Chapters Prologue-A Kalosian Welcome
The Crystal Empire
Guest Chamber Passageway
Though it was night in the Crystal Empire, the Guards assigned to visitors in the Palace never slept. Especially since Twilight Sparkle and her friends were visiting their Prince and Princess. Two Guards stood in front of the door to Twilight's guest room, and despite their appearances, were ready for any threat.
Soon, unexpected hoofsteps could be heard, approaching fast and methodically.
"Who's there?" One guard asked, lowering his lance into a combat position.
His reply was a stunning spell directly to the face. As the other guard tried to rush the attacker, another stun spell put him on the ground, out cold. As the attacker approached the door, she opened it without a word.
The moonlight revealed the sleeping form of Twilight Sparkle, and her crown and Element of Magic resting on her nightstand. Now that the moon was visible through the window, the attacker was revealed to be a mare with a flaming orange coat, and a sun-like mane.
As she approached the Element of Magic, a loose floorboard creaked under her hoof. She froze, searching for any sign of disturbance from the Princess.
To her relief, there was none. As she reached again for the Element of Magic, she heard the sound of running water, and a door opening. Light streamed into the room, revealing or causing multiple things.
One, Spike the Dragon, who had been using the bathroom until that moment.
Two, Twilight's eyes opened at the interruption of her sleep, and they immediately flared upon seeing the thief clutching the Element of Magic.
Both Pony and Dragon screamed as one, and Twilight charged the thief.
"Give that back! Stop, Thief!" she cried, as the two of them began to wrestle.
"As if!" the mare retorted. "This should've been mine! You stole it from me!"
"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response!" Twilight yelled as she reached for the crown. The mare growled "I don't think so!" and fired a beam of magic that sent Twilight into the wall.
Seizing her chance, the thief ran out towards the exit, only for Twilight to take flight and pursue.
====
As Twilight chased the thief towards the main spire, and soon up a staircase, the mare seemed to show no sign of slowing down. She was throwing magical blasts over her shoulder, and Twilight sent blasts of her own right back.
However, the mare may have been fast, but Twilight was faster. She was taught to fly by Rainbow Dash, after all. As Twilight tackled the mare, the Element of Magic loosed itself from the thief's grip. As both ponies' eyes followed it, it bounced once and towards a strange mirror-like object in the middle of the room.
Then a white vortex appeared, and both mares screamed. As they both lunged for the Element, their struggle forced the two of them inside the vortex. As it began to close, a small part of Twilight's mane was clipped by the closing void.
Then, there was a pulse of energy, then silence as the vortex ceased to exist, leaving no trace behind, except for a cut of magenta hair.
====
Centrico Plaza
As Twilight's eyes opened slowly, she immediately identified a few things.
One, the Element of Magic was on the floor, next to her and the thief.
Two, they were not in the Crystal Empire anymore.
Three, she had changed. Instead of her equine form, she was now more bipedal and wearing a set of strange clothes.
As she struggled to get upright, the thief roused herself as well. Both eyes immediately turned to the Element of Magic, which lay astray on the ground. Their hands both went for it, and a vicious struggle soon began.
"Give it back!" Twilight groaned.
"Never!" the thief replied. "It was supposed to be mine!"
As they continued to grapple, Twilight tried to focus her magic for a stunning spell. However, she quickly realized that her horn and wings were absent, and the magical energy that could be felt all over Equis was not present here. As she widened her eyes, the thief took her chance. One hand punched her hand in the gut, and she took off with the Element. Before Twilight could cry out, something happened that Twilight did not expect.
A leg shot out from the shadows, tripping the thief and sending her sprawling to the ground. Then a hand grabbed the Element from the terrain. As both Twilight and the thief looked up, both sets of eyes widened.
Three humans, two males and a female, stood above them. One, wearing a blue shirt and jacket, black pants, gray sneakers, and a red cap atop brown hair cocked an eyebrow.
"I really don't know what's going on here…" he said. "But I don't like it one bit."
Hey, that's mine!" the thief cried, lunging for the Element, which was in the hands of the female. The female sidestepped the move and again, she sprawled out on the ground.
"Really?" the female said with a dubious tone. "We saw your little game of tug-of-war. I really don't think you should have this right now, judging from that."
Twilight stood up shakily, and walked over.
"If you're giving the Element back to anypony, it should be me." she said. "She stole it from me in the middle of the night."
"Fine." the boy said, crossing his arms. "One question."
"Shoot."
"Did you say...anypony?" he asked. "Don't you mean anyone?"
Twilight gulped, realizing that she had just revealed who she was.
"I can explain in private." she sighed. "Just…can I have my Element back?"
"Later." another boy said, this one wearing a mix of red, black, and green clothing. "I think I want to hear both sides of the story first before we're giving anything to anyone. What's your name, by the way? We'll start with that."
"I'm Twilight. Twilight Sparkle." she said.
"I'm Riley." the boy said. "That's Kyle and Emma. Right now, I think we should get moving. We're drawing a crowd."
True to Riley's word, a crowd of humans was forming. Twilight nodded, pulled the thief to her feet, and they set off into the city. All the while, the Element of Harmony glowed like a lantern, like a premonition of things to come.
Author's Note
My (hopefully) final Pokemon story. I hope you like the concept.
Chapter 1-The World according to Sycamore
Twilight Sparkle had to admit one thing in particular fascinated her about this world.
The City they were in was absolutely massive. Humans were bustling about, and what fascinated Twilight more were the countless creatures that walked or flew alongside them. There were so many of them, Twilight couldn't even think of names for them.
"Grr…"
Twilight turned to the thief, who was shooting her a very nasty look.
"Shove it." Twilight said bitterly. "For a thief, you're also a sore loser."
"I didn't lose." the thief replied. "Those humans were a fluke. The Element of Magic should be mine and mine alone."
"As if!" Twilight retorted. "You...I don't know your name, but I still stand by the point that I earned it!"
"My name is Sunset Shimmer." the thief replied. "And don't think you're so fancy because you're a Princess and you're Celestia's former student. I was her student once. It should've been mine."
"Like I said, fat chance." Twilight snapped back. "Though...I recognize that name. You were in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."
"Yeah, I was." Sunset said bitterly. "Didn't get me very far."
Twilight was about to press further when Riley spoke up.
"If you two are finished, we've arrived." he said.
"Where's that?" Sunset asked. Kyle motioned to the building in front of them, which was a three-story home paneled in blue.
"I didn't want to risk the Pokemon Center, so I brought us to Professor Sycamore's lab." Kyle said. "He's a family friend."
"That's a relief." Twilight said. "Though, what's a Pokemon Center?"
"We'll explain later." Emma said. "In we go."
As the five of them headed inside, Twilight and Sunset were surprised to see a man of about thirty, with a scrappy black beard and wearing a lab coat, speaking to a boy wearing blue and black, with a red cap. A yellow, mouse-like creature with a lightning bolt-shaped tail was perched on his shoulder.
"Well Ash, here's Froakie's Poke Ball." the man said. "Good luck, kid."
"Thanks, Professor!" the boy said. "C'mon Pikachu, let's explore!"
"Pika!" the mouse cried as the two of them headed out.
"Hey, Augustine." Kyle said, shaking the man's hand.
"Hello, Kyle!" the man said. "Emma, Riley, you're looking ready for anything! Though, who are those two?"
"It's a long story. I think you should hear it, though. Even we don't know the details." Riley said, eyeing the two Equestrians.
"Well, follow me then!" Professor Sycamore said. "It's nice to meet you two. I'm Augustine Sycamore, Resident Pokemon Professor of the Kalos region."
"Twilight Sparkle." Twilight said. "That's Sunset Shimmer. Lead the way, I suppose."
Sunset huffed and followed the group to a back room designed like an office. As soon as they entered, Twilight and Sunset sat down as Sycamore and the others found seats.
"So, where are you two from?" Sycamore asked.
"And what does it have to do with this?" Emma said, holding up the Element of Magic.
"That's where it gets complicated." Twilight said. "You see, Sunset and I…"
"We're not actually humans…"
====
"Cher moi!" Sycamore exclaimed. "That's quite a story! I haven't heard one like that in years!"
"It's true!" Twilight protested.
"Oh, I know!" Sycamore replied. "I didn't say I don't believe you now, did I?"
Twilight froze and nodded sheepishly.
"Well, that's all well and good…" Sunset groaned. "But how are we getting home?"
"That, I have no clue." Sycamore said. "Seeing as you're the first extraterrestrial visitors to our world, the prospect of returning you home will be a problem."
"Agreed." Kyle said. "And seeing as you look basically human, blending in shouldn't be a problem, however."
Twilight looked at her reflection in the window, and she had to agree. Her basic features were there, but her skin color had changed from lavender to a pale tan. Now that she got a better look, she could see Sunset's features were the same.
"Anyway…" Kyle said. "Seeing as you two are stuck here, you'll need to blend in. That probably means sticking with us."
"Oh, great." Sunset said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "What makes you so sure we'll do that?"
"Because you're stuck in an unfamiliar world, and I'd bet you'd get lost as soon as you step outside." Emma said. "And for the record, you two had better learn to like each other, or you won't get very far."
Twilight shot a look at Sunset, who glared right back.
"Well, if you're going to blend in…" Sycamore said. "I have a few ideas and some things that'll help."
"Like what?" Twilight asked. Sycamore smiled and motioned to two small objects on his desk. They were red in color, and they seemed to be some kind of tablet.
"What are they?" Twilight asked, picking one up. She touched the central button, and the top part of the device moved upwards. It revealed a holographic screen emblazoned with "Pokedex". Sunset took the other one, and she turned to look at Professor Sycamore.
"What's your game?" she asked. "What are you up to?"
"I'm not up to anything." Sycamore said. "What I am asking you to do is start your Journey, here in Kalos. I think that you two could become great Pokemon Trainers. Those Pokedexes there are the first step."
"Pokemon Trainer?" Sunset said. "What does that mean?"
"Well, that I can explain." Sycamore said. "Brace yourselves, because we all live in a Pokemon world…"
====
"So, you understand now?" Sycamore asked.
"I think so." Twilight said. "These creatures...Pokemon...they're fascinating."
"I agree." Sycamore said. "There's all kinds of them out there, and seeing as the Alola Region recently joined the Pokemon League, there's even more we haven't discovered!
"Brilliant." Sunset said. "So, seeing as this'll keep us busy until we return home...where do we start?"
"You already have your Pokedexes." Sycamore said. "I'll also establish Trainer ID cards for both of you. Finally, you'll need a Starter Pokemon. However, I seem too have given all my available starters to trainers already. So, I suppose we'll have to catch you some!"
"Okay...how?" Twilight asked.
"These." Sycamore said, tossing them each five red and white orbs. Twilight touched one, and it expanded in her hand.
"Poke Balls." Sycamore continued. "These, when thrown at a Pokemon, will catch it if you are lucky. Now, seeing as we'll be heading to Route 4, south of Lumiose, I'll take you all there and show you the ropes!"
"Thanks." Twilight said. Sunset huffed, and didn't say anything. As the six of them headed out towards the city, Sycamore headed for a greenhouse.
"Garchomp!" he cried. "Where are you?"
"GAR!" came a roar, followed by what Twilight assumed was a Pokemon, albeit a rather large and powerful-looking one. It was draconid, with wing-like hands and a talon on each wing, It had a red and gold patch on its chest, with a dark blue body. Fierce-looking fangs lined its mouth, and two cylindrical horns on the side of its head gave it an appearance of power.
"What is that?" Twilight said.
"This is Garchomp, the Mach Pokemon." Sycamore said. "And one of the Pokemon that inhabits my lab. He may not look like it, but he's a sweetheart to anyone who meets him."
Twilight and Sunset did see several small Pokemon of varying kinds standing on a grassy knoll, looking at Garchomp with wide eyes.
"Anyway, Garchomp, can you keep an eye on things around here?" Sycamore asked. Garchomp gave a quiet roar of agreement, and headed back into the greenhouse.
"Well, that's that." Sycamore said. "Now, we're off to Route 4!'
Again, before they could leave, another human came in. This one wore mostly dark blue and black, with a smoke-like scarf.
"Alain!" Sycamore said. "What's the matter?"
"I figured I'd stop by for a few moments." the man replied. "Showing them around?"
"Yep." Sycamore said. "I already asked Garchomp, but could you watch the lab until I return?"
"Sure thing." Alain said. "Good luck out there, Professor."
As the six of them finally went out the door and into the sunlit Lumiose City, they didn't notice a cat-like balloon in the distance, following a group of four trainers.
Author's Note
Yep, Team Rocket appears in the next chapter.
Next time-Twilight and Sunset each catch a Ralts on Route 4, but their group and Ash's team must fend off Team Rocket. Meanwhile, Celestia learns of what happened in the Empire...
Chapter 2-An Unexpected Journey Begins
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.
====
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...
