Fluttershy looked over Salamence, noticing the bruising and slight wounds it had gained from the battle. She was thankful that Lunala had done what she did, but it didn’t stop the fact she felt bad about what happened to it. It had been angry, torn from its home in the mountains and shoved into the forest where I didn’t belong. None of her friends understood that, and they likely never will, unless they learn to talk to animals in the way she does.

“Sala!” Salamence growled at her, still noticeably unhappy about being around here. “Salamence… Sala sala.”

“I understand how you feel, but you aren’t in shape to go anywhere right now,” Fluttershy explained, motioning to the bruising and scratching that the Pokémon had gained from the Moongeist Beam. “Look, I know you’re angry, but you need to control yourself. I can help you get better, but you have to behave yourself if you do come cwith me. You want Lunala to do this to you again? Or would you rather heal and than go somewhere you can be left alone?”

Salamence looked away, not liking anything that Fluttershy was saying to him. It wasn’t often he get himself into situations like this, as he was known for being tough and unbeatable. To so effortlessly be beaten, even if it was a legendary, it made him angrier than he already was. He wanted to crush this legendary that he had never heard of, but in his current state, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, that would only do more harm than good.

He looked past Fluttershy, watching as Lunala introduced them to an Alolan Vulpix that had come out of the bushes. He could see the way Lunala seemed to enjoy the glory of victory, unaware that he was still awake and watching. Suddenly, Salamence smiled as an idea came to his head, already enjoying the idea of a future battle. If things turned out the way he expect, Lunala would be staying around these pony, and being with Fluttershy would keep him close enough to challenge her when he was powerful enough.

“Sala,” He called out calmly to Fluttershy.

“You will behave?” Fluttershy asked, surprised at how willingly Salamence submitted. He nodded, letting the caretaker know with a growl he wasn’t happy about this predicament. “Okay, but I expect you to be on your best behavior while you heal. I might be an expert in the area, but that doesn’t mean I can take everything.”

Meanwhile, Lunala, or Nebby as she had now introduced herself as, was enjoying all the positive attention she was receiving from the ponies around her. She had introduced Lillie to the four in front of her, the former human still not very happy about the situation she was in, and was now be cuddled by Pinkie. Nebby had kept Lille’s humanity a secret for the sake of simplicity, instead saying that she was an old friend from before she evolved. It was a far cry from everything that was said to her when with the other legendaries, and even the things that people said behind Luno or Lillie’s back when she traveled with them. The feeling of appreciation, even if she had to go a little overboard in order to do it, was something she didn’t feel all that often.

“So, yer a legendary Pokémon, which are not only more powerful than any other Pokémon ever found, but are worshipped and respected by the inhabitants as well?” Applejack asked, both intrigued and annoyed at Nebby’s place in her world. “That must be a pretty comfy life if ah do say so myself.”

“Oh, it’s been far from comfortable,” Nebby said, looking away and rubbing the tips of her wings together embarrassed. “The very day I evolved into Lunala I got attacked by this Pokémon called Necrozma. He’s… not the easiest to be around to say the least, but things are better now. I think he is still slightly embarrassed about the entire thing after Luno talked to him.”

The ponies looked to each other, and then look back at Nebby in confusion. “Luno?”

“I’ll tell you about her later,” She responded. “Anyway, I probably should have said this earlier, but is there some sort of figure of high authority I can talk to? I’m here to make sure things go smoothly with the Pokémon around here.”

“Is that all you want?” Twilight said, finally pulling herself together and confronting the creature in front of her. “You came out of nowhere and almost killed that… thing, all because it insulted you,” Nebby sighed internally, her high intelligence (most of which was thanks to evolving) seeing this argument as illogical. “You came here to take over the world, right? Why else would some being with immense power come to our world with all their own kind? Will Nebby, f you think I’m gonna sit by while you-”

“You want to know what a Salamence can do to a non-Pokémon with those jaws of it?” Nebby asked, interrupting Twilight in the middle of her rant. “It’s a dragon-type, one of the most powerful types of Pokémon there is. Most types won’t deny it, and only fairy types overpower it. We Pokémon have an aura that protects us in battle from anything, and the most that happens to us is faint. Do you have that?”

Twilight, even as a researcher of magic, had no idea what most of that meant. She wanted to retaliate, but one look at her friends told her that they weren’t on her side. Instead, she thought over Nebby’s question, the one thing she was certain she could answer. Yes, ponies did have an aura that protected them, but one look at the one both Nebby and the Salamence had told her it was far greater.

“I’ll take the silence as a no,” Nebby said. “So, anyways, who's the leader of this place?”

“You’re standing in front of one right now,” Twilight told her. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship and the former bearer of the element of magic. The ones in front of you are the other element bearers and my closest friends. I’m sure they also see how dangerous you must be and that you can’t stay here.”

“Twi, why are you acting this way?” Applejack asked, baffled at the way Twilight was currently acting. “Neb’s just saved us from what could have been the death of everypony here, and yer acting like she is the villain.”

“Don’t you see, that was only her way of getting close to us!” Twilight exclaimed in a worried manner. “Next thing you know she’ll brainwash all of you into serving for her and take Ponyville, and then she’ll take Canterlot! This Nebby only did this because it was in her best interest.”

Nebby looked to Lillie for advise, the human-turned-Pokémon doing the Vulpix equivalent of a shrug.

“Princess Twilight, sorry if I made a bad first impression, but your life was in serious danger,” The Moon Pokémon reminded the Princess. “Salamence and it’s kind have killed people from my world before, and without an aura you couldn’t hurt it. It would have killed you!”

“Excuse me, miss Lunala?” Nebby looked to see who had spoken, seeing Fluttershy looking at her with worry in her eyes. “As much as I understand what you were trying to do, we should still help mister Salamence. Besides, as the element of kindness, I can’t just turn away from somepony or something that is hurt. I have medicine and a place for it to heal, but I can’t carry it.”

Nebby looked to the injured Pokémon, and then back to the pony who had talked to her. The eyes, it was like the one she always used on Lillie when she was still a Cosmog (and continue to use on Luno, though it was far less effective). No Pokémon, pony, or human could refuse eyes like that unless they were truly soulless. There was no way Nebby couldn’t assist, because even though she was immune to it herself, she could help but approve of the method.

“I’ll carry him, just show me where you’re going!” Nebby said in a chipper tone, doing a small flip in the air much to Rainbow’s approval.

“We’ll I need to get back to the farm, so ah’ll leave that to you two,” Applejack explained, tipping her hat before walking off.

“Yes, it is getting rather late in the day, I think it would be a good idea to head home and discuss things tomorrow,” Rarity nodded in agreement as she followed after Applejack. While Rainbow and Pinkie didn’t say anything, they nonetheless did the same, the latter putting Lillie back on the ground.

“Vul,” She said, proceeding to hug the ground.

“You know, I could have told Pinkie you didn’t enjoy that,” Fluttershy told her, much to the surprise of both Nebby and the Vulpix. “Oh, right. I probably should have said this sooner, but I can talk with animals, or as I’ve found out Pokémon too. It comes with the trade.”

“Wow, so your just like Luno than!” Nebby responded, laying flat so that her head was at level with Fluttershy. “That’s so cool. For the longest time no one could understand me except for her. When I became a Lunala I still couldn’t speak, but one of the perks of being a legendary is that learning another language is easy.”

“Oh, that explains why the other Pokémon I’ve met can’t speak it,” Fluttershy said as she thought it over. “Anyways, would you mind giving me a hand over here? Who knows what could happen if we leave those injuries unattended.”

Nebby nodded, following Fluttershy into the crater that had formed. Her thin frame allowed her to effortlessly slip under Salamence, lifting him up and balancing him on her back. Twilight watched this all from a distance as the two made their way out of the forest, Lillie hurrying after them and shouting for them to wait for her. Much of this reminded her of Cadance and Shining Armor’s wedding, but it was the day she came back to see her friends hanging out with Discord that took hold in her mind.

“Yeah, I guess it is a lot like that day, isn’t it?” She said to herself, starting after Fluttershy and Nebby. “Guess I have to apologize for all this.”

—- Meanwhile, at the Castle of Friendship (whatever the heck it’s name is) —-

“Yeah, she hasn’t come back yet,” Starlight told the two alicorns next to her. “Twilight said it might be a while, but I expected her to stay here for when you two arrive. Guess these new species she told me about must be more exciting than I thought.”

“It only makes sense that Twilight is curious, she has not lived as long as we have,” Luna told the unicorn, as they looked out from the balcony to the horizon, Celestia lowering the sun next to her. “I must admit that I’m also rather curious about these Pokémon creatures, and I know that of anypony here she is the one who would want to do the research.”

“So… the wormhole from earlier doesn’t concern you?” Starlight asked, not understanding why they were so calm. “That was a much bigger creature than the ones she mentioned before heading back.”

“In that case, we should go see if they are at Fluttershy’s place,” Celestia suggested, the sun completely out of view. “It would be a good idea to make sure they are safe in case some threat has suddenly appeared.”

—- Meanwhile, outside of Fluttershy’s cottage —-

Fluttershy and Nebby parted the trees as they finally arrived at the former’s residence. Salamence was resting on the Moon Pokémon’s back, though Fluttershy would have to wake him up to make sure he didn’t suffer a concussion. Lillie stayed not far behind them, mostly following Nebby due to her trust in the legendary. The last to exit was Twilight, thinking of exactly how to apologize for her accusations. However, each time her thought process was stalled by Nebby, who told Fluttershy all about her world and friends.

“I’m a little confused. Is this Gladion nice or not? You seem to go back and forth between the two,” Fluttershy asked before noticing where they were. “Oh, we’re back. Nebby, follow me. I’m going to put Salamence somewhere else since I don’t think he would enjoy being around the other Pokémon here. Lillie, my house and the Pokémon house have doggy doors, so you can stay in one you want for tonight.”

“Vulpix?” Lillie looked too Nebby, her head tilting to a slight angle out of instinct. “Vul.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be right back,” The legendary said nuzzling the Alolan Vulpix on the nose.

With that, Fluttershy and Nebby walked out of view from Twilight and Lillie, leaving the two alone and the latter worried. Lillie didn’t know why she was worried, but something told her that she had to stay and wait for Nebby to return. However, it wasn’t the fact her body wouldn’t move that scared her, but rather the idea that something might happen. That was something she hadn’t felt since Nebby evolve into Cosmoem, but she was a legendary Pokémon now. Lillie had no reason to worry, and yet she couldn’t worry more.

“You two must be close, huh?” Lillie felt a hoof rub her head. She looked up to see Twilight next to her, sitting down with a mixture of a smile and concern. “I’ve seen the way Fluttershy’s animals get when she’s gone for a long time. It’s a lot like you are now. You two must have known each other for a very long time.”

“Pix,” Lillie answered, nodding. It was then that she felt something touch her tail, and saw a velvet aura surrounding it.

“Wow, I thought it was just a single tail, but you have six?!” Twilight said in excitement. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life! You’re a Vulpix right? An Alolan Vulpix? Do normal ones have the same amount?” Lillie, despite everything telling her not to, nodded in reply. “Eee! This is amazing! Hope you don’t mind if I just take a little hair sample.”

Twilight didn’t wait for a response before doing just that, taking a few strands of hair from Lillie’s tails. The slight pain caused her to jump, her fur freezing in a mean to protect herself. Twilight had seen this action herself, noticing how it glistened as the moon started to rise slowly into the air.

“Oh, eheheh, sorry about that,” Twilight said as she messed the back of her mane.

“I see somepony has been busy today.”

The princess’ eyes widened as she turned around, Lillie doing the same though with more curiosity than shock. Standing in front of her were two ponies much taller than any of the ones she had met, both of which had both wings and horns. One had a pure white coat and the other pitch black, their manes flowing in the wind. She looked to Twilight’s mane and pawed at it, expecting some sort of reaction. Nothing happened.

“Vulpix vul vul?” Lillie asked pointing from the two new ponies and then to her. “Pix vulpix pix vul?”

“Celestia! Luna!” Twilight called out, ignoring the Pokémon next to her and rushing to greet her fellow princesses. “I’m so glad you’re here, I have so much to tell you about. I mean, I would have told you sooner but this wormhole appeared in the sky suddenly and my friends and I went to go investigate only to get attacked by-”

“Deep breath Twilight,” Celestia reminded her old student. Twilight proceeded to do just that, letting out an exaggerated sigh. “Now then, you were attacked?”

“Yes, by a Pokémon called a Salamence. I thought we were goners, but then Nebby showed up and beat it with some kind of incredibly powerful magic,” The Princess of Friendship explained. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for the incredibly powerful aura these creatures seem to have, it probably wouldn’t have survived.”

The two princesses shared a glance real quickly, taking in everything that had just been told to them.

“Nebby? Is that what came out of the portal?” Luna asked, turning back to Twilight.

“Oh, hello there!” Without warning, the moon legendary appeared in the middle of the princesses upside down, causing Twilight to shout in fright, falling backwards. “I’m Lunala, but please call me Nebby, it’s far more comfortable for me. So, what are you talking about?”

Celestia was less shocked about Nebby’s appearance than she was about the legendary’s attitude. One look at the Moon Pokémon told the Princess of the Sun that she was royalty, and yet she acted nothing like it. It was like a child in the body of an adult, something both she and her sister were very familiar with. Luna, on the other hoof, was more surprised that she was alive at all. Nebby’s entire body looked like wings with a head. There was no way she should talking, flying, or doing practically anything.

“Nebby, right?” Celestia spoke up, knowing that the legendary was waiting for her. “I am Celestia and this here is my sister Luna. We’re the rulers of Equestria, the land you find yourself in right now, and the arrival of your… race, has cause lots of trouble and confusion over the past few days. That said, we welcome you as the ruler of these Pokémon.”

“Ambassador? Yep! Ruler? Nah,” Nebby waved a wing dismissively as she said that. “I might be the reason the Pokémon are here, but the title of ruler goes to mister Arceus. He’s not here because he doesn’t want to interfere with the current rulers, and because this is my punishment for opening hundred of wormholes to your world.”

“You may call yourself an ambassador, but for the sake of the public it would be best to call you royalty,” Luna explain. “That said, I do wish to understand what you’re reasoning is for bringing your citizens here in the first place. If your world was in trouble, we would have been more than happy to shelter, but you made it clear that isn’t the case.”

“Y-y-yeah, about that,” Nebby said, looking away in embarrassment. “Me and one of Arceus’ sons, Giratina, might have accidently dropped Pokémon into the reverse world and then threw them out using one of my ultra wormholes.” None of the princesses responded to that, something which instantly made the legendary nervous. “So, um, sorry?”

“That’s not why we are silent Nebby,” Celestia explained. “I must ask, considering what you just referred to. Do you know of a place called Ultra Megapolis?”

—- Meanwhile, somewhere in Unova —-

“And you’re sure he will be safe?” Virizion asked Xerneas, looking behind her fellow legendary to that of Keldeo, her adopted son. “I know Terrakion said this would be good experience for him, and Cobalion is, well, Cobalion, but I worry. You sure it’s a good idea to take him to this world?”

Xerneas knew of the fears Virizion kept locked away in the stoic appears of hers. It wasn’t shown to any of the other sacred sword, her son, or really anyone she knew, save for Xerneas. Keeping something from the Life Pokémon was like keeping a Munchlax from his meal. Even with Arceus around, most of the legendaries agreed that she was the most wise of any, having experienced everything with Yveltal.

“You worry you might never see him again, I understand,” Xerneas replied calmly, her voice as soothing as the leaves around her. “If I had a son or daughter, I would worry for him just as much. Yet one thing I’ve learned from my time resting, listening to news the branches give me, is that at a point the mother most realize her boy has grown up,” Xerneas turned around, watching Keldeo pace impatiently, excited to leave on an adventure. “He’s got youth, excitement, hope, and a hunger for adventure. Reminds me of how Cobalion use to be before you three fought all those years ago. That is good for him, and you should let him experience the good that will come from it.”

“If you say so,” The Grassland Pokémon replied, knowing that it was impossible to make Xerneas change her mind. “Just… make sure he stays safe. Adventure is good but it won’t do him good to come back battered and injured.”

The Life Pokémon nodded in reply. “Of course.”

Author's Note

Whelp, so much for finishing the FTE first. I got it in the works, but it’s just so easy to pick this up and write something that I sometimes forget what I actually said I would do. Not that I’m complaining of course.

In other words, who knows what the next chapters might look like. I’ve got a lot of ideas and plenty of time to use them, so most definitely will.