Who's That Pokemon?

Chapters

1 - Enter Sandpony
2 - Trial by Liar
3 - (Pokemon) Center of Attention
4 - Lessons in Forestry
5 - The Waiting is the Hardest Part

1 - Enter Sandpony

"David, have you even moved an inch since I left?" Luna's voice cried. The aforementioned human looked up from his handheld for a split second, before returning to the screen.

"Probably not," he replied, mumbling as if in a mindless trance.

Princess Luna merely sighed and chuckled at the response received, taking a moment to kick off her slippers and lay them neatly in the corner of her room. She rather enjoyed David's company ever since he had arrived in Canterlot, lost and alone before she and her sister, Princess Celestia, had taken in the young man. By this point in time, he had become essentially a permanent addition to Canterlot Castle. In fact, he had taken to the new life quite well, helping out in the kitchen, keeping the place tidy, anything at all to earn his keep.

But he was also well known for his gaming binges, especially once a new game came out. It was something Luna never quite understood could be enjoyable, eyes transfixed on a screen for hours on end. Hence the scenario Luna found herself, eyeing David sprawled out on the spare bed she had dragged into her room many moons ago.

"Did you have fun at work tonight?" David asked. An amused grin spread across his face as he looked up.

"Same scenarios, just a different night," replied Luna, placing her tiara on the nightstand before flopping backwards into her bed. The fresh linens felt heavenly across her weary body. "Some minor late night issues to resolve relating to the kingdom, a handful of nightmares to vanquish. Nothing major." She rolled over to her stomach, craning her neck to see the screen to which David was attuned. "What are you doing this morning?"

"Pokemon, same as the last few nights," he said, tilting the screen of the small electronic device to give her a better look. Bright pixels danced across the screen as a showdown started, two creatures facing opposite each other. As David continued to play while she spectated, Luna took note of this hesitations as he chose attacks, or even chose different creatures with which to do battle. Luna had heard of the series before but had never stopped to actually learn what it was about.

"There seems to be quite a bit of strategy to this game, no?" she asked.

"Yeah, there's a fair bit of planning and strategizing," David replied, his eyes still glued to the screen. His fingers danced across the controls, making selections before the battle continued. His creature attacked first, strong enough to knock out its opponent in one strike. "I suppose that's why I have always been a fan of this series, I like doing something that makes me think and isn't mindless button-mashing."

"It makes me feel a bit better that you're doing something that is mentally stimulating, but you still get too carried away with your games from time to time," Luna lightly scolded. She cringed a bit as she actually thought about her words, sounding less like a friend and having more of a motherly tone. Her attention turned to the window to the outside world, the sun just beginning to peek up past the horizon. Luna's sister Celestia was likely about to bring the heavenly body up to light the sky at any moment, signifying the end of her duties for the night.

Time to get some shut-eye myself, she thought to herself.

"I guess I get a bit wrapped up in this, but I did at least get the chores done you requested," David said, finishing up his game and turning off the system. He placed it atop the nightstand near Luna's tiara, groaning a bit as he stretched his tightened muscles. "But man, it would be awesome to actually battle and train and stuff for real. Maybe then you could stop harping on me to get more exercise then, huh?"

As the two of them prepared to get some rest, Luna's mind wandered with David's last few statements. No, she did not have the power to alter reality itself to such a degree. But perhaps it would be a nice change of pace to dabble with her magic in a dream world. It never hurt to keep practice, and dealing with nightmares of other ponies only scratched upon the surface of her capabilities. It would even give her a chance to learn about his hobbies and the games he enjoyed. Not to mention, such a scenario would be an easier way than peering over one's shoulder at a tiny screen.

"Good night David, may your dreams be pleasant," she said, a small sly grin forming upon her face.

"Good night, Luna."

As if a light switch had been flipped, David suddenly found himself standing before a sprawling two-story complex.

He looked around, a few small homes dotting the otherwise vacant lot. The whole area was surrounded on nearly every side by vast thickets of bushes and trees. David turned back to the building in front of him, trying to figure out how he got here. The last thing he remembered was climbing into his bed in the castle, telling Luna goodnight before getting some shuteye...

Of course, he thought to himself. I must be dreaming. He looked himself over, finding himself attired in the clothes he wore to bed, being a plain white t-shirt and a comfortable pair of basketball shorts. But in addition, he found a decent size pack slung over his shoulder, though the lightweight told him it was empty at this point. But why did he have it anyway? And what was this place?

Really, it didn't matter. Recalling what Luna had explained to him in the past, dreams often had a deeper meaning than what was presented on the surface. A provided object or doorway was not something to be avoided, as it many times was something that the mind needed to resolve or face head on. Evidently, he had such an obstacle to overcome right here in front of him. Still, even as David stepped forward and twisted the doorknob, he felt uneasy. And strangely, a sense of deja vu.

Cautiously poking his head through as the door crept open, the building was awash with fluorescent lighting, so much so David's eyes took a bit of adjusting to refocus. At least it isn't dark, he mused, stepping into the room with a bit more confidence. All around were various machines and computers, complex and foreign to him, as well as bookcases crammed with books upon every shelf. But aside from the quiet hum of fans inside the electronics, the only sound was that of David's footsteps upon the tile floor, echoing across the plain white walls and cathedral-like ceiling.

"Hello?" David called out, stopping to listen for an answer. Aside from his voice, there was no response back to him. Just ahead of him, David could see a large conference table, dotted with a few objects on the side nearest him. He approached with curiosity, moving a bit faster when he finally recognized the object set centered in between a piece of paper and a package.

A ball red on top and white on the bottom, with both halves separated by a black stripe and a button in the center, there was no mistaking the object that lay before him. It was ingrained in his mind at this point in his life. David picked it up without a thought, surprised by the light weight of the Poke Ball as he turned it in his hand, awestruck and captivated by it. But his conscience stopped him from going any further, looking around the room before centering his attention on the handwritten note left on the table.

David,

I suppose if you are reading this note, I have not returned from my errands in Viridian City. But perhaps this presents a unique opportunity for you. I have left on this desk a Poke Ball with a Pokemon inside of it, along with a small package containing a few potions and heal items. If you would like, take these and make your way to Viridian City. Hope to see you soon.

Oak

David's heart skipped a beat as he read the name scrawled at the bottom. This was one heck of a dream, why was he worried before? At least everything made sense now. Here he was in Pallet Town, inside Professor Oak's lab, no wonder it felt familiar. Barely able to contain his excitement, he took the Poke Ball in his hand and pressed the button.

A bright flash of energy erupted from the capsule, traveling to the ground in front of him and gradually solidifying into a form. As the light faded, his jaw dropped, finding the creature before him not at all what he was expecting.

"Luna, what the heck are you doing here?"

"Hi David, I was wondering when you would show up," she called out cheerfully. A moment passed before she took note of the situation, and the fact David was still staring at her. "You... you seem taller than normal."

"I was going to say you look..... smaller. And different," he replied, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with acknowledging her suspicions. Luna quickly scanned the room, before trotting over to a glass case to examine herself.

Rather than the elegant princess of the night she was accustomed to seeing, Luna found a much more youthful alicorn standing in her place. She really was not that much shorter, but her coat was a periwinkle blue, a far cry from the deep blue she had sported for many moons. In addition, her mane no longer carried the same energy it had previously, hanging there as any other pony's mane would, and without the twinkling stars accenting the colors.

"Well, this was not what I had in mind at all," she lamented with a huff.

"Er, what you had in mind? I apparently missed something here," David said, scratching his head. "Isn't this a dream?"

"It is," Luna piped up. "But I created it. Well, filled in the basic framework and let your mind do the rest. At least, that was the plan." Luna frowned as she looked over herself again, as if unconvinced of what she was really seeing. "I haven't attempted something like this in quite a while, but it was much more difficult than I remember. Nevertheless, it was coming together slowly, then... I don't know. I'm here all of a sudden."

"Maybe because you came out of this thing?" David suggested, holding up the Poke Ball. A beam of red energy erupted from the center, enveloping Luna's form before she disappeared, the trail of light retracting back to the ball.

"Oops."

David quickly pressed the button again, energy once again surging forth until once again his friend stood before him. Luna seemed dazed for a moment, before shaking her head of the mental cobwebs. She could only stare back at him in shock, realizing what had just occurred, before she gathered her wits enough to speak.

"Am I actually one of these... these battling creatures?" she shouted.

"Pokemon," David corrected. "And yeah, seems like it."

"Why? How did this happen? Why did you think that was a good idea?" Luna burst out into a flurry of questions, too quickly for David to respond to any one of them. He set the Poke Ball back on the table, before putting his hands up in surrender.

"Hold on, I don't even know what's going on," he protested. "You said you created this dream, right? So you should be able to change it to your heart's desire." Luna quickly replied back with a fervent shake of her head, and as her eyes focused back upon him, David sensed a bit of fear within them.

"No, this is your dream. I may have coaxed your mind into creating what I wanted, but ultimately since I placed myself here - and ran out of magic, evidently- I have no control over what happens. Your mind filled in the blanks."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to... fill it in improperly, I guess," David apologized with an awkward pause. "I don't really know how to control my dreams, or why I did what I did. But does it matter? I mean, it is a dream."

Those last words seemed to strike a chord with Luna, who at once seemed to relax quite a bit. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before a small smile crossed her muzzle.

"You're right, it is a dream," she acknowledged. "I suppose I am a bit disappointed things did not go according to plan, but it's still not a cause for concern. So what do we do now that we're here?"

David picked up the note on the table and flashed it to Luna, as her teal eyes went to work quickly perusing the handwriting. Her brow furrowed as she reached what David figured was some of the more foreign terms, as well as the name of their next stop.

"So, this 'Viridian City.' Is it far from here?" she asked. David gave her a warm smile.

"Nope, should just be a short jaunt from here. A short, relaxing jaunt through the countryside, might I add," he replied.

"Good," Luna said before her mind became troubled with a thought. "You don't have to put me back in that ball thing, do you?"

"Nope, not unless you want a rest at any point," David said. "Supposedly these things are really comfortable."

"I'll pass," she replied rather coldly. "But what are we waiting for? Let's get going!"

With that statement, Luna made a beeline for the door. David dashed after her, Luna's enthusiasm having taken him by surprise. Flinging the door open with the magic emanating from her horn, Luna had at least taken the time to remember someone was behind her, holding the door to the lab open for David. The two of them stepped into the sunshine, taking in the fresh air of the outdoors while they scanned their surroundings.

"So, being new to all of this, where exactly are we?" Luna inquired.

"Pallet Town," replied David. "It's where the original games start every player. But, this looks a little different, to be honest."

"What do you mean?"

"Apparently just because you used my dreams and memories to get this started, does not mean it is accurate. That was should be an ocean headed south toward Cinnabar Island," he said, pointing to the left towards the edge of town. Rather than the sparkling sea, the landscape was blocked by the rather imposing, dense forest he had noted earlier. In fact, the forest surrounded the whole village, on the verge of swallowing it whole sans a dirt path heading northward.

"I suppose what should and should not be doesn't matter at this point. Only one way to go, " Luna chimed in, pointing a hoof to the dusty road. David's only response was a nod in agreement, and the two of them set out.

"If all else fails, I guess all I need to do is wake up right?" David asked.

"Yes, but I think you should be able to change the dream if need be, considering you are aware that this is a dream," Luna mused. She still felt rather frustrated her own powers seemed to have let her down.

True, she was out of practice doing such in-depth work in someone else's dream world. But she was Princess Luna, ruler over the night, and all aspects of sleep and dreams. Repeatedly, she wracked her mind to recall what had happened. One moment, she had been carefully stitching together memories belonging to David with the current state that his dream world was in, molding it to fit with his fantasy. Then, black, endless nothing. No warning at all.

Something didn't add up, and it made her uneasy.

"Luna?"

"Hm?" Luna snapped out of her thought process at the sound of David calling her name, she looked up to see him looking down at her, visibly concerned.

"You haven't said a word since we left town, are you sure you're okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine, I'm just trying to make sense of what's going on," she replied. Focusing her attention outward to the world around the two of them, the forest inched closer to the beaten path, infringing on it in places but allowing the sun's rays to beam down relatively untouched. All throughout the brush on each side echoed the sounds of native creatures, foreign to her ears.

"You said something about your appearance tied to your magic, what did you mean by that?" David asked, in the hopes of distracting Luna from her own mind. Luna cringed a bit, feeling rather embarrassed by the question. The response caused David to quickly backtrack. "I didn't mean to get personal, I was just curious."

"No, it's fine," Luna replied reassuring her friend. "I was the one that mentioned it in the first place. You see, alicorns tend to have their appearance directly tied to their magic prowess. Twilight Sparkle, as you have seen, looks quite similar to any other pony, aside from, well, horn and wings. But my sister and I, we have developed our abilities over the years, honed our craft. Somehow that seems to allow us to grow physically as well, something we have never quite understood. Most notably, our manes, radiant and flowing as if caught in a breeze. The theory has been that as our reserves of magic has increased, it is held within us, and needs more substance to be contained."

"But it is not necessarily permanent," Luna continued, her tone becoming more ominous. "On a few rare occasions, most notably in the trials I have faced, our energy becomes far more depleted than normal. The times that has happened, it has led to a reversion of form, such as.... this." Luna motioned a hoof over her body.

"Is that what's really bothering you, the way you look?" David asked, chuckling a bit. " Don't worry about it, I think you look fine, just a bit... younger than normal. Not to say you normally look old or anything like that, no offense."

It was Luna's turn to laugh, in this case at David's frantic attempt to backtrack. "I thought you would know by now I am not one to be easily offended," she teased with a grin. " No, I am fine, this is just something to get used to at the moment."

"I understand, but we should keep our eyes peeled," David whispered, barely able to contain his building excitement. "All this foliage makes for a good spot for something to lay in hiding. We could be up for our first battle right here."

"Would a trainer really be hiding in the bushes waiting for somepony to come walking by?"

The absurdity of the question caught David off guard, taking him a moment to regain himself. "No, I mean, wild Pokemon could come out of the woods on either side of us. We're a bit vulnerable here."

Luna turned to give him a queer expression. "That does not make sense. Why would a wild creature just jump out of the underbrush to attack us? That seems absolutely foolish, especially considering there are two of us."

"I... I didn't think of it that way," David admitted, before shrugging his shoulders. "I had no say in how the games were made, that's just how they were." No sooner had he finished his sentence, the two of them stopped dead in their tracks, as a violent rustling came from their right side.

"That's what I call timing. You ready Luna?" David shouted.

Luna merely stood up straight in a proud manner, staring down at the brush before her as she expected a small creature to present itself at any moment. "I have been in many a battle, David. Nopony here will cause me fear."

At that instant, a form leaped from the shadows, startling both Luna and David enough they each took a step back. But as their eyes set upon their adversary for the first time, the duo could only stand there in wide-eyed confusion, before Luna finally found the words to speak.

"Surely this is some sort of joke."

Author's Note

Inb4 "my name is not Shirley" comment.

Inb4 author can't inb4.

2 - Trial by Liar

Luna felt insulted by the creature that stood before her. It was bad enough that she was forced to be subservient to her friend David, when she herself was co-ruler of a vast empire any other given time. But now, here in this twisted dream, she was not even unique?

"Uh, so I guess you're not one of a kind then," David finally spoke, giving Luna the obvious information she had gathered.

"Very helpful, thank you," she replied. It was like looking in a mirror, the wild... her copied Luna's expression as she studied this being. Slowly lifting a hoof to inch closer, her twin did the same, stopping just as Luna did when she saw movement.

"So, what do we do now? It seems peaceful enough, if not a little embarrassing," Luna grumbled, turning to David. He seemed transfixed by the whole charade, before abruptly racing his arm and pointing.

"Luna, look out!" he shouted. Luna quickly whipped her gaze back forward, just as a hoof struck her across the muzzle. She stumbled backwards a few steps, dazed by the sudden strike.

"That was a cheap shot, you unscrupulous little whelp," Luna growled. Her twin merely cackled with a mischievous grin, evidently pleased with itself.

"No, that was a Sucker Punch, Luna," David called out to her. "It's a Dark-type move."

"It matters not what fancy names it may have for its underhanded tactics, that was uncalled for," Luna shouted back angrily. She was in no mood to be dealing with this impostor right now. She focused her mind, reaching for the power inside of her and concentrating. Nopony had the right to be this disrespectful to her, and she would demonstrate her full might to this world and this animal right now.

With a triumphant battle cry, Luna lowered her head and released the energy from her horn, expecting to hear the sizzle of raw magic cutting through the air. Instead, another bout of shrill laughter reached her ears, breaking her focus.

"What is so funny? You should be vaporized," Luna barked. She looked up to see the other Luna on the ground, pointing at her with a hoof as it giggled.

"Um, that was a good Flash, Luna," David quietly responded. Even so, she could sense some minor amusement in his voice as well. Frustrated, she turned around and headed back toward her friend who was having difficulty keeping a straight face amidst her issues.

"I don't understand what is going on, what did I just do? Why did I not send that..... me, to oblivion?" she demanded. "I am Princess Luna, even in this weakened state I should have no trouble eliminating all adversaries that stand in my way."

At once David gained complete control of himself, seeing Luna genuinely upset with the predicament before them. No, he wasn't laughing at his friend, but he had always gotten a kick out of her temper. Whenever it flared up, her vocabulary expanded in a big way, the exact opposite of most other people, and for that matter, ponies.

"Flash is an accuracy damaging move, it doesn't do anything other than make the opponent have trouble landing an attack," David replied, squatting down to be closer to eye level with her. Luna was normally just a few inches shy of meeting his gaze, but in this form she was relegated to, it was closer to a foot, if not more. "I guess your power doesn't translate into the same kind of power here. Battle works completely different from how it does in the real world."

"All it took was one attack for you to back down? I overestimated you," came a voice from behind the duo in conversation. Luna perked up, her anger renewed and amplified, while David seemed oblivious to the heckling.

"You would be foolish to overestimate me for even an instant," Luna replied sharply, whipping around to face her foe. "I hold more power within my hoof than you do your entire..." Luna paused for a moment, realizing that not only was she insulting a mirror image of herself, but that this being had spoke, in a voice much different from her. Despite the high pitch, this creature sounded more male than female, akin to a young colt.

"Wait, is that... are you two talking to each other?" David asked in astonishment. Once again Luna found herself craning her neck to view her friend.

"You do not hear this fiend insulting me?" Luna asked, once again feeling rather frustrated. David only shook his head in response, causing Luna to return her gaze forward.

"You two aren't worth my time, stay out of my territory," snarled the other Luna. Without warning, its form lit up in a blinding flash, forcing Luna to shield her eyes from the intense light with her forehoof. But no sooner had she done so, the flash faded away, leaving her with an entirely different being standing before her.

This creature was not even half the size that she was, standing perhaps a foot or two in height. Its form was much more predatory in nature, looking quite similar to a vulpine with its small paws and lithe form. Its deep gray coat was accentuated by patches of red upon its paws and the tip of a tuft of fur atop its head, which was framed by large triangular ears. In addition, a scarf-like patch of black fur surrounded its neck, and as the creature looked at her, perhaps the most striking feature was its piercing blue eyes, a stark contrast from the rest of its markings.

"So you in fact are not the same am I? Good, I will not feel as remorseful when I am done with you," Luna snapped. "And this footpath hardly seems like something a little kit such as you could claim as its own, besides."

"Luna, that's a Zorua, be careful," David warned. "They're known to be quick and evasive, though I don't know what the heck one is doing here in Kanto."

Luna quickly found herself becoming annoyed with David's distracting commentary, doing her best to ignore him as she stared down her fully-revealed foe.

"Your trainer seems to know more of what's going on than you do, maybe you should try listening to him," snickered the little fox. "I don't think you have any idea what I can do or any idea on how to battle by the sounds of it."

"I know how to handle myself in a battle, I have won many in my lifetime," Luna growled. Rather than continue to argue, she jumped into action, racing towards the Pokemon and slamming a hoof down towards it.

But the Zorua, as David had described, was quick to dodge her, leaping backwards a few feet in the blink of an eye. Just as its tiny paws touched the dirt, it sprang into the air again, this time towards Luna. Opening its maw wide, Luna had no time to react as the fox landed a savage Bite upon her neck. She felt small but pointed teeth dig into her flesh, as her foe clamped down hard.

"Augh!" Luna cried, wincing in pain as she struggled to shake off her attacker. Meanwhile David stood just a few feet away, frozen in place with indecision. He didn't intervene physically, did he? No, that would be a stupid idea, especially with Luna thrashing about. But at the same time, he realized he did not have any idea what kind of attacks Luna would know, aside from the Flash she demonstrated. That certainly was not going to get them far in a fight.

But for now, he just had to hope she would tap into something.

Finally, after almost a minute of shaking about, the Zorua let go of Luna. Her rage reached a new high as she stared daggers at the fox Pokemon, who gracefully landed several feet away from her, smirking. Once again she charged at him, lowering her head and in doing so, felt a rush of energy course through her veins. In fact, it felt quite similar to the magic she was used to wielding through her horn, just suffused through her whole being.

"Heck yeah Luna, hit him with a Quick Attack," cheered David. She had no idea what David was talking about, but as she opened her eyes to guide her charge, it was obvious she was going fast. Way faster than normal, just as her target leaped once again to dodge her. The evasive mood came just a hair too late, as Luna made contact with the tip of her horn, strong enough to send Zorua somersaulting through the air.

"You would do well to back down now," Luna announced, holding her head high as she skidded to a stop. Her adversary landed awkwardly upon the dusty ground ahead of her but was quick to regain his footing. "There is plenty more where that strike came from."

"I've been trying to be nice, but now I'm mad," shouted the vulpine. It rose back to its feet, opening its mouth wide again. But as Luna readied herself for Zorua to pounce again, she was instead surprised to see a ball of energy materializing in its maw. Slowly, the orb grew, an angry swirling sea of violet and black.

"Dodge that Shadow Ball, Luna," came David's voice. Irritated, she turned her gaze towards him.

"Do you not think I am intelligent enough to observe and avoid its attacks? I know what I am doing," she complained. Instead of a reply, David only cringed and turned away, drawing her attention back forward just as the sinister energy struck her in the chest.

Luna slid backward a few steps as the orb hit her, the attack's energy crackling around her body. She braced herself for pain as best she could, squeezing her eyes shut. Yet the expected sensations did not come, and as she opened her eyes once more, the attack had already dissipated. In fact, the only effect the Shadow Ball seemed to have was knocking her backward by a few steps. Zorua took a step back himself, his confidence diminished by Luna's resistance to his attack.

"Really, another illusion? You truly are shameless," Luna taunted. She lowered her head and changed in again with another Quick Attack. She overheard David call something out to her but ignored it. She knew what she was doing, his orders were unnecessary and a distraction. But she was not as lucky this time, Zorua evading her with a quick sidestep.

Meanwhile, David relented with his shouts to Luna, realizing he was wasting his time. It didn't necessarily bother him that Luna did not want his input, it was the idea that she was essentially fighting blind as far as knowledge of how fighting worked. Especially considering her magic was not what it was back in the waking world. Rather than worry too much about something he could not control, he sat idly by and watched.

"Wow, another Quick Attack, how surprising," the Zorua shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He circled around Luna as she turned in step with him, silent as she waited for him to make a move. As much as she hated to admit it, her opponent was right, she did not know what else to do other than charge at him. Without her magic she was accustomed to, she felt a bit lost. Not that she would be willing to admit such a thing, not now. But as the fox leaped at Luna again, she remembered her other advantage she had yet to use.

Just as Zorua closed in, Luna herself leaped upward, spreading her wings wide and flapping them to avoid his charge. Just as he passed below her hind hooves, slashing at thin air, Luna kicked, striking Zorua square in the back. The hit sent him sprawling to the ground, briefly knocking the wind out of the little Pokemon. Luna proceeded to hover just above him, smirking as her foe struggled back to his feet.

"Oh, you seem to be rather predictable yourself," Luna gloated. "Don't worry, you aren't the only one with tricks at their disposal."

"You talk way too much," panted Zorua, glaring at her as she continued to lazily flap her wings, staying just out of his reach. After a moment of staring between the two, Zorua growled, backing away just a few steps. "You'll get knocked down a peg, sooner or later."

"Oh, giving up so soon?" Luna sarcastically pouted. "We just started having fun. Is the poor little fox all out of ideas?"

"I'm not wasting my time with you anymore," Zorua angrily shouted back, turning away from the alicorn. "But here's a gift for you before I leave." Abruptly, he turned his head around, opening his mouth and spitting a single blue-tinged fireball towards her at high velocity. Despite her quick ascension higher into the air, the eerie flame followed Luna, before rapidly closing the distance and striking her in the torso, just behind her right wing.

A stinging, searing heat enveloped her whole side as Luna cried out in pain, the shock of it causing the rhythmic beat of her wings to falter. She felt the skin below her fur coat sizzle and blister in almost an instant, and as she tried to retain her altitude, the movement of her wing only created a further jolt of agony, paralyzing her in mid-air. Quickly she began to fall back to the earth.

"Luna!" David shouted, terrified as he watched her struggle to fly. He sprinted over to where she was rapidly plummeting, getting there just before she hit the ground. Instead of catching the alicorn, her body used him as a cushion, as the force of her momentum sent him sprawling to the ground in a heap with her atop. Nearby, Zorua cackled, as he bounded away from the duo and into the underbrush, disappearing from sight.

"Luna, are you okay?" David inquired, frantically twisting about to get a better view of the alicorn laying atop him. Luna only groaned in response at first, the fall having knocked the breath out of her for the moment. Even so, she remained fully aware of the horrendous pain wracking her right side.

"I do not know what that was, but it burns like nothing I have ever experienced in my life," Luna finally moaned. She moved slowly to avoid aggravating the area as best she could, leaving her right wing fully unfurled while she tucked the other away. Eventually, she made her way back upon her hooves, as David finally sat upright and got a better look at his friend.

"Yeah, I think it was a 'Will o the Wisp,' but that's an odd move for that little thing to know," he responded, peering at her injured side. While the fur was merely singed in a few areas, he didn't doubt the supernatural flame caused a much more severe burn than was visible. But trying to get a better look at her skin underneath would only multiply her misery, so he stopped his investigation there. "How do you feel other than that?" he asked.

Luna moved her extremities in demonstration, wincing as her right hind leg and her wing on the same side moved. "I find it difficult to feel anything besides the burn" she admitted before her stubborn attitude kicked in. "But I have experienced worse injuries. I will be fine."

"No, we need to get that taken care of right away," David replied, reaching for his bag for the heal items left for him in the lab. As he did so, he realized he had made a big mistake - in his haste to get going, David left them on the table, never even opening up the package in the first place. "Crap. Luna, we gotta head back, I don't have anything to help you with that burn." He quickly rose to his feet, and Luna stepped in front of him.

"Absolutely not, we move onward. I can manage with what I have been dealt," she announced. Before David could even protest, Luna turned and began to shuffle northward past him. He let out an audible sigh as he watched his friend's limping gait, setting out after the bull-headed mare.

He caught up to her quickly even at a walking pace, before ambling alongside her. The pain Luna felt was evident by the grimace on her face, yet she continued to push forward. David briefly considered calling her back to the Poke Ball, but decided against it.

"So that was battling in this realm. I must say I do not find it particularly enjoyable," Luna said, reflecting back on her experience. "It seems to me hardly honorable to burn somepony and run away like that. Then again, there was not much to respect with that Zorua creature."

"To be fair, you were taunting that Zorua. That probably was not the best idea. Plus, that last hit you got was a pretty good one, though I don't know what attack it was, if anything," David responded.

"To be fair, he was the one that began the taunts, I just gave him a taste of his own medicine. But apparently, you did not hear any of that, so I have no proof," she grumbled.

"I never said I didn't believe you. I just meant you were laying it on thick. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I told you before I can manage," Luna replied. Her outstretched wing began to cramp up, not used to being extended for so long in one place. Gingerly she half tucked it away as she continued to walk, a fresh surge of heat coursing through her nerves despite her care.

"No, I mean are you okay with what going on? With this dream? I know you aren't thrilled with the way it turned out, or... well that back there, but you have been on edge this whole time. You seemed excited about experiencing all of this at first, what happened?"

"I suppose the idea of being a princess ordered around by her friend does not excite me," Luna admitted. David stopped in his tracks, causing her to do the same after a few more steps. As she spun around, David had shuffled over to a fallen log beside the trail, squatting down and taking a seat.

"Luna, let's take a breather," he said, motioning for her to join him.

"David, I said I am fine, we should keep mo-"

"Okay, how about I need a breather," he interrupted. She knew he really did not need to rest, but humored him anyways, limping over and slowly easing down upon her haunches. David opened up his bag and retrieved the Poke Ball he had found Luna inside earlier, holding it in the palm of his hand for her to see. She recoiled a bit in response, like a feline confronted with water.

"You would dare not use that on me, would you?" Luna asked apprehensively. Her response only made David's shoulders slump a bit in disappointment. Instantly she regret opening her mouth without thinking, as this clearly was not why he had fished the item out.

"No, I wouldn't. Honestly, it might be in your best interest to rest in this, but I'm not going to recall you unless you ask. You know why, don't you?"

"Because I asked you not to do such a thing in the lab?" Luna questioned.

"Yes, because you're my friend, and I respect your wishes. I may not agree with them, but I will respect them unless it is an emergency. I trust you know your own strength, and I'm sorry if you felt my input earlier felt like orders. But if I really wanted to order you around, this would be the ultimate 'obey me' moment." He paused for a moment as he tossed the capsule back in his bag and zipped it up, slinging it back over his shoulder.

"Luna, all I'm trying to do is give you information. You said so yourself, this is a learning experience. But whatever is going on in this dream, you don't have your normal magic do you?" he asked.

Embarrassed, Luna looked down, kicking one of her hooves in the dirt beneath her. "No, it seems I do not. I can do menial tasks, such as opening doors as I demonstrated earlier, but more complex spells... I don't know. I can feel some of my magic within me, but it will not manifest as I would expect it," she sighed, feeling uncomfortable admitting such a thing out loud.

"Right, but it did when you use that Quick Attack a few times, didn't it?" he asked. Luna nodded in response.

"Yes, it was quite unlike anything I have experienced before. Rather than magic being focused within my horn, it felt as if my whole body was the conduit," she explained.

"I think that's the key, Luna. I think you still have your magic, but with the way this world works, I believe it's just used in a different way than you're used to. After all, you've only used two proper attacks that I have recognized, who knows what else you can do."

"Is there a way to find out without going through that mess again?"

"Maybe. We'll just have to work together. As a team," he said, holding out his hand, Luna looked down at it, those last words echoing in her mind.

As a team.

Like she and her sister.

Relying on each other.

Helping each other.

As equals.

Luna quickly placed her hoof in his palm.

"A team."

3 - (Pokemon) Center of Attention

It was a few hours of walking before David and Luna could finally spot Viridian City on the horizon, the trees around them beginning to thin out. Fortunately, there had been no other squabbles with the resident creatures along the path, allowing to make them pretty good time. Aside from the stops to rest every now and then.

The truth of the matter was, Luna was not doing as well as she insisted. Whatever that cursed fox had burned her with had not stopped at a mere physical pain. It had started out that way, but after a few miles of walking, that burn had turned into something more akin to a black hole, sucking the energy from her body. By this point sheer willpower was what kept her going, as every muscle in her body was pleading with her to stop.

"We're almost there Luna, I think I see the Pokemon Center's roof from here," David announced, pointing at a building in the distance with a distinctive red roof. She had no idea what he was talking about, nor could she focus on the words he had said. But she assumed this establishment was where they were headed.

"This center, will they have something that will rid me of this affliction?" she muttered. David nodded with vigor upon her inquiry.

"Absolutely, that is the reason they exist in the first place. Literally just to help you out." As he looked over at his friend, he could see just a bit more pep in her sluggish steps at that comment, giving him all the reason he needed to keep describing the place. "Honestly, you won't believe what they can do in a short time span. I bet you will be feeling good as new in a matter of a few minutes."

That comment perked Luna's interest enough for her to raise her head and face David. "How is that even possible? In Equestria, we have healing spells, but even something like this would take at least two or three days to heal."

"Oh ye of little faith," David chided. "Trust me, you'll see for yourself soon enough, you're just about there."

Sure enough, the two of them made their way past the first few houses, making Luna pick up the pace a bit more as a last rush of adrenaline kicked in. She could do this, there was no way she would allow herself to fail now. As they entered the city proper, David and Luna migrated to the neat sidewalks, crowded with pedestrians at what was likely early afternoon. It had not felt like it took long to reach Viridian City, but the sun in the sky did not lie, as it had just passed its zenith.

On a regular basis, a passerby would take notice of Luna, whether it be because of her condition or the fact they had probably never seen such a being before. She paid them no mind, nor any of the Pokemon that would occasionally be spotted next to his or her human companion. She would not let herself be distracted, as every step made her feel as if he willpower was being sucked out through her hooves. The two of them reached the Pokemon Center at last, being invited in by the automatic doors as they slid open.

A counter sat central to the interior, flanked by rows of chairs along either wall. At the counter sat a woman, her pink hair stylized in a rather confusing ponytail that split off and away from her, before looping back. She stood up at once upon seeing David and Luna enter.

"Oh no, what happened?" she asked, her voice underlining her concern even as she hurried around the counter to meet them.

"Nurse Joy, Luna needs your help, she got burned pretty badly in the forest," David cried. The woman knelt down beside Luna, giving her a slight smile of reassurance before examining the side that ailed her. Luna winced as the nurse lightly parted her fur back, the adrenaline of the expedition beginning to waver.

"She's going to be okay, it's not too severe," Nurse Joy announced, sounding a bit relieved herself. But for Luna, the call did not sit well.

"I feel as if I am on the verge of absolute exhaustion, and you're telling me this burn is not severe?" she asked, irritated. But instead of a reply, Nurse Joy stood up, calling for an assistant before focusing her attention to David for the time being. The brush off only frustrated Luna more.

"I find the fact you do not even acknowledge me quite insulting. I do hope your medicinal skills are better than your manners," she grumbled. But again, there was no response to her, as David shared in her confusion, his eyes darting between the nurse and Luna.

"I am surprised to see this Pokemon, it's quite rare from what I've gathered," Nurse Joy said. "In fact, the only other time I have seen this species is when Professor Oak made a visit to Viridian City and shared his own Luna he had captured."

"Yeah, it's the same one," David said, scratching his head in confusion as he went with the flow of the conversation. "He left her at his lab in Pallet Town along with a note that said I could take her and come here to Viridian City to meet him."

Nurse Joy's sympathetic attitude shifted just a bit as David finished his explanation. She crossed her arms as her gaze became rather stern.

"I don't suppose you have that note, do you?" she asks, pressuring him just a bit. "I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe the Professor would leave a Pokemon so rare for someone so young to use for errands."

David didn't bother searching his pockets or bag. Just as he had forgotten the heal items the Professor had left him, the note was likely sitting on the table next to them back at the lab. He only shook his head forlornly, the piercing eyes Nurse Joy had made him feel quite nervous.

As Nurse Joy was about to respond, the doors behind her opened. A pink, round Pokemon walked through with a nurse's cap on its head and a cheerful smile upon its face, wheeling a gurney for the patient.

"Here, Nurse Joy," the Pokemon chirped in a decidedly feminine voice. Its attention was drawn to Luna as she in turn eyed the latest guest. "Oh, you must be the patient. I don't think I've ever seen your kind before."

"That might be because I'm not from here," Luna replied. Her fatigue was beginning to affect her mood even more, as her response came out unwelcoming and dour.

"No need to worry, Nurse Joy and Chansey are here for you, even if we are unfamiliar with your kind," she cheered in response, oblivious to Luna's negativity. Luna didn't bother asking David but assumed that this conversation was just between her and this Chansey.

At this point, Luna eyed the gurney this Chansey had wheeled out with a great relief. Part of her felt compelled to turn down the bed and continue on her feet into the medical room, but she was too tired to argue. Instead, Luna struggled up on top of the gurney and essentially collapsed, her adrenaline finally running out. After all, she made it all the way here, that was good enough.

"We can discuss this situation later, first thing's first," Nurse Joy said, taking note of Luna's condition. As Chansey did her best attempt at a salute with her stubby arms, she pushed Luna back through the double doors she had entered, and into the medical area. Letting her achy muscles relax, Luna sank into the foam padding of the gurney, as her eyes took a rest for just a moment.....

======

Meanwhile, David found himself alone in the lobby as the two nurses wheeled his friend out of view. While certain Luna would be better in no time at all, his nerves still began to get the best of him, as he walked over to one side of the room and took a seat. How was he going to talk his way out of this? This hadn't been a dream so far, it had been a nightmare.

He knew Luna would be okay, but it was still sickening to see her in such a miserable state. Which brought him to the obvious question - just what the heck was going on with this dream? Besides the fact Luna had no power to change the dream, there were other things he had noticed. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before, feeling so vivid and realistic. The sights, the sounds, the smells - and the pain. He didn't admit it to Luna, considering her far worse condition, but he had tweaked his ankle a bit trying to catch her, and it was still aching. The frequent stops for rest were not just for Luna, as she likely believed.

David heard the entrance doors open but paid it no mind as he continued to think. It wasn't until he heard his name called that David looked up and took notice of the visitor.

An older gentleman stood before him, his salt and pepper hair his most distinguishing feature. Dressed in a red shit and brown trousers, a lab coat completed the look of a professor - no, the professor. Professor Oak.

"Professor Oak, what are you doing here?" David said, stumbling through his words. His stomach tightened a bit as he tried to think of how to explain the situation he found himself before Oak had even begun to answer him.

"It's alright David," he calmly replied, patting him on the shoulder before taking a seat next to David. "I was concerned you had not made it, so I'm glad to see you here. What happened?"

"I got caught out, I guess," David replied with an exhale. "We weren't prepared, or I wasn't prepared, and Luna ended up with a burn that took a lot out of her. Managed to forget the potions you left, so I couldn't heal her."

Professor Oak responded with a chuckle, much to David's surprise. "Oh, I've lost count of how many times a new trainer has forgotten some supplies I've offered, just out of sheer excitement," he says with a sympathetic smile. "You shouldn't feel bad about it, you got it to the Pokemon Center, that's the important thing. But a burn, I'm surprised to hear of something like that around here. What kind of a Pokemon did you run into?"

"It was a Zorua, surprised me too, honestly. Not necessarily that I found it and it claimed we were in its territory, but the fact it knew Will O Wisp, which I don't think it can normally learn," David rambled through in a single breath. Oak seemed taken aback by the information laid upon him.

"That is an odd species to find around here, they aren't native to this region. But then again, with the tourism and traveling that has exploded between regions in recent years, it has been noted species seem to be making the trek as well for whatever reason," Oak replied. "But I must say, you have a lot of knowledge for someone your age. Not many would have been able to identify such a Pokemon."

"I guess you could say I've studied up a bit, heh," David responded with an awkward smile.

Before the professor could respond, the sound of hooves upon tiles echoed from behind, causing the two of you to turn your heads. As if on cue, Luna burst through the doors on her own, beaming with happiness and energy

"I owe you an apology David," Luna announced. "The magic they have here to heal is simply astounding. I feel even better than I did before the fight." As if to prove her point, Luna trotted in place, before realizing David was not the only person in the room.

"Sorry, I was so caught up in myself that I did not see you were having a conversation," she apologized, bringing her show to an instant halt. Her ears drooped downward, matching the tone of her voice as she eyed the professor. At the same time, Nurse Joy finally appeared through the doors Luna had just returned from.

"My word, you must be feeling in tip-top shape, you're full of energy," Nurse Joy giggled, standing next to Luna. Her attention shifted to Professor Oak, as he rose from his seat. "Professor Oak, just who I was hoping to see. Did you lend that young man his Pokemon? He insists that you did."

"Indeed I did, Nurse Joy," Oak replied happily. He walked over to Luna and began scratching her behind the ears, much to Luna's surprise.

"Excuse me, but I don't believe we have formally met Mr. Oak. This is hardly appropriate," she muttered while leaning more into his hand. "As nice as that feels, I must admit."

Meanwhile, Nurse Joy turned her attention to David, her expression softened. "I must apologize to you then, young man," she said softly, clasping her hands together out in front of her. "What is your name?"

"David," he replied, feeling a bit more upbeat. "You don't have to apologize, but thank you. I'm just glad you got Luna back to her old self."

"So I'm assuming either everypony is ignoring me for no reason, or you are the only one that can hear me, David," Luna said, pulling away from Professor Oak's grasp and trotting away. The professor was left dumbfounded as he watched her return to David's side.

"Was it something I said?" he asked aloud.

"I'm going to guess I'm the only one that can hear her," David spoke up, drawing looks of skepticism from both Nurse Joy as well as Oak. Instead of focusing on the awkward stares, he turned his gaze to his friend, whose ears drooped in sadness as her assumptions were confirmed. "Evidently she thought you could hear her too, but I guess not."

"You're telling me she can speak to you, and you understand her?" Joy spoke up, her voice making clear she was not a believer. But before she could further express her doubt, Professor Oak raised a hand up, before folding both arms behind his back.

"It is rare, but trainers can form a bond strong enough with their Pokemon that surpasses the norm, but indeed develops into a rudimentary understanding of each other on both sides," Oak explains, before turning his his short lecture to David and Luna personally. "But you two just met today, and if what you say is true, your connection is beyond anything I have ever seen or heard."

"We haven't just met today, we have known each other for many moons," Luna interrupted, drawing the attention of everyone in the room down to her. "You aren't even real, you're both the creation of David's dream. Or my dream, something." As she finished her rant, Joy and Oak glanced up at David, anticipating a translation.

"She said she doesn't know what happened, we just started speaking to each other right away," David lied, squatting down to Luna's level and resting his hand on the back of her head. "Luna thought maybe something had changed with her and everyone could understand her, but that doesn't seem to be the case." As he finished, David urged Luna to nod in agreement by the pressure and motion of his hand within her mane.

"Just go with it for now," David whispered out of the corner of his mouth. Luna sighed, before plastering on a smile for all to see and nodding her head in confirmation of the 'translation.'

=========

After what felt like hours of an in-depth question and answer session, David rubbed his temple, trying to relieve himself of a headache brought upon himself. It was not easy 'translating' Luna's background and species information for Professor Oak on such short notice, but he felt it was necessary to make something up rather than tell the truth. Something about Oak believing he had caught Luna months ago, and the idea that Oak knew David personally before he arrived in this dream unsettled him. Maybe it was nothing, but better to fit in than stand out, he figured.

Luna was not particularly thrilled with the session either, becoming quite bored and frustrated as David came up with what he felt should be said out loud. She found herself increasingly eager to ask him what the fuss was about, especially because David seemed stressed out. Sure, on the surface David had a calm and cool facade, but she knew him long enough now to look past that and deeper into what was really going on within.

"My word, I had not planned on spending this much time in Viridian City today," Oak exclaimed, looking down at the watch on his wrist. Indeed, the view through the plate glass windows of the Pokemon Center showed the shadows beginning to grow long outside. The hustle and bustle of the city had died down as well, with the sidewalks only occasionally graced by the presence of pedestrians, rather than a near-continuous string that had existed earlier.

"Yeah, I'm feeling rather beat myself," David sighed, twisting his torso to earn a much-needed crack from his back. "Is there a hotel or something in this city I can spend the night? I don't really have any money, but maybe-"

"You're more than welcome to stay here the night," Nurse Joy interrupted from behind her desk. "No charge, no worries."

"I think I'll take you up on that, thank you," David cheerfully replied.

"Yes, I should be heading back to my lab before it gets dark," Oak said, standing up and stretching. "But before I go, I want you to take this." Abruptly, Oak fished through a pocket in his lab coat, before pulling out a small red device David instantly recognized.

"That's a Pokedex," David exclaimed, mouth agape as he held his hands out. Oak carefully set the electronic in his hands, smiling as David looked it over with awe.

"Indeed it is. The newest model, might I add," Oak mused. He reached over and pushed a button on the front of it, the cover retracting to show a screen and a vast array of more buttons. The screen light up, going through a quick bootup synopsis before showing a bright, detailed map of the Kanto region. "Not only is it a Pokedex, it allows you to view maps of the region, as well as make phone calls should you find yourself needing to speak to me," he said. "I'm sure you will learn the system as you use it, the interface is intimidating at first, I will admit."

"Thank you so much, this is amazing," David gushed, receiving a chuckle from Oak. Luna did her best to catch a glimpse of the Poke-thingy David was holding, with little luck. David was too preoccupied to notice he had it held just above Luna's eye level

Curse this miniature form, she thought to herself, scowling. I pray I am not relegated to this for the entirety of the dream.

"You will be helping me as well, David," Professor Oak said. "While the database for Pokemon native to this region is mostly complete, the influx of other species is something not quite clear. Having that with you on your journey should help me get a better idea of how many new species have adapted to the ecosystems here in Kanto. Not only that, but there is a lot I still do not know about Luna, and I believe the best way to learn more about her is if you take her with you, especially considering the bond you two have already developed."

"Don't worry, she is in good hands," David cheered with pride.

"I was going along with David whether you like it or not, I don't know you," lamented Luna, her bitterness falling on deaf ears. The more she learned about interactions between humans and these Pokemon creatures, the more she disliked it. It felt like she was being referred to as owned property, rather than a partner as David had assured her earlier.

"Good luck David, I'm always just a call away if you need anything or discover something new," Oak announced, holding his hand out. David shook his hand, barely able to contain his excitement before the professor turned and walked out of the center.

"If you would like, I could show you to a room you can rest," Nurse Joy chimed in, causing David to spin around. Despite sitting the last couple hours, he felt mentally fatigued, and the mention of rest only reminded him of his nagging headache.

"That sounds good to me," David replied with a smile. Nurse Joy nodded her head, walking out from behind the counter and leading David to a room in the back, Luna in tow. The room was devoid of much decor, aside from a simple steel frame bed, the mattress covered over with sterile white linen and a bedside table. Hardly luxurious, but David was more than happy to accept the offer.

"Thanks, I really appreciate this," he said, Nurse Joy's beaming smile and a nod his instant reply.

"It's the least I could do for a young trainer starting out. Again, I didn't mean to accuse you of stealing Luna here," she replied.

"Oh, I'm good, really," he said with a wave of his hand.

"Alright, just let me know if you need anything," Nurse Joy said, before turning and heading back to the front of the building. The click of her heels on the floor slowly faded away, leaving a serene silence in the area.

David hesitated no longer, falling backward into the mattress. He closed his eyes, trying to relax and let the tension of the day seep away. He felt the bed shift as weight was added, and as he opened his eyes, Luna's face obstructed his view. She only stared, her expression eerily emotionless. David stared back into her bright teal eyes, expecting her to say something.

"Uh, hi," David finally mumbled, feeling a bit awkward. The greeting broke Luna from her weird, silent trance.

"Now that we're alone, do you mind explaining to me why you wanted me to just 'go along' with your charade?" she asked.

"Because I don't like the idea of telling the truth?" he replied, unsure of himself as he sat up. Luna shifted her own seated stance, ultimately ending side-to-side with David.

"What is the real reason?"

"This dream we're in is nothing like I've ever experienced before, Luna," David muttered quietly. "By the way everyone acts, we both existed here before we were actually here. I don't know, but I had a bad feeling about just saying this was all a dream to.... well, the dream, I guess."

"You sound unconvinced this is a dream," Luna mused, her face remaining stoic and void of emotion.

"Are you sure this is a dream?" David asked. "You didn't seem to be able to shake the pain of that burn off, and I twisted my ankle pretty good. To tell you the truth, I've never experienced a dream this real before. Heck, we've been here almost a whole day, Luna. I actually feel tired and ready for a good night's sleep."

"Yes, I will admit, this dream has been more vivid than any I've ever been within," Luna replied cautiously. "But you forget, time has virtually no meaning within dreams, David. What may seem like hours spent within a dream could be mere minutes of sleep in the waking world. There really is no way of telling how much time we have spent here until we actually wake. Unless you have another theory, I don't know what else this could be."

"You said yourself, there's a chunk of forming this dream you don't remember," David argued. "You don't have the magic to control it, and try as I might, I can't just wake up. I haven't figured out how to change this dream, either. Could you have somehow - could you have created a new reality?"

Luna quickly shook her head. "No, that is impossible. Nopony has the massive amounts of energy such a feat would require if it was somehow possible. This has to be a dream, I'm sure of it."

"Alright, but I still feel like we should just try to blend in, Luna. This was supposed to be fun anyways, may as well play along, right?" David suggested.

"As long as we work together, as you said before," Luna warned, letting her frustration of what she had observed throughout the day seep into her voice. "I still dislike the scenario I find myself, and I see how these other creatures are treated - as mere pets, property to be traded. I am nopony's property, I can think for myself."

Luna's sour tone disheartened David, remembering the talk they had after the first battle did not go so smoothly. "Luna, I swear to you, I don't think of myself as your owner, nothing has changed between us in my eyes. Anything I've said today, everything you've heard - remember - we're trying to fit in."

"Alright, I just wanted to make my concerns clear once again," Luna replied, her voice still unable to hide her skepticism.

Silently, David's headache crept back into his temple.

He hoped Luna could drop her pride and pessimism that was fogging her mind, and soon. If Luna was still unwilling to listen to him in the heat of battle because she felt it necessary to prove her free will, this was going to be an uphill fight.

Author's Note

For whatever reason, this was a difficult chapter for me to write. Twice I got just about got it finished up, only to read it and nuke over half of it. Just could not hit the right tone I was looking for, particularly with Luna's mood.

4 - Lessons in Forestry

The morning air possessed a minor chill as the next day dawned upon a foggy landscape. David and Luna had risen early after spending the night in the comfort of the Pokemon Center in Viridian City. Having fallen asleep not long after being shown to a room, David was rested and ready to go way earlier than he normally would have been. Meanwhile, Luna had spent a decent portion of the night fumbling with the electronic gizmo Oak had given David before departing, a Pokedex. Whatever healing magic this place had discovered was incredible, as she could not remember the last time she felt so full of energy. It had made sleep out of the question.

At least it had given her an opportunity to learn the layout of the region, Kanto as referred to by multiple individuals. Most of the routes of travel were straightforward, so it was obvious the next stop would be Pewter City. She just wasn't sure what of interest the two of them would find there. But first thing was first, they would have to traverse Viridian Forest. Hopefully, this trek would not be a repeat of yesterday.

Luna hated to admit it, but she was at fault for her own injuries. She just didn't like being told what to do, it made her feel useless. After all, she was a princess of Equestria? If she did not know what to do, it was a major problem back at home. She would have to remind herself, this dream was not home. This was a realm David was more familiar with, and she had to rely on David's knowledge.

But as Luna idly passed the time during the night, there was one thing she could not deny. Despite all the setbacks and hurdles, a small part of her was excited. The events of the day reminded her so much of what Equestria had been before it was even a nation. She and her sister had to fight to bring peace to the land, and while the peace was nice, she missed flaunting her might. For the most part, the two princesses were seen as pretty faces, especially as Celestia stood back and let Twilight Sparkle prove herself time and time again. Waiting was not a strong point of Luna's - she was a mare of action, and always had been.

By the time the sun began to peek above the horizon, Luna's mind had been set - she would be approaching this day with an appetite for adventure.

"Thanks again, Nurse Joy," David called out as he passed the counter in the front of the building, Luna in tow. Nurse Joy smiled in response, offering a wave goodbye.

"Not a problem, you're welcome here any time," she replied. "Good luck in your travels, you two."

"Thank you," Luna replied, already forgetting she could not be understood. She felt silly, but then again, it didn't hurt to thank someone regardless.

"So what will we find in Pewter City? I assume that is our next stop," Luna asked, much to the surprise of David.

"Yeah, that is the next stop. The most important thing there is the gym," he replied. The thought of a gym as a place of interest confused and intrigued Luna, so much so that as the pair walked out into the streets of Viridian City, she about ran into a pole. Luna recoiled back in surprise.

"That pole jumped right out in front of you, I saw it," David joked, trying to stifle a bit of laughter. The sheer idiocy of David's joke caught Luna off-guard, making her lose any irritation she had and let out her own burst of laughter.

"Indeed it did," she said, finally getting a grip on her composure. "But you mentioned a gym in Pewter City, I'm not sure I understand the significance."

"Oh, right," David said, his mind snapping back to the conversation at hand. Or, it almost did. "By the way, how did you know Pewter City was up ahead?"

"I was examining that PokeDex device during the night, I was not able to sleep as you did," Luna replied, a bit embarrassed.

"Okay, no worries Luna," David assured her. "Anyways, gyms in this world are meant to prove your battle prowess, both trainer and Pokemon together. You go up against one of eight of the strongest trainers in the region, and by winning, you earn a badge. Get all eight and you are among the cream of the crop. Then you get to challenge the best of the best, but we'll get to that later." He paused for a moment, remembering the issues of yesterday. "If you're interested, that is. I don't want to tell you what to do."

"I am up for the challenge," Luna replied without hesitation. The shock of her response caused David to stop dead in his tracks.

"I... Really?" he managed to stammer out. Quickly he gained a grip on his composure, shaking his head free of the paralysis. "That's great Luna, seriously. I'm just surprised you were so quick to say yes."

"I did some thinking last night while I was up and about," Luna replied, circling around to face David directly. "No, yesterday did not go well, and that is a result of my own pride getting in the way, I am afraid. Yet, I feel as if that battle rekindled a fire within me that had been long dormant. My sister and I fought tooth and hoof to release Equestria from the grip of beings with ill intentions and unite the lands. It was difficult, it was not always assured we would be victorious, but I must say it was a thrill to have that sense of accomplishment when we did succeed. Perhaps this challenge you speak of will allow me the same excitement I felt so long ago."

It took David a moment to process the cascade of information Luna had just dropped on him. Luna had never been too vocal about her past for obvious reasons, so he felt rather privileged to be allowed an insight into her story, even if it was a condensed version. But to hear her sharing the same sentiments he felt with the idea of this dream after a night of thought only increased his own excitement.

"Luna, this is awesome," he shouted, barely able to contain himself. With that, David dropped down to a knee and wrapped his arms around her neck, surprising Luna for an instant before she relaxed. For Luna, the sight and feeling melted away the frustrations of everything that had transpired thus far, allowing a serene smile to grace her face as she flared out her wings and stepped towards her friends, wrapping the appendages around him in a returning soft embrace.

"I also will try to heed your instructions, even if I admit, I am not used to doing such a thing. I said I wanted to learn of your interest in this game and world, so I must be willing to open my mind and listen. We turn over a new leaf today."

"Thanks, Luna," David replied. "I promise I'll listen to your concerns as well. Like I said, this is a team effort, so this street between us goes both ways. While I may see something on the sides of the battlefield, it's more than possible you will see something in the heat of battle that my eyes may not catch."

With that, David rose back to his feet as Luna stepped back, the two composing themselves as once again they set out. North of them, the vast foliage of the Viridian Forest was slowly beginning to make its presence known on the horizon. Even though their destination was set, David kept a lookout for anything of interest in the city proper. He had spied a Poke Mart nearby just as they had left the Pokemon Center, but without any money, there was little use in stopping. He and Luna were definitely going to need to be careful as they traveled for the time being, to avoid the situation they found themselves in just a day ago.

"So, now that we are on the same page, I want to be enlightened. Tell me everything there is to know about battle," Luna said.

"Boy, it's a good thing we have a long ways ahead of us," David quipped. "I'll do the best I can if you can do your best impression of a sponge..."

========

As minutes turned to hours, the duo found themselves in the thick of the Viridian Forest, the city they left behind now just a distant memory. By this point, David's throat was dry after rambling on about all the nuances of Pokemon battles. For her part, Luna stayed attentive, absorbing as much as she could of what her friend put out.

"So, with all these different types, it is critical to match up those that are stronger against another, correct?" she asked.

"It's not necessarily critical, but it helps a lot," David replied. "Sometimes it just isn't possible depending on who you have with you and what the other trainer has at hand. At that point, you just roll with it."

"Do we know what type I am?"

"No, I don't think Oak ever mentioned it," David said, scouring his mind for any memories. His mind shifted to the one tool he had that would likely give him the answer. He reached behind to his backpack, opening up a side pouch and retrieving the Pokedex. Without a word, he opened it up and pointed it at Luna, unsure how to work the device.

Luna stared back at him with a bit of unease, not knowing what to expect. "What are you trying to do?" she inquired after a brief wait. Coming to a halt at once, David did the same after a couple more steps, slow to react due to his distraction. He turned back around to face Luna, still focused on the device in his hand.

"Trying to figure this thing out, I should be able to just scan you and get information, but I don't know how the scan-" Before he could finish his sentence, one of the larger buttons on the device he had pressed triggered a beep, followed by the screen lighting up with a picture of Luna. With hardly a pause, the device began to churn out information, in an odd combination of electronic and feminine tones.

"Luna, the Pony Pokemon. A recently discovered species, not much is known about it aside from its strong-willed temperament. Researchers have theorized Luna's markings give it some sort of connection to the moon."

"Oh, if only they knew," Luna announced, earning a chuckle from David. He continued to fiddle with the device for more helpful information. After a few seconds of trial and error, the Pokedex came to life once again.

"Luna is a combination Normal-Flying type Pokemon. Its evolutions, if any are not known at this time."

"Evolution, what is that?" Luna asked, somewhat nervous.

"Don't worry Luna, it's a good thing. When a Pokemon grows through battle, sometimes that growth and experience trigger a permanent, major change in form known as evolution. Think of it like how your magic changes you depending on your reserves...." David trailed off, listening to his own words. He looked up at Luna, whose eyes were lit up, likely coming to the same conclusion he had.

"Do you think it's really possible I can get to my proper form through this evolution process you describe?" she asked, hardly able to contain her excitement. It was better than the alternative, as her magic reserves could take months to recharge in the waking world, and this dream did not seem kind enough to just give her that back in an instant.

"It's possible, the Pokedex just says your evolutions are unknown. But, there are other ways for Pokemon to evolve so it might not be that easy," David replied, dampening Luna's spirits as her ears drooped in response.

"Well, what about the types I possess, Normal and Flying, those are good, aren't they?" She asked, hopeful.

"It's okay, but it's going to make the first gym a challenge, to be honest with you," he replied, further trouncing the optimism Luna had gained. "Normal and Flying-type moves are not going to be very effective against Rock types, which is what we will be facing up against. Plus, Flying types are weak against Rock."

"You certainly don't sugar coat things, do you?" Luna responded. But David reached down and scratched her behind the ears as a comforting gesture. While not necessarily keen on being treated like a pet, Luna had to admit, the feeling of his digits upon and behind her ears was nothing short of heavenly. Luna let go of her inhibitions and leaned into his hand.

"It will be a challenge, but not impossible, Luna," he said. "Personally, I do like the Flying type, because they tend to have an edge in speed. How good of a flyer are you?"

"Well, I may not be quite up to the level of Wonderbolt material, but I can say with confidence I am rather accomplished in the art of flight," she said, pulling away from his hand and standing tall with pride.

"Good, we might be able to use that to our advantage, now we just need to figure out what other moves you know. Because Flash and Quick Attack aren't going to cut it," he said, scratching his head. "How did you figure out Quick Attack?"

"I just lost control of my anger and charged towards that little fox, it certainly was not planned," Luna admitted rather sheepishly. "The same as when I kicked him, it had somewhat the same feeling. Felt like my magic, but suffused through my body. So, maybe that was a move, too?"

"I guess the only way we're going to figure out what you know is through battles," David said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Then you've come to the right place," came a voice from behind. Both Luna and David jumped at the interruption, David turning around and Luna side-stepping his figure to get a view of the origin.

Dressed in a polo T-shirt and khaki shorts, a young boy stood about four or five feet behind David, his arms crossed and a cocky grin upon his face. David guessed the boy was in his early teens, if that. Uncrossing his arms upon acknowledgment of his presence, the boy brandished a Pokeball in his right hand, holding up for the duo to see.

"How about it? Looks like you're pretty new to the scene and have only that one Pokemon, I'll take it easy on ya," the boy said. David looked down at Luna, who met his gaze and offered a firm nod.

"You're on, I'm David and this is Luna," David announced, as Luna trotted forward. The other boy took a few steps back as he tossed his Pokeball, a flash and electronic pop emanating from the orb as a purple rat slowly took form upon the ground. Barely reaching Luna's knees, the little creature nonetheless let out a high pitched growl upon seeing its opponent.

"I'm Jake, and this is my Rattata," he replied, the Pokemon chirping its name a few times in confirmation.

At least, that's all that David heard.

The Rattata's crimson eyes ran up and down Luna quickly as it twitched in anticipation of battle. "What are you? I've never seen anything like you before," the Pokemon chattered.

"Luna is my name and I suppose I'm.... new to this region," she replied quietly.

"Well it doesn't matter if you are new or not, you're still going down," the rat shot back, gnashing its large incisors.

"We will see about that. It's unwise to underestimate your opponent, as I've learned." Luna narrowed her eyes, waiting for any sudden movements from the rodent.

Meanwhile, Jake pointed to David as the two Pokemon traded words. "Since you're a rookie, I'll let you start off this battle," he shouted.

"Sounds good to me," he called back, before turning his attention to Luna. "Alright Luna, let's start things off with a Quick Attack!"

Luna nodded, galloping towards her foe as she felt the familiar sensation of magic course through her. She took aim before lowering her head in anticipation of a solid hit.

"Rattata, dodge it with Agility, then use Scratch," came Jake's voice, and the purple rodent quickly scampered to the side in a blur, the alicorn rushing right past her target by a wide margin. Luna skidded to a stop, spinning around as quick as she could to regain her bearings. As she did so, a paw caught her right across the muzzle, claws raking through her fur and flesh.

Grunting as she recoiled back in surprise, Luna did her best to shake off the hit, as Rattata came to a halt mere feet away. "You're going to have to be faster than that to catch me," it taunted. The verbal jab caused Luna to again try to strike the little rat, with no success as her attack was again dodged.

"Luna, use Flash," David called out, unsure of what else to do. He could see calling out another charge would be senseless, but what other moves did she know?

"Rattata, use Bite," shouted Jake. Rattata readied itself to pounce upon the blue alicorn again.

Frustrated, Luna did as instructed, also realizing Quick Attack was going to be of little use at this point. A bright burst of light erupted from her horn, allowing her to seize the opportunity to retreat from the attacker, taking flight and heading back towards David.

"Giving up already? That's sad," Jake shouted as Luna hovered in front of David's face.

"Not a chance, we're just still trying to learn each other," David shot back. He adjusted his tone, focusing on his friend. "Alright Luna, I guess we'll have to start trying to experiment. You have to have more moves than those two."

"What do you want me to do?" Luna asked, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm following your orders as you ask."

"I know, it's not your fault. Maybe try a Quick Attack from the air? That Rattata is more agile, but maybe you will be a bit faster diving towards it."

"I'll see what I can do," Luna agreed, nodding quickly before returning to the battle.

"Now Luna, try an aerial Quick Attack," David instructed. Upon his words, Luna shot up into the air, before swooping downward in a shallow dive. As she gained speed, Luna felt a reserve of magic within herself and tapped into it without hesitation.

In an instant, time itself seemed to slow down, even though Luna could tell she was going just as fast as before. Instead, her wings lent themselves to more abrupt movements than ever before, and as she flew at the Rattata, her vision pinpointed the rat. As the Pokemon tried to sidestep again, Luna jerked to the right, slamming into the purple rodent headfirst.

Luna kept going, unfazed as her senses returned to normal, while Rattata was sent rolling across the ground violently. Stunned by the hit, it took a moment for Luna's foe to rise to its paws.

As David was about to cheer Luna's success, his Pokedex emitted a loud beep. Curious, David reached behind and retrieved the device, opening it up to a screen with Luna's portrait again. But this time, a list of moves was underneath her picture, along with one blinking vividly in bright green.

Aerial Ace.

"Luna, good work," David cheered. "That was a new attack, Aerial Ace."

Luna turned her head. "I am not surprised, it felt quite a bit different from the Quick Attack. Perhaps I should keep trying different things?"

David hesitated for a moment. True, she had lucked out this time trying something off the wall. But would lightning strike twice?

"Do what you feel is necessary Luna, I can't tell you yes or no," David finally said.

"Enough coaching," yelled Jake, frustrated with the interruption of battle again. "Rattata, show them your Super Fang and put a hurting on that horse fly!"

Upon his trainer's order, Rattata's oversized incisors began to glow, the Pokemon scrunching up its body before launching itself into the air.

"Luna, fly higher and dodge it," David commanded. But Luna remained where she had been hovering, just waiting...

As Rattata was just about to reach her, Luna finally made a movement, once again grasping at something she could feel within herself. She kicked her hind legs forward as hard as she could, catching the rat square in the jaws. Rattata was caught completely unaware with no time to brace itself. The violent hit sent it cartwheeling through the air limply. Its trainer rushed forward onto the battlefield, catching the weary Pokemon in his arms.

Another beep, and David's Pokedex updated itself once again, with one more attack added to the list below Luna's picture - Double Kick.

Something clicked in David's mind as he glanced over towards Jake, the Rattata in his arms moving now, but clearly unfit for further battle. That was a Fighting-type move, no wonder it was so effective. That must be what Luna used against Zorua yesterday, he thought to himself, remembering not only were Fighting-types super effective against Normal-type Pokemon, but Dark-types as well.

And perhaps more importantly, Rock-type Pokemon.

Luna fluttered over to David, clearly excited by her success as she reached out and hugged him without warning. "I did it! Oh what a rush that was, I can not describe how exhilarating that felt," she shouted.

"Good job Luna, you were a natural," David praised her, returning the embrace as the excited mare squeezed him harder. "How did you learn those moves? I'm impressed."

"I just felt something within me, I just let it go and instinct took over," she replied, finally calming down from her high as she released David from her clutches.

"That's great Luna, and that last move you used, Double Kick. Make sure you remember that one for sure." David instructed, causing Luna a minor bout of confusion.

"Why is that one so important?"

"We're going to need it if we plan on winning a badge in Pewter City."

5 - The Waiting is the Hardest Part

"Luna, slow down," David panted as he struggled to keep his light jogging pace.

Luna heard David's plea and slowed her quick trot, despite her excitement begging her to push forward. The day had so far been a rush of adrenaline, and it forced her to move with extra pep and enthusiasm upon every step.

"I'm sorry, I forget you aren't quite as quick on your feet as I am on my hooves," she said as David reached her side. David ran his hand through her mane, an acknowledgment of her apology.

"You're fine, but I'm surprised you aren't getting tired. We've been in five or six battles today, I can't even remember how many for sure," David responded.

"It has been six battles unless we count the altercation with that wild pigeon. Then it would be seven battles," she corrected, an air of cockiness within her response.

"Wild Pidgey, you mean," David corrected back. "Let's call it six and a half, considering the battle with that Pidgey was a one-hit knockout. But still, after all that, you aren't tired at all?" David asked, amused. He had never seen Luna so excited. But then again, he had never seen Luna in this younger, power-restricted form either. Maybe that had something to do with her mannerism.

"Are you joking? I can not remember the last time I felt so alive," Luna shouted. It was not an exaggeration, either; she felt as if she had gone back in time to a younger version of her, full of vibrancy and ready to take on anything or anypony in her way. She had long forgotten the feeling of being a warrior, wary that danger could lurk around every corner. But this dream was allowing her to relive years gone by, and she loved it.

"Alright, I just don't want you biting off more than you can chew, that's all," David replied.

"No, I am ready for a challenge, the fights today feel like merely a warmup for this gym you described in Pewter City," Luna responded, feeling the fire burning within her growing in intensity at the thought. "If we make haste, there could yet be a chance or defeating our foe before the day is over."

While Luna's little speech gave him an extra jolt of vitality, David still could not help but be concerned by her mannerism. A battle against a gym leader was never a walk in the park, and Luna's type disadvantage against the Rock type they would face only kept him further grounded within the realms of reality. He really hoped her cockiness would not get the best of her; it could spell disaster if she lost her head in the middle of the battle.

"It's not a bad thing if we don't make it today, Luna," David said cautiously. He watched as her excitement slowed ever so slightly as her ears shifted downward.

"You think I am going a bit too fast," Luna stated bluntly. David hesitated a moment as he started piecing his thoughts into words.

"A little bit, yeah," he replied, trying to be as gentle as possible. "I'm glad you have your confidence back, which is why I didn't want to say anything. I just don't want you to get in over your head. I'm personally still feeling nervous about it."

Luna spread out her wings, draping one across David's back as best she could. "I understand. You may be right, I am getting a bit excited over our early success, perhaps too much," she admitted. "What do you expect from our first gym battle? Perhaps I can better understand what we will be facing, and it may, in turn, help you calm your uneasy mind."

David nodded, relieved and glad that Luna was more receptive to his ideas and concerns than she had been just twenty-four hours ago. "Well, if this dream stays true to the games, we will be facing Brock in Pewter City," he replied. "From what I remember, he has two Pokemon with which to battle - Geodude and Onix, both straight Rock-types. As I explained earlier, the Flying type that you possess is weak to Rock types, so keep that in mind. Also, your Quick Attack will not be of much help; Rock types are resistant to Normal types."

"Indeed, I remember you telling me that earlier," Luna responded. Her mind quickly conjured up a memory from earlier. "But you said that move I used in our first battle today, Double Kick, that is a key to success?"

"Part of it, yeah. It's a Fighting-type move, which is strong against Rock Pokemon. But Double Kick still is not a very powerful move by itself, I can't just expect you to use it over and over."

Luna turned her glance away from David, taking notice of a flock of Spearow that had taken a rest within the trees nearby. She narrowed her eyes, silently daring the few that were attentive to her and David to just try their luck. None moved a muscle, content with staring back with their beady eyes.

"So what did you have in mind? I remember you telling me my other attacks would do little good," Luna inquired as she turned her focus back to her friend.

"Normally I like to hit fast and hard, but I think in this case, your Flash is going to be important," he said.

This struck Luna as odd, especially as she reflected back on her first unintended use of the move. Both David and their opponent had been amused by it. Then again, it had come in handy against the Rattata's attack earlier, allowing her to evade the Pokemon.

"So you hope to use Flash to aid in evasion of the attacks that are super effective against me while being able to whittle away at the other Pokemon?" she guessed.

"Wow, you're a quick study. I'm thoroughly impressed," David said with a wide grin. "I'm hoping that will work. Stinks that we will be going up against two Pokemon, but oh well."

"I can do it, David," replied Luna, her face hardened with determination. "No, we can do it. I'm sure of it."

"Well, there's a chance you will get your wish yet today," David said, raising a hand to point at the path ahead. The trail abruptly sloped downhill, giving the pair a view of the landscape in front of them. The tree line began receding just a few hundred feet away, before yielding to the muted gray of metropolitan architecture.

"Pick up the pace, David," urged Luna, falling behind him and pushing the young man forward with a gentle headbutt.

"Alright, alright. You're going to be the death of me, Luna," David joked.

==========

The view from above had fooled the pair into believing Pewter City lay just ahead. Instead, the journey had stretched onward until the late afternoon before arriving in the quaint city. Much like its namesake, the city's structures were all a light shade of gray, not far off what one would expect otherwise. But it had a subtle beauty to it, a contrast of the natural foliage David and Luna had trekked through all day.

"What does the gym look like? Do you know where it is located?" At once Luna began rambling off questions, too quick to give David a chance to respond.

"Just relax Luna. Shouldn't we head to the Pokemon Center first and get you all checked out and ready one hundred percent?" he suggested.

"I want to set my eyes upon our destination before we do anything else," she answered, determined to sate her hunger for a worthy challenger yet today. David didn't see much of a point in arguing now, but he would step in if she tried convincing him to charge in right away.

"Okay, we'll do that first," he replied with a firm nod. "If my memory serves me right, the gym should be in the northwest part of the city, should be a larger building in terms of ground area."

"Do you think it would have a large awning over the door marked to look like one of those capture balls Pokemon are kept in?" she asked, flaring out one of her wings to point. David turned his eyes to the direction, and sure enough, one of the larger buildings in the area stood out, a sign above the door with a white Pokeball on a forest green background.

"Yeah, I'd say that's probably it," he replied as he began to turn around. "A deal's a deal, let's head back to the Pokemon Center we passed a bit ago. But instead of an agreement, David heard the unmistakable sound of hooves upon the concrete rapidly growing quieter. He whirled around to find Luna in a mad sprint toward the gym.

So much for listening, he thought to himself, reluctantly running after her.

After a few minutes, David finally caught up to Luna, but only because the alicorn had reached the entrance to the gym and stopped.

"Luna... we had... an agreement," David huffed as he struggled for his breath. Luna turned around, finding David with his hands on his knees, Instantly, her blind excitement drained away, realizing she had completely ignored what David had requested of her.

"I - I lost my head in the excitement," she responded forlornly, her perky ears drooping in turn. "Sorry."

"Well, I don't think it matters anyway, Luna," David replied as he took a step closer to the doors. Sans handles or push bars, it was clear the doors were meant to open automatically, but they did not budge. Furthermore, as David peered into the building, it looked dark and unlit.

"You believe they are closed? But how can that be, it is still daylight," his friend whined. Perplexed by the early closure himself, David was unable to offer an answer besides a shrug of his shoulders.

"Wasn't meant to be, I guess. It's still light out, but it is getting rather late in the day," David said, noting the low angle of the sun in the sky. "Let's head to the Pokemon Center and then find somewhere to stay for the night, shall we? Get something to eat, too."

"I suppose you're right, but I still am a little disappointed," Luna admitted. Knowing her weakness by now, David reached down and gave Luna a gentle scratch behind the ear. As expected, the alicorn leaned into his hand with a content, relaxed smile. "You keep doing that, and I will make it your full-time duty," she teased.

"I'm okay with that," he responded with a chuckle. But with a new goal, he retracted his hand and turned around, leading his way back through the streets the duo had traveled.

But as he led the way bad, David realized neither he nor Luna had eaten nor drank anything since this whole scenario had started yesterday. Quite frankly, he still felt no hunger pangs or thirst. He turned his eyes to Luna beside him.

"Luna, is it weird that we haven't consumed anything in over twenty-four hours?" he asked uneasily. It took a moment for the lightbulb to come on in Luna's head before she fully understood what David was asking. She shook her head.

"Not necessarily. While this dream seems to have gone on for over a day now, you forget that time has no meaning here. Quite often, hunger also is nonexistent, from my experiences."

"Right, but we still get tired. Or at least I do," David protested.

"Dreams are very fickle in nature. There really are no rules that govern them, aside from harm in here does not translate to the physical world," Luna replied.

"That's a relief," he sighed.

"I know this dream is unorthodox - even by my standards - but I would not worry, David. It's rare to have a dream that times passes in such as this one, but I can recall some fantasies of other ponies that I entered where a whole year seemed to have passed. When I am concerned is when you should begin feeling uneasy. But maybe this dream is meant to teach me something, or perhaps the both of us. It could be why I have no control with the powers I normally possess."

"You mean like you being stubb..." David trailed off as he realized what he was saying. Despite stopping himself, Luna caught what he was going to say, and bit her lower lip uncomfortably.

"It - yes, it could be my overzealous pride," she admitted reluctantly. Once again, David breathed easily, to which Luna took notice. "I don't make you uncomfortable, do I?"

"Not exactly. A little bit, I suppose," he said. "I mean, we are friends, but you're also a princess, a co-ruler of a whole world. So that's a bit of a challenge, I guess."

"That may be true, but that does not mean I do not respect my friends enough to hear what they have to say. I will admit, I can be rather strong-willed, but do not be afraid to talk to me, David." As she finished, Luna's muzzle slowly twisted into a smirk. "Plus, as you mentioned previously, I am not a princess here, not in this dream," she added.

With the air somewhat cleared, David and Luna took in the sights and sounds of the quaint city, only stopping so David could get a few supplies from the Poke Mart. The early victories had not amassed much money, but it was still enough for a couple of Potions and Full Heals. Items that he hoped would not be needed tomorrow, but nonetheless, it was best to be prepared

By the time the pair meandered back to the Pokemon Center they passed earlier, the sky had begun its gradual transition to night, the setting sun painting the horizon with a hazy orange glow.

"Hopefully we can get a room in this Pokemon Center as we did in Viridian City," David said as he stepped through the sliding door. "Though we are a bit late to be asking, maybe I shouldn't have stopped to buy supplies." He had been surprised how busy the store had been. In fact, much of Pewter City had still been busy, even as he and Luna had been walking back.

"Only one way to find out, I suppose," Luna said, stepping up to the counter, stopping when she actually took stock of the woman who was waiting to greet her and David. "Nurse Joy?" she shouted incredulously, not believing her eyes.

David leaned down quickly to Luna's ear. "Different one, just same last name. I know, it's confusing," he whispered, before standing up straight.

"Welcome, how can I help you this evening?" Nurse Joy asked with a benevolent smile.

"Hi, I was wondering if you had a room open for the night?" David asked, flashing a pleading smile. Instantly the nurse's face went from cheery to somber, a clear indication of the answer before he received it in words.

"No, I'm sorry, but we're completely full. Pewter City has so many visitors today for the new exhibit in the Natural History Museum, the whole city has been packed with overnight stays," she said reluctantly.

David turned to Luna, unsure of where to spend the night. By the sounds of it, there was not going to be a bed available anywhere tonight.

"I suppose we could sleep outside somewhere if it isn't against the law. It is quite pleasant," she replied with a shrug.

"You wouldn't happen to be in the city for a battle at the gym, would you?" Nurse Joy asked out of the blue. Both human and alicorn snapped to attention.

"Uh, yeah, actually," David replied, blindsided by the correct guess. Luna remained mute, for once remembering no one other than her friend could understand her. It was irritating, but she was getting used to it.

"No, I'm not psychic, if that's what you're wondering," Nurse Joy commented with a slight giggle. "You two just have that air of determination about you. But I think I know someone who can help you out this evening." Without another word, she turned away to a machine behind her, fiddling with a few dials before it lit up, emitting an electronic beep. As she turned back around, she held a Pokeball in her dainty hands, her eyes darting to someone behind David.

David turned around to see the entrance doors slide open as a man with spiky brown hair walked through the sliding doors. With tanned skin and a bright orange shirt, contrasted with a lime green vest and brown cargo pants, David instantly recognized the visitor.

"Brock, I've been expecting you. Your Geodude is back in tip-top shape," Nurse Joy cheerily announced. "And, I think I've found you a challenger for tomorrow," she added, motioning to David and Luna.

"Really now? I've been waiting for someone to battle, it's been a slow day," Brock said as he received the Pokeball from Nurse Joy. His attention focused purely on David as he stuck his hand out, inviting a handshake. "What's your name, young man?"

"David," he replied as he accepted the firm handshake, before turning to the alicorn beside him. "This is my friend, Luna." As David mentioned her name, Luna struck a pose, spreading her wings out wide and standing straight, her chest thrust outward.

Brock was surprised by the pale blue alicorn, squatting down to get a better look at her. "Well, this is a treat to see. I've never seen a Pokemon like this before."

For her part, Luna was calm as Brock inspected her, even willing to indulge in a scratch behind her ears once again. But all the while, she kept a wary eye upon this newcomer. David was calm, so she assumed he knew of this Brock character. But still, she was not willing to place blind trust in anyone.

"Yeah, she's kind of rare. Not from this region, and not a lot is known about her," David responded, continuing the facade he had started in Viridian City.

"With the Museum opening up their fossil exhibit today, the hotels in the city and my Pokemon Center are packed with travelers for the night. I was hoping you might be able to give this young man a place to stay for the night, since he was planning on challenging your gym anyways," Nurse Joy interrupted.

Brock stood up straight once again, nodding his head with a small smile. "Sure, I don't mind at all," he said. "I only have one minor stipulation."

"What's that?" David asked in a polite, but meek voice.

"We don't wait for tomorrow to battle. We battle tonight."

"Yes!" Luna shouted as she perked up at the suggestion, surprising everyone in the room. David patted her head as she blushed a little at her outburst.

"Well, she's up for it, so I am too," David replied with confidence. He could feel Luna beside him shaking slightly as she tried to contain herself.

"Excellent. If you two are all set, I'll lead you back to the gym," Brock said, his smile having grown wider with the promise of a gym challenge. David knelt down to face Luna for a quick check.

"I'm assuming you're too eager for battle to wait and have Nurse Joy check you out," he whispered to her. Luna shook her head at the suggestion.

"No, but I honestly feel fine, David," Luna responded. "I will leave it up to what you desire, but as far as I am concerned, I am in top form."

"I think we're ready, Brock," David announced as he rose to his feet, convinced that Luna was indeed ready to go. Before forgetting, he turned his head and thanked Nurse Joy for her help.

"Not a problem, good luck, David," she cheered with a slight bow.

As Brock beckoned David and Luna to follow him, David could only hope Luna was ready for a challenge the likes of which she had not yet seen. Luna was confident, and he was confident that Luna was receptive to what he had to say.

But he still could not shake the nerves that had begun to creep into him.