As the group of six headed towards a large exit, Twilight and Sunset looked at Sycamore, who was humming a tune of excitement.

"Professor?" Twilight asked. "You said Pokemon fight each other, correct?"

"Yes, but they don't fight per say." Sycamore replied. "Pokemon Battles are monitored by the participating trainers, and in official League and Gym Battles, by a Referee. And I must say, they're quite exciting! Nothing gets me more pumped up than a heated Battle!"

"I'll take your word for it." Twilight replied. "So, Route 4. What's it like?"

"There's plenty of Bug and Grass-type Pokemon, along with a few rarer species." Kyle said, checking his own Pokedex. "We've already got a full team of six with us, so if either of you need help, we'll jump in."

"Thanks." Sunset said, shrugging. They entered a stone tunnel, and exited out into a forested path, with trimmed hedges on both sides.

"Ah, here we are!" Sycamore said. "Route 4! Also known as Parterre Way to Kalosians!"

"Where do we start?" Twilight asked.

"Over here." Sycamore said, pointing to a stretch of tall grass. "Brush around, and you'll find a Pokemon soon enough!"

As Sunset nodded to Twilight, they entered the stretch of grass. It wasn't long before the eyes of both Equestrians saw a moving bush. As they approached, two Pokemon slowly came out.

They were humanoid, with white bodies and a large pink horn on the head. It had a bowl-shaped green cut, and they wandered over to Sunset and Twilight before gently embracing their legs.

"Ralts!" Sycamore said. "Two of them!"

As the twin Ralts looked up at Twilight and Sunset, Twilight could sense an emotion coming from both of them.

They were frightened.

"You sense it too, Sunset?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah." she replied. "They're scared of something, but what?"

Then, as to answer Sunset's question, a series of loud and pronounced footsteps could be heard crashing through the foliage. The two Ralts scurried behind the two Equestrians as the source became clear.

It was a massive and bipedal, bear-like Pokemon. It was mostly brown, with a yellow circle on the chest.

And it did not look happy.

"An Ursaring!" Kyle said. "I bet it's chasing those Ralts!"

As the two Ralts whimpered, Ursaring stormed over and roared ferociously.

"Go away!" Twilight yelled as best she could. "Leave them alone!'

Ursaring roared again and raised its fist, which glowed a brilliant orange.

"That's Hammer Arm! Get out of there!" Sycamore cried. However, Twilight didn't budge. As she spread her arms in front of her Ralts, Kyle tore out a Poke Ball.

"Glalie, Let's go!" he cried, tossing the Poke Ball. It opened, releasing a stream of energy that took shape of another Pokemon. This one was orb-like, with two horns. Piercing blue eyes surrounded by whitish-blue crystal completed the image of Glalie, the Face Pokemon.

"Glalie!" it cried, facing down Ursaring. As Ursaring stopped using Hammer Arm and growled at Glalie, the Ice-Type responded with a smile.

"Alright, use Ice Beam!" Kyle ordered. Glalie sucked in a breath and fired a beam of blue energy that impacted on Ursaring's chest. As frost and ice spread over the Hibernator Pokemon's torso, it charged while preparing a Slash attack.

"Use Crunch!" Kyle ordered. Glalie's mouth suddenly sported a set of blackened fangs, and it bit down and tore across Ursaring.

"Ursa!" Ursaring roared, clutching its chest. However, it would take more than a Crunch attack to knock it out. As it charged up for Double-Edge, Glalie smiled.

"Alright, use Ice Beam one more time!" Kyle barked. Glalie fired another beam of frost, and this one was the final blow. As Ursaring stumbled and fell over, knocked out, Twilight and Sunset stood in awe. The twin Ralts slowly appeared, and looked up at Twilight and Sunset.

"Ralts?" they asked.

"It's okay." Twilight said. "It won't hurt you."

Twilight's Ralts smiled and leaped into her arms. Sunset's Ralts hugged her legs again, and Sunset gave it a few pats on the head.

"Quite a battle!" Sycamore smiled. "I think those Ralts want to go with you! Use your Poke Balls!"

As Twilight and Sunset each fetched one, they tapped each of the Ralts on the head. As they disappeared in a stream of red and the balls shook, Twilight and Sunset released a pent-up sigh.

Then the balls clicked and shot out yellow dust.

"Congrats!" Riley said. "You caught them!"

As Sunset and Twilight picked up their Poke Balls, Sunset looked at Twilight.

"That was really cool." she said. "You know, protecting that Ralts. You looked really impressive."

"Thanks." Twilight said. "Come on, let's go."

As the two of them headed back to the main group, Kyle returned Glalie to his own Poke Ball.

"Well, now that we're finished here…" Sycamore said. "Let's head back to Lumiose. I think we all deserve a break and something to eat."

"Right." Twilight and Sunset replied. They proceeded to return to the gate, unaware they were being watched. A small fly drone followed them, silently waving through the air and broadcasting their movement to an unknown location.

====

"Professor?" Twilight asked. "How long have you studied Pokemon?"

"All my life." Sycamore said. "And I'm quite proud of that. Anyway, I know the Pokemon Center should be open, so let's head there!"

They walked over and entered the building, and while Twilight and Sunset were introduced to Nurse Joy by Sycamore, the others ordered food for the group.

"I'll get both your Ralts back to perfect health in no time!" Nurse Joy said. "I'll be right back."

Nurse Joy departed, and the two Equestrians sat down with the others.

"What now?" Twilight asked.

"That's up for you to decide!" Sycamore said. "You've gotten a Pokemon, Poke Balls, and a Pokedex, so now you make your own adventure! If you want to enter the Pokemon League, I'd head to Santalune City and challenge their Gym."

"Sounds like a plan." Twilight said. "Any objections?"

"Not a one." Sunset said. "So, where's Santalune City?"

"Just head south along Route 4." Kyle said. "Riley, Emma and I were actually planning to head there ourselves. Feel free to join us if you want."

"Sure." Sunset said. "Thanks, Professor."

"No problem!" Sycamore said. "I do have a few more things for you, though."

Sycamore handed each of them a Badge Case and Town Map, which both girls pocketed.

"Alright, I'd better get back to the lab." Sycamore said. "I'll see you two around!"

Sycamore left with a wave, and the five trainers retrieved their Pokemon from Nurse Joy. They departed the Pokemon Center, with the Fly Drone hovering above and behind them, monitoring their every move.

====
Equestria
The Crystal Empire

As soon as Shining Armor and Cadance learned of the thief from Spike, they mobilized the Crystal Guard to search the Palace and find them.

It would've been a great plan, except everypony soon learned Twilight and the thief were nowhere to be found anywhere in the Empire.

That was when they sent for Celestia. Once the Solar Princess had arrived and been told by Spike of what happened, she sighed.

"I know who the thief is." she sighed.

"Who?' Cadance asked.

"Her name is Sunset Shimmer, and she was one of my students." Celestia said. "She grew reckless in her search for knowledge, and I had to remove her from my presence. Why she came back and stole the Element of Magic, I do not know."

Shining was about to say something when a Guard poked his head into the room.

"We've found some of Princess Twilight's mane, your Highness." the Guard said. "It's in the Mirror Room."

"Show me." Celestia said. The Guard brought them to the Mirror Portal, now closed. True to the Guard's word, a lock of magenta hair belonging to Twilight lay on the ground.

"So, we know she was here…" Shining thought. "Then where did she go after that?"

"Through the portal, most likely." Celestia said. "It's the only feasible option, and Sunset's most likely with her."

"How can we get it open?" Spike asked.

"We can't, not yet." Celestia sighed. "It opens once every thirty moons. Until then, we can't help her. But if I know Twilight, she'll be just fine."

As the three others exited the room, Spike shuddered with worry.

Author's Note

Update!

Next time-The five Trainers meet Ash and his group, and they head to Santalune City. Also, Team Rocket gets a new mission from Giovanni...