wants to prove to you that she isn’t weak. Even if she only made a dent on the armor of the aliens, this girl is very strong in heart and will. She looked onto the aliens with defiance and she would fight until her last breath. Truly, this girl is someone special.” “Being sagacious with us again, Riona?” Saraid asked. “Nonetheless, Riona’s got a point. She’s the wisest out of all of the Royal Flush Gang, so we don’t argue against her because she will always be right.” “Fluttershy is a teammate of ours. We can’t just let her go out when the Van’Goth will be targeting her.” Stereo reasoned. “I am all for teamwork and you have a point, but please do not look upon Fluttershy as someone who is helpless. But rather, see her as someone with grand potential that would even be able to challenge the gods themselves.” Riona said. Jasmine paused in her tone. She felt any words she had robbed through the voice and stare of Riona. She let out a sigh. “I understand. At the very least, allow me to give you two some translation bracelets of your own. I want you to say those words to Fluttershy.” She said. “So that is how this girl can understand you four, but cannot understand Breasal or I. I gladly accept.” Stereo glanced towards Fluttershy and rubbed the back of his head with a shaky speed. “I don’t think you are helpless. In fact, you have one of the biggest hearts on the team. I just don’t want to see that go away.” Fluttershy smiled and patted Stereo on his head. “Do not worry about me losing my big heart, Stereo. I’ll live for a long time and still take care of everyone here. I just want to get stronger so that I don’t need to rely on being protected anymore.” She said. “I understand.” “Ey, are ya just gonna sit around and talk or are ya gonna give us our translators? I have a couple of words I’d like to say to these aliens!” Breasal announced. “Hold your cans, Breasal. We don’t need ya going on one of your famous Outrages again. Besides, we all know that I can stop that Outrage.” Iosac proclaimed with pride in his tone. “Yeah, but my Sludge Bomb will wreck ya. How does that make ya feel?” Breasal called out with a jeering tone. “I’ll behave…” Author's Note The 2nd part! This took too long to do, but I did it. Introducing the clubs of Stag Prince's Royal Flush team. Also, Riona's words about Fluttershy are interesting. Dimensional Intrusions pt. 3Rundas, Boreas, Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock landed upon the shores of the Terraformed Wilderness. Rundas is adorned in a jet black suit made of rubber that stretched down from his neck and down to his ankles and wrists. Over his right breast is the badge of Neo Canterlot. He looked down on his suit and smiled. “So, how do I look in this?” He asked with. Subterra Shock sighed and rolled his eyes. “For the thirteenth time, I said that it looks good on you. Why are you so obsessed with that uniform anyways?” He asked. “Because it’s new? It’s one of those things you just have to put up with until I recognize it as an everyday object three days later.” Rundas responded. Crescent Radiance rolled her eyes and let out a wide yawn. “Rundas, I didn’t take these day missions from Council Lady Luna so that I can hear you brag about your uniform. I happened to tag along to make sure you wouldn’t do something stupid to hurt yourself. Besides, I would honestly rather stay in my home and sleep the day away.” She stated. Rundas chuckled and pointed to himself. “Me? Hurt myself? No, sorry, you got me mixed up with Subterra Shock here.” “Hey! I resent that!” Subterra Shock shouted. Boreas cracked a smile. Her mouth wiggled in a fashion where she wanted to laugh. She tapped her right pectoral fin on the sand in a specific pattern of numbers. Rundas grimaced and a red blush came upon his face. “P-please don’t bring that up, Boreas.” “Bring what up?” Crescent Radiance asked with a tone steeped in curiosity. “Not telling you!” Boreas grinned with her eyes narrowed in smugness. She closed them and unleashed a series of taps along the ground with her pectoral fin. “So you’re saying that Rundas still wets the bed?” Subterra Shock asked with a joking tone. The blush on Rundas’s face lit up with the shine of Christmas lights. He waved his claws to the left and right. “No! No I don’t wet the bed!” He shouted with his claws held in front of him in a defensive stance. “I was only joking. But, with how you acted there, I have to ask; do you still wet the bed?” “It’s a medical condition, alright?! I don’t understand why Miss Blabberflipper had to keep saying that!” Boreas looked away from Rundas and smiled with an imaginary halo over her head. Rundas groaned and planted the palm of his claws in his face. “A Weavile with the bladder control of a newly-hatched Sneasal? Pathetic.” A voice echoed from nowhere. Rundas flashed his teeth and turned towards the direction of the voice. “You better show yourself or else I’ll force you to show yourself.” “You mean like this?” A Weavile emerged from Boreas’s shadow. Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock leaped back with their mouths dropped in shock. “How did that get there?!” Subterra Shock shouted. Rundas examined the Weavile before him and noticed the feathers inside of the ears being shorter than his. “I see you are a female. What’s a cool chick like yourself doing out in the middle of nowhere?” Rundas asked with a smooth voice. He stretched out his arms and wrapped them around the Weavile’s shoulders The Weavile curled her right nails and socked them across Rundas’s face. The wind was knocked out of Rundas’s lungs and he fell onto the ground. “Try to hit on me again and I’ll make it impossible for you to breed, got it?” She asked in a deadpan tone. “Anyways, my name is Reine. I happened to wander outside of the nearby city so that I can have a feel for my surroundings. What are your names?” “R-Rundas.” Getting up from the ground, Rundas responded. “And I got it. Geez, have a little fun with it at least.” “What reason is there with having ‘fun’ when I am being harassed by a male Weavile in the middle of an unknown world?! I see no sort of enjoyment factor in that.” Reine responded. Rundas scoffed and flipped his nails. “Geez, take a chill pill girl. You only live once and you got to have fun with it.” He reasoned. Reine held her nails up to her face and shot a cold glare towards Rundas’s direction. “I’m being serious about that threat I made earlier. I know very well how to castrate a member of my own species. If you value your testes, then I suggest you stop trying to come at me with that approach.” She threatened. Subterra Shock looked upon Rundas’s face, which lost its black color and his cool composure fell into a shaking mess. “It seems like Rundas has finally met his match.” Subterra Shock said with a gleeful smile on his face. “I wish I could understand what this Pokémon is saying so that I can relish within the burns she is giving to him.” “S-shut up, Subterra Shock! Nobody asked for your commentary!” Rundas shouted. “I want to hear more on Subterra Shock’s commentary with how you are failing with a female. It’s kind of a breath of fresh air to see you finally having your wit being destroyed by someone else.” Crescent Radiance chimed in. “Not you too, Crescent Radiance!” Boreas let out an open-mouth grin and tapped her pectoral fin on the ground in a series of numbers. Reine’s eyes widened from the sounds that reached her ears. “Oh my! Aren’t you a bit bold with your taps?” She asked. “Wait, you can understand what Boreas is saying?” Rundas questioned. “Of course. I’ve learned some Morse code back in my world. She said that it’s fun seeing you try to reach first base only to strike out with your cockiness.” Reine responded. Rundas glared at Boreas with narrowed eyes. He let out a sigh and shook his head. “Let’s just go back to Neo Canterlot to make a direct report to Council Lady Luna. Right now, it feels like ‘Everybody Pick on Rundas Day’ today.” He stated. He focused his attention onto Reine. “You are coming with me whether you like it or not. We’re going to get you a translator so that you’ll be able to speak to the natives.” Reine shrugged her shoulders. “Fine by me. I was looking for a way to communicate with some of these Equusians.” Rundas, Boreas, Crescent Radiance, Subterra Shock and Reine traveled across the grassland that sprawled before their eyes. The patches of grass extended to the size of small towers. Rundas sliced through the thick grass with his claws. Cutting through the grass, Rundas felt his claws swiped against flesh. The group heard a loud roar. “Who dares attack me?!” A large Krookodile emerged from the grass. He stared at Rundas with fiery eyes. A low growl emanated from his voice. Rundas raised his right eye and crossed his arms. “Hey! You aren’t Gnasher. Who are you?” He asked with an annoyed tone. “And I could say that you aren’t Reine! Who are you?!” The Krookodile responded back. Reine shook her head and smacked her face with the palm of her right upper paw. “Enough, Valet. They’re ‘friends’.” She said. “Reine? What are you doing hanging out with these losers?” Valet responded. “Ummm, loser? You should look in a mirror. I’m not the one creeping around behind bushes of grass like some pedophile.” Rundas retorted. “Shut the hell up. You’re lucky that Reine is with you guys.” Valet stated. “Or what? You would beat us in? I’d like to see you try.” Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock both wielded uneasy and gritted frowns. Crescent Radiance let out a hushing noise and moved her right front hoof over her mouth. “Rundas! You better shut up. This guy is much bigger than us!” She said. “Yeah? Well we got Boreas on our side. She’s tough and bigger than this Krookodile-wannabe loser over here.” Rundas looked over his shoulder and noticed the absence of Boreas’s form. His cocky and aloof grin faltered away into a frown of fear. He looked into Valet’s eyes, whose arms are crossed and right foot planted into the ground. “So I’m a Krookodile-wannabe loser, eh? Are you sure I couldn’t rough up this guy and his friends even a little, Reine?” “He tried hitting on me and he’s acting like he’s the alpha male of all Sneasals and Weaviles. As much as I want you to hurt him, I’m afraid I cannot allow you to do so. He’s important to our current objective.” Reine responded. Valet let out a huff and dropped his stance. “Fine. But let me know if he starts making you feel uncomfortable again. I’ll straighten this guy out to the point where he’ll learn how to treat a woman in a proper fashion.” Subterra Shock took notice of Valet turning towards the direction they were headed. “He’s not going to fight us?” He asked with a voice stunned with surprise. “Reine and Valet here are apparently teammates. She restricted Valet from hurting us until they get some information.” Rundas explained. “Speaking of information, where did Boreas go?” Crescent Radiance asked. Boreas popped her head out of one of the shrubs and glanced at the group before her. With a sense of security in the air, she motioned herself out of the grass and approached the group. “Why’d you wimp out when I needed you most, Boreas? I thought we were a team!” Rundas shouted. Boreas shuddered under the overwhelming stare given to her by Valet. Valet narrowed his eyes and pointed towards Boreas. “And you say she’s tough? She looks like nothing more than a giant, tasty snack for me to devour.” He said. “She’s tougher than you can imagine! She survived through countless abuse to the point where she was rendered mute. I rescued her in my ranger years and we were inseparable ever since. So the next time you talk about my partner that way, I’ll make sure to bury you within an icy tomb!” Rundas shouted. Valet stopped talking and flicked his right front nails. “Feh. It’s useless to argue. We should just go now.” Reine stood in place and examined the fiery determination within Rundas’s voice. The group walked before her eyes. She frowned, narrowed her eyes and looked down to the ground. “So he was a ranger? Where was someone like him when I needed a ranger most?” She said to herself. The group arrived onto the outside of the walled city. Rundas stretched out his arms and yawned. He looked upon Reine and cracked a devilish smirk. He sidestepped to her side and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “So are you sure that you don’t feel anything for me? You know, I can please you in ways you can only imagine.” He stated. “You must not value your organes génitaux if you are very free with how you speak. Need I remind you that Valet and I can maul you at any time?” Curling her nails inwards, Reine responded. “I know, but I’m not exactly used to my newfound sexuality. It feels weird to feel like this for a Pokémon and others.” “You are confusing me, Rundas. Do you mean to tell me that you aren’t always attracted to other Pokémon?” “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I was a human before coming into this world, and I was only a Casanova towards other human women. I don’t know why, but I can detect a very nice scent coming from you. I can’t explain it, but it is intoxicating and I have to have more of it.” Rundas explained. “So you were a human then? I can see why you must not be used to the pheromones that females produce then. Still, that doesn’t excuse you for being such a dog around me.” Reine stated. Rundas held up his claws and looked away from Rein. “Guilty as charged. I promise that I won’t further my own advances on you.” Subterra Shock looked onto Rundas and cracked a heartfelt grin. He bumped his right shoulder into Rundas’s left shoulder. “Seems like your advances with the ladies are getting better.” He said with a wink of his right eye. “Nothing like that, Subterra Shock. Reine’s obviously hurt by something and I want to know what it is.” Rundas whispered back. A bipedal figure emerged from the shadows of the walled city. Closer inspection of the figure revealed an orange lizard with a red Mohawk. Around his neck is a yellow hood attached to his skin. Around his legs is yellow skin that sagged to the point where he held them by their sides. Reine and Valet approached the creature and with a casual step. “So did you find any information regarding our current circumstances?” He asked. “Nope, but we found fellow Pokémon and aliens here who can lead us to some answers, Roi.” Reine responded. Roi let out an unsavory fit of laughter. “You definitely found some good ones alright.” “They also claim that they can give us the ability to speak with the natives of this world.” “Shouldn’t As be with you, Roi? Where is she?” Valet asked. “She’s doing some spying within some fortified area. I trust her completely with finding information there.” Roi responded. “Anyways, I’ll speak with this Weavile here.” He walked towards Rundas and extended his right hand towards him. Rundas leered towards Roi’s direction and shook his hand with his right claws. “So, you are a Scrafty. It appears that these two answer to you.” “It’s only natural since I am the King suit of the Spades here. We are involved in a mercenary group known as the Royal Flush Gang and we happen to be facing a dilemma involving being warped out of our home world.” Roi explained. “You have the shadiness of a troublemaker, but you don’t seem to have malicious intent right now. I could tell you everything you need to know, from the world you are in and down to the situation you are faced with.” “It’s nice to have a mediator with the information I desire. So tell me; where exactly are we?” “This world is known as Equus. You are just outside of the final place of civilization known as Neo Canterlot.” Rundas told. “Final place of civilization, eh? I would want to know more about the circumstances at a later time. Right now, my desire for knowledge has been sated through this information.” Roi stated. “So, why don’t you and your group come with us back into the city? We’ll be happy to give you some translation bracelets.” Rundas requested. “Would this city even allow for mercenaries to come in? I mean, we have been in some settlements that are… less than fond of our kind.” Roi asked with an uneasy shrug of his shoulders. “You’re talking to someone who gave a ‘meaningful’ farewell to the rangers and does bounty hunting for a living. If the city can accept someone like me, then I’m sure they can accept someone like you.” Through the conversation the two Dark-type Pokémon shared, Valet flashed a smile and revealed three triangle-shaped gaps in his mouth. Subterra Shock smirked and pointed at him. “Did you lose a fight there buddy? You got your teeth knocked out!” He called out. Crescent Radiance bumped her left shoulder into Subterra Shock’s right shoulder and flashed a cold stare towards his direction. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?!” She shouted in a hushed tone. “You can’t tell me that looks out of place on him.” Subterra Shock justified. “Yeah? I don’t think you place much value in your life if you want to insult my broken-off teeth.” Valet responded. “Ummm… what did he say?” Valet cracked the bones in his fingers and pointed towards Subterra Shock. Subterra Shock shuddered underneath the overbearing glare from Valet. “You’re dead meat!” A purple and yellow leopard whose body is speckled with yellow rosettes crept through the halls of H.O.R.S.E. with silent footsteps. Her sickle-shaped tail hung close to her yellow-furred legs and minimized her height. With her green eyes masked behind a pink membrane, she detected a door down the hallway. Her pink nose detected a hypnotic scent of herbs in the air. “Is that… catnip?!” She whispered to herself. She rushed out of her shadows and ran towards the door. The door slid open, revealing a dark room the size of a closet and two bags of catnip on the ground. A devilish grin crept onto her face. “I’m sure that nobody would mind me playing with this catnip.” Mono turned around the corner of the hallway with his eyes widened in panic. His mouth let out an open frown. “What’s that noise?!” With his ears twitching, he asked. Sounds of ruffling are heard from behind the closet door. He tightened the grip on his gauntlet and approached the door with silent steps. Behind the door, Mono’s eyes detected the leopard-like creature on her back clawing and biting through the bag in her grasp. “Is that a Liepard? Here? How?” He asked himself. The Liepard stopped playing with the bag of catnip and eyed the Pokémon in her presence. She rolled onto her side and flashed a sly smile. She extended her right front leg and wiggled her paw with a hypnotic stare. Mono’s nerves eased and let his body approached the Liepard. “So… umm… who are you and what are you doing here?” He asked with a nervous tone. The Liepard stood up from the ground and approached Mono. She wrapped her tail around Mono and she leaned towards his left ear. “You may call me As. My purpose here is nothing of your concern.” As responded with a sultry voice. She dropped her grip on Mono and spun him around. She placed her right front paw on his head after one rotation, stopping him. She walked around him and eyed his details; her eyes picked upon his silky fur, his bushy tails, his emerald eyes that flashed with a hypnotic resonance and some definition of muscle underneath his suit. “W-what are you doing?” With a red blush appearing on his face, Mono stuttered out. As walked towards the area on the floor where she lied down upon and dropped her upper body down to the ground. She stretched out her long body and wiggled her hips with a mesmerizing rhythm. She narrowed her eyes and flashed a sly smile. Mono felt his body drawing in towards As against his own will. His mind fought against the attractions and charms of the seductive Liepard, but his will succumbed to his body’s carnal cravings. He walked towards As’s left front paw and lifted it with his upper paws. He kissed it with a passionate force. “My, you were not hard to attract at all.” As stated with a sultry tone. “Believe me; I am very hard right now.” Mono stated with a despondent tone and hearts over his eyes. “Yes, that is fine and all. Will you give me the information that I will seek? I promise that I will make it worth your time.” Rubbing the right cheek of Mono’s face at a slow speed with her right front leg, As asked. Mono nodded with an absent state of mind. Mono lied beside As and put his head down next to her chest. As smirked with a sinister chuckle and stroked the white fluff on Mono’s head with the end of her tail. “Mono? Did you run down this way?” Sophia asked. As’s façade dropped into surprise. She looked outside and eyed Sophia, whose head leered towards every conceivable direction. Sophia looked into the open closet. Her jaw dropped to the ground and a horrified gasp crawled its way out of her voice box. “Mono! What are you doing with that hussy?!” She shouted. Mono snapped out of his trance and looked towards Sophia. He looked to his right and saw himself lying with As. His eyes widened in panic and he shook his upper front paws with an erratic motion. “Sophia! This isn’t what it looks like! I can explain, I swear!” Sophia scowled and stomped her way into the closet. The tension in the air thickened to custard consistency. “You can explain, huh? I would love to how you can explain why you are lying down in a romantic position with a female Liepard ready to engage in sexual behaviors with her!” “Ummm, jealous much?” As asked. “Oh, I’m not jealous at all. This is my boyfriend you are with. You just waltz in here and take him with your wily charms without even getting to understand him!” Sophia shouted. “Believe me; I understand him much more than you can. How else was I able to attract him to me?” “Because you are a seductive hussy who is miserable with her own life so she has to go out of her own way to make the lives of others miserable to compensate for her lack of happiness.” Sophia retorted. As gritted her teeth and flashed a dark leer towards Sophia. She stood up from the ground and leaned her face into Sophia’s face. “Say that again if you dare. I can’t promise that you’ll be alive after you say that.” She threatened. “Alright. You are a seductive hussy who is miserable with her own li-“As swiped at Sophia’s face mid-sentence and drew some blood. Sophia brought her right front paw to her face and touched the drop of blood from her face. “So that’s the game you want to play?” With his nerves frizzling from the encounter, Mono ran from the area with quick steps. All he heard was the ignition of a Moonblast and an explosion from the closet. Author's Note The introductions for the Spades are set, and now the motions of battle are in way. Also, I'll give V-Oblivion his credit here for allowing Stag Prince to have me use these characters. They are quite fun to write. Uneasy AlliancesSubterra Shock flew through the air above the city streets with erratic flaps. His heart beat out of his chest and his lungs strained with air loss. Valet crashed through buildings and sprinted after him. “Can we just talk about this like grown adults?!” Subterra Shock shouted. “After making fun of me for my teeth?! Not a chance!” Valet shouted. “I-I still don’t know what you said, but I’m pretty sure you don’t want to talk about this!” Valet became surrounded in a Stone Edge and sent the sharp fragments of rocks towards Subterra Shock. Subterra Shock dodged the incoming shards with a bumble of his body. Roi chased after Valet and lifted his right arm towards his direction. “Valet! I command you to stop chasing this alien!” He demanded. Rundas flew through the air on his Ice Beam and formed a spiral path of ice in his way. “I’ll go ahead and try to stop Subterra Shock. Use some of your moves to slow down Valet so that he’ll calm down.” Rundas ordered. “I don’t need to take orders from you! You want me to beat you down as well?!” At the far end of the city, Crescent Radiance and Reine facepalmed. Boreas shook her head in disapproval. “Men can really be idiotic.” Reine stated. “If you made a comment about men being idiots, then I agree with you one hundred percent. Subterra Shock should not have mocked your friend.” Crescent Radiance stated in agreement. Reine smiled and looked towards Crescent Radiance. “Nice to see that even with the language barrier between us, we both can agree on something. So… should we just continue on with our plans as scheduled?” “I have no idea what you said. Let’s just get your translation bracelet while these males finish up what they are doing.” Crescent Radiance stated. Boreas tapped her right pectoral fin on the ground to form a message. “Wait, you taught Rundas how to do that with his Ice Beam? Would you mind showing me sometime then?” Reine asked. Boreas smiled and nodded. Sophia leaped off a wall and avoided As’s right front claw, which glowed in a dark aura. The claw smashed a section of the wall and left a sizeable indent on it. As clicked her tongue. “I’ll give you credit; you sure can dodge my Night Slashes.” She said. “Weird time to compliment when I want to kill you.” Sophia responded. “It’s the least I can do before I maul you to death.” As’s tail shined in a faint light before transmuting into steel. She leaped into the air and whacked Sophia across the face with her tail. Sophia squealed and took three steps back. She winced and stared at As with defiance in her eyes. “Just because I am weak to Steel-type moves doesn’t mean that I’ll take back anything I said about you.” “How unfortunate for you. Then it looks like I will take pleasure in killing you then.” As’s body emanated with a pink aura. She sprinted towards Sophia with a playful step and tackled her. She bit and scratched Sophia at the speed of sound. Sophia gritted and bit and scratched As back. The two female Pokémon became enveloped in a cloud of dust, where exaggerated symbols of hearts and stars burst from the skirmish. Mono looked behind him and saw the cloud approaching him at a fast speed. His eyes widened and his heart sunk into his stomach. He screamed and sprinted even faster. Lith walked out of the door and looked towards her left in confusion. Mono bumped into her, causing both to stumble onto the ground. “I heard your running, Mono. What’s the matter?” Lith asked. Mono pointed to the cloud of fighting behind him. Lith’s eyes widened with suspense. “We should probably run.” “I’m way ahead of you!” Sprinting away on all fours, Mono shouted. The double doors to his left burst open. Subterra Shock hit the wall to his right with enough force to shatter it. Valet crashed through the wall to the left of the door and plunged his teeth into Subterra Shock’s left front hoof. “Yowch!” Subterra Shock shouted. “Alright, I had enough of this!” Subterra Shock socked Valet across his left temple with his right front hoof. The blow knocked him back and caused him to release the grip on his victim. Valet placed his left hand on the side of his head and smirked. “I like it when prey fights back. It makes it more fun!” “Now there is a Krookodile fighting a pony here?!” Mono shouted. He looked behind him and saw the cloud of fighting approaching him at a steady speed. He looked towards his front and saw Subterra Shock hovering around Valet and stinging him with a flurry of kicks. Valet chomped onto one of Subterra Shock’s legs and applied intense pressure onto him. Subterra Shock let out a sharp scream. Mono rolled into a ball and covered his head. His teeth clanked against each other and he shook his head. Spitfire emerged from a door in front of Mono with a gaze of calm aggression. She looked towards her left and right, where she witnessed both fights. She shook her head and let out an unhappy sigh. “Quiet!” She shouted with a voice that pierced the heavens themselves. The cloud of dust dissipated, revealing As on top of Sophia with her front paws on Sophia’s shoulders. The two looked towards Spitfire with distracted gazes. Valet and Subterra Shock gazed towards Spitfire with curiosity affixed within their eyesight. Spitfire set her death stare on the four fighters. “In my office. Now! And don’t think you are getting out of this one either, Mono.” She demanded in a cold voice. Spitfire sat at her desk and looked upon the seated Mono, Sophia, As, Valet and Subterra Shock. Her overbearing stare caused all five of them to look down on the ground with shame protruding from their frowns. As and Valet each had a translation bracelet affixed around their wrists. “What’s wrong with you four? I literally came out of my office after dealing with that lunatic Joker and his gang only to arrive into an all-out brawl in my headquarters?! What do you have to say about yourselves?!” Valet pointed to Subterra Shock and opened his mouth with a sheepish frown on it. “He made fun of my teeth.” Sophia pointed towards As with her shaky right paw. “She tried stealing Mono away.” “And you called me a slut.” As responded with a frown mixed with snide and regret in her tone. “Doesn’t matter!” Banging her right front hoof on the desk, Spitfire declared. She focused her stare towards Valet and Subterra Shock. “You two are idiots for letting small words escalate into violence.” She then pointed towards As and Sophia with her right front paw. “And you two represent the negative stereotypes associated with young females for letting a simple problem lead into a vicious catfight. You four should be ashamed of yourselves!” Mono looked into Spitfire’s eyes. He twiddled his paws with anxiety creeping down his body. His lungs choked with a lack of fresh air from the tension within them. “Are we in trouble, Commander?” He squeaked out. “You have caused property damage, and you did disturb the peace here. But, I will be able to forgive you all if you do one thing; you set all of your transgressions aside and shake hands.” Spitfire stated. “And what if we don’t want to listen? You can’t tell me what to do.” Valet responded. “Here’s why you should listen to me; I got Joker’s permission to boss around all Royal Flush Gang members as though they are under my command.” The eyes of Valet and As widened upon hearing these news. Valet stared into Spitfire’s hooves and slammed his claws on her desk. “That’s bullshit! I want to hear Joker’s words on this!” He demanded. Joker broke through the ceiling above and landed on the desk face-first. He got up and rubbed his head. Spitfire let out a regretful sigh, planted both of her front hooves onto her face and shook her head. Joker stood up from the table and dusted off his pants with his hands. “I heard Valet call for me in his written dialogue. And yes, I gave permission to Spitfire here to boss you all around. It’ll make the story more interesting as it would force you to interact with other members of H.O.R.S.E. and the city whether you like it or not.” Valet’s jaw dropped to the ground. He widened his arm span and stuttered. “You can’t be serious! I have to take orders from some drill sergeant now?!” Joker pranced towards Valet’s side and wrapped his right arm around him and held out his left arm towards the sky. “It’s not going to be all that bad. The best perk you get is being able to throw around your weight against others in a training facility. Besides, you really need to refine your fighting style. You didn’t kill this thestral here while you had the chance.” He reasoned. “Who’s side are you on?!” Subterra Shock shouted with surprised betrayal in his voice. “No one’s side really. But, we really have nothing better to do and I can’t let those aliens destroy the last bastion of civilization in this world. Then that would mean that we will be stuck in this world with no way to make money.” Joker reasoned. “Wait… did something with basic intelligence just come out of your mouth?” Spitfire asked with genuine surprise in her tone. “I can’t be all jokes and insanity all the time. There’s a time and place for everything, but Professor Oak says not now.” “What does Professor Oak have to do with anything?!” Mono shouted in confusion. “Absolutely nothing at all! Now I have to make my exit from this chapter. I’ve overstayed the time the author had given me to appear in this part of the story. I will say this though; the final team of the Royal Flush Gang is just outside the door here. You’ll meet them all after this meeting is concluded.” Joker waved, spun and flew back into the air. The six beings sitting in the room looked into the black of the hole in the ceiling. Spitfire groaned. “You see? This is why I hate dealing with Joker. The man breaks every single law of physics as well as the imaginary fourth wall that doesn’t exist at all! Plus, he makes no sense. How is it that your team can even put up with his behavior?!” “We just do. Joker is surprisingly competent with what he does.” As responded. “So it is decided then; you have the entire Royal Flush Gang under your control.” Valet pouted and turned his gaze away from Spitfire. “I don’t have to like it though.” Spitfire cracked a small smirk in response to Valet’s words. “Good, then we are on the same topic. Because my bad mood became focused on Joker, I’ve decided to let all of you go scot free. But, if I catch any other unauthorized fights outside of designated areas, you’ll be sure that I’ll punish you! Now if you’ll need me, I got to get maintenance in this room.” A floating and bipedal being colored in brown looked onto the floor with his green eyes shaped in a Mobius strip. His oblong-shaped head with black markings upon it became the focus of the gaze of H.O.R.S.E. operatives passing by him. The three nubs at the ends of each crossed hand are colored in red, yellow and green. His trench coat had a popped collar and four buttons on the front. By his side is a purple star-shaped being with ten points and a yellow ring that held an octagon-shaped gem in place. Its red gem flashed. “What appears to be on your mind, Saturn?” It asked. Saturn looked towards the being to his right. “Many things, Neptune. I have recently heard that all of the members of the Royal Flush Gang are now within the premise of this property. From the reactions of the others barring Joker, I have sensed confusion and wariness from their reactions to this world. But, is it wrong that I don’t feel this way?” “Not really. I mean, our team wasn’t even a part of the same planet that the other members of the gang were born on! They feel like aliens in this world, but we are already so used to that feeling that it is irrelevant for us to worry about it.” Neptune responded. “That is true. Plus, the technology used on this planet is much more advanced than the technology from the world we were in. In a way, it makes me feel more at home than our intended home is.” Saturn stated. Neptune brought its two upper side points in its front towards the lower side points on his back and flashed his gem in a red color. “I think that the atmosphere’s getting to your head, Saturn. Sure this may be more recognizable than our other world, but thinking that this place is more like home?! You need to get your neuron sensors examined for signs of any dead tissue inside of that head of yours.” “Neptune, you really need to learn how to shut up sometimes. Some of those words you say can actually be quite harmful to other beings.” Saturn warned. “Not my fault if others do not have the same level of genius that I do. But I digress; I’ve already imprinted the other world as my home world and I not wish to make any more imprints on other planets so that I could recognize them as homes in addition to the other world.” The door in front of the alien duo opened in front of them. Mono, Sophia, Subterra Shock, Valet and As exited the room and examined the Pokémon in front of them. Mono smiled and pointed at them. “It’s a Beeheeyem and a Starmie. I assume that these are the members of the final team Joker told us about?” He asked. “Your assumption would be correct you ignoramus. We are a part of the Diamond team in the Royal Flush Gang. My name is Neptune and this here is Saturn.” Neptune responded with a stuffy tone. Mono brought his face towards As’s left ear. “Ummm… is he always this rude?” He whispered. “Don’t take it personally. Neptune is insufferable in general. We just learned to tune out his words.” As responded. Saturn closed his eyes and held his right hand towards Mono’s direction. A small blush appeared on his face. “That was quite an interesting encounter you had with As there, Mono. And I still feel a semblance of arousal with As here as the center of it.” He said. “Wha? How did you-?” “I’m a telepath and I can communicate in the same tongue as others can.” Saturn explained. Sophia scowled and grabbed Mono by his upper right paw with her mouth. “You and I need to talk now, Mono.” “Alright…” Mono squeaked out. Sophia dragged Mono down the hallway and turned towards the right corner at the end. Valet smirked and chuckled. “Oooh! Some Pokémon is in trouble!” Saturn faced towards As’s direction and let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness I was able to remove those two from the immediate premise. Their examining eyes were getting me nervous. But now, we can talk about the matters at hand.” “I’m listening, Saturn.” As responded. “But what about this thestral here? Wouldn’t this information be on a need to know basis? He wouldn’t need to know about this.” Saturn set his gaze on Subterra Shock. Looking into the alien Pokémon’s eyes, a small gulp of air travelled down Subterra Shock’s esophagus. “He is fine. He lacks the same aura as the other two. I’ve heard from Joker that we are unofficially employed within this organization. Helios and Selene are both interacting with the natives, but I believe that they have caught some unnecessary attention from some of the local figureheads.” “Wait, how do you know that?” Subterra Shock asked. “Telepathy.” Pointing to his head, Saturn responded. Celestia and Luna gazed upon two meteorites hovering above the courtyard’s ground. The meteorite to the left is an orange sphere with a yellow pattern of dots on it. Eight jagged spikes that shared the same color as the patterns on it jetted from the sphere. Until the end of time, its eyes remained slanted. The meteorite to the left is shaped in a beige crescent. Its body was covered in craters. Two black and smooth craters on the sides of its head made way for its pink eyes to see through. At the center of its body was a triangle-shaped shard of stone that made way for its nose. “Ummm, are we looking at the sun and moon, ‘Tia?” Luna asked. “I’m not sure, but I think that they are both staring at us.” Celestia whispered back. “We know you are talking about us, terrestrials of this world.” The sun-shaped meteorite responded. Celestia leaped back and shrieked. She placed her right front hoof onto her chest and felt her heart pound out of her chest. She inhaled and exhaled a deep number of breaths. “You… you scared me there for a moment. I never expected you being able to talk in our native tongue.” She stated. “Perhaps some introductions are in order then?” The moon-shaped meteorite asked. “We both are Pokémon and came here along with the rest of our squads when a certain disaster came upon us. My name is Selene and this here is my partner Helios.” Selene introduced with affection near the end of its tone. “Wait, your name is Selene? That name seems very familiar, almost as if I almost ended up with that name.” Luna noted. A large grin appeared on her face and a loud squeal emerged from her voice. “But who cares?! You two are shaped like the sun and moon!” Helios gazed upon Luna and tilted his body to the right. “And you have a fascination with the shapes of our body why?” Celestia cleared her throat, nabbing the attention of Helios. “Please forgive my sister, Helios. My name is Council Lady Celestia and her name is Council Lady Luna. We both respectively control the sun and the moon. I had never thought that I would witness Pokémon taking the shapes of even the sun and moon, so it is a bit flattering for us.” “You must easily be flattered then if our shapes caused that type of reaction from the both of you. Perhaps you would like to be enlightened on how our kind came to be?” Helios asked. “Yes! I want to hear everything about your kind!” Luna shouted out. Celestia shook her head and planted her right front hoof into her face. She dropped it onto the floor and wore a forced smile. “I would love to hear about how your species are created, but we have actual leadership duties to fulfill in this city.” “That is fine. We will just stalk and follow you until you are at a time and place convenient for you to listen to our story.” Helios responded. “You are very direct about this, Helios.” Tilting her head and narrowing one of her eyes, Luna commented. “Here, that is a crime.” “You two will love the story though. It has its shades of romances with the day and night.” Selene responded. “That is nice and all, but we have things to do here, such as discussing with Rundas’s squad about what they have discovered by the sea.” Celestia stated with a direct tone. “Plus, I am sure that my thestrals must be deathly exhausted from being up in the day for so long.” Luna said. “Alright. I guess we will see you then? We should go back to Saturn and Neptune now.” Selene stated. “So this is the room of the Pokémon at this stinking place, huh?” Squeezing through the front door, Gordo asked. Fei, who entered through the door and went into the room, became subjected to Gordo’s stare. His face dipped with sweat and he pulled on the collar of his suit. “Erm, yes. Ummm… I guess you don’t like this place?” He asked. Gordo walked over towards Rondo’s perched and smashed it with his fist. Gordo smiled. “There! Much better.” “I hope you realized that you will be paying for the damage done to Rondo’s perch, right?” Fei asked with his body arched and his eyes scowled in intimidation. “Pay for what? A stick? I got better things to do with my money.” Sophia stormed into the room with Mono being dragged along the floor in the grip of her mouth. She dropped her hold on Mono’s paw and stared at the two Pokémon in the room. “Everyone out. Now!” She shouted. Fei’s nerves jumped out of his back and Gordo focused his attention on the Sylveon before him. “Are you always in a foul mood like this?” Gordo asked. “Please excuse me, Gordo, but Mono and I have something very important to discuss within the privacy of this room. If you don’t get out of here within the next ten seconds, I’ll Moonblast you out of here.” Sophia responded with a shaky smile. Gordo whipped his paw towards Sophia and grunted. “I got better things to do. Come on, Fei; your partner here looks pretty pissed off right now.” “Fine.” Fei said in defeat. Gordo glanced towards Fei and smiled with a sheepish chuckle. “Hey, you don’t mind pushing me through the door again do you?” He asked. “I don’t mind.” Gordo ducked his head underneath the door and squeezed his body into the doorway. Fei punched Gordo through the frame of the door and knocked him into the wall. Fei left the room and the door shut. Sophia focused her sight on Mono, who got up from the floor and dusted his uniform off with his paws. His nerves froze upon seeing Sophia’s fiery stare. Sophia shut her eyes and inhaled a deep breath of air. The anger in her face transmuted into a betrayed frown. Mono’s nerves eased over and his mouth curved into a soft frown. “Is there something wrong, Sophia? You can tell me what is bothering you.” Mono asked with a gentle and timid tone. “Mono, there are reasons why that fight with As escalated as ugly as it did. That Liepard is a seductress who tries to make others fall for her wily charms for an ulterior motive. You are not that used to females, so I knew that she was the one to blame. But…” Sophia’s pupils drooped towards the ground. She lowered her legs and her chin slumped to the floor. Mono walked towards her side and kneeled to her eye level. “Did what Saturn say bother you, Sophia?” He asked with a shaky tone. Sophia looked into Mono’s eyes and motioned a week nod. “You still are aroused by her even without her charms in effect. It honestly felt like you were betraying my trust, because you just admitted that you still have feelings for that witch. I’m afraid that you’ll dump me just to be with her.” “Is that what this is about? You have it wrong, Sophia.” Mono retorted. “Well, you aren’t entirely wrong in the fact about me being aroused by her. But I will not leave your side. Cast those doubts out of your head.” Sophia lifted her head and returned Mono’s understanding gaze with confusion. “How can I be sure that you won’t leave me? Your words and heart can easily be separated from each other.” She asked. A slight red blush appeared on Mono’s face. A sheepish smile cracked from his lips and let out a nervous chuckle. “Sophia, do you promise not to tell anyone this?” He asked. “Tell anyone what?” She questioned. “You see, I umm… I have never been subjected to arousal before.” With the blush on his face reddening into a turnip, Mono responded. “That’s sort of strange. I find it hard to believe how someone such as yourself had never experienced these types of emotions.” Mono sat by Sophia’s side and placed his right upper paw on her head. He rubbed the fur there with affection. “Outside of my mom and Lith, I haven’t spent so much time around girls or was even a witness to much media where they would do… what As did to me. When she started giving me that look and doing some things with her body, my body just tightened around me. I felt compelled to go to her and I enjoyed every moment of that feeling.” He explained. “It sounds like you just awakened to your sexual aspects then.” Sophia noted. “I think that’s exactly what happened. When I met saw As, I discovered what females are, and what it means to be a male. I know with all my heart that females and males are equal for the most part, but witnessing those movements and those looks of As… it just turned me into a predator seeking his pray to just ravage all for himself. I wanted to ravish her until-”Mono explained with his eyes looking towards the ceiling with euphoria. “Mono, you’re starting to creep me out with how you are saying that.” With her head backing away from Mono, Sophia replied. “You sound like some sort of lunatic with heavily repressed sexual urges.” “Sorry…” “No, it’s alright. I know it is natural for males to think this way about females, but I just have difficulty trying to picture your sweet demeanor being affected by that mentality.” “Should I go on?” Mono asked. “By all means. Let out those sexual urges through your words, because I will be here to hear them without thinking any less negatively of you!” Sophia shouted with a chipper tone. As stumbled through the hallway with a dizzy step. Her eyes twirled around and her mouth was dazed open. She sat down against the wall and shook her head with a lazy movement. “Accursed catnip… why must you be so alluring to me?” She mumbled to herself. Her ears perked up at the sound of Mono’s words and Sophia’s noises of approval that descended into horror. A sly smile appeared on As’s face. “Oh my… those words of Mono’s sounds very sexy. And those shrieks of Sophia’s… it’s time that I pay them a little visit.” As strolled into the room with a shaky stride in her step. She sat by the entrance of the door. She gazed at Mono, who spoke with a giddy smile on her tone and looked towards Sophia, who gazed at Mono with an empty stare and nervous stutter in her voice. “And that’s just how you make me feel, all thanks to As seducing me.” Mono said. “Geez. I never would have guessed that I made you feel like that with how you rub me.” Sophia responded with a voice shaking with regret. “You know I had a lot of pain inflicted in my life. It’s something like therapy that I would like to take an extra step further one day.” As cleared her throat and nabbed the attention of Mono and Sophia. “Hope I’m not interrupting.” She said with a hazy voice. “What are you doing here, As?” Sophia shouted. Mono extended his paw out, forming a gate that separated Sophia from As. His giddy smile formed into a stone-faced stare. “Hold on, Sophia. Something is different about As. She doesn’t seem like she has control over actions.” “I see it in her eyes as well. We have to be cautious with how she approaches us.” Sophia instructed. As walked towards Sophia with a pleased smile and rubbed her head against Sophia’s ribbons. Sophia blushed and flashed an angry stare towards As. “Hey… stop that! My ribbons are sensitive.” She said. “Isn’t that the point?” As grabbed one of Sophia’s ribbons with a gentle tug of her front paws and caressed them with her head. A loud purr emanated from her chest. Sophia’s nerves exploded with uncontrollable shivers. Her knees weakened under her constant shuddering and she dropped to the ground. Her face lit up with a red blush on her face. “M-Mono! Don’t just stand around there. Do something!” She called out. Mono stood in his position, observing the acts before his eyes. His mind clicked at the slight smile Sophia flashed and the content purring As sounded out from rubbing against Sophia. “Is that a smile I see on your face?” He asked with a wary tone. “Ummm… maybe, but this is feeling really weird right now. I don’t even like her!” “Lies, Sophia. I saw that blush on your cheeks when we were fighting. You enjoyed it when I was on top of you, applying some nice pressure on your shoulders and pinning you down. You liked it, and I know you hope that Mono pins you down like that as well.” As replied. “M-Mono! Anytime would be great now!” With an uncomfortable grin forming on her face, Sophia demanded once more. “Are you sure you aren’t fine with what As is doing with you? Are you absolutely one-hundred percent sure?” Mono questioned. Sophia looked onto Mono’s face and saw his eyes relaxing down to a slant and his jaw hanging low and revealing his mouth. “Are you getting aroused by this?!” “Ummmm… I don’t know?” Mono responded with an absent-minded tone. “You sound like you are getting real flustered there, so I should probably help you now.” A devilish grin appeared on Sophia’s face. She looked towards the drugged As and put her right front paw on her shoulder. “Then on second thought.” Sophia knocked As onto the ground and sat upon the bottom of her rib cage. The sudden shift knocked As back into existence. She looked towards Sophia, who grinned with a luminescent blush on her face. “My, are you hitting on me?” She asked with a sultry voice. “Nope, but what we are doing seems to be having some effect on Mono.” Sophia responded. “Tell you what; I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll take back everything I said about you being a hussy if you go along with this act.” She brought her right front hoof towards As’s head and rubbed it with soft and sensual strokes. As’s face lit up with red. “W-what is the meaning of this? Why the sudden change of heart, and why like this?!” Sophia leaned her face towards As to the point where both of their muzzles are touching. “You helped awaken my boyfriend’s sexual side, so it is only fair that you help him experiment with his newfound sexuality.” “You know, I’m beginning to like you as a Pokémon, Sophia. We can be good friends if you are so willing to do this for your boyfriend.” As noted. “I know, but just take off my shirt and rub your face into my chest. Then, I’ll tell you what to do afterwards.” “Yes, Mistress.” Lith sat on the grass of the courtyard and gazed upon the stars of the night. The fresh air around her passed through her fur with a frigid chill. She smiled, closed her eyes and exhaled a content sigh. Her ears picked up on the sounds of footsteps from her right. She opened her eyes and gleamed towards the direction. Mono stumbled over towards Lith with a twitchy smile and a blush of red on his face. “H-hey Lith.” Mono called out. Lith looked to her left and right. An uneasy frown formed on her face. “Ummm, Mono, you don’t look composed like you usually do. Did something happen?” She asked with a wary voice. Mono waved his upper right paw and shook his head. “Nothing much. Sophia and As just helped me awaken my sexual side. I just finished… err, relieving myself.” Lith’s eyes slanted into a serious scowl and her uneasy frown evened itself on her face. “I’m not even going to ask for the specifics. All I’m just going to say is to ask you whether you should tell me about it or not.” Mono sat down by Lith’s side and looked into the stars and arched his body in an obtuse angle. With his upper paws on the ground, a happy sigh left him. “It’s not something I should really tell you about, but I should tell you about how I’ve discovered many things I didn’t know about myself today. Had Joker and his gang never came here, I doubt I would have found out those curiosities.” He explained. “Ummm… okay then. I’m curious about these ‘curiosities’ you have oh so delighted to impart in our conversation.” Lith stated with a forced grin and intrigue in her voice. “As nibbling Sophia’s bows and ribbons and rubbing her face into her chest is hot! The fact that As invited me to do the same and Sophia practically begged for me to do that is super hot! I had my first, sloppy wet kiss while I had pinned her down.” Mono explained. “Tongue and everything?” “The whole deal. It was very stimulating, and it actually made me feel like a male who can stand up to anything. It didn’t feel awkward at all for me.” “Wow! I thought that your first kiss would have been filled with anxiety, kind of like my first kiss with Fei turned out to be.” Lith praised. “Wait, your first kiss was full of anxiety? But you’re Lith! You shouldn’t feel any type of social anxiety.” Mono called out. A frown cracked on Lith’s face. A silent sigh passed from her mouth and she looked towards Mono. “It’s true. I was looking forward to it so much, but I obsessed over the details about how I wanted the kiss that I was too afraid of going all out. Fei managed to convince me otherwise that it is alright for me to feel anxious, and we both melted into each other’s embraces. But how did you manage to get it right on the first try?!” Mono shrugged his shoulders and smiled innocently. “It helps if both partners are hot and bothered. In an ironic twist of fate, you overthought your first kiss while I just went into it like a wild Hydreigon.” Lith formed a smile from her frown. She curled up her right paw and gave a soft punch to Mono’s left shoulder. “Look at you becoming all grown-up! All it took is for some random stranger to seduce you to finally set yourself on awakening the Pyroar inside of you.” “Is it really that impressive?” Placing his right upper paw underneath his chin, Mono asked. “Very. You honestly have no idea how important one’s sexuality is to the mental, physical and emotional development of a growing individual. I’m not sure if mom or dad would approve of the method, but I’m sure that they would be happy about that as well.” Mono grinned and rubbed his left shoulder. “Well, I’m going back home. I just hope that Joker suddenly pops up inside of it to warn me about something like he did earlier today.” “I’m sure Joker won’t do such a thing. Otherwise, I’ll just burn him out.” Lith replied. Wilhelm gazed upon the holographic screen in front of him. Displayed in its image is Red, who saluted the Van’Goth scientist. “What is your report, Red?” He asked with an impatient tone. “Our mission ended in failure. Just as we were about to eliminate the target, a Pokémon came out of nowhere and defeated all of us.” Red explained. Wilhelm gritted his teeth, curled his right hand into a fist and pounded the wall to his right. “You idiot! Do you have any idea how important that yellow pegasus is to our enemy?! She has power beyond anything we can imagine. If she awakens it, then we will never be able to eradicate the Equusians from existence!” He shouted. “Another detail to report! Green’s armor was corroded by the poison that the Pokémon assaulting us used. If weaknesses are applied to our armors, then we are the victim of a major flaw in design.” Red explained. “Yes, that does seem to be problematic. The Equusians now have access to a varied assortment of elemental attacks, especially with the surge of new Pokémon joining in their ranks. This does not bode well for us…” “We’ll get back to you, Sir Wilhelm. We will make sure to eradicate that pony next time.” The hologram containing Red vanished from thin air. The scowl on Wilhelm’s face lightened into a soft smile and maniacal eyes. A sinister chuckle resonated from his throat. “Well, it’s not like the Sallerian Rangers can do much against them. Even with the power of experimental technology, it still is just experimental. Perhaps I should personally pay some of these Pokémon a visit.” Author's Note So the Royal Flush Gang unofficially joined H.O.R.S.E. and some interesting things happened. Originally, a certain scene was supposed to have more material, but it would have bumped this fic's rating up a notch with how I wrote the description. So enjoy the final chapter of the introduction arc. A Parable of Light and DarknessFluttershy hovered above Gordo’s head and rubbed it with her left front hoof using quick strokes. Gordo smiled and chuckled a bit. Fluttershy smiled and held a dark green leaf in her right front hoof. Gordo took it with both of his paws and bit into it. “See? You aren’t so bad when you are given the attention you desire.” Fluttershy said. “You are right. These leaves aren’t half bad either.” Gordo commented. “They are a special type of leaf that grows in the Twiluminescent Jungle continent. I had this particular one imported from there.” “Good stuff. I should probably check to see if I could go to this continent myself. I doubt anything would dare attack me.” Fluttershy winced and gritted her teeth through an anxious shiver. “Ummm… they will. There are several dangerous predators there.” “Bah! I bet none of them tienes los cojones para dolar a mi.” With a light-hearted chuckle, Gordo responded. “Ummm, maybe. It’s nice to see that you are adjusting properly. Now it’s time to see how Inge is doing.” A loud explosion burst from the end of the room. Fluttershy’s body jolted upwards from the sound. She dropped to the ground and ran towards the source of the noise. Inge cheered with eyes shut in glee. Next to her, Rondo stared at the broken screen with the lower portion of his beak slacking downwards. “Yes! I got a ten-thousand hit combo!” Inge shouted. “T-the TV! Y-y-you broke it through your playing!” Rondo noted with disbelief flooding from his voice. “Yeah, that type of thing tends to happen when I play video games. I get excited sometimes and blow up the TV.” With a nervous chuckle and moving her right limb to the back of her head with an anxious shiver, Inge responded. Rondo frowned and scowled towards Inge’s direction. “You are the worst type of gamer, Inge! Dear Arceus!” Inge shrugged her shoulders. “Accidents happen. Good thing I am good at fixing these type of things.” Saying these words, her body broke up into a flurry of pixels and entered into the shattered and smoking displayer on the ground. The displayer’s cracks mended themselves and the hologram displayed itself as normal. Inge materialized back into the outside world and gazed within Rondo’s widened eyes. “That’s amazing! Why don’t we have a Porygon Z at our lab?!” Rondo shouted. “Should’ve invested in an UpGrade and Dubious Disc! Oh, and getting a Porygon would’ve helped as well.” Inge responded. “I see you two are interacting just well.” Fluttershy responded. “Ummm, we are. Inge just fixed this and she’s actually really cool.” Rondo complimented. “Thank you, Rondo. Your words mean very much to me.” Inge responded. Twilight Sparkle wandered through the door and gazed at Gordo. Gordo stared daggers into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes. Twilight Sparkle took a step back. Her face dripped with cold sweat and her breathing stopped at the roof of her mouth. “Ummm, would you mind not looking at me like that? It’s kind of rude and very intimidating.” She asked. “What are you here for?” Gordo asked with a booming voice. “Ummm… I’m here to see Fluttershy about some very important matters. It cannot wait.” Twilight Sparkle responded. Gordo opened his mouth to speak, but Fluttershy hovered past him with a frown of concern formed on her face. “Do you need me for anything Twilight?” She asked. “I would like to question you about your encounter and some surprising details I discovered. Come with me to the lab and I will discuss it there.” Gordo eyed the slight twitch in Fluttershy’s right front hoof and left eye. He saw a quick rise and fall of her chest. He frowned and curled up his paw. “You better not make her feel uncomfortable. If you do, I’m going to beat you up.” “She is my friend, so I have no reason to make her feel uncomfortable. So you do not need to threaten me.” Twilight Sparkle retorted. Gordo lightened the grip on his paw and turned towards his right. A shallow grunt emerged from his closed mouth. “Go. Do your thing.” Twilight Sparkle nodded. She and Fluttershy took their steps outside of the room and into the hallway. Rondo flashed an angry stare at Gordo. “You still owe me a new perch!” Gordo flicked his right upper paw and let out a bold grunt. “Blow it out your ass.” Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy walked through a set of double doors. Fluttershy’s rifle remained suspended within a tube. “What are the details that you need me for, Twilight? I hope you don’t mind me asking.” Fluttershy asked. Twilight Sparkle grabbed the rifle through her magic and levitated it towards her. She gazed at Fluttershy with an intense stare. “I’m not sure if you know, but you had a charm equipped improperly onto your rifle. It should be on the stock of the weapon, not the barrel.” She explained. A squeak of surprise shot from Fluttershy’s mouth. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her front hooves. “Ohhh… ummm, my bad. I guess my adjustment of the charm today was a bit faulty.” She said with a nervous stutter in her tone. Twilight Sparkle pointed towards a hologram that recorded Fluttershy using her rifle out in the field. Her eyes drifted to the charm placed on the barrel of the gun. Her eyes then wandered towards Fluttershy healing Gnasher’s shoulder wound. “Strange. This charm was set improperly all this time as well, but you still are capable of using healing magic.” “Ummm… it could be that some of the magic from the charm was still able to find its way into the gun, right?” Flashing a sheepish smile, Fluttershy asked. “Nope. Impossible. Using a charm that is improperly set causes a very painful self-destruction effect. You aren’t trying to hide anything from me, aren’t you?” Twilight Sparkle’s keen eyes detected the twitches on Fluttershy’s front hooves. Fluttershy’s eyes rolled with a shine of sadness to them. “You promise that you wouldn’t treat me any differently if I tell you, Twilight?” She asked with a sullen voice. Twilight Sparkle’s stance faltered from the deadpan honesty of Fluttershy’s words. She blinked once. A soft smile was brought to her face. “You are my friend, Fluttershy. Of course I wouldn’t treat you any different. You can tell me what is on your mind.” Fluttershy held up her left hoof between Twilight Sparkle and herself. Trails of blue and yellow energy swirled skyward from it. Twilight Sparkle yelped and leaped back at the sight of the event. “Is… is that magic you are harnessing?!” She called out with a surprised tone. “It’s not exactly magic, but it isn’t what the Pokémon use either. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always had these strange abilities as far as I could remember.” Fluttershy explained. “The only thing I know about these abilities so far is that I have the ability to use a light form of healing.” “That’s amazing! Why haven’t you told anyone sooner that you can use these abilities?! It can bring some great achievements into our social setting!” Twilight Sparkle shouted with glee emanating from her tone. Fluttershy gritted her teeth and stared into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes with an unsettling level of intimidation radiating from her gaze. “I never asked for this, Twilight! I don’t want to be treated differently from other pegasi for having these abilities. I don’t want to be a freak who others will call unsavory names. I just want to be Fluttershy.” “Ummm, Fluttershy, why are you so angry right now?” Twilight Sparkle asked with a descending voice. “Because you promised that you wouldn’t treat me any different. Right after I told you, you showered me with excitement and praise.” Steam seethed from Fluttershy’s nostrils. Her hooves became tight with anger. She looked into Twilight Sparkle’s face and saw a glimmer of betrayed sadness in her pupils. She frowned. “Ohhh… Ummm, sorry. I didn’t mean to react the way I did. I just feel so much pent-up rage inside when someone brings it up that I sort of lose myself.” Twilight Sparkle cracked a small smile on her face. She wrapped her front hooves around Fluttershy’s back and brought her in for a hug. “I understand. I’m sorry for even thinking about treating you any different. If it would help you, I promise to not tell even a soul about this conversation.” Fluttershy smiled and wrapped her hooves around Twilight Sparkle. “You didn’t have to apologize. I’m okay with you knowing about this though. This will be our little secret.” “But what about Riona? Her words allude to already having knowledge of your abilities.” Twilight Sparkle asked. “That’s alright. Maybe she can help me get a better understanding of them. She seems very wise.” Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy broke from their hug. Fluttershy’s watch sounded out a ringing beep. She touched the screen of her watch, revealing a hologram of Spitfire’s head. “Fluttershy, I have an important mission that requires your patience and kindness. I’ll meet with you in my quarters.” “Alright, Commander. I’ll be there.” Spitfire nodded and her hologram disappeared. Fluttershy looked into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes and smiled. “I think a mission will help you forget about some of those worries you have, Fluttershy.” Twilight Sparkle rationalized. “I know it will.” Spitfire stood face to face with a sunrise yellow-coated pegasus stallion. The definition of his muscles protruded from his gray uniform. His blue mane hung down to his shoulders and his tail is a serrated whip. His eyes are sparkling amethysts preserved away from the touch of society. A smirk appeared on Spitfire’s face. She pat the stallion’s right shoulder with her right front hoof. “It’s nice to see that you are joining in our ranks, Violet Horizon.” Violet Horizon returned her smirk with a wide and hopeful smile. He rubbed the back of his head with his left front hoof. “It is a pleasure to be among the elite that will protect the lives of this city and the champions that preserve their ways.” “You seem to be very excited for this moment, aren’t you?” Spitfire asked with a mellow voice. “I looked through your dossier and found that you are relatively young for a recruit. I was your age when I first took part of the War of Nations twenty-five years ago.” “That’s awesome! I think. So what is my first duty as an operative of H.O.R.S.E.?” Violet Horizon said. “I’m glad you asked. Although you had an impressive show in the written and field portions of the test, you are still a greenhorn with how we actually function. Therefore, I’m sending you a few other operatives and guests with experience for your mission.” Spitfire looked towards the door. A sharp whistling noise rung from her curled mouth. Fluttershy, Soarin’, Riona, and Custard emerged from the doorway and walked into the room. “So this is the new recruit you were telling us about, Commander?” Soarin’ asked with a casual tone. “He seems alright.” Violet Horizon’s eyes widened at the sight of Riona and Custard. He walked towards them and stroked their heads with his front hooves. “So these are the Pokémon I’ve heard so much about… I get to have them assist me?!” He shouted with a rising burst of enthusiasm. “I can definitely see your potential and will to protect the Equusians. My name is Riona. We will get along fine.” Riona responded with a calm smile. Looking upon Violet Horizon’s visage, Fluttershy shied her face away from him. Spitfire detected a small and shameful smile on her face. She hummed in a very low tone. Violet Horizon walked towards Fluttershy with a warm smile on his face. He waved. “Hello, Miss. I believe I have not gotten your name.” He said. Fluttershy jolted upwards and squeaked a shrill noise. Violet Horizon’s eyelids descended over the top of his pupils. “Oh! I didn’t mean to offend. My name is Fluttershy, a field researcher at H.O.R.S.E. You must be Violet Horizon?” Rubbing the front of her right front hoof with her left front hoof, Fluttershy asked with a voice filled with embarrassment. “That is correct. It seems that my reputation has reached to even those of the cutest of demeanors.” “Ummm… yes. I’ve looked up your information after the Commander called me here. I read that you specialize in recon and field research?” “Yes. I’ve always had an appreciation for the natural world, and I really hope that I can scope out this vast world and protect it from the Van’Goth.” Violet Horizon stated. “Oh my! I never expected another pegasus to take an interest with the natural world. Mainly, they are all about the sky and trying to exceed their limit and head into space.” Fluttershy noted. “Not me. I already have access to the sky, but what good is the sky if you do not have a solid chunk of earth to land on?” Spitfire exhaled a gust from her nostrils. She approached Fluttershy and Violet Horizon. “I would love to hear this conversation on the balance between Heaven and Earth as much as the next philosopher but you all have a mission to attend to.” “Sorry Commander. It won’t happen again.” Violet Horizon responded. Soarin’ and Custard walked down the path of the dense Everfree Forest. Their limbs moved with steeled caution and their sights are primed for action. Violet Horizon followed close behind the duo and looked upon them with curiosity. “So, what are you two looking for?” He asked. “The Everfree Forest is still one of the most dangerous places in the world even after the terraforming. We have to keep an eye out for any vicious creatures in the wood.” Soarin’ explained. Fluttershy and Riona walked behind the group at a slower pace. Riona looked upon Fluttershy with a stern and stone-faced expression. “I was wondering why a Pokémon of your stature ended up in being a part of a group of mercenaries. It seems a bit unusual to me.” Fluttershy asked. “I’ve seen many evils as a Skiddo and even more as a Gogoat. If you saw them, you would be mortified that they existed. Being a mercenary may have its qualities of being evil. Compared to the evils masked by society, this job is a holy Pokémon’s position.” Riona answered. “I never knew that your world was plagued with such evil. Why can we not help each other as fellows?” “That would mean that we would all have to put aside our differences. You know that is not possible.” “I know, but it would be nice…” Riona gazed onto Violet Horizon’s backside and smirked. “Let’s talk about how you like that young stallion in front of us.” She stated with a teasing voice. Fluttershy’s face reddened to an apple. She hid behind her mane. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! Forgive me for asking, but maybe you might have picked up the wrong messages?” “I saw your body language when you interacted with him. I find it cute that you have feelings for a pony you just met.” Riona stated. “Care to tell me why? I’ve never understood the point of romance to begin with.” Fluttershy grinned and looked upon the ground. She shook her head. “He has a beautiful coloration pattern for his coat, and he’s a fellow pegasus that doesn’t care as much for flight like me. I felt sparks when I looked into his eyes, and it makes me feel somewhat nervous around him.” “Ah, so those are those feelings. Mutuality and camaraderie breed understanding, and understanding blossoms into feelings of romance it seems. I see it in Iosac’s eyes whenever he looks onto Saraid. Unfortunately, he can be quite the idiot sometimes by letting his feelings distract him on the field.” “Isn’t he entitled to his feelings? We are all animals after all.” Riona looked into Fluttershy’s eyes with a soft frown on her face. She blinked at a slow speed and looked forward. “Everyone is, but feelings are something very earthly. You will understand when you are older.” “But, isn’t being earthly our purpose in this world? We are born in this world to become a part of it.” Fluttershy asked. “Again I will say; if you have seen the evils I have witnessed in my years of living, you would not want to be a part of this world. It is a disgusting place where no good can come from.” Riona responded. Fluttershy’s smile descended into a frown. Her mane hung below her neck with a lanky spring. “I’m sorry, Riona, but your words are very depressing. Does that mean we are all just disgusting?” “Not necessarily. There are those that are truly good, and those are the ones who are capable of ascending beyond the darkness of the material universe and into Pleroma. Just live your life the way you do and you will be fine.” Riona stated. The group came upon a clearing in the forest. Custard examined the area around him and brought his watch to his face. A nervous smile appeared on his face. He faced Soarin’ and brought his upper left limb to him. “Ummm, do you mind telling me how this works again? I’m not too good with your technology.” Soarin’ smiled and tapped on Custard’s watch. He touched upon a revealed hologram and scrolled it until it revealed the symbol of five stars. “You were looking for this, right?” He asked. “Yes! I was looking for a way to communicate with Spitfire. But how did you know?” Soarin’ shrugged his shoulders and let out a cocky grin. “If you were in the military for as long as I was, then you start picking up on these sorts of things.” Custard scrolled through the list of contacts on the page and touched upon Spitfire. Violet Horizon looked upon Custard with a curious glance. “Hey Custard, what are you doing?” He asked. “I’m handing a mission status to Spitfire. This is my first time doing so, so I’m not too good with this, so I need a bit of help.” “Fair enough. I didn’t think a Pokémon would have much experience with technology.” Custard grinned and wagged his upper right limb sideways. “That’s not true, actually. Several Pokémon are already involved in divisions that require the use of technology and such. In addition, my girlfriend knows how to use a mean set of claws.” “She must’ve scratched you with them if you say it like that.” Violet Horizon commented with a voice giddy with glee. “Very. She can be very scary with them. My type of girl!” A round of joyous laughter echoed between the two males. “Yeah I think you and I will get along just fine, Custard.” “I have that feeling as well, Violet Horizon. Now to contact Spitfire.” Custard touched upon Spitfire’s name on the hologram. Three waves emerged from the watch and threw themselves into the infinite sky. A hologram of Spitfire’s head appeared on the screen display. “Ah, Custard! How is your mission’s progress moving along?” “Everything is going well. Violet Horizon is getting a feel for the environment. I just hope nothing happens to ruin our day.” Custard responded. “Alright. Let me know when-“Spitfire’s hologram became warped. Her voice is muffled with static. The display became a mess of orange and yellow before fading away. Custard and Violet Horizon’s breaths shortened to a stop. “Uhhh… is that supposed to happen?” Violet Horizon asked with a wary and confused tone. “…I don’t think so.” Custard replied. “Soarin’, is the signal supposed to jam out here?” They looked towards Soarin’s direction. Soarin’ took five shaky steps back. He had his lower lip gripped with a vice by his teeth. His green pupils shrunk at the sight of a bipedal figure before him. “Custard! Respond!” Spitfire shouted with a loud voice brimming with urgency. She groaned and placed her front hooves onto her face. “Great. The squad is in danger. Looks like I’ll have to bail them out.” She grabbed her black bracer and adorned it onto her right front ankle. Wilhelm smirked and tilted his glasses with Soarin’ in his sights. He took three steps forwards and approached him at a steady stance. “W-W-Wilhelm!” Soarin’ stuttered out. “It seems you remembered my name. I am honored you have.” Wilhelm replied. He looked among the rest of the operatives by him. “Couldn’t you have picked a more suitable team for this mission? You brought a few newbies to confront me?” The gears in Custard’s head clicked together and rotated. He pointed towards Wilhelm and focused a tight stare on him. “Aren’t you the Van’Goth that communicated with Goethia when she attacked White Apple’s dairy farm?” He asked with a stern voice. “And you must be that gooey dragon that Goethia loved torturing. You look much squishier in person than I thought.” Soarin’ growled and pulled out his laser shotgun from his backpack. He hovered into the air and cocked it. “Fall back! This guy is dangerous news!” Soarin fired a blast of lasers towards Wilhelm. Wilhelm stood in place and held out his white gloved hand. The lasers directed themselves into the palm of his hand and disappeared. Violet Horizon and Custard’s eyes widened with shock. “Is that the best you can do, Soarin’? I thought all this time since we last met would have given you a more ample strategy to deal with me.” Wilhelm taunted. “You haven’t seen anything yet. I’m just getting warmed up!” Soarin’ responded. He split his shotgun into twin laser blades. He flew forward and landed hind hooves first on the ground before Wilhelm. He swung his blade with a horizontal strike towards the left side of Wilhelm’s neck. Wilhelm grabbed the blade with his right hand and stopped it. The color in Soarin’s face faded away and his breath is robbed of response. “What’s the matter? Surprised that I can grab this? Then you are going to love what I do next.” Wilhelm crushed the blade with a squeeze of his hand. The shards of light fell onto the ground and dissipated into nothingness. He then launched a strong punch towards Soarin’s left shoulder, knocking him on the ground. “Soarin’!” Violet Horizon shouted. “V-Violet Horizon… stay back! That is an order!” Laying down on the ground facing him, Soarin’ commanded. Wilhelm thrust his foot onto the middle of Soarin’s upper back, shattering the vertebrae there. A loud scream resonating with pain launched itself out of his mouth. A gnarled smile curled onto Wilhelm’s face. “It isn’t so bad, Soarin’. All I did was just step on your back, or are you Equusians much more pathetic than what I accounted for? Regardless, I will enjoy doing this.” He crouched down and brought his right hand towards Soarin’s right front leg. He brought his right foot onto the middle of Soarin’s ulna. “He’s going to break his leg! I can’t allow that to happen.” Custard said to himself. He fired a Dragon Pulse towards Wilhelm’s back, which exploded upon impact. Wilhelm chuckled and turned towards Custard. “Are you trying to get yourself killed, my gooey friend? That was one of the dumbest things you have ever done in your life.” He stated. “I don’t care! I won’t let you hurt Soarin’ any longer.” Custard responded with defiance. “Custard! What are you doing here?! Get out of here! Save the squad!” Soarin’ ordered. “I’m afraid that’s impossible, Soarin’. You see, he wants to die a slow and excruciating death. I can give that to him.” Wilhelm stated. Custard unleashed a Flamethrower from his mouth that engulfed Wilhelm’s body. Wilhelm walked through the tongues of biting fires. Custard’s nerves shook upon seeing how Wilhelm showed no reaction at all. Wilhelm pulled out a knife coated with a pink liquid. He threw it into the air above Custard and leaped at teleporting speed. He dove down to Custard and stabbed him below the left shoulder. Custard’s eyes widened at the sensation of his flesh being penetrated by the blade. He felt his slime drying up from his body and solidifying into a hard and colorless shell. His nerves screamed with the sensation of fire eating away at them. His body felt limp and unable to move. Wilhelm pulled out his blade. “You see, I come heavily prepared with ways of dealing with various beings. What I just stabbed you with is a blade containing a poison found in this world that quickly dries up flesh to the point where you can’t move. Because you are an aqueous being, I am sure that you are in incredible pain right now.” Violet Horizon soared through the air and tackled Wilhelm into the ground. He leered into Wilhelm’s eyes with a violent stare. He pulled out a knife from a bag from flank side and brought it to his neck. “I’ll give you the count of three to give me the antidote for that poison, now!” He shouted. “Silly, misguided Equusian; you really think you have the battle won just because you are on top of me? The battle is far from over for me. On the contrary, I believe that this is checkmate.” Wilhelm stated. Violet Horizon lifted an eye open in confusion. He felt Wilhelm’s gloved hands grasp his right front ankle and squeeze it. The intense pressure elicited a grit of Violet Horizon’s teeth. Wilhelm smiled and brought the squeeze into a sinister maw. Feeling the gooey rush of liquids through his joint and his hoof torn apart, Violet Horizon succumbed to his pain. He screamed loud enough to rupture eardrums. He dropped his knife and flew off of him. Wilhelm leaped into the air and grabbed Violet Horizon’s right wing. With it in his grasp, he chucked Violet Horizon down onto the earth, shattering the ground and causing a crater. He dropped onto the side of Violet Horizon, crouching by his side. Violet Horizon growled in defiance against his attacker. “You may batter my body, but you will not break my spirit!” He shouted. “I love it when you put up a fight. It makes it much more satisfying to me when I listen to the screams of your spirit broken through your physical pain.” Saying these words, he stomped on Violet Horizon’s left hind knee, causing it to dislocate from place. A roar of pain escaped from Violet Horizon’s voice. Fluttershy winced and looked away from the area. She looked into Riona’s eyes with pleading irises. “We have to help him, Riona! We have to provide them with immediate aid!” She shouted. “Our commanding leader here told us to stay away from this guy. Did you see what he did to Soarin’, Custard and now Violet Horizon?! Escape would not be a cowardly option when faced against a foe whose power is much greater than our own. In fact, it is borderline suicide to approach him at this point!” Riona reasoned. “I don’t care! I have to save the team from this monster!” Fluttershy declared. Riona sighed and shook her head. “Fine, but I’m fleeing when you die. Is that alright?” “Thanks, Riona.” Fluttershy responded with a happy sigh. Wilhelm stomped on the middle of the right hind fibula of Violet Horizon. He brought his right hand over to the ankle of the same leg. “D-do what you want with me, but stop hurting the others!” Violet Horizon stammered through his gritted teeth. “You sound like you actually care for your allies. After I am done with you, I’ll make sure you will die last so that I can see that broken look in your eyes.” Wilhelm lifted Violet Horizon’s leg upwards with his right foot anchored onto the fibula. He pulled on it and felt the bone bend against his will. His sharp-toothed grin filled his entire face upon hearing Violet Horizon’s grunts of struggle and groaning. The pop of a snapped bone shot throughout the forest. Author's Note So Wilhelm finally makes his physical appearance in action... after over thirty chapters of just appearing. What a way to make an entrance. I'm also contemplating on tagging this fic as 'Dark' now, mainly because this fic is only going to keep increasing in grittiness. I don't know, but should I do so? The Fire That Burns in the DarknessViolet Horizon’s throat burned from the screaming of his voice. Wilhelm stepped off of his body and looked down upon him. Violet Horizon rolled on the ground with wincing eyes, keeping his broken leg away. “Now do you see why I you should have never defied me? Now that you are out of the way, it is time to move onto my real target.” Wilhelm stated. “R-r-real… t-t-target?” Violet Horizon muttered out. Fluttershy readied her rifle and shot Wilhelm in his right shoulder blade. The blast failed to penetrate beyond his skin. A devious smirk appeared on Wilhelm’s face. The color on Violet Horizon’s face faded into a pale white. “Is that anxiety I sense? Then you must know who my target is. Go on, tell her to flee and have your words ignored by her. Her kindness will be the reason why she will die before my hands.” Wilhelm jeered. “Step away from Violet Horizon, Wilhelm! If it is me you are after, then face me like a real warrior!” Fluttershy called out. Wilhelm turned around towards Fluttershy’s and Riona’s direction. He moved at the speed of blinking eyes, sliding across the ground with flashing steps. Riona knocked Fluttershy out of Wilhelm’s trajectory and ducked her head. Wilhelm’s fist collided with Riona’s horns and ignited sparks between the two combatants. “You want to get to her? You’re going to have to go through me.” Riona gritted out. “If you are able to stand against my fist, then there might be some worth with you after all. Very well then; I accept your invitation.” Using the reactionary force of the clash, Wilhelm leaped back and glared into Riona’s eyes. Riona smirked and ran across the field towards Wilhelm. Her horns flashed in a chartreuse light and extended a quarter of their size. Wilhelm grabbed her horn and lifted her from the ground. Riona swung her body forwards and knocked her hind hooves into Wilhelm’s chest. Wilhelm’s feet dragged along the ground from the force his body suffered. Wilhelm growled and threw Riona sky high into the air. He leaps into the air and he curls his hand into a fist. An orange glow emanated from his hand. Riona flipped her head towards Wilhelm’s direction and gritted her teeth. Her horns flashed in a verdant green color and she dived towards Wilhelm’s fist. The two attacks collided and ignited, creating an explosion that engulfed the air. Riona and Wilhelm fell onto the ground on their feet and looked into each other’s eyes. Feeling a yellow light enter into her body from her horns, Riona cracked a soft smile. Wilhelm stood at a rock-solid stance and gazed at the Gogoat before him. “It is interesting how you were able to stand up to my explosive punch. More so, I am impressed that you are still standing after that.” He complimented. “My Horn Leech heals up to fifty percent of the damage I would deal. The fact that I healed so much off of you and you are still standing shows how much of a tank you are.” Riona stated back. Her right front hoof glowed in an orange light and she stomped the ground. The earth underneath Wilhelm’s feet shook with a mighty tremor. He leaped from the ground and looked down towards Riona. Air particles generated underneath his feet and he leaped down towards Riona, striking her with his fist. Fluttershy cringed at the sound of the explosion ringing in her ears. She shrugged it off and dipped into the crater where Violet Horizon lied in. She went by his side and pointed her rifle towards him. Violet Horizon turned his neck towards Fluttershy’s direction and frowned. “Are… you going to shoot me?” He whispered out in a heavy voice. “No. I’ll heal you right up. I won’t let you suffer like this.” Fluttershy responded. “In that case, help out Custard first. It looks like he can’t even move.” Violet Horizon requested. Fluttershy nodded and hovered towards Custard, whose body is still paralyzed from the effects of the venom. He rolled the pupils of his eyes towards Fluttershy’s direction. Fluttershy placed her right front hoof onto Custard’s flesh and felt its rock solid exterior. A soft gasp escaped from her mouth. “Oh no… the poison is already taking quick effect. I have to do something.” She looked towards Soarin’, who lied collapsed on the ground. She gazed towards Riona, who parried all of Wilhelm’s blows to her. “No one is looking. Maybe I can finally use the full extent of my current power.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath inwards. Her hooves lit up in a blue and yellow aura. She touched Custard’s body and brought her energy into him. Custard’s breaths became audible and his body twitched in response. He blinked twice and moved his head towards Fluttershy. “Are you… healing me?” He asked with a hoarse voice weakened through pain. “I don’t have much confidence in my abilities, but you were the most critical condition out of the members of the squad. Once I get you stabilized, then I’ll move onto Violet Horizon and then Soarin’.” Fluttershy responded. An atrophied smile appeared on Custard’s face. He felt his flesh softening and the pain within him retreating. A sigh of relief passed through his open mouth. “Thank you, Fluttershy.” He said. Fluttershy brought her hooves away from Custard and looked down upon him with a frown of concern etched onto her face. “I couldn’t eliminate all of the poison, but you should be fine for now. Try retreating from the area alongside Violet Horizon and Soarin’ when I give the signal. Riona is a tough girl, but I don’t think that even she can handle fighting against Wilhelm much longer.” “Will do. I promise that I will follow orders this time.” Custard responded. Riona backed away from Wilhelm. With her four legs arched, heavy panting escaped from her body. Wilhelm held out his right arm towards her. “Tired already? I’m just starting to have fun with this.” He stated. “You are definitely a challenging foe. If I had to say something good about you, you are probably my most difficult challenge in my years in the Royal Flush Gang.” Riona stated. “Flattery will get you nowhere, my dear.” “Of course I know. Now, enough talk; let’s fight!” Riona’s body split into copies of itself. She and her copies charged forwards towards Wilhelm. Wilhelm slammed his fist into the ground. A bracelet around his wrist emitted a blue pulse of energy that engulfed the area. Riona’s copies disappeared. “Found you.” Wilhelm stated with a sneaky voice. Riona’s eyes widened. Her body failed to register Wilhelm’s fist launching against her face and knocking her into the ground. Her body rolled along the ground and bumped along the patches of grass on it. She anchored her right front hoof into the ground and fastened her left hind hoof behind her. She stood up and looked forwards. “Did you like my disruptor? It phases out any illusionary objects and allows me to see through your ruses.” Wilhelm explained. “That’s fine. I really didn’t need my Double Team anyways.” Saying these words, Riona ducked her mouth into her underside and bit on one of her teeth. Feeling her milk enter into her mouth, the scrapes and bruises along her body faded away. Her coat radiated with a shimmering light of restoration. “I see you have many ways to heal yourself. Maybe I should experiment on you after I make you braindead so that I can see how your body works. I can’t guarantee that your body won’t feel it as my work with the dead has been… less than ethical.” Wilhelm taunted. “You sick piece of fornication…” Riona uttered to herself. Wilhelm sprinted forwards and punched Riona in her ribs. Her eyes widened from the blow and the pain of her bones colliding with her lungs. She is launched into the air and against the tree. She fell onto the base of the stump and looked into Wilhelm’s eyes. “No ordinary Equusian could have survived that blow I did on you. But I can see it damaged you very much. If you give up, I’ll ensure that your death will be quick. I can’t guarantee that it would be painless though.” Wilhelm offered. “Over my dead body!” Riona jabbed her horns into Wilhelm’s abdomen and stood up from the ground. She smashed Wilhelm into the bark of the tree. With her horns flashing a verdant green, any sustained wounds on her body faded away. Wilhelm grimaced and an impatient hum reverberated from his closed lips. “I’m getting bored of how much you are trying to stand up to me. We all know that I will be the one to take your life, correct?” He explained. “I know and I understand this fact. What you fail to realize is that I am simply buying some time.” Riona stated. “And here I thought you wanted to challenge me for the sake of challenging me. You could have just left me to kill my target and left on your own.” “I could have, but I did not anticipate that you would be so eager in challenging me either. Do the aliens of this world not provide a decent challenge?” “They do, and some have, but it is few and far between. It’s rare for me to even see such a worthy foe, but I believe it is time for me to end this.” Wilhelm stated. He placed his right hand on Riona’s right horn and squeezed it. Riona’s eyes widened. She slammed Wilhelm into the tree in a repeated series of strikes. She felt her horn’s durability weakening from the pressure applied to it. It snapped off, leaving an uneven break. She winced and gritted her teeth. Wilhelm pulled the broken horn out of his bleeding abdomen and chucked it out into the distance. “My horn….” Riona gritted out. “You are one horn short, so your attacks involving them will not nearly be as effective. Plus, I now have a souvenir to study after our encounter.” “That’s fine. I only need one horn to finish you off.” Wilhelm slammed the horn he had in his hand against the tree behind him. The horn plunged into the depth of the wood and shattered a crater-sized gap at the point where Riona stabbed through Wilhelm. He flexed his body through the hole and kicked Riona’s head upwards. Riona landed on her back and winced. Fluttershy ran towards the crater with a desperate pant emanating from her lungs. Her eyes picked upon a shadow descending before them. Gazing upon Wilhelm’s form before her, her heart stopped and her pupils dilated. “You thought you can help your teammates behind my back, did you not? It’s not a matter of how much time your teammate can buy before you can escape with your team, but it is a matter of how long you can survive before I reach you. I’m afraid your time is up.” Wilhelm stated. Fluttershy’s nerves ran cold and her body felt imprisoned by the chains of her fear. She was but a filly looking upon a monstrous creature that wanted to rend her flesh in the worst possible ways. She uttered a whimper and took slow steps backwards. “S-stay back! I’m warning you!” Wilhelm took steps forwards, bringing forth an air of intimidation between the encounter. “You remind me of a little someone who I met a few months ago. He was a small stallion working at one of the many outposts in the continent. He had the gall to approach me and thought he can take me on. He had such bravado, but ended up being the victim of my handicraft. I think his name was ‘blue plan’ or something like that? Regardless, his suffering provided me with such joy that I almost cried out in ecstacy. He should be thankful that he can give me such pleasure.” Fluttershy shook her head and gazed at Wilhelm with broken eyes. “You were the one who did that to Blue Plain?! You horrible monster! He had feelings, hopes and dreams like every other living being! You took that all away from him and degraded the remainder of his physical existence to pain and despair!” With her voice quivering on the verge of tears, she shouted. “Ah, so you knew him? That makes things even better, since I’ll just do the same thing to you.” Wilhelm stated. He crunched his knuckles against his opposite hands and leered towards Fluttershy. Riona charged into Wilhelm’s body and chucked him across the clearing. “I’m not dead yet, remember?” Riona called out. “You’re going to have to do better than that to incapacitate me.” Wilhelm planted his right palm into the ground. The force carrying his body forward transferred into his hand and dragged along the dirt. “You are becoming quite the thorn in my side. Very well, I’ll make sure you are dead.” Fluttershy witnessed Riona’s horn clash against Wilhelm’s foot and saw the two combatants moving at a speed faster than her eyes can keep up with. She dropped into the crater and treaded her front hooves onto Violet Horizon’s dislocated knee. Violet Horizon stretched his neck towards Fluttershy’s direction. “How is Custard?” He asked in a weak voice. “His condition has stabilized for the moment, but I have to get you and Soarin’ up and ready to leave this forest.” Fluttershy responded. Violet Horizon smiled and rested his head on the ground. “Thank you for caring for all of us, Fluttershy.” Fluttershy’s hooves glowed with their mystic light. Violet Horizon felt his leg amending itself. He winced and groaned at the sudden collision of his two bones. “I know this feels a bit unusual. It may even hurt, but I am just speeding up the natural recovery of your leg.” Fluttershy assured. “How are you even doing this?” Violet Horizon asked with a mystified tone. “Pegasi should not have access to healing magic like you are doing.” “Don’t talk now. Just rest as I mend your body to the best of your body’s abilities.” Fluttershy instructed. She moved her hooves to Violet Horizon’s dislocated knee and ankle. Feeling the ruptured sacs within his joints filling up with lost fluid and being repaired, Violet Horizon let out a sigh of relief. Fluttershy stood up from the ground and looked down upon him with a smile. “Your body is restored to the point where it would let me fix it towards. Now I have to go help Soarin’.” She flew out of the crater and towards Soarin’s direction. She gazed to her right, where an electrified Wilhelm leaped towards her with his fist geared at her side. She stopped in place and squeaked with widened eyes. Riona leaped on top of Wilhelm and knocked him down to the ground with a Leaf Blade. “Didn’t I say that you should not count me out yet? I admit that I am the weaker adversary between us, but I will continue fighting you until my last breath.” She called out, landing on him. “Force of habit.” Wilhelm stated with a cocky tone. He threw a fierce punch against Riona’s jaw and knocked her away. Fluttershy landed by Soarin’s side and placed her hooves on his shoulder blades. Soarin’s eyes opened with a weak movement. “F…Fluttershy? Didn’t I tell you to get out of here?” He questioned with a slow and weary tone. “We are leaving this forest as a full squad. There will be no pony or Pokémon left behind.” Fluttershy responded. “Besides, everyone but Riona and I are down. Riona is trying her best to buy time for me to do this.” Soarin’ gazed towards Riona, who sidestepped and dodged the assault of strikes Wilhelm launched towards her direction. She then slammed her chartreuse-glowing horn into Wilhelm’s chest. “Well call me a donkey’s uncle… that goat actually can move!” Soarin’ complimented. “She has her limits, and Wilhelm is quickly reaching them. Once I get you up, then the five of us can leave.” Fluttershy stated. Riona leaped backwards and let out heavy breaths filled with exhaustion. Her stance faltered and she winced. Wilhelm walked towards her and swung his foot towards the back of Riona’s skull. Riona fell to the ground. Her muscles twitched in pain. “I had said that you would be worth being experiment fodder in the past, but now I see that you are much too troublesome for me to work with. I cannot trust whether you would rise from the dead to attack me during my experimentation on your corpse, so I will just end your life here. But, if it serves as any consolation to you, you have been my most worthy adversary yet.” Wilhelm spoke. He raised his foot into the air once more over her neck. Within the split second where he dropped it, a sickle-shaped waved pierced through the thicket of the background and struck him at his chest and knocked him back. Riona looked towards the source of the direction and saw Spitfire leap from the bushes with a red photon sword extending from her bracelet and a silver-colored cannon on her shoulder. “Spitfire!” Riona called out. Spitfire’s eyes scanned the entire seen; she saw Custard and Violet Horizon stand up from the ground with shaky stances. She looked towards Soarin’, who stood up with wincing eyes and a groggy back. Fluttershy brought her head underneath Soarin’s left shoulder and held him up. “Can you still move, Riona?” Spitfire asked. Riona stood up from the ground and shook off her exhaustion. “I’m still a bit weak from Wilhelm’s assault, but I am still in a well-enough condition to move.” She answered. “Good. I want you and Fluttershy to escape with Soarin’, Custard and Violet Horizon while I deal with Wilhelm here.” Spitfire commanded. Riona smirked. A stifled chuckle echoed from her mouth. “It seems you came when we needed you most. I thank you for your assistance.” “Go now. I want this entire squad to be able to live and return to the city alive. Got that?!” “Yes Commander!” Fluttershy held Soarin’ with her neck and hovered towards Riona’s direction. Custard and Violet Horizon ambled towards the clustered group. The five of them retreated through the bushes of the forest and left Spitfire by herself. Wilhelm stood up from the ground and stared death towards Spitfire. The front torso of his coat and undershirt are blackened with damage and he gritted his teeth in fury. “I didn’t think you’d show up. Have you come here to ruin my parade?” He stated in a displeased tone. “I came when I traced the signal jam to this part of the forest. And it looks like I made it on time. I never thought I’d see your ugly face out here, Wilhelm.” Spitfire said. “Well, you ruined my field day and chased away that yellow pegasus I was supposed to kill.” Upon saying these words, Wilhelm’s frustrated visage mellowed into a soft smile and calm eyes. “You know, your intrusion here made me very angry. You are like a figure of authority who decides to ruin everyone’s fun. It’s a good thing we abolished that aspect of our government a long time ago on Sallerius, because now I can take all of my anger on you without restraint.” Spitfire rolled her eyes and waved her right front hoof towards Wilhelm. “Yeah yeah, enough talk and more action. If you didn’t talk so much, then maybe you would’ve already completed your mission.” She stated in a cocky tone. She leaped into the air and brandished her sword-bearing hoof reared behind her shoulder aimed towards Wilhelm. Wilhelm blocked the stab with his right arm and deflected the blow. Spitfire flew towards her left. Her right hind hoof became shrouded in fire. She dived towards Wilhelm with her flaming hoof aimed towards him. Wilhelm leaped into the air and evaded the fiery kick. The fires around Spitfire’s hoof petered out and she landed on the ground on all hooves. “It is a bit of a surprise that you can wreath your hoof in fire. Is that the product of the technology you are developing?” Wilhelm asked. “Why should I tell you anything?” Spitfire questioned back with a tone filled with suspicion. Wilhelm appeared by Spitfire’s side and launched a kick that knocked her into the sky. Spitfire’s eyes widened in reaction and all of the air in her lungs became knocked out through her mouth. She flew through the canopy and felt the series of leaves and branches colliding against her back. She shook her head and expanded her wings in the air. Her right hind hoof became enshrouded in flames once more. Drilling down through the canopy, she became enshrouded in a fiery tornado. Wilhelm leaped into the air and reared his explosive fist. Seeing Spitfire’s flames burning through the canopy, he struck the epicenter of the drill. The ensuing collision brought forth fiery sparks that ravaged the clearing below in tongues of flames. Spitfire’s Blaze Kick broke through Wilhelm’s fist and captured him within a gust of flames, knocking him down to the charred ground below. He bounced out of the trajectory of Spitfire’s strike and rotated in the air, landing upon the ground on his feet. “This is your first time beating me in a clash of power. But I bet that it is due to that new technology developed using Pokémon genetics. Am I wrong?” “You aren’t. This photon sword bracelet and cannon were both developed by our scientists using state-of-the-art knowledge and techniques devised by the Pokémon from this world. But that’s all I’m telling you.” Spitfire stated. “That’s all I really needed to know.” Wilhelm struck the ground with his fist. Three white shockwaves that peaked to the height of trees sliced up the ground before Wilhelm and homed in towards Spitfire. Spitfire clashed her blade against the shockwaves fighting against her. Her blade emitted sparks of light. She flew back and into the air. With her blade of light glowing, she slashed a sickle-shaped wave towards Wilhelm. Wilhelm raised his hand into the air and absorbed the Sonicboom into his hand. Feeling its energy coursing through his body, he leaped towards Spitfire and clenched his hand into a fist. The cannon on Spitfire’s shoulder fired a shadowy blast into the air. Strains of gravity dragged leaves and the two fighters towards the ground. The frontside of Wilhelm’s body smashed into the ground and cracked it below. Within the void between time, Spitfire became enshrouded in luminescent white electricity. A shrieking moan of pain made its way out of her voice. Her eyes winced in trembling pain, but her body hovered along the ground. “Here’s a little something I devised myself. I hope you enjoy this.” Forcing a pained grin on her face, Spitfire called out. With Wilhelm lifting his body off of the ground with his hands, She hovered towards Wilhelm’s downed body and swung her right hind leg in a roundhouse across his face. She hovered back and flipped backwards once, allowing her hoofs to land on the ground. Leaves stopped falling from the trees at an accelerated rate, and the aura around Spitfire dissipated. Wilhelm got off the ground and held his left hand to his bruised left cheek. A vein on his forehead burst. “L-lucky shot! It seems that even your kind can be creative with how you use your borrowed power.” He stammered out. “But, it seems that electrical move hurt you more than it should have.” Spitfire’s blood went cold upon hearing Wilhelm’s cold words with a smirk of confidence plastered over his mouth. She reignited the fires in her blood and shot forward with her blade in hoof. Wilhelm sidestepped the stab and grabbed her other front hoof in between frames with his right hand. His hand lit up with crackling electricity. The electricity ran through her body and made a round trip through it within the span of a second. Spitfire’s muscles constricted and shouted in agony. Amidst her paralyzed lungs, she shouted to the top of her breath. The cannon on her back fired a blue orb into Wilhelm’s face and launched him across the charred field with a wave of water following its path. Freed from Wilhelm’s grip, Spitfire landed on her forelegs and breathed a series of heavy gusts. Her eyes widened with fear and the color in her coat faded into a slight paler shade of yellow. She shrugged off the electricity coursing through her body and set her sight on Wilhelm. Wilhelm stood up from the ground with a smile on his face. “That was quite the trick you did. But it seems like I was correct; you have that condition.” “So what if I do? I’m not going to run away like a scared filly just because of a little electricity. I dare you to try to use it on me again!” Spitfire shouted. Wilhelm’s right hand sparked to life with electricity once more. He took a step back and tilted his back to the right. His feet dragged along the ground and electricity surrounded him with a crackling aura. “Then let us see how long your body can last against this!” Spitfire closed her eyes and exhaled a deep breath. She twisted her bracelet ankle and her photon sword retreated back within its sheath. Electricity crackled from the bracelet and cloaked Spitfire in an aura of electricity. She charged forwards with intense eyes and a loud roar. The two electric-cloaked fighters clashed against each other. The resulting collision exploded into a veil of black smoke. With the smoke vanishing from the scene, Wilhelm’s red eyes flashed through its remnants. With no sign of Spitfire detected in his sight, a small scowl appeared on his face. “Figures that she would escape after a daring clash like that. I failed to kill the herald of death and rebirth, and I could not destroy those Equusians. The emperor will be most displeased with my failure.” He said to himself. He smirked and shrugged his shoulders with raised arms. “Of course, I can always use one of my scapegoats. There will always be another day.” Fluttershy stood underneath a large cone of light within the docking bay. Her eyes directed towards Mono, who held his glowing upper paws towards Custard. Custard, who lied upon a plastic stretcher, had his body enshrouded with the white light. The light dissipated from both Mono and Custard. Mono smiled and approached Custard. “There. That should remove any traces of the poison in your body.” He stated with relief. “I appreciate the healing, Mono. The doctors said that, since my body is vastly different from other bodies, they couldn’t program the filter to work for me. It’s a good thing you still have that Psycho Heal.” Custard responded. Fluttershy smirked and looked towards Violet Horizon, Soarin’ and Riona. Riona’s broken horn was affixed with white bandages and a clear ooze seeping from the surface. She was surrounded by a smiling Monarca and Reine. “Thank goodness you are okay, Riona! You almost gave me a heart attack when I saw your condition.” Monarca called out. “It is very rare to see you bruised up like that. Your opponent must have been pretty tough. I wish I could have fought this guy to see how he holds up against me.” Reine stated with peaked interest. “He’s much stronger than most Pokémon I have seen, and his tactical genius on the battlefield made it difficult to approach him. It was really a match to see how long I could last before help arrived.” Riona admitted. Iosac and Joker hopped onto Riona’s back and sat on it. Riona’s eyes widened and her teeth gritted with shock. “So is your back healed up from all that fighting yet, Riona?” Iosac asked with an accent feigning innocence. “Of course it hasn’t. That’s why we are doing this in the first place.” Joker responded. “Ummm… can you two get off me? It is already troubling enough to have a beaten body that gave rides to three other injured operatives. Do you really want to add to that?” Riona asked with fire seething in her voice. Reine patted Joker’s back and smirked. “Come on, Joker. Don’t have fun with any of our injured teammates. Besides, I can treat you to something even better.” Dancing her nails along Joker’s shoulders, she stated with a sultry voice. “I like where this is going. Too bad no one will be able to read this awesome scene.” Joker said with a voice rising in arousal. Jasmine floated into the docking bay and widened her eyes with delight. She hovered towards Iosac and grabbed his body. “There you are! Where have you been?!” Iosac’s eyes widened and his mouth quivered in fear. Feeling his body lifted off of Riona, he shook his arms and legs with erratic patterns. “Help! I’m being abducted! Again!” He shouted. Fluttershy stifled a giggle and looked towards Violet Horizon and Soarin’. Violet Horizon’s hind side is hoisted on a set of wheels and his right front leg held upon a steel crutch. Soarin’s back is wrapped tight in a series of white bandages. He smiled and leaned his head towards Violet Horizon. “So… what did you think of your first mission? Exciting stuff, am I right?” He whispered with an enthusiastic tone. “Soarin’, we almost died. Had it not been for Fluttershy, Riona and Spitfire, we would have suffered agonizing deaths.” Violet Horizon reasoned. “I know. We let the ladies save us stallions… and goopy drake. But, there will be a day that we can repay that favor by saving their hinds. I just need to see Professor Pasque to see if he can upgrade my Shotgun Dual Blades with Pokémon moves and then nothing can stand in my way!” Violet Horizon turned his head towards Fluttershy’s direction and smiled. He shifted his focus and line of sight back onto Soarin’. “Yeah. I just hope I can repay them for their kindness.” He said with a sheepish tone. “Speaking of which, where is Spitfire? I haven’t seen her since we fled the Everfree Forest.” Soarin’ questioned with concern brimming from his voice. On cue, the gate to the right lifted opened. A charred Spitfire emerged from the mouth of the gate, limping with her right front leg pulling her towards her destination. One eye remained shut by its eyelids, and portions of her mane and coat singed down to half of their size. Her teeth gritted upon each other. Walking towards the center of the catwalk, her body collapsed onto the paved way. “Commander!” Mono and Fluttershy screamed out in unison. The two operatives sprinted towards the downed Spitfire with eyes widened in panic. Holding Spitfire in their front limbs, their hearts beat out of their chest. An aroma of an electric burn made its way into Fluttershy’s nostrils. Tears welled up within her eyelids. “No… Spitfire, please don’t tell me you worked with electricity! Please tell me otherwise!” She shouted. Spitfire whirred to life and gazed into Fluttershy’s eyes. A weak smile cracked on her face. “Don’t… worry about it…” She uttered out with an optimistic tone. Her vision blurred and the world around her spun. She shut her eyes and her head fell onto Mono’s paws. A stutter of panic emerged from Mono’s mouth. “P-please! Somebody get a doctor! Commander Spitfire is dying!” Author's Note To be continued...? The thrilling conclusion to the last chapter... maybe. The Desert of Forgotten SoulsSpitfire’s eyes cracked open, revealing a world of blurring light onto her conscious. A soft groan echoed from her voice and she blinked. The details of the world sharpened around her; a sheet of white linen covered her body up towards the central point and her right front leg is littered with a potpourri of medical monitors, bandages and a needle that carried clear liquids into her body. Her ears picked up the beats of the heart monitor. She turned to her right and saw not just one occupant in a chair, but four occupants in four chairs. A gasp of happiness shared itself between Mono, Lith, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. The four operatives stood out of their chairs and approached Spitfire with smiles aching to witness their commander. “Commander! You’re finally awake!” Rainbow Dash called out. “‘Finally’ huh? How long was I out for?” Rubbing her left eye with her left hoof in a soft speed, Spitfire asked. “You were comatose for about two weeks.” Lith answered. Hearing her words, Spitfire’s back jolted upwards and her eyes shot open. She brought both of her front hooves to her eyes and rubbed them with disbelief. “It couldn’t have been two weeks. I remember fainting at the docking bay an hour ago!” She called out. “That was two weeks ago. There was a bit of a panic in the bay when you collapsed onto the ground, but the doctors managed to rush you to the medical ward in the base and managed to snag a heartbeat and stabilize your vitals.” Mono explained. Spitfire glanced upon Mono’s face and saw a crestfallen frown upon his down head. His erratic breathing brought forth a wave of worry around her. “Mono… are you alright? You look almost as if you wanted to cry.” Spitfire asked with a tender tone. “Commander, you were in critical condition when you came here. The doctors gave you a grim prognosis. The fact that you are still alive now is a miracle!” Lith stated with a breaking voice. “You could have easily died! We were all worried about you. Each set of four operatives took turns watching over you every hour while you were comatose.” The back of Spitfire’s neck tingled with regret. Her chest became heavy with regret. A frown appeared on her face. “Wow… you all were that worried about me? You all took time out of your busy schedule to watch over someone like me?” She uttered in a soft voice of disbelief. “Of course we did! You are our role model! A motherly leader! Our commander! What makes you think you are anything less than that?!” Rainbow Dash shouted in a shocked tone. “Indoor voice, Rainbow Dash.” With her right front hoof held out towards Rainbow Dash’s direction, Spitfire warned. Rainbow Dash scowled and flashed her teeth in anger. She banged her left front hoof against the wall that Spitfire’s bed lined up against. She directed the flames of her eyes into Spitfire’s pupils. Spitfire’s breath is taken aback by Rainbow Dash’s impulsive actions. “Indoor voice nothing! I cannot think of anything less than what you are, Commander Spitfire! You’ve inspired me to become the war mare that I am today! You always taught me how a good operative should always be like. Everyone here looks up to you as more than just a war hero! You are a brilliant and loving leader who cares heavily for the new generation of operatives! You are the bravest Equusian I have ever got the privilege to even hear of! Now don’t even let me hear that you are anything less than that!” The nerves of everyone in the room rendered themselves shocked from Rainbow Dash’s speech. They looked upon her with wary glances. Rainbow Dash shifted her head left and right and bore her teeth. “Well someone had to say it! I will not let the Commander treat herself as anything less than what she is. I refuse to let her be that way!” Spitfire looked down onto her blanket. Her expressionless face formed a small frown. “I know. But, you have to know that I value all of my H.O.R.S.E. operatives over myself. I’ve already lived my glory days out, so I want the next generation to be able to do the same. It’s why I put my life on the line and made a gambit to save Fluttershy and the rest of her squad. She pushed her back off the bed with her upper hooves. A burning spasm ran down her entire back. Her eyes jolted open and her teeth gritted upon instinct. Fluttershy held Spitfire’s shoulders with her upper hooves and laid her back onto her bed. “No, Commander! You are still hurt from your injuries and you need to rest.” She called out. “It doesn’t hurt that bad… trust me, Fluttershy.” Forcing a weak smile on her face, Spitfire responded. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that, Commander. You are still very strong for your age, but your body isn’t what it was twenty-five years ago.” Lith stated. Mono levitated a clipboard with a pile of papers clipped onto it and scanned through their contents. A low hum rumbled from his voice. “You are going to be feeling those back spasms for a while, Commander. Whatever caused you to suffer those electrical-related injuries has left some indented scarring within your muscular system. On top of that, you just woke up after two weeks of lying in bed, so your body would be unadjusted to that pain.” He stated. A small smile appeared on Spitfire’s face. A chuckle can be heard resonating from her mouth. “What are you, Mono, a doctor?” She said with a lighthearted tone. “Actually, I hope to become one someday. I’ve packed up on some medical knowledge over the years under Professor Pasque’s tutelage. Even if I am a scientist, I have some knowledge that would be useful for medical applications.” Mono answered. Fluttershy frowned with an uneasy grit of her teeth and looked towards Mono, Lith and Rainbow Dash. “Ummm… would you three mind leaving Commander Spitfire and I alone? I want to talk with her in private please.” She asked. “Is it really important for us to leave, Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash questioned with crossed front legs. “Very. This is a matter that is on a need-to-know basis between the Commander and me. I’m sorry to say this and I hope you do not think differently about me asserting myself over this matter, but you three do not need to know this.” Lith blinked twice in stunned silence upon hearing Fluttershy’s words. She rolled her eyes around before setting them on Rainbow Dash. She grabbed Rainbow Dash and Mono’s respective upper left and right limbs. “Since you told us in a polite fashion, we will be happy to honor your request. Just let us know when you are done speaking.” She stated, dragging the two operatives out of the room. “Great… I’m being dragged along the floor again.” Mono stated with a monotonous tone. “Eh, you get used to it.” Shrugging her shoulders and shutting her eyes, Rainbow Dash responded. Fluttershy focused her attention onto Spitfire and gazed into her eyes. A small frown formed on her face. “What Electric-type move did you use, Commander?” She asked with a voice rising with stern concern. “A bit late for that, don’t you think?” Raising her eyebrow in impatience, Spitfire responded. Fluttershy stomped her left front hoof into the ground and flashed a drilling stare into Spitfire’s eyes. Spitfire blinked and shook her head. “It was Wild Charge, okay?!” “W-Wild Charge?” Fluttershy stuttered out. She placed her hoof onto her chin and shut her eyes. Feeling a spark of epiphany light up her mind, her eyes opened with a sad glint of light flashing within them. “I know that move. It’s a powerful move, but the resulting electricity built up for the assault damages the user in the process. Do you realize that-“ “I could have died? Yeah? I’ve told myself many times.” Spitfire snapped back. “I am perfectly aware of my condition and how Wild Charge is like taking two vials of poison. But you know what? I would gladly do it again if it means getting to see my happy and healthy operatives.” Fluttershy stuttered underneath the pressure of Spitfire’s blunt honesty. Her right front leg itched with anxiety. “I’m sorry I even asked, Commander.” She said. Spitfire grinned and sat up on her bed. Despite her back screaming to drop back into the bed, she reached her right front hoof out towards Fluttershy’s shoulder and patted it. “You don’t have to be. You were just worried about my health and condition. If it wasn’t for your concern for others, we would have lost lives out in the battlefield two weeks ago.” She leaned her head towards Fluttershy and brought her hoof within the space between the two pegasi. “Get Rainbow Dash in here right now. That is an order.” Twilight Sparkle stood before Spitfire’s desk and a chair whose back is shown towards them. Standing by her side are Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Fluttershy stood in place, flashing a smile of esoteric knowledge while the other ponies stood with their eyes looking upwards in confusion. “How odd… why is it that Commander Spitfire called us all into her quarters when she is still in the infirmary?” Rarity questioned. “Didn’t the doctors say that she ain’t in any condition to move? And if she brought us here, then where’s Rainbow Dash?” Applejack asked with a tone ripe with irritation. Discord appeared within the round-up of operatives in a veil of smoke. His eyes lit up with annoyance. “She brought me here for some reason, and she definitely sounded very adamant about wanting me to be here. What could she possibly want with the Spirit of Chaos?!” He shouted in an aggravated tone. “I am not too sure, but it probably has to do with also bringing Gnasher and Valet in here as well.” Twilight Sparkle whispered, pointing to the two Krookodiles with subtle movements of her hoof. “This is seriously pissing me off. I don’t have time to be in here waiting for some blowhard to show up.” Valet groaned out with a vitriolic tone. Gnasher rolled her eyes away from Valet in frustration. “One thing I’ve learned from Mono is that complaining will get you nowhere when it doesn’t have a point.” Pinkie Pie shut her eyes, raised her chin and brought a wide smile onto her face. “Well, I’m happy that we are all just together. Now the only thing that matters is trying to find where Dashie is.” Spitfire’s chair spasmed towards the glass window. It turned around, revealing a distraught and embarrassed Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie grinned and leaped towards her direction. She wrapped Rainbow Dash in a body crushing hug. “There you are, Dashie! We were all worried about you!” She commented. “It’s nice to see you too, Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash uttered out of her squished lungs. “Ummm… could you please lighten up your hug and not call me ‘Dashie’?” Pinkie Pie dropped her grip on stood on all fours. A sheepish smile came upon her face. “Hehe, sorry. Sometimes, I don’t know my own strength.” “Rainbow Dash, what are you doing sitting in Commander Spitfire’s seat?” Twilight Sparkle questioned with a stern and corrective voice. Rainbow Dash hovered above the seat and looked onto everyone in the room with shut eyes, a prideful smile and her chest puffed out. “While the Commander is recovering, she made me the temporary commander of H.O.R.S.E.!” Discord brought his eagle’s talon to his lower lip and hummed with a dissatisfactory gaze on his face. “She made you the temporary commander over H.O.R.S.E. operations? Somehow, I doubt the legitimacy of that comment. Could you perhaps cite your sources?” Whirling his lion’s paw with enquiry behavior, he asked. A hologram of Spitfire’s face appeared over her desk and directed a stare direct into Discord’s eyes. “I can personally attest to that, Discord. I made Rainbow Dash commander while I am recovering. You don’t have to like it, but you still have to give her the respect that you would give me.” She stated. Valet stuttered in disbelief and held out his two clawed appendages forward with an open mouth. “That’s such complete and utter bullshit! I only agreed to even being here because Joker ordered me to do so, but I draw the line at having a complete airhead of a loser be my boss!” Rainbow Dash clenched her teeth and flashed a scornful stare towards Valet’s direction. Valet gazed at Rainbow Dash and crooked his eyes with apathy. Gnasher threw an uppercut underneath Valet’s massive jaw. The strike threw him into the air and tossed him on the floor with a loud thud. Rainbow Dash flashed a smile and nodded with an approving gesture. “It’s an unusual change, but I’ll give it a chance. I’m curious as to why you gathered all of us together though.” Gnasher stated. Valet stood up from the ground and looked into Gnasher’s eyes. Hidden from the eyes of everyone, a coy smile cracked upon his Krookodile mouth. “So, allow me to explain myself; I am injured and am in no shape to be the commander of this organization at this moment. Rainbow Dash may look incompetent at first glance, but she is one of the most skilled operatives that H.O.R.S.E. has to offer. Therefore, I put her in charge of all operations until I have fully recovered and gained back my strength.” Spitfire explained. “Well, that explains why Rainbow Dash is the commander, but that still doesn’t explain why we are all here.” Twilight Sparkle said with an inquiring tone. Rainbow Dash flew down to Twilight Sparkle’s eye level and flashed a confident smile. “Simple; we have a mission that requires your individual skills. I’ll also happen to be coming along this mission as well.” She said with a tone resonating with perky energy. “Well, what mission is that?” Shrugging his shoulders with a mix of confusion and annoyance, Discord asked. Rainbow Dash pressed a button on the table, bringing forth a large map with sonar waves echoing from the center. A red dot flashed in a large landmass underneath the Twiluminescent Jungle continent. “Our sonars have picked up some insane activity originating from the Desert of Forgotten Souls continent. From Commander Spitfire’s expert point of view, we could be detecting a Pokémon here.” Rainbow Dash explained. “A new Pokémon? Who could it ever be?!” Pinkie Pie asked. Discord narrowed his eyes and his mouth crooked itself into an upset frown. “Oh give me a break. You took me out of my own mini dimension just to help you all look for a Pokémon? Do you honestly need me to help you out?” He reasoned. Rainbow Dash let out a gust of impatient breath from her mouth. With her right front hoof, she slammed a blue button near the edge of the table. A blue dot resonated right next to the red dot on the map. “I had a tracker placed on Screwball for a while and her signal is acting up hard in that area. Wherever she is, she is right next to that Pokémon we are looking for.” She explained with a cut and dry tone. Discord’s eyes lit up with joy and a grin cracked on his face. All of the orifices on his head leaked out with yellow hope. He teleported right in front of Rainbow Dash and snagged his upper limbs onto her shoulders. He shook her with a fast and strenuous tempo. “Screwball is there?! Of course I’ll join you silly ponies and Pokémon on your mission!” “T-T-That’s g-g-great D-D-D-Discord. C-C-Can you p-p-please st-t-top shak-k-king me now?” Rainbow Dash responded with a blurred voice. Discord’s movement ceased within his tracks. He lowered Rainbow Dash onto all fours standing and pat her mane. “I had to get that out.” He responded. Spitfire cleared her throat and lured everyone’s attention to her. “Since everyone in here but Discord has never been into the Desert of Forgotten Souls continent, I’ll let a guest I’ve asked for appear before you to tell you about it. Some of you may know her, but she will be tagging along with you as a teammate.” Upon the declaration of her words, a brown-robed hooded quadruped walked into the room. The air around her hooves filled with a thick mist at her mere presence. Twilight Sparkle gazed into the darkness behind the gap in the hood with a morbid sense of curiosity veiling her mind. Spitfire narrowed her eyes in annoyance. “Alright, Zecora; you can cut the act now.” Zecora flipped her hood, revealing her visage to everyone in the room. Gnasher’s eyes raised with enlightened epiphany. “Heeeeey, aren’t you that zebra we met in the Everfree Forest a few months back?” She asked. “So we meet again, young alligator. You have not changed much, fierce gladiator.” Zecora responded with a keen smile. Fluttershy hovered towards Zecora and hugged her by her neck. “Oh it’s so good to see you alive and well, Zecora!” She sang out with a chipper tone. “It is nice to see you too, Fluttershy. Is your hidden power still on standby?” Twilight Sparkle’s ears jolted to their tips upon hearing Zecora’s words. Fluttershy turned away from Zecora and hid behind her mane. Zecora laughed and patted Fluttershy’s shoulder. “I am merely jesting with you. You do not need to feel so blue.” “Ummm… right.” Spitfire cleared her throat and pounded her chest with her right front hoof. She set her glare on Zecora. “I did not bring you here to make light chat with my operatives, Zecora. I brought you here to fill in the blanks I left and guide them to their destination.” A sad sigh let itself out of Zecora’s mouth. She faced the operatives and smiled. “I apologize for getting off-topic Commander Spitfire. I will give the details in a way so that they do not tire.” “I will hold you onto that. In the meantime, I am going to see if I can start moving again.” Finishing her communication with these words, the hologram of Spitfire vanished back into the table. Zecora brought all of her focus onto the operatives. Each of them looked at her with curious glints in their eyes. “So what exactly is the Desert of Forgotten Souls continent? Why does it even have a ludicrous name like that?” Gnasher asked. Zecora pointed onto the marked continent on the hologram. The map zoomed in onto the location and colored the continent with a hazy yellow-brown color. “The Desert of Forgotten Souls continent used to be my ancestral homeland. Unfortunately, it was ravaged and the aliens changed it with their black hand. Now it is but a land of death that houses the deceased of my kind. No one would dare venture there even if there were rich treasures to find. The spirits of the dead still haunt this realm. The strongest of hearts they can overwhelm.” She explained. “Umm… pardon me Zecora, but you wouldn’t happen to be talking about ghosts right? Ghost-ghosts? The ones that spook and go bump in the night?” Applejack asked with a shrinking voice. Zecora’s eyes fixated themselves into Applejack’s trembling ankles. Her ears picked up on her chattering teeth. She saw her chest breathe in and out at a quicker pace. “Yes, I am talking about ghosts. They are always looking for hosts. They wish to be a part of the living, but their methods can be unforgiving. They will try to steal your body and drag your soul into the realm of unliving.” Fluttershy’s pupils rolled out of regular view and she dropped onto the floor on the right side of her body. Rainbow Dash walked towards her with a wary frown on her face and poked Fluttershy’s left shoulder. No conscious response flashed from her body. “Great job, Zecora, you scared Fluttershy to death with that story.” “Wait! Don’t you dare end this scene yet!” Fluttershy woke up at the sound of the crazed screaming. All of the operatives shifted their direction towards the source of the noise above. Joker broke through the ceiling and had his front side land on Spitfire’s table. A cloud of debris filled the air. Joker stood up from the table and dusted himself off. He looked towards the equine operatives, who looked at him with slacked jaws and wide eyes. “S’up, Joker?” Valet responded in a casual tone. Joker smiled and waved towards him. “Doing good.” He said with a nod. Discord walked towards him and shook his hand. A cold and narrow-eyed smile shined from his face. “I have a good feeling about you. We will definitely be getting along.” “Joker! What are you doing here?! I never invited you!” Rainbow Dash shouted with her front legs thrown into the air and a notable scowl over her eyes. “You’ll need me, trust me. That, and Stag Prince felt that I would be perfect for this chapter.” Joker stated. “…You are referring to ‘Bambi’, prince of the cervines we have in the city, right?” Rarity asked with a wary tone. “Stag Prince is only my lord and creator. His collab with the author of this fic is the reason we are even here in the first place.” Joker responded. Everyone in the room gazed at him in a deathly silence. Applejack looked towards Pinkie Pie and spun her right front hoof in the air around her temple. Pinkie Pie stood up from the ground and shrugged her shoulders with raised hooves. Twilight Sparkle’s right eye twitched at every second. A blood vein could burst in her head at any moment. The group of operatives sat within padded benches of a black hull. Their ears whirred with the sounds of a rotating engine that came from above them. The motion of the vehicle’s descent rushed the blood of everyone onboard up their bodies. The large door towards the end of the hull opened, bringing forth a sharp light that flashed within everyone’s eyes. Everyone but Gnasher and Valet winced and averted their eyes from the light. “It’s too bright!” Applejack complained. Gnasher rolled her eyes and stood up from her seat. Stepping outside of the carrier, she felt the touch of smooth and grainy sand underneath her feet. The deep blue sky stretched beyond what the eye could see and without a cloud in sight. The rest of the operatives disembarked from the plane. The blistering wave of heat became the first thing that their minds noted. Through the scope of the distance, their eyes viewed large plains of brown sand and patches of rough earth spotted amongst them. A small smirk folded itself over Valet’s mouth. “Feels exactly like home.” He said. “I don’t know why you wimps all shielded your eyes from the sun.” “Well, it’s because our eyes do not have membranes that shield them from intense sunlight like you and Gnasher do.” Twilight Sparkle retorted. Joker and Discord walked out of the plane. The two of them are adorned in dark shades, floral-patterned button-up shirts and khaki shorts. Discord pulled out a parted coconut and sipped its liquid through a pink straw. “It’s a good thing we brought our shades today, isn’t that right Joker?” Patting Joker’s right shoulder with his lion’s paw, Discord asked. “Yep. I would’ve brought some more shades for everyone, but nobody asked.” Joker stated. A frustrated sigh emerged from Rainbow Dash. She looked towards the ground and stomped onto it. Her coat radiated from the intense heat of the area. She glanced towards Fluttershy, where a string of dark brown beads wrapped around her head. Fluttershy’s teeth chattered with an uncontrollable motion. “Fluttershy, what are those?!” Rainbow Dash questioned. “Oh, these? Umm… well, these are prayer beads. As a trained priestess of Deus, I feel that it is important to bring these beads along with us on our journey here.” Fluttershy explained. “Is this about the ghosts Zecora was talking about?! You know that it is just superstitious mumbo-jumbo that Zecora spouted to make this place feel more exotic, right?” With an uneasy smile on her face, Applejack patted Rainbow Dash’s left shoulder. “I wouldn’t bag on Fluttershy for bringing something very important with us. I mean, I hear that ghosts would love to drag us into the pits of Tartarus.” “Not you too Applejack! We are supposed to be here on a mission. We aren’t going to be busting any ghosts.” Rainbow Dash stated with a voice seething in annoyance. “Besides, if you see any ghosties, just do as my grandma taught me to do; just giggle at them!” Pinkie Pie advised. Zecora took her first steps onto the land. She is adorned in her brown robes. “My friends please cease in your bickering. The flames of ghosts are still flickering.” She stated. “There are no such things as ghosts! It’s all a bunch of tales told by parents to get naughty foals to sleep in the night!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “I know it is not in my place to say anything, Rainbow Dash, but this land is foreign to the both of us. We don’t know what will happen here, so it is best that we remained protected.” Holding her hoof onto Rainbow Dash’s right shoulder, Rarity stated. “I guess you’re right. Even if I knew that this place would be hot, I didn’t think it would be this hot!” “Oh right! That reminds me!” Joker ran back inside of the plane. Everyone but Discord looked at each other with their heads cocked and eyes marked in curiosity. Joker ran outside and threw eight red robes into the sky. The robes floated towards each of the non-Pokémon operatives and fitted themselves onto their bodies. Rarity looked onto her body with her lips formed into a wary frown. “These look a bit tacky. Exactly what are these?” She asked. “Einstein finally managed to develop some protective gear by using the Fire-type matrix of the Pokémon genome. These will keep you cool and resist Fire-type and Ground-type attacks.” Joker explained. “Wait a moment! Why wasn’t I told about any of this?!” Twilight Sparkle questioned. “Well duh!” Holding his tongue out with his head cocked and eyes tilted towards the bottom, Joker taunted. “Because he just sent me these robes through a data transfer when he heard that we were going here.” “But that still doesn’t make any sense! Professor Pasque said that this would take about a month to even begin developing this type of clothing.” “Well how long did you think it took since that chapter when he made that claim? At least a month in real time. Now don’t give me attitude or else I am going to take those robes back and leave you suffering out in this heat!” Twilight Sparkle shook her head in disbelief and mumbled an inaudible sentence of words. The group walked along the blistering sands of the desert with their hoods over their heads. Rainbow Dash walked ahead of the group with a keen smile on her face. She hugged herself and turned around. “I like wearing this robe! It’s comfy and easy to wear!” She said with a tone that exploded with euphoric delight. “Now you see why I like my robes? It relieves me from the heat’s strobes.” Zecora said. “So you mean you don’t wear that get-up just to be creepy and mysterious?” Applejack asked. Zecora shut her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. “That happens to be an added effect. I do not mean to be so indirect.” She stated. Taking their next step through the desert, Pinkie Pie’s eyes picked up on three golden felines. Their large and muscular bodies radiated within the sunlight. They yawned, revealing their sharp and plentiful fangs. Three ethereal runes hovered behind each of their heads. Pinkie Pie leaped over the group, stood on her hind legs and held out her front legs in desistance. “Stop!” She said. “Stop? Why?” Gnasher responded with a hasty tone. “There are three shiny panthera-type creatures up ahead. When they see us, they will maul us. Plus, they have some really powerful magic that only the most sporadic and unpredictable of living things can hope to avoid.” Pinkie Pie explained. Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed with a lavender color. A tablet materialized in front of her and levitated in spot. She treaded her hoof upon its screen and scrolled through various menus until an image of the creatures ahead appeared on display. “I have a creature in my records here that is native to this region of the Desert of Forgotten Souls continent. Apparently, it is known as Deus’s Leopards. They work in packs, but are extremely territorial when it comes to outsiders.” She explained. “Yeah! That’s them. That’s why we need Discord, Joker and I to take care of them.” Pinkie Pie said. “Ummm, but I could probably communicate with them.” Fluttershy reasoned. Joker smiled and pats Fluttershy’s head with his left hand. “Silly Fluttershy; we know that you are more than capable of handling this situation yourself. Unfortunately, that’s going to bore the readers since they probably want to see some unpredictable actions and fighting going on in this chapter at this point. Because really, this chapter has gone on this long time without fighting.” He reasoned. “See? Joker knows what he’s talking about. Now, let’s fight Deus’s Leopards!” Pinkie Pie stated. From the black holsters on her flanks, she pulled out two red and pink guns with a twirl. Approaching the leopards with silent steps, she walked towards her left and kept her eyes on them. At the moment the eyes of the leopards met with Pinkie Pie’s eyes, she faced the beasts and strafed to her left. Two streams of bullets fired from her guns towards the leopards. A numerous number of runes lit up on the ground underneath Pinkie Pie, Discord and Joker. Discord tore apart a gap of air and fled into a swirling purple portal. Pinkie Pie’s guns retracted themselves onto her hooves and formed gauntlets. She lowered herself on all fours and spun herself through the sand. Joker stayed in place with a smile on his face. The runes exploded into pillars of light that ate away at the entire battlefield. The signaling lights burned away the visions of Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Zecora. They shut their eyes and directed their heads away from the lights. When the lights faded away, the three combating operatives stood in front of Deus’s Leopards with no signs of damage on their body. A bored yawn escaped from Joker’s mouth. “That flashy light show was supposed to destroy us? I barely had to do anything.” He taunted. “Good thing these Volcanic Guns come with Dig!” Pinkie Pie commented. “I’ve seen these creatures before. But, your parents must have raised a bunch of losers if you can’t even hit one of us.” Discord teased. Each of the leopards leered and growled towards the battling squad. Pinkie Pie stood up on her hind legs once more. Her gauntlets formed back into her guns. Joker pulled out a red boxing glove on a spring-loaded launcher. Discord snapped his eagle’s talons. A purple and brown minigun materialized within his upper limbs. Its barrels in its back crackled with purple lightning. Pinkie Pie sprinted forwards towards the leopards and dove onto her backside and slid at the base of her tail. Defying the rules of physics, she twirled her guns and cross-aimed them towards two of the leopards to the side. She fired a burst of round towards them. The leopards lifted their paws towards their face and blocked a majority of the fire. “She isn’t the one who you should be afraid of, stupid cats!” Standing on Pinkie Pie’s head with the boxing glove launcher in hand, Joker taunted. He fired his boxing glove towards the face of the leopard to the right, knocking it onto its back. Discord appeared upon Joker’s head with the minigun aimed towards the leopard Pinkie Pie slid towards. A stream of lightning and bullets burst out of each of the barrels and struck the leopard in front at a disabling pace. Pinkie Pie’s right gun formed into a gauntlet. It cloaked itself in an aura of fire. Discord warped off of Joker’s head and Joker hopped behind Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie leaped into the air above the Deus’s Leopard in front of her. She thrust her flaming hoof into the face of the leopard and knocked it flying into the air. Discord aimed his minigun towards the Deus’s Leopard to his left and flashed a narrow-eyed smirk towards its direction. The Deus’s Leopard’s eyes widened and ran off. “Well, that takes care of that.” Dusting his hands off of each other, Joker stated. He put his boxing glove launcher back into his pocket protector. Pinkie Pie turned her sight towards her teammates not involved in the fight. Their jaws slacked to the left and dropped down to the ground. Their eyes flashed with mesmerized shock. “What? They were only in our way.” Pinkie Pie reasoned. “I will never… ever make fun of her again.” Gnasher said with her voice stunned in shock. “Some of those movements were impossible! Just…” Twilight Sparkle uttered out. “And you are surprised that the most unpredictable members of our team can do that?” Discord chided. The leopard punched out by Joker’s got back onto its feet. It approached behind Pinkie Pie, Discord and Joker with its lips growling in ferocity. Pinkie Pie’s body froze upon itself. She edged her sight towards her back and the leopard. Her face became covered with a sheepish smile and she waved with her right front hoof. Valet rolled his eyes. “I’ve had enough of this already.” Saying these words, he ran towards the Deus’s Leopard. The leopard raised its right paw high in the sky and glared down towards Pinkie Pie. With its paw falling towards her, Valet grabbed the paw with both of his claws and held it tight in his grip. He somersaulted over the leopard and threw it beyond the limit of the sky. Landing on his feet, he dusted off his hands and an arrogant smile appeared on his face. Pinkie Pie grinned and ran towards Valet. She squeezed his chest with a powerful hug. “Wow Valet! That was an awesome move!” She shouted. “T-that’s good and all, but please stop hugging me.” Hearing some of his bones crack from the sheer force of Pinkie Pie’s hug, Valet groaned out. Pinkie Pie released her hug, leaving Valet to shake off his body. Within that moment, a fierce tremor echoed from below the sands. The tremor knocked Fluttershy’s face into the sand. Within the distance of several meters, a brown pillar shot out from the sands ahead. The pillar rose into a small and golden fixture. The structure continued to rise until a massive building formed out of gold held itself high above the sand. A wide smirk cracked over Zecora’s lips. “Ummm… what exactly is that building?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Do you not know what this area is? This is the tomb of fabled queen Isis!” Zecora proclaimed. “You mean like the goddess Isis in ancient Saddle Arabian mythology?” Applejack asked. Zecora and the others approached the large staircase the width of all the operatives combined. It reached out all the way towards the top of the building, where a small chasm rested upon that led into its depths. Many statues depicting sphinxes littered the cliffs of the opulent building. “Her name’s origins are traced back to that very deity. Being able to see this fills me with spontaneity!” Zecora exclaimed. “Wow… this entire place is a tomb?!” Twilight Sparkle shouted with awe flashing in her eyes. “How did your ancestral folk ever manage something like this?!” “That I do not know. This is just for show. The inside is loaded with history, so let us delve into its mystery.” Rainbow Dash looked down upon her watch. Her eyes widened at the sight of red and blue dots resonating from the area towards the north. “Tomb or not, our mission objectives look like they are inside there.” She stated. “Hold on Screwball! Daddy’s coming to get you!” Shouting these words, Discord ran up the stairs towards the top. Rarity raised her right front hoof towards Discord. “Stop! We should all go as a team!” She insisted. She sprinted off towards Discord. With an upset groan, Rainbow Dash flew towards the top. Gnasher and Valet ran up the stairs, skipping large portions of them. Pinkie Pie leaped onto the smooth railing of the stairs and clambered up at running speed. Shaking her head, Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed in its lavender color. She disappeared and reappeared at the top of the tomb before the chasm. “Wait a second… why don’t I just warp in here? It’ll make finding our objectives easi-“ Before she can finish her words, the hoard of her teammates behind her crashed into each other and pushed them over the edge. Their hearts all plummeted into their stomachs upon looking into the infinite darkness of the chasm. A clamor of screams echoed out of the gap. Author's Note It seems that the team has fallen into the tomb of Isis. What adventures will they have there? And... where are all the ghosts? Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of D-oh wait. Tomb of the AncientsTwilight Sparkle shut her eyes for dear life. The darkness of the chasm shadowed over the serene blinds of her eyelids. The screams of all of her friends rang through her ears. A shuffle of hooves arranged themselves into a group hug. For the eternity that occurred, the entire group hovered within the realm of darkness. Landing on a hard surface after the passing eon, everyone got up from the ground and rubbed their temples. “Okay, who was the wise guy that bumped into us?!” Shouting with her voice steeped in agitation, Rainbow Dash shouted. “I’m pretty sure that was you. You were going at sonic speed after all.” Tilting her head away, Gnasher replied. Twilight Sparkle’s horn lit up. She shut her eyes and grunted with a long groan. The spell on her horn dissipated into sparks, leaving Twilight Sparkle with a spontaneous frown on her face. “It’s no good! I can’t teleport out of here!” She shouted. Rainbow Dash spread her wings and flapped them, but she found herself unable to take flight. She scowled and clicked her tongue. “My flight is useless here. Whatever this place is, it is blocking our transportation methods.” “Queen Isis devised her tomb to trap all types of beings. Those who wander in here will develop dreadful feelings.” Zecora said. “Wait, how do you know?” Rarity asked with peaked curiosity. Zecora wandered within the pitch black darkness and placed her right front hoof on a solid wall. She treaded it along the wall until she hit a smooth and solid object. An azure light flashed within the depths of the darkness. Revealed within its bright rays are a series of images etched out in clay tablets. Twilight Sparkle approached the series of tablets and touched a tablet that depicted a group of zebras. “The ancient Zebrican art here is amazing. If my understanding of hieroglyphs is correct, then these art pieces must tell a story.” She said with awe emanating from her voice. Zecora pointed towards the image that Twilight Sparkle’s right front hoof touched upon and grinned. “These tablets tell of Equus’s story back in civilization’s primordial years. They tell of a tale of how our modern-day tribes have originated through sweat and tears.” She said. “How do you know? This is our very first time being in this tomb.” Twilight Sparkle questioned with cautious curiosity. Zecora looked towards the rest of the operatives in the room. She waved her hoof towards their direction, asking to draw them closer with her inviting smile. They approached the zebra and unicorn and gathered around the tablets. “Well, I guess that tales of Equus’s first civilization would lighten our mood a bit.” Applejack noted. Zecora slid her right front hoof over towards the image of a herd of zebras upon the cliffs of a grand building. Underneath the large and opulent building housed green vegetation and rivers of flowing waters. “Our story starts with the zebra tribe taking roots as the first civilization.” Zecora introduced. “With their knowledge and techniques on agriculture, they were the first prosperous nation.” Fluttershy’s eyes wandered over towards the next tablet, where she noted a large group of zebras bowing down to strange bipedal creatures with humanoid statures, animal heads and wings over their arms. A small frown pursed upon her face. “Then why is it that they are bowing down to these weird creatures? Did Deus not exist in their time?” Zecora’s wide grin wavered under the statement of Fluttershy’s words. She breathed out with a heavy sigh. “Deus existed back in the time as recorded by the seers. This is properly shown through this old tablet over here.” She pointed towards the tablet towards the left, which depicted a mechanical horse-shaped being whose body emanated rays of light. Between his giant hands rested a large planet that radiated with light. Upon one of the etched-in land formations on the planet, zebrakind sprouted towards the middle of the world. “If the ancients knew about Deus, then why did they resort to worshipping false idols?” Applejack asked with a hint of curiosity in her tone. “As you can tell, our ancestors were not appreciative of the one old god. They worshipped him at first, but he fell out of favor and thought of him as a fraud.” Zecora pointed towards the tablet to the far right, where an etching of a zebra mare adorned in flashy apparel stood underneath the silhouette of the sun. On the base of the building beneath her, many etchings of zebras stabbed at each other with spears and swords, leaving only blood puddles and corpses in their wake. “This line of cultural thinking continued until the end reign of Queen Isis. Towards the end of that era, much blood was shed and many died in the crisis.” “Wait a moment here.” Holding out her claws, Gnasher interjected with a head shake. “Do you mean to tell me that such a horrible war was caused over the religion of you zebras?” Zecora shut her eyes and a soft sigh passed from her breath. She moved her hoof towards an etching of an earth pony stallion before Queen Isis and two other zebras. By the stallion’s side are capsule-shaped devices with lines of brilliance etched around it. A silhouette of Deus’s image is sketched upon the surfaces of the devices. “It was much more than just a dispute over who worshipped what. A prophet of Deus met with the queen and all was cut. He brought forth technology that came into his mind by his god. The queen was appalled by his presentation, but some looked at him with eyes awed. Conflict broke out when the queen’s subjects wanted to usher in a technological era, but the supporters of the current way of life disagreed and fought out in the sierras.” Zecora explained. “So the first recorded war in history all began because no one liked the thought of bringing forth a new era of technology and worship then?” Twilight Sparkle asked. Her face broke into a frown and her eyes narrowed in sorrow. “That waste of life…” “As history decided, those with the power of technology overwhelmed the royal forces. The queen was killed, technology prospered and a whole new history would be known to set its own course.” Pinkie Pie gazed towards the final image, where an equine wrapped in bandages is carried into a large building by an earth pony and zebra. She smiled and cupped her mouth with her right front hoof. “It’s funny how they decided to bury their queen with all of this cool technology in here. Don’t you just love that irony?” “That’s a horrible thing to laugh at, Pinkie Pie.” With a stern voice, Rarity chided. “Respect the burial conditions they must, but burying their old-believing queen with all of this technology is their insult to her.” Fluttershy looked away from the tablets. Her mouth formed into a frown that oozed anxiety. She rubbed her right front hoof with her left front hoof and took one step backwards. “Umm… she does seem to be a bit stubborn. I mean, she did fight a war and everything just because she did not believe in Deus.” She uttered to herself. “From what I understand, her fate in the afterlife did not end well. According to what I know of Deus, she is suffering in hell.” Zecora stated. The lights within the tomb went out and obscured everything within its darkness. A supernatural chill overcame the atmosphere and brought everyone’s nerves down into the abyss. A loud scream shot out of Applejack’s mouth. “I feel something! Is that a ghost?!” She screamed. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. A cocky grin rolled out on her face. She guided her right front hoof through the darkness and treaded it upon Applejack’s right shoulder. “Relax, Applejack; there’s no such thing as ghosts. How many times do I have to say that?” Closing her eyes with her confident smile wide on her face, she assured. The sensation of an ice-cold hoof touched her left shoulder. “Alright, real funny Discord. Now cut it out and focus on bringing the power back on.” “What do you mean? I’m over here and I would never trick you like that.” Playing with an innocent tone in his voice, Discord remarked. “No seriously, get your paw off of my shoulder. I know you are trying to scare me.” “But I’m not.” Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened at a show and shocked pace. A nervous giggle trickled out of her mouth. “Ummm… is anyone else near me? I can’t see a thing in this darkness.” “You are by yourself in an open space from what I can feel, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy responded. Rainbow Dash shifted her line of sight towards the direction of the being holding her shoulder down. The color in her face faded to a pale white and her smirk evaporated into a meek frown. Her eyes are witness to a zebra-shaped specter that emitted a faint green glow. Its eye sockets are emptier than a void. Rainbow Dash felt all confidence and will leave her body from staring into it. The ghost hissed with a loud noise. “Please tell me that these robes are ghost-resistant Joker.” Joker shrugged his shoulders. “The Professor didn’t honestly think that far.” An audible gulp of air traveled down Rainbow Dash’s esophagus. Her face broke out in a cold sweat. She edged herself away from the ghost and grinned with a sheepish demeanor. She screamed and ran into a wall face-first. She dropped to the ground. A pained wince of disbelief made its way onto Discord’s face. He smacked his face with his lion’s paw. “Unbelievable. She hit a wall in her panic.” Fluttershy held out her prayer beads with her right front hoof. She kneeled down to the floor and aimed her beads towards the ghost. Steam hissed from the ghost’s ethereal form and it vanished away into a foul mist. A tormented scream echoed throughout the area. Rainbow Dash sidled against the edge of the wall and breathed out deep and heavy breaths. She held her right front hoof to her chest. Her heart would burst out of her rib cage and onto the ground at any moment. The azure lights ignited the halls of the tomb once more. “W-was that a ghost?!” She shouted. “It was. But, I banished it from the realm of the living.” Fluttershy explained. “Those poor ghosts are still trapped in this world, so they need to be excised back into the realm of the dead.” “Poor ghosts?! That ghost wanted to steal my body!” “Please understand; spirits bound to the physical world live a tormented afterlife. The only way to ease their pain is if they find a host to house themselves in. It’s an abominable act, but I understand why they do it.” A light-hearted chuckle emerged from Applejack’s tone. She walked towards Rainbow Dash with a fresh stride in her step and thrust her hoof into Rainbow Dash’s back. Forced out of the corner in the wall, Rainbow Dash slid across the floor. “So who’s afraid of ghosts now?” Applejack asked. “Shut up Applejack. As your current boss, I order you and everyone else in here to never bring this event up. The ghost just caught me by surprise is all.” Sitting on the ground with her front hooves crossed, Rainbow Dash muttered out with a scowl on her face. Zecora closed her eyes and shook her head in disapproval. She set her gaze towards the right, where a long and winding corridor made its path. “I would love to hear you two fight, but we need to advance our plight.” She said. “Zecora is right. You two are just acting like two fillies.” Twilight Sparkle noted in agreement. “All I did was just give her some good-spirited ribbing. Ya can’t fault me for that.” Applejack answered back with a defensive tone. Valet pinched the bridge between his eyes and tilted his head towards the ground. An audible groan roared out of his tone. “What did I do to deserve this?” Zecora spearheaded the group of operatives down the narrow hall of darkness. Valet looked towards Gnasher’s direction. His sharp eyes detected slight twitches of her claws. He edged closer towards her, grinning with a toothy smile. “Seems like someone is afraid of the dark.” Valet stated. “Want to get a bit closer to me?” Gnasher let out a frustrated sigh and stared into Valet’s face with aggressive eyes. She raised one of her nails and opened her mouth, but shook her head in disapproval and shut her mouth. “Valet, you’re an idiot for thinking that you can hit on someone who is already in a romantic relationship.” She seethed out. “I’m not trying to hit on you. I’m just asking if you want to me to give you a bit of intimate comfort.” Valet responded. Gnasher smacked the back of Valet’s head with her left claw. Valet’s back jolted upwards. His eyelids pinched each other. He rubbed the back of his head with his claws and looked towards Gnasher with a stern scowl imprinted on his face. “Again, boyfriend. Just give up your charade, because you aren’t exactly smart or smooth enough to pull it off.” Gnasher stated. “Well just who exactly is your boyfriend?” “I’ll give you some hints; he’s big, gooey and loves to cuddle.” Valet’s eyes widened with each word passing from Gnasher’s mouth. His heart trembled with anxiety and his nerves wrapped around his muscles with the tenacity of a cobra. “That’s funny because it almost sounds like that you are saying that wimp Custard is your boyfriend.” He said aloud, giggling with a nervous disposition. “He is.” Gnasher said with a straight tone. “W-w-wha?! But he’s not even a member of your Egg Group! You can’t tell me that Pokémon is your boyfriend! How could someone as tough and cool as yourself bring yourself down to being involved with that pushover?!” Gnasher and Valet stopped in their tracks amidst the darkness of the hall. Gnasher shifted her direction over towards Valet and flashed a nasty stare that burned with incandescent flames. She placed her wrists on her hips and pointed one of her nails between Valet’s eyes. “Can you at least be more respectful of our teammate there, Valet?! He is my childhood friend. Yes, he was a bit of a wimp when growing up. I had to bail him out of many situations, but you know what?! I bailed him out because I hated seeing the other Pokémon bully him over what their failed expectations saw him as. Actually, I don’t think you are even understanding a single word that is coming out of my mouth! You are probably thinking ‘Oh, this is just a stupid rant by a female who isn’t taking that time to put her mouth around my dick’ aren’t you?!” Gnasher shouted. “Who me? No… You’re just ranting about some words I really don’t care about.” Valet responded. Gnasher blinked and tilted her head. She narrowed her eyes and her lips quivered with disbelief. She shook her head with a slow movement of disgust. “And this is why Custard will always be a better Male Pokémon than you will ever be; he listens and seeks to improve himself. You never listen and would probably continue using your same bullheaded tactics in battle!” “Oh! So you think that I don’t improve on how I am?! Listen here Gnasher; I fought tooth and nail to get where I am today. I crawled out from the abyssal depths of death and suffering with my own skills. I don’t need you to tell me that I am NOT a better Pokémon than I previously was!” Valet lashed out. He tore his claws into the wall to Gnasher’s left and ripped apart some of the wall at that area. Holding his left set of claws against Gnasher’s right shoulder, he pinned her against the wall and looked into her eyes. Gazing into her pupils, he saw her composure falter under his force. She saw her headstrong expression melt underneath confusion. He heard her breathing accelerate, bringing rushing air through her nostrils and back. A wide grin appeared on Valet’s face. He leaned his head towards Gnasher’s face. With his muzzle close to Gnasher’s, he placed his lips onto Gnasher’s and drove his tongue into her mouth. Gnasher’s eyes widened from the aggressive kiss. She squirmed in his grip. She readied her left set of claws. With the nails glowing in a hazy blue green, she slashed Valet’s face and knocked him down to the ground. With heavy panting escaping her mouth, she looked down onto him. “Are you insane? Did you really just do that to me?!” She shouted. “Well you weren’t going to give it to me willfully, so I thought it would be better for me to just take it myself.” With a shameless smirk plastered onto his face, Valet responded. “You are… I should just kill you right now for trying to do that!” Valet stood up from the ground and faced Gnasher with closed eyes. He flipped his wrists and shrugged his shoulders. “What good would that do down here? Besides, don’t pretend that you didn’t enjoy it. You wanted a large and aggressive male to do that to you for a while, but you couldn’t have such an experience because the only other male that could possibly do that is your passive pussy for a boyfriend.” Gnasher proceeded to open her mouth, but her train of thought became stunned by the words of Valet. She shut her mouth and shook her head. “Just shut up. We need to get back with the group. They are probably far ahead of us by now.” The group walked down the downwards-sloping corridor into the eternal darkness. Within Zecora’s maw is a torch that pierced through the thick darkness, bringing a light of salvation into the sight of the group. Rainbow Dash turned her head towards the direction she is walking away from. She lifted an eyebrow with an air of enquiry around her. “Hey, where did Gnasher and Valet go? Weren’t they behind us a moment ago?” She asked. “Oh, them? They were having an argument about some romance stuff. They’ll be back here.” Pinkie Pie explained. “Well, that’s nice to hear. Except…” Rainbow Dash’s nose wrinkled from a wave of tingling within her nostrils. A loud sneeze passed from her mouth and nose. She wiped stray mucus that leaked from her nose. “Rainbow Dash, are you alright?” Twilight Sparkle asked with a tone of concern. “Y-yeah.” Snorting her mucus back into her nose, Rainbow Dash replied. “I think that stupid ghost might’ve gotten me sick…” A low howl emerged within the depths of the tomb, bringing the group to a sudden halt. Their nerves froze over and jumped out of their bodies. The torch that Zecora carried around her mouth had its fire extinguished by a damp gust of wind. A loud squeak emerged from Applejack’s mouth. “The light went out! Is that the ghosts?!” She shouted. “Please remain calm, Applejack. It’s not a proper way for a lady of your stature to act.” Rarity advised. “Rarity’s right… except for the whole lady-like thing. We have to remain calm and collected.” Twilight Sparkle stated. Rainbow Dash’s eyes picked upon a vortex of shadow energy underneath Zecora. She unfolded her wings and flew towards Zecora, scooping her by her shoulders and lifting her upwards. A shadowy set of spikes shot from the ground. They receded back into the depths of darkness. “That was a very close one, Rainbow Dash. Any later and I would have been ash!” Zecora announced. “We have to get moving through this hallway. We’re being hunted by Screwball!” Rainbow Dash commanded. “Screwball? You mean that was her doing?!” Discord questioned with a tone that oozed with shock. “Does it really surprise you? She dislocated my hoof in our last encounter.” “Let’s not focus on arguing now. Let’s focus on making it to the end of this corridor. She'll probably be waiting for us there.” Twilight Sparkle instructed. A swarm of ghosts appeared within the hallway ahead. Their open maws dripped with ghastly drool. Their eyes ravaged with hunger for the living flesh before them. “Oh no…” Fluttershy uttered out. Gnasher and Valet slashed their way through hordes of ghosts with their claws. The split ghosts reformed their bodies and let out devious smirks. Gnasher growled and lowered her eyes. “No matter how much we slash these ghosts, they just keep reforming and coming back!” She said. Valet gnawed his teeth through the ghosts. The ectoplasm of the ghosts slipped through his teeth and formed into smaller ghosts. “So we just keep hitting them!” He called out. The split ghosts swarmed around Valet and attached themselves onto his body. Valet shook his body in a desperate attempt to ward off the ghosts. With their tenacity, the ghosts held onto his body and began merging with it. Valet grunted. “Can I at least have a bit of help here?” He pleaded. Gnasher looked into Valet’s eyes. They shimmered with a desperate cry for help. She shut her eyes and tilted her head towards the ground. Reaching for a pair of black claws by her left hip, a pained sigh escaped her mouth. She slipped the claws over her nails and looked towards the ghosts that began melding with Valet’s body. “Don’t make any sudden movements when I do this, Valet. Otherwise, I’ll end up killing you.” She instructed. “Wait, what do you-“Before Valet could finish his words, a violet shockwave emitted itself from Gnasher’s black claws and cut its way into Valet’s flesh. Valet’s eyes widened from the shock of the blow. Looking onto his chest, his eyes picked upon a crescent slash that arched from his right shoulder to left leg. The ghosts that clung onto his body fled through the gaping wound on his chest. “What was that?!” Gripping his wound with his right nails, Valet exclaimed. “A specialized Psycho Cut done by the anti-matter claws here.” Gnasher explained. “No way… that can’t be a Psycho Cut! I’m supposed to be immune to Psychic-type moves!” “Again, specialized. These claws ignore type immunity. If I know anything from the Ghost-type Pokémon I’ve talked to, a slice of mystical energy will drive out just about any ghost.” Valet pouted, crossed his arms and looked away from Gnasher. His eyes closed and his lips were pursed into a haughty form. Within the seconds he held this pose, he lifted his left eye towards Gnasher’s direction. His stoned muzzle formed into a frown. “You didn’t have to save me you know. After what I did to you a bit earlier, I thought you would’ve wanted to leave me to die there.” “Trust me Valet, I did. I wanted to leave you to die by these ghosts. You are just such an arrogant idiot who forces others to do his own bidding that letting those ghosts take you over would be a big improvement to you. But… that wouldn’t be right.” Gnasher explained. “What do you mean by that? Might makes right, right? I was too weak to fend off the ghosts, so it wouldn’t have been right for you to save me even if I wanted you to do so.” With his eyes lighting up with genuine confusion, Valet responded. Gnasher walked towards Valet and held up one of her nails in front of Valet’s face. She looked into his eyes with a stern and stalwart expression. “You may be an idiot. You may be a dick. You are definitely an asshole. But, you still are my teammate. If I couldn’t let go of my desire to see you die, then what kind of teammate would I be? A terrible one that’s what.” A small smirk appeared on Valet’s face. He hid his face away from Gnasher’s gaze. “Thanks.” He muttered underneath his breath. With a good-natured smirk on her face, Gnasher cuffed her right claws beside her right hear and directed it towards Valet’s direction. “What was that? I couldn’t hear you.” She said with a teasing voice. “N-nothing.” Valet responded with a sheepish tone. Gnasher punched Valet’s right shoulder. “I heard you the first time, and don’t mention it.” A large explosion following a whir sounded out beyond the darkness, catching Gnasher and Valet’s attentions. “We have to go now! The others need our help!” Valet declared. “Oh? It appears you have a soft spot for our team.” Gnasher teased. “Shut it.” The group ran until a large chamber with bright lighting appeared within their line of vision. The walls are designed with a galaxy of zebras that bowed down to a large etching of a zebra garbed in a crown and linen. Her gaze burned with solemn authority. At the floor below the stairs near the entrance sat a sarcophagus surrounded by six stalwart statues of zebras. “It appears that we are in the burial chamber of Queen Isis. We aren’t getting attacked here, so I am sure that this must be a safe area.” Twilight Sparkle stated. A shadowy vortex appeared underneath her. Screwball’s head popped above the vortex with a grin of insanity that stretched along her face. With her right front hoof cloaked in a shadowy energy, she leaped from the portal and threw an uppercut against Twilight Sparkle’s chest. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes widened from the sudden strike. The muscles in her chest contorted from the shadow-infused strike. Her back slammed against the ceiling of the burial chamber. Shutting her eyes, she fell from the ceiling and landed on the ground. “Twilight!” Rainbow Dash shouted. She ran towards Twilight Sparkle and shook her by her shoulder in a desperate attempt to bring her back into conscious world. “Twilight! Respond!” But, no answer came from the unconscious Twilight Sparkle. Screwball shifted her sight of direction towards Rainbow Dash. Her stare radiated with cold reminiscence of the pony in front of her. Dashing towards her with a trail of illusions behind her, Screwball launched her left front hoof towards Rainbow Dash’s face. Reaching into her knapsack hoisted on her right flank, she pulled out a black staff and blocked Screwball’s blow with it. The staff extended itself into a three-pronged lance. “You want to play that game? Fine! I’ll play your game!” With her lance in hooves, she flew towards Screwball and cocked her weapon. Aiming to stab through her, a clear barrier of purple and yellow erected itself in front of Screwball. Rainbow Dash’s lance bounced off of the barrier. With her eyes detecting no movement from Screwball in the slightest, her eyes blinked twice. “How are you even blocking that?!” She shouted. Rainbow Dash plunged her lance into the barrier. The vain sounds of warping magic clanking against her lance had rung in her ears. Screwball’s smile dropped into an expressionless frown. Each failed strike elicited a frustrated grunt from Rainbow Dash. “Break… why won’t you break?!” Fluttershy eyed Discord, who extended his lion’s paw outward with a heavy hold. His eyes became narrowed with regret. A melancholic frown appeared on his face. “Discord, please remove that barrier. Otherwise, we can’t reach Screwball.” Fluttershy stated. “I… I can’t. Not if Rainbow Dash is going to keep attacking like that.” Discord responded with a heavy tone. “I can’t trust her enough to not harm Screwball.” “Discord! Just remove that stupid barrier or else I’ll plunge this lance into you!” Rainbow Dash commanded. “That’s an order!” “Listen to yourself, Rainbow Dash! You sound like you actually want to hurt her. Why? What has she ever done to you?!” Joker shouted in surprise. “I don’t need to tell you my reasoning Joker. You probably read that part with your mystical insanity. Now shut up and tell Discord to bring that barrier down!” Hearing Rainbow Dash’s words pass by him, Joker examined beyond the barrier Discord erected and looked into Screwball’s eyes. Within them, he saw twisted shadows that strangled her soul, her mind and her being. He flashed his gritted teeth and stomped his way towards Rainbow Dash. He grabbed her left shoulder and forced her into the ground. “Just stop!” He commanded. Rainbow Dash’s rage quelled at Joker’s fierce words. She stopped and looked onto his indignant visage. “What’s the big deal? Can’t you see we have to stop her?! She hurt Twi, and she’s gonna keep hurting others until we neutralize her.” “The only one who should be neutralized is you. I looked into her eyes and…” Joker shied his head away from Rainbow Dash. For once, his confident smirk melted away into an insecure frown. Rainbow Dash’s eyes looked onto him. “What is it?” “She’s in pain, and in a lot of it. Don’t make it any harder on this child. She shouldn’t have to suffer any more than what she has to suffer.” Joker pleaded. “Joker… I didn’t think you would have this side on you.” Rainbow Dash admitted. “Just please stop. I don’t want to have to kill you for harming a child, Rainbow Dash.” With Joker’s words ringing through her mind, the perceptions of Rainbow Dash’s reality crashed around her. She gazed towards her lance and saw it poised towards Screwball’s vitals. Shifting her sight into Screwball’s eyes, she felt a vortex of shadows swallowing her into a realm of melancholia. Her hoof’s grip began shaking at an unsteady pace. “I… I was about to harm a child…” She dropped her lance onto the ground and sat on the floor. Her eyes twitched with a red itch. “Don’t listen to him, Rainbow! Did you already forget our mission?!” Applejack shouted with clarifying reason emanating from her voice. “No I haven’t. One of those objectives is to bring back Screwball.” Rainbow Dash responded. “And to do that, we have to beat the crud out of her so that we can bring her back!” Applejack’s lips became replaced with silver zipper teeth. The zipper slid its way to the left, sealing her mouth completely. Desperate mumbles echoed from behind the sealed teeth. “Do I need to remind you that is my daughter you are talking about? I will not allow anyone to harm even a strand of hair on her body!” Discord declared. “Rainbow Dash, if you do not mind, allow me to confront Screwball. I want to see if she recognizes me.” Rainbow Dash’s body slumped onto the ground. She turned her head towards Discord’s direction and gazed into his eyes with defeated pupils. “Just go. I won’t stop you.” Discord walked over towards the barrier that separated his group from Screwball. He placed the palms of his upper limbs onto the screen and eyed Screwball through it. He gazed upon his daughter’s emotionless face, causing his heart to tear apart and sink into the depths of his body. “Screwball, do you remember me?” He asked with a hollow tone that is shelled with concerned. “I’m Discord, your father.” Upon hearing his words, Screwball’s eyes flashed in a red color. With a vicious roar, she launched her bare left front hoof through the barrier with a force of a rocket, shattering it with earth-rumbling impact. With her body across the remains of the barrier and Discord in close proximity to her, she geared her right front hoof and poised it towards him. Applejack narrowed her eyes and pushed Discord out of the strike’s trajectory. She looked to her left and saw the hoof of devastation aim towards her left ribcage. Her heart resonated with a beat that echoed within the depths of the tomb. Feeling the blow against her side, the cracks of multiple ribs breaking resonated in her ears. She flew towards a faraway wall, leaving an imprint of herself upon it. Screwball dashed towards the injured Applejack and flashed a menacing glare towards her prone body. She cocked back her left front hoof, biding away her strike at the moment Applejack slipped off the wall. A wall of solid stone rose up from the ground between Screwball and Applejack. Screwball looked to her left and right with an air of confusion surrounding her. Two more slabs of stone raised itself from the ground and hooked onto Screwball’s front hooves, trapping her in place. “Hooves away from Applejack!” With her horn shining in a blue light, Rarity demanded. “Don’t hurt her!” Discord shouted. Rarity flashed a smile and looked towards Discord’s direction. She batted her eyes and brought her right front hoof to her chest with a pompous movement. “I am not hurting her, Discord, but I have her restrained to the point where she could not move. Try talking to her again.” Discord hovered towards Screwball, who grunted and strained to move her hooves through the stone. Several cracks resonated from the diagonal edges along the holes within the slabs of stone. Discord brought his paw and talons onto Screwball’s shoulders and looked into her eyes. Screwball’s eyes shut and she looked away from Discord. She uttered a series of pained grunts. “G….-get away!” She shouted. Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie’s eyes widened from the surprising scream of Screwball. Screwball snorted furious gusts and her chest rose back and forth within rapid increments. A small tear ran its way down Discord’s cheek. “You… you don’t remember me, Screwball? Do you remember the times I’ve changed your diaper? Or rocked you to sleep with your favorite lullaby? Do you remember?” Rubbing bringing her talons to her face and rubbing her face with the thumb, he pleaded in a silent tone. “P-please… stop!” Screwball uttered out in a pained tone. The cracks along the slab extended to full length. Discord brought his arms around Screwball’s neck and pulled her in for a hug. He stroked the back of her mane with tears fresh in his eyes. “It’s alright, Screwball, daddy’s here. Daddy’s here to make everything better.” He whispered with a compassionate tone in her ear. The air within the tomb fluctuated back and forth, revealing white tearing in the space-time continuum around them. Seeing the fluctuation warp around Discord and Screwball, Rainbow Dash’s mouth dropped in suspense. She reached her right front hoof towards Discord with a frown on her face. “Discord! Get out of there! You’re gonna get eaten by that tearing!” She warned. “Rarity! Do something!” The aura around Rarity’s horn disappeared and the conjured earth returned back to the ground. She frowned and looked away from Discord’s direction with her face white with shame. “I’m afraid I cannot do anything. Whatever this field is, my magic is unable to breach it.” She responded. With Screwball in his arms and an expressionless frown on his face, Discord blinked once. He glanced towards a wall, eyeing the etching of a zebra with a younger foal by her side. The two equines each smiled towards him. He shut his eyes with a slow close and a tear fell from his left eye. “We’re going home, Screwball. I will make sure nothing ever hurts you again.” “D…Daddy?” With her eyes opening, Screwball asked with a tone opening with lightheartedness. She buried her face into Discord’s chest and returned his hug. The bodies of the daughter and the father began dissipating within the light. A small smile appeared on Screwball’s face. “Let’s see mommy again.” With these last words spoken, Discord and Screwball’s bodies disintegrated in completion. Each of the equines and Joker looked at the space they stood upon with disbelief flashing within their eyes. Twilight Sparkle and Applejack whirred back into consciousness. With the light of the world entering their eyes, they glanced around the room with their faces stunned in confusion. “What happened? Where’s Discord?” Twilight Sparkle asked. Valet and Gnasher ran down the stairs into the burial chamber with their bodies poised outwards, ready for battle. “Alright, where’s this jerk that is attacking us?!” Valet responded. “Ummm… I think she’s gone.” Gnasher noted. “And apparently… so is Discord.” A dark stream of light formed upon the sarcophagus. The light dissipated, revealing a dull brown stone shaped in a rounded-out trapezoid. The cracks and design on its surface formed into a face that dripped with an ominous air. “W…what is that? It looks funny.” Applejack asked with an enquiring tone. Under the pressure of the pain jabbing at her ribs, she stumbled over towards the stone. “Don’t take my word for it, but it looks like an Odd Keystone.” Gnasher said. “The professor had one of these lying around the lab for some reason.” Rainbow Dash pulled out a radar from her bag, revealing a beeping red dot that echoed out at a quick pace. She cocked her head and rubbed her mane. “Whatever this Odd Keystone is, it has the same signature as the other Pokémon. That means that it is at least relevant to our mission.” She said with a wary voice. Joker let out a whiny groan and slumped down onto the floor. “Let’s just get out of this tomb now. All of the words in this chapter became emotionally draining for me.” “I agree…” Fluttershy whispered out. “Poor Discord and Screwball…” The veil of night fell over the skies of Neo Canterlot. Gnasher walked up the steps of the stairwell with her back slumped forwards. She stretched her arms out and let out a loud yawn. At the zenith of the staircase, she set her gaze onto a smiling Custard with a gold-crusted pie in his sticky upper limbs. Smelling the strong and spicy aroma wafting from the pie, a weak smile appeared on Gnasher’s face. “What are you doing up so late, Custard? Shouldn’t you be in bed right now?” She asked. Custard walked over towards Gnasher and brought her body in for a hug. He planted a kiss between her nostrils. “I was waiting for you to come back from your trip from the Desert of Forgotten Souls. I baked a cherry lemon pie with a bit of a kick from the civilian request I did today. I saved this one just for you.” “Did you really have to do that for me? You know how much I love a good pie.” Gnasher responded. Custard’s eyes examined the lack of direct eye contact that Gnasher gave to Custard. Her smile dropped and a frown hid itself within the shadows upon her muzzle. Custard cocked her head and frowned. “Did… something happen? You would never come to me with those eyes looking like that.” Custard asked. Custard’s words froze the back of Gnasher’s spine. She rubbed the back of her head and swiped the pie in his limbs. “Ummm… I really have to go now. It’s been a long day.” She hastened her steps and walked down the loft of the stairs. Custard turned around with a full frown on his face. “This is about Valet, isn’t it?” He asked with a tone swamped in calm disbelief. Custard’s words became a blizzard that stopped Gnasher in her tracks. Gnasher turned towards him and narrowed her eyes. She blinked once and let out a depressed sigh. “Look, it’s better that I don’t say a thing. I just want you to know that nothing happened.” With the lie passing through her teeth and her eyes down towards the ground, she uttered. “Just tell me what happened, Gnasher. I can take it. I’m a fully-grown and adulated Pokémon.” Custard said with an honest tone. “Valet… kind of tried to have his way with me. He forced his muzzle onto mine and kissed me.” Gnasher craned her head up towards Custard’s face. Her cold blood chilled further at what she saw; Custard’s jaw hung down to the base of his neck and his wide eyes emanated with dread and pain. His heart is a samurai that had shamed his family name, bringing the sword to his belly to end his disgrace. “He… he did what?!” Author's Note Welp, that happened. Also, Custard seems a bit in shock. Take a guess what will happen next. Custard's RevengeAuthor's Note The title of this chapter is not to be confused with Custer's Revenge. Custard's Revenge Valet lied down upon a steel crate within a small room with no windows. Only a dim lamp that hung from the ceiling illuminated the area. By his side, Roi leaned by his backside upon a steel crate. He flipped a golden bit with his right thumb with his eyes leered in boredom. He stretched his back and hopped onto the crate behind him. “Man, today is sooo boring! Why didn’t I get selected to join up with you in that mission you went on yesterday?” He complained. Valet shrugged his shoulders and flashed a carefree smile. “Don’t know, but don’t care. I’m just enjoying some R n’ R. Almost being possessed by ghosts drains a lot of energy out of you.” A series of loud thumps rumbled from behind the door outside the room. Roi sat up from his resting position and gazed at the door. His eyes rolled up in confusion. The sound of steps outside stopped in front of the door, revealing a shadow that covered the crack below the door. The door burst out of its hinges and launched itself towards Valet. Valet’s eyes widened at the sight of the projectile. He rolled off of the crate and onto the ground, dodging the door’s trajectory towards the wall. “Whoa! What the fu-“ His words stopped in their tracks upon sitting up and looking towards the door. There, he gazed at Custard, whose gentle eyes were replaced with burning rage. Custard’s chest puffed itself with seething breath and his upper limbs hung themselves to his neck’s level. He flashed an ominous point of his right upper limb towards Valet. “Valet, I’m going to kill you!” He shouted. “For what?!” Valet responded with an ignorant tone. “I’m sure you can remember what you did yesterday.” Custard answered with a dark tone in his voice. Valet’s eyes widened with an epiphany. He brought his mouth to a slow open and he nodded his head. “Oooohhhh… that event. I’d like to see you try.” He challenged with a cocky tone. “Three o’clock at the sparring center. Room A36. Don’t be late.” Stating these words, Custard turned around and walked back up the set of steel stairs. Roi looked towards Valet with a flash of concern in his eyes. “What did you do to him?!” He asked with a tone drenched in concern. “I asserted my dominance over his girlfriend. It was worth it.” With a sinister grin, Valet responded. “Dude, you know that’s not cool right? Now you got a mad Goodra on your back! You know that if they stick onto you, they won’t ever stop getting stuck on you until they fulfilled their mission right?” Roi questioned. “Eh, what’s a weakling like that Custard going to do to me? I’ll have him beat within three seconds.” Valet responded with a confident-flowing voice. “That ‘weakling’ tore down an adamantite-hinged door! Do you know how much strength is even required to do that?!” With widened eyes, Roi explained. “I’m just saying that you will be seeing the Medical Division after this fight.” “Hah! The only reason why I would go there is to deliver Custard’s bloodied corpse. I’ll be fine, Roi. Trust me.” Patting Roi’s left shoulder with his right set of claws, Valet assured. “Alright… You know, I think this day may be great after all.” With his frown of concern forming into a pleased smile, Roi stated. “This should alleviate my boredom.” Valet stood up from the ground and stretched his arms to the right, holding his left claw over his right claw and arching them over his head in a counterclockwise direction. “Well, I’m off to get warmed up. I don’t want to have stiff muscles for when I massacre that Goodra. Roi shook his head to his left and right. He glanced down to the bit in his hand and began flipping it once more. With his eyes illuminated with the flames of vengeance, Custard’s upper limbs glowed in a sickly purple. Eyeing the burgundy punching bag hanging in front of him, he unleashed a barrage of strikes that moved faster than a single blink of the eye. Each strike against the bag caused a portion of its skin to corrode and melt away. The adhesive poison ate away at the cushion of the bag and weakened it. With a final strike of his jab, he launched the bag off of its rope, causing it to shoot across the wall. The door to the room lifted open, revealing Gnasher. Seeing the punching bag hanging off of the shattered stubs of the wall and Custard’s upper limbs dimming down to their color, her eyes widened to the size of suns and her jaw dropped to the ground. Custard’s aggressive scowl mellowed out into a cheerful smile. “Oh, hello Gnasher. Did you come to check on me?” He asked. Gnasher pulled her jaw back to the roof of her mouth and shook her head. “I did… but damn! Did you seriously just do that?!” She shouted with a tone shocked with fear. “Yep. I’ve picked up the move Poison Jab.” Custard responded. “I didn’t even think Goodras can even learn that move.” Gnasher noted. Custard frowned and looked towards the wall, where the punching bad dissolved. His eyes formed back into a scowl. “Well that’s just how ticked off I am at Valet. I’m breaking all sorts of my senses of limitation and whatnot.” He stated. “So I’m guessing you aren’t going to call off that fight anytime soon then?” Gnasher questioned. “Gnasher, if you came here to try to sway me to call off the fight, I am afraid that your words have fallen on deaf ears.” Gnasher scowled and stomped her way across the floor towards Custard. She placed her right claws on Custard’s right shoulder and spun him to the point where his eyes looked at Gnasher’s face. “It’s not a request you idiot. It’s a desperate demand because I do not want to see any Pokémon hurt today, especially you.” She declared. “Valet’s a nasty foe, and he will be going all-out to kill you.” Custard smacked away Gnasher’s claws and lit up an overpowering glare that focused into Gnasher’s pupils. “And you don’t think I know that? While I love you with all of my heart, there are some things in life that I have to do no matter the circumstances. Valet hurt you and offended me because he thinks that he is the alpha male of everything. I have to show him that he isn’t as big as he thinks he is, and that I will make sure his ideals are utterly destroyed while he is down on the ground.” Custard spoke with a serious tone. “You see? This was the thing I was afraid of! You are falling for that idiot’s ploy and now you are going to walk into a battle that will be a bloodbath! I don’t want to see any of my teammates hurt because of stupidity.” Gnasher called out. Custard pouted and turned his head away from Gnasher’s gaze. He crossed his upper limbs. “I don’t care where my stupidity leads me. All I know is that this is something I have to prove to myself and to you, Gnasher.” “Prove what?! Your durability before you are beaten to a pulp?!” Gnasher shouted. “To prove that I am not a wall flower who would let anyone walk over me. Now, if you do not have any words of encouragement to say to me, then I must ask that you please leave. I still have much more training to do.” Gnasher’s anger transmuted into sadness. Her frown fell into a deep fall and her eyes drooped to the bottom eyelids. “I can see my words will not sway your decision. Very well Custard. But… just be sure that you don’t hurt Valet too bad. I mean, he still is our teammate after all.” Saying these words, she turned around and headed towards the exit of the room. She walked through the doorway, where the door closed behind her. Within the immediate vicinity of the hallway, she gazed towards a crestfallen Lith. “I’ve heard everything in there.” Lith stated. “I never thought that Custard would be so keen on resorting to violence like this.” “You and I both. You’d think that, as sweet as Custard is, he would try to talk out his problems right? Unfortunately, he’s letting his own testosterone blind him into an aggressive battle.” Lith shook her head and looked into Gnasher’s eyes. “You go talk with Mono, Gnasher. I’m going to talk with Custard. I do know him very well after all. Don’t be surprised if my body ends up like that bag hanging on the wall.” Gnasher’s pupils dilated in suspense. With a white lab coat adorned upon him, Mono glanced upon the pages of data put out in front of him. With his eyes narrowed and his mouth rested into a slump, a puzzled hum vibrated from his throat. Professor Pasque walked towards Mono. Within the crux of his mouth is a small and round device that shined a sleek silver color in the exposed light. He placed it upon the table. “I thank you again for asking to help take over the research on the Pokémon genome, Mono. It has been a bit stressful around here while I developed new technology for use involving the genome and researching the genome at the same time.” He said with a weary smile on his face. “It’s not a problem, Professor. I’ve been meaning to get some things off of my mind as of late.” With an exhausted yawn, Mono responded. Professor Pasque lowered himself onto his knees and curled his tail to the right. He narrowed his head down to Mono’s height and brought it close to the right side of his head. “Is this about the distress that Gnasher is going through?” Mono lifted his left paw and shook it with a balancing gesture. “A bit of that. But since that is the major topic at hand now, we should keep it at that. Gnasher has been really stressed out since last night, and it’s gotten me very stressed out.” “I’ve heard the news. As a Pokémon, Valet has been very despicable. He’s rude, vulgar and forces his own ideal on others. I could understand why Custard is very upset, since Gnasher was subject to being powerless before him… but actually going out in a hardcore-style match against him?! That would worry just about everyone.” Professor Pasque empathized. Mono looked into Professor Pasque’s eyes. His slumped mouth formed into a worried frown. Gnasher entered through the glass hallway of two doors and entered into the vicinity of the lab. The two scientists shifted their sights towards her direction. Gnasher waved with a weak motion. “Hey Mono. Hey Professor. How have you two been doing?” She asked. “By the look on your face, I see that you couldn’t convince Custard to call off the battle.” Mono stated with a down tone. Gnasher let out a frustrated sigh and stormed her path towards the table. She slammed her claws on its surface, knocking away the instruments and papers on there. Mono’s spine jumped out of his back. He widened his eyes and gritted his teeth at the sight of the materials falling to the ground. Using his Double Team, he split himself into illusions faster than the eye can see and grabbed each object falling to the ground. “Please be more careful! These are some very delicate and sensitive materials Gnasher!” He reprimanded with a fearful tone. “I know… but why does the opposite sex have to be so… stupid sometimes?!” Gnasher shouted out with a loud voice burning with aggression. “Why do they have to think with their dicks and not with their heads?” All of the Monos placed the captured materials onto the table. All but one of them vanished in thin air. “That’s actually due to a chemical compound found in males known as testosterone. They are driven by that, and beings with more testosterone tend to be more aggressive and sexually active. It also shrinks away their ability to rationally think if a large-enough quantity is present.” Wiping his forehead and breathing a sigh of relief, he stated. “That was a rhetorical question you know. Of course I knew that answer, Mono.” Gnasher stated. “We both know how literally I take everything Gnasher. Even if you ask me a rhetorical question, I’ll still give an answer.” “Alright… but why were you so eager to tell me this particular set of news Mono?” Mono pulled out a dry rag from a pocket on his lab coat and wiped the sweat that built up around the back of his neck. “I don’t know. I just like saying this sort of stuff.” He whimpered out. Gnasher narrowed his eyes and stared into Mono’s eyes. She closed the distance between the two of them. “I see that Sophs has been doing you favors with boosting your testosterone with her wiles. I see it in your eyes.” She teased. Mono’s face flushed itself in a light pink color. He lowered his head and hid his face behind his tails. “Let’s not bring my sexuality into this, Gnasher.” He uttered out with a sheepish tone. “Unfortunately, I am unable to help with your current dilemma right now. All I could do is just offer you comfort. That is what you came here for, right?” Gnasher’s shoulders slumped down to a lower position. With a frown on her face, she planted her posterior onto the ground, placed her claws on her face and shook her head. “Mono, am I an idiot for thinking that Custard was the one for me?” She uttered out in a regretful voice. Mono approached Gnasher and pat her left shoulder with his right upper paw. “It sounds like you expected everything to go as perfectly as possible in your relationship. Just because Custard was your childhood friend-turned boyfriend doesn’t mean that you not be able to avoid all relationship troubles. At this point, you just have to learn to be more patient. I am sure the answer will reveal itself sooner or later.” He stated. Gnasher looked over her shoulder towards Mono. A small and toothy grin flashed upon her face. “I guess so. I didn’t even think you could offer advice like that. I guess you must really want to get laid right now. I mean, if I was in your position, I would sleep with your girlfriend right now.” Mono’s breathing stunted in place. His heart beat at a faster rate and his knees weakened at the thought of Gnasher’s words rushing through his mind. Seeing his actions unfold before his eyes, Professor Pasque cocked his head and blinked once in confusion. Gnasher stood up from the ground and walked away. “Well, see ya Mono. Thanks for the advice.” With Gnasher making her exeunt from the lab, Professor Pasque focused his sight on the nerve-shaken Mono. “Do you… want to talk about libido?” He asked with a voice steeped in general curiosity. “I don’t want to talk about it…” Mono uttered out. Lith leaned her back against the wall. Her eyes glanced upon the Flamethrower shooting out of Custard’s mouth. The tongues of the orange flames melted away the remainder of the punching bad. Shutting his mouth, he glanced towards Lith’s direction. Lith flashed a smile and walked towards Custard’s direction. “Do you need me, Lith?” Custard asked. “Do you want a hug?” Lith responded. “A hug? I don’t want to hug right now.” “Please? I know my wittle Custy-Wusty wants a hug.” Custard’s eyes focused themselves on the wide puppy eyes that Lith revealed. Her mouth curved into a small and quivering frown. She held out her upper paws. Custard gritted his mouth and rolled his eyes to the left. With his will losing his battle to his desires, he wrapped his upper limbs around Lith and pulled her in for an embrace. “Can you stroke my head like what you usually do, Lith?” Custard asked with a sheepish tone. A smile curved on Lith’s face. She pulled out her paw and patted Custard on top of his head. Custard let go of Lith and placed her back onto the ground. A nervous frown pursed itself onto his face. He twiddled his thumbs and let out an uneasy throw of his voice. “I can see you are worried about the battle Custard.” Lith noted. “I’m not worried. I’m just suffering some pre-battle anxiety.” Custard told. “I’m fine. I swear!” “Custard, I’ve raised you since you were a hatchling. I know when you are worried about something.” Treading her right upper paw gently onto Custard’s left cheek, Lith answered. “Are you going to tell me what is in your heart, or do I have to tickle you to get it out of you?” “…I’m worried that I might have bitten off more than I could chew when challenging Valet to the battle.” With his voice sick with anxiety, Custard explained. “I mean, Valet has tons of experience in fighting and I don’t think I am at his level. He’ll wipe the floor with me!” Lith glanced towards blue plush floor, where the smoldering ashes that used to be the bag rested upon. “That bag is made from heavy-duty nylon and you burned it like it was nothing! I’m sure you will do fine.” She assured. Custard shook his head and deepened his frown. “I still don’t feel confident in my combat abilities. I’m going to get destroyed!” He screeched. “Calm down, Custard. I know how anxious you feel, but don’t tell yourself that you will get destroyed. Otherwise, you will get destroyed.” Lith stated. “So… should I just call off the match?” Custard questioned with wavering anxiety in his tone. “Hell no!” Lith shouted out. She formed a fist with her right upper paw and pounded it into the palm of her left upper paw. “That Valet needs to pay for hurting both you and Gnasher!” Listening to the sudden use of Lith’s aggressive language, Custard’s eyes widened with surprise. A small smile crept onto his face. “You mean… you won’t try to stop me from fighting like everyone else?” “When I heard that you actually are starting a fight…” Pausing in her words, Lith began stating. She rubbed the ankles of her upper paws. “I grew a bit worried. But, when I stepped in here and saw you absolutely annihilate that bag, I realized that you have grown very strong. Plus, you’ve been through much worse.” Custard looked up towards the ceiling. Memories of being strangled and poisoned filled his mind. He shut his eyes and shuddered underneath the painful chills of the images. “I remember. Heck, I lived through those and even fought some of them off!” His voice reached a cheerful apex. “If I can fight those off, then Valet would be a pushover!” Lith nodded and gazed towards the wall to the right. She placed her lower right paw forward and held out her upper right paw. “If you still are not feeling confident in your skills, then I could teach you some things that the Commander taught me when it comes to chaining your moves together to overwhelm your foe.” She said. “Chaining… my moves?” Custard vocalized with a hint of uncertainty in his voice. “It requires an open mind and a bit of creativity, but that is how you create new attacks and even lead into devastating combos. It’s how the Commander was able to get you out of that jam two weeks ago.” Lith explained. Custard moved his body and matched Lith’s stance from limb to limb. An uneasy smile cracked on his face. “Alright Lith… let me see those move chains you are telling me about.” A conglomeration of Equusians, both operatives and non-operatives, rushed towards a large building whose walls are colored in white and its flat roof colored in red. At the double doors upon the entrance of the building, Pinkie Pie wore a black top hat and stood over a black podium. A black and opulent cane stretched from her right front hoof all the way across the double doors. With her left hoof, she patted against a black microphone and brought her mouth within its vicinity. “Step right up ladies and gentleman! The big fight between two colossal Pokémon will be underway!” She announced. She leaped onto the podium’s top and held out her left front hoof and leaned her face in towards a light mint-coated pegasus mare with a wild and silver mane. The mare backed a step away from Pinkie Pie and widened her eyes in sudden surprise. “Who shall pry victory from the jaws of death? Will it be the gooey dragon of surprising destruction, or will it be the crooked crocodile of bad tidings!?” Pinkie Pie announced. The mare in front of Pinkie Pie shut her eyes and flashed a seething frown. She placed her right front hoof on Pinkie Pie’s left cheek and pushed it back. “Personal space, Pinkie Pie. Don’t you know that already?! I just want to see the match in there.” Pinkie Pie fell onto the podium’s base on her back. With her legs wrapped around the stock, she tilted her top hat and stood back onto the podium. “Hehe, sorry Fleetfoot. The match will be in Room A36.” Stating these words, she lifted up her cane from the entrance. In doing so, the calamity of Equusians rushed through the double doors, shouting out cheers and screams. Thousands of bits rained down upon Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie popped her head out from the top and held out a golden bit. Limping towards the double doors with a cane under her right front leg, Spitfire looked towards Pinkie Pie and her pile of bits. “Did you seriously just charge Equusians for a match that was barely legal?!” She shouted. Pinkie Pie shut her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. “I have to pay off my costs for advertising the event in the first place. Plus, I made that particular room look very nice for the coming bloodbath.” She explained. “You… what?!” Spitfire screamed out. Hordes of Equusians rushed into the bowl-shaped seating. Large and bright lights shined down upon the black and red arena below. On the walls that circled the stadium, two blown up images of Custard and Valet with a red and burning ‘Vs.’ between them imprinted themselves along the wall. Rundas walked along the bowl of seats with a brown bag of popcorn held in his right nails. He popped a few of the popped kernels into his mouth and let the salty and buttery flavor meld on his tongue. In his line of sight, he saw an empty seat beside Reine, Roi and Joker out at the front seats. He set his walking towards them. “Hey everyone.” Rundas greeted. He rolled his eyes towards Reine and a devilish smirk came upon his mouth. “Hello Reine.” Reine rolled her eyes towards Joker, crossed her claws and turned her head away from Rundas. Rundas planted his posterior in the seat by Reine. An uncomfortable sigh passed by her mouth. “Hello… Rundas.” She uttered out. “Want some popcorn? There’s a concession stand out in the hallway.” Rundas offered. “I’m not here to enjoy any sort of spectacle, so no thank you. I’m here to make sure that everyone is in control of themselves… especially the males.” With two bags of popcorn in his arms, Roi stood up from his seat and roared into the stadium below. “Bring on the fighting and violence! I want to see flesh being torn apart!” He shouted. Joker rolled his eyes towards Rundas and cast an overbearing glow. “I suggest you find another seat. I’m not exactly in a cheery mood and hitting on my girlfriend is terrible for your health.” Rundas’s eyes widened towards hearing Joker’s words. He edged away from his seat and pointed towards Joker. “Your girlfriend?!” He shouted. He looked away and rubbed the back of his head with his left nails. A deep frown appeared on his face. “…Sorry for not taking your message, Reine. I’m just going to go away now…” Rundas stood up from the seat and walked away. Joker set his sights back onto Reine and stroked the top of her head with a gentle caress. Reine looked back into Joker’s eyes and flashed a worried frown. “You are much more caring than how you usually are. Do you want to talk about it?” She asked. “No… Not right now. Let’s just sit back and enjoy the display.” Mono, Lith, Gnasher and Fluttershy sat close to the arena at the other side of the bowl of seats. Gnasher’s sat with her arms crossed. Her right eye twitched and a vein at the base of her eyes looked on the verge of rupturing. “Ummm… Gnasher, you don’t look alright.” Lith noted. Gnasher rolled her pupils towards Lith’s direction and let out a frustrated gust of air from her nostrils. She pulled out a steel bat from the cushion underneath the seat and handed it towards Lith’s direction. She tilted her head and pointed her right middle finger onto a soft and flat area to the right side of her head. “Hit me here with all of your might, Lith.” She requested. Lith’s eyes narrowed and her mouth flattened out into a straight line of disbelief. “I’m not going to hit you, Gnasher. Especially not with a metal bat.” She replied with a strong tone. “Just do it. It would assuage my conscious if I am not around to see this.” Lith shook her head with shut eyes and placed the bat below the seat. Gnasher let out a depressed sigh and placed the palms of her claws on her nose. Mono looked over towards Fluttershy, who gazed upon the arena with a shaky face and sweaty hooves. “I see you are a bit nervous, Fluttershy.” He commented. Fluttershy turned her face towards Mono’s direction and stared into his eyes for a brief second. She looked back onto the designated battlefield, where she felt her heart beat out of her chest. “Valet isn’t exactly the nicest of Pokémon. Even then, I’m worried for both of their sake. I almost expect to see the two turn into monstrous beasts down there.” She said. “You know, it is battles like this that help Pokémon get stronger. As awful as the circumstances are, a battle is a battle. You get to witness the type of battles that you could only see back in my world.” With a keen smile on his face, Mono replied. “I’ll trust your word on it. I hope that they don’t hurt each other too bad.” A series of buffs rang out through the stereos placed upon the ceiling of the room. “Who is ready to witness a battle of titans?!” Pinkie Pie shouted through the intercom. The entire room lit up with hundreds of roaring cheers. Two metal gates on each side of the arena lifted themselves open, revealing Custard and Valet. Both Pokémon stared at each other with determination burning in their eyes. The two titans approached the center of the arena. Valet flashed a skin-curdling smirk. “Any last words before I maul you?” He asked. “Actually yes; it’s not too late for you to call this match off.” With a confident smirk plastered on his face, Custard responded. “In your dreams.” Pinkie Pie leaped from the audience stand down into the arena. She wore a black and white-striped shirt over her torso and had a whistle around her neck. “Alright you two; I want to see a clean fight. No hits below the belt and no smashing the face in. As soon as I leave this arena, you two can begin.” Saying these words, she dashed towards the audience stand once more and leaped over the wall. Valet kicked Custard in his chest and knocked him away. Custard’s eyes and mouth widened in response. He felt all of the wind leaving his lungs. Valet clawed his way through the ground. The hole that Valet dug formed into a funnel with sand that caught Custard’s legs dragging him towards its center. Valet popped up from the epicenter of the pit and unleashed a fierce uppercut that landed against Custard’s chest. Custard winced and felt his body fly into the air. “Ohhhh! That Sand Tomb had got to hurt!” Pinkie Pie announced. Valet swam into the ground and rushed towards Custard’s falling body. Popping out of the ground, he opened his maw and roared. A smirk appeared on Custard’s face. He placed his upper limbs on Valet’s nostrils and leaped off of him. Valet’s eyes widened at the sudden maneuver. Custard unleashed a series of fast-paced Poison Jabs along Valet’s spine. Valet winced with each strike. The final strike launched him down towards the ground. Pushing himself off the ground, Valet’s arms shook under the sudden shock dealt to him. “That… hurt more than it should have.” He said to himself. “Yo, Valet!” Roi called out from the stands. “Don’t give into a single Poison Jab! You’re much tougher than that!” “I know that! It just caught me off guard is all.” He turned around and saw Custard rushing at him on a wave of sludge. Custard breathed out a Flamethrower that aimed towards Valet. Valet dug into the ground, dodging it. The wave Custard rode on dissipated. Stopping in place, he looked towards the ground with a careful eye. Seeing the ground in front of him rumble, he fired a Dragon Pulse towards its direction. Valet popped out from the ground behind Custard and bit into his left shoulder. Custard winced and squealed. The crowd in the stands cheered loud at the strike. Pinkie Pie winced and turned her head away. “Ouch! A direct Crunch like that would ruin anyone’s day! Well, good thing Custard doesn’t have a skeletal system because that looks like it would’ve broken some bones!” She shouted. Valet shook his head and tossed Custard onto the floor behind him. Valet looked down onto Custard with an overbearing stare. Custard spun his body and swept Valet’s feet with his legs. Within the small frame of time Valet fell, Custard got up and surrounded his body with a spiraling Sludge Wave. Just before Valet fell onto the ground, Custard leaped into the air with waves of sludge striking Valet upwards with each ribbed stream. Custard leaped back off of the wave of sludge underneath him. With the distance between him and Valet split as far as possible, he opened his mouth. A stream of purple energy built up within his mouth. The energy released itself in the guise of a large and fearsome dragon that aimed towards Valet. Valet’s pupils dilated and his jaw dropped. “I am going to be feeling that in the morning.” He uttered out. The augmented Dragon Pulse swallowed Valet whole and exploded. The winds from the burst of energy pushed all of the members of the audience to the backs of their seats. From the black smoke in the air, Valet fell onto the ground with a still body and closed eyes. Monarca, who sat in the seats, leaped over into the arena and rushed towards Valet. Mono approached right behind her and glanced onto Valet’s chest. Seeing it rise and descend at a slow pace, he exhaled a relieved sigh. “He’s still breathing. But… he’s definitely out cold.” Custard walked his way over towards Valet and looked upon him with a worried gaze. “Are you sure he’s going to make it? I didn’t want to hurt him too badly. I just wanted to teach him a lesson.” He asked. Monarca brought her upper hooves along Valet’s body and felt the bruises and scratches along his body. “He is suffering from Poison and is bruised, but it’s nothing he couldn’t handle.” She explained. The entire audience cheered with loud roars. A large grin covered all of Pinkie Pie’s face. She grabbed the microphone on her table and whisked it away towards her mouth. “There you have it folks! The grudge match between Custard and Valet has come to an end! Custard prevails over Valet’s ruthless assault! What a shock!” Gnasher hopped over the wall and ran towards Custard. She wrapped his arms around his shoulders and pulled him in for a big hug. Custard’s eyes widened and his teeth gritted from the force applied on his sore body. “You actually managed to win you big idiot! I’m very impressed.” She shouted. “Ummm… Gnasher, your hug is kind of hurting me. Would you mind letting up a little on it?” Custard requested. “Your body must have been sore from some of those strikes you’ve taken I see. Well, you shouldn’t underestimate the strength of a Krookodile.” “I know, but I had to let him hit me if I wanted to land some blows on him.” “Just shut up and kiss me.” Gnasher demanded. Custard let out a smile and placed his puckered mouth onto the top of Gnasher’s nose. A handful of members in the audience softened their eyes and tilted their head with smiles on their face. A clamor of noises uttered from their cuteness proximity rung out throughout the arena. Valet’s eyes widened open, letting the light of the world fill them. His back burned with the sensation of a heated stone. To his right, Roi leaped off the seat and approached Valet. “Hey Valet, are you up yet?” Roi asked. “Of course I am.” Valet seethed out. He sliced the bandages wrapped around his torso and sat up from the bed. “I’m just feeling a little sore. Where am I anyways?” “You’re at the Medical Division’s patient ward. You got knocked out cold. I did say that you were going to end up in the Medical Division if you took part in the battle.” Roi responded with a cocky tone. “Oh, by the way, you have a message.” Saying these words, he handed Valet a hologram device. Valet swiped it out of Roi’s hand and pressed the red button on it. A hologram of Custard’s head appeared. “Hello Valet. If you are reading this message, then it means that you woke up and you are alright. Yay!” The voice recording of Custard stated. “Now, as you know, I only did this because I believe that you were not being the model Pokémon that is right for a member of H.O.R.S.E. There are certain things you can and cannot do that you have been freely expressing.” Valet rolled his eyes and placed his right hand underneath his jaw. He looked towards Roi’s direction, who flashed an arrogant smile towards him. Valet let out a low growl and focused on the message once more. “But… I forgive you. I know that it would be hard to make your adjustments immediately, but I know that we can do it together. Do you trust me?” Valet’s eyes widened at the honest sincerity in Custard’s tone. “So what’s in it for me?” He asked. “And since I know you will ask what is in it for you, I have the perfect thing to offer you; I can teach you some interesting ways you can modulate some of your moves. Whether you want to do so is up to you or not. But, I really want to teach you some of these combinations since I think you can benefit from it. What do you think?” “Custard! Hurry up and join me in bed. I feel in the mood for some cuddles~.” Gnasher shouted through the message with an amorous tone. “Coming Gnasher!” With his face red with embarrassment, he shouted. “So yes, let me know what you think of this offer.” Custard’s head disappeared. Valet looked towards Roi with a confused expression on his face. “So… are you going to take that offer?” Roi asked. Valet crossed his arms and leaned forwards with an aggressive movement. “So he has the gall to tell me this before he sleeps with his girlfriend?” He shouted. His scowl softened into a straight expression. Roi’s eyes picked up a small smile forming on Valet’s mouth. “It seems like I was wrong about that wimp. He is definitely more of a male than what I give him credit for.” Roi crooked his head to his right and stared into Valet’s eyes with pupils alit with interest. “So…?” “I’ll take his offer. What have I got to lose?” Valet responded. “Well, you already lost once, so what’s another loss in your record anyways?” Roi stated with a sinister cackle. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.” Shattered Remnants pt. 2Keldeo stood with his mouth agape. He turned his direction towards the blue sky and focused his sight on the buildings crafted from invigorated quartz. A small humanoid with a gray exterior and three membranes that formed into its hair dropped a crystal pillar. Being given a stern stare by the Machoke observing it, its face tensed up and it rubbed its right shoulder with its left hand. “So this place really is Kurisutaru?” He asked with a dumbfounded voice. “From what I could guess, that platform did more than just perform a flashy illusion. I think it brought us back in time.” Fei stated. Feeling the cool breeze blow through her mane, an invigorated smile appeared on Rarity’s face. She inhaled a deep gust of air through her nostrils and exhaled a calm breath. “This place is stunning! Look at how they use these crystals as buildings. It reminds me of the Crystal Empire back in its heyday.” She said with an exuberant tone. The Swirlix, Tepig and Skitty ran over towards Inge and yanked on her left arm. The Swirlix gazed at Keldeo and let out a confused frown. “Keldeo! What are you doing here?! Shouldn’t you be at Master Cobalion’s training yard right now? You know he’s going to have another Miltank if you are late for his lessons again.” Keldeo gazed at the Swirlix with a curious movement of his head. A burst of laughter echoed throughout the children. “That’s a good one, Keldeo. But seriously, you really don’t want to be late for Master Cobalion’s next lesson. He says that this next lesson is extremely important.” The Swirlix stated. The Tepig gazed at the Swirlix with a small frown on its face. It rubbed the back of its head with its upper left foot. “Ummm, Swirlix, Keldeo seems a bit different today. Maybe we should escort him to Cobalion’s place today? He seems really out there.” It suggested. “That’s not a bad idea Tepig. Maybe we can even show his new friends around the town a bit!” The Skitty proclaimed with a wide smile. The Tepig, Swirlix and Skitty dispersed from Inge’s side and surrounded themselves around Keldeo. They pushed him towards down towards the direction of the street. He looked towards the trio of Pokémon around him with his eyes affixed in anxiety. “Ummm… don’t I have a say in this?” He asked. “Nope! Just keep moving with a clear head until you get to Master Cobalion.” The Skitty responded. A gleeful smile wrapped itself over Rarity’s lower face. “Well aren’t they the most precious things in the world? Their words and attitude remind me of Sweetie and her friends.” She stated. “Wait, you can understand those Pokémon?!” Iosac asked with a stunned tone. “I thought Equusians couldn’t understand Pokémon words!” “Well, we couldn’t, but I heard the words of those three Pokémon very clearly. We should follow Keldeo and see this ‘Master Cobalion’ Pokémon that they were talking about.” Rarity suggested. Fei shrugged his shoulders with his eyes shut. Turning his direction towards Keldeo and the trio of Pokémon, he took his steps into the city. “We should just follow them regardless. They do have Keldeo held hostage with their ways.” He stated. “Fei, they’re children. Even I can see that. No one is taking anyone hostage.” Inge corrected. Fei said nothing in retaliation, but a small sigh of frustration can be heard hidden within his breathing. Being dragged down the streets of Kurisutaru by the children in front of him, Keldeo gazed towards all possible directions around him and eyed the interactions between a menacing panda bear with a tuxedo-like set of fur and a green and bipedal chameleon with red and yellow zigzag patterns along its torso behind a stand with many items behind him. He looked up towards the trees around him, where a flock of small birds with navy blue feathers, red faces and white bellies looked down upon him. “So ummm, Swirlix, you mentioned something about a Pokémon named Cobalion. I know he’s famous and everything, but who exactly is he?” Keldeo asked. Swirlix turned back towards Keldeo and stared him in the eye with a deadpan expression on his face. “Did you hit your head back where you were, Keldeo? I can forgive if you don’t know about his accomplishments of being one of the knights of our populace, but this is one of the Pokémon who practically raised you after… well, you know.” He explained “Know what?” The eyes of Tepig jolted open in response to Keldeo’s words. Skitty looked to her right and rubbed her left shoulder with her right front paw. Keldeo looked upon the group of children with his breathing increasing with heavy doses of anxiety. “Ummm, Keldeo, are you sure you are alright? You sound a bit out of it today.” Skitty asked. “I’m perfectly fine… I think. I’m just kind of feeling a bit displaced.” Keldeo responded. Tepig looked over Keldeo’s shoulder and gazed at the group of operatives following him. An exuberant smile formed on your face. “Are those your friends, Keldeo? They look really strong. Especially that white Rapidash with the purple fire over there.” He asked. Rarity looked to her left and right. She pointed to herself with her eyes glinted in curiosity. “You would not happen to be talking about me, would you?” She questioned with uncertainty in her voice. “Of course I am! The magical power you are showing is making me shudder!” Iosac narrowed his eyes and held his mouth open agape. His lips are halfway over his teeth. “Are you sure that it isn’t her copulins having its effect on you?” He joked with a sleazy tone. Inge and Rarity both stared down Iosac with scowls in their eyes. Iosac giggled with a nervous shake and his head halfway behind his fluff. Tepig gazed towards Keldeo with curiosity enveloped within his eyes. “What are copulins?” He asked. “You’re too young to ask that.” Keldeo responded with a strict tone. “Well geez, Keldeo. Not only did you have to be rude about it, but you aren’t exactly that much older than us either. Don’t act like you are a full-grown stallion when you are just a young colt.” Tepig responded with a stung tongue. “But I am a full-grown stallion?” “Sure you are…” Keldeo gazed down upon his slender legs that hid away rippling muscle and glanced up towards his chest. With his mouth forming into a frown, he brought his right front hoof to his muzzle and felt along its pronounced definition. A question mark hung over his head. Gazing towards a round building with three crystals getting from the flat roof, Skitty stopped and pointed towards its direction. “Here we are!” She shouted. “This is Master Cobalion’s training grounds? It looks a bit opulent for some sort of training grounds.” Keldeo noted. Swirlix shut his eyes and shook his head with disappointment. He pointed his head towards the entire row of buildings to his left, all of which towered Cobalion’s training grounds and shimmered with the rays of the sun. Looking upon the row of buildings, Fei’s eyes dilated and his body dripped with cold sweat. “These are all living quarters by the way. I really thought you knew this stuff, considering that you live here. Anyways, Tepig, Skitty and I are going to head out to look at some of that Whipped Dream that Kecleon is selling at this stand.” Swirlix stated. The trio of children giggled with anticipation and ran off into the distance. Fei and Rarity approached Keldeo and set their gazes onto the training grounds. “It’s amusing to think that the Pokémon here have actually built a functioning and modern society. Best of all is that they are all getting along quite nicely with each other. The only thing I am wondering is why…” Fei wondered aloud. Inge shifted her direction towards the right, where a long building with open pathways and flashing lights allured hordes of Pokémon. Her eyes shut with joy and her head lifted itself off of her body. “I’m heading over to that place. It looks like an arcade!” Dashing her way towards the building, she announced. “Well then… I guess that we are down one member.” Fei noted. The first element that struck the noses of Rarity, Fei, Keldeo and Iosac is the aroma of crystals breaking through fresh dirt that wafted around the area. Aqua blue lights from the crystals embedded into the walls emanated within the small room they stood in. A smirk of approval wriggled its way onto Rarity’s face. “I like the décor of this area already. I should commend the one responsible for it.” She stated. “Yeah. I wonder who would waste all that crystal with making this place look nice.” Iosac responded. The burgundy double doors ahead opened with sporadic force that knocked it off its hinges. A green antelope with a pink feather-shaped edge on her neck rushed through the double doors with her eyes and mouth widened in panic. She wrapped her black-lined and pink-edged front legs around Keldeo’s torso. “I was so worried about you, Keldeo! You were gone for over an hour and I wasn’t sure if something happened to you!” She called out. Keldeo winced from the sudden squeezing sensation around his chest. He looked towards Rarity, Fei and Iosac, all of whom looked towards the display of affection with their neck crooked towards the diagonal left. Fei leaned his head towards Rarity’s left ear and brought his hand in front of his mouth. “I don’t know about you, but that Virizion looks a little crazy.” He whispered. Rarity brought her hoof over towards Fei’s right ear and brought her mouth towards it. “I’m not that affectionate towards him, right? It almost looks like he is being smothered.” Keldeo slanted his eyes and grunted underneath the force of the bone-crushing hug. “Ummm, would you mind letting go of me?” He asked. Virizion dropped Keldeo onto his hooves and glanced over his body. She brought her front hooves onto Keldeo’s legs and flanks and began pulling away at his fur. The tufts of cream fur on his body revealed fleshy pink. Keldeo’s face lit up into a red blush. “I have to make sure you don’t have any scratches or bruises on you. This will only take a moment.” Virizion assured with a worried tone. “Ummm, I don’t know what to say about this.” Keldeo worded out with uncertainty rising in his voice. Virizion examined Keldeo’s chest and examined a small indent towards the center right of the sternum. Her eyes lit up with fear. “That was never there when I did any of my previous inspections. Did you break any bones? Please tell me you didn’t!” She shouted. Keldeo’s pupils dilated at Virizion’s statement. A bead of sweat dripped down from his forehead. “I got into a nasty fight some time back against a Shiftry, but I’m fine. Really. The doctors patched me up and everything.” He stated. “Patched you up?! Why didn’t I know about this?! Keldeo, you shouldn’t be messing around with a Shiftry. They are naturally territorial and defensive of their property. What on this world possessed you to do that?!” Virizion scolded. “Mom! Not in front of my friends!” Edging away from Virizion, Keldeo shouted with primordial innocence pouring out of his voice. The heads of Iosac, Fei and Rarity leaped off of their bodies and stared at Keldeo. The corner of Iosac’s mouth quivered with contained laughter that wanted to burst out. “Mom?! You called Virizion ‘mom’?!” He blurted out. “I didn’t! I just, err, well… this Virizion suddenly started acting like my mother. I don’t know how else to respond to that!” Keldeo rationalized. A small scowl appeared over Virizion’s eyes. Her mouth curved into a short frown. “Of course I am your mother! I’ve been raising you since you were four years-old.” She stated. Iosac looked around the small room with his neck stiff with uncertainty. The tension in the air choked any possible words that anyone would have had. Keldeo’s face directed itself towards Virizion, but his pupils rolled away from her. He rubbed his left front hoof and pointed towards Iosac, Fei and Rarity. “These are friends of mine. They’re going to be watching me as I train with Cobalion.” He uttered out. Virizion looked towards the operatives Keldeo pointed towards and examined them with inquisitive eyes. Humming and setting her stare on the trio, Virizion leaned close towards them. Fei swallowed a pocket of air built up in his throat. After what seemed to be an eternity, a trace of a smile appeared on her face. “Excluding the Whimsicott here, you seem to have some good friends.” Iosac flashed a heated stare directed towards Virizion and stomped his foot onto the ground. “Excluding me? What part of me does not make you think that I could be a good friend?” He shouted. “Well for starters, you have the eyes of a troublemaker. I don’t want my little Keldeo to be associated with mischief-makers.” Virizion responded with closed eyes and a straight mouth. Keldeo glanced over his shoulder and set his eye towards Virizion scolding Iosac. He looked towards the open doors and looked back towards Virizion. Moving his hooves with silent steps, he snuck towards the door and out of the room. Unlike the small room that he snuck out from, the large room illuminated itself with dim lighting from white crystals above. Underneath the epicenter of the lights stood a tall goat with an aqua-colored coat and a tuft of white fluff poured out of his chest. Witnessing his cold and hardened stare, Keldeo skidded his way into the arena that the goat stood in. “You’re late, Keldeo.” The goat replied. “Sorry, Master Cobalion. I got a bit lost.” Cobalion shut his eyes and shook his head. His mouth curved into a small frown and the emanation from his eyes changed into sadness. “You cannot keep doing this, Keldeo. You are a decade old. You have to learn about the concept of responsibility and being able to manage yourself in a timely manner. No wonder Virizion was so worried about you.” He stated. “Sorry, Master Cobalion. I will try to not let it happen again. So today is an important lesson?” Keldeo asked. Cobalion sidestepped to the right and set his gaze on Keldeo. “I’m going to be teaching you about how to stabilize your Sacred Sword technique.” He announced. “Sacred Sword… you mean that beam sword technique with my horn?” Keldeo asked. “Yes. I’ve taught you the skill recently, but you seem to have trouble keeping it held.” Saying these words, Cobalion stared straight into the windows of Keldeo’s soul. “A knight must learn to keep a good grip on his or her sword. Treat it like an additional part of your body and never let it go.” Keldeo nodded his head, signaling an aura of attention. The yellow horns that jagged into a zig-zag illuminated into a singular blue beam that extended from his head. Keldeo stepped back and dropped his jaw upon the sight of the shimmering blade that towered over him. Cobalion faced a stand made out of diamond and waved his head towards a diagonal line. With one slash, a large slab of the diamond slid off of the cut’s slope. “Wow…” With his voice gripped in amaze, Keldeo uttered out. Cobalion’s Sacred Sword retreated back into his horns. He fixed his stern glance towards Keldeo and stomped his right front hoof into the ground. “Now, try to bring out your Sacred Sword technique.” He instructed. “Let your energy flow through your horn and hold it for at least ten seconds.” Doing what Cobalion instructed, Keldeo shut his eyes, inhaled from his nostrils and exhaled through his breath. Peach-colored energy manifested itself around his horn. The energy formed into a blade that, while it still towered over Keldeo, it was only half the size of Cobalion’s technique. Witnessing Keldeo’s teeth gritting against the pressure of the energy against his horn, Cobalion raised his right eye. “Do not overdo the amount of energy that goes into your horn, Keldeo. Doing so will cause the energy to wear itself out more quickly.” He advised. “Now, channel your energy into a modicum of what you are currently using.” Keldeo grunted from the focused energy running wild along his horn. He shut his mind away from his own energy and limited it to a shell of its former shell. The energy running along his horn stunted towards three quarters of his size. Cobalion raised his left eye with curiosity. “Am… am I doing it right, Master Cobalion?” Keldeo asked with a strained tone. “Actually, yes. Now, use that blade to strike down that test dummy over there.” Pointing towards a pile of steel, Cobalion stated. Wielding the lengthy blade on his horn, Keldeo drove his head downwards. The sound of explosive metal sliced by a blade forged with the flames of a fiery hell hit the ears of Cobalion and resonated out of the room. The dummy fell apart and melted away. The Sacred Sword on Keldeo’s horn dissipated into a gleam of light particles. He looked towards Cobalion, who stared at him with jaw dropped to the ground. “I did it right, right?” Keldeo asked with an uncertain tone. Virizion, Fei, Rarity and Iosac all emerged from the room to the front with their eyes lit up in panic. “I heard a sharp noise. Is everything alright in here?!” Virizion asked. “Y…yes. I was just teaching Keldeo here how to use Sacred Sword. But, it seems that he somehow ended up melting away at this particular training dummy.” Cobalion explained. Virizion walked over towards the remnants of the dummy and eyed the scalding edges upon the slice marks of the metal. She turned towards Keldeo and looked upon him with stern eyes. “Keldeo, have you been hanging around any Mismagius during that visit? A standard Sacred Sword would not leave this type of damage.” She questioned. “I don’t even know what those are.” Keldeo responded with an innocent tone. “Why do you ask?” Virizion gazed towards Rarity with a smile hidden underneath her tightened facial muscles. “From what I understand of what you told me Rarity, you seem to know magic. Would you mind examining this to tell me if it is magic?” Rarity shut her eyes and waved her right front hoof with a classy shake. “I don’t even need to examine it. That is definitely done by magic.” She answered. “I am not sure how a colt of his age can combine a Sacred Sword technique with contact magic such as that, but there is something very unusual going on around here.” Cobalion said. From the front doors ahead, a red-feathered falcon with a gray-feathered underside flew through the front doors at a rapid speed. Flapping his black feather-tipped wings upon descent, e perched himself onto the remnants of the smoldering pile of metal. “Sir Cobalion! Lady Virizion! I have urgent news to share by Sir Terrakion!” It called out. “How urgent are we talking about, Talonflame? Unless if the city is in immediate danger or something of that ilk in urgency, then I am afraid I cannot answer it. I have some important matters to deal with right now.” Cobalion stated. “But the city is in immediate danger! Hordes of strange beings cloaked in glowing light began assaulting the outskirts of the city. They are heading over here as I speak!” Talonflame shouted. Cobalion grunted underneath his breath and shifted his sight towards Virizion. “While finding out these peculiarities with our Keldeo is important, the fate of the city carries more gravity to the situation.” “I understand, Cobalion. We have to meet with these mysterious invaders at once!” Virizion called out. Cobalion glanced towards Keldeo with commanding eyes and looked upon him. “Keldeo, I expect you and your new friends to stay here. Do not follow us, understood?” Cobalion requested. “I am not a colt anymore, Master Cobalion. I have been involved battles waged across different worlds and have honed my skills to combat threats like this. Please, let my friends and I come along.” Keldeo answered. Virizion walked towards Keldeo with a frown on her face and knelt down to his level. She waved her head with tears forming in her eyes. “Keldeo, please listen to Cobalion here; we may not be able to come back home safely. We don’t want to lose you because you wanted to come along with us. I want you to live, even if we are not around to see it. I ask you; please stay here and not get involved with this menace.” Virizion pleaded. Hearing these words pass through his ears, a brilliant flash of light burned within his pupils. Within it, he witnessed fleeing visions of meteors of light hailing down towards the structures of Kurisutaru, bringing ruin to everything they touch. He witnessed Pokémon fleeing for their lives and being annihilated by rune-winged daemons cloaked in brilliant light. With sight of the training grounds returning to him, he shook his head and looked towards Virizion with pleading eyes. “The city and all who flee are going to be decimated by the force of destruction the enemy will bring! Please mom, allow me to help! I don’t want to see you die!” He shouted. “That’s enough from you, Keldeo!” Cobalion screamed with a commanding tone. “I don’t know what has gotten into you today, but I am not allowing you to come with us. That is final!” “Surely you just, lord Cobalion. We are capable of assisting you. Please, let us come along.” Fei insisted. Cobalion stomped his right front hoof into the ground with force that shook the entire area. “I said ‘that is final’! All of you stay here until the coast is clear. Understood?!” Fei winced and hid his face away from Cobalion’s fierce visage. With shivering shoulders, he brought his head towards a reluctant shake. “Y-yes your lordship.” Cobalion glanced towards Talonflame and looked onto his body with a rigid stare. “Talonflame, I entrust these children to you. Do not let them out of your sight, and do not let them leave.” Talonflame raised his right wing over his head in salutation. Cobalion and Virizion both galloped towards the double doors and disappeared from sight. Iosac frowned and scowled towards the direction they left. “Now that is simply silly. They think we are children?! Do they not see our sagacious wisdom, or our power or even our grown-up forms?!” He voiced out in frustration. “Ummm, to be fair on Master Cobalion, only Keldeo is the child here. As far as I can see, the rest of you are all adults.” Talonflame responded. “Wait… I’m actually a colt? The others were not just pushing my buttons? But that can’t be! I should be an adult!” Keldeo shouted. “What did that slab do to me?” Rarity narrowed her eyes, ducked her head towards the ground and hummed with an inquisitive voice. She looked towards Keldeo with a puzzled muzzle. “Keldeo, I’m not sure how this is possible, but maybe that slab’s power is a bit more unusual when what we expect it to be. After all, I still see you in your adult form.” She said. “What do you mean by that?” Keldeo asked. “Perhaps that slab brought you back into the past in the body of your past self to avoid any paradoxical situation of you encountering yourself. We just happen to have been brought along with you as accompanying envoys even. Because of that, we are still seen by the Pokémon?” Fei shifted his stance and faced Rarity with unamused eyes. “That sounds like an absurd theory, Rarity.” “Hold on!” Holding his upper right limb in the air, Iosac called out. “Regardless of what anyone says, we are all physically still here in this place. Maybe we were brought here to change the outcome of history here! That means we have to leave this place at once and help in any way we can!” “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that. I still have to keep you all here under Master Cobalion’s request.” Talonflame stated. Fei walked towards Talonflame and cleared his throat. He gazed towards the falcon’s visage with resolute eyes. “Do you have any family, Talonflame?” He asked. “Several. Why do you ask?” “As important as Lord Cobalion’s words are, should you be out there to protect your family? If war does come here, then their lives will undoubtedly be forfeited because you could not give them the chance to escape.” Talonflame’s beak opened and he stood on one talon. He steeled his face and stood perched on his two talons once more. “Nice try, you Mienshao. I will not abandon my post just because my family could potentially be in danger. This city is protected by our knights and gods.” “And? What if the invaders actually make it into the city? Do you not want to make sure your family is safe?” Fei stated with a crafty smirk. Talonflame looked onto the ground with a wavering frown on his beak. “Well… I do have to make sure that my mate and children are all safe. My mate can definitely protect herself, but I would feel more comfortable with making sure that I am there as well.” “Then what is stopping you? Your duty as a guard? Wouldn’t your family be more important than a ragtag group of misfits?” Iosac called out. Talonflame grunted under the breath of self-defeat. He flew off of the melted metal and hovered towards the door. “I’m going to be checking on my family. Make sure that you do not move!” With these words, he flew through the doors and out of the training grounds. Rarity let out a smug smirk directed towards Fei. “We’re involving ourselves up with their affairs now, aren’t we?” She asked. “Well we definitely aren’t staying down here. We also have to get Inge.” Finding themselves outside of the building, the group of operatives sprinted towards the wide building that flashed with brilliant lights. Staring into the open pathways of the building, Inge leaped out of a crystal cabinet with eyes tizzy in delight. She hovered towards the group with a body vibrating up and down with enthusiasm. “The games in there are awesome!” She shouted. Fei glanced towards the arcade machines, cocked his head to the right and scratched the top of it in confusion. “How are Pokémon even able to play these games? I doubt that the creators made these universally accessible.” He wondered aloud. “Who cares? I just jumped in the machine to play it.” “Well, we have to go now. The city is going to be under attack at any moment and we have to help as many Pokémon as we possibly could.” Keldeo announced. Inge flipped her right flipper and slanted her eyes with hefty sarcasm emanating from her movement. “Yeah, you’ll probably have to convince me that this building behind me will be set ablaze and destroyed by a meteor of holy light. Like that will ever happen.” Upon stating her words, a giant ball of white light formed in the sky above the arcade building and fell down towards it. Inge’s eyes widened at the sound of a large object burying into the building and multiple young voices screaming within it. Witnessing the building empty of its frightened inhabitants, her limbs plummeted straight down to her waists. “So… should we run away now?” Iosac suggested. “Now would be a very good time to run.” Inge called out. A sudden crash formed a crater against a pillar that held up the awning of the arcade building, dropping all of the operatives onto the ground with their upper limbs above their heads. A giant spider with red and black-striped flesh leaped out of the crater with his purple and yellow-striped legs. He looked to its right and examined the operatives with his purple eyes. “You five should leave the city along with the other civilians. Hurry!” He called out. “Are you sure you do not need help, Ariados? You look like you have your legs spun up in webs.” Fei asked. Ariados rolled his eyes and head to the right. “That’s a pretty racist comment you know. But, now is not the time to argue. My partner and I are making sure that everyone can evacuate the city.” He stated. Looking up towards the sky, the operatives eyed a giant purple cobra with a hood that displayed a design of an angry face designed with red and yellow eyes and black markings. In her mouth, she captured a shining creature that remained gripped in her icy fangs. She threw the creature down towards the ground, cratering the section of the area with a deep impact. With the creature forced into the ground, the cobra dug her way towards the group of operatives and popped out from the ground. “Are you alright there, Ariados? You seem to have taken a strong blow there.” She asked. “I’ve lived through worse. It’s just a scratch at this point, Arbok.” Ariados responded. Arbok set her gaze onto the Pokémon and pony before her. “What are you still doing here? Can’t you see that this entire city is done for?!” She shouted. “Done for? But it was placid just moments ago.” Iosac responded. Arbok slapped the end of her tail against her face and shook her head with a grimace. She dropped her tail onto the ground and set her gaze towards the group once more. “You can all fight, correct?” She asked. “We can.” Rarity answered. “My partner and I are both a part of the guard here, and we need to evacuate as many civilians as possible, starting with that kid you have there.” Pointing towards Keldeo with her tail, Arbok answered. “I can fight too, you know. I’ve trained under Master Cobalion.” With a lengthy scowl on his face, Keldeo responded. “Fine. But you have to all fight these strange creatures that came out of nowhere and save any civilians that are in trouble. Is that a deal?” Ariados asked. “That can be arranged. I never really liked those things to begin with.” The grounded being dug itself out of the ground and headed towards Ariados. With quick reflexes, his shadow extended towards the creature and trapped it in place. He turned his head towards the group of operatives with stern eyes. “You really should go now while I hold this thing. Give yourselves a head start, will you?” He commanded. The operatives nodded with a steady shake and ran towards the right. Arbok shook her head and frowned. “Should we really entrust these strangers and children to rescuing the civilian Pokémon?” She asked. Ariados turned his head towards Arbok and lidded his eyes with disbelief. “Arbok, don’t be such a drag.” Temporal space broke around the two Pokémon. Canine-like creatures garbed in golden armor clawed their way through air. Ariados broke his hold on the shadow and leaped away from the new creatures. He corkscrewed in the air and unleashed a stream of needles that headed towards them. The creatures raised their paws to their faces, blocking the stream of needles. Arbok dug herself into the ground and dashed towards the canines towards the front. She popped aboveground underneath a canine. She coiled her tail around the beast at a swift speed, strangling its entire body. Feeling the canine struggle underneath her grasp, she clenched her fangs and looked towards Ariados. “I can’t hold this thing off much longer you know.” She complained. “I got it, I got it.” Ariados twisted his right leg closest to his face, revealing a series of thin strings that coated the entire district. The beings found themselves caught within the sinewy prison and shook their bodies in a desperate attempt to escape. A confident smirk appeared on Ariados’s face. He shifted his leg to the far right, tightening the sinews that bound the field and lifted the beings into the air. Arbok smirked and dropped down from the canine she wrapped her body around. “You seriously couldn’t have used that Sticky Web technique sooner? You really got to work on that timing of yours.” She stated. “You know me; I like to take my time to work my art. Besides, if any other mysterious creatures show up with the intent to harm us, then we have some emergency assistance from my technique.” Ariados responded. Several beams of light shot down from the sky. Equine beings with magnificent wings and sharp horns descended onto the ground with a luminous glow that surrounded their golden bodies. Their blue eyes stared towards the duo. Arbok unfolded her hood and flashed a glare that stunned all of the creatures within the webs into willful submission. Ariados manipulated his legs and the strings attached to their ends, dropping the captive creatures down onto the ground with their movements moving with an artificial pattern. The equine beings charged towards the other beings, who all ran towards their former allies to do battle. The equine beings fired streams of golden lasers from their large horns, disintegrating the stiff-moving canine beings that fell under fire. Ariados clicked his tongue and moved the two legs closest to his head to a cross. His movements moved at the speed of light, hastening the movements of the canine puppets. The canines avoided the fire from the equines and clasped their teeth onto their necks. The equine beings disappeared within particles of light. An equine being phased itself into existence next to Ariados and charged its laser. Arbok narrowed her eyes and leaped towards the equine. With her sharp fangs, she bit into the neck of the equine. Corrosive poison and frigid chills seeped its way out of her teeth and into the equine. The equine struggled and moved about in pain. Its body froze from the inside-out and the acid melted away its body. Ariados smiled. “That was a bit overkill, was it not?” He asked. “I always like going for the overkill. It’s fun.” Arbok responded. A blazing wind blew into the district. Its orange-tinted gusts burned away at the sticky webs, freeing the canines from their slender bondage. The canines looked around with their senses returned. An ethereal voice echoed throughout the area. “My holy army; do not let the enemy get the best of you. Tear them to shreds, for they deserve no mercy.” The red eyes of the canines glowed into a sharper shade. They stared down Arbok and Ariados. Arbok leaped towards the horde of canines. She felt a blast of light nail her in the back, slamming her down into the ground. “Arbok!” Ariados shouted. A canine ran towards Ariados’s right side and tore its teeth through his legs. Feeling the tendons in his legs locked through piercing teeth, he winced and looked away to his left. The canine picked him up by his locked legs and shook him by them. With each fierce shake, Ariados screamed out in agony until he felt his legs loosen from the stress of the bite. With one tug of its powerful neck, the canine severed the legs of Ariados and tossed him into Arbok. Arbok’s body shuddered under the pain of the blast mark left onto her back. She looked towards Ariados by her side, who only had three legs on his left side. He gaped out in pain and turned his direction towards Arbok. “Arbok… please, leave for the both of us. You can still… survive.” He pleaded. A weak smile formed on Arbok’s face and a giggle that matched its debilitation. “They got me pretty good on my back there. It hurts to even move.” She said with an optimistic tone. “I already know that I am done for.” Ariados looked towards her with his eyes open in confusion. “Then… why are you happy? We are about to die.” He asked aloud. Arbok looked into the sky and gazed at a giant foot forming directly above them. “Maybe it’s because we are going to die like real heroes? I mean, we were only made guards towards this event. Now, we are going to have the flames of our lives perished underneath the enemy. But, we saved more lives today than they would have killed.” She said aloud. Ariados looked towards Arbok with a weak smile. With the remainder of his strength and his left legs, he crawled his way towards Arbok’s side and placed them onto her hood. “You know, if I perish, I’m glad that it’s with you. I felt happy being around you. I hope that even if our lives perished, we can still be together until the end of time.” With the remainder of her strength, Arbok coiled her tail around Ariados’s half-dead body and brought it in for an embrace. “Thank you for being in my life.” The giant foot slammed down onto the duo, grinding their bodies into mush. Author's Note Well... this is turning out longer than I thought it would be. And yes, it does end like that. A Day For Nightmare NightA lone hologram remained alit amidst a dark room with a lone couch. Its lights flashed towards the blue set of furniture, revealing Mono, Sophia, Lith, Fei and Stereo upon it. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle both lied down on their abdomens and held their jaws by their hooves. By the side of the couch stood a midnight black-coated thestral mare with a silver mane that glimmered from the little light in the room. Her orange eyes gazed at the hologram and a small smile formed on her face. Black and white imagery displayed itself on the hologram, revealing a cream-coated earth pony stallion in a black suit and dickie being carried away by a horde of Equusians. Their soulless eyes resonated with milky emptiness, carrying the white-maned stallion on their backs up a set of stairs. With his eyes wide in panic and a flurry of squirming, the stallion screamed to the top of his lungs. “H-help! Help me! Let me go!” He pleaded with desperation in his voice. The Equusians marched forward with the stallion on their backs, deaf to his words. At the bottom of the stairs, a sickly-looking unicorn stallion with a pale white coat and a frizzled mane, tail and goatee looked up towards the stairs with a sinister stare emanating from his pitch white eyes. With a sudden jolt of his head, he shifted his gaze towards the camera. Mono, who shook back and forth with an anxious quiver of his body, jolted upwards and closer to Sophia. With his teeth clenched and chattering, he embraced Sophia by her neck. Sophia shook her head, clicked her tongue and rubbed her head against Mono’s chest. “A bit afraid there, aren’t you?” She called out with a sly tone. “M-maybe a bit.” Mono responded with an uneasy voice. Fei glanced towards his left and eyed Lith, who sat back and laid her head against his left arm. He stroked the left side of her face with his fingers, forming a gentle wave against her coat there. A small giggle erupted from Lith’s mouth and she smacked Fei’s fingers with her right upper paw. “Come on, Fei; no need for some foreplay now.” She said. “I was just trying to get your attention, mademoiselle. If you ever get scared, I’ll be here to protect you from the frightening zombies.” He whispered with a smooth tone. Stereo stared at the movie with his attention span enraptured within its details. Rainbow Dash glanced behind her, seeing Stereo’s eyes empty to the likeness of the zombies’ eyes in the movie. She lifted her right front hoof towards Stereo’s face and waved it at a blurring speed. With a smug smirk on her face, she bumped her left front knee into Twilight Sparkle’s left side. “Hey Twilight, get a load of Stereo here. I think he might have been turned into a zombie.” With a silent cackle, Rainbow Dash joked. Twilight Sparkle raised her right front hoof to her lips and directed a shushing silence towards Rainbow Dash. “The climax of the film is going to arrive at any second.” She uttered. Within the realm of the movie, a magenta-coated earth pony stallion with a frizzled black mane walked down a spiral set of stairs towards the sinister unicorn that chased a violet-coated earth pony stallion with a sleek black mane. The former pony grappled the unicorn, pushing the two of them over a stone railing and plummeting into the shallow sea below. The violet-coated earth pony walked over towards a white pegasus mare with a rosy pink mane, who wielded soulless eyes that stared into nothingness. He treaded his hooves along her shoulders, garnering her attention. The mare glanced towards him. Her stoic frown melted away into a smile, and her eyes rejuvenated with life. The mare and stallion both embrace each other, and the screen fades into a black one with the word ‘End’ written in cursive. The thestral in the room clapped her hooves together, illuminating the room with a bright light. The start contrast of the lit-up room brought the upper limbs of everyone over their eyes. “So… what did you think?” The thestral asked with a curious and solemn tone. “Simply amazing, Scary Story!” Stereo complemented. “You definitely have an eye for cinematography, and the atmosphere brought chills down my spine!” Scary Story tilted her head to the left and rubbed the back of her head with her left front hoof. A sheepish chuckle left her mouth. “It means very much to see a connoisseur of the fine arts such as you say something like that. Thank you very much, Stereo.” She responded. She glanced over towards Mono, whose knees shook with a tense fear. Lith glanced over towards him and slanted her eyes with an unamused frown on her face. “The movie is over, Mono.” She said. “I… I know. The eyes on that witch doctor chilled my soul, and I don’t think my heart can handle seeing much more mind control.” Mono responded. “But… you are a psychic cat. Would it not be farfetched for you to control other being’s minds like Legendre?” Scary Story asked with an inquisitive grin. A stroke of heat flashed through Mono’s mind. With warm sweat dripping down his face, he shook his head and his front paws. “No! I don’t want to inflict mind control on anyone!” He shouted. “You can always use mind control on me. I don’t mind being your little foxy slave.” Leaning herself towards Mono with slanted eyes and a seductive smile, Sophia responded with a lustful tone. Feeling her right front foot rub against his chest, Mono’s dark blue coat radiated with a hot red color. His eyes stared forwards and his body remained stiff with anxiety, trying to register Sophia’s words in his mind. Lith, Fei, Sophia and Twilight Sparkle each laughed at his subsequent reaction. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Oh get a room you two. I don’t want to hear any of that lovey-dovey mushy stuff that comes out of couples mouths. It was bad enough when I heard Lith made that foreplay comment.” She stated with an aggressive tone. “I don’t mind that much. I think it is rather sweet for a couple to share their affections with each other.” With her eyes gazing towards the floor and her cheeks tinting with a slight red, Scary Story responded. “So Scary Story, how long have you been writing and acting in movies for?” Stereo asked with a voice piquing with interest. “Not too long. I’m fairly new to the film industry, but I’ve been working on perfecting the art of horror for a while now. Mainly, I wanted to make sure that I do not fall under the clichés that other modern horror films do.” Twilight Sparkle stood up from the floor and glanced towards Scary Story with amused eyes. She levitated a sheet of paper with a series of check marks to the right side of her face. “Based off of what I could tell, your craft in filmography is building up an unsettling atmosphere and assaulting the psychological condition of your viewers for fear factor. It is admirable, and I am glad to spend my Nightmare Night watching all of your films.” “I will have to thank your sister-in-law for allowing me to host a movie marathon at H.O.R.S.E. for Nightmare Night. Commissioner Cadance seems like she is a very nice mare.” Scary Story replied. Lith’s watch vibrated, unleashing three electronic rings. She touched it, bringing up a hologram of Rarity’s face. Rainbow Dash jolted up from the floor with a grin on her face and flew towards Lith’s side. In mid-flight, she grabbed Lith’s watch and shook it. “Rarity! Are our Nightmare Night costumes ready?!” She shouted. “Calm your equine spirit, Rainbow Dash. I have them ready in my office. You can feel free to collect them now.” “Yes!” Shouting with glee, Rainbow Dash pumped her right front hoof downwards and dashed towards the doorway and smashed herself against the metal door. She pried herself off the door. Seeing the door lift itself open, she her grin returned and she flew through the open way. “Wow… Rainbow Dash tends to get very excitable for this holiday.” Fei noted. “She acts like such a foal when Nightmare Night comes around. It allows her to dress up as her favorite heroes without seeming out of the norm.” Twilight Sparkle said. “Two years ago, she even went as Commander Spitfire! Complete with dyeing her colors to match her! Things got very confusing that Nightmare Night.” “I’ve been meaning to ask, Twilight; how did Nightmare Night come to be?” Lith asked. “I thought the night was a sign of protection in this world.” “There’s a funny story about that actually. Back a millennium ago; there were tales of ponies who denounced the night as being the hunting grounds of demons. They referred to Luna as ‘the patron Queen of Demons’ and were willing to attack her. Seeing this as an opportunity to have fun with her subjects, she took the guise of Nightmare Moon and terrified the ponies for the night.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “So how was scaring the pebbles out of ponies exactly contribute to the creation of a holiday that everyone enjoys?” Stereo questioned. Twilight Sparkle shrugged her shoulders and blinked. “They say that the children at the time found this to be an enjoyable prank and wanted to participate in it as well, so they donned their own frightening costumes and created the first Nightmare Night.” Scary Story looked up towards the ceiling with a longing gaze. She shut her eyes, brought her head down to its resting position and breathed out calm breezes from her nostrils. “I remember when I was a filly during the times of Nightmare Night. My mother and I partook in the scaring of ponies and brought out many goodies. Good times.” Mono stood up from the sofa and hopped down onto the floor. “I would love to stay and chat about Nightmare Night, but Rarity has my costume ready from the sound of her message. She says that I will drop with excitement when I see it.” Stating these words, Mono sprinted out of the room with a grin of child-like wonder on his face. Scary Story glanced towards the remainder of the group with a cheery grin on her face. She pulled out a movie cover that displayed a gray-coated stallion with his pupils petrified in fear and his mouth open with screaming. Grasping onto his body up to his shoulders is a many-tentacled being obscured by shadows. The being possessed glowing red eyes and a grin with rows of sharp teeth. “So does anyone want to see ‘Fear of the Dark’ next?” Rarity glanced towards Mono with an inquisitive hum and a judging eye. A navy blue jacket with white stripes and a white long-sleeved shirt that stretched down to his paws adorned themselves upon Mono’s torso. Cream-colored leggings wrapped around his legs and hips, but a space in the back allowed his tails unhindered movement. His lower paws are shelled with boots the same color as his leggings. A metal gauntlet with an LED screen fit snugly over his upper left paw and a brown belt holstered the steel hilt of a sword. Around his neck is a white scarf folded into a triangle-style. A smile appeared on Rarity’s face and she nodded in approval. “That samurai outfit for Nightmare Night looks marvelous on you, Mono.” She complimented. “This… this is a samurai outfit? What kind of samurais do you even have here?!” Mono responded with disbelief ejecting from his voice. “I read it in a book once. That’s all you need to know.” Rarity glanced over towards a mannequin with a similar shape to Mono and Lith. A navy blue jacket and a cream top that shares the same style of Mono’s costume rested upon it. However, the top extended down into a skirt fashion and the leggings run halfway down the thighs rather than the entire legs. The boots spread up towards the knees and a metal gauntlet with an LED screen shaped itself around the left arm. A red scarf tied towards the front flashed itself around the mannequin’s neck. “I am guessing that is Lith’s costume?” Mono asked. “You guessed correctly.” Rarity answered. “When it comes to you two, I always keep the design scheme of your clothing very similar, as you two are twins. I find it adorable in that regard. You would also like how it does not hinder you in combat as well, just in case if that sort of situation ever comes up.” Mono hopped down from podium and walked towards the door. He waved his paw towards Rarity. “Thank you very much for the costume. I really like how it turned out.” He stated. “I was happy to design it for you. I hope you have a wonderful Nightmare Night.” Approaching a door that led to the hallway, Mono glanced down towards his gauntlet. With his curiosity peaked, he tapped on it. The screen lit up, revealing a menu arranged in cubes. “So how did you get the screen to work?” He asked. “I know some engineers here. I simply asked them to program it.” Rarity responded. The door opened on its own, revealing a white-coated unicorn stallion in a black suit, white undershirt, yellow tie and dress horseshoes. His front ankles ended in white cuff links and black ink dyed the tips of his fetlocks. The stallion’s mane subdued itself with a dull blond and his eyes possessed a left blue iris and a red right iris. A mysterious smile formed on his face and directed itself towards Mono. “Greetings, Son of Deus. My name is Morning Star. I sense an unimaginable potential for power within you. Will you allow me to use it to fight the enemy?” He said with a voice filled with charm. Mono bore his teeth, went down onto all four legs and raised his tails in a domineering fashion. His fur shook at its ends and a dull growl that evolved into a sharp hiss shot towards Morning Star. “Stand away from me… I know that you only wish to destroy my stability in life!” He stated. “Now… back away from me before I will make it so that you will never step in this city again.” Rarity and ‘Morning Star’ shared a silent side glance. The both of them snickered under their breath, which exploded into full-blown laughter. Mono’s stance softened, and his right eye raised itself in confusion. “What’s so funny?” “I-It’s me, Blueblood! Costumed as Morning Star!” Rolling on the floor in laughter, Blueblood shouted. “You-You should have seen the look on your face!” Mono glanced around the room and witnessed Rarity’s coat turning into purple from her laughter. Standing up from the ground, a slight blush and a frown made their way onto his face. “Did… did I actually just…?” “You did! You actually acted like a cat with his own life threatened by a foe!” Rarity shouted out. “If I had known that you would act like this in the presence to someone even costumed as a demon, then I would have done this a very long time ago. It was rich!” Blueblood wheezed out. “It couldn’t possibly have been that funny… could it?” Mono whispered out with a meek tone. Rarity’s laughter calmed down into simple breaths. She closed her eyes, exhaled a deep breath and placed her right front hoof on her chest. She opened her eyes and glanced towards Mono with renewed composure. “It was funny Mono. You made my day after that depressing mission a few days back. It was just so jarring to see you act like that, considering you are usually reserved and quiet.” She said. “If you act like that Mono, then I cannot wait to see your reaction for when your future child will fall in love with a demon lord and possibly breed.” Blueblood stated. “I never want to hear that joke come out of your mouth, Blueblood. It’s not funny.” Mono replied with a serious tone. Blueblood shrugged his shoulders with shut eyes. “A little bit too much I see. I’m still getting the hang of joking around with others. Oh well, I’ll be around on Nightmare Night. I guess I’ll go scare some adults then.” Mono walked past Blueblood and stepped out of the room. Mono stepped outside of the gates of the H.O.R.S.E. grounds and gazed into the sky. The sun set halfway across the sky, flashing a warm glow that the land basked in. The cool air brushed by his fur and a smile appeared on his face. He saw As walking towards his right with a grimacing frown. A black witch’s hat with a white stripe wrapped around it sat on her head. Three sharp creases at the top of the hat lead to its tip being squared. Mono glanced onto her paws, where black shoes with outrageous curves at the frontal tips covered them. A silver brooch lied on As’s chest. “Oh, hey As. What brings you out here tonight?” He asked. “Oh, hello Mono. I am just waiting around for Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to get costumed up for trick-or-treating.” As responded. “I never knew you were good around children.” Mono replied. As leaned towards Mono’s direction with a hair-raising stare and an unpleasant grit of her teeth. “I’m not. I’m only doing this because the Civilian Division forced this task upon me. If I would have known that I need to do at least one civilian request a month, then I would not have been participating in all of those espionage assignments across the world.” “Ouch. I know that feeling. I participated in an open show a while back because the Commissioner thought that I would look cute in a top hat, cuff links and cane.” Mono responded. As’s eyes scanned Mono’s body with a glint of interest. A soft smile cracked along her face and an amused hum and purr escaped from her voice. “Now that you mention it, you would look cute in a top hat, cuff links and a cane. That was a pleasing thought to ruminate on. Thank you for making my night a bit more bearable.” She stated. “But, speaking of clothing, what are you supposed to be?” “Rarity says that this is the uniform of a samurai. I find it to be absurd, because I’ve seen how samurais look like. I’ve watched a show that depicted a samurai and his Eevee conquering a region and battling against a wicked rival. This looks nothing like the samurais on that show.” “I see… well aren’t you curious as to what I am dressed up as?” As responded with a crafty smirk. “A witch, right? I see the cute hat, shoes and brooch on you.” With a chipper grin on him, Mono answered. “Would you say that it perfectly accentuates my assets?” Stretching her right front leg and smiling with a seductive aura, As questioned. Mono’s body warmed up at the passing of her words and he felt the muscles in his body constrict upon themselves. “As… I really am not looking forward to taking a cold shower right now. I’ll just say that your costume accentuates how you look.” A small giggle found its way out of As’s mouth. She walked by Mono and lifted the tip of her tail to his nose. “I caught you looking, Mono. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Sophia about that.” She said. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stormed from the left of the street’s horizon with wide grins on their faces. As let out a frustrated sigh and frowned. A violet pointed hat with pink frizzles sat upon, and a midnight purple cape wrapped itself around her neck. Scootaloo is adorned within a suit of orange feathers. Cream talons affixed themselves onto her hooves. Blue wings with purple membranes rested over Apple Bloom’s shoulders, and purple ears with a blue exterior hung itself over her head. “We’re ready As!” Apple Bloom shouted. “Joker allowed us to choose our own quadruped costumes for tonight.” As glanced towards Sweetie Belle with a curious eye. Sweetie Belle forced a smile and giggled with a nervous disposition. “Is there a reason why you are dressed as a Mismagius, Sweetie Belle?” As asked. “Well, I heard you were being a witch for Nightmare Night, so I asked Joker if there were any Pokémon that look like witches. Plus, I wanted to look a bit more grown-up.” Sweetie Belle responded. “You do realize that your hat is covering your entire head, right? It’s an adult-sized costume.” Sweetie Belle nodded with a chipper smile on her face. As rolled her eyes and sighed. She glanced towards Scootaloo, who wore the orange suit. She vocalized dissent and rolled her eyes to the right. “Why are you in a Torchic suit, Scootaloo? Don’t you already have enough jokes about you as a small, tasty bird with limited flight capabilities as it is?” “I’m not a chicken! I just… happen to like how this looks. Plus, I can use my talons. See?” Scratching the ground with her hind hooves, Scootaloo responded. “That’s fine. At least the Zubat costume looks sensible on you, Apple Bloom. Are you out to catch the eyes of any colts? More specifically, Jetsteam Rush?” Raising her eye and bearing the ride side of her teeth with a grin, As questioned. “Not really. I just like this.” Apple Bloom responded. “Let’s just get this over with. Where should we go first?” Scootaloo pointed down towards the street with her right front hoof, where a black tower covered in spines reached towards the top of the barrier. A black cloud that flashed with electricity hung towards its aether. “I’ve always wanted to check out the ‘Tower of Ruined Childhoods’ on Nightmare Night. I hear that they offer the best candy up there.” “Are you sure that’s a place for three young fillies to go out on Halloween? Why not go to a regular haunted attraction like every other foal?” As chided. “Well, ‘Tower of Ruined Childhoods’ just sounds like an artifact title to scare away foals. But we aren’t scared. Who knows? Maybe we might even earn our Cutie Marks!” Sweetie Belle shouted. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both grabbed As’s respective left and right paw. They dragged her down the street. Applebloom walked forward with the group. An apparition of confusion hung upon Mono. “That is a scary tower.” He muttered to himself. Lith walked along the halls of H.O.R.S.E. garbed in her samurai outfit. She placed her right upper paw onto the metal hilt holstered in her brown belt and glanced down upon the screen on the gauntlet. A smile of intrigue curved around her lips. “This is some outfit Rarity made. I definitely feel like I could fight in this.” She mused. Taking a right down the stairwell and stepping down the stairs, Lith caught a glimpse of Sophia with the corner of her right eye. Sophia’s coat sparkled with dust, lightening her colors. Her body covered itself from foot to neck with a scaly texture. Her cheeks flared up with orange paint and a green dot imbued itself on her forehead. A sheepish frown appeared on her face. “Hey Sophia.” Lith stated. Sophia shrieked and hopped backwards. She brought her right front foot onto her chest and breathed in and out in rapid increments. “L-Lith! What are you doing here?” She asked with an accusatory tone. “I’m just heading down into this cellar to see if I can charge my sword here. According to Rarity, this sword actually works! What are you doing down here?” Sophia glanced towards her left and right. She let out a fearful sigh and leaned in towards Lith’s face. “Do you promise not to tell anyone, Lith?” She asked. “Even Mono?” “Especially not Mono. Just… don’t tell anyone!” Lith shrugged her shoulders and sat her posterior on the lowest step. “I would not tell anyone. You have my word.” “Alright. You see, I’m… errr, well… ovulating.” With a sheepish frown and a blush breaking through the paint on her face, Sophia revealed. “Was that why you are being very clingy to my brother today?” Lith asked. “Yes. I mean, have you seen just how gorgeous he looks in the right lighting?! His deep stare, his lithe body, his enigmatic tone and his potential to grow… it makes my body quiver with delight!” Sophia shrieked with a gossipy tone. Lith’s eyes shot open at the sound of Sophia’s words. “That was a bit… more than I would have liked to know. So are you embarrassed of showing yourself around him then?” Sophia rushed towards Lith and closed the distance between them. Her eyes hovered close towards Lith’s eyes. She shunned her face away from her and shuttered with anxiety present in her body language. “I typically enter into a cycle of ovulation like any other female, but they were manageable for a time. But after engaging in some very heated action with Mono about a month ago, my body wants me to get rutted by him with gritty and animalistic action!” She spoke out with a passionate and desperate tone. “But… I don’t want to! At least not yet. We’ve only been officially together for a small while and I think it’s a bit too soon to go into activity like that.” Lith stood up from the step and walked towards Sophia. She patted the portion of Sophia’s vertebrae between her shoulders. “I could definitely see your dilemma here. Obviously, it would not be the best time for Mono to make me an aunt. We still are fighting in a war, and pregnancy can be very hindering for you, Mono and everyone involved with your lives.” “Lith, can you tell me how to curb my voracious appetite for your brother? It’s been killing me all day.” Sophia asked. “Do what I do and write about it in a special journal. Materialize all of those juicy and sexy thoughts into words and pleasure yourself with those fantasies. Just don’t let a certain Krookodile get a hold of them or else she will blab those to everyone in the next girl’s night out.” Lith instructed. “You know how to write, right?” Sophia smiled, shut her eyes with a proud huff of her chest and beat the front of her torso with her left front leg once. “I know how to read, write and do arithmetic. Fei even said that I am really good at them. I’ll be sure to make sure Gnasher doesn’t get a hold of it.” Lith lowered herself onto her knees and examined Sophia’s face. “Are you supposed to be a dragon, Sophia?” Sophia nodded, turned towards Lith’s direction and smiled. “Longma, but close enough!” Shouting this, she swung her frontal legs in a slashing motion and bore her teeth, revealing sharpened fangs in her mouth. She uttered a playful roar. “Where did you get the teeth?” Lith asked. “They were fangs found in the wild creatures that were killed for supplies. They were disinfected and hollowed out. Isn’t that cool?” Lith rolled her eyes and flashed a solid smirk. “It looks cute on you. I like the scale design on your fur.” “Thanks! An effects artist did this for me, though I had to pay out of my pockets for that one.” Sophia replied. “Anyways, I really appreciated talking to you. Now I feel ready to head out to the costume party at the night club.” Sophia answered with a relieved tone. She hopped up the stairs with renewed vigor in the spring of her steps. Lith glanced down towards her sword in the scabbard of the belt. Patting the hilt of her blade, a confident smirk appeared on her face. “Now it’s time to charge you and test you out.” Saturn hovered around the entrance of a dome-shaped building whose exterior made itself of jet black metal. His brown body tinted itself with a pale shade of grade and his body phased back and forth between the dimensional boundaries of the world. Wrapped around his arms are chains, which withered and rusted away towards the end of his hands. His ears tuned into the reverberations of high-energy techno music from within the walls of the building. His eyes widened and his body stiffened upwards. He floated towards the alleyway to the right and peaked over the corner. With his sharp eyes, he detected Mono walking down the street without any foresight on his existence. Saturn chuckled and disappeared from his current position. Mono stared forwards with a gleeful and ignorant smile on his face. Taking his steps forwards, a chill ran down his spine. He stopped and looked around the immediate vicinity of the street. He smiled once more and took a step forwards. Saturn warped in front of him and held his arms out with sullen eyes. “Boo!” Mono screamed and leaped backwards, falling onto his posterior. He brought his right upper paw to the area of his chest where his heart is and breathed in and out with deep force. He flashed an angry stare towards the apparition in front of him. “Saturn! What was that for?!” He shouted. “What? Could I not get a good scare in for Nightmare Night? This should be expected you know.” Saying these words, Saturn grasped Mono’s right upper paw with his right hand and lifted him off of the ground. Standing up once more, Mono dusted his outfit of any potential dirt. He glanced towards Saturn with a tranquil smile. “I should have guessed. So are you headed out towards the night club too?” “Me? No, I’m just stalking around this street ready to scare the bejeebers of any victim unfortunate enough to walk my path.” Saturn responded. “Though, I find it unusual how you are heading out to the night club by yourself. You don’t strike me as the type of Pokémon who would enjoy going to social gatherings with loud noise and flashing lights.” “Well… my friends and family are going to be going there, since there is a big event. Plus… I’ve always kind of wanted to dance with Sophia.” With a small blush into his second sentence, Mono stated. Saturn’s eyes widened with an aroused lift of his eyelids. He motioned a sweeping turn of his neck with a motion slower than a snail. “Oooooohhhhhh my. Mono, do you really believe that your mind would be able to handle dancing with her after… that thing you did with her?” “…Why are you saying that?” Mono asked with an unsure tone. “Well, the thing is that your mind seems like it is on the fritz as of late. You have been showing signs of mental strain and irritation, and all of it seems to gravitate towards that Sylveon who you are involved with.” Saturn explained. “So?” “My sensors indicate that you want to tap that… badly.” Mono’s eyes jolted open and he shook his paws with a sporadic motion. An anxious frown opened over his mouth. “No! You got that wrong! What sort of messages is my body sending that makes you say that?!” He shouted. “Let’s see; heightened body temperatures, paws with excessive perspiration, increased heart rate, blood flowing into some very personal areas… you definitely want to fornicate with that individual.” Saturn stated with an analytical tone. “Saturn, please do not make this any harder on me than it needs to be.” Mono uttered out with his timid nature rising into his voice. “Yes, it is becoming increasingly harder to handle my lustful emotions for her. Even if she is my girlfriend, I want to wait until I am ready. But… why does she have to be so cute and very intelligent with how she hits on me?! It’s just so… so…” “Confusing?” “Yes! It’s really confusing.” Mono walked towards the curb and sat upon it. He rubbed his temples with his upper paws and looked towards the ground. Saturn hovered towards Mono and patted his back. “Do not feel bad about it, Mono. I glanced into your mind when I saw that Lith had previously told you that it is perfectly normal to feel this way. As the only member of the Diamonds to have an actual gender, I understand what you are going through. Just try to relax and cool down, alright?” “I guess.” Mono stated. He looked towards Saturn with a shade of a smile creeping along his face. “Thank you for talking with me about this. I am feeling a bit better now.” Though Saturn had no mouth, his facial expression mimicked a smile on his face. He pulled out a black domino mask from thin air and handed it to Mono. “I bought this a few days ago. Though it may not help with your masquerade, I think that you might look a bit more dashing in this mask.” Mono took the mask and gazed at it with a curious hum. “You know that I will not be wearing this to the club, right?” He asked. “Just do it.” Saturn responded with an annoyed tone. Colorful neon spotlights and serrated lights filled the interior of the club building. Equusians chatted and sat along tables throughout the plush floor. Meanwhile, the Equusians on the black floor danced and stepped along with energetic movement. Fast-paced techno pulsed from the giant stereos by a turntable manned by a white-coated unicorn mare with an electric blue mane and violet shades. An eccentric grin possessed her face. Mono entered the club floor with the domino mask over his face. He glanced towards the Equusians garbed in colorful and enigmatic costumes. Unable to tell who is who, a small form frowned on his face. He glanced above the railings towards the second floor, where the uncostumed Equusians dressed up in flowing and sparkling garbs chatted with jovial noise. His shoulders rose and his body quivered with anxiety. “I should not have come here early.” He muttered to himself. “Hey Mono.” He glanced towards his left side, scanning it to locate the source of the voice. A familiar cyan pegasus mare garbed in a black coat-tight jumpsuit, white boots, torso and black-shaded helmet with a golden badge that displayed an eagle on the headgear appeared by Mono’s side. “Is that you, Rainbow Dash?” Mono asked. “That is an unusual costume you have there.” Rainbow Dash brought her right front hoof onto a button at the side of her helmet. The shades retracted back into the helmet, displaying her magenta eyes. A soothed smile appeared on Mono’s face. “You like it? I wanted Rarity to make this particular costume after a certain character from a game I really like. What are you doing here so early? The group isn’t going to be coming here for another half hour.” Rainbow Dash asked. “I thought I would get a half-hour lead on everyone here. It would give me incentive to study the place in its prime hours so I would know what to expect. But…” Rainbow Dash’s eyes picked up on the movement of Mono’s head away from her. His eyes drifted away from the center and a small frown appeared on his face. Rainbow Dash smiled brought her right front hoof around Mono’s shoulders. “I understand. If you wanted to know why I am here so early, I expected you to arrive early as well. So, in order to beat the early bird, I have to be even more of an early bird. That way, I can greet the early bird with my early bird presence.” She stated. “You said ‘early bird’ four times and said the word ‘early’ six times.” Mono noted. “But, I do appreciate you looking after me.” He stated with a smile forming on his face. “What are friends for anyways? I think it’s kind of cool that you are starting to go to more places by yourself on your own word anyways.” Rainbow Dash noted. “So, want to dance?” “Sure!” Walking down towards the street to the club, Lith faced Fei’s direction with a cheerful smile. Garbed in a yellow robe that hung down from his right shoulder and another orange robe tied around his waist, Fei returned Lith’s smile with a coy smile of his own. A blue arrow printed itself on the top of his head. “Do you like my outfit, Lith?” He asked with a soft tone. “I do. But what’s with the tattoo on your head?” Pointing to his head, Lith questioned. “This? It is just a wash-away tattoo that binds surprisingly well to my fur. It would look fitting with this outfit I think.” “So you are going as a monk and I am going as a samurai then? Quite the odd duality of costumes.” “Well, you know. I’ve always wanted to dress like a monk, since it reminds me of my home region of Johto.” Fei responded. “I just hope no one at the club would look at me funny for wearing this.” “I doubt it. The both of us already look strange because we are creatures different to their eyes.” Saturn warped in front of Fei and Lith and held out both of his arms. With his chains striking against each other, he let out a shrill shout. On instinct, Lith pulled out a blue blade from her scabbard and pointed its electric-infused metal towards Saturn. Saturn’s flesh became cold at the sight of the blade and his heart stopped at Lith’s indignant stare. “Oh Arceus! Please don’t kill me!” He shouted. A confident smile curved along Lith’s mouth. She brought her sword back into her sheath and focused her sights on Saturn. “Scaring others for Nightmare Night, eh Saturn? I appreciate your commitment to the holiday, but you should probably work on different scare tactics for different beings. If I didn’t know who you were, then I would have just hacked you on the spot.” She explained. Saturn’s stance faltered and he hung his head low. An exhale of relief and disappointment pushed itself through his orifices. “Well… you have quite the blade there. In fact, why are you even garbed in the same way as Mono?” Lith shrugged her shoulders and looked up towards the pulsating barrier above her. She glanced towards Saturn with a calmed grin that creased into her face. “I guess that it’s because we are very comparable with each other. We are both twins, but are almost complete opposites. It is almost as if we are like yin and yang.” “I see the dynamic between you two there. And, I must agree with that logic. Speaking of Mono, he is already inside of the establishment of energetic dancing to electric music.” Lith’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Her mind passed through a shock, but her muscles loosened up and a smile came upon her face. Fei raised his hands and shook his head with a close-eyed smile on his face. “It seems to me that he went ahead to check out the club. Well, you know what that means.” Opening his eyes and grabbing Lith’s right upper paw with his right hand, he stated. He whisked her away with minimal effort in his tug. “Hold your Ponytas, Fei. We’re going to be there.” Lith responded with a good natured smile. “What? And miss seeing your brother dance? I don’t think so.” Saturn glanced towards the Pokémon couple swing their way through the clubs entrance. The two leaped over the black-painted stairs with minimal effort. A soft sigh uttered itself from his mouth. “Such an interesting species they are. Selena would write many stories about how those two go about.” Author's Note So several things I would like to say here: 1) I would like to thank Warrior_Princess for allowing me the use of her OC Scary Story. I felt that she added a good amount of depth to this chapter. 2) This is only part one of the (very late) Halloween special I am doing. Part 2 should be posted next Sunday or less. 3) Can you all guess who all of the characters are dressed up as? GuiltLith and Rainbow Dash lied on the ground in the closet with their eyes closed and their respective back and left side against the walls. Their ears perked up at the sound of the barrier dissipating. Their eyes slowed into an open and they stretched their bodies. Spitfire stood at the other side of the closet with a rage that not even absolute zero temperatures can put out. Their guts shrunk into their hips and their hearts stopped. “Do you realize how much trouble you two are in?!” Spitfire shouted, eliciting sharp winces of the eyes of Rainbow Dash and Lith. “If I had to scale how much trouble you are in on a grade of one to ten, you are hanging around a twelve.” “A fight at a club put us in that much trouble? That’s a bit absurd.” Lith noted. Spitfire shook her head and held out her left front leg. A hologram displayed itself above her watch, detailing footage of the fight in the club. Rainbow Dash should know this, but I don’t expect you to know the law of Neo Canterlot; if you put the lives or the livelihoods of others in jeopardy without good reason, you’re as good as dead meat. You will be executed.” Lith’s lungs stunted themselves upon hearing Spitfire’s words. Her mouth quivered in suspense. “Executed? You mean that if I do anything wrong… I die?!” Spitfire nodded with a stern movement of her head. “That’s right. This holding cell is just a H.O.R.S.E. closet, as we do not actually have any proper holding facilities for perpetrators. Thus, we take any sort of crime very seriously. You are just lucky that Council Lady Luna placed Rundas in the Night Guard last night, or else you two would have been dead.” Rainbow Dash and Lith glanced towards each other with apologetic eyes. They turned towards Spitfire and tilted their heads down with the weight of shame behind them. “I never expected the consequences of our actions to be so grim. Commander, I promise to pay for any damages that I caused.” Lith reasoned. A comical chuckle seeped from Spitfire’s breath. Her amused smile formed into a stern grimace. She glared at Lith. “Good luck trying to pay for the five-hundred thousand bits worth of property you destroyed then.” Lith’s knees gave out upon Spitfire’s words passing through her mind. Her mouth stammered, bringing forth incoherent babbling from her. “Five-hundred thousand bits?!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “I barely break the fifty-thousand bit mark on my annual salary! How are we supposed to come up with five-hundred thousand bits?!” “Thankfully, I’m not that cruel to force you the bill even if it would be justified in this case. However, it doesn’t mean you are going to go unpunished!” Spitfire declared. “Lith, since you instigated the situation, I’m putting you under a month of probation. You cannot leave H.O.R.S.E. grounds without my personal approval.” Lith bowed her head and frowned. She shut her eyes and nodded with acceptance. “Y-yes Commander.” Spitfire turned her direction towards Rainbow Dash and maintained her unsavory glare. “As for you, Rainbow Dash, I’m demoting you from your commander position into scrub pony third class.” Pointing towards the gray-fiber mop in a silver bucket, she said. “Now go and mop up the restrooms.” Rainbow Dash glanced towards the bucket with broken eyes. She approached the stalk of the mop and grasped it with her hooves. She lifted the two objects and sighed without a spark of life in it. She walked out of the closet and exited the room she cooped herself in. Spitfire’s shoulders lowered and she glanced towards Rainbow Dash with sad eyes. “What’s wrong with her?” She asked out of concern. “She has… a lot on her mind from last night. But tell me Commander; is my brother alright?” Lith asked with eyes invested in worry. “Mono?” Scratching her head, Spitfire responded. “I think I heard a bunch of commotion down in the Medical Division regarding him.” Lith sprinted out of the closet and exited the room. Spitfire raised her right front leg forward with her mouth agape. Her back twisted in knots, eliciting a sharp wince. “Where do you think you’re going?!” Rainbow Dash sat at a round table with only a dim light from above keeping her company. On the table sat a crowd of glass mugs, half of which are empty and the other half are filled with fizzy golden liquid. With a depressed frown on her face, she took a mug filled with bear and downed it on one go. She grunted and shook her head. “Nope… it still hurts.” She muttered to herself. She slid the glass towards the crowd of empty mugs and grasped a mug filled to the brim with beer. The heavy door leading into the room opened with a loud creak, revealing Rey and Thunderlane. The two avionic beings glanced towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash frowned and forced a fierce stare towards the two. “C-could you two just leave? I want to be alone right now.” She requested. Thunderlane and Rey both glanced towards each other and shared a wince of eyes. They set their sights back towards Rainbow Dash and walked into the room. “Are you alright chica? You don’t look too good.” Rey asked. “We saw you walking down here carrying four boxes of Liberty Wings. I kind of grew worried and followed you in here to check on how you are doing.” Thunderlane explained with a voice sick in worry. Rainbow Dash glanced towards the Pokémon and pegasus in front of her. With a depressed frown on her face, she flew towards the crates in the storage and pulled them towards the cardinal sides of the table. She sat back in her chair. “Are you two heavyweights? I’ll be willing to tell you my problems if you become my drinking buddies right now.” She proposed. Rey shrugged his wings and flew over towards a crate by Rainbow Dash’s side. He wrapped his opposable feathers around a handle of the glass mug. He lifted the beer and downed the entire liquid in one gulp. Thunderlane sat opposite of Rey and grabbed a frothy mug of beer. He placed his mouth on the glass and poured the golden liquid into his mouth. He slammed his empty mug onto the table and sighed with content. “Looks like you are stuck with us, Rainbow Dash.” With narrowed eyes and a satisfied grin on his face, he stated with a confident tone. “So tell me Rainbow Dash; why are you more depressed than a Cubone who lost his mother?” Rey asked. Rainbow Dash glanced down towards a cup of beer, gazing upon her reflection within its flat surface. She shut her eyes and frowned. “Tell me, Rey and Thunderlane; did Mono hurt himself?” She asked. Rey and Thunderlane glanced towards each other and then back towards Rainbow Dash. “Why do you ask?” Rey questioned. “Lith told me that Mono gets suicidal night terrors after he drinks alcohol.” Rainbow Dash answered. Thunderlane and Rey hopped back from their seats with widened eyes. Surprise shocked their nerves with shockwaves running down their spines. “That’s a bit much there, mija. I’ve never heard anything like that happen. Why are you bringing that up?” Rey asked. “Because I did something stupid and pressured him into drinking alcohol. It’s something that has been haunting me when I slept. If he died… then…” Thunderlane detected tears forming within Rainbow Dash’s eyelids. In her shroud of durability, Rainbow Dash grasped another cup of beer and downed it in one go. With a grunt of satisfaction, an intoxicated smile appeared on her face. “I think you might have had enough beer as it is, Rainbow Dash.” Thunderlane noted. Rainbow Dash turned towards Thunderlane with a drunken smile on her face. “Nonsense. I only had enough if I could forget about the pains of losing him.” Rey and Thunderlane glanced towards each other with eyes risen with curiosity. “Him?” The two males stated in unison. “My dad. Back when I lived in Cloudsdale ten years ago, my father and I lived alone. We only had each other. He used to hug me all the time and made it known that I will always be his little filly. But…” Rainbow Dash grasped another mug filled with beer and brought it to her lips. Thunderlane frowned with stoic eyes on his face and brought his right front hoof onto Rainbow Dash’s gripping hoof. He lowered the beer onto the table. “Finish up the sentence before you get another sip of that beverage.” He demanded. Rainbow Dash swiped her hoof away from Thunderlane and stared at him with empty anger. A depressed sigh left her mouth once more. “Do I even need to tell you that the Van’Goth appeared in Cloudsdale? My father and I were flying away as quick as possible. During mid-flight, my left wing got snagged within a cloud. I wriggled within its grasp, feeling the fear of death get to me. My father heard my panicked screams and came back to my aid. He freed me from the cloud, but… but…” Drops of tears streamed down into the empty mugs that once contained beer within them. Rey hummed with an understanding tone and brushed his leek-holding feathers against the bottom of his bill. “That gave the Van’Goth pursuing you more than enough time to kill your father, did it not?” Rainbow Dash nodded without any words in her mouth. She blinked once and shook her head with a despondent aura hanging around her head. “I thought it was just a bad dream. I thought I would have waken up from that horrible nightmare. But… the nightmare was real. I lost my dad before my eyes. But, it was thanks to his sacrifice that I was able to make it to Neo Canterlot.” She drank the smooth beer in her mug in one sip and slammed the table with it. “But I should have died that day! Not him!” She shouted with incomprehensible anger. Thunderlane and Rey’s eyes jumped open at the sudden change in the atmosphere surrounding the trio. They leaped out of their seats and glanced towards Rainbow Dash with uneasy expressions. Rainbow Dash’s grimace lowered into a small frown and the rage in her eyes subsided. “…Sorry.” She muttered out. “That one event filled me with a gaping hole in my heart that could never be replaced. It was shortly around the time that I came into Neo Canterlot when I discovered alcohol. I began with drinking one can a day and escalated into drinking large amounts of the stuff in my mid-teens. I’m usually pretty sobered up when on duty though.” “It sounds like to me that you are dealing with something known as survivor guilt.” Rey explained. “But you don’t need to drown out your sorrows and guilt in alcohol. It’s just not right.” Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened and she held out her front legs out with desperation. “I know! But… how else can I deal with the pain? Alcohol helps me cope with reality long enough for me to get my head back into the game.” Rey shook his head and rubbed the top of his head with his right wing. A pondering hum vibrated from his throat and reverberated throughout the cellar room. “I am not sure whether this would help or not, but would you like to go on a flight through the Twiluminescent Jungle tonight?” He proposed. “Wait… tonight? I don’t know… Commander Spitfire is still a bit upset with what I did last night.” Rainbow Dash responded with a hesitant voice. “I don’t think we would be allowed to take a jet there.” A wide grin appeared on Thunderlane’s face. “Do the two of you have the stamina to make it to the Twiluminescent Jungle continent by wing?” He asked. “Bragging is dishonorable, but I do take pride in my ability to fly to faraway locations when compared to other Farfetch’ds. Crossing over into another continent is easy for me to do by flight.” Rey responded. “Of course I do! I do a rigorous exercise regimen every day. Flying to the Twiluminescent Jungle would be a breeze.” Rainbow Dash bragged. “I bet I could fly over there as well. I’ve been meaning to go there for some time.” Thunderlane answered. “Then it’s settled; the three of us are going to fly into the jungle tonight and explore to give you something else to do than just drown your sorrows.” “Great! But… I still have to mop up the restrooms.” Rey shook his head and smiled. “We took care of that already.” He said. “…Seriously?” Rainbow Dash responded with utter disbelief. “How??” “With that bucket and mopped you dropped off at your home. Yes, we followed you.” Thunderlane responded with a shameless tone. Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders with a happy smile on her face. “Well, it looks like I have to come with you two now!” Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane and Rey flew into the violet night sky, where an ocean of stars overlooked the cool-colored sea below. Feeling the cool breeze rolling from underneath his wings, a content sigh founds its way out of Rey’s mouth. “This night weather feels good underneath my wings.” He stated. He glanced over towards Rainbow Dash’s back, where a green trident the size of a giant crab’s claw and a volt purple rifle hoisted itself upon. “What’s with the weapons, Rainbow Dash? Do we really need that?” “You do realize that the Twiluminescent Jungle is a dangerous place to go to regardless of the reason going there, right? The creatures there are bigger than anything else in the world!” Rainbow Dash explained. Thunderlane brought his front hooves onto a curved knife with a dark red blade on his right flank and a deep blue-colored cylinder the size of his torso on his back. “Rainbow Dash is right. Going to that continent unarmed is the same as asking to come back home in a coffin. We really don’t want that.” A jolly burst of laughter broke out from Rey’s voice. He looked towards the two pegasi to his right. “I see. With how you make it sound like, these creatures can be as big as Groudons! They would probably be worthy foes when they face off against my leek I dubbed ‘Masamune’.” He called out with an interested smile on his face. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes towards Rey in confusion. “Why did you name your onion ‘Masamune’?” She asked. “You’ll see…” Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane and Rey descended upon the thick of the jungle. The three of them breathed with heavy panting. A refreshing midnight haze hung upon the atmosphere of the dark green vegetation, cloaking the flora with an ethereal glow of cool colors. A smile appeared on Rey’s face. “Wow. That’s very pretty.” He noted. “I have to agree with you there, Rey; I don’t think that the Terraformed Wilderness has anything on the Twiluminescent Jungle at night.” Thunderlane responded. “So… what’s first?” Walking ahead of the group with a smile on her face, Rainbow Dash asked. Rey raised his wings with a shrug of his shoulders. His beak and eyes emanated the puzzled confusion stored within his mind. “I do not know. I thought we would have come here to help your spirit by freezing those terrible memories of yours in place.” The canopy above rustled with increasing ferocity. A buzzing noise of a sharp frequency reverberated from above the squad. They glanced upwards, where brown and black-spotted roaches the size of minivans descended towards the trio. Their soulless eyes gazed at the group with hungry eyes. Rainbow Dash smirked and pulled out her trident, stood on her hind legs and held her massive weapon on her right front leg. “Looks like I know what we are doing first.” She said with a cocky tone. Rey brandished his leek, holding it out and brushing his right wing against its green and leafy edge. Thunderlane grasped his knife with his right front hoof and flipped the hilt towards his body’s direction. He pointed the blade of the weapon towards the giant insects. Rainbow Dash tossed her trident into the crowd of flying roaches with a flowing movement of her hoof. The points of the trident stuck themselves into the roach in the back of the group, planking it into a nearby tree. The roach’s many legs squirmed in desperation and it opened its wings with an attempt to flee. Rainbow Dash yanked on a vine attached to the opposite end of the trident and grabbed the flying lance with her two hooves. Rey leaped into the air, his height meeting that of the flying roaches. He threw his leek towards one of the roaches, which approached it at phantasm speeds. With the blade of the leek stabbing into its chitin, the roach’s wings flapped at a lower speed. Rey flew towards the side of the roach in a blink of an eye and extended his wings towards the stabbing leek. With a sleight of wing, he swiped the blade through the roach, causing it to drop to the ground with its body open in half. Thunderlane’s knife clashed against the legs of the roach he approached against in the air. He hovered towards the right of the roach and lifted the knife above the strike. With a descent of his hoof with the speed of its ascent, he plunged the knife through the chitin of the roach. Removing the knife, he unleashed a series of stabbing motions against it. With green fluid leaking from its back, the roach fell to the ground. With seamless movement, Rainbow Dash swapped her trident with the rifle on her back and aimed it towards another roach in the air. She fired a sharpened round towards it. The bullet pierced through the roach’s body. With agitated movement, it rushed towards Rainbow Dash and tackled her. Rainbow Dash’s hind hooves dragged along the ground. She set her eyes forward and saw the same roach approaching her at light speed. Rainbow Dash lifted her rifle into the air and fired a bullet through its head. “Nice shooting, Rainbow Dash!” Rey complimented. Rainbow Dash swapped out kicked her rifle into the air and pulled out her trident. The rifle fell onto its holster on her back, gripping it with a snug hold. “Thanks Rey.” Holding his leek into the air, four phantoms of clashing swords surrounded Rey. With the swords inverting their position and disappearing, a ferocious white aura surrounded the Farfetch’d. He expanded his wingspan and took flight into the air. The aura around him flared with the intensity of a shooting star. He flew through the horde of roaches, slicing them in half with the sheer force of his body. Thunderlane grabbed the cannon on his back with his two upper hooves and aimed them towards a group of roaches heading towards him. With it a whirring light and a pulsating noise, the weapon fired off a brilliant beam that pierced through the canopy. The roaches within its orange trajectory vanished from sight. The beam died down. Rey landed on the ground with exhausted eyes and hefty panting. His body cloaked itself with a light green aura. A smile of relief appeared on his face. Rainbow Dash glanced towards Rey with confused eyes and a mouth agape with disbelief. “Rey, why do you look so exhausted right now?” She asked. “That’s the cost of my most powerful move known as Brave Bird. For the damage I inflict upon my targets, I take half of it as my own damage.” Rey explained. “That seems a bit dangerous.” Putting away the cannon back onto his back, Thunderlane noted. “It did the job, did it not?” Saying these words, Rey stood up and pointed his leek towards a spiraling path that led deep into the jungle. “I am not sure about you caballitos locos, but we should probably continue down this jungle if we want to keep exploring and not stick around for more of these bugs.” He walked forwards into the lush vegetation of the tropical forest. Thunderlane glanced towards Rainbow Dash, who put away her trident with ease. “You know, I find it impressive that a mare of your size can hold a weapon that big.” He commented. Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders and flashed an innocent smile towards Thunderlane. “What can I say? Muscles are meaningless sometimes. It’s not about how big they are, but it’s how you use it.” She responded. “Ummm… what?” Thunderlane responded with a confused tone and a slight blush building over his black coat. A lighthearted chuckle burst itself from Rainbow Dash’s voice. She walked forward towards Rey’s direction and flipped her right front hoof towards Thunderlane’s direction. “Come on, Thunderlane. We don’t want to leave Rey by himself, now do we?” Rey, Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane walked deeper into the dense jungle territory. The light from the moon faded into a fraction of its current brilliance. Thunderlane glanced towards Rey’s leek with cautious eyes. “So Rey… about that leek of yours.” He began asking. “With the tone of your voice, you must be curious about why I even carry a leek around, no?” “That… and how your leek isn’t even destroyed.” Rey smirked and patted his leek with loving attention. “We Farfetch’d always carry a leek. They are connected to our life force.” He explained. “If anything bad were to happen to this leek, I’d be dead!” “Seriously?!” Rainbow Dash asked with a tone wrought with disbelief. “That seems like a stupid gimmick for your species, Rey. No offense, but wouldn’t that make your kind endangered or something?” “Of course! It also doesn’t help that our leeks are used in making delicious stews, so we are constantly hunted for them.” Rey answered with a positive tone radiating honesty. “I didn’t even think that your kind was endangered!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “It’s alright. I do not blame you for asking about the bloody history of my kind.” Rey stated. “This particular leek also happens to be passed down from the generations of my clan. The amount of Farfetch’d life forces within its blade makes it exceptionally strong when compared to other leeks.” “So that’s why you named your leek Masamune; it’s the leek of your clan.” Thunderlane said. Rey frowned and shook his head. “But alas, the Magnified Clan had been hunted to its extinction because of our especially tasty leeks and bodies. I am the last member of this prestigious clan.” A small frown appeared on Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane’s faces. Their eyes emanated pity for their fine-feathered friend. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. It must have been tough for you to go through.” Rainbow Dash said. “What’s in the past is in the past. Besides, I’m a part of a good bunch of mercenaries. We are sellswords, but we are a good family.” Shrugging his shoulders without a thought in the world, Rey responded. “Well, family is important. I always worry about Rumble and my mother, even if they are fine.” Thunderlane answered. Rey stopped in his tracks and held out his right wing in pause. He smashed his leek into the ground and placed his right side of the head against the stalk. Vibrations of moving gears and shooting pistons reverberated throughout his eardrum. A low growl emitted from his beak. “We got company.” He declared. “Company?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I heard a faint noise within the jungle. The earth confirms that there is some sort of factory up ahead, and it isn’t filled with friendlies.” Smirking, Thunderlane placed his front hooves together and cracked the joints within them. “I was starting to get a bit bored here. Let’s investigate.” Rainbow Dash glanced towards Thunderlane with worried eyes and a nervous hum. “Don’t you think it would be better to get the other H.O.R.S.E. operatives involved in this? I mean, giant roaches are one thing, but a factory filled with deadly foes? I don’t want to risk it.” “Come on Rainbow, we’ll be alright. We have an incredibly strong and agile mare who can tear through defenses like butter, a master swordsman duck Pokémon, and the handsome stallion with a strong knife and a big cannon.” Thunderlane announced with a proud huff and prance of hooves. “Haha very funny.” She uttered out with a sarcastic tone. “But… it would give us the chance to do some recon and report to H.O.R.S.E. if we discover anything.” “Then it is settled; we investigate what lies ahead. If we find something of note, we report it.” Rey announced. Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane and Rey trampled through the mess of vegetation in their path. The leaves they pushed away with their limbs tickled the flesh underneath their coats and feathers. Moving through the last of the vegetation, the group stepped into a clearing. Their hearts stopped and their mouths dropped at the sight in front of them; a black building crafted out of black metals stood tall in the center of the clearing. Vines and vegetation coated its exterior and ran along the cracks of its surface. A large door stood in front of the trio. Rey slammed his leek into the ground and placed his ear against it. His eyes narrowed and his face grimaced. “It seems as though my suspicions were correct; this factory is still active.” He said with a grim tone. “Active? But it looks abandoned.” Rainbow Dash noted. “It could be one of those automated factories that were around during the descent of the Van’Goth.” Thunderlane theorized. A wave of fear overcame him, eliciting shaky hooves and a shivering spine. “I don’t think we should go in.” “Are you not curious as to what lies within? After all, the path to the truth lies on a road of unpleasant circumstances.” Rey called out. “Ummm…” “I understand if you do not want to enter inside of it, but I will still enter regardless because it will contain some vital information with helping out your war efforts. I may be a stranger of this world, but I wish to give you all a fighting chance because no one deserves to see the ambitions of a genocidal race of aliens come to fruition.” Rainbow Dash smiled with a layer of inspiration built up from Rey’s words. She walked towards the factory gate’s frame and looked back towards Thunderlane and Rey. A sly smile curled on her face. “You know it is improper for adult males to keep a mare waiting, right?” Rey walked down the path towards the factory with graceful steps. Thunderlane smiled with a sheepish giggle and tiptoed his way towards the factory. The trio lurked through the interior of the active factory. The pistons pumped a city’s size of steam, humidifying the air. Dim lights hung upon the ceiling that lit up the pathway, allowing the group to see large gears turning with eternal longevity. The arms of the machines grasped onto metallic materials within a pile and dropped them onto conveyor belt that led into a different section of the factory. “A factory without any type of personnel operating it.” Rey said with an empty voice. A shiver went down Rainbow Dash’s spine. She embraced herself and shook underneath the sudden pressure exerting itself onto her body. “That’s just creepy. There aren’t even any machines operating the machines. Where do we even go?” Thunderlane glanced up towards the ceiling, where silver-coated mechas with unlit optic fibers hung. A bead of sweat dripped down his face and his teeth bore themselves with anxiety. “I think the machines are above us.” Pointing towards the ceiling with a slow hoof, he stated. Rainbow Dash stared at the ceiling with eyes dull with a lack of interest. She glanced towards Thunderlane with a disappointed frown and a shake of her head. “They’re inactive, Thunderlane. Don’t act like such a kitten about it.” She chided, taking a step forward. Her right front hoof stepped on a tile that slid down by an inch. The eyes of the mechas above lit up with a bright blue. Their arms twitched. The hooks their bodies hung upon slid beyond the ceiling. One by one, the storm of mechas dropped down from the ceiling, landing on their left hands and right knees. Rainbow Dash and Rey’s eyes lit up with panic. Thunderlane grinned and pointed towards Rainbow Dash with an enthusiastic pose. “Hah! I was right to be worried!” He called out with an immature tone. “Yeah yeah so you were right to be worried.” Rainbow Dash uttered out with an annoyed tone. “But… we still have to fight these robots that you just had to notice!” “I know, but at least I was right.” Rey shook his head with disbelief and smacked his forehead with his right wing. “You two act like such a married couple.” He noted with an aggravated tone. “No we don’t!” Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane shouted with anger obstinate in their voices. Rey readied his leek with his right wing, grasping it towards his left side. Seeing the mechas walk towards the group, he narrowed his eyes. “You two shut up and pull out your weapons. These foes will be much tougher than the roaches we fought back in the jungle.” With frowns and scowls on their faces, Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane pulled out their melee weapons and pointed it towards the mechas. The mechas lifted their fists towards the group. A shower of bursting bullets rained down upon the trio. The trio flew away from the radius of the bullet spray and set their gazes towards one mecha. A grassy vine shot out of the center spike of Rainbow Dash’s trident and wrapped itself around the arm of the mecha. Rainbow Dash yanked the trident, lifting it towards her with her awesome might. The vine retracted back into the trident. Rainbow Dash leaped towards the mecha heading her way and held her lance towards its torso. Rainbow Dash jabbed her torso forward and the mecha launched its right fist towards Rainbow Dash. The two titanic forces collided against each other, unleashing shockwaves that engulfed everyone within its pressurized field. Rey landed on the ground and sprinted towards the mecha with its fist extended towards Rainbow Dash’s trident. He leaped onto Rainbow Dash’s back and hopped overhead. With his leek over his head and flipped forward in the air. His leek sliced an inch into the head of the mecha. He landed on the ground and glanced behind him. He flipped his leek to its side and gripped it in reverse. He charged towards the mecha and brought it to its hips. The leek bounced off it without any effect. “These are some durable robots!” He gritted through his beak. Thunderlane leaped on top of the mecha’s head and brought his knife down into the area chipped away by Rey’s leek. A stream of lightning shot down from the knife and into the mecha, zapping its entire body from the inside-out. He leaped off of the head and landed on the ground. The mecha turned its head towards Thunderlane and its eyes ignited with a luminous blue. Thunderlane’s heart fell onto the bed of his intestines. “Seriously?! Not even a critical Thunderbolt does anything against them?!” He shouted with fear in his tone. Rey shifted his sights towards all of his surroundings. A sea of mechanized beings surrounded him at every conceivable angle. His eyes glanced towards an open tile of stairs that led to a lower level. He glanced towards Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane, waving his left wing. “There is no shame in running away. Let’s flee!” Rey stated. “But how?! These robots have us all surrounded!” Rainbow Dash asked with a panicking tone. Rey brandished is leek and pointed it towards the stairs. He narrowed his eyes and breathed with an even air. “Our blades shall forge a new path amidst the forest of deceit and danger. Let’s go!” Shouting these words, he dashed into the crowd of mechas with the speed of a raging typhoon. He leaped towards the individual machines in his path and struck the blade of his leek against them, pushing them back and opening space. Thunderlane nodded with a serious aura in his eyes. He sprinted towards the opened area and flew through the air. Anxiety locked up Rainbow Dash’s nerves. Time froze around her. She heard each individual beat of her heart resonating throughout the environment. Within the confines of her head, the sounds of whirring blades tearing through flesh resonated out into the current area. The pained screams of an adult male haunted the catacombs of her mind. “Rainbow Dash!” Waving his leek with pretentious shakes, Rey shouted. Rainbow Dash shook her head and became alert to reality. She glanced towards Rey with alert eyes. Her eyes filled with determination and survival instinct. She sprinted towards the cleared path with a sonic cone forming around her. She leaped into the air and beat her wings, creating a rainbow shockwave that changed the colors of the entire area into those belonging to a rainbow. Rey’s beak held itself agape. His brown feathers turned into a pink tinge. He blinked once and looked down upon himself. “I’m not a shiny!” He shouted, running towards the stairs. The trio of avionic crawled along the catacombs of the lower floor. The lighting along the ceiling resonated with weaker energy than the main floors of the factory, creating a grim atmosphere of gloom that grasped onto the spines of the operatives. Tubes filled with luminous blue fluid and embryonic creatures littered the eyes of the group. Rey hugged himself and shivered. “I do not know what is in those tubes, nor do I want to know their purpose there.” “What even is the purpose of this corridor anyways? It looks like something straight out of a science horror flick.” Rainbow Dash asked. “I think we might have found something interesting to tell H.O.R.S.E. Why is there a factory that is within the middle of nowhere on this continent? Why does it have no personnel to speak of? Why is it still actively producing products?” Rubbing the bottom of his chin, Thunderlane questioned. “Let’s hold off on telling H.O.R.S.E. anything. We still do not know if this place is an active danger or not yet.” Rainbow Dash instructed. One of the embryotic life forms within a tube the trio walked across twitched and opened its pin-strained eyes, bringing a cold shock of dread down their tails. “Okay, so they are definitely alive.” With his feathers shaking with fear and anxiety, Rey relayed. “Can we please hurry this up?” Rainbow Dash shot a glare towards Rey’s direction. “This was your idea, eggs for brains. Besides, we’ll get creamed if we turn back!” She chastised. “Sorry Rainbow Dash. I am not really too fond of the creation of artificial life. It is very disturbing on a mortal and metaphysical level.” Rey responded. “Ummm… isn’t one of your partners an artificially-created Pokémon?” Thunderlane asked. “Inge is different. At least she wasn’t created in a test tube like them.” The darkness of the hall dissipated with a room with bright lighting approaching within the group’s eyes. Walking into the room, their eyes set themselves on a cage where a muscular quadruped with a burgundy coat. A head of a goat and a head of a lion placed themselves upon the top of his torso. A scorpion’s tail affixed itself off of its end. Two bats wings sprouted from his back. Sleek machinery encased itself within portions of his body. Seeing the trio in front of him, he roared out in aggression and tackled the cage. “What… what is that thing?!” Thunderlane shouted in fear. “It kind of looks like a chimera and a manticore put together.” Rainbow Dash guessed. “So it’s a mix-and-match of two mix-and-match creatures?” Rey asked. “Where is a Unovian rapper that pimps cars when you need him?” “We really didn’t need the joke Rey.” Thunderlane complained. “But why is this chimera-manticore hybrid locked up here?” “Because you Equusians and your war did this to him!” The trio looked over towards their left, where a quadruped with the body and head of a tiger, an additional head of a goat and a snake for a tail dropped down onto the ground. To her left walked a tall lion-like creature with bat wings and a scorpion’s tail with an intimidating stare directed towards the trio. “What are you doing in our home?!” The manticore shouted out. “Your home? You mean you made this factory lab your home?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with shock ringing in her voice. “Yes!” The chimera called out. “But that is enough for that. What are you three doing here?” “Forgive us for intruding on your property madam.” Bowing with a humble movement, Rey responded. “We decided to wander the Twiluminescent Jungle to help our friend Rainbow Dash and we seemed to have come across an abandoned factory. We decided to investigate, triggered the robots upstairs and we are now down here.” “Well, you are right with believing that this factory was abandoned. When we first came upon here, there was not a soul in sight.” The manticore stated. Thunderlane glanced towards the chimera and manticore with an eye raised in curiosity. He walked up towards them with a slow movement. “So… this is your son? What happened to him?” The chimera swiped her claws towards Thunderlane, knocking him back and creating three slits along the surface of his torso. He grasped the stinging flesh and stared towards the chimera and manticore with wincing eyes. “What did you do that for?!” “We don’t take to kindly to you society dwellers. We nature dwellers were always wary of your actions towards us and then the galactic war broke out. Our son here was a casualty of the chemical warfare inflicted against what you called the Land of Deer.” The chimera replied. Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane’s heads jolted upwards from the news of the last sentence. Rey glanced towards the duo with wary eyes. “Chemical warfare? Your kind used chemical warfare?!” “Well, yeah! We used napalm and hydrochloric acids to try to defeat the Van’Goth.” Rainbow Dash explained with a tone ridden with guilt. “It didn’t work.” Thunderlane responded. “Our son was the victim of that warfare. He was burned and maimed by the chemicals your kind threw at him! We barely saved his life because of the biomachinery in this place, but it left him too aggressive! Are you proud of yourselves!? Is this how you go about your war effort?” The manticore shouted. He pointed over towards the cage where the chimera-manticore hybrid stood, which clawed at the bars of the cage with pained howls. Guilt gripped Rainbow Dash’s heart. She looked away from the chimera and manticore and stared at the ground. “It’s my fault… it’s always my fault! I always do all these stupid mistakes that get others hurt or killed.” Rey narrowed his eyes and flew in front of the chimera and manticore couple. He banged his leek into the metal floor and stared at the two quadrupeds with an intense fire glowing in his eyes. “I do not appreciate you putting the blame of your son’s problems on my friends. She wasn’t even old enough when it happened! Yes, the Equusians made mistakes when retaliating against the Van’Goth, but mistakes happen.” He reasoned. “Their mistakes hurt out son!” The chimera roared out. “Okay, so maybe some mistakes are more costly than others and you are still paying for it. We are not the ones that did it. If you are planning on continuing your worthless accusations out of the pain you feel, then you leave me no choice.” Rey pointed his leek towards the manticore and chimera. “I shall challenge one of you to a duel of honor!” “A duel of honor? You are in no place to propose such a thing, bird.” The manticore called out. “So you refuse?” The chimera held her right front leg out and blocked the manticore’s path. All three of her heads looked into the manticore’s eyes. The manticore nodded in understanding and took three steps back. “I shall be your opponent. If I win, then my family will be allowed to slaughter you and your partners and feast on your corpses. If you win, then you can do whatever you like with us.” The chimera proposed. “Very reasonable terms.” Nodding his head, Rey stated. “Reasonable?!” Thunderlane shouted. “Rey, if you die, then we die! That is not a reasonable!” “Trust me, Thunderlane; I would not be doing if there was no other alternative. These beasts would kill us regardless. Besides, no one dishonors one of my friends.” “I must warn you; I do not hold back.” The chimera stated with a serious tone. She leaped forward with blurring speed and extended her claws. Rey parried the strike with his leek. He leaped above her and aimed his blade towards the center of the chimera’s spine. The snake grinned with a smug smile and coiled herself. Rey fell towards the chimera’s back with his sword primed, but the snake wrapped around him, squeezing his body. “H…how did I not foresee this coming?!” Rey grunted out. “Just because we are one being does not mean that we do not have minds of our own.” The snake replied. “Rey!” Rainbow Dash shouted out in fear. The manticore glared over her body. “Do not worry, Rainbow Dash. I’ve been through worse!” Rey stated. He bit the body of the snake, causing her eyes to shoot open and loosen her grip. Rey flew out of the tail’s grip and hovered above the chimera, where the body glanced towards the snake and rubbed the bit area with loving care. His leek flashed with a light green cutter and he flew down towards the tiger head. His blade struck against the skull, knocking the chimera back. With his leek still flashing, he smashed the blade against the body of the chimera. An audible groan emerged from her voice. Rey flew into the air and dropped towards her with his blade reinforced by the green light shimmering with a higher intensity. The goat head on the chimera bit the blade of the leek with her flat teeth, stopping it in place. Rey dropped the grip on his leek and flew backwards. His body cloaked itself with his Brave Bird’s aura. He tackled into the chimera, causing an explosion of smoke that engulfed the two. The chimera leaped out of the smoke cloud with her claws primed to the ground. Rey flew out of the smoke with his leek back in mouth. His right eye winced from the pain and exhaustion running through the annals of his body. He spat out his leek back into his right wing. “My, you look a bit exhausted there. Do you mean to tell me that you have difficulty keeping up with me?” The chimera chided with a teasing voice. “You are a very crafty foe, I will give you that. I am far from done, however. I have overcome worse obstacles.” Rey responded. “Then let us see how long you shall last against our relentless might.” The chimera stated. She lunged forward and bore her tiger fangs towards Rondo. Witnessing the ferocious attack with the chimera’s ravenous mouth, Rey leaped up towards the ceiling with the force of a pressurized torpedo underneath his webbed feet. He sat upon the chimera’s back, roosting on her. A healing energy surrounded Rey, invigorating him. The tiger head of the chimera glanced behind her and snarled at Rey. Rey leaped off of the chimera and held out his leek. His leek flashed with a green light and he smashed it against the chimera’s torso. Dropping onto the ground, he slashed at the chimera’s head once more, staggering her body. He gripped his leek with both wings and slashed with a diagonal angle, knocking her away. The chimera collided against the cage door. The manticore’s eyes widened and he sprinted over towards the chimera. “Are you alright?!” He asked with concern emanating from his voice. Each head of the chimera winced. She lifted herself off of the ground with a shaky rise of her body. “I’m fine. That just hit-“ Rey pointed his leek towards the tiger head’s neck. His leek pulsed with an intense light four times stronger than when it first wrapped around it. “I suggest you do not move if you do not want for me to hit you with my Fury Cutter again. After all, it doubles in power each time it hits you.” He said with a cold tone. Each of the heads on the chimera whimpered with fear. They each closed their eyes and looked down onto the ground. “Very well, you have defeated us.” All three heads of the chimera stated in unison. “What?!” The manticore called out with shock and fear reverberating in his voice. “You can’t be serious! Does that mean…” “Yep; you will have to honor your losing proposition. We can do whatever we want with you and your family.” Rey stated. The hybrid behind the bars of the cage glanced towards the hinges of the door, witnessing them hang with a loose disposition. He tore off the hinges with his powerful claws. The door fell backwards. At the moment it dropped onto the ground, the hybrid lunged towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash glanced towards the hybrid charging towards her. Not even a reactionary breath allowed itself to pass through her upon feeling the stinging claws of the hybrid pin her down onto her back through her front hooves. The four eyes of the hybrid looked down upon her face and saliva dripped down from her teeth and onto her uniform. Rainbow Dash’s heart beat with the strength of a gong strike and her nerves wracked with the cold fear of death. “Hey! Tell your child to get off my friend, now!” Rey shouted. The chimera’s heads looked away from Rainbow Dash and their child. A tear dropped from the snake’s right eye. “He cannot be reasoned with.” The goat head on the chimera responded. “You see that tech on him? He’s only alive because of it. It cost him his sanity, however. I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do.” Thunderlane pulled out his ray cannon and flew over towards the hybrid. Standing in front of the beast, he fired a beam from his weapon and knocked the hybrid backwards. With his body not pinning her down, Rainbow Dash flew from underneath the shadow. “You got no subtlety!” Thunderlane shouted with a cocky tone. The hybrid dropped down onto his four legs and glanced towards Thunderlane, staring noxious death towards the stallion’s direction. The hybrid sprinted towards Thunderlane with blurring speeds, appearing before him within a blink of an eye. His claw held itself high above Thunderlane’s head. Rainbow Dash pulled out her trident and dashed between Thunderlane and the hybrid. The claw of the hybrid collided with Rainbow Dash’s trident. She flipped backwards and kicked the jaw of the hybrid with her right hind leg during the revolution. Leaping into the air, she held her trident high in the air and unleashed a dust of green powder into the atmosphere. The dust descended upon the hybrid. The hybrid’s eyes dropped with rapid descents. His legs trembled underneath his body’s weight. His eyes shut and his body collapsed onto the ground. A loud snore sounded out from the sleeping beast. A relieved smile appeared on Rainbow Dash’s face. “You alright there, Thunderlane?” She asked. Thunderlane flashed a smile and nodded his head. He held out his right front hoof with an upward diagonal position. The manticore glanced towards the two pegasi and his son. A small smile formed on his face. He approached Rainbow Dash and nodded his head. “Thank you for not killing my son. I know that he isn’t exactly the social kind of being, but he always put the well-being of others above himself… at least prior to his accident.” He stated. “It’s not much of a problem. I didn’t really want to kill him. Otherwise, I’d be putting you through losing a family member.” Rainbow Dash responded with a chilled tone. The chimera stood up from her position and walked towards her sleeping son. Gazing upon the slow rises and falls of his chest, a comforted smile appeared on all of her faces. “This is the most peaceful that I have ever seen him. It doesn’t look like he is in much pain.” The goat head on the chimera stated. The snake on the chimera frowned and shook her head. “But he’s only going to go back to screaming in pain after he wakes up.” She said with a despondent tone. A frown appeared on Rainbow Dash’s face. She hovered by the chimera’s side and placed her right front hoof on her shoulder. “If it means anything, I promise that I will find a way to get rid of his pain and have your family live a happy life. It’s the least I can do for you.” She offered. “You are sweet to propose, but there isn’t much that can be done here. We would use some of the factory’s research on L.I.F.E. to restore him, but it seems very dubious and could leave him in an even worse condition.” The chimera responded. Thunderlane’s jaw dropped at the words dropped by the chimera. He approached her with a shaky head. “Wait, what was that last tidbit you said about the factory?!” He shouted. “Perhaps we should explain.” Walking towards Thunderlane with a sagacious gaze within his eyes, the manticore responded. “When we first delved into the depths of the factory, we found some documentation on something known as Last Incubation of Finite Existence. From what we’ve read, it creates artificial life that is immune to the grasp of death.” “So all those creatures in those tubes… they are products of L.I.F.E.?” Rey asked with his tone drenched in concern. “Yes. They are created through the DNA of fallen Equusians and are recreated through the technology of this factory. We want to shut it down due to its unethical implications, but this research can save our son. We are just holding out and continuing the research on L.I.F.E. until we are certain that we get our desired result.” The chimera responded. “I ask that you do not reveal this secret to your organization. I feel that they might destroy this factory if they found out.” A war broke out within Rainbow Dash’s mind. The urge of telling H.O.R.S.E. stood strong against the desire to protect an unfortunate family caught within the galactic war. The walls of her urge weakened against the strikes of her desires. Within her desires, she heard the calming voice of a stallion run through her head. She glanced towards the chimera. “The three of us will not tell anyone about this factory’s existence.” She stated. “What?!” Rey and Thunderlane shouted in unison. “Are you crazy?!” Rainbow Dash glanced towards her partners and flashed a strong stare into their eyes. “Listen; these three are casualties of a war we have. They do not want any part of our conflict and we will not force it upon them. If we do, then we are no worse than the Van’Goth that killed millions upon millions of lives just to achieve their goal.” Thunderlane and Rey stared towards Rainbow Dash in silence. Uneasiness rose within their stomachs alongside bile. They glanced towards the ceiling and into Rainbow Dash’s eyes. “I’ll probably hate myself for saying this, but alright.” Thunderlane stated. “I would agree… only if we find a way to deal with the robots above.” Rey said. The manticore walked over towards a desk and pulled on a blue cabinet, revealing a silver clip. He grasped it with his mouth and handed it to Rey. “This clip will give you the ability to cut through any metal you desire. We have no use for it, so we do not have any attachment to it. You would be able to get the best mileage out of it, however.” Rey grasped the device with his bill and slipped it over his right wing. He felt a burst of energy shoot through his body. A smile appeared on his face. “Thank you very much for this gift. Again, we apologize for invading your home. We had no idea that there were still others here.” He stated. A mecha stormed down from the hallway and into the room. It glanced towards Rey with daggers directed into the Farfetch’d’s eyes. It held up its arm, curled its fist and shot it towards Rey. Rey leaped into the air and bisected the mecha with his leek. The mecha fell onto the ground with its metal warping around the slice mark. He glanced towards the clip and shrugged his shoulders. “Very effective! This will definitely give me a much-needed edge against Steel-type Pokémon.” He stated. “Ummm… so can we leave now?” Thunderlane asked. “That is all what we wanted for you three to do upon coming here. Leave us, and never come back.” The chimera stated. The trio of operatives looked down the hallway and ran down the corridor. Rainbow Dash glanced back towards the family and grinned. “Thanks!” She said out loud. The tiger head on the chimera smiled and looked towards the leaving operatives. “Thank you for caring.” She stated. Author's Note This chapter went through much within its development. But, we got a bit more on Rainbow Dash's backstory and even got some more background on the world! Hooray! Self-WorthProfessor Pasque stood over a desk with eyes red with exhaustion. He looked down onto the table before him, gazing upon a sea of documents rife with tons of varying info. He blinked his eyes at a slow speed and a large yawn escaped from his mouth. Standing before a contained explosion of brilliant lights with safety goggles on, Einstein looked over his left arm and gazed back towards Professor Pasque’s body, where he wobbled to the left and right. Einstein’s eyes widened with worry. “Professor Pasque! Are you alright?!” Rushing over towards his side, he asked. “I’m… I’m fine. Just… peachy fine.” Forcing an exhausted smile on his face, Professor Pasque responded with half-attentiveness in his eyes. Einstein narrowed his eyes and frowned. “You’ve exhausted yourself, Earnest! Don’t try to hide it from me.” He called out. “Did you get any sleep?” Professor Pasque brought his mouth wide open and exhaled a large yawn. He smacked his lips against each other and glanced down towards Einstein. “To be truthful… not really. I would be lucky if I could find the time to rest. I am just so close to figuring out the Fairy-type genome after decoding all of the other types and I still am working overnight with Professor Gentian to find a way to bring Joker and his gang back to their world. Then… there’s the fact that I still am developing gear and…” Professor Pasque’s eyes drooped towards their lowest possible point. His head and neck slumped down from the ground and loud snores can be heard from him. Einstein frowned and brought his left arm onto Professor Pasque’s right shoulder. Professor Pasque jolted awake and uttered out a startled noise. “What in the name of Arceus happened?!” He shouted with surprise. “You fell asleep again, Earnest. I’m worried about your work habits.” Einstein responded. “Don’t you ever take a break?” Professor Pasque shook his head and yawned once more. “Not with all the projects I’ve been buried up to my head with. Being one of the leading scientists behind these projects is definitely tough. It’s gotten to the point where I never step out of the lab and…” Stating these words, his long neck drooped down onto the table. His knees collapsed onto the ground and his eyes slowed down to a shut. Einstein glanced towards his left and right. His eyes filled with objective desire. Glancing towards Twilight Sparkle looking through a cream-colored microscope, a smile appeared on his face. He hovered over towards her direction. “Twilight!” He called out with a happy tone. Twilight Sparkle glanced towards Einstein’s direction and flashed a warm and inviting smile. “Hello Einstein. Did you need me for anything?” She asked. “Ummm…” Einstein muttered out. His eyes rolled towards his left and he pointed behind him, where Professor Pasque lied on the table within deep exhaustion. Twilight Sparkle peered over her shoulder. She closed her eyes, frowned and shook her head. “I was afraid this would happen. That stubborn sauropod is working himself to death. I tried telling him to take even one day off lab work, but he is insistent on finishing the projects involving Pokémon. He just takes all the workload for himself and rarely delegates his responsibilities to others.” She murmured out with concern. “Well… he has to take the day off now. He can’t be sleeping on the job.” “I suppose so… Very well, I’ll talk to him.” Twilight Sparkle stepped away from her station and walked towards Professor Pasque. Einstein hopped just by her side. Hearing the shockwaves of pounding bodies approaching him, Professor Pasque’s eyes opened with a slow speed. “T-Twilight?” He asked with a slurred voice. “Professor, I’m afraid that I have to ask you to take the rest of the day off. This time, I mean it.” Twilight Sparkle responded with an insistent tone. “B-But-“ “But nothing, sir! Look at you! It looks like you never had a pleasant day of rest. I do not want to have any fatalities within this division due to work-related exhaustion. I know how important these projects are to you and how cautious you are about them, but the world will not end if you stop for just one day. Am I right or wrong?” Professor Pasque lifted his head a foot above the table. He gritted his teeth and hummed with rumination. “I guess not.” “Good.” Twilight Sparkle said. “I’m sure you should get around to seeing Lith right now though. She seems a miserable at the moment.” Upon hearing Lith’s name, Professor Pasque’s eyes sparked with alertness. He lifted his long neck off of the table and stomped the floor. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!” Shouting these words, he sprinted out of the lab with the speed and power of a stampeding mammoth. He crashed through the wall, leaving a gaping hole inside of it. Twilight Sparkle glanced towards the hole in the wall and forced a smile. Her right eye twitched. She glanced towards Einstein. “You know that wall is going to be expensive to repair, right?” She asked with a voice feigning tranquility. “I know.” Lith sat down at a table in a cafeteria in a remote corner far from the rest of the crowd. On the opposite side of the table sat Neptune, whose ruby glared down onto the mashed potatoes served alongside a slab of brown meat drenched in rich gravy. Lith laid her chin over her left paw and mixed her potatoes and gravy together at a somber speed. Neptune pointed towards Lith’s food. “Are you going to consume that?” It asked with curiosity. “I thought you fed off of sunlight.” Lith responded with a melancholic tone. “Well sorry for not desiring for good carbons to go to waste! You’re just twirling it around and not ingesting it. Why do you even sound so depressed anyways?” Neptune responded with a sharp tongue. Lith moved her eyes towards Neptune’s direction and deepened her frown. “Can’t you bother someone else, Neptune? I’m not exactly in the mood to hear you out.” She requested. Neptune paused during the moment. The gem on its body flashed with a red light. “Hmmm… nope. You are stuck with me until you are out of your funk. Tough luck for you, am I right?” The grip on the fork Lith had around her paw increased in pressure, bending the plastic around her smoldering grasp. Neptune shook under the incandescent flames of Lith’s stare. “I would put up with your crap any other day, but I really am not in the mood right now. I’m serious.” Lith threatened. Neptune hopped off of the seat and landed its spikes onto the ground. “Well fine then! I know when I am given a cold shoulder. I’m going to see if there are any tasks right now for me.” Stating these words, it rolled away from the cafeteria with pretentious spinning. Lith glanced back towards her food and spun it with the remaining limp of her fork. Her ears perked up at the sound of heavy footsteps approaching her direction from the opposite side of the cafeteria. Looking forward, her eyes met upon a panicking Professor Pasque, whose eyes radiated with concern and exhaustion. Professor Pasque stopped before Lith’s table and dropped onto his knees. “Lith!” He shouted with exhaustion apparent in his voice. “Professor! What are you doing here?!” Lith asked. Professor Pasque inhaled deep breaths and looked into Lith’s eyes. “I was working in the lab… never taking a break…” He gasped out. Gazing upon Lith’s frowning face and slow movement, a small frown made its way onto his face. “I heard a rumor that you are feeling a bit blue. Would you mind telling me about it? That is, if you would be willing to.” Lith pushed away her plate and looked into Professor Pasque’s eyes. Glancing upon his exhausted form, a wave of pity washed over her. “Are you sure you want to talk with me right now? You look as though you are about to die from exhaustion at any moment.” She asked with concern in her voice. Professor Pasque blinked and shook his head. “If either of my children is unhappy, then I will crawl even out of my deathbed to assure that I can make them smile. Tell me Lith; what is bothering you today?” “Professor, no wait…” Lith paused in her tone and shook her head. She blinked and exhaled a breath of clarity. “Dad, it feels like everything I am doing is wrong.” Professor Pasque raised his right eye upon hearing Lith’s words. Curiosity stirred within the chambers of his mind. “What do you mean?” “I’m not sure if you knew about this because you were stuck in the lab without much of any outside contact at all, but I’ve been put on probation for getting into a fight with another operative.” Lith explained. Professor Pasque looked into Lith’s eyes and blinked once. A frown of disappointment encroached itself upon his face. “I think I might need to hear more about this story, because you do not do something like that unless if there was something that upset you badly.” “Must I really dad?” Lith asked. Professor Pasque nodded his head with a stern shake, eliciting a forlorn sigh from Lith. “I caught Rainbow Dash and Mono drinking beer. From what I’ve heard from her, she got him to do it.” Hearing Lith’s words, Professor Pasque’s heart sunk into the chambers of his stomach, dissolved within its acids, dived into his intestines and spat back into his chest. “I hoped that was a joke… but you are saying this with a very serious gravity in your tone.” “Yes. I got so angry at Rainbow Dash that I threatened to kill her. Then, she told me in her drunken stupor that I never helped Mono grow up. That was when I lost all rationality and just lashed out.” Lith replied. “Dad, have I grown to be useless?” Professor Pasque’s eyes widened upon the nature of the question. He bolted his eyes shut and shook his head. He closed the distance between his adoptive daughter and looked at her in the eyes with a warm smile. “Whatever made that thought ever come into your mind is lying to you. You are not useless in the slightest. If anything, your time in this world as a Pokémon has given you a renewed purpose and lease in life. If anyone or anything ever makes you feel that way again, then I will be by your side ready to Freeze Dry that threat into submission.” Hearing Professor Pasque’s words, a small smile formed on Lith’s face. She cocked her head and brought her upper paws around Professor Pasque’s head, bringing it close to her with a loving embrace. “I know, and thank you.” She said with a perky tone. She separated from Professor Pasque’s head and looked into his eyes. “Since you aren’t busy for the rest of the day, would you like to come with me over to Fleur De Lis’s home estate today?” “Are you not under probation?” Professor Pasque asked with a hint of worry in his tone. “I am, but I am allowed to leave as long as I have permission from Commander Spitfire. Stereo and Sareid are going to be going with us as well. Fleur says that she has a very important announcement to make for us.” Lith responded. “If that’s the case, then I would love to accompany you. Twilight Sparkle constantly says that I need a break from the lab anyways.” Fleur De Lis walked down an archipelago of squares filled with verdant grasses and large houses. She glanced behind her, gazing towards Lith, Professor Pasque, Stereo and Saraid. A small smile made its way onto her face and she glanced forwards. “It is very nice to have company, especially with two of my friends from H.O.R.S.E. Though, I didn’t expect the extra guests.” She stated. “I promise that I would not get in your way, Miss Fleur.” Sareid responded. “But, I really would love to see samples of your art. If Stereo apprentices under yee, then I expect brilliant works!” “She pestered me to bring her along.” Stereo answered. “And what brings you along for the journey, Professor?” Fleur De Lis asked. Professor Pasque glanced towards the smiling artist and flashed an even-sided smile. “I would feel better if I accompanied my daughter today. She wasn’t feeling in the best of moods as of late.” Fleur De Lis stopped in her tracks and glanced behind her. She gazed into Lith’s eyes, staring towards the parasitic sadness leeching off of her soul. A small frown came upon her face. She continued walking forwards. “I see what you mean, Professor. She has the same look in her eye as I did before I traveled here.” She stated. “Well… maybe that is a bit extreme, but it is somewhat similar.” “Can we please stop talking about me? I just wish to hear the news that you have for Stereo and I.” Lith responded with a despondent tone. Fleur De Lis blinked and glanced towards the ground. “Very well.” The group stepped upon the outside of a three-story house with a black fence topped with spades that surrounded the building. All of the eyes besides Fleur De Lis’s set themselves upon the statues of two alicorns with their heads poised upwards. A fountain of water sprayed from their mouths and dropped into the stone basins below. “Your home is very opulent, Fleur.” Lith said. “I am not too proud of it for that reason.” Fleur De Lis responded. “But, it does provide useful space and storage for work-related supplies.” She pushed the gate open, making a path towards her house. Chiffon stood outside of the house, adorned with a black suit and a dickey. Witnessing Fleur De Lis and the guests walking towards the house, he lowered his head and brought his left front hoof up to his chest with a bow. “Greetings, Miss Fleur and guests.” He greeted with a warm and inviting tone. “You do not need to be so formal around us, Chiffon. Tell me; are our guests inside comfortable?” Fleur De Lis asked. “Certainly. I would not let any of my mistress’s guests be treated without the utmost of care.” Stereo glanced towards Chiffon with an uneasy frown on his face. “Why does Chiffon have to speak as though his life is on the line?” He asked. “I have served in Miss Fleur’s family since her mother was just a filly. Call it a force of habit, but I tend to treat the friends and guests of my mistress and her family with only the utmost of respect and care.” Chiffon responded. “So would that make you more of Fleur’s grandfather figure?” Lith asked. A small smile appeared on Chiffon’s face. Jovial laughter echoed from him. “You are too kind, Lith. I see myself as just a servant of her family. Anything more would be giving me too much credit.” “Anyways.” Fleur De Lis began stating. “You do not want to keep my guests waiting, do you not?” She asked with a smile that exuberated confidence. She pushed the door open, revealing a grand large foyer that scaled two stories alone. The walls are paved with brown-gold wallpaper and red carpeting adorned itself onto the plush blue floors. The Pokémon walked into the interior of the opulent home. Each of them besides Stereo glanced upon the portraits depicting images of white-coated unicorn mares with light red manes dancing alongside pink-coated unicorn stallions with light green manes upon white platforms above the frigid peaks of tall mountains. “These paintings are very exquisite, Miss Fleur. Is there a reason why they are very similar to each other?” Professor Pasque asked with a tone piqued with curiosity. “I like to draw paintings of my parents dancing above the celestial heavens. It allows me to think believe that they are in a better place doing what they loved most with each other; dancing.” Fleur De Lis responded with her voice dipping towards a silent end. “That’s… actually very depressing. I see couples happily dancing upon these platforms above these beautifully-designed backgrounds, but knowing that these are your parents reminded me of the fact that you lost two of the most important ponies in your life.” Saraid critiqued with a small frown on her face. “You do not need to feel sad about the misfortunes of my life, Sareid. My art is fueled by the pain I felt back when I lost my parents. Seeing as how I hid away from the carnage, I felt a bit worthless.” Listening onto Fleur De Lis’s words, a small formed on Lith’s face. “Could we please just see your guests, Fleur? I don’t want to hear about anyone being worthless.” Lith questioned with a hurt and hastened voice. “That is fine, Lith. I have a tendency to rabble about these paintings anyways.” Fleur De Lis responded. The group walked up the stairs that ascended onto a higher level. Taking a left down a hallway, the group came upon a door at the far end of the corridor. Fleur De Lis placed her right front hoof on the knob and turned it, bringing it to an open. Stereo’s eyes widened and his mouth curved into a wide smile; behind the door are two bipedal beagle-like creatures with light brown coats and beret-like appendages upon their head. Like their floppy ears, the rings wrapped around their wrists, ankles and eyes are colored with a darker shade of brown. The two creatures grasped onto the ends of their long tails towards the ground, which were tipped with a green paint-like substance. Single smears of a green three-tipped paw are seen on their backs. Around their necks are two translation necklaces. “Alright Kahlo, how should we paint our next piece of art?” An enthusiastic voice emerged from one of the creatures. One of the creatures, Kahlo, formed a sharp-eyed grin on her face. She glanced towards her companion. “I’d say we go in for a shade of blue similar to the Deep Impact coat on a car for this piece of work, Frida!” She stated with energetic glee. The paint on their tails turned into a dark shade of blue. Both Frida and Kahlo stroked the white canvas below them with a feverish speed and their tongues held out. The group looking into the room glanced at the flurry of changing colors splotching throughout the room, covering it with an artistic mess. Frida and Kahlo stood up from the ground with smiles on their faces. They wiped their heads and looked behind them. Kahlo’s eyes widened with delight. “Is that you, Stereo?!” She shouted. “Kahlo?! Is it really you?!” Stereo responded back. The two Pokémon ran towards each other with gleeful smiles on their face and embraced each other. Lith glanced towards Frida with renewed vigor in her eyes. “Frida?” She asked. “…Lith? Is that you?!” Frida shouted. Lith walked over towards Frida’s side and approached her with a casual gait in her step. “It’s a funny coincidence how you turned into a Smeargle like your partner. When did you come over to Neo Canterlot?” Frida held out her tail and shut her eyes. The smile on her face invigorated itself with artistic vision. “Kahlo and I wandered the primordial plains of the Terraformed Wilderness. We climbed over mountains, leaped over waterfalls and even explored the dankest of caves and forests. The creatures and scenery here are truly amazing, and inspiration flew into my mind like a plane!” She exclaimed. Kahlo split from Stereo and walked over by Frida’s side. Her smile climaxed towards its highest point. “Yep. This world is very stunning so far. We survived off of fruits and some of the smaller creatures we may have killed for sustenance.” Stereo’s eyes widened upon listening to Kahlo’s words. His eyes darted towards the left and right. Anxiety filled his mind and poured out of the pipes around his body. “Did you… actually kill some of the creatures out in the world for food?” He asked. “That’s a joke, Stereo.” Kahlo responded. “We aren’t savages you know.” A sigh of relief and frustration fled from Stereo’s mouth. Fleur De Lis smiled and walked between the two parties of Pokémon. “So my intuition was correct; you all do know each other.” She stated. “Ummm… who are you two?” Saraid asked with her right eye raised in curiosity. “Oh! That’s right. You haven’t met them yet.” Professor Pasque responded. “Saraid, these two Smeargles are known as Frida and Kahlo.” Glancing upon the Aurorus in the room, a smile appeared on Frida’s face. “With a voice that warm, I only know it is you Professor. But yes, my name is Frida and this is my partner Kahlo.” Frida responded. “When we were taken off of the Pokémon world, I was shocked when I found myself in a location that was very alien to me. I was even more shocked when I found Frida as a Pokémon!” Kahlo explained. “The two of us are artists. We happen to have an interest in the natural world and the theory of light. We are employed under Professor Pasque to help explore this theory and see if there are any new types that can be discovered through it.” Frida explained. “We haven’t had much success in that regard, but exploring it gave us a new insight on life and techniques for our art.” Saraid glanced towards the two Smeargles with interest gauged in her eyes. “Please show me the fruits of your research, Frida. It would be a spectacle to witness.” Frida glanced towards Kahlo, who gripped the tip of her tail by the long stock and pointed it upwards towards an indefinite space. Frida followed Kahlo’s example, but pointed her tail towards the wall to the right. The two Smeargles slashed a stroke towards opposing directions. The paint on their tails dropped off in the stroke of the wind and illuminated the room with prismatic sparkling. The group glanced at the shimmering globs of paint with awe in their eyes. “Such beauty… however did you manage that?” Chiffon asked with a voice stunned in awe. “We Smeargles have a special type of paint our body produces that can change colors depending on our emotions. As such, Frida and I devised a theory that this paint-like substance we produce is a light-based compound that we can change at will.” Kahlo explained. “It’s very interesting, but that still doesn’t explain how you ended up coming into this city under the care of Fleur.” Lith said. “It’s simple really; after their long journey across the land, they ended outside of Neo Canterlot. They are stealthier than you would expect, since they managed to sneak inside of the city undetected. That’s when I met them at an exhibit in the art museum and brought them home with me.” Fleur De Lis explained. “And in case if you are wondering about how we got these translation devices, Fleur knows many of the operatives in H.O.R.S.E. She used her influence in the organization to get us these.” Frida responded. Professor Pasque glanced towards Fleur De Lis with eyes surging with caution. Fleur De Lis shut her eyes, smiled and nodded. Professor Pasque set his gaze towards Frida and Kahlo and walked towards their direction. “Frida. Kahlo. I am not sure on your knowledge on the condition of this new world, but this place is the only known settlement of our alien friends. They are desperately fighting against the Van’Goth, trying to survive. Had we not appeared, they would have been devastated a long time ago.” Frida glanced towards Kahlo with an uneasy gaze in her eyes. Kahlo looked towards Frida for a moment and set her sights onto Professor Pasque’s face. “I know what you are going to say, Professor. However, Frida and I are not interested in joining H.O.R.S.E.” She explained. The crowd within the room shot their eyes open and took a step backwards. They glanced towards Frida and Kahlo with shaken nerves. “Is there any particular reason for that, Kahlo?” Professor Pasque asked. “Frida and I are both aware of the purpose of H.O.R.S.E. and how it is meant to preserve the way of living on this planet. However, joining a military organization would only go against our own beliefs. The two of us were from a war-torn region after all…” “Kahlo is right, Professor. I mean no disrespect, but being a part of the local military will only open up some bad wounds for the both of us.” Setting her gaze away from everyone in the room, Frida stated. Saraid glanced towards the frowning Frida and Kahlo and looked towards the other Pokémon. She shut her eyes, held up her right claws and straightened her posture. “We should not make feel any more uncomfortable, Professor. Let us keep our tact and not pursue this issue any further.” She suggested. Frida and Kahlo’s faces widened with smiles. A small frown appeared on Stereo’s face. A silent sigh passed from his mouth, but he forced an uneasy smile. “I… don’t know what to say about that, Kahlo. But, as long as I could still see you around… I guess.” He muttered out. Kahlo grinned and walked towards Stereo. She put her right front hand behind his shoulder and rubbed it with a gentle speed. “Of course I’ll still be around, Stereo. Just because I am not a part of your organization doesn’t mean that I can’t visit from time to time. Of course… I’ll have to try my best to avoid the armory and hangar.” Laughing at the even-toned joke she voiced out, she replied. Her words brought a genuine smile within Stereo’s face. “So… now that we are all here, who wants to see a coalition of artists painting?” Frida asked. “I would want to… but there are some things that I have to take care of first.” With her shoulders shaking with doubt, Lith stated. She shook her head and sprinted away from the room. Fleur De Lis extended her right front hoof out towards Lith’s direction. Her eyelids stood wide open and her mouth hung agape. She glanced towards the rest of the group and blinked her eyes once. “Ummm, please excuse me. I have to talk to Lith. Would you all be kind and stay here while I do that?” Lith’s running slowed down into a calm walk. She glanced around her surroundings and found herself in another hallway towards the opposite side of the room she occupied herself in. She dropped onto her knees and looked down onto the ground. Her eyelids strained, fighting back the urge to cry. In the midst of falling into absolute ruin, her ears perked up at the sound of rushing steps heading towards her direction. She glanced behind her, eyeing Fleur De Lis. “Are you alright, Lith?” Fleur De Lis called out. A frown appeared on Lith’s face and she turned her head back towards the wall. “I cause too much pain to others sometimes, Fleur. Does that make me just a hindrance towards everyone else?” She asked. Fleur De Lis shut her eyes and let out a half-minded sigh. She placed her right front hoof on Lith’s shoulder. “Is there something you wish to tell me Lith?” Lith glanced back towards Fleur De Lis and blinked once. She shook her head. “I’m just… overwhelmed by negativity right now. It seems like every time I help, I always end up screwing with everyone’s lives. Happened with Mono and my parents, then a few nights back and now I want Frida and Kahlo to join us despite messing up their lives even further.” “Lith…” Fleur De Lis responded with a sympathetic voice. “It’s alright, Fleur. I just need some time alone.” Lith requested. Fleur De Lis glanced up towards the wall, where a broadsword with a blade that sparkled in silver and a hilt whose hue is bluer than the depths of the ocean stood mounted upon. A small smile appeared on her face. “Do you have any interest in the art of the sword, Lith?” She asked with a voice containing its enthusiasm. Lith’s eyes widened with curiosity. The feeling of sadness that gripped her heart eased itself with interest entering her mind. A smile appeared on her face. “Of course. You may not have known this, but I have talked to several people who wielded swords when they passed through Opelucid City. Plus, the commander is teaching me how to wield laser blades right now too. Why do you ask?” “Look in front of you; this sword has been passed down by my family for generations since my great-great-great grandmother from my mother’s side first wielded it. It is a powerful blade forged from Orichalcum and Dragonstone Ore. It was said to have been enchanted by Clover the Clever herself as a gift of friendship to my ancestor.” Fleur De Lis explained. Lith brought her right front paw over to the blade and rubbed it along its sleek metal. A satisfied smile appeared on her face. “Can I hold it?” She asked. Fleur De Lis’s eyes darted towards her left and right. Her mouth contorted into a mix of puzzlement and concern. “The sword itself is a bit unusual. The pony who enchanted it made it so that only a very few select can actually wield it. I am not sure if you would be able to wield it, Lith.” She reasoned. “Well, that’s a bummer.” With a dejected frown on her face, Lith responded. “And it looked like such a cool sword to wield as well.” Fleur De Lis’s ears perked up at the sound of hoofsteps striding down the hallway. She turned her head and set her sights on a lime green-coated unicorn mare with a burgundy and pink-striped mane that twisted down towards the back of her neck. Her blue eyes flashed with a sinister aura. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the heir to the rivaling family, Fleur. How have you been doing?” She asked with a conceited and unnerving tone. Fleur De Lis’s eyes narrowed into enraged slants and her mouth shrunk with high gravity. “I did not invite you over my home, Gemstone Wish. I will give you the opportunity for you to explain your presence here before I contact the authorities.” She demanded. Gemstone Wish’s horn flashed with a deep blue light. A cube that contained Professor Pasque, Stereo, Frida, Kahlo and Chiffon locked up within blue chains flashed itself before the eyes of Fleur De Lis and Lith. Both Lith and Fleur De Lis’s stances faltered at the sight of their loves ones struggling within the boundaries of the chains and grunting. “I would say that I did not expect any company for you, but that would imply that I did not know any better. As for my reasoning here, I simply just want you dead.” Gemstone Wish responded. “Dead?! Why do you want her dead?!” With a scowl on her face, Lith shouted. “You may or may not know this, but Fleur belong to one of the most influential families in Canterlot prior to the invasion. My family was always second banana to her family.” Clenching her teeth and clicking her tongue, Gemstone Wish explained. “My family always lamented about being beaten by this wench’s family for generations! It made me very upset!” Fleur De Lis raised her left hoof into the air and lowered it down. “Calm down, Gemstone. Our titles no longer mean anything in this city. You still have your wealth, so please return home.” She said with a cautious tone. “I don’t care about whether I have my wealth or not! What I want is to repay all of the humiliation that your family had given to me for these past generations!” Gemstone Wish’s horn shot out a blue shockwave that enveloped the room. The brilliant sparkles of Fleur De Lis’s horn and the kinetic aura around Lith’s body vanished. Their eyes widened with panic. “What was that?!” Lith shouted. “A spell that I’ve learned just for this occasion. It’s a spell that nullifies all sorts of energy within its field of effect. That includes magical AND whatever energy you xenos use.” Gemstone Wish explained. Lith growled and lifted her right front paw towards Gemstone Wish’s direction. She felt not a surge of electricity travel through her paw. Her blood chilled. Gemstone Wish strutted towards Fleur De Lis’s direction and rammed her right front leg into the artist’s neck, pushing her against the wall. Fleur De Lis grunted and narrowed her eyes under strain. “Get away from Fleur!” Lith shouted with a threatening tone. Gemstone Wish turned her head towards Lith’s direction and flashed a nonchalant smile. She pulled out a gray-bladed knife from below her left front hoof and held it towards Fleur De Lis’s head. “You do not have much say in this, you xeno. If you try anything, then pretty Miss Fleur here meets with a sharp death.” Lith glanced towards the blade hung upon the wall. Her eyes filled with the flames of determination and she curled her left upper paw into a ball. She leaped over Fleur De Lis and Gemstone Wish and grabbed the blade above them. With the descending force of gravity above her, she swung the sword down towards Gemstone Wish. Gemstone Wish’s eyes shot open and her jaw dropped in astonishment. Feeling the slice of the sword split her horn, her throat gagged any potential noise that attempted to escape. Her knife dropped onto the ground and she took a step back from her position. Lith pointed the blade of her sword close towards Gemstone Wish’s face and between her eyes. “There is more where that came from. Try to hurt any of my family or friends again and I will split more than just your horn in half.” She threatened. Gemstone Wish glanced towards her left, where the energy that contained her prisoners vanished. She hung her head low and frowned with defeat. Lith sat in the cafeteria by Stereo and Saraid’s sides. Saraid patted Lith’s right shoulder with an enthusiastic smile on her face. “Thanks for saving us, Lith. Yer heroism is something to be admired!” She commended. “I mean, it wasn’t that special. All I did was just grab a sword and disarm a dangerous criminal. Anyone in my situation would have done that.” Lith spoke with humble wording. “Not true, Lith. Others who would have been in your position would have frozen up! I know I would have.” Stereo injected. “You are much more important than you think you are.” Lith’s eyes widened at the passing of Stereo’s words. A smile of blooming confidence crawled over her mouth. “You… you aren’t just saying that, are you?” “Listen Lith; that crazy unicorn had us chained good! If you weren’t there, then everything would have ended grim.” Saraid reasoned. “Fleur would have been dead and we would have been locked up somewhere away from society.” The trio of Pokémon heard a series of quadruped steps approaching their direction. They turned their heads towards the source of the noise, where they gazed upon the visage of a smiling Spitfire. “I heard what happened from Fleur. I have to congratulate you on a job well-done, Lith.” She said. “It was an honor to save a life, Commander. But, what’s going to happen with Gemstone Wish now?” Lith stated. “Knowing how Neo Canterlot handles this sort of thing, she’s more than likely going to get executed under the law.” Stereo and Saraid’s hearts stopped upon the drop of Spitfire’s words. “E-e-executed?” They both said in unison. “Of course! What else do you think happens to any perpetrators? Lith and Rainbow Dash would have been executed had Rundas and I not pulled certain strings.” Spitfire explained. A forlorn frown appeared on Stereo’s face. He shook his head of all the doubts in his mind. “Wow… I know that attempted murder is a felony, but execution right off the bat? How disgusting.” Stereo murmured out. “I’m a bit shocked that even a common criminal would be executed here. Considering my history, I’m not surprised about the thoughts of execution. But still… don’t you think that’s a bit excessive?” Saraid asked aloud. Spitfire’s smile dropped into a concerned frown. She shook her head and gazed towards Stereo and Saraid with pleading eyes. “I didn’t make the rules. I actually agree with you on that stance. But… we can’t afford to have any sort of rebellion in this city. You noticed how this is the only bastion against the Van’Goth, right? Take a guess what happens when this city is split against itself.” “…We lose?” Stereo asked with uncertainty in his voice. “Exactly. Though the methods are very extreme, they are effective with keeping everyone united under one goal.” A sad sigh flew past Saraid’s mouth. Saraid looked towards Spitfire and forced an uneasy smile on her face. “Well… as long as it is to keep everyone safe.” Spitfire glanced towards Lith, who glanced towards the conversing party with interested eyes. “Lith, did you know that Fleur De Lis sent you a parcel as thanks for saving her life? Professor Pasque has your present.” “Wait… he does?!” Lith leaped over the table and sprinted out of the cafeteria, leaving the operatives behind her. Lith sprinted into the courtyard with an excited smile on her face. Her eyes met with Professor Pasque’s shape standing beside the tree in the center of the area. Her running slowed down into a walk. “Professor!” She called out. Professor Pasque’s eyes met with Lith. A smile appeared on his face. “Lith! I have a package here for you. I think you will like its contents.” He kicked a silver box towards Lith, pushing it along the ground. Lith looked upon the package with curious eyes. She lifted the top portion of the box off, revealing a sword very familiar to her alongside a note. “This is Fleur’s family heirloom! I can’t take this.” She stated. “Read the note inside.” Professor Pasque urged. Lith picked up the note inside of the box with her upper right paw and read its message: Dear Lith From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for saving my life. You truly are more of a hero than you think you are. I understand that this gift may be a bit overwhelming for you to offer, but this blade calls out to you. I know that you will take good care of it, just as you have taken good care of all the others whose destiny are intertwined with yours. I hope I can count on you to be my bodyguard in the future. After all, previous bodyguards other than my loving Chiffon do not have the power to hold to their word. With Love, Fleur De Lis “It seems as though this sword deems me worthy of being able to wield it. Plus, Fleur De Lis invited me to become her bodyguard.” Lith announced. Her smile extended towards the far reaches of her face. “She actually considers me worthy enough to be her bodyguard…” Her paw containing the letter drooped down to her hips. A void of disbelief inserted itself within the pupils of her eyes. A smile appeared on Professor Pasque’s face. He lifted his right front foot from the ground, revealing a blueprint that displayed the outline of a mecha. “Lith, there was something else I wanted to tell you; with the help of Professor Gentian and Flash Sentry, I have been working on schematics for an exo that is personally tailored to you. I want it to fit your competitive ability out in the field.” He explained. Lith glanced down towards the schematics of the exo and gazed upon its armored features. “It’s very interesting… but why would you want to build a personal exo for me? I mean, doesn’t that take up a lot of time from other research angles?” “Yes it does, but I don’t really care. I’m also building one for Mono as well, but I want to create yours first. I want you to have nothing but the utmost of protective armors so that I can keep you safe without having to be immediately by your side.” Professor Pasque answered. “I’m not sure what to say, Professor.” Lith said. She leaped towards Professor Pasque’s neck and embraced it with her upper paws. Feeling her warm fur plop against the flesh of his neck, Professor Pasque smiled and wrapped his neck around her body. Gemstone Wish’s eyes opened up, bringing her forth into a darkened world with only a lamp light hanging above her head. She moved her hooves, but felt her body restrained. She looked down onto her body and gazed upon her form bound by ropes. She felt a slab of metal behind her back. She struggled and grunted. “Come on… move!” She shouted. She focused energy along the tip of her horn, but it fizzled away. Her eyes glanced towards her horn, where she gazed upon its split form. A frown of despair hung around her head. Her ears tuned in towards the sound of bipedal steps approaching the lone chamber she stayed in. The noise of a metallic door opening and shutting made its way towards her. The figure hidden behind the cloak of darkness made its way underneath the light of the lamp and revealed itself under the form of Saraid. Saraid’s face formed a grin that sent chills down Gemstone Wish’s spine. “Y-y-you’re that xeno from Fleur’s home. What are you doing here?!” She shouted. Saraid brought her right set of claws underneath Gemstone Wish’s jaw and raised it to the point where both their eyes met. “I was a bit surprised when I heard that committing any crime would lead to a death sentence. But… I also found out that anyone can also be an executioner if they have knowledge of the crime. I have to say that it was very embarrassing for you to catch my friends and I off-guard like that. So, I want to pay back the favor.” She said with a dark tone filled with glee. Gemstone Wish’s stomach filled with icy maggots wriggling their way through its walls. Saraid’s left set of claws lit up with a ghastly shade of purple. With it, she jabbed an exposed portion of flesh upon Gemstone Wish’s abdomen. Gemstone Wish cried out in pain from the strike. Feeling Saraid lift her claws away from her body, a wave of illness befell Gemstone Wish’s organs. “What… what did you do there?!” With her voice strained from the poison clamping onto her body, she asked. “Poison Jab. Like the name says, I punch you with a poisonous punch that will slowly drain away your life force. Sooner or later, you will end up being nothing but a putrid corpse due to the bacteria consuming your body right now.” Saraid explained. “You can’t leave me like that! If you are going to execute me, then you have to follow the proper conduct!” Gemstone Wish pleaded. “I’m not that merciful. But… I think I will enjoy our time together.” Chuckling with a dark aura underneath her breath, Saraid responded. “tá tú réidh le haghaidh do bháis?” “Excuse me?!” With a nervous and confused tone, Gemstone Wish asked. “I said ‘Are you ready for your death?’” Yellow pollen floated down from Saraid’s cap head and onto her claws. She jabbed both of her claws onto more exposed flesh around the torso of Gemstone Wish’s body. Gemstone Wish gagged from the force of the viral strikes assaulting her vital points. She felt stinging pain surge throughout her entire body. “Please…. Stop!” She pleaded. “Now why would I do that? The fun has just only begun.” Saraid stated. A white-coated earth pony stallion with a red mane and a black-coated unicorn stallion with a blue mane both garbed in white stood outside of the execution chamber. Their eyes shot open from the screams of pure horror coming from the room behind them. Their stances faltered. “What is that Pokémon doing to her?!” The white-coated stallion asked. “I don’t know, but I want no part of it!” The black-coated stallion answered. The white stallion let out a worried sigh. “I hate my job.” Saraid glanced upon Gemstone Wish’s beaten body. Glancing upon her victim’s heavy breathing and her body discolored from bruising and cellular degeneration, a sadistic grin appeared on her face. “Please stop… I’ll do anything!” Gemstone Wish pleaded. “I love it when my victims plead for their lives. It gives a certain sense of… sásamh. I’ve never felt like this in a very long time. So, I think I’ll keep doing this.” Saraid stated. She jabbed Gemstone Wish’s neck with another Poison Jab. Gemstone Wish uttered out a choking noise. She felt her throat’s muscles clench themselves with inflammation. “It hurts… it hurts…” She murmured out. Saraid glanced upon Gemstone Wish’s body, where the bruised areas swelled with bacteria and blood. “You know what? I think I will sit over there now. Your bruises are going to explode from a buildup of pathogens inside of it anytime now.” “You’re cruel! You are a cold-hearted monster!” Gemstone Wish called out. “It takes a monster to know a monster. Out of the monsters between us, at least I use my skills to protect others. That is why I feel nothing but joy about hurting another monster.” Saraid responded. Gemstone Wish’s consciousness blurred between the planes of reality and death. She glanced upon Saraid’s wicked smile. Seeing Gemstone Wish’s festering wounds swelling to unstable levels, Saraid’s tail lit up and coated itself in iron. She leaped into the air and smashed her steeled tail into Gemstone Wish’s head. Feeling all of the viral explosions upon her body and Saraid’s Iron Tail smash into her skull, Gemstone Wish’s consciousness faded away. The body spasmed from the sudden shock and then limped down onto the rope bindings. With a splatter of blood on her tail, torso and claws, Saraid glanced upon her kill with glee. “Well, I guess now I should call in the cleanup squad.” She said with morbid joy. Author's Note Blame Xenoblade Chronicles X for the time it took for this to come out. So anyways, it looks like Lith has a renewed destiny, Professor Pasque is working on more stuff, two more characters have been shown and Saraid harbors some dark air underneath her regal aura. Today was a good day. Blood on the SandFei sat down on wood-patterned mat in a squatting position. His hands pressed against his thighs and his eyes shut themselves. His chest rose back and forth with the passing motion of a wave. His head tilted down towards the floor, and his focus became absolute. “Hey Fei!” Hovering near his airspace, Rondo called out with an enthusiastic tone. Fei’s concentration broke from the Chatot’s words. He clenched his teeth and looked towards Rondo’s direction. “I am a bit busy with meditation right now, Rondo. But, do you need anything from me?” Fei asked. Rondo nestled his talons onto the ground and looked upon Fei’s face. “I hope you don’t mind, but I want to watch you meditate.” Rondo requested. Fei rolled his eyes with half of his mouth lifted with anxiety. “That is an odd request.” “I know, but everyone else is busy and Councilman Carapace isn’t hosting any shows in Club Chitin right now. I have nothing else better to do.” Rondo explained. Fei brought his right hand to the edge of his jaw and stroked the bottom of his head. A dull hum emerged from him. “A problem… I guess you can stay and watch me meditate. I won’t be doing much though.” He responded. Rondo bent his knees down onto the ground, perching his legs underneath his feathers. He sat and gazed upon Fei with an enthusiastic facial expression. “I’ll be here as quiet as possible, Fei. Don’t you worry about a thing.” Fei centered his neck and inhaled a deep breath of air. He released it from his mouth and shut his eyes. Fei’s watch beeped with a loud noise, eliciting a sharp wince from him. He loosened out his legs and stood up onto his feet. He glanced down upon his watch and pressed it. A hologram of Spitfire’s head appeared over it. “Fei, are you available right now?” Spitfire asked. “I was doing some meditation, but I guess I can help.” Breathing out an exasperated sigh, Fei responded. “I apologize in advance if I disturbed your meditation session, but almost all of H.O.R.S.E. is busy handling other missions and this mission requires all operatives with a license to pilot an exo.” Spitfire explained. Fei narrowed his eyes and a deep frown carved itself over his mouth. He steeled his chin and glared into Spitfire’s eyes. “…Seriously?” “Look, I know that you hate mechas in general. After all, they somewhat damaged your familial life. However, I really need you to come through for me, Fei. There is a Pokémon out in the Desert of Forgotten Souls that needs your help right now.” Spitfire said. Fei’s eyes steeled with a casting of intentness. He straightened out his mouth. “I will be right there, Commander. Will I be getting some help on this mission?” “You’ll get the only other operative with an exo license who isn’t busy right now. Time is of the essence right now!” With these words, Spitfire’s hologram disappeared from Fei’s watch. Rondo, who glanced upon the conversation between Fei and Spitfire, grinned and flew towards the height of Fei’s head. “Ohhh! Can I join?!” He asked. Fei’s eyes darted from the right and to the left. He glanced upon Rondo’s form with a soft gaze. “I’m sorry, Rondo, but you don’t have an exo license of your own. Spitfire made it clear that this is a mission that is only for exo pilots.” “Aww come on! Can’t I at least ride in the same cockpit as you?” Rondo urged. Fei’s fortitude wavered underneath Rondo’s pleading words. He breathed through his nostrils and smiled with a half-hearted attempt. “Well… alright. After all, what’s the worst that can happen?” Two light brown exos flew along the level of the ground through waves of sand whipped up within the channels of the airflow. Fei glanced towards a yellow bar and the percentage numbers on the hologram of his cockpit lowering. “Wow, this exo’s energy levels are depleting at a faster rate than normal!” Pointing towards the energy readings, Rondo noted. “I knew that though. This sandstorm is much more intense than the ones back in our world after all.” Fei stated. A hologram of Flash Sentry’s image in a cockpit displayed itself upon Fei’s monitor. A confident smile appeared on his face. “Having trouble there, Fei?” Flash Sentry asked with a cheerful tone. “No. I’m doing fine.” Shaking his head and wearing a smile on his face, Fei responded. “So how is Inge doing on your end?” Inge jumped out of Flash Sentry’s seat and into Fei and Rondo’s view. She waved her right upper limb with an energetic motion. “Don’t worry Fei and Rondo. We’ll make sure that Pokémon comes to Neo Canterlot in safe hands.” She stated. “That’s reassuring to hear. Considering how close most of the people are at my former place of occupation, that Pokémon is a very good friend.” Fei stated. The sonar screen in both exo cockpits’ external viewing picked up a red blip, bringing a smile to Fei and Flash Sentry. The sonar shockwave extended farther into its range, revealing a horde of purple blips closing in towards the red blip. Their smiles flipped into open-mouthed frowns. “Ummm… that’s not good.” Flash Sentry murmured out. “What’s not good?” Rondo asked. Inge groaned and smacked her forehead. “Didn’t you absorb any information when it comes to radars, Rondo?! We have a special color designation for those blips approaching our target; they are the Van’Goth!” She explained. “Oh shoot! That is bad!” Rondo shouted. “Why are they going after that Pokémon?!” Fei’s eyes narrowed with determination. He rolled his hand on the booster, causing the boosters ejecting blue fires on his exo to blast into overdrive. Flash Sentry’s eyes widened with surprise. “Hey! Wait up for me!” A gray-coated hyena-like creature with tufts of black fur along his back, legs and tail hopped away from a line of incoming fire in a zig-zag pattern. He looked behind him with his red and yellow eyes, which radiated with high levels of tension. A heavy-armored mecha breached through the walls of the sandstorm and hovered towards the hyena-like creature’s direction. Goethia glanced out of the cockpit of the mecha and chucked with a sadistic smile plastered over her face. “Awww, the poor doggy doesn’t want to play?” She asked with a taunting tone. “What is up with you crazy aliens?! Can’t you see that I am still getting a bearing for my surroundings?! It’s not easy being a Mightyena trapped in a desert you know!” The Mightyena responded with an aggravated tone. Goethia’s mecha fired a laser from its visor that shot a patch of sand within the immediate front of the Mightyena’s direction. Taking a step back, the Mightyena’s eyes widened. He looked behind him and glanced upon the mecha’s jet black armor with fear wriggling into his heart. “Oh! It seems you are listening now! Be a good boy and come with us. We will take special care of you.” Goethia stated. “First you kill my partner and then you want to take me alive to that hellhole home of yours? Is there no end to your malicious actions?” The Mightyena roared back. Goethia glanced towards her holographic dashboard and tapped a series of buttons upon it. Cryptic characters wrote themselves out before her very eyes. She smiled. “So that sand hippo is something you called your partner? It looked like it wanted to die, so we put it out of its misery for you.” The Mightyena scowled and lunged towards Goethia’s mecha. He bit into the mecha’s left arm by the elbow. The mecha shook off the Mightyena with one spasm of its arm. The Mightyena landed on his feet and glared into the mecha’s visor with a hurt heart. “It’s clear that you and your kind do not have a heart if you do not care about the bonds that Sahara and I shared with each other. So why should I care about the endeavors of your kind?!” “I do not care if you do not care for our endeavors, Pokémon! You will come with me, whether you like it or not!” Goethia announced. “And what if I do not? Will you trap me in that deathtrap you call your ass?” The Mightyena responded with a snide tone. Red lasers from behind the sandstorm’s wall aimed towards the Mightyena. A maelstrom of whines reverberated from the sharp winds behind the walls. “You are in no position to make jokes. After all, I have you surrounded by potential gunfire and a natural cyclone.” Goethia responded. “Now, be a good doggy and submit to me.” A storm of blue lasers fired from above Goethia’s mecha and into the back of its head. The mecha glanced back and detected the mechas of Fei and Flash Sentry. Goethia grimaced from the confines of her cockpit. The Mightyena smirked. “It looks like you have some competition for me.” He stated. The two mechas breached through the walls of the sandstorm and descended upon the ground. A holographic image of Fei’s visage appeared before the Mightyena. “Don’t be afraid. We are here to save you.” Fei responded. “That voice… is that you, Fei?” The Mightyena asked with a voice filled casual excitement. “Pierre! It is you! I was worried that we wouldn’t find you.” Goethia’s smile exuded an unearthly chill that could be felt by everyone around the area. “Ummm… why did we just all shudder in unison?” Rondo asked with creeping uncertainty rising in his voice. Goethia’s mecha rushed towards Pierre and grabbed him by his left hind leg. The mecha held him high above the air with a tenacious grip on his ankle. “H-Hey! Let go of me!” Swinging his way out of Goethia’s grip, Pierre shouted. “Let him go! You’re causing him unnecessary stress!” Fei stated. Goethia’s mecha squeezed Pierre’s ankle, eliciting a yelp from the Mightyena’s upside-down mouth. Inge fired herself out of the mecha and fired a Zap Cannon from her beak that aimed towards Goethia’s mecha. The ball of electricity collided with the mecha, causing it to drop Pierre onto the sand. Inge stared towards Goethia with a raging fire burning in her eyes. “I am not going to let you hurt a Pokémon, filthy scum! I’ve already witnessed masses of Pokémon dying before my eyes and I will not let it happen again!” She shouted with a passionate voice. “Oh? Is that true?” Goethia asked with a cheerful voice that sent shivers down everyone’s spines. “You know, all I wanted to do was capture this Pokémon here. But considering you said that you witnessed masses of Pokémon dying beforehand and you are all opposing me, what would seeing one more Pokémon die before your eyes do for you?” The hearts of Fei, Rondo, Flash Sentry and Inge froze upon hearing Goethia’s words. Their pupils shrunk and his posture stoned into that of a statue. “No… don’t you even dare!” Inge demanded. A swarm of spherical drones broke through the walls of the sandstorm and surrounded Pierre. Slender barrels broke out of their lower hemispheres and pointed themselves towards Pierre. Pierre glanced upon the cannons with fear growing out of his heart and choking his arteries. “I will give you two choices; either leave right now and let me complete my mission, or interfere and watch him die. I will give you ten seconds to decide.” Goethia proposed. “I… I…” Fei murmured out with despair in his voice. “Come on Fei! Don’t let this hag get to you!” Flash Sentry stated. “A hag?! Who are you calling a hag, boy?!” Goethia shouted in disgust. “Who else? You are the definition of a hag that tries to hide behind advanced alien cosmetics! I bet without it, you look like some washed-up prostitute who was used one too many times.” Pounding on the left bar of his seat, Flash Sentry answered. Goethia growled and stared death towards Flash Sentry’s exo. She aimed the left arm of her mecha towards his direction. Upon seeing the exo of Fei’s stance shift towards Pierre’s direction, clarity filled her mind. A smile appeared on her face. “Ah… I see what your plan is now. Trying to rill me up so I would forget about the hostage situation. You do realize what this means for your friend, right?” She stated with a straight tone. Hearing the words come from her mouth, Fei’s exo and Inge dashed towards Pierre with all of their possible speed. Fei ejected himself from the chest of the exo’s cockpit, throwing him towards Pierre’s direction. Goethia’s mecha held out its right arm and had its open palm directed towards the ground. Both Inge and Fei dropped to the sand, rendered unable to move. The two looked upon with a helpless gaze towards the drones charging their lasers. A small frown appeared on Pierre’s face. He shut his eyes and gritted his teeth. The swarm of drones littered the circular area Pierre lied upon with a storm of lasers, kicking up a storm of sand, wind and aroma of charring flesh. Rondo and Flash Sentry gazed upon the smoldering ground with eyes wide in disbelief and jaws dropped in shock. The smoke cleared away, revealing a charred Pierre who breathed out very shallow breaths. Goethia lifted away the gravity. Fei and Inge crawled off the ground into a sprint and approached Pierre’s side. Fei clamped both of his hands around Pierre’s right front foot. “Pierre! Are you alright?!” He asked with a panicking tone. Pierre moved his head up towards Fei’s direction, where only a silhouette of the Mienshao’s form became visible to his eyes. His ears rung with an insatiable noise, but his hearing absorbed Fei’s words. He moved his left front foot down towards a gaping wound on his chest, feeling a sticky liquid submerge its open pathway. “Fei… I’m not… gonna… make it…” He muttered out with an expiring breath. Fei leaned in towards Pierre’s face and squeezed his the foot between his hands in worry. “Don’t say that! You’ll make it! There are really good doctors available at H.O.R.S.E. that will patch you up in no problem!” With a breaking voice, he pleaded. Pierre smiled and shot out a violent cough, where blood mixed with his spit and hit the sand beneath his snout. “I’m… not too sure… what you said… but it feels like… you have hope.” He gasped out. “Fei… it’s over for me… I have nothing else to live for. They killed Pitfall… and I’ve experienced hell here for months. At the very least… I finally got to see… someone else from the lab... who’s an awesome friend.” Fei’s breathing palpitated and burned with anxiety. His eyes streamed with rivers of tears. “We can still get you help, Pierre! Please, do not depart with the spirits just yet! Hold on!” “…Fei? If you ever see the Professor… Give him this.” Pierre reached into his wound with his left front foot and pulled out a cylinder-shaped stone from it. With his eyes wincing from the burst of pain that emerged, he pushed it towards Fei. “What’s… what’s this?” Fei asked. “Tell him… to open it… It is… for his… res…” Blindness set within Pierre’s eyes. His heart stopped and his breathing ceased. His head fell on the sand and his body spasmed for a moment. Fei glanced down upon Pierre’s body and shook it with their upper limbs. “Pierre? Pierre?!” Fei shouted with panic. Inge shut her eyes and bowed her head. She brought her right upper limb over Pierre’s eyes and brought his eyelids to a close. “He’s gone Fei.” She stated with a crestfallen tone. “There’s nothing more that we can do.” Fei brought his hands upon Pierre’s shoulders and shook him with intense force. “Pierre! Pierre!” He shouted. He kneeled down towards the ground and dammed the rivers flowing out of his eyes with his bloodstained hands. His vision distorted and his sinuses swelled up. “Why…?!” He whined out amidst his tears. A dark chuckle emanated from Goethia’s tone. “It sounded like you were very close to this thing, weren’t you? Don’t worry; you will see him soon enough when I personally send you to the gates of Hell. Before I do however, maybe you would enjoy me stomping over that weed you cared for?” Goethia pointed the index finger of the mecha’s right arm towards Pierre’s corpse and clenched its fist. The drones that surrounded the trio fired a storm of lasers that pelted against the dead Pokémon. Anger set itself within Fei’s heart. His ventricles pumped brimstone into his blood. His vision showed the world around him with monochromatic colors. The storm of lasers slowed down towards a halt and everything became silent. Fei clenched his teeth and his tranquil eyes became red with fury. A primordial scream shouted from his lungs. He leaped on top of each of the sphere drones and smashed his palms through their upper hemispheres, destroying them all one after the other within a blink of an eye. Goethia glanced upon Fei, whose quadruped stance shook with fierce anger reverberating from every cell within his body. “It seems that you destroyed my droids with no problem. Are you truly that angry over the death and abuse of your fallen comrade, Pokémon?” She said with a teasing voice. “Hell is too good of a place for a demoness bitch like you! I will tear out your entrails and feast upon them as I watch you beg for mercy!” Fei shouted with a demonic tone. Inge stood by Fei’s side. Her eyes lit up with dark determination and she planted her single lower limb into the ground. A black aura enveloped itself around her body, filling the field with pressure. “Your life is forfeited. Pick a god and pray!” She shouted with a booming voice. Flash Sentry glanced upon his two partners down upon the field. Glancing upon their beastly stances, expressions and the dark auras exuding from their bodies, fear wriggled into his heart. “Is this… something normal for Pokémon to do, Rondo?” He asked with an unnerved tone. “No…” Rondo asked with anxiety rising in his tone. “I have never seen any Pokémon act like this outside of any move like Thrash or Outrage, and even then they wouldn’t lose that much control over their emotions. I seriously don’t know what’s going on in those two!” Fei leaped off of the ground and towards Goethia’s mecha. His hands and feet coated themselves with a violent red energy. He extended his hands towards the mecha and triggered its electrical shield. Feeling the electricity course through his veins, a feral roar shot out from Fei’s mouth. He tore through the electrical shield and shattered it. Goethia took a step back and glanced upon the feral Fei with her mouth dropping in surprise. “You broke this shield?! Impossible!” She shouted. Inge leaped over Fei’s back and steeled her lower limb in iron. She smashed it against the visor of Goethia’s mecha. The mecha staggered backwards and glared at the two Pokémon in front of it. Fei leaped above Inge and cupped his hands towards his right side. A red Aura Sphere formed between his hands. He fired it towards Goethia’s mecha, knocking it over. “Now Flash! Finish her!” Fei shouted with a desperate tone. “You don’t even have to ask!” Flash Sentry responded. Flash Sentry’s exo fired a swarm of missiles from a rocket silo on its back, all of which flew towards Goethia’s direction. The missiles exploded on contact, bursting out with fiery explosion upon fiery explosion that engulfed the arena. The embers scattered throughout the battlefield and smoke blocked away the sunlight, encasing the location with a violent hue of red. Fei and Inge walked through the tongues of flames scattered throughout the field. Their scowls of hatred exuded a grim darkness that radiated from the surrounding area. Fei’s ears perked up at the sound of metal moving amidst sand and flames. He bore the left side of his teeth and growled. “We aren’t done yet.” Goethia’s mecha flew upwards from the ashes and sand above it. Light blue beams forming into claws shout out from the fingertips of the mecha that shot out half the length of its arms. “Quite a bold set of moves you tried using against me. However, it didn’t work nearly as well as you would hope.” Goethia stated. Her mecha warped in front of Flash Sentry’s exo. Lifting the beam claws into the air, it slashed Flash Sentry’s exo across its chest. Flash Sentry winced and gripped the arms of his seat. He glanced towards his energy bars, where the gauge decreased by more than half. “One more attack like that and I’m toast. Rondo! Help!” He called out. “Me? Help?! I don’t know how to operate one of these exos!” Looking down upon the controls in the cockpit with his eyes darting back and forth, Rondo responded. “Just… help!” Feeling the claws of Goethia’s mecha sending shockwaves into his cockpit, Flash Sentry demanded. Fei glanced towards Inge and towards his exo. He sprinted towards the open cockpit and leaped upon its flooring. He glanced back towards Inge and waved his hand in a directory fashion. “I know just how we can power that exo.” The cockpit closed and the exo stood up from the ground. Inge zapped her way into the systems of Fei’s exo. Feeling the electricity of Inge’s bonding with his exo, Fei gritted his teeth and gripped his seat. A red aura surged from his body and into the exo. The armor of the exo broke off, revealing a slender frame with a red, magenta and black body. Butterfly-shaped boosters formed itself upon the exo’s back and exuded light green flares. Flash Sentry and Goethia glanced towards the direction of Fei’s exo. Upon seeing the new frame burst from the old exo, their jaws dropped. “W-what? How is that possible?!” Flash Sentry shouted. “Exos should not have another entire frame inside of their systems!” With orange spines forming off of its ankles and upper portions of its new boosters, the exo took its first steps out of the smoldering fires around it. The flames of the area wrapped around its fists, setting them on fire. Goethia’s mecha ran towards the new exo and thrust a punch towards its direction with its right fist. The exo lifted its fiery hand and grasped the fist of Goethia’s mecha. It squeezed the mecha’s fist and pulverized it. “This… this mecha… what is it?!” With fear protruding from her voice, Goethia shouted. The exo’s body flashed with a brilliant red. It launched its right burning fist onto the head of Goethia’s mecha, obliterating it. Its left foot encased itself in fire and launched into the hip of the opposing mecha. Sending it flying into the air, the boosters on the fiery exo’s back flared up. It dashed into the air at a breakneck pace. It lifted its fiery fist into the air and struck the mecha with a rising uppercut. Goethia’s mecha shattered into a mirage of fragments, leaving only its pilot suspended in the air. Goethia flipped backwards and fell down towards the ground upon her feet. She glanced towards the exo in the sky, whose frame radiated with the heat of the angel of vengeance. She scowled and growled. “I can’t believe that another mecha has that much power… I need to retreat now.” Stating these words, she tapped a button on a golden bracelet on her left hand, warping her away from the area within a beam of yellow light. The red in Fei’s eyes disappeared and his sanity regained itself. The brilliant red color on his exo’s frame vanished into a jet black color. The flames around its body dissipated. The exo lowered down towards the ground. The flames of the area died out, revealing the desert setting in its clear view. Pierre’s corpse broke into a stream of light particles and vanished from the area. Flash Sentry hopped out from what remained of his exo and dashed towards Fei’s exo. Fei, Inge and Rondo all hopped out of the exo and met with Flash Sentry. “That was amazing!” Flash Sentry exclaimed. “I never knew such a thing was possible!” “You know what? I never want to ride in an exo again if that’s the kind of thing that will be happening.” Rondo complained. Fei shut his eyes and breathed out a clear sigh. “Please forgive me for that, Rondo.” He apologized. “I would say that was cool… but…” Inge voiced out with a worried tone. “We lost a life, and Fei turned into such a monstrous being. When the two of us were bonded together in your exo, I saw what was in your mind.” Fei shook his head and brought the palm of his left hand towards the top of his head. A frown appeared on his face. “And I thought I was doing a good job with keeping it intact.” “‘It’?!” Flash Sentry and Rondo both said in unison. “It’s too soon to begin explaining in-depth on this strange occurrence. All I can say is that the members of my bloodline have some… horrible experiences with regarding mental trauma.” Fei revealed with a shaken tone. Flash Sentry frowned and glanced towards the spot where Pierre’s corpse used to rest upon. He blinked his eyes with a forlorn motion. “Pierre was very close to you, wasn’t he?” He asked. “Pierre and I go back fifteen years ago. He was originally a resident of the Kalos region, but moved to the Unova region to pursue the Unovan Dream. Because of our low incomes at the time, our families both met in the Mistralton City Cargo Airport and immediately bonded, especially after discussing our dreams of coming here.” Fei explained. “That long ago, huh? Then I guess it wasn’t a coincidence that the two of you ended up in the same lab together.” Rondo stated. “It definitely doesn’t feel like that. Outside of the small pocket change we had, we both had our partners; I had Sophia back when she was an Eevee and he had a Hippopotas named Pitfall. Pierre and Pitfall both were inseparable.” Inge glanced towards Fei and scratched her head with worry. “Pierre mentioned something about the Van’Goth killing Pitfall… no wonder he looked so depressed on top of his malnourished body.” She said. Fei’s eyes pointed towards Inge with interest gauged towards her. “Was his malnourishment that notable?” He asked. Inge nodded her head. “His mass was much less than that of a healthy Mightyena's, especially around the abdomen. I’d say he hadn’t eaten anything in weeks! Plus, his fur’s disheveled look makes it look like he barely gets the water he needs just to live day by day.” She explained. “Then… no wonder he said that this desert was hell for him. Combined with losing Pitfall, it seemed like he had lost all hope on wanting to live.” Fei voiced out Flash Sentry’s watch lit up and rung out. He lifted his left front hoof towards his face and tapped the screen with his right front hoof. A hologram of Spitfire’s head levitated itself above the watch. “Flash! I was worried when your signal was jammed up. How is the mission going?” Spitfire asked. Flash Sentry narrowed his eyes and frowned. “No good, Commander. The mission was a complete failure. The Van’Goth got to the location before we did and killed our target.” He explained. Spitfire glanced down towards the bottomless floor and frowned. Her facial expression softened. “Sorry to hear that. From what the satellites say, both of your exos seem to not be ready to make the journey all the way back to Neo Canterlot.” Inge’s eyes shot up with anger. She directed a nasty gaze towards Spitfire’s holographic head. “I can fix them up, you know! We don’t need your help!” Inge shouted. “Oh really? Then perhaps you would like to fix those exos up while your partners either die in the heat or to a wandering creature the size of a large hill?” Spitfire responded back. “Look, whether you all want it or not, I’m still going to send a transport unit over to your location.” “That would be much appreciated, Commander. We will await the transport unit.” Flash Sentry stated with a smile. “That’s what I’d like to hear! Just relax and try to keep yourselves comfortable. A transport unit will be arriving towards your location within an hour.” Stating these words, Spitfire’s hologram disappeared from Flash Sentry’s watch. Fei glanced up towards the sky with a frown on his face. He reached his right hand up towards the infinite blue space. “Pierre… I promise you that your death will be avenged.” Author's Note Managed to devote my attention to this chapter. Hopefully, this is much better than the previous chapter. Also, it seems like Inge might've played some Xerneasgears. A Cold PastReine and Boreas both stood across an icy field glancing towards each other. Wearing a stalwart combination of a straight mouth and steeled eyes, Boreas raised her right pectoral fin into the air. Reine braced her muscles and leaped into the air. She fired an ice beam from the palm of her right claws. The Ice Beam struck the ground, creating spiky stalagmites of ice below. Her eyes widened and her mouth lifted open. She grabbed the tallest stalagmite she could reach with her claws, allowing her to slide down it and slow down her descent. Boreas looked upon Reine with a disappointed frown on her face. She shook her head with disproval. Leaping off of the stalagmite and onto stable ground, Reine frowned and let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m trying Boreas, but this isn’t exactly that easy to do.” She explained. Boreas tapped her right pectoral fin onto the ground, communicating with Reine in Morse Code. “‘You have been practicing this with me for about a month. You should have already gotten the hang of this technique by now.’ That’s true… but I just can’t seem to…” Reine stated with a mix of frustration and sorrow in her tone. Boreas glanced upon Reine’s eyes, detecting an obstructing glint of sadness within her soul. She slid her way towards Reine and stopped by her side. She initiated a series of taps along the ground, communicating once more with an inquiring tone. “I really don’t want to talk about it, Boreas. I don’t think I can trust you with this piece of information yet.” Reine responded. Boreas shrugged her pectoral fins and brought her face down towards Reine’s neck, nuzzling the brooding Weavile. Feeling an urge of tickling along her neck, a smile forced itself upon Reine’s face. An onset of giggling broke from her tone. “Okay, stop!” She said with a jovial tone. “Why do you want me to tell you so bad?” Boreas slid away from Reine and communicated through a series of taps. Reine glanced upon Boreas with narrowed eyes and dumbfounded frown. “You are saying that not being able to accept my past is what’s stopping me from mastering this particular method of using Ice Beam?” She asked. Boreas smiled and nodded. She slid back towards Reine and rubbed her over her left shoulder blade using her left pectoral fin. Reine felt comforting warmth radiate from Boreas’s chilly fin that loosened the constraints of her mind and heart. A genuine smile broke out over her mouth. “You know, you kind of remind me of my former trainer…” Boreas cocked her head and raised her right eyelid in confusion. Reine glanced around Boreas with a shaky posture. She rubbed her right upper arm with the palm of her left claws. “Yeah. You always try to get me to smile and somehow ease me into going with the most ridiculous ideas. I called him an idiot and a nimrod at points and even understood them despite not knowing what I said…” Boreas glanced upon Reine’s face and saw her smile break down into a narrow-eyed frown. She tapped her right pectoral fin onto the ground, garnering her attention. She blinked once and flashed a frown of concern in response. Reine glanced upon Boreas’s concerned form. “…I could tell you, actually. I trust that you couldn’t tell others except for those that know Morse Code.” Boreas cocked her head and moved it where her side faced Reine’s face. A smile of intrigue appeared on her face. “You see… my trainer and I both wanted to have an egg of our own back when I was a Sneasal.” Reine began. “I tried many times to conceive… but couldn’t. The thought that I was infertile was a real concern, and the both of us were saddened by this.” Reine stated. Boreas turned her eyes towards Reine’s face and detected warm, but bitter tears leaking from her cold eyes. “We were desperate to find a way to conceive… and that’s when we crossed paths with a criminal organization. They caught my trainer and forced me into prostitution.” Reine admitted with shame bellowing from her voice. Boreas’s mouth hung open from Reine’s revelation. She tapped the tip of her right pectoral fin on the ground, communicating through a series of noises. “I know Boreas, but there wasn’t much else I could do. They said they could help if I do this… and would hurt my trainer if I didn’t. They were disgusting, but I had no choice but to agree to their terms. All of that turmoil I’ve been through… all that suffering…. It all turned to naught.” Boreas blinked once, wanting to let out a curious whine from her voice. Reine shook her head and flashed a frustrated frown. “Forget I said anything, Boreas. I appreciate your understanding, but you wouldn’t want to know how this finishes.” She said with stinging regret uttered from her tone. Boreas stared into Reine’s eyes for an extended period, leaving no sound but the bitter winds howling around them. She nodded with a neutral air around her. “Thanks for understanding. I think I might have told you too much to begin with, unfortunately. But, that’s life. I can trust that you won’t communicate to anyone in regards to this, correct?” Boreas nodded and raised her left pectoral fin with a wide smile on her face. Seeing the honorable stance of the Lapras before her, Reine smirked. She glanced into the air and saw a yellow net drop from the sky above. Her smile flipped into a frown of concern. “Boreas!” Pointing towards the sky with her right front claws, She shouted. Boreas looked behind her and felt the sinews of fiber adhere themselves onto her flesh. A series of volts surged from the net, bringing forth a numbing fire into Boreas’s nerves. Boreas winced and turned her head away. Reine sprinted towards Boreas, but her eyes detected a squad of pegasi fly from the horizon and stand within a blockade formation. “Sorry, but we aren’t letting you take another step forwards.” A gray-coated pegasus stallion stated with a wicked tone. Reine glanced upon the suits of each of the pegasi and narrowed her eyes. She detected the symbol of Neo Canterlot embedded within their suits. A fierce scowl formed over her eyes. “You’re all H.O.R.S.E. operatives! What’s the big deal with trapping and hurting Boreas here?!” She shouted. From the northern sky, a white-coated pegasus stallion with a blond mane descended down onto the patch of ice towards Boreas’s right side. His blue eyes glared into the captured Pokémon. He turned his head and stared towards Reine’s direction. A low growl emanated from his tone. “What are you doing standing around there for? We can’t leave any witnesses alive, especially if it is a Pokémon.” He decreed. “Get your assault rifles and gun it down!” Each of the pegasi in the line pulled out assault rifles from their backs and aimed it towards Reine with the deadeye aim of a firing squad. Reine glanced towards the weapons poised towards her, and her heart flipped upside-down. “Hold on! Can’t we talk any of this out?” She asked. “Nope.” A pegasus mare within the firing squad stated. Reine’s body overclocked itself, giving her the speed and energy to sprint away from the area with a swift speed. Her ears picked up the sounds of bullets firing towards her direction in a spray-like spread. The head pegasus growled with a low voice. “Don’t just stand there! Chase after that thing!” Acting upon the word of the white-coated pegasus, the rest of the pegasi opened their wings and took towards the sky. Seeing Reine’s running’s speed overcome their flight speed, the squadron split up into small units and scattered into different directions. Reine glanced behind her and saw a cherry red-coated lone pegasus mare with a soft pink mane hanging on her tail. Hearing a spray of bullets hit the ground, her eyes lit up with fear and she rushed forwards. Reine leaped into the air and turned behind her. She opened her mouth and breathed out a boulder of ice that hung in front of her body. She slashed the ice boulder, sending its shards towards the mare. The mare smacked away the Ice Shard with her rifle. “Is that all?” She said with a diligent tone. Reine bit her lip and dropped towards the ground. She sprinted across the icy field. She looked around her and saw that pegasi came towards her in all directions. They fired their rifles towards the space around Reine, freezing her within her tracks. Reine looked around her, taking note of the pegasi surrounding her. They raised their rifles towards her. “Jig’s up, Pokémon. There is no escape. Accept your death like the filthy alien you are.” A gray-coated pegasus stallion within the squad threatened. A snow-covered mound shook in the distance from the firing squad. A pair of blue eyes opened with a stoic aura from the depths of the snow. The figure within the mound leaped out, revealing herself in the form of a gray-coated earth pony mare with a lavender mane and tail. She leaped towards the back of a silver-coated pegasus stallion and grabbed his head by the temple and chin. “Gah!” The stallion muttered out. The mare on his leaned her head towards the stallion’s face, where her blue eyes met with his magenta eyes. The stallion’s heart became heavy with primordial fear to the point where he dropped his rifle. The mare set her stone gaze towards the other pegasi in the group, filling them with her solid presence. “L-let him go!” An ice-blue pegasus mare with a yellow mane and tail demanded. A pink-coated pegasus stallion glanced towards the talking mare beside him with his eyes demanding her silence. “Do you not know who this is?! This is Maud Pie, the deadliest spy in all of H.O.R.S.E.! Get in her way, and she will kill us all within a blink of an eye.” He explained with a voice that trembled in fear. “Wait, that Pie? The one who can pulverize mountains with her bare hooves?” The mare asked with surprise. Maud Pie nodded in silence and tightened her grip on her victim’s head. A low whine emanated from the stallion’s voice. “Let this Pokémon go and I will let your partner here live.” She threatened with a stoic tone. Almost upon the act of a survival instinct, the horde of pegasi dropped their rifles and backed away from Reine. Their bodies wracked with cold blood flowing through them. “Y-y-you’re free to go.” The pegasus stallion in Maud Pie’s grip stated. With the gravity of the area holding her down, Reine complied with the words of the stallion and walked out of the circle with a calm demeanor. Maud Pie rushed towards the pink-coated pegasus and thrust her right front hoof into the stallion’s chest, breaking her ribs and bruising it. The stallion cried out in pain and fell onto the ground. He looked above him and saw Maud Pie’s form darkened by the surrounding sunlight glaring down upon her. She kicked his jaw with a tremendous force to the point where his spine let out a crack heard by everyone in the group. The stallion dropped towards the ground with his body limp from the strike. “You all bring shame to those uniforms you wear.” Maud Pie stated with a fierce, yet stoic tone. “This stallion dropped faster than a boulder, and I am more than willing to do the same with traitors such as your group.” “Please don’t kill us! We are all just commanded by our leading officer Light Ray! He paid us for this!” The ice-blue pegasus mare pleaded. “So your loyalty is with the gold ores you were paid and not by the diamonds of Neo Canterlot’s heart?” All of the pegasi hesitated upon hearing Maud Pie’s words; their bodies fidgeted and murmurs were heard from the crowd. Each of the pegasi opened the bags on their saddles and emptied them, bringing forth a storm of bits that clashed against the snow underneath them. “We don’t care about this money anymore! We just only want to live. Please, Maud Pie, look for mercy in that stoic heart of yours!” The pegasus mare requested. “We will never, never go against Neo Canterlot again.” Maud Pie turned towards Reine’s direction. “What do you think? Should we let them go?” She asked. Reine glanced towards the crowd of pegasi trembling before her. She shut her eyes and lowered her face. “No. They have already proven to be untrustworthy to the cause of Neo Canterlot by going along with this Light Ray’s plan. Even if we let them go, they will always be willing to betray anyone if paid well-enough. It’s better for us to finish them off here.” She explained. Upon hearing Reine’s words, all of the hearts of the pegasi sunk into their stomachs. Maud Pie moved with lightning speed and socked a nearby pegasus mare in her left temple. The force of the collision cracked the fragile chink in her skull’s defenses and drilled into her brain, knocking her onto the ground and rendering her mind dead. “Wise choice.” Maud Pie complimented. Light Ray and a host of other pegasi lifted Boreas into a cavern and tossed her on the ground. With her movement snared by the net on her body, Boreas turned around and glanced towards the pegasus that held her captive. Light Ray walked towards her with a satisfied smile on his face. “Well, well, well! I finally get the chance to have a Pokémon within my grasp. You don’t look very threatening, but that’s probably because of that electrical net on you.” He chided with a smug tone. Boreas glanced down towards Light Ray with a frigid stare directed into his soul. She initiated a series of taps through her right pectoral fin. An amused smile appeared on Light Ray’s face. “This beast is trying to communicate with me fellows. It thinks it’s intelligent!” He jeered. A storm of laughter bellowed from within the cavern. Light Ray flew up towards Boreas’s face and brought out his assault rifle. He smacked the metallic gun against Boreas’s face. Boreas winced, but retained her composure. Her frigid stare ignited on fire. The stallion kicked Boreas in her chest, eliciting a stronger wince from the Transport Pokémon. “Don’t think you can try to tap your way out of this. This will be the last place you will ever see. I have to make sure that you and your kind are all eliminated from this world.” Light Ray stated. “After all, your little friend had proven on Nightmare Night that your kind should never be trusted. All it takes is just one little outburst, and Neo Canterlot falls by the hand of the aliens we’ve invited to live in.” Boreas tapped out a phrase on the ice underneath her. Seeing this movement, Light Ray aimed his assault rifle down towards her right pectoral fin and unloaded a round of bullets into it. Boreas’s nerves lit ablaze with pain. Her eyes forced back the tears held within her soul. She glanced upon her flipper and saw it splashed within her own blood. “Do not even dare try to communicate with me, or else I will make sure you fall in that net you are staying in.” Light Ray threatened. Boreas frowned and dropped her body down to the ground. She glanced upon the cruel pegasi before her eyes and felt weakness wriggling into her heart. Reine lunged her claws into the central neck of the ice blue-coated pegasus mare. Feeling the Weavile’s claws obstructing her airway, the mare gagged and squirmed underneath her stab. Reine pulled out her claws and kicked the mare into the pile of pegasus corpses underneath Maud Pie. “That’s the last of them.” Reine stated. “Thank you for helping me, Maud Pie. Had you not been here, I would have been a dead Weavile.” Maud Pie slid down the mountain of corpses and walked towards Reine with her monotone stare directed towards her. “I happened to be returning from a mission. I heard a bunch of commotion and became one with the land so that I could have a better picture of what was happening.” Shaking her head, she explained. “Please, do not think that all Equusians are this cruel towards Pokémon.” “I know that there are always a few bad eggs hidden amongst a litter. I won’t hold it against your kind, lest I want to end up like that xenophobe Light Ray.” Reine stated. A small smile appeared on Maud Pie’s face. She took her steps towards the north. Reine glanced towards her direction. Maud Pie looked towards a lone stone amidst the desert of ice and snow. She crouched down towards it level and whispered to it. “What are you doing?” Reine asked with a dumbfounded tone. Maud Pie stood up from the ground and glanced towards Reine. “Talking with it. This stone gets intimidated easily, so I had to whisper.” She explained. “But…” Reine’s eyes widened with confounding and she shrugged her shoulders with disbelief. “Rocks are witnesses to everything that happens over millennia. They share a wealth of knowledge that is untainted by Equusian-kind. I’ve honed my skills to be able to speak with them, to understand them and to move them with my very presence.” “Okay then… so what did this stone have to say?” Maud Pie looked over the horizon, where a tall mountain surrounded by an impenetrable chasm stood. She pointed towards the cave within the peak. “He said that he saw a group of pegasi carry away a giant plesiosaur-like creature into that mountain’s cave.” “…He? Anyways, why would they work so hard with bringing Boreas into such a remote location?” Reine asked. “Well think about it; this Light Ray must hate Pokémon to the point where he would want to leave them to die. The more remote the location is, the higher the chance is that no one would ever look for that Pokémon.” Reine’s eyes focused on the chasm around the mountain. Her heart deflated. “How are we supposed to get to that cave? That chasm looks too wide for any Weavile to jump towards.” She asked. “I don’t know. I thought you would have some sort of special skill that would allow you to get there.” Maud Pie retorted. “Well… I do, but I always keep failing at that technique. I’m not sure if it would be any different.” With uncertainty wavering upon the frown on her face, Reine stated. Maud Pie walked up towards Reine and smacked her right front hoof across the Weavile’s face. Reine winced and rubbed her cheek. “Do not let your doubt get in the way of saving your friend. If you do, then you are only going to let your body distract itself into failure.” She instructed. “Alright… I’ll try.” Reine murmured with doubt present in her voice. Maud Pie shook her head and glanced into Reine’s eyes. “I need you to say it with more confidence in your voice Reine. You will never master this technique until you are one-hundred percent positive that you can master it.” She encouraged. “Now, is your will impenetrable like that mountain in front of us?” Reine glanced towards the mountain and back towards Maud Pie. A small smile made its way onto her face. “I have no choice but to be impenetrable like that mountain. Otherwise, a life would surely be lost.” Two pegasi stood outside of the cave on the mountain, keeping an eye on their surroundings. The mare of the two, who possessed a mint green-colored coat and a sea blue mane, glanced towards the deep blue-coated stallion with a silver mane. A confused frown formed on her face. “So… why are we exactly standing guard out here in this impenetrable location?” She asked. The stallion shrugged his shoulders. The two pegasi looked forwards, keeping a lazy sight on their surroundings. In the corner of their sights, they both saw two figures riding a trail of flying ice. Their sights focused, revealing Reine and Maud Pie flying towards the mountain. “Well… it seems like the boss was right with his judgment.” Unfolding his wings, the stallion stated. “Shall we?” Both pegasi leaped off of the cliff and soared towards Reine and Maud Pie. Maud Pie leaped off of the ice and towards the pegasi in the air. She slipped on gauntlets forged from heavy metals over her front hooves. Her hooves crackled with molten energy that ran through them. She struck the mare in the head with her rock-infused hoof, knocking her into the mountain and causing it to shake. The mare looked above her and saw an avalanche of snow run down from above her. The avalanche gripped her body and dragged her all the way towards the base of the mountain and into the chasm below. A bellowing scream of primal fear that echoed across the Glacial Drift became the last noise she would ever utter. Reine’s claws stopped firing ice. She leaped off of the ice trail and landed on the airborne stallion. The stallion glanced behind his back and flashed an annoyed frown. “Hey! Get off of me!” He stated. Reine planted her claws onto the scalp of the stallion. A massive chill overcame the stallion’s brain, bringing forth a pained shout. The creeping ice from Reine encased the entire stallion’s body, freezing him solid. She curled her claws into a fist and struck his back with all the force she could muster. Cracks appeared within the body of the frozen stallion. Reine leaped off of the frozen pegasus and shot out an Ice Beam from the palm of her claws, recreating a flying trail of ice and riding it. Maud Pie fell down from the sky and onto Reine and clambered onto her back. Reine and Maud Pie rode the wave of ice into the cave, garnering the attention of all of the pegasi within the cave. Reine’s claws flashed with a dark aura. She ran at the speed of sound, slashing all of the necks of the pegasi with her claws. The pegasi all dropped to the ground with their necks slashed open. Reine glanced ahead towards the darkness of the cave. Sounds of hard strikes rang out from the depths of the cavern, eliciting a twitch from the feather in Reine’s ear. Her stance shook and her head cringed. “I… I could only imagine what Light Ray is doing to Boreas down there.” Maud Pie walked forwards with apathetic eyes directed into the darkness. She turned towards Reine. “Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to save your friend?” She asked. Boreas pushed slid deeper into the net, breathing out a series of deep pants. Black bruises covered her body, giving the electricity deeper pathways in her body to strike from. She glanced towards Light Ray, who glanced upon her with an infernal stare. “Where is that killer instinct I heard you Pokémon love using? Are you too weak to fight from that net on you?!” Light Ray jeered. Boreas glanced down upon Light Ray with pools of pity forming within her pupils. She shut her eyes and turned her head to the left, revealing an area with few bruises. Light Ray glanced upon her with a head cocked in confusion. “Are you turning the other cheek? What makes you think that a killer alien such as yourself has the right to show off any sort of mercy?!” He screamed. He flew up towards Boreas’s head and smashed the handle of his assault rifle into the least-bruised area on her neck. Boreas clenched her teeth and winced. Her stance wobbled. Seeing Boreas stand before him with a sturdy stance, the rage in Light Ray’s eyes ignited into pillars. He pointed the barrel of his assault rifle into Boreas’s face. “You know what?! You’re pissing me off with your pacifistic crap! You are about to die, and you don’t try attacking back?! You should be prone to biting back and taking lives like any other stupid creature!” Walking into the chamber where Light Ray and Boreas existed within, Reine’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped to the ground. Maud Pie flashed a hard glare towards Light Ray. “Is this what this is all about?!” Reine shouted with an offended tone. “You think that we are just a bunch of stupid beasts whose only purpose is to end your kind?! Did you not even spend a minute of your time being around another Pokémon before enacting this disgusting plan?!” Light Ray’s body turned cold. He turned around, where his eyes met with Reine’s and Maud Pie’s eyes. Light Ray gritted his teeth. “How did you two get past my hired hands?!” He screamed with an attempt of hiding the fear in his voice. “Simple; we killed them.” With no sort of aggression or fear in her voice, Maud Pie responded. “All those pegasi sold their souls to a devil such as yourself! Why would you torment a sweetheart like Boreas here to the point of death?!” Reine demanded. “Why should I tell you anything, Pokémon? You’ve only proven my point that your kind couldn’t be trusted by killing off all of my hired henchponies! You’re all better off dead than living any second longer.” Light Ray stated. Reine sprinted up towards Light Ray and gripped her right claws around his neck. Light Ray’s eyes widened from the strong grip around his neck. Reine shoved him onto the ground and poised her left claws between Light Ray’s eyes. Maud Pie ran over towards Boreas and thrust her front hooves into a single cell of the net. With her mighty strength, she tore the net in half, freeing Boreas. Maud Pie glanced towards Boreas’s body, seeing all of the welts and wounds all over her body. Seeing the bullets penetrating Boreas’s right dorsal fin and its pained twitching, a wave of disgust befell her. “These are assault rifle rounds loaded into Boreas’s flipper!” Maud Pie stated with a voice with heightened aggression. “You hated her to the point where you disabled the use of her fin through firepower?! Reine is right; you are a devil!” Light Ray choked out a gasp of air from his squeezed esophagus. “Y-you sold out to these Pokémon, Maud! I was just doing the right thing and cleansing this infection before it began.” Reine tightened the grip around Light Ray’s neck, increasing the pressure to the point where he gagged. “If I were you, I would shut up right now. As it stands, you are not in a position to force your rotten views onto others. You’ve thrown yourself into a barrel of shit, and I will make you drown in it if you force me to!” Reine threatened with a quiet voice resonating with ferocity. Light Ray pushed out his upper mid tooth towards the right, revealing a blue and red capsule in his mouth. A confident grin appeared on his mouth. “Reine. That’s cyanide he has there.” Maud Pie warned. “That’s right. I’m not about to give a filthy Pokémon the satisfaction of ending my life. I'll take my own life instead!” Light Ray bit the capsule in half and swallowed its liquid contents. The mouths of Reine and Boreas dropped at the sight. Light Ray’s nerves went dead and his breathing became stunned. He lost his consciousness and his body became limp. Reine growled and slammed his body on the ground. Seeing Reine’s chest rise back and forth through strong huffs, Maud Pie placed her right front hoof on Reine’s left shoulder. “It’s alright Reine. Let your anger go.” She said. Reine glanced towards Boreas’s injured form, where her anger peaked rather than subdued itself. “How could I let it go when he caused so much pain and suffering to Boreas?! She already suffered at the hands of poachers, and now she has to deal with this?! It makes me so… so angry that I couldn’t kill this thing! I wanted to squeeze his brains out!” She lashed out. Boreas shook her head and placed her left pectoral fin on Reine’s right shoulder. She initiated a series of taps into Reine’s shoulder, communicating with her. Reine’s face lightened and allowed her to absorb Boreas’s words. “‘It’s true that I am in severe pain, but it’s alright. I allowed him to inflict these wounds upon myself because it would be better than proving him right about Pokémon by attacking him.’” Reine translated. “Boreas, this was a Class SSS asshole! You couldn’t have even frozen him with an Ice Beam?!” Boreas shook her head and wore a smile on her face. An epiphany overcame Reine, filling her heart with realization. She let go of her ghost’s aggression. “Boreas…” She murmured out. A soft smile appeared on her face. “I’m ashamed to say it, but you proved yourself to be a better Pokémon than me. If I was in your position, I would’ve ripped that stallion several new ones.” Boreas smiled and brought her head down towards Reine, nuzzling her right cheek with her mouth. Reine giggled and pushed Boreas away with a gentle movement. Boreas tapped Reine’s shoulder with another series of taps. “You are asking about how I got here, right? With Maud’s encouragement and my thoughts of you, I was able to be focused on doing anything to reach you. I was not going to let you die, because not only would I not hear the end of it from Rundas but I would also be wrought with the same amount of despair that I gained when I lost my trainer.” Maud Pie and Boreas exchanged eye glances and turned towards Reine’s direction. A smile appeared on Reine’s face. “You lost your trainer?” Maud Pie asked. “I guess I can finish up that story now. My trainer and I still saw each other as a part of our deal with the organization that we were held captive by. But… seeing my physical and mental wounds, my trainer was disgusted by the organization we were held captive by. He tried to get me out of selling my body, but he ended up getting shot dead before he even began.” Reine explained. “That’s pretty metal.” Maud Pie responded with a stoic tone. “Sorry that happened to you.” “I’m over it now, but I still feel its stings. He was my best friend, and he always made sure I was comfortable with an idea before going through with it. When I lost him, I lost my way of coping with the mess I was in. I actually thought that suicide wouldn’t be a bad option at that point. Then, I met Joker. And from there, he gave my life purpose again. Meeting up with the rest of the gang, Boreas, Rundas and now you Maud, I now feel like I don’t have to try hiding or running away from my past again.” Boreas grinned and rubbed Reine’s shoulder with her pectoral fin. A warm sensation overcame Reine’s body. Maud Pie walked over towards Reine and embraced her. Reine’s eyes shot open. “I know this is a bit sudden and I’m not into this whole mushiness of hugs, but it sounds like you’ve finally confronted the ghosts of your past. I’m proud of you, and you need a hug.” Maud Pie stated with a tone as straight as her eyes and frown. “Even if we just only met?” Reine asked. “You showed me that you can let go of your negativity and can think positive thoughts. That’s the kind of attitude we need for Neo Canterlot.” Reine smiled and brought her arms around Maud Pie’s torso. The two split from each other and shared a casual glance. “If you are coming back to Neo Canterlot, would you like to hang out?” “Sure. But, I have yet to ask for your name.” Maud Pie responded. “My name is Reine.” “Reine. Nice name. Maybe we can meet by my abode later. I have some awesome rock tunes we can listen to.” Boreas glanced towards Maud Pie with pleading eyes. Maud Pie glanced into Boreas’s eyes and nodded. “You are welcome to come too. I heard very much from my sister Pinkie Pie about Pokémon, but I’ve never actually had the chance to be with one before this. Maybe this will give me the insight that ponies like Light Ray failed to see?” Reine’s eyes lit up with surprise and her smile faltered into an unidentifiable puzzlement. “Wait, Pinkie Pie is your sister?!” She shouted. “I know what you are thinking Reine. We may not share the same types of expressions or personality, but we are definitely sisters. I’ll always look over her and protect her too despite her unique quirks.” Boreas glanced towards the ceiling and the urge of whistling overcame her. She rolled her lips and forced mangled-sounding air through her mouth. Maud Pie hummed. “I’ll take that as a compliment about my sister rather than a complaint. But, you are more important at this moment. We are going to get you treated right now Boreas.” Boreas glanced down towards her injured pectoral fin and then stared into Maud Pie's eyes. She smiled. Author's Note An ice pun in the title, racism, more character development and another bittersweet ending. It took a bit, but I think I fleshed out this chapter enough to be presentable. A Sheltered Mare's EpiphanyRondo stood upon the smooth boards of a curtained stage. A small bow adhered itself on his neck and black tuxedo adorned itself onto his body. He inhaled a deep breath through his nostrils and exhaled through his mouth. “Lookin’ alright there, Rondo?” Rondo turned towards his left, where he saw Applejack and a light blue-coated earth pony mare with a black and electric blue-striped coiled mane and tail walked up the stairs towards the stage. Rondo smiled and flew towards the duo. “Applejack! And… some other mare I don’t know!” Rondo exclaimed. The mare and Applejack both shared a glance. The mare then looked into Rondo’s eyes with her light blue eyes. “It is a wonderful pleasure to meet a friend of AJ’s. My name is Coloratura, but you can just call me Rara.” Coloratura introduced. “Rara, eh? What brings you out to Club Chitin with Applejack tonight?” Rondo asked. Coloratura pointed towards her flank, which displayed an image of a golden star with a bright-colored musical note on each point. “I’m a regular audience member here at Club Chitin, but I hope to make a singing debut soon.” She explained. “So… why did Applejack bring you up here?” Rondo asked with a voice steeped in curiosity. Coloratura tilted her head to her left and a slight blush of red overcame her face. She rubbed her left front hoof with her right front hoof. “Well… the thing is that I’m a huge fan of all of your performances here, Rondo. Whenever I see your name in Club Chitin’s program, I always try to get the front seat. AJ is a childhood friend of mine, and I she said that she knows you. So, I begged her to bring me backstage.” She explained. Rondo blinked once and smiled. “I didn’t think I had any fans.” He responded. “But why didn’t you just come up here and visit me?” Applejack took three steps towards Rondo’s airspace and leaned her mouth towards Rondo’s head. She brought her right front hoof towards the left side of her mouth, walling the space between Rondo and Applejack from Coloratura. “Rara’s, well… she’s a bit sheltered… okay, she’s really sheltered.” Applejack explained. “She doesn’t even know that we are in a war of survival.” Rondo’s eyes shot opened and he hovered backwards. “Yikes! How’s that possible to ignore?” Rondo asked. “I’m not allowed to go into specifics, but her caretaker did a really good job at convincing her about there being no war in Neo Canterlot.” Applejack responded. “And you didn’t tell her about the war why?” “I did, several times already. Every time, she made a big fuss out of it and called me a liar. I would prove it to her, but I don’t want to put any unnecessary danger out for her.” Coloratura glanced towards Applejack and Rondo with a worried frown on her face. “Excuse me, but is everything alright here AJ? You seem to be whispering about something.” She asked. Applejack split from Rondo and wore a forced smile on her face. She giggled with a nervous shiver of her body. “Everything is peachy like an apple, Rara.” Applejack responded. Carapace walked onto the stage with a hurried gait in his step. He zoned in towards Applejack and Coloratura. “Rondo! You’re about to open tonight up in about a night. Please ask these ladies here to rejoin the audience, lest they would want to interfere with your performance.” He requested. “I don’t want to sound pushy, but you heard what Councilman Carapace said.” Rondo said with a sheepish tone. “Tonight is my big performance, and I can get scouted to do a song in a future piece of media!” “Wow!” Coloratura exclaimed. “I really hope you get your big break, Rondo.” “Thanks.” Rondo uttered out. Applejack and Coloratura walked down the stairs and exited the stage. Carapace placed his right front hoof on Rondo’s spine and rubbed it up and down. “You don’t need to worry, Rondo. I’m absolutely sure that you will do a good job.” “Yeah… I hope so.” Rondo muttered out. Carapace walked off the stage, leaving Rondo alone underneath the dim light. Hoof taps against a microphone sounded out through the entire club. “Ladies and gentlemen of all ages and races; thank you for spending your evening here at Club Chitin. Opening for you today is a singer whose voice and form is quickly capturing the hearts of those that set their focus on him. He is the Chatot with a soulful voice. Give a warm round of applause for Rondo!” The intercom announced. The velvet curtains lifted up, revealing Rondo perched upon a metallic stick. The audience resonated with a series of clops and claps, bringing a warming ease over Rondo. He smiled and cleared his throat. “Thank you for the warm applause, Club Chitin. With my time spent with this club, I felt a certain level of connection with you all. That is why I have a special song written for you all.” He declared. A yellow-coated earth pony stallion with a black mane and tail trotted from the back and onto the stage. A twelve-piped pan flute hung upon a black strap around his torso. He revealed his yellow eyes towards the audience and waved with a smile on his face. He pulled out his pan flute and brought it to his mouth. He shut his eyes and blew into the pipes, bringing forth a soothing melody that spread throughout the club. Rondo shut his eyes and retained his smiled. “Ooooooohhhhhh~ my life is just a breeeeze, Swaaaaaying in its winds that freeeeze, Wrapped in a bitter maelstrom, Nobody listens to meeeee, Ooooohhhhhh~ the time within this squall, Loooooking down in free fall, I don’t want to blow up, Just wake me uuuuup~! A little friendship is most neeeeded, A little friendship goes a loooong way, Defeat is what I conceded, But your life in my presence I say nay~ Woooon’t~ you open up for hugs? I need to feel the warmth of snugs. Ooooooohhhhhh~ my life is just a breeeeze, Swaaaaaying in its winds that freeeeze, Wrapped in a bitter maelstrom, Nobody listens to meeeee, Well I have a voice that is aaaaactive~ No more tears, it’s radioaaaaactive~ Caaaaan you hear my sad song? Please don’t be wrong Please be my friend.” Rondo glanced towards the audience and glanced upon all of their smiles. Another wave of applause sounded throughout the crowd. Applejack and Coloratura blew into their front hooves, firing a loud whistling noise from their seats. A gray-coated earth pony stallion with a strawberry pink frizzled mane and tail flashed a cold stare into Rondo’s eyes with his brown eyes and frowned. Rondo’s soul yelped at the stare of the stallion and felt his nerves going cold. The continued cheering of the crowd defrosted his nerves, allowing his body to bow with his right wing extended. Rondo flew from the back door of the club and into the cool and starry night. He inhaled from his beak, taking in the chilled air into his lungs. He shook his head and shrugged his wings. “That stallion with Applejack and Coloratura gave me the creeps! Just… who was that guy?” He asked himself. “Speaking about me?” A voice from behind Rondo called out. Rondo shrieked and turned around, jumping at the sight of the gray-coated stallion that directed a grimace towards him. “Oh… ummm, hello. Who… who are you?” The stallion straightened out the red tie wrapped around the collar of his blue suit and approached Rondo with unreadable eyes. “My name is Svengallop, former manager hailing from what used to be Manehatten. Correct me if I am wrong, but you are the opening singer?” Svengallop introduced. “Yes… I was. Is there a reason why you asked?” Rondo asked with creeping suspicion trailing up his tail feathers. “As a matter of fact, there is. You see, my Countess Coloratura is absolutely infatuated with your singing. She begs me to come to this drab club every time she sees your name on the program.” Svengallop explained. “Wait, you are Rara’s caretaker?” Rondo asked. Svengallop’s eyes widened at the notion of Rondo’s words. He shook his head with disgust and redoubled the efforts in his stare. “Do not make it sound like I am some sort of nanny or foster parent. I practically lost my job since all of the other performers under me all died during the excursion to this city. Countess Coloratura, a potential singer who I was going to have underneath my contract, is the only performer I have left. So, I keep her happy, safe and nourished as an… investment.” He explained. “Alright, but why are you referring to her as ‘Countess’ Coloratura? I thought she preferred to be called ‘Rara’.” Rondo asked with doubt swinging back and forth between his eyes. “Because one day, she is going to be a brilliant star!” Svengallop responded with a star-struck voice and his right front hoof in the air. “She needs to have an image and title of grandiose to match her talent. This brings me to you.” Rondo looked upon the unnerving grin on Svengallop’s face. His body began sweating bullets and the cool air around him became thick with heat and moisture. He pulled on the necktie around his neck. “What do I have to do with this situation?” He stammered out. “I know you are a H.O.R.S.E. operative, Rondo. I want you and your thoughts of the war to keep away from my budding star.” Svengallop explained. “The Countess has absolutely no knowledge of what happens outside, and anyone that explains to her otherwise will just get denied.” “So… wouldn’t she just call me a liar if I even tell her about the war?” Rondo asked with narrowed eyes. Svengallop walked towards Rondo’s right side and wrapped his left front hoof around his body. Rondo felt his nerves paralyze underneath the stallion’s uncomfortable touch. “This is where her fanaticism towards you becomes a problem; she is much more willing to believe anything you say to her even over her best friend Applejack and myself. That’s a problem, because if she adds the variables together, then she is going to reject me, get herself maimed or worse and I will lose all of my performers. So, don’t tell her anything about the outside world and its problems, unless you want to face some grim consequences.” Svengallop threatened. “Your threats are empty and you know it.” Rondo called out. Svengallop shut his eyes and raised his head in a haughty manner. “Maybe they are, but I still know some very powerful Equusians. If you cross paths with me by interfering with my budding singer’s life, then I can guarantee that your body will be grilled and served to connoisseurs of the highest order. I wonder how you will taste.” Licking his lips with a devilish stare directed into Rondo’s eyes, he stated. Rondo felt Svengallop’s hoof rub down his spine, dusting forth a numbing electric wave throughout his body. Svengallop patted Rondo’s back three times and walked away with a confident grin on his face. Rondo looked forwards and his eyes and cheeks froze over in fear. Applejack and Coloratura walked out of the front doors of the club with wide-eyed smiles on their faces. Coloratura glanced towards Applejack, where her smile widened into a grin. “Thanks for coming with me and Svengallop tonight, AJ. It really meant the world to me.” She thanked. Applejack shook her head and shut her eyes. Her smile became modest. “I’m always happy to accompany you, Rara. Those singers all had such nice voices.” She stated. “I know right?! Even then, it’s clear that Rondo stood above the others because of the little things he did to bring his song into an ethereal level with that pan flute.” Coloratura replied with an excited tone. “Rara, I need to ask; why do you like Rondo’s singing so much?” Applejack asked with a hint of curiosity in her tone. “I know he’s good, but it’s not something to obsess over.” Coloratura looked up towards the starry curtains of the night and saw a brilliant star in the sky. “Rondo’s voice just… awakens something within me. His singing reminds me that there is much more to life than being in Neo Canterlot. It kind of awakens some memories.” She explained. Applejack frowned and shied her head away from Coloratura. Feeling her front fetlocks getting cold with anxiety, she rubbed them. “There isn’t much to the outside world, Rara. The world is locked in a war of survival, and this city is the only thing we have left.” Coloratura set a fiery stare into Applejack’s eyes and pounded her right front hoof into the ground. “Stop lying to me, AJ!” She shouted. “Of course we have more to this world than Neo Canterlot. There is no such thing as war, and we are all living here in peace and harmony.” “I ain’t lyin’, Rara. Take it from somepony who’s been working at H.O.R.S.E. for years now; lives of operatives are lost constantly, my older brother went insane and died and the cities are just heaps of dirt and ruins. What would I have to gain from lying to you, Rara?” Coloratura huffed out a gust of frustrated air and turned her head away from Applejack. “Because you’re jealous that you won’t be a famous singer like I would be one day? Svengallop says that I’m a shoo-in to be a big shot singer soon.” Applejack’s jaw dropped at the sound of Coloratura’s claim. “No! Not at all! That stallion’s doing nothing but stroking your ego so that you couldn’t see the real truth outside of these walls!” Coloratura glanced towards Applejack with a reluctant frown on her face. “Well fine! If you are so sure that there is a war against this city, then I would invite you to take me out of this city Applejack.” She stated with an angry tone. “Fine! Maybe I will!” Applejack answered back. The two mares directed their heads away from each other and walked in split directions. Frustration encompassed their hoofsteps. A new day fell over the city’s horizon. Rondo flew into the Civilian Request Center and roosted upon the front desk. The reception griffon, Sharp Beak, glanced upon Rondo with a cheery smile on her face. Rondo held his right wing out and bowed. “Good morning, Sharp Beak. How is my favorite griffon doing today?” He asked. “I’m doing very well and you?” Sharp Beak asked. “Besides a bit of an upsetting encounter with a certain someone, I have been doing well. So, what requests are available today?” Sharp Beak’s talons typed into a holographic keyboard. A single blue-colored hologram appeared between Rondo and Sharp Beak. “I was only able to pull up this request, Rondo. Based off of its blue color, it should be a simple one to start the day with. The request also seems innocent enough.” Grabbing the hologram with her talons and pushing it towards Rondo’s face, Sharp Beak answered. Rondo glanced upon the hologram and narrowed his eyes. Upon seeing Coloratura’s name upon the client name section, his heart stopped dead. He shook his head and frowned. “Nuh-uh! I’m not doing this!” He shouted. “Is there something the matter, Rondo?” With a frown forming on her face, Sharp Beak inquired. “Are you sure you don’t have any other requests available at this time, Sharp Beak?” Rondo whined. Sharp Beak shook her head and shrugged her shoulders with apologetic glimmers in her eyes. Rondo sighed and touched a silver emblem upon the torso of his suit. A blue light emerged from it and engulfed the holographic request. Rondo looked upon Sharp Beak with a frown on his face. Sharp Beak smiled and patted Rondo’s shoulder. “There, there, Rondo; do not be afraid. What’s the worst that could possibly happen in this request that you are not prepared to handle?” She asked. “Getting grilled and served as a delicacy, that’s what.” Rondo replied. Sharp Beak smiled and petted Rondo’s head. “You can be too adorable at times, you know Rondo? You’ll be fine. Trust me on this.” Sharp Beak stated. Applejack walked into the room and set her focus on Rondo and Sharp Beak. She smiled and waved. “Howdy Rondo! Howdy Sharp Beak! Do any of you have any requests available? I’m expecting a request from Rara today.” She inquired. Sharp Beak and Rondo shared an uneasy glance and set their sights onto Applejack. “I think I might have that request, Applejack. It was listed as being an open request.” Rondo stated. Applejack scowled and shook her head. She clicked her tongue. “Seems like Rara would want any other operative to take the request besides me.” She mulled out loud. “You know Applejack, Coloratura’s request is an inclusive-type request, meaning that multiple H.O.R.S.E. operatives can take the same request. Why don’t you join Rondo on this request?” Sharp Beak suggested. Applejack smiled and set her sights onto Rondo. “So Rondo, would you kindly allow me to join this request?” She asked. “Of course! It says here that she is waiting outside the gate.” Rondo stated. Applejack and Coloratura walked along the cragged plains of the Terraformed Wilderness. Wild shrubs of grass bristled against their hooves. Coloratura smiled and sighed with a delighted tone. She inhaled through her nose, absorbing the sweet air of wild flowers and waterfall scents. “Now this is what I needed the most; the outside world is just as beautiful as how I imagined it!” Coloratura exclaimed. Applejack frowned and glanced down towards the ground. Rondo, who perched himself upon the collar of Applejack’s armor, rubbed his right wing into the back of her neck. “You still aren’t burned by Rara’s request, are you?” He asked. Don’t worry about her, Rondo. AJ absolutely hates being wrong about something. Her pride tends to blindside her.” Coloratura stated. “Rara, this land is still very dangerous. Even if we don’t come across the Van’Goth, there will be several creatures that’ll make a meal out of us.” Applejack responded. “Don’t get a swollen head just because of the very little chance I have of being wrong.” Coloratura rolled her eyes and flashed a confident smile. “Don’t worry, AJ. Nothing bad would happen at all.” She said with an assured tone. A boisterous explosion sounded out within the distant horizon, causing the trio’s eyes to wince and their bodies to cringe. They looked towards the horizon, where a pillow of smoke touched up towards the atmosphere. “What was that?!” Coloratura shouted. Rondo narrowed his eyes and released his clutch on Applejack’s collar. “I’m going to go investigate. You two stay together and try not to fight, alright?” Saying these words, he began flapping his wings and took towards the skies, leaving Applejack and Coloratura alone. Coloratura shied her head away from Applejack, and an uneasy frown formed on her face. She scratched at the bare ground with her right front hoof. The fear of the unknown gripped at her heart, freezing her joints. “AJ… I think I might’ve acted a bit like a jerk.” She murmured out. Applejack’s eyes widened and she glanced towards Coloratura with curious eyes. “Did something happen, Rara?” She asked with a voice of concern. “It ain’t like you to just up and swallow your pride.” “AJ… if this threat actually does turn out to be the thing that I was ignorant of and we would die here, I don’t want you to die while being on bad terms with you.” Coloratura explained. “I’m sorry if I didn’t want you to receive the mission or acted like a big jerk about the situation yesterday. I really hope you can forgive me.” Applejack smiled and brought her hooves around Coloratura’s neck. She pulled her in for a hug. “We are all allowed to be foolish at times, Rara. That just means that you’re equine. Of course I forgive you!” She stated. “Besides, I’ll make sure you’re safe and sound. I got military training up the wazoo after all!” Coloratura smiled and chuckled at Applejack’s optimistic statement. She split away from Applejack, where a wholehearted smile cracked along her face. “I know. You know, I don’t think I remembered feeling this uneasy about anything before… except during that time I had to flee Manehatten.” She said. “Wait, you actually remember that?! I thought ol’ Svengallop wiped your memory clean of that incident!” Applejack shouted. Coloratura shook her head with shut eyes. Opening her eyes, her pupils filled with honesty. “Svengallop didn’t do much except for helping me lie to myself. Deep inside… I knew something like this was happening. But, my consciousness didn’t want me to know about it. Hearing all of those ponies in the city scream before they were mercilessly mowed down, the fires and destruction that engulfed the city… it’s enough to traumatize anyone.” Applejack glanced upon Coloratura with her body steeled with worry. “Rara… I never knew you felt like that.” Rubbing the back of her neck with her right front hoof, she said. “I mean… if I knew that you were in that much shock over it, then I wouldn’t have kept prodding at you.” Coloratura walked towards Applejack and grabbed her right front hoof with a gentle hold on it. She stared into Applejack’s green eyes and shook her head. “You don’t need to feel worried about what you never knew, AJ. In a way, I’m kind of glad you kept bringing it up. It helped bring forth some memories that I should always carry with me.” Applejack’s mouth broke out into a wide smile. She patted Coloratura’s upper back with her right front hoof. “Either way, I’m glad that we still are friends, Rara.” Applejack stated. Applejack’s watch vibrated and emanated a blue light. She stood up onto her hind legs and tapped the screen with her right front hoof. A hologram of Rondo’s panicking head appeared above it. “Applejack! Terrible, terrible news! It’s the Van’Goth, and they got soldiers! Lots and lots of soldiers and armed vehicles! It looks like they are about to mount a full-scale invasion against the city!” Applejack and Coloratura’s jaws dropped to the ground, and their hearts exploded with the realization of their greatest fear. “W-what was that explosion then?!” Applejack shouted. “From what I’ve seen, it looks like they are conducting weapons testing out here. They blew up a small mountain if I am reading these shards of stone right. I’m going to have to check out the rest of what the enemy has here.” Rondo explained. The hologram of Rondo’s head disappeared. Applejack looked upon Coloratura’s face, where a frown of despair hung upon her face. “A…AJ… are we going to die?” She muttered out. Applejack shook her head with her mouth straightened out with resolve. “We’re going to report this to H.O.R.S.E. and get you to safety as quickly as possible. Come!” With a flood of determination overcoming her, she grasped Coloratura’s right front hoof and ran towards the opposite direction towards the walled city. Author's Note So this chapter was done on more or less of a suggested request, but I still think that it fits the scenario at hand and prepares something even bigger that will come in the chapter after the next one. Teacher's AssistantApplebloom sat within the seat in the middle front section of the classroom between the desks inhabited by Sweetie Belle to her right and Scootaloo to her left. The three fillies waited with eager eyes and smiles waiting to burst with excitement. Miss Cheerilee stepped through the front door of the classroom. She walked over to her desk and cleared her throat. An enthusiastic smile curled on her face. “Good morning class!” She shouted out with a cheerful voice. “Good morning Miss Cheerilee!” The class of students clamored out in unison. Miss Cheerilee sifted her mane with her right front hoof, straightening out her hair. She walked in front of the white board and looked upon the sea of students before her eyes. “Class, today I have a special treat for you all!” She announced. “Are we going to have another Pokémon field day?!” Truffle Shuffle asked. “You’re half right, Truffle Shuffle.” Miss Cheerilee stated. “Pokémon are going to be joining us today because they were so well-received last time I brought them here. But, it’s not going to be a field day.” A chorus of disappointment resonated throughout the classroom. “But the field day was awesome!” Scootaloo called out. Miss Cheerilee flashed a bitter scowl directed towards Scootaloo’s direction. Scootaloo gulped on a pocket of air and ducked underneath the seat cover. “Do I need to remind you of what happened last time we did a field day involving Pokémon, Scootaloo?” Miss Cheerilee asked. Scootaloo slinked up to her upright position on the seat and shook her head with a solemn frown on her face. “No Miss Cheerilee.” She said with a despondent tone. Miss Cheerilee smiled and directed her face towards the door. “Okay girls! It’s time for you two to come in!” She called out. Sophia and As stepped through the doorway into the classroom. Sophia wore a wide grin on her face, whereas As slinked into the room with shaky nerves and a frown on her face. Their ears met with a clamor of cheers from the students. “They’re so adorable!” Diamond Tiara called out with a cheery voice. “It’s a cream-coated fox-dog thing and a kitty! I want to hug them and pet them!” Truffle Shuffle called out. Sophia and As both shared an unfathomable shudder of their bodies. They shared a glance with each other, looking into the pupils that know of the true terror coming from today. Sophia brought her right front paw to her mouth and cleared her throat. “Yes, ummm… greetings, Miss Cheerilee’s class. My name is Sophia.” Mustering up a forced smile on her face, she introduced. “And my name is As.” As stated with much less enthusiasm in her voice when compared to Sophia. “Yes. Today, the both of us are going to be assistant teachers for Miss Cheerilee. We are going to help you with your work for today!” Sophia explained. As rolled her eyes with a frown of disdain on her face. A spray of aggressive words escaped from her hushed voice. “My name is As. Don’t ask me for anything.” She stated. Miss Cheerilee glanced towards As with her facial muscles tensing with anxiety. A nervous cough escaped from her voice. “Ummm, that isn’t very nice to say As. After all, you didn’t have to volunteer today if you didn’t want to.” She explained. As narrowed her eyes and brought her sharp teeth to a close. A low-pitched growl vibrated from her voice. The growl subsided and regret filled her eyes. “…Sorry. I am here for a reason, after all. So, I should stick to my duty.” Sweetie Belle glanced towards As with sad eyes on her face. As’s eyes met hers, but Sweetie Belle rolled them back towards Miss Cheerilee before their sights connected. “Alright, now that we got that out of the way, it’s time to do the roll call.” Sophia grinned and winked towards Miss Cheerilee’s direction. “I’ll do the roll call myself, Miss Cheerilee.” She announced. Miss Cheerilee looked upon Sophia with stunned eyes and a face frozen with anxiety. A lone drop of sweat dripped down from her face and onto the floor. “Ummm… are you sure that’s such a good idea Sophia? You don’t exactly know the name of all of the students in my class.” “Of course I do! Just watch this.” Sophia cleared her throat and pointed towards the front left of filled desks and traveled down each of the students with her left front paw. “Pipsqueak, Dinky, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, Scootaloo, Peppermint Twist, Jetstream Rush, Majesty Wood, Zenith, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Truffle Shuffle, Rumble, Hex Flesh, Cirrostratus, Clementine, Shady Daze, Spirit Wind, Anthrax, Burst Hoof and Spike. Did I get all the students in the class?” She asked with a proud tone. Miss Cheerilee and the students all looked towards Sophia with shock resonating through their eyes as one. “Do you have some sort of ESP I should know about?” She asked. Sophia shook her head. “Nope. I didn’t evolve into an Espeon, so I can’t read their minds. I just know who they all are. Speaking of knowing who they are…” Saying these words, she waved towards Spike in the back corner. “Hey Spike! I didn’t know you started going to school.” A smile appeared on Spike’s face from Sophia’s acknowledgement. He waved his right set of claws back in response. “Twilight managed to get me in class around this time.” He responded. “I’m glad she did.” As shook her head with her eyes shut, not wanting to look at the further exchanges between Sophia and Spike. Miss Cheerilee cleared her throat once more, becoming the center of attention for all eyes within the classroom. She walked towards the board with a black marker in hoof and scribbled upon it. “Today, we will be continuing on fractions.” Smiles perked upon the faces of Twist and Spike. A chorus of groans erupted from the rest of the class. Sophia walked towards the left of Scootaloo’s side, whose planted her face the hardest into her desk. Sophia brought one of her ribbons onto Scootaloo’s back and rubbed. “I could tell you have difficulty with fractions.” She assumed. “Tell me about it! Fractions are the worst type of math! It’s like division, but even more annoying!” Scootaloo let out with a frustrated sigh. “I’ll be here to help you understand it and even be the top student when it comes to fractions. Trust me on that.” Scootaloo looked upon Sophia’s body. She stifled a snicker that wanted to escape from her mouth. Sophia raised an eye in confusion. “I’m sorry, but me being the top student when it comes to fractions with help from someone that looks like she could easily win the award for cutest dog? Forget it! It’s not happening.” Scootaloo laughed out. “Excuse me?” Sophia responded with a low tone filled with a sinister air. Her eyes lowered into scowls and she slammed her right front paws onto Scootaloo’s desk. “You think that just because I have a cute face means that I lack in any intellectual substance?! Do I need to remind you which one of us is flunking Math here?!?” She shouted with rage building in her voice. Scootaloo’s body trembled underneath the fires of Sophia’s anger. She pointed a shaky hoof to Sophia’s enraged face. “Y…You can be very scary sometimes.” She noted with a sheepish frown on her face. Sophia’s muscles relaxed themselves from the anger building within them. She hopped off the desk and let out a forlorn sigh. “I’m sorry, Scootaloo. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that I absolutely despise it when others downplay any sort of usefulness I could pose because they perceive me as being nothing more than just a cute mascot.” She explained. Scootaloo moved her head behind her shoulders and rolled her eyes to her right. “I didn’t mean it like that, Sophia. I’m just saying that I don’t really have much faith in my math skills and nobody could help me with it. I’m sorry for insulting you.” She said. Sophia sat upon her hind legs, shut her eyes and waved her left front hoof. “It’s not your fault, Scootaloo. I always had a problem with handling my triggers. If you didn’t want me to help, then just say so.” She said. “I still want your help though! But, can you truly make me the top student in fractions? Even beating out Twist and Spike?” Scootaloo pleaded. Sophia smiled and bopped her left front paw on Scootaloo’s nose. “I can’t do that myself, but I sense a great potential welling inside of you when it comes to learning. I will help you as much as you are willing to help yourself. Do we have a deal?” She proposed. A small smile curved along Scootaloo’s mouth, and her eyes glimmered with hope. She nodded and set her focus on the board. Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stood around a black counter that housed beakers filled with liquids upon them. Applebloom knocked her right front hoof into Scootaloo’s left shoulder with affectionate force behind it. Scootaloo smiled and rubbed the back of her mane. “It almost seemed like you were trying to hide your mathematical skill behind fake idiocy Scootaloo! You left the entire class in your dust on that pop quiz!” Applebloom praised. “It was nothing, Applebloom. I had it all under control.” Waving her right front hoof across the front of her body with her eyes shut in cockiness, Scootaloo answered. She opened her eyes and looked towards another black counter across the lab room where Sophia stood beside a navy blue changeling colt and Cirrostratus, talking with the two youths. A soft smile appeared on Scootaloo’s face. “Well… it’s not all me. Sophia is really good at tutoring me.” She said. Sweetie Belle set her gaze upon As, who watched the entire classroom with the attentive eyes of a feline. A small frown appeared on Sweetie Belle’s face. “Girls, it doesn’t look like As is having much fun here. She’s not getting involved with the students like Sophia is.” She noted. “Aww forget her! She’s a sourpuss that really didn’t like hanging around us at Nightmare Night either.” Scootaloo called out. Sweetie Belle looked upon the black and white-checkered floor with scatterbrained eyes. She looked up towards As’s direction and smiled. “You know what? I think I’m going to go invite As over to our counter.” She announced. “Alright Sweetie, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Belle took a deep breath in and walked over towards As’s space. As glanced down upon Sweetie Belle with vindictive eyes. “What is it, Sweetie Belle?” She asked with an uninviting tone. “As, I was wondering if you would want to join our counter to help us. We are working on water density.” Sweetie Belle requested. “No.” “No?” As leaned her head towards Sweetie Belle’s face and formed a serious frown with her mouth. “No. Now go back with your friends and work on your science assignment.” She declared. Sweetie Belle grabbed As’s left front paw with her right front hoof. As’s eyes shot open with surprise flashing in her eyes. Sweetie Belle looked upon As’s face with a grin over her mouth. “Too bad. I know that you are here as part of your request, which means that you have to help us or else it’s not going to count to your monthly request.” She explained. A frustrated sigh passed from As’s mouth and she rolled her eyes. “Good point. I don’t even know why Spitfire gave me this mission, but it probably wouldn’t look good on my record if I were to do absolutely nothing.” She said. As and Sweetie Belle both reached the counter where the rest of the group stood behind. As looked over a sheet of paper upon the counter, which listed a series of different items and instructions. She scratched the top of her head. “So… what do these things all mean?” As asked with sincere confusion in her voice. “You mean you don’t know?” Sweetie Belle asked. As gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes. “I never received an education like you three are. So yes, I really don’t know what these are.” She explained. “I can help you learn if you want, As. We can have fun trying at least.” Sweetie Belle proposed with a cheery smile cracking along her mouth. “Well… I guess I don’t have much of a choice in this matter.” As admitted with defeat. The group of four looked over their station. Sweetie Belle brought a pitcher of a green-colored fluid towards the group and smiled. “In today’s lab, we are measuring the surface tension of water and seeing if different chemicals inside of water would affect the tension of the water.” She explained. “Uhhh… surface tension?” As asked with an absentminded tone. “In other words, the strength of the upper part of water.” Applebloom simplified. As opened her mouth and nodded with understanding. “So kind of like how hard a Water Gun can hit the body of another Pokémon if I am correct.” Scootaloo shook her head in hopelessness. She picked up a red-ballooned dropper with her mouth and placed the tip of the dropper into the solution. Squeezing the bulb, the dropper drank up the solution. Scootaloo brought the dropper above a golden bit and squeezed the bulb, releasing a drop of the solution onto the bit. The water formed a tight bond over the coin. As peered her head over the coin with eyes wide with curiosity. “So… is something supposed to happen?” “Not really.” Sweetie Belle responded. “We have to see how many drops of this water we can add before the bonds of the surface tension rupture. Then we record the results in our data sheet and see if our hypothesis is correct.” “Has anyone ever told you that you could be a walking dictionary?” With her eyes rolling towards Sweetie Belle in curious suspicion, As asked. “Yes… several times.” With a regretful frown on her face, Sweetie Belle responded. “I get made fun of sometimes because of it.” Seeing a frown appear on Sweetie Belle’s face, a twinge of guilt struck As’s heart. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make fun of you.” She said. “It’s alright, As. It sounded like a compliment when it came from your mouth.” Sweetie Belle responded. Scootaloo squeezed the bulb with her teeth, adding more of the liquid into the mound over the bit. The mound broke up, leaving a small splash on the counter. As’s eyes widened and her mouth opened in surprise. “What happened there? The liquid just fell apart.” She asked with peaked curiosity. “That’s what happens when too much liquid is added on a small surface; eventually, the surface tension just gives up and breaks.” Sweetie Belle explained. “Can we do that again? I kind of liked seeing that.” With a brightened smile forming on her face, As questioned. Applebloom scribbled down the results into a paper. She looked upon As with a smile on her face. “We have to do this five more times with other mixtures, so of course we can do it again.” She said. As’s heart warmed with a gentle energy stirring within its atriums. Her eyes lit up with joy and her eyes salivated with further desire. As and Sophia sat down upon a brown-colored rectangular table with Styrofoam containers before them. Sophia opened her container, revealing a medley of colorful fruit, vegetables and white mean with black char marks on them all. Seeing the food drenched in a clear green liquid with a smell that wrinkled As’s nose, Sophia licked her fangs in anticipation. “It looks like the chef is being good to me today!” She called out in glee. “Ummm, what is that food?” With a nauseated gag in her voice, As asked. “Something Mono cooked up for me. It’s an Everfree Salad with moss dressing.” Biting into a slice of grilled orange, Sophia proclaimed with a proud tone. As opened up her tray, revealing a butter-painted crust over a pie tin that let out an aroma of fish and turkey. She smiled and licked her lower lip. “I won’t judge. After all, not many can appreciate the heaven that is a fish and turkey pot pie.” She said with a pleased tone. Sophia sat up from above the seat and looked upon As’s face. Her mouth curled into a relieved smile. “It looked like you were having a bit of fun learning about science, As.” She noted. “Fun? What are you talking about?” Chewing on her food, As asked with her eyes staring forward in curiosity. “Maybe it’s just me, but it seems to me that you are much happier after coming out of that lab.” Sophia explained. “Did you even need me to accompany you today?” As averted her gaze away from Sophia’s eyes and hid her smile away from the Sylveon’s line of sight. “Well… considering you are smart, I would have felt at ease if you came along with me.” She said. “You think I’m smart?” Gobbling three strands of meat and looking towards As’s direction, Sophia asked. “Very smart! I’m actually kind of jealous that you have an education. Seeing how those three fillies are, it makes me wish that I grew up with an education.” The happiness in As’s eyes petered out into sadness, and a despondent sigh passed through her mouth. Sophia cocked her head and frowned. “Based on how your body language is, you had a terrible childhood.” She guessed. “I had no childhood. It was that bad.” As muttered out. “So that’s why you hate children; you’re jealous of them!” Sophia called out. “Jealous?! What gives you that impression?!” As responded with her eyes knitted in fire. “Don’t you see? All of these school children are living their lives in a way only your inner Purrloin could have dreamed of. These children are learning and socializing with each other. It’s like they never have to worry about anything except for getting good grades. I can’t imagine how your youth must have been like, but I could only assume that you wished the only thing you had to worry about was getting good grades.” Hearing Sophia’s explanation shook off the iron castings of As’s mind. A smile of understanding formed upon her face. “Alright, you got me. I’m jealous of these children because they get to live out their childhoods. Then, when I look upon you, I see what I could have been like myself had I taken your path; educated, empathetic and even having a wonderful mate without having to worry about trying to not starve.” She said. Sophia’s face became red and a medley of anxious giggling burst from her. She hid her eyes away from As and drew circles on the seat she sat upon with her right front paw. “Mono and I being mates? Well… that would imply that we have a sexual relationship.” She stated with a sheepish voice. “We’re still keeping it platonic.” Picking up on the nervous body expression of Sophia, a narrow-eyed grin formed on As’s face. She leaned in above the table and into Sophia’s personal space. “Oh? Is that so? That’s not what I saw when I see you and Mono stimulating each other.” She prodded. “I sometimes sneak inside of your abode and hear some action that would make even my face turn red.” “Okay, we’re technical virgins. Happy?” With her eyes knitted into scowls and her front paws thrown into the air, Sophia shouted. “You try putting up with the heat of an ovulation cycle without trying to risk pregnancy.” As opened her mouth and nodded in understanding. “I can definitely see where you are coming from. Haven’t you ever thought of trying condoms?” Sophia shook her head and smiled with skeptical eyes. “Have you seen those barbs that any male feline has? An ordinary condom isn’t going to be safe when they prod into the rubber.” She said. Sweetie Belle walked towards As and Sophia’s table with her head looking up towards the Pokémon and her eyes shimmering with curiosity. “Is a condom something used for sex?” She asked. Both As and Sophia jumped at the sound of Sweetie Belle’s voice. The two Pokémon’s faces lit up with the intensity of volcanic eruptions. “Sweetie Belle! How much have you heard?” As asked. “Enough to know that Sophia isn’t a technical virgin and that you had a crummy childhood.” Sweetie Belle responded. “Sweetie Belle, why were you listening in on a conversation between adults?!” Sophia shouted with embarrassment injected into her voice. “Because As is the coolest adult I’ve ever seen. I want to be like her when I grow up. Besides, didn’t you tell me to be with Spike because his girth will be able to satisfy me when we grow up?” As glared towards Sophia’s direction. Feeling the heat and pressure of As’s anger, Sophia smiled with a sheepish shrug. “Are you trying to get this filly knocked up in her teenage years, Sophia?! Don’t even joke around like that around children, because they are very impressionable. I would hate to see Sweetie Belle’s childhood ruined because she got curious about what you meant about those messages you give her.” As called out with a vehement tone. “Alright, so I was being a bit immature there. But why are you acting defensively around Sweetie Belle? I thought you didn’t like children.” Sophia asked. As glanced towards Sweetie Belle’s eyes and smiled. She set her gaze back towards Sophia. “Because Sweetie Belle reminds me a lot of what I would want my childhood to have been like. She has a loving family, is well-educated and has a group of true friends that she can always rely on.” She began. “Wait… you want to be like me? But, you’re so mature about everything! You can make even the toughest of stallions fall with just one of your cool gazes. I want to have that kind of power like you!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. As’s eyes darted to the left and right. “Ummm… your sister doesn’t know about this, does she?” She asked. “I’ve told her a lot about you. For some reason, she’s against me being around you. She says that you are a bad influence.” Sweetie Belle explained. As pawed the patch of fur on her forehead and shook her head. Her tail descended and a worried frown fell on her face. “So you are going against what your sister is saying then? You should be a good kid and follow an adult’s rules that she had set upon you.” Sweetie Belle walked towards As and patted the area between her shoulder blades with her right front hoof. “Look As; I know what Rarity says about you, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t teach me what it’s like being an adult. I want to learn from you so that I know what to do and what not to do when I reach your age.” She explained. “You are… handling this situation better than I thought, Sweetie Belle.” As stated. “Any other kid would have just kept screaming or using terrible logic just to get what they want. But, I see reason in your words.” Sweetie Belle grinned and hopped upon As’s seat. Holding As by her shoulders, she jumped up and down. “Does that mean you’ll teach me how to be mature?!” As frowned at the sudden burst of Sweetie Belle’s energy. She placed her left front paw on Sweetie Belle’s head, calming her down. “If you keep bouncing around like that, I won’t.” She stated. “But, you already have the first step of maturity down; keeping an open mind. If you have an open mind, then you are capable of understanding the heart and would be able to read it.” Sweetie Belle nodded with understanding. She hopped off the seat and glanced towards As and Sophia. “I never thought of it like that. Thank you for the lesson, As. I promise that I will put it to good use.” Saying these words, she ran off towards another table where Applebloom and Scootaloo sat. The trio of fillies looked towards each other with smiles on their faces and bit into sandwiches of whole wheat and yellow flowers. As’s heart warmed at the sight of the three. She glanced towards Sophia with a prodding smile on her face. “So, let’s talk about your sex life again.” She stated with a sultry voice and a lack of tact. “Let’s not.” Sophia said with her eyes narrowed and her mouth formed into a frown. “How about we talk about a bit of tutorship instead?” “Tutorship?” As asked with a voice piqued with curiosity. “Yep! You seem to enjoy learning, do you not?” “Well… kind of. I mean, that surface tension lab was interesting.” Sophia leaned forwards and flashed a sultry smile of her own. One of her ribbons reached underneath As’s chin, sending bolts of tingling throughout her nerves. “How about I could educate you, and in return you are allowed to be with Mono and I to make our fun times into threesomes?” She said with a low and steamy tone. “This train of thought you have; I like it.” As responded. A loud siren blared throughout the city, garnering the attention of the two Pokémon. Their watches vibrated and flashed with red lights. “Umm… what is that?” As asked with a worried tone. Sophia’s eyes narrowed and her eyes flashed with a serious glint. “It’s the invasion siren! We have to evacuate the students and bring them into the shelter!” She ordered. Author's Note This chapter was a bit of a fun one to write, and it times very well with Rondo's previous chapter as well. The Battle for SurvivalAuthor's Note And the newest chapter is finally here! I apologize for the extremely long wait, but I wanted to take the time to perfect this decisive chapter and make sure that nothing feels rushed or awkward. I could have failed in one of those categories, but I also believe that I could have succeeded as well. Well, I hope you enjoy the latest chapter! The Battle for Survival The skies above Neo Canterlot bled with hailstorms of fire reigning down upon it. The streets became littered with Equusians whose lungs ached from screaming and sprinting for their lives towards a silver shelter. Machine fortresses on eight legs that stood the length of a harrowing tower stepped along the city’s roads, shattering them with their pointed feet. Troops of alien soldiers emptied themselves from the black castles and slid down upon their legs. A teal-skinned female Van’Goth eyed a group of four Equusians that consisted of an adult chestnut-coated stag, a light yellow-coated unicorn mare, one periwinkle-coated unicorn colt and a dark-brown coated female fawn running down an empty road. She grinned and leaped off the leg towards the group. “We can make it!” With her breaths burning and a hopeful smile forming along her face, the mare called out. A drop shadow along her sight made itself visible within her eyes. The Van’Goth dropped before the four, dashing hope within their hearts and filling it with chilling despair. The soldier marched towards the family with slow steps. The stag’s blue eyes lit up with determination. He stepped forward and stood between the soldier and his family. “Run! I’ll slow this invader down! Get the children and yourself to a safe place!” He instructed. The mare looked into the stag’s eyes with pools of pained memories forming within her eyes. “No. I’ve already lost my husband once before, and I don’t want to lose you. You go and bring the children to safety.” She responded. The Van’Goth soldier laughed and held out her hand and opened her palm, where a black lance wreathed with blue electricity digitized into existence. She grabbed the lance and pointed it towards the family. “Isn’t that sweet? Allow me to ease your pain by uniting you with your loved ones then.” She said with a voice that dripped with venomous honey. A bolt of white lightning struck her back, tensing up all of the muscles in her system to immobility. The family of four took sprinted from the area with the speed of a cheetah. The Van’Goth turned her head around and looked into the sky, where Rainbow Dash hovered. A light purple rifle rested upon her hooves and her right eye glanced through the scope. “A perfect shot.” Rainbow Dash mused with a cocky smile on her face. “You know, I don’t like being interrupted.” The Van’Goth responded with a bitter tone. “You must be foolish enough to sign your own death warrant.” Rainbow Dash landed on the ground and hoisted her sniper rifle onto her back. She fired a nasty glare directed to the Van’Goth in front of her. “Does it look like I want to give this city away to you freaks? I’ll make sure that you will never take a step in Neo Canterlot again.” Upon saying these words, she brought her right front hoof onto her left shoulder’s armor. The locking mechanism released itself. With a swipe of her hoof and a spin of her body, Rainbow Dash pulled out a red javelin cloaked in flames and aimed it towards the Van’Goth. “Ah, so you wish to have a spear battle with me. Is that so?” With her voice piqued with interest, the Van’Goth asked. “Are you going to deny it?” Rainbow Dash responded. The Van’Goth spun her spear with the efficacy of an industrial fan. She snapped her hand’s grasp onto it and held it far to her right side. “Lucky for you, I like mirror matches. En garde!” Mono and Lith sprinted through the docking bay, where the lights flashed between pitch black and alarming red. The sounds of hooves sprinting along the floor and wailing sirens met with their ears. “How did the Van’Goth come here with all of this weaponry? Blueblood said that they shouldn’t be planning a full-scale invasion like this for at least another month!” Lith wondered. “I’m not sure, but I sense something off with these circumstances. We are going to have to be careful with this one Lith.” Mono suggested. “Had we not had Applejack and Rondo inadvertently scout the invasion force sooner, I think this city may have already been in enemy hands. But, you’re right Mono. We have to proceed with caution.” The twins stopped and looked towards the two exos before them; while both of them stood tall, the bulky armor of the one on the right lustered with an ebony color that contrasted against the ivory of the slender exo to the left. Lith hopped onto the black exo and smiled. “So this must be the Ares Exo that Professor Pasque told me about.” She said with a confident tone. Mono approached the ivory exo and touched its left shin with his right paw. A shock emerged from the armor of the exo and traveled into Mono’s heart. Mono’s eyes winced. “It’s like it is calling for me. It says that its name is Hermes.” He said. “Lith, do machines have souls?” Lith shrugged her shoulders and opened a hatch on the base of the exo’s left shoulder. She slipped inside. The exo’s visor lit up with a yellow light. “Don’t know, but we should probably meet with the others who are fighting off the Van’Goth threat outside the city. As long as we have each other, there is nothing we can overcome.” Lith said. Mono looked into the visor of the Hermes Exo with wonder sparking in his eyes. He nodded in silence and hopped onto the shoulder of the exo and opened the hatch. He slid down into the hole and landed within the cockpit. The Hermes Exo’s visor lit up with a teal green color. A hologram of Lith’s view in the cockpit appeared before Mono’s vision. Reading the tense facial expressions on Mono’s face and the shaky nature of his body, her mouth formed a frown that welled with concern. “Mono, are you okay? You look a bit antsier than usual. Is there something bothering you?” She asked. “Being out here reminds me of a nightmare I had this morning.” Mono responded. “But, it’s vaguely similar to what’s happening now. I’m afraid it might become a reality.” Lith shook her head and stared forwards with an understanding smile on her face. “You shouldn’t worry about it, Mono. We will dispel any nightmare we face together.” She consoled. Mono lowered his head and let out a sheepish smile. He looked into Lith’s eyes and the confidence within his pupils returned. “Thanks Lith. Now let’s show these aliens never to mess with our city.” Sophia and As wandered outside of the school and eyed upon the cityscape. The fires raged within the buildings, which became instigated through the continuous firestorms of ammunition from both sides. Exos swung their blades against enemy mechas with butter-slicing speeds, but the enemy mechas retaliated with swarms of missiles and lasers from drones that detached from their bodies. Witnessing storms of bullets dropping the Equusian and Van’Goth forces dead, Sophia’s jaw dropped. “This is… this is terrible!” She said with a crestfallen tone. “So much carnage… I didn’t think it would be this bad.” As looked towards Sophia’s direction and scoffed. “You must still be pretty naïve if you didn’t think something like this would happen to this extent. This is war, Sophia. War doesn’t hold back with its level of brutality.” She said. Sophia glanced down towards the ground and frowned. “I know, but this fighting is getting too close to the school. The children won’t be able to make it out in time.” She said. “…Leave that to me.” Both Sophia and As turned towards the left, where Scary Story stood with determined eyes. Scary Story took a few steps forward and closed the distance between herself, As and Sophia. “Scary Story? What are you doing here at the school?” Sophia asked with a confused tone. “As soon as the Van’Goth forces breached the shield and walls, I rushed over here as quick as possible so that I help guide the children to safety. They are the future after all.” Scary Story replied with a serious tone. “Anyways, how good are your skills when it comes to routing away enemy forces?” As smiled, shut her eyes and put her right front paw on her chest. “I don’t mean to brag, but I am good with serving as a distraction and leading my victims to their demise. Sophia and I will take things from here. You round up the students and teachers so that you can bring them to safety.” Wrapping her left front leg around Sophia, she said with a confident tone. Sophia looked towards As with a confused stare and blinked once. She opened her mouth with a slow speed and raised her eye with agitation. “Really? You’re really going to put the two of us, who are not armored in any away, shape or form, against an army of vicious aliens whose weapons and technology can rind us all into dust? Really?” She said with a deadpan voice. “Now now, Sophie~!” Stroking Sophia’s chest with her right paw, As responded with a buttery purr in her voice and a cat-like smile on her face. “We are merely going to just distract the forces here long enough so that the school can be safely evacuated.” Sophia let out an upset sigh and stared daggers into As’s eyes. “Fine. But, if I become Swiss Cheese, I’ll be haunting you for the rest of the afterlife.” She said with defeat and disdain in her voice. “And never call me Sophie again.” “Aww, but why not? I think it sounds adorable on you.” Hearing As’s reasoning on the nickname, a vein severed within Sophia’s forehead. Her paw itched with the desire to sock As across the face. “Just… stop As. We’re in the crossfires of what appears to be Tel Megiddo here, and I really don’t want to spend this time wanting to hurt you.” “Fair enough.” Shrugging her shoulders, As stated. “I’ll just tease you after we win.” A pained groan emerged from Sophia. The two Pokémon rushed out into the horizon, leaving Scary Story behind at the school. Heading out into the streets, strings of bullet fire filled their vision. Amidst the line of fire, an armored Van’Goth soldier set its eyes on Sophia and As. It directed its gun towards the two Pokémon. Sophia arched her stance with a crouch of her front knees. “Well, it didn’t take long for that to happen.” She muttered out. “Let’s make quick work of this thug, shall we?” As asked with her voice welling with confidence. Scary Story galloped into an alley with a group of foals trailing close to her tail. Listening to the noises of firearms and explosions behind them, their panting escalated into panicking. Their eyes glanced towards the entrance to the alley, where the steps of aggressive marching closed into the area with a claustrophobic noise. Scary Story swiveled her head to the right, where her eyes met with a green dumpster. She looked towards the foals with determined eyes and dropped to her knees. “Get in!” she motioned for them to climb up. Among the group, Diamond Tiara stared into Scary Story’s eyes and gave the midnight black mare a disgusted grimace. “In the trash? You have got to be DONT YOU DARE PUT ME IN THERE!” She stated with repulsion. Scary Story rolled her eyes and grabbed the filly’s mane with her teeth and threw her into the dumpster. “IN!” she ordered the rest of the foals, and not one of them hesitated. Just after the lid closed, she heard the steps intensify. In her line of vision approached two Van’Goth soldiers flanked a transformed Van’Goth. The two Van’Goth foot soldiers carried what appeared to be red assault rifles, but the muzzles on them ended with sharp spines used for ramming. Unlike his partners, the transformed Van’Goth stood in place with a flowing cape and no weapons on him. “It was a noble effort to hide the children, but I can see them through the metal, so I'm afraid that your final act was a waste.” the transformed Van’Goth told her. “I won't let you do this.” Scary Story growled with a harsh tone. “There is nothing you can do to stop me, and certainly nothing your people can do to stop us in the long run. The least I can do for you is to make your death painless.” Holding his hand out to beckon her forth, the transformed Van’Goth replied. Scary Story took a step back from him, but then paused before walking to stand in the middle of the alley with slow steps. The light around them flickered with sudden animated shadows that seemed to follow her every move. “I've done my best to keep the darker aspects of my heritage locked away.” Scary Story blinked and tears began to form in her eyes. “I just wanted to be a normal pony. I just wanted to live a standard life, make friends and make movies. But my destiny, unlike other ponies’, was predetermined by my birth. I have fought against it for as long as possible, but thanks to you, I am now in a position where I have no choice but to use the abilities from my demonic heritage.” “You're being a little dramatic aren't you?” The transformed Van’Goth noted and gave his soldiers the signal to advance on her. “I promise that this will be over quickly.” “Yes…” Saying these words, Scary Story thrust her wings out and lowered her head. Her shadow exploded up behind her onto the back wall of the alley. The shadows of her wings became a pair of great curled horns, the shadows of her legs forming large fangs and two glowing read spots in the massive shadow matched her own glowing red eyes. “It will be over quickly!” She said with a demonic tone. The foals in the dumpster heard a fearsome roar that chilled their hearts to the very core. The noises of flesh gnashing against claws and teeth struck their eardrums. Among the group, Silver Spoon’s teeth began chattering and her chest wanted to explode with anxiety. Screams of pure suffering rang within the foals’ ears. Among the group, Pipsqueak’s eyes soaked themselves with tears. “What’s happening outside?! Is Scary Story getting murdered?!” Silver Spoon shouted with little to no confidence in her voice. The sounds of vicious carnage stopped. Rumble popped his head out from the pile of trash he dug himself in and pushed his right hoof against the lid of the dumpster. Sliding it up to where his eyes could peak into the outside world, he saw a mass of black liquid in the alley’s walls that originated from where the three Van’Goth soldiers once stood. He set his eyes on Scary Story, who took heavy breaths with eyes widened with exhaustion. “Ummm… surprisingly, Scary Story didn’t get murdered.” Rumble said. “But I can’t say the same about those aliens who chased us in here.” Scary Story turned towards the direction of the trash bin, where her eyes caught a glimpse of Rumble before he dropped back into the dumpster. A tired frown appeared on her face. “I really hope he didn’t see that…” She murmured to herself. Breasel and Gordo charged into the line of fire, tackling into the Van’Goth with their impressive girth. Breasel unleashed a storm of pink petals from the flower on his back and swept the enemy forces with its floral gust. Gordo’s mouth opened forth, generating a sphere of orange energy that hummed with power. Gordo shifted his head forwards with open arms and released a wide beam that spanned a wide fan-shaped radius. “Keep at it Gordo! We’re doing a good job!” Breasel praised. Gordo’s Hyper Beam exhausted itself. Gordo glanced towards Breasel, who charged into a Van’Goth soldier with his head and smashed him against the building. “No shit we’re winning. They’re coming at us with minimal effort.” He stated with a cheerful tone. Rey bisected an enemy mecha with a single vertical slash. The halves of the machine fell onto the ground. Rey glanced behind him, where a graveyard of armored bodies and mechas rested. Setting his sights onto Gordo, a low growl emerged from him. “I know that they are coming at us with everything they got, but this feels way too easy. They’re just rushing in with numbers without rhyme or reason. What could they be planning?” He asked with his voice hushed in suspicion. Gordo socked a Van’Goth soldier across the face with his right claw. He turned back towards Rey with a smile of amuse curled over his lips. “Whatever Rey. I was getting bored with all of this quiet activity. It’s nice for me to stretch my limbs out and fight in a massive battle again.” “Lighten up Rey!” Breasel announced. “This is probably one of the few opportunities we can get at actually fighting in a massive battle. Enjoy it while it lasts and then drink the accolades later.” Rey shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “Alright, but I’m doubtful about what’s going to happen.” Twilight Sparkle and Applejack stood within the center of the battlefield outside of the city in the line of fire. A purple bubble surrounded the duo and a mass of the wall outside of the city. H.O.R.S.E. operatives fired out into the army with long-ranged weaponry and magic, striking any and all Van’Goth forces that approached near the barrier with a colorful maelstrom of explosions and gunfire. “Keep firing! We can’t let any more of these aliens come into the city!” Applejack shouted. “Applejack’s right. Just hold them off for as long as possible until we get more reinforcements. The rest of our forces should be clearing up the city as we speak. Keep firing and don’t lose your resolve!” Twilight Sparkle pleaded towards the direction of the operatives behind her. In their line of sight, an enemy mecha that stood twice the height of the city walls dropped onto the ground before the Equusians; its armor pulsed with a light purple color and the shoulders and hips of the mecha formed spines that jetted out in a forty-five degree angle. The stances of all the occupants in the bubble faltered and their eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. “What… in… tarnation is that?!” Applejack uttered out with phrasing that held itself together under fear. “That’s a God-class mecha…” Standing within the awe of fear, Twilight Sparkle said with a voice of cracking hope. “It’s the highest class of mecha imaginable by any scale in the category. It has the power to obliterate anything within seconds.” “Anything?!” Applejack screamed. The God-class mecha directed its sights onto the barrier in its sight. It held out its massive right hand and opened it. Twilight Sparkle felt the energy around her horn give in to the dark waves of energy that erupted from the mecha’s hand. The barrier around the area dissipated. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes shimmered with primordial fear. “A…Anything. It takes so much energy to keep one active, so this be a very important invasion for the Van’Goth forces.” She said. “Without that barrier, we’re dead?” Applejack asked. “Unless if we receive reinforcements right now, we’re dead.” The Van’Goth forces kneeled and aimed their weapons towards Twilight Sparkle’s direction. The group of standing H.O.R.S.E. operatives looked onto the field before them. Twilight Sparkle shied her head away from the sight of the Van’Goth and shut her eyes. “Twilight! Don’t give up now. What’s that about you saying that we shouldn’t give up and keep fighting to the bitter end?” Applejack asked. “That was before the God-class mecha came and disrupted our ability to use magic, which leaves us vulnerable to being killed at an instantaneous pace, and I doubt that we will receive immediate reinforcements! They’ve already broken through at this point!” Twilight Sparkle responded. “Not yet they have not!” Flash Sentry’s voice called out. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes opened at the sound of Flash Sentry’s voice hitting her ears. A golden exo burst from the doors of the bay by her side and flew in the air space above the Van’Goth forces. Rods half the size of the exo jolted out of its shoulders and channeled a stream of yellow electricity. Thunderbolts filled the air and rained down upon the Van’Goth, shocking them until they became ashes. “Flash!” Looking up into the sky with the glimmer of hope restored in her eyes, Twilight Sparkle called out. “Have the forces in the city been cleared out?” Flash Sentry smiled and pounded his chest with the confident strikes of his right front hoof. The Ares Exo and Hermes Exo flew high above the sky with their visors directed towards the God-class mecha. “Mono, it’s time we take this out.” Lith stated with a confident tone. “I’ll distract it while you cut off its power source. Once that happens, it’ll be just a hunk of junk.” Mono responded. The Hermes Exo descended from the atmosphere at double the speed, where the clouds became lines of light that zipped past Mono’s sight. The sight of Flash Sentry’s exo punching across the visor of an enemy mecha greeted Mono’s eyes. Mono pressed a button on the seat of his cockpit, showing him a screen of Flash Sentry’s face. “How are you holding up Flash?” He asked. Flash Sentry smiled and nodded. “Not doing too bad. Just let me-“ Saying these words, Flash Sentry’s exo’s hands conjured tempests of silver blades that homed onto the enemy mecha, slicing off its arms and causing it to explode from the inside. The Hermes Exo vanished from its point in the air and reappeared in front of an enemy mecha that stood twice its size. With a purple photon longsword in its hands, it slashed the enemy mecha with a flurry of cuts that penetrated its armor. Its body lit up with a blue aura and vanished from its spot. It reappeared behind another enemy mecha and bisected it with a swooping vertical slash. “Nice strike Mono!” Flash Sentry exclaimed. No sooner than he said that, the God-class mecha laid its sights on the combating exo of Flash Sentry. Its fingertips transmuted into ebony blades. It held its arms behind him and kept its sight on Flash Sentry’s exo. Seeing the exo not moving and its back turned towards it, the God-class mecha thrust its bladed fingers into the chest cavity of the exo and through the other side. Twilight Sparkle glanced upon the blades of the mecha with her breath robbed of speech and her eyes widened in shock. Her eyes picked up a trail of blood that ran down the central blade, wringing her eyes for tears. “Flash!!!” She shouted. Flash Sentry sat within his cockpit with the blade of the mecha stabbing through his chest and his cockpit. His body trembled from the strike through his heart. With the pained movement of his right front hoof, he touched a button on the right arm of the chair’s dashboard. A hologram screen of Twilight Sparkle appeared before him. “T-Twilight?” He asked with a weak and out of breath voice. “Flash! Please tell me you are alright. Please!” Twilight Sparkle pleaded. “Sorry… to disappoint, but my strength is fading very quick Twilight.” Flash Sentry responded with a forced smile. “As we speak, my vision of you is blurring and I can’t hear your words too well. But… thank Deus that I can still talk with you.” Twilight Sparkle frowned, but nodded with an air of understanding around her. “It is common for a dying organism to lose their senses, and hearing is usually the first to go out. I don’t want to accept losing you Flash, but… it’s inevitable at this point.” She said. “Good… girl. Don’t feel sad… but use that grief to power your resolve. You were always a strong mare Twilight. I kind of regret… never telling you how much… I… loved…” Flash Sentry’s breathing gave out. He slumped forwards and fell off of his seat. The God-class mecha pulled out its claws, allowing Flash Sentry’s exo to fall face-first onto the ground. A maelstrom of fear and anger clouded Twilight Sparkle’s mind. She looked towards the Hermes Exo and the rest of her peers, where shock embodied all of their faces through wide eyes and open mouths. She looked away and felt her heart give away to the fires burning in her heart. She looked down on her chest, where an emblem that depicted an image of a rainbow-colored strand of DNA rested on her suit. She shut her eyes and clasped her right front hoof over the emblem. “Flash… I promise you that your death will not be in vain. I will make sure that all of these miserable aliens will meet an end befitting of their kind; total annihilation!” Shouting these words, she pressed on the emblem on her chest. A spherical shell formed around her, closing her in from the world around her. Within the confined space of the shell, her body flashed with light. Two mounds grown upon her shoulders and sprouted into wings of white light bound with blue lines. Her hooves sparkled with purple, pink and yellow stars. Finally, the pink stripe in her mane and tail expanded in width and a yellow stripe formed its way upon its center. The shell around her broke, revealing her new form. She stood taller than her previous form, and her horn extended by a third of its original size. Energy welled within Twilight Sparkle’s heart, transferring into her horn in the form of a rainbow aura. She pointed the tip of her horn towards the God-class mecha’s right hand and blasted it with a wide beam. “Woah!” Leaping away from Twilight Sparkle and diving into the ground, Applejack shouted. “When she’d learn to do that?!” A holographic screen of Mono’s face formed in front of Applejack’s eyes, where the Meowstic wielded a proud smile. “It seems that the Artificial Mega Evolution field test is a success so far. Twilight’s Mega Evolution is stabilizing nicely.” “Is that what you’ve been working on all this time Mono?” Applejack asked with a voice stained with curiosity. Mono shook his head and looked towards Twilight Sparkle, whose aura permeated into the atmosphere and increased the pressure of the surrounding area. “I’ve sweated tears and blood over this project with just a handful of helpers, but it seems to be paying off. But Applejack, I really think we should fight too. This threat isn’t going to stay still.” Applejack smirked and leaped forwards. The armor on her right front hoof spread into a dual wing-shaped shield. She ran forwards, blocking the bullets that sprayed towards her. Mono gazed onto the God-class mecha, who took a large step backwards and stabilized its footing. An anxious frown formed on his face. “I believe in you Lith… I know you can take out this mecha. But please, be aware that we are at a time limit.” Fei’s whip-like appendages smacked and swatted away multiple flying drones the size of soccer balls from his vicinity. His whips channeled a blue energy that transferred into the black drones, making them explode from the inside and out. Towards his right, Rarity hopped from drone to drone, leaping off of them and leaving behind crystal stalagmites piercing their bodies. “How are you holding up Fei? Are you getting exhausted by these waves?” She asked with a confident tone. “I have trained under harder circumstances. This is just sparring.” Forcing a smile on his face and leaping away from a swarm of lasers that trailed him, Fei responded. Rarity’s eyes drifted towards Keldeo, who slashed apart the drones before him with single swoops of his glowing horn. A serpentine being wrapped up in steel and machinery rolled up from behind Keldeo. The young stallion turned around. His eyes widened upon the quick coil of the snake forming around him. Feeling the metal muscles constrict him, he let out a pained groaned. “A… A little help!” He blurted out with an out-of-breath tone. Rarity threw her right hind leg against the head of the mechanical serpent with the force of a meteor’s impact. The serpent’s head snapped and it fell onto the ground, freeing Keldeo from its bindings. “Wow… thanks Rarity. When did you get to be so strong?” Rubbing his neck and smiling with a sheepish demeanor, Keldeo asked. “I’ve learned some tricks with my earth-based magic. But, we have to make sure everyone else is alright.” Rarity responded. “How is Fei doing?” Keldeo questioned with a cocked head and a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. Their eyes drifted towards Fei, where the whips on his arms struck all of the Van’Goth forces that approached him with explosive blows dealt at their tips. Their pupils shrunk at the sight of the effortless brutality from the Mienshao. “I think he’s fine.” Rarity said with a shaken tone. The battle couple looked towards their right, where a handful of armored Equusians stood in the center of concentrated firepower brought forth by the Van’Goth. “Yeah. We have to help the others.” Keldeo responded. The duo left, leaving Fei alone and fending off the forces with his hands. He leaped into the air and spun around once, thrusting his foot inside of one of the drones. Standing up from the ground, he felt the muzzle of a rifle point against the back of his skull. His eyes widened and his muscles stiffened in panic. “Stay right where you are, Pokémon.” The Van’Goth holding the rifle against him said. Fei’s nerves relaxed and his eyes lowered. He kept his movement still and rolled his eyes towards the right. “So… are you going to kill me?” He asked with a placid tone. “You made it very easy to leave you vulnerable like this. We could lose all the troops we have in our reserves and our mission would still be successful if we captured one of you.” The Van’Goth responded. “For that reason, I won’t kill you. But, you will be wishing that I did.” A whirring swish struck Fei’s hearing and the sensation of the muzzle lifting away from the back of his head released him from fear. He looked behind him, where his eyes laid witness to his fallen captor and a white-coated quadruped with a navy blue feline face. Her red eyes stared into the windows of Fei’s soul, and her sickle-shaped horn that jetted off of the left side of her head and her scimitar-shaped tail sent waves of fear down Fei’s spine. “It seems that your grim fate has been averted.” The quadruped said with a calm demeanor. “An… An Absol. What are you doing here?” Fei responded with his heart stricken with anxiety. “I am here to make sure that fate meets with their destined targets and silence the changes against fate that would seek to ruin the world. Now, you should hurry and support your allies, Fei.” The Absol explained. “How do you know my name?!” Fei shouted with surprise lingering in his tone. The Absol eyes the horde of alien forces behind Fei. She leaped forwards and stared into adversity with tranquil fury burning in her eyes. “If you want to change the ill fates of your friends, then I suggest that you do not idle and assist them now. I will take care of these forces in your stead.” She proclaimed. Fei stared at the Absol in his line of sight and shook his head. He ran towards the opposite direction. The Absol shut her eyes. “You will fall another day, Fei. But now is not the time.” She murmured to herself. Rundas and Reine stood back to back. Their lines of sight flooded with the sight of mechanoids everywhere. Rundas drifted his eyes to his left and turned his head towards Reine. “So, I heard Boreas taught you our technique. Want to put it into action here?” He asked. Reine smirked upon hearing the words of Rundas. “I thought you’d never say that.” Both of the soles of the Weaviles’ feet encased themselves with ice. Both of them slid on the ground in opposing directions. They both synced their moves with each other’s movements, unleashing a wide array of slashes in different directions. They leaped and rolled towards their right and their right claws became cloaked in a dark aura. The sprays of lasers dodged their bodies and they thrust their Night Slashes against the opposition. Both Weaviles flew high on trails ice spawned from the Ice Beams of their left claws. Their trails spiraled into a whirlpool pattern. Boreas dropped from high above the sky and looked into the center of the ice. Her body cloaked itself with an ice blue aura. She collided within the pool of ice, creating a freezing shockwave that engulfed the area. The trails of ice contained the shockwave, locking all of the Van’Goth forces in its reach. “Nice of you to drop in on the action Boreas.” Rundas said with a witty smile. “Rundas, that pun was incredibly painful.” Reine groaned out. Boreas hopped out of the pile of ice and shook her head. She looked up towards the sky, where a transport helicopter hovered above. Joker stood on the floor of the plane’s hold with his feet held against the slanted surface. He peered out of the open double doors. “How’s the air support?!” He shouted. “Joker!” Reine shrieked with a smile on her face. “And you’re back to your old self again!” Joker walked off of the copter with a casual gait, ignoring the rushing wind and gravity forcing his organs upwards. He fell onto the ground unscathed from the drop. “Ever since I was dropped off in this story, I’ve always wanted to partake in a grand-scale epic battle against the Van’Goth. This is my shining moment! My purpose in the fic! I’m not going to let some daddy-daughter angst get the better of me! In fact…” He ran off into the distance, where an enemy mecha that staved off its freeze crawled out of the frosty wall. He leaped onto the chest’s chastise and curled his right hand into a fist. He punched through it, shattering the cockpit door and revealing a Van’Goth covered in a dark red latex suit. He pulled out the pilot and threw him out. He slid into the seat and pulled out a black box from his pants pocket. Rundas raised his right eye with worry. “What does he have there?” He asked. Joker slammed the box into the cockpit’s dashboard, revealing a red button with the words ‘Save Neo Canterlot!’ written with white lettering. He slammed the button in with his fist, causing masses and piles of weaponry to shoot out of every inch of the mecha’s body. He squealed with delight and rode the mecha on a rampage through the city, stomping on all in his way. “That’s bad… right?” Rundas asked with an unsure tone. “He’ll save everyone in the city with that, but don’t expect the council to remain unfazed by the amount of destruction he will create.” Reine responded. The Ares exo smashed its way into through an imposing wall lined with a black alloy. Beyond the hole in the wall, Lith gazed upon a sphere of violet blue energy that crackled with electricity. Walls lined with turrets and red walls with tongues of flames surrounded the core. The fur on Lith’s body stood up from the change of charge in the atmosphere. The holographic vision out of the cockpit blurred. “So this is one of the cores of the God-class mecha. It’s definitely well-guarded.” Lith noted to herself. The turrets pointed towards Lith and fired a spray of yellow lasers aimed at the Ares Exo. Lith manipulated the controls on her dashboard, moving the exo’s arms in front of it and exuding an orange barrier. Lith felt the blows shake against her exo. She looked forward and smiled. “So that’s how you want to play? Then I guess it’s time to fight fire with fire! Or should I say lasers with Overheat?” She gripped a black handle on the left arm of her seat and pushed it forwards. Two arched bars shot out from the shoulder blades of the Ares Exo and lit up with orange flames with an appearance of a phoenix’s wings. The Ares Exo flew above the surface and allowed for its wings to billow up and expand. The wings exploded into a tempest of flames, engulfing everything in its path. The core’s surface bubbled before bursting into non-existence. “One core down… potentially many more to go.” Lith said in a perky tone. Rainbow Dash’s javelin clashed against the female Van’Goth’s lance, bringing forth clashes of incandescent fire and electrifying voltage onto the battlefield. Rainbow Dash leaped over a sweeping strike from her opponent’s attack and dived towards her with a falling kick. The Van’Goth blocked it with her left arm and pushed the pegasus away from her. Rainbow Dash flipped backwards in the air and landed on her hooves. “Well well, it seems like this alien puts up a good one on one fight.” Walking towards Rainbow Dash with imposing marching, the Van’Goth praised. Rainbow Dash pulled out her sniper rifle and fired a bolt of concentrated wind and lightning towards the Van’Goth. The Van’Goth smacked the projectile to her right with her hand and walked towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth and charged towards the Van’Goth with her javelin in hoof. The Van’Goth smacked the lance out of Rainbow Dash’s hooves with her lance and pointed the sharp edge into Rainbow Dash’s neck. “A lot of fight in you… I like that. Unfortunately for you, you happen to be in my way.” A searing Flamethrower struck the Van’Goth’s bare back. Her eyes winced and she gritted her teeth. She looked towards the direction of the Fire-type move’s direction and witnessed Thunderlane holding a cannon with fresh smoke pouring out of its muzzle. Her stare intensified with the burn that she felt. “I am not one to resort to petty anger, but no one burns me like that and lives!” She screamed. Thunderlane flashed a cocky smile and walked towards her with stride in his gait. He holstered his cannon upon his back and pulled out a knife with a pink double-helix shape in it. “Well, you’re gonna have to fight me first.” He said. The Van’Goth sprinted towards Thunderlane with her eyes screaming bloody murder towards his direction. Rainbow Dash grasped her Javelin on the ground with her right front leg and stood on her hind legs. Rearing her body backwards, she chucked her burning Javelin towards the direction of the Van’Goth, impaling her through the burn on her back and out her chest. She looked back towards Rainbow Dash with her mouth frothing in scorn. “You miserable wench! Attacking me when my back is turned?! Where is your sense of honor?!” She shouted. “What about your sense of honor?! Going after an innocent family just for the pleasure of the kill? If you’re gonna be a hypocrite, then at least pretend about having a sense of honor.” Rainbow Dash responded. “Besides, you won’t need honor where you’re going.” Stabbing the Van’Goth through her abdomen with his knife, Thunderlane said. “I hear that honor won’t give you the light you need to endure the stygian depths of Tartarus anyways.” The Van’Goth slumped down onto her knees and fell onto her right side. Both Thunderlane and Rainbow Dash pulled their respective weapons out of the corpse. Rainbow Dash smiled and rubbed the back of her neck. “Thanks for the save back there Thunderlane. Had you come a moment later, then I would have ended up as a shish-kebob.” She said. “So does that mean I can take you out on a date after this battle?” Thunderlane asked with a chuckle and joking tone. Rainbow Dash set her pupils into the sky, hummed and rubbed her jawline with her left front hoof. She looked towards Thunderlane and smiled. “I’ll think about it. For now, I’ll just give you this as a deposit for that question.” She leaned towards Thunderlane’s face and planted a small kiss on his left cheek. Thunderlane’s face burned with a red blush. His eyes shot open and his ears stood on their ends, wiggling to the beat of his beating heart. He smiled and rubbed his left cheek. “So if I don’t hear back from you after this battle, then I will just take this kiss for myself.” He said. Rainbow Dash knocked her right front hoof into Thunderlane’s right shoulder and grinned. “Just be sure to come back alive after this fight.” She said. Sophia and As leaped with lithe steps across the battlefield, avoiding enemy fire and strikes from all directions. Seeing incoming fire heading towards their direction, they spun in the air and moved their bodies away from the line of fire. With no lag in their step, the duo retaliated with Shadow Ball and Night Slash and knocked away their opposition. The duo stood hip to hip on opposite sides, gazing upon the hordes of soldiers that stabbed through the last of the Equusian operatives. “These soldiers don’t really let up in their assault, do they?” Panting between words, As complained. “With the amount of fire on our backs at nearly every second, we don’t have much time to manage in between their cooldowns. We either take that time to rest so we can dodge or attack for the chance of reducing their enemy force’s attack intervals. Either way, we have to keep holding up to the assault until we either get reinforcements or the school is evacuated completely.” Sophia spurted out in a focused tone. The streams of projectiles fired at the duo from around them. Both As and Sophia leaped upwards and brought their respective left and right upper and lower feet against each other. Seeing the line of fire approached them, the two Pokémon leaped off of each other from their feet and split into two directions. As sprinted forwards with her body shimmering in a pink light. She lunged towards a Van’Goth soldier and began clawing and biting the soldier. A cloud of dust veiled the assault. The Van’Goth around the brawl began firing in the cloud of dust. The dust settled down, revealing the assaulted Van’Goth’s armor and body riddled with bullet wounds and As left unscathed. “You all have terrible aim, you know that?” As taunted. On the other side of the field, Sophia fired a Moonblast into the sky and leaped into it. Basked in its radiant light, her body became a black silhouette and she held her right front leg and left hind leg out with a graceful pose. The energy from the Moonblast dissipated within her, illuminating her with a pink energy. “Now it’s time for the grand appearance of my Sylph Charge!” Sophia announced. She sprinted towards the nearest Van’Goth who gunned her and leaped towards the soldier’s chest. She flipped half a revolution forward and slammed her hind feet square into the torso of her target. The Van’Goth’s feet slid back, but it slammed its assault rifle into Sophia. Sophia smirked and spun onto her feet. Her pink aura peaked in height three times its previous size. A Moonblast filled within Sophia’s mouth, expanding by each frame of the second until it became the size of a planet. She threw it downwards, throwing all surrounding soldiers away. She looked behind her, where she saw a squad of enemy mechas the size of Neo Canterlot’s houses that marched into the battle. Her smirk undid itself and formed into a frown. Three of the mechas pointed their arm cannons towards the Sylveon. “Ohhhh… those are some heavy guns that are coming from the enemy reinforcements.” She murmured with a muted voice. “This is going to suck.” Seeing the cannon fill up with a purple light, Sophia sprinted away from the area with the fastest gait possible. The enemy mecha locked onto Sophia’s position and read her zigzag movements. The mecha looked towards its right, where a storm of missiles appeared in its line of sight. It disabled the energy within its cannon and held its right arm above its face. The missiles exploded, veiling its line of sight in a black smoke. Beyond the smoke, Joker’s mecha and Inge rushed towards the group of mechas at a breakneck speed. Joker’s mecha socked another mecha across the face with a burning fist, knocking the head off and causing it to explode. Inge leaped into a mecha’s visor and vanished into its hardware. The mecha’s body became wreathed with electricity before slumping forwards and shorting out. Inge leaped out of the mecha before it exploded. “Yeah! Two down!” Inge called out. “Inge, you know what to do.” Joker said. Inge’s eyes turned red and her pupils formed into crosshairs that locked onto a mecha. She fired a Zap Cannon towards the target in her sights, blasting it into the sky. The electricity made its way into the mecha’s joints, separating them into fragments. Sophia looked behind her and saw all of the mechas focusing on Joker and Inge. She smiled with a sense of security hoisting itself upon her. “Thank you for the assistance. I did not look forward to being a victim of overkill.” She said. As leaped towards Sophia with her fur scuffled and a bruise over her right shoulder. “Overkill is our specialty.” She said with a proud tone. “Also, it’s not a good idea to taunt the other soldiers. I forget that they can still hit me physically with their guns.” One of the mechas fighting against Joker and Inge looked towards As and Sophia’s direction and sprinted across the battlefield towards their direction. A storm of missiles fired from its shoulders. Then, an orb of yellow electricity fired from a needle on its abdomen and aimed towards the two Pokémon. The missiles coordinated themselves into an arrow formation. Fei, Rarity and Keldeo leaped from the horizon and sprinted towards the assault of projectiles aimed towards Sophia and As. Keldeo’s horn illuminated with a brilliant light and expanded to the size of a pole. He swung his head and struck half of the missiles with his horn. Rarity conjured a storm of crystal shards and collided with the rest of the missiles, destroying them in a storm of diamond dust. Fei leaped in front of the electrical orb and curled his right fist. His right arm flashed with a blue light. With a loud roar, he struck the orb with the entirety of his right arm. The resulting friction sparked with a lightning storm. The power flowing through Fei’s arm forced the orb backwards and into the mecha, absorbing it within its power. Fei landed on his feet. Heavy breathing permeated from his mouth. “I’m… never doing that again. My Spirit Beat isn’t even meant to reflect projectiles.” He said in between breaths. “Fei!” Running towards the Mienshao, Sophia shouted. Fei turned around and found his body wrapped around Sophia’s crushing upper legs. “I’m glad you’re safe too Sophia.” He grunted out. “So how is one of my favorite beings handling this battle?” She asked with a cheery voice. “I got saved by a mysterious Absol, so I’m grateful for that. Then the three of us are here to provide reinforcements. Please tell me that there are more survivors.” As pointed her head towards her left, setting her sights on the graveyard of fallen operatives. She shut her eyes and shook her head. “Too little too late. Outside of Joker and Inge, we are the only other operatives that are alive here.” She said. Keldeo frowned and stomped his right front hoof onto the ground. He clenched his teeth and looked away from the scene of dead bodies. “These Van’Goths don’t screw around with their assault, do they?” He asked. “It’s almost… it’s almost like how the Pokémon of my world were wiped out by the hands of a prideful god.” Sophia whirled her head to her right and cocked it with lowered eyes. “A prideful god? It’s strange, but that feels awfully familiar to me.” “Let us not talk about the Demiurge. I wish to clear my memories of such an awful being.” Walking away with a gait of displeasure in her step, Rarity announced. Sophia’s eyes glanced towards Rarity, who ambled without a straight focus on the path in front of her. Sophia caught a glimmer at the corner of a nearby alley and saw three red-ended darts tipped with a black liquid. Without a step out of rhythm, she sprinted towards Rarity and pushed her flank to the side and knocked her away. Rarity’s eyes bolted open from the sudden shove. She laid witness to Sophia’s eyes and mouth widening from the sudden stab of the three darts that struck the jugular vein in her neck. A silent gasp escaped from Rarity’s mouth. “Sophia!” Running to her side, Rarity shouted. Sophia’s vision blurred and her legs wobbled with a sudden wave of atrophy washing over her body. She fell onto the ground. As, Fei and Keldeo sprinted towards her side with light speed in their steps. Their eyes lit up with red danger sirens. Fei plucked out the darts in Sophia’s neck and brought his hands around Sophia’s shoulders. He began shaking her with a firm grip. “Sophia! Are you alright?!” He shouted with panic running through his voice. Sophia directed her eyes onto Fei’s face. She let out a weak frown and anguished cry. “F-Fei? I… can’t feel… my body. It’s getting… a bit harder… to breathe. I don’t… want to die…” She whispered between labored breaths. “Don’t die Sophia! You will make it! You just have to hold on until we get medical help for you!” Fei shouted. With tears pooling within his eyes, he let out a small grunt. “Damn you Arceus! Don’t take away another one of my family! Please!” “She will be alright Fei. I can guarantee that.” Fei’s eyes shot open and he turned his head around, where the Absol walked down towards the group with a calm demeanor on her face. “You again… and you defeated all of the Van’Goth you faced?!” Fei shouted with surprise in his voice. The Absol approached Fei’s side and took the darts on the ground. She examined the black liquid on them. “These darts are tipped with a lethal chemical compound that quickly causes organ tissue to degenerate when injected into the bloodstream. Multiple organ failure occurs shortly after followed by death. Considering this young Fairy-type’s weakness to Poison, she will be experiencing the effects quicker than average.” She explained. As’s stoic stance faltered upon hearing the words of the Absol. She bore her teeth, narrowed her eyes and growled. She walked up towards the Absol and stared into her eyes. “How can you be so calm when one of my friends is suffering and dying here?! We have to get her to a hospital right now!!!” As screamed. “I have already alerted the medical staff at H.O.R.S.E. about this scenario. I gave them the instructions on how to treat Sophia’s particular poisoning.” The Absol explained. “Wait, what?! You saw this coming? Just who are you?” Keldeo shouted. “Perhaps it would be best if you do not interrogate me and bring your friend to the Medical Division at H.O.R.S.E. as quickly as possible?” The Absol responded with a hint of wit in her tone. Fei lifted Sophia onto both of his shoulders and secured his arms around her shoulders and hips with a firm lock. He sprinted down the path alongside As and Rarity. Keldeo stared at the group running for a moment; his mind gravitated towards the Absol, but his legs shook with the urge of running towards the opposite direction. “Fine, but you better tell me who you are after we are out of this crisis!” He demanded. “I can uphold that promise.” The Absol said. Keldeo sprinted ahead of the group with quick hooves and maintained a good distance away, maintaining the focal point of the spear’s point. The Absol looked towards the darts with a frown on her face. “It seems that the wheel of fate is turning...” Twilight Sparkle fired a myriad of large beams from her horn against the enemy mechas and forces, dropping them down to a mere fraction of their invading force. The Hermes Exo sprinted across the God-class mecha’s left arm, stabbing its way into the armor with its photon sword and tearing through the buttery steel with finesse. It leaped onto the other arm several miles away from the arm it was on with the blink of an eye and continued its assault. Coloratura looked upon the battle from a nearby watchtower and gazed in awe at the action before her. “Wow… H.O.R.S.E. is much stronger than I thought it was. Despite the odds that we are facing against, they aren’t giving up in the slightest. They’re even staging a powerful counteroffensive against the enemy. I wish… I wish I could be that strong. I wish I could have the power to protect those precious to me.” She mused to herself. Applejack and the other H.O.R.S.E. operatives continued their relentless use of assault fire, shooting down all leftover Van’Goth forces marching towards them. She smiled and looked back towards her team. “Keep firin'! Shoot with all you have the moment the Van’Goth hit the whites of your eyes!” She declared. The numbers of the Van’Goth dissipated, leaving only the God-class mecha standing. The giant mecha fired a storm of beams from its visor, lighting up the ground below with a rave of death. Feeling the pressure from the lasers hit her, Twilight Sparkle kneeled and turned her head away. “Not even that can quell my rage! I’ll make sure that this metallic contraption and all of the enemy forces are crushed by my hooves!” She shouted. “Woah Twi! Chill!” Applejack called out. “I’m not sure what that Mega Evolution’s doin’ to your head, but I ain’t liking it.” Hearing Applejack’s words, sanity cleared Twilight Sparkle’s mind. She blinked and looked around her. She set her sights on Mono, who zipped across the titan in his Hermes Exo. She clenched her teeth and ran along the arm of the mecha. She aimed her horn towards its head, firing a storm of lasers from its tip. The mecha brought its opposite hand towards its face, blocking all of the lasers. Twilight Sparkle eyes the glowing lines running through its body and saw them weaken in intensity. She slowed down and felt the God-class mecha’s body trembling. The Hermes Exo’s body stopped moving and hovered in place. Behind the cockpit, Mono’s eyes scanned the vibrations of the titan. The screen of the Hermes Exo picked up an influx of energy rising from the chest. “It’s about to blow up!” Mono shouted. “What?! Blow up?!” Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed. Her body vanished from the arm in an instant. She warped back towards the ground and looked upon the collapsing God-class Mecha. The Ares Exo burst from the left shoulder of the titan and flew towards the outskirts of the city. Debris rained from the sky with the finality of an apocalypse. Twilight Sparkle and the magic users of the squad below erected a multi-colored barrier that covered half of Neo Canterlot. The rain of debris shattered underneath the force of the shield. The Hermes Exo and Ares Exo ducked and weaved along the debris, racing towards the ground at blurring speeds. Lith glanced towards Mono’s hologram and let out a focused stare. “Mono, we’re going to have to prepare for a crash impact. We’re going to have to do an emergency evacuation.” She said. “Are you sure? I mean, these exos are on a direct collision course with the shield.” Mono responded with a worried tone. “Correction; your exo is on a direct collision course with the shield. Mine is aimed towards the western plain. It’s not too late to adjust your path.” Lith explained. Mono tapped a series of button of the dashboard of his chair’s arm. His cockpit let out three beeps and loosened his seat. The back door of the cockpit opened. Mono’s seat flew out of the exo, ejecting him into the sky. A white parachute deployed from the back of the seat, allowing it to glide towards the ground. He glanced towards his right and gazed at Lith, who sat in her seat with a relaxed smile and had a white parachute deployed from the seat. She waved towards him. “I see you are enjoying the ride.” Mono said. “It’s not exactly skydiving, but it’ll have to do.” Lith responded. Mono felt a burning ripple within the confines of his mind. He winced and brought his right upper paw onto his head. His eyes drifted towards the sky above Lith, where they met with a shadow that sprinted along the storm of debris and lunged towards the female Meowstic. His eyes sparked with determination and resolve filled his soul. He pressed on his seat’s buckle, releasing him from the seat. He leaped off of his seat and hopped across a falling bridge of debris. Lith glanced towards Mono and felt her heart grip with anxiety. She pressed on her seat’s buckle and leaped out of her seat. “Mono! You’re gonna get yourself killed!” She shouted. “Get out of there Lith! It’s targeting you!” Mono screamed. “What's targeting me?” She asked with a confused tone. Mono pounced towards Lith and pushed her away with his upper paws. Lith let out a surprised grunt and clambered onto a stray sheet of metal. Her eyes set themselves upon a creeping shadow above Mono and formed into a claw. The claw gripped onto Mono’s torso and pulled him into the stratosphere. A frown agape with shock and eyes illuminated with worry filled Lith’s face. She held her right front paw out towards Mono. “Mono!” She shouted. She fired a Charge Beam towards the base of the claw, but it missed. The fire in Lith's eyes froze over and her heart broke. She looked away from the scene with closed eyes and her lips sealed into a frown. Creeping Shadows and the Heart of DarknessFei kicked through the doors of the emergency room at H.O.R.S.E. with Rarity, Keldeo and As surrounding him. A gurney and a small group of Equusians garbed in yellow gloves and aqua blue surgical garbs met with their line of sights. A coffee brown-coated earth pony stallion ran over towards Fei and glanced towards Sophia. Seeing the Pokémon’s chest rising at a slow rate, an air of relief came over him. “I didn’t know what that creature was talking about, but you brought her here on time. We’ll take care of the rest from here.” He said. Fei lifted Sophia from his shoulders with his hands and laid her on the gurney by her left side. The rest of her teammates circled around Sophia’s blurry sight. “Make sure to stay strong Sophia. Remain strong for everyone’s sake.” Fei encouraged. “I’m not sure what to say, but know that I will always be grateful for saving my life. All I could do here is just hope for your best possible recovery. Please don’t disappoint..” Rarity said. “Show me just how quickly a Pokémon can get back on her feet Sophia. It only feels like yesterday that I’ve rediscovered that I was a Pokémon, so I want you to validate my point on how sturdy we are.” Keldeo stated. As smiled and brought her right front paw towards Sophia’s right cheek, stroking it with a gentle caress. “Make sure to get better. After all, you are one of my favorites to cuddle with.” She said with an uplifting tone. Hearing all of the distorted words of her comrades, a weak smile appeared on her face. “Everyone… thank you.” She beckoned out. "Seriously though, if you die, I am keeping Mono for myself." As whispered in her ear. The team of surgeons ran down the hallway with hurried steps and attached wires from below the gurney onto Sophia. Fei saw the surgeons take a sharp left and disappear. He dropped down onto his knees, brought his hands onto his eyes and began crying. “I’m so… worthless. I couldn’t even protect the life of my oldest friend.” He murmured to himself. Rarity walked up towards Fei and patted his right shoulder with a warm series of taps. “But Fei, you were the one that was able to bring Sophia here on time. I’m honestly not the fastest pony around, and Keldeo would have had difficulty repelling the enemy.” She reasoned. “Besides, Sophia’s going to be alright. The doctors at H.O.R.S.E. are really good at what they do. I can say from experience that their operating skills are top notch.” Slamming his right front hoof into his chest, Keldeo said. “I know, but I still can’t help but worry for her. She is practically my headstrong little sister! Of course I have to worry about her!” Fei shouted. “Did I not say that she would be alright?” Hearing a familiar voice behind them, the group turned around and set their eyes on the Absol. The Absol walked towards them with a stone-still expression on her face and slow-moving steps. Keldeo focused his sights on the Absol’s coat, picking up the stains of black blood on it. “Was the attack successfully routed?” He asked with a voice drenched in suspicion. The Absol gazed into Keldeo’s eyes, filling his soul with the thousands of screams from undead souls. A chill ran down Keldeo’s spine. “Yes.” Blinking once, the Absol responded. “For my end of the agreement, I will tell you who I am. My name is Sibyl. I was a seer who hails from Keldeo’s world. I can see the past, present, future and both the beginning and end of time.” As’s eyes narrowed upon hearing Sibyl’s words. She looked upon her with her pupils resonating in distrust. “You’re leaving out some important information Sibyl. You told us your world, but said ‘Keldeo’s world’. How do you even know Keldeo?” She said with suspicion in her tone. Keldeo’s ears perked up at the sound of As’s words. “Y-yeah! I have no memories of ever meeting a Pokémon like you. Plus, who’s to say that you didn’t come from Fei’s world or As’s world?” Sibyl shut her eyes and directed her face towards As’s direction. She opened her eyes, which radiated with the stillness of her heart. “The two of you bring up a good point. But then again, Rarity here can understand my words. Can she not?” Rarity took a step backwards and blinked her eyes once. “Umm… yes. I can understand your words as though you are speaking in my language.” She admitted. “Meanwhile, As and Fei are both wearing translators while Keldeo is not. This leads to the logical conclusion that I share in the same speaking ability as Keldeo. Therefore, I must come from his world.” Sibyl explained. “That’s a good point, but you still haven’t explained why you know our names.” As said. Sibyl walked down the hallway and focused on the path ahead. She paused in her steps and turned the direction of her head towards the group. “My abilities as a seer allow for me to know the names of those who are important in my visions. That is all that needs to be said. If you need me, I will be seeing how the operation is going.” Saying these words, Sibyl walked down the hallway and took the very left the surgeons went down. Fei sprinted ahead of the group and chased down Sibyl. Turning the corner the second the Absol passed through there, Fei’s eyes widened at the sudden disappearance of Sibyl. “But… how? There is nothing but walls down this corridor.” He muttered to himself. “She’s a seer who was able to defeat all her adversaries… just how powerful is she?” Wilhelm walked down a dim-lit corridor. Metallic bricks and pulsating lights made up the walls of the corridor. Frames depicting the images of splayed bodies with the center of their corpses sliced from the neck down hung upon the walls of the corridor. The incisions revealed fleshy veins, muscle and organs with a small coat of blood over their surface. A gnarled smile of pure delight formed from Wilhelm’s face. His eyes narrowed with glee. “It has happened… It has finally happened! I have my hands on a living, breathing subject not of any known world to investigate and experiment with!” He shouted. He shoved open a set of double doors at the end of the hallway, revealing a white area that with the pungent aroma of rubbing alcohol wafting through the air. Wilhelm’s eyes set themselves upon a silver tray filled with a wide assortment of knives and probing tools. His eyes scanned to the left, where an unsuited Mono lied upon a gurney with his ankles strapped upon its metal surface. Wilhelm walked upon the captured Pokémon, witnessing his unmoving body and his shifty eyes. He looked into his eyes, seeing the fear of a whimpering child fill within the Meowstic’s pupils. Wilhelm’s mouth salivated. He grabbed a set of gloves from his coat pocket and slipped them over his hands. “It seems that the paralyzing agent administered to you has rendered you all but helpless. This pleases me greatly.” Finishing his words, Wilhelm moved his right hand towards the tray and grasped a sharp scalpel in the set of tools. He moved his scalpel-wielding hand towards Mono’s lower left leg and began cutting at the edge of the foot. Feeling the sharp blade cut into his foot, Mono’s nerves screamed out in pain. He shut his eyelids to the point where they could rip off of his flesh. He felt the blade move up through his leg and muscles, bringing forth a rush of tears out of the ducts of his eyes. “A stimulus response from the cut I see. It seems that the paralyzing agent has not been set properly.” Noticing the movement of Mono’s eyes, Wilhelm stated. Feeling his heart pulse with joy, he continued the incision along Mono’s shin. “But, this allows me to test the limits of your pain tolerance!” Mono felt Wilhelm’s fingers dig along the fibrous meat of his leg and touching the bone underneath. Cutting into the meat around the fibula, Wilhelm pulled the bone out of Mono’s leg and brought it into the Meowstic’s sight. Mono’s eyes glimmered with anxiety and his heart exploded from the sight of it. Wilhelm moved his right hand over towards the tray, grabbing a sheet of sanding paper. He brought it over to the fibula and began rubbing it against the bone. Mono’s eyes strained from the searing pain. “It seems that your bones have some very sensitive nerve endings.” Lifting the sandpaper away from Mono’s fibula, Wilhelm said. “Regardless, I’ve seen all what I wanted to see from your lower legs. It’s time to move up to your knees!” Mono’s heart plummeted upon hearing Wilhelm’s words. Wilhelm cut up towards Mono’s upper leg, exposing the flesh and bone underneath the upper leg and knee. Wilhelm brought his gloved fingers around the cartilage of Mono’s knees, wiggling them forth. Mono shut his eyes from the awkward tingling that jolted up his spine from the movement. “You know, they say that the femur is the hardest bone in the body to break. Why don’t we have a test with your femur?” Wilhelm stated. The Van’Goth scientist brought his hands over the silver tray, grabbing a black mallet and silver nails. He set the edge of the nail into Mono’s femur and brought the mallet onto the head of the nail. He banged the mallet into the nail a few times, digging into the bone further. Mono felt his tongue salivate from the pain and his teeth freeze up with each strike. “Your femur has a surprising amount of resistance from bludgeoning strikes. I can see how your kind is able to endure so much in the battles against our organization.” With the finish of his words, Wilhelm removed his mallet and nail from Mono’s leg and brought a suture from the tray. He leaned towards Mono’s leg and began sewing together the muscles into the bones. With the muscles reattached to the bones and each other, Wilhelm sewed the flesh of Mono’s leg and looked into his eyes. “Allow me to rearrange my toolkit so that I may tackle on your torso and abdominal cavities next. Take this time as my mercy to you, because it is the only mercy you will get from me.” Wilhelm walked out of the room through the east set of doors, leaving Mono alone once more. His tears leaked onto the gurney underneath and his eyes resonated with his breaking spirit. A set of blue blankets draped along Sophia’s unconscious body, revealing only her shaved-off chest and abdomen. The team of surgeons eyed a display on the monitor and saw the number towards the right dipping by each second. “Her condition is worsening by each second. Will we really be able to save this Pokémon?” A black-feathered griffon among the group asked. “Her health is declining rapidly, but we can still save her if we act fast enough.” A mint blue-coated unicorn mare responded. She opened one of the black jars by her side. She levitated the contents from the jar, revealing a heart-shaped device that flashed with a light blue color. It sat still in its magical hold. “Because of that strange Pokémon, she was able to tell us the proper-sized organs for our patient here. We still have time, so let’s start the operation!” The brown-coated earth pony stallion declared. A gray-chitin changeling surgeon among the group grasped a scalpel with his right front hoof and brought it down towards Sophia’s chest. He started the incision from the base of the throat and brought the cut down to her abdomen, revealing the muscle and fat underneath the fur. A chestnut-coated doe grabbed a black-tipped bone saw and brought it down to the center of the exposed chest. The circular blade whirred to live and began cutting at the bone of the Sylveon until the ribcage split. “Patient’s heart is in sight. Prepare the clamps.” The doe stated. The yellow pegasus mare at the silver try rushed towards her and brought forth a pair of silver clamps. The unicorn surgeon levitated both clamps and affixed them onto Sophia’s chest flesh. The changeling surgeon eyed the small heart, whose contractions reduced over the span of seconds. The muscle of the heart decayed into a gray color. “The poison has destroyed a large majority of the receptors in the heart. Prepare the blood circulation machine, because I’m going to induce clinical death now.” He demanded. The yellow pegasus mare brought forth a large machine and unwound the clear tubes on its right side. The mare brought them towards the doe, who carried it over her hooves. The changeling brought a syringe filled with a gray liquid and injected it into the atrium of the heart. The heart stopped beating seconds after the injection. The changeling brought the scalpel to the aorta and cut around it. The doe brought the tube into the leaking artery and set a metal clip at its edge. The blood rushed into the tube and through the machine. “You better work on the other artery Scissor Leg. We need to set the tube into an output artery to circulate it.” The doe said. “I know Graceful Leap. I’m working on it. I still have to be mindful about the poison in our patient's system.” Cutting the other artery of the heart, Scissor Leg stated. Graceful Leap took another and affixed it into the other artery. She put a metal clip at its edge. The blood from the machine flowed out into the other tube and back through Sophia’s body. Scissor Leg carved the heart out of its veiny bindings and pulled it out with his gloved hooves. The earth pony stallion opened a vanilla-colored plastic bag labeled ‘Biological Waste’, allowing for Scissor Leg to drop the heart inside. “So Steel Scalpel, what does that Pokémon want with these organs?” Scissor Leg asked. Steel Scalpel zipped the bag shut and shook his head. “I am not sure. Whatever it is though, she made it seem like it was a case of life or death for everyone.” The unicorn mare levitated the cybernetic heart into the open chest cavity and brought an empty tube into it. She looked towards the pegasus mare. “I need you to open up valve A-8 Solar Wind. We’re ready to get this replacement heart beating.” “Can do Astral Heart!” Saluting with her left hoof and inputting a command into the machine, Solar Wind responded. The blood passed through the tube and into the cybernetic heart. The heart lit up with blue lights coursing through its ventricles. Scissor Leg and Graceful Leap both brought sutures in the area between the artery and the mechanical heart, sewing the beating organ as a part of the Sylveon. Astral Heart levitated the tubes out of the arteries, allowing for the mechanical heart to set. “The cybernetic heart has been set. Blood flow should continue as normal, but we still have the other organs to work on.” Scissor Leg said. “Regardless, just that heart transplant bought us enough time to work on the rest of her body. Those toxins running through her veins are unable to work on these parts.” Graceful Leap responded with a relieved smile. “I don’t know about you all, but I’m seriously having some really bad doubts about this whole procedure. H.O.R.S.E. made these organs with the intent of transforming these patients into living weapons. Does anyone see anything wrong with that at all?!” Solar Wind asked with an unsure tone. “I see the ethical issues behind it and the reasons why we’ve waited so long before doing this. But we don’t have any known compatible organs for our patient and this is the closest we can use to save the patient’s life. I swear on my name as Healthful Blade!” Pounding his chest with his right talons, Healthful Blade called out. He ran towards the set of jars to the right and unscrewed the next one. “Since they were affected by the administered serum, we’re transplanting the lungs next!” The bright lights filled Mono’s eyes for an eternity. His heart beat at an irregular rhythm from the lack of sound in the room. His body sweated with the fear of the unknown. He blinked three times, steadying his nerves. His ears perked up at the sound of the door swinging open. He rolled his eyes towards Wilhelm, who lugged in a large machine with flashing lights. Wilhelm walked towards Mono and wrapped his right hand around the Meowstic’s jaw. “Ah good. You have not passed out from the pain yet. You have already proven to be one of my stronger research subjects.” He jeered. “This machine will be used in the next phase of your vivisection. I will be having an up and close examination on the internal organs in your torso and abdomen.” Listening to the Van’Goth scientist’s words, a portion of Mono’s soul died. Wilhelm brought out a razor and began shaving off Mono’s dark fur from the chest down, exposing his pink flesh underneath. Mono felt a chill run down his bare skin. He then felt Wilhelm’s cold scalpel touch his skin and the splitting incision made into it. His eyelids clenched upon themselves, remaining strong against the painful invasion of his body. With the incision expanding down to his abdomen and prodding deeper into his muscle, Mono shouted within his mind. “Now, why must you have a strong reaction? The fun of exploring your body has only begun.” Wilhelm said with an eerie voice depraved of humanistic emotion. Mono felt Wilhelm’s fingers prod and maneuver through the inside of his meat, feeling the exterior of his sternum and the beating heart underneath. Each tap on Mono’s heart caused a myriad of palpitations. Wilhelm smiled. He tapped a series of buttons on the machine. A bone saw dropped from the slot in the center. He began sawing Mono’s sternum, driving Mono’s eyelids to erratic levels of wincing. He cut through the rib cage, allowing the heart to break free from its confines. “Finally… the heart. Now it’s time to see part of what makes this tick.” Wilhelm made a small cut around the left ventricle of Mono’s heart, breaking the pacing of the muscle’s beats. Wilhelm grasped two tongs from the tray and inserted them into the cut, pulling away the muscle and allowing the scientist a better view into the heart. Feeling Wilhelm’s fingers poke around the inside of his heart, a mixture of stabbing pain and strong nausea overcame Mono. Wilhelm brought his fingers out of Mono’s heart and grabbed his sutures. He began sewing the surface of the cut, sealing it until it feigned the appearance of never being penetrated through. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. “You definitely have a very active heart. It almost felt as though it could have exploded at any moment like a cat’s! I cannot wait to investigate more of your body and see what other marvelous functions are hidden away.” Wilhelm examined the coat on Mono’s body and hummed with curiosity abuzz. “I’m not sure exactly how you aliens work, but I have seen the males and females of a few of different species in your alien group, ranging from the different-sized feathers of those black weasels to practically none on those red crocodiles. But you and that white cat alien you call your sister have extreme differences in both appearance and moves. When I am finished with your torso and abdomen, I will be checking on your genitalia to see where those differences come from.” Mono’s face paled from Wilhelm’s words. His soul whimpered at the thought of having the Van’Goth scientist probe his most private areas. Wilhelm brought his fingers below Mono’s heart and onto Mono’s left lung. He squeezed the bottom end of it, making Mono’s eyes widened from the tight grip and the force of air that moves up his throat. Scissor Leg and Graceful Leap placed the final sutures onto Sophia’s flesh. Healthful Blade and Steel Scalpel finished setting ivory-colored metals into Sophia’s legs and body. Healthful Blade leaned away from Sophia’s body and wiped his brow. “And finished! That was a tedious operation.” He said with a cheerful voice. “Though we have already worked on Pokémon before, it still amazes me to see various differences among their inner workings. Hopefully, Sophia should begin recovering soon.” A frantic series of sharp beeps echoed in the team’s ears. Solar Wind eyed the heart monitor and gazed at the sudden flattening of the line. A panicked frown appeared on her face. “Her vitals are falling!” “What?!” Graceful Leap shouted. “But the heart was working just a minute ago! What happened?!” Scissor Leg frowned and looked down upon Sophia’s body. “Her body is rejecting the cybernetic transplants!” He exclaimed. “Rejecting?! But that’s impossible!” Astral Heart declared. “These organs were designed to be accepted by any body structure.” “Any body structure but a Pokémon’s it seems.” Heartful Blade said with a solemn tone. “No…” Graceful Leap uttered out with a despondent voice. Sibyl and Celestia walked into the operating room and gazed upon the frowning faces of the operating team. Celestia cuffed her right front hoof over her blue-masked mouth, garnering the attention of the team. “Council Lady Celestia! What are you doing here?!” Steel Scalpel asked with genuine surprise behind his tone. “I came to see how this critical operation is going at the request of Sibyl. I didn’t think much on her words, but there was a depth of gravity to them so I decided to check.” Celestia explained. “There was one important detail that I left out in the operation; Sophia’s body can and will reject the artificial organs and implants. With this in mind, we can still save her.” Sibyl stated. “How?! At this rate, she only has maybe a minute of life in her. We can’t possibly do another operation in that amount of time.” Steel Scalpel said. Sibyl gazed towards Celestia, who shut her eyes and let out a sad sigh. Her horn illuminated with a yellow light and a velvet purple-colored box levitated out of her mane and into Steel Scalpel’s airspace. The top of the box flipped open, revealing a single God Stone that sat upon its fleece. “I have tried to keep the state of these relics hidden from Neo Canterlot, but I cannot hide such artifacts from a seer. Tell me Steel Scalpel; are you familiar with the story of the God Stones?” “God Stones? What are those?” Celestia levitated the box towards her and walked over to Sophia’s head. The God Stone flew out of the box and hovered above Sophia’s unveiled head. “God Stones are miraculous objects that are said to be able to turn a mortal into a being with godlike power. It is rumored that these stones descended from the heavens as Deus’s gift to the world. With this power comes a terrible price; only those who come from a bloodline of holy nobility are able to use a God Stone’s power without ill effects. For those who are not from such a bloodline, they turns the being into a horrific monster.” She explained. “Horrific monster?!” Solar Wind shouted. “I don’t want to deal with that! I’m not even sure if such bloodlines exist within Pokémon!” Sibyl raised her right front foot into the air, holding the attention of everyone towards her. “I can assure you that Sophia does indeed come from such a bloodline. Besides, the God Stone would do nothing to a being nearing its deathbed unless if he or she was from a noble bloodline. Now Council Lady Celestia; place the God Stone upon Sophia and perform the miracle.” Celestia levitated the God Stone onto Sophia’s forehead, setting it within the flesh. The God Stone hummed and flashed with a sky blue color. Sophia’s coat flashed with brilliant lights that caused everyone in the operating room to shy their heads away and shield their eyes with their frontal appendages. The light died down and a series of stable beeps returned to the heart monitor. Solar Wind flew towards the monitors and examined them. Her eyes lit up with surprise. “That’s impossible! Her vitals are stabilizing!” She called out. The team of surgeons glanced upon Sophia and gawked at the changes of her body; the pink of her coat shifted into a sky blue and the cream color transmuted into a lighter shade of blue. Her multi-colored ribbons became a dark blue, and the pieces of ivory metal transmuted into form-fitting gray armor bound to her flesh and ebony drones on her legs. “Dear Deus… her colors have completely changed!” Healthful Blade stated with awe. A small smile appeared on Celestia’s face. She walked over towards Steel Scalpel and stood before his line of sight. “It seems that the God Stone has accepted Sophia as its user. She will be more than fine when she wakes up.” She assured. Steel Scalpel glanced upon Sophia and set his gaze back onto Celestia’s face. He raised his right eye in confusion. “This is beyond anything that any standard unicorn magic can do… I will take your word on it Council Lady, but we will keep a close eye on her to check her vitals.” He said with an unsure tone. Sibyl walked over to the bag of faulty organs and hooked the edge of the opening with her horn. “I will be taking these organs to Professor Pasque now. Do what you must with Sophia now.” Saying these words, she walked out of the operating room and turned the corner. “Why does she want a bag of bad organs for?” Solar Wind asked with a curious voice. Wilhelm tossed Mono into a dank room and shut the iron door. Mono blinked and began moving his head up towards the gate that sealed his entryway outside. He looked down upon his left leg, eyeing the mess of stitches sewn into it. He wiggled the leg and felt a jolt of sharp pain ride up his spine. He winced and eyed the mess of stitches revealed themselves on his torso and abdomen. He brought his right upper paw towards the back of his head, feeling the metal fibers bind his flesh. A lifeless frown formed on his face and his eyes became void of any vibrancy they once had. His fur appeared mangled and disjointed. He brought his left upper paw to his throat, which burned and swelled with inflamation. He looked upon the dark ceiling. “I thought life was beautiful…” He murmured with a raspy voice. “My mom had always told me how great life was. She told me that life was wonderful. Life can never be beautiful if something like that exists. What I went through…” Mono shut his eyes and tilted his head towards the ground. Bile hung from the edge of his mouth, hanging with the lifelessness his soul possessed. “My family will never come rescue me. As far as they are concerned, I am dead. Arceus, if you are capable of listening to me, grant me a request and let me die here. Leave my corpse rotting with the Van’Goth.” Mono looked around his surroundings with his ears perked, waiting for an answer of divinity to come. After a complete five minutes of looking around, nothing happened. His frown deepened with disappointment. “I guess you are not around either Arceus… I was a fool. Why…? Why must my life be filled with such suffering? Why did I lose my parents? Why was I turned into a Pokémon and cast into fighting a war? Why did I want to save my sister? Why was my body probed in the most painful and violating ways possible? Why can’t I die?” Mono clenched his eyelids together and began sniveling. His sore throat clenched with horrible pain. “Please kill me! I want to die! I don’t want to live in any inch of a super reality that has all of this happen to a single being. Just allow me to die!” He cried out. “Awww? Is the alien kitty cat feeling nihilistic?” Hearing Wilhelm’s voice from outside the door, Mono heart trembled. Seeing the door open and Wilhelm’s silhouette standing before the luminous hallway, Mono sidled his back against the wall and began shaking his head. “No! Get away from me!” He pleaded. Wilhelm grabbed Mono by the top of his head and lifted him off the ground. He felt Mono trying to wiggle free from his tight grasp. A sense of cruel satisfaction exploded within the chambers of his heart. “You thought what you went through was bad enough? You have not yet seen what I have planned for you!” He shouted with glee. “Please! I’ve had enough! I want it to stop! Just kill me! I have nothing else to live for!” Mono pleaded. “I will never be that merciful to you. As long as you are in my grasp, I will make every moment of your life a living hell!” With a bloodthirsty and borderline demonic tone, Wilhelm spat out in front of Mono’s face. Wilhelm moved Mono out of the room and into the light. Each whimpering cry brought forth a rise of joy out of Wilhelm’s chest. Sophia’s eyes opened, illuminating her vision to the blurry world around her. Each blink of her eyes brought forth further clarity of her sight. An exhausted groan fired out of her mouth. She looked towards her right side of the bed and set her sights on As, whose curled up form rose and fell with her sleeping breath. “Staying by my side all this time As? What a good friend.” She brought her left front leg and petted As on the top of her head. Seeing the ebony drones attached to her foot, her eyes widened with suspicion. She glanced towards her other front leg, eyeing the ebony drone attached to it as well. She sat up from the bed and began patting her body. No sensation of feeling came to her nerves and metallic clanging rung in her ears. “What?! What is this?!” Sophia shouted in panic. She leaped out of the bed and looked into the mirror. Her glowing red eyes reflected from the mirror. She glanced upon the color scheme of her mechanical body. She placed her right front paw on the mirror and her eyes welled up with tears. As stirred awake from her slumber and glanced towards Sophia with exhausted eyes. She stretched her back out and yawned. “I wasn’t planning on getting any more sleep anyways. And it looks and sounds like you discovered your new body.” She called out with a joking voice. Sophia turned around and flashed an evil stare into As’s eyes, chilling her soul to the very core. As took a step back on her bed. “I’m a mechanical abomination!” Sophia shouted. “Correction; you are a cute mechanical abomination.” As stated with a smug tone. Sophia pointed her right front leg towards As. The drone on her leg fired a pink-colored laser. As’s eyes widened and leaped away from the laser’s trajectory. The laser struck the wall and burned through it. “I didn’t even think that would work.” Sophia stated with surprise in her voice. “Easy where you’re firing that thing! Are you trying to kill me?!” As snapped back with an upset tone. Sophia lowered her eyelids and let out a soft sigh. “Sorry As. I didn’t mean to. I’m just a bit shocked and upset at the moment.” She admitted. “Why do I have a cybernetic body now? This is just too weird!” Steel Scalpel walked into the room in a white lab coat adorned upon him. He cleared his throat, garnering the attention of the sulking cyborg Sylveon. “I see you are up and active now Sophia.” Steel Scalpel said with a cheery tone. “How is your new body feeling?” Sophia narrowed her eyes and pointed her front right drone towards Steel Scalpel’s head. Steel Scalpel felt his heart plummet into the depths of fear and took a step back. Seeing the fear in the doctor’s eyes, Sophia frowned and put down her drone. “I’m sorry doctor. To be honest, I honestly hate this new body.” She admitted. “I can’t feel anything. But if I did, I would feel like a cold monster. It feels so unnatural. Just what is this body?” Steel Scalpel walked towards Sophia and pulled out a notepad from his coat pocket with his teeth. He placed the notepad on the ground and pushed it over to Sophia. Sophia gazed at the notepad and looked upon the intricate schematics of various organs and mechanical components. “You are the first official patient to have been given our cybernetic treatment option. Considering the kind of being you are and how quick the damage spread along your system, we had to resort to these measures just to keep you alive. The nature of the organs implanted within you counteract the poison spread through your bloodstream.” Steel Scalpel explained. Sophia flipped through the notes in the notepad and examined the small details in each page. With every bit of information that passes through her eyes, her frown deepens into a depression. “It says here that my organ system is a power source for all of my weapons and I need to change out the heart unit every ten months.” She said. “Ah that. You do not need to worry about future surgeries as you can simply open up your chest compartment and have a friend replace the heart with a new one.” Steel Scalpel eyed Sophia’s body posture, which switched into shying her head away from his direction and ducking it behind her shoulders. He frowned and walked over towards Sophia, patting the back of her neck. “Do not be sad about your fate Sophia. Just imagine getting to still be around the others who you love and care for while still being able to protect them. In fact, your power has exceeded our expectations!” “So I am but an experiment for your new weapons system?” Sophia said with a blatant tone and deadpan eyes. Steel Scalpel stared into Sophia’s eyes and felt a portion of his soul run away from him. He sprinted out of the room with the speed of light in his hooves. Seeing the distress in Sophia’s face, As walked over to her and wrapped her right front leg around her neck. “Regardless of whether you are natural or are a robot, you will always be Sophia to me. There’s nothing in the world that can change that.” As stated with a comforting tone. Sophia glanced towards As and smiled. “Thanks As. Really though, the biggest issue I have will be trying to explain this to Mono.” As’s eyes widened once more. She stepped away from Sophia and rubbed the right side of her neck. She turned her face away from Sophia. “Erm… let’s not talk about Mono right now.” With sweat dripping from her forehead, As said. “Why not?” Leaning her head and cocking it, Sophia asked. “Why should you question that when Fei wants to see how you are? After all, he is the one who was most worried about you.” As responded. Sophia’s eyes widened at the realization of As’s words. “By Arceus! You are right! I have to make sure that Fei is secure with knowing that I am alright.” Shouting these words, she ran out of the room and into the hallway. As wiped her forehead of the anxious sweat and exhaled a relieving breath. “I dodged a bullet there. There is no way I’m telling a walking weapon of mass destruction that her boyfriend was captured by the Van’Goth!” Wilhelm walked into a roundhouse-shaped room, where only a metallic board that suspended itself above the ground. He held Mono up towards the board, allowing him to view the board. “Is this your latest method of torturing me? It seems a bit tame compared to the vivisection.” Mono said with an unimpressed tone. Wilhelm smiled at the naivety of Mono’s words. He walked up to the face of the board and held Mono to the point where the Pokémon’s body met with the board’s in height. With Wilhelm turning his body around, Mono felt a strong gravitational force pulling him towards the board. Wilhelm let go of Mono. The board pulled Mono in with a strong snag, slamming his back onto the board. Mono winced from the sudden strike upon his back. “After what you will be through, you would be pleading for me to go back to vivisecting you.” Wilhelm said. “I have received permission from the Emperor himself to put you through this process!” “Process huh? I still think it is tame compared to what you did earlier to me.” Mono said with a borderline bored tone. “The vivisection is just for me to get a clear analysis of your body. By far, you have provided some incredibly strong results. Your pain tolerance is lower than expected, but you have a surprisingly strong body, resilient organ tissues and some powerful psychokinetic ability. I’ve even discovered the link between your psychic powers and male hormones!” Wilhelm shouted with glee. Mono shuddered at the memories of Wilhelm probing through his body. The images of seeing his intestines held before his eyes and his organ systems being cut into brought and experimented with forth a wave of nausea to him. “Please don’t bring that up. My stomach is still queasy from being cut into and filled with that weird chemical compound.” “I will not need to. Now tell me; what do you know of that perky pink filly with the powers that equate to those of a god?” Wilhelm asked with morbid curiosity in his voice. Mono’s lungs stopped from the discomfort overwhelming its insides. He rolled his eyes towards Wilhelm with unease. “You mean that filly who was using those abilities similar to how Shadow Pokémon from my world used them?” Mono asked with a slow voice. Wilhelm’s eyes jolted with an epiphany. He held his right hand’s index finger up and smiled. “So those experiments do have an official name! These ‘Shadow Pokémon’-like abilities you told me that the filly had were provided by the very same process that you are about to undergo.” Mono’s heart sunk into the depths of his uneasy stomach and the pupils of his eyes dilated to small dots. He shook his head with a frantic movement. “No! Please! Anything but that! I’d rather get vivisected again then turn into a Shadow Pokémon! Please! Don’t put me through that!” He pleaded. Wilhelm smirked at the panic in Mono’s words and movement. “So you do admit that the process you are going to be put through is worse than what you have already gone through!” He stated with joy. “Do not worry; out of ten thousand subjects, only that one filly survived the shadowfication process. That gives you a 99.99% chance of dying. You may be a part of the 00.01% of subjects that do survive however.” “Do you know what becoming a Shadow Pokémon entails to?! I’ll lose my heart, have my emotions stripped and become nothing but a killing machine writhing in eternal pain and suffering!” Mono shouted out. Wilhelm walked into a staircase outside of the room and entered within a room on a higher floor and looked down into the window. His right index finger hovered over a dark purple button on the dashboard. “But is that not the point of this process?” Wilhelm said with a smug tone. Wilhelm pressed the button, darkening the entire room. Shadowy bolts of electricity coursed through Mono’s body, showering his systems with burning pain on the microscopic level. He shouted out with absolute agony, bringing forth a wicked smile on Wilhelm’s face. Mono opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by pitch black darkness. Lith stood before his eyes, bringing forth a smile on his face. He ran towards her. “Lith! You’ve come to save me!” He stated with glee. Lith’s eyes formed an angry scowl on her face. She clenched her upper right paw and punched Mono across his face, knocking him down on the ground. Mono’s eyes jolted open with disappointment and betrayal. “Don’t be all buttery with me Mono. After all, it was your fault that Mom and Dad died!” Lith shouted. “W-w-what? What do you mean?” Mono asked with a stupefied tone. “Are you that much of an idiot?! Your crybaby attitude is what caused Mom and Dad to give you nothing but emotional support twenty four hours a day to the point where they were exhausted! Had you never been born, then I would still have my blood parents today!” Lith stated with burning animosity towards Mono. “Crybaby? But you know what I went through Lith. It’s not my fault that I had that happen to me.” With his voice breaking and his eyes on the verge of bursting into tears, Mono defended. Lith walked over towards Mono and brought her eyes over towards Mono’s eyes. She lifted her right lower leg above Mono’s back. “So now you make it about you?! You were always a selfish brother. I’ve hated you since the day we were both conceived in Mom’s womb. I wished that you got killed in that accident instead of Mom and Dad!” She shouted with a stomp between each word. “Stop Lith! I beg of you! It hurts!” Mono pleaded. “Are you kidding?! Do you know how long I wanted to do this to you? Nothing will cause me to stop! I can’t stop and I won’t stop!” Lith screamed. Mono’s heart cracked between each stomp. An eternity passed and Lith disappeared. The pain in Mono’s back subsided. He stood up from the ground and gazed forwards. Rondo, Stereo and Gnasher stood in his line of sight with scowls staring him down. “You are such a lousy and abusive caregiver!” Slashing Mono across the face with a Dragon Claw, Gnasher shouted. “You never give us what we want; freedom from your miserable paws!” Perching on Mono’s head and pecking his forehead, Rondo screeched. “Why did I ever think you would be a good person to be with? You are extremely selfish and think of only yourself.” Punching Mono across the face, Stereo stated. “Guys… please. No more. I don’t want to go through this anymore.” Shaking his right upper paw and frowning, Mono pleaded. “Guys huh? You see, this is why I hate you Mono. You are such a cowardly misogynist who thinks of nothing but himself!” Gnasher retaliated. “But I taught you all how to read, write and do math. I wanted to give you each the gift of being able to make your lives productive. How is that being selfish?” Mono reasoned. “Oh goodie! Reading and writing and math! When is a Pokémon like me ever going to use those things?!” Rondo jeered. “Why didn’t you train us to be killer weapons like other trainers? Because of you, I get laughed at by other Pokémon for my ability to do human forms of learning! You make me sick.” Stereo spat a bundle of spittle in Mono’s face and glared down on him. Mono blinked and felt his tears run down his cheek. “Stereo… you were always so mild. Why are you hurting me?” Mono asked with a heartbroken tone. “Because you are a miserable loser. No one likes you Mono. No one ever did.” Rondo, Stereo and Gnasher disappeared from Mono’s sight. Mono stood up from the ground, feeling more of his heart disappear than ever. Sophia appeared before his line of sight, smiling with an ounce of innocence behind her face. A wave of elation washed over Mono. “Sophia! Thank goodness.” Mono uttered out in relief. Sophia shut her eyes and began laughing. Mono raised his left eye in confusion before both eyes opened with realization. “If it isn’t the lab’s resident Poképhilliac! How does it feel to be a former human that likes going after Pokémon? Feels great, doesn’t it?” Sophia taunted. “But I’m not… what?!” Mono asked in confusion. “But I thought you loved me!” Sophia chuckled and walked towards Mono with her smile gnarled into a disturbing expression. She pushed Mono onto the ground with her right front leg and stood on top of him. “Did you really believe that?! The only reason why I even acknowledged your existence in the first place is because you are such a pitiful creature! You are merely the plaything of every cosmic entity out there, so I wanted to cheer you up by being around you. Let me tell you; worst decision ever! You actually loved me? You had feelings of intense romance for me? What kind of sicko are you?” She jeered. Hearing her words enter his mind, Mono’s eyes began watering once more. His mouth formed into a low frown. “But… I’m a Pokémon now.” He said. “And what? That makes me automatically want to be with you? Mono, do us all a favor and go kill yourself. You are worth less than the parasitic spores on a Parasect’s mushroom.” “Sophia. Why?” With his voice breaking up in complete misery, Mono asked. “Why did you become so cruel?” Sophia shut her eyes and folded her smile into a confident expression. “Oh, I’m not cruel. At least I’m not cruel towards actual living and breathing beings. You can’t even manage to do that right!” The echo of Sophia’s laughter lingered in the darkness after her disappearance. Mono lied on the ground with his throat burning and his tears pooling underneath him. “You know Mono, they’re right.” Mono’s ears shot up at the voice behind him. He sat up and turned around, revealing both Emilio and Samantha looking down upon him with dissonant smiles. “Mom? Dad?” He asked with an unsure tone. “Your mother is right Mono; you are just a selfish, abusive Poképhilliac that cries alot. We are actually quite embarrassed about bringing you into this world.” Emilio said with a tone void of any spite. “Who knew you would have grown up to be so pathetic? Maybe us dying happened so that we wouldn’t happen to be around to see such a worthless being grow into a perverted excuse for life.” Samantha said. Mono stood in place. His body became paralyzed from his parent’s words. He shook his head and frowned with denial. “It’s not true! You two would never say that about me!” “But that’s where you’re wrong Mono! Didn’t you know that you are an embarrassment to the proud Samers lineage? You are a disgusting freak of nature who is afraid of everything because of some little thing that happened in the past. What a joke!” Emilio responded. Both Emilio and Samantha began laughing at Mono, pointing their fingers towards him. A burning pain resonated within Mono’s heart, knocking him down onto his knees. He clenched his chest and let out a burst of broken laughter. “So this is it. Everyone hates me. Lith, my Pokémon, Sophia… even my own deceased parents. They’re right. I am but a weak, sniveling and selfish Poképhilliac who is nothing but a disgrace to the family.” Through his burst of laughter, Mono stated. Tears from his broken heart leaked through his laughter. “Somebody please kill me. I have nothing else to live for. Do anything to dull the pain in my heart.” “Do you accept the darkness in your heart Mono?” A disembodied voice called out from amidst the darkness. Mono blinked once and remained silent. He looked around the area, focusing his sights for the source of the voice. “Deus? Is that you Deus? Have you come to ease my pain?” Mono asked with a sliver of hope in his voice. “I have come to give you the powers necessary to fight against the pain in your heart but only if you give into the shadows. Tell me Mono; are you willing to give your life up to the darkness?” Deus asked. Mono nodded with a greedy movement of his head and a broken smile. “More than anything. I never want to feel this pain again!” He exclaimed. The darkness around Mono began converging into the chest of the Meowstic, filling it with pain and emptiness. Mono clutched his chest with his right upper paw and brought his left upper paw onto the ground, preventing him from falling over. His eyes hollowed out from any emotion he once had. The electricity shocking Mono in the test chamber subsided. Mono’s head hung off of his neck. Wilhelm pulled up several holograms detailing a silhouette of Mono and his vitals. He eyed the zero, which rose into higher numbers. Wilhelm smiled and broke his breathing with laughter in between. “He’s alive! He has survived the shadowfication process!” He cheered. He opened up his arms with wide acceptance and wore a large smile. “Our lord Deus; we shall celebrate this miracle by using him against his former allies!” Hearing Wilhelm’s words, Mono’s eyes opened up. The pupils of his eyes resonated with pure darkness and a shadowy aura surrounded him. A deathly growl emerged from his mouth. Author's Note So yeah, I'm not sure how many people are going to despise Wilhelm after this chapter, but eh. So that changed the format of the game for better or worse. The Black TestamentProfessor Pasque and Professor Gentian stood around a desk with welding masks over their faces. A machine above fired a red laser the size of a straw that cut into the metal below. Sparks flew in the masks of the two crafters. The laser subsided and Professor Gentian removed his welding mask. He looked at the flaring hilt. He nodded and held his lower lip out with acceptance in his posture. “Who knew a Sylveon’s organs can make something like this?” He asked with a hint of amusement. Professor Pasque lifted his welding mask, revealing a disgusted frown plastered over his mouth. His legs trembled with anxiety and his breathing burned with fear. “I hope I never have to work with anything as morbid as that again. Using the internal organs of a body for crafting a weapon shook my very core.” He voiced out with a disturbed tone. The two scientists both heard the door behind them open. They shifted their faces towards the door and set their eyes on Fei and Sophia. Sophia’s eyes glanced upon the glowing hilt on the table and formed a weak frown on her face. “So that is where the extracted organs of my body went to?” She asked with a crestfallen tone. “Why would Sibyl want you to craft something like this Professor? It seems gruesome.” Fei asked with a curious voice. “I don’t know, but she made it sound like our lives are dependent on this very weapon’s creation and existence.” Professor Pasque answered. Sophia glanced towards the tempering hilt and gazed upon the heated shine it radiated with curious eyes. “I can only assume that this laser blade would give access to my movepool and abilities. Is this true?” She said. “Partly right, but there is another feature this blade would have; the light would emit inflicts poison damage akin to the one inside of your bloodstream. You can call that a coincidence, but it really makes the laser itself much more devastating against the Van’Goth forces.” With his arms crossed and his eyes shut, Professor Gentian said. Professor Pasque glanced towards the blade and slanted his eyelids. A small frown formed on his face. “This blade reminds me very much of sapient life; there is good and evil intertwined within it, and the potential can only be seen once they are both ready. It makes me somewhat sad to see sapient nature transferred into a weapon of all things.” Fei turned his head towards Sophia, whose frown deepened with each word that passed through the conversation. He shut his eyes and placed his hand on Sophia’s head. “To see my partner and oldest friend be turned into a weapon in multiple ways depresses me. How far will fighting advance before both sides become complacent with turning others into weapons?” He asked. Professor Pasque opened his mouth, but the door to the front of the lab opened once more. Lith walked through the door with her face pointing towards the ground, her upper paws embracing her body with a melancholic grasp and a dejected step in her walk. Lith glanced forwards and gazed upon the sadness that welled within the frowns of Fei and Professor Pasque. “Hello everyone.” She said with a voice robbed of any cheer. “I see you still have not yet gotten over what happened yet.” Fei responded. Sophia glanced towards Lith and Fei with confusion contorted within the muscles of her face and the metal of her legs. She walked towards the duo. “Forgive me for asking, but what exactly is Lith depressed about?” She asked. “I thought someone would have told you already. Mono got captured by the Van’Goth.” Lith responded. Sophia’s lower left eyelid twitched with the sudden slant of her head. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath in and exhaled, calming her nerves. “I’m sorry Lith, but I think I might have heard you wrong. I thought you said that Mono got captured by the Van’Goth.” She said with a tone wrought with denial. “I did.” Looking into Sophia’s eyes with no ounce of joviality in her stare, Lith stated. A vicious fire burned within Sophia’s soul. She slammed her right front foot and drone into the ground, hitting it to the point where a crater half the size of her body formed underneath her. Everyone in the room hopped from the sudden strike and widened their eyes at the damage below. Fei pointed towards the crater with a shaky hand. “You just punched the ground without using any type of effort.” He said with a nervous tone. “I know. However, I can only imagine what kind of suffering Mono is going through right now. This floor underneath me is just collateral damage. If I see a Van’Goth soldier in front of me, his head is going to meet with the same force of pressure I applied to this floor.” Sophia said with a dark tone. “Oh? So you want to know what happened to Mono?” The Pokémon in the room looked up towards the ceiling and saw Joker clinging upon it. He dropped down from the ground and landed on his feet. Professor Pasque flashed a cold stare towards the insane human. “I swear if you say anything at all about my son...” “Eh, he went through traumatic torture in the last chapter.” Joker stated with a positive tone. “And in the chapter after this one, I’m going to make a major appearance!” “Do us all a favor Joker: Leave. Now.” Sophia stated with a threatening tone. Joker shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the door. “My time in this chapter is up anyways. See you all in the next chapter.” Seeing Joker leave the lab, Professor Pasque shook his head and rubbed his forehead with his right front foot. “That Joker gives me a migraine sometimes.” “But is it true? Is Mono really being tortured by enemy hands?” Lith asked with worry dripping from her tone. “It’s a very real possibility. He’s a POW after all, and I am sure that interplanetary battles have no sanctions against cruelty upon POWs.” Fei said. “Do me a favor Fei and shut up.” Professor Pasque stated with a sharp tone. Everyone in the room took a step backwards and gasped at the sudden shift in Professor Pasque’s voice. Professor Pasque looked around the room, gazing at everyone’s anxious shaking. He frowned. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap like that.” “You do not need to apologize to us Professor. I should apologize to you for my lack of tact in this conversation.” Fei responded. “Mono is close to me as well, and thinking about what they could be doing to him makes me sick.” “Well, we aren’t going to go anywhere talking about this. We have to keep on the prowl for Van’Goth activity and extract information on Mono’s whereabouts.” Lith suggested. “That is a good idea. Hopefully, we will be able to get that information and save Mono. My heart is ready to explode from worry.” Placing his right front foot over his chest, Professor Pasque said. A pink-coated unicorn mare with a beehive-style purple mane and a light gray-coated unicorn stallion with a brown mane and moustache trekked through the hallways behind Sweetie Belle, Rarity and Keldeo. The married couple gawked at the sights of young operatives garbed in their suits and gear. Keldeo rolled his eyes and whistled. “So, ummm… Pearl and Magnum; what brings you two to H.O.R.S.E. today?” He asked. “We’ve seen the battle unfold before our very eyes, and we need to give our appreciation to all of the operatives who contributed towards safeguarding our city!” Pearl stated with a jovial tone. “And please Keldeo, get used to calling us Mom and Dad. Not only have you been practically family to us since these past ten years, but you are even going steady with our daughter! Couldn’t think of a better stallion for our little Rarity.” Magnum said with a tone that matched the joviality of his wife’s. Rarity smiled and blinked once, bringing forth a confidence glow from her stance. “Our operatives at H.O.R.S.E. receive special training in order to keep Neo Canterlot safe at all costs. It’s our mission statement after all.” She said with a casual tone. “Plus, I feel that it might be too soon to start calling you Mom and Dad. I mean, Rarity and I are dating. We just have not yet reached the marriage step yet.” Keldeo replied with a hushed and anxious tone. “I’m curious Keldeo; did you and Rarity do it yet?” Looking up towards Keldeo with a curious frown on her face, Sweetie Belle asked. All of the adults in the group’s eyes shot wide at the nature of Sweetie Belle’s question. Rarity and Keldeo’s faces lit up with deep red blushes. A burst of nervous giggling erupted from Rarity’s mouth. “Ummm… what do you mean by ‘it’ Sweetie Belle?” She questioned with a slow and anxious tone. “You know; knock horseshoes, bump uglies, get your freak on, have sex?” Sweetie Belle clarified. Magnum looked upon Keldeo with an intense stare, bringing forth a cascade of sweat down Keldeo’s neck from his anxious shaking. “Ummm… no?” Keldeo responded with an unsure voice. “Who taught you those words anyways Sweetie Belle?” Rarity asked with an accusatory tone. “Sophia and As. I’ve been trying to pick up some adult-level language from them, and I thought that these words would be applicable in this case since you two have been in a relationship for several months now.” Sweetie Belle answered. Rarity and Keldeo remained silent upon listening to Sweetie Belle’s statement. Their faces flushed with blood and they rubbed her right front hooves with their left hooves. Magnum lifted his right eye in curiosity. “So… have you two been having sex?” He questioned with a suspicious tone. Pearl smiled and patted the base of Magnum’s shoulders. “Now dear, our Rarity is a grown-up mare now. We don’t have to hound on her for her sex life, especially if it is with a handsome stallion like Keldeo.” She said. Magnum let out a defeated sigh and put up a smile. He raised his shoulders and walked up towards Keldeo’s right side. He patted his right shoulder. “Honestly speaking, I’d rather let you be that intimate with my daughter than anyone else. You do use protection right?” Keldeo remained silent and pointed his eyes towards the ground with his face still red with embarrassment. Magnum grinned and ruffled Keldeo’s mane with a burst of affection. “It doesn’t matter whether you do or not. You were a chaste stallion before declaring your love for my daughter, and I’m pretty sure you two are incapable of breeding with each other. When the two of us get together again though, I’ll give you pointers on what it means to be a real stallion. How does that sound my boy?” He asked with an excited voice. “That would be nice. I would love that.” With his head ascending to its standard level and his frown flipping into a comfortable smile, Keldeo responded. “That’s fine and all, but I’m going to have a word with Sophia and As to keep their ‘lady-like’ language away from Sweetie Belle. I don’t think they are being a good influence on her.” Rarity said. Hearing Rarity’s words of disapproval, Sweetie Belle frowned. “They taught me other things as well.” She reasoned. “Seducing males and sometimes other females is not a ‘thing’ you should be proud of to know Sweetie Belle.” Rarity responded with a deadpan tone. “Well aren’t you biased against Pokémon sis?” With her right eye raised with disbelief, Sweetie Belle asked. “If I was, then I would not be ‘knocking horseshoes’ with Keldeo now would I?” Rarity responded with a calm and proper tone. Sweetie Belle pouted and let out an annoyed grunt. “You’re no fun.” A black-robed and hooded figure stood outside of the gates to H.O.R.S.E. outside of the city. With black boots and black gloves adorned, the figure approached the gates with cautious steps. A pale white mask that featured two narrow slits where the eyes would be veiled the figure’s face and a black cape trailed it. A hologram of Wilhelm displayed itself in front of the figure. He flashed an unsettling smile. “So good to see you make it to the base of our enemy Black Testament. Are you ready to purge Neo Canterlot of its military?” He asked. The figure, Black Testament, stood in place and remained silent. “I see. I shall be eagerly expecting a report from you after you are finished.” Upon saying these words, Wilhelm’s hologram vanished. The Black Testament gazed upon the gates once more and lifted its gloves right appendage. Clusters of shadowy energy formed at the palm of the glove. Three orbs fired themselves into the gate, destroying it with an explosion of darkness and fire. The operatives within the docking bay’s eyes shot open from the sound of the explosion and the bending metal of the gate. They all grabbed their weapons and aimed towards the gate. “We’re under attack! Shoot without discrimination!” A gray-feathered male griffon declared. The operatives unleashed a straight line of fire from their weapons. The Black Testament appeared in between the forces within the blink of an eye. Darkness clustered within the open palm of the figure. The energy formed into a dark purple double-ended glaive with each blade being half the size of the figure. The Black Testament then jabbed the left glaive into the operative on the left, causing the stallion to drop his laser rifle and fall to the floor. Each of the operatives surrounding the deceased pony rolled their eyes upon the form of the Black Testament. Their lips and heads quivered with surprise, anxiety and fear. They took a step backwards with the intent of straying away from the figure. “How did this figure get here that quickly?!” A changeling with an orange-colored chitin responded. “I don’t know, but look at what that thing did to Spot Dodge! It killed him before we could do anything!” A silver-coated earth pony mare stated. The gray-feathered griffon shut his beak and grinded it upon itself. His eyes became focused with anger directed towards the Black Testament. “Don’t just stand there! Shoot the son of a bitch!” Pulling out his assault rifle and unloading a storm of bullets, he commanded. A pulse of dark energy burst from the Black Testament, slowing down reality to a pause. The spray of the griffon’s bullets stopped an inch away from the mask. The Black Testament waved its appendage over the bullets and grabbed them. With the bullets in palm, it walked over towards the griffon and opened its palm, lining up the hovering bullets behind the griffon’s head. Walking a foot behind the perimeter, time resumed at its normal pace. The gray-feathered griffon felt a line of bullets pierce the back of his skull. His head shot upwards and his eyes shot wide open. He fell onto the ground, capturing the attention of his H.O.R.S.E. comrades. The operatives looked upon the corpse with their mouth agape and their stances stunned. “What happened?!” A brown-coated stag shouted. “What happened to our captain?!” “Bullet wounds! He got shot from behind his head!” A magenta-coated pegasus stallion called out. “How did that happen?!” “That Van’Goth has some weird abilities! That just has to be it!” The stag shouted. The Black Testament swung its glaive with a full revolution, severing the spines of both the stag and the stallion that spoke. The hearts of the combative operatives filled with dread and fear. The orange-chitin changeling flew the opposite direction with all the speed he could muster. He blinked once and saw the Black Testament before his eyes. He blinked once more before he felt his throat grasped by the Black Testament’s right appendage. “No! Please! I have children!” He worded out through his closed throat. The Black Testament’s gripped appendage emanated a dark aura. The changeling felt his vitality drain from his body into the appendage. His chitin’s color faded and he felt his senses blur into nothingness. The Black Testament squeezed the changeling’s neck to the point where an audible snap rung throughout the bay and the changeling’s head hung off of its left side. It then threw the changeling towards the ground. The changelings teammates looked upon the Black Testament with fear in their eyes. “Just who is this Van’Goth?!” They shouted in unison. The sirens rung throughout H.O.R.S.E.’s halls and the lights flashed with a pulsing yellow. Pearl and Magnum eyed the hallways in confusion, Sweetie Belle ran the opposite direction and Keldeo and Rarity arched their legs and focused their stares ahead. “What’s going on?” Magnum asked. “That’s a Code Yellow drill! We have a dangerous intruder who broke into H.O.R.S.E.!” Keldeo responded with a determined voice. “They have a specific drill for that?” Pearl asked with an impressed voice. “Yes Mom they do.” Rarity responded. “It might be a good idea to follow Sweetie Belle’s steps and follow her outside of the building. Keldeo and I will try to fight off this intruder.” Understanding the meaning behind Rarity’s words, Magnum and Pearl ran towards Sweetie Belle’s direction with fleet hooves. Rarity and Keldeo focused ahead of themselves and listened to the quick steps ahead. The Black Testament appeared around the corner with a slow walk, bringing forth a strong pressure that caused the hairs on the bodies of Rarity and Keldeo to stand upon themselves. Seeing the Black Testament sprint forwards, Rarity conjured a stone wall in her path. The Black Testament smashed through the wall with a pulse of shadowy energy that emerged from its appendages. Keldeo sprinted forwards with a glowing horn. The Black Testament surrounded the energy with a bubble of dark energy and slowed everything down. The figure then fired a blast of shadowy energy from its appendages, striking Keldeo in the air and knocking him down. Keldeo stood up from the ground and winced. He rubbed the front of his right shoulder and looked towards the Black Testament’s form. “What just happened? All I did was just attack and that figure hit me with the blink of an eye.” He said with confusion. “I’m not so sure myself. I saw you approach and half a second later I saw you down on the ground.” Rarity responded. The Black Testament dashed forwards with its right appendage cloaked with a shadowy energy. Keldeo flipped off of the ground and fired a Hydro Pump from his right front hoof. Time froze around the Black Testament once more. The figure leaped upon the trail of water and ran down it. The figure pulled out its glaive and poised its point towards Keldeo’s head. With a purple aura surrounding her body, Twilight Sparkle leaped down from a vent and kicked the glaive away with her right hind leg. Time returned back to normal and the stream of water carried the Black Testament towards the ceiling. Rarity and Keldeo both smiled upon seeing Twilight Sparkle before them. “Twilight!” Rarity called out in unison. “When did you get here?” She asked. “Sorry for sneaking up on you two, but I had to make sure I wasn’t followed. It seems that the reports were correct though; this figure can freeze time and appear anywhere. Had I been a frame later with my arrival and Keldeo would have been skewered.” Twilight Sparkle explained. The Black Testament dropped from the ceiling and onto its feet. Three clusters of shadow energy formed around its front and launched towards the trio of H.O.R.S.E. operatives. Twilight Sparkle conjured a magic barrier, but the shadow energy broke through it with the force of a baseball through a glass window and struck the trio. The three operatives fell onto the ground. “I forgot to warn you Twilight; this figure can break through anything with its strange magic.” Rarity said. “I could have used that warning ahead of time, but better late than never.” Getting up from the ground, Twilight Sparkle responded. “Still, that magic missile hurt more than it should have. Just what is that made of?” The Black Testament vanished from the sight of Rarity and Keldeo. With her body enshrouded in her magic, Twilight Sparkle eyed the figure sprinting down the hallway at light speed. She sprinted after the Black Testament. “Our mystery intruder is getting away!” She called out. The halls of H.O.R.S.E. became blurred lines for the eyes of the Black Testament. Beyond the blurs of the corridors and the whooshing wind passing by the black clothing, the eyes of the figure detect hazy signatures of heat deep within the hall. The Black Testament turned the corner of the corridor, revealing Magnum, Pearl and Sweetie Belle before his eyes. The figure fired a trio of dark spheres that planted into the ground before the unicorns and destroyed it. “What?!” Stopping before the dark depths of the cliff, Magnum shouted. The unicorns glanced back and set their sights on the Black Testament. The group took a step backwards and felt the pressure of fear cling upon their spines. Sweetie Belle’s left hind hoof touched upon the edge of the cliff behind her. Her stance slipped and her head jolted upwards. Gazing upon Sweetie Belle’s weakened stance, the Black Testament leaped forwards and rushed the glaive towards Sweetie Belle’s head at light speed. Sweetie Belle shut her eyes, crouched to the ground and covered her forehead with her front hoof. Her body quivered in fear and she heard the wind fragment from the blade diving towards her. She felt a powerful force shove her towards the right. The sound of a blade slicing through metal struck her ears, but her body remained virgin from the sensation of being sliced. Sweetie Belle lifted her hooves from her eyes and looked towards her left with a slow and anxious movement. Her line of sight became tainted with the image of the Black Testament’s glaive skewered through the torso of Magnum. Witnessing her father’s pupils shaking from the blow, the pained gasps from his open mouth and his widened eyes, Sweetie Belle’s heart clenched with despair. “Dad!” Running towards him with her eyes tearing up, Sweetie Belle shouted. Magnum lifted his right front hoof towards his daughter with the strength his body could muster. His chest raised and lowered with an erratic pattern and his hoof trembled with weakness. The Black Testament pulled the glaive out of Magnum’s body and looked and eyes the wave of Lith, Fei, Sophia, Professor Pasque, and Professor Gentian approaching from the corridor beyond the cliff and the group of Twilight Sparkle, Rarity and Keldeo approaching from behind. Pearl ran towards Magnum’s side, catching his body before he fell to the left. She turned Magnum’s face towards the ceiling. She blinked once with a frown of disbelief formed on her face and stroked his ruffled mane once. Sweetie Belle and Rarity approached their parents. Keldeo followed close by. He set his eyes on the Black Testament, who stared at the Pokémon in front of it with its form stunned. “Girls?” Magnum called out with a weak voice. “Daddy!” Embracing their father with tight hugs, Rarity and Sweetie Belle called out. “Please Magnum; don’t talk. You’re only going to waste what little oxygen you have left.” With a shaky voice and tearing eyes, Pearl said. Magnum shifted his line of sight into Pearl’s eyes. He touched the gash on his chest and felt the blood upon its edges. “This cut through my coronary artery Pearl. You know what this means, do you?” He uttered out. “Please get Keldeo here. I wish to speak with him.” Keldeo ambled over towards Magnum with a stoic frown on his face and his eyes focused with intensity. Rarity stepped out of the way, allowing Keldeo to move towards Magnum. “I’m here Magnum.” He stated with a cold voice. Magnum chuckled and smiled. “Can’t you ever look into your heart to just call me ‘Dad’ once in your life Keldeo? Pearl and I practically raised you as a son for these ten years. But, I guess that’s not important now. What is important is what I will tell you.” He said. Keldeo’s stance weakened, allowing his eyes to pool with emotion and his mouth to quiver. “Just tell me Magnum. I don’t want to hear anything else other than the important facts.” He demanded with a shaky voice. “My time is too short to tell you everything. In case if this did happen, I wrote specifically for you. Ask Pearl where it is.” Magnum requested. “You have to make it Magnum! We can get you help! I don’t want to lose another father figure.” With his eyes on the verge of tears and his voice trembling with intensity, Keldeo said. Drops of tears dropped from Rarity’s clenched eyes and onto the floor. She ran towards Magnum and hugged him with a tight grip. “Keldeo’s right Dad! We can still get you help. The Medical District is close by!” She pleaded. “My darling Rarity. You grew up to be such a fine mare. It makes me proud to be the father of such a wonderful and powerful operative here.” Magnum said. He turned his sights onto Sweetie Belle, whose tears dropped into his stab wound. “My only regret is that I won’t get to see you grow up Sweetie Belle.” Sweetie Belle shut her eyes and tightened her hug around Magnum’s neck. “Why did you take that blow Dad? Why couldn’t you just leave me to die?” She asked with a heartbroken voice. “Well… what kind of father would I be if I let you die like that? A crummy one that’s what.” Magnum said. Saying these words, Magnum felt his consciousness slip away from him. He shut his eyes and let out one final sigh. His hoof fell onto the ground and his muscles became stiff. Keldeo rushed his hooves onto Magnum’s body, scaring away Rarity and Sweetie Belle. With his face in denial, he shook the corpse. “Don’t leave me Magnum! I don’t want to lose another father! Please wake up Dad!” Magnum’s body failed to respond to any of Keldeo’s words. Pearl laid Magnum's body on the ground. She wrapped her hooves around Keldeo’s neck. She shut her eyes and shook her head. “That’s enough Keldeo. Magnum has parted ways with us.” With a melancholic voice, she said. Lith’s right paw clenched itself upon witnessing Magnum’s death. She leaped over the gorge with a paw charged with electricity. She punched the Black Testament in its mask. The Black Testament brought its right appendage towards Lith’s electrified punch and lifted it away. The figure looked into Lith’s eyes, which burned with anger. The mask on over the face shattered. The anger within Lith’s eyes softened and became filled with shock. “Mono?!” She shouted. Mono’s face stood before Lith, revealing his unfazed eyes and his nonexistent expression. Lith’s ankles became weak and the remnants of her scowl formed into a depressed frown. “No… it can’t be… the Mono I know would never be this brutal.” She voiced out. Mono gripped Lith’s paw with his right and threw her onto the ground. Lith squeaked out from landing on the ground with a surprising amount of force in her launch. Mono lifted the glaive over Lith’s neck. Twilight Sparkle leaped towards Mono and fired a magic blast from her horn towards him. The eyes on Mono’s ears let out a ghastly purple light that froze time around him. He ran around the projectile and sprinted towards Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle broke from the bindings of the time freeze and leaped towards Mono. Mono hopped backwards and parried Twilight Sparkle’s tackle with the center of his glaive. The eyes on Lith’s ears broke through the time freeze, allowing her to get up from the ground and glance towards Mono and Twilight Sparkle’s clash. She glanced towards the sword holstered on her hip. With a shut of her eyes and deepening of her frown, she pulled out the blade. Mono pushed Twilight Sparkle back with the stalk of his glaive and rammed the opposite-sided blade towards her. Twilight Sparkle leaped onto the glaive’s blade with the reflexes of a cat and fired three magical missiles towards Mono’s face at point blank range. Time around the area slowed down further much to Twilight Sparkle’s surprise. Piles of shadow energy poured itself from Mono’s eyes and onto the magic missiles, weakening them to the point where they became nonexistent. Lith leaped high above Mono and aimed the edge of her blade towards the top of his spine. Mono hopped to his left, evading the slice of the sword. Mono fired a cluster of shadowy energy from the crux of his right paw that homed in on his twin sister. Lith deflected the projectiles with the blunt edge of her sword. “Please stop Mono! Do you know who I am?! I am Lith! I am your sister!” Lith called out with her voice breaking from sadness. Lith’s words fell deaf upon Mono’s ears. Mono lunged at her distracted form with his the point of his glaive. Twilight Sparkle ran towards Lith and parried the glaive’s strike with her horn. Twilight Sparkle knocked the glaive out of Mono’s hand and stared into him. “Listen Mono; I really, really don’t want to kill you. I don’t! But your crimes are inexcusable at this point. If you make any effort more to hurt anyone else, then you leave me no choice but to kill you!” With her horn poking into Mono’s right jugular vein, Twilight Sparkle threatened. Mono looked into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes with a dark and daring stare. He pointed his left upper paw towards Lith, which began charging with dark energy. Twilight Sparkle’s body quivered from anxiety. A grunt of frustration escaped from her throat. Her tears began to water. “Please Mono. Don’t make this any harder than it has to be. I care for you too much to kill you. Just stop!” Mono rushed his shadow-infused paw into Twilight Sparkle’s neck and grasped it. He lifted the lavender unicorn up from the ground and closed his grip around her trachea. Twilight Sparkle squirmed in his grasp and grunted out in pain. Feeling her magic surge into Mono’s body, she smacked the back of his neck with her right front hoof. Lith smacked Mono across the left side of his head, causing him to drop his grip on Twilight Sparkle. Lith’s eyes burned with a primal anger once more. “You aren’t Mono anymore! You are a self-serving monster who cares only about inflicting pain upon others. You’re no better than the Van’Goth!” She called out. Mono narrowed his eyes and bore his teeth out of anger. He launched a shadow-infused paw across Lith's face and knocked her towards the edge. Mono leaped towards Lith and brought his glaive down towards her chest. Lith eyed the blade next to her lower legs and kicked it above her. She leaped into the air and grabbed the hilt. Mono and Lith clashed towards against each other. Light and dark energies broke out from the clash of blades. Mono split from the confusion of the clash and ran off. Time moved at its normal pace, allowing all of the beings in the corridor to move without the hindrance of Mono’s technique. Everyone swiveled their heads with confused eyes. “Where did Mono go?” Fei asked with a voice drenched in concern. He looked around the room and saw Lith, who fell onto her knees with a flood of tears raining down from her eyes. Fei’s heart exploded with concern. He leaped across the gorge and embraced Lith by the back of her shoulders. Lith’s head shot up. She looked behind her and saw Fei’s arms wrapped around her in a loving bond. A small amount of pain in her heart eased away. “Are you alright Lith?” Fei asked. Lith shook her head without uttering a word. Her frown quivered and she began sniveling once more. "Mono would never lay even a hair of malice on a Caterpie. He'd never attack with that type of malice. I know I said some terrible things to him, but I just didn't know what else to say...” Professor Gentian looked upon Professor Pasque, who turned around and hid his eyes away from everyone else in the room. Seeing the Aurorus walk away, Professor Gentian followed close by. Sophia stood with paralyzed legs and a thousand yard stare directed forwards. She felt her eyes lube with tears. She brought her right front paw to her face and wiped her eyes. “Those eyes of his looked like they were filled with so much sorrow. What happened to him while he was captured?” Twilight Sparkle rubbed her neck with a gentle touch and approached Lith and Fei. She turned her head away from the duo and frowned. “I am not sure what to say Lith. You were so close to your brother and now he’s become an enemy of ours.” She said. Lith’s tears dried up and she stopped sobbing. She looked into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes with reinforced dedication in her eyes. “Those moves and that attitude... I think I might know what happened.” She said. The heads of all of the operatives in the corridor jumped up. Rarity rushed towards Lith’s side with inquiring eyes. “Do you now? I know there was something off about Mono, but I really couldn’t put my hoof on it.” Rarity said. “Did you notice the nature of his attacks? Not only do they seem extremely powerful, but they all were done using a shadowy energy.” Lith explained. Sophia hopped over the abyss and approached Lith with uneasy steps. Her mechanical heart beat with uneasiness and her cybernetic stomach became queasy. “Please don’t say what I think you are going to say Lith. Is Mono a Shadow Pokémon now?” She said with a fearing tone. Lith turned her left eye towards Sophia’s direction and formed a solemn frown with her mouth. She nodded once. Fei’s eyes and mouth shot open upon hearing Lith and Sophia’s words. “Of all the possibilities that happened to him, why that?!” Slamming the ground with his right fist, Fei shouted. “My little Mono is a Shadow Pokémon… I’m not sure what to say about this.” Sophia said with a dejected tone. “From what I’ve read, Shadow Pokémon are in extreme agony. They can’t express any feelings but hatred and violence. The worst part is that they are aware of what they are doing but cannot stop themselves. It truly is a living hell.” Sadness and anger wriggled their way into Lith’s consciousness. Lith turned to Sophia’s direction and flashed a stare of anger. “Don’t you think I know that Sophia?!” She shouted. “I don’t want to imagine that kind of torment Mono is going through! It hurts thinking that he has no other choice but to kill and hurt others. He’s witnessing every kill, and each one is torturing his mind and heart even more.” Seeing Sophia’s shaken appearance, Lith looked upon her upper paws. She went down onto her knees and began sobbing into her paws once more. “I’m sorry Sophia. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that. It’s just that Mono is not only my brother, but he is also the only living source of remembrance of my parents.” Sophia’s frown eased into a comforting smile. She walked up to Lith and embraced her by her shoulders. She hushed Lith and rubbed her back. “I know how hard it is for you Lith. But we can’t let our emotions cloud our judgment. If we do, then we’re only going to make mistakes that we will sorely regret later.” She said. “I know Sophia. But will we actually be able to get Mono back? He’s going to be impossible to capture without getting a good read on his whereabouts. With there being no Celebi, his heart wouldn’t be able to be purified either.” Lith asked with an uncertain tone. Twilight Sparkle smiled and approached Lith and Sophia. She let out a cheerful grin. “We could look into that latter problem in the future, but we can definitely find where Mono is.” She said. “Really?!” Lith, Fei, Sophia and Keldeo shouted aloud. “Of course. While I was in his grip, I managed to place a tracking device on him. When his location comes up, we will storm it.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “But in the meantime, we have to continue fulfilling our duties as normal.” Sweetie Belle looked onto Magnum’s corpse with eyes void of any emotion. She turned away from him and looked towards the operatives walking away. She looked upon her dead father once more and stroked his mane with a depressed frown. “I don’t care what the others say. Mono killed my dad.” Sweetie Belle murmured to herself. She bore her teeth and slammed the ground with her right front hoof. “I hate you Mono. I will never stop hating you.” Author's Note Well that's a lighthearted and happy way to end a chapter is it not? The World of Hollow Gears (unedited)Blueblood sat down on a lone stool in the middle of a room with velvet purple carpeting and gold-framed pictures of his colt self that stood between Celestia, Luna and a filly version of Cadance. All four royal ponies wore smiles that shined with the intensity of the bright sun behind them. His eyes focused on a small-framed image on a tabletop that depicted him with his hooves wrapped around Mono and Lith, and as the three of them let out wide smiles. He let out a despondent sigh. “Blueblood?” The voice of Fluttershy called out. Blueblood jolted upwards with widened eyes and bucked the picture off of the round tabletop. He straightened out his coifed mane and his shocked composure. “You are free to enter.” Fluttershy walked through the door space and into the room. She glanced upon Blueblood’s upright pose and sparkling smile. Blueblood rubbed his hoof against a black stone on his suit, polishing the smooth exterior of it. “So what brings you to my quarters today Fluttershy?” He asked with a charismatic tone. Fluttershy looked away from Blueblood’s eyes and bounced her right hind hoof with an anxious shiver. “Riona says that I need to awaken more of my latent abilities. She suggests that I go to the most dangerous place I can think of in order to train there. I have a location in mind,” She explained. Blueblood leaned his head inwards and turned his face to the point where only his right eye became apparent to Fluttershy’s form. “Are you suggesting what I think you are suggesting Fluttershy?” He asked. Fluttershy shut her eyes and inhaled with a deep gust of air. She puffed up her chest, stood upright and looked into Blueblood’s eye. “Yes. I want to go to the Machiner’s Field continent, and I want you to accompany me there,” she stated. Blueblood took a step backwards and looked upon her with uneasy eyes. “That’s quite a bold statement from you Fluttershy. I mean, the Machiner’s Field continent isn’t known as the most dangerous continent in the world for nothing. It is a continent that exists far to the left of the world over where the land of the Minotaurs used to be. Not only are the indigenous beings of the area all killer machines, but the Van’Goth also has their headquarters set up there if recon is correct.” Fluttershy closed the distance between herself and Blueblood. She placed her left front hoof onto her chest and her eyes glimmered with courage. “It doesn’t matter Blueblood; Mono ended up being a Shadow Pokémon and I want to be a part of the squad to rescue him. While everyone else is still improving on their skills, my latent abilities are still at minor healing. I need to get better with my abilities as quick as possible, and what better way to do that than to go into the heart of danger?” “I admire your courage and dedication to helping out everyone at H.O.R.S.E. Fluttershy. You still need to gain official access to enter,” Blueblood replied. “Already did that,” swiveling into the room on the tip of his shoe, Joker called out. “Joker? What are you doing here?” Fluttershy asked. Joker slipped behind Fluttershy and Blueblood and slinked towards the opposite end of the room. He lifted Blueblood’s photo of Mono and Lith from the floor and holstered it upon the top of the table. He dusted the frame off with his hand. Blueblood lowered his head and his face displayed a luminescent shade of red underneath his coat. “Oh you know, just finally happy that the author is finally giving me attention again. It’s almost like he actually wanted to progress the story more than anything else!” Joker responded. Fluttershy walked towards the tabletop with the frame resting upon it. Eyeing the contents of the photo, she frowned. “I didn’t know you were close to the Pokémon Blueblood,” she noted. “I just owe them favors. That’s all,” Blueblood replied with a hasty tone. “But still, Mono was being brainwashed by the Van’Goth and then turned into a monster without a heart. I know how monstrous the Van’Goth are, but I will make sure they pay for their crimes.” Joker waltzed his way between the two ponies and wrapped his arms around their necks. He pulled them in for a casual group hug. “Come on you two. Turn those frowns upside-down! We are going on an adventure!” Joker called out. Blueblood flashed a burning scowl towards Joker and pushed him away with his right front hoof. “Is it really the best time to act like Joker?” Blueblood asked with an impatient tone. Joker rolled his eyes and left his jaw open. “Come on! This story isn’t going to progress if you two just keep angsting like this!” He grabbed Fluttershy and Blueblood’s respective left and right hoofs and fled out of the room. Joker stood on the bow of Boreas’s head, gazing out towards the endless ocean. The cool breeze mixed with the ocean spray from Boreas’s Surf, refreshing Joker’s skin. On Boreas’s shell sat Fluttershy, Blueblood and a scowling Sophia. “So can anyone tell me why I’m here again?” Sophia asked with a displeased tone. Joker hopped down from Boreas’s head and onto her shell. He flashed a zany smile and sat between two prongs. “The author wanted you to come along so that you can officially display your abilities. Plus, do you even know what’s at the Machiner’s Field? Way. Too. Many. Robots. Seriously, they’re like the only creatures over there excluding a certain island just off of its coast. So, we need our local adorable killer robot Pokémon hybrid to fend them off," Joker explained. Sophia’s right eye twitched at Joker’s words. Her frown deepened further. Looking into Joker’s eyes and leaning forwards, a sly smile formed on her face. “I would be mad at your comment about me, but I’m not the one who has a screwed-up family dynamic with their daughter," She taunted. Joker’s eyes widened and his mouth widened into a silent scream. He pointed towards Sophia with a shaky hand. “Don’t you dare mention my daughter in this fic! That is NOT something that should ever be mentioned by the decree of my creator!” Joker shouted. “Daughter?” Cocking her head in confusion, Fluttershy asked. “I didn’t know you were a father.” Joker hummed with a loud tone and turned away from the group. He put his index fingers in his ears. “Lalalala can’t hear you! Boreas, Surf faster. Author, you end this scene. Now!” The clear blue sky became murky with ash and the ocean underneath Boreas transitioned into a charcoal gray color. A massive tower made of rusted metals, gears and diodes stood before the group. The tower spanned across with the size of a continent. Boreas eyed a tunnel within the tower that expelled the black material into the ocean. She ferried the group through the tunnel. Going through the dark tunnel, the group’s eyes met with the dark brown interior of the wide-open area. Islands made of copper affixed themselves within the sea of oil that Boreas swam in. The thunderous noises of large gears within the tower moving and the pulses of electricity filled the group’s ears. The aroma of crude oil filled their noses. Masses of copper land hung along the walls and components of the tower, which all connected each other through a series of bridges. “So this is the Machiner’s Field," Fluttershy stated aloud with awe and fear in her tone. “Yes. Out of all the continents in the world, this is by far the most dangerous," Blueblood said. “This also happens to be the main continent which the Van’Goth supposedly operates from.” “If the Van’Goth operate from here, then that must mean Mono must be here as well," With a sullen frown on her face, Sophia stated. She blinked once and curled her right paw. Her lips perked with determination. “I swear Mono; I will get you back and make sure that the ones who turned you into that monstrosity will pay.” Boreas docked onto a nearby copper island. Fluttershy, Blueblood, Sophia and Joker disembarked from the Transport Pokémon and set their steps onto the surface of the island. Joker stood in front of Boreas and grinned. “You don’t want to stay in this liquid Boreas. That’s pure oil you’re dealing with! Scoot off to that nearby island and stay there while we are exploring this place," Joker instructed. Boreas smiled, nodded and swam away from the island. She ventured through the tunnel, leaving the group by themselves. Fluttershy took two steps forwards and gazed at the brown horizon. Hearing the rhythm of the gears and pistons surge throughout the area, a chill rushed down her spine. Blueblood walked onto a gray platform with a green button located upon a box at the center of the area. “Going up?” Pointing towards the ceiling that stretches towards an eternity, Blueblood asked. Fluttershy, Joker and Sophia stepped on the gray platform and turned towards their backs. Blueblood pressed the green button. The button’s lit up with a red color and copper railings rose up from the edges of the octagon-shaped platform. The platform rose upwards at rocket speed, distorting the view of everyone. The platform stopped, revealing a set of catwalks, bridges and platforms before them. The group walked down the path with cautious steps. “So Blueblood, why is this continent so different from the others?” Fluttershy asked. “There are many theories about the origin of this place. The theory that many experts agree upon is that the Terraforming reacted with the rich minerals and abundant technology of the Minotaur Kingdom," Blueblood explained. Black and silver-armored bipedal tanks with scythes attached to their fronts walked down the path. Fluttershy eyed the robots with a careful gaze. The sounds of the springs in their joints moving back and forth elicited a flicker from her ears. The robots gazed towards the group and their muzzles flashed with a red light. “Everyone on high alert! These Walkers are aggressive and highly dangerous!” Arching his legs and curling his head inwards, Blueblood announced. Fluttershy pulled out her sniper rifle and fired two rounds within the span of a second, both of which aimed into the barrels of the bipedal tanks. The long round burst into flames upon entering the darkness of the barrels. Blueblood and Sophia’s eyes widened at the display of Fluttershy’s skill. Joker clapped his hands together and cheered out loud. “That marksmanship was amazing Fluttershy! Where did you learn how to be so accurate?” Blueblood asked with an impressed tone. “My training with Rainbow Dash and Riona improved my accuracy, reflexes and reaction time," Fluttershy answered. The two bipedal tanks ran out of the explosions with the gait of a sprinting ostrich and swung their scythes with a quick frenzy. Sophia leaped forwards and closed the distance between the robots and herself. She thrust her right front paw forwards, shattering the sound cone around it fifty times over. She struck through the armor of one of the tanks, tearing through the metal with the fluidity of a warm knife through butter. Sophia moved her paw through the inside of the robot, eliciting a horrible creaking noise from the contraption. Folding her paw upwards and snagging onto a solid frame, she lifted the robot without any effort and chucked it into the other robot. The force of the throw launched the two robots into the air and caused them to fall off the path. Fluttershy, Blueblood and Joker eyed below and saw the robots fall into the oil. Both robots exploded on contact. Joker let out an impressed whistle. “Do you see why I brought her here now?” He stated with a confident tone. Blueblood and Fluttershy nodded with gaping mouths and unfocused stares. Sophia walked towards the group with a cheerful smile. “Now that we got that out of the way, why don’t we further Fluttershy’s training?” She asked. Blueblood walked ahead of the group and appeared before a large circular platform that served as an intersection between four bridges. Blueblood smiled and kicked off the black-bladed katana holstered on his left flank. “This should be a good place to train. Enemies will be swarming us like nothing!” He said with an enthusiastic voice. Fluttershy edged towards Blueblood with a cautious step and forced a smile on her face. She shut her eyes and inhaled through her nostrils. A yellow aura surrounded her body and synced with her breathing. A pressure formed within the area, causing the hair and fur strands on everyone’s body to stand upon each other. The flood of power attracted the sounds of whirring machinery. Humanoid-shaped robots armored with slender black steel rushed from all bridges around the area. Fluttershy lifted her eyelids, revealing blood-red eyes directed towards the machines. The machines paused in their steps and gazed upon the pegasus. They aimed their clawed turrets towards Fluttershy and unloaded a round of bullets towards her direction. Blueblood conjured a light blue barrier around the group, shielding them from the storm of bullets. “What are you doing Fluttershy?!” Blueblood shouted. Fluttershy stared towards the robots with her red eyes, ignoring Blueblood’s question. Blueblood narrowed his eyes and bent down towards the ground. He grabbed his katana’s hilt with his teeth and charged through his barrier. He sprinted down the path and swung his blade against the bare support of one of the machines. The torso of the robot fell off and a fountain of oil spurt from the slashed area. Joker appeared before another robot’s side within the speed of an eye’s blink. He pulled out a gray handgun from his pocket and fired it into the machine’s head. He eyes darted towards the left, where a bulb-shaped machine that propelled through the air with a fan on its head headed towards him. A red laser struck the machine, incinerating it. Joker eyed the direction of the beam, gazing upon the flash of smoke hanging from the tip of Sophia’s right front drone. “Dang… nice beam!” Holding his right thumb up, Joker complimented. “If it was possible, I would have had you join the Royal Flush Gang.” Sophia narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks," She responded. Fluttershy’s eyes flashed with a yellow color. The robot she set her gaze upon brought itself down to its knees and looked towards Fluttershy’s face. It bowed its head in respect. Blueblood gazed upon the fluid movement of Fluttershy’s left front hoof, sighing in awe upon witnessing the robot’s movements follow the pegasus’s hoof. “Fluttershy. Did you take control of this robot?” He asked with a stupefied tone. Fluttershy nodded with her focus set on the robot before her. She held her hoof out and curled it inwards. The robot sliced its head off with its sharp claws. Fluttershy’s eyes restored back towards their natural color. “It’s one of the tricks I have learned under training with Riona. Apparently, I wasn’t healing others, but I was commanding the cells in their bodies to repair the abnormalities in the body at a supercharged rate," Fluttershy explained. “I never heard of anything like that before. What makes that different from healing?” Blueblood asked. “Blueblood; I have control over everything. I can command the flowers to dance for me and for my attackers to stop. I’m not real good at it, but I know I can do any of these things.” Sophia shook her head and frowned in disbelief. She walked up towards Fluttershy with a glint of disbelief in her eyes. “I’m sorry, but what? Fluttershy, there’s a being that can do what you can do. His name is Arceus. Do you mean to say that you are in the same league as the god of all Pokémon?!” She asked with shock? Fluttershy shook her head with shut eyes. “Arceus has dominion over the realms of creation, preservation and destruction. I only control the realm of preservation. I am incapable of creating or destroying anything with my abilities," She responded. Sophia looked upon Fluttershy’s figure once more. Her eyes glanced upon the faint remnants of the aura Fluttershy exuded before it faded into obscurity. She blinked once and shrugged her shoulders. “So, how much longer are we going to be here? This place is a bit unsettling.” “We can leave this place, but there is one place I want to see before we leave," Fluttershy responded. Stating these words, she took several steps forwards and had her sights set on a smooth-rounded pillar of copper with a spiral heading upwards. Blueblood, Sophia and Joker closed the distance between themselves and Fluttershy with their eyes open with wariness. Giacomo emerged from the pillar’s blind spot and looked towards the group of H.O.R.S.E. operatives that scaled the screw. Setting his gaze on Sophia, his stance changed and his eyes burned with vengeance. Fluttershy stepped off of the elevator platform and onto the platform of open space before her. She peeked down below and saw the ocean of oil below the size of a puddle. Her muscles tensed up and her teeth chattered in fear. The bottom drew her attention over the edge with the tenacity of a black hole. “Fluttershy?” Tapping Fluttershy’s right shoulder, Blueblood asked. Fluttershy leaped upwards and let out a shrill scream. She hovered in the air with her wings and looked below. Her wings stiffened with anxiety and stopped flapping. Blueblood caught her in his telekinetic grip and levitated her towards his side. Fluttershy looked into Blueblood’s eyes and frowned. “…Sorry. Heights just scare me.” She reasoned. “I was actually going to say if you were alright with looking at the bottom from this height. Some of the operatives I took here have a fear of heights. Knowing this, are you sure you want to continue?” Blueblood asked. “Of course. Heights scare me, but I have to learn to not be afraid of heights. Fear is blocking the understanding of my potential, which has a negative impact on my abilities.” Fluttershy explained. Sophia and Joker looked ahead onto the large span of copper footing before them. At the center laid a red carpet with weapons, armor, food and medication assembled into neat columns. At the center of the rug stood a bipedal chameleon with green flesh and red zigzag pattern around its abdomen. Its tail curled into three layers and a green spine jetted out from its back. Closing the distance between the chameleon and herself, Sophia eyed the yellow frills that ran down its head and the yellow markings of its face. The chameleon grinned, walked off of the carpet and approached Sophia and Joker with enthusiastic steps. “Oh my! Customers at last! Kek.” The chameleon called out with glee. “Hey, you’re a Kecleon! What are you doing out in the Machiner’s Field?” Sophia asked with a curious tone. “Actually… why are you even here? I don’t know any Kecleons from Opelucid City’s labs nor did you come from the Royal Flush Gang. Heck, you bear no similarities to any of the humans who turned into Pokémon.” “Plus, why do you act so much like the Kecleon shop owner from the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series? You go out into some random dungeon randomly to sell stuff to poor shmucks who happen to wander into the dungeon. Are you going to call upon other Kecleon to assault us if we take your stuff without paying?” Joker asked. The Kecleon eyed the two with confused eyes that matched the asymmetry of its body. It unwound its long tail, brought its right claw underneath its chin and cocked its head. “…What? Aren’t you two extremely judgmental?” It asked with an offended tone. “Yes, I’m a Kecleon. Yes, I am trying to sell my wares inside of this mechanical contraption you call a dungeon despite having a poor time trying to sell anything. And yes, I will attack you if you try to steal any of my wares. Kek.” Focusing its sights on Sophia and Joker further, the Kecleon narrowed its eyes and paid attention to the unusual style of the Sylveon’s appearance and Joker’s clothing. “You two are definitely not natives of my world.” It stated with an accusatory tone. “Wait… what do you mean ‘your world’? Do you happen to be a part of Keldeo’s world?” Sophia asked. “You speak as if I know this Keldeo fellow. Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. But if my former home is what you are looking for, then I was a part of Kurisutaru before that nasty Demiurge fellow made everything into a living nightmare! Kek.” The Kecleon responded. Joker strided by the Kecleon’s side and slammed a white signpost through the copper ground with its arrow point directed at the Kecleon. The sign read ‘Original Kurisutaru Resident trying to sell stuff in the Machiner’s Field and is sucking at it.’ “Hah! No wonder I can understand your speech without having to read this chapter to understand what you are saying. And it’s good that your dialogue isn’t solely written through the italicized commands from FiMFiction too.” The Kecleon pushed Joker away and flashed an angry stare directed towards him. “Shut up and get the hell away from me you annoying cretin!” It shouted. Sophia smiled and giggled at the display of behavior between the two. “Thanks for shutting Joker up. Seriously, he’s an obnoxious loud-mouth fellow who deserves to be put in his place.” She said with a blunt tone. “My name is Sophia, a Sylveon.” Sophia extended her right front paw with invitation. The Kecleon grasped at it, but felt only tufts of fur covering cold steel. It shrieked and blinked once. “By Arceus’s wheel! A Sylveon is not a Sylveon if it has the appearance and touch sensation of a killer robot! You may look cute like a Sylveon, but you are definitely not a Sylveon! Kek.” It shouted. Sophia narrowed her eyes, let out a disappointed and folded her paw inwards. The drone on the paw glowed with a pink energy that hummed with power. The Kecleon’s nerves grew cold upon seeing the concentrating energy that focused a mere foot away from it. A nervous giggle rang from its open mouth. “Call me cute, a killer robot or a cute killer robot and I will make sure to blast you to smithereens.” Sophia threatened. “I uhh… I didn’t know you were that sensitive to being called those things. M-my apologies Sophia. K-K-Kek!” The Kecleon called out in panic. Sophia dropped the energy around her drone and her paw. She let out a despondent sigh. “It’s not your fault. I just hate being called those things. Plus, that cybernetic implantation surgery didn’t help with my own self-esteem either.” She said. The Kecleon lowered its head and scratched the top of it. It walked up towards Sophia and patted the base of her neck. “You know what would help with that self-esteem? Buying one of my wares~! Kek!” It proclaimed with a proud tone. Sophia stared at the Kecleon with a twitchy right eye. She cupped her right front paw and socked the Kecleon across its face. The Kecleon’s eyes shot open, uttering out a stunned groan. It fell onto the ground. “If you dare try to take advantage of me when I pour my heart onto you, then I will do much worse than just a simple punch you ignorant lizard-brained merchant!” Sophia shouted. Fluttershy and Blueblood ran over towards the sound of bones cracking with an audible noise. They stared at the Kecleon on the ground, where a dark bruise marked its left cheek, blood leaked from its nostrils and its eyes formed into exaggerated swirls. Fluttershy dropped down towards the Kecleon’s level and treaded her hoof along the impacted area. Feeling the jaw-line shattered, Fluttershy’s eyes shot open. Blueblood glanced upon Sophia with shocked eyes. “Geez Sophia! How hard did you hit it?!” He shouted. “Enough to make sure that the Kecleon will never try to exploit my emotional state.” Sophia responded with a proud huff. Joker’s ears rose at the sound of quick steps approaching the group. He pulled out his gun, turned at the speed of a single frame and fired a bullet towards the direction. Giacomo pulled out Chaotic and pulled the trigger at an instant. The two bullets collided into each other, cancelling their energy. “That all you got bastard?!” Pulling out his dark scythe and driving it towards Joker, Giacomo shouted. Joker stepped away from the strike range of the scythe, dodging it. Joker whipped his pistol towards Giacomo, who parried a strike with his gun Dance. The two humanoids both smashed their guns against the other’s guns with the finesse of fencers. “You know, I know you were stalking us ever since the end of that last scene. I keep tabs on the chapter’s progress.” Joker stated with a cocky tone. “So you’ll be the one who will impede my progress from getting to that robotic bitch, aren’t you?” Giacomo responded with a casual tone. Sophia glared towards Giacomo’s direction. A fire surged from her mechanical heart and into her spirit. Joker brought out a green handgun with his left hand, twirled it and fired a glob of goo towards Sophia. Sophia adhered onto the ground and struggled in its grasp. “Easy there. I already called dibs on this dude for the longest time.” Joker stated. “So you’ll just have to be a good robot Sylveon and wait there.” “Excuse me?! I have every reason to strangle this Meowstic-mutilating asshole and my thirst for vengeance will not be quelled until I pound him to a bloody pulp!” Sophia shouted. “Meowstic… wait, isn’t that the soldier that Wilhelm caught?” Giacomo asked. He looked into Joker’s eyes, whose handgun struck against his pistols blow for blow. He smiled. “Should I tell her about how that Meowstic was tortured? It’s not like she can do anything under that goop.” “Go ahead. I never held any type of emotional connection with either Mono or Sophia.” Joker responded with a lackadaisical tone. Joker fired two more rounds of goop towards Fluttershy and Blueblood, pinning the two ponies onto the ground. He glanced towards Giacomo and sidestepped away from him. Giacomo grinned and walked towards Sophia. Sophia glared at Joker with a fiery stare. “So, you want to know how that cat was tortured do we?” Looking into Sophia’s eyes with a gnarled grin, Giacomo asked. “I won’t lie; it was not pretty. That cat got cut up in more ways than my scythe wishes it can go into. His organs are fornicated with beyond belief! You should’ve seen the look on that cat’s face. He was crying and wanted to die. How cute!” Sophia spat into Giacomo’s face with an oil-based liquid. Giacomo wiped away the spittle on his face and stared down at the fuming Sylveon. “If I get out of this goop, I’m going to ravage your body and mutilate your corpse!” Sophia shouted. Giacomo brought his hand around Sophia’s neck and squeezed it. To his surprise, Sophia did not flinch from the choke nor did she utter out a choked noise. She focused her anger into a stare that bore into Giacomo’s soul. “You humiliated me back in the Twiluminescent Jungle. If I can’t choke a bitch to death, then I’ll just cut you with my scythe!” Joker fired a bullet into Giacomo’s back, stunning him. Giacomo glanced behind him and stared into Joker’s eyes. “I’m not going to let you kill Sophia by the way. You still have to get through me first.” Giacomo turned around and glanced towards Joker. “Fine. If killing you is what it takes to get to the one who humiliated me, then I’ll gladly accept that challenge you franken-faced fu-“ “You aren’t allowed to say that word in this fic. Author’s rules.” Joker responded with a wag of his right index finger. “Fine, but prepare your anus as my scythe will rape it with slow and powerful stabs! There, better?” Giacomo asked with an annoyed tone. Joker nodded and pulled out a knife from his pocket protector. He flipped it in his hand and pointed it towards Giacomo. “Cowabunga!” he tells, and lunged at Giacomo. Giacomo parried Joker’s strike with his scythe. He pulled out Chaotic and aimed it towards Joker’s chest. Joker stuck his finger in the barrel. Giacomo pulled out Dance and aimed it at Joker’s face. Joker stuck a finger from his other hand in that gun’s barrel. Giacomo growled and dropped both of his guns. He brandished his scythe and aimed the point towards Joker’s head. “I’m seriously getting tired of your shit,” He stated with an annoyed tone. “I'll have you know that I wiped vigorously,” Joker told him with a hint of offense in his tone, “which was difficult because ponies don't use or make tp.” Giacomo growled and thrust his scythe forwards. Joker parried away the attack with his switchblade, and kicked out at Giacomo’s legs. Giacomo leaped over the kick and above Joker. He held out his right hand and fired bolts of dark magic from its palm. Joker shook in place for a moment before the crackling energy blasted him into a wall. Joker coughed out a puff of smoke. “That was shocking.” he said before grabbing his head and cracking his neck, and easily walked back into the fight. GIacomo stood on the ground and twirled his scythe. The dark energy filled the charcoal atmosphere of the Machiner’s Field, mixing with it and filling the air with a foul scent. Joker folded his knife blade back into the handle, and then pushed the button. A foot long blade popped out of the six inch handle. “People should get some popcorn right about now.” he said cheerfully. “Popcorn? The only popcorn those people will get will be the chunks that come from your blown-up body after I’m through with you!” Giacomo shouted. “Mortal Kombat eh? I like where you’re going with this!” Twirling his blade and holding it over his right shoulder, Joker called out. Giacomo and Joker’s blades clashed against each other, sending sparks throughout the field. Both combatants swung their bladed weapons at the speed of an eye’s blink at a continuous pace. Joker frowned and tossed his sword on the ground. “You know what? This isn’t working,” Pulling out a purple box with a turning lever, he said. He wound up the lever on the box, catching Giacomo off guard. “What the hell are you doing?!” Giacomo shouted. Joker let go of the lever. The lid on the box opened and a red boxing glove fired out of it. The boxing glove socked Giacomo across his jaw, knocking him back. Giacomo rubbed his jaw and glared at Joker. “What can I say? You look better with your face punched in.” Joker stated. Giacomo growled and tightened his right hand into a fist. He smashed it into Joker’s teeth. Joker covered his mouth and looked down onto the palm of his right hand, revealing a mixture of blood and spit. He pulled out his middle tooth. “OWWW!!!” Leaning forwards with an exaggerated motion and his hands over his mouth, Joker shouted. Giacomo leaned forwards and dashed in front of Joker with the blink of an eye. Giacomo threw another punch into Joker’s teeth. Upon colliding with his mouth, the Van’Goth assassin felt a wild surge of pain wrack through his entire arm. Lifting away his fist with a shaky movement, his eyes met with green metal covering Joker’s teeth. “Mother...f----WHEN DID YOU GET THAT GUARD UP?!” Giacomo shouted. Joker spat his guards out of his mouth and into the palm of his right hand. He looked forwards and grinned. “Simple; you took too long with your dash and I added the guard in-between sentences.” He stated. Giacomo regained his composure and glared into Giacomo’s eyes. He looked around him and eyed Fluttershy, whose eyes burned with a golden aura. “You know what? I’ll make sure to push in your shit especially hard after I kill this freak of nature.” He said. Joker yawned and held his gun up towards Giacomo’s head with his right hand. Giacomo looked around him and found his ankles and wrists chained towards the ground with pink plastic. Joker brought his hand to his mouth and giggled. Giacomo pulled with all of his strength, but failed to even bend his plastic prison. “Try all you want, but that plastic is not coming off anytime soon.” Joker answered. Saying these words, Joker fired a red bullet towards Giacomo’s head. Giacomo pulled out his scythe and twirled it, deflecting the bullet. He launched his scythe towards Joker’s head. Joker evaded the blade with a sidestep. Giacomo grinned and held his hand out. The scythe stopped in midair, turned onto its side and flew back towards Joker. Joker leaped above the blade of the scythe and fired a bullet towards Giacomo. “You really want to try that again?” Pulling out another staff with his right hand and twirling it around, Giacomo stated. The staff deflected the bullet. Giacomo stopped twirling his staff. A vicious curve of black energy formed at the top of the staff, revealing another scythe. Giacomo’s initial scythe flew back towards him, which the Van’Goth grabbed with his left hand. “Well two can tango as well,” Pulling out another katana with his right hand and kicking up the katana at his left foot, Joker said. He grabbed the katana with his left hand, “Now we are doing it live!” The scythes and swords of the two combatants struck each other with lightning slashes and slices; Giacomo let out flurries of slashes within the span of a second, which Joker parried with slashes of his own. Joker let out a dull yawn and kicked his goop gun into the air with his right foot. With that same foot, he kicked the trigger and fired pink blobs that aimed towards the trapped operatives. Fluttershy, Blueblood and Sophia shut their eyes and turned their heads away. The pink blobs collided with the green goop and dissolved it, setting free the captives from their bindings. Giacomo’s eyes shot wide-open at the act. “What did you do that for?!” He shouted. “Bored now.” Joker complained with a droopy-faced expression. “Bored? Are you freaking kidding me you asshat?!” Giacomo screamed out. “I’ll show you who’s bored after I kill you!” Joker shook his head, closed his eyes and smiled with a confident aura bursting from his face. “I’ve seen all of your tricks. You have nothing more to surprise me with.” He said. Giacomo grinned and held out a black remote. Joker frowned and looked up into the sky with a puzzled frown. “Author! You never told me this!” He shouted. Giacomo looked to his other enemies with a quizzical frown, “Exactly what is wrong with him?” Sophia shrugged her shoulders and shut her eyes. “He has issues.” “Hey! I'm not crazy! I just don't give a darn.” Joker explained, and hopped around for a bit yelling “Woohoo!” “Regardless, if you have a care for anything in the world, then you should know that this is a very special remote.” Giacomo stated. “Okay?” Joker picked his nose a little. “This remote has direct control over a mechanism that triggers dangerous mutations among the children of Equus by feeding off of their positive emotions provided they have an activator inside of them. It turns them into monstrous beings that will slaughter everyone in their way,” Giacomo explained, “and I know three certain fillies that will be perfect for this.” Nobody moved. Fluttershy, Sophia, and Blueblood glanced upon Giacomo with wide eyes and their hearts shook from his threat. Sophia looked towards Joker and felt a metaphorical chill run down her spine; his face lost its perpetual smile. “Excuse me? ‘Three certain fillies?’” Joker asked with a disbelieving tone. “Don’t play stupid around me. I’ve seen you hang around a pale yellow Earth Pony filly, an orange pegasus filly and a white-coated unicorn filly. While they were asleep, I injected them with an active gene that makes them susceptible to the rays of that machine. I have control over that machine with this remote!” Giacomo elaborated. Joker bent over, picked up a pebble, and flicked it quite forcefully into Giacomo's thumbnail, breaking and pushing it up and letting the small rock burrow into the alien’s finger. Giacomo dropped the remote, which was caught by Blueblood’s magic. “YOU MOTHER FUUUUuuuuuuu…..” Joker pointed at his face, interrupting Giacomo’s curse. Joker's arms were each carrying a multi-barrel rotating machine gun with belt ammo feeds coming from the large pack on his back. The ammo filled the insides of the see-through plastic tubes that made up the belts. “Are those paintballs?” Blueblood asked. “Minus the ‘t'.” the man, still not smiling, told them. Giacomo looked onto the guns with curious eyes and set his gaze onto Joker’s face. He pointed at Joker with curious eyes. “Is this your weapon against me?” He asked. “Instead of paint, the balls are filled with various chemicals that mimic Pokémon attacks. And they are propelled at the same speed as most bullets. I call them the Paintball Guns of DOOOOM!; always spelled with four ‘O's.” Joker explained to him. Giacomo grinned, leaned towards Joker’s face and lowered his eyes and said, “I bet you don’t have half the balls to shoot me with that than I believe you do.” Joker pulled the trigger on his machine guns. Fire balls, clouds of poison gas, electric shockwaves, bursts of super cold freezing air, acid, various powders, explosions, whirlwinds, bursting shrapnel shards, and even simple metal balls cascaded over Giacomo's body in an endless stream of chaos. The constant attacks striking against Giacomo pushed his body to his limit. The final explosion collided with his chest, knocking him into the air and causing his body to soar through the walls of the Machiner’s Field. Blueblood looked onto the remote and let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness that crisis was averted… but how did that Van’Goth know those specific details. Could there truly be a breach of security in Neo Canterlot?” Joker glanced towards Blueblood and smiled once more. He patted the unicorn at the base of his neck. “First of all, we’re going to remove that serum from those fillies above all else. Who knows what would happen if we left them in there?” Sophia walked over towards Fluttershy and held out her right front paw. Seeing the helping paw before her, Fluttershy smiled and wrapped her left front hoof around it. Sophia pulled her up from the ground and smiled. “I’m glad to see that you are alright Fluttershy.” She stated with her red eyes flashing with relief. “Yes, but what about the Kecleon?” Pointing towards the Kecleon that lied fainted on the ground, Fluttershy asked and said, “We can’t just leave it there.” “Good point. We’ll take him back to Neo Canterlot.” Spitfire sat at her table and examined the holographic map of Equus before her eyes. A red dot appeared at the mass of land towards the southwest of the Terraformed Wilderness. “We found him!” Author's Note I apologize with the long wait for this chapter, but it's here now. Next chapter though, tons of fecal matter wil hit the fan. DisplacedA brown-skinned man in a white lab coat and brown khakis stepped beyond the frame of a white door, entering into a lush garden where blue and yellow berries shaped like citrus hung from ripe vines. His head of black hair shined with a sleek sheen underneath the radiant sun. A group of seven brown and white-striped raccoon dog-like creatures with beady eyes ran past him in a zigzag pattern. The man turned back, revealing his mud-brown eyes behind a set of glasses. “It looks like the Zigzagoons are very energetic today.” Walking forward, he clasped his hand onto a nearby pink berry with a pattern of excited green stripes splattered all over it and pulled it down. Nearby, a small bird with green, yellow and blue feathers stood perched upon a nearby trunk reaching out. His head was in the shape of a musical note with a pink beak and beady eyes. His tail was a black metronome. Smiling, he tore the berry in half and offered half of it to the bird. “Chatot!” The bird called out, extending out his vibrant wings. The man lifted the portion of his berry over to the Chatot’s mouth, where he ravaged the berry with his beak until nothing remained. Crouching down, the man stroked the Chatot on his head. “You haven’t been causing any trouble, have you Rondo?” The man asked. With his eyes closed, Rondo shook its head sideways. As the man lifted his portion of the Watmel Berry over to his mouth, he heard a nearby bush rustling. With his eyes widened in alert, he glanced towards the direction of the noise. From the bush emerged a periwinkle beast with two red eyes and a series of yellow pipes and holes sticking out of his head and body. The beast had thick forearms that contrasted against his thinner upper arms, and his feet had three white claws each. It eyed the berry in the man’s hand with a longing gaze. Seeing this, the man bent down onto his knees and held his hand out with the berry, offering it to the beast. With a wide-mouthed grin, the beast approached the man and took the berry with his two hands. Closing his eyes, he took several generous bites of the berry. “Exploud!” He called out happily. “Did you have a good nap in that shrub, Stereo?” The man asked, stroking Stereo by his back. “Mono!” A female voice called out. The man, Mono, turned around. Behind him was a tan-skinned woman with a white lab coat and black khakis who was running towards him with her hand extended up into the air. She stood at the man's height. Behind her was a magenta creature with a hot pink patch of fluff covering a large majority of her lower body. The creature had red eyes upon its lilac beaked-face. The woman stopped a few steps before Mono. With her brown eyes behind her glasses, she bore a fiery stare into Mono’s eyes. The creature behind landed onto the grass with floating grace. She looked towards Mono with a similar stare like the woman. “Lith! Jasmine!” Mono stated in surprise, pointing to the woman and Aromatisse. “You had me worried! Jasmine and I were looking everywhere for you! The experiment is about to begin.” Lith explained. “Tisse.” Jasmine responded, pouting towards Mono. “Wait, that’s now?!” Mono shouted. “W-we have to go!” Mono ran towards the door, not stepping on any of the various shrubberies in his way. Rondo squawked and Stereo grunted. Rondo flapped his wings and Stereo ran, following Mono. Lith let out a small sigh. She looked towards Jasmine with a smile. “My twin brother can be silly, can he?” “Tisse. Tisse Tisse.” Jasmine responded. “Yeah. We got to follow him as well.” Lith said, sprinting towards Mono’s direction. Jasmine floated back into the air, following after Lith. The sunlight phased through the glass of a white building. Within there are a group of various people of shapes, sizes and colors in lab coats and khakis. Various Pokémon stood around the humans, keeping their distance close to them. Mono, Lith, Rondo, Stereo and Jasmine sprinted into the room. All of the scientists in the room looked towards them with impatient stares. Among the group, a tall man with a beard of snow color walked towards the people and Pokemon that entered within the room. With his thick arms crossed and icy blue eyes staring down upon the group, he sent a shockwave of fear down everyone’s spines. “Mr. and Miss Samers, where have you two been? Do you not realize that we have already commenced our meeting?” The imposing man asked. “Rondo, Stereo and I were at the Opelucid Garden to gather Watmel Berries for examination and lunch, Professor Pasque.” Mono explained. “I was getting some tea for Jasmine and I before we remembered about this meeting.” Lith added. “I went to fetch Mono at our home, but he wasn’t there.” Professor Pasque’s stone face loosened and revealed a smile through his rough beard. “You should have seen the looks on your faces! It looked as if you two were in a dark alleyway surrounded by Gengars! But, I kid. I am just glad you all made it here safely.” From the group of Pokémon, a giant crocodile with red skin, a blue underbelly, black eyes and black stripes all along her back and face along with a lilac and purple gooey dragon with green eyes and a sweet grin hurried over to Mono and Lith. “Goodra!” The gooey dragon called out, embracing Lith with a tight hug. Lith giggled. “You know that I would only be gone for a little bit, Custard. I didn’t think you would miss me that much.” Mono smiled, turning his attention to the slime-covered Lith. “You know that he’s very affectionate of you, Lith. You are one of his closest friends.” “Krook!” The giant crocodile called out. “I haven’t forgotten you either, Gnasher.” Mono stated, stroking Gnasher’s snout. “You haven’t tried pushing around the other Pokémon again, have you?” “Krook!” Gnasher called out with a toothy grin. “That is all the time for the reunion.” A man the size of Professor Pasque stated, walking over to the group. His skin’s complexion was a golden brown and a head of black hair fashioned in a crew cut. “We have been keeping this project a secret for some time now, but I think we can unveil it to everyone in the room.” “You and Professor Pasque have been very quiet about this project, Professor Gentian. Is there something we have to know?” Lith asked. “Let’s just say that underneath this tarp is a highly sensitive piece of work that allows mortals to interspatial and temporal abilities that only Legendary Pokémon would be able to possess. If word of this project got out to even scientists outside the project, then it would more than likely be a target for ruffians and syndicates.” Saying these words, Professor Gentian walked over to a vanilla-colored tarp covering a pillar-shaped object. Yanking the tarp off, a silver-blue tower of metal and rings appeared. All of the humans and Pokémon in the room stared at it, sighing in awe. “This is the fruits produced by our project; the Dimensional Fluctuation Generator. With this, we can see into worlds, universes and even dimensions beyond the scope of ours. This truly is a marvel for science that would have been impossible without the bonds between human and Pokémon.” Professor Pasque revealed. “Indeed. If it were not for our Pokémon partners and their suggestions, we would not have been able to make it through even the preliminary blueprints.” When Professor Gentian stated these words, a silver saucer-shaped creature with a red-iris eye in the center and two black-dotted eyes on its shoulders and magnets attached to the bases of its shoulders and back of it floated down from the ceiling. “Magnezone.” It called out in a static voice. “Tesla here worked on the electrical engineering aspects of the machine to make sure that everything would have functioned.” Professor Pasque explained, pointing towards the Magnezone. “Meanwhile, Einstein collaborated with us in setting up all of the temporal and spatial nodes required for such a project.” Professor Gentian explained, waving his hand to a cellular-shaped rabbit inside of a green gelatin. “Reuniclus.” Einstein huffed out in pride, crossing his three-pronged gelatin arms. “Yes. It is this bond we have that allows us to achieve our goals. Whether we succeed or fail, we have to give thanks to all of our partners, including our Pokémon. Never forget that.” “I second that, Pasque. I cannot even begin to fathom a world without Pokémon. It would almost be like having an entire portion of our soul disappear from us.” “I whole-heartedly agree with that statement. I wouldn’t be the same person today had Rondo, Stereo and Gnasher never came into my life.” Mono stated, followed by a nod from Rondo, Stereo and Gnasher. “And I love my Jasmine and Custard with all of my heart. I would be heartbroken if they disappeared from me.” Lith replied, embracing both Jasmine and Custard with her arms. “Indeed. Now, shall we get our project started?” Professor Gentian imputed a series of strokes of keys on the dashboard, causing the top node of the machine to illuminate in a blue flash. The screen on the Dimensional Fluctuation Generator lit up, revealing a sea of stars and asteroids from beyond the world. “Goooo…” Custard called out, stunned by the sight of the monitor. “It looks so pretty!” Lith voiced out. “Right now, the generator is detecting any sorts of windows it can use to see into a different world. We will give it a moment.” Upon the declaration of Professor Pasque’s words, the lights in the room phased off and on. Everyone in the room stared up to the ceiling, gazing at the faulty lighting. Professor Gentian eyed Tesla, nodding his head. A cloud of electricity emanated from Tesla’s magnets, stabilizing the light in the room. A violent tremor shot through the ground and a red ‘Error!’ appeared on the generator screen. Everyone hugged the ground, straining their bodies against the quake. Cracks developed along the glass of the generator and along the ground. One of the fissures crept its way towards Lith’s direction. “Lith!” Mono shouted, jumping over towards Lith and scooping her away from the crack. “Sir! I got a scan of several time-space manipulations on a cosmic scale. The disruptions are on par with the combined forces of Palkia, Dialga and Giratina. But, it's all coming from one source” Holding a black device in his hand, the scientist shouted. Professor Gentian’s skin paled. “Only one Pokémon would be capable of manipulating the cosmos itself; Arceus has come back.” “Has Arceus truly come back???” Professor Pasque questioned with a shaken tone. "Is he here to judge humanity for his imprisonment?!" The Dimensional Fluctuation Generator exploded, drenching everyone in the area with a brilliant flash. Lith eyed Mono’s and her Pokémon, whose eyes and movements glinted with panic. She stood up from the ground, stumbling over to the Pokémon. She embraced them. “Please do not be afraid. No matter what happens, we will all be together.” She stated. Mono stumbled over to the Pokémon, hugging them and Lith. “Not even the end will separate us. We grew up together, and we shall take the next step together.” With a brilliant flash of light, everyone, humans and Pokémon, all disappeared. Mono’s eyes opened up, letting light into them. With his vision clearing, he saw luminous sunlight breaking through the gray clouds of the atmosphere. With a groan, he stirred back into existence. “Mono?!” A voice called out nearby. Mono eyed the Chatot nearby, who had an ecstatic smile. “Mono, it’s me; Rondo!” “…Rondo? I didn’t know you can speak fluent English outside of Chatter.” “Ummmm… no? I’m speaking in my native tongue. It’s you who are speaking in a different language.” Rondo responded. “That’s preposterous! I’m speaking how I normally speak!” “Really? Because you sound a lot like a Meowstic and even look like one!” “Wait, what are you-“Before Mono continued, he eyed a white paw that was in the place of his arm. “This must be some joke. I can’t possibly have this. It’s irrational!” “It’s not. Just look at yourself in the nearby lake.” Mono stood up, sprinting towards the water’s edge. Looking down upon his reflection, he gasped; within it was a dark blue-green bipedal cat much smaller than his human form with a stray patch of white fur hanging down from the top of his head. His folded-in ears were striped with white, just as his two bushy tails. His green-blue eyes glimmered down on the water’s reflection. Mono lifted his paw to his face, moving it with a rattled shake. “How… this has to be a joke. Rondo, is this some very elaborate prank that I am a victim of?” He stated with a flat tone. “What do you think? We are in a completely different area, no one else is around and you can feel that you can talk with me. I’d say it’s as real as real gets.” “I guess you’re right… so why is it that all of this is happening?” Mono asked, crossing his front paws, tilting his head and closing his eyes. “Last I remember, the lab was being torn apart through Arceus’s wrath and now I’m a Pokémon in some weird land.” “Uhhh, Mono, it might be a good idea to look for the others that got transported here with us. It’s no use pondering on our current situation.” Rondo suggested. “You’re right. We should try looking for Lith, Professor Pasque and the others.” Turning to his right, Mono’s mouth dropped at the sight of the world before him; an expansive meadow sprawled farther than his eyes can see alongside raging black waters to the west. Hills and leafy trees covered the horizon. “You had the same reaction I had when I first woke up! Isn’t it pretty?” Whistling, Rondo noted. “Let’s… let’s just try to find everyone.” Mono sprinted up a hill with Rondo flying close by. The air smelled of leafy plants boiling in a pot of water and orange peelings. He exhaled a hearty sigh. “Life isn’t too bad as a Pokémon. I could keep running forever!” “Slow down, Mono! I don’t want you to run into something you’ll regret doing later.” Rondo called out. “Relax, Rondo. What’s the worst that could possibly happen?” At the declaration of Mono’s words, a brilliant explosion sounded from beyond the hills. Mono’s eyes shot open and his a jolt of electricity shot down his spine. Rondo sighed, shaking his head. “Mono, please do me a favor and never say those combination of words again. You just might ask for the worst thing to happen.” “Y…yeah. But, we should probably see the commotion taking place there.” “Agreed.” Mono and Rondo rushed over to where the source of the explosion was. A butter yellow-coated pegasus mare cowered behind her full pink mane, slowly backing away from two oppressive shadows. On her flank was an image of a trio of butterflies. Two ponies covered from head to hoof in jet black armor had their bodies splayed on the ground with deep gashes along their necks. Before the mare were bipedal beings with dark green skin and claws the size of blades, both of which were splattered in red liquid. Their saliva was viscous honey, dripping down from their mouths. Their red eyes hungered for the mare before her. “P-please… don’t… kill me.” She pleaded with a soft voice. Mono and Rondo stood on top of a hill to the right of the commotion. Seeing the dead ponies, a terrified pony and killer creatures, they gasped. “I may not know what is going on, but we got to help that Pokémon down there.” Mono declared. “Are you sure that’s a Pokémon, Rondo? That doesn’t look like any Pokémon I’ve ever seen.” Rondo asked, tilting his head. “Regardless, we still got to help it. Those foes in front of her look nasty.” “Do you even know how to fight, Mono? I don’t think you’re ready to enter battle yet.” “All I know is that I mainly have defensive-based moves and only a small handful of offensive moves. Besides, you’ll have my back, Rondo.” Rondo nodded. The duo raced down the hill with blazes following in the wake of their tracks. The berserker creatures lifted their claws and poised them towards the pony in front of them. The pony’s aqua-colored eyes stared upon them. She stood still, breathless and paralyzed. “Rondo, use Chatter!” Rondo flew into the scene and intercepted the foes, releasing a cloud of words from his mouth and striking them. Mono ran towards the pony, who shook her head and staved off the stupor. She looked towards him with a soft smile. “Aren’t you adorable? But, you ought to run away from here. These aliens are more than just scary!” “We’re here to save you!” Mono shouted out, waving his paws with fervor. The pony stared into his eyes, almost trying to decipher what she heard. “I’m sorry, but I can’t understand you. You just kept saying ‘meow’ and ‘stic’. Just please leave. I’ll be fine. I don’t want any innocent creatures to be hurt by these barbarians. Nopony will notice that I am gone, anyways.” “Wow. You really have to get that low self-esteem checked.” The two aliens shook their head, staving off the sound ringing in their ears. Their attention and line of sight diverted towards the Chatot in front of them. “Yep, I got them angry. What should I do next?” Rondo asked. “Try using a Heat Wave attack against them.” Mono suggested. Rondo began flapping his wings at high speeds, tinting the invisible gusts into red gales with sparks of fire within them. The aliens stood strong against the gales, stumbling towards Rondo. “I really hope you have another plan, Mono. These guys are much tougher than I thought!” “Hold on, I’m thinking…” In the midst of Mono’s thoughts, one of the aliens sprinted towards Rondo, slashing him with one of their claws. Rondo squawked in pain. “Rondo!” Mono called out. Rondo shook his head. “Hey that seriously smarts.” He flew over towards Mono’s side. Mono unfolded his ears, revealing eyes at their ends. He growled in anger and all of his eyes flashed in blue. “Nobody hurts Rondo! Nobody!” The aliens were surrounded by a blue light that picked them up from the ground. With a downward thrust from Mono’s right paw, the aliens crashed onto the ground. Lifting both of his paws, the aliens were carried up into the air once more. With a strong throw downwards, the aliens collided with the land once more. “Wow…” The pony stated, blinking three times. The light within Mono’s eyes faded and came back to his senses. “What just happened?” Rondo whistled in delight. “That’s a powerful Psychic if I ever saw one. But, I really do not want to risk getting gashed by those things just to trigger another bout of anger like that.” “Wait, I did that?” From the dust cloud in front of them, the two aliens rose from the ground. Their bodies were scratched and full of dirt patches. They stared at Mono with eyes lusting for his bloodshed. From their backs, they pulled out silver guns the size of cannons and aimed them towards the group. “Ummm, I don’t mean to be rude, but I think we should leave now. Those weapons they have in their hands are meant to deliver a slow and painful death to their victims.” The pony warned. “Ohhh…” Mono and Rondo stated in unison. The group of three crawled back, staring into the eyes of death. Author's Note For those of you reading this, I thank you for reading this first chapter. I really hope you enjoy the entrance into the New Dimension. The Mysterious StallionTwilight Sparkle sat on a stool by the entrance to the lab, looking down on her watch every five seconds. The door lifted open, revealing a yawning Mono whose eyes are half-lidded and his fur ruffled and unkempt. “You are twelve point one minutes late, Mono.” Twilight Sparkle reminded. “Must it be in the dark of morning that you had to contact me, Twilight?” Mono mumbled. “Science stops for no being, Mono. As I said earlier, I managed to decode the genome.” Twilight Sparkle walked over to a hologram of a set of colored molecules arranged into a system of metaphorical planets. “What am I looking at here?” Mono asked. “There really isn’t much of an easy way to organize the genome, so I had to arrange them into a star system of sorts to have a better look at them. Of course, the one central element I found was what I find to be known as the Normal-type, if I recalled Fluttershy’s information correctly.” Mono eyed the white sphere in the middle and saw three spheres connected to it; one was a burning red, one was a cool blue and one was a verdant green. “So if this sphere represents the Normal-type, then this sphere represents the Fire-type, this sphere represents the Water-type and this sphere represents the Grass-type?” “That’s correct. Even though I mapped out the types in the genome, our current resources will only allow us to work with these four types.” Twilight Sparkle said. “That said, I have begun doing research into magitech that would charm various equipment with some of these elements discovered by reproducing said types with my magic.” “I would love to help in that project right now, Twilight, but I have to go to sleep.” “Alright. Just take care, Mono.” With a loud yawn, Mono ambled his way towards the lab’s exit. The sun hovered above the city, shining upon a brown tower sticking out of H.O.R.S.E. with glowing yellow lines imprinted on in. Lith wandered within the tower, gazing at the levitating books and the scholars in the area. She rubbed her chin, humming. “Now where could he be? Rarity said he would be around here.” “Hey Lith.” Spike said, walking past her with three tomes held within his arms. “Oh, hey Spike. Do you know where Keldeo would happen to be?” “Ummm… he should be over by the Gravity Matrix. You do know where that is, right?” “That’s near the top level, right?” Lith asked. “Yep. You shouldn’t miss it. It’s this large well of ethereal energy that supposedly accesses a different dimension.” Spike explained. “Do you mind coming upstairs with me then, Spike?” “I wish, but I have to work on Magic Theory. Have to keep studying if I want to be a top-notch dragon mage for H.O.R.S.E.” “Even if you are only a child?” “Yes. You must understand how working early allows one to reach their maximum potential.” “Yep. Worked and studied in a lab since I was eight. Tell you what; if you come with me, I’ll help with your studies.” Spike grinned, dropping all of his books without skipping a beat. “A study buddy is always nice. I guess Twilight won’t mind if I took a bit of a break.” Lith looked over to a wide sheet of metal hovering in the center of the tower, rocketing to the top. Lith grabbed Spike’s hand, sprinting to the railing and leaping onto the metal. She looked back, seeing Spike’s body faceplanted on the metal. He stood up, brushing the dust off of his body. “You could have at least warned me, Lith.” “Sorry.” Smiling with a sheepish shrug, Lith responded. The two leaped off of the metal at the top floor. There, the duo saw a gilded well with ethereal energy flowing within it with the fluidity of water. They saw a cream-coated unicorn stallion dip his right front fetlocks colored in blue into the energy. His mane was a fire held in a blue crest and his tail was that of a rushing tidal wave. His pupils were black beads amidst the milk lakes that are his whites, and his muzzle curved into a bulb. Around his torso was a blue felt that is carpet-felt. “Ummm… are you sure he’s a pony?” Lith asked, tilting her head to her side and rubbing her chin. “Positive. He looks like every other pony, doesn’t he?” “Well… I guess, but I have to approach him to understand him better.” “You do realize that the reason he spends his time up here is partly due to the reason that no one does come up here much? He makes Fluttershy look like Pinkie Pie in comparison.” Spike said. “That’s an extreme comparison, Spike. I saw how energetic and outgoing Pinkie Pie was. I have yet to actually go on a one-on-one encounter with her.” Lith moved towards the well with quiet steps, standing by the focused Keldeo. Keldeo looked to his right, jumping half a mile with a loud yelp. “Who are you?!” He shrieked. “A fellow Pokémon whose name is Lith.” Lith responded. “Pokémon… wait, you are one of the new aliens that recently joined up with H.O.R.S.E. a few weeks back.” Keldeo responded. “Yes, and you are one like I am, Keldeo.” Keldeo’s nerves relaxed themselves and his chest burst with laughter. “That’s a good joke, Lith. Me, a pony, being called a Pokémon. How ridiculous can you get? I suggest you leave, though. I don’t really like being around others that much.” “Nah, I think I’ll stay up here with you. You don’t mind, do you?” Lith asked. Keldeo rolled his eyes, letting out an uncomfortable sigh. “Fine. Though, I do have some questions to ask you.” Lith looked into the well. She dipped her right paw into the energy, feeling its silky smoothness course through it. “So what questions do you have in mind, Keldeo?” “Well… what made you want to come to me in the first place? I’m not exactly that much of an interesting stallion.” Keldeo asked with his voice void of confidence. “Well, I had a get-together with some other girls a week or two back. Your name was brought up in Rarity’s context and, well, you kind of have the same name as a Legendary Pokémon from my world.” Lith explained. “It is such an uncanny coincidence, especially since you look exactly like him.” “Rarity brought me up, huh? Sometimes, I think she has a bit too much confidence in me at times.” Keldeo responded, swirling the energy with his hoof. “Well, how do you feel about her, Keldeo?” Keldeo stopped moving his hoof through the energy, staring up into the ceiling. “I would be lying if I said Rarity didn’t mean anything to me. On the contrary, she’s possibly the most important being for me right now. I remember when we first met as children here. She was very insistent on being my friend because she didn’t like seeing me lonely all the time. Since she insisted, I accepted her friendship. She would always make time in her schedule to see me and spend time with me, even now.” “So you two just talk?” Lith asked. “We do other activities. As children, she introduced me to some fun games and taught me a bit of magic. As we got older, she started introducing me to other activities but always spent lunch with me. It was through her that I saw just how important this city is to me. I will defend it with my life. Did I tell you everything you need?” Keldeo responded with a rushed tone dripping with impatience. “You wish. I still want to learn more about you since you have an interesting relationship with Rarity.” Lith said with a teasing voice. “Heh, I’m not sure what you mean by that.” With a red blush forming on his face and his hooves shaking, Keldeo responded. “Come now, Keldeo; a handsome stallion such as yourself on a constant interaction with a gorgeous mare like Rarity; you can’t tell me that you two haven’t done something yet.” “We honestly haven’t. We’re keeping thing platonic at the moment.” He insisted. “Sure you are. But, I won’t hound you about it any further. So what class of magic are you skilled in?” “Contact and buffing magic. I have been known to also control water, but I don’t really do it as much.” Rarity climbed up the stairs, carrying the handle of a basket with food inside of it by her mouth. Keldeo glanced back, smiling and rushing by her side. “You seem very eager to see me today, Keldeo.” Rarity commented, dropping the basket on the ground. “Thank goodness you are here, Rarity. Lith here was bothering me with some questions I felt uncomfortable with.” Rarity glanced towards Lith, smiling and waving her hoof towards her direction. “Hey Rarity.” Lith responded. “Hello Lith. I see that you came up to speak with Keldeo?” “Yep. He’s interesting, but he isn’t what I imagined him to be like. But, at least he reminds me of my brother; timid like a Minccino.” “She asked if I was a Pokémon. I’ve never heard of such a preposterous thing in my life.” Keldeo announced. “Well, I could have been less blatant about it.” “Lith, may I talk with you in private?” Rarity asked. “Ummm… okay.” Rarity took Lith’s right paw, dragging her down the stairs. Rarity clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Lith, when I told you about Keldeo, I wouldn’t think that you interrogate him. Didn’t I tell you that he was timid?” “Well, yeah you did… but I just had to investigate him further! He looks very much like the Keldeo from my world. He just keeps casually denying it.” Lith argued. “If he denies it… then maybe it is because he actually is a pony with a case of amnesia.” “You never mentioned he had amnesia.” Rarity’s eyes shot open, rubbing her left front hoof and shying her eyes away from Lith. “Did that come out of my mouth?” She said, letting out an unhampered sigh. “Okay, he has amnesia. Don’t pester him with too many questions on his childhood before he came here because you won’t get anything.” “That would have helped sooner.” Lith commented, looking away from Rarity. “Actually, there is one more thing I want to ask of you; do you mind being Keldeo’s friend?” Rarity asked. “With how I came off on him, that might be very difficult for me to do.” “Just please try. It is one favor I ask of you, Lith. He appears like he never wants friends, but he truly does desire friendship. The closest he has to friends are the allies of his squad.” Lith sighed, unveiling a soft smile. “I’ll try, Rarity.” Rarity grinned. She took Lith’s paw, dragging her up the stairs. Spike and Keldeo sat around the basket of goods, eating golden bread with a sweet aroma and ingesting a black-colored liquid. Spike’s eyes squinted, sticking out his tongue with a cry of disgust. “What is this liquid?! It tastes nasty!” Keldeo chuckled, smiling towards Spike and rubbing his head. “That is a blackberry stagnos blend that I requested that Rarity makes for me. It’s an acquired taste, but it tastes very sweet for those that have it. It is very good for maintaining physical, mental and magical energy.” Spike pulled out his tongue, rubbing the flavor off with both of his claws. “Couldn’t you have at least warned me?” Spike asked, grimacing towards him. “You never asked. You just looked at it and sipped it.” Keldeo responded. “I did. Oh, the ladies are back.” Rarity and Lith approached the two with forced smiles stretching across their faces. “So, Keldeo… I want to apologize for antagonizing you. It was wrong of me to pester you like that.” Lith said. “Can you at least try to sound genuine when saying it, Lith? It’s painful to hear forced words that don’t mean much.” Keldeo stated, tilting his head in uncertaincy. “How about I just become your friend instead? I don’t really have much to do today.” “I don’t know…” Lith approached Keldeo with her eyes half-lidded and a sly smile on her face. “Come on, please? I’ll even assist you with whatever you want.” She said, stroking the blue fur on his chest. Seeing her actions, Rarity gasped and Spike giggled. Keldeo’s face loosened into a smile. “Well, Flash and I do have to venture outside after hearing reports of some stagnoses attacking the exterior walls. If you can help, then that would be excellent.” “It would be my pleasure to assist the city in its defense.” Lith responded with a stone-hard tone. “We can leave now. Those stagnoses won’t take care of themselves.” Keldeo and Lith leaped onto the descending platform, leaving a jaw-dropped Rarity and a smirking Spike alone. “The nerve of her, hitting up on him like that!” Rarity shouted. “You want to finish up this lunch? I kind of want to try some more of that stagnos juice you made.” Spike asked. Rarity let out a sigh and directed her face to the basket. She levitated a container of the black liquid to Spike. “I thought you hated the juice.” “I do, but the aftertaste is surprisingly good. Plus, Keldeo said that it would help retain my magical energy.” An orange pegasus stallion hovered around a slender exo, looking at its joints with his blue eyes. His navy blue mane stuck up with the flashiness of a bird’s crest. He was garbed in a black latex suit that stretched down to his shaven fetlocks. He raised an eye, seeing an out of place sprocket on it. He grasped it, tossing it onto the ground. “And done. I can’t wait to see how well you do out in the field.” The stallion descended onto the ground, eyeing an observing Lith and Keldeo. “Hey Flash.” Keldeo said, waving his hoof. “Sup, Kelds?” Flash Sentry responded with a casual tone. “We got some rogue stagnoses outside trying to break into the city. Lith here will assist in our mission.” Flash Sentry grinned. He flew up towards his exo’s chest, having it open and revealing a seat surrounded by air. Sitting on the chair, the exo’s chest closed and its visor flashed with a blue light. Its limbs moved. “You know, I never actually got to see a mecha this closely without having to destroy it. I appreciate the architectural work put into it.” Lith commented, bringing a radiant smile on Flash Sentry’s face. “She’s already cool in my book, Kelds. Nice choice in picking a partner.” Keldeo sighed and shook his head. Soarin’, walking along the main path, eyed the trio. He smiled, flying his way towards the group. “Looks like you three are going out on a mission. Mind if I come along?” He asked. “The more the merrier is what I say.” Lith responded with a quick tongue. Soarin’ pulled out a large gun with a pump handle and cocked it. Lith narrowed her eyes and her nerves went cold at its sight. “What? It’s just a laser shotgun.” Soarin’ stated, shrugging his shoulders. “I didn’t think that was even a thing!” “Regardless, we have to go out into the wilderness right now.” Keldeo declared. The group of four stood outside, eyeing the falling sun in the horizon. A blunt crash from the right shook the earth underneath them. A herd of quadrupeds with plated spines thrashed their spike tails against the wall. Their silver skin contrasted against their indigo eyes. Keldeo narrowed his eyes. “It looks like those reports weren’t false after all. Those stagnoses are trying to break into the city.” Soarin’ and Flash Sentry roared in delight. “We get to take our toys out for a ride!” The both of them screeched. Flash Sentry’s exo rushed towards the group. Soarin’ flew high into the sky, divebombing towards a stagnos with his shotgun in hand. “Should we make sure they don’t hurt themselves? Those dinosaurs don’t look too friendly.” Lith asked. “Please.” Lith and Keldeo sprinted at breakneck speed, catching up with Flash Sentry’s exo. The stagnoses eyed the group heading at them and roared. Their emerald spines shot a shower of spikes into the sky. Flash Sentry shot a volley of missiles above the group, exploding on contact with the spikes. “How do you like the new weapon I installed on this?” He shouted. A stagnos rolled into a ball, spinning at a speed that melted the ground underneath it. It dashed towards Flash Sentry’s exo, striking it in the chest and knocking it onto its back on the ground. “Flash! Are you alright?” Soarin’ called out, hovering in the air. “I’m fine, Soarin’. Just a bit of a scratch on my exo’s.” Flash Sentry assured. Soarin’ aimed his shotgun towards the head of the unfolding stagnos. He pulled the trigger, releasing six lasers from the barrel that all struck the stagnos. With its body scratched in six places, the stagnos shrieked. It swung its spiked tail towards Soarin’, knocking him down and stabbing his right shoulder. Soarin’ grimaced from the strike, his wings trembling in the air. “Hanging in there, Soarin’?” Flash Sentry asked. Soarin’ smiled, holding up his left front hoof in a curve. Keldeo shattered the air around him in speed, sprinting towards the stagnos with an ice-frigid face and eyes burning with retribution. His horn flashed in a deep blue, cloaking his body in a blue aura. The aura fired away in the shape of a sphere, levitating in front of the stagnos. He struck it with his hoof, unleashing a beam that engulfed the stagnos whole. The beam dissipated, leaving a path of barren earth in its wake. Lith’s eyes jolted open at the sight. Keldeo felt his legs wobble. He crouched his knees and looked towards the rest of the stagnos glaring down on him. A stagnos lifted its massive foot, covering Keldeo in its shadow. Lith fired a Signal Beam from her right paw, striking the stagnos square in the face. The stagnos flipped over onto its back, squirming for stability. “Keldeo, how are you holding up?” She asked. Keldeo shook off his body, staving the exhaustion within. “Doing well, but I used up a lot of my magical energy on that attack.” He responded. “Why? As a soldier, you can’t make any unnecessary risks that will endanger your squad’s life.” Lith asked. Keldeo eyed Soarin’, who walked towards the duo with a limp and an eye twitching. He held his left front hoof over his ribs. “Don’t worry about me, Keldeo; it isn’t as bad as it looks.” “Are you kidding, Soarin’?! You took a critical blow onto the weak portion of your chest. Of course I have to worry.” “Keldeo, you’re worrying too much again. My suit protected me from most of the blow. It might look like I’m still wincing, but I’m still good enough to fight. Don’t waste all that magic unless if you desperately need to.” Keldeo remained silent, looking upon the ground with a quiet sigh. Lith placed her right paw on Keldeo’s shoulder. “I know how you feel. If anything were to even touch a hair on my brother, I would go as far as commit murder just for retribution. Even then, there are some physical limits that you should not betray. Just imagine how Rarity would feel if her last sight of you was in a casket.” Keldeo looked back towards Lith, a meek frown forming on his face. “Rarity…” He said. He looked to his left, seeing Flash Sentry and his mech in a readied stance. “Can your mech still fight, Flash?” Flash Sentry’s exo moved towards the center, lifting its thumb up towards him. “Like I said, it’s just a scratch. We’ll help you ward off these stagnoses.” “Then let’s show these creatures why Neo Canterlot should never be messed with.” Grinning, Keldeo responded. Flash Sentry’s exo ran towards a stagnos, thrusting its fist across its face and launching the creature beyond the horizon. Soarin’ flew into the face of a stagnos, swiping his shotgun across its face and shooting it. The stagnos fell onto the ground, squirming from the strike. A stagnos opened its beak, breathing out a golden mist striking Lith. Her sight became veiled in gold and her body stiffened. Her breathing became rapid and her heart beat with earthquakes. A chilling feeling enveloped her body. “What’s happening? Why do I feel… afraid of that?” She shouted. The stagnos charged into Lith, sending her into the air. Soarin’ soared into the sky, catching her with his front legs. Lith’s heart exploded in anxiety, all of her paws flailing in the air. “Calm down! You just got hit by some scare spore. Its neurotoxins will make you temporarily afraid of everything.” Soarin’ explained. “That already sounds frightening.” Lith noted, bringing her left paw to her chin. “When will it stop?” “It just stopped. Seems like the effects are very temporary in your case.” Soarin’ brought Lith down to the ground by Keldeo’s side. She stared at the stagnos that breathed the mist at her with an icy stare. She conjured up a Magical Leaf, sending them flying towards the stagnos and cutting its skin. The stagnos roared, galloping out of the area. Keldeo’s horn flashed, covering the next set of leaves Lith conjured around her. They disappeared from sight. Lith held her right paw forward. Several scrapes appeared on each stagos’s body. Their heads moved around, wary of what was near them. A stream of scratches appeared on their bodies once more. The remaining stagnoses hollered, sprinting out of the area and into the wilderness. “Well, it looks like it is over.” Lith said, letting out a confident huff. “Do not be sure of that, little alien.” A female voice echoed from the sky. Lith, Keldeo, Flash Sentry and Soarin’ looked into the sky, their sight focused on a green mecha with a body thick with armor and five claws made of light, stretching out to half of the forearm’s length. It descended upon the ground, kicking up a storm of dust. Lith, Keldeo and Soarin’ shielded their eyes from the particles and maintained their view of the mecha. “Who are you?” Soarin’ asked. A hologram flashed in front of the group, revealing a pale white humanoid female with green hair wrapped in dreadlocks. Her gray suit accentuated the curves on her body and brought out the dark green color of her irises. She smirked with a sinister air surrounding her. “My name is Goethia, but my name will be irrelevant to you four soon enough. Enjoy this sight while you can, for it will be the last thing you see.” The hologram of Goethia’s image vanished. Several probes launched into the air from her mecha, hovering above the group of four. A deluge of red lasers rained down upon the group, blasting away the ground. Lith, Soarin’ and Keldeo dropped to the ground, covered their heads and closed their eyes. Flash Sentry leaped above the group, his exo shielding everyone from the rain of death. “Flash!” Keldeo shouted, eyeing the erratic static appearing on the exo’s visor. “Don’t worry about me. I got you all covered from the attack. Go after Goethia!” Flash Sentry called out in a strained voice. Lith rolled out of Flash Sentry’s shadow of protection, engaging towards Goethia’s direction. With her eyes flashing, she grasped her mecha through Psychic, holding her in place. She leaped into the air, kicking the mecha in the chest. A telekinetic explosion of energy blasted Goethia across the field, her mecha’s feet tearing apart the ground. “It seems that Wilhelm was correct; the powers that you aliens possess are always expanding. But, it will take more than just creativity to take me down.” Goethia taunted. “Is this Wilhelm the leader of your people?” Lith asked. “My, it appears that I have said too much already. Oh well, it’s not like anything you know will be able to take us down. You are all too spineless to deal any sort of decisive blow anyways.” Saying these words, Goethia charged forward, tearing apart the air in front of her with her speed. She slashed Lith with her claws, rending her suit and knocking her into the air. Goethia aimed her mecha’s fists into Lith’s aerial space. A dark chuckle emerged from her mouth. “I will put an end to your short trip on this planet.” Flash Sentry dashed towards Goethia, punching her mecha across its vizor. She stood her place, throwing a rocket fist across the exo’s visor and knocking it to the ground. Keldeo leaped off of Flash Sentry’s exo and his horn charged with a pale orange light. His horn extended to the size of a longsword. He slashed Goethia’s mecha across her chest and reeled her back. Lith landed on her feet with no other damage on her. She fired a Charge Beam straight into Goethia’s visor, knocking the mecha on its back. “You say we are spineless, are we?! I’ll show you just how much spine we Equusians have!” Soarin’ shouted, splitting his shotgun in half and fitting them on his front hooves. Twin lasers extended from the gauntlets, shaping into sharp daggers and diving towards Goethia. Goethia rolled out of the way, causing Soarin’s blades to stab the ground. Goethia flew into the sky. “It seems I have extended my playtime with you beings past what I was allotted. But you all have given me some interesting new variables to give to Wilhelm.” Lith stared at Goethia, sprinting after her. She leaped off of Keldeo’s back, using Soarin’ as her vault and jumped into the sky. Purple electricity formed around the mecha, shocking Lith and causing her to plummet to the ground. Soarin’ grabbed her, bringing a veil of safety to her. “Get back here!” Lith demanded, wriggling her right paw out and firing a Signal Beam towards her direction. Goethia evaded the strike, flying beyond the horizon of the blue sky. “Lith, stop! She’s gone.” Keldeo demanded. “So close! We were so close to taking down a Van’Goth officer.” Lith responded. “I share in your zeal, but aren’t you being a bit obsessive over that?” Soarin’ asked. Lith stopped squirming. Her body relaxed to a standstill. “I know… But, I cannot help but feel so angry by witnessing a member of the Van’Goth just barge down here to try to ruin our lives and our way of living.” Keldeo glanced to his back, hiding a small frown from the group. “Well, it looks like we did it. Mission complete.” Flash Sentry stated, dusting off the armor of his exo with its arms. He flew out of the cockpit, looking at the cuts and peeling paint on it. “It looks like I’ll have to do yet another tedious repair session for my exo again.” Mono sat on his seat, scrolling through the words of a hologram and an image of a white-coated unicorn mare with a slender build, lavender eyes and a pink mane and tail combed in a thick and clean fashion. She was garbed in a linen dress that sparkled with the colors of a rainbow. “Hey, Mono.” Lith said, entering through the front door of the living quarters. “Sounds like you had an interesting day.” Mono responded, eyeing the scrapes on Lith’s uniform. “It was interesting. I got to meet an interesting citizen… and we fought against a member of the Van’Goth. Don’t worry, I’m not hurt. So what are you doing?” “I’m just looking through an article about a pony Rarity wanted me to look over. Fleur De Lis has much more depth than what I perceived her to be like.” Lith sat beside Mono and looked at the image on the hologram. Her heart stopped at her sight, restarting with rapid beats. “Why did Rarity want you to look at her?” Lith asked, her breath strained from the sight. “Apparently, she has a personal request that she asks of our group for tomorrow. I decided to look up as much information as possible on her.” Mono responded. A dull knocking reverberated on the door. Mono closed the hologram and approached the door. Turning the knob and lifting it away, he witnessed Keldeo on the other side of the door. “Oh! Did I get the wrong door? I was looking for Lith. Sorry to bother you.” Keldeo stated with an apologetic tone. “This is the right door. My name is Mono, Lith’s brother and a member of the R&D Division.” Mono introduced, bringing a grin to Keldeo’s face. “Oh! You don’t look much like your sister for being twins. Mind if I come in?” “I don’t mind at all.” Mono stood out of the doorway, allowing Keldeo inside. “Hey, Keldeo. What brings you here?” Lith asked with a cheery smile. Keldeo scratched the back of his head with a nervous frown on his face. “I wish to make amends between the two of us. We haven’t really been off to a good start.” He stated. “It was my fault for trying to push my perception on you. I assume that it left a bad impression on you.” “At first. But, when I saw how you were like in combat, something within me stirred awake. I’m not too sure, but I think I might be starting to believe some of those words you were saying about me being a Pokémon.” Lith cocked her head and her eyes glinted in confusion. “Why do you have a sudden change of heart about that theory?” “Do you remember when my horn flashed when I assaulted Goethia? I have a reasonable suspicion that move was not magic on my part, but it was something else. Truth be told, I have no idea on what my origins are. I walk, talk and act like a pony, but I don’t remember anything. I literally woke up here with no recollection of anything other than my name.” Keldeo explained. “That’s very… complicated. Pokémon shouldn’t be able to do what you are currently doing right now after all. But at the same time, you don’t look like other ponies.” “I know, and that is why I came here; I feel that I can get a better understanding about myself if I interact more with you and your friends. Maybe I can even discover fragments of my memory and unravel the mysteries about me?” Lith smiled, patting Keldeo on top of his head. “My family and I would love to help you discover who you are.” Mono’s watch lit up, his eyes widening at the sudden appearance of a hologram. He narrowed his eyes, scanning through the contents of the message. “I got a message from Rarity. She’s asking for you, Keldeo. Based on her rushed wording, she doesn’t sound too happy.” Keldeo’s eyes jolted open. “I forgot to check back with Rarity! Oh, she’s probably going to kill me for not checking back with her!” Keldeo shouted, galloping outside. “So… what’s the deal with Keldeo?” Mono asked. “At this point, I don’t know. That stallion ain’t right.” Lith responded, impersonating a Driftveilan accent. Exploration of the NightBoreas stared at the setting sun, seeing the orange sky transmute into an ethereal purple color. The stars flashed among the fading brightness in the sky. A smile that radiated with the mystery of the coalescent star constellations in the sky found its way on her face. “I see you like my night sky, Boreas.” Luna stated, flying down onto Boreas’s location. Boreas craned her neck towards her back. Her eyes displayed an eager attitude towards Luna’s direction. “I understand that you cannot speak. It is very unfortunate that had to happen to someone as sweet as you. At least that is the impression I get.” Luna stated. Boreas tapped her right pectoral fin on the ground with a series of taps and dashes along the ground. “Oh? Is that Morse code you are using? It is a rarity to see nowadays, and I am one of the few ponies that can understand it. Let me translate what you are saying; C-A-N Y-O-U S-E-N-D M-E O-N N-O-C-T-U-R-N-A-L P-A-T-R-O-L T-O-N-I-G-H-T. Can you send me on nocturnal patrol tonight is what you are saying?” Luna said with a cheery tone in her voice. Boreas shook her head with a series of gleeful nods. “I am not too sure that you would be best for patrol here. I already have night patrol set up after all.” Luna stated with a tone wavering with uncertainty. Boreas unleashed another series of taps and dashes with her right pectoral fin once more. “Oh! More Morse code! Let me see; ‘The pink one gets to go out on nightly patrols and so does my partner. Should it be fair that I go as well? Send me out to explore the sea if you must.’ That does not sound like a bad idea. I could send two of my patrolling thestrals and your partner to join you.” Luna suggested. Boreas nodded with a smile on her face and tapped the ground with a series of taps. “I am glad that we can work something out, Boreas. Unfortunately, you would not be able to communicate too well with the guards of the night. They are not too good with understanding Morse code… just like almost every other Equusian for that fact.” Luna said. Boreas flipped her pectoral fins with a carefree shutting of her eyes. The full moon flashed with the brilliance of a pearl in the sky. Boreas, Rundas and two bat ponies, one with a jet black-coated stallion and the other with a periwinkle-coated mare, stood on the chilly sand darkened by the night. The four of them gazed at the dark ocean. The mare looked upon Rundas with her yellow eyes flashed in suspicion. “Errr, Rundas, are you sure that Council Lady Luna made the wisest decision to bring us to the sea to do night navigations? It seems a bit suspicious.” She asked. “Relax, Crescent Radiance. You’re brave, aren’t you? I mean, we haven’t really explored the sea at night.” Rundas assured. “I apologize, but I’m with Rundas on this one. The night is meant to be explored, after all. If we aren’t exploring in the night, then our purpose is lost to us.” The stallion said. “Not you too, Subterra Shock.” Crescent Radiance said in disbelief. “Should’ve known this was a guy thing.” Boreas slammed her right pectoral fin onto the ground with a large grin. “Boreas said that she was the one that agreed for all of us to come together. She is a girl like you after all.” Rundas teased. “Well, three against one. I say we see what the seas have in store for us.” Subterra Shock stated with a bold tone, pointing towards the sea with an endless horizon. Rundas, Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock hoisted themselves onto Boreas’s shell. Boreas pushed herself forwards into the sea. A sound of water splashing underneath her reached the ears of everyone. Subterra Shock leaped upwards and shrieked at the movement under him. “What’s the matter? Is somepony by the name of Subterra Shock afraid of a bit of movement?” Crescent Radiance asked with a dark chuckle. “No! I just, err… need some time to equip my sea legs.” Subterra Shock stammered out. “We all know how shaky your legs are, Subterra Shock. Now shut up and enjoy the ride, because my partner’s surfing can be very gentle to the passengers.” Rundas assured. “You would have to tick her off if you want her to knock you overboard.” “I’ll behave.” Crescent Radiance looked towards the sky. Her breath was stolen by the sea of stars above the gray clouds and the sounds of the waves crashing against Boreas’s shell. “You know, I never realized how peaceful the night can be. Usually, we are out patrolling the streets and being on high alert at all times for any potential trouble makers. It’s nice to admire the scenery once in a while.” She said. “I know how you feel. The night is full of monsters that hide in its darkness, but we all fail to appreciate how wondrous it actually is.” Rundas stated. “I’ve heard stories hearkening back a thousand years ago that the then-Princess Luna almost succumbed to the darkness of her heart because the ponies couldn’t appreciate the night. But, the then-Princess Celestia had a very pleasant surprise for her sister by inviting a host of the population for a surprise royal slumber party under the stars.” Subterra Shock told. “I heard about that. I heard that after that day, more of the ponies looked up to Luna, the moon and the stars, seeing it as a sign of protection in the fear of the night. It’s really heartwarming how her sister went out of her way to show how she is appreciated.” Crescent Radiance said. “And if she failed?” Rundas asked. “I’m not sure what would have happened, but I don’t think it would have been pretty. At best, I would suspect that Celestia would have imprisoned her sister on the moon for a thousand years and perpetuated that stereotypical fear of the night. I would not be happy with that outcome at all.” Subterra Shock admitted. Boreas travelled far from the coastline of the Terraformed Wilderness to the point where it vanished underneath the horizon of the night. She glanced forward and eyed a whirlpool out in the distance. She smirked and dashed forwards. Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance gripped the nubs on the shell with their front legs while their bodies hung within the air. Rundas gripped Boreas’s neck with a calm expression on his face. “What is this crazy plesiosaur for a partner of yours doing, Rundas?!” Crescent Radiance shouted. “She found a whirlpool out in the distance! She’s going to go get her ride in it.” Rundas answered. “Is she crazy?! Why?!” Subterra Shock screamed with anxiety flowing out of his voice. “Because it’s fun? Heck, it’s pretty fun for me as well. Just hold on tight and try not to fall into the water.” Boreas crashed through the current of the whirlpool and rode along the powerful swirl. Her mouth was agape in joy. Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock screamed in fear and Rundas shouted with adrenaline rushing through him. Boreas launched herself into the air and plopped onto the ocean, making a huge splash. “How was that?! Fun, isn’t it?” Rundas called out, looking behind him. Crescent Radiance stood up on the shell and Subterra Shock lied upon his side. “Sick… so very sea sick.” He burped out. “That was… kind of fun.” Crescent Radiance said through heavy breathing. Rundas strutted his way towards Subterra Shock and pat his shoulder. “Man up! The lady here enjoyed the ride, so the least you can do is just stand up and say you had fun.” “I freaking hate you, Rundas. Beating me up with your words while I’m down… where’s your honor?” Subterra Shock asked. “I’m a Dark-type and we’re like bros now. Did you expect me to not say that?” Rundas questioned with a snigger. Subterra Shock stood up from the shell and shook his body of his seasickness. Crescent Radiance stood upon the base of Boreas’s neck and stroked the top of her head. “I know I said that you were crazy for doing that, but a thrill like that was just what was needed to break my boredom. How did you know I wanted that?” She asked. “She’s pretty good at reading people. She’s an avid listener and is capable of picking up even the smallest of motion cues. Though I’m pretty sure that it was a coincidence that you just happened to enjoy Boreas’s thrill-seeking.” Rundas explained. “Regardless, I’m happy.” A patch of water, blacker than the moonless sky, shown itself among the open ocean. Boreas increased her speed to a quicker but stable level. Rundas’s spine shot upwards. “What did Boreas find this time?” Subterra Shock asked. “This is a deep part of the ocean. Areas like this are passageways into ruins and even more things. Luckily for us, Boreas knows how to use a move known as Dive and she can bring us all down.” Rundas explained. “Are you insane?! We’re mammalian! We can’t breathe underwater!” Crescent Radiance shouted. “Wait for it.” A blue aura surrounded Boreas and her passengers. She smashed her head into the water and dashed underneath. Subterra Shock held his breath with the tenacity of a wolf. His black coat turned a dark shade of blue. He moved around his right front hoof in an erratic pattern. Rundas shook his head. “Just breathe!” He screamed out. Subterra Shock opened his mouth. His eyes lit up with surprise with the ease of air reaching his lungs. “What means of sorcery is this?!” He shouted. “This is what Dive does; it brings us underwater and allows the passengers of the Pokémon to breathe. We are also unaffected by the pressure around us.” Rundas explained. “I wish you’d tell us sooner, Rundas. I almost had a panic attack when we dove downwards.” Crescent Radiance said. Any light that remained within the sea disappeared into the dark abyss of the ocean. The plants became sparse and pressure squeezed any stray rocks. Amidst the darkness of the tunnel, an azure light shined itself towards the end. Boreas’s eyes lit up with glee. “A light? Down here? Why is that here?” Rundas asked. Boreas popped above the surface of the water. The group’s eyes were greeted with the sight of a deep blue chamber with three hallways around them. “What is this place?” Crescent Radiance asked with a voice peaked an awe. Subterra Shock glanced onto the murals of the wall, which depicted murals of seahorse-like creatures drawn out in curves. Over the top of the central hallway, a depiction of an even larger seahorse-like creature that sat upon an ornate throne met with his eyes. A smile crept its way onto his face. “Do not quote me on this, but we may have found one of the many temples built by the seaponies!” “The seaponies? Weren’t they one of the races killed off during the invasions?” Crescent Radiance asked. “Yes. The Van’Goth poisoned the seas around their kingdom, killing over eighty percent of the overall population. We don’t exactly know what happened to the other twenty percent, but they never showed up again.” “It is things like that which bring my cool blood to a hot boil. It’s a violation of justice if a sentient being wishes to bring extinction just for the sake of hurting others.” Rundas said. “But, considering we are here, we should probably check this place out.” He leaped off of Boreas’s shell. Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance flew towards the opposite sides of the room. “It’s best that we split up to cover more ground. I’ll take the left corridor, Crescent Radiance takes the right corridor and you two take the central corridor. Oh man, this is gonna be so cool!” Subterra Shock declared with a grin and a voice within the crux of exploding in joy. “You’re such a kid at times, you know?” Crescent Radiance teased. “Heh, I know.” Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance flew into the halls, leaving Rundas and Boreas alone. Boreas moved her way across the slippery floor into the hallway with Rundas close behind her. Within the hallway, the duo’s eyes detected two pipelines of water surging through the grated floor. Hitting their ears is the dull noise of water crashing at the bottom. “Pretty fancy stuff here. Nice to know that this is intact.” Boreas blocked Rundas with a hurried movement. She fired an Ice Beam towards the grated floor. The floor fell apart, creating a valley that led directly into the abyss below. The grated floor landed on the surface of the water. Spikes emerged from the water, skewering the floor. “Good call. I could’ve saved myself, but it still would’ve been a nasty trap for us.” Rundas noted. “So, how will you get across this?” Boreas smiled and imputed a series of dashes and taps along the ground. “‘Who do you think taught you that trick with the Ice Beam?’ That’s kind of cold of you to say.” Rundas commented. Using her Ice Beam, Boreas froze her edge of the valley. She slid forward and linked the path ahead with her Ice Beam. Rundas leaped onto her shell and rode her with a surfer’s stance. Sliding towards the other side, the door opened. Within the room, a stream of brilliant water poured out of a statue depicting a pony-shaped aquatic creature’s mouth that ran down a grand set of icy blue pyramid steps. Within the forehead of the statue lied a white stone in the shape of an opal. “Hey, that’s a cool-looking stone.” Rundas stated. He sprinted up towards the steps and approached the statue. He dug his claws into the forehead of the statue and yanked it out. The head of the statue crumbled, following the rest of its body. The entire chamber shook underneath pressure. Boreas and Rundas’s eyes widened with surprise. Boreas unleashed a hurried series of taps and dashes along the floor. “‘Let’s get out of here as quickly as possible?’ You sure do know how to say the most obvious things at the wrong times!” Rundas shouted. Rundas hopped onto Boreas’s back. The duo slid away from the falling debris of the chamber and beyond the door. They crossed the bridge of ice, which collapsed upon being struck by a large fragment from the ceiling. They ventured towards the beginning of the ruins. Rundas looked towards the left and right hallways and the pressure of the anxiety exploded out of him. “Where’s Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance?!” He shouted. Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance flew out of their halls with their eyes wide in panic and their teeth gritted with fear. In their mouths were two white stones shaped in ovals. “What the heck is wrong with this place?! All I did was take out this stone! I didn’t think it’d trigger… this!” Subterra Shock shouted. “That’s because these stones are important to the ruins! But let’s not bother with that. We have to get out of here!” Crescent Radiance suggested. Boreas nodded and leaped into the water. Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance hopped aboard Boreas. Boreas dove into the water at a sonic speed. Everyone felt the rumbling of the ruins collapsing from within the water. Swimming upwards, the darkness faded away and a dim light surfaced. Luna sprinted into a cream-colored room with a queen-sized bed in it. Celestia lied on her left side upon the bed, dozing the night away. Luna rushed towards the bedside and shook Celestia with her right front hoof. “‘Tia!” Celestia’s eyes jolted open and she jumped upwards. Landing on the bed on her hindquarters, she stared at Luna with an agitated stare and red cracks within the whites of her eyes. “What is it now, Lulu? This better be good.” Celestia stated in a tone groggy with exhaustion. “We have to round up the council, now! A squad I sent out has made a most important discovery!” Luna stated. “Couldn’t this wait until morning, Lulu? You don’t see me trying to wake you up in the morning.” “No, it cannot wait.” Luna wrapped her mouth around Celestia’s hind left ankle and dragged her out of bed. An annoyed groan escaped from Celestia’s mouth. “Fine.” Boreas, Rundas, Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock stood within a grand chamber, where the five members of the council sat on their seats. All of them with the exception of Luna slumped their necks forward in exhaustion. “Rundas, to what did you summon all five of us in here for?” Victoria asked with a strong, but exhausted tone. “With the grace of Council Lady Luna, my squad and I were doing some nightly exploration of the western ocean. We managed to find these stones.” Rundas stated, holding out the three stones in the palm of his claws. Victoria flew down towards the group and gazed at the stones. Her tired eyes ignited with life and fascination. “This is a treasure of the ancient seaponies! Before the invasion, the Ruler of Marelantis did say something about having these stones hidden in a temple somewhere. Where did you find these?” “We found them in some ruins under the ocean. Thankfully, our eyes are able to detect darker parts of the ocean even in the black of night.” Rundas explained. “For the first time in my life, I felt like Daring Do. It was awesome.” Subterra Shock bragged. Boreas unleashed a series of taps upon the floor and grinned. The council sans Luna looked upon her with confused expressions. “Allow me to translate to you. She says that it was possible to even enter inside of the ruins because she has a special skill that negates the woes of water to those that cannot withstand them.” Luna said. “So what you are saying is that you can investigate more ruins like this?” Serva asked. “I believe that is what she is saying.” Crescent Radiance said. “So what is it about these stones that are so special that the entire place was booby trapped with collapsing death?” “These stones have the ability to alter the laws of reality to the whim of the user.” Victoria explained. “With enough of these stones, one can attain god-like power and shall be able to control the whims of the universe. Unfortunately, the numbers of stones are very limited and we only have five in our possession. Even with the combination of these eight stones, it is confirmed to be around a quarter of what remain.” “That’s a lot of stones! And… exactly how do they alter the laws of reality?” Rundas questioned. Five stones illuminated from the foreheads of the council leaders in the colors of their bodies. “In case if you have not noticed, we five are capable of controlling the forces of the world with just one of these gems. It strengthens our magic to the point where we can control the cosmos, the essences of the natural world and our dominion amongst the populace. Only those of noble blood can wield them without succumbing to its ill effects.” Celestia revealed. Crescent Radiance stared at the glimmering stones lodged within the leaders’ foreheads and stared at them with awe. She looked down upon the stone in her hoof and frowned. “So it seems like we are unable to use these stones then?” She said with a disappointed tone. “I’m afraid not. If more people were of noble blood and had the wisdom and courage to control such power, we would have won against the Van’Goth a long time ago.” Carapace said. “But for now, we will keep these stones safe.” “It seems like my sister did not jump the gun when she called for this emergency meeting. We cannot let these stones fall under anyone’s possession. Just imagining that gives me dread beyond anything possible.” Celestia said. “Drat. And here I was thinking that I could use them to accentuate the mark on my forehead.” Rundas said with a lighthearted chuckle. “Please do not say that again, Rundas. I like you too much for me to end your life if you actually do fulfill what you say.” Luna stated. Rundas, Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance sat upon stools around a round table made from stainless steel. Boreas stood out in the open space of the pub nearby the group. A wizened and aqua-coated pegasus stallion with a scraggly beard, mane and tail with the color of pure snow flew over towards the group with mugs of orange beer with generous foam pouring out of the top. His cutie mark was an image of two mugs of beer with foam on the top. “Here you go fellas! For Rundas, I got the Spicy Pamella, for Subterra Shock I got the Young Hops Surprise, and for Crescent Radiance I have the Bitter Pod Rind. They’re all on the house!” He said. “Thanks again, Fizzy Scotch. I also have to thank you for allowing my partner to enter your pub.” Rundas said. “Oh her? She’s a sweetheart. Couldn’t understand all her facial expressions and those fancy taps, but she seems very good. Plus, I increased the size of the front door to fit citizens of a larger size so it’s no problem at all.” Fizzy Scotch stated. “I honestly find it kind of weird how you did that.” Crescent Radiance noted. “What is the point of doing that anyways?” “You may not know it, but I had a really good customer as of late who would come once every two days here to drink some of my fine brews. He’s a big ol’ fellow with a bold look to him. He says that even if he is happy being around his children and some new children, he needs a drink every now and then to take off the edge.” “Yep, that sounds like Professor Pasque to me. He does have a tendency to drink from time to time.” Rundas said. “Nice to see that he’s acquainted with ya. He’s a good alien that even stopped trouble makers in here cold in their tracks. That pun was both intended and non-intened!” Fizzy Scotch commented with a burst of hillbilly laughter. Boreas tapped her right pectoral fin on the floor. Rundas pointed towards her direction. “You really shouldn’t keep a lady waiting with her beverage, Fizzy Scotch.” “I’ll get right to her.” Fizzy Scotch went behind his counter and filled a mug three sizes larger than the other cups that the group had. Subterra Shock shifted his gaze towards Rundas and sipped a hearty amount of the beverage. A satisfied sigh with a hearty grin emerged from him. “That felt good! Tonight was a great night. Even if I got a bit of seasickness and we almost died, it was still pretty cool. Then, topping it off with drinks at the end makes this a perfect night for me. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.” “I feel you, Shock.” Crescent Radiance said, ingesting half of her beverage in a single sip. “I thought I would hate this night when we were getting shifted out of our patrolling roles. Best night on duty I ever had.” Fizzy Scotch placed Boreas’s cup in front of her. She licked her lips and grabbed the cup with her pectoral fins. She lifted it to her mouth and drunk it all within one sitting. Rundas, Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock all gazed at her with silence and wide eyes. Boreas shrugged her fins. “Whoo-wee! She’s got a big appetite for beer!” Fizzy Scotch shouted with a swing of his right front leg. Boreas tapped her right pectoral fin on the ground three times with rapid increments. A smug smirk made its way on her face. Rundas looked towards Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance with a cheeky grin. “So… who’s going to pay her bill?” Author's Note Finally, a Boreas-centric chapter with added bonuses. Hope you all have fun reading this chapter. It was a fun one to write. Shattered Remnants pt. 1Fei and Keldeo walked side by side together down the halls of the lounging quarters with white towels that dripped with their sweat wrapped around their necks. Fei grabbed the right end of the towel and wiped his forehead. He glanced towards Keldeo with a smile that brimmed with exhaustion on his face. “That was quite the intense training session we had back there.” He stated with a semblance of panting in his voice. “Agreed. My muscles feel sore from bucking that mithril training dummy and jogging. Then there was the fact that we engaged in a bit of a fierce sparring session.” With a cheerful exhale of air, Keldeo responded. Walking down the corner beyond the hallway, the duo came across Saraid and Iosac engaging in a conversation. A large smile spread on Iosac’s face and Saraid’s eyes narrowed with disgust. “So that’s how I stuffed all of that vinegar and baking soda inside of Crisp Chitin’s closet without letting either of the components touch each other until he opened the door!” Iosac cheerfully stated. “And how did Crisp Chitin react to this little prank of yours again?” Saraid responded with an aggravated tone. Iosac shut his eyes and flashed a happy smile. He pointed towards a black changeling covered from head to toe in white and sizzling baking soda. Crisp Chitin let out a fierce scowl directed towards Iosac. “I swear to Deus, if you ever stuff my closet with baking soda and vinegar again…” He threatened. “Awww get a sense of humor ya dry shite.” Iosac responded. Crisp Chitin shook his head in disapproval and walked off. Iosac directed his attention back towards Saraid, who looked at him with deadpan eyes and straight lips. “Ya had to go there, Iosac? Ya didn’t need to insult him you know.” “Well what do ya expect? He has no sense of humor in his funny bones. I did him a favor there.” Saying these words, Iosac’s eyes drifted towards Fei and Keldeo. His eyes widened and his lips quivered with excitement. He pointed towards Keldeo with an ecstatic series of points. “Blimey! It’s a freaking Keldeo, Saraid! An actual freaking Keldeo that is right next to me!” He shouted. Saraid looked towards Keldeo and Fei with listless eyes. “Yes, it’s a Keldeo and his Mienshao friend. What else is new?” She asked. Iosac rushed towards Keldeo and dropped in front of him. Keldeo’s eyes widened from the shock. He took a step back and lifted his right front hoof with a wary motion. He looked towards the left and right. “Ummm… hello there… do I know you?” He asked with a timid tone. Iosac pointed towards Keldeo and grinned with a burst of enthusiasm shaking down his entire body. “No, but I know all about you! You are an absolute legend! You are a heroic Legendary Pokémon that has fought off hordes of nasty beasts and malicious beings in the name of justice!” He shouted with an idyllic tone. “Can I have your autograph?!” Keldeo’s nerves froze at the mention of Iosac’s request. Looking to his left and right, beads of cold sweat broke out from his face. “An autograph? No one has ever asked me for an autograph before…” He responded. “Are you sure I am as heroic as you depict with your words? I don’t think I’ve done anything too important to deserve such accolades.” “¡Mierda santo! Is that a Keldeo?!” Phasing her molecular structure through a nearby wall, Inge shouted. “Dude, you are a freaking legend!” Keldeo rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. He looked towards Fei’s direction with pleading irises. “A little help here Fei?” He asked. Fei held up his hands towards Iosac and Inge with stern eyes. “I appreciate the enthusiasm of the both of you, but allow for Keldeo and I to rest before you bombard him with multiple questions and praises. We just had a strenuous training regimen today, and we are very exhausted.” Inge narrowed her eyes and flashed a glare that pierced into Fei’s eyes. She turned to her side and folded her upper limbs. “Fine. I’ll just… go play some Super 8-Bit Sisters then. It’s the closest substitute to another game we have in our world anyways.” She stated. “Ummm… alright then. I don’t have the time to play video games either way.” Keldeo responded in a tone with a bit more strength and force in it than normal. Inge’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and her limbs fell down to her single lower limb. She glanced towards Keldeo with disbelieving eyes and hovered towards him. Keldeo’s eyes widened from the distance closed and took a step back. A nervous chuckle emerged from his mouth. “What’s with your scary look? You are awfully close to my face right now.” He stammered out. “You don’t have time for video games?!” Inge shouted with a hysterical shudder of her body. “Video games are a way of life! Video games are a way to see if the one you love truly loves you or not! How can you not have time for video games?!” “Look Miss, I appreciate your concern for me but now you make me sound like I am a bad stallion, errr, Pokémon for not even giving video games a try! I don’t have to play video games now do I?” With his eyes gripped with tenacity and his lower lip curved against his bottom teeth, Keldeo responded with an aggravated tone. Iosac’s fluff dropped an inch upon hearing Keldeo’s words and seeing Inge’s eyes turning into a scowl of pure anger. Fei felt the tension between Keldeo and Inge singe the fur on his body. He backed away from the two Pokémon and edged closer towards Iosac. “Something tells me that this is going to end violently.” Fei forecasted. “Ya don’t need words to tell me that. Inge gets very angry at those who don’t take the time to play video games. She’s a fine piece of work that lassie.” Iosac responded with a shaken tone. Volts of vicious sparks burst between Inge and Keldeo’s eyes. The two Pokémon growled with the fear factor that would bring even a mountain of a beast down to its knees. “You are selfish for not dedicating your time to play video games! I can’t believe I even wasted my breath on someone like you!” Inge shouted. “Oh, so now you are judging me based on how I devote my time?! And you call me selfish on top of that?! Well aren’t you all jumbled up? Discord had more of a sense of lawful order than you do you kooky virtual bird thing!” Keldeo retorted back. The heat in the room escalated to volcanic temperatures. Rarity walked out of a door way by the corner and gazed at the vocal fight erupting between Keldeo and Inge. She shut her eyes, placed her right front hoof on the bridge of flesh between them and exhaled a calming sigh. Her horn ignited in a crystal blue color, bringing forth a gray-tinted haze above the arguing Pokémon. Their stares towards each other faltered and they looked upwards. “Cool haze. Where did that come from?” Inge asked. Rarity cleared her throat, directing the attention of everyone in the corner to her. A relieved smile cracked upon Keldeo’s face. He took his steps towards her with an air of nobility around him, giving him the appearance that the argument never happened. Rarity looked into his eyes and formed a smile robbed of her breath. Keldeo treaded his lips onto her lips and locked them together for the brief second they shared. Their eyes narrowed at the embrace of their lips. They split apart. “I can feel that you were a bit upset at the moment, my Mystic Swordsman.” “A bit. I didn’t get too carried away, but I’m glad that you cast that spell on me.” Keldeo spoke with a smooth voice. Iosac looked at Keldeo and Rarity with his head cocked and his pupils towards the side. His jaw slacked. “Is a Legendary Pokémon… romantically involved with an Equusian?” He asked within a localized tone. “Does this surprise you?” Fei asked with a knowing smile curved on his face. “The two have known each other for a long time now.” Iosac turned towards Fei and stomped his right foot on the ground. “Of course it does! It’s almost unheard of for a Legendary Pokémon to stoop so low as getting romantically involved with a lesser being!” Iosac shouted out. “Excuse me?!” Looking towards Iosac with her eyes raging with shock, Rarity questioned. The fibers that made up Iosac’s spine chilled to their core. He stood in his place and glanced towards Rarity with shock. “You heard all of that, didn’t you?” He whimpered out with a shrinking tone. With each step forming a steam vent in the floor, Rarity stomped her way towards Iosac. Iosac cowered behind his fluff and shook with an uncontrollable motion. Rarity huffed out several heated gusts of air from her chest. Looking at the frightened Iosac, her breathing slowed down and calmed to a chilled degree. Blinking, the red aggression in her eyes became replaced with a calming cool. “Please do not say that again, Iosac. What you said was not nice in the slightest and can get someone really hurt. It would be mainly you on the receiving end of that pain, but others can also be hurt by those words. I’m just telling you this for your own benefit.” She said with a lucid tone. “Umm… thank you for not hurting me Rarity. I’m sorry for making that comment. It just caught me by surprise.” Iosac apologized. Fei pulled on the collar of his uniform and directed his attention towards Rarity. A relieved smile appeared on his face. “I am thankful that you defused two potential fights by your own hand slash hoof. I did not want to see any unauthorized violence break out in here.” “Have more faith in my lady-like mannerisms, Fei. I am perfectly capable of controlling myself.” With her eyes shut and her right front hoof placed on her chest with her head tilted up in pride, Rarity proclaimed. “Oh, Professor Gentian was looking for you and Keldeo. He says that it is urgent.” “Well that is interesting. I wonder what he has for us.” Inge and Iosac’s heads jumped at the sound of the news. Inge’s eyes rose to a zenith of joy and a wide smile appeared on Iosacs face. “Can we come too?! I’ve always wanted to go on a mission with you guys!” He pleaded. “You might need us crack Aces on your team.” Inge suggested. “Well, you two are ‘crack’ Aces alright.” Fei joked. “But, if you are as qualified as you say you are, I think you should come with us.” “Hooray!” Waving her upper limbs, Inge proclaimed. She phased her particles through the wall to the right. Keldeo stared at the wall where Inge vanished through with a cocked head and dazed eyes. “That girl seriously needs some help.” Professor Gentian stood by Tesla’s side. The two scientists examined a wire-frame grid that emitted sonar waves that echoed with a viral green color. Professor Gentian’s ears jumped upon listening to the door lift open. He and Tesla turned around, examining Rarity, Fei, Keldeo, Inge and Iosac enter the lab. A warm smile appeared on his face. “It has been quite a while since we last saw each other, has it not?” He asked with an inviting tone. “I heard you asked for us, Professor. Did you discover something new?” Fei questioned. Professor Gentian turned towards the wire-framed map and pointed to it with his right fan. “Take a look for yourself.” The horde of operatives clustered around the table and examined the topography of the simulated land. A series of waves echoed out from the highest point on the map. “So what is this? It looks strange.” Iosac questioned. “This is a section of Keldeo’s home world. More specifically, it is around Kurisutaru. I’ve been keeping tabs on this particular set of space for a while now and it seems like I was right in doing so.” Professor Gentian explained. “It does seem like there is a disturbance there, but what does it mean?” Keldeo asked. “That’s what I want you to find out. It might be related to you, but it might also be a complete dud. Regardless, we wouldn’t know unless if we check right?” Inge leaped up with her eyelids curled up in joy. She leaped and flipped her upper limbs with an excited motion. She leaped around the room with sporadic energy in her steps. “Woohoo! We’re going to another world again!” Fei shook his head and smacked his hand against his face. With his nerves riding along the lines of unease, Keldeo glanced towards Inge’s path of movement. “Please calm yourself Inge. My nerves are already frizzled up as it is right now. I don’t need you worsening their anxiety.” He pleaded. Professor Gentian shook his head and let out an uneasy sigh. “I’ll get the portal link established.” Walking through the swirling vortex of green, blue and yellow, Rarity spearheaded the group of five. She looked behind her and eyed Inge and Iosac forcing their upper limbs through the walls of the portal. She shut her eyes and shook her head. “Are you alright?” Putting his right hand on Rarity’s left shoulder, Fei asked. “I’m alright. I’m just feeling a bit uneasy.” Rarity responded. “Uneasy?” “Yes. From what I’ve heard about this world, looking upon its ruined state can change a life. I am not sure if I could handle something like that.” Fei retracted his arm back and placed it across his chest. “I know just how you feel. I had my doubts when I’ve seen the world for myself. It definitely is not a world for the weak of heart to see, but you are definitely not weak of heart. The initial shock is shocking, but you will get over it. I know I did.” “I’ll trust your word on it.” With renewed confidence under her hide, Rarity blinked and forced a smile on her face. The swirling colors of the hallway climaxed into a gateway of pure light. On instinct, everyone shut their eyes and averted their gazes from the light. With the shines running against their eyelids gone, the operatives returned their sights forward and opened their eyes. In doing so, the shadowed land of emptiness and desolation filled their gazes. A deep frown curled on Iosac’s face. “What is this place? It doesn’t look very lively.” He asked with a voice that stemmed with concern. “This used to be my home world.” Uttering his words with profound melancholy, Keldeo responded. Inge’s upper limbs dropped down to the floor. Her beak slumped down to her neck. “A world of Pokémon… left in this state? But how?” She asked with a broken voice. Keldeo averted his gaze from Inge and gritted his teeth with an anxious movement. The muscles of his throat clenched, stopping his heart from rising out of its place. “All I know is that a being known as the Demiurge destroyed it. I have no idea how, but it must have been powerful enough to devastate this world to this extent.” Iosac crossed his arms. A nasty scowl formed over his eyes and his chin tucked itself in for his pout. “Well this Demiurge sounds like a real jerk. If I ever see this guy, I’m going to give him the pranking of his or her life.” He threatened. “I’m pretty sure that anyone that could do this to the land would not care for your pranks, Iosac.” Fei stated. “I know… but this guy destroyed an entire world meant for Pokémon. I could’ve had my alternate universe counterpart living here! What if he was turned into a revenant?!” “Don’t worry, Iosac.” Through her shattered voice, Inge stated. “I’m sure he must have escaped somehow… You are just too resourceful to fall for something like Armageddon or Ragnorok or what other words there are for the end as we know it.” “May we please just get onto our objective? This world’s atmosphere isn’t too pleasant to be inside of.” With a mix of impatience and sadness in her voice, Rarity requested. Fei pulled out a rectangular device colored in red out of his suit’s pocket and pointed it towards the acropolis. The light towards the opposite end of the device flashed with a brilliant yellow. Fei glanced towards the acropolis with a shaky right hand. “So it seems like the disturbance is coming from there. I only wonder what it could be.” “I am not sure, but we have to try to look inside of it.” Keldeo said. The group of five headed through the streets of the abandoned Kurisutaru. Fei’s eyes glanced towards Keldeo, who rubbed the fronts of his hooves with his teeth gritted in anxiety and his head cocked away with a fearful glint in his eyes. “Are you alright? You do not look too good.” Fei asked. “I’m just afraid that some more memories of this place would come up again. The last set of memories regarding this place was painful to bear. I’m afraid that I’m going to have another panic attack.” Keldeo let out with his tone strangled in fear. “If anything happens to you, I’ll make sure to bring you back to reality.” Rarity placed her left front hoof upon Keldeo’s right front ankle and glanced onto his eyes. Looking into her eyes, Keldeo felt his anxiety melt away. “I promised you that we would help gather your memories. I will always be willing to help if you are willing to continue forwards. Do not be afraid, because you do not have to handle this alone.” Rarity consoled. “Alright… I will do so. I wanted to do this, so there will be no stopping me.” Pointing towards a large and ornate entrance to a ruined ornate building, Fei’s device vibrated and resonated with a loud alarm. The walls of the temple eroded over the passage of time. Their color faded away into a dull gray. Two crafted impressions in the ground that surrounded the walkway into the building appeared devoid of any previous substance that it would have had. Inge rubbed the top of her body with her upper limbs. “Ohhhh… I have a terrible feeling about this.” She said. “What makes you say that, Inge?” Rarity asked with peaked interest in her voice. “Call it a gamer’s intuition, but important landmarks such as this usually lead into a climactic moment that we have to prepare for.” She voiced with her eyelids dropped a quarter away down her eyes. “That’s just some superstition you have, Inge. This place has been dead for a long time now… right?” With an uneasy giggle and his forehead breaking out in a cold sweat, Iosac responded. “Has it ever been wrong, Iosac?” “…No it hasn’t.” Fei shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. He took his first steps towards the entrance of the ornate building. Rarity looked over her left shoulder, glancing towards Iosac’s shivering body and Inge’s anxious eyes. Taking a deep breath and exhaling it, Keldeo followed Fei into the entrance of the building. “Are you two going to wait out here while Fei, Keldeo and I go inside?” Rarity asked with a chipper tone. “You might never know what sorts of cosmic horrors are lurking out here.” “Nah. We’re fine! I think…” Iosac responded with an unassured tone. “Yeah! I wouldn’t mind standing guard out here for any cosmic horrors.” Inge replied. Rarity shrugged her shoulders and flashed a smile. “Suit yourselves then.” Saying these words, she walked towards the entrance of the building and left Inge and Iosac alone. Iosac glanced towards Inge with an anxious frown plastered onto his face. “Ummm… was she kidding about the whole cosmic horror thing? I mean, this is a dead world right? Cosmic horrors don’t lurk here right?!” He asked. “From some of the horror novels I’ve read, dead worlds like this make perfect homes for cosmic horrors. It provides a good hiding spot for them and allows them to be undisturbed by others.” Inge explained. Iosac grabbed Inge’s right upper limb with his left upper limb with a hasty movement and pulled on it. “Let’s hurry inside with the others! I hear that cosmic horrors are not a fan of pranks!” Within the depths of the building, a handcrafted stained glass dome affixed into the stone ceiling caught Fei’s eyes. Looking directly below it, his eyes gazed upon a raised platform with a star system and multiple planets with runes carved into each planetary figure that revolved on the multiple lines of orbit around an even larger sphere. He walked up the steps and treaded his left hand upon the marble platform. The device in his right hand vibrated with a violent shake. “Interesting…” In bated breath, he mused to himself. “Did you find anything Fei?” Walking into the ruined building, Keldeo asked. Fei turned around and hopped down the steps of the platform. He stopped before Keldeo and Rarity and held out his device. “It seems that whatever this carving is, the device is picking up some heavy signals from this. The design also looks very familiar to me, even if it has some more added features.” He explained. “You’ve seen something like this before?” Rarity questioned. Fei waved to both Keldeo and Rarity and turned around. The trio walked up the steps on top of the raised platform and looked down on carved slab. He pointed towards the largest circle in the center, and then moved his index finger towards the three circles on the next tier. Three triangles filled in the space between the three tiers. “This diagram represents Arceus and the two trinities that are closely related to him. The circles on this next tier represent the Dialga, Palkia and Giratina. Respectively, they control the aspects of time, space and dimensions. Meanwhile, the three triangles between them represent the aspects of sapience granted to life. Mesprit commands emotion, Uxie commands knowledge and Azelf commands willpower.” He explained. “But there are more spheres and orbits around these features. What could that possibly mean?” Rarity asked. “That I am not sure. This was an interesting find, but it might seem like it is a dud.” Fei responded. Looking upon the diagram with his eyes, a throbbing grip clamped itself upon the temples of Keldeo’s head. Bringing his left front hoof up to his forehead, he rubbed his left temple with a circular motion. His left eye shut itself and his right eye winced with a sporadic movement. His legs wobbled underneath the weight of his body. Looking towards his direction, Rarity’s smile of intrigue washed away into a frown of concern. She wrapped her right front leg around Keldeo’s right front leg and stroked the back of his neck with a consoling speed. Fei’s eyes widened at the sight of Keldeo’s pain. He rushed towards Keldeo’s left side and placed his right hand on his left shoulder, pinning him in place. “Keldeo, are you alright?” Rarity asked. “That stupid diagram is hurting my head but I don’t know why.” Keldeo retorted with a strained voice. Fei looked behind him and saw Iosac and Inge burst from the entrance of the building with swift speed. Eyeing the lack of intent to stop within the two, his chest stopped moving and he drew his hands away from Keldeo. He held them out and shook them in an effort to derail them. Inge and Iosac bumped into the group of three operatives before them. With force applied on his hind side, Keldeo stepped forwards onto the slab of stone. A sword-shaped crest within one of the farther-distanced oscillations glowed with a deep blue color. His headache exploded into a full-out migraine. Pressing both hooves against his head, he shouted in pure agony. “Keldeo!” Fei and Rarity shouted in unison. The two operatives ran onto the platform by his side. Inge and Iosac followed on their tails. The entire platform began glowing with a white light that broke the darkness of the world and enshrouded the group of Pokémon and Rarity. Their sight whited out. Rarity’s eyes slowed into an open. With the vision of the world around her restored, she found herself lying upon the same stone slab she stood upon moments ago. On careful inspection, the slab looked renewed, almost if it was never damaged. On the ground, she saw Fei, Keldeo, Inge and Iosac lying on the ground. Her ears picked up the sound of water rushing into the pool around the platform and her eyes detected the white light that illuminated the area. She let her gaze upon a statue of a qilin-like creature with a darker-colored underside hoisted upon a pedestal at the center of the area. Its four pointed hooves tipped themselves in gold and a cross-like golden wheel affixed itself around the statue’s abdomen. “Exactly what kind of creature is that statue based off of?” Rarity whispered out. Further examining the room, she looked above and saw the same stain-glassed window above the platform. The marble pillars each had a green vine entangling it from the bottom. A clamor of waking groans sounded out behind her. She turned towards the group. A smile of relief overcame her. She walked up the steps and sat on the ground with a patient stance. Keldeo, Fei, Inge and Iosac all opened their eyes and pushed themselves off the ground. “Who turned on all of the lights?” Fei asked. “That was a weird feeling. Let’s do it again!” Iosac shouted. “It felt like I got up after an intense gaming session. Just what exactly did that platform do?” Rubbing her head with her right upper limb, Inge asked. Keldeo blinked three times. A wave of nostalgia overcame him. “I don’t know why, but it feels like I know this place.” He said. “I had that same feeling too. Most of the structures in here seem to be similar to the ones we’ve seen back in Kurisutaru except that all of these look as though they were taken care of.” Rarity noted. Keldeo narrowed his eyes and let out a tired frown. “We should probably look around a bit.” He suggested. Shaking the grasp of exhaustion clinging onto their bodies, the group descended from the steps and headed towards the exit of the building. Upon stepping out of the building, Fei’s eyes picked up on two pools that surrounded the walkway. They were filled with purified water running in from a pipeline. His eyes widened with shock. “Are you sure that this isn’t Kurisutaru? Because I could have sworn that there were pools like this back there.” Fei questioned with an anxious stun in his voice. “I never said that. I just said that it feels like Kurisutaru.” Keldeo answered back. “Yet, I can’t help but feel that this actually is Kurisutaru. But…” He looked upwards and gazed into the crystal blue sky, where only few wisps of clouds tagged onto the clear sky. Gazing forwards, he saw a trio of green-coated fawns with cream-colored bottoms and yellow flowers growing out of their foreheads. The fawns played along the city’s streets with large smiles on their faces. “Summer-colored Deerlings over there…” Fei stated, pointing to the trio of Deerlings. He then moved his finger towards two large and gray humanoids carrying a large crystal pillar over their right shoulder with their ripped arms. They each had black tights wrapped around their lap and golden championship belts around their waist. “…and there are some Machokes over there.” Rarity looked into the sky, where she gazed upon the sight of a pale yellow rodent with a black and bolt-shaped tail, black-tipped ears and pink cheeks riding upon a giant yellow bee with gray-purple limbs and sharp needles for forearms. Feeling the wind blow against their bodies, the two Pokémon each wielded large smiles on their faces. “I don’t think I have ever seen something like that up there.” Pointing into the sky, Rarity noted. “That’s because you don’t. Beedrills tend to be very nasty Pokémon in nature and while Pichus can be mischievous, they know that Beedrills should not be messed around with.” Iosac explained. Towards Inge’s right, she set her gaze on a pink cloud of cotton candy with its tongue sticking out that stood on its darker pink-colored feet. It faced an orange and brown piglet and a pink and cream kitten with a perpetual smile on its face. With an audible conversation passing amongst their group, the trio of Pokémon laughed. Inge marked her way towards the group. “Ummm… excuse me, but do you three know where we are?” She asked. The trio of Pokémon gazed towards Inge with curious smiles on their faces. The cloud hopped over towards her and looked up to her face with a grateful grin. “You look very unusual for a Pokémon, but look very strong too! You are in the city of Kurisutaru!” It answered with closed eyes and an enthusiastic voice. “I thought you would know that. After all, not many Pokémon would come here without knowing what this city is.” The piglet answered in a youthful and rough accent. “If you want, we can give you a tour of the town Miss.” The kitten offered. “Hold on one moment!” Inge responded. She hovered towards her group with a stunned expression on her face. Fei approached her with his eyes crooked in curiosity. “You look a bit out there right now, Inge. What did the Swirlix, Tepig and Skitty over there tell you?” He asked. “It turns out that this is indeed Kurisutaru.” Upon hearing Inge’s words, all of the jaws of the entire group dropped to the ground. Author's Note So that happened. How is this possible? And... what's going to happen next? Shattered Remnants pt. 3Rarity, Keldeo, Fei, Inge, and Iosac scoured the streets with their fleet-footed pacing. The members of the group each formed quick glances towards each other and looked down towards the street. “We’re probably going to have to split into groups if we want to cover more of the problematic areas at a quicker pace.” Fei suggested in mid-gait. “Good idea! I’ll zoom ahead and take the north district.” Kicking up dust with a sudden burst of acceleration, Inge shouted. “Well, so much for uniting with Inge.” With a roll of his eyes, Keldeo commented. “Rarity and I will take the east district. Does that mean you and Iosac will-“ He looked to his right and noticed the absence of Fei and Iosac. An annoyed sigh passed by his mouth. “Well, we really didn’t need to say anything.” Rarity remarked with a crafty smile. Both she and Keldeo jolted their direction towards the right. Their eyes fixed straight into the center with the ability to prepare for what is yet to come. A cream-coated horse with an actual fire for her mane sprinted away from a horde of winged daemons cloaked in a brilliant light. The golden road before her ignited with trails of orange explosions that peaked to the heights of nearby buildings. The noises that erupted from them rang in her ears. With her powerful legs, she leaped over the clouds of burning gas and sprinted further down. A stream of heavy panting flowed out of her lungs and her muscles begged her to slow down. In mid-gallop, her left front hoof tripped over a small mound of debris from the explosions. Her black eyes widened and despair filled the depths of her heart. She fell onto the ground and rolled along it. Looking towards her back, the shining daemons appeared in her line of sight. Her mouth curved into an open frown. Seeing their bodies charge with red, she looked away and moved her right front leg over her face. “Someone. Please, save me.” She whispered to herself. The noise of air being slashed in half reached her ears. She looked up towards where her oppressors are and saw a bisected daemon fall to the ground and wither away into particles of light. A storm of gems arranged in the colors of the rainbow plunged themselves into the rest of the daemons. Falling towards the ground, they vanished into a mist of light. “Are you alright?” Running by the horse’s side, Keldeo asked with concern rumbling in his voice. The horse let out a wide smile and embraced Keldeo by his neck. Witnessing the fiery mane close to him, Keldeo ducked his head back in an effort to avoid it. “Thank you for coming to my aid, Keldeo. I knew you would come save me.” The horse said in a relieved tone. “Ummm… your mane is literally a tongue of fire. Plus, you make it sound like you know me.” Keldeo worded out with an anxious shiver. The horse stepped away from Keldeo and bored a disbelieving stare into his eyes. “That’s supposed to be a joke, right? You know that the fire of a Ponyta won’t hurt those that they like, and you are one of my closest friends.” She said. “Oh! Now I feel like I just made things awkward between us.” With his stance faltering, Keldeo said. “And may I ask who you are?” Rarity asked with an inquiring voice. Ponyta glanced towards Rarity and examined her with curious eyes. She looked towards Keldeo with her shoulders raised in suspicion. “She doesn’t look like any Pokémon I’ve ever seen.” She said aloud. “Is she an alien?” With her mouth contorted in anxiety, Rarity glanced towards Keldeo with eyes pleading for a response. She forced a bout of nervous laughter and faked a smile. “Ummm, yes I am. I came here from my planet upon a distress signal that your kind is being attacked!” She lied. “Unfortunately, they only had enough current resources at hand to send me and a few others down here. My name is Rarity.” Ponyta inspected Rarity’s physical features: Rarity’s size towered over her by a foot, and her blue eyes complimented her purple mane and white coat. What took her most by surprise is the image of three diamonds on her flank. “Wow… you look very pretty.” She mused out in awe. “You’re just a filly, aren’t you? What are you doing by yourself here? Shouldn’t you be with your family?” Rarity asked. Ponyta peaked into a brown satchel hung around her neck and, using her mouth, pulled out a badge designed in the shape of four lines. Three bent lines, which are colored in orange, light green and pale blue all swayed to the right. The fourth and final line stood in a proud shape to the left, colored in a deep blue. Its girth exceeded the other lines combined. “I asked a Torkoal smithy to make this badge for my dear Keldeo. It is a symbol of the Resolute Forme that Keldeos are said to have.” Rarity’s eyes twitched at the passing of Ponyta’s words. She exhaled a deep breath and looked onto the badge in the Ponyta’s mouth. A small smile cracked along the edges of her mouth. “This is a nice badge, but why would you risk your life for this?” Ponyta opened her mouth, but a golden dragon with displaced wings made from fragments of an ethereal substance stomped the ground. A halo the size of its massive body hung behind its back. Its eyes resonated with emptiness. It held its massive right arm into the sky and drove it down towards the trio below. “Hold on! I’m coming!” A loud and booming voice shouted from out of nowhere. The dragon creature dropped its arm with a massive force of power. A brown shadow sprinted towards the colliding arm and held it back with its dark brown horns. The shadow unraveled itself in the shape of a large bull with the physique of a rock. Attached to the flesh of his shoulders are orange bracers. With his stunted horns, he knocked away the arm of the dragon and lifted it up in the air. With a thrust of his powerful neck, he chucked the dragon towards a building. Pounding against the crystalline wall of the building, it fell to the ground with an explosion of dust being carried away by a current of pressure. The bovine looked towards Keldeo and grinned. “Looks like I made it just in time, Kelds. A minute later and all of you would’ve been minced meat.” Keldeo glanced upon the bovine with eyes that strained themselves into remembering the form of the Pokémon before him. His mouth wavered with the fear of asking him a question. Within this dead set pause, Rarity walked up towards the bovine with a warm smile. “Excuse me, but who are you?” She asked. Unbeknownst to the rest of the group, a sigh of relief passed from Keldeo’s mouth. “Just your friendly neighborhood Sword of Justice Terrakion.” Grinning with a cocky disposition, Terrakion responded. “Sir Terrakion!” Ponyta called out. “What are you doing here?” Terrakion rolled his eyes towards Keldeo and cricked his neck towards him. “Cobalion asked me to check up on the squirt here and take him away as far away from this city as possible. But, I can see that everyone here has everything handled perfectly.” “So… are you going to take me away from the city as far as possible?” Keldeo asked. “You’re old enough to take care of yourself, Keldeo. I don’t need to baby you, even if Cobalion says otherwise. Plus, your lady friends look tough enough to help you out.” The debris of the building lifted into the sky and the dragon roared with a noise that pierced the very heavens. It looked down onto Terrakion with an overbearing stare. Terrakion grinned. “Besides, I got my boots tied up with this higher-ranked daemon. If I went with you all, I’d just be bringing this fat and ugly monstrosity with us.” Rarity glanced towards the dragon, whose eyes flashed with bloodlust. Her blood chilled to her heart and her coat paled. “That would not be a bad idea, Sir Terrakion. You take care of that monstrosity while we go and escort Miss Ponyta out of the city.” She stated. “Yes sir!” Raising his right front hoof to his forehead, Keldeo announced. “Please don’t salute me. I don’t really like that type of attention.” Terrakion stated. With his back turned, Terrakion felt the force of a thousand stampeding rhinos collide against the lower-right portion of his jaw. Feeling the dragon’s claws punch his jaw, Terrakion flew to the far right and blasted off with the force of a rocket. “I don’t know about you, but I think that means we should get out of here.” Ponyta suggested. Without any hesitation or pause, Keldeo and Rarity sprinted away from the battlefield. Ponyta slanted her eyes into an aggravated stare and ran after the duo of operatives. “Don’t leave me alone with these two lunatics!” The once lustrous buildings and golden streets shifted into shells of their former selves; debris littered entire sections of road to the point where mountains of the rubble served as blockades for the main pathways. Fei and Iosac clambered upon the mountains of rubble and leaped over their peaks. Beyond the final peak, they eyed a lone Deerling whose body shivered with anxiety and mouth that let out a wide open frown. Before him stood a bipedal daemon whose body shimmered with a golden aura. Its white arms and legs shown themselves as lanky, but its golden torso rippled with the chest and abs of Adonis. Its head sprawled with a mess of yellow vines, but on its left arm is a shield that portrayed a gold-colored face devoid of pupils. Its body cloaked itself in an aura that spark with ethereal choirs. “I’m sorry, but I have to say this; what in the Reverse Dimension is that?!” With a scowl of his eyes and a shift of his neck towards Fei, Iosac shouted out. “Seriously, all of the other creatures we’ve seen had ummm… some comprehensible form to them. But this… I don’t even know what to say about it! This joke writes itself!” The face of the daemon motioned itself towards the top of the rubble mountain and grunted. The body of the daemon motioned itself towards Fei and Iosac. Fei glanced towards Iosac with a stern stare and an expressionless mouth. “Iosac, you can be an idiot sometimes.” He said with no hesitation. The left arm aimed the face on the shield towards Fei and Iosac. The face opened its mouth, where a ball of yellow energy sparked to life. The ball grew to be twice the size of the shield before it blasted itself towards the duo. Fei and Iosac leaped off of the mountain rubble, dodging the projectile blast that headed towards them. Fei sprinted towards the daemon and leaped into the air with his right foot held out towards it. The daemon blocked the kick with its golden face shield. With his hip gyrating to the right, Fei leaped off of the shield and landed on his feet. Iosac held out his stubby arms and shut his eyes. Before anyone could make a move, a powerful gust blew behind Iosac and Fei. A crafty grin crawled its way onto Iosac’s face. His light body carried itself away on the blowing of the wind, allowing him to take flight into the air. Hovering above the bipedal daemon, he raised his arms and right leg into the air. Razor winds surrounded the daemon and lifted it into the air. Iosac glanced towards Fei and nodded with readying approval. Fei grunted and ran towards the cyclone generated by Iosac. He leaped off of the flying debris and into the eye of the cyclone where the daemon stood. He stood onto a floating chunk of debris and bent his legs into a steady arc. With his palm glowing in a hazy blue, he set his stare towards the daemon and leaped towards it once more. He thrust his left fist towards it. The daemon parried with a thrust of its face shield. Fei smirked and vanished from his current position. He reappeared in front of the chest of the daemon and launched his glowing palm straight into the chest. The face on the shield opened its eyes and mouth in wide-eyed circles. Fei clenched the chest and lifted the daemon overhead and threw downwards. The daemon crashed onto the ground on its back, creating a crater the size of a lakebed. With the Hurricane and Tailwind petering into a mere gust of wind, Fei held out his right front leg towards daemon and dropped with the force of a falling rock. The collision of the strike elicited an upward jolt of the daemon’s limbs into the sky. “Hah! My turn for the relay!” Iosac called out. Fei rolled his body out of the way. The tips of Iosac’s arms lit up with orbs of green energy. He flipped his body and threw the orbs towards the downed daemon. A storm of razor leaves shot out from Iosac’s fluff and aimed towards the daemon below. The eyes of the face on the daemon’s shield lit up with a red light. It stood up from the ground and directed its sights onto Fei and Iosac. A horde of orbs made out of photon swarmed the being. It pointed its long and lanky beings towards the duo of Pokémon. The orbs fired off in the pointed direction. The orbs pelted away at the flesh of Fei and Iosac. Both Pokémon crossed their upper limbs and held them in front of their chests and faces. Their eyes narrowed and shallow grunts that resonated with their pain. The storm of orbs sped up and dug into the flesh of their opponents. The photon exploded with flashing lights. Fei and Iosac slid along the ground with their feet dragging along it. Within the blink of an eye, the daemon warped in front of the duo. It raised its shield towards them and dropped it with the strength of a hammer. Cobalion leaped in front of the duo and blocked the shield strike with his horns. He looked back towards Fei and Iosac with gritting teeth and a stern stare. “Lord Cobalion!” Fei called out. “D-didn’t I tell you and your group to stay put inside of the building?!” Cobalion scolded. Fei closed his eyes and shook his head. “Negatory. We cannot risk leaving the building after we would be given the clear. Too many lives are at stake.” Cobalion thrashed his head forwards and pushed back the shield of the daemon. An anguished sigh rushed from his mouth. “You seem to like making things difficult, do you not? But, while we are here, escort this child back to his parents. He must be very scared.” Iosac glanced towards the fawn Pokémon, who shook in pure anxiety. His knees bent themselves towards his body and his mouth quivered with teary eyes. “I got separated from my mom! Please, help me find her!” He cried out. Iosac flew towards the Deerling and got him up from the ground. “It’s alright, Deerling. I’ll help you find your mom.” A weak smile formed on the Deerling’s face. He stood up from the ground and ran towards Fei and Iosac’s side. The trio of Pokémon maneuvered above the mountain of rubble behind them, leaving Cobalion alone with the daemon. He ducked his head and flashed his fear-inducing stare towards it. “Attacking children? You must not hold your life in high regard. Come at me!” Swirlix, Tepig and Skitty took three steps back and gazed forward with nervous eyes; a squadron of winged daemons and canines gazed onto the trio with bloodlust resonating from their eyes. The lungs of the trios dared not to breathe out of a shallow breath, and their bodies stiffened their joints. Tepig edged himself close to Swirlix. “Those monsters are s-s-scary!” He shouted. “They look worse than monsters, and they’re real!” Skitty shouted. The group of three huddled together. Their bodies shook as a collective being. Swirlix looked towards his companions. “I think I could have said some mean things to you two, but you are some of my best friend ever.” “I agree. You have always been a good friend.” Tepig noted in agreement. “Thank you. I promise that I will try to be a better friend in the afterlife.” Swirlix stated. The three Pokémon hid their faces away from the aggressive creatures. A static explosion elicited upward jolts from their ears. Looking forward, the trio witnessed a storm of balls made from electricity striking down from a diagonal angle. Inge leaped from the rooftops of the buildings to the right. Her body flashed with a red light within the span of the moment. Approaching the horde of daemons, her tail flashed in a white light and shifted into a metallic appearance. Leaping into the air, she flipped her tail and slammed it towards the horde. Amidst the dust of the area, her body flashed with a dark purple light. She shot out a spider’s web cloaked in electricity, capturing two winged daemon in its voltic grasp. “A critical hit!” She called out. The winged daemons drove their bodies towards her with a white light brimming around them. Inge’s body cloaked itself in a flash of yellow light. A green barrier erected around her, deflecting all of the tackling daemons. With her body flashing in a bout of red light, she set her gaze on the group of daemons and crooked her head to her right side. “Wow!!” Tepig called out. “She’s so cool!” Two canine daemons leaped towards her with snarling muzzles. Inge leaped above the nearest-approaching canine. The top of her head lit up with a light-blue aura. She smashed her head into the head of the canine. With her tail encasing itself in iron once more, she swept her tail underneath the canine’s legs, removing its connected stance with the land. With her body flashing in a light blue color, an electrified orb of energy shot out of her beak and crashed into the canine. “She’s awesome! And using a wide variety of moves!” Skitty cheered. “Yeah! This is almost like Bisharp May Cry in real life! Or… and I thinking of Braixenyetta? Eh, don’t care. All I know is that I’m attacking a horde of demons in style!” Leaping off of each of the winged daemons and smacking them with Iron Tail, Inge stated to her own self. Each of the daemons vanished from the area. Inge gazed down the road with her eyes closed in pride. Swirlix hopped over towards Inge with a wide grin on his face. “You’re that weird Pokémon from before! How did you pull off such awesome moves like that?!” He asked with an astonished voice. Inge pounded her right upper limb upon her chest, eliciting a cycle of flashes between light blue, red, purple and yellow. “I got my movesets on disks thanks to my leader. Not only can I change up my moves in battle, but I can cancel my current moves into a new moveset and avoid any unnecessary lag. It also happens to be a pro-tip to use in fighting games or any other combo-based games.” She explained. “So… what you are saying is that you are like a computer?” With his eyes narrowed in uncertainty, Tepig asked. “Yep. I see everything in a virtual world aspect. I’m surprised you know what computers even are!” “We’ve had computers for a while now. But, it never reached to the extent of actually creating Pokémon like you!” Pointing towards Inge with an excited smile, Skitty replied. A sphere of light appeared in front of Inge and the children. Two giant claws honed from platinum and attached to grayed hands smashed its way through the light. An oblong-shaped object attached to a decaying neck jumped out of the light. Its face sported empty eye sockets that peered into its rotting mind. The rest of the body pushed out of the portal and stood on its two legs, revealing it to be two times larger than a building. Wrapped around its grayed body are bandages splattered with dark red stains. Inge narrowed her eyes, cocked her head and scratched the top of it. “Seriously? A zombie, here? Whoever this Demiurge is must really be taking these clichéd enemy ideas from somewhere. Generic flavor I tell you.” The trio of Pokémon behind her looked towards the monstrous beast with their faces paled with unfiltered fear permeating through their chilled blood. Virizion rushed by the side of Inge and the children. She stared at the beast of a zombie with calm and unfettered eyes. “Well, I can definitely say that I’ve never seen this before.” She mused to herself. She gazed towards Inge and smiled. “I don’t think I have ever seen a Pokémon such as yourself here. Are you one of Keldeo’s new friends?” “We’re more of acquaintances. ‘Friend’ would imply that I like the Pokémon in question.” Inge stated with a cold tone. A lopsided frown curled its way onto Virizion’s face. “I… I see.” Inge gazed onto Virizion’s face and noticed the frown hidden away from her. Her eyelids slanted into a diagonal position. “D-don’t be like that! You’ll make me feel bad.” She replied. “At the very least… just treat him with respect. I know that he can be a bit impulsive at times, but he’s always been awkward around others.” Virizion explained. “Is he? Well that explains why I don’t see him around too often.” Inge murmured to herself. “Anyways, I’m going to take the children here somewhere safe. Will you be alright with taking on this zombie by yourself?” “Of course. I trust that you will keep these children safe.” Ducking her head towards the monstrous daemon, Virizion said. Inge backed away from Virizion and towards the main street. She waved towards the trio of Pokémon. “If you don’t want to end up like common mooks, then I suggest you hurry up and follow me!” She stated. Swirlix, Tepig and Skitty all ran towards Inge. Gazing towards the fleeing Inge and children, Virizion let out a silent sigh and gazed towards the zombie. “You are seriously an ugly monstrosity of life. I will be glad to see you gone from existence.” She called out. Fei, Iosac and the Deerling sprinted down the curl of steps outside of the city walls. A sea of colorful creatures littered the outskirts of Kurisutaru. Keldeo and Rarity stood out within the front of the crowd with their faces lighting up in joy at the sight of their partners. The duo ran towards the descending trio. “Fei! Iosac! You two are okay!” Keldeo shouted. Fei wiped his forehead with his right hand and closed the distance between him, Rarity and Keldeo. “Cobalion is fighting the daemon that we fought and rescued this Deerling here.” Shifting his sight to the left, he witnessed the Deerling wading his way towards a large doe with a chestnut-colored coat, light coffee-colored underside and two branches that sprawled with leafy bushes. The doe smiled and nuzzled the Deerling with closed eyes. Inge zipped down from the wall with a zig-zag pattern. Tepig, Skitty and Swirlix each leaped off of Inge’s back and shook their heads. “You moved as fast as lightning!” Swirlix shouted with glee. “I’ll admit… I was a little bit frightened.” Edging her head away from Inge, Skitty said. “Something like that must require expert timing.” Tepig noted with a smile on his tilted face. A white light with a black epicenter exploded above the skies of the city, cloaking the entire area in its unhallowed glow. A figure of a purple black-coated alicorn stallion the size of an oak tree descended from the black epicenter of the light. He stood adorned in a bright traje de luces colored in yellow. He opened his eyes and mouth, revealing unending voids tinted with magenta and purple. With a leftward sleight of his left front hoof, a holographic screen the size of the city hung above in the sky, making his visage visible to everyone. “Today, I have graced this world with my presence!” He stated with a dogmatic tone. “You should all feel blessed to witness a god perform his miracles on this unclean land that writhed with you insects.” The entire crowd of Pokémon in the outskirts of the city looked towards the self-proclaimed deity with curious gazes affixed onto him. Rarity frowned and stared towards Keldeo, Fei, Iosac and Inge with uneasy eyes. “This is the Demiurge? But, he almost looks as if he can pass off as an Equusian... minus the glowing lights and the suit of course.” She noted. The Demiurge descended onto the center of the city, where a golden statue of the quilin stood displayed for all to see. Cobalion, Virizion and Terrakion all stood upwards with their backs against marble pillars and their bodies bound to it with three layers of white rope. The Demiurge walked towards the Swords of Justice with a smug grin covering his face. Cobalion squirmed and grunted within the bindings of light. “You will not get away with attacking this city you fiend! All who threaten the lives of Pokémon shall be brought to justice!” The Demiurge walked towards Cobalion with a swagger in his step. Lifting his right front hoof up to Cobalion’s head, the Demiurge smacked his left side of the face with the force of a thousand cosmos slamming into him at once. Hearing Cobalion yelp out a pained squeal, the masses of Pokémon took a step back and gasped at the sight. “I did not give you permission to speak out of turn, worm!” The Demiurge shouted with an indignant tone. A dark bruise surfaced itself over Cobalion’s damaged flesh. Cobalion’s left eye twitched from the stinging pain pulsing from his bruise. Terrakion’s hind legs kicked along the ground with unrestrained force and his torso leaned forward. His eyes slanted themselves into a fiery stare. “Hey! No one treats one of my best friends like that and gets away with it!” He screamed. Virizion gazed towards Terrakion with a worried frown curving over the edges of her lips. She veered her head towards his direction. “It’s not a wise idea to say anything, Terrakion.” She whispered. “The wench here is right, you pile of dust.” The Demiurge said. “I like to have you still and not prancing around like a mad chimera. If you aren’t, then…” He smiled with a large curve, displaying his rows of sharp teeth. He stood on his hind legs and reared his right front hoof to his shoulder blade. He thrust it into Terrakion’s chest, digging to the point where a spatter of blood shot out from Terrakion’s mouth. Terrakion’s eyes shot open from the blow. His knees grew weak and his body slumped on the bindings of light. Out of the wave of Pokémon outside of the city, an orange-fleshed dragonoid with wings made of dark aqua-colored membranes dropped his jaw at the sight of brutality on the screen. The fire at the end of his tail ignited into a blazing pillar. His eyes became slit with rage. “I refuse to stand around any longer and witness such brutality against my role models!” Stomping his way towards the stairs, he stated with a pronounced voice. From the square in the city, a small smirk made its way along the Demiurge’s lips. His horn flashed with a white and black-swirling aura. Upon leaping into the air and expanding his wings, the dragonoid sat his sights at the darkening of the sky above. A volley of purple lighting bolts fired down onto him, causing every cell in his body to writhe in shock. A shout of primordial fear echoed from his estranged throat. “Charizard!” Extending his right front foot towards the Pokémon and frowning with an agape mouth, Tepig screamed. The screaming weakened to a stop. Ashes that scattered itself through the wind remained of the Charizard. The Pokémon around the area stood motionless and silent at what they witnessed. Anxiety anchored onto their spines, paralyzing the Pokémon from making any sort of movement. Rarity, Keldeo, Fei, Iosac and Inge stared at the scorched ground where the Charizard was killed. Their exteriors paled into a weak version of their natural colors. A dark chuckle emerged from the Demiurge’s voice. “As I was saying, anyone who would even attempt to defy my will shall meet with a pitiful end, just as that worm had.” He stated. “Why…? Why would you attack our world like this?” Straining to regain his focus, Cobalion asked. “We have strived hard to attain the peace we have today. It isn’t fair to the new generation who wish to live in this era!” “I’m glad you asked. You see, I just happened to stumble onto your world. I saw that it was so peaceful, so beautiful! And it disgusts me.” “Disgusts you?!” Virizion shouted with her eyelids slanting in anger. “I don’t know what kind of world you live in, but it must be horrible if you reign over it!” The Demiurge planted his left front hoof on his forehead. A pained groan sounded out from his voice. He walked towards Virizion and brought his right front hoof to her jaw. “I would almost pity you with how pathetic your statement was… almost. Do you not know how weak your kind truly is without conflict? I do, and I will show you how.” He took three steps back and turned around. His horn ignited with magic, spawning three shimmering swords wreathed with a white aura behind each of the tied Swords of Justice. “What just happened? What did you do?” Terrakion questioned with an annoyed tone. “Simple; I’m executing the three of you.” Out in the crowds below, Keldeo’s knees grew weak at the sound of the Demiurge’s words. With his pupils dilated and his mouth dry, his body quivered with a nervous shake. “Execute? He’s going to execute them?!” He shouted. Noticing his right front hoof eager to move, Rarity’s breath shocked upon itself. With a flash of her horn, an aura wrapped itself around Keldeo, stopping him in place. Keldeo squirmed in the telekinetic grip. “R-Rarity! L-let go of me! Can’t you see he’s going to kill my family?!” He screamed. “You are not going up those stairs, Keldeo! You saw what happened to the poor Pokémon that did, right?” Rarity reasoned. Keldeo glanced towards the scorched area where the Charizard last stood, bringing forth a ray of realization upon him. A phantom of despair reached out from his stomach and ensnared his heart. “B-but…” He worded out. “I don’t want to lose them again. I have to save them, even if it kills me!” Fei stomped the ground with his right foot and turned towards Keldeo’s direction. “What? You want to die and have your fostering family die as well?! You are just going to throw your life away for a lost cause?! Do you understand just how idiotic your words are right now?” He screamed out in anger. Keldeo’s eyes welled up with water. His sporadic movement stopped in place. His face fell into a sorrow-filled frown. Rarity weakened her telekinetic grip, allowing Keldeo to move his right front leg towards the city. The screen above displayed Cobalion, Virizion and Terrakion with their faces down in the realization of their fates. Virizion lifted her head and gazed out to the spacious area in front of her. She forced a soft smile on her face. “Wherever you are Keldeo, please do not cry. I know you are upset about what is going to happen. In all honesty, I wish I could still keep living so that I may keep caring for you. But… fate just has its ways with all of us. All I hope for you is to live out your life wherever it may take you. And Rarity, even if we had just only met, I felt something special about you. You have a warm and generous spirit that brings forth justice. Please make sure that Keldeo doesn’t push himself too hard.” She said. Rarity turned her head and eyes to Keldeo and then back towards Virizion on the screen. She nodded. “Hey squirt!” With an eager smile adorned on his face, Terrakion shouted. “If you’re down there, make sure that you’ve taken all of the training that we gave you and put it to good use. If I found out that you are just sitting around and doing nothing, my spirit’s gonna come back from the grave and haunt you!” “And Keldeo…” Cobalion began speaking. “I apologize if I was ever too rough on you with your training segments. I only wished for you to be better than I was. Even after I’m gone, keep pushing your limits and learn to exceed your capabilities in order to gain your Resolute Form. It is what your parents would have wanted.” Keldeo stared towards the screen with bated breath. His vision blurred from the tears that obscured his sight. The Demiurge rolled his eyes and changed the color of his horn to a violent shade of red. The swords behind the tied-up Pokémon dived into the pillars and crashed through their spines. The tips of the swords pierced through their chests, bringing forth a river of blood that seeped from their hearts and poured onto the street. The bodies of the trio slumped forwards and their jaws dropped to their lowest possible angle. Their sight drifted away until the blacks of their pupils clouded themselves with white. Their bodies softened into an ethereal shimmer, vanishing from the hold by the bindings of light. The Demiurge flew into the air and glanced down on the waves of Pokémon with a gnarled grin. “See how pitiful of an end your precious ‘heroes’ met? They lived by the sword, so they died by the sword. Anyone who dares defy my will shall meet their end like those quadrupeds and that overgrown lizard.” Upon the declaration of his words, black clouds rolled into the sky. Flashes of white and crackling thunder reverberated throughout the land. “That is enough!!! Bringing despair to my children is the last straw, demon!” An omnipotent voice shouted. A white quilin-like creature broke through the sky with its eyes yellow with rage. It bore no mouth and possessed a black underside. Its head and tail ended with wavy wisps, and gold tipped its feet. A golden wheel and eighteen plates encircled its body. The yellow plate that orbited the creature flashed, bringing forth a wicked lightning bolt that shot from the enraged deity and struck the Demiurge. Fei looked into the sky with his jaw dropped and his eyes bolstered open. “That Pokémon… it cannot be! Lord Arceus?!” He worded out with a stupefied tone. “Arceus?!” Iosac, Inge and Keldeo shouted in unison. “Ummm… who?” Rarity vocalized with an uneasy tone. “Arceus is the god of all Pokémon. His presence here can only mean one thing; he is very, very mad.” Fei explained with an stare of unwavering shock from the event that unfolded before his eyes. “Fei… please be a dear and remind me of the consequences of angering a god.” Rarity requested. A light blue plate and fiery red plate both flashed around Arceus. A tornado of ice blue winds engulfed the Demiurge, tearing him apart with its razor gusts and bitter chill. An upside-down tornado of orange flames descended upon him, bringing blistering heat to the self-proclaimed deity. The two techniques combined into a sphere. With a pure white plate flashing around Arceus, the attacks glowed with a white light. Arceus turned around and the sphere behind him ignited with a reality-breaking explosion. Witnessing the waves arriving towards them, the crowds of Pokémon broke away from each other and fled beyond the outskirts of the city. The Demiurge flew out of the ensuing black cloud with wings tipped in a pulsating red. The pupils of his eyes revealed themselves as purple, and he bore his teeth with frustrated gusts pulsing from his mouth. His traje de luces disappeared from his body, revealing his jet black coat. Aiming his horn towards the god of Pokemon and firing a beam that swirled with ivory and light pink lights, Arceus vanished from the trajectory and appeared by the Demuirge’s side. “You will not leave quietly it seems. I did not want to do this, but you leave me no choice; I shall gladly commit the deed of deicide if it means protecting my children from a psychopathic god like yourself!” He proclaimed. “Deicide? Do you believe that you can kill a god of my stature? Very well; I shall invite you to try.” A dark purple plate that hung around Arceus illuminated. A dark haze made up of spectral skulls surrounded the Demiurge, swamping him within another realm. A black gate cracked open, revealing red lines that segued into an infernal vortex. A maelstrom of gusts blew behind the Demiurge, dragging his body towards the portal. The Demiurge’s horn flashed. Cocking his head towards the gate, a dark beam shot into the portal. The portal’s energy frizzed from the magical imbalance and frazzled out of existence. The shadows around the Demiurge, bringing him back over the skies of Kurisutaru and face to face against Arceus. “Trying to banish my soul to hell, are you not? That was a bold move on your end there, Yaldabaoth.” “Are you implying that I am a false god? You truly are but a mere child who is controlling power beyond what his sanity is capable of withstanding. You are so convinced of your own god-like status that you are willing to make the entirety of reality yours. You are merely an almighty idiot.” Arceus chided. “I am not a child! I am the one true lord! You are the one who is a child!” With the veins on his head rupturing and his right front hoof pointed towards Arceus, the Demiurge shouted. He unfolded his massive wings and flapped them, bringing forth blackened gusts that swallowed the area. Arceus lowered his head down and stared through the eye of the windy abyss. A bolt of white lightning fired down from above Arceus’s head, shocking his body. He shut his eyes and let the lightning run through his body. The Demiurge flew through the air with his right front hoof reared into a readied thrust. Arceus’s body radiated with a yellow light, dispelling the black gusts of the area. The pitch-black plate around Arceus hummed with power. Leaning his body forward, Arceus fired a jet black beam of energy from the front of his body. The beam of energy engulfed the Demiurge, burning away his glowing flesh with its wicked energy. The beam dissipated, leaving the Demiurge with black burns deep within his coat. “Is that truly all the power you possess? A kitten hits harder than you.” Arceus stared at the damaged god with disbelieving eyes; what remained of the Demiurge’s left front hoof hung off of his open shoulder and portions of his torso eroded away from the blast. Arceus steeled his nerves and set his glare down towards the individual. “I am mildly surprised that your life force did not cease after that strike. It has become apparent to me that I did not nearly put in as much power into that Eradication Beam as I should have done. I will not make that same mistake again.” Declaring these words, he dashed through the air with a trail of illusions following him. He rammed into the Demiurge, striking at him towards all angles and vanishing within a blink off an eye. He appeared above the Demiurge, materializing a golden rune above the dark god. “Now you will die! Feel the wrath of the heavens falling upon you!” Arceus shouted. A storm of brimstone fell down from the rune above, pelting its holy flames against the Demiurge’s body. The Demiurge vanished from his spot and in front of Arceus. Two orbs, one white and one black, orbited around him. With his horn flashing, the two orbs fired towards the godlike Pokémon’s direction and attached to him. They exploded with a burst of light and darkness, absorbing Arceus in its power. The haze of light and darkness disappeared. Arceus looked towards the Demiurge, whose wounds regenerated and his damaged coat became sleek and lustrous. Arceus gazed upon himself and his eyes widened with horror; entire portions of his body disintegrated away, his left front leg only hung on tiny sinews of his holy bindings and his entire body is covered in scorch marks and bruising. His body slumped down from exhaustion of energy and the flames of pain radiated through him. “Do you like these wounds? You should, because you inflicted them to me.” The Demiurge stated. “You… you only allowed yourself to take those blows so that you can transfer them onto me.” Arceus worded out through a fierce voice, wincing his eyes and lowering his head with an uneasy shake. “These wounds would lead even a god to death’s door. How were you not decimated?” “Is it not apparent to you? I cannot die. No matter what you do to me, you can never neutralize me. I absorbed my mother’s power and made it my own, making me invincible to everything. I only allowed you to strike me to just to show you your utter foolishness in defying me. You bear power that is a right only for gods. You are no longer a god!” With a sinister smirk on his face, the Demiurge proclaimed. Gazing into the battle in the sky, Inge’s heartbeat slowed to a chill. She shook her head in disbelief. She grasped her head with her upper limbs and shut her eyes with a quick speed. “No… No! It can’t be!” “Lord Arceus… is he losing?” Holding his breath and his eyes widened in shock, Fei asked. The Demiurge glanced over the horizon, eyeing all the Pokémon that hid beyond its protective hills. He glanced towards the weakened Arceus, whose body regenerated itself at a slow pace. A sinister chuckle permeated from the Demiurge’s mouth. “What… what are you laughing about?” Arceus asked. “Oh, nothing much. I was entertaining my thoughts about pondering how I would annihilate all of those Pokémon taking refuge behind the hills. I was thinking of going out with a bang.” The Demiurge responded with an unnerving calm in his tone. “You… you wouldn’t dare!” Arceus shouted. The tip of the Demiurge’s horn spawned a white and black-swirling sphere. Straightening his back upwards, the sphere of energy grew to the size of the city. He turned his direction towards the hills, where an almost absolute majority of the city’s population hid behind. He reared his head and back before chucking it forwards. Arceus warped in front of the sphere and brought his front legs to the ball of destruction, holding it back. Feeling the force of the ball pounding against him, weak grunts surfaced from him. “I… refuse… to let the lives of my children be taken! I would rather die!” He gritted out. The Demiurge aimed his horn towards the ball and fired a blue beam into the sphere. The energy from the Demiurge pushed the ball farther than Arceus’s reactionary force. The ball grew in size. Arceus felt portions of his body disintegrating from the sheer energy of the sphere. His fierce eyes became shallow with life and sadness overcame him. “Is that all you have? You have been a disappointing adversary. I thought that you would have provided much more of a fight, but you let your feelings for your creation get in your way. Those feelings have made you weak and pathetic.” The Demiurge taunted. Arceus shut his eyes. A teardrop of vivacious colors fell down from his right eyelids. His body gave into the overwhelming power of the destructive sphere, absorbing him and disintegrating the remnants of his body. The Deerling stood by his mother’s side at the hills of refuge. Witnessing the sphere heading towards him, a large smile cracked along his face. He turned to the Sawsbuck by his side and tugged on her leg. “Mommy! Look! A shooting star is coming so close to us!” He shouted with excitement. Sawsbuck glanced towards the ball of swirling death that headed towards the hills. Her face paled and her mouth hung agape. She looked behind her, witnessing all of the Pokémon fleeing further behind the refuge. A pained frown formed on her face and her eyes squinted into depression. “Deerling…” She shut her mouth and shook her eyes. Glancing towards her son’s smiling face, a stray tear fell onto the ground. “Mommy, why are you crying? Shooting stars are beautiful, right?” Deerling asked. Stifling her frown and urge to cry, Sawsbuck forced a smile on her face and looked towards the sphere of destruction. “Y-yes. Shooting stars are beautiful. A star falling so close to us means that we are going to be granted one wish. Tell me, Deerling; what do you wish for?” She asked. “I wish that we can see dad again.” Deerling responded with a mixture of melancholy and happiness in his tone. “It can grant that, right?” Sawsbuck wrapped her right front leg around Deerling’s body and dragged him close to her. She nuzzled her son at a warm and gentle speed. “Yes. It can even grant us that. When the star comes to us, it’s going to sting a bit. But, if you stay strong and not react, then your wish will come true. Do you promise to be a big fawn and bear the pain of the shooting star?” She asked. “Yes mom. I promise that I won’t cry or even make a noise. I really want to see dad again.” Deerling responded. “Then please, close your eyes and wish as hard as you can. Only then will the wish come true.” The sphere of energy approached the hills where the Pokémon took refuge behind. The light of destruction tore the green hills of the land into charred dirt. Feeling the sawing power of the sphere’s barrier, the bodies of the Deerling and Sawsbuck vanished. Digging into the earth, the sphere exploded with a radius that expanded beyond the hills and absorbed all of the fleeing Pokémon. Feeling the blowback from the residual energy of the explosion, the group of operatives dived towards the ground and ducked their heads. With the gusts from the explosion dissipating, Rarity looked over her left shoulder towards the site of the explosion; a blackened crater remained of the once lush hills. All the Pokémon that hid behind the hills disappeared. With her jaw held low, a stray tear ran down her left cheek. “Extinguishing all of those lives… that monster.” She voiced out. Iosac glanced towards Inge, who held her body up with her upper limbs. Witnessing Inge forcing herself to stifle away any and all tears and cries of sorrow, a deep frown formed along the crevices of his mouth. He walked towards Inge and patted her right shoulder. “Why…? Why are there beings cruel enough to commit this horrible act of genocide? The Demiurge not only killed Arceus, but he also killed all those innocent Pokémon. What would he have to gain from this?!” Inge shouted in pain. “Inge…” Iosac murmured out. Inge stood up from the ground and glanced towards the Demiurge with resolute eyes. “Iosac… I’m going to go into Nightmare Difficulty. I am going to kill this bastard with my own two limbs!!!” She screeched out. Inge’s eyes flashed with an evil shade of red. She dashed towards the city steps at a breathtaking speed. Iosac leaped out in front of her and stretched out his limbs, blocking her path. “Stop it Inge! I’m not going to let you go up there to die. You saw what happened to Arceus, did you not?! What makes you think you can do better?” He reasoned. “But all those poor Pokémon! The Demiurge slaughtered them! I can’t let him Houdini out of this. Never!” Inge shouted. With a shallow frown on his face, Keldeo walked towards Inge and placed his right front hoof on her left shoulder. Inge turned back, witnessing Keldeo shake his head. “I know how you feel Inge…” With his voice devoid of all emotion, Keldeo stated. “This was my home, and he annihilated it. Don’t you think I would deserve revenge more than you do? But… even I know that it is pointless to go after the Demiurge now. With how much damage he took from Arceus, he even proved another god cannot take him down.” “But… my feelings… that trio of children that I met.” Inge worded out. “They were among the Pokémon to flee towards the hills… they’re dead and I couldn’t do anything but watch! I hate these forced cutscenes in real life.” Keldeo’s body shimmered with a golden light. The light grew and absorbed the entire squad of operatives in its glow. Keldeo’s eyes opened to the dull world of the present around him. He lied on the blackened ground of the outskirts of the city. A frown of disappointment rolled along his face. “Oh… we’re back here.” He stood up from the ground and glanced behind him, setting his eyes on Rarity, Fei, Iosac, Inge and Ho-Oh, whose talons fixed themselves into the decayed earth. His eyes shimmered with confusion. “Ho-Oh… what are you doing here?” He asked. “I am glad you are awake, Keldeo. Did you enjoy your trip into the past?” Ho-Oh asked with a cheery tone. “Define ‘enjoy’. I’ve witnessed a Blitzkreig of my home by the power of unholy holy creatures, saw my family slaughtered, witnessed the death of a god and thousands of innocent Pokémon. Tell me Ho-Oh, does that sound enjoyable to you?!” Keldeo shouted with a furious tone. Fei frowned and walked over towards Keldeo. “Keldeo, please; do not be angry with what you witnessed. It’s pointless.” He reasoned. Keldeo gritted his teeth and pushed his front hooves into Fei, knocking him onto the ground. Feeling his body drag along the ground, a slight moan escaped from Fei’s mouth. “My anger is pointless?! I was just fine until this asshole of a bird asked me with the most lighthearted expression if I enjoyed witnessing the evils of war and genocide of my home!” He screamed. “I had everything in my life taken away from me because some god wanted to be a dick and annihilate my home! That does not make an enjoyable trip!” Ho-Oh shook his head and kept his smile. He walked over towards Keldeo and looked upon him with curious eyes. “Do not think that I am insensitive to your anger, Keldeo. It was an awful tragedy that fell this world that day. You may not remember this, but the Demiurge smashed all of the images of Arceus from the city after he finished purging the Pokémon from it. That is why you no longer see any images of him in the city.” “You aren’t helping, Ho-Oh…” Keldeo muttered out with a hurt tone. “You might be pleased with this set of news; the remaining Legendaries and I have managed to rescue a handful of Pokémon from this world after the disaster struck, including a few Kurisutaru residents.” Ho-Oh explained. Rarity’s ears perked up at the sound of his words. She trotted towards Ho-Oh with slow steps filled with assuring hope. “Are you… certain about those details? There were some survivors of that incident?” She asked. “Of course. You know that Keldeo is one of those survivors, after all. In fact, most of the survivors included children, who were watched over and trained by the legendaries that managed to make it out of the world alive.” Ho-Oh assured. “But… why was I not brought with you, Ho-Oh? How did I get separated from the others?” Keldeo asked. Ho-Oh reared his head back and forced an uneasy frown. A drop of sweat dropped from his face and traveled down his beak. “Alas, I did not anticipate the journey between traveling through worlds to have been very rough when carrying children. You happened to fall into the dimensional stream before we could have safely arrived at our destination.” He stated. Getting up from the ground, Fei detected a hint of depression surging from Ho-Oh’s eyes. His face softened with a frown. He walked towards Ho-Oh with sympathetic eyes. “Thinking that you lost a Pokémon placed you into a foul funk, did it not?” He asked. “Truth be told, it did. I was entrusted by Lord Arceus to save as many Pokémon as possible before he battled against the Demiurge. It felt like I failed in my given task when I saw Keldeo drop into the stream. I felt depressed when it occurred… until I saw you alive and well back at the Rainbow Plateau. I felt relieved about this turn of events, and my own hope reignited.” Ho-Oh stated. Inge glanced towards the city with a longing gaze. She turned towards Ho-Oh with eyes waiting for an answer. “Tell me, Lord Ho-Oh; did any of the arcade cabinets make it out of the massacre alive?” She asked. Igne’s words caused Iosac to jolt back in his step and look at her with the confusion of her body shifting towards its non-shiny color. “Don’t you think that’s a bit sudden to think about?” He questioned. “Nonsense! Gaming is love and gaming is life! The five of us are going to have an awesome gaming session when we get back to Neo Canterlot!” Inge proclaimed with a chipper voice. A small giggle echoed from Rarity’s shut mouth. She shook her head with closed eyes. Opening her eyes and glancing towards Inge, she walked towards her with a smile on her face. “I would love to be a part of this gaming session, Inge. It would give me an idea of what I am missing out.” “Count me in as well. I have been honing my skills in secret, and I was hoping on getting to unleash them.” Fei stated. Iosac grinned with a devilish stare and placed his upper limbs on his hips. “You know you all will lose before my crafty plays, right?” Keldeo felt all eyes around him glance towards his direction. His nerves seized his limbs and his lungs became paralyzed with anxiety. “Ummm… I’m not sure if I want to play a game after what I witnessed today. …Sorry.” He muttered out. Rarity walked towards Keldeo with a seductive stride in her step. She wrapped her tail around his head and touched her forehead against his. She lowered her lips and eyes to a pout. “You wouldn’t want to play even if your fillyfriend would ask for it?” She asked with a seductive voice. Keldeo’s heart beat at a quick rhythm. His stoic face melted away into a red flush of his cheek. He glanced away from Rarity and moved his mouth at an incomprehensible rhythm. “Alright, you got me.” Keldeo said. Witnessing the display of affection and interaction between the two, Ho-Oh felt a radiating warmth pulse from his heart. Fei walked towards Ho-Oh in the midst of his distraction and lifted his hand towards Ho-Oh’s white underbelly. He stroked it, feeling the warm fluff against his hand. A smile of satisfaction appeared on his lips. “Ummm… what are you doing?” Ho-Oh asked with a raised eyebrow and a tone filled with discomfort. “I’ve been a fan of legendary Pokémon since I was a child. I never thought that I would be able to stroke a Ho-Oh such as yourself. You do not mind if I keep stroking you, do you?” Flashing his pleading eyes towards Ho-Oh, Fei asked. Ho-Oh let out a displeased sigh and rolled his eyes. “Very well. Just be careful where you stroke, however.” Author's Note It's shocking how it took two weeks to write this chapter. But, with this very heavy chapter out of the way, now I can get to that late Nightmare Night chapter I promised you all. A Waxing Nightmare Into a Waning NightLith and Fei walked down the red and white-tiled corridor, where a fluorescent light illuminated the path to an open area with colorful flashing lights. Techno music hit their ears with the force of a sweeping wave. Their bodies bopped to the beat of the tunes. Entering into the abyss of music, they both felt the music pelting against their fur. They eyed towards a corner, where a dark pink mare with a mane and tail with a darker shade of pink sat at a table, ingesting bottle after bottle filled with golden liquid. The others around her pumped their upper front hooves with eager smiles, chanting with anticipation. “Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!” They all stated. Lith glanced at the scene with a nervous shiver shooting down her spine. Her eyes scrunched at the sight and her mouth grimaced. Witnessing the sudden mood change, a frown formed on Fei’s face. “Is there something wrong, Lith?” “I never knew that this party would have served alcohol.” Lith responded with a stoic tone filled with anger. “Surely you must have known that a club would serve beer, right? I do not see much of a problem with distributing alcohol here.” Fei reasoned. A small and frustrated sigh breezed itself from Lith’s mouth. Her grimace formed into a frown. “I know. Let’s just keep away from the alcohol.” Fei set his sights to his right, where he eyed Mono and Rainbow Dash sitting across from each other at velvet purple booth seats. Both of them engaged in a conversation, and wide grins ready to burst with laughter painted their faces. A myriad of empty glasses sat at their table. “So you are telling me that happened with Lith?!” Rainbow Dash shouted out. “Get out of here!” “I’m being serious! She actually got so mad that she literally punched a hole through the lab wall.” Mono exclaimed with a chipper voice. “Heh, I bet that her punch couldn’t match with my Sonic Rainboom. I’m going at mach one baby!” “If she hits as hard as how her temper is, then you’d probably end up in the infirmary.” “Maybe even a morgue!” Bumping her right front knee into Mono’s right shoulder, Rainbow Dash jeered. Lith stared at the table with a wave of rising discomfort surfacing up her esophagus. She blinked once with disbelief present in her eyes. “Is Mono talking behind my back…?” She uttered out with a silent tone filling itself with virulent rage. She stomped her way towards Mono and Rainbow Dash’s table. Fei rushed in front of her and held out his arms, blocking her path. “Don’t do anything rash, Lith. There could be a really good reason why they are talking behind your back.” Lith stared into Fei’s eyes with a soul-chilling glare. She held out her right upper paw. With her ears lifting open and her eyes charging with a yellow light, a wide Charge Beam blasted itself from her paw into Fei’s face. Fei fell down on the floor face-first. Lith continued towards her path and stood over Mono and Rainbow Dash. “So my temper is so bad that a hit from me can send you to a morgue, eh?” She said with a listless tone void of casual joy. Mono froze up and steered his head towards Lith’s direction. A faint pit formed within his stomach. His eyes radiated with the fear that pulsed through his bloodstream. “L-L-Lith?! Ummm…” Stuttering and looking at his left and right with a nervous shiver, he stated. “Buzz off, Lith! Can’t you see Mono and I are-“Within the middle of her sentence, Rainbow Dash’s words slurred into an imbalanced hiccup. “-are having a good time here?” A stinging aroma of alcohol struck Lith’s nose. Her eyes jolted upwards at the unpleasant odor permeating the area. “Is that… Mono, did you drink?!” She scolded. “How much?!” “Maybe a few… tens?” With an unhinged posture, Mono mumbled out. Lith looked into Rainbow Dash’s eyes with breaths that broke underneath the sting of her betrayal. “Rainbow Dash… why?” She murmured with a despondent tone. Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders. “The kid needs to learn how to unwind. We danced for a bit, but couldn’t get passed the first part of the song without looking like he had an anxiety attack. So… I gave him some beer to loosen him up.” She said with a shameless tone. “And look! He’s much more laidback.” Lith stormed into Rainbow Dash’s booth seat and grasped her by the torso armor. She stared death into Rainbow Dash’s eyes and tightened her grip. Her paw charged with an electrical current. “You idiot! There’s a reason why he doesn’t drink alcohol, and it isn’t because he is under the legal age! He has difficulty holding down even one glass of beer. But you goaded him into drinking multiple glasses?!” She screamed. “So? What have you done to help him move out of his shell? Nothing, that’s what. All what you are is just someone in his life who isn’t there for helping him grow up.” Rainbow Dash responded. A small growl passed its way through Lith’s mouth. Sitting up from the ground, Fei glanced towards the rising tension building between Lith and Rainbow Dash. His spine froze at the conflict that readied itself to blow up with a ferocious explosion. He ran towards Mono’s booth seat and grasped his right upper paw with his left hand. “Ummm… we should go.” He said with a discreet tone. Mono’s body wobbled underneath the intoxicating alcohol flowing through his body. “Wow, Lith did not lie when she said you were a lightweight. You definitely shouldn’t be here.” Lith tossed Rainbow Dash overhead and threw her into the turntable. The music stopped with a scratch and the set of stereos collapsed underneath the force of the launched Rainbow Dash. A Signal Beam parted its way through the club and shot Rainbow Dash. A chorus of frightened shouts echoed throughout the area and all of the attendees ran towards the entrance and the red-framed door in the back. Rainbow Dash flew out of the collapsed club equipment and into Lith, tackling her into a booth seat. The seat warped over the impact zone and collapsed under its weight. Rainbow Dash hovered back and stood on her four legs. Her stance wobbled to her left and right. Lith pulled herself out of the rubble and stared forward. She gritted her teeth and held out her upper paws. Her ears raised themselves and all of her eyes flashed in a hazy blue. Rainbow Dash found herself held within the telekinetic grasp of Psychic. Lith lifted her off the ground and suspended her within midair. With a downward thrust of her paws, she slammed Rainbow Dash onto the ground, kicking up a storm of dust. Rainbow Dash leaped out of the cloud of dust and kicked her right hind leg forward. A black knife sharper than a clean-cutting chainsaw leaped out of her boot. She grasped it in her mouth and glared towards Lith. Lith glanced towards Rainbow Dash with widened eyes. She slanted her eyes and gritted her teeth. “Pulling a knife? Are you being real, or is that just the alcohol in your system talking?” “You’re kind of using deadly force in this fight, so I feel justified in pulling out a weapon to use against you.” Rainbow Dash reasoned. Lith grasped her sword and unsheathed it from its scabbard. She pointed the blade towards Rainbow Dash’s neck. “I was restraining myself from trying to kill you. But, two can play that game.” The two combatants rushed towards each other with blades held. Rainbow Dash’s wings kicked up a blast of wind and she hovered in the air. She dived down with the knife in her mouth and aimed it towards Lith’s head. Lith lifted her sword above her and parried the strike, pushing her back. With the added force from Lith’s retaliation, Rainbow Dash kicked her chest with her right hind leg. Leaping into the air, a black cloud formed underneath Rainbow Dash’s hooves and above Lith’s head. A wicked bolt of lightning fired down upon Lith, striking her and sending her flying back. Seeing Rainbow Dash fly towards her with her blade pointed in the flight direction, Lith flipped off of her backside and dodged the stab. She held her blade with her two paws by her right side. She leaped into the air and aimed the blade’s edge towards Rainbow Dash’s right flank. Rainbow Dash rolled to her left, avoiding the slicing strike. She lifted herself off of the ground and glared towards Lith’s direction. The two stood in their current positions and the tension between them burned the club around them. A storm of thestrals burst in through the windows of the club and surrounded the duo. They each glared towards Rainbow Dash and Lith with steeled stances. Rundas appeared from the crowd of thestrals and walked towards Rainbow Dash and Lith. “Lith? Rainbow Dash?” He uttered out with a shocked tone. The two fighters glanced towards Rundas. The shock they both received caused their grips to loosen to the point where their weapons dropped onto the ground. “Oh crap! It’s the heat!” With her voice still showing hefty signs of inebriation, Rainbow Dash shouted out. “R-Rundas?! What are you doing here?!” Lith shouted. “I heard of a disturbance coming from this club in the night district of the city. To think that the perpetrators would be two of my own friends…” Clicking his tongue and shaking his head, Rundas responded with a hurt tone. “I especially do not want to have to be the one to take your lives. But… the evidence here is very incriminating.” Rainbow Dash spat out her blade and glanced towards Rundas and the thestrals with a sheepish smile on her face. “Evidence? What evidence?” Rundas smacked his paws against his face and pointed towards Rainbow Dash. One of the thestrals glanced towards Rundas with a shaky expression on her face. “You know these two?” She asked. “Of course I do. They both are H.O.R.S.E. operatives, and one of them is currently the acting commander.” Pinching his chin, Rundas replied. “I’m suspending my judgment for now, but detain these two and bring them back to H.O.R.S.E.” The thestrals among the group raised their eyes with surprise laden in their pupils. “B-b-but Rundas! We haven’t detained anyone in years. We usually just kill the offenders.” Another thestral in the crowd responded. “I don’t want to get on Spitfire’s bad side when she hears that we are responsible for taking the lives of her next-in-line and her student in the ways of the sword. Do you?” Rundas responded with a stern tone. None of the thestrals batted an eye towards Rundas’s words. A collective sigh passed through their mouths and they closed the distance between Lith and Rainbow Dash. They grasped their limbs. One of the thestrals brought out duct tape from his bag and wrapped it around Rainbow Dash’s body, binding her wings. Another thestral attached a four-spoked device that latched onto Lith’s fur. Her eyes winced from the stabbing sensation jabbing into her flesh. “W-what’s this?” She asked with a fearful tone. “Some new technology developed by H.O.R.S.E. The scientists there couldn’t trust all Pokémon from behaving under the confines of the law, so this was developed to bind a Pokémon’s genetic matrix and leave them incapable of performing any sorts of moves.” The thestral explained. “W-where’s Mono?!” Lith shouted. “That bluish cat Pokémon? He was escorted off of the premises with some stoat-looking Pokémon dressed as a monk and a fox-looking Pokémon dressed as a longma. But I wouldn’t worry about him; you and the pegasus are in some deep trouble. Consider yourself lucky that we didn’t decide to just off you on the spot.” Mono hung off of Sophia’s back, groaning with a groggy and woozy disposition. The world around him swirled in an endless vortex of chaotic desire. Sophia clambered onto a full-sized mattress covered with lime green sheets. She slid Mono onto one side of the bed, where the back of his head rolled onto a pillow. She glanced towards Fei with a worried frown. “Do you think he would be fine over at my home, Fei? It doesn’t seem like he’s going to respond too positively with being at another being’s home against his will.” Sophia asked. “He left his ID back at his locker in our group room, and I do not know the combination to his lock. Thus, we cannot bring him home. Plus, he will be up and ready with you taking care of him.” Fei responded. A warm smile appeared on his face. “Besides, you have taken care of me all these years back when we were together. You should not feel any worries.” Sophia’s frown flipped upon itself, turning into a wide grin. She wrapped her ribbons around Fei and pulled him in for an embrace with them. “Oh, but you’ve taken care of me all these years as well! I’m sure that you would be very capable of taking care of Mono.” She stated. “Yes, well… unfortunately, I have to make sure Lith is alright. I saw that club swarmed by a squad of bat ponies, and I’m afraid as to what that would detail.” Stating these words, Fei walked three steps backwards. He turned around and walked out into the hallway. He lifted his right hand into the air and waved. Sophia cocked her head with a cheerful grin on her face and waved with her right front paw. Hearing the door to her home shut, she breathed a sigh of relief and rolled her eyes. “Well, the night was a bust. It was sad because I really wanted to dance with you, Mono. On the fortunate side, I finally get to shower all of this make-up for my costume off. I’m going to be in the shower if you need me.” Mono’s ears perked up at the swift shuffling of Sophia’s feet leaving the room. His upper right paw hung off the left side of the bed with a swinging limp, and he turned his head towards the door. His blurred eyes picked up a burst of fluorescent light that came from the white bathroom across the hallway. He squeezed his eyelids together and grunted, but continued staring forward. Sophia hummed a happy tune and stepped into the shower basin. She tapped her left paw against a black pad on the wall of the basin and swiped it towards her left. A monsoon of steaming water poured out from the shower nozzle, eliciting a peppy sigh and shut eyes from Sophia. She shut the door, leaving only a mosaic silhouette of her body viewable to Mono. Mono’s eyelids jumped open upon hearing Sophia’s relaxed moans. He saw Sophia grab what appeared to be a white bar of soap through the silhouette and rubbed her chest and neck base with it. He gazed her soapy paw scrubbing her torso down to her front legs. Witnessing her stand up on her bent hind legs, he saw Sophia dig the bar of low towards her abdomen and lowering downwards. His muscles clenched with excitement and his heart beat out of his chest. He lied on the bed, filled with sexual desire. Sophia grasped a bottle of lime green shampoo and poured a dollop of it on her right paw. She lathered her head with the solution and scrubbed behind her ears. Rinsing out what remains of the cleansing fluid from her body, she placed her left front paw on the black pad and swiped it downwards. The torrent of water halted to a stop and she pulled the shower door open. Mono gazed upon Sophia’s dampened coat, where her ribbons and portions of her clumped fur hung down from her body. His breathing became sporadic at the sight. Watching her grab a light pink towel and dry herself with a slow and deep rub, his heart wanted to give in from the sheer power and frequency of the beats. Sophia stepped out of the shower with her fur fluffed from the drying and approached the right side of the bed. She got on top of it and rested her head on the pillow. She faced Mono’s direction and stretched her body out. A wide yawn escaped her mouth. “Mono, would you like to take a shower before you go to bed?” She asked with a sleepy tone. “It might be hard with you to maintain your balance while you are inebriated, but I bet a nice shower will help filter out the alcohol from your brain.” “Uhhh…” Mono uttered out. “You are right… about the balance part. I wouldn’t… want to slip on your…” Mono’s eyes slowed into a close. His mouth shut itself and his breathing relaxed. Sophia smiled and rubbed his left shoulder with one of her ribbons. “Sleep tight, my samurai.” Lith and Rainbow Dash launched from the grips of the thestrals into a small closet. Rainbow Dash stared at the thestrals in front of her with a gnarled frown directed towards them. She dashed towards the doorway. A green barrier erected itself over it, causing Rainbow Dash to bump into it and fall to the ground. “You two are to remain here until we get Commander Spitfire to see you two. I advise that you behave while you are in here.” The thestral to the right said. Rainbow Dash looked towards her makeshift bound and clicked her tongue. “Can you at least tell me why you even used duct tape to bind my wings together? That’s such a random thing to do.” The thestral to the left scratched the back of her head and giggled with an anxious smile. “About that… we weren’t trained to detain perpetrators, so we never have ordinary binds. As for the duct tape, well… let’s just say that some calls we get happen to result in some poorly-timed explosions. We keep around duct tape so that we can seal pipes before they explode.” She said with her stoic stature slipping into a happy tone. “But still, you are not going to be taking that off anytime soon.” The two thestrals left, leaving Rainbow Dash and Lith alone. Rainbow Dash crossed her upper hooves and dropped down to the ground on her nethers. A sulking frown formed on her face. “Great… I never thought I would end a Nightmare Night put behind bars…” Sitting on the floor and making circles on the ground with her right paw. A depressed frown indented itself within her mouth. “…I’m sorry I got us into this, Rainbow Dash.” She said. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and let out an aggravated sigh. “You’re right you’re sorry! We all could have been having a good time at the club had you not attacked me like that.” She shouted. “Why did you even have a hissy fit over Mono and I drinking?!” Lith stared at the room beyond the barrier. A sojourn breath rose from her lungs and her blood chilled. “Mono and I drank alcohol once.” She stated with a defeated tone, eliciting jumping ears and widened eyes from Rainbow Dash. “We were fifteen when we came across a six-pack of beer. There was nobody around and curiosity got the better of us.” With her interest piqued, Rainbow Dash scooted towards Lith’s direction and set her eyes upon her. “What happened after that?” She asked with an anxious tone. “Terrible things happened. It turned out that we were both incredible lightweights and couldn’t handle even half a can of beer without feeling its effects. The both of us were so tipsy that we collapsed on the spot. After shutting the world out from us, we both had night terrors.” With her voice breaking towards the end, Lith explained. “Night terrors?” Rainbow Dash worded out with fear gripping the atriums of her heart. “What makes them different from nightmares?” “Night terrors are terrible. They rob the victim of any sort of security in their sleep. As such, it’s a sleeping hell in all intents and purposes. Our night terrors were no different; mine was when I sat in the back of my parents’ car on the day they died. I visualized myself in that crash, and I remembered my body being pierced by shards of glass.” “What happened next?!” On the edge of her seat, Rainbow Dash shouted. Lith glanced towards Rainbow Dash with a faint smile on her face. She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, I saw some dark-looking eldritch abominations tearing apart the car with their limbs and taking my dead parents away. I screamed and tried to chase after them, but it was like I felt all of the glass inside of me tearing my body apart. Then another abomination appeared before me and started dragging my body through a dark gate.” She glanced over towards Rainbow Dash, who glanced down towards the ground with a frown. An artery in Rainbow Dash’s mind filled with uncertainty. “And what about Mono? How was his night terror?” Tears welled up underneath Lith’s eyelids. Her breathing burned with melancholy. “If I was kicking, screaming and on the onset of a physical seizure… then Mono tried killing himself. To this day, he never told me about what he dreamt. But, it must have exceeded my night terror if he was suicidal for the rest of the day.” She explained. “Lith, please tell me you are joking. You have to tell me you are! You mean to tell me that Mono got a night terror so bad that he tried killing himself?! All because he drank alcohol?!” Rainbow Dash shouted. Lith nodded with a slow movement of her head. Her sad eyes contorted into anger, and she flashed a fiery stare towards Rainbow Dash. “That’s right! Now, because of you, he’s going to have another suicidal night terror, and I can’t be there for him in his time of need.” Rainbow Dash’s heart swelled with guilt. The muscles of her throat clenched themselves, locking the saliva upon the base of her tongue. “I didn’t mean it, Lith! Honest! I only had his best interest in mind.” She stated. She tipped over towards Lith and cupped her front hooves together, moving them and gazing at her with pleading eyes. “I never meant to hurt Mono… I don’t want to have this guilt on my hooves! I… I don’t. Please…” Rainbow Dash’s eyes filled with repentant tears and her cries choked themselves into guilty whines. Lith frowned and lifted her left upper paw towards Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash, please… don’t… don’t act like that. You are a grown mare.” “It’s my fault… It’s my fault… It’s always my fault…” Crouching into a fetal position and rocking back and forth, Rainbow Dash murmured. “Please Rainbow Dash… just… you don't... why are you acting like this?” With her tears streaming down from her eyes, Lith asked. Mono opened his eyes, bringing forth the dark of night into his world. He sat up from the bed and rubbed his eyes. He glanced towards his left, gazing at Sophia sleeping with a peaceful smile on her face. A soft smile appeared on his face. “It seems like she’s still asleep.” He said with a silent whisper. He glanced down towards his body, discovering that none of his costume had adorned onto his body. He pawed portions of his torso and legs with quick speed and anxious panting. “Where did my costume go?! I could have sworn that I slept with it!” “You mean that shoddy garb? Don’t know.” Mono’s stance froze in place. He glanced towards his right, gazing upon the male Meowstic that stood to the side of his bed. He crossed his upper paws and glared at Mono with yellow eyes that illuminated the night. “Who are you?!” Mono shouted. The Meowstic lifted both upper paws towards the sides of his head, smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “You should know who I am. I am a part of you, after all. That beer felt good, didn’t it?” He said with a voice similar to Mono’s. Mono stared towards the mysterious Pokémon with an impatient frown on his face. “What does that have to do with anything? I have no idea who you are, and I do not like the fact that you are in my girlfriend’s room creeping around us at night.” “I have many names, but I think you would probably have a better time understanding who I am if I gave you this for my identity; I am your Id.” The Id responded. “Wait, the Id as in the Freudian Trio first thought upon by Sigmund Freud?” With his ears perked and fear pumping through his heart, Mono asked. “Yep. Then… you must know why I am here now.” The Id walked over towards Sophia’s side of the bed and leaned over her body. Arching his body with his left upper paw, he rubbed the torso of Sophia’s coat with a swift speed. Mono held his right upper paw out with a staunch movement and glared flames towards The Id. “Step. Away. From Sophia.” He demanded. “Such a nice and sleek coat she has. That luster and that form… she definitely wants to be filled with the seed of a male.” With an obsessive tone, The Id said with omniscient direction. “I said step away from her! Step away from her or else I will destroy you!” Mono threatened. The Id stepped away from Sophia and lifted his paws away from her. A sinister chuckle escaped from his grinning mouth. “I know you want to be the one to fill her with your seed. After all, I know all of your desires.” He replied. “So what are you waiting for? She is so vulnerable and ready to be ridden.” All of Mono’s eyes flashed with an aqua blue color. Psychic energy surrounded The Id, but dissipated upon coming into contact with him. Mono’s blood chilled upon witnessing the failure of his Psychic. “It didn’t work?!” “Of course not. I am a part of you, so I have just as much control over your abilities as you do.” The Id responded with a calm voice. “If you don’t breed with the Sylveon here, then you failed in your destiny as a male.” “I’m not going to stoop so low as to do that with her unconscious body. She’s not able to consent.” Mono iterated. “You sound like you care about her… but you don’t. All you care about is making sure that your own genetics is passed onto the next generation. I know you want to fornicate the living daylights out of her until you filled her womb with your germinating seed.” The Id replied with a gnarled grin on his face. Mono looked towards The Id with his eyes narrowed and his mouth curled with disgust. The Id slammed his right upper paw into his forehead and laughed with a maniacal tone. Mono’s stance faltered, and he raised his right eye in confusion. “What’s so funny? I don’t get the humor.” He asked. “I know that look anywhere; it is the look of hatred! You hate me! Therefore, you hate yourself!” The Id responded with a tone that peaked into screaming. “No! I don’t hate myself. I only hate you!” Shaking his head and steeling his nerves, Mono replied. “So you hate your desires then? You hate how you feel the way you feel for Sophia here? You hate how she, your family and your friends always make you feel happy and lighthearted? You hate eating? You hate living? Then you hate yourself.” The Id answered back with a smug grin on his face. “Stop it! You aren’t me! You are just an illusion of myself!” Sophia’s bedroom disappeared in a veil of darkness, leaving only Mono and The Id alone. Black tendrils shot out from The Id’s back and wrapped around Mono’s upper paws. Mono squirmed and grunted under the pressure from the tentacles squeezing his wrists. “Let. Me. Go!” Shouting these, he bit into the tentacles with his fanged teeth. A sharp piercing sensation reverberated from his left upper ankle. Witnessing a flow of blood dispense itself from his wrist, we dropped down onto his knees. “Any pain you try to inflict on me is inflicted on you instead. Anything you do to me happens to you.” The Id explained. Mono looked down on his injured wrist with watery eyes. He glanced towards The Id with a broken frown. “Please… just leave me alone! I never want to see you again!” He pleaded. “No matter what you do, I will always be with you. I will be with you when even a moment’s thought of desire shows up in front of you. You cannot escape me, Mono.” The Id walked over towards Mono with grasped his face by his left cheek. “Now, you better put yourself on Sophia whether she is consenting or not! I want her virginity and so do you!” Mono launched his right upper paw against The Id’s left cheek, knocking him onto the ground and bruising the launched area. Mono felt the blow he inflicted against the Id. His bottom feet skidded along the ground and he felt a bruise on his face. His body trembled from the surprising amount of pain wracked onto it. “Please… leave. I don’t want to hurt you…” He muttered out. The Id stood up from the ground and looked into Mono’s eyes. The bruise on his face restored itself to regular coloration. “We know that isn’t what you want, Mono. You want to hurt yourself. You want to end your existence because you hate yourself. Well then.” Turning his face and directing his left cheek towards Mono, the Id pointed towards the area where Mono struck. “Go end my life, because it is what I desire as well.” “I don’t want to die! I don’t. Please, let me live in peace!” Crouching down on the ground and grasping his temples with a firm grasp, Mono shouted with utter torment. “No wonder everyone considers us to be a bunch of wimps. I wanted to prove them all wrong by not being the weak link on the team. Unfortunately, you are too much of a coward to be able to achieve the simplest of your desires. I will always be with you, and I will always remind you of how pathetic as a being we both are.” With these words, The Id vanished into the darkness, and light entered inside of Mono’s eyes. Mono jolted upwards with panicked panting and widened eyes. Beads of cold sweat dripped down from his face. He glanced around his body, gazing at a white and blue-striped gown adorned to his body. Feeling stiffness in his upper left ankle, he flipped it around. Seeing the deep scratches in his wrist, his heart plummeted into the depths of his intestines. He looked around his surroundings, finding himself on a twin-sized bed within a white room. Sitting on a chair with her head slumping to her right, Sophia slept with saliva pooling on the edge of her lower lip. Mono gazed below her eyelids, where two trails of dried tears ran down her face. He tilted his head away from her. A frown broke out from his mouth. “S-Sophia?” He uttered out. Sophia’s eyes opened. She shook her body and aligned her body’s posture upwards. Sucking in her drool and shaking her exhaustion off, she glanced towards Mono with a frown on her face. “M…Mono? Are you… alright?” She asked with a wary voice filled with concern. “I’m… not sure. Where am I?” Rubbing the tuft of white fur on his head, Mono questioned. “You’re in the Medical Division’s patient ward. I woke up in the middle of the night after hearing some terrified mumbling coming from you. Then… I saw you hurt yourself in your sleep.” Sophia explained. “Hurt myself?” Sophia leaped off of the chair and brought her front legs onto Mono’s bedside. Her eyes lit up with panic and a sorrowful frown plastered itself on her face. “Yes! You were scratching at your wrists and your face! I tried pinning you down, but you launched me against a wall with your Psychic. I’m sorry Mono, but I had to call a squad of thestral operatives around to restrain you and bring you here. I felt useless…” Sophia gazed away from Mono. Her heart trembled with anxiety and a nauseous discoloration appeared on her face. Mono worked up the courage in his heart to look towards her face, seeing tears stream down her face once more. He reached his right paw towards Sophia’s face and wiped away her tears. “Why are you crying?” He asked. Sophia set her gaze towards Mono and looked into his eyes. Her frown deepened into a tortured expression. “I saw how your body acted; you were hurting yourself on purpose. You almost grabbed the sword of your costume and even began cutting your own body with it. Why… why did you want to kill yourself?!” “Because… because…” Mono stuttered out. With tears streaming down his eyes and his nose wrinkling, he looked down onto his bed sheets. “Because I hate myself.” Sophia leaped onto Mono’s bed and embraced him with her front legs. She rubbed the back of his head with her paws, sending warm shocks of care down Mono’s nerves. “Don’t ever say that, Mono. I know that is not true, because you are still capable of loving others. A Pokémon that hates himself cannot do that.” She chided. A trembling pain struck Mono’s head. He winced and let out a sharp cry. Sophia backed away from Mono and saw him lifting his upper right paw to his head. “My head!” He shouted. “Are you hung over, Mono?” Sophia asked. “So this is what feeling hung over feels like? I only had two cups to drink last night. I didn’t think I would be this hurt.” Mono replied. Sophia smirked with a cheery grin on her face. She grabbed Mono’s left upper paw with her right front paw. “You know, I know some remedies for a hangover. And, before you ask, Fei’s father sometimes awoke like that. I will be able to get you up on your feet. Just relax and let me do all the work.” She said with a huff of pride in her voice. Through the pain on his face, a smirk rolled over his mouth. Author's Note Sometimes, the scariest monsters are ourselves. We have no idea how much damage we do to ourselves and each other, and we end up being afraid of what we become. That is the true message of this chapter.
UnityThe guns of the aliens whirred to life and a red light flashed from the barrel. Rondo gazed at Mono, flapping his wings to the point where feathers were falling off. “Mono, you got to use another Psychic attack!” “I would, but I don’t know how to use it. The previous attack was just done at the spur of the moment.” Mono admitted. The lasers from the guns fired, releasing a barrage of serrated beams aiming towards the group. Everyone shut their eyes from the world and held out their paws, wings and hooves in front of their faces. The beams exploded in a veil of smoke. Behind it, a red barrier pulsated around Mono, Rondo and the pony. Upon opening their eyes, the barrier disappeared, revealing the trio to be unscathed by the pullets. “We’re safe? But… how?” “Looks like that Quick Guard came in time, Mono!” Rondo called out. The aliens tightened the grip on their guns once more. The beams within the barrel charged up. “Oh no! You don’t think you can pull up that shield again, do you?” The pony asked. From the right, a beam of electricity shot down in a downwards diagonal line. The claws held a death grip on the guns from the electrocution, shattering their handles. Mono and Rondo eyed towards the source of the direction where the electricity fired. Upon a hill, they saw an Aromatisse and a bipedal cat with yellow eyes, two curved tails, ears and hair on her head. Her body's colors were opposite to that of Mono's; a white body with dark blue ends. Her fur frilled at her hips, and her paw was extended. “Jasmine, strike those foes with a Dazzling Gleam!” The Aromatisse jumped down from the hill. With a blinding flash, white beams fired from her body and shot the aliens, knocking them back. The Meowstic rushed over towards Mono, Rondo and the pony with her wide with concern. “Lith, is that you?!” Mono called out with a shocked tone. “…Mono?! You’re a Pokémon as well?” Lith asked. “Hey, I’m here too you know.” Jasmine stated, hovering over towards the group. “ I’m just glad that we found some of the others transported here.” “Ummm, I really hate breaking up reunions, but those aliens are really mad at us.” The pony stated, pointing to the aliens unsheathing their claws. “Lith, can you tell me how you used your moves so freely?” Mono asked. “Just let go of your own emotional restraints and let them flow to wherever you want. It’s how I was able to use my Charge Beam.” Lith explained. Mono glanced towards Rondo and Jasmine, each of whom shivered with excitement. “Lith, Rondo, Jasmine, let us neutralize this threat together.” All the Pokémon nodded and turned towards the aliens. Rondo flew into the face of the aliens, unleashing a series of loud sonic waves directed towards the aliens. With their sharp claws, the aliens tore through the sonic waves. Behind Rondo, Jasmine’s body crackled with volts. A stream of electricity pulsed from her body, striking one of the aliens with a wicked thunderbolt. Mono’s eyes flashed in a blue color. Several nearby boulders were lifted from the ground in a blue aura and were then tossed towards the standing alien. Each boulder smashed against its head. Lith’s ears unfolded, her eyes flashed a yellow color and her right paw stretched towards the dazed behemoth. A brilliant beam of pink, light blue and yellow fired towards it, exploding in smoke on contact. The alien hopped back, holding its arm near its mouth. A black screen upon its wrist lit up in a white color. “Mission failed! Requesting permission to evacuate!” It shouted. The screen flashed a green color. Staring at the Pokémon in front of it, a slasher’s smile came upon its face. The alien picked up its downed partner and vanished in a race of white lines. “They got away!” Lith shouted, running towards the spot they vanished from. “It’s alright, Lith. We did our job here. We found Mono and protected a native.” Jasmine assured, placing her paw upon Lith’s right shoulder. “Fluttershy!” A voice from the sky called out. A vermillion-coated pegasus mare with a mane colored in the layers of fire and intense orange eyes flew down to the scene. She was garbed in a navy blue vest. Armed with dual silver cannons on her shoulders and the image of a tongue of fire on her flank, her presence brought a thick air of intimidation onto the scene. “Spitfire!” Fluttershy cried out with a smile, running up to her and embracing her. “I’m so glad you’re here.” “I knew something was up when the squad dispatched to protect you suddenly stopped communicating with me. Now that I see their dead bodies here, it all makes sense; they were overpowered by the Van'Goth.” Spitfire explained. “Ummm… Van’Goth?” Mono voiced. “And who do we have here?” Turning around and focusing her attention on the Pokémon in front of her, Spitfire asked. “They saved my life. I don’t know how, but they’re apparently able to command very powerful forces under their whim.” Fluttershy responded. “And how come all I hear is squeaks and noises coming from them? Surely beings that can do what they did are intelligent enough to communicate with us.” “I don’t think they’re of this world. Maybe that’s why we have difficulty communicating with them.” “Is that so? I know just the thing that will alleviate that issue.” With these words, Spitfire turned towards the group of Pokémon and made a firm smile on her face. “You four are coming with us to Neo Canterlot, whether you like it or not.” Mono, Lith, Rondo and Jasmine all gave nervous glances towards each other. The four Pokémon sat within the benches of the deployment truck. Mono twiddled with his paws with an anxious glint in his eyes, Lith looked through the small window on the opposite side where sunlight poured out, and Jasmine and Rondo gazed at each other with their respective right arm and left wing extended. “So you woke up in a nearby cave along with Lith, huh? Meanwhile, I woke up in the middle of the wilderness with Mono. Seeing as how aliens such as those exist, I am lucky to still even be alive!” Rondo exclaimed. “Well, you did a good job distracting them for Lith and me to come in.” Jasmine stated. Rondo frowned, shying his head away from Jasmine. “Is that all what I am? Just an annoying distraction? I used my best moves on those aliens and all it served was just that; a distraction. It’s disheartening, really.” “But, I never said that you were merely a distraction, Rondo. In fact, you are very important to the team, and as a family member. Had it not been for you, who knows what those aliens would have done to Fluttershy and Mono?” “Yeah… actually, yeah. If it weren’t for me, then we wouldn’t be safe! Thanks, Jasmine.” Rondo replied with a content smile. “Any time, Rondo.” Lith directed a smile towards Jasmine and Rondo and then faced Mono. Her smile turned into a straight frown, seeing her brother move back and forth with his eyes and paws twitching. She placed her left paw on Mono’s paw, caressing it in a comforting motion. “You don’t look like you’re alright, Mono. Do you mind telling me what’s wrong?” Mono turned his face towards his sister, flashing a ghost of a smile to her. “Sorry, Lith. It’s just that being here reminds me of that one time when I was taken in for questioning as a child.” “Oh… that.” All of the talking on the back of the truck stopped. Jasmine and Rondo looked towards Mono and Lith with sympathetic frowns. “Being a witness scarred my life. Not only did I have to see a brutal murder, but the attorneys and prosecutors pressured me until I broke down in tears. This continued for five straight days until the defendant got the Guilty verdict. If they said I was fine, then why do I always feel horrible?” “It was hard for all of us, Mono. Just seeing you break down after everything you endured was one of the saddest things I witnessed. Mom and dad were quick to tend to your emotional needs and Rondo always followed you to make sure you wouldn’t feel alone when no one wasn’t around.” “I know, Lith. But, I just want to know how my life would feel like if I never witnessed that murder take place. I want to know what it is like to not have to go have received night terrors from that experience, or even be admitted to emergency counseling at the age of eight.” “I could tell you how it wouldn’t be like; we would have never been able to meet Professor Pasque, which means we would have never been adopted by him once mom and dad… passed on shortly after.” Lith stated, tilting her head downwards. “I guess you’re right. If it wasn’t for Professor Pasque, I wouldn’t know where we would be today.” The truck stopped moving. The metal doors opened, basking the interior of the deployment benches in florescent lights. Mono, Lith, Rondo and Jasmine all narrowed and covered their eyes at the sight. With the light dimming, metal crates and a concrete walkway within a building could be made out. “Well, aren’t you four going to step out?” Spitfire asked, standing towards the double doors of the back with Fluttershy. One after one, each of the Pokémon stepped out of the truck. Glades of air spread the chilly temperature throughout the group’s fur and feathers. The road in front of them was guided by light pink lights. Walking down the path, Lith eyed a group of ponies and griffons garbed in clothing and walking around the enormous bay. Noises of stomping and whirring of mechanical joints reverberated through the complex. Deer with lights on their hooves waved their heads back and forth, leading titanic quadruped mechas down the designated path. “Lith, may I please have permission to filter out this odor of industry? It’s not leaving a good impression of the air here.” Jasmine asked, wafting her left hand with her eyes squinted in disgust. “Not now, Jasmine. We were brought here as a forced invitation. We do not want to impose ourselves upon their land.” “We’ll get your translators soon enough so that I may actually start understanding you four and your insane chatter.” Spitfire responded with an irritated tone. “Now, Spitfire; though we forced them to come along with us, that does not give you the right to be rude to them.” Fluttershy noted with closed eyes and a tilted head. “I already like this Fluttershy with us! She treats us better than Miss Drill Sargent here.” With a gleeful smile, Rondo stated. Spitfire shook her head and mumbled underneath her breath. The group of six stumbled beyond a set of double doors, revealing a room with plush blue carpets and a metal desk. Several images depicting bipedal and quadruped mechas, ponies, griffons, donkeys, deer and changelings littered its walls. Spitfire placed her hoof on a black sensor, bringing up a crate full of silver bracelets with red lights on them. Spitfire grabbed four of the necklaces and handed each one to the Pokémon. “Here. Wear them however you like. Then, try speaking.” Following her instructions, Mono and Lith tightened the bracelets on their paws. Jasmine extended the cord of the bracelet and hung it around her neck. Using his beak, Rondo tossed the bracelet over his head, letting it hang onto his neck. Each of the pieces of jewelry flashed a red light. “Hello? Hello? Is this on?” Mono stated. “I don’t sound any different.” Lith noted. “But I can hear your words plain as day.” Spitfire responded. “Wow! Cool tech.” Rondo said. “Well, at least it complements my colors.” Looking down on her necklace, Jasmine stated with a smile. “Now that we got any potential language barriers out of the way, let’s get this briefing out of the way.” Saying these words, Spitfire walked over to a firm chair behind the desk and sat upon it. Fluttershy walked by her side, smiling and bowing her head to the Pokémon. “First of all, I wish to thank you all for saving my life. My name is Fluttershy, wildlife researcher of Equestria.” “And my name is Spitfire, general of H.O.R.S.E., or Hostile Ousting Regiment of Specialized Equusians. First order of business; just what the heck are you four?” “My name is Mono, and I am what known as a Pokémon. More specifically, I am a Meowstic.” Mono introduced. “My name is Lith, also a Meowstic by the look of things.” “The name’s Rondo, Chatot extraordinaire!” “And I am Jasmine, an Aromatisse under Lith’s care.” Spitfire focused her sight on Mono and Lith, studying and humming them. “If you both are known as ‘Meowstic’, then why do you two look so different?” “Meowstics happen to have the highest amount of sexual dimorphisms among all Pokémon. I’m a Male Meowstic, meaning that I am more specialized in defensive moves.” “As a female Meowstic, I specialize more in offensive moves.” “So… are you two like a breeding pair or something along those lines?” Lifting her eye and moving her hoof in a circular motion, Spitfire asked. “We’re twins.” Mono stated in an unamused tone. “Oh…” Spitfire vocalized, pulling on her caller. Sweat poured down from her face to her neck. “Ignoring that awkward question, what exactly is a Pokémon?” “There were many definitions that many professors across my world discussed over what actually makes a Pokémon a Pokémon. There are common traits among those definitions, though. A Pokémon would be a sort of creature with supernatural abilities beyond the scope of other beings. They are intelligent beings with their own personalities and hearts.” Mono responded. “These supernatural abilities can be broken down into eighteen types, but we cannot explain them all in depth given the limited time we have. But, we can at least discuss the types present here.” Lith added. “Mono and I are both Psychic-type Pokémon. Psychic-types often use their mental prowess in order to overpower their opponent. Their moves are strong against Poison and Fighting-types, but are weak against Dark, Bug and Ghost-types. Rondo here is a dual type of Normal and Flying. Normal-types have next to no weaknesses, but next to no immunities either. They’re the most vanilla type. Flying-types are capable of flight. Because of this, their moves are strong against Grass-types, Bug-types and Fighting-types, but they are weak to Electric, Ice and Rock-type moves. Finally, we have Jasmine here who is among the relatively new Fairy-types. Fairy-type Pokémon were previously thought to have been mythological until their discovery nine years ago. Fairy-types are completely immune to Dragon-type moves and their moves are strong against them as well. Though Fairy-type moves hit hard against Fighting-types and Dark-types as well, they are weak against Poison-types and Steel-types.” Fluttershy was scribbling down all of the details all of the details heard. She glanced towards Lith. “I hope this isn’t asking too much, but can you talk more about the resistances of your types? It’s important to my field of research to see nature’s interactions.” “Certainly. Psychic-type Pokémon resist Fighting-type and other Psychic-type moves. Normal-type Pokémon are immune to Ghost-type moves. Flying-type Pokémon resist Grass-type, Bug-type and Fighting-types moves. They are also immune to Ground-type moves. Finally, Fairy-type Pokémon resist Dark-type and Fighting-type moves.” Fluttershy hummed and wrote down the details. A smile came upon her face. “I didn’t think Pokémon could be so fascinating when it comes to their physical typing. My friend in the Scholarly and Research Department would just love to study you four.” “Enough, Fluttershy. We still need to finish this meeting before we jump ahead with plans.” Spitfire commanded. “Right.” Fluttershy uttered out. Spitfire walked towards a set of dark blue curtains at the end of the room. Pulling on a white string, the curtain pulled away and revealed a brilliant light. With the light fading, a very wide cityscape surrounded by a silver-colored wall and an aqua-colored barrier above greeted everyone’s eyes. Quadrupeds walked along the sidewalks and into buildings, laughing and smiling. Carriages forged from black metal levitated along the concrete streets, moving from one place to another. “Wow! Beautiful sight!” Rondo noted. “It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Spitfire asked aloud. “Those aliens you saw, the Van’Goths, wish for nothing more than the complete and utter annihilation of all of the Equusian races of the planet. What you see here is the only city left on Equus with any sort of society in it.” “Seriously?!” Jasmine noted out loud. “But you are all so advanced. How is it that these aliens drove your people onto the verge of extinction?!” Spitfire turned around, letting loose a melancholic stare directed towards Jasmine. “It started ten long years ago. Back when all of our social issues have finally resolved, Equus entered into a golden age where magic, technology and nature can peacefully coexist with each other. Then, they came. The Van’Goth appeared into our stratosphere one day, declaring that they would annihilate us all. At first, we laughed at their threat because we could handle pretty much anything that came against us, or so we believed. The alien assault was sudden and unrelenting. Many great cities, including the original Canterlot, were all destroyed and left in ruins. They killed fleeing lives in cold blood, leaving only a small fraction of us Equusians alive. Neo Canterlot was in the works for some time, but the city became a reality once the aliens struck. As the Van’Goth continued destroying city after city, Neo Canterlot quickly became a refuge for those who were lucky enough to escape their brutal onslaught. Here, we try to keep life the way it was like before the aliens attacked.” “Okay… so what does that have to do with us?” Rondo asked. “There is no easy way to say this, but I’m seriously considering letting you four into our organization of H.O.R.S.E. agents. Anyone who could dispatch Ambush Van’Goths like that would be a great help to us.” Spitfire responded. “Ummm… isn’t that a bit sudden? From what you made this organization sound like, it seems like this is an organization that only citizens are allowed to partake in.” Lith said. “Which is why the move would be so controversial. I know that my own troops within H.O.R.S.E. walls would not be so trusting of aliens like you, but Neo Canterlot’s walls cannot last forever. We’re playing a defensive game here, and I know that we will all die if we do not get a power boost.” “So how do you propose we would rectify this situation, Spitfire?” Mono asked. “It’s simple, we-“ A blaring noise echoed throughout the complex. Spitfire’s face turned a pale color. “What’s going on?!” Rondo asked. “It can’t be! Neo Canterlot’s wall has been breached!” Fluttershy shouted. Down within the city, a diamond drill bore its way through the metal that made up the wall. A black bipedal mecha burst through the walls and its triangle-shaped visor flashed a bright red. It walked beyond the wall. A storm airplane-shaped black crafts blasted out of the hole, transforming into similar-shaped mechas. Everyone in the command room did nothing but stare at the impending storm of doom before them. Author's Note And now everything begins by falling apart...
Strong as a H.O.R.S.E.A sea of screams reverberated throughout all of Neo Canterlot. The citizens galloped and flew away from the impending mechas. One light-green earth pony stallion tripped over a crack on the ground. Pushing his torso up from the ground with his front legs, he looked behind him. His blood chilled, his pupils dilated and his body sweat at the sight of a mecha hovering above him. “No, no, no!” He shouted with primordial fear filling his voice. From a gray sphere on its body, a red laser fired towards the downed stallion, disintegrating him completely. Mono, Lith, Rondo and Jasmine’s vocal cords were constricted in disbelief. Their bodies became prisons to reality. Spitfire scrunched her eyebrows and swiped her hoof along a black coaster on her desk. From it, a hologram of a donkey head appeared. “Spitfire to Docking Bay! Bring out every possible Mecha Pilot into the action, now! This is an order!” A hoof was raised from the hologram and was arched onto the donkey’s head in salute. The hologram vanished. Spitfire eyed the Pokémon in front of her with rigid expressions. “You may not be H.O.R.S.E. agents, but we need every available fighter in our midst, Equusian and Pokémon, to go down there and combat the threat. If we do not, more civilians will end up like that poor stallion that was vaporized to oblivion.” Mono, Lith, Rondo and Jasmine flashed nervous glances at each other. Through a nod, what anxiety they possessed blasted away with mutual understanding taking its place. “We’ll do it.” Lith responded. The group of Pokémon rushed out of the room through the door behind them. Spitfire glanced towards the door with narrowed eyes and her lips formed into a faint smile. Smoke had risen from smoldering buildings and blasted holes on the streets. A storm of black missiles flew from across the air, unleashing fiery explosions that knocked the Equusians into the air. The enemy mechas shifted their bodies into bipedal forms, walking down the burning streets in unison with each other. A volley of lasers shot down towards them, pelting them and veiling the area in smoke. In the air above were white mechas with blue visors. They were pelting the mechas below with a storm of bullets. One of the mechas flew down, revealing a silver blade within its gauntlet. With it, the mecha stabbed through the chest of the invading machine and sliced downwards. Electricity crackled and wires snapped. An explosion pulsed throughout the area. “We got one!” A male voice called out in a joyous tone. The surrounding black mechas lifted their plates from their chest, revealing a myriad of holes on them. Missiles fired from them and flew towards the lone mecha. One after the other, explosions that rose to a tower’s length ingested the machine, tearing it to shreds. A black gun materialized in the hand of one of the enemy machines. With deadeye aim, each bullet pierced into the white fleet’s vizors. The white mechas became wreathed in a shower of electricity and fell onto the ground. “Mayday! Mayday! Alpha Exo Squad down!” Spitfire grimaced and tightened her front ankles onto the desk. “Get out of your cockpits in any way you can! Continue the fight as your Equusian selves!” On command, the chests of the downed mechas hissed. The doors on their chests lifted and revealed ponies, griffons, donkeys deer and changelings garbed in black latex suits. They were catapulted into the air. On their shoulders, metal buckles undid themselves and shown their forms as cannons. The griffons, changelings and pegasi of the group flew into the sky, showering the mechas with a rain of purple lasers. The other members of the group pulled silver levers on their suits, revealing black parachutes. Beams of blue light emerged from the bracelets on their front ankles, shaping themselves into blades. All of the airborne Equusians flew into the faces of the black mechas and stabbed their visors. Crawling their way through with the intrusion of spiders, each troop slashed apart the wires holding the machinery together. One by one, each mecha collapsed upon itself. The Equusians inside jumped out through the broken visor, escaping the falling debris. “First enemy formation defeated! We’re moving on to go against the others.” A brown earth pony mare with a brown mane called through her bracelet. “Excellent. Make sure you subdue all the invaders.” Spitfire commanded. A black mecha descended upon the group of Equusians. Its dark fires slowed down to a halt, kicking up a storm of dust. It pumped a black shotgun at hand and aimed it at the squadron. Through the hologram, Spitfire heard a loud ignition and the sound of viscous liquid hitting the ground. She closed her eyes, frowned and shook her head with a slow speed. She glanced over towards the twin cannons holstered onto a mannequin and shut her eyes. With her eyelids shooting open, a fire ignited into her heart. A black-feathered griffon with a white head, a green-coated doe and violet-coated unicorn mare with a chartreuse-colored mane and tail, stood back-to-back with each other. Each of them was covered in thick black armor. All three of them flashed frustrated grimaces directed towards the black mechas walking towards them. The unicorn of the group looked back to her teammates. “Razor Wind, Hydrangea; if we fall here today, I want you to know that you two are my best friends in all my years as a H.O.R.S.E. agent.” “The feeling is mutual, Strawberry Delight. But, let’s see how many of these scums we can take down before we go down.” The griffon, Razor Wind, responded with a cocky tone. “United we stand, and united we fall. Let us show these ruffians the true meaning of our bonds!” The doe, Hydrangea, stated. The trio charged forward. Blue lasers forming into lancers emerged from their front right gauntlets. Hydrangea jumped high into the air and plunged her lance through the mecha’s visor. She showered the inside of the head with black spheres popping out of her left gauntlet. Rolling down the head, the spheres exploded along with the machine. Razor Wind flew into the air, scaling the mecha before him. He stabbed its joints using his lance, bringing it down to its knees. Pressing a black switch on his gauntlet, the lance disappeared. In its place, a large laser shot from his talon and through the mecha’s chest, destroying it. Strawberry Delight’s horn flashed in a yellow color, conjuring a yellow sphere that hummed with energy. Flipping to her front, she kicked the ball with her right hind hoof. The ball struck the mecha in the chest and rebounded towards her. She thrust her lance into the sphere, launching it at sonic speed. The sphere rushed into the mecha, carrying it halfway across the city and exploding it. Razor Wind, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight hopped back with their backs to the wall. From the air, more mechas three times more than the mechas they have destroyed arrived. One of them held a gattling gun and aimed it towards the three Equusians. Their armor was rained down upon with a stream of sonic bullets. Their eyes twitched and they bent down onto their knees. One mecha unveiled its missile silos and stood in front of the trio. Razor Wind, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight all closed their eyes and turned their heads away, expecting the biting fires to take their lives. The sounds of hissing smoke ejecting from the mecha came, but the tongues of explosive flames had not eaten them. Opening their eyes and looking forwards, they saw a myriad of missiles held in place through a psychokinetic aura. The missiles shifted their direction and shot the mecha, destroying it. “Are you three okay?” The trio of Equusians looked to the right for the source of the voice. Mono and Lith stood on top of a mound of debris. The light within their eyes faded away. Lith hopped down into the group. “Ummm, I don’t know what to say. But… thank you.” Strawberry Delight voiced with slow words. “But… who are you two?” Hydrangea asked. The robots stomped forth, shaking the very ground with their steps. “We can worry about introductions after we aren’t in danger. Right now, we have a fight on our hands.” Lith stated, extending her right paw out. Mono’s eyes flashed. Holding his two paws out, a sphere of pink energy generated within the space. The orb broke, releasing a wave of sparkles that spread amongst the downed Equusians. Their wounds healed over with new flesh and a surge of dopamine rushed into their brains. The three of them uttered content sighs. “Feeling better now?” Mono asked. “Much better.” In an elated tone, Razor Wind responded. “Alright! Now we can kick some butt again!” Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight nodded. The three charged forth against the mechas down the path. Lith glanced over to Mono, displaying a small smirk. “I didn’t know you are capable of learning Heal Pulse.” “I didn’t think Flareons were capable of learning Flare Blitz.” “Good point.” Mono and Lith rushed forward with their allies. Lith’s eyes flashed in a yellow color and fired a Charge Beam from her right paw. The beam of electricity struck the face of the mecha. Twirling a black cable from his gauntlet, Razor Wind tossed the hook around its neck. Grunting and pulling back, the mecha fell onto the ground. Hydrangea stood on her hind legs. Her bracelet transformed into a black long bow. From a slot on the side of the hind leg of her armor, she pulled out a black and red-tipped arrow and placed it on the string. Using her front hooves to pull it, she aimed her sights onto a mecha flying towards its allies. She released the string, firing the arrow into the visor of the mecha. It exploded with brilliant flames, causing the machine to move in a dead flight, which knocked it into other mechas. It burst in a sea of flames, igniting all of the other mechas in its path. Hydrangea smirked. “A successful shot.” Strawberry Delight conjured a yellow barrier around her. Bullets upon bullets splashed down upon it, causing several cracks along the top of it. With the speed of hopped shadows, Mono and Lith jumped off the shield. A shower of green leaves cloaked in an indigo aura spawned around Lith and fired themselves towards the guns of the mechas. The guns fell onto the ground. They were lifted into the air with an indigo aura and had their barrels aimed to the mechas. The triggers were pulled, rending their targets’ armor into ground metal. The light in Mono’s eyes faded. His legs wobbled and he placed his paw on his head, shaking in a daze. Lith ran to Mono, letting his body fall into her paws. “Don’t overexert yourself, Mono. We both are still new to this.” “You guys can rest easy now. It’s time for the fun to really begin!” Strawberry Delight stated, spinning around and smiling. The barrier turned into a series of yellow beams that struck the mechas on their joints, dropping their bodies onto the ground. “Nice shots!” Razor Wind commented with a boisterous voice. “Are you alright there?” Gazing upon Mono, Hydrangea asked. “I’m fine.” Armor-clad Equusians with black helmets over their heads fired a stream of lasers from the cannons on their backs. Enemy lasers pierced through the helmets of their numbers, shattering them. The struck Equusians fell onto the ground, limp and lifeless. With a mecha taking a step forward, a blue flare exploded near its foot and knocked it off-balance. Spitfire flew into the scene, raining down explosive blasts of blue onto the advancing mechas. She clenched her teeth, bearing her fangs at the maws of darkness before her. She zipped down into the air, spinning and firing two bolts of her bullets into the tornado. The wild winds blown against the mechas. The flares from the bullets melded in with the strong winds, setting them on fire. “It serves you right for claiming the lives of my troops!” She spat out with unquenchable venom in her voice. The fires and winds faded, revealing the legion of mechas unscathed. Spitfire stared wide-eyed at the mechas, taking loose and erratic breaths. “T-that’s not possible! That should have burned you all to cinders!” The mechas pointed their Gatling guns at a stunned Spitfire, cocking them. A vibrant whirring echoed from their chambers, spinning the barrels. An orange wind spread its way through the scene from behind Spitfire. Her body warmed itself to its exposure. Water began building up on top of the armor of the mechas. The paint on them peeled away, revealing a rough exoskeleton underneath. “Big damn heroes coming through!” Rondo dove in from above the air, unleashing a Hyper Voice. The visors of the mechas shattered, causing them to shake their heads. “Don’t hog all the fun to yourself, Rondo.” A Dazzling Gleam shot from Jasmine’s body, lighting up the armor of the mechas. They slowed down to a stop and then collapsed. “It looks like we made it on time.” Rondo mused, flapping his wings in the rhythm to his descents. “Are you alright, Spitfire? You look shaken up there.” Jasmine asked. “Rondo! Jasmine! Well, these mechas usually die when exposed to intense heat. I didn’t know why my bullets did not do much of anything to them.” The scraped metal hovered above the air. All of the shattered pieces of metal conglomerated towards the road in front of Spitfire, Rondo and Jasmine. Purple veins appeared on the exterior of the mass, thick arms and claws formed around the hill and a chest sculpted itself from the top. The bottom shaped itself into a pair of legs with talons. A draconic head with yellow eyes appeared on the top. The monstrosity let out a glass-shattering roar. “Ummm… that’s not supposed to happen, is it?” Rondo asked, answered by a slow shake from Spitfire’s head. A black sphere of fire built up within the monstrosity’s mouth. It was then launched in a stream, scraping against the hairs and feathers of the ducking trio. Jasmine scrunched her eyes and waved her hand next to her face. “That is much warmer than I expected a stream of fire to be. I’m still feeling its effects!” With its mouth agape, the draconic zombie machine began building up black flames in its mouth once more. A dragon-shaped flame of red, blue and purple blasted into the monstrosity’s mouth, exploding the energy within it. From the coattails of the flame, a Krookodile rushed up to its face. Her right claw flashed in a green color and slashed the face of the behemoth. From the direction of the beam, a Goodra ran into the fray and fired another dragon-shaped beam from his mouth. The beam struck the abdomen of the monstrosity. The Krookodile fell onto her feet and rushed back to the Goodra’s side. “It seems like the situation escalated, right Custard?” “I didn’t expect all of those machines we’ve destroyed to transform into that thing, Gnasher.” “Gnasher! Custard!” Jasmine called out, garnering their attention. “Jasmine? Rondo? And… who’s the orange pony over there with you two?” Gnasher asked. “You know these two?” Spitfire asked. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll have to give them their translators when the threat it over.” From the smoke, the dragon uttered another roar, slapping away the entire group with a steel-forged tail. The entire group was downed. While the others grimaced from the blow, a sinister smile brewed upon Gnasher’s face. She stood up from the ground, cracking her claws and her neck. “Finally, someone worthy of a challenge. You’d think a horde of mechas would prove to be a challenge, but they all die to a single Earthquake. Let’s see if this mecha here falls the same way.” With these words, she curled her claws into a fist and punched the ground. The ground shook and collided upon itself, creating spires the size of mountains that crushed the dragon. With a swing of its arm, the spires shattered. The shards sped towards Gnasher, who opened her mouth and crunched them. The draconic machine thrust its claws towards her direction, stabbing her and knocking her back. Gnasher clenched her teeth and roared. “Is that all you got? Magikarp hit harder than you do!” She ran up to the machine, opening her jaws to the size of a vicegrip. Fires raged inside of her mouth. She snapped her fangs upon the arm of the behemoth, tearing it off. With her claws flashing, she sliced off the other arm. The draconic machine roared, charging a black fireball in its mouth. A gust of black flares struck Gnasher. Seeing this, Custard’s eyes shot open and his mouth hung low. “Gnasher!!!!” He shouted. With the flames dissipating, Gnasher was no longer in her spot. A burning rage formed within Custard’s eyes. His mouth curved into a vicious frown. Getting up from the ground, he walked towards the behemoth. The machine fired another black flare towards Custard, caking the field in its flames. The Goodra came out unscathed. Brown water spiraled around Custard, whipping up into a tower with him standing as the beacon on top of it. With a downward thrust of his gooey arm, the tower collapsed. A wave of filthy water the size of a tsunami stormed towards the machine, absorbing all of the debris in its wake. The wave struck the behemoth, toppling it over. Custard sprinted towards the downed machine, glaring down onto its head. Pillars of flames built up in his mouth. He breathed it out, releasing the orange tongues in a focused stream. The head of the machine melted away. The machine stopped moving and its form reverted into a heap of scrap metal. Custard jumped off the debris, frowning. His eyes twitched, holding back an ocean of tears. Spitfire, Rondo and Jasmine ran up to him. “Custard! Are you alright?!” Rondo asked. “I’m fine…” Sniffling, Custard responded. “But Gnasher… she’s gone…” The sound of metal rending reverberated from behind him. Gnasher jumped out from amidst the scraps, unharmed by the fires, and walked over towards Custard with a casual stare directed at him. She crossed her arms. “So… how long will it be when you realize I’m here?” Custard turned around. His frowned flipped into a wide-mouthed smile. “Gnasher!” He shouted, embracing her with his gooey appendages. “Custard, please stop. Everyone is watching and you’re getting your goo on my body.” “I thought I lost you, Gnasher! What happened?” “Simple; I jumped in just before the flames hit me. I figured I might as well attack that thing from the inside to do massive damage.” Gnasher explained. “Though, I never expected that you would have been that vicious when I disappeared.” “Don’t ever do that to me again, Gnasher. I don’t know what I would have done without you in my life!” “Well, it seems like a majority of the gang is here.” Gnasher, Custard, Rondo, Jasmine and Spitfire turned to the left. Mono, Lith, Razor Wind, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight walked into the area with their steps synced with each other. “That voice… Lith?! It’s you!” Custard called out, dashing towards Lith and embracing her. Lith laughed. “Wait, so if that is Lith, then are you…” Gnasher asked, pointing towards Mono. “Yes, Gnasher, it’s me.” “Mono!” She shouted, running towards Mono and hugging him. “Where have you two been at? It seems implausible that you just appeared right when the action was climaxing.” He asked. “We were somehow in a home that belonged to beings that looked like Sawsbucks. They were afraid at first…” Gnasher rolled her eyes and sighed, slamming the palm of her right claw between her eyes. “But Custard hugged them with an affectionate grasp and realized that we weren’t as bad as they thought.” “That definitely sounds like Custard alright. He’s a hugger after all.” “Even if I don’t understand a word any of you two are saying, it still was quite heartwarming to see everyone’s reactions here.” Smiling, Spitfire stated. “You’re all coming by H.O.R.S.E. headquarters, right? I’m going to commission a party in the honor of all of our heroes in this battle, including the Pokémon here.” She walked away, dusting herself off. Lith glanced towards Mono with an inquisitive smile on her face. “Should we go, Mono? I know you don’t like parties, but it would be a good way to be formally acquainted with the city.” “Well… Gnasher and Custard do need their translators so that they wouldn’t be mistaken as wild creatures.” Mono shrugged his shoulders. “I say we go.” Razor Wind walked up to Gnasher and scratched his chin while glancing upon your eyes. “Even if I can’t understand you, tell me this; how do you feel about game meat?” He asked. “I love devouring game meat! It really suits the mood after a good hunt.” Gnasher responded with an enthusiastic smile. “If you showed enthusiasm for that, then I think we’ll get along just fine. Come by my living quarters at the H.O.R.S.E. residential area and we’ll go hunting in the Terraformed Wilderness until we’re called to the party.” Hydrangea eyed Custard with a smiling gaze, humming. Strawberry Delight looked upon Rondo and Jasmine’s translators. “I could see we can both communicate with each other.” She focused her attention onto Jasmine. “You look like you are skilled with aroma manipulation. Do you mind sharing with me some of your secrets?” Jasmine gasped and a large grin came upon her face. “I thought nobody would have asked! Of course I’ll share with you some of my trade secrets. You are in good hands when an Aromatisse such as myself will teach you about various scents. Who knows, maybe I can even learn about a few spices in your world as well.” Strawberry Delight and Jasmine walked together and away from the scene. “I don’t know about you all, but I got to practice a few songs for the upcoming party! I’m sure everyone will love it.” Rondo stated. “Of course they will, Rondo.” Lith stated. “Just be sure to meet us in front of H.O.R.S.E. Headquarters when the sun begins to set.” Mono said. “Will do!” With these words, Rondo flew off into the distance. Within a dark room sat a bipedal humanoid with a purple shade of hue on his skin, blond hair that flowed down to his broad shoulders and a size that towered a mountain. His yellow eyes gazed gazed upon two smaller-sized humanoids with green skin and green hair, each of whom bowed down with hurried shakes. “Magnificent Emperor of the Van’Goth; the invasion failed.” The emperor raised an eye and snarled. “Every single calculation was taken into that invasion. The remote-controlled mechas being able to form into the chimera upon defeat, their ability to think three steps ahead of their enemies and even having the advantage of a surprise attack… the only way the invasion failed is if some unexpected variable were to appear.” “Sir, if I may.” To the right of the emperor was a blue-skinned humanoid man in a black suit with coifed hair of a silver shade and thick-framed glasses hiding away his red eyes. In his hand was a black device showing all of the destruction during the invasion. “You have the right to speak, Wilhelm.” “Yes. It seems that while we had an advantage at first, the intervention of a group of strange creatures wielding mystical forces entered into play. Our mechas were not equipped to handle creatures like these. As such, they were beaten by completely new forces out of our understanding.” Wilhelm explained. “When it comes to situations like this, we need to call upon the lunatic of our empire…” “But, sir, are you sure that is a brilliant idea?” “I am aware of how driven he is for any sort of fun. He also is one of the few members of our race who possess an affinity for magic as well. Bring him forth and task him with testing the limits of these new creatures.” The emperor demanded. “As you wish sir.” With a bow, Wilhelm ran off. The emperor gazed at a hologram screen in front of him that displayed missiles returning back to the mechas, a heat wave melting away the mechas and Gnasher slashing away the Chimera’s arms. “Just know that I am far from finished, Equusians. You shall all be eliminated for the glory of the Van’Goth.”
CelebrationGnasher walked towards large fence with a set of black gates ajar. Beyond the gates were Mono, Lith, Rondo, Jasmine and Custard, who were all smiling and waving. On Custard’s neck and around Gnasher’s body were two bracelets similar to those worn by Mono, Lith, Rondo and Jasmine. “Sorry I was a bit late, but Razor Wind and I were out hunting for fun in the Terraformed Wilderness.” She stated. “That’s the area the four of us woke up in, is it not? Did you at least have fun, Gnasher?” Mono asked. “Heck yeah!” Gnasher roared with enthusiasm. “Alien rabbits are fun to hunt. They put up a good challenge, but I managed to catch and butcher them. I won’t tell you about the details, though, because they can be a bit too gruesome for you all.” “Well, the sun is setting. So, shouldn’t we all start walking in?” Lith suggested. “Yeah! Let’s get in! I can’t wait to sing!” Rondo responded with a burst of energy, flying into the open hallway. “Ummm, we should go follow him and make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.” Jasmine said. The five Pokémon walked through the metal hallways, swiveling their heads in all directions. “Rondo! Where are you?” Jasmine called out. “I’m over here.” Rondo stated, hovering below the airduct. “I took a shortcut to the reception room and scoped it out without letting anyone see me. Seems like there’s a lot of H.O.R.S.E. operatives and even two winged unicorns!” Mono raised his right eye with a slow ascent. “You can be very sneaky sometimes, Rondo.” “Heh, I know.” The group of six Pokémon continued walking down the halls. In front of a set of double doors were two brown-coated earth pony stallions in black suits, standing with stoic expressions on their faces. Upon seeing the group, they smiled. “Ah, you six must be among the guests of honor.” The two stallions stepped out of the way and the doors opened. The sight of the other side of the door caused the Pokémon besides Rondo to gawk with dropped jaws; the reception room was the size of a stadium. Stone statues of various creatures spilling out water from their mouths were spread amongst the green hedges lining the interior of the place. The descending sun stood upon the windowed ceiling. Walking among the sweet-smelling shrubberies, they overheard the conversations of Equusians speaking in sophisticated tones. With their minds warping through the twisted maze, they bumped into Spitfire. “You came!” With her content smile widening, Spitfire declared with an audible voice. “We wanted to make a good impression.” Mono responded. “Well, I’m glad you all made it anyways. Come, I want to introduce you all to the council of Neo Canterlot.” Following Spitfire, the group wandered into an open forum. Within the area, there stood five larger-framed Equusians, the non-ponies whom all emanated a noble air. One was a female griffon whose wings’ feathers were stained in a blood red that offset the brilliant white plumage on the rest of her body. Her blue eyes radiated with wisdom and strength. Her fur flashed in a silver color and brown silk was wrapped around her neck. Next to her was a changeling with a wizened appearance; he had a fair bit of bulk and stature compared to the other party-goers. His mane and tail flashed in a silver color. A lighter shade of silver ran down their centers as a stripe. His mosaic wings were of a translucent gray and his crooked horn had a soft turn upon it. His green eyes flashed with a deep respect for those around him. He wore a blue-white cloth around his neck. After him was a tall and slender doe. Her fur shimmered with a foliage green accent. On her head were wooden stubs from her skull, but the tips were rounded off. Her gray eyes were mirrors that reflected upon the condition of the heart of those that looked into them. A verdant green cloth was wrapped around her neck. In the center of the group were two alicorn mares; one was a white-coated alicorn with a whispy aurora for her mane and tail. The image of a sun was placed upon her flanks. She emanated with a radiant sunshine from her body. The other was a sapphire blue-coated alicorn whose mane and tail were the midnight sky. Though she was not as tall as her sister, she still dwarfs other ponies in stature. The image of a crescent moon behind two black clouds was placed upon her flanks. They both wore cloths representing their coats’ colors. The group of five Equusians eyed the group and warm smiles rose from their faces. “It seems that some of our guests of honor have arrived, Spitfire.” The doe said with a pristine tone. “I have not seen creatures like these before.” The changeling noted. “If they helped defend our city, then they are a friend to us regardless of their mysterious circumstances.” The griffon stated. The two alicorns walked towards the Pokémon, wearing inviting smiles on their faces. “Greetings, creatures from afar. Let us be the first to welcome you into Neo Canterlot. My name is Council Lady Luna and this my older sister Council Lady Celestia.” Luna introduced. “Welcome. First of all, allow me to apologize to you six. I wished that we could have welcomed you into our city under better circumstances. Instead, you were all dragged into our war against the Van’Goth.” Celestia stated. “It’s not a problem. We still managed to neutralize the threat.” Gnasher stated. “But, it looked like those alien freaks would have given you big trouble had we all not showed up.” “The Van’Goth are very cold and calculative. They have a wider range of power than all of us Equusians. For the record, my name is Council Lady Victoria.” Victoria said. “My name is Council Lady Serva.” Serva introduced. “Those Van’Goth pushed us all back into the walls of this city, but this may be a blessing in disguise.” “I agree, Lady Serva. For a long time, our tribes have been on uneasy grounds. But, the war brought to us a forced solidarity. As for my name, it is Councilman Carapace.” Carpace said. “What exactly do you mean about ‘uneasy grounds’?” Mono asked. “Before this war began, we all used to be monarchs of our lands. At best, we were all on shaky grounds. We always argued on how each of us ran our kingdoms. Racial tensions among us were high and it would have blown out into a full war. But ten years ago, war came into our midst. Just not the war we were expecting.” Celestia explained. “Even with our technological advancements from years ago, we were no match for the invading forces storming in through our lands. Eventually, we all had to retreat from our lands. Even a few monarchs were slain in battle.” Victoria added. “But hope was not lost. When all the monarchs were still alive, we established the Neo Canterlot Project at the request of the then-Princess Luna. It would provide all of our peoples with a sanctuary that would be able to relocate itself when compromised. In addition, we all would have to cede our own titles of nobility.” Carapace said. “Wait, why did you give up your titles of nobility? That seems a bit… humbling.” Jasmine asked. “Our kingdoms are now ruins. What is left of us is literally this city. We all cannot be monarchs of one city, but we can still be the representatives of our people.” Serva responded. “It is the significance of these cloths around our necks. We lost our monarchies, but gained a new republic and a new lease on life.” Carapace added, holding out his cloth. “Interesting… I’m glad that this republic of yours is working so far.” Lith stated. “My name is Lith and this is my brother Mono.” “Greetings your majesties.” Mono said, bowing down to them. “Please do not bow down to us, Mono. While we appreciate your gesture, it’s now a bit much.” Victoria stated. “Oh, well, uhh…” “My name is Rondo. My specialty is in singing and I hope you all will enjoy it.” Rondo interrupted. “Heh, that’s clever! You’re a bird who can sing named ‘Rondo’. I’m a bit of a singer myself.” Carapace stated. “Greetings to meet you all. My name is Jasmine, an expert in fragrances.” Jasmine stated. “Fragrances you say? What types?” Cocking her head, Serva asked. “I range from simple scents like Vanilla Blossom to more complex scents such as Yache Berry Extravagance.” “I’ve never heard of Yache Berry Extravagance.” “You will love it. Trust me when I say that.” “I shall look forward to experiencing the scent of ‘Yache Berry Delight’ then.” Celestia and Luna looked upon Gnasher and Custard with nervous smiles on their faces. “You do not need to be afraid of us. We’re well-tempered. Gnasher is the name.” “My name is Custard.” “Greetings, Gnasher and Custard. Spitfire told us all that you are known as ‘Pokémon’. Is that correct?” Luna asked. “Yep. You see those two Meowstics over there?” Gnasher asked, pointing over to Mono, whose legs are trembling and Lith, who is patting him on the back. “Believe it or not, they used to be our trainers.” “Lith is more sociable and can take problems head on. Mono isn’t so sociable and can be very awkward around others, but he is very good at planning. They both are the dream team.” Custard explained, letting out a happy sigh. “It kind of reminds me how my sister and I are. You four should be lucky to have leaders like those two.” Celestia complimented. “And I can see that you two are a dream team as well.” “…What do you mean by that?” Edging into her words, Gnasher asked. “From what I see, you two are very different but share a strong bond.” “In a way, you two are adorable together!” Luna squealed. “Me and him? Have you even been hugged by a Goodra before? You’re left with a lot of gunk on your skin.” Gnasher snapped. “Ummm… Gnasher is a bit rough around others.” Custard squeaked out. “Convince yourselves that, but we see everything.” With a smile and wink, Luna stated. Gnasher glanced back to Custard. She crossed her arms and moved her head away. “I-I didn’t protect you because I liked you more than others. I-I just, uhh, feel that you need more protection at times.” “And I definitely wasn’t mad when I thought the machine killed you because I felt strongly for you. It’s just that thing was a bully that needed to be put out of its existence.” Custard responded with a similar cross of arms Lith, who witnessed the exchange, stifled a giggle. Mono looked back at Lith. “Lith, I’m going to step out. Let me know when the ceremony begins, alright?” “Alright, Mono. Enjoy your time outside.” Mono eyed an open door that led outside. He walked towards it while Lith walked into the crowd of ponies. A pale yellow earth pony filly with a red mane and tail, yellow eyes and a red bow on her head eyed Mono. She shifted her head, looking at both directions. Then, she walked towards the door. Mono stood upon a lofty balcony. He tilted his head up towards the sky. The sun had dipped beyond the horizon and a full moon stood high in the sky amidst a sea of stars and clouds. Mono took a deep breath of the cool air, relaxing his sporadic nerves. He smiled. “Mister?” Mono jolted backwards to the source of the child-like voice. Standing by the door was a filly with a frown on her face. “Who are you?” The filly walked towards him, hoisting her front legs upon the metal railing. “My name is Apple Bloom. I saw you leaving the party with a frown on your face. Don’t you like the party?” Apple Bloom asked. “I was never any good around parties, and my nerves still need to recover after speaking to the Neo Canterlot Council.” Mono stated, glancing down upon her. “My name is Mono.” “I know your name. My sister told me about you and your friends saving Neo Canterlot from those monsters. She and my big brother are both H.O.R.S.E. soldiers.” “So are you a part of H.O.R.S.E. too?” “Kind of… I’m too young to be an actual member, but I am known as a H.O.R.S.E. child. I’ll eventually grow up into a H.O.R.S.E. operative because other members teach me their stuff.” Apple Bloom explained. “That’s seems interesting. Considering the aliens you are all fighting against, it looks like this city will need all the support it can get.” “So Mono, why are your nerves so bad?” Applebloom asked. Mono remained silent. “You can trust me with your secrets. I’m trying to earn a Cutie Mark and being trustworthy is on my set of goals.” “I can’t tell anyone but those who I consider my family, Apple Bloom. Nothing personal, but I can’t just tell you right now.” “Oh…” Besides the sounds of talking and laughter in the reception room, a deathly silence overfell the balcony. For what felt like hours, nobody spoke a word. It was during that time when Mono glanced towards Apple Bloom with a meek smile. “Thank you for keeping me company, Apple Bloom.” “No problem, Mono. I’m glad I got to talk to you.” Hearing her words, his smile grew. Lith walked around the floor, eyeing the chatting ponies, griffons, donkeys, deers and even changelings. They laughed and were all smiling. Having her sights focused on them, she bumped into an amber orange-coated earth pony mare with a blond tail and an image of an apple on her flank. “Woah! You best watch where you go.” With the mare turning towards her direction, Lith was able to gaze upon her green eyes and brown Stetson. Her face had several freckles dotted throughout. “I’m sorry. I was just distracted by how happy everyone here is.” “Wait a goshdarn moment… aren’t you one of those Pokémon ol’ Spitfire talked about?” “Ummm, yes. My name is Lith.” The mare extended her right front hoof out towards Lith. “It’s a pleasure to meet ya, Lith. The name’s Applejack, one of the top soldiers of H.O.R.S.E.” Lith shook Applejack’s hoof with her paw. “Pleased to meet you, Applejack. So what has Spitfire told you about us?” “Nothing much, but one of my close friends Fluttershy told me much more about you folks. You’re all capable of using a special kind of magic and are affected by other types of elements it seems.” Applejack responded. “Fluttershy does seem like a gentle pony. But, she seems a bit timid. I can’t imagine why she would venture out into the Terraformed Wilderness to begin with.” “Fluttershy is a member of H.O.R.S.E., but she doesn’t do any fighting. She’s in charge of investigating the world after the Van’Goths changed it completely so that we wouldn’t go into each area blind. I also have to thank you for rescuing her from those Ambush Soldiers.” “It was nothing. I was just looking for my brother. Rescuing Fluttershy was just a fortunate consequence.” Lith explained. “Before I forget, you were involved in the recent battle today right?” “Heck yes I was. There were too many times that my older brother and I would’ve wound up with our heads blown off like some of my other teammates. But, we managed to hold off until we got some unexpected support from a red crocodile and gooey dragon. They are your friends, right?” “Gnasher is my brother’s Pokémon while Custard is my Pokémon. Custard is a very sweet Goodra while Gnasher is very protective Krookodile about who she cares about.” “I guess that Pokémon really do have their own sorts of personalities.” Applejack said. “Speaking of personalities, where’s my sister?” She looked around the area, glancing towards every conceivable angle. Beads of sweat began dropping down her face. “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s probably out and about in this very large area.” Lith rationalized. “But she would always tell be before leaving, but she didn’t. Now she’s gone! That means that something bad has happened to her!” Applejack began hyperventilating, prancing about her hooves. “Hey Applejack! Why are you dancing around so weird?” She turned around and saw Apple Bloom standing by Mono’s side. “Apple Bloom! Don’t get me so worried like that. Next time, tell me when you go somewhere.” “But I’m a grown-enough pony to wander around on my own.” Apple Bloom said. “You must be Applejack. Your younger sister was telling me all about you.” Mono interjected. “According to what Fluttershy told me, you must be Mono.” “Yes I am. You do not need to worry about Apple Bloom. She’s just interested in getting to know me is all.” “Mono!” Lith shouted, running up to Mono. “I thought you were going to come in when I alerted you about the upcoming ceremony.” “I was, but Apple Bloom dragged me back in here to show me how to enjoy a party. I had nothing else to lose.” Apple Bloom pulled on Mono’s paw. “Come on, Mono; we’re going to go onto the dance floor!” Mono submitted to Apple Bloom’s demand, smiling and being dragged away by her. Lith and Applejack then looked back at each other. “I’m glad that your sister is getting along with my twin brother. I usually don’t see him that happy around others.” “What do you mean by not being happy around others?” Applejack asked. “He had a bad experience around the justice system. To make a long and winding story short, that one event destroyed my family and rendered us orphans. He has since never let any other people close in his life.” Lith explained. “That’s a strange coincidence. Big Mac, Apple Bloom and I were also orphaned once the Van’Goth invaded. My parents were H.O.R.S.E. agents and died in battle shortly after Apple Bloom was born.” “I see we’re both kindred spirits, then.” “Helloooooo everypony and everygriffon and everydeer and everyling and everydonk!” An energetic voice shouted over the intercom. “The dance contest will start in a few minutes. Everyone go down to the dance floor and find a partner if you want to compete!” Lith glanced over towards Applejack with a raised eye. “That’s just Pinkie Pie. She’s another good friend, a member of H.O.R.S.E. and can be very fun to be around.” Applejack explained. “Should we go to the dance floor, Applejack? I’m interested in seeing how you dance.” “Sure. Good luck in that contest, Lith!” “So, are we really going to be dancing together?” Custard asked. “Well, yes. But, we’re doing it as friends.” Gnasher responded in a skeptical tone. “Yes, yes, definitely as friends. Nothing more and nothing less.” Apple Bloom rushed onto the dance floor with Mono being pulled behind her. “So… is there anything I need to know about this dance competition, Apple Bloom?” Mono asked. “It’s a red light/green light type of thing. You dance when the music is playing, but stop when it stops. If you continue dancing while the music stops, OR if you aren’t dancing when the music is playing, then the team is eliminated.” Apple Bloom explained. “It’s going to feel weird dancing with a child, though. I am an adult, after all.” “But you’re just a bit shorter than me by a foot, Mono. It shouldn’t be too awkward.” A purple smokescreen with glitter in the air dropped onto the dance floor, veiling everything. When it dissipated, a bright pink-coated earth pony mare with a dark pink mane and tail appeared standing on her hind legs at the center of the floor. Her soft blue eyes scanned the entire crowd of the dancers on the floor. On her flank was an image of a trio of balloons, each one being red, blue and yellow. “Is everyone having a good time so far?!” She called out, bringing forth a roar of applause in the room. “Good! My name is Pinkie Pie, your party planner and mistress of ceremonies for the evening. Now, the rules are simple; you and your partner dance when the music is going, but stop when the music stops. If you’re still grooving with what your mother gave you when the music stops, then you’re out! Last team standing is the winner!” Mono gazed upon the twenty-four contestants on the dance floor. The nerves in his legs shook. He leaned over towards Apple Bloom’s right ear and held his paw over his mouth. “Did I forget to tell you that I’m a terrible dancer?” He whispered. “You can’t be more terrible than Twilight, so you’ll do fine.” Apple Bloom assured in a hushed voice. “If you say so.” “Ready, go!” Pinkie Pie declared with a wave of a hoof. A sweeping melody with an upbeat orchestra carried its way throughout the air. Mono grimaced upon hearing it. “This is… the Rumba of Love.” He said to himself. “I’m sorry, Apple Bloom, but I just can’t. This music will make dancing with you awkward.” Mono walked off the dance floor, not looking in any direction except straight ahead. “But we’ll be eliminated if we leave! Please stay.” Apple Bloom pleaded. “You can’t make me dance to that type of romantic music with you, Apple Bloom.” Mono responded. “Wimp.” Apple Bloom stated, pouting and turning her head away. “It looks like we got one chicken-livered couple. Anyone else want to leave?” Pinkie Pie asked. Several of the other contestants gazed at each other with nervous sweat dropping from their faces and scratched the back of their heads. “Yeah, I like you but not like that.” “I could always dance another day.” “Wow… that music made things awkward.” One by one, contestants walked away from the dance floor, leaving only half the dancers on the floor. Among those that stayed were Gnasher, Custard, Applejack and a red-coated earth pony stallion with green eyes and an image of a green apple sliced in half on his cutie mark. “Y’all are cowards. It’s just music, ain’t that right Big Mac?” Applejack asked. “Yep.” Big Macintosh responded, nodding. The dancers grasped each other by their shoulders and began swinging to the rhythm of the melody. After a minute of dancing, the music stopped. All but a red doe and a brown stag stopped dancing. With their eyes widened, the deer couple fell over themselves. “Out!” Pinkie Pie shouted, pointing her hoof towards the couple with dramatic air. The couple frowned and walked off the floor. The music continued and the competitors began dancing once more. The music paused very quickly. A changeling and a pink-coated pegasus stallion fell over. “You two are out!” Pinkie Pie called out. The music resumed. Custard swung Gnasher by her waist and scooped her just before she fell towards the ground. Custard leaned his face close to Gnasher’s, smiling with narrowed eyes. “This isn’t too weird for you, is it?” He asked in a soft voice. “Is this weird for you?” Gnasher responded, her face contorting a small smirk. “Not at all. We’re just friends.” “Then it’s not weird for me.” Custard brought Gnasher back onto her feet, just as the music stopped. The two looked to their side and saw Applejack and Big Macintosh fumble over their steps. A small frown appeared on Pinkie Pie’s face. “I’m sorry, Applejack, but it looks like you and your brother are eliminated.” Applejack huffed out an air of pride. “This music was too cheesy for us anyways, Big Mac. Let’s wait for when a real hoe-down comes up.” “Yep.” With a furious nod, Big Macintosh left the floor with Applejack close behind him. “Alright! Only half of our original contestants remain! We have the really strong Strawberry Delight and Razor Wind of the Heavy Arms division, the super-smart Spitfire and Soarin’ of the Command Division, and the not-yet members of H.O.R.S.E. who are also not from this world known as Gnasher and Custard!” Pinkie Pie called out. Spitfire glanced towards the baby-blue pegasus stallion with a navy blue mane and tail next to her and whispered in his ear. “Alright, Soarin’, we got to take it up to a higher level with our dancing. I’m not too worried about Strawberry and Razor, but those Pokémon scare me with how well they move along the floor. They’re surprisingly nimble.” “Got’cha. Let’s take our dancing into a realm where they’ll never be able to touch us.” Soarin’ responded. When the music resumed, Spitfire and Soarin’ flew into the air, grasping each other by their shoulders and standing upon the winds. They Spitfire stepped forwards, matching Soarin’s step backwards. The two continued tangoing in the air. With a flap of Soarin’s mighty right wing, a gust of wind picked carried a rose from a loft and brought it directly into Spitfire’s mouth. Spitfire smiled with her teeth bared. “Good idea, Soarin’.” “I always try.” Gnasher and Custard stared at the act in the air with their jaws dropped onto the ground. They eyed over to Razor Wind and Strawberry Delight, who were waltzing upon a set of flashing stairs conjured by the latter. Meanwhile, Razor Wind performed a back flip with his wings extended and punched the stairs, shattering it and leaving brilliant sparkles in the air. The crowd stared in awe. “We’re going to lose this if we don’t do anything, Gnasher. Do you have any plans?” Custard asked with his voice dipped in worry. “We’ve got special talents too, remember? Just use your Muddy Water and I’ll use my Dragon Claw. Let’s make this into a Battle Tango.” Gnasher suggested with an aggressive tone. “Ah! Good idea.” Custard hopped back away from Gnasher and built up a whirling stream of Muddy Water. The water formed into a tidal wave, causing worried chatter and screaming within the crowd. With the wave of filthy water approaching her, Gnasher’s right claw flashed in a green color. She hopped into the air and slashed apart the wave, bringing a galaxy of brown stars into the area. She moved down onto her side, cartwheeling towards Custard. Custard then grabbed her by the claw and twirled her. “The crowd is left speechless.” Gnasher stated, pointing towards the crowd whose once horrified eyes metamorphosed into those of admiration. The round of sighs brought a smile onto Custard’s face. “Wow, your plan is working. What should we do next?” “This.” Gnasher swung her tail at Custard, who spun around in circles from the strike. Gnasher then punched the ground, unleashing an earthquake that raised four spires around Custard. With his heart beating and with a whimper, he unleashed a Flamethrower that ate all the pillars. Moving to the step of the rhythm, Gnasher pranced her way to Custard and grabbed him, spinning and then stopping. “Could you have at least warned me before doing something like that, Gnasher?” With his eyes glaring into her, Custard demanded. “I gave a fair warning. Plus, the crowd is eating it all up.” The crowd roared with cheers and whistles, bringing a soft smile onto Custard’s face. Gnasher eyed the other contestants, whose eyes widened to that of suns and their jaws stretching farther than their body sizes. A sneaky smile appeared on her face. “Alrighty then! It looks like the crowd has spoken; this contest is over!” Pinkie Pie called out, standing on her hind legs and pointing her right front hoof in the distance. “Now, I shall point to each of our contestants. Whoever the crowd cheers loudest for is the winner!” Saying these words, she pointed to Spitfire and Soarin’, who descended upon the ground. Several whistles and cheers echoed throughout the dance floor. She then pointed towards Razor Wind and Strawberry Delight, where louder applause sounded throughout the area. With a dramatic sleight of hoof, she pointed towards Gnasher and Custard and met wave after wave of roaring cheers and clopping. “It looks like we have our winners for the dance contest! Gnasher and Custard, you won! Give our winners a roaring round of applause!” Gnasher and Custard faced the crowd. Everyone clopped their legs on the ground along with the contestants. They eyed Mono, Lith, Jasmine and Rondo, who were also clapping and whistling. A red blush overcame Gnasher and Custard’s faces. “So… still just friends?” Gnasher asked. “Yes… very much just friends.” Custard assured. The festivities of the party ended and all of the heroes of the invasion lined up. Several ponies, griffons, donkeys and changelings all lined up and dressed in black clothing. All the way to the right stood Mono, Lith, Rondo, Jasmine, Gnasher and Custard in line. Spitfire stepped up onto the podium, dressed up in her commander outfit. She tapped the mic three times, amplifying the wind through the speakers. “I want to thank all the citizens of Neo Canterlot who came today to honor our heroes of the fight for the city. I hired our member of H.O.R.S.E. and party planner extraordinaire, Pinkie Pie, to set up this celebration.” She stated, pointing towards Pinkie Pie. “And let me say that this was one of the bestest parties we’ve had in a veeeery long time.” “I agree with that statement. But, before we close our celebration, I have an announcement to make.” Spitfire raised her hoof and called over Mono, Lith, Rondo, Jasmine, Gnasher and Custard. The six Pokémon approached center-stage. “Any reason why you called us over?” Mono asked. “Several reasons, Mono.” Spitfire responded with a smile and then faced the crowd. “These Pokémon arrived in our world in the midst of our war against the Van’Goth. Their intervention saved many precious lives, including the lives of our noble soldiers. It is with great honor and great pride that I accept these six Pokémon into the ranks of H.O.R.S.E.” A hushed gasp overfell the audience. Everyone remained silent with stunned faces. The H.O.R.S.E. members lined up, however, let out a unified smirk. “I know that our war against the Van’Goth makes us very cautious on aliens we do not fully understand yet, but I trust them. They saved me when I was marked for death by the army of mechas that stormed our city. If it were not for them, we would have lost Neo Canterlot to the Van’Goth. Seeing how they are, can we tolerate their differences from us and accept them into our society as new citizens of Neo Canterlot and Equus?” Spitfire called out. The entire room remained stunned. Celestia, Luna, Victoria, Carapace and Serva all stepped up from the front of the crowd and walked over to the stage. “I may not know who these strange beings are, but I know that they are not hostile towards us. They could have refused our cries for help when we needed them most, but they chose to fight the threat instead. My ponies in the audience may have second thoughts, but I trust them with the security of our united nation.” Celestia stated. “I agree with my sister. As far as life in Neo Canterlot goes, we need every single helping hoof possible. If there are those who have shown their capabilities in servicing our city, should we really reject them?” Luna questioned. “I used to be the empress of a war-shaped empire, but I realized that war alone does not make a nation great. It is our ability to look at every possible point, having the strength to move forward and doing so as a united force that makes a nation so great. Even if my griffons do not accept, I shall welcome these strangers in our ranks.” Victoria declared. “For a long time, we changelings have taken up façade after façade in order to trick others to get what we want. If there is one thing a changeling understands, however, it is that we cannot do anything without each other. If we accept these Pokémon into our ranks, then we shall add their skills and talents among ours and truly achieve unity. I accept them as members of H.O.R.S.E.” Carapace announced. “Let us not forget our reactions when we first paved our exodus to Neo Canterlot, my deer. We were not so trusting of others, too. But, we eventually learned how to live with our neighbors in harmony and even develop relationships with them. Could we not say the same about these wonderful Pokémon here? I see no issue with letting them enter into H.O.R.S.E.” Serva said. Several portions of the crowd began clopping their hooves onto the floor. More sounds of clopping and applause shook the room. Loud cheers echoed throughout the area. Mono and Lith walked onto the microphones, both whose eyelids were dripping tears. They both wiped the saline from their eyes and smiled. “First of all, I want to thank you all for accepting us into your home, beautiful citizens of Neo Canterlot. It is true that we are strangers from a different world, but we were pulled away from our home with no idea on how to return. We are in a situation like yours; lost in darkness without any sort of light. But this new light you have shone upon our lives, I must thank you all.” Mono declared. “It is not just we six that arrived onto your world, but a handful of others came here as well. Who knows how they are doing right now? We do not know if they are hungry or are even killed by the Van’Goth. But, we will make sure that we will find them and add to the rich diversity of our new home.” Lith stated. Spitfire approached Mono and Lith, placing medals depicting five golden stars around their necks. Mono glanced down upon his medal and Lith rose hers high into the air, inciting a roar of applause. Rondo, Jasmine, Gnasher and Custard all received medals the same as the ones given to Mono and Lith. “All of you; welcome to H.O.R.S.E.!” “Wait!” Pinkie Pie called out, running to the center of the stage. “Before we end this chapter of our lives, I have a special treat for you all. Rondo, one of our new H.O.R.S.E. operatives here, is going to sing!” She declared, moving herself out of the way and letting Rondo stand before the mike. “Thank you, Pinkie Pie. I have been practicing all day for this moment.” Rondo cleared his throat. “No idea on how we are here, So far, yet so very near, Our eyes, they are all filled with tears, These winds call forth our fears, How do we feel, About our seals? We stand together, Helping forever, Uniting under goals... Let’s raise the banner! In an arch manner! No way we can lose, Despite our own blues, Let’s raise the banner!” The crowd stood up on their hind legs, giving a round of clapping and whistling. Rondo smiled.
GreenhornsSpitfire, Mono and Lith walked up a set of stairs and approached a door with an image of a burning tongue of fire upon it. Spitfire pulled out a black card with her image on it and flashed it over a metal banner. The door opened, revealing a small living room furnished with a black sofa, an orange recliner and a black disk upon a simplistic television cabinet. Beyond a windowless counter at the far end of the living room was a small kitchen that had a fridge, a stove and a sink. “Are you sure you it is okay if we stay with you for the night, Spitfire? It seems like a bunch of trouble to go through.” Mono asked. “You two don’t have a place where you can stay. Jasmine is staying with Strawberry Delight, Gnasher is staying with Razor Wind, Custard is staying with a civilian deer family and councilman Carapace was quick to invite Rondo to stay for the night after hearing him sing. At the very least, this is my way of expressing my gratitude for coming to our aid.” Spitfire explained. “We will try to make sure our presence here is as minimal as possible, Spitfire.” Lith assured. “I don’t know what your nightly rituals are, but I’m going to hit the shower now. You’ll find my room near the end of the hallway opposite the bathroom door.” Saying these words, Spitfire traveled down a dark hallway with only four doors in total. She opened the door to the left near the end of the hallway and a bright light illuminated from the room. Spitfire slammed the door shut. “Well, at least we know where her room is now. But… is she doing what I think she is doing?” Lith asked. “I’m sure she just wants to keep a close eye on us. We should sleep on the floor, right?” Mono responded. Walking into the room, Mono moved his paw over a blank space next to the door. The room lit up, revealing a Queen-sized bed with thick sheets and fluffy pillows all colored in navy blue. Lith smiled, whistling and stepping into the room. “Nice bed she has. I never got the opportunity to sleep on a Queen-sized mattress before.” Mono hopped onto the bed, bouncing on it. “I know exactly how you feel, Lith. Though I consider the Opelucid Lab home, not even Professor Pasque sleeps on a bed bigger than a Full-size.” “I just wonder where everyone else is.” Lith stated. A small frown formed on her face. “Don’t feel sad, Lith. I’m sure they are alright.” “I know, but this is the first night where everyone is away from each other. Not everyone would have been fortunate enough to find a warm bed and shelter from the weather.” “Now that you mention it… I didn’t see Stereo at all.” Mono grimaced and grasped the center of his chest. “He usually gets moody while he’s separated from me. I don’t want to see him sad and miserable. I really hope we can find him as soon as possible.” “Don’t worry, Mono. Stereo is very tough and will more than likely scare off any potential threats… if he doesn’t blow out their heads first.” Lith assured, laughing at her final statement. “I know, right? Taking a Hyper Voice from him would be the same as having your head explode from a grenade in your mouth.” Mono stated in an enthusiastic voice. “I also wonder how Professor Pasque, Professor Gentian, Einstein and Tesla are doing as well. I know for a fact that all the humans with us also turned into Pokémon. I just don’t know which ones.” “Well, it looks like Spitfire has an unusual device on the cabinet back in the living room. If the new technologies being developed in our world are any indicators, then that must be a hologram used for watching television. Are you interested in seeing what sorts of programming this planet broadcasts?” “You think they have some cleverly-written animations available?” “These Equusians appear cultured enough for that sort of thing. It would be an interesting experience to view their entertainment.” When Mono and Lith hopped off the bed, a veil of steam hissed out from the open bathroom door, revealing a smiling Spitfire with narrowed eyes and a mane full of volume with a towel around her neck. “The bathroom is available right now. Nothing beats having a quick steam bath and a shower after a hard day of work.” “That was kind of quick.” Mono noted. “The faster I can get to bed. Why don’t you two try having a steam bath and shower together?” Spitfire asked. “Ummm… that would be very awkward for us.” Lith responded. “You two aren’t walking around with clothing, so how would bathing with someone you trust make you feel awkward?” “Good point.” Mono and Lith stepped out from the bathroom with narrowed eyes and open mouths, exhaling relieving sighs. “Spitfire was right; that steam bath really rejuvenates one’s mind and spirit.” Lith stated. “And there’s nothing like a good shower to help remove the impurities of the body.” The two of them walked into Spitfire’s bedroom, lying down on the floor and placing their front paws underneath their head as makeshift pillows. Up from the bed, Spitfire released an audible cough from her throat. Mono and Lith stood up, looking onto the bed and seeing Spitfire lying down on the right side of the bed. “You two can sleep here with me.” She invited. “But… isn’t that your bed, Spitfire?” Mono asked. “Doesn’t mean I can’t invite others on it. I promise that I won’t hog the sheets.” “Well, now that you mention it, that bed does feel comfy and looks like it can give you good dreams just for lying down on it.” Lith stated with a perky smile. They ambled towards the bed and climbed onto it, nestling themselves into the blanket nest. With a clap of Spitfire’s front hooves, the lighting in the room blacked out. Spitfire then buried her right front hoof underneath Mono and Lith’s resting bodies, letting their soft fur brush against her plush hoof, and wrapped her left front hoof over their bodies. She smiled, slowing her eyes down to a close. “Ummm, Spitfire, why did you wrap your hooves around us?” Mono asked. “Because… I’ve always… wanted to… cuddle with cats…” Spitfire began snoring and her left hoof became heavy in exhaustion. Lith squirmed underneath the grip. She poked her head towards the front and gazed upon Mono’s shut eyes and content smile. She smiled, letting the exhaustion plaguing her subside and her eyes close. Mono and Lith walked into a dark room, where Rondo, Jasmine, Gnasher and Custard all stood around a black table displaying a shimmering hologram of a land shaped in the form of a star split into multiple pieces. Spitfire walked into the room, dressed in her clothing and dark shades. She walked behind the desk with a strong glare directed towards everyone. “If you are in this room, then you are now officially a part of H.O.R.S.E. and shall be given the organization’s basic rules. But first of all, the each of you needs to be fitted into H.O.R.S.E.-authorized uniforms. Luckily, a H.O.R.S.E. member shall tailor to each of your individual and unique needs.” A door slid open, revealing a white unicorn mare with a swirling purple mane and tail and was garbed in a sleek uniform of a shade of gray. Her crystal-blue eyes scanned through each of the Pokémon with intrigue. “You were not making a joke when you said that I would have some unique members to fit.” She said. “If any fashion designer can do this task, it would be you, Rarity.” Spitfire responded with a casual smile. “Your name is Rarity? You have a very fetching style and appearance.” Jasmine commented. “Why, thank you, Jasmine. Before you ask, I know each and one of your names through the H.O.R.S.E. database.” Rarity responded. “But, because you seem to understand the toil of maintaining a beautiful appearance, why don’t we start fitting you first?” “It would be my delight, Rarity.” Jasmine responded, curtseying. Both Jasmine and Rarity left into the other room. “So, I’ll fill you each in on your roles in H.O.R.S.E. Whenever a newbie joins, they are assigned into a group that would best fit with their race and personality. But, since you all are entirely new to the world, I’ll have to create an entirely new group for Pokémon. Each group is ran by a representative, got that?” Spitfire explained. “I understand.” Rondo called out, nodding. “Alright.” Spitfire stated, nodding and touching the table. The flat map expanded beyond the air, becoming three-dimensional. “Let me teach you kids a geography lesson; prior to the Galactic War, Equestria used to be one whole land where everyone flourished. Upon the invasion of the Van’Goth, however, this land splintered into many pieces due to an unidentified alien force. I’ll only tell you about our continent for now.” She tapped a land mass on the northwest portion of the map. The continent highlighted in a denim blue color. Several holograms appeared before everyone, depicting a grassy region with plentiful hills and caves. “This is the Terraformed Wilderness. It’s a relatively peaceful land compared to the other continents that our agents are sent out to, but it still is filled with many monstrous beings and is often a target of attack by the Van’Goth. Neo Canterlot is located here.” “So, if the Van’Goth constantly attacks this area, then why doesn’t the council move this city into another continent?” Lith suggested. “Because practically every other continent is unsuitable for living. I would be happy if we could move into another continent if those continents didn’t have features that weren’t trying to kill us.” Spitfire responded. “Well, that’s terrible.” Jasmine and Rarity walked into a bright room littered with pink armchairs and carpeting. A raised platform stood near the ray of sunlight emanating from the window. “This room is definitely different from anything else I have seen in this city.” “I take that you like it? This is my office of operations here in H.O.R.S.E. One of my roles within this organization is to create clothing as well as lead the architecture design for new buildings designed for H.O.R.S.E. use.” Jasmine floated up to the platform, placing her left arm on her hip and leaning her stance to the left. “I hope this gives a good view of me.” Rarity grinned, hiding a squeal of delight. Her horn lit up in a light blue color, levitating a yellow measuring tape next to Jasmine. Using the tape, Rarity placed it against Jasmine’s height, her width and her circumference. “Your body type is a bit alien, but I can definitely make this work.” Jasmine stepped down from the platform. “I saw you trying to hide your excitement, Rarity.” “Well, you definitely have one of the most adorable body shapes I have witnessed. For all intents and purposes, I would love to work closely with you outside of H.O.R.S.E. matters. You seemed to enjoy it as well.” Rarity explained. “It’s not every day when a Pokémon models for clothing. Even if our time was short, I quite enjoyed it.” Jasmine responded. Using a stylus, Rarity placed all of her calculations up on a silicon-made board. “Thank you for your time, Jasmine. Now, can you fetch me one of your other friends?” Jasmine nodded and opened the door, stepping out of the room and walking into the briefing area. “Rarity asks for another Pokémon in there.” Rarity wiped her forehead, airing away the beads of sweat from it. She looked onto the silicon board, seeing the calculations of Jasmine, Lith, Mono, Rondo and Gnasher’s measurements and body shapes. “Lith and Mono would be easy to fit, Jasmine and Gnasher will prove to be an arduous task to make clothing for, and I’m sure that Rondo would be easy to fit if I can fit other winged Equusians.” She looked down upon the list, eyeing Custard’s uncrossed name. Custard slipped his way into the room, smiling and waving. “Come in, Custard.” She asked, waving her hoof inward and smiling. Custard took small steps towards Rarity, leaving lilac-colored goo on the carpet. “You must forgive me for ruining your carpet, Rarity. I can’t seem to control my goo when I get nervous.” “You don’t need to be nervous. You are just being fitted. Though…” Rarity touched Custard’s side, feeling sticky liquids and a solidus body underneath. “Your body’s composition is a bit unusual, but I’ll see what I can do.” Rarity levitated a roll of measuring tape around Custard, checking his width, height and circumference. She smiled. “Your measurements are not too bad. The only real challenge is just getting some material that would best suit your physical needs. You see, the clothing that H.O.R.S.E. members wear is made of a combination of rubber and cloth. Seeing how much goo your body makes, cloth will only get wet and rubber will be very uncomfortable for you.” “Yeah…” Custard stated, frowning. “So what material would you believe would be best for me to wear?” “There is a substance found within the caves of the Terraformed Wilderness known as Nytherium. Nytherium is a very strange material that molds itself around wet surfaces and develops a rubbery consistency. Because of this, it is very comfortable on those that have damp skin. But, H.O.R.S.E. does not normally keep Nytherium.” Rarity explained. “If I find Nytherium, would you be able to make these clothes?” “Of course! Actually, that is a wonderful idea you have there. You and your friends could use some experience on the field, and Nytherium is not in any dangerous areas either. I shall go post a special request for your group, Custard.” With these words, Rarity walked out of a door to the side of the board. Custard glanced down upon the goo-covered carpet and chuckled with a strained smile. Fluttershy guided Mono, Lith, Rondo, Jasmine and Gnasher into a steel-walled room the size of a forum. A few lights hung from the ceiling, casting a shadowy light into the room. “I’m sorry if this room doesn’t suit to your group’s needs, but this was the best possible room I can get you in short notice. Sorry.” She said. “You do not need to apologize, Fluttershy. This room is very reminiscent of home for us.” Mono said, smiling and walking over to a set of tall lockers. “You mean you’re all not mad?” “Mad? Why would we be mad? You took the time out of your busy schedule to help us get better acquainted with this place. That’s one of the kindest acts I have seen out of anyone who I barely know.” Lith responded. “Ummm… thank you…” Fluttershy whispered out, smiling and hiding behind her mane. Jasmine glanced towards the right side of the room, humming. “I would love to administer a bit of Feng Shui in this place when I have the chance. Do we have to pay for our furniture?” “Unfortunately…” Fluttershy responded. “But, H.O.R.S.E. stores sell all operations-related goods at a heavily discounted price, especially furniture.” “That is fine as well. I shall look forward to being able to design my dream corner in this room.” When Jasmine said this, a chorus of coughs emerged behind her. All the Pokémon in the room glared at her. “Well, our dream room with the ability to change it to whatever we want.” Custard sprinted into the room, carrying a black device in the end of his right arm. “We got our first mission!” He called out. Everyone else in the room glanced at Custard, cocking their heads with eyes glinted in curiosity. Custard touched the base of the disk. It emitted an electric-blue light with a square sheet being projected. Everyone leaned their heads towards the message, scanning it with widened eyes. “It’s from Rarity! It seems like she wants us to gather Nytherium!” Fluttershy said, her voice rising with excitement the more she spoke. “Ummm… what’s Nytherium?” Rondo asked. “Nytherium is a very mysterious substance that molds around sources of moisture. No one knows how it is done, but it is a very interesting material found only in the caves of the Terraformed Wilderness.” “Better question is why are you are so interested with Nytherium?” Lith asked. “It’s not the Nytherium that I’m interested in, but it is the ecosystem where it is located in! So many wonderful creatures that only live in the caves on this continent, and they all vary from cave to cave! I must come with you all if you are going there!” Fluttershy called out with sheer excitement brimming in her timid voice. “If that’s okay with you.” “I don’t know about this… you don’t exactly look like the kind of pony who’d go out of her way to start a fight.” Gnasher stated. “I promise I won’t be a burden to you six. I just want to see the Terraformed Cave Bat and I will never pester you for another thing again.” Fluttershy looked into Gnasher’s face with pleading eyes. “Alright. I can’t resist that face you have.” Letting out a defeated sigh, Gnasher stated. “You will not regret having me along. I know where the sources of Nytherium should be.” The group sprinted across the sprawling field, seeing the horizon pop up in front of them. Upon Gnasher and Custard’s backs were tall backpacks that could hold a flood of items within it. “Do not worry everyone. We’re almost at our destination.” Fluttershy assured, pointing towards a hill with a cave mouth that descended into the land. “I thought it would have been much longer away.” Rondo stated. The group of seven walked down into the cave. The light dimmed into darkness and the air became moist and cool. Drops of water from stalagmites echoed throughout the cave. The smell of water seeping out of porous rocks lingered in the air. Looking at the depth of the infinite darkness of the cave, Mono’s spine shivered. “Ummm… I’m starting to have second thoughts about this.” “Don’t be so timid about it, Mono. It’s just a cave.” Lith assured. “It may be a cave, but your rash decisions would lead us into danger, Lith.” Mono responded. “Of course I may be rash at times, but how many times did my decision-making skills save us?” “They did… as much as they brought us into trouble.” “Mono… just man up. You’re an adult. Stop being afraid of the dark.” “Mono, Lith, let’s not argue about it. After all, this is our first mission. What would this make our group look like if we were falling out this quickly?” Jasmine rationalized. “She has a point, you know. This bickering between the two of you is what will actually get us killed.” Rondo stated, shaking his head in disapproval. “So, make up and say you’re sorry to each other.” Mono and Lith scratched the back of their heads, uttering out a soft sorry to each other. “Look!” Fluttershy stated under her breath, pointing towards a gray bat with pink-edged wings. “That’s a Cosmos Bat! It’s so beautiful!” She whispered out, having a mad hatter-sized grin plastered on her face. “Fluttershy, you look like you’re about to have a heart attack. Should I alert the paramedics?” Gnasher asked. “The Cosmos Bat is an extremely rare creature found only in this particular cave in the Terraformed Wilderness. The change of the world caused a slew of bats to develop changes of evolution over the years and this is the current form of it. How can you not be excited upon seeing it?!” “Ummm… yeah… it’s just a bat. Shouldn’t we be looking for that Nytherium?” “Alright, fine.” Fluttershy pouted out. Her eyes shot open and a soft squeak left her mouth. “Oh no! I’m sorry, Gnasher. I didn’t mean to sound so rude about it.” Gnasher grinned and patted Fluttershy on her back. “Something tells me that you are normally this apologetic, Fluttershy.” “…Yes. I’m sorry for apologizing so much.” The group crept through the cave. Light poured into the cave from the ceiling, making the lustrous minerals sparkling within the wall. A stream of water fell through a gap in the ceiling, crashing down into the abyss below with a mighty roar. Mono’s nerves rested and a calm sigh passed its way through his mouth. “It’s beautiful. I didn’t think it would have been this magical.” A sly smirk appeared on Lith’s face upon hearing his words. “And you didn’t want to come here.” “I never turn my back on a mission. Speaking of which, is Nytherium somewhere nearby?” “Actually, yes!” Fluttershy responded. “Nytherium absolutely loves to be around damp and brilliant areas within caves. There is some Nytherium over there, actually.” Saying this, she pointed towards a deposit of gray masses with a rubbery consistency. The group ran towards it, each with a grin on their face. “Alright then. Shall we start harvesting it?” Custard asked. The Pokémon approached the Nytherium in waves, scooping up handfuls of the material and dumping it within the two backpacks. Mono approached the Nytherium, scooping up more than normal. As he brought it into Gnasher’s backpack, his right ear perked up at a sudden movement within the shadows. He jumped out of his position, where a bullet crafted out of shadows shot towards. The bullet dissipated, garnering the attention of everyone in the group towards the origin of the shot. “Damn it! Missed.” A bipedal figure emerged from the shadows; a humanoid man with gray skin and stringy hair colored in a brilliant yellow stood out in the light. He stood at Custard’s size and was garbed in a gray and tattered poncho, vest and pants. His ominous yellow eyes glanced down upon a black revolver in his hand, still fresh with smoke emanating from the muzzle. On the barrel showed the word ‘Chaotic’ written in cursive. “Who are you, why did you try shooting my brother and what is with that get-up? I mean, hello, 1849 wants their clothes back” Lith asked with a sharp tongue. The humanoid twirled the gun around his finger and brought it back into its holster. “A smartass bitch, are you? The name’s Giacomo of the Van’Goth, and I’m afraid I can’t let you all live.” Giacomo responded. “Wait… you’re a…” Jasmine uttered out, piecing out the information in her mind. Realization oozed out of her face and her red eyes contorted into anger. “I’m afraid that we can’t let you live either you warmonger.” Giacomo reached his left arm to his back, grabbing a metal pole upon it. Holding it in his hand, a blade made of black energy curled out from the top and revealed a scythe. “You see, you guys are starting to be big trouble to the empire. You’ve defeated two transformed grunts and even scrapped our invasion plans of the only Equusian city left on this planet. I’ll send you all on a one-way path to hell!” He sprinted forwards, disappearing within the shadows of the light. “Where did he go?!” Fluttershy called out. Giacomo appeared right behind Lith. Swinging his scythe, he slashed Lith’s back and kicked her. Lith shrieked. “Lith!” Mono called out. With his eyes contorted in anger, they flashed in a blue light. Giacomo found his feet were off the ground and his head turning towards the ground. “What the hell?! Get your hold off of me!” Mono slammed Giacomo into the ground with a loud boom that sent a shockwave of dust out. Mono’s eyes dimmed to its regular state. From within the cloud of dust, four consecutive chamber explosions erupted. Four bullets shot their way towards Mono’s direction and struck his knees. Mono grimaced in pain. “That hurt… more than it should have.” He uttered out. A creeping shadow crawled its way towards him at breakneck speed. A blob of darkness formed at the tip, shaping itself into Giacomo. With his legs imbued in darkness, he kicked Mono across the floor. Mono lied onto the floor, twitching with pain gripping his body. “Wow, you may be a pussy cat, but I didn’t think you were that much of the former word.” Giacomo taunted. A burning anger erupted within Gnasher’s eyes. Her claws became cloaked in a green light. She ran up to the distracted Giacomo, slashing him with a Dragon Claw. Giacomo anchored his feet into the ground, dragging along it. He raised his fingers to the three gashes on his face, touching the red liquid on his face. “That hurt, you bitch!” He shouted. “That hurt? I’ll do more than hurt you for hurting Mono, you lunatic. I’ll end you!” With a fiery roar, Gnasher threatened. She punched the ground, causing an Earthquake. The stalagmites fell down to the ground towards Giacomo. Giacomo dodged them and pulled out his revolver, raining a storm of shadow bullets upon Gnasher. Gnasher stood unfazed by the bullets, walking towards Giacomo. “Dark-type bullets, eh? Have to hand it to you; you have some good taste in weaponry. But, those bullets don’t do very much to a Pokémon that resists Dark-type moves now does it?” Saying these words, she curled her claws into a fist and thrust it forwards. Giacomo held his scythe up to his face, blocking the punch. Forcing Gnasher back, he sprinted forwards and kicked her in the gut. Gnasher’s eyes shot open as she shot towards a wall with a bullet’s force. Gnasher fell onto the ground face-first. Her eyes twitched. “All bark and no bite? I thought something as naughty as you would have at least put up a better fight.” Giacomo eyed a brilliant flash emanating from Jasmine’s body. The light solidified, firing towards him. Giacomo shot several bullets into each of the solid lights, but they pierced through the darkness. “Oh shi-“Before he could finish, he found himself being pelted by an onslaught of light shooting his body and exiting through it. He clenched his teeth and panted heavily, staring at Jasmine. His eyes narrowed and a fire built within them. “I’ll kill you!” A Charge Beam shot out from Lith’s direction, striking him. Twirling his gun, he fired three bullets aimed towards her. A red barrier surrounded Lith, protecting her. Mono stood on his knees with his knees out. “God! I can’t even catch a damned break!” Right behind him stood Custard, whose glaring form towered Giacomo. “You thought you could hurt my family? I’ll give you on the count of three to run before I show you why I’m a Dragon-type.” A cold shiver went down Giacomo’s spine when he heard the dark-spoken words of Custard. He clicked his tongue. “Outnumbered and overpowered by a group of bastardized animals.” Saying these words, he disappeared into a shadow and fled from the area. “Whoever that guy was, we have to keep a careful eye on him.” Lith stated, brushing off her fur with her paws. “Lith, your back…” Fluttershy said, pointing towards the sizeable slash on Lith’s back. “Oh, that. It doesn’t hurt as bad as it looks.” Lith responded. “I cannot allow you to walk around like that, Lith. Fortunately, I came prepared with a medical kit just in case something like this happened.” Fluttershy pulled out a red case with a cross from her satchel. Opening it revealed a white ointment, a brown bottle of peroxide, a bandaging roll and a black device with two conductor tongs within the vicegrip. “I’ll get you up good as new.” She tore out a scrap piece of the bandage and tapped the open bottle of the solution with it. “This might sting, so please hold still.” Lith rolled her eyes and stood still. She felt a cold dampness on her back that turned into a burning sting. She winced. Following it was a sound of crackling electricity. She let out a faint shrill when it came into contact with her wound. “Do you really need to zap me, Fluttershy?” “You should have seen the size of your wound. I had to seal the wound in some way so that you would be fine.” Lith then felt a cool cream against her back that smelled of liquid with medicinal herbs boiled within it. Finally, Fluttershy took out the bandage and wrapped it around her body. She smiled and wiped her forehead. “You’ll be fine now. I’ll treat your brother and then Gnasher for injuries they have sustained.” She ran over towards Mono, whose legs were wobbling and his mouth was clenched in pain. She looked over his legs and rubbed her hoof over the skin of his knees at a gentle speed. “What is the prognosis, Fluttershy?” He asked. “It’s worse than I thought. Those bullets he shot into your knees maligned the connecting joints in your legs. They’re standing on an inverted position.” Fluttershy explained. “That’s not going to require surgery, is it?” “No, but it will require that I dislocate your knees from their places so that they can normally align with each other until we can get back.” Mono gulped on a pocket of air upon hearing her words. He blinked and nodded. Fluttershy placed her hooves around Mono’s left knee. With a quick jerk of her hooves, she separated the joint. Mono clenched his teeth, shrieking underneath his breath. She moved her hooves towards the other knee, jerking her hooves and separating them. “Gah! Mother of Arceus did that hurt!” Mono shouted. Fluttershy scooped Mono up with her hooves, frowning with an apologetic stare towards him. “I’m sorry that hurt, Mono. I didn’t mean for it to be that bad.” “A-apology accepted, Fluttershy. S-s-some things have to be d-d-one for healing to take place.” “Luckily, Neo Canterlot has a way to accelerate the re-alignment process to about a day so that you will be back on your feet by tomorrow.” She then rested Mono onto his back and walked over towards Gnasher, who was standing up and smiling. “You don’t need to worry about me, Fluttershy. I’ve been through worse.” “Ummm… alright. But, Gnasher, can you please hold Mono for the remainder of the trip? We can’t let his legs align themselves back into that position.” “It’ll be my pleasure. I’ll be sure that he gets home in good shape.” Gnasher responded. “But, someone else will have to carry the bag. The straps might get in the way of giving Mono the best possible stability.” “I’ll do it.” A voice called from deep within the mine. From among the shadows stepped an Exploud, grinning at the sight of the Pokémon in front of him. Wait a moment… is that you, Stereo?!” Mono called out, pulling his upper body upwards. “What happened to you here?! Are you hurt? Are you alright?” Stereo asked, hyperventilating at the sight of Mono’s decrepit body. “I’ll be back into good shape in no time. Gnasher has a backpack filled with Nytherium you can hold onto, Stereo.” “It’ll be my pleasure to bring it in the place of Gnasher, Mono.” Spitfire walked down through the hallways, her ears perking up towards the sound of jovial laughter echoing through the Pokémon-assigned room. She hummed and walked through the open door. “And just what is up with the laughter in here?” She called out, bringing forth a silence within the room. Her eyes glanced over towards Mono’s legs within white fabrics, Lith’s bandaged torso and the unfamiliar Pokémon in the room. “Ummm… I must be missing something here.” “Good afternoon, Spitfire. We completed our first mission and even found one of our friends.” Mono stated, pointing over towards the Exploud who had a translator around his neck. “This is Stereo. Somehow, we found him in one of the depths of the Terraformed Wilderness’s caves while we were filling out Rarity’s request.” Stereo raised one of his bulky arms up to his forehead and saluted her. “Mistress Spitfire! Mono told me all about you. Let me just say that it would be an honor to work for H.O.R.S.E.” He stated. “Wh-wait. I don’t even know if you are qualified to even be a member of H.O.R.S.E.” “I specialize in sound control.” “Well… H.O.R.S.E. does need some sound-based officers in its rankings and you are a Pokémon… very well.” Spitfire admitted. “But seriously, what happened to Mono and Lith here? They look like they have sustained some serious injuries.” “Apparently, we came across an agent from the Van’Goth known only as Giacomo. He specialized in Dark-type magic.” Rondo explained. “Wait… you encountered that lunatic and survived with only injuries? Not even a squadron of elite members can overcome him.” “To be fair, he did have a type advantage against Mono and me because of our injuries. He didn’t have much of an advantage against Gnasher because of her typing though. Then, Jasmine unleashed a Dazzling Gleam on him and Custard scared him away.” Lith stated. “Well, color me impressed. You know, maybe it might be worthwhile to have as many types as possible at H.O.R.S.E.’s disposal. I’ll have to see our head of our R&D department to discuss these matters with her.” Spitfire said, smiling with a calm expression. “And Fluttershy.” Fluttershy turned towards Spitfire with a confused glint in her eyes. “Y-yes, Spitfire?” “I was hoping if you would be the Equusian representative of the Pokémon group here. You have a very nurturing and understanding spirit, which would make you a wonderful addition to this group.” “A-are you sure about that, Spitfire? I mean, I still have to do my environmental research and field studies with the other group I am affiliated with.” “One thing I like about our organization is the ease of transferring a member’s work from one division to the other. I’ll simply do that for you so that you can spend more time researching our new brethren.” Spitfire stated. “That means… I can spend more time with my new friends and study them AND their world?!” With her voice rising, Fluttershy asked. “Yep, and considering their strengths and goals of finding other Pokémon, I’ll give them permission to go onto intercontinental missions. That means that you are free to do research for other areas.” “This news makes me so happy that I can cheer!” Fluttershy took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A weak and audible hum crawled its way out of her mouth. “…Ummm, I think I’ll help Fluttershy with her cheering ability.” Stereo offered. Giacomo walked into the presence of the emperor with a scowl on his face. The emperor glared at him with an impatient stare. “I assume that you failed in the duties assigned to you?” He asked. “I followed them down into one of the caves in the Terraformed Wilderness, hoping to get a surprise bullet in on them. But, those bastards were able to evade me and we clashed directly. That croc and Miss Smells there were real bitches to deal against and made my time a living hell.” Giacomo explained. “So can you give me your prognosis on their combat ability, Giacomo?” “They’re all definitely strong, no doubt about that. But, they apparently have an edge when it comes to the elemental affinities they control. That Miss Smells bitch pelted me with light that burned like a mother fu-“ “We do not need any more profanity coming from your mouth, Giacomo. You are free to go back to where you normally go off to and continue your duties.” Giacomo turned around, walking towards the gates to the throne room. The emperor looked in Wilhelm’s direction. “What are you suggesting, my liege?” Wilhelm asked. “We’ll have to put our invasion plans on hold for the moment. What Giacomo says about elemental affinities has me concerned that any plans we make without the proper knowledge on our new enemy are doomed to fail. We will have to bide our time and observe all of their strengths and weaknesses. Then, that is when we will strike.”
H.O.R.S.E. DivisionsMono and Lith eyes opened within the sheets of twin-sized beds. A ray of sunlight broke through the area between the red curtains. The both of them yawned. “Good morning, Lith.” “Good morning, Mono.” Mono pulled out his sheets, revealing his leg fabrics. He lifted his right leg and bent his knee. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. It looks like it does work.” “These bandages aren’t as effective as the Pokémon center back home, but they’ve done their job.” Lith stated, sitting up, pulling on the bandage and severing them with her teeth. The bandages fell apart, revealing a healed back with no scarring. “You know, Lith, I never thought we’d be enlisted into an army upon our arrival. I always thought I would find peaceful days within this new world.” “I know how you feel, Mono. I never thought I’d had an alien slash my back or reverse your knees natural positions. It just goes to show you that there will always be something.” “Despite everything we are going through right now, I’m still very happy. I mean, we are in the middle of a war for survival and we are split from the rest of Opelucid Lab’s scientists and Pokémon. But, we found Stereo and we can even engage our Pokémon in conversations with each other. Plus, the inhabitants of this world seem very friendly.” “They definitely aren’t like the people back in our world who hide their ulterior motives through this veil known as law and justice.” Mono hopped off the bed and onto his feet. “I’ll be brushing my teeth and taking a shower. Do you mind checking the holographic television for the news, Lith?” “I don’t mind at all. It would give us ideas on how to plan out our H.O.R.S.E. day, after all.” Mono walked out of the room with a slight limp in his legs. Lith hopped off her bed and approached the disk. She tapped it, revealing a hologram displaying all of Neo Canterlot above it. A silver-coated earth pony mare with a pink mane stood in the front, equipped with a blue suit and a headset. “Good morning, Neo Canterlot! You are tuned into the NCNN with Crystal Current here. Today’s weather is sunny with a chance of a cloudy noon. Temperatures will be around seventy-five degrees today and you will be able to feel a cool breeze today.” Crystal Current announced. “Seems like a good day to get a feel for the city with the others.” Lith said to herself. “I’ll pass it over to Bulk Biceps with the news.” The screen transitioned to the inside of a stadium, where a white-coated pegasus stallion with a dirty blond mane and oversized muscles appeared in a suit and headset. “Today’s the big hoofball game between the Griffonheim Eagles and the Canterlot Cavaliers. It’s gonna be awesome!” Bulk Biceps shouted, standing on his hind legs and flexing. “Yeah!” “Wow, this city even has its sports… and that announcer is such a ham.” Mono walked into the room with a white towel around his neck. He dried off the fur on his forehead. “The bathroom is all yours, Lith.” “Alright, Mono. But, please keep it on this channel and tell me everything that is happening. Be sure not to forget any of the details.” With these words, Lith sprinted out through the door and into the bathroom. Mono looked upon the hologram screen, watching it with unbroken focus. The hologram of Neo Canterlot became replaced with an image of a purple unicorn mare’s head. Her mane was a sapphire blue with a pink stripe running down the center and she had a warm smile complimented by her purple eyes. “Hey there, Mono.” Mono jumped back and shrieked, breathing with deep and successive breaths. Regaining his composure, he looked back into the hologram screen. “Ummm, who are you?” The mare looked to the right and then backed her head away with a sheepish smile. “Whoops! Sorry about that. My name is Twilight Sparkle, head of the Magic and R&D departments. Spitfire told me this was the area code to access you.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “Wait, you’re the head of two departments? Don’t you look a little young to be in charge of those things?” “Well… before the invasion, I was personally educated by Council Lady Celestia while Canterlot was still a monarchy. But then the Van’Goth appeared and you know what happened after that. Everyone says that my talent with magic and research is very strong, so I am now running these two departments.” “So, what did you call me for, Twilight?” “Nothing much, Mono. All I’ll need is a sample of your DNA for research purposes. Just place it in the drawer of the cabinet here and I’ll have it transported over to R&D for studying.” “Well…” Mono said with a stutter. “First, I would like to see your R&D division. It is to make sure that I can feel safe with giving my DNA to someone I’ve never met before. I have some trust issues.” “Understandable. Also, I hear that Fluttershy is in your group. Is that correct?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “She’s one of my best friends. She may be a bit timid, but she has a wonderful heart and is an excellent field researcher. She’ll prove to be valuable in helping to find your friends.” Lith walked into the room with a dark blue towel around her neck. She eyes the hologram and Mono, who had his body leaning forward. “Mono, who’s your friend you’re talking to?” She asked. “Oh! You must be Lith. My name is Twilight Sparkle, head of the Magic and R&D departments of H.O.R.S.E. I’m just asking your brother here if he is willing to give a sample of his DNA for research purposes.” “Sorry, but my brother and I doesn’t trust government officials.” Lith responded in a cold voice, crossing her arms. “That is kind of ironic to say coming from your current position.” “It is also ironic that you are bringing up irony in this ironic conversation.” Twilight Sparkle groaned over the hologram. “You sure can be nasty to deal with.” “I have to be. My brother is one of the few members of my family I have left.” “Alright then, how about I just teleport where you are and we can talk this over in person?” Saying this, Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed in a purple color. The screen filled with the light of the same color, turning into a beam aimed towards the floor in front of Mono and Lith. The beam disappeared, revealing Twilight Sparkle in a white lab coat and a six-pointed hot pink star on her flank. “Luckily, I’ve picked up a bit of Technomancy in that one class back in school.” “Alright, you’re here now. So, what is your next plan from here?” Lith responded. “I’d figure I would earn the trust of both of you by personally showing you around H.O.R.S.E. Headquarters.” With these words, Twilight Sparkle’s horn lit up once more. Mono and Lith became caught within the aura’s glow. With a brilliant flash, the world around them warped. Mono, Lith and Twilight Sparkle all found themselves within a white room with beakers, machinery and test tubes everywhere. Various Equusians in lab coats and goggles held beakers full of liquids and objects using magic, hooves and talons. The sounds of scribbling on crisp paper echoed within the walls of the area. “Welcome to the lab.” Mono and Lith gazed at the area around them, sighing in awe. “It looks like home.” Mono stated. “You were raised in a lab?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “No, but we spent most of our time in a lab doing research since we were children. We are very general with our studies.” Lith responded. “Professor Pasque taught us everything we know about science and philosophy. He believes that one should not let science dominate a culture entirely since there are bad consequences in society and in the environment.” Mono added. “That’s a great philosophy to have, Mono. Here in the H.O.R.S.E. R&D division, we do not go through with any sort of research conducted if it would have an ill effect on those of Neo Canterlot.” Twilight Sparkle proclaimed with a proud tone. The trio walked through the space of the lab, seeing minerals and plants being observed by scientific individuals and having various liquids added onto the substances. “We can cross ‘Unethical Scientist’ off of the list of reasons to not trust you chart.” Lith remarked. Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes. “So anyways, let me show you to the Magic Division.” Metal platforms levitated above the ground and cases lined with books and tomes sprawled throughout the tower-like complex. Many Equusians in velvet robes, hoods and glasses scanned through each of the books. Mono, Lith and Twilight Sparkle walked up the set of floating platforms, reaching floor after floor. “You weren’t kidding when you said this was the Magic Division, Twilight. Everything here looks like it is being manipulated by a psychic force. Actually, I can feel that force as well.” Mono remarked. “Mono has a point there. I don’t know if it is because we are Psychic-type Pokémon, but the concentrations of energy levels feel much different than anywhere else on the world.” Lith added. “And you both are correct. Here in the H.O.R.S.E. Tower, we experiment with using mystical arts gathered through leading scholars within the field. The energy you two are feeling is known as Unda Magicae, a strange energy we were recently able to tap into that grants even those who are unable to process external magic the ability to do so. But, it actually takes a high level of discipline to be able to control the magic here.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “So… what is the point of this area? All it looks like is an expensive waste of money.” “Lith, learning magic is not a waste of money in the slightest. In fact, the magic used here is used for the purposes of devising new spells and equipment for our magic users on the field to use. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the brands of magic used by operatives, right?” “We have actually! Those spells some of those Equusians used looked potent.” Mono exclaimed with perked ears. “That is an example of the research that goes into use. Another example is crafting enchantments to be used on weapons that further their normal attributes. This area is devised this way so that those who are not capable of external magic, but show a natural affinity to using it can use it.” “I guess I spoke too soon by saying it is a waste of money.” With a defeat sigh, Lith remarked. “I make sure that no money goes to waste. After all, every little bit we have matters. We do not have the luxury of throwing around money wherever we want.” Towards the right, a young dragon with a purple body, green spines and underbelly underbelly ran towards Twilight Sparkle’s direction. In his right hand was a red book, where the cover was imprinted with the golden seal of a flaming avian. “I have good news, Twilight. The ‘Risen Through Ashes’ spell has been doing well in the testing phase so far! We’re ready to try it out on the field.” He proclaimed. “That is excellent news, Spike. Tell the testers that we will be practicing it Gnosis Valley.” Mono and Lith eyes Spike with tilted heads and confused glints. “I don’t think I have ever seen a creature like that before. I mean, he looks like a purple Gible.” Mono noted. “He somehow is a Dragon-type that looks even cuter and cuddlier than Custard. I never thought that was possible.” Lith stated. A red blush came upon Spike’s face and had a burning rage deep in his eyes. “I’m… I’m not cute and cuddly! I’m just small.” Twilight Sparkle cuffed her mouth with her right hoof, suppressing a giggle. “Anyways, this is Spike. He’s a dragon who also happens to be my apprentice in the magical arts and my personal assistant. I hatched him ten years ago for my exam in the presence of the royal Canterlot sisters.” She explained. “And, yes, I have a natural affinity for magic despite my appearance.” Spike added, raising his right index claw into the air with his eyes closed. “You know, I don’t think I’ve seen any dragons around in Neo Canterlot. Is there a reason why?” Mono asked. “Dragons are an Equusian race of beings and are very strong, but almost all of them were annihilated upon the invasion of the Van’Goth. Only a few hatchings were able to make it into this city, one of which being Spike.” Twilight Sparkle responded. “That’s horrible!” Lith shouted. “Truly, the Van’Goth are void of any sort of sympathy.” “I could go further on how they made several other races of Equusians extinct, but now is not the time for that. I’m here to show you around the divisions, not give you a sob story.” “Before I forget; where do you want the enchanted weapons to go, Twilight?” Spike asked. “Ummm… put them in the weapons hold along with the assault cannons. Everyone is going to want to have access to it.” The trio walked into a white room beyond what can be seen beyond their horizons. Several targets floated around the room. Ignitions of guns flared throughout the area and the targets shattered with the sound of glass breaking. An azure-coated pegasus mare in a black suit with a rainbow mane and safety goggled zipped throughout the air in the room with an assault rifle in hoof, mowing down every target in her way. “Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight Sparkle called out, eyeing the pegasus in the air. “Oh! Twilight!” Rainbow Dash shouted, lifting her safety goggles and flying down onto the ground. “So did finally decide to take up my offer on having a shoot-out with me?” She said with a cocky grin. “Not really. I’m just giving a tour of the base to our new recruits.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “Maybe you would like to explain this area to them?” “Oh! I guess this our first time meeting each other, then. The name’s Rainbow Dash, Senior Marksman II of H.O.R.S.E. and don’t you forget that.” “Greetings, Rainbow Dash. My name is Mono Samers.” Mono introduced. “And I am Lith Samers. So what is this area all about?” “I’ll tell you two in complete detail; this is where the Marksman Division hones its gunning skills at. The Marksman Division is one of the major combat divisions of H.O.R.S.E. Here, we teach our recruits how to hold a gun and how to get the most use out of holding said gun. Speaking of which…” A target spawned in the air behind Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash aimed her gun over her left shoulder and fired, shattering the target. Mono and Lith stared at the air the target used to be, speechless. “I’m not even sure that is humanly possible.” Mono noted. “That was impossibly cool…” Lith stammered. “Heh, I know right? That’s one of the tricks and trade we teach in the Marksman Division.” Rainbow Dash hoisted her rifle onto a sash on her back. She looked at Twilight Sparkle with pleading eyes. Twilight Sparkle sighed and rolled her eyes. “When I’m done with my duties, I would love to engage in a match of Break the Targets with you.” “Yes!” Rainbow Dash shouted, pumping her right hoof with an ecstatic grin on her face. “I’ve been waiting all month for you to say that. Oh, and tell the new recruits that I’ll teach them how to hold a weapon soon.” She flew off, pulling out her rifle and aimed it towards a faraway target. “She seems very hasty.” Lith stated. “That’s Rainbow Dash for you. She’s the kind of pony whose energy is very contagious. But, she isn’t careless and will make sure she is the last to leave a battlefield of any kind so that she can cover the back of her other allies.” Twilight Sparkle revealed. “She obviously has a lot of trust within you, Twilight.” Mono noted. “Now, we’re going to go into the heavy armor division area.” Walking through the doorway into the room, the very first object that caught the attention of Mono and Lith were the bulky armors equipped by all of the Equusians in the room. The room had dim lighting and dumbbells labeled with various numbers were sprawled along the hardened floor. Lith’s eyes wandered over towards Razor Wind, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight, who were facing each other and engaging in conversation. She smiled and waved her hand. “Razor Wind! Hydrangea! Strawberry Delight!” The trio of armored operatives glanced towards the source of the noise and smiled. The three of them walked towards Mono, Lith and Twilight Sparkle. “Mono! Lith! Didn’t think you three would come here.” Razor Wind greeted in a casual tone. “Oh? You three know these Pokémon?” Twilight Sparkle asked with a smile developing on her face. “Of course we do. They saved our lives two days ago.” Hydrangea responded with a voice oozing cheers. “Looks like Twilight is giving you two a tour of the facility. I guess that since we aren’t doing anything, I’ll give you a brief explanation of this division.” Strawberry Delight stated. “The Heavy Armor Division is what you would consider the shield of H.O.R.S.E. We specialize in setting up formations as well as guarding against threats. Essentially, we take the fire so that other H.O.R.S.E. members can attack.” “That doesn’t mean we are incapable of offensive power as well. In terms of raw strength, the Heavy Armor division is among the strongest platoon of Equusians in H.O.R.S.E.” Hydrangea added in. “As such, we usually take the frontlines of battle.” “Probably the most notable group of members within the Heavy Armor division is the Apple Family.” Razor Wind noted. “Before becoming members of H.O.R.S.E., they were a family of Apple farmers. As such, they have a naturally high endurance level that makes them stars of H.O.R.S.E. Currently, Applejack and Big Mac are members of the Heavy Armor Division and Applebloom is looking towards becoming one as well.” “If you see Applejack, can you tell her I said ‘hi’?” Lith requested. “We will do that for you, Lith. After all, we still owe you for saving our hides back during the invasion.” Strawberry Delight chimed in. “Also, make sure to take care of Twilight. She can be a bit eccentric at times.” “I resent that remark.” Twilight Sparkle stated in a flat tone. “Hey, you’re still a valuable member of the team and an even more valuable friend. I meant that as a compliment.” The trio then walked away to the left. Mono looked Twilight Sparkle in the eyes and smiled. “I think I have seen enough of the place to know that you can be trusted, Twilight.” “But… don’t you want to see the Civilian Division or the Architecture Division? We still haven’t made our way through even half the divisions of H.O.R.S.E. yet.” With a quick tug, Mono yanked out a strand of white hair from his head. “We could always see those divisions some other time. Besides, if my brother trusts you… then I guess I can trust you as well.” Lith stated. “I’m sorry I treated you in an unpleasant way.” “You are correct to be cautious, Lith. You don’t know if I am a friend or foe. Heck, we could have been secretly committing Van’Goth xenocide and they’re attacking us just to save what little they have left.” Twilight Sparkle joked. “Veeery funny, Twilight.” Mono said with an unamused tone. “But, before I hand you my DNA, I have a personal request I would like to ask of you.” “And what would that be, Mono?” “I would like to join your R&D division. I could do that and still be with my group, correct?” Mono asked. Twilight Sparkle stuttered, looking towards her left and right. Sweat plumed down from her face. “That is going to be difficult. Yes, you can join any division while still remaining in your group. But, the R&D Division is notoriously hard to get into. You need to be recommended by one of the higher-up members and have to have a history of working in an actual lab. Also, you have to be knowledgeable in various sciences and engineering.” She explained. “I thought I made it clear that we were both scientists. We’ve also assisted Professor Pasque in developing and engineering tech that helped enrich the lives of our people. Also, I’m sure you would be able to put in a good word for me if you talked with registration.” With a smirk, Mono responded. “But I don’t even know what you are capable of. It would be foolish for me to simply accept you in just with your own word.” “Then I guess you do not want this DNA for your research then.” Twilight Sparkle stammered and stomped her right hoof. “But I do!” She let out an exasperated huff. “Alright, but you’ll first have to show me your skill in the lab. I expect you to live up to your word.” “Fine by me.” Mono stood in front of a counter at the lab, wearing a white apron and safety goggles. On the counter are several beakers with colorful liquids, plants and stones within them. To the right of the counter was a packet of several pages. Twilight Sparkle walked by him, wearing her lab coat and safety goggles. “So… what am I supposed to do here?” Mono asked. “Simple; I want you to create a fuel solution for our mechs using the ingredients in front of you. To your right is all the information you need to know and there is no outside assistance on the exam.” Twilight Sparkle explained. Mono grabbed the packet of notes and scanned through each individual material and chemical. He grabbed the beaker of green roots and dumped them into the mortar. Using Psychic, he brought a beaker of water over to him and added it into the roots. Using a pestle, he began beating the moistened vegetation. Doing so, he levitated a beaker of thick liquid in the color blue towards him and added it into the mortar during the crushing. “Not bad at all.” Twilight Sparkle noted, keeping a stone-hard face. Mono took the mortar of the dark green-blue compound and scooped it out into a test tube of red liquid. The tube began shaking and glowing in a red color. With a grimacing face dropping beads of sweat, he levitated three white stones from a test tube and brought them into the solution. Using a wooden stick, he mixed the solution with rigorous force in his wrist. “How am I doing so far?” “You got passed one of the difficult portions. Many that have taken the test always seem to foul up when it comes to adding the bracyix tail solution into the bergamot oil since it causes a sudden volatile reaction.” “Reading through the notes you gave me, Wilderness Quartz can stabilize the reaction and allows me to make it into a useable compound.” Mono took the test tube and placed it into a boiling pot of water. The brown solution within it bubbled, changing into a white-brown color. Levitating it, he brought it into a pail of ice and snugged it between the cubes. Twilight Sparkle raised a cautious eye when Mono took a packet of salt from the table, tore it open and poured it into the liquid. “Don’t do that, Mono! You might cause a chain reaction to occur!” She shouted, seeing the liquid bubbling over the beaker and into the ice. The ice began melting. “Then watch this.” Mono grabbed a sprig of pink petals from a nearby plant and inserted it into the tube. The leaves dissolved, but the solution stopped bubbling over. Twilight Sparkle, who ran behind a potted tree, peered out and saw Mono with the test tube of clear brown-yellow solution held high in his paw. “Azalea…? But, that’s not one of the materials used in the exam!” Twilight Sparkle stated. Her eyelids scrunched into anger. “You could have gotten us all killed like that! Salting that solution would have been a huge safety hazard.” “But it didn’t. Azalea leaves have a biological composition that allows them to neutralize covalent reactions involving salt.” “Fair enough, but let me test that.” Twilight Sparkle levitated the test tube from Mono’s paw and poured it into a gray funnel of a cube-shaped monitor. The screen lit up in a green color. Twilight Sparkle smiled. “How does it test?” Mono asked. “The monitor sees a three-hundred percent increase in power and it looks like the solution will keep powering for three times the length of the standard fuel devised here. How on Equus did you ever think to do that?” “I may be timid around others and in society, but I’m bolder when it comes to the lab. Professor Pasque always tells us that taking risks is just another part of being in the lab, and I knew I was risking many things when I made that solution.” Twilight Sparkle smiled and lifted her right hoof towards Mono. “As afraid as I was to involve you within our division, I see no reason as to why you shouldn’t be a part of it. You are free to work in this lab whenever you want, Mono. Heck, I may even post some tasks in your group specifically for you!” Mono raised his paw and shook Twilight Sparkle’s hoof. “It would be a pleasure working in this division, Twilight.” “That reminds me! Spitfire asked that all members of your group are to report to the briefing room as soon as possible.” Twilight Sparkle announced. Mono pulled his paw away from Twilight Sparkle, leaving a strand of white hair on her hoof. “I better go then. Spitfire does have a temper when anyone is late.” Mono sprinted into the briefing room, erecting his back and saluting Spitfire. Lith, Rondo, Jasmine, Stereo, Gnasher, Custard and Fluttershy all glanced towards him. Spitfire and Rarity both smirked. “You’re somewhat late, Mono.” Stereo stated. “That’s alright, Stereo. Mono was simply taking the exam to get into the R&D division. From what I could tell, you seemed to have passed with flying colors.” Spitfire noted. “I have. So, what did you call us all over here for?” Mono asked. “I’ve gathered you all here to tell you that your uniforms are complete.” Rarity took a step forwards underneath the bright light. “I was very grateful to see such a large amount of Nytherium gathered by you all. I’ve heard from Fluttershy what happened during the request and it was a shame that you had to encounter that nasty Giacomo.” Rarity announced. “After giving Stereo the proper measurements, my squad of teammates and I have went straight to making the clothes themselves.” Rarity levitated seven black uniforms, all of varying sizes, to each of their respective Pokémon. All of the Pokémon grabbed the uniforms and held it out, revealing a symbol of five stars etched onto all of the torsos. Everyone smiled. “These feel pretty good!” Jasmine stated. “And my talons aren’t scratching them up!” Rondo noted. “These uniforms are tested by the R&D division and they greatly reduce the impact and damage done to the wearers. No more nasty injuries like the ones you two suffered yesterday.” Spitfire said. Spitfire, Rarity and Fluttershy waited outside the door into the Pokémon room, their legs trembling with deep anxiety. From what felt like forever, the door opened. All of the Pokémon stepped out, each equipped in their uniform. Mono and Lith were both wearing a two-piece uniform, with each piece stretching down to the hips, ankles and wrists. Lith’s shirt extended past her waist and curved into a skirt-like fashion. Their tails were free from the bindings of the clothing. Jasmine and Rondo only wore a top piece for their uniform; Jasmine’s uniform stretched down to her hips, which extended into an enlarged skirt. Rondo’s shirt covered down to his abdomen and the top portion of his wings. Stereo’s shirt fit around his massive forearms while still contorting to his upper arms and cutting at his wrists. Its backside was also dotted, leaving the pipes of his body unhindered by the fabric. His bottoms stretched down to his ankles and gave his tail pipe an ease of access. Gnasher and Custard’s bottoms expanded wide enough to fit their hips and their shirts extended to their wrists. Goo leaked from Custard’s clothing and absorbed it, hydrating his body. Gnasher’s clothes were reptilian in texture, retaining the heat within her body. “So… how do we look?” Lith asked. “You seven look fabulous!” Rarity shouted out. “I had not thought that I would make beings such as you seven look this good in clothing, but I somehow did it. You can see that the clothing I made for each and every one of you reflected your overall physique. For example, Jasmine and Rondo do not need bottoms due to their physiology, but Gnasher and Custard are specially suited to maintain their physiological needs.” “I can feel that. For once, I can wear clothing without having to damage it or damage me.” Custard replied, hugging himself with a euphoric grin. “I definitely like the retaining heat feature. This will definitely keep me active while I’m hunting alien rabbits with Razor Wind.” Hearing Gnasher’s words, Fluttershy’s legs shivered. “Ummm… could you not mention hunting down rabbits in front of me? I can’t stand the thought of slaughtering a wild animal myself.” “Well, that settles that; you have the talent and now you have the look. Neo Canterlot will be looking forwards to your duties, Pokémon from another world.” Spitfire announced. “Thank you very much. I shall wear my clothing proudly in battle!” Rondo stated. “So… now what do we do?” Jasmine asked. “Beats me.” Shrugging her shoulders, Spitfire responded. “Just… do whatever you want as long as it is ethical and legal. I really didn’t plan much for you seven after getting your uniforms. Get yourself acquainted with H.O.R.S.E. and Neo Canterlot.” “You know, I have a good plan. It’s more for fun though, but it would be good if the three of you can follow up with the plan.” Lith suggested. “So what plan do you have in mind that would require us three, Lith?” Rarity asked. “Simple; a Girl’s Night Out.”
Girl's Night Out“Are you sure you want to do this?” Mono asked Lith, who was placing a sachel of bits on a belt around her waist. “Of course I want do this. It’s a good way to develop better bonds with other females of this world. Besides, this is probably the first time I’m doing something like this with other Pokémon as well.” Lith reasoned. “Maybe you should have a Guy’s Night Out with some other male members of H.O.R.S.E.” Mono’s eyes glanced towards the side of his head and a small frown formed on his mouth. “I know, but I don’t really know much of anyone.” “That is more of a reason why you should hang out with other members of H.O.R.S.E. Who knows, you might even make some more guy friends so that you can have others you can trust.” Lith pulled out a black tablet and held it away from her face, displaying a screen that revealed a list of mug shots of various contacts. “So what are your plans for the evening, Lith?” Mono asked. “Nothing much. We’ll all meet in the residential courtyard. From there, we’re going to see a movie, do a bit of shopping and meet over at Spitfire’s place for some Stratego. We’ll gossip and, you know, confide secrets with each other.” Lith responded. “Alright, Lith. I trust you will do well tonight.” Lith walked through the doorway of their room and turned her head back so that her eyes met Mono’s eyes. “I’ll be fine, Mono. Now, I want you to do at least something tonight. I know that Custard’s going to be alone tonight. Maybe you two can do guy stuff?” Lith stepped into an open location nearby the residential buildings. The ground was basted in the moon’s ethereal light. Plants swayed along a gentle breeze, brushing past their petals with a cool temperature. In the center of the area sat a statue depicting five stars, each one spitting out rushing water that plummeted into the basin below. “Everyone should be here by now. It is eight o’clock.” Looking down onto the hologram on her left wrist, Lith said. Spitfire appeared from the northwest, walking her way towards the center. Her mane is more relaxed and her clothing was foregone. Lith smiled, running up towards Spitfire. “Spitfire!” “What are you still doing in your uniform, Lith?” Spitfire asked. “I wanted to look good this evening and make it feel more like my own.” “Fair enough. So… everyone should be getting here soon.” From the nearby residential buildings, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight hopped off of the balconies and landed on the ground. “Woah, almost lost track of the time.” Strawberry Delight shouted out, giggling afterwards. “Time flies when one is taking a nap it seems.” Hydrangea noted. “You know, this might actually be the first time I don’t see the two of you with that heavy armor on.” Lith stated. “Your strength definitely betrays what I imagined the each of you to look like under there.” “Because you really only see us with our armor on. Didn’t you see Razor Wind and me at the party two days ago? We were in civilian clothing.” Strawberry Delight inferred. Her eyes drifted towards Strawberry Delight’s flank. An image of a group of strawberries covered in golden honey was depicted upon it. “So… who else is supposed to show up?” Hydrangea asked. “From my list of contacts, we have Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash and Applejack to go. I tried contacting Pinkie Pie, but she doesn’t seem to be picking up. Fluttershy said she won’t be able to come with us because she doesn’t like to go out into Neo Canterlot at night.” Lith explained. “That definitely sounds like Fluttershy. It’s funny because she would rather be out in the field than within Neo Canterlot.” With a keen smile, Spitfire stated. “What about Fluttershy?” Twilight Sparkle stated, walking from the north with Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “I apologize for being three minutes tardy, Lith. But, I was still stuck on deciphering the DNA your brother gave me.” “It took us many tries just to tell her to come here before she freaked out about the time, too.” Applejack argued in. “Eh, we’re all still here right?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Not yet. We’re still waiting for Jasmine and Gnasher to show up.” Lith responded. “Who?” “Oh, that’s right! Ol’ Rainbow Dash never met with Jasmine or Gnasher. Won’t she be in for a surprise when she sees them!” Applejack chided in. From the west, Gnasher and Jasmine walked into the courtyard, not wearing their clothing. Gnasher grimaced and Jasmine shook her head with worried eyes. “I apologize for being late, everyone. I was trying to help Gnasher take her clothing off.” Jasmine explained. “Luckily, Jasmine taught me how to take them off. They look nice, but I had a difficult time taking them off.” Gnasher noted. “Oh dear. I may have made the clothing a bit of a tight snug.” Placing her right front hoof on her face, Rarity stated. “Don’t bother yourself about it, Rarity. Now I know how to take them off, and I shouldn’t have any problems in the nearby future.” Lith looked into Spitfire’s face with a soft smile. “So, what movie did you have in mind to watch?” She asked. “There’s a movie out right now that H.O.R.S.E. lent its defense aid to. It even starred Hydrangea here in a role.” Hydrangea’s neck backed away, her eyes widened to a pool and her teeth clenched hard upon hearing Spitfire’s words. “Please, not that movie! I wasn’t even trying to act!” She pleaded. “It can’t be that bad, Hydrangea. Lots of movies have actors and actresses who couldn’t act. You wouldn’t be anything worse than them.” Lith noted. “Please… just don’t laugh at me when my role comes up on the screen.” Shaking her head with a frown and looking down onto the ground, Hydrangea requested. The group of ten walked down the sidewalk of a street. Cars flashed by them with blurred speeds and lights, creating images of phantasms. The streets were peppered with lights flashing down upon the ground and illuminating the entire area. Colorful advertisements, static and animated, and various Equusians littered the walls of the street. A hologram flashed in the air, displaying symbols of an eagle and of a shimmering shield along with the numbers ‘23’ and ‘32’ underneath them. The group came across a vibrant front of a building with a tall sign flashing and rotating through neon colors. On the sign, it was listed as ‘Neo Canterlot Cinema’. A stream of Equusians migrated into the theather to the front. Lith stood staring at all the colors assaulting her eyes. Her mouth opened at a slug’s pace, taking in the sight before her eyes. “Hey, Lith, are you coming in?” Spitfire asked. “Y-yeah.” The inside of the theater looked several times bigger on the inside than it did outside. The walls were painted in white and posters the size of billboards hung upon the massive walls. Rainbow Dash curled her lips, whistling with delight. “Looks like the whole place is packed tonight!” Lith eyed all of the posters, and a shiver of unfamiliarity rushed down her spine. “So which movie are we watching again?” “This one.” Spitfire responded, pointing to a poster with Hydrangea and a blue stag standing flank to flank in front of a fiery explosion. The poster red in earth-shattering letters ‘A Hoof-full of Pain’. Hydrangea slammed her hoof in her face. “Can we please not watch that? It’s embarrassing.” She requested. “It shouldn’t be that bad. At least it isn’t some action martial arts movie where all the characters are speaking out of sync with their lips.” Lith said with lightheartedness in her tone. “That is… exactly what it is.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash pursed their lips hard, straining her hardest to suppress the giggle rising from their voices. “That settles it, Hydrangea; we have to watch just how bad the movie is just so we can laugh at it.” Rarity announced. “Who knows? You could be much better on the screen than how you were during those filming sessions.” Strawberry Delight teased. “I do find it hilarious to see some cheesy action flick.” Jasmine noted. “I can’t wait to do my own voice-over for the movie!” Gnasher snapped. “Please, Deus, just end me.” Hydrangea uttered under her breath with a furious red rising in her cheeks. Mono lied down upon his bed with his body sprawled out. He sighed with his half-lidded eyes. He sat up on his bed, looking around all the corners in his room. “I guess maybe Lith was right; I could probably use some guyfriends to hang around with. I’ll check to see if any of the male Pokémon are available.” A knocked on his front door echoed from the outside. Mono jumped down from his bed and sprinted down towards the living room. He opened the door, revealing the figure of a smiling Soarin’. “S’up Mono?” “Just a bit lonely without Lith, Soarin’. What are you doing here at my door?” “Nothing much. I just wanted to see if you are up for a small party that me and a bunch of other guys set up. I know you aren’t really the sociable-type of being based on how I saw you act at the party, so it’s gonna be a small gathering.” Soarin’ offered. “Well… Lith did say I should have a Guy’s Night Out and this does sound too convenient to be true. What’s at the party anyways?” Mono asked? “Well, we’ve got a Cinnagog Warriors Fighting Tourney going on with the grand prize being a new Spidercube Gaming Console. Then, we’ll spend the rest of the night seeing movies of intense violence and sexual content if you’re into that sort of thing.” Soarin’ explained. “Are you suggesting a night of debauchery?” “Does it sound like I’m offering some child stuff here? Your buddies Rondo, Stereo and Custard are in the party as well!” A wide-eyed smile appeared on Mono’s face. “Sign me up for whatever is at the party then!” Hydrangea sprinted out of the screening area with a reddened blush on her face. The rest of the group emerged from them with a chorus of laughter bellowing out of their voices. “And now, I shall destroy your face by blowing it up with my open hoof strike!” Standing on her right leg and lifting her two arms into the air, Lith said while moving her lips out of her words’ sync. “Be prepared for the Hi-Ha-Ti-To-Ten!” Rainbow Dash shouted, arching her hind legs and pulling her right front leg behind her shoulder. “Oh! Let’s not forget the part when Hydrangea said ‘My Grandfather died in dishonorabu battur against you! Now I wirr make you commit Sudoku!” Gnasher teased in a higher-pitched voice, bringing another rise of laughter out of the crowd. Hydrangea rolled her eyes. “Okay, that was the director telling me to say the line like that. I honestly thought it was stupid and it should have never made it into the final product.” “You should be lucky, Hydrangea; not many people get to be in movies.” Lith responded with an earnest smile. “Actually, they do.” Spitfire argued. “The film industry is always looking for people on the streets. In fact, some Civilian Requests we get for H.O.R.S.E. involve bringing our agents onto the set to act for a movie. I may give actually give you two a request by the same director when she decides to make another kung-fu flick.” “And then we get to make humor with your lines.” Rarity added, causing Lith and Gnasher to radiate a red blush on their cheeks. “We don’t have to do that… right?” Lith asked. “Who knows? It’s all up in the future.” Spitfire responded, smirking with a sinister air around her. Everyone but Lith and Gnasher chuckled at these words. “That isn’t a funny joke!” Gnasher stated. Mono and Soarin’ ambled through a doorway. The two of them were greeted by a small room with violet lighting and a hologram tv set towards the side of the room. In the room, they saw Rondo, Stereo, Custard, Razor Wind, Big Macintosh and a white unicorn stallion with blue eyes and a blue mane and tail with an image of a blue shield with a pink star in the center. “Hey there, Soarin!” Rondo called out. “I see you brought Mono like we requested.” “You did say he would be alone tonight, and we just can’t let that happen.” Soarin’ responded. Mono walked towards the group, sitting on the floor next to Rondo and Custard. He gazed at the unfamiliar stallion in the room. “Pardon me, but I do not think I have seen you before.” The stallion turned his head towards Mono, his lips pursing into an inviting smile. “My name is Shining Armor. I’m the head of the Heavy Armor and Exo divisions. My sister told me all about you today, Mono.” Shining Armor introduced. “And who is your sister?” “I’m sure that she was the one who gave you a tour of H.O.R.S.E. this morning.” Mono nodded with an open mouth. “I’m in her R&D Division. Also, what’s an exo?” “You’ve been hearing how everyone was calling those machines ‘mechas’ right? Well, they have a name known as exo, but we have gotten used to calling them mechas. Expect the two to be used interchangeably.” Shining Armor explained. “So what’s someone like you doing here?” Mono asked. “Why, I’m here for the Guy’s Night Out. Even married stallions have to hang out with other guys from time to time. I’ll tell you more about my wife later, but I want to get this night started! Bring on the Cinnagog Warriors Tournament!” Shining Armor screamed. “I’m excited too, but it’s nothing worth yelling over.” Custard called out. “Awww you need to lighten up and have some fun, Custard. I’ll thrash you in that tournament! I always beat Stereo when we played video games back home.” Rondo screeched. “Not true! I won forty percent of the time.” Stereo corrected. Soarin’, Big Macintosh and Shining Armor chuckled at the tension between the Pokémon. From a closet, Soarin pulled out two rectangular boxes littered with buttons and having a large stick with eight points on its base to the left. Mono’s eyes widened at the sight of the behemoths, glossing over at the colorful array of buttons on it. “This looks like a fighting stick.” He noted. “And you’re surprised? This is the only way how we Equusians can play at an equal advantage.” Soarin’ interjected. “Now, who wants to start this thing?!” The group of females walked out of a ten-storied building made up of windows with flashing neon lights. In her left paw, Lith carried a brown bag made of paper. Using her magic, Twilight Sparkle levitated several bags over her head. “Wow, what kind of stuff did you buy?” Lith asked. “Nothing much. I just bought some materials I could use for personal research.” Twilight Sparkle responded in a rush, flashing a sheepish smile. Lith stomped her way to a white bag littered with pink polka dots. She lifted a magazine out of it, which depicted an ivory-coated unicorn stallion with deep green eyes, a rough and wet mane and tail hued in a light and dark yellow and a small but seductive grin. The stallion had beads of sweat dripping down his chiseled face, chest and legs. ‘Playfilly’ was written out in pink and elegant lettering. “Playfilly? Is this what I think it is?” Lith asked. Twilight Sparkle snatched the magazine from Lith’s paws and hid it behind her body. “Yes it is. I kind of get lonely sometimes when I’m researching, so I have to keep myself occupied with other-” She began saying, clearing her throat with a loud-enough sound. “-activities to stimulate my brain and body.” “Wait! They have the new issue of Playfilly already?!” Strawberry Delight shouted, galloping over towards Twilight Sparkle. “Yeah! This month’s issue stars Blissful Aura on the cover, some interesting articles depicting society and best of all, several images of the hottest males in Neo Canterlot!” “You have got to invite me over your home so that we can look over that magazine!” Rarity and Rainbow Dash giggled underneath their breaths at the sight of the two unicorns fawning over the magazine. “Rainbow Dash, please remind me to never succumb to such temptations to where I sound like a giggling schoolfilly.” “Will do, Rares.” Gnasher and Jasmine scratched the tops of their heads which were tilted. Their eyes flashed a glint of confusion. “Playfilly?” Jasmine asked. “It’s our world’s equivalent to Playgirl, which is an adult magazine meant for the enjoyment of women.” Lith responded. “Ah. Everything makes sense now. So what did you buy, Lith?” Gnasher asked. Lith opened her brown bag, pulling out an iron-cast figurine of a sitting cat with big eyes. “It’s nothing much, but this object kind of reminds me of my parents. May Arceus keep their souls at rest…” She looked down onto the ground, ignorant on her surroundings. “Equus to Lith; are you here?” Spitfire asked. Lith jumped back into life, looking at Spitfire’s face and smiling. “I’m alright, Spitfire. Now, I think it’s time we all head over to your place for some talking and Stratego.” Mono’s eyes strained and his teeth were clenched. His right paw tapped at the buttons underneath at light speed while he throttled the stick at a furious pace. On the screen, a violet-coated earth pony stallion with an oversized sword that is curved to a vicious maw followed all the movements of Mono’s controller commands. The character slashed apart a white pegasus stallion in blue robes with a series of slashes, all of which are done within milliseconds from each other. Soarin’s face dripped with sweat while he tilted his stick away from the area where his character was. He tapped a myriad of buttons with a whine of desperation rising in his voice. Mono imputed a down-quarter circle motion on his stick and pressed the crossroads of four buttons with his right paw. On the screen, the sword belonging to the violet character grew several times its own size, filling the battlefield. The character slashed the other character, leaving behind a series of shockwaves. What remained of the green within that character’s bar depleted into red. Soarin’s character lay on the ground. A large chorus of cheers erupted from the audience. Rondo, however, pouted and looked away. “Mono! Mono! Mono!” Everyone cheered. Soarin’ sat by his controller with his jaw dropped to the ground. “Since when did you learn to do all that?!” He asked. “I’m pretty good at 2-D fighters. It’s one of the genres my family and I invested my time in after all.” “I still can’t believe I got knocked out in the very first round by Custard of all contestants!” Rondo complained. “That was actually kind of surprising. You usually never played video games with us.” Stereo noted. “I normally prefer playing 3-D platformers, but I do indulge a bit in some other technical types of gaming.” Custard responded, flashing a shy smile. “But, there was no way I could have beaten Soarin’.” “Well, that was exhilarating to watch. Now it’s time we move onto the other fun stuff!” Shining Armor stated. Big Macintosh blinked his eyes, and his body shuddered with anticipation. Soarin’ held his front left hoof’s ankle out, tapping on the center of the watch. The hologram of the game disappeared, revealing a blacked-out hologram. Spitfire’s living quarters were brilliant with lighting. Everyone gathered around a table, waiting with anticipation as Spitfire and Rainbow Dash moved their pieces. Rainbow Dash smirked, moving one piece over to Spitfire’s piece. “My Marshal takes out your General. What will you do now without your General in the game, Spitfire?” She asked with an ego-inflated tone. “Always narrow-sighted to tactics, Rainbow Dash.” Saying these words, Spitfire moved her piece towards Rainbow Dash’s General and flipped it over. Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped. “A spy?! You had that hidden next to your General all this time?!” “Of course! I knew you would go after my General once you got rid of my Marshal. It is simple tactics like that which make me the commander of H.O.R.S.E. after all.” “I don’t know about you, but it looks like you’ve also left your Flag Piece unguarded and Spitfire is ready to take it with two of her scouts.” Rarity noted. “What?! No way! I’ve been beaten like that?!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “It seems like it. Even if you take out one, the other one will still give me victory.” Spitfire explained. Rainbow Dash groaned, slamming her face on the table. Spitfire took all the pieces on the table and placed the red ones in one zipping bag and the blue ones in the other. She folded the board and placed it into the box. “So, now that we’re done with the games, it’s time to get into the juicy topic of this night; gossip and sharing secrets.” Lith stated, sitting down on the floor. “Now, let’s talk about what members of the opposite gender and otherwise have sparked our attention. Gnasher will go first.” She said, pointing towards Gnasher. Gnasher hopped back from her position, tilting her head towards all directions of everyone in the room. “Exactly where are you going with this, Lith? You know that I don’t care about that sort of thing.” “Really now? Then why do I always see you blushing madly whenever Custard approaches you?” The entire room filled with a clamor of gasps in bated breath, followed by a ring of ‘ooohhh’s. “I absolutely have no possible idea on what you are getting on about, Lith.” “Oh don’t I? Then why was it that you enjoyed dancing with Custard two days ago to that song?” Lith teased. “Look, Custard and I have agreed to keep it as just friends.” Gnasher then tilted her eyes to the left and right. “But… maybe a part of me wishes that we were more than just friends. I mean, he’s very sweet and has one of the gentlest spirits I have ever seen. In all honesty, I find those traits extremely hot in a Pokémon. But, that’s enough about me; what about you and Fei?” Lith giggled with a nervous smile on her face. “F-Fei… and I? D-don’t be ridiculous, Gnasher!” “I have read your e-Diary without your permission before, Lith. One of the major themes in there was your entries dedicated to Fei. You used some very colorful language that should not be said around children, too.” With a devilish smirk, Gnasher responded. “Y-you read my e-Diary, Gnasher?!” Lith shouted, her white-furred face turning beat-red in color. “What else was I supposed to do when I was bored and didn’t feel like playing with the others?” “Who is this ‘Fei’ fellow Gnasher keeps talking about?” Applejack asked. “We want all the juicy details. Don’t hold back now, darling.” Rarity egged on. “Fine. Fei is a fellow scientist that worked in the Opelucid Laboratory with us.” Lith began, clasping her paws together. “He is such a cute guy who always went out of his way to tend to Pokémon in need. He had great skin and a brilliant head of brown hair. He always called out some of the most adorkable things ever and wore the nicest glasses that had a cute lens flare to them.” “Wow, he does sound amazing! But, that can’t be all to him can it?” Hydrangea asked. “Nope. Like Miss Blabbermouth here said, I have entire entries of my diary dedicated to him. During the times we interacted, he always made it clear that he does not like fighting or using any sort of machinery for violence. Ironically, he’s very gifted in martial arts. But, there is a nasty rumor going around that Fei might actually have romantic feelings for his Sylveon, Sophia.” “And that is a problem why?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “Well, in my world, Poképhilia was a bit of a hot button issue. It is banned in the world and is punishable through imprisonment or worse. I personally don’t have any problem with it, but I cannot accept the fact that someone other than me has Fei-Fei all to herself like that!” Lith explained, her voice rising to anger near the end. “Fei-Fei?” Rainbow Dash asked, giggling at the nickname. “That is also in her e-Diary. I’ve also talked with Sophia about these rumors and she claims that they are just rumors. But she also said some interesting things about your brother, Lith.” Gnasher claimed. “I don’t want to hear those things between my brother and Sophia, Gnasher! Before this conversation gets any more awkward, are there any Equusians that got your attention, Twilight?” Lith asked. “Just one. He’s a pegasus in the Exo Division who goes by the name of Flash Sentry.” Twilight Sparkle revealed. “Hah! I knew it!” Rainbow Dash called out. “Can you help me, though? He’s multi-talented and is always willing to do community service. Plus, he knows his way around an Exo. I just wish he knew his way around me.” With a slight blush in her cheeks, Twilight Sparkle revealed. “I guess it is my turn to reveal who I like.” Rarity asked. “That Keldeo fellow, right?” Strawberry Delight asked. “Wait a moment, did you just say ‘Keldeo’?” Lith asked in a voice escalating into shock. “Yes, do you know him by any chance?” “Not really, but he’s actually one of the legendary Pokémon in my world.” “That is a strange coincidence, Lith. But, as I was about to say, I’ve had my eyes set on that unicorn for a while now. He appeared on the outskirts of Neo Canterlot about eight years ago, seemingly orphaned. I was actually the first to be his friend, mainly because he was very shy around others like your brother is. Now that we’ve grown older, I find that he has such an air of nobility and is always willing to protect those that cannot protect themselves.” Rarity stated in a calm tone. “It’s not really a surprise to us that she likes him, though. He’s always been a bit weird, but she was practically his first friend. If you want to, he’s usually in the Magic Division or in the Interceptor Division.” Hydrangea said. “I’ll take that as a note.” Lith stated. “So Applejack, do you have anyone you like?” “Can’t say I do. I’ll let you know when I find someone I like.” “I don’t really like anyone either.” Rainbow Dash responded. “It seems like I am also on that ship of females who are not infatuated by anyone in particular or are not in a relationship. All I know is that Spitfire is dating Soarin’ and Strawberry Delight is dating our teammate Razor Wind.” Hydrangea stated. “I’m also with you on that, Hydrangea. I’m just happy being a wonderful friend to others.” Jasmine responded. Lith checked the watch on her wrist, which timed at twelve o’clock. “Have we really been out this late? I got to get to bed!” “Well would you look at that? Time flies when you’re having fun it seems.” Spitfire stated. “Now, I expect all of you to report to the headquarters before nine tomorrow.” With these words, everyone began disbursing out of the apartment. Mono, Rondo, Stereo and Custard up the stairs to the higher tier of the apartment complex, all grinning with joy. “That night was better than I thought it was.” Mono said. “Did you see how Razor Wind acted when those scenes of gore and carnage came up? It looked like he wanted a piece of the action.” Stereo added. “I don’t know why, but I really enjoyed hanging out with my fellow males. Perhaps we should do it again some other time.” Custard said. “Alright then.” Mono split from the group and walked towards the door. A light shined from underneath the crevice of the door. He hummed to himself, pulling out a card from a bag on his waist and sliding it through the slot. The door opened. “Seems like you had a good time tonight, Mono.” From within the hallway, Lith appeared without her clothing. “It was nice. How did your night out go, Lith?” “Better than I thought. I also learned more about Neo Canterlot than before. For example, did you know that everyone here has been involved in stardom at least once?” “No I have not. That is a very interesting fact.” Mono responded. “So, what did you do with your night?” “Played some video games and watched some films of extreme violence and sexuality. You should have seen the look on Rondo’s face when he lost to Custard. It was priceless.” Lith’s face contorted, holding back a force of laughter in her mouth. Her lips burst open and her chest contorted back and forth. She slapped her knee with her left paw. “I could already imagine the look on his face. You should have saved a video on your watch, Mono.” “I already did that. I will make sure Rondo never lives it down.” “Oh, speaking of secrets, I’ve heard from Gnasher that Sophia has said some interesting things about you. Is there anything you have to say in that regard?” Mono’s muscles froze upon hearing Lith’s words. “In what context?” He uttered out. “I’m not exactly sure, but it’s implied to be a romantic one.” Mono held his mouth shut. He stomped his way straight into the hallway. He glanced back at Lith with a stone-frosted expression in his eyes. “We will not speak of this again, Lith.” Lith took a step back with her face’s nerves paralyzed in surprise. Her tails slumped down. “Mono…?”
DecisionsThe group of Pokémon and Fluttershy stood around in the briefing room. With the exception of Fluttershy, each member of the group was all garbed in their uniform. Mono glanced towards Lith’s direction, but turned his head away from the instant she met his gaze. “Lith, can I tell you something?” He asked in a quiet voice. “You can always ask me anything, Mono. We are twins after all.” Lith responded in a deadpan tone, not looking at Mono. “First off, I want to apologize for how I acted last night. I should have never screamed at you like that.” “Well… that was a bit out of character for you. But, why did you erupt like that? All I asked was a simple question.” Mono remained silent, rubbing the top of his right paw with his left paw. His eyes glanced towards the ground and a solemn frown was etched onto his face. “I… get very defensive when someone asks me a question like that. I mean, I don’t really have any sort of rebuttal against it because I will only know that I am lying to myself.” “So it is true; you do have romantic feelings for Sophia.” Lith stated. “All of our Pokémon know apparently, but yes. I’ve been spending a lot of time with Sophia when no one else is around. She understands the kind of person I was when no others could. She is one of the only things that actually made me feel like, well, a feeling individual. But, Poképhilia is banned and I was kind of afraid how everybody at the lab would feel.” Mono revealed. “Well, I won’t think any differently of you. And that isn’t because you are my brother.” With a smile brimming with light, Lith responded. “I always believed that we should be with the ones we love, even if our choices are questionable.” Mono forced a smile, giggling underneath his breath. “You have always been the hopeless romantic, Lith.” “Yep. Besides, you’re doing me a favor by going after Sophia. After all, with her out of the picture, Fei will be all mine.” Lith said. Mono looked at her, imagining that she was a one-eyed being with three heads. “Fei loves Sophia?” “It’s only rumors, but I don’t want any sort of competition. Also Mono, can you please tell Gnasher to not read my diary anymore? She’s been snooping as much as she wants through it.” Gnasher glared at Lith with a stare that frosted over her soul. “Gnasher, why?” Mono asked. “No reason. I just get bored from time to time.” Gnasher shrugged off. “I would appreciate if you wouldn’t look through the private property of others without their permission next time, Gnasher. It just isn’t right under any circumstance to do so.” “Alright, Mono. But, you have to find more ways to keep me entertained.” “Will do.” Spitfire walked into the room with an unmoving expression on her face. She tilted her shades to all of the Pokémon in the room. She walked up to Fluttershy, whose legs were trembling and cold sweat breaking out of her coat. She walked past her and stopped in front of the briefing table. “Everyone break into this new world of yours yet? Because today, I’m giving you a mission.” “What kind of mission?” Stereo asked. “Simple; I want you to go out to the southeastern portion of the Terraformed Wilderness. One of our travel probes is off-line, and I want you eight to clear away the monsters infesting the area.” Spitfire explained. “That seems a bit sudden.” Jasmine responded. “It has to be sudden. Developing a new probe out of schedule is expensive and inconvenient for us. Therefore, we have to keep as many probes possible as active. Plus, if the monsters aren’t cleared away, then those new probes will also be destroyed.” “That seems a bit dangerous.” Fluttershy noted. “Are you sure you want someone like me to venture into dangerous territory?” “You aren’t a stranger to danger, Fluttershy. In fact, you’ve seen more danger than try to avoid it. Plus, someone’s going to have to be there to be their guide, and I cannot think of anyone else fit for the position.” Spitfire said. “Well… that’s true. And, I really don’t want to see any of my new friends get hurt. Plus, someone has to drive the buggy. Very well, I’ll join on their trip.” “Excellent. You can begin your mission at any time, but it has to be before eleven.” The seven Pokémon sat in the open back of a black vehicle. They all sat with their limbs stretched out. The cool wind whisked off of their bodies and they were greeted by the scent of wild flora in the air. “You know, sometimes I forget that this place was home to a warfront from aliens in space. It actually seems like a cool spot for a vacation.” With a content sigh, Rondo stated. “There is a reason why we are in the back though. Spitfire says that the wilderness carries some nasty monsters that would love to ruin our plans.” Stereo noted. “I don’t see any monsters yet. I don’t think they’ll come to us at all.” From the distance, a large roar sounded out. A giant whale-dragon beast with green wings and luminescent flesh appeared in the horizon, aiming towards the buggy the group is in. Its six eyes were red with uncontrollable anger. “You just had to say something, didn’t you, Rondo?” With a fire burning in her voice, Lith shouted. “Now is not the time to argue; it is time to fight!” Mono called out, jumping on the top of the hood. “You are not alone, Mono. I shall assist.” Lith stated, jumping onto his side. Mono and Lith both unfolded their ears, revealing their extra eyes. They flashed their respective colors, causing all the Pokémon in the buggy to hide just behind the driver’s area. A massive shockwave emanated from the two siblings, knocking the behemoth outside of the sky and onto the ground. The buggy skidded to a stop and Fluttershy hopped out of the open door. The rest of the Pokémon leapt off of the buggy and engaged the beast in the front. “Fluttershy, you wouldn’t happen to know what this creature is would you?” Mono asked. “It’s a brachyix, and it’s not too happy to see us.” The brachyix let out a paralyzing roar, causing everyone to place their front limbs over their faces. “Stereo, stun it with a supersonic!” Mono called out. “Way ahead of you, Mono.” Stereo took a deep breath of air in and screamed. Red sonic waves struck the brachyix, stopping it in midair. Shaking its head, it opened its maw. A blue gust of gasses blew out from it, covering the entire area in smoke. “Rondo, fly up into the air and scan for the brachyix. We cannot let it have the edge over us.” “Got it, Mono!” Rondo flapped his wings several times, flying upwards. The gas thinned for him, allowing him to breach through the surface into clean air. With his sharp eyes, he detected a shadow moving quickly to the center of gas from the northeast. Rondo flapped his wings, unleashing a Heat Wave towards the direction. The glass cleared away and the brachyix was revealed from its guise. “Good job, Rondo!” Jasmine shouted. “Thanks, but you have to be-“Rondo began saying when the brachyix appeared from underneath him and crashed its head against his body. Rondo winced, but flew out of its way by using the force launching him. “That was a close one!” Jasmine’s body flashed, unleashing a dazzling gleam towards its direction. It stood in the air, twitching from the strike. “Whatever it is, it’s weak to Fairy-type moves. It doesn’t look like a Fighting-type and its body betrays a potential Dark-typing.” Jasmine informed. “I got just the thing to bring a chill into its nerves.” Stereo said, opening his massive maws. A light blue beam shot out of it, striking the brachyix. “Hah! The Ice Beam is working!” The brachyix broke free from the ice and turned towards Stereo’s direction. “You might have spoken too soon, Stereo.” Custard said. The brachyix cloaked itself in scorching flames and charged itself towards the crowd. Mono held up both of his arms, creating a light blue shield around everyone. The strike from the beast knocked everyone back and their clothing suffered slight scorching. “That was an Outrage. Wait, Custard!” Lith shouted, running over to the downed Custard. “I’m fine, Lith. It’s just a scratch.” Custard responded, smiling but with wobbling legs. Gnasher hopped up off her feet and punched her open set of left claws with her right claws. “You see, now that means I have to hurt it.” Gnasher sprinted towards the brachyix, slashing it with a Dragon Claw. It roared, but torqued its body and swiped its tail across Gnasher’s face, knocking her over. Mono’s eyes flashed and grasped the beast in his psychic hold. Custard got off the ground, unleashing a Dragon Pulse straight from his mouth and into the scratched portion of the brachyix’s body. Mono lifted the brachyix into the air, which became shot by Stereo’s Ice Beam. The center of Lith’s paw charged with a Signal Beam, firing into the damaged area of the brachyix. “Down you go!” Mono shouted, thrusting it down with a telekinetic slam. The brachyix lied on the ground, motionless. “Is it… dead?” Lith asked. Fluttershy galloped to its side and placed her hoof on its face. “It’s just unconscious. I just don’t understand it.” She stated. “What don’t you understand?” Lith asked. “Brachyixes are normally docile in nature, only attacking when it is aggravated. I was driving at a safe speed, and this particular one flew from the direction of the probe.” “So, what you maybe are saying is that there is something at the probe that is causing these creatures to go berserk?” Mono asked. “It’s a theory, but it could be true. This gives us even more reason to make haste towards the probe.” Fluttershy said with a surprising burst of dedication in her voice. “Wow, Fluttershy, you sound confident all of a sudden.” With her eyes widened to dinner plates, Lith commented. “Even if these are monsters that have the capability of hurting others, I cannot stand something that is driving these normally docile creatures insane. We have to make it to that probe under every possible circumstance. Now.” The buggy cruised along the bumpy plains, shaking the benches of the Pokémon. Rondo gripped the cushion of his seat with a crushing hold, not letting his body launch out of the vehicle. Gnasher looked to her right and eyed a darker patch of purple over the left shoulder of Custard’s cloth. “Custard… your shoulder.” Custard glanced towards his shoulder and touched it. “It doesn’t hurt as bad as it looks. I’ll just have it patched up and be good as new.” “You idiot! That was a direct Outrage you took from the Brachyix when jumping in front of me! We don’t know just how strong these creatures are. You could have gotten yourself killed!” Gnasher snapped. “Maybe I just wanted to protect you. I may not have the most durable body, but I will not stand to see you or any of my family harmed like that. I will gladly shield everyone with my body if I could.” Custard replied. “Just try not to get too beat up, alright? I don’t want to have to be the one to bury you.” “I’ll try not to get too hurt, then. But, you’ll have to promise me that you’ll try to not bring yourself into much danger as well.” Stereo looked over towards Rondo’s wings and saw darkened patches underneath his feathers. “Rondo, are you alright? You look hurt.” He asked. “It’s just the dangers of doing some risky things. I don’t really mind, though. I’m just glad I am able to help.” Rondo responded. “I may have known you for years now, Rondo, but I always forget how tough your small bird body is.” With lighthearted laughter bellowing out of his mouth, Stereo commented. The window behind the driver’s seat scrolled down and Fluttershy looked back towards the Pokémon. “We’re almost at the probe. I want you all to be prepared for whatever may be there, if that is okay with you.” In the distance was a white structure that towered some of the larger buildings in Neo Canterlot. It had a white dish at the top and several open passages leading into its heart. The buggy stopped and Fluttershy disembarked from her seat. The Pokémon all hopped and flew over the edge of their seats. “Something is a bit… off here. Shouldn’t this place be swarming with monsters?” Mono asked. “That is weird. Where could they all be?” Fluttershy questioned, placing her left front hoof underneath her chin. A shadow the size of a moon descended upon the group. Everyone looked into the sky, eyeing a hoard of brachyix and one that is at least five times bigger than normal. “Awww, come on! We had trouble dealing with one brachyix! How are we supposed to beat a whole hoard of them and their alpha?!” Rondo shouted. “This may be a good time to run inside the probe now.” Lith suggested. She looked behind her and saw that everyone made haste towards a nearby passage. She sighed. “I would have loved it if you waited for me!” The lights in the hallway flickered on and off with an erratic pattern. Sparks of blue electricity flickered throughout the broken wires and open bulbs. A feeling of dread and suspense gripped the group’s nerves, walking through the hall with the atmosphere of a haunted house. “What happened in here? I knew that those brachyixes outside are destructive, but I never imagined that they can fit inside this place and do direct damage.” Jasmine said. “Now that I think about it, the structure outside is relatively unharmed. If anything, this implies that there is an intruder aboard the probe.” Fluttershy theorized. Saying these words, her heart stopped and fear gripped her wings. Jasmine glanced towards Fluttershy with her eyes jolted open in surprise. “Fluttershy? What’s wrong?” She asked. “There are Equusians working on this particular probe! We have to make sure that they are okay.” Fluttershy shouted, running into the hallway. “Wait, Fluttershy!” Mono screamed, following Fluttershy in a sprint. The rest of the Pokémon soon followed suit. Fluttershy wandered into a larger room with computer monitors everywhere. A horrified gasp escaped her throat, seeing a blue-coated earth pony stallion in a lab coat with a light blue mane and tail, both were roughed up and pink eyes sprawled on the floor. His legs were swelled with liquid and inflammation in several places, his joints were dislocated in acute angles and his spine was twisted three times over. He moaned out in pain. “Blue Land!” Fluttershy stated, kneeling down by Blue Land’s line of sight. “F-Fluttershy…?” He said in a decrepit tone. The rest of the Pokémon sprinted into the room. Jasmine’s head backed away and she sealed her mouth. A slight gag was heard from her voice. “Good Arceus! What happened here?!” She shouted. “It doesn’t matter… who you others… are. But please… hear my story.” Blue Land responded. “A… member of the… Van’Goth came in and… began destroying this place. I tried confronting him… but he left me… in this state.” “Oh my!” Fluttershy said. “Then… this place is sabotaged?” “Not… necessarily. But… the alien brought a weird stone… that is causing this place to be… under attack.” With a yelp in pain, Blue Land explained. “Mono! Please help me help him. He is in very bad shape.” Mono shied his head away. A flash of melancholy appeared within his eyes. “Fluttershy… he’s badly injured. Even if we get him emergency help and surgery now, these injuries will guarantee that he will never be the same pony he was before the incident.” “Wh-what?” Fluttershy uttered out, a stray tear falling from her right eye. “As much as I’d hate to say it, Fluttershy, Blue Land is beyond saving. We have to euthanize him.” With a heavy tone filled with regret, Lith suggested. “N-no! We can’t kill him. It’s not right!” “P-please! This pain… it’s horrible… every waking moment… is in agony…” Blue Land uttered out. “Please, Blue Land! I don’t want to lose you. You are one of my closest friends!” Fluttershy pleaded. “I appreciate… the thought. But the pain… it hurts so much. I want it… to end. Please, Fluttershy… as a friend… do me an act of kindness… and end my suffering.” Fluttershy’s heart ripped in half by Blue Land’s request. Her cries were stifled by her throat. She shut her eyes, letting her tears pool underneath her eyelashes. She walked up to Blue Land’s head and grasped it with the gentle hold of a caregiver. “Breaking your neck… will be instant, Blue Land. You won’t have to suffer anymore.” She said in a voice steeped in sadness. A weak smile appeared on Blue Land’s face. “Thank you… Fluttershy.” Fluttershy jerked her hooves with an unhesitating force behind them. A loud crack echoed throughout the area. Blue Land’s body twitched for a moment and stopped moving. She opened her eyes and turned to the direction of the group with rivers flowing down them. “That must have been hard to do.” With his voice void of any joy, Rondo replied. “I never hope I have to do that again. I think a piece of my heart died when carrying that out.” “You did… what was right.” Lith said. Mono shook his head. “I apologize that you had to do that. I would have done it so that you would not have the blood of your friend on your hooves.” “No… it had to be me. Blue Land would have wanted to die in the care of someone he values.” “I’m sorry if I sound like a jerk about it, but don’t we have a mission to complete? We can’t focus on someone’s death if it gets in the way of our mission. In fact, I think this Blue Land would want us to resolve the issues here.” Gnasher said. “You’re right Gnasher, and I know just the place where it could be. In the lowest possible level of every probe, there is a command center that processes information and sends it to HQ. If that stone he mentioned is here, then it must be there.” Fluttershy said. “Then let’s make head there before the situation worsens. I do not want to fight all of those brachyixes outside.” Mono replied. The group sprinted down a series of closed-in staircases, running a marathon against the clock. At the end of the stairs was a shining light that beckoned their objective. At the base of the stairs, the group was greeted by the sight of three monitors the size of billboards. The monitors each displayed several images outside, showing the brachyixes’ on-screen attacking the probe. The rumbling of their attacks shook even the base of the probe. “Now, if I was a weird stone, where would I be?” Rondo wondered aloud. Stereo flipped the dashboard of the central monitor open, revealing a black and shimmering stone betwixt the wiring. “Maybe in here?” Fluttershy hovered towards the gem, picking it up. The rock was icy to the touch, almost freezing a hole through her hoof. She dropped it on the floor, waving her hoof with clenched teeth. “It hurts holding it. We should destroy it.” She suggested. “Good idea. But… where do we go to destroy it?” Lith asked. “Every probe has a built-in furnace for incinerating scraps and other products to destroy sensitive objects. It is actually over there.” Fluttershy responded, pointing over to a box in the wall that crackled with red electricity. “That might be too convenient. I’d be wary about that thing if I were you.” Mono said. “It’s not like this stone can turn into some sort of Dark-type and Ice-type Ninja, right?” Rondo asked. The strange rock floated into the air, gaining more mass and developing razor limbs and a needle head. Its eyes flashed in a grim red and it crossed its arms. “Now look at what you did, you dumb bird! Didn’t you know to never invoke Murphy’s Law?” Gnasher chastised. “Ummm… what’s Murphy’s Law?” Fluttershy asked. “Basically, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Now, we have to fight a Dark-type and Ice-type Ninja because Rondo implied that it wouldn’t happen.” Lith explained. “Ohhhhh. Oh.” The strange being sharpened its blades on each other, dashing forward with its arms held out towards Fluttershy. Mono raised a Reflect over Fluttershy, shielding her from most of the damage. The blow from the strike sent her flying towards a monitor. She shut her eyes, expecting the feeling of glass shattering through her body to arrive. But, it never did. She opened her eyes, finding herself levitating in the air and Lith’s left paw extended out. “I won’t let you die, Fluttershy.” “Thanks, Lith.” Lith lowered Fluttershy onto the ground and faced the strange being. “Mono, I suggest you stick to healing us and buffing our defenses against this thing.” “Understood, Lith.” The strange being’s eyes flashed for a moment, creating an X-shaped slash with both of its arms. A raging gust of frozen wind enveloped the battlefield. “Allow me to counter that!” Rondo said, whipping out a Heat Wave with his wings. The Heat Wave and the Blizzard collided against each other, not allowing one to win over the other. Lith fired a Signal Beam towards the direction of the strange being, chipping away at the stone. Gnasher broke through the temperature barrier, biting the being with her Crunch. She tossed it into the air, where Jasmine unleashed a Dazzling Gleam and struck it. It vanished within a veil of darkness. “Where did it go?” Stereo asked, moving his head everywhere. The being reappeared on top of a monitor, slashing away chunks of black ice towards Stereo. Mono erected a Quick Guard, protecting him from the shards of ice. The being vanished again. “Great, where is it now?” Lith wondered aloud. A cloud of darkness appeared behind Custard, disappearing and giving way to the being. Custard turned around and a sudden gasp escaped from his throat. “Oh no you don’t!” Stereo shouted, holding out his two arms and placing them to his right side. A light blue sphere of energy built between his hands, pulsating with power. He threw the ball of energy against the being. The being took a step backwards, dodging it. The ball crashed into the dashboard of a monitor, causing an explosion of dust. Stereo grimaced. “Don’t feel bad, Stereo. That was still a good Focus Blast.” Mono comforted. “Thanks, but I would have liked it if it hit.” Stereo admitted. “I got this now!” Custard shouted. A dark purple ooze with a foul smell formed around him, twisting in several directions. Extending his right arm outwards, he directed the sludge towards the being in front of him in a wave. The sludge osmosed into the being, shattering half of its left shoulder. Its back faltered and its eyes turned a dark shade of purple.” “Good hit, Custard!” Lith said. “Now it’s time for me to finish it off.” She fired a Signal Beam from her hand, striking the writhing being. The being’s body turned into glass, cracking from the legs and up. It shattered, releasing a black shockwave the buffered everyone back. “Did we… win?” Fluttershy asked, her voice seeping with uncertainty. The active monitors on the screen displayed the brachyixes outside stopping in their assault. Their red eyes turned into a peaceful blue. They all floated away from the probe. Rondo let out a quick smile. “We did it!” He screeched. Lith walked over towards one of the pieces of the dark glass on the floor, picking it up and humming. “It’s not deathly cold anymore, that’s for sure. Mono, would you mind sending this to R&D for analysis for me?” “Will do, Lith.” Mono replied. “It’s just so weird though; why does the Van’Goth have such interest in this place that they went through the trouble of putting this inside here?” “The probes are our connection to the outside world.” Fluttershy stated. “They allow us to gather information so that we can plan out our missions in each region. They also allow for field agents to teleport directly to a probe as well.” “That is interesting, but it still leaves answers as to why they couldn’t have just destroyed it themselves. Why did they have to insert this thing inside?” Jasmine asked. “It seems like we have many unanswered questions, and I expect that having them answered will only lead to more questions. For now, let’s just say that our mission is completed.” Lith announced. Fluttershy appeared in Spitfire’s Command Room, saluting with a stone-frosted eyes and mouth on her face. Spitfire smiled. “I trust that the issues involving the probe have been resolved?” “Yes. We found a foreign object in the command center of the probe and battled it. It is sent to R&D for analysis, but it was the cause of the monsters going berserk and attacking it.” Fluttershy reported. Spitfire glanced into Fluttershy’s eyes, seeing them twitch and eyeing a dash of red within them. She frowned. “So there were no survivors it seems.” Fluttershy slanted her eyes, frowned and looked away. “There was one… but he was in so much pain. Mono and Lith said that he would never be the same pony that he was even if we put him under intensive care. I… had to euthanize him.” On the verge of tears, she said. “It was Blue Land, wasn’t it?” Spitfire asked, taking off her shades and revealing her empathetic eyes. Fluttershy nodded. Spitfire walked around her table, hugging Fluttershy by her neck. She felt the moisture of Fluttershy’s tears running down her shoulder. “Just let it all out. It does no one good to hide their feelings.” “I never thought… I would have to kill someone… to help them. Especially not a good friend like him.” Fluttershy blubbered out. “I know how it is like to lose a friend. I’ve already lost several friends during this war, some of which I had no choice but to execute myself.” Fluttershy backed away from Spitfire. Tears ran down her face, but the clouds of sadness in her eyes were replaced with raging suns. “Spitfire, I want to learn how to use a rifle.” Mono sat within the Pokémon group’s room, staring down on the ground. He took in a deep breath, exhaling a shaken air. “Mono, are you all right?” Lith asked, walking into the room. “I’m fine, Lith. I’m just trying to rest my nerves over what happened in our mission.” Mono responded. Lith sat down next to Mono, craning her neck down and looking at his eyes. “There wasn’t much we can do for that stallion, if that is what you were referring to. I have never seen anyone that had their anatomy mangled that badly before.” Mono sat up and looked onto Lith with lidded eyes. “Lith, if I was ever in that much pain; would you have mercy killed me as well?” “What?!” Jolting her back upwards and her eyes and mouth widening to their peaks, Lith shouted. “Why would I do that?!” “Just imagine it. I had my spine broken in several areas, my limbs were shattered and my body will never be able to recover. Do you think it would be better to leave me alive like that, or would it be better just to end my existence?” “I… I don’t know. If you were anything less than family, I would have done it for you. But… you are literally my twin. You are the only family I have left in this world. I would lose a part of my heart if I did that. Without mother… without father… without you… I would end up being insane with grief.” Mono turned his head the opposite side, frowning. “I’m sorry I even mentioned it, Lith. But, seeing how Fluttershy killed her friend because of his condition… it leaves much to think about.” “I don’t blame you, Mono.” Shaking her head, Lith uttered out. “But, it would be an even more difficult decision for me to make if you were in Blue Land’s condition.” Mono placed his left paw on Lith’s shoulder, caressing it with a fairy’s grace. “If it would make you feel better, I would feel the same way if that happened to you as well. Fate just has some twisted mechanisms meant to hurt people. But, I promise that I will never let you be hurt like that.” Lith looked into Mono’s eyes with a wide, but tearful smile. “I promise that I won’t let you be hurt like that either, Mono. I promise that with the bottom of my heart.” The two siblings embraced each other. Wilhelm walked through the command center of the probe, eyeing the glass spread out throughout the floor. A devilish smirk covered his entire lower face. “It seems that the little bug I planted here was removed and destroyed. Nonetheless, I got what I needed; valuable information on those new creatures.”
Old Memories, New WaysLith sat on her bed, looking into the figurine of a cat in her paws and gazing at it with longing desire. She sighed. Jasmine walked into her room with her eyes lidded in sadness. “Lith, you haven’t shown up today for roll call. Actually, you haven’t shown up in H.O.R.S.E. at all today. Is everything all right?” She said, walking into the room and sitting by her side. “How did you get in, Jasmine?” Lith asked, glancing towards her. “Mono lent me his card so that I can come inside. Now tell me what is on your mind.” Jasmine explained. “I miss my parents very much. I can’t help but feel that if I had not pushed my dad to get my mom for the surprise anniversary party Mono and I prepared, they would still be alive today.” Lith said. “You know you could not have foreseen your parents getting into that car accident that day. Nobody did.” Jasmine comforted. “I know… but my father was so exhausted from having to help Mono and dealing with the situations after that case that I believe that it was my fault.” “Lith, you need to stand up to the shadows of your past. You have grown to be a beautiful and intelligent woman. You have shown that you are very capable as a Pokémon and nobody will ever hate you for what happened. Now, you just need to learn that it wasn’t your fault.” Jasmine advised. “But-“ “Don’t give me any ‘buts’, Lith. Just listen to me and smile. Look at the positives of your life. We’re all here and you even made some new friends!” Lith flashed a weak smile. “I know, Jasmine. Thanks for cheering me up.” “I’m always here to cheer you up when you’re down. Now, how about you go into H.O.R.S.E. to do a civilian quest? Spending time with others is definitely your strong suit.” Holograms covered an entire board the size of a household roof with requests. Several Equusians garbed in uniforms downloaded each hologram into their watches, reading them from there. Lith walked into the area, eyeing the various H.O.R.S.E. members wandering throughout the hub area. She walked up to the front desk, where a brown-feathered griffon with a gray head, green eyes and a cheerful smile sat. “Welcome to the Civilian Division of H.O.R.S.E. You must be one of the new members that everyone here is talking about.” She said. “What does everyone say about us?” Lith asked. “Some of the discussions I’ve heard were mixed. Some say that your group lives up to the hype, some say that they still don’t trust you. Mainly, everyone says that you will all leave a deep impact in our organization. But, don’t mind the naysayers. My name is Sharp Beak, and I’ll be your receptionist during your time here.” Sharp Beak responded. “Greetings, Sharp Beak. My name is Lith, and my partner recommended that I come here to do a civilian quest?” “Jasmine, right? Yeah, she came by here earlier and actually selected a quest for me to hold on to for you.” Sharp Beak flashed her watch, cueing Lith to do the same thing. The light from Sharp Beak’s watch transferred over to Lith’s watch. A hologram appeared above it. “Hmmm… it seems like the quest is from the local orphanage, and it is to cheer up a depressed child there?” Lith asked. “That’s right. I don’t know why she chose that quest for you, but no one wanted to take it. So, I held it on for you.” Sharp Beak responded. Lith smiled, shutting off her watch. “I’ll take the quest. Is there anything I need to do to show that I’ve taken it?” “Nothing much. The only thing that is asked for is a signature on the request from the client or the next of kin if the client is unavailable for some reason upon its completion.” “That shouldn’t be too hard, and it shouldn’t also be hard to cheer up a child.” “Trust me, Lith; many H.O.R.S.E. agents tried this request, but none have been able to complete it. But, you have a different aura about you. I’m sure you’ll do fine.” Sharp Beak stated, filing her nails with a laser. Lith walked down the populated streets of Neo Canterlot, eyeing the directions to her destination. “Alright, so the orphanage should be just three blocks away if I take these directions.” “Or, you can skip into the alleyways and cut it down to one block.” Lith eyed to the source of the voice, seeing a smiling Apple Bloom by her side. “Apple Bloom, right?” She asked. “You remembered! So, I heard you’re gonna go to the orphanage to do a request.” Apple Bloom responded. “How did you-“ “I kind of followed you.” Lith smacked her forehead with her left paw and sighed. “So… is there a reason why you are following me?” “Well, I’m doing a bit of on-the-job shadowing. I’m gonna to be a H.O.R.S.E. agent someday, so I might as well see how a real H.O.R.S.E. agent does her job.” Apple Bloom explained. “Couldn’t you find another agent to shadow? What I’m doing is kind of mundane.” “I’ve never seen you do a civilian request, so I really want to see how a newbie handles one.” “So you want to see me fail is what you are saying?” Lith asked in a flat, but aggravated tone. “Don’t word it like that! I just want to see what mistakes agents shouldn’t make and learn from them.” “So you want to see me fail?” “…Maybe.” Looking away from Lith, Apple Bloom uttered out in a quiet voice. Lith smiled and pat Apple Bloom on her shoulder. “It’s alright if you want to see me fail, Apple Bloom. What’s not alright is causing me to fail just to see me fail. As long as you don’t do that, then we’ll be as right as rain.” “You’re pretty cool about me saying that, Lith. Most other agents would just scream at me for bringing that up.” Lith shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve had my own failures to contend with. One more isn’t going to hurt me if I learn from it. Besides, you’re still getting a learning experience from it regardless, right?” “I guess so. Oh, hey! There’s the orphanage!” Apple Bloom called out, pointing to a metallic building with a hologram jetting out on the side reading ‘San Fruta’s Home for Orphaned Children’. Lith looked in her watch, her eyes jetting open upon seeing her marker close to the destination. “I guess that actually was a shortcut! We made it early. Now, let’s go see the client.” Outside the building stood a silver-coated donkey with a brown mane and brown eyes. She looked at Lith and Apple Bloom, smiling and galloping up to them. “You must be the agent who took my request!” She said. “My name is Lith, and you must be Chili Spice if I read your request correctly. Also, don’t mind the filly here because she is just shadowing me. Is that alright?” Lith asked. “It’s all fine, mija. It’s what I say; ‘Mas amigas es mejor que cero do digo’.” Chili Spice replied in a cheerful voice. “So, may I see the child?” “Of course you may. I’ll bring you to his room.” Within the halls of the orphanage lied giggling Equusian children running from room to room, playing with toys, giggling and talking with each other. “Wow! I usually thought that orphanages were supposed to be grim and scary.” Lith commented, bringing about a headshake from Chili Spice. “And why would I do that? An orphanage is supposed to be a home for children that have no family. If it doesn’t feel like a good home, then you might as well lock them behind a prison. I make sure that I am a good parental figure for a good number of the future of Neo Canterlot.” “I take back my statement, Chili Spice. It’s kind of hard to not think badly about orphanages since I was almost placed in one with my brother.” “It’s all good, mija. It’s a very bad stereotype that mi bisabuela wanted to stop when founding this orphanage.” The group walked upon a closed door. Chili Spice knocked on it, causing it to lift open. Behind the doorway a sea-green-coated pegasus colt with an aqua blue mane and tail. His body and blue eyes were tinted in gray and a perpetual frown existed upon his face. “Hello there.” The colt responded in a deadpan voice. “Hi! My name is Apple Bloom!” Apple Bloom introduced, extending her right hoof forward. “When I say ‘Hello there’, I mean ‘get out of here’.” The colt responded, inviting a chilling feeling into Apple Bloom’s body. “Well aren’t you rude?” “Why shouldn’t I be? I lost my parents and nobody likes me anyways.” The door shut closed. Lith looked towards Chili Spice with a frown on her face. “Has he always been like this?” “Sí. Jetstream Rush is always this depressed when he first came here. His crying was inconsolable, but then he just stopped. Since then, he’s been in this mood for two years.” Chili Spice explained. “Wait, ‘two years’? But, didn’t the invasion start ten years ago?” Lith asked. “Manehatten was one of the last cities to be evacuated because none of the aliens were attacking it. But, the aliens attacked and Jetstream Rush’s parents died trying to make sure he fled. I have a feeling that he still blames himself for what happened that day.” “…You know what? I want to talk with Jetstream Rush right now. I want to make him happy, not because it’s my mission to, but because I see a little bit of himself in me.” Saying these words, Lith stomped towards the door with renewed vigor and knocked her right paw on it. The door opened, revealing a depressed Jetstream Rush behind it. “Oh, it’s you. What do you want?” “Do you want to just talk?” Lith asked. Jetstream Rush shrugged his shoulders and walked onto his twin-sized bed, letting the door be open. Lith walked into the room and the door shut behind her. “I’ll give you five minutes to talk with me.” Jetstream Rush said in a hurried tone. Lith sat by Jetstream Rush’s side in the bed. “So Chili Spice tells me that your parents died trying to save you. Is that right?” Jetstream Rush looked away, shaking his head. “You wouldn’t understand.” “You mean the fact that you hate yourself for letting your parents die? Or is it because you believed that you were the reason your parents died? Perhaps it’s because you actually thought your parents would make it and you would live a happy life for them?” Lith prodded, making Jetstream Rush wince with each item. “H-how did you know about that last part?” He asked. “Because I lost my parents when I was at the age you lost yours, and I hated myself for inadvertently causing their deaths. I still had my twin and my Pokémon, but it doesn’t make it any less painful that they would be alive today if it wasn’t for me rushing my father to pick up my mother from work for their anniversary party.” Lith explained, pulling out her cat figurine from her bag. “What is that?” Glancing at the object, Jetstream Rush asked in a peppery voice. “It’s something that I brought from a store in the city. It reminds me of the gift I gave to my father before he died.” “Can… can I see it?” Lith handed the figurine to Jetstream Rush, who examined the figurine with interest. A shadow of a smile appeared on his face. “Look at the craftsmanship on this! It’s made out of cast iron. You don’t see that anymore nowadays.” “It is wonderfully crafted, is it not? I guess I was allured to the craftsmanship of this object.” Lith said. Jetstream Rush handed the figurine back to Lith, who took it and placed it in her bag. “You are powerful, right?” He asked. “Ummm… I can say that I am a bit of a powerhouse. Why do you ask?” Lith responded. “The mecha that killed my parents; it’s still in Manehatten. I want you to destroy it.” Jetstream Rush requested. “That’s a bit out of the request, Jetstream. I mean, destroying one mecha is not an easy feat alone. On top of that, a mecha that is still wandering around Manehatten sounds much more powerful than the invasion mechas a few days ago.” “Please! Seeing the physical representation of my sorrow and depression being toppled over will make me happy!” “I’m sorry, Jetstream Rush, but there are certain protocols I have to take so that I may take such a huge mission. I’m sorry.” Jetstream Rush stared at Lith with an intense glare. He pointed at the doorway with ferocious motion. “Out. Now!” “But-“ “Now!” Lith stood up from the bed and walked out with a frown on her face. She looked back and opened her mouth, but stopped and continued walking forward. Chili Spice and Apple Bloom looked upon the distraught Lith with frowns on their faces. “I take it you didn’t cheer him up?” Chili Spice asked. “I was close… he was actually smiling, but he wanted me to take out a mecha at the outskirts of Manehatten. I rejected his request.” “Why did you do that? I’m sure you can take out a mecha by yourself.” Apple Bloom questioned. “That’s not an easy thing to do, especially since said mecha was responsible for the annihilation of Manehatten.” Lith responded. “You actually got him to smile?!” Chili Spice shouted. “That’s the closest anyone had gotten to cheering him up, and he does sound like he has more emotion in his voice. Would you mind if I kept your contact number, Lith? If he’s open for talking again, you’ll be the first I’ll notify.” “It would be my honor, Chili Spice.” Lith and Chili Spice held out their watches and pressed a red button on them. A symbol shaped like a cellphone appeared on both of their screens. “You are still welcome to come by anytime, mija. There are plenty of children here that would love to see beings such as yourselves.” “We’re leaving, Apple Bloom.” Lith said. Apple Bloom frowned, following Lith outside. Lith wandered the streets of Neo Canterlot, looking down on the ground with a dull shine on her eyes. “I’m sorry you didn’t learn much from me, Apple Bloom. I wasn’t sure if I made a mistake or not.” But, no voice responded to her. “Giving me the silent treatment for abandoning the colt, Apple Bloom?” Lith glanced to her side and saw that Apple Bloom was not around. Her lungs petrified with fear. “Apple Bloom? Apple Bloom!” She called out, running towards every conceivable angle in the area. She raised her watch to her face and imputed a series of buttons on in. Chili Spice’s head came up over the watch, who began breathing in quick successive strokes. “Chili Spice! Is Apple Bloom at the orphanage?!” “No, but there is even worse news; Jetstream Rush is missing!” Lith’s reality shattered in black upon hearing Chili Spice’s words. She shook her head. “There is only one possible place those two could have gone to. I’ll contact you when I find them in safe condition, Chili Spice.” “¡Por favor llamame cuando tú las buscas!” Chili Spice called out. “I’m sorry, but what?” “Just find them!” Chili Spice’s head disappeared from the watch. Lith imputed another series of commands in her watch, bringing up Applejack’s head. “You better have a good reason for calling me, Lith. I’m trying to find Apple Bloom, and a buggy went missing!” “That’s the thing, Applejack; I know where Apple Bloom is, but I need your help.” Jetstream Rush soared through the gray clouds in the sky, shredding the air around him. A bridge leading into an island of ruined buildings and structures appeared in the horizon. He inhaled a gust of air and descended upon the bridgeway. “It took you long enough.” He looked to his side, seeing a smirking Apple Bloom by the side of the bridge. “How did you get here so fast?” He asked with a higher tone. “I took a buggy to get here without anypony’s permission. I know my way around these things.” Apple Bloom responded, holding a black square in her hoof. “Aren’t you a little young to be driving?” “Yep, but I don’t care. What matters is that you came here for the mecha, right?” “And you’re here to stop me from finding it?” Jetstream Rush asked with an interrogative tone. “The opposite, really. I wanna help you fight that mecha to help stand me out from the other children at H.O.R.S.E. and be an agent faster.” Apple Bloom explained. Jetstream Rush walked across the bridge, looking back towards Apple Bloom. “If you are helping me, then we should go together. Working as a duo will make things easier for us.” “Now you’re speaking my tongue!” Apple Bloom and Jetstream Rush eyed the decaying and broken stones and metals across the entire cityscape. The streets were littered in debris, broken glass and the lamps from street lights. The windows in the buildings were shattered open, revealing empty darkness inside of the buildings. The signs littering the streets had faded lettering and coloring. Apple Bloom moved her head with a nervous shake in her spine. “This place doesn’t feel too nice to be in…” “This used to be my home. To see it in ruins like this is horrible.” Jetstream Rush said. “To think this used to be one of the busiest cities in all of Equestria. Now, it just looks like-“ “A ghost town? It pretty much is at this point, and it’s all due to that exo that descended upon here two years ago. That exo took everything away from me, so I really don’t mind seeking it out in an attempt to destroy it myself.” “Adults can be useless since they all have to follow the rules to do something simple like destroying a mecha. I mean, how hard could it be to destroy one mecha?” A loud thud reverberated behind Apple Bloom and Jetstream Rush. The two of them craned their necks slowly with stunned movement, and their jaws dropped at the source of the noise; a gray and purple mecha the size of a skyscraper stood right behind them. Its armor pulsed with red electricity moving through its veins. “Wow… it’s bigger than I last remembered.” Jetstream Rush stuttered out, pointing at it with a shaking hoof. “That’s the mecha? I didn’t expect it to look so big… or intimidating!” Apple Bloom shouted. The mecha’s visor flashed in a black color, and it aimed its large arms towards the two children. “I think now would be a good time to run!” Jetstream Rush screamed, running the opposite direction of the mecha. Apple Bloom sprinted behind him. “Hey, what’s the big deal?! Weren’t you gonna fight it?” She chastised. “Less talking, more running!” Panting, Jetstream Rush ordered. The mecha bent its knees close to the ground and leaped into the sky, disappearing in it. “Did we get away from it?” Apple Bloom asked, looking behind her. The mecha dropped in from the sky in the ground in front of the duo, shattering it. They clenched their teeth with their pupils contracting in fear, stumbling backwards. “Oh no, we’re gonna die!” Apple Bloom shouted. Jetstream Rush frowned and looked away from her. “Apple Bloom, I want to apologize for being rude to you. If I knew that I was going to die next your side in the hands of this machine, I would have never said a word.” “Apology accepted, Rush, but that still doesn’t mean that we aren’t dead!” The both of them embraced each other, shutting their eyes and facing away from the mecha. A crackle of lightning vibrated their eardrums and the noise of metal scratching sounded throughout the area. The duo opened their eyes and looked towards the mecha, whose shoulder was chipped and smoking. “It looks like we made it on time.” Lith said, running into the scene with Applejack and Rarity behind them. Applejack ran towards Apple Bloom, embracing her torso. “You had me so worried, Apple Bloom! What were you thinking of when you were stealing a buggy and driving off to such a dangerous area?!” She shouted. “What possessed you to leave the care of that sweet donkey who took you in to fight a hopeless battle against that monstrosity?!” Rarity scolded. “It’s alright, girls. These two obviously learned that it is wrong to sneak out of the city to try to face something like this.” Lith responded. “Right now, we have to make sure they are safe by destroying this mecha.” Applejack sprinted towards the mecha and leaped a grand distance into the air. The shoes on her front hooves sparked with purple electricity. She knocked her right front hoof into the leg of the mecha, denting the armor and knocking it backwards. Rarity’s horn flashed in a light blue color. A large spike from the earth rose up underneath the mecha, striking it between the legs. Lith hopped off of Rarity and leaped towards its face, unleashing a series of Magical Leaf strikes that cut its visor. The mecha aimed its arms towards Rarity and fired a storm of lasers from its arms, pelting her coat and the spire underneath it. It looked down upon Applejack and kicked her towards Rarity, knocking over the two mares. Its fits unscrewed and then launched towards Lith, hitting her square in the chest. Lith winced, but flipped back onto her legs. The mecha launched another fist towards her. With her eyes flashing, she grabbed the fist through her Psychic, grinding it to dust. Rarity stood up from the ground, conjuring a storm of shards from the ground that swarmed into the open wrist on the mecha. The mecha’s wrist tore open, revealing spraying electricity and wires inside. Applejack stood up from the ground, seeing the mecha’s ruined wrist. She looked back into the buggy, eyeing a red box with a large hole in the center. Her stare tightened. “Lith, Rarity, keep that mecha distracted. I’m gonna blast it to kingdom come with our special rocket.” Lith and Rarity nodded, facing the mecha once more. Rarity shot boulder after boulder into the mecha’s visor while Lith shot Signal Beams into its chest. Applejack placed the rocket over her shoulder and aimed it at the moving wrist. She clenched her teeth and hit the button on the side. A green and red rocket fired out of the launcher and into the wrist of the mecha. The rocket navigated its way through the tight corridors of metal, twisting and turning away from the walls and narrow areas. Within its line of sonar was a red core that pulsed with energy. It locked onto the signal, drilled its way into the core and exploded. The mecha became engulfed with flames from its inside. Literal fires burst through its armor. It then exploded into multitudes upon multitudes of pieces, leaving it as nothing but a smoldering pile of scraps. “Yeehaw! Worked like a charm!” Applejack called out, rearing her front legs. “Marvelous explosive technology, Applejack. You weren’t bad yourself, Lith.” Rarity complimented. “Thank you very much, Rarity. Right now, I’m just glad that the children are safe.” Applejack looked towards Apple Bloom and Jetstream Rush, who looked away from Applejack and shivered. “The two of you have lots of explainin’ to do when we get back to H.O.R.S.E. But…” Applejack smiled and brought the both of them in for a hug. “We’re… we’re not in trouble?” Apple Bloom asked with a wary voice. “You two are in trouble, but all that matters right now is that you are safe.” Applejack responded. Jetstream Rush wriggled out of Applejack’s grasp and walked over to Lith with a frown on his face and his head looking away from her. “Lith, I’m sorry about how I acted. I was a fool to come over here by myself in order to attack a mecha. But, when I saw you and heard your story and saw just how strong you were, I thought I could do the same thing like you did and fight the shadows of my past. But… my hooves got kind of cold and I seriously thought I was going to die.” Lith kneeled down to Jetstream Rush’s head level and stroked his mane. “Admittedly, what you did was very foolish. But, it is very understandable for you to feel that way. Next time, you should learn how to pick your battles.” She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a framed photo of Jetstream Rush with a lime green-coated pegasus stallion with a soft green mane and blue eyes and a marine blue-coated pegasus mare with a soft blue mane and green eyes. “Is that… you found this for me?” Jetstream Rush asked. “To be honest, this photo was just poking out of a pile of debris when we came in here. But, when I saw your face, I knew that I had to pick it up. And, here.” Lith pulled out her figurine of a cat and placed it in Jetstream Rush’s right hoof, cupping it. “You’re giving me this? But… why Lith?” “Because… I see myself inside of you. You carry pain within your heart from losing your parents and I want this to be your reminder that you will never be alone, Jetstream. Whenever you are feeling sad or lonely, I want you to look at this and think of me.” Jetstream Rush’s eyes watered and his face strained to keep his tears dammed. He rubbed his left hoof over his eyes, wiping the tears away. He hugged Lith and sobbed over her shoulder. Lith returned the hug, rocking him with a gentle motion. “Let it out, Jetstream. Let out the sadness you’ve kept in your heart for these years.” With these words ushering into his soul, Jetstream Rush wailed in a loud voice. Lith, Apple Bloom and Jetstream Rush approached Chili Spice, who galloped over to Jetstream Rush and hugged him by his neck. “¡Mijo! Where have you been? You had me so worried!” Chili Spice asked. “I’m sorry, Chili Spice… for giving you such a hard time all these years.” Chili Spice’s ears perked up at Jetstream Rush’s words. She looked into his eyes, his coat and his mane and tail; in them, she saw that they were void of their gray overtones and, instead were replaced with radiance. “Is that… a smile I see?” She asked. Smiling, Jetstream Rush nodded. From a satchel tied around his upper left front leg, he pulled out the figurine and the framed photo. “Lith and her friends not only saved Apple Bloom and me, but Lith actually found my family photo and destroyed the mecha!” Chili Spice looked up into Lith’s eyes with a smile. “Lith, I don’t know what to say. But, I should start by saying this; muchos gracias por ayudar Jetstream Rush con su depreción.” “Ummmm… I still have no idea what you are saying.” “I’m saying thank you! You’ve done what no others were capable of doing! You actually brought a genuine smile onto Jetstream Rush’s face! This makes me so happy that I could throw a fiesta for all the children in the orphanage!” “Lith, Apple Bloom; can I ask you something?” “Of course you can, Jetstream. You can ask us anything.” Lith responded with a vivid smile and a gentle tone. “If it is alright, can I see you two again some other time this week? I really like being around you to.” “I’d love to!” Apple Bloom shouted out, cueing mystified stares from Lith and Chili Spice. She blushed. “I mean, I can always have another friend to hang out with, especially a fellow orphan.” “So… are you available on Friday?” “I don’t think so. My sis still has a punishment in mind for not staying home, stealing a buggy and going into dangerous territory.” “Yikes. Well, I still want to see you again. I want to see if Chili Spice would let me see you at H.O.R.S.E. as well.” “I can, but we still have to discuss your punishment, young mister. ¡¿Tú eres loco?! You nearly got yourself killed because of your depression!” Jetstream Rush looked back towards Apple Bloom, flashing a coy smile and a luminescent blush on his face. “Looks like I’ll have to see you again some other time, Apple Bloom and Lith.” Lith hummed out a happy note, seeing Chili Spice and Jetstream Rush walk into the orphanage. “Lith, what’s with that noise you’re making?” Apple Bloom asked in a pestered tone. “It’s cute! It looks like Jetstream Rush has a crush on you.” Apple Bloom’s face lit up red to a tomato’s shine. “Ummm… yeah.” “Awww, true love is what I see!” “Please stop it, Lith. You’re embarrassing me.” “But you two look so cute together! I can’t wait to hear the sorts of adventures you two will go on! I want to hear about eating a spaghetti dinner, and how you two have your first kiss!” Apple Bloom shouted and shook her head. “Please let Applejack punish me before Lith fills me with this gushy mushy lovey stuff, Deus.” She uttered out. “So I have to spend the week apologizing and doing chores around the house?” Jetstream Rush whined. “It is only fair for the trouble you caused everyone here, don’t you agree?” Chili Spice asked. “…I guess. Can you still read me a bedtime story though? I really like the ones you tell.” Chili Spice hummed and looked up into the ceiling. Then, she pat Jetstream Rush’s head and smiled. “Of course I can do that. You did learn your lesson after all.” “Also, Chili Spice; can you allow me to only be adopted by the agents of H.O.R.S.E.? I want to be a part of the organization that brought a smile onto my face.” “I could also do that as well. Now, run along and get a start on your quehaceras.” “Will do, Chili Spice!” Jetstream Rush stated, running towards the closet and taking out a broom and dustpan. Chili Spice glanced towards the family photo and figurine on the table. “Your boy is quite the troublemaker, Rising Cyclone and Starry Wind. But, he has a good heart underneath. With the heart you gave him, I'm sure he will accomplish his dreams.”
Frozen WorldMono and Twilight Sparkle observed a hologram of an enlarged strand of DNA in the lab, eyeing the linking rainbow-colored sugars and acids making it up. Twilight Sparkle let out an exasperated sigh. “We’ll never be able to decode this gene. Why does Pokémon DNA have to be so much more complex than Equusian DNA?” “Pokémon are very complex creatures. It seems that we are discovering something new every day about them. Unlike Equusian DNA, however, Pokémon are all linked through their breeding groups and Mew, the legendary Pokémon that is the common ancestor of all Pokémon.” Mono explained. “I didn’t think that a Pokémon’s breeding mechanisms would contribute to something as huge as overall DNA. Perhaps with this information, I could look at it from a different angle?” With her horn flashing, Twilight Sparkle increased the resolution of the strand and zoomed in towards the top. “What are you doing there, Twilight?” Mono asked. “If memory serves, the coding in the DNA responsible for reproduction should be in this area. From there, I could separate the information related to breeding groups and splice it together with the information regarded to physiology and we should be close to achieving a breakthrough in elemental affinity.” “That sounds like it could work.” The top right part of the DNA lifted off of the structure and combined with another separated strand. The two elements melded together, forming into a cluster of omni-colored spheres. Twilight Sparkle grinned, cheering with a loud tone and hopping on the desks. “A breakthrough in genetics! Yes! Yes! Yes!” Mono winced and smiled with a sheepish tilt of his head, pushing his paws down with repeated movements. “It’s exciting, but not that exciting.” Twilight Sparkle teleported directly in front of Mono’s face, her wide eyes staring into Mono’s soul and her grin bringing a cold shiver down his spine. She grabbed his shoulders and leaned over him. “Not that exciting?! Mono, this is the first step in Equusian-Pokémon technology! This is the power of unity between two worlds! If I can analyze what all of this means, then our chances of saving everyone left on this planet would drastically increase!” “Yeah… I guess that is very exciting.” Chuckling with a nervous shake of his teeth, Mono responded. Lith ambled through the open doorway with graceful steps, eyeing Mono being leaned over by Twilight Sparkle. “Ummm… am I missing something here?” “Lith!” Mono shrieked out, falling on his back. Lith grabbed Mono’s right paw, pulling him up from the ground. “Hey, Lith. Is there any reason you swung by the lab today?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “I need to get Mono because Spitfire called my group to the briefing room for an emergency meeting. Has anyone seen Fluttershy?” “Fluttershy is with Rainbow Dash in the training hall at the Marksman Division.” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both hovered in the air. Rainbow Dash stood behind Fluttershy, holding a gray rifle wielded on Fluttershy’s left hoof. “Ummm… I’m not too sure that I’ll hit the target, Rainbow Dash. I tried and failed sixty-four times. Do you think I’m even cut out to be a marksman?” “When I accepted teaching you how to use a rifle, Fluttershy, I made a promise to myself to not let my friend give up in her training. Even if it takes a million years, I won’t leave your side until you learn how to fire that rifle at the target.” Rainbow Dash responded. “Now, keep your hooves steady and set your sights at the target.” Fluttershy aimed her sights at a target that was five feet away from her, twitching her hoof while gripping the handle on the rifle. Mono and Lith appeared through the door. “Hey, Fluttershy!” Lith called out. Fluttershy shrieked, moving her rifles positioning towards the twins’ direction and pulling the hoof-sized trigger. An explosion sounded throughout the room and a stray laser carved its path between Mono and Lith’s feet. The two of them jumped back and their hearts beat with a gong’s soundwaves. Fluttershy observed below and frowned. “Alright, take five.” Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash said. “I’m so sorry, Mono and Lith! I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here at this hour, so I got scared and, well, you know the rest of the story. Please forgive me.” Fluttershy apologized. It’s… quite alright, Fluttershy.” Between deep breaths, Lith responded. “Anyways, Spitfire called us for an emergency meeting in the briefing room.” “Oh, tell her I will be on my way. I have to ask to see if it is okay to use a rifle, if that is alright with you.” Fluttershy responded. Mono and Lith exited the area. Fluttershy looked over her shoulder, witnessing Rainbow Dash crossing her front legs and rolling her eyes. “Go. Just make sure that you don’t accidently shoot someone on the field, okay?” Spitfire glanced at the time on her watch with her left hind leg tapping the ground in impatience. Mono and Lith sprinted into the room. “Where have you two been, and where’s Fluttershy?!” She screamed. “Fluttershy will be here momentarily. She just needed to ask for permission for rifle use.” Mono stated, saluting to Spitfire. Fluttershy hovered into the room, landing near Rondo and Jasmine and saluting. “Sorry for being late, Spitfire! I’m still not a full-fledged marksman yet, so I have to ask for permission to bring a rifle on the mission.” “That’s all fine and dandy. Because today, you eight are going to be given a very special assignment for this mission.” Spitfire announced. She touched the table, bringing up the holographic map of the world. She touched a mass of land to the north of the Terraformed Wilderness, filling it with an icy blue color. “Our satellites have picked up a strange disturbance from the northernmost continent on the planet known as Glacial Drift. Honestly, we have no idea what it is, but the readings are giving off a similar energy code to your group of members. I think a Pokémon may be wandering around there.” A ring of silent gasps filled the room upon her declaration. “A Pokémon, there? Who could it be?” Jasmine asked. “I’ll tell you who it isn’t; a Pokémon that can’t stand being in a place known as ‘Glacial Drift’. Seriously, thinking about the name makes my blood freeze over.” Gnasher commented. “Not to worry, Gnasher, because Rarity was generous enough to make parkas contorted to each of your physiological needs.” Smiling, Spitfire said. “But, as you can tell by the name, Glacial Drift is an icy land constantly splitting apart and drifting into other ice masses. It is an understatement of the century to say that it is very cold there, so you’ll need those parkas. Any questions?” Rondo raised his wing with a nervous shake. “Can I be excluded from the mission? I’m a Flying-type, so being exposed to low temperatures hurts.” He asked with a trembling voice. “But, I’m a Dragon-type pile of goo and I will be going on the mission as well.” Custard responded with an innocent demeanor. “B-but you’re more adjusted to the cold than me!” Gnasher smacked the portion of her face next to her eyes and walked towards Rondo. “Custard’s going and even I’m going. Like it or not, you’re coming along as well. Got that?” She threatened. Custard swallowed a nervous gulp and nodded. A cocky smile appeared on Spitfire’s face. “I didn’t even need to say anything! So, any last questions?” Stereo raised his right hand. “Are there any other things we should know about the Glacial Drift? It seems like a dangerous continent outside of the cold weather.” “Just be careful of any of the creatures lurking. They are adapted to sub-zero temperatures for a reason you know.” An armored buggy roamed the peaks of fresh snow spreading across an icy wasteland. The air filled with an impenetrable blizzard that made basic sight impossible. Inside of the walls of the vehicle, everyone wore a black parka covering just below their waists that matched their body sizes. Rondo rubbed his body with both of his wings, his teeth chattering at a rapid pace. “I-I-Iz-z-z-z-z-z-z it j-j-j-j-ust me… or izzzzz it c-c-c-c-cold?!” “It’s just you, birdbrain. You don’t see me or Custard shivering.” Gnasher responded. “Eaz-z-z-y f-f-f-for y-y-y-you t-t-to say. You got… warm uniforms!” Rondo stuttered out. Jasmine and Stereo rolled their eyes. “Is it just me or does Rondo still have that phobia of being in snowy areas?” Stereo asked. “It’s not just you, Stereo; Rondo always imagines that he is freezing whenever he believes he is in a snowy area. It’s sad, really.” Jasmine responded. “Mono, do you think that I might be able to alter Rondo’s mind with my Psychic so that he wouldn’t be afraid of cold temperatures anymore?” Lith asked. “I think you might need assistance from another Psychic user for that to work. Good thing we both know Psychic.” With a devilish smirk, Mono responded. A loud squack erupted from Rondo’s voice after hearing the twins’ conversation. “No! Anything but that! Please, I’ll stop now.” Mono chuckled under his breath, sitting next to Rondo and wrapping his paw around him. “We’re only kidding, Rondo. Do you think we would really do something like that?” “Not really… but the two of you had crazier ideas in the past.” Shaking his head, Rondo noted. The buggy swerved, launching all the Pokémon to the left side of the hold. A screen with Fluttershy’s face appeared. Each of the Pokémon rubbed their heads and arms from the impact against the wall. “I’m really sorry for what I did there. The ice around here is very unstable, and I was about to fall into a frozen crack had I not done what I did.” “All forgiven, Fluttershy. I know too well about the dangers of unstable geography.” Mono responded. “Though… how can you even see in this blizzard?! All I see is just white.” Rondo asked. “I have a minimap on my dashboard that surveys the surrounding land for me. I use it as my guide. Speaking of which, we are almost at our disembarking point.” Fluttershy responded. Rondo let out an exasperated sigh. “Great! We get to wander out in the cold, get mauled by predators and freeze to death. It’s a wonderful way to die, isn’t it?” “Now Rondo, you should be more optimistic about our prognosis; we would starve before we freeze to death.” Lith responded, shutting her eyes and smiling with an innocent tilt. “That doesn’t make me feel any better, you know.” “No, but at least you won’t have to freeze while you are conscious. Besides, don’t you have a Fire-type move that you always keep using in battle? It might be very useful as a utility move in this temperature.” Rondo’s pupils directed themselves towards the ground. He mumbled underneath his breath. He smacked his face with his right wing. “Duh! How did I forget that I knew Heat Wave?! Proper use will keep us all nice and toasty. Thanks for the reminder, Lith.” Gnasher chuckled underneath her voice. “It took you that long to get that, Rondo? You’re literally one of our important factors for the mission solely because you and Custard are the only Pokemon that know a Fire-type move that can actually not be used to harm others.” Gnasher responded. “It’s true, and my Flamethrower isn’t as well-controlled as your Heat Wave. You’ll do a good job with keeping us alive.” Custard added. “Now I suddenly find myself to be useful! Thank goodness, because I did not want to be dead weight on this mission. Let’s go find a Pokémon!” The blizzard raged. Fresh snow covered the prints made upon the terrain by the group in seconds. Mono, who teeth chattered and his paws wrapped around his body, looked back towards Rondo. “C-can you use a Heat Wave, Rondo? We might need a blast.” “Sure thing, Mono!” Rondo soared into the sky, flapping a hot gust of wind that melted the snow in the air around the group. A feeling of warmth descended from the sky with the mercy from a goddess. “Thank you, Rondo. My wings were starting to lose their flexibility.” Fluttershy said, looking back at Rondo and smiling with a brilliant grin. “No problem, Fluttershy. I’m glad to even be of use.” Rondo soared down to the ground, eliciting a happy sigh from the heat around him. “And you said you wanted to be excluded from the mission.” Gnasher teased. Through the hazy veil of steam, the snowy landscape rolled out of the group’s sight and the horizon filled itself with mountains. Fluttershy sprinted towards the edge. Looking below, her jaw dropped. “Fluttershy, is there somet-“Lith began saying, shutting up at the sight that shocked Fluttershy. The group stopped, silent from the sight below; a ruined city sparkled amongst the lands with shattered crystals spread throughout. Stones and diodes littered the ground. Several impact craters spread throughout the city. “Is this… a city all the way out here? But, it somehow looks even worse than Manehatten!” Lith shouted. “That’s because this was one of the very first cities destroyed by the Van’Goth. This city was previously thought to have been a myth by other Equusians due to its enigmatic nature and impenetrable location along with a magitech barrier that prevented communication with the outside world. As such, we were unable to give the city the aid it desperately needed. No survivors emerged.” Fluttershy explained. “I’ve never heard of such an awful attack before. In the stories I’ve read, such raids would have been brutal, but at least there would have been some survivors in the forms of slaves or other methods. These Van’Goth truly are brutal.” Stereo said. Ornate-crafted buildings worn away from the eroding arctic winds sprawled throughout the once magnificent city. Spiraling pillars were chipped away, their pieces buried within the piles of snow. A bony hand of dread grasped the nerves of the group within the city. “Something tells me this used to be a center for arts and intellect based on the arcitecture.” Stereo commented. “That is exactly what the Crystal Empire used to be. It was a city unlike others in the world. Some of the most prestigious minds were from it.” Fluttershy explained. “Hearing that makes me sort of sad. I hope that when this is all over, Equusians can rebuild this magnificent city. Mono looked over towards a building, where two thirds of its structure was blown apart. Open books scattered throughout the floor of the library, their covers blackened from ash and their pages soaked in snow. “All that valuable books and knowledge are wasted. Did the Van’Goth do this just to set an example for the rest of the world?” Mono asked. “Who knows? All that is known is that almost nothing of the Crystal Empire exists in Neo Canterlot.” Fluttershy responded. A loud thump echoed from the distance of the city. A large sauropod with deep blue skin and an ice blue underside walked across the group’s line of sight. His long neck was a host to two flowing sails that transitioned from butter yellow to indigo. His deep blue eyes contrasted the white V-shaped mark on his forehead. A line of diamonds that are icy to the touch ran down from his neck up to the base of his tail curling in a spiral. “Wait a moment… that creature. That’s an Aurorus!” Lith said. “Is that a Pokémon?” Fluttershy asked. “Yes! We didn’t have an Aurorus back at the lab… so it must be another former human as well.” Mono replied. “I think it would be a good idea if we followed it to see where it is going.” Rondo suggested. The Aurorus walked down an empty street, looking straight at the path ahead. The group of Pokémon and Fluttershy hid behind the corner of a ruined wall. They peaked at the Aurorus, who went up the steps into the ruins of a grand building. The group hopped over the corner, running towards the stairs. Jasmine’s eyes glittered at the sight of the crystal pillars holding up a tall roof. “This looks beautiful! What is this area, Fluttershy?” “Well… if I had to guess, this would be the Royal Palace of the Crystal Empire. It fits the descriptions of what I read in geography guides.” Fluttershy responded. “Why would an Aurorus go in here, though?” Gnasher asked. “Well… considering the size of the structure and whatnot, it seems like perfect shelter for a Pokémon of its size. Let’s go in.” Stereo stated. The Aurorus walked towards a Reuniclus, who lied on the ground with his eyes closed and his forehead red. The Aurorus dropped sparse springs of vegetation from his mouth onto the Reuniclus’s forehead. The Reuniclus opened his eyes, smiling at the sight of the Aurorus before him. “I’ve checked the toxicity levels of this plant myself and found that it is not a dangerous substance. It should help you with your fever, Einstein.” “Thanks, Professor Pasque. You always are looking out for me.” Einstein responded with a strained tone, chewing on the vegetation. The red on his forehead waned, bringing forth his white color. Professor Pasque nuzzled Einstein. “You have been my partner since I was but a child. I never abandoned you then, and I will not abandon you now.” Einstein chuckled underneath his voice. “I always forget how long we’ve been together. Had it truly passed fifty-five years since we were together?” “I believe so. Our partnership seems to even extend into this new world. But… I cannot help but shake a feeling of dread grasping this world. Einstein’s eyes jolted open, listening to a series of footsteps coming towards their direction. “We got company, Professor!” Professor Pasque turned his head around, glaring the Pokémon and Equusian that followed him into the palace. “I didn’t think I would see other Pokémon or even traces of other life around here. Are you friend or foe?” He asked. “Wait, that voice… Professor Pasque?!” Mono shouted. Professor Pasque’s eyes widened and his muscles relaxed. “That voice… is that you, Mono?” “I’m also here, Professor.” Lith stated. “And Lith… you two are Pokémon as well.” He smiled, craning his head down towards Mono and Lith. Mono and Lith smiled, hugging Professor Pasque’s head. Fluttershy pulled out a translation bracelet and tied it around Professor Pasque’s neck. “With this, you should be able to communicate normally with other Equusians.” “Thank you very much, young creature. I shall make sure to take good care of it.” “What are you doing out here in the Glacial Drift anyways?” Lith asked. “Is this what this area is called? I wasn’t expecting it to be known as the Volcanic Drift due to how cold it is. But, as chance has it, Einstein and I ended up in this very palace. With how much destruction this entire area suffered, we concluded on first glance that it was ancient ruins. But, careful examination of the destruction revealed the event to be historically recent.” Einstein hovered towards the group with a weak smile. “Hey, what about me?” “Einstein! You... don’t look so well.” Rondo said, his words slowing down with a casted gaze. “Just recovering from a fever is all. Professor Pasque did his best to find herbs out in the wasteland. I don’t know what they were, but they helped me very much.” Einstein responded. “Herbs… all the way out here?” Jasmine asked, putting her right hand onto her beak. “It is true that vegetation is uncommon out in the tundra, but there are always a few hardy plants that have adapted to the extreme weather conditions of this place. Such plants are always potent in their properties. Deciding whether it is healing properties or harming properties is an entirely different story.” Professor Pasque responded. “So you are Mono and Lith’s paternal figure?” Fluttershy asked. “Yes. For ten years, I have raised them as my own two children. By now, I’m just an old fossil whose adopted children will continue in his teachings. I guess that being an Aurorus is very fitting for me in that case.” He responded, chuckling underneath his breath. “Well, when we get you and your friend here back to Neo Canterlot, you can share your knowledge with an entire generation of young Equusians.” “That… would be very nice. I always was fond of children. I don’t think you are familiar to me. Who are you?” “My name is Fluttershy. I’m a pegasus pony from Neo Canterlot.” “As good as civilization sounds right now, I think we should explore this continent a bit more.” Einstein suggested. “That would not be in our best interest, Einstein. Why would you suggest that?” Jasmine asked. “Apparently, this continent is mostly unexplored. The least we can do is explore some of it so that we may be able to plan future expeditions into this land with more success. If I start being ill, you can always hit me with an Aromatherapy.” “Well… I could always do that. Alright, Einstein, we should explore this new area.” “Are you serious, Jasmine?” Lith asked with her eyes lidded in disbelief. “Very serious. Think about what we can find here and bring back to H.O.R.S.E. I hope to find many rare and exotic items with unusual scents.” Gnasher shook her head, letting out an irritated sigh. “We aren’t treasure hunters, Jasmine; we’re operatives that are supposed to protect everyday living in Equus. We only came here to fetch the Professor and his Pokémon, nothing less and nothing more.” “Hush now, Gnasher. You can’t honestly expect to believe that hunting for treasures here would improve the everyday living conditions of Equus, right? This will almost be like one of those daring adventure novels I used to read back home.” Jasmine responded. “Well, we are ahead of schedule. So, a bit of treasure hunting wouldn’t hurt. Plus, it would give me more materials to work with in the lab.” Mono stated, glancing down toward his watch. “Not you too, Mono. This is literally asking for us to go die in a wasteland.” Gnasher responded. “It’s not like you don’t enjoy roaming around in the wastelands yourself, Gnasher.” Custard commented. “Alright, but no one complains when things don’t go their way.” “Since you know more about the Glacial Drift than any one of us, where shall we go?” Mono asked, facing Professor Pasque. “There are a set of twin peaks not too far away from here that sparkle like a radiant sun. I suggest we go there.” Professor Pasque walked alongside the slow-moving buggy, smiling at the face of the blizzard rushing by his eyes. He craned his neck towards the buggy. “You know, I have been uneasy since arriving in this area. My biggest concern was whether or not everyone else was alright. But, seeing all of you here puts my soul at ease.” A hologram of Fluttershy’s face appeared in front of Professor Pasque. “I’m glad you do, but aren’t you cold or being buffered by the snow?” She asked. “Not at all. Auroruses such as I thrive in these types of conditions. We are Ice-types after all.” “That’s an interesting tidbit of information, Professor Pasque. I’ll record that information when I get the chance.” Fluttershy responded. In the distance were two icicle peaks out in the horizon, covering the descending sun and glistening with sparkles. Dust particles of snow blew down from the mountaintops, spreading out in waves along the sea of snow. “This reminds me of the days when it would snow. I took Mono and Lith outside to play and observe the weather. Imagine my surprise when I saw them playing with a wild Vanillite outside. The three of them playing together… it was just a joy to see.” Professor Pasque said, gazing into the sky with a happy grin. “You must care very much about Mono and Lith, Professor.” “That is an understatement. I came to first bond with Mono when I stopped by the Counseling Center in Opelucid. My original intent there was to gather research on the differences between the human mind and the Pokémon mind. When I saw Mono, something inside of my own heart urged me to speak to him. He was nervous at first, but then I found out his innate intellectual potential.” “Sometimes, our hearts lead us to chance encounters. That is what must have happened to you.” Fluttershy responded. “Fate has some interesting designs that lead us to completely different paths. After I heard about the parents of the twins dying in that accident, I was the first one to make the offer to adopt them. It was there when I discovered that Lith also had the same potential. I made sure to raise them in a good-hearted environment. I even gifted them with their own Pokémon, one of which whose egg I managed to obtain from the Kalos Region. You might know them as Custard and Gnasher?” “I was wondering how such a sweet-looking mound of goo and a fiercely-protective crocodile were in their care. You know, I am very gifted with caring for animals of any kind. So, I don’t mind being caring for your family, Professor Pasque.” “And I assume you are capable of caring for me in my growing age?” Professor Pasque suggested, following it with a hearty laugh. “I jest, Fluttershy. I feel like I am in the prime of my life.” “That’s good to hear.” Blinking, tilting her head and smiling, Fluttershy responded. “We’re almost at our destination. Are you sure you want to do this, Professor?” “Nothing would make me happier than seeing my entire family frolic in the snow like they did as children.” Professor Pasque responded. The buggy and Professor Pasque climbed up the summit of the peak. The doors of the buggy opened up and all of the Pokémon looked towards the sun lowering down into the sky. Mono and Lith shut their eyes and inhaled the alpine mountain scent through their noses, breathing out a cool mist from their mouths. “It’s chilly, but it’s the good kind. Why is that?” Mono asked. “For one thing, the winds seem to have subsided.” Professor Pasque responded. The group hopped out of the buggy. In her mouth, Fluttershy carried a black kit. Opening it, a set of brown brushes and picks were inside. “Ummm… why do you have a random set of excavation gear, Fluttershy?” Lith asked. “For some reason, H.O.R.S.E. mandates that all recon buggies come equipped with one. It’s strange, but there is no use arguing against it.” Fluttershy responded. Each of the Pokémon grabbed a brush and pick, observing them. Gnasher tossed her brush and pick aside. “Meh, I don’t need any of these things. Not when my claws are capable of rending the ice here.” She ran towards a nearby mound of ice, slashing it apart with her claws. “Gnasher’s right; who needs this stuff?” Rondo shouted, dropping the items within his talons. He flew over to a wall and began pecking it with his beak. “Professor, I know that these Pokémon are very tough, but how practical is using their body parts to chip away at ore?” Fluttershy asked. “Hey, I found some gems already!” Gnasher called out. The group circled together around the busted rock. Purple stones that radiated from even the faintest of light flashed inside of it. Several hums of awe harmonized within the air. “These gems are so precious!” Jasmine called out, rubbing her hand along the rough stones. “Would you mind if I took some with me, Gnasher?” “Not at all. I don’t know what sort of use I would have for them anyways.” A loud growl echoed from nearby when Jasmine reached both of her hands inside of the ore. A white-coated canine with seven white horns, eyes whiter than the snow and the bulk of a bull leaped out from a patch of snow. From the walls and other snowy piles, similar-shaped beings appeared and set their eyes on the group. “Uhhh, Fluttershy, what are these creatures? They don’t look very friendly.” Lith stammered out. “These are wolf yetis. They are one of the higher-ranked predators of the Glacial Drift. The few encounters H.O.R.S.E. had with them usually ended up in a few casualties. They’re really tough and very vicious.” Fluttershy explained. “So I take it that negotiations are out of the question?” Mono responded, turning his head towards the buggy and backing away. A wolf yeti dropped down from above and leaped towards Mono. With a sleight of paw, Mono thrust it back with a Psychic. Another wolf yeti leaped out from its location, pouncing towards Jasmine. Jasmine fired a Thunderbolt towards it, shocking it. The wolf yeti lied on the ground, unable to move its muscles. Another wolf yeti leaped towards Jasmine, striking her with its claw. The gems in her hands fell down to the ground. “It looks like they don’t like how we are in their territory. We have to leave.” Professor Pasque suggested. “But what about those gems?!” Jasmine called out. “I thought we would excavate this area more.” “I erred in thinking that this was a safe area for us. In my vision of nostalgia, I was unable to see that this area is a clear danger. We leave now, Jasmine.” Jasmine eyed the open rock and then eyed the group retreating into the buggy. With a disheartened sigh, she hovered towards the buggy. Professor Pasque faced the wolf yetis. His body flashed with a golden aura. The ground underneath him began cracking with golden light seeping out of it. The cracks traveled to the wolf yetis. The impact of the cracks sent them flying into the air. “Brilliant Earth Power!” Rondo called out from within the buggy. Lith eyed a pack of wolf yetis flanking Professor Pasque from his blind spot. She kicked the doors of the buggy open, firing a Magical Leaf towards them. Professor Pasque tilted his head towards the direction of the attack with his mouth agape in shock. Each leaf struck each of the wolf yetis. “Thank you, Lith. I very much appreciate it.” “I don’t want you to be hurt, Professor. Shall I assist you?” “No. Get back into the buggy with the others and flee. I’ll follow behind you.” Lith paused in her movements, contorting her face into a frown. She nodded, going back inside. Fluttershy opened her door, gazing at a wolf yeti standing upon the cliff. Its size was a wolf yeti’s size quadrupled. The wolf yeti pounced on Professor Pasque’s back. He jumped at the sudden force applied to his back. He reared his front legs forward and stomped on the ground multiple times. “Professor Pasque is in trouble!” Einstein shouted. Fluttershy looked back at the rifle in the passenger seat. She closed her eyes and turned her head to the right. She grabbed it and flew out of the vehicle. She rested the rifle over her left shoulder, grasping the trigger area with her right hoof and holding it steady with her left hoof. Her reticle followed the wolf yeti being shaken by Professor Pasque. Her hooves became weak and her aim shook. Her heart beat with a nervous rhythm. “Be calm, Fluttershy. This is your true test of being able to wield a rifle. Fail, and our mission is over. Succeed and you would save your teammate.” Fluttershy whispered to herself. The nerves in her hooves relaxed, allowing her to focus her reticle once more. She aimed it towards the neck of the wolf yeti. With a fiery gaze, she pulled the trigger. A black bullet erupted from the muzzle and dug itself into the wolf yeti’s neck. The wolf yeti let go of Professor Pasque and fell onto the ground with a loud yelp. It looked back towards the marksman and ran away. All the Pokémon in the buggy exited it, gazing at Fluttershy with loud cheers. Fluttershy moved her head away from the rifle, looking around with a confused glint in her eyes. “Why is everyone cheering?” She asked. “Because you saved my life.” Professor Pasque responded, walking towards her. “I did?” “Fluttershy, did you happen to forget that you actually fired a bullet inside that alpha wolf yeti? That was amazing.” Mono stated with a tone leaking out energy. “Wait… my marksmanship was actually on-spot?!” With a grin creeping up on her face, Fluttershy responded. “Yeah! We could have helped the Professor, but that wolf yeti was on him like melted cheese on a slimy frog. We didn’t want to risk removing it ourselves because we could have hurt him.” Custard responded. “It seems that your confidence has taken its first step into becoming realized, Fluttershy. Amazing job.” Professor Pasque commented. “I… actually did it. I’m so happy that I could scream! But, I won’t.” Rondo eyed the horizon, seeing the land bask in a golden orange and several lollipop-shaped trees in the background. He flew down onto the summit. “I don’t know about you all, but it’s getting real late. Ol’ Spitfire’s gonna have a cow when she sees us arrive so tardy!” Rondo shouted. “Do you think that we would be able to explore this place more in another time? I really like looking through this place.” Einstein asked. “Of course we can, Einstein. But, we’re going to have to go back to where we are supposed to be. We don’t want our family to be in trouble, now do we?” Professor Pasque responded. “Yeah, but those trees do look interesting. Why is it that we only see them now?” Rondo asked. “One assignment at a time, Rondo. Now, I’m just happy we got Professor Pasque back.” Lith responded. Mono gazed towards Rondo and smiled. “Rondo, you aren’t freaking out about the tundra anymore. In fact, it seems like you want to see more of it.” “Wait… hey, you’re right! I’m cured! I’m one-hundred percent cured!” Rondo shouted. Spitfire stood in the docking area of H.O.R.S.E., tapping her right hind hoof and grimacing with a nasty stare. The door opened, revealing a wet buggy driving into the bay and Professor Pasque. The group emerged from the buggy, their nerves frozen in fear when looking into Spitfire’s eyes. “Do you have any idea how late you are back here? I expected you two to be here by sunset and it is almost midnight right now. Just where did you eight lollygag to?!” Spitfire fumed out. “My apologies, Mrs. Spitfire. It was my call to extend this journey for a longer time since the Glacial Drift was a very intriguing area. We would have wanted to explore more of it, but we were on time constraints.” Professor Pasque explained. “Oh? You must be the objective-sensitive Pokémon that our satellites detected.” “Don’t forget about me!” Einstein shouted in a chipper tone, levitating above Professor Pasque’s head. Spitfire looked back towards the group and smiled. “Well, you eight were much later than when I expected you to arrive, but you still got the job done. You showed me that I can trust you with missions going out into the Glacial Drift. Consider that an achievement for you all.” Rainbow Dash walked through the doors, grinning upon seeing Fluttershy. She bolted out of the doorway and towards her direction. “Fluttershy! There you are! Have you used the rifle at all?” She asked. “Yes… I have, Rainbow Dash. I actually managed to shoot my intended target in a vital area.” Fluttershy responded. “That’s awesome! You have got to tell me everything about it.” Rainbow Dash responded. Spitfire glanced towards Professor Pasque and Einstein, humming with curiosity. “You look like you wouldn’t be able to fit into an apartment… at all. What do we do for living conditions for you?” “I don’t mind sleeping outside, Spitfire. What about you, Einstein?” Professor Pasque asked. “As nice as a bed sounds, I can’t really leave you alone. We both are partners until the end.” Einstein responded, snuggling against Professor Pasque’s neck. “Do you mind sleeping out at the courtyard, then? I could always fetch a blanket for your friend there.” Spitfire questioned. “A blanket would be nice as well.” Mono and Lith lied on the grass outside with Professor Pasque and Einstein, gazing at moon dunked within the sea of stars. “It’s so nice for the three of us to be back together, Professor Pasque. I was very worried about you, you know.” Lith said. “I was especially worried about the two of you. But, now that I see the both of you in sound condition, my worries are put to rest. But… are you sure you two don’t mind sleeping out here tonight?” Professor Pasque asked. “We don’t mind at all. I’m just happy to be here with my sister, my father figure and his Pokémon. Speaking of which; how are you feeling, Einstein?” Mono said. “I feel better than a deoxyribonucleic acid, Mono. That herb I was given really helped me pull through.” Einstein responded. Mono’s watch vibrated. He sat up, lifting his left paw to his face. A hologram of Twilight Sparkle’s head showed up on it. “Mono, I’ve finally decoded the DNA.”
An Artist's Passion“And next on the stage, we have Prism Heaven by Light Flash!” A pink-coated earth pony mare with a curly blond mane and tail called out, pointing to the violet-colored runway. Fleur De Lis emerged behind the red curtains, wearing a prismatic dress that sparkled in the spotlight. She trotted down the runway, bringing several flashes from cameras in the audience. Lith watched Fleur De Lis’s hips move in elegance with each step taken within the hologram. With a rosy red blush appearing on her face, her breathing became trapped in her throat. She eyed her mane, which was a floral gust blowing out of her head. Fleur De Lis looked out into the camera, giving Lith a perfect view of her lilac eyes. A shrill gasp escaped her throat. “By Arceus, she is so beautiful! What I wouldn’t do to meet such a creature.” She stated, detached from the material plane. Mono entered the living room with his uniform on, eyeing his sister’s reactions. “You’ll get to meet her today, Lith.” Lith shrieked and jumped, eyeing a smirking Mono looking towards her. “M-Mono! How long were you here for?!” She shouted, the blush on her face exploding into a sea of cherry juice. “Long enough to hear you shrieking when she looked at you. I always find it humorous when you react the way you do when you see someone who you are sexually attracted to.” Mono responded, walking over to Lith and wrapping his right paw around her shoulders. “Well… yeah. It isn’t weird that I happen to feel attracted to Fleur De Lis, right?” “Not at all, Lith. It’s almost like how I am attracted to a Pokémon back when I was a human. We can’t control who we have our feelings for, but that is a sign that we are capable of loving others with the bottom of our hearts. Don’t let what our society deems as taboos interfere with your love for others, because you are one of the most loving and caring individuals I ever got to know.” Lith wrapped her paws around Mono’s body and brought him in for a hug. “How is it that you know the right words to say to me at the right time, Mono?” “I don’t, but the both of us know each other very well. It’s almost like we are twins. But, we have to go to our area at H.O.R.S.E. All of the other Pokémon are there after all.” “That’s right! I almost forgot that we are the bringer of announcements for today.” Lith remarked, shooting up and out of her seat. Stereo stood in front of a canvas depicting a cityscape within the walls of the Pokémon room at H.O.R.S.E. He rubbed soft strokes on the canvas with a brush in his left hand, adding a pearl white color to a building to the left. He placed his brush on a rung, smiling at the painting before him. “It took a while, but I finally managed to paint the commercial district of Neo Canterlot.” Ducking his head underneath the doorway, Professor Pasque entered the room and eyed the painting. He rewarded stereo with a brilliant grin “Very impressive use of vibrant colors, Stereo. It seems that this city has turned you into quite the painter.” He noted. “Truth be told, I learned how to paint from Frida and her Smeargle Kahlo back at the lab. Their paintings were so vibrant and life-like that I just had to learn how to emulate their style. I wonder where they are now.” Stereo stated with a half-hearted sigh escaping from his large mouth. “I’m sure that they are fine, Stereo. They are very resourceful on their own, after all. Anyways, Mono and Lith are coming over here to give us a couple of announcements for today. I suggest you get yourself ready.” “Right. I’ll just put away my painting materials and place this painting on a corner to furnish this room a bit.” Stereo lifted the painting towards the corner of the room. He took the plank of wood and tubes of paint he used, bringing them out of the room. Gnasher and Custard entered the room and eyed the painting. “So that’s what Stereo was working on all this week. It looks pretty nice.” Gnasher commented. “I love the way how he captured the naturalistic lighting of the cityscape.” Custard said. “Good morning, Professor Pasque. Where is Einstein?” “I made a suggestion for Einstein to be a part of the Research and Development Division. I feel that his talents are more suited for being in the lab rather than being out on the field. I find myself following in that same path. I’m much too old to embark on adventures with you all.” “I don’t know; you were quite the badass back at Glacial Drift when you took on those wolf yetis.” Gnasher stated. “It is only further proof about how much of an old fossil I actually am. It’s actually pretty funny to say, seeing that I am technically part of an extinct species of Pokémon.” Professor Pasque chuckled under his own breath. Jasmine hovered into the room with a tower of golden plates in her arms. “The stores here are amazing! I bought a twelve-piece set of decorative plates for fifty bits! It was a bit of a steal.” “Jasmine, that pun was terrible and you should feel bad for saying it.” Gnasher responded, slamming her right claws at the base of her eyes and groaning. “You need to have a better appreciation about the art of puns sometime, Gnasher. One does not simply live life without learning to enjoy them.” Jasmine stated, hanging the plates on the western wall. Rondo flew down from an air vent above the ceiling, covered in soot and a yellow cap with a light on his head. “Hey everyone. Don’t mind my dirty appearance, but I came back from an overnight quest involving a mind underneath the city. Man, talk about ironic about a bird enjoying the subterranean world!” Mono, Lith and Stereo entered in the room, eyeing the cast of Pokémon within the room. Mono tapped the case in his left paw. “Where’s Fluttershy?” Mono asked. “I ran into her on my way here. She said that she is practicing her aim with Rainbow Dash. From what I’ve heard, she managed to impress her with her critical shots.” Professor Pasque answered. “She won’t be here today since Rainbow Dash took this specific day to train her.” “So I heard you two have some announcements for today.” Lith looked down onto her watch. “Considering that it isn’t time for her to appear yet, we’ll just only give one announcement.” Mono placed the case on the floor, garnering the attention of everyone in the room. Flicking away the locks and lifting the cover, a cannon small enough to be carried around the shoulder and a three-pronged claw with deep curves were brought into the light of reality. The cannon had a set of silicon panels on the top and the claw was tipped with red gems. “The Research and Development Division rushed to make these weapons using the typing matrix from my DNA. This cannon here is known as a Solar Cannon. It stores sunlight through its cells and converts it into usable energy. It bestows upon the user Solarbeam and Synthesis. Meanwhile, these claws are known as the Pressure Claws. They bestow upon the user Crush Claw and Fire Punch.” Mono explained. “Dibs on the Pressure Claws.” Gnasher called out, swiping the Pressure Claws and fitting them over her right claw. She flexed her fingers and hummed with a smile on her face. “If you don’t mind, I would like to test the Solar Cannon.” Custard suggested. Lith smiled and took the cannon from the suitcase with her two paws. She tossed it towards Custard, who grasped it with a shriek in his tone. In his rush, he pulled back on a black handle. A light within the barrel circulated with a whirring hum. “Custard, no!” Lith shouted. A beam of light shot a plate on the wall, destroying and scorching the area. “Oops. Spitfire is going to kill us for doing that, isn’t she?” “My plate!” Jasmine called out, hovering over towards the shattered remains. “I’ll pay for the damage, Jasmine.” “No, it’s… fine, Custard. I guess I’ll just have to eat this loss.” Custard looked towards Lith with a deep frown on his face. “I’m sorry, Lith.” “I don’t fault you, Custard. It was your first time actually handling a piece of machinery, after all. You can put it back if you want to.” Lith said. “I still want to try it out on the field, though. A Solarbeam and Synthesis all in one device?! That is almost magical!” Fleur De Lis traveled down the hallway, seeing the door ajar and a scorch mark on the wall. She grinned and walked inside. “I hope you do not mind me coming early, Mono.” “I do not mind at all, Fleur. You do mind if I call you by your first name, right?” Mono said, extending his right paw out. Lith’s nerves froze with anxiety and the feeling of a thousand ants gnawing at them permeated throughout her entire body. “I would rather prefer to be called by it than my full name. I hate the thought of presenting myself with an arrogant and prideful fashion.” “Ah, so you must be the pony Rarity was talking about.” Professor Pasque stated, bringing his head down to Fleur De Lis’s level. “And you must be the good Professor. It is an honor meeting a scientist such as yourself. Though, I had never met with an actual sauropod before.” “I don’t get it; what is a model doing here with us?” Rondo asked. “I’m glad you asked. You see, I may appear to be just a model on the surface, but I am also a rather influential artist that goes by the pen name ‘Life’s Spade’ and only very few Equusians know my identity. I am not only the canvas for one’s imagination, but I am also the painter behind the canvas as well. You see, I have hit an artist’s block and I need a new source of inspiration.” Fleur De Lis explained. “But why come to us? Couldn’t any other team with more artful experience take the request? We are a bunch of foreigners reigned into a war after all.” Gnasher stated, crossing her arms together. “That is why I specifically need your group; you are all foreigners of this world. You all exhibit different shapes and forms, both physically and mentally. When I first heard of your group’s exploits, I knew that you all are stories and poetry in motion. It is inspirational, and I feel a deep urge to paint you all.” Lith let out a shrill gasp and her eyelids widened to the point where her eyes could fall out at any moment. Her paws were pressed against the upper portion of her mouth, hiding an explosive scream. “It would be an honor to be painted by someone as illustrious as you, Fleur!” “I appreciate the enthusiasm very much, Lith. But, I would love to allocate the time I have with you all to get a chance to paint each and one of you.” Fleur glanced over to the painting at the corner, humming and narrowing her eyes. “I painted this in my spare time. I hope you enjoyed looking at it.” Stereo said. “It looks fine, yes, but where is the passion? Anyone can paint a cityscape like this. You clearly have potential with the attention to detail, but you need to do something that is more… unhinged if you truly want it to be an art piece to remember.” Fleur De Lis stated. Stereo’s heart ripped in half and his jaw dropped halfway down to the floor. “B-b-but I worked hard on this! You can’t dismiss it as something of below average quality.” “I’m not saying it is below average. I’m just saying that if you want to be an amazing artist, you have to learn how to suffer for your art. It is not something that I can teach you myself, but it is something you have to experience for yourself.” Fleur De Lis lifted her right front hoof over to Stereo’s arms, putting them together and lifting them above her hooves. “Is there a reason you are holding my arms like this?” “These arms are beautiful to look at, and the pipes on your body are also very pleasing to the eye. You have such a great shade of periwinkle and you are the living embodiment of sound itself. I would love to paint you first if you do not mind.” “I never heard someone call me beautiful before. Normally, strangers would run away from me because I am a walking boombox and am fierce to the eyes.” Stereo stated, looking towards the ground to his left. “Those people clearly do not have an eye for what is beautiful, then. I know the location I would like to paint you as well.” Fleur De Lis tightened her grip around Stereo’s wrist, dragging him out of the room. Stereo shook his head and leaned it backwards. Fleur De Lis held a cluster of paints, brushes, a canvas and an easel within a lilac aura with Stereo skulking behind her. In front of the duo was a canal erected out of metal. Water poured out of a gaping hole in the wall, running a stream down a deep hole at the end of the line. An arched bridge connected two halves of the city together. “Wow, how did I not see this place?” Stereo asked. “Maybe you didn’t go out as much as you would like to admit?” “Maybe, but where do I stand?” “Right by the Equusian-built stream over there seems like a perfect place.” Fleur De Lis responded, squeezing out tubes of paint into several black cups. She levitated a paintbrush towards her face and dipped it in a cup filled with periwinkle-colored paint. Stereo moved himself towards the designated area, standing by the rushing water’s edge. The downpour of the waterfall behind him and the cool mist that splashed against his skin elicited a smile. “So how long will this take?” “Hmmm… about an hour. We can talk during that time.” Fleur De Lis responded, placing several strokes of her brush on the canvas. “Mono says that you and he are old friends, having a friendship that lasts over a majority of your lives.” “Yep. He hatched me as a Whismur when he was about five years old, one year after he got Rondo and Lith got Jasmine. Mono and Lith were always happy with sharing what they have learned with us at school and they taught us how to read and write.” Stereo stated. “Oh? That is a very interesting detail he left out of our conversation, Stereo.” “Yep. I was always happy with that skill they both taught us because I was able to pursue other goals in life rather than just be a Pokémon companion. Art was always an interesting subject for me. That reminds me; how did you suffer in life, Fleur?” Fleur De Lis’s grasp on her paintbrush faltered. She looked into Stereo’s eyes with a melancholic frown on her face. “I came from a wealthy, aristocratic family from Old Canterlot. My mother was a model while my father was a painter. They had only one child and dedicated their lives to me. My mother taught me how internal beauty was important for maintaining external beauty while my father taught me how to paint. I was the joy in both of their lives.” “So then what happened?” “It is needless to say that everything changed when the Van’Goth attacked. It was on the birthday when I was considered a full-grown mare. It was a literal festival, where my mother fashioned a brooch for me while my father danced with me, as tradition in our family follows. The Van’Goth attacked the area and my parents fended off the invaders, telling me to hide in the basement.” Fleur De Lis levitated the brush towards the easel and began stroking it against the canvas. “I’m going to guess that they died.” “Your guess would not be that off-point, but that was half of what happened. When all the noise above subsided, I emerged from the basement to find that everything was destroyed. Many of the guests were brutally killed, including my mother. As for my father, he vanished without a trace. To say I was heartbroken would have been an understatement. My parents were everything to me. But, rather than sit and mope about it, I used my pain to become the two things my parents were.” A faint image of Stereo’s visage appeared on the canvas. Fleur De Lis dipped the brush into water, drying it off and then dipping it into red paint. “So did you ever find out what happened to your father?” “All that I know is that he is still alive somewhere. One day, I hope that I would be able to meet him again as our physical selves. Until that day, I strive to make him the proudest father he can be by besting his pieces of art. With my mother’s brooch by my side, I know that I will be able to anything set on my mind. But, enough about me; who else do you value in your life?” “I value all of my friends and family closely. But, out of them all, I hold Rondo closest to my heart.” Stereo responded. “The bird, yes?” “He’s not just a bird, but yes. You could say that we are heterosexual life partners. Rondo taught me how to sing and helped me to express myself. I loved him like he was my actual brother. Even after everything Mono and Lith went through, I was never feeling hurt because I always had Rondo and them. Even if I was in a cave for three days, I still managed because I know that they are alive somewhere.” “So, let us say something happened to Rondo; maybe he suffered a broken wing and he can never fly again. What state of mind would that leave you in?” Fleur De Lis asked. Stereo broke his pose with his spine shooting upwards. Images of a depressed Rondo with bound wings flashed before his eyes. “That would be horrible. He’s literally the happiest member of our family. Seeing him depressed because of having any of his talents taken away from him will hurt my heart. I can’t bear to see that happen.” “Hopefully, it will never happen to him. But, this is an age where anything can happen. You should always be prepared for the worst.” Fleur De Lis stated, changing the color on the brush to a pale yellow. “You know, Fleur, it is very nice talking to someone like you. It helped me cast away any doubts I have right now.” “Likewise, Stereo. I believe that just talking to you helped make me a better artist.” Fleur De Lis set her easel and canvas outside a building with Lith standing in front of the neon signs flashing in the background. She dipped her brush in a pearlescent white and began stroking the canvas with her brush. “You are by far the most eager being I have met who wanted to get painted by me so badly. It’s an impressive feat, considering how desirable of an opportunity it is.” “I was never put in any piece of art and you wanted to paint me, so how can I resist?” Lith responded, crossing her paws together. “Mutual benefits are truly a beautiful opportunity for one to truly express themselves. So your brother sings of high praises about you, Lith.” Fleur De Lis stated, painting Lith’s ears. “What does he say about me?” “He says that you are one of the strongest people he has ever known. He says that you act even when the situation looks bleak. When two factions are at an impasse, you are the one who fires the shot and inspire your own group to act. While he does note that you can be very impulsive at times, he says that he is glad to be your twin.” “I’m glad that he feels that way about me. I may berate him sometimes on how nervous and introverted he is at times, but he still is a wonderful brother who would do anything and everything to guarantee the best possible outcome for everyone.” Lith stated. “But, Fleur, how do you feel about the concept of love?” “Love is a beautiful idea. The thought of two beings who wish to dedicate the remainder of their lives together fills my heart with joy. I even had a close stallion friend who I wanted to spend my life with. Unfortunately, that never came to be because he died of illness shortly after the primary invasion strike.” Fleur De Lis explained, tinting the brush with forest green paint. “So do you believe that love should not have any sort of physical limitations? I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic and am a firm believer of love transcending beyond what is physical.” “I share in your philosophy, Lith. It does not matter who we love just as long as we are capable of feeling love for others. There are many different kinds of love, but the love you and I are speaking about can only happen through actual development over time. Simply falling in love for their appearance is shallow and does not lead to any sort of meaningful ties.” Fleur De Lis swapped out her paintbrush for a fresh one, dipping it in azure-colored paint. She looked onto Lith, eyeing a red coloration building up in her face. She pointed to her own cheek. “I have something on my face?” Lith asked, looking to the right and eyeing a mirror. Her face lit up in a red color and her heart beat with an irregular rhythm. “I could see clearly into your eyes and cheeks that you harbor some sort of forbidden love. Is it perhaps for me?” “D-Don’t be silly, Fleur. This is a completely professional job I’m doing.” “If that is the case, then why have you not looked me in the eyes all day? I see you trying to avert your gaze away from my eyes, Lith. Only one who is nervous about their feelings for another would feel that way. If I am painting you, then be honest with me. I detest painting liars.” Lith let out a defeated sigh and looked into Fleur De Lis’s eyes. “It’s true that I have feelings for you. When I saw your image and your video of modeling clothing at the runway, I felt a sudden urge of just… wanting to be with you. But my heart already belongs to someone else. I’m just not sure if he will be coming anytime soon.” “And the truth is unraveled like a juicy pomegranate. You do not need to feel ashamed about your feelings, Lith. While I sense internal conflict within your soul, I am positive that you know where your heart goes out to. Who knows, maybe this might be the start of a friendship between you and I that might blossom into something more.” Fleur De Lis stated. “You mean…?” “I am not impartial to the idea, but go after who your heart swoons for first. You are young and have the chance to take more bites out of the fruit of life than I do.” “Thank you for your wise words, Fleur. I will make sure to listen to my heart rather than deny what it says.” Lith stated, her nerves lowering and a small smile appearing on her face. “Now that’s the type of smile I love to see on who I paint!” Mono looked at each individual painting of the Pokémon of his team, nodding his head and smiling at them. Fleur De Lis waited in bated breath, gazing at Mono’s reactions. “You have some amazing use of colors, contrast and style here, Fleur.” “I appreciate your comment very much, Mono. It seems that I have gained touch with art back from the cold doldrums of mental drought. And I wish to thank you for allowing me to do this.” Fleur De Lis stated, putting her right front leg forward and bowing. “It is always nice for us to get to meet more people. My squad is much happier after you painted them, myself included.” “You all have nice colors that are candy to the eyes. It would be a shame to not choose the proper environments and paints that would best fit your unique personalities.” Mono focused his attention on Fleur De Lis’s painting of Stereo, looking at the earnest smile in front of a tranquil river. “So Stereo told you about his interest in art?” “Yes he did. I must say that you did a fine job with giving your Pokémon an education to the best of your ability, and I am glad that he seeks the noble pursuit of art. I’m considering putting him under my tutelage.” Fleur De Lis responded, smiling and whipping her mane towards Mono. “Speaking of which, I always wondered why someone such as you were to go into the realm of painting and art, Fleur. I mean, you already have an amazing career as a model and everything.” “It is true that I am content with my life as a model, but I also know that art is needed now more than ever. Most of the art in the world is lost when the Van’Goth attacked. When the war ends, how will the people of our nation return back to life? With art, I can help revitalize the spirits of people and give their lives more options of approach. Many Equusians do not put much value in art after all.” “Art is nice to look at, but I don’t feel that it is as important as you say it is, Fleur.” Mono said. “And that is your first error, Mono. You cannot simply just look at life thinking that it only has one option. Having a clearer view and taking things slowly will reveal a multitude of paths you can take on your journey of life. Art grafts this knowledge upon those who take even a minute of their dedicated time. Maybe you can look more into art as well?” Fleur De Lis’s swords for words pierced through Mono’s mind, causing his nerves to be paralyzed on the spot. A small frown appeared on his face, but curved into a smile. “I’ll try to look at art in a different way, Fleur. Thank you for teaching me this important lesson.” “Any time, Mono. I would love to have the opportunity to paint your entire squad in a single portrait some time. In the meantime, I will keep in touch with you, your sister and Stereo. I’ll also leave these paintings here overnight and have some hired hands to pick it up for the gallery exhibit tomorrow.” Fleur De Lis walked out of the group’s room, leaving Mono by himself. He gazed back at the paintings, allowing their colors to spiral through his head. “I can definitely see their personalities flash in these paintings now. It’s almost as if I can read what is on their minds right now just by looking at them. But I still don’t see how this will help me look at the different options in my life. I guess it must be acquired.” He said. “Well, I could always start now.” Author's Note It's a light chapter, but I hope that it is enjoyed nonetheless.
Into EverfreeSpitfire sat in her seat, sipping at a steaming cup of coffee. Her half-lidded eyes looked upon the sun rising over Neo Canterlot’s pink sky. She let out a hearty sigh. “Nothing like watching the sun rise with a cup of joe in my hand.” She said, taking a generous sip out of her mug. Sonars pulsed within the electronic map embedded within the table. Within the rings of the radar, two dots revealed themselves within the south of the Terraformed Wilderness continent. Spitfire’s right ear shot up, listening to the pinging sound of the radar. “It seems like the radar detected some foreign energy out near the Everfree Forest. I could call the squad up right now… or I can wait after H.O.R.S.E. is officially open for the day.” Fluttershy hovered into the Pokémon Squad’s room with a rifle and a blue rectangle on it hoisted upon her back. She flipped the lights in the room on and flew towards a wired bench. She placed her rifle onto the table in front of her and lifted away parts of the weapon. “S’up, Flutters?” Gnasher asked, entering the room with her claw being waved. “Oh! Hello, Gnasher. I didn’t expect you to be up so early.” “I know, but I was going to go to the training grounds to try this new claw first. Always wanted to use Crush Claw. What are you doing here so early?” “I’m just making sure that my weapon is calibrated and that the healing charm on it is functional. Twilight gave me a good idea about augmenting my weapon with one so that I can give immediate healing aid during battle.” Fluttershy explained. “Hello, everyone.” Jasmine stated, floating into the room with Custard by her side. “If you are wondering why I am here so early, I thought I should focus some more on redesigning this drab room.” “I’m here to help since I broke a plate by accident.” Custard said, holding the Solar Cannon in his right hand. Spitfire walked past the hallway, peeping her eyes in the room. She scanned the room and a frown of confusion stretched across her face. “I didn’t expect you all to be here so early. Where’s everyone else?” “They must probably still be sleeping. We needed to do some early morning stuff.” Jasmine responded. “Well, this is somewhat convenient. My scanners detected two Pokémon within the Everfree Forest area.” With a smile, Spitfire said. “Shouldn’t we gather up the rest of our allies then?” Fluttershy asked. “There is no time. What we have in this room is enough.” The group of four glanced at each other and then looked into Spitfire’s eyes. “So you mean you’ll accompany us on this mission, Spitfire?” Gnasher asked. “I’ve been out of the action for a while since the invasion. I’ve been craving for some combat.” With an enthusiastic huff, Spitfire said. “I’m sure that with you by our side, we would do twice as well with our objectives.” “You know it, Fluttershy. Also, how is your memory on the Everfree Forest?” “Still as good as the day I stepped in there.” Fluttershy answered. “Perfect. I say we leave as soon as possible.” Spitfire declared. “Also, Custard, do you mind if I use your Solar Cannon for this mission? I left my cannons back in my office.” Custard handed the Solar Cannon over to Spitfire with an enthusiastic smile on his face. “Not a problem.” A tall and bipedal stoat with a lilac torso, purple legs and a purple stripe around his waist sprinted across the forest ground with red berries within his whip-like arms. He turned his head, glancing at the wooden wolves approaching from his back with his red eyes. He leaped off of the ground, kicking off of the trees using his powerful clawed feet. The wolves clambered onto the tree and began leaping off of branches. The creature narrowed his eyes and grunted. “Blasted wolves! That’s the second time they’ve tried attacking me today.” He cursed underneath his breath. He turned around on top of the tree branch, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “As much as I would hate to do so, I have to dispatch these creatures.” He leaped towards the creatures and extended his clawed right paw out. He struck the head of one of the Timberwolves, his palm whirring with a radiant flash. A beam shot out of it, forcing the beast downwards and allowing him to vault off the blow. Seeing another Timberwolf nearby, he dives towards its direction and slammed his feet against its back. He descended onto the forest floor with agile grace, sprinting away with the berries in hand. He sighed a breath of relief, looking back and seeing that the Timberwolves had disappeared. A quadruped with pale cream-colored fur and pink ears, feet and tail sat within the clearing of the dark forest. Her white and pink bows on the base of her neck and ear each had two pale cream ribbons that stretched around her body, ending off with pink and blue colors. Her large azure eyes were lidded and a frustrated frown plastered upon her face. The bipedal stoat emerged from the bushes carrying berries in his hands. “I’m sorry I was late, Sophia. I had a bit of a run-in with those wooden wolves again.” “Fei, it isn’t any fun just sitting around here waiting if you would make it here alive or not. Maybe I should recon and bring back today’s food next time.” Sophia responded. “I know that you are a Mienshao and everything, but you can’t handle everything on your own.” “I care for you too much to bring you out into danger, Sophia.” Fei stated. “There you go again thinking that I’m just some helpless damsel, Fei. Don’t forget that it was I who defended you all those years we were together considering you absolutely hate fighting.” Fei glanced away from Sophia, frowning with half-lidded eyes. “I know, Sophia. I shouldn’t think any lowly of you, my best friend.” He stated, dropping the berries onto the ground. Sophia picked up a berry with her mouth and tore it apart between her fangs. Its red juices, skin and flesh slithered down her throat. “Well, whatever these berries are, they sure are delicious! Where do you find them, Fei?” “Around some of those wolves made of wood. They seem to guard these berries as if they are valuable.” Fei responded. “And you wonder why you have Timberwolves chasing after you? That just gives me more reason to come along on your gathering expeditions.” Sophia shook her head and devoured another berry in silence. “You’re right, Sophia. I should bring you with me next time when I am looking for food. Besides, there are predators that can attack you at camp.” “Capable of defending myself, remember?” Fei closed his mouth, his eyes widened in a panic. “R-right.” Spitfire, Fluttershy, Gnasher, Custard and Jasmine closed in on the mouth of the thick-wooded forest. Several patches of blue flowers grew on the nearby grass. “Those flowers look absolutely lovely.” Jasmine noted, hovering her way over to a patch. Spitfire dashed in front of Jasmine, blocking her off from the flowers before her by sitting down. She nodded and held her right front hoof high. “Not going to happen, Jasmine. These flowers are known as Poison Jokes. Touching one causes the flower to pull a prank on you. By prank, I mean distort your body with a random effect. Some are benign, some are lethal, but they are all annoying.” “I didn’t know a flower can do that to you.” Jasmine said, placing her right hand onto her beak. “So Flutters, what kinds of things should do we have to know about the Everfree Forest?” Gnasher asked. “Many things, actually. Even with the current state of the world, the chaotic magic that melds the forest together makes it one of the very few landmarks to have been unaffected by the terraforming. As such, there are still some original native Equusian animals that lurk only in this forest. Timberwolves and Cockatrices are among them.” Fluttershy explained. “Those sound like Pokémon.” Custard interjected. “They aren’t. But, just keep your guard up. These creatures are still very dangerous.” From the top of a nearby tree, a green serpent with the head of a rooster leaped out towards the group. It let out a hissing noise. “I’m guessing this is a cockatrice? Doesn’t look threatening.” Gnasher commented. “Just don’t look into its eyes. Doing so will turn you into stone.” Fluttershy stated. Gnasher’s weapon flashed with a blue-white light. She dashed forward, slashing the cockatrice across its chest. The cockatrice yelped with a loud scream. Its right eye twitched in pain. It flew away. Gnasher smiled and pumped her right arm downwards. “The Crush Claw is awesome! Did you see how that cockatrice fled after I swiped it?” She stated. “Yes, yes, it was cool. But, we still have a mission to complete.” Spitfire stated, taking her steps into the forest. Fei and Sophia traveled along the plush grasses of the forest, eyeing the dark and twisted shapes of the trees before them. Fei’s nerves constricted his body, forming a physical cage that prevented him from speeding forward. “Sophia, are you sure you know where you are going? This area doesn’t look too familiar.” “Of course I know where I’m going. Going into an unfamiliar part means that we are making some progress of getting out of it, right?” Sophia responded. “I guess so. But maybe we should be extremely cautious. This forest has some very unusual creatures and specimens within its wood. Who knows what other creatures we will run into?” A twist of fate spun through Fei’s words, where a hut within a tree was spotted from the distance. Fei and Sophia glanced at each other and shrugged their shoulders. “How anyone can live in here is beyond what I can believe.” “You lived a cushioned life, Sophia. It is possible to live here. Heck, we’ve been living in these woods for Arceus knows how long.” Sophia rolled her eyes at Fei’s comment and let out an annoyed sigh. “Let’s just go inside, Fei.” The duo approached the tree, looking at the dark bark and oval window upon it. A wood-crafted door opened in front of the two, revealing a black and gray-coated zebra mare with golden rings around her right front leg and neck. Her Mohawk and her tail brought out a primordial vibe from her, which emanated further from her deep blue eyes. “Two strange creatures before my eyes. Was my information on this forest all lies?” She questioned. “Ummm, Fei… she rhymed.” Shying her head away with a nervous frown, Sophia stated. “She doesn’t seem hostile. We should probably ask for her help.” Fei responded. “You two communicate through unusual phonics. Luckily, we can communicate using one of my tonics. You two seem much friendlier than the creatures of the Everfree, so conversing with you could be a treat for me.” The zebra responded, walking into the hut and leaving her door open. Fei and Sophia peeped their heads inside, seeing a circular-shaped room with carved masks, charms, plants and potions along the walls and shelves on the wall. At the center of the room was a black cauldron, bubbling with a green liquid inside. The zebra took a ladle from the cauldron and poured the solution into two crude bowls. Fei and Sophia looked at the potion with teeth clenched in uncertainty. Fei picked up his bowl and tilted it, allowing the liquid to seep down into his throat. Sophia placed her nose next to the liquid, sniffing it. A bitter aroma wafted around her nose. She smiled, pressing on the edge of the bowl and bringing her mouth underneath the flowing liquid. “Wow, that’s much tastier than I imagine it to be!” Sophia stated, smacking her lips. “It is alright. Not the best thing in the world, but not the worst thing either.” “It seems that my special recipe was a success, as it brought out your language that was repressed. Zecora is what I am called, and the Everfree is where you two are walled.” Zecora explained, grinning at the two. “My name is Fei, and this is my partner Sophia.” “Hi!” Sophia responded, waving her right front leg. “What is the Everfree, and why are we even here?” Fei asked, sitting down on his knees. “This forest is enchanted by a chaotic force. Over time, the magic gets worse. There are many dangerous creatures lurking around here. As for your appearance, consult another mystic seer.” Zecora flatly responded. “Well, isn’t that rude of her?” Sophia asked with her head tilted and her right eye raised. “Rude I may be, your plight is what I can see. You two need help in your path, lest you invoke this forest’s wrath. I can help you leave these woods, but be prepared for what lies beyond if you should.” With a half-hearted tone, Zecora suggested. “What does lie beyond?” Fei questioned. Zecora walked towards the window with a frown on her face. “A land changed by the nature of an intergalactic war. It shook the very world to its core. I am the last of my kind, and this has kept me disturbed in mind.” Fei narrowed his eyes and bit his bottom lip with a force hard enough to feel the sting of his incisors. “What you are saying is that if we leave this forest, we’re only going to be swept up in a war we have no intention of fighting?” Zecora stood staring out at the window, giving a solemn nod from her head. “It seems you hate violence such as I. But, do you truly wish to say to your friends goodbye?” “Wait, our friends are here?!” Sophia shouted. “Not in the Everfree, but spread across this massive world. Your role here will surely be unfurled. You must unite with your friends if you want to survive. Even if you hate fighting, surely they will be your drive.” Zecora’s words struck Fei’s heart with a storm of needles. He remained silent for several seconds. “If I am in this forest, I still have to fight to survive. If I am out of it, I still must fight to survive. While I do not like both options, I would rather fight alongside my friends than without them.” Zecora turned around, feeling a warm light inside of her that brought out her smile. “I am glad you feel that way, Sophia and Fei. Your dedication to friendship brightened my day. We can leave at any time, but preferably after this rhyme.” Sophia shrugged her shoulders. “Well, you do like to rhyme. Is there a time when you don’t rhyme?” “No, so…” Zecora stated, pointing her hoof towards the door. “We shall leave immediately. Let us make haste conveniently.” Spitfire, Fluttershy, Jasmine, Gnasher and Custard stood with their backs facing each other, staring down at the horde of Timberwolves around them. Spitfire aimed the Solar Cannon at one of the Timberwolves. Its barrel whirred with a yellow light, turning into a beam that struck the timberwolf. She smiled, eyeing the scorch mark on the timberwolf’s right shoulder. The timberwolf leapt out towards her. She flew out of its attack path with her heart beating out of her chest. “The timberwolf should be downed by that. How did it not destroy it?!” “If I had a guess, these timberwolves are all Grass-types in stature. Grass-type moves aren’t very effective against Grass-type Pokémon.” Custard explained. “Now you tell me.” Spitfire stated, diving down towards the offending timberwolf and splitting its head open with her right hind leg. Gnasher dashed up towards a timberwolf and clamped her jaws on its neck. Her fangs caught on fire, burning the timberwolf. All what echoed from the burning ashes was a horrid yelp for pain. She eyed the other timberwolves around her. “Who’s next?!” She threatened, looking upon all the timberwolves. The timberwolves looked at each other with dull expressions in their glowing eyes. All of the timberwolves leaped onto Gnasher, biting several parts of her body. She squirmed. “A little help would be nice now!” Fluttershy aimed her rifle at the timberwolf biting her neck. A small round dug into its chest and forced it to drop its grip. She fired another round towards the timberwolf on her tail, which dropped it onto the ground. A glob of green energy grew on Jasmine’s right arm. She fired the orb towards the timberwolf on Gnasher’s arm, detonating. The impact forced the timberwolf away from Gnasher and knocked it into a nearby tree. Custard eyed the downed timberwolf with a dark glint in his eyes. He opened his maw and breathed a flamethrower onto the creature, roasting it and the wood behind it. He looked at the other timberwolves, which sat down on the ground and whimpered. “I suggest you all leave… now!” At Custard’s beckon, the timberwolves spread away from the area and into the thick of the woods. Jasmine hovered towards Gnasher with her lips curved into an apologetic frown. “I’m sorry if that was a bit unexpected, Gnasher. But I had to do something about that dreadful timberwolf biting your arm.” She said, examining the scorch mark on Gnasher’s left arm. “Eh, no biggie. I’ve had worse.” Fluttershy touched the charm on her rifle, covering it with a sparkling light. She aimed it towards Gnasher and fired a white and radiant bullet into her. Gnasher’s wounds had their flesh regenerated. “How does that feel, Gnasher?” She asked. “It feels good, Flutters. Much appreciated.” Gnasher responded, smiling with a grin on her snout. “I’m glad you feel better, Gnasher. We should look deeper into this forest to see if your friends are close by.” “I agree with Fluttershy. Let us make haste before we lose the signal.” Spitfire commanded, taking the next steps forward into the unknown thicket. The image of a moon appeared behind Sophia, bathing her in its luminescent life. From her mouth, she fired a pink sphere at one of the five towering draconic heads before her. The hydra reeled backwards from the strike. Fei, seeing one of the heads lower itself, leaped onto its head and ran down its back. He leaped off of back and turned around, holding his arms behind them and his hands perpendicular to each other. A blue sphere of energy built up within the combined palm. He fired at the base of the five heads. The hydra screeched, turning towards Fei. The five heads opened their maws, breathing out a blue and orange flame towards his direction. The flames scorched his fur and brought the sensation of a thousand needles poking into every individual muscle in his body. He landed on the ground on his back, grimacing from the shock on his body. The hydra glared down upon him with its fangs drooling. Zecora tilted her sight towards Sophia. “You must help out your partner, Sophia, lest he be fried like a rhea! I shall distract the behemoth with some brews I have while you tend to Fei’s paralyzed calves.” “But, that means I have to leave you alone. I can’t let you fight that thing alone!” Sophia shouted. “I survived against worse encounters. Life cannot get any browner. Now assist your friend, or all of us will meet our end!” She took a glass bottle containing a green and bubbling liquid from her backpack and chucked it at the hydra. The glass shattered upon impact, spilling its contents all over the scales of the area. Its scales fell off of its skin, melting into the goop. The hydra turned around seeing red, directing its vision towards Zecora. Sophia sprinted towards Fei, whose chest was scorched by the hydra’s flames. She lifted Fei onto her back and sprinted away from the scene. Zecora looked towards the duo’s direction, smiling. She faced the hydra before her, standing her ground with a stone-wall stance. “You stand before me beast, but I shall not be your feast!” She shouted, diving towards the hydra. A set of bushes rustled near the group of H.O.R.S.E. operatives in the dirt path along the forest. They stopped, standing their guard and staring at the shrubbery with the readiness to act. Sophia jumped out of the bush along with a paralyzed Fei on her back. She looked back, seeing the doldrums of inactivity behind her. She sighed, setting Fei on the ground nearby. “You should be okay here, Fei. Let your nerves recover and we can escape the forest.” “…Sophia?” Custard asked, tilting his head in confusion. Sophia looked behind her, grinning at the sight before her. “Jasmine! Custard! Gnasher! What are you all doing here? And… who are the other two with you?” “Well aren’t you adorable? You look like some mix between a cat, dog and fox. My name is Fluttershy, a field researcher and marksman-in-training from H.O.R.S.E.” Fluttershy introduced, forcing the urge to squee within the walls of her heart. “And my name is Spitfire, commander of H.O.R.S.E. We are here to bring with us two Pokémon in the Everfree Forest. Considering you and your buddy there don’t look like any creatures I have seen, I will assume that you two are our objectives.” Spitfire stated. “So this Mienshao must be Fei. It’s kind of ironic, but expected.” Jasmine said. Fei let out a groan, struggling to get up from the ground. He opened his eyes, looking at Jasmine with curious eyes. She eyed his body, seeing the electricity pulse throughout his body. “Jasmine, is there anything you can do to help him?” Sophia asked. Jasmine spread her arms out and closed her eyes. A multi-colored fragrance emerged from the fluff on Jasmine’s lower body, bathing the air in a sweet and flowery scent. Fei twitched for a moment and the paralysis gripping his body subsided. He got up, using his arms as support. “First time I was ever paralyzed. It didn’t feel good at all.” “You get used to it after the first time, Fei.” Jasmine said. “Now, are we ready to get back home.” “Not yet. We still have to save Zecora from that hydra.” Fei stated, grasping the scorched area of his chest. “I do not want her to die because we left her alone.” “Zecora, as in the last zebra?” Spitfire asked, clicking her tongue. “It seems like we have no choice; our objectives for this mission have changed. We have to rescue Zecora from a rampaging hydra!” “Yeah, but where can she be?” Gnasher asked. “She’s not too far away from here. Just follow this path from the bushes and we could reach her in time.” Pointing to the bushes she was just in, Sophia suggested. “Then that is where we go. Hydras tend to be very aggressive, so we should go as quickly as possible.” With her eyes narrowed in determination, Fluttershy sprinted into the bushes with the rifle on her back. The rest of the pack nodded, following her with speeds that tore apart the wind. Zecora was flung into a nearby tree, wincing from the scratches on her body. She looked forwards, eyeing the hydra whose body was bruised in several spots. Its roar echoed with nothing but contempt for her. Zecora closed her eyes. “It seems that dying here is my fate. At least this means I do not have to wait. Being the last zebra truly is cruel. I would be glad to go down in a duel.” The hydra focused beams of energy within its mouth, poising its aim towards Zecora. A bullet shot the back of its middle neck, destroying its concentration. It turned around, seeing Fluttershy with a rifle over her shoulder. Gnasher leaped out of the bushes at a swift speed, using a Dragon Claw against the hydra’s abdomen. The heads of the hydra roared out in pain from the strike. A Dragon Pulse, Dazzling Gleam and a Moonblast shot from beyond the bushes, fusing into a pink-purple beam that tore apart the space around it. The potent blast of energy blasted off a head of the hydra. Sophia sprinted past the bushes and around the hydra, zipping towards Zecora’s side. She exhaled a breath of relief and put her right paw on her chest. “Thank Arceus you are alright!” “Why did you come back for me? I told you two to flee.” Zecora asked, grunting while getting up. “You will not die here today, Zecora. I promise you that. I even brought help from afar.” Sophia responded. Spitfire flew into the canopies of the trees with a direct view of the hydra from above. She dove down towards it, twisting her body into a corkscrew. She struck the hydra and bounced off of it, aiming her Solar Cannon at the beast and firing a Solarbeam towards it. She buzzed around its four heads, pestering and weakening it with each successive Solarbeam. Fei leaped towards Zecora and hoisted her onto his back. He looked back towards her with an assuring smile. “Do not worry, Zecora. We will help you get out of here alive.” Zecora flashed a smile and grasped his shoulders. “Never had I had others do this kind favor. It makes me wish to sing praises with a quaver.” “I don’t need that, Zecora. But, I appreciate the offer.” Fei stated, sprinting out of the area. Spitfire eyed Zecora and Fei leaving through the bushes. She smiled, flying down towards the others. “The target is safe and secure. We leave now!” She shouted, pointing towards the bushes. Mono, Lith, Rondo and Stereo walked into their room at H.O.R.S.E., gazing around with their heads tilted in confusion. “Ummm… where is everyone?” Rondo asked. “I don’t know. Nobody mentioned something about everyone else being tardy. Did I miss anything?” Mono asked. Einstein floated into the room, gazing at the Pokémon inside with a wide grin on his face. “Oh? Didn’t you get the memo from Spitfire? Everyone else in the squad and her went out to do a mission to bring back two of our friends.” He explained. “Wait, when did she give us the memo?” Lith asked. “Well, I was doing my morning rounds around the lab and I happened to see Spitfire and the others rush down the halls. She told me to tell you guys this when you got here.” “Thanks for the exposition, but it looks like there is more on your mind if you were just randomly hanging around the hallway.” Stereo commented. Einstein rolled his eyes, keeping the large grin on his face. “Well… if you must know, I took the liberty of progressing the genome research project Twilight Sparkle and Mono were working on. I’m almost finished with making two gauntlets containing the elemental pledge moves for Mono and Lith. You can thank me later.” Shutting his eyes with a soft smile, he floated out of the room and bumped his body to a cheery rhythm. “So our comrades are in a mission? I guess that it must have been urgent business.” Rondo said, descending upon the ground and folding in his wings. “This area must be very dangerous then. I just hope they are safe.” Lith stated. “Do not worry, Lith; we are safe.” Custard announced, stepping his way into the room. Lith smiled and ran towards Custard, embracing him with both of her paws. Custard kneeled down onto his knees and hugged Lith back. Lith separated from Custard and an angry scowl formed on her face. “You had me so worried, Custard! I would love if you have taken some of the time to warn me that you would leave. I don’t want to see you being hurt.” Lith scolded. “I’m… I’m not a little Goomy anymore, Lith. You don’t need to protect me or treat me like one.” “I know, Custard. You’ve grown to be such a fine Goodra and I don’t need to worry about where you are. But, can I really help it since I’ve raised you from an egg?” “Wait, so if you are here, then that means you completed the mission?” Mono asked. “Yep. And, you two would be surprised about who we found!” Custard stepped out of the doorway. Fei and Sophia walked into the room, looking at the space and furnishings within. Around Fei’s left wrist and Sophia’s front right ankle were two translation bracelets. “Sophia… is that you?!” Mono asked with a grin forming on his face. Sophia smiled, walking up to him. “I know that voice anywhere, Mono. I was always wondering where you were!” She stated, embracing him with her feelers. “Did you eat alright, Sophia? Are you hurt? Did you encounter anything dangerous?!” Mono questioned with his voice rising to a zenith. “Don’t worry too much about me, Mono. I was more worried about how you would do fitting into life here.” Sophia shrugged off with a smile. Lith looked upon Fei’s eyes, who glanced towards Sophia with a distant frown on his face. “So if that’s Sophia, then you must be Fei?” She asked. “That is who I am. Then, if you are a Meowstic like Mono, then you must be Lith.” Fei responded, his voice dipping deeper into melancholy. “Yep. So… would you want me to introduce you to your new home?” Lith offered. A small and sheepish smile appeared on Fei’s face. “That… would be nice.” Author's Note The Move Weapons in action and Fei and Sophia appearing makes chapter 13. I wonder what else will happen. Also, bonus points to those that can point out the references in the fic so far.
One with YourselfMono’s eyes opened, revealing an entire world of vermillion luminescence and spiraling rings made from red primordial rock. He stood on an octagon-shaped platform. He went down onto his knees and crawled his way towards the edge, seeing a red, orange and yellow ground towards the infinite bottom. He leapt back, breathing in rapid increments and grasping his heart that beat out of his chest. He gazed at the atmosphere once more, feeling a fuzzy haze clouding his mind. “What is this place?” He asked in a voice stupefied in wonder. “You will have many challenges ahead of you, each being more difficult than the last. I shall grant you power to where nothing but a god can stand in your way.” Mono tilted his head towards every direction, trying to find the source of the loud and divine voice. The world before his eyes vanished with a white light and its hum. In its place is a grayscale street with a sky devoid of colors. Cracks and degrading edges were present on all the buildings and street. Towards Mono’s right was a pure-white filly whose body phased in and out of existence with static. She had a deep frown on her face and her black-iris eyes were wide with pleas of help. She held out her left front hoof towards Mono. “Please… revive… don’t be… about…” The filly disappeared along with the world. Mono got up from his bed with his body breaking out in a cold sweat. He gazed towards Lith’s bed, where the top left portions of the sheets were folded to the right. His ears picked up the sound of running water. He got up out of his bed and stumbled out of the room with a shaky head. The door to the bathroom opened, revealing a disheveled Lith; her eyes were reddened with exhaustion and her bottom eyelids drooped with a black tinge with them. Her back slumped over. “Wow, you don’t look so good.” Mono stated, letting out a massive yawn. “You don’t look too good yourself. You looked as if you had several night terrors.” Lith responded, stretching her back. “You could say that… I think. I had the strangest-possible dream and I can’t really explain it.” “You too, huh? I had a dream where I was in a weird place and some omnipresent voice said something about granting me the power to change destiny, only for it to change into a bleak street with a young filly letting out a cry for help.” “That’s exactly the same dream I had. But… why did the two of us have that same dream?” Mono asked, stretching his back to the left and right. “That is what I like to know, but we have to hold off looking for answers for now. I just got a message from Spitfire about some special announcements.” Lith explained. “Well, as long as it isn’t any sort of show business I have to participate in, I am happy.” Fei and Sophia sat on chairs across Rarity, dressed in black latex. Fei’s uniform is a one-piece uniform, extending from the wrists of his hands all the way down to his ankles, curving around his joints. Sophia’s uniform is two-pieced, where the collar of the shirt loose and goes around the ribbon on her neck. Her back portion allowed her tail freedom. Each piece stretched down to her ankles. “My, don’t you two look fabulous in your uniforms?” Rarity commented, smiling and cupping her front hooves together. “I definitely like it. It’s nice, comfortable and easy to wear.” Sophia responded, lifting her right front leg and waving her paw. “It is a strange outfit, but it does surprisingly feel very good. However did you do it, Rarity?” Fei asked. “Working with many different bodies allowed me to have some more insight on the special physical needs on my clients. Take your friend Custard for example; I could have just made a uniform with general specifications for him, but I opted to make his clothing more suited towards helping him retain his slime.” Rarity explained. “Well, if this means that we can be with our friends at this organization.” Fei grunted with his teeth clenched in disdain, a feature picked up through Rarity’s observant eyes. She frowned. “Is there something wrong, Fei?” She asked. “I understand that you and your people fight to survive, Rarity, but can you do so without using the mechas here? I take… special issues to that sort of thing.” “I can understand your frustration with the methods we use, but I can assure you that those exos are very important to us. In fact, the exos allow us to do more than just fight. They are used for discovering new areas and such.” Fei let out a huff and turned his head away. Sophia glanced at him and then looked into Rarity’s eyes. “You have to forgive Fei for his behavior. His younger brother was put into a coma from an experiment gone wrong involving a mobile suit. He is still very bitter about that.” She explained. “Again, I know how you feel. I also have a younger sister who I care about very much. If something bad were to happen to her, I won’t be able to look at things that are capable of causing that pain to her with respect again.” Rarity said, keeping her warm smile. Fei sighed and stood up. “Thank you for the clothing and conversation, Rarity. I hear that Spitfire has a special announcement for everyone in my squad. I will see you then.” “Same with me. I am now a member of H.O.R.S.E. after all.” Sophia said with a small grin. Fei and Sophia walked out of the door, leaving Rarity alone in her room. Rarity glanced over towards a framed image of a white-coated filly with light-green eyes and a curled and fluffy mane and tail colored with lilac and pink. “I’ll make sure that this world is safe for you to grow up in, Sweetie Belle. But, I guess that you are pretty happy with your friends and family so far.” All of the Pokémon and Fluttershy gathered around in the room, shaking their ankles and gazing at the analog clock on the wall with shuddering anticipation. Spitfire and a pink alicorn mare walked into the room. The mare’s mane and tail are colored in stripes of purple, magenta and yellow. She was dressed in a navy blue dress and skorts. “Ummm, Spitfire, who is this pony?” Rondo asked. The mare’s purple eyes glanced towards Rondo. She flashed a grin. “Carapace told me a lot about you, Rondo. He says you have a magnificent singing voice. You look pretty cute as well.” Rondo blushed and looked away. “Awww, thanks.” “Everyone, I would like you all to meet Commissioner Cadance. She’s wanted to meet with the operatives of this squad for some time now.” Spitfire introduced, pointing her hoof towards Cadance’s direction. “You didn’t need to introduce me, Spitfire. But yes, my name is Mi Amore de Cadenzia, but everyone just calls me Cadence. I am currently the head of the Civilian Division at H.O.R.S.E. and am responsible for maintaining the general funding of this organization. I also am sort of the patron of Love, so there is that.” Cadance explained. “Cadance sounds like a very familiar name… you wouldn’t happen to know Shining Armor, do you?” Mono asked. “So you met Shiny?!” Cadance responded, her voice rising with excitement. “Well, he’s kind of my husband. So yes, I do know him. And if my physical description matches anything I remember, you must be Mono.” “Umm, yes. You got that right. My name is Mono.” “Out of the entire colorful cast here, I am the most interested with you. Actually, a major reason I came to visit this squad is because I have a special request of sorts for Mono.” She said, placing emphasis on the word ‘special request’. “I… really am nervous when you said those words like that. Considering who you are… did you just imply that you want me to be your escort?” Mono stuttered out, his tails twitching in anxiety. “Wait, what? Heavens no, Mono. You see, part of my task as the head of the Civilian Division is to check through the database of operatives in H.O.R.S.E. to see if they have been taking some civilian requests. From my knowledge, you have been here for at least a month and haven’t taken a civilian duty.” Cadance explained. “So what does that mean for me, Commissioner Cadance?” Mono asked. Cadance narrowed her head close to Mono’s face. “Simply put; each operative is required to do at least one civilian request a month. An important duty of H.O.R.S.E. is to help maintain everyday living, after all. An operative that does not take civilian duties has their access to the headquarters greatly reduced. It would be a shame if you couldn’t participate in the R&D Division anymore.” “Wait… but didn’t I just recently do Fluer De Lis’s request?” Mono asked. Cadance backed away from his face and shifted her head around the room with anxiety building up within the sweat on her face. “Well… I suppose you did… But, I still really do need you for this one request. And it can only be you.” She said. With these words, she grasped Mono’s right paw and pulled him out of the room. Mono pulled back and looked towards the other Pokémon with pleading eyes. “Should we help him?” Stereo asked. “Help him and I’m going to make the each of you do one-hundred thousand push-ups without a break.” Spitfire threatened. “Despite my position as commander, the commissioner outranks me because she’s responsible for maintaining this organization. No hard feelings.” “None taken, Spitfire.” Gnasher stated. “No way will I do that!” Mono shouted, looking away from Cadance with a black top hat and cane held in a light blue aura. “But you look too adorable to not compete in the Neo Canterlot Improv Theater! It’s just improv.” Cadance said, smiling and shuffling her way towards Mono’s line of sight. “I don’t do too well around the sight of complete strangers, Cadance. I’ll make a goof out of myself.” “So? We all make goofs out of ourselves from time to time. Heck, Pinkie Pie puts that to great use as a member of our organization.” “I know, right?!” Pinkie Pie shouted, appearing with spontaneous stealth in the same room as Cadance and Mono. “How did you get in here?” Mono asked. “I used the ceiling. My Pinkie Senses always tell me when someone mentions me.” Pinkie Pie responded. “Alright, but why are you here is the bigger question.” “Well, I was around and I saw you fidgeting within Commissioner Cadance’s grasp. Then I heard that you don’t want to make many Equusians happy and that just makes me sad.” “I know, right?” Cadance responded. “But… I’m just not good at performing.” Mono said, looking away from Cadance and Pinkie Pie. “What a load of hogwash, Mono. Everyone has a performer inside of them. Besides, how would your mother feel if you turned your back on the performing arts?” Pinkie Pie questioned. “Why are you even bringing my mother in this conversation?! She has nothing to do with this.” Mono shouted with a fume of anger in his voice. “Well, isn’t she a Performing Arts Major back in your world?” “I… I never told anyone that. How did you get that information?” He asked, shivering in anxiety. “I always have my ways, silly. Also, I sometimes check up on you and you mumble a lot in your sleep about your mother and father.” Pinkie Pie responded with an innocent smile. “Oh dear…” Cadance muttered, shaking her head with a blush of red on her face. “So you admitted that you watch me in my sleep?” Mono asked with a flat tone. “Blame Luna. Lith tried kicking me out, but she gave up. But, that’s not why I’m here. I still want to help you perform for the Neo Canterlot Improv Theater show.” Pinkie Pie stated, taking out a black vest with white cuffs, top hat and cane of her own. "So, will you still do it?" Mono looked at her. He then glanced towards Cadance, who had a pleading smile on her face. He then looked upon his paws and clenched them. “For my mom.” Pinkie Pie and Cadance grinned and looked at each other. Professor Pasque and Lith traveled down a street crowded to the brim with Equusians rushing into a theater. A sign above the box office showed brilliant lights and sparkling amidst the darkness of the night. “So Lith, how many others will be attending this play?” Professor Pasque asked. “All of members of our squad have special seats reserved in the front, and I heard something about Razor Wind, Hydrangea and Strawberry Delight showing up with us. Pinkie Pie will definitely be with us though.” Lith answered. “But… I’m pretty nervous about Mono, Professor. Are you really sure Mono can do well on the stage?” “Why do you not feel confident about your brother, Lith?” “Because I know how he is around complete strangers. He might make a goof out of himself on the stage and he would hate himself for allowing that to happen.” Professor Pasque shook his head and flashed an assuring smile. “Have confidence in your brother, Lith. If I know him as well as you do, he always gives out one-hundred and twenty percent on everything he does. He is very capable of overclocking himself.” “Thank you, Professor. That kind of alleviates some of my concerns I have.” Lith stated. Mono twiddled his paws together with the cane betwixt them. He looked at all of the other actors with a nervous quiver in his lips. He took a deep breath and blinked, calming down his nerves. A brown-coated stag with blue eyes placed his right front hoof on Mono’s shoulder, jolting a jump out of him. “Are you alright? You don’t look too hot.” He asked. “I’m… trying to regain composure, Leaf. I’m not exactly a performer.” Mono responded. “None of us are exactly performers either. But, opens like this are the greatest ways to give us a start on our acting careers. I just hope I don’t mess up.” Leaf responded. “Mess up? You are like the least likely actor to not make an error. I saw how you were in rehearsal. You were nothing short of amazing!” “You might say that, but I get nervous around crowds. I guess it is something we both have to contend with.” Mono smirked and turned towards Leaf’s direction, patting the base of his neck. “Thank you for your words, Leaf. I hope that we both do well here.” “That’s my biggest hope as well!” The steps of the audience rushing into their seats echoed into the stage. The chatter from the crowd bounced into everyone’s ears. Leaf smiled and cocked his head. “You know what they say in Show Biz; break a leg.” “I’m sorry sir, but you are much too big to sit in one of our seats.” A white-coated earth pony stallion in a blue vest said to Professor Pasque. “But my son will be performing in this show! I can’t just not see him!” Professor Pasque shouted. “It cannot be helped, sir. As much as I would hate to say it, we are unable to fit any seats for any large creatures that are at least ten feet tall and two feet wide. It is a protocol we have to meet.” The attendant responded. Professor Pasque let out a huff and turned his back on the attendant. “I hope you enjoy the show, Lith. It seems like I’m too big to join in the fun.” “I will try to enjoy my time, Professor.” Lith stated, flashing her ticket and walking into the theater. Bright lights spotted the entire seating area of the theater, broadcasting all sorts of different Equusians chatting amongst each other. Her eyes picked up on a mixed group of Equusians and Pokémon in the front. She smiled, walking down the carpet to where they were. “Hey Lith. Wait, isn’t the Professor supposed to be with you?” Einstein asked. “He is… but he is too big to come here.” Lith stated. Einstein pouted and crossed his arms. “Geez, isn’t that discrimination against larger-sized Pokémon?” “It really can’t be helped, Einstein. The designers of this theater never anticipated for large creatures to be among their numbers.” Lith comforted, patting Einstein on his head. “Still…” “Yo Lith!” Razor Wind called out, waving his right front claw and sitting next to Gnasher and Strawberry Delight. “Hey Razor!” Lith stated, smiling and running towards him. “I was expecting you and your friends to be here tonight. So you came to give your support to my brother?” “Kind of, but I mostly came to see everyone else goof up. It’s why these shows are almost always so crowded.” Razor Wind stated. “But… isn’t that a bit spiteful?” Strawberry Delight shook her head and wrapped her left hoof around Razor Wind’s neck. “The entire cast knows that it would either be a comedy due to their screw-ups or something amazing and breathtaking if they are good. That infinite potential is what truly drives in the audience. It’s also nice for Commander Spitfire and Commissioner Cadance to give us these tickets.” She said. “You can sit in the seat between me and Gnasher if you want.” Custard offered. “Or you can sit in this empty seat next to me, Lith.” Hydrangea stated. Lith scanned the section of seats in the area. Her eyes perked up, seeing an empty seat nearby Fei and Sophia. “I appreciate the offer, but I have another seat in mind.” Gnasher snickered and covered her snout with her claws, seeing Lith point towards the empty seat past Rondo, Stereo, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. She moved her right claw to the side of her face, creating a wall that link her and Custard. “She totally wants to get laid.” She whispered. “Don’t be silly, Gnasher. They’re obviously very good friends.” Custard responded with an oblivious tone. “Wow… you really are innocent.” Gnasher responded in a deadpan tone and stone-hardened face. “I am very aware of her affections for Fei, but I do not wish to jinx it.” “Eh, fair enough.” Lith approached the seat next to Fei, waving with a casual posture. “Do you mind if I sit here, Fei?” “Not at all, Lith.” Fei stated, flashing a smile towards her direction. Lith sat down in the seat. Pinkie Pie, who looked at the curtains of the stage with an impenetrable focus, turned her head towards Lith and grinned. “Hey Lith! How are you doing this wonderfully fantastic evening?” She asked. “I’m doing well, Pinkie.” Lith said. “Umm… you haven’t been watching my brother and I in our sleep again, have you?” “Of course I have! How else would I make sure that no one breaks into your home to attack you? Or be there to comfort the two of you with hugs when you suffer nightmares?” Pinkie Pie responded. A cold shiver ran down Lith’s spine. “Well... as long as you aren’t doing anything, I suppose that is fine. But, don’t you ever sleep?” “Of course I do. I micromanage every single second and subsecond so that I can check up on everyone in the night and still have enough time to sleep. Anyways, I’ve been teaching your brother a thing or two about the tricks and trades of the performing arts. I know he will do well.” Pinkie Pie said. “Well, I know he will do well. He knows how to act, believe it or not.” Sophia noted. The lights dimmed and the curtains opened, revealing a black-coated unicorn stallion with a white mane and tail. He was dressed in a black tuxedo and his yellow eyes sparked with life. His horn shined with a yellow glow. “Good evening, ladies and gentleman. Welcome to the monthly Neo Canterlot Theater Open, where anyone can participate regardless of experience. Regardless of what happens, we are all here to give each and every one of you a good time. So, I hope you all enjoy the show.” He said through a voice amplified with the magic. The curtains shut on the host and the dim lights blackened into darkness. The stage opened up, revealing Leaf and two other stags with different shades of brown for their coats. One stag has green eyes and the other has brown eyes. Leaf stepped forward and bowed to the audience. “Good evening, Neo Canterlot. My name is Leaf!” “My name is Drop!” The red-eyed stag said. “And my name is Flare!” The green-eyed stag stated. “And the Triple Threat Team of Triplets will show you how we roll!” The three of them stated in perfect synchronization. Drop jumped onto Leaf’s back and Flare leaped onto Drop’s back, forming a tower of stags. Leaf reared his hind legs, sending Flare forward into the air and Drop back. Leaf catapulted himself towards Flare. The two stags straightened their bodies and twirled within a split second, evading each other’s collision. Flare grasped Leaf’s back right hoof and tossed him all the way towards Drop, who landed upon the stage with his four hooves. Drop jumped into the air, passing by Leaf. Leaf grabbed Drop’s front legs and threw him forward. Drop hoisted himself onto Flare’s back and rode him down to the ground. “And that was a deer riding a deer!” Drop said. Leaf leaped onto Drop’s back and rode it. “Make that a deer riding a deer riding a deer!” A storm of roaring cheers and clapping of hooves and stomping surged through the audience. “We have more where that came from!” Mono glanced towards the hologram projection of the show. His legs quivered in anxiety, feeling cold on him. “I don’t think I won’t be able to pull off something like that… or do as well with my performance.” His heart beat in rapid increments and the muscles in his neck tightened, choking his breathing. “Do not be afraid, Mono. I know you can do it.” A nurturing voice called out from within the recesses of his mind. The voice relaxed his nerves and his breathing returned to normal. His legs and face stopped quivering. Leaf, Drop and Flare walked through the back of the stage, looking towards Mono with cheery smiles. Leaf patted Mono’s back. “Don’t worry about it, Mono. Just follow your heart and you will be able to achieve anything.” Mono nodded his head and walked out into the stage. The stallion returned to the stage with the spotlights directing onto him. He stretched the collar of his tuxedo, flashing a smile that can win awards. “Well, that was an interesting show with the Triple Threat Team of Triplets. Up next is somebody who is very new to the scene of Neo Canterlot in general. Please give a warm welcome to Mono!” Sophia, Lith and Pinkie Pie grinned. “I can’t wait to see how he will do.” Sophia stated. “I really hope he has the best things going for him.” “Don’t be so hung up on your nerves, Lith. We will have fun regardless of what happens.” Pinkie Pie assured. On the balcony, Fleur De Lis sat next to a gray-coated stallion whose mane and tail paled with ripened age. “I recommend that you focus on this particular act, Chiffon. You will be amazed by what you see.” She stated. “Will do, Miss Lis.” Chiffon responded. At the top back row of the seats sat Chili Spice and Jetstream Rush. “Mono is the name of Lith’s brother, right?” Chili Spice asked. “Yep. I can’t wait to actually see him. Lith told me so much about him through our message exchanges.” Jetstream Rush said. The curtains unfolded, revealing Mono wearing his top hat and cane. He tipped his hat and grinned with a confident surge. He lifted himself on top of the cane with his right paw, holding out his hat on the left paw and stretching out his entire body against the gravity going against him. He pushed his paw against the cane and leaped off of it, levitating the cane to his paw with his Psychic. He flipped forward and landed on his feet with the end of the crane on the floor. His feet moved in a flurry, bringing forth a storm of clicks that allured the audience to them. Lith’s eyes widened at the sight of Mono’s body dividing into ten copies. Rondo gazed towards Jasmine and brought his wing between him and her. “Ummm… did he just use Double Team?” He asked. “I believe he did. He’s always learning some new things behind our backs apparently.” Jasmine responded. Each of the ten Monos threw their canes forward, holding them in place with Psychic and twirling them at a hypnotic speed. The Monos shuffled their feet along the ground and moved around each other, bringing widened eyes and eye rubs to the audiences. All but one Mono and cane disappeared before their eyes. He levitated the cane towards his right paw and placed his top hat on the ground before him. He reached his left paw inside of it and pulled out a bouquet of roses, tossing them towards Sophia’s direction. Sophia stood up and caught them, grinning and embracing the gift. Fei reeled back in his chair, eyeing the act before him. “That was… somewhat bold on how he did it.” He noted. “I know right? But, I enjoy the gift nonetheless.” Sophia responded. Lith smiled and clapped, bringing her paws to her mouth and whistling. She stood from her seat, clapping with intense beats. “Yeah Mono!” A heartfelt smile appeared on his face, masked by the performer’s grin. Mono stood in the back of the theater, wiping the sweat off of his forehead. From the small corridor hidden away from sight, he saw crowds of Equusians rush towards the other performers of the show, holding out slips of paper towards them. He breathed a sigh of relief. “Mono!” Lith called out from behind, running towards him with Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Gnasher and Sophia by her. She embraced him with a hurried pace. “You were amazing back there! Did you hear the entire crowd cheering for you at the end of your performance?” “Ummm… yes, I’ve heard. But, I prefer to hide in the shadows.” Gnasher let out a chuckle. “Funny how you have a complete one eighty on your personality when you are on stage, Mono. But, it’s really good on you. How come you never told me you can perform?” “I’ll be honest; I never thought I could perform. I always felt like I couldn’t stand up in front of other people to do something. But, I felt like I heard my mother speak to me when I was about to choke. Leaf assured me that everything would be alright… and I felt a new persona come out from within me.” Mono explained. “You were still so amazing. I wish I could stand up in front of other like you could.” Fluttershy whispered out. “I think you can, Fluttershy. It’s just all about being able to believe in yourself and let the inner you take over.” “What did I tell you, Mono? I knew you’d do amazing out there. And you did, just like my Pinkie Senses told me you’d do.” Pinkie Pie complemented. “Your tips were amazing, Pinkie. I put on the Razzle Dazzle like you instructed me to.” “And you showed off that Razzle Dazzle beyond everyone’s expectations. Maybe I should invite you to act in my parties!” Cadance flew down from the sky and ran towards Mono, hugging him with her front legs. “You killed it out there, Mono! I knew that my choice in selecting you was the right one!” She called out. “I understand, Commissioner Cadance. And, I thank you for forcing me into this situation. If I didn’t, I would have never worked up a good spine.” “You know, Mono, I really like the Bold you out there. It was definitely exciting to watch unfold. Those roses you gave me were also a nice present as well.” Sophia stated. “Oh that? That was just improv. Don’t know what I was thinking when doing that.” Mono responded. “Are you sure that isn’t a way to ask me out on a date, Mono?” She teased. “I’m pretty sure it is not that, Sophia. But… I really didn’t like the glare Fei was giving me.” “He’s calmed down about it right now. I assured him that there was nothing going on between us.” Cadance forced a cough into her left hoof, hiding the words ‘Yes there is!’ within it. “Sorry, I just needed to sneeze.” Mono looked down onto his watch, gazing at the stream of e-mails and letters coming to him. His eyes widened, seeing the hundreds of messages filling up his inbox. “Was I really that good in the show?!” “Of course you were, Mono. You were amazing. I just wish that the professor was there with us to see you.” Lith stated, tossing a cashew into her mouth and chewing it. “It’s a shame the theater couldn’t let him in. What is he, some kind of giant purple space dragon that murders someone’s parents then mocks that person with it?” The duo broke out in laughter. “That’s not a funny joke, Mono.” Professor Pasque stated, looking through their window. “Oh, I didn’t expect you to be listening on to us, professor.” Mono stated. “It’s fine. Though I didn’t get to see you in person perform, I saw it from a recording I managed to hack into and I was very impressed with what I saw. You have definitely showed more growth on this planet than you have in our world.” “Well… outside of the lab, there weren’t too many people who are willing to help me out. But, the Equusians all left their marks in my heart. Their brave struggle to survive and maintain everyday living makes my problems feel small in comparison. I have to move away from feeling sorry about my life and help keep that everyday living for them.” Professor Pasque grinned. He peeped his head through the window way and nuzzled Mono’s shoulder. “I’m glad that you have found this path for yourself, Mono. Continue on it and never look back.” Pinkie Pie stood on top of the roof of Mono and Lith’s apartment, gazing at a wispy sphere of blue energy. “I bet you must be proud of your son and daughter, Mrs. Samers. I still don’t know how you are able to come into this dimension.” “A mother’s love transcends any temporal and spacial boundaries. Though, I am curious as to how we are even communicating right now.” Pinkie Pie shrugged her shoulders. “Anyways, I think you should go back to that sparkling place in the sky you call heaven, Mrs. Samers. I’ll make sure your two children are safe.” The spirit faded away from existence. Luna flew down onto the rooftop and folded in her wings. “I would appreciate if you do not do my job, Pinkie Pie.” She said. “Don’t you have to sleep?” “I do sleep, Council Lady Luna. I just sleep in different increments of the day.” Pinkie Pie responded. Luna sighed and smiled. “‘Tia always said you were something, Pinkie. But, I guess there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. But, you are aware that my Thestrals patrol the night and make sure everyone is safe, correct? They might attack you on sight if you are lurking around.” “Oh, those bat ponies? We often go eat some burritos late at night. They are fun to hang around.” “So that explains some of the bean drippings I see on some of my Thestrals’ chins.” “Yep. Don’t worry about me. I make sure that everypony is fine.” Pinkie Pie responded. “Very well, Pinkie Pie. I shall take your word on it.” Luna unfolded her wings and took off into the night sky, leaving Pinkie Pie by herself. Author's Note We all have a performer inside of ourselves. Let your inner persona out, and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish.
S-Ranked SupportAuthor's Note Will they or will they not? They do S-Ranked Support Shining Armor and Cadance lied next to each other on the couch in their home, gazing at the hologram of a young pony couple gazing into the stars. Cadance stretched out her right front legs and wrapped them around Shining Armor. “You know, Shiny, this is the first time that the both of us are at home together in a long time.” “Right? Working for H.O.R.S.E. seems to drain the time away. I’m glad that we can spend this evening together.” Shining Armor responded, looking with a dazed expression into Cadance’s eyes. He placed a pecked on her cheek. “Remember that day when you declared your love for me? Six years ago? It was the day that brought a silver line into the bleakness that was the war we are engaged in.” “I remember very clearly, Mi Amore de Cadenzia. The survivor rate from Trottington was grimmer than we had hoped and we lost many troops that day. Nothing cheered you up and, errrm, I thought that would have been the perfect time to confess to you.” Cadance pat Shining Armor on his head and cracked a meek smile. “Normally, that would have been one of the stupidest things any stallion can do to a mare, but it worked out very well. You cheered me up and surprised me with a kiss. I’m glad that, if I ended up with someone, it was you.” Shining Armor flashed a lewd smile with half-lidded eyes directed towards Cadance. “You know, I’ve been very anxious to spend the day with you. But… even if the sun is still shining, want to call it an early night? Lying next to you like this is getting me excited.” “I have no objections to that, Shiny. We both need a bit of a stress relief, after all.” A knock echoed from beyond the front door. Cadance looked into Shining Armor’s eyes with a frown. Shining Armor nodded, bringing a smile to her face. Cadance got up from the couch and walked towards the door and opened it, revealing a blushing Custard who is twiddling his hands together. “Oh… ummmm, hi Commissioner Cadance.” He said with a nervous tic. “Hello, Custard. So what brings you over to my home?” Cadance asked with an upbeat tone. “You did say that you are the Patron of Love, right?” Custard asked, his voice muting near the end. “If there are any love-related problems in your life, then you have come to the right mare. Come inside and sit down. I’ll prepare some warm tea for you.” Cadance responded, standing out of the doorway. Custard walked inside the dimly-lit home, eyeing Shining Armor lying down on the couch. A soft smile appeared on his face. “Hello, Shining Armor. I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything.” “It’s alright. I was just going to spend the day with my wife is all.” Shining Armor responded with slight agitation leaking in his voice. Custard leaped back from his spot. “S…sorry.” He whispered. “It’s not your fault, Custard. You came to the right couple in your time of need.” Cadance walked into the living room with an ornate cup of black tea on a dish and passed it across the table to Custard. “I find that Bittermelon Tea is a great way to relax, but it is a bit on the bitter side.” Custard sat on the floor and held the tea in his hand, sipping it and letting its flavor swish around in his mouth. He sighed with a content smile on his face. “I always liked my food and drinks bitter, Commissioner Cadance. Thank you very much.” Cadance sat down on the floor across Custard and placed her front knees on the table, positioning her head on her front hooves. “Please, just call me Cadance on my days off. So, what love emergency can the Patron of Love help you with today, Custard?” “Ummm… it’s a bit embarrassing to say with your husband around, but I will try my best. For the past month, I’ve been having some very… sensual dreams about Gnasher. More than I would like to admit. But this morning, this particular dream left me feeling… stickier than usual.” With the red on his face growing and slime on his body becoming thinner, Custard explained. Cadance lifted her front legs and head away from the table and placed her left front hoof on her chin. “So you were having erotic dreams and this recent one was a wet dream?” Custard squealed and reeled back. “Don’t say it like that! It’s… embarrassing…” “There’s nothing wrong or embarrassing about what is natural, Custard. What you are feeling is completely normal. If we want to get through this situation, tell me about Gnasher. What do you like about her?” Cadance asked. “That’s very easy. Underneath the gruff and rough exterior lies a caring heart. Ever since the first stages of our lives, she protected me from some of the other Pokémon bullying me. Even if she does like teasing others, she does it in good fun. She absolutely hates those that pick on others because of how they are.” Custard explained. “That’s a good start! So she cares for you greatly and you like her back because she can look past whatever problems others say you have. So what else attracts you to her?” “Well... she has the cutest snout and knows how to throw her power around. The stripes on her add a layer of mystery to her and she has the nicest shades of colors.” “Mmmhmm. You two already have a good established history and you love her for what she is, but the bigger question is this; what made you realize your feelings for her?” Cadance asked. “Well, it would be an understatement to say that we came into this world with guns blazing from both sides. But… when I saw that mechanical monstrosity devour Gnasher, I felt something tear my heart apart. For the first time, I genuinely felt angry. I would be able to keep a level head if it happened to others, but I literally blew a gasket when she was devoured like that!” “At that point is when you discovered your anger, is it not? So is it safe to assume that the protection she had given you has given you the urge to protect her?” “That’s exactly what it is! And on that night, we danced to the Rumba of Love.” Custard responded, closing his eyes and clasping his hands together with a serene hum. “After that night, the dreams kept happening and I couldn’t stand to be without Gnasher in my life.” Cadance placed her left front hoof on her chest and cocked her head with a heartfelt smile. “Awwww! Isn’t that adorable, Shiny?” “I was pretty concerned when I heard that you said you liked her, but now I see that you genuinely do have feelings for her.” Shining Armor commented. “The good thing is that I can help you out with your situation, Custard. But, you will have to trust me with every step I give you. Is that alright?” Cadance asked. “I guess.” Custard ambled towards door towards Gnasher’s apartment with his body quivering in anxiety. He looked at the door and held his right hand next to his face, bringing it over to the door with hesitation in its movement. Each knock on the door filled his intestines with butterflies. The doorknob twisted open and the door opened. On the other side stood Gnasher. “Hey, Custard. What are you doing here on our day off?” She asked. “Ummmm…. do you mind if we go hunting for rabbits today, Gnasher? I mean, if you aren’t busy or anything.” With his voice breaking and his forehead pouring out sweat, Custard offered. “Are you sure you want to do this? It involves killing living things.” “I’m positive. I want the two of us to do something you enjoy doing.” A grin appeared on Gnasher’s face. “Let me first go to Razor Wind’s apartment first. I’m going to need to borrow some of his hunting gear.” Gnasher walked outside and shut the door, walking down to the stairs to another building. Custard twiddled his right arm and reached down to the watch, revealing a hologram of Cadance’s head. “H-how am I doing, Cadance?” He asked. “You’re doing very well so far, Custard. But… seriously? Gnasher’s activity for a good time is hunting rabbits? Even if that gives us food, it still is a barbaric activity for fun.” Cadance asked, with her eyes lidding and her mouth forming a straight and deadpan expression at the other half. Custard shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve been meaning to see what the fuss about hunting rabbits is. Now I can do that.” “Eh, fair enough. I won’t judge any further.” Gnasher walked up the stairs towards Custard, carrying oval-shaped racks, nooses and cages in her claws. Custard squealed and deactivated his watch. “I got the gear. Are you ready, Custard?” Gnasher asked. “Most certainly, Gnasher.” Gnasher and Custard traveled outside of the city walls. Gnasher dropped the gear in her arms and brought a deep inhale through her nostrils, taking in the fresh air of the plains. “To be out here on my day off is refreshing!” She said, grasping a noose and handing it towards Gnasher. “You see that hole over there? That’s a prime spot for rabbits to come out of. I want you to set this to the north of that hole. Just bang it into the ground to the left and I do the rest.” “Alright, Gnasher.” Custard said, running over to the hole. He took the wooden peg and banged it near the ground, setting the noose forward through the instructions of Gnasher. “So what next? I don’t expect rabbits to come out at any time right now.” “You just leave that to me.” Gnasher slammed her fist into the ground, causing an Earthquake. A stream of panicked rabbits popped out of the hole, running away from the epicenter of the rumbling. Two rabbits tripped over the rope and the force tightened the noose around them. The rabbits squealed and squirmed their legs and the noose tightened with each pull. “We got two!” Custard shouted. Gnasher sprinted towards the rabbits and lifted them by the rope. The rabbits hung upside-down, screaming at the sight of the hunter before them. A dark chuckle escaped from her mouth. “So Custard, how do you feel about rabbit for lunch?” “Rabbit sounds nice. But, do you mind adding a bit of bitter sauces over mine during preparation?” Custard requested. Gnasher’s face grimaced and a sound of revilement escaped her mouth. “How do you even like your things bitter, Custard?! That’s a nasty flavor.” “I don’t bash your taste for spicy foods, Gnasher.” Custard said. “Fair enough. Right now, I’m going to set up this rung so that we can have some fresh meat to bring back to my place.” Gnasher stuck a rung into the ground and placed a rabbit’s head into the grip. She handed the other rabbit to Custard. “So I am supposed to hold this?” “Yep. Make sure it doesn’t flee. Shouldn’t be hard since you have some very sticky fingers.” Cadance and Shining Armor poked their heads outside of a tree, eyeing the two. A shade of green overcame Cadance’s face and her eyes quivered with queasiness. “She’s actually going to kill and butcher those rabbits here? Shiny, I don’t think I can bear to watch.” Shining Armor chuckled at Cadance’s reaction. “Remind me to never take you hunting with me and the guys then. What Gnasher’s doing is the proper way to kill a rabbit. Watch and you will be amazed with how intriguing the anatomy of a rabbit is.” “Shiny, you can sometimes be really terrible. Did you know that?” “Yep.” Gnasher shook her head in disbelief and slammed her claws underneath her eyes. Custard walked into Gnasher’s apartment, patting the rabbit in his right arm on the head. The rabbit smiled and looked up towards Custard’s face. “You’re amazing sometimes, Gnasher. You already bonded with what is supposed to be food and didn’t want to hand it over.” “Well, the poor thing looked so terrified and she looks so adorable. Besides, you killed one rabbit and got its choice meats. That should be enough for a full meal.” Custard rationalized. “It is, but geez Custard! Have some hunter’s dignity.” Custard stopped in his movements. His nerves froze up and his throat clenched on himself. “I… didn’t do anything wrong, did I?” Gnasher placed the rabbit meat on the cutting board. She let out a sigh. “No… I should have expected that much from how you are as a Pokémon. But, I guess that’s part of the appeal that you have.” She said, tearing her claw through the leg of the meat. The rabbit in Custard’s hands looked away and dug her face into Custard’s chest. “There there, Delilah. You’ve been through enough today.” Custard cooed, stroking Delilah’s head. Gnasher stifled the giggles erupting out of her mouth, imprisoning them with a veil of seriousness. “You named it ‘Delilah’. A Pokémon having a pet is literally one of the greatest oxymorons I have ever heard.” “You don’t have a problem with it, do you?” Custard asked. “Nah. How about you and Delilah take a seat while I go get the lunch ready?” Cadance looked down into her watch, which contained a hologram of Custard’s head. “First of all, Custard, I want to thank you for sparing that rabbit. Shiny and I were watching from the background and seeing the actual slaughter take place still has my hooves shaking.” “I’m sorry you had to see that, Cadance. But, what else can be done about it? I am just following with what you told me to do.” Custard said. “Yeah, but that probably didn’t earn you any points with Gnasher. She was looking forward to cooking two rabbits instead of one.” “I understand, Cadance. But again, I wish to apologize for spoiling your day with Shining Armor. You must have looked forward to this day for a long time.” “Don’t worry about it, Custard. My duty as the Patron of Love outweighs my own personal desires. I’ll be with you through every step of the way.” Cadance responded with a warm tone brimming with assurance. “Don’t forget that I am here as well, Custard. If you ever need some male to male advice, I’m the one to talk to.” Shining Armor stated, looking at Custard. Custard smiled and looked towards left. His eyes perked up and he gasped. “She’s coming! Bye.” Custard’s hologram disappeared from the watch. Cadance looked towards Shining Armor and smiled. “Despite your little stunt with forcing me to watch that horror unfold before my eyes,” She began saying, stretching her front legs and wrapping her right front leg around Shining Armor’s neck. “Do you still want to snuggle up in bed with me?” Shining Armor grinned. A sated smile appeared on Gnasher’s face. She picked her teeth with her right index claw. “Rabbit turned out to be much better than I thought, Gnasher. However did you do it?” Custard asked. “The secret is to create a moisture lock by grilling it in some olive oil. It’s a technique that I use for any meats I cook.” “I’ll be honest; this is my very first time eating meat. Now I see why you like this food. The rich flavors and moisture are definitely in balance.” Gnasher looked toward Delilah, who nibbled on a head of lettuce before her. She stroked her head. “You know, she’s much more adorable than what I gave her credit for. But, I still will keep hunting rabbits you know.” “I can’t change that, Gnasher. It’s in your blood as a predator Pokémon. In some strange way, it makes me feel like I can be safe around you.” Custard said. “Safe around me, huh?” With a smile creeping on her face, Gnasher asked. “It seems like things between us haven’t changed at all. You were always the one picked on by the others and I was the one to always bail you out. Heck, each of your forms had a new reason for the other Pokémon to pick on you.” “Gah, don’t get me started. When I was a Goomy, the Pokémon picked on me for my funny appearance for a Dragon-type. Then, I got made fun of for being blind when I was a Sliggoo. You actually scared off some of the Pokémon for teasing me like that. And even in this form, Pokémon still thought I was too soft for a Dragon-type.” “You don’t need to be intimidating to be a Dragon-type. That’s just a typist approach that others see in Dragon-types. You can be very scary whenever you want, but I like the sweet you. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to some of the other male Pokémon flaunting around their masculinity. They are usually the ones that end up running away when they see me.” “Isn’t that the truth?” Custard and Gnasher broke out in laughter. Gnasher pounded the table before her and Custard’s lung exploded from laughter. “But yeah, don’t ever change the way who you are. Who cares about what a few chumps say about you? You will always be better than them.” She said. Custard twiddled his stubs together, looking towards the left with a blush on his face. “Gnasher, do you like me?” Gnasher’s eyes widened, looking at Custard with curiosity flashing in her eyes. “Of course I like you. You’re literally my best friend that doesn’t include Mono.” “No, as in, do you like-like me?” Custard asked with a red blush on his face and his eyes looking away from Gnasher. A light shade of red appeared on Gnasher’s face. Her words muddled underneath her voice and she twiddled her claws together. “Ummm… kind of.” Custard turned her head towards Gnasher with a face that is redder than her body. “C…Could you repeat that again? I didn’t think I heard you properly.” “I like-like you, Custard. I’m not sure when, but I have been attracted to you for a while. I just kept it under wraps because… well, I didn’t feel like you would share in my feelings because I am a bit of a rough croc.” Gnasher explained, crossing her arms together, tilting her head away and focusing her eyes on Custard. Custard smiled and stood up, lifting his chair and moving closer to Gnasher. He treaded his left hand below Gnasher’s snout, feeling her scaly skin brush against his slimy exterior. “It might be hard to believe, but I’ve been attracted to how rough you tend to be. After all, it makes your golden moments shine even brighter. You have such a beautiful heart that I feel inclined to be with you.” A soft smile appeared on Gnasher’s face. “So going hunting with me was a way for you to admit your feelings to me, eh?” “I’ll admit; I had a bit of help from Cadance on what to do. But, I knew you would enjoy hunting today.” Custard explained. “She must be one hell of a love doctor if she can set you on the right path to admitting your feelings for me. Speaking of which, do you want to take this date out into the city?” Custard grinned. Custard and Gnasher sat around a clothed table under the dim lights. Around them are other tables, each filled with a majority of changelings followed by a slew of other Equusian varieties. Several Pokémon were also seated at their tables. Carapace walked onto the stage in the back of the room, clearing his throat. “I thank you all for being at Club Chitin today. Making his debut in the singing scene today, please, give a warm round of applause to Rondo!” He pointed towards the silver wall behind him and backed away from the mic. Rondo flew his way over to the stage, pushing the microphone stand down to the floor. A tranquil round of clapping ran throughout the audience. “Thank you for the applause, Neo Canterlot. Now, the song I will be singing is one you more than likely never heard before since I might have made it on the spot, but I hope you enjoy it regardless.” Rondo stated, turning his gaze towards a gray earth pony mare with a black mane and tail, pink eyes and bowtie at the piano with a tilted head. She began touching on the piano, and a somber melody shined its way throughout the room. “I feel lonely even in a crowd I feel that my voice isn’t even loud I wondered how my life will go on Simply being life’s pawn Somebody knocked on my door ‘I will be with you’ that’s what she swore And she left me Oh how days have passed for I Wondering how fast time can fly And she left my heart on the floor She walked the door My life is in pieces So tell me why I must be the one to cry I need life’s releases!” Rondo closed his eyes, wailing into the microphone with passion exuberating from his voice. A heartfelt smile appeared on Gnasher’s face. She grasped Custard’s hand with her left claw. “You now, Rondo has a wonderful singing voice.” “I know right? That song of his is pretty good.” Custard responded. “Even if it isn’t entirely original, I still like his rhyming scheme.” Gnasher commented. Custard glanced towards the left. A frown appeared on his face. “Gnasher, do you promise to never leave me?” Gnasher’s eyes blinked twice. “What makes you think I would leave you?” “Well, Rondo is singing about how love can end in pain. I don’t want to go through the pain of losing anyone I care for, especially you.” Custard explained. “You oaf! I may be cold-blooded, but I would never do something as tear apart your heart like that. Even if we are in the midst of a dangerous war, we will make sure to spend our long lives with each other.” Gnasher assured. Rondo opened his eyes. “And I say Everything about you You go your way I will take my view Tell me why My mind is hazed with you By and by I will wade it through.” A roar of cheers, whistles and clapping emerged from the audience. Gnasher and Custard scratched their heads. “Ummm… how long were we talking for? It feels like we missed two thirds of the song.” “Maybe about two minutes?” Custard responded. Carapace walked onto the stage with a smile on his face. Rondo flapped his wings and took the air. “That was a wonderful song, Rondo. My heart called out to the melody of your voice.” Carapace stated. “Thank you very much for the compliment. I was happy to sing to everyone in the crowd today.” Rondo stated. “Aaaand that’s what we came here for.” With a fulfilled smile on her face, Gnasher stated. “So we got to see Rondo’s performance, so what else is there to do?” Custard asked. “We could walk by that canal that Stereo and Fleur De Lis like walking by. I hear that is a romantic place.” “That’s a good idea.” Gnasher and Custard stood up from their seats and walked towards the door. Mono turned his head to see the two leaving the door, humming with suspicion. He glanced towards Lith and tapped her shoulder. Lith turned her attention to him. “What’s up, Mono?” She asked. “Custard and Gnasher just snuck out of the club for a mysterious reason. I wouldn’t have much of a problem with it, but Rondo has two other songs after this and it feels kind of rude to just ditch him like that.” Mono stated. “That is a bit weird. Maybe we should just follow them?” Mono and Lith leaped out of their seats and pushed in the chairs. The two walked out towards the exit, feigning calm exteriors. “Oh Shiny, it was a brilliant idea to have a relaxing gondola ride after roughing it in bed.” Cadance stated with a sigh. “I could make a lewd comment about this, but that would ruin the moment. I’ll just let the waves rock us back and forward.” Shining Armor said, poking his right front hoof into the water and swirling it around. Cadance’s eyes glanced towards the couples on the railings, looking into each other’s eyes with no focus on anything else. Her eyes glanced towards Gnasher and Custard, who held each other’s hands and looked into the water. “Awww, look at those two finally together! They look so adorable.” She commented. Shining Armor eyed Mono and Lith, who stormed towards the couple with hazy anger within their eyes. His eyes widened. “Uh-oh! It looks like they have trouble coming their way.” He stated. “Gnasher!” Mono shouted. “Custard!” Lith screamed. Gnasher and Custard jolted upwards at hearing Mono and Lith’s voices. “M-Mono! Lith! What are you two doing here?” Gnasher asked with a shaky voice. “You two are just going to abandon Rondo after a single song? Didn’t you forget that he has three songs to perform today?” Lith scolded. “Oh… shoot. That passed my mind completely.” Custard admitted. “Anyways, what are you two doing at the canal here? It seems like a very suspicious place for two Pokémon to sneak off to if you ask me.” Mono questioned. “T-that’s none of your business, Mono!” Gnasher lashed back with her face red in embarrassment. Cadance and Shining Armor sprinted towards the group of four. “Alright, what is happening over here?” Cadance asked. Mono and Lith’s eyes jolted open and their words stammered. “C-Commissioner Cadance! What are you doing here?!” The two said in unison. “Well, I was enjoying a gondola ride with my husband here when I suddenly saw you two storming up to Gnasher and Custard to scold them. Now, is there any reason why you are scolding this couple?” “Couple?” Lith asked, looking towards Gnasher and Custard. Gnasher groaned and smacked the top of her snout. Custard looked away with his eyes gazing towards the floor. “They kind of abandoned Rondo after they promised to watch his complete show today. But, I can now see why they wanted to come out here after hearing that they are a couple now.” Mono stated. Lith cooed and ran towards Gnasher, hugging her by her waist. “Awww! How adorable it is to see you two finally together as a couple!” “Well… he kind of dropped many hints today when he decided to go rabbit hunting with me today. Speaking of which, where is Delilah?” Gnasher asked. “I released Delilah back into the wild. She is much happier there than being cooped up in a home.” Custard responded. Rondo flew towards the group with a scowl on his eyes. “What the heck? The four of you abandoned my performance to come out over here?” He stated with a pained voice. “I didn’t abandon you, Rondo.” Mono responded. “I know, Mono. I was just kidding. I kind of saw Gnasher and Custard holding hands and speaking romantically to each other while I was singing. I decided that one song was enough and I came here to congratulate the new couple here.” Rondo smiled and turned towards Shining Armor. “You know, we still have to do our fated match. I will beat you in the game, you know.” Shining Armor grinned in response. “Sure… but I have my day off with my wife today. Can it wait some other time, Rondo?” Rondo let out a cry of frustration. “Geez, everyone seems to have a significant other. I need a girlfriend of my own.” Everyone in the area laughed, including Rondo himself. Gnasher and Custard looked at each other. Gnasher trickled her claws up to Custard’s shoulder. “If you want, we can call it an early night and head back to my place for some… private time.” “I appreciate the suggestion, Gnasher, but I would like to wait before our relationship goes into a sexual one. I like to take things slow and easy.” Custard responded. “Fair enough. I didn’t expect you to go through with it anyways.” Gnasher and Custard locked their hands and claws together and gazed at the canal before them.
Another Frozen StrokeStereo gazed at the blank canvas before him, rubbing his chin with a dissatisfactory hum. He pounded his fist against a nearby locker. “What am I supposed to paint?!” He roared. “Calm down, Stereo. It’s just a canvas.” Jasmine said, lowering her hands downwards. “It’s not the canvas, Jasmine. I just feel like I cannot paint anything. There is an entire world out there with infinite possibilities of potential for amazing paintings and I can’t do anything of the sort!” Jasmine placed her left hand onto Stereo’s shoulder and patted it. “Blocks happen for a reason, and blocks are always intended to be shattered like a ray of light in the midnight sky. But, if you want my suggestion on it; how about trying to paint something outside the city?” “I’d paint something outside of the Terraformed Wilderness, but the only other continent we have access to is the Glacial Drift. It’s not exactly an easy place to paint at.” Stereo said. “Of course it is not, but I hear that the Glacial Drift is a bit warmer during this time of the year. But, we really can’t go there by ourselves now can we?” “Not unless if we get called to there. But, what are the chances of that?” Professor Pasque, Spitfire and Fei entered the room with eyes focused on the duo in the room. “You two are the only ones in the room? Where are the others?” Spitfire asked. “They’re out rescuing some confirmed survivors towards the west of the Terraformed Wilderness. That is the mission you gave them after all.” Jasmine explained. Spitfire slammed her hoof into her face. “Great. I had to give them a mission at such a critical time. Our satellites have detected abnormally huge Van’Goth activity at the Glacial Drift. We need some scouts to see exactly how the Van’Goth will do and I guess that everybody in this room will have to do.” She said. “That s somewhat strange that they would be over there. But, we aren’t exactly quick enough to be scouts ourselves.” Jasmine commented. “That is true. And, if we just wait around for the Van’Goth to strike, then it would be too late. It looks we all have to be involved in battle then. That does include you, Professor.” Professor Pasque turned towards Spitfire with an understanding gaze. He nodded. “I’ve heard stories about the Van’Goth. It would be my pleasure to assist in their defeat.” Fei shivered and narrowed his eyes. A small grunt escaped from his mouth. “As much as I would hate to be on the frontlines, I made a promise to Zecora to fight alongside my friends. You have my service.” Spitfire smiled. “Today, we will be teaming up with the Heavy Armor division. This will end up being a very messy battle, regardless of the circumstances. Are you all fine with this?” Everyone in the room nodded their heads. “This battle just may give me the inspiration to make art. Maybe I might be able to understand what Fleur means when she said that great artists must have suffered…” A battalion of armored buggies drove through the bitter winds of the Glacial Drift. Stereo, Jasmine and Fei sat within the back of a buggy, equipped with goggles and scarves. Stereo glanced towards Jasmine’s eyes. “You know, this is the very first time that the three of us are together by ourselves. Spitfire is driving our vehicle, but it still counts as us being alone.” He said. “I agree. You know, I’ve been meaning to talk with you two about Mono and Lith.” Fei answered. “What kind of things? If we talk about them, of course we will be talking about how well they have treated us.” Jasmine stated. Fei eyed the floor and twiddled his thumbs. He breathed into his hands, masking his anxiety. “I have a feeling that Sophia loves Mono more than she loves me.” He admitted. Stereo and Jasmine shifted grimaced glances towards each other with their faces breaking out in sweat. “Umm… I don’t know how to respond to that.” Jasmine said. Fei frowned, and the color on his fur dulled. “So it is true, isn’t it? I had my suspicions when I saw her hanging around Mono more than she does me.” Stereo’s face is paralyzed with silence. “Ummm… unfortunately, it is.” He whispered out. Fei let out a frustrated sigh and dropped his face onto his. “How did I let this happen? I thought she loved me.” “To be fair for her Fei, you did have a full grip of control over her. You made it so that she couldn’t have a life of her own to live. She told me that when she is with Mono, she feels more liberated from your clutches.” Stereo explained. Fei bit his tongue on the words passing through his ears. He shook his head. “Stereo is right, Fei. Even if she is happy the way she is, it doesn’t excuse you from choosing her destiny for her. While I understand that you did it for the right reasons, you completely ignored her ability to choose destiny for herself.” Jasmine stated. “It’s true that I took away her ability to choose for herself, but I was trying to protect her from a cold and horrible world that would have exploited her. Mono and Lith protected you two from a similar fate.” Fei responded, breathing out through his nose. “Not necessarily true. Have you ever tried comforting children that have lost their parents? We were protecting them from being exploited, and Sophia did the same for you. It works both ways, Fei. Only when you understand that mutualism can you understand why Sophia loves Mono over you.” Stereo explained. Fei remained silent, looking forward with a distant frown on his face. He shook his head with a solemn shake and placed his hands on his face. “So all this time, I was blind to a Pokémon’s feelings. Though Sophia was happy, I failed in the most basic duties as a trainer and couldn’t understand her feelings. So… my own love will end up being unrequited because of this.” Jasmine walked her way to Fei’s side and stroked his back sideways. “Even if your love for Sophia will remain unrequited, there will always be others who you can still love. Like Lith, for instance.” Fei raised his head out of his hands and looked towards Jasmine with the muscles in his face locked in surprise. “You mean… the lady at the lab who doesn’t even realize that I am there?” “She absolutely adores you. All the Pokémon and even some of the humans saw the affection she possessed for you. You would have to be oblivious to not be able to see it.” Jasmine said. A small blush appeared on Fei’s face. His frown shifted into a small and warm smile. “I always had an affection for Lith when I first saw her. But, I thought I was invisible to her radar. I thought she never wanted me, which was the reason why I devoted my life to Sophia. But, hearing this news ignites a new hope in my heart. I will fight, and I will survive this battle to finally confess my feelings to her.” Stereo stood up from his seat and approached Fei, punching his shoulder with a light tap. “That’s the kind of attitude we need for this mission. With this knowledge, we will not fail.” A hologram of Spitfire’s face appeared in the back, glancing towards the trio of grinning Pokémon. “We’re almost at our rendezvous point. I suggest you all prepare for battle.” She said. All of the buggies stopped at the plateau before a large field. Hundreds upon hundreds of mechas and transformed Van’Goth stood at the bottom, marching towards the east. Jasmine, Stereo, Fei and Spitfire disembarked from the back. Professor Pasque waded his way through the snowstorm, looking down onto the field. He narrowed his eyes. “So these are the Van’Goth I’ve heard so much about. Using violence and warfare as a means of expressing themselves… disgusting.” He commented. “Many Equusians died from their onslaught, including three world leaders. Not even the elderly or children are capable of escaping their wrath. But, with the combined might of otherworldly beings and ourselves, we shall deal a huge blow to their regime!” Spitfire said. Applejack and Big Macintosh approached the group, looking towards the bottom. Big Macintosh’s eyes widened to the point where his eyeballs can fall out at any moment. “That’s… huge.” “I know what you mean, Big Mac. This is probably the biggest we’ve seen of the Van’Goth’s advancing forces. Why do you think they need a force like that?” Applejack asked. “From the direction they are headed, it looks like they are approaching Griffonheim. But… they already captured that area. Why would they go back to there?” Spitfire questioned. “I can answer that.” Razor Wind said, flying down to the ground near the group. “Griffonheim is home to many treasures, some of which caused insatiable greed amongst our kind. Civil wars broke out over trying to capture these artifacts. Our queen had enough of these wars and sealed the artifacts away, thus ending the greed-fueled political strife within our nation.” “Rainbow Dash did tell me a bit about that while she was in Griffonheim. But, what would the Van’Goth want with just a few treasures like that?” Applejack asked. “Part of it has to stem from the fact that these treasures are actually just everyday objects charmed with a certain spell that drives those exposed to them to madness. It makes me frightened thinking what the Van’Goth can do with artifacts such as that.” “I share in your feelings, Razor Wind. If we are exposed to that, then we can kiss our way of life goodbye. We must not let this army into Griffonheim under any circumstance. Are my orders clear, everyone?!” Spitfire shouted. Everyone around her stood erect and saluted Spitfire. “Ma’am yes ma’am!” Everyone shouted in unison. Applejack and Big Macintosh leaped down the slope, sliding on their hooves. From the cannon on her shoulder, she fired two fiery blasts into the advancing Van’Goth forces. The bullets detonated, exploding and creating a fiery crater amidst the Glacial Drift. The forces turned their sights on the two siblings and aimed their guns towards them. One of the mecha’s guns unleashed a stream of flames towards Big Macintosh. He rolled to his left, evading the stream of flames. His mane singed from the top and his eyes widened. “They never had a weapon like that before!” He shouted. Applejack ran towards the mecha and bucked it with her hind hooves, sending it flying through a gravity pulse. A nearby mecha slammed its fist into the ground, shaking the very earth that they were on. “Grab my talons quick!” Razor Wind called out, diving towards the duo. With an understanding nod, Applejack and Big Macintosh grasped onto his talons. Razor Wind flew away from the earthquake, where a spire erupted out of the ground. “Wait a moment, I know what that is! It looks a lot like Gnasher’s Earthquake.” Jasmine said. “Seriously? Then again, that stream of fire looked a lot like Custard’s Flamethrower as well…” Stereo noted. Professor Pasque stared at the trio escaping from pink beams and electric streams headed towards them with a knowing silence. “They’re learning.” Spitfire turned her head towards the direction of her head to Professor Pasque with her jaw dropped halfway before the ground. “They’ve developed that sort of technology already?! But how?” “They’ve learned from the encounters between themselves and the Pokémon. If I had a guess, we were merely valuable test subjects for them in battle.” Professor Pasque explained. “What?!” Big Macintosh shouted, dropping towards the ground with a scowl on his face. “You mean to tell me that the enemy had gotten stronger because of you all?” Professor Pasque looked to his side and closed his eyes. A despondent frown crept onto his face. “You have my apologies. We had not foreseen this event coming. Even if we made them stronger, we have solidarity and a reason to fight back. We will make sure no one else suffers at their hands!” Professor Pasque sprinted down the slope and ran towards the army. He rushed passed a shower of inaccurate lasers and approached one of the transformed Van’Goth. He inhaled and breathed out a frigid breath, encasing the soldier in a block of ice. He turned around and bucked the soldier, knocking him into the sky. Stereo’s mouth flashed within a blue light. He took a deep breath and let out an explosive noise towards one of the mechas. The mecha wreathed in blue electricity and its visor cracked. It then fell apart onto the ground. He sprinted towards Professor Pasque’s side. “I see you have been working on your Boomburst, Stereo. I approve.” Professor Pasque commented. “I thank you for the compliment, but we have an army to take care of.” Stereo said. “I’m way ahead of you!” Spitfire shouted out, soaring through the sky and brandishing a sword made of light. She dove down towards a soldier and slashed from the diagonal left. With the soldier reeling backwards and the sword gripped in her mouth, she leaped into the air and spun at light speed. Several cuts appeared on the soldier’s body before it collapsed onto the ground. Jasmine moved forward of the advancing Heavy Armor Division, showering the two soldiers and mecha in front of her with a Dazzling Gleam. The mechas broke out of the light and grasped her in a telekinetic grab. Jasmine squirmed in its grip. “Ummm… a little help would be appreciated.” Hydrangea rammed her body into one of the mechas, knocking it over. Jasmine shot her arms out and shattered the telekinetic grasp. She unleashed a Thunderbolt onto the other mecha, zapping it out of oblivion. “Do not thank me yet, Jasmine. We only took care of a few members of the army when there is about three hundred.” Hydrangea stated. A mecha shot out a volley of missiles that approached the advancing Equusian soldiers. They exploded, forming crags within the snow-covered landscape and knocking the soldiers into the air. The rest of the soldiers stormed forth, firing lasers and bullets into the Van’Goth forces. One of the Van’Goth soldiers rushed into the crowd with a light-tipped pike in his massive arm. He leaped and forced the bladed end into the face of one of the Equusians. The soldier’s body limped. The Van’Goth lifted the pike in the air, picking up the dead soldier and flung him aside. Fei vanished from his current spot and reappeared in front of the soldier. He thrust his palm into the soldier’s chest and thrust him forwards. With the soldier flung into the air, he tossed an Aura Sphere towards it. He sprinted forward, invisible to the naked eye. He leaped into the air and dropped down onto another soldier’s back, downing him and retreating. “Fei’s pretty quick on the moves.” Applejack said. “Very. We may just win this yet!” Big Macintosh stated, aiming his cannon into the crowd. Ten mines shot out of the cannon and littered the area in front of him. Each of the mines exploded, blasting away the army in front of him. Applejack’s front greaves formed into hammers. She struck two soldiers across the face with them, knocking them down to the ground. Spitfire paused with the movements of her sword and looked behind her. She saw more and more of the Heavy Armor soldiers being torn apart through the mechas using crunch and waves of heat blasting them away. The numbers of both sides dwindled, but the Equusian numbers are only a fraction with what they began with. The Equusian forces circled around each other, observing forward and seeing the mechas and soldiers appear with no stopping motion. “We’re surrounded!” Spitfire shouted. A mecha raised its cannon towards the surrounded group and a blue light filled its muzzle. “Boreas, use Surf!” A voice called out. Flooding waters appeared on the field, spearheaded by a blue plesiosaur with a white underside and a horn on her head. The water sparkled against her gray and nub-filled shell. The water swept away a significant portion of the Van’Goth and the plesiosaur slid her way into the Equusian forces. “That’s a Lapras!” Stereo called out, pointing towards her. “And just in time too! We needed some back-up reinforcements.” Spitfire said. From the distance, a black and bipedal weasel with a crown and collar made of brilliant red feathers rode into the scene on a wave of ice conjured from his right hand. Spitfire looked upon him, eyeing the yellow marking on his forehead and the feathers on his ears and tail. “It seems like the good guys always arrive in the nick of time!” The weasel called out with an energetic huff. “That voice… is that you, Rundas?” Fei asked. Rundas turned his sight towards Fei and scratched his head. “So you’re a Pokémon as well, Fei. Good to know that I’m not the only one that happened to. Though, being a Weavile is pretty cool.” “I can’t understand a single word you’re saying, but you’re going to help us out right?” Spitfire asked. “Of course. These are obviously the bad guys you are fighting. Justice always prevails against evil, after all.” Rundas stated. He ran forward and released a series of dark purple slashes within the blink of an eye, detaching the arms of the mechas from their joint. He then leaped into the air. A frigid beam erupted from the palm of his hand, freezing the air underneath him. A wave of suspended ice appeared under his feet, causing him to fly through the air. “Is that even possible?” Applejack asked. “Apparently. But, enough of that. Their appearance has given us the upper hand now. Let us make the best use of this.” Jasmine responded, firing a Dazzling Gleam into the army. Spitfire soared into the air and rushed towards the mechas nearby. The mechas unleashed a storm of lasers from the cannons on their bodies. Spitfire spun and formed a corkscrew of photon, deflecting all of the projectiles back towards the mechas and tearing them apart. The remaining troops of the Heavy Armor division charged forwards with bullets firing out of their cannons. A yellow aura covered Strawberry Delight’s bullets, changing them into a golden color. The bullets tore through the armor of the mechas and soldiers. Boreas fired a beam of ice from her mouth, encasing a soldier in front of her in its icy grip. She lifted her right front flipper and smashed it against the soldier, shattering its body. Rundas exhaled a frigid breath of wind and blue sparkles. Icicles formed in the air that he surfed around. The icicles rained down against the army, crashing against them. He flipped off of the ice he was riding, conjuring another wave of ice underneath him and screeching with delight. Several stones from the ground orbited around Fei. He leaped into the air and roundhouse kicked each of the stones, showering the field with bright sparks and shards of earth. “The enemy is strong. I’m calling for reinforcements!” A soldier of the Van’Goth stated, raising its wrist to its face. “Oh no you don’t!” Rundas shouted, surfing by the soldier and slamming his claw into the soldier. The soldier grunted and blinked from the strike. It turned around, seeing Rundas right behind him. Rundas slashed it with darkness-cloaked claws, eliciting a shriek of pain from it. What remained of the army vanished within a series of beams into the sky. What remained of the Equusian army inhaled and exhaled deep breaths. “Did we… win?” Professor Pasque asked. “It seems like it.” Spitfire stated. Rundas and Boreas slid their way in front of the Equusian army with smiles on their faces. “Routed the enemy army! Score one for the good guys.” Rundas said, pumping his claws. “I really wish that we can understand some of these Pokémon. All I keep hearing is ‘Wee’ and ‘Vile’.” Applejack commented. Spitfire, Twilight Sparkle, Professor Pasque, Rundas, Stereo and Boreas stood within the docking bay of H.O.R.S.E. Rundas observed the translator bracelet around his wrist and jiggled his arm. He smiled. “Cool piece of jewelry you have here.” He said. “Originally, it was intended to be used with animals so that we can communicate with them on a similar level. But, considering it works well on Pokémon, we’ve decided to prioritize handing out translators to any and all Pokémon.” Twilight Sparkle explained. Professor Pasque gazed upon Rundas with a grin on his face. “I am glad to see you are alright, Rundas. I didn’t think you would be in the lab today, considering you had been outsourced to take care of a bounty.” Rundas shook his head, closed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. “The bounty was a bust. The dude ended up being dead all along and I just returned back home.” Spitfire glanced up towards Boreas, rubbing her chin with her right front hoof and humming. “So are you sure Boreas doesn’t need a translator?” “Unfortunately, she’s mute. Back in my days as a ranger, I rescued her from some poachers doing some awful things to her. The experience left her unable to even make a cry. So, I’ve learned to read her emotions through her body language. We’ve been partners ever since.” Rundas explained. Boreas frowned and turned her head away from Spitfire, closing her eye with a slow blink. Spitfire frowned and hovered to her face, stroking it with a gentle caress. “It seems like she doesn’t like being reminded of that disability.” “No… she doesn’t. Lapras is a very cheerful Pokémon that love singing and being around others. To be robbed of something you enjoy doing would put a damper on anyone’s spirit.” Rundas stated. Stereo grinned and walked towards Boreas. “Boreas, you are truly a magnificent work to the eye. While I do not yet fully understand your struggles, I would love it if I could paint a portrait of you in the canal of Neo Canterlot.” A small smile appeared on Boreas’s face. She nodded her head. “So Professor, how did a ranger end up being in the care of your lab?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “A good question to ask, Twilight. Rundas didn’t like how things in the Ranger Union were ran. While he admires the goal of rescuing Pokémon, he felt that some of the orders he was given were somewhat misguided and didn’t bring a quick-enough solution to the helped Pokémon..” Professor Pasque said. A small chuckle escaped from Rundas’s mouth. “I did what any sane ranger would do; I quit with a bang. After busting a Pokémon smuggling operation, I stabbed my team in the back and ran off with the Pokémon myself to release them back in the wild. Apparently, I ended up not only being blacklisted, but was also put on the ranger’s most wanted list.” Twilight Sparkle blinked twice, shaking her head and doubts away. “Rundas and Boreas escaped to Opelucid City, where I met him. After hearing his plight, I took the two in. From there, they took requests from private contractors to take down criminals in any way he felt comfortable doing.” Professor Pasque finished. “Geez, Professor, did you really need to make me sound like some vigilante?” Rundas asked with his eyes narrowed. “Would you honestly want me to describe you any other way, Rundas?” “Nope. Just the way I like it.” Sophia stretched her back on the couch and yawned. She gazed upon the green curtains hung over the window. Her ears perked up at the three beeps from the front door. The door opened up and Fei walked in. Sophia grinned and stood up, sprinting towards Fei. “I heard what happened to you, Fei. So the Van’Goth led a huge army out into the Glacial Drift? And you helped defeat the army.” Fei nodded and went down to one knee, stroking Sophia on her head. “That is true. Rundas and Boreas were a huge assistance to the cause. But, that is irrelevant to the current topic at hand. Sophia, who makes you happier; Mono or me?” Sophia narrowed her left eye and cocked her head towards the left. “Any reason why you are asking that now?” “Sophia, I had an epiphany today about understanding Pokémon. I felt that as your trainer, I have denied you the ability to choose life for yourself. I have failed to read your feelings, only to focus on my own feelings for you.” Fei said. “So you finally got it through that thick skull of yours, eh Fei?” Sophia said, exhaling a breath of relief and happiness. “It only took talking with another Pokémon to understand how restrictive I was with you. Originally, I thought you were with Mono to provide him with some companionship. But, then I realized that there is a lot more between you two than what meets the eye. The news was upsetting for me at first, but then I realized that this was the perfect ironic punishment for me.” Fei said, sitting down with crossed legs. “So… what does this mean for you?” “It means that I have given up trying to romance you or impress you, Sophia. I realized that you do not share the same feelings I had for you and that you have those feelings for another. If you had to have feelings for another, then I am glad that it is with someone who sees you for who you are rather than what you are. His heart is obviously in the right place.” Sophia nuzzled Fei’s face and embraced him by the neck. “Just because I don’t have the same feelings for you doesn’t mean that I value you any less, Fei. You are literally my best friend, and I am so happy that you are my trainer. But… don’t you have any others in your life who you can share those feelings for?” Fei blushed and looked out towards the window. He looked back into Sophia’s eyes and stroked her head. “I’ve heard that Lith likes me a lot more than I thought she would have. I thought she would have kept ignoring me.” “Oh, her? Yeah she definitely has feelings for you. Gnasher told me all about what was in her diary. You should definitely ask her out some time this week.” “So… how did your rescue mission go?” Sophia walked two steps back and rolled her eyes, uttering a frustrated groan and frowning. “The ‘confirmed survivors’ bit was a trap. The survivors turned up to be dead and it was an ambush by the Van’Goth. Luckily, we had a large enough squad to defeat them. Still, that definitely put a damper on my day. But, as long as I was with Mono and I got to see you, then who am I to get upset?” “Well, as long as I was able to make amends with you. I am glad that we worked this out.” Fei stated. “I’m glad that you are alive and okay, Fei.” Sophia opened the door and walked halfway out of the way. “I’m going to Commissioner Cadance’s house. We’ve taken a bit of an interest with each other.” “What kind of interest?” Fei asked. “That will be revealed some time later in our strange journey.” Sophia stated, walking out and closing the door. Fei scratched his head and stood up from the ground. “I’m… not sure how I should feel about that.” Author's Note I guess that Rundas and his buddy are some of the coolest additions to the roster, eh? Okay, I'll shut up now.
Tests and RestSpitfire set her gaze on three different holograms, each of which displayed Mono, Lith and Fei battling against their opponents. Her view shifted to the left hologram, where Mono used a Double Team and evaded gunfire directed towards him. A smirk appeared on her face when the real Mono leaped onto the enemy mecha’s head and crushed its head with a Psychic. She looked towards the middle hologram, rubbing her front hooves together with a grin on her face. In it, Lith clambered onto the mecha and used her Charge Beam against the joints, disabling their use. She then leaped towards the chest, throwing a Psychic-augmented kick at it. She gleamed towards the right hologram and her eyes were witness to Fei knocking away the fingers of the mecha he is facing with a flurry of lightning speed kicks. He leaped over the mecha and thrust his palm through the head. “These three know the ins and outs of a mecha, do they?” Spitfire said to herself. Three holograms spawned in front of her, each in the shape of a tall rectangle. A white glow appeared on them, forming into stamps with a symbol of five stars on them. Spitfire leaned back on her chair with her front hooves wrapped behind her head. Lith glared at the hologram above her watch. “So, I assume that Spitfire recommended you to take the Exo Exam as well?” Mono asked, leaving his room. “Unfortunately. Looks like I will have to cancel my plans for today since we are apparently forced to take this exam.” With her lips curving into a small frown, Lith responded. “What kind of plans?” “Rarity offered to bring me with her to the spa so that we can relax and discuss some things. Nothing much.” Mono opened his mouth and an onomatopoeia of epiphany echoed out of his mouth at a low tone. His mouth formed into a soft smile and he wrapped his paws around Lith’s right paw. “You can always do that after the exam you know. Besides, Spitfire wanted us to take it for a reason. Just imagine us riding in exos of our own!” Lith placed her left paw under her chin and hummed. A slow nod of her head swept her neck. “I can see it… we all die a horrible death because of an explosion.” Mono frowned and his eyelids dropped to a slant. “Wow… do you really mean that?” He replied with a monotone voice. “Nah. Let’s go to the exam now.” A stout building stood towards the west of the H.O.R.S.E. headquarters. Its courtyard is filled with Equusians walking across its large field. Within the crowd, Mono and Lith focused their sight on Fei. He stood by the building’s mouth with his arms crossed and a scowl visible on his face. “Fei!” Lith called out, sprinting towards him. “What are you doing here?” A heavy sigh escaped Fei’s mouth and he looked towards Lith with his lips pursed into a frown. He held out his watch, displaying a hologram above it which contained lettering. “Spitfire mandated me to take the Exo Exam. What a disgusting turn of events.” “I guess… if Spitfire gave you this exam, then you must be good with mechas.” Mono stuttered out. A flat sigh escaped from Fei’s throat. “I suppose so.” Keldeo galloped towards the building, stopping and letting out deep breaths. “Did I make it on time?” He asked, panting between words. “Make it for what?” Lith asked. Keldeo regained his composure and his breathing stabilized. “For the Exo Exam. I was at the other half of the city when I received it. So, I sprinted all the way over here in less than five minutes to see if I made it on time.” “Isn’t this city twenty square miles?! Considering that you couldn’t simply run across the city, you had to at least be going two hundred and forty miles an hour!” Mono shouted with disbelief pouring out of his voice. “Three hundred and sixty miles an hour, but my speed is irrelevant in this situation. I spend one morning with Rarity’s parents and something this big happens to me.” Keldeo said. “I assume you three are here for your exam as well?” “Yep. Spitfire recommended us as well. Now how about we enter the building?” Mono suggested. The four walked through the double doors of the building. Their eyes were greeted by a large and open foyer with a glass dome roof, where light shined down the floor. A chestnut-coated jack with blue eyes and a chocolate mane and tail sat behind a desk with bits of coding floating through the digital ocean upon it. The donkey looked forward and grinned. “Ah, you must be the four who Spitfire recommended to take the test. I have your names recorded in this reservation reservoir. Those taking the test head to the east wing for the writing portion.” He said, pointing to his left. “Thank you very much, sir.” Lith said. “Aww, please. People called my dad ‘sir’. Just call me Dominic.” Dominic responded. “Dominic… it’s finally nice to see someone with a name I am familiar with. Then again… no one we knew has names that are standard.” Mono commented. “Oh just wait until Hearth’s Warming season comes around. I get real festive.” A large room sat at the end of the wing. Its floor was a navy blue carpet and trapezoid-shaped desks lined up in four rows and four columns. A large and imposing griffon with black feathers and brown eyes sat at a rectangular desk in front of the room. A small growl escaped his voice. “Your four are late.” He said. Mono’s nerves tensed up. He forced his neck to look down towards the watch. “The exam is eleven o’clock, right? Aren’t we here at eleven?” The griffon narrowed his eyes to a scowl and flew towards Mono. He pointed towards the seconds of the analog-functioning clock. “You four are fifteen seconds late. Many things can happen in fifteen seconds. I could have died in those seconds and you would have never known!” He shouted. Lith clenched her right paw and bore her teeth. Her blood bubbled to a boil and a small growl passed through her mouth. “I apologize for being late, sir. I promise it wouldn’t happen again.” Mono squeaked out through a tight throat and his neck tucked behind his shoulders. The griffon glanced towards Lith, and a stream of air blew out through his nostrils. “Don’t get prissy with me, young lady. I’m the one handing out your exam.” “And what if I am?! Will you fail me because you screamed at my brother, who doesn’t take that sort of thing lightly?! You need to be more tactful about how you do things and be more understanding of how everyone is, sir.” The griffon fired a fierce glance into Lith’s eyes and growled. “You have guts, kid. I’ll let that act of aggression slide, but don’t get too comfortable with it.” He walked back to his table, carrying eight packets within his talons. He passed two out each to the four tables in the front. Mono, Lith, Fei and Keldeo sat at each table with the packets and flipped through them, scrolling their eyes through their contents. The griffon cleared his throat, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. “My name is Commander Uppercut, and I shall be your exam proctor for this session. To your left is a study guide, and to the right is the actual test itself. I will give you each ten minutes to look over the guide. After that, you must start taking the test or you fail. Got that?” Uppercut stated with a booming voice. Mono skimmed through the pages of the study guide, flipping through them with butter consistency. He picked up his pen and began scribbling. Lith was the next one to pick up her pen. Though her speed was slower than Mono’s, she still burned a hole in the paper. Keldeo glanced towards Fei, who wrote on his exam packet with a patient and steady speed. Keldeo’s face cascaded with sweat, looking down at the exam in front of him. He levitated the pen towards the packet. “Alright… so what is the name of the program that an Exo unit uses?” He whispered to himself, scribbling in the answer. “Okay, next question; what should every pilot do when an Exo’s stabilizer goes critical?” Uppercut eyed the test takers in the classroom and his gaze focused upon Mono, who let go of a pen that burned with steamy friction. With a vivid smile on his face, he stood up and walked over to the front desk, handing the packet over to Uppercut. “Here you go, sir.” Mono said. Uppercut skimmed his talons through the packet and his eyes glanced over the contents. His beak dropped to the desk, eyeing the essays of writing done on the packet. “This is your first time taking this exam, right?” He asked. “Yes, sir. It wasn’t so bad after I glanced over what I needed to glance over. Plus, I have a good amount of background information on exos since Flash Sentry forced me to understand one inside and out.” Mono responded. “Done!” Lith called out, raising her pen in the air. She stood up and walked towards Uppercut, slamming her exam packet on the desk with a sly smile oozing with confidence. Uppercut looked through Lith’s packet, and his lower beak dropped down to the floor. “B-but how? No one has ever been able to finish these exams in the speed that you two have!” “It helps that we used to write reports for a living. Analysis and research are our skills after all.” Mono stated. “Fine. Wait outside for your other companions to finish.” Uppercut groaned out, pointing towards the door. Mono and Lith sat on two seats by the door, gazing at each other with relieved smiles. “So, how did you think you did on the exam?” Mono asked. “Probably not as good as you, but pretty well. How do you think the others would do?” “I saw Keldeo sweating bullets and Fei is writing at his own pace, but I think they will do fine. It wasn’t too much of a hard exam.” “Mono, why do you think Arceus sent us all here?” Lith asked. Mono’s head shifted upwards and turned towards Lith’s direction with an instant speed. “You know, I haven’t really thought about it. With all of the crazy events going on in this world, pondering our existence here hasn’t really crawled into my mind. What’s even more unusual is that the phenomenon was apparently global, but I don’t see nearly as many Pokémon as I should.” “That part is a bit unusual. I’m sure Professor Pasque is studying it right now.” Lith stated, looking forwards. She held her paw towards the direction of the wall and began shifting it in a circle. The tip sparked to life with a mystic energy. “What are you doing there?” Mono asked with a smile oozing intrigue plastered on his face. “It is time that I’ve started learning some new moves. I found my current movepool to be a bit lackluster, so I decided to train my psychokinetic abilities to use some new techs.” Lith’s paw tips ignited with fire, sapping away all of Mono’s attention. “Did you just use your psychic abilities to produce fire?” “I discovered it while I was training out in the field. It should be useful for igniting any amount of opposition on fire. But, it only works on rows for some reason. It also isn’t terribly powerful, but it’s definitely more useful than Magical Leaf.” Mono grinned and held his paws up to his face. “I wish I could shoot fire out of my paws.” Lith chuckled under her breath. The fire on her paws vanished without a trace. “I’m not sure if you can do something like that, but I’m very sure you can do other things with your brand of moves. While your Heal Pulse is cool, I bet you want it so that it can work on yourself right?” “You’re right, Lith. I can use Heal Pulse, but I bet that I can make this move my own to help myself out better. Any tips?” Mono asked. “Just don’t try to force it or have control over it. Start off with the most basic form of Heal Pulse and rank it up in your own regard from there.” Lith responded, patting his right shoulder. The door opened, revealing a trembling Keldeo and a calm Fei walking out of the room. “So how do you think you did?” Fei asked, looking towards Keldeo. “I think I did good. I think.” With his head looking around and a nervous in his voice, he responded. “So I see you two got out of Commander Uppercut’s exam alive and well.” Lith said with a jovial smile. “I’m not too sure about how I did, but we got out in one piece. That test was admittedly difficult.” Fei responded, rolling his eyes out to his right and hissing. “I still hate that Spitfire forced us to do this.” “I feel you, Fei. I thought I was doing very well without an exo of my own. I guess that Spitfire needs as many people able to pilot exos as possible.” Keldeo responded. “So… are we free to leave?” Lith asked. “Uppercut says that he won’t have our grades until tomorrow, so it is a safe assumption to say yes.” Fei stated. “Well, I guess I’m leaving then. I have some lab work to do.” Mono stood up from the seat and poised his direction towards the nearby door. “Not. So. Fast!” Uppercut shouted, bursting his way through the door. Mono raised his shoulders and ducked his head. “What is it, sir?” He said with a shaken voice. Uppercut flew in front of Mono, staring him down and pointing his talon close to his eyes. “I’ve looked through all of the exams and saw something of yours that interested me. You’ve written a theory saying that the core processor on our exos can be improved? Even if we have the latest model right now?!” Hearing his words, Lith grimaced and looked away. “Yes sir. The latest model suffers from some performance issues. It is also vulnerable to hackers, making it a poor choice to use against foes with superior technological capability than ours.” Mono explained. “A techie, eh? Seems like Spitfire was right when she said you four had potential as pilots.” Uppercut crossed his talons together, stood on his hind legs and gazed at the four test takers before him. “Eh, you four are free to go. Spitfire’ll ring you up when the simulation portion is ready.” A red and white-checkered floor sprawled before Mono, Lith, Fei and Keldeo’s eyes. Equusians sat upon metal stools with red cushions by the counter, eyeing a coffee-coated earth pony mare in a white apron and hat flip disks of meat at the stove. She pressed the spatula gripped in her right front hoof on one of the patties, forcing an eruption of steam. Mono and Lith’s ears perked up at the sizzle reaching their range of hearing. “I’m surprised we never came here before.” Mono noted. “This is a very good diner run by an honest mare. Some say she’s even a distant relative of the Apple Family.” Keldeo explained. “Naturally, Applejack recommended that we eat here.” “I would love to stay and eat with you three, but I promised Rarity that I would meet her at the spa today.” Lith said. “Alright. I guess I will see you later then, Lith.” Mono replied, waving his right paw. Lith turned around and walked out of the door, taking a left down the street. Mono directed his attention towards Fei and Keldeo. “So… who’s hungry?” Rarity glanced down upon her watch, humming with a small scowl forming on her face and tapping her right back hoof. She set her gaze forward, seeing Lith walk towards her. She smiled and waved. “Rarity!” Lith shouted, running towards Rarity’s side. “I thought you would not show up, Lith.” Rarity stated. “After we finished the written portion of our exam, we decided to head over to a diner. I only went to check it out since I like diners, but I knew we had our day together.” Lith said. “I’m glad you hadn’t forgotten, Lith. One question; have you ever visited a spa before?” “Not really. There weren’t too many instances where I got to visit one.” Rarity grinned and grasped Lith’s left paw with her right hoof. “Then you will enjoy this one. I know the owners, as we are childhood friends. I’m sure we can get something that will make that coat of yours shine.” With a hurried excitement in her tone, she dragged Lith through the glass doors of the building. The first feature that caught Lith’s eyes was the large and open space of the area. Her eyes rolled towards the tables with clients resting on them with closed eyes. Their smiles formed a radiant curve as Equusians with white t-shirts rubbed them down. Rarity looked over towards the counter, looking at two earth pony mares; one had a blue coat and a pink mane and tail while the other had a pink coat and a blue mane and tail. They each had eyes that resembled pristine seas. The two glanced back towards Rarity, smiled and walked over to her. The three mares embraced each other. “Aloe! Lotus! How have you two been doing since I last saw you?” Rarity asked. “Business is doing well. Thanks to your group’s efforts, we maintain a steady stream of needed materials used to carry out our services.” The blue mare, Aloe, said. “So do you want the usual, Rarity? We know just how you like it.” The pink mare, Lotus, asked. “Actually, I am here with a friend today. I want you to help make her coat shine.” Rarity responded, pointing towards Lith. “Oh! My apologies!” Aloe stated, walking over towards Lith. “I almost did not notice you. My name is Aloe.” “Hello, Aloe. My name is Lith. Rarity insisted that I visited your spa after taking the written portion of my Exo Exam.” “And she is right to say so.” Lotus responded. “You have nice colors, but I bet we can make it shine further with our kelp and diamond oil deal.” Lith’s eyes shot open and a shaky laughter escaped from her voice. “That sounds a bit expensive.” “Very. Diamond oil is very hard to create and the ingredients are expensive. While kelp is easy to find, we don’t really like keeping it on our premises too often since it is hard to maintain. Normally, the treatment would cost twelve thousand bits. But, because you are a friend of Rarity’s and her efforts with helping us out saved us a minimum of twenty thousand bits, we can give you the package for free.” Aloe explained. “Ummm… that’s very generous of you two. Are you sure you would want to do that for someone you’ve never met?” Lith asked, zoning her left paw to herself. “Oh, we insist. Any friend of Rarity’s is a friend of ours. Plus, you seem like a nice enough… err…” Lotus hesitated and looked to her left and right. Her sight focused on Rarity. “What did you say she was again?” “She’s a Pokémon, Lotus. There aren’t too many, but they wish to help us.” Rarity stated. “Ah, right. My apologies, Lith. You are the first Pokémon I’ve seen, so I did not know how to respond when I saw you.” “It’s alright, Lotus. I wasn’t even sure if I was a Pokémon or not when I first came here.” The four of them exchanged a round of laughter. Aloe placed her right hoof on Lith’s right shoulder. “You are too funny, Lith. I am dying to hear more of your stories as we do our work on you.” Mono sipped a concoction of chocolate ice cream and milk through a straw, letting the sweet flavors rush through his mouth. Fei pinched golden fries with a red coloring on them, tossing them into his mouth. With a fork and knife enshrouded in a deep blue aura, Keldeo tore into the red flesh of the watermelon amidst a bed of leaves and golden sauce, bringing the food to his mouth. Fei shifted his gaze towards Mono with a despondent frown on his face. “Ummm… Mono?” He whirred out. Mono released the straw from the grip of his lips and looked upon Fei. “Yes, Fei?” “Can you tell me what a few of Lith’s favorite hobbies are?” Fei asked, tilting his head. “I’m… not sure why you would ask me that. Asking Lith herself would be a better option.” Mono responded, sipping his chocolate shake once more. “Well, considering that you are her brother and everything, I thought it would be best to ask you this question. I can’t really ask your sister this question directly.” Keldeo swallowed his food and turned towards Fei with an innocent smile plastered on his face. “I’m not too familiar with this guy talk, but it sounds like you’re trying to hit on Lith.” Mono’s eyes jolted open and the suction of the beverage stopped. “Is this true, Fei? You want to ask Lith out?” “What?! No! I mean, Keldeo’s putting words in my mouth! I never said anything about wanting to ask your sister out!” Fei shouted with words blurring at a quick pace. “You got to believe me, Mono.” “It’s alright if you have feelings for my sister, Fei. I’m fine with you being with my sister as long as you don’t do anything that will make you regret being with her.” Mono responded, smiling and putting his head back on the booth seat. “Hah! I knew it!” Keldeo stated, stomping his right front hoof on the desk with a confident smirk on his face. “But anyways, I can tell you since we are all guys here. Lith doesn’t have interests that you would expect her to have. She’s a lady of action and always likes to have something happening. She gets bored when the doldrums of life hit and she would go out on an adventure with Rundas at times. She’s also a bit of a romantic nut, so you could probably woo her with some lines from a cheesy work of romance and journey to some exotic location.” Mono explained. “That seems simple enough.” Fei noted. “It’s not. She’d want to do something extreme like leap down into a chasm to explore its depths or fight some monstrosity. The point is that you better be able to keep her off her toes. It’s never simple.” “…Really? That sounds a bit extreme. But, thank you for the information, Mono.” Mono shifted his eyes towards Keldeo, who listened onto the conversation with a serene smile on his face. “So how are you doing, Keldeo? I think this is the first time we have interacted.” Keldeo turned his gaze towards Mono. “I’m doing fine. The test was a bit difficult, but it wasn’t anything too bad. Commander Uppercut was kind of vicious with you though.” “I really wished he wasn’t, but we cannot change what had happened. Also, I could have sworn he flashed a quick smile in my direction as we left.” “I can attest to that. He does see potential in all of us, so it would be in our best interests to try our hardest in the simulation portion.” Fei said. “This is true. How do you feel about everything, Keldeo?” Mono asked. “A bit nervous. I never thought I would be taking an exam like this.” “Neither did I. Piloting a mecha was the last thing I wanted to do. I wonder if the potential Spitfire saw in me was misplaced.” Fei said, shaking his head. “You have plenty of potential. Out of everyone in the room, you kept your cool the longest. That automatically gives you the proper mindset for piloting a mecha.” Keldeo responded. “Regardless of the result, the three of us are finally able to talk with each other in peace. So…” Mono held out his empty cup and flashed a small smile. “Let us commemorate this event by clasping our cups together.” Fei and Keldeo both grasped their empty cups with their appendages and clashed it against Mono’s cup. Lith lied back on a recliner with green straps of kelp wrapped around her body. Her fur glistened with the radiance of diamonds save her ears. Next to her, Rarity was garbed in a pink robe and laid back on a chair. Lotus filed away at her hind hooves. Both Lith and Rarity had a green paste masking their face and had disks of cucumbers cover their eyes. “So Rarity, was there any reason why Keldeo was over at your parents’ home? It seems kind of suspicious that he would do that.” Lith asked. “He’s very good friends with my parents. You could say that they practically raised him, even if he was raised in the orphanage.” Rarity said. “I didn’t like the thoughts of orphanages at first, but Chili Spice proved me wrong in that regard. She is quite amazing as a foster mother from what I’ve seen.” Rarity sat up, lifted away the disk of cucumber over her right eye, and directed it towards Lith. “So you met Chili Spice? That jenny and her lineage have always worked hard to maintain a good reputation for orphanages. My parents are friends with her parents. It was through them when I first met Keldeo, after all.” Aloe held out a vanilla-covered box and opened it, revealing a fresh set of kelp inside. She unraveled the seaweed around Lith’s body. “How do you like your treatment so far, Lith?” She asked. “It’s wonderful so far. My nerves already feel relaxed. I definitely needed this when I saw how Uppercut screamed at Mono.” Lith responded. “He’s not the most pleasant griffon to be around, is he? I remember when I took my exam underneath him; he screamed at me for my aesthetic-based answers rather than core answers.” Rarity stated. “I wanted to rearrange his senses so that he would smell out of his eyes, hear through his mouth and see through his ears. But… I held back because that wouldn’t do either of us any good.” Aloe formed a tight seal on the fresh kelp wrapped around Lith’s body. “So you mention that Mono is your twin brother, yes? Lotus and I are also twins, albeit we were separated from birth. But, when the Van’Goth invaded, we were brought together once again and apprenticed in anatomical arts. Healing and relaxation is what we focus on, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t use our knowledge and skills for… less savory occupations.” Lith lifted her right paw out of the kelp wrap and lifted away the disk over her eye. “You mean that you are assassins, right?” Aloe breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank Deus that was your first assumption, which is actually quite correct. We take jobs from the council of Neo Canterlot itself to assassinate any potential threats to our way of life among our population.” “Due to our impressive anatomical knowledge, we know all of the nervous passageways of a body and which ones to stun. We select special poisons depending on size, race, gender and other physical features to do the job.” Lotus explained. “That sounds intimidating. Are you sure you should even be telling us this?” Lith asked. “We always tell our close clients this information. Even if they did believe us, there isn’t much that they can do about it since we are under contractual protection due to the council itself. We also always have a view from the sky, so that helps in our endeavors.” Aloe responded. “Interesting. But, if it is for the good of Neo Canterlot, then I have no qualms with you.” “You took it much better than I did when I first heard this, Lith.” Rarity commented. “Eh, I had a lot of crazy things happen in my life. Knowing that spa owners are assassins actually sounds down to earth for me.” A chuckle escaped from Aloe and Lotus’s mouths. “You’re alright, Lith. I definitely hope you become a regular client with us.” Aloe admitted. “It would definitely be my pleasure. Who knows, I may even bring my brother as well.” Lith’s watch signaled a flurry of beeps. She lifted her left paw out of the seaweed and gazed at it. “What does it say, Lith?” Rarity asked. “It seems like the next portion of the exam starts now. Looks like I have to cut my treatment short.” With a frown, Lith responded. “Do not worry, Lith. The treatment is already ninety five percent complete. Do what you have to do.” Aloe stated. Lith wriggled out of the kelp wrap and sprinted towards the door. “I will definitely come back another day!” Author's Note I blame Smash 4's DLC for this taking much longer to write than it should.
SimulationLith rushed towards H.O.R.S.E. headquarters’s gates and sprinted towards the right, following the sounds of mechanical joints whirring in the distance. In front of a blue building laden with silicon cells and holograms were Mono, Fei and Keldeo. The three of them eyed Lith in the distance, waving towards her direction. “Hey Lith!” Mono shouted. Lith slowed her steps down to a walk, allowing her lustrous fur to glitter in the sunlight. Keldeo whistled. “Wow! You look stunning right now, Lith. Did the spa have some sort of special or something today?” “The spa owners owed Rarity a favor. She used that favor to make my fur shine and help me relax, which I needed after confronting Commander Uppercut.” Lith responded. Fei turned his head away, averting his sight from Lith. A faint rush of blood appeared on his cheeks. “Regardless, I’m glad that you had the time to relax. Keldeo, Fei and I really got to hit it off while you were away.” Mono stated. “But anyways, I’m ready for the simulation portion of my exam. What about you all?” “I’m definitely ready to kick some tail.” Lith stated, pumping her right paw down. “If it is anything like Rarity showed me, then I should do fine.” Keldeo responded. “I can’t believe I am saying this, but I feel ready to ride in a mech of my own.” Fei answered. The door of the building slid open, revealing an opaque air within. Mono, Lith, Fei and Keldeo walked down the dark hallway leading towards the infinite abyss. Mono held his left paw out, feeling for the wall with an anxious frown masked by the darkness. “Ummm… I don’t do too well in darkness. Are you sure we are going the right way?” “I’m certain… I think. H.O.R.S.E. wouldn’t have a dark hallway like this, now would they?” Lith reasoned. “I think this may be a part of the test. Being a pilot requires courage, after all.” Fei stated. Keldeo spearheaded the group’s advance. For what felt like an infinite amount of time, his face finally smacked against a hard surface. He stepped back and rubbed his snout with his right front hoof. “It seems like we made it to the end.” “Way ahead of you in that regard.” Mono responded, walking around the room in an octagon-shaped pattern. The room lit up with life, revealing four spiraling circles heading out of four of the walls. Four seats with four straps each, black sticks on the right arms with red buttons on top and a host of buttons and a lever on the dashboard on the left arms. “I guess we are supposed to sit down in these chairs?” Lith asked, shrugging her shoulders. The group sat within the chairs, placing on the straps over the buckles. The walls, ceiling and floor came to life, emitting a vibrant landscape that is similar to a sunny day on the Terraformed Wilderness plains. Everyone sitting in the chairs looked to their left and right, seeing no traces of the others. “Greetings everyone.” A voice called out through an intercom. “This is Commander Spitfire here, giving you the simulation portion of your exam.” “I have many questions. First of all, why is an entire building built to house this one room?” Mono asked. “Always asking the background questions, eh? I guess I can answer that for you. This building is a super projector of sorts. You’re surprised that you can’t see anyone else, right? Well, look around once more.” Spitfire responded. On the field were four exos, each one representing the colors of the test takers. Each of them possessed lines flashing with blue lights. On each view flashed three holographic screens featuring the other test takers. “This is pretty cool. It’s like I’m actually in a mecha.” Keldeo noted. “And that’s the effect that we’ve strived to create in this facility. Now, as you know, the simulation placed you in the position of pilots within exos. Here are the rules for the four-person version of the test; you see that walled city in the distance?” With Spitfire’s question declared, a silver-walled city with a lime green pulsating shield phased into existence. “I see it, Spitfire. I guess we have to protect it?” Lith asked. “Precisely. This is a cooperative mission, meaning you four have to work together to defeat waves of enemies. You all pass the test when the enemy threat is eliminated and the city is still standing, but you all will fail if the city is destroyed. Is this understood?” “I understand. United we stand and united we fall. Therefore, we all have to do our part in this test.” Mono stated. A horde of mechanical spiders spawned by the coast of the digital sea. Fei readied the stance of his exo. He looked towards Mono’s screen, seeing him fumble with the stick. “Need some help?” He asked. “Use the lever and stick in conjunction to move forward.” Mono grasped the lever with his left paw. With his paw on the stick, he moved both forward. His exo advanced towards the horde. Pressing the green button on the dashboard, a flurry of missiles shot towards the crabs. “Thanks, Fei.” “No problem.” Fei responded, smashing his exo’s foot into the ground near the spiders. Lith’s exo extended its arms outwards, releasing a volley of missiles from its shoulders and into the horde. Several explosions blasted the spiders away. Keldeo’s exo held its hand out. A storm of bullets erupted from its fingertips, firing away at the mechanical spiders. The remaining enemies exploded from the shells piercing their armor. A loud beep signaled across the digital world. From the other side of the city, ten giant crabs snapped their blue and metallic pincers. They scuttled towards the city’s walls. Mechanized eagles with razor-sharp talons dove down from the coast of the sky towards the city. “Oh great! Now they’re attacking from both sides!” Lith stated, clenching her teeth. Lith’s exo leaped into the air. It grabbed one of the eagles by its left talon and swung it towards two more eagles. A flurry of bullets flew out of Fei’s exo’s shoulders, peppering the eagles swarming towards Lith’s exo in its fiery fury. “Thanks for having my back, Fei.” “Always glad to be of assistance.” Mono and Keldeo’s exos sprinted towards the giant crabs. A pincer smacked itself against the head of Mono’s exo. Mono’s seat shook with intense vibrations. He grimaced. “A bit realistic, isn’t it?” He asked with sarcasm dripping from his tone. Keldeo’s exo launched its fist underneath the crab, uppercutting it onto its backside. “Mono! Attack its weak point for massive damage!” Keldeo shouted. “You just wanted to say that, didn’t you?” Mono responded, leaping onto the soft underbelly of the crab. “Yes I did.” With the crab no longer moving, Mono’s exo leaped towards another crab and smashed its fist onto the shell of the crab. The crab raised its pincers and swung it to its right. Mono’s exo raised its right arm, deflecting the blow. It raised its leg, kicking the crab and launching it across the digital hemisphere. Keldeo’s exo vaulted above a crab. It pulled out a sword, stabbing it through the top of the crab. Removing the sword from the crab, showers of sparks erupted from the wound. “Well, that’s wave two so far.” Keldeo said. “How’s everyone doing so far?” “Mono here; a bit rough, but I’m doing fine.” Mono responded. “Lith here; I suffered a bit of damage on my end. But, I’m still good to go.” Lith stated. “Fei here; I am in optimal condition.” Fei answered. “This wave will be a bit different.” Spitfire announced. A stressful ticking erupted from the epicenter of the city. Each of the pilots flashed glances towards each other. “Ummm… what was that noise?” Mono asked, tilting his head in puzzlement. “I have set you up with the bomb in the city to spice things up. You have ten minutes to find the bomb in the city and disarm it. In addition, a new wave of powerful enemies will be spawned at the same time. Hope you like dual challenges like that.” Spitfire responded, chuckling with an evil undertone in her voice. All around the city, mechanical dragons with large and gaping wings spawned. They unleashed a fiery breath towards the walls of the city, melting away the metal exterior. “Dear Arceus! Those dragons are destroying the city!” Mono shouted. “On top of that, there’s a bomb somewhere within the city. One of us will have to go into the city to find and disarm the bomb. The rest of us…” Keldeo paused with a gulp on air. “Will have to face those dragons.” “I’ll go. Disarming a bomb should be like field research.” Lith stated. “I trust you, Lith. We’ll try our best to defend the city from these dragons.” Mono responded. Lith’s exo’s body rearranged itself, forming into the shape of a horse. It galloped towards the city. Mono, Fei and Keldeo glanced towards each other, nodding with silent understanding. Fei’s exo leaped into the air, grasping one of the airborne dragons by its tail. The dragon flapped its wings higher and swung its tail towards the city, smashing Fei’s exo into the wall. “Fei!” Mono shouted. “Don’t worry, Mono. It’s just a scratch.” Fei stated, his face grimacing from the violent shake from his seat. His exo held its left arm out towards the dragon. Its fist launched into the dragon’s face, shattering its head. The corpse of the dragon fell to the ground. Fei’s exo leaped from the wall and twisted through the air, locking on his systems to a nearby dragon. A red glob shot out of its wrist, adhering onto the dragon. The glob flashed with a brilliant orange, setting the dragon on fire. “Cool. Two in one!” Keldeo complimented. “I might need a bit of help here.” With his exo being bombarded with seven flaming breaths, Mono pleaded. “I’m coming by to help!” Lith’s exo scoured across the digital city, checking across the vast streets and narrow alleys. With the ticking of the clock echoing louder and the timer running down, a panicked whine escaped her lips. “Okay, calm down. If I were a bomb, then where would I hide it?” She asked herself. She closed her eyes, her ears twitching and listening on to the source of the noise. She opened her eyes, smiling with a confident grin. Her exo sprinted towards the west of the city. A replica of H.O.R.S.E. headquarters and a black device at the gate’s base came into sight. Lith approached the oval-shaped bomb. Her exo grasped it with its right hand. The bottom of the bomb sprouted eight legs and grew to the size of a stadium that towered her exo. Lith narrowed her eyes and smacked her face with her right paw. “Oh come on! Now I have to beat the bomb?!” She shouted. A hologram display of Mono showed itself within her field of vision. His seat rumbled and he clenched his teeth with closed eyes. “Need help there, Lith?” He asked. “Yes. Very much. Apparently, the bomb is a boss enemy.” Lith responded. Two hologram displays of Keldeo and Fei appeared within Lith’s line of sight. “Fei and I have these dragons covered.” Keldeo stated, grunting and directing his stick in a diagonal movement. “Go help your sister, Mono.” “Explosive enemies are no laughing matter, especially if they are boss enemies. We’ll cover your path inside.” Fei said. “Thanks guys. So where are you now, Lith?” Mono asked. “Outside of H.O.R.S.E. headquarters. But you might want to hurry because this thing is trying to stab me.” Jamming her stick’s movements to the left and right, Lith answered. Lith’s exo dodged a tendril stabbing at it. It leaped into the air and unleashed a volley of missiles down to the ground. The bomb spider leaped towards the right, firing a stream of fire towards the exo’s direction. Lith looked to her right, eyeing the gauge listed as ‘energy’ dropping down to less than half of its amount. She pressed on a combination of two buttons on the dashboard and shifted her stick to the right. Her mecha dashed out of the line of fire, unloading a stream of lasers and bullets towards the bomb spider. The bomb spider held up two of its legs in a cross, blocking a small percent of the projectiles striking it. Lith leaped forward and punched it in its body, launcing it towards the building. The bomb spider braced its legs against the building and leaped off of the wall. It lunged its legs within the joints of Lith’s exo. Lith’s seat vibrated with a violent shake, eliciting a wince and a tight grip of the arms on the chair. She set her eyes on the energy gauge. She scowled when it reached down to a tenth of the full bar. “Get. Off!” She shouted. Her exo pulled its right arm back and punched it in the body, knocking it onto the ground. The bomb spider stood up and opened a compartment underneath its body. Several metal balls rolled out of the gap and along the floor. The exo dove towards the right, avoiding the stream of balls and the ensuing explosion from them. The exo held its right arm out towards the bomb spider, launching a fist into the bomb spider. Her exo leaped up towards the top of the building. The bomb spider turned around and shifted its optical sensors around. Mono’s exo dropped down onto it, striking its top with a fist at sonic speed. His exo then kicked it towards the gate. “It’s about time you got here, Mono.” With her exo dropping down to the ground, Lith said. “I would have been here sooner, but some of the dragons were blocking the path into the city. Are you alright?” “Yes, but my exo’s energy levels are down to ten percent. My exo can’t really sustain any more damage.” “My exo’s energy levels are down to fifteen percent. So, it looks like we have to take care of this bomb with an eighth of our combined energy levels.” Mono said. A sharp grin emerged on Lith’s face. “We’ve had much tougher challenges than this. All we need is just even one percent of our combined teamwork and we can permanently disarm this bomb.” Lith’s exo leaped onto Mono’s shoulders, vaulting off of them and aiming its arms towards the bomb spider below. A stream of lasers fired from its wrists and clanged against the armor of the bomb. Mono’s exo fired a large missile from its shoulder, bursting into flames upon collision with the spider. The fiery heat of the explosion chipped away at the metal coating of the spider. Past the exoskeleton is a dual tank which transferred a golden liquid through a pipe underneath a torch. “Huh. So that is how it is capable of shooting flamethrowers.” Lith noted. Her exo stomped down on the bomb spider’s tanks. The liquid burst out of the spider and spilled onto the virtual ground. “Lith. You go help out Fei and Keldeo. I’ll stick behind to make sure that this is properly defused.” Mono instructed. “Right.” Lith nodded. Her exo transformed into a pony shape and galloped out of the gate. Mono’s exo touched upon the spraying wires of the bomb. Keldeo’s exo stabbed through a dragon and slashed upwards. The dragon fell onto the ground with the top portion of its body bisected. Fei’s exo became drowned out in flames. “Fei! Are you alright?!” Keldeo shouted. “I’m fine.” Fei grunted through his teeth. “But my exo can’t handle much more of these flames.” His exo leaped back and fired a volley of missiles towards the dragon in front of it. The ensuing explosions erupted in a veil of black smoke. Fei’s exo sidestepped its way through the smoke towards the back of the dragon. It launched its fist forward, but the dragon smacked it away with a swipe of its tail. Fei gasped. “I’m coming, Fei!” Keldeo shouted, leaping into the air and slashing the back of the dragon. The smoke subsided and the dragon fell to the ground. Fei sighed and smiled. “Thanks for having my back, Keldeo.” “Not a problem.” Keldeo responded. A dragon that is five times larger than the other dragons descended upon the two exos. It had two red eyes and the metal on it was blacker than night. It roared in their faces. Lith’s exo ran from the mouth of the city, firing a barrage of bullets at the dragon. The dragon gazed at Lith with a fiery stare. “You won’t be hurting any of my partners. If you want to get to them, you’ll have to go through me!” Lith shouted. The city and landscape vanished into darkness and the octagon-shaped room flashed back into existence. “Uhhh… did we do something wrong?” Mono asked. “I’m not too sure, Mono. It was very unusual how the simulation stopped there.” Fei stated. The four unbuckled themselves and plopped their feet and hooves onto the ground. A set of doors hidden within a nearby wall slid apart, revealing a smiling Spitfire and Fluttershy. “Spitfire! Fluttershy! Why did you two come out of a hidden set of doors?” Lith asked. “Why, I wanted to congratulate you four on completing the simulation portion of your exam!” Spitfire answered. “Wait… we passed? But, we didn’t finish all of our requirements.” Fei stated. “The bomb was disarmed and the waves of enemies were mostly defeated. Plus, you four have shown the true meaning of camaraderie that we look for in pilots. As far as I’m concerned, you four have the great making to be exo pilots.” Spitfire assured. “You four were amazing. I was with Spitfire because I eventually want to be a certified pilot and I’ve noticed that you used some very interesting formation tactics.” Fluttershy stated. “The way that you split up into different groups to take care of sub objectives comes to mind.” “That’s nice to say. It was definitely a difficult task, especially with the realistic effects happening.” Mono said. “Neo Canterlot put in a lot of money to ensure that we deliver the best quality exams for our test takers. I will share your results with the rest of the Board of H.O.R.S.E.” Spitfire stated. “Now Fluttershy, it would be a bit different when you eventually take your test. But, I have the utmost confidence in you. You are quickly developing into a fine soldier on the field in addition to your other talents.” “Thank you for your words, Spitfire. I promise that I will live up to those expectations if I do not exceed them at the very least.” Fluttershy said with a moving voice. A casual smile appeared on Spitfire’s face. She knocked her right hoof into Fluttershy’s right shoulder. “You’re doing me proud already. As for the rest of you, you have the rest of the day off to do whatever.” Big Macintosh sat alone on the bench in the exo bay, gazing at the ground and sighing. He lifted his right hoof to his face, gazing at the fetlock at the end. “Big Mac! There you are!” Applejack shouted, running toward towards Big Macintosh. “Are you still feeling down about the loss of our friends in the last battle?” “Yep.” Big Macintosh uttered out. “Don’t feel so bad about it, Big Mac. They placed their lives on the line to defend Neo Canterlot’s way of life. They all died heroic deaths.” Applejack responded, patting Big Macintosh on his shoulder. “Like how Ma and Pa died when they fought against the Van’Goth? You know that they died because the Van’Goth learned from the tactics of the Heavy Armor division at the time. Now, they’ve learned the Pokémon’s moves as well.” “I suppose that is true. H.O.R.S.E. was quite ignorant when they deployed our parents and the Heavy Armor division to that area for battle. But, soldiers will die sooner or later in battle. We are literally living like it is the last day of our lives every day at H.O.R.S.E.” “That’s why I worry, little sis. I worry because I might lose you to the army. Then little Apple Bloom would be next and then I’ll have no more siblings… Why can’t this war just end?” Big Macintosh asked, rubbing his face into his front hooves. “This war would have ended two months ago if the Pokémon never decided to aid us in our efforts. We owe them our lives up to this point.” Applejack commented. Big Macintosh stood up from the bench and looked out towards the gate leading into the Terraformed Wilderness. “I’ll be off to do some things like recon and stuff. Don’t go looking for me, Applejack, for I will come back on my own time. If I run into trouble, I’ll let the others know of my situation.” “Alright, Big Mac, but be careful out there. It still isn’t too safe.” Applejack warned. Big Macintosh walked down the road, looking back at Applejack with a frown. He looked forward with no further movements of his head. Author's Note Writing battles from a mech point of view is weird to do. But, hopefully you enjoy this chapter as well.
ConfrontationAuthor's Note A bit of a warning; the contents of this chapter are a bit dark. Whether that is an understatement or not, I'll let you decide that. Confrontation “Good mission, everyone!” Rundas called out to the back towards Rondo, Stereo, Jasmine, Gnasher, Custard, Sophia and Boreas. “I am glad that mission ended in the way it did. Those timberwolves had no business being that far away from the Everfree Forest.” Jasmine stated. “I know right? They would cause problems if they kept wandering too close around the town like that.” Sophia responded with a scoff in her tone. “I should know, since I lived a month in that forest.” “Oh yeah. It’s like how Boreas and I stayed at some ruined city within the mountains for at least a month.” Rundas said. Boreas nodded with a smile on her face. “Regardless, I’m glad to be home in one piece. Then, I can keep placing the finishing touches on my painting.” Stereo stated. “I’ll make sure that it captures your best side, Boreas.” Fluttershy, Mono, Lith, Fei and Keldeo traveled down the hallway and shifted their gaze towards the full room. They grinned and smiled. “Oh, you’re all back.” Mono said. “And just in time to see you four get your pilot licenses, apparently.” Gnasher noted. “But how did you know?” Lith asked. “Ummm… I might have told them via the comms system about your success.” Fluttershy sheeped out. “And we are all very happy for you four. We should celebrate!” Custard suggested. “Celebrating over small successes? It’s somewhat petty of a reason if you ask me.” An upperclass-toned voice sounded out. Everyone focused their gaze on a white-coated unicorn stallion with a stringy blond mane and tail standing by the door. His blue eyes looked down upon the Pokémon. His stare intensified with the cobalt black latex suit he wore. “I don’t think we have met before. Who are you?” Lith asked with an irritated tone. “Blueblood. I’ve heard all about your accomplishments. I really can’t say that I am impressed, however.” Blueblood responded with a prideful tone. “In a way, it’s taking away from the real hero around here.” Lith clenched her right paw and stomped her way towards Blueblood. Using her right paw, she pointed at him with a fiery stare. “You have some nerve talking high and mighty like that. Where were you when the city needed you most?!” She shouted. Blueblood placed his right front hoof on Lith’s paw and brought it down. “I was merely doing recon at the Machiner’s Field continent, learning about the moves of our enemy. You should be careful about who you point that paw against. You never know if you are pointing to the heir of Neo Canterlot itself.” He stated with a smug smile on his face. “Keep talking like that and I’ll make sure you’ll never be able to walk like that again!” Lith threatened, leaning her face into Blueblood’s face. “I would like to see you try. Imagine what would be on the lips of everypony when they hear that you assaulted me. They would brand you and your kind as monsters, even if you have helped us out. My aunties Celestia and Luna would look down upon you and you all would be banished from the city.” Blueblood stated. Lith reeled back her paw and clenched it. It trembled under the gravity under the situation. She took a deep breath and dropped her paw, exhaling a sigh and turning away with a frown. “As punchable as you are right now, I can’t do it. You are one of my allies, as much as I would hate to admit it.” “You have some degree of intelligence yourself. But, there will be times when you have to strike your friend. Not every Equusian here wants to strive towards survival, after all.” Blueblood stated, turning his back and walking away. “I mean no offense to the donkeys here, but that guy is an ass.” Gnasher stated. “Who berates us like that and just walks away?” “Someone with links to royalty. It can’t be helped; he used to be like this even before the arrival of the Van’Goth. But, at least he is working with us and not against us.” Fluttershy explained. “Royalty or not, he has no reason to act like a complete jerk-off.” Rundas stammered out, crossing his arms and turning his head away. “Hehe, you said ‘jerk-off’.” Rondo commented with narrowed eyes and a lewd smile. “Wow, you really are immature.” Rundas noted with slanted eyes. “But anyways, let’s not get that guy to put a damper on our evening. We’re going to have fun and that’s all what matters.” “I suggest we go to the Dance Parlor out by the Commercial District. I feel like getting my groove on.” Jasmine said. “If you don’t mind, Jasmine; can we all go to the arcade in the Crossing District? I’ve always wanted to go there.” Mono asked. “After that simulation? I think I would want to be away from simulation-type machines for the rest of the day. I hear that the Neo Canterlot Garden is a great place to go to.” Lith suggested. “I agree with Lith. Flowers will help keep my mind off of that simulation.” Fei concluded. “That sounds good as well. To the flower garden we go!” Jasmine shouted, pointing her hand out towards the doorway. Professor Pasque entered the room, ducking his head below the door hedge. Behind him was Einstein, who carried a black disk in hand. “Thank Arceus you are all here! I just got a message from Big Macintosh via comms transmission.” Einstein stated, setting the disk on the ground. A beam of light flashed above the disk, revealing a hologram of Big Macintosh’s head. His eyes were wide and he jerked his head with rapid and panicked movements. “I tried getting in contact with the other Pokémon, but they were unavailable for some reason. In my recon, I have encountered a Van’Goth base deep within the Everfree and I am under fire. My legs are shot and I need some aid. Only you Pokémon have the power to help me. I’ll even send the coordinates. Just come as quickly as possible!” The hologram stated. “Oh dear. It seems like Big Mac needs help.” Taking a step back and placing her right front hoof onto her chest, Fluttershy said. “When did you receive this message, Einstein?” Sophia asked. “Just thirty minutes ago. Why do you ask?” Einstein responded. “Nothing. As much as I’d hate going back into the field again, we have to go rescue the big guy’s flank.” “You definitely are spending too much time with the Equusians, Sophia. You’ve taken to adopting their language quirks.” Stereo noted. “Everyone, Big Macintosh says his legs are shot. That can only mean he is in grave danger.” Mono pointed out. “We have no time to lose. We have to rush into the Everfree Forest using these coordinates.” Professor Pasque instructed. “Ummm, may I come along? I know Big Mac asked for Pokémon, but I feel that I have gotten to understand you all enough to be an honorary Pokémon.” Fluttershy requested. “You are always a member of our team, Fluttershy. You are always welcome to come with us.” Lith responded, setting her sights on Keldeo. “Would you like to come with us? It may help discover who you are.” “Positive. I just need to let Rarity know that I’ll be going on a mission with you all.” Keldeo responded. Gnasher let out a snide chuckle and bumped her right elbow into Custard’s arm. “He’s so whipped! Good thing I don’t treat you like that, right?” She whispered. “Nope, but I wouldn’t mind it if you did.” Custard replied. “You really need to grow a backbone one of these days, Custard. Just a request to you as your girlfriend.” “I’ll take that request to heart.” Blueblood strolled down the hallway leading into a large area where Equusians sat at tables with plates of food on them. He sat down on a lone table, sighing with a wide smile on his face. “It is wonderful to be back home after months of spying. Not a familiar continent Equusians can go to, but I never minded. I never got along with the others anyways.” He said to himself, popping open a bottle of lemon-lime soda. With the fizzy syrup entering his mouth, his eyes drifted to the right and detected the Pokémon rushing out of the nearby door. He planted the bottle of soda onto the table and stood up from his seat. He approached Fluttershy, who placed the straps across her rifle with rushed speeds. “Excuse me, Fluttershy, but where are all the Pokémon going?” He asked. “Oh! Blueblood. Big Mac released a distress signal for the Pokémon. He’s being assaulted by the Van’Goth at their base and we’re all coming to his aid.” Fluttershy explained. “Oh, I can’t stay any longer. I have to go now.” Blueblood stood in the hallway, eyeing the direction Fluttershy is heading out towards. He hummed and scratched his chin with his right front hoof. “I smell a trap.” The entire group sprinted past the thickets and vines of the Everfree Forest. Their breathing cycled with quick succession and took in the forest air. “Professor; how far away are the coordinates from here?” Rundas asked. “Not too far away, Rundas. It should be just around this bend of bushes.” Professor Pasque stated. Passing through the bushes, the group saw a bruised Big Macintosh laying next to an obsidian exo. A weak smile appeared on his face. “You made it just in time!” He shouted. “Big Mac! Are you alright?” Fluttershy asked, walking towards Big Macintosh and pulling the rifle off of her back. “Fluttershy! What are you doing here?” Big Macintosh asked with a stunned voice. “I’m here to help with your wounds as well as fight the Van’Goth. Don’t move please.” Fluttershy stated. She aimed her rifle towards Big Macintosh’s body. A blue haze shot out of it, filling the air around with a soothing wind. The bruises on Big Macintosh’s body mellowed away, returning the red spots on his coat. He sighed and stood up from the ground. “Much obliged, Fluttershy. You’re getting very good at that you know.” He stated. “It took some training with the Magic division and Marksman division to get it up to that level, but I’m glad I was able to heal your wounds.” “That’s nice and all, but your message said that you came across a Van’Goth base out here. Where is it?” Gnasher demanded with a direct tone. “Just across that thicket. You can’t miss it.” Big Macintosh responded, pointing towards the bushes. “Alright. We’ll be going there now.” Mono stated. Fluttershy pointed her direction towards the bushes and leaned her body outwards. Big Macintosh grabbed the end of her tail with his mouth. “Whoa! Where do you think you’re going?!” He asked with a strain in his tone. “I’m going to help my friends fight. They need my help.” Fluttershy stated. “But… aren’t you afraid of being hurt?” “Such is the risk of helping my friends. I’d rather be maimed than have my friends be seriously injured. You understand, right?” Big Macintosh lowered his eyelids and looked to his side. He released his grip on Fluttershy’s tail and took a step backwards. Fluttershy followed the rest of the team beyond the bushes. On the other side, the group gazed at the area with attentive eyes; the area is an evergreen clearing where little amounts of light poured through the canopies of the dense trees. “Wait a second, where’s the base?” Mono asked. “This is a bit troubling. Did Big Macintosh make a mistake?” Stereo stated. “Nope. There’s one thing; there was never a base to begin with.” Big Macintosh stated with a gnarled grin, pressing a black button under a patch of grass. The ground underneath the group collapsed into a crater of viscous honey, adhering to their bodies. “What? What is the meaning of this, Big Macintosh?!” Fei shouted, grunting and wriggling his arms and legs out of the honey. “If you don’t explain, then I’m going to be a very angry Krookodile!” Gnasher shouted, wrestling her claws from the goop. “What did we ever do to you?” Lith asked, grasping her tails and pulling them out of the sticky ground. Big Macintosh pulled a sharp dagger out of the chest compartment of his armor and approached Mono, whose front body was stuck in the honey excluding his head. He took the knife to Mono’s face and pointed the edge towards his cheek. He made a vertical cut across the face, drawing red blood from him. A pained scream rushed out of Mono’s mouth. He winced. “It seems that you have something we Equusians call a heart. That is how you are able to bleed.” Big Macintosh stated. “Ummmm… have you gone completely psycho?!” Rondo shouted. “Of course we have hearts! We’re living and breathing beings.” “Is that what you think when you inadvertently helped out the enemy?” “Huh? What are you talking about?!” Sophia shouted. “You must know that the Van’Goth are capable of learning our strategies and moves, correct? When you appeared in our world and surprised them with your capabilities, you brought a temporary relief to our hooves. But… our relief is up. The Van’Goth have learned from you and are using that knowledge to strengthen their forces.” Big Macintosh explained. “We didn’t know that! How could we have expected them to do that?!” Mono shouted. “Simple; didn’t you find it unusual how their weapons were super effective against us but were not very effective against you all? You should have seen the signs.” Big Macintosh focused his gaze onto Fluttershy and frowned with a scowl on his face. “What is with that look, Big Mac? That’s not a very nice look you are giving me.” Fluttershy asked, frowning with a hint of red growing on her face. Big Macintosh chucked his knife into the ground, edging close to Fluttershy’s face. Fluttershy squealed. “I can’t believe that you consider these murderers your friends, Fluttershy! Don’t you know that the lives that we are losing recently are because of them? Why do you want to be a part of this?” Big Macintosh shouted. “They’re… they’re not murderers! They saved me and treat me right! Why are you doing this to me, Big Mac?!” Fluttershy pleaded with tears running down her face. “Quite frankly, I’m tired of the war. I’m sick and tired of how much pain and suffering we go through as Equusians. All what your ‘friends’ are doing is making it harder for the war to come to the conclusion. Honestly, I don’t care anymore whether the Van’Goth win or not anymore. I’m just tired of seeing my fellows marching down to their deaths.” “You could have just quit! Have you ever thought about that?!” Custard shouted with a violent tone in his voice. “You shut up!” Big Macintosh screamed out, striking Custard across his face with his iron right front hoof. “Oww… you didn’t have to do that.” Custard whispered out with a voice on a verge of tears. “Who cares about what you all think? You’re just as bad as any of the aliens I have fought and killed.” “You’ve even given your heart away to cruelty… I used to look up to you, Big Macintosh.” With a crushed voice and his eyes on the verge of crying, Keldeo uttered out. “I never liked you to begin with, Keldeo. I always found something odd about you and I could never put my hoof on it. But, I see that you are a lot more like these Pokémon than I imagined beforehand.” Big Macintosh called out. “So… are you just going to kill us?” Fei asked. “No. That honey you are trapped in? Not only is it a trap that resists the elements, but it is a prime food source for some very dangerous predators. Seeing you wrapped up in that honey will drive their appetites to insanity. They’ll eat you all alive. And sorry, Fluttershy, but your talent will not work when you are prone in the ground like that. You’ll just have to join your friends with being eaten alive.” “I swear to Arceus, Big Mac; when I get out of here, I will kill you! No one, absolutely no one hurts Mono and Custard like that!” Gnasher shouted, thrashing her body back and forth. Big Macintosh turned towards the direction of the bushes and leaped through them. Mono sighed with a frown. “So this is how our journey ends; we were all stabbed in the back by a fellow soldier so that we would die to ravenous hunters. I never thought I would die in such a horrible way.” A small smile appeared on Lith’s face. She grasped Mono’s right paw in the honey with her left paw. “While I don’t like the events that happened, we can at least be reunited with our parents. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to meet them again.” Mono’s frown morphed into a small smile. “You and I both, Lith. It’s going to be a messy journey, but we will still make it.” Professor Pasque’s eyes flooded with tears, having them drip into the honey below. He looked towards Rundas and Fei, frowning with his cries stifled. “I am so sorry that I brought you all in this mess. It’s my fault that we even ended up in this predicament. Had I not built that machine, then we would have been in a much better place.” “Don’t feel bad about it, Professor. I helped build it because of a small voice I hear from time to time. If anything, it’s my fault for helping to make it a reality!” Sophia stated. “That is true, Sophia. But, you never mentioned anything about hearing a voice before.” Professor Pasque noted. “Because you never asked. No one ever asks because I feel that not many care about what I think. As far as you are just concerned, I’m just another Pokémon with a cute face.” “You are much more than that, Sophia. Mono and I can attest to that.” Fei said with a consoling tone. “But, I know I have made you feel less than what I said. So please, forgive me.” Jasmine glanced towards Stereo with a frown on her face. “You know, Stereo; if we ever make it out of this alive, I want to help you with your art. Even if I have made fun of it in the past, I want you to know that I find you to be an amazing artist.” She said. Stereo’s eyelids filled with water. He turned his head away from Jasmine. “I’m so sorry if I ever said anything bad about you, Jasmine. You can be vain at times, but you always have our interests at heart as well.” “So, I guess this is it, eh Boreas? It was a fun ride while it lasted. I’m a bit cheesed that our ally betrayed us, but it is a fitting punishment for one that had betrayed his allies in the past.” Rundas stated. Boreas shut her eyes. She moved her head with a small nod past the viscous honey. Big Macintosh walked his way through the thickets towards his exo with eased eyelids and a satisfied smile on his face. The exo’s chest opened. “And where do you think you are going?” Big Macintosh turned his direction towards the source of the voice and saw Blueblood walking towards him. “My recon is complete and we’ve defeated the Van’Goth in this area. I’m just going back home.” “Where are the Pokémon? Where are Fluttershy and Keldeo?” Blueblood asked with a drilling voice. “They all died trying to save me. I’m the lone survivor of this mission.” Big Macintosh responded. “About that mission; I’m curious as to why you only wanted the Pokémon to aid you. We have many troops specialized in assault and recon. They have very helpful skills that the Pokémon do not have yet.” Blueblood walked towards Big Macintosh and pointed towards a splat of honey on his hoof. He flashed an intense glare at them. “What are you yammering on about now?! I admit I wasn’t thinking straight when I requested the aid of the Pokémon and I just stepped in some honey after the battle is all.” Big Macintosh shouted. “I wasn’t pointing to the honey on your hoof. I was pointing towards the blood on it.” Blueblood explained. “Now how could one’s blood get onto honey if you are not beaten up and you stepped on honey after the fight?” Big Macintosh’s eyes widened with warning signs of danger. He clenched his teeth and knitted is brow in anger. He tossed is right front hoof towards Blueblood’s face. Blueblood blocked it with his right front hoof and launched his left hoof across Big Macintosh’s face. Big Macintosh took three steps back and brought his right front hoof to his struck cheek. “Dangnabit, Blueblood! Why can’t you mind your own business for once?!” He shouted. “Why do you have to betray your teammates, Big Macintosh? You know what the punishment is for that crime.” Blueblood retorted. Big Macintosh stood on his hind legs and launched a flurry of strikes from his front hooves. Blueblood ducked and dodged every strike. Holding his right front hoof out onto the ground, he swept Big Macintosh’s hind legs with his left hind leg. Big Macintosh fell onto his back. Blueblood pulled out a dagger from the pocket on his flank with his right front hoof and pointed it close to Big Macintosh’s face. Big Macintosh’s eyes widened and he gulped on air. “Tell me where the Pokémon are now. If they are dead, I can at least give them a proper burial and funeral. If they are alive, I can still save them.” “Nothing you can do can save them now. They’re trapped in the honey of the Everfree beyond that thicket. So just slit my throat and leave them.” Blueblood’s horn flashed in a deep blue color. His knife levitated back into his pocket and he clambered onto Big Macintosh’s exo. Big Macintosh chuckled and rolled onto his side. Blue electricity covered his body, eliciting a pained scream. “I forgot to mention that I placed a compression chip on your neck during out skirmish. Try to move and you will be shocked with pain.” Blueblood stated with the door to the exo closing on him. Blueblood flew down through the canopy and descended onto the trapped members of H.O.R.S.E. They frowned. “Come to finish us off, Big Mac?” Lith shouted. “Now why would I do that when I want to save you all?” Blueblood’s familiar voice echoed. “Wait, Blueblood?! What are you doing here?!” Mono asked with his voice drenched in surprise. The exo grasped all of the members of the team in the honey with its large hands, pulling them out one by one. All of the Pokémon and Fluttershy stood on top of the ground, covered in honey. Blueblood hopped out of the exo. With his horn illuminated, he levitated Big Macintosh towards the clearing. “I was enjoying a soda when Fluttershy told me about the situation. I found that there were too many inconsistencies with Big Macintosh’s message. For example, I’ve done recon in this area several times and this would not be a suitable area for the Van’Goth to set their base in. I also wondered why he would ask only for Pokémon to help him. It was there when I realized that a trap had been set for you all.” He stated. Big Macintosh grumbled underneath the tone of his voice. Lith frowned and looked away. “I don’t know what to say. I thought you were just a jerk, but you ended up saving our lives. Thank you.” “Honestly Lith, you are right. I am a jerk, and I honestly wish that I have even half the bonds that you share. I get a bit lonely, you know? As for Big Macintosh, I’ll let you all decide what you should do with him.” Blueblood stated. “Are you insane?! They’ll kill me in horrible ways you could imagine!” Big Macintosh shouted. “You know, yeah! I say we kill him. He needs to pay for his betrayal in blood.” Gnasher said. “I think we should just turn him in to Neo Canterlot for a proper punishment. What he did here is within a clear violation of its rules.” Stereo suggested. Mono turned towards Fluttershy with stoic eyes. “I think we should give Fluttershy the decision here. Big Macintosh was her friend.” “I agree with Mono. If anything, Fluttershy was the most hurt out of everyone here.” Lith seconded. Fluttershy hummed and looked upon Big Macintosh. She eyed Mono and Lith. “Do you mind if you two destroy this exo? I know he won’t be able to escape without it.” Big Macintosh’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped to the ground. “With pleasure!” Lith stated, cocking back the gauntlet over her left paw. “Are you up for it, Mono?” Mono cocked the gauntlet over his left paw and grinned. “Anytime you are.” Lith slammed her left paw into the ground. Pillars of fire rushed towards the exo and enveloped it. A tornado of leaves escaped from Mono’s left paw, coming into contact with the pilar of fire the exo is within. The leaves exploded, leaving a sea of burning fire that ate away at the metal of the exo. “Ooooh! So that’s what those gauntlets do. They use the Pledge moves.” Rondo noted. “Why!? What is your reason in doing this?!” Big Macintosh shouted. Fluttershy walked towards Big Macintosh with a serene smile on her face. “For what you did, I cannot let you off the hook, Big Mac. But, as your friend, I won’t bring you to Neo Canterlot to face judgment or allow any one of us to kill you.” “Awww, really?” Gnasher whined. “Really. Instead, I’ll let nature be your judge. Gnasher, if you don’t mind shredding off his armor and tossing him in the honey?” Fluttershy requested. An evil chuckle escaped out of Gnasher’s mouth. With her claws, she tore through Big Macintosh’s armor with the might of a can opener against a tin can. She then punted him into the honey. “Please! Don’t do this to me! Look into your heart, Fluttershy! Do you think that this is right?!” Big Macintosh pleaded. “Don’t worry, Big Mac. If nature believes that you are innocent, then you will survive and make it out of here. At the very least, I am giving you the chance to survive for a horrible crime you have done.” Fluttershy responded with dissonant serenity in her voice. “But the predators will come at any second! I’ll be torn apart and die with half of my organs being devoured! This is cruelty. You aren’t cruel Fluttershy!” “Guilt tripping won’t work with me, Big Mac. I realized that some actions have to be done, even if they seem unsavory. Besides, even if I did fall for your guilt trip, there’s no way I could save you. The exo is destroyed.” “Well, that’s enough excitement for one day. I say we head back home.” Blueblood suggested. “Definitely. That was too much for one day.” Mono noted. One by one, Fluttershy, Blueblood and the Pokémon exited through the thicket. Big Macintosh’s eyes wandered towards the right, where the sound of large footsteps approached. From the dark of the forest, three gray bears with yellow eyes, rows of serrated teeth and sharp curved claws walked into the clearing. They eyed Big Macintosh with a ravenous growl. “Get away! Get away from me!” Big Macintosh shouted. The bears looked at each other and stared at Big Macintosh on the ground. The middle bear raised its right front paw and swiped at Big Mac’s bare ribs. It licked the blood on its claws and smiled. Big Macintosh’s eyes widened, hearing the famished roars of the bears before him. “No! No!” He shouted out. His throat screamed out in pain from the claws swiping through his abdomen and bear fangs tearing into his flesh. Applejack sat on the bench within the Heavy Armor division, looking towards the ground with eyes glimmering in impatience. Her ears perked up at the sound of the doors opening, revealing Mono, Lith and Fluttershy. She looked forward and sprinted towards them. “How did it go?! Please tell me Big Mac is alright.” “Ummm… do you want to tell her?” Mono asked. “I’ll tell her.” Fluttershy responded with a frown on her face. “But first, do you want to hear the lie or the truth?” Applejack’s heart split in two, and she shied her head away with closed eyes and quivering lips. “I can take the truth. I ain’t a small filly.” “Big Mac tried to have us killed. So… we left him to die alone in retaliation.” Fluttershy explained with her throat clenched in pain. “You couldn’t even have the decency to kill him yourselves or bring him to Neo Canterlot?!” Applejack shouted with a sharp tongue. “Why?!” “I know, Applejack. It hurts me very much. But, it’s better that Neo Canterlot doesn’t know about this nor should I have his blood on my hooves. I’m not a murderess, and everyone believed that this is the best way he should be punished.” Fluttershy explained. Muffled sobs escaped from Applejack’s mouth and tears streamed down her face. She embraced Fluttershy by her neck. “But why did he want you all to die? Was he that tired of the war that he wanted it all to end?! He would resort to betrayal so that he could…” Fluttershy returned her hug and rubbed the back of her neck with her left hoof. Small beads of tears ran down her cheeks. Mono and Lith’s eyes rolled towards each other. “Lith, do you honestly believe what we decided was the right choice?” Mono asked. “I’m… not too sure anymore.” Lith said with a pained frown forming on her face.
Discord's LamentRainbow Dash and Mono walked down a hallway where its walls are brimmed with gold and velvet ropes. Framed pictures of Equusians were hung upon the walls. “And that’s the H.O.R.S.E. Hall of Fame in a nutshell.” Rainbow Dash capped off with a prudent smile on her face. “Interesting. So many heroes who have done so much…” Mono stated. His eyes drifted towards a duo; one was a red dragon-like creature with yellow eyes and a brown head. His limbs and horns are an amalgamation of animal parts. Wrapped around his lion’s paw for an arm was a dark magenta earth pony filly with a puffy purple mane and tail. Her eyes were purple with hypnotic swirls. She had an orange and yellow-striped cap on her head. An image of a baseball and screw was present on her flank. They both had large grins on their faces. “Ummm… who are these two? They look a bit off.” Mono asked. “The dracoequus you see here is named Discord. That filly wrapped in his right arm is his daughter Screwball. These two are the terror on the field against the Van’Goth. So much so that we thought we would win solely by riding on the coattails of their success.” Rainbow Dash’s smile fell into a frown. She looked away from the image with half-lidded eyes. “Are they dead?” Mono questioned. “No. You can’t really kill them since they are technically immortal. But… Screwball was captured by the Van’Goth and, combined with him losing his wife, Discord has been heartbroken ever since.” Rainbow Dash responded. “Well, it couldn’t be that bad, could it?” The wall to their right collapsed in dust from a fast moving projectile. After the dust settled, the projectile was a black-coated earth pony stallion with yellow eyes and a vanilla-colored mane and tail. Discord walked through the hole in the wall with a scowl on his face and picked up the Stallion by his neck with his eagle’s talon. “What do you mean you couldn’t find Screwball?! I thought you said your sources knew where she is!” He shouted. “I’m sorry!” The stallion choked out. “The leads proved to be false! Just give me more time!” “Give you more time?! I’ve given you eight years to locate the whereabouts of my daughter! All what you prove to be is a disappointment after disappointment!” With his grip on the stallion’s throat tightening, Discord screamed. “Not so hard! I can’t breathe!” “Can’t breathe?! This is merely a fraction of how I felt each time I needed to wait for news on my precious daughter!” Discord tossed the stallion back through the hole. He sighed. “Useless. Every one of them is useless.” Mono extended his right paw out with a frown on his face. Rainbow Dash placed her right front hoof on his paw and lowered it, shaking her head. “Not a good idea to talk to him.” Discord’s ears perked up at her voice. He turned around, fixating his gaze on Mono. “I believe we haven’t met before. You must be one of those Pokémon that Celly keeps yammering on about, right? I’m sure Dashie told you my name already, but I’ll still introduce myself.” He cleared his throat and snapped his eagle’s talons. A sign appeared above his head with his name flashing in rainbow neon colors. An unenthusiastic ‘yay’ escaped from his mouth. “Ummm… you don’t seem that cheery for someone who looks like he or she should be cheery.” Mono commented. “What do you know?” Discord groaned out. “If you experienced even half of the things I’ve experienced, you wouldn’t be so cheery either.” “I can’t say that I understand the pain of losing a significant other or not being able to see your daughter any more. But, I do understand the pangs of losing a loved one.” Mono said. Discord hummed. A monocle appeared in a veil of smoke over his right eye. He gazed into Mono’s right eye. “So you do. Lost your parents at the young age of eight. Kind of the same thing that my little Screwball had to go through except she never knew her mother.” “That… must be very tough for her.” With his teeth clenched and his eyes shifting left and right, Mono stated. “Being captured is also very tough on her. It is also incredibly tough on me. Do you understand why I am unhappy?” With arms crossed, Discord questioned. “Very much. But… that doesn’t exactly give you reason for taking out your frustration on others like that.” “And I say it does. It’s a bit of stress relief on my trembling nerves. You’ll understand when you have children one day.” A sad sigh slipped through Mono’s lungs while he shook his head. “Look, what if my team and I help to look for your daughter? I’m not too entirely sure about locating her whereabouts, but our mission completion rate is great. I just don’t want to see you beat yourself or others up over this situation.” Discord scoffed and flipped his hand off. Rainbow Dash held her head back, clenched her teeth and sweat poured down her face. She cricked her neck and swiped her hoof across her neck with continuous strokes. “Just because your team’s mission completion rate is great does not mean you are able to do this arduous task for me. Many have tried and everyone failed.” Discord replied. “Then why don’t you go look for her? Don’t you have some unusual ability of being able to warp reality with your fingertips?” Mono asked with a sour voice. “What do you think I have been trying to do?! I scoured the entire world three times looking for her. I used every single one of my abilities from radars-“A table with green sonar and headphones materialized between Mono and Discord. “-to warping space itself to find my daughter! Those Van’Goth must have hidden her well to the point where none of my powers can aid me.” Discord’s vicious stare fell into a somber frown and eyes. He dropped down onto his elbows and knees. Sobs heard clearer than crystals and a waterfall of tears broke out of him. Mono frowned and stepped towards his side. He patted his shoulder. “You don’t need to feel like this. You may say that I will not be able to succeed, but I promise that I will find your daughter today. You can count on that.” Mono said with a smile. Rainbow Dash winced, groaned and smacked her face with her right front hoof. Discord floated from above the ground and hugged Mono. “You’re very stubborn about this, and I can appreciate that about you. I’m putting you in charge of looking for my daughter then.” With a snap of his lion’s paw, Discord vanished in a puff of smoke. Mono turned back towards Rainbow Dash, who shook her head with a disapproving motion. “I thought you were smart, Mono! No one, and I mean no one should ever make a deal like that with Discord! Now you are at the verge of his mercy.” “What’s the worst that can happen? I get flung around like that guy that Discord choked?” Mono said with an uneasy smile. “His innate power is greater than that of the council. Knowing him, he’d probably put you on some sort of torture device if you fail.” Rainbow Dash stated. Mono shut his mouth and stared into nothingness. His spine was gripped with icy fear. He hugged his shoulders and shuddered. “He couldn’t really put me in a torture device. It’s unethical… right?” “Normally, yeah it is unethical. But this is Discord we’re talking about. Last guy that failed looking for his daughter ended being put in an iron maiden. He survived, but the experience traumatized him enough to stay away from Discord.” Rainbow Dash answered. “What have I gotten myself into?” Mono whispered out. “Tell you what; I don’t want to see you end up like that poor sap, so I’ll help you look for Screwball.” Rainbow Dash offered with a smile. “That would be appreciated. Thanks, Rainbow Dash.” Mono, Lith and Rainbow Dash slugged their way through the bitter winds of the Glacial Drift. Everyone wore thick parkas, boots and multiple scarves. “So tell me why I’m doing this again? I don’t even know why I even agreed to this.” Lith asked with an irritated shiver in her voice. “The last report I’ve heard regarding Screwball was that a filly with a physical description similar to her was found in this region. Plus, if I don’t find her, Discord’s going to put me in something like an iron maiden.” Mono responded. “You can be too nice sometimes, Mono. But… I don’t want to see you on the receiving end of a pissed off dracoequus. But seriously? The Glacial Drift?” “How do you think I feel?! I can’t even put my wings out without them freezing like juice in a fridge.” Rainbow Dash stammered out. “I should have purchased that exo when I had the chance…” Mono whispered to himself. In the distance is a tall piece of blue vegetation in the rough shape of a lollipop. Its thick canopy and stalk stood tall against the winds. It had the circumference of a wide tower and small opening at its base. Rainbow Dash grinned underneath her scarf. “That place looks a bit warm. We should probably take a break and head there.” She suggested. “I guess we can use a bit of warmth. My ankles are freezing with these blistering winds.” Mono stated. “If what I know about plants like this is correct, then this really would be a good place to keep warm.” Lith added. The air within the tower steamed with heat pouring out of the floor. Mono, Lith and Rainbow Dash pulled on the multiple scarves around their neck. They shed off their excess clothing and are brought down to their uniforms. Rainbow Dash sighed with delight and unfolded her wings. “Wow this place is amazing! How is it that something hot like this exists out here?” “I can explain that.” Lith answered. “We are inside what is known as a steam tree. Steam trees thrive in areas of extreme winds and generate their own heat through its roots with that wind. The steam we are seeing now is from the evaporation of water through the roots of the tree. The process helps to keep a steam tree moisturized and provides a safe haven for creatures.” “I didn’t know you knew about this plant, Lith.” Mono noted. “The Glacial Drift inspired me to look up some of the native fauna and flora. It is a dangerous continent after all.” “If Screwball is in the Glacial Drift, then could she be in one of these steam trees?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Not a bad guess, Rainbow Dash.” Mono stated. “She’s still warm-blooded and would want to seek comfort amidst a frozen land. If she is anywhere, she could be up at the canopy of this tree.” Lith turned her head to the left, revealing thick growths of vines along the walls that stretched towards unknown heights. “We can probably use these vines to climb up to the top.” “Since I have wings, I could fly my way to the top. I’ll keep your backs protected in case anything tries to sneak up on you.” Rainbow Dash offered. “I appreciate that gesture, Rainbow Dash. Hopefully, Screwball is up here.” Mono stated. A low moan echoed from within the tree. The walls of the tree spun with black energy, summoning black hunks of bipedal and animated stones that are top heavy. A deafening roar erupted from their mouths. “They couldn’t wait for us could they? Well, it’s a good thing I got my rifle.” Rainbow Dash said with a cocky tone, taking out her rifle from her sheathe and holding the butt on her shoulders. Three bullets fired out of the rifle. Each one dug into the kneecaps of the golems, causing the rest of the leg to crumble. Fire built up within Lith’s paw tips. A burst of embers erupted out of them and struck the row of golems before the group. “So that’s what the move looks like in combat.” Mono commented. “I call it Psycho Fire. As I’ve said before, it’s not too powerful but it gets the job done.” Lith explained, blowing the smoke off of her pawtips. Mono ran towards the group of burning golems, splitting his body into clones via Double Team. Wisps of shadow energy emanated from the golems. Three shockwaves burst out of the golem, destroying all of the clones and knocking Mono, Lith and Rainbow Dash against the wall. Their bodies shattered. “That… hurt more than I expected.” Mono groaned out. “That wasn’t like any move I ever seen. It felt super effective.” With her right paw rubbing her temple, Lith stuttered. “You’re telling me. I never felt a move like that hit me before.” Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash stated. “It’s almost as if those golems were using…” Mono’s eyes widened and suspense grasped his heart. “…Shadow moves.” “You can’t be serious, Mono. That project was dead for years!” Lith called out. “What are you two talking about? And why are you making it sound like some ‘in the know’ thing?” Rainbow Dash asked with an irate scowl. “Back in our world years ago, a criminal organization had succeeded in finding out the way to artificially close the hearts of Pokémon. These Pokémon, which were dubbed Shadow Pokémon, are stripped of all of their emotions and heart. Shadow Pokémon only care about inflicting violence on others. It was a huge topic back in our lab because it only displays the potential evils of science and cruelty against Pokémon.” Mono explained. “That sounds very screwed up. I mean, stripping a Pokémon of their heart and emotions? That’s low. But… why do these golems have access to moves like that?” Rainbow Dash questioned with worry present in her tone. “I have a theory, but I really hope it isn’t true. What if these golems are merely some sort of ability brought upon a reality warper whose heart was closed? It could only mean that Screwball is up here, but…” Lith paused in her words, unable to continue. “If that’s the case, then it would only break Discord’s heart if he finds out. I hope to Arceus that it isn’t true.” Mono stated. “Let’s climb up this tree as quickly as possible!” Rainbow Dash commanded. Lith’s paws poked above the edge of the cliff, lifting her up. With his head over the edge, Mono pushed himself upwards. Rainbow Dash landed on the ground at the top. Her eyes picked up the sight of Screwball amidst the shadowy portals within the canopy. “It’s her!” Mono shouted. Screwball made a slow turn around. Her swirling eyes strained with a dark malice. She growled. Spikes of shadow energy formed at the base of the edge. With a burst of energy in their system, Mono and Lith leaped over the pools of darkness that turned into black thorns upon thorns. “Are you two okay?!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “We’re fine. But, that attack confirmed my suspicions; Shadow Rave can only be used by those who had their hearts closed through artificial means.” Lith stated. Rainbow Dash growled and held her rifle in position. She pulled the trigger, sending a Flamethrower towards Screwball’s direction. Screwball cracked a smirked and vanished from her spot. She reappeared by Rainbow Dash’s side and kicked her in the gut, knocking the wind out of her. Rainbow Dash found herself flying through the roof of the canopy. “Rainbow Dash!” Lith shouted. A virulent scowl formed on her face. She shot a Charge Beam towards Screwball. Screwball pulled down the space and time in front of her with her right hoof. The gap in dimensions ate the Charge Beam. A sudden gasp made its way out of Lith’s mouth. Mono observed space and time opening above Lith. He pushed her out of the path with Psychic, causing her to avoid the stream of lightning shooting downwards. He sprinted by Lith’s side, picking her up by her right paw. “Are you alright, Lith? Sorry for the sudden push.” He said. “I’m fine. I did not expect that to happen at all.” Lith responded. A broken and child-like fit of laughter burst from Screwball. A blob of shadowy energy formed on her right front hoof. She chucked it into the air, filling the inside of the canopy with shadows. A surge of purple rain cascaded upon the battlefield, touching the fur of Mono and Lith with a sizzle. The duo winced and went down on their knees. “This must be a Shadow Sky. I have no other explanation as to why it burns.” Mono noted with a quivering lip. Lith shot a Psycho Fire out of her pawtips that aimed towards Screwball. Screwball faded away into darkness, dodging the bolt of fire. She reappeared in front of Lith, rearing her right hind leg. She became held in a Psychic by Mono. With his paw extended out, Mono flung Screwball towards the wall with a hard thump. Screwball winced from the blow against her shoulder. Her eyes emanated with a red glow. She took out a knife and sliced the telekinetic aura around her, breaking it. “How was that even possible? She sliced through your Psychic like butter.” Lith noted. “I don’t know, but fighting her is like fighting a severely mad cartoon character that is high on power. It seems like we won’t be winning this fight.” Mono admitted. A loud roar of thunder echoed from above. Rainbow Dash crashed her way through the canopy with a rainbow aura around her and collided with Screwball. The resulting shockwave sent gusts of color throughout the area, turning the snow into the color of rainbow sherbet and reversing Mono and Lith’s colors. With the smoke subsided, Screwball and Rainbow Dash stood their ground with hardened gazed towards each other. Both of their bodies had scratches along the face, chest and legs. Screwball spat out a green liquid from her mouth and growled. Rainbow Dash held out her rifle and pressed a yellow charm upon it. The rifle hummed with a golden light. “You. Me. We’re doing it now!” With these words, she fired three bolts of yellow energy that hurdled towards Screwball. Screwball leaped into the air and roundhouse kicked them back towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash held her rifle out, absorbing the energy reflected back. “So energy attacks clearly don’t work on you. Looks like I’ll have to bring out the good ol’ fisticuffs.” She tossed her rifle to the side and stood on her hind legs. She dashed towards Screwball and launched her right front hoof across the cheek of her face. Screwball smirked and grasped Rainbow Dash’s right front hoof’s ankle with her left front hoof and twisted it out of its socket. Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened and her teeth shut closed. Screwball bashed her right hoof into Rainbow Dash’s right front knee, knocking the joint onto its other side. Fires of screaming pain erupted throughout Rainbow Dash’s right front leg. “Rainbow Dash!” Mono shouted, running towards the battling ponies. Rainbow Dash groaned and socked Screwball across her face with her left front hoof. Her right front leg limped on its side. “You think that rendering my right front leg useless would put me at a disadvantage? I’ve learned to fight with just my head!” She shouted, bashing her head into Screwball’s forehead. Screwball flinched and backed away from Rainbow Dash. Observing Mono and Lith run towards her side, she growled. She slipped into a portal of shadows and vanished. “She’s getting away!” Lith shouted, running towards the portal. “It’s too late, Mono. She got away.” Rainbow Dash warned. “Ummm… I’m over here, Rainbow Dash.” Mono said with a silent tone. Rainbow Dash chuckled. A twinge of pain surged up from her leg, causing her to grasp it with a tight grip. “Hold on, Rainbow Dash. I’ll get you up and better with a new move I learned myself.” Mono’s right paw ignited with a white sparkling light. “Just be careful about how you touch my leg. It’s hurting like a mother bucker!” Rainbow Dash shouted. Mono tapped Rainbow Dash’s right front knee, illuminating it with a white glow. Rainbow Dash’s facial expressions eased into a smile and her bones set themselves into their regular position. “How did I do? While my Heal Pulse was helpful, it only healed the wounds on the current state of body. The wounds would have been healed, but everything else would have remained. This move helps to restore the body to its original shape.” Mono stated. “Cool. What is it called?” “I think that Psycho Heal might be a good name for it until I can think up a better name. You should be able to move around normally now.” Rainbow Dash wiggled her right front leg and smiled. “Thanks for the treatment, Mono. But, I could have still flown my way out of here.” “Out of this blizzard?” Mono retorted. “Touché.” Lith shook her head and frowned. “We couldn’t bring Screwball back. I’m sorry.” She said. “It’s not a complete loss. I managed to place a chip on her when I struck her with my left front hoof. If she comes up again, we’ll know.” Rainbow Dash stated. “But… is Discord going to put me in an iron maiden for failing?” Mono whimpered out. “If he wants to put you in an iron maiden, then he’s going to have to put me in one as well! I won’t let you suffer that alone. I refuse to!” Lith stated with a resolute tone. “Make that the three of us. I won’t let Mono take the fall for this mission. After all, what kind of H.O.R.S.E. officer would I be if I just threw all of the faults on the two of you? A bad one, that’s what!” Rainbow Dash said. “Regardless, we still have pay our dues and face the music.” Mono, Lith and Rainbow Dash crossed through the gates of H.O.R.S.E. headquarters with uneasy frowns on their faces. Discord puffed into the area before the three with a frown on his face. “I assume that the three of you showing up empty-handed means that you failed with getting my daughter back.” He said with a serious tone. “There were several issues that happened with our mission, Discord. We actually found Screwball, but she attacked us.” Mono explained. “We tried to bring her back, but she escaped and left us empty-handed.” Lith added on. Discord’s stern expression softened up. His feet touched the ground. “She attacked you? That doesn’t sound like my Screwball at all. The Screwball I know and love would never provoke an attack.” “Well that’s what happened! Apparently, Mono and Lith said something about her heart being artificially closed.” Rainbow Dash stated. “Wait wait wait. Repeat that last part again.” Discord stated with his hands shaking away. “Did you say that her heart was artificially closed?” “It’s what we said. Didn’t you say that the Van’Goth captured her?” Lith asked. Discord walked back several steps with his eagle’s talon over his chest. His eyes looked into the sky with a stunned expression. “They… closed her heart? They stripped away her ability to love and show compassion?” He broke down onto his knees and banged the ground with his clenched lion’s paw. He shut his eyes and teeth, holding back the tears in his eyes. He shook his head and a stream of tears flowed its way into the city. Mono frowned and walked by his side, patting his back. “I’m sorry about what happened, Discord. I really am. It must hurt bad to know that this is the fate of your daughter. But… I promise that we will get her back. Rainbow Dash managed to place a tracker on her before the last skirmish.” Discord’s cries have softened. He wiped his stray tears away with his eagle’s talon and looked towards Mono. “How do you ever plan on opening her heart? It’s almost impossible without a lot of love.” “I don’t know, but it will happen one day. And I hope that you will finally be reunited with your daughter.” Mono whispered. Discord stood up from the ground and looked into the sky with his frown curving upwards. “I’m going to… be alone for a while.” “So… am I going to be put in an iron maiden?” Mono asked. “Heavens no! Who put that thought into your head? I’m much more merciful than that.” Discord responded with an offended tone. “But, let me know when your thingamajig finds Screwball. Okay?” With these words, he vanished from the area. “So Rainbow Dash, why did you scare me like that?” Mono asked. “Scare you like what? The iron maiden?” Rainbow Dash responded with a shrug and sheepish smile. “Well, that’s at least what I’ve heard him do.” “Rainbow, are you sure that those aren’t just rumors spread to make Discord look more frightening than he is?” Lith asked. “I mean, he threw a stallion and nearly choked him to death, but I think that is how every father would respond if their child goes missing. Don’t you think?” Rainbow Dash frowned and lowered her head in shame. “I guess you’re right. It was a bit insensitive for me to think of him as being nothing but a jerk because of what he did.” An eruption of chuckles surged from her throat. “Heck, if I go missing, I bet my father would act the same way.” Discord appeared on a serene hill above a sparkling sea with the sun setting in the horizon. At the top of the hill were images of him with a cherry red earth pony mare with a lavender-colored mane and tail. Her blue eyes resonated with the happy grin on her face. Discord moved his right thumb over the image and stroked her head. “They found her, Wild Berry. They finally found her. I just hope that you will reach out to her and clear the shadows of her heart. I want to see her smiling face once more. I want to see her laugh and play with me like the days before the war. I want her to be like her mother; gentle and sweet with a hint of insanity. I hope that I can see that once more.” Author's Note Hooray for the Van'Goth being the next Cipher! Good on ya guys!
Elementary LearningEinstein stared at the elemental matrix of typing, grinning at the sight of yellow, light green and burgundy spheres lighting up before his eyes. Professor Pasque smiled and craned his neck down towards him. “Yes! Yes! We did it! We found the Electric, Bug and Fighting-type matrices of the genome!” Einstein shouted. “You worked really hard to make this happen, did you not?” Professor Pasque asked. “I couldn’t have done it without you or Twilight, Professor. But, it was mostly me wasn’t it?” Einstein stated with a smug smile an inflated tone of ego. “I wouldn’t say it was mostly you, but you placed in a lot of work to make this happen. Now we can broaden our technology to extend to these types. It could be interesting to see what sorts of devices we can make with these new types possible.” Cadance walked through the doors of the lab with a smile on her face. She strutted her way towards Professor Pasque and Einstein. “I knew I would find you two here. I have a civilian request that requires the aid of you two.” She stated. “Us? What specific request would require our skillset that others do not?” Einstein asked, scratching the top of his head with his right index finger. “I’ll tell you along the way. We will be having a bit of an exercise to get there.” Cadance and Professor Pasque made their way down a wide street. Einstein stood on Professor Pasque’s back. “So you want the two of us to teach an elementary school class for the day?” Professor Pasque asked. “That’s exactly what I’m saying, Professor. Because you are a dinosaur with a fountain of knowledge and Einstein is a living molecule, the client said that you two would be a fun way to help bring the world of learning to the children. I wouldn’t blame them either.” Cadance explained. “Oh goodie! I love being around children!” Einstein declared, closing his eyes with a grin and clapping his arms together. “So the details of the request say that we can educate the children in any way we desire as long as it fulfills the current curriculum, correct? This will definitely be an enjoyable day.” Professor Pasque announced with a grin on his face. “Much better than what happened a few days ago.” “I’ve heard about that incident, and I’m sorry that you and your team went through that. I should have seen the signs coming. Just try not to bring it up around Applebloom since she is in the class. She… hasn’t been taking it too well.” Cadance responded. “You have the honor of my word, Commissioner Cadance.” “I know you do. Speaking of which, we are here.” The trio stopped outside of a fenced building that is two stories high. Outside of the building stood a magenta-coated earth pony mare with a pink and lilac-striped mane and tail. Her green eyes and smile brimmed with warm sunshine and a calming aura. She waved at the trio. “My! You are much taller than I assumed, Professor.” The mare said. “You must be Miss Cheerilee from the request, correct?” Professor Pasque asked. “That is my name.” Miss Cheerilee responded, swiveling her head around him. “Ummm… isn’t there another one?” “Right here!” Einstein shouted, leaping off of Professor Pasque’s head and landing in front of Miss Cheerilee. Miss Cheerilee hopped back and shrieked. She exhaled deep breaths and regained her composure. “Please don’t scare me again like that. Still, don’t you look adorable?” “So when do we get to meet the children? I can’t wait to interact with them!” “We will get there soon enough. I just need to talk with Commissioner Cadance on some aspects. In the meantime, why don’t you two wait in the hallways?” Einstein nodded. He grabbed Professor Pasque’s right front foot and tugged at it. “Let’s go inside!” Professor Pasque chuckled and smiled. “Alright, Einstein. I’m coming.” Miss Cheerilee and Cadance looked onto the two Pokémon stepping and hopping their way into the building. With Professor Pasque and Einstein out of the range of sight, Cadance’s face dropped into a frown. “Miss Cheerilee, are you sure you want to do this? I think it might be a little bit too soon.” She asked. “Positive. I am very aware of the entire situation, but I know that the students would absolutely love this. I want to show the opposite of what Big Macintosh believed and having Pokémon as guest instructors would be a great way to prove that.” Miss Cheerilee responded. “I trust your judgment then.” Cadance nodded and turned her direction away from the school. Looking back and waving her right front hoof, she walked off of the school grounds. “Wow, Miss Cheerilee has been gone for a bit. I wonder what happened.” Applebloom said to herself. She sat between a white-coated unicorn filly with a lavender and pink-striped mane and an orange-coated pegasus filly with a magenta mane and pink eyes. “I’m sure she’s just fine, Applebloom. She probably has something important to do.” Sweetie Belle responded. “What do you think, Scootaloo?” “She’s probably going to go get someone. But, at least the class is lively.” Scootaloo responded. Within the room, many young Equusians chattered amongst each other with noise that rivaled a rock concert. Young changelings, griffons and pegasi flew in circles above the classroom. The door opened and brought all the children in the room to a standstill silence. All of the students sat back in their seats with angelic smiles on their faces. Miss Cheerilee stepped into the room and stood in front of the class. She clasped her front hooves together and grinned. “I have two very special guests today, class. Now, how many students in here are familiar with the Pokémon working at H.O.R.S.E.?” Jetstream Rush, Applebloom and a slew of other hooves rose up from the audience of students. “Rarity tells me about the Pokémon when she comes over my house. Does that count?” Sweetie Belle asked. “It does. Anyways, our guests are two scientists who took time out of their busy day to come educate you all. Please give a warm round of cheers to Professor Pasque and Einstein!” Cheerilee announced, pointing her hoof towards the door. Professor Pasque craned his head below the doorway and stepped into the room. Einstein hopped his way across the floor and faced everyone. Professor Pasque cleared his throat. “I give my greetings to everyone in the room. Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Professor Pasque.” “And I’m his partner Einstein!” Einstein added. “We are both scientists at H.O.R.S.E. and were scientists back in our world. Before we begin our scheduled day, does anyone have any questions? You will have to tell me your name if you want to continue.” A cream-feathered griffon with a gray head and blue eyes raised his right talon into the air with an enthusiastic smile. Professor Pasque pointed towards him and nodded. “Cirrostratus here. So you are a talking dinosaur who is going to teach today?” Cirrostratus asked. “My species is what is known as an Aurorus, but I guess I would be considered a dinosaur as well. And, yes, I will be instructing your class for the day on the orders of Miss Cheerilee’s request.” Professor Pasque answered. “Jetstream Rush, and what are you supposed to be? Some kind of molecule?” Jetstream Rush asked. “I guess you can consider me that. Though, I am a part of the species known as a Reuniclus. Pretty much my entire body is controlled through my psychic abilities. My arms themselves also pack a wallop, so no misbehaving on my watch.” Einstein responded. “If you two are so smart, then what is two fourths times three eights?” Scootaloo asked. “The raw answer is six thirty twos.” Professor Pasque stated with a smirk on his face. “The simplified answer is three sixteenths. As a decimal answer, it is point one eight seven five.” Einstein responded. “That wouldn’t happen to be on the homework Miss Cheerilee gave you yesterday, now would it?” Scootaloo raised her head forward with a pencil in her right hoof and a worksheet with numbers on her desk. “Uhhh… no?” She stated with a sheepish grin. “So does anyone else have more questions?” Professor Pasque asked. None of the students raised their hands. “I guess it is time to go on a field trip then.” “A field trip? Do I have to have my parents sign a permission slip or something?” Cirrostratus asked. “Nope.” Shaking his head, Professor Pasque responded. “You will find that I am the type of person who is more hands-on with his learning. We will be taking a field trip into the Terraformed Wilderness.” All of the students in the room grinned with wide eyes and shifted their sights towards each other. Miss Cheerilee glanced towards Professor Pasque with an uneasy curve of her lips, revealing a partial amount of her teeth. “That may not be the best idea, Professor. The Terraformed Wilderness is incredibly dangerous to navigate through. There are many dangerous creatures and there is always the chance of a Van’Goth attack.” She said. “While I do applaud your view on safety, I feel that having children explore the environment around them would give them a better understanding on core values that are instructed upon within the education system. It was how I taught my two children, anyways.” “Very well, Professor. I trust your judgment. I assume that Einstein and your abilities will be able to keep the children protected, right?” “You have my word, Miss Cheerilee. These students will be safely protected like how an Ursaring mother protects her Teddiursa cub or a Mightyena father protects his Poochyena pups.” Professor Pasque assured. “Pokémon similes I assume? Not sure what those are, but they sound like creatures that would maul me.” Miss Cheerilee said. All of the students in the classroom erupted with a round of laughter. Einstein and Miss Cheerilee spearheaded the entire group that walked out into the plains of the Terraformed Wilderness. Professor Pasque stayed behind the group, shifting his head towards the left and right and observing any potential dangers. Walking towards the edge of a cliff that overlooked a wide plain, Lith and Fluttershy sat upon slabs of rocks observing a horde of gray tiger-like creatures the size of rhinos sprinting below. Fluttershy wrote the results of the observation into a tablet. “Hey Lith! Hey Fluttershy!” Einstein greeted, waving with closed eyes. “Oh! Einstein and Professor Pasque!” Lith called out. “I see you brought a bunch of children and a teacher. What is the occasion?” “My name is Miss Cheerilee, and Einstein and Professor Pasque are in the process of doing a civilian request.” Miss Cheerilee answered. “They wanted to take my class on a field trip into the Terraformed Wilderness.” “Fair enough.” Lith stated, bumping Fluttershy’s right shoulder with her left elbow. “We got company, Fluttershy.” Fluttershy turned her head away from the tablet and squeaked at the sight of the class before her. “I didn’t notice you all! I guess I was too busy with my current duty. My name is Fluttershy and I am a field researcher who works for H.O.R.S.E. I’m currently tracking down the migration path of the Fatalis Tiger.” She introduced. “My name is Lith, another member of H.O.R.S.E. and one of the Pokémon of the city. I am currently enlisted with protecting Fluttershy while she conducts her field studies of the fatalis tiger.” Lith explained. A gray-coated pegasus colt with a jet black mane raised his hoof. Lith pointed to him. “My name is Rumble, and what’s so special about the fatalis tiger that you have to have its migration patterns mapped out?” Rumble asked. “That’s a good question. You see, fatalis tigers are what is known as a keystone species in this area of the Terraformed Wilderness. That means that they are important to maintaining the ecological structure of the area and their disappearance causes instability among the region.” Fluttershy explained. “It is interesting that you bring up keystone species, Fluttershy. That is a topic we are covering in the biology portion of our class.” Miss Cheerilee noted. “What a coincidence.” Fluttershy noted. She then set her gaze towards the rest of the class. “Here is a quiz to see if you pay attention in class; based off of their name and appearance, can anyone tell me what the keystone role of a fatalis tiger is?” A portly gray earth pony colt with a rough brown main raised his front hoof. “Truffle Shuffle here, and I want to guess that they are a predator?” Truffle Shuffle responded. Fluttershy smiled and clopped her front hooves together. “That is a wonderful answer, Truffle Shuffle. The fatalis tiger is a keystone predator. With their power, intelligence and immunity to neurotoxins, they are the only creatures capable of taking down the giant scorpion. Giant scorpions would have infested this area if it wasn’t for the fatalis tiger.” The entire class echoed out with sounds of awe. Scootaloo scoffed and flipped her hoof. She focused her attention on Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. “I say we ditch this class and head out to the Everfree Forest to see if we can’t earn our cutie marks in exploration.” She whispered. Applebloom frowned and Sweetie Belle scowled. “Can’t we go somewhere else to do that, Scootaloo? The Everfree Forest isn’t exactly the place we should go to first considering you know who had you know what because of you know how.” Sweetie Belle chastised with an angry whisper. “What are the chances that we’ll run into that? We’ll just look around the Everfree and bring something valuable back home. Everyone will comment on our bravery and we get our cutie marks.” Scootaloo explained with a sly smile on her face. “Normally, I would want to do this. But, it feels like it is too soon to go inside there.” Applebloom stuttered out with a hesitant voice. “But this is our golden chance! We are out here in the Terraformed Wilderness and we can just sneak off with no one noticing us gone. At the end of the field trip, we’ll just unite back with the rest of the class and keep whatever treasures we got hidden until another day.” “Well… when you put it that way... are you sure we won’t run into you know what in the forest?” “Positive. The Everfree Forest is big and we shouldn’t be able to run into that.” Scootaloo assured. “There’s only one problem with your ‘brilliant’ plan, Scootaloo; Professor Pasque is behind us observing everyone. How do we get past his all-seeing eyes?” Sweetie Belle questioned. “Watch and learn.” Scootaloo directed her attention towards a pink-coated earth pony filly with a coifed lavender and white-striped mane and a dark gray-coated earth pony filly with glasses and a white and silver-striped mane. She crawled around towards the side of the gray filly and grasped a rock. She tossed it against the pink filly. The pink filly’s eyes jolted open in shock. She looked to her right and a heated scowl appeared on her face. “Silver Spoon! Did you toss that rock at me?!” Silver Spoon set her glance down towards the scrape on the pink filly’s ankle. Her spine jumped from its socket. “I didn’t throw it, Diamond Tiara. I swear!” She shouted. Diamond Tiara huffed and stared down Silver Spoon. “That rock was thrown at point blank range! It felt like it and there are no other child around us now is there?” Silver Spoon gazed towards the rest of the class, who looked at the two with tilted heads and confused glances. Diamond Tiara shoved Silver Spoon onto the ground. Silver Spoon’s mane and coat became stained with dusty dirt. Her glasses were knocked onto the ground. “I told you I didn’t do it! Why would I throw a rock at you?!” “I could list several reasons. One, you aren’t as rich as me. Two, you do not have the same style or fabulousness as me. And three, you are jealous that my cat looks more awesome than how your cat will ever be.” Diamond Tiara stated with a smug grin. Silver Spoon growled and scowled. She pushed herself up from the ground and pushed Diamond Tiara into the ground. “You take that back you she-hag!” Einstein, Professor Pasque, Miss Cheerilee, Fluttershy and Lith’s eyes, heads and mouths sprung upwards at the sight of the children forming a circle around Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “Fight! Fight! Fight!” The children chanted with bloodthirsty smiles and pumping bodies. Scootaloo crawled towards Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, who walked away from the action. “With how those two act, it will take a while for that fight to break up. That should give us more than enough time to go out into the Everfree!” Scootaloo declared with a crafty cackle. “You’re pretty devious, Scootaloo. I can’t say I approve, but it does the job.” Sweetie Belle complimented. “Let’s hurry up to see if we can get our cutie marks!” Applebloom announced. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo slipped away towards the direction of the wooded forest towards the edge of the land. The three foals took their first steps into the dark wood. The dark and moist atmosphere brought a chill into their ankles. Sweetie Belle hugged herself and her spine erupted in a shiver. “Oh, why did I ever let you talk me into going here, Scootaloo? This place is intimidating.” “It’s not too bad. It’s just a bit dark and fresh on our nerves. It’s a new experience ripe with many possibilities for us. Just trust me on this and walk forward.” Scootaloo said, forcing a smile through her tight lips. “Let’s just hurry up and do what we need to do. I really don’t want to be in here for too long.” Applebloom let out in a hasty speed. “We won’t be here for long. It’s just until we find something. This direction looks like a good way to go.” Scootaloo stated, pointing towards the trees bending towards a beaten path. “That path does look inviting, but what is it inviting us to?” Sweetie Belle asked, rubbing her chin with her right front hoof. “Don’t think too hard on it because I’m already there!” Scootaloo shouted, running into the path. “Scootaloo wait!” Applebloom screamed, sprinting after Scootaloo with her heart gripped in anxiety. “Wait! Don’t leave me alone in these woods!” Sweetie Belle called out, running into the path. A cave glistening with water running through the stalagmites enraptured the attention of the class. A lake that glowed with the brilliance of a luminescent crystal sat below the bridge. Professor Pasque’s eyes detected Stereo, who hitched himself onto a wall and examined the rock he is on. “Here is one of the caves that make up the subterranean network of the Terraformed Wilderness. Theoretically speaking, it is possible to access other continents through this network.” Einstein explained. A cream-colored earth pony filly with purple-framed glasses and a frizzed red mane and tail raised her hoof into the air. “Is it true that the cave’s formation of water and pressure over time causes it to have some valuable minerals?” She asked. “That is very true, Twist. But, from what I have researched, the terraforming caused this process to accelerate at a humongous rate. It was unnaturally formed, but nature quickly adapted to it and that is what gives the unusual glow in the cave.” “Ummm, question.” A gray changeling with aqua blue eyes said. “My mom told me about how caves like these were homes to changelings. Do you think that there are still relics of my people here?” “Maybe there are, Silk. I’ll grab an expert on the cave system.” Einstein responded, whistling towards Stereo’s direction. Stereo looked behind him and smiled. Using the rope, he swung his way towards the bridge everyone is on. “Einstein! Professor Pasque! Are you two giving a field trip to this class?” “Yes we are. We were talking about relics in the cave. Since you happened to be here exploring the cave network, maybe you can tell us a bit on your findings?” Professor Pasque said. “Glad to. Anyways, my name is Stereo. I am a Pokémon known as an Exploud and I happen to be a natural when it comes to cave dwelling. In this particular cave, I was actually able to find remnants of combs along the walls. From the unnatural degradation along the edges, these combs were subject to fierce wars over turf.” Stereo explained. “I never knew you knew about Changeling History, Stereo.” Miss Cheerilee complimented. “I don’t, but I know about caves and art. One day, I wish to construct a complete replication of a changeling hive that actually functions. Changelings have a very interesting architecture pattern I wish to emulate.” Jetstream Rush looked within the crowd. An air of concern and worry overcame him, bringing a frown to his face. “Professor Pasque, I don’t see Applebloom, Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo anywhere.” Professor Pasque stretched his neck across the class of students and looked down upon them. His heart palpitated with anxiety. “They aren’t here! Where could they have gone?!” He whispered with a strained voice. “I don’t know. But, I think that fight was a bit too well-timed. I think that’s when they split from the group.” Jetstream Rush hypothesized. “Einstein? Miss Cheerilee? It appears that we have lost some children.” Professor Pasque stated. Miss Cheerilee’s back jolted upwards. She collapsed onto the ground with a faint-eyed expression. “Ummm… I’ll look after the children, Professor Pasque. You should look for those three foals.” Einstein suggested. “Can I come with you, Professor?” Jetstream Rush pleaded. “I know I’m still just a colt, but I can’t forgive myself if I let Applebloom get hurt.” The other children giggled with queasy grins on their faces. “As long as you promise to listen to everything I say while you are with me and no one else comes along. From how you worded it, Applebloom seems to be very special to you.” “Ummm… what gives you that idea?” Jetstream Rush asked with a hasty tone and a heart that beat every other interval. “I was young as well. Do not forget that.” Professor Pasque responded with closed eyes and a smile. Scootaloo looked through the vines and shrubbery of the Everfree Forest, humming and looking along the ground. She frowned. “Drat! There isn’t anything over here either.” “I’m sure something will turn up. We might even be able to find the Castle of the Royal Sisters!” Sweetie Belle stated with glee emanating from her tone. A smile crept upon Applebloom’s lips, turning her frown around. “You know? I’m glad you talked me into coming here, Scootaloo. I’m having much more fun than I should!” A wafting odor of decaying meat and spoiled honey hit the noses of the travelling fillies. Their noses wrinkled and their eyes bled tears. They brought their hooves over their noses and spat onto the ground. “Gross! What’s that smell?!” Sweetie Belle shouted. “I don’t know, but I really don’t want to find out.” Applebloom stated. “Awww, come on? Aren’t you at least a bit curious as to what that smell is? The fouler things in life are merely challenges that mask the fruits of our labors.” Scootaloo answered with a forced smile. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle gazed towards her with the interrogative gaze of an inquisitor. “What? I read that quote from a book.” “No, you read?” Sweetie Belle asked with hefty amounts of sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Haha very funny, Sweetie.” Scootaloo responded with her eyebrows curved into an unamused expression. “But seriously, there should be treasure just past these bushes! It could be some never before seen plant, or some ancient and musty piece of treasure.” She parted the bushes leading towards the scent of the area. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom glanced towards each other with their teeth born in uneasiness. “I’m not too sure that’s a good idea, Scootaloo. What if there is something guarding the treasure? Than what do we do?” Applebloom asked. “Then we use one of my super brilliant plans of distraction to take it and flee. It worked when we fooled all the children and adults, didn’t it?” Scootaloo retorted with a proud tone. “Well, I guess it did…” Sweetie Belle acknowledged, following Scootaloo through the bushes with Applebloom by her side. “I still find it weird how we didn’t come across a single creature yet.” “They’re all probably scared of the day or something. Maybe we are more frightening to them more than they are to us.” Scootaloo parted open the last of the bushes, breaking a new era of light into everypony’s sight. “Behold the sight of an awesome treasure and the keys to our cutie mark!” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle popped their heads over the bushes and gazed forward with bated breaths and large grins on their faces. Within the trio’s line of sight was a puddle of golden honey splattered with botches of burgundy. Their grins dropped into frowns and their hearts sunk into their stomach. Scootaloo gazed towards Sweetie Belle, whose ivory coat turned into a sickly shade of green and was on the verge of gagging. She looked towards Applebloom’s direction, whose eyes let out streams of tears. “T-that’s Big Mac!” Professor Pasque and Jetstream Rush sprinted towards the cliff. Fluttershy and Lith sat on the very same rocks by the edge they first sat upon. No further fatalis tigers traveled down the plains below. “Lith! Fluttershy!” Professor Pasque shouted. “Oh! Professor Pasque! I thought you were done showing this area to the class.” Lith stated with a jolt of shock in her tone. “What are you doing back?” Professor Pasque’s eyebrows and mouth formed into a nasty scowl. He grumbled to himself. “Three fillies split from the group while we were distracted, and we have reason to suspect that they split here. Do you have any possible idea where they could have gone?” He demanded, stomping his right front foot into the ground. “The entire plains area below was cut off by the migration, and the closest landmark of interest is the…” Fluttershy paused in her words. A gasp of a thousand epiphanies crawled its way up her throat. “Everfree Forest.” Professor Pasque, Jetstream Rush and Lith all shared a round of horrified gasps and risen eyebrows. “We waste no time! If you two aren’t busy, then we have lives to save!” Professor Pasque commanded. “We were on our break, but the situation at hand holds many more dire consequences! We will be happy to help.” Fluttershy stated. Lith glanced towards Jetstream Rush and smiled. She patted his head. “Why are you with Professor Pasque, Jetstream Rush?” She asked. “I got to make sure Applebloom is alright. I wouldn’t like myself if I found out she is hurt.” Jetstream Rush answered. Lith grinned and a squeal erupted from her mouth. “I always knew you had feelings for Applebloom.” “Not now, Lith! And I don’t have a crush on her either!” Jetstream Rush shouted with a reddening blush growing on his cheeks. “You look even more adorable when you are denying the truth! But, I won’t press it more than I need to.” Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sprinted with dialated pupils and rapid increments of air coursing through their lungs. Hordes of cockatrices, timberwolves and bears ran behind them with ravenous drool seeping out of their mouths. “Some treasure we found, Scootaloo.” Sweetie Belle spat out with a hint of anger spilling out of her voice. “How was I supposed to know that those two combined smells would attract so many of the Everfree Forest’s creatures? I’m not perfect you know.” Scootaloo retorted. “Less complaining, more running!” Applebloom shouted. Her hoof tripped over a brown root. Her heart stopped and time stood still. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo closed onto Applebloom’s position grabbed her front legs. Applebloom’s heart jumpstarted and time flowed as normal. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sprinted with their friends front legs over their necks. “We would never abandon you, Applebloom. Make note of that.” Sweetie Belle said. “We can’t let you take the fall for my stupid mistake. We’ll make it out of this forest together in one piece.” Scootaloo assured. “Thanks girls. I really appreciate it.” Applebloom sighed out with an exhausted smile on her face. The three fillies eyed a bolt of fire that shot out from the canopy above, exploding in front of the horde chasing them. They stopped and eyed a shadow drop behind them. “Are you three hurt?” Lith asked, standing up from her crouched position. “We’re fine, Lith.” Applebloom said. “Was that your bolt of fire that struck the creatures?! If so, that is awesome!” Scootaloo responded with an ecstatic tone. “Not as awesome as Rainbow Dash, but still pretty cool.” “While I would like to talk about how awesome Rainbow Dash is, we have more pressing matters at hand.” The flames of the Psycho Fire reduced in size after Lith’s words parted. With the flickers of the dying flames came the flashing glows of angry eyes. The claw of a timberwolf poked through the flame and stood on the ground in front. “Can you do another one of those flame shots again to frighten the creatures?” Sweetie Belle asked with a trembling voice. “I can, but I have a better idea.” Lith said, turning her head back with a confident grin on her face. “Fluttershy! Professor Pasque!” Professor Pasque leaped out of the bushes from the right and unleashed a Frost Breath down the path. From the branches above, Fluttershy fired a sphere-shaped pellet that set its direction towards the timberwolf. The creatures felt the chill of Professor Pasque’s wind and the pellet shattered the extended leg of the timberwolf. The timberwolf yelped and looked at its iced-over shoulder. Another bullet shot out towards the leg of another timberwolf. Lith launched a Psycho Fire from her pawtips and cloaked the crowd in flames. Professor Pasque’s eyes flashed with a blue light and his neck stretched forwards. The droplets of water in the air dissipated, bringing forth sparkles of ice that expanded into crystals. The crystals collapsed onto the creatures, sealing them within ice. Any liquid upon them dried away. “That Freeze-Dry should keep them busy! Let’s move out!” Professor Pasque ordered. Professor Pasque, Einstein and Miss Cheerilee glared at Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo before them with anger resonating from their eyes. The three fillies turned their heads away with their eyes closed in shame. “Unbelievable! Sneaking out into the Everfree Forest during a field trip?!” Miss Cheerilee shouted. “It’s my fault, Miss Cheerilee. I was the one that wanted us to get our cutie marks in exploration. I’m sorry if I caused others to worry about us.” Sweetie Belle stated with a crestfallen tone. “But it isn’t your fault, Sweetie. It was my fault because I wanted to see if the rumors of my older brother were true. Safe to say, it was. So, it’s my fault.” Applebloom stated. “You two, please don’t!” Scootaloo stated with a raised and cracking voice. “You don’t need to take the fall over my idea of sneaking into the Everfree Forest.” Miss Cheerilee cocked her head and placed her right front hoof over lower lip. “Scootaloo, are you taking responsibilities for your own actions?” Scootaloo let out a low sigh and closed her eyes. “They didn’t even want to go into the Everfree Forest. I thought it would have been a cool idea to earn our cutie marks by finding treasure there and coming back as brave explorers. Instead, I was just being a poor friend who wasn’t listening to the needs of my other friends. If anyone should be punished, it is me.” Miss Cheerilee’s eyes softened from Scootaloo’s words. She glanced over towards Professor Pasque and Einstein. “Well, since you two were the instructors for the day, how do you think they should be disciplined?” She asked. “If you want my opinion on it, these are still young children that have much to learn about. While I applaud them for their resourcefulness and budding intellect, they have learned a lesson about the consequences of impatience and disobedience.” Professor Pasque responded. “The whole field trip went without a hitch other than that event. We went further in the cave and even went out in the Froggy Bottom Bog. I don’t see why they shouldn’t be left off the hook.” Einstein said, bringing large grins to the faces of Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. “I didn’t say that they would be completely off the hook. There is the matter of Scootaloo causing Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to fight.” Professor Pasque noted. “You need to apologize to them in front of everyone.” A pained groaned escaped from Scootaloo’s voice and she shook her head with a grimacing frown. “Can’t I just scrub the board, mop the floors or handle trash duty for the rest of the week? That would be less painful than apologizing to those two.” Professor Pasque closed the distance between his face and Scootaloo’s body. “You directly brought pain and strain to those two pulling off your stunt. It is only fair that you amend their friendship with each other.” He stated. Scootaloo crossed her front hooves and huffed in frustration. “Fine. I’ll go apologize and do something nice for them.” She said with obvious stutters in her voice. “As for you, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, the two of you are free to go.” “Well… there you three have it. Scootaloo writes a letter of apology, but you three are off the hook.” “Thanks again for saving us, Professor. I thought we were being discreet about our disappearance.” Applebloom noted. “Jetstream Rush let me know about your disappearance. Out of everyone there, he seemed to have been the most concerned. Had he not, you would have not lived to see the rest of the day.” Professor Pasque said. “I guess I have to thank him then.” “You already did. Showing him that you are alive and in good condition brought a certain level of relief to him. You don’t need to do any more.” “You know, there is one thing I didn’t understand yet; what the heck is a cutie mark?” Einstein asked. “It’s the symbol of our talent on our flanks.” Miss Cheerilee stated, pointing to the image of three white flowers on her flank. “They appear when we discover our special talent.” “Oh. I was wondering what those marks were. I could see why you two would want these so-called cutie marks. Next time, you could always make a request for me, Professor Pasque or any other agent to accompany you on your adventures to look for your cutie marks.” “Wait, you mean it?!” Sweetie Belle asked with a voice brimming with hope. “Of course! A duty of H.O.R.S.E. operatives is that we help maintain the norm of living. If going out to look for your cutie mark is an important part of everyday living, then I would love to help you three earn your cutie marks under a supervised eye.” Einstein responded. “Besides, it gives me an excuse to get to know you three better.” “I’ll take you up on your offer, Einstein. I really don’t feel like having another near-death experience like that again.” Scootaloo said. Professor Pasque lied underneath the night sky, gazing at the sea of stars above the dome. He looked towards the lone tree, seeing Rundas’s back against the bark. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping, Rundas?” He asked. “Couldn’t I ask you the same thing?” Rundas responded. Professor Pasque stared into the sky once more. “I am reflecting upon how my day went. Seeing three certain fillies today reminded me about how curious Mono and Lith were in their childhood. It was adorable and brought a feeling of nostalgia to me. So how did your mission given to you by the council go?” Rundas shook his head and leaped onto the ground below. “It went off well. Can’t say I feel good about taking a life with my own two claws. But… I would do it if it was for the sake of justice.” “I cannot fault the nature of the mission for how you feel. You know what you were getting yourself into when you took it.” Professor Pasque stated. Rundas stretched out his legs and sat by Professor Pasque’s side. “I know. I’ve grown used to just disarming and capturing my bounties rather than outright killing them. The system of this place is very gray if not black if I have to actually kill to be a bounty hunter.” “Considering the situation at hand, it really does not surprise me. At times like this, society cannot afford any deviations from the norm. We do not have that luxury to do so. When Big Macintosh died, everyone at H.O.R.S.E. knows the truth about his situation. But, society knows it as just being killed in battle. If the people knew the truth, then their morale would take a down turn for the worst.” Professor Pasque said. “Yep. I had to make the assassination look like an accident, which I did. I still don’t know why Aloe and Lotus are open about their double lives as assassins.” Rundas responded, shaking his head. “It doesn’t make sense to make it look like an assassin and say that you are the assassin at the same time.” “There is the reason of being a deterrent. If the Equusians know that there are assassins among them, then they would have to think twice before becoming enemies of Neo Canterlot. They know this as well as the risks associated with it. But, somehow, they’ve managed to win the crowd over. Last time I’ve checked, crime rates were down after those two became assassins.” “Professor, do you think we will ever see a day where we no longer have to kill? Even if I did some horrible things against others, I cannot stand seeing bloodshed like that.” Professor Pasque’s head dipped towards the ground. His eyes gazed towards the H.O.R.S.E. main building. “As long as there is free will, there will always be senseless killing. I know that sounds like the type of people you despise, Rundas, but it is the truth. Free will shall always have its consequences, and things such as war and bloodshed will never disappear because of it.” “I’m even sorry I asked, Professor.” Rundas said with a depressed tone. “You do not need to apologize. You are gaining the understanding of higher levels of philosophy when you asked a question like that. The only thing that is important is if you believe the path you chose is the right one.” Professor Pasque said with a smile on his face. Rundas stood up from the ground and walked towards his right. “I have much to think about, Professor. Thank you again for the conversation.” Professor Pasque shut his eyes and smiled. A rush of warmth flowed down his neck and back. Images of Mono, Lith, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo flashed throughout his mind. Author's Note This is part one of the two chapters of the day. Hope you enjoy, and this fic has now hit the 100k word mark.
Ethics of Assassination“Lulu, how does Neo Canterlot fare underneath your night? Are the Equusians safe at home?” Celestia asked, sitting across a wire table with a beam of light illuminating the two. “All of the Equusians sleep in their quarters as intended… except for the pink pony known as Pinkie Pie. My thestrals do not see her within the violation of curfew, and they have even established a friendship with her.” Luna responded. Her eyes scrolled to the left and right. She leaned inwards and moved her hoof to the right of her mouth. “I feel as though bringing mention to her name has placed me in surveillance under her all-seeing eyes.” “Maybe you are just paranoid, Lulu. No one and I mean no one is capable of sneaking past the sentry we have set up around this building.” Celestia assured, tapping Luna’s shoulder with her right front hoof. “You mean like this?” Rundas asked, leaping down from above the ceiling and onto the table. Luna squealed and leaped back from the chair, knocking it over. Her heart was about to explode from the pressure of the scare. Rundas took notice of her chest expanding and compressing at rapid increments along with her hoof on her chest and her deep breaths. With her body sustained, Luna scowled at him. “Do not scare us like that next time!” She shouted. “We thought you were an assassin sent by the Van’Goth.” “Your name is Rundas, correct?” Celestia asked with a calm tone. “That’s my name.” Rundas responded. “How did you ever sneak by the guards, and why are you even here in our private time?” “Being a Dark-type has its advantages, mainly when it comes to sneaking around. As for the other thing, I heard from Lith and the spa twins that you hand out bounty assignments.” Celestia and Luna exchanged a narrow-eyed glance and then looked towards Rundas. “So the reason you snuck onto us was so that you can take on a bounty?” Luna asked. Rundas lied on his side with a cocky smile on his face. “That’s right. I used to be a bounty hunter back in my world, but I only go after the criminals with evil intentions.” “Should I tell him what we really offer, Lulu?” Celestia asked with a pleading voice. “I shall tell him, ‘Tia.” Luna responded. “Rundas, we do not exactly offer bounty assignments here. We offer assassination assignments.” Rundas sat up from the table and looked towards Luna with his pupils on the right side and crooked lips. “Wait a moment… what’s wrong with keeping the bounties alive?” “There are several reasons why we should not keep them alive. If we keep bounties alive, then we have to imprison them and they are expected to be released into society again. In addition, we have to waste precious resources with keeping them imprisoned. Considering that we are not in the best of positions to imprison others, assassination is a favorable option for us.” Luna explained. Celestia walked towards a bare wall to the north and pushed on a pressure tile on the floor. A portion of the wall moved away, revealing an electronic board with a list of names on it. “I realize that this may be a mentally daunting task for one that has not killed outside of battle, but would you be of assistance and take your hit?” She asked. Rundas gazed at the board of holograms and names. He moved his right claw towards the center of the board and touched the name there. The name flashed, revealing the mug shot of a bright pink unicorn mare with a lavender and aqua-striped mane. Her blue eyes radiated with stoicism. An image of a pink ‘x’ and a white cross with two blue wisps stood on a different hologram. “She doesn’t seem like she is the type of girl to commit any heinous crimes or such.” “Her name is Starlight Glimmer. On the outside, she seems to be a normal, everyday mare. But, we have received incriminating amounts of evidence and witnesses that she is trying to bring forth a rebellion within the city. We cannot afford any internal strife during this time. Even if one percent of the citizens are not in accordance with us, then our chances of winning decrease immensely.” Luna explained. Rundas shut his eyes and let out a soft sigh. He looked back towards Celestia and Luna with sorrowful eyes. “I’ll do it.” He said, tapping his watch and sucking the information inside of it. “We are glad that you made the right choice, Rundas.” Celestia responded with a confident smile. Rundas gazed upon the image of Starlight Glimmer and walked down the empty street. Down the sidewalk to the left, Spitfire walked and hummed a low tune with her eyes closed and a content smile on her face. The two smashed into each other and found themselves on the ground. “Spitfire!” Rundas stated, rubbing his head. “Aren’t you supposed to be overseeing operations at H.O.R.S.E.?” “I’m taking a break. What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be out with Mono and Fei patrolling the city?” Spitfire asked. Rundas and Spitfire stood up from the ground and brushed the dust off of them. “I heard about the bounties that the council offered. I checked it out and…” Rundas shied his head away. A cold itch shot down to his neck. “Now you have to assassinate your target?” Spitfire responded with a dry voice. “Going against the norm to pursue justice is in my veins, Spitfire. Bounty hunting provided me with that as well as an escape from the regulations of the law. No one ever told me that all the bounty missions here are assassinations.” Rundas said. “So how good are you at taking lives?” “I’ve done a lot of thing in my life I wasn’t proud of, but I could never take a life outside of battle. I make sure to keep everyone alive.” A small smile cracked on Spitfire’s face. She wrapped her left front hoof around Rundas’s neck. “Sounds like you have a problem on your claws. The desire of the hunt and the will to not kill are warring inside of you.” “What advice can you give me, Spitfire? I’m not really much of a thinker. I just do.” Rundas asked. “Just follow your heart on the matter. If you believe that this person should truly see the light of justice, then you carry it on as normal. If not, you’ll find out a way to satisfy yourself and the council.” Spitfire pat Rundas’s back and walked off, whistling the low tune she stated with. Rundas leered forwards and saw a pony that resembled Starlight Glimmer’s appearance entering through the front door of a store. He raised an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders. He leaped upwards and rode a wave of ice towards the top of the store. He slashed an exhaust and leaped into the hole. He crawled through the metal vents and moved with the silence of a strider. A panel of light on the ground that is broken into three bars greeted his line of sight. He leaned his head over the grate, seeing Starlight Glimmer with a basket of bread and cans held in a blue aura. In front of her is a white-coated pegasus mare with a straightened mane and tail in the color of blue. Her eyes were a brilliant yellow. “How has everything been going for you, Starlight?” The mare asked, moving the items through a scanner. “Everything has been okay, but things could be better. Not many Equusians can appreciate my philosophy. But, I’m glad that you are able to, Day Breeze.” Starlight Glimmer responded. “It is a shame too. Your speeches have moved me to look at how I perceive the deity we look up to. Equusians will always cling onto any form of hope rather than create our own hope.” Day Breeze said. “It’s especially true with how they treat the aliens that have recently begun living with us. They are not our saviors nor are they the key to salvation, but the Equusians believe them to be like the second coming of Deus. Isn’t that sad?” Rundas raised his right eye and cocked his head. His eyes moved along to the food being slid into Starlight Glimmer’s bags. Starlight Glimmer waved and left. Rundas raised his wrist to his face and tapped it. An image of Sophia’s head appeared above it. “Oh, hey Rundas! What do you need me for?” Sophia asked. “I need your investigative skills to uncover just who the heck this Deus is. Apparently, it’s a huge part of the reasoning with my target’s plans.” “Got it. It was starting to get a bit boring around here since Boreas and Jasmine left to do some coast patrol and Rondo’s being annoying like always.” The hologram of Sophia’s head vanished back into the watch. Celestia, Luna, Victoria, Serva and Carapace sat around a circle of seats. Serva’s eyes moved towards Luna, whose body shook with small vibrations. “Luna, you look a bit rattled today. Is something on your mind?” She asked with a warm tone filled with concern. “It’s nothing, Serva.” Luna replied, shaking her head. “Lulu got scared by a Pokémon surprising us.” Celestia responded with a quick and witty tone. “‘Tia! Not in front of the council!” Luna whined. “The council has every right to know, Luna. It means that our security measures are lax if a Pokémon can sneak by.” Victoria announced. “You mean like this?” Sophia asked, jumping down from the balcony. “Gah!” Carapace shouted, leaping back in his seat. “Victoria is right; you five do need to increase security measures for your chambers.” Celestia sighed and pinched the bridge of flesh between her eyes. “Sophia, what business do you have with us that required sneaking here?” “You know, I’ve been hearing a lot of Equusians throw around the word ‘Deus’. Deus this, Deus that, Deus everywhere. Does that word carry a lot of significance?” “Is that all you wanted to know?” Carapace asked. His raised eyelids and frightened exterior melted away into a mellow smile. “We will be more than happy to tell you about that.” Serva stood from her seat and walked over to a panel on the wall. The wall lit up with life, detailing a five-pointed star with a brilliant light in the center. “Deus is our god. It was stated in the old legends that he appeared from nothingness and cultivated the land and all Equusians. It is through his will that we are animated. Everything began with him, and everything will end with him.” Serva explained. “Sounds a lot like Arceus back where I came from. So Deus is your universe’s equivalent to Arceus then?” Sophia asked. “If Arceus is the god of your universe, then it is a perfect synonym. Just think of Deus as Arceus and you will get why we revere him so highly.” “That is very helpful information. Many thanks council lady Serva. Good luck with that troubling teenage son of yours!” Sophia stated, grinning, waving and running out. “How… how did she know about my son?” Serva stated with a thousand-yard stare and a dumbfounded tone. “How much does she know about us is the better question?” Victoria asked with her talons held out with a threatening air. Starlight Glimmer stood within an alley, looking towards the street with left and right movements. A small sigh escaped her mouth upon seeing the empty sidewalks. She pressed her right front hoof against a metal tile of the wall. The floor nearby folded into a set of stairs leading downwards. She descended upon them, unaware of the shadow that snuck behind her. Shelves filled with potions and ancient artifacts greeted Starlight Shimmer’s eyes. She walked down towards the center, where a gnarled wooden staff that ended in a fork sat. Her right front hoof made its way towards grasping it. Three needles from the ceiling above struck the area between her hoof and the staff. Starlight Glimmer took a step back and turned around. A smug grin cracked onto her face. “Show yourself. Do not be afraid now.” She taunted. Rundas dropped from the ceiling and stared towards her. He poised his right claw fixed towards his front. “Your life is forfeited, Starlight Glimmer. Prepare to die.” He said. “Well, what are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to kill me?” Starlight Glimmer answered with a calm tone. Rundas grunted and clenched his teeth. He leaped forward and sliced towards her direction. Starlight Glimmer blocked his slash with her bare right hoof. She moved it to her left. With a quick twist of her body, she bucked Rundas between his legs with her right leg. Rundas’s eyes widened and his mouth shot open, releasing a pained groan. “That… was a cheap shot.” He uttered out, dropping onto his right knee with a twitching right eye. “And sneaking into my personal abode to kill me isn’t? You need to learn a lot more about ladies if you want to impress me.” Starlight Glimmer egged on. Rundas leaped into the air and formed a platform of ice underneath his claw. He formed a path of ice around Starlight Glimmer and rode it down towards her. He leaped off and held his right claw towards a firm direction below. Starlight Glimmer vanished from her spot, reappearing a second after. Rundas clicked his tongue and flipped towards the ground before him. “What is your reason for trying to rebel against this city? Do you not know we cannot afford to have any sort of defiance within the city?” Rundas asked. “My purpose isn’t to rebel. It is merely… to subjugate the citizens into a new order. An order that has no need to rely on a god that has abandoned us. Who are you to ask me such trivial nonsense?” Starlight Glimmer responded with a straightforward glare. “Rundas, a Weavile. I don’t care much about your god either, but this Deus sounds like the binding glue that holds everyone’s hope together.” “Are you just going to keep talking or are you actually going to kill me?” Rundas’s breathing stopped cold in its tracks. His claws glimmered with a dark aura. “Let’s see who’s talking when I cut you down with my Night Slash!” He shouted, slashing horizontally with his right claw. Starlight Glimmer stood in her spot, feeling the air rush across her face and a burning sensation along her right shoulder. She shook her head and clicked her tongue. “Why are you so afraid of killing me? Am I not an unrepentant criminal that is against Neo Canterlot?” “Realistically speaking, what else have you done to the city? You haven’t hurt anyone based on the records on here. Even if you are a big smug and prone to taunt others, I see no reason why others would dislike you to the point where you have to be murdered.” Rundas answered. “Simple. You see that staff at the altar I have set up?” Starlight Glimmer asked, pointing towards the staff. “This is the fabled Staff of Sameness that I have recovered on my travels outside of the city. It has the power to remove cutie marks and the will of difference. With this, I shall turn bring true happiness to Neo Canterlot and we will all unite over our similarities.” “That thing?” Rundas questioned with narrowed eyes and an unimpressed voice. He inhaled a torrent of air through his nose and breathed out a frigid air that formed into icicles above the Staff of Sameness. The icicles dropped onto the staff, shattering it upon collision. Starlight Glimmer’s neck reeled backwards and a gasp of ruined intent crawled out of her voice. “My staff! You destroyed my staff!” She shouted. “With your staff destroyed, there is no way for you to resume your plans on rebelling against Neo Canterlot.” “You think that just because you destroyed my staff, I would give up? While I do admit that it is an offset to my plans, it did not stop my plans as a whole. I just got to work hard and gain followers so that we can achieve a true utopia. With that said, you clearly do not have the mentality to even handle me. Is there any reason why?” Rundas dropped his stance and looked towards the ground. He shook his head. “The thing is that I can’t kill, at least not if it was aggravated. From what I see, you did absolutely nothing wrong to become a target of assassination.” He folded back his claws. "In the end, I don't think I would have to kill you." Starlight Glimmered let out a sigh of relief. “You have no idea how hard it was for me to keep on this shtick with the government breathing down my neck, Rundas. What the citizens of the city need to realize is that change is important. Yes, it is all fine and dandy if the Equusians are happy living the way they are now. Sooner or later, the council will end up getting too powerful and truly bring forth ruination upon the city.” “There is a part of that I agree with. I know for a fact that war can lead to drastic measures, but that just shows how unstable we are as a community. Without that stability, how can we even be sure if we are the good guys anymore?” Rundas asked. “I know that my ideas are inherently foolish, but I cannot stand to see the last bastion of equinity fall as well. There has to be some way where we can just all get along for true happiness.” Starlight Glimmer stuttered out. “At this point, all you can do is just place your hopes on H.O.R.S.E. It may not be your style, but we are determined to win this war.” “That’s all I can do it seems. I’m clearly too weak-hearted to take on the Van’Goth myself, and I made myself an enemy to the city.” “Yeah that’s gonna be a problem. Since I failed to kill you, then they would just go send another assassin after you. Not to forget to mention that I would be in serious trouble with the council.” Rundas stated, crossing his arms together. “If there was only a way to make you disappear…” Starlight Glimmer’s eyes lit up with brilliance. Her mouth hung open with a smile and a lightbulb of epiphany flashed above her head. “You need a kill for confirmation and I need to lay low for a while. So I have an idea on how we can solve both of our problems.” “I’m listening.” “Can you do that Night Slash thing again, but aiming for my jugular vein?” She said, pointing towards the side of her neck with her right front hoof. “You know that will kill you, right?” Rundas asked. Starlight Glimmer levitated a vial of purple liquid towards Rundas’s left claw. “Just collect a sample of my blood from there and quickly pour that serum onto the wound. It closes it instantly and regulates the bloodflow.” “That’s a bit insane, but it’s better than no idea.” Rundas raised his claws and a dark energy took his claws. He threw his claws towards the direction of Starlight Glimmer’s neck. Celestia and Luna traveled down the plush carpet in the narrow hallway. At the turn of the corner, Rundas ran into the two council ladies. “Celestia! Luna! I was looking for you two.” Rundas stated. “Did you finish your assignment as instructed?” Luna asked. Rundas presented a white rag stained with a dark red splotch on it and handed it towards Luna. “This blood is fresh from the jugular vein of Starlight Glimmer. You can do DNA testing and splotch testing to confirm it.” Celestia and Luna looked at each other with stunned expressions. They looked onto Rundas and smiled. “Well done. We didn’t think you had it in you to assassinate someone. We earnestly believed that you would have just dropped it altogether.” Celestia stated. “Well, when I have my thoughts straightened out, I can do anything I put my mind to.” “We will have you posted in the future then. We could always rely on someone like you.” Luna stated. Rundas shook his head and carried himself towards the first floor of apartments. His sharp eyes detected Sophia, who sat on a metal platform by the door he headed towards. “Sophia! What are you doing out here so late? Shouldn’t you be at home with Fei?” He asked. “I would, but Jasmine told me that I needed to see you before anything else. She got quite the glimpse of you and was worried about you.” Sophia explained. “I took a life. That’s what matters at the end of the day.” Rundas stated. “Buuuuut you didn’t?” “How would you know? I got her blood on my claws.” “Because I talked with her outside of the city. She was not happy, but smiled at the same time. Last I heard, she was going to get stronger so that she can fight the Van’Goth. Now is there something you want to tell me?” Sophia asked with an interrogative tone. “Okay, so I didn’t kill her. I couldn’t bring myself to kill one that hasn’t actually claimed a life.” Rundas admitted. “There’s the Rundas I know. You are willing to hurt others, but only those that actually deserve to be hurt. But you will never kill unless if the other person has killed.” “Please don’t rub that in. It’s already difficult when I had pressure put on me to kill someone. I barely got out of that situation with Celestia and Luna.” “Don’t worry, Rundas. I understand. I would never take a life on-purpose as well.” Sophia stated. “But, that is all I wanted to tell you. Your decision isn’t wrong and you shouldn’t feel bad despite the circumstances that had happened.” “Wait, that can’t be all… can it?” Rundas stated. “That would be all. I waited at this platform all day and night just to tell you this subjective piece of advice. Anyways, I got an important request tomorrow, so I have to go now.” Sophia leaped off of the platform and sprinted up the stairs underneath Rundas’s abode. “I can’t seem to get a grasp on that girl now can I? Then again, girls have always been confusing for me.” Rundas closed his eyes and chuckled. “I guess that Starlight Glimmer might have even captured my heart. Or... maybe I just got bucked in the nads too hard.” Author's Note Getting kicked in the nads is someone's way of showing you affection apparently.
Into the JungleSophia dragged Mono towards the group’s room at H.O.R.S.E. with her ribbons grasped around his paws. She leaned her head outwards with an eager smile on her face. Mono’s feet dragged along the ground and he rolled his eyes. “Is there a reason you are dragging me here, Sophia? I have yet to eat breakfast.” Mono asked. “I’ll tell you when we get there, Mono. In the meantime, I suggest you hold your tongue.” Sophia stated with a confident smirk. “I’m not exactly too comfortable where this is going, but you always do have a reason.” “I did say to hold your tongue, right?” Mono’s throat clenched at Sophia’s sudden words. Entering through the door into the room, his eyes picked up on a green-coated buck whose horns were studded buds. His eyes were green with the energy of a lively forest. The buck frowned at the sight of Mono. “Are you sure he will be able to help us, Sophia? He doesn’t look like he has a spine.” “Trust me, Bambi; he has one. I’ve told you all about Mono, haven’t I?” Sophia questioned. “Ummm… who is this, Sophia?” Mono asked. “Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Bambi. I am sure you are acquainted with my mother Lady Serva correct?” Bambi responded. “I know your mother, but what does this have to do with the reason we are all gathered here?” Mono questioned. Bambi pouted and blinked once. He grumbled underneath his voice. Sophia chuckled with a nervous disposition and rubbed the back of her neck with one of her ribbons. “Bambi has some… mommy issues at the moment. You see, back before the Van’Goth invaded, Bambi was of the Deerope royal lineage along with his brother and sister. Because his mother was the diplomatic mind of the family, she was never around to raise Bambi.” She explained. “My father was the one who actually raised me, but he and my siblings died when the Van’Goth invaded Deerope. Only my mother and I were the only members of royalty to have ever made it out of the country alive. Then, my mother got roped into politics and started ignoring me again.” Bambi stated with a low and rumbling voice. “I still do not understand the current situation at hand. Should this be something you should talk about with your mother?” Mono asked. “Honestly, I’m too frustrated with how she is never around. That’s why I want to go back to Deerope just to see my deceased family once more. At least they were there for me when I needed them.” “But Deerope is destroyed. If my New World Geography is correct, then what remains of Deerope is upon the continent known as the Twiluminescent Jungle. We don’t exactly have a clearance to that continent yet.” Bambi smirked and turned towards his side with his eyes closed in a smug fashion. “Well, it’s a good thing that I am royalty, no? I could grant you all clearance to the Twiluminescent Jungle in a heartbeat.” Bambi placed his front hooves onto the table in the briefing room, bringing up a map of the world. He tapped on a mass of land to the southeast of the Terraformed Wilderness, coloring it with a rich green color. “That’s the Twiluminescent Jungle continent? I wonder why it is called that.” Sophia said. “It gets its name from the ethereal and almost mystical glow it gets during the night time. As for the continent itself, it has a very humid atmosphere that causes the vegetation to grow to sizes that tower over the buildings of our city. It used to be higher north, but it shifted closer towards the equator of the world due to the unstable tectonics of the continent.” Bambi explained. “You know your geography well, Bambi. Have you ever thought about joining H.O.R.S.E. in the field research division?” Mono asked. “Not the point now, Mono. Besides, I’m on the fence when it comes to joining.” Bambi answered. “Anyways, this continent is home to creatures that are stories tall. We will need firepower to strike them down. Since you own an Exo License, Mono, maybe you could pilot a Class-D Fortress Exo there?” Mono’s fur stood up from his body and anxiety gripped his spine, throttling it back and forth. “I’m not exactly too confident in my exo-piloting skills to be able to pilot a Fortress Exo. I mean what if I hit something wrong and cause everyone onboard to die? I don’t want to put anyone through that.” Sophia patted Mono on his shoulders with her right front paw and smiled. “It’s a good thing it’s just the three of us then, right?” She asked with half-lidded eyes and a grin. “That doesn’t make me feel any better, Sophia.” Mono responded with quivering lips and a nervous shiver down his spine. “I didn’t drag you here because you are some half-baked pilot with quarter-baked potential. A voice told me that you have the skills to bring the three of us to the Twiluminescent Forest. Therefore, I have trust and confidence in your abilities as a pilot. Agreed?” “When she puts it that way, then I guess I trust in your piloting skills as well.” Bambi commented. Mono stammered and sighed. “I guess I have to practice my fortress-piloting skills sooner or later. Better sooner than later.” “So exactly how would you grant us clearance to head towards this continent, Bambi? I’d love to see you work your magic.” Sophia commented with a skeptical tone in her voice. “Simple; I just put my mom’s password when the clearance cue comes up.” Bambi announced with a confident grin. He imputed a maelstrom of masterful strokes along the hologram screens appearing in front of his face. The yellow lock hologram had its handle lifted away and flashed in a green screen. “And done.” “Let’s just hope Council Lady Serva does not catch onto us using her information.” Mono stuttered out. The orange sun blossomed within the sky. The vines and canopies that strangled the continent basked in its juicy glow. From the left of its shore, a white mech the size of a house spiraled towards the land with smoke rushing out of the boosters on its back. Its arms and legs folded inwards and formed into a brick shape. It dug into the soft earth where the tide meets the sand. The head folded upwards, forming a tunnel into its body. Mono, Sophia and Bambi stepped out of the tunnel with shaky steps and their heads held by their forelimbs. “How I even brought us here in one piece will always be a mystery.” Through exhausted pants and a nauseated voice, Mono uttered. “I thought you said that we would be okay because of my skills, Sophia.” “I did. We all made it out in one piece.” Sophia answered with a grin and her eyes shut. She looked back towards the exo and eyed the smoke coming from the shoulder blade of it. “Though it looks like our trip back home will be delayed… indefinitely.” A smile cracked onto Bambi’s face. “This is perfect! It will definitely give me enough time to refamiliarize myself with the land I have lost.” “I thought we were just going here to visit the areas where your father and siblings died.” Mono stated with a dull fire in his voice. “I did and we will. That would just be the last stop in our journey into the Twiluminescent Forest.” Bambi answered. “Every other H.O.R.S.E. operative I told this request to just laughed at me. Sophia was the only one who would take it.” Mono directed an agitated stare towards Sophia, who flashed a nervous grin and chuckled. “That wasn’t exactly a wise idea, Sophia. Did you know this would happen?” “I did, but I really don’t care about the dilemmas that could occur. As a H.O.R.S.E. agent, I have sworn to take any request no matter how silly or ridiculous it is.” Sitting down and raising her right leg upwards in salutation, Sophia answered. “Or did you already forget that we have to fulfill our client’s wish so that his way of life may be preserved?” Mono raised his paws into the air, looked upwards and shook his head with his mouth open in disbelief. He looked towards Bambi, who glanced onto a yellow flower below with a crisp smile on his face. He pointed at it. “It’s a yellow tulip. I didn’t know that this flower survived the terraforming. I will bring this back into the exo to see if I cannot bring it back home.” He said, shoveling through the ground around the flower with his front hooves. He retreated back into the exo with the tulip. Mono leaped onto a flat rock by a wall of spiked vines. He sat down and stretched his limbs. He glanced towards Sophia and and waved the tips of his paws towards her. Sophia grinned and jumped towards the rock, lying down beside him. “Sophia, did you drag me along with your scheme so that it would just be the two of us out here with a teenage stag that would end up ignoring what we do?” Mono asked with a placid voice, stroking the back of Sophia’s neck with his right paw. “Do you mind if I did that? It was the only way for us to finally be alone, after all.” Sophia responded. The duo gazed out at the sparkling sea bringing in waves of salt onto the sandy shore. The waters spread out towards the edge of the exo. “You know, Sophia, I really don’t mind what you did there anymore. I was upset at first, but then I realized that it isn’t all that bad. We have a stunning view and we still have each other.” Mono commented. “Even in the body of a Meowstic, your petting still feels amazing.” Sophia purred out. “I like having these times with you.” “I do as well, Sophia. I do as well.” Bambi exited out of the exo and observed the sated smiles on Mono and Sophia’s faces. He grinned, holding back a chuckle that rumbled through his teeth. “You two lovebirds better stop gazing at the ocean. It’s time to do what we came here to do.” Mono stood up from the rock and slanted his eyes with a stone expression. “We aren’t lovebirds.” Mono stated. “Give us a few more minutes of staying on this rock and stroking and we will be even more than lovebirds, eh Mono?” Sophia teased, standing up and bumping her left front knee into Mono’s right paw. Her right eye blinked. “Sure Sophia.” Mono uttered out with a nervous chuckle. Beyond the mouth of the vines rested trees whose height rivaled that of skyscrapers. Thin vines hung down from the branches and barks of the palm trees within. The air steamed with the scent of coconut and melon. Light flickered through the leafy canopies and brought salvation down to the plants below. Mono lifted a green leaf that is the size of a tray. “I never saw leaves this big back from where I came from.” “These leaves are the product of alien technology after all, so it should be like this.” Bambi noted. “It is interesting that you feel comfortable with your former home being like this, Bambi. Most Pokémon I know would have freaked out at such large changes.” Sophia commented. “Whether this land has changed or not, it still is Deerope. Even if everyone is gone, I still will inherit this land one day. As the heir to the continent, I have to be able to cope with and appreciate its changes. Besides, deer operatives at H.O.R.S.E. are still the best operatives to go through this continent.” “So where do we go first, Bambi?” Mono asked. “We head over towards the Spring of the Ancients. My sources say that area is left untouched by the terraforming.” Bambi answered. “It is one of the major landmarks before the remains of the capital city.” A wide grin appeared on his face. He leaped towards a vine, landing upon it with the grace of a beautiful gazette. He leaped towards another vine across the path, laughing with primordial joy. “Wait! Slow down!” Mono shouted. “Come on! We’re taking the adventurer’s path!” Bambi called out. Sophia shrugged her shoulders. A grin appeared on her face. She leaped towards the vines, following in the path that Bambi blazed. Mono hopped onto the vines and trailed behind the two. Bambi sprinted down the gnarled vine that spiraled through the canopy of the jungle. Running with the smell of hibiscus rushing through his nose, Mono looked below. A red theropod with yellow eyes and gray stripes looked upwards, inhaling a scent through its nose. It roared with a sound that causes the most strong-willed of stallion’s hearts to fall into their stomachs. “That Tyrantrum-looking creature looks frightening.” With dilated pupils and his lips tucked in, Mono noted. “Oh that? I suggest that you don’t go next to that Redclaw. It will tear you a new one, and that isn’t just intended as a pun.” Bambi commented. “Why else did you think I took the vines as our alternate route? Walking down the same path as that thing is just asking for trouble.” “Again, how do you even know so much about this place?” A quick snicker stifled underneath Sophia’s tongue. Serva stormed through the door of the Pokémon room with her eyelids and mouth wide open in panic. Her hooves pranced along the ground and a nervous sweat broke out from her face. Jasmine, the only inhabitant within the room, looked onto her with a sojourn glint in her eyes. “Oh dear oh dear oh dear!” She stuttered. “What is the matter, Council Lady Serva?” Jasmine asked, floating by her side. “My son! I couldn’t find him! I checked all over our living quarters and throughout all of Neo Canterlot and he is nowhere to be seen!” “You have a son?” Jasmine asked. “Yes.” Serva responded with a placid tone and serene stance. “But, I admit that I haven’t been the best mother in the world. I have been working day and night in my stance as a member of the council and have not been giving him the attention he deserves. But… that shouldn’t excuse him from running away!” Jasmine’s eyes narrowed and her stance faltered at the sudden shouting from Serva. “Please relax. You will not be able to get anything done just by screaming. Do you have any possible idea where he could have gone?” “If he is not in the city, then I have the suspicion that… no he can’t be there.” Serva responded with an inside tone, shaking her head. “Could have gone where?” Jasmine asked with interest peaking in her voice. “I would have the suspicion that he went off to the ruins of the kingdom capital Sylvanstag, but that couldn’t be possible with just his own self. It’s too dangerous and an ocean stands between this continent and that continent.” Spitfire hovered down the hall with a sleek tablet in her hooves. Seeing Serva and Jasmine, she smiled. “Hello, Council Lady Serva. What brings you around here?” “My son has gone missing and I don’t know where he is.” Serva answered. “Bambi right? I don’t know about his whereabouts, but you apparently gave clearance to Mono and Sophia so that they may enter into the Twiluminescent Jungle. Are you aware of that?” Spitfire answered with her right eye narrowed in suspicion. “I never gave clearance for them to enter into the continent. But, that means… oh no! My poor little Bambi is heading towards the capital city!” She shouted. “I’ve also checked that one of our Class-D Fortress Exos have been taken underneath Mono’s name as well.” Spitfire noted. A low growl emerged from her tone. “I cannot believe how deceptive those two are! When I get my hooves on them…” “Ummm, Commander Spitfire, you’re getting angry again.” Jasmine pointed out. “Considering you are the only operative in this room at the hour, you are coming with me to pick up those three hooligans!” Spitfire stated, pointing towards Jasmine. “I’m coming too, whether you like it or not!” Serva announced. “But council lady Serva, it will be too dangerous for you! Stay here and help maintain the city.” “And what? Worry about whether my son is dead or fighting for his life?! Not going to happen. I have been doing a poor job as his mother for neglecting his needs. It’s time that I stepped up and become a doe worthy of the title ‘mother’.” “I appreciate your dedication, but I’m still not sure whether it is actually the best decision for an Equusian of your stature to leave the city.” Spitfire said. “You know I could have you demoted to janitorial duties, right?” Serva asked with a smug smile on her face. Spitfire rolled her eyes and looked down onto the ground with her shoulders down. “L-let’s just leave now.” Bambi, Sophia and Mono leaped down from the end of the vine. A cool and wet sensation enveloped underneath their feet. Sophia lifted her right front paw from the ground and the sound of water welling towards the top made its way towards the group’s ears. “We’re here at our landmark stop! This is the Sylvanstag Spring!” Bambi announced, letting the scent of water breaking through earth reach his nose. “If this is a spring, then why is all the water under the dirt? Shouldn’t it be out in the open?” Mono asked. Bambi stepped forward and struck the soft ground. The water erupted outwards with a volcanic force. He craned his head towards the ground and sipped at the water. A satisfied sigh passed by his lips. “This spring is unique when compared to other springs. Because all of the water is hidden underneath the earth here, it acts as a sort of protection from unsavory bacteria and such. The dirt here is made from special minerals that filter out pollutants. So drink, my friends! You have nothing to be afraid of.” Mono and Sophia broke the dirt underneath them, where water burst from underneath. Sophia lapped at the water at her paw tips and Mono scooped the water with his paws and sipped at it. “This water tastes very fresh. It is as if this water had always been new.” Mono noted. The water retreated back into the earth, where the dirt lifted itself upwards. “The water retreated back.” Sophia stated with a frown and crestfallen tone. “That is just how the dirt here acts. A few seconds and it absorbs the water. In a way… it’s like a mother asking her child to come back inside after playing.” Sophia looked onto Bambi’s face, where a glint of melancholy flashed within his eyes. “Are you alright, Bambi? You seem upset.” “I’m fine, Sophia.” Bambi uttered out. “Ummm, what is that statue over there?” Mono asked, pointing towards a stone statue depicting the vague shape of a tall and slender mare with six wings. “I don’t know why, but she seems so familiar…” Sophia noted with a tilted head and her left eye narrowed. “This statue was made by a sect whose members were from all parts of the world.” Bambi strained out with disdain in his voice. “They say that this what the true goddess of the universe looks like. It’s pure blasphemy how it still stands here!” “Woah, sour much?” Sophia questioned with a mix of sarcasm and concern in her voice. “Never mind. Let’s just go.” Bambi leaped onto a separate vine that continued down the path. Mono and Sophia followed behind him, following in his tracks. Behind the statue, a bush rustled. Out of its leaves, a black boot stomped into the ground. Through the thicket of the jungle and the end of the vine, the eyes of Mono, Sophia and Bambi picked up on the sight of blackened wood and shattered planks. Dropping off the vine, they saw large trees fallen from their stumps. Ashes and shattered metals littered the ground. The ropes that hung from above the canopies are sliced and bones littered the area. Bambi’s front hooves trembled. “This… is Sylvanstag? I knew that it was in ruins, but this is too much. You can’t even tell that this was a capital city anymore.” Mono stated. “My ancestral home… I saw the fires when they invaded, but I thought we would be able to return one day for when it is over. It’s worse than I thought.” Bambi said with his heart ripped out of his chest. Sophia touched a small skull and frowned. “Not even the children were spared…” “That’s because I personally razed it all to the ground!” Mono’s ears perked up at the shout of the familiar voice. The sounds of gunshots echoed from the canopies above. Mono sprinted towards Bambi and Sophia, scooping them into his upper limbs and leaping away from the trajectories of the shots. He stood up from the ground and stared into the sky with an indignant stare on his face. “Show yourself, Giacomo! Do not think I don’t know you’re there!” Giacomo leaped down from a branch in the trees and chuckled. “Well, well, if it isn’t the pussy with his bitch and a bastard for a prince.” He taunted, waving the gun in his right hand towards the trio. “Ummm, excuse me?! Did you just call me what I think you called me?” Sophia asked, walking towards Mono’s side with fiery eyes directed towards Giacomo. “Yes. You are a female dog, right?” Giacomo questioned with genuine curiosity in his voice. “I’m... well, I think I look more vulpine than canine. Of course, that could be arguable. But for Arceus’s sake; clean up your language! Nobody talks like that!” Sophia shouted. “You!” Bambi screamed, pointing towards Giacomo. “You killed my father and siblings!” “Ah, yes. King Sylvan and two of his three children. I still remember the sounds of their screaming as my scythe tore through their flesh.” Bambi clenched his teeth to the point of fractures appearing on them. He sprinted with heavy hoofsteps towards Giacomo. An invisible force knocked him away and his back struck against a tree stump. He groaned in pain. “Hah! Balls without wisdom. Truly, he is a foolish runt.” Giacomo taunted. “It seems as though you gained some abilities since our last encounter.” Mono said with a stoic tone. Giacomo smiled and held out his right arm, where a black device was imprinted into his gloves. “I have you to thank for it. Without your usage of psychic powers against us, the Van’Goth would not have been able to make this into reality. But enough simple talk; I’m going to kill you and use your skull as a urinal.” “You seriously are disgusting, you know that?” Sophia remarked with a serious tone. “But, I bet you were never hugged by anyone, weren’t you?” She said with a snide smile. “You nasty skank… I’ll be sure to kill you first. But first…” Giacomo placed a green bullet within the chamber of the gun and fired it towards Mono’s direction. Mono’s eyes widened from the strike on his chest. His eyes and mouth drooped to a close. He dropped to the ground, sleeping. “Mono!” Sophia shouted, shaking him with her right front paw. “He’s sleeping. You want him awake? You’ll have to fight me so that I won’t kill him.” Giacomo challenged. “If it is a challenge you want, then it is a challenge you get. Try to keep up.” Sophia stated with a confident smirk. A thick light blue mist emerged from Sophia’s body and covered the field. Giacomo looked around. His eyes were veiled by the contents of the mist. “What is this shit?! I can’t see shit!” A dark ball of shadowy energy shot towards his direction, exploding on contact. Giacomo grimaced, but then chuckled afterwards. “Didn’t hurt that much, dipshit.” “Who says I was trying to hurt you? I was merely just… testing your resistances with my Shadow Ball. It seems that you have a bit of a resistance level to my Shadow Ball. That means…” Sophia’s body lit up with the image of a moon. An orb of lunar energy built up within her mouth and fired directly towards Giacomo. Giacomo leaped to his side, evading it. “That’s a pretty shot. Too bad I avoided it.” “There’s more where that came from. Try me.” Sophia whispered out. Giacomo growled and fired a sleep bullet towards Sophia’s direction. “Have fun with that sleep!” “I’m not sleepy though.” Sophia said, pouncing onto Giacomo’s head. “As long as this mist is up, we cannot fall asleep, be burned, poisoned, frozen or any other one of those lingering side effects that are possible in this world.” “Damn it!” Giacomo shouted. “And get the hell off my head.” “Okay.” Sophia stated, leaping off of his head. She spun in the air towards his direction and fired a Moonblast towards him. The blast collided with him, exploding on impact. Giacomo staggered backwards, gripping his face in pain. “You’re another one of those fairy bitches, aren’t you? No wonder it hurts as much as that other one.” “Yep.” Sophia responded with a shameless smile. “You may be nasty and abuse the language we speak, but you sure get upset easily. It seems like you can’t even land a hit on me.” Giacomo held out his hand towards her direction. Sophia levitated into the sky, turning her head in two directions. She wriggled and grunted. “I could strangle you if I wanted to. Actually, I think I’ll do that now. It’ll teach you for being as annoying as you are now. With your pussy of a friend there knocked out and that bastard unconscious, no one can save you as you are choked to death.” A Dazzling Gleam shot Giacomo’s back, breaking the telekinetic grip he had on Sophia. He turned around, seeing Jasmine and Spitfire behind him. “Game over, Giacomo.” Spitfire called out, pointing her cannon towards him. “You are surrounded. It’s time that you pay for your atrocities.” Jasmine threatened. “Try me.” Giacomo said with an eerie calmness in his tone. Spitfire fired a blast out of her cannon. Giacomo deflected the blast away with his hand. With the window of distraction, Spitfire dashed at a blazing speed, unsheathing her laser blade and slashing him. Giacomo’s eyes widened from the strike and he gripped his slashed side. “Was that a good hit?” Spitfire asked with a confident smile. “It was. You were a bit of an ass to distract me with that though.” Jasmine rushed towards Mono’s side and emitted an Aromatherapy. With the sweet smell hitting his nose, Mono awakened with life. “Where am I? Was it all a dream?” He asked, rubbing his head. “You aren’t dreaming, Mono.” Sophia said, rubbing her neck with a grimaced frown on her face. “Bambi’s been knocked out and that foul-mouthed Van’Goth nearly strangled me.” “What?” Mono said with a darkened tone. “Nobody hurts Sophia. Nobody!” Giacomo looked towards his left, where his eyes met with a geyser erupting out from the ground underneath. He dashed backwards and dodged it. His face met with a Psychic-infused paw by an angry Mono, knocking the wind out of him and forcing him into a stump. “Bambi!” Serva shouted, running towards the unconscious Bambi. She pulled him off of the stump with her hooves. Her pupils shrunk at his beaten state. She shook him with her mouth open in panic. “Please! Don’t die! I don’t want to lose you… I love you, Bambi! I’m sorry I couldn’t be the mother I could have been to you, especially during the most confusing time in your life. Please, don’t leave me alone!” She saw no movement from Bambi. Tears formed under her verdant eyes. She shoved her face into his neck and cried loud. She rocked him back and forth. Feeling his mother’s warm tears streaming down his neck, Bambi’s eyes cracked open. A small groan crept out of him. “…Mom?” Bambi asked. Serva lifted her face away from Bambi. A smile of a thousand splendid suns shined from her face and her eyes lit up with joy. “Bambi!” She shouted, nuzzling and hugging him. “You’re alive! I thought I lost you!” Bambi turned his head away and frowned. “Please, mom, not in front of my friends. It’s embarrassing.” He requested, pushing his hooves against Serva. “I’m going to hug and nuzzle you until you for a while, Bambi. There’s no way you can escape.” Serva responded. “God! You all should stop ambushing me when my guard is down!” Giacomo whined. “You weren’t all this tough back several years ago.” Serva let go of her grasp and turned towards Giacomo’s direction. Her stare caused the ground itself to rumble in fear. “You tried to take everything away from me. You took away my city, my family and my people. You have torn my heart asunder, foul creature. For that, your life shall be forfeited.” Her eyes flashed with an evergreen aura. Vines wrapped around the feet of Giacomo, snaring him onto the ground. Giacomo took out his scythe and slashed the vines. “Not happening, you deadbeat mother. I know when my jig is up.” Saying these words, he leapt into the air and disappeared. Bambi stumbled towards Serva, whose eyes stopped flashing. She looked towards him. “Mom, did you really mean those words?” Bambi asked with uncertain hope in his voice. Serva looked towards Bambi and smiled. She nuzzled his neck. “Of course I love you, Bambi. I was always so busy that I could never show my love to you. I’m sorry that I was never around. I deserve to be called every name in the dictionary for never being around. I neglected you and it was wrong for me to do that.” “Mom…” Bambi said. He embraced Serva’s neck with his front legs and wept. “I’m so sorry for running away from you. I’m sorry about shouting at you and saying that you should have died in dad’s place. You came for me when I needed you most… when I wanted you most.” “That’s so adorable!” Jasmine called out, pinching her arms together and tilting them and her head to the side. “Bambi… I know I shouldn’t do this, but I’m going to take this week off from the council to be with you. I want to get to know my son like a real mother and tell you everything you need to know about what a stag in puberty needs to know.” Serva said. “Really mom?!” Bambi asked with a tone rising in joy. “Of course. We’ll go out for ice cream, too. That is if you like ice cream.” “I would love it, mom. I would.” Serva and Bambi hugged each other once more. Mono sat alone within the Pokémon room at H.O.R.S.E., kicking his feet with a frown plastered on his face. His eyes were reddened and dried tears ran down his face. Jasmine and Spitfire walked into the room, waving and smiling towards him. “Jasmine! Spitfire! What are you doing here?” Mono asked with genuine surprise in his voice. “You kind of just ran away after we got back. And, from the look of things, you cried. Is there anything on your mind, Mono?” Jasmine asked, sitting by his side. “It’s nothing… and it’s kind of stupid to even cry about.” Mono responded with a choked-up voice. “You can tell us anything, Mono. At this point, we can be considered your family.” Spitfire said with a warm tone, sitting by his side and patting his back. “Seeing Council Lady Serva and Bambi uniting and bonding… it reminded me of how my mom and I used to be.” Mono admitted. “I miss my mom… I wish that I never even ran down that alleyway. She would still be here with me had I not done that.” Jasmine looked towards Mono’s eyes and detected tears rising from them. She brought his head towards her chest with her arms and stroked his head. She hushed him. “It’s okay Mono. You don’t need to feel alone. Mommy will always be watching over you from above. No more tears. Just dreams now. You have me by your side.” Jasmine comforted. Mono’s blubbering halted to a stop. He looked up towards Jasmine’s face with wide eyes and a mouth shrunken in curiosity. “But… I still want my mom. I’ve never had my mom for a decade.” “Mono, I don’t know about this parent stuff, but I really don’t mind being another mother to you.” Spitfire said. “We can spend time with each other and I could teach you some tricks and trades. I know I can never replace your mother, but it seems like you really do want a mother.” “Really? But… why are you offering me that choice?” “Truth be told, I was never a mother and I will never be a mother. I’ve always wanted to raise a child, but my lifestyle prevented me from doing so. Like what Council Lady Serva offered to her son, I could teach you on, well, how to be a better soldier and fit better into Equusian life. Plus, I get to snuggle you like the kitty cat that you are more often.” Spitfire answered with her tone rising at the end. “That’s a bit weird, but I won’t complain.” Mono said. “Good, because you and Sophia have to do one thousand laps around the track non-stop! Now get to it!” Spitfire commanded. Mono’s back erected in an instant and he saluted towards her direction. “Yes Commander Spitfire!” Mono sprinted out of the room. Jasmine looked towards Spitfire with a questioning gaze. "What? They both broke the rules? Sophia's already on the track and did ten laps already. But, she's a bit slow in her movements. With how Mono runs, he will definitely go through his punishment quicker. Isn't punishing children when they misbehave something a mom would do?" Spitfire said. "I suppose so. Who am I to argue? You are my boss after all." Jasmine answered. Spitfire smiled and chuckled. "Hey, do you think Lith is around? I'd like to see if she would want a mother as well." "I already took that position for her. But, I don't see why we both can be mothers for the two of them." Jasmine said. "Mothering Pokémon... I'd never thought I would ever see that day." The room became filled with the hearty laughter of Spitfire and Jasmine. Author's Note It is terrible to have your internet slashed. But, I hope this chapter is meaty enough to sate your palettes.
The Colors of FeelingsFei sat at the desk with an inked pen in his hand, scribbling down words on a piece of paper. A confident smile cracked on his face that deepened with each word he wrote. “Winning your heart is my ultimate goal. Your eyes are the rubies that caught my soul. I wish to to feel your warm and silky fur, and I’d like to hear your hypnotic purr. If I would hold your paw, my heart would beat. To bring you close for a kiss is my feat. My love is boundless like the ocean, Lith. They say that your beauty is like a myth. My life without you, I cannot be with.” He orated. “No offense, but your poetry sounds ridiculously cheesy, Fei.” Rundas said, laying back in the corner of the room. Fei leaped out of his seat and grasped the ceiling. His heart pumped faster than a geyser and his face broke out in a cold sweat. “Rundas! What are you doing in here?” Fei shouted with an angry blush on his face and dropped to the ground. Rundas walked towards Fei’s side with a swagger in his step and tapped Fei on his shoulder. “We have the day off, and I’d figure that I’d see what you were up to. Buying parchment and ink is pretty expensive, so I was curious with what you were doing with that. Now I see; you’re writing poetry for Lith!” “No! I mean… I’m just practicing what I will say is all for the, errr, Poetry Club tonight.” Fei responded, shifting his eyes left and right. “No offense Fei, but I can see a bad liar from a mile away. You’re going to have to do better than that to fool me.” Rundas responded. “So when will you confess to her? Everyone from the lab can see it.” Fei sigh and slammed his right hand onto the desk. “To be honest, I really don’t know. Every time I go near her, my stomach explodes with Butterfrees. I feel my heart about to explode and I get onto the verge of passing out.” He admitted. “How are you even so good with the opposite sex, Rundas?” Rundas shrugged his claws. “A roguish charm always helps. Being dark, mysterious and having a cool language with the ladies usually makes them swoon for me.” “But… I’m none of those things. I’m expressive in the wrong ways, I am shallow and I abide by the law. No girl would ever fall for someone like that.” Fei stated with his head fallen down in sorrow. “So? You have your charms. Come with me and I’ll show you what I mean.” Fei climbed up a hill with a lone and leafy tree standing at the top. At the hills summit, Keldeo and Rarity lied down upon a red-plaid blanket, eating sandwiches with white daisies and a dark red sauce. Rarity and Keldeo looked towards his direction, smiled and waved. “Fei! What brings you to this far corner of Neo Canterlot today?” Rarity asked. “I had a feeling to check upon you two to see what you are doing.” Fei responded with a forced smile. He sat down on the blanket and looked towards Keldeo. “We’re doing fine. A day off from duties is always good.” Keldeo said. Fei’s watch flashed with erratic intervals. “Alright, Fei, just do what I told you.” Rundas whispered through the watch. “So Rarity, it is a very nice day today. I say the sunlight reflects perfectly off of your pristine coat. Did you do something nice with it?” Fei stated. “Why thank you for the nice compliment, Fei. You were the first one today to actually notice. I’ve tried something new with my coat and I was afraid that no one noticed.” Rarity said, eliciting a huff of heated air through Keldeo’s nostrils. “Your mane also seems bouncier and luxurious than normal. Are you trying to get a special somepony to notice you?” Fei asked. “Aren’t you just the charmer today, Fei? I admit that I did focus special attention on my mane.” Rarity responded with a buttery tone. “Ummm, Fei, can I talk to you? In private?!” Keldeo whispered out with an irritated tone. Fei’s eyes widened with surprise and fear. “Did… did I do something wrong?” Keldeo levitated Fei within a deep blue aura. He looked towards Rarity. “I will be back, Rarity. I promise.” Keldeo stated with a distracted tone. Keldeo and Fei traveled down to the base of the hill. Fei plummeted onto the ground, landing on the ground head first. He rubbed his head. “Did you need to talk to me?” “Yes. Why are you putting the moves on Rarity?! Do you want her to fall in love with you?!” Keldeo asked with a loud tone to the point of screaming. “What’s wrong with giving her compliments?” Fei asked, oblivious to the situation. Keldeo groaned and threw his front hooves into the air. “I’m trying to woo Rarity today, alright? I prepared a lunch with her favorite type of food at her favorite location in Neo Canterlot. Don’t ruin it for me!” “Wait… so the reason you are doing this is just so that you can be her lover?” “Yes! Having you putting the moves on her is ruining that! I apologize if I’m just going on and on with this, but I really want to repay back Rarity for all the kindness she’s given me with a lifetime of happiness for the both of us.” “I’m sorry, Keldeo. I didn’t know. I was just trying to do what Rundas said and just explore what my charm can be.” Fei admitted. “You mean that roguish guy that the others hang around? What do you need his advice for?” Keldeo asked. “Do you really have that much difficulty talking to Lith in a straight conversation?” “Don’t say it like that. You make it sound like I cannot talk to females.” Fei said with a shrinking and embarrassed tone. “I’ve never been too good around females, even my companion and former love interest Sophia. That’s why I had to test my speaking skills with Rarity. I apologize if I impeded your progress with her.” “It’s alright. I kind of can’t spit out my feelings for Rarity either. I thought I would be able to work up the courage to tell her my feelings for her… but I choke up when I even try to compliment her. I don’t have the courage to tell her.” Keldeo said with an honest and depressed voice. “Is there anything we can do to just admit our feelings?” Fei questioned. “I’m sure that Twilight might have an answer to that. She’s always at H.O.R.S.E. working on something. She wouldn’t mind giving us solutions.” “But what about Rarity? You can’t just leave her alone.” Keldeo’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates upon hearing Fei’s words. “That’s right! I can’t just call off our day. I spent too much time in the planning stages for this day… But, what if I say that I’m going to get her gift? She would believe that.” “Really? You’re going to say that?!” Rundas shouted through the watch. “You know she won’t buy it.” “Let’s try it regardless. He obviously has a plan, Rundas.” Fei said. “Fine, but don’t come crawling to me when she gets mad.” Fei turned off the watch. The duo walked up the hill, where Rarity sat with a patient gaze. “Back so soon you two? What did you talk about?” She asked. “I realized that I forgot to get you your gift, Rarity. Fei is going to help me get a gift for you. We should be back soon.” Keldeo responded. “Take your time, Keldeo. I have the utmost of confidence in you.” Rarity stated. Twilight Sparkle looked through multitudes of floating books around her within the halls of the Magic Division. She hummed to herself. “I think I can reproduce this spell with a different effect if I channel the magic through zeta waves. And combining this with the current research done on Mono’s DNA, I can create an exact copy of-” “Twilight!” Keldeo shouted out. Twilight Sparkle leaped into the air and shouted. She fell down to the ground and looked behind her. “Keldeo! Fei! What are you two doing here? Shouldn’t you have your day off?” She asked. “Truth be told, Twilight; we are unable to confess our feelings to the ones we have feelings for.” Fei admitted. “Is that so? I think I know of something that would be able to help you.” Twilight Sparkle said. “I have this book of records here that talks about a magical bird that only appears once every ten years at a place known as Rainbow Plateau.” “Rainbow Plateau? Where is that located?” Fei asked. “It’s actually not too far away. It is located in the Terraformed Wilderness. It was an area that contained a pegasi settlement known as Rainbow Falls, which was named that because of the literal waterfalls made of rainbows. It was said that a mystical bird would appear there every ten years so that it can enrich the soul of the area with its courage.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “Ah! I’ve heard myths about that. Supposedly, the bird descended upon there because it has a strong affiliation with rainbows in general. But, why are you telling us this?” Keldeo questioned. “That is because today is the very day where the bird would appear there. If you can meet it, then it would grant you the courage that would allow you to do anything, especially confessing your feelings.” “Normally, this all sounds like mumbo jumbo… but I really want to work up the courage to tell Lith how I feel. As it is right now, my knees and stomach are too weak to even confront her with it.” Fei stated. “Wonderful! Actually, I don’t really have anything major to do right now. I would love to come with you two if you would allow me.” Twilight Sparkle requested. “Don’t you have to reproduce whatever magic you were trying to reproduce?” Keldeo asked. “Not really. I just experiment when I’m bored. But, an adventure to see a bird affiliated with rainbows would be an amazing experience for me.” “When you put it that way, then you are more than welcome to come with us.” Fei said. Twilight Sparkle, Fei and Keldeo climbed up a cragged path that spiraled upwards. The chilly air from the nearby mountains smelled of fresh earth and sweet herbs, bringing a calming aroma to the group. At the summit laid a flat land with two adjacent lakes at the center filled with liquid colors that were fed through an arched rainbow. “This area is beautiful!” Fei shouted with his jaw dropping to the ground. Keldeo eyed the craters and ruined buildings around the lake. A frown came upon his face. “But the settlement here is destroyed. I never thought the Van’Goth would have destroyed even this sacred place.” “Honestly, it isn’t much of a surprise. Rainbow Falls usually is seen as a symbol of hope among the pegasi. This place’s destruction was intended to crush that hope and make them more vulnerable. It’s disgusting, but a brilliant strategy at the same time.” Twilight Sparkle said. “I don’t get you sometimes, Twilight; are you on our side or the Van’Goth’s side?” Fei asked with a suspicious tone. “What? I cannot appreciate a good strategy when I see one? But I digress; shattering hope is something that only monsters would do.” Twilight Sparkle responded. “So when does this mythical bird descend down onto the plateau?” Keldeo questioned. “It descends at dusk. It is the most golden time of the day after all.” Twilight Sparkle noted. The sun set halfway into the horizon, casting a golden glow upon the land. The rainbows glistened and shined from exposure of the sunlight. The entire plateau sparkled underneath the sun’s glow. “Amazing! It is twilight and the land just sparkles with life.” Fei noted. “You just wanted to use my name out of that context, didn’t you?” Twilight Sparkle questioned with a deadpan tone. “Maybe.” A giant bird cloaked in a golden aura flew over the sky, creating a rainbow trail in his flight path. His descended onto the plateau, where his aura dissipated. His physique resembled that of a peacock and phoenix. His red feathers radiated with power down to the green and white-tipped feathers at the edge of his wings. A green stripe spiraled down from his neck. His tail was covered in gold feathers that formed into the shape of a burst of energy and his abdominal feathers sparkled with purity. Keldeo gazed into the perched bird’s orange eyes and the yellow crest on its head that represented a crown. His breath was taken aback by the light that shined from it. The bird looked around the environment with a frown on its beak. “This land… it is destroyed. And the good folks of this area all disappeared.” He stated. “Many things have changed since my last visit to this area.” “I’m sorry to say, sir, but this place was the victim of an extraterrestrial war. Many lives here were lost and no one lives in Rainbow Falls anymore.” Twilight Sparkle stated. “I see. It cannot be helped, however, as I am always crossing over throughout the many skies of the universe. But, I see that you three are here so you can give me the company I desire. My name is Ho-Oh, guardian of the skies and granter of courage.” Ho-Oh introduced. “No wonder you look familiar. You are a Pokémon.” Fei noted. “What?! This mystical bird of legends is a Pokémon?!” Twilight Sparkle shouted with surprise. “The Mienshao there is right, little unicorn. I am indeed a Pokémon. Why does this fact surprise you ever so?” Ho-Oh asked with a friendly grin on his face. “I just didn’t expect a Pokémon to have been visiting this place for centuries now. Pokémon only started appearing in this world about a few months ago.” “I see… so it has finally begun.” “What begun, Lord Ho-Oh?” Fei asked. “A turn of events that would determine the entire fate of the universe that had been proclaimed by the precursors since the birth of this dimension.” Ho-Oh answered. “It was said that an exodus would occur within a different dimension, bringing all of the humans and Pokémon into a more peaceful version of this particular universe. But a handful of those humans and Pokémon would be brought over here to help fight against the threat of this universe.” “A threat… do you mean the Van’Goth?” Keldeo questioned with a tone of uncertainty. “They are the ones that laid ruins to this area, no? However, it is not them. An even greater threat than them shall be upon us. It was the same threat that had destroyed our universe years ago, young Keldeo.” The eyes of Twilight Sparkle, Fei and Keldeo widened with shocked revelation. “When you say ‘our’ universe, do you mean that I was from that universe as well?” Keldeo asked. “So it is true; Keldeo is a Pokémon.” Fei said. “You were a part of the universe I was from, but the Mienshao here isn’t. It is too soon to tell you all the details, but I travel throughout the dimension on the words of my late master so that I may spread courage and hope everywhere.” Ho-Oh explained. “So… I am not a pony. I am a Pokémon…” Keldeo stated with a despondent tone. He growled and stomped his right front hoof into the ground. “And here I thought that I would be able to live out a life as normal as possible in Neo Canterlot.” “Do not treat this like the end of the world, Keldeo. But rather, treat it as a second chance at life. Our universe’s Arceus saw great potential in you and whisked you here to safety when disaster struck. You have gained many ties to this world, so much that you can actually be considered more of a natural-born resident of this world than ours. I can sense it.” “But why me? What potential can I possibly have that would grant me a chance at living here?” “You do not need me to tell you that, Keldeo. It is asleep within your memories. Allow them to be awakened, and your true potential shall be realized.” Ho-Oh explained. “I understand, Ho-Oh. But… why does Fei call you by the title of ‘Lord’?” Keldeo asked. “It is because Ho-Oh is a legendary Pokémon back in our world, just like how you are a legendary Pokémon there as well. Though, considering the camaraderie that we now share, it would be most unusual to give you that title as well.” Fei responded with a chuckle in his voice. “Wait, hold on. Let me get this straight; so you and Keldeo are from a different universe, but your universe is different from the universe that Fei is from. Then, there is the implication of something bigger that will doom our universe…” Twilight Sparkle assessed. “I think that I need to sleep more hours and work less. This is all becoming too ridiculous for someone like me.” “Everything will make eventual sense to you, Twilight Sparkle. You just need to let it rest within the annals of time.” Ho-Oh assured. He looked behind him, seeing the golden shine from the sun disappearing into darkness. “I have to cut this conversation short, unfortunately. I would love to talk more with you three, but I have to visit other worlds in a scheduled time.” “Will we ever see you again, Lord Ho-Oh?” Fei asked. “I was hoping that Keldeo and I would be able to be granted your courage so that we can admit our feelings to the ones we have feelings for.” “Do not worry, young Fei. We will see each other much sooner than ten years. There is a dimensional pocket somewhere within this world that will grant you access to the gateway of dimensions. You will see me there. As for your dilemma, I say that you do not need my power to tell your feelings to the ones you love. You did have the courage to journey here, did you not?” “Well… when you put it that way, I guess I feel more courageous than I did before this day.” Fei stated. Ho-Oh cracked a smiled and unfolded his large wings. Feathers of red, green and white colors fell in front of Twilight Sparkle, Fei and Keldeo. “I have heard of stories from this world that my feathers are used as gifts for expressing love. It is funny really. They are just my feathers, but take them nonetheless and give it to whoever your heart yearns for.” Twilight Sparkle picked up a Rainbow Wing from the ground and stared at awe into the colorful plumage. “We give them as gifts because your plumage is beautiful and rare. Anyone would treasure one of your feathers more than a mountain of gold.” She explained. “I suppose that anything can be valuable if others place a value on it. Never lose hope and always remain strong. You can all do anything if you put your minds to it.” Saying these words, Ho-Oh flapped his magnificent wings and took to the sky. Twilight Sparkle, Fei and Keldeo gazed into the sky, staring as Ho-Oh vanishes when travelling through the rainbow waterfalls. The dark of night hit the area. Rarity glanced down onto the blanket with a teary frown on her face. She looked up into the sky, seeing the moon rise into the sky with the stars amidst them with a wistful glint in her eyes. Keldeo sprinted up the hill with a hurried panting through his breathing. “Oh… Keldeo. I did not think you would be away for the entire day.” Rarity commented. “Rarity! Don’t tell me you waited here all day.” Keldeo said with a pang of guilt in his voice. “I have. I didn’t want you to question my whereabouts, so I stayed here for you.” “I’m so sorry I did that to you. I didn’t mean to be out for so long…” “That reminds me; why did you take so long just to look for a gift?” Rarity asked with an interrogative voice. “The truth was that I wasn’t looking for a gift.” Keldeo said, closing his eyes with a sigh. “The truth was that I was trying to muster my courage up to say something very important to you, Rarity. But, one thing led to the next and now I realized that I’m not the pony that you once new.” “What does that even mean?” Rarity asked with her head tilted and eyes narrowed in confusion. “I’ll just let this gift to you explain what I mean.” Keldeo stated, levitating a royal purple box in the shape of a rectangle towards Rarity’s direction. Keldeo lifted Rarity’s right front hoof with both of his hooves in tender display and dropped the box on it. “Please open it.” Rarity’s breath was taken away by the gesture of Keldeo’s words. She brought her left front hoof towards the box and opened it, revealing the Rainbow Wing inside. Her eyes lit up in fascination. “Is this… what I think it is?” “The red color represents my undying passion for you. The green represents the idea that we were meant to be. Finally, the white color represents the purity of my feelings. What I’m trying to say is that…” Keldeo’s words stopped in its tracks. His throat choked at the final words. He blinked and breathed out a calming air. “I love you.” “Keldeo… I’m not sure what to say.” Rarity uttered out with her breath taken by his words. A smile on her face with beads of tears dropped from her eyelashes. “You are kind, generous and my best friend. You are strong-willed and graceful at the same time. You have the beauty that matches the stars in the heavens above. You deserve a stallion who can give you the love and attention you deserve. But…” Keldeo looked away with a frown on his face. “Is there something wrong, Keldeo?” Rarity asked. “But I’m not that stallion. I’m not even a pony. Today, I realized that I am a Pokémon that just happens to look like a pony. How could you even love an alien such as me?” Keldeo asked. Rarity placed her left front hoof over Keldeo’s lips, quieting him. “I don’t care whether you are an alien or not. When I first saw you in the orphanage a long time ago, you were alone. None of the other orphans acknowledged your existence. Ultimately, you desired friendship and I wanted to give you that friendship. Over time, I realized just how special you are to me. You may be timid, but you are strong when you need to be and are surprisingly very selfless.” She explained. “But isn’t that how everyone is?” “You exhibit a special type of strength. You show the strength to love a nation that you are foreign to. You show the strength that is able to protect others no matter how dangerous it may be for your own good. Your wispy mane and wave-like tail display a very noble air that I just felt attracted to for the longest time.” “You… felt that way for me all this time? You don’t care if I’m not a pony?” Keldeo asked. “What I care about is the beauty of your soul, and I have seen its lustrous shine many times. Besides, you look pony enough to pass for one, and you are very pleasing to the eyes. Though, I’m curious how you were able to talk without a translator like the others.” Rarity stated. “That… I’m not too sure. Heck, Ho-Oh talked the way that you would as well. Maybe it’s just the Pokémon of my universe that can do that?” “So, you have the Rainbow Wing in the box like I told you?” Rundas asked. “Yes. I have everything I want to say right here in paper. Lith should be in her living quarters with Mono.” Fei responded. “Alright then. Well, good luck. If things go for the worst, you and I can spend the night at a local pub drinking your sorrows away. I got a permit from Council Lady Luna to do that.” Rundas offered. Fei sighed and rustled his shoulders. Rundas leaped over the railing. Fei knocked on the door three times. The door cracked open, revealing a smiling Mono. “Hey Fei. What brings you to my home at this time of night?” Mono asked. “Hello, Mono. I just wanted to see if Lith was home right now.” “She is home right now. She was actually getting ready to sleep right now. Do you want to see her?” “It would be my pleasure to see her.” Fei responded. He walked past the door and entered in the living room. He sat on the couch and glanced towards Mono, who stepped into his room. An excited shriek shot from the room, and Lith ran towards the living room. She vaulted over the arm of a chair adjacent to Fei and landed on the cushion. “So Fei, what brings you to my abode tonight? I have to say that I wasn’t expecting you to come.” Lith asked. “First Lith, would you mind sitting closer to me? I want to give you something.” Fei requested. Lith nodded and leaped towards the couch where Fei sat. She sat down. Fei presented the box in his right hand to her. Lith opened it, revealing the Rainbow Wing inside. “This is… how is this even possible? Ho-Oh shouldn’t even be in this world.” Lith questioned with eyes narrowed in confusion. “There was an urban legend that is actually real that tells of a mythical bird that would descend onto the Rainbow Plateau once every ten years and grant courage to those around him. Those that have witnessed it are said to become wonderful heroes. That bird was Ho-Oh.” Fei explained. “Wait, Ho-Oh is in Equestria?!” Mono shouted, running out of the room with his jaw dropped in surprise. “How?!” “I do not quite understand everything, and explaining would only throw a kudzu plot into your chapters, but he claimed that he was from an alternate version of our world, who travels the dimension to bless each world with his courage.” “Amazing!” Mono and Lith shouted in united joy. “I also wrote this for you, Lith.” Fei stated, holding out the parchment. “Paper and ink were very expensive to purchase apparently.” Lith took the paper and began skimming through it. Her back tilted backwards and her teeth were born in disgust. “Fei… this is literally one of the cheesiest pieces of poetry I have ever read.” “What?!” Fei shouted. “B…but Mono said you loved that type of poetry.” “He didn’t exactly lie. I love reading this kind of poetry because this makes me laugh loudly.” “Wait, what?!” “It’s true. I told you that because I didn’t think you would actually take the bait.” Mono added. “I appreciate the effort that went into this, but wow! This poem literally rhymes and has ten syllable stanzas that reflect upon how you feel about me. ‘and I’d like to hear your hypnotic purr’ really? This is so cheesy that it actually verges on being good!” Lith announced. Fei frowned and looked down onto the ground with a frown on his face. “I’m sorry I soiled our friendship with that poem, Lith. Now you know how I feel about you.” Fei stood up from his seat and walked towards the left. His wrist became gripped by Lith’s paw. “Wait! Where are you going, Fei?” Lith asked. “Rundas invited me for a round of drinks. I might as well go there now that I’ve embarrassed myself in front of you.” Fei answered. “It is true that you wrote this cheesy poem, but I want you to stay for a bit longer. You obviously worked hard to give me this hilarious poem and the Rainbow Wing is an additional plus. But, what I’m trying to say is that I like you… I like you a lot, Fei.” Lith admitted. “Mono and I were about to make some muffins with something known as pistachios. A friendly mailmare gave us the recipe for it and she said that it would hit our sweet and dry cravings at the same time.” “Wait, we were?” Mono asked with a puzzled tone. “I was wondering if you would like to bake some pistachio muffins with us.” Lith offered. “I would love to, Lith. I feel curious enough to try it… as long as nothing sour is put inside of them. Arceus knows how much I hate sour flavors.” Fei responded, shuddering at his words. “Then let the three of us start baking some goods now.” Author's Note I meant for this to be a chapter that was lighter on the plot, but it somehow ended up bringing the plot into some very interesting and complex territories. Anyways, some more ships have set sail.
Violent SurgesFluttershy stood within a dark blue room with lines of blue light running through. Black fabrics wrapped around her front hooves. Fluttershy looked back to a mirror with a bead of sweat falling from her forehead and her teeth gripped with anxiety. “Commander Spitfire, are you sure that I should be the one to test these gloves?” Fluttershy asked with anxiety in her tone. “I don’t think I am cut out to be a physical fighter.” “You did give a gleeful yes for when I asked you to do some testing. Besides, all of the other operatives are either busy or just declined.” Spitfire said. “But you are here, Spitfire. Wouldn’t you be more suitable for testing them? I mean… if you don’t mind that is.” Fluttershy squeaked out. “Ummm…” Spitfire stuttered out with a nervous tone. “Someone has to record the results.” “But Twilight is still here, and I have formal training in recording results in general.” “Uhhhh…” Spitfire hit a green button on the dashboard. The mirror disappeared from Fluttershy’s view of sight. The roof and walls disappeared and an azure sky with an infinite horizon replaced it. The floor became an island of sand and grass. A sandbag the size of a human dropped onto the center. “I’m not even sure what these fabrics can do, Spitfire.” Fluttershy called out. “The developers said that these are developed using the latest information discovered on the genome matrix. From what I understand, the techniques available within the gloves are Thunderpunch, Sky Uppercut, Volt Switch and Focus Blast.” Spitfire explained. “Those sound like they hurt others.” Fluttershy noted. “That’s because they do. Now try out those moves on the sandbag there.” Spitfire commanded. Fluttershy put her hooves together. Yellow electricity cackled from the fibers, eliciting a squeak from her. “The electricity isn't shocking me. Is there a reason why?” She asked. “It uses the electric-type genome within your body to function. Don’t even ask me how that is possible.” Spitfire answered. “Also, if anything goes wrong, I will stop the simulation and get you immediate help.” Fluttershy pounded her hooves together, feeling a buzz of electricity surround her entire body. Her body shined with the luminescence of a brilliant light bulb. The light transformed into an orb of electricity between her hooves. She tossed it forwards, striking the sandbag. The remnants of the electricity pushed her towards the edge of the water. “Wow. That felt… good!” Fluttershy called out. “Nice Volt Switch there, Fluttershy. I thought you would have blown up for a second.” Spitfire commented. “Now try going for a Thunderpunch and combo it with a Sky Uppercut.” Fluttershy galloped towards the falling sandbag. Her left front hoof charged with a virulent flow of electricity. She held it out forwards, surrounding her in an aura of volatile voltage. Her hoof collided with the sandbag, stunning it in place. Her right front hoof cloaked itself with a light blue aura. She struck the sandbag with that hoof and leaped with her uppercut, knocking it into the air. She gritted her teeth and felt the adrenaline pump through her blood system. “Now finish it off with a Focus Blast!” Spitfire shouted. Fluttershy held her hooves out and brought them to the side of her left shoulder. A light blue sphere of aura built itself between the two hooves. The sand blew away from the source point of the move, and an inferno erupted from Fluttershy’s eyes. She tossed the sphere forward, exploding on contact against the sandbag. A vicious roar escaped from her. “My blood… is on fire!!!” She shouted with the ferity of a lunatic grizzly bear. “Woah! Calm down there, Ariani. You almost lost yourself there.” Spitfire called out with snide fear in her tone. Fluttershy snapped back into reality and looked over her shoulder. A sheepish smile emerged on her face and a shy giggle squeaked out of her mouth. “Sorry.” Spitfire and Fluttershy walked down the hall. Spitfire flashed a content grin towards Fluttershy. “You were quite the warrior back in the training chamber, Fluttershy. I wish I could have been that fierce.” She admitted. “Honestly, I was not sure what came over me. Activating those gloves made me feel like a different pony altogether. I almost felt like I was going to be a savage beast if I had continued testing.” Fluttershy admitted with her eyes looking away from Spitfire. “But, at least we know that they work well.” “I’m glad. Those will be an amazing weapon against the Van’Goth. And in your hooves, we will be so much closer to ending the war.” Spitfire complimented. “May I hold onto these gloves for a bit, Commander Spitfire? I mean, if you don’t mind that is.” Fluttershy asked. “I’d say you did more than enough to deserve them. Not only are you frightening with them on, but you have such a destructive streak with them that it makes me proud of you.” “I’m not sure if I should be happy that you said that… or scared that you made me sound like a monster.” “Let’s just leave it at what I said. Now, I have a very special mission that you can appreciate, Fluttershy.” Spitfire said, patting Fluttershy on her left shoulder. At the end of the hallway sat the cafeteria. Spitfire and Fluttershy strutted their way towards a table, where Hydrangea and Rondo sat at. Hydrangea stirred a dark green beverage and glanced towards Rondo, who pecked at the golden brown slices of fruit before him. “This peach is pretty good. It tastes almost like a pecha berry.” Rondo noted. “Well I’m glad you enjoy it. They are known for their juicy sweetness. So tell me Rondo, what is your favorite fruit?” Hydrangea asked. “When it comes down to it, watmel berries. It has that niiiice sweet flavor with a hint of bitterness to it. It’s pretty good.” Rondo responded. “I do have a fruit I hate though; the yache berry. That fruit tastes horrible!” “Yache berry? Please tell me why you hate it so much. I am curious.” Hydrangea requested. “Ohhhh, the yache berry. It was during one winter when Mono gave it to me. He said that when I start to feel cold, I could eat it to reduce the effects of the freezing temperatures. So, my wings are feeling frigid and then I took a sample of it. It was disgusting! It was too sour and the dry flavor didn’t help too much. The sour flavor perpetuated throughout my mouth, and I was still cold! From that day, I vowed never to eat another Yache Berry in my life!” Rondo explained with disdain. “You know, as much as I would love to hear your conversations on fruit, I must interrupt.” Spitfire interjected. “Commander Spitfire! What brings you to our lunch table today?” Hydrangea asked. “Nothing much. Just your assignment for the day.” Spitfire responded. “And considering Rondo is here as well, I might as well give it to him and Fluttershy as well.” “Oh dear. An assignment with just the three of us? What are the details, Commander?” Hydrangea questioned. “I will tell you after you finish your lunch and conversation. Just report immediately to the briefing room.” Rondo, Fluttershy, Spitfire and Hydrangea stood around the map of the briefing table, gazing down upon the map. “We have to go into the Twiluminescent Jungle? What for?” Rondo asked. “There are rich traces of mithril located somewhere within the brambles of the jungle. H.O.R.S.E.’s supply of mithril has been running low as of late, and we aren’t getting much luck with finding mithril in the subterranean regions of this continent.” Spitfire explained. “Mithril is a very important metal for making armor for our pegasi. Its durability and weightlessness allows for a pegasi to excel in aerial combat without being hindered by traditional armors. Without that armor, then our fighting efforts will be reduced.” Fluttershy added. “I see… And you need a cervine being such as myself because we are capable of traversing our ancestral continent, correct?” Hydrangea asked. “Precisely. Hydrangea, I will leave you in charge of navigation. Rondo will be in charge of recon. Finally, Fluttershy will be in charge of information gathering. It isn’t typical where I would send off a squad into a faraway location with non-combative roles, but that doesn’t mean you are not capable of fighting. When push comes to shoves, shove it back with a kick. Got it?!” Spitfire declared. “Yes Commander Spitfire!” Fluttershy, Rondo and Hydrangea stated with straight voices and their respective left front leg, right front leg and right wing saluted over their foreheads. “That’s what I’d like to hear from my operatives. Now, I will provide the mode of transportation via the military air transport vehicle.” Spitfire said. “Not the Fortress Exo, because those are expensive to replace.” Fluttershy, Rondo and Hydrangea sat on a black-cushioned bench. The air around them strangled their limbs, giving the impression of the plane being able to explode at any moment. Rondo looked out of the window of the plane, glancing towards the black wing and the sea that took the appearance of a bending fabric to his eyes. “I know I’ve flown into the air several times, but this is much higher than I would usually fly. Everything looks like a paper-mache model from this height.” “It is quite interesting to be up in the air. I flew several times in a plane like this. My first time… wasn’t so great though.” Hydrangea said. “I know how you felt. Everything just felt so sudden. I remember when I heard all of the panicked shouting and we were forced to evacuate into vehicles like this. But… I’m honestly glad for that. If I had not, I would not be able to explore this new world. I know it is dangerous, but it still is always amazing to discover new things.” Fluttershy stated. “Mono would hate to be aboard one of these planes. Not only because he would feel threatened, but because he hates flying in general.” Rondo revealed. “Wait… didn’t he just go flying to do that request the other day?” Hydrangea questioned with a tone wet with suspicion. “He did. He also kept shouting how he hated riding the fortress exo after Commander Spitfire gave him and Sophia that punishment.” “Oh right! You know, that was kind of funny to see. His shivers made it all worth it. I know it is wrong for me to see him like that, but he looks a bit cute doing it.” “Ummm… you do know Sophia will be out for your blood if you say that in front of her, right Hydrangea?” Rondo asked with a hint of fear in his voice. “I don’t care what a dog…cat…fox thing feels about me saying that. He’s just cute when he freaks out.” Hydrangea responded. A stifled giggle emerged from Fluttershy. She dropped down onto the floor, rolling on it in laughter. “Are you okay, Fluttershy?” Rondo asked. “I’m fine, Rondo. I just find it funny how Hydrangea cares about what kind of creature a Sylveon is.” Fluttershy answered. “H-hey! It’s not my fault. I mean… I know what all the other Pokémon are based off… but wow is Sophia a mystery!” Hydrangea shouted. “Don’t you ever get curious?” “They are aliens though. We cannot use our perceptions and beliefs of what we see to judge their appearance. Doing so is wrong.” “I guess you’re right, Fluttershy. I should quit while I’m ahead.” Hydrangea stated. “Ummm… we are about to descend now.” Rondo said, pointing towards the mass of green land cutting into the sea below. The inside of the plane dipped towards a sharp diagonal angle. Rondo, Fluttershy and Hydrangea gripped the benches with wide eyes and felt their insides rushing towards their right side. The plane came to a sudden stop, throwing all of the passengers within the bench forward against the wall. Hydrangea stood up with spinning and slanted eyes. “I think we are here now…” Rondo and Fluttershy trailed behind Hydrangea, whose steps moved with a wobbly pattern. Rondo and Fluttershy shared a glance and looked back towards Hydrangea. “Are you sure you should be walking after getting off the plane, Hydrangea? You don’t look too good.” Rondo asked. “I’m… fine.” Hydrangea responded. A wave of queasiness struck her stomach. Her fur turned a sickly shade of green and a burning liquid reached her uvula. She cupped her mouth with her right front hoof and gagged. “I have an emergency barfing bag in my bag if you need it.” Fluttershy offered, pulling out a brown paper bag from her bag. Hydrangea snatched it from her left front hoof and put her mouth inside of it. The gagging turned into a mesh of liquids hitting the inside of the paper bag. Rondo looked away and his hid face behind his wing, trembling with every burst of vomit shot into the bag. Hydrangea dropped the bag and pushed it away. Her stance wavered. “T-thanks, Fluttershy. I n-n-needed that.” “For Arceus’s sake! Don’t do that in front of me!” Rondo shouted. “I hate the sound of vomiting!” “S-s-sorry, Rondo. I couldn’t…” Saying this, Hydrangea felt another burst of nausea rise from her throat. “Do you have another bag?!” She shouted with rushed words. Fluttershy pulled out another brown bag, which became snatched through Hydrangea’s hooves. Hydrangea ran off towards the bushes within the opposite side of the path. “You know, Rondo, Hydrangea is lucky that she can relieve her nausea through vomiting. We ponies have to stomach our nausea.” Fluttershy explained. “Her lucky?! I wish I couldn’t vomit! When I eat a bad piece of fruit or eat something sour…” Rondo stated, shuddering at the end of his words. “So much… there was so much.” A roar erupted from the bushes next to Hydrangea, causing everyone’s hearts to drop into their stomachs. A large redclaw emerged from the bushes and looked down on the three agents with bloodthirsty eyes. Hydrangea looked above with her eyes a pale color from exhaustion. “Can you please do this some other time? I really do not feel like dealing with you after I had to stomach all of this vomiting!” Hydrangea shouted, pointing towards the two bags on the ground. “Wow, she is definitely not happy right now.” Rondo noted. Fluttershy walked up towards the Redclaw and cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Mr. Redclaw? I know you must be hungry and are very upset that you cannot sate it, but we are not food for you. We are looking for veins of Mithril in this continent. Would you mind leading us there?” The Redclaw roared in front of her face, blowing back her mane with strands of her hair frozen in shock. Fluttershy moved her left front hoof through her mane and straightened it out with closed eyes and a gentle smile. She slipped on her Volt Fighter Gloves with a devious smirk on her face. She flew towards the Redclaw’s face, shouting with primordial aggression in her tone. She launched her left front hoof the Redclaw against its temple with earth-shaking force. “You want to insult my mother again you big nasty lizard?!” She shouted, rearing her right front hoof and aiming it under the chin. She ducked under and struck it with a Sky Uppercut. “She was a greater mare than what your entire species’ females are like!” Each word she shouted, the Redclaw’s face met with an electrified strike to the face. Rondo’s eyes popped out of his head. “Yikes! Fluttershy’s scary!” Hydrangea leaped on the airborne Fluttershy, stopping her in her tracks. The redclaw ran away from the area with tears dripping down its eyes. Fluttershy squirmed underneath Hydrangea’s weight and growled through clenched teeth. “Let go of me! Can’t you see that overgrown lizard needs to die?!” “Fluttershy! What has gotten into you?!” Hydrangea asked. “I’m perfectly fine, Hydrangea! I am in the best mood of my life!” Fluttershy yelled. “No you aren’t! You just attacked an animal, Rondo is hiding behind the leaves of the tree above because of your attitude and you are seriously being out of character right now!” Hydrangea shouted. The anger within Fluttershy’s eyes dissipated. Her body stopped squirming and she looked towards Hydrangea. She looked up in the trees and saw Rondo looking away from her, shivering with fear. “By Deus… what have I done?! I hurt a poor and innocent Redclaw who was just hungry and agitated, and I scared Rondo. That isn’t like me at all…” Hydrangea smiled and got off of Fluttershy. She grabbed Fluttershy by her right leg with her right hoof and lifted her up. Fluttershy hovered towards the canopy where Rondo was. Rondo looked to his right and scream. “Don’t hurt me! I get badly hurt by electricity!” Rondo said. Fluttershy wrapped her front legs around Rondo’s body and brought him in for a hug. “I’m sorry, Rondo. I don’t know what came over me. When that Redclaw shouted at me, I knew I had to do something to scare her off… but I didn’t want to hurt her.” Fluttershy said. “Wait, her?! That thing was a girl?” Rondo questioned with a loud tone. “Yes. She was very mad because she was hungry. When I put on my Volt Fighter Gloves, something vicious came over me. I felt… violent and aggressive! I promise, Rondo; I will never be like that again.” Fluttershy vowed. “Thanks, Fluttershy. And you have nice hugs.” Rondo stated. Spitfire entered inside of the lab of the Research & Development division, fluffing her mane with a smile on her face. She walked towards Twilight Sparkle, who had a glimmering grin on her face. “The testing was done, Commander Spitfire?” She asked. “You will be happy with the results I have gained from the Volt Fighter Gloves.” Spitfire responded, hitting a black button on a tablet. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes skimmed through the contents of the tablet’s words. Upon scrolling down enough of the words, her smile formed into a concerned frown. “Umm… Spitfire, are you sure it is okay that you used Fluttershy for the test?” She asked. “I don’t see why not. Fluttershy wanted to toughen up a bit, and I forced her to volunteer for the test to help her give a backbone with using different types of weaponry.” Spitfire explained. “You do realize that Fluttershy is one of the very few Equusians we have documented that has a very rare personality condition, do you?” Twilight Sparkle asked with her face stoned with immense gravity. “Ummm… what’s this condition again?” Spitfire asked with an uneasy tone, scratching the back of her head. Twilight Sparkle smacked her face with her right front hoof. The two ponies directed their attention to a black screen. It flashed into life, depicting a base image of a pegasus and a cloud above it. The lightning struck the pegasus. “Normally, when a pegasus pony would be strike by lightning, they would emerge unharmed due to the special structure within their muscle system that would nullify ninety percent of the electricity, transfer nine percent of it towards the nervous system and one percent of it throughout the blood system.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “This allows a pegasus to remain unhindered by even the worst of lightning shocks during flight.” “I know that. That’s basic pegasus biology one-o-one.” Spitfire commented. “What you probably wouldn’t know is Fluttershy’s special case.” Twilight Sparkle said, changing the image of the pony on the screen into a pointy and stylized image of Fluttershy. The lightning strikes her. “Fluttershy suffers from a rare case of volt cuniculum, where her muscle system fails to neutralize forty five percent of that electricity. That means an additional forty five percent of volatile electricity runs through her body.” “That doesn’t sound too good.” Spitfire commented. “Not good is an understatement, Commander. That extra voltage towards the nervous system isn’t enough to kill her instantly, but it causes some drastic personality changes.” The image of Fluttershy being struck by lightning scowled and gritted her teeth. She stood onto her hind legs and beat her chest with her front legs. “It’s good that she gets a bit more aggression. What can possibly go wrong?” Spitfire asked with a carefree tone. “Here’s what can go wrong; Fluttershy can develop psychological problems that would need to be medically treated. It throws her entire circadian rhythm out if its proper cycle, giving her insomnia and other sleep-related disorders. Finally, there is a variety of health issues that can permanently affect the heart and light bone structure of the pegasus.” Twilight Sparkle listed off with a scowl on her face. “That does sound serious…” Spitfire noted. “And she can get hurt in her current mission.” “You sent her on a mission with those weapons?! I’m sorry, Commander Spitfire, but you have to pull her out of it as quickly as possible. Leaving her with those gloves is the worst possible thing you have ever done!” “Don’t you think you are overreacting a tiny bit, Twilight Sparkle?” Spitfire questioned. “I have read through documented cases of this condition, Commander. From what I have looked up, constant exposure to even small amounts of electricity ruined their lives. It’s not something to joke about.” Twilight Sparkle walked towards the edge of the lab. “Umm, where are you going?” “I’m off to get my friend watch so that I can warn one of my best friends about the use of that weapon.” Seeing Twilight Sparkle run out of her sight, a frustrated groan passed from Spitfire’s lips. “Another casualty of a good friend is going to occur because of my stupid ambition! I thought I wouldn’t let any more cases like this happen…” She said to herself. “No, I won’t let that happen. I will not let her suffer because of an oversight!” Fluttershy, Hydrangea and Rondo walked into a cragged canyon, where ores of dark blue rocks scattered themselves throughout the ground and walls. “Amazing! So this is what mithril looks like in its purest form.” Hydrangea said in awe. “I thought you might have seen it more often since you lived here.” Fluttershy stated. “You would think that and you it wouldn’t be a bad guess. But truth be told, I never ventured out of the established paths and cities of Deerope. While mithril is a common ore for us deer to use in our technology, the locations were always away from the cities we built, and I never really wanted to go away from those cities. Kind of weak for a deer, isn’t it?” “I don’t think so. In a way, it is like how I hate flying and always try to care for animals despite being a pegasus. We all have our quirks.” “Life would be more fun if I had a Quirky Nature. But, I’m still happy with how I am. Just be happy with yourself and all will be good.” Rondo advised. “Thanks for not making me feel like a total stranger among other deer. I really appreciate it.” Hydrangea thanked. From the cliff tops above, jet black lizards the size of buses leaped down into the chasm towards the trio. Hydrangea looked into the sky and pushed Fluttershy and Rondo away from the falling shadows. The ten lizards let out scratchy screechs. “What the heck are those things?!” Rondo asked, pointing at their yellow eyes. “From what I see, these appear to be shadow skinks that exist only on this part of the continent.” Fluttershy answered. “They think we are intruding on our territory, so they’re going to kill us.” “Boy, don’t we have the luck with everything trying to kill us?” Rondo commented. Fluttershy’s watch rang with a cheery series of notes. She brought her left front hoof over to the watch and touched it, revealing a holographic head of Twilight Sparkle. “Twilight! What brings you to communicate with me through our friend connection?” She asked. “Fluttershy, do not use the Volt Fighter Gloves anymore. I repeat, don’t!” Twilight Sparkle warned. “I know what this is about, Twilight. Don’t worry, because I promised to never use them again.” After she said this, the shadow skinks all shot their tails towards Rondo and Hydrangea, knocking them to the ground. Rondo squawked with a shrill noise. “This feeling… I know it…” “What… feeling… Rondo?” Hydrangea asked with a slurring tone. “It’s… poison.” Both Rondo and Hydrangea collapsed onto the ground with their eyes dropping to a close. Fluttershy shrieked and ran towards their side. “Rondo! Hydrangea! Please, get up!” She shouted, shaking their bodies with her hooves. No response came from either of them. She looked forwards at the shadow skinks, whose eyes flashed with a bloodlust. She looked down towards her watch with a hologram of Twilight Sparkle’s head. With a hesitant shutting of her eyes, she peered into her bag and pulled out the Volt Fighter Gloves. She slipped them on. “Wait, Fluttershy! What are you doing?!” Twilight Sparkle shouted. “Sorry, Twilight. Sorry, Rondo. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. Shadow skinks are vulnerable to electricity from my research, and this is the only weapon I have that uses it.” Fluttershy stated. “No! Don’t do i-“Fluttershy shut off her watch before Twilight Sparkle finished her words. Her gloves charged with a surge of electricity and a red aggression fell over Fluttershy’s serene form. “You want to poison my friends?! Then I shall send each and every single one of you to the depths of Tartarus!” She shouted. A large ball of electricity formed between her hooves. With gritted teeth, she threw the Volt Switch forwards and struck a shadow skink between the eyes. The reaction of the electricity flowing through her body pushed her back towards the cragged wall. Using the force received, she kicked off of the wall and flew forward, punching another skink across its cheek. The skinks hissed towards Fluttershy’s direction and spat a glob of black goop towards her direction. Fluttershy punched the blobs back and flew towards a skink, striking it directly in the forehead with a Thunderpunch. She then unleashed a Sky Uppercut with her right front hoof, knocking it into the air. She felt her heart beat out of rhythm and felt twinges of burning pain in her ventricles. She groaned and dropped to the ground, but her anger remained unfazed. She held her hooves behind her and shot a Focus Blast towards the group. The orb exploded around the skinks, knocking them all against the walls. “That will… teach you to…” Fluttershy mouthed out. Her heart slowed to a standstill and she collapsed onto the ground. Fluttershy’s eyes opened to the sight of a white and blurry room. The sounds of oxygen rushed through her mask and a sheet wrapped around tender body. Around her bed are Spitfire, Rondo, Twilight Sparkle and Hydrangea. Fluttershy wobbled her left front hoof towards her face and pushed off the oxygen mask. “Where… am I?” She stuttered out. “Rest easy, Fluttershy. You took a horrifying amount of electricity there.” Twilight Sparkle stated, wrapping her front hooves around Fluttershy’s body and embracing her. She let go after three seconds. “What? I’m confused.” Fluttershy asked. “After recovering the Volt Fighter Gloves from you, there was a coding error in its design that failed to regulate the proper channels of electricity within a safe current.” Spitfire explained. “With your condition, it was a miracle that you even survived.” “But… Rondo and Hydrangea. Weren’t they poisoned?” “Yeah, we were poisoned. It was potent enough to make us faint.” Rondo noted with a happy tone. “Thankfully, Commander Spitfire came to our aid and gave us antidotes. We were fine after that. But you… were not that lucky.” Hydrangea said with an uneasy tone. “Those gloves channeled your inner electricity and drove it out of control. And combined with your condition, it led to a nasty cardiac arrest.” “How did I survive that? Doesn’t death usually come after one?” Fluttershy questioned, sitting upwards and rubbing her right shoulder. A frown appeared on Spitfire’s face. “You are extremely lucky that I rushed as quickly as possible to your location with a medical team by my side, Fluttershy. They brought you back to life with the very weapons that nearly killed you.” Tears welled up within her eyes. She brought her face onto the side of Fluttershy’s bed. “Commander, why are you crying?” Fluttershy asked. “I’m still alive and the mission was a success.” “I broke my promise to this organization. I knew something wrong was with you when I had you wear those gloves and I did nothing to sway your decision because you would be a better soldier with them. I let my ambition get the best of me, and it almost cost you your life. I’m sorry, Fluttershy. Please, forgive your foolish commander.” Spitfire cried out. “I don’t blame you, Commander Spitfire.” Fluttershy stated, putting her left front hoof onto Spitfire’s head. “I don’t blame you for anything bad that happened. You were just hasty was all, and anyone can be forgiven for being hasty.” Spitfire brought her front legs around Fluttershy’s shoulders and hugged her. Fluttershy glanced towards Rondo, Hydrangea and Twilight Sparkle. She crooked her neck towards the side with the door. “I think Fluttershy wants to be alone with the Commander. Let’s give them some privacy.” Twilight Sparkle said. “If that’s what she wishes, then so be it.” Hydrangea stated. “Boy, being poisoned makes me feel hungry. Anyone know where some of those watermelons are? They’re very close to the flavor that watmel berries have.” Rondo asked. The three operatives left the room, leaving Spitfire and Fluttershy alone. Spitfire retreated back to her seat with reddened eyes. “Thank you for… forgiving me, Fluttershy. You may not know it, but I really tend to beat myself up for mistakes I make that cost lives.” Spitfire admitted. “And… I also have a bit of a case of volt cuniculum as well. I never revealed it to others because I’m afraid that others will think less of me. That’s why I was so afraid of trying on those Volt Fighter Gloves and had you wear them. But, I never expected you to have that condition as well.” “I understand, Commander. And… if it makes you feel any better, I don’t think any less of you. You still are a brave war hero who is always willing to go into the line of danger to help out those under her. Nothing will ever change that. Besides, I always knew of my condition before putting those gloves on.” Fluttershy said. “Then… why did you put your life in danger like that?” Spitfire asked with a tone backed with anxiety. “I don’t know if you don’t know, Commander, but I honestly get too tired of being considered the weak link in the organization. I wanted to prove to everyone that I was much stronger than the weakling they considered me to be.” Fluttershy explained. “But you aren’t weak! Even if you know the risks of going out into the world to do research, you still do it with a smile on your face. Not that many Equusians would even consider taking a step outside of Neo Canterlot. Even our own operatives are afraid of being out of the walls. You’re even rising through the ranks of the Marksman Division! Rainbow Dash always brags about how well you are doing under her wing.” “I know, but it still doesn’t change the fact that ponies mock me for being weak. Those Volt Fighter Gloves made me feel strong and powerful, even if it nearly cost me my life and sanity. For once in my life, I felt like an apex predator. I felt like I was capable of changing everything. That feeling felt amazing and I never wanted it to end.” A rise of light-hearted chuckling broke out of Spitfire’s mouth. “Fluttershy, did I ever tell you about how much you reminded me of you in my youth? I was the smallest out of all my classmates when I was just a filly, after all. I was weak and picked on, but I wanted to prove them wrong. And prove them wrong I did.” “I never knew that, Spitfire. I would have always assumed that you were always this gruff and tough.” Fluttershy said. “I didn’t need the help of anyone to do that either. Just sheer will and determination allowed me to hit harder, fly better and grow bigger to the point where I pretty much wrestled the respect out of everyone who ever dissed me.” Spitfire stated with a cocky grin. “You sound a lot like Rainbow Dash at times, Spitfire. Not that it’s a bad thing.” “She’s pretty good at what she does. Even with dislocated joints, she’ll fight to the end. I admire and respect that about her. Who knows; if I kick the bucket, she’ll take my position as Commander.” “While it would be nice seeing one of my best friends in your position, I wouldn’t want it to happen upon your death. I would be sad to see you go away.” Fluttershy admitted. “I’ll be around for a very long time for your sake, and for Mono’s and Lith’s sake. Somebody’s gotta watch over you three to make sure that you don’t get into trouble and become amazing operatives.” Spitfire and Fluttershy hugged each other once more, with a grip that is tightened with the bonds they share with each other. Author's Note It's a sappy ending for someone who almost died, am I right? Regardless, I hope you enjoy the new chapter.
PurgatoriumMono stood by the bedside of a white-coated pegasus stallion with a mint-green mane and tail. A cast gripped around his hind right leg and front left leg. Mono placed his upper paws on the stallion’s casts and flashed an assuring smile. “Everything is going to be fine, sir. Do you trust me?” He asked. The stallion flashed a weak nod. The eyes underneath Mono’s ears flashed with a white light and his paws became cloaked with his Psycho Heal. The stallion winced, feeling a sharp shard forming within the fractures and binding the bones together. He let out a relieved sigh and touched his casts, feeling no stings from the pain. “Thank you so much. I need my legs to bring food onto my family’s table.” “It’s not a problem at all. I would say that you were very lucky that you suffered this injury on the day my sister and I decided to volunteer at the hospital.” Mono stated. “But, you really should rest those legs of yours. They still are weary and prone to fracture without giving it a day of rest. For today, you should just spend time with your family.” The stallion sat up from the bed and slumped forwards. He turned his front left leg around and grinned. “You said you have a sister? Shouldn’t she be in the dayroom?” “She’s in the Intensive Care Unit. She’s not really someone who would prefer doing things the slow and steady way.” A blaring flat line hit Lith’s ears. A pink-coated earth pony mare with a purple mane and tail lied motionless on a bed before her tied to IVs, oxygen tubes and suction sensors. Lith gritted her teeth and rubbed her front paws together with a quick friction. The eyes underneath her ears lit up. Electricity sparked out of her paws. “I won’t let you die.” She said, placing her paws on the mare’s chest. Voltage from the Charge Beams poured into the mare, causing her to jump and radiate a thunderous noise throughout the area. Lith looked towards the monitor and still saw the heart rate at a flat line. She growled. “Live!” She shouted, shocking the chest of the mare once more with her Charge Beam. The monitor spiked with life and the mare’s chest rose on its own. Lith smiled. A trio of ponies garbed in blue scrubs ran into the room. The mare in the middle, who had a gray coat and an indigo mane and tail, stared daggers at Lith. “You were not supposed to tend to the critical patients of the ponies in this ward, Lith. You could have killed this poor mare!” She scolded. “Where were you when this mare entered Cardiac Arrest? She was in horrible shape and needed someone with expertise in CPR and Shock Therapy to revive her. I happened to be the only one around the immediate vicinity with experience in that. Had I not done anything, she would have died on the spot!” Lith argued. The mare looked towards the patient, whose breathing is stable and the monitor showed a consistent level of spiking. A low growl emanated from her tone. “So you did save her life… I’ll leave you off with a warning. But, you are forbidden from entering this area again.” Lith walked out of the room with a silent stride to her step. Mono and Lith sat on adjacent seats within the lobby. Mono glanced towards Lith, who pouted and had her upper paws crossed. “So I’m guessing you didn’t have much of a good day today, didn’t you?” Mono asked. “I did. I saved lives and stuff, but I was told off by Indigo Cross to stop.” Lith responded with a bitter tone. “Let’s see who would come to her when she is in critical condition.” A white-coated earth pony mare with a pink mane tied into a bun and tail walked towards the two siblings. A white cap with a red cross sat on her head, and the same cross is pictured on her flank. A smile is seen on her face. “Thank you two very much for volunteering today. I really appreciate the assistance since we were heavily understaffed for the day.” She said. “It was not a problem, Nurse Redheart. We were happy to help.” Mono answered. “And Lith, please do not think badly of Indigo Cross. She’s really good at what she does, but she’s been under a lot of pressure and frustration as of late due to the understaffing our hospital is suffering from.” Nurse Redheart stated. “I understand. But, just how much understaffing does this hospital even have that puts a mare like her underneath that pressure?” Lith asked. Nurse Redheart looked upwards and stuttered with a hesitant expression. “Umm… there was a huge influx of patient entries as of late. We know that it would be hard to take care of all those patients at once, but we had no idea how difficult it would have been. We have had more patient fatalities than outgoing patients in this hospital lately and it really dropped the morale of our staff.” She explained. “What could be causing this? Do you have any idea?” Mono asked. “All we could find out from our patients’ wounds was that they were heavily battered and bludgeoned. We could have a serial aggravator in our midst.” Nurse Redheart rationalized. “But regardless, thank you two for all of your help. I greatly appreciate it, even if some of our staff did not.” “Your words mean a lot to me, Nurse Redheart. We promise that sooner or later, we will be able to find out who was attacking these poor citizens.” Lith proclaimed. Mono and Lith travelled down a street that had a foreboding emptiness to it. Mono glanced at Lith with an uncertain expression in his eyes. “Lith. There’s something I was meaning to tell you since this morning.” He said. “I had a dream similar to that last dream on the day when I performed. Except now, the voice told me to go after something known as a God Stone and use that as a catalyst to enter into a gap between dimensions. For some reason, you were in it as well.” “I remember. Wait, could it be possible that we had a shared dream?” Lith questioned. “We’re Pokémon that exist in an alien world full of colorful creatures and diverse landscapes that have to fight a race of genocidal aliens to survive. I’m willing to believe anything at this point.” Mono responded. “Is that so?” A peppy voice perked up from beyond a nearby alleyway. Mono and Lith turned their attention towards the right and extended their respective left and right paws out. A low growl emanated from Mono. “Show yourself!” He threatened. From the hidden shadows of the alleyway, a brown and bipedal beast approached the duo. He had a mane that was whiter than snow that covered his entire face. He had pointed ears and a nose that extended far past the mane. Attached to his arms are three-pointed leaves colored in dark evergreen. With his stilted feet and yellow eyes, he brought an air of intimidation to the twins. “It’s a Shiftry!” Mono shouted. “Were you the one who attacked all of the innocent civilians within the city?” The Shiftry cocked his head in confusion. He grinned and closed his eyes. “Attacked them? I just got here a couple of days ago. I’m just ecstatic to see other Pokémon beside me in this world. Do you not know who I am, Mono and Lith?” “Wait… how do you know that we are them?” Lith asked in a tone wavering in doubt. “Maybe this would come as a refresher to your minds. Tesla!” A large Magnezone levitated down from the rooftop onto the duo. It emitted a pulse of static electricity from its magnets. “…Professor Gentian? Is that you?” Mono asked. “The one and only.” Professor Gentian replied. “Where were you all this time?! How did you find your way into the city?!” Lith asked with a shocked tone. “It’s a long story. But, to make a long story short, I was stuck within a jungle ever since I came here. During one of my wanderings, I came upon a pegasus and some other creatures around it. They were tending to a pegasus, a Chatot and a deer. Before they left, Tesla and I snuck onboard.” “That’s… kind of sneaky.” Mono noted. “And speaking of which, why are you sneaking around? It will make you look very suspicious, especially since there was a wave of attacks recently. I don’t want the Equusians to think that you are attacking innocent civilians.” Professor Gentian brought one of his leaves towards his lower lip and hummed. Tesla remained silent. “You have my word that neither Tesla nor I would perform such heinous acts. Unfortunately, I have no idea who would have done such a thing.” “iF I cOuLd, I cAn AnAlYzE tHe ReCoRdS oF tHe SuRvEiLlAnCe SyStEmS aRoUnD hErE.” Tesla stated with an erratic tone in its electronic voice. “BuT I dO nOt HaVe ClEaReAnCe To Do So.” “We can help you with your current dilemma, however. You need a God Stone to breach beyond this realm, no? I heard that Rundas and friends found a trio of nifty gems that can grant a noble-blooded organism a degree of omnipotence. The gems are at what you call H.O.R.S.E. headquarters.” “I do not really need to add any more black marks on my list, Professor. I will wait it out.” Mono stated with a tone that dipped into a batter of nervousness. “Relax, Mono. I can just take the gems without anyone letting up a peep about it.” Professor Gentian assured. “Aha! Gotcha!” Keldeo leaped down from the nearby roof and stared at Professor Gentian straight between the eyes. “Do my eyes deceive me? Is this the legendary fourth Sword of Justice Keldeo?” Professor Gentian questioned with a starstruck tone. “Not again…” Keldeo groaned out. He shook his head and redoubled the efforts into his stare. “I am placing you under arrest for a planned grand theft larceny!” “Keldeo! What are you doing here?” Mono asked with his voice robbed of will. “Commander Spitfire sent me to investigate the causes of the brutal assaults that have happened as of late. Looking around, I stumbled onto this; a conspiracy for snagging the discovered God Stones.” Keldeo explained. “There seems to be a big understanding. While I merely suggested what I could do, I never had the intent on doing so without the proper specifications and clearances. I’m not sure how it is possible you are here, but I could tell that you and my colleague’s junior scientists are very good friends.” Professor Gentian told. “Wait… you know Mono, Lith and Professor Pasque?” “And Rondo and Stereo and Jasmine and Einstein. Do I need to continue with the names?” “No. You’ve proven your point. But, why did you even talk about the God Stones in the first place? That information is very sensitive outside of H.O.R.S.E. and the council. We really do not need any leaks at this point.” Keldeo questioned. “It’s not a problem. My partner and I will go away quietly as long as we are able to translate with the natives of this planet.” Professor Gentian and Tesla stood under a beam of light, where Spitfire’s eyes gazed at the duo with persecutory fires glimmering in her eyes. Wrapped around the stem of Gentian’s leaf and the nub connecting Tesla’s magnet to its body are translation bracelets. She slammed her hoof on her desk. “I have a lot of evidence linked to you with these crimes as of late, criminal scum.” She spat out. “What evidence are you talking about? I am genuinely confused.” Professor Gentian asked. “I am talking about the attacks on civilians as of late. Some masked thug appeared out of nowhere and began attacking ponies on the streets. We traced tufts of white hair at the scene of each crime and witnesses have reported feeling blows of wind for when they found the victims brutally assaulted.” Spitfire explained. “Professor Gentian is not your culprit, madam.” Tesla stated. “I assure you that these are all merely coincidences, and the real perpetrator is out there.” “I’m lenient and believe in due process. I’ll show you these recordings taken from the scenes of the crimes and then I’ll let you explain yourself.” Saying these words, Spitfire pressed a red button on her table. A hologram depicting films of a shadowy figure assaulting Equusians on the street flashed before Professor Gentian and Tesla’s eyes. The figure disappeared into the darkness with a blowing wind, leaving a tuft of white hair on the ground. “Hold on, when were these footages taken?” Professor Gentian asked. “They were taken on the same night. Why do you ask?” Spitfire questioned. “Look at the timestamps. All of these assaults were committed within seconds of each other. In order for me to be responsible for all of these attacks, I need to be able to be at more than one place at a time.” “How do I know that you don’t have a move that could do that? Mono knows how to use Double Team and perfected it to the point where he can attack with solid clones.” “If I may add another tidbit of information, I would be around Professor Gentian when these attacks would occur. Therefore, wouldn’t my presence alone be able to interfere with the electrical transitions if he did commit all those attacks?” Tesla asked. “I am a giant talking magnet after all.” “You have a point. Anyone with even a degree of intelligence would know to not perform these attacks on camera, or find a way to warp them to the point where the cameras would be rendered useless.” Spitfire admitted. “I can assume that Gentian is at least intelligent and if he were behind the attacks, he would have used you to delete any sort of evidence. But, if it is not him, then who is?” “If I may add a point; wouldn’t something that would attack multiple victims at the same time also be able to exist within another dimension? That creature looked very ethereal to me.” Professor Gentian suggested. “What do you suggest we do to investigate?” “If you did not know, I specialize in Time-Space-related science. All we need to do is track down the dimensional disturbance where it occurred from and we can use a God Stone to enter and track it down.” “Use a God Stone? Are you insane?!” Spitfire shouted in disbelief. “Think about it; God Stones grant omnipotence to a degree to those of noble blood. In order to open gaps to other dimensions and universes, wouldn’t it make sense that omnipotent power would be needed to do so?” Professor Gentian rationalized. “Besides, you are in possession of three blank stones. If one is used exclusively for interdimensional purposes, then you would be able to explore beyond the borders and see more of the truth.” Spitfire rested her jaw over her arched hooves and closed her eyes. A light hum reverberated from her throat. “It’s not going to be easy, but I’m going to see what I can do to get access to one stone. If this wrongdoer is truly from a different dimension or universe, then I guess I have to use Code Magenta reasoning to appeal to the council.” “Code Magenta?” Tesla asked with a tone steeped with curiosity. “That’s a very serious code. No one messes with Code Magenta.” Mono, Lith, Keldeo and Fei sat around a table within the cafeteria at H.O.R.S.E. Lith smirked and bumped her elbow into Keldeo’s shoulder. On her face is a smug grin. “Look who decided to take charge of the situation! You definitely aren’t like the colt you were when I first saw you.” Lith teased. “K-knock it off, Lith!” Keldeo shouted with a luminescent blush of red on his face. “I have to learn how to take the helm more often now that Rarity and I are… officially dating.” “You don’t see Fei trying to act all macho after it was revealed that we are dating, right?” Lith asked. “She’s right you know. I don’t try to act tough. I like to keep my cool.” Fei commented with a sly smile on his face. “Well, looks like I’m the only one at the table who isn’t in a relationship then.” Mono proclaimed with a prideful tone. “Don’t be too sure about that, Mono. Sooner or later, you and Sophia will be dating. I can guarantee you that.” Lith noted. “I hear you in your sleep sometimes, and you keep on saying her name. It also doesn’t help that those dreams sounded erotic in nature as well.” Mono’s midnight green fur turned a deep shade of red. His head shrunk underneath his neck and he craned it to the left. “Did you really have to reveal that? That’s… private information.” He squeaked out. A ring of laughter brought itself around the table. Lith refocused her gaze onto Keldeo and brought her chin onto her paw. “So tell me; did you two kiss yet?” She questioned with an excited tone. “W-why would I tell you that?!” Keldeo stammered out. “That’s not on a need-to-know basis for you.” “Fine, I won’t push it any further. Fei-Fei and I have some plans tonight anyways, so I don’t need to be thinking about whether you kissed Rarity or not.” Mono and Fei smacked their faces with their right upper limb. “Couldn’t you have at least picked a better pet nickname for me?” Fei grunted out. “That’s seriously one of the cheesiest nicknames you have ever given to someone.” Mono said in accordance with Fei. “It’s a good nickname. Besides, I always call Rarity my Sparkling Princess.” Keldeo noted with a lovestruck tone. “And she likes calls me her Mystic Swordsman.” Mono and Fei pulled back their seats and stood up with their faces grimaced in disgust. “Too much cheesiness for me for one day.” Fei said. “Normally, I wouldn’t be so staunch with my will to leave, but dear Arceus! I’ve heard too much for one day.” Mono stated with a dramatic tone. Spitfire, Professor Gentian and Tesla entered the cafeteria and approached the table. She cleared her throat and garnered the stares of the group towards her. “Commander! What was the status of our suspect?” Keldeo asked. “He’s innocent of all charges. He’s not behind any of the attacks whatsoever and we may know who the culprit is.” Spitfire answered. “Do you? I am interested in hearing who may have been behind these heinous assaults.” Fei commented. “From what I have seen in the recording, the culprit is an otherworldy being that just happens to look a lot like me. In order to track him down, I have designed the schematics for a device that opens a portal that leads towards the original points of spacial-temporal distortion within the area.” Professor Gentian explained. “But for that, we need to use a God Stone.” “I knew it!” Keldeo shouted. “You are after the God Stone!” Professor Gentian scowled and stared down Keldeo. He walked up towards him with a frightening series of steps. “Listen, kid; using an accusatory tone like will only lead to a circle of blame. A circle of blame means that we will never get anything done right. If I hear you pointing fingers again, I’ll Seed Bomb you so hard that not even Mono’s Psycho Heal will be able help you up. Do I make myself clear?” “C-c-c-clear, sir.” Keldeo stuttered out with pressurized fear breaking out of his voice. Professor Gentian smiled and patted Keldeo on his shoulder with his right leaf fan. “Good of you to understand.” “I like this guy already. He knows how to keep our operatives in check.” Spitfire complimented. “How did he know that I could do that?” Mono asked. “We tend to spy on you all.” Tesla responded. “Yeah… totally not creepy at all.” With a shiver down her spine, Lith noted. Mono and Lith sprinted towards a lone streetlight in the middle of an empty street. Spitfire, Fei, Keldeo, Professor Gentian and Tesla followed close by the duo. Within Mono’s grip is a black rectangular device with a screen on it. A white stone shined within the base of the handle. “I’m impressed by how quickly you built this, Professor.” Mono said. “I based its design off of the Dimensional Generator with some minor tweaks here and there. I’m even more impressed with the technology available that allowed me to build it.” Professor Gentian noted. The device made a pinging noise, and the waves on the screen flashed with an erratic pattern. “It looks like we found the source of the dimensional disturbance!” Lith stated. “So how do we even enter beyond this gate?” “Simply tap the stone.” Professor Gentian instructed. Mono and Lith tapped the stone. The area crackled with an arena of lightning. Space and time tore open around the street light with the tenacity of a sharp knife’s slice. A blue wormhole with the screeching of a thousand souls permeated through the area. “Ummm… are you sure that it is safe to go into that?” Keldeo asked. “I’m pretty sure I heard of myths and tales about demons lurking beyond this realm.” “I’m with Keldeo on this one; hearing those screams is a one-way trip to pure nope for me.” Mono stated. “Like it or not, we are still going in there. Do I make myself clear?” Spitfire commanded. “Y-yes Commander.” Keldeo and Mono answered with a hesitant stutter. “Just to be sure that you two will actually go on your word…” Spitfire said, dragging Keldeo to the gap by his mane and approaching Mono. “Go on your word… what?” Mono asked. Spitfire chucked Keldeo into the gap and bucked Mono inside afterwards. Both Pokémon shouted to the top of their lungs. She glanced towards the other operatives around her, grinning with a smug disposition. “Anyone else wish to take the hard way in, or will you wise up and go on your own accord?” Mono and Keldeo looked around them with their eyes widened and teeth gritted in primordial fear. The two embraced each other, seeing wispy spiritual skulls pass through their line of sight and scream with a soul-chilling noise. A vermillion light appeared at the bottom of the endless abyss. Falling through it, the duo landed onto a cragged platform of a red color. They got up and looked around them. With the scope of what their eyes can see, the realm shined with a vermillion light. Gates made from primordial rocks that levitated above the air. Below them laid a red landscape orange glows cracking through it. “What the heck is this place? I’ve never seen anything like it before!” Keldeo questioned. “This place looks very familiar for some reason. I can’t seem to put my finger on it though.” Mono answered. The rest of the group fell from the portal above and landed on their legs or levitated to safety. “Let’s… never speak about what happened there again.” Fei said. “Not many things legitimately scare me, but what the hell was that?! It literally looked like I was passing through hell itself!” Spitfire commented. Mono gazed towards Lith, whose fur stood on its ends and her stance paralyzed in fear. “And I thought we had it bad.” Keldeo commented. “Meh, what else is new?” Professor Gentian said with a bored expression. “Seems like a Tuesday for me. What is interesting is this place we landed in.” He took steps forward towards the edge. Hovering his foot over the open air by the platform, fragments of stone rushed from below and formed a path. “Okay, that’s pretty cool.” Regaining her composure, Lith stated. The group of operatives walked down towards the path, looking at the rays of brilliant light that made up the sky. Looking up into the sky, Mono’s eyes detected a golden bird flying through the sky. He smiled, pointing towards it. “Is that what I think it is?!” He shouted with a burst of excitement. Ho-Oh looked down upon the travelling party and smiled. He turned his direction of flight around and descended upon the path of the group. His glow disappeared. “Did I not say we would meet again?” He asked. “It is you… the legendary Ho-Oh!” Lith said with the breath of her voice robbed by wonder. “Lord Ho-Oh! It is an honor to meet you once more.” Fei said, kneeling down on his right knee and bowing his head. “Please do not bow for me, young Fei. It seems I get to see more variety of the Equusians than last time, including more Pokémon.” Ho-Oh stated. “Wait a second! You’re the mystical bird that comes to the Rainbow Plateau once every ten years! What are you doing here?” Spitfire asked. “Quick to the point, are you not? Perhaps I should explain this area and maybe you will all be able to make sense of things.” Ho-Oh responded. “What you see around you is a gap between dimensions that connects the universes together. It is a realm where the deceased are brought and the gods themselves access. This place has many names, but one name fits the description best; Purgatorium.” “Purgatorium…? Now I know that I heard that name before.” Mono noted. “Fei told me how you visited different worlds and universes so that you can grant courage. Is your journey through this area the reason why you are here now?” “Yes. Though, I am curious as to why another group of mortals are walking through the platforms of this most dreadful location.” “We are looking for a criminal who happens to be staging his attacks from this dimension. Any information you have would be most helpful for us.” Spitfire explained. Ho-Oh hummed underneath his tone and slanted his eyes. His beak opened wide with an epiphany and curved into a frown. “I know who you speak of. He is a survivor of the fallout of my universe. But… his mind was ravaged merely upon witnessing it. He is a Shiftry just like this one here.” “So where is this Shiftry now?” Spitfire asked. “He should be back in his home universe. But beware; that universe is rendered hazardous after its destruction by the hands of a being the survivors call the Demiurge. Take caution as you explore it, lest you also succumb to mental corruption.” Ho-Oh answered. “Lord Ho-Oh… I’m very terrified about what I will witness. If what you say is true, then this was also my home universe. Will I turn into a horrible creature upon seeing its destruction?” Keldeo asked with an uneasy and concerned voice. “Do not worry, young Keldeo. The only fear you should have is the fear of the unknown. One day, you will have to see your homeland so that you can truly understand your destiny.” “So how do we even access this destroyed Pokémon universe anyways? It looks like these gates can lead to anywhere!” Lith asked. “These gates exceed infinity, no doubt about that. But, your heart will lead you to the gate you seek. That is my advice to you.” Saying these words, Ho-Oh flew into the air and escaped into the horizon. Spitfire glanced towards all of her companions, seeing their faces shuddering with anxiety. “Even if you have heard all of that, would you all still be willing to track down this criminal?” She asked with a warm voice. “I can understand if you do not want to go there, and you can go back if you want.” Mono closed his eyes and sighed. “My dreams have been urging me to come to this place for a long time now. If looking for this criminal will help get me answers, then I will venture forwards. I don’t care about what I see, because I know that the truth is more important than the fear from the truth.” “I’m with Mono on this one. We are already too far into this chase, and we really can’t go back without punishing that criminal. I mean, we went through a lot of trouble just to get here.” Lith said in accordance. “If it will help me regain my memories, then I will continue forwards.” Keldeo stated. “I can’t let another Shiftry give Pokémon like myself a bad name. I will personally punish this Pokémon with my blazing flames of justice.” Professor Gentian said with a heated tone. “If my partner is going, then I am coming as well.” Tesla mused. Spitfire turned her direction towards Fei, who looked onto the ground with anxiety shaking his fingers. She placed her right front hoof on his right shoulder. “Fei, you don’t have to come along with us if you don’t want to.” “Spitfire, I am afraid. I am afraid of everything I saw going here. I am afraid of seeing destruction that will probably corrupt me. Mortals such as myself should never witness some of the atrocities that we will soon see. Even then, I will still go to the ends of space and time with you all.” Fei proclaimed. “You’re much more brave than I have given you credit for, Fei.” With a warm smile on her face, Spitfire complimented. “Glad to have the squad come together in this most critical time.” “So now that we have that out of the way, which gate leads to where?” Mono asked. A red gate descended upon the group to the right and opened, revealing a red portal behind its doors. The group stared into the oblivion that stared back into their souls. With a wavering step, Spitfire approached the gate. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She made her first step through the red haze and disappeared. Author's Note Stepping through the gates of infinity, our group will finally get to witness the Alternate Pokemon Universe. Will you also be ready for what lies beyond? Also, a new Pokemon introduced after a long amount of time. Hooray for that.
Dark RevelationsStepping through the gate, Spitfire opened her eyes. Her jaw hung low and silence rung from her voice at what she saw; the sky illuminated with a dark violet field of electricity. The land before her was a dull gray landscape. Structures everywhere lied on the ground and were decimated. The ruins of a walled city sat upon a dead hill. Mono, Lith, Keldeo, Fei, Professor Gentian and Tesla emerged from the other side of the portal. Their eyes were locked into widened shock. Keldeo’s ankles slumped over the sight. “This was… my universe?” He voiced out with disbelief haunting his voice. “There is destruction, then there is annihilation… then there’s this.” Professor Gentian said. “Destruction such as this could only ever be shown within the scriptures of Arceus. Such apocalyptic force.” Looking upon the destroyed land, a light flashed before Keldeo’s eyes. Within that light, images of a city of crystals upon a green hill underneath the azure sky cycled through his head. Images of three tall horned quadrupeds, one blue, one green and one gray and brown, made its way into his mind. Then, a storm of fires engulfed the city and a white quadruped lied upon a plateau with its body scarred beyond repair and its eyes dimming down to a close. Keldeo’s head became engulfed with a burning pain. His brain teetered beyond the point of exploding. He grabbed his head and closed his eyes, screaming in agony. Spitfire shifted her view towards his direction and dashed by his side. “Keldeo! What’s wrong?!” She called. “My head! It feels like it’s about to explode! Where is everyone?!” Keldeo shouted. Mono, Lith and Fei ran by Keldeo’s side and appeared in his sight of vision. “We’re right here, Keldeo. We’re by your side. Just relax and take a few breaths.” Mono said. Keldeo inhaled through his nostrils and exhaled. His mind relaxed and the intense light vanished. He rubbed his head with his eyes drooping in weariness. “What happened there?” Lith asked. “It looked like something terrible was going to happen.” “I saw… memories. I saw a blue goat, a green antelope, a brown bovine. Then, I saw the flames of destruction and something dying before my eyes. It was horrible and I think I personally know them.” Keldeo explained. “You could be talking about the other members of the Swords of Justice, but what about that last being? The one that is dying?” Professor Gentian asked. “I don’t know, but I think that memory was left vague for a reason. All I know is that a lot of the denizens I have known and valued here are dead. They’re all dead along with this land, and there’s no use in trying to get them back.” “We can focus on that later. But now, we have to capture a terrorist. Professor, since you are a Shiftry, what can you tell us about their abilities?” Spitfire requested. “Shiftry is a Dark and Grass-type Pokémon, meaning that our Psychic-type, Water-type, Electric-type and Dark-type moves are either ineffective or not very effective. However, they’re weak against Fighting-type and Fire-type moves. Ultimately, you have to know how to approach it from different distances. They can hurt you up-close and far away.” Professor Gentian revealed. “This Shiftry has shown signs of evasiveness, but it will never get away from my Magnet Bomb.” Tesla stated with a resolute tone. “Everyone ready to take out a criminal?” Lith asked, pumping her upper right paw. The group walked up a set of eroded stairs that snaked its way towards the top of the hill. Walking under a crumbling arch, their eyes peered towards the shards of buildings formed out of crystals lying on the ground and impact craters along the street. Mono’s tails lowered and a frown cracked on his lips. “Countless millenniums of work must have been made to build this city. This must have been an important hub place for Pokémon before the end.” “This was the capital city of the world known as Kurisutaru.” Keldeo revealed with a somber voice. “From what my memories tell me, this was the city of my birth.” Lith kneeled down to her knees and scooped a paw full of dust. It settled in her hand with no wind disturbing it. A gust of wind blew it off, scattering it into the air. “Strange. There’s no wind but a gust just happened to blow this wind.” Shadow phantasms dropped behind Lith. The figure raised its leaf fan towards Lith. Professor Gentian narrowed his eyes and blocked the strike with his fan. Lith turned back, seeing a Shiftry by Gentian’s side. “Leave this Shiftry to me, Lith.” Professor Gentian declared, swinging his right foot at a low height towards the Shiftry’s groin. The Shiftry faded in a dark fog. Seven more Shiftry dropped down from the sky, surrounding the group in a circle and staring death into their eyes. The central Shiftry pointed its fan towards the group. Keldeo stepped forwards with a determined gaze fixated on it. “So you must be the criminal who was behind the attacks of Neo Canterlot. What do you have to say for yourself?!” He declared. “You traitorous scum! You have abandoned my universe and left it to die.” The Shiftry stated. “As a guardian of our kind, only death is suitable for someone such as yourself.” “Listen to yourself, Shiftry; you’ve let the destruction of our universe turn you into something you aren’t. You may be a troublemaker, but you were never malicious about it. What even gave you the idea to attack innocents in our universe?” “Implying that it was a universe you belong to anyways? You truly have abandoned us, Keldeo. Where were you when our kind was screaming at the fiery meteors that landed upon here? Where were you when millions of Pokémon died from the sudden explosion? You are a disgrace to your heritage.” Keldeo’s shoulders faltered and a wave of weakness overcame him. He took two steps back and frowned. “But… it’s not my fault. If I could fight it, I would. But…” “But what?! You were the hope of our planet and you left it to die. The spirits of your parents and everyone you ever cared about in this dimension all scream out in agony because you let them down!” “Shut up.” Fei declared, catching Shiftry’s attention. “Just shut up. What do you know? There wasn’t much he could do because he was still just a child when it happened. But, because you are a miserable survivor who is angry with his lot in life, you wanted to shift the blame to someone who doesn’t share that misery. You are lower than scum, attacking a blameless fellow Pokémon. You should be ashamed of yourself.” The Shiftry sprinted towards Fei’s direction and raised its fan towards his skull. Fei placed his left leg back into the ground and blocked it with his right fingers. His left palm radiated with a blue energy. He struck the Shiftry in its chest, knocking the wind out of it and blasting it towards the ground. The Shiftry disappeared. A Shiftry appeared from the shadows underneath Fei. Fei’s left eye peered towards its direction and widened. The Shiftry rushed at Fei with its fan surrounded by white streaks. The fan struck Fei, sending him flying off of his feet and into a worn-down structure. “Fei!” Lith screamed, running towards Fei’s direction. A Shiftry dropped in front of Lith and smacked her with its fan, knocking off the gauntlet on her paw. “Don’t you get it? You stumbled onto the wrong Pokémon to face. Embracing this darkness within my heart, you are hopelessly outnumbered and outmatched in power!” “Looks like I have to even the odds.” Mono stated. Images of Mono spread throughout the area, outnumbering the number of Shiftry by seven times. Each of the Shiftry smirked. “So you seem to be skilled in Double Team as well I see. But, considering how limited your offensive movepool is, I doubt you have the guts to take me on in a straightforward fight.” “It’s a good thing I have this gauntlet then.” Each of the images of Mono said, flashing the gauntlet in their left paws. Mono and his clones slammed the cruxes of their gauntlets to the ground. Spouts of fire shot towards the Shiftry at all direction. They dodged the fires, splitting into a number of clones that equaled to the number of the Mono clones plus the group. “A nice attempt, but it was nowhere near good enough.” A Shiftry said behind Mono. The Shiftry swung its Knock Off towards Mono, which vanished within smoke. Mono shot a Fire Pledge towards the Shiftry’s direction, expelling the clone from the area. Lith pushed herself up from the ground and gritted her teeth. She rushed towards her gauntlet at the ground and slid it over her left paw. Punching the ground, a spout of water collided with Mono’s Fire Pledge. A rainbow erupted from the steam generated from the two Pledge moves, shimmering down on the group. “Why did a rainbow appear here?” Spitfire asked, holding out her hoof and touching the particles of water descending towards the ground. “Pledge moves have interesting effects when used together. In this case, using Water Pledge and Fire Pledge together causes a rainbow, which doubles the probability of secondary effects taking place.” Professor Gentian explained. Fei leaped from the rubble of the building and struck a random Shiftry in the chest with a Focus Palm, causing it to disappear. With her body flashing, Lith shot a Psycho Fire towards the group of Shiftry, enveloping them all with their fire and causing all the clones to disappear. The lone Shiftry stood on its knee and brought its fan towards its burn mark. “Not bad. I honestly didn’t expect moves from Pokémon that are not of this dimension.” It said. “But don’t think that I’ll go down with just a burn.” The Shiftry opened its mouth and leaped into the air. A flurry of shimmering seeds rained down towards Mono, Lith and Fei and exploding on contact. The Shiftry disappeared from his spot and appeared from their backs, whacking its fan against the back of their heads. Lith’s eyes widened from the blow. She collapsed onto the ground. “Lith!” Mono and Fei announced. The Shiftry smirked and stabbed at Fei with its Aerial Ace. Fei fell down onto the ground, groaning and closing his eyes. Mono glanced to his right and saw a Shiftry phase into existence before him. It fired a Seed Bomb from its mouth at point blank range. Mono screamed, feeling the exploding rounds pelt his body to the point of unconsciousness. “Seriously, is that the best you three can do? I fought tougher threats when navigating Purgatorium.” Keldeo bore his teeth and sprinted forward. His horn fleshed out into his Sacred Sword and he dashed towards the Shiftry. The Shiftry blocked with its left fan. Both limbs shook with force applied against each other. “Your cruelty ends here. You may not know, but you made a personal enemy with me by attacking my best friends like that.” Keldeo said with his sword still locked in combat. “So your weakness shows, guardian of our kind. You let all of these attachments to the new world blind you to your home world? I see that I was wrong for thinking highly of you.” The Shiftry said, kicking Keldeo’s chest and knocking him back. Keldeo flipped back onto his hooves and leaped into the air. He aimed his right front hoof towards the Shiftry. A blast of water fired out of it, striking the Wicked Pokémon. Keldeo’s body became cloaked in a barrier of water. With its propulsion, he dashed towards the Shiftry with a heated gaze. The Shiftry blocked the collision with its fans. Keldeo burst out of the Aqua Jet and rolled to his right. His horn lit up with a dark blue aura, causing his body to vanish within the darkness. The Shiftry growled and leaped towards a shadow on the ground, smacking the direction of the air with its Aerial Ace. Keldeo’s invisibility disappeared and the Shiftry’s fan struck just below his rib cage. His eyes widened to the point where his eyeballs could fall out and his tongue tried running away from his body. Keldeo soared through the air and struck a wall. Keldeo limped out of the wall, pressing his right front hoof against his blackened ribs. “That hurt… more than it should have.” He noted. The Shiftry leaped down towards him and patted his face with a malicious grin. “I’ll admit that I was holding back a bit when fighting against your so-called friends. Out of the group, you are my real target. I will make you feel all of the pain and misery I had to endure!” Saying these words, it launched another blast of Bullet Seed at point blank range, blasting Keldeo towards the wall. Spitfire growled and stared at the Shiftry with raging eyes. She unsheathed the photon sword around her right front gauntlet and flew towards the Shiftry’s position. A clone of the Shiftry appeared in front of her and its fan swung at a horizontal arc. Spitfire took a sharp turn upwards and dove at a thirty degree angle towards the Shiftry clone, swinging her saber to the point where a barrier of light surrounded her. She shattered the barrier of photon and stabbed the clone through the chest, causing it to disappear. The Shiftry flashed a stoic stare towards Spitfire’s direction. Spitfire landed on the ground and pointed her sword towards its direction. “Game over. You’ve terrorized Neo Canterlot and my team long enough. I’ll give you one second to go down on your knees and surrender.” She demanded. The Shiftry ran up-close to Spitfire’s face and smirked. “And what if I don’t?” Spitfire rolled her eyes and swept her hind right leg underneath the Shiftry’s feet. She reared her blade towards the head of the Shiftry. The Shiftry spun, surrounding itself within a pocket of air. The winds blew Spitfire backwards. “So based on your appearance being similar to those weaklings I’ve fought, I assume you are a natural-born from that dimension.” The Shiftry said. “A world like that harboring weak fools has no point in existing in this space.” Spitfire gritted her teeth and dashed through the air, screaming and bringing down her blade. The Shiftry kicked away the direction of Spitfire’s hoof. Spitfire growled and swung her sword at a flurry. “You know nothing about the strength of us Equusians! We’ve been engaged in war with each other since the beginning of the annals of time! Even after we finally achieved peace, we still are in war. Hundreds die every day by the hands of the enemy, wanting to break our spirit!” Spitfire called out, swinging her sword with every two words that passed through her mouth. The Shiftry dodged each strike, smirking with every movement. “You call that ‘spirit’?! You should have seen their faces when I stared them in the eye. I could smell the fear in their breaths when they saw my face. Why does such a kind exist to live when my strong-willed kind were forced to the brink of extinction? Why?!” “Because they were born in a world of strife!” Professor Gentian shouted, leaping from above the Shiftry and kicking his groin. “But against the odds.” Saying this, he shot a Seed Bomb from his mouth that blasted the Shiftry towards the edge of the wall. “They choose to fight!” He swung both of his fans in slicing arcs, shattering the air with a torrent of fierce winds. The Shiftry held both of its fans in front of it in defense, groaning from the wind that tore it apart. Tesla levitated itself through the hurricane. Its body crackled with blue electricity and a blue orb formed in its magnet. It fired the orb towards the Shiftry, igniting upon impact. The Shiftry lied down on the floor face first. It pushed itself off the ground, straining its voice while getting up. It brought its left fan towards the burn on its chest. Mono, Lith, Fei and Keldeo limped towards the downed Shiftry with scrapes and bruising along their bodies. The Shiftry growled. “What are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to finish me off?!” It shouted in a prideful tone. Spitfire pointed her saber towards the Shiftry to the point where its nose touched the laser. “With what you have done to us, we could just mow you down like the criminal you are. After all, we don’t have the time or luxury to give mercy to a being from a different dimension who is hostile to our kind. But… I don’t feel angry at you.” She said with tranquil fury brimming in her voice. “Not angry?” The Shiftry asked with a lighter tone. “No. I feel pitiful for the kind of thing you have become. Rather than progressing through your life to make it better amidst the turmoil surrounding it, you threw an angry tantrum for your current circumstances and lashed out against innocent beings.” Saying these words, Spitfire’s saber retracted back into her gauntlet. She turned around and maintained her stone-hard face. The Shiftry gritted its teeth to cracking under pressure. It dashed forwards and raised its fan. “Do not turn your back on me!” Keldeo pushed Spitfire away from the trajectory of the Knock Off. The Shiftry’s eyes widened and a sudden burst of gagging erupted from its mouth. Keldeo pierced through the Shiftry’s chest with his Sacred Sword. The energy from the move retracted back into his horn. The Shiftry then dropped onto the ground without a movement in its body left. “Fighting like a coward is how you go down then? You could have accepted your fate and lived on, but you chose to demean your own skill and power into using such dirty tactics. You deserved to die along with the countless others that have perished with this universe.” Keldeo said with a cold tone in his voice. “Keldeo!” Lith shouted with a tone drenched in surprise. “How could you say that?” Keldeo shook his head and glanced towards Lith. “Throughout our encounter, all he did was spout on about how we were cowards running away from our fate when it was he who was doing so. He berated me for running away from my kind. My memory is still vague, but I know for a fact that what he did was disgraceful to the dead of my kind.” Spitfire shook her head and clicked her tongue. “A warrior who threw away his honor for the sake of anger and revenge… pathetic.” The device within Mono’s uniform vibrated. He pulled it out, seeing it flash to life. “It seems that this device recorded this world’s code. Does that mean we can come back here at any time without the need of Purgatorium?” “Yes. It’s a nifty feature I designed within the memory system as a way of giving us shortcuts. But for now, we are done. We still have to go back home and tell the council of our findings.” Professor Gentian stated. “When I first came onto that planet, I felt like a fish out of temporal water. But now… it really does feel like home.” Fei commented. “I really want to go home.” “This place is no longer my home, so I have to agree. Let’s go back to Neo Canterlot.” Keldeo requested. Mono sat on a bench with his left cheek and back of head adhered with a square-shaped bandage. His chest is wrapped around in bandages. Beside him sat Sophia, grinning with closed eyes. Within Mono’s lap was a yellow bowl filled with a warm and orange broth inside. His lips quivered with anxiety. “So what did you say this was again, Sophia?” He asked, pulling up the spoon and dripping the liquid into the bowl. “It’s a nice and warm soup for that ailing body of yours. Don’t be afraid; it’s nothing spicy.” Sophia responded. Mono smiled and dipped the spoon into the broth and brought it to his lips. His eyes lit up with joy. “It’s delicious. I didn’t know you could cook this well.” He complimented. “It’s a bit of a skill I picked up from this city. Fei was never good at cooking, so I had to learn. Hearing your reaction, it seems like I got the proper balance of carrot juice and aubergine.” Sophia explained. “I’m still very curious as to why you made this soup just for me. My sister, Fei and Keldeo are in just as bad of a shape as I am.” Mono said with a confused tone. Sophia scowled and slapped Mono across the left side of his face with her right front paw. Mono spat out the soup in his mouth and rushed his upper left paw to his cheek. “Gah! That… still hasn’t recovered yet.” “Are you really that dense, Mono?! I’m worried about you the most!” Sophia shouted. She ran up towards Mono and wrapped her front paws around his shoulders. “Even in your new and physically-stronger body, you still lack the others’ stamina! You could have died in that world… and I don’t want to lose you.” Mono raised his eye with a curious glance. “I’m worried about you too, but you don’t see me going around and slapping you.” “Just look at yourself! You’ve already been injured or hurt in some way more times than anyone else on the team and… and…” Tears welled up within Sophia’s eyes. She dunked her face within Mono’s shoulder and wailed. “Sophia?” Mono asked. “You are the one that understands that I’m not just a cute face, Mono. You are the first one who has literally taken the time to understand me and my feelings. You’re very special to me and losing you would be devastating. When I heard that you were going to catch that criminal, I grew afraid. Next time, please make sure to keep safe and not get hit.” Sophia pleaded. “Sophia… all this time, you expressed this worry for me?” Mono questioned. Sophia nodded with a frown on her face. A small smile made its way on Mono’s face. He wrapped his upper paws around Sophia’s body and hugged her. “I promise that I won’t worry you like that again. Is there any way that I could make this up to you?” He whispered into her ear. A wicked grin appeared on Sophia’s face. “Not too hard. Not too hard!” Keldeo, who lied down on his side upon a bed, screamed when Rarity rubbed her hooves along his bruised ribcage with a mint green cream on her hooves. “Relax, my Mystic Swordsman. I knew that something bad like this would happen to you, so I ventured out into the Everfree Forest and asked Zecora to make a healing ointment for you.” Rarity explained. “Thank you again for caring for me, my Sparkling Princess. I really did not feel like ending up in the infirmary like Fei.” Keldeo sighed out. “It’s not a problem at all. I do have to take good care of my coltfriend now, right? Besides, I heard from Spitfire about the entire situation. It seems like you are getting closer to discovering exactly what you are, and there’s two new Pokémon working at H.O.R.S.E.” Rarity sealed the bag of the ointment and draped a rag over the bruise. She wiped off her hoof with a spare rag and sat by the edge of the bed. She passed her right front hoof through Keldeo’s mane, stroking it with a gentle speed. “You know, Rarity, I killed someone today.” Keldeo said with a somber tone. “That doesn’t sound like something you would do. Can I ask about the trigger?” Rarity asked. “That Shiftry tried to kill Commander Spitfire when her guard was down. I pushed her out of the way and… I stabbed through the Pokémon.” “Why do you make it sound like an act of defense was a murder? You said it yourself that Commander Spitfire would have died had it not been for your intervention.” “A part of me had some sort of sick satisfaction with doing it though. I felt very angry, very confused and very annoyed with this Pokémon. All of the voices in my head told me to kill it and I succumbed to the desires of my demons. Was that even right of me to do?” Keldeo asked with a nervous tone. “We can’t all be the perfect beings, Keldeo. Every single one of us has done something we aren’t proud of, and we will only keep making mistakes as we go along. But, mistakes are what make us who we are. You made the mistake of submitting yourself to your inner desires. But, that is how you learn, right? You should be happy that you were able to fulfill your desires in a controlled setting. Just fulfill them in controlled settings and you’ll be fine.” Rarity advised. “You always do know what to say, Rarity. I’m glad that you are in my life.” Keldeo reached his right front hoof towards Rarity’s right front hoof and lifted himself up with his left hoof. Looking into Rarity’s eyes, his heart exploded out of his chest. Rarity craned her body towards Keldeo and planted her lips on his cheek. “I’m glad you are also in my life.” Professor Pasque glanced towards the tools on the table with narrowed eyes. A silent wind passed through his nostrils. The door to his right slid open, revealing Professor Gentian’s face. A small smile appeared on Professor Pasque’s face. “It is very nice to see you again, Gentian. I heard about your presence here, but seeing you is a much different sight.” “I’m glad to be back in a lab, Pasque. It was good to have an extended stay out of it, but I definitely feel most comfortable with working indoors once more.” Professor Gentian noted. “I’ve heard from the purple unicorn that you and Einstein are heading the Geneology aspect of device creation. I have to say that the technology you created is pretty cool then.” Professor Pasque frowned and craned his head low. “I cannot say I am proud to put my talents and knowledge into devising and developing weapons. This matrix research we are developing can be used for more important matters, such as improving the quality of the Equusian’s lives and helping to form bonds amongst each other. Instead, it is used in assisting to take out lives.” Professor Gentian grinned and walked towards Professor Pasque with a swagger in his step. He patted the right shoulder of Professor Pasque with his left fan. “Is that what’s bugging you? Look, I’ve heard about one of your creations nearly robbed the life of one of our field operatives along with other destructive implications. But, these are merely the growing pains of your research!” “Growing… pains?” Professor Pasque asked with a curious tone. “Yeah. Sure, we’re all using them for weaponry now. But, sooner or later, the Equusians will be using that research into doing good things for society! But for now, you are giving them the chance to fight back against the invaders and other situations. If you stop your research because of ethical and moral difficulties, then you can never use your research to help people.” Professor Gentian explained. “I… guess so.” Professor Pasque stated. “Anyways, my research with finding the next matrices is undergoing smooth progression. Very soon, we will be able to develop Rock-type, Ground-type and Psychic-type weapons… and I’m really hoping that we can create armor with this research as well.” “Armor, huh?” Professor Gentian voiced out, rubbing his chin with his right fan. “Yes. As you said, we are merely in the growing pains of application right now. If we can make armor and imbue them with the types we have discovered, then we will be able to save more lives out in the field.” “See? Now that’s what I’m talking about!” “I’m assuming that you are not here just to give me a pep talk, are you?” Professor Pasque asked. “I’m here to continue doing research in Space and Time. Who knows? Maybe we can visit the dimension where all of the others have been transported to.” “What do you mean by that?” “Haven’t you realized it yet? We’ve been here for three whole months and we haven’t found much in terms of other Pokémon. If Arceus truly did warp everyone off the planet, then shouldn’t we be seeing more Pokémon?” Professor Gentian rationalized. “Now that you mention it… this world has been surprisingly bare of Pokémon. It would be safe to assume that our machine back in Opelucid City had done something to affect our dimensional trajectory.” “Now that we’re together, our research speed and consistency should double. Plus, Tesla and I will be able to take your work for when you and Einstein are busy. So, you can keep mentoring those foals that you care so much about.” A light-hearted chuckle made its way out of Professor Pasque’s mouth. With his right front foot, he patted Professor Gentian on his back. “Welcome back.” Author's Note It seems like everyone is coming back together one step at a time. The next planned chapter will have things go a bit easier for you all to catch a breather.
Mutual UnderstandingSpike hoisted himself upon a ladder, pulling out a thick book from the top shelf of a tall bookcase. He grinned at the sight of the blue-covered book in his claws. He dropped down the ladder’s bottom step and kissed the cover. “Hello Encyclopedia of the Arcane Arts.” He said with a flirtatious tone. He dropped the book’s cover and eyes Sweetie Belle, who flashed a keen smile towards his direction. Spike squealed and leaped onto the ladder. “How did you get here?!” Spike shouted, holding the step of the ladder with his left claw. “Rarity brought me here. There’s something I want to tell you.” Sweetie Belle said. “Can’t it wait until some other day? I’ve been wanting to read out of this book for a while and I finally get my chance to.” Spike stepped down onto the floor. Sweetie Belle grabbed Spike’s right wrist with her front right hoof. “Rarity told me that you are always busy reading out of books and doing magic-based experiments here. I think you need to get out of this place once in a while.” “What? I have free time and I do get out of this place from time to time. It’s just that… well, err… I want to use magic. If I’m out of this place, then I can’t use magic like any other unicorn could.” Spike rationalized. “And? Why is it that you want to learn and use magic so much? Take it from a unicorn filly who is learning her way around magic; it’s useful, but it’s not what others would consider to be worth dedicating their lives over.” Sweetie Belle explained. “You wouldn’t understand, Sweetie Belle. I was hatched through magic right before the Van’Goth invaded. Magic is beautiful to look at. Magic gives me hope and the energy to live day by day. Even if I can’t use magic outside of here, I want to learn everything about magic because magic is ultimately fun. You understand?” With a grin, Spike said. “Spike, it’s pointless for you to concern yourself about magic. You’re a young drake who shunted himself from the outside world to perfect something that he will never be able to do.” Sweetie Belle said with a flat tone. “I guess your right… but Twilight depends on me for helping to advance some of the magic around here. I can’t just stop what I’m doing to have fun.” “Sure you can! You really need to spend time with others who are around your age group or you’ll never be able to become a socially-functioning being in our modern world.” “So what does this have to do with my current dilemma?” Spike asked with interrogative tone. “Rarity and Twilight told me that you need to socialize and that will teach you a magic you can always use; the magic of friendship.” Sweetie Belle stated with a confident tone, tugging on Spike’s wrist. Spike rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine, I’ll go along with you. If this is what Twilight wants.” Spike and Sweetie Belle walked underneath a series of hanging pots filled with dramatic and colorful flora littered the streets that they walked on. Spike inhaled through his nose, letting the sweet aromas mixing together trigger a pleasured sigh. “I don’t think I have ever been on this street before. What’s the name of this street?” “This is the Floral Avenue. It’s one of the best-smelling places in the city, and it uses real bees to pollinate the flowers.” Sweetie Belle explained, pointing to a bee flying inside of a hive on a lone tree. Within their line of sight, they viewed Stereo painting an image and Fleur De Lis looking on with a happy glint in her eyes and a small smirk. “This place is very relaxing. It puts my nerves at ease and the aroma is wonderful.” Stereo commented. “It is a very nice street, no? You will not find anything like this district throughout the rest of the city.” Fleur De Lis told. “Hey, Stereo!” Spike shouted, waving his right claw and running towards him. “I did not expect you to be outside today, Spike. And I see you are courting a lady friend as well.” “What? No!” Spike shouted with a red tinge on his cheeks surfacing. “Sweetie Belle just wanted me to come outside today.” Stereo gazed towards Fleur De Lis and grinned with a hopeful expression. Fleur De Lis nodded with a silent smile. “Well bring Sweetie Belle and yourself towards those patches of moonflowers blossoming over there. It would bring to fruition the inspiration I desire.” “You mean there?” Sweetie Belle asked, pointing towards a steel arch covered in white flowers. “Come on, Spike! This will be fun. We get to be on a painting!” “Eh, I might as well. I got nothing else better to do.” Spike said. Sweetie Belle and Spike ran underneath the arch with wide smiles on their faces. Stereo held out his hand and raised a thumb up. “Perfect! Keep it in that position for about thirty minutes!” Stereo stopped stroking his paintbrush on the canvas. Sweetie Belle and Spike ran over to his side and looked at the canvas. An image of the two by the arch is presented to their eyes. The colors of the paint ran thin the farther it got away from the focus. “What do you think? It’s a bit bare, but I have the skeleton of the image drawn.” Stereo asked. “You really can be called an artist! The strokes are exquisite to the eye.” Sweetie Belle stated. “I cannot be called an artist yet. I have not suffered enough to be deemed one.” Stereo noted. “Being an artist sounds like serious work if you must suffer.” Spike noted. “It cannot be helped. Art is experience, and the biggest experiences often end in tragedy.” Fleur De Lis said. “Well, it wasn’t like I was trying to look for a cutie mark in painting anyways. I want to live a long and happy life.” Sweetie Belle said. “Just remember, Sweetie Belle; happiness is just but for a moment. When you learn that happiness cannot be forever, then you shall take the next step to growth.” “Ummmm… yeah we’re going to leave now.” Spike stuttered out with a rushed tone, tugging on Sweetie Belle’s right front hoof. “Yeah. Spike and I have somewhere to be now.” Spike and Sweetie Belle sprinted down the street and disappeared from sight. Stereo chuckled. “Those two seem to be in quite the rush today. They should learn to stop and smell the roses.” “I agree, and those two will someday make a fine couple. Their hearts are but just mere buds after all. Through the passage of time and the nutrients of their attention, those buds will bloom into beautiful flowers.” Fleur De Lis waxed with poetic language. “So is that all for the apprenticeship today, Miss Fleur?” Stereo asked. “I suppose so. Just remember to practice your dexterity and think outside of the box.” Sweetie Belle and Spike stood outside of a window, where a nearby sign depicted an image of a white scoop of ice cream on a wafer cone. Spike crossed his arms and fumes erupted from the corner of his mouth. “You know we could have ice cream back at H.O.R.S.E. right? We don’t even need to wait in a line since I got a whole stash of it!” He stated, raising his arms into the air. “But then you’ll miss the point of eating at an ice cream parlor! It’s not about whether you can eat ice cream or not, but it’s about being able to eat ice cream with the sun shining down on you while sitting down on one of these tables.” Sweetie Belle explained. “It’s a time to get to know who you eat ice cream with.” Spike glanced towards his side, where a table that seated Mono and Sophia became nestled in his view. Two ice cream tones here held in place with a steel frame. Mono licked at the vanilla scoop with an intense fervor and Sophia nibbled on the green scoop with trees of frozen broccoli jetting out of it. “I didn’t even think that broccoli was even a flavor here!” Sophia noted. “I was very surprised when I saw that. I thought that there wouldn’t be any bitter ice cream flavors for you to enjoy, since the other ice creams we saw here were the same vanilla, chocolate and other sweet varieties.” Mono said. “You hate those sweet flavors, right?” Sophia brought her mouth away from the ice cream. Her mouth was drenched with ice cream. She nodded her head. “Honestly, I don’t really like sweet things all too much. It’s too overbearing for my taste buds.” Mono looked towards his right. Seeing Spike gazing at him by the window, he grinned and waved. “Hey Spike! What are you doing here?” Sweetie Belle’s horn flashed in a light green, allowing her to levitate the chocolate soft serve cones to her and Spike. “Sweetie Belle dragged me here out of the library to get some fresh air and socialize or whatever she calls it.” Spike said, grabbing the cone and licking at the scoop of ice cream. “You make it sound like it’s torture, Spike. What are you doing here Mono?” Sweetie Belle asked with a cheery tone. “Well… Sophia and I thought that it would finally be a good time to go out on a date.” Mono stated. “She wants to spend more time close with me because she’s afraid that I’ll die sooner or later.” Sweetie Belle rubbed her hoof on the ground with a nervous shake of her leg. She cocked her head with an uneasy frown on her face. “Can you please not say ‘die’ around me? It makes me feel like this will be our last day alive.” She requested. “It’s understandable. So, it seems like you found a boy toy of your own.” Sophia said with a smug grin on her face. “What? What’s a boy toy?” Sweetie Belle asked. Sophia rushed by to Sweetie Belle’s side and wrapped her left front leg around Sweetie Belle’s shoulders and pointed towards Spike with her right front paw. “Don’t play dumb with me. You obviously picked someone who will grow up to be very big if you know what I’m talking about.” The entirety of Sweetie Belle’s white coat reddened to a rose in bloom. Her hooves quivered and she stared at Sophia with a scowl. “That’s not funny! I’m just taking Spike out for the day because he’s always stuck doing nothing but research!” Sophia leaned inwards towards Sweetie Belle’s right ear with her same smug grin. “Are you sure you don’t have any feelings for him?” She whispered. “Sophia! You’re making things between us awkward.” Sweetie Belle warned. “Well if you want Spike to reciprocate his feelings for you, you got to learn how to turn him on. I’ll even demonstrate this right now using Mono as the test subject.” Saying these words, Sophia strutted her way towards Mono and walked around him, rubbing her body around his legs with a slow and sensual speed. Mono’s spine jerked upwards. His eyes shot wide open and his mouth shut at an instant. “W-what are you doing, Sophia?” Mono asked. “Oh, nothing.” Sophia said with half-lidded eyes, leaping up towards Mono’s shoulders and rubbing them with her front paws. She dipped her legs underneath his upper limbs and down his sides until she is rubbing his hips. A bright red blush illuminated through Mono’s dark coat. His left eye’s lower eyelid rose to cover half of his pupil and a loud purr emanated from him. “P-p-please… Sophia.” He stuttered out. “Oh you like that, do you?” Sophia asked with a seductive tone. “I do b-b-but why h-h-here? A-and why is this making me feel so…” “You know that soup has a lot more eggplant in it than you think. Eggplant does some very fun things to males you know.” “Just stop. This is embarrassing.” Mono pleaded. “Okay!” Sophia stated, letting go of Mono’s body. She went towards Sweetie Belle and grinned. “And that’s how you turn on your mate.” “I don’t get it. Wouldn’t that be called sexual harassment?” Sweetie Belle called out. “Not if you’re a female.” Sophia whispered, winking with a tilt of her head. “Seriously speaking though, you don’t really want to do that too much. You could get arrested or sued if they feel harassed.” Sweetie Belle looked towards Spike, who stared towards Mono’s direction with his mouth and eyes wide-open. He stood in this position with his ice cream tone towards his chest level, frozen in disbelief. “What just happened?” He worded out in shock. “You don’t want to know yet, Spike. Trust me, you don’t.” Sweetie Belle answered. The two of them walked away from the ice cream parlor with their faces stunned with uneasiness. Sophia walked to her seat and began eating the ice cream in front of her. She looked towards Mono with a smile on her face. “You look a bit distracted there.” She teased. “Ummm… a b-b-it. My vocab-LOUGH isn’t cong-EESE!” Mono sputtered out. “Awww don’t be like that, Mono. How about we go back to my place and I could shower you with more of those massages?” Sophia asked with a seductive grin. Mono looked down towards the ground with a deep red blush on his face. He glanced towards Sophia with a nervous glint in his eyes. “That would be… nice.” Spike’s scales and Sweetie Belle’s mane became drenched in the waterfalls of sprinklers spraying throughout the park. Sweetie Belle shook her head, shaking off the beads of cascading water that swamped her mane. “The Sprinkler Park is a very refreshing area to be in. The grasses are well-fed and the spraying water is a perfect way to cool down.” Sweetie Belle explained. “Yeah, but doesn’t it use up a large amount of our water supply? Water is a very limited resource.” Spike interjected. “The water we get is from the sea through pipelines. It is treated within the water filters underneath the city and brought onto the surface for public use. Miss Cheerilee taught us that today.” “And that’s another reason why magic is so important and that I should be studying it right now.” Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes and frowned. She looked towards her right and saw Gnasher and Custard sitting on the bench. Gnasher crossed her arms and scowled and Custard laughed and pointed to her. “Can we leave this place yet? I hate getting wet.” Gnasher responded with an aggravated tone. “We can leave here at any time. You are the one who suggested we go here today.” Custard said. “I did because we always did what I wanted to do together and thought that it would be a nice change of pace to do what you wanted. But this?!” Gnasher shouted, holding out her arms with widened eyes. “I suppose it is a problem, considering you are a Ground-type. But I come here from time to time to reinvigorate my moisture levels. It helps to keep me healthy after all.” “Ummm… who are they, Spike?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Oh! That’s Gnasher and Custard, two more H.O.R.S.E. operatives! I’m surprised you haven’t seen them.” Spike stated. “Want to talk with them?” Gnasher poked her head through the sprinklers, where Spike and Sweetie Belle entered in her field of vision. She grinned. “Look! It’s the dragon shrimp, and it seems like he’s with a filly. Want to say hi?” She suggested. “I would love that.” Custard responded. Gnasher and Custard stood up from their seats and approached the children. Spike waved towards their direction. “Gnasher! Custard!” “S’up Spike? It’s a rare sight to see you out of the headquarters.” Gnasher commented. “Sweetie Belle thought it would be a great idea for me to get some fresh air.” Spike said, letting out an exhausted sigh. “The amount of times I actually had to say that is getting very stale.” “You only said it three times.” Sweetie Belle stated. “Sweetie Belle? I think I might remember seeing your image in Rarity’s work office.” Custard said. “Rarity is my big sister after all.” “Then why aren’t you at H.O.R.S.E. more often? Wouldn’t you be considered a H.O.R.S.E. child then?” Gnasher asked. “Well, that title only goes to children whose parents are operatives at H.O.R.S.E. My parents are civilians with civilian jobs in the city.” Sweetie Belle explained. “Rarity decided to become a member of the Regiment so that she can put her design sense into practical use as well as fight for our nation.” “So you two are out here on a date?” Spike asked. “Yes we are. The fine mist here invigorates me. Are you out here on a date too?” Custard responded. “Gah! Why does everyone assume that Sweetie and I are out on a date?! It’s absurd!” Spike shouted. “She just happened to drag me outside against my will! There’s nothing even close to romance between us!” Saying these words, he stormed off with a scowl on his face. Sweetie Belle extended her right front leg towards his direction and frowned. “Spike!” She shouted, running towards his direction. “Great. Now it feels like we are involved in some sort of cheesy romance plot.” Gnasher said. “I would offer to cook fish, but there are people who hate it when the fish is cheesed.” Custard said with a light and casual tone. “D…did you just crack a joke?” “What if I did?” A small grin made its way on Gnasher’s face. She wrapped her right arm around Custard’s shoulder and dragged him close to her. “That’s the first time I heard you make a joke. It could be better, but it is passable.” “I did learn how to joke after being around you for so long. I thought that it would be the perfect time to joke.” Custard said. “You know, I’ll take you up on your offer to cook fish. I’m getting pretty hungry. But please, leave out the cheese.” “Spike!” Sweetie Belle called out, reaching out her hoof and grabbing Spike’s right shoulder. “Look, Sweetie Belle, I’m not sure if I even feel comfortable being around you right now.” Spike said with a crestfallen tone, turning around and looking Sweetie Belle in the eyes. “Just because a couple of operatives keep calling us a package? Don’t listen to them, Spike. It just looks weird because we are a male and female going through some areas that can be considered romantic… well, except for the ice cream parlor. That was just weird what happened there.” Sweetie Belle mentioned. “I know. But… what if they are right and we are a package?” Twiddling his claws together, Spike asked. “I mean, you’re nice and everything, but I really don’t want to be in a relationship right now. Not when I have all of this magic research to do.” Sweetie Belle cocked her head and smiled with a soft disposition. She treaded her right front hoof onto Spike’s forehead. “Is that all you were worried about? You know I never brought you out with the intention of going out with you. I just think that you are very lonely sometimes and that you need someone to take you out from time to time.” “You think I’m lonely?” Spike asked with a confused tone. “Well, yeah! You don’t go to school like I do and you rarely interact with others outside of research-based means.” “I suppose that’s true. I never really interact with Equusians around my age group. So… I’m sorry that I acted immaturely back there. I’m actually enjoying today and I really don’t want it to stop.” “We actually have one last stop to go on before our day is complete.” Sweetie Belle declared. Celestia’s sun neared the end of the horizon and Luna’s moon rose into the sky. Sweetie Belle and Spike rushed through the neon-flashing frame of a building. The duo walked around the bend of the corner, where their eyes were greeted by bright and flashing lights coming from machines and the walls. The roars of the stereos and Equusians fiddling with the controls smacked the duo’s eardrums. “This place looks fun. What is it?” Spike asked, looking around with an innocent smile on his face. “You’ve never been to the arcade before? It’s a great place for kids to just hang out. Speaking of which.” Sweetie Belle pointed to the right, where Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked towards the group with Rumble and Jetstream Rush by their sides. “Oh! You made it!” Applebloom shouted. “I never thought you would get that stubborn drake out of the headquarters.” “Yeah. Now that we all have our plus ones, we can participate in the Xtreme Lazer Tag Arena!” Scootaloo shouted, stomping on the ground. “Ummm… what’s going on?” Spike asked. “You didn’t know? Tonight is the Crossed Hearts Lazer Tag event. Couples participate for free instead of having to pay.” Rumble explained. “I came with Scootaloo as soon as I heard that.” “I’m here just to go out with Applebloom. Nothing wrong with that right?” Jetstream Rush said. “Wait a moment… you tricked me into coming here?” Spike asked with an interrogative tone. “Why?!” “Well… errr, none of the other students wanted to be my plus one because everyone else had plans. I know that you are always available, so I kind of lied about my sis and Twilight saying you need to get out.” Sweetie Belle responded with a sheepish grin. She frowned and looked down onto the ground. “I’m sorry I lied to you.” “Normally… I would be very mad in this situation. Very! But, I’m not.” Spike said. “You showed me a great time and that’s all that matters. Who cares if you did it for yourself? Ultimately, I’m glad you did it.” “So does that mean you’ll play?!” Sweetie Belle shouted with a smile on her face. “Of course. I’ve always wanted to try Laser Tag.” Spike said. “Is that so?” The group of children looked to their right. A bandaged Lith and Fei walked towards the group. “Lith! You and your friend don’t really look too good.” Scootaloo noted. “We came off the cruxes of a vicious battle today. Mono and I came out to be in good shape, but Fei and Keldeo… not so much. Though, I hear that your sister is taking care of him.” Lith explained. “I’m confused. Why’s Fei here if he’s in such bad shape?” Applebloom said, pointing towards Fei, whose leg wavered and his right eye squinted in pain. “It’s nothing much. Just some broken ribs and some internal hemorrhaging remaining. It’s nothing serious.” He said. The children looked towards each other with nervous glanced and clenched teeth. A nervous giggle made its way through Scootaloo’s lips. “I’m not a whiz on doctor stuff, but I don’t think you should be walking outside of a hospital.” Scootaloo said. “And miss the Crossed Hearts Lazer Tag event going on tonight? I don’t plan to miss it for the world if it allows for me and Lith to spend the night together.” Fei responded. “I tried to convince him to stay in bed and rest, but he really wanted to do this with me. I would probably do the same thing, so I let him come with me.” Lith explained. “Wow… you’re really stubborn.” Rumble noted. “My older brother wouldn’t even try to move around on a sprained ankle.” “I have to. As a H.O.R.S.E. operative, I need to be able to move even with the worst of injuries. Please, do not let my condition change how you see me. I’m here to have fun with my girlfriend, and that’s all what matters.” “I would hug you, Fei-Fei, but I really don’t want to aggravate your condition.” Lith noted. “I really appreciate your concern.” Fei said with a small smirk on his face. Sweetie Belle and Spike stood back to back of each other, wearing black vests around their chests that illuminated in a bright green color. They panted with heavy breathing and held their handgun-shaped weapons close to their faces. “How are you holding up, Spike?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Very good. There are twelve teams and half of them were eliminated so far. But this maze-like structure isn’t exactly helping out with my nerves.” Spike responded. No sound emanated through the air. Sweetie Belle and Spike heard their hearts jumping out of their chest. “Where is everyone? They can’t all be gone already… can they?” Sweetie Belle questioned. “I’m not too sure… but Fei is surprisingly vicious out on the field despite his condition. His marksman skills and stealth took out half of the competition by himself.” Spike voiced with concern. “I’m afraid that he might be breathing down our necks right now.” “You mean like this?” Sweetie Belle and Spike’s eyes widened to the point where their eyeballs can fall out at any moment. With a slow movement, they directed their heads above them. Only darkness was seen. “Okay, for a moment there, I was afraid that Fei might have found us. It must be our minds playing tricks on us.” Sweetie Belle said, sighing in relief and wiping away the sweat from her forehead. “But I did.” Spike and Sweetie Belle looked forwards, gazing at Fei in a glowing rest vest. Their hearts plummeted into their stomachs. “W-what?! But but how did you throw your voice?!” Spike shouted. “I didn’t. But, now that I have you on my sights, it’s time to end your game.” Spike aimed his weapon towards Fei’s chest and shot a laser into it. “You talked too much. You gave me the opening I needed for that shot.” “So I have.” Fei cracked a grin and peeled away at his vest with careful pulls. His body shrieked in pain. Spike’s eyes glanced upon Fei’s mouth, where a drop of red liquid seeped out of his mouth. “Ummm… Fei? You’re bleeding.” “Don’t worry about it too much. I’m fine, really.” Fei insisted. Wearing an aqua blue vest, Mono sprinted down the corridor and grinned. He ran towards Spike, Fei and Sweetie Belle with a confident smile. His smile dropped into an open frown, seeing the blood leaking out of Fei’s mouth. “Fei!” “Mono? What are you doing here?” Fei asked. “Sophia and I came here to play, remember? Why are you out here in your condition? Don’t you know you can damage your organs?!” Mono shouted. “I know, Mono. But, I would give my body up for Lith. I love seeing her smile.” Fei stated. Mono clenched his teeth and gripped Fei’s left hand with his right upper paw. “That kind of attitude is going to get you killed, Fei. At the very least, let me treat some of your wounds with my Psycho Heal. After this match, you’re going straight back to the infirmary and you will be re-examined by the doctors.” Fei nodded in silence. He kneeled down to his knees. Mono’s eyes flashed in a blue color and his upper paws became illuminated with a white aura. He treaded them upon Fei’s chest. The blood on his lips retreated back into his mouth. “Mono, did you come here because you are worried about Fei?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Part of the reason. Though… I wanted to play with Sophia as well. I just didn’t expect Fei’s condition to act up this badly.” Mono explained. “You didn’t need to do this for me, Mono. I’m perfectly fine.” Fei said. “No you aren’t! Bleeding from the mouth is not a good sign under any circumstance! I know you didn’t want to disappoint my sister, but I don’t want to lose a friend because of recklessness. Now you kneel still and let me treat that rupture I know you have in your lungs.” Mono stated. “Lung rupture? You mean you’ve been playing this entire game with that?!” Spike shouted. “It only came up halfway when I was eliminating other teams. I didn’t think much of the lower levels of breathing and the pain in the right portion of my chest, so I continued.” Fei responded. Sweetie Belle looked onto Fei in silence, seeing a disappointed frown on his face. The light on Mono’s paws faded. “You really shouldn’t move much anymore, Fei. I don’t want you to aggravate your condition some more.” Mono said. “He’s already eliminated. I’ll make sure he goes straight back to the hospital at H.O.R.S.E.” Spike offered. “Wait, he is?” Mono asked. “He’s telling the truth. Spike is fast on the gun. I probably should have just shot him.” Fei said. “Lith will be disappointed, but I’m going back to the infirmary.” “I’ll walk you there too.” Sweetie Belle said. “Are you sure you want to do that, Sweetie Belle? It seems a bit inconvenient for you to do.” Spike warned. “I’m sure. Plus, it will give me another reason to walk back to your place.” With these words, Sweetie Belle undid her team vest and placed it on the ground. She smiled and looked onto Fei’s face. “I’ll make sure no other harm comes to you, Fei.” “That sounds like a good proposition from you.” Spike, Sweetie Belle and Fei walked into a room where a periwinkle polka-dotted curtain separated the two begs in the room. Fei limped his way towards the bed and sat down. “I think I might have overdone it again. My ribs are poking at my chest.” “Well why did you run? Your ribs aren’t exactly in the steadiest condition right now.” Spike said. “I was lucky that Mono and Sophia decided to play tonight. If not… well, my condition may have worsened.” “There has to be more for purposefully hurting yourself than to make Lith happy. She would be the last being to see you pass away.” Sweetie Belle rationalized. Fei lied back on the bed and shut his eyes. He took a shallow breath and exhaled it. “Maybe… maybe I just miss my little brother. It has been a while since I last saw him conscious. With the whole ‘warp every Pokémon and good human on the planet into a different world’ scenario, I can only wonder how he is doing. I wonder if he is even alive anymore.” “You have a brother?” Spike asked. “Fee was his name. My parents must have had a naming scheme with us, but I still loved my younger brother very much. But, a mechanical malfunction with a mecha being developed for Pokestar Studios under a project I was involved in went wrong. Fee, who was with me at the time, believed that he could stop it and went inside of it.” Fei explained. “Don’t tell me…” Sweetie Belle said with her breath robbed by shock. “The malfunction caused the mecha to transform and crushed him. Miraculously, he survived. But… he never woke up after that incident. Part of the reason why I was involved in the same lab that the others were in was so that I could afford the treatments to keep my younger brother alive. I guess that I don’t fear death anymore because I feel that death would be a way to reunite with my brother once again.” “I’m so sorry to hear that, Fei. I never could have imagined that you held thoughts of hurting yourself for what happened there.” “Do not feel sorry for me, Sweetie Belle. No one could have known that would happen. But… this incident has always left me feeling uncomfortable around mechas. Who knows if the exos here would cause their pilots to end up in the same condition as Fee was when he tried disabling the malfunctioning mecha?” Fei said. “It’s getting late, Fei. I’ll be walking Sweetie Belle back home before the curfew settles in. I don’t want her to be stuck here while her parents worry about not being able to see here.” Spike stated. “That would probably be the best idea. I don’t think Rarity would want to see anything bad happen to her younger sister either.” Spike and Sweetie Belle turned around towards the door behind them. The two of them walked out with frowns on their faces. Sweetie Belle and Spike walked along the streets. The street lights illuminated the duo’s path. Spike looked into Sweetie Belle’s eyes, seeing that her cheery radiance dimmed into a shallow sadness. “Sweetie Belle, you looked bummed out. Is there anything you would like to talk about?” He asked. “I’ve just been wondering; what would happen if something bad were to happen to me? Would Rarity try to hurt herself because she failed to protect me? I don’t want that to happen to her, and I’m afraid that I will get badly hurt sooner or later.” Sweetie Belle explained. “Don’t say that! You’re not going to get hurt. Rarity, Keldeo, Fei, Twilight and all the other members of H.O.R.S.E. and your parents will make sure no harm will ever come to you. And, if they can’t do it, then I’ll be there for you!” Spike declared. “I appreciate the thought, Spike, but I really can’t see you doing much when compared to the others.” Sweetie Belle said. “I don’t care. You’re one of the very few people who have told me to do something different other than to study magic. For the first time in my life, I actually felt alive and a member of our unique society. Even if it was through trickery, you introduced me to a new way of life. For that, I thank you. Now I know that there’s more to life than just trying to learn magic. Friendship is magic, just like what you said. So now, I’m going to learn to take that magic and add it to my life.” Finishing up his words, Spike stumbled onto the path towards a two-story home. He looked towards Sweetie Belle and smiled. “Thanks again for walking me home, Spike. Do you think we will see more of each other?” Sweetie Belle asked. “You can always stop by H.O.R.S.E. to visit me. I’m usually the one who’s researching magic. I’d love to go outside again.” Spike responded. “I had a great time after all, even if the last bit of the day was depressing.” “I’m sure you did.” Sweetie Belle ran down the path towards the door. She knocked on it, cueing a flashing of yellow lights in the home. The door opened. She walked through the open crack of the door. Spike crawled into a twin-sized bed in his room. Twilight Sparkle, who sat at a stool with a computer in front of her, looked behind her and smiled. “How did your day go, Spike? I heard from Mono that you had fun.” She asked. “A lot of it. But, right now, I’m pooped. I walked Sweetie Belle back home.” Spike said with half-lidded eyes. “I could tell that you are tired after that. Her home is on the other side of the city.” “Twilight, can I ask a favor of you?” Spike asked. “Sure. What do you want? I’ll grant it without a problem.” Twilight Sparkle said with a confident smile on her face. “Twilight, can you enroll me into school?” Spike questioned. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes widened and a small frown curved onto her face. “But… aren’t you happy being lectured by me? I make sure to give you only the best tutelage available.” She asked. “I am, and I appreciate what you teach me. But… I’m still a growing boy. I need to interact with others around my age group if I want to function in a socially healthy way.” Spike stated. “I see your point. I’m not happy with it, but I understand. As your legal guardian, I will make sure that you go to school so that you can learn and be happy around others.” “Thanks, Twilight.” With a small smile on his face, he squirmed himself into bed. Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed and the sheets became enshrouded in a purple aura. Spike felt the blanket tuck itself into him. “Good night, Spike.” Twilight Sparkle said. She looked towards Spike’s direction, seeing his chest rise and fall. She turned back towards the screen, where an image of Strawberry Delight and her room was present on the desktop. “Sorry about that, Strawberry. Spike just came back home tired.” “It’s not a problem, Twilight. So how’s your research into applying the Pokémon Genome into Equusian magic going along?” Strawberry Delight asked. “It’s proceeding very well. I received some volunteers for the Pokémon-Equusian Genome Transfusion. It’s doing well. I’ll talk more about it tomorrow morning.” Twilight Sparkle responded. “One more thing; has the new issue of Playfilly come yet?” “No. That should be coming in tomorrow. When it does, you’ll be one of the first girls I’ll invite over my abode to look over it.” “That will be so hot! I hope that Razor Wind doesn’t mind me looking through images of hot and sexually explicit male Equusians.” Strawberry Delight stated. “You act like he doesn’t look at smut himself. I’m sure he’s fine with whatever you do in regards to your personal tastes of magazines.” Twilight Sparkle assured. “I know. So… you’re going to enroll Spike into school?” “Yes. I don’t like the thought of sending him off to someplace where he can suffer social issues, but he really wants to go. I understand where he’s coming from since I only started making friends after the Van’Goth invaded. At the same time, I know that he understands how I feel about sending him off alone.” “There you go! You two have a perfect mutual understanding on each other’s feelings. That’s the sign of some healthy communication there.” Strawberry Delight said. “Anyways, I got to log off. I’m tired. It was nice chatting with you again online.” With these words, the image of Strawberry Delight disappeared. Twilight Sparkle turned around and flashed a confident smirk. “Mutual understanding, huh? I like that concept.” Author's Note Spike-centric slicy of lify chapter ahoy! Except... now I'm scared about Fei. Why did I have to write in those implications?
Evolution Beyond LimitsMono’s eyes illuminated to the hazy landscape of Purgatorium. He took a deep breath and stared out into the horizon. “You called me again, haven’t you? What do you want this time, strange omnipresent voice?” Mono shouted. “I see you have visited the realm of my dominion. Truth be told, all the universes that connect through it are mine, and every being that lives in them is mine to command. Now it is time that I keep my end of the word and give you power beyond anything you can imagine.” The entire landscape of Purgatorium illuminated before Mono’s eyes. He blinked once and smiled. “Are you sure you can just give me this information like this? Exactly who are you?” “Do not let my name slip through your memories young child; my name is Deus, one and only god of this universe.” Deus’s voice disappeared along with the landscape. The landscape of the bleak city made its ways towards his eyes once more. To his right, he saw the same sad filly against the decaying fence reaching out for him. “Please… won’t you revive… Don’t be….” The landscape and the filly disappeared from Mono’s sights. Mono woke up in his bed. He looked towards Lith’s bed and blinked twice with a confused glint in his eyes; her bed’s sheets remained undisturbed and there was no sign of anything belonging to her on the bed. “Where’s Lith? I haven’t seen her after last night.” He said to himself. “I would like to think more, but that dream left me even more questions to think about. Can I still remember the information Deus gave me?” Mono’s watch rang with a loud clamor. He looked down upon it and touched it. An image of Twilight Sparkle’s head appeared on it. “Mono! I need you to swing by the lab ASAP. I have some very important news to discuss with you.” Twilight Sparkle announced. “Understood. Just let me do my morning duties and I will be over there at a speed reaching Mach 5.” “I’ll hold you onto it, Mono.” Mono sprinted through the doors of the lab. Twilight Sparkle stood in the center of the room with a white lab coat on, tapping her hind right leg on the ground. “It took you long enough.” She said. Mono looked away and rubbed his neck with a nervous frown on his face. “Sorry. I took a lot more time eating my breakfast today.” “Understandable, but you should probably go to the cafeteria to eat your breakfast then. It’s all premade and it’s close to the lab.” Twilight Sparkle stated. “I know. So, what did you request my presence here for?” Twilight Sparkle smiled and waved her hoof back. She pointed towards the giant screen, where silhouettes of various Equusians and a strand of rainbow-colored DNA appeared on it. “I’ve been doing some personal research with how we can imbue your Pokémon DNA into our operatives to grant them some of the abilities of Pokémon. It’s a bit unusual right now, but I am getting the kinks worked out.” She explained. “That sounds cool… but you do realize that experimentation like that could kill the testers, right?” Mono said with a straight tone. “I do. But, that’s why I designed a magic failsafe that would remove all traces of the Pokémon genome if things go wrong.” “Interesting. So who are the testers?” Twilight Sparkle pointed towards the door that lifted open. Fluttershy, a yellow-coated earth pony stallion with a brown mane and tail and a black-coated pegasus stallion with a white Mohawk-shaped mane and tail entered into the lab. “Fluttershy! You look better! But… who are these two?” Mono said. “The name’s Caramel. I dropped down from the Civilian Division to assist with the testing.” Caramel introduced. “My name’s Thunderlane. I’m still a novice in the Marksman Division, but I have deadeye aiming skill that has caused many a successful resolution to my missions.” Thunderlane stated. “As for me, Mono, I’ve been cleared by the Medical Division for allowance into standard H.O.R.S.E. activities again. My heart has been doing better after that incident.” Fluttershy said with a cheerful smile. “That’s good to hear, but are you sure you should be testing again so soon?” Mono questioned. “I’m not working with electricity this time.” Fluttershy pulled up a black bangle around her right front hoof and displayed it to Mono. Mono looked towards Twilight Sparkle. “It’s purely magic. It just happens to mimic your DNA.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “While I couldn’t give them your moves and such, it gives them passive abilities that I have discovered in my personal side of the research. For example, Caramel’s grip on his weapons is greatly improved since his body is a bit sticker.” “See?” Caramel said with a smile with a ball sticking to his body. “Don’t try to touch me, because you’ll become paralyzed.” With a crackle of pink electricity surging through his body, Thunderlane stated with a proud tone. “At least that’s what she said.” “Sticky Hold and Static I see… What about you, Fluttershy?” Mono asked. “I’m not sure yet. All I know is that I have an ability.” Fluttershy said. “You see Mono? Nothing bad has happened to them during the course of the experiment. Sooner or later, they will be ready for field testing.” Twilight Sparkle assured. “Very interesting results you came up with, Twilight. I’m sure that the professors must be happy with this progress you have made.” Mono complimented. “They don’t know yet. I’ve kept this research confidential and only my test subjects know about it. I told you because it is your DNA genome that I based this research off of, so it should only be fair that you get to know.” “So what exactly determines the abilities that these bangles give? It seems like they are random depending on whoever wears them.” Twilight Sparkle pointed towards the screen. The rainbow DNA split into three and combined with the silhouettes, causing them to flash in different colors. “That’s precisely what it is; random. Honestly, there’s so much to even one single strand of DNA that it is impossible to pinpoint one desired effect you would want with a consistent ratio.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “It’s honestly better for research purposes just to add the random generator in there rather than try to manipulate the desired effects.” Thunderlane glanced towards Twilight Sparkle with an impatient stomping from his right front hoof. “Ummm… can I leave now? I need to wake Rumble up for school today.” He pleaded. Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes and breathed out an agitated gust of air through her nostrils. “Fine. But you’ll have to be very careful with removing that bangle. The chip is directly injected into your body and any sudden movements will cause you to cut yourself further.” She responded. Thunderlane peeled away at the bangle and placed it on the table. He left the room. “Ummm… I have to leave as well. I need to check the request postings for today.” Saying these words, Caramel took off the bangle and placed it on the table. He then left the room. “Do you want to leave as well, Fluttershy?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “No. I have nothing else to do for today.” Fluttershy responded. “Well, I still might need to run some tests on you to check for your ability. Do I have your consent for this?” “Of course you do. If I can help, then I will help.” Mono looked towards Twilight Sparkle with a worried frown on his face. “Twilight, have you seen Lith anywhere? She wasn’t in our living quarters when I woke up and I’m somewhat worried about her.” “You don’t need to worry. I saw her while I was at the infirmary. She stayed by Fei’s side over the night.” Fluttershy explained. “That’s the first time she didn’t tell me she would be away from me. It kind of left me terrified to not be able to sleep in the same room as her.” Mono said. “Oh right! I forgot that you have separation issues.” Twilight Sparkle noted with a smile on her face. She looked towards Mono, who ducked his head between his shoulders. “Ummm… moving on. Other than that, you look like you have something on your mind you would like to share.” “Oh! Thank you for reminding me. I have the knowledge of creating a device capable of further evolving our own selves.” Mono stated with a confident tone. “What do you mean by ‘evolve’?” Twilight Sparkle asked with her head cocked in confusion. Mono walked towards a window, displaying a clear gaze into the dome of the city. “I’m not sure if you know this or not, Twilight, but many Pokémon are capable of something known as Evolution. When the conditions are met, a Pokémon can evolve into a stronger form with more abilities and power at their disposal.” He explained. “All the Pokémon you have seen so far are all in their final stage evolutions.” “Wait, what?” Fluttershy asked, backing onto her rear legs. “I didn’t think you were evolved from something.” “It’s true. Meowstics are evolved forms of a Pokémon known as an Espurr. Maybe you might see one someday, but that’s not the point of my conversation. The fact is that while we are in our final forms, some Pokémon have the ability to exceed even further with a process known as a Mega Evolution.” “Mega Evolution huh?” Twilight Sparkle voiced out with a hint of suspicion in her tone. “Do go on. What exactly makes this form of evolution different than the one you speak of?” “Many things. Mega Evolution was introduced through a Legendary Pokémon known as Diancie, which is essentially a Carbink that underwent a type of permanent Mega Evolution. Diancie introduced something known as a Mega Stone, which is a special ore that is contains the DNA of a Pokémon that would allow it to exceed beyond its form.” “So you just need to find a Mega Stone that corresponds to the same species of Pokémon that can use it to achieve Mega Evolution?” Fluttershy asked. “It’s not that simple. While a Mega Stone is an important factor for achieving Mega Evolution, a Key Stone is needed to commence the Mega Evolution. Key Stones can be embedded into accessories that a trainer can wear. If the bond between a trainer with a Key Stone and a Pokémon holding a Mega Stone is strong enough, then a Mega Evolution can be performed by the trainer tapping their Key Stone.” Mono responded. “I see… I appreciate more information on Pokémon through the concepts of Evolution and Mega Evolution, but that sort of information doesn’t seem too practical with what you have in mind.” Twilight Sparkle noted. “How would Mega Evolution contribute to evolving ourselves further?” “That is what I was about to go to. In my dream, I’ve came across the idea of an artificial Mega Evolution that anyone can use. Just imagine being able to evolve your powers all of a sudden through a sleight of your upper limbs. Your skills will sharpen and you will feel a burst of energy that would allow you to achieve anything your heart desires!” Mono acted out with a large and open smile on his face. “That sounds exciting. But… a natural Mega Evolution already sounds complex and nearly impossible to perform in our world. How would we even begin going about by a Mega Evolution?” Fluttershy asked. “That part will be difficult to explain in one sitting. But, the information I received in my dream says that we can build a network exclusively for that purpose. If a natural Mega Evolution requires the use of a trainer and Pokémon’s bond with each other, then an artificial Mega Evolution would be achieved through a device linked to a terminal.” “I see where you are getting at. We simply mimic the events of a Mega Evolution through our database’s connections with our operatives through this device you have planned. But, I don’t think you thought this situation out completely.” Twilight Sparkle stated. “What do you mean?” Mono asked. “Well, in order to even begin to understand how a Mega Evolution would work, we actually need a sample of a Mega Stone and Key Stone for research purposes. As of right now, there is absolutely no way how we can generate the same frequencies that are used in a Mega Evolution.” “Oh. I almost forgot about that. There’s absolutely no way that we can get those here, is there?” Mono’s smile formed into a frown and his body slumped forwards. “Ummm, Mono? I might have a suggestion for you.” Fluttershy peeped out. “Professor Pasque might probably have some information on it. His words have given some allusion to what you were talking about with Mega Evolution and all.” “I guess I can go off of that. If anyone knows more information on Mega Evolution than me, then it’s the professor.” Professor Pasque and Einstein gazed out into the dome-covered sky. Their eyes locked onto the cloud formations flowing across the azure horizon. Einstein shrieked with an excited tone and pointed towards a sheeted wave of clouds coming in from the southern horizon. “Look Professor! That’s an Asperatus Cloud formation coming from the north!” He pointed out. “It looks to be that way. I don’t know much about how the weather system works here, but I heard that pegasi create and manipulate clouds through the use of water vapor in the sky. It is an interesting and noble effort on their part to still be able to create clouds during this time.” Professor Pasque noted. “It looks so wavy and so thick. I would love to be able to sleep on a cloud like a pegasus can.” Professor Pasque smiled and rubbed Einstein’s back with a slow speed with his right front foot. “One day… I’m sure you’ll be able to.” Mono sprinted towards the field of grass that Professor Pasque and Einstein lied upon and reached his upper right paw towards their direction. “Professor Pasque! Einstein!” Professor Pasque turned his neck towards Mono’s direction and smiled. “Mono. What can I do for you?” He asked. “Professor Pasque, what do you know about Mega Evolution?” Professor Pasque looked towards Einstein, who shrugged his massive arms. He focused his glance towards Mono. “I know quite a bit about the concept. Is there a reason you asked?” “I think I might have found a way for all of us to achieve a sort of Artificial Mega Evolution. It came to me in a dream, but I need to study a Key Stone and a Mega Stone to understand how their waves work.” Mono explained. “I wasn’t planning on revealing anything… but I am actually in possession of a Key Stone and a Mega Stone myself.” Professor Pasque said. “What?!” Mono and Einstein shouted with their eyes widened in shock. “It was something that I held close to me even when going into this world. I couldn’t identify what type of Mega Stone it was, but I do know that it is indeed a Mega Stone based on its patterns and wavelengths. If you need it, it is at my workstation within the lab.” “Thank you, Professor Pasque. But why did you keep it a secret from everyone?” Professor Pasque looked towards his right and left, being alert to his surroundings. “My lab has many different artifacts that would make it a major target. I’ve covered any and all information about their existence within my lab and preserved their secrecy to this day. I know that if word got out that I was in possession of such artifacts, your lives would then be in jeopardy.” He explained. “I understand. But… why didn’t you tell me?” Einstein asked. “I wouldn’t squeal.” Professor Pasque frowned and shut his eyes. “It isn’t you, Einstein. Naturally, I am a very secretive being. I make sure that absolutely no information escapes from my hold. I know that you would keep a secret, but I cannot trust myself to tell you.” “Oh… I tend to overlook that fact about you. Sometimes, I forget how much of a good communication we have with each other.” Einstein stated. “No need to feel hurt Einstein. I know you have your secrets, just as much as I have my own. We are all entitled to our privacy.” Mono ran towards a large counter in the lab with several drawers. He pulled on the bottom one, which revealed a small sphere that flashed in the colors of a rainbow and a DNA shape on it. Next to it was a larger stone that was clear in color. The DNA-shaped mark on it is less translucent than the rest of the sphere. Mono scratched his head and cocked it. “Professor Pasque was right. If this is a Mega Stone, then the lack of color on it doesn’t really show what species of Pokémon can react to it.” He grabbed both the Key Stone and the clear Mega Stone from the drawer. Twilight Sparkle looked onto Mono and rubbed her jaw, eyeing at the two stones with an intrigued hum. “So these are the stones you were talking about, Mono?” “That’s right. Honestly, I’m not sure whether this Mega Stone is real or fake. It matches the common descriptions found in the ores of Mega Stones, but it doesn’t look like any Mega Stone seen up to this point.” Mono stated. “I’m not even sure what a clear stone is supposed to represent.” Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed with a violet color and levitated the two stones towards her face. She hummed and narrowed her eyes. “What is it?” Mono asked. “These stones definitely have a unique frequency that I have not yet seen and they reverberate with each other. I can guarantee you that this is indeed a Mega Stone just from the unique readings I get from it.” Twilight Sparkle rationalized. “I guess that these will have to do then. I guess we can begin research on them and construct a new server based on that information.” Wearing a light blue medical gown, Fei sat up in bed. On his lap was a gray tray was a bowl of brown and fermented mush. His eyes watered at the sharp and sour smell of the bowl. He pushed it to his left and turned his head away. “Gah! It smells horrible. I knew hospital food has a reputation for being foul, but fermented bean paste?” Lith walked into the room with a brown bag tied around her. She opened the bag and pulled out a black and plastic bowl from it. She took the bowl of fermented bean paste away from him and placed her bowl on his tray. Fei eyed it with a curious glint and removed the top from it. Inside was a slab of white meat sliced into six strips. It rested upon dark green vegetation and was topped with sliced jalapeños on top of it. “For you.” Lith said with a smile on her face. Fei smiled and looked towards Lith. “I could tell that this is much better than the food the hospital serves. May I ask what it is?” “Gnasher said that she captured a cockatrice of all things. She said it was a bit tough removing the scales, but she prepared the meat for me to throw into a bed of romaine lettuce and top it off with jalapeño slices. I threw in a splash of vinaigrette so that it would allow the flavors to soak better.” Lith explained. Fei took a fork that was to the right of the tray and jabbed it into the meat and vegetation. He brought the contents into his mouth and chewed it. Swallowing the foodstuff, he felt a burning irritation inside of his throat. His eyes widened open and he fanned his mouth with his right hand. Lith pulled out a canister of milk and handed it to Fei. Fei opened the lid of the container and downed the entire bottle in one gulp. The irritation in his throat disappeared and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. “Thank you very much for the food, Lith. You know you didn’t have to do this for me.” Fei stated. “And leave you eating that nasty goop they call food? You’re still recovering from surgery earlier this morning and you need some good nutrition in your body to help you do that. What’s the point of having nutritious food if you won’t be able to enjoy it? The cockatrice meat is very high in protein and iron while the vegetables provide a high level of vitamins while tending to your taste buds. I made this in mind for you. I have to start taking care of you after all.” Lith said. She leaned towards Fei’s direction and kissed his right cheek. Fei brought his right hand to his cheek and rubbed it. “Having you by my side and witnessing all this had really brightened my hospital stay. You bring a ray of sunshine into my desolate world.” “You know that you are verging on cheesy territory again, right?” Lith said with a serious tone. “I do, but I really mean it. Some days, I just don’t really feel like living. I feel like I’ve been dropped into a hellhole where I’m forced to fight. My life as a human wasn’t so great either.” “Look, I know about what happened to Fee and everything, but you have to realize that your life won’t stop just because of events such as those. I mean, look at the Equusians. They lost nearly everything, but do they give up? They want to make a new life for themselves despite the odds. You can as well.” Fei wrapped his right arm around Lith’s body and pulled her close for an embrace. With his left hand, he stroked the tufts of hair on Lith’s head. “Again, I must thank you for being here. I’m sure that Mono must have been worried about you being here. Lith’s eyes rose with a slight movement and she pulled herself away from Fei. “I forgot to tell Mono!” Shouting these words, she ran out of the room, leaving Fei by himself. Fei frowned, sighed and shoved his fork back into the salad. Lith ran down the hall with her heart bursting out of her chest. She ran up towards a changeling with her eyes and mouth wide in panic. “Do you know where Mono is?!” She shouted. “I think he might be in the lab.” The changeling responded. Lith continued down the hall, sprinting with the notion that her life depended on her actions. She crashed through the doors of the lab and witnessed Mono and Twilight Sparkle standing around a table. On the table are the Mega Stone and Key Stone. “Lith! You came just in time.” Mono said with a happy tone in his voice. Lith exhaled a calming breath and smiled. “Sorry I didn’t contact you beforehand, Mono. I was too worried about Fei and I guess I forgot to tell you.” She said. “I was upset for a bit, but now I’m not upset. Fei needed you more by his side than I needed you, and I accept that.” Mono stated. “Wait, did you just…?” Lith worded out. “Is there something wrong, Lith?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “No. Nothing is wrong. So what’s going on here?” “We’re conducting research for an artificial type of Mega Evolution. You are welcome to join us.” Mono said. Lith nodded and walked towards Mono’s side. She wrapped her left upper paw around Mono’s shoulders and rocked him back and forth. “So… would you mind if I wasn’t around your side more often then?” She asked. “You have your life and I have mine. Our lives may naturally be intertwined with each other, but that’s not an excuse I can use to hold you back. How else can I grow up?” Mono stated. “From how it sounds like, your maturity evolved.” Author's Note I have nothing quirky or insightful to say here. Here's the new chapter of the story.
Farmer's HandsApplejack, Custard and Jasmine reached beyond the southeastern corner of the city, where the concrete and steel changed into verdant grass and moist dirt. A foul stench hit Jasmine’s nose. Her eyes watered and she covered her face with her right upper limb. “Applejack, may I ask what is that dreadful scent out here? It almost smells like manure.” She asked. “That’s because it is manure. Didn’t you know this when you and Custard agreed to help me with my cousin’s request?” Applejack responded. “I have but that scent is overbearing. I will have to unleash an extra dosage of chamomile and lemongrass to counteract the horrible stench in the air.” “You can relax, Jasmine. The smell is just nature’s way of saying ‘I love you’ to all the plants of the world.” Custard said, hugging himself with a smile on his face. “Geez, Custard. I love this scent as much as the next Apple Family farmer, but you really take it to a whole new level.” Applejack noted. “I grew used to the smell of the manure after the other Pokémon shoved me within it for a long time.” “Sounds like you were bullied there.” “He was. His species line is generally a prime bully target by other Pokémon for a plethora of reasons. His appreciation for the smell of manure is a… coping mechanism he developed after the other Pokémon in Opelucid City used to push him into imported Miltank manure.” Jasmine explained. “I felt terrible for him, but he still forgives the Pokémon that bullied him.” A light-hearted chuckle emerged from Applejack. She patted Custard on his back. “Turning the other cheek when you get struck, don’t ya? I respect your loving spirit, but you gotta learn a thing or two about inflicting tough love on others.” Custard’s eyes widened and a nervous frown appeared on his face. He shook his upper limbs. “Oh, I can never inflict tough love. I honestly hate the concept of being tough on others.” “Like how you were tough on that mechanical dragon chimera when we first came here? Or when you scared a member of the Van’Goth into submission?” Jasmine noted with her eyes slanted with a sly glint. “Those were a different case. They are unrepentant sinners that deserve to be locked within the confines of the Reverse World.” “Ummm… yeah. Moving onto a different topic, we’re at the farm now.” Applejack said with a nervous shift in tone. Custard and Jasmine looked towards their front, where a giant meadow sprawled before their eyes. Oxen littered their eyes farther than the eye can see. Applejack pointed her hoof towards the barn that could fit ten living complexes and a small house nearby it. Behind the aged glass peeped a white-coated earth pony mare with a brown mane tied into braids and green eyes. She smiled and waved, running out from the door and approaching the trio. “Applejack! I’m so glad you took my request!” The mare stated, embracing Applejack with her right front legs. Applejack smiled and wrapped her right front hooves around her. “It’s nice to see you too, White Apple.” Custard and Jasmine looked upon White Apple’s flank, where a cutie mark an apple at the intersection of two crossing milk bottles was present. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends, Applejack?” White Apple asked. Applejack released her hug and turned towards Jasmine and Custard. “I want you all to meet my fifth cousin twice removed from the Land Down Under, White Apple!” “That is a lot of distance in blood relation…” Jasmine noted. “And you still consider her your cousin?” “That’s right. We’re still Apples and no amount of distance in our blood can change that. You must be some of ‘em Pogeymanz Applejack was telling me about.” White Apple noted. “Pokémon, but it is close enough to pass.” Custard corrected. White Apple walked underneath Custard’s shade and stroked his neck with her right front hoof. Feeling the nice and warm strokes of White Apple’s hoof, Custard cooed and rubbed his head along her hoof. “You sure are friendly. I take it that you must be Custard?” “You are correct with that assumption.” “So that must make this quiet, yet sophisticated gal here Jasmine then?” White Apple asked. “Absolutely. You raise quite the farm here, White Apple. Have you ever thought about investing in some air fresheners?” Jasmine asked. Applejack’s teeth clenched and she scowled towards Jasmine’s direction. A burst of laughter erupted from White Apple’s mouth and she flipped her right front hoof. “That’s a wonderful joke, Jasmine. Now come inside and let me tell you and Custard all about my dairy farm!” Applejack, Jasmine and Custard sat around a dusty wooden table. Three white coasters were planted on the table in front of them. White Apple spun three glasses of milk from her tray, which twirled and landed onto the coasters. Jasmine’s eyes widened and her arms jumped up in surprise. Custard smiled and clapped his upper limbs together. “That was amazing! When did you learn how to do that?” Custard asked with a tone peppy with excitement. “You learn when you’re an heir to one of Equus’s largest dairy farms. Now let me regale you with a tale of this farm’s importance.” White Apple began explaining. “You see all ‘dem bulls and cows out there? They’re the only remaining ones in this world left. Milk is always in high demand, so these bovines are essential to the city for their milk supply.” “That seems a bit risky to leave all of the milk production of the world to one farm. What would happen if an epidemic struck all of your bovines and you are left without them?” Jasmine asked. “I see where you’re coming from, Jasmine. That is always a big concern for me. If all of these bovines were to suddenly die, then the effects would be disastrous to Neo Canterlot. But worry not; I treat each and every single one of these bovines as honorary Apple Family Apples. I’ll make sure that nothing bad happens to them!” Custard grasped the glass of milk in front of him and brought it to his lips. The liquid seeped into his mouth. He felt the refreshing chill and the starch sweetness lingered on his tongue. He let out a pleased sigh and lidded his eyes halfway. “This milk is delicious! I haven’t had such fine-quality milk ever since Lith had me try Moomoo Milk. What is your secret?” He asked. “An Apple never tells the secrets of her craft to outsiders. But, I can say that’s love you taste right now.” White Apple said with a sly smirk. “Enough idle conversation. I am interested in hearing what the details of our service to you are.” Jasmine requested. “Nothing much. I need some extra hooves with milking the cows today and cleaning their stalls. All of my other farm hands took the day off, so I’m a bit understaffed at the moment. But the four of us will be able to do all of this work in one day, no?” “When two Apples and Pokémon come together, everything can be achieved. Now let’s go do what we came here to do!” Applejack declared, rearing her front legs with an excited flurry of kicks. Custard and White Apple walked into a silver depot that contained numerous amounts of stalls. Many cows stood within these stalls, chewing at bales of vegetation and had tubes firmly grasping their udders. Custard eyed the milk flowing from the many tubes into a machine. “I’ve never seen what a modernized milking process looked like. I wonder if this is how they milk Miltanks back from my world.” “Yep. This fancy technology makes it easier to milk the cows, but some of my heifers don’t really like feeling the suction process on their udders. For them, I assign gentle-hearted workers to squeeze on the udders themselves.” White Apple explained. “That’s where you come in!” “Me?” Custard asked, pointing to himself. White Apple and Custard walked into the stall of a brown-coated cow whose udder was not connected to a milking mechanism. By her side was a wooden stool. “That’s right. Big Bertha might look like a tough and intimidating cow, but she’s actually soft and gentle.” White Apple explained. “She absolutely despises the milking machine that would be put on her, so she’s one of those cows that we manually milk.” She sat on the stool and reached her right front hooves onto Big Bertha’s udders. She began pulling on them, releasing shots of milk onto the bucket underneath. “So I have to pull on the udders like so?” Custard asked. “Exactly. I warmed her up for you, so you should be able to do well with her.” White Apple stood away from the stool and she held her left front hoof towards it. Custard sat on the stool and looked down upon his upper limbs. He reached them down towards Big Bertha’s udders and squeezed them. Big Bertha’s mouth and eyes widened from the slimy limbs that grasped her udders. Her muscles became stunned in surprise. “Uhh… she seems frozen. Did I do something wrong?” Custard asked with a hint of anxiety in his voice. White Apple examined Custard’s limbs that wrapped around Big Bertha’s udders and examined the coating of slime dripping from them. She cocked her head and lifted her right front hoof back. “Uhhhh… you might want to keep your goo there in check, Custard. You’re making Big Bertha feel uncomfortable.” She warned. “Do you have gloves I could use?” Custard asked with a nervous grin. Jasmine hovered into a stall, wearing a yellow gas mask, and black gloves and boots made of rubber. In her two upper limbs are a brush and a clear bottle filled with a green cleaning solution inside. She stared at the bales of hay that stunk of feces. “Filth… my one greatest enemy. Prepare to meet the cleaning power of Jasmine the Aromatisse!” She bellowed out. She lowered herself down to the ground and kicked away the hay. Underneath it were small bricks of brown fecal matter that can peel away the layers of the eye with its stench. She redoubled her will and grabbed a scoop near the entrance of the stall. She scooped up the feces and dropped them into a bucket. She sprayed the ground that they were on with the green liquid, where a floral scent emerged from the green bubbles building up in the sprayed area. She scrubbed the ground with the brush in her limb. The paint on the ground peeled away, revealing a shimmering silver underneath. She scrubbed the floor until the entire rectangle became spotless with silver. “Okay… now to dispose of these-“ Jasmine looked to the walls of the stall, which were red with a coat of dirt on it. Her right eye twitched. She peered into the pockets of her uniform, pulling out three yellow spheres with fuses on them. A Thunderbolt shot out of her body and danced upon the tips of the fuses, setting them on fire. She tossed them towards the back of the stall and ran out. “Fire in the hole!” The bombs exploded with scrubbing suds flying throughout the area. She smiled and floated towards the stall she was cleaning, where the dirt and some paint came off the walls. She whistled a dainty tune, scrubbing off the remainder of the soap. A pleasant aroma emanated from her body and covered the stall, bathing it in a floral and fruity scent. “And done. This is good work if I say so myself.” Jasmine said with a pleased tone. Applejack stomped her way towards the stall, covered in bubbles and staring at Jasmine with scowling eyes directed towards Jasmine. “Jasmine, perhaps you should prepare the feed for the oxen. Maybe that wouldn’t trigger your fancy cleaning disorder you have.” “Too much?” Custard squeezed on the udders with the tips of his upper limbs and feet adorned with rubber gloves. He held his tongue out and narrowed his eyes with each pull of the udders. Milk squeezed out of them, filling the silver bucket below. The black-coated cow in front of him looked to her right and cried out a happy sound. “I’m glad that you are happy, Heidi. It was a pleasure working with you as well.” Custard responded. White Apple walked towards the stall that Heidi and Custard are in and whistled with an energetic tone. “That’s a nice bucket of milk you got there. Heidi’s difficult around newbies because her udders require some TLC to get even a small amount of milk. You’re a natural at this!” She complimented. “Understanding a cow is like understanding another Pokémon I feel. Once the two of us were in sync, then the rest became easy.” Custard responded. “I’ll say. Every cow you’ve milked seems to be much happier! I bet that these buckets are filled with especially tasty milk.” White Apple picked up the handle of the bucket with her mouth and walked towards the mouth of the stall. She looked back towards Custard with eyes of sunshine and waved her right front hoof. “I’ll be right behind you, White Apple.” Custard said. Custard followed White Apple beyond a set of doors where a large machine with a funnel rested. White Apple poured the contents of the bucket into the machine, where a faint whir resonated from within. “Haven’t heard a sound like that since I was back home at Kijaro’s Rock. Ah those were the days.” Custard looked onto White Apple’s face and saw that her peppy smile broke into a small frown and her eyes fell. “You don’t look so well, White Apple. Is it too much if I asked?” White Apple let out a sigh and faced towards Custard’s direction. She forced a smile through her muscles. “Custard, be honest with me; how do you feel about milk?” “Milk?” Custard asked with his tone rising in surprise. “I suppose I didn’t give much thought to milk because of the fact that I don’t have much of a skeletal structure. But, I can see how important milk is and I love your philosophy on how we should treat our bovines as feeling members of our family for more than just getting the finest milk.” White Apple walked towards a corner and tossed herself down into it. She pat on the floor to her right. “Sit here, Custard. We have gotta talk over a bottle of fresh milk.” Custard walked towards the spot designated by White Apple’s hoof and planted himself into the floor. White Apple dragged her right front hoof towards a crate filled with glass bottles of milk. She grabbed the nearest bottle and brought it between her and Custard. She tore off the metal cover of the bottle with her bare hooves. “Ummm… thank you?” Custard said with eyes slanted in curiosity. He took the bottle and wrapped his mouth around the hole, drinking the cool and refreshing liquid. White Apple ripped off the cover of her bottle and brought it to her mouth. She closed her eyes and began chugging the liquid down. The mare pulled the half-empty bottle away from her and she sighed with her eyes half-lidded in euphoria. “Custard, do you have a girlfriend of your own?” She asked. “Yep. I have my snugglynosed Gnasher.” Custard asked. “Can you tell me what it feels like to be in a romantic love?” “It’s a wonderful feeling. Seeing the target of your loving affections makes your heart melt and makes you feel giddy with glee and happy. You would just want to do anything and everything with your loved one!” White Apple downed the rest of the milk in her bottle and tossed it into a blue bin with a disregarding motion of her hoof. “Do you ever see yourself having children of your own one day?” She asked. “I would love to do so with Gnasher, but we aren’t of the same breeding group. Our best chance at having children would be to adopt. Is there a reason why you are asking these questions, White Apple?” Custard responded with skepticism towards the end of his words. “There’s a tradition that we Apples of the Apple Family have; when we become of age, we’re supposed to look for a significant other ourselves so that we can continue the line of the Apple Family. But… that’s kind of impossible for me.” White Apple said. “Impossible? Why? You are a young mare who is beautiful and full of energy. Any stallion would want to be with you.” “…I’m unable to have children of my own.” Custard’s eyes widened at the statement and he frowned. “What do you mean by that?” “What I’m saying is that no stallions can plant any seeds in me that can germinate into apples for me to continue my branch of the family. It’s all dead tissue in there because of some condition that renders me unable to have a fertile field of my own. The rest of my immediate family all died shortly after the war began, leaving me to be the sole heir to the farm and the last of the Milk Apple subline.” White Apple stated with a depressed tone. “That is something to be depressed about.” Custard noted. “You don’t even know the half of it. When my time eventually comes to kick the bucket, I’ll have no successors to give my farm to. My work hands aren’t as serious about milk as I am, and the rest of the living Apples can’t be trusted to keep this a pure dairy farm. I’m afraid that my bovines will not be happy in the new hooves that will be forced upon them and Neo Canterlot’s milk production will suffer.” “But why tell me all this? I’m just a volunteer to do community service for my organization. I shouldn’t be the one to hear your personal information.” “Custard; I have a sharp eye for how others treat my bovines. You may not be able to see it, but you carry a true passion for milk that I have not seen since my ma. My cows sing praises of you even if you just met them and you even got that much milk out of Heidi on your first try!” White Apple stated. “So you want me to be your successor? But, I’m not even sure that I would be able to take your place when that time comes. I would probably end up being too old to milk a cow, and I won’t be able to even create new generations to continue the line.” Custard responded. “True… but you are the closest I know of anyone who shares a passion for milk like I do.” “Why don’t you try adoption? I’m sure that there are many children that will show promise as a dairy farmer.” Custard suggested. White Apple swiveled her head towards Custard’s direction and frowned. “I could, but then I’d be doing it for the wrong reasons. A child would feel that the only reason I adopted them would not be because I would love them, but because I am desperate for a successor. Desperation never makes a good parent since a child would feel like that they would have to try for my affections and love. The child would be even more miserable than when they lost their parents.” “I see where you are coming from there. I will need some time to decide, White Apple. Once I have sorted out everything with Gnasher, I’ll give you my response.” Lowering his head towards the ground, Custard responded. White Apple smirked and launched her right front hoof at a soft speed towards Custard’s left shoulder. “Take all the time you need, Custard. Just even acknowledging it makes me happier than a kangaroo that found herself a tasty fruit.” Jasmine and Applejack sat underneath the shade of a large tree. Large apples that were covered in a pink and yellow skin hung from the branches above. Jasmine looked at the fruits in above her and gazed at them with longing desire. “You want a white apple up there?” Applejack asked with a smirk. “I would love one very much.” Jasmine responded. Applejack stood up from her spot and bucked the tree with her hind legs. The branches of the tree shook and a lone white apple fell down into Jasmine’s lap. She looked at the fruit with widened eyes and grabbed it. “There you go.” “Thank you very much, Applejack. I’m very impressed by the accuracy of your bucking there.” “It’s nothing. Just a skill passed down from generation to generation in the Apple Family.” Applejack proclaimed with a proud tone. “Why does your fifth cousin twice removed even keep an apple tree here? I thought she was a strict dairy farmer.” “An Apple Family farm is allowed some leeway with what an Apple can produce. Besides, white apples remind my cousin of the good ol’ days back when half of the Forgotten Wastes used to be Zebrallia.” Applejack explained. Applejack laid her body back towards the shade of the tree and tilted her Stetson, blocking the sun away from her eyes. Jasmine took a bite out of the apple and tasted its sweet and exotic juices. Her eyes widened and she looked at the apple with a condescending glare. She tossed the apple towards Applejack’s direction. “Bah! Too sweet.” She complained. Applejack took the apple and bit into the uneaten flesh. She smiled and relished at the flavors dancing in her mouth. A pleased hum emanated from her voice. “She definitely has some good apples here. It’s a shame that she wouldn’t capitalize on it.” “Well, she is a dairy farmer. That’s a very important calling in life for her.” Jasmine pointed out. Applejack turned the apple to its side and glanced towards Jasmine. “You know, White Apple’s been having issues of late when it comes to who would succeed her. I would offer me or Applebloom to succeed, but we’d probably turn the dairy farm into an apple orchard filled with these trees.” “Why would she have troubles with succession? It should be as simple as just giving the farm to someone you trust, right?” Jasmine questioned. “Well that’s the thing; she don’t have anyone who she can trust her farm to. She can’t have foals of her own and there isn’t anyone who her bovines would feel one-hundred percent peachy around but her. It’s a very sad turn of events for a proud Apple such as her.” Applejack stated. Looking up into the azure sky, Jasmine’s eyes picked up on a group of specks in the air flying towards the dome above. With the distance closing between her and the specks, she was able to make out mechas flying towards the dome. Her eyes widened with anticipation. “Applejack! We have company!” She called out, pointing towards the sky. “What in tarnation?!” Applejack shouted. “We have to warn my cousin and H.O.R.S.E.!” “Thank you again for the milk, White Apple. I really do taste the happiness in your cows!” Walking down the corridor of the barn with White Apple, Custard exclaimed. “I’m glad you’re able to see life how I can see it, Custard. Even if you are just considering the offer, I’m a happy farmer since it gives me one less thing to worry about.” White Apple stated. Jasmine and Applejack sprinted around the corner where Custard and White Apple were. Their faces lit up with panic. “Applejack! Jasmine! You two look like you’re in a hurry.” White Apple said. “White Apple! You got to bring your bovines back into the barn! The Van’Goth are coming at this very farm!” Applejack warned. White Apple’s jaw dropped to the ground. Her hooves fumbled upon themselves. “I gotta hurry and bring’em all inside!” She shouted. Flying towards the edge of the barrier, a sinister smile appeared on Goethia’s face. The hand on her mecha retreated back inside and a drill replaced it. She punched the dome of the city with her drill, which spun to the point where fiery sparks can be seen from the edge of the city. The drill pierced through the barrier, creating a circle-shaped hole. “Excellent. This new technology works very well, Wilhelm.” She said. “It’s the latest in the technology developed through my research of the aliens that call themselves Pokémon. Have fun with the new additions on your mecha, because I had a lot of fun testing them out on lesser beings.” Wilhelm stated through a holographic image in front of Goethia. White Apple fanned her right front hoof into the main gate of the barn with her teeth clenched in anxiety. All of the bovines retreated back inside of the barn. Applejack, Custard and Jasmine gazed towards the sky, where Goethia’s mecha dropped onto the ground. “It seems that H.O.R.S.E. operatives are already here. I guess I can kill some time by killing you three.” Applejack looked into the hole at the dome, where a storm of smaller mechas flew in. Her heart sunk into her chest. Goethia laughed with the air of a sinister noblewoman around her. Her cackling clamored throughout the area. “This is bad…” Custard said. “Bad? This is literally one of the worst possible outcomes to happen!” Jasmine shouted. Goethia looked onto the trio with a sinister and condescending smile on her face. “All of you shall perish before my beautiful mechas!” Author's Note It must always turn into a crappy day when your farm gets stormed by mechas. Just think of the potential damages.
Battle for the FarmThe docking bay flashed with sharp red colors and a loud wail reverberated throughout all the walls. Spitfire approached Flash Sentry, Rarity, Mono and Lith, who all stood with their eyes locked with diligent courage. “Bad news; the Van’Goth have invaded the dairy farm at the far corner of the city. We have identified one Class S Warlord Unit along with several Class C Drone Units. One of the members of the Van’Goth is believed to be piloting the Class S Mecha.” Spitfire explained. “Goethia…” Lith hissed out, clenching her right paw with a heated shake of her limb. “If you gathered us four operatives who have an exo license, then you must want us to spearhead the battle inside of mechas right?” Flash Sentry asked. “Correct. But you four won’t be riding in any ordinary exos.” Spitfire said. Four exos whose armor gleamed with a purple shine rose up from the ground underneath. Two boosters were fixed into their backs. Looking onto their heads, the group eyed a flurry of sharp needles colored in yellow that jetted out of their heads. “These definitely don’t look like ordinary exos. Exactly what models are these?” Flash Sentry questioned. “After the team behind the Genome Research Project made a breakthrough with discovering the Rock-type, Ground-type and Psychic-type genes, they began to implement their research into more than just weapons. These exos are the fruits of that implementation.” Mono walked towards the center of the four exos and rubbed his chin. A small hum vibrated from him. “Is there a reason why I wasn’t notified of this research? I am a part of the team.” He asked. “It was Professor Pasque’s idea. Only he and Einstein were involved in the engineering process. Our mechanics just followed the blueprints they have devised for us. It’s weird how it all came together, but you should be able to use the moves that Pokémon can use with these.” Spitfire explained. “That sounds very useful, but is there a reason why you chose us four?” Rarity asked. “No particular reason. I just drew some straws from a random pool of licensed pilots within the organization. But, that shouldn’t be a problem right?” Spitfire said with a calm grin. “Not really. An exo is still an exo, no matter how unusual it looks.” Rarity responded. “I’ve never met an exo I couldn’t tame before. This shouldn’t be any different.” Flash Sentry said with a confident smirk on his face. “The professor can be amazing with his works sometimes.” Lith noted. Missiles fired across the meadow and exploded on the ground, tearing it apart. Custard and Jasmine stood back to back, firing lasers of Dragon Pulses and bursts of Dazzling Gleams towards the mechas swarming them. Their attacks collided with force fields around them, dissipating before they could touch them. Custard broke out in a cold sweat and his lips curved downwards in anxiety. “Why aren’t our attacks working? They worked the last time.” He said. “It must be those force fields around them… it’s absorbing our attacks like a sponge!” Jasmine noted. Goethia’s mecha held out its hand, where a virulent surge of lightning sparked through Custard and Jasmine. Custard gritted his mouth and stood against the flow of electricity through his body. Jasmine landed on the ground and whimpered, closing her eyes and turning her head away from the lightning. “Strange. I expected a better fight for the beings that have been such a thorn in our plans.” With her mecha descending onto the ground, Goethia said with a voice heavy in sarcasm. “What are you doing here? Why attack this farm?!” Custard shouted. “It may seem like a random attack. But, without the milk from this area, the Equusians of this world will suffer without a consistent source of Vitamin D, Calcium and something to live for. Am I correct with this assumption?” Goethia asked. “You want to destroy what remains after an entire food group?!” Jasmine shouted. “That is evil!” “And who is going to stop me? Clearly, you two are too weak to even press against my force fields.” “That’s where I come in!” Applejack shouted, jumping from the canopy of the tree behind Goethia. She threw herself onto Goethia’s force field, feeling the electrical current of it going through her body. Her teeth gritted under the stress of voltage flowing through her body. She plunged her front legs into the force field and felt them turning into jelly. Goethia’s skin paled upon seeing the hole pried through the force field surrounding her mecha. Applejack fell through the hole and kicked the head of Goethia’s mecha with her hind right leg. Her leg shook from the force reversed back into her. She fell off the mecha and landed upon the ground. “I must say, it takes a certain level of brashness to attempt something like that. I will have to talk to Wilhelm about how easy it is to tear through the forcefield.” Goethia noted to herself. Custard broke out of his electrical binds and stared at Goethia with fiery eyes. A blast of light fired from the chest of Goethia’s mecha and shot Custard. Custard’s upper arms absorbed most of the light, but the leftover energy dragged him along the ground and onto his back. “That felt like getting hit by a Fairy-type move…” He murmured out. “That is a special cannon designed after the pink one’s burst of light technique. It seemed to hurt Giacomo and the Brachyixes a lot, so I wondered if it would hurt you too. Turns out that I was not only right, but it seems to be a weakness weapon for you.” Goethia said. Her mecha approached the downed Custard and its right hand gripped itself around his neck. It lifted Custard into the air and tightened its grip around his neck. Custard shut his eyes and gritted his mouth. His body squirmed with erratic intervals. “Custard!” Jasmine shouted, reaching her right upper limb towards him with a weak stretch. “There isn’t much you can do now. Soon, your friend will be but a distant memory.” White Apple ran out of the barn and her jaw dropped at the sight of Custard squirming for his life. She swayed her head to the left and right. She focused her eyesight along the ground, where a small brown button appeared within her vision. She smiled and leaped towards it. Goethia’s ears picked up a weak static emerging from the field around her. She looked around her and saw blue nodes around the farm that generated blue electricity. The force field around all of the mechas appeared with cracks forming around them. Her heart palpitated from the sound of glass shattering around her. A sly grin appeared on Jasmine’s face. She unleashed a Thunderbolt on Goethia’s mecha, shocking it from the inside and out. Goethia brought her left hand to her face from the flashing lights and opened her right palm. The mecha dropped Custard onto the ground. White Apple ran towards Custard’s side and held up his head with her front legs. “Custard! Are you okay?!” White Apple called. Applejack and Jasmine rushed towards Custard’s side. Applejack eyed the compressions along Custard’s neck and his deep intakes of breath. “Rest easy, Custard. You nearly got choked to death!” She said. “Will… do.” Custard gaped out. “You rotten… milkmare!” Goethia shouted with her mecha staring towards White Apple with its right hand opening towards her. Applejack bucked the hand away. “Keep your filthy hands off my cousin, alien scum! You’re the one that decided to attack!” Applejack shouted. From the distance, Goethia’s eyes laid upon four exos running towards the field. One of the exos put its hands together and generated a burning aura. Splitting them apart, the hands unleashed flames of tongues that burned away the smaller mechas that headed towards them. Another one of the mechas had its right hand twirl around in its socket. Its hand formed into the mouth of a barrel. A blast of water emerged from it, striking down the mechas that burned from the heat of the flames. The third mecha surrounded itself with shards of stones and hurled them towards the damaged mechas. The stones pierced through their armor. Spurts of electricity shot out from their wounds. They fell onto the ground, releasing fiery gasses from their bodies. “Yeah! Now it’s time to go for the big one!” Flash Sentry shouted. His exo sprinted towards Goethia. The exo’s right hand curled into a fist and punched Goethia’s mecha across its face. Goethia’s mecha grabbed the right hand of Flash Sentry’s exo and lifted it upwards. Flash Sentry’s exo lifted its open left hand towards the chest of Goethia’s mecha. From the hole in the center, a swarm of robotic bees flew towards her. “Surprise Attack Orders!” Flash Sentry shouted is a toothy grin. Goethia’s mecha tossed Flash Sentry’s exo to the side and swatted away the bees around her. “How infuriating! I’ll make sure to destroy you first!” The right hand on Goethia’s mecha shifted into a drill and geared itself towards Flash Sentry’s mecha. It thrust itself onto its chest, piercing through the armor with its sparks. “Get away from him you ruffian!” Rarity shouted. Her exo punched Goethia away from Flash Sentry’s exo. The left hand of Goethia’s mecha grabbed the right arm of Rarity’s exo and tossed her overhead. A volley of missiles released themselves from the shoulders of Goethia’s mecha and aimed towards Rarity. Rarity’s exo crossed its arms in defense. “Not on my watch!” Mono shouted. Mono’s exo held out its right hand. Covering itself within a green energy, a green barrier emerged around Rarity’s exo. The missiles exploded upon the barrier without any harm to the exo covering it. “Now it’s time to settle the score!” Lith shouted, running towards Goethia with her exo’s right hand lit up with flames. The eyes of Goethia’s exo fired two lavender beams towards the direction of Lith’s exo. The exo sidestepped to its left and right. Goethia’s mecha ducked underneath the strike of the fiery fist, evading it. With light speed, she swept the legs of Lith’s exo and punched it forwards towards the barn. A large dent appeared on the building. “No! My barn!” White Apple shouted. “And where do you think you are going, young missy?” Goethia stated, grabbing White Apple by the skin at the back of her neck. “Let go of me!” Goethia’s mecha brought White Apple to its face. “Do you think I would let you go after you pulled off that trick against me? I’ll make sure you die a horrible death.” The right hand of Mono’s exo flashed with an indigo color. Goethia felt her mecha lifted into the air. White Apple squirmed out of the mecha’s weakened grasp and dropped towards the ground. She landed on her hooves and ran back towards the barn. Lith’s exo sprinted towards Goethia’s mecha and punched it within its chest. Goethia felt the flames tonguing into her chamber. A barrier formed around the mecha, quelling the flames around her. Her mecha then punched Lith’s exo in its chest. Lith gritted her teeth and tucked her head downwards from the blow. “I’m tired of playing games with you all. It’s time that I destroy all of you!” Her mecha’s fists lit up with a golden light. Rarity’s exo ran towards Goethia’s mecha, raring to throw a kick towards it. The kick deflected off of the barrier. “Physical attacks seem to have no effect on it.” Rarity noted. Jasmine looked towards the entrance of the barn and floated her way over towards the hill. “Please let it be here. Please let it be here.” She whispered to herself. Looking through the grass, she saw a button among the green field. She pressed it, sending another round of voltage through the farm. Goethia’s mecha and the H.O.R.S.E. exos collapsed under the strain of the electricity throughout the area. “Jasmine!” Lith shouted. “That EMP works against us as well!” “Sorry!” Jasmine stated. Custard got off from his back and stood up underneath the weight of his body. He rubbed his throat with a slow speed and breathed out a Flamethrower that engulfed Goethia’s mecha. “I’m not going to die like this!” She shouted. Goethia’s mecha flew into the air and above the dome. “Again she leaves our grasp.” Lith stammered out. “Don’t worry about it, Lith. Everything will be fine.” Mono said. “Besides, the threat of the attack is over.” “Yeah. I guess you are right. Still…” The chest of Lith’s exo opened up. Lith hopped out of the cockpit and sprinted towards Custard’s side. “Are you alright Custard?” “Yeah. I’m fine, but my throat still feels a bit sore.” Custard said, rubbing his throat. “Just give yourself a bit of R n’ R, Custard. It should heal up pretty soon.” Applejack stated, patting his back. “I’m curious as to why your cousin has an EMP field in her field.” Mono questioned. “I always thought something like this would happen, so I forked over some extra cash to set up a defense system for my farm. It was worth it.” White Apple announced. Custard sat on a firm bench. To his right, Gnasher huffed and sprayed a blue liquid onto Custard’s neck. She shook her head. “You idiot. Don’t try to be a hero when you know you couldn’t do much. I don’t want to hear that you died just because you were acting without thinking.” She chastised. “Sorry, Gnasher. I won’t let it happen again next time.” Custard responded with a sullen voice. “I suppose it’s not your fault.” Sighing, Gnasher said. She sat down by Custard’s side and patted his back. “Many things must have went on in your mind for you to do something like that.” “Several. Mainly, I sort of feel that the farm is now a responsibility I should have. Not only is it a part of the city, but I feel like it will be an important part of my life.” “Wait, what? What are you exactly saying? You just got there today!” “Well… the owner of the farm was having some difficulty with succession. She said that I have the ability to become the next successor to the farm.” Custard explained. “You didn’t say yes, did you?” “I told her I would think about it and talk it over with you. I know that you aren’t exactly the type who would want to work on the farm, but I developed a feeling of mutuality with the cows there. They need a good and stable line of ownership, and we need the milk they produce. I see how milk is important, even if I don’t really drink it much myself.” Gnasher looked down to the ground with a silent gaze. She shifted her sight towards Custard and smiled. “A farm is a good place to work up on my butchering skills. I could use some of that area for a place to gather edible game meat. Plus, I bet some of those bulls will need to be monitored over during mating season. I hear that they get aggressive during that time.” “And I get to care for the bovines when they get sick as well!” Custard stated with a gleeful tone. “Alright, I think I have my decision now.” White Apple and Jasmine set their eyes upon the repairs of the dent in the barn. Professor Pasque and Fei lifted a thick sheet of steel and placed it over a gap to the side of the gate. White Apple gazed towards Jasmine and bumped her shoulder into her shoulder. “You have my deepest thanks for protecting my precious bovines, Jasmine. I was afraid of what would happen if I couldn’t produce no more milk on this farm. Neo Canterlot would have been dealt a big hit there.” She said. “It isn’t nothing much. The exos from H.O.R.S.E. and your EMP did all of the work.” Jasmine stated. “Aww don’t be like that. If I was here by myself, I wouldn’t have triggered the EMP and my bovines would’ve been kidnapped or something worse. Aliens, can’t really predict what they’ll do next with cows.” “That attack sounded horribly clichéd now that I think about it. What would aliens do with all that milk anyways?” White Apple shrugged her shoulders. “Dunno. But, thank you again for having some of your Pogeymanz friends help repair my barn at this hour.” Jasmine groaned and smacked her forehead. “It’s Pokémon! Must it be so hard for you to pronounce it?!” She shouted. A burst of laughter emerged from White Apple. “I’m just joshing with you, Jasmine.” “Right. Well, Applejack said something nice about that apple tree you have growing there. She said that your fruits are quite sweet. Maybe a bit too sweet for me, but she says that you will be able to make a profit off of them.” She said. “She keeps telling me that she would want to obtain the rights to sell my apples. But, she has her own apples to grow. These apples are too special to me to just sell like other apples. They’re mementos from my deceased kin.” White Apple stated. Custard and Gnasher approached Jasmine and White Apple with smiles on their faces. “White Apple! I’ve made my decision.” White Apple smiled and walked over towards Custard. “What’s your answer?” “After Gnasher and I talked about the situation, I accept your offer. But, I can only do it after the alien menace is over.” Custard responded. “That’s understandable, but you have no idea how happy you made me.” White Apple stated. “Just for the record, you don’t mind having a butcher’s station on your property right?” Gnasher asked. “As long as you don’t touch any of the bovines with that cleaver, I’m fine with all of the butchering you do. Just don’t scare the bovines with that though.” White Apple responded. Fei and Professor Pasque walked up the hill where the trio stood at and smiled. “That was exhausting work! But, I’m glad we were able to fix it.” Fei stated. “It was a bit hot out today. So Miss White Apple, I see that you enjoyed those exo designed I have engineered to protect your farm.” Professor Pasque said. “Sure do. They were unique, for the lack of a better term.” “The sun is beginning to set in the horizon. Should we spend our last few moments together watching it?” Custard requested. The group of five gazed at the golden horizon, seeing the sun dip below the land. The world around them dimmed into a purple night. Author's Note Part 2 of the dairy farm arc. Hope you all enjoy.
Sweet DreamsSpitfire wielded her photon sword in hoof and faced off against Mono and Lith, who both wielded photon swords around their paws. Mono took the first step and dashed towards Spitfire. Spitfire smirked and clashed her blade against his, parrying the blow and knocking him away. Lith sidestepped towards Spitfire’s side and leaped towards her with her blade aimed towards her center. Spitfire hopped into the air towards Lith and grabbed her with her front hooves. Lith’s eyes jolted open. She felt her body lifting with the effortlessness of a rag doll. Spitfire threw her down to the ground and hovered in the air. “You two need to be even less predictable with your movements. I’m reading you like a Sunday comic strip!” She called out. “I didn’t expect you to grab me like that though. It’s kind of weird.” Lith said, raising herself up from the ground. “Rule one of swordsmanship; a sword is merely just an extension of your body that happens to have a dangerous blade. Your body is the weapon, so you have to use your body to its full extent.” “Is that what you were doing? I felt a pulse of energy emanate from your body, Commander.” Mono stated. Spitfire’s sword deactivated. She smiled and offered her right front hoof to Mono. Mono grasped it and lifted himself up. “You two have definitely been training through the way of the sword though. Ever since I began tutoring you with fencing and swordsmanship two weeks back, your skill has improved. Still, you two need to work on concealing your intents. If you don’t, I guarantee that you will lose against foes with even the most basic of reading skills.” “Thank you for the encouraging words, Commander. We will work on that weakness next time.” Lith said. “Our time together is over that quick?” Spitfire asked. “I guess time flies when you’re having fun.” Mono looked through a window into the night sky and eyed a crescent moon behind the dark clouds. “We really have been training all day, haven’t we? I have to go to bed.” “Me too.” With a loud yawn escaping her gaping mouth, Lith said. “Alright. Then… Thursday would be a good day for training?” Spitfire questioned. “Thursday sounds great.” Mono responded. Lith enshrouded herself within her blanket and looked towards the dark ceiling. She turned her direction towards Mono, where the left half of his body is swallowed underneath his sheets. She popped her upper paws out of the blanket and brought them under her head. “You don’t normally sleep like that unless if you are nervous about something, Mono. Mind sharing what’s on your mind?” “Nothing much. I’m glad that Spitfire is teaching us the way of the sword and even takes us out to eat, but I see why she is doing so. Did you think she ever wanted to mother children of her own?” Bending his right leg and having a sigh pass through his open mouth, Mono responded. “Isn’t she around forty-two years old? It doesn’t surprise me much, considering that she told us how she was always involved in the military even during times of peace. Even if she could have fun, it seems like she was always stressed with her obligations to war.” “It’s nice that she’s acting more of like a parental figure to us, but no one is able to replace mom and dad.” The smile on Lith’s face curled into a frown. Her eyes became half-lidded and a silent air passed through her nostrils. “No matter what parental figures come into our lives, they can never take the place of mom and dad. I still sometimes blame myself for what happened to them, even if I know it wasn’t my fault. I sometimes think back to that day, thinking whether pushing dad to pick up mom from work for their anniversary party I planned was the best thing to do.” “I think I might’ve forgotten what mom’s face looked like.” Mono uttered out with quiet words. His eyes sparkled with regret and tears welled up within his eyes. “I must be a horrible son if I forgot that.” “Please don’t beat yourself over it, Mono. You haven’t done anything wrong. It is easy to forget about anyone’s faces after a large amount of time had passed. Coupled with the fact that we’ve had… many startling changes happen to us over a short amount of time, there is no reason for you to feel bad.” Lith comforted. “Yeah… I guess. Good night, Lith.” “Good night, Mono.” A cool haze wrapped around Mono and Lith’s heads. The twins opened their eyes, seeing an azure blue space around them. Luna stood at the center of their vision. Her eyes peered into their souls with an eager smile on her face. “I was hoping to see when you two would start to dream tonight.” She said. “Council Lady Luna? What’s going on? Are we still asleep?” Mono asked. “I did say ‘start to dream tonight’. So yes, you two are asleep.” “I’m sure that I might have seen you in my dreams from time to time, but I’ve never seen you approach the two of us like this.” Lith noted. “Out of all the Pokémon that have appeared in this city, you two are the most intriguing.” Luna opened her wings and flew to Lith’s right. She extended her neck towards Mono’s direction at the left of Lith. “You two have shed several masks from your heart ever since you first came into the city, but I sense that you have several more masks underneath. Do you love those that are around you, or are you still defensive around them?” Lith bore her teeth and waved her right upper paw in a slapping motion towards Luna’s direction. “K-knock it off! I don’t need you to read my heart!” Luna disappeared into a veil of smoke and reappeared towards Mono’s left side. “Do you feel like you are betraying the memories of your parents by living on with your life, or are your intents much deeper? I am interested in hearing what your subconscious reveals.” “Council Lady Luna, why are you even interested in us? It is very invasive of our privacy.” Mono asked. “My dominion extends into the realm of dreams. I’ve been detecting an intruder entering into both of your dreams, so I need to figure out why it is. For that, I will need to see what your subconscious thoughts are hiding.” Luna responded. A brilliant light flashed from the tip of Luna’s horn. The azure space around them flashed into a pure white. The bright light faded away. Mono and Lith stood upon a blue carpet. Rays of light emerged through windows curtained with lilac drapes. A large table fashioned out of glass and oak stood at the center of the room. The two looked around them and a wave of nostalgia hit the nerves in their limbs. “This place feels… familiar for some reason.” Lith said. She set her eyes on Mono, whose head shifted around with aimless direction. His mouth was agape in confusion. “Is this place what I think it is? Was this… our parents’ home?” Tails of wisps converged before their eyes, forming into humanoid shapes. A male body wrapped itself within brown skin. A bed of black hair formed on his head. His eyes lit up with brown irises. A cream-colored button shirt, brown khakis and black shoes adorned themselves upon the man. To his left, a female body became enshrouded with fair-colored skin. Her brunette hair extended down from her scalp. Her green irises lit up with life. She was adorned in a black dress with a puffy skirt and a black top hat. In her gloved white hand is a black cane. “It can’t be... Is that mom and dad?” Mono asked with a voice breaking in disbelief. “It is what I was able to sculpt based off of your most recent memories of them.” With her body phasing back into existence, Luna stated. Lith walked towards her mother’s face and waved her right upper paw. “How come they aren’t moving?” “They are not endowed with the proper artificial intelligence yet. Once they are, they will react naturally to how you two have progressed based on what I have constructed of their personalities.” Luna vanished from the room. A midnight blue shockwave engulfed the area, sharpening the colors within it. The twins’ parents blinked once and looked upon them. “…Mom? …Dad? Is that you?” Mono asked with a wary voice filled with hope. “Ummm… Samantha, are you aware that there are two Meowstics talking to us?” The man asked. “I am aware Emilio.” The woman, Samantha, responded. She brought her hands around the base of Lith’s upper paws and picked her up. She then embraced her. “You certainly have changed a lot since I last saw you, Lith.” She said with a smile. Hearing these words, Lith’s eyes watered. She closed them and wrapped her arms around Samantha’s neck, crying a river of tears with muffed sobs. Emilio focus his sight towards Mono. Mono extended his upper paws towards him. His lips wrinkled and his eyes were on the verge of bursting with tears. Emilio kneeled down to Mono’s eye level and wrapped his arms around him. Patting him on the back, he heard Mono’s tears muffled on his shoulder. “There, there. Everything is going to be alright, Mono. I’m here for you.” He whispered. “D…dad… I missed you and mom so much.” Mono cried out. “I’m not exactly sure how you two turned into Pokémon, but I am glad to see that you two are alright.” Samantha stated. Lith lifted her face off of Samantha. With her eyes reddened with tears, she let go of Samantha and dropped to the ground. She walked to Emilio and hugged his left leg. Emilio smiled and released his grip on Mono. He then ruffled the patch of fur on Lith’s head with an affectionate motion. “Dad, I need to know something; do you hate me for being indirectly responsible for you and mom’s death?” Lith asked. “What makes you think I hate you? I would never hate my two children, especially not over something as trivial as causing us to die.” Emilio responded with a good-natured voice. “On that day, chances are that your mother and I still would have been involved in that accident. It was just simply our time to leave.” “Please! Don’t say that dad! Just scream at me! Scold me and hit me for doing something horribly wrong! I was being a selfish little girl!” Lith screamed out with a frown on her face. Emilio turned his body towards Lith and placed his hands onto her shoulders. Lith looked into her father’s eyes. She saw a gaze that was not filled with bitterness nor anger, but a gentle and warm flame that resonated from his soul. “You were just rash. I can’t punish my daughter for expressing her personality and wanting to surprise her parents with a surprise anniversary party now would I? I’m sure that you behaved very well after all that time we were separated from each other.” “Daddy…” Lith dug her face into the lower left leg of Emilio’s khakis. Emilio wrapped his arms around Lith and rocked her with a gentle speed. “Come here, Mono. Come to your mother. You must be very exhausted.” Opening her arms wide and kneeling down the ground, Samantha stated. Mono sidestepped his way towards Samantha with an uneasy frown on his face. He shook his head. “I’m sorry that I kept you and dad to the brink of exhaustion when dealing with me mom. I’m so sorry! If I had never seen that murder, then you and dad would…” His words drowned under his stifled sobs. Seeing his face stressing to fight back his tears, Samantha reached her arms towards Mono and pulled in him for an embrace. “It didn’t matter if I put all of my active time into making sure you were growing up to be a healthy young boy in body and mind, Mono. I would gladly have given even my sleeping hours just to make sure you were okay. I’ve been in the Performing Arts business for too long to see that this was bothering you for a very long time.” “It was mom… it was…” Mono stifled out. Samantha backed her head away from Mono and looked onto his face. She wiped away a stray tear on his cheek with her right index finger. “You don’t need to try to act tough, Mono. You are too sweet to try to be like that in front of me. I want you to show me how you really feel right now.” “Alright… mommy.” Mono uttered out. Samantha placed her right hand behind Mono’s head and nudged him towards her body. She rocked him with a gentle motion and hummed a soft melody. Mono rested onto Samantha’s shoulder and his eyes calmed down to a half-lidded state. “You two have definitely changed a lot since we last saw you! You two are so big now. Your mother and I would love to know what happened.” With his mouth formed into an upbeat smile, Emilio requested. “It’s a very long story, but we will try to explain.” Lith responded with a cheerful disposition. The family sat on the couch together; Emilio and Samantha sat at the middle of the sofa. Mono is wrapped around Samantha’s left arm and Lith is wrapped around Emilio’s right arm. “So my son and daughter are kicking alien butt to free several races of aliens from war? That’s quite an impressive feat!” Emilio complimented, rocking Lith’s body to her left and right. “But that’s nothing, Emilio. Our children finally have romantic others that they can share their lives with!” Samantha noted. “Well… yeah!” Mono stated with a nervous fit of laughter. “But, you don’t really have anything against me going out with someone who was originally a Pokémon, right mom?” “Why would I? You are free to love who you love and nothing in the world can change that. Besides, it’ll be much easier loving a Pokémon now that you are a Pokémon yourself. It makes having a fulfilling sexual life with her much more manageable.” Saying these words, Samantha blinked her right eye and smirked. “You got to tell me all about this ‘Fei’ fellow that has grabbed your heart the way it did, Lith. I want to know if he will be man enough to keep up with a lady such as you.” Emilio stated. A small grin formed on Lith’s face. She punched Emilio’s shoulder with her upper right paw. “You wouldn’t think I’d go for someone who wouldn’t push daisies? At least have more confidence with me in choosing a boyfriend, dad.” Lith said with a collected tone. “Well, I did raise you. You should know well-enough. Plus, like your mother said, I don’t have a problem with who you have feelings for. If you feel for girls the same way that you do about boys, then I don’t have strong feelings one way or the other. All I care about is whether you are happy with your decision or not.” Emilio assured. “Also, I’ll have to thank this Professor Pasque for doing a good job with raising the both of you into such productive members of society. If only this was more than just a dream.” Samantha said. “It is just a dream, but I want this dream to last as long as possible. I wish every night was a dream where Lith and I can just talk with you two.” Luna stood within the room of Mono and Lith. She gazed at the puffy cloud between the twins, looking at the smiling family chatting inside of it. Her chest radiated in warmth and her stone faced façade melted away and revealed a smile. She looked towards Mono and Lith’s bodies, where the two snuggled into their blankets with smiles on their faces. “Their dreams reveal the truth they held back. These children truly did miss their parents, did they not? With these sweet dreams they will have, I’m sure that they will have no more subconscious intrusions. But… why would anyone intrude on the dreams of these two? Surely these are two average aliens, correct?” Luna shook away the questions setting roots into her head. She popped her head out of the window and into the sky, where the moon hung high above the stars. “The night is still young and there are many more dreams to be in. I, Council Lady Luna, will make sure that the faces of everyone tonight will show a grin.” Author's Note Lo and behold; the shortest possible chapter I will be writing for this fic! In all honesty, I needed to write a filler chapter before a major collaboration effort will begin. I hope you will all look forward to that. But, in the mean time, I wish that you all have pleasant dreams that will melt away the pain you have.
Dimensional Intrusions pt. 1Author's Note This will be a special arc involving a collaboration between the Stag Prince and I. The characters that appeared here are all from the fellow Newverse fic Building a Better World, which I suggest reading. Other than that, I hope you enjoy this weird turn. Dimensional Intrusions pt. 1 Jasmine stroked along the front patches of fur on her lower body with a pink brush. Each stroke let out a scent of fresh linen from her body, covering the Pokémon’s room at H.O.R.S.E. headquarters with its pleasant scent. She closed her eyes and smiled. “I’ve never had the time to brush my matted fur like this before. Strange that I’ve started doing it now.” She said to herself. Rondo, who roosted on a perch at the left of the room, moved his beak towards the direction of the scent. He raised his right wing and smiled. “I see your fur is being brushed again. What’s the occasion?” “No occasion, Rondo. I’ve realized just how mangled my fur is. I can’t have it looking like that all the time, could I?” Jasmine retorted. “It has been a very easy day so far. Jasmine's brushing her fur and I’m just taking this sweet time to hone my artistic vision. I don’t really expect much to happen today.” Wielding a brush in his hand and painting an image of a steel barn, Stereo stated. Fluttershy passed through the open doors of the room. In her mouth, she carried two small bags filled with shaved herbs and vegetation. She dropped them to the ground. “Jasmine, Rondo, Stereo, did either of you happen to see where Mono and Lith went?” She asked. “I think they are with Commander Spitfire doing one of their ‘Swordsmanship Training Courses’. Do you need them?” Jasmine asked. “Well, I found these bags of catnip inside of a fallout shelter and since the domestic household cat went extinct, I was hoping that I could give these to them.” Fluttershy explained. “That’s kind of degrading for a gift. I know what that stuff does! It makes felines all loopy and high!” Rondo squawked out. Fluttershy frowned and craned her neck away. She rubbed her right front leg with her left front hoof. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to sound insulting about it. I just remembered that this existed and I thought Mono and Lith would enjoy this gift since they are felines.” “At least your heart was in the right place, Fluttershy. But, it would probably be best for you to dispose of those drugs.” Jasmine suggested. Twilight Sparkle sprinted into the room, breathing with rapid increments and holding herself against the wall. “Twilight! Why do you look like you ran twenty miles?” Fluttershy asked with a curious tone. “That’s because I did just run twenty miles. Professor Gentian and I, we were researching the time-space theory when our machinery detected an abnormal number of dimensional anomalies within the city.” Twilight Sparkle panted out. “In the city? That seems rather unusual. Would you know what the cause would be?” Jasmine asked. “I’m not sure…” Spitfire, Mono, and Lith walked into the room with calm smiles worn. “I heard you called for us.” Spitfire asked. “So is it true that our city is the home to some dimensional breaks not caused by us?” “You heard right. But… where are the others?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “Custard is assisting Hydrangea with some floral research, Gnasher’s out with Razor Wind hunting for wildlife as always, Professor Pasque and Einstein are too busy to come and Rundas and Boreas got assigned to patrolling the landscape.” Lith responded. “Fei and Sophia are out shopping for food and Professor Gentian and Tesla were with you, so I really can’t say much there.” Mono added. Spitfire’s watched let out a series of sharp beeps. She raised it to her face and touched it. The hologram of a changeling’s head trembled. His eyes were wide and his mouth quivered in fear. “C-c-commander! The museum’s being attacked by two strange creatures!” The changeling shouted. “The museum? What do you mean by strange creatures? Are they a part of the Van’Goth?” Spitfire asked. “They don’t really look like it. One looks like some sort of cow and the other one is a bipedal creature that looks like he is straight out of a movie back during the time when video tapes were still being circulated.” “Well isn’t that an unusual description. We’ll be on our way to the museum.” “Hurry! The bipedal thing is drawing mustaches all over the portraits!” The hologram of the changeling’s head vanished back into the watch. Spitfire shook her head and turned towards Twilight Sparkle’s direction. “Dune Bug reportedly saw some strange creatures. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that those strange anomalies and the creatures arriving are related. We have to investigate it.” “And I agree. Maybe we’ll be able to find the cause of those anomalies.” Twilight Sparkle said. Stereo sighed and dropped his brush. “Well, so much for my statement there.” A pale pasty white man with brown hair that was swept back in an Elvis style stood in front of a painting of a lilac-coated pony with a black marker in his right hand. He had left his tropical shirt unbuttoned, revealing a white t-shirt underneath it. His green pants are designed with canary yellow pinstripes and his feet were adorned in shiny black dress shoes. By his side is a peach-coated cow with a black hood-like marking around her face that started around her stubby horns on top and extended down to her neck. Four udders existed on her cream-colored belly and she had four black cloven hooves on her. Her slender tail ended with a black ball. She slanted her blue eyes with an unamused frown on her face. “Are you sure you should be drawing moustaches and monocles on these paintings and statues, Joker?” The man, Joker, turned towards the cow and shrugged her shoulders. “There’s nothing much else better to do, Monarca. We’re stuck on a different planet, so why not mess around with alien art?” “Whatever you say…” Sighing with a frown on her face, Monarca responded. “Just don’t be surprised if they send some sort of regiment after you for assaulting a museum.” “I’m expecting that to happen. Otherwise, how else would we be able to progress with the chapter? I got the manuscript right here and it says I need to draw on these faces and then a group of armed beings will march in here and ask me to stop.” Joker said, cuffing his mouth with his left hand and snickering. Monarca shook her head in disapproval. Hearing a set of doors opening behind her, she turned around and saw Spitfire, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, Mono, Lith, Rondo, Jasmine and Stereo all in solid stancing. “Freeze!” Spitfire shouted. “Right on cue!” Joke stated, turning himself around and lifting his hands in the air. Mono, who held the gauntlet in his left arm, faltered in his stance and gazed upon the creatures before him. “Something’s not right here… Am I seeing a human and a Miltank here of all places?” “Is there a reason that bothers you so much, Mono?” With her horn cocked towards the perpetrators, Twilight Sparkle asked. “Kind of. The humans that were transported here turned into Pokémon, so there shouldn’t be any humans on this world. In addition, we didn’t have any Miltanks back in the lab, and this particular one seems to be acquainted with this human.” Mono explained. The rest of the group dropped their stances and gazed towards Mono with cocked heads. Mono raised his paws into the air and approached Joker and Monarca. Joker chuckled and pointed towards Mono. “Hehe, you can talk like I can.” He noted. “I’m using a special device developed in this world that allows me to speak in a language that others can understand.” “Wait, they gave a Pokémon like you a device like that? So that must mean you aren’t originally a part of this world as well.” Monarca noted. “That’s right. My name is Mono and you two are…?” Mono introduced, whirling his right upper paw in a circle. “I’m Monarca, and this psychotic maniac you see here is my companion Joker.” Monarca responded. “Don’t say it like that! At least add the parts about me being a mentally unstable psychotic maniac that drove several psychologists and psychiatrists into insanity.” Joker chided. “How is he even understanding you like you were speaking English?!” Mono shouted in disbelief. “Trust me, you don’t want to know… It’ll drive you crazy as well.” Monarca uttered out. “So he actually did drive his doctors to the point of insanity?” “Whether you want to believe it or not is up to you.” Mono looked towards Joker, who drew a black moustache on an image of Celestia’s face. Mono nodded his head with a gnarled frown on his face. “I believe you.” Spitfire stomped her way towards Mono’s side and glared at Joker and Monarca. “So what did you learn, Mono?” Spitfire asked. “It is basic introduction. All I know is that Joker is insane. Don’t try to understand his ways because you will never be able to understand them.” Mono responded. “So it’s Pinkie Pie Logic all over again it seems?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “It seems that way, but this guy seems… scarier on that level.” Spitfire walked towards Joker’s face and stood her ground. “Regardless, you caused trouble here. As the commander of H.O.R.S.E., I will detain you for questioning.” Joker held out his hands and placed handcuffs onto them. “Let’s give the audience what they want to see then.” Spitfire scratched the back of her head and cocked it. “…Audience?” Spitfire sat alone with Joker and Monarca within a room with a coned light. Around Monarca’s neck is a translation bracelet. Spitfire gazed at the cuffs around Joker’s wrists. “You know you can take those off now, right? I trust that you wouldn’t do anything.” “You mean like this?” Joker responded. Spitfire’s eyes dilated at the sight of the handcuffs that vanished a second after she looked upwards. “How’d you do that?” “How’d you like to get on with this line of questioning? Honestly, insignificant questions like that will only make the readers feel like they aren’t getting their time’s worth of content.” Joker said. Spitfire growled and pounded her right front hoof on the table. She let out a heated sigh and directed her attention to Monarca. “Just talking to this guy infuriates me. Looks like I’ll just have to get any answers from you.” “I understand, and I will try to answer all of your questions with the most satisfactory answers I have.” Monarca responded. “First question; are you aware of the city you are in?” Spitfire asked. “All I know is that this city’s name is known as ‘Neo Canterlot’, which I got from reading the holographic sign on the museum. Joker and I went inside there after our group split up in the city to look for answers.” Monarca explained. “Your group? Tell me a bit more about the group you are in.” “Joker here is the leader of a mercenary group known as the Royal Flush Gang. Give us a contract that pays well and we’ll do any dirty job you have.” “That doesn’t sound like the most savory job description in the world.” Spitfire noted. Monarca shrugged her shoulders. “It puts food on the table. Anyways, Joker’s the only human of the group. Everyone else is a Pokémon.” She stated. “So tell me, are you in any way affiliated with Opelucid Labs?” “We share no affiliation with any labs at all.” “So that means you aren’t from the same group of Pokémon that were transported here several months back. So when did you exactly get here? Spitfire questioned. “A few hours back when some black hole brought us out of our world and into here.” Monarca responded. “Tell me more about this incident that brought you here.” Spitfire requested. “I remembered that our group clashed swords against a rival mercenary group that is known as Checkmate. My group was hired to kill a human known as Gene and the other group was hired to prevent that from happening.” Spitfire’s nerves tensed upon hearing Monarca’s words. “Was this ‘Gene’ a troublemaker?” “I can’t say for sure. We never care about the reasoning behind our mission. We just only care if we get paid enough money to make a living.” Monarca said. “I can’t say that your faction is setting a good impression on me for taking morally ambiguous hits. Back to the scenario, Royal Flush and Checkmate were fighting and then…?” Whisking her hoof towards her direction, Spitfire demanded. “Joker here thought it was a good idea to pull a gun into a Pokémon battle and shot an orange filly!” Monarca said with a voice that brimmed with dull anger. “Scootaloo should not have pushed Doc out of the way! I did the one thing I should never do and that was hurt a child! Just take me away already!” With these words escaping from his mouth, Joker slammed his face onto the table and wailed with an exaggerated cry. “Wait, wait, wait and wait! You said an orange pegasus filly named ‘Scootaloo’ correct?” Spitfire stated with a loud tone. “Is there anything worth noting about that subject?” Monarca asked with utter confusion in her voice. “There’s an orange pegasus filly that lives in Neo Canterlot and occasionally visits this place. Her name is Scootaloo. Rings a bell?” Spitfire responded, conking her head with her right front hoof. “So there’s a Scootaloo here as well? Wow, things got a lot more confusing when you add that in.” Monarca noted. “That’s not important now. I want to know what happened after this joker here shot Scootaloo.” “Scootaloo had imprinted herself onto the Gene’s Pokémon and mate Belle. Since she is a Gardevoir and Scootaloo is practically her adopted daughter, she got a bit mad. Let’s just say that hurting someone a Gardevoir loves would make the top ten list of dumbest things that a suicidal idiot would do. We got caught in her explosion. Next thing you know, we find ourselves awake in this world.” Spitfire stood up from her seat and looked into Monarca and Joker’s eyes. “I’ll have to talk to someone who is an expert on time and space matters outside. In the meantime, try to make yourselves comfortable in here until I get back.” She walked through the front door, leaving Monarca and Joker alone in the room. Professor Gentian looked through the transparent glass in the interrogation room. He heard the door lift open and looked to his right, where Spitfire walked into the room. “Did you get all that Professor?” Spitfire asked. “I’m glad that you picked up on that tidbit of information on Scootaloo, Commander. With that information, I am one hundred percent certain that these Pokémon are not from the same dimension as Keldeo’s or ours.” Professor Gentian stated with a proud smile on his face. “Wha-wha-whaaaaat?! This asshat of a Joker came from an entirely different dimension than yours?!” Spitfire shouted with fiery confusion. “We don’t have any Equusians back in the universe I originally hailed from, but it sounds like there are Equusians in his universe. He’s a human and there are Pokémon with him, so that is solid evidence that proves his existence in an alternate version of my universe. Based off of what I heard, the poor saps must have fallen into some dimensional break caused by an absurd ripple of power.” “That’s an interesting tidbit of knowledge. Should I break the news to them?” “That wouldn’t be a bad idea. I’m not sure how the human there would react, however. He seems a bit… special.” Professor Gentian advised. Spitfire walked out of the room and entered back into the interrogation room. She sat on her seat and arched her front hooves together. Monarca looked towards Spitfire with her eyes wide in worry. “So what is our current situation, Spitfire?” She asked. “I can confirm that your group of Pokémon is from an entirely different dimension from the first group of Pokémon that came into this world. It seems that you fell into some dimensional break and ended up in our city by chance.” Spitfire explained. Joker lifted his hand in the air and waved circles with his index finger. “Yadie-yadie ya! I already know that. Can’t you tell us something we don’t know?!” He asked. “Tell us about that race of aliens that is driving you all to the point of extinction and ask us about how we can help.” “H-how do you even know that information?!” Spitfire shouted with her voice vibrating with shock. “Duh! How else could I understand Monarca’s italicized words and tell the readers what is going on? I’ve read throughout the story of everything going on here while you were talking with that Shiftry behind the glass there. Seriously? ‘A New Dimension, A New Threat’? Couldn’t the author have at least picked a better name, like ‘The New Invaders Among Us’ or something? But nope! It has to follow the pattern of the Newverse fics.” Monarca growled and slapped Joker across his face. Joker placed his right hand on his reddened right cheek. He opened his mouth wide and slanted his eyes, uttering a silent howl. “I’ve had enough of you reading into some imaginary wall you can see, Joker! Can’t you see that you will only confuse this lady even more?!” She shouted. Joker let out a silent nod and slumped down into his seat. He crossed his arms and pouted. “Ummm, what was that about?” Spitfire asked. “It’s just a part of his mental disorder. He keeps on spouting stuff like ‘we are fictional characters in a fictional setting where we are being read by a handful of readers’. I don’t believe it one bit and it’s starting to become irritating to me.” Monarca explained. “We have a similar case with Pinkie Pie here, but your case seems to be on a different level. Regardless, where are the other members of your mercenary team anyways?” “You’ll know when you see them. They aren’t exactly the quietest group of Pokémon you’ll see.” “Something tells me that I’m in for a migraine with what you said there.” Spitfire said. “You have no idea. I usually end up having to heal them after their stupid stunts.” Monarca stated. Spitfire smiled and extended her hoof towards Monarca. Monarca flashed a smile with similar intensity and extended her upper right hoof towards Spitfire. “You aren’t half bad for a mercenary, Monarca. I just need to sign you two out and you are free to leave.” Spitfire’s watch rang once more. She sighed and touched upon it, revealing Dune Bug’s head once more. “C-Commander! We got some sort of big… thing stomping its way through the streets here!” He shouted. “Tell me more about this mystery creature.” “I can’t understand a single word it is saying, but it is resisting arrest and is burping in the faces of those trying to apprehend it. We need some assistance, now!” Monarca frowned and planted her face into the table. She shook her head. “Ay dios mio…” “What’s with the Spanish there, Monarca?” Spitfire asked. “I know a vague description like that from anywhere. He had the misfortune of meeting up with Gordo the Snorlax. He’s fat, mean, vulgar and disgusting. He sounds like he is having one of his temper tantrums.” Monarca explained. “Something tells me it will definitely not be fun trying to take care of him.” “It won’t.” A large and bipedal creature with a dark green body and bloated belly and face colored in cream stomped his way towards a cherry red-coated unicorn mare with green eyes. He picked her up by her neck, where her eyes dilated with fear looked into his slanted eyes. “Tell me where I am now!” Gordo shouted. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t quite catch that. Can you repeat that again?” She asked with a timid voice. Gordo snarled and unleashed a loud and rancid burp aimed at the mare in his grip. He tossed her aside. A brown duck with a V-shaped eyebrow and a white leek in his yellow beak descended onto Gordo’s head, landing on it with his yellow feet. He rolled his brown eyes and shook his head. “Ay Gordo, do you have to really act like un culo gordo and just attack anyone who doesn’t give you answers?” He asked. “Nobody asked you, Rey. Shouldn’t you be searching for information as well?” Gordo responded with an agitated expression on his face. “It’s no use. None of the locals can understand what I’m saying. Frankly, I don’t think any of the locals can understand what any one of us can say. It’s just like the humans back in our world.” Rey explained. “Perfecto. Just absolutely perfecto.” Gordo muttered out. Fei and Sophia strolled down the street carrying bags filled to the brim with food. He looked towards Sophia and stroked the top of her head. “It’s nice that the two of us can finally just do something average again, Sophia. It reminds me of the times we used to have when we went grocery shopping.” He stated with a content smile. “I remember the times you slipped on discarded Nanab peels left behind by Aipoms.” Stifling her giggle, Sophia remarked. “Don’t remind me… I was trying to forget that.” “Cheer up Fei. At least no one here is calling you ‘Feiceplant’ anymore after that incident. Isn’t that right, Feiceplant?” Patting his back with one of her ribbons, Sophia said. “Why must you be so sassy sometimes?” Shaking his head, Fei stated with a soft voice. “Can’t help it. Wait, hold on!” The two Pokémon looked upon a horde of screaming civilians running away from Rey and Gordo. Fei stroked his chin. “Is that a Farfetch’d on top of a Snorlax that the Equusians are running away from?” “We should probably check them out just to be on the safe side.” Sophia stated. Rey turned around towards the approaching Pokémon behind him. He tapped the top of Gordo’s head with his leek. “We got company He shouted. Gordo turned around and looked down upon Fei and Sophia. “Good luck running into Pokémon, ey Rey? Maybe they can give us some information.” “You stomped through this city in a rampage and scared many citizens just because you were looking for information?” Fei asked. “We didn’t mean to, hombre! We just dropped in the middle of a city with no idea where we are!” Rey reasoned. “You are in the city of Neo Canterlot, the last-known place of active civilization on the planet Equus that is located on the Terraformed Wilderness continent. It is the bastion of safety from a race of intergalactic warmongers known as the Van’Goth.” Sophia explained with a quick and dull tone. “Now that you know where you are, can you please stop scaring the citizens of this poor city?” Gordo curled in the claws of his left upper paw and pointed to Sophia with his right upper paw. “You sound like a bitch. Did your trainer have you fixed yet?” He remarked. Sophia rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. “First that Giacomo and now this guy? Why does everyone like calling me that word?!” She lamented. “Let’s not get on the bad side of the Pokémon here, Gordo. They’re giving us la informaccion que nosotros necesitamos. Let me do the talking and you just sit down with a pretty face.” Rey instructed. “You are the boss of me, Rey.” Sitting on the ground, Gordo stated with a disappointed sigh. “My name is Rey and this here is Gordo. We both are part of a mercenary group known as the Royal Flush gang. Who are you two?” “My name is Fei and this is my partner Pokémon Sophia. We used to work as scientists in Professor Pasque’s lab before being transported here. I used to be a human, but now I’m a Pokémon.” Fei explained. “Sounds like some sort of voodoo you suffered. So that explains why you are here talking to us now. Can you bring us to a place where we can sound like you? I want to be able to have my language understood.” Fei looked upon the snarling Gordo, who stared at him with overbearing eyes. A bead of cold sweat dropped from Fei’s face. “S-s-sure. As long as Gordo over there stops staring at me. It’s kind of intimidating.” Rey clapped his wings together. Gordo snapped out of his stare and looked above him. “Let’s not intimidate the nice Pokémon here, Gordo. They’ll take us to a good place where we can be understood.” “…Fine. But I don’t have to like it.” “No one said you have to.” Rainbow Dash flew down towards the intersection that Gordo stood upon and aimed her rifle towards him. “Nobody terrorizes Neo Canterlot on my watch!” She shouted. “We have it taken care of, Rainbow Dash.” Sophia rebutted. Rainbow Dash dropped her shoulders and fiery gaze. She looked towards Sophia with her eyes wavering with confusion and disappointment. “…Really? Well that’s a boring way to end conflict. I was hoping I would end up engaging this fatso here in a bloody conflict!” “You must really like the color red, butch. Would you want your blood to stain your body in that color?” Gordo stated with an aggressive tone. “What did he say?” Rainbow Dash asked. “You don’t want to find out. Let’s just bring them to H.O.R.S.E. and give them their translation bracelets.” Sophia suggested. “Alright. I’m ready when you are.” Saying these words, Gordo stood up from the street. Rainbow Dash bumped Fei’s left shoulder with her right shoulder and brought her mouth to his left ear. “He’s a big fellow, isn’t he?”
Dimensional Intrusions pt. 2Spitfire walked down the hallway with an uneasy frown on her face. She looked towards Joker, who strutted with lanky arms. She then set her gaze on Monarca, who walked with a calm and cool demeanor on her two hind feet. “So are you sure that Rainbow Dash will make sure that Gordo isn’t hurting anybody?” She asked. “Ehhhhhh… I can’t really guarantee that. I mean, if Gordo starts making a mess of things, then-“ Spitfire felt her watch ring out a third time in the day. She raised it to her face and touched it. A hologram of Rainbow Dash’s head is revealed. “Hoy, Commander. The three of us convinced the two Pokémon here to arrive at H.O.R.S.E. without much of a fight.” Rainbow Dash announced. “‘Three of you’? I wasn’t even aware that you were assisted or the fact that there is an extra Pokémon at the scene.” Spitfire noted. “It looked like Fei and Sophs were here taking care of the situation. The other Pokémon is a duck with a leak. Seems like the big guy answers to him.” “Alright, bring ‘em in. We’ll get them fitted with translation bracelets.” Rainbow Dash’s hologram disappeared. Joker chuckled underneath his breath. “So it looks like they found Rey and Gordo. Now all we need is Inge and the first squad of the Royal Flush Gang will be all here.” He explained. “Who’s Inge?” Spitfire asked. “Inge is a sweetheart! She’s very nuzzling and gets along well with others.” Joker explained. “Or, in actuality, she’s a bit of a nutjob who has a fascination with appearing when we least expect it.” Monarca rebutted. “She could actually be in here right now.” “Like this?!” An excited voice rang out. The lights above flickered with an erratic pattern. Within a bolt of zeroes and ones, a strange Y-shaped being with a blue head and body with a lilac stripe around her appeared in front of the trio. Her jetting limbs and beak are colored in lilac. Spitfire looked into her swirling yellow eyes and felt dizzy. “Ah, Inge! So nice of you to arrive.” Joker said with a happy smile. “…This is a Pokémon?” Pausing in disbelief, Spitfire asked. “It speaks like we do and it looks so… artificial!” “I downloaded the specs for the translation device into my software. So now I can speak in your common and native tongue!” Inge stated with its eyes closed and a large grin on her face. “As for my artificial appearance, Porygon is the world’s first artificially-created Pokémon. I just happen to be descended from one of the first Porygon.” “Truer than true. Isn’t she just the most adorable thing your eyes ever looked upon?” Joker asked with glee emanating from his tone. “Ummmm… no?” With her head cocked in confusion, Spitfire responded with an unsure tone. “Tu madre.” Inge responded. “Insult my mother one more time and I’ll have you sent to the incinerator to be scrapped.” Spitfire threatened. Inge’s head shot up in anxiety. She looked down to the ground with crestfallen eyes. “I’ll behave.” “A bit harsh there, don’t you think?” Monarca asked. “I don’t have any time for any sort of ridiculous activity. That’s why I’m trying to keep contact with this freak here to a minimum.” Spitfire proclaimed. “You say I’m a freak, but at least I don’t have a desire to become a crazy cat lady like you.” Joker rebutted. Spitfire’s lips gnarled into a frown. The gate to the vehicle bay lifted open, revealing Rainbow Dash, Sophia and Fei. Gordo and Rey followed them inside. Their eyes wandered towards the Equusians taking their welding torches to the various exos within. Rey’s beak dropped in awe. “You work alongside machines like this?” “Yep! Fei has a license to pilot these monsters, but he prefers not to do so.” Sophia responded. “Can’t stand them. I don’t care what Commander Spitfire says; she can’t force me to go inside one of them against my will.” Fei pouted out. “You’re not sucking on your mommy’s tetas, so don’t act like you do.” Gordo announced. Rainbow Dash looked at Fei’s face. Her eyes picked up on the stare tightening in his eyes. “You okay there, Fei? You look a bit insulted.” “No… I’m fine.” Sophia wandered into a wide chest down the road and rummaged through it. She tossed two translation bracelets with her mouth, which were caught by Rey and Gordo. “Try wearing them in any way you want.” Sophia explained. Rey shrugged his shoulders and brought the bracelet around his head. “You mean like this?” Rey asked. “I can understand you, so yes.” Rainbow Dash responded. Gordo stretched out the bracelet and brought it to the base of his left arm. “Can you understand me now, butch?” Gordo asked. “Did you just call me a ‘butch’?” Rainbow Dash asked with a deadpan voice. “Just because I am an aggressive female with a rainbow mane doesn’t give you the right to call me names like that.” “And what are you gonna do about it? Shoot me?” Gordo threatened with a cheeky grin on his face. “I’m too thick for any conventional gun to shoot through.” “Good thing that this isn’t a conventional gun I have then. It was imbued with the latest of Magi-Poke tech that gives it moves that Pokémon can use. I’m sure a Focus Blast from this baby will ruin your day.” Patting her weapon with a soft grin on her face, Rainbow Dash said. “First mechas and now weapons developed that can use Pokémon skills? Just how technologically advanced is this world?” Rey questioned. “Very. Through the combination of magic and machinery, the Equusians were able to modify their technology fifty years ahead of our respective universes.” Sophia stated. “Unfortunately, most of the technology developed here is used for warfare.” Fei added. “I am not sure why aliens are invading this world, but we cannot progress with civilian-centric technology until we defeat the invading forces.” The group gazed ahead and saw Joker sprinting his way towards Gordo and Rey with leaps exaggerated in each step. “You came! Oh you two came!” Screaming this, he dropped onto Gordo’s feet and hugged them. He burst out with loud wailing and dry tears. “Do you really need to do this every time I am gone for even an hour?” Gordo asked with a monotone voice. “Yes.” Standing up from the ground, Joker responded. Spitfire, Monarca and Inge wandered out of the hallway and into the bay, where they met up with the rest of the group. “So apparently, you know these two?” Spitfire asked. “They are a part of our Normal-type team. Rey there is the King, or the leader of the squad. I am the Queen, or the second in-command. Gordo over there is the Jack, or the muscle of the team, and Inge is the Ace, or the jack-of-all-trades of the team.” Monarca explained. “If my knowledge on playing cards is correct, then there must be four teams in the gang then?” “Correct! You’ll also notice that we all have national themes to each theme. Take a guess what we are. Come on!” Inge challenged. “Mexicolt I assume?” Spitfire guessed. “Your world’s version of the region south of Orre? Then you are right! You win a hug!” Inge wrapped her arms around Spitfire’s neck. Spitfire smiled and chuckled. She pushed Inge away. “Enough already. You sure can be affectionate.” Spitfire’s watch rung out once more. She sighed and tapped on the watch. A hologram of Dune Bug’s head appeared. “Commander! We found more strange creatures by Floral Avenue.” He stated. “I’ll give you props for finally steeling your nerves, Dune Bug. What is the status of the creatures?” “They were causing some trouble and, errr, well, a thestral made a citizen’s arrest.” Spitfire’s eyes narrowed and a low hum resonated from her voice. “Do you know who made the arrest?” She asked. Dune Bug’s eyes wince and his head shivered. “Scary Story.” He muttered out with a shaken tone. Spitfire’s nerves chilled underneath the nerves of Dune Bug’s words. “I feel bad for those creatures. Just bring them into H.O.R.S.E. custody and we’ll take it over from there.” Dune Bug saluted and his image over the watch disappeared. “Ummm… what happened?” Rey asked. “Apparently, two more of your buddies got apprehended by someone whose name I will not speak because it darkens the air around here. I mean that in the most literal sense possible.” Spitfire explained. A bipedal plant with a brown tail stem and face stood in front of the gates of H.O.R.S.E. Her body is wrapped around in green flesh. Her head is a green mushroom cap and her face is a part of the light brown stem upon it. She swung her light brown tail that ended with four green balls. Her feet and hands each had two giant red claws on them. Towards her right is a brown and bipedal creature with four stubs for limbs and two green horns curled at his forehead. He is covered in a giant cotton ball colored in a very light shade of brown. His orange eyes and lips quivered. “Are you alright, Iosac? You aren’t normally this uneasy. You’re usually a mischievous ball of fluff.” The mushroom plant asked with a concerned voice. “Aye, Sareid, I’m still a bit shaken by that dark fella’s dark scare. She’s a demon I tell ya.” Iosac responded. “Besides, weren’t ya a wee bit scared by that lady?” Sareid cocked her head and flashed an aggressive frown. “I tell ye once and I tell ye again, Iosac; getting scared’s for the peasants. Now, do I look like a peasant to ya? The answer is no. I’m a purebred Breloom perfected through decades of selective breeding.” She responded with a condescending tone. Iosac chuckled underneath his breath. “Then how do ya explain turning your backside to that fella and hiding your head underneath those fine claws of yours? That looks like peasant activity to me.” He teased. “Can it you scaredypuff of a Whimsicott.” Saraid responded in a dry tone. The gates opened on their own accord. The two Pokémon took their first steps on the grounds of the area. Saraid’s eyes detected the metal cargo towards her left. To her right is a building made entirely out of solar panels. Iosac smiled and hopped around in place. “This place looks amazing!” He noted. “I wonder how important some of these things are to the aliens.” “Don’t even think about it, Iosac. We’re under arrest, so anything we do will flash negatively on us.” Saraid warned. “I wasn’t planning on doing anything… yet.” At the front doors of the central building, Saraid and Iosac saw Jasmine leaving through the front door. Jasmine stopped in her steps and looked at the two Grass-types before her. “Are you two a part of the Royal Flush Gang I’ve heard about?” She asked. “It seems that our reputation extended even into this world.” Saraid stated with a pompous tone. “Or maybe some of our other teammates came into contact with them?” Iosac questioned with an eye raised with confusion. Jasmine’s eyes wandered towards Iosac’s direction. She grinned, squealed and picked him up. Iosac wiggled with a continuous motion in an attempt to break free from her grip. “Well aren’t you just the cutest Whimsicott I have ever laid my eyes upon?! You look a bit filthy around the cotton. Oh well, this means I get to bathe you!” Jasmine declared. Iosac’s eyes widened and his mouth shut with a deep frown. Feeling his body being spirited away into the building, he stretched out his right hand towards Saraid. “Saraid! Help me!” Iosac screamed out. Saraid held her left claws towards her mouth and suppressed a giggle. “I’d love to help, but ya do look a bit dirty around the cotton!” She called out. “Well, isn’t that something?” Walking up towards Saraid, Stereo asked. “And who are you supposed to be?” Saraid questioned with a haughty tone. “My name is Stereo. I am an operative here and a part-time artist under Miss Fleur De Lis’s apprenticeship.” Stereo responded. “Your Joker buddy also happened to ruin many pieces of artwork at the museum! Do you know how that makes me feel?!” “Wait, wait wait, hold on… you said you were an artist?” Saraid asked. “Artist in training, but what does that have to do with anything?” “Paint a picture of me. This world doesn’t know perfect beauty until it has seen an image of me!” “A bit boastful there, aren’t you?” Stereo asked with narrowed eyes. “Maybe a bit, but I’d like to see ya paint a portrait of me.” Saraid responded. “Well… Fleur does want me to paint something new. Alright, but we first have to get a translation bracelet on you so that the Equusians won’t think that you are trying to harm them.” “Fair enough.” Fluttershy stood outside of the city and gazed upon a tranquil lake whose size reminded her of the ocean. Her eyes set themselves towards a flock of long-legged birds with purple-tinged feathers and green eyes. Her watch on her right front ankle unveiled a blank page above it. She took a stylus from the watch with left front hoof and began scribbling words on the hologram. “It seems that the green-eyes purple flamingos had come back from their migration from the south. How I hope that I can visit the Island of Volcanic Steel to see what they do there.” She said with a hopeful tone. The green-eyes purple flamingos landed upon the shoreline of the lake by Fluttershy. She smiled and sighed at the sight of the birds folding in their straw-textured legs and gazing out towards the lake. In the midst of the event, a giant shadow descended upon her and extended towards the shoreline. The flamingos all looked into the sky and flew away from the area. Fluttershy set her sights above and gazed upon a ship the size of a mountain above her. A beam shot onto a flat section of land behind Fluttershy. A squad of five transformed Van’Goths appeared within the light. The central member’s skin and armor is tinged with red. The member to the middle-left is wrapped in blue skin and adorned in armor of the same color. The member to the middle-right has its skin and armor fashioned in a verdant green. The member to the far right had its armor flash in a bright yellow and skin that matched its color. The final member to the far left had a suit of pink armor that matched its skin’s color. The ship vanished within particles of accelerated light. Fluttershy’s eyes widened. She bore her teeth and pulled out her rifle. She aimed it towards the head of the central Van’Goth. “I’m not running away. Not this time! I won’t let anyone else die to your vicious ways!” She called out. “Big talk from a small pony. You, your kind and those aliens assisting you may have thwarted our forces before, but you are nothing against the Sallerian Rangers. Roll call!” The central member called out. Each of the members held out their arms and saluted into the sky. “Sallerian Ranger Red!” The central member Red introduced. “Sallerian Ranger Blue!” The middle-left member Blue declared. “Sallerian Ranger Green!” The middle-right member Green reported. “Sallerian Ranger Yellow!” The far right member Yellow called out. “Don’t forget Sallerian Ranger Pink here!” The far left member Pink asked. “Life forms don’t stand a chance against our quintuple-force tag team! Prepare to be annihilated!” They all declared at once. Red vanished with the first step taken and appeared in front of Fluttershy’s face at half a blink later. Fluttershy failed to make any sort of reaction within the span of a second. She felt an iron-clad fist pound against her chest and knock her into the air. Her body landed onto the water back first. “Blue! If you can!” Red ordered. Blue aimed its right hand towards the lake, which flashed in a blue aura. Fluttershy felt the water welling underneath her. She flipped onto her other side and began paddling her hooves with a hurried attempt at escape. The water underneath her exploded, knocking her back towards the group of Van’Goths. A bruise formed around Fluttershy’s chest. She gritted her teeth and stared at them with a tranquil gaze. Pink walked towards her and flicked her forehead. “This pony’s too much of a pansy to do anything right now. We should just end her life and get this scouting episode over with.” It said. Red pointed its fingers towards Fluttershy. Flaming tongues of fire spiked from their tips. Fluttershy aimed her rifle at Red’s face and fired a round into it. The bullet collided with its helmet and failed to dent it. Her heart dropped down into her stomach at the sight. “B….but how?” “Firmusite Armor. We aren’t the Sallerian Rangers without it.” Red answered. “That was a cute move you did, but I bet you’d be even cuter when the tongues of my flames will have you screaming in agony for death’s release.” A green vine smashed itself into Red’s hand, dismissing the flames within. Red held its hand back and looked towards the opposite direction. In the sight of the ranger is a large quadruped lizard with bumpy and bluish skin. On his back are multiple green fronds that surrounded a thick and brown trunk. The trunk held a pink and red-spotted flower that covered the entirety of his back. Blue gazed upon the red eyes of the creature behind it, which burned a hole through the ranger’s helmet. On closer inspection of the skin, each of the rangers picked up on deep scars along the creature’s skin. “I don’t know who ya are, but I’m pretty sure ya want to face something that won’t bore you.” The creature said. “This must be one of those Pokémon I’ve heard so much about.” Green stated. “I’ll handle this one.” Saying these words, Green dashed forwards and raised its iron fist towards the Pokémon. The Pokémon opened his mouth and shot a flurry of brown sludge towards Green that exploded on impact. Green flew away. Green stood its ground and touched the sludge on the chest. The sludge dissolved through the armor. “Figured that your armor was a Grass-type and lacked any sort of Steel-type affinities within it. That Sludge Bomb will take good care of you.” Fluttershy gazed upon her savior with a curious stare. He stood with a stoic grin on his face. Yellow rushed towards the Grass-type Pokémon and conjured tornadoes from the palms of its hands. The Pokémon shot a Solarbeam from the center of the flower on his back and destroyed the tornadoes. “It’s definitely strong. But we rangers will stand together to take out this Pokémon!” The rangers aligned themselves into an arrow-shaped formation and fired a rainbow of lasers towards the Pokémon. Multiple explosions erupted from the ground where the lasers struck, knocking the Pokémon into the air. He landed onto the ground with a loud thud. He lifted himself with his massive legs and laughed. “Impressive, but Breasal of the Royal Flush Gang will never falter to a challenge!” His body’s muscles tensed up and a red aura surrounded him. His eyes became wreathed in a burning aura. He rushed towards the group, flinging his body in his rampage. The Sallerian Rangers caught in his rampage flew into the air and towards the lake. Breasal looked onto Fluttershy with an intense rage. Fluttershy stood in her position with eyes not filled with fear, but understanding. She heard Breasal’s growling and his deathly intent, but she extended her left front hoof towards his face and touched it. She stroked him with soft and motherly pats. The anger from Breasal’s eyes dissipated away, revealing his calm exterior. Fluttershy smiled. “Thank you for saving me. My name is Fluttershy, but I probably wouldn’t be able to understand you if you tried to speak without a translator. I haven’t learned to understand Pokémon phrases yet.” She said. A brown-coated goat with a white-furred face stood upon a lone plateau by the lake and gazed upon Fluttershy and Breasal’s interactions with her orange eyes. Her black horns that are straighter than a longsword’s blade, her green shrubs that covered her neck, back and tail and her black-membraned eyelids created an air of intimidation around her. She smirked. “The kid has the ability to calm down even Breasal in his rampage? She truly must have a talent for understanding the heart of Pokémon if she could do that.” She said to herself. “I guess that if Breasal’s gonna be with her, I should follow behind.” The goat-like Pokémon leaped onto the ground and stalked Fluttershy and Breasal, who walked away from the scene of the area. Each of the Sallerian Rangers popped their heads out of the water and gazed upon each other. “The new tech developed by Wilhelm is pretty good, but we got to report on the kinks of the armor.” Red noted. “Especially this poison corroding my chestplate.” Green stated. “You’ll live through it.” Pink chastised. Saraid stood with a proud smile on her face and gazed at the heavens above. Stereo’s hands moved at light speed and the skill of a surgeon. He smiled and wiped his forehead. “And done.” Saraid dropped her stance and rushed by Stereo’s side with a smile on her face. “How do I look? I hope ya caught my good side!” Her eyes set themselves upon the canvas. She saw an image of her own body painted from a lower perspective that brought an air of opulence and power around her. Her eyes wandered to the lens flare that flashed down from the image of her cap. “Do you like it? I figured that you would be into an image that showed your beautiful power.” Stereo said. “Beautiful, yet so powerful… and you say ya just are a wee novice?” “Well, yes. I’ve only began painting about a year ago under the tutelage of one of my closer friends who happened to be a Smeargle and her human companion.” “Smeargles are known for their art, and I can see that this particular Smeargle’s style seems to have rubbed off on ya.” Saraid complimented. “Well, some of the more technical effects were actually taught to me by my current mistress Fleur. She taught me about the importance of perspective and the dynamics of how I can paint.” “Regardless, I am happy with this piece of art. This world has been blessed with my perfection.” Jasmine and Iosac walked out of the front doors of the main building. Iosac frowned, crossed his arms and turned his face away from Jasmine. Jasmine smiled and patted Iosac’s cotton. “Look who’s clean and is presentable to society!” Jasmine called out with an excited tone. Iosac looked back towards her and blew a raspberry towards her direction. “Ya really shouldn’t have taken my dignity by showering me like that.” He stated. “I’ll make ya rue the day you did!” “Oh hush now, Iosac. You look clean and you should be happy that I used some of my Mist-Rise Forest shampoo on you. Now you smell like a forest angel.” Jasmine stated. Iosac gagged. Saraid stifled a rising giggle. “Well don’t ya look presentable now, Iosac?” She asked with a tone of genuine cheerfulness. “Ya… really like how I cleaned up?” Iosac asked. “Of course! The Ace of our squad has to look his finest at every given moment. And I can say you look very féaráilte.” Saraid stated. Iosac’s uneasy frown flipped into a smile. He looked back into Jasmine’s eyes. “Alright bean neamhphósta, you did good. But next time ya force me to take a shower against my will; I’ll heckle ya until your bladder bursts!” Jasmine giggled and ruffled Iosac’s head. He winced and pushed away Jasmine’s hand with his hands. Fluttershy walked through the gates of the area with Breasal by her side and the Gogoat following behind her. Saraid and Iosac’s eyes lit up with joy. “Breasal! Riona! You two are here!” Saraid shouted. “Aye there, Iosac and Saraid. Didn’t think I’d see ya two in a place like this.” Breasal called out. Riona stared upon the group before her, humming and analyzing each member in the area. “Interesting set-up you have here. I wouldn’t have expected this girl to come from a big city like this.” She said with a wary tone. “You mean Fluttershy?” Stereo asked. “Yes. I can sense a special aura emanating from her.” Riona explained. “Fluttershy, are you alright? You have a nasty bruise on your chest.” Jasmine questioned with concern dripping from her tone. Fluttershy looked down onto her chest and jumped at the sight of the blackened skin hiding underneath her canary yellow coat. “It’s nothing. I just… errr, fell.” She responded with a quick tone. “Liar! I was there when I saw ya getting pummeled by those freaky aliens.” Breasal called out. “What?! The Van’Goth attacked Fluttershy again?!” Jasmine shouted. “Please Jasmine; it’s nothing to be worried about. I’m not the same helpless filly you first saw when you appeared in this world. I have grown, even if I wasn’t able to do much.” Fluttershy reasoned. “But why lie to us? We can help you out with your expeditions and protect you.” Stereo asked. Riona held up her right front hoof, silencing any potential words that anyone would have had. “I can understand Fluttershy’s motives with lying here. She wants to prove to you that she isn’t weak. Even if she only made a dent on the armor of the aliens, this girl is very strong in heart and will. She looked onto the aliens with defiance and she would fight until her last breath. Truly, this girl is someone special.” “Being sagacious with us again, Riona?” Saraid asked. “Nonetheless, Riona’s got a point. She’s the wisest out of all of the Royal Flush Gang, so we don’t argue against her because she will always be right.” “Fluttershy is a teammate of ours. We can’t just let her go out when the Van’Goth will be targeting her.” Stereo reasoned. “I am all for teamwork and you have a point, but please do not look upon Fluttershy as someone who is helpless. But rather, see her as someone with grand potential that would even be able to challenge the gods themselves.” Riona said. Jasmine paused in her tone. She felt any words she had robbed through the voice and stare of Riona. She let out a sigh. “I understand. At the very least, allow me to give you two some translation bracelets of your own. I want you to say those words to Fluttershy.” She said. “So that is how this girl can understand you four, but cannot understand Breasal or I. I gladly accept.” Stereo glanced towards Fluttershy and rubbed the back of his head with a shaky speed. “I don’t think you are helpless. In fact, you have one of the biggest hearts on the team. I just don’t want to see that go away.” Fluttershy smiled and patted Stereo on his head. “Do not worry about me losing my big heart, Stereo. I’ll live for a long time and still take care of everyone here. I just want to get stronger so that I don’t need to rely on being protected anymore.” She said. “I understand.” “Ey, are ya just gonna sit around and talk or are ya gonna give us our translators? I have a couple of words I’d like to say to these aliens!” Breasal announced. “Hold your cans, Breasal. We don’t need ya going on one of your famous Outrages again. Besides, we all know that I can stop that Outrage.” Iosac proclaimed with pride in his tone. “Yeah, but my Sludge Bomb will wreck ya. How does that make ya feel?” Breasal called out with a jeering tone. “I’ll behave…” Author's Note The 2nd part! This took too long to do, but I did it. Introducing the clubs of Stag Prince's Royal Flush team. Also, Riona's words about Fluttershy are interesting.
Dimensional Intrusions pt. 3Rundas, Boreas, Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock landed upon the shores of the Terraformed Wilderness. Rundas is adorned in a jet black suit made of rubber that stretched down from his neck and down to his ankles and wrists. Over his right breast is the badge of Neo Canterlot. He looked down on his suit and smiled. “So, how do I look in this?” He asked with. Subterra Shock sighed and rolled his eyes. “For the thirteenth time, I said that it looks good on you. Why are you so obsessed with that uniform anyways?” He asked. “Because it’s new? It’s one of those things you just have to put up with until I recognize it as an everyday object three days later.” Rundas responded. Crescent Radiance rolled her eyes and let out a wide yawn. “Rundas, I didn’t take these day missions from Council Lady Luna so that I can hear you brag about your uniform. I happened to tag along to make sure you wouldn’t do something stupid to hurt yourself. Besides, I would honestly rather stay in my home and sleep the day away.” She stated. Rundas chuckled and pointed to himself. “Me? Hurt myself? No, sorry, you got me mixed up with Subterra Shock here.” “Hey! I resent that!” Subterra Shock shouted. Boreas cracked a smile. Her mouth wiggled in a fashion where she wanted to laugh. She tapped her right pectoral fin on the sand in a specific pattern of numbers. Rundas grimaced and a red blush came upon his face. “P-please don’t bring that up, Boreas.” “Bring what up?” Crescent Radiance asked with a tone steeped in curiosity. “Not telling you!” Boreas grinned with her eyes narrowed in smugness. She closed them and unleashed a series of taps along the ground with her pectoral fin. “So you’re saying that Rundas still wets the bed?” Subterra Shock asked with a joking tone. The blush on Rundas’s face lit up with the shine of Christmas lights. He waved his claws to the left and right. “No! No I don’t wet the bed!” He shouted with his claws held in front of him in a defensive stance. “I was only joking. But, with how you acted there, I have to ask; do you still wet the bed?” “It’s a medical condition, alright?! I don’t understand why Miss Blabberflipper had to keep saying that!” Boreas looked away from Rundas and smiled with an imaginary halo over her head. Rundas groaned and planted the palm of his claws in his face. “A Weavile with the bladder control of a newly-hatched Sneasal? Pathetic.” A voice echoed from nowhere. Rundas flashed his teeth and turned towards the direction of the voice. “You better show yourself or else I’ll force you to show yourself.” “You mean like this?” A Weavile emerged from Boreas’s shadow. Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock leaped back with their mouths dropped in shock. “How did that get there?!” Subterra Shock shouted. Rundas examined the Weavile before him and noticed the feathers inside of the ears being shorter than his. “I see you are a female. What’s a cool chick like yourself doing out in the middle of nowhere?” Rundas asked with a smooth voice. He stretched out his arms and wrapped them around the Weavile’s shoulders The Weavile curled her right nails and socked them across Rundas’s face. The wind was knocked out of Rundas’s lungs and he fell onto the ground. “Try to hit on me again and I’ll make it impossible for you to breed, got it?” She asked in a deadpan tone. “Anyways, my name is Reine. I happened to wander outside of the nearby city so that I can have a feel for my surroundings. What are your names?” “R-Rundas.” Getting up from the ground, Rundas responded. “And I got it. Geez, have a little fun with it at least.” “What reason is there with having ‘fun’ when I am being harassed by a male Weavile in the middle of an unknown world?! I see no sort of enjoyment factor in that.” Reine responded. Rundas scoffed and flipped his nails. “Geez, take a chill pill girl. You only live once and you got to have fun with it.” He reasoned. Reine held her nails up to her face and shot a cold glare towards Rundas’s direction. “I’m being serious about that threat I made earlier. I know very well how to castrate a member of my own species. If you value your testes, then I suggest you stop trying to come at me with that approach.” She threatened. Subterra Shock looked upon Rundas’s face, which lost its black color and his cool composure fell into a shaking mess. “It seems like Rundas has finally met his match.” Subterra Shock said with a gleeful smile on his face. “I wish I could understand what this Pokémon is saying so that I can relish within the burns she is giving to him.” “S-shut up, Subterra Shock! Nobody asked for your commentary!” Rundas shouted. “I want to hear more on Subterra Shock’s commentary with how you are failing with a female. It’s kind of a breath of fresh air to see you finally having your wit being destroyed by someone else.” Crescent Radiance chimed in. “Not you too, Crescent Radiance!” Boreas let out an open-mouth grin and tapped her pectoral fin on the ground in a series of numbers. Reine’s eyes widened from the sounds that reached her ears. “Oh my! Aren’t you a bit bold with your taps?” She asked. “Wait, you can understand what Boreas is saying?” Rundas questioned. “Of course. I’ve learned some Morse code back in my world. She said that it’s fun seeing you try to reach first base only to strike out with your cockiness.” Reine responded. Rundas glared at Boreas with narrowed eyes. He let out a sigh and shook his head. “Let’s just go back to Neo Canterlot to make a direct report to Council Lady Luna. Right now, it feels like ‘Everybody Pick on Rundas Day’ today.” He stated. He focused his attention onto Reine. “You are coming with me whether you like it or not. We’re going to get you a translator so that you’ll be able to speak to the natives.” Reine shrugged her shoulders. “Fine by me. I was looking for a way to communicate with some of these Equusians.” Rundas, Boreas, Crescent Radiance, Subterra Shock and Reine traveled across the grassland that sprawled before their eyes. The patches of grass extended to the size of small towers. Rundas sliced through the thick grass with his claws. Cutting through the grass, Rundas felt his claws swiped against flesh. The group heard a loud roar. “Who dares attack me?!” A large Krookodile emerged from the grass. He stared at Rundas with fiery eyes. A low growl emanated from his voice. Rundas raised his right eye and crossed his arms. “Hey! You aren’t Gnasher. Who are you?” He asked with an annoyed tone. “And I could say that you aren’t Reine! Who are you?!” The Krookodile responded back. Reine shook her head and smacked her face with the palm of her right upper paw. “Enough, Valet. They’re ‘friends’.” She said. “Reine? What are you doing hanging out with these losers?” Valet responded. “Ummm, loser? You should look in a mirror. I’m not the one creeping around behind bushes of grass like some pedophile.” Rundas retorted. “Shut the hell up. You’re lucky that Reine is with you guys.” Valet stated. “Or what? You would beat us in? I’d like to see you try.” Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock both wielded uneasy and gritted frowns. Crescent Radiance let out a hushing noise and moved her right front hoof over her mouth. “Rundas! You better shut up. This guy is much bigger than us!” She said. “Yeah? Well we got Boreas on our side. She’s tough and bigger than this Krookodile-wannabe loser over here.” Rundas looked over his shoulder and noticed the absence of Boreas’s form. His cocky and aloof grin faltered away into a frown of fear. He looked into Valet’s eyes, whose arms are crossed and right foot planted into the ground. “So I’m a Krookodile-wannabe loser, eh? Are you sure I couldn’t rough up this guy and his friends even a little, Reine?” “He tried hitting on me and he’s acting like he’s the alpha male of all Sneasals and Weaviles. As much as I want you to hurt him, I’m afraid I cannot allow you to do so. He’s important to our current objective.” Reine responded. Valet let out a huff and dropped his stance. “Fine. But let me know if he starts making you feel uncomfortable again. I’ll straighten this guy out to the point where he’ll learn how to treat a woman in a proper fashion.” Subterra Shock took notice of Valet turning towards the direction they were headed. “He’s not going to fight us?” He asked with a voice stunned with surprise. “Reine and Valet here are apparently teammates. She restricted Valet from hurting us until they get some information.” Rundas explained. “Speaking of information, where did Boreas go?” Crescent Radiance asked. Boreas popped her head out of one of the shrubs and glanced at the group before her. With a sense of security in the air, she motioned herself out of the grass and approached the group. “Why’d you wimp out when I needed you most, Boreas? I thought we were a team!” Rundas shouted. Boreas shuddered under the overwhelming stare given to her by Valet. Valet narrowed his eyes and pointed towards Boreas. “And you say she’s tough? She looks like nothing more than a giant, tasty snack for me to devour.” He said. “She’s tougher than you can imagine! She survived through countless abuse to the point where she was rendered mute. I rescued her in my ranger years and we were inseparable ever since. So the next time you talk about my partner that way, I’ll make sure to bury you within an icy tomb!” Rundas shouted. Valet stopped talking and flicked his right front nails. “Feh. It’s useless to argue. We should just go now.” Reine stood in place and examined the fiery determination within Rundas’s voice. The group walked before her eyes. She frowned, narrowed her eyes and looked down to the ground. “So he was a ranger? Where was someone like him when I needed a ranger most?” She said to herself. The group arrived onto the outside of the walled city. Rundas stretched out his arms and yawned. He looked upon Reine and cracked a devilish smirk. He sidestepped to her side and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “So are you sure that you don’t feel anything for me? You know, I can please you in ways you can only imagine.” He stated. “You must not value your organes génitaux if you are very free with how you speak. Need I remind you that Valet and I can maul you at any time?” Curling her nails inwards, Reine responded. “I know, but I’m not exactly used to my newfound sexuality. It feels weird to feel like this for a Pokémon and others.” “You are confusing me, Rundas. Do you mean to tell me that you aren’t always attracted to other Pokémon?” “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I was a human before coming into this world, and I was only a Casanova towards other human women. I don’t know why, but I can detect a very nice scent coming from you. I can’t explain it, but it is intoxicating and I have to have more of it.” Rundas explained. “So you were a human then? I can see why you must not be used to the pheromones that females produce then. Still, that doesn’t excuse you for being such a dog around me.” Reine stated. Rundas held up his claws and looked away from Rein. “Guilty as charged. I promise that I won’t further my own advances on you.” Subterra Shock looked onto Rundas and cracked a heartfelt grin. He bumped his right shoulder into Rundas’s left shoulder. “Seems like your advances with the ladies are getting better.” He said with a wink of his right eye. “Nothing like that, Subterra Shock. Reine’s obviously hurt by something and I want to know what it is.” Rundas whispered back. A bipedal figure emerged from the shadows of the walled city. Closer inspection of the figure revealed an orange lizard with a red Mohawk. Around his neck is a yellow hood attached to his skin. Around his legs is yellow skin that sagged to the point where he held them by their sides. Reine and Valet approached the creature and with a casual step. “So did you find any information regarding our current circumstances?” He asked. “Nope, but we found fellow Pokémon and aliens here who can lead us to some answers, Roi.” Reine responded. Roi let out an unsavory fit of laughter. “You definitely found some good ones alright.” “They also claim that they can give us the ability to speak with the natives of this world.” “Shouldn’t As be with you, Roi? Where is she?” Valet asked. “She’s doing some spying within some fortified area. I trust her completely with finding information there.” Roi responded. “Anyways, I’ll speak with this Weavile here.” He walked towards Rundas and extended his right hand towards him. Rundas leered towards Roi’s direction and shook his hand with his right claws. “So, you are a Scrafty. It appears that these two answer to you.” “It’s only natural since I am the King suit of the Spades here. We are involved in a mercenary group known as the Royal Flush Gang and we happen to be facing a dilemma involving being warped out of our home world.” Roi explained. “You have the shadiness of a troublemaker, but you don’t seem to have malicious intent right now. I could tell you everything you need to know, from the world you are in and down to the situation you are faced with.” “It’s nice to have a mediator with the information I desire. So tell me; where exactly are we?” “This world is known as Equus. You are just outside of the final place of civilization known as Neo Canterlot.” Rundas told. “Final place of civilization, eh? I would want to know more about the circumstances at a later time. Right now, my desire for knowledge has been sated through this information.” Roi stated. “So, why don’t you and your group come with us back into the city? We’ll be happy to give you some translation bracelets.” Rundas requested. “Would this city even allow for mercenaries to come in? I mean, we have been in some settlements that are… less than fond of our kind.” Roi asked with an uneasy shrug of his shoulders. “You’re talking to someone who gave a ‘meaningful’ farewell to the rangers and does bounty hunting for a living. If the city can accept someone like me, then I’m sure they can accept someone like you.” Through the conversation the two Dark-type Pokémon shared, Valet flashed a smile and revealed three triangle-shaped gaps in his mouth. Subterra Shock smirked and pointed at him. “Did you lose a fight there buddy? You got your teeth knocked out!” He called out. Crescent Radiance bumped her left shoulder into Subterra Shock’s right shoulder and flashed a cold stare towards his direction. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?!” She shouted in a hushed tone. “You can’t tell me that looks out of place on him.” Subterra Shock justified. “Yeah? I don’t think you place much value in your life if you want to insult my broken-off teeth.” Valet responded. “Ummm… what did he say?” Valet cracked the bones in his fingers and pointed towards Subterra Shock. Subterra Shock shuddered underneath the overbearing glare from Valet. “You’re dead meat!” A purple and yellow leopard whose body is speckled with yellow rosettes crept through the halls of H.O.R.S.E. with silent footsteps. Her sickle-shaped tail hung close to her yellow-furred legs and minimized her height. With her green eyes masked behind a pink membrane, she detected a door down the hallway. Her pink nose detected a hypnotic scent of herbs in the air. “Is that… catnip?!” She whispered to herself. She rushed out of her shadows and ran towards the door. The door slid open, revealing a dark room the size of a closet and two bags of catnip on the ground. A devilish grin crept onto her face. “I’m sure that nobody would mind me playing with this catnip.” Mono turned around the corner of the hallway with his eyes widened in panic. His mouth let out an open frown. “What’s that noise?!” With his ears twitching, he asked. Sounds of ruffling are heard from behind the closet door. He tightened the grip on his gauntlet and approached the door with silent steps. Behind the door, Mono’s eyes detected the leopard-like creature on her back clawing and biting through the bag in her grasp. “Is that a Liepard? Here? How?” He asked himself. The Liepard stopped playing with the bag of catnip and eyed the Pokémon in her presence. She rolled onto her side and flashed a sly smile. She extended her right front leg and wiggled her paw with a hypnotic stare. Mono’s nerves eased and let his body approached the Liepard. “So… umm… who are you and what are you doing here?” He asked with a nervous tone. The Liepard stood up from the ground and approached Mono. She wrapped her tail around Mono and she leaned towards his left ear. “You may call me As. My purpose here is nothing of your concern.” As responded with a sultry voice. She dropped her grip on Mono and spun him around. She placed her right front paw on his head after one rotation, stopping him. She walked around him and eyed his details; her eyes picked upon his silky fur, his bushy tails, his emerald eyes that flashed with a hypnotic resonance and some definition of muscle underneath his suit. “W-what are you doing?” With a red blush appearing on his face, Mono stuttered out. As walked towards the area on the floor where she lied down upon and dropped her upper body down to the ground. She stretched out her long body and wiggled her hips with a mesmerizing rhythm. She narrowed her eyes and flashed a sly smile. Mono felt his body drawing in towards As against his own will. His mind fought against the attractions and charms of the seductive Liepard, but his will succumbed to his body’s carnal cravings. He walked towards As’s left front paw and lifted it with his upper paws. He kissed it with a passionate force. “My, you were not hard to attract at all.” As stated with a sultry tone. “Believe me; I am very hard right now.” Mono stated with a despondent tone and hearts over his eyes. “Yes, that is fine and all. Will you give me the information that I will seek? I promise that I will make it worth your time.” Rubbing the right cheek of Mono’s face at a slow speed with her right front leg, As asked. Mono nodded with an absent state of mind. Mono lied beside As and put his head down next to her chest. As smirked with a sinister chuckle and stroked the white fluff on Mono’s head with the end of her tail. “Mono? Did you run down this way?” Sophia asked. As’s façade dropped into surprise. She looked outside and eyed Sophia, whose head leered towards every conceivable direction. Sophia looked into the open closet. Her jaw dropped to the ground and a horrified gasp crawled its way out of her voice box. “Mono! What are you doing with that hussy?!” She shouted. Mono snapped out of his trance and looked towards Sophia. He looked to his right and saw himself lying with As. His eyes widened in panic and he shook his upper front paws with an erratic motion. “Sophia! This isn’t what it looks like! I can explain, I swear!” Sophia scowled and stomped her way into the closet. The tension in the air thickened to custard consistency. “You can explain, huh? I would love to how you can explain why you are lying down in a romantic position with a female Liepard ready to engage in sexual behaviors with her!” “Ummm, jealous much?” As asked. “Oh, I’m not jealous at all. This is my boyfriend you are with. You just waltz in here and take him with your wily charms without even getting to understand him!” Sophia shouted. “Believe me; I understand him much more than you can. How else was I able to attract him to me?” “Because you are a seductive hussy who is miserable with her own life so she has to go out of her own way to make the lives of others miserable to compensate for her lack of happiness.” Sophia retorted. As gritted her teeth and flashed a dark leer towards Sophia. She stood up from the ground and leaned her face into Sophia’s face. “Say that again if you dare. I can’t promise that you’ll be alive after you say that.” She threatened. “Alright. You are a seductive hussy who is miserable with her own li-“As swiped at Sophia’s face mid-sentence and drew some blood. Sophia brought her right front paw to her face and touched the drop of blood from her face. “So that’s the game you want to play?” With his nerves frizzling from the encounter, Mono ran from the area with quick steps. All he heard was the ignition of a Moonblast and an explosion from the closet. Author's Note The introductions for the Spades are set, and now the motions of battle are in way. Also, I'll give V-Oblivion his credit here for allowing Stag Prince to have me use these characters. They are quite fun to write.
Uneasy AlliancesSubterra Shock flew through the air above the city streets with erratic flaps. His heart beat out of his chest and his lungs strained with air loss. Valet crashed through buildings and sprinted after him. “Can we just talk about this like grown adults?!” Subterra Shock shouted. “After making fun of me for my teeth?! Not a chance!” Valet shouted. “I-I still don’t know what you said, but I’m pretty sure you don’t want to talk about this!” Valet became surrounded in a Stone Edge and sent the sharp fragments of rocks towards Subterra Shock. Subterra Shock dodged the incoming shards with a bumble of his body. Roi chased after Valet and lifted his right arm towards his direction. “Valet! I command you to stop chasing this alien!” He demanded. Rundas flew through the air on his Ice Beam and formed a spiral path of ice in his way. “I’ll go ahead and try to stop Subterra Shock. Use some of your moves to slow down Valet so that he’ll calm down.” Rundas ordered. “I don’t need to take orders from you! You want me to beat you down as well?!” At the far end of the city, Crescent Radiance and Reine facepalmed. Boreas shook her head in disapproval. “Men can really be idiotic.” Reine stated. “If you made a comment about men being idiots, then I agree with you one hundred percent. Subterra Shock should not have mocked your friend.” Crescent Radiance stated in agreement. Reine smiled and looked towards Crescent Radiance. “Nice to see that even with the language barrier between us, we both can agree on something. So… should we just continue on with our plans as scheduled?” “I have no idea what you said. Let’s just get your translation bracelet while these males finish up what they are doing.” Crescent Radiance stated. Boreas tapped her right pectoral fin on the ground to form a message. “Wait, you taught Rundas how to do that with his Ice Beam? Would you mind showing me sometime then?” Reine asked. Boreas smiled and nodded. Sophia leaped off a wall and avoided As’s right front claw, which glowed in a dark aura. The claw smashed a section of the wall and left a sizeable indent on it. As clicked her tongue. “I’ll give you credit; you sure can dodge my Night Slashes.” She said. “Weird time to compliment when I want to kill you.” Sophia responded. “It’s the least I can do before I maul you to death.” As’s tail shined in a faint light before transmuting into steel. She leaped into the air and whacked Sophia across the face with her tail. Sophia squealed and took three steps back. She winced and stared at As with defiance in her eyes. “Just because I am weak to Steel-type moves doesn’t mean that I’ll take back anything I said about you.” “How unfortunate for you. Then it looks like I will take pleasure in killing you then.” As’s body emanated with a pink aura. She sprinted towards Sophia with a playful step and tackled her. She bit and scratched Sophia at the speed of sound. Sophia gritted and bit and scratched As back. The two female Pokémon became enveloped in a cloud of dust, where exaggerated symbols of hearts and stars burst from the skirmish. Mono looked behind him and saw the cloud approaching him at a fast speed. His eyes widened and his heart sunk into his stomach. He screamed and sprinted even faster. Lith walked out of the door and looked towards her left in confusion. Mono bumped into her, causing both to stumble onto the ground. “I heard your running, Mono. What’s the matter?” Lith asked. Mono pointed to the cloud of fighting behind him. Lith’s eyes widened with suspense. “We should probably run.” “I’m way ahead of you!” Sprinting away on all fours, Mono shouted. The double doors to his left burst open. Subterra Shock hit the wall to his right with enough force to shatter it. Valet crashed through the wall to the left of the door and plunged his teeth into Subterra Shock’s left front hoof. “Yowch!” Subterra Shock shouted. “Alright, I had enough of this!” Subterra Shock socked Valet across his left temple with his right front hoof. The blow knocked him back and caused him to release the grip on his victim. Valet placed his left hand on the side of his head and smirked. “I like it when prey fights back. It makes it more fun!” “Now there is a Krookodile fighting a pony here?!” Mono shouted. He looked behind him and saw the cloud of fighting approaching him at a steady speed. He looked towards his front and saw Subterra Shock hovering around Valet and stinging him with a flurry of kicks. Valet chomped onto one of Subterra Shock’s legs and applied intense pressure onto him. Subterra Shock let out a sharp scream. Mono rolled into a ball and covered his head. His teeth clanked against each other and he shook his head. Spitfire emerged from a door in front of Mono with a gaze of calm aggression. She looked towards her left and right, where she witnessed both fights. She shook her head and let out an unhappy sigh. “Quiet!” She shouted with a voice that pierced the heavens themselves. The cloud of dust dissipated, revealing As on top of Sophia with her front paws on Sophia’s shoulders. The two looked towards Spitfire with distracted gazes. Valet and Subterra Shock gazed towards Spitfire with curiosity affixed within their eyesight. Spitfire set her death stare on the four fighters. “In my office. Now! And don’t think you are getting out of this one either, Mono.” She demanded in a cold voice. Spitfire sat at her desk and looked upon the seated Mono, Sophia, As, Valet and Subterra Shock. Her overbearing stare caused all five of them to look down on the ground with shame protruding from their frowns. As and Valet each had a translation bracelet affixed around their wrists. “What’s wrong with you four? I literally came out of my office after dealing with that lunatic Joker and his gang only to arrive into an all-out brawl in my headquarters?! What do you have to say about yourselves?!” Valet pointed to Subterra Shock and opened his mouth with a sheepish frown on it. “He made fun of my teeth.” Sophia pointed towards As with her shaky right paw. “She tried stealing Mono away.” “And you called me a slut.” As responded with a frown mixed with snide and regret in her tone. “Doesn’t matter!” Banging her right front hoof on the desk, Spitfire declared. She focused her stare towards Valet and Subterra Shock. “You two are idiots for letting small words escalate into violence.” She then pointed towards As and Sophia with her right front paw. “And you two represent the negative stereotypes associated with young females for letting a simple problem lead into a vicious catfight. You four should be ashamed of yourselves!” Mono looked into Spitfire’s eyes. He twiddled his paws with anxiety creeping down his body. His lungs choked with a lack of fresh air from the tension within them. “Are we in trouble, Commander?” He squeaked out. “You have caused property damage, and you did disturb the peace here. But, I will be able to forgive you all if you do one thing; you set all of your transgressions aside and shake hands.” Spitfire stated. “And what if we don’t want to listen? You can’t tell me what to do.” Valet responded. “Here’s why you should listen to me; I got Joker’s permission to boss around all Royal Flush Gang members as though they are under my command.” The eyes of Valet and As widened upon hearing these news. Valet stared into Spitfire’s hooves and slammed his claws on her desk. “That’s bullshit! I want to hear Joker’s words on this!” He demanded. Joker broke through the ceiling above and landed on the desk face-first. He got up and rubbed his head. Spitfire let out a regretful sigh, planted both of her front hooves onto her face and shook her head. Joker stood up from the table and dusted off his pants with his hands. “I heard Valet call for me in his written dialogue. And yes, I gave permission to Spitfire here to boss you all around. It’ll make the story more interesting as it would force you to interact with other members of H.O.R.S.E. and the city whether you like it or not.” Valet’s jaw dropped to the ground. He widened his arm span and stuttered. “You can’t be serious! I have to take orders from some drill sergeant now?!” Joker pranced towards Valet’s side and wrapped his right arm around him and held out his left arm towards the sky. “It’s not going to be all that bad. The best perk you get is being able to throw around your weight against others in a training facility. Besides, you really need to refine your fighting style. You didn’t kill this thestral here while you had the chance.” He reasoned. “Who’s side are you on?!” Subterra Shock shouted with surprised betrayal in his voice. “No one’s side really. But, we really have nothing better to do and I can’t let those aliens destroy the last bastion of civilization in this world. Then that would mean that we will be stuck in this world with no way to make money.” Joker reasoned. “Wait… did something with basic intelligence just come out of your mouth?” Spitfire asked with genuine surprise in her tone. “I can’t be all jokes and insanity all the time. There’s a time and place for everything, but Professor Oak says not now.” “What does Professor Oak have to do with anything?!” Mono shouted in confusion. “Absolutely nothing at all! Now I have to make my exit from this chapter. I’ve overstayed the time the author had given me to appear in this part of the story. I will say this though; the final team of the Royal Flush Gang is just outside the door here. You’ll meet them all after this meeting is concluded.” Joker waved, spun and flew back into the air. The six beings sitting in the room looked into the black of the hole in the ceiling. Spitfire groaned. “You see? This is why I hate dealing with Joker. The man breaks every single law of physics as well as the imaginary fourth wall that doesn’t exist at all! Plus, he makes no sense. How is it that your team can even put up with his behavior?!” “We just do. Joker is surprisingly competent with what he does.” As responded. “So it is decided then; you have the entire Royal Flush Gang under your control.” Valet pouted and turned his gaze away from Spitfire. “I don’t have to like it though.” Spitfire cracked a small smirk in response to Valet’s words. “Good, then we are on the same topic. Because my bad mood became focused on Joker, I’ve decided to let all of you go scot free. But, if I catch any other unauthorized fights outside of designated areas, you’ll be sure that I’ll punish you! Now if you’ll need me, I got to get maintenance in this room.” A floating and bipedal being colored in brown looked onto the floor with his green eyes shaped in a Mobius strip. His oblong-shaped head with black markings upon it became the focus of the gaze of H.O.R.S.E. operatives passing by him. The three nubs at the ends of each crossed hand are colored in red, yellow and green. His trench coat had a popped collar and four buttons on the front. By his side is a purple star-shaped being with ten points and a yellow ring that held an octagon-shaped gem in place. Its red gem flashed. “What appears to be on your mind, Saturn?” It asked. Saturn looked towards the being to his right. “Many things, Neptune. I have recently heard that all of the members of the Royal Flush Gang are now within the premise of this property. From the reactions of the others barring Joker, I have sensed confusion and wariness from their reactions to this world. But, is it wrong that I don’t feel this way?” “Not really. I mean, our team wasn’t even a part of the same planet that the other members of the gang were born on! They feel like aliens in this world, but we are already so used to that feeling that it is irrelevant for us to worry about it.” Neptune responded. “That is true. Plus, the technology used on this planet is much more advanced than the technology from the world we were in. In a way, it makes me feel more at home than our intended home is.” Saturn stated. Neptune brought its two upper side points in its front towards the lower side points on his back and flashed his gem in a red color. “I think that the atmosphere’s getting to your head, Saturn. Sure this may be more recognizable than our other world, but thinking that this place is more like home?! You need to get your neuron sensors examined for signs of any dead tissue inside of that head of yours.” “Neptune, you really need to learn how to shut up sometimes. Some of those words you say can actually be quite harmful to other beings.” Saturn warned. “Not my fault if others do not have the same level of genius that I do. But I digress; I’ve already imprinted the other world as my home world and I not wish to make any more imprints on other planets so that I could recognize them as homes in addition to the other world.” The door in front of the alien duo opened in front of them. Mono, Sophia, Subterra Shock, Valet and As exited the room and examined the Pokémon in front of them. Mono smiled and pointed at them. “It’s a Beeheeyem and a Starmie. I assume that these are the members of the final team Joker told us about?” He asked. “Your assumption would be correct you ignoramus. We are a part of the Diamond team in the Royal Flush Gang. My name is Neptune and this here is Saturn.” Neptune responded with a stuffy tone. Mono brought his face towards As’s left ear. “Ummm… is he always this rude?” He whispered. “Don’t take it personally. Neptune is insufferable in general. We just learned to tune out his words.” As responded. Saturn closed his eyes and held his right hand towards Mono’s direction. A small blush appeared on his face. “That was quite an interesting encounter you had with As there, Mono. And I still feel a semblance of arousal with As here as the center of it.” He said. “Wha? How did you-?” “I’m a telepath and I can communicate in the same tongue as others can.” Saturn explained. Sophia scowled and grabbed Mono by his upper right paw with her mouth. “You and I need to talk now, Mono.” “Alright…” Mono squeaked out. Sophia dragged Mono down the hallway and turned towards the right corner at the end. Valet smirked and chuckled. “Oooh! Some Pokémon is in trouble!” Saturn faced towards As’s direction and let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness I was able to remove those two from the immediate premise. Their examining eyes were getting me nervous. But now, we can talk about the matters at hand.” “I’m listening, Saturn.” As responded. “But what about this thestral here? Wouldn’t this information be on a need to know basis? He wouldn’t need to know about this.” Saturn set his gaze on Subterra Shock. Looking into the alien Pokémon’s eyes, a small gulp of air travelled down Subterra Shock’s esophagus. “He is fine. He lacks the same aura as the other two. I’ve heard from Joker that we are unofficially employed within this organization. Helios and Selene are both interacting with the natives, but I believe that they have caught some unnecessary attention from some of the local figureheads.” “Wait, how do you know that?” Subterra Shock asked. “Telepathy.” Pointing to his head, Saturn responded. Celestia and Luna gazed upon two meteorites hovering above the courtyard’s ground. The meteorite to the left is an orange sphere with a yellow pattern of dots on it. Eight jagged spikes that shared the same color as the patterns on it jetted from the sphere. Until the end of time, its eyes remained slanted. The meteorite to the left is shaped in a beige crescent. Its body was covered in craters. Two black and smooth craters on the sides of its head made way for its pink eyes to see through. At the center of its body was a triangle-shaped shard of stone that made way for its nose. “Ummm, are we looking at the sun and moon, ‘Tia?” Luna asked. “I’m not sure, but I think that they are both staring at us.” Celestia whispered back. “We know you are talking about us, terrestrials of this world.” The sun-shaped meteorite responded. Celestia leaped back and shrieked. She placed her right front hoof onto her chest and felt her heart pound out of her chest. She inhaled and exhaled a deep number of breaths. “You… you scared me there for a moment. I never expected you being able to talk in our native tongue.” She stated. “Perhaps some introductions are in order then?” The moon-shaped meteorite asked. “We both are Pokémon and came here along with the rest of our squads when a certain disaster came upon us. My name is Selene and this here is my partner Helios.” Selene introduced with affection near the end of its tone. “Wait, your name is Selene? That name seems very familiar, almost as if I almost ended up with that name.” Luna noted. A large grin appeared on her face and a loud squeal emerged from her voice. “But who cares?! You two are shaped like the sun and moon!” Helios gazed upon Luna and tilted his body to the right. “And you have a fascination with the shapes of our body why?” Celestia cleared her throat, nabbing the attention of Helios. “Please forgive my sister, Helios. My name is Council Lady Celestia and her name is Council Lady Luna. We both respectively control the sun and the moon. I had never thought that I would witness Pokémon taking the shapes of even the sun and moon, so it is a bit flattering for us.” “You must easily be flattered then if our shapes caused that type of reaction from the both of you. Perhaps you would like to be enlightened on how our kind came to be?” Helios asked. “Yes! I want to hear everything about your kind!” Luna shouted out. Celestia shook her head and planted her right front hoof into her face. She dropped it onto the floor and wore a forced smile. “I would love to hear about how your species are created, but we have actual leadership duties to fulfill in this city.” “That is fine. We will just stalk and follow you until you are at a time and place convenient for you to listen to our story.” Helios responded. “You are very direct about this, Helios.” Tilting her head and narrowing one of her eyes, Luna commented. “Here, that is a crime.” “You two will love the story though. It has its shades of romances with the day and night.” Selene responded. “That is nice and all, but we have things to do here, such as discussing with Rundas’s squad about what they have discovered by the sea.” Celestia stated with a direct tone. “Plus, I am sure that my thestrals must be deathly exhausted from being up in the day for so long.” Luna said. “Alright. I guess we will see you then? We should go back to Saturn and Neptune now.” Selene stated. “So this is the room of the Pokémon at this stinking place, huh?” Squeezing through the front door, Gordo asked. Fei, who entered through the door and went into the room, became subjected to Gordo’s stare. His face dipped with sweat and he pulled on the collar of his suit. “Erm, yes. Ummm… I guess you don’t like this place?” He asked. Gordo walked over towards Rondo’s perched and smashed it with his fist. Gordo smiled. “There! Much better.” “I hope you realized that you will be paying for the damage done to Rondo’s perch, right?” Fei asked with his body arched and his eyes scowled in intimidation. “Pay for what? A stick? I got better things to do with my money.” Sophia stormed into the room with Mono being dragged along the floor in the grip of her mouth. She dropped her hold on Mono’s paw and stared at the two Pokémon in the room. “Everyone out. Now!” She shouted. Fei’s nerves jumped out of his back and Gordo focused his attention on the Sylveon before him. “Are you always in a foul mood like this?” Gordo asked. “Please excuse me, Gordo, but Mono and I have something very important to discuss within the privacy of this room. If you don’t get out of here within the next ten seconds, I’ll Moonblast you out of here.” Sophia responded with a shaky smile. Gordo whipped his paw towards Sophia and grunted. “I got better things to do. Come on, Fei; your partner here looks pretty pissed off right now.” “Fine.” Fei said in defeat. Gordo glanced towards Fei and smiled with a sheepish chuckle. “Hey, you don’t mind pushing me through the door again do you?” He asked. “I don’t mind.” Gordo ducked his head underneath the door and squeezed his body into the doorway. Fei punched Gordo through the frame of the door and knocked him into the wall. Fei left the room and the door shut. Sophia focused her sight on Mono, who got up from the floor and dusted his uniform off with his paws. His nerves froze upon seeing Sophia’s fiery stare. Sophia shut her eyes and inhaled a deep breath of air. The anger in her face transmuted into a betrayed frown. Mono’s nerves eased over and his mouth curved into a soft frown. “Is there something wrong, Sophia? You can tell me what is bothering you.” Mono asked with a gentle and timid tone. “Mono, there are reasons why that fight with As escalated as ugly as it did. That Liepard is a seductress who tries to make others fall for her wily charms for an ulterior motive. You are not that used to females, so I knew that she was the one to blame. But…” Sophia’s pupils drooped towards the ground. She lowered her legs and her chin slumped to the floor. Mono walked towards her side and kneeled to her eye level. “Did what Saturn say bother you, Sophia?” He asked with a shaky tone. Sophia looked into Mono’s eyes and motioned a week nod. “You still are aroused by her even without her charms in effect. It honestly felt like you were betraying my trust, because you just admitted that you still have feelings for that witch. I’m afraid that you’ll dump me just to be with her.” “Is that what this is about? You have it wrong, Sophia.” Mono retorted. “Well, you aren’t entirely wrong in the fact about me being aroused by her. But I will not leave your side. Cast those doubts out of your head.” Sophia lifted her head and returned Mono’s understanding gaze with confusion. “How can I be sure that you won’t leave me? Your words and heart can easily be separated from each other.” She asked. A slight red blush appeared on Mono’s face. A sheepish smile cracked from his lips and let out a nervous chuckle. “Sophia, do you promise not to tell anyone this?” He asked. “Tell anyone what?” She questioned. “You see, I umm… I have never been subjected to arousal before.” With the blush on his face reddening into a turnip, Mono responded. “That’s sort of strange. I find it hard to believe how someone such as yourself had never experienced these types of emotions.” Mono sat by Sophia’s side and placed his right upper paw on her head. He rubbed the fur there with affection. “Outside of my mom and Lith, I haven’t spent so much time around girls or was even a witness to much media where they would do… what As did to me. When she started giving me that look and doing some things with her body, my body just tightened around me. I felt compelled to go to her and I enjoyed every moment of that feeling.” He explained. “It sounds like you just awakened to your sexual aspects then.” Sophia noted. “I think that’s exactly what happened. When I met saw As, I discovered what females are, and what it means to be a male. I know with all my heart that females and males are equal for the most part, but witnessing those movements and those looks of As… it just turned me into a predator seeking his pray to just ravage all for himself. I wanted to ravish her until-”Mono explained with his eyes looking towards the ceiling with euphoria. “Mono, you’re starting to creep me out with how you are saying that.” With her head backing away from Mono, Sophia replied. “You sound like some sort of lunatic with heavily repressed sexual urges.” “Sorry…” “No, it’s alright. I know it is natural for males to think this way about females, but I just have difficulty trying to picture your sweet demeanor being affected by that mentality.” “Should I go on?” Mono asked. “By all means. Let out those sexual urges through your words, because I will be here to hear them without thinking any less negatively of you!” Sophia shouted with a chipper tone. As stumbled through the hallway with a dizzy step. Her eyes twirled around and her mouth was dazed open. She sat down against the wall and shook her head with a lazy movement. “Accursed catnip… why must you be so alluring to me?” She mumbled to herself. Her ears perked up at the sound of Mono’s words and Sophia’s noises of approval that descended into horror. A sly smile appeared on As’s face. “Oh my… those words of Mono’s sounds very sexy. And those shrieks of Sophia’s… it’s time that I pay them a little visit.” As strolled into the room with a shaky stride in her step. She sat by the entrance of the door. She gazed at Mono, who spoke with a giddy smile on her tone and looked towards Sophia, who gazed at Mono with an empty stare and nervous stutter in her voice. “And that’s just how you make me feel, all thanks to As seducing me.” Mono said. “Geez. I never would have guessed that I made you feel like that with how you rub me.” Sophia responded with a voice shaking with regret. “You know I had a lot of pain inflicted in my life. It’s something like therapy that I would like to take an extra step further one day.” As cleared her throat and nabbed the attention of Mono and Sophia. “Hope I’m not interrupting.” She said with a hazy voice. “What are you doing here, As?” Sophia shouted. Mono extended his paw out, forming a gate that separated Sophia from As. His giddy smile formed into a stone-faced stare. “Hold on, Sophia. Something is different about As. She doesn’t seem like she has control over actions.” “I see it in her eyes as well. We have to be cautious with how she approaches us.” Sophia instructed. As walked towards Sophia with a pleased smile and rubbed her head against Sophia’s ribbons. Sophia blushed and flashed an angry stare towards As. “Hey… stop that! My ribbons are sensitive.” She said. “Isn’t that the point?” As grabbed one of Sophia’s ribbons with a gentle tug of her front paws and caressed them with her head. A loud purr emanated from her chest. Sophia’s nerves exploded with uncontrollable shivers. Her knees weakened under her constant shuddering and she dropped to the ground. Her face lit up with a red blush on her face. “M-Mono! Don’t just stand around there. Do something!” She called out. Mono stood in his position, observing the acts before his eyes. His mind clicked at the slight smile Sophia flashed and the content purring As sounded out from rubbing against Sophia. “Is that a smile I see on your face?” He asked with a wary tone. “Ummm… maybe, but this is feeling really weird right now. I don’t even like her!” “Lies, Sophia. I saw that blush on your cheeks when we were fighting. You enjoyed it when I was on top of you, applying some nice pressure on your shoulders and pinning you down. You liked it, and I know you hope that Mono pins you down like that as well.” As replied. “M-Mono! Anytime would be great now!” With an uncomfortable grin forming on her face, Sophia demanded once more. “Are you sure you aren’t fine with what As is doing with you? Are you absolutely one-hundred percent sure?” Mono questioned. Sophia looked onto Mono’s face and saw his eyes relaxing down to a slant and his jaw hanging low and revealing his mouth. “Are you getting aroused by this?!” “Ummmm… I don’t know?” Mono responded with an absent-minded tone. “You sound like you are getting real flustered there, so I should probably help you now.” A devilish grin appeared on Sophia’s face. She looked towards the drugged As and put her right front paw on her shoulder. “Then on second thought.” Sophia knocked As onto the ground and sat upon the bottom of her rib cage. The sudden shift knocked As back into existence. She looked towards Sophia, who grinned with a luminescent blush on her face. “My, are you hitting on me?” She asked with a sultry voice. “Nope, but what we are doing seems to be having some effect on Mono.” Sophia responded. “Tell you what; I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll take back everything I said about you being a hussy if you go along with this act.” She brought her right front hoof towards As’s head and rubbed it with soft and sensual strokes. As’s face lit up with red. “W-what is the meaning of this? Why the sudden change of heart, and why like this?!” Sophia leaned her face towards As to the point where both of their muzzles are touching. “You helped awaken my boyfriend’s sexual side, so it is only fair that you help him experiment with his newfound sexuality.” “You know, I’m beginning to like you as a Pokémon, Sophia. We can be good friends if you are so willing to do this for your boyfriend.” As noted. “I know, but just take off my shirt and rub your face into my chest. Then, I’ll tell you what to do afterwards.” “Yes, Mistress.” Lith sat on the grass of the courtyard and gazed upon the stars of the night. The fresh air around her passed through her fur with a frigid chill. She smiled, closed her eyes and exhaled a content sigh. Her ears picked up on the sounds of footsteps from her right. She opened her eyes and gleamed towards the direction. Mono stumbled over towards Lith with a twitchy smile and a blush of red on his face. “H-hey Lith.” Mono called out. Lith looked to her left and right. An uneasy frown formed on her face. “Ummm, Mono, you don’t look composed like you usually do. Did something happen?” She asked with a wary voice. Mono waved his upper right paw and shook his head. “Nothing much. Sophia and As just helped me awaken my sexual side. I just finished… err, relieving myself.” Lith’s eyes slanted into a serious scowl and her uneasy frown evened itself on her face. “I’m not even going to ask for the specifics. All I’m just going to say is to ask you whether you should tell me about it or not.” Mono sat down by Lith’s side and looked into the stars and arched his body in an obtuse angle. With his upper paws on the ground, a happy sigh left him. “It’s not something I should really tell you about, but I should tell you about how I’ve discovered many things I didn’t know about myself today. Had Joker and his gang never came here, I doubt I would have found out those curiosities.” He explained. “Ummm… okay then. I’m curious about these ‘curiosities’ you have oh so delighted to impart in our conversation.” Lith stated with a forced grin and intrigue in her voice. “As nibbling Sophia’s bows and ribbons and rubbing her face into her chest is hot! The fact that As invited me to do the same and Sophia practically begged for me to do that is super hot! I had my first, sloppy wet kiss while I had pinned her down.” Mono explained. “Tongue and everything?” “The whole deal. It was very stimulating, and it actually made me feel like a male who can stand up to anything. It didn’t feel awkward at all for me.” “Wow! I thought that your first kiss would have been filled with anxiety, kind of like my first kiss with Fei turned out to be.” Lith praised. “Wait, your first kiss was full of anxiety? But you’re Lith! You shouldn’t feel any type of social anxiety.” Mono called out. A frown cracked on Lith’s face. A silent sigh passed from her mouth and she looked towards Mono. “It’s true. I was looking forward to it so much, but I obsessed over the details about how I wanted the kiss that I was too afraid of going all out. Fei managed to convince me otherwise that it is alright for me to feel anxious, and we both melted into each other’s embraces. But how did you manage to get it right on the first try?!” Mono shrugged his shoulders and smiled innocently. “It helps if both partners are hot and bothered. In an ironic twist of fate, you overthought your first kiss while I just went into it like a wild Hydreigon.” Lith formed a smile from her frown. She curled up her right paw and gave a soft punch to Mono’s left shoulder. “Look at you becoming all grown-up! All it took is for some random stranger to seduce you to finally set yourself on awakening the Pyroar inside of you.” “Is it really that impressive?” Placing his right upper paw underneath his chin, Mono asked. “Very. You honestly have no idea how important one’s sexuality is to the mental, physical and emotional development of a growing individual. I’m not sure if mom or dad would approve of the method, but I’m sure that they would be happy about that as well.” Mono grinned and rubbed his left shoulder. “Well, I’m going back home. I just hope that Joker suddenly pops up inside of it to warn me about something like he did earlier today.” “I’m sure Joker won’t do such a thing. Otherwise, I’ll just burn him out.” Lith replied. Wilhelm gazed upon the holographic screen in front of him. Displayed in its image is Red, who saluted the Van’Goth scientist. “What is your report, Red?” He asked with an impatient tone. “Our mission ended in failure. Just as we were about to eliminate the target, a Pokémon came out of nowhere and defeated all of us.” Red explained. Wilhelm gritted his teeth, curled his right hand into a fist and pounded the wall to his right. “You idiot! Do you have any idea how important that yellow pegasus is to our enemy?! She has power beyond anything we can imagine. If she awakens it, then we will never be able to eradicate the Equusians from existence!” He shouted. “Another detail to report! Green’s armor was corroded by the poison that the Pokémon assaulting us used. If weaknesses are applied to our armors, then we are the victim of a major flaw in design.” Red explained. “Yes, that does seem to be problematic. The Equusians now have access to a varied assortment of elemental attacks, especially with the surge of new Pokémon joining in their ranks. This does not bode well for us…” “We’ll get back to you, Sir Wilhelm. We will make sure to eradicate that pony next time.” The hologram containing Red vanished from thin air. The scowl on Wilhelm’s face lightened into a soft smile and maniacal eyes. A sinister chuckle resonated from his throat. “Well, it’s not like the Sallerian Rangers can do much against them. Even with the power of experimental technology, it still is just experimental. Perhaps I should personally pay some of these Pokémon a visit.” Author's Note So the Royal Flush Gang unofficially joined H.O.R.S.E. and some interesting things happened. Originally, a certain scene was supposed to have more material, but it would have bumped this fic's rating up a notch with how I wrote the description. So enjoy the final chapter of the introduction arc.
A Parable of Light and DarknessFluttershy hovered above Gordo’s head and rubbed it with her left front hoof using quick strokes. Gordo smiled and chuckled a bit. Fluttershy smiled and held a dark green leaf in her right front hoof. Gordo took it with both of his paws and bit into it. “See? You aren’t so bad when you are given the attention you desire.” Fluttershy said. “You are right. These leaves aren’t half bad either.” Gordo commented. “They are a special type of leaf that grows in the Twiluminescent Jungle continent. I had this particular one imported from there.” “Good stuff. I should probably check to see if I could go to this continent myself. I doubt anything would dare attack me.” Fluttershy winced and gritted her teeth through an anxious shiver. “Ummm… they will. There are several dangerous predators there.” “Bah! I bet none of them tienes los cojones para dolar a mi.” With a light-hearted chuckle, Gordo responded. “Ummm, maybe. It’s nice to see that you are adjusting properly. Now it’s time to see how Inge is doing.” A loud explosion burst from the end of the room. Fluttershy’s body jolted upwards from the sound. She dropped to the ground and ran towards the source of the noise. Inge cheered with eyes shut in glee. Next to her, Rondo stared at the broken screen with the lower portion of his beak slacking downwards. “Yes! I got a ten-thousand hit combo!” Inge shouted. “T-the TV! Y-y-you broke it through your playing!” Rondo noted with disbelief flooding from his voice. “Yeah, that type of thing tends to happen when I play video games. I get excited sometimes and blow up the TV.” With a nervous chuckle and moving her right limb to the back of her head with an anxious shiver, Inge responded. Rondo frowned and scowled towards Inge’s direction. “You are the worst type of gamer, Inge! Dear Arceus!” Inge shrugged her shoulders. “Accidents happen. Good thing I am good at fixing these type of things.” Saying these words, her body broke up into a flurry of pixels and entered into the shattered and smoking displayer on the ground. The displayer’s cracks mended themselves and the hologram displayed itself as normal. Inge materialized back into the outside world and gazed within Rondo’s widened eyes. “That’s amazing! Why don’t we have a Porygon Z at our lab?!” Rondo shouted. “Should’ve invested in an UpGrade and Dubious Disc! Oh, and getting a Porygon would’ve helped as well.” Inge responded. “I see you two are interacting just well.” Fluttershy responded. “Ummm, we are. Inge just fixed this and she’s actually really cool.” Rondo complimented. “Thank you, Rondo. Your words mean very much to me.” Inge responded. Twilight Sparkle wandered through the door and gazed at Gordo. Gordo stared daggers into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes. Twilight Sparkle took a step back. Her face dripped with cold sweat and her breathing stopped at the roof of her mouth. “Ummm, would you mind not looking at me like that? It’s kind of rude and very intimidating.” She asked. “What are you here for?” Gordo asked with a booming voice. “Ummm… I’m here to see Fluttershy about some very important matters. It cannot wait.” Twilight Sparkle responded. Gordo opened his mouth to speak, but Fluttershy hovered past him with a frown of concern formed on her face. “Do you need me for anything Twilight?” She asked. “I would like to question you about your encounter and some surprising details I discovered. Come with me to the lab and I will discuss it there.” Gordo eyed the slight twitch in Fluttershy’s right front hoof and left eye. He saw a quick rise and fall of her chest. He frowned and curled up his paw. “You better not make her feel uncomfortable. If you do, I’m going to beat you up.” “She is my friend, so I have no reason to make her feel uncomfortable. So you do not need to threaten me.” Twilight Sparkle retorted. Gordo lightened the grip on his paw and turned towards his right. A shallow grunt emerged from his closed mouth. “Go. Do your thing.” Twilight Sparkle nodded. She and Fluttershy took their steps outside of the room and into the hallway. Rondo flashed an angry stare at Gordo. “You still owe me a new perch!” Gordo flicked his right upper paw and let out a bold grunt. “Blow it out your ass.” Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy walked through a set of double doors. Fluttershy’s rifle remained suspended within a tube. “What are the details that you need me for, Twilight? I hope you don’t mind me asking.” Fluttershy asked. Twilight Sparkle grabbed the rifle through her magic and levitated it towards her. She gazed at Fluttershy with an intense stare. “I’m not sure if you know, but you had a charm equipped improperly onto your rifle. It should be on the stock of the weapon, not the barrel.” She explained. A squeak of surprise shot from Fluttershy’s mouth. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her front hooves. “Ohhh… ummm, my bad. I guess my adjustment of the charm today was a bit faulty.” She said with a nervous stutter in her tone. Twilight Sparkle pointed towards a hologram that recorded Fluttershy using her rifle out in the field. Her eyes drifted to the charm placed on the barrel of the gun. Her eyes then wandered towards Fluttershy healing Gnasher’s shoulder wound. “Strange. This charm was set improperly all this time as well, but you still are capable of using healing magic.” “Ummm… it could be that some of the magic from the charm was still able to find its way into the gun, right?” Flashing a sheepish smile, Fluttershy asked. “Nope. Impossible. Using a charm that is improperly set causes a very painful self-destruction effect. You aren’t trying to hide anything from me, aren’t you?” Twilight Sparkle’s keen eyes detected the twitches on Fluttershy’s front hooves. Fluttershy’s eyes rolled with a shine of sadness to them. “You promise that you wouldn’t treat me any differently if I tell you, Twilight?” She asked with a sullen voice. Twilight Sparkle’s stance faltered from the deadpan honesty of Fluttershy’s words. She blinked once. A soft smile was brought to her face. “You are my friend, Fluttershy. Of course I wouldn’t treat you any different. You can tell me what is on your mind.” Fluttershy held up her left hoof between Twilight Sparkle and herself. Trails of blue and yellow energy swirled skyward from it. Twilight Sparkle yelped and leaped back at the sight of the event. “Is… is that magic you are harnessing?!” She called out with a surprised tone. “It’s not exactly magic, but it isn’t what the Pokémon use either. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always had these strange abilities as far as I could remember.” Fluttershy explained. “The only thing I know about these abilities so far is that I have the ability to use a light form of healing.” “That’s amazing! Why haven’t you told anyone sooner that you can use these abilities?! It can bring some great achievements into our social setting!” Twilight Sparkle shouted with glee emanating from her tone. Fluttershy gritted her teeth and stared into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes with an unsettling level of intimidation radiating from her gaze. “I never asked for this, Twilight! I don’t want to be treated differently from other pegasi for having these abilities. I don’t want to be a freak who others will call unsavory names. I just want to be Fluttershy.” “Ummm, Fluttershy, why are you so angry right now?” Twilight Sparkle asked with a descending voice. “Because you promised that you wouldn’t treat me any different. Right after I told you, you showered me with excitement and praise.” Steam seethed from Fluttershy’s nostrils. Her hooves became tight with anger. She looked into Twilight Sparkle’s face and saw a glimmer of betrayed sadness in her pupils. She frowned. “Ohhh… Ummm, sorry. I didn’t mean to react the way I did. I just feel so much pent-up rage inside when someone brings it up that I sort of lose myself.” Twilight Sparkle cracked a small smile on her face. She wrapped her front hooves around Fluttershy’s back and brought her in for a hug. “I understand. I’m sorry for even thinking about treating you any different. If it would help you, I promise to not tell even a soul about this conversation.” Fluttershy smiled and wrapped her hooves around Twilight Sparkle. “You didn’t have to apologize. I’m okay with you knowing about this though. This will be our little secret.” “But what about Riona? Her words allude to already having knowledge of your abilities.” Twilight Sparkle asked. “That’s alright. Maybe she can help me get a better understanding of them. She seems very wise.” Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy broke from their hug. Fluttershy’s watch sounded out a ringing beep. She touched the screen of her watch, revealing a hologram of Spitfire’s head. “Fluttershy, I have an important mission that requires your patience and kindness. I’ll meet with you in my quarters.” “Alright, Commander. I’ll be there.” Spitfire nodded and her hologram disappeared. Fluttershy looked into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes and smiled. “I think a mission will help you forget about some of those worries you have, Fluttershy.” Twilight Sparkle rationalized. “I know it will.” Spitfire stood face to face with a sunrise yellow-coated pegasus stallion. The definition of his muscles protruded from his gray uniform. His blue mane hung down to his shoulders and his tail is a serrated whip. His eyes are sparkling amethysts preserved away from the touch of society. A smirk appeared on Spitfire’s face. She pat the stallion’s right shoulder with her right front hoof. “It’s nice to see that you are joining in our ranks, Violet Horizon.” Violet Horizon returned her smirk with a wide and hopeful smile. He rubbed the back of his head with his left front hoof. “It is a pleasure to be among the elite that will protect the lives of this city and the champions that preserve their ways.” “You seem to be very excited for this moment, aren’t you?” Spitfire asked with a mellow voice. “I looked through your dossier and found that you are relatively young for a recruit. I was your age when I first took part of the War of Nations twenty-five years ago.” “That’s awesome! I think. So what is my first duty as an operative of H.O.R.S.E.?” Violet Horizon said. “I’m glad you asked. Although you had an impressive show in the written and field portions of the test, you are still a greenhorn with how we actually function. Therefore, I’m sending you a few other operatives and guests with experience for your mission.” Spitfire looked towards the door. A sharp whistling noise rung from her curled mouth. Fluttershy, Soarin’, Riona, and Custard emerged from the doorway and walked into the room. “So this is the new recruit you were telling us about, Commander?” Soarin’ asked with a casual tone. “He seems alright.” Violet Horizon’s eyes widened at the sight of Riona and Custard. He walked towards them and stroked their heads with his front hooves. “So these are the Pokémon I’ve heard so much about… I get to have them assist me?!” He shouted with a rising burst of enthusiasm. “I can definitely see your potential and will to protect the Equusians. My name is Riona. We will get along fine.” Riona responded with a calm smile. Looking upon Violet Horizon’s visage, Fluttershy shied her face away from him. Spitfire detected a small and shameful smile on her face. She hummed in a very low tone. Violet Horizon walked towards Fluttershy with a warm smile on his face. He waved. “Hello, Miss. I believe I have not gotten your name.” He said. Fluttershy jolted upwards and squeaked a shrill noise. Violet Horizon’s eyelids descended over the top of his pupils. “Oh! I didn’t mean to offend. My name is Fluttershy, a field researcher at H.O.R.S.E. You must be Violet Horizon?” Rubbing the front of her right front hoof with her left front hoof, Fluttershy asked with a voice filled with embarrassment. “That is correct. It seems that my reputation has reached to even those of the cutest of demeanors.” “Ummm… yes. I’ve looked up your information after the Commander called me here. I read that you specialize in recon and field research?” “Yes. I’ve always had an appreciation for the natural world, and I really hope that I can scope out this vast world and protect it from the Van’Goth.” Violet Horizon stated. “Oh my! I never expected another pegasus to take an interest with the natural world. Mainly, they are all about the sky and trying to exceed their limit and head into space.” Fluttershy noted. “Not me. I already have access to the sky, but what good is the sky if you do not have a solid chunk of earth to land on?” Spitfire exhaled a gust from her nostrils. She approached Fluttershy and Violet Horizon. “I would love to hear this conversation on the balance between Heaven and Earth as much as the next philosopher but you all have a mission to attend to.” “Sorry Commander. It won’t happen again.” Violet Horizon responded. Soarin’ and Custard walked down the path of the dense Everfree Forest. Their limbs moved with steeled caution and their sights are primed for action. Violet Horizon followed close behind the duo and looked upon them with curiosity. “So, what are you two looking for?” He asked. “The Everfree Forest is still one of the most dangerous places in the world even after the terraforming. We have to keep an eye out for any vicious creatures in the wood.” Soarin’ explained. Fluttershy and Riona walked behind the group at a slower pace. Riona looked upon Fluttershy with a stern and stone-faced expression. “I was wondering why a Pokémon of your stature ended up in being a part of a group of mercenaries. It seems a bit unusual to me.” Fluttershy asked. “I’ve seen many evils as a Skiddo and even more as a Gogoat. If you saw them, you would be mortified that they existed. Being a mercenary may have its qualities of being evil. Compared to the evils masked by society, this job is a holy Pokémon’s position.” Riona answered. “I never knew that your world was plagued with such evil. Why can we not help each other as fellows?” “That would mean that we would all have to put aside our differences. You know that is not possible.” “I know, but it would be nice…” Riona gazed onto Violet Horizon’s backside and smirked. “Let’s talk about how you like that young stallion in front of us.” She stated with a teasing voice. Fluttershy’s face reddened to an apple. She hid behind her mane. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! Forgive me for asking, but maybe you might have picked up the wrong messages?” “I saw your body language when you interacted with him. I find it cute that you have feelings for a pony you just met.” Riona stated. “Care to tell me why? I’ve never understood the point of romance to begin with.” Fluttershy grinned and looked upon the ground. She shook her head. “He has a beautiful coloration pattern for his coat, and he’s a fellow pegasus that doesn’t care as much for flight like me. I felt sparks when I looked into his eyes, and it makes me feel somewhat nervous around him.” “Ah, so those are those feelings. Mutuality and camaraderie breed understanding, and understanding blossoms into feelings of romance it seems. I see it in Iosac’s eyes whenever he looks onto Saraid. Unfortunately, he can be quite the idiot sometimes by letting his feelings distract him on the field.” “Isn’t he entitled to his feelings? We are all animals after all.” Riona looked into Fluttershy’s eyes with a soft frown on her face. She blinked at a slow speed and looked forward. “Everyone is, but feelings are something very earthly. You will understand when you are older.” “But, isn’t being earthly our purpose in this world? We are born in this world to become a part of it.” Fluttershy asked. “Again I will say; if you have seen the evils I have witnessed in my years of living, you would not want to be a part of this world. It is a disgusting place where no good can come from.” Riona responded. Fluttershy’s smile descended into a frown. Her mane hung below her neck with a lanky spring. “I’m sorry, Riona, but your words are very depressing. Does that mean we are all just disgusting?” “Not necessarily. There are those that are truly good, and those are the ones who are capable of ascending beyond the darkness of the material universe and into Pleroma. Just live your life the way you do and you will be fine.” Riona stated. The group came upon a clearing in the forest. Custard examined the area around him and brought his watch to his face. A nervous smile appeared on his face. He faced Soarin’ and brought his upper left limb to him. “Ummm, do you mind telling me how this works again? I’m not too good with your technology.” Soarin’ smiled and tapped on Custard’s watch. He touched upon a revealed hologram and scrolled it until it revealed the symbol of five stars. “You were looking for this, right?” He asked. “Yes! I was looking for a way to communicate with Spitfire. But how did you know?” Soarin’ shrugged his shoulders and let out a cocky grin. “If you were in the military for as long as I was, then you start picking up on these sorts of things.” Custard scrolled through the list of contacts on the page and touched upon Spitfire. Violet Horizon looked upon Custard with a curious glance. “Hey Custard, what are you doing?” He asked. “I’m handing a mission status to Spitfire. This is my first time doing so, so I’m not too good with this, so I need a bit of help.” “Fair enough. I didn’t think a Pokémon would have much experience with technology.” Custard grinned and wagged his upper right limb sideways. “That’s not true, actually. Several Pokémon are already involved in divisions that require the use of technology and such. In addition, my girlfriend knows how to use a mean set of claws.” “She must’ve scratched you with them if you say it like that.” Violet Horizon commented with a voice giddy with glee. “Very. She can be very scary with them. My type of girl!” A round of joyous laughter echoed between the two males. “Yeah I think you and I will get along just fine, Custard.” “I have that feeling as well, Violet Horizon. Now to contact Spitfire.” Custard touched upon Spitfire’s name on the hologram. Three waves emerged from the watch and threw themselves into the infinite sky. A hologram of Spitfire’s head appeared on the screen display. “Ah, Custard! How is your mission’s progress moving along?” “Everything is going well. Violet Horizon is getting a feel for the environment. I just hope nothing happens to ruin our day.” Custard responded. “Alright. Let me know when-“Spitfire’s hologram became warped. Her voice is muffled with static. The display became a mess of orange and yellow before fading away. Custard and Violet Horizon’s breaths shortened to a stop. “Uhhh… is that supposed to happen?” Violet Horizon asked with a wary and confused tone. “…I don’t think so.” Custard replied. “Soarin’, is the signal supposed to jam out here?” They looked towards Soarin’s direction. Soarin’ took five shaky steps back. He had his lower lip gripped with a vice by his teeth. His green pupils shrunk at the sight of a bipedal figure before him. “Custard! Respond!” Spitfire shouted with a loud voice brimming with urgency. She groaned and placed her front hooves onto her face. “Great. The squad is in danger. Looks like I’ll have to bail them out.” She grabbed her black bracer and adorned it onto her right front ankle. Wilhelm smirked and tilted his glasses with Soarin’ in his sights. He took three steps forwards and approached him at a steady stance. “W-W-Wilhelm!” Soarin’ stuttered out. “It seems you remembered my name. I am honored you have.” Wilhelm replied. He looked among the rest of the operatives by him. “Couldn’t you have picked a more suitable team for this mission? You brought a few newbies to confront me?” The gears in Custard’s head clicked together and rotated. He pointed towards Wilhelm and focused a tight stare on him. “Aren’t you the Van’Goth that communicated with Goethia when she attacked White Apple’s dairy farm?” He asked with a stern voice. “And you must be that gooey dragon that Goethia loved torturing. You look much squishier in person than I thought.” Soarin’ growled and pulled out his laser shotgun from his backpack. He hovered into the air and cocked it. “Fall back! This guy is dangerous news!” Soarin fired a blast of lasers towards Wilhelm. Wilhelm stood in place and held out his white gloved hand. The lasers directed themselves into the palm of his hand and disappeared. Violet Horizon and Custard’s eyes widened with shock. “Is that the best you can do, Soarin’? I thought all this time since we last met would have given you a more ample strategy to deal with me.” Wilhelm taunted. “You haven’t seen anything yet. I’m just getting warmed up!” Soarin’ responded. He split his shotgun into twin laser blades. He flew forward and landed hind hooves first on the ground before Wilhelm. He swung his blade with a horizontal strike towards the left side of Wilhelm’s neck. Wilhelm grabbed the blade with his right hand and stopped it. The color in Soarin’s face faded away and his breath is robbed of response. “What’s the matter? Surprised that I can grab this? Then you are going to love what I do next.” Wilhelm crushed the blade with a squeeze of his hand. The shards of light fell onto the ground and dissipated into nothingness. He then launched a strong punch towards Soarin’s left shoulder, knocking him on the ground. “Soarin’!” Violet Horizon shouted. “V-Violet Horizon… stay back! That is an order!” Laying down on the ground facing him, Soarin’ commanded. Wilhelm thrust his foot onto the middle of Soarin’s upper back, shattering the vertebrae there. A loud scream resonating with pain launched itself out of his mouth. A gnarled smile curled onto Wilhelm’s face. “It isn’t so bad, Soarin’. All I did was just step on your back, or are you Equusians much more pathetic than what I accounted for? Regardless, I will enjoy doing this.” He crouched down and brought his right hand towards Soarin’s right front leg. He brought his right foot onto the middle of Soarin’s ulna. “He’s going to break his leg! I can’t allow that to happen.” Custard said to himself. He fired a Dragon Pulse towards Wilhelm’s back, which exploded upon impact. Wilhelm chuckled and turned towards Custard. “Are you trying to get yourself killed, my gooey friend? That was one of the dumbest things you have ever done in your life.” He stated. “I don’t care! I won’t let you hurt Soarin’ any longer.” Custard responded with defiance. “Custard! What are you doing here?! Get out of here! Save the squad!” Soarin’ ordered. “I’m afraid that’s impossible, Soarin’. You see, he wants to die a slow and excruciating death. I can give that to him.” Wilhelm stated. Custard unleashed a Flamethrower from his mouth that engulfed Wilhelm’s body. Wilhelm walked through the tongues of biting fires. Custard’s nerves shook upon seeing how Wilhelm showed no reaction at all. Wilhelm pulled out a knife coated with a pink liquid. He threw it into the air above Custard and leaped at teleporting speed. He dove down to Custard and stabbed him below the left shoulder. Custard’s eyes widened at the sensation of his flesh being penetrated by the blade. He felt his slime drying up from his body and solidifying into a hard and colorless shell. His nerves screamed with the sensation of fire eating away at them. His body felt limp and unable to move. Wilhelm pulled out his blade. “You see, I come heavily prepared with ways of dealing with various beings. What I just stabbed you with is a blade containing a poison found in this world that quickly dries up flesh to the point where you can’t move. Because you are an aqueous being, I am sure that you are in incredible pain right now.” Violet Horizon soared through the air and tackled Wilhelm into the ground. He leered into Wilhelm’s eyes with a violent stare. He pulled out a knife from a bag from flank side and brought it to his neck. “I’ll give you the count of three to give me the antidote for that poison, now!” He shouted. “Silly, misguided Equusian; you really think you have the battle won just because you are on top of me? The battle is far from over for me. On the contrary, I believe that this is checkmate.” Wilhelm stated. Violet Horizon lifted an eye open in confusion. He felt Wilhelm’s gloved hands grasp his right front ankle and squeeze it. The intense pressure elicited a grit of Violet Horizon’s teeth. Wilhelm smiled and brought the squeeze into a sinister maw. Feeling the gooey rush of liquids through his joint and his hoof torn apart, Violet Horizon succumbed to his pain. He screamed loud enough to rupture eardrums. He dropped his knife and flew off of him. Wilhelm leaped into the air and grabbed Violet Horizon’s right wing. With it in his grasp, he chucked Violet Horizon down onto the earth, shattering the ground and causing a crater. He dropped onto the side of Violet Horizon, crouching by his side. Violet Horizon growled in defiance against his attacker. “You may batter my body, but you will not break my spirit!” He shouted. “I love it when you put up a fight. It makes it much more satisfying to me when I listen to the screams of your spirit broken through your physical pain.” Saying these words, he stomped on Violet Horizon’s left hind knee, causing it to dislocate from place. A roar of pain escaped from Violet Horizon’s voice. Fluttershy winced and looked away from the area. She looked into Riona’s eyes with pleading irises. “We have to help him, Riona! We have to provide them with immediate aid!” She shouted. “Our commanding leader here told us to stay away from this guy. Did you see what he did to Soarin’, Custard and now Violet Horizon?! Escape would not be a cowardly option when faced against a foe whose power is much greater than our own. In fact, it is borderline suicide to approach him at this point!” Riona reasoned. “I don’t care! I have to save the team from this monster!” Fluttershy declared. Riona sighed and shook her head. “Fine, but I’m fleeing when you die. Is that alright?” “Thanks, Riona.” Fluttershy responded with a happy sigh. Wilhelm stomped on the middle of the right hind fibula of Violet Horizon. He brought his right hand over to the ankle of the same leg. “D-do what you want with me, but stop hurting the others!” Violet Horizon stammered through his gritted teeth. “You sound like you actually care for your allies. After I am done with you, I’ll make sure you will die last so that I can see that broken look in your eyes.” Wilhelm lifted Violet Horizon’s leg upwards with his right foot anchored onto the fibula. He pulled on it and felt the bone bend against his will. His sharp-toothed grin filled his entire face upon hearing Violet Horizon’s grunts of struggle and groaning. The pop of a snapped bone shot throughout the forest. Author's Note So Wilhelm finally makes his physical appearance in action... after over thirty chapters of just appearing. What a way to make an entrance. I'm also contemplating on tagging this fic as 'Dark' now, mainly because this fic is only going to keep increasing in grittiness. I don't know, but should I do so?
The Fire That Burns in the DarknessViolet Horizon’s throat burned from the screaming of his voice. Wilhelm stepped off of his body and looked down upon him. Violet Horizon rolled on the ground with wincing eyes, keeping his broken leg away. “Now do you see why I you should have never defied me? Now that you are out of the way, it is time to move onto my real target.” Wilhelm stated. “R-r-real… t-t-target?” Violet Horizon muttered out. Fluttershy readied her rifle and shot Wilhelm in his right shoulder blade. The blast failed to penetrate beyond his skin. A devious smirk appeared on Wilhelm’s face. The color on Violet Horizon’s face faded into a pale white. “Is that anxiety I sense? Then you must know who my target is. Go on, tell her to flee and have your words ignored by her. Her kindness will be the reason why she will die before my hands.” Wilhelm jeered. “Step away from Violet Horizon, Wilhelm! If it is me you are after, then face me like a real warrior!” Fluttershy called out. Wilhelm turned around towards Fluttershy’s and Riona’s direction. He moved at the speed of blinking eyes, sliding across the ground with flashing steps. Riona knocked Fluttershy out of Wilhelm’s trajectory and ducked her head. Wilhelm’s fist collided with Riona’s horns and ignited sparks between the two combatants. “You want to get to her? You’re going to have to go through me.” Riona gritted out. “If you are able to stand against my fist, then there might be some worth with you after all. Very well then; I accept your invitation.” Using the reactionary force of the clash, Wilhelm leaped back and glared into Riona’s eyes. Riona smirked and ran across the field towards Wilhelm. Her horns flashed in a chartreuse light and extended a quarter of their size. Wilhelm grabbed her horn and lifted her from the ground. Riona swung her body forwards and knocked her hind hooves into Wilhelm’s chest. Wilhelm’s feet dragged along the ground from the force his body suffered. Wilhelm growled and threw Riona sky high into the air. He leaps into the air and he curls his hand into a fist. An orange glow emanated from his hand. Riona flipped her head towards Wilhelm’s direction and gritted her teeth. Her horns flashed in a verdant green color and she dived towards Wilhelm’s fist. The two attacks collided and ignited, creating an explosion that engulfed the air. Riona and Wilhelm fell onto the ground on their feet and looked into each other’s eyes. Feeling a yellow light enter into her body from her horns, Riona cracked a soft smile. Wilhelm stood at a rock-solid stance and gazed at the Gogoat before him. “It is interesting how you were able to stand up to my explosive punch. More so, I am impressed that you are still standing after that.” He complimented. “My Horn Leech heals up to fifty percent of the damage I would deal. The fact that I healed so much off of you and you are still standing shows how much of a tank you are.” Riona stated back. Her right front hoof glowed in an orange light and she stomped the ground. The earth underneath Wilhelm’s feet shook with a mighty tremor. He leaped from the ground and looked down towards Riona. Air particles generated underneath his feet and he leaped down towards Riona, striking her with his fist. Fluttershy cringed at the sound of the explosion ringing in her ears. She shrugged it off and dipped into the crater where Violet Horizon lied in. She went by his side and pointed her rifle towards him. Violet Horizon turned his neck towards Fluttershy’s direction and frowned. “Are… you going to shoot me?” He whispered out in a heavy voice. “No. I’ll heal you right up. I won’t let you suffer like this.” Fluttershy responded. “In that case, help out Custard first. It looks like he can’t even move.” Violet Horizon requested. Fluttershy nodded and hovered towards Custard, whose body is still paralyzed from the effects of the venom. He rolled the pupils of his eyes towards Fluttershy’s direction. Fluttershy placed her right front hoof onto Custard’s flesh and felt its rock solid exterior. A soft gasp escaped from her mouth. “Oh no… the poison is already taking quick effect. I have to do something.” She looked towards Soarin’, who lied collapsed on the ground. She gazed towards Riona, who parried all of Wilhelm’s blows to her. “No one is looking. Maybe I can finally use the full extent of my current power.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath inwards. Her hooves lit up in a blue and yellow aura. She touched Custard’s body and brought her energy into him. Custard’s breaths became audible and his body twitched in response. He blinked twice and moved his head towards Fluttershy. “Are you… healing me?” He asked with a hoarse voice weakened through pain. “I don’t have much confidence in my abilities, but you were the most critical condition out of the members of the squad. Once I get you stabilized, then I’ll move onto Violet Horizon and then Soarin’.” Fluttershy responded. An atrophied smile appeared on Custard’s face. He felt his flesh softening and the pain within him retreating. A sigh of relief passed through his open mouth. “Thank you, Fluttershy.” He said. Fluttershy brought her hooves away from Custard and looked down upon him with a frown of concern etched onto her face. “I couldn’t eliminate all of the poison, but you should be fine for now. Try retreating from the area alongside Violet Horizon and Soarin’ when I give the signal. Riona is a tough girl, but I don’t think that even she can handle fighting against Wilhelm much longer.” “Will do. I promise that I will follow orders this time.” Custard responded. Riona backed away from Wilhelm. With her four legs arched, heavy panting escaped from her body. Wilhelm held out his right arm towards her. “Tired already? I’m just starting to have fun with this.” He stated. “You are definitely a challenging foe. If I had to say something good about you, you are probably my most difficult challenge in my years in the Royal Flush Gang.” Riona stated. “Flattery will get you nowhere, my dear.” “Of course I know. Now, enough talk; let’s fight!” Riona’s body split into copies of itself. She and her copies charged forwards towards Wilhelm. Wilhelm slammed his fist into the ground. A bracelet around his wrist emitted a blue pulse of energy that engulfed the area. Riona’s copies disappeared. “Found you.” Wilhelm stated with a sneaky voice. Riona’s eyes widened. Her body failed to register Wilhelm’s fist launching against her face and knocking her into the ground. Her body rolled along the ground and bumped along the patches of grass on it. She anchored her right front hoof into the ground and fastened her left hind hoof behind her. She stood up and looked forwards. “Did you like my disruptor? It phases out any illusionary objects and allows me to see through your ruses.” Wilhelm explained. “That’s fine. I really didn’t need my Double Team anyways.” Saying these words, Riona ducked her mouth into her underside and bit on one of her teeth. Feeling her milk enter into her mouth, the scrapes and bruises along her body faded away. Her coat radiated with a shimmering light of restoration. “I see you have many ways to heal yourself. Maybe I should experiment on you after I make you braindead so that I can see how your body works. I can’t guarantee that your body won’t feel it as my work with the dead has been… less than ethical.” Wilhelm taunted. “You sick piece of fornication…” Riona uttered to herself. Wilhelm sprinted forwards and punched Riona in her ribs. Her eyes widened from the blow and the pain of her bones colliding with her lungs. She is launched into the air and against the tree. She fell onto the base of the stump and looked into Wilhelm’s eyes. “No ordinary Equusian could have survived that blow I did on you. But I can see it damaged you very much. If you give up, I’ll ensure that your death will be quick. I can’t guarantee that it would be painless though.” Wilhelm offered. “Over my dead body!” Riona jabbed her horns into Wilhelm’s abdomen and stood up from the ground. She smashed Wilhelm into the bark of the tree. With her horns flashing a verdant green, any sustained wounds on her body faded away. Wilhelm grimaced and an impatient hum reverberated from his closed lips. “I’m getting bored of how much you are trying to stand up to me. We all know that I will be the one to take your life, correct?” He explained. “I know and I understand this fact. What you fail to realize is that I am simply buying some time.” Riona stated. “And here I thought you wanted to challenge me for the sake of challenging me. You could have just left me to kill my target and left on your own.” “I could have, but I did not anticipate that you would be so eager in challenging me either. Do the aliens of this world not provide a decent challenge?” “They do, and some have, but it is few and far between. It’s rare for me to even see such a worthy foe, but I believe it is time for me to end this.” Wilhelm stated. He placed his right hand on Riona’s right horn and squeezed it. Riona’s eyes widened. She slammed Wilhelm into the tree in a repeated series of strikes. She felt her horn’s durability weakening from the pressure applied to it. It snapped off, leaving an uneven break. She winced and gritted her teeth. Wilhelm pulled the broken horn out of his bleeding abdomen and chucked it out into the distance. “My horn….” Riona gritted out. “You are one horn short, so your attacks involving them will not nearly be as effective. Plus, I now have a souvenir to study after our encounter.” “That’s fine. I only need one horn to finish you off.” Wilhelm slammed the horn he had in his hand against the tree behind him. The horn plunged into the depth of the wood and shattered a crater-sized gap at the point where Riona stabbed through Wilhelm. He flexed his body through the hole and kicked Riona’s head upwards. Riona landed on her back and winced. Fluttershy ran towards the crater with a desperate pant emanating from her lungs. Her eyes picked upon a shadow descending before them. Gazing upon Wilhelm’s form before her, her heart stopped and her pupils dilated. “You thought you can help your teammates behind my back, did you not? It’s not a matter of how much time your teammate can buy before you can escape with your team, but it is a matter of how long you can survive before I reach you. I’m afraid your time is up.” Wilhelm stated. Fluttershy’s nerves ran cold and her body felt imprisoned by the chains of her fear. She was but a filly looking upon a monstrous creature that wanted to rend her flesh in the worst possible ways. She uttered a whimper and took slow steps backwards. “S-stay back! I’m warning you!” Wilhelm took steps forwards, bringing forth an air of intimidation between the encounter. “You remind me of a little someone who I met a few months ago. He was a small stallion working at one of the many outposts in the continent. He had the gall to approach me and thought he can take me on. He had such bravado, but ended up being the victim of my handicraft. I think his name was ‘blue plan’ or something like that? Regardless, his suffering provided me with such joy that I almost cried out in ecstacy. He should be thankful that he can give me such pleasure.” Fluttershy shook her head and gazed at Wilhelm with broken eyes. “You were the one who did that to Blue Plain?! You horrible monster! He had feelings, hopes and dreams like every other living being! You took that all away from him and degraded the remainder of his physical existence to pain and despair!” With her voice quivering on the verge of tears, she shouted. “Ah, so you knew him? That makes things even better, since I’ll just do the same thing to you.” Wilhelm stated. He crunched his knuckles against his opposite hands and leered towards Fluttershy. Riona charged into Wilhelm’s body and chucked him across the clearing. “I’m not dead yet, remember?” Riona called out. “You’re going to have to do better than that to incapacitate me.” Wilhelm planted his right palm into the ground. The force carrying his body forward transferred into his hand and dragged along the dirt. “You are becoming quite the thorn in my side. Very well, I’ll make sure you are dead.” Fluttershy witnessed Riona’s horn clash against Wilhelm’s foot and saw the two combatants moving at a speed faster than her eyes can keep up with. She dropped into the crater and treaded her front hooves onto Violet Horizon’s dislocated knee. Violet Horizon stretched his neck towards Fluttershy’s direction. “How is Custard?” He asked in a weak voice. “His condition has stabilized for the moment, but I have to get you and Soarin’ up and ready to leave this forest.” Fluttershy responded. Violet Horizon smiled and rested his head on the ground. “Thank you for caring for all of us, Fluttershy.” Fluttershy’s hooves glowed with their mystic light. Violet Horizon felt his leg amending itself. He winced and groaned at the sudden collision of his two bones. “I know this feels a bit unusual. It may even hurt, but I am just speeding up the natural recovery of your leg.” Fluttershy assured. “How are you even doing this?” Violet Horizon asked with a mystified tone. “Pegasi should not have access to healing magic like you are doing.” “Don’t talk now. Just rest as I mend your body to the best of your body’s abilities.” Fluttershy instructed. She moved her hooves to Violet Horizon’s dislocated knee and ankle. Feeling the ruptured sacs within his joints filling up with lost fluid and being repaired, Violet Horizon let out a sigh of relief. Fluttershy stood up from the ground and looked down upon him with a smile. “Your body is restored to the point where it would let me fix it towards. Now I have to go help Soarin’.” She flew out of the crater and towards Soarin’s direction. She gazed to her right, where an electrified Wilhelm leaped towards her with his fist geared at her side. She stopped in place and squeaked with widened eyes. Riona leaped on top of Wilhelm and knocked him down to the ground with a Leaf Blade. “Didn’t I say that you should not count me out yet? I admit that I am the weaker adversary between us, but I will continue fighting you until my last breath.” She called out, landing on him. “Force of habit.” Wilhelm stated with a cocky tone. He threw a fierce punch against Riona’s jaw and knocked her away. Fluttershy landed by Soarin’s side and placed her hooves on his shoulder blades. Soarin’s eyes opened with a weak movement. “F…Fluttershy? Didn’t I tell you to get out of here?” He questioned with a slow and weary tone. “We are leaving this forest as a full squad. There will be no pony or Pokémon left behind.” Fluttershy responded. “Besides, everyone but Riona and I are down. Riona is trying her best to buy time for me to do this.” Soarin’ gazed towards Riona, who sidestepped and dodged the assault of strikes Wilhelm launched towards her direction. She then slammed her chartreuse-glowing horn into Wilhelm’s chest. “Well call me a donkey’s uncle… that goat actually can move!” Soarin’ complimented. “She has her limits, and Wilhelm is quickly reaching them. Once I get you up, then the five of us can leave.” Fluttershy stated. Riona leaped backwards and let out heavy breaths filled with exhaustion. Her stance faltered and she winced. Wilhelm walked towards her and swung his foot towards the back of Riona’s skull. Riona fell to the ground. Her muscles twitched in pain. “I had said that you would be worth being experiment fodder in the past, but now I see that you are much too troublesome for me to work with. I cannot trust whether you would rise from the dead to attack me during my experimentation on your corpse, so I will just end your life here. But, if it serves as any consolation to you, you have been my most worthy adversary yet.” Wilhelm spoke. He raised his foot into the air once more over her neck. Within the split second where he dropped it, a sickle-shaped waved pierced through the thicket of the background and struck him at his chest and knocked him back. Riona looked towards the source of the direction and saw Spitfire leap from the bushes with a red photon sword extending from her bracelet and a silver-colored cannon on her shoulder. “Spitfire!” Riona called out. Spitfire’s eyes scanned the entire seen; she saw Custard and Violet Horizon stand up from the ground with shaky stances. She looked towards Soarin’, who stood up with wincing eyes and a groggy back. Fluttershy brought her head underneath Soarin’s left shoulder and held him up. “Can you still move, Riona?” Spitfire asked. Riona stood up from the ground and shook off her exhaustion. “I’m still a bit weak from Wilhelm’s assault, but I am still in a well-enough condition to move.” She answered. “Good. I want you and Fluttershy to escape with Soarin’, Custard and Violet Horizon while I deal with Wilhelm here.” Spitfire commanded. Riona smirked. A stifled chuckle echoed from her mouth. “It seems you came when we needed you most. I thank you for your assistance.” “Go now. I want this entire squad to be able to live and return to the city alive. Got that?!” “Yes Commander!” Fluttershy held Soarin’ with her neck and hovered towards Riona’s direction. Custard and Violet Horizon ambled towards the clustered group. The five of them retreated through the bushes of the forest and left Spitfire by herself. Wilhelm stood up from the ground and stared death towards Spitfire. The front torso of his coat and undershirt are blackened with damage and he gritted his teeth in fury. “I didn’t think you’d show up. Have you come here to ruin my parade?” He stated in a displeased tone. “I came when I traced the signal jam to this part of the forest. And it looks like I made it on time. I never thought I’d see your ugly face out here, Wilhelm.” Spitfire said. “Well, you ruined my field day and chased away that yellow pegasus I was supposed to kill.” Upon saying these words, Wilhelm’s frustrated visage mellowed into a soft smile and calm eyes. “You know, your intrusion here made me very angry. You are like a figure of authority who decides to ruin everyone’s fun. It’s a good thing we abolished that aspect of our government a long time ago on Sallerius, because now I can take all of my anger on you without restraint.” Spitfire rolled her eyes and waved her right front hoof towards Wilhelm. “Yeah yeah, enough talk and more action. If you didn’t talk so much, then maybe you would’ve already completed your mission.” She stated in a cocky tone. She leaped into the air and brandished her sword-bearing hoof reared behind her shoulder aimed towards Wilhelm. Wilhelm blocked the stab with his right arm and deflected the blow. Spitfire flew towards her left. Her right hind hoof became shrouded in fire. She dived towards Wilhelm with her flaming hoof aimed towards him. Wilhelm leaped into the air and evaded the fiery kick. The fires around Spitfire’s hoof petered out and she landed on the ground on all hooves. “It is a bit of a surprise that you can wreath your hoof in fire. Is that the product of the technology you are developing?” Wilhelm asked. “Why should I tell you anything?” Spitfire questioned back with a tone filled with suspicion. Wilhelm appeared by Spitfire’s side and launched a kick that knocked her into the sky. Spitfire’s eyes widened in reaction and all of the air in her lungs became knocked out through her mouth. She flew through the canopy and felt the series of leaves and branches colliding against her back. She shook her head and expanded her wings in the air. Her right hind hoof became enshrouded in flames once more. Drilling down through the canopy, she became enshrouded in a fiery tornado. Wilhelm leaped into the air and reared his explosive fist. Seeing Spitfire’s flames burning through the canopy, he struck the epicenter of the drill. The ensuing collision brought forth fiery sparks that ravaged the clearing below in tongues of flames. Spitfire’s Blaze Kick broke through Wilhelm’s fist and captured him within a gust of flames, knocking him down to the charred ground below. He bounced out of the trajectory of Spitfire’s strike and rotated in the air, landing upon the ground on his feet. “This is your first time beating me in a clash of power. But I bet that it is due to that new technology developed using Pokémon genetics. Am I wrong?” “You aren’t. This photon sword bracelet and cannon were both developed by our scientists using state-of-the-art knowledge and techniques devised by the Pokémon from this world. But that’s all I’m telling you.” Spitfire stated. “That’s all I really needed to know.” Wilhelm struck the ground with his fist. Three white shockwaves that peaked to the height of trees sliced up the ground before Wilhelm and homed in towards Spitfire. Spitfire clashed her blade against the shockwaves fighting against her. Her blade emitted sparks of light. She flew back and into the air. With her blade of light glowing, she slashed a sickle-shaped wave towards Wilhelm. Wilhelm raised his hand into the air and absorbed the Sonicboom into his hand. Feeling its energy coursing through his body, he leaped towards Spitfire and clenched his hand into a fist. The cannon on Spitfire’s shoulder fired a shadowy blast into the air. Strains of gravity dragged leaves and the two fighters towards the ground. The frontside of Wilhelm’s body smashed into the ground and cracked it below. Within the void between time, Spitfire became enshrouded in luminescent white electricity. A shrieking moan of pain made its way out of her voice. Her eyes winced in trembling pain, but her body hovered along the ground. “Here’s a little something I devised myself. I hope you enjoy this.” Forcing a pained grin on her face, Spitfire called out. With Wilhelm lifting his body off of the ground with his hands, She hovered towards Wilhelm’s downed body and swung her right hind leg in a roundhouse across his face. She hovered back and flipped backwards once, allowing her hoofs to land on the ground. Leaves stopped falling from the trees at an accelerated rate, and the aura around Spitfire dissipated. Wilhelm got off the ground and held his left hand to his bruised left cheek. A vein on his forehead burst. “L-lucky shot! It seems that even your kind can be creative with how you use your borrowed power.” He stammered out. “But, it seems that electrical move hurt you more than it should have.” Spitfire’s blood went cold upon hearing Wilhelm’s cold words with a smirk of confidence plastered over his mouth. She reignited the fires in her blood and shot forward with her blade in hoof. Wilhelm sidestepped the stab and grabbed her other front hoof in between frames with his right hand. His hand lit up with crackling electricity. The electricity ran through her body and made a round trip through it within the span of a second. Spitfire’s muscles constricted and shouted in agony. Amidst her paralyzed lungs, she shouted to the top of her breath. The cannon on her back fired a blue orb into Wilhelm’s face and launched him across the charred field with a wave of water following its path. Freed from Wilhelm’s grip, Spitfire landed on her forelegs and breathed a series of heavy gusts. Her eyes widened with fear and the color in her coat faded into a slight paler shade of yellow. She shrugged off the electricity coursing through her body and set her sight on Wilhelm. Wilhelm stood up from the ground with a smile on his face. “That was quite the trick you did. But it seems like I was correct; you have that condition.” “So what if I do? I’m not going to run away like a scared filly just because of a little electricity. I dare you to try to use it on me again!” Spitfire shouted. Wilhelm’s right hand sparked to life with electricity once more. He took a step back and tilted his back to the right. His feet dragged along the ground and electricity surrounded him with a crackling aura. “Then let us see how long your body can last against this!” Spitfire closed her eyes and exhaled a deep breath. She twisted her bracelet ankle and her photon sword retreated back within its sheath. Electricity crackled from the bracelet and cloaked Spitfire in an aura of electricity. She charged forwards with intense eyes and a loud roar. The two electric-cloaked fighters clashed against each other. The resulting collision exploded into a veil of black smoke. With the smoke vanishing from the scene, Wilhelm’s red eyes flashed through its remnants. With no sign of Spitfire detected in his sight, a small scowl appeared on his face. “Figures that she would escape after a daring clash like that. I failed to kill the herald of death and rebirth, and I could not destroy those Equusians. The emperor will be most displeased with my failure.” He said to himself. He smirked and shrugged his shoulders with raised arms. “Of course, I can always use one of my scapegoats. There will always be another day.” Fluttershy stood underneath a large cone of light within the docking bay. Her eyes directed towards Mono, who held his glowing upper paws towards Custard. Custard, who lied upon a plastic stretcher, had his body enshrouded with the white light. The light dissipated from both Mono and Custard. Mono smiled and approached Custard. “There. That should remove any traces of the poison in your body.” He stated with relief. “I appreciate the healing, Mono. The doctors said that, since my body is vastly different from other bodies, they couldn’t program the filter to work for me. It’s a good thing you still have that Psycho Heal.” Custard responded. Fluttershy smirked and looked towards Violet Horizon, Soarin’ and Riona. Riona’s broken horn was affixed with white bandages and a clear ooze seeping from the surface. She was surrounded by a smiling Monarca and Reine. “Thank goodness you are okay, Riona! You almost gave me a heart attack when I saw your condition.” Monarca called out. “It is very rare to see you bruised up like that. Your opponent must have been pretty tough. I wish I could have fought this guy to see how he holds up against me.” Reine stated with peaked interest. “He’s much stronger than most Pokémon I have seen, and his tactical genius on the battlefield made it difficult to approach him. It was really a match to see how long I could last before help arrived.” Riona admitted. Iosac and Joker hopped onto Riona’s back and sat on it. Riona’s eyes widened and her teeth gritted with shock. “So is your back healed up from all that fighting yet, Riona?” Iosac asked with an accent feigning innocence. “Of course it hasn’t. That’s why we are doing this in the first place.” Joker responded. “Ummm… can you two get off me? It is already troubling enough to have a beaten body that gave rides to three other injured operatives. Do you really want to add to that?” Riona asked with fire seething in her voice. Reine patted Joker’s back and smirked. “Come on, Joker. Don’t have fun with any of our injured teammates. Besides, I can treat you to something even better.” Dancing her nails along Joker’s shoulders, she stated with a sultry voice. “I like where this is going. Too bad no one will be able to read this awesome scene.” Joker said with a voice rising in arousal. Jasmine floated into the docking bay and widened her eyes with delight. She hovered towards Iosac and grabbed his body. “There you are! Where have you been?!” Iosac’s eyes widened and his mouth quivered in fear. Feeling his body lifted off of Riona, he shook his arms and legs with erratic patterns. “Help! I’m being abducted! Again!” He shouted. Fluttershy stifled a giggle and looked towards Violet Horizon and Soarin’. Violet Horizon’s hind side is hoisted on a set of wheels and his right front leg held upon a steel crutch. Soarin’s back is wrapped tight in a series of white bandages. He smiled and leaned his head towards Violet Horizon. “So… what did you think of your first mission? Exciting stuff, am I right?” He whispered with an enthusiastic tone. “Soarin’, we almost died. Had it not been for Fluttershy, Riona and Spitfire, we would have suffered agonizing deaths.” Violet Horizon reasoned. “I know. We let the ladies save us stallions… and goopy drake. But, there will be a day that we can repay that favor by saving their hinds. I just need to see Professor Pasque to see if he can upgrade my Shotgun Dual Blades with Pokémon moves and then nothing can stand in my way!” Violet Horizon turned his head towards Fluttershy’s direction and smiled. He shifted his focus and line of sight back onto Soarin’. “Yeah. I just hope I can repay them for their kindness.” He said with a sheepish tone. “Speaking of which, where is Spitfire? I haven’t seen her since we fled the Everfree Forest.” Soarin’ questioned with concern brimming from his voice. On cue, the gate to the right lifted opened. A charred Spitfire emerged from the mouth of the gate, limping with her right front leg pulling her towards her destination. One eye remained shut by its eyelids, and portions of her mane and coat singed down to half of their size. Her teeth gritted upon each other. Walking towards the center of the catwalk, her body collapsed onto the paved way. “Commander!” Mono and Fluttershy screamed out in unison. The two operatives sprinted towards the downed Spitfire with eyes widened in panic. Holding Spitfire in their front limbs, their hearts beat out of their chest. An aroma of an electric burn made its way into Fluttershy’s nostrils. Tears welled up within her eyelids. “No… Spitfire, please don’t tell me you worked with electricity! Please tell me otherwise!” She shouted. Spitfire whirred to life and gazed into Fluttershy’s eyes. A weak smile cracked on her face. “Don’t… worry about it…” She uttered out with an optimistic tone. Her vision blurred and the world around her spun. She shut her eyes and her head fell onto Mono’s paws. A stutter of panic emerged from Mono’s mouth. “P-please! Somebody get a doctor! Commander Spitfire is dying!” Author's Note To be continued...? The thrilling conclusion to the last chapter... maybe.
The Desert of Forgotten SoulsSpitfire’s eyes cracked open, revealing a world of blurring light onto her conscious. A soft groan echoed from her voice and she blinked. The details of the world sharpened around her; a sheet of white linen covered her body up towards the central point and her right front leg is littered with a potpourri of medical monitors, bandages and a needle that carried clear liquids into her body. Her ears picked up the beats of the heart monitor. She turned to her right and saw not just one occupant in a chair, but four occupants in four chairs. A gasp of happiness shared itself between Mono, Lith, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. The four operatives stood out of their chairs and approached Spitfire with smiles aching to witness their commander. “Commander! You’re finally awake!” Rainbow Dash called out. “‘Finally’ huh? How long was I out for?” Rubbing her left eye with her left hoof in a soft speed, Spitfire asked. “You were comatose for about two weeks.” Lith answered. Hearing her words, Spitfire’s back jolted upwards and her eyes shot open. She brought both of her front hooves to her eyes and rubbed them with disbelief. “It couldn’t have been two weeks. I remember fainting at the docking bay an hour ago!” She called out. “That was two weeks ago. There was a bit of a panic in the bay when you collapsed onto the ground, but the doctors managed to rush you to the medical ward in the base and managed to snag a heartbeat and stabilize your vitals.” Mono explained. Spitfire glanced upon Mono’s face and saw a crestfallen frown upon his down head. His erratic breathing brought forth a wave of worry around her. “Mono… are you alright? You look almost as if you wanted to cry.” Spitfire asked with a tender tone. “Commander, you were in critical condition when you came here. The doctors gave you a grim prognosis. The fact that you are still alive now is a miracle!” Lith stated with a breaking voice. “You could have easily died! We were all worried about you. Each set of four operatives took turns watching over you every hour while you were comatose.” The back of Spitfire’s neck tingled with regret. Her chest became heavy with regret. A frown appeared on her face. “Wow… you all were that worried about me? You all took time out of your busy schedule to watch over someone like me?” She uttered in a soft voice of disbelief. “Of course we did! You are our role model! A motherly leader! Our commander! What makes you think you are anything less than that?!” Rainbow Dash shouted in a shocked tone. “Indoor voice, Rainbow Dash.” With her right front hoof held out towards Rainbow Dash’s direction, Spitfire warned. Rainbow Dash scowled and flashed her teeth in anger. She banged her left front hoof against the wall that Spitfire’s bed lined up against. She directed the flames of her eyes into Spitfire’s pupils. Spitfire’s breath is taken aback by Rainbow Dash’s impulsive actions. “Indoor voice nothing! I cannot think of anything less than what you are, Commander Spitfire! You’ve inspired me to become the war mare that I am today! You always taught me how a good operative should always be like. Everyone here looks up to you as more than just a war hero! You are a brilliant and loving leader who cares heavily for the new generation of operatives! You are the bravest Equusian I have ever got the privilege to even hear of! Now don’t even let me hear that you are anything less than that!” The nerves of everyone in the room rendered themselves shocked from Rainbow Dash’s speech. They looked upon her with wary glances. Rainbow Dash shifted her head left and right and bore her teeth. “Well someone had to say it! I will not let the Commander treat herself as anything less than what she is. I refuse to let her be that way!” Spitfire looked down onto her blanket. Her expressionless face formed a small frown. “I know. But, you have to know that I value all of my H.O.R.S.E. operatives over myself. I’ve already lived my glory days out, so I want the next generation to be able to do the same. It’s why I put my life on the line and made a gambit to save Fluttershy and the rest of her squad. She pushed her back off the bed with her upper hooves. A burning spasm ran down her entire back. Her eyes jolted open and her teeth gritted upon instinct. Fluttershy held Spitfire’s shoulders with her upper hooves and laid her back onto her bed. “No, Commander! You are still hurt from your injuries and you need to rest.” She called out. “It doesn’t hurt that bad… trust me, Fluttershy.” Forcing a weak smile on her face, Spitfire responded. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that, Commander. You are still very strong for your age, but your body isn’t what it was twenty-five years ago.” Lith stated. Mono levitated a clipboard with a pile of papers clipped onto it and scanned through their contents. A low hum rumbled from his voice. “You are going to be feeling those back spasms for a while, Commander. Whatever caused you to suffer those electrical-related injuries has left some indented scarring within your muscular system. On top of that, you just woke up after two weeks of lying in bed, so your body would be unadjusted to that pain.” He stated. A small smile appeared on Spitfire’s face. A chuckle can be heard resonating from her mouth. “What are you, Mono, a doctor?” She said with a lighthearted tone. “Actually, I hope to become one someday. I’ve packed up on some medical knowledge over the years under Professor Pasque’s tutelage. Even if I am a scientist, I have some knowledge that would be useful for medical applications.” Mono answered. Fluttershy frowned with an uneasy grit of her teeth and looked towards Mono, Lith and Rainbow Dash. “Ummm… would you three mind leaving Commander Spitfire and I alone? I want to talk with her in private please.” She asked. “Is it really important for us to leave, Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash questioned with crossed front legs. “Very. This is a matter that is on a need-to-know basis between the Commander and me. I’m sorry to say this and I hope you do not think differently about me asserting myself over this matter, but you three do not need to know this.” Lith blinked twice in stunned silence upon hearing Fluttershy’s words. She rolled her eyes around before setting them on Rainbow Dash. She grabbed Rainbow Dash and Mono’s respective upper left and right limbs. “Since you told us in a polite fashion, we will be happy to honor your request. Just let us know when you are done speaking.” She stated, dragging the two operatives out of the room. “Great… I’m being dragged along the floor again.” Mono stated with a monotonous tone. “Eh, you get used to it.” Shrugging her shoulders and shutting her eyes, Rainbow Dash responded. Fluttershy focused her attention onto Spitfire and gazed into her eyes. A small frown formed on her face. “What Electric-type move did you use, Commander?” She asked with a voice rising with stern concern. “A bit late for that, don’t you think?” Raising her eyebrow in impatience, Spitfire responded. Fluttershy stomped her left front hoof into the ground and flashed a drilling stare into Spitfire’s eyes. Spitfire blinked and shook her head. “It was Wild Charge, okay?!” “W-Wild Charge?” Fluttershy stuttered out. She placed her hoof onto her chin and shut her eyes. Feeling a spark of epiphany light up her mind, her eyes opened with a sad glint of light flashing within them. “I know that move. It’s a powerful move, but the resulting electricity built up for the assault damages the user in the process. Do you realize that-“ “I could have died? Yeah? I’ve told myself many times.” Spitfire snapped back. “I am perfectly aware of my condition and how Wild Charge is like taking two vials of poison. But you know what? I would gladly do it again if it means getting to see my happy and healthy operatives.” Fluttershy stuttered underneath the pressure of Spitfire’s blunt honesty. Her right front leg itched with anxiety. “I’m sorry I even asked, Commander.” She said. Spitfire grinned and sat up on her bed. Despite her back screaming to drop back into the bed, she reached her right front hoof out towards Fluttershy’s shoulder and patted it. “You don’t have to be. You were just worried about my health and condition. If it wasn’t for your concern for others, we would have lost lives out in the battlefield two weeks ago.” She leaned her head towards Fluttershy and brought her hoof within the space between the two pegasi. “Get Rainbow Dash in here right now. That is an order.” Twilight Sparkle stood before Spitfire’s desk and a chair whose back is shown towards them. Standing by her side are Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Fluttershy stood in place, flashing a smile of esoteric knowledge while the other ponies stood with their eyes looking upwards in confusion. “How odd… why is it that Commander Spitfire called us all into her quarters when she is still in the infirmary?” Rarity questioned. “Didn’t the doctors say that she ain’t in any condition to move? And if she brought us here, then where’s Rainbow Dash?” Applejack asked with a tone ripe with irritation. Discord appeared within the round-up of operatives in a veil of smoke. His eyes lit up with annoyance. “She brought me here for some reason, and she definitely sounded very adamant about wanting me to be here. What could she possibly want with the Spirit of Chaos?!” He shouted in an aggravated tone. “I am not too sure, but it probably has to do with also bringing Gnasher and Valet in here as well.” Twilight Sparkle whispered, pointing to the two Krookodiles with subtle movements of her hoof. “This is seriously pissing me off. I don’t have time to be in here waiting for some blowhard to show up.” Valet groaned out with a vitriolic tone. Gnasher rolled her eyes away from Valet in frustration. “One thing I’ve learned from Mono is that complaining will get you nowhere when it doesn’t have a point.” Pinkie Pie shut her eyes, raised her chin and brought a wide smile onto her face. “Well, I’m happy that we are all just together. Now the only thing that matters is trying to find where Dashie is.” Spitfire’s chair spasmed towards the glass window. It turned around, revealing a distraught and embarrassed Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie grinned and leaped towards her direction. She wrapped Rainbow Dash in a body crushing hug. “There you are, Dashie! We were all worried about you!” She commented. “It’s nice to see you too, Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash uttered out of her squished lungs. “Ummm… could you please lighten up your hug and not call me ‘Dashie’?” Pinkie Pie dropped her grip on stood on all fours. A sheepish smile came upon her face. “Hehe, sorry. Sometimes, I don’t know my own strength.” “Rainbow Dash, what are you doing sitting in Commander Spitfire’s seat?” Twilight Sparkle questioned with a stern and corrective voice. Rainbow Dash hovered above the seat and looked onto everyone in the room with shut eyes, a prideful smile and her chest puffed out. “While the Commander is recovering, she made me the temporary commander of H.O.R.S.E.!” Discord brought his eagle’s talon to his lower lip and hummed with a dissatisfactory gaze on his face. “She made you the temporary commander over H.O.R.S.E. operations? Somehow, I doubt the legitimacy of that comment. Could you perhaps cite your sources?” Whirling his lion’s paw with enquiry behavior, he asked. A hologram of Spitfire’s face appeared over her desk and directed a stare direct into Discord’s eyes. “I can personally attest to that, Discord. I made Rainbow Dash commander while I am recovering. You don’t have to like it, but you still have to give her the respect that you would give me.” She stated. Valet stuttered in disbelief and held out his two clawed appendages forward with an open mouth. “That’s such complete and utter bullshit! I only agreed to even being here because Joker ordered me to do so, but I draw the line at having a complete airhead of a loser be my boss!” Rainbow Dash clenched her teeth and flashed a scornful stare towards Valet’s direction. Valet gazed at Rainbow Dash and crooked his eyes with apathy. Gnasher threw an uppercut underneath Valet’s massive jaw. The strike threw him into the air and tossed him on the floor with a loud thud. Rainbow Dash flashed a smile and nodded with an approving gesture. “It’s an unusual change, but I’ll give it a chance. I’m curious as to why you gathered all of us together though.” Gnasher stated. Valet stood up from the ground and looked into Gnasher’s eyes. Hidden from the eyes of everyone, a coy smile cracked upon his Krookodile mouth. “So, allow me to explain myself; I am injured and am in no shape to be the commander of this organization at this moment. Rainbow Dash may look incompetent at first glance, but she is one of the most skilled operatives that H.O.R.S.E. has to offer. Therefore, I put her in charge of all operations until I have fully recovered and gained back my strength.” Spitfire explained. “Well, that explains why Rainbow Dash is the commander, but that still doesn’t explain why we are all here.” Twilight Sparkle said with an inquiring tone. Rainbow Dash flew down to Twilight Sparkle’s eye level and flashed a confident smile. “Simple; we have a mission that requires your individual skills. I’ll also happen to be coming along this mission as well.” She said with a tone resonating with perky energy. “Well, what mission is that?” Shrugging his shoulders with a mix of confusion and annoyance, Discord asked. Rainbow Dash pressed a button on the table, bringing forth a large map with sonar waves echoing from the center. A red dot flashed in a large landmass underneath the Twiluminescent Jungle continent. “Our sonars have picked up some insane activity originating from the Desert of Forgotten Souls continent. From Commander Spitfire’s expert point of view, we could be detecting a Pokémon here.” Rainbow Dash explained. “A new Pokémon? Who could it ever be?!” Pinkie Pie asked. Discord narrowed his eyes and his mouth crooked itself into an upset frown. “Oh give me a break. You took me out of my own mini dimension just to help you all look for a Pokémon? Do you honestly need me to help you out?” He reasoned. Rainbow Dash let out a gust of impatient breath from her mouth. With her right front hoof, she slammed a blue button near the edge of the table. A blue dot resonated right next to the red dot on the map. “I had a tracker placed on Screwball for a while and her signal is acting up hard in that area. Wherever she is, she is right next to that Pokémon we are looking for.” She explained with a cut and dry tone. Discord’s eyes lit up with joy and a grin cracked on his face. All of the orifices on his head leaked out with yellow hope. He teleported right in front of Rainbow Dash and snagged his upper limbs onto her shoulders. He shook her with a fast and strenuous tempo. “Screwball is there?! Of course I’ll join you silly ponies and Pokémon on your mission!” “T-T-That’s g-g-great D-D-D-Discord. C-C-Can you p-p-please st-t-top shak-k-king me now?” Rainbow Dash responded with a blurred voice. Discord’s movement ceased within his tracks. He lowered Rainbow Dash onto all fours standing and pat her mane. “I had to get that out.” He responded. Spitfire cleared her throat and lured everyone’s attention to her. “Since everyone in here but Discord has never been into the Desert of Forgotten Souls continent, I’ll let a guest I’ve asked for appear before you to tell you about it. Some of you may know her, but she will be tagging along with you as a teammate.” Upon the declaration of her words, a brown-robed hooded quadruped walked into the room. The air around her hooves filled with a thick mist at her mere presence. Twilight Sparkle gazed into the darkness behind the gap in the hood with a morbid sense of curiosity veiling her mind. Spitfire narrowed her eyes in annoyance. “Alright, Zecora; you can cut the act now.” Zecora flipped her hood, revealing her visage to everyone in the room. Gnasher’s eyes raised with enlightened epiphany. “Heeeeey, aren’t you that zebra we met in the Everfree Forest a few months back?” She asked. “So we meet again, young alligator. You have not changed much, fierce gladiator.” Zecora responded with a keen smile. Fluttershy hovered towards Zecora and hugged her by her neck. “Oh it’s so good to see you alive and well, Zecora!” She sang out with a chipper tone. “It is nice to see you too, Fluttershy. Is your hidden power still on standby?” Twilight Sparkle’s ears jolted to their tips upon hearing Zecora’s words. Fluttershy turned away from Zecora and hid behind her mane. Zecora laughed and patted Fluttershy’s shoulder. “I am merely jesting with you. You do not need to feel so blue.” “Ummm… right.” Spitfire cleared her throat and pounded her chest with her right front hoof. She set her glare on Zecora. “I did not bring you here to make light chat with my operatives, Zecora. I brought you here to fill in the blanks I left and guide them to their destination.” A sad sigh let itself out of Zecora’s mouth. She faced the operatives and smiled. “I apologize for getting off-topic Commander Spitfire. I will give the details in a way so that they do not tire.” “I will hold you onto that. In the meantime, I am going to see if I can start moving again.” Finishing her communication with these words, the hologram of Spitfire vanished back into the table. Zecora brought all of her focus onto the operatives. Each of them looked at her with curious glints in their eyes. “So what exactly is the Desert of Forgotten Souls continent? Why does it even have a ludicrous name like that?” Gnasher asked. Zecora pointed onto the marked continent on the hologram. The map zoomed in onto the location and colored the continent with a hazy yellow-brown color. “The Desert of Forgotten Souls continent used to be my ancestral homeland. Unfortunately, it was ravaged and the aliens changed it with their black hand. Now it is but a land of death that houses the deceased of my kind. No one would dare venture there even if there were rich treasures to find. The spirits of the dead still haunt this realm. The strongest of hearts they can overwhelm.” She explained. “Umm… pardon me Zecora, but you wouldn’t happen to be talking about ghosts right? Ghost-ghosts? The ones that spook and go bump in the night?” Applejack asked with a shrinking voice. Zecora’s eyes fixated themselves into Applejack’s trembling ankles. Her ears picked up on her chattering teeth. She saw her chest breathe in and out at a quicker pace. “Yes, I am talking about ghosts. They are always looking for hosts. They wish to be a part of the living, but their methods can be unforgiving. They will try to steal your body and drag your soul into the realm of unliving.” Fluttershy’s pupils rolled out of regular view and she dropped onto the floor on the right side of her body. Rainbow Dash walked towards her with a wary frown on her face and poked Fluttershy’s left shoulder. No conscious response flashed from her body. “Great job, Zecora, you scared Fluttershy to death with that story.” “Wait! Don’t you dare end this scene yet!” Fluttershy woke up at the sound of the crazed screaming. All of the operatives shifted their direction towards the source of the noise above. Joker broke through the ceiling and had his front side land on Spitfire’s table. A cloud of debris filled the air. Joker stood up from the table and dusted himself off. He looked towards the equine operatives, who looked at him with slacked jaws and wide eyes. “S’up, Joker?” Valet responded in a casual tone. Joker smiled and waved towards him. “Doing good.” He said with a nod. Discord walked towards him and shook his hand. A cold and narrow-eyed smile shined from his face. “I have a good feeling about you. We will definitely be getting along.” “Joker! What are you doing here?! I never invited you!” Rainbow Dash shouted with her front legs thrown into the air and a notable scowl over her eyes. “You’ll need me, trust me. That, and Stag Prince felt that I would be perfect for this chapter.” Joker stated. “…You are referring to ‘Bambi’, prince of the cervines we have in the city, right?” Rarity asked with a wary tone. “Stag Prince is only my lord and creator. His collab with the author of this fic is the reason we are even here in the first place.” Joker responded. Everyone in the room gazed at him in a deathly silence. Applejack looked towards Pinkie Pie and spun her right front hoof in the air around her temple. Pinkie Pie stood up from the ground and shrugged her shoulders with raised hooves. Twilight Sparkle’s right eye twitched at every second. A blood vein could burst in her head at any moment. The group of operatives sat within padded benches of a black hull. Their ears whirred with the sounds of a rotating engine that came from above them. The motion of the vehicle’s descent rushed the blood of everyone onboard up their bodies. The large door towards the end of the hull opened, bringing forth a sharp light that flashed within everyone’s eyes. Everyone but Gnasher and Valet winced and averted their eyes from the light. “It’s too bright!” Applejack complained. Gnasher rolled her eyes and stood up from her seat. Stepping outside of the carrier, she felt the touch of smooth and grainy sand underneath her feet. The deep blue sky stretched beyond what the eye could see and without a cloud in sight. The rest of the operatives disembarked from the plane. The blistering wave of heat became the first thing that their minds noted. Through the scope of the distance, their eyes viewed large plains of brown sand and patches of rough earth spotted amongst them. A small smirk folded itself over Valet’s mouth. “Feels exactly like home.” He said. “I don’t know why you wimps all shielded your eyes from the sun.” “Well, it’s because our eyes do not have membranes that shield them from intense sunlight like you and Gnasher do.” Twilight Sparkle retorted. Joker and Discord walked out of the plane. The two of them are adorned in dark shades, floral-patterned button-up shirts and khaki shorts. Discord pulled out a parted coconut and sipped its liquid through a pink straw. “It’s a good thing we brought our shades today, isn’t that right Joker?” Patting Joker’s right shoulder with his lion’s paw, Discord asked. “Yep. I would’ve brought some more shades for everyone, but nobody asked.” Joker stated. A frustrated sigh emerged from Rainbow Dash. She looked towards the ground and stomped onto it. Her coat radiated from the intense heat of the area. She glanced towards Fluttershy, where a string of dark brown beads wrapped around her head. Fluttershy’s teeth chattered with an uncontrollable motion. “Fluttershy, what are those?!” Rainbow Dash questioned. “Oh, these? Umm… well, these are prayer beads. As a trained priestess of Deus, I feel that it is important to bring these beads along with us on our journey here.” Fluttershy explained. “Is this about the ghosts Zecora was talking about?! You know that it is just superstitious mumbo-jumbo that Zecora spouted to make this place feel more exotic, right?” With an uneasy smile on her face, Applejack patted Rainbow Dash’s left shoulder. “I wouldn’t bag on Fluttershy for bringing something very important with us. I mean, I hear that ghosts would love to drag us into the pits of Tartarus.” “Not you too Applejack! We are supposed to be here on a mission. We aren’t going to be busting any ghosts.” Rainbow Dash stated with a voice seething in annoyance. “Besides, if you see any ghosties, just do as my grandma taught me to do; just giggle at them!” Pinkie Pie advised. Zecora took her first steps onto the land. She is adorned in her brown robes. “My friends please cease in your bickering. The flames of ghosts are still flickering.” She stated. “There are no such things as ghosts! It’s all a bunch of tales told by parents to get naughty foals to sleep in the night!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “I know it is not in my place to say anything, Rainbow Dash, but this land is foreign to the both of us. We don’t know what will happen here, so it is best that we remained protected.” Holding her hoof onto Rainbow Dash’s right shoulder, Rarity stated. “I guess you’re right. Even if I knew that this place would be hot, I didn’t think it would be this hot!” “Oh right! That reminds me!” Joker ran back inside of the plane. Everyone but Discord looked at each other with their heads cocked and eyes marked in curiosity. Joker ran outside and threw eight red robes into the sky. The robes floated towards each of the non-Pokémon operatives and fitted themselves onto their bodies. Rarity looked onto her body with her lips formed into a wary frown. “These look a bit tacky. Exactly what are these?” She asked. “Einstein finally managed to develop some protective gear by using the Fire-type matrix of the Pokémon genome. These will keep you cool and resist Fire-type and Ground-type attacks.” Joker explained. “Wait a moment! Why wasn’t I told about any of this?!” Twilight Sparkle questioned. “Well duh!” Holding his tongue out with his head cocked and eyes tilted towards the bottom, Joker taunted. “Because he just sent me these robes through a data transfer when he heard that we were going here.” “But that still doesn’t make any sense! Professor Pasque said that this would take about a month to even begin developing this type of clothing.” “Well how long did you think it took since that chapter when he made that claim? At least a month in real time. Now don’t give me attitude or else I am going to take those robes back and leave you suffering out in this heat!” Twilight Sparkle shook her head in disbelief and mumbled an inaudible sentence of words. The group walked along the blistering sands of the desert with their hoods over their heads. Rainbow Dash walked ahead of the group with a keen smile on her face. She hugged herself and turned around. “I like wearing this robe! It’s comfy and easy to wear!” She said with a tone that exploded with euphoric delight. “Now you see why I like my robes? It relieves me from the heat’s strobes.” Zecora said. “So you mean you don’t wear that get-up just to be creepy and mysterious?” Applejack asked. Zecora shut her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. “That happens to be an added effect. I do not mean to be so indirect.” She stated. Taking their next step through the desert, Pinkie Pie’s eyes picked up on three golden felines. Their large and muscular bodies radiated within the sunlight. They yawned, revealing their sharp and plentiful fangs. Three ethereal runes hovered behind each of their heads. Pinkie Pie leaped over the group, stood on her hind legs and held out her front legs in desistance. “Stop!” She said. “Stop? Why?” Gnasher responded with a hasty tone. “There are three shiny panthera-type creatures up ahead. When they see us, they will maul us. Plus, they have some really powerful magic that only the most sporadic and unpredictable of living things can hope to avoid.” Pinkie Pie explained. Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed with a lavender color. A tablet materialized in front of her and levitated in spot. She treaded her hoof upon its screen and scrolled through various menus until an image of the creatures ahead appeared on display. “I have a creature in my records here that is native to this region of the Desert of Forgotten Souls continent. Apparently, it is known as Deus’s Leopards. They work in packs, but are extremely territorial when it comes to outsiders.” She explained. “Yeah! That’s them. That’s why we need Discord, Joker and I to take care of them.” Pinkie Pie said. “Ummm, but I could probably communicate with them.” Fluttershy reasoned. Joker smiled and pats Fluttershy’s head with his left hand. “Silly Fluttershy; we know that you are more than capable of handling this situation yourself. Unfortunately, that’s going to bore the readers since they probably want to see some unpredictable actions and fighting going on in this chapter at this point. Because really, this chapter has gone on this long time without fighting.” He reasoned. “See? Joker knows what he’s talking about. Now, let’s fight Deus’s Leopards!” Pinkie Pie stated. From the black holsters on her flanks, she pulled out two red and pink guns with a twirl. Approaching the leopards with silent steps, she walked towards her left and kept her eyes on them. At the moment the eyes of the leopards met with Pinkie Pie’s eyes, she faced the beasts and strafed to her left. Two streams of bullets fired from her guns towards the leopards. A numerous number of runes lit up on the ground underneath Pinkie Pie, Discord and Joker. Discord tore apart a gap of air and fled into a swirling purple portal. Pinkie Pie’s guns retracted themselves onto her hooves and formed gauntlets. She lowered herself on all fours and spun herself through the sand. Joker stayed in place with a smile on his face. The runes exploded into pillars of light that ate away at the entire battlefield. The signaling lights burned away the visions of Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Zecora. They shut their eyes and directed their heads away from the lights. When the lights faded away, the three combating operatives stood in front of Deus’s Leopards with no signs of damage on their body. A bored yawn escaped from Joker’s mouth. “That flashy light show was supposed to destroy us? I barely had to do anything.” He taunted. “Good thing these Volcanic Guns come with Dig!” Pinkie Pie commented. “I’ve seen these creatures before. But, your parents must have raised a bunch of losers if you can’t even hit one of us.” Discord teased. Each of the leopards leered and growled towards the battling squad. Pinkie Pie stood up on her hind legs once more. Her gauntlets formed back into her guns. Joker pulled out a red boxing glove on a spring-loaded launcher. Discord snapped his eagle’s talons. A purple and brown minigun materialized within his upper limbs. Its barrels in its back crackled with purple lightning. Pinkie Pie sprinted forwards towards the leopards and dove onto her backside and slid at the base of her tail. Defying the rules of physics, she twirled her guns and cross-aimed them towards two of the leopards to the side. She fired a burst of round towards them. The leopards lifted their paws towards their face and blocked a majority of the fire. “She isn’t the one who you should be afraid of, stupid cats!” Standing on Pinkie Pie’s head with the boxing glove launcher in hand, Joker taunted. He fired his boxing glove towards the face of the leopard to the right, knocking it onto its back. Discord appeared upon Joker’s head with the minigun aimed towards the leopard Pinkie Pie slid towards. A stream of lightning and bullets burst out of each of the barrels and struck the leopard in front at a disabling pace. Pinkie Pie’s right gun formed into a gauntlet. It cloaked itself in an aura of fire. Discord warped off of Joker’s head and Joker hopped behind Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie leaped into the air above the Deus’s Leopard in front of her. She thrust her flaming hoof into the face of the leopard and knocked it flying into the air. Discord aimed his minigun towards the Deus’s Leopard to his left and flashed a narrow-eyed smirk towards its direction. The Deus’s Leopard’s eyes widened and ran off. “Well, that takes care of that.” Dusting his hands off of each other, Joker stated. He put his boxing glove launcher back into his pocket protector. Pinkie Pie turned her sight towards her teammates not involved in the fight. Their jaws slacked to the left and dropped down to the ground. Their eyes flashed with mesmerized shock. “What? They were only in our way.” Pinkie Pie reasoned. “I will never… ever make fun of her again.” Gnasher said with her voice stunned in shock. “Some of those movements were impossible! Just…” Twilight Sparkle uttered out. “And you are surprised that the most unpredictable members of our team can do that?” Discord chided. The leopard punched out by Joker’s got back onto its feet. It approached behind Pinkie Pie, Discord and Joker with its lips growling in ferocity. Pinkie Pie’s body froze upon itself. She edged her sight towards her back and the leopard. Her face became covered with a sheepish smile and she waved with her right front hoof. Valet rolled his eyes. “I’ve had enough of this already.” Saying these words, he ran towards the Deus’s Leopard. The leopard raised its right paw high in the sky and glared down towards Pinkie Pie. With its paw falling towards her, Valet grabbed the paw with both of his claws and held it tight in his grip. He somersaulted over the leopard and threw it beyond the limit of the sky. Landing on his feet, he dusted off his hands and an arrogant smile appeared on his face. Pinkie Pie grinned and ran towards Valet. She squeezed his chest with a powerful hug. “Wow Valet! That was an awesome move!” She shouted. “T-that’s good and all, but please stop hugging me.” Hearing some of his bones crack from the sheer force of Pinkie Pie’s hug, Valet groaned out. Pinkie Pie released her hug, leaving Valet to shake off his body. Within that moment, a fierce tremor echoed from below the sands. The tremor knocked Fluttershy’s face into the sand. Within the distance of several meters, a brown pillar shot out from the sands ahead. The pillar rose into a small and golden fixture. The structure continued to rise until a massive building formed out of gold held itself high above the sand. A wide smirk cracked over Zecora’s lips. “Ummm… what exactly is that building?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Do you not know what this area is? This is the tomb of fabled queen Isis!” Zecora proclaimed. “You mean like the goddess Isis in ancient Saddle Arabian mythology?” Applejack asked. Zecora and the others approached the large staircase the width of all the operatives combined. It reached out all the way towards the top of the building, where a small chasm rested upon that led into its depths. Many statues depicting sphinxes littered the cliffs of the opulent building. “Her name’s origins are traced back to that very deity. Being able to see this fills me with spontaneity!” Zecora exclaimed. “Wow… this entire place is a tomb?!” Twilight Sparkle shouted with awe flashing in her eyes. “How did your ancestral folk ever manage something like this?!” “That I do not know. This is just for show. The inside is loaded with history, so let us delve into its mystery.” Rainbow Dash looked down upon her watch. Her eyes widened at the sight of red and blue dots resonating from the area towards the north. “Tomb or not, our mission objectives look like they are inside there.” She stated. “Hold on Screwball! Daddy’s coming to get you!” Shouting these words, Discord ran up the stairs towards the top. Rarity raised her right front hoof towards Discord. “Stop! We should all go as a team!” She insisted. She sprinted off towards Discord. With an upset groan, Rainbow Dash flew towards the top. Gnasher and Valet ran up the stairs, skipping large portions of them. Pinkie Pie leaped onto the smooth railing of the stairs and clambered up at running speed. Shaking her head, Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed in its lavender color. She disappeared and reappeared at the top of the tomb before the chasm. “Wait a second… why don’t I just warp in here? It’ll make finding our objectives easi-“ Before she can finish her words, the hoard of her teammates behind her crashed into each other and pushed them over the edge. Their hearts all plummeted into their stomachs upon looking into the infinite darkness of the chasm. A clamor of screams echoed out of the gap. Author's Note It seems that the team has fallen into the tomb of Isis. What adventures will they have there? And... where are all the ghosts? Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of D-oh wait.
Tomb of the AncientsTwilight Sparkle shut her eyes for dear life. The darkness of the chasm shadowed over the serene blinds of her eyelids. The screams of all of her friends rang through her ears. A shuffle of hooves arranged themselves into a group hug. For the eternity that occurred, the entire group hovered within the realm of darkness. Landing on a hard surface after the passing eon, everyone got up from the ground and rubbed their temples. “Okay, who was the wise guy that bumped into us?!” Shouting with her voice steeped in agitation, Rainbow Dash shouted. “I’m pretty sure that was you. You were going at sonic speed after all.” Tilting her head away, Gnasher replied. Twilight Sparkle’s horn lit up. She shut her eyes and grunted with a long groan. The spell on her horn dissipated into sparks, leaving Twilight Sparkle with a spontaneous frown on her face. “It’s no good! I can’t teleport out of here!” She shouted. Rainbow Dash spread her wings and flapped them, but she found herself unable to take flight. She scowled and clicked her tongue. “My flight is useless here. Whatever this place is, it is blocking our transportation methods.” “Queen Isis devised her tomb to trap all types of beings. Those who wander in here will develop dreadful feelings.” Zecora said. “Wait, how do you know?” Rarity asked with peaked curiosity. Zecora wandered within the pitch black darkness and placed her right front hoof on a solid wall. She treaded it along the wall until she hit a smooth and solid object. An azure light flashed within the depths of the darkness. Revealed within its bright rays are a series of images etched out in clay tablets. Twilight Sparkle approached the series of tablets and touched a tablet that depicted a group of zebras. “The ancient Zebrican art here is amazing. If my understanding of hieroglyphs is correct, then these art pieces must tell a story.” She said with awe emanating from her voice. Zecora pointed towards the image that Twilight Sparkle’s right front hoof touched upon and grinned. “These tablets tell of Equus’s story back in civilization’s primordial years. They tell of a tale of how our modern-day tribes have originated through sweat and tears.” She said. “How do you know? This is our very first time being in this tomb.” Twilight Sparkle questioned with cautious curiosity. Zecora looked towards the rest of the operatives in the room. She waved her hoof towards their direction, asking to draw them closer with her inviting smile. They approached the zebra and unicorn and gathered around the tablets. “Well, I guess that tales of Equus’s first civilization would lighten our mood a bit.” Applejack noted. Zecora slid her right front hoof over towards the image of a herd of zebras upon the cliffs of a grand building. Underneath the large and opulent building housed green vegetation and rivers of flowing waters. “Our story starts with the zebra tribe taking roots as the first civilization.” Zecora introduced. “With their knowledge and techniques on agriculture, they were the first prosperous nation.” Fluttershy’s eyes wandered over towards the next tablet, where she noted a large group of zebras bowing down to strange bipedal creatures with humanoid statures, animal heads and wings over their arms. A small frown pursed upon her face. “Then why is it that they are bowing down to these weird creatures? Did Deus not exist in their time?” Zecora’s wide grin wavered under the statement of Fluttershy’s words. She breathed out with a heavy sigh. “Deus existed back in the time as recorded by the seers. This is properly shown through this old tablet over here.” She pointed towards the tablet towards the left, which depicted a mechanical horse-shaped being whose body emanated rays of light. Between his giant hands rested a large planet that radiated with light. Upon one of the etched-in land formations on the planet, zebrakind sprouted towards the middle of the world. “If the ancients knew about Deus, then why did they resort to worshipping false idols?” Applejack asked with a hint of curiosity in her tone. “As you can tell, our ancestors were not appreciative of the one old god. They worshipped him at first, but he fell out of favor and thought of him as a fraud.” Zecora pointed towards the tablet to the far right, where an etching of a zebra mare adorned in flashy apparel stood underneath the silhouette of the sun. On the base of the building beneath her, many etchings of zebras stabbed at each other with spears and swords, leaving only blood puddles and corpses in their wake. “This line of cultural thinking continued until the end reign of Queen Isis. Towards the end of that era, much blood was shed and many died in the crisis.” “Wait a moment here.” Holding out her claws, Gnasher interjected with a head shake. “Do you mean to tell me that such a horrible war was caused over the religion of you zebras?” Zecora shut her eyes and a soft sigh passed from her breath. She moved her hoof towards an etching of an earth pony stallion before Queen Isis and two other zebras. By the stallion’s side are capsule-shaped devices with lines of brilliance etched around it. A silhouette of Deus’s image is sketched upon the surfaces of the devices. “It was much more than just a dispute over who worshipped what. A prophet of Deus met with the queen and all was cut. He brought forth technology that came into his mind by his god. The queen was appalled by his presentation, but some looked at him with eyes awed. Conflict broke out when the queen’s subjects wanted to usher in a technological era, but the supporters of the current way of life disagreed and fought out in the sierras.” Zecora explained. “So the first recorded war in history all began because no one liked the thought of bringing forth a new era of technology and worship then?” Twilight Sparkle asked. Her face broke into a frown and her eyes narrowed in sorrow. “That waste of life…” “As history decided, those with the power of technology overwhelmed the royal forces. The queen was killed, technology prospered and a whole new history would be known to set its own course.” Pinkie Pie gazed towards the final image, where an equine wrapped in bandages is carried into a large building by an earth pony and zebra. She smiled and cupped her mouth with her right front hoof. “It’s funny how they decided to bury their queen with all of this cool technology in here. Don’t you just love that irony?” “That’s a horrible thing to laugh at, Pinkie Pie.” With a stern voice, Rarity chided. “Respect the burial conditions they must, but burying their old-believing queen with all of this technology is their insult to her.” Fluttershy looked away from the tablets. Her mouth formed into a frown that oozed anxiety. She rubbed her right front hoof with her left front hoof and took one step backwards. “Umm… she does seem to be a bit stubborn. I mean, she did fight a war and everything just because she did not believe in Deus.” She uttered to herself. “From what I understand, her fate in the afterlife did not end well. According to what I know of Deus, she is suffering in hell.” Zecora stated. The lights within the tomb went out and obscured everything within its darkness. A supernatural chill overcame the atmosphere and brought everyone’s nerves down into the abyss. A loud scream shot out of Applejack’s mouth. “I feel something! Is that a ghost?!” She screamed. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. A cocky grin rolled out on her face. She guided her right front hoof through the darkness and treaded it upon Applejack’s right shoulder. “Relax, Applejack; there’s no such thing as ghosts. How many times do I have to say that?” Closing her eyes with her confident smile wide on her face, she assured. The sensation of an ice-cold hoof touched her left shoulder. “Alright, real funny Discord. Now cut it out and focus on bringing the power back on.” “What do you mean? I’m over here and I would never trick you like that.” Playing with an innocent tone in his voice, Discord remarked. “No seriously, get your paw off of my shoulder. I know you are trying to scare me.” “But I’m not.” Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened at a show and shocked pace. A nervous giggle trickled out of her mouth. “Ummm… is anyone else near me? I can’t see a thing in this darkness.” “You are by yourself in an open space from what I can feel, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy responded. Rainbow Dash shifted her line of sight towards the direction of the being holding her shoulder down. The color in her face faded to a pale white and her smirk evaporated into a meek frown. Her eyes are witness to a zebra-shaped specter that emitted a faint green glow. Its eye sockets are emptier than a void. Rainbow Dash felt all confidence and will leave her body from staring into it. The ghost hissed with a loud noise. “Please tell me that these robes are ghost-resistant Joker.” Joker shrugged his shoulders. “The Professor didn’t honestly think that far.” An audible gulp of air traveled down Rainbow Dash’s esophagus. Her face broke out in a cold sweat. She edged herself away from the ghost and grinned with a sheepish demeanor. She screamed and ran into a wall face-first. She dropped to the ground. A pained wince of disbelief made its way onto Discord’s face. He smacked his face with his lion’s paw. “Unbelievable. She hit a wall in her panic.” Fluttershy held out her prayer beads with her right front hoof. She kneeled down to the floor and aimed her beads towards the ghost. Steam hissed from the ghost’s ethereal form and it vanished away into a foul mist. A tormented scream echoed throughout the area. Rainbow Dash sidled against the edge of the wall and breathed out deep and heavy breaths. She held her right front hoof to her chest. Her heart would burst out of her rib cage and onto the ground at any moment. The azure lights ignited the halls of the tomb once more. “W-was that a ghost?!” She shouted. “It was. But, I banished it from the realm of the living.” Fluttershy explained. “Those poor ghosts are still trapped in this world, so they need to be excised back into the realm of the dead.” “Poor ghosts?! That ghost wanted to steal my body!” “Please understand; spirits bound to the physical world live a tormented afterlife. The only way to ease their pain is if they find a host to house themselves in. It’s an abominable act, but I understand why they do it.” A light-hearted chuckle emerged from Applejack’s tone. She walked towards Rainbow Dash with a fresh stride in her step and thrust her hoof into Rainbow Dash’s back. Forced out of the corner in the wall, Rainbow Dash slid across the floor. “So who’s afraid of ghosts now?” Applejack asked. “Shut up Applejack. As your current boss, I order you and everyone else in here to never bring this event up. The ghost just caught me by surprise is all.” Sitting on the ground with her front hooves crossed, Rainbow Dash muttered out with a scowl on her face. Zecora closed her eyes and shook her head in disapproval. She set her gaze towards the right, where a long and winding corridor made its path. “I would love to hear you two fight, but we need to advance our plight.” She said. “Zecora is right. You two are just acting like two fillies.” Twilight Sparkle noted in agreement. “All I did was just give her some good-spirited ribbing. Ya can’t fault me for that.” Applejack answered back with a defensive tone. Valet pinched the bridge between his eyes and tilted his head towards the ground. An audible groan roared out of his tone. “What did I do to deserve this?” Zecora spearheaded the group of operatives down the narrow hall of darkness. Valet looked towards Gnasher’s direction. His sharp eyes detected slight twitches of her claws. He edged closer towards her, grinning with a toothy smile. “Seems like someone is afraid of the dark.” Valet stated. “Want to get a bit closer to me?” Gnasher let out a frustrated sigh and stared into Valet’s face with aggressive eyes. She raised one of her nails and opened her mouth, but shook her head in disapproval and shut her mouth. “Valet, you’re an idiot for thinking that you can hit on someone who is already in a romantic relationship.” She seethed out. “I’m not trying to hit on you. I’m just asking if you want to me to give you a bit of intimate comfort.” Valet responded. Gnasher smacked the back of Valet’s head with her left claw. Valet’s back jolted upwards. His eyelids pinched each other. He rubbed the back of his head with his claws and looked towards Gnasher with a stern scowl imprinted on his face. “Again, boyfriend. Just give up your charade, because you aren’t exactly smart or smooth enough to pull it off.” Gnasher stated. “Well just who exactly is your boyfriend?” “I’ll give you some hints; he’s big, gooey and loves to cuddle.” Valet’s eyes widened with each word passing from Gnasher’s mouth. His heart trembled with anxiety and his nerves wrapped around his muscles with the tenacity of a cobra. “That’s funny because it almost sounds like that you are saying that wimp Custard is your boyfriend.” He said aloud, giggling with a nervous disposition. “He is.” Gnasher said with a straight tone. “W-w-wha?! But he’s not even a member of your Egg Group! You can’t tell me that Pokémon is your boyfriend! How could someone as tough and cool as yourself bring yourself down to being involved with that pushover?!” Gnasher and Valet stopped in their tracks amidst the darkness of the hall. Gnasher shifted her direction over towards Valet and flashed a nasty stare that burned with incandescent flames. She placed her wrists on her hips and pointed one of her nails between Valet’s eyes. “Can you at least be more respectful of our teammate there, Valet?! He is my childhood friend. Yes, he was a bit of a wimp when growing up. I had to bail him out of many situations, but you know what?! I bailed him out because I hated seeing the other Pokémon bully him over what their failed expectations saw him as. Actually, I don’t think you are even understanding a single word that is coming out of my mouth! You are probably thinking ‘Oh, this is just a stupid rant by a female who isn’t taking that time to put her mouth around my dick’ aren’t you?!” Gnasher shouted. “Who me? No… You’re just ranting about some words I really don’t care about.” Valet responded. Gnasher blinked and tilted her head. She narrowed her eyes and her lips quivered with disbelief. She shook her head with a slow movement of disgust. “And this is why Custard will always be a better Male Pokémon than you will ever be; he listens and seeks to improve himself. You never listen and would probably continue using your same bullheaded tactics in battle!” “Oh! So you think that I don’t improve on how I am?! Listen here Gnasher; I fought tooth and nail to get where I am today. I crawled out from the abyssal depths of death and suffering with my own skills. I don’t need you to tell me that I am NOT a better Pokémon than I previously was!” Valet lashed out. He tore his claws into the wall to Gnasher’s left and ripped apart some of the wall at that area. Holding his left set of claws against Gnasher’s right shoulder, he pinned her against the wall and looked into her eyes. Gazing into her pupils, he saw her composure falter under his force. She saw her headstrong expression melt underneath confusion. He heard her breathing accelerate, bringing rushing air through her nostrils and back. A wide grin appeared on Valet’s face. He leaned his head towards Gnasher’s face. With his muzzle close to Gnasher’s, he placed his lips onto Gnasher’s and drove his tongue into her mouth. Gnasher’s eyes widened from the aggressive kiss. She squirmed in his grip. She readied her left set of claws. With the nails glowing in a hazy blue green, she slashed Valet’s face and knocked him down to the ground. With heavy panting escaping her mouth, she looked down onto him. “Are you insane? Did you really just do that to me?!” She shouted. “Well you weren’t going to give it to me willfully, so I thought it would be better for me to just take it myself.” With a shameless smirk plastered onto his face, Valet responded. “You are… I should just kill you right now for trying to do that!” Valet stood up from the ground and faced Gnasher with closed eyes. He flipped his wrists and shrugged his shoulders. “What good would that do down here? Besides, don’t pretend that you didn’t enjoy it. You wanted a large and aggressive male to do that to you for a while, but you couldn’t have such an experience because the only other male that could possibly do that is your passive pussy for a boyfriend.” Gnasher proceeded to open her mouth, but her train of thought became stunned by the words of Valet. She shut her mouth and shook her head. “Just shut up. We need to get back with the group. They are probably far ahead of us by now.” The group walked down the downwards-sloping corridor into the eternal darkness. Within Zecora’s maw is a torch that pierced through the thick darkness, bringing a light of salvation into the sight of the group. Rainbow Dash turned her head towards the direction she is walking away from. She lifted an eyebrow with an air of enquiry around her. “Hey, where did Gnasher and Valet go? Weren’t they behind us a moment ago?” She asked. “Oh, them? They were having an argument about some romance stuff. They’ll be back here.” Pinkie Pie explained. “Well, that’s nice to hear. Except…” Rainbow Dash’s nose wrinkled from a wave of tingling within her nostrils. A loud sneeze passed from her mouth and nose. She wiped stray mucus that leaked from her nose. “Rainbow Dash, are you alright?” Twilight Sparkle asked with a tone of concern. “Y-yeah.” Snorting her mucus back into her nose, Rainbow Dash replied. “I think that stupid ghost might’ve gotten me sick…” A low howl emerged within the depths of the tomb, bringing the group to a sudden halt. Their nerves froze over and jumped out of their bodies. The torch that Zecora carried around her mouth had its fire extinguished by a damp gust of wind. A loud squeak emerged from Applejack’s mouth. “The light went out! Is that the ghosts?!” She shouted. “Please remain calm, Applejack. It’s not a proper way for a lady of your stature to act.” Rarity advised. “Rarity’s right… except for the whole lady-like thing. We have to remain calm and collected.” Twilight Sparkle stated. Rainbow Dash’s eyes picked upon a vortex of shadow energy underneath Zecora. She unfolded her wings and flew towards Zecora, scooping her by her shoulders and lifting her upwards. A shadowy set of spikes shot from the ground. They receded back into the depths of darkness. “That was a very close one, Rainbow Dash. Any later and I would have been ash!” Zecora announced. “We have to get moving through this hallway. We’re being hunted by Screwball!” Rainbow Dash commanded. “Screwball? You mean that was her doing?!” Discord questioned with a tone that oozed with shock. “Does it really surprise you? She dislocated my hoof in our last encounter.” “Let’s not focus on arguing now. Let’s focus on making it to the end of this corridor. She'll probably be waiting for us there.” Twilight Sparkle instructed. A swarm of ghosts appeared within the hallway ahead. Their open maws dripped with ghastly drool. Their eyes ravaged with hunger for the living flesh before them. “Oh no…” Fluttershy uttered out. Gnasher and Valet slashed their way through hordes of ghosts with their claws. The split ghosts reformed their bodies and let out devious smirks. Gnasher growled and lowered her eyes. “No matter how much we slash these ghosts, they just keep reforming and coming back!” She said. Valet gnawed his teeth through the ghosts. The ectoplasm of the ghosts slipped through his teeth and formed into smaller ghosts. “So we just keep hitting them!” He called out. The split ghosts swarmed around Valet and attached themselves onto his body. Valet shook his body in a desperate attempt to ward off the ghosts. With their tenacity, the ghosts held onto his body and began merging with it. Valet grunted. “Can I at least have a bit of help here?” He pleaded. Gnasher looked into Valet’s eyes. They shimmered with a desperate cry for help. She shut her eyes and tilted her head towards the ground. Reaching for a pair of black claws by her left hip, a pained sigh escaped her mouth. She slipped the claws over her nails and looked towards the ghosts that began melding with Valet’s body. “Don’t make any sudden movements when I do this, Valet. Otherwise, I’ll end up killing you.” She instructed. “Wait, what do you-“Before Valet could finish his words, a violet shockwave emitted itself from Gnasher’s black claws and cut its way into Valet’s flesh. Valet’s eyes widened from the shock of the blow. Looking onto his chest, his eyes picked upon a crescent slash that arched from his right shoulder to left leg. The ghosts that clung onto his body fled through the gaping wound on his chest. “What was that?!” Gripping his wound with his right nails, Valet exclaimed. “A specialized Psycho Cut done by the anti-matter claws here.” Gnasher explained. “No way… that can’t be a Psycho Cut! I’m supposed to be immune to Psychic-type moves!” “Again, specialized. These claws ignore type immunity. If I know anything from the Ghost-type Pokémon I’ve talked to, a slice of mystical energy will drive out just about any ghost.” Valet pouted, crossed his arms and looked away from Gnasher. His eyes closed and his lips were pursed into a haughty form. Within the seconds he held this pose, he lifted his left eye towards Gnasher’s direction. His stoned muzzle formed into a frown. “You didn’t have to save me you know. After what I did to you a bit earlier, I thought you would’ve wanted to leave me to die there.” “Trust me Valet, I did. I wanted to leave you to die by these ghosts. You are just such an arrogant idiot who forces others to do his own bidding that letting those ghosts take you over would be a big improvement to you. But… that wouldn’t be right.” Gnasher explained. “What do you mean by that? Might makes right, right? I was too weak to fend off the ghosts, so it wouldn’t have been right for you to save me even if I wanted you to do so.” With his eyes lighting up with genuine confusion, Valet responded. Gnasher walked towards Valet and held up one of her nails in front of Valet’s face. She looked into his eyes with a stern and stalwart expression. “You may be an idiot. You may be a dick. You are definitely an asshole. But, you still are my teammate. If I couldn’t let go of my desire to see you die, then what kind of teammate would I be? A terrible one that’s what.” A small smirk appeared on Valet’s face. He hid his face away from Gnasher’s gaze. “Thanks.” He muttered underneath his breath. With a good-natured smirk on her face, Gnasher cuffed her right claws beside her right hear and directed it towards Valet’s direction. “What was that? I couldn’t hear you.” She said with a teasing voice. “N-nothing.” Valet responded with a sheepish tone. Gnasher punched Valet’s right shoulder. “I heard you the first time, and don’t mention it.” A large explosion following a whir sounded out beyond the darkness, catching Gnasher and Valet’s attentions. “We have to go now! The others need our help!” Valet declared. “Oh? It appears you have a soft spot for our team.” Gnasher teased. “Shut it.” The group ran until a large chamber with bright lighting appeared within their line of vision. The walls are designed with a galaxy of zebras that bowed down to a large etching of a zebra garbed in a crown and linen. Her gaze burned with solemn authority. At the floor below the stairs near the entrance sat a sarcophagus surrounded by six stalwart statues of zebras. “It appears that we are in the burial chamber of Queen Isis. We aren’t getting attacked here, so I am sure that this must be a safe area.” Twilight Sparkle stated. A shadowy vortex appeared underneath her. Screwball’s head popped above the vortex with a grin of insanity that stretched along her face. With her right front hoof cloaked in a shadowy energy, she leaped from the portal and threw an uppercut against Twilight Sparkle’s chest. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes widened from the sudden strike. The muscles in her chest contorted from the shadow-infused strike. Her back slammed against the ceiling of the burial chamber. Shutting her eyes, she fell from the ceiling and landed on the ground. “Twilight!” Rainbow Dash shouted. She ran towards Twilight Sparkle and shook her by her shoulder in a desperate attempt to bring her back into conscious world. “Twilight! Respond!” But, no answer came from the unconscious Twilight Sparkle. Screwball shifted her sight of direction towards Rainbow Dash. Her stare radiated with cold reminiscence of the pony in front of her. Dashing towards her with a trail of illusions behind her, Screwball launched her left front hoof towards Rainbow Dash’s face. Reaching into her knapsack hoisted on her right flank, she pulled out a black staff and blocked Screwball’s blow with it. The staff extended itself into a three-pronged lance. “You want to play that game? Fine! I’ll play your game!” With her lance in hooves, she flew towards Screwball and cocked her weapon. Aiming to stab through her, a clear barrier of purple and yellow erected itself in front of Screwball. Rainbow Dash’s lance bounced off of the barrier. With her eyes detecting no movement from Screwball in the slightest, her eyes blinked twice. “How are you even blocking that?!” She shouted. Rainbow Dash plunged her lance into the barrier. The vain sounds of warping magic clanking against her lance had rung in her ears. Screwball’s smile dropped into an expressionless frown. Each failed strike elicited a frustrated grunt from Rainbow Dash. “Break… why won’t you break?!” Fluttershy eyed Discord, who extended his lion’s paw outward with a heavy hold. His eyes became narrowed with regret. A melancholic frown appeared on his face. “Discord, please remove that barrier. Otherwise, we can’t reach Screwball.” Fluttershy stated. “I… I can’t. Not if Rainbow Dash is going to keep attacking like that.” Discord responded with a heavy tone. “I can’t trust her enough to not harm Screwball.” “Discord! Just remove that stupid barrier or else I’ll plunge this lance into you!” Rainbow Dash commanded. “That’s an order!” “Listen to yourself, Rainbow Dash! You sound like you actually want to hurt her. Why? What has she ever done to you?!” Joker shouted in surprise. “I don’t need to tell you my reasoning Joker. You probably read that part with your mystical insanity. Now shut up and tell Discord to bring that barrier down!” Hearing Rainbow Dash’s words pass by him, Joker examined beyond the barrier Discord erected and looked into Screwball’s eyes. Within them, he saw twisted shadows that strangled her soul, her mind and her being. He flashed his gritted teeth and stomped his way towards Rainbow Dash. He grabbed her left shoulder and forced her into the ground. “Just stop!” He commanded. Rainbow Dash’s rage quelled at Joker’s fierce words. She stopped and looked onto his indignant visage. “What’s the big deal? Can’t you see we have to stop her?! She hurt Twi, and she’s gonna keep hurting others until we neutralize her.” “The only one who should be neutralized is you. I looked into her eyes and…” Joker shied his head away from Rainbow Dash. For once, his confident smirk melted away into an insecure frown. Rainbow Dash’s eyes looked onto him. “What is it?” “She’s in pain, and in a lot of it. Don’t make it any harder on this child. She shouldn’t have to suffer any more than what she has to suffer.” Joker pleaded. “Joker… I didn’t think you would have this side on you.” Rainbow Dash admitted. “Just please stop. I don’t want to have to kill you for harming a child, Rainbow Dash.” With Joker’s words ringing through her mind, the perceptions of Rainbow Dash’s reality crashed around her. She gazed towards her lance and saw it poised towards Screwball’s vitals. Shifting her sight into Screwball’s eyes, she felt a vortex of shadows swallowing her into a realm of melancholia. Her hoof’s grip began shaking at an unsteady pace. “I… I was about to harm a child…” She dropped her lance onto the ground and sat on the floor. Her eyes twitched with a red itch. “Don’t listen to him, Rainbow! Did you already forget our mission?!” Applejack shouted with clarifying reason emanating from her voice. “No I haven’t. One of those objectives is to bring back Screwball.” Rainbow Dash responded. “And to do that, we have to beat the crud out of her so that we can bring her back!” Applejack’s lips became replaced with silver zipper teeth. The zipper slid its way to the left, sealing her mouth completely. Desperate mumbles echoed from behind the sealed teeth. “Do I need to remind you that is my daughter you are talking about? I will not allow anyone to harm even a strand of hair on her body!” Discord declared. “Rainbow Dash, if you do not mind, allow me to confront Screwball. I want to see if she recognizes me.” Rainbow Dash’s body slumped onto the ground. She turned her head towards Discord’s direction and gazed into his eyes with defeated pupils. “Just go. I won’t stop you.” Discord walked over towards the barrier that separated his group from Screwball. He placed the palms of his upper limbs onto the screen and eyed Screwball through it. He gazed upon his daughter’s emotionless face, causing his heart to tear apart and sink into the depths of his body. “Screwball, do you remember me?” He asked with a hollow tone that is shelled with concerned. “I’m Discord, your father.” Upon hearing his words, Screwball’s eyes flashed in a red color. With a vicious roar, she launched her bare left front hoof through the barrier with a force of a rocket, shattering it with earth-rumbling impact. With her body across the remains of the barrier and Discord in close proximity to her, she geared her right front hoof and poised it towards him. Applejack narrowed her eyes and pushed Discord out of the strike’s trajectory. She looked to her left and saw the hoof of devastation aim towards her left ribcage. Her heart resonated with a beat that echoed within the depths of the tomb. Feeling the blow against her side, the cracks of multiple ribs breaking resonated in her ears. She flew towards a faraway wall, leaving an imprint of herself upon it. Screwball dashed towards the injured Applejack and flashed a menacing glare towards her prone body. She cocked back her left front hoof, biding away her strike at the moment Applejack slipped off the wall. A wall of solid stone rose up from the ground between Screwball and Applejack. Screwball looked to her left and right with an air of confusion surrounding her. Two more slabs of stone raised itself from the ground and hooked onto Screwball’s front hooves, trapping her in place. “Hooves away from Applejack!” With her horn shining in a blue light, Rarity demanded. “Don’t hurt her!” Discord shouted. Rarity flashed a smile and looked towards Discord’s direction. She batted her eyes and brought her right front hoof to her chest with a pompous movement. “I am not hurting her, Discord, but I have her restrained to the point where she could not move. Try talking to her again.” Discord hovered towards Screwball, who grunted and strained to move her hooves through the stone. Several cracks resonated from the diagonal edges along the holes within the slabs of stone. Discord brought his paw and talons onto Screwball’s shoulders and looked into her eyes. Screwball’s eyes shut and she looked away from Discord. She uttered a series of pained grunts. “G….-get away!” She shouted. Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie’s eyes widened from the surprising scream of Screwball. Screwball snorted furious gusts and her chest rose back and forth within rapid increments. A small tear ran its way down Discord’s cheek. “You… you don’t remember me, Screwball? Do you remember the times I’ve changed your diaper? Or rocked you to sleep with your favorite lullaby? Do you remember?” Rubbing bringing her talons to her face and rubbing her face with the thumb, he pleaded in a silent tone. “P-please… stop!” Screwball uttered out in a pained tone. The cracks along the slab extended to full length. Discord brought his arms around Screwball’s neck and pulled her in for a hug. He stroked the back of her mane with tears fresh in his eyes. “It’s alright, Screwball, daddy’s here. Daddy’s here to make everything better.” He whispered with a compassionate tone in her ear. The air within the tomb fluctuated back and forth, revealing white tearing in the space-time continuum around them. Seeing the fluctuation warp around Discord and Screwball, Rainbow Dash’s mouth dropped in suspense. She reached her right front hoof towards Discord with a frown on her face. “Discord! Get out of there! You’re gonna get eaten by that tearing!” She warned. “Rarity! Do something!” The aura around Rarity’s horn disappeared and the conjured earth returned back to the ground. She frowned and looked away from Discord’s direction with her face white with shame. “I’m afraid I cannot do anything. Whatever this field is, my magic is unable to breach it.” She responded. With Screwball in his arms and an expressionless frown on his face, Discord blinked once. He glanced towards a wall, eyeing the etching of a zebra with a younger foal by her side. The two equines each smiled towards him. He shut his eyes with a slow close and a tear fell from his left eye. “We’re going home, Screwball. I will make sure nothing ever hurts you again.” “D…Daddy?” With her eyes opening, Screwball asked with a tone opening with lightheartedness. She buried her face into Discord’s chest and returned his hug. The bodies of the daughter and the father began dissipating within the light. A small smile appeared on Screwball’s face. “Let’s see mommy again.” With these last words spoken, Discord and Screwball’s bodies disintegrated in completion. Each of the equines and Joker looked at the space they stood upon with disbelief flashing within their eyes. Twilight Sparkle and Applejack whirred back into consciousness. With the light of the world entering their eyes, they glanced around the room with their faces stunned in confusion. “What happened? Where’s Discord?” Twilight Sparkle asked. Valet and Gnasher ran down the stairs into the burial chamber with their bodies poised outwards, ready for battle. “Alright, where’s this jerk that is attacking us?!” Valet responded. “Ummm… I think she’s gone.” Gnasher noted. “And apparently… so is Discord.” A dark stream of light formed upon the sarcophagus. The light dissipated, revealing a dull brown stone shaped in a rounded-out trapezoid. The cracks and design on its surface formed into a face that dripped with an ominous air. “W…what is that? It looks funny.” Applejack asked with an enquiring tone. Under the pressure of the pain jabbing at her ribs, she stumbled over towards the stone. “Don’t take my word for it, but it looks like an Odd Keystone.” Gnasher said. “The professor had one of these lying around the lab for some reason.” Rainbow Dash pulled out a radar from her bag, revealing a beeping red dot that echoed out at a quick pace. She cocked her head and rubbed her mane. “Whatever this Odd Keystone is, it has the same signature as the other Pokémon. That means that it is at least relevant to our mission.” She said with a wary voice. Joker let out a whiny groan and slumped down onto the floor. “Let’s just get out of this tomb now. All of the words in this chapter became emotionally draining for me.” “I agree…” Fluttershy whispered out. “Poor Discord and Screwball…” The veil of night fell over the skies of Neo Canterlot. Gnasher walked up the steps of the stairwell with her back slumped forwards. She stretched her arms out and let out a loud yawn. At the zenith of the staircase, she set her gaze onto a smiling Custard with a gold-crusted pie in his sticky upper limbs. Smelling the strong and spicy aroma wafting from the pie, a weak smile appeared on Gnasher’s face. “What are you doing up so late, Custard? Shouldn’t you be in bed right now?” She asked. Custard walked over towards Gnasher and brought her body in for a hug. He planted a kiss between her nostrils. “I was waiting for you to come back from your trip from the Desert of Forgotten Souls. I baked a cherry lemon pie with a bit of a kick from the civilian request I did today. I saved this one just for you.” “Did you really have to do that for me? You know how much I love a good pie.” Gnasher responded. Custard’s eyes examined the lack of direct eye contact that Gnasher gave to Custard. Her smile dropped and a frown hid itself within the shadows upon her muzzle. Custard cocked her head and frowned. “Did… something happen? You would never come to me with those eyes looking like that.” Custard asked. Custard’s words froze the back of Gnasher’s spine. She rubbed the back of her head and swiped the pie in his limbs. “Ummm… I really have to go now. It’s been a long day.” She hastened her steps and walked down the loft of the stairs. Custard turned around with a full frown on his face. “This is about Valet, isn’t it?” He asked with a tone swamped in calm disbelief. Custard’s words became a blizzard that stopped Gnasher in her tracks. Gnasher turned towards him and narrowed her eyes. She blinked once and let out a depressed sigh. “Look, it’s better that I don’t say a thing. I just want you to know that nothing happened.” With the lie passing through her teeth and her eyes down towards the ground, she uttered. “Just tell me what happened, Gnasher. I can take it. I’m a fully-grown and adulated Pokémon.” Custard said with an honest tone. “Valet… kind of tried to have his way with me. He forced his muzzle onto mine and kissed me.” Gnasher craned her head up towards Custard’s face. Her cold blood chilled further at what she saw; Custard’s jaw hung down to the base of his neck and his wide eyes emanated with dread and pain. His heart is a samurai that had shamed his family name, bringing the sword to his belly to end his disgrace. “He… he did what?!” Author's Note Welp, that happened. Also, Custard seems a bit in shock. Take a guess what will happen next.
Custard's RevengeAuthor's Note The title of this chapter is not to be confused with Custer's Revenge. Custard's Revenge Valet lied down upon a steel crate within a small room with no windows. Only a dim lamp that hung from the ceiling illuminated the area. By his side, Roi leaned by his backside upon a steel crate. He flipped a golden bit with his right thumb with his eyes leered in boredom. He stretched his back and hopped onto the crate behind him. “Man, today is sooo boring! Why didn’t I get selected to join up with you in that mission you went on yesterday?” He complained. Valet shrugged his shoulders and flashed a carefree smile. “Don’t know, but don’t care. I’m just enjoying some R n’ R. Almost being possessed by ghosts drains a lot of energy out of you.” A series of loud thumps rumbled from behind the door outside the room. Roi sat up from his resting position and gazed at the door. His eyes rolled up in confusion. The sound of steps outside stopped in front of the door, revealing a shadow that covered the crack below the door. The door burst out of its hinges and launched itself towards Valet. Valet’s eyes widened at the sight of the projectile. He rolled off of the crate and onto the ground, dodging the door’s trajectory towards the wall. “Whoa! What the fu-“ His words stopped in their tracks upon sitting up and looking towards the door. There, he gazed at Custard, whose gentle eyes were replaced with burning rage. Custard’s chest puffed itself with seething breath and his upper limbs hung themselves to his neck’s level. He flashed an ominous point of his right upper limb towards Valet. “Valet, I’m going to kill you!” He shouted. “For what?!” Valet responded with an ignorant tone. “I’m sure you can remember what you did yesterday.” Custard answered with a dark tone in his voice. Valet’s eyes widened with an epiphany. He brought his mouth to a slow open and he nodded his head. “Oooohhhh… that event. I’d like to see you try.” He challenged with a cocky tone. “Three o’clock at the sparring center. Room A36. Don’t be late.” Stating these words, Custard turned around and walked back up the set of steel stairs. Roi looked towards Valet with a flash of concern in his eyes. “What did you do to him?!” He asked with a tone drenched in concern. “I asserted my dominance over his girlfriend. It was worth it.” With a sinister grin, Valet responded. “Dude, you know that’s not cool right? Now you got a mad Goodra on your back! You know that if they stick onto you, they won’t ever stop getting stuck on you until they fulfilled their mission right?” Roi questioned. “Eh, what’s a weakling like that Custard going to do to me? I’ll have him beat within three seconds.” Valet responded with a confident-flowing voice. “That ‘weakling’ tore down an adamantite-hinged door! Do you know how much strength is even required to do that?!” With widened eyes, Roi explained. “I’m just saying that you will be seeing the Medical Division after this fight.” “Hah! The only reason why I would go there is to deliver Custard’s bloodied corpse. I’ll be fine, Roi. Trust me.” Patting Roi’s left shoulder with his right set of claws, Valet assured. “Alright… You know, I think this day may be great after all.” With his frown of concern forming into a pleased smile, Roi stated. “This should alleviate my boredom.” Valet stood up from the ground and stretched his arms to the right, holding his left claw over his right claw and arching them over his head in a counterclockwise direction. “Well, I’m off to get warmed up. I don’t want to have stiff muscles for when I massacre that Goodra. Roi shook his head to his left and right. He glanced down to the bit in his hand and began flipping it once more. With his eyes illuminated with the flames of vengeance, Custard’s upper limbs glowed in a sickly purple. Eyeing the burgundy punching bag hanging in front of him, he unleashed a barrage of strikes that moved faster than a single blink of the eye. Each strike against the bag caused a portion of its skin to corrode and melt away. The adhesive poison ate away at the cushion of the bag and weakened it. With a final strike of his jab, he launched the bag off of its rope, causing it to shoot across the wall. The door to the room lifted open, revealing Gnasher. Seeing the punching bag hanging off of the shattered stubs of the wall and Custard’s upper limbs dimming down to their color, her eyes widened to the size of suns and her jaw dropped to the ground. Custard’s aggressive scowl mellowed out into a cheerful smile. “Oh, hello Gnasher. Did you come to check on me?” He asked. Gnasher pulled her jaw back to the roof of her mouth and shook her head. “I did… but damn! Did you seriously just do that?!” She shouted with a tone shocked with fear. “Yep. I’ve picked up the move Poison Jab.” Custard responded. “I didn’t even think Goodras can even learn that move.” Gnasher noted. Custard frowned and looked towards the wall, where the punching bad dissolved. His eyes formed back into a scowl. “Well that’s just how ticked off I am at Valet. I’m breaking all sorts of my senses of limitation and whatnot.” He stated. “So I’m guessing you aren’t going to call off that fight anytime soon then?” Gnasher questioned. “Gnasher, if you came here to try to sway me to call off the fight, I am afraid that your words have fallen on deaf ears.” Gnasher scowled and stomped her way across the floor towards Custard. She placed her right claws on Custard’s right shoulder and spun him to the point where his eyes looked at Gnasher’s face. “It’s not a request you idiot. It’s a desperate demand because I do not want to see any Pokémon hurt today, especially you.” She declared. “Valet’s a nasty foe, and he will be going all-out to kill you.” Custard smacked away Gnasher’s claws and lit up an overpowering glare that focused into Gnasher’s pupils. “And you don’t think I know that? While I love you with all of my heart, there are some things in life that I have to do no matter the circumstances. Valet hurt you and offended me because he thinks that he is the alpha male of everything. I have to show him that he isn’t as big as he thinks he is, and that I will make sure his ideals are utterly destroyed while he is down on the ground.” Custard spoke with a serious tone. “You see? This was the thing I was afraid of! You are falling for that idiot’s ploy and now you are going to walk into a battle that will be a bloodbath! I don’t want to see any of my teammates hurt because of stupidity.” Gnasher called out. Custard pouted and turned his head away from Gnasher’s gaze. He crossed his upper limbs. “I don’t care where my stupidity leads me. All I know is that this is something I have to prove to myself and to you, Gnasher.” “Prove what?! Your durability before you are beaten to a pulp?!” Gnasher shouted. “To prove that I am not a wall flower who would let anyone walk over me. Now, if you do not have any words of encouragement to say to me, then I must ask that you please leave. I still have much more training to do.” Gnasher’s anger transmuted into sadness. Her frown fell into a deep fall and her eyes drooped to the bottom eyelids. “I can see my words will not sway your decision. Very well Custard. But… just be sure that you don’t hurt Valet too bad. I mean, he still is our teammate after all.” Saying these words, she turned around and headed towards the exit of the room. She walked through the doorway, where the door closed behind her. Within the immediate vicinity of the hallway, she gazed towards a crestfallen Lith. “I’ve heard everything in there.” Lith stated. “I never thought that Custard would be so keen on resorting to violence like this.” “You and I both. You’d think that, as sweet as Custard is, he would try to talk out his problems right? Unfortunately, he’s letting his own testosterone blind him into an aggressive battle.” Lith shook her head and looked into Gnasher’s eyes. “You go talk with Mono, Gnasher. I’m going to talk with Custard. I do know him very well after all. Don’t be surprised if my body ends up like that bag hanging on the wall.” Gnasher’s pupils dilated in suspense. With a white lab coat adorned upon him, Mono glanced upon the pages of data put out in front of him. With his eyes narrowed and his mouth rested into a slump, a puzzled hum vibrated from his throat. Professor Pasque walked towards Mono. Within the crux of his mouth is a small and round device that shined a sleek silver color in the exposed light. He placed it upon the table. “I thank you again for asking to help take over the research on the Pokémon genome, Mono. It has been a bit stressful around here while I developed new technology for use involving the genome and researching the genome at the same time.” He said with a weary smile on his face. “It’s not a problem, Professor. I’ve been meaning to get some things off of my mind as of late.” With an exhausted yawn, Mono responded. Professor Pasque lowered himself onto his knees and curled his tail to the right. He narrowed his head down to Mono’s height and brought it close to the right side of his head. “Is this about the distress that Gnasher is going through?” Mono lifted his left paw and shook it with a balancing gesture. “A bit of that. But since that is the major topic at hand now, we should keep it at that. Gnasher has been really stressed out since last night, and it’s gotten me very stressed out.” “I’ve heard the news. As a Pokémon, Valet has been very despicable. He’s rude, vulgar and forces his own ideal on others. I could understand why Custard is very upset, since Gnasher was subject to being powerless before him… but actually going out in a hardcore-style match against him?! That would worry just about everyone.” Professor Pasque empathized. Mono looked into Professor Pasque’s eyes. His slumped mouth formed into a worried frown. Gnasher entered through the glass hallway of two doors and entered into the vicinity of the lab. The two scientists shifted their sights towards her direction. Gnasher waved with a weak motion. “Hey Mono. Hey Professor. How have you two been doing?” She asked. “By the look on your face, I see that you couldn’t convince Custard to call off the battle.” Mono stated with a down tone. Gnasher let out a frustrated sigh and stormed her path towards the table. She slammed her claws on its surface, knocking away the instruments and papers on there. Mono’s spine jumped out of his back. He widened his eyes and gritted his teeth at the sight of the materials falling to the ground. Using his Double Team, he split himself into illusions faster than the eye can see and grabbed each object falling to the ground. “Please be more careful! These are some very delicate and sensitive materials Gnasher!” He reprimanded with a fearful tone. “I know… but why does the opposite sex have to be so… stupid sometimes?!” Gnasher shouted out with a loud voice burning with aggression. “Why do they have to think with their dicks and not with their heads?” All of the Monos placed the captured materials onto the table. All but one of them vanished in thin air. “That’s actually due to a chemical compound found in males known as testosterone. They are driven by that, and beings with more testosterone tend to be more aggressive and sexually active. It also shrinks away their ability to rationally think if a large-enough quantity is present.” Wiping his forehead and breathing a sigh of relief, he stated. “That was a rhetorical question you know. Of course I knew that answer, Mono.” Gnasher stated. “We both know how literally I take everything Gnasher. Even if you ask me a rhetorical question, I’ll still give an answer.” “Alright… but why were you so eager to tell me this particular set of news Mono?” Mono pulled out a dry rag from a pocket on his lab coat and wiped the sweat that built up around the back of his neck. “I don’t know. I just like saying this sort of stuff.” He whimpered out. Gnasher narrowed his eyes and stared into Mono’s eyes. She closed the distance between the two of them. “I see that Sophs has been doing you favors with boosting your testosterone with her wiles. I see it in your eyes.” She teased. Mono’s face flushed itself in a light pink color. He lowered his head and hid his face behind his tails. “Let’s not bring my sexuality into this, Gnasher.” He uttered out with a sheepish tone. “Unfortunately, I am unable to help with your current dilemma right now. All I could do is just offer you comfort. That is what you came here for, right?” Gnasher’s shoulders slumped down to a lower position. With a frown on her face, she planted her posterior onto the ground, placed her claws on her face and shook her head. “Mono, am I an idiot for thinking that Custard was the one for me?” She uttered out in a regretful voice. Mono approached Gnasher and pat her left shoulder with his right upper paw. “It sounds like you expected everything to go as perfectly as possible in your relationship. Just because Custard was your childhood friend-turned boyfriend doesn’t mean that you not be able to avoid all relationship troubles. At this point, you just have to learn to be more patient. I am sure the answer will reveal itself sooner or later.” He stated. Gnasher looked over her shoulder towards Mono. A small and toothy grin flashed upon her face. “I guess so. I didn’t even think you could offer advice like that. I guess you must really want to get laid right now. I mean, if I was in your position, I would sleep with your girlfriend right now.” Mono’s breathing stunted in place. His heart beat at a faster rate and his knees weakened at the thought of Gnasher’s words rushing through his mind. Seeing his actions unfold before his eyes, Professor Pasque cocked his head and blinked once in confusion. Gnasher stood up from the ground and walked away. “Well, see ya Mono. Thanks for the advice.” With Gnasher making her exeunt from the lab, Professor Pasque focused his sight on the nerve-shaken Mono. “Do you… want to talk about libido?” He asked with a voice steeped in general curiosity. “I don’t want to talk about it…” Mono uttered out. Lith leaned her back against the wall. Her eyes glanced upon the Flamethrower shooting out of Custard’s mouth. The tongues of the orange flames melted away the remainder of the punching bad. Shutting his mouth, he glanced towards Lith’s direction. Lith flashed a smile and walked towards Custard’s direction. “Do you need me, Lith?” Custard asked. “Do you want a hug?” Lith responded. “A hug? I don’t want to hug right now.” “Please? I know my wittle Custy-Wusty wants a hug.” Custard’s eyes focused themselves on the wide puppy eyes that Lith revealed. Her mouth curved into a small and quivering frown. She held out her upper paws. Custard gritted his mouth and rolled his eyes to the left. With his will losing his battle to his desires, he wrapped his upper limbs around Lith and pulled her in for an embrace. “Can you stroke my head like what you usually do, Lith?” Custard asked with a sheepish tone. A smile curved on Lith’s face. She pulled out her paw and patted Custard on top of his head. Custard let go of Lith and placed her back onto the ground. A nervous frown pursed itself onto his face. He twiddled his thumbs and let out an uneasy throw of his voice. “I can see you are worried about the battle Custard.” Lith noted. “I’m not worried. I’m just suffering some pre-battle anxiety.” Custard told. “I’m fine. I swear!” “Custard, I’ve raised you since you were a hatchling. I know when you are worried about something.” Treading her right upper paw gently onto Custard’s left cheek, Lith answered. “Are you going to tell me what is in your heart, or do I have to tickle you to get it out of you?” “…I’m worried that I might have bitten off more than I could chew when challenging Valet to the battle.” With his voice sick with anxiety, Custard explained. “I mean, Valet has tons of experience in fighting and I don’t think I am at his level. He’ll wipe the floor with me!” Lith glanced towards blue plush floor, where the smoldering ashes that used to be the bag rested upon. “That bag is made from heavy-duty nylon and you burned it like it was nothing! I’m sure you will do fine.” She assured. Custard shook his head and deepened his frown. “I still don’t feel confident in my combat abilities. I’m going to get destroyed!” He screeched. “Calm down, Custard. I know how anxious you feel, but don’t tell yourself that you will get destroyed. Otherwise, you will get destroyed.” Lith stated. “So… should I just call off the match?” Custard questioned with wavering anxiety in his tone. “Hell no!” Lith shouted out. She formed a fist with her right upper paw and pounded it into the palm of her left upper paw. “That Valet needs to pay for hurting both you and Gnasher!” Listening to the sudden use of Lith’s aggressive language, Custard’s eyes widened with surprise. A small smile crept onto his face. “You mean… you won’t try to stop me from fighting like everyone else?” “When I heard that you actually are starting a fight…” Pausing in her words, Lith began stating. She rubbed the ankles of her upper paws. “I grew a bit worried. But, when I stepped in here and saw you absolutely annihilate that bag, I realized that you have grown very strong. Plus, you’ve been through much worse.” Custard looked up towards the ceiling. Memories of being strangled and poisoned filled his mind. He shut his eyes and shuddered underneath the painful chills of the images. “I remember. Heck, I lived through those and even fought some of them off!” His voice reached a cheerful apex. “If I can fight those off, then Valet would be a pushover!” Lith nodded and gazed towards the wall to the right. She placed her lower right paw forward and held out her upper right paw. “If you still are not feeling confident in your skills, then I could teach you some things that the Commander taught me when it comes to chaining your moves together to overwhelm your foe.” She said. “Chaining… my moves?” Custard vocalized with a hint of uncertainty in his voice. “It requires an open mind and a bit of creativity, but that is how you create new attacks and even lead into devastating combos. It’s how the Commander was able to get you out of that jam two weeks ago.” Lith explained. Custard moved his body and matched Lith’s stance from limb to limb. An uneasy smile cracked on his face. “Alright Lith… let me see those move chains you are telling me about.” A conglomeration of Equusians, both operatives and non-operatives, rushed towards a large building whose walls are colored in white and its flat roof colored in red. At the double doors upon the entrance of the building, Pinkie Pie wore a black top hat and stood over a black podium. A black and opulent cane stretched from her right front hoof all the way across the double doors. With her left hoof, she patted against a black microphone and brought her mouth within its vicinity. “Step right up ladies and gentleman! The big fight between two colossal Pokémon will be underway!” She announced. She leaped onto the podium’s top and held out her left front hoof and leaned her face in towards a light mint-coated pegasus mare with a wild and silver mane. The mare backed a step away from Pinkie Pie and widened her eyes in sudden surprise. “Who shall pry victory from the jaws of death? Will it be the gooey dragon of surprising destruction, or will it be the crooked crocodile of bad tidings!?” Pinkie Pie announced. The mare in front of Pinkie Pie shut her eyes and flashed a seething frown. She placed her right front hoof on Pinkie Pie’s left cheek and pushed it back. “Personal space, Pinkie Pie. Don’t you know that already?! I just want to see the match in there.” Pinkie Pie fell onto the podium’s base on her back. With her legs wrapped around the stock, she tilted her top hat and stood back onto the podium. “Hehe, sorry Fleetfoot. The match will be in Room A36.” Stating these words, she lifted up her cane from the entrance. In doing so, the calamity of Equusians rushed through the double doors, shouting out cheers and screams. Thousands of bits rained down upon Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie popped her head out from the top and held out a golden bit. Limping towards the double doors with a cane under her right front leg, Spitfire looked towards Pinkie Pie and her pile of bits. “Did you seriously just charge Equusians for a match that was barely legal?!” She shouted. Pinkie Pie shut her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. “I have to pay off my costs for advertising the event in the first place. Plus, I made that particular room look very nice for the coming bloodbath.” She explained. “You… what?!” Spitfire screamed out. Hordes of Equusians rushed into the bowl-shaped seating. Large and bright lights shined down upon the black and red arena below. On the walls that circled the stadium, two blown up images of Custard and Valet with a red and burning ‘Vs.’ between them imprinted themselves along the wall. Rundas walked along the bowl of seats with a brown bag of popcorn held in his right nails. He popped a few of the popped kernels into his mouth and let the salty and buttery flavor meld on his tongue. In his line of sight, he saw an empty seat beside Reine, Roi and Joker out at the front seats. He set his walking towards them. “Hey everyone.” Rundas greeted. He rolled his eyes towards Reine and a devilish smirk came upon his mouth. “Hello Reine.” Reine rolled her eyes towards Joker, crossed her claws and turned her head away from Rundas. Rundas planted his posterior in the seat by Reine. An uncomfortable sigh passed by her mouth. “Hello… Rundas.” She uttered out. “Want some popcorn? There’s a concession stand out in the hallway.” Rundas offered. “I’m not here to enjoy any sort of spectacle, so no thank you. I’m here to make sure that everyone is in control of themselves… especially the males.” With two bags of popcorn in his arms, Roi stood up from his seat and roared into the stadium below. “Bring on the fighting and violence! I want to see flesh being torn apart!” He shouted. Joker rolled his eyes towards Rundas and cast an overbearing glow. “I suggest you find another seat. I’m not exactly in a cheery mood and hitting on my girlfriend is terrible for your health.” Rundas’s eyes widened towards hearing Joker’s words. He edged away from his seat and pointed towards Joker. “Your girlfriend?!” He shouted. He looked away and rubbed the back of his head with his left nails. A deep frown appeared on his face. “…Sorry for not taking your message, Reine. I’m just going to go away now…” Rundas stood up from the seat and walked away. Joker set his sights back onto Reine and stroked the top of her head with a gentle caress. Reine looked back into Joker’s eyes and flashed a worried frown. “You are much more caring than how you usually are. Do you want to talk about it?” She asked. “No… Not right now. Let’s just sit back and enjoy the display.” Mono, Lith, Gnasher and Fluttershy sat close to the arena at the other side of the bowl of seats. Gnasher’s sat with her arms crossed. Her right eye twitched and a vein at the base of her eyes looked on the verge of rupturing. “Ummm… Gnasher, you don’t look alright.” Lith noted. Gnasher rolled her pupils towards Lith’s direction and let out a frustrated gust of air from her nostrils. She pulled out a steel bat from the cushion underneath the seat and handed it towards Lith’s direction. She tilted her head and pointed her right middle finger onto a soft and flat area to the right side of her head. “Hit me here with all of your might, Lith.” She requested. Lith’s eyes narrowed and her mouth flattened out into a straight line of disbelief. “I’m not going to hit you, Gnasher. Especially not with a metal bat.” She replied with a strong tone. “Just do it. It would assuage my conscious if I am not around to see this.” Lith shook her head with shut eyes and placed the bat below the seat. Gnasher let out a depressed sigh and placed the palms of her claws on her nose. Mono looked over towards Fluttershy, who gazed upon the arena with a shaky face and sweaty hooves. “I see you are a bit nervous, Fluttershy.” He commented. Fluttershy turned her face towards Mono’s direction and stared into his eyes for a brief second. She looked back onto the designated battlefield, where she felt her heart beat out of her chest. “Valet isn’t exactly the nicest of Pokémon. Even then, I’m worried for both of their sake. I almost expect to see the two turn into monstrous beasts down there.” She said. “You know, it is battles like this that help Pokémon get stronger. As awful as the circumstances are, a battle is a battle. You get to witness the type of battles that you could only see back in my world.” With a keen smile on his face, Mono replied. “I’ll trust your word on it. I hope that they don’t hurt each other too bad.” A series of buffs rang out through the stereos placed upon the ceiling of the room. “Who is ready to witness a battle of titans?!” Pinkie Pie shouted through the intercom. The entire room lit up with hundreds of roaring cheers. Two metal gates on each side of the arena lifted themselves open, revealing Custard and Valet. Both Pokémon stared at each other with determination burning in their eyes. The two titans approached the center of the arena. Valet flashed a skin-curdling smirk. “Any last words before I maul you?” He asked. “Actually yes; it’s not too late for you to call this match off.” With a confident smirk plastered on his face, Custard responded. “In your dreams.” Pinkie Pie leaped from the audience stand down into the arena. She wore a black and white-striped shirt over her torso and had a whistle around her neck. “Alright you two; I want to see a clean fight. No hits below the belt and no smashing the face in. As soon as I leave this arena, you two can begin.” Saying these words, she dashed towards the audience stand once more and leaped over the wall. Valet kicked Custard in his chest and knocked him away. Custard’s eyes and mouth widened in response. He felt all of the wind leaving his lungs. Valet clawed his way through the ground. The hole that Valet dug formed into a funnel with sand that caught Custard’s legs dragging him towards its center. Valet popped up from the epicenter of the pit and unleashed a fierce uppercut that landed against Custard’s chest. Custard winced and felt his body fly into the air. “Ohhhh! That Sand Tomb had got to hurt!” Pinkie Pie announced. Valet swam into the ground and rushed towards Custard’s falling body. Popping out of the ground, he opened his maw and roared. A smirk appeared on Custard’s face. He placed his upper limbs on Valet’s nostrils and leaped off of him. Valet’s eyes widened at the sudden maneuver. Custard unleashed a series of fast-paced Poison Jabs along Valet’s spine. Valet winced with each strike. The final strike launched him down towards the ground. Pushing himself off the ground, Valet’s arms shook under the sudden shock dealt to him. “That… hurt more than it should have.” He said to himself. “Yo, Valet!” Roi called out from the stands. “Don’t give into a single Poison Jab! You’re much tougher than that!” “I know that! It just caught me off guard is all.” He turned around and saw Custard rushing at him on a wave of sludge. Custard breathed out a Flamethrower that aimed towards Valet. Valet dug into the ground, dodging it. The wave Custard rode on dissipated. Stopping in place, he looked towards the ground with a careful eye. Seeing the ground in front of him rumble, he fired a Dragon Pulse towards its direction. Valet popped out from the ground behind Custard and bit into his left shoulder. Custard winced and squealed. The crowd in the stands cheered loud at the strike. Pinkie Pie winced and turned her head away. “Ouch! A direct Crunch like that would ruin anyone’s day! Well, good thing Custard doesn’t have a skeletal system because that looks like it would’ve broken some bones!” She shouted. Valet shook his head and tossed Custard onto the floor behind him. Valet looked down onto Custard with an overbearing stare. Custard spun his body and swept Valet’s feet with his legs. Within the small frame of time Valet fell, Custard got up and surrounded his body with a spiraling Sludge Wave. Just before Valet fell onto the ground, Custard leaped into the air with waves of sludge striking Valet upwards with each ribbed stream. Custard leaped back off of the wave of sludge underneath him. With the distance between him and Valet split as far as possible, he opened his mouth. A stream of purple energy built up within his mouth. The energy released itself in the guise of a large and fearsome dragon that aimed towards Valet. Valet’s pupils dilated and his jaw dropped. “I am going to be feeling that in the morning.” He uttered out. The augmented Dragon Pulse swallowed Valet whole and exploded. The winds from the burst of energy pushed all of the members of the audience to the backs of their seats. From the black smoke in the air, Valet fell onto the ground with a still body and closed eyes. Monarca, who sat in the seats, leaped over into the arena and rushed towards Valet. Mono approached right behind her and glanced onto Valet’s chest. Seeing it rise and descend at a slow pace, he exhaled a relieved sigh. “He’s still breathing. But… he’s definitely out cold.” Custard walked his way over towards Valet and looked upon him with a worried gaze. “Are you sure he’s going to make it? I didn’t want to hurt him too badly. I just wanted to teach him a lesson.” He asked. Monarca brought her upper hooves along Valet’s body and felt the bruises and scratches along his body. “He is suffering from Poison and is bruised, but it’s nothing he couldn’t handle.” She explained. The entire audience cheered with loud roars. A large grin covered all of Pinkie Pie’s face. She grabbed the microphone on her table and whisked it away towards her mouth. “There you have it folks! The grudge match between Custard and Valet has come to an end! Custard prevails over Valet’s ruthless assault! What a shock!” Gnasher hopped over the wall and ran towards Custard. She wrapped his arms around his shoulders and pulled him in for a big hug. Custard’s eyes widened and his teeth gritted from the force applied on his sore body. “You actually managed to win you big idiot! I’m very impressed.” She shouted. “Ummm… Gnasher, your hug is kind of hurting me. Would you mind letting up a little on it?” Custard requested. “Your body must have been sore from some of those strikes you’ve taken I see. Well, you shouldn’t underestimate the strength of a Krookodile.” “I know, but I had to let him hit me if I wanted to land some blows on him.” “Just shut up and kiss me.” Gnasher demanded. Custard let out a smile and placed his puckered mouth onto the top of Gnasher’s nose. A handful of members in the audience softened their eyes and tilted their head with smiles on their face. A clamor of noises uttered from their cuteness proximity rung out throughout the arena. Valet’s eyes widened open, letting the light of the world fill them. His back burned with the sensation of a heated stone. To his right, Roi leaped off the seat and approached Valet. “Hey Valet, are you up yet?” Roi asked. “Of course I am.” Valet seethed out. He sliced the bandages wrapped around his torso and sat up from the bed. “I’m just feeling a little sore. Where am I anyways?” “You’re at the Medical Division’s patient ward. You got knocked out cold. I did say that you were going to end up in the Medical Division if you took part in the battle.” Roi responded with a cocky tone. “Oh, by the way, you have a message.” Saying these words, he handed Valet a hologram device. Valet swiped it out of Roi’s hand and pressed the red button on it. A hologram of Custard’s head appeared. “Hello Valet. If you are reading this message, then it means that you woke up and you are alright. Yay!” The voice recording of Custard stated. “Now, as you know, I only did this because I believe that you were not being the model Pokémon that is right for a member of H.O.R.S.E. There are certain things you can and cannot do that you have been freely expressing.” Valet rolled his eyes and placed his right hand underneath his jaw. He looked towards Roi’s direction, who flashed an arrogant smile towards him. Valet let out a low growl and focused on the message once more. “But… I forgive you. I know that it would be hard to make your adjustments immediately, but I know that we can do it together. Do you trust me?” Valet’s eyes widened at the honest sincerity in Custard’s tone. “So what’s in it for me?” He asked. “And since I know you will ask what is in it for you, I have the perfect thing to offer you; I can teach you some interesting ways you can modulate some of your moves. Whether you want to do so is up to you or not. But, I really want to teach you some of these combinations since I think you can benefit from it. What do you think?” “Custard! Hurry up and join me in bed. I feel in the mood for some cuddles~.” Gnasher shouted through the message with an amorous tone. “Coming Gnasher!” With his face red with embarrassment, he shouted. “So yes, let me know what you think of this offer.” Custard’s head disappeared. Valet looked towards Roi with a confused expression on his face. “So… are you going to take that offer?” Roi asked. Valet crossed his arms and leaned forwards with an aggressive movement. “So he has the gall to tell me this before he sleeps with his girlfriend?” He shouted. His scowl softened into a straight expression. Roi’s eyes picked up a small smile forming on Valet’s mouth. “It seems like I was wrong about that wimp. He is definitely more of a male than what I give him credit for.” Roi crooked his head to his right and stared into Valet’s eyes with pupils alit with interest. “So…?” “I’ll take his offer. What have I got to lose?” Valet responded. “Well, you already lost once, so what’s another loss in your record anyways?” Roi stated with a sinister cackle. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
Shattered Remnants pt. 2Keldeo stood with his mouth agape. He turned his direction towards the blue sky and focused his sight on the buildings crafted from invigorated quartz. A small humanoid with a gray exterior and three membranes that formed into its hair dropped a crystal pillar. Being given a stern stare by the Machoke observing it, its face tensed up and it rubbed its right shoulder with its left hand. “So this place really is Kurisutaru?” He asked with a dumbfounded voice. “From what I could guess, that platform did more than just perform a flashy illusion. I think it brought us back in time.” Fei stated. Feeling the cool breeze blow through her mane, an invigorated smile appeared on Rarity’s face. She inhaled a deep gust of air through her nostrils and exhaled a calm breath. “This place is stunning! Look at how they use these crystals as buildings. It reminds me of the Crystal Empire back in its heyday.” She said with an exuberant tone. The Swirlix, Tepig and Skitty ran over towards Inge and yanked on her left arm. The Swirlix gazed at Keldeo and let out a confused frown. “Keldeo! What are you doing here?! Shouldn’t you be at Master Cobalion’s training yard right now? You know he’s going to have another Miltank if you are late for his lessons again.” Keldeo gazed at the Swirlix with a curious movement of his head. A burst of laughter echoed throughout the children. “That’s a good one, Keldeo. But seriously, you really don’t want to be late for Master Cobalion’s next lesson. He says that this next lesson is extremely important.” The Swirlix stated. The Tepig gazed at the Swirlix with a small frown on its face. It rubbed the back of its head with its upper left foot. “Ummm, Swirlix, Keldeo seems a bit different today. Maybe we should escort him to Cobalion’s place today? He seems really out there.” It suggested. “That’s not a bad idea Tepig. Maybe we can even show his new friends around the town a bit!” The Skitty proclaimed with a wide smile. The Tepig, Swirlix and Skitty dispersed from Inge’s side and surrounded themselves around Keldeo. They pushed him towards down towards the direction of the street. He looked towards the trio of Pokémon around him with his eyes affixed in anxiety. “Ummm… don’t I have a say in this?” He asked. “Nope! Just keep moving with a clear head until you get to Master Cobalion.” The Skitty responded. A gleeful smile wrapped itself over Rarity’s lower face. “Well aren’t they the most precious things in the world? Their words and attitude remind me of Sweetie and her friends.” She stated. “Wait, you can understand those Pokémon?!” Iosac asked with a stunned tone. “I thought Equusians couldn’t understand Pokémon words!” “Well, we couldn’t, but I heard the words of those three Pokémon very clearly. We should follow Keldeo and see this ‘Master Cobalion’ Pokémon that they were talking about.” Rarity suggested. Fei shrugged his shoulders with his eyes shut. Turning his direction towards Keldeo and the trio of Pokémon, he took his steps into the city. “We should just follow them regardless. They do have Keldeo held hostage with their ways.” He stated. “Fei, they’re children. Even I can see that. No one is taking anyone hostage.” Inge corrected. Fei said nothing in retaliation, but a small sigh of frustration can be heard hidden within his breathing. Being dragged down the streets of Kurisutaru by the children in front of him, Keldeo gazed towards all possible directions around him and eyed the interactions between a menacing panda bear with a tuxedo-like set of fur and a green and bipedal chameleon with red and yellow zigzag patterns along its torso behind a stand with many items behind him. He looked up towards the trees around him, where a flock of small birds with navy blue feathers, red faces and white bellies looked down upon him. “So ummm, Swirlix, you mentioned something about a Pokémon named Cobalion. I know he’s famous and everything, but who exactly is he?” Keldeo asked. Swirlix turned back towards Keldeo and stared him in the eye with a deadpan expression on his face. “Did you hit your head back where you were, Keldeo? I can forgive if you don’t know about his accomplishments of being one of the knights of our populace, but this is one of the Pokémon who practically raised you after… well, you know.” He explained “Know what?” The eyes of Tepig jolted open in response to Keldeo’s words. Skitty looked to her right and rubbed her left shoulder with her right front paw. Keldeo looked upon the group of children with his breathing increasing with heavy doses of anxiety. “Ummm, Keldeo, are you sure you are alright? You sound a bit out of it today.” Skitty asked. “I’m perfectly fine… I think. I’m just kind of feeling a bit displaced.” Keldeo responded. Tepig looked over Keldeo’s shoulder and gazed at the group of operatives following him. An exuberant smile formed on your face. “Are those your friends, Keldeo? They look really strong. Especially that white Rapidash with the purple fire over there.” He asked. Rarity looked to her left and right. She pointed to herself with her eyes glinted in curiosity. “You would not happen to be talking about me, would you?” She questioned with uncertainty in her voice. “Of course I am! The magical power you are showing is making me shudder!” Iosac narrowed his eyes and held his mouth open agape. His lips are halfway over his teeth. “Are you sure that it isn’t her copulins having its effect on you?” He joked with a sleazy tone. Inge and Rarity both stared down Iosac with scowls in their eyes. Iosac giggled with a nervous shake and his head halfway behind his fluff. Tepig gazed towards Keldeo with curiosity enveloped within his eyes. “What are copulins?” He asked. “You’re too young to ask that.” Keldeo responded with a strict tone. “Well geez, Keldeo. Not only did you have to be rude about it, but you aren’t exactly that much older than us either. Don’t act like you are a full-grown stallion when you are just a young colt.” Tepig responded with a stung tongue. “But I am a full-grown stallion?” “Sure you are…” Keldeo gazed down upon his slender legs that hid away rippling muscle and glanced up towards his chest. With his mouth forming into a frown, he brought his right front hoof to his muzzle and felt along its pronounced definition. A question mark hung over his head. Gazing towards a round building with three crystals getting from the flat roof, Skitty stopped and pointed towards its direction. “Here we are!” She shouted. “This is Master Cobalion’s training grounds? It looks a bit opulent for some sort of training grounds.” Keldeo noted. Swirlix shut his eyes and shook his head with disappointment. He pointed his head towards the entire row of buildings to his left, all of which towered Cobalion’s training grounds and shimmered with the rays of the sun. Looking upon the row of buildings, Fei’s eyes dilated and his body dripped with cold sweat. “These are all living quarters by the way. I really thought you knew this stuff, considering that you live here. Anyways, Tepig, Skitty and I are going to head out to look at some of that Whipped Dream that Kecleon is selling at this stand.” Swirlix stated. The trio of children giggled with anticipation and ran off into the distance. Fei and Rarity approached Keldeo and set their gazes onto the training grounds. “It’s amusing to think that the Pokémon here have actually built a functioning and modern society. Best of all is that they are all getting along quite nicely with each other. The only thing I am wondering is why…” Fei wondered aloud. Inge shifted her direction towards the right, where a long building with open pathways and flashing lights allured hordes of Pokémon. Her eyes shut with joy and her head lifted itself off of her body. “I’m heading over to that place. It looks like an arcade!” Dashing her way towards the building, she announced. “Well then… I guess that we are down one member.” Fei noted. The first element that struck the noses of Rarity, Fei, Keldeo and Iosac is the aroma of crystals breaking through fresh dirt that wafted around the area. Aqua blue lights from the crystals embedded into the walls emanated within the small room they stood in. A smirk of approval wriggled its way onto Rarity’s face. “I like the décor of this area already. I should commend the one responsible for it.” She stated. “Yeah. I wonder who would waste all that crystal with making this place look nice.” Iosac responded. The burgundy double doors ahead opened with sporadic force that knocked it off its hinges. A green antelope with a pink feather-shaped edge on her neck rushed through the double doors with her eyes and mouth widened in panic. She wrapped her black-lined and pink-edged front legs around Keldeo’s torso. “I was so worried about you, Keldeo! You were gone for over an hour and I wasn’t sure if something happened to you!” She called out. Keldeo winced from the sudden squeezing sensation around his chest. He looked towards Rarity, Fei and Iosac, all of whom looked towards the display of affection with their neck crooked towards the diagonal left. Fei leaned his head towards Rarity’s left ear and brought his hand in front of his mouth. “I don’t know about you, but that Virizion looks a little crazy.” He whispered. Rarity brought her hoof over towards Fei’s right ear and brought her mouth towards it. “I’m not that affectionate towards him, right? It almost looks like he is being smothered.” Keldeo slanted his eyes and grunted underneath the force of the bone-crushing hug. “Ummm, would you mind letting go of me?” He asked. Virizion dropped Keldeo onto his hooves and glanced over his body. She brought her front hooves onto Keldeo’s legs and flanks and began pulling away at his fur. The tufts of cream fur on his body revealed fleshy pink. Keldeo’s face lit up into a red blush. “I have to make sure you don’t have any scratches or bruises on you. This will only take a moment.” Virizion assured with a worried tone. “Ummm, I don’t know what to say about this.” Keldeo worded out with uncertainty rising in his voice. Virizion examined Keldeo’s chest and examined a small indent towards the center right of the sternum. Her eyes lit up with fear. “That was never there when I did any of my previous inspections. Did you break any bones? Please tell me you didn’t!” She shouted. Keldeo’s pupils dilated at Virizion’s statement. A bead of sweat dripped down from his forehead. “I got into a nasty fight some time back against a Shiftry, but I’m fine. Really. The doctors patched me up and everything.” He stated. “Patched you up?! Why didn’t I know about this?! Keldeo, you shouldn’t be messing around with a Shiftry. They are naturally territorial and defensive of their property. What on this world possessed you to do that?!” Virizion scolded. “Mom! Not in front of my friends!” Edging away from Virizion, Keldeo shouted with primordial innocence pouring out of his voice. The heads of Iosac, Fei and Rarity leaped off of their bodies and stared at Keldeo. The corner of Iosac’s mouth quivered with contained laughter that wanted to burst out. “Mom?! You called Virizion ‘mom’?!” He blurted out. “I didn’t! I just, err, well… this Virizion suddenly started acting like my mother. I don’t know how else to respond to that!” Keldeo rationalized. A small scowl appeared over Virizion’s eyes. Her mouth curved into a short frown. “Of course I am your mother! I’ve been raising you since you were four years-old.” She stated. Iosac looked around the small room with his neck stiff with uncertainty. The tension in the air choked any possible words that anyone would have had. Keldeo’s face directed itself towards Virizion, but his pupils rolled away from her. He rubbed his left front hoof and pointed towards Iosac, Fei and Rarity. “These are friends of mine. They’re going to be watching me as I train with Cobalion.” He uttered out. Virizion looked towards the operatives Keldeo pointed towards and examined them with inquisitive eyes. Humming and setting her stare on the trio, Virizion leaned close towards them. Fei swallowed a pocket of air built up in his throat. After what seemed to be an eternity, a trace of a smile appeared on her face. “Excluding the Whimsicott here, you seem to have some good friends.” Iosac flashed a heated stare directed towards Virizion and stomped his foot onto the ground. “Excluding me? What part of me does not make you think that I could be a good friend?” He shouted. “Well for starters, you have the eyes of a troublemaker. I don’t want my little Keldeo to be associated with mischief-makers.” Virizion responded with closed eyes and a straight mouth. Keldeo glanced over his shoulder and set his eye towards Virizion scolding Iosac. He looked towards the open doors and looked back towards Virizion. Moving his hooves with silent steps, he snuck towards the door and out of the room. Unlike the small room that he snuck out from, the large room illuminated itself with dim lighting from white crystals above. Underneath the epicenter of the lights stood a tall goat with an aqua-colored coat and a tuft of white fluff poured out of his chest. Witnessing his cold and hardened stare, Keldeo skidded his way into the arena that the goat stood in. “You’re late, Keldeo.” The goat replied. “Sorry, Master Cobalion. I got a bit lost.” Cobalion shut his eyes and shook his head. His mouth curved into a small frown and the emanation from his eyes changed into sadness. “You cannot keep doing this, Keldeo. You are a decade old. You have to learn about the concept of responsibility and being able to manage yourself in a timely manner. No wonder Virizion was so worried about you.” He stated. “Sorry, Master Cobalion. I will try to not let it happen again. So today is an important lesson?” Keldeo asked. Cobalion sidestepped to the right and set his gaze on Keldeo. “I’m going to be teaching you about how to stabilize your Sacred Sword technique.” He announced. “Sacred Sword… you mean that beam sword technique with my horn?” Keldeo asked. “Yes. I’ve taught you the skill recently, but you seem to have trouble keeping it held.” Saying these words, Cobalion stared straight into the windows of Keldeo’s soul. “A knight must learn to keep a good grip on his or her sword. Treat it like an additional part of your body and never let it go.” Keldeo nodded his head, signaling an aura of attention. The yellow horns that jagged into a zig-zag illuminated into a singular blue beam that extended from his head. Keldeo stepped back and dropped his jaw upon the sight of the shimmering blade that towered over him. Cobalion faced a stand made out of diamond and waved his head towards a diagonal line. With one slash, a large slab of the diamond slid off of the cut’s slope. “Wow…” With his voice gripped in amaze, Keldeo uttered out. Cobalion’s Sacred Sword retreated back into his horns. He fixed his stern glance towards Keldeo and stomped his right front hoof into the ground. “Now, try to bring out your Sacred Sword technique.” He instructed. “Let your energy flow through your horn and hold it for at least ten seconds.” Doing what Cobalion instructed, Keldeo shut his eyes, inhaled from his nostrils and exhaled through his breath. Peach-colored energy manifested itself around his horn. The energy formed into a blade that, while it still towered over Keldeo, it was only half the size of Cobalion’s technique. Witnessing Keldeo’s teeth gritting against the pressure of the energy against his horn, Cobalion raised his right eye. “Do not overdo the amount of energy that goes into your horn, Keldeo. Doing so will cause the energy to wear itself out more quickly.” He advised. “Now, channel your energy into a modicum of what you are currently using.” Keldeo grunted from the focused energy running wild along his horn. He shut his mind away from his own energy and limited it to a shell of its former shell. The energy running along his horn stunted towards three quarters of his size. Cobalion raised his left eye with curiosity. “Am… am I doing it right, Master Cobalion?” Keldeo asked with a strained tone. “Actually, yes. Now, use that blade to strike down that test dummy over there.” Pointing towards a pile of steel, Cobalion stated. Wielding the lengthy blade on his horn, Keldeo drove his head downwards. The sound of explosive metal sliced by a blade forged with the flames of a fiery hell hit the ears of Cobalion and resonated out of the room. The dummy fell apart and melted away. The Sacred Sword on Keldeo’s horn dissipated into a gleam of light particles. He looked towards Cobalion, who stared at him with jaw dropped to the ground. “I did it right, right?” Keldeo asked with an uncertain tone. Virizion, Fei, Rarity and Iosac all emerged from the room to the front with their eyes lit up in panic. “I heard a sharp noise. Is everything alright in here?!” Virizion asked. “Y…yes. I was just teaching Keldeo here how to use Sacred Sword. But, it seems that he somehow ended up melting away at this particular training dummy.” Cobalion explained. Virizion walked over towards the remnants of the dummy and eyed the scalding edges upon the slice marks of the metal. She turned towards Keldeo and looked upon him with stern eyes. “Keldeo, have you been hanging around any Mismagius during that visit? A standard Sacred Sword would not leave this type of damage.” She questioned. “I don’t even know what those are.” Keldeo responded with an innocent tone. “Why do you ask?” Virizion gazed towards Rarity with a smile hidden underneath her tightened facial muscles. “From what I understand of what you told me Rarity, you seem to know magic. Would you mind examining this to tell me if it is magic?” Rarity shut her eyes and waved her right front hoof with a classy shake. “I don’t even need to examine it. That is definitely done by magic.” She answered. “I am not sure how a colt of his age can combine a Sacred Sword technique with contact magic such as that, but there is something very unusual going on around here.” Cobalion said. From the front doors ahead, a red-feathered falcon with a gray-feathered underside flew through the front doors at a rapid speed. Flapping his black feather-tipped wings upon descent, e perched himself onto the remnants of the smoldering pile of metal. “Sir Cobalion! Lady Virizion! I have urgent news to share by Sir Terrakion!” It called out. “How urgent are we talking about, Talonflame? Unless if the city is in immediate danger or something of that ilk in urgency, then I am afraid I cannot answer it. I have some important matters to deal with right now.” Cobalion stated. “But the city is in immediate danger! Hordes of strange beings cloaked in glowing light began assaulting the outskirts of the city. They are heading over here as I speak!” Talonflame shouted. Cobalion grunted underneath his breath and shifted his sight towards Virizion. “While finding out these peculiarities with our Keldeo is important, the fate of the city carries more gravity to the situation.” “I understand, Cobalion. We have to meet with these mysterious invaders at once!” Virizion called out. Cobalion glanced towards Keldeo with commanding eyes and looked upon him. “Keldeo, I expect you and your new friends to stay here. Do not follow us, understood?” Cobalion requested. “I am not a colt anymore, Master Cobalion. I have been involved battles waged across different worlds and have honed my skills to combat threats like this. Please, let my friends and I come along.” Keldeo answered. Virizion walked towards Keldeo with a frown on her face and knelt down to his level. She waved her head with tears forming in her eyes. “Keldeo, please listen to Cobalion here; we may not be able to come back home safely. We don’t want to lose you because you wanted to come along with us. I want you to live, even if we are not around to see it. I ask you; please stay here and not get involved with this menace.” Virizion pleaded. Hearing these words pass through his ears, a brilliant flash of light burned within his pupils. Within it, he witnessed fleeing visions of meteors of light hailing down towards the structures of Kurisutaru, bringing ruin to everything they touch. He witnessed Pokémon fleeing for their lives and being annihilated by rune-winged daemons cloaked in brilliant light. With sight of the training grounds returning to him, he shook his head and looked towards Virizion with pleading eyes. “The city and all who flee are going to be decimated by the force of destruction the enemy will bring! Please mom, allow me to help! I don’t want to see you die!” He shouted. “That’s enough from you, Keldeo!” Cobalion screamed with a commanding tone. “I don’t know what has gotten into you today, but I am not allowing you to come with us. That is final!” “Surely you just, lord Cobalion. We are capable of assisting you. Please, let us come along.” Fei insisted. Cobalion stomped his right front hoof into the ground with force that shook the entire area. “I said ‘that is final’! All of you stay here until the coast is clear. Understood?!” Fei winced and hid his face away from Cobalion’s fierce visage. With shivering shoulders, he brought his head towards a reluctant shake. “Y-yes your lordship.” Cobalion glanced towards Talonflame and looked onto his body with a rigid stare. “Talonflame, I entrust these children to you. Do not let them out of your sight, and do not let them leave.” Talonflame raised his right wing over his head in salutation. Cobalion and Virizion both galloped towards the double doors and disappeared from sight. Iosac frowned and scowled towards the direction they left. “Now that is simply silly. They think we are children?! Do they not see our sagacious wisdom, or our power or even our grown-up forms?!” He voiced out in frustration. “Ummm, to be fair on Master Cobalion, only Keldeo is the child here. As far as I can see, the rest of you are all adults.” Talonflame responded. “Wait… I’m actually a colt? The others were not just pushing my buttons? But that can’t be! I should be an adult!” Keldeo shouted. “What did that slab do to me?” Rarity narrowed her eyes, ducked her head towards the ground and hummed with an inquisitive voice. She looked towards Keldeo with a puzzled muzzle. “Keldeo, I’m not sure how this is possible, but maybe that slab’s power is a bit more unusual when what we expect it to be. After all, I still see you in your adult form.” She said. “What do you mean by that?” Keldeo asked. “Perhaps that slab brought you back into the past in the body of your past self to avoid any paradoxical situation of you encountering yourself. We just happen to have been brought along with you as accompanying envoys even. Because of that, we are still seen by the Pokémon?” Fei shifted his stance and faced Rarity with unamused eyes. “That sounds like an absurd theory, Rarity.” “Hold on!” Holding his upper right limb in the air, Iosac called out. “Regardless of what anyone says, we are all physically still here in this place. Maybe we were brought here to change the outcome of history here! That means we have to leave this place at once and help in any way we can!” “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that. I still have to keep you all here under Master Cobalion’s request.” Talonflame stated. Fei walked towards Talonflame and cleared his throat. He gazed towards the falcon’s visage with resolute eyes. “Do you have any family, Talonflame?” He asked. “Several. Why do you ask?” “As important as Lord Cobalion’s words are, should you be out there to protect your family? If war does come here, then their lives will undoubtedly be forfeited because you could not give them the chance to escape.” Talonflame’s beak opened and he stood on one talon. He steeled his face and stood perched on his two talons once more. “Nice try, you Mienshao. I will not abandon my post just because my family could potentially be in danger. This city is protected by our knights and gods.” “And? What if the invaders actually make it into the city? Do you not want to make sure your family is safe?” Fei stated with a crafty smirk. Talonflame looked onto the ground with a wavering frown on his beak. “Well… I do have to make sure that my mate and children are all safe. My mate can definitely protect herself, but I would feel more comfortable with making sure that I am there as well.” “Then what is stopping you? Your duty as a guard? Wouldn’t your family be more important than a ragtag group of misfits?” Iosac called out. Talonflame grunted under the breath of self-defeat. He flew off of the melted metal and hovered towards the door. “I’m going to be checking on my family. Make sure that you do not move!” With these words, he flew through the doors and out of the training grounds. Rarity let out a smug smirk directed towards Fei. “We’re involving ourselves up with their affairs now, aren’t we?” She asked. “Well we definitely aren’t staying down here. We also have to get Inge.” Finding themselves outside of the building, the group of operatives sprinted towards the wide building that flashed with brilliant lights. Staring into the open pathways of the building, Inge leaped out of a crystal cabinet with eyes tizzy in delight. She hovered towards the group with a body vibrating up and down with enthusiasm. “The games in there are awesome!” She shouted. Fei glanced towards the arcade machines, cocked his head to the right and scratched the top of it in confusion. “How are Pokémon even able to play these games? I doubt that the creators made these universally accessible.” He wondered aloud. “Who cares? I just jumped in the machine to play it.” “Well, we have to go now. The city is going to be under attack at any moment and we have to help as many Pokémon as we possibly could.” Keldeo announced. Inge flipped her right flipper and slanted her eyes with hefty sarcasm emanating from her movement. “Yeah, you’ll probably have to convince me that this building behind me will be set ablaze and destroyed by a meteor of holy light. Like that will ever happen.” Upon stating her words, a giant ball of white light formed in the sky above the arcade building and fell down towards it. Inge’s eyes widened at the sound of a large object burying into the building and multiple young voices screaming within it. Witnessing the building empty of its frightened inhabitants, her limbs plummeted straight down to her waists. “So… should we run away now?” Iosac suggested. “Now would be a very good time to run.” Inge called out. A sudden crash formed a crater against a pillar that held up the awning of the arcade building, dropping all of the operatives onto the ground with their upper limbs above their heads. A giant spider with red and black-striped flesh leaped out of the crater with his purple and yellow-striped legs. He looked to its right and examined the operatives with his purple eyes. “You five should leave the city along with the other civilians. Hurry!” He called out. “Are you sure you do not need help, Ariados? You look like you have your legs spun up in webs.” Fei asked. Ariados rolled his eyes and head to the right. “That’s a pretty racist comment you know. But, now is not the time to argue. My partner and I are making sure that everyone can evacuate the city.” He stated. Looking up towards the sky, the operatives eyed a giant purple cobra with a hood that displayed a design of an angry face designed with red and yellow eyes and black markings. In her mouth, she captured a shining creature that remained gripped in her icy fangs. She threw the creature down towards the ground, cratering the section of the area with a deep impact. With the creature forced into the ground, the cobra dug her way towards the group of operatives and popped out from the ground. “Are you alright there, Ariados? You seem to have taken a strong blow there.” She asked. “I’ve lived through worse. It’s just a scratch at this point, Arbok.” Ariados responded. Arbok set her gaze onto the Pokémon and pony before her. “What are you still doing here? Can’t you see that this entire city is done for?!” She shouted. “Done for? But it was placid just moments ago.” Iosac responded. Arbok slapped the end of her tail against her face and shook her head with a grimace. She dropped her tail onto the ground and set her gaze towards the group once more. “You can all fight, correct?” She asked. “We can.” Rarity answered. “My partner and I are both a part of the guard here, and we need to evacuate as many civilians as possible, starting with that kid you have there.” Pointing towards Keldeo with her tail, Arbok answered. “I can fight too, you know. I’ve trained under Master Cobalion.” With a lengthy scowl on his face, Keldeo responded. “Fine. But you have to all fight these strange creatures that came out of nowhere and save any civilians that are in trouble. Is that a deal?” Ariados asked. “That can be arranged. I never really liked those things to begin with.” The grounded being dug itself out of the ground and headed towards Ariados. With quick reflexes, his shadow extended towards the creature and trapped it in place. He turned his head towards the group of operatives with stern eyes. “You really should go now while I hold this thing. Give yourselves a head start, will you?” He commanded. The operatives nodded with a steady shake and ran towards the right. Arbok shook her head and frowned. “Should we really entrust these strangers and children to rescuing the civilian Pokémon?” She asked. Ariados turned his head towards Arbok and lidded his eyes with disbelief. “Arbok, don’t be such a drag.” Temporal space broke around the two Pokémon. Canine-like creatures garbed in golden armor clawed their way through air. Ariados broke his hold on the shadow and leaped away from the new creatures. He corkscrewed in the air and unleashed a stream of needles that headed towards them. The creatures raised their paws to their faces, blocking the stream of needles. Arbok dug herself into the ground and dashed towards the canines towards the front. She popped aboveground underneath a canine. She coiled her tail around the beast at a swift speed, strangling its entire body. Feeling the canine struggle underneath her grasp, she clenched her fangs and looked towards Ariados. “I can’t hold this thing off much longer you know.” She complained. “I got it, I got it.” Ariados twisted his right leg closest to his face, revealing a series of thin strings that coated the entire district. The beings found themselves caught within the sinewy prison and shook their bodies in a desperate attempt to escape. A confident smirk appeared on Ariados’s face. He shifted his leg to the far right, tightening the sinews that bound the field and lifted the beings into the air. Arbok smirked and dropped down from the canine she wrapped her body around. “You seriously couldn’t have used that Sticky Web technique sooner? You really got to work on that timing of yours.” She stated. “You know me; I like to take my time to work my art. Besides, if any other mysterious creatures show up with the intent to harm us, then we have some emergency assistance from my technique.” Ariados responded. Several beams of light shot down from the sky. Equine beings with magnificent wings and sharp horns descended onto the ground with a luminous glow that surrounded their golden bodies. Their blue eyes stared towards the duo. Arbok unfolded her hood and flashed a glare that stunned all of the creatures within the webs into willful submission. Ariados manipulated his legs and the strings attached to their ends, dropping the captive creatures down onto the ground with their movements moving with an artificial pattern. The equine beings charged towards the other beings, who all ran towards their former allies to do battle. The equine beings fired streams of golden lasers from their large horns, disintegrating the stiff-moving canine beings that fell under fire. Ariados clicked his tongue and moved the two legs closest to his head to a cross. His movements moved at the speed of light, hastening the movements of the canine puppets. The canines avoided the fire from the equines and clasped their teeth onto their necks. The equine beings disappeared within particles of light. An equine being phased itself into existence next to Ariados and charged its laser. Arbok narrowed her eyes and leaped towards the equine. With her sharp fangs, she bit into the neck of the equine. Corrosive poison and frigid chills seeped its way out of her teeth and into the equine. The equine struggled and moved about in pain. Its body froze from the inside-out and the acid melted away its body. Ariados smiled. “That was a bit overkill, was it not?” He asked. “I always like going for the overkill. It’s fun.” Arbok responded. A blazing wind blew into the district. Its orange-tinted gusts burned away at the sticky webs, freeing the canines from their slender bondage. The canines looked around with their senses returned. An ethereal voice echoed throughout the area. “My holy army; do not let the enemy get the best of you. Tear them to shreds, for they deserve no mercy.” The red eyes of the canines glowed into a sharper shade. They stared down Arbok and Ariados. Arbok leaped towards the horde of canines. She felt a blast of light nail her in the back, slamming her down into the ground. “Arbok!” Ariados shouted. A canine ran towards Ariados’s right side and tore its teeth through his legs. Feeling the tendons in his legs locked through piercing teeth, he winced and looked away to his left. The canine picked him up by his locked legs and shook him by them. With each fierce shake, Ariados screamed out in agony until he felt his legs loosen from the stress of the bite. With one tug of its powerful neck, the canine severed the legs of Ariados and tossed him into Arbok. Arbok’s body shuddered under the pain of the blast mark left onto her back. She looked towards Ariados by her side, who only had three legs on his left side. He gaped out in pain and turned his direction towards Arbok. “Arbok… please, leave for the both of us. You can still… survive.” He pleaded. A weak smile formed on Arbok’s face and a giggle that matched its debilitation. “They got me pretty good on my back there. It hurts to even move.” She said with an optimistic tone. “I already know that I am done for.” Ariados looked towards her with his eyes open in confusion. “Then… why are you happy? We are about to die.” He asked aloud. Arbok looked into the sky and gazed at a giant foot forming directly above them. “Maybe it’s because we are going to die like real heroes? I mean, we were only made guards towards this event. Now, we are going to have the flames of our lives perished underneath the enemy. But, we saved more lives today than they would have killed.” She said aloud. Ariados looked towards Arbok with a weak smile. With the remainder of his strength and his left legs, he crawled his way towards Arbok’s side and placed them onto her hood. “You know, if I perish, I’m glad that it’s with you. I felt happy being around you. I hope that even if our lives perished, we can still be together until the end of time.” With the remainder of her strength, Arbok coiled her tail around Ariados’s half-dead body and brought it in for an embrace. “Thank you for being in my life.” The giant foot slammed down onto the duo, grinding their bodies into mush. Author's Note Well... this is turning out longer than I thought it would be. And yes, it does end like that.
A Day For Nightmare NightA lone hologram remained alit amidst a dark room with a lone couch. Its lights flashed towards the blue set of furniture, revealing Mono, Sophia, Lith, Fei and Stereo upon it. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle both lied down on their abdomens and held their jaws by their hooves. By the side of the couch stood a midnight black-coated thestral mare with a silver mane that glimmered from the little light in the room. Her orange eyes gazed at the hologram and a small smile formed on her face. Black and white imagery displayed itself on the hologram, revealing a cream-coated earth pony stallion in a black suit and dickie being carried away by a horde of Equusians. Their soulless eyes resonated with milky emptiness, carrying the white-maned stallion on their backs up a set of stairs. With his eyes wide in panic and a flurry of squirming, the stallion screamed to the top of his lungs. “H-help! Help me! Let me go!” He pleaded with desperation in his voice. The Equusians marched forward with the stallion on their backs, deaf to his words. At the bottom of the stairs, a sickly-looking unicorn stallion with a pale white coat and a frizzled mane, tail and goatee looked up towards the stairs with a sinister stare emanating from his pitch white eyes. With a sudden jolt of his head, he shifted his gaze towards the camera. Mono, who shook back and forth with an anxious quiver of his body, jolted upwards and closer to Sophia. With his teeth clenched and chattering, he embraced Sophia by her neck. Sophia shook her head, clicked her tongue and rubbed her head against Mono’s chest. “A bit afraid there, aren’t you?” She called out with a sly tone. “M-maybe a bit.” Mono responded with an uneasy voice. Fei glanced towards his left and eyed Lith, who sat back and laid her head against his left arm. He stroked the left side of her face with his fingers, forming a gentle wave against her coat there. A small giggle erupted from Lith’s mouth and she smacked Fei’s fingers with her right upper paw. “Come on, Fei; no need for some foreplay now.” She said. “I was just trying to get your attention, mademoiselle. If you ever get scared, I’ll be here to protect you from the frightening zombies.” He whispered with a smooth tone. Stereo stared at the movie with his attention span enraptured within its details. Rainbow Dash glanced behind her, seeing Stereo’s eyes empty to the likeness of the zombies’ eyes in the movie. She lifted her right front hoof towards Stereo’s face and waved it at a blurring speed. With a smug smirk on her face, she bumped her left front knee into Twilight Sparkle’s left side. “Hey Twilight, get a load of Stereo here. I think he might have been turned into a zombie.” With a silent cackle, Rainbow Dash joked. Twilight Sparkle raised her right front hoof to her lips and directed a shushing silence towards Rainbow Dash. “The climax of the film is going to arrive at any second.” She uttered. Within the realm of the movie, a magenta-coated earth pony stallion with a frizzled black mane walked down a spiral set of stairs towards the sinister unicorn that chased a violet-coated earth pony stallion with a sleek black mane. The former pony grappled the unicorn, pushing the two of them over a stone railing and plummeting into the shallow sea below. The violet-coated earth pony walked over towards a white pegasus mare with a rosy pink mane, who wielded soulless eyes that stared into nothingness. He treaded his hooves along her shoulders, garnering her attention. The mare glanced towards him. Her stoic frown melted away into a smile, and her eyes rejuvenated with life. The mare and stallion both embrace each other, and the screen fades into a black one with the word ‘End’ written in cursive. The thestral in the room clapped her hooves together, illuminating the room with a bright light. The start contrast of the lit-up room brought the upper limbs of everyone over their eyes. “So… what did you think?” The thestral asked with a curious and solemn tone. “Simply amazing, Scary Story!” Stereo complemented. “You definitely have an eye for cinematography, and the atmosphere brought chills down my spine!” Scary Story tilted her head to the left and rubbed the back of her head with her left front hoof. A sheepish chuckle left her mouth. “It means very much to see a connoisseur of the fine arts such as you say something like that. Thank you very much, Stereo.” She responded. She glanced over towards Mono, whose knees shook with a tense fear. Lith glanced over towards him and slanted her eyes with an unamused frown on her face. “The movie is over, Mono.” She said. “I… I know. The eyes on that witch doctor chilled my soul, and I don’t think my heart can handle seeing much more mind control.” Mono responded. “But… you are a psychic cat. Would it not be farfetched for you to control other being’s minds like Legendre?” Scary Story asked with an inquisitive grin. A stroke of heat flashed through Mono’s mind. With warm sweat dripping down his face, he shook his head and his front paws. “No! I don’t want to inflict mind control on anyone!” He shouted. “You can always use mind control on me. I don’t mind being your little foxy slave.” Leaning herself towards Mono with slanted eyes and a seductive smile, Sophia responded with a lustful tone. Feeling her right front foot rub against his chest, Mono’s dark blue coat radiated with a hot red color. His eyes stared forwards and his body remained stiff with anxiety, trying to register Sophia’s words in his mind. Lith, Fei, Sophia and Twilight Sparkle each laughed at his subsequent reaction. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Oh get a room you two. I don’t want to hear any of that lovey-dovey mushy stuff that comes out of couples mouths. It was bad enough when I heard Lith made that foreplay comment.” She stated with an aggressive tone. “I don’t mind that much. I think it is rather sweet for a couple to share their affections with each other.” With her eyes gazing towards the floor and her cheeks tinting with a slight red, Scary Story responded. “So Scary Story, how long have you been writing and acting in movies for?” Stereo asked with a voice piquing with interest. “Not too long. I’m fairly new to the film industry, but I’ve been working on perfecting the art of horror for a while now. Mainly, I wanted to make sure that I do not fall under the clichés that other modern horror films do.” Twilight Sparkle stood up from the floor and glanced towards Scary Story with amused eyes. She levitated a sheet of paper with a series of check marks to the right side of her face. “Based off of what I could tell, your craft in filmography is building up an unsettling atmosphere and assaulting the psychological condition of your viewers for fear factor. It is admirable, and I am glad to spend my Nightmare Night watching all of your films.” “I will have to thank your sister-in-law for allowing me to host a movie marathon at H.O.R.S.E. for Nightmare Night. Commissioner Cadance seems like she is a very nice mare.” Scary Story replied. Lith’s watch vibrated, unleashing three electronic rings. She touched it, bringing up a hologram of Rarity’s face. Rainbow Dash jolted up from the floor with a grin on her face and flew towards Lith’s side. In mid-flight, she grabbed Lith’s watch and shook it. “Rarity! Are our Nightmare Night costumes ready?!” She shouted. “Calm your equine spirit, Rainbow Dash. I have them ready in my office. You can feel free to collect them now.” “Yes!” Shouting with glee, Rainbow Dash pumped her right front hoof downwards and dashed towards the doorway and smashed herself against the metal door. She pried herself off the door. Seeing the door lift itself open, she her grin returned and she flew through the open way. “Wow… Rainbow Dash tends to get very excitable for this holiday.” Fei noted. “She acts like such a foal when Nightmare Night comes around. It allows her to dress up as her favorite heroes without seeming out of the norm.” Twilight Sparkle said. “Two years ago, she even went as Commander Spitfire! Complete with dyeing her colors to match her! Things got very confusing that Nightmare Night.” “I’ve been meaning to ask, Twilight; how did Nightmare Night come to be?” Lith asked. “I thought the night was a sign of protection in this world.” “There’s a funny story about that actually. Back a millennium ago; there were tales of ponies who denounced the night as being the hunting grounds of demons. They referred to Luna as ‘the patron Queen of Demons’ and were willing to attack her. Seeing this as an opportunity to have fun with her subjects, she took the guise of Nightmare Moon and terrified the ponies for the night.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “So how was scaring the pebbles out of ponies exactly contribute to the creation of a holiday that everyone enjoys?” Stereo questioned. Twilight Sparkle shrugged her shoulders and blinked. “They say that the children at the time found this to be an enjoyable prank and wanted to participate in it as well, so they donned their own frightening costumes and created the first Nightmare Night.” Scary Story looked up towards the ceiling with a longing gaze. She shut her eyes, brought her head down to its resting position and breathed out calm breezes from her nostrils. “I remember when I was a filly during the times of Nightmare Night. My mother and I partook in the scaring of ponies and brought out many goodies. Good times.” Mono stood up from the sofa and hopped down onto the floor. “I would love to stay and chat about Nightmare Night, but Rarity has my costume ready from the sound of her message. She says that I will drop with excitement when I see it.” Stating these words, Mono sprinted out of the room with a grin of child-like wonder on his face. Scary Story glanced towards the remainder of the group with a cheery grin on her face. She pulled out a movie cover that displayed a gray-coated stallion with his pupils petrified in fear and his mouth open with screaming. Grasping onto his body up to his shoulders is a many-tentacled being obscured by shadows. The being possessed glowing red eyes and a grin with rows of sharp teeth. “So does anyone want to see ‘Fear of the Dark’ next?” Rarity glanced towards Mono with an inquisitive hum and a judging eye. A navy blue jacket with white stripes and a white long-sleeved shirt that stretched down to his paws adorned themselves upon Mono’s torso. Cream-colored leggings wrapped around his legs and hips, but a space in the back allowed his tails unhindered movement. His lower paws are shelled with boots the same color as his leggings. A metal gauntlet with an LED screen fit snugly over his upper left paw and a brown belt holstered the steel hilt of a sword. Around his neck is a white scarf folded into a triangle-style. A smile appeared on Rarity’s face and she nodded in approval. “That samurai outfit for Nightmare Night looks marvelous on you, Mono.” She complimented. “This… this is a samurai outfit? What kind of samurais do you even have here?!” Mono responded with disbelief ejecting from his voice. “I read it in a book once. That’s all you need to know.” Rarity glanced over towards a mannequin with a similar shape to Mono and Lith. A navy blue jacket and a cream top that shares the same style of Mono’s costume rested upon it. However, the top extended down into a skirt fashion and the leggings run halfway down the thighs rather than the entire legs. The boots spread up towards the knees and a metal gauntlet with an LED screen shaped itself around the left arm. A red scarf tied towards the front flashed itself around the mannequin’s neck. “I am guessing that is Lith’s costume?” Mono asked. “You guessed correctly.” Rarity answered. “When it comes to you two, I always keep the design scheme of your clothing very similar, as you two are twins. I find it adorable in that regard. You would also like how it does not hinder you in combat as well, just in case if that sort of situation ever comes up.” Mono hopped down from podium and walked towards the door. He waved his paw towards Rarity. “Thank you very much for the costume. I really like how it turned out.” He stated. “I was happy to design it for you. I hope you have a wonderful Nightmare Night.” Approaching a door that led to the hallway, Mono glanced down towards his gauntlet. With his curiosity peaked, he tapped on it. The screen lit up, revealing a menu arranged in cubes. “So how did you get the screen to work?” He asked. “I know some engineers here. I simply asked them to program it.” Rarity responded. The door opened on its own, revealing a white-coated unicorn stallion in a black suit, white undershirt, yellow tie and dress horseshoes. His front ankles ended in white cuff links and black ink dyed the tips of his fetlocks. The stallion’s mane subdued itself with a dull blond and his eyes possessed a left blue iris and a red right iris. A mysterious smile formed on his face and directed itself towards Mono. “Greetings, Son of Deus. My name is Morning Star. I sense an unimaginable potential for power within you. Will you allow me to use it to fight the enemy?” He said with a voice filled with charm. Mono bore his teeth, went down onto all four legs and raised his tails in a domineering fashion. His fur shook at its ends and a dull growl that evolved into a sharp hiss shot towards Morning Star. “Stand away from me… I know that you only wish to destroy my stability in life!” He stated. “Now… back away from me before I will make it so that you will never step in this city again.” Rarity and ‘Morning Star’ shared a silent side glance. The both of them snickered under their breath, which exploded into full-blown laughter. Mono’s stance softened, and his right eye raised itself in confusion. “What’s so funny?” “I-It’s me, Blueblood! Costumed as Morning Star!” Rolling on the floor in laughter, Blueblood shouted. “You-You should have seen the look on your face!” Mono glanced around the room and witnessed Rarity’s coat turning into purple from her laughter. Standing up from the ground, a slight blush and a frown made their way onto his face. “Did… did I actually just…?” “You did! You actually acted like a cat with his own life threatened by a foe!” Rarity shouted out. “If I had known that you would act like this in the presence to someone even costumed as a demon, then I would have done this a very long time ago. It was rich!” Blueblood wheezed out. “It couldn’t possibly have been that funny… could it?” Mono whispered out with a meek tone. Rarity’s laughter calmed down into simple breaths. She closed her eyes, exhaled a deep breath and placed her right front hoof on her chest. She opened her eyes and glanced towards Mono with renewed composure. “It was funny Mono. You made my day after that depressing mission a few days back. It was just so jarring to see you act like that, considering you are usually reserved and quiet.” She said. “If you act like that Mono, then I cannot wait to see your reaction for when your future child will fall in love with a demon lord and possibly breed.” Blueblood stated. “I never want to hear that joke come out of your mouth, Blueblood. It’s not funny.” Mono replied with a serious tone. Blueblood shrugged his shoulders with shut eyes. “A little bit too much I see. I’m still getting the hang of joking around with others. Oh well, I’ll be around on Nightmare Night. I guess I’ll go scare some adults then.” Mono walked past Blueblood and stepped out of the room. Mono stepped outside of the gates of the H.O.R.S.E. grounds and gazed into the sky. The sun set halfway across the sky, flashing a warm glow that the land basked in. The cool air brushed by his fur and a smile appeared on his face. He saw As walking towards his right with a grimacing frown. A black witch’s hat with a white stripe wrapped around it sat on her head. Three sharp creases at the top of the hat lead to its tip being squared. Mono glanced onto her paws, where black shoes with outrageous curves at the frontal tips covered them. A silver brooch lied on As’s chest. “Oh, hey As. What brings you out here tonight?” He asked. “Oh, hello Mono. I am just waiting around for Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to get costumed up for trick-or-treating.” As responded. “I never knew you were good around children.” Mono replied. As leaned towards Mono’s direction with a hair-raising stare and an unpleasant grit of her teeth. “I’m not. I’m only doing this because the Civilian Division forced this task upon me. If I would have known that I need to do at least one civilian request a month, then I would not have been participating in all of those espionage assignments across the world.” “Ouch. I know that feeling. I participated in an open show a while back because the Commissioner thought that I would look cute in a top hat, cuff links and cane.” Mono responded. As’s eyes scanned Mono’s body with a glint of interest. A soft smile cracked along her face and an amused hum and purr escaped from her voice. “Now that you mention it, you would look cute in a top hat, cuff links and a cane. That was a pleasing thought to ruminate on. Thank you for making my night a bit more bearable.” She stated. “But, speaking of clothing, what are you supposed to be?” “Rarity says that this is the uniform of a samurai. I find it to be absurd, because I’ve seen how samurais look like. I’ve watched a show that depicted a samurai and his Eevee conquering a region and battling against a wicked rival. This looks nothing like the samurais on that show.” “I see… well aren’t you curious as to what I am dressed up as?” As responded with a crafty smirk. “A witch, right? I see the cute hat, shoes and brooch on you.” With a chipper grin on him, Mono answered. “Would you say that it perfectly accentuates my assets?” Stretching her right front leg and smiling with a seductive aura, As questioned. Mono’s body warmed up at the passing of her words and he felt the muscles in his body constrict upon themselves. “As… I really am not looking forward to taking a cold shower right now. I’ll just say that your costume accentuates how you look.” A small giggle found its way out of As’s mouth. She walked by Mono and lifted the tip of her tail to his nose. “I caught you looking, Mono. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Sophia about that.” She said. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stormed from the left of the street’s horizon with wide grins on their faces. As let out a frustrated sigh and frowned. A violet pointed hat with pink frizzles sat upon, and a midnight purple cape wrapped itself around her neck. Scootaloo is adorned within a suit of orange feathers. Cream talons affixed themselves onto her hooves. Blue wings with purple membranes rested over Apple Bloom’s shoulders, and purple ears with a blue exterior hung itself over her head. “We’re ready As!” Apple Bloom shouted. “Joker allowed us to choose our own quadruped costumes for tonight.” As glanced towards Sweetie Belle with a curious eye. Sweetie Belle forced a smile and giggled with a nervous disposition. “Is there a reason why you are dressed as a Mismagius, Sweetie Belle?” As asked. “Well, I heard you were being a witch for Nightmare Night, so I asked Joker if there were any Pokémon that look like witches. Plus, I wanted to look a bit more grown-up.” Sweetie Belle responded. “You do realize that your hat is covering your entire head, right? It’s an adult-sized costume.” Sweetie Belle nodded with a chipper smile on her face. As rolled her eyes and sighed. She glanced towards Scootaloo, who wore the orange suit. She vocalized dissent and rolled her eyes to the right. “Why are you in a Torchic suit, Scootaloo? Don’t you already have enough jokes about you as a small, tasty bird with limited flight capabilities as it is?” “I’m not a chicken! I just… happen to like how this looks. Plus, I can use my talons. See?” Scratching the ground with her hind hooves, Scootaloo responded. “That’s fine. At least the Zubat costume looks sensible on you, Apple Bloom. Are you out to catch the eyes of any colts? More specifically, Jetsteam Rush?” Raising her eye and bearing the ride side of her teeth with a grin, As questioned. “Not really. I just like this.” Apple Bloom responded. “Let’s just get this over with. Where should we go first?” Scootaloo pointed down towards the street with her right front hoof, where a black tower covered in spines reached towards the top of the barrier. A black cloud that flashed with electricity hung towards its aether. “I’ve always wanted to check out the ‘Tower of Ruined Childhoods’ on Nightmare Night. I hear that they offer the best candy up there.” “Are you sure that’s a place for three young fillies to go out on Halloween? Why not go to a regular haunted attraction like every other foal?” As chided. “Well, ‘Tower of Ruined Childhoods’ just sounds like an artifact title to scare away foals. But we aren’t scared. Who knows? Maybe we might even earn our Cutie Marks!” Sweetie Belle shouted. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both grabbed As’s respective left and right paw. They dragged her down the street. Applebloom walked forward with the group. An apparition of confusion hung upon Mono. “That is a scary tower.” He muttered to himself. Lith walked along the halls of H.O.R.S.E. garbed in her samurai outfit. She placed her right upper paw onto the metal hilt holstered in her brown belt and glanced down upon the screen on the gauntlet. A smile of intrigue curved around her lips. “This is some outfit Rarity made. I definitely feel like I could fight in this.” She mused. Taking a right down the stairwell and stepping down the stairs, Lith caught a glimpse of Sophia with the corner of her right eye. Sophia’s coat sparkled with dust, lightening her colors. Her body covered itself from foot to neck with a scaly texture. Her cheeks flared up with orange paint and a green dot imbued itself on her forehead. A sheepish frown appeared on her face. “Hey Sophia.” Lith stated. Sophia shrieked and hopped backwards. She brought her right front foot onto her chest and breathed in and out in rapid increments. “L-Lith! What are you doing here?” She asked with an accusatory tone. “I’m just heading down into this cellar to see if I can charge my sword here. According to Rarity, this sword actually works! What are you doing down here?” Sophia glanced towards her left and right. She let out a fearful sigh and leaned in towards Lith’s face. “Do you promise not to tell anyone, Lith?” She asked. “Even Mono?” “Especially not Mono. Just… don’t tell anyone!” Lith shrugged her shoulders and sat her posterior on the lowest step. “I would not tell anyone. You have my word.” “Alright. You see, I’m… errr, well… ovulating.” With a sheepish frown and a blush breaking through the paint on her face, Sophia revealed. “Was that why you are being very clingy to my brother today?” Lith asked. “Yes. I mean, have you seen just how gorgeous he looks in the right lighting?! His deep stare, his lithe body, his enigmatic tone and his potential to grow… it makes my body quiver with delight!” Sophia shrieked with a gossipy tone. Lith’s eyes shot open at the sound of Sophia’s words. “That was a bit… more than I would have liked to know. So are you embarrassed of showing yourself around him then?” Sophia rushed towards Lith and closed the distance between them. Her eyes hovered close towards Lith’s eyes. She shunned her face away from her and shuttered with anxiety present in her body language. “I typically enter into a cycle of ovulation like any other female, but they were manageable for a time. But after engaging in some very heated action with Mono about a month ago, my body wants me to get rutted by him with gritty and animalistic action!” She spoke out with a passionate and desperate tone. “But… I don’t want to! At least not yet. We’ve only been officially together for a small while and I think it’s a bit too soon to go into activity like that.” Lith stood up from the step and walked towards Sophia. She patted the portion of Sophia’s vertebrae between her shoulders. “I could definitely see your dilemma here. Obviously, it would not be the best time for Mono to make me an aunt. We still are fighting in a war, and pregnancy can be very hindering for you, Mono and everyone involved with your lives.” “Lith, can you tell me how to curb my voracious appetite for your brother? It’s been killing me all day.” Sophia asked. “Do what I do and write about it in a special journal. Materialize all of those juicy and sexy thoughts into words and pleasure yourself with those fantasies. Just don’t let a certain Krookodile get a hold of them or else she will blab those to everyone in the next girl’s night out.” Lith instructed. “You know how to write, right?” Sophia smiled, shut her eyes with a proud huff of her chest and beat the front of her torso with her left front leg once. “I know how to read, write and do arithmetic. Fei even said that I am really good at them. I’ll be sure to make sure Gnasher doesn’t get a hold of it.” Lith lowered herself onto her knees and examined Sophia’s face. “Are you supposed to be a dragon, Sophia?” Sophia nodded, turned towards Lith’s direction and smiled. “Longma, but close enough!” Shouting this, she swung her frontal legs in a slashing motion and bore her teeth, revealing sharpened fangs in her mouth. She uttered a playful roar. “Where did you get the teeth?” Lith asked. “They were fangs found in the wild creatures that were killed for supplies. They were disinfected and hollowed out. Isn’t that cool?” Lith rolled her eyes and flashed a solid smirk. “It looks cute on you. I like the scale design on your fur.” “Thanks! An effects artist did this for me, though I had to pay out of my pockets for that one.” Sophia replied. “Anyways, I really appreciated talking to you. Now I feel ready to head out to the costume party at the night club.” Sophia answered with a relieved tone. She hopped up the stairs with renewed vigor in the spring of her steps. Lith glanced down towards her sword in the scabbard of the belt. Patting the hilt of her blade, a confident smirk appeared on her face. “Now it’s time to charge you and test you out.” Saturn hovered around the entrance of a dome-shaped building whose exterior made itself of jet black metal. His brown body tinted itself with a pale shade of grade and his body phased back and forth between the dimensional boundaries of the world. Wrapped around his arms are chains, which withered and rusted away towards the end of his hands. His ears tuned into the reverberations of high-energy techno music from within the walls of the building. His eyes widened and his body stiffened upwards. He floated towards the alleyway to the right and peaked over the corner. With his sharp eyes, he detected Mono walking down the street without any foresight on his existence. Saturn chuckled and disappeared from his current position. Mono stared forwards with a gleeful and ignorant smile on his face. Taking his steps forwards, a chill ran down his spine. He stopped and looked around the immediate vicinity of the street. He smiled once more and took a step forwards. Saturn warped in front of him and held his arms out with sullen eyes. “Boo!” Mono screamed and leaped backwards, falling onto his posterior. He brought his right upper paw to the area of his chest where his heart is and breathed in and out with deep force. He flashed an angry stare towards the apparition in front of him. “Saturn! What was that for?!” He shouted. “What? Could I not get a good scare in for Nightmare Night? This should be expected you know.” Saying these words, Saturn grasped Mono’s right upper paw with his right hand and lifted him off of the ground. Standing up once more, Mono dusted his outfit of any potential dirt. He glanced towards Saturn with a tranquil smile. “I should have guessed. So are you headed out towards the night club too?” “Me? No, I’m just stalking around this street ready to scare the bejeebers of any victim unfortunate enough to walk my path.” Saturn responded. “Though, I find it unusual how you are heading out to the night club by yourself. You don’t strike me as the type of Pokémon who would enjoy going to social gatherings with loud noise and flashing lights.” “Well… my friends and family are going to be going there, since there is a big event. Plus… I’ve always kind of wanted to dance with Sophia.” With a small blush into his second sentence, Mono stated. Saturn’s eyes widened with an aroused lift of his eyelids. He motioned a sweeping turn of his neck with a motion slower than a snail. “Oooooohhhhhh my. Mono, do you really believe that your mind would be able to handle dancing with her after… that thing you did with her?” “…Why are you saying that?” Mono asked with an unsure tone. “Well, the thing is that your mind seems like it is on the fritz as of late. You have been showing signs of mental strain and irritation, and all of it seems to gravitate towards that Sylveon who you are involved with.” Saturn explained. “So?” “My sensors indicate that you want to tap that… badly.” Mono’s eyes jolted open and he shook his paws with a sporadic motion. An anxious frown opened over his mouth. “No! You got that wrong! What sort of messages is my body sending that makes you say that?!” He shouted. “Let’s see; heightened body temperatures, paws with excessive perspiration, increased heart rate, blood flowing into some very personal areas… you definitely want to fornicate with that individual.” Saturn stated with an analytical tone. “Saturn, please do not make this any harder on me than it needs to be.” Mono uttered out with his timid nature rising into his voice. “Yes, it is becoming increasingly harder to handle my lustful emotions for her. Even if she is my girlfriend, I want to wait until I am ready. But… why does she have to be so cute and very intelligent with how she hits on me?! It’s just so… so…” “Confusing?” “Yes! It’s really confusing.” Mono walked towards the curb and sat upon it. He rubbed his temples with his upper paws and looked towards the ground. Saturn hovered towards Mono and patted his back. “Do not feel bad about it, Mono. I glanced into your mind when I saw that Lith had previously told you that it is perfectly normal to feel this way. As the only member of the Diamonds to have an actual gender, I understand what you are going through. Just try to relax and cool down, alright?” “I guess.” Mono stated. He looked towards Saturn with a shade of a smile creeping along his face. “Thank you for talking with me about this. I am feeling a bit better now.” Though Saturn had no mouth, his facial expression mimicked a smile on his face. He pulled out a black domino mask from thin air and handed it to Mono. “I bought this a few days ago. Though it may not help with your masquerade, I think that you might look a bit more dashing in this mask.” Mono took the mask and gazed at it with a curious hum. “You know that I will not be wearing this to the club, right?” He asked. “Just do it.” Saturn responded with an annoyed tone. Colorful neon spotlights and serrated lights filled the interior of the club building. Equusians chatted and sat along tables throughout the plush floor. Meanwhile, the Equusians on the black floor danced and stepped along with energetic movement. Fast-paced techno pulsed from the giant stereos by a turntable manned by a white-coated unicorn mare with an electric blue mane and violet shades. An eccentric grin possessed her face. Mono entered the club floor with the domino mask over his face. He glanced towards the Equusians garbed in colorful and enigmatic costumes. Unable to tell who is who, a small form frowned on his face. He glanced above the railings towards the second floor, where the uncostumed Equusians dressed up in flowing and sparkling garbs chatted with jovial noise. His shoulders rose and his body quivered with anxiety. “I should not have come here early.” He muttered to himself. “Hey Mono.” He glanced towards his left side, scanning it to locate the source of the voice. A familiar cyan pegasus mare garbed in a black coat-tight jumpsuit, white boots, torso and black-shaded helmet with a golden badge that displayed an eagle on the headgear appeared by Mono’s side. “Is that you, Rainbow Dash?” Mono asked. “That is an unusual costume you have there.” Rainbow Dash brought her right front hoof onto a button at the side of her helmet. The shades retracted back into the helmet, displaying her magenta eyes. A soothed smile appeared on Mono’s face. “You like it? I wanted Rarity to make this particular costume after a certain character from a game I really like. What are you doing here so early? The group isn’t going to be coming here for another half hour.” Rainbow Dash asked. “I thought I would get a half-hour lead on everyone here. It would give me incentive to study the place in its prime hours so I would know what to expect. But…” Rainbow Dash’s eyes picked up on the movement of Mono’s head away from her. His eyes drifted away from the center and a small frown appeared on his face. Rainbow Dash smiled brought her right front hoof around Mono’s shoulders. “I understand. If you wanted to know why I am here so early, I expected you to arrive early as well. So, in order to beat the early bird, I have to be even more of an early bird. That way, I can greet the early bird with my early bird presence.” She stated. “You said ‘early bird’ four times and said the word ‘early’ six times.” Mono noted. “But, I do appreciate you looking after me.” He stated with a smile forming on his face. “What are friends for anyways? I think it’s kind of cool that you are starting to go to more places by yourself on your own word anyways.” Rainbow Dash noted. “So, want to dance?” “Sure!” Walking down towards the street to the club, Lith faced Fei’s direction with a cheerful smile. Garbed in a yellow robe that hung down from his right shoulder and another orange robe tied around his waist, Fei returned Lith’s smile with a coy smile of his own. A blue arrow printed itself on the top of his head. “Do you like my outfit, Lith?” He asked with a soft tone. “I do. But what’s with the tattoo on your head?” Pointing to his head, Lith questioned. “This? It is just a wash-away tattoo that binds surprisingly well to my fur. It would look fitting with this outfit I think.” “So you are going as a monk and I am going as a samurai then? Quite the odd duality of costumes.” “Well, you know. I’ve always wanted to dress like a monk, since it reminds me of my home region of Johto.” Fei responded. “I just hope no one at the club would look at me funny for wearing this.” “I doubt it. The both of us already look strange because we are creatures different to their eyes.” Saturn warped in front of Fei and Lith and held out both of his arms. With his chains striking against each other, he let out a shrill shout. On instinct, Lith pulled out a blue blade from her scabbard and pointed its electric-infused metal towards Saturn. Saturn’s flesh became cold at the sight of the blade and his heart stopped at Lith’s indignant stare. “Oh Arceus! Please don’t kill me!” He shouted. A confident smile curved along Lith’s mouth. She brought her sword back into her sheath and focused her sights on Saturn. “Scaring others for Nightmare Night, eh Saturn? I appreciate your commitment to the holiday, but you should probably work on different scare tactics for different beings. If I didn’t know who you were, then I would have just hacked you on the spot.” She explained. Saturn’s stance faltered and he hung his head low. An exhale of relief and disappointment pushed itself through his orifices. “Well… you have quite the blade there. In fact, why are you even garbed in the same way as Mono?” Lith shrugged her shoulders and looked up towards the pulsating barrier above her. She glanced towards Saturn with a calmed grin that creased into her face. “I guess that it’s because we are very comparable with each other. We are both twins, but are almost complete opposites. It is almost as if we are like yin and yang.” “I see the dynamic between you two there. And, I must agree with that logic. Speaking of Mono, he is already inside of the establishment of energetic dancing to electric music.” Lith’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Her mind passed through a shock, but her muscles loosened up and a smile came upon her face. Fei raised his hands and shook his head with a close-eyed smile on his face. “It seems to me that he went ahead to check out the club. Well, you know what that means.” Opening his eyes and grabbing Lith’s right upper paw with his right hand, he stated. He whisked her away with minimal effort in his tug. “Hold your Ponytas, Fei. We’re going to be there.” Lith responded with a good natured smile. “What? And miss seeing your brother dance? I don’t think so.” Saturn glanced towards the Pokémon couple swing their way through the clubs entrance. The two leaped over the black-painted stairs with minimal effort. A soft sigh uttered itself from his mouth. “Such an interesting species they are. Selena would write many stories about how those two go about.” Author's Note So several things I would like to say here: 1) I would like to thank Warrior_Princess for allowing me the use of her OC Scary Story. I felt that she added a good amount of depth to this chapter. 2) This is only part one of the (very late) Halloween special I am doing. Part 2 should be posted next Sunday or less. 3) Can you all guess who all of the characters are dressed up as?
GuiltLith and Rainbow Dash lied on the ground in the closet with their eyes closed and their respective back and left side against the walls. Their ears perked up at the sound of the barrier dissipating. Their eyes slowed into an open and they stretched their bodies. Spitfire stood at the other side of the closet with a rage that not even absolute zero temperatures can put out. Their guts shrunk into their hips and their hearts stopped. “Do you realize how much trouble you two are in?!” Spitfire shouted, eliciting sharp winces of the eyes of Rainbow Dash and Lith. “If I had to scale how much trouble you are in on a grade of one to ten, you are hanging around a twelve.” “A fight at a club put us in that much trouble? That’s a bit absurd.” Lith noted. Spitfire shook her head and held out her left front leg. A hologram displayed itself above her watch, detailing footage of the fight in the club. Rainbow Dash should know this, but I don’t expect you to know the law of Neo Canterlot; if you put the lives or the livelihoods of others in jeopardy without good reason, you’re as good as dead meat. You will be executed.” Lith’s lungs stunted themselves upon hearing Spitfire’s words. Her mouth quivered in suspense. “Executed? You mean that if I do anything wrong… I die?!” Spitfire nodded with a stern movement of her head. “That’s right. This holding cell is just a H.O.R.S.E. closet, as we do not actually have any proper holding facilities for perpetrators. Thus, we take any sort of crime very seriously. You are just lucky that Council Lady Luna placed Rundas in the Night Guard last night, or else you two would have been dead.” Rainbow Dash and Lith glanced towards each other with apologetic eyes. They turned towards Spitfire and tilted their heads down with the weight of shame behind them. “I never expected the consequences of our actions to be so grim. Commander, I promise to pay for any damages that I caused.” Lith reasoned. A comical chuckle seeped from Spitfire’s breath. Her amused smile formed into a stern grimace. She glared at Lith. “Good luck trying to pay for the five-hundred thousand bits worth of property you destroyed then.” Lith’s knees gave out upon Spitfire’s words passing through her mind. Her mouth stammered, bringing forth incoherent babbling from her. “Five-hundred thousand bits?!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “I barely break the fifty-thousand bit mark on my annual salary! How are we supposed to come up with five-hundred thousand bits?!” “Thankfully, I’m not that cruel to force you the bill even if it would be justified in this case. However, it doesn’t mean you are going to go unpunished!” Spitfire declared. “Lith, since you instigated the situation, I’m putting you under a month of probation. You cannot leave H.O.R.S.E. grounds without my personal approval.” Lith bowed her head and frowned. She shut her eyes and nodded with acceptance. “Y-yes Commander.” Spitfire turned her direction towards Rainbow Dash and maintained her unsavory glare. “As for you, Rainbow Dash, I’m demoting you from your commander position into scrub pony third class.” Pointing towards the gray-fiber mop in a silver bucket, she said. “Now go and mop up the restrooms.” Rainbow Dash glanced towards the bucket with broken eyes. She approached the stalk of the mop and grasped it with her hooves. She lifted the two objects and sighed without a spark of life in it. She walked out of the closet and exited the room she cooped herself in. Spitfire’s shoulders lowered and she glanced towards Rainbow Dash with sad eyes. “What’s wrong with her?” She asked out of concern. “She has… a lot on her mind from last night. But tell me Commander; is my brother alright?” Lith asked with eyes invested in worry. “Mono?” Scratching her head, Spitfire responded. “I think I heard a bunch of commotion down in the Medical Division regarding him.” Lith sprinted out of the closet and exited the room. Spitfire raised her right front leg forward with her mouth agape. Her back twisted in knots, eliciting a sharp wince. “Where do you think you’re going?!” Rainbow Dash sat at a round table with only a dim light from above keeping her company. On the table sat a crowd of glass mugs, half of which are empty and the other half are filled with fizzy golden liquid. With a depressed frown on her face, she took a mug filled with bear and downed it on one go. She grunted and shook her head. “Nope… it still hurts.” She muttered to herself. She slid the glass towards the crowd of empty mugs and grasped a mug filled to the brim with beer. The heavy door leading into the room opened with a loud creak, revealing Rey and Thunderlane. The two avionic beings glanced towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash frowned and forced a fierce stare towards the two. “C-could you two just leave? I want to be alone right now.” She requested. Thunderlane and Rey both glanced towards each other and shared a wince of eyes. They set their sights back towards Rainbow Dash and walked into the room. “Are you alright chica? You don’t look too good.” Rey asked. “We saw you walking down here carrying four boxes of Liberty Wings. I kind of grew worried and followed you in here to check on how you are doing.” Thunderlane explained with a voice sick in worry. Rainbow Dash glanced towards the Pokémon and pegasus in front of her. With a depressed frown on her face, she flew towards the crates in the storage and pulled them towards the cardinal sides of the table. She sat back in her chair. “Are you two heavyweights? I’ll be willing to tell you my problems if you become my drinking buddies right now.” She proposed. Rey shrugged his wings and flew over towards a crate by Rainbow Dash’s side. He wrapped his opposable feathers around a handle of the glass mug. He lifted the beer and downed the entire liquid in one gulp. Thunderlane sat opposite of Rey and grabbed a frothy mug of beer. He placed his mouth on the glass and poured the golden liquid into his mouth. He slammed his empty mug onto the table and sighed with content. “Looks like you are stuck with us, Rainbow Dash.” With narrowed eyes and a satisfied grin on his face, he stated with a confident tone. “So tell me Rainbow Dash; why are you more depressed than a Cubone who lost his mother?” Rey asked. Rainbow Dash glanced down towards a cup of beer, gazing upon her reflection within its flat surface. She shut her eyes and frowned. “Tell me, Rey and Thunderlane; did Mono hurt himself?” She asked. Rey and Thunderlane glanced towards each other and then back towards Rainbow Dash. “Why do you ask?” Rey questioned. “Lith told me that Mono gets suicidal night terrors after he drinks alcohol.” Rainbow Dash answered. Thunderlane and Rey hopped back from their seats with widened eyes. Surprise shocked their nerves with shockwaves running down their spines. “That’s a bit much there, mija. I’ve never heard anything like that happen. Why are you bringing that up?” Rey asked. “Because I did something stupid and pressured him into drinking alcohol. It’s something that has been haunting me when I slept. If he died… then…” Thunderlane detected tears forming within Rainbow Dash’s eyelids. In her shroud of durability, Rainbow Dash grasped another cup of beer and downed it in one go. With a grunt of satisfaction, an intoxicated smile appeared on her face. “I think you might have had enough beer as it is, Rainbow Dash.” Thunderlane noted. Rainbow Dash turned towards Thunderlane with a drunken smile on her face. “Nonsense. I only had enough if I could forget about the pains of losing him.” Rey and Thunderlane glanced towards each other with eyes risen with curiosity. “Him?” The two males stated in unison. “My dad. Back when I lived in Cloudsdale ten years ago, my father and I lived alone. We only had each other. He used to hug me all the time and made it known that I will always be his little filly. But…” Rainbow Dash grasped another mug filled with beer and brought it to her lips. Thunderlane frowned with stoic eyes on his face and brought his right front hoof onto Rainbow Dash’s gripping hoof. He lowered the beer onto the table. “Finish up the sentence before you get another sip of that beverage.” He demanded. Rainbow Dash swiped her hoof away from Thunderlane and stared at him with empty anger. A depressed sigh left her mouth once more. “Do I even need to tell you that the Van’Goth appeared in Cloudsdale? My father and I were flying away as quick as possible. During mid-flight, my left wing got snagged within a cloud. I wriggled within its grasp, feeling the fear of death get to me. My father heard my panicked screams and came back to my aid. He freed me from the cloud, but… but…” Drops of tears streamed down into the empty mugs that once contained beer within them. Rey hummed with an understanding tone and brushed his leek-holding feathers against the bottom of his bill. “That gave the Van’Goth pursuing you more than enough time to kill your father, did it not?” Rainbow Dash nodded without any words in her mouth. She blinked once and shook her head with a despondent aura hanging around her head. “I thought it was just a bad dream. I thought I would have waken up from that horrible nightmare. But… the nightmare was real. I lost my dad before my eyes. But, it was thanks to his sacrifice that I was able to make it to Neo Canterlot.” She drank the smooth beer in her mug in one sip and slammed the table with it. “But I should have died that day! Not him!” She shouted with incomprehensible anger. Thunderlane and Rey’s eyes jumped open at the sudden change in the atmosphere surrounding the trio. They leaped out of their seats and glanced towards Rainbow Dash with uneasy expressions. Rainbow Dash’s grimace lowered into a small frown and the rage in her eyes subsided. “…Sorry.” She muttered out. “That one event filled me with a gaping hole in my heart that could never be replaced. It was shortly around the time that I came into Neo Canterlot when I discovered alcohol. I began with drinking one can a day and escalated into drinking large amounts of the stuff in my mid-teens. I’m usually pretty sobered up when on duty though.” “It sounds like to me that you are dealing with something known as survivor guilt.” Rey explained. “But you don’t need to drown out your sorrows and guilt in alcohol. It’s just not right.” Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened and she held out her front legs out with desperation. “I know! But… how else can I deal with the pain? Alcohol helps me cope with reality long enough for me to get my head back into the game.” Rey shook his head and rubbed the top of his head with his right wing. A pondering hum vibrated from his throat and reverberated throughout the cellar room. “I am not sure whether this would help or not, but would you like to go on a flight through the Twiluminescent Jungle tonight?” He proposed. “Wait… tonight? I don’t know… Commander Spitfire is still a bit upset with what I did last night.” Rainbow Dash responded with a hesitant voice. “I don’t think we would be allowed to take a jet there.” A wide grin appeared on Thunderlane’s face. “Do the two of you have the stamina to make it to the Twiluminescent Jungle continent by wing?” He asked. “Bragging is dishonorable, but I do take pride in my ability to fly to faraway locations when compared to other Farfetch’ds. Crossing over into another continent is easy for me to do by flight.” Rey responded. “Of course I do! I do a rigorous exercise regimen every day. Flying to the Twiluminescent Jungle would be a breeze.” Rainbow Dash bragged. “I bet I could fly over there as well. I’ve been meaning to go there for some time.” Thunderlane answered. “Then it’s settled; the three of us are going to fly into the jungle tonight and explore to give you something else to do than just drown your sorrows.” “Great! But… I still have to mop up the restrooms.” Rey shook his head and smiled. “We took care of that already.” He said. “…Seriously?” Rainbow Dash responded with utter disbelief. “How??” “With that bucket and mopped you dropped off at your home. Yes, we followed you.” Thunderlane responded with a shameless tone. Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders with a happy smile on her face. “Well, it looks like I have to come with you two now!” Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane and Rey flew into the violet night sky, where an ocean of stars overlooked the cool-colored sea below. Feeling the cool breeze rolling from underneath his wings, a content sigh founds its way out of Rey’s mouth. “This night weather feels good underneath my wings.” He stated. He glanced over towards Rainbow Dash’s back, where a green trident the size of a giant crab’s claw and a volt purple rifle hoisted itself upon. “What’s with the weapons, Rainbow Dash? Do we really need that?” “You do realize that the Twiluminescent Jungle is a dangerous place to go to regardless of the reason going there, right? The creatures there are bigger than anything else in the world!” Rainbow Dash explained. Thunderlane brought his front hooves onto a curved knife with a dark red blade on his right flank and a deep blue-colored cylinder the size of his torso on his back. “Rainbow Dash is right. Going to that continent unarmed is the same as asking to come back home in a coffin. We really don’t want that.” A jolly burst of laughter broke out from Rey’s voice. He looked towards the two pegasi to his right. “I see. With how you make it sound like, these creatures can be as big as Groudons! They would probably be worthy foes when they face off against my leek I dubbed ‘Masamune’.” He called out with an interested smile on his face. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes towards Rey in confusion. “Why did you name your onion ‘Masamune’?” She asked. “You’ll see…” Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane and Rey descended upon the thick of the jungle. The three of them breathed with heavy panting. A refreshing midnight haze hung upon the atmosphere of the dark green vegetation, cloaking the flora with an ethereal glow of cool colors. A smile appeared on Rey’s face. “Wow. That’s very pretty.” He noted. “I have to agree with you there, Rey; I don’t think that the Terraformed Wilderness has anything on the Twiluminescent Jungle at night.” Thunderlane responded. “So… what’s first?” Walking ahead of the group with a smile on her face, Rainbow Dash asked. Rey raised his wings with a shrug of his shoulders. His beak and eyes emanated the puzzled confusion stored within his mind. “I do not know. I thought we would have come here to help your spirit by freezing those terrible memories of yours in place.” The canopy above rustled with increasing ferocity. A buzzing noise of a sharp frequency reverberated from above the squad. They glanced upwards, where brown and black-spotted roaches the size of minivans descended towards the trio. Their soulless eyes gazed at the group with hungry eyes. Rainbow Dash smirked and pulled out her trident, stood on her hind legs and held her massive weapon on her right front leg. “Looks like I know what we are doing first.” She said with a cocky tone. Rey brandished his leek, holding it out and brushing his right wing against its green and leafy edge. Thunderlane grasped his knife with his right front hoof and flipped the hilt towards his body’s direction. He pointed the blade of the weapon towards the giant insects. Rainbow Dash tossed her trident into the crowd of flying roaches with a flowing movement of her hoof. The points of the trident stuck themselves into the roach in the back of the group, planking it into a nearby tree. The roach’s many legs squirmed in desperation and it opened its wings with an attempt to flee. Rainbow Dash yanked on a vine attached to the opposite end of the trident and grabbed the flying lance with her two hooves. Rey leaped into the air, his height meeting that of the flying roaches. He threw his leek towards one of the roaches, which approached it at phantasm speeds. With the blade of the leek stabbing into its chitin, the roach’s wings flapped at a lower speed. Rey flew towards the side of the roach in a blink of an eye and extended his wings towards the stabbing leek. With a sleight of wing, he swiped the blade through the roach, causing it to drop to the ground with its body open in half. Thunderlane’s knife clashed against the legs of the roach he approached against in the air. He hovered towards the right of the roach and lifted the knife above the strike. With a descent of his hoof with the speed of its ascent, he plunged the knife through the chitin of the roach. Removing the knife, he unleashed a series of stabbing motions against it. With green fluid leaking from its back, the roach fell to the ground. With seamless movement, Rainbow Dash swapped her trident with the rifle on her back and aimed it towards another roach in the air. She fired a sharpened round towards it. The bullet pierced through the roach’s body. With agitated movement, it rushed towards Rainbow Dash and tackled her. Rainbow Dash’s hind hooves dragged along the ground. She set her eyes forward and saw the same roach approaching her at light speed. Rainbow Dash lifted her rifle into the air and fired a bullet through its head. “Nice shooting, Rainbow Dash!” Rey complimented. Rainbow Dash swapped out kicked her rifle into the air and pulled out her trident. The rifle fell onto its holster on her back, gripping it with a snug hold. “Thanks Rey.” Holding his leek into the air, four phantoms of clashing swords surrounded Rey. With the swords inverting their position and disappearing, a ferocious white aura surrounded the Farfetch’d. He expanded his wingspan and took flight into the air. The aura around him flared with the intensity of a shooting star. He flew through the horde of roaches, slicing them in half with the sheer force of his body. Thunderlane grabbed the cannon on his back with his two upper hooves and aimed them towards a group of roaches heading towards him. With it a whirring light and a pulsating noise, the weapon fired off a brilliant beam that pierced through the canopy. The roaches within its orange trajectory vanished from sight. The beam died down. Rey landed on the ground with exhausted eyes and hefty panting. His body cloaked itself with a light green aura. A smile of relief appeared on his face. Rainbow Dash glanced towards Rey with confused eyes and a mouth agape with disbelief. “Rey, why do you look so exhausted right now?” She asked. “That’s the cost of my most powerful move known as Brave Bird. For the damage I inflict upon my targets, I take half of it as my own damage.” Rey explained. “That seems a bit dangerous.” Putting away the cannon back onto his back, Thunderlane noted. “It did the job, did it not?” Saying these words, Rey stood up and pointed his leek towards a spiraling path that led deep into the jungle. “I am not sure about you caballitos locos, but we should probably continue down this jungle if we want to keep exploring and not stick around for more of these bugs.” He walked forwards into the lush vegetation of the tropical forest. Thunderlane glanced towards Rainbow Dash, who put away her trident with ease. “You know, I find it impressive that a mare of your size can hold a weapon that big.” He commented. Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders and flashed an innocent smile towards Thunderlane. “What can I say? Muscles are meaningless sometimes. It’s not about how big they are, but it’s how you use it.” She responded. “Ummm… what?” Thunderlane responded with a confused tone and a slight blush building over his black coat. A lighthearted chuckle burst itself from Rainbow Dash’s voice. She walked forward towards Rey’s direction and flipped her right front hoof towards Thunderlane’s direction. “Come on, Thunderlane. We don’t want to leave Rey by himself, now do we?” Rey, Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane walked deeper into the dense jungle territory. The light from the moon faded into a fraction of its current brilliance. Thunderlane glanced towards Rey’s leek with cautious eyes. “So Rey… about that leek of yours.” He began asking. “With the tone of your voice, you must be curious about why I even carry a leek around, no?” “That… and how your leek isn’t even destroyed.” Rey smirked and patted his leek with loving attention. “We Farfetch’d always carry a leek. They are connected to our life force.” He explained. “If anything bad were to happen to this leek, I’d be dead!” “Seriously?!” Rainbow Dash asked with a tone wrought with disbelief. “That seems like a stupid gimmick for your species, Rey. No offense, but wouldn’t that make your kind endangered or something?” “Of course! It also doesn’t help that our leeks are used in making delicious stews, so we are constantly hunted for them.” Rey answered with a positive tone radiating honesty. “I didn’t even think that your kind was endangered!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “It’s alright. I do not blame you for asking about the bloody history of my kind.” Rey stated. “This particular leek also happens to be passed down from the generations of my clan. The amount of Farfetch’d life forces within its blade makes it exceptionally strong when compared to other leeks.” “So that’s why you named your leek Masamune; it’s the leek of your clan.” Thunderlane said. Rey frowned and shook his head. “But alas, the Magnified Clan had been hunted to its extinction because of our especially tasty leeks and bodies. I am the last member of this prestigious clan.” A small frown appeared on Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane’s faces. Their eyes emanated pity for their fine-feathered friend. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. It must have been tough for you to go through.” Rainbow Dash said. “What’s in the past is in the past. Besides, I’m a part of a good bunch of mercenaries. We are sellswords, but we are a good family.” Shrugging his shoulders without a thought in the world, Rey responded. “Well, family is important. I always worry about Rumble and my mother, even if they are fine.” Thunderlane answered. Rey stopped in his tracks and held out his right wing in pause. He smashed his leek into the ground and placed his right side of the head against the stalk. Vibrations of moving gears and shooting pistons reverberated throughout his eardrum. A low growl emitted from his beak. “We got company.” He declared. “Company?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I heard a faint noise within the jungle. The earth confirms that there is some sort of factory up ahead, and it isn’t filled with friendlies.” Smirking, Thunderlane placed his front hooves together and cracked the joints within them. “I was starting to get a bit bored here. Let’s investigate.” Rainbow Dash glanced towards Thunderlane with worried eyes and a nervous hum. “Don’t you think it would be better to get the other H.O.R.S.E. operatives involved in this? I mean, giant roaches are one thing, but a factory filled with deadly foes? I don’t want to risk it.” “Come on Rainbow, we’ll be alright. We have an incredibly strong and agile mare who can tear through defenses like butter, a master swordsman duck Pokémon, and the handsome stallion with a strong knife and a big cannon.” Thunderlane announced with a proud huff and prance of hooves. “Haha very funny.” She uttered out with a sarcastic tone. “But… it would give us the chance to do some recon and report to H.O.R.S.E. if we discover anything.” “Then it is settled; we investigate what lies ahead. If we find something of note, we report it.” Rey announced. Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane and Rey trampled through the mess of vegetation in their path. The leaves they pushed away with their limbs tickled the flesh underneath their coats and feathers. Moving through the last of the vegetation, the group stepped into a clearing. Their hearts stopped and their mouths dropped at the sight in front of them; a black building crafted out of black metals stood tall in the center of the clearing. Vines and vegetation coated its exterior and ran along the cracks of its surface. A large door stood in front of the trio. Rey slammed his leek into the ground and placed his ear against it. His eyes narrowed and his face grimaced. “It seems as though my suspicions were correct; this factory is still active.” He said with a grim tone. “Active? But it looks abandoned.” Rainbow Dash noted. “It could be one of those automated factories that were around during the descent of the Van’Goth.” Thunderlane theorized. A wave of fear overcame him, eliciting shaky hooves and a shivering spine. “I don’t think we should go in.” “Are you not curious as to what lies within? After all, the path to the truth lies on a road of unpleasant circumstances.” Rey called out. “Ummm…” “I understand if you do not want to enter inside of it, but I will still enter regardless because it will contain some vital information with helping out your war efforts. I may be a stranger of this world, but I wish to give you all a fighting chance because no one deserves to see the ambitions of a genocidal race of aliens come to fruition.” Rainbow Dash smiled with a layer of inspiration built up from Rey’s words. She walked towards the factory gate’s frame and looked back towards Thunderlane and Rey. A sly smile curled on her face. “You know it is improper for adult males to keep a mare waiting, right?” Rey walked down the path towards the factory with graceful steps. Thunderlane smiled with a sheepish giggle and tiptoed his way towards the factory. The trio lurked through the interior of the active factory. The pistons pumped a city’s size of steam, humidifying the air. Dim lights hung upon the ceiling that lit up the pathway, allowing the group to see large gears turning with eternal longevity. The arms of the machines grasped onto metallic materials within a pile and dropped them onto conveyor belt that led into a different section of the factory. “A factory without any type of personnel operating it.” Rey said with an empty voice. A shiver went down Rainbow Dash’s spine. She embraced herself and shook underneath the sudden pressure exerting itself onto her body. “That’s just creepy. There aren’t even any machines operating the machines. Where do we even go?” Thunderlane glanced up towards the ceiling, where silver-coated mechas with unlit optic fibers hung. A bead of sweat dripped down his face and his teeth bore themselves with anxiety. “I think the machines are above us.” Pointing towards the ceiling with a slow hoof, he stated. Rainbow Dash stared at the ceiling with eyes dull with a lack of interest. She glanced towards Thunderlane with a disappointed frown and a shake of her head. “They’re inactive, Thunderlane. Don’t act like such a kitten about it.” She chided, taking a step forward. Her right front hoof stepped on a tile that slid down by an inch. The eyes of the mechas above lit up with a bright blue. Their arms twitched. The hooks their bodies hung upon slid beyond the ceiling. One by one, the storm of mechas dropped down from the ceiling, landing on their left hands and right knees. Rainbow Dash and Rey’s eyes lit up with panic. Thunderlane grinned and pointed towards Rainbow Dash with an enthusiastic pose. “Hah! I was right to be worried!” He called out with an immature tone. “Yeah yeah so you were right to be worried.” Rainbow Dash uttered out with an annoyed tone. “But… we still have to fight these robots that you just had to notice!” “I know, but at least I was right.” Rey shook his head with disbelief and smacked his forehead with his right wing. “You two act like such a married couple.” He noted with an aggravated tone. “No we don’t!” Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane shouted with anger obstinate in their voices. Rey readied his leek with his right wing, grasping it towards his left side. Seeing the mechas walk towards the group, he narrowed his eyes. “You two shut up and pull out your weapons. These foes will be much tougher than the roaches we fought back in the jungle.” With frowns and scowls on their faces, Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane pulled out their melee weapons and pointed it towards the mechas. The mechas lifted their fists towards the group. A shower of bursting bullets rained down upon the trio. The trio flew away from the radius of the bullet spray and set their gazes towards one mecha. A grassy vine shot out of the center spike of Rainbow Dash’s trident and wrapped itself around the arm of the mecha. Rainbow Dash yanked the trident, lifting it towards her with her awesome might. The vine retracted back into the trident. Rainbow Dash leaped towards the mecha heading her way and held her lance towards its torso. Rainbow Dash jabbed her torso forward and the mecha launched its right fist towards Rainbow Dash. The two titanic forces collided against each other, unleashing shockwaves that engulfed everyone within its pressurized field. Rey landed on the ground and sprinted towards the mecha with its fist extended towards Rainbow Dash’s trident. He leaped onto Rainbow Dash’s back and hopped overhead. With his leek over his head and flipped forward in the air. His leek sliced an inch into the head of the mecha. He landed on the ground and glanced behind him. He flipped his leek to its side and gripped it in reverse. He charged towards the mecha and brought it to its hips. The leek bounced off it without any effect. “These are some durable robots!” He gritted through his beak. Thunderlane leaped on top of the mecha’s head and brought his knife down into the area chipped away by Rey’s leek. A stream of lightning shot down from the knife and into the mecha, zapping its entire body from the inside-out. He leaped off of the head and landed on the ground. The mecha turned its head towards Thunderlane and its eyes ignited with a luminous blue. Thunderlane’s heart fell onto the bed of his intestines. “Seriously?! Not even a critical Thunderbolt does anything against them?!” He shouted with fear in his tone. Rey shifted his sights towards all of his surroundings. A sea of mechanized beings surrounded him at every conceivable angle. His eyes glanced towards an open tile of stairs that led to a lower level. He glanced towards Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane, waving his left wing. “There is no shame in running away. Let’s flee!” Rey stated. “But how?! These robots have us all surrounded!” Rainbow Dash asked with a panicking tone. Rey brandished is leek and pointed it towards the stairs. He narrowed his eyes and breathed with an even air. “Our blades shall forge a new path amidst the forest of deceit and danger. Let’s go!” Shouting these words, he dashed into the crowd of mechas with the speed of a raging typhoon. He leaped towards the individual machines in his path and struck the blade of his leek against them, pushing them back and opening space. Thunderlane nodded with a serious aura in his eyes. He sprinted towards the opened area and flew through the air. Anxiety locked up Rainbow Dash’s nerves. Time froze around her. She heard each individual beat of her heart resonating throughout the environment. Within the confines of her head, the sounds of whirring blades tearing through flesh resonated out into the current area. The pained screams of an adult male haunted the catacombs of her mind. “Rainbow Dash!” Waving his leek with pretentious shakes, Rey shouted. Rainbow Dash shook her head and became alert to reality. She glanced towards Rey with alert eyes. Her eyes filled with determination and survival instinct. She sprinted towards the cleared path with a sonic cone forming around her. She leaped into the air and beat her wings, creating a rainbow shockwave that changed the colors of the entire area into those belonging to a rainbow. Rey’s beak held itself agape. His brown feathers turned into a pink tinge. He blinked once and looked down upon himself. “I’m not a shiny!” He shouted, running towards the stairs. The trio of avionic crawled along the catacombs of the lower floor. The lighting along the ceiling resonated with weaker energy than the main floors of the factory, creating a grim atmosphere of gloom that grasped onto the spines of the operatives. Tubes filled with luminous blue fluid and embryonic creatures littered the eyes of the group. Rey hugged himself and shivered. “I do not know what is in those tubes, nor do I want to know their purpose there.” “What even is the purpose of this corridor anyways? It looks like something straight out of a science horror flick.” Rainbow Dash asked. “I think we might have found something interesting to tell H.O.R.S.E. Why is there a factory that is within the middle of nowhere on this continent? Why does it have no personnel to speak of? Why is it still actively producing products?” Rubbing the bottom of his chin, Thunderlane questioned. “Let’s hold off on telling H.O.R.S.E. anything. We still do not know if this place is an active danger or not yet.” Rainbow Dash instructed. One of the embryotic life forms within a tube the trio walked across twitched and opened its pin-strained eyes, bringing a cold shock of dread down their tails. “Okay, so they are definitely alive.” With his feathers shaking with fear and anxiety, Rey relayed. “Can we please hurry this up?” Rainbow Dash shot a glare towards Rey’s direction. “This was your idea, eggs for brains. Besides, we’ll get creamed if we turn back!” She chastised. “Sorry Rainbow Dash. I am not really too fond of the creation of artificial life. It is very disturbing on a mortal and metaphysical level.” Rey responded. “Ummm… isn’t one of your partners an artificially-created Pokémon?” Thunderlane asked. “Inge is different. At least she wasn’t created in a test tube like them.” The darkness of the hall dissipated with a room with bright lighting approaching within the group’s eyes. Walking into the room, their eyes set themselves on a cage where a muscular quadruped with a burgundy coat. A head of a goat and a head of a lion placed themselves upon the top of his torso. A scorpion’s tail affixed itself off of its end. Two bats wings sprouted from his back. Sleek machinery encased itself within portions of his body. Seeing the trio in front of him, he roared out in aggression and tackled the cage. “What… what is that thing?!” Thunderlane shouted in fear. “It kind of looks like a chimera and a manticore put together.” Rainbow Dash guessed. “So it’s a mix-and-match of two mix-and-match creatures?” Rey asked. “Where is a Unovian rapper that pimps cars when you need him?” “We really didn’t need the joke Rey.” Thunderlane complained. “But why is this chimera-manticore hybrid locked up here?” “Because you Equusians and your war did this to him!” The trio looked over towards their left, where a quadruped with the body and head of a tiger, an additional head of a goat and a snake for a tail dropped down onto the ground. To her left walked a tall lion-like creature with bat wings and a scorpion’s tail with an intimidating stare directed towards the trio. “What are you doing in our home?!” The manticore shouted out. “Your home? You mean you made this factory lab your home?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with shock ringing in her voice. “Yes!” The chimera called out. “But that is enough for that. What are you three doing here?” “Forgive us for intruding on your property madam.” Bowing with a humble movement, Rey responded. “We decided to wander the Twiluminescent Jungle to help our friend Rainbow Dash and we seemed to have come across an abandoned factory. We decided to investigate, triggered the robots upstairs and we are now down here.” “Well, you are right with believing that this factory was abandoned. When we first came upon here, there was not a soul in sight.” The manticore stated. Thunderlane glanced towards the chimera and manticore with an eye raised in curiosity. He walked up towards them with a slow movement. “So… this is your son? What happened to him?” The chimera swiped her claws towards Thunderlane, knocking him back and creating three slits along the surface of his torso. He grasped the stinging flesh and stared towards the chimera and manticore with wincing eyes. “What did you do that for?!” “We don’t take to kindly to you society dwellers. We nature dwellers were always wary of your actions towards us and then the galactic war broke out. Our son here was a casualty of the chemical warfare inflicted against what you called the Land of Deer.” The chimera replied. Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane’s heads jolted upwards from the news of the last sentence. Rey glanced towards the duo with wary eyes. “Chemical warfare? Your kind used chemical warfare?!” “Well, yeah! We used napalm and hydrochloric acids to try to defeat the Van’Goth.” Rainbow Dash explained with a tone ridden with guilt. “It didn’t work.” Thunderlane responded. “Our son was the victim of that warfare. He was burned and maimed by the chemicals your kind threw at him! We barely saved his life because of the biomachinery in this place, but it left him too aggressive! Are you proud of yourselves!? Is this how you go about your war effort?” The manticore shouted. He pointed over towards the cage where the chimera-manticore hybrid stood, which clawed at the bars of the cage with pained howls. Guilt gripped Rainbow Dash’s heart. She looked away from the chimera and manticore and stared at the ground. “It’s my fault… it’s always my fault! I always do all these stupid mistakes that get others hurt or killed.” Rey narrowed his eyes and flew in front of the chimera and manticore couple. He banged his leek into the metal floor and stared at the two quadrupeds with an intense fire glowing in his eyes. “I do not appreciate you putting the blame of your son’s problems on my friends. She wasn’t even old enough when it happened! Yes, the Equusians made mistakes when retaliating against the Van’Goth, but mistakes happen.” He reasoned. “Their mistakes hurt out son!” The chimera roared out. “Okay, so maybe some mistakes are more costly than others and you are still paying for it. We are not the ones that did it. If you are planning on continuing your worthless accusations out of the pain you feel, then you leave me no choice.” Rey pointed his leek towards the manticore and chimera. “I shall challenge one of you to a duel of honor!” “A duel of honor? You are in no place to propose such a thing, bird.” The manticore called out. “So you refuse?” The chimera held her right front leg out and blocked the manticore’s path. All three of her heads looked into the manticore’s eyes. The manticore nodded in understanding and took three steps back. “I shall be your opponent. If I win, then my family will be allowed to slaughter you and your partners and feast on your corpses. If you win, then you can do whatever you like with us.” The chimera proposed. “Very reasonable terms.” Nodding his head, Rey stated. “Reasonable?!” Thunderlane shouted. “Rey, if you die, then we die! That is not a reasonable!” “Trust me, Thunderlane; I would not be doing if there was no other alternative. These beasts would kill us regardless. Besides, no one dishonors one of my friends.” “I must warn you; I do not hold back.” The chimera stated with a serious tone. She leaped forward with blurring speed and extended her claws. Rey parried the strike with his leek. He leaped above her and aimed his blade towards the center of the chimera’s spine. The snake grinned with a smug smile and coiled herself. Rey fell towards the chimera’s back with his sword primed, but the snake wrapped around him, squeezing his body. “H…how did I not foresee this coming?!” Rey grunted out. “Just because we are one being does not mean that we do not have minds of our own.” The snake replied. “Rey!” Rainbow Dash shouted out in fear. The manticore glared over her body. “Do not worry, Rainbow Dash. I’ve been through worse!” Rey stated. He bit the body of the snake, causing her eyes to shoot open and loosen her grip. Rey flew out of the tail’s grip and hovered above the chimera, where the body glanced towards the snake and rubbed the bit area with loving care. His leek flashed with a light green cutter and he flew down towards the tiger head. His blade struck against the skull, knocking the chimera back. With his leek still flashing, he smashed the blade against the body of the chimera. An audible groan emerged from her voice. Rey flew into the air and dropped towards her with his blade reinforced by the green light shimmering with a higher intensity. The goat head on the chimera bit the blade of the leek with her flat teeth, stopping it in place. Rey dropped the grip on his leek and flew backwards. His body cloaked itself with his Brave Bird’s aura. He tackled into the chimera, causing an explosion of smoke that engulfed the two. The chimera leaped out of the smoke cloud with her claws primed to the ground. Rey flew out of the smoke with his leek back in mouth. His right eye winced from the pain and exhaustion running through the annals of his body. He spat out his leek back into his right wing. “My, you look a bit exhausted there. Do you mean to tell me that you have difficulty keeping up with me?” The chimera chided with a teasing voice. “You are a very crafty foe, I will give you that. I am far from done, however. I have overcome worse obstacles.” Rey responded. “Then let us see how long you shall last against our relentless might.” The chimera stated. She lunged forward and bore her tiger fangs towards Rondo. Witnessing the ferocious attack with the chimera’s ravenous mouth, Rey leaped up towards the ceiling with the force of a pressurized torpedo underneath his webbed feet. He sat upon the chimera’s back, roosting on her. A healing energy surrounded Rey, invigorating him. The tiger head of the chimera glanced behind her and snarled at Rey. Rey leaped off of the chimera and held out his leek. His leek flashed with a green light and he smashed it against the chimera’s torso. Dropping onto the ground, he slashed at the chimera’s head once more, staggering her body. He gripped his leek with both wings and slashed with a diagonal angle, knocking her away. The chimera collided against the cage door. The manticore’s eyes widened and he sprinted over towards the chimera. “Are you alright?!” He asked with concern emanating from his voice. Each head of the chimera winced. She lifted herself off of the ground with a shaky rise of her body. “I’m fine. That just hit-“ Rey pointed his leek towards the tiger head’s neck. His leek pulsed with an intense light four times stronger than when it first wrapped around it. “I suggest you do not move if you do not want for me to hit you with my Fury Cutter again. After all, it doubles in power each time it hits you.” He said with a cold tone. Each of the heads on the chimera whimpered with fear. They each closed their eyes and looked down onto the ground. “Very well, you have defeated us.” All three heads of the chimera stated in unison. “What?!” The manticore called out with shock and fear reverberating in his voice. “You can’t be serious! Does that mean…” “Yep; you will have to honor your losing proposition. We can do whatever we want with you and your family.” Rey stated. The hybrid behind the bars of the cage glanced towards the hinges of the door, witnessing them hang with a loose disposition. He tore off the hinges with his powerful claws. The door fell backwards. At the moment it dropped onto the ground, the hybrid lunged towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash glanced towards the hybrid charging towards her. Not even a reactionary breath allowed itself to pass through her upon feeling the stinging claws of the hybrid pin her down onto her back through her front hooves. The four eyes of the hybrid looked down upon her face and saliva dripped down from her teeth and onto her uniform. Rainbow Dash’s heart beat with the strength of a gong strike and her nerves wracked with the cold fear of death. “Hey! Tell your child to get off my friend, now!” Rey shouted. The chimera’s heads looked away from Rainbow Dash and their child. A tear dropped from the snake’s right eye. “He cannot be reasoned with.” The goat head on the chimera responded. “You see that tech on him? He’s only alive because of it. It cost him his sanity, however. I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do.” Thunderlane pulled out his ray cannon and flew over towards the hybrid. Standing in front of the beast, he fired a beam from his weapon and knocked the hybrid backwards. With his body not pinning her down, Rainbow Dash flew from underneath the shadow. “You got no subtlety!” Thunderlane shouted with a cocky tone. The hybrid dropped down onto his four legs and glanced towards Thunderlane, staring noxious death towards the stallion’s direction. The hybrid sprinted towards Thunderlane with blurring speeds, appearing before him within a blink of an eye. His claw held itself high above Thunderlane’s head. Rainbow Dash pulled out her trident and dashed between Thunderlane and the hybrid. The claw of the hybrid collided with Rainbow Dash’s trident. She flipped backwards and kicked the jaw of the hybrid with her right hind leg during the revolution. Leaping into the air, she held her trident high in the air and unleashed a dust of green powder into the atmosphere. The dust descended upon the hybrid. The hybrid’s eyes dropped with rapid descents. His legs trembled underneath his body’s weight. His eyes shut and his body collapsed onto the ground. A loud snore sounded out from the sleeping beast. A relieved smile appeared on Rainbow Dash’s face. “You alright there, Thunderlane?” She asked. Thunderlane flashed a smile and nodded his head. He held out his right front hoof with an upward diagonal position. The manticore glanced towards the two pegasi and his son. A small smile formed on his face. He approached Rainbow Dash and nodded his head. “Thank you for not killing my son. I know that he isn’t exactly the social kind of being, but he always put the well-being of others above himself… at least prior to his accident.” He stated. “It’s not much of a problem. I didn’t really want to kill him. Otherwise, I’d be putting you through losing a family member.” Rainbow Dash responded with a chilled tone. The chimera stood up from her position and walked towards her sleeping son. Gazing upon the slow rises and falls of his chest, a comforted smile appeared on all of her faces. “This is the most peaceful that I have ever seen him. It doesn’t look like he is in much pain.” The goat head on the chimera stated. The snake on the chimera frowned and shook her head. “But he’s only going to go back to screaming in pain after he wakes up.” She said with a despondent tone. A frown appeared on Rainbow Dash’s face. She hovered by the chimera’s side and placed her right front hoof on her shoulder. “If it means anything, I promise that I will find a way to get rid of his pain and have your family live a happy life. It’s the least I can do for you.” She offered. “You are sweet to propose, but there isn’t much that can be done here. We would use some of the factory’s research on L.I.F.E. to restore him, but it seems very dubious and could leave him in an even worse condition.” The chimera responded. Thunderlane’s jaw dropped at the words dropped by the chimera. He approached her with a shaky head. “Wait, what was that last tidbit you said about the factory?!” He shouted. “Perhaps we should explain.” Walking towards Thunderlane with a sagacious gaze within his eyes, the manticore responded. “When we first delved into the depths of the factory, we found some documentation on something known as Last Incubation of Finite Existence. From what we’ve read, it creates artificial life that is immune to the grasp of death.” “So all those creatures in those tubes… they are products of L.I.F.E.?” Rey asked with his tone drenched in concern. “Yes. They are created through the DNA of fallen Equusians and are recreated through the technology of this factory. We want to shut it down due to its unethical implications, but this research can save our son. We are just holding out and continuing the research on L.I.F.E. until we are certain that we get our desired result.” The chimera responded. “I ask that you do not reveal this secret to your organization. I feel that they might destroy this factory if they found out.” A war broke out within Rainbow Dash’s mind. The urge of telling H.O.R.S.E. stood strong against the desire to protect an unfortunate family caught within the galactic war. The walls of her urge weakened against the strikes of her desires. Within her desires, she heard the calming voice of a stallion run through her head. She glanced towards the chimera. “The three of us will not tell anyone about this factory’s existence.” She stated. “What?!” Rey and Thunderlane shouted in unison. “Are you crazy?!” Rainbow Dash glanced towards her partners and flashed a strong stare into their eyes. “Listen; these three are casualties of a war we have. They do not want any part of our conflict and we will not force it upon them. If we do, then we are no worse than the Van’Goth that killed millions upon millions of lives just to achieve their goal.” Thunderlane and Rey stared towards Rainbow Dash in silence. Uneasiness rose within their stomachs alongside bile. They glanced towards the ceiling and into Rainbow Dash’s eyes. “I’ll probably hate myself for saying this, but alright.” Thunderlane stated. “I would agree… only if we find a way to deal with the robots above.” Rey said. The manticore walked over towards a desk and pulled on a blue cabinet, revealing a silver clip. He grasped it with his mouth and handed it to Rey. “This clip will give you the ability to cut through any metal you desire. We have no use for it, so we do not have any attachment to it. You would be able to get the best mileage out of it, however.” Rey grasped the device with his bill and slipped it over his right wing. He felt a burst of energy shoot through his body. A smile appeared on his face. “Thank you very much for this gift. Again, we apologize for invading your home. We had no idea that there were still others here.” He stated. A mecha stormed down from the hallway and into the room. It glanced towards Rey with daggers directed into the Farfetch’d’s eyes. It held up its arm, curled its fist and shot it towards Rey. Rey leaped into the air and bisected the mecha with his leek. The mecha fell onto the ground with its metal warping around the slice mark. He glanced towards the clip and shrugged his shoulders. “Very effective! This will definitely give me a much-needed edge against Steel-type Pokémon.” He stated. “Ummm… so can we leave now?” Thunderlane asked. “That is all what we wanted for you three to do upon coming here. Leave us, and never come back.” The chimera stated. The trio of operatives looked down the hallway and ran down the corridor. Rainbow Dash glanced back towards the family and grinned. “Thanks!” She said out loud. The tiger head on the chimera smiled and looked towards the leaving operatives. “Thank you for caring.” She stated. Author's Note This chapter went through much within its development. But, we got a bit more on Rainbow Dash's backstory and even got some more background on the world! Hooray!
Self-WorthProfessor Pasque stood over a desk with eyes red with exhaustion. He looked down onto the table before him, gazing upon a sea of documents rife with tons of varying info. He blinked his eyes at a slow speed and a large yawn escaped from his mouth. Standing before a contained explosion of brilliant lights with safety goggles on, Einstein looked over his left arm and gazed back towards Professor Pasque’s body, where he wobbled to the left and right. Einstein’s eyes widened with worry. “Professor Pasque! Are you alright?!” Rushing over towards his side, he asked. “I’m… I’m fine. Just… peachy fine.” Forcing an exhausted smile on his face, Professor Pasque responded with half-attentiveness in his eyes. Einstein narrowed his eyes and frowned. “You’ve exhausted yourself, Earnest! Don’t try to hide it from me.” He called out. “Did you get any sleep?” Professor Pasque brought his mouth wide open and exhaled a large yawn. He smacked his lips against each other and glanced down towards Einstein. “To be truthful… not really. I would be lucky if I could find the time to rest. I am just so close to figuring out the Fairy-type genome after decoding all of the other types and I still am working overnight with Professor Gentian to find a way to bring Joker and his gang back to their world. Then… there’s the fact that I still am developing gear and…” Professor Pasque’s eyes drooped towards their lowest possible point. His head and neck slumped down from the ground and loud snores can be heard from him. Einstein frowned and brought his left arm onto Professor Pasque’s right shoulder. Professor Pasque jolted awake and uttered out a startled noise. “What in the name of Arceus happened?!” He shouted with surprise. “You fell asleep again, Earnest. I’m worried about your work habits.” Einstein responded. “Don’t you ever take a break?” Professor Pasque shook his head and yawned once more. “Not with all the projects I’ve been buried up to my head with. Being one of the leading scientists behind these projects is definitely tough. It’s gotten to the point where I never step out of the lab and…” Stating these words, his long neck drooped down onto the table. His knees collapsed onto the ground and his eyes slowed down to a shut. Einstein glanced towards his left and right. His eyes filled with objective desire. Glancing towards Twilight Sparkle looking through a cream-colored microscope, a smile appeared on his face. He hovered over towards her direction. “Twilight!” He called out with a happy tone. Twilight Sparkle glanced towards Einstein’s direction and flashed a warm and inviting smile. “Hello Einstein. Did you need me for anything?” She asked. “Ummm…” Einstein muttered out. His eyes rolled towards his left and he pointed behind him, where Professor Pasque lied on the table within deep exhaustion. Twilight Sparkle peered over her shoulder. She closed her eyes, frowned and shook her head. “I was afraid this would happen. That stubborn sauropod is working himself to death. I tried telling him to take even one day off lab work, but he is insistent on finishing the projects involving Pokémon. He just takes all the workload for himself and rarely delegates his responsibilities to others.” She murmured out with concern. “Well… he has to take the day off now. He can’t be sleeping on the job.” “I suppose so… Very well, I’ll talk to him.” Twilight Sparkle stepped away from her station and walked towards Professor Pasque. Einstein hopped just by her side. Hearing the shockwaves of pounding bodies approaching him, Professor Pasque’s eyes opened with a slow speed. “T-Twilight?” He asked with a slurred voice. “Professor, I’m afraid that I have to ask you to take the rest of the day off. This time, I mean it.” Twilight Sparkle responded with an insistent tone. “B-But-“ “But nothing, sir! Look at you! It looks like you never had a pleasant day of rest. I do not want to have any fatalities within this division due to work-related exhaustion. I know how important these projects are to you and how cautious you are about them, but the world will not end if you stop for just one day. Am I right or wrong?” Professor Pasque lifted his head a foot above the table. He gritted his teeth and hummed with rumination. “I guess not.” “Good.” Twilight Sparkle said. “I’m sure you should get around to seeing Lith right now though. She seems a miserable at the moment.” Upon hearing Lith’s name, Professor Pasque’s eyes sparked with alertness. He lifted his long neck off of the table and stomped the floor. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!” Shouting these words, he sprinted out of the lab with the speed and power of a stampeding mammoth. He crashed through the wall, leaving a gaping hole inside of it. Twilight Sparkle glanced towards the hole in the wall and forced a smile. Her right eye twitched. She glanced towards Einstein. “You know that wall is going to be expensive to repair, right?” She asked with a voice feigning tranquility. “I know.” Lith sat down at a table in a cafeteria in a remote corner far from the rest of the crowd. On the opposite side of the table sat Neptune, whose ruby glared down onto the mashed potatoes served alongside a slab of brown meat drenched in rich gravy. Lith laid her chin over her left paw and mixed her potatoes and gravy together at a somber speed. Neptune pointed towards Lith’s food. “Are you going to consume that?” It asked with curiosity. “I thought you fed off of sunlight.” Lith responded with a melancholic tone. “Well sorry for not desiring for good carbons to go to waste! You’re just twirling it around and not ingesting it. Why do you even sound so depressed anyways?” Neptune responded with a sharp tongue. Lith moved her eyes towards Neptune’s direction and deepened her frown. “Can’t you bother someone else, Neptune? I’m not exactly in the mood to hear you out.” She requested. Neptune paused during the moment. The gem on its body flashed with a red light. “Hmmm… nope. You are stuck with me until you are out of your funk. Tough luck for you, am I right?” The grip on the fork Lith had around her paw increased in pressure, bending the plastic around her smoldering grasp. Neptune shook under the incandescent flames of Lith’s stare. “I would put up with your crap any other day, but I really am not in the mood right now. I’m serious.” Lith threatened. Neptune hopped off of the seat and landed its spikes onto the ground. “Well fine then! I know when I am given a cold shoulder. I’m going to see if there are any tasks right now for me.” Stating these words, it rolled away from the cafeteria with pretentious spinning. Lith glanced back towards her food and spun it with the remaining limp of her fork. Her ears perked up at the sound of heavy footsteps approaching her direction from the opposite side of the cafeteria. Looking forward, her eyes met upon a panicking Professor Pasque, whose eyes radiated with concern and exhaustion. Professor Pasque stopped before Lith’s table and dropped onto his knees. “Lith!” He shouted with exhaustion apparent in his voice. “Professor! What are you doing here?!” Lith asked. Professor Pasque inhaled deep breaths and looked into Lith’s eyes. “I was working in the lab… never taking a break…” He gasped out. Gazing upon Lith’s frowning face and slow movement, a small frown made its way onto his face. “I heard a rumor that you are feeling a bit blue. Would you mind telling me about it? That is, if you would be willing to.” Lith pushed away her plate and looked into Professor Pasque’s eyes. Glancing upon his exhausted form, a wave of pity washed over her. “Are you sure you want to talk with me right now? You look as though you are about to die from exhaustion at any moment.” She asked with concern in her voice. Professor Pasque blinked and shook his head. “If either of my children is unhappy, then I will crawl even out of my deathbed to assure that I can make them smile. Tell me Lith; what is bothering you today?” “Professor, no wait…” Lith paused in her tone and shook her head. She blinked and exhaled a breath of clarity. “Dad, it feels like everything I am doing is wrong.” Professor Pasque raised his right eye upon hearing Lith’s words. Curiosity stirred within the chambers of his mind. “What do you mean?” “I’m not sure if you knew about this because you were stuck in the lab without much of any outside contact at all, but I’ve been put on probation for getting into a fight with another operative.” Lith explained. Professor Pasque looked into Lith’s eyes and blinked once. A frown of disappointment encroached itself upon his face. “I think I might need to hear more about this story, because you do not do something like that unless if there was something that upset you badly.” “Must I really dad?” Lith asked. Professor Pasque nodded his head with a stern shake, eliciting a forlorn sigh from Lith. “I caught Rainbow Dash and Mono drinking beer. From what I’ve heard from her, she got him to do it.” Hearing Lith’s words, Professor Pasque’s heart sunk into the chambers of his stomach, dissolved within its acids, dived into his intestines and spat back into his chest. “I hoped that was a joke… but you are saying this with a very serious gravity in your tone.” “Yes. I got so angry at Rainbow Dash that I threatened to kill her. Then, she told me in her drunken stupor that I never helped Mono grow up. That was when I lost all rationality and just lashed out.” Lith replied. “Dad, have I grown to be useless?” Professor Pasque’s eyes widened upon the nature of the question. He bolted his eyes shut and shook his head. He closed the distance between his adoptive daughter and looked at her in the eyes with a warm smile. “Whatever made that thought ever come into your mind is lying to you. You are not useless in the slightest. If anything, your time in this world as a Pokémon has given you a renewed purpose and lease in life. If anyone or anything ever makes you feel that way again, then I will be by your side ready to Freeze Dry that threat into submission.” Hearing Professor Pasque’s words, a small smile formed on Lith’s face. She cocked her head and brought her upper paws around Professor Pasque’s head, bringing it close to her with a loving embrace. “I know, and thank you.” She said with a perky tone. She separated from Professor Pasque’s head and looked into his eyes. “Since you aren’t busy for the rest of the day, would you like to come with me over to Fleur De Lis’s home estate today?” “Are you not under probation?” Professor Pasque asked with a hint of worry in his tone. “I am, but I am allowed to leave as long as I have permission from Commander Spitfire. Stereo and Sareid are going to be going with us as well. Fleur says that she has a very important announcement to make for us.” Lith responded. “If that’s the case, then I would love to accompany you. Twilight Sparkle constantly says that I need a break from the lab anyways.” Fleur De Lis walked down an archipelago of squares filled with verdant grasses and large houses. She glanced behind her, gazing towards Lith, Professor Pasque, Stereo and Saraid. A small smile made its way onto her face and she glanced forwards. “It is very nice to have company, especially with two of my friends from H.O.R.S.E. Though, I didn’t expect the extra guests.” She stated. “I promise that I would not get in your way, Miss Fleur.” Sareid responded. “But, I really would love to see samples of your art. If Stereo apprentices under yee, then I expect brilliant works!” “She pestered me to bring her along.” Stereo answered. “And what brings you along for the journey, Professor?” Fleur De Lis asked. Professor Pasque glanced towards the smiling artist and flashed an even-sided smile. “I would feel better if I accompanied my daughter today. She wasn’t feeling in the best of moods as of late.” Fleur De Lis stopped in her tracks and glanced behind her. She gazed into Lith’s eyes, staring towards the parasitic sadness leeching off of her soul. A small frown came upon her face. She continued walking forwards. “I see what you mean, Professor. She has the same look in her eye as I did before I traveled here.” She stated. “Well… maybe that is a bit extreme, but it is somewhat similar.” “Can we please stop talking about me? I just wish to hear the news that you have for Stereo and I.” Lith responded with a despondent tone. Fleur De Lis blinked and glanced towards the ground. “Very well.” The group stepped upon the outside of a three-story house with a black fence topped with spades that surrounded the building. All of the eyes besides Fleur De Lis’s set themselves upon the statues of two alicorns with their heads poised upwards. A fountain of water sprayed from their mouths and dropped into the stone basins below. “Your home is very opulent, Fleur.” Lith said. “I am not too proud of it for that reason.” Fleur De Lis responded. “But, it does provide useful space and storage for work-related supplies.” She pushed the gate open, making a path towards her house. Chiffon stood outside of the house, adorned with a black suit and a dickey. Witnessing Fleur De Lis and the guests walking towards the house, he lowered his head and brought his left front hoof up to his chest with a bow. “Greetings, Miss Fleur and guests.” He greeted with a warm and inviting tone. “You do not need to be so formal around us, Chiffon. Tell me; are our guests inside comfortable?” Fleur De Lis asked. “Certainly. I would not let any of my mistress’s guests be treated without the utmost of care.” Stereo glanced towards Chiffon with an uneasy frown on his face. “Why does Chiffon have to speak as though his life is on the line?” He asked. “I have served in Miss Fleur’s family since her mother was just a filly. Call it a force of habit, but I tend to treat the friends and guests of my mistress and her family with only the utmost of respect and care.” Chiffon responded. “So would that make you more of Fleur’s grandfather figure?” Lith asked. A small smile appeared on Chiffon’s face. Jovial laughter echoed from him. “You are too kind, Lith. I see myself as just a servant of her family. Anything more would be giving me too much credit.” “Anyways.” Fleur De Lis began stating. “You do not want to keep my guests waiting, do you not?” She asked with a smile that exuberated confidence. She pushed the door open, revealing a grand large foyer that scaled two stories alone. The walls are paved with brown-gold wallpaper and red carpeting adorned itself onto the plush blue floors. The Pokémon walked into the interior of the opulent home. Each of them besides Stereo glanced upon the portraits depicting images of white-coated unicorn mares with light red manes dancing alongside pink-coated unicorn stallions with light green manes upon white platforms above the frigid peaks of tall mountains. “These paintings are very exquisite, Miss Fleur. Is there a reason why they are very similar to each other?” Professor Pasque asked with a tone piqued with curiosity. “I like to draw paintings of my parents dancing above the celestial heavens. It allows me to think believe that they are in a better place doing what they loved most with each other; dancing.” Fleur De Lis responded with her voice dipping towards a silent end. “That’s… actually very depressing. I see couples happily dancing upon these platforms above these beautifully-designed backgrounds, but knowing that these are your parents reminded me of the fact that you lost two of the most important ponies in your life.” Saraid critiqued with a small frown on her face. “You do not need to feel sad about the misfortunes of my life, Sareid. My art is fueled by the pain I felt back when I lost my parents. Seeing as how I hid away from the carnage, I felt a bit worthless.” Listening onto Fleur De Lis’s words, a small formed on Lith’s face. “Could we please just see your guests, Fleur? I don’t want to hear about anyone being worthless.” Lith questioned with a hurt and hastened voice. “That is fine, Lith. I have a tendency to rabble about these paintings anyways.” Fleur De Lis responded. The group walked up the stairs that ascended onto a higher level. Taking a left down a hallway, the group came upon a door at the far end of the corridor. Fleur De Lis placed her right front hoof on the knob and turned it, bringing it to an open. Stereo’s eyes widened and his mouth curved into a wide smile; behind the door are two bipedal beagle-like creatures with light brown coats and beret-like appendages upon their head. Like their floppy ears, the rings wrapped around their wrists, ankles and eyes are colored with a darker shade of brown. The two creatures grasped onto the ends of their long tails towards the ground, which were tipped with a green paint-like substance. Single smears of a green three-tipped paw are seen on their backs. Around their necks are two translation necklaces. “Alright Kahlo, how should we paint our next piece of art?” An enthusiastic voice emerged from one of the creatures. One of the creatures, Kahlo, formed a sharp-eyed grin on her face. She glanced towards her companion. “I’d say we go in for a shade of blue similar to the Deep Impact coat on a car for this piece of work, Frida!” She stated with energetic glee. The paint on their tails turned into a dark shade of blue. Both Frida and Kahlo stroked the white canvas below them with a feverish speed and their tongues held out. The group looking into the room glanced at the flurry of changing colors splotching throughout the room, covering it with an artistic mess. Frida and Kahlo stood up from the ground with smiles on their faces. They wiped their heads and looked behind them. Kahlo’s eyes widened with delight. “Is that you, Stereo?!” She shouted. “Kahlo?! Is it really you?!” Stereo responded back. The two Pokémon ran towards each other with gleeful smiles on their face and embraced each other. Lith glanced towards Frida with renewed vigor in her eyes. “Frida?” She asked. “…Lith? Is that you?!” Frida shouted. Lith walked over towards Frida’s side and approached her with a casual gait in her step. “It’s a funny coincidence how you turned into a Smeargle like your partner. When did you come over to Neo Canterlot?” Frida held out her tail and shut her eyes. The smile on her face invigorated itself with artistic vision. “Kahlo and I wandered the primordial plains of the Terraformed Wilderness. We climbed over mountains, leaped over waterfalls and even explored the dankest of caves and forests. The creatures and scenery here are truly amazing, and inspiration flew into my mind like a plane!” She exclaimed. Kahlo split from Stereo and walked over by Frida’s side. Her smile climaxed towards its highest point. “Yep. This world is very stunning so far. We survived off of fruits and some of the smaller creatures we may have killed for sustenance.” Stereo’s eyes widened upon listening to Kahlo’s words. His eyes darted towards the left and right. Anxiety filled his mind and poured out of the pipes around his body. “Did you… actually kill some of the creatures out in the world for food?” He asked. “That’s a joke, Stereo.” Kahlo responded. “We aren’t savages you know.” A sigh of relief and frustration fled from Stereo’s mouth. Fleur De Lis smiled and walked between the two parties of Pokémon. “So my intuition was correct; you all do know each other.” She stated. “Ummm… who are you two?” Saraid asked with her right eye raised in curiosity. “Oh! That’s right. You haven’t met them yet.” Professor Pasque responded. “Saraid, these two Smeargles are known as Frida and Kahlo.” Glancing upon the Aurorus in the room, a smile appeared on Frida’s face. “With a voice that warm, I only know it is you Professor. But yes, my name is Frida and this is my partner Kahlo.” Frida responded. “When we were taken off of the Pokémon world, I was shocked when I found myself in a location that was very alien to me. I was even more shocked when I found Frida as a Pokémon!” Kahlo explained. “The two of us are artists. We happen to have an interest in the natural world and the theory of light. We are employed under Professor Pasque to help explore this theory and see if there are any new types that can be discovered through it.” Frida explained. “We haven’t had much success in that regard, but exploring it gave us a new insight on life and techniques for our art.” Saraid glanced towards the two Smeargles with interest gauged in her eyes. “Please show me the fruits of your research, Frida. It would be a spectacle to witness.” Frida glanced towards Kahlo, who gripped the tip of her tail by the long stock and pointed it upwards towards an indefinite space. Frida followed Kahlo’s example, but pointed her tail towards the wall to the right. The two Smeargles slashed a stroke towards opposing directions. The paint on their tails dropped off in the stroke of the wind and illuminated the room with prismatic sparkling. The group glanced at the shimmering globs of paint with awe in their eyes. “Such beauty… however did you manage that?” Chiffon asked with a voice stunned in awe. “We Smeargles have a special type of paint our body produces that can change colors depending on our emotions. As such, Frida and I devised a theory that this paint-like substance we produce is a light-based compound that we can change at will.” Kahlo explained. “It’s very interesting, but that still doesn’t explain how you ended up coming into this city under the care of Fleur.” Lith said. “It’s simple really; after their long journey across the land, they ended outside of Neo Canterlot. They are stealthier than you would expect, since they managed to sneak inside of the city undetected. That’s when I met them at an exhibit in the art museum and brought them home with me.” Fleur De Lis explained. “And in case if you are wondering about how we got these translation devices, Fleur knows many of the operatives in H.O.R.S.E. She used her influence in the organization to get us these.” Frida responded. Professor Pasque glanced towards Fleur De Lis with eyes surging with caution. Fleur De Lis shut her eyes, smiled and nodded. Professor Pasque set his gaze towards Frida and Kahlo and walked towards their direction. “Frida. Kahlo. I am not sure on your knowledge on the condition of this new world, but this place is the only known settlement of our alien friends. They are desperately fighting against the Van’Goth, trying to survive. Had we not appeared, they would have been devastated a long time ago.” Frida glanced towards Kahlo with an uneasy gaze in her eyes. Kahlo looked towards Frida for a moment and set her sights onto Professor Pasque’s face. “I know what you are going to say, Professor. However, Frida and I are not interested in joining H.O.R.S.E.” She explained. The crowd within the room shot their eyes open and took a step backwards. They glanced towards Frida and Kahlo with shaken nerves. “Is there any particular reason for that, Kahlo?” Professor Pasque asked. “Frida and I are both aware of the purpose of H.O.R.S.E. and how it is meant to preserve the way of living on this planet. However, joining a military organization would only go against our own beliefs. The two of us were from a war-torn region after all…” “Kahlo is right, Professor. I mean no disrespect, but being a part of the local military will only open up some bad wounds for the both of us.” Setting her gaze away from everyone in the room, Frida stated. Saraid glanced towards the frowning Frida and Kahlo and looked towards the other Pokémon. She shut her eyes, held up her right claws and straightened her posture. “We should not make feel any more uncomfortable, Professor. Let us keep our tact and not pursue this issue any further.” She suggested. Frida and Kahlo’s faces widened with smiles. A small frown appeared on Stereo’s face. A silent sigh passed from his mouth, but he forced an uneasy smile. “I… don’t know what to say about that, Kahlo. But, as long as I could still see you around… I guess.” He muttered out. Kahlo grinned and walked towards Stereo. She put her right front hand behind his shoulder and rubbed it with a gentle speed. “Of course I’ll still be around, Stereo. Just because I am not a part of your organization doesn’t mean that I can’t visit from time to time. Of course… I’ll have to try my best to avoid the armory and hangar.” Laughing at the even-toned joke she voiced out, she replied. Her words brought a genuine smile within Stereo’s face. “So… now that we are all here, who wants to see a coalition of artists painting?” Frida asked. “I would want to… but there are some things that I have to take care of first.” With her shoulders shaking with doubt, Lith stated. She shook her head and sprinted away from the room. Fleur De Lis extended her right front hoof out towards Lith’s direction. Her eyelids stood wide open and her mouth hung agape. She glanced towards the rest of the group and blinked her eyes once. “Ummm, please excuse me. I have to talk to Lith. Would you all be kind and stay here while I do that?” Lith’s running slowed down into a calm walk. She glanced around her surroundings and found herself in another hallway towards the opposite side of the room she occupied herself in. She dropped onto her knees and looked down onto the ground. Her eyelids strained, fighting back the urge to cry. In the midst of falling into absolute ruin, her ears perked up at the sound of rushing steps heading towards her direction. She glanced behind her, eyeing Fleur De Lis. “Are you alright, Lith?” Fleur De Lis called out. A frown appeared on Lith’s face and she turned her head back towards the wall. “I cause too much pain to others sometimes, Fleur. Does that make me just a hindrance towards everyone else?” She asked. Fleur De Lis shut her eyes and let out a half-minded sigh. She placed her right front hoof on Lith’s shoulder. “Is there something you wish to tell me Lith?” Lith glanced back towards Fleur De Lis and blinked once. She shook her head. “I’m just… overwhelmed by negativity right now. It seems like every time I help, I always end up screwing with everyone’s lives. Happened with Mono and my parents, then a few nights back and now I want Frida and Kahlo to join us despite messing up their lives even further.” “Lith…” Fleur De Lis responded with a sympathetic voice. “It’s alright, Fleur. I just need some time alone.” Lith requested. Fleur De Lis glanced up towards the wall, where a broadsword with a blade that sparkled in silver and a hilt whose hue is bluer than the depths of the ocean stood mounted upon. A small smile appeared on her face. “Do you have any interest in the art of the sword, Lith?” She asked with a voice containing its enthusiasm. Lith’s eyes widened with curiosity. The feeling of sadness that gripped her heart eased itself with interest entering her mind. A smile appeared on her face. “Of course. You may not have known this, but I have talked to several people who wielded swords when they passed through Opelucid City. Plus, the commander is teaching me how to wield laser blades right now too. Why do you ask?” “Look in front of you; this sword has been passed down by my family for generations since my great-great-great grandmother from my mother’s side first wielded it. It is a powerful blade forged from Orichalcum and Dragonstone Ore. It was said to have been enchanted by Clover the Clever herself as a gift of friendship to my ancestor.” Fleur De Lis explained. Lith brought her right front paw over to the blade and rubbed it along its sleek metal. A satisfied smile appeared on her face. “Can I hold it?” She asked. Fleur De Lis’s eyes darted towards her left and right. Her mouth contorted into a mix of puzzlement and concern. “The sword itself is a bit unusual. The pony who enchanted it made it so that only a very few select can actually wield it. I am not sure if you would be able to wield it, Lith.” She reasoned. “Well, that’s a bummer.” With a dejected frown on her face, Lith responded. “And it looked like such a cool sword to wield as well.” Fleur De Lis’s ears perked up at the sound of hoofsteps striding down the hallway. She turned her head and set her sights on a lime green-coated unicorn mare with a burgundy and pink-striped mane that twisted down towards the back of her neck. Her blue eyes flashed with a sinister aura. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the heir to the rivaling family, Fleur. How have you been doing?” She asked with a conceited and unnerving tone. Fleur De Lis’s eyes narrowed into enraged slants and her mouth shrunk with high gravity. “I did not invite you over my home, Gemstone Wish. I will give you the opportunity for you to explain your presence here before I contact the authorities.” She demanded. Gemstone Wish’s horn flashed with a deep blue light. A cube that contained Professor Pasque, Stereo, Frida, Kahlo and Chiffon locked up within blue chains flashed itself before the eyes of Fleur De Lis and Lith. Both Lith and Fleur De Lis’s stances faltered at the sight of their loves ones struggling within the boundaries of the chains and grunting. “I would say that I did not expect any company for you, but that would imply that I did not know any better. As for my reasoning here, I simply just want you dead.” Gemstone Wish responded. “Dead?! Why do you want her dead?!” With a scowl on her face, Lith shouted. “You may or may not know this, but Fleur belong to one of the most influential families in Canterlot prior to the invasion. My family was always second banana to her family.” Clenching her teeth and clicking her tongue, Gemstone Wish explained. “My family always lamented about being beaten by this wench’s family for generations! It made me very upset!” Fleur De Lis raised her left hoof into the air and lowered it down. “Calm down, Gemstone. Our titles no longer mean anything in this city. You still have your wealth, so please return home.” She said with a cautious tone. “I don’t care about whether I have my wealth or not! What I want is to repay all of the humiliation that your family had given to me for these past generations!” Gemstone Wish’s horn shot out a blue shockwave that enveloped the room. The brilliant sparkles of Fleur De Lis’s horn and the kinetic aura around Lith’s body vanished. Their eyes widened with panic. “What was that?!” Lith shouted. “A spell that I’ve learned just for this occasion. It’s a spell that nullifies all sorts of energy within its field of effect. That includes magical AND whatever energy you xenos use.” Gemstone Wish explained. Lith growled and lifted her right front paw towards Gemstone Wish’s direction. She felt not a surge of electricity travel through her paw. Her blood chilled. Gemstone Wish strutted towards Fleur De Lis’s direction and rammed her right front leg into the artist’s neck, pushing her against the wall. Fleur De Lis grunted and narrowed her eyes under strain. “Get away from Fleur!” Lith shouted with a threatening tone. Gemstone Wish turned her head towards Lith’s direction and flashed a nonchalant smile. She pulled out a gray-bladed knife from below her left front hoof and held it towards Fleur De Lis’s head. “You do not have much say in this, you xeno. If you try anything, then pretty Miss Fleur here meets with a sharp death.” Lith glanced towards the blade hung upon the wall. Her eyes filled with the flames of determination and she curled her left upper paw into a ball. She leaped over Fleur De Lis and Gemstone Wish and grabbed the blade above them. With the descending force of gravity above her, she swung the sword down towards Gemstone Wish. Gemstone Wish’s eyes shot open and her jaw dropped in astonishment. Feeling the slice of the sword split her horn, her throat gagged any potential noise that attempted to escape. Her knife dropped onto the ground and she took a step back from her position. Lith pointed the blade of her sword close towards Gemstone Wish’s face and between her eyes. “There is more where that came from. Try to hurt any of my family or friends again and I will split more than just your horn in half.” She threatened. Gemstone Wish glanced towards her left, where the energy that contained her prisoners vanished. She hung her head low and frowned with defeat. Lith sat in the cafeteria by Stereo and Saraid’s sides. Saraid patted Lith’s right shoulder with an enthusiastic smile on her face. “Thanks for saving us, Lith. Yer heroism is something to be admired!” She commended. “I mean, it wasn’t that special. All I did was just grab a sword and disarm a dangerous criminal. Anyone in my situation would have done that.” Lith spoke with humble wording. “Not true, Lith. Others who would have been in your position would have frozen up! I know I would have.” Stereo injected. “You are much more important than you think you are.” Lith’s eyes widened at the passing of Stereo’s words. A smile of blooming confidence crawled over her mouth. “You… you aren’t just saying that, are you?” “Listen Lith; that crazy unicorn had us chained good! If you weren’t there, then everything would have ended grim.” Saraid reasoned. “Fleur would have been dead and we would have been locked up somewhere away from society.” The trio of Pokémon heard a series of quadruped steps approaching their direction. They turned their heads towards the source of the noise, where they gazed upon the visage of a smiling Spitfire. “I heard what happened from Fleur. I have to congratulate you on a job well-done, Lith.” She said. “It was an honor to save a life, Commander. But, what’s going to happen with Gemstone Wish now?” Lith stated. “Knowing how Neo Canterlot handles this sort of thing, she’s more than likely going to get executed under the law.” Stereo and Saraid’s hearts stopped upon the drop of Spitfire’s words. “E-e-executed?” They both said in unison. “Of course! What else do you think happens to any perpetrators? Lith and Rainbow Dash would have been executed had Rundas and I not pulled certain strings.” Spitfire explained. A forlorn frown appeared on Stereo’s face. He shook his head of all the doubts in his mind. “Wow… I know that attempted murder is a felony, but execution right off the bat? How disgusting.” Stereo murmured out. “I’m a bit shocked that even a common criminal would be executed here. Considering my history, I’m not surprised about the thoughts of execution. But still… don’t you think that’s a bit excessive?” Saraid asked aloud. Spitfire’s smile dropped into a concerned frown. She shook her head and gazed towards Stereo and Saraid with pleading eyes. “I didn’t make the rules. I actually agree with you on that stance. But… we can’t afford to have any sort of rebellion in this city. You noticed how this is the only bastion against the Van’Goth, right? Take a guess what happens when this city is split against itself.” “…We lose?” Stereo asked with uncertainty in his voice. “Exactly. Though the methods are very extreme, they are effective with keeping everyone united under one goal.” A sad sigh flew past Saraid’s mouth. Saraid looked towards Spitfire and forced an uneasy smile on her face. “Well… as long as it is to keep everyone safe.” Spitfire glanced towards Lith, who glanced towards the conversing party with interested eyes. “Lith, did you know that Fleur De Lis sent you a parcel as thanks for saving her life? Professor Pasque has your present.” “Wait… he does?!” Lith leaped over the table and sprinted out of the cafeteria, leaving the operatives behind her. Lith sprinted into the courtyard with an excited smile on her face. Her eyes met with Professor Pasque’s shape standing beside the tree in the center of the area. Her running slowed down into a walk. “Professor!” She called out. Professor Pasque’s eyes met with Lith. A smile appeared on his face. “Lith! I have a package here for you. I think you will like its contents.” He kicked a silver box towards Lith, pushing it along the ground. Lith looked upon the package with curious eyes. She lifted the top portion of the box off, revealing a sword very familiar to her alongside a note. “This is Fleur’s family heirloom! I can’t take this.” She stated. “Read the note inside.” Professor Pasque urged. Lith picked up the note inside of the box with her upper right paw and read its message: Dear Lith From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for saving my life. You truly are more of a hero than you think you are. I understand that this gift may be a bit overwhelming for you to offer, but this blade calls out to you. I know that you will take good care of it, just as you have taken good care of all the others whose destiny are intertwined with yours. I hope I can count on you to be my bodyguard in the future. After all, previous bodyguards other than my loving Chiffon do not have the power to hold to their word. With Love, Fleur De Lis “It seems as though this sword deems me worthy of being able to wield it. Plus, Fleur De Lis invited me to become her bodyguard.” Lith announced. Her smile extended towards the far reaches of her face. “She actually considers me worthy enough to be her bodyguard…” Her paw containing the letter drooped down to her hips. A void of disbelief inserted itself within the pupils of her eyes. A smile appeared on Professor Pasque’s face. He lifted his right front foot from the ground, revealing a blueprint that displayed the outline of a mecha. “Lith, there was something else I wanted to tell you; with the help of Professor Gentian and Flash Sentry, I have been working on schematics for an exo that is personally tailored to you. I want it to fit your competitive ability out in the field.” He explained. Lith glanced down towards the schematics of the exo and gazed upon its armored features. “It’s very interesting… but why would you want to build a personal exo for me? I mean, doesn’t that take up a lot of time from other research angles?” “Yes it does, but I don’t really care. I’m also building one for Mono as well, but I want to create yours first. I want you to have nothing but the utmost of protective armors so that I can keep you safe without having to be immediately by your side.” Professor Pasque answered. “I’m not sure what to say, Professor.” Lith said. She leaped towards Professor Pasque’s neck and embraced it with her upper paws. Feeling her warm fur plop against the flesh of his neck, Professor Pasque smiled and wrapped his neck around her body. Gemstone Wish’s eyes opened up, bringing her forth into a darkened world with only a lamp light hanging above her head. She moved her hooves, but felt her body restrained. She looked down onto her body and gazed upon her form bound by ropes. She felt a slab of metal behind her back. She struggled and grunted. “Come on… move!” She shouted. She focused energy along the tip of her horn, but it fizzled away. Her eyes glanced towards her horn, where she gazed upon its split form. A frown of despair hung around her head. Her ears tuned in towards the sound of bipedal steps approaching the lone chamber she stayed in. The noise of a metallic door opening and shutting made its way towards her. The figure hidden behind the cloak of darkness made its way underneath the light of the lamp and revealed itself under the form of Saraid. Saraid’s face formed a grin that sent chills down Gemstone Wish’s spine. “Y-y-you’re that xeno from Fleur’s home. What are you doing here?!” She shouted. Saraid brought her right set of claws underneath Gemstone Wish’s jaw and raised it to the point where both their eyes met. “I was a bit surprised when I heard that committing any crime would lead to a death sentence. But… I also found out that anyone can also be an executioner if they have knowledge of the crime. I have to say that it was very embarrassing for you to catch my friends and I off-guard like that. So, I want to pay back the favor.” She said with a dark tone filled with glee. Gemstone Wish’s stomach filled with icy maggots wriggling their way through its walls. Saraid’s left set of claws lit up with a ghastly shade of purple. With it, she jabbed an exposed portion of flesh upon Gemstone Wish’s abdomen. Gemstone Wish cried out in pain from the strike. Feeling Saraid lift her claws away from her body, a wave of illness befell Gemstone Wish’s organs. “What… what did you do there?!” With her voice strained from the poison clamping onto her body, she asked. “Poison Jab. Like the name says, I punch you with a poisonous punch that will slowly drain away your life force. Sooner or later, you will end up being nothing but a putrid corpse due to the bacteria consuming your body right now.” Saraid explained. “You can’t leave me like that! If you are going to execute me, then you have to follow the proper conduct!” Gemstone Wish pleaded. “I’m not that merciful. But… I think I will enjoy our time together.” Chuckling with a dark aura underneath her breath, Saraid responded. “tá tú réidh le haghaidh do bháis?” “Excuse me?!” With a nervous and confused tone, Gemstone Wish asked. “I said ‘Are you ready for your death?’” Yellow pollen floated down from Saraid’s cap head and onto her claws. She jabbed both of her claws onto more exposed flesh around the torso of Gemstone Wish’s body. Gemstone Wish gagged from the force of the viral strikes assaulting her vital points. She felt stinging pain surge throughout her entire body. “Please…. Stop!” She pleaded. “Now why would I do that? The fun has just only begun.” Saraid stated. A white-coated earth pony stallion with a red mane and a black-coated unicorn stallion with a blue mane both garbed in white stood outside of the execution chamber. Their eyes shot open from the screams of pure horror coming from the room behind them. Their stances faltered. “What is that Pokémon doing to her?!” The white-coated stallion asked. “I don’t know, but I want no part of it!” The black-coated stallion answered. The white stallion let out a worried sigh. “I hate my job.” Saraid glanced upon Gemstone Wish’s beaten body. Glancing upon her victim’s heavy breathing and her body discolored from bruising and cellular degeneration, a sadistic grin appeared on her face. “Please stop… I’ll do anything!” Gemstone Wish pleaded. “I love it when my victims plead for their lives. It gives a certain sense of… sásamh. I’ve never felt like this in a very long time. So, I think I’ll keep doing this.” Saraid stated. She jabbed Gemstone Wish’s neck with another Poison Jab. Gemstone Wish uttered out a choking noise. She felt her throat’s muscles clench themselves with inflammation. “It hurts… it hurts…” She murmured out. Saraid glanced upon Gemstone Wish’s body, where the bruised areas swelled with bacteria and blood. “You know what? I think I will sit over there now. Your bruises are going to explode from a buildup of pathogens inside of it anytime now.” “You’re cruel! You are a cold-hearted monster!” Gemstone Wish called out. “It takes a monster to know a monster. Out of the monsters between us, at least I use my skills to protect others. That is why I feel nothing but joy about hurting another monster.” Saraid responded. Gemstone Wish’s consciousness blurred between the planes of reality and death. She glanced upon Saraid’s wicked smile. Seeing Gemstone Wish’s festering wounds swelling to unstable levels, Saraid’s tail lit up and coated itself in iron. She leaped into the air and smashed her steeled tail into Gemstone Wish’s head. Feeling all of the viral explosions upon her body and Saraid’s Iron Tail smash into her skull, Gemstone Wish’s consciousness faded away. The body spasmed from the sudden shock and then limped down onto the rope bindings. With a splatter of blood on her tail, torso and claws, Saraid glanced upon her kill with glee. “Well, I guess now I should call in the cleanup squad.” She said with morbid joy. Author's Note Blame Xenoblade Chronicles X for the time it took for this to come out. So anyways, it looks like Lith has a renewed destiny, Professor Pasque is working on more stuff, two more characters have been shown and Saraid harbors some dark air underneath her regal aura. Today was a good day.
Blood on the SandFei sat down on wood-patterned mat in a squatting position. His hands pressed against his thighs and his eyes shut themselves. His chest rose back and forth with the passing motion of a wave. His head tilted down towards the floor, and his focus became absolute. “Hey Fei!” Hovering near his airspace, Rondo called out with an enthusiastic tone. Fei’s concentration broke from the Chatot’s words. He clenched his teeth and looked towards Rondo’s direction. “I am a bit busy with meditation right now, Rondo. But, do you need anything from me?” Fei asked. Rondo nestled his talons onto the ground and looked upon Fei’s face. “I hope you don’t mind, but I want to watch you meditate.” Rondo requested. Fei rolled his eyes with half of his mouth lifted with anxiety. “That is an odd request.” “I know, but everyone else is busy and Councilman Carapace isn’t hosting any shows in Club Chitin right now. I have nothing else better to do.” Rondo explained. Fei brought his right hand to the edge of his jaw and stroked the bottom of his head. A dull hum emerged from him. “A problem… I guess you can stay and watch me meditate. I won’t be doing much though.” He responded. Rondo bent his knees down onto the ground, perching his legs underneath his feathers. He sat and gazed upon Fei with an enthusiastic facial expression. “I’ll be here as quiet as possible, Fei. Don’t you worry about a thing.” Fei centered his neck and inhaled a deep breath of air. He released it from his mouth and shut his eyes. Fei’s watch beeped with a loud noise, eliciting a sharp wince from him. He loosened out his legs and stood up onto his feet. He glanced down upon his watch and pressed it. A hologram of Spitfire’s head appeared over it. “Fei, are you available right now?” Spitfire asked. “I was doing some meditation, but I guess I can help.” Breathing out an exasperated sigh, Fei responded. “I apologize in advance if I disturbed your meditation session, but almost all of H.O.R.S.E. is busy handling other missions and this mission requires all operatives with a license to pilot an exo.” Spitfire explained. Fei narrowed his eyes and a deep frown carved itself over his mouth. He steeled his chin and glared into Spitfire’s eyes. “…Seriously?” “Look, I know that you hate mechas in general. After all, they somewhat damaged your familial life. However, I really need you to come through for me, Fei. There is a Pokémon out in the Desert of Forgotten Souls that needs your help right now.” Spitfire said. Fei’s eyes steeled with a casting of intentness. He straightened out his mouth. “I will be right there, Commander. Will I be getting some help on this mission?” “You’ll get the only other operative with an exo license who isn’t busy right now. Time is of the essence right now!” With these words, Spitfire’s hologram disappeared from Fei’s watch. Rondo, who glanced upon the conversation between Fei and Spitfire, grinned and flew towards the height of Fei’s head. “Ohhh! Can I join?!” He asked. Fei’s eyes darted from the right and to the left. He glanced upon Rondo’s form with a soft gaze. “I’m sorry, Rondo, but you don’t have an exo license of your own. Spitfire made it clear that this is a mission that is only for exo pilots.” “Aww come on! Can’t I at least ride in the same cockpit as you?” Rondo urged. Fei’s fortitude wavered underneath Rondo’s pleading words. He breathed through his nostrils and smiled with a half-hearted attempt. “Well… alright. After all, what’s the worst that can happen?” Two light brown exos flew along the level of the ground through waves of sand whipped up within the channels of the airflow. Fei glanced towards a yellow bar and the percentage numbers on the hologram of his cockpit lowering. “Wow, this exo’s energy levels are depleting at a faster rate than normal!” Pointing towards the energy readings, Rondo noted. “I knew that though. This sandstorm is much more intense than the ones back in our world after all.” Fei stated. A hologram of Flash Sentry’s image in a cockpit displayed itself upon Fei’s monitor. A confident smile appeared on his face. “Having trouble there, Fei?” Flash Sentry asked with a cheerful tone. “No. I’m doing fine.” Shaking his head and wearing a smile on his face, Fei responded. “So how is Inge doing on your end?” Inge jumped out of Flash Sentry’s seat and into Fei and Rondo’s view. She waved her right upper limb with an energetic motion. “Don’t worry Fei and Rondo. We’ll make sure that Pokémon comes to Neo Canterlot in safe hands.” She stated. “That’s reassuring to hear. Considering how close most of the people are at my former place of occupation, that Pokémon is a very good friend.” Fei stated. The sonar screen in both exo cockpits’ external viewing picked up a red blip, bringing a smile to Fei and Flash Sentry. The sonar shockwave extended farther into its range, revealing a horde of purple blips closing in towards the red blip. Their smiles flipped into open-mouthed frowns. “Ummm… that’s not good.” Flash Sentry murmured out. “What’s not good?” Rondo asked. Inge groaned and smacked her forehead. “Didn’t you absorb any information when it comes to radars, Rondo?! We have a special color designation for those blips approaching our target; they are the Van’Goth!” She explained. “Oh shoot! That is bad!” Rondo shouted. “Why are they going after that Pokémon?!” Fei’s eyes narrowed with determination. He rolled his hand on the booster, causing the boosters ejecting blue fires on his exo to blast into overdrive. Flash Sentry’s eyes widened with surprise. “Hey! Wait up for me!” A gray-coated hyena-like creature with tufts of black fur along his back, legs and tail hopped away from a line of incoming fire in a zig-zag pattern. He looked behind him with his red and yellow eyes, which radiated with high levels of tension. A heavy-armored mecha breached through the walls of the sandstorm and hovered towards the hyena-like creature’s direction. Goethia glanced out of the cockpit of the mecha and chucked with a sadistic smile plastered over her face. “Awww, the poor doggy doesn’t want to play?” She asked with a taunting tone. “What is up with you crazy aliens?! Can’t you see that I am still getting a bearing for my surroundings?! It’s not easy being a Mightyena trapped in a desert you know!” The Mightyena responded with an aggravated tone. Goethia’s mecha fired a laser from its visor that shot a patch of sand within the immediate front of the Mightyena’s direction. Taking a step back, the Mightyena’s eyes widened. He looked behind him and glanced upon the mecha’s jet black armor with fear wriggling into his heart. “Oh! It seems you are listening now! Be a good boy and come with us. We will take special care of you.” Goethia stated. “First you kill my partner and then you want to take me alive to that hellhole home of yours? Is there no end to your malicious actions?” The Mightyena roared back. Goethia glanced towards her holographic dashboard and tapped a series of buttons upon it. Cryptic characters wrote themselves out before her very eyes. She smiled. “So that sand hippo is something you called your partner? It looked like it wanted to die, so we put it out of its misery for you.” The Mightyena scowled and lunged towards Goethia’s mecha. He bit into the mecha’s left arm by the elbow. The mecha shook off the Mightyena with one spasm of its arm. The Mightyena landed on his feet and glared into the mecha’s visor with a hurt heart. “It’s clear that you and your kind do not have a heart if you do not care about the bonds that Sahara and I shared with each other. So why should I care about the endeavors of your kind?!” “I do not care if you do not care for our endeavors, Pokémon! You will come with me, whether you like it or not!” Goethia announced. “And what if I do not? Will you trap me in that deathtrap you call your ass?” The Mightyena responded with a snide tone. Red lasers from behind the sandstorm’s wall aimed towards the Mightyena. A maelstrom of whines reverberated from the sharp winds behind the walls. “You are in no position to make jokes. After all, I have you surrounded by potential gunfire and a natural cyclone.” Goethia responded. “Now, be a good doggy and submit to me.” A storm of blue lasers fired from above Goethia’s mecha and into the back of its head. The mecha glanced back and detected the mechas of Fei and Flash Sentry. Goethia grimaced from the confines of her cockpit. The Mightyena smirked. “It looks like you have some competition for me.” He stated. The two mechas breached through the walls of the sandstorm and descended upon the ground. A holographic image of Fei’s visage appeared before the Mightyena. “Don’t be afraid. We are here to save you.” Fei responded. “That voice… is that you, Fei?” The Mightyena asked with a voice filled casual excitement. “Pierre! It is you! I was worried that we wouldn’t find you.” Goethia’s smile exuded an unearthly chill that could be felt by everyone around the area. “Ummm… why did we just all shudder in unison?” Rondo asked with creeping uncertainty rising in his voice. Goethia’s mecha rushed towards Pierre and grabbed him by his left hind leg. The mecha held him high above the air with a tenacious grip on his ankle. “H-Hey! Let go of me!” Swinging his way out of Goethia’s grip, Pierre shouted. “Let him go! You’re causing him unnecessary stress!” Fei stated. Goethia’s mecha squeezed Pierre’s ankle, eliciting a yelp from the Mightyena’s upside-down mouth. Inge fired herself out of the mecha and fired a Zap Cannon from her beak that aimed towards Goethia’s mecha. The ball of electricity collided with the mecha, causing it to drop Pierre onto the sand. Inge stared towards Goethia with a raging fire burning in her eyes. “I am not going to let you hurt a Pokémon, filthy scum! I’ve already witnessed masses of Pokémon dying before my eyes and I will not let it happen again!” She shouted with a passionate voice. “Oh? Is that true?” Goethia asked with a cheerful voice that sent shivers down everyone’s spines. “You know, all I wanted to do was capture this Pokémon here. But considering you said that you witnessed masses of Pokémon dying beforehand and you are all opposing me, what would seeing one more Pokémon die before your eyes do for you?” The hearts of Fei, Rondo, Flash Sentry and Inge froze upon hearing Goethia’s words. Their pupils shrunk and his posture stoned into that of a statue. “No… don’t you even dare!” Inge demanded. A swarm of spherical drones broke through the walls of the sandstorm and surrounded Pierre. Slender barrels broke out of their lower hemispheres and pointed themselves towards Pierre. Pierre glanced upon the cannons with fear growing out of his heart and choking his arteries. “I will give you two choices; either leave right now and let me complete my mission, or interfere and watch him die. I will give you ten seconds to decide.” Goethia proposed. “I… I…” Fei murmured out with despair in his voice. “Come on Fei! Don’t let this hag get to you!” Flash Sentry stated. “A hag?! Who are you calling a hag, boy?!” Goethia shouted in disgust. “Who else? You are the definition of a hag that tries to hide behind advanced alien cosmetics! I bet without it, you look like some washed-up prostitute who was used one too many times.” Pounding on the left bar of his seat, Flash Sentry answered. Goethia growled and stared death towards Flash Sentry’s exo. She aimed the left arm of her mecha towards his direction. Upon seeing the exo of Fei’s stance shift towards Pierre’s direction, clarity filled her mind. A smile appeared on her face. “Ah… I see what your plan is now. Trying to rill me up so I would forget about the hostage situation. You do realize what this means for your friend, right?” She stated with a straight tone. Hearing the words come from her mouth, Fei’s exo and Inge dashed towards Pierre with all of their possible speed. Fei ejected himself from the chest of the exo’s cockpit, throwing him towards Pierre’s direction. Goethia’s mecha held out its right arm and had its open palm directed towards the ground. Both Inge and Fei dropped to the sand, rendered unable to move. The two looked upon with a helpless gaze towards the drones charging their lasers. A small frown appeared on Pierre’s face. He shut his eyes and gritted his teeth. The swarm of drones littered the circular area Pierre lied upon with a storm of lasers, kicking up a storm of sand, wind and aroma of charring flesh. Rondo and Flash Sentry gazed upon the smoldering ground with eyes wide in disbelief and jaws dropped in shock. The smoke cleared away, revealing a charred Pierre who breathed out very shallow breaths. Goethia lifted away the gravity. Fei and Inge crawled off the ground into a sprint and approached Pierre’s side. Fei clamped both of his hands around Pierre’s right front foot. “Pierre! Are you alright?!” He asked with a panicking tone. Pierre moved his head up towards Fei’s direction, where only a silhouette of the Mienshao’s form became visible to his eyes. His ears rung with an insatiable noise, but his hearing absorbed Fei’s words. He moved his left front foot down towards a gaping wound on his chest, feeling a sticky liquid submerge its open pathway. “Fei… I’m not… gonna… make it…” He muttered out with an expiring breath. Fei leaned in towards Pierre’s face and squeezed his the foot between his hands in worry. “Don’t say that! You’ll make it! There are really good doctors available at H.O.R.S.E. that will patch you up in no problem!” With a breaking voice, he pleaded. Pierre smiled and shot out a violent cough, where blood mixed with his spit and hit the sand beneath his snout. “I’m… not too sure… what you said… but it feels like… you have hope.” He gasped out. “Fei… it’s over for me… I have nothing else to live for. They killed Pitfall… and I’ve experienced hell here for months. At the very least… I finally got to see… someone else from the lab... who’s an awesome friend.” Fei’s breathing palpitated and burned with anxiety. His eyes streamed with rivers of tears. “We can still get you help, Pierre! Please, do not depart with the spirits just yet! Hold on!” “…Fei? If you ever see the Professor… Give him this.” Pierre reached into his wound with his left front foot and pulled out a cylinder-shaped stone from it. With his eyes wincing from the burst of pain that emerged, he pushed it towards Fei. “What’s… what’s this?” Fei asked. “Tell him… to open it… It is… for his… res…” Blindness set within Pierre’s eyes. His heart stopped and his breathing ceased. His head fell on the sand and his body spasmed for a moment. Fei glanced down upon Pierre’s body and shook it with their upper limbs. “Pierre? Pierre?!” Fei shouted with panic. Inge shut her eyes and bowed her head. She brought her right upper limb over Pierre’s eyes and brought his eyelids to a close. “He’s gone Fei.” She stated with a crestfallen tone. “There’s nothing more that we can do.” Fei brought his hands upon Pierre’s shoulders and shook him with intense force. “Pierre! Pierre!” He shouted. He kneeled down towards the ground and dammed the rivers flowing out of his eyes with his bloodstained hands. His vision distorted and his sinuses swelled up. “Why…?!” He whined out amidst his tears. A dark chuckle emanated from Goethia’s tone. “It sounded like you were very close to this thing, weren’t you? Don’t worry; you will see him soon enough when I personally send you to the gates of Hell. Before I do however, maybe you would enjoy me stomping over that weed you cared for?” Goethia pointed the index finger of the mecha’s right arm towards Pierre’s corpse and clenched its fist. The drones that surrounded the trio fired a storm of lasers that pelted against the dead Pokémon. Anger set itself within Fei’s heart. His ventricles pumped brimstone into his blood. His vision showed the world around him with monochromatic colors. The storm of lasers slowed down towards a halt and everything became silent. Fei clenched his teeth and his tranquil eyes became red with fury. A primordial scream shouted from his lungs. He leaped on top of each of the sphere drones and smashed his palms through their upper hemispheres, destroying them all one after the other within a blink of an eye. Goethia glanced upon Fei, whose quadruped stance shook with fierce anger reverberating from every cell within his body. “It seems that you destroyed my droids with no problem. Are you truly that angry over the death and abuse of your fallen comrade, Pokémon?” She said with a teasing voice. “Hell is too good of a place for a demoness bitch like you! I will tear out your entrails and feast upon them as I watch you beg for mercy!” Fei shouted with a demonic tone. Inge stood by Fei’s side. Her eyes lit up with dark determination and she planted her single lower limb into the ground. A black aura enveloped itself around her body, filling the field with pressure. “Your life is forfeited. Pick a god and pray!” She shouted with a booming voice. Flash Sentry glanced upon his two partners down upon the field. Glancing upon their beastly stances, expressions and the dark auras exuding from their bodies, fear wriggled into his heart. “Is this… something normal for Pokémon to do, Rondo?” He asked with an unnerved tone. “No…” Rondo asked with anxiety rising in his tone. “I have never seen any Pokémon act like this outside of any move like Thrash or Outrage, and even then they wouldn’t lose that much control over their emotions. I seriously don’t know what’s going on in those two!” Fei leaped off of the ground and towards Goethia’s mecha. His hands and feet coated themselves with a violent red energy. He extended his hands towards the mecha and triggered its electrical shield. Feeling the electricity course through his veins, a feral roar shot out from Fei’s mouth. He tore through the electrical shield and shattered it. Goethia took a step back and glanced upon the feral Fei with her mouth dropping in surprise. “You broke this shield?! Impossible!” She shouted. Inge leaped over Fei’s back and steeled her lower limb in iron. She smashed it against the visor of Goethia’s mecha. The mecha staggered backwards and glared at the two Pokémon in front of it. Fei leaped above Inge and cupped his hands towards his right side. A red Aura Sphere formed between his hands. He fired it towards Goethia’s mecha, knocking it over. “Now Flash! Finish her!” Fei shouted with a desperate tone. “You don’t even have to ask!” Flash Sentry responded. Flash Sentry’s exo fired a swarm of missiles from a rocket silo on its back, all of which flew towards Goethia’s direction. The missiles exploded on contact, bursting out with fiery explosion upon fiery explosion that engulfed the arena. The embers scattered throughout the battlefield and smoke blocked away the sunlight, encasing the location with a violent hue of red. Fei and Inge walked through the tongues of flames scattered throughout the field. Their scowls of hatred exuded a grim darkness that radiated from the surrounding area. Fei’s ears perked up at the sound of metal moving amidst sand and flames. He bore the left side of his teeth and growled. “We aren’t done yet.” Goethia’s mecha flew upwards from the ashes and sand above it. Light blue beams forming into claws shout out from the fingertips of the mecha that shot out half the length of its arms. “Quite a bold set of moves you tried using against me. However, it didn’t work nearly as well as you would hope.” Goethia stated. Her mecha warped in front of Flash Sentry’s exo. Lifting the beam claws into the air, it slashed Flash Sentry’s exo across its chest. Flash Sentry winced and gripped the arms of his seat. He glanced towards his energy bars, where the gauge decreased by more than half. “One more attack like that and I’m toast. Rondo! Help!” He called out. “Me? Help?! I don’t know how to operate one of these exos!” Looking down upon the controls in the cockpit with his eyes darting back and forth, Rondo responded. “Just… help!” Feeling the claws of Goethia’s mecha sending shockwaves into his cockpit, Flash Sentry demanded. Fei glanced towards Inge and towards his exo. He sprinted towards the open cockpit and leaped upon its flooring. He glanced back towards Inge and waved his hand in a directory fashion. “I know just how we can power that exo.” The cockpit closed and the exo stood up from the ground. Inge zapped her way into the systems of Fei’s exo. Feeling the electricity of Inge’s bonding with his exo, Fei gritted his teeth and gripped his seat. A red aura surged from his body and into the exo. The armor of the exo broke off, revealing a slender frame with a red, magenta and black body. Butterfly-shaped boosters formed itself upon the exo’s back and exuded light green flares. Flash Sentry and Goethia glanced towards the direction of Fei’s exo. Upon seeing the new frame burst from the old exo, their jaws dropped. “W-what? How is that possible?!” Flash Sentry shouted. “Exos should not have another entire frame inside of their systems!” With orange spines forming off of its ankles and upper portions of its new boosters, the exo took its first steps out of the smoldering fires around it. The flames of the area wrapped around its fists, setting them on fire. Goethia’s mecha ran towards the new exo and thrust a punch towards its direction with its right fist. The exo lifted its fiery hand and grasped the fist of Goethia’s mecha. It squeezed the mecha’s fist and pulverized it. “This… this mecha… what is it?!” With fear protruding from her voice, Goethia shouted. The exo’s body flashed with a brilliant red. It launched its right burning fist onto the head of Goethia’s mecha, obliterating it. Its left foot encased itself in fire and launched into the hip of the opposing mecha. Sending it flying into the air, the boosters on the fiery exo’s back flared up. It dashed into the air at a breakneck pace. It lifted its fiery fist into the air and struck the mecha with a rising uppercut. Goethia’s mecha shattered into a mirage of fragments, leaving only its pilot suspended in the air. Goethia flipped backwards and fell down towards the ground upon her feet. She glanced towards the exo in the sky, whose frame radiated with the heat of the angel of vengeance. She scowled and growled. “I can’t believe that another mecha has that much power… I need to retreat now.” Stating these words, she tapped a button on a golden bracelet on her left hand, warping her away from the area within a beam of yellow light. The red in Fei’s eyes disappeared and his sanity regained itself. The brilliant red color on his exo’s frame vanished into a jet black color. The flames around its body dissipated. The exo lowered down towards the ground. The flames of the area died out, revealing the desert setting in its clear view. Pierre’s corpse broke into a stream of light particles and vanished from the area. Flash Sentry hopped out from what remained of his exo and dashed towards Fei’s exo. Fei, Inge and Rondo all hopped out of the exo and met with Flash Sentry. “That was amazing!” Flash Sentry exclaimed. “I never knew such a thing was possible!” “You know what? I never want to ride in an exo again if that’s the kind of thing that will be happening.” Rondo complained. Fei shut his eyes and breathed out a clear sigh. “Please forgive me for that, Rondo.” He apologized. “I would say that was cool… but…” Inge voiced out with a worried tone. “We lost a life, and Fei turned into such a monstrous being. When the two of us were bonded together in your exo, I saw what was in your mind.” Fei shook his head and brought the palm of his left hand towards the top of his head. A frown appeared on his face. “And I thought I was doing a good job with keeping it intact.” “‘It’?!” Flash Sentry and Rondo both said in unison. “It’s too soon to begin explaining in-depth on this strange occurrence. All I can say is that the members of my bloodline have some… horrible experiences with regarding mental trauma.” Fei revealed with a shaken tone. Flash Sentry frowned and glanced towards the spot where Pierre’s corpse used to rest upon. He blinked his eyes with a forlorn motion. “Pierre was very close to you, wasn’t he?” He asked. “Pierre and I go back fifteen years ago. He was originally a resident of the Kalos region, but moved to the Unova region to pursue the Unovan Dream. Because of our low incomes at the time, our families both met in the Mistralton City Cargo Airport and immediately bonded, especially after discussing our dreams of coming here.” Fei explained. “That long ago, huh? Then I guess it wasn’t a coincidence that the two of you ended up in the same lab together.” Rondo stated. “It definitely doesn’t feel like that. Outside of the small pocket change we had, we both had our partners; I had Sophia back when she was an Eevee and he had a Hippopotas named Pitfall. Pierre and Pitfall both were inseparable.” Inge glanced towards Fei and scratched her head with worry. “Pierre mentioned something about the Van’Goth killing Pitfall… no wonder he looked so depressed on top of his malnourished body.” She said. Fei’s eyes pointed towards Inge with interest gauged towards her. “Was his malnourishment that notable?” He asked. Inge nodded her head. “His mass was much less than that of a healthy Mightyena's, especially around the abdomen. I’d say he hadn’t eaten anything in weeks! Plus, his fur’s disheveled look makes it look like he barely gets the water he needs just to live day by day.” She explained. “Then… no wonder he said that this desert was hell for him. Combined with losing Pitfall, it seemed like he had lost all hope on wanting to live.” Fei voiced out Flash Sentry’s watch lit up and rung out. He lifted his left front hoof towards his face and tapped the screen with his right front hoof. A hologram of Spitfire’s head levitated itself above the watch. “Flash! I was worried when your signal was jammed up. How is the mission going?” Spitfire asked. Flash Sentry narrowed his eyes and frowned. “No good, Commander. The mission was a complete failure. The Van’Goth got to the location before we did and killed our target.” He explained. Spitfire glanced down towards the bottomless floor and frowned. Her facial expression softened. “Sorry to hear that. From what the satellites say, both of your exos seem to not be ready to make the journey all the way back to Neo Canterlot.” Inge’s eyes shot up with anger. She directed a nasty gaze towards Spitfire’s holographic head. “I can fix them up, you know! We don’t need your help!” Inge shouted. “Oh really? Then perhaps you would like to fix those exos up while your partners either die in the heat or to a wandering creature the size of a large hill?” Spitfire responded back. “Look, whether you all want it or not, I’m still going to send a transport unit over to your location.” “That would be much appreciated, Commander. We will await the transport unit.” Flash Sentry stated with a smile. “That’s what I’d like to hear! Just relax and try to keep yourselves comfortable. A transport unit will be arriving towards your location within an hour.” Stating these words, Spitfire’s hologram disappeared from Flash Sentry’s watch. Fei glanced up towards the sky with a frown on his face. He reached his right hand up towards the infinite blue space. “Pierre… I promise you that your death will be avenged.” Author's Note Managed to devote my attention to this chapter. Hopefully, this is much better than the previous chapter. Also, it seems like Inge might've played some Xerneasgears.
A Cold PastReine and Boreas both stood across an icy field glancing towards each other. Wearing a stalwart combination of a straight mouth and steeled eyes, Boreas raised her right pectoral fin into the air. Reine braced her muscles and leaped into the air. She fired an ice beam from the palm of her right claws. The Ice Beam struck the ground, creating spiky stalagmites of ice below. Her eyes widened and her mouth lifted open. She grabbed the tallest stalagmite she could reach with her claws, allowing her to slide down it and slow down her descent. Boreas looked upon Reine with a disappointed frown on her face. She shook her head with disproval. Leaping off of the stalagmite and onto stable ground, Reine frowned and let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m trying Boreas, but this isn’t exactly that easy to do.” She explained. Boreas tapped her right pectoral fin onto the ground, communicating with Reine in Morse Code. “‘You have been practicing this with me for about a month. You should have already gotten the hang of this technique by now.’ That’s true… but I just can’t seem to…” Reine stated with a mix of frustration and sorrow in her tone. Boreas glanced upon Reine’s eyes, detecting an obstructing glint of sadness within her soul. She slid her way towards Reine and stopped by her side. She initiated a series of taps along the ground, communicating once more with an inquiring tone. “I really don’t want to talk about it, Boreas. I don’t think I can trust you with this piece of information yet.” Reine responded. Boreas shrugged her pectoral fins and brought her face down towards Reine’s neck, nuzzling the brooding Weavile. Feeling an urge of tickling along her neck, a smile forced itself upon Reine’s face. An onset of giggling broke from her tone. “Okay, stop!” She said with a jovial tone. “Why do you want me to tell you so bad?” Boreas slid away from Reine and communicated through a series of taps. Reine glanced upon Boreas with narrowed eyes and dumbfounded frown. “You are saying that not being able to accept my past is what’s stopping me from mastering this particular method of using Ice Beam?” She asked. Boreas smiled and nodded. She slid back towards Reine and rubbed her over her left shoulder blade using her left pectoral fin. Reine felt comforting warmth radiate from Boreas’s chilly fin that loosened the constraints of her mind and heart. A genuine smile broke out over her mouth. “You know, you kind of remind me of my former trainer…” Boreas cocked her head and raised her right eyelid in confusion. Reine glanced around Boreas with a shaky posture. She rubbed her right upper arm with the palm of her left claws. “Yeah. You always try to get me to smile and somehow ease me into going with the most ridiculous ideas. I called him an idiot and a nimrod at points and even understood them despite not knowing what I said…” Boreas glanced upon Reine’s face and saw her smile break down into a narrow-eyed frown. She tapped her right pectoral fin onto the ground, garnering her attention. She blinked once and flashed a frown of concern in response. Reine glanced upon Boreas’s concerned form. “…I could tell you, actually. I trust that you couldn’t tell others except for those that know Morse Code.” Boreas cocked her head and moved it where her side faced Reine’s face. A smile of intrigue appeared on her face. “You see… my trainer and I both wanted to have an egg of our own back when I was a Sneasal.” Reine began. “I tried many times to conceive… but couldn’t. The thought that I was infertile was a real concern, and the both of us were saddened by this.” Reine stated. Boreas turned her eyes towards Reine’s face and detected warm, but bitter tears leaking from her cold eyes. “We were desperate to find a way to conceive… and that’s when we crossed paths with a criminal organization. They caught my trainer and forced me into prostitution.” Reine admitted with shame bellowing from her voice. Boreas’s mouth hung open from Reine’s revelation. She tapped the tip of her right pectoral fin on the ground, communicating through a series of noises. “I know Boreas, but there wasn’t much else I could do. They said they could help if I do this… and would hurt my trainer if I didn’t. They were disgusting, but I had no choice but to agree to their terms. All of that turmoil I’ve been through… all that suffering…. It all turned to naught.” Boreas blinked once, wanting to let out a curious whine from her voice. Reine shook her head and flashed a frustrated frown. “Forget I said anything, Boreas. I appreciate your understanding, but you wouldn’t want to know how this finishes.” She said with stinging regret uttered from her tone. Boreas stared into Reine’s eyes for an extended period, leaving no sound but the bitter winds howling around them. She nodded with a neutral air around her. “Thanks for understanding. I think I might have told you too much to begin with, unfortunately. But, that’s life. I can trust that you won’t communicate to anyone in regards to this, correct?” Boreas nodded and raised her left pectoral fin with a wide smile on her face. Seeing the honorable stance of the Lapras before her, Reine smirked. She glanced into the air and saw a yellow net drop from the sky above. Her smile flipped into a frown of concern. “Boreas!” Pointing towards the sky with her right front claws, She shouted. Boreas looked behind her and felt the sinews of fiber adhere themselves onto her flesh. A series of volts surged from the net, bringing forth a numbing fire into Boreas’s nerves. Boreas winced and turned her head away. Reine sprinted towards Boreas, but her eyes detected a squad of pegasi fly from the horizon and stand within a blockade formation. “Sorry, but we aren’t letting you take another step forwards.” A gray-coated pegasus stallion stated with a wicked tone. Reine glanced upon the suits of each of the pegasi and narrowed her eyes. She detected the symbol of Neo Canterlot embedded within their suits. A fierce scowl formed over her eyes. “You’re all H.O.R.S.E. operatives! What’s the big deal with trapping and hurting Boreas here?!” She shouted. From the northern sky, a white-coated pegasus stallion with a blond mane descended down onto the patch of ice towards Boreas’s right side. His blue eyes glared into the captured Pokémon. He turned his head and stared towards Reine’s direction. A low growl emanated from his tone. “What are you doing standing around there for? We can’t leave any witnesses alive, especially if it is a Pokémon.” He decreed. “Get your assault rifles and gun it down!” Each of the pegasi in the line pulled out assault rifles from their backs and aimed it towards Reine with the deadeye aim of a firing squad. Reine glanced towards the weapons poised towards her, and her heart flipped upside-down. “Hold on! Can’t we talk any of this out?” She asked. “Nope.” A pegasus mare within the firing squad stated. Reine’s body overclocked itself, giving her the speed and energy to sprint away from the area with a swift speed. Her ears picked up the sounds of bullets firing towards her direction in a spray-like spread. The head pegasus growled with a low voice. “Don’t just stand there! Chase after that thing!” Acting upon the word of the white-coated pegasus, the rest of the pegasi opened their wings and took towards the sky. Seeing Reine’s running’s speed overcome their flight speed, the squadron split up into small units and scattered into different directions. Reine glanced behind her and saw a cherry red-coated lone pegasus mare with a soft pink mane hanging on her tail. Hearing a spray of bullets hit the ground, her eyes lit up with fear and she rushed forwards. Reine leaped into the air and turned behind her. She opened her mouth and breathed out a boulder of ice that hung in front of her body. She slashed the ice boulder, sending its shards towards the mare. The mare smacked away the Ice Shard with her rifle. “Is that all?” She said with a diligent tone. Reine bit her lip and dropped towards the ground. She sprinted across the icy field. She looked around her and saw that pegasi came towards her in all directions. They fired their rifles towards the space around Reine, freezing her within her tracks. Reine looked around her, taking note of the pegasi surrounding her. They raised their rifles towards her. “Jig’s up, Pokémon. There is no escape. Accept your death like the filthy alien you are.” A gray-coated pegasus stallion within the squad threatened. A snow-covered mound shook in the distance from the firing squad. A pair of blue eyes opened with a stoic aura from the depths of the snow. The figure within the mound leaped out, revealing herself in the form of a gray-coated earth pony mare with a lavender mane and tail. She leaped towards the back of a silver-coated pegasus stallion and grabbed his head by the temple and chin. “Gah!” The stallion muttered out. The mare on his leaned her head towards the stallion’s face, where her blue eyes met with his magenta eyes. The stallion’s heart became heavy with primordial fear to the point where he dropped his rifle. The mare set her stone gaze towards the other pegasi in the group, filling them with her solid presence. “L-let him go!” An ice-blue pegasus mare with a yellow mane and tail demanded. A pink-coated pegasus stallion glanced towards the talking mare beside him with his eyes demanding her silence. “Do you not know who this is?! This is Maud Pie, the deadliest spy in all of H.O.R.S.E.! Get in her way, and she will kill us all within a blink of an eye.” He explained with a voice that trembled in fear. “Wait, that Pie? The one who can pulverize mountains with her bare hooves?” The mare asked with surprise. Maud Pie nodded in silence and tightened her grip on her victim’s head. A low whine emanated from the stallion’s voice. “Let this Pokémon go and I will let your partner here live.” She threatened with a stoic tone. Almost upon the act of a survival instinct, the horde of pegasi dropped their rifles and backed away from Reine. Their bodies wracked with cold blood flowing through them. “Y-y-you’re free to go.” The pegasus stallion in Maud Pie’s grip stated. With the gravity of the area holding her down, Reine complied with the words of the stallion and walked out of the circle with a calm demeanor. Maud Pie rushed towards the pink-coated pegasus and thrust her right front hoof into the stallion’s chest, breaking her ribs and bruising it. The stallion cried out in pain and fell onto the ground. He looked above him and saw Maud Pie’s form darkened by the surrounding sunlight glaring down upon her. She kicked his jaw with a tremendous force to the point where his spine let out a crack heard by everyone in the group. The stallion dropped towards the ground with his body limp from the strike. “You all bring shame to those uniforms you wear.” Maud Pie stated with a fierce, yet stoic tone. “This stallion dropped faster than a boulder, and I am more than willing to do the same with traitors such as your group.” “Please don’t kill us! We are all just commanded by our leading officer Light Ray! He paid us for this!” The ice-blue pegasus mare pleaded. “So your loyalty is with the gold ores you were paid and not by the diamonds of Neo Canterlot’s heart?” All of the pegasi hesitated upon hearing Maud Pie’s words; their bodies fidgeted and murmurs were heard from the crowd. Each of the pegasi opened the bags on their saddles and emptied them, bringing forth a storm of bits that clashed against the snow underneath them. “We don’t care about this money anymore! We just only want to live. Please, Maud Pie, look for mercy in that stoic heart of yours!” The pegasus mare requested. “We will never, never go against Neo Canterlot again.” Maud Pie turned towards Reine’s direction. “What do you think? Should we let them go?” She asked. Reine glanced towards the crowd of pegasi trembling before her. She shut her eyes and lowered her face. “No. They have already proven to be untrustworthy to the cause of Neo Canterlot by going along with this Light Ray’s plan. Even if we let them go, they will always be willing to betray anyone if paid well-enough. It’s better for us to finish them off here.” She explained. Upon hearing Reine’s words, all of the hearts of the pegasi sunk into their stomachs. Maud Pie moved with lightning speed and socked a nearby pegasus mare in her left temple. The force of the collision cracked the fragile chink in her skull’s defenses and drilled into her brain, knocking her onto the ground and rendering her mind dead. “Wise choice.” Maud Pie complimented. Light Ray and a host of other pegasi lifted Boreas into a cavern and tossed her on the ground. With her movement snared by the net on her body, Boreas turned around and glanced towards the pegasus that held her captive. Light Ray walked towards her with a satisfied smile on his face. “Well, well, well! I finally get the chance to have a Pokémon within my grasp. You don’t look very threatening, but that’s probably because of that electrical net on you.” He chided with a smug tone. Boreas glanced down towards Light Ray with a frigid stare directed into his soul. She initiated a series of taps through her right pectoral fin. An amused smile appeared on Light Ray’s face. “This beast is trying to communicate with me fellows. It thinks it’s intelligent!” He jeered. A storm of laughter bellowed from within the cavern. Light Ray flew up towards Boreas’s face and brought out his assault rifle. He smacked the metallic gun against Boreas’s face. Boreas winced, but retained her composure. Her frigid stare ignited on fire. The stallion kicked Boreas in her chest, eliciting a stronger wince from the Transport Pokémon. “Don’t think you can try to tap your way out of this. This will be the last place you will ever see. I have to make sure that you and your kind are all eliminated from this world.” Light Ray stated. “After all, your little friend had proven on Nightmare Night that your kind should never be trusted. All it takes is just one little outburst, and Neo Canterlot falls by the hand of the aliens we’ve invited to live in.” Boreas tapped out a phrase on the ice underneath her. Seeing this movement, Light Ray aimed his assault rifle down towards her right pectoral fin and unloaded a round of bullets into it. Boreas’s nerves lit ablaze with pain. Her eyes forced back the tears held within her soul. She glanced upon her flipper and saw it splashed within her own blood. “Do not even dare try to communicate with me, or else I will make sure you fall in that net you are staying in.” Light Ray threatened. Boreas frowned and dropped her body down to the ground. She glanced upon the cruel pegasi before her eyes and felt weakness wriggling into her heart. Reine lunged her claws into the central neck of the ice blue-coated pegasus mare. Feeling the Weavile’s claws obstructing her airway, the mare gagged and squirmed underneath her stab. Reine pulled out her claws and kicked the mare into the pile of pegasus corpses underneath Maud Pie. “That’s the last of them.” Reine stated. “Thank you for helping me, Maud Pie. Had you not been here, I would have been a dead Weavile.” Maud Pie slid down the mountain of corpses and walked towards Reine with her monotone stare directed towards her. “I happened to be returning from a mission. I heard a bunch of commotion and became one with the land so that I could have a better picture of what was happening.” Shaking her head, she explained. “Please, do not think that all Equusians are this cruel towards Pokémon.” “I know that there are always a few bad eggs hidden amongst a litter. I won’t hold it against your kind, lest I want to end up like that xenophobe Light Ray.” Reine stated. A small smile appeared on Maud Pie’s face. She took her steps towards the north. Reine glanced towards her direction. Maud Pie looked towards a lone stone amidst the desert of ice and snow. She crouched down towards it level and whispered to it. “What are you doing?” Reine asked with a dumbfounded tone. Maud Pie stood up from the ground and glanced towards Reine. “Talking with it. This stone gets intimidated easily, so I had to whisper.” She explained. “But…” Reine’s eyes widened with confounding and she shrugged her shoulders with disbelief. “Rocks are witnesses to everything that happens over millennia. They share a wealth of knowledge that is untainted by Equusian-kind. I’ve honed my skills to be able to speak with them, to understand them and to move them with my very presence.” “Okay then… so what did this stone have to say?” Maud Pie looked over the horizon, where a tall mountain surrounded by an impenetrable chasm stood. She pointed towards the cave within the peak. “He said that he saw a group of pegasi carry away a giant plesiosaur-like creature into that mountain’s cave.” “…He? Anyways, why would they work so hard with bringing Boreas into such a remote location?” Reine asked. “Well think about it; this Light Ray must hate Pokémon to the point where he would want to leave them to die. The more remote the location is, the higher the chance is that no one would ever look for that Pokémon.” Reine’s eyes focused on the chasm around the mountain. Her heart deflated. “How are we supposed to get to that cave? That chasm looks too wide for any Weavile to jump towards.” She asked. “I don’t know. I thought you would have some sort of special skill that would allow you to get there.” Maud Pie retorted. “Well… I do, but I always keep failing at that technique. I’m not sure if it would be any different.” With uncertainty wavering upon the frown on her face, Reine stated. Maud Pie walked up towards Reine and smacked her right front hoof across the Weavile’s face. Reine winced and rubbed her cheek. “Do not let your doubt get in the way of saving your friend. If you do, then you are only going to let your body distract itself into failure.” She instructed. “Alright… I’ll try.” Reine murmured with doubt present in her voice. Maud Pie shook her head and glanced into Reine’s eyes. “I need you to say it with more confidence in your voice Reine. You will never master this technique until you are one-hundred percent positive that you can master it.” She encouraged. “Now, is your will impenetrable like that mountain in front of us?” Reine glanced towards the mountain and back towards Maud Pie. A small smile made its way onto her face. “I have no choice but to be impenetrable like that mountain. Otherwise, a life would surely be lost.” Two pegasi stood outside of the cave on the mountain, keeping an eye on their surroundings. The mare of the two, who possessed a mint green-colored coat and a sea blue mane, glanced towards the deep blue-coated stallion with a silver mane. A confused frown formed on her face. “So… why are we exactly standing guard out here in this impenetrable location?” She asked. The stallion shrugged his shoulders. The two pegasi looked forwards, keeping a lazy sight on their surroundings. In the corner of their sights, they both saw two figures riding a trail of flying ice. Their sights focused, revealing Reine and Maud Pie flying towards the mountain. “Well… it seems like the boss was right with his judgment.” Unfolding his wings, the stallion stated. “Shall we?” Both pegasi leaped off of the cliff and soared towards Reine and Maud Pie. Maud Pie leaped off of the ice and towards the pegasi in the air. She slipped on gauntlets forged from heavy metals over her front hooves. Her hooves crackled with molten energy that ran through them. She struck the mare in the head with her rock-infused hoof, knocking her into the mountain and causing it to shake. The mare looked above her and saw an avalanche of snow run down from above her. The avalanche gripped her body and dragged her all the way towards the base of the mountain and into the chasm below. A bellowing scream of primal fear that echoed across the Glacial Drift became the last noise she would ever utter. Reine’s claws stopped firing ice. She leaped off of the ice trail and landed on the airborne stallion. The stallion glanced behind his back and flashed an annoyed frown. “Hey! Get off of me!” He stated. Reine planted her claws onto the scalp of the stallion. A massive chill overcame the stallion’s brain, bringing forth a pained shout. The creeping ice from Reine encased the entire stallion’s body, freezing him solid. She curled her claws into a fist and struck his back with all the force she could muster. Cracks appeared within the body of the frozen stallion. Reine leaped off of the frozen pegasus and shot out an Ice Beam from the palm of her claws, recreating a flying trail of ice and riding it. Maud Pie fell down from the sky and onto Reine and clambered onto her back. Reine and Maud Pie rode the wave of ice into the cave, garnering the attention of all of the pegasi within the cave. Reine’s claws flashed with a dark aura. She ran at the speed of sound, slashing all of the necks of the pegasi with her claws. The pegasi all dropped to the ground with their necks slashed open. Reine glanced ahead towards the darkness of the cave. Sounds of hard strikes rang out from the depths of the cavern, eliciting a twitch from the feather in Reine’s ear. Her stance shook and her head cringed. “I… I could only imagine what Light Ray is doing to Boreas down there.” Maud Pie walked forwards with apathetic eyes directed into the darkness. She turned towards Reine. “Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to save your friend?” She asked. Boreas pushed slid deeper into the net, breathing out a series of deep pants. Black bruises covered her body, giving the electricity deeper pathways in her body to strike from. She glanced towards Light Ray, who glanced upon her with an infernal stare. “Where is that killer instinct I heard you Pokémon love using? Are you too weak to fight from that net on you?!” Light Ray jeered. Boreas glanced down upon Light Ray with pools of pity forming within her pupils. She shut her eyes and turned her head to the left, revealing an area with few bruises. Light Ray glanced upon her with a head cocked in confusion. “Are you turning the other cheek? What makes you think that a killer alien such as yourself has the right to show off any sort of mercy?!” He screamed. He flew up towards Boreas’s head and smashed the handle of his assault rifle into the least-bruised area on her neck. Boreas clenched her teeth and winced. Her stance wobbled. Seeing Boreas stand before him with a sturdy stance, the rage in Light Ray’s eyes ignited into pillars. He pointed the barrel of his assault rifle into Boreas’s face. “You know what?! You’re pissing me off with your pacifistic crap! You are about to die, and you don’t try attacking back?! You should be prone to biting back and taking lives like any other stupid creature!” Walking into the chamber where Light Ray and Boreas existed within, Reine’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped to the ground. Maud Pie flashed a hard glare towards Light Ray. “Is this what this is all about?!” Reine shouted with an offended tone. “You think that we are just a bunch of stupid beasts whose only purpose is to end your kind?! Did you not even spend a minute of your time being around another Pokémon before enacting this disgusting plan?!” Light Ray’s body turned cold. He turned around, where his eyes met with Reine’s and Maud Pie’s eyes. Light Ray gritted his teeth. “How did you two get past my hired hands?!” He screamed with an attempt of hiding the fear in his voice. “Simple; we killed them.” With no sort of aggression or fear in her voice, Maud Pie responded. “All those pegasi sold their souls to a devil such as yourself! Why would you torment a sweetheart like Boreas here to the point of death?!” Reine demanded. “Why should I tell you anything, Pokémon? You’ve only proven my point that your kind couldn’t be trusted by killing off all of my hired henchponies! You’re all better off dead than living any second longer.” Light Ray stated. Reine sprinted up towards Light Ray and gripped her right claws around his neck. Light Ray’s eyes widened from the strong grip around his neck. Reine shoved him onto the ground and poised her left claws between Light Ray’s eyes. Maud Pie ran over towards Boreas and thrust her front hooves into a single cell of the net. With her mighty strength, she tore the net in half, freeing Boreas. Maud Pie glanced towards Boreas’s body, seeing all of the welts and wounds all over her body. Seeing the bullets penetrating Boreas’s right dorsal fin and its pained twitching, a wave of disgust befell her. “These are assault rifle rounds loaded into Boreas’s flipper!” Maud Pie stated with a voice with heightened aggression. “You hated her to the point where you disabled the use of her fin through firepower?! Reine is right; you are a devil!” Light Ray choked out a gasp of air from his squeezed esophagus. “Y-you sold out to these Pokémon, Maud! I was just doing the right thing and cleansing this infection before it began.” Reine tightened the grip around Light Ray’s neck, increasing the pressure to the point where he gagged. “If I were you, I would shut up right now. As it stands, you are not in a position to force your rotten views onto others. You’ve thrown yourself into a barrel of shit, and I will make you drown in it if you force me to!” Reine threatened with a quiet voice resonating with ferocity. Light Ray pushed out his upper mid tooth towards the right, revealing a blue and red capsule in his mouth. A confident grin appeared on his mouth. “Reine. That’s cyanide he has there.” Maud Pie warned. “That’s right. I’m not about to give a filthy Pokémon the satisfaction of ending my life. I'll take my own life instead!” Light Ray bit the capsule in half and swallowed its liquid contents. The mouths of Reine and Boreas dropped at the sight. Light Ray’s nerves went dead and his breathing became stunned. He lost his consciousness and his body became limp. Reine growled and slammed his body on the ground. Seeing Reine’s chest rise back and forth through strong huffs, Maud Pie placed her right front hoof on Reine’s left shoulder. “It’s alright Reine. Let your anger go.” She said. Reine glanced towards Boreas’s injured form, where her anger peaked rather than subdued itself. “How could I let it go when he caused so much pain and suffering to Boreas?! She already suffered at the hands of poachers, and now she has to deal with this?! It makes me so… so angry that I couldn’t kill this thing! I wanted to squeeze his brains out!” She lashed out. Boreas shook her head and placed her left pectoral fin on Reine’s right shoulder. She initiated a series of taps into Reine’s shoulder, communicating with her. Reine’s face lightened and allowed her to absorb Boreas’s words. “‘It’s true that I am in severe pain, but it’s alright. I allowed him to inflict these wounds upon myself because it would be better than proving him right about Pokémon by attacking him.’” Reine translated. “Boreas, this was a Class SSS asshole! You couldn’t have even frozen him with an Ice Beam?!” Boreas shook her head and wore a smile on her face. An epiphany overcame Reine, filling her heart with realization. She let go of her ghost’s aggression. “Boreas…” She murmured out. A soft smile appeared on her face. “I’m ashamed to say it, but you proved yourself to be a better Pokémon than me. If I was in your position, I would’ve ripped that stallion several new ones.” Boreas smiled and brought her head down towards Reine, nuzzling her right cheek with her mouth. Reine giggled and pushed Boreas away with a gentle movement. Boreas tapped Reine’s shoulder with another series of taps. “You are asking about how I got here, right? With Maud’s encouragement and my thoughts of you, I was able to be focused on doing anything to reach you. I was not going to let you die, because not only would I not hear the end of it from Rundas but I would also be wrought with the same amount of despair that I gained when I lost my trainer.” Maud Pie and Boreas exchanged eye glances and turned towards Reine’s direction. A smile appeared on Reine’s face. “You lost your trainer?” Maud Pie asked. “I guess I can finish up that story now. My trainer and I still saw each other as a part of our deal with the organization that we were held captive by. But… seeing my physical and mental wounds, my trainer was disgusted by the organization we were held captive by. He tried to get me out of selling my body, but he ended up getting shot dead before he even began.” Reine explained. “That’s pretty metal.” Maud Pie responded with a stoic tone. “Sorry that happened to you.” “I’m over it now, but I still feel its stings. He was my best friend, and he always made sure I was comfortable with an idea before going through with it. When I lost him, I lost my way of coping with the mess I was in. I actually thought that suicide wouldn’t be a bad option at that point. Then, I met Joker. And from there, he gave my life purpose again. Meeting up with the rest of the gang, Boreas, Rundas and now you Maud, I now feel like I don’t have to try hiding or running away from my past again.” Boreas grinned and rubbed Reine’s shoulder with her pectoral fin. A warm sensation overcame Reine’s body. Maud Pie walked over towards Reine and embraced her. Reine’s eyes shot open. “I know this is a bit sudden and I’m not into this whole mushiness of hugs, but it sounds like you’ve finally confronted the ghosts of your past. I’m proud of you, and you need a hug.” Maud Pie stated with a tone as straight as her eyes and frown. “Even if we just only met?” Reine asked. “You showed me that you can let go of your negativity and can think positive thoughts. That’s the kind of attitude we need for Neo Canterlot.” Reine smiled and brought her arms around Maud Pie’s torso. The two split from each other and shared a casual glance. “If you are coming back to Neo Canterlot, would you like to hang out?” “Sure. But, I have yet to ask for your name.” Maud Pie responded. “My name is Reine.” “Reine. Nice name. Maybe we can meet by my abode later. I have some awesome rock tunes we can listen to.” Boreas glanced towards Maud Pie with pleading eyes. Maud Pie glanced into Boreas’s eyes and nodded. “You are welcome to come too. I heard very much from my sister Pinkie Pie about Pokémon, but I’ve never actually had the chance to be with one before this. Maybe this will give me the insight that ponies like Light Ray failed to see?” Reine’s eyes lit up with surprise and her smile faltered into an unidentifiable puzzlement. “Wait, Pinkie Pie is your sister?!” She shouted. “I know what you are thinking Reine. We may not share the same types of expressions or personality, but we are definitely sisters. I’ll always look over her and protect her too despite her unique quirks.” Boreas glanced towards the ceiling and the urge of whistling overcame her. She rolled her lips and forced mangled-sounding air through her mouth. Maud Pie hummed. “I’ll take that as a compliment about my sister rather than a complaint. But, you are more important at this moment. We are going to get you treated right now Boreas.” Boreas glanced down towards her injured pectoral fin and then stared into Maud Pie's eyes. She smiled. Author's Note An ice pun in the title, racism, more character development and another bittersweet ending. It took a bit, but I think I fleshed out this chapter enough to be presentable.
A Sheltered Mare's EpiphanyRondo stood upon the smooth boards of a curtained stage. A small bow adhered itself on his neck and black tuxedo adorned itself onto his body. He inhaled a deep breath through his nostrils and exhaled through his mouth. “Lookin’ alright there, Rondo?” Rondo turned towards his left, where he saw Applejack and a light blue-coated earth pony mare with a black and electric blue-striped coiled mane and tail walked up the stairs towards the stage. Rondo smiled and flew towards the duo. “Applejack! And… some other mare I don’t know!” Rondo exclaimed. The mare and Applejack both shared a glance. The mare then looked into Rondo’s eyes with her light blue eyes. “It is a wonderful pleasure to meet a friend of AJ’s. My name is Coloratura, but you can just call me Rara.” Coloratura introduced. “Rara, eh? What brings you out to Club Chitin with Applejack tonight?” Rondo asked. Coloratura pointed towards her flank, which displayed an image of a golden star with a bright-colored musical note on each point. “I’m a regular audience member here at Club Chitin, but I hope to make a singing debut soon.” She explained. “So… why did Applejack bring you up here?” Rondo asked with a voice steeped in curiosity. Coloratura tilted her head to her left and a slight blush of red overcame her face. She rubbed her left front hoof with her right front hoof. “Well… the thing is that I’m a huge fan of all of your performances here, Rondo. Whenever I see your name in Club Chitin’s program, I always try to get the front seat. AJ is a childhood friend of mine, and I she said that she knows you. So, I begged her to bring me backstage.” She explained. Rondo blinked once and smiled. “I didn’t think I had any fans.” He responded. “But why didn’t you just come up here and visit me?” Applejack took three steps towards Rondo’s airspace and leaned her mouth towards Rondo’s head. She brought her right front hoof towards the left side of her mouth, walling the space between Rondo and Applejack from Coloratura. “Rara’s, well… she’s a bit sheltered… okay, she’s really sheltered.” Applejack explained. “She doesn’t even know that we are in a war of survival.” Rondo’s eyes shot opened and he hovered backwards. “Yikes! How’s that possible to ignore?” Rondo asked. “I’m not allowed to go into specifics, but her caretaker did a really good job at convincing her about there being no war in Neo Canterlot.” Applejack responded. “And you didn’t tell her about the war why?” “I did, several times already. Every time, she made a big fuss out of it and called me a liar. I would prove it to her, but I don’t want to put any unnecessary danger out for her.” Coloratura glanced towards Applejack and Rondo with a worried frown on her face. “Excuse me, but is everything alright here AJ? You seem to be whispering about something.” She asked. Applejack split from Rondo and wore a forced smile on her face. She giggled with a nervous shiver of her body. “Everything is peachy like an apple, Rara.” Applejack responded. Carapace walked onto the stage with a hurried gait in his step. He zoned in towards Applejack and Coloratura. “Rondo! You’re about to open tonight up in about a night. Please ask these ladies here to rejoin the audience, lest they would want to interfere with your performance.” He requested. “I don’t want to sound pushy, but you heard what Councilman Carapace said.” Rondo said with a sheepish tone. “Tonight is my big performance, and I can get scouted to do a song in a future piece of media!” “Wow!” Coloratura exclaimed. “I really hope you get your big break, Rondo.” “Thanks.” Rondo uttered out. Applejack and Coloratura walked down the stairs and exited the stage. Carapace placed his right front hoof on Rondo’s spine and rubbed it up and down. “You don’t need to worry, Rondo. I’m absolutely sure that you will do a good job.” “Yeah… I hope so.” Rondo muttered out. Carapace walked off the stage, leaving Rondo alone underneath the dim light. Hoof taps against a microphone sounded out through the entire club. “Ladies and gentlemen of all ages and races; thank you for spending your evening here at Club Chitin. Opening for you today is a singer whose voice and form is quickly capturing the hearts of those that set their focus on him. He is the Chatot with a soulful voice. Give a warm round of applause for Rondo!” The intercom announced. The velvet curtains lifted up, revealing Rondo perched upon a metallic stick. The audience resonated with a series of clops and claps, bringing a warming ease over Rondo. He smiled and cleared his throat. “Thank you for the warm applause, Club Chitin. With my time spent with this club, I felt a certain level of connection with you all. That is why I have a special song written for you all.” He declared. A yellow-coated earth pony stallion with a black mane and tail trotted from the back and onto the stage. A twelve-piped pan flute hung upon a black strap around his torso. He revealed his yellow eyes towards the audience and waved with a smile on his face. He pulled out his pan flute and brought it to his mouth. He shut his eyes and blew into the pipes, bringing forth a soothing melody that spread throughout the club. Rondo shut his eyes and retained his smiled. “Ooooooohhhhhh~ my life is just a breeeeze, Swaaaaaying in its winds that freeeeze, Wrapped in a bitter maelstrom, Nobody listens to meeeee, Ooooohhhhhh~ the time within this squall, Loooooking down in free fall, I don’t want to blow up, Just wake me uuuuup~! A little friendship is most neeeeded, A little friendship goes a loooong way, Defeat is what I conceded, But your life in my presence I say nay~ Woooon’t~ you open up for hugs? I need to feel the warmth of snugs. Ooooooohhhhhh~ my life is just a breeeeze, Swaaaaaying in its winds that freeeeze, Wrapped in a bitter maelstrom, Nobody listens to meeeee, Well I have a voice that is aaaaactive~ No more tears, it’s radioaaaaactive~ Caaaaan you hear my sad song? Please don’t be wrong Please be my friend.” Rondo glanced towards the audience and glanced upon all of their smiles. Another wave of applause sounded throughout the crowd. Applejack and Coloratura blew into their front hooves, firing a loud whistling noise from their seats. A gray-coated earth pony stallion with a strawberry pink frizzled mane and tail flashed a cold stare into Rondo’s eyes with his brown eyes and frowned. Rondo’s soul yelped at the stare of the stallion and felt his nerves going cold. The continued cheering of the crowd defrosted his nerves, allowing his body to bow with his right wing extended. Rondo flew from the back door of the club and into the cool and starry night. He inhaled from his beak, taking in the chilled air into his lungs. He shook his head and shrugged his wings. “That stallion with Applejack and Coloratura gave me the creeps! Just… who was that guy?” He asked himself. “Speaking about me?” A voice from behind Rondo called out. Rondo shrieked and turned around, jumping at the sight of the gray-coated stallion that directed a grimace towards him. “Oh… ummm, hello. Who… who are you?” The stallion straightened out the red tie wrapped around the collar of his blue suit and approached Rondo with unreadable eyes. “My name is Svengallop, former manager hailing from what used to be Manehatten. Correct me if I am wrong, but you are the opening singer?” Svengallop introduced. “Yes… I was. Is there a reason why you asked?” Rondo asked with creeping suspicion trailing up his tail feathers. “As a matter of fact, there is. You see, my Countess Coloratura is absolutely infatuated with your singing. She begs me to come to this drab club every time she sees your name on the program.” Svengallop explained. “Wait, you are Rara’s caretaker?” Rondo asked. Svengallop’s eyes widened at the notion of Rondo’s words. He shook his head with disgust and redoubled the efforts in his stare. “Do not make it sound like I am some sort of nanny or foster parent. I practically lost my job since all of the other performers under me all died during the excursion to this city. Countess Coloratura, a potential singer who I was going to have underneath my contract, is the only performer I have left. So, I keep her happy, safe and nourished as an… investment.” He explained. “Alright, but why are you referring to her as ‘Countess’ Coloratura? I thought she preferred to be called ‘Rara’.” Rondo asked with doubt swinging back and forth between his eyes. “Because one day, she is going to be a brilliant star!” Svengallop responded with a star-struck voice and his right front hoof in the air. “She needs to have an image and title of grandiose to match her talent. This brings me to you.” Rondo looked upon the unnerving grin on Svengallop’s face. His body began sweating bullets and the cool air around him became thick with heat and moisture. He pulled on the necktie around his neck. “What do I have to do with this situation?” He stammered out. “I know you are a H.O.R.S.E. operative, Rondo. I want you and your thoughts of the war to keep away from my budding star.” Svengallop explained. “The Countess has absolutely no knowledge of what happens outside, and anyone that explains to her otherwise will just get denied.” “So… wouldn’t she just call me a liar if I even tell her about the war?” Rondo asked with narrowed eyes. Svengallop walked towards Rondo’s right side and wrapped his left front hoof around his body. Rondo felt his nerves paralyze underneath the stallion’s uncomfortable touch. “This is where her fanaticism towards you becomes a problem; she is much more willing to believe anything you say to her even over her best friend Applejack and myself. That’s a problem, because if she adds the variables together, then she is going to reject me, get herself maimed or worse and I will lose all of my performers. So, don’t tell her anything about the outside world and its problems, unless you want to face some grim consequences.” Svengallop threatened. “Your threats are empty and you know it.” Rondo called out. Svengallop shut his eyes and raised his head in a haughty manner. “Maybe they are, but I still know some very powerful Equusians. If you cross paths with me by interfering with my budding singer’s life, then I can guarantee that your body will be grilled and served to connoisseurs of the highest order. I wonder how you will taste.” Licking his lips with a devilish stare directed into Rondo’s eyes, he stated. Rondo felt Svengallop’s hoof rub down his spine, dusting forth a numbing electric wave throughout his body. Svengallop patted Rondo’s back three times and walked away with a confident grin on his face. Rondo looked forwards and his eyes and cheeks froze over in fear. Applejack and Coloratura walked out of the front doors of the club with wide-eyed smiles on their faces. Coloratura glanced towards Applejack, where her smile widened into a grin. “Thanks for coming with me and Svengallop tonight, AJ. It really meant the world to me.” She thanked. Applejack shook her head and shut her eyes. Her smile became modest. “I’m always happy to accompany you, Rara. Those singers all had such nice voices.” She stated. “I know right?! Even then, it’s clear that Rondo stood above the others because of the little things he did to bring his song into an ethereal level with that pan flute.” Coloratura replied with an excited tone. “Rara, I need to ask; why do you like Rondo’s singing so much?” Applejack asked with a hint of curiosity in her tone. “I know he’s good, but it’s not something to obsess over.” Coloratura looked up towards the starry curtains of the night and saw a brilliant star in the sky. “Rondo’s voice just… awakens something within me. His singing reminds me that there is much more to life than being in Neo Canterlot. It kind of awakens some memories.” She explained. Applejack frowned and shied her head away from Coloratura. Feeling her front fetlocks getting cold with anxiety, she rubbed them. “There isn’t much to the outside world, Rara. The world is locked in a war of survival, and this city is the only thing we have left.” Coloratura set a fiery stare into Applejack’s eyes and pounded her right front hoof into the ground. “Stop lying to me, AJ!” She shouted. “Of course we have more to this world than Neo Canterlot. There is no such thing as war, and we are all living here in peace and harmony.” “I ain’t lyin’, Rara. Take it from somepony who’s been working at H.O.R.S.E. for years now; lives of operatives are lost constantly, my older brother went insane and died and the cities are just heaps of dirt and ruins. What would I have to gain from lying to you, Rara?” Coloratura huffed out a gust of frustrated air and turned her head away from Applejack. “Because you’re jealous that you won’t be a famous singer like I would be one day? Svengallop says that I’m a shoo-in to be a big shot singer soon.” Applejack’s jaw dropped at the sound of Coloratura’s claim. “No! Not at all! That stallion’s doing nothing but stroking your ego so that you couldn’t see the real truth outside of these walls!” Coloratura glanced towards Applejack with a reluctant frown on her face. “Well fine! If you are so sure that there is a war against this city, then I would invite you to take me out of this city Applejack.” She stated with an angry tone. “Fine! Maybe I will!” Applejack answered back. The two mares directed their heads away from each other and walked in split directions. Frustration encompassed their hoofsteps. A new day fell over the city’s horizon. Rondo flew into the Civilian Request Center and roosted upon the front desk. The reception griffon, Sharp Beak, glanced upon Rondo with a cheery smile on her face. Rondo held his right wing out and bowed. “Good morning, Sharp Beak. How is my favorite griffon doing today?” He asked. “I’m doing very well and you?” Sharp Beak asked. “Besides a bit of an upsetting encounter with a certain someone, I have been doing well. So, what requests are available today?” Sharp Beak’s talons typed into a holographic keyboard. A single blue-colored hologram appeared between Rondo and Sharp Beak. “I was only able to pull up this request, Rondo. Based off of its blue color, it should be a simple one to start the day with. The request also seems innocent enough.” Grabbing the hologram with her talons and pushing it towards Rondo’s face, Sharp Beak answered. Rondo glanced upon the hologram and narrowed his eyes. Upon seeing Coloratura’s name upon the client name section, his heart stopped dead. He shook his head and frowned. “Nuh-uh! I’m not doing this!” He shouted. “Is there something the matter, Rondo?” With a frown forming on her face, Sharp Beak inquired. “Are you sure you don’t have any other requests available at this time, Sharp Beak?” Rondo whined. Sharp Beak shook her head and shrugged her shoulders with apologetic glimmers in her eyes. Rondo sighed and touched a silver emblem upon the torso of his suit. A blue light emerged from it and engulfed the holographic request. Rondo looked upon Sharp Beak with a frown on his face. Sharp Beak smiled and patted Rondo’s shoulder. “There, there, Rondo; do not be afraid. What’s the worst that could possibly happen in this request that you are not prepared to handle?” She asked. “Getting grilled and served as a delicacy, that’s what.” Rondo replied. Sharp Beak smiled and petted Rondo’s head. “You can be too adorable at times, you know Rondo? You’ll be fine. Trust me on this.” Sharp Beak stated. Applejack walked into the room and set her focus on Rondo and Sharp Beak. She smiled and waved. “Howdy Rondo! Howdy Sharp Beak! Do any of you have any requests available? I’m expecting a request from Rara today.” She inquired. Sharp Beak and Rondo shared an uneasy glance and set their sights onto Applejack. “I think I might have that request, Applejack. It was listed as being an open request.” Rondo stated. Applejack scowled and shook her head. She clicked her tongue. “Seems like Rara would want any other operative to take the request besides me.” She mulled out loud. “You know Applejack, Coloratura’s request is an inclusive-type request, meaning that multiple H.O.R.S.E. operatives can take the same request. Why don’t you join Rondo on this request?” Sharp Beak suggested. Applejack smiled and set her sights onto Rondo. “So Rondo, would you kindly allow me to join this request?” She asked. “Of course! It says here that she is waiting outside the gate.” Rondo stated. Applejack and Coloratura walked along the cragged plains of the Terraformed Wilderness. Wild shrubs of grass bristled against their hooves. Coloratura smiled and sighed with a delighted tone. She inhaled through her nose, absorbing the sweet air of wild flowers and waterfall scents. “Now this is what I needed the most; the outside world is just as beautiful as how I imagined it!” Coloratura exclaimed. Applejack frowned and glanced down towards the ground. Rondo, who perched himself upon the collar of Applejack’s armor, rubbed his right wing into the back of her neck. “You still aren’t burned by Rara’s request, are you?” He asked. Don’t worry about her, Rondo. AJ absolutely hates being wrong about something. Her pride tends to blindside her.” Coloratura stated. “Rara, this land is still very dangerous. Even if we don’t come across the Van’Goth, there will be several creatures that’ll make a meal out of us.” Applejack responded. “Don’t get a swollen head just because of the very little chance I have of being wrong.” Coloratura rolled her eyes and flashed a confident smile. “Don’t worry, AJ. Nothing bad would happen at all.” She said with an assured tone. A boisterous explosion sounded out within the distant horizon, causing the trio’s eyes to wince and their bodies to cringe. They looked towards the horizon, where a pillow of smoke touched up towards the atmosphere. “What was that?!” Coloratura shouted. Rondo narrowed his eyes and released his clutch on Applejack’s collar. “I’m going to go investigate. You two stay together and try not to fight, alright?” Saying these words, he began flapping his wings and took towards the skies, leaving Applejack and Coloratura alone. Coloratura shied her head away from Applejack, and an uneasy frown formed on her face. She scratched at the bare ground with her right front hoof. The fear of the unknown gripped at her heart, freezing her joints. “AJ… I think I might’ve acted a bit like a jerk.” She murmured out. Applejack’s eyes widened and she glanced towards Coloratura with curious eyes. “Did something happen, Rara?” She asked with a voice of concern. “It ain’t like you to just up and swallow your pride.” “AJ… if this threat actually does turn out to be the thing that I was ignorant of and we would die here, I don’t want you to die while being on bad terms with you.” Coloratura explained. “I’m sorry if I didn’t want you to receive the mission or acted like a big jerk about the situation yesterday. I really hope you can forgive me.” Applejack smiled and brought her hooves around Coloratura’s neck. She pulled her in for a hug. “We are all allowed to be foolish at times, Rara. That just means that you’re equine. Of course I forgive you!” She stated. “Besides, I’ll make sure you’re safe and sound. I got military training up the wazoo after all!” Coloratura smiled and chuckled at Applejack’s optimistic statement. She split away from Applejack, where a wholehearted smile cracked along her face. “I know. You know, I don’t think I remembered feeling this uneasy about anything before… except during that time I had to flee Manehatten.” She said. “Wait, you actually remember that?! I thought ol’ Svengallop wiped your memory clean of that incident!” Applejack shouted. Coloratura shook her head with shut eyes. Opening her eyes, her pupils filled with honesty. “Svengallop didn’t do much except for helping me lie to myself. Deep inside… I knew something like this was happening. But, my consciousness didn’t want me to know about it. Hearing all of those ponies in the city scream before they were mercilessly mowed down, the fires and destruction that engulfed the city… it’s enough to traumatize anyone.” Applejack glanced upon Coloratura with her body steeled with worry. “Rara… I never knew you felt like that.” Rubbing the back of her neck with her right front hoof, she said. “I mean… if I knew that you were in that much shock over it, then I wouldn’t have kept prodding at you.” Coloratura walked towards Applejack and grabbed her right front hoof with a gentle hold on it. She stared into Applejack’s green eyes and shook her head. “You don’t need to feel worried about what you never knew, AJ. In a way, I’m kind of glad you kept bringing it up. It helped bring forth some memories that I should always carry with me.” Applejack’s mouth broke out into a wide smile. She patted Coloratura’s upper back with her right front hoof. “Either way, I’m glad that we still are friends, Rara.” Applejack stated. Applejack’s watch vibrated and emanated a blue light. She stood up onto her hind legs and tapped the screen with her right front hoof. A hologram of Rondo’s panicking head appeared above it. “Applejack! Terrible, terrible news! It’s the Van’Goth, and they got soldiers! Lots and lots of soldiers and armed vehicles! It looks like they are about to mount a full-scale invasion against the city!” Applejack and Coloratura’s jaws dropped to the ground, and their hearts exploded with the realization of their greatest fear. “W-what was that explosion then?!” Applejack shouted. “From what I’ve seen, it looks like they are conducting weapons testing out here. They blew up a small mountain if I am reading these shards of stone right. I’m going to have to check out the rest of what the enemy has here.” Rondo explained. The hologram of Rondo’s head disappeared. Applejack looked upon Coloratura’s face, where a frown of despair hung upon her face. “A…AJ… are we going to die?” She muttered out. Applejack shook her head with her mouth straightened out with resolve. “We’re going to report this to H.O.R.S.E. and get you to safety as quickly as possible. Come!” With a flood of determination overcoming her, she grasped Coloratura’s right front hoof and ran towards the opposite direction towards the walled city. Author's Note So this chapter was done on more or less of a suggested request, but I still think that it fits the scenario at hand and prepares something even bigger that will come in the chapter after the next one.
Teacher's AssistantApplebloom sat within the seat in the middle front section of the classroom between the desks inhabited by Sweetie Belle to her right and Scootaloo to her left. The three fillies waited with eager eyes and smiles waiting to burst with excitement. Miss Cheerilee stepped through the front door of the classroom. She walked over to her desk and cleared her throat. An enthusiastic smile curled on her face. “Good morning class!” She shouted out with a cheerful voice. “Good morning Miss Cheerilee!” The class of students clamored out in unison. Miss Cheerilee sifted her mane with her right front hoof, straightening out her hair. She walked in front of the white board and looked upon the sea of students before her eyes. “Class, today I have a special treat for you all!” She announced. “Are we going to have another Pokémon field day?!” Truffle Shuffle asked. “You’re half right, Truffle Shuffle.” Miss Cheerilee stated. “Pokémon are going to be joining us today because they were so well-received last time I brought them here. But, it’s not going to be a field day.” A chorus of disappointment resonated throughout the classroom. “But the field day was awesome!” Scootaloo called out. Miss Cheerilee flashed a bitter scowl directed towards Scootaloo’s direction. Scootaloo gulped on a pocket of air and ducked underneath the seat cover. “Do I need to remind you of what happened last time we did a field day involving Pokémon, Scootaloo?” Miss Cheerilee asked. Scootaloo slinked up to her upright position on the seat and shook her head with a solemn frown on her face. “No Miss Cheerilee.” She said with a despondent tone. Miss Cheerilee smiled and directed her face towards the door. “Okay girls! It’s time for you two to come in!” She called out. Sophia and As stepped through the doorway into the classroom. Sophia wore a wide grin on her face, whereas As slinked into the room with shaky nerves and a frown on her face. Their ears met with a clamor of cheers from the students. “They’re so adorable!” Diamond Tiara called out with a cheery voice. “It’s a cream-coated fox-dog thing and a kitty! I want to hug them and pet them!” Truffle Shuffle called out. Sophia and As both shared an unfathomable shudder of their bodies. They shared a glance with each other, looking into the pupils that know of the true terror coming from today. Sophia brought her right front paw to her mouth and cleared her throat. “Yes, ummm… greetings, Miss Cheerilee’s class. My name is Sophia.” Mustering up a forced smile on her face, she introduced. “And my name is As.” As stated with much less enthusiasm in her voice when compared to Sophia. “Yes. Today, the both of us are going to be assistant teachers for Miss Cheerilee. We are going to help you with your work for today!” Sophia explained. As rolled her eyes with a frown of disdain on her face. A spray of aggressive words escaped from her hushed voice. “My name is As. Don’t ask me for anything.” She stated. Miss Cheerilee glanced towards As with her facial muscles tensing with anxiety. A nervous cough escaped from her voice. “Ummm, that isn’t very nice to say As. After all, you didn’t have to volunteer today if you didn’t want to.” She explained. As narrowed her eyes and brought her sharp teeth to a close. A low-pitched growl vibrated from her voice. The growl subsided and regret filled her eyes. “…Sorry. I am here for a reason, after all. So, I should stick to my duty.” Sweetie Belle glanced towards As with sad eyes on her face. As’s eyes met hers, but Sweetie Belle rolled them back towards Miss Cheerilee before their sights connected. “Alright, now that we got that out of the way, it’s time to do the roll call.” Sophia grinned and winked towards Miss Cheerilee’s direction. “I’ll do the roll call myself, Miss Cheerilee.” She announced. Miss Cheerilee looked upon Sophia with stunned eyes and a face frozen with anxiety. A lone drop of sweat dripped down from her face and onto the floor. “Ummm… are you sure that’s such a good idea Sophia? You don’t exactly know the name of all of the students in my class.” “Of course I do! Just watch this.” Sophia cleared her throat and pointed towards the front left of filled desks and traveled down each of the students with her left front paw. “Pipsqueak, Dinky, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, Scootaloo, Peppermint Twist, Jetstream Rush, Majesty Wood, Zenith, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Truffle Shuffle, Rumble, Hex Flesh, Cirrostratus, Clementine, Shady Daze, Spirit Wind, Anthrax, Burst Hoof and Spike. Did I get all the students in the class?” She asked with a proud tone. Miss Cheerilee and the students all looked towards Sophia with shock resonating through their eyes as one. “Do you have some sort of ESP I should know about?” She asked. Sophia shook her head. “Nope. I didn’t evolve into an Espeon, so I can’t read their minds. I just know who they all are. Speaking of knowing who they are…” Saying these words, she waved towards Spike in the back corner. “Hey Spike! I didn’t know you started going to school.” A smile appeared on Spike’s face from Sophia’s acknowledgement. He waved his right set of claws back in response. “Twilight managed to get me in class around this time.” He responded. “I’m glad she did.” As shook her head with her eyes shut, not wanting to look at the further exchanges between Sophia and Spike. Miss Cheerilee cleared her throat once more, becoming the center of attention for all eyes within the classroom. She walked towards the board with a black marker in hoof and scribbled upon it. “Today, we will be continuing on fractions.” Smiles perked upon the faces of Twist and Spike. A chorus of groans erupted from the rest of the class. Sophia walked towards the left of Scootaloo’s side, whose planted her face the hardest into her desk. Sophia brought one of her ribbons onto Scootaloo’s back and rubbed. “I could tell you have difficulty with fractions.” She assumed. “Tell me about it! Fractions are the worst type of math! It’s like division, but even more annoying!” Scootaloo let out with a frustrated sigh. “I’ll be here to help you understand it and even be the top student when it comes to fractions. Trust me on that.” Scootaloo looked upon Sophia’s body. She stifled a snicker that wanted to escape from her mouth. Sophia raised an eye in confusion. “I’m sorry, but me being the top student when it comes to fractions with help from someone that looks like she could easily win the award for cutest dog? Forget it! It’s not happening.” Scootaloo laughed out. “Excuse me?” Sophia responded with a low tone filled with a sinister air. Her eyes lowered into scowls and she slammed her right front paws onto Scootaloo’s desk. “You think that just because I have a cute face means that I lack in any intellectual substance?! Do I need to remind you which one of us is flunking Math here?!?” She shouted with rage building in her voice. Scootaloo’s body trembled underneath the fires of Sophia’s anger. She pointed a shaky hoof to Sophia’s enraged face. “Y…You can be very scary sometimes.” She noted with a sheepish frown on her face. Sophia’s muscles relaxed themselves from the anger building within them. She hopped off the desk and let out a forlorn sigh. “I’m sorry, Scootaloo. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that I absolutely despise it when others downplay any sort of usefulness I could pose because they perceive me as being nothing more than just a cute mascot.” She explained. Scootaloo moved her head behind her shoulders and rolled her eyes to her right. “I didn’t mean it like that, Sophia. I’m just saying that I don’t really have much faith in my math skills and nobody could help me with it. I’m sorry for insulting you.” She said. Sophia sat upon her hind legs, shut her eyes and waved her left front hoof. “It’s not your fault, Scootaloo. I always had a problem with handling my triggers. If you didn’t want me to help, then just say so.” She said. “I still want your help though! But, can you truly make me the top student in fractions? Even beating out Twist and Spike?” Scootaloo pleaded. Sophia smiled and bopped her left front paw on Scootaloo’s nose. “I can’t do that myself, but I sense a great potential welling inside of you when it comes to learning. I will help you as much as you are willing to help yourself. Do we have a deal?” She proposed. A small smile curved along Scootaloo’s mouth, and her eyes glimmered with hope. She nodded and set her focus on the board. Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stood around a black counter that housed beakers filled with liquids upon them. Applebloom knocked her right front hoof into Scootaloo’s left shoulder with affectionate force behind it. Scootaloo smiled and rubbed the back of her mane. “It almost seemed like you were trying to hide your mathematical skill behind fake idiocy Scootaloo! You left the entire class in your dust on that pop quiz!” Applebloom praised. “It was nothing, Applebloom. I had it all under control.” Waving her right front hoof across the front of her body with her eyes shut in cockiness, Scootaloo answered. She opened her eyes and looked towards another black counter across the lab room where Sophia stood beside a navy blue changeling colt and Cirrostratus, talking with the two youths. A soft smile appeared on Scootaloo’s face. “Well… it’s not all me. Sophia is really good at tutoring me.” She said. Sweetie Belle set her gaze upon As, who watched the entire classroom with the attentive eyes of a feline. A small frown appeared on Sweetie Belle’s face. “Girls, it doesn’t look like As is having much fun here. She’s not getting involved with the students like Sophia is.” She noted. “Aww forget her! She’s a sourpuss that really didn’t like hanging around us at Nightmare Night either.” Scootaloo called out. Sweetie Belle looked upon the black and white-checkered floor with scatterbrained eyes. She looked up towards As’s direction and smiled. “You know what? I think I’m going to go invite As over to our counter.” She announced. “Alright Sweetie, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Belle took a deep breath in and walked over towards As’s space. As glanced down upon Sweetie Belle with vindictive eyes. “What is it, Sweetie Belle?” She asked with an uninviting tone. “As, I was wondering if you would want to join our counter to help us. We are working on water density.” Sweetie Belle requested. “No.” “No?” As leaned her head towards Sweetie Belle’s face and formed a serious frown with her mouth. “No. Now go back with your friends and work on your science assignment.” She declared. Sweetie Belle grabbed As’s left front paw with her right front hoof. As’s eyes shot open with surprise flashing in her eyes. Sweetie Belle looked upon As’s face with a grin over her mouth. “Too bad. I know that you are here as part of your request, which means that you have to help us or else it’s not going to count to your monthly request.” She explained. A frustrated sigh passed from As’s mouth and she rolled her eyes. “Good point. I don’t even know why Spitfire gave me this mission, but it probably wouldn’t look good on my record if I were to do absolutely nothing.” She said. As and Sweetie Belle both reached the counter where the rest of the group stood behind. As looked over a sheet of paper upon the counter, which listed a series of different items and instructions. She scratched the top of her head. “So… what do these things all mean?” As asked with sincere confusion in her voice. “You mean you don’t know?” Sweetie Belle asked. As gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes. “I never received an education like you three are. So yes, I really don’t know what these are.” She explained. “I can help you learn if you want, As. We can have fun trying at least.” Sweetie Belle proposed with a cheery smile cracking along her mouth. “Well… I guess I don’t have much of a choice in this matter.” As admitted with defeat. The group of four looked over their station. Sweetie Belle brought a pitcher of a green-colored fluid towards the group and smiled. “In today’s lab, we are measuring the surface tension of water and seeing if different chemicals inside of water would affect the tension of the water.” She explained. “Uhhh… surface tension?” As asked with an absentminded tone. “In other words, the strength of the upper part of water.” Applebloom simplified. As opened her mouth and nodded with understanding. “So kind of like how hard a Water Gun can hit the body of another Pokémon if I am correct.” Scootaloo shook her head in hopelessness. She picked up a red-ballooned dropper with her mouth and placed the tip of the dropper into the solution. Squeezing the bulb, the dropper drank up the solution. Scootaloo brought the dropper above a golden bit and squeezed the bulb, releasing a drop of the solution onto the bit. The water formed a tight bond over the coin. As peered her head over the coin with eyes wide with curiosity. “So… is something supposed to happen?” “Not really.” Sweetie Belle responded. “We have to see how many drops of this water we can add before the bonds of the surface tension rupture. Then we record the results in our data sheet and see if our hypothesis is correct.” “Has anyone ever told you that you could be a walking dictionary?” With her eyes rolling towards Sweetie Belle in curious suspicion, As asked. “Yes… several times.” With a regretful frown on her face, Sweetie Belle responded. “I get made fun of sometimes because of it.” Seeing a frown appear on Sweetie Belle’s face, a twinge of guilt struck As’s heart. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make fun of you.” She said. “It’s alright, As. It sounded like a compliment when it came from your mouth.” Sweetie Belle responded. Scootaloo squeezed the bulb with her teeth, adding more of the liquid into the mound over the bit. The mound broke up, leaving a small splash on the counter. As’s eyes widened and her mouth opened in surprise. “What happened there? The liquid just fell apart.” She asked with peaked curiosity. “That’s what happens when too much liquid is added on a small surface; eventually, the surface tension just gives up and breaks.” Sweetie Belle explained. “Can we do that again? I kind of liked seeing that.” With a brightened smile forming on her face, As questioned. Applebloom scribbled down the results into a paper. She looked upon As with a smile on her face. “We have to do this five more times with other mixtures, so of course we can do it again.” She said. As’s heart warmed with a gentle energy stirring within its atriums. Her eyes lit up with joy and her eyes salivated with further desire. As and Sophia sat down upon a brown-colored rectangular table with Styrofoam containers before them. Sophia opened her container, revealing a medley of colorful fruit, vegetables and white mean with black char marks on them all. Seeing the food drenched in a clear green liquid with a smell that wrinkled As’s nose, Sophia licked her fangs in anticipation. “It looks like the chef is being good to me today!” She called out in glee. “Ummm, what is that food?” With a nauseated gag in her voice, As asked. “Something Mono cooked up for me. It’s an Everfree Salad with moss dressing.” Biting into a slice of grilled orange, Sophia proclaimed with a proud tone. As opened up her tray, revealing a butter-painted crust over a pie tin that let out an aroma of fish and turkey. She smiled and licked her lower lip. “I won’t judge. After all, not many can appreciate the heaven that is a fish and turkey pot pie.” She said with a pleased tone. Sophia sat up from above the seat and looked upon As’s face. Her mouth curled into a relieved smile. “It looked like you were having a bit of fun learning about science, As.” She noted. “Fun? What are you talking about?” Chewing on her food, As asked with her eyes staring forward in curiosity. “Maybe it’s just me, but it seems to me that you are much happier after coming out of that lab.” Sophia explained. “Did you even need me to accompany you today?” As averted her gaze away from Sophia’s eyes and hid her smile away from the Sylveon’s line of sight. “Well… considering you are smart, I would have felt at ease if you came along with me.” She said. “You think I’m smart?” Gobbling three strands of meat and looking towards As’s direction, Sophia asked. “Very smart! I’m actually kind of jealous that you have an education. Seeing how those three fillies are, it makes me wish that I grew up with an education.” The happiness in As’s eyes petered out into sadness, and a despondent sigh passed through her mouth. Sophia cocked her head and frowned. “Based on how your body language is, you had a terrible childhood.” She guessed. “I had no childhood. It was that bad.” As muttered out. “So that’s why you hate children; you’re jealous of them!” Sophia called out. “Jealous?! What gives you that impression?!” As responded with her eyes knitted in fire. “Don’t you see? All of these school children are living their lives in a way only your inner Purrloin could have dreamed of. These children are learning and socializing with each other. It’s like they never have to worry about anything except for getting good grades. I can’t imagine how your youth must have been like, but I could only assume that you wished the only thing you had to worry about was getting good grades.” Hearing Sophia’s explanation shook off the iron castings of As’s mind. A smile of understanding formed upon her face. “Alright, you got me. I’m jealous of these children because they get to live out their childhoods. Then, when I look upon you, I see what I could have been like myself had I taken your path; educated, empathetic and even having a wonderful mate without having to worry about trying to not starve.” She said. Sophia’s face became red and a medley of anxious giggling burst from her. She hid her eyes away from As and drew circles on the seat she sat upon with her right front paw. “Mono and I being mates? Well… that would imply that we have a sexual relationship.” She stated with a sheepish voice. “We’re still keeping it platonic.” Picking up on the nervous body expression of Sophia, a narrow-eyed grin formed on As’s face. She leaned in above the table and into Sophia’s personal space. “Oh? Is that so? That’s not what I saw when I see you and Mono stimulating each other.” She prodded. “I sometimes sneak inside of your abode and hear some action that would make even my face turn red.” “Okay, we’re technical virgins. Happy?” With her eyes knitted into scowls and her front paws thrown into the air, Sophia shouted. “You try putting up with the heat of an ovulation cycle without trying to risk pregnancy.” As opened her mouth and nodded in understanding. “I can definitely see where you are coming from. Haven’t you ever thought of trying condoms?” Sophia shook her head and smiled with skeptical eyes. “Have you seen those barbs that any male feline has? An ordinary condom isn’t going to be safe when they prod into the rubber.” She said. Sweetie Belle walked towards As and Sophia’s table with her head looking up towards the Pokémon and her eyes shimmering with curiosity. “Is a condom something used for sex?” She asked. Both As and Sophia jumped at the sound of Sweetie Belle’s voice. The two Pokémon’s faces lit up with the intensity of volcanic eruptions. “Sweetie Belle! How much have you heard?” As asked. “Enough to know that Sophia isn’t a technical virgin and that you had a crummy childhood.” Sweetie Belle responded. “Sweetie Belle, why were you listening in on a conversation between adults?!” Sophia shouted with embarrassment injected into her voice. “Because As is the coolest adult I’ve ever seen. I want to be like her when I grow up. Besides, didn’t you tell me to be with Spike because his girth will be able to satisfy me when we grow up?” As glared towards Sophia’s direction. Feeling the heat and pressure of As’s anger, Sophia smiled with a sheepish shrug. “Are you trying to get this filly knocked up in her teenage years, Sophia?! Don’t even joke around like that around children, because they are very impressionable. I would hate to see Sweetie Belle’s childhood ruined because she got curious about what you meant about those messages you give her.” As called out with a vehement tone. “Alright, so I was being a bit immature there. But why are you acting defensively around Sweetie Belle? I thought you didn’t like children.” Sophia asked. As glanced towards Sweetie Belle’s eyes and smiled. She set her gaze back towards Sophia. “Because Sweetie Belle reminds me a lot of what I would want my childhood to have been like. She has a loving family, is well-educated and has a group of true friends that she can always rely on.” She began. “Wait… you want to be like me? But, you’re so mature about everything! You can make even the toughest of stallions fall with just one of your cool gazes. I want to have that kind of power like you!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. As’s eyes darted to the left and right. “Ummm… your sister doesn’t know about this, does she?” She asked. “I’ve told her a lot about you. For some reason, she’s against me being around you. She says that you are a bad influence.” Sweetie Belle explained. As pawed the patch of fur on her forehead and shook her head. Her tail descended and a worried frown fell on her face. “So you are going against what your sister is saying then? You should be a good kid and follow an adult’s rules that she had set upon you.” Sweetie Belle walked towards As and patted the area between her shoulder blades with her right front hoof. “Look As; I know what Rarity says about you, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t teach me what it’s like being an adult. I want to learn from you so that I know what to do and what not to do when I reach your age.” She explained. “You are… handling this situation better than I thought, Sweetie Belle.” As stated. “Any other kid would have just kept screaming or using terrible logic just to get what they want. But, I see reason in your words.” Sweetie Belle grinned and hopped upon As’s seat. Holding As by her shoulders, she jumped up and down. “Does that mean you’ll teach me how to be mature?!” As frowned at the sudden burst of Sweetie Belle’s energy. She placed her left front paw on Sweetie Belle’s head, calming her down. “If you keep bouncing around like that, I won’t.” She stated. “But, you already have the first step of maturity down; keeping an open mind. If you have an open mind, then you are capable of understanding the heart and would be able to read it.” Sweetie Belle nodded with understanding. She hopped off the seat and glanced towards As and Sophia. “I never thought of it like that. Thank you for the lesson, As. I promise that I will put it to good use.” Saying these words, she ran off towards another table where Applebloom and Scootaloo sat. The trio of fillies looked towards each other with smiles on their faces and bit into sandwiches of whole wheat and yellow flowers. As’s heart warmed at the sight of the three. She glanced towards Sophia with a prodding smile on her face. “So, let’s talk about your sex life again.” She stated with a sultry voice and a lack of tact. “Let’s not.” Sophia said with her eyes narrowed and her mouth formed into a frown. “How about we talk about a bit of tutorship instead?” “Tutorship?” As asked with a voice piqued with curiosity. “Yep! You seem to enjoy learning, do you not?” “Well… kind of. I mean, that surface tension lab was interesting.” Sophia leaned forwards and flashed a sultry smile of her own. One of her ribbons reached underneath As’s chin, sending bolts of tingling throughout her nerves. “How about I could educate you, and in return you are allowed to be with Mono and I to make our fun times into threesomes?” She said with a low and steamy tone. “This train of thought you have; I like it.” As responded. A loud siren blared throughout the city, garnering the attention of the two Pokémon. Their watches vibrated and flashed with red lights. “Umm… what is that?” As asked with a worried tone. Sophia’s eyes narrowed and her eyes flashed with a serious glint. “It’s the invasion siren! We have to evacuate the students and bring them into the shelter!” She ordered. Author's Note This chapter was a bit of a fun one to write, and it times very well with Rondo's previous chapter as well.
The Battle for SurvivalAuthor's Note And the newest chapter is finally here! I apologize for the extremely long wait, but I wanted to take the time to perfect this decisive chapter and make sure that nothing feels rushed or awkward. I could have failed in one of those categories, but I also believe that I could have succeeded as well. Well, I hope you enjoy the latest chapter! The Battle for Survival The skies above Neo Canterlot bled with hailstorms of fire reigning down upon it. The streets became littered with Equusians whose lungs ached from screaming and sprinting for their lives towards a silver shelter. Machine fortresses on eight legs that stood the length of a harrowing tower stepped along the city’s roads, shattering them with their pointed feet. Troops of alien soldiers emptied themselves from the black castles and slid down upon their legs. A teal-skinned female Van’Goth eyed a group of four Equusians that consisted of an adult chestnut-coated stag, a light yellow-coated unicorn mare, one periwinkle-coated unicorn colt and a dark-brown coated female fawn running down an empty road. She grinned and leaped off the leg towards the group. “We can make it!” With her breaths burning and a hopeful smile forming along her face, the mare called out. A drop shadow along her sight made itself visible within her eyes. The Van’Goth dropped before the four, dashing hope within their hearts and filling it with chilling despair. The soldier marched towards the family with slow steps. The stag’s blue eyes lit up with determination. He stepped forward and stood between the soldier and his family. “Run! I’ll slow this invader down! Get the children and yourself to a safe place!” He instructed. The mare looked into the stag’s eyes with pools of pained memories forming within her eyes. “No. I’ve already lost my husband once before, and I don’t want to lose you. You go and bring the children to safety.” She responded. The Van’Goth soldier laughed and held out her hand and opened her palm, where a black lance wreathed with blue electricity digitized into existence. She grabbed the lance and pointed it towards the family. “Isn’t that sweet? Allow me to ease your pain by uniting you with your loved ones then.” She said with a voice that dripped with venomous honey. A bolt of white lightning struck her back, tensing up all of the muscles in her system to immobility. The family of four took sprinted from the area with the speed of a cheetah. The Van’Goth turned her head around and looked into the sky, where Rainbow Dash hovered. A light purple rifle rested upon her hooves and her right eye glanced through the scope. “A perfect shot.” Rainbow Dash mused with a cocky smile on her face. “You know, I don’t like being interrupted.” The Van’Goth responded with a bitter tone. “You must be foolish enough to sign your own death warrant.” Rainbow Dash landed on the ground and hoisted her sniper rifle onto her back. She fired a nasty glare directed to the Van’Goth in front of her. “Does it look like I want to give this city away to you freaks? I’ll make sure that you will never take a step in Neo Canterlot again.” Upon saying these words, she brought her right front hoof onto her left shoulder’s armor. The locking mechanism released itself. With a swipe of her hoof and a spin of her body, Rainbow Dash pulled out a red javelin cloaked in flames and aimed it towards the Van’Goth. “Ah, so you wish to have a spear battle with me. Is that so?” With her voice piqued with interest, the Van’Goth asked. “Are you going to deny it?” Rainbow Dash responded. The Van’Goth spun her spear with the efficacy of an industrial fan. She snapped her hand’s grasp onto it and held it far to her right side. “Lucky for you, I like mirror matches. En garde!” Mono and Lith sprinted through the docking bay, where the lights flashed between pitch black and alarming red. The sounds of hooves sprinting along the floor and wailing sirens met with their ears. “How did the Van’Goth come here with all of this weaponry? Blueblood said that they shouldn’t be planning a full-scale invasion like this for at least another month!” Lith wondered. “I’m not sure, but I sense something off with these circumstances. We are going to have to be careful with this one Lith.” Mono suggested. “Had we not had Applejack and Rondo inadvertently scout the invasion force sooner, I think this city may have already been in enemy hands. But, you’re right Mono. We have to proceed with caution.” The twins stopped and looked towards the two exos before them; while both of them stood tall, the bulky armor of the one on the right lustered with an ebony color that contrasted against the ivory of the slender exo to the left. Lith hopped onto the black exo and smiled. “So this must be the Ares Exo that Professor Pasque told me about.” She said with a confident tone. Mono approached the ivory exo and touched its left shin with his right paw. A shock emerged from the armor of the exo and traveled into Mono’s heart. Mono’s eyes winced. “It’s like it is calling for me. It says that its name is Hermes.” He said. “Lith, do machines have souls?” Lith shrugged her shoulders and opened a hatch on the base of the exo’s left shoulder. She slipped inside. The exo’s visor lit up with a yellow light. “Don’t know, but we should probably meet with the others who are fighting off the Van’Goth threat outside the city. As long as we have each other, there is nothing we can overcome.” Lith said. Mono looked into the visor of the Hermes Exo with wonder sparking in his eyes. He nodded in silence and hopped onto the shoulder of the exo and opened the hatch. He slid down into the hole and landed within the cockpit. The Hermes Exo’s visor lit up with a teal green color. A hologram of Lith’s view in the cockpit appeared before Mono’s vision. Reading the tense facial expressions on Mono’s face and the shaky nature of his body, her mouth formed a frown that welled with concern. “Mono, are you okay? You look a bit antsier than usual. Is there something bothering you?” She asked. “Being out here reminds me of a nightmare I had this morning.” Mono responded. “But, it’s vaguely similar to what’s happening now. I’m afraid it might become a reality.” Lith shook her head and stared forwards with an understanding smile on her face. “You shouldn’t worry about it, Mono. We will dispel any nightmare we face together.” She consoled. Mono lowered his head and let out a sheepish smile. He looked into Lith’s eyes and the confidence within his pupils returned. “Thanks Lith. Now let’s show these aliens never to mess with our city.” Sophia and As wandered outside of the school and eyed upon the cityscape. The fires raged within the buildings, which became instigated through the continuous firestorms of ammunition from both sides. Exos swung their blades against enemy mechas with butter-slicing speeds, but the enemy mechas retaliated with swarms of missiles and lasers from drones that detached from their bodies. Witnessing storms of bullets dropping the Equusian and Van’Goth forces dead, Sophia’s jaw dropped. “This is… this is terrible!” She said with a crestfallen tone. “So much carnage… I didn’t think it would be this bad.” As looked towards Sophia’s direction and scoffed. “You must still be pretty naïve if you didn’t think something like this would happen to this extent. This is war, Sophia. War doesn’t hold back with its level of brutality.” She said. Sophia glanced down towards the ground and frowned. “I know, but this fighting is getting too close to the school. The children won’t be able to make it out in time.” She said. “…Leave that to me.” Both Sophia and As turned towards the left, where Scary Story stood with determined eyes. Scary Story took a few steps forward and closed the distance between herself, As and Sophia. “Scary Story? What are you doing here at the school?” Sophia asked with a confused tone. “As soon as the Van’Goth forces breached the shield and walls, I rushed over here as quick as possible so that I help guide the children to safety. They are the future after all.” Scary Story replied with a serious tone. “Anyways, how good are your skills when it comes to routing away enemy forces?” As smiled, shut her eyes and put her right front paw on her chest. “I don’t mean to brag, but I am good with serving as a distraction and leading my victims to their demise. Sophia and I will take things from here. You round up the students and teachers so that you can bring them to safety.” Wrapping her left front leg around Sophia, she said with a confident tone. Sophia looked towards As with a confused stare and blinked once. She opened her mouth with a slow speed and raised her eye with agitation. “Really? You’re really going to put the two of us, who are not armored in any away, shape or form, against an army of vicious aliens whose weapons and technology can rind us all into dust? Really?” She said with a deadpan voice. “Now now, Sophie~!” Stroking Sophia’s chest with her right paw, As responded with a buttery purr in her voice and a cat-like smile on her face. “We are merely going to just distract the forces here long enough so that the school can be safely evacuated.” Sophia let out an upset sigh and stared daggers into As’s eyes. “Fine. But, if I become Swiss Cheese, I’ll be haunting you for the rest of the afterlife.” She said with defeat and disdain in her voice. “And never call me Sophie again.” “Aww, but why not? I think it sounds adorable on you.” Hearing As’s reasoning on the nickname, a vein severed within Sophia’s forehead. Her paw itched with the desire to sock As across the face. “Just… stop As. We’re in the crossfires of what appears to be Tel Megiddo here, and I really don’t want to spend this time wanting to hurt you.” “Fair enough.” Shrugging her shoulders, As stated. “I’ll just tease you after we win.” A pained groan emerged from Sophia. The two Pokémon rushed out into the horizon, leaving Scary Story behind at the school. Heading out into the streets, strings of bullet fire filled their vision. Amidst the line of fire, an armored Van’Goth soldier set its eyes on Sophia and As. It directed its gun towards the two Pokémon. Sophia arched her stance with a crouch of her front knees. “Well, it didn’t take long for that to happen.” She muttered out. “Let’s make quick work of this thug, shall we?” As asked with her voice welling with confidence. Scary Story galloped into an alley with a group of foals trailing close to her tail. Listening to the noises of firearms and explosions behind them, their panting escalated into panicking. Their eyes glanced towards the entrance to the alley, where the steps of aggressive marching closed into the area with a claustrophobic noise. Scary Story swiveled her head to the right, where her eyes met with a green dumpster. She looked towards the foals with determined eyes and dropped to her knees. “Get in!” she motioned for them to climb up. Among the group, Diamond Tiara stared into Scary Story’s eyes and gave the midnight black mare a disgusted grimace. “In the trash? You have got to be DONT YOU DARE PUT ME IN THERE!” She stated with repulsion. Scary Story rolled her eyes and grabbed the filly’s mane with her teeth and threw her into the dumpster. “IN!” she ordered the rest of the foals, and not one of them hesitated. Just after the lid closed, she heard the steps intensify. In her line of vision approached two Van’Goth soldiers flanked a transformed Van’Goth. The two Van’Goth foot soldiers carried what appeared to be red assault rifles, but the muzzles on them ended with sharp spines used for ramming. Unlike his partners, the transformed Van’Goth stood in place with a flowing cape and no weapons on him. “It was a noble effort to hide the children, but I can see them through the metal, so I'm afraid that your final act was a waste.” the transformed Van’Goth told her. “I won't let you do this.” Scary Story growled with a harsh tone. “There is nothing you can do to stop me, and certainly nothing your people can do to stop us in the long run. The least I can do for you is to make your death painless.” Holding his hand out to beckon her forth, the transformed Van’Goth replied. Scary Story took a step back from him, but then paused before walking to stand in the middle of the alley with slow steps. The light around them flickered with sudden animated shadows that seemed to follow her every move. “I've done my best to keep the darker aspects of my heritage locked away.” Scary Story blinked and tears began to form in her eyes. “I just wanted to be a normal pony. I just wanted to live a standard life, make friends and make movies. But my destiny, unlike other ponies’, was predetermined by my birth. I have fought against it for as long as possible, but thanks to you, I am now in a position where I have no choice but to use the abilities from my demonic heritage.” “You're being a little dramatic aren't you?” The transformed Van’Goth noted and gave his soldiers the signal to advance on her. “I promise that this will be over quickly.” “Yes…” Saying these words, Scary Story thrust her wings out and lowered her head. Her shadow exploded up behind her onto the back wall of the alley. The shadows of her wings became a pair of great curled horns, the shadows of her legs forming large fangs and two glowing read spots in the massive shadow matched her own glowing red eyes. “It will be over quickly!” She said with a demonic tone. The foals in the dumpster heard a fearsome roar that chilled their hearts to the very core. The noises of flesh gnashing against claws and teeth struck their eardrums. Among the group, Silver Spoon’s teeth began chattering and her chest wanted to explode with anxiety. Screams of pure suffering rang within the foals’ ears. Among the group, Pipsqueak’s eyes soaked themselves with tears. “What’s happening outside?! Is Scary Story getting murdered?!” Silver Spoon shouted with little to no confidence in her voice. The sounds of vicious carnage stopped. Rumble popped his head out from the pile of trash he dug himself in and pushed his right hoof against the lid of the dumpster. Sliding it up to where his eyes could peak into the outside world, he saw a mass of black liquid in the alley’s walls that originated from where the three Van’Goth soldiers once stood. He set his eyes on Scary Story, who took heavy breaths with eyes widened with exhaustion. “Ummm… surprisingly, Scary Story didn’t get murdered.” Rumble said. “But I can’t say the same about those aliens who chased us in here.” Scary Story turned towards the direction of the trash bin, where her eyes caught a glimpse of Rumble before he dropped back into the dumpster. A tired frown appeared on her face. “I really hope he didn’t see that…” She murmured to herself. Breasel and Gordo charged into the line of fire, tackling into the Van’Goth with their impressive girth. Breasel unleashed a storm of pink petals from the flower on his back and swept the enemy forces with its floral gust. Gordo’s mouth opened forth, generating a sphere of orange energy that hummed with power. Gordo shifted his head forwards with open arms and released a wide beam that spanned a wide fan-shaped radius. “Keep at it Gordo! We’re doing a good job!” Breasel praised. Gordo’s Hyper Beam exhausted itself. Gordo glanced towards Breasel, who charged into a Van’Goth soldier with his head and smashed him against the building. “No shit we’re winning. They’re coming at us with minimal effort.” He stated with a cheerful tone. Rey bisected an enemy mecha with a single vertical slash. The halves of the machine fell onto the ground. Rey glanced behind him, where a graveyard of armored bodies and mechas rested. Setting his sights onto Gordo, a low growl emerged from him. “I know that they are coming at us with everything they got, but this feels way too easy. They’re just rushing in with numbers without rhyme or reason. What could they be planning?” He asked with his voice hushed in suspicion. Gordo socked a Van’Goth soldier across the face with his right claw. He turned back towards Rey with a smile of amuse curled over his lips. “Whatever Rey. I was getting bored with all of this quiet activity. It’s nice for me to stretch my limbs out and fight in a massive battle again.” “Lighten up Rey!” Breasel announced. “This is probably one of the few opportunities we can get at actually fighting in a massive battle. Enjoy it while it lasts and then drink the accolades later.” Rey shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “Alright, but I’m doubtful about what’s going to happen.” Twilight Sparkle and Applejack stood within the center of the battlefield outside of the city in the line of fire. A purple bubble surrounded the duo and a mass of the wall outside of the city. H.O.R.S.E. operatives fired out into the army with long-ranged weaponry and magic, striking any and all Van’Goth forces that approached near the barrier with a colorful maelstrom of explosions and gunfire. “Keep firing! We can’t let any more of these aliens come into the city!” Applejack shouted. “Applejack’s right. Just hold them off for as long as possible until we get more reinforcements. The rest of our forces should be clearing up the city as we speak. Keep firing and don’t lose your resolve!” Twilight Sparkle pleaded towards the direction of the operatives behind her. In their line of sight, an enemy mecha that stood twice the height of the city walls dropped onto the ground before the Equusians; its armor pulsed with a light purple color and the shoulders and hips of the mecha formed spines that jetted out in a forty-five degree angle. The stances of all the occupants in the bubble faltered and their eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. “What… in… tarnation is that?!” Applejack uttered out with phrasing that held itself together under fear. “That’s a God-class mecha…” Standing within the awe of fear, Twilight Sparkle said with a voice of cracking hope. “It’s the highest class of mecha imaginable by any scale in the category. It has the power to obliterate anything within seconds.” “Anything?!” Applejack screamed. The God-class mecha directed its sights onto the barrier in its sight. It held out its massive right hand and opened it. Twilight Sparkle felt the energy around her horn give in to the dark waves of energy that erupted from the mecha’s hand. The barrier around the area dissipated. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes shimmered with primordial fear. “A…Anything. It takes so much energy to keep one active, so this be a very important invasion for the Van’Goth forces.” She said. “Without that barrier, we’re dead?” Applejack asked. “Unless if we receive reinforcements right now, we’re dead.” The Van’Goth forces kneeled and aimed their weapons towards Twilight Sparkle’s direction. The group of standing H.O.R.S.E. operatives looked onto the field before them. Twilight Sparkle shied her head away from the sight of the Van’Goth and shut her eyes. “Twilight! Don’t give up now. What’s that about you saying that we shouldn’t give up and keep fighting to the bitter end?” Applejack asked. “That was before the God-class mecha came and disrupted our ability to use magic, which leaves us vulnerable to being killed at an instantaneous pace, and I doubt that we will receive immediate reinforcements! They’ve already broken through at this point!” Twilight Sparkle responded. “Not yet they have not!” Flash Sentry’s voice called out. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes opened at the sound of Flash Sentry’s voice hitting her ears. A golden exo burst from the doors of the bay by her side and flew in the air space above the Van’Goth forces. Rods half the size of the exo jolted out of its shoulders and channeled a stream of yellow electricity. Thunderbolts filled the air and rained down upon the Van’Goth, shocking them until they became ashes. “Flash!” Looking up into the sky with the glimmer of hope restored in her eyes, Twilight Sparkle called out. “Have the forces in the city been cleared out?” Flash Sentry smiled and pounded his chest with the confident strikes of his right front hoof. The Ares Exo and Hermes Exo flew high above the sky with their visors directed towards the God-class mecha. “Mono, it’s time we take this out.” Lith stated with a confident tone. “I’ll distract it while you cut off its power source. Once that happens, it’ll be just a hunk of junk.” Mono responded. The Hermes Exo descended from the atmosphere at double the speed, where the clouds became lines of light that zipped past Mono’s sight. The sight of Flash Sentry’s exo punching across the visor of an enemy mecha greeted Mono’s eyes. Mono pressed a button on the seat of his cockpit, showing him a screen of Flash Sentry’s face. “How are you holding up Flash?” He asked. Flash Sentry smiled and nodded. “Not doing too bad. Just let me-“ Saying these words, Flash Sentry’s exo’s hands conjured tempests of silver blades that homed onto the enemy mecha, slicing off its arms and causing it to explode from the inside. The Hermes Exo vanished from its point in the air and reappeared in front of an enemy mecha that stood twice its size. With a purple photon longsword in its hands, it slashed the enemy mecha with a flurry of cuts that penetrated its armor. Its body lit up with a blue aura and vanished from its spot. It reappeared behind another enemy mecha and bisected it with a swooping vertical slash. “Nice strike Mono!” Flash Sentry exclaimed. No sooner than he said that, the God-class mecha laid its sights on the combating exo of Flash Sentry. Its fingertips transmuted into ebony blades. It held its arms behind him and kept its sight on Flash Sentry’s exo. Seeing the exo not moving and its back turned towards it, the God-class mecha thrust its bladed fingers into the chest cavity of the exo and through the other side. Twilight Sparkle glanced upon the blades of the mecha with her breath robbed of speech and her eyes widened in shock. Her eyes picked up a trail of blood that ran down the central blade, wringing her eyes for tears. “Flash!!!” She shouted. Flash Sentry sat within his cockpit with the blade of the mecha stabbing through his chest and his cockpit. His body trembled from the strike through his heart. With the pained movement of his right front hoof, he touched a button on the right arm of the chair’s dashboard. A hologram screen of Twilight Sparkle appeared before him. “T-Twilight?” He asked with a weak and out of breath voice. “Flash! Please tell me you are alright. Please!” Twilight Sparkle pleaded. “Sorry… to disappoint, but my strength is fading very quick Twilight.” Flash Sentry responded with a forced smile. “As we speak, my vision of you is blurring and I can’t hear your words too well. But… thank Deus that I can still talk with you.” Twilight Sparkle frowned, but nodded with an air of understanding around her. “It is common for a dying organism to lose their senses, and hearing is usually the first to go out. I don’t want to accept losing you Flash, but… it’s inevitable at this point.” She said. “Good… girl. Don’t feel sad… but use that grief to power your resolve. You were always a strong mare Twilight. I kind of regret… never telling you how much… I… loved…” Flash Sentry’s breathing gave out. He slumped forwards and fell off of his seat. The God-class mecha pulled out its claws, allowing Flash Sentry’s exo to fall face-first onto the ground. A maelstrom of fear and anger clouded Twilight Sparkle’s mind. She looked towards the Hermes Exo and the rest of her peers, where shock embodied all of their faces through wide eyes and open mouths. She looked away and felt her heart give away to the fires burning in her heart. She looked down on her chest, where an emblem that depicted an image of a rainbow-colored strand of DNA rested on her suit. She shut her eyes and clasped her right front hoof over the emblem. “Flash… I promise you that your death will not be in vain. I will make sure that all of these miserable aliens will meet an end befitting of their kind; total annihilation!” Shouting these words, she pressed on the emblem on her chest. A spherical shell formed around her, closing her in from the world around her. Within the confined space of the shell, her body flashed with light. Two mounds grown upon her shoulders and sprouted into wings of white light bound with blue lines. Her hooves sparkled with purple, pink and yellow stars. Finally, the pink stripe in her mane and tail expanded in width and a yellow stripe formed its way upon its center. The shell around her broke, revealing her new form. She stood taller than her previous form, and her horn extended by a third of its original size. Energy welled within Twilight Sparkle’s heart, transferring into her horn in the form of a rainbow aura. She pointed the tip of her horn towards the God-class mecha’s right hand and blasted it with a wide beam. “Woah!” Leaping away from Twilight Sparkle and diving into the ground, Applejack shouted. “When she’d learn to do that?!” A holographic screen of Mono’s face formed in front of Applejack’s eyes, where the Meowstic wielded a proud smile. “It seems that the Artificial Mega Evolution field test is a success so far. Twilight’s Mega Evolution is stabilizing nicely.” “Is that what you’ve been working on all this time Mono?” Applejack asked with a voice stained with curiosity. Mono shook his head and looked towards Twilight Sparkle, whose aura permeated into the atmosphere and increased the pressure of the surrounding area. “I’ve sweated tears and blood over this project with just a handful of helpers, but it seems to be paying off. But Applejack, I really think we should fight too. This threat isn’t going to stay still.” Applejack smirked and leaped forwards. The armor on her right front hoof spread into a dual wing-shaped shield. She ran forwards, blocking the bullets that sprayed towards her. Mono gazed onto the God-class mecha, who took a large step backwards and stabilized its footing. An anxious frown formed on his face. “I believe in you Lith… I know you can take out this mecha. But please, be aware that we are at a time limit.” Fei’s whip-like appendages smacked and swatted away multiple flying drones the size of soccer balls from his vicinity. His whips channeled a blue energy that transferred into the black drones, making them explode from the inside and out. Towards his right, Rarity hopped from drone to drone, leaping off of them and leaving behind crystal stalagmites piercing their bodies. “How are you holding up Fei? Are you getting exhausted by these waves?” She asked with a confident tone. “I have trained under harder circumstances. This is just sparring.” Forcing a smile on his face and leaping away from a swarm of lasers that trailed him, Fei responded. Rarity’s eyes drifted towards Keldeo, who slashed apart the drones before him with single swoops of his glowing horn. A serpentine being wrapped up in steel and machinery rolled up from behind Keldeo. The young stallion turned around. His eyes widened upon the quick coil of the snake forming around him. Feeling the metal muscles constrict him, he let out a pained groaned. “A… A little help!” He blurted out with an out-of-breath tone. Rarity threw her right hind leg against the head of the mechanical serpent with the force of a meteor’s impact. The serpent’s head snapped and it fell onto the ground, freeing Keldeo from its bindings. “Wow… thanks Rarity. When did you get to be so strong?” Rubbing his neck and smiling with a sheepish demeanor, Keldeo asked. “I’ve learned some tricks with my earth-based magic. But, we have to make sure everyone else is alright.” Rarity responded. “How is Fei doing?” Keldeo questioned with a cocked head and a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. Their eyes drifted towards Fei, where the whips on his arms struck all of the Van’Goth forces that approached him with explosive blows dealt at their tips. Their pupils shrunk at the sight of the effortless brutality from the Mienshao. “I think he’s fine.” Rarity said with a shaken tone. The battle couple looked towards their right, where a handful of armored Equusians stood in the center of concentrated firepower brought forth by the Van’Goth. “Yeah. We have to help the others.” Keldeo responded. The duo left, leaving Fei alone and fending off the forces with his hands. He leaped into the air and spun around once, thrusting his foot inside of one of the drones. Standing up from the ground, he felt the muzzle of a rifle point against the back of his skull. His eyes widened and his muscles stiffened in panic. “Stay right where you are, Pokémon.” The Van’Goth holding the rifle against him said. Fei’s nerves relaxed and his eyes lowered. He kept his movement still and rolled his eyes towards the right. “So… are you going to kill me?” He asked with a placid tone. “You made it very easy to leave you vulnerable like this. We could lose all the troops we have in our reserves and our mission would still be successful if we captured one of you.” The Van’Goth responded. “For that reason, I won’t kill you. But, you will be wishing that I did.” A whirring swish struck Fei’s hearing and the sensation of the muzzle lifting away from the back of his head released him from fear. He looked behind him, where his eyes laid witness to his fallen captor and a white-coated quadruped with a navy blue feline face. Her red eyes stared into the windows of Fei’s soul, and her sickle-shaped horn that jetted off of the left side of her head and her scimitar-shaped tail sent waves of fear down Fei’s spine. “It seems that your grim fate has been averted.” The quadruped said with a calm demeanor. “An… An Absol. What are you doing here?” Fei responded with his heart stricken with anxiety. “I am here to make sure that fate meets with their destined targets and silence the changes against fate that would seek to ruin the world. Now, you should hurry and support your allies, Fei.” The Absol explained. “How do you know my name?!” Fei shouted with surprise lingering in his tone. The Absol eyes the horde of alien forces behind Fei. She leaped forwards and stared into adversity with tranquil fury burning in her eyes. “If you want to change the ill fates of your friends, then I suggest that you do not idle and assist them now. I will take care of these forces in your stead.” She proclaimed. Fei stared at the Absol in his line of sight and shook his head. He ran towards the opposite direction. The Absol shut her eyes. “You will fall another day, Fei. But now is not the time.” She murmured to herself. Rundas and Reine stood back to back. Their lines of sight flooded with the sight of mechanoids everywhere. Rundas drifted his eyes to his left and turned his head towards Reine. “So, I heard Boreas taught you our technique. Want to put it into action here?” He asked. Reine smirked upon hearing the words of Rundas. “I thought you’d never say that.” Both of the soles of the Weaviles’ feet encased themselves with ice. Both of them slid on the ground in opposing directions. They both synced their moves with each other’s movements, unleashing a wide array of slashes in different directions. They leaped and rolled towards their right and their right claws became cloaked in a dark aura. The sprays of lasers dodged their bodies and they thrust their Night Slashes against the opposition. Both Weaviles flew high on trails ice spawned from the Ice Beams of their left claws. Their trails spiraled into a whirlpool pattern. Boreas dropped from high above the sky and looked into the center of the ice. Her body cloaked itself with an ice blue aura. She collided within the pool of ice, creating a freezing shockwave that engulfed the area. The trails of ice contained the shockwave, locking all of the Van’Goth forces in its reach. “Nice of you to drop in on the action Boreas.” Rundas said with a witty smile. “Rundas, that pun was incredibly painful.” Reine groaned out. Boreas hopped out of the pile of ice and shook her head. She looked up towards the sky, where a transport helicopter hovered above. Joker stood on the floor of the plane’s hold with his feet held against the slanted surface. He peered out of the open double doors. “How’s the air support?!” He shouted. “Joker!” Reine shrieked with a smile on her face. “And you’re back to your old self again!” Joker walked off of the copter with a casual gait, ignoring the rushing wind and gravity forcing his organs upwards. He fell onto the ground unscathed from the drop. “Ever since I was dropped off in this story, I’ve always wanted to partake in a grand-scale epic battle against the Van’Goth. This is my shining moment! My purpose in the fic! I’m not going to let some daddy-daughter angst get the better of me! In fact…” He ran off into the distance, where an enemy mecha that staved off its freeze crawled out of the frosty wall. He leaped onto the chest’s chastise and curled his right hand into a fist. He punched through it, shattering the cockpit door and revealing a Van’Goth covered in a dark red latex suit. He pulled out the pilot and threw him out. He slid into the seat and pulled out a black box from his pants pocket. Rundas raised his right eye with worry. “What does he have there?” He asked. Joker slammed the box into the cockpit’s dashboard, revealing a red button with the words ‘Save Neo Canterlot!’ written with white lettering. He slammed the button in with his fist, causing masses and piles of weaponry to shoot out of every inch of the mecha’s body. He squealed with delight and rode the mecha on a rampage through the city, stomping on all in his way. “That’s bad… right?” Rundas asked with an unsure tone. “He’ll save everyone in the city with that, but don’t expect the council to remain unfazed by the amount of destruction he will create.” Reine responded. The Ares exo smashed its way into through an imposing wall lined with a black alloy. Beyond the hole in the wall, Lith gazed upon a sphere of violet blue energy that crackled with electricity. Walls lined with turrets and red walls with tongues of flames surrounded the core. The fur on Lith’s body stood up from the change of charge in the atmosphere. The holographic vision out of the cockpit blurred. “So this is one of the cores of the God-class mecha. It’s definitely well-guarded.” Lith noted to herself. The turrets pointed towards Lith and fired a spray of yellow lasers aimed at the Ares Exo. Lith manipulated the controls on her dashboard, moving the exo’s arms in front of it and exuding an orange barrier. Lith felt the blows shake against her exo. She looked forward and smiled. “So that’s how you want to play? Then I guess it’s time to fight fire with fire! Or should I say lasers with Overheat?” She gripped a black handle on the left arm of her seat and pushed it forwards. Two arched bars shot out from the shoulder blades of the Ares Exo and lit up with orange flames with an appearance of a phoenix’s wings. The Ares Exo flew above the surface and allowed for its wings to billow up and expand. The wings exploded into a tempest of flames, engulfing everything in its path. The core’s surface bubbled before bursting into non-existence. “One core down… potentially many more to go.” Lith said in a perky tone. Rainbow Dash’s javelin clashed against the female Van’Goth’s lance, bringing forth clashes of incandescent fire and electrifying voltage onto the battlefield. Rainbow Dash leaped over a sweeping strike from her opponent’s attack and dived towards her with a falling kick. The Van’Goth blocked it with her left arm and pushed the pegasus away from her. Rainbow Dash flipped backwards in the air and landed on her hooves. “Well well, it seems like this alien puts up a good one on one fight.” Walking towards Rainbow Dash with imposing marching, the Van’Goth praised. Rainbow Dash pulled out her sniper rifle and fired a bolt of concentrated wind and lightning towards the Van’Goth. The Van’Goth smacked the projectile to her right with her hand and walked towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth and charged towards the Van’Goth with her javelin in hoof. The Van’Goth smacked the lance out of Rainbow Dash’s hooves with her lance and pointed the sharp edge into Rainbow Dash’s neck. “A lot of fight in you… I like that. Unfortunately for you, you happen to be in my way.” A searing Flamethrower struck the Van’Goth’s bare back. Her eyes winced and she gritted her teeth. She looked towards the direction of the Fire-type move’s direction and witnessed Thunderlane holding a cannon with fresh smoke pouring out of its muzzle. Her stare intensified with the burn that she felt. “I am not one to resort to petty anger, but no one burns me like that and lives!” She screamed. Thunderlane flashed a cocky smile and walked towards her with stride in his gait. He holstered his cannon upon his back and pulled out a knife with a pink double-helix shape in it. “Well, you’re gonna have to fight me first.” He said. The Van’Goth sprinted towards Thunderlane with her eyes screaming bloody murder towards his direction. Rainbow Dash grasped her Javelin on the ground with her right front leg and stood on her hind legs. Rearing her body backwards, she chucked her burning Javelin towards the direction of the Van’Goth, impaling her through the burn on her back and out her chest. She looked back towards Rainbow Dash with her mouth frothing in scorn. “You miserable wench! Attacking me when my back is turned?! Where is your sense of honor?!” She shouted. “What about your sense of honor?! Going after an innocent family just for the pleasure of the kill? If you’re gonna be a hypocrite, then at least pretend about having a sense of honor.” Rainbow Dash responded. “Besides, you won’t need honor where you’re going.” Stabbing the Van’Goth through her abdomen with his knife, Thunderlane said. “I hear that honor won’t give you the light you need to endure the stygian depths of Tartarus anyways.” The Van’Goth slumped down onto her knees and fell onto her right side. Both Thunderlane and Rainbow Dash pulled their respective weapons out of the corpse. Rainbow Dash smiled and rubbed the back of her neck. “Thanks for the save back there Thunderlane. Had you come a moment later, then I would have ended up as a shish-kebob.” She said. “So does that mean I can take you out on a date after this battle?” Thunderlane asked with a chuckle and joking tone. Rainbow Dash set her pupils into the sky, hummed and rubbed her jawline with her left front hoof. She looked towards Thunderlane and smiled. “I’ll think about it. For now, I’ll just give you this as a deposit for that question.” She leaned towards Thunderlane’s face and planted a small kiss on his left cheek. Thunderlane’s face burned with a red blush. His eyes shot open and his ears stood on their ends, wiggling to the beat of his beating heart. He smiled and rubbed his left cheek. “So if I don’t hear back from you after this battle, then I will just take this kiss for myself.” He said. Rainbow Dash knocked her right front hoof into Thunderlane’s right shoulder and grinned. “Just be sure to come back alive after this fight.” She said. Sophia and As leaped with lithe steps across the battlefield, avoiding enemy fire and strikes from all directions. Seeing incoming fire heading towards their direction, they spun in the air and moved their bodies away from the line of fire. With no lag in their step, the duo retaliated with Shadow Ball and Night Slash and knocked away their opposition. The duo stood hip to hip on opposite sides, gazing upon the hordes of soldiers that stabbed through the last of the Equusian operatives. “These soldiers don’t really let up in their assault, do they?” Panting between words, As complained. “With the amount of fire on our backs at nearly every second, we don’t have much time to manage in between their cooldowns. We either take that time to rest so we can dodge or attack for the chance of reducing their enemy force’s attack intervals. Either way, we have to keep holding up to the assault until we either get reinforcements or the school is evacuated completely.” Sophia spurted out in a focused tone. The streams of projectiles fired at the duo from around them. Both As and Sophia leaped upwards and brought their respective left and right upper and lower feet against each other. Seeing the line of fire approached them, the two Pokémon leaped off of each other from their feet and split into two directions. As sprinted forwards with her body shimmering in a pink light. She lunged towards a Van’Goth soldier and began clawing and biting the soldier. A cloud of dust veiled the assault. The Van’Goth around the brawl began firing in the cloud of dust. The dust settled down, revealing the assaulted Van’Goth’s armor and body riddled with bullet wounds and As left unscathed. “You all have terrible aim, you know that?” As taunted. On the other side of the field, Sophia fired a Moonblast into the sky and leaped into it. Basked in its radiant light, her body became a black silhouette and she held her right front leg and left hind leg out with a graceful pose. The energy from the Moonblast dissipated within her, illuminating her with a pink energy. “Now it’s time for the grand appearance of my Sylph Charge!” Sophia announced. She sprinted towards the nearest Van’Goth who gunned her and leaped towards the soldier’s chest. She flipped half a revolution forward and slammed her hind feet square into the torso of her target. The Van’Goth’s feet slid back, but it slammed its assault rifle into Sophia. Sophia smirked and spun onto her feet. Her pink aura peaked in height three times its previous size. A Moonblast filled within Sophia’s mouth, expanding by each frame of the second until it became the size of a planet. She threw it downwards, throwing all surrounding soldiers away. She looked behind her, where she saw a squad of enemy mechas the size of Neo Canterlot’s houses that marched into the battle. Her smirk undid itself and formed into a frown. Three of the mechas pointed their arm cannons towards the Sylveon. “Ohhhh… those are some heavy guns that are coming from the enemy reinforcements.” She murmured with a muted voice. “This is going to suck.” Seeing the cannon fill up with a purple light, Sophia sprinted away from the area with the fastest gait possible. The enemy mecha locked onto Sophia’s position and read her zigzag movements. The mecha looked towards its right, where a storm of missiles appeared in its line of sight. It disabled the energy within its cannon and held its right arm above its face. The missiles exploded, veiling its line of sight in a black smoke. Beyond the smoke, Joker’s mecha and Inge rushed towards the group of mechas at a breakneck speed. Joker’s mecha socked another mecha across the face with a burning fist, knocking the head off and causing it to explode. Inge leaped into a mecha’s visor and vanished into its hardware. The mecha’s body became wreathed with electricity before slumping forwards and shorting out. Inge leaped out of the mecha before it exploded. “Yeah! Two down!” Inge called out. “Inge, you know what to do.” Joker said. Inge’s eyes turned red and her pupils formed into crosshairs that locked onto a mecha. She fired a Zap Cannon towards the target in her sights, blasting it into the sky. The electricity made its way into the mecha’s joints, separating them into fragments. Sophia looked behind her and saw all of the mechas focusing on Joker and Inge. She smiled with a sense of security hoisting itself upon her. “Thank you for the assistance. I did not look forward to being a victim of overkill.” She said. As leaped towards Sophia with her fur scuffled and a bruise over her right shoulder. “Overkill is our specialty.” She said with a proud tone. “Also, it’s not a good idea to taunt the other soldiers. I forget that they can still hit me physically with their guns.” One of the mechas fighting against Joker and Inge looked towards As and Sophia’s direction and sprinted across the battlefield towards their direction. A storm of missiles fired from its shoulders. Then, an orb of yellow electricity fired from a needle on its abdomen and aimed towards the two Pokémon. The missiles coordinated themselves into an arrow formation. Fei, Rarity and Keldeo leaped from the horizon and sprinted towards the assault of projectiles aimed towards Sophia and As. Keldeo’s horn illuminated with a brilliant light and expanded to the size of a pole. He swung his head and struck half of the missiles with his horn. Rarity conjured a storm of crystal shards and collided with the rest of the missiles, destroying them in a storm of diamond dust. Fei leaped in front of the electrical orb and curled his right fist. His right arm flashed with a blue light. With a loud roar, he struck the orb with the entirety of his right arm. The resulting friction sparked with a lightning storm. The power flowing through Fei’s arm forced the orb backwards and into the mecha, absorbing it within its power. Fei landed on his feet. Heavy breathing permeated from his mouth. “I’m… never doing that again. My Spirit Beat isn’t even meant to reflect projectiles.” He said in between breaths. “Fei!” Running towards the Mienshao, Sophia shouted. Fei turned around and found his body wrapped around Sophia’s crushing upper legs. “I’m glad you’re safe too Sophia.” He grunted out. “So how is one of my favorite beings handling this battle?” She asked with a cheery voice. “I got saved by a mysterious Absol, so I’m grateful for that. Then the three of us are here to provide reinforcements. Please tell me that there are more survivors.” As pointed her head towards her left, setting her sights on the graveyard of fallen operatives. She shut her eyes and shook her head. “Too little too late. Outside of Joker and Inge, we are the only other operatives that are alive here.” She said. Keldeo frowned and stomped his right front hoof onto the ground. He clenched his teeth and looked away from the scene of dead bodies. “These Van’Goths don’t screw around with their assault, do they?” He asked. “It’s almost… it’s almost like how the Pokémon of my world were wiped out by the hands of a prideful god.” Sophia whirled her head to her right and cocked it with lowered eyes. “A prideful god? It’s strange, but that feels awfully familiar to me.” “Let us not talk about the Demiurge. I wish to clear my memories of such an awful being.” Walking away with a gait of displeasure in her step, Rarity announced. Sophia’s eyes glanced towards Rarity, who ambled without a straight focus on the path in front of her. Sophia caught a glimmer at the corner of a nearby alley and saw three red-ended darts tipped with a black liquid. Without a step out of rhythm, she sprinted towards Rarity and pushed her flank to the side and knocked her away. Rarity’s eyes bolted open from the sudden shove. She laid witness to Sophia’s eyes and mouth widening from the sudden stab of the three darts that struck the jugular vein in her neck. A silent gasp escaped from Rarity’s mouth. “Sophia!” Running to her side, Rarity shouted. Sophia’s vision blurred and her legs wobbled with a sudden wave of atrophy washing over her body. She fell onto the ground. As, Fei and Keldeo sprinted towards her side with light speed in their steps. Their eyes lit up with red danger sirens. Fei plucked out the darts in Sophia’s neck and brought his hands around Sophia’s shoulders. He began shaking her with a firm grip. “Sophia! Are you alright?!” He shouted with panic running through his voice. Sophia directed her eyes onto Fei’s face. She let out a weak frown and anguished cry. “F-Fei? I… can’t feel… my body. It’s getting… a bit harder… to breathe. I don’t… want to die…” She whispered between labored breaths. “Don’t die Sophia! You will make it! You just have to hold on until we get medical help for you!” Fei shouted. With tears pooling within his eyes, he let out a small grunt. “Damn you Arceus! Don’t take away another one of my family! Please!” “She will be alright Fei. I can guarantee that.” Fei’s eyes shot open and he turned his head around, where the Absol walked down towards the group with a calm demeanor on her face. “You again… and you defeated all of the Van’Goth you faced?!” Fei shouted with surprise in his voice. The Absol approached Fei’s side and took the darts on the ground. She examined the black liquid on them. “These darts are tipped with a lethal chemical compound that quickly causes organ tissue to degenerate when injected into the bloodstream. Multiple organ failure occurs shortly after followed by death. Considering this young Fairy-type’s weakness to Poison, she will be experiencing the effects quicker than average.” She explained. As’s stoic stance faltered upon hearing the words of the Absol. She bore her teeth, narrowed her eyes and growled. She walked up towards the Absol and stared into her eyes. “How can you be so calm when one of my friends is suffering and dying here?! We have to get her to a hospital right now!!!” As screamed. “I have already alerted the medical staff at H.O.R.S.E. about this scenario. I gave them the instructions on how to treat Sophia’s particular poisoning.” The Absol explained. “Wait, what?! You saw this coming? Just who are you?” Keldeo shouted. “Perhaps it would be best if you do not interrogate me and bring your friend to the Medical Division at H.O.R.S.E. as quickly as possible?” The Absol responded with a hint of wit in her tone. Fei lifted Sophia onto both of his shoulders and secured his arms around her shoulders and hips with a firm lock. He sprinted down the path alongside As and Rarity. Keldeo stared at the group running for a moment; his mind gravitated towards the Absol, but his legs shook with the urge of running towards the opposite direction. “Fine, but you better tell me who you are after we are out of this crisis!” He demanded. “I can uphold that promise.” The Absol said. Keldeo sprinted ahead of the group with quick hooves and maintained a good distance away, maintaining the focal point of the spear’s point. The Absol looked towards the darts with a frown on her face. “It seems that the wheel of fate is turning...” Twilight Sparkle fired a myriad of large beams from her horn against the enemy mechas and forces, dropping them down to a mere fraction of their invading force. The Hermes Exo sprinted across the God-class mecha’s left arm, stabbing its way into the armor with its photon sword and tearing through the buttery steel with finesse. It leaped onto the other arm several miles away from the arm it was on with the blink of an eye and continued its assault. Coloratura looked upon the battle from a nearby watchtower and gazed in awe at the action before her. “Wow… H.O.R.S.E. is much stronger than I thought it was. Despite the odds that we are facing against, they aren’t giving up in the slightest. They’re even staging a powerful counteroffensive against the enemy. I wish… I wish I could be that strong. I wish I could have the power to protect those precious to me.” She mused to herself. Applejack and the other H.O.R.S.E. operatives continued their relentless use of assault fire, shooting down all leftover Van’Goth forces marching towards them. She smiled and looked back towards her team. “Keep firin'! Shoot with all you have the moment the Van’Goth hit the whites of your eyes!” She declared. The numbers of the Van’Goth dissipated, leaving only the God-class mecha standing. The giant mecha fired a storm of beams from its visor, lighting up the ground below with a rave of death. Feeling the pressure from the lasers hit her, Twilight Sparkle kneeled and turned her head away. “Not even that can quell my rage! I’ll make sure that this metallic contraption and all of the enemy forces are crushed by my hooves!” She shouted. “Woah Twi! Chill!” Applejack called out. “I’m not sure what that Mega Evolution’s doin’ to your head, but I ain’t liking it.” Hearing Applejack’s words, sanity cleared Twilight Sparkle’s mind. She blinked and looked around her. She set her sights on Mono, who zipped across the titan in his Hermes Exo. She clenched her teeth and ran along the arm of the mecha. She aimed her horn towards its head, firing a storm of lasers from its tip. The mecha brought its opposite hand towards its face, blocking all of the lasers. Twilight Sparkle eyes the glowing lines running through its body and saw them weaken in intensity. She slowed down and felt the God-class mecha’s body trembling. The Hermes Exo’s body stopped moving and hovered in place. Behind the cockpit, Mono’s eyes scanned the vibrations of the titan. The screen of the Hermes Exo picked up an influx of energy rising from the chest. “It’s about to blow up!” Mono shouted. “What?! Blow up?!” Twilight Sparkle’s horn flashed. Her body vanished from the arm in an instant. She warped back towards the ground and looked upon the collapsing God-class Mecha. The Ares Exo burst from the left shoulder of the titan and flew towards the outskirts of the city. Debris rained from the sky with the finality of an apocalypse. Twilight Sparkle and the magic users of the squad below erected a multi-colored barrier that covered half of Neo Canterlot. The rain of debris shattered underneath the force of the shield. The Hermes Exo and Ares Exo ducked and weaved along the debris, racing towards the ground at blurring speeds. Lith glanced towards Mono’s hologram and let out a focused stare. “Mono, we’re going to have to prepare for a crash impact. We’re going to have to do an emergency evacuation.” She said. “Are you sure? I mean, these exos are on a direct collision course with the shield.” Mono responded with a worried tone. “Correction; your exo is on a direct collision course with the shield. Mine is aimed towards the western plain. It’s not too late to adjust your path.” Lith explained. Mono tapped a series of button of the dashboard of his chair’s arm. His cockpit let out three beeps and loosened his seat. The back door of the cockpit opened. Mono’s seat flew out of the exo, ejecting him into the sky. A white parachute deployed from the back of the seat, allowing it to glide towards the ground. He glanced towards his right and gazed at Lith, who sat in her seat with a relaxed smile and had a white parachute deployed from the seat. She waved towards him. “I see you are enjoying the ride.” Mono said. “It’s not exactly skydiving, but it’ll have to do.” Lith responded. Mono felt a burning ripple within the confines of his mind. He winced and brought his right upper paw onto his head. His eyes drifted towards the sky above Lith, where they met with a shadow that sprinted along the storm of debris and lunged towards the female Meowstic. His eyes sparked with determination and resolve filled his soul. He pressed on his seat’s buckle, releasing him from the seat. He leaped off of his seat and hopped across a falling bridge of debris. Lith glanced towards Mono and felt her heart grip with anxiety. She pressed on her seat’s buckle and leaped out of her seat. “Mono! You’re gonna get yourself killed!” She shouted. “Get out of there Lith! It’s targeting you!” Mono screamed. “What's targeting me?” She asked with a confused tone. Mono pounced towards Lith and pushed her away with his upper paws. Lith let out a surprised grunt and clambered onto a stray sheet of metal. Her eyes set themselves upon a creeping shadow above Mono and formed into a claw. The claw gripped onto Mono’s torso and pulled him into the stratosphere. A frown agape with shock and eyes illuminated with worry filled Lith’s face. She held her right front paw out towards Mono. “Mono!” She shouted. She fired a Charge Beam towards the base of the claw, but it missed. The fire in Lith's eyes froze over and her heart broke. She looked away from the scene with closed eyes and her lips sealed into a frown.
Creeping Shadows and the Heart of DarknessFei kicked through the doors of the emergency room at H.O.R.S.E. with Rarity, Keldeo and As surrounding him. A gurney and a small group of Equusians garbed in yellow gloves and aqua blue surgical garbs met with their line of sights. A coffee brown-coated earth pony stallion ran over towards Fei and glanced towards Sophia. Seeing the Pokémon’s chest rising at a slow rate, an air of relief came over him. “I didn’t know what that creature was talking about, but you brought her here on time. We’ll take care of the rest from here.” He said. Fei lifted Sophia from his shoulders with his hands and laid her on the gurney by her left side. The rest of her teammates circled around Sophia’s blurry sight. “Make sure to stay strong Sophia. Remain strong for everyone’s sake.” Fei encouraged. “I’m not sure what to say, but know that I will always be grateful for saving my life. All I could do here is just hope for your best possible recovery. Please don’t disappoint..” Rarity said. “Show me just how quickly a Pokémon can get back on her feet Sophia. It only feels like yesterday that I’ve rediscovered that I was a Pokémon, so I want you to validate my point on how sturdy we are.” Keldeo stated. As smiled and brought her right front paw towards Sophia’s right cheek, stroking it with a gentle caress. “Make sure to get better. After all, you are one of my favorites to cuddle with.” She said with an uplifting tone. Hearing all of the distorted words of her comrades, a weak smile appeared on her face. “Everyone… thank you.” She beckoned out. "Seriously though, if you die, I am keeping Mono for myself." As whispered in her ear. The team of surgeons ran down the hallway with hurried steps and attached wires from below the gurney onto Sophia. Fei saw the surgeons take a sharp left and disappear. He dropped down onto his knees, brought his hands onto his eyes and began crying. “I’m so… worthless. I couldn’t even protect the life of my oldest friend.” He murmured to himself. Rarity walked up towards Fei and patted his right shoulder with a warm series of taps. “But Fei, you were the one that was able to bring Sophia here on time. I’m honestly not the fastest pony around, and Keldeo would have had difficulty repelling the enemy.” She reasoned. “Besides, Sophia’s going to be alright. The doctors at H.O.R.S.E. are really good at what they do. I can say from experience that their operating skills are top notch.” Slamming his right front hoof into his chest, Keldeo said. “I know, but I still can’t help but worry for her. She is practically my headstrong little sister! Of course I have to worry about her!” Fei shouted. “Did I not say that she would be alright?” Hearing a familiar voice behind them, the group turned around and set their eyes on the Absol. The Absol walked towards them with a stone-still expression on her face and slow-moving steps. Keldeo focused his sights on the Absol’s coat, picking up the stains of black blood on it. “Was the attack successfully routed?” He asked with a voice drenched in suspicion. The Absol gazed into Keldeo’s eyes, filling his soul with the thousands of screams from undead souls. A chill ran down Keldeo’s spine. “Yes.” Blinking once, the Absol responded. “For my end of the agreement, I will tell you who I am. My name is Sibyl. I was a seer who hails from Keldeo’s world. I can see the past, present, future and both the beginning and end of time.” As’s eyes narrowed upon hearing Sibyl’s words. She looked upon her with her pupils resonating in distrust. “You’re leaving out some important information Sibyl. You told us your world, but said ‘Keldeo’s world’. How do you even know Keldeo?” She said with suspicion in her tone. Keldeo’s ears perked up at the sound of As’s words. “Y-yeah! I have no memories of ever meeting a Pokémon like you. Plus, who’s to say that you didn’t come from Fei’s world or As’s world?” Sibyl shut her eyes and directed her face towards As’s direction. She opened her eyes, which radiated with the stillness of her heart. “The two of you bring up a good point. But then again, Rarity here can understand my words. Can she not?” Rarity took a step backwards and blinked her eyes once. “Umm… yes. I can understand your words as though you are speaking in my language.” She admitted. “Meanwhile, As and Fei are both wearing translators while Keldeo is not. This leads to the logical conclusion that I share in the same speaking ability as Keldeo. Therefore, I must come from his world.” Sibyl explained. “That’s a good point, but you still haven’t explained why you know our names.” As said. Sibyl walked down the hallway and focused on the path ahead. She paused in her steps and turned the direction of her head towards the group. “My abilities as a seer allow for me to know the names of those who are important in my visions. That is all that needs to be said. If you need me, I will be seeing how the operation is going.” Saying these words, Sibyl walked down the hallway and took the very left the surgeons went down. Fei sprinted ahead of the group and chased down Sibyl. Turning the corner the second the Absol passed through there, Fei’s eyes widened at the sudden disappearance of Sibyl. “But… how? There is nothing but walls down this corridor.” He muttered to himself. “She’s a seer who was able to defeat all her adversaries… just how powerful is she?” Wilhelm walked down a dim-lit corridor. Metallic bricks and pulsating lights made up the walls of the corridor. Frames depicting the images of splayed bodies with the center of their corpses sliced from the neck down hung upon the walls of the corridor. The incisions revealed fleshy veins, muscle and organs with a small coat of blood over their surface. A gnarled smile of pure delight formed from Wilhelm’s face. His eyes narrowed with glee. “It has happened… It has finally happened! I have my hands on a living, breathing subject not of any known world to investigate and experiment with!” He shouted. He shoved open a set of double doors at the end of the hallway, revealing a white area that with the pungent aroma of rubbing alcohol wafting through the air. Wilhelm’s eyes set themselves upon a silver tray filled with a wide assortment of knives and probing tools. His eyes scanned to the left, where an unsuited Mono lied upon a gurney with his ankles strapped upon its metal surface. Wilhelm walked upon the captured Pokémon, witnessing his unmoving body and his shifty eyes. He looked into his eyes, seeing the fear of a whimpering child fill within the Meowstic’s pupils. Wilhelm’s mouth salivated. He grabbed a set of gloves from his coat pocket and slipped them over his hands. “It seems that the paralyzing agent administered to you has rendered you all but helpless. This pleases me greatly.” Finishing his words, Wilhelm moved his right hand towards the tray and grasped a sharp scalpel in the set of tools. He moved his scalpel-wielding hand towards Mono’s lower left leg and began cutting at the edge of the foot. Feeling the sharp blade cut into his foot, Mono’s nerves screamed out in pain. He shut his eyelids to the point where they could rip off of his flesh. He felt the blade move up through his leg and muscles, bringing forth a rush of tears out of the ducts of his eyes. “A stimulus response from the cut I see. It seems that the paralyzing agent has not been set properly.” Noticing the movement of Mono’s eyes, Wilhelm stated. Feeling his heart pulse with joy, he continued the incision along Mono’s shin. “But, this allows me to test the limits of your pain tolerance!” Mono felt Wilhelm’s fingers dig along the fibrous meat of his leg and touching the bone underneath. Cutting into the meat around the fibula, Wilhelm pulled the bone out of Mono’s leg and brought it into the Meowstic’s sight. Mono’s eyes glimmered with anxiety and his heart exploded from the sight of it. Wilhelm moved his right hand over towards the tray, grabbing a sheet of sanding paper. He brought it over to the fibula and began rubbing it against the bone. Mono’s eyes strained from the searing pain. “It seems that your bones have some very sensitive nerve endings.” Lifting the sandpaper away from Mono’s fibula, Wilhelm said. “Regardless, I’ve seen all what I wanted to see from your lower legs. It’s time to move up to your knees!” Mono’s heart plummeted upon hearing Wilhelm’s words. Wilhelm cut up towards Mono’s upper leg, exposing the flesh and bone underneath the upper leg and knee. Wilhelm brought his gloved fingers around the cartilage of Mono’s knees, wiggling them forth. Mono shut his eyes from the awkward tingling that jolted up his spine from the movement. “You know, they say that the femur is the hardest bone in the body to break. Why don’t we have a test with your femur?” Wilhelm stated. The Van’Goth scientist brought his hands over the silver tray, grabbing a black mallet and silver nails. He set the edge of the nail into Mono’s femur and brought the mallet onto the head of the nail. He banged the mallet into the nail a few times, digging into the bone further. Mono felt his tongue salivate from the pain and his teeth freeze up with each strike. “Your femur has a surprising amount of resistance from bludgeoning strikes. I can see how your kind is able to endure so much in the battles against our organization.” With the finish of his words, Wilhelm removed his mallet and nail from Mono’s leg and brought a suture from the tray. He leaned towards Mono’s leg and began sewing together the muscles into the bones. With the muscles reattached to the bones and each other, Wilhelm sewed the flesh of Mono’s leg and looked into his eyes. “Allow me to rearrange my toolkit so that I may tackle on your torso and abdominal cavities next. Take this time as my mercy to you, because it is the only mercy you will get from me.” Wilhelm walked out of the room through the east set of doors, leaving Mono alone once more. His tears leaked onto the gurney underneath and his eyes resonated with his breaking spirit. A set of blue blankets draped along Sophia’s unconscious body, revealing only her shaved-off chest and abdomen. The team of surgeons eyed a display on the monitor and saw the number towards the right dipping by each second. “Her condition is worsening by each second. Will we really be able to save this Pokémon?” A black-feathered griffon among the group asked. “Her health is declining rapidly, but we can still save her if we act fast enough.” A mint blue-coated unicorn mare responded. She opened one of the black jars by her side. She levitated the contents from the jar, revealing a heart-shaped device that flashed with a light blue color. It sat still in its magical hold. “Because of that strange Pokémon, she was able to tell us the proper-sized organs for our patient here. We still have time, so let’s start the operation!” The brown-coated earth pony stallion declared. A gray-chitin changeling surgeon among the group grasped a scalpel with his right front hoof and brought it down towards Sophia’s chest. He started the incision from the base of the throat and brought the cut down to her abdomen, revealing the muscle and fat underneath the fur. A chestnut-coated doe grabbed a black-tipped bone saw and brought it down to the center of the exposed chest. The circular blade whirred to live and began cutting at the bone of the Sylveon until the ribcage split. “Patient’s heart is in sight. Prepare the clamps.” The doe stated. The yellow pegasus mare at the silver try rushed towards her and brought forth a pair of silver clamps. The unicorn surgeon levitated both clamps and affixed them onto Sophia’s chest flesh. The changeling surgeon eyed the small heart, whose contractions reduced over the span of seconds. The muscle of the heart decayed into a gray color. “The poison has destroyed a large majority of the receptors in the heart. Prepare the blood circulation machine, because I’m going to induce clinical death now.” He demanded. The yellow pegasus mare brought forth a large machine and unwound the clear tubes on its right side. The mare brought them towards the doe, who carried it over her hooves. The changeling brought a syringe filled with a gray liquid and injected it into the atrium of the heart. The heart stopped beating seconds after the injection. The changeling brought the scalpel to the aorta and cut around it. The doe brought the tube into the leaking artery and set a metal clip at its edge. The blood rushed into the tube and through the machine. “You better work on the other artery Scissor Leg. We need to set the tube into an output artery to circulate it.” The doe said. “I know Graceful Leap. I’m working on it. I still have to be mindful about the poison in our patient's system.” Cutting the other artery of the heart, Scissor Leg stated. Graceful Leap took another and affixed it into the other artery. She put a metal clip at its edge. The blood from the machine flowed out into the other tube and back through Sophia’s body. Scissor Leg carved the heart out of its veiny bindings and pulled it out with his gloved hooves. The earth pony stallion opened a vanilla-colored plastic bag labeled ‘Biological Waste’, allowing for Scissor Leg to drop the heart inside. “So Steel Scalpel, what does that Pokémon want with these organs?” Scissor Leg asked. Steel Scalpel zipped the bag shut and shook his head. “I am not sure. Whatever it is though, she made it seem like it was a case of life or death for everyone.” The unicorn mare levitated the cybernetic heart into the open chest cavity and brought an empty tube into it. She looked towards the pegasus mare. “I need you to open up valve A-8 Solar Wind. We’re ready to get this replacement heart beating.” “Can do Astral Heart!” Saluting with her left hoof and inputting a command into the machine, Solar Wind responded. The blood passed through the tube and into the cybernetic heart. The heart lit up with blue lights coursing through its ventricles. Scissor Leg and Graceful Leap both brought sutures in the area between the artery and the mechanical heart, sewing the beating organ as a part of the Sylveon. Astral Heart levitated the tubes out of the arteries, allowing for the mechanical heart to set. “The cybernetic heart has been set. Blood flow should continue as normal, but we still have the other organs to work on.” Scissor Leg said. “Regardless, just that heart transplant bought us enough time to work on the rest of her body. Those toxins running through her veins are unable to work on these parts.” Graceful Leap responded with a relieved smile. “I don’t know about you all, but I’m seriously having some really bad doubts about this whole procedure. H.O.R.S.E. made these organs with the intent of transforming these patients into living weapons. Does anyone see anything wrong with that at all?!” Solar Wind asked with an unsure tone. “I see the ethical issues behind it and the reasons why we’ve waited so long before doing this. But we don’t have any known compatible organs for our patient and this is the closest we can use to save the patient’s life. I swear on my name as Healthful Blade!” Pounding his chest with his right talons, Healthful Blade called out. He ran towards the set of jars to the right and unscrewed the next one. “Since they were affected by the administered serum, we’re transplanting the lungs next!” The bright lights filled Mono’s eyes for an eternity. His heart beat at an irregular rhythm from the lack of sound in the room. His body sweated with the fear of the unknown. He blinked three times, steadying his nerves. His ears perked up at the sound of the door swinging open. He rolled his eyes towards Wilhelm, who lugged in a large machine with flashing lights. Wilhelm walked towards Mono and wrapped his right hand around the Meowstic’s jaw. “Ah good. You have not passed out from the pain yet. You have already proven to be one of my stronger research subjects.” He jeered. “This machine will be used in the next phase of your vivisection. I will be having an up and close examination on the internal organs in your torso and abdomen.” Listening to the Van’Goth scientist’s words, a portion of Mono’s soul died. Wilhelm brought out a razor and began shaving off Mono’s dark fur from the chest down, exposing his pink flesh underneath. Mono felt a chill run down his bare skin. He then felt Wilhelm’s cold scalpel touch his skin and the splitting incision made into it. His eyelids clenched upon themselves, remaining strong against the painful invasion of his body. With the incision expanding down to his abdomen and prodding deeper into his muscle, Mono shouted within his mind. “Now, why must you have a strong reaction? The fun of exploring your body has only begun.” Wilhelm said with an eerie voice depraved of humanistic emotion. Mono felt Wilhelm’s fingers prod and maneuver through the inside of his meat, feeling the exterior of his sternum and the beating heart underneath. Each tap on Mono’s heart caused a myriad of palpitations. Wilhelm smiled. He tapped a series of buttons on the machine. A bone saw dropped from the slot in the center. He began sawing Mono’s sternum, driving Mono’s eyelids to erratic levels of wincing. He cut through the rib cage, allowing the heart to break free from its confines. “Finally… the heart. Now it’s time to see part of what makes this tick.” Wilhelm made a small cut around the left ventricle of Mono’s heart, breaking the pacing of the muscle’s beats. Wilhelm grasped two tongs from the tray and inserted them into the cut, pulling away the muscle and allowing the scientist a better view into the heart. Feeling Wilhelm’s fingers poke around the inside of his heart, a mixture of stabbing pain and strong nausea overcame Mono. Wilhelm brought his fingers out of Mono’s heart and grabbed his sutures. He began sewing the surface of the cut, sealing it until it feigned the appearance of never being penetrated through. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. “You definitely have a very active heart. It almost felt as though it could have exploded at any moment like a cat’s! I cannot wait to investigate more of your body and see what other marvelous functions are hidden away.” Wilhelm examined the coat on Mono’s body and hummed with curiosity abuzz. “I’m not sure exactly how you aliens work, but I have seen the males and females of a few of different species in your alien group, ranging from the different-sized feathers of those black weasels to practically none on those red crocodiles. But you and that white cat alien you call your sister have extreme differences in both appearance and moves. When I am finished with your torso and abdomen, I will be checking on your genitalia to see where those differences come from.” Mono’s face paled from Wilhelm’s words. His soul whimpered at the thought of having the Van’Goth scientist probe his most private areas. Wilhelm brought his fingers below Mono’s heart and onto Mono’s left lung. He squeezed the bottom end of it, making Mono’s eyes widened from the tight grip and the force of air that moves up his throat. Scissor Leg and Graceful Leap placed the final sutures onto Sophia’s flesh. Healthful Blade and Steel Scalpel finished setting ivory-colored metals into Sophia’s legs and body. Healthful Blade leaned away from Sophia’s body and wiped his brow. “And finished! That was a tedious operation.” He said with a cheerful voice. “Though we have already worked on Pokémon before, it still amazes me to see various differences among their inner workings. Hopefully, Sophia should begin recovering soon.” A frantic series of sharp beeps echoed in the team’s ears. Solar Wind eyed the heart monitor and gazed at the sudden flattening of the line. A panicked frown appeared on her face. “Her vitals are falling!” “What?!” Graceful Leap shouted. “But the heart was working just a minute ago! What happened?!” Scissor Leg frowned and looked down upon Sophia’s body. “Her body is rejecting the cybernetic transplants!” He exclaimed. “Rejecting?! But that’s impossible!” Astral Heart declared. “These organs were designed to be accepted by any body structure.” “Any body structure but a Pokémon’s it seems.” Heartful Blade said with a solemn tone. “No…” Graceful Leap uttered out with a despondent voice. Sibyl and Celestia walked into the operating room and gazed upon the frowning faces of the operating team. Celestia cuffed her right front hoof over her blue-masked mouth, garnering the attention of the team. “Council Lady Celestia! What are you doing here?!” Steel Scalpel asked with genuine surprise behind his tone. “I came to see how this critical operation is going at the request of Sibyl. I didn’t think much on her words, but there was a depth of gravity to them so I decided to check.” Celestia explained. “There was one important detail that I left out in the operation; Sophia’s body can and will reject the artificial organs and implants. With this in mind, we can still save her.” Sibyl stated. “How?! At this rate, she only has maybe a minute of life in her. We can’t possibly do another operation in that amount of time.” Steel Scalpel said. Sibyl gazed towards Celestia, who shut her eyes and let out a sad sigh. Her horn illuminated with a yellow light and a velvet purple-colored box levitated out of her mane and into Steel Scalpel’s airspace. The top of the box flipped open, revealing a single God Stone that sat upon its fleece. “I have tried to keep the state of these relics hidden from Neo Canterlot, but I cannot hide such artifacts from a seer. Tell me Steel Scalpel; are you familiar with the story of the God Stones?” “God Stones? What are those?” Celestia levitated the box towards her and walked over to Sophia’s head. The God Stone flew out of the box and hovered above Sophia’s unveiled head. “God Stones are miraculous objects that are said to be able to turn a mortal into a being with godlike power. It is rumored that these stones descended from the heavens as Deus’s gift to the world. With this power comes a terrible price; only those who come from a bloodline of holy nobility are able to use a God Stone’s power without ill effects. For those who are not from such a bloodline, they turns the being into a horrific monster.” She explained. “Horrific monster?!” Solar Wind shouted. “I don’t want to deal with that! I’m not even sure if such bloodlines exist within Pokémon!” Sibyl raised her right front foot into the air, holding the attention of everyone towards her. “I can assure you that Sophia does indeed come from such a bloodline. Besides, the God Stone would do nothing to a being nearing its deathbed unless if he or she was from a noble bloodline. Now Council Lady Celestia; place the God Stone upon Sophia and perform the miracle.” Celestia levitated the God Stone onto Sophia’s forehead, setting it within the flesh. The God Stone hummed and flashed with a sky blue color. Sophia’s coat flashed with brilliant lights that caused everyone in the operating room to shy their heads away and shield their eyes with their frontal appendages. The light died down and a series of stable beeps returned to the heart monitor. Solar Wind flew towards the monitors and examined them. Her eyes lit up with surprise. “That’s impossible! Her vitals are stabilizing!” She called out. The team of surgeons glanced upon Sophia and gawked at the changes of her body; the pink of her coat shifted into a sky blue and the cream color transmuted into a lighter shade of blue. Her multi-colored ribbons became a dark blue, and the pieces of ivory metal transmuted into form-fitting gray armor bound to her flesh and ebony drones on her legs. “Dear Deus… her colors have completely changed!” Healthful Blade stated with awe. A small smile appeared on Celestia’s face. She walked over towards Steel Scalpel and stood before his line of sight. “It seems that the God Stone has accepted Sophia as its user. She will be more than fine when she wakes up.” She assured. Steel Scalpel glanced upon Sophia and set his gaze back onto Celestia’s face. He raised his right eye in confusion. “This is beyond anything that any standard unicorn magic can do… I will take your word on it Council Lady, but we will keep a close eye on her to check her vitals.” He said with an unsure tone. Sibyl walked over to the bag of faulty organs and hooked the edge of the opening with her horn. “I will be taking these organs to Professor Pasque now. Do what you must with Sophia now.” Saying these words, she walked out of the operating room and turned the corner. “Why does she want a bag of bad organs for?” Solar Wind asked with a curious voice. Wilhelm tossed Mono into a dank room and shut the iron door. Mono blinked and began moving his head up towards the gate that sealed his entryway outside. He looked down upon his left leg, eyeing the mess of stitches sewn into it. He wiggled the leg and felt a jolt of sharp pain ride up his spine. He winced and eyed the mess of stitches revealed themselves on his torso and abdomen. He brought his right upper paw towards the back of his head, feeling the metal fibers bind his flesh. A lifeless frown formed on his face and his eyes became void of any vibrancy they once had. His fur appeared mangled and disjointed. He brought his left upper paw to his throat, which burned and swelled with inflamation. He looked upon the dark ceiling. “I thought life was beautiful…” He murmured with a raspy voice. “My mom had always told me how great life was. She told me that life was wonderful. Life can never be beautiful if something like that exists. What I went through…” Mono shut his eyes and tilted his head towards the ground. Bile hung from the edge of his mouth, hanging with the lifelessness his soul possessed. “My family will never come rescue me. As far as they are concerned, I am dead. Arceus, if you are capable of listening to me, grant me a request and let me die here. Leave my corpse rotting with the Van’Goth.” Mono looked around his surroundings with his ears perked, waiting for an answer of divinity to come. After a complete five minutes of looking around, nothing happened. His frown deepened with disappointment. “I guess you are not around either Arceus… I was a fool. Why…? Why must my life be filled with such suffering? Why did I lose my parents? Why was I turned into a Pokémon and cast into fighting a war? Why did I want to save my sister? Why was my body probed in the most painful and violating ways possible? Why can’t I die?” Mono clenched his eyelids together and began sniveling. His sore throat clenched with horrible pain. “Please kill me! I want to die! I don’t want to live in any inch of a super reality that has all of this happen to a single being. Just allow me to die!” He cried out. “Awww? Is the alien kitty cat feeling nihilistic?” Hearing Wilhelm’s voice from outside the door, Mono heart trembled. Seeing the door open and Wilhelm’s silhouette standing before the luminous hallway, Mono sidled his back against the wall and began shaking his head. “No! Get away from me!” He pleaded. Wilhelm grabbed Mono by the top of his head and lifted him off the ground. He felt Mono trying to wiggle free from his tight grasp. A sense of cruel satisfaction exploded within the chambers of his heart. “You thought what you went through was bad enough? You have not yet seen what I have planned for you!” He shouted with glee. “Please! I’ve had enough! I want it to stop! Just kill me! I have nothing else to live for!” Mono pleaded. “I will never be that merciful to you. As long as you are in my grasp, I will make every moment of your life a living hell!” With a bloodthirsty and borderline demonic tone, Wilhelm spat out in front of Mono’s face. Wilhelm moved Mono out of the room and into the light. Each whimpering cry brought forth a rise of joy out of Wilhelm’s chest. Sophia’s eyes opened, illuminating her vision to the blurry world around her. Each blink of her eyes brought forth further clarity of her sight. An exhausted groan fired out of her mouth. She looked towards her right side of the bed and set her sights on As, whose curled up form rose and fell with her sleeping breath. “Staying by my side all this time As? What a good friend.” She brought her left front leg and petted As on the top of her head. Seeing the ebony drones attached to her foot, her eyes widened with suspicion. She glanced towards her other front leg, eyeing the ebony drone attached to it as well. She sat up from the bed and began patting her body. No sensation of feeling came to her nerves and metallic clanging rung in her ears. “What?! What is this?!” Sophia shouted in panic. She leaped out of the bed and looked into the mirror. Her glowing red eyes reflected from the mirror. She glanced upon the color scheme of her mechanical body. She placed her right front paw on the mirror and her eyes welled up with tears. As stirred awake from her slumber and glanced towards Sophia with exhausted eyes. She stretched her back out and yawned. “I wasn’t planning on getting any more sleep anyways. And it looks and sounds like you discovered your new body.” She called out with a joking voice. Sophia turned around and flashed an evil stare into As’s eyes, chilling her soul to the very core. As took a step back on her bed. “I’m a mechanical abomination!” Sophia shouted. “Correction; you are a cute mechanical abomination.” As stated with a smug tone. Sophia pointed her right front leg towards As. The drone on her leg fired a pink-colored laser. As’s eyes widened and leaped away from the laser’s trajectory. The laser struck the wall and burned through it. “I didn’t even think that would work.” Sophia stated with surprise in her voice. “Easy where you’re firing that thing! Are you trying to kill me?!” As snapped back with an upset tone. Sophia lowered her eyelids and let out a soft sigh. “Sorry As. I didn’t mean to. I’m just a bit shocked and upset at the moment.” She admitted. “Why do I have a cybernetic body now? This is just too weird!” Steel Scalpel walked into the room in a white lab coat adorned upon him. He cleared his throat, garnering the attention of the sulking cyborg Sylveon. “I see you are up and active now Sophia.” Steel Scalpel said with a cheery tone. “How is your new body feeling?” Sophia narrowed her eyes and pointed her front right drone towards Steel Scalpel’s head. Steel Scalpel felt his heart plummet into the depths of fear and took a step back. Seeing the fear in the doctor’s eyes, Sophia frowned and put down her drone. “I’m sorry doctor. To be honest, I honestly hate this new body.” She admitted. “I can’t feel anything. But if I did, I would feel like a cold monster. It feels so unnatural. Just what is this body?” Steel Scalpel walked towards Sophia and pulled out a notepad from his coat pocket with his teeth. He placed the notepad on the ground and pushed it over to Sophia. Sophia gazed at the notepad and looked upon the intricate schematics of various organs and mechanical components. “You are the first official patient to have been given our cybernetic treatment option. Considering the kind of being you are and how quick the damage spread along your system, we had to resort to these measures just to keep you alive. The nature of the organs implanted within you counteract the poison spread through your bloodstream.” Steel Scalpel explained. Sophia flipped through the notes in the notepad and examined the small details in each page. With every bit of information that passes through her eyes, her frown deepens into a depression. “It says here that my organ system is a power source for all of my weapons and I need to change out the heart unit every ten months.” She said. “Ah that. You do not need to worry about future surgeries as you can simply open up your chest compartment and have a friend replace the heart with a new one.” Steel Scalpel eyed Sophia’s body posture, which switched into shying her head away from his direction and ducking it behind her shoulders. He frowned and walked over towards Sophia, patting the back of her neck. “Do not be sad about your fate Sophia. Just imagine getting to still be around the others who you love and care for while still being able to protect them. In fact, your power has exceeded our expectations!” “So I am but an experiment for your new weapons system?” Sophia said with a blatant tone and deadpan eyes. Steel Scalpel stared into Sophia’s eyes and felt a portion of his soul run away from him. He sprinted out of the room with the speed of light in his hooves. Seeing the distress in Sophia’s face, As walked over to her and wrapped her right front leg around her neck. “Regardless of whether you are natural or are a robot, you will always be Sophia to me. There’s nothing in the world that can change that.” As stated with a comforting tone. Sophia glanced towards As and smiled. “Thanks As. Really though, the biggest issue I have will be trying to explain this to Mono.” As’s eyes widened once more. She stepped away from Sophia and rubbed the right side of her neck. She turned her face away from Sophia. “Erm… let’s not talk about Mono right now.” With sweat dripping from her forehead, As said. “Why not?” Leaning her head and cocking it, Sophia asked. “Why should you question that when Fei wants to see how you are? After all, he is the one who was most worried about you.” As responded. Sophia’s eyes widened at the realization of As’s words. “By Arceus! You are right! I have to make sure that Fei is secure with knowing that I am alright.” Shouting these words, she ran out of the room and into the hallway. As wiped her forehead of the anxious sweat and exhaled a relieving breath. “I dodged a bullet there. There is no way I’m telling a walking weapon of mass destruction that her boyfriend was captured by the Van’Goth!” Wilhelm walked into a roundhouse-shaped room, where only a metallic board that suspended itself above the ground. He held Mono up towards the board, allowing him to view the board. “Is this your latest method of torturing me? It seems a bit tame compared to the vivisection.” Mono said with an unimpressed tone. Wilhelm smiled at the naivety of Mono’s words. He walked up to the face of the board and held Mono to the point where the Pokémon’s body met with the board’s in height. With Wilhelm turning his body around, Mono felt a strong gravitational force pulling him towards the board. Wilhelm let go of Mono. The board pulled Mono in with a strong snag, slamming his back onto the board. Mono winced from the sudden strike upon his back. “After what you will be through, you would be pleading for me to go back to vivisecting you.” Wilhelm said. “I have received permission from the Emperor himself to put you through this process!” “Process huh? I still think it is tame compared to what you did earlier to me.” Mono said with a borderline bored tone. “The vivisection is just for me to get a clear analysis of your body. By far, you have provided some incredibly strong results. Your pain tolerance is lower than expected, but you have a surprisingly strong body, resilient organ tissues and some powerful psychokinetic ability. I’ve even discovered the link between your psychic powers and male hormones!” Wilhelm shouted with glee. Mono shuddered at the memories of Wilhelm probing through his body. The images of seeing his intestines held before his eyes and his organ systems being cut into brought and experimented with forth a wave of nausea to him. “Please don’t bring that up. My stomach is still queasy from being cut into and filled with that weird chemical compound.” “I will not need to. Now tell me; what do you know of that perky pink filly with the powers that equate to those of a god?” Wilhelm asked with morbid curiosity in his voice. Mono’s lungs stopped from the discomfort overwhelming its insides. He rolled his eyes towards Wilhelm with unease. “You mean that filly who was using those abilities similar to how Shadow Pokémon from my world used them?” Mono asked with a slow voice. Wilhelm’s eyes jolted with an epiphany. He held his right hand’s index finger up and smiled. “So those experiments do have an official name! These ‘Shadow Pokémon’-like abilities you told me that the filly had were provided by the very same process that you are about to undergo.” Mono’s heart sunk into the depths of his uneasy stomach and the pupils of his eyes dilated to small dots. He shook his head with a frantic movement. “No! Please! Anything but that! I’d rather get vivisected again then turn into a Shadow Pokémon! Please! Don’t put me through that!” He pleaded. Wilhelm smirked at the panic in Mono’s words and movement. “So you do admit that the process you are going to be put through is worse than what you have already gone through!” He stated with joy. “Do not worry; out of ten thousand subjects, only that one filly survived the shadowfication process. That gives you a 99.99% chance of dying. You may be a part of the 00.01% of subjects that do survive however.” “Do you know what becoming a Shadow Pokémon entails to?! I’ll lose my heart, have my emotions stripped and become nothing but a killing machine writhing in eternal pain and suffering!” Mono shouted out. Wilhelm walked into a staircase outside of the room and entered within a room on a higher floor and looked down into the window. His right index finger hovered over a dark purple button on the dashboard. “But is that not the point of this process?” Wilhelm said with a smug tone. Wilhelm pressed the button, darkening the entire room. Shadowy bolts of electricity coursed through Mono’s body, showering his systems with burning pain on the microscopic level. He shouted out with absolute agony, bringing forth a wicked smile on Wilhelm’s face. Mono opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by pitch black darkness. Lith stood before his eyes, bringing forth a smile on his face. He ran towards her. “Lith! You’ve come to save me!” He stated with glee. Lith’s eyes formed an angry scowl on her face. She clenched her upper right paw and punched Mono across his face, knocking him down on the ground. Mono’s eyes jolted open with disappointment and betrayal. “Don’t be all buttery with me Mono. After all, it was your fault that Mom and Dad died!” Lith shouted. “W-w-what? What do you mean?” Mono asked with a stupefied tone. “Are you that much of an idiot?! Your crybaby attitude is what caused Mom and Dad to give you nothing but emotional support twenty four hours a day to the point where they were exhausted! Had you never been born, then I would still have my blood parents today!” Lith stated with burning animosity towards Mono. “Crybaby? But you know what I went through Lith. It’s not my fault that I had that happen to me.” With his voice breaking and his eyes on the verge of bursting into tears, Mono defended. Lith walked over towards Mono and brought her eyes over towards Mono’s eyes. She lifted her right lower leg above Mono’s back. “So now you make it about you?! You were always a selfish brother. I’ve hated you since the day we were both conceived in Mom’s womb. I wished that you got killed in that accident instead of Mom and Dad!” She shouted with a stomp between each word. “Stop Lith! I beg of you! It hurts!” Mono pleaded. “Are you kidding?! Do you know how long I wanted to do this to you? Nothing will cause me to stop! I can’t stop and I won’t stop!” Lith screamed. Mono’s heart cracked between each stomp. An eternity passed and Lith disappeared. The pain in Mono’s back subsided. He stood up from the ground and gazed forwards. Rondo, Stereo and Gnasher stood in his line of sight with scowls staring him down. “You are such a lousy and abusive caregiver!” Slashing Mono across the face with a Dragon Claw, Gnasher shouted. “You never give us what we want; freedom from your miserable paws!” Perching on Mono’s head and pecking his forehead, Rondo screeched. “Why did I ever think you would be a good person to be with? You are extremely selfish and think of only yourself.” Punching Mono across the face, Stereo stated. “Guys… please. No more. I don’t want to go through this anymore.” Shaking his right upper paw and frowning, Mono pleaded. “Guys huh? You see, this is why I hate you Mono. You are such a cowardly misogynist who thinks of nothing but himself!” Gnasher retaliated. “But I taught you all how to read, write and do math. I wanted to give you each the gift of being able to make your lives productive. How is that being selfish?” Mono reasoned. “Oh goodie! Reading and writing and math! When is a Pokémon like me ever going to use those things?!” Rondo jeered. “Why didn’t you train us to be killer weapons like other trainers? Because of you, I get laughed at by other Pokémon for my ability to do human forms of learning! You make me sick.” Stereo spat a bundle of spittle in Mono’s face and glared down on him. Mono blinked and felt his tears run down his cheek. “Stereo… you were always so mild. Why are you hurting me?” Mono asked with a heartbroken tone. “Because you are a miserable loser. No one likes you Mono. No one ever did.” Rondo, Stereo and Gnasher disappeared from Mono’s sight. Mono stood up from the ground, feeling more of his heart disappear than ever. Sophia appeared before his line of sight, smiling with an ounce of innocence behind her face. A wave of elation washed over Mono. “Sophia! Thank goodness.” Mono uttered out in relief. Sophia shut her eyes and began laughing. Mono raised his left eye in confusion before both eyes opened with realization. “If it isn’t the lab’s resident Poképhilliac! How does it feel to be a former human that likes going after Pokémon? Feels great, doesn’t it?” Sophia taunted. “But I’m not… what?!” Mono asked in confusion. “But I thought you loved me!” Sophia chuckled and walked towards Mono with her smile gnarled into a disturbing expression. She pushed Mono onto the ground with her right front leg and stood on top of him. “Did you really believe that?! The only reason why I even acknowledged your existence in the first place is because you are such a pitiful creature! You are merely the plaything of every cosmic entity out there, so I wanted to cheer you up by being around you. Let me tell you; worst decision ever! You actually loved me? You had feelings of intense romance for me? What kind of sicko are you?” She jeered. Hearing her words enter his mind, Mono’s eyes began watering once more. His mouth formed into a low frown. “But… I’m a Pokémon now.” He said. “And what? That makes me automatically want to be with you? Mono, do us all a favor and go kill yourself. You are worth less than the parasitic spores on a Parasect’s mushroom.” “Sophia. Why?” With his voice breaking up in complete misery, Mono asked. “Why did you become so cruel?” Sophia shut her eyes and folded her smile into a confident expression. “Oh, I’m not cruel. At least I’m not cruel towards actual living and breathing beings. You can’t even manage to do that right!” The echo of Sophia’s laughter lingered in the darkness after her disappearance. Mono lied on the ground with his throat burning and his tears pooling underneath him. “You know Mono, they’re right.” Mono’s ears shot up at the voice behind him. He sat up and turned around, revealing both Emilio and Samantha looking down upon him with dissonant smiles. “Mom? Dad?” He asked with an unsure tone. “Your mother is right Mono; you are just a selfish, abusive Poképhilliac that cries alot. We are actually quite embarrassed about bringing you into this world.” Emilio said with a tone void of any spite. “Who knew you would have grown up to be so pathetic? Maybe us dying happened so that we wouldn’t happen to be around to see such a worthless being grow into a perverted excuse for life.” Samantha said. Mono stood in place. His body became paralyzed from his parent’s words. He shook his head and frowned with denial. “It’s not true! You two would never say that about me!” “But that’s where you’re wrong Mono! Didn’t you know that you are an embarrassment to the proud Samers lineage? You are a disgusting freak of nature who is afraid of everything because of some little thing that happened in the past. What a joke!” Emilio responded. Both Emilio and Samantha began laughing at Mono, pointing their fingers towards him. A burning pain resonated within Mono’s heart, knocking him down onto his knees. He clenched his chest and let out a burst of broken laughter. “So this is it. Everyone hates me. Lith, my Pokémon, Sophia… even my own deceased parents. They’re right. I am but a weak, sniveling and selfish Poképhilliac who is nothing but a disgrace to the family.” Through his burst of laughter, Mono stated. Tears from his broken heart leaked through his laughter. “Somebody please kill me. I have nothing else to live for. Do anything to dull the pain in my heart.” “Do you accept the darkness in your heart Mono?” A disembodied voice called out from amidst the darkness. Mono blinked once and remained silent. He looked around the area, focusing his sights for the source of the voice. “Deus? Is that you Deus? Have you come to ease my pain?” Mono asked with a sliver of hope in his voice. “I have come to give you the powers necessary to fight against the pain in your heart but only if you give into the shadows. Tell me Mono; are you willing to give your life up to the darkness?” Deus asked. Mono nodded with a greedy movement of his head and a broken smile. “More than anything. I never want to feel this pain again!” He exclaimed. The darkness around Mono began converging into the chest of the Meowstic, filling it with pain and emptiness. Mono clutched his chest with his right upper paw and brought his left upper paw onto the ground, preventing him from falling over. His eyes hollowed out from any emotion he once had. The electricity shocking Mono in the test chamber subsided. Mono’s head hung off of his neck. Wilhelm pulled up several holograms detailing a silhouette of Mono and his vitals. He eyed the zero, which rose into higher numbers. Wilhelm smiled and broke his breathing with laughter in between. “He’s alive! He has survived the shadowfication process!” He cheered. He opened up his arms with wide acceptance and wore a large smile. “Our lord Deus; we shall celebrate this miracle by using him against his former allies!” Hearing Wilhelm’s words, Mono’s eyes opened up. The pupils of his eyes resonated with pure darkness and a shadowy aura surrounded him. A deathly growl emerged from his mouth. Author's Note So yeah, I'm not sure how many people are going to despise Wilhelm after this chapter, but eh. So that changed the format of the game for better or worse.
The Black TestamentProfessor Pasque and Professor Gentian stood around a desk with welding masks over their faces. A machine above fired a red laser the size of a straw that cut into the metal below. Sparks flew in the masks of the two crafters. The laser subsided and Professor Gentian removed his welding mask. He looked at the flaring hilt. He nodded and held his lower lip out with acceptance in his posture. “Who knew a Sylveon’s organs can make something like this?” He asked with a hint of amusement. Professor Pasque lifted his welding mask, revealing a disgusted frown plastered over his mouth. His legs trembled with anxiety and his breathing burned with fear. “I hope I never have to work with anything as morbid as that again. Using the internal organs of a body for crafting a weapon shook my very core.” He voiced out with a disturbed tone. The two scientists both heard the door behind them open. They shifted their faces towards the door and set their eyes on Fei and Sophia. Sophia’s eyes glanced upon the glowing hilt on the table and formed a weak frown on her face. “So that is where the extracted organs of my body went to?” She asked with a crestfallen tone. “Why would Sibyl want you to craft something like this Professor? It seems gruesome.” Fei asked with a curious voice. “I don’t know, but she made it sound like our lives are dependent on this very weapon’s creation and existence.” Professor Pasque answered. Sophia glanced towards the tempering hilt and gazed upon the heated shine it radiated with curious eyes. “I can only assume that this laser blade would give access to my movepool and abilities. Is this true?” She said. “Partly right, but there is another feature this blade would have; the light would emit inflicts poison damage akin to the one inside of your bloodstream. You can call that a coincidence, but it really makes the laser itself much more devastating against the Van’Goth forces.” With his arms crossed and his eyes shut, Professor Gentian said. Professor Pasque glanced towards the blade and slanted his eyelids. A small frown formed on his face. “This blade reminds me very much of sapient life; there is good and evil intertwined within it, and the potential can only be seen once they are both ready. It makes me somewhat sad to see sapient nature transferred into a weapon of all things.” Fei turned his head towards Sophia, whose frown deepened with each word that passed through the conversation. He shut his eyes and placed his hand on Sophia’s head. “To see my partner and oldest friend be turned into a weapon in multiple ways depresses me. How far will fighting advance before both sides become complacent with turning others into weapons?” He asked. Professor Pasque opened his mouth, but the door to the front of the lab opened once more. Lith walked through the door with her face pointing towards the ground, her upper paws embracing her body with a melancholic grasp and a dejected step in her walk. Lith glanced forwards and gazed upon the sadness that welled within the frowns of Fei and Professor Pasque. “Hello everyone.” She said with a voice robbed of any cheer. “I see you still have not yet gotten over what happened yet.” Fei responded. Sophia glanced towards Lith and Fei with confusion contorted within the muscles of her face and the metal of her legs. She walked towards the duo. “Forgive me for asking, but what exactly is Lith depressed about?” She asked. “I thought someone would have told you already. Mono got captured by the Van’Goth.” Lith responded. Sophia’s lower left eyelid twitched with the sudden slant of her head. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath in and exhaled, calming her nerves. “I’m sorry Lith, but I think I might have heard you wrong. I thought you said that Mono got captured by the Van’Goth.” She said with a tone wrought with denial. “I did.” Looking into Sophia’s eyes with no ounce of joviality in her stare, Lith stated. A vicious fire burned within Sophia’s soul. She slammed her right front foot and drone into the ground, hitting it to the point where a crater half the size of her body formed underneath her. Everyone in the room hopped from the sudden strike and widened their eyes at the damage below. Fei pointed towards the crater with a shaky hand. “You just punched the ground without using any type of effort.” He said with a nervous tone. “I know. However, I can only imagine what kind of suffering Mono is going through right now. This floor underneath me is just collateral damage. If I see a Van’Goth soldier in front of me, his head is going to meet with the same force of pressure I applied to this floor.” Sophia said with a dark tone. “Oh? So you want to know what happened to Mono?” The Pokémon in the room looked up towards the ceiling and saw Joker clinging upon it. He dropped down from the ground and landed on his feet. Professor Pasque flashed a cold stare towards the insane human. “I swear if you say anything at all about my son...” “Eh, he went through traumatic torture in the last chapter.” Joker stated with a positive tone. “And in the chapter after this one, I’m going to make a major appearance!” “Do us all a favor Joker: Leave. Now.” Sophia stated with a threatening tone. Joker shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the door. “My time in this chapter is up anyways. See you all in the next chapter.” Seeing Joker leave the lab, Professor Pasque shook his head and rubbed his forehead with his right front foot. “That Joker gives me a migraine sometimes.” “But is it true? Is Mono really being tortured by enemy hands?” Lith asked with worry dripping from her tone. “It’s a very real possibility. He’s a POW after all, and I am sure that interplanetary battles have no sanctions against cruelty upon POWs.” Fei said. “Do me a favor Fei and shut up.” Professor Pasque stated with a sharp tone. Everyone in the room took a step backwards and gasped at the sudden shift in Professor Pasque’s voice. Professor Pasque looked around the room, gazing at everyone’s anxious shaking. He frowned. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap like that.” “You do not need to apologize to us Professor. I should apologize to you for my lack of tact in this conversation.” Fei responded. “Mono is close to me as well, and thinking about what they could be doing to him makes me sick.” “Well, we aren’t going to go anywhere talking about this. We have to keep on the prowl for Van’Goth activity and extract information on Mono’s whereabouts.” Lith suggested. “That is a good idea. Hopefully, we will be able to get that information and save Mono. My heart is ready to explode from worry.” Placing his right front foot over his chest, Professor Pasque said. A pink-coated unicorn mare with a beehive-style purple mane and a light gray-coated unicorn stallion with a brown mane and moustache trekked through the hallways behind Sweetie Belle, Rarity and Keldeo. The married couple gawked at the sights of young operatives garbed in their suits and gear. Keldeo rolled his eyes and whistled. “So, ummm… Pearl and Magnum; what brings you two to H.O.R.S.E. today?” He asked. “We’ve seen the battle unfold before our very eyes, and we need to give our appreciation to all of the operatives who contributed towards safeguarding our city!” Pearl stated with a jovial tone. “And please Keldeo, get used to calling us Mom and Dad. Not only have you been practically family to us since these past ten years, but you are even going steady with our daughter! Couldn’t think of a better stallion for our little Rarity.” Magnum said with a tone that matched the joviality of his wife’s. Rarity smiled and blinked once, bringing forth a confidence glow from her stance. “Our operatives at H.O.R.S.E. receive special training in order to keep Neo Canterlot safe at all costs. It’s our mission statement after all.” She said with a casual tone. “Plus, I feel that it might be too soon to start calling you Mom and Dad. I mean, Rarity and I are dating. We just have not yet reached the marriage step yet.” Keldeo replied with a hushed and anxious tone. “I’m curious Keldeo; did you and Rarity do it yet?” Looking up towards Keldeo with a curious frown on her face, Sweetie Belle asked. All of the adults in the group’s eyes shot wide at the nature of Sweetie Belle’s question. Rarity and Keldeo’s faces lit up with deep red blushes. A burst of nervous giggling erupted from Rarity’s mouth. “Ummm… what do you mean by ‘it’ Sweetie Belle?” She questioned with a slow and anxious tone. “You know; knock horseshoes, bump uglies, get your freak on, have sex?” Sweetie Belle clarified. Magnum looked upon Keldeo with an intense stare, bringing forth a cascade of sweat down Keldeo’s neck from his anxious shaking. “Ummm… no?” Keldeo responded with an unsure voice. “Who taught you those words anyways Sweetie Belle?” Rarity asked with an accusatory tone. “Sophia and As. I’ve been trying to pick up some adult-level language from them, and I thought that these words would be applicable in this case since you two have been in a relationship for several months now.” Sweetie Belle answered. Rarity and Keldeo remained silent upon listening to Sweetie Belle’s statement. Their faces flushed with blood and they rubbed her right front hooves with their left hooves. Magnum lifted his right eye in curiosity. “So… have you two been having sex?” He questioned with a suspicious tone. Pearl smiled and patted the base of Magnum’s shoulders. “Now dear, our Rarity is a grown-up mare now. We don’t have to hound on her for her sex life, especially if it is with a handsome stallion like Keldeo.” She said. Magnum let out a defeated sigh and put up a smile. He raised his shoulders and walked up towards Keldeo’s right side. He patted his right shoulder. “Honestly speaking, I’d rather let you be that intimate with my daughter than anyone else. You do use protection right?” Keldeo remained silent and pointed his eyes towards the ground with his face still red with embarrassment. Magnum grinned and ruffled Keldeo’s mane with a burst of affection. “It doesn’t matter whether you do or not. You were a chaste stallion before declaring your love for my daughter, and I’m pretty sure you two are incapable of breeding with each other. When the two of us get together again though, I’ll give you pointers on what it means to be a real stallion. How does that sound my boy?” He asked with an excited voice. “That would be nice. I would love that.” With his head ascending to its standard level and his frown flipping into a comfortable smile, Keldeo responded. “That’s fine and all, but I’m going to have a word with Sophia and As to keep their ‘lady-like’ language away from Sweetie Belle. I don’t think they are being a good influence on her.” Rarity said. Hearing Rarity’s words of disapproval, Sweetie Belle frowned. “They taught me other things as well.” She reasoned. “Seducing males and sometimes other females is not a ‘thing’ you should be proud of to know Sweetie Belle.” Rarity responded with a deadpan tone. “Well aren’t you biased against Pokémon sis?” With her right eye raised with disbelief, Sweetie Belle asked. “If I was, then I would not be ‘knocking horseshoes’ with Keldeo now would I?” Rarity responded with a calm and proper tone. Sweetie Belle pouted and let out an annoyed grunt. “You’re no fun.” A black-robed and hooded figure stood outside of the gates to H.O.R.S.E. outside of the city. With black boots and black gloves adorned, the figure approached the gates with cautious steps. A pale white mask that featured two narrow slits where the eyes would be veiled the figure’s face and a black cape trailed it. A hologram of Wilhelm displayed itself in front of the figure. He flashed an unsettling smile. “So good to see you make it to the base of our enemy Black Testament. Are you ready to purge Neo Canterlot of its military?” He asked. The figure, Black Testament, stood in place and remained silent. “I see. I shall be eagerly expecting a report from you after you are finished.” Upon saying these words, Wilhelm’s hologram vanished. The Black Testament gazed upon the gates once more and lifted its gloves right appendage. Clusters of shadowy energy formed at the palm of the glove. Three orbs fired themselves into the gate, destroying it with an explosion of darkness and fire. The operatives within the docking bay’s eyes shot open from the sound of the explosion and the bending metal of the gate. They all grabbed their weapons and aimed towards the gate. “We’re under attack! Shoot without discrimination!” A gray-feathered male griffon declared. The operatives unleashed a straight line of fire from their weapons. The Black Testament appeared in between the forces within the blink of an eye. Darkness clustered within the open palm of the figure. The energy formed into a dark purple double-ended glaive with each blade being half the size of the figure. The Black Testament then jabbed the left glaive into the operative on the left, causing the stallion to drop his laser rifle and fall to the floor. Each of the operatives surrounding the deceased pony rolled their eyes upon the form of the Black Testament. Their lips and heads quivered with surprise, anxiety and fear. They took a step backwards with the intent of straying away from the figure. “How did this figure get here that quickly?!” A changeling with an orange-colored chitin responded. “I don’t know, but look at what that thing did to Spot Dodge! It killed him before we could do anything!” A silver-coated earth pony mare stated. The gray-feathered griffon shut his beak and grinded it upon itself. His eyes became focused with anger directed towards the Black Testament. “Don’t just stand there! Shoot the son of a bitch!” Pulling out his assault rifle and unloading a storm of bullets, he commanded. A pulse of dark energy burst from the Black Testament, slowing down reality to a pause. The spray of the griffon’s bullets stopped an inch away from the mask. The Black Testament waved its appendage over the bullets and grabbed them. With the bullets in palm, it walked over towards the griffon and opened its palm, lining up the hovering bullets behind the griffon’s head. Walking a foot behind the perimeter, time resumed at its normal pace. The gray-feathered griffon felt a line of bullets pierce the back of his skull. His head shot upwards and his eyes shot wide open. He fell onto the ground, capturing the attention of his H.O.R.S.E. comrades. The operatives looked upon the corpse with their mouth agape and their stances stunned. “What happened?!” A brown-coated stag shouted. “What happened to our captain?!” “Bullet wounds! He got shot from behind his head!” A magenta-coated pegasus stallion called out. “How did that happen?!” “That Van’Goth has some weird abilities! That just has to be it!” The stag shouted. The Black Testament swung its glaive with a full revolution, severing the spines of both the stag and the stallion that spoke. The hearts of the combative operatives filled with dread and fear. The orange-chitin changeling flew the opposite direction with all the speed he could muster. He blinked once and saw the Black Testament before his eyes. He blinked once more before he felt his throat grasped by the Black Testament’s right appendage. “No! Please! I have children!” He worded out through his closed throat. The Black Testament’s gripped appendage emanated a dark aura. The changeling felt his vitality drain from his body into the appendage. His chitin’s color faded and he felt his senses blur into nothingness. The Black Testament squeezed the changeling’s neck to the point where an audible snap rung throughout the bay and the changeling’s head hung off of its left side. It then threw the changeling towards the ground. The changelings teammates looked upon the Black Testament with fear in their eyes. “Just who is this Van’Goth?!” They shouted in unison. The sirens rung throughout H.O.R.S.E.’s halls and the lights flashed with a pulsing yellow. Pearl and Magnum eyed the hallways in confusion, Sweetie Belle ran the opposite direction and Keldeo and Rarity arched their legs and focused their stares ahead. “What’s going on?” Magnum asked. “That’s a Code Yellow drill! We have a dangerous intruder who broke into H.O.R.S.E.!” Keldeo responded with a determined voice. “They have a specific drill for that?” Pearl asked with an impressed voice. “Yes Mom they do.” Rarity responded. “It might be a good idea to follow Sweetie Belle’s steps and follow her outside of the building. Keldeo and I will try to fight off this intruder.” Understanding the meaning behind Rarity’s words, Magnum and Pearl ran towards Sweetie Belle’s direction with fleet hooves. Rarity and Keldeo focused ahead of themselves and listened to the quick steps ahead. The Black Testament appeared around the corner with a slow walk, bringing forth a strong pressure that caused the hairs on the bodies of Rarity and Keldeo to stand upon themselves. Seeing the Black Testament sprint forwards, Rarity conjured a stone wall in her path. The Black Testament smashed through the wall with a pulse of shadowy energy that emerged from its appendages. Keldeo sprinted forwards with a glowing horn. The Black Testament surrounded the energy with a bubble of dark energy and slowed everything down. The figure then fired a blast of shadowy energy from its appendages, striking Keldeo in the air and knocking him down. Keldeo stood up from the ground and winced. He rubbed the front of his right shoulder and looked towards the Black Testament’s form. “What just happened? All I did was just attack and that figure hit me with the blink of an eye.” He said with confusion. “I’m not so sure myself. I saw you approach and half a second later I saw you down on the ground.” Rarity responded. The Black Testament dashed forwards with its right appendage cloaked with a shadowy energy. Keldeo flipped off of the ground and fired a Hydro Pump from his right front hoof. Time froze around the Black Testament once more. The figure leaped upon the trail of water and ran down it. The figure pulled out its glaive and poised its point towards Keldeo’s head. With a purple aura surrounding her body, Twilight Sparkle leaped down from a vent and kicked the glaive away with her right hind leg. Time returned back to normal and the stream of water carried the Black Testament towards the ceiling. Rarity and Keldeo both smiled upon seeing Twilight Sparkle before them. “Twilight!” Rarity called out in unison. “When did you get here?” She asked. “Sorry for sneaking up on you two, but I had to make sure I wasn’t followed. It seems that the reports were correct though; this figure can freeze time and appear anywhere. Had I been a frame later with my arrival and Keldeo would have been skewered.” Twilight Sparkle explained. The Black Testament dropped from the ceiling and onto its feet. Three clusters of shadow energy formed around its front and launched towards the trio of H.O.R.S.E. operatives. Twilight Sparkle conjured a magic barrier, but the shadow energy broke through it with the force of a baseball through a glass window and struck the trio. The three operatives fell onto the ground. “I forgot to warn you Twilight; this figure can break through anything with its strange magic.” Rarity said. “I could have used that warning ahead of time, but better late than never.” Getting up from the ground, Twilight Sparkle responded. “Still, that magic missile hurt more than it should have. Just what is that made of?” The Black Testament vanished from the sight of Rarity and Keldeo. With her body enshrouded in her magic, Twilight Sparkle eyed the figure sprinting down the hallway at light speed. She sprinted after the Black Testament. “Our mystery intruder is getting away!” She called out. The halls of H.O.R.S.E. became blurred lines for the eyes of the Black Testament. Beyond the blurs of the corridors and the whooshing wind passing by the black clothing, the eyes of the figure detect hazy signatures of heat deep within the hall. The Black Testament turned the corner of the corridor, revealing Magnum, Pearl and Sweetie Belle before his eyes. The figure fired a trio of dark spheres that planted into the ground before the unicorns and destroyed it. “What?!” Stopping before the dark depths of the cliff, Magnum shouted. The unicorns glanced back and set their sights on the Black Testament. The group took a step backwards and felt the pressure of fear cling upon their spines. Sweetie Belle’s left hind hoof touched upon the edge of the cliff behind her. Her stance slipped and her head jolted upwards. Gazing upon Sweetie Belle’s weakened stance, the Black Testament leaped forwards and rushed the glaive towards Sweetie Belle’s head at light speed. Sweetie Belle shut her eyes, crouched to the ground and covered her forehead with her front hoof. Her body quivered in fear and she heard the wind fragment from the blade diving towards her. She felt a powerful force shove her towards the right. The sound of a blade slicing through metal struck her ears, but her body remained virgin from the sensation of being sliced. Sweetie Belle lifted her hooves from her eyes and looked towards her left with a slow and anxious movement. Her line of sight became tainted with the image of the Black Testament’s glaive skewered through the torso of Magnum. Witnessing her father’s pupils shaking from the blow, the pained gasps from his open mouth and his widened eyes, Sweetie Belle’s heart clenched with despair. “Dad!” Running towards him with her eyes tearing up, Sweetie Belle shouted. Magnum lifted his right front hoof towards his daughter with the strength his body could muster. His chest raised and lowered with an erratic pattern and his hoof trembled with weakness. The Black Testament pulled the glaive out of Magnum’s body and looked and eyes the wave of Lith, Fei, Sophia, Professor Pasque, and Professor Gentian approaching from the corridor beyond the cliff and the group of Twilight Sparkle, Rarity and Keldeo approaching from behind. Pearl ran towards Magnum’s side, catching his body before he fell to the left. She turned Magnum’s face towards the ceiling. She blinked once with a frown of disbelief formed on her face and stroked his ruffled mane once. Sweetie Belle and Rarity approached their parents. Keldeo followed close by. He set his eyes on the Black Testament, who stared at the Pokémon in front of it with its form stunned. “Girls?” Magnum called out with a weak voice. “Daddy!” Embracing their father with tight hugs, Rarity and Sweetie Belle called out. “Please Magnum; don’t talk. You’re only going to waste what little oxygen you have left.” With a shaky voice and tearing eyes, Pearl said. Magnum shifted his line of sight into Pearl’s eyes. He touched the gash on his chest and felt the blood upon its edges. “This cut through my coronary artery Pearl. You know what this means, do you?” He uttered out. “Please get Keldeo here. I wish to speak with him.” Keldeo ambled over towards Magnum with a stoic frown on his face and his eyes focused with intensity. Rarity stepped out of the way, allowing Keldeo to move towards Magnum. “I’m here Magnum.” He stated with a cold voice. Magnum chuckled and smiled. “Can’t you ever look into your heart to just call me ‘Dad’ once in your life Keldeo? Pearl and I practically raised you as a son for these ten years. But, I guess that’s not important now. What is important is what I will tell you.” He said. Keldeo’s stance weakened, allowing his eyes to pool with emotion and his mouth to quiver. “Just tell me Magnum. I don’t want to hear anything else other than the important facts.” He demanded with a shaky voice. “My time is too short to tell you everything. In case if this did happen, I wrote specifically for you. Ask Pearl where it is.” Magnum requested. “You have to make it Magnum! We can get you help! I don’t want to lose another father figure.” With his eyes on the verge of tears and his voice trembling with intensity, Keldeo said. Drops of tears dropped from Rarity’s clenched eyes and onto the floor. She ran towards Magnum and hugged him with a tight grip. “Keldeo’s right Dad! We can still get you help. The Medical District is close by!” She pleaded. “My darling Rarity. You grew up to be such a fine mare. It makes me proud to be the father of such a wonderful and powerful operative here.” Magnum said. He turned his sights onto Sweetie Belle, whose tears dropped into his stab wound. “My only regret is that I won’t get to see you grow up Sweetie Belle.” Sweetie Belle shut her eyes and tightened her hug around Magnum’s neck. “Why did you take that blow Dad? Why couldn’t you just leave me to die?” She asked with a heartbroken voice. “Well… what kind of father would I be if I let you die like that? A crummy one that’s what.” Magnum said. Saying these words, Magnum felt his consciousness slip away from him. He shut his eyes and let out one final sigh. His hoof fell onto the ground and his muscles became stiff. Keldeo rushed his hooves onto Magnum’s body, scaring away Rarity and Sweetie Belle. With his face in denial, he shook the corpse. “Don’t leave me Magnum! I don’t want to lose another father! Please wake up Dad!” Magnum’s body failed to respond to any of Keldeo’s words. Pearl laid Magnum's body on the ground. She wrapped her hooves around Keldeo’s neck. She shut her eyes and shook her head. “That’s enough Keldeo. Magnum has parted ways with us.” With a melancholic voice, she said. Lith’s right paw clenched itself upon witnessing Magnum’s death. She leaped over the gorge with a paw charged with electricity. She punched the Black Testament in its mask. The Black Testament brought its right appendage towards Lith’s electrified punch and lifted it away. The figure looked into Lith’s eyes, which burned with anger. The mask on over the face shattered. The anger within Lith’s eyes softened and became filled with shock. “Mono?!” She shouted. Mono’s face stood before Lith, revealing his unfazed eyes and his nonexistent expression. Lith’s ankles became weak and the remnants of her scowl formed into a depressed frown. “No… it can’t be… the Mono I know would never be this brutal.” She voiced out. Mono gripped Lith’s paw with his right and threw her onto the ground. Lith squeaked out from landing on the ground with a surprising amount of force in her launch. Mono lifted the glaive over Lith’s neck. Twilight Sparkle leaped towards Mono and fired a magic blast from her horn towards him. The eyes on Mono’s ears let out a ghastly purple light that froze time around him. He ran around the projectile and sprinted towards Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle broke from the bindings of the time freeze and leaped towards Mono. Mono hopped backwards and parried Twilight Sparkle’s tackle with the center of his glaive. The eyes on Lith’s ears broke through the time freeze, allowing her to get up from the ground and glance towards Mono and Twilight Sparkle’s clash. She glanced towards the sword holstered on her hip. With a shut of her eyes and deepening of her frown, she pulled out the blade. Mono pushed Twilight Sparkle back with the stalk of his glaive and rammed the opposite-sided blade towards her. Twilight Sparkle leaped onto the glaive’s blade with the reflexes of a cat and fired three magical missiles towards Mono’s face at point blank range. Time around the area slowed down further much to Twilight Sparkle’s surprise. Piles of shadow energy poured itself from Mono’s eyes and onto the magic missiles, weakening them to the point where they became nonexistent. Lith leaped high above Mono and aimed the edge of her blade towards the top of his spine. Mono hopped to his left, evading the slice of the sword. Mono fired a cluster of shadowy energy from the crux of his right paw that homed in on his twin sister. Lith deflected the projectiles with the blunt edge of her sword. “Please stop Mono! Do you know who I am?! I am Lith! I am your sister!” Lith called out with her voice breaking from sadness. Lith’s words fell deaf upon Mono’s ears. Mono lunged at her distracted form with his the point of his glaive. Twilight Sparkle ran towards Lith and parried the glaive’s strike with her horn. Twilight Sparkle knocked the glaive out of Mono’s hand and stared into him. “Listen Mono; I really, really don’t want to kill you. I don’t! But your crimes are inexcusable at this point. If you make any effort more to hurt anyone else, then you leave me no choice but to kill you!” With her horn poking into Mono’s right jugular vein, Twilight Sparkle threatened. Mono looked into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes with a dark and daring stare. He pointed his left upper paw towards Lith, which began charging with dark energy. Twilight Sparkle’s body quivered from anxiety. A grunt of frustration escaped from her throat. Her tears began to water. “Please Mono. Don’t make this any harder than it has to be. I care for you too much to kill you. Just stop!” Mono rushed his shadow-infused paw into Twilight Sparkle’s neck and grasped it. He lifted the lavender unicorn up from the ground and closed his grip around her trachea. Twilight Sparkle squirmed in his grasp and grunted out in pain. Feeling her magic surge into Mono’s body, she smacked the back of his neck with her right front hoof. Lith smacked Mono across the left side of his head, causing him to drop his grip on Twilight Sparkle. Lith’s eyes burned with a primal anger once more. “You aren’t Mono anymore! You are a self-serving monster who cares only about inflicting pain upon others. You’re no better than the Van’Goth!” She called out. Mono narrowed his eyes and bore his teeth out of anger. He launched a shadow-infused paw across Lith's face and knocked her towards the edge. Mono leaped towards Lith and brought his glaive down towards her chest. Lith eyed the blade next to her lower legs and kicked it above her. She leaped into the air and grabbed the hilt. Mono and Lith clashed towards against each other. Light and dark energies broke out from the clash of blades. Mono split from the confusion of the clash and ran off. Time moved at its normal pace, allowing all of the beings in the corridor to move without the hindrance of Mono’s technique. Everyone swiveled their heads with confused eyes. “Where did Mono go?” Fei asked with a voice drenched in concern. He looked around the room and saw Lith, who fell onto her knees with a flood of tears raining down from her eyes. Fei’s heart exploded with concern. He leaped across the gorge and embraced Lith by the back of her shoulders. Lith’s head shot up. She looked behind her and saw Fei’s arms wrapped around her in a loving bond. A small amount of pain in her heart eased away. “Are you alright Lith?” Fei asked. Lith shook her head without uttering a word. Her frown quivered and she began sniveling once more. "Mono would never lay even a hair of malice on a Caterpie. He'd never attack with that type of malice. I know I said some terrible things to him, but I just didn't know what else to say...” Professor Gentian looked upon Professor Pasque, who turned around and hid his eyes away from everyone else in the room. Seeing the Aurorus walk away, Professor Gentian followed close by. Sophia stood with paralyzed legs and a thousand yard stare directed forwards. She felt her eyes lube with tears. She brought her right front paw to her face and wiped her eyes. “Those eyes of his looked like they were filled with so much sorrow. What happened to him while he was captured?” Twilight Sparkle rubbed her neck with a gentle touch and approached Lith and Fei. She turned her head away from the duo and frowned. “I am not sure what to say Lith. You were so close to your brother and now he’s become an enemy of ours.” She said. Lith’s tears dried up and she stopped sobbing. She looked into Twilight Sparkle’s eyes with reinforced dedication in her eyes. “Those moves and that attitude... I think I might know what happened.” She said. The heads of all of the operatives in the corridor jumped up. Rarity rushed towards Lith’s side with inquiring eyes. “Do you now? I know there was something off about Mono, but I really couldn’t put my hoof on it.” Rarity said. “Did you notice the nature of his attacks? Not only do they seem extremely powerful, but they all were done using a shadowy energy.” Lith explained. Sophia hopped over the abyss and approached Lith with uneasy steps. Her mechanical heart beat with uneasiness and her cybernetic stomach became queasy. “Please don’t say what I think you are going to say Lith. Is Mono a Shadow Pokémon now?” She said with a fearing tone. Lith turned her left eye towards Sophia’s direction and formed a solemn frown with her mouth. She nodded once. Fei’s eyes and mouth shot open upon hearing Lith and Sophia’s words. “Of all the possibilities that happened to him, why that?!” Slamming the ground with his right fist, Fei shouted. “My little Mono is a Shadow Pokémon… I’m not sure what to say about this.” Sophia said with a dejected tone. “From what I’ve read, Shadow Pokémon are in extreme agony. They can’t express any feelings but hatred and violence. The worst part is that they are aware of what they are doing but cannot stop themselves. It truly is a living hell.” Sadness and anger wriggled their way into Lith’s consciousness. Lith turned to Sophia’s direction and flashed a stare of anger. “Don’t you think I know that Sophia?!” She shouted. “I don’t want to imagine that kind of torment Mono is going through! It hurts thinking that he has no other choice but to kill and hurt others. He’s witnessing every kill, and each one is torturing his mind and heart even more.” Seeing Sophia’s shaken appearance, Lith looked upon her upper paws. She went down onto her knees and began sobbing into her paws once more. “I’m sorry Sophia. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that. It’s just that Mono is not only my brother, but he is also the only living source of remembrance of my parents.” Sophia’s frown eased into a comforting smile. She walked up to Lith and embraced her by her shoulders. She hushed Lith and rubbed her back. “I know how hard it is for you Lith. But we can’t let our emotions cloud our judgment. If we do, then we’re only going to make mistakes that we will sorely regret later.” She said. “I know Sophia. But will we actually be able to get Mono back? He’s going to be impossible to capture without getting a good read on his whereabouts. With there being no Celebi, his heart wouldn’t be able to be purified either.” Lith asked with an uncertain tone. Twilight Sparkle smiled and approached Lith and Sophia. She let out a cheerful grin. “We could look into that latter problem in the future, but we can definitely find where Mono is.” She said. “Really?!” Lith, Fei, Sophia and Keldeo shouted aloud. “Of course. While I was in his grip, I managed to place a tracking device on him. When his location comes up, we will storm it.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “But in the meantime, we have to continue fulfilling our duties as normal.” Sweetie Belle looked onto Magnum’s corpse with eyes void of any emotion. She turned away from him and looked towards the operatives walking away. She looked upon her dead father once more and stroked his mane with a depressed frown. “I don’t care what the others say. Mono killed my dad.” Sweetie Belle murmured to herself. She bore her teeth and slammed the ground with her right front hoof. “I hate you Mono. I will never stop hating you.” Author's Note Well that's a lighthearted and happy way to end a chapter is it not?
The World of Hollow Gears (unedited)Blueblood sat down on a lone stool in the middle of a room with velvet purple carpeting and gold-framed pictures of his colt self that stood between Celestia, Luna and a filly version of Cadance. All four royal ponies wore smiles that shined with the intensity of the bright sun behind them. His eyes focused on a small-framed image on a tabletop that depicted him with his hooves wrapped around Mono and Lith, and as the three of them let out wide smiles. He let out a despondent sigh. “Blueblood?” The voice of Fluttershy called out. Blueblood jolted upwards with widened eyes and bucked the picture off of the round tabletop. He straightened out his coifed mane and his shocked composure. “You are free to enter.” Fluttershy walked through the door space and into the room. She glanced upon Blueblood’s upright pose and sparkling smile. Blueblood rubbed his hoof against a black stone on his suit, polishing the smooth exterior of it. “So what brings you to my quarters today Fluttershy?” He asked with a charismatic tone. Fluttershy looked away from Blueblood’s eyes and bounced her right hind hoof with an anxious shiver. “Riona says that I need to awaken more of my latent abilities. She suggests that I go to the most dangerous place I can think of in order to train there. I have a location in mind,” She explained. Blueblood leaned his head inwards and turned his face to the point where only his right eye became apparent to Fluttershy’s form. “Are you suggesting what I think you are suggesting Fluttershy?” He asked. Fluttershy shut her eyes and inhaled with a deep gust of air. She puffed up her chest, stood upright and looked into Blueblood’s eye. “Yes. I want to go to the Machiner’s Field continent, and I want you to accompany me there,” she stated. Blueblood took a step backwards and looked upon her with uneasy eyes. “That’s quite a bold statement from you Fluttershy. I mean, the Machiner’s Field continent isn’t known as the most dangerous continent in the world for nothing. It is a continent that exists far to the left of the world over where the land of the Minotaurs used to be. Not only are the indigenous beings of the area all killer machines, but the Van’Goth also has their headquarters set up there if recon is correct.” Fluttershy closed the distance between herself and Blueblood. She placed her left front hoof onto her chest and her eyes glimmered with courage. “It doesn’t matter Blueblood; Mono ended up being a Shadow Pokémon and I want to be a part of the squad to rescue him. While everyone else is still improving on their skills, my latent abilities are still at minor healing. I need to get better with my abilities as quick as possible, and what better way to do that than to go into the heart of danger?” “I admire your courage and dedication to helping out everyone at H.O.R.S.E. Fluttershy. You still need to gain official access to enter,” Blueblood replied. “Already did that,” swiveling into the room on the tip of his shoe, Joker called out. “Joker? What are you doing here?” Fluttershy asked. Joker slipped behind Fluttershy and Blueblood and slinked towards the opposite end of the room. He lifted Blueblood’s photo of Mono and Lith from the floor and holstered it upon the top of the table. He dusted the frame off with his hand. Blueblood lowered his head and his face displayed a luminescent shade of red underneath his coat. “Oh you know, just finally happy that the author is finally giving me attention again. It’s almost like he actually wanted to progress the story more than anything else!” Joker responded. Fluttershy walked towards the tabletop with the frame resting upon it. Eyeing the contents of the photo, she frowned. “I didn’t know you were close to the Pokémon Blueblood,” she noted. “I just owe them favors. That’s all,” Blueblood replied with a hasty tone. “But still, Mono was being brainwashed by the Van’Goth and then turned into a monster without a heart. I know how monstrous the Van’Goth are, but I will make sure they pay for their crimes.” Joker waltzed his way between the two ponies and wrapped his arms around their necks. He pulled them in for a casual group hug. “Come on you two. Turn those frowns upside-down! We are going on an adventure!” Joker called out. Blueblood flashed a burning scowl towards Joker and pushed him away with his right front hoof. “Is it really the best time to act like Joker?” Blueblood asked with an impatient tone. Joker rolled his eyes and left his jaw open. “Come on! This story isn’t going to progress if you two just keep angsting like this!” He grabbed Fluttershy and Blueblood’s respective left and right hoofs and fled out of the room. Joker stood on the bow of Boreas’s head, gazing out towards the endless ocean. The cool breeze mixed with the ocean spray from Boreas’s Surf, refreshing Joker’s skin. On Boreas’s shell sat Fluttershy, Blueblood and a scowling Sophia. “So can anyone tell me why I’m here again?” Sophia asked with a displeased tone. Joker hopped down from Boreas’s head and onto her shell. He flashed a zany smile and sat between two prongs. “The author wanted you to come along so that you can officially display your abilities. Plus, do you even know what’s at the Machiner’s Field? Way. Too. Many. Robots. Seriously, they’re like the only creatures over there excluding a certain island just off of its coast. So, we need our local adorable killer robot Pokémon hybrid to fend them off," Joker explained. Sophia’s right eye twitched at Joker’s words. Her frown deepened further. Looking into Joker’s eyes and leaning forwards, a sly smile formed on her face. “I would be mad at your comment about me, but I’m not the one who has a screwed-up family dynamic with their daughter," She taunted. Joker’s eyes widened and his mouth widened into a silent scream. He pointed towards Sophia with a shaky hand. “Don’t you dare mention my daughter in this fic! That is NOT something that should ever be mentioned by the decree of my creator!” Joker shouted. “Daughter?” Cocking her head in confusion, Fluttershy asked. “I didn’t know you were a father.” Joker hummed with a loud tone and turned away from the group. He put his index fingers in his ears. “Lalalala can’t hear you! Boreas, Surf faster. Author, you end this scene. Now!” The clear blue sky became murky with ash and the ocean underneath Boreas transitioned into a charcoal gray color. A massive tower made of rusted metals, gears and diodes stood before the group. The tower spanned across with the size of a continent. Boreas eyed a tunnel within the tower that expelled the black material into the ocean. She ferried the group through the tunnel. Going through the dark tunnel, the group’s eyes met with the dark brown interior of the wide-open area. Islands made of copper affixed themselves within the sea of oil that Boreas swam in. The thunderous noises of large gears within the tower moving and the pulses of electricity filled the group’s ears. The aroma of crude oil filled their noses. Masses of copper land hung along the walls and components of the tower, which all connected each other through a series of bridges. “So this is the Machiner’s Field," Fluttershy stated aloud with awe and fear in her tone. “Yes. Out of all the continents in the world, this is by far the most dangerous," Blueblood said. “This also happens to be the main continent which the Van’Goth supposedly operates from.” “If the Van’Goth operate from here, then that must mean Mono must be here as well," With a sullen frown on her face, Sophia stated. She blinked once and curled her right paw. Her lips perked with determination. “I swear Mono; I will get you back and make sure that the ones who turned you into that monstrosity will pay.” Boreas docked onto a nearby copper island. Fluttershy, Blueblood, Sophia and Joker disembarked from the Transport Pokémon and set their steps onto the surface of the island. Joker stood in front of Boreas and grinned. “You don’t want to stay in this liquid Boreas. That’s pure oil you’re dealing with! Scoot off to that nearby island and stay there while we are exploring this place," Joker instructed. Boreas smiled, nodded and swam away from the island. She ventured through the tunnel, leaving the group by themselves. Fluttershy took two steps forwards and gazed at the brown horizon. Hearing the rhythm of the gears and pistons surge throughout the area, a chill rushed down her spine. Blueblood walked onto a gray platform with a green button located upon a box at the center of the area. “Going up?” Pointing towards the ceiling that stretches towards an eternity, Blueblood asked. Fluttershy, Joker and Sophia stepped on the gray platform and turned towards their backs. Blueblood pressed the green button. The button’s lit up with a red color and copper railings rose up from the edges of the octagon-shaped platform. The platform rose upwards at rocket speed, distorting the view of everyone. The platform stopped, revealing a set of catwalks, bridges and platforms before them. The group walked down the path with cautious steps. “So Blueblood, why is this continent so different from the others?” Fluttershy asked. “There are many theories about the origin of this place. The theory that many experts agree upon is that the Terraforming reacted with the rich minerals and abundant technology of the Minotaur Kingdom," Blueblood explained. Black and silver-armored bipedal tanks with scythes attached to their fronts walked down the path. Fluttershy eyed the robots with a careful gaze. The sounds of the springs in their joints moving back and forth elicited a flicker from her ears. The robots gazed towards the group and their muzzles flashed with a red light. “Everyone on high alert! These Walkers are aggressive and highly dangerous!” Arching his legs and curling his head inwards, Blueblood announced. Fluttershy pulled out her sniper rifle and fired two rounds within the span of a second, both of which aimed into the barrels of the bipedal tanks. The long round burst into flames upon entering the darkness of the barrels. Blueblood and Sophia’s eyes widened at the display of Fluttershy’s skill. Joker clapped his hands together and cheered out loud. “That marksmanship was amazing Fluttershy! Where did you learn how to be so accurate?” Blueblood asked with an impressed tone. “My training with Rainbow Dash and Riona improved my accuracy, reflexes and reaction time," Fluttershy answered. The two bipedal tanks ran out of the explosions with the gait of a sprinting ostrich and swung their scythes with a quick frenzy. Sophia leaped forwards and closed the distance between the robots and herself. She thrust her right front paw forwards, shattering the sound cone around it fifty times over. She struck through the armor of one of the tanks, tearing through the metal with the fluidity of a warm knife through butter. Sophia moved her paw through the inside of the robot, eliciting a horrible creaking noise from the contraption. Folding her paw upwards and snagging onto a solid frame, she lifted the robot without any effort and chucked it into the other robot. The force of the throw launched the two robots into the air and caused them to fall off the path. Fluttershy, Blueblood and Joker eyed below and saw the robots fall into the oil. Both robots exploded on contact. Joker let out an impressed whistle. “Do you see why I brought her here now?” He stated with a confident tone. Blueblood and Fluttershy nodded with gaping mouths and unfocused stares. Sophia walked towards the group with a cheerful smile. “Now that we got that out of the way, why don’t we further Fluttershy’s training?” She asked. Blueblood walked ahead of the group and appeared before a large circular platform that served as an intersection between four bridges. Blueblood smiled and kicked off the black-bladed katana holstered on his left flank. “This should be a good place to train. Enemies will be swarming us like nothing!” He said with an enthusiastic voice. Fluttershy edged towards Blueblood with a cautious step and forced a smile on her face. She shut her eyes and inhaled through her nostrils. A yellow aura surrounded her body and synced with her breathing. A pressure formed within the area, causing the hair and fur strands on everyone’s body to stand upon each other. The flood of power attracted the sounds of whirring machinery. Humanoid-shaped robots armored with slender black steel rushed from all bridges around the area. Fluttershy lifted her eyelids, revealing blood-red eyes directed towards the machines. The machines paused in their steps and gazed upon the pegasus. They aimed their clawed turrets towards Fluttershy and unloaded a round of bullets towards her direction. Blueblood conjured a light blue barrier around the group, shielding them from the storm of bullets. “What are you doing Fluttershy?!” Blueblood shouted. Fluttershy stared towards the robots with her red eyes, ignoring Blueblood’s question. Blueblood narrowed his eyes and bent down towards the ground. He grabbed his katana’s hilt with his teeth and charged through his barrier. He sprinted down the path and swung his blade against the bare support of one of the machines. The torso of the robot fell off and a fountain of oil spurt from the slashed area. Joker appeared before another robot’s side within the speed of an eye’s blink. He pulled out a gray handgun from his pocket and fired it into the machine’s head. He eyes darted towards the left, where a bulb-shaped machine that propelled through the air with a fan on its head headed towards him. A red laser struck the machine, incinerating it. Joker eyed the direction of the beam, gazing upon the flash of smoke hanging from the tip of Sophia’s right front drone. “Dang… nice beam!” Holding his right thumb up, Joker complimented. “If it was possible, I would have had you join the Royal Flush Gang.” Sophia narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks," She responded. Fluttershy’s eyes flashed with a yellow color. The robot she set her gaze upon brought itself down to its knees and looked towards Fluttershy’s face. It bowed its head in respect. Blueblood gazed upon the fluid movement of Fluttershy’s left front hoof, sighing in awe upon witnessing the robot’s movements follow the pegasus’s hoof. “Fluttershy. Did you take control of this robot?” He asked with a stupefied tone. Fluttershy nodded with her focus set on the robot before her. She held her hoof out and curled it inwards. The robot sliced its head off with its sharp claws. Fluttershy’s eyes restored back towards their natural color. “It’s one of the tricks I have learned under training with Riona. Apparently, I wasn’t healing others, but I was commanding the cells in their bodies to repair the abnormalities in the body at a supercharged rate," Fluttershy explained. “I never heard of anything like that before. What makes that different from healing?” Blueblood asked. “Blueblood; I have control over everything. I can command the flowers to dance for me and for my attackers to stop. I’m not real good at it, but I know I can do any of these things.” Sophia shook her head and frowned in disbelief. She walked up towards Fluttershy with a glint of disbelief in her eyes. “I’m sorry, but what? Fluttershy, there’s a being that can do what you can do. His name is Arceus. Do you mean to say that you are in the same league as the god of all Pokémon?!” She asked with shock? Fluttershy shook her head with shut eyes. “Arceus has dominion over the realms of creation, preservation and destruction. I only control the realm of preservation. I am incapable of creating or destroying anything with my abilities," She responded. Sophia looked upon Fluttershy’s figure once more. Her eyes glanced upon the faint remnants of the aura Fluttershy exuded before it faded into obscurity. She blinked once and shrugged her shoulders. “So, how much longer are we going to be here? This place is a bit unsettling.” “We can leave this place, but there is one place I want to see before we leave," Fluttershy responded. Stating these words, she took several steps forwards and had her sights set on a smooth-rounded pillar of copper with a spiral heading upwards. Blueblood, Sophia and Joker closed the distance between themselves and Fluttershy with their eyes open with wariness. Giacomo emerged from the pillar’s blind spot and looked towards the group of H.O.R.S.E. operatives that scaled the screw. Setting his gaze on Sophia, his stance changed and his eyes burned with vengeance. Fluttershy stepped off of the elevator platform and onto the platform of open space before her. She peeked down below and saw the ocean of oil below the size of a puddle. Her muscles tensed up and her teeth chattered in fear. The bottom drew her attention over the edge with the tenacity of a black hole. “Fluttershy?” Tapping Fluttershy’s right shoulder, Blueblood asked. Fluttershy leaped upwards and let out a shrill scream. She hovered in the air with her wings and looked below. Her wings stiffened with anxiety and stopped flapping. Blueblood caught her in his telekinetic grip and levitated her towards his side. Fluttershy looked into Blueblood’s eyes and frowned. “…Sorry. Heights just scare me.” She reasoned. “I was actually going to say if you were alright with looking at the bottom from this height. Some of the operatives I took here have a fear of heights. Knowing this, are you sure you want to continue?” Blueblood asked. “Of course. Heights scare me, but I have to learn to not be afraid of heights. Fear is blocking the understanding of my potential, which has a negative impact on my abilities.” Fluttershy explained. Sophia and Joker looked ahead onto the large span of copper footing before them. At the center laid a red carpet with weapons, armor, food and medication assembled into neat columns. At the center of the rug stood a bipedal chameleon with green flesh and red zigzag pattern around its abdomen. Its tail curled into three layers and a green spine jetted out from its back. Closing the distance between the chameleon and herself, Sophia eyed the yellow frills that ran down its head and the yellow markings of its face. The chameleon grinned, walked off of the carpet and approached Sophia and Joker with enthusiastic steps. “Oh my! Customers at last! Kek.” The chameleon called out with glee. “Hey, you’re a Kecleon! What are you doing out in the Machiner’s Field?” Sophia asked with a curious tone. “Actually… why are you even here? I don’t know any Kecleons from Opelucid City’s labs nor did you come from the Royal Flush Gang. Heck, you bear no similarities to any of the humans who turned into Pokémon.” “Plus, why do you act so much like the Kecleon shop owner from the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series? You go out into some random dungeon randomly to sell stuff to poor shmucks who happen to wander into the dungeon. Are you going to call upon other Kecleon to assault us if we take your stuff without paying?” Joker asked. The Kecleon eyed the two with confused eyes that matched the asymmetry of its body. It unwound its long tail, brought its right claw underneath its chin and cocked its head. “…What? Aren’t you two extremely judgmental?” It asked with an offended tone. “Yes, I’m a Kecleon. Yes, I am trying to sell my wares inside of this mechanical contraption you call a dungeon despite having a poor time trying to sell anything. And yes, I will attack you if you try to steal any of my wares. Kek.” Focusing its sights on Sophia and Joker further, the Kecleon narrowed its eyes and paid attention to the unusual style of the Sylveon’s appearance and Joker’s clothing. “You two are definitely not natives of my world.” It stated with an accusatory tone. “Wait… what do you mean ‘your world’? Do you happen to be a part of Keldeo’s world?” Sophia asked. “You speak as if I know this Keldeo fellow. Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. But if my former home is what you are looking for, then I was a part of Kurisutaru before that nasty Demiurge fellow made everything into a living nightmare! Kek.” The Kecleon responded. Joker strided by the Kecleon’s side and slammed a white signpost through the copper ground with its arrow point directed at the Kecleon. The sign read ‘Original Kurisutaru Resident trying to sell stuff in the Machiner’s Field and is sucking at it.’ “Hah! No wonder I can understand your speech without having to read this chapter to understand what you are saying. And it’s good that your dialogue isn’t solely written through the italicized commands from FiMFiction too.” The Kecleon pushed Joker away and flashed an angry stare directed towards him. “Shut up and get the hell away from me you annoying cretin!” It shouted. Sophia smiled and giggled at the display of behavior between the two. “Thanks for shutting Joker up. Seriously, he’s an obnoxious loud-mouth fellow who deserves to be put in his place.” She said with a blunt tone. “My name is Sophia, a Sylveon.” Sophia extended her right front paw with invitation. The Kecleon grasped at it, but felt only tufts of fur covering cold steel. It shrieked and blinked once. “By Arceus’s wheel! A Sylveon is not a Sylveon if it has the appearance and touch sensation of a killer robot! You may look cute like a Sylveon, but you are definitely not a Sylveon! Kek.” It shouted. Sophia narrowed her eyes, let out a disappointed and folded her paw inwards. The drone on the paw glowed with a pink energy that hummed with power. The Kecleon’s nerves grew cold upon seeing the concentrating energy that focused a mere foot away from it. A nervous giggle rang from its open mouth. “Call me cute, a killer robot or a cute killer robot and I will make sure to blast you to smithereens.” Sophia threatened. “I uhh… I didn’t know you were that sensitive to being called those things. M-my apologies Sophia. K-K-Kek!” The Kecleon called out in panic. Sophia dropped the energy around her drone and her paw. She let out a despondent sigh. “It’s not your fault. I just hate being called those things. Plus, that cybernetic implantation surgery didn’t help with my own self-esteem either.” She said. The Kecleon lowered its head and scratched the top of it. It walked up towards Sophia and patted the base of her neck. “You know what would help with that self-esteem? Buying one of my wares~! Kek!” It proclaimed with a proud tone. Sophia stared at the Kecleon with a twitchy right eye. She cupped her right front paw and socked the Kecleon across its face. The Kecleon’s eyes shot open, uttering out a stunned groan. It fell onto the ground. “If you dare try to take advantage of me when I pour my heart onto you, then I will do much worse than just a simple punch you ignorant lizard-brained merchant!” Sophia shouted. Fluttershy and Blueblood ran over towards the sound of bones cracking with an audible noise. They stared at the Kecleon on the ground, where a dark bruise marked its left cheek, blood leaked from its nostrils and its eyes formed into exaggerated swirls. Fluttershy dropped down towards the Kecleon’s level and treaded her hoof along the impacted area. Feeling the jaw-line shattered, Fluttershy’s eyes shot open. Blueblood glanced upon Sophia with shocked eyes. “Geez Sophia! How hard did you hit it?!” He shouted. “Enough to make sure that the Kecleon will never try to exploit my emotional state.” Sophia responded with a proud huff. Joker’s ears rose at the sound of quick steps approaching the group. He pulled out his gun, turned at the speed of a single frame and fired a bullet towards the direction. Giacomo pulled out Chaotic and pulled the trigger at an instant. The two bullets collided into each other, cancelling their energy. “That all you got bastard?!” Pulling out his dark scythe and driving it towards Joker, Giacomo shouted. Joker stepped away from the strike range of the scythe, dodging it. Joker whipped his pistol towards Giacomo, who parried a strike with his gun Dance. The two humanoids both smashed their guns against the other’s guns with the finesse of fencers. “You know, I know you were stalking us ever since the end of that last scene. I keep tabs on the chapter’s progress.” Joker stated with a cocky tone. “So you’ll be the one who will impede my progress from getting to that robotic bitch, aren’t you?” Giacomo responded with a casual tone. Sophia glared towards Giacomo’s direction. A fire surged from her mechanical heart and into her spirit. Joker brought out a green handgun with his left hand, twirled it and fired a glob of goo towards Sophia. Sophia adhered onto the ground and struggled in its grasp. “Easy there. I already called dibs on this dude for the longest time.” Joker stated. “So you’ll just have to be a good robot Sylveon and wait there.” “Excuse me?! I have every reason to strangle this Meowstic-mutilating asshole and my thirst for vengeance will not be quelled until I pound him to a bloody pulp!” Sophia shouted. “Meowstic… wait, isn’t that the soldier that Wilhelm caught?” Giacomo asked. He looked into Joker’s eyes, whose handgun struck against his pistols blow for blow. He smiled. “Should I tell her about how that Meowstic was tortured? It’s not like she can do anything under that goop.” “Go ahead. I never held any type of emotional connection with either Mono or Sophia.” Joker responded with a lackadaisical tone. Joker fired two more rounds of goop towards Fluttershy and Blueblood, pinning the two ponies onto the ground. He glanced towards Giacomo and sidestepped away from him. Giacomo grinned and walked towards Sophia. Sophia glared at Joker with a fiery stare. “So, you want to know how that cat was tortured do we?” Looking into Sophia’s eyes with a gnarled grin, Giacomo asked. “I won’t lie; it was not pretty. That cat got cut up in more ways than my scythe wishes it can go into. His organs are fornicated with beyond belief! You should’ve seen the look on that cat’s face. He was crying and wanted to die. How cute!” Sophia spat into Giacomo’s face with an oil-based liquid. Giacomo wiped away the spittle on his face and stared down at the fuming Sylveon. “If I get out of this goop, I’m going to ravage your body and mutilate your corpse!” Sophia shouted. Giacomo brought his hand around Sophia’s neck and squeezed it. To his surprise, Sophia did not flinch from the choke nor did she utter out a choked noise. She focused her anger into a stare that bore into Giacomo’s soul. “You humiliated me back in the Twiluminescent Jungle. If I can’t choke a bitch to death, then I’ll just cut you with my scythe!” Joker fired a bullet into Giacomo’s back, stunning him. Giacomo glanced behind him and stared into Joker’s eyes. “I’m not going to let you kill Sophia by the way. You still have to get through me first.” Giacomo turned around and glanced towards Joker. “Fine. If killing you is what it takes to get to the one who humiliated me, then I’ll gladly accept that challenge you franken-faced fu-“ “You aren’t allowed to say that word in this fic. Author’s rules.” Joker responded with a wag of his right index finger. “Fine, but prepare your anus as my scythe will rape it with slow and powerful stabs! There, better?” Giacomo asked with an annoyed tone. Joker nodded and pulled out a knife from his pocket protector. He flipped it in his hand and pointed it towards Giacomo. “Cowabunga!” he tells, and lunged at Giacomo. Giacomo parried Joker’s strike with his scythe. He pulled out Chaotic and aimed it towards Joker’s chest. Joker stuck his finger in the barrel. Giacomo pulled out Dance and aimed it at Joker’s face. Joker stuck a finger from his other hand in that gun’s barrel. Giacomo growled and dropped both of his guns. He brandished his scythe and aimed the point towards Joker’s head. “I’m seriously getting tired of your shit,” He stated with an annoyed tone. “I'll have you know that I wiped vigorously,” Joker told him with a hint of offense in his tone, “which was difficult because ponies don't use or make tp.” Giacomo growled and thrust his scythe forwards. Joker parried away the attack with his switchblade, and kicked out at Giacomo’s legs. Giacomo leaped over the kick and above Joker. He held out his right hand and fired bolts of dark magic from its palm. Joker shook in place for a moment before the crackling energy blasted him into a wall. Joker coughed out a puff of smoke. “That was shocking.” he said before grabbing his head and cracking his neck, and easily walked back into the fight. GIacomo stood on the ground and twirled his scythe. The dark energy filled the charcoal atmosphere of the Machiner’s Field, mixing with it and filling the air with a foul scent. Joker folded his knife blade back into the handle, and then pushed the button. A foot long blade popped out of the six inch handle. “People should get some popcorn right about now.” he said cheerfully. “Popcorn? The only popcorn those people will get will be the chunks that come from your blown-up body after I’m through with you!” Giacomo shouted. “Mortal Kombat eh? I like where you’re going with this!” Twirling his blade and holding it over his right shoulder, Joker called out. Giacomo and Joker’s blades clashed against each other, sending sparks throughout the field. Both combatants swung their bladed weapons at the speed of an eye’s blink at a continuous pace. Joker frowned and tossed his sword on the ground. “You know what? This isn’t working,” Pulling out a purple box with a turning lever, he said. He wound up the lever on the box, catching Giacomo off guard. “What the hell are you doing?!” Giacomo shouted. Joker let go of the lever. The lid on the box opened and a red boxing glove fired out of it. The boxing glove socked Giacomo across his jaw, knocking him back. Giacomo rubbed his jaw and glared at Joker. “What can I say? You look better with your face punched in.” Joker stated. Giacomo growled and tightened his right hand into a fist. He smashed it into Joker’s teeth. Joker covered his mouth and looked down onto the palm of his right hand, revealing a mixture of blood and spit. He pulled out his middle tooth. “OWWW!!!” Leaning forwards with an exaggerated motion and his hands over his mouth, Joker shouted. Giacomo leaned forwards and dashed in front of Joker with the blink of an eye. Giacomo threw another punch into Joker’s teeth. Upon colliding with his mouth, the Van’Goth assassin felt a wild surge of pain wrack through his entire arm. Lifting away his fist with a shaky movement, his eyes met with green metal covering Joker’s teeth. “Mother...f----WHEN DID YOU GET THAT GUARD UP?!” Giacomo shouted. Joker spat his guards out of his mouth and into the palm of his right hand. He looked forwards and grinned. “Simple; you took too long with your dash and I added the guard in-between sentences.” He stated. Giacomo regained his composure and glared into Giacomo’s eyes. He looked around him and eyed Fluttershy, whose eyes burned with a golden aura. “You know what? I’ll make sure to push in your shit especially hard after I kill this freak of nature.” He said. Joker yawned and held his gun up towards Giacomo’s head with his right hand. Giacomo looked around him and found his ankles and wrists chained towards the ground with pink plastic. Joker brought his hand to his mouth and giggled. Giacomo pulled with all of his strength, but failed to even bend his plastic prison. “Try all you want, but that plastic is not coming off anytime soon.” Joker answered. Saying these words, Joker fired a red bullet towards Giacomo’s head. Giacomo pulled out his scythe and twirled it, deflecting the bullet. He launched his scythe towards Joker’s head. Joker evaded the blade with a sidestep. Giacomo grinned and held his hand out. The scythe stopped in midair, turned onto its side and flew back towards Joker. Joker leaped above the blade of the scythe and fired a bullet towards Giacomo. “You really want to try that again?” Pulling out another staff with his right hand and twirling it around, Giacomo stated. The staff deflected the bullet. Giacomo stopped twirling his staff. A vicious curve of black energy formed at the top of the staff, revealing another scythe. Giacomo’s initial scythe flew back towards him, which the Van’Goth grabbed with his left hand. “Well two can tango as well,” Pulling out another katana with his right hand and kicking up the katana at his left foot, Joker said. He grabbed the katana with his left hand, “Now we are doing it live!” The scythes and swords of the two combatants struck each other with lightning slashes and slices; Giacomo let out flurries of slashes within the span of a second, which Joker parried with slashes of his own. Joker let out a dull yawn and kicked his goop gun into the air with his right foot. With that same foot, he kicked the trigger and fired pink blobs that aimed towards the trapped operatives. Fluttershy, Blueblood and Sophia shut their eyes and turned their heads away. The pink blobs collided with the green goop and dissolved it, setting free the captives from their bindings. Giacomo’s eyes shot wide-open at the act. “What did you do that for?!” He shouted. “Bored now.” Joker complained with a droopy-faced expression. “Bored? Are you freaking kidding me you asshat?!” Giacomo screamed out. “I’ll show you who’s bored after I kill you!” Joker shook his head, closed his eyes and smiled with a confident aura bursting from his face. “I’ve seen all of your tricks. You have nothing more to surprise me with.” He said. Giacomo grinned and held out a black remote. Joker frowned and looked up into the sky with a puzzled frown. “Author! You never told me this!” He shouted. Giacomo looked to his other enemies with a quizzical frown, “Exactly what is wrong with him?” Sophia shrugged her shoulders and shut her eyes. “He has issues.” “Hey! I'm not crazy! I just don't give a darn.” Joker explained, and hopped around for a bit yelling “Woohoo!” “Regardless, if you have a care for anything in the world, then you should know that this is a very special remote.” Giacomo stated. “Okay?” Joker picked his nose a little. “This remote has direct control over a mechanism that triggers dangerous mutations among the children of Equus by feeding off of their positive emotions provided they have an activator inside of them. It turns them into monstrous beings that will slaughter everyone in their way,” Giacomo explained, “and I know three certain fillies that will be perfect for this.” Nobody moved. Fluttershy, Sophia, and Blueblood glanced upon Giacomo with wide eyes and their hearts shook from his threat. Sophia looked towards Joker and felt a metaphorical chill run down her spine; his face lost its perpetual smile. “Excuse me? ‘Three certain fillies?’” Joker asked with a disbelieving tone. “Don’t play stupid around me. I’ve seen you hang around a pale yellow Earth Pony filly, an orange pegasus filly and a white-coated unicorn filly. While they were asleep, I injected them with an active gene that makes them susceptible to the rays of that machine. I have control over that machine with this remote!” Giacomo elaborated. Joker bent over, picked up a pebble, and flicked it quite forcefully into Giacomo's thumbnail, breaking and pushing it up and letting the small rock burrow into the alien’s finger. Giacomo dropped the remote, which was caught by Blueblood’s magic. “YOU MOTHER FUUUUuuuuuuu…..” Joker pointed at his face, interrupting Giacomo’s curse. Joker's arms were each carrying a multi-barrel rotating machine gun with belt ammo feeds coming from the large pack on his back. The ammo filled the insides of the see-through plastic tubes that made up the belts. “Are those paintballs?” Blueblood asked. “Minus the ‘t'.” the man, still not smiling, told them. Giacomo looked onto the guns with curious eyes and set his gaze onto Joker’s face. He pointed at Joker with curious eyes. “Is this your weapon against me?” He asked. “Instead of paint, the balls are filled with various chemicals that mimic Pokémon attacks. And they are propelled at the same speed as most bullets. I call them the Paintball Guns of DOOOOM!; always spelled with four ‘O's.” Joker explained to him. Giacomo grinned, leaned towards Joker’s face and lowered his eyes and said, “I bet you don’t have half the balls to shoot me with that than I believe you do.” Joker pulled the trigger on his machine guns. Fire balls, clouds of poison gas, electric shockwaves, bursts of super cold freezing air, acid, various powders, explosions, whirlwinds, bursting shrapnel shards, and even simple metal balls cascaded over Giacomo's body in an endless stream of chaos. The constant attacks striking against Giacomo pushed his body to his limit. The final explosion collided with his chest, knocking him into the air and causing his body to soar through the walls of the Machiner’s Field. Blueblood looked onto the remote and let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness that crisis was averted… but how did that Van’Goth know those specific details. Could there truly be a breach of security in Neo Canterlot?” Joker glanced towards Blueblood and smiled once more. He patted the unicorn at the base of his neck. “First of all, we’re going to remove that serum from those fillies above all else. Who knows what would happen if we left them in there?” Sophia walked over towards Fluttershy and held out her right front paw. Seeing the helping paw before her, Fluttershy smiled and wrapped her left front hoof around it. Sophia pulled her up from the ground and smiled. “I’m glad to see that you are alright Fluttershy.” She stated with her red eyes flashing with relief. “Yes, but what about the Kecleon?” Pointing towards the Kecleon that lied fainted on the ground, Fluttershy asked and said, “We can’t just leave it there.” “Good point. We’ll take him back to Neo Canterlot.” Spitfire sat at her table and examined the holographic map of Equus before her eyes. A red dot appeared at the mass of land towards the southwest of the Terraformed Wilderness. “We found him!” Author's Note I apologize with the long wait for this chapter, but it's here now. Next chapter though, tons of fecal matter wil hit the fan.
DisplacedA brown-skinned man in a white lab coat and brown khakis stepped beyond the frame of a white door, entering into a lush garden where blue and yellow berries shaped like citrus hung from ripe vines. His head of black hair shined with a sleek sheen underneath the radiant sun. A group of seven brown and white-striped raccoon dog-like creatures with beady eyes ran past him in a zigzag pattern. The man turned back, revealing his mud-brown eyes behind a set of glasses. “It looks like the Zigzagoons are very energetic today.” Walking forward, he clasped his hand onto a nearby pink berry with a pattern of excited green stripes splattered all over it and pulled it down. Nearby, a small bird with green, yellow and blue feathers stood perched upon a nearby trunk reaching out. His head was in the shape of a musical note with a pink beak and beady eyes. His tail was a black metronome. Smiling, he tore the berry in half and offered half of it to the bird. “Chatot!” The bird called out, extending out his vibrant wings. The man lifted the portion of his berry over to the Chatot’s mouth, where he ravaged the berry with his beak until nothing remained. Crouching down, the man stroked the Chatot on his head. “You haven’t been causing any trouble, have you Rondo?” The man asked. With his eyes closed, Rondo shook its head sideways. As the man lifted his portion of the Watmel Berry over to his mouth, he heard a nearby bush rustling. With his eyes widened in alert, he glanced towards the direction of the noise. From the bush emerged a periwinkle beast with two red eyes and a series of yellow pipes and holes sticking out of his head and body. The beast had thick forearms that contrasted against his thinner upper arms, and his feet had three white claws each. It eyed the berry in the man’s hand with a longing gaze. Seeing this, the man bent down onto his knees and held his hand out with the berry, offering it to the beast. With a wide-mouthed grin, the beast approached the man and took the berry with his two hands. Closing his eyes, he took several generous bites of the berry. “Exploud!” He called out happily. “Did you have a good nap in that shrub, Stereo?” The man asked, stroking Stereo by his back. “Mono!” A female voice called out. The man, Mono, turned around. Behind him was a tan-skinned woman with a white lab coat and black khakis who was running towards him with her hand extended up into the air. She stood at the man's height. Behind her was a magenta creature with a hot pink patch of fluff covering a large majority of her lower body. The creature had red eyes upon its lilac beaked-face. The woman stopped a few steps before Mono. With her brown eyes behind her glasses, she bore a fiery stare into Mono’s eyes. The creature behind landed onto the grass with floating grace. She looked towards Mono with a similar stare like the woman. “Lith! Jasmine!” Mono stated in surprise, pointing to the woman and Aromatisse. “You had me worried! Jasmine and I were looking everywhere for you! The experiment is about to begin.” Lith explained. “Tisse.” Jasmine responded, pouting towards Mono. “Wait, that’s now?!” Mono shouted. “W-we have to go!” Mono ran towards the door, not stepping on any of the various shrubberies in his way. Rondo squawked and Stereo grunted. Rondo flapped his wings and Stereo ran, following Mono. Lith let out a small sigh. She looked towards Jasmine with a smile. “My twin brother can be silly, can he?” “Tisse. Tisse Tisse.” Jasmine responded. “Yeah. We got to follow him as well.” Lith said, sprinting towards Mono’s direction. Jasmine floated back into the air, following after Lith. The sunlight phased through the glass of a white building. Within there are a group of various people of shapes, sizes and colors in lab coats and khakis. Various Pokémon stood around the humans, keeping their distance close to them. Mono, Lith, Rondo, Stereo and Jasmine sprinted into the room. All of the scientists in the room looked towards them with impatient stares. Among the group, a tall man with a beard of snow color walked towards the people and Pokemon that entered within the room. With his thick arms crossed and icy blue eyes staring down upon the group, he sent a shockwave of fear down everyone’s spines. “Mr. and Miss Samers, where have you two been? Do you not realize that we have already commenced our meeting?” The imposing man asked. “Rondo, Stereo and I were at the Opelucid Garden to gather Watmel Berries for examination and lunch, Professor Pasque.” Mono explained. “I was getting some tea for Jasmine and I before we remembered about this meeting.” Lith added. “I went to fetch Mono at our home, but he wasn’t there.” Professor Pasque’s stone face loosened and revealed a smile through his rough beard. “You should have seen the looks on your faces! It looked as if you two were in a dark alleyway surrounded by Gengars! But, I kid. I am just glad you all made it here safely.” From the group of Pokémon, a giant crocodile with red skin, a blue underbelly, black eyes and black stripes all along her back and face along with a lilac and purple gooey dragon with green eyes and a sweet grin hurried over to Mono and Lith. “Goodra!” The gooey dragon called out, embracing Lith with a tight hug. Lith giggled. “You know that I would only be gone for a little bit, Custard. I didn’t think you would miss me that much.” Mono smiled, turning his attention to the slime-covered Lith. “You know that he’s very affectionate of you, Lith. You are one of his closest friends.” “Krook!” The giant crocodile called out. “I haven’t forgotten you either, Gnasher.” Mono stated, stroking Gnasher’s snout. “You haven’t tried pushing around the other Pokémon again, have you?” “Krook!” Gnasher called out with a toothy grin. “That is all the time for the reunion.” A man the size of Professor Pasque stated, walking over to the group. His skin’s complexion was a golden brown and a head of black hair fashioned in a crew cut. “We have been keeping this project a secret for some time now, but I think we can unveil it to everyone in the room.” “You and Professor Pasque have been very quiet about this project, Professor Gentian. Is there something we have to know?” Lith asked. “Let’s just say that underneath this tarp is a highly sensitive piece of work that allows mortals to interspatial and temporal abilities that only Legendary Pokémon would be able to possess. If word of this project got out to even scientists outside the project, then it would more than likely be a target for ruffians and syndicates.” Saying these words, Professor Gentian walked over to a vanilla-colored tarp covering a pillar-shaped object. Yanking the tarp off, a silver-blue tower of metal and rings appeared. All of the humans and Pokémon in the room stared at it, sighing in awe. “This is the fruits produced by our project; the Dimensional Fluctuation Generator. With this, we can see into worlds, universes and even dimensions beyond the scope of ours. This truly is a marvel for science that would have been impossible without the bonds between human and Pokémon.” Professor Pasque revealed. “Indeed. If it were not for our Pokémon partners and their suggestions, we would not have been able to make it through even the preliminary blueprints.” When Professor Gentian stated these words, a silver saucer-shaped creature with a red-iris eye in the center and two black-dotted eyes on its shoulders and magnets attached to the bases of its shoulders and back of it floated down from the ceiling. “Magnezone.” It called out in a static voice. “Tesla here worked on the electrical engineering aspects of the machine to make sure that everything would have functioned.” Professor Pasque explained, pointing towards the Magnezone. “Meanwhile, Einstein collaborated with us in setting up all of the temporal and spatial nodes required for such a project.” Professor Gentian explained, waving his hand to a cellular-shaped rabbit inside of a green gelatin. “Reuniclus.” Einstein huffed out in pride, crossing his three-pronged gelatin arms. “Yes. It is this bond we have that allows us to achieve our goals. Whether we succeed or fail, we have to give thanks to all of our partners, including our Pokémon. Never forget that.” “I second that, Pasque. I cannot even begin to fathom a world without Pokémon. It would almost be like having an entire portion of our soul disappear from us.” “I whole-heartedly agree with that statement. I wouldn’t be the same person today had Rondo, Stereo and Gnasher never came into my life.” Mono stated, followed by a nod from Rondo, Stereo and Gnasher. “And I love my Jasmine and Custard with all of my heart. I would be heartbroken if they disappeared from me.” Lith replied, embracing both Jasmine and Custard with her arms. “Indeed. Now, shall we get our project started?” Professor Gentian imputed a series of strokes of keys on the dashboard, causing the top node of the machine to illuminate in a blue flash. The screen on the Dimensional Fluctuation Generator lit up, revealing a sea of stars and asteroids from beyond the world. “Goooo…” Custard called out, stunned by the sight of the monitor. “It looks so pretty!” Lith voiced out. “Right now, the generator is detecting any sorts of windows it can use to see into a different world. We will give it a moment.” Upon the declaration of Professor Pasque’s words, the lights in the room phased off and on. Everyone in the room stared up to the ceiling, gazing at the faulty lighting. Professor Gentian eyed Tesla, nodding his head. A cloud of electricity emanated from Tesla’s magnets, stabilizing the light in the room. A violent tremor shot through the ground and a red ‘Error!’ appeared on the generator screen. Everyone hugged the ground, straining their bodies against the quake. Cracks developed along the glass of the generator and along the ground. One of the fissures crept its way towards Lith’s direction. “Lith!” Mono shouted, jumping over towards Lith and scooping her away from the crack. “Sir! I got a scan of several time-space manipulations on a cosmic scale. The disruptions are on par with the combined forces of Palkia, Dialga and Giratina. But, it's all coming from one source” Holding a black device in his hand, the scientist shouted. Professor Gentian’s skin paled. “Only one Pokémon would be capable of manipulating the cosmos itself; Arceus has come back.” “Has Arceus truly come back???” Professor Pasque questioned with a shaken tone. "Is he here to judge humanity for his imprisonment?!" The Dimensional Fluctuation Generator exploded, drenching everyone in the area with a brilliant flash. Lith eyed Mono’s and her Pokémon, whose eyes and movements glinted with panic. She stood up from the ground, stumbling over to the Pokémon. She embraced them. “Please do not be afraid. No matter what happens, we will all be together.” She stated. Mono stumbled over to the Pokémon, hugging them and Lith. “Not even the end will separate us. We grew up together, and we shall take the next step together.” With a brilliant flash of light, everyone, humans and Pokémon, all disappeared. Mono’s eyes opened up, letting light into them. With his vision clearing, he saw luminous sunlight breaking through the gray clouds of the atmosphere. With a groan, he stirred back into existence. “Mono?!” A voice called out nearby. Mono eyed the Chatot nearby, who had an ecstatic smile. “Mono, it’s me; Rondo!” “…Rondo? I didn’t know you can speak fluent English outside of Chatter.” “Ummmm… no? I’m speaking in my native tongue. It’s you who are speaking in a different language.” Rondo responded. “That’s preposterous! I’m speaking how I normally speak!” “Really? Because you sound a lot like a Meowstic and even look like one!” “Wait, what are you-“Before Mono continued, he eyed a white paw that was in the place of his arm. “This must be some joke. I can’t possibly have this. It’s irrational!” “It’s not. Just look at yourself in the nearby lake.” Mono stood up, sprinting towards the water’s edge. Looking down upon his reflection, he gasped; within it was a dark blue-green bipedal cat much smaller than his human form with a stray patch of white fur hanging down from the top of his head. His folded-in ears were striped with white, just as his two bushy tails. His green-blue eyes glimmered down on the water’s reflection. Mono lifted his paw to his face, moving it with a rattled shake. “How… this has to be a joke. Rondo, is this some very elaborate prank that I am a victim of?” He stated with a flat tone. “What do you think? We are in a completely different area, no one else is around and you can feel that you can talk with me. I’d say it’s as real as real gets.” “I guess you’re right… so why is it that all of this is happening?” Mono asked, crossing his front paws, tilting his head and closing his eyes. “Last I remember, the lab was being torn apart through Arceus’s wrath and now I’m a Pokémon in some weird land.” “Uhhh, Mono, it might be a good idea to look for the others that got transported here with us. It’s no use pondering on our current situation.” Rondo suggested. “You’re right. We should try looking for Lith, Professor Pasque and the others.” Turning to his right, Mono’s mouth dropped at the sight of the world before him; an expansive meadow sprawled farther than his eyes can see alongside raging black waters to the west. Hills and leafy trees covered the horizon. “You had the same reaction I had when I first woke up! Isn’t it pretty?” Whistling, Rondo noted. “Let’s… let’s just try to find everyone.” Mono sprinted up a hill with Rondo flying close by. The air smelled of leafy plants boiling in a pot of water and orange peelings. He exhaled a hearty sigh. “Life isn’t too bad as a Pokémon. I could keep running forever!” “Slow down, Mono! I don’t want you to run into something you’ll regret doing later.” Rondo called out. “Relax, Rondo. What’s the worst that could possibly happen?” At the declaration of Mono’s words, a brilliant explosion sounded from beyond the hills. Mono’s eyes shot open and his a jolt of electricity shot down his spine. Rondo sighed, shaking his head. “Mono, please do me a favor and never say those combination of words again. You just might ask for the worst thing to happen.” “Y…yeah. But, we should probably see the commotion taking place there.” “Agreed.” Mono and Rondo rushed over to where the source of the explosion was. A butter yellow-coated pegasus mare cowered behind her full pink mane, slowly backing away from two oppressive shadows. On her flank was an image of a trio of butterflies. Two ponies covered from head to hoof in jet black armor had their bodies splayed on the ground with deep gashes along their necks. Before the mare were bipedal beings with dark green skin and claws the size of blades, both of which were splattered in red liquid. Their saliva was viscous honey, dripping down from their mouths. Their red eyes hungered for the mare before her. “P-please… don’t… kill me.” She pleaded with a soft voice. Mono and Rondo stood on top of a hill to the right of the commotion. Seeing the dead ponies, a terrified pony and killer creatures, they gasped. “I may not know what is going on, but we got to help that Pokémon down there.” Mono declared. “Are you sure that’s a Pokémon, Rondo? That doesn’t look like any Pokémon I’ve ever seen.” Rondo asked, tilting his head. “Regardless, we still got to help it. Those foes in front of her look nasty.” “Do you even know how to fight, Mono? I don’t think you’re ready to enter battle yet.” “All I know is that I mainly have defensive-based moves and only a small handful of offensive moves. Besides, you’ll have my back, Rondo.” Rondo nodded. The duo raced down the hill with blazes following in the wake of their tracks. The berserker creatures lifted their claws and poised them towards the pony in front of them. The pony’s aqua-colored eyes stared upon them. She stood still, breathless and paralyzed. “Rondo, use Chatter!” Rondo flew into the scene and intercepted the foes, releasing a cloud of words from his mouth and striking them. Mono ran towards the pony, who shook her head and staved off the stupor. She looked towards him with a soft smile. “Aren’t you adorable? But, you ought to run away from here. These aliens are more than just scary!” “We’re here to save you!” Mono shouted out, waving his paws with fervor. The pony stared into his eyes, almost trying to decipher what she heard. “I’m sorry, but I can’t understand you. You just kept saying ‘meow’ and ‘stic’. Just please leave. I’ll be fine. I don’t want any innocent creatures to be hurt by these barbarians. Nopony will notice that I am gone, anyways.” “Wow. You really have to get that low self-esteem checked.” The two aliens shook their head, staving off the sound ringing in their ears. Their attention and line of sight diverted towards the Chatot in front of them. “Yep, I got them angry. What should I do next?” Rondo asked. “Try using a Heat Wave attack against them.” Mono suggested. Rondo began flapping his wings at high speeds, tinting the invisible gusts into red gales with sparks of fire within them. The aliens stood strong against the gales, stumbling towards Rondo. “I really hope you have another plan, Mono. These guys are much tougher than I thought!” “Hold on, I’m thinking…” In the midst of Mono’s thoughts, one of the aliens sprinted towards Rondo, slashing him with one of their claws. Rondo squawked in pain. “Rondo!” Mono called out. Rondo shook his head. “Hey that seriously smarts.” He flew over towards Mono’s side. Mono unfolded his ears, revealing eyes at their ends. He growled in anger and all of his eyes flashed in blue. “Nobody hurts Rondo! Nobody!” The aliens were surrounded by a blue light that picked them up from the ground. With a downward thrust from Mono’s right paw, the aliens crashed onto the ground. Lifting both of his paws, the aliens were carried up into the air once more. With a strong throw downwards, the aliens collided with the land once more. “Wow…” The pony stated, blinking three times. The light within Mono’s eyes faded and came back to his senses. “What just happened?” Rondo whistled in delight. “That’s a powerful Psychic if I ever saw one. But, I really do not want to risk getting gashed by those things just to trigger another bout of anger like that.” “Wait, I did that?” From the dust cloud in front of them, the two aliens rose from the ground. Their bodies were scratched and full of dirt patches. They stared at Mono with eyes lusting for his bloodshed. From their backs, they pulled out silver guns the size of cannons and aimed them towards the group. “Ummm, I don’t mean to be rude, but I think we should leave now. Those weapons they have in their hands are meant to deliver a slow and painful death to their victims.” The pony warned. “Ohhh…” Mono and Rondo stated in unison. The group of three crawled back, staring into the eyes of death. Author's Note For those of you reading this, I thank you for reading this first chapter. I really hope you enjoy the entrance into the New Dimension.
The Mysterious StallionTwilight Sparkle sat on a stool by the entrance to the lab, looking down on her watch every five seconds. The door lifted open, revealing a yawning Mono whose eyes are half-lidded and his fur ruffled and unkempt. “You are twelve point one minutes late, Mono.” Twilight Sparkle reminded. “Must it be in the dark of morning that you had to contact me, Twilight?” Mono mumbled. “Science stops for no being, Mono. As I said earlier, I managed to decode the genome.” Twilight Sparkle walked over to a hologram of a set of colored molecules arranged into a system of metaphorical planets. “What am I looking at here?” Mono asked. “There really isn’t much of an easy way to organize the genome, so I had to arrange them into a star system of sorts to have a better look at them. Of course, the one central element I found was what I find to be known as the Normal-type, if I recalled Fluttershy’s information correctly.” Mono eyed the white sphere in the middle and saw three spheres connected to it; one was a burning red, one was a cool blue and one was a verdant green. “So if this sphere represents the Normal-type, then this sphere represents the Fire-type, this sphere represents the Water-type and this sphere represents the Grass-type?” “That’s correct. Even though I mapped out the types in the genome, our current resources will only allow us to work with these four types.” Twilight Sparkle said. “That said, I have begun doing research into magitech that would charm various equipment with some of these elements discovered by reproducing said types with my magic.” “I would love to help in that project right now, Twilight, but I have to go to sleep.” “Alright. Just take care, Mono.” With a loud yawn, Mono ambled his way towards the lab’s exit. The sun hovered above the city, shining upon a brown tower sticking out of H.O.R.S.E. with glowing yellow lines imprinted on in. Lith wandered within the tower, gazing at the levitating books and the scholars in the area. She rubbed her chin, humming. “Now where could he be? Rarity said he would be around here.” “Hey Lith.” Spike said, walking past her with three tomes held within his arms. “Oh, hey Spike. Do you know where Keldeo would happen to be?” “Ummm… he should be over by the Gravity Matrix. You do know where that is, right?” “That’s near the top level, right?” Lith asked. “Yep. You shouldn’t miss it. It’s this large well of ethereal energy that supposedly accesses a different dimension.” Spike explained. “Do you mind coming upstairs with me then, Spike?” “I wish, but I have to work on Magic Theory. Have to keep studying if I want to be a top-notch dragon mage for H.O.R.S.E.” “Even if you are only a child?” “Yes. You must understand how working early allows one to reach their maximum potential.” “Yep. Worked and studied in a lab since I was eight. Tell you what; if you come with me, I’ll help with your studies.” Spike grinned, dropping all of his books without skipping a beat. “A study buddy is always nice. I guess Twilight won’t mind if I took a bit of a break.” Lith looked over to a wide sheet of metal hovering in the center of the tower, rocketing to the top. Lith grabbed Spike’s hand, sprinting to the railing and leaping onto the metal. She looked back, seeing Spike’s body faceplanted on the metal. He stood up, brushing the dust off of his body. “You could have at least warned me, Lith.” “Sorry.” Smiling with a sheepish shrug, Lith responded. The two leaped off of the metal at the top floor. There, the duo saw a gilded well with ethereal energy flowing within it with the fluidity of water. They saw a cream-coated unicorn stallion dip his right front fetlocks colored in blue into the energy. His mane was a fire held in a blue crest and his tail was that of a rushing tidal wave. His pupils were black beads amidst the milk lakes that are his whites, and his muzzle curved into a bulb. Around his torso was a blue felt that is carpet-felt. “Ummm… are you sure he’s a pony?” Lith asked, tilting her head to her side and rubbing her chin. “Positive. He looks like every other pony, doesn’t he?” “Well… I guess, but I have to approach him to understand him better.” “You do realize that the reason he spends his time up here is partly due to the reason that no one does come up here much? He makes Fluttershy look like Pinkie Pie in comparison.” Spike said. “That’s an extreme comparison, Spike. I saw how energetic and outgoing Pinkie Pie was. I have yet to actually go on a one-on-one encounter with her.” Lith moved towards the well with quiet steps, standing by the focused Keldeo. Keldeo looked to his right, jumping half a mile with a loud yelp. “Who are you?!” He shrieked. “A fellow Pokémon whose name is Lith.” Lith responded. “Pokémon… wait, you are one of the new aliens that recently joined up with H.O.R.S.E. a few weeks back.” Keldeo responded. “Yes, and you are one like I am, Keldeo.” Keldeo’s nerves relaxed themselves and his chest burst with laughter. “That’s a good joke, Lith. Me, a pony, being called a Pokémon. How ridiculous can you get? I suggest you leave, though. I don’t really like being around others that much.” “Nah, I think I’ll stay up here with you. You don’t mind, do you?” Lith asked. Keldeo rolled his eyes, letting out an uncomfortable sigh. “Fine. Though, I do have some questions to ask you.” Lith looked into the well. She dipped her right paw into the energy, feeling its silky smoothness course through it. “So what questions do you have in mind, Keldeo?” “Well… what made you want to come to me in the first place? I’m not exactly that much of an interesting stallion.” Keldeo asked with his voice void of confidence. “Well, I had a get-together with some other girls a week or two back. Your name was brought up in Rarity’s context and, well, you kind of have the same name as a Legendary Pokémon from my world.” Lith explained. “It is such an uncanny coincidence, especially since you look exactly like him.” “Rarity brought me up, huh? Sometimes, I think she has a bit too much confidence in me at times.” Keldeo responded, swirling the energy with his hoof. “Well, how do you feel about her, Keldeo?” Keldeo stopped moving his hoof through the energy, staring up into the ceiling. “I would be lying if I said Rarity didn’t mean anything to me. On the contrary, she’s possibly the most important being for me right now. I remember when we first met as children here. She was very insistent on being my friend because she didn’t like seeing me lonely all the time. Since she insisted, I accepted her friendship. She would always make time in her schedule to see me and spend time with me, even now.” “So you two just talk?” Lith asked. “We do other activities. As children, she introduced me to some fun games and taught me a bit of magic. As we got older, she started introducing me to other activities but always spent lunch with me. It was through her that I saw just how important this city is to me. I will defend it with my life. Did I tell you everything you need?” Keldeo responded with a rushed tone dripping with impatience. “You wish. I still want to learn more about you since you have an interesting relationship with Rarity.” Lith said with a teasing voice. “Heh, I’m not sure what you mean by that.” With a red blush forming on his face and his hooves shaking, Keldeo responded. “Come now, Keldeo; a handsome stallion such as yourself on a constant interaction with a gorgeous mare like Rarity; you can’t tell me that you two haven’t done something yet.” “We honestly haven’t. We’re keeping thing platonic at the moment.” He insisted. “Sure you are. But, I won’t hound you about it any further. So what class of magic are you skilled in?” “Contact and buffing magic. I have been known to also control water, but I don’t really do it as much.” Rarity climbed up the stairs, carrying the handle of a basket with food inside of it by her mouth. Keldeo glanced back, smiling and rushing by her side. “You seem very eager to see me today, Keldeo.” Rarity commented, dropping the basket on the ground. “Thank goodness you are here, Rarity. Lith here was bothering me with some questions I felt uncomfortable with.” Rarity glanced towards Lith, smiling and waving her hoof towards her direction. “Hey Rarity.” Lith responded. “Hello Lith. I see that you came up to speak with Keldeo?” “Yep. He’s interesting, but he isn’t what I imagined him to be like. But, at least he reminds me of my brother; timid like a Minccino.” “She asked if I was a Pokémon. I’ve never heard of such a preposterous thing in my life.” Keldeo announced. “Well, I could have been less blatant about it.” “Lith, may I talk with you in private?” Rarity asked. “Ummm… okay.” Rarity took Lith’s right paw, dragging her down the stairs. Rarity clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Lith, when I told you about Keldeo, I wouldn’t think that you interrogate him. Didn’t I tell you that he was timid?” “Well, yeah you did… but I just had to investigate him further! He looks very much like the Keldeo from my world. He just keeps casually denying it.” Lith argued. “If he denies it… then maybe it is because he actually is a pony with a case of amnesia.” “You never mentioned he had amnesia.” Rarity’s eyes shot open, rubbing her left front hoof and shying her eyes away from Lith. “Did that come out of my mouth?” She said, letting out an unhampered sigh. “Okay, he has amnesia. Don’t pester him with too many questions on his childhood before he came here because you won’t get anything.” “That would have helped sooner.” Lith commented, looking away from Rarity. “Actually, there is one more thing I want to ask of you; do you mind being Keldeo’s friend?” Rarity asked. “With how I came off on him, that might be very difficult for me to do.” “Just please try. It is one favor I ask of you, Lith. He appears like he never wants friends, but he truly does desire friendship. The closest he has to friends are the allies of his squad.” Lith sighed, unveiling a soft smile. “I’ll try, Rarity.” Rarity grinned. She took Lith’s paw, dragging her up the stairs. Spike and Keldeo sat around the basket of goods, eating golden bread with a sweet aroma and ingesting a black-colored liquid. Spike’s eyes squinted, sticking out his tongue with a cry of disgust. “What is this liquid?! It tastes nasty!” Keldeo chuckled, smiling towards Spike and rubbing his head. “That is a blackberry stagnos blend that I requested that Rarity makes for me. It’s an acquired taste, but it tastes very sweet for those that have it. It is very good for maintaining physical, mental and magical energy.” Spike pulled out his tongue, rubbing the flavor off with both of his claws. “Couldn’t you have at least warned me?” Spike asked, grimacing towards him. “You never asked. You just looked at it and sipped it.” Keldeo responded. “I did. Oh, the ladies are back.” Rarity and Lith approached the two with forced smiles stretching across their faces. “So, Keldeo… I want to apologize for antagonizing you. It was wrong of me to pester you like that.” Lith said. “Can you at least try to sound genuine when saying it, Lith? It’s painful to hear forced words that don’t mean much.” Keldeo stated, tilting his head in uncertaincy. “How about I just become your friend instead? I don’t really have much to do today.” “I don’t know…” Lith approached Keldeo with her eyes half-lidded and a sly smile on her face. “Come on, please? I’ll even assist you with whatever you want.” She said, stroking the blue fur on his chest. Seeing her actions, Rarity gasped and Spike giggled. Keldeo’s face loosened into a smile. “Well, Flash and I do have to venture outside after hearing reports of some stagnoses attacking the exterior walls. If you can help, then that would be excellent.” “It would be my pleasure to assist the city in its defense.” Lith responded with a stone-hard tone. “We can leave now. Those stagnoses won’t take care of themselves.” Keldeo and Lith leaped onto the descending platform, leaving a jaw-dropped Rarity and a smirking Spike alone. “The nerve of her, hitting up on him like that!” Rarity shouted. “You want to finish up this lunch? I kind of want to try some more of that stagnos juice you made.” Spike asked. Rarity let out a sigh and directed her face to the basket. She levitated a container of the black liquid to Spike. “I thought you hated the juice.” “I do, but the aftertaste is surprisingly good. Plus, Keldeo said that it would help retain my magical energy.” An orange pegasus stallion hovered around a slender exo, looking at its joints with his blue eyes. His navy blue mane stuck up with the flashiness of a bird’s crest. He was garbed in a black latex suit that stretched down to his shaven fetlocks. He raised an eye, seeing an out of place sprocket on it. He grasped it, tossing it onto the ground. “And done. I can’t wait to see how well you do out in the field.” The stallion descended onto the ground, eyeing an observing Lith and Keldeo. “Hey Flash.” Keldeo said, waving his hoof. “Sup, Kelds?” Flash Sentry responded with a casual tone. “We got some rogue stagnoses outside trying to break into the city. Lith here will assist in our mission.” Flash Sentry grinned. He flew up towards his exo’s chest, having it open and revealing a seat surrounded by air. Sitting on the chair, the exo’s chest closed and its visor flashed with a blue light. Its limbs moved. “You know, I never actually got to see a mecha this closely without having to destroy it. I appreciate the architectural work put into it.” Lith commented, bringing a radiant smile on Flash Sentry’s face. “She’s already cool in my book, Kelds. Nice choice in picking a partner.” Keldeo sighed and shook his head. Soarin’, walking along the main path, eyed the trio. He smiled, flying his way towards the group. “Looks like you three are going out on a mission. Mind if I come along?” He asked. “The more the merrier is what I say.” Lith responded with a quick tongue. Soarin’ pulled out a large gun with a pump handle and cocked it. Lith narrowed her eyes and her nerves went cold at its sight. “What? It’s just a laser shotgun.” Soarin’ stated, shrugging his shoulders. “I didn’t think that was even a thing!” “Regardless, we have to go out into the wilderness right now.” Keldeo declared. The group of four stood outside, eyeing the falling sun in the horizon. A blunt crash from the right shook the earth underneath them. A herd of quadrupeds with plated spines thrashed their spike tails against the wall. Their silver skin contrasted against their indigo eyes. Keldeo narrowed his eyes. “It looks like those reports weren’t false after all. Those stagnoses are trying to break into the city.” Soarin’ and Flash Sentry roared in delight. “We get to take our toys out for a ride!” The both of them screeched. Flash Sentry’s exo rushed towards the group. Soarin’ flew high into the sky, divebombing towards a stagnos with his shotgun in hand. “Should we make sure they don’t hurt themselves? Those dinosaurs don’t look too friendly.” Lith asked. “Please.” Lith and Keldeo sprinted at breakneck speed, catching up with Flash Sentry’s exo. The stagnoses eyed the group heading at them and roared. Their emerald spines shot a shower of spikes into the sky. Flash Sentry shot a volley of missiles above the group, exploding on contact with the spikes. “How do you like the new weapon I installed on this?” He shouted. A stagnos rolled into a ball, spinning at a speed that melted the ground underneath it. It dashed towards Flash Sentry’s exo, striking it in the chest and knocking it onto its back on the ground. “Flash! Are you alright?” Soarin’ called out, hovering in the air. “I’m fine, Soarin’. Just a bit of a scratch on my exo’s.” Flash Sentry assured. Soarin’ aimed his shotgun towards the head of the unfolding stagnos. He pulled the trigger, releasing six lasers from the barrel that all struck the stagnos. With its body scratched in six places, the stagnos shrieked. It swung its spiked tail towards Soarin’, knocking him down and stabbing his right shoulder. Soarin’ grimaced from the strike, his wings trembling in the air. “Hanging in there, Soarin’?” Flash Sentry asked. Soarin’ smiled, holding up his left front hoof in a curve. Keldeo shattered the air around him in speed, sprinting towards the stagnos with an ice-frigid face and eyes burning with retribution. His horn flashed in a deep blue, cloaking his body in a blue aura. The aura fired away in the shape of a sphere, levitating in front of the stagnos. He struck it with his hoof, unleashing a beam that engulfed the stagnos whole. The beam dissipated, leaving a path of barren earth in its wake. Lith’s eyes jolted open at the sight. Keldeo felt his legs wobble. He crouched his knees and looked towards the rest of the stagnos glaring down on him. A stagnos lifted its massive foot, covering Keldeo in its shadow. Lith fired a Signal Beam from her right paw, striking the stagnos square in the face. The stagnos flipped over onto its back, squirming for stability. “Keldeo, how are you holding up?” She asked. Keldeo shook off his body, staving the exhaustion within. “Doing well, but I used up a lot of my magical energy on that attack.” He responded. “Why? As a soldier, you can’t make any unnecessary risks that will endanger your squad’s life.” Lith asked. Keldeo eyed Soarin’, who walked towards the duo with a limp and an eye twitching. He held his left front hoof over his ribs. “Don’t worry about me, Keldeo; it isn’t as bad as it looks.” “Are you kidding, Soarin’?! You took a critical blow onto the weak portion of your chest. Of course I have to worry.” “Keldeo, you’re worrying too much again. My suit protected me from most of the blow. It might look like I’m still wincing, but I’m still good enough to fight. Don’t waste all that magic unless if you desperately need to.” Keldeo remained silent, looking upon the ground with a quiet sigh. Lith placed her right paw on Keldeo’s shoulder. “I know how you feel. If anything were to even touch a hair on my brother, I would go as far as commit murder just for retribution. Even then, there are some physical limits that you should not betray. Just imagine how Rarity would feel if her last sight of you was in a casket.” Keldeo looked back towards Lith, a meek frown forming on his face. “Rarity…” He said. He looked to his left, seeing Flash Sentry and his mech in a readied stance. “Can your mech still fight, Flash?” Flash Sentry’s exo moved towards the center, lifting its thumb up towards him. “Like I said, it’s just a scratch. We’ll help you ward off these stagnoses.” “Then let’s show these creatures why Neo Canterlot should never be messed with.” Grinning, Keldeo responded. Flash Sentry’s exo ran towards a stagnos, thrusting its fist across its face and launching the creature beyond the horizon. Soarin’ flew into the face of a stagnos, swiping his shotgun across its face and shooting it. The stagnos fell onto the ground, squirming from the strike. A stagnos opened its beak, breathing out a golden mist striking Lith. Her sight became veiled in gold and her body stiffened. Her breathing became rapid and her heart beat with earthquakes. A chilling feeling enveloped her body. “What’s happening? Why do I feel… afraid of that?” She shouted. The stagnos charged into Lith, sending her into the air. Soarin’ soared into the sky, catching her with his front legs. Lith’s heart exploded in anxiety, all of her paws flailing in the air. “Calm down! You just got hit by some scare spore. Its neurotoxins will make you temporarily afraid of everything.” Soarin’ explained. “That already sounds frightening.” Lith noted, bringing her left paw to her chin. “When will it stop?” “It just stopped. Seems like the effects are very temporary in your case.” Soarin’ brought Lith down to the ground by Keldeo’s side. She stared at the stagnos that breathed the mist at her with an icy stare. She conjured up a Magical Leaf, sending them flying towards the stagnos and cutting its skin. The stagnos roared, galloping out of the area. Keldeo’s horn flashed, covering the next set of leaves Lith conjured around her. They disappeared from sight. Lith held her right paw forward. Several scrapes appeared on each stagos’s body. Their heads moved around, wary of what was near them. A stream of scratches appeared on their bodies once more. The remaining stagnoses hollered, sprinting out of the area and into the wilderness. “Well, it looks like it is over.” Lith said, letting out a confident huff. “Do not be sure of that, little alien.” A female voice echoed from the sky. Lith, Keldeo, Flash Sentry and Soarin’ looked into the sky, their sight focused on a green mecha with a body thick with armor and five claws made of light, stretching out to half of the forearm’s length. It descended upon the ground, kicking up a storm of dust. Lith, Keldeo and Soarin’ shielded their eyes from the particles and maintained their view of the mecha. “Who are you?” Soarin’ asked. A hologram flashed in front of the group, revealing a pale white humanoid female with green hair wrapped in dreadlocks. Her gray suit accentuated the curves on her body and brought out the dark green color of her irises. She smirked with a sinister air surrounding her. “My name is Goethia, but my name will be irrelevant to you four soon enough. Enjoy this sight while you can, for it will be the last thing you see.” The hologram of Goethia’s image vanished. Several probes launched into the air from her mecha, hovering above the group of four. A deluge of red lasers rained down upon the group, blasting away the ground. Lith, Soarin’ and Keldeo dropped to the ground, covered their heads and closed their eyes. Flash Sentry leaped above the group, his exo shielding everyone from the rain of death. “Flash!” Keldeo shouted, eyeing the erratic static appearing on the exo’s visor. “Don’t worry about me. I got you all covered from the attack. Go after Goethia!” Flash Sentry called out in a strained voice. Lith rolled out of Flash Sentry’s shadow of protection, engaging towards Goethia’s direction. With her eyes flashing, she grasped her mecha through Psychic, holding her in place. She leaped into the air, kicking the mecha in the chest. A telekinetic explosion of energy blasted Goethia across the field, her mecha’s feet tearing apart the ground. “It seems that Wilhelm was correct; the powers that you aliens possess are always expanding. But, it will take more than just creativity to take me down.” Goethia taunted. “Is this Wilhelm the leader of your people?” Lith asked. “My, it appears that I have said too much already. Oh well, it’s not like anything you know will be able to take us down. You are all too spineless to deal any sort of decisive blow anyways.” Saying these words, Goethia charged forward, tearing apart the air in front of her with her speed. She slashed Lith with her claws, rending her suit and knocking her into the air. Goethia aimed her mecha’s fists into Lith’s aerial space. A dark chuckle emerged from her mouth. “I will put an end to your short trip on this planet.” Flash Sentry dashed towards Goethia, punching her mecha across its vizor. She stood her place, throwing a rocket fist across the exo’s visor and knocking it to the ground. Keldeo leaped off of Flash Sentry’s exo and his horn charged with a pale orange light. His horn extended to the size of a longsword. He slashed Goethia’s mecha across her chest and reeled her back. Lith landed on her feet with no other damage on her. She fired a Charge Beam straight into Goethia’s visor, knocking the mecha on its back. “You say we are spineless, are we?! I’ll show you just how much spine we Equusians have!” Soarin’ shouted, splitting his shotgun in half and fitting them on his front hooves. Twin lasers extended from the gauntlets, shaping into sharp daggers and diving towards Goethia. Goethia rolled out of the way, causing Soarin’s blades to stab the ground. Goethia flew into the sky. “It seems I have extended my playtime with you beings past what I was allotted. But you all have given me some interesting new variables to give to Wilhelm.” Lith stared at Goethia, sprinting after her. She leaped off of Keldeo’s back, using Soarin’ as her vault and jumped into the sky. Purple electricity formed around the mecha, shocking Lith and causing her to plummet to the ground. Soarin’ grabbed her, bringing a veil of safety to her. “Get back here!” Lith demanded, wriggling her right paw out and firing a Signal Beam towards her direction. Goethia evaded the strike, flying beyond the horizon of the blue sky. “Lith, stop! She’s gone.” Keldeo demanded. “So close! We were so close to taking down a Van’Goth officer.” Lith responded. “I share in your zeal, but aren’t you being a bit obsessive over that?” Soarin’ asked. Lith stopped squirming. Her body relaxed to a standstill. “I know… But, I cannot help but feel so angry by witnessing a member of the Van’Goth just barge down here to try to ruin our lives and our way of living.” Keldeo glanced to his back, hiding a small frown from the group. “Well, it looks like we did it. Mission complete.” Flash Sentry stated, dusting off the armor of his exo with its arms. He flew out of the cockpit, looking at the cuts and peeling paint on it. “It looks like I’ll have to do yet another tedious repair session for my exo again.” Mono sat on his seat, scrolling through the words of a hologram and an image of a white-coated unicorn mare with a slender build, lavender eyes and a pink mane and tail combed in a thick and clean fashion. She was garbed in a linen dress that sparkled with the colors of a rainbow. “Hey, Mono.” Lith said, entering through the front door of the living quarters. “Sounds like you had an interesting day.” Mono responded, eyeing the scrapes on Lith’s uniform. “It was interesting. I got to meet an interesting citizen… and we fought against a member of the Van’Goth. Don’t worry, I’m not hurt. So what are you doing?” “I’m just looking through an article about a pony Rarity wanted me to look over. Fleur De Lis has much more depth than what I perceived her to be like.” Lith sat beside Mono and looked at the image on the hologram. Her heart stopped at her sight, restarting with rapid beats. “Why did Rarity want you to look at her?” Lith asked, her breath strained from the sight. “Apparently, she has a personal request that she asks of our group for tomorrow. I decided to look up as much information as possible on her.” Mono responded. A dull knocking reverberated on the door. Mono closed the hologram and approached the door. Turning the knob and lifting it away, he witnessed Keldeo on the other side of the door. “Oh! Did I get the wrong door? I was looking for Lith. Sorry to bother you.” Keldeo stated with an apologetic tone. “This is the right door. My name is Mono, Lith’s brother and a member of the R&D Division.” Mono introduced, bringing a grin to Keldeo’s face. “Oh! You don’t look much like your sister for being twins. Mind if I come in?” “I don’t mind at all.” Mono stood out of the doorway, allowing Keldeo inside. “Hey, Keldeo. What brings you here?” Lith asked with a cheery smile. Keldeo scratched the back of his head with a nervous frown on his face. “I wish to make amends between the two of us. We haven’t really been off to a good start.” He stated. “It was my fault for trying to push my perception on you. I assume that it left a bad impression on you.” “At first. But, when I saw how you were like in combat, something within me stirred awake. I’m not too sure, but I think I might be starting to believe some of those words you were saying about me being a Pokémon.” Lith cocked her head and her eyes glinted in confusion. “Why do you have a sudden change of heart about that theory?” “Do you remember when my horn flashed when I assaulted Goethia? I have a reasonable suspicion that move was not magic on my part, but it was something else. Truth be told, I have no idea on what my origins are. I walk, talk and act like a pony, but I don’t remember anything. I literally woke up here with no recollection of anything other than my name.” Keldeo explained. “That’s very… complicated. Pokémon shouldn’t be able to do what you are currently doing right now after all. But at the same time, you don’t look like other ponies.” “I know, and that is why I came here; I feel that I can get a better understanding about myself if I interact more with you and your friends. Maybe I can even discover fragments of my memory and unravel the mysteries about me?” Lith smiled, patting Keldeo on top of his head. “My family and I would love to help you discover who you are.” Mono’s watch lit up, his eyes widening at the sudden appearance of a hologram. He narrowed his eyes, scanning through the contents of the message. “I got a message from Rarity. She’s asking for you, Keldeo. Based on her rushed wording, she doesn’t sound too happy.” Keldeo’s eyes jolted open. “I forgot to check back with Rarity! Oh, she’s probably going to kill me for not checking back with her!” Keldeo shouted, galloping outside. “So… what’s the deal with Keldeo?” Mono asked. “At this point, I don’t know. That stallion ain’t right.” Lith responded, impersonating a Driftveilan accent.
Exploration of the NightBoreas stared at the setting sun, seeing the orange sky transmute into an ethereal purple color. The stars flashed among the fading brightness in the sky. A smile that radiated with the mystery of the coalescent star constellations in the sky found its way on her face. “I see you like my night sky, Boreas.” Luna stated, flying down onto Boreas’s location. Boreas craned her neck towards her back. Her eyes displayed an eager attitude towards Luna’s direction. “I understand that you cannot speak. It is very unfortunate that had to happen to someone as sweet as you. At least that is the impression I get.” Luna stated. Boreas tapped her right pectoral fin on the ground with a series of taps and dashes along the ground. “Oh? Is that Morse code you are using? It is a rarity to see nowadays, and I am one of the few ponies that can understand it. Let me translate what you are saying; C-A-N Y-O-U S-E-N-D M-E O-N N-O-C-T-U-R-N-A-L P-A-T-R-O-L T-O-N-I-G-H-T. Can you send me on nocturnal patrol tonight is what you are saying?” Luna said with a cheery tone in her voice. Boreas shook her head with a series of gleeful nods. “I am not too sure that you would be best for patrol here. I already have night patrol set up after all.” Luna stated with a tone wavering with uncertainty. Boreas unleashed another series of taps and dashes with her right pectoral fin once more. “Oh! More Morse code! Let me see; ‘The pink one gets to go out on nightly patrols and so does my partner. Should it be fair that I go as well? Send me out to explore the sea if you must.’ That does not sound like a bad idea. I could send two of my patrolling thestrals and your partner to join you.” Luna suggested. Boreas nodded with a smile on her face and tapped the ground with a series of taps. “I am glad that we can work something out, Boreas. Unfortunately, you would not be able to communicate too well with the guards of the night. They are not too good with understanding Morse code… just like almost every other Equusian for that fact.” Luna said. Boreas flipped her pectoral fins with a carefree shutting of her eyes. The full moon flashed with the brilliance of a pearl in the sky. Boreas, Rundas and two bat ponies, one with a jet black-coated stallion and the other with a periwinkle-coated mare, stood on the chilly sand darkened by the night. The four of them gazed at the dark ocean. The mare looked upon Rundas with her yellow eyes flashed in suspicion. “Errr, Rundas, are you sure that Council Lady Luna made the wisest decision to bring us to the sea to do night navigations? It seems a bit suspicious.” She asked. “Relax, Crescent Radiance. You’re brave, aren’t you? I mean, we haven’t really explored the sea at night.” Rundas assured. “I apologize, but I’m with Rundas on this one. The night is meant to be explored, after all. If we aren’t exploring in the night, then our purpose is lost to us.” The stallion said. “Not you too, Subterra Shock.” Crescent Radiance said in disbelief. “Should’ve known this was a guy thing.” Boreas slammed her right pectoral fin onto the ground with a large grin. “Boreas said that she was the one that agreed for all of us to come together. She is a girl like you after all.” Rundas teased. “Well, three against one. I say we see what the seas have in store for us.” Subterra Shock stated with a bold tone, pointing towards the sea with an endless horizon. Rundas, Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock hoisted themselves onto Boreas’s shell. Boreas pushed herself forwards into the sea. A sound of water splashing underneath her reached the ears of everyone. Subterra Shock leaped upwards and shrieked at the movement under him. “What’s the matter? Is somepony by the name of Subterra Shock afraid of a bit of movement?” Crescent Radiance asked with a dark chuckle. “No! I just, err… need some time to equip my sea legs.” Subterra Shock stammered out. “We all know how shaky your legs are, Subterra Shock. Now shut up and enjoy the ride, because my partner’s surfing can be very gentle to the passengers.” Rundas assured. “You would have to tick her off if you want her to knock you overboard.” “I’ll behave.” Crescent Radiance looked towards the sky. Her breath was stolen by the sea of stars above the gray clouds and the sounds of the waves crashing against Boreas’s shell. “You know, I never realized how peaceful the night can be. Usually, we are out patrolling the streets and being on high alert at all times for any potential trouble makers. It’s nice to admire the scenery once in a while.” She said. “I know how you feel. The night is full of monsters that hide in its darkness, but we all fail to appreciate how wondrous it actually is.” Rundas stated. “I’ve heard stories hearkening back a thousand years ago that the then-Princess Luna almost succumbed to the darkness of her heart because the ponies couldn’t appreciate the night. But, the then-Princess Celestia had a very pleasant surprise for her sister by inviting a host of the population for a surprise royal slumber party under the stars.” Subterra Shock told. “I heard about that. I heard that after that day, more of the ponies looked up to Luna, the moon and the stars, seeing it as a sign of protection in the fear of the night. It’s really heartwarming how her sister went out of her way to show how she is appreciated.” Crescent Radiance said. “And if she failed?” Rundas asked. “I’m not sure what would have happened, but I don’t think it would have been pretty. At best, I would suspect that Celestia would have imprisoned her sister on the moon for a thousand years and perpetuated that stereotypical fear of the night. I would not be happy with that outcome at all.” Subterra Shock admitted. Boreas travelled far from the coastline of the Terraformed Wilderness to the point where it vanished underneath the horizon of the night. She glanced forward and eyed a whirlpool out in the distance. She smirked and dashed forwards. Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance gripped the nubs on the shell with their front legs while their bodies hung within the air. Rundas gripped Boreas’s neck with a calm expression on his face. “What is this crazy plesiosaur for a partner of yours doing, Rundas?!” Crescent Radiance shouted. “She found a whirlpool out in the distance! She’s going to go get her ride in it.” Rundas answered. “Is she crazy?! Why?!” Subterra Shock screamed with anxiety flowing out of his voice. “Because it’s fun? Heck, it’s pretty fun for me as well. Just hold on tight and try not to fall into the water.” Boreas crashed through the current of the whirlpool and rode along the powerful swirl. Her mouth was agape in joy. Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock screamed in fear and Rundas shouted with adrenaline rushing through him. Boreas launched herself into the air and plopped onto the ocean, making a huge splash. “How was that?! Fun, isn’t it?” Rundas called out, looking behind him. Crescent Radiance stood up on the shell and Subterra Shock lied upon his side. “Sick… so very sea sick.” He burped out. “That was… kind of fun.” Crescent Radiance said through heavy breathing. Rundas strutted his way towards Subterra Shock and pat his shoulder. “Man up! The lady here enjoyed the ride, so the least you can do is just stand up and say you had fun.” “I freaking hate you, Rundas. Beating me up with your words while I’m down… where’s your honor?” Subterra Shock asked. “I’m a Dark-type and we’re like bros now. Did you expect me to not say that?” Rundas questioned with a snigger. Subterra Shock stood up from the shell and shook his body of his seasickness. Crescent Radiance stood upon the base of Boreas’s neck and stroked the top of her head. “I know I said that you were crazy for doing that, but a thrill like that was just what was needed to break my boredom. How did you know I wanted that?” She asked. “She’s pretty good at reading people. She’s an avid listener and is capable of picking up even the smallest of motion cues. Though I’m pretty sure that it was a coincidence that you just happened to enjoy Boreas’s thrill-seeking.” Rundas explained. “Regardless, I’m happy.” A patch of water, blacker than the moonless sky, shown itself among the open ocean. Boreas increased her speed to a quicker but stable level. Rundas’s spine shot upwards. “What did Boreas find this time?” Subterra Shock asked. “This is a deep part of the ocean. Areas like this are passageways into ruins and even more things. Luckily for us, Boreas knows how to use a move known as Dive and she can bring us all down.” Rundas explained. “Are you insane?! We’re mammalian! We can’t breathe underwater!” Crescent Radiance shouted. “Wait for it.” A blue aura surrounded Boreas and her passengers. She smashed her head into the water and dashed underneath. Subterra Shock held his breath with the tenacity of a wolf. His black coat turned a dark shade of blue. He moved around his right front hoof in an erratic pattern. Rundas shook his head. “Just breathe!” He screamed out. Subterra Shock opened his mouth. His eyes lit up with surprise with the ease of air reaching his lungs. “What means of sorcery is this?!” He shouted. “This is what Dive does; it brings us underwater and allows the passengers of the Pokémon to breathe. We are also unaffected by the pressure around us.” Rundas explained. “I wish you’d tell us sooner, Rundas. I almost had a panic attack when we dove downwards.” Crescent Radiance said. Any light that remained within the sea disappeared into the dark abyss of the ocean. The plants became sparse and pressure squeezed any stray rocks. Amidst the darkness of the tunnel, an azure light shined itself towards the end. Boreas’s eyes lit up with glee. “A light? Down here? Why is that here?” Rundas asked. Boreas popped above the surface of the water. The group’s eyes were greeted with the sight of a deep blue chamber with three hallways around them. “What is this place?” Crescent Radiance asked with a voice peaked an awe. Subterra Shock glanced onto the murals of the wall, which depicted murals of seahorse-like creatures drawn out in curves. Over the top of the central hallway, a depiction of an even larger seahorse-like creature that sat upon an ornate throne met with his eyes. A smile crept its way onto his face. “Do not quote me on this, but we may have found one of the many temples built by the seaponies!” “The seaponies? Weren’t they one of the races killed off during the invasions?” Crescent Radiance asked. “Yes. The Van’Goth poisoned the seas around their kingdom, killing over eighty percent of the overall population. We don’t exactly know what happened to the other twenty percent, but they never showed up again.” “It is things like that which bring my cool blood to a hot boil. It’s a violation of justice if a sentient being wishes to bring extinction just for the sake of hurting others.” Rundas said. “But, considering we are here, we should probably check this place out.” He leaped off of Boreas’s shell. Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance flew towards the opposite sides of the room. “It’s best that we split up to cover more ground. I’ll take the left corridor, Crescent Radiance takes the right corridor and you two take the central corridor. Oh man, this is gonna be so cool!” Subterra Shock declared with a grin and a voice within the crux of exploding in joy. “You’re such a kid at times, you know?” Crescent Radiance teased. “Heh, I know.” Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance flew into the halls, leaving Rundas and Boreas alone. Boreas moved her way across the slippery floor into the hallway with Rundas close behind her. Within the hallway, the duo’s eyes detected two pipelines of water surging through the grated floor. Hitting their ears is the dull noise of water crashing at the bottom. “Pretty fancy stuff here. Nice to know that this is intact.” Boreas blocked Rundas with a hurried movement. She fired an Ice Beam towards the grated floor. The floor fell apart, creating a valley that led directly into the abyss below. The grated floor landed on the surface of the water. Spikes emerged from the water, skewering the floor. “Good call. I could’ve saved myself, but it still would’ve been a nasty trap for us.” Rundas noted. “So, how will you get across this?” Boreas smiled and imputed a series of dashes and taps along the ground. “‘Who do you think taught you that trick with the Ice Beam?’ That’s kind of cold of you to say.” Rundas commented. Using her Ice Beam, Boreas froze her edge of the valley. She slid forward and linked the path ahead with her Ice Beam. Rundas leaped onto her shell and rode her with a surfer’s stance. Sliding towards the other side, the door opened. Within the room, a stream of brilliant water poured out of a statue depicting a pony-shaped aquatic creature’s mouth that ran down a grand set of icy blue pyramid steps. Within the forehead of the statue lied a white stone in the shape of an opal. “Hey, that’s a cool-looking stone.” Rundas stated. He sprinted up towards the steps and approached the statue. He dug his claws into the forehead of the statue and yanked it out. The head of the statue crumbled, following the rest of its body. The entire chamber shook underneath pressure. Boreas and Rundas’s eyes widened with surprise. Boreas unleashed a hurried series of taps and dashes along the floor. “‘Let’s get out of here as quickly as possible?’ You sure do know how to say the most obvious things at the wrong times!” Rundas shouted. Rundas hopped onto Boreas’s back. The duo slid away from the falling debris of the chamber and beyond the door. They crossed the bridge of ice, which collapsed upon being struck by a large fragment from the ceiling. They ventured towards the beginning of the ruins. Rundas looked towards the left and right hallways and the pressure of the anxiety exploded out of him. “Where’s Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance?!” He shouted. Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance flew out of their halls with their eyes wide in panic and their teeth gritted with fear. In their mouths were two white stones shaped in ovals. “What the heck is wrong with this place?! All I did was take out this stone! I didn’t think it’d trigger… this!” Subterra Shock shouted. “That’s because these stones are important to the ruins! But let’s not bother with that. We have to get out of here!” Crescent Radiance suggested. Boreas nodded and leaped into the water. Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance hopped aboard Boreas. Boreas dove into the water at a sonic speed. Everyone felt the rumbling of the ruins collapsing from within the water. Swimming upwards, the darkness faded away and a dim light surfaced. Luna sprinted into a cream-colored room with a queen-sized bed in it. Celestia lied on her left side upon the bed, dozing the night away. Luna rushed towards the bedside and shook Celestia with her right front hoof. “‘Tia!” Celestia’s eyes jolted open and she jumped upwards. Landing on the bed on her hindquarters, she stared at Luna with an agitated stare and red cracks within the whites of her eyes. “What is it now, Lulu? This better be good.” Celestia stated in a tone groggy with exhaustion. “We have to round up the council, now! A squad I sent out has made a most important discovery!” Luna stated. “Couldn’t this wait until morning, Lulu? You don’t see me trying to wake you up in the morning.” “No, it cannot wait.” Luna wrapped her mouth around Celestia’s hind left ankle and dragged her out of bed. An annoyed groan escaped from Celestia’s mouth. “Fine.” Boreas, Rundas, Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock stood within a grand chamber, where the five members of the council sat on their seats. All of them with the exception of Luna slumped their necks forward in exhaustion. “Rundas, to what did you summon all five of us in here for?” Victoria asked with a strong, but exhausted tone. “With the grace of Council Lady Luna, my squad and I were doing some nightly exploration of the western ocean. We managed to find these stones.” Rundas stated, holding out the three stones in the palm of his claws. Victoria flew down towards the group and gazed at the stones. Her tired eyes ignited with life and fascination. “This is a treasure of the ancient seaponies! Before the invasion, the Ruler of Marelantis did say something about having these stones hidden in a temple somewhere. Where did you find these?” “We found them in some ruins under the ocean. Thankfully, our eyes are able to detect darker parts of the ocean even in the black of night.” Rundas explained. “For the first time in my life, I felt like Daring Do. It was awesome.” Subterra Shock bragged. Boreas unleashed a series of taps upon the floor and grinned. The council sans Luna looked upon her with confused expressions. “Allow me to translate to you. She says that it was possible to even enter inside of the ruins because she has a special skill that negates the woes of water to those that cannot withstand them.” Luna said. “So what you are saying is that you can investigate more ruins like this?” Serva asked. “I believe that is what she is saying.” Crescent Radiance said. “So what is it about these stones that are so special that the entire place was booby trapped with collapsing death?” “These stones have the ability to alter the laws of reality to the whim of the user.” Victoria explained. “With enough of these stones, one can attain god-like power and shall be able to control the whims of the universe. Unfortunately, the numbers of stones are very limited and we only have five in our possession. Even with the combination of these eight stones, it is confirmed to be around a quarter of what remain.” “That’s a lot of stones! And… exactly how do they alter the laws of reality?” Rundas questioned. Five stones illuminated from the foreheads of the council leaders in the colors of their bodies. “In case if you have not noticed, we five are capable of controlling the forces of the world with just one of these gems. It strengthens our magic to the point where we can control the cosmos, the essences of the natural world and our dominion amongst the populace. Only those of noble blood can wield them without succumbing to its ill effects.” Celestia revealed. Crescent Radiance stared at the glimmering stones lodged within the leaders’ foreheads and stared at them with awe. She looked down upon the stone in her hoof and frowned. “So it seems like we are unable to use these stones then?” She said with a disappointed tone. “I’m afraid not. If more people were of noble blood and had the wisdom and courage to control such power, we would have won against the Van’Goth a long time ago.” Carapace said. “But for now, we will keep these stones safe.” “It seems like my sister did not jump the gun when she called for this emergency meeting. We cannot let these stones fall under anyone’s possession. Just imagining that gives me dread beyond anything possible.” Celestia said. “Drat. And here I was thinking that I could use them to accentuate the mark on my forehead.” Rundas said with a lighthearted chuckle. “Please do not say that again, Rundas. I like you too much for me to end your life if you actually do fulfill what you say.” Luna stated. Rundas, Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance sat upon stools around a round table made from stainless steel. Boreas stood out in the open space of the pub nearby the group. A wizened and aqua-coated pegasus stallion with a scraggly beard, mane and tail with the color of pure snow flew over towards the group with mugs of orange beer with generous foam pouring out of the top. His cutie mark was an image of two mugs of beer with foam on the top. “Here you go fellas! For Rundas, I got the Spicy Pamella, for Subterra Shock I got the Young Hops Surprise, and for Crescent Radiance I have the Bitter Pod Rind. They’re all on the house!” He said. “Thanks again, Fizzy Scotch. I also have to thank you for allowing my partner to enter your pub.” Rundas said. “Oh her? She’s a sweetheart. Couldn’t understand all her facial expressions and those fancy taps, but she seems very good. Plus, I increased the size of the front door to fit citizens of a larger size so it’s no problem at all.” Fizzy Scotch stated. “I honestly find it kind of weird how you did that.” Crescent Radiance noted. “What is the point of doing that anyways?” “You may not know it, but I had a really good customer as of late who would come once every two days here to drink some of my fine brews. He’s a big ol’ fellow with a bold look to him. He says that even if he is happy being around his children and some new children, he needs a drink every now and then to take off the edge.” “Yep, that sounds like Professor Pasque to me. He does have a tendency to drink from time to time.” Rundas said. “Nice to see that he’s acquainted with ya. He’s a good alien that even stopped trouble makers in here cold in their tracks. That pun was both intended and non-intened!” Fizzy Scotch commented with a burst of hillbilly laughter. Boreas tapped her right pectoral fin on the floor. Rundas pointed towards her direction. “You really shouldn’t keep a lady waiting with her beverage, Fizzy Scotch.” “I’ll get right to her.” Fizzy Scotch went behind his counter and filled a mug three sizes larger than the other cups that the group had. Subterra Shock shifted his gaze towards Rundas and sipped a hearty amount of the beverage. A satisfied sigh with a hearty grin emerged from him. “That felt good! Tonight was a great night. Even if I got a bit of seasickness and we almost died, it was still pretty cool. Then, topping it off with drinks at the end makes this a perfect night for me. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.” “I feel you, Shock.” Crescent Radiance said, ingesting half of her beverage in a single sip. “I thought I would hate this night when we were getting shifted out of our patrolling roles. Best night on duty I ever had.” Fizzy Scotch placed Boreas’s cup in front of her. She licked her lips and grabbed the cup with her pectoral fins. She lifted it to her mouth and drunk it all within one sitting. Rundas, Crescent Radiance and Subterra Shock all gazed at her with silence and wide eyes. Boreas shrugged her fins. “Whoo-wee! She’s got a big appetite for beer!” Fizzy Scotch shouted with a swing of his right front leg. Boreas tapped her right pectoral fin on the ground three times with rapid increments. A smug smirk made its way on her face. Rundas looked towards Subterra Shock and Crescent Radiance with a cheeky grin. “So… who’s going to pay her bill?” Author's Note Finally, a Boreas-centric chapter with added bonuses. Hope you all have fun reading this chapter. It was a fun one to write.
Shattered Remnants pt. 1Fei and Keldeo walked side by side together down the halls of the lounging quarters with white towels that dripped with their sweat wrapped around their necks. Fei grabbed the right end of the towel and wiped his forehead. He glanced towards Keldeo with a smile that brimmed with exhaustion on his face. “That was quite the intense training session we had back there.” He stated with a semblance of panting in his voice. “Agreed. My muscles feel sore from bucking that mithril training dummy and jogging. Then there was the fact that we engaged in a bit of a fierce sparring session.” With a cheerful exhale of air, Keldeo responded. Walking down the corner beyond the hallway, the duo came across Saraid and Iosac engaging in a conversation. A large smile spread on Iosac’s face and Saraid’s eyes narrowed with disgust. “So that’s how I stuffed all of that vinegar and baking soda inside of Crisp Chitin’s closet without letting either of the components touch each other until he opened the door!” Iosac cheerfully stated. “And how did Crisp Chitin react to this little prank of yours again?” Saraid responded with an aggravated tone. Iosac shut his eyes and flashed a happy smile. He pointed towards a black changeling covered from head to toe in white and sizzling baking soda. Crisp Chitin let out a fierce scowl directed towards Iosac. “I swear to Deus, if you ever stuff my closet with baking soda and vinegar again…” He threatened. “Awww get a sense of humor ya dry shite.” Iosac responded. Crisp Chitin shook his head in disapproval and walked off. Iosac directed his attention back towards Saraid, who looked at him with deadpan eyes and straight lips. “Ya had to go there, Iosac? Ya didn’t need to insult him you know.” “Well what do ya expect? He has no sense of humor in his funny bones. I did him a favor there.” Saying these words, Iosac’s eyes drifted towards Fei and Keldeo. His eyes widened and his lips quivered with excitement. He pointed towards Keldeo with an ecstatic series of points. “Blimey! It’s a freaking Keldeo, Saraid! An actual freaking Keldeo that is right next to me!” He shouted. Saraid looked towards Keldeo and Fei with listless eyes. “Yes, it’s a Keldeo and his Mienshao friend. What else is new?” She asked. Iosac rushed towards Keldeo and dropped in front of him. Keldeo’s eyes widened from the shock. He took a step back and lifted his right front hoof with a wary motion. He looked towards the left and right. “Ummm… hello there… do I know you?” He asked with a timid tone. Iosac pointed towards Keldeo and grinned with a burst of enthusiasm shaking down his entire body. “No, but I know all about you! You are an absolute legend! You are a heroic Legendary Pokémon that has fought off hordes of nasty beasts and malicious beings in the name of justice!” He shouted with an idyllic tone. “Can I have your autograph?!” Keldeo’s nerves froze at the mention of Iosac’s request. Looking to his left and right, beads of cold sweat broke out from his face. “An autograph? No one has ever asked me for an autograph before…” He responded. “Are you sure I am as heroic as you depict with your words? I don’t think I’ve done anything too important to deserve such accolades.” “¡Mierda santo! Is that a Keldeo?!” Phasing her molecular structure through a nearby wall, Inge shouted. “Dude, you are a freaking legend!” Keldeo rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. He looked towards Fei’s direction with pleading irises. “A little help here Fei?” He asked. Fei held up his hands towards Iosac and Inge with stern eyes. “I appreciate the enthusiasm of the both of you, but allow for Keldeo and I to rest before you bombard him with multiple questions and praises. We just had a strenuous training regimen today, and we are very exhausted.” Inge narrowed her eyes and flashed a glare that pierced into Fei’s eyes. She turned to her side and folded her upper limbs. “Fine. I’ll just… go play some Super 8-Bit Sisters then. It’s the closest substitute to another game we have in our world anyways.” She stated. “Ummm… alright then. I don’t have the time to play video games either way.” Keldeo responded in a tone with a bit more strength and force in it than normal. Inge’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and her limbs fell down to her single lower limb. She glanced towards Keldeo with disbelieving eyes and hovered towards him. Keldeo’s eyes widened from the distance closed and took a step back. A nervous chuckle emerged from his mouth. “What’s with your scary look? You are awfully close to my face right now.” He stammered out. “You don’t have time for video games?!” Inge shouted with a hysterical shudder of her body. “Video games are a way of life! Video games are a way to see if the one you love truly loves you or not! How can you not have time for video games?!” “Look Miss, I appreciate your concern for me but now you make me sound like I am a bad stallion, errr, Pokémon for not even giving video games a try! I don’t have to play video games now do I?” With his eyes gripped with tenacity and his lower lip curved against his bottom teeth, Keldeo responded with an aggravated tone. Iosac’s fluff dropped an inch upon hearing Keldeo’s words and seeing Inge’s eyes turning into a scowl of pure anger. Fei felt the tension between Keldeo and Inge singe the fur on his body. He backed away from the two Pokémon and edged closer towards Iosac. “Something tells me that this is going to end violently.” Fei forecasted. “Ya don’t need words to tell me that. Inge gets very angry at those who don’t take the time to play video games. She’s a fine piece of work that lassie.” Iosac responded with a shaken tone. Volts of vicious sparks burst between Inge and Keldeo’s eyes. The two Pokémon growled with the fear factor that would bring even a mountain of a beast down to its knees. “You are selfish for not dedicating your time to play video games! I can’t believe I even wasted my breath on someone like you!” Inge shouted. “Oh, so now you are judging me based on how I devote my time?! And you call me selfish on top of that?! Well aren’t you all jumbled up? Discord had more of a sense of lawful order than you do you kooky virtual bird thing!” Keldeo retorted back. The heat in the room escalated to volcanic temperatures. Rarity walked out of a door way by the corner and gazed at the vocal fight erupting between Keldeo and Inge. She shut her eyes, placed her right front hoof on the bridge of flesh between them and exhaled a calming sigh. Her horn ignited in a crystal blue color, bringing forth a gray-tinted haze above the arguing Pokémon. Their stares towards each other faltered and they looked upwards. “Cool haze. Where did that come from?” Inge asked. Rarity cleared her throat, directing the attention of everyone in the corner to her. A relieved smile cracked upon Keldeo’s face. He took his steps towards her with an air of nobility around him, giving him the appearance that the argument never happened. Rarity looked into his eyes and formed a smile robbed of her breath. Keldeo treaded his lips onto her lips and locked them together for the brief second they shared. Their eyes narrowed at the embrace of their lips. They split apart. “I can feel that you were a bit upset at the moment, my Mystic Swordsman.” “A bit. I didn’t get too carried away, but I’m glad that you cast that spell on me.” Keldeo spoke with a smooth voice. Iosac looked at Keldeo and Rarity with his head cocked and his pupils towards the side. His jaw slacked. “Is a Legendary Pokémon… romantically involved with an Equusian?” He asked within a localized tone. “Does this surprise you?” Fei asked with a knowing smile curved on his face. “The two have known each other for a long time now.” Iosac turned towards Fei and stomped his right foot on the ground. “Of course it does! It’s almost unheard of for a Legendary Pokémon to stoop so low as getting romantically involved with a lesser being!” Iosac shouted out. “Excuse me?!” Looking towards Iosac with her eyes raging with shock, Rarity questioned. The fibers that made up Iosac’s spine chilled to their core. He stood in his place and glanced towards Rarity with shock. “You heard all of that, didn’t you?” He whimpered out with a shrinking tone. With each step forming a steam vent in the floor, Rarity stomped her way towards Iosac. Iosac cowered behind his fluff and shook with an uncontrollable motion. Rarity huffed out several heated gusts of air from her chest. Looking at the frightened Iosac, her breathing slowed down and calmed to a chilled degree. Blinking, the red aggression in her eyes became replaced with a calming cool. “Please do not say that again, Iosac. What you said was not nice in the slightest and can get someone really hurt. It would be mainly you on the receiving end of that pain, but others can also be hurt by those words. I’m just telling you this for your own benefit.” She said with a lucid tone. “Umm… thank you for not hurting me Rarity. I’m sorry for making that comment. It just caught me by surprise.” Iosac apologized. Fei pulled on the collar of his uniform and directed his attention towards Rarity. A relieved smile appeared on his face. “I am thankful that you defused two potential fights by your own hand slash hoof. I did not want to see any unauthorized violence break out in here.” “Have more faith in my lady-like mannerisms, Fei. I am perfectly capable of controlling myself.” With her eyes shut and her right front hoof placed on her chest with her head tilted up in pride, Rarity proclaimed. “Oh, Professor Gentian was looking for you and Keldeo. He says that it is urgent.” “Well that is interesting. I wonder what he has for us.” Inge and Iosac’s heads jumped at the sound of the news. Inge’s eyes rose to a zenith of joy and a wide smile appeared on Iosacs face. “Can we come too?! I’ve always wanted to go on a mission with you guys!” He pleaded. “You might need us crack Aces on your team.” Inge suggested. “Well, you two are ‘crack’ Aces alright.” Fei joked. “But, if you are as qualified as you say you are, I think you should come with us.” “Hooray!” Waving her upper limbs, Inge proclaimed. She phased her particles through the wall to the right. Keldeo stared at the wall where Inge vanished through with a cocked head and dazed eyes. “That girl seriously needs some help.” Professor Gentian stood by Tesla’s side. The two scientists examined a wire-frame grid that emitted sonar waves that echoed with a viral green color. Professor Gentian’s ears jumped upon listening to the door lift open. He and Tesla turned around, examining Rarity, Fei, Keldeo, Inge and Iosac enter the lab. A warm smile appeared on his face. “It has been quite a while since we last saw each other, has it not?” He asked with an inviting tone. “I heard you asked for us, Professor. Did you discover something new?” Fei questioned. Professor Gentian turned towards the wire-framed map and pointed to it with his right fan. “Take a look for yourself.” The horde of operatives clustered around the table and examined the topography of the simulated land. A series of waves echoed out from the highest point on the map. “So what is this? It looks strange.” Iosac questioned. “This is a section of Keldeo’s home world. More specifically, it is around Kurisutaru. I’ve been keeping tabs on this particular set of space for a while now and it seems like I was right in doing so.” Professor Gentian explained. “It does seem like there is a disturbance there, but what does it mean?” Keldeo asked. “That’s what I want you to find out. It might be related to you, but it might also be a complete dud. Regardless, we wouldn’t know unless if we check right?” Inge leaped up with her eyelids curled up in joy. She leaped and flipped her upper limbs with an excited motion. She leaped around the room with sporadic energy in her steps. “Woohoo! We’re going to another world again!” Fei shook his head and smacked his hand against his face. With his nerves riding along the lines of unease, Keldeo glanced towards Inge’s path of movement. “Please calm yourself Inge. My nerves are already frizzled up as it is right now. I don’t need you worsening their anxiety.” He pleaded. Professor Gentian shook his head and let out an uneasy sigh. “I’ll get the portal link established.” Walking through the swirling vortex of green, blue and yellow, Rarity spearheaded the group of five. She looked behind her and eyed Inge and Iosac forcing their upper limbs through the walls of the portal. She shut her eyes and shook her head. “Are you alright?” Putting his right hand on Rarity’s left shoulder, Fei asked. “I’m alright. I’m just feeling a bit uneasy.” Rarity responded. “Uneasy?” “Yes. From what I’ve heard about this world, looking upon its ruined state can change a life. I am not sure if I could handle something like that.” Fei retracted his arm back and placed it across his chest. “I know just how you feel. I had my doubts when I’ve seen the world for myself. It definitely is not a world for the weak of heart to see, but you are definitely not weak of heart. The initial shock is shocking, but you will get over it. I know I did.” “I’ll trust your word on it.” With renewed confidence under her hide, Rarity blinked and forced a smile on her face. The swirling colors of the hallway climaxed into a gateway of pure light. On instinct, everyone shut their eyes and averted their gazes from the light. With the shines running against their eyelids gone, the operatives returned their sights forward and opened their eyes. In doing so, the shadowed land of emptiness and desolation filled their gazes. A deep frown curled on Iosac’s face. “What is this place? It doesn’t look very lively.” He asked with a voice that stemmed with concern. “This used to be my home world.” Uttering his words with profound melancholy, Keldeo responded. Inge’s upper limbs dropped down to the floor. Her beak slumped down to her neck. “A world of Pokémon… left in this state? But how?” She asked with a broken voice. Keldeo averted his gaze from Inge and gritted his teeth with an anxious movement. The muscles of his throat clenched, stopping his heart from rising out of its place. “All I know is that a being known as the Demiurge destroyed it. I have no idea how, but it must have been powerful enough to devastate this world to this extent.” Iosac crossed his arms. A nasty scowl formed over his eyes and his chin tucked itself in for his pout. “Well this Demiurge sounds like a real jerk. If I ever see this guy, I’m going to give him the pranking of his or her life.” He threatened. “I’m pretty sure that anyone that could do this to the land would not care for your pranks, Iosac.” Fei stated. “I know… but this guy destroyed an entire world meant for Pokémon. I could’ve had my alternate universe counterpart living here! What if he was turned into a revenant?!” “Don’t worry, Iosac.” Through her shattered voice, Inge stated. “I’m sure he must have escaped somehow… You are just too resourceful to fall for something like Armageddon or Ragnorok or what other words there are for the end as we know it.” “May we please just get onto our objective? This world’s atmosphere isn’t too pleasant to be inside of.” With a mix of impatience and sadness in her voice, Rarity requested. Fei pulled out a rectangular device colored in red out of his suit’s pocket and pointed it towards the acropolis. The light towards the opposite end of the device flashed with a brilliant yellow. Fei glanced towards the acropolis with a shaky right hand. “So it seems like the disturbance is coming from there. I only wonder what it could be.” “I am not sure, but we have to try to look inside of it.” Keldeo said. The group of five headed through the streets of the abandoned Kurisutaru. Fei’s eyes glanced towards Keldeo, who rubbed the fronts of his hooves with his teeth gritted in anxiety and his head cocked away with a fearful glint in his eyes. “Are you alright? You do not look too good.” Fei asked. “I’m just afraid that some more memories of this place would come up again. The last set of memories regarding this place was painful to bear. I’m afraid that I’m going to have another panic attack.” Keldeo let out with his tone strangled in fear. “If anything happens to you, I’ll make sure to bring you back to reality.” Rarity placed her left front hoof upon Keldeo’s right front ankle and glanced onto his eyes. Looking into her eyes, Keldeo felt his anxiety melt away. “I promised you that we would help gather your memories. I will always be willing to help if you are willing to continue forwards. Do not be afraid, because you do not have to handle this alone.” Rarity consoled. “Alright… I will do so. I wanted to do this, so there will be no stopping me.” Pointing towards a large and ornate entrance to a ruined ornate building, Fei’s device vibrated and resonated with a loud alarm. The walls of the temple eroded over the passage of time. Their color faded away into a dull gray. Two crafted impressions in the ground that surrounded the walkway into the building appeared devoid of any previous substance that it would have had. Inge rubbed the top of her body with her upper limbs. “Ohhhh… I have a terrible feeling about this.” She said. “What makes you say that, Inge?” Rarity asked with peaked interest in her voice. “Call it a gamer’s intuition, but important landmarks such as this usually lead into a climactic moment that we have to prepare for.” She voiced with her eyelids dropped a quarter away down her eyes. “That’s just some superstition you have, Inge. This place has been dead for a long time now… right?” With an uneasy giggle and his forehead breaking out in a cold sweat, Iosac responded. “Has it ever been wrong, Iosac?” “…No it hasn’t.” Fei shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. He took his first steps towards the entrance of the ornate building. Rarity looked over her left shoulder, glancing towards Iosac’s shivering body and Inge’s anxious eyes. Taking a deep breath and exhaling it, Keldeo followed Fei into the entrance of the building. “Are you two going to wait out here while Fei, Keldeo and I go inside?” Rarity asked with a chipper tone. “You might never know what sorts of cosmic horrors are lurking out here.” “Nah. We’re fine! I think…” Iosac responded with an unassured tone. “Yeah! I wouldn’t mind standing guard out here for any cosmic horrors.” Inge replied. Rarity shrugged her shoulders and flashed a smile. “Suit yourselves then.” Saying these words, she walked towards the entrance of the building and left Inge and Iosac alone. Iosac glanced towards Inge with an anxious frown plastered onto his face. “Ummm… was she kidding about the whole cosmic horror thing? I mean, this is a dead world right? Cosmic horrors don’t lurk here right?!” He asked. “From some of the horror novels I’ve read, dead worlds like this make perfect homes for cosmic horrors. It provides a good hiding spot for them and allows them to be undisturbed by others.” Inge explained. Iosac grabbed Inge’s right upper limb with his left upper limb with a hasty movement and pulled on it. “Let’s hurry inside with the others! I hear that cosmic horrors are not a fan of pranks!” Within the depths of the building, a handcrafted stained glass dome affixed into the stone ceiling caught Fei’s eyes. Looking directly below it, his eyes gazed upon a raised platform with a star system and multiple planets with runes carved into each planetary figure that revolved on the multiple lines of orbit around an even larger sphere. He walked up the steps and treaded his left hand upon the marble platform. The device in his right hand vibrated with a violent shake. “Interesting…” In bated breath, he mused to himself. “Did you find anything Fei?” Walking into the ruined building, Keldeo asked. Fei turned around and hopped down the steps of the platform. He stopped before Keldeo and Rarity and held out his device. “It seems that whatever this carving is, the device is picking up some heavy signals from this. The design also looks very familiar to me, even if it has some more added features.” He explained. “You’ve seen something like this before?” Rarity questioned. Fei waved to both Keldeo and Rarity and turned around. The trio walked up the steps on top of the raised platform and looked down on carved slab. He pointed towards the largest circle in the center, and then moved his index finger towards the three circles on the next tier. Three triangles filled in the space between the three tiers. “This diagram represents Arceus and the two trinities that are closely related to him. The circles on this next tier represent the Dialga, Palkia and Giratina. Respectively, they control the aspects of time, space and dimensions. Meanwhile, the three triangles between them represent the aspects of sapience granted to life. Mesprit commands emotion, Uxie commands knowledge and Azelf commands willpower.” He explained. “But there are more spheres and orbits around these features. What could that possibly mean?” Rarity asked. “That I am not sure. This was an interesting find, but it might seem like it is a dud.” Fei responded. Looking upon the diagram with his eyes, a throbbing grip clamped itself upon the temples of Keldeo’s head. Bringing his left front hoof up to his forehead, he rubbed his left temple with a circular motion. His left eye shut itself and his right eye winced with a sporadic movement. His legs wobbled underneath the weight of his body. Looking towards his direction, Rarity’s smile of intrigue washed away into a frown of concern. She wrapped her right front leg around Keldeo’s right front leg and stroked the back of his neck with a consoling speed. Fei’s eyes widened at the sight of Keldeo’s pain. He rushed towards Keldeo’s left side and placed his right hand on his left shoulder, pinning him in place. “Keldeo, are you alright?” Rarity asked. “That stupid diagram is hurting my head but I don’t know why.” Keldeo retorted with a strained voice. Fei looked behind him and saw Iosac and Inge burst from the entrance of the building with swift speed. Eyeing the lack of intent to stop within the two, his chest stopped moving and he drew his hands away from Keldeo. He held them out and shook them in an effort to derail them. Inge and Iosac bumped into the group of three operatives before them. With force applied on his hind side, Keldeo stepped forwards onto the slab of stone. A sword-shaped crest within one of the farther-distanced oscillations glowed with a deep blue color. His headache exploded into a full-out migraine. Pressing both hooves against his head, he shouted in pure agony. “Keldeo!” Fei and Rarity shouted in unison. The two operatives ran onto the platform by his side. Inge and Iosac followed on their tails. The entire platform began glowing with a white light that broke the darkness of the world and enshrouded the group of Pokémon and Rarity. Their sight whited out. Rarity’s eyes slowed into an open. With the vision of the world around her restored, she found herself lying upon the same stone slab she stood upon moments ago. On careful inspection, the slab looked renewed, almost if it was never damaged. On the ground, she saw Fei, Keldeo, Inge and Iosac lying on the ground. Her ears picked up the sound of water rushing into the pool around the platform and her eyes detected the white light that illuminated the area. She let her gaze upon a statue of a qilin-like creature with a darker-colored underside hoisted upon a pedestal at the center of the area. Its four pointed hooves tipped themselves in gold and a cross-like golden wheel affixed itself around the statue’s abdomen. “Exactly what kind of creature is that statue based off of?” Rarity whispered out. Further examining the room, she looked above and saw the same stain-glassed window above the platform. The marble pillars each had a green vine entangling it from the bottom. A clamor of waking groans sounded out behind her. She turned towards the group. A smile of relief overcame her. She walked up the steps and sat on the ground with a patient stance. Keldeo, Fei, Inge and Iosac all opened their eyes and pushed themselves off the ground. “Who turned on all of the lights?” Fei asked. “That was a weird feeling. Let’s do it again!” Iosac shouted. “It felt like I got up after an intense gaming session. Just what exactly did that platform do?” Rubbing her head with her right upper limb, Inge asked. Keldeo blinked three times. A wave of nostalgia overcame him. “I don’t know why, but it feels like I know this place.” He said. “I had that same feeling too. Most of the structures in here seem to be similar to the ones we’ve seen back in Kurisutaru except that all of these look as though they were taken care of.” Rarity noted. Keldeo narrowed his eyes and let out a tired frown. “We should probably look around a bit.” He suggested. Shaking the grasp of exhaustion clinging onto their bodies, the group descended from the steps and headed towards the exit of the building. Upon stepping out of the building, Fei’s eyes picked up on two pools that surrounded the walkway. They were filled with purified water running in from a pipeline. His eyes widened with shock. “Are you sure that this isn’t Kurisutaru? Because I could have sworn that there were pools like this back there.” Fei questioned with an anxious stun in his voice. “I never said that. I just said that it feels like Kurisutaru.” Keldeo answered back. “Yet, I can’t help but feel that this actually is Kurisutaru. But…” He looked upwards and gazed into the crystal blue sky, where only few wisps of clouds tagged onto the clear sky. Gazing forwards, he saw a trio of green-coated fawns with cream-colored bottoms and yellow flowers growing out of their foreheads. The fawns played along the city’s streets with large smiles on their faces. “Summer-colored Deerlings over there…” Fei stated, pointing to the trio of Deerlings. He then moved his finger towards two large and gray humanoids carrying a large crystal pillar over their right shoulder with their ripped arms. They each had black tights wrapped around their lap and golden championship belts around their waist. “…and there are some Machokes over there.” Rarity looked into the sky, where she gazed upon the sight of a pale yellow rodent with a black and bolt-shaped tail, black-tipped ears and pink cheeks riding upon a giant yellow bee with gray-purple limbs and sharp needles for forearms. Feeling the wind blow against their bodies, the two Pokémon each wielded large smiles on their faces. “I don’t think I have ever seen something like that up there.” Pointing into the sky, Rarity noted. “That’s because you don’t. Beedrills tend to be very nasty Pokémon in nature and while Pichus can be mischievous, they know that Beedrills should not be messed around with.” Iosac explained. Towards Inge’s right, she set her gaze on a pink cloud of cotton candy with its tongue sticking out that stood on its darker pink-colored feet. It faced an orange and brown piglet and a pink and cream kitten with a perpetual smile on its face. With an audible conversation passing amongst their group, the trio of Pokémon laughed. Inge marked her way towards the group. “Ummm… excuse me, but do you three know where we are?” She asked. The trio of Pokémon gazed towards Inge with curious smiles on their faces. The cloud hopped over towards her and looked up to her face with a grateful grin. “You look very unusual for a Pokémon, but look very strong too! You are in the city of Kurisutaru!” It answered with closed eyes and an enthusiastic voice. “I thought you would know that. After all, not many Pokémon would come here without knowing what this city is.” The piglet answered in a youthful and rough accent. “If you want, we can give you a tour of the town Miss.” The kitten offered. “Hold on one moment!” Inge responded. She hovered towards her group with a stunned expression on her face. Fei approached her with his eyes crooked in curiosity. “You look a bit out there right now, Inge. What did the Swirlix, Tepig and Skitty over there tell you?” He asked. “It turns out that this is indeed Kurisutaru.” Upon hearing Inge’s words, all of the jaws of the entire group dropped to the ground. Author's Note So that happened. How is this possible? And... what's going to happen next?
Shattered Remnants pt. 3Rarity, Keldeo, Fei, Inge, and Iosac scoured the streets with their fleet-footed pacing. The members of the group each formed quick glances towards each other and looked down towards the street. “We’re probably going to have to split into groups if we want to cover more of the problematic areas at a quicker pace.” Fei suggested in mid-gait. “Good idea! I’ll zoom ahead and take the north district.” Kicking up dust with a sudden burst of acceleration, Inge shouted. “Well, so much for uniting with Inge.” With a roll of his eyes, Keldeo commented. “Rarity and I will take the east district. Does that mean you and Iosac will-“ He looked to his right and noticed the absence of Fei and Iosac. An annoyed sigh passed by his mouth. “Well, we really didn’t need to say anything.” Rarity remarked with a crafty smile. Both she and Keldeo jolted their direction towards the right. Their eyes fixed straight into the center with the ability to prepare for what is yet to come. A cream-coated horse with an actual fire for her mane sprinted away from a horde of winged daemons cloaked in a brilliant light. The golden road before her ignited with trails of orange explosions that peaked to the heights of nearby buildings. The noises that erupted from them rang in her ears. With her powerful legs, she leaped over the clouds of burning gas and sprinted further down. A stream of heavy panting flowed out of her lungs and her muscles begged her to slow down. In mid-gallop, her left front hoof tripped over a small mound of debris from the explosions. Her black eyes widened and despair filled the depths of her heart. She fell onto the ground and rolled along it. Looking towards her back, the shining daemons appeared in her line of sight. Her mouth curved into an open frown. Seeing their bodies charge with red, she looked away and moved her right front leg over her face. “Someone. Please, save me.” She whispered to herself. The noise of air being slashed in half reached her ears. She looked up towards where her oppressors are and saw a bisected daemon fall to the ground and wither away into particles of light. A storm of gems arranged in the colors of the rainbow plunged themselves into the rest of the daemons. Falling towards the ground, they vanished into a mist of light. “Are you alright?” Running by the horse’s side, Keldeo asked with concern rumbling in his voice. The horse let out a wide smile and embraced Keldeo by his neck. Witnessing the fiery mane close to him, Keldeo ducked his head back in an effort to avoid it. “Thank you for coming to my aid, Keldeo. I knew you would come save me.” The horse said in a relieved tone. “Ummm… your mane is literally a tongue of fire. Plus, you make it sound like you know me.” Keldeo worded out with an anxious shiver. The horse stepped away from Keldeo and bored a disbelieving stare into his eyes. “That’s supposed to be a joke, right? You know that the fire of a Ponyta won’t hurt those that they like, and you are one of my closest friends.” She said. “Oh! Now I feel like I just made things awkward between us.” With his stance faltering, Keldeo said. “And may I ask who you are?” Rarity asked with an inquiring voice. Ponyta glanced towards Rarity and examined her with curious eyes. She looked towards Keldeo with her shoulders raised in suspicion. “She doesn’t look like any Pokémon I’ve ever seen.” She said aloud. “Is she an alien?” With her mouth contorted in anxiety, Rarity glanced towards Keldeo with eyes pleading for a response. She forced a bout of nervous laughter and faked a smile. “Ummm, yes I am. I came here from my planet upon a distress signal that your kind is being attacked!” She lied. “Unfortunately, they only had enough current resources at hand to send me and a few others down here. My name is Rarity.” Ponyta inspected Rarity’s physical features: Rarity’s size towered over her by a foot, and her blue eyes complimented her purple mane and white coat. What took her most by surprise is the image of three diamonds on her flank. “Wow… you look very pretty.” She mused out in awe. “You’re just a filly, aren’t you? What are you doing by yourself here? Shouldn’t you be with your family?” Rarity asked. Ponyta peaked into a brown satchel hung around her neck and, using her mouth, pulled out a badge designed in the shape of four lines. Three bent lines, which are colored in orange, light green and pale blue all swayed to the right. The fourth and final line stood in a proud shape to the left, colored in a deep blue. Its girth exceeded the other lines combined. “I asked a Torkoal smithy to make this badge for my dear Keldeo. It is a symbol of the Resolute Forme that Keldeos are said to have.” Rarity’s eyes twitched at the passing of Ponyta’s words. She exhaled a deep breath and looked onto the badge in the Ponyta’s mouth. A small smile cracked along the edges of her mouth. “This is a nice badge, but why would you risk your life for this?” Ponyta opened her mouth, but a golden dragon with displaced wings made from fragments of an ethereal substance stomped the ground. A halo the size of its massive body hung behind its back. Its eyes resonated with emptiness. It held its massive right arm into the sky and drove it down towards the trio below. “Hold on! I’m coming!” A loud and booming voice shouted from out of nowhere. The dragon creature dropped its arm with a massive force of power. A brown shadow sprinted towards the colliding arm and held it back with its dark brown horns. The shadow unraveled itself in the shape of a large bull with the physique of a rock. Attached to the flesh of his shoulders are orange bracers. With his stunted horns, he knocked away the arm of the dragon and lifted it up in the air. With a thrust of his powerful neck, he chucked the dragon towards a building. Pounding against the crystalline wall of the building, it fell to the ground with an explosion of dust being carried away by a current of pressure. The bovine looked towards Keldeo and grinned. “Looks like I made it just in time, Kelds. A minute later and all of you would’ve been minced meat.” Keldeo glanced upon the bovine with eyes that strained themselves into remembering the form of the Pokémon before him. His mouth wavered with the fear of asking him a question. Within this dead set pause, Rarity walked up towards the bovine with a warm smile. “Excuse me, but who are you?” She asked. Unbeknownst to the rest of the group, a sigh of relief passed from Keldeo’s mouth. “Just your friendly neighborhood Sword of Justice Terrakion.” Grinning with a cocky disposition, Terrakion responded. “Sir Terrakion!” Ponyta called out. “What are you doing here?” Terrakion rolled his eyes towards Keldeo and cricked his neck towards him. “Cobalion asked me to check up on the squirt here and take him away as far away from this city as possible. But, I can see that everyone here has everything handled perfectly.” “So… are you going to take me away from the city as far as possible?” Keldeo asked. “You’re old enough to take care of yourself, Keldeo. I don’t need to baby you, even if Cobalion says otherwise. Plus, your lady friends look tough enough to help you out.” The debris of the building lifted into the sky and the dragon roared with a noise that pierced the very heavens. It looked down onto Terrakion with an overbearing stare. Terrakion grinned. “Besides, I got my boots tied up with this higher-ranked daemon. If I went with you all, I’d just be bringing this fat and ugly monstrosity with us.” Rarity glanced towards the dragon, whose eyes flashed with bloodlust. Her blood chilled to her heart and her coat paled. “That would not be a bad idea, Sir Terrakion. You take care of that monstrosity while we go and escort Miss Ponyta out of the city.” She stated. “Yes sir!” Raising his right front hoof to his forehead, Keldeo announced. “Please don’t salute me. I don’t really like that type of attention.” Terrakion stated. With his back turned, Terrakion felt the force of a thousand stampeding rhinos collide against the lower-right portion of his jaw. Feeling the dragon’s claws punch his jaw, Terrakion flew to the far right and blasted off with the force of a rocket. “I don’t know about you, but I think that means we should get out of here.” Ponyta suggested. Without any hesitation or pause, Keldeo and Rarity sprinted away from the battlefield. Ponyta slanted her eyes into an aggravated stare and ran after the duo of operatives. “Don’t leave me alone with these two lunatics!” The once lustrous buildings and golden streets shifted into shells of their former selves; debris littered entire sections of road to the point where mountains of the rubble served as blockades for the main pathways. Fei and Iosac clambered upon the mountains of rubble and leaped over their peaks. Beyond the final peak, they eyed a lone Deerling whose body shivered with anxiety and mouth that let out a wide open frown. Before him stood a bipedal daemon whose body shimmered with a golden aura. Its white arms and legs shown themselves as lanky, but its golden torso rippled with the chest and abs of Adonis. Its head sprawled with a mess of yellow vines, but on its left arm is a shield that portrayed a gold-colored face devoid of pupils. Its body cloaked itself in an aura that spark with ethereal choirs. “I’m sorry, but I have to say this; what in the Reverse Dimension is that?!” With a scowl of his eyes and a shift of his neck towards Fei, Iosac shouted out. “Seriously, all of the other creatures we’ve seen had ummm… some comprehensible form to them. But this… I don’t even know what to say about it! This joke writes itself!” The face of the daemon motioned itself towards the top of the rubble mountain and grunted. The body of the daemon motioned itself towards Fei and Iosac. Fei glanced towards Iosac with a stern stare and an expressionless mouth. “Iosac, you can be an idiot sometimes.” He said with no hesitation. The left arm aimed the face on the shield towards Fei and Iosac. The face opened its mouth, where a ball of yellow energy sparked to life. The ball grew to be twice the size of the shield before it blasted itself towards the duo. Fei and Iosac leaped off of the mountain rubble, dodging the projectile blast that headed towards them. Fei sprinted towards the daemon and leaped into the air with his right foot held out towards it. The daemon blocked the kick with its golden face shield. With his hip gyrating to the right, Fei leaped off of the shield and landed on his feet. Iosac held out his stubby arms and shut his eyes. Before anyone could make a move, a powerful gust blew behind Iosac and Fei. A crafty grin crawled its way onto Iosac’s face. His light body carried itself away on the blowing of the wind, allowing him to take flight into the air. Hovering above the bipedal daemon, he raised his arms and right leg into the air. Razor winds surrounded the daemon and lifted it into the air. Iosac glanced towards Fei and nodded with readying approval. Fei grunted and ran towards the cyclone generated by Iosac. He leaped off of the flying debris and into the eye of the cyclone where the daemon stood. He stood onto a floating chunk of debris and bent his legs into a steady arc. With his palm glowing in a hazy blue, he set his stare towards the daemon and leaped towards it once more. He thrust his left fist towards it. The daemon parried with a thrust of its face shield. Fei smirked and vanished from his current position. He reappeared in front of the chest of the daemon and launched his glowing palm straight into the chest. The face on the shield opened its eyes and mouth in wide-eyed circles. Fei clenched the chest and lifted the daemon overhead and threw downwards. The daemon crashed onto the ground on its back, creating a crater the size of a lakebed. With the Hurricane and Tailwind petering into a mere gust of wind, Fei held out his right front leg towards daemon and dropped with the force of a falling rock. The collision of the strike elicited an upward jolt of the daemon’s limbs into the sky. “Hah! My turn for the relay!” Iosac called out. Fei rolled his body out of the way. The tips of Iosac’s arms lit up with orbs of green energy. He flipped his body and threw the orbs towards the downed daemon. A storm of razor leaves shot out from Iosac’s fluff and aimed towards the daemon below. The eyes of the face on the daemon’s shield lit up with a red light. It stood up from the ground and directed its sights onto Fei and Iosac. A horde of orbs made out of photon swarmed the being. It pointed its long and lanky beings towards the duo of Pokémon. The orbs fired off in the pointed direction. The orbs pelted away at the flesh of Fei and Iosac. Both Pokémon crossed their upper limbs and held them in front of their chests and faces. Their eyes narrowed and shallow grunts that resonated with their pain. The storm of orbs sped up and dug into the flesh of their opponents. The photon exploded with flashing lights. Fei and Iosac slid along the ground with their feet dragging along it. Within the blink of an eye, the daemon warped in front of the duo. It raised its shield towards them and dropped it with the strength of a hammer. Cobalion leaped in front of the duo and blocked the shield strike with his horns. He looked back towards Fei and Iosac with gritting teeth and a stern stare. “Lord Cobalion!” Fei called out. “D-didn’t I tell you and your group to stay put inside of the building?!” Cobalion scolded. Fei closed his eyes and shook his head. “Negatory. We cannot risk leaving the building after we would be given the clear. Too many lives are at stake.” Cobalion thrashed his head forwards and pushed back the shield of the daemon. An anguished sigh rushed from his mouth. “You seem to like making things difficult, do you not? But, while we are here, escort this child back to his parents. He must be very scared.” Iosac glanced towards the fawn Pokémon, who shook in pure anxiety. His knees bent themselves towards his body and his mouth quivered with teary eyes. “I got separated from my mom! Please, help me find her!” He cried out. Iosac flew towards the Deerling and got him up from the ground. “It’s alright, Deerling. I’ll help you find your mom.” A weak smile formed on the Deerling’s face. He stood up from the ground and ran towards Fei and Iosac’s side. The trio of Pokémon maneuvered above the mountain of rubble behind them, leaving Cobalion alone with the daemon. He ducked his head and flashed his fear-inducing stare towards it. “Attacking children? You must not hold your life in high regard. Come at me!” Swirlix, Tepig and Skitty took three steps back and gazed forward with nervous eyes; a squadron of winged daemons and canines gazed onto the trio with bloodlust resonating from their eyes. The lungs of the trios dared not to breathe out of a shallow breath, and their bodies stiffened their joints. Tepig edged himself close to Swirlix. “Those monsters are s-s-scary!” He shouted. “They look worse than monsters, and they’re real!” Skitty shouted. The group of three huddled together. Their bodies shook as a collective being. Swirlix looked towards his companions. “I think I could have said some mean things to you two, but you are some of my best friend ever.” “I agree. You have always been a good friend.” Tepig noted in agreement. “Thank you. I promise that I will try to be a better friend in the afterlife.” Swirlix stated. The three Pokémon hid their faces away from the aggressive creatures. A static explosion elicited upward jolts from their ears. Looking forward, the trio witnessed a storm of balls made from electricity striking down from a diagonal angle. Inge leaped from the rooftops of the buildings to the right. Her body flashed with a red light within the span of the moment. Approaching the horde of daemons, her tail flashed in a white light and shifted into a metallic appearance. Leaping into the air, she flipped her tail and slammed it towards the horde. Amidst the dust of the area, her body flashed with a dark purple light. She shot out a spider’s web cloaked in electricity, capturing two winged daemon in its voltic grasp. “A critical hit!” She called out. The winged daemons drove their bodies towards her with a white light brimming around them. Inge’s body cloaked itself in a flash of yellow light. A green barrier erected around her, deflecting all of the tackling daemons. With her body flashing in a bout of red light, she set her gaze on the group of daemons and crooked her head to her right side. “Wow!!” Tepig called out. “She’s so cool!” Two canine daemons leaped towards her with snarling muzzles. Inge leaped above the nearest-approaching canine. The top of her head lit up with a light-blue aura. She smashed her head into the head of the canine. With her tail encasing itself in iron once more, she swept her tail underneath the canine’s legs, removing its connected stance with the land. With her body flashing in a light blue color, an electrified orb of energy shot out of her beak and crashed into the canine. “She’s awesome! And using a wide variety of moves!” Skitty cheered. “Yeah! This is almost like Bisharp May Cry in real life! Or… and I thinking of Braixenyetta? Eh, don’t care. All I know is that I’m attacking a horde of demons in style!” Leaping off of each of the winged daemons and smacking them with Iron Tail, Inge stated to her own self. Each of the daemons vanished from the area. Inge gazed down the road with her eyes closed in pride. Swirlix hopped over towards Inge with a wide grin on his face. “You’re that weird Pokémon from before! How did you pull off such awesome moves like that?!” He asked with an astonished voice. Inge pounded her right upper limb upon her chest, eliciting a cycle of flashes between light blue, red, purple and yellow. “I got my movesets on disks thanks to my leader. Not only can I change up my moves in battle, but I can cancel my current moves into a new moveset and avoid any unnecessary lag. It also happens to be a pro-tip to use in fighting games or any other combo-based games.” She explained. “So… what you are saying is that you are like a computer?” With his eyes narrowed in uncertainty, Tepig asked. “Yep. I see everything in a virtual world aspect. I’m surprised you know what computers even are!” “We’ve had computers for a while now. But, it never reached to the extent of actually creating Pokémon like you!” Pointing towards Inge with an excited smile, Skitty replied. A sphere of light appeared in front of Inge and the children. Two giant claws honed from platinum and attached to grayed hands smashed its way through the light. An oblong-shaped object attached to a decaying neck jumped out of the light. Its face sported empty eye sockets that peered into its rotting mind. The rest of the body pushed out of the portal and stood on its two legs, revealing it to be two times larger than a building. Wrapped around its grayed body are bandages splattered with dark red stains. Inge narrowed her eyes, cocked her head and scratched the top of it. “Seriously? A zombie, here? Whoever this Demiurge is must really be taking these clichéd enemy ideas from somewhere. Generic flavor I tell you.” The trio of Pokémon behind her looked towards the monstrous beast with their faces paled with unfiltered fear permeating through their chilled blood. Virizion rushed by the side of Inge and the children. She stared at the beast of a zombie with calm and unfettered eyes. “Well, I can definitely say that I’ve never seen this before.” She mused to herself. She gazed towards Inge and smiled. “I don’t think I have ever seen a Pokémon such as yourself here. Are you one of Keldeo’s new friends?” “We’re more of acquaintances. ‘Friend’ would imply that I like the Pokémon in question.” Inge stated with a cold tone. A lopsided frown curled its way onto Virizion’s face. “I… I see.” Inge gazed onto Virizion’s face and noticed the frown hidden away from her. Her eyelids slanted into a diagonal position. “D-don’t be like that! You’ll make me feel bad.” She replied. “At the very least… just treat him with respect. I know that he can be a bit impulsive at times, but he’s always been awkward around others.” Virizion explained. “Is he? Well that explains why I don’t see him around too often.” Inge murmured to herself. “Anyways, I’m going to take the children here somewhere safe. Will you be alright with taking on this zombie by yourself?” “Of course. I trust that you will keep these children safe.” Ducking her head towards the monstrous daemon, Virizion said. Inge backed away from Virizion and towards the main street. She waved towards the trio of Pokémon. “If you don’t want to end up like common mooks, then I suggest you hurry up and follow me!” She stated. Swirlix, Tepig and Skitty all ran towards Inge. Gazing towards the fleeing Inge and children, Virizion let out a silent sigh and gazed towards the zombie. “You are seriously an ugly monstrosity of life. I will be glad to see you gone from existence.” She called out. Fei, Iosac and the Deerling sprinted down the curl of steps outside of the city walls. A sea of colorful creatures littered the outskirts of Kurisutaru. Keldeo and Rarity stood out within the front of the crowd with their faces lighting up in joy at the sight of their partners. The duo ran towards the descending trio. “Fei! Iosac! You two are okay!” Keldeo shouted. Fei wiped his forehead with his right hand and closed the distance between him, Rarity and Keldeo. “Cobalion is fighting the daemon that we fought and rescued this Deerling here.” Shifting his sight to the left, he witnessed the Deerling wading his way towards a large doe with a chestnut-colored coat, light coffee-colored underside and two branches that sprawled with leafy bushes. The doe smiled and nuzzled the Deerling with closed eyes. Inge zipped down from the wall with a zig-zag pattern. Tepig, Skitty and Swirlix each leaped off of Inge’s back and shook their heads. “You moved as fast as lightning!” Swirlix shouted with glee. “I’ll admit… I was a little bit frightened.” Edging her head away from Inge, Skitty said. “Something like that must require expert timing.” Tepig noted with a smile on his tilted face. A white light with a black epicenter exploded above the skies of the city, cloaking the entire area in its unhallowed glow. A figure of a purple black-coated alicorn stallion the size of an oak tree descended from the black epicenter of the light. He stood adorned in a bright traje de luces colored in yellow. He opened his eyes and mouth, revealing unending voids tinted with magenta and purple. With a leftward sleight of his left front hoof, a holographic screen the size of the city hung above in the sky, making his visage visible to everyone. “Today, I have graced this world with my presence!” He stated with a dogmatic tone. “You should all feel blessed to witness a god perform his miracles on this unclean land that writhed with you insects.” The entire crowd of Pokémon in the outskirts of the city looked towards the self-proclaimed deity with curious gazes affixed onto him. Rarity frowned and stared towards Keldeo, Fei, Iosac and Inge with uneasy eyes. “This is the Demiurge? But, he almost looks as if he can pass off as an Equusian... minus the glowing lights and the suit of course.” She noted. The Demiurge descended onto the center of the city, where a golden statue of the quilin stood displayed for all to see. Cobalion, Virizion and Terrakion all stood upwards with their backs against marble pillars and their bodies bound to it with three layers of white rope. The Demiurge walked towards the Swords of Justice with a smug grin covering his face. Cobalion squirmed and grunted within the bindings of light. “You will not get away with attacking this city you fiend! All who threaten the lives of Pokémon shall be brought to justice!” The Demiurge walked towards Cobalion with a swagger in his step. Lifting his right front hoof up to Cobalion’s head, the Demiurge smacked his left side of the face with the force of a thousand cosmos slamming into him at once. Hearing Cobalion yelp out a pained squeal, the masses of Pokémon took a step back and gasped at the sight. “I did not give you permission to speak out of turn, worm!” The Demiurge shouted with an indignant tone. A dark bruise surfaced itself over Cobalion’s damaged flesh. Cobalion’s left eye twitched from the stinging pain pulsing from his bruise. Terrakion’s hind legs kicked along the ground with unrestrained force and his torso leaned forward. His eyes slanted themselves into a fiery stare. “Hey! No one treats one of my best friends like that and gets away with it!” He screamed. Virizion gazed towards Terrakion with a worried frown curving over the edges of her lips. She veered her head towards his direction. “It’s not a wise idea to say anything, Terrakion.” She whispered. “The wench here is right, you pile of dust.” The Demiurge said. “I like to have you still and not prancing around like a mad chimera. If you aren’t, then…” He smiled with a large curve, displaying his rows of sharp teeth. He stood on his hind legs and reared his right front hoof to his shoulder blade. He thrust it into Terrakion’s chest, digging to the point where a spatter of blood shot out from Terrakion’s mouth. Terrakion’s eyes shot open from the blow. His knees grew weak and his body slumped on the bindings of light. Out of the wave of Pokémon outside of the city, an orange-fleshed dragonoid with wings made of dark aqua-colored membranes dropped his jaw at the sight of brutality on the screen. The fire at the end of his tail ignited into a blazing pillar. His eyes became slit with rage. “I refuse to stand around any longer and witness such brutality against my role models!” Stomping his way towards the stairs, he stated with a pronounced voice. From the square in the city, a small smirk made its way along the Demiurge’s lips. His horn flashed with a white and black-swirling aura. Upon leaping into the air and expanding his wings, the dragonoid sat his sights at the darkening of the sky above. A volley of purple lighting bolts fired down onto him, causing every cell in his body to writhe in shock. A shout of primordial fear echoed from his estranged throat. “Charizard!” Extending his right front foot towards the Pokémon and frowning with an agape mouth, Tepig screamed. The screaming weakened to a stop. Ashes that scattered itself through the wind remained of the Charizard. The Pokémon around the area stood motionless and silent at what they witnessed. Anxiety anchored onto their spines, paralyzing the Pokémon from making any sort of movement. Rarity, Keldeo, Fei, Iosac and Inge stared at the scorched ground where the Charizard was killed. Their exteriors paled into a weak version of their natural colors. A dark chuckle emerged from the Demiurge’s voice. “As I was saying, anyone who would even attempt to defy my will shall meet with a pitiful end, just as that worm had.” He stated. “Why…? Why would you attack our world like this?” Straining to regain his focus, Cobalion asked. “We have strived hard to attain the peace we have today. It isn’t fair to the new generation who wish to live in this era!” “I’m glad you asked. You see, I just happened to stumble onto your world. I saw that it was so peaceful, so beautiful! And it disgusts me.” “Disgusts you?!” Virizion shouted with her eyelids slanting in anger. “I don’t know what kind of world you live in, but it must be horrible if you reign over it!” The Demiurge planted his left front hoof on his forehead. A pained groan sounded out from his voice. He walked towards Virizion and brought his right front hoof to her jaw. “I would almost pity you with how pathetic your statement was… almost. Do you not know how weak your kind truly is without conflict? I do, and I will show you how.” He took three steps back and turned around. His horn ignited with magic, spawning three shimmering swords wreathed with a white aura behind each of the tied Swords of Justice. “What just happened? What did you do?” Terrakion questioned with an annoyed tone. “Simple; I’m executing the three of you.” Out in the crowds below, Keldeo’s knees grew weak at the sound of the Demiurge’s words. With his pupils dilated and his mouth dry, his body quivered with a nervous shake. “Execute? He’s going to execute them?!” He shouted. Noticing his right front hoof eager to move, Rarity’s breath shocked upon itself. With a flash of her horn, an aura wrapped itself around Keldeo, stopping him in place. Keldeo squirmed in the telekinetic grip. “R-Rarity! L-let go of me! Can’t you see he’s going to kill my family?!” He screamed. “You are not going up those stairs, Keldeo! You saw what happened to the poor Pokémon that did, right?” Rarity reasoned. Keldeo glanced towards the scorched area where the Charizard last stood, bringing forth a ray of realization upon him. A phantom of despair reached out from his stomach and ensnared his heart. “B-but…” He worded out. “I don’t want to lose them again. I have to save them, even if it kills me!” Fei stomped the ground with his right foot and turned towards Keldeo’s direction. “What? You want to die and have your fostering family die as well?! You are just going to throw your life away for a lost cause?! Do you understand just how idiotic your words are right now?” He screamed out in anger. Keldeo’s eyes welled up with water. His sporadic movement stopped in place. His face fell into a sorrow-filled frown. Rarity weakened her telekinetic grip, allowing Keldeo to move his right front leg towards the city. The screen above displayed Cobalion, Virizion and Terrakion with their faces down in the realization of their fates. Virizion lifted her head and gazed out to the spacious area in front of her. She forced a soft smile on her face. “Wherever you are Keldeo, please do not cry. I know you are upset about what is going to happen. In all honesty, I wish I could still keep living so that I may keep caring for you. But… fate just has its ways with all of us. All I hope for you is to live out your life wherever it may take you. And Rarity, even if we had just only met, I felt something special about you. You have a warm and generous spirit that brings forth justice. Please make sure that Keldeo doesn’t push himself too hard.” She said. Rarity turned her head and eyes to Keldeo and then back towards Virizion on the screen. She nodded. “Hey squirt!” With an eager smile adorned on his face, Terrakion shouted. “If you’re down there, make sure that you’ve taken all of the training that we gave you and put it to good use. If I found out that you are just sitting around and doing nothing, my spirit’s gonna come back from the grave and haunt you!” “And Keldeo…” Cobalion began speaking. “I apologize if I was ever too rough on you with your training segments. I only wished for you to be better than I was. Even after I’m gone, keep pushing your limits and learn to exceed your capabilities in order to gain your Resolute Form. It is what your parents would have wanted.” Keldeo stared towards the screen with bated breath. His vision blurred from the tears that obscured his sight. The Demiurge rolled his eyes and changed the color of his horn to a violent shade of red. The swords behind the tied-up Pokémon dived into the pillars and crashed through their spines. The tips of the swords pierced through their chests, bringing forth a river of blood that seeped from their hearts and poured onto the street. The bodies of the trio slumped forwards and their jaws dropped to their lowest possible angle. Their sight drifted away until the blacks of their pupils clouded themselves with white. Their bodies softened into an ethereal shimmer, vanishing from the hold by the bindings of light. The Demiurge flew into the air and glanced down on the waves of Pokémon with a gnarled grin. “See how pitiful of an end your precious ‘heroes’ met? They lived by the sword, so they died by the sword. Anyone who dares defy my will shall meet their end like those quadrupeds and that overgrown lizard.” Upon the declaration of his words, black clouds rolled into the sky. Flashes of white and crackling thunder reverberated throughout the land. “That is enough!!! Bringing despair to my children is the last straw, demon!” An omnipotent voice shouted. A white quilin-like creature broke through the sky with its eyes yellow with rage. It bore no mouth and possessed a black underside. Its head and tail ended with wavy wisps, and gold tipped its feet. A golden wheel and eighteen plates encircled its body. The yellow plate that orbited the creature flashed, bringing forth a wicked lightning bolt that shot from the enraged deity and struck the Demiurge. Fei looked into the sky with his jaw dropped and his eyes bolstered open. “That Pokémon… it cannot be! Lord Arceus?!” He worded out with a stupefied tone. “Arceus?!” Iosac, Inge and Keldeo shouted in unison. “Ummm… who?” Rarity vocalized with an uneasy tone. “Arceus is the god of all Pokémon. His presence here can only mean one thing; he is very, very mad.” Fei explained with an stare of unwavering shock from the event that unfolded before his eyes. “Fei… please be a dear and remind me of the consequences of angering a god.” Rarity requested. A light blue plate and fiery red plate both flashed around Arceus. A tornado of ice blue winds engulfed the Demiurge, tearing him apart with its razor gusts and bitter chill. An upside-down tornado of orange flames descended upon him, bringing blistering heat to the self-proclaimed deity. The two techniques combined into a sphere. With a pure white plate flashing around Arceus, the attacks glowed with a white light. Arceus turned around and the sphere behind him ignited with a reality-breaking explosion. Witnessing the waves arriving towards them, the crowds of Pokémon broke away from each other and fled beyond the outskirts of the city. The Demiurge flew out of the ensuing black cloud with wings tipped in a pulsating red. The pupils of his eyes revealed themselves as purple, and he bore his teeth with frustrated gusts pulsing from his mouth. His traje de luces disappeared from his body, revealing his jet black coat. Aiming his horn towards the god of Pokemon and firing a beam that swirled with ivory and light pink lights, Arceus vanished from the trajectory and appeared by the Demuirge’s side. “You will not leave quietly it seems. I did not want to do this, but you leave me no choice; I shall gladly commit the deed of deicide if it means protecting my children from a psychopathic god like yourself!” He proclaimed. “Deicide? Do you believe that you can kill a god of my stature? Very well; I shall invite you to try.” A dark purple plate that hung around Arceus illuminated. A dark haze made up of spectral skulls surrounded the Demiurge, swamping him within another realm. A black gate cracked open, revealing red lines that segued into an infernal vortex. A maelstrom of gusts blew behind the Demiurge, dragging his body towards the portal. The Demiurge’s horn flashed. Cocking his head towards the gate, a dark beam shot into the portal. The portal’s energy frizzed from the magical imbalance and frazzled out of existence. The shadows around the Demiurge, bringing him back over the skies of Kurisutaru and face to face against Arceus. “Trying to banish my soul to hell, are you not? That was a bold move on your end there, Yaldabaoth.” “Are you implying that I am a false god? You truly are but a mere child who is controlling power beyond what his sanity is capable of withstanding. You are so convinced of your own god-like status that you are willing to make the entirety of reality yours. You are merely an almighty idiot.” Arceus chided. “I am not a child! I am the one true lord! You are the one who is a child!” With the veins on his head rupturing and his right front hoof pointed towards Arceus, the Demiurge shouted. He unfolded his massive wings and flapped them, bringing forth blackened gusts that swallowed the area. Arceus lowered his head down and stared through the eye of the windy abyss. A bolt of white lightning fired down from above Arceus’s head, shocking his body. He shut his eyes and let the lightning run through his body. The Demiurge flew through the air with his right front hoof reared into a readied thrust. Arceus’s body radiated with a yellow light, dispelling the black gusts of the area. The pitch-black plate around Arceus hummed with power. Leaning his body forward, Arceus fired a jet black beam of energy from the front of his body. The beam of energy engulfed the Demiurge, burning away his glowing flesh with its wicked energy. The beam dissipated, leaving the Demiurge with black burns deep within his coat. “Is that truly all the power you possess? A kitten hits harder than you.” Arceus stared at the damaged god with disbelieving eyes; what remained of the Demiurge’s left front hoof hung off of his open shoulder and portions of his torso eroded away from the blast. Arceus steeled his nerves and set his glare down towards the individual. “I am mildly surprised that your life force did not cease after that strike. It has become apparent to me that I did not nearly put in as much power into that Eradication Beam as I should have done. I will not make that same mistake again.” Declaring these words, he dashed through the air with a trail of illusions following him. He rammed into the Demiurge, striking at him towards all angles and vanishing within a blink off an eye. He appeared above the Demiurge, materializing a golden rune above the dark god. “Now you will die! Feel the wrath of the heavens falling upon you!” Arceus shouted. A storm of brimstone fell down from the rune above, pelting its holy flames against the Demiurge’s body. The Demiurge vanished from his spot and in front of Arceus. Two orbs, one white and one black, orbited around him. With his horn flashing, the two orbs fired towards the godlike Pokémon’s direction and attached to him. They exploded with a burst of light and darkness, absorbing Arceus in its power. The haze of light and darkness disappeared. Arceus looked towards the Demiurge, whose wounds regenerated and his damaged coat became sleek and lustrous. Arceus gazed upon himself and his eyes widened with horror; entire portions of his body disintegrated away, his left front leg only hung on tiny sinews of his holy bindings and his entire body is covered in scorch marks and bruising. His body slumped down from exhaustion of energy and the flames of pain radiated through him. “Do you like these wounds? You should, because you inflicted them to me.” The Demiurge stated. “You… you only allowed yourself to take those blows so that you can transfer them onto me.” Arceus worded out through a fierce voice, wincing his eyes and lowering his head with an uneasy shake. “These wounds would lead even a god to death’s door. How were you not decimated?” “Is it not apparent to you? I cannot die. No matter what you do to me, you can never neutralize me. I absorbed my mother’s power and made it my own, making me invincible to everything. I only allowed you to strike me to just to show you your utter foolishness in defying me. You bear power that is a right only for gods. You are no longer a god!” With a sinister smirk on his face, the Demiurge proclaimed. Gazing into the battle in the sky, Inge’s heartbeat slowed to a chill. She shook her head in disbelief. She grasped her head with her upper limbs and shut her eyes with a quick speed. “No… No! It can’t be!” “Lord Arceus… is he losing?” Holding his breath and his eyes widened in shock, Fei asked. The Demiurge glanced over the horizon, eyeing all the Pokémon that hid beyond its protective hills. He glanced towards the weakened Arceus, whose body regenerated itself at a slow pace. A sinister chuckle permeated from the Demiurge’s mouth. “What… what are you laughing about?” Arceus asked. “Oh, nothing much. I was entertaining my thoughts about pondering how I would annihilate all of those Pokémon taking refuge behind the hills. I was thinking of going out with a bang.” The Demiurge responded with an unnerving calm in his tone. “You… you wouldn’t dare!” Arceus shouted. The tip of the Demiurge’s horn spawned a white and black-swirling sphere. Straightening his back upwards, the sphere of energy grew to the size of the city. He turned his direction towards the hills, where an almost absolute majority of the city’s population hid behind. He reared his head and back before chucking it forwards. Arceus warped in front of the sphere and brought his front legs to the ball of destruction, holding it back. Feeling the force of the ball pounding against him, weak grunts surfaced from him. “I… refuse… to let the lives of my children be taken! I would rather die!” He gritted out. The Demiurge aimed his horn towards the ball and fired a blue beam into the sphere. The energy from the Demiurge pushed the ball farther than Arceus’s reactionary force. The ball grew in size. Arceus felt portions of his body disintegrating from the sheer energy of the sphere. His fierce eyes became shallow with life and sadness overcame him. “Is that all you have? You have been a disappointing adversary. I thought that you would have provided much more of a fight, but you let your feelings for your creation get in your way. Those feelings have made you weak and pathetic.” The Demiurge taunted. Arceus shut his eyes. A teardrop of vivacious colors fell down from his right eyelids. His body gave into the overwhelming power of the destructive sphere, absorbing him and disintegrating the remnants of his body. The Deerling stood by his mother’s side at the hills of refuge. Witnessing the sphere heading towards him, a large smile cracked along his face. He turned to the Sawsbuck by his side and tugged on her leg. “Mommy! Look! A shooting star is coming so close to us!” He shouted with excitement. Sawsbuck glanced towards the ball of swirling death that headed towards the hills. Her face paled and her mouth hung agape. She looked behind her, witnessing all of the Pokémon fleeing further behind the refuge. A pained frown formed on her face and her eyes squinted into depression. “Deerling…” She shut her mouth and shook her eyes. Glancing towards her son’s smiling face, a stray tear fell onto the ground. “Mommy, why are you crying? Shooting stars are beautiful, right?” Deerling asked. Stifling her frown and urge to cry, Sawsbuck forced a smile on her face and looked towards the sphere of destruction. “Y-yes. Shooting stars are beautiful. A star falling so close to us means that we are going to be granted one wish. Tell me, Deerling; what do you wish for?” She asked. “I wish that we can see dad again.” Deerling responded with a mixture of melancholy and happiness in his tone. “It can grant that, right?” Sawsbuck wrapped her right front leg around Deerling’s body and dragged him close to her. She nuzzled her son at a warm and gentle speed. “Yes. It can even grant us that. When the star comes to us, it’s going to sting a bit. But, if you stay strong and not react, then your wish will come true. Do you promise to be a big fawn and bear the pain of the shooting star?” She asked. “Yes mom. I promise that I won’t cry or even make a noise. I really want to see dad again.” Deerling responded. “Then please, close your eyes and wish as hard as you can. Only then will the wish come true.” The sphere of energy approached the hills where the Pokémon took refuge behind. The light of destruction tore the green hills of the land into charred dirt. Feeling the sawing power of the sphere’s barrier, the bodies of the Deerling and Sawsbuck vanished. Digging into the earth, the sphere exploded with a radius that expanded beyond the hills and absorbed all of the fleeing Pokémon. Feeling the blowback from the residual energy of the explosion, the group of operatives dived towards the ground and ducked their heads. With the gusts from the explosion dissipating, Rarity looked over her left shoulder towards the site of the explosion; a blackened crater remained of the once lush hills. All the Pokémon that hid behind the hills disappeared. With her jaw held low, a stray tear ran down her left cheek. “Extinguishing all of those lives… that monster.” She voiced out. Iosac glanced towards Inge, who held her body up with her upper limbs. Witnessing Inge forcing herself to stifle away any and all tears and cries of sorrow, a deep frown formed along the crevices of his mouth. He walked towards Inge and patted her right shoulder. “Why…? Why are there beings cruel enough to commit this horrible act of genocide? The Demiurge not only killed Arceus, but he also killed all those innocent Pokémon. What would he have to gain from this?!” Inge shouted in pain. “Inge…” Iosac murmured out. Inge stood up from the ground and glanced towards the Demiurge with resolute eyes. “Iosac… I’m going to go into Nightmare Difficulty. I am going to kill this bastard with my own two limbs!!!” She screeched out. Inge’s eyes flashed with an evil shade of red. She dashed towards the city steps at a breathtaking speed. Iosac leaped out in front of her and stretched out his limbs, blocking her path. “Stop it Inge! I’m not going to let you go up there to die. You saw what happened to Arceus, did you not?! What makes you think you can do better?” He reasoned. “But all those poor Pokémon! The Demiurge slaughtered them! I can’t let him Houdini out of this. Never!” Inge shouted. With a shallow frown on his face, Keldeo walked towards Inge and placed his right front hoof on her left shoulder. Inge turned back, witnessing Keldeo shake his head. “I know how you feel Inge…” With his voice devoid of all emotion, Keldeo stated. “This was my home, and he annihilated it. Don’t you think I would deserve revenge more than you do? But… even I know that it is pointless to go after the Demiurge now. With how much damage he took from Arceus, he even proved another god cannot take him down.” “But… my feelings… that trio of children that I met.” Inge worded out. “They were among the Pokémon to flee towards the hills… they’re dead and I couldn’t do anything but watch! I hate these forced cutscenes in real life.” Keldeo’s body shimmered with a golden light. The light grew and absorbed the entire squad of operatives in its glow. Keldeo’s eyes opened to the dull world of the present around him. He lied on the blackened ground of the outskirts of the city. A frown of disappointment rolled along his face. “Oh… we’re back here.” He stood up from the ground and glanced behind him, setting his eyes on Rarity, Fei, Iosac, Inge and Ho-Oh, whose talons fixed themselves into the decayed earth. His eyes shimmered with confusion. “Ho-Oh… what are you doing here?” He asked. “I am glad you are awake, Keldeo. Did you enjoy your trip into the past?” Ho-Oh asked with a cheery tone. “Define ‘enjoy’. I’ve witnessed a Blitzkreig of my home by the power of unholy holy creatures, saw my family slaughtered, witnessed the death of a god and thousands of innocent Pokémon. Tell me Ho-Oh, does that sound enjoyable to you?!” Keldeo shouted with a furious tone. Fei frowned and walked over towards Keldeo. “Keldeo, please; do not be angry with what you witnessed. It’s pointless.” He reasoned. Keldeo gritted his teeth and pushed his front hooves into Fei, knocking him onto the ground. Feeling his body drag along the ground, a slight moan escaped from Fei’s mouth. “My anger is pointless?! I was just fine until this asshole of a bird asked me with the most lighthearted expression if I enjoyed witnessing the evils of war and genocide of my home!” He screamed. “I had everything in my life taken away from me because some god wanted to be a dick and annihilate my home! That does not make an enjoyable trip!” Ho-Oh shook his head and kept his smile. He walked over towards Keldeo and looked upon him with curious eyes. “Do not think that I am insensitive to your anger, Keldeo. It was an awful tragedy that fell this world that day. You may not remember this, but the Demiurge smashed all of the images of Arceus from the city after he finished purging the Pokémon from it. That is why you no longer see any images of him in the city.” “You aren’t helping, Ho-Oh…” Keldeo muttered out with a hurt tone. “You might be pleased with this set of news; the remaining Legendaries and I have managed to rescue a handful of Pokémon from this world after the disaster struck, including a few Kurisutaru residents.” Ho-Oh explained. Rarity’s ears perked up at the sound of his words. She trotted towards Ho-Oh with slow steps filled with assuring hope. “Are you… certain about those details? There were some survivors of that incident?” She asked. “Of course. You know that Keldeo is one of those survivors, after all. In fact, most of the survivors included children, who were watched over and trained by the legendaries that managed to make it out of the world alive.” Ho-Oh assured. “But… why was I not brought with you, Ho-Oh? How did I get separated from the others?” Keldeo asked. Ho-Oh reared his head back and forced an uneasy frown. A drop of sweat dropped from his face and traveled down his beak. “Alas, I did not anticipate the journey between traveling through worlds to have been very rough when carrying children. You happened to fall into the dimensional stream before we could have safely arrived at our destination.” He stated. Getting up from the ground, Fei detected a hint of depression surging from Ho-Oh’s eyes. His face softened with a frown. He walked towards Ho-Oh with sympathetic eyes. “Thinking that you lost a Pokémon placed you into a foul funk, did it not?” He asked. “Truth be told, it did. I was entrusted by Lord Arceus to save as many Pokémon as possible before he battled against the Demiurge. It felt like I failed in my given task when I saw Keldeo drop into the stream. I felt depressed when it occurred… until I saw you alive and well back at the Rainbow Plateau. I felt relieved about this turn of events, and my own hope reignited.” Ho-Oh stated. Inge glanced towards the city with a longing gaze. She turned towards Ho-Oh with eyes waiting for an answer. “Tell me, Lord Ho-Oh; did any of the arcade cabinets make it out of the massacre alive?” She asked. Igne’s words caused Iosac to jolt back in his step and look at her with the confusion of her body shifting towards its non-shiny color. “Don’t you think that’s a bit sudden to think about?” He questioned. “Nonsense! Gaming is love and gaming is life! The five of us are going to have an awesome gaming session when we get back to Neo Canterlot!” Inge proclaimed with a chipper voice. A small giggle echoed from Rarity’s shut mouth. She shook her head with closed eyes. Opening her eyes and glancing towards Inge, she walked towards her with a smile on her face. “I would love to be a part of this gaming session, Inge. It would give me an idea of what I am missing out.” “Count me in as well. I have been honing my skills in secret, and I was hoping on getting to unleash them.” Fei stated. Iosac grinned with a devilish stare and placed his upper limbs on his hips. “You know you all will lose before my crafty plays, right?” Keldeo felt all eyes around him glance towards his direction. His nerves seized his limbs and his lungs became paralyzed with anxiety. “Ummm… I’m not sure if I want to play a game after what I witnessed today. …Sorry.” He muttered out. Rarity walked towards Keldeo with a seductive stride in her step. She wrapped her tail around his head and touched her forehead against his. She lowered her lips and eyes to a pout. “You wouldn’t want to play even if your fillyfriend would ask for it?” She asked with a seductive voice. Keldeo’s heart beat at a quick rhythm. His stoic face melted away into a red flush of his cheek. He glanced away from Rarity and moved his mouth at an incomprehensible rhythm. “Alright, you got me.” Keldeo said. Witnessing the display of affection and interaction between the two, Ho-Oh felt a radiating warmth pulse from his heart. Fei walked towards Ho-Oh in the midst of his distraction and lifted his hand towards Ho-Oh’s white underbelly. He stroked it, feeling the warm fluff against his hand. A smile of satisfaction appeared on his lips. “Ummm… what are you doing?” Ho-Oh asked with a raised eyebrow and a tone filled with discomfort. “I’ve been a fan of legendary Pokémon since I was a child. I never thought that I would be able to stroke a Ho-Oh such as yourself. You do not mind if I keep stroking you, do you?” Flashing his pleading eyes towards Ho-Oh, Fei asked. Ho-Oh let out a displeased sigh and rolled his eyes. “Very well. Just be careful where you stroke, however.” Author's Note It's shocking how it took two weeks to write this chapter. But, with this very heavy chapter out of the way, now I can get to that late Nightmare Night chapter I promised you all.
A Waxing Nightmare Into a Waning NightLith and Fei walked down the red and white-tiled corridor, where a fluorescent light illuminated the path to an open area with colorful flashing lights. Techno music hit their ears with the force of a sweeping wave. Their bodies bopped to the beat of the tunes. Entering into the abyss of music, they both felt the music pelting against their fur. They eyed towards a corner, where a dark pink mare with a mane and tail with a darker shade of pink sat at a table, ingesting bottle after bottle filled with golden liquid. The others around her pumped their upper front hooves with eager smiles, chanting with anticipation. “Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!” They all stated. Lith glanced at the scene with a nervous shiver shooting down her spine. Her eyes scrunched at the sight and her mouth grimaced. Witnessing the sudden mood change, a frown formed on Fei’s face. “Is there something wrong, Lith?” “I never knew that this party would have served alcohol.” Lith responded with a stoic tone filled with anger. “Surely you must have known that a club would serve beer, right? I do not see much of a problem with distributing alcohol here.” Fei reasoned. A small and frustrated sigh breezed itself from Lith’s mouth. Her grimace formed into a frown. “I know. Let’s just keep away from the alcohol.” Fei set his sights to his right, where he eyed Mono and Rainbow Dash sitting across from each other at velvet purple booth seats. Both of them engaged in a conversation, and wide grins ready to burst with laughter painted their faces. A myriad of empty glasses sat at their table. “So you are telling me that happened with Lith?!” Rainbow Dash shouted out. “Get out of here!” “I’m being serious! She actually got so mad that she literally punched a hole through the lab wall.” Mono exclaimed with a chipper voice. “Heh, I bet that her punch couldn’t match with my Sonic Rainboom. I’m going at mach one baby!” “If she hits as hard as how her temper is, then you’d probably end up in the infirmary.” “Maybe even a morgue!” Bumping her right front knee into Mono’s right shoulder, Rainbow Dash jeered. Lith stared at the table with a wave of rising discomfort surfacing up her esophagus. She blinked once with disbelief present in her eyes. “Is Mono talking behind my back…?” She uttered out with a silent tone filling itself with virulent rage. She stomped her way towards Mono and Rainbow Dash’s table. Fei rushed in front of her and held out his arms, blocking her path. “Don’t do anything rash, Lith. There could be a really good reason why they are talking behind your back.” Lith stared into Fei’s eyes with a soul-chilling glare. She held out her right upper paw. With her ears lifting open and her eyes charging with a yellow light, a wide Charge Beam blasted itself from her paw into Fei’s face. Fei fell down on the floor face-first. Lith continued towards her path and stood over Mono and Rainbow Dash. “So my temper is so bad that a hit from me can send you to a morgue, eh?” She said with a listless tone void of casual joy. Mono froze up and steered his head towards Lith’s direction. A faint pit formed within his stomach. His eyes radiated with the fear that pulsed through his bloodstream. “L-L-Lith?! Ummm…” Stuttering and looking at his left and right with a nervous shiver, he stated. “Buzz off, Lith! Can’t you see Mono and I are-“Within the middle of her sentence, Rainbow Dash’s words slurred into an imbalanced hiccup. “-are having a good time here?” A stinging aroma of alcohol struck Lith’s nose. Her eyes jolted upwards at the unpleasant odor permeating the area. “Is that… Mono, did you drink?!” She scolded. “How much?!” “Maybe a few… tens?” With an unhinged posture, Mono mumbled out. Lith looked into Rainbow Dash’s eyes with breaths that broke underneath the sting of her betrayal. “Rainbow Dash… why?” She murmured with a despondent tone. Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders. “The kid needs to learn how to unwind. We danced for a bit, but couldn’t get passed the first part of the song without looking like he had an anxiety attack. So… I gave him some beer to loosen him up.” She said with a shameless tone. “And look! He’s much more laidback.” Lith stormed into Rainbow Dash’s booth seat and grasped her by the torso armor. She stared death into Rainbow Dash’s eyes and tightened her grip. Her paw charged with an electrical current. “You idiot! There’s a reason why he doesn’t drink alcohol, and it isn’t because he is under the legal age! He has difficulty holding down even one glass of beer. But you goaded him into drinking multiple glasses?!” She screamed. “So? What have you done to help him move out of his shell? Nothing, that’s what. All what you are is just someone in his life who isn’t there for helping him grow up.” Rainbow Dash responded. A small growl passed its way through Lith’s mouth. Sitting up from the ground, Fei glanced towards the rising tension building between Lith and Rainbow Dash. His spine froze at the conflict that readied itself to blow up with a ferocious explosion. He ran towards Mono’s booth seat and grasped his right upper paw with his left hand. “Ummm… we should go.” He said with a discreet tone. Mono’s body wobbled underneath the intoxicating alcohol flowing through his body. “Wow, Lith did not lie when she said you were a lightweight. You definitely shouldn’t be here.” Lith tossed Rainbow Dash overhead and threw her into the turntable. The music stopped with a scratch and the set of stereos collapsed underneath the force of the launched Rainbow Dash. A Signal Beam parted its way through the club and shot Rainbow Dash. A chorus of frightened shouts echoed throughout the area and all of the attendees ran towards the entrance and the red-framed door in the back. Rainbow Dash flew out of the collapsed club equipment and into Lith, tackling her into a booth seat. The seat warped over the impact zone and collapsed under its weight. Rainbow Dash hovered back and stood on her four legs. Her stance wobbled to her left and right. Lith pulled herself out of the rubble and stared forward. She gritted her teeth and held out her upper paws. Her ears raised themselves and all of her eyes flashed in a hazy blue. Rainbow Dash found herself held within the telekinetic grasp of Psychic. Lith lifted her off the ground and suspended her within midair. With a downward thrust of her paws, she slammed Rainbow Dash onto the ground, kicking up a storm of dust. Rainbow Dash leaped out of the cloud of dust and kicked her right hind leg forward. A black knife sharper than a clean-cutting chainsaw leaped out of her boot. She grasped it in her mouth and glared towards Lith. Lith glanced towards Rainbow Dash with widened eyes. She slanted her eyes and gritted her teeth. “Pulling a knife? Are you being real, or is that just the alcohol in your system talking?” “You’re kind of using deadly force in this fight, so I feel justified in pulling out a weapon to use against you.” Rainbow Dash reasoned. Lith grasped her sword and unsheathed it from its scabbard. She pointed the blade towards Rainbow Dash’s neck. “I was restraining myself from trying to kill you. But, two can play that game.” The two combatants rushed towards each other with blades held. Rainbow Dash’s wings kicked up a blast of wind and she hovered in the air. She dived down with the knife in her mouth and aimed it towards Lith’s head. Lith lifted her sword above her and parried the strike, pushing her back. With the added force from Lith’s retaliation, Rainbow Dash kicked her chest with her right hind leg. Leaping into the air, a black cloud formed underneath Rainbow Dash’s hooves and above Lith’s head. A wicked bolt of lightning fired down upon Lith, striking her and sending her flying back. Seeing Rainbow Dash fly towards her with her blade pointed in the flight direction, Lith flipped off of her backside and dodged the stab. She held her blade with her two paws by her right side. She leaped into the air and aimed the blade’s edge towards Rainbow Dash’s right flank. Rainbow Dash rolled to her left, avoiding the slicing strike. She lifted herself off of the ground and glared towards Lith’s direction. The two stood in their current positions and the tension between them burned the club around them. A storm of thestrals burst in through the windows of the club and surrounded the duo. They each glared towards Rainbow Dash and Lith with steeled stances. Rundas appeared from the crowd of thestrals and walked towards Rainbow Dash and Lith. “Lith? Rainbow Dash?” He uttered out with a shocked tone. The two fighters glanced towards Rundas. The shock they both received caused their grips to loosen to the point where their weapons dropped onto the ground. “Oh crap! It’s the heat!” With her voice still showing hefty signs of inebriation, Rainbow Dash shouted out. “R-Rundas?! What are you doing here?!” Lith shouted. “I heard of a disturbance coming from this club in the night district of the city. To think that the perpetrators would be two of my own friends…” Clicking his tongue and shaking his head, Rundas responded with a hurt tone. “I especially do not want to have to be the one to take your lives. But… the evidence here is very incriminating.” Rainbow Dash spat out her blade and glanced towards Rundas and the thestrals with a sheepish smile on her face. “Evidence? What evidence?” Rundas smacked his paws against his face and pointed towards Rainbow Dash. One of the thestrals glanced towards Rundas with a shaky expression on her face. “You know these two?” She asked. “Of course I do. They both are H.O.R.S.E. operatives, and one of them is currently the acting commander.” Pinching his chin, Rundas replied. “I’m suspending my judgment for now, but detain these two and bring them back to H.O.R.S.E.” The thestrals among the group raised their eyes with surprise laden in their pupils. “B-b-but Rundas! We haven’t detained anyone in years. We usually just kill the offenders.” Another thestral in the crowd responded. “I don’t want to get on Spitfire’s bad side when she hears that we are responsible for taking the lives of her next-in-line and her student in the ways of the sword. Do you?” Rundas responded with a stern tone. None of the thestrals batted an eye towards Rundas’s words. A collective sigh passed through their mouths and they closed the distance between Lith and Rainbow Dash. They grasped their limbs. One of the thestrals brought out duct tape from his bag and wrapped it around Rainbow Dash’s body, binding her wings. Another thestral attached a four-spoked device that latched onto Lith’s fur. Her eyes winced from the stabbing sensation jabbing into her flesh. “W-what’s this?” She asked with a fearful tone. “Some new technology developed by H.O.R.S.E. The scientists there couldn’t trust all Pokémon from behaving under the confines of the law, so this was developed to bind a Pokémon’s genetic matrix and leave them incapable of performing any sorts of moves.” The thestral explained. “W-where’s Mono?!” Lith shouted. “That bluish cat Pokémon? He was escorted off of the premises with some stoat-looking Pokémon dressed as a monk and a fox-looking Pokémon dressed as a longma. But I wouldn’t worry about him; you and the pegasus are in some deep trouble. Consider yourself lucky that we didn’t decide to just off you on the spot.” Mono hung off of Sophia’s back, groaning with a groggy and woozy disposition. The world around him swirled in an endless vortex of chaotic desire. Sophia clambered onto a full-sized mattress covered with lime green sheets. She slid Mono onto one side of the bed, where the back of his head rolled onto a pillow. She glanced towards Fei with a worried frown. “Do you think he would be fine over at my home, Fei? It doesn’t seem like he’s going to respond too positively with being at another being’s home against his will.” Sophia asked. “He left his ID back at his locker in our group room, and I do not know the combination to his lock. Thus, we cannot bring him home. Plus, he will be up and ready with you taking care of him.” Fei responded. A warm smile appeared on his face. “Besides, you have taken care of me all these years back when we were together. You should not feel any worries.” Sophia’s frown flipped upon itself, turning into a wide grin. She wrapped her ribbons around Fei and pulled him in for an embrace with them. “Oh, but you’ve taken care of me all these years as well! I’m sure that you would be very capable of taking care of Mono.” She stated. “Yes, well… unfortunately, I have to make sure Lith is alright. I saw that club swarmed by a squad of bat ponies, and I’m afraid as to what that would detail.” Stating these words, Fei walked three steps backwards. He turned around and walked out into the hallway. He lifted his right hand into the air and waved. Sophia cocked her head with a cheerful grin on her face and waved with her right front paw. Hearing the door to her home shut, she breathed a sigh of relief and rolled her eyes. “Well, the night was a bust. It was sad because I really wanted to dance with you, Mono. On the fortunate side, I finally get to shower all of this make-up for my costume off. I’m going to be in the shower if you need me.” Mono’s ears perked up at the swift shuffling of Sophia’s feet leaving the room. His upper right paw hung off the left side of the bed with a swinging limp, and he turned his head towards the door. His blurred eyes picked up a burst of fluorescent light that came from the white bathroom across the hallway. He squeezed his eyelids together and grunted, but continued staring forward. Sophia hummed a happy tune and stepped into the shower basin. She tapped her left paw against a black pad on the wall of the basin and swiped it towards her left. A monsoon of steaming water poured out from the shower nozzle, eliciting a peppy sigh and shut eyes from Sophia. She shut the door, leaving only a mosaic silhouette of her body viewable to Mono. Mono’s eyelids jumped open upon hearing Sophia’s relaxed moans. He saw Sophia grab what appeared to be a white bar of soap through the silhouette and rubbed her chest and neck base with it. He gazed her soapy paw scrubbing her torso down to her front legs. Witnessing her stand up on her bent hind legs, he saw Sophia dig the bar of low towards her abdomen and lowering downwards. His muscles clenched with excitement and his heart beat out of his chest. He lied on the bed, filled with sexual desire. Sophia grasped a bottle of lime green shampoo and poured a dollop of it on her right paw. She lathered her head with the solution and scrubbed behind her ears. Rinsing out what remains of the cleansing fluid from her body, she placed her left front paw on the black pad and swiped it downwards. The torrent of water halted to a stop and she pulled the shower door open. Mono gazed upon Sophia’s dampened coat, where her ribbons and portions of her clumped fur hung down from her body. His breathing became sporadic at the sight. Watching her grab a light pink towel and dry herself with a slow and deep rub, his heart wanted to give in from the sheer power and frequency of the beats. Sophia stepped out of the shower with her fur fluffed from the drying and approached the right side of the bed. She got on top of it and rested her head on the pillow. She faced Mono’s direction and stretched her body out. A wide yawn escaped her mouth. “Mono, would you like to take a shower before you go to bed?” She asked with a sleepy tone. “It might be hard with you to maintain your balance while you are inebriated, but I bet a nice shower will help filter out the alcohol from your brain.” “Uhhh…” Mono uttered out. “You are right… about the balance part. I wouldn’t… want to slip on your…” Mono’s eyes slowed into a close. His mouth shut itself and his breathing relaxed. Sophia smiled and rubbed his left shoulder with one of her ribbons. “Sleep tight, my samurai.” Lith and Rainbow Dash launched from the grips of the thestrals into a small closet. Rainbow Dash stared at the thestrals in front of her with a gnarled frown directed towards them. She dashed towards the doorway. A green barrier erected itself over it, causing Rainbow Dash to bump into it and fall to the ground. “You two are to remain here until we get Commander Spitfire to see you two. I advise that you behave while you are in here.” The thestral to the right said. Rainbow Dash looked towards her makeshift bound and clicked her tongue. “Can you at least tell me why you even used duct tape to bind my wings together? That’s such a random thing to do.” The thestral to the left scratched the back of her head and giggled with an anxious smile. “About that… we weren’t trained to detain perpetrators, so we never have ordinary binds. As for the duct tape, well… let’s just say that some calls we get happen to result in some poorly-timed explosions. We keep around duct tape so that we can seal pipes before they explode.” She said with her stoic stature slipping into a happy tone. “But still, you are not going to be taking that off anytime soon.” The two thestrals left, leaving Rainbow Dash and Lith alone. Rainbow Dash crossed her upper hooves and dropped down to the ground on her nethers. A sulking frown formed on her face. “Great… I never thought I would end a Nightmare Night put behind bars…” Sitting on the floor and making circles on the ground with her right paw. A depressed frown indented itself within her mouth. “…I’m sorry I got us into this, Rainbow Dash.” She said. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and let out an aggravated sigh. “You’re right you’re sorry! We all could have been having a good time at the club had you not attacked me like that.” She shouted. “Why did you even have a hissy fit over Mono and I drinking?!” Lith stared at the room beyond the barrier. A sojourn breath rose from her lungs and her blood chilled. “Mono and I drank alcohol once.” She stated with a defeated tone, eliciting jumping ears and widened eyes from Rainbow Dash. “We were fifteen when we came across a six-pack of beer. There was nobody around and curiosity got the better of us.” With her interest piqued, Rainbow Dash scooted towards Lith’s direction and set her eyes upon her. “What happened after that?” She asked with an anxious tone. “Terrible things happened. It turned out that we were both incredible lightweights and couldn’t handle even half a can of beer without feeling its effects. The both of us were so tipsy that we collapsed on the spot. After shutting the world out from us, we both had night terrors.” With her voice breaking towards the end, Lith explained. “Night terrors?” Rainbow Dash worded out with fear gripping the atriums of her heart. “What makes them different from nightmares?” “Night terrors are terrible. They rob the victim of any sort of security in their sleep. As such, it’s a sleeping hell in all intents and purposes. Our night terrors were no different; mine was when I sat in the back of my parents’ car on the day they died. I visualized myself in that crash, and I remembered my body being pierced by shards of glass.” “What happened next?!” On the edge of her seat, Rainbow Dash shouted. Lith glanced towards Rainbow Dash with a faint smile on her face. She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, I saw some dark-looking eldritch abominations tearing apart the car with their limbs and taking my dead parents away. I screamed and tried to chase after them, but it was like I felt all of the glass inside of me tearing my body apart. Then another abomination appeared before me and started dragging my body through a dark gate.” She glanced over towards Rainbow Dash, who glanced down towards the ground with a frown. An artery in Rainbow Dash’s mind filled with uncertainty. “And what about Mono? How was his night terror?” Tears welled up underneath Lith’s eyelids. Her breathing burned with melancholy. “If I was kicking, screaming and on the onset of a physical seizure… then Mono tried killing himself. To this day, he never told me about what he dreamt. But, it must have exceeded my night terror if he was suicidal for the rest of the day.” She explained. “Lith, please tell me you are joking. You have to tell me you are! You mean to tell me that Mono got a night terror so bad that he tried killing himself?! All because he drank alcohol?!” Rainbow Dash shouted. Lith nodded with a slow movement of her head. Her sad eyes contorted into anger, and she flashed a fiery stare towards Rainbow Dash. “That’s right! Now, because of you, he’s going to have another suicidal night terror, and I can’t be there for him in his time of need.” Rainbow Dash’s heart swelled with guilt. The muscles of her throat clenched themselves, locking the saliva upon the base of her tongue. “I didn’t mean it, Lith! Honest! I only had his best interest in mind.” She stated. She tipped over towards Lith and cupped her front hooves together, moving them and gazing at her with pleading eyes. “I never meant to hurt Mono… I don’t want to have this guilt on my hooves! I… I don’t. Please…” Rainbow Dash’s eyes filled with repentant tears and her cries choked themselves into guilty whines. Lith frowned and lifted her left upper paw towards Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash, please… don’t… don’t act like that. You are a grown mare.” “It’s my fault… It’s my fault… It’s always my fault…” Crouching into a fetal position and rocking back and forth, Rainbow Dash murmured. “Please Rainbow Dash… just… you don't... why are you acting like this?” With her tears streaming down from her eyes, Lith asked. Mono opened his eyes, bringing forth the dark of night into his world. He sat up from the bed and rubbed his eyes. He glanced towards his left, gazing at Sophia sleeping with a peaceful smile on her face. A soft smile appeared on his face. “It seems like she’s still asleep.” He said with a silent whisper. He glanced down towards his body, discovering that none of his costume had adorned onto his body. He pawed portions of his torso and legs with quick speed and anxious panting. “Where did my costume go?! I could have sworn that I slept with it!” “You mean that shoddy garb? Don’t know.” Mono’s stance froze in place. He glanced towards his right, gazing upon the male Meowstic that stood to the side of his bed. He crossed his upper paws and glared at Mono with yellow eyes that illuminated the night. “Who are you?!” Mono shouted. The Meowstic lifted both upper paws towards the sides of his head, smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “You should know who I am. I am a part of you, after all. That beer felt good, didn’t it?” He said with a voice similar to Mono’s. Mono stared towards the mysterious Pokémon with an impatient frown on his face. “What does that have to do with anything? I have no idea who you are, and I do not like the fact that you are in my girlfriend’s room creeping around us at night.” “I have many names, but I think you would probably have a better time understanding who I am if I gave you this for my identity; I am your Id.” The Id responded. “Wait, the Id as in the Freudian Trio first thought upon by Sigmund Freud?” With his ears perked and fear pumping through his heart, Mono asked. “Yep. Then… you must know why I am here now.” The Id walked over towards Sophia’s side of the bed and leaned over her body. Arching his body with his left upper paw, he rubbed the torso of Sophia’s coat with a swift speed. Mono held his right upper paw out with a staunch movement and glared flames towards The Id. “Step. Away. From Sophia.” He demanded. “Such a nice and sleek coat she has. That luster and that form… she definitely wants to be filled with the seed of a male.” With an obsessive tone, The Id said with omniscient direction. “I said step away from her! Step away from her or else I will destroy you!” Mono threatened. The Id stepped away from Sophia and lifted his paws away from her. A sinister chuckle escaped from his grinning mouth. “I know you want to be the one to fill her with your seed. After all, I know all of your desires.” He replied. “So what are you waiting for? She is so vulnerable and ready to be ridden.” All of Mono’s eyes flashed with an aqua blue color. Psychic energy surrounded The Id, but dissipated upon coming into contact with him. Mono’s blood chilled upon witnessing the failure of his Psychic. “It didn’t work?!” “Of course not. I am a part of you, so I have just as much control over your abilities as you do.” The Id responded with a calm voice. “If you don’t breed with the Sylveon here, then you failed in your destiny as a male.” “I’m not going to stoop so low as to do that with her unconscious body. She’s not able to consent.” Mono iterated. “You sound like you care about her… but you don’t. All you care about is making sure that your own genetics is passed onto the next generation. I know you want to fornicate the living daylights out of her until you filled her womb with your germinating seed.” The Id replied with a gnarled grin on his face. Mono looked towards The Id with his eyes narrowed and his mouth curled with disgust. The Id slammed his right upper paw into his forehead and laughed with a maniacal tone. Mono’s stance faltered, and he raised his right eye in confusion. “What’s so funny? I don’t get the humor.” He asked. “I know that look anywhere; it is the look of hatred! You hate me! Therefore, you hate yourself!” The Id responded with a tone that peaked into screaming. “No! I don’t hate myself. I only hate you!” Shaking his head and steeling his nerves, Mono replied. “So you hate your desires then? You hate how you feel the way you feel for Sophia here? You hate how she, your family and your friends always make you feel happy and lighthearted? You hate eating? You hate living? Then you hate yourself.” The Id answered back with a smug grin on his face. “Stop it! You aren’t me! You are just an illusion of myself!” Sophia’s bedroom disappeared in a veil of darkness, leaving only Mono and The Id alone. Black tendrils shot out from The Id’s back and wrapped around Mono’s upper paws. Mono squirmed and grunted under the pressure from the tentacles squeezing his wrists. “Let. Me. Go!” Shouting these, he bit into the tentacles with his fanged teeth. A sharp piercing sensation reverberated from his left upper ankle. Witnessing a flow of blood dispense itself from his wrist, we dropped down onto his knees. “Any pain you try to inflict on me is inflicted on you instead. Anything you do to me happens to you.” The Id explained. Mono looked down on his injured wrist with watery eyes. He glanced towards The Id with a broken frown. “Please… just leave me alone! I never want to see you again!” He pleaded. “No matter what you do, I will always be with you. I will be with you when even a moment’s thought of desire shows up in front of you. You cannot escape me, Mono.” The Id walked over towards Mono with grasped his face by his left cheek. “Now, you better put yourself on Sophia whether she is consenting or not! I want her virginity and so do you!” Mono launched his right upper paw against The Id’s left cheek, knocking him onto the ground and bruising the launched area. Mono felt the blow he inflicted against the Id. His bottom feet skidded along the ground and he felt a bruise on his face. His body trembled from the surprising amount of pain wracked onto it. “Please… leave. I don’t want to hurt you…” He muttered out. The Id stood up from the ground and looked into Mono’s eyes. The bruise on his face restored itself to regular coloration. “We know that isn’t what you want, Mono. You want to hurt yourself. You want to end your existence because you hate yourself. Well then.” Turning his face and directing his left cheek towards Mono, the Id pointed towards the area where Mono struck. “Go end my life, because it is what I desire as well.” “I don’t want to die! I don’t. Please, let me live in peace!” Crouching down on the ground and grasping his temples with a firm grasp, Mono shouted with utter torment. “No wonder everyone considers us to be a bunch of wimps. I wanted to prove them all wrong by not being the weak link on the team. Unfortunately, you are too much of a coward to be able to achieve the simplest of your desires. I will always be with you, and I will always remind you of how pathetic as a being we both are.” With these words, The Id vanished into the darkness, and light entered inside of Mono’s eyes. Mono jolted upwards with panicked panting and widened eyes. Beads of cold sweat dripped down from his face. He glanced around his body, gazing at a white and blue-striped gown adorned to his body. Feeling stiffness in his upper left ankle, he flipped it around. Seeing the deep scratches in his wrist, his heart plummeted into the depths of his intestines. He looked around his surroundings, finding himself on a twin-sized bed within a white room. Sitting on a chair with her head slumping to her right, Sophia slept with saliva pooling on the edge of her lower lip. Mono gazed below her eyelids, where two trails of dried tears ran down her face. He tilted his head away from her. A frown broke out from his mouth. “S-Sophia?” He uttered out. Sophia’s eyes opened. She shook her body and aligned her body’s posture upwards. Sucking in her drool and shaking her exhaustion off, she glanced towards Mono with a frown on her face. “M…Mono? Are you… alright?” She asked with a wary voice filled with concern. “I’m… not sure. Where am I?” Rubbing the tuft of white fur on his head, Mono questioned. “You’re in the Medical Division’s patient ward. I woke up in the middle of the night after hearing some terrified mumbling coming from you. Then… I saw you hurt yourself in your sleep.” Sophia explained. “Hurt myself?” Sophia leaped off of the chair and brought her front legs onto Mono’s bedside. Her eyes lit up with panic and a sorrowful frown plastered itself on her face. “Yes! You were scratching at your wrists and your face! I tried pinning you down, but you launched me against a wall with your Psychic. I’m sorry Mono, but I had to call a squad of thestral operatives around to restrain you and bring you here. I felt useless…” Sophia gazed away from Mono. Her heart trembled with anxiety and a nauseous discoloration appeared on her face. Mono worked up the courage in his heart to look towards her face, seeing tears stream down her face once more. He reached his right paw towards Sophia’s face and wiped away her tears. “Why are you crying?” He asked. Sophia set her gaze towards Mono and looked into his eyes. Her frown deepened into a tortured expression. “I saw how your body acted; you were hurting yourself on purpose. You almost grabbed the sword of your costume and even began cutting your own body with it. Why… why did you want to kill yourself?!” “Because… because…” Mono stuttered out. With tears streaming down his eyes and his nose wrinkling, he looked down onto his bed sheets. “Because I hate myself.” Sophia leaped onto Mono’s bed and embraced him with her front legs. She rubbed the back of his head with her paws, sending warm shocks of care down Mono’s nerves. “Don’t ever say that, Mono. I know that is not true, because you are still capable of loving others. A Pokémon that hates himself cannot do that.” She chided. A trembling pain struck Mono’s head. He winced and let out a sharp cry. Sophia backed away from Mono and saw him lifting his upper right paw to his head. “My head!” He shouted. “Are you hung over, Mono?” Sophia asked. “So this is what feeling hung over feels like? I only had two cups to drink last night. I didn’t think I would be this hurt.” Mono replied. Sophia smirked with a cheery grin on her face. She grabbed Mono’s left upper paw with her right front paw. “You know, I know some remedies for a hangover. And, before you ask, Fei’s father sometimes awoke like that. I will be able to get you up on your feet. Just relax and let me do all the work.” She said with a huff of pride in her voice. Through the pain on his face, a smirk rolled over his mouth. Author's Note Sometimes, the scariest monsters are ourselves. We have no idea how much damage we do to ourselves and each other, and we end up being afraid of what we become. That is the true message of this chapter.
